General election 2017: Campaigning continues

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

Live Reporting

Emma Harrison and Alex Kleiderman

Listen: Is Brexit a distraction?published at 14:58 British Summer Time 19 April 2017
The World at One
BBC Radio 4
Media caption,
Will the general election be all about Brexit or will it deal with the 'bread and butter issues'?
Shadow Foreign Secretary Emily Thornberry has said the current government want the general election to be about Brexit "because they want to distract from the fact that we have a failing government".
Work and Pensions Secretary and Conservative MP Damian Green said "for some people this election will be overwhelmingly about Brexit" but there will be other issues.
Kenneth Clarke to stand in next electionpublished at 14:54 British Summer Time 19 April 2017
Fellow Nottinghamshire MP breaks the news on Twitter...
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Watch: The vote is announced for an election next monthpublished at 14:52 British Summer Time 19 April 2017
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General election vote: 522 MPs vote for the motionpublished at 14:50 British Summer Time 19 April 2017
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General election countdown beginspublished at 14:49 British Summer Time 19 April 2017
BBC political editor tweets...
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Snap election approved by MPspublished at 14:46 British Summer Time 19 April 2017
Breaking
The general election will be held on 8 June after MPs supported Theresa May's motion - with just 13 MPs voting against.
Watch: Will there be a general election on 8 June?published at 14:33 British Summer Time 19 April 2017
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MPs go to votepublished at 14:29 British Summer Time 19 April 2017
Division has been called and MPs are now going to vote on whether to hold a general election on 8 June.
Osborne's departure letterpublished at 14:29 British Summer Time 19 April 2017
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SDLP MP endorses NI peace process and opposes electionpublished at 14:29 British Summer Time 19 April 2017
House of Commons
Parliament
SDLP MP Mark Durkan says he will oppose the motion for an early election.
He suggests that Theresa May is saying she does not have confidence in Parliament and is claiming opposition parties have "all sorts of exaggerated powers" to block Brexit.
He adds that he is a supporter of the Good Friday Agreement, which was endorsed by referendum votes in both Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland.
"I am not a saboteur when it comes to anything that has been endorsed by a referendum," he tells the House.
Pro-Leave Labour MP says he will vote against an early electionpublished at 14:29 British Summer Time 19 April 2017
House of Commons
Parliament
Labour MP Roger Godsiff says he will not be voting with his party and will oppose the motion for an early election.
"I think it's totally unnecessary," he says, adding that he voted to leave the EU and has "a grudging respect" for the prime minister.
However, he claims Theresa May's argument that she needs "a mandate to negotiate Brexit is just ridiculous".
She received that mandate in last year's referendum, he argues.
'Extraordinary message' on Corbyn from Labour Co-op MPpublished at 14:21 British Summer Time 19 April 2017
BBC north west political editor tweets...
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Full statement on Gorton by-electionpublished at 14:17 British Summer Time 19 April 2017
BBC political reporter tweets...
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'Smattering' of Labour MPs oppose electionpublished at 14:17 British Summer Time 19 April 2017
BBC's assistant political editor tweets...
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Plaid Cymru MP says May's record is 'as straight as an EU banana'published at 14:17 British Summer Time 19 April 2017
House of Commons
Parliament
Hywel Williams, Plaid Cymru's leader in Westminster, claims that Theresa May's reversal over a general election proves her "record is about as straight as the legendary European Union banana".
He says his party will stand up for "social justice and a proper, confident place for Wales in the world".
Listen again: Arron Banks on standing in Clactonpublished at 14:09 British Summer Time 19 April 2017
BBC Essex tweets...
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Alan Johnson 'the best leader we never had'published at 13:59 British Summer Time 19 April 2017
Hull Daily Mail mourns for their retiring MP...
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Brexit 'huge potential' to be key dividing linepublished at 13:59 British Summer Time 19 April 2017
The World at One
BBC Radio 4
Media caption,
Leading psephologist says views on Brexit will most drive voters' general election choice
Leading political scientist Prof Jane Green says voters' views on Brexit has the potential to be the key influence on how they decide to vote in the coming general election.
The co-director of the British Election Study told Radio 4's The World at One that the traditional left-right axis in politics is on the wane and there is now an increasing volatility among the electorate.
Coalition leadership 'quad' down to onepublished at 13:59 British Summer Time 19 April 2017
ITV's political editor tweets...
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Vote for 16 and 17 year olds urgedpublished at 13:59 British Summer Time 19 April 2017
Co-leader of the Green Party tweets...
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