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

  1. Jeremy Corbyn: 'I welcome election'

    Jeremy Corbyn

    Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn welcomes the Prime Minister's decision to seek a snap general election and is "looking forward" to putting his party's case out to the people of Britain. 

    He said: 

    I welcome the opportunity for us to put the case to the people of Britain to stand up against this government and its failed economic agenda, which has left our NHS in problems, our schools underfunded and so many people uncertain.

    We want to put a case out there for the people of Britain of a society that cares for all, an economy that works for all and a Brexit that works for all.

    He said he was planning to start campaigning "straight away" and "looking forward" to taking Labour's message to "every single part of this country". 

    Asked if he would stand down if Labour loses, he added: 

    We are campaigning to win this election - that's the only question now.

  2. DUP's Arlene Foster on snap election

    In Northern Ireland, the Democratic Unionist Party leader Arlene Foster says:  

    The prime minister's decision to go to Parliament to seek a General Election on 8th June provides the people of Northern Ireland with the opportunity to vote for the Union.

    The forthcoming election will be an opportunity for unionists to unite around a strong Democratic Unionist Party that will advocate for them in Parliament."

  3. Listen: Election gives May Brexit mandate - Mann

    BBC Radio 5 live

    Theresa May’s decision to call a snap general election is an attempt to “give herself a new mandate to do what she wants on Brexit”, Labour MP John Mann has claimed.

    The Bassetlaw MP told 5 live Daily’s Adrian Chiles: "She was a strong remain supporter, along with all her key people like the Chancellor, Philip Hammond. And what she is trying to do is give herself flexibility and potentially overturn the Brexit referendum."

    "If she wins she will have a new mandate - she'll claim that mandate, and attempt to use that in that way."

    John Mann: A general election gives Theresa May mandate to "do what she wants” on Brexit.

  4. The MPs who won't be standing

    Tom Blenkinstop, Labour MP for Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland, says he will not stand in the snap general election, but several MPs previously said they wouldn't stand, whenever the next election was called. 

    They are - for Labour, Jim Fitzpatrick in Poplar and Limehouse, Pat Glass in North West Durham and Ronnie Campbell in Blyth Valley.

    And for the Conservatives, Oliver Letwin in West Dorset, Kenneth Clarke in Rushcliffe, and Simon Burns in Chelmsford. 

  5. May 'spoke to Queen over Easter'

    Number 10 says Prime Minister Theresa May spoke to the Queen on Easter Monday before announcing her plan for an early vote. 

  6. 'Enormous opportunity' for Lib Dems

    BBC Radio 5 live

    Liberal Democrat MP Alistair Carmichael says the snap election is an "enormous opportunity" for his party. 

    The MP for Orkney and Shetland said Theresa May's decision was "a colossal piece of opportunism... doing something that she had denied she was going to do for months." 

    "If she wants to fight this election campaign on the basis of Brexit then there is only one party that is actually going to stand in the way of the hard Brexit that she wants to see," he told BBC Radio 5 live.

  7. Political reaction to May's timing

    The Daily Politics

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  8. 'Astonishment here in Westminster'

    BBC Radio 5 live

    Lucy Fisher, senior political correspondent with The Times, told BBC Radio 5 live there was "astonishment" in Westminster - not just for calling the snap election, but for keeping it "secret"."The government has insisted very staunchly not only that there won't be an early election... there certainly wouldn't be a snap election," she said.

    "[Theresa May] promised she wouldn't do this with Brexit going on. Is calling a general election going to create more instability for the country?"   

  9. Your reaction: Why now?

    Thousands of people have been reacting to today's announcement on the BBC News Facebook page.

    Chris Yorke writes:

    Master stroke by May. Labour is in turmoil. What better time to call a general election?

    Heidi Fowler is anticipating a Conservative victory.

    It's a great idea. They are 21 points ahead in the polls. They wouldn't call it unless they were pretty certain of winning.

    James Stenlake thinks the announcement should have come earlier.

    About time. There should have been one when David Cameron resigned.

  10. Join the conversation on Snapchat

    What do voters think about a snap election?

    We are talking to them on Snapchat. Join the conversation!

    You can also follow our BBC News Twitter feed here.

    And check for our Facebook updates here. 

  11. Why does May want a snap election ?

    Why has Theresa May called a snap election?

    The BBC's chief political correspondent Norman Smith on why Theresa May wants a snap election.

  12. Communications director: Election a 'good decision'

    Here's some more from political blogger Guido Fawkes on why Katie Perrior, Downing Street's head of communications, has handed in her notice. 

    Guido Fawkes Facebook pageGuido Fawkes/Facebook

  13. John Curtice: May taking a 'fair old gamble'

    Polling expert John Curtice says Mrs May is taking a “fair old gamble” because she wants to “win big” at the election - and not just win - but to increase the size of her majority.

    If her lead in the polls narrows, he says, her majority in the House of Commons "may not be that big".

    The “crucial question”, he adds, is whether Jeremy Corbyn can unite the Labour party around his leadership and Brexit. 

  14. Prime minister's election statement

    Theresa MayEPA

    You can read Prime Minister Theresa May's election statement in full here.

  15. Resignation within Number 10

    Reports that the head of communications at Downing Street is stepping down.

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  16. Watch: Theresa May's statement in full

    Theresa May's announcement on calling a snap general election for 8 June

  17. Corbyn says Labour offers 'effective alternative'

    Jeremy CorbynPA

    Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn issues a statement welcoming Theresa May's decision.

    Labour will be offering the country an effective alternative to a government that has failed to rebuild the economy, delivered falling living standards and damaging cuts to our schools and NHS.

    In the last couple of weeks, Labour has set out policies that offer a clear and credible choice for the country. We look forward to showing how Labour will stand up for the people of Britain.

  18. Labour MP: Election gives May 'new mandate'

    BBC Radio 5 live tweets...

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  19. Theresa May in 2016: I am not going to be calling a snap election

    The Andrew Marr Show

    If a week is the often-touted 'long time in politics', then seven months is a game-changer. 

    Here's the prime minister in September 2016 telling the BBC's Andrew Marr she would not be calling a snap election.

    Watch a clip of the interview, here.

    Theresa May and Andrew Marr

  20. Sturgeon: 'Let's stand up for Scotland'

    First Minister of Scotland and SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon says calling a general election is the PM trying to "move the UK to the right".

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