that is the backdrop and i am going to pass you to reeta chakrabarti who is in downing street to take you through the next few hours. over to you. hello and welcome to this bbc news special. i'm reeta chakrabarti in downing street, and this is the scene in westminster, where all afternoon, speculation has been growing that the prime minister is about to make some sort of announcement, possibly concerning a general election. earlier, our political editor chris mason observed that he was seeing behaviour from the likes of the civil service that you" would only expect on a day that an election is called" and also reports that home office ministers' diaries are being cleared. you won't be able to see this, but there are about 115 journalists here, or waiting expecta ntly. journalists here, or waiting expectantly. we don't yet know whether an announcement will be made, but that speculation has been growing all day and has reached a pitch this afternoon. i am joined now by our political editor chris mason. ~ ., ., now by our political editor chris mason. ~ . ., .. ., now by our political ed