Today Programme
BBC Radio 4

The shadow housing secretary has criticised Boris Johnson for calling Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn a "mutton-headed, ol mugwump", saying it "demeaned the position of foreign secretary". 

John Healey said it was the kind of "look at me name-calling you would expect in an Eton playground". When asked what kind of a leader Jeremy Corbyn would be, he answered: "He will lead a Labour government that will make a real difference to this country."  

Image source, PA

Boris Johnson has defended his personal attack on Jeremy Corbyn saying there is a "risk" people won't "see the threat that he presents".

Speaking on BBC Breakfast, he said with the threat coming from North Korea, a nuclear deterrent was "vital" and it seemed "incredible" that a potential prime minister would discard the weapons.

He said it was "extraordinary" Mr Corbyn had "campaigned not just against Nato but has said he would get rid our armed forces" at a time when Russia is "throwing its weight around".

It was a busy night for the main parties, who selected some of their candidates for the general election.

The big news was that former London mayoral candidate Zac Goldsmith was chosen by the Conservatives to stand for Parliament in his old constituency of Richmond.

Mr Goldsmith, who became a father again on Tuesday, was ousted as an MP during a by-election in December.

He had previously left the Conservative Party in protest at the government's backing of a third Heathrow runway. 

In his acceptance speech, he said: "This is what it feels like to win an election."

On Wednesday, Theresa May and Jeremy Corbyn clashed over the "choice" facing voters in the final PMQs before the general election.  

The prime minister claimed a win for Labour would mean a "chaotic Brexit" but Mr Corbyn said the Tories were "strong against the weak and weak against the strong".  

Mrs May also declined to confirm the so-called triple lock on state pensions would be kept in place.

With the general election on 8 June, the exchange could have been the last between Mrs May and Mr Corbyn. 

And it is thought to have been the longest on record, lasting for about 58 minutes.

Labour has attacked the Tories' record on housing and pledged to build a million homes if it gets into power.

It says figures show Labour councils have out-built Tory councils by an average of nearly 1,000 new homes since 2010.

It also claims affordable housebuilding is at a 24-year low, and there are 200,000 fewer homeowners than in 2010.

On a visit to Harlow, Essex, later, Jeremy Corbyn will say seven years of "Conservative failure" shows they will "never fix the housing crisis".

Image source, AFP/Getty

Both Theresa May and Jeremy Corbyn are out campaigning today ahead of the election.

The prime minister will be visiting East Midlands and Yorkshire, while the Labour leader will be in Essex discussing Labour's housing policy.

Image source, PA/AFP

Boris Johnson is making the headlines this morning after he used his first intervention in the election campaign to mount the Conservatives' most personal attack yet on Jeremy Corbyn.

Writing in The Sun,, external the foreign secretary accused the Labour leader of being a threat to the UK and described him as a "mutton-headed, old mugwump".

He accused Mr Corbyn of being reluctant to use lethal force, opposing nuclear weapons and campaigning against Nato.

Labour said Mr Johnson was "delusional" and Brexit will hurt the UK's standing.  

Good morning from the BBC politics live team.

We are here to bring you all the news on prorogation day - which marks the formal end of the parliamentary session.

Here's a round-up of the stories you are waking up to:

• Boris Johnson has used his first intervention in the election campaign to attack Jeremy Corbyn - describing him as a "mutton-headed old mugwump"
• Zac Goldsmith is re-selected as Tory candidate for Richmond Park
• Theresa May and Jeremy Corbyn clashed over the "choice" facing voters in the final PMQs before the general election 
• The PM met the EU's chief Brexit negotiator for "constructive" talks in Downing Street ahead of Saturday's EU summit

Here's a round-up of Wednesday's main stories.

• Theresa May and Jeremy Corbyn clashed over the "choice" facing voters in the final PMQs before the general election. 
• The PM met the EU's chief Brexit negotiator for "constructive" talks in Downing Street ahead of Saturday's EU summit
• Zac Goldsmith is re-selected as Tory candidate for Richmond Park
• Lib Dems sack David Ward as candidate over Israel remarks
• Labour leader says he won't do TV debates without Theresa May

It's been a big night for those aspiring to become an MP without Labour and the Conservatives selecting a tranche of candidates.

LABOUR

Steph Peacock: Barnsley East seat

Emma Hardy: Hull West and Hessle

Ellie Reeves: Lewisham West and Penge

Alex Norris: Nottingham North, 

CONSERVATIVE

Esther MacVey: Tatton

Zac Goldsmith: Richmond Park.

Nick de Bois: Enfield North.

Lee Scott: Ilford North.

Julie Dockerhill: Hornchurch and Upminster

Joy Morrisey: Ealing Central.

Chris Adams: Bishop Auckland.

Simon Fell: Barrow and Furness.

Jane Hunt: Nottingham South.

Image source, PA

The Lib Dems will not be fielding a candidate in Brighton Pavilion, where the Green Party leader Caroline Lucas is hoping to retain her seat.

The party said the move was designed to support the wider challenge to Theresa May's government over Brexit.

Party president Sal Brinton said.

There has been talk of a "progressive alliance" in certain seats to give candidates best placed to take on the Conservatives a clearer run.

The Green Party did not field a candidate in the Richmond Park by-election earlier this year, which helped the Lib Dems win the seat.

But Labour have dismissed any talk of candidates standing aside.

Of the 24 twitter profiles the Best for Britain account is following - six belong to reality television stars that have appeared in The Only Way is Essex.

Rio Ferdinand, Lord Sugar and Anthony Joshua also make the list.

Boris Johnson is about to address a white tie audience of foreign diplomats at the Mansion House in central London.

According to extracts of his speech released in advance, the foreign secretary will speak of the need for strong leadership in the current "unstable and uncertain times".

Although he is not expected to mention Jeremy Corbyn, he will highlight Theresa May's commitment to maintain the UK's Trident nuclear system and determination to keep the transatlantic alliance as the "bedrock of global security". 

Former Conservative MP Zac Goldsmith has been chosen to fight the Richmond Park seat at the general election.

The BBC's London political editor Tim Donovan said he won more than half of the vote in a ballot of Tories in the south-west London seat.

He was up against Luke Parker - the party's 2015 general election candidate in Brent North - and Laura Farris, a barrister.

Mr Goldsmith resigned from the party and stood as an independent in a by-election before Christmas, in protest at the government's decision to give the go-ahead to the expansion of Heathrow Airport.

But he lost to Lib Dem Sarah Olney, who is standing for re-election.

Paul Rowley
BBC Political Correspondent

The word "strong" or "stronger" was used 60 times during PMQs this afternoon.

Theresa May used it 38 times, while the Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn used it six times.

Among Conservative MPs to add to the tally, were former minister Sir Simon Burns, Michael Fabricant and Byron Davies.

The phrases "strong and stable leadership " or "strong and stable government" - were used 11 times by the prime minister and five times by others.

BBC News Channel

Journalist Iain Martin believes "no one is going to miss" the weekly encounters between Theresa May and Jeremy Corbyn should they come to an end after the general election.

"The political press-pack will be glad to see the back of that pairing," he tells the BBC.

There have, however, been a few memorable clashes between the two over the past nine months. Here's a look back at some of them.

House of Lords
Parliament

Britons who have lived abroad for more than 15 years will not be allowed to vote in June's general election, ministers have confirmed.

The government has agreed in principle to scrap the existing 15-year expat eligibility rule but Cabinet Office spokesman Lord Young said legislation doing so would not be introduced before the snap poll.

He said it was inevitable that some legislative proposals would be lost as a result of Theresa May's decision to call a snap election.

Lib Dem peer Baroness Walmsley said thousands of "disenfranchised expats" would be upset at the decision.

The campaign to give all British expats the right to vote, irrespective of when they left the UK, has been led by 96-year old World War Two veteran Harry Shindler.