WHAT’S NEXT?

British Prime Minister Theresa May on Tuesday called for an early election on June 8. Here are the steps needed before the vote happens.

HOW WILL SHE CALL AN ELECTION?

Under the Fixed-term Parliaments Act, passed in 2011, a motion for a new vote ahead of schedule needs to be carried by two thirds of the 650 seats in the House of Commons, including vacant seats. This means that the government needs 434 votes to call the election. May said that she would introduce a motion to Parliament on Wednesday. If it is passed, Parliament will come to an end 25 working days before the date of the general election which, accounting for public holidays, will be May 3.

May's Conservatives hold 330 seats in the chamber, and the opposition Labour party 229. Labour has said that it will vote for the election, so the combined 559 votes would be enough to pass the motion if all lawmakers of both parties follow the party line.

WHY DID MAY CHANGE HER MIND?

Theresa May has previously said that Britain needs stability rather than a new election, but on Tuesday she implied that division in Westminster was undermining that stability already. May's position may also have been influenced by the polls.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR BREXIT?

If May wins the election, her position would be strengthened at home and in negotiations with the 27 other members of the EU. With a large majority, May would be less beholden to extreme eurosceptics inside the Conservative Party while winning a personal mandate would strengthen her position as prime minister.

By calling one in June, May could win more space domestically as the next British election would not be due until 2022.