British Prime Minister Theresa May's plans for a shock general election could be a "huge political miscalculation", Nicola Sturgeon has warned, as the surprise ballot gives Scots a further chance to reject the "narrow, divisive" policies of the Tories.
The Scottish First Minister dubbed Mrs May's announcement of a poll on 8 June as "one of the most extraordinary U-turns in recent political history".
Since Mrs May became PM in July 2016, Downing Street has repeatedly denied any suggestion there could be a snap election.
But the Conservative leader argued that a ballot needed to be held because of "division" at Westminster over Brexit.
The UK vote to leave the European Union - a position not supported in Scotland - has already resulted in a showdown between Mrs May and the SNP leader over plans for a second Scottish independence referendum.
Now the issue of a referendum is set to dominate the election campaign north of the border.
The Scottish government insists another vote on the matter should be held sometime between autumn 2018 and spring 2019, to allow Scots to make an informed choice between Brexit and leaving the UK.
Mrs May, however, has made clear that "now is not the time" for such a vote.
SNP depute leader Angus Robertson tweeted: "Whatever happened to 'now is not the time'? UK General Election: 8th June. Straight choice in Scotland between @theSNP and Tories. #VoteSNP"
Whatever happened to 'now is not the time'? UK General Election: 8th June. Straight choice in Scotland between @theSNP and Tories. #VoteSNP
— Angus Robertson (@AngusRobertson) April 18, 2017
Meanwhile, the First Minister said plans for a snap election showed Mrs May "putting the interests of her party ahead of those of the country".
Ms Sturgeon said the prime minister "is clearly betting that the Tories can win a bigger majority in England given the utter disarray in the Labour Party".
She added: "That makes it all the more important that Scotland is protected from a Tory Party which now sees the chance of grabbing control of government for many years to come and moving the UK further to the right - forcing through a hard Brexit and imposing deeper cuts in the process.
"That means that this will be - more than ever before - an election about standing up for Scotland, in the face of a right-wing, austerity-obsessed Tory government with no mandate in Scotland but which now thinks it can do whatever it wants and get away with it."
The SNP leader warned: "In terms of Scotland, this move is a huge political miscalculation by the Prime Minister.
"It will once again give people the opportunity to reject the Tories' narrow, divisive agenda, as well as reinforcing the democratic mandate which already exists for giving the people of Scotland a choice on their future."
Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson said her party would go into the June 8 election with a clear message that a vote for the Tories would "ensure we get the strong leadership we need to get the best Brexit deal for the whole country" and would also "send a strong message that we oppose SNP's divisive plan for a second referendum".
Ms Davidson welcomed the PM's announcement, saying her party is "ready for a campaign, we are organised, and we are optimistic about the prospect of increasing our number of seats".
At present the Tories, like Labour and the Liberal Democrats, have just one MP north of the border.
The SNP won 56 of the 59 Scottish seats up for grabs in 2015 - a result that they will likely struggle to repeat this time around.
Ms Davidson said the SNP would "use this campaign to try and manufacture a case for separation".
The Tory leader added: "With Jeremy Corbyn having already said he is 'absolutely fine' with an immediate referendum, we also know that Labour can't be relied to stand up to them.
"By contrast, the Scottish Conservatives have the strength right across Scotland to stand up for people who oppose the SNP's plans."
She insisted: "The choice is simple: it's between a strong government led by Theresa May working to get the best Brexit deal, or a weak Labour government, led by Jeremy Corbyn, which cannot stand up to the SNP.
"The Scottish Conservatives will be fighting a Scotland-wide campaign in this election. Our aim is to gain support all over the country. We will be fighting for every vote."
Scottish Labour leader Kezia Dugdale said the announcement of a general election in just a few weeks' time presented voters with a "significant and historic choice".
She stated: "At the last election in 2015 we said this would be a clear choice between a destructive Tory Party and a better future with Labour. Since then we have seen the dangers of a Tory government.
"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."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".
He stated: "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.
"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 are only party that can stop a Conservative majority across the UK.
"If people want a Britain that is open, tolerant and united, this is the chance."
