Summary

  • PM says commitment to spending 0.7% of GDP on foreign aid will remain

  • Labour focuses on education, blaming the Tories for "super-sized classes"

  • Lib Dem leader Tim Farron says activists and donors were "flocking" to the party on the back of its anti-Brexit message

  • Nicola Sturgeon launches council elections manifesto as a "clear choice" between SNP and Tories

  • The government has ditched controversial probate fee rises ahead of the 8 June election

  1. And they're off ...published at 06:31 British Summer Time 20 April 2017

    Chris Mason
    Political Correspondent

    Now that the vote has happened there is that sense that the date is set and the whole thing can start formally, even though MPs will sit in the chamber for the next week or so.

    Jeremy Corbyn’s big pitch is to effectively acknowledge that, yes, Labour is a million miles behind in the opinion polls, but they say they’re offering something different. They say the establishment and the media say it’s a foregone conclusion that Labour are going to lose. Their argument is that shouldn’t necessarily be the case, that they stand up for ordinary people.

    We’ll see Theresa May continue to return to the theme that we saw in Bolton about strong and stable leadership.

    The Liberal Democrats will continue to make the argument for the UK staying as close to the European Union as possible.

  2. May's 'Brexit pledges' and Osborne's 'newspaper naivety'published at 06:05 British Summer Time 20 April 2017

    The UK's surprise election continues to dominate the front pages, with some focusing on manifesto pledges.

    Read the BBC's newspaper review here 

  3. Corbyn vowing to 'change election's course'published at 03:49 British Summer Time 20 April 2017

    Jeremy Corbyn is vowing not to "play by the rules" if elected PM and insists the general election is not a foregone conclusion.

    On the first full day of campaigning, the Labour leader will say "powerful people" do not want him to win the snap poll.

    He will vow to "prove the Establishment experts wrong and change the direction of this election".

    Theresa May has promised "strong and stable leadership" and said people want her to get on with implementing Brexit.

    The prime minister was speaking after her call for an early election on 8 June was overwhelmingly backed by MPs.

    Read more on this story

  4. Bill Gates urging UK to protect foreign aidpublished at 02:43 British Summer Time 20 April 2017

    Reducing the UK government's commitment to foreign aid spending would cost lives, American billionaire philanthropist Bill Gates has warned.

    The Microsoft founder is urging the UK to keep spending 0.7% of its national income on foreign aid, saying it is proof of its goodwill and humanity.

    Theresa May has refused to say if she will retain the spending pledge in the Conservative's election manifesto.

    There has been growing speculation that the party will attempt to row back on the commitment.

    Newsnight political editor Nick Watt said there was pressure in Whitehall to subsume aid spending in a larger budget, which would include defence and trade.

    This would allow the government more flexibility on how the cash was spent.

    Read more on this story

  5. 'Battle begins' and 'coalition chaos' warningpublished at 23:45 British Summer Time 19 April 2017

    The election makes most of Thursday's front pages

    frontpages

    See all of Thursday's front pages here

  6. 'Government obsessed with Brexit'published at 23:38 British Summer Time 19 April 2017

    Former Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg talks to Newsnight...

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  7. What happened on Wednesday?published at 23:19 British Summer Time 19 April 2017

    Here is what you need to know about the day in Westminster:

    • PMQs saw Theresa May face Jeremy Corbyn for the first time since the snap election was called
    • MPs had 90 minutes to debate the motion for an early election, as required by the Fixed Term Parliament Act
    • The proposal for a general election on 8 June sailed through, with 522 votes in favour, and 13 against. The SNP abstained.
    • Opposition leaders have been fiercely critical of the prime minister for refusing to take part in any head-to-head TV debates ahead of the election
    • Jeremy Corbyn has ruled out going into coalition with the SNP, at his first event of the campaign in Croydon, and promised to “put the interests of the majority first”
    • Mrs May addressed an audience in Bolton, saying she was the “strong and stable” choice
    • Thursday will see the first full day of campaigning, so expect a lot of speeches from all the parties and more arguments over TV debates.
  8. Thursday's Daily Telegraphpublished at 22:19 British Summer Time 19 April 2017

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  9. Times front pagepublished at 22:18 British Summer Time 19 April 2017

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  10. FT: Corbyn 'targets the rich'published at 21:55 British Summer Time 19 April 2017

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  11. Thursday's front pages start coming in...published at 21:55 British Summer Time 19 April 2017

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  12. Tory manifesto 'published in three weeks'published at 21:39 British Summer Time 19 April 2017

    Chief political correspondent for the Telegraph tweets...

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  13. Reaction in Ambridge...published at 21:23 British Summer Time 19 April 2017

    Will locals say what they think of Mrs May's decision?

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  14. Petition for TV debate launchespublished at 21:19 British Summer Time 19 April 2017

    A petition calling for Theresa May to take part in a televised debate has gained over 68,000 signatures in the wake of her calling a snap general election. 

    A Level politics teacher Michael Walker started the petition because he believes "the UK public deserves better" and that party leader plans "should be put under serious scrutiny".

    He added: "We demand a televised debate between Theresa May and the leaders of the UK's main opposition parties. 

    "If Theresa May refuses, the BBC, Channel 4 or ITV should host a debate with an empty chair for the Prime Minister."

    There has been media speculation that Mrs May is in talks about a televised Q&A session, but her aides say she will not enter a head-to-head debate. 

  15. Ann Widdecombe: TV debates 'not the British way'published at 20:49 British Summer Time 19 April 2017

    As the argument over TV debates rages on, former Tory minister Ann Widdecombe tells BBC News it is not a "British approach".

    "Television debates encourage a presidential style of election, whereas that is not the British way," she said. 

    "I agree that people don't actually relate very much to debates at Westminster and I think a lot of valuable stuff is lost.

    "But, equally, a general election is not fought in Westminster, it is fought out in the country. That is what I think is so important." 

    Ann Widdecombe
  16. Jack Monroe to stand in general electionpublished at 20:41 British Summer Time 19 April 2017

    Writer, journalist and activist Jack Monroe will stand in the next general election, saying she has "earned [her] political stripes" though life experience. 

    Mx Munroe has not named a party, but pledges she will "do the best for the most people", with priorities including healthcare, services for people with disabilities, living standards, jobs and decent homes.

    Jack MonroeImage source, PA
  17. Greens may not stand in Plymouth to help Labourpublished at 20:11 British Summer Time 19 April 2017

    The Green Party is considering not fielding a candidate in Plymouth in order to help Labour challenge Tory MP Oliver Colvile in the constituency of Sutton and Devonport, according to the local newspaper. 

    The Plymouth Herald reports, external that the party may do a similar deal to the one in Richmond Park.

    Mr Colvile beat Labour by 526 votes in 2015, with the Green Party candidate coming in fourth place with 3,401 votes.

  18. May sets out her stallpublished at 20:01 British Summer Time 19 April 2017

    If the PM's first campaign visit is anything to go by, "long-term economic plan" will be replaced by "strong and stable".

    Read More
  19. Theresa May 'not against' audience Q&Apublished at 19:58 British Summer Time 19 April 2017

    The prime minister may be softening her stance slightly on the question of TV appearances before the election. 

    According to the Telegraph, external, Mrs May’s aides have made clear she is not against the idea of a “long-form television programme” in which she would answer questions in front of a live studio audience.

    But it would still not be the televised debate opposition leaders are looking for. 

    Read more about TV debate proposals here

  20. Manifestos could be pulled together 'in a panic'published at 19:43 British Summer Time 19 April 2017

    Former Lib Dem manifesto writer David Laws tells BBC Radio 5 live that putting one together in a hurry can lead to political mistakes.  

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