LABOUR could upset the odds and “do a Donald Trump” by winning this summer’s snap General Election, according to the shadow leader of the House of Lords.

The former Basildon Labour MP Angela Smith spoke out after Theresa May stunned the country yesterday morning - and she believes Labour is more than ready to fight an election.

Mrs May’s extraordinary move came after national polls suggested the Conservatives had a 21-point advantage over Labour – the biggest lead for any party in government since 1983.

However, Baroness Smith was in a buoyant mood saying the snap election was not about Brexit - and noting the polls had been very wrong before.

She said: “Yes, Labour is ready for a General Election.

“I think it’s surprising the Prime Minister called the election at this time because previously she has said she wants to go until 2020. I don’t think this is about solidarity over Brexit and the people of the nation, but more about politics.

“I think she saw how far ahead the Conservatives were in the polls and decided it was a good time to call an election.

“But I don’t think you can trust polls. The polls didn’t think Donald Trump would become the president of the United States, but he did.”

Baroness Smith also believes the General Election will be Jeremy Corbyn’s big chance to make clear Labour’s policies - not just on Brexit but on a wide range of issues.

She said: “This is the opportunity for Jeremy Corbyn to do an election campaign. I would like to see him talking to the public, talking the press and clearly explaining his policies.

“He will explain policies on national health, social care, education, and about Brexit.

“Labour campaigned against Brexit but accepted it. Jeremy will outline the need for a soft Brexit”.

Gavin Callaghan, leader of Basildon Labour Group, said now the country will see if Jeremy Corbyn was a “strong enough” candidate to be leader.

He said: “Running a political campaign is a tough and gruelling task for anybody.

“While there has been fractures one thing we all have in common is that we don’t want a Tory Government.”

Mr Callaghan, who was Labour’s parliamentary candidate for Basildon and Billericay in the 2015 General Election said he is “unsure” whether he will stand again.

Joe Cooke, from Castle Point Labour group, added: “This election gives us the chance to stop this downward spiral in our quality of life.

“Jeremy is a genuine politician you can trust and a safe pair of hands.

“He is our man, and he is in the position to do the job and we are confident he will deliver.

“This is an opportunity for people to reject our spiralling quality of life.”

In a statement Jeremy Corbyn welcomed the Prime Minister’s announcement, saying it will give the people of Britain a chance to vote for a government that will “put the interest of the majority first.”

But just minutes after Mrs May’s announcement, one MP vowed not to stand again in protest of Mr Corbyn’s leadership.

Tom Blenkinsop, the Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland MP criticised the leader last week after Labour lost a Middlesbrough council seat to the Tories on a by-election swing of eight per cent.