well, it's out of. the blue, isn't it? i thought it was the autumn. i am really pleased to hear we are having a general election, i think it's about time. i thought he would leave it a bit longer or as long as possible. as campaigning begins for 650 seats here at westminster, we'll take you through a dramatic day as early rumours turned into a trip to the palace. over the next 45 minutes, we'll have the view from every uk nation and look at the political battleground as parties try to capture your vote. also coming up: paula vennells — former post office chief executive — appears at the inquiry into the scandal, admitting to mistakes and apologising: i fully accept now that the post office — excuse me...

on bbc london, police investigating the grenfell fire show us thousands of pieces of evidence taken from the tower, but say no charges are likely until 2026. good evening from downing street, where we learned this afternoon that a uk general election will take place in six weeks on thursday the 4th ofjuly. rishi sunak�*s surprise move came after official figures showed inflation falling again. he says he will fight for every vote, while the labour leader sir keir starmer said the country was ready for change. on the programme tonight, we'll hear from correspondents across the uk on the key issues — and from voters in one marginal seat, bury north.

with campaigning already under way, we'll take you through what to expect in the coming weeks — including how we'll cover the main issues here on the bbc. first tonight — our political editor chris masonjoins me. he saw all of the developments of the day, and it turned out to be quite a day. the day, and it turned out to be quite a day-— the day, and it turned out to be uuite a da . ,, . , ., quite a day. quite a day, where that word surprise _ quite a day. quite a day, where that word surprise that _ quite a day. quite a day, where that word surprise that you _ quite a day. quite a day, where that word surprise that you just - quite a day. quite a day, where that word surprise that you just used - quite a day. quite a day, where that word surprise that you just used is l word surprise that you just used is the key one, the key one for people around the country and the key one in this post code. it was a little over 2a hours ago that i started to get a sense from texts i was getting from different corners of government that something was going on in there, and then i quickly established that yes, something was because the kind of people i speak to every day in myjob were suddenly not willing to pick up the phone. that went on for hours. then the choreography that would lead to a likely announcement fell into place,

and then we found out what we found out at teatime in the driving rain. tonight, none of that really matters. what matters is, we are six weeks away from a general election, where politics goes mainstream, where politics goes mainstream, where the arguments will be vivid and contested. there will be debates and contested. there will be debates and manifestos, those booklets of promises, with the ultimate prize the chance to serve here for the next five years. all that to come after, as you say, quite the day. the lectern in place, cameras poised, and in the last hour the prime minister calling a general election. cameras, reporters, brollies, the downpour is coming from the skies too. at teatime, this.— too. at teatime, this. earlier toda , i too. at teatime, this. earlier today. i spoke _ too. at teatime, this. earlier today, i spoke with - too. at teatime, this. earlier today, i spoke with his - too. at teatime, this. earlier i today, i spoke with his majesty too. at teatime, this. earlier - today, i spoke with his majesty the king to request the dissolution of parliament. the king has granted this request and we will have a general election on the 4th ofjuly. music blaring from campaigners in nearby whitehall, rain tumbling onto

the prime minister's sudden suit. you must choose in this election who has that plan. who is prepared to take the bold action necessary to secure a better future for our country and our children? now, i cannot and will not claim that we have got everything right stop no government should. but i am proud of what we have achieved together. the bold actions we have taken, and i am confident about what we can do in the future. over the next few weeks, i will fight for every vote. i will earn your trust, and i will prove to you that only a conservative government led by me will not put our hard earned economic stability at risk, can restore pride and confidence in our country and with a clear plan and bold action, will deliver a secure future for you, your family and our deliver a secure future for you, yourfamily and our united kingdom.

so, this is it— a general election is on. power will leave this most powerful of streets, and you will be able able to decide whether he stays or whether he goes. and so the arguments, the persuasion begins. on days like this, one lectern leads to another, and the thrust of labour's message hangs on one word. u, another, and the thrust of labour's message hangs on one word. a chance to chance message hangs on one word. a chance to change for— message hangs on one word. a chance to change for the _ message hangs on one word. a chance to change for the better. _ message hangs on one word. a chance to change for the better. your- to change for the better. your future, — to change for the better. your future, your community, your countrx — future, your community, your countrx it_ future, your community, your country. it will feel like a long campaign, i'm sure of that. but no matter_ campaign, i'm sure of that. but no matter what— campaign, i'm sure of that. but no matter what else is said and done, that opportunity for change is what this election is about. over the course — this election is about. over the course of— this election is about. over the course of the last four years, we have _ course of the last four years, we have changed the labour party, returned — have changed the labour party, returned it once more to the service of working _

returned it once more to the service of working people. all we ask now, humbly, _ of working people. all we ask now, humbly, is — of working people. all we ask now, humbly, is to do exactly the same for our— humbly, is to do exactly the same for our country and return britain to the _ for our country and return britain to the service of working people. and to the service of working people. ami of— to the service of working people. and of course, the next six weeks are about lots of parties, notjust labour and the conservatives. the liberal democrat leader has been in surrey. in liberal democrat leader has been in surre . . , liberal democrat leader has been in surre. . , , liberal democrat leader has been in surre. . , surrey. in so many parts of the count , surrey. in so many parts of the country. it's — surrey. in so many parts of the country, it's the _ surrey. in so many parts of the country, it's the liberal- surrey. in so many parts of the . country, it's the liberal democrats who can beat the conservatives, and i think people are crying out for change. they want to vote for someone who championed them, their family and community, to sort out the crisis in the nhs and care, to get our economy back on track and end environmental scandals like the sewage scandal. it’s end environmental scandals like the sewage scandal.— sewage scandal. it's a welcome opportunity _ sewage scandal. it's a welcome opportunity to _ sewage scandal. it's a welcome opportunity to remove - sewage scandal. it's a welcome opportunity to remove the - sewage scandal. it's a welcome opportunity to remove the tory| opportunity to remove the tory government and to put scotland first _ government and to put scotland first that — government and to put scotland first. that is what i will be saying to the _ first. that is what i will be saying to the public. but i also have to say to the public. but i also have to sny that — to the public. but i also have to say that i— to the public. but i also have to say that i think this is perhaps the latest _ say that i think this is perhaps the latest act — say that i think this is perhaps the latest act of disrespect from a conservative government, to call an

election— conservative government, to call an election during the scottish school holidays — election during the scottish school holida s. ., .. , holidays. tonight, campaigning is already under— holidays. tonight, campaigning is already under way. _ holidays. tonight, campaigning is already under way. prepare - holidays. tonight, campaigning is already under way. prepare to - holidays. tonight, campaigning is| already under way. prepare to see plenty of events like this. friends, friends, thank _ plenty of events like this. friends, friends, thank you, _ plenty of events like this. friends, friends, thank you, it _ plenty of events like this. friends, friends, thank you, it is _ plenty of events like this. friends, friends, thank you, it is great - plenty of events like this. friends, friends, thank you, it is great to i friends, thank you, it is great to be with you all this evening. elsewhere, from norfolk to london, placards of a different colour, a different message. the promising and persuasion starts here. polling day is six weeks tomorrow. here goes. chris mason, bbc news. more then on what seems to have been a key factor in why the election was called today — economic data released this morning showing that inflation — the rate at which prices are rising — at its lowest level in almost three years. there is also a wider economic picture and our economics editor faisal islam is also here with me. do you think the inflation data was

the trigger? it do you think the inflation data was the trigger?— the trigger? it clearly works. i haven't heard _ the trigger? it clearly works. i haven't heard of _ the trigger? it clearly works. i haven't heard of that - the trigger? it clearly works. i haven't heard of that before, l the trigger? it clearly works. i i haven't heard of that before, and thatis haven't heard of that before, and that is a gamble. the prime minister's economic gambit here is that there is a recovery, that people will feel the recovery and that then people will give credit to the incumbent government for that recovery. on that first thing, the inflation numbers do help. they are down to the bank of england's target, more or less, just above it, after gas prices were negative in april. food prices arejust after gas prices were negative in april. food prices are just below 3%, which is a more normal level. so you can start to see alongside the emergence from recession the start of the numbers going in the right direction after three years of rolling problems because of what is happening across the globe. but on the second point, whether we will feel it, it would have been dearly loved if the inflation fall could have been more widely grounded. services inflation remains sticky at just below 6% and that means the bank of england doesn't have an excuse to cut rates on during the

20th in the middle of the election campaign. 50 20th in the middle of the election cam-iain. ., 20th in the middle of the election camaiun. ., . ., campaign. so over the election campaign. _ campaign. so over the election campaign. what _ campaign. so over the election campaign, what do _ campaign. so over the election campaign, what do you - campaign. so over the election campaign, what do you think i campaign. so over the election - campaign, what do you think other key economic arguments we were here? the prime minister made his side of the argument is. he will say the recovery is starting now, don't risk the recovery with change. but from the recovery with change. but from the labour economic argument, they will be arguing that change to what has been going on, the chaotic four chancellors, three prime ministers and different changes in economic policy, stability is change. that is their argument and we were here a lot of them the coming weeks. faisal islam, lot of them the coming weeks. faisal islam. thank— lot of them the coming weeks. faisal islam, thank you. _ let's look then in more detail at how the day unfolded. the election announcement was a surprise to most of the prime minister's own mps, and it came after hours of rumour and speculation. here's our deputy political editor vicki young.

apologies, we are not able to bring you that piece right now. now let's get reaction from across the uk. we'll be hearing from sara girvin in belfast and tomos morgan in cardiff, but first let's go to our scotland editorjames cook, who is in edinburgh. mishal, thanks very much. so what other big issues for voters in scotland? apart from the economy, people here have been telling pollsters that they care most about the health service, about housing and education. those, to complete matters, are controlled here by the scottish parliament, but that doesn't mean they are irrelevant in a general election campaign because

westminster does set the overall budget which any scottish government has available to spend. voters also care about their summer holidays. they are earlier here in scotland, meaning schools will be breaking up is this election is happening. as for the election itself and the campaign, scotland was once a labour heartland and the labour leader sir keir starmer may be hoping that the road to power once again runs through this nation. the scottish national party has dominated politics here for well over a decade. under alex salmond and then nicola sturgeon, the snp notched up victory after victory. even after scotland had voted against independence, the wins kept coming. at the last general election in 2019, the snp won 48 seats in scotland. the conservatives took six, the liberal democrats four, while labour returned just one mp.

but in the past year, polls suggest a swing in support from the snp to labour, especially in scotland's central belt, where the party won the rutherglen and hamilton west by—election. so what do voters here make of going back to the ballot box? i don't know. i really don't. i've no confidence in any of them, so i don't know. as we're getting older, things are getting worse. they say it's for the better, but a lot is not, you know. the health service, school system, everything, you know, it'sjust not right, the way it should be. i feel it's long - overdue, to be honest. things are getting a bit stagnantjust now. - nothing seems to be changing. if anything, it seems to be getting worse all the time, so i would - welcome a general election. the sooner, the better. for the snp, there's been change at the top too. humza yousaf has come and gone as party leader, replaced just a fortnight ago byjohn swinney, who faces an immediate electoral test.

james cook, bbc news, edinburgh. in wales, there are 32 seats being contested and our wales correspondent tomos morgan is with us from cardiff. what are the key issues for welsh voters, tomos? certainly the cost of living will be one of those key issues, and the handling of the economy. most of the money coming into wales does still come from westminster, although the big key policy areas are devolved, such as education and health service. i mention the health service. i mention the health service because that will be the other area that has been talked about by the main parties. it has already come under attack from the welsh tories here. they have been scrutinised for their record and in

response, welsh labour have said there has been chaos in westminster, it's time for change. when it comes to plaid cymru, they will be saying, we are the only party promising a change for wales. the lib dems will be saying, we can offer something different from the two main parties. the third thing here will be the boundary changes. you took about 32 seats. that is down from a0 in 2019. the key battleground will again be north wales. that is where the tories won five of labour? six seats that they lost in 2019. that will be where the main party will be battling this time around. the only constituency that hasn't changed his boundaries is the isle of anglesey, which today was announced as the home of a new nuclear power plant in the future. it will be interested to see who will benefit mostly from these boundary changes. experts say it could be labour. and sara girvin is in belfast for us. sara, devolved government is only recently back up and running

in northern ireland. what's the reaction there? absolutely, political instability has had a massive impact on the lives of people here and the power—sharing executive has only been up and running again since earlier this year after a hiatus of two years. when it returned, sinn fein was the biggest party and michelle o'neill was first minister for the first time. sinn fein will absolutely be looking to capitalise on that success at the westminster election, even though the party follows a policy of abstention is, meaning its mps do not take their seats. there will be 18 seats up for grabs overall with sinn fein at the moment holding seven and the dup holding eight. it feels like really bad timing for the beauty because their former leader sirjeffrey donaldson stepped down in march after being charged with rape and

other historical sex offences. he denies all those but his solicitor said today he will not be seeking election and the new dup leader gavin robinson faces leading the party into a general election and defending his own seat after only being in thejob defending his own seat after only being in the job for a matter of weeks. at the moment, all the political party leaders in northern ireland are unanimous in welcoming a general election but they have also been unanimous in really their fierce criticism of the conservative government. now we know an election is only a matter of weeks away, expect those battle lines to be drawn very soon.— expect those battle lines to be drawn very soon. thank you very much. there are 650 mps sitting in westminster, elected from across the uk. this is how things look right now. but of course, this picture could appear very different after polling day onjuly ath.

so what has been the reaction from voters? well, bury north in greater manchester is a marginal seat, changing colour many times through the years. and our uk editor ed thomas has been to hear about the issues that matter most to voters there. it doesn't exactly feel like it right now but a summer election is just weeks away. and i have never been prouder to be british. yeah, general election. what is your reaction? thank god, about time. summer general election? sooner the better, please. and bury north is up for grabs. i'm fluid, whoever ticks the most boxes for me, they are for me. just 105 votes separated labour and the conservatives here in 2019. steve is undecided. in your life right now, what matters to you? grandkids, you are looking at knife crime, way too much of that. and my parents, my mother

is going into a care home. so whichever party speaks to you on those issues, you could potentially go with? yeah, you have got to be fluid, you have got to do what is best for your family rather thanjust yourself. what matters to me is. the immigration, yeah? when you say immigration, what do you mean? do you mean boats coming over? no, i mean people coming in legally, yeah? - i think the country. can't take any more. and that's the biggest single issue for you? for me, yeah. 19—year—old lauren will be voting in her first general election. issues matter. i'd probably say, you know, knife crime because we have lost a few people due to stuff like that. people you know, because of knife crime? yeah, of course, yeah, yeah, yeah. and if you get a party, conservative or labour or lib dem or anyone, and they have got a really strong offering on knife crime, could that make you think, yeah, i'm going to vote for you? yeah, probably, yeah, definitely, yeah. but what to do about voters like kath? what is your faith like

in politics right now? i've got no faith in politics. for her, trust is at an all—time low. over the last couple of years, i have just not voted. can you believe you are saying that, that you just don't feel like you are going to vote? i know that my dad would be annoyed with me if he was still here. one question as you come in here. one question. but sharif doesn't have the answers. on who to believe in or if he will even vote. i have no faith whatsoever, l i think they are all the same. we see poverty every day, l we see people come in here, they are struggling, _ it really is a massive struggle. who has been here, asking for your vote? tony blair, david cameron, borisjohnson, rishi sunak. bury north matters, then, doesn't it? that's what it tells you. that is because whichever party wins here usually gets the keys to number 10. i literally, really, really am unsure who to vote for. feeling a bit forgotten in the north at the moment.

yeah, i just want the country to get in a better place than what it is at the moment. election time is coming and in bury north, it is all to play for. ed thomas, bbc news. let's look then in more detail at how the day unfolded. the election announcement was a surprise to most of the prime minister's own mps, and it came after hours here's our deputy political editor vicki young. westminster awoke to what had become familiar speculation about the date of the general election. i’m familiar speculation about the date of the general election.— of the general election. i'm not normally excitable _ of the general election. i'm not normally excitable about - of the general election. i'm not normally excitable about these | normally excitable about these things but that leaves me a little more twitchy this morning than normal at 30 seconds to nine o'clock! fist normal at 30 seconds to nine o'clock! �* ,., .. normal at 30 seconds to nine o'clock! �* ., ., o'clock! at the political editor of the bbc is _ o'clock! at the political editor of the bbc is getting _ o'clock! at the political editor of the bbc is getting twitchy - o'clock! at the political editor of the bbc is getting twitchy about i o'clock! at the political editor of i the bbc is getting twitchy about an election! _ the bbc is getting twitchy about an election! , ,, . ,, _, election! rishi sunak could call... durinu election! rishi sunak could call... durinq the — election! rishi sunak could call... during the morning, _ election! rishi sunak could call... during the morning, rumours - during the morning, rumours ministers were cancelling meetings fuelled the fire. pare

ministers were cancelling meetings fuelled the fire.— fuelled the fire. are we expecting one? no fuelled the fire. are we expecting one? n0 is— fuelled the fire. are we expecting one? no is the _ fuelled the fire. are we expecting one? no is the short _ fuelled the fire. are we expecting one? no is the short answer - fuelled the fire. are we expecting one? no is the short answer and | fuelled the fire. are we expecting | one? no is the short answer and i asked a couple — one? no is the short answer and i asked a couple of— one? no is the short answer and i asked a couple of senior - one? no is the short answer and i asked a couple of senior people . one? no is the short answer and i | asked a couple of senior people at the centre — asked a couple of senior people at the centre and they poured a bucket of cold _ the centre and they poured a bucket of cold water on this. are the centre and they poured a bucket of cold water on this.— of cold water on this. are you going to call an election? _ of cold water on this. are you going to call an election? downing - of cold water on this. are you going to call an election? downing street| to call an election? downing street did not issue _ to call an election? downing street did not issue the _ to call an election? downing street did not issue the normal— to call an election? downing street did not issue the normal denial- to call an election? downing street did not issue the normal denial sol did not issue the normal denial so opposition mps asked the prime minister direct. mr opposition mps asked the prime minister direct.— minister direct. mr speaker, speculation _ minister direct. mr speaker, speculation is _ minister direct. mr speaker, speculation is rife _ minister direct. mr speaker, speculation is rife and - minister direct. mr speaker, speculation is rife and the i minister direct. mr speaker, - speculation is rife and the public deserves— speculation is rife and the public deserves a — speculation is rife and the public deserves a clear— speculation is rife and the public deserves a clear answer- speculation is rife and the public deserves a clear answer to - speculation is rife and the public deserves a clear answer to a - speculation is rife and the public. deserves a clear answer to a simple question _ deserves a clear answer to a simple question does— deserves a clear answer to a simple question. does the _ deserves a clear answer to a simple question. does the prime _ deserves a clear answer to a simple question. does the prime minister. question. does the prime minister intend _ question. does the prime minister intend to — question. does the prime minister intend to call _ question. does the prime minister intend to call a _ question. does the prime minister intend to call a summer— question. does the prime minister intend to call a summer general. intend to call a summer general election— intend to call a summer general election or— intend to call a summer general election or is _ intend to call a summer general election or is he _ intend to call a summer general election or is he fierce? - intend to call a summer general election or is he fierce? mr- election or is he fierce? mr speaker. — election or is he fierce? speaker, spoiler election or is he fierce? {iii speaker, spoileralert, election or is he fierce?- speaker, spoileralert, there is speaker, spoiler alert, there is going to be a general election in the second half of this year! what the second half of this year! what do we know _ the second half of this year! what do we know and _ the second half of this year! what do we know and why _ the second half of this year! what do we know and why has - the second half of this year! what do we know and why has this become such an _ do we know and why has this become such an issue?— such an issue? firstly, to be completely _ such an issue? firstly, to be completely honest, - such an issue? firstly, to be completely honest, about i such an issue? firstly, to be i completely honest, about eight people know and unfortunately none of them are around this table. next, news filtered out that the foreign secretary, lord cameron, was cutting short a trip to albania, dashing home to attend a cabinet meeting. and by the time that was under way

in number 10, everyone knew what was coming but the surprise was they sent the prime minister out for his big moment in the pouring rain. but dozens of tory mps who are not standing at this election, they are shocked that their time in westminster will end on friday. i was surprised, i have to say. we heard rumours in the tea room but thatis heard rumours in the tea room but that is from monday and that is what we thought, just rumours.— we thought, 'ust rumours. former minister we thought, just rumours. former minister dame _ we thought, just rumours. former minister dame chase _ we thought, just rumours. former minister dame chase ealey -- - we thought, just rumours. former. minister dame chase ealey -- dame minister dame chase ealey —— dame tracey crouch said she felt emotional and sad because she still had important to raise on behalf of constituents. rishi sunak successfully kept his decision under wraps but it has left many of his own mps wondering why he has gone for a summit election. —— summer election. it's been an eventful four and half years since the last election, including three conservative prime ministers. our political correspondent alex forsyth takes us through the big moments since the election in 2019.

with a clear plan and bold action, we will deliver a secure future for you, yourfamily, and our united kingdom. announcing the election, the third prime minister since the country last had a say. i am determined to deliver. thank you. his predecessor lasted just a9 days in the job. thank you all very much. the one before was in office a little longer. back in 2019, borisjohnson swept to power with the party's biggest majority in decades. we did it! we pulled it off, didn't we? he pulled together tory voters from unexpected corners of the country under the banner of brexit. with this mandate and this majority, l we will at last be able to do, what?| get brexit done! for labour, it was a dismal result, losing in their traditional heartlands. mr corbyn, this is the worst labour defeat in decades. why aren't you resigning today?

right, are we here? his top team was buoyed by victory. i want to thank you all for your hard work in getting this - government re—elected, and backed by 109 - new conservative mps. but it wasn't long until the covid pandemic became the country's priority — taking lives and liberties. from this evening, i must give the british people . a very simple instruction. you must stay at home. then the chancellor, rishi sunak played a central role in the government's response, crafting the furlough and eat out to help out schemes. but as well as rules being made, they were also being broken, and the scandal around downing street parties was instrumental in borisjohnson's downfall. hasta la vista, baby. thank you. applause. after a contest, conservative party members picked liz truss over rishi sunak to be their next leader,

and the country's next prime minister. thank you for putting yourfaith in me. her tenure was short lived after the economic turmoil caused by the mini budget. enter rishi sunak, attempting to bring stability. i understand, too, that i have work to do to restore trust after all that has happened. he set out his priorities, with promises on small boats, the economy and the nhs, but so far, it seems, they have failed to revive his party's ailing politicalfortunes. still, the third conservative prime minister since the last general election has now decided it is time the country does have its say. alex forsyth, bbc news, westminster. and we will have more on the coming election later on because we are on airfor a longer period of time than

usual,