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. Voters back May's snap election call, poll findspublished at 19:45 British Summer Time 18 April 2017

    Voters believe Theresa May was right to call an early election, according to a poll carried out in the hours following her announcement. 

    Some 49% of more than 3,500 voters questioned by YouGov said the early poll was the right thing to do, against just 17% who disagreed.

  2. Man behind Tory 2015 election win is back againpublished at 19:24 British Summer Time 18 April 2017

    Lynton CrosbyImage source, Getty Images

    Election strategist Sir Lynton Crosby has been hired to run the Conservative Party's general election campaign, it is understood. 

    He is expected to play a leading role in the campaign alongside his colleague at CTF Partners, Mark Textor.

    Sir Lynton is credited with masterminding the Tories 2015 general election victory. 

    He also ran both of Boris Johnson's successful London mayoral campaigns. 

    However, his firm faced criticism for his handling of Zac Goldsmith's failed mayoral campaign last year, which was accused of being negative.

  3. Seeking stronger mandate is good move - Villierspublished at 19:03 British Summer Time 18 April 2017

    Quote Message

    I believe it is a sensible move. We need a strong and stable government not only to make a success of the Brexit process but to carry through all the other reforms the prime minister wants to make to ensure this genuinely is a country that works for everyone. Seeking a stronger mandate from the British people is a good way forward on that.

    Theresa Villiers, Conservative former Northern Ireland Secretary

  4. Dimbleby: 'Perilous' for PM to miss leader debatespublished at 18:52 British Summer Time 18 April 2017

    Radio 4 PM

    Media caption,

    David Dimbleby says it would be a 'dangerous policy' for Theresa May to avoid TV debate

    David Dimbleby says it would be a "dangerous policy" for Theresa May to avoid televised leaders' debates ahead of the general election. 

    He told Eddie Mair on Radio 4's PM programme that it would look "odd" if other parties put up leaders but not the Conservatives.  

  5. Salmond confirms intention to standpublished at 18:47 British Summer Time 18 April 2017

    Former Scottish First Minister and ex-SNP leader Alex Salmond confirmed his intention to stand in the election for the constituency of Gordon.

    Quote Message

    This is blatant opportunism by the prime minister who is looking to take advantage of the weakness of the Labour Party to legitimise her hard-Brexit agenda and shift the entire country to the right.

    Alex Salmond, Former Scottish first minister

  6. Manchester Gorton by-election likely to be cancelledpublished at 18:41 British Summer Time 18 April 2017

    The by-election for the Manchester Gorton seat was expected to take place on 4 May.

    But with Parliament expected to be dissolved the day before, there would be no House of Commons for an MP to be elected to.

    Commons Leader David Lidington said he expected the by-election to be scrapped. 

    He told MPs: "It is up to the judgment of the acting returning officer, whom one might expect to regard the by-election writ as having been superseded."

    Manchester's returning officer Joanne Roney said she was in discussions with the government and Electoral Commission about the situation.

  7. Election 2017: Parliamentary timelinepublished at 18:30 British Summer Time 18 April 2017

    With a maximum of seven working days left in this parliament, the BBC's parliamentary correspondent Mark D'Arcy gives the timeline in the run-up to the snap general election.

    Key dates are: 

    Wednesday 19 April: The debate on an early dissolution of Parliament. The other major event of the day will be PMQs.

    Tuesday 2 May: The final sitting day available to the Commons and Lords.  

    Wednesday 3 May: Dissolution day

    Thursday 4 May: Local and mayoral elections and (possibly) the Manchester Gorton by-election.

    Thursday 11 May: Deadline for nominations

    Monday 22 May: Deadline for registering to vote

    Thursday 8 June: Polling Day 

    Read more from Mark

  8. Labour election chief: 'We have a better vision for this country'published at 18:24 British Summer Time 18 April 2017

    Radio 4 PM

    Labour's general election co-ordinator Andrew Gwynne said his party is "aiming to form the next government". 

    Under questioning by Eddie Mair on Radio 4's PM programme, the MP said he had "every confidence" that Labour was "fighting to win".   

  9. Simon Danczuk urges Labour to reinstate himpublished at 18:16 British Summer Time 18 April 2017

    Suspended Labour MP Simon Danczuk has urged Labour to reinstate him to the party before the general election.

    He said his "strong track record" proves he is the "best placed person" to fight the election for the party.

    He was suspended in December 2015 following allegations about his private life.

    Simon Danczuk
  10. SNP MPs 'will not stand in way of election'published at 18:08 British Summer Time 18 April 2017

    BBC political correspondent says...

    This Twitter post cannot be displayed in your browser. Please enable Javascript or try a different browser.View original content on Twitter
    The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
    Skip twitter post

    Allow Twitter content?

    This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Twitter’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.

    The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
    End of twitter post
  11. PM receives 'rousing reception' from backbencherspublished at 18:03 British Summer Time 18 April 2017

    Theresa May set out her reasons for calling a snap election to Tory MPs as she addressed the backbench 1922 Committee.

    One Tory source told BBC News an election gives the prime minister a more recent mandate, which would be useful going into Brexit negotiations.

  12. FTSE 100 biggest one-day drop since Brexitpublished at 18:00 British Summer Time 18 April 2017

    The FTSE 100 saw its biggest one-day drop since the Brexit vote as the pound surged to a six-month high following the snap election announcement. 

    The index saw more than £45bn wiped off as it fell 2.4% to end the day at 7,147.5 points, marking its biggest one-day percentage fall since 24 June last year, when it lost 3.1%.  

  13. Listen: We have the 'national interest' at heart, says Ruddpublished at 17:48 British Summer Time 18 April 2017

    Radio 4 PM

    Home Secretary Amber Rudd says the Conservative Party has the national interest at heart. She told Radio 4's PM programme that using a snap election to seek a greater parliamentary majority would strengthen their Brexit negotiating position. 

    She refuted Eddie Mair's question that with this election, Theresa May appeared to be saying that "opposing government policy is opposing the national interest". 

  14. Hague: Election can provide 'good Conservative majority'published at 17:35 British Summer Time 18 April 2017

    BBC Radio 5 live tweets...

    This Twitter post cannot be displayed in your browser. Please enable Javascript or try a different browser.View original content on Twitter
    The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
    Skip twitter post

    Allow Twitter content?

    This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Twitter’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.

    The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
    End of twitter post
  15. General election: What you need to knowpublished at 17:28 British Summer Time 18 April 2017

    Ballot box

    What is a "snap" election, who is allowed to vote and how do you register to do so? 

    These questions, and more, are answered in our guide on what you need to know about the general election. 

    Read more

  16. PM heads to the Commons to address Tory MPspublished at 17:23 British Summer Time 18 April 2017

    Theresa May leaving Downing Street

    Theresa May has left Downing Street to head to the House of Commons, where she will address Conservative backbench MPs.

  17. Theresa May will not take part in TV leader debates - No 10published at 17:19 British Summer Time 18 April 2017
    Breaking

    Theresa May will not be taking part in any televised debates ahead of the election, Downing Street confirms.

    However, this does not mean that no debates will take place. 

  18. Bigger Tory majority 'unlikely to affect EU negotiations'published at 17:16 British Summer Time 18 April 2017

    BBC News correspondent Chris Morris says anyone who thinks winning an election strengthens a government's hand in EU negotiations should consider Alexis Tsipras in Greece. 

    He writes:

    Quote Message

    It didn’t work out well for the Greek prime minister and his anti-austerity campaign, and it is unlikely that it would make much difference in the Brexit negotiations to come.

    Quote Message

    If the opinion polls are correct (and seven weeks is a long time in politics), a bigger Tory majority would give Theresa May a stronger and clearer negotiating mandate.

    Quote Message

    But from the perspective of many in the EU, that would mean less chance of hard-line Brexiteers causing problems, rather than more chance of the UK winning greater concessions.

  19. Twelve times a PM got the job without a general electionpublished at 17:12 British Summer Time 18 April 2017

    This handy graphic shows how Britain has changed prime minister 24 times in the past century, half of those without a general election.

    Graphic on the 24 prime ministers in the past century
  20. Sturgeon: Broadcasters should 'empty chair' the PMpublished at 17:07 British Summer Time 18 April 2017

    Scotland's first minister also gives her views on suggestions Theresa May won't appear in televised election debates.

    This Twitter post cannot be displayed in your browser. Please enable Javascript or try a different browser.View original content on Twitter
    The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
    Skip twitter post

    Allow Twitter content?

    This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Twitter’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.

    The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
    End of twitter post