Theresa May has called an early general election for June 8 in an announcement which has stunned Westminster.

The Prime Minister had repeatedly denied that she would call an election before the next scheduled poll in 2020.

But following a Cabinet meeting at Downing Street she said she would go to the country this year.

Birkenhead Labour MP Frank Field said: "Roll on the election.

"We’re ready in Birkenhead, we have been for some time, and we have a clear programme to put forward.

"We’ve only been waiting for the Prime Minister to stop dithering."

Wallasey Labour MP Angela Eagle - whose constituency party was suspended after claims Ms Eagle and others were subjected to homophobic abuse - told the Globe: "Weeks after telling us there was no need for a general election, the prime minister has very cynically announced a second national poll weeks after the local elections.

"This has nothing do with the EU, which is her contrived explanation. It’s her concerns about the outlook for the British economy over the next two or three years.

"After seven years under a Tory government, people in Wallasey have already suffered declining wages and relentless cuts to national public services as well as our local budgets which are causing real hardship and anguish locally.

"And still the economic indicators remain stubbornly pessimistic under Tory management.

"In Wallasey we need Labour representation that cares about social justice and bringing our country together, not a PM who cuts-and-runs in her own party's self-interest."

Wirral South MP Alison McGovern, who is in London for talks about the rebuilding of New Ferry, said: "In the aftermath of the EU referendum Britain needed a period of stability and unity for people to come together and to plan for the future outside the European Union.

"Instead Theresa May has chosen to divide the country, first by pursing a divisive hard Brexit and now by calling a divisive general election.

"This election is about the short term political objectives of the Conservative Party, not the long term interests of Britain or the people of Wirral South.

"I have represented the people of Wirral South for the last seven years in parliament and I will be fighting to continue to serve them in the general election.

"The people of Wirral South need an MP who puts them first, who fights for their public services and who has the experience to champion them in parliament."

And in Wirral West Labour's Margaret Greenwood said: "I welcome the opportunity to offer the people of Wirral West an alternative to the Tory government's austerity programme that is cutting the National Health Service and social care, cruelly removing support from disabled people and risking jobs in the north-west through hard Brexit."

Wirral Globe:

In a statement on the steps of No 10 Mrs May said: "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.

"In recent weeks Labour has threatened to vote against the deal we reach with the European Union.

"The Liberal Democrats have said they want to grind the business of government to a standsill.

"The Scottish National Party say they will vote against the legislation that formally repeals Britain's membership of the European Union.

"And unelected members of the House of Lords have vowed to fight us every step of the way.

"Our opponents believe that because the Government's majority is so small, our resolve will weaken and that they can force us to change course.

"They are wrong.

"They under-estimate our determination to get the job done and I am not prepared to let them endanger the security of millions of working people across the country."

Jeremy Corbyn released this statement about the announcement:"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."

The pound bounced back into positive territory after Prime Minister Theresa May announced a general election would take place on June 8.

It sent the pound up 0.1% against the US dollar to 1.257, recovering from a 0.3% drop just an hour earlier.

Ms McGovern later tweeted: "Given the chance to fight for Labour values - on Brexit or anything else - I'll do it."