British PM May calls for early election

Says, need to strengthen her hand in divorce talks with EU by bolstering support for her Brexit plan

British Prime Minister Theresa May called on Tuesday for an early election on June 8, saying she needed to strengthen her hand in divorce talks with the European Union by bolstering support for her Brexit plan.

Standing outside her Downing Street office, May said she had been reluctant to ask parliament to back her move to bring forward the poll from 2020. But, after thinking "long and hard" during a walking holiday, she decided it was necessary to try to stop the opposition "jeopardising" her work on Brexit.

Some were surprised by May's move — the Conservative prime minister has repeatedly said