opposed to a hard brexit, keep us in the single market and give britain the strong opposition it needs. we'll have the details and the reaction to today's announcement from westminster and around the united kingdom. in scotland, the first minister says the vote can strengthen the demands for a second independence referendum. it is very clear the prime minister's announcement today is one all about the narrow interests of her own party, not the interests of the country overall. this will be the third uk—wide vote in the space of two years, we'll be asking voters how keen they are. not another one? oh, for god's sake. i can't stand this. there's too much politics going on at the moment. why does she need to do it? also on tonight's programme. on the ground with iraqi troops in mosul, in a now painstaking battle to retake the city from so—called islamic state. this battle has been raging for more than two hours and it's over a matter of streets they're fighting. prince william follows his brother prince harry in speaking of his mother's death and the impact it's had. and, leicester give atletico madrid a scare but it wasn't we will look at how tomorrow morning's front pages are covering the call for a snap election. we will bejoined by the call for a snap election. we will be joined byjoe watts of the evening standard and the conservative commentator laura perrins. good evening from downing street where the prime minister took everyone by surprise earlier today and announced her plan to call a general election on 8thjune, that's three years earlier than the date set down by law. theresa may said it was all about gaining unity and stability ahead of the brexit process. but her opponents accused the prime minister of breaking her word and of pursuing a cynical plan for party political advantage. the timetable for the coming weeks looks like this. in today's announcement, mrs may said the government would present a motion in parliament tomorrow asking mps to agree to the request for a general election. this vote is needed under the fixed term parliaments act because the next election wasn't due to take place until 2020. opposition parties say they will agree to the request, so it's certain to be carried. parliament would probably be dissolved on may 3rd, starting a 25—day campaign. polling day across the uk will be on thursday june 8th. we'll have all the details and reaction to the prime minister's surprise announcement and we start with our political editor, laura kuenssberg. did she surprise them? did she surprise you? did theresa may even surprise herself? her biggest decision as prime minister, taken only days ago. i have just chaired a meeting of the cabinet where we agreed that the government should call a general election to be held on the 8th ofjune. that was not her plan. but she says to get brexit done, she needs more support around here. in recent weeks, labour have threatened to vote against the final agreement we reach with the european union. the liberal democrats have said they want to grind the business of government to a standstill. the scottish national party say they will vote against the legislation that formally repeals britain's membership of the european union. and unelected members of the house of lords have vowed to fight us every step of the way. our opponents believe because the government's majority is so small that our resolve will weaken and they can force us to change course. they are wrong. so tomorrow there will be a vote in parliament that will all but certainly get the process going. and if you are in any doubt about how the tories will frame your choice... i have only recently and reluctantly come to this conclusion. since i became prime minister, i have said that there should be no election until 2020. but now i have concluded that the only way to guarantee certainty and stability for the years ahead is to hold this election and seek your support for the decisions i must take. every vote for the conservatives will make me stronger when i negotiate for britain with the prime ministers, chancellors and presidents of the european union. every vote for the conservatives will mean we can stick to our plan for a stronger britain and take the right long—term decisions for a more secure future. most of her ministers had been in the dark. only in the last few days did she decide. theresa may only moved in here 279 days ago. and she said consistently that there should be no early general election. quite simply, she has changed her mind. what happens next for theresa may will be up to you. when did you know there was going to be an election? great opportunities ahead. when did you know, secretary of state? a bit reluctant to tell us when you knew about the election? when did she change her mind, chief whip? when did the prime minister change her mind? good morning, it's a lovely day. when did you know there was going to be an election? when i heard it this morning. you could forgive their surprise perhaps because they'd heard the pm say this. i don't think there is a need for an election. i think the next election will be in 2020. labour will support tomorrow's vote to push the button, even though the weakness ofjeremy corbyn is one of the reasons why an early election is on. yet his supporters hope that his ideas will cut through. i welcome the opportunity for us to put the case to the people of britain, to stand up against this government and its failed economic agenda, which has left our nhs with problems, which has left our schools underfunded, and so many people uncertain. we want to put our case out there for the people of britain, of a society that cares for all, an economy that works for all and a brexit that works for all. more than ever, perhaps, this election will notjust be about what happens here but the whole country's constitution. the tories won't promise another vote on independence in scotland, but nicola sturgeon will. this is the biggest u—turn in recent political history. but it is very clear that the prime minister's announcement today is one all about the narrow interests of her own party, not the interests of the country overall. on the road already, as planned, for the local elections, the lib dems see opportunity to come back from rock bottom. it is an opportunity for the people of this country to change the direction of this country, to decide that they do not want a hard brexit, they want to keep britain in the single market, and indeed it is an opportunity for us to have a decent, strong opposition in this country that we desperately need. and though the tories start this election having gone back on their promise not to hold one... many people in the country will think, "theresa may told me she would not do this and now she is doing this can i trust her?" why should i?" when the facts change, you change your mind. as she said herself, she was reluctant to make this decision, but she was brought to this decision by the fact that presenting herself with a mandate that allows us to get the best outcome for brexit and the best outcome for britain in her policy, that is the thing that is in the national interest. it looks like this election is entirely about brexit, that theresa may is so worried about how hard it will be, she thinks she needs a thumping majority of tory backbenchers to get it through. of course we want a strong mandate, but the aim here is to do two things, one is to provide a strong mandate for brexit, and the other is to provide a strong mandate for the future. the country will be asked for its view again, less than a year since the referendum, when everything around here changed. i think she's been changing her mind over a little while. i think her instinct was not to do it for strong reasons, she didn't want the public to think it was political. i think the whole sense and the nature of parliament has changed quite a lot in the last month or two. this is the ultimate test for us because that is what we are in politics for. we are in politics to win elections, to win power, to put our values into practice, and we've got to seize any opportunity that we get to do that. how many more times are you going to change your mind, prime minister? win well, and theresa may escapes some political problems, but the hurly—burly of any campaign claims casualties, too. just ask anyone who has ever lived at this address. laura kuenssberg, bbc news, westminster. jeremy corbyn said he welcomed the decision to call an early election, saying labour would stand up for the people of britain, not least on the state of the national health service. the liberal democrats‘ tim farron promised to fight against what he called a hard brexit, while the first minister of scotland, nicola sturgeon, said today's announcement was a huge political miscalculation by theresa may. more on the impact in scotland in a moment, but first our deputy political editorjohn pienaar looks at reaction in westminster to the prime minister's plans. westminster‘s shutting up shop soon, again. and they're off, again. the soundbites, the slogans, all desperate for your attention. why now? the tories start strongly. labour and its leader trail badly. so loyaljeremy corbyn supporters are working hard from the start to beat the odds, to point out the issues on policies they hope may somehow prove the polls and pundits wrong. i want to use the period untiljune 8th to set out a positive vision of the kind of society that we can live in. post—brexit vision of britain where this country works for them, for everybody and for the equality of everybody in work. the foundation for all to build a fairer economy by investment in good jobs for the future and investment in good quality services for the future. the british public when it comes to general elections vote on leadership and as of now jeremy corbyn is a mile behind. i think the more people focus on our programme and our leadership, the more tawdry what theresa may's offering will seem. the british public don't want a prime minister hand in glove with donald trump. the british public did not vote to be poorer in the referendum on the eu. the more people focus on the issues and the people, the better it will be for us. what about jeremy corbyn? is he going to be any kind of asset to you in your campaign, big on your election material? no, i will be the candidate in chester, and it will be my picture on the leaflet and my name on the ballot paper. i will be talking about my record and the things i have achieved. what aboutjeremy corbyn, is he an asset or a liability, in a word? well, he attracts some people's favourable attention. good times for the lib dems seem a long time ago. in the last election, big hitters, cabinet ministers, tumbled one after another. now they are the most pro—europe party in politics, and survivors of that famous rout believe they can turn scepticism about brexit into support for them. they have a lot of recovering to do. if you look at the british political spectrum, there is quite a large centre ground, which certainlyjeremy corbyn, as a backbencher, has never occupied. and which theresa may, by pursuing hard brexit, also does not seem to want to occupy either that is there for the taking for the lib dems. you are hoping this might be the beginning of the beginning of a comeback? let's put it no more highly than that, but i would be very happy with the beginning of the beginning of a comeback. the tories sound confident, but some in former lib dem strongholds in london and the south west expect a tough fight and just hope that the lib dems aren't ready for the road back to westminster. i don't think the liberal democrats have restored their infrastructure from their dramatic losses in 2015. but you know you will have a fight on your hands? of course we're going to have a fight on our hands and we're always going to fight to win, as well. nigel farage. since nigel farage left to seek his own political fortunes, backing donald trump, not leading ukip after the eu referendum, the party has lost ground. they have lost the odd election they might have won. the referendum has gone, and so has nigel farage. you are a party without a purpose. come on, john, i don't buy that at all. theresa may may well have triggered article 50, but the negotiations have not started yet. if people want the brexit that they voted for on june 23rd, they'll only get that, i believe, if you get ukip mps elected to the house of commons, and that is why we'll go into this brexit election quite buoyant. and the greens too are sticking to their mission. you look optimistic, but you're going to need to be. we are optimistic, because we are the party opposing extreme brexit, opposing the decimation of public services and providing those important environmental protections. all the parties must now scramble to get candidates, raise cash, to get out a manifesto that will give the country a choice for five years. one burden theresa may is avoiding is tv debates. labour's agreed that all mps will be entitled to stand as candidates, though team corbyn was keen some would have to prove their loyalty first and that a private meeting of labour mps tonight eve ryo ne meeting of labour mps tonight everyone agreed they would fight ha rd everyone agreed they would fight hard and privately they all understand they‘ re going hard and privately they all understand they're going to have to. our political editor, laura kuenssberg, is with me. the prime minister has been clear, no early election. she said it many times. what has changed? you are right. there have been good arguments for going to the country for many months. why wouldn't they wa nt to for many months. why wouldn't they want to exploit the current weakness in the labour party. why wouldn't she want her own individual mandate when she moved in and set her own priorities to free herself once and for all from the tory manifesto of 2015? i'm told that in recent days what has changed her mind is one argument in particular about the timetabling of the uk general election and the timetable of brexit. i'm told she has found the case more and more compelling to get the election out of the way to avoid a very difficult situation when, in 2019, just as the eu negotiations are at their crescendo, number ten would be would be politically run ra ke would be would be politically run rake they would be starting to think about an election. they believe in that sense eu leaders might have pushed them around because they would know at that point they would be afraid of doing anything politically important. that isn't new, that has been made privately for months. it's that argument the prime ministerfound for months. it's that argument the prime minister found more compelling and in and amongst a whole mixture of reasons that tipped the balance ina of reasons that tipped the balance in a matter of the last few days. let us talk about risk. risk for all parties who engage in elections. the risk especially for theresa may?m is risky. if you believe the polls, they suggest, which of course is the calculation that she has made, she is on course to increase her majority. she would be on course for a hefty majority. something bigger than the wafer thin insecurity she faces right now. as we know, as xaens of the last couple of years have tested to destruction, campaigns take on lives of their own. if we think aboutjeremy corbyn when he stood as labour leader. nobody thought he had a chance apart from trusty volunteers in his campaign at the start of the referendum campaign not so long ago. few people believed that was winnable from the leave side. the early reasons that theresa may had not to go to the country, one of them was that the campaign could be very unpredictable any election campaign is unpredictable. no question about that. we will pick up on those themes later. thank you very much. laura kuenssberg for us. so, in just over seven weeks' time, voters across the united kingdom will be asked to go to the polls yet again. it will be the second general election in the space of two years and that's on top of two referendums, one on scottish independnece, 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 outwood, 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 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. 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. in scotland, the first minister, nicola sturgeon, says the early election can reinforce the scottish pa rliament‘s 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. our 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, 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 after 8th june. 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, wow she's called an election that will be, in scotland, all about that vote on independence. sarah smith, bbc news, edinburgh. sarahjoins us now from edinburgh. we're also going to be assessing the impact of today's news in northern ireland and wales, but we start in scotland. sarah, when nicola sturgeon says in her view this is a mainlying o miscalculation by theresa may, what is her thinking there? well, nicola sturgeon thinks that this decision could backfire on the prime minister in scotland because she really believes the snp are in a position to do well in this election and that if they do, then that will make it much hardingerfor a if they do, then that will make it much hardinger for a westminster government toll refuse to allow a referendum on scottish independence. privately though, the snp will admit it will be incredibly difficult for them to repeat the astonishing success they had in 2015. you could have a situation where the snp win most of the seats in scotland, but it still looks like their support is slipping. the tories are convinced they can make significant gains in scotla nd they can make significant gains in scotland now that they have successfully positioned themselves as the party most dedicated to keeping the uk united. the conservatives could put it in their ma nifesto conservatives could put it in their manifesto their opposition to another referendum on scottish independence. if they won the general election across the uk they could say they have an electoral mandate to stop an independence referendum. although this election here in scotland will be dominated by that question, it may not resolve the matter of scottish independence. there are many here in northern ireland who feels this vote could add to a sense of political instability. remember people here have been to the polls twice in the la st have been to the polls twice in the last 12 months. both for assembly elections and the last one was itself a snap election. after the complete collapse of power—sharing at stormont. that is a crisis hasn't gone away. the parties at stormont have failed to come up with a deal toll restore the government there. that's despite two deadlines and the reality is, calling this vote is only going to lead it to be more difficult. those negotiations really have little chance of success now. that's because election campaigns here tend to be bitter and divisive. some political commentators called the last one nakedly sectarian. there is no suggestion this one will be different. unionists are calling it an opportunity to show support for the uk. the republicans are raising the dangers of brexit and pushing for a referendum on a united ireland. with the westminster can ta ke ireland. with the westminster can take over the running of the government here or call another assembly election alongside this general general election. in wales it's more straight—forward than in northern ireland. there will be intensity nevertheless. enthusiasm today from the conservatives, but also the leader of plaid cymru, she said it was game on. the leader of welsh labour, the first minister in cardiff, carwynjones, questioned the timing and questioned whether it was in the national interest. he 7 will be acutely aware of the potential vulnerability of a number of labour constituencies in a general election. two years ago, the conservatives put labour under considerable pressure in parts of wales. the tory calculation will be that wales voted to leave and, as such, because of that, there will be large numbers of people in wales prepared to give theresa may a mandate to do exactly that. one final thought, the eu mandate to do exactly that. one finalthought, the eu referendum campaign in wales was hugely divisive and bruising. i think the question tonight is whether the debate has moved on or whether it will be a re—run of that referendum campaign and the old wounds are reopened. nick, many thanks. thank you to all of them. in the weeks ahead, much of the intense campaigning will focus on dozens of key battleground seats, especially in the midlands and the north of england, where the conservatives will be looking to boost the modest commons majority they won last time, and labour say they'll be hoping to win more support by campaigning on issues such as health and education. our political correspondent, vicky young, takes a look at some of the constituencies likely to be part of the key battleground in the weeks to come. theresa may says she wants certainty and stability for the uk and for her that means a decisive conservative election victory. she's made the calculation that she can improve on her party's performance two years ago. this is the electoral map showing the results of the 2015 general election. most striking are the swathes of blue across england and snp dominance in scotland. but look at the number of seats. the conservatives picked up 331. labour, 232. the snp won 56. the lib dems and dup, eight seats each. with other parties factored in, it left the tories with a very slim majority of just 12. so where will the tories try to boost their numbers? the north west and the midlands are crucial battle grounds. here, there are numerous marginal constituencies where very few votes separate conservative and labour. at the last election, labour made little headway here. in the west midlands, high on the list for the tories, will be places like wolverhampton south west and walsall north, both have slender labour majorities. but some argue that the current tory lead in the polls might not be easily translated into seat gains from labour. once you start looking at the electoral geography of labour's vote, it has a lot of very safe labour seats, and therefore, getting a large majority can be quite difficult and certainly if the polls are perhaps exaggerating the tories‘ lead a little bit or certainly if that lead comes down, to let's say seven, eight nine points, still quite substantial, that could still mean that theresa may doesn't end up with anything like as large a majority she might like. labour desperately need a revival in scotland if they're to form the next government. but the tories and lib dems will also be hoping to prise some seats away from the snp. fascinating too will be the south—west of england, the lib dems former heartland. they were wiped out here at the last election and are hoping for a comeback. but how will their pro—eu message go down in a region that voted for brexit? it might be better received in some of the london suburbs which voted to remain in the eu. the conservatives could have a real fight on their hands in former