A newspaper stand shows a copy of today's Evening Standard, with the front page story relating to British Prime Minister Theresa May's call for a snap general election on June 8. Picture: Daniel Sorabji

THOUSANDS of people in the UK were caught off guard last night when British Prime Minister Theresa May made a shock election announcement — and not everyone was happy about it.

“You’re joking,” said British woman Brenda when she was told about the impending election by a BBC reporter. “Honestly, I can’t stand this ... there’s too much politics going on at the moment,” she said in a video that has since gone viral.

But it was a tweet from British MP Liz McInnes that left many social media users gobsmacked.

Ms McInnes, who is a member of the British Labour Party and holds the seat of Heywood and Middleton in Greater Manchester, posted a tweet which took particular umbrage with the timing of the election announcement saying it ruined her mum’s funeral.

“Theresa May, the unelected Prime Minister has just ruined the day of my poor mum’s funeral. She was poor working class so not important,” she wrote.

It was understandably a sad and emotional day for Ms McInnes. The tweet, as well as other disparaging messages aimed at the Theresa May, has since been deleted. But not before the cringe-worthy message was picked up by Twitter users who widely condemned the politician.

The British election will be held on June 8, with Ms May wanting to get the poll out of the way before the Brexit negotiations begin in earnest.

“We need a general election and we need one now. We have at this moment a one-off chance to get this done ... before the detailed talks begin,” she said.