Ben Weisz
Political reporter, BBC Sussex

Sussex's only Labour MP Peter Kyle has ruled out an electoral pact with the Greens in Brighton & Hove. 

Some had called for Labour not to field a candidate in Brighton Pavilion - held by Green MP Caroline Lucas - and in exchange, the Greens would stand aside for Labour in Hove and Brighton Kemptown. 

But Peter Kyle told me that, while it made sense for Labour to focus more resources on fighting Tory-held Kemptown than Green-held Pavilion, he would not do a deal with the Greens, and Caroline Lucas would face a Labour opponent on June 8th. 

Theresa May has rejected Jeremy Corbyn's characterisation of the general election as the "people against the Establishment" and an "ego trip" for the PM.

Speaking on a campaign visit to Enfield, she said the election was about "ensuring that we have strong and stable leadership in this country" and strengthening the government's hand in Brexit talks.

She criticised the Labour leader's response to questions about Brexit earlier and gives another airing to the Tories' "coalition of chaos" attack line.

Image source, PA

Gerard Coyne - the man challenging Len McCluskey for the leadership of Unite - has been suspended from his job as a regional official with the union.

The move comes as counting is about to get under way in the union's leadership ballot.

Mr Coyne, who is seen as the anti-Jeremy Corbyn candidate, has been suspended as West Midlands regional secretary pending an investigation.

He is not thought to have been suspended as a union member.

Read more

Today Programme
BBC Radio 4

More on the decision by shadow Scottish and Northern Ireland secretary Dave Anderson to stand down at the election.

The MP for Blaydon in north-east England said he would campaign for the party's new candidate and the "positive policy platform" set out by leader Jeremy Corbyn. 

Mr Anderson, 63, who was was first elected in 2005, said: "I have reluctantly decided that for reasons of health, age and my family's needs, I cannot commit to another five years in Parliament."

He described the election as a "cynical attempt by the Tories to put their interests before our country".

Read more: Shadow Scottish secretary to stand down

A total of 13 MPs voted against an early general election. We look at who they are and why they said no.

Douglas Carswell says he thinks he’ll be “the first and the last elected UKIP MP” - and revealed he nearly announced his intention to stand down following last year's EU referendum.

The now independent Clacton MP says he will not be standing in the snap UK General Election on 8 June.

Mr Carswell, who defected to UKIP from the Conservatives three years ago, said he felt UKIP's job had been achieved. "Britain is about to become a sovereign country again," he said. "I feel I’ve done what I set out to do.”

He now supports Theresa May, he said, adding: “I think she will deliver the sort of Brexit I want.”

Asked if he would like to have been the Conservative candidate for Clacton, he commented: “I’ve never sought and never asked for the nomination.

“I very nearly announced my departure from UKIP and my intention to stand down on June 24th last year… I was quite close to doing it.”

Pressed on whether he would consider a return to politics, he said: “Perhaps if we were dragged back into the European Union [but] that’s not going to happen. No, I’d never rule anything out but I genuinely would like to go on and do other things with my life.” 

Mr Carswell, who used to work in fund management, would not give specifics on what he will do next but did say: “I would love to be able to read the papers without necessarily being in them.”

The King of Spain's state visit - scheduled for 6-8 June - to the UK is likely to be rescheduled because of the election.

Spain's foreign minister Alfonso Dastis said it would be inappropriate for it to take place during that period.

King Felipe VI accepted an invitation from the Queen in March. He was due to make a state visit to the UK in March 2016 but this was postponed because of a political crisis in his country.  

A Downing Street spokesman said: "We are in discussions with the Spanish about plans for the visit and will make an announcement in due course."

Image source, AFP

Rules restricting government activity in the run-up to an election - known as "purdah" - will come into force at midnight on Friday, MPs have been told.

The restrictions stop the announcement of major policy changes during the absence of Parliament.

Commons Leader David Lidington said: "While ministers will be free in the next, probably, about 24 hours, to make a number of statements, as soon as the purdah rules come into play, which I'm expecting to happen tomorrow, then the government machine is prohibited, because it must maintain impartiality during an election period."

Wales First Minister Carwyn Jones says Labour is "offering a better alternative" to voters but has a "mountain to climb".

Mr Jones made his first appearance since the announcement of a snap poll for 8 June was called.

Campaigning in Bridgend, Mr Jones said his party would need to tailor its message according to which nation it campaigns in.

"What the Tories offer is the same old same old," he said. 

Read more: Labour has 'mountain to climb'

David Dimbleby will host the BBC's 2017 general election programme in June.

News presenter Huw Edwards had been expected to front the show after Dimbleby said 2015 would be his final time presenting the results coverage.

It will be the 78-year-old's 10th time hosting the programme, having first fronted it in 1979 when Margaret Thatcher became prime minister.

Read more: David Dimbleby to host BBC election night show

Green Party co-leader, Caroline Lucas, has criticised Labour for rejecting a referendum on any Brexit deal.

She said Labour was "letting down Britain" through the decision and it was a "real shame" that the party would "plough ahead with Brexit without giving people the final say".

"With the Tories already hurtling us towards an extreme Brexit the Labour Party must now make clear whether or not they support Britain’s continued membership of the single market or if they, like the government, are willing to sacrifice this country’s prosperity at the altar of stopping freedom of movement," she said.

She said the Green Party opposed "an extreme Brexit".

I've been dusting off my copies of the 2015 manifestos in search of clues for what the parties might promise this time.

Elly Fiorentini
BBC Radio York

A new bill named after missing York chef Claudia Lawrence may not make it into law because of the snap general election. 

The Guardianship Bill, known as "Claudia's Law" had its final reading in the House of Commons last month. 

It would provide relatives of missing people with certain controls over their financial affairs.

Image source, North Yorkshire Police

However, if it doesn't get through the House of Lords next week, supporters will have to start over again in the next parliament.  

Image source, PA

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon and Scottish Tory leader Ruth Davidson have clashed over the election at the weekly First Minister's Questions session.

The SNP campaign will attempt to portray the UK under a Conservative government as "hell on earth", Ms Davidson claimed.

Ms Sturgeon responded by warning about the damage an "unfettered, out-of-control Tory government can do".

Read more: SNP accused of talking 'trash' about UK

Sir Gerald Howarth, Conservative MP for Aldershot, has announced he will not be standing in the election.

In a statement, he said: "It is with some sadness that last night I informed the Chairman and Officers of the Aldershot and North Hampshire Conservative Association that I shall not be seeking re-election at the forthcoming general election.

"It has been a huge privilege to have represented, as their Member of Parliament, the people of Aldershot for the past 20 years, and the people of Cannock and Burntwood for nine years before that."

Sir Gerald, who served under Margaret Thatcher as Parliamentary Private Secretary, said he had "witnessed momentous changes" in the country over the past 34 years.

He said he was also "honoured" to serve as a defence minister in the coalition government from 2010 to 2012.

Image source, Conservative Party