THERESA May has made a "huge political miscalculation" in calling a snap election, Nicola Sturgeon warned, as she said the vote could strengthen the case for a second Scottish independence referendum.
Scotland's first minister said she already has a "cast-iron mandate" to hold another vote on the issue - but said that the June 8 election could help with "reinforcing the democratic mandate which already exists for giving the people of Scotland a choice on their future".
Ms Sturgeon also said the "extraordinary U-turn" from Mrs May would give voters north of the border a further chance to reject the "narrow, divisive" policies of the Tories.
She spoke out after Mrs May stunned Westminster with her announcement – which came after repeated denials from Downing Street that there would be a snap vote.
But Ms Sturgeon accused Mrs May of putting her party before the country, saying the Tory leader "is clearly betting that the Tories can win a bigger majority in England given the utter disarray in the Labour Party"
In the 2015 general election the SNP picked up 56 of the 59 constituencies north of the border - a result they could struggle to repeat.
In contrast, Labour, the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats won just one seat each.
Scottish Tory leader Ruth Davidson said: "The Scottish Conservatives are ready for a campaign, we are organised, and we are optimistic about the prospect of increasing our number of seats.
"In Scotland, we will have a clear election message – only a vote for the Scottish Conservatives will ensure we get the strong leadership we need to get the best Brexit deal for the whole country.
"And only a vote for the Scottish Conservatives will send a strong message that we oppose the SNP's divisive plan for a second referendum."
Scottish Labour leader Kezia Dugdale said the upcoming general election would give voters a ''significant and historic choice''.
"At this election, the choice again will be clear: a Tory Party intent on a hard and damaging Brexit; or a Labour Party that will oppose a second independence referendum and fight for a better future for everybody,'' she said.
Ms Dugdale added: ''The Labour Party is ready and has been preparing for a general election. We will start the process of selecting our candidates this afternoon.
''We will work tirelessly to elect Jeremy Corbyn Prime Minister and deliver a Labour government.''
Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie also said his party was ''relishing the prospect of this election''.
''It is a chance to change the direction of the whole of the UK. Our optimistic agenda is pro-UK, pro-EU and progressive. We stand with the majority opinion in this country," he said.
''At this election we will stand proud for a United Kingdom within the European single market. We will avoid a disastrous hard Brexit and keep Britain united. Liberal Democrats the are only party that can stop a Conservative majority across the UK."
Scottish Green co-convener Patrick Harvie said Scotland's opposition to leaving the EU "cannot be allowed to fall on deaf ears" in the election.
"I'm sure that voters in Scotland will not allow this election to satisfy the whims of a dangerous hard-right party determined to damage our economy, public services and threaten our EU friends and neighbours who have made Scotland their home. Instead, we must reassert our choice for a fairer and more equal society," he said.
