tory mp5 in remain will be many tory mps in remain constituencies who will be deeply anxious that mr —— mrs may has underestimated the residual disillusionment of brexit. there is a huge risk for mrs may in case she has miscalculated the strength of feeling, not just on has miscalculated the strength of feeling, notjust on the brexit side, but also on the remain side. thank you. time for the weather now with louise lear. good afternoon. i'm sure gardeners and growers not particularly happy that i am starting with a picture of frost. it is good to be one of the talking point this week. take a look at the overnight lows we had. this morning, —6 in scotland. temperatures across the nation just below freezing. at this time of the year, add some sunshine and temperatures do recover. where we have got clear skies by day, we're going to see those temperatures falling away overnight. tuesday night across england and wales is glad to be another cold, potentially frosty one. put another way, take a

look at yesterday's satellite picture. more clout in england and wales. clear skies through scotland and northern ireland. cloud cover is the issue. more in the north—west. with clear skies across england and wales, it will fall quite chilly. let's enjoy the sunshine while we can. for the rest of the afternoon, quite pleasant. ii to 13 degrees quite pleasant. 11 to 13 degrees with a light breeze. perhaps a nagging breeze making it feel chilly with some isolated showers. a good slice of sunshine into eastern scotland. clouding over through northern ireland and into north—west scotland. a week weather front will produce outbreaks of rain by the end of the afternoon. but that blanket of the afternoon. but that blanket of cloud will continue to drift its way across scotland and northern ireland through the night. elsewhere, we keep the clear skies. it will be a quiet night. temperatures expected to fall away quite sharply. not so maybe in towns

and city centres. but in rural spots we're likely to see lows of —3 to minus four degrees. there will at least be some lovely spelt of sunshine again across much of england and wales. clouding over a little in north wales and northern ireland, with the week weather front. north—east scotland brightening and warming up a little bit here. 11 to 15 degrees the overall high on wednesday. it is a quiet theme of weather. we start on thursday with clear skies, a chilly start. some sunshine. a good deal of dry weather. shaurya outbreaks of rain in the far north and west. these week weather fronts trying to squeeze their way through the north sea, not having much of an impact. high—pressure hanging in there. that basically means we continue with this drive theme in the next few days. some sunny spells and perhaps some warmth into the london area. we keep a little more in the way of cloud and drizzle. the main

back to our top story now, the surprise announcement by the prime minister to call for a snap general election on the 8th ofjune. she said she had recently have relu cta ntly she said she had recently have reluctantly come to the decision that a vote was needed to see the uk through brexit and beyond. at this moment of an enormous national significance that should be unity in westminster but instead the is division. the country is coming together but westminster is not. there will of course be plenty more coverage of this story throughout the afternoon on bbc news but from me here in downing street, it is goodbye. time for the news where you are. you are watching bbc news. with me,

simon mccoy comedy in westminster on what history willjudge as a momentous day. the calling of a snap election. let's talk about reaction. the leader of the snp in parliament is with me. you got up this morning at home, it was snowing. this was the last thing you expected. at home, it was snowing. this was the last thing you expectedm at home, it was snowing. this was the last thing you expected. it was. i was scraping the snow off the windscreen and the fact that might bea uk windscreen and the fact that might be a uk general election not going through my mind. it was still not on my mind when i got on the plane to fly down but as soon as i landed, it became apparent that there was going to bea became apparent that there was going to be a general election. it is a surprise for most people and it was obviously a massive u—turn for the prime minister, who said that now was not the time for elections or referenda, because she wanted to concentrate on the brexit negotiations. now we are up for the fight, and do i think where it is a straight two horse race in scotland they will vote snp or tory? i think they will vote snp or tory? i think they will vote snp. you have most of

they will vote snp. you have most of the seats, so this is for you to lose seats. no, with the great test of humility, no politician should go into an election taking seats for granted. but it is true that the snp hold most of the seat in scotland, but not all of them. is there room for improvement? yes. there are great sta kes for improvement? yes. there are great stakes at play in this election because the reason why the prime minister is holding a election, it is nothing to do with scotland. it is nothing to do with english politics and the weakness of the labour party. she would say it is about brexit and having the strength to negotiate from a position of unity in westminster. she said there is none at the moment. but she is not going to have unity in westminster because with the greatest of respect, people in scotla nd the greatest of respect, people in scotland will not vote tory. it will remaina scotland will not vote tory. it will remain a disunited kingdom. we footed by 69% to remain in the

united kingdom. we are resisting tory austerity. there is not going to be unity in westminster and who wa nts a to be unity in westminster and who wants a 1—party state anyway? we are sent here... but it is different in scotland. no, we have proportional representation and all political parties are represented in parliament according to strength. you are correct in suggesting that the snp is popular in scotland and thatis the snp is popular in scotland and that is why we have many members of the snp and members of parliament at westminster. when voters in scotland are confronted with the labour party and the liberal democrats being electorally finished, it is a straight choice between a moderate, mainstream snp, wanting to protect oui’ mainstream snp, wanting to protect our position in europe, and is opposed to the austerity agenda, thatis opposed to the austerity agenda, that is not anti—immigrant and does not support a rate because. where there is a choice between those two, people in scotland will vote snp. and thank you for the kind messages asking whether the snp will stand in the rest of the uk. i have to

disappoint and say we have no plans to stand in the rest of the uk. have you spoken to nicola sturgeon since the announcement? i wonder if you went, she has shot our fox, the announcement? i wonder if you went, she has shot ourfox, because we're going to get a uk election before a scottish referendum. not at all. the first thing to say is that the scottish government has a mandate to all that referendum on the parliament has already voted for that referendum to take place. that has already happened. this election will be about whether people in the uk as will be about whether people in the ukasa will be about whether people in the uk as a whole and scotland specifically are prepared to give the tory party a blank cheque to pursue a hard brexit. we did not vote for that. these people, even those who voted leaving scotland did not fold for hard brexit. it will be massively damaging and that is not what people want. given that, and people will have a choice, i think in scotland people would prefer to vote for the snp than vote for hard brexit. what does this mean for labour in england? i think it is bad news for the labour party in

england. the polling numbers are the worst since 1983 and apparently labour mps worst since 1983 and apparently labourmps are in worst since 1983 and apparently labour mps are in despair, expecting to lose their seats. we are seeing a massive realignment in english politics, and by extension uk politics, and by extension uk politics, where the centre weight of political gravity is moving further to the right and not in a good direction. unfortunately, and ifear for people in england who do not have a viable political alternative that can beat the tories. thank goodness we do in scotland and i think that is why snp does well.m is going to be pretty hectic all day here in westminster. you start one conversation and another mp walks along. nigel evans is here from the conservatives. thank you, angus. i am just wondering, why did she change your mind? like every mp who got out of bed this morning, the last thing i thought i would be doing this morning is talking to you simon, about the general election. i think she is reflecting on the opportunities that this early general election gives. number one,

she took overfrom general election gives. number one, she took over from david cameron without an endorsement at a general election. yes, technically she does not need that but it gives you the opportunity to set out her stall for the next five years, with brexit being part of that. there are other things she will want to demonstrate to the british public. they are voting for a prime minister who will be leading this country for five yea rs, be leading this country for five years, not just a be leading this country for five years, notjust a couple. what do you say to people who say that this isa you say to people who say that this is a cynical attempt? she has seen the state of the labour party and she thinks this is the best time to do it. she would be bonkers to call an early general election if she thought she was going to lose it so she has clearly looked at the majority that she could easily get if the margins between her and the labour party remain as they are. they are 20 points ahead in the polls and that is good. this early opportunity for an election the chance to have a stronger majority in westminster so that when she negotiates brexit, as she wants to, withjean—claude negotiates brexit, as she wants to, with jean—claude juncker and donald tusk, she will have a stronger hand. is there a risk for the prime

minister that this hand is the liberal democrats their opportunity to say, right, we're going to rerun the brexit debate? i don't think so. most polls say that irrespective of whether people voted remain or not, 110w whether people voted remain or not, now the british public have decided bya margin now the british public have decided by a margin of well over 1 now the british public have decided by a margin of well over1 million to leave the european union, they accept it. tim farron has never accepted that. he did not want one referendum and now all of a sudden he wants a couple. it would actually diminish the strength of the prime minister in negotiating with europe if they thought that at the end of it is would have to be endorsed, yet again, by yet another referendum. the fact is that the british public have voted to leave the european union and it was clear on that document that was sent to everybody‘s letterbox that the british government will accept the view of the british public. that is what we have to do and tim farron will not do that. he has not accepted the fact we want to leave the european union. he loves it so

much she cannot accept the view of the british public. what is a good result for the tories in a general election at this stage two what makes this worthwhile? election at this stage two what makes this worthwhile ?|j election at this stage two what makes this worthwhile? i think a majority bigger than it currently is. i have been fighting elections since 1987 and this will be my tenth parliamentary election. the build—up of wisdom tells you not to predict. when i sit in the chamber of the house of commons and alukojeremy corbyn performing and delivered the people sitting behind him, they have no faith in him as leader of their party. they tried to get rid of him twice. if his own mps do not have faith in their leader, why should the british public? that gives me confidence that when the british public sit down onjune eight and say, wright, who do i want to see walking through the door of number ten? is going to bejeremy corbyn or theresa may? and i think it is going to be theresa may. nigel evans, thank you very much. now over to hall. yes. iam in thank you very much. now over to

hall. yes. i am in theresa may... thank you very much. now over to hall. yes. iam in theresa may... —— theresa may's decision today is unlikely to put in any political risk in her majority constituency of maiden maidenhead. she has been mps here since 1997 and people had been watching her political career with great interest. this is a woman born the daughter of a clergyman, raised in 0xfordshire. she had early political ambitions to the country. i think at the time she talked about being the first woman leader and she was pipped at the post by mrs thatcher. people watched closely her time as home secretary, the second longest serving home secretary in 100 years. and now is prime minister, she comes into downing street and makes what can be another significant announcement on a momentous political decision. we spoke to some other shoppers here in maidenhead to ask them what they made of it will stop what do i

think? she has onlyjust got in. i don't know what to make of it.|j heard it on the news and i was stunned. i can't really see the reason why. i know there is a lot going on and there is a question about brexit, but i was really quite astounded. i think it is a good thing. i think after brexit, i think the people didn't have a chance to make their say. maybe she should have done it earlier. but i think it is good. a general election? they will get in again, unfortunately, because labour... jeremy corbyn, i think he is wonderful but he is not strong enough. i wish it was. you heard the word brexit in some of

those vox pops. 53.9% in this constituency voted to remain. no theresa may famously has spoken as a relu cta nt lever. theresa may famously has spoken as a reluctant lever. we will see whether brexit is spoken here among other issues she has said throughout her period as home secretary and now prime minister, she has said she wa nts to prime minister, she has said she wants to remain accessible to constituency. she still does regular canvassing and door—to—door visits. last week she was pictured organising a local charity event. she is very much available to her constituents and there will be a lot they want to ask, whatever the subject might be in the coming weeks. thank you, robert. so four hours ago this place was empty, with everybody thinking this would be a run of the mill day in the world of politics. that has all changed with that announcement just after 11 o'clock, theresa may saying she wa nts to o'clock, theresa may saying she wants to call a snap election on june the 8th. it will go to

parliament tomorrow for a vote and labour have said they will not oppose it. everybody is now gearing up oppose it. everybody is now gearing upfora oppose it. everybody is now gearing up for a general election onjune. thank you, simon. it has certainly changed today, and the labour leader, jeremy corbyn has welcomed theresa may's announcement, saying that his party will offer an effective alternative to the conservatives, and give the people of britain the chance to vote for a government that puts the interests of the majority first. i welcome the opportunity for us to put the case to the people of britain and stand up to the people of britain and stand up against this government and its failed economic agenda, which has left the nhs with problems, our schools are underfunded, and so many people uncertain. we wa nt we want to put a case out there for a society that cares for all, an economy that works for all and a brexit that works for all. you have been consistently behind in the opinion polls, so this is not particularly a strong starting point. do you concede that you face

an uphill struggle? we are going out there to put the case for how this country could be run, how it could be different, how we could have a much fairer society that works for all, for everybody in our community. that is the case we are putting and i looking forward to doing it. so what can you do to turn around the polls over the coming weeks and secured a labour victory? we are putting the case out there to deal with the housing crisis, to deal with the housing crisis, to deal with the housing crisis, to deal with the education funding crisis, to deal with the nhs, but above all about an economy that works for all, by investment in infrastructure, investment in our manufacturing industries, to give real hope and real opportunity for everybody in this country. labour lost a general election just to years ago. what is different about what you are offering the country this time? we are challenging the economic narrative which says that there has to be huge cuts in public expenditure in order to pay for the banking crisis of 2008. we are saying instead invest in the economy, invest in the future. we

area economy, invest in the future. we are a party that will put forward a case that will bring about a much fairer, much more decent country than we are getting at the present time, where we have massive inequalities between the very rich minority and, sadly, too many people living in desperate poverty at the other end of the scale. the 8th of june, does that give you enough time to get the message out there?” june, does that give you enough time to get the message out there? i am starting straightaway and looking forward to it. we will take our message to forward to it. we will take our m essa g e to every forward to it. we will take our message to every single part of this country and we will challenge the government is to debate these issues in every town and city in this country. if labour loses the selection, will you stand down? we are campaigning to win this election and that is the only question now. will you be the next prime minister? if we win the election, yes. and i wa nt to if we win the election, yes. and i want to read a government that will transform this country, giving real hope to everybody, and above all, bringing about a principle of justice for everybody. let's

speak to kevin the choir. as if the political landscape wasn't already complicated enough, now another general election. theresa may says it is the only way to bring about certain and stability to get through the brexit process. what guaranteed she has that that will be the effect? in scotland the snp has been pushing for a second referendum. she will probably lose her position. she gambles because she knows brexit will be a nightmare and living standards will be grieved because inflation is going up faster wages. she wants to capitalise on labour's woes and weaknesses. the party is badly lit. it is for the advantage of the party. it is nakedly political. like many people i believed the prime minister in the

past when she said she would not go for a general election. now we are led to believe she was walking in the mountains in snowdonia and suddenly changed her mind. it does not quite ring true. what does this election mean for the labour party? jeremy corbyn would not be drawn on the gap in the polls between labour and the conservatives. he will not be drawn and it is a terrible gap. labour are behind. it is 15—20%. labour are behind. it is 15—20%. labour has never gone into an election in such a bad position. she expects to hammer them. jeremy corbyn has an absolute mountain to climb. most labour mps will be fighting their seats. not so long ago, they voted no confidence in him. the party is split. it is getting poor results in the local elections. that was shown in

copeland. labour is very weak. somehow he will have to outperform himself and do better than he has done so far. he will have to unite his party. labour regularly boasts it is the biggest political party in western europe. he needs to mobilise those members, get them knocking on doors and hopefully convince sceptical voters that those policies he has, which are individually popular, mean he has a shot at downing street. he is a leader whose party is doing badly anyway. labour is really struggling. briefly if you would, the labour mps wanting to hold onto their seats but wanting to seekjeremy corbyn out as a result of this. they will see this as an opportunity for some necessary blood—letting in their opinion. opportunity for some necessary blood-letting in their opinion. one labour source describe it as a silver lining. if labour loses, jeremy corbyn would go as leader.

there is no guarantee of that. you are quite right. 0ther there is no guarantee of that. you are quite right. other people in the labour party have said they will try to be cheerful all the way until the 8th ofjune. it would be very difficult. jeremy corbyn knows he is up difficult. jeremy corbyn knows he is up against it. it is whether he can actually rise to be occasion, paul his party together, and convince sceptical labour voters that he has something. he will have to play the anti—tory card very strongly. at the moment, theresa may has called the election because she expects to win. she may not but odds are she well. thank you for your thoughts on the development so far today. kevin maguire. let's go back to simon at couege maguire. let's go back to simon at college green. everyone is on election footing. let's talk to two gentleman, one from ukip and one from the green party. call you by

surprise? we are caught by surprise. now it has been announced, it is quite exciting. we have six weeks and people are in place we have the organisation and the funding. we'll be off and going. how many people and in how many places? we hope to have the same amount of people as before in 2015. we have not been sitting on our hands in the last two years. at the same time, we have been targeting various different parts of the country where we stand a very good chance. that is what we will be doing differently this time. there were seats in the north and in the east of england and the south east. for the green party, is this an opportunity? what does the decision today mean? we want to make gains in sheffield when natalie

bennett is standing. people want a party that will expose extreme brexit. it will fight hard to maintain environmental and challenge the austerity cuts. is it to fight brexit, to refight that battle? ukip said to the government, jump, and they said, how high question what we are the antidote to ukip, we are everything they are not. we want a hopeful future. we feel like this is a moment where we are facing a fork in the road for the week could be an outward looking, inclusive country which reaches out to say we are better than this or we can retreat to the narrow—minded version of britain. the green party does not believe in borders. they never actually say that. that is the truth. people actually voted very

clearly for control of our borders, control of our trade deals and our own sovereignty you talk about extreme brexit, hard brexit, soft brexit. people know what they voted for. you should tell people that you actually believe in open borders. what i believe is that this country has been sold a lie. that migrants are to blame for everything, cuts in public services and the strain on hospitals. when i was a kid i was told there was massive wealth creation and we could work fewer hours and be wealthier. we have had that but we have not seen that. we are saying we that but we have not seen that. we are saying we can that but we have not seen that. we are saying we can redistribute wealth and can be hopeful. weekend back freedom of movement. it is a wonderful thing my children have enjoyed. -- we can back. they believe in totally open borders.

nobody in this country really believes a nap. people voted temple ado have control of the borders. —— in that. this government is not talking about migration, it is talking about migration, it is talking about migration, it is talking about current levels going on for ten years. we stand for proper control of our migration syste m proper control of our migration system with a points—based system. thank you very much for that. we have many weeks of this coming up. now for the business news. 0ver have many weeks of this coming up. now for the business news. over to rachel. news that pm teresa may would be making an announcement this morning gave the markets a wobble and sterling took a bit of a tumble. however, once investors heard that the announcement was a general election the pound recovered and is in fact now at a ten—week high. but the ftse is down. however it was down before any of this happened — a fall in commodity prices pulling down mining stocks — and then a bounce in sterling— well that usually translates into a fall in the value of the ftse as so much of the index is made up

of global companies who bank their profits in dollars or euros so a stronger sterling reduces those values. but cutting through all of that let's find out what the markets think of this move. joining us now, live from the city is kallum pickering, senior uk economist at berenberg bank. how would you describe the reaction by the markets? so much to think about. the market is basing its most likely scenario that the conservatives win. in the short to medium term, the status quo does not change and the uk economy continues as it has done for the last few months. given the most likely outcome is the conservatives take even more control over brexit, the risk of a hard brexit has risen. we may see markets pricing that in more acutely. do you think this has arisen, if theresa may has a stronger mandate, she could serve up

a softer brexit because she will not need the support of so many hardline brexiteers and perhaps a softer brexiteers and perhaps a softer brexit could be served up which businesses could refer? that is the uncertainty that makes it difficult to price up these things. to factor in any vote for the conservatives is a vote for the other parties which is for a soft brexit. given theresa may is ex—home 0ffice without a business background, she's probably willing to accept less economic growth for an improved social fabric in the uk, which means if the voters judge brexit as only being a success if it reduces migration, it is that policy she will for. we know from an eu point of view, if it aims to reduce migration, that will mean post brexit eu will not enjoy such preferential terms of trade and that will damage economic growth those

from lower migration and the impact on trade. very briefly, and muted reaction from the markets. when do you expect to see a big reaction? 0nly you expect to see a big reaction? only if there is an upset on the 8th ofjune. if we have a hung parliament, i cannot conceivably see that labour or the liberal democrats with wing. with a hung parliament, there is a 20% chance that markets will go crazy. the uk has already triggered article 50 but it does not have an agreement within westminster on what sort of brexit should happen. 0n the one hand you have a risk that the uk, after two years, with no agreement in parliament, leaves the without a brexit deal. 0r the other extreme scenario where the coalition actually softens brexit terms a little. if the conservatives win, we do not expect much change in the markets. much more throughout the markets. much more throughout the next hour. now for the weather.

lovely spring sunshine out there. take a look at this picture. i could have shown you numerous shots today. we have sunshine through the east of scotland, the whole of england and wales. more clout into northern ireland and eventually some rain pushing into the far north—west of scotla nd pushing into the far north—west of scotland for the period is still on the chilly side. highest values of 14 the chilly side. highest values of 1a in the south—east corner. as we go through the nightmare we have had clear skies by day, the template is will drop off very quickly. the exception will be northern ireland and scotland. they will keep temperatures holding up a bit. also we will see loads of down to minus four degrees. a hard frost is possible in some places. not great news for the young, tender spring plants. a band of cloud in north wales and north england. brighter for scotland and not quite as cold.

take care. you are watching bbc news. in a surprise political u—turn, theresa may said she had recently and reluctantly come to the decision, to see the uk through brexit and beyond. at this moment of enormous national significant there should be unity here in westminster, but instead there is division. the country is coming together, but westminster is not. the general election would need parliamentary approval — mps will vote tomorrow. labour say they will back it. we are going out there to put the case. to put the case about how this country could be run, how it could be different, how we could have a much fairer society that works for all, for everyone in our community, that's the case i'm putting and i'm looking forward to doing it. scotland's first minister says the prime minister is trying to move the uk to the right and force through a hard brexit.