"I have never felt more proud and honoured than when representing my Essex constituents in the House of Commons.

Over the past 12 years I have had great fun working with, and getting to know, many wonderful local people. Together, we ran all sorts of local campaigns, from safeguarding local services to getting a new seafront. Local has always come first.

As I promised in my maiden speech, I have done everything possible to ensure we got, and won, a referendum to leave the European Union - even changing parties and triggering a by election to help nudge things along. Last summer, we won that referendum. Britain is going to become a sovereign country again.

I have decided that I will not now be seeking re-election. I intend to vote Conservative ‪on June 8th and will be offering my full support to whoever the Clacton Constituency Conservatives select as their candidate.

It is sometimes said that all political careers end in failure. It doesn't feel like that to me today. I have stood for Parliament five times, won four times, and helped win the referendum last June. Job done. I'm delighted.

Having been an MP for about half my adult life, I believe that it is time for me to move on to other things. I look forward to being able to read newspapers without appearing in them.

It has been the highest honour to have represented Clacton in the House of Commons."

Image source, Getty Images

In a statement, Mr Carswell - who switched allegiance from the Conservative Party to UKIP in 2014 - said it was time for him "to move on to other things".

He said he would be supporting the Conservative candidate in Clacton during the 8 June poll.

If Mr Carswell had defended the seat, he would have faced former UKIP party donor Arron Banks.

Douglas Carswell, the former UKIP MP who became an independent, will not seek re-selection in his Clacton constituency, he said.

Instead, Mr Carswell says he will support the Conservatives in the General Election.

House of Commons
Parliament

Independent MP Natalie McGarry, who was taken ill during Prime Minister's Questions yesterday, thanks those who helped her.

The pregnant MP was treated by ambulance staff after fainting at Westminster.

She thanks Conservative MP Graham Evans and SNP MP Carol Monaghan for assisting her, as well as "the wonderful Commons staff and medics for their usual excellent care".

Image source, PA

The Green Party is set to claim it is ready to fight its "boldest" election campaign yet with "an amazing selection of candidates" up and down the country.

At a launch event in Bristol, co-leader Jonathan Bartley will talk about how the Greens will have its sights on free education, a living wage for all and investment in mental health services.

The party is also calling for votes for 16 and 17-year-olds.

Mr Bartley is expected to say:

Labour should commit to holding a referendum ratifying the final deal on Brexit, Green Party co-leader Caroline Lucas has said.

The Greens only MP also urged Labour to make it clear whether they support Britain's continued membership of the single market.

“Labour should immediately commit to holding a ratification referendum," she said.

Image source, PA

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has vowed to "overturn the rigged system" by putting power and wealth back in the hands of "the people".

In his first major general election speech, he said 8 June's poll was not a "foregone conclusion" and Labour could defy the "Establishment experts".

A Labour government would not "play by their rules," he added.

Theresa May is hoping to convert the Tories' double digit poll lead into a bigger Commons majority.

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Paulette Edwards
Presenter, BBC Radio Sheffield

Unless you've been living in a bunker, you'll know that a snap general election has been called.

For some people it will be their first ever trip to the ballot box - and for Jack Crofts, from Stocksbridge, it'll be three years earlier than he thought.

So has he decided where his first "X" will be on Thursday 8 June?:

The woman who brought the successful legal challenge against the government over Brexit has raised over £120,000 in a crowdfunding campaign to stop what she calls an "extreme Brexit".

Businesswoman Gina Miller's fundraising page aims to raise £135,000 to support election candidates who campaign for a final vote on Brexit and reject any deal "that leaves Britain worse off".

The investment manager was the lead plaintiff in the Supreme Court battle that ruled that Parliament had to vote on whether the government could start the Brexit process.

House of Commons
Parliament

Labour MP Gisela Stuart, who played a key role in the Vote Leave campaign ahead of last year's EU referendum, tells MPs: "I will be on the campaign trail but I will not be returning to this Parliament."

She says the next government "has to implement the will of the people as expressed on 23 June last year".

She ends by paraphrasing Nancy Astor: "I will miss the House more than the House will miss me."

David Lidington assures her that many people will remember "her and her contributions for a very long time".

Slough MP, Fiona Mactaggart has announced she will not stand in June's snap election.  

She had served as a Slough MP for 20 years - since 1997.

In a letter, she said: "I have decided to give someone else a chance to do the wonderful job which I have been privileged to hold for so long.  I know I’ll miss it, and I didn’t want this to happen so fast.  

"I foolishly believed the prime minister when she said again and again that she wouldn’t call an early election." 

Esther Webber
BBC News

A Lib Dem spokesman has told the BBC the party has selected around 500 candidates already, with about 100 still to be chosen by local parties.

The spokesman claimed they were "way ahead" of other parties in the selection process.

In line with changes made to party rules under Tim Farron, the retirement of Southport MP John Pugh will mean an all-women shortlist in that constituency.

Image source, PA

Former Labour MP Bob Marshall-Andrews has defected to the Lib Dems after describing Jeremy Corbyn's party as a "political basket case".

Mr Marshall-Andrews told The Times he had jumped ship in light of the Brexit campaign and Labour's refusal to stand aside in the Richmond Park by-election.

The QC and barrister was MP for Medway from 1997 to 2010.

A Labour spokesman said: "Bob Marshall-Andrews has not been a member of the Labour Party for some years."

Lib Dem leader Tim Farron said he was "coming over to the only party that is offering a credible opposition to a divisive Tory Brexit government".

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House of Commons
Parliament

Speaker John Bercow announces that the unveiling of a memorial to Jo Cox will be rescheduled as the original date falls during the election campaign, after Parliament has been dissolved.

He says the occasion will take place "very soon" after the election.

The plaque was due to be unveiled on 20 May as part of a "family day" in Parliament, when MPs and staff were to be invited to bring their children into the Commons chamber.

House of Commons
Parliament

Image source, PA

Shadow leader of the House Valerie Vaz pays tribute to the people who lost their lives in the Westminster terrorist attack on 22 March and to "our beloved colleague Jo Cox", who was murdered last year.

"She should be fighting this election," Ms Vaz says.

She criticises the Theresa May and other ministers for making major statements outside Parliament rather than to MPs, joking to the Speaker: "They seem to be afraid of you. I find you very personable myself."

Ms Vaz ends by paying tribute to MPs who are standing down and adds: "It's been an absolute privilege to be the shadow leader of the House."

House of Commons
Parliament

Leader of the House David Lidington announces the forthcoming Commons business.

He says a number of bills will be considered and "the House will not adjourn" until Royal Assent has been granted for those bills, meaning they will become law.

However, he conceded that this is "probably going to be the last weekly business statement" of the current Parliament.

He thanks the staff of the House of Commons and pays tribute to all MPs who are standing down at the general election.

Image source, EPA

European Parliament President Antonio Tajani said he was "optimistic" after his meeting with Prime Minister Theresa May.

He said he will "strongly defend" European citizens' rights during the UK's exit negotiations and said Mrs May was "in favour" of the defence of citizen's rights.

"This is a good start in my opinion. We have the same position," he told a press conference in London.

He said: "The final vote on the exit [of the UK from the EU] is the vote of the European Parliament, probably at the beginning of 2019. We vote yes or no."

Mr Tajani said the meeting with Mrs May was "very positive" on other points including action against terrorism and foreign policy.

He said he invited Mrs May to address the European Parliament, which will "probably" now be after the UK's general election.

"My opinion is the UK will be a friend we need to pave the way during the debate on the exit for good relations after the Brexit," he said.

"This is very, very important for us we want to co-operate against terrorism… we have the same values... I am optimistic."

He said he would like a "framework for the [UK's] exit" before the end of the year.

BBC News Channel

BBC assistant political editor Norman Smith said Jeremy Corbyn wants to pitch the General Election as the "people v the establishment".

He wants to style himself as the leader standing up for the little guy, fighting for the underdog, the outsider, Norman said.

"Does it reach out to middle England, middle Britian, floating voters and those who are not that engaged?" Norman asks, adding that this "unspun message" might appeal to some people, in the same way Donald Trump did in the US.

However, he adds that "the big risk is if he's called this wrong" - that it is a message that will shore up the party faithful and not those outside the party.

Norman noted that Brexit was not a key part of Mr Corbyn's speech.

Are traditional marginal seats off the table for Labour and seats such as Bridgend at risk?

Jeremy Corbyn attracted a standing ovation when he pushed aside claims that Labour was a tainted brand.

He received a standing ovation as he said: "We're bigger than we're ever been, stronger than we've ever been and more determined than we've ever been."