Theresa May called a General Election for June 8th in a surprise announcement from the steps of Downing Street today.

Andy Reed said "This news took Westminster and Whitehall by surprise this morning. A general Election will of course have big implications for the sport sector as we are just settling into delivering the governments Sports Strategy. We know periods of uncertainty can be disruptive so we will be doing our best during this period to ensure that sports Policy is not lost in the whole campaign. We will use this opportunity to shape the manifestos of the main parties to be sport friendly"

Summary

1. Theresa May announces plan to call general election on 8 June
2. PM says new poll is in the national interest
3. Election is only way to guarantee certainty and stability in the wake of Brexit, May says
4. May says she "recently and reluctantly" came to the conclusion that a vote was necessary
5. Downing Street has always denied a vote would be held before the next scheduled election in 2020
6. Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn welcomes the decision
7. Scotland's First Minister says snap poll could be "huge political miscalculation"
8. EU's Brexit plans remain unchanged, European Council President's spokesman says