JUSTIN Tomlinson has welcomed the prospect of a General Election in two months.

Theresa May surprised everyone, including her own MPs, when she took to the steps of 10 Downing Street this morning to announce that she would go to the country on June 8.

But the MP for North Swindon, who was first elected to parliament in 2010 after 10 years as a Swindon Borough Councillor, says it is a challenge he is looking forward to.

Justin Tomlinson said: "The Prime Minister has made a decisive move to secure the strong and stable leadership the country needs.

"With strong economic growth and record employment we are best placed to secure the majority to give this country certainty through Brexit and beyond.

"I will be working exceptionally hard to earn the chance to continue representing my fellow local residents, something I have been proud to do since 2010."

Justin first stood for parliament in 2005 but lost out to Labour's Michael Wills by 2,571 votes.

He overturned a 5.7 per cent majority in 2010 to take 44.6 per cent of the vote.

At the last General Election in 2015, he saw off the challenge of Labour's Mark Dempsey to increase his share of the vote to 50.3 per cent.

He will go into the coming election defending a healthy majority of 22.6 per cent - more than 11,000 votes.