The MP for Great Yarmouth has confirmed he will stand in the snap general election called by prime minister Theresa May today.

The prime minister made the shock announcement on this morning, stating her intentions to hold a general election on Thursday, June 8.

Brandon Lewis, Great Yarmouth MP, has welcomed the news and confirmed his intention to stand for the borough’s seat.

In a statement released on this afternoon, he said: “I welcome the news that the prime minister has called for a General Election to be held on June 8, and will be voting with my colleagues in the House this week to take the necessary steps in Parliament to ensure that this can happen.

“I have spoken to my local Association to notify them of my intention to stand again as the Conservative candidate in Great Yarmouth, and I look forward to campaigning hard between now and June and hope to be re-elected as Great Yarmouth’s MP in the election.

“It has been an honour to serve the constituents of Great Yarmouth since my election in 2010, and I look forward to speaking to as many residents as possible ahead of polling day to highlight what we have achieved over the last seven years, and set out what I will be campaigning for if I am re-elected.”

Mr Lewis originally gained his seat from Labour’s Tony Wright in 2010, and then held his seat in the general election two years ago, gaining 42.9pc of the vote.

He added: “This election is necessary to provide the strong leadership the country needs to deliver Brexit, and every vote for the Conservatives will make our position stronger in the upcoming negotiations.”

Meanwhile, Trevor Wainwright, a Labour councillor for the borough council, said the town “desperately needs a Labour government to build a fairer society to all residents”.

He said: “The austerity measures put in place over the last seven years by this Conservative government have quite clearly failed the majority of people in Great Yarmouth.

“Our public services, including education and the NHS, are being slowly destroyed in favour of the private sector.

“On June 8, we have the opportunity to reverse this and once again build a country in which we can all feel proud.”

It remains to be seen who will be standing for the Labour party and other political parties in the borough.