While many MPs are prepare to launch their re-election bids, former Conservative leadership contender Rory Stewart is gearing up to be London mayor.

In a piece in today's City AM,, external he explains why he is stepping down as an MP to focus his attention on the capital.

"I find Westminster increasingly depressing as it loses more and more of its meaning and purpose in stale divisive rows," he writes.

"Between now and Christmas I will walk through as many London boroughs as I can", he says, continuing his unorthodox campaign tactics which he's dubbed "RoryWalks".

Image source, REUTERS & UK PARLIAMENT

Boris Johnson has restored the whip to 10 of the 21 Tory MPs who rebelled against him over Brexit last month.

So who is back in the fold?

The list includes Sir Nicholas Soames, Caroline Nokes, Richard Benyon, Stephen Hammond, Steve Brine, Alistair Burt, Greg Clark, Richard Harrington, Ed Vaizey and Margot James.

But 11 MPs are still outside the parliamentary Conservative Party, including ex-chancellor Philip Hammond.

Contrary to earlier reports, Amber Rudd, the former home secretary, has yet to have the whip restored.

Today Programme
BBC Radio 4

Expanding on her announcement yesterday that she would stand down, Liberal Democrat MP Heidi Allen says there were two main reasons for the decision.

"One, it feels like utter stalemate in Parliament. The whole reason I got into politics is because I wanted to make a difference but I just feel like I haven't been able to do that for a long time."

She adds the "second big reason" is the "unbelievable amount of loss of privacy" and the "nastiness that is out there".

"You are attacked on a daily basis - on email, on social media, people shout at you in the street.

"It's become absolutely vile.

"I thought I could carry on, then I had a particularly nasty email last week and thought: 'You know what? Nobody in their working place should have to put up with this.'"

Asked what the email was about, Ms Allen says: "It was about me killing a baby because I'd had an abortion."

BBC Breakfast

"Let's make it clear there will be no deals, no coalition," says Labour's shadow chancellor John McDonnell, talking about the upcoming election.

"We will go in as a majority government," he tells BBC Breakfast.

"If we don’t win an overall majority, we will have a minority government.

"We will put out our policies, we will implement them and if the Libs or whoever else don’t want to support a £10 living wage, if they don’t want to support our anti-austerity measures, invest in the NHS and all the rest, if they vote against them then we will go back to the people.”

“We will win that election. We will win it under Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership."

The Liberal Democrats' new Facebook adverts feature leader Jo Swinson, although the party is yet to decide on its favourite photo of her.

Image source, Reuters

Confused about what all this talk of an election means? Well don't worry, the BBC has it covered.

The UK's main parties are gearing up for a general election on 12 December.

These national votes, to choose a government to run the country, are supposed to be held every five years. But this would be the third since 2015.

A total of 650 people will be chosen as members of Parliament (MPs), to decide laws and policies.

MPs are elected to the House of Commons, one of two chambers of Parliament in London, where the government is based.

Continue reading our simple guide to the election here.

Contrary to some reports, Amber Rudd, who resigned the Tory whip voluntarily, has not yet been restored to the party.

Laura Kuenssberg
BBC political editor

Both the main parties are very, very nervous about what might unfold in an election.

Of course, on the other side, there's great opportunity - particularly for the smaller parties.

But the main parties are right to be nervous. Both their leaders - in a strange mirror of each other - are happy campaigners, out on the trail, but divisive characters.

Both of them will try to set the agenda, but they can't know where this will all take us.

They can't know if it will be their pet issues they are able to talk about - and that's the glory of elections.

It's up to our readers and every other voter in the country to set the terms, to decide the things that they care about, that they're interested in, that they will put politicians on the spot about.

Former Conservative MP Dominic Grieve, who is now an independent, tells the Today programme the UK could end up in a "dangerous" position if Boris Johnson wins the upcoming election.

BBC Breakfast

Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell explains about the confusion in last night's vote, which led to 104 Labour MPs abstaining after receiving a text message from the whips telling them to do so.

"There was confusion all round," he says.

"There were earlier votes to amend the bill. And sometimes you have a formal vote, where you walk through lobbies, other times you just have a shout, yes or no.

"Sometimes the whips from all parties can't keep up with the process.

"The text goes out, it's too late."

Today Programme
BBC Radio 4

Mr Hancock offers a preview of the Conservative election campaign theme as he says a "vote for any other party" will bring "more dither and delay".

He says that "what we're proposing is to be able to deliver Brexit on a deal and then we move onto" domestic issues such as NHS and schools funding.

Perhaps still smarting from the effects of the last coalition they entered, the Liberal Democrats are not looking to go into power with either the Conservatives or Labour.

Today Programme
BBC Radio 4

Health Secretary Matt Hancock says he is "certainly not yearning for a general election and hasn't been but it's the only way to move the country forward".

He says he does not think there is anyone in the country who does not think Boris Johnson has done all he can to secure Brexit.

Mr Hancock refuses to apologise for failing to deliver Brexit on 31 October - saying it is "Parliament that blocked Brexit".

Tonia Antoniazzi was one of the Labour MPs who abstained in last night's vote for a general election.

"I was very disappointed at the way the prime minister has played his cards," she says.

"I think he's holding us to ransom, I think it's a really dangerous position and it's not the right time."

She adds that while Jeremy Corbyn is her party leader and "the man for the job", she thinks "we are going to win and lose seats across the United Kingdom".

"I'm not scared of a general election," she adds.

What do Tuesday's developments mean? The BBC's Helen Catt explains.

BBC Breakfast

Antoinette Sandbach, a former Tory MP who now sits as an independent, had the whip removed after rebelling against the government last month.

Some Tories got the whip back on Tuesday but she didn't.

"I haven't got the whip back. And I'm not sure if I'd expect to get it back," she says.

She adds that she abstained in last night's election vote, as she believes the UK needs a confirmatory referendum on the Brexit deal.

Asked by BBC Breakfast if she is concerned about what seems to be a toxic atmosphere surrounding the Brexit debate, she replies: "I am concerned because I have to go out there and knock on doors."

She says she has received "vile threats against not only me but also against my family" and adds: "You never know what's on the other side of the door.

"I think that's been a huge shame that we have lost our reputation. Being British means being polite and treating each other with respect."

Our poll tracker measures how people say they are going to vote at the next general election.

The latest snapshot shows the Conservatives are on around 36%, Labour on 24%, with the Lib Dems on 18% and the Brexit Party on 11%.

But remember, opinion polls can often differ greatly from final results in an election.

Read more here.

Today Programme
BBC Radio 4

Mr McDonnell says the country needs a "sensible immigration policy".

He claims "crops are rotting in the ground because we can't get the labour".

In a preview of likely themes of the Labour election campaign he says "wages are still below the level of the economic crash" and that "we're going into the worst winter NHS crisis that we'll face in this country".

Today Programme
BBC Radio 4

Shadow chancellor John McDonnell predicts Labour will have a majority in the Commons by Christmas.

"I can't think of a better Christmas present," he says.

He describes Jeremy Corbyn as "one of the best campaigners I've ever seen".

He adds that Labour will "bring both sides" of the Brexit debate together through a second referendum where remain and leave will be options.

Conservative MP Mims Davies, a junior minister in the Department for Work and Pensions, confirms she won't be seeking re-election.

The Eastleigh MP says she "must now seek [a] different path".