And finally, will this essentially be another Brexit referendum, asks mcrunter
Guardian staff So this is one of the most intriguing questions about the general election: how will Brexit, and people's views about it, affect the vote. Among remainers, how many feel strongly enough to want to reopen the question at a general election (when, NB, we don't yet know what deal we'll get). Conversely, will Brexiters back May because she's getting on with it - and eg desert Labour? We'll have to wait and see...
What chance of a Remainers’ electoral pact, asks Ermanno CognomeNonsisa
Is there any chance of a Remain electoral pact between Labour, Libdem and the Greens to avoid competing with each other in their constituencies?
Guardian staff So there's not much time for a formal, nationwide deal - and eg LibDems would say Labour backed Article 50 and so can't claim to be a Remain party. But there may well be informal, quiet deals on the ground.
What about local elections, asks NoMoreExcuses
What happens to the Local Elections - do they still go ahead as scheduled?
Guardian staff Yes they do. So canvassers won't get much of a break before they're back out pounding the streets for the general election!
Could Labour still derail the election, asks Prasad Iyer
Hi Heather - was it feasible for Corbyn to refuse to vote for an election and let May's measure die? It seems to me that it would have been the more prudent choice.
Guardian staff He could have done: May needs a two-thirds majority to make it pass. But he's been saying for some time that Labour is ready for a general election - and May would have made great play of the idea that Corbyn was running scared. If you want a Labour government, it's hard to say you don't want a general election!
Sorry Jaraine, zero chance of an article 50 u-turn from Labour
Since the Government loves a U turn, (I saw a comment earlier about how it's a W now) What chances that Labour comes to it's senses and Campaigns on a "Stop A50" platform.
I imagine that would be the primary message with Lurking images of how May has taken from the poor and disabled and now Middle income families, You're Next for Conservative Axes.
Guardian staff Hi there, given that Labour backed Article 50 in parliament, and May has already triggered it, kicking off the formal process of negotiation, I'd say the chances are close to zero.
Can we blame the French, asks CommieWealth
By how much has Theresa may's decision to call a general election been influenced by the (terribly distracting) French Presidential election that will occur in 5 days time (23rd April) and will conclude with the Assemblée Générale elections in June this summer?
Guardian staff Hi there, Downing Street will be watching the results of the French presidential election closely for clues about how Paris will handle the Brexit talks; but I think their rationale for calling this poll is almost entirely domestic.
Shouldn’t Jeremy Corbyn oppose the election, asks guill1946
If Corbyn had what it takes, shouldn't he be opposing the idea of a general election now, throwing her own argument at Theresa May, this is not the time for frivolous campaigns when the country and the government needs to focus attention on the most important business in hand, Brexit, with an impossibly tight timetable? What's in it for Labour to support Theresa May in solving her problems with her party?
Guardian staff That would be a tough one for Labour to pull off, because they'd be vulnerable that they're "running scared" of the electorate. If you want a labour government, it's hard to say you oppose a general election isn't it?
Any big beasts standing down, asks Alex_Layzell
Do we know if any politicians (or newspaper editors...) will be standing down at this election? Also if there are any noises that some of the defeated big beasts of the 2015 election (Balls, Cable, Hughes etc.) will be standing on June 8th?
Guardian staff That's the source of lots of gossip today! I'm pretty sure Vince Cable has already been reselected to stand for the LibDems in his old seat of Twickenham; at least one centrist Labour MP (Tom Blenkinsop) is stepping down rather than stand again. Aside from that, it's all speculation so far.
makingtime has little time for the Guardian’s reporting
It seems you are not averse to the idea of the Guardian campaigning for a particular outcome, say bigging up Tim Farron and so on.
So two questions
1) How effective do you feel this campaigning stance has been in recent memory?
2) Will this lead to biased reporting, politically charged headlines and sub-headlines, unsubstatiated personal attacks and an aversion to featuring policy and fact-based reporting at the top of the website and print editions?
3) Are you aware of the plain fact that the opinion around the Graun water cooler, and even the opinions of senior editors, may not remotely represent reality?
I'm aware these are not innocent questions, but they are topics I hope you will consider carefully in the days ahead.
Guardian staff I'm only answering this question because of your Withnail avatar: re-watched it last night for the millionth time. Never fails to make me weep with laughter.
I have no idea what stance we will take in our leader line - but my job is to report, and I absolutely reject the idea that we're systematically biased in the way we do so. And for what it's worth, my team are based in Westminster, so we are rarely to be found at the "Graun water cooler".
Is the election just cover for a Brexit let-down, asks IntravenousDeMilo
Is this a cover for EU leaders rejecting any discussion on trade deals before Brexit is concluded, which would have likely damaged the UK economy by 2020?
Guardian staff I don't think it's a cover for that, but it certainly allows the Conservatives to seek a fresh mandate before any economic damage from whatever Brexit deal we end up with starts to hit home.
Any chance of a LibLab coalition, asks Tuco Ramirez
Will a Lib Dem/Labour coalition be imminent, considering that's their best chance of defeating the Tories, if ever there is one?
Guardian staff Good question: May's already raised the spectre of a red-yellow coalition by mentioning it in her statement; but actually Tim Farron has said he couldn't cooperate with Labour while it's led by Jeremy Corbyn because he reckons he's "toxic" to LibDem voters. But hard to see how they could go back into coalition with Tories, as Brexit is defining issue for LibDems right now.
Is this just another move to placate the Tory hard right, asks TerryHenderson
For all of Mrs May's rhetoric about strong leadership and national unity etc is her calling of a snap election predominantly a means to managing and marginalising the recalcitrant hard-right, hard-Brexit wing of her own party?
Guardian staff You're right that it's certainly partly about party management: May has a narrow majority, and has been forced to make a number of concessions recently to backbenchers on both wings of her party.
A larger mandate would help her constrain the centrists, too: she can put controversial policies such as grammar schools into a manifesto, and then has a direct mandate for them.
Is all hope lost for the opposition, asks Wheresjodie
1) what are the chances of labour forming a strong enough campaign to win the election?
2) is this anti democratic - calling a snap election based on opinion polls
3) what can me and my friends do to prevent the election/ help create a more credible opposition?
From a millennial who can't get a break
Guardian staff Hi there Wheresjodie, 1) of course the opinion polls often get things wrong, but I think we can say pretty confidently the chances of Labour *winning* are close to zero - though they could certainly prevent May doing as well as she hoped
2) you could argue it was anti-democratic; but on the other hand May became PM without facing a general election in her own right, so this is her chance to ask voters for her own mandate
3) you can't prevent the election; but you can go and join your local Labour party (or whatever opposition party floats your boat) and get out and campaign. And VOTE!
Hipshot asks about a potential LibDem resurgence
Why are you claiming there is a Lib Dem resurgence when there is patently nothing of the kind?
Are you going to be campaigning for another coalition this time?
Guardian staff You're right that there's little sign of a LibDem resurgence in the national polls; but they did score that byelection win in Richmond (special circumstances, of course...); and there are certainly Tory MPs in strongly Remain seats who are worried about them.
Will the media destroy Labour, asks ElderlyGoose
Can the media promote the opposition or will we end up with another Bacon Sandwich?
Guardian staff Of course the Guardian hasn't yet had discussions about its general election stance - but I think I can be pretty confident we won't be backing Theresa May :) Meanwhile our job on the political team is to report, report, report.
Will an increased Tory majority mean a harder Brexit, asks SocksPest
If the Tories increase their majority as expected, is it likelier to increase hard-Brexit zeal or allow the government to ignore the most extreme voices within the party?
Guardian staff Interesting question: part of May's motivation is to strengthen her hand in the Brexit negotiations, including against critics on her own backbenches - and that may well involve making compromises, on free movement, etc.
Will May adopt more moderate Labour policies, asks Wagram
Will she adopt moderate Labour policies so that the public will not feel the need to vote for Corbyn who is too left for them?
Guardian staff She's certainly hoping to make huge inroads into what would traditionally be thought of as Labour heartlands: the recent Conservative byelection victory in Copeland - rare for a sitting government - gave the Tories confidence they can attack deep into Labour territory.
Doesn’t the Commons have to vote on this, asks Utopian2020?
What about the Fixed Term Parliaments act? How can she announce this - I thought the House of Commons had to vote to allow an election to be called?
Hi Utopian2020! The legislation means May needs to win a two-thirds majority in the House of Commons to hold a poll. But Labour have said they will support the motion, so she’ll have no problem with that. The alternative would have been to call a vote of no confidence in her own government, but May didn’t fancy option.
Keefo asks about the scale of a potential Conservative majority
Will a large Conservative lead in the polls really result in an increased majority?
Surely lots of problems with that: First past the post, Lib Dem resurgence, tactical remain voting etc. etc.
Hi keefo: one of the big known unknowns is how Brexit will affect the electoral geography of Britain - so yes, the LibDems will be hoping to make advances in Tory remain areas, for example. But Labour has not opposed Brexit per se, so it’s hard to see how the issue helps prevent the Tories’ poll lead translating into a larger majority for Theresa May.
QuakerActivist asks about the Fixed Term Parliament Act
Assuming we do have a general election in June, when would the next one be under the Fixed Terms Parliament Act? Does the clock reset so that the next one would be in five years time (unless there is a two thirds majority for earlier)?
Yes: under the fixed term parliament act, the next general election would be in June 2022.
Updated
Theresa May has called for a snap general election on 8 June, claiming that opposition parties are jeopardising her government’s preparations for Brexit and that political unity is needed.
“We need a general election and we need one now,” she said. “I have only recently and reluctantly come to this conclusion but now I have concluded it is the only way to guarantee certainty for the years ahead.”
Jeremy Corbyn, leader of the Labour party, said he welcomed the decision, suggesting his MPs will back the motion.
The Lib Dems will hope to turn the election into a second referendum on the type of Brexit being pursued.
Our political editor Heather Stewart will answer your questions on the snap election from 1.30pm BST. Post your questions in the comments below, and she’ll answer as many as possible.
Is there zero chance that this will turn into "second chance" referendum? Will people who are anti brexit but Labour or Tory vote Lib Dem for example?