Theresa May announces General Election: Recap

Thank you for following our live blog today.

Keep an eye on the Chronicle’s website for further local reaction to today’s announcement.

There will be plenty of coverage in the run up to the vote in 51 days time.

The only one of the four Cheshire West MPs to have been in place longer than 2015, Mr Evans has a majority of less than 1,000.

His constituency includes Frodsham and Helsby as well as parts of Northwich and Runcorn.

The Conservative MP recently defended his claim he would be ‘banging on the Chancellor’s door’ over Mersey Gateway bridge tolls prior to being re-elected in 2015.

Another MP less than halfway through their first term, Antoinette Sandbach’s Eddisbury constituency takes in parts of Kelsall, Tarporley and Tattenhall as well as parts of Winsford. It also stretches south into Cheshire East.

She has a huge majority in what is a very safe Conservative seat.

Ms Sandbach has been critical of her own party’s stance on school funding and previously branded the HS2 rail project a ‘blight’ on communities.

Here’s a further look at our current MPs - starting with Ellesmere Port and Neston’s Justin Madders.

The Labour representative has been in the post since June 2015.

A former CWaC opposition leader, he also stood against George Osborne in Tatton in 2005.

A major recent issue has been dealing with the fallout of the Vauxhall plant sale, the manufacturer is a huge employer within Mr Madders’s constituency.

George Osborne is yet to confirm whether he still stand again in his Tatton constituency.

The former Chancellor caused controversy when he became the new editor of the London Evening Standard, but chose to stay as an MP.

It is not Mr Osborne’s only side job.

If his plan was to wait until 2020 and then walk away, he needs to rethink.

Would his constituents vote him in again? A majority of almost 20,000 suggests he would not struggle to get re-elected.

The Prime Minister will table a Commons motion on Wednesday calling for an election to be held on Thursday June 8.

Under the terms of the Fixed Term Parliaments Act, passed under the last coalition government, she needs a two-thirds majority if she wants to go to the country before the scheduled date of the next the election which had been due to take place in May 2020.

With both Labour and the Liberal Democrats saying they will support the motion, the outcome should be a formality.

What comes after that?

There will be a short “wash-up” period to clear up outstanding legislation such as the Finance Bill to enable the funding of government to carry on. Parliament will then be dissolved on Wednesday May 3, 25 working days before polling, marking the start of the official campaign.

And then?

If all goes to plan voters will go to the polling booths on June 8 with the outcome likely to become clear in the early hours of the next morning.

The political editor of our sister paper The Daily Mirror, Jack Blanchard, has had this to say.

There was one person who knew about Theresa May’s decision in advance.

The Queen was reportedly told yesterday by the PM, over the phone.

There is the matter of a Cheshire West and Chester Council by-election in Blacon this Thursday.

It is usually a safe area for Labour, but how much will it reveal about the current strength of the party?

This is what the Labour candidate has tweeted.

Chester’s MP is confident he will keep hold of his seat in June.

Read the full story here.

The Labour leader has given his reaction.

Corbyn said: “I welcome the Prime Minister’s decision to give the British people the chance to vote for a government that will put the interests of the majority first.

“Labour will be offering the country an effective alternative to a government that has failed to rebuild the economy, delivered falling living standards and damaging cuts to our schools and NHS.

“In the last couple of weeks, Labour has set out policies that offer a clear and credible choice for the country.

“We look forward to showing how Labour will stand up for the people of Britain.”

So Labour’s Chris Matheson had a majority of 93 in Chester in 2015.

But what of our other constituencies?

Labour’s Justin Madders won by 6,275 in Ellesmere Port and Neston.

Conservative Antoinette Sandbach won by 12,974 in Eddisbury.

The Tories and Graham Evans was elected by a majority of 806 in Weaver Vale.

UKIP leader Paul Nuttall has tweeted his reaction to the news.

He said: “Every vote for in this General Election will be a reminder to the PM that the British people want a clean Brexit with restored borders.”

Green Party co-leader Caroline Lucas said: “Britain is at a crossroads – and today’s announcement means that people are rightly given a say over the direction this country is going to take.

“Only the Green Party offers a bold, positive vision for a different kind of Britain.

“At this election we will stand for an economy that works for everyone, not just the privileged few; a Britain that’s open to the world and the protection of our precious environment.

“We will stand up to the politics of hatred and division that is scarring our communities and give people across the country a chance to vote for a better Britain.”

Here is the full text of Prime Minister Theresa May’s statement from Downing Street announcing that a general election is to be held on June 8:
“I have just chaired a meeting of the Cabinet, where we agreed that the Government should call a general election, to be held on June 8.
“I want to explain the reasons for that decision, what will happen next and the choice facing the British people when you come to vote in this election.
“Last summer, after the country voted to leave the European Union, Britain needed certainty, stability and strong leadership, and since I became Prime Minister the Government has delivered precisely that.
“Despite predictions of immediate financial and economic danger, since the referendum we have seen consumer confidence remain high, record numbers of jobs, and economic growth that has exceeded all expectations.
“We have also delivered on the mandate that we were handed by the referendum result.”

Commenting on the Prime Minister’s call for a General Election, Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron said: “This election is your chance to change the direction of our country.

“If you want to avoid a disastrous Hard Brexit. If you want to keep Britain in the Single Market. If you want a Britain that is open, tolerant and united, this is your chance.

“Only the Liberal Democrats can prevent a Conservative majority.”

When the motion is submitted tomorrow it will trigger a vote among MPs.

The Fixed Term Parliaments act means the PM will need a 2/3 majority of MPs to back her.

Opposition leader Corbyn has repeatedly said Labour would vote for an early election if May moved the vote.

Here is Mrs May speaking outside 10 Downing Street.

She says she calls the election ‘with great reluctance’.

A motion will be submitted to the House of Commons and voted for by MPs tomorrow.

Welcome to this live blog.

Prime Minister Theresa May has just announced a General Election for June 8.

Follow all the updates with plenty of local and national reaction.