2020, as had been election in 2020, as had been originally planned, and the close, the crescendo, if you like, of brexit negotiations, that would be due to be completed in early 2019. we understand that is one of the things playing on theresa may's mind in recent days as she made this decision. of course, she has said she wants their selection to be about brexit. she made that clear on the steps of downing street this morning. 0ther the steps of downing street this morning. other political parties, labour we noted today, will be wanting to argue about the nhs, education, other areas of the economies. while there will be talk about brexit and the negotiations and what type of brexit theresa may will get, we can be sure the campaign will cover a vast area of interest. indeed. many thanks. the so in just over 7 weeks' time, voters across the united kingdom will be asked to go to the polls yet again. —— the united.

it'll be the second general election in the space of two years and that's on top of two referendums, one on scottish independence and one on eu membership since 2014. so how do voters feel about another major poll and the weeks of campaigning ahead? our home editor mark easton has been to leeds to talk to people there. is this election about health and welfare, jobs and housing? or will it be all about brexit? i'm in the city of leeds, torn down the middle by brexit 50/50 in the referendum. but more specifically, i'm in morley and 0utwood, a constituency equally split down the middle between labour and conservative. former shadow chancellor, ed balls, found a new career on the dance floor after this traditionally labour stronghold was sensationally lost to the tories, with a wafer thin 422 vote majority. so are people excited about another chance to get voting? have you heard they've called an election? yes, and i don't think they should have done.

unfortunately, that's the way the prime minister wants it, then good luck to her. i hope she wins it again. do you think she's right to call one? why not, give everybody a chance to speak. again? you've onlyjust had a referendum. i'm a libra, i can't make decisions. i think it's quite good. it lets the people vote for someone, instead of theresa may getting forced upon us, kind of thing. i know i'm going to put my vote to use. fantastic. you're pleased? i am very pleased. why? because the leader of labour, i hope, doesn't win, we might get a new leader for the labour party. i think she's pushing her luck. really? why? because people up north voted to come out and the truth of it is now, things have changed. things are going up in the shop, aren't they? i think it makes a difference. people view things different when prices are going up. she seems to have a huge lead in the opinion polls.

oh, you don't go by that. they'll say i'm elizabeth taylor if you ask folks. in leed's financial district, the largest in the uk outside london, attitudes to the snap election are different, with some thinking the poll might fire the starting gun on a new kind of politics. the whole left—right system is quite old fashioned. it's been around for a long time. maybe we need to shake up politics a bit, reconfigure the way the party system works and then maybe people can align themselves more with parties. there'll be less apathy. do you think it's right that she should get this mandate, because, of course, she became prime minister without an election, is that a fair argument? yeah, i think so. i think she needs to get out there and actually be voted prime minister. i think that gives her a lot more, you know, credibility really. —— i think that gives her a lot more, you know, credibility really. and perhaps clout in the negotiations too, do you think? yeah, surely must do. you can't see why — it's not going to harm her at all, is it? many people are trying to work out what they think this snap election means — for politics,

for brexit and for britain. mark easton, bbc news, leeds. scotland's first minister nicola sturgeon says the early election can reinforce the call for a second independence referendum. ms sturgeon accused theresa may of pursuing a ‘narrow, divisive right—wing agenda' and said the voters of scotland had an opportunity to make their voice heard. 0ur scotland editor sarah smith reports on the reaction to today's announcement. as voters across scotland are asked to decide who they want to represent them in westminster, the argument will be dominated by the question of whether westminster should continue to govern scotland. the issue of independence, and whether scotland should have another vote on that, will be central to this election. nicola sturgeon says she's ready for the fight. i think the prime minister has called this election for selfish, narrow, party political interests, but she has called it and, therefore, i relish the prospect of getting out there, standing up for scotland's

interests and values, standing up for scotland's voice being heard and standing against the ability of a right—wing conservative party to impose whatever policies it wants in scotland. the snp believe this could be a great opportunity. if they turn in a strong performance at this election, it could bolster their arguments for another referendum on scottish independence. the only problem is, they did so well in the 2015 election — winning 56 out of scotland's 59 seats — it's hard to see how they could do any better. and if they lose some seats, well, of course, their opponents will claim that shows scottish voters don't want an independence referendum. many voters who do not want an independent scotland or another referendum, now see the tories as the staunch defenders of the union, which they hope could attract more votes in this election. i don't take any voters for granted, and nor should any other party, but we're fit for this fight, we're ready to go, we think we can put on seats across the country and i think you'll find that "peak nat" has passed and there will be

fewer snp mps afterjune 8. that's certainly what i'll be working towards. the scottish labour leader was launching her local election campaign when the news came through from westminster this morning. there's been a slight adjustment to today's order! scottish labour often struggle to make their arguments heard when the debate is dominated by the question of independence. this is a chance for everyone across the united kingdom to have their say about the type of government that they want. what you're going to see is a labour campaign focused on labour values, an alternative to tory austerity. i think that's something worth fighting for. the scottish lib dems will also be arguing against another independence referendum. we want to keep scotland in the united kingdom and we want to keep the united kingdom at the heart of europe, in the single market. that's the opportunity in this campaign. there is a certain irony here, which will not be lost on scottish voters. they were told, by theresa may, now is not the time for a referendum on independence because politicians

should be concentrating on brexit. well, now she's called an election that will be, in scotland, all about that vote on independence. sarah smith, bbc news, edinburgh. well earlier we got more on the battles ahead in scotland, wales and northern ireland. first, more from sarah smith in edinburgh theresa may said they cannot be another referendum until after she leaves the year. here, the arguments are organ to be about independence and whether there should be another vote on that. i suspect they are will be many who believe the last thing northern ireland need is another vote. in thing northern ireland need is anothervote. in mind thing northern ireland need is another vote. in mind there are already been to several elections, the last of which cause a close in

power—sharing negotiations. that is a crass as it needs to be fixed. stormont's parties mystery to most of the government, and those talks we re of the government, and those talks were going to continue in the days ahead. bud cauley ms poe probably leaves them with virtually no chance of success, and probably already adds to that sense of political instability, here. that is because election campaigns here tend to be divisive. they tend to push the parties apart. some parties even called the last one nakedly sectarian. this one is unlikely to be different. unionists are already calling as a chance to vote for the union. 0thers warn of the negative impacts of brexit and call for a recommended on united ireland. uk