On chinadaily.com.cn

Visit for breaking news and exclusive content

World: UK general election and how it got here

Eating her own words that she would not call an early election after taking office last year, UK Prime Minister Theresa May's decision to hold a snap election on June 8 took the country by surprise. British governments generally last for five years, and the Conservative Party's administration - then led by May's predecessor David Cameron - was elected in 2015. The next election was not due to take place until May 2020.