British Prime Minister Theresa May has announced a snap election, to win a mandate for her vision of a "hard" Brexit.
The election will take place on June 8, assuming she wins a vote in the House of Commons on Wednesday.
"It is necessary to secure the strong and stable leadership the country needs to see us through Brexit and beyond," the Prime Minister said, in an unusual statement on the steps of 10 Downing Street.
"At this moment of enormous national significance there should be unity here in Westminster.
"The country is coming together but Westminster is not ??? if we do not hold an election now [opposition politicians'] political game-playing will continue."
Opposition to her government's Brexit plans would make negotiations with the EU more difficult, Mrs May said.
"Division in Westminster will risk our ability to make a success of Brexit and cause damaging instability and uncertainty. We need an election and we need one now."
The election would be "all about leadership", she said.
Mrs May said she had "recently and reluctantly" come to this conclusion - having previously said she would serve as Prime Minister until scheduled elections in 2020.
Recent polls put her an astonishing 21 points ahead of Jeremy Corbyn's Labour, so the election could cement the dominance of her party in British politics.
However it does pose a political risk for the Conservatives, as a de facto referendum on the government's choice of a "hard Brexit", leaving the single market and risking new trade barriers with the European Union.
The election could mobilise anti-Brexit forces in the country, including the Liberal Democrats who would push for a second referendum.
Under Britain's fixed parliamentary term laws, Mrs May cannot call an election until 2020 without a two-thirds majority in the Commons, which the Conservatives do not have.
She will move a motion in parliament tomorrow, she said.
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has indicated Labour will support a vote for the election.
"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," he said in a statement.
"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."
Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron said the election would be a "chance to change the direction of our country ... to avoid a hard Brexit".
