Cambridge MP Daniel Zeichner says General Election call is ‘proof Theresa May cannot be trusted’

Prime Minister Theresa May’s decision to call an early General Election is “proof she cannot be trusted to keep her word,” Cambridge MP Daniel Zeichner has said.

Calling for an election on June 8, Mrs May said Britain needed certainty, stability and strong leadership following the EU referendum.

“This country is coming together but Westminster is not,” she said today.

Downing Street has always denied a vote would be held before the next scheduled election in 2020.

Mr Zeichner, who was elected in 2015, said: “Today the Prime Minister has announced her decision to call an early general election after telling us for months that she wouldn’t do so.

“This is proof that she cannot be trusted to keep her word, especially as we embark on the toughest set of negotiations in a generation. She has once again put the interests of the Conservative Party over those of the country.

“I relish the opportunity to fight an election to rid us of this awful Tory government. Only Labour will stand up for working people and protect the most vulnerable in our society.

“This is our opportunity to chart a different course for our country and I will be fighting tooth and nail to ensure we have a Labour government in June.”

Over the past few hours, opposition parties have been claiming rises in membership.

The Cambridge constituency has been occupied by all three of the main parties over the past 30 years.

When Mr Zeichner was elected two years ago, he ousted Lib Dem Julian Huppert, who is expected to stand in June, with a slender majority of 599 on a 62 per cent turnout.

On Twitter, Mr Huppert said: “Excited at the chance of a General Election. So much more to do for Cambridge, and a real chance to change the future of the country.”

South Cambridgeshire MP Heidi Allen and South East Cambridgeshire MP Lucy Frazer have been asked to comment.