But if you look at last years referendum result, you can see why the Prime Minister wants to frame this as a brexit election. The blue areas voted leave. But many of them have labour mps who backed remain. She also wants to attract some of the four million voters who backed ukip last time. General election campaigns can be unpredictable and just two years after the last one, voters must decide again whether there will be dramatic changes to the electoral map of britain. Lets get some more reaction to todays news about an early general election. Our europe editor, katya adler, is in paris tonight, but first lets speak to our business editor, simonjack, whos in the city this evening. What is your reading of the way that the markets reacted to the news today . Well, this may be a political gamble but the folks who make bets in the offices behind me like theresa mays odds in this one. You saw the pound strengthen, they think the economy is doing well, Unemployment Rate is low and average earnings are going up a bit more than the cost of living and crucial to understanding the timing of this, thatis to understanding the timing of this, that is not expected to last for long, so get this done before inflation, widely expected to rise, sta rts inflation, widely expected to rise, starts eating into peoples earnings. So the markets think she will win. They think she will get a bigger majority, possibly Less Beholden to some of the hardline eurosceptics in her own party and the markets think that will give her a stronger and a freer hand in the negotiations to come, so the pound has rallied. What is good for the pound is not so good for the stock market, lots of companies here make earnings overseas, as the pound strengthens, those profits are worth less in sterling terms. The stock market had one of its worst days in months. The pound is the one to watch, at the moment the markets like her chances. Thank you very much. Lets go live to paris. What did you make of the kind of reaction we have seen today from eu leaders . Well, officially in brussels a countrys election is very much seen as brussels a countrys election is very much seen as a brussels a countrys election is very much seen as a domestic affair and brows sells likes to stay neutral but with brexit being such an all consuming issue such officials could barely contain themselves. We had the president of themselves. We had the president of the european council, donald tus k k who tweeted it was like a hitchcock film, first the earthquake and the tensions rises. There is a strong sense of optimism. Theresa may has called this election hoping to strengthen her hand in brexit ns but officials believe that a strong win for theresa may would help the eu too. They believe that they want to have a strong Prime Minister opposite them at the negotiating table, not one they perceive as weak, hostage to interested parties and likely to do u turns in the negotiation. Officials in brussels and berlin and here in paris want theresa may to do well. And if those negotiations following the elections do well, i have been told by high level sources tonight, then the eu would be open to starting those trade deals, the trade talks about a future relationship between the uk and the eu far earlier than had been imagined. But remember, that when the eu talks about Good Progress in brexit and i heard from a top level source tonight he believes the chances for a good dealfor source tonight he believes the chances for a good deal for both sides now are far improved, but they talk about Good Progress from the eus point of view. Thank you very much. Well have more from Downing Street later in the programme, and well be looking at previous instances of british voters going to the polls several times in a relatively short period. But first, lets have a look at the days other news with reeta. Thanks, huw. In iraq, the ongoing battle for the second city of mosul could result in the worst humanitarian catastrophe in the war against so called islamic state, according to the united nations. The battle began six months ago and hundreds of thousands of civilians remain trapped inside parts of the city still in is hands. The militants are now surrounded, but the progress of the iraqi forces has slowed significantly in recent weeks. Our correspondent, jonathan beale, and cameraman, barnaby mitchell, are embedded with iraqi troops and they witnessed one of the street battles on the edge of the old city. Even at night, you can clearly see the scars on the streets of this city and how brutal the battle for mosuls become. We joined the Iraqi Security forces about to mount yet another assault. These the same troops whove already been fighting here for months and, even under the cover of darkness, they know their enemy, so called islamic state, will be ready and waiting. Gunfire. As they move into position for whats supposed to be a surprise dawn attack, theyre already coming under fire. Explosions and gunfire. The commander sets up his headquarters in an abandoned house, soon interrupted by a panic call on the radio its his first casualty. Dawn breaks and the iraqi forces are still pinned down. This battles been raging now for more than two hours and it is over a matter of streets theyre fighting. And, as we hear, there is still fierce resistance from is. That is a Coalition Air strike, its the iraqis one advantage to keep the enemy at bay. But even air power cant always spot and silence is snipers and nor do the rockets fired by iraqi forces. Gunfire. Throughout the morning, the casualties mount. Gunfire. Victory still seems a long way off. Explosion. This one battle, for one street, was still raging when we left, five hours later, out of fear for our own safety. After six months, the iraqi forces have only now reached the edge of the old city, much of what you can see on the west side of the tigris is still under is control and theres every indication theyll be fighting and dying for every single street. Jonathan beale, bbc news, mosul. Prince william has said the death of his mother, princess diana, was one of the reasons for his involvement in campaigning on Mental Health issues. The duke of cambridges comments today follow those of his brother prince harry, who revealed hed had counselling to help him come to terms with her death. Both princes have been campaigning for the Heads Together Mental Health charity. Our royal correspondent, peter hunt, reports. Hello, prince william. Hello, lady gaga. Good morning. A transatlantic call that challenges preconceptions the Campaigning Future king garnering the support of a global superstar who suffered. Lady gaga has lived with post Traumatic Stress disorder since she was raped as a teenager. We have to make the strongest, most relentless attempt we can to normalise Mental Health issues so that people feel like they can come forward. Thank you, prince william, have a beautiful day. Thanks, lady gaga. After his Internet Brush with stardom, prince williams next stop as he strives to smash a taboo was the bbc for a Screening Of A Documentary presented by nick knowles. Ten people affected by Mental Health issues, united by one goal to run the london marathon. But youre convinced it can help . Most definitely. Ijust feel like im not going to be able to do it. Joined by some special guests. Youre the heroes. Kate, william and harry want Mental Health treated like physical health. I really think this is a Pivotal Moment in the change of Mental Health. I really feel we are on the cusp of something really big and i know the bbc are keen to continue covering Mental Health and really trying to make that change. As you can see, you know, i have my own reasons for being involved with Mental Health, what happened to me and my mother when i was younger. One of the Mental Health runners who met william is rhian, her one year old son died five years ago. Her husband, who blamed himself, took his own life, five days later. Shes now confronting and talking about her personal pain. The more people we can get to talk about Mental Health, the better because the silence is killing people and it really is, its as bad as that. I think, yeah, i should stop talking now. Laughter. Meeting the runners confronting their adversity and watching the programme left william, he said, feeling quite emotional. Their next challenge is the race in six days time. Thank you. All the best. Peter hunt, bbc news. A brief look at some of the days other news Stories Police in the us say a gunman, suspected of shooting a man and then posting footage of the murder on facebook, has committed suicide. Steve stephens shot himself after being chased by officers in pennsylvania. The founder of facebook, mark zuckerberg, has said the company will do all it can to prevent similar postings. Police in france have arrested two islamist militants suspected of planning an imminent attack days before the first round of the president ial election. Prosecutors said that guns and explosives were found in the apartment the suspects shared in marseille. Over 8,000 migrants were rescued from the mediterranean over the weekend, after attempting to cross from libya to italy in overcrowded boats, according to aid agencies. Fine weather reportedly sparked a spike in the number of people attempting the perilous crossing to europe. Football, and leicester Citys Champions League dream finally came to an end tonight, after they drew at home with atletico madrid. Our sports editor, dan roan, was there. The latest chapter in sports most remarkable fairy tale. But Sporting Miracle is what this clubs defined by and now these players were intent on seizing a once in a lifetime opportunity. Leicester had returned from the first leg in spain only a goal behind against one of the finest teams on the continent, but they knew they had to take their chances. Shinji okazaki wasting this one. And if that was costly, conceding could prove critical. Almost immediately, the hosts punished, saul niguezs pin point header extending Atletico Madrids lead, the crucial away goal leaving leicester with a mountain to climb. But Stranger Things have happened as this team has proved and, once again, they set about defying the odds. Substitute ben chilwell went close, before talisman, jamie vardy, gave his side hope. With two more goals needed, suddenly leicester were dominant, manager Craig Shakespeare urging his side on. The pressure intensified and the hosts never gave in, but time eventually ran out. Having reached two of the last three Champions League finals, atletico are now one step away again. Leicesters remarkable journey over, but its one they can be proud of and which will never be forgotten. Whats gone on here over the last two seasons defies belief. First that premier League Triumph and in this, the first time Leicester City have been in the Champions League, theyve managed to go further than any other of the other british teams this season. The fairytale may finally be over, they now of course have to focus purely on premier league football, but what theyve managed to do is turn footballs established order on its head and no one can ever take that away from them. Dan, thank you. Oursports editor there. With more now on the Prime Ministers announcement of a snap election, lets go back to huw in Downing Street tonight. Huw. Our main story tonight is that the Prime Minister has taken everyone by surprise by requesting a general election on the 8thjune. Tomorrow, mps will be asked to approve the plan because under the fixed term parliaments act the next election wasnt meant to take place until 2020. If, as expected, parliamentary approval is granted, it will mean a third uk wide poll in the space ofjust two years, something that hasnt been seen since the 1970s. James landale reports on a period of unpredictable politics. Archive at 9. 00pm last night, just 23 hours ago, britains day of decision was over. In the past, politics seemed so certain. We used to go to the polls every four orfive years or so. When we were tired of one party, wed give the other side a chance. But in the last few years, all that seems to have changed and the uks now preparing to go to the polls for the third time in just over two years. We are encircled by multiple uncertainties to a degree we have never been before in anybodys lifetime, unless they were alive in the second world war. They are on all the fronts the european question, britains place in the world question, the scottish question, the very existence of the United Kingdom as we recognise it and have grown up in it. All of these are, to a high degree, up in the air. Who would have predicted nick and daves coalition in 2010 . Or the referendum they held later on scotlands place in the union . Few reckoned David Cameron would win an outright majority in the general election in 2015. Just as hardly anyone foresaw the result of the referendum a year later. The british people have spoken add the answer is were out
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