Speaking in Downing Street, May said her government has delivered its mandate after the Brexit referendum, saying "there can be no turning back" and the government has a plan in place for negotiations on the UK's departure from the EU.
MPs must approve decision to dissolve Parliament part-way through full term. She leads Jeremy Corbyn by more than 30 per cent when voters are asked who would make the best PM.
At present, May's governing Conservatives have a small majority, with 330 seats in the 650-seat House of Commons.
The Scottish National Party said they will vote against the legislation that formerly repeals Britain's membership of the European Union. "We have at this moment a one off chance to get this done", May said.
Explaining the reasons for the snap election, the Prime Minister said Britain needed certainty, stability and strong leadership following the European Union referendum.
She added that "the decision facing the country will be all about leadership", seemingly taking aim at other party leaders, specifically the Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon and Labour's Jeremy Corbyn.
During the Brexit negotiations, May is nearly certainly going to have to make compromises that could discourage pro-leave voters from re-electing Conservatives in 2020.
The House of Commons will vote on the proposed election on Wednesday.
Leicester are underdogs against Atletico, says Fuchs
We're set for the second leg of the quarterfinal matches between Real Madrid and Bayern as well as Leicester City and Atletico. Fernando Torres, who started and played 75 minutes of the first leg, has been dropped for Atletico.
"We can not allow Jeremy Corbyn to spoil the work that Theresa May has started".
"It is with strong conviction that I believe it is necessary to secure a strong and stable leadership this country needs", May said.
'If you want to avoid a disastrous Hard Brexit. If you want to keep Britain in the Single Market.
"Only the Liberal Democrats can prevent a Conservative majority".
May officially began the Brexit process on March 29 by triggering Article 50, the legal mechanism needed to begin the divorce process and officially start talks with the EU.
"I think we have to see what happens in the vote tomorrow before we can say any more".
Despite repeatedly saying that she wouldn't call a new election following her ascension to the post of Prime Minister in July previous year, the announcement came in the wake of several polls putting the Conservatives comfortably ahead of Labour.
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