Transcripts For BBCNEWS BBC Newsroom Live 20170419

Death is still with him, 20 years after Princess Diana was killed. He was speaking in a bbc documentary on the London Marathon. Police say they want to speak to Arthur Collins about a suspected acid attack at an east london nightclub. Good morning from westminster, where mps are expected to give their approval this afternoon to the Prime Ministers plan for a Snap General Election injust seven weeks. Theresa may says shes going to the polls three years early to help her make a success of brexit and secure a better dealfor britain. Opposition parties have accused mrs may of a u turn, but say they wont vote against the election. This morning theresa may has denied claims of political opportunism and insisted that its in the National Interest to hold a Snap Election. Speaking on the today programme, the Prime Minister has said she is not seeking a mandate for a blank cheque on brexit. So you are committed to fighting the election without spelling anything new out at all . Nothing new about brexit, nothing new about immigration, nothing new about trade . That is what we would call seeking a blank cheque, when youre saying to me, trust me, im in control, ill get it sorted. Well, if i may, with due respect, its not seeking a blank cheque when i say to people, look what we have done already. Look what weve delivered as a government already. Look at the modern industrial strategy we are working on. Look at the policies that we have and the aims that we have in terms of a good school place for every child. Look at the changes that we are making in terms of Technical Education for young people. None of these are brexit, which is why you say you are having the election. We are having the election in order to ensure that we strengthen our position for dealing with the European Union negotiations, but ive also been clear, as i said yesterday, and im happy to say it again now, that i believe that this is the way that we can ensure we get clarity and stability into the future, and we get the strong leadership we need for the United Kingdom going beyond brexit. Understood. Weve got to get the Brexit Process right. We want to make a success of it but we also want to ensure that we have set out a plan for this country beyond brexit for a stronger Global Britain. Mrs may has also denied that she was Running Scared by refusing to take part in any televised debates with her opponents. Im constantly debating with my opponents. On television, like David Cameron did . We wont be doing the Television Debates because i actually. You wont be facing Jeremy Corbyn on any stage at any time . Ill be facing Jeremy Corbyn later today in the House Of Commons, as i faced him most wednesdays of the year in the House Of Commons. Excuse me, Prime Minister, why are you Running Scared of debating your opponents . I am not, because i believe in campaigns where politicians actually get out and about and meet the voters. Its what ive always believed in. Its what i still believe in. I still do it. The Prime Minister is a constituency mp. I still go out and knock on doors in my constituency. Thats what i believe in doing, and thats what im going to be doing around this campaign. Despite the Prime Minister talking about opponents frustrating the Brexit Process, labours shadow chancellor, john mcdonnell, says its about more than that, and his party has a lot to offer the electorate. First of all, dont be deceived by the polls. They have not been accurate either in terms of the last General Election or at the referendum, indeed, even with america in the trump election. But also i think that people have underestimated Jeremy Corbyn of the way along, and we saw that at the labour leadership elections, and went. Particularly when he was able to debate head to head with alternative candidates, he was able, then, to demonstrate the sort of person he was, a decent, principled person. Now, again, iam hoping that the Prime Minister changes her mind about this issue of head to head televised debates. She is refusing at the moment but i think that would be critically important to have in this Election Campaign. Now, on that basis, i think youll find that people will see that, actually, Jeremy Corbyn is the sort of new Prime Minister that we want someone who is honest and decent and looks after the long term interests of the country, rather than this short term Party Politics that theresa mays engaged in now. The Liberal Democrats took a hammering after the last General Election after their coalition with the tories. Now tim farron believes they have a message which will appeal to voters. You cant call the labour party the main opposition when they held theresa mays hand as they let off together the hard brexit cliff edge and put our countrys future at risk, without any guarantees of what kind of deal we will get at the end of all of this. Whether you voted leave or remain lastjune, the point is, in two years time, theresa may is asking in this election now to give her a mandate to deliver any old brexit, stitched up by mandarins in whitehall and bureaucrats in brussels, that we will all have to live with for two or three generations. That is not democracy. So, if you think that there is something that can be done about changing that direction now, the Liberal Democrats offer you the opportunity to do just that. Whether you voted leave or remain lastjune, whoever you would have normally voted for, this is the moment when democracy must come back to life in this country. A one party state and a coronation in this next seven weeks will be disastrous for democracy and a disaster for britain, and only the Liberal Democrats offer you the chance for that not to happen. The snp has accused theresa may of putting her party before country. They have accused her of backtracking on the election. Nicola sturgeon is At Westminster. I dont think you will find anybody, probably in any part of the uk, who thinks it is. I was stating the fact asi thinks it is. I was stating the fact as i did in 2015 that i dont want to see a tory government. If there was parliamentary arithmetic that lent itself to keeping tories out of government, i would want to see that happen. Do i think that is likely . My happen. Do i think that is likely . My answer is not what i am looking at now. My objective in this election is not to worry about coalitions with anybody, but to making sure that the snp is in the strongest possible position to stand up strongest possible position to stand up and protect scotlands interests. 56 mp5 returned, and possibly even an extra one. You heard me say i will be fighting to win every constituency in scotland, not limiting myself to any particular number. I intend to win this election and i want to win this election and make sure every one of these colleagues behind me is returned here to continue to do the effective job they do. I am fighting to win as many seats and as many votes as possible, because that is how we protect the interests of scotland. My colleagues must get back into the chamber. Thank you. 0k, one picture. Nicola sturgeon standing next to angus robertson, leader of the snp in the House Of Commons. And a sunny day here in westminster. Before the vote ta kes day here in westminster. Before the vote takes place, we expect that to happen after Prime Ministers questions, following a 90 minute or so questions, following a 90 minute or so debate started by the Prime Minister. Former ukip donor arron banks says he is 100 standing in clacton at the General Election, against the partys former sole mp, douglas ca rswell. Mr banks says he is still consulting on whether to contest the seat as a ukip candidate. Mr carswell quit the party last month and has suggested those who voted ukip at the last General Election should back another party this time. Lets talk to our assistant Political Editor norman smith, here in the sunshine. Looking traditional in terms of where the parties are placing themselves. It is, but one thing that struck me listening to th rse listening to theresa may is how little she gave away in a 20 or 25 minute interview. I expect youll find a tightly controlled and buttons down campaign with limited access to the media. We know she has ruled out live Television Debates taking part, and says she will not do them. As Prime Minister, she has held view rask conferences and not many of the sort that david coburn did, David Camerons meet the voters debate. In terms of access by the media, theresa may feels she is in Pole Position and has a whopping lead in Opinion Polls. I surmise that she thinks she does not have to take chances and debate againstJeremy Corbyn, because they are in the driving seat. Isa driving seat. Is a decision to not take part in tv debates open her up to the accusation she is Running Scared . It does, but the decision to call for a Snap Election having previously said no, doing a complete about turn, Peacock Elation is that history is written by the victors. If she wins, a calculation. What does it matter if she doesnt take pa rt does it matter if she doesnt take part in live debates or does a u turn . Getting a sizeable victory is all that counts. And all of the rattling around it about whether she is paid to take part in debates, that will not matter. Their view is that will not matter. Their view is that they dont have to take chances and they will not. They are giving Little Information about policy, for example, nothing about the brexit deal she is trying to negotiate. Little on the Immigration Deal to seek. We are comparatively blind about policy with theresa may. Norman, you are here all day as everyday. Thank you very much and we will see you later on. Lets just have a quick look at how the election timetable is expected to unfold. In her announcement, mrs may said the government would present a motion in parliament today, asking mps to agree the request for a General Election. That takes place after Prime Ministers questions this afternoon. This vote is needed under the fixed term Parliaments Act, because the next election wasnt due to take place until 2020. 0pposition parties say they will agree to the request, so its almost certain to be carried. Parliament will probably be dissolved on may the 3rd, with the full Campaign Starting a few days later. The Prime Minister announced yesterday that polling day across the uk will be on thursdayjune the 8th. Lets talk now to the Conservative Mp james cleverly. Is this a fight you are relishing . We are all excited and we love politics and elections. This is an important election because what we have seen since the referendum result last year is a lot of game playing. A lot of uncertainty from the opposition parties. The premise is right to say, lets clear this up and have a Firm Platform to negotiate from for reforming the Public Services and british economy thatis Public Services and british economy that is so desperately needed. And is that politicians say they Love Elections when they think they will win. I wonder, Love Elections when they think they will win. Iwonder, theresa Love Elections when they think they will win. I wonder, theresa mays decision not to take part in Television Debates, is that sabina frustrates you . I was never a fan of the Television Debates, i thought they distorted the Election Campaign. In a short run up to polling day injune, i think it is right for the Party Leaders to be able to travel around the country and take the message to the country and take the message to the voters, rather than be stuck in Television Studios for two or three weeks out of a four a five week campaign. She addressed the 1922 committee yesterday. How would you address her mood and the mood of your colleagues . Very positive mood. The conservatives are in a good move. I think we feel we are in a strong position. I think we have some good arguments to take to the country and i think the labour party are in a bad place. We are up for it, i think, and that came across in the meeting. You set the labour party are in a bad place, so the tories have the criticism of opportunities and opportunism that that is what this is about. We are taking advantage of abysmal labour poll reading if we were to ta ke labour poll reading if we were to take advantage of abysmal labour poll it couldve been any time in the past two years. The significance of the timing is the Prime Minister wa nts a of the timing is the Prime Minister wants a strong hand to going to the negotiations with the future president of france and future chancellor of germany. And i think it is right she does so now. I was not expecting it but i think the argument is compelling. Thank you very much. Ramifications across the country and across the nations. Now scotland and wales and Northern Ireland, how have they been reacting . 0ur scotland correspondent, lorna gordon, is in edinburgh. We have heard from Nicola Sturgeon here. Yes, making some interesting comments down in london in the last few minutes, Nicola Sturgeon, first minister and leader of the snp, saying her party plans to fight for each and every seat in scotland. Remember, they are dominant in scottish politics, and at the last election day 156 out of the 59 constituencies in scotland. They w011 constituencies in scotland. They won 56 out of 59 seats. Those three they did not win in the last election they will have a good go at this time around. She said that if the parliamentary arithmetic was such, she would seek to be part of a progressive alliance, but does not think, she added, that labour will be in think, she added, that labour will beina think, she added, that labour will be in a position to bomb a government. You see how the narrative is going to develop Going Forward , narrative is going to develop Going Forward, with Nicola Sturgeon arguing the snp are the party that are going to be standing up for scotland. You also see that, yes, independence is going to be a big pa rt independence is going to be a big part of the campaign, Going Forward, here in scotland. She argues they already have a mandate, the snp, to hold a second Independence Referendum, and of course that is disputed by theresa may. But she also explicitly tipped her hat to that issue this morning, with the big article in the Scotsman Newspaper in scotland, saying that she argued that only a vote for the scottish conservatives would send a message against what she called the narrow, divisive politics of the snp. And she said a cup of the scottish conservatives would mean standing upfor scottish conservatives would mean standing up for the union. You see that, really, independence will be the dominant theme of the General Election here in scotland, and that is the situation here in scotland. What about in wales . Tomos morgan is in cardiff for us now. The situation in wales is at first minister carwyn jones the situation in wales is at first minister carwynjones is not positive towards this decision by theresa may, saying it was not in the National Interest to have a vote ata the National Interest to have a vote at a local election vote, just around the corner. Labour are dominant in wales, with 25 of the 40 seats here, but a recent opinion poll has said that up to seven of those will now be in contention. They are areas that voted for brexit, conservatives, plaid cymru, ukip and lib dems will be competing Ina Numberof Ukip and lib dems will be competing in a number of seats across wales. The leader of the plaid cymru, leanne wood, has said that she has not ruled out standing in a role competing against a labour seat there, because they feel that is a seat plaid cymru can win. The leader of the conservatives is also positive towards it, as has been the lib dems. And ukip17 seat in Cardiff Bay Last year in assembly elections, and neil hamilton, their leader, says he has not ruled out any consultancy mp in the General Election. He hopes ukip will have someone election. He hopes ukip will have someone standing in all of the seats across wales. All the parties besides labour here are reflecting the national story, really, that labour is not really happy with this decision but the other parties seem fine with it and are ready to battle, come this next election. That is the view from cardiff bay in wales. Now over to Northern Ireland. 0ur ireland correspondent, chris page, is in belfast. The parties are preparing for their fourth Election Campaign in two years. Just last month they fought a Snap Election to the Stormont Assembly caused by the collapse of the devolved government. General elections, because they are based on simple majorities, the first past the post system, and to be seen here more than other election, Proportional Representation elections, is basically an expression or test of which community is winning, unionism versus nationalism. Looking at the 18 parliamentary constituencies in Northern Ireland in the last General Election in 2015, unionists won 11 internationalists 17. Two of those seats which unionists one came about because of a unionist pact. The two main unionist parties, Democratic Unionist Party ulster unionists, clubbed together in some constituencies to avoid losing the vote, and in at least two of those constituencies a seat went to a unionist when it would have gone to a non unionist. Already questions are asked as to whether the unionist parties will pursue a similar arrangement, maybe indications from within the unionist parties suggesting they will explore doing that. The counterbalance, would the nationalist parties contends consider a park . Sinn nationalist parties contends Considera Park . Sinn fein nationalist parties contends consider a park . Sinn fein have suggested that kind of thing, but the sdlp have ruled it out because of among other reasons sinn fein being axed engine tests, they dont ta ke being axed engine tests, they dont take their seats At Westminster even when they have mps elected. They abstain. The sdlp wont be taking pa rt abstain. The sdlp wont be taking part in any electoral pact with sinn fein. All this happening against the backdrop of a political crisis in Northern Ireland, the worst than a decade. No devolved government here for the last three months and negotiations are ongoing to restore stormont, but there is already very little prospect of agreement and most think the prospect of another very divisive Election Campaign has meant prospects for a deal have receded even further. Thank you, chris page in belfast, lauren accordingly in edinburgh and Thomas Gordon in cardiff. Now tim bale, author and professor of politics at Queen Mary University in london. It seems as though the parties are reverting to type. In terms of the arguments. I dont think we will see anything particularly new. For labour, the only card they have is the nhs, and they will play that hard. They might have about theresa may doing a u turn on calling an election, but that doesnt have much attraction. The conservatives will play it safe and talk about leadership and took about the competence of the labour party, which people do not have confidence in at the moment. And the snp are clearly going to talk about and in the referendum. Atv and in the referendum. A tv debate, is that a cautious move . The move . The snp move . The snp will talk about an Independence Referendum. Theresa may has a lot on her plate at the moment and tv debates could only give the damage so it is the obvious thing for her to do. Before the General Election, local elections, which Liberal Democrats traditionally benefit from. You expect a premise to test the waters ina expect a premise to test the waters in a local election before making up her mind on Opinion Polls, but she has gone the other way. Now, for the lib dems, they will get a big boost out of those local elections, and that could put wind in their sales and kept the momentum going into the General Election properly. Back in 1983 and 1987, Liberal Democrats and alliance challenging labour in terms of votes share if not seat share. If labour collapses, they hope they have a chance of doing that this time around. What about labour . Is it about leadership . Not all about leadership of the leadership makes a difference it has to be said. Labour has a problem with Working Class voters shrinking and puts those existing Working Class voters up against liberal policies on immigration. Long term problems, but the short term problem is jeremy long term problems, but the short term problem isJeremy Corbyn. As far as voters are concerned. You were surprised yesterday morning, i take it . Not completely surprised, though i had thought she would wait at least until the local elections to test the waters. Thank you forjoining us. Lets see how this election and prospect affect business around the uk. Steph mcgovern has spent the morning at a Bakery Business in bolton in lancashire. Hello from this bakery in bolton. Have a look at this. You can see buns here this morning which pam and allison are quickly putting through the machine. They are being wrapped up and then they will set off to the shops. But this bakery has lots of stores around this area and employs hundreds of people. They make Something Like Tens Of Thousands of these every hour, and they make Something Like 16,000 Sausage Rolls every hour as well, so it is certainly a busy place here. Lets have a quick chat with dave, because, dave, the last time i spoke to you, we were talking about the referendum. Yeah. Now we are talking about a General Election. How do you feel about it . I think it is positive for everybody in the company and the food industry. At the end of the day, everybody wants consistency and structure towards the economy, and hopefully that will come with a government with a strong mandate to ta ke government with a strong mandate to take us through brexit, and then to a stronger future. Youre not worried about uncertainty . Yes, a bit. Anybody would be a bit. Going for red, with a strong government, going through brexit, i think it will be a Good Foundation for the Economy Correction at Going Forward. Since we voted to leave the European Union, has it been . The business going from strength to strength but because ive gone up, especially raw ingredients. But what goes up must especially raw ingredients. But what goes up must come especially raw ingredients. But what goes up must come down, and long term, within the future, it will start to come down. Petrol, for example, coming down, and it will continue. You can almost smell it. Lets go to birmingham, wherei you can almost smell it. Lets go to birmingham, where i am joined you can almost smell it. Lets go to birmingham, where i amjoined by Professorjane Green from the British Election study. Theresa may saying, strategically, this is a sensible move, but is it . I think it is definitely the case that there wasnt a better time for theresa may. Hearing about prices, we can see prices starting to race, obviously, very difficult negotiations ahead. Lots of promises to be made by theresa may and not all fulfilled, inevitably. 0f course, we have started to see initial signs that the Liberal Democrats might be picking up some of that remain vote. If she didnt go to the country now, she knows those conditions will not get any better for those conditions will not get any betterfor her, those conditions will not get any better for her, and so this was the prime time. Looking around here at Smiling Faces tended to be on Liberal Democrats, not just because of tended to be on Liberal Democrats, notjust because of what tended to be on Liberal Democrats, not just because of what saying about the remaining vote but because about the remaining vote but because a week labour party or the perception of one benefits them . That is right, and so we know that many of the Liberal Democrats voters that they lost in 2015 had come from the labour party before. And they had gone to the labour party after which, at least some of them. A week labour party definitely benefits Liberal Democrats. The remain vote benefits the Liberal Democrats, because the labour party is unclear on its position, having to support brexit and doing it relu cta ntly. To support brexit and doing it reluctantly. This is good news for Liberal Democrats, but what is crucial is, can the Liberal Democrats solidified that support in concentration . We will not see liberal democrat mps winning seats onjune liberal democrat mps winning seats on june the 8th liberal democrat mps winning seats onjune the 8th unless that support is really concentrated in those areas of the country, the south and south west and some parts of south london, where they would seek to be making gains on the tories. I would imagine we might see a higher boost in liberal democrat vote share and Popular Support which doesnt necessarily deliver in terms of liberal democrat mps. Clear from may said this liberal democrat mps. Clearfrom may said this morning and yesterday, she is penning this election on brexit, that all that matters is the negotiations in getting a fair dealfor matters is the negotiations in getting a fair deal for britain. Matters is the negotiations in getting a fair dealfor britain. Is that a risky move on her part . There are two risks, and people have been talking about on this morning. 0ne been talking about on this morning. One is that almost she cant. The last she does really well, she is not going to live up to expectations, and that is one risk. A more long term risk is that she is now really pinning everything on getting a large majority and a strong mandate and going into eu negotiations, and she will spend six to seven weeks making promises, and frankly we just dont know. She probably cant know if she can actually deliver on those promises. She is really gambling that she can get the things that she is promising with this stronger mandate if indeed she does get it, and actually deliver that. We might see in years to come her regretting that sense of overpromising. We know that politicians make big promises in Election Campaigns and are not a lwa ys Election Campaigns and are not always delivered. In this case, there are so many more obstacles for her to deliver all of those promises, because she has got to get the consensus of all of the other Member States of the eu behind them. Thank you, professor jane Member States of the eu behind them. Thank you, Professorjane Green. Plenty more from westminster throughout the day but lets get an update on the rest of the days news in the studio. The duke of cambridge has revealed the shock of his mothers death is still with him, twenty years after she was killed in a car crash in paris. Prince william was speaking in a bbc documentary which follows a group of people affected by Mental Health problems, whore training to run the London Marathon this weekend. 0ur royal correspondent, peter hunt reports. Exercise can help with Mental Health issues. Ten runners pursuing a shared goal, a marathon for their minds as much as their bodies. All of them have suffered and continue to suffer from turmoil on the inside. And youre convinced it can help Mental Health . Most definitely, from personal experience. This is one of the marathon novices. Her one year old son, george, died five years ago. Five days later, her husband paul, who blamed himself, took his own life. My life as i knew it was over. Me, as a person, changed forever. Ptsd has been a huge thing that ive had to carry. The runners are being supported by william, kate, and harry. Their Heads Together campaign aims to encourage people to talk about their Mental Health. Can i ask you one question . When your mum passed away, you were older than my children, but i am worried about them growing up. Will they be ok . With a mum like you, they will be fine. Dont say that. Try and understand, you can understand emotions more than someone who hasnt had any issues in their lives. That is quite critical, because t is explaining to them what those emotions mean and why they feel like they do. You have to rationalise this. If you are angry or down or upset, you can kind of relativise it and deal with it. The shock is the biggest thing. I still feel 20 years later, about my mother, that i still have shock within me, 20 years later. You think, no, it cant last that long. But it does. It is an unbelievably big moment in your life. It never leaves you. You just learn to deal with it. How was it, then . It was amazing yeah. Did you get to ask your question . Idid. He was so honest. He just said straight up they will be all right if they are brought up in a loving and caring environment. Which they are . Which they are. Because they have a great mum . First prince harry, and now Prince William two royal brothers who provided an insight into the detrimental impact of their bereavement. Dianas death is one of the reasons william is passionate about this cause. From my personal point of view, its the emotional side. I hate seeing people in emotional or mental torment. You can really see it sometimes and its really sad, because it takes you down a very, very different path in life. The point of the campaign, with the marathon, is we want to reduce the stigma. We want people to talk about Mental Health as like its perfectly normal. The runners will face physical and mental challenges when they compete on sunday in the London Marathon. Peter hunt, bbc news. Police have named a man they want to speak to about a suspected acid attack at an east london nightclub. Arthur collins is wanted for questioning after a corrosive liquid was sprayed during an argument in the early hours of monday morning. 20 people were left injured. The french go to the polls on sunday the first round of the president ial election. If the polls are right, candidates from nontraditional parties are set to capture the top two places. A run off will be held weeks later. 0ur Correspondent Tomas Fessy is in amiens in northern france. Good morning. We are in a region thatis good morning. We are in a region that is the sort of french rust belts, a region where dozens of factories have closed in the last ten or 15 years, and where industrial jobs have ten or 15 years, and where industrialjobs have gone away to Eastern Europe or china. Deep in the north and north east of this region, well, the Working Class has switched to the right or the far right. What was a bastion of the left. In fact, the National Front has cooked up the disappointed very that once went to the socialist and communist. Im in the city where the Independence Centrist emmanuel macron, now leading the polls, comes from. He grew up here and has launched his movement. At 39 years old he could become the youngest french president ever elected. Any of them could make it to the run. Lets turn to a young voter here, a 26 year old studying psychology. He is supporting the candidate of the far left who has surged in the polls and is now fourth, just neck and neck with francois fillon, the candidate of the republicans. What makes you want to vote for whom . Mostly the Educational Programme and questions about the environment, too, and labour. He has got what many call an expensive programme. He was raise the minimum wage and lower the retirement age. He wants to raise the minimum wage. He was too high a 60,000 teachers, 10,000 police officers, and the list goes on. How do you think france for that . |j dont do you think france for that . dont know, because im not an economist. But i think this is necessary if we want a big change. Said changes all that matters . Is it about the candidates or is it about his programme . It is about his programme. I dont vote for a candidate or a man, programme. I dont vote for a candidate ora man, i programme. I dont vote for a candidate or a man, i vote for a programme. So what in his programme particularly is attractive to you . Everything he proposes about the environment, about labour. And about the low that is supposed with the Labour Market more flexible. But actually all does is help people to get people laid off. I think this will make workers poorer and poorer. It will make us a social state and a social europe. Thank you very much, thats all we have time for. Four days to go and whoever wins this election is already quite exceptional. There is a very real possibility here that neither of the traditional parties from the right and left may be represented in the run off. And left may be represented in the runoff. Thank you very much, thomas. Interesting political times in france as well as here. Headlines are coming up on the bbc news channel. But first, a look at the weather. Most of us will have a dry day of weather. Plenty of sunshine across the east of england. The high cloud has given a Beautiful Sunrise in aberdeenshire and across the midlands. Some pretty special Sunrise Pictures coming in from that pa rt Sunrise Pictures coming in from that part of the world. Through the rest of the day, it stays pretty cloudy. Clouds thickened at the moment to bring a few spots of light rain across Northern Ireland. Working in across Northern Ireland. Working in a times into the isle of man and Dumfries Galloway and cumbria. Rain working in a times. A that it isa rain working in a times. A that it is a nice picture for southern england, South West England and wales. Lovell pushing overnight so it wont be as chilly as it has been a recent night. It will be frost free for most, but for rural parts of South East England could be bit of South East England could be bit of frost, kent, sussex as well. It should be a bright start to the day here, otherwise they cloudy day on thursday. The cloud is thin enough times to allow some bright sunny spells through. Temperatures between 1214 spells through. Temperatures between 12 14 celsius. This is bbc newsroom live. The headlines. Theresa may defends her decision to call for a General Election injune, saying it would give her the strongest hand in Brexit Negotiations and make it hard for people to frustrate the exit process. I believe that this is the way that we can ensure we get clarity and stability into the future. We get the strong leadership we need for the United Kingdom going beyond brexit. The Prime Minister confirms she Wont Take Part in Television Debates ahead of this election, but labour says its critically important to take part. Labour accused the Prime Minister of dodging a head to head showdown. Im hoping that the Prime Minister changes her mind about this issue of head to head televised debates. Shes refusing at the moment, but i think that would be critically important to have in this Election Campaign. Prince william speaks out about the effect on him of his mother Princess Dianas death, saying the shock is still with him 20 years after she was killed. Police say they want to speak to Arthur Collins about a suspected acid attack at an east london nightclub. Arthur collins is the boyfriend of tv personality ferne mccann. Now time for the sport. Just under half an hour until Warren Gatland names his British And Irish Lions squad for this summers tour of new zealand. 0ur sports news correspondent Katie Gornall is in london for us ahead that announcement at midday. As you say, soon months of speculation will come to an end. In around half an hour, the lions tour manager will reveal the 40 names that have made the squad to tour new zealand with Warren Gatland. Here with me to talk all about it is our by with me to talk all about it is our rugby union correspondent, chris jones. We do know one name that is going to be and that squad sam warburton, the captain. He is injured, that was his participation everin injured, that was his participation ever in doubt . It is only a six week injury, so it is something people see as a positive. It gives them a chance to freshen up before the tour and be ready to go come the first match. If hes not ready for that, he will certainly be ready to build up he will certainly be ready to build up for the next games. Either way, over the course of the last few weeks it was always going to become apparent he was Warren Gatlands man stop he has been for some time, go back six or seven years when he was first made wales captain. He has actually already been snapped in his lions kit. We have all been having our across the media, come lions kit. We have all been having ouracross the media, come mid day as when the names be officially confirmed. As you say, the secret is out there. When their secrets are confirmed, we are expecting england players to dominate. But perhaps those beginnings people might expect . You could have expected up to 20 englishmen to go, but i think its going to be around 14 or 15 englishmen, then ten irishmen, 1112 welshman, which could come as a surprise, given that they finished fifth in the six nations, and then scots could only be two. 11 or 12 welshman. Given that scotland beat wales and ireland, that would be very disappointing for scotland and rugby fans. Maybe they would be hampered by the fact that they dont have a scottish represent. All is to be revealed but i expect that to be roughly the make up of the touring party. If we are going to speculate as to who might not make it, dylan hartley, england captain, whojust led england to their second successive six nations title, looks like hes going to miss out. Successive six nations title, looks like hes going to miss outm does, which would be harsh and hartley given what he has done as english captain, grandson 2015, a six nations title in 2017. But there have been questionss over his form asa have been questionss over his form as a player. Grand slam 2015. Warren gatland has not decided that he is one of the best three hookers in the british isles. 0ther Englishmen might miss out Including Haskel and brown. Joe launchbury, also in danger. Because i think gatland is going for a few more welshman than people could have predicted. Thanks very much. We will know for sure very shortly, but it doesnt come much tougher than a tour to new zealand. 0r those players who are named, it will be the pinnacle of their careers. Thank you, we will find out in 20 minutes time. But as obese or for now, more from us later. That is all the sport for now. Lets go back to westminster and simon mccoy. Welcome back to westminster, where Mps Will Debate Whether to grant the Prime Ministers demand for a Snap General Election on 8th june. It seems likely that they will. Lets talk now to the labour mp and Shadow Chief Secretary to the treasury, peter dowd, and the Conservative Mp, suella fernandes. You have only twit macro been in the house for two years. Every few months, Something Else happens to make thisjob months, Something Else happens to make this job much months, Something Else happens to make thisjob much more exciting. No one can play politics with warren. I have definitely found that being on the front line. No one can say politics is boring. Im pleased the Prime Minister has taken the Bold Decision to call an election and i think it will give an opportunity to the people of britain to have their say. We will have a full and frank debate on all the issues. Peter, in terms of your colleagues, labour mps, the sense is that the Election Campaign is going to be very much about austerity and issues such as the nhs. And lest perhaps not brexit. Is that the right way to go . Lest perhaps. We have been told that brexit is done, the decision is made, lets get on well. But we seem to be trying to rehash the debate. General elections are about the country, we say to finance, social care, the nhs. Deviated out in your constituency voted out. I have heard john hall i have a Jean Claude Juncker s i think theresa may needs to be in a position whereby she has a unified westminster, as suarez that is possible. Weve seen that members of the Liberal Democrats say that they need to grind a halt to parliamentary procedure. Weve seen members of the labour party say that they will vote against a final deal. The snp are placing obstruction after a obstruction in the way. I think what it really good outcome for this election would be in for those voices to be silenced in some way and for a really strong mandate for the Prime Minister to go forward. She will be very confident that negotiating room, and that is how she will secure the best deal for our country. On the doorsteps, on the two issues that your potential voters are going to be looking at, brexit and your leader. 0r looking at, brexit and your leader. Or maybe two more issues . No, theyre not. Ithink or maybe two more issues . No, theyre not. I think the or maybe two more issues . No, theyre not. Ithink the points or maybe two more issues . No, theyre not. I think the points you will make has got to be silenced. I think the point suella makes. The debate that we have had have been fairly sparse, we have no details about. At the of the day, parliament is here to debate things. But on the doorstep, what people are interested in in my constituency is terrible waiting list is on the nhs. But the grim situation. Social care, and implementing constituencies, insecure wages, insecure working places in the constituency, the closure of places like hmrc. Thats what theyre concerned about. We have had the debate about brexit. Were moving now. The fact that the prominence of making a mess of it is not my fault. Shes trying to put a smoke screen up. Weve seen that some of these debates are very narrow in the opportunities that they give candidates to express their point. I could be Prime Minister is right to ta ke could be Prime Minister is right to take the decision that she once and she will be at their meeting people. I think she will be at their meeting people. I think the Prime Minister is right. She will be listening to people in the flesh and really taking on board their concerns. That is what counts. Student looking you dont look impressed. Is what counts. Student looking you dont look impressed. Im not impressed. You can get out on the doorstep, into public spaces, and you got to be on the television as well. The Prime Minister not going on the television is aggregating their responsibilities to address their responsibilities to address the issue. We will leave it there. Thank you both very much. Commentator lesley riddoch, who voted for scotland to become an independent country, joins us now from glasgow. We have already heard from Nicola Sturgeon this morning. You look at her, you look at Theresa May Committee C2 Powerful Women who have the full backing of their own parties, both very confident. That is probably where the similarities end . Yes. Unfortunately because theresa may is scared of having a debate with the likes of nicola, we went stephens sparring together, which would be quite a sight. Im sitting his ragged at what ive just heard, a tory mp saying that the aim of this election is to get a result that would allow the voices of the snp to be silenced in the commons. Im snp to be silenced in the commons. Im sitting here staggered at what ive just heard. There are 56 out of 59 mps elected by the scots, snp mps, to go to westminster. Thats a huge statement. Of course its meant absolutely nothing. There are its meant absolutely nothing. There a re 62 of its meant absolutely nothing. There are 62 of the two voted to stay in the eu and that means that you nothing. The vote of the Scottish Parliament to have a second Independence Referendum when all the details of brexit unknown, and literally nothing. What possible outcome can be scots come up with that will make the blindest bit of difference to what theresa may has already decided to do, which seems to be on with the aid of some of the national press, to decide that anybody who questions any aspect of her brexit deal is somehow a saboteur . This is really seriously democratically worrying, and i think thats the sort of line Nicola Sturgeon will be pushing all the way from here on in. Waders is called for the General Election leave the second referendum . For the General Election leave the second referendum . Twitmacro where does this call. It is still up in the air. It can obviously be brought in. It will restate that there is a desire to have an escape route from brexit should be as calamitous as many predict. It will probably be what the snp also going for in this referendum. It will be the Rival Parties talking about independence. The snp arent ready to go for a full case for independence in seven weeks flat. Theyve been working on their ideas about currency and various other things that theyre not going to jump things that theyre not going to jump to theresa maysjune attack prematurely get into that debate when theyre theyre not ready for it, and when there to theresa mays tune and prematurely get into that debate. Using because of Scottish Independence was strengthened by a call for General Election . I think it will. We heard from theresa may in a patronising way a couple of weeks ago that the time for scotland you have a second referendum was not now. And the message of what has just happened on the about turn is that its not now be scottish, but its always further westminster government. Is to different standards of fairness. This is meant to equal some kind of Mutual Respect between the nations that make up the uk. That has been smashed and not just that make up the uk. That has been smashed and notjust for scotland but for Northern Ireland and for local government elections that now dont seem to matter at all to the conservatives, which replaced the conservatives, which replaced the conservatives in scotland in a really tricky situation. 20 for joining us. Here in westminster, bright sunshine. Have a look at this picture of the palace of westminster. Thats inside. Its funny and errors while its certainly warming up because we have Prime Ministers questions at 12 oclock and after that the debate which is expected now to back theresa mays call for that General Election on june the theresa mays call for that General Election onjune the 8th. Joining me now here in westminster is the former Labour Party Official and telegraph columnist, dan hodges. Hes a critic ofJeremy Corbyn. Im also joined by the conservative commentator, tim montgomerie, who worked for former conservative party leader, iain duncan smith. Down, where you caught on the Hop Yesterday . Did you think this was troubled . I didnt ever think theresa may would manage to get you 2020. I didnt theresa may would manage to get you 2020. I didnt think she would be able to serve the parliament because of brexit convocations. But, no, im absolutely amazed. Not least because when those others that did, i mean, i had written about General Election speculation in my column, but when any of us face it, people in Downing Street absolutely trampled on any speculation from any of us but she was planning. So, no, didnt see it coming at all. It is quite a uturn and a reversal for gordon brown did and a reversal for gordon brown did a few years ago. He almost let us up to having a General Election, then pulled away from it. Theresa may has done the opposite. When you have opinion poll leads, we have had three Opinion Polls giving the conservatives are 21 point lead, it would almost be a dereliction of duty as leader of the conservative party not to take advantage of that. When you have people like Danielle Niles same as a labour man through and from all his life that hes going to vote at this election, that undermines wine theresa may took the stand but she did. That hes going to go can over to the selection. Dart potential Prime Ministers. Whatever theresa mays drawbacks, its fit thatJeremy Corbyn is not to be Prime Minister of the country. In a sense i feel ive not really been given any choice. So you are voting to get rid ofJeremy Corbyn . Im choice. So you are voting to get rid of Jeremy Corbyn . Im voting to stop Jeremy Corbyn being Prime Minister. Thats how i would frame it. Jeremy corbyn being Prime Minister. Thats how i would frame it. All right. In terms of this television debate, theresa may is coming in for a bit of work for that. The activation inevitably is that shes Running Scared. Up until last couple of elections, we havent had a television debate. So shes only doing whatjohn major did before her, margaret thatcher, and all previous Prime Ministers. When youre ahead so far in the game, as she is in the Opinion Polls, the only thing you have by taking part in these debates is to lose. Im quite confident that she was in a debate with generally corbyn that she would win. Im quite confident that if she was in a debate with Jeremy Corbyn that she would bring. She will get some stick, but she is doing the prudent thing. And im sure there will be ple nty of thing. And im sure there will be plenty of times she was on the today programme. There will be plenty of times throughout the campaign where she is scrutinised. And i think sometimes these debates are about sound bites and appearance will stop the interrogation by an Andrew Newell or ring Nick Robinson actually gets closer to the real scrutiny. What sort of mood will be on the benches behind Jeremy Corbyn . A very depressed mood. Although having said that, there was a slight sentiment of some labour mps that i was too last night who thought, thank god its nearly over. What i thought was interesting was seeing Jeremy Corbyn giving his questions in response to the call for the election. I actually thought i detected a sense of relief. What we may be seeing is that this may well bejeremy may be seeing is that this may well be Jeremy Corbyns may be seeing is that this may well beJeremy Corbyns last Prime Ministers questions appearance. I think its a relief. But also labour mps know full well whats coming down the track at them. So thats also a sense of trepidation as well. Thank you both very much. We will be back here from westminster after Prime Ministers questions, after the debate on the upcoming General Election on june the the debate on the upcoming General Election onjune the 8th. But now back to joanna for the rest election onjune the 8th. But now back tojoanna for the rest of election onjune the 8th. But now back to joanna for the rest of the days news. Ina in a moment we will have the summary of the business use, the first hour headlines. Mps are expected to vote this afternoon to approve the Prime Ministers plans to hold a Snap Election in june. Ministers plans to hold a Snap Election injune. Theresa may has denied claims of political opportunism and insist an election will bring stability and certainty during the Brexit Process. The Prime Minister confirmed she will not take part in Television Debates ahead of the selection. Labour say thats the wrong decision. Prince william speaks about the effects the death of his mother had on him, saying the shopkeeper 20 yea rs on him, saying the shopkeeper 20 years ago is with him. Hello, we are going to run through all of the Market Reaction to westminster and the news yesterday. Let me take you straight to the market board. Uncertainty is the Name Of The Game again. Just as investors had got their head around the uncertainty of the elections in netherlands, germany and france theres now a new vote added into the mix in the uk. So let me show you where we are right now. Bear in mind first of all that the rebound in the pound doesnt help the ftse100, with earnings of the top 100 Companies Looking much better when the pound is weaker. So thats why you see the market falling. The wider index gives a better indication of what the london markets make of it all. It was up sharply yesterday. But dont expect too much election related movement on the markets ahead of the vote onjune 8th. Unless the polls show a weakening of support for the conservatives. Continued support gives theresa may a stronger mandate to take on hardline anti eu backbenchers and that could take the edges off a so called hard brexit. The bounce back in the pound on the Currency Markets speaks volumes, though that too was helped by the imf Upgrading Growth forecasts to the uk, to 2 , second only to the us. The rising pound also suggests that investors think the uk has a stronger Bargaining Stance in the Brexit Negotiations, and too that the uk wont be mired in a relatively messy election in 2020 just after the eu departure. That 2020 election could have been used by eu officials as a stick to beat the uk with at the negotiating table. So thats what the numbers probably tell us but what does Business Make of what they heard . Carolyn fairbairn is the boss of the confederation of british industry. More unsettling to eat is not welcomed by business will stop but in terms of the longer term benefits, many businesses are seeing the opportunity for a government with a stronger mandate bringing longer term stability, and also a potential benefit in terms of timing in that the implementation period at the end of article 50 was going to have a General Election in it, and now may need to be one with a period of stability. So some good news in a Silver Lining from this will. But what could it mean as the uk begins negotiations on the terms of brexit . Does it hand the Prime Minister more power . Sir Martin Sorrell is the boss of Global Advertising giant wpp he was a vocal supporter to remain in the eu. Itll make the eu negotiate less effectively. But on the other hand it gives her a much stronger position. She is not susceptible to uprisings or results from the hard brexiteer. I think the reason why sterling strengthens the markets was that the markets were saying this probably means a softer brexit aura transition agreement. Using the analogy of going over a cliff, falling over a cliff at the end of negotiations. Some short term reaction as far as the markets and business is concerned. Still lots to play for. They will be looking very closely and the campaign and what both sides make as we go into the campaigning ahead of that General Election on june the 8th. Thats all from me. Simon, back to you. Thank you. It is sunny here in westminster. Just before Prime Ministers questions. After which, it will be the debate on that General Election proposal from the Prime Minister, expected to be rubber stamped here in the next couple of hours. Lets go to our correspondent norman s mess. Its interesting, just talking to dan hodges, who was saying he feels this could be corbyns last pmqs. Hodges, who was saying he feels this could be corbyns last pmqsm would be, because there is one more next week so he is wrong there. But i get the drift of what he needs. If mr corbyn goes down in a bad defeat, maybe he wont survive and theyll be plenty of labour mps hoping that if that is the outcome, maybe it will provide a moment when they can have a fresh and different leader. That of course is in the back of their mind. I wouldnt say its a certainty. I can quite easily see mr corbyns team arguing that the reason theyve struggled is because of disunity At Westminster, aside from labour mps, continual criticism of mr corbyn. I dont think it is a done deal that mr corbyn will walk off into the sunset. Who knows, we may see mr corbyn for quite a few more Prime Ministers questions. We will have to see how this whole thing works out. I think today is going to be one of the most charged pmqs. It is going to be Knuckle Dusters and lunchtime because it is the moment where the two leaders, in an increasingly president ial election system, the focus is so much in the two leaders. When the two leaders go head to head for the first time, it seems this is as good as its going to get because mrs may has said shes not going to do tv debates. The only time that it seems were going to see mrs may and Jeremy Corbyn actually fronting onto each other. This Election Campaign is going to be here in the comments today and next wednesday, because mrs may has pretty much confirmed she aint going to be doing any tv debates. A sign, i would suggest, that she is feeling pretty confident. If she was at all doubtful, uneasy about what was going to happen in the selection, she would be very keen to do live tv debates. Shouldve doesnt want to do them because she feels she doesnt have to take any risk. Do them because she feels she doesnt have to take any risk. The next time i ask you a tough question, let me down a little more gently than that in terms of a tv debate, it has already opened up the accusation that she is Running Scared. I think thats probably what we will hear from Jeremy Corbyn pmqs. Shes frightened, she is frightened in not only is she bottling tv debates but she is scuttling off for a cut and run General Election while the polls are in favour, having previously insisted publicly, no, there is not going to be a Snap Election. So there will be the taunts of theresa may, first, you cant trust her, and secondly, shes frightened. How long that will really gain traction in the Election Campaign remains to be seen. I suspect the hope of team may is that it will fizzle out. She will ta ke is that it will fizzle out. She will take its today, maybe up to the weekend, then the debate will gradually move onto the big substantial around brexit and, if labour had their way, around the issue of austerity. Ijust labour had their way, around the issue of austerity. I just want to ta ke issue of austerity. I just want to take us inside the commons. And the snp, who are angry. They are the only party who are actually not going to vote for the election, but are going to abstain in the debate we will get after Prime Ministers questions. Their view is this is entirely opportunistic, partisan, self interested , opportunistic, partisan, self interested, and election being called by mrs may, but they dont wa nt to called by mrs may, but they dont want to stand in the way of people having the opportunity to vote against what they call an increasingly hardline against what they call an increasingly ha rdline right wing conservative government. They have, you know, other fish conservative government. They have, you know, Otherfish To Conservative government. They have, you know, other fish to fry to some extent in this election, because central to the snps Election Campaign is trying to build momentum for what is called the second Independence Referendum in scotland, and their charge from Nicola Sturgeon, as we heard in westminster down the road this morning, saying, how can it be the case that mrs may says now is not the temporary second Independence Referendum because of all of the uncertainty and our people but now is the time for a General Election, which will bring an awful lot of our people and uncertainty . The snp will of course oppose conservative policies and the course of brexit, but their game plan is to try to position themselves whereby they strengthen their mandate and opportunity to press for a second referendum. The difficulty is that they start from such a high bar, having won all but three of the seats north of the border at the last election, and it is hard for them to do any better. The danger is they slipped back a little bit, but that is presented and seen as Nicola Sturgeon beginning to lose momentum. Norman. The appetite for a second Independence Referendum waning. Now lets go inside. Mr speaker, i now lets go inside. Mrspeaker, iam now lets go inside. Mr speaker, i am sure members across the house will wish to join me mr speaker, i am sure members across the house will wish tojoin me in offering our condolences to the families and friends of Andrei Christie who died following the london attack, and chris bedlington, among those killed in the Terrorist Attack in sweden. And our thoughts are with the family and friends of hannah, Murdered Interracial Last week. I had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others, murdered injuries alone. In jerusalem. I would like tojoin jerusalem. I would like to join the reminisced in offering the condolences of the people in my constituency and myself to the individuals and their families. Strong countries need strong economies. Strong countries need strong defences. Strong countries need strong leaders. As the nation prepares to go to the polls. As the nation prepares to go to the polls, a part from my right honourable friend, who else in this house can provide the leadership thatis house can provide the leadership that is needed at this time . Here, here. My here, here. My honourable friend is right that there are three things a Country Needs, a Strong Economy, strong defence and strong, stable leadership. That is what our plans for brexit and our plans for a stronger britain will deliver. And Thatis Stronger Britain will deliver. And that is what the conservative party will be offering at this election. And we will be out there fighting for every vote. Whereas the rate honourable gentleman opposite would bankrupt our economy, we can our defences, and is simply not fit to lead. Hear, hear. Jeremy corbyn thank you, thank you, mr speaker. Thank you, thank you, mr speaker. Thank you, thank you, mr speaker. Thank you, mr speaker. I concur with the condolences to the Prime Minister just the condolences to the Prime Ministerjust sent to the condolences to the Prime Minister just sent to the families of those three people who so sadly and needlessly died, and it is important we recognise that, as It Isa Important we recognise that, as it is a cross Party Proposal today. I thank the Prime Minister for that. Mr speaker, we welcome the General Election. Hear, hear but this. But this is a. But this is a Prime Minister who promised there would not be one. A Prime Minister who cannot be trusted. Hear, hear she says it is about leadership. Yet she is refusing to defend her record in Television Debates. And it is not ha rd to in Television Debates. And it is not hard to see why. The Prime Minister says we have a stronger economy. Yet. Yet she cannot explain why peoples wages are lower today than they were ten years ago, or why more households are in debt, 6 Million People earning less than the living wage. Child poverty is up and pensioner poverty is up. So why are so many people getting poorer . Ican so many people getting poorer . I can assure the right honourable gentlemen first of all, i would point out to the right honourable gentlemen that i have been answering his questions and debating these matters every wednesday the parliament has been sitting since i became Prime Minister. And i will be taking. Iwill became Prime Minister. And i will be taking. I will be taking out to the country in this campaign a proud record of a conservative government. A stronger economy, an economy with a deficit nearly two thirds down, with 30 Million People with a tax cut, 4 Million People taking out of income tax altogether. Record levels of employment and £1250 more a year for pensioners. Thats a record we can be proud of. Mr speaker, if she is so proud of her record, why wont she debate it . Wages. Wages are falling. More children are in property, and the last Tory Manifesto, on page 28, it said, we will work to eliminate Child Poverty. They only eliminated the Child Poverty targets, not Child Poverty. In 2010, they promised to eradicate the deficit by 2015. In 2015, they promised to eradicate the deficit by 2020. Austerity has failed. Does the Prime Minister know which year the deficit will now be eradicated . The right honourable gentlemen, i know it has taken. I know it has taken the right honourable gentlemen a little time to get the hang of these Prime Ministers questions, but i have to say to him that, week in and week out, he stands up and asks me questions, and i respond to those questions, and what we are. Order order the leader of the opposition must be heard and the Prime Minister must be heard hear, hear Prime Minister. A stronger economy with the deficit two thirds down, but people will have a real choice at this election between a conservative government which has shown we can build a stronger economy and the labour party whose Economic Policy would bankrupt this country, and what voters now is that under labour, it ordinary working people who pay the price of the labour party. They pay it with their taxes. They paid with theirjobs and they paid with their childrens futures. Jeremy corbyn only this year, the new chancellor pledged to eradicate the deficit by 2022. I do admire tory consistency. It is always five years in the future. Another tory broken promise. The Prime Minister leads a government that has increased national bed by £700 billion. More than every other Labour Government in history but together. Debt has risen every year they have been in office. We know there are economic plan was long term. Does the Prime Minister want to tell us how far into the long term it will be before we get debt falling . The right honourable gentlemen stands up and talks about that. This isa stands up and talks about that. This is a labour party that will be going into the election pledged to borrow an extra 500 billion pounds. And what does that mean for ordinary working people . Iwill tell the right honourable gentlemen what it means. We know what labours plans would entail, because we have been told by the former labour shadow chancellor. He said the following if labour were in power, he would have to double income tax and Double National insurance and double council tax, and youd have to double vat as well. That is labours plan for the economy. Jeremy corbyn all her government has delivered, mr speaker, is more debt and less funding for schools and hospitals. Schools Funding Being Cut for the first time in a generation. The Prime Minister is cutting £3 billion a yearfrom Prime Minister is cutting £3 billion a year from School Budgets by 2020. She says they have created a stronger economy, so why arent there are Tax Giveaways to the richest corporations, while our childrens schools are starved of the resources they need to educate our children for the future . He talks about levels of funding into schools and the nhs. There are Record Levels of funding going into schools, and Record Levels of funding going into the nhs. But lets talk about schools. Because it is not just a lets talk about schools. Because it is notjust a question of funding, it isa is notjust a question of funding, it is a question of the quality of education provided in the schools. 1. 8 million more children are in good or outstanding schools under this conservative government. That is1. 8 this conservative government. That is 1. 8 million more children with a better chance for their futures. What would labour give us . The same old one size fits all Local Authority Run schools, no choice, good or bad, trust your luck. We dont trust luck and we want to trust the labour party. Well provide a good school place for every child. Jeremy corbyn. Pa rents Jeremy Corbyn. Parents taking their children Back To School for the summer term, many will receive a letter from the School Begging for funds to buy books and fun to be school. The conservative manifesto promised the amount of money following your child into school will be protected. It isnt. Its another tory broken promise. For the first time in its history, mr speaker, nhs funding per pupil, history, mr speaker, nhs funding per pupil, per patient, will fall this year. The nhs has been put into an all year round crisis by this government. Why arent more people waiting in pain, and millions of elderly people not getting the care and the dignity that they deserve . Getting the care and the dignity that they deserve . Im proud of the record we have on the nhs. We see more doctors, more nurses, more midwives, more gps, more people being treated in our National Health Service Last Year than ever before, and Record Levels of funding going in the nhs. You only can do that with a Strong Economy. What do we know wed get from the labour party . Ba n kru ptcy know wed get from the labour party . Bankruptcy and chaos. Mr speaker, thats a very good reason why we should have a debate about it. Because that is another tory broken promise, a broken promise of a tory ma nifesto promise, a broken promise of a Tory Manifesto which said, they will continue to spend more on the nhs in real in real terms. Say that to those who cant leave hospital because social care is not available. Isnt the truth that over the last seven years, the tories have broken every promise on living standards, the deficit, debt, the National Health service and schools funding . Why should anyone believe a word they say over the next seven weeks . Ican weeks . I can assure the right honourable gentlemen that i will be out campaigning and taking to voters. Taking to vote is the message of the record of this conservative government, but, crucially, of our plans to make brexit a success and to build a stronger britain for the future. And every vote for the conservatives will make it harder for those who want to stop me from getting thejob done. For those who want to stop me from getting the job done. Every vote for the conservatives will make me stronger when i negotiate for britain with the European Union. And 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 for this country. Thank you, mr speaker. Foryears secure future for this country. Thank you, mr speaker. For years i have been Campaigning Forfunding in wiltshire schools. Will be Premised Reconfirm her commitment for this, and Toa Reconfirm her commitment for this, and to a review of people premium to encompass other forms of disadvantage mint, such as being a young carer, Mental Health problems and bereavement . This way we can create a country that will work for everyone. Hear, hear. I know that my honourable friend raises an important point. I know she has campaigned on the part of her constituency and worked hard for her constituency and worked hard for her constituents on this and other issues. What we want to ensure is that young people are, irrespective of their background, have the opportunity to make the most of their talents, and the point of our reforms is to try to end the Postcode Lottery in School Funding and support our plans for a Fairer Society where success is based on merit and not a privilege. She refers to the pupil premium, worth £2. 5 billion per year. It is an important part of our policy because it gives schools extra support for pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds. But it is right that schools are best placed to prioritise the needs of their pupils, and can use theirfunding to ensure that there are supporting any pupilfacing ensure that there are supporting any pupil facing disadvantage, financial or otherwise. Angus robertson. Pupil facing disadvantage, financial or otherwise. May ijoin in pupil facing disadvantage, financial or otherwise. May i join in the condolences extended by the Prime Minister and the leader of the labour party. Mr speaker, the tone and content of democratic debates, including a General Election, is very important to all of us. Does the Prime Minister trudeau political opponents are not saboteurs, and all electric mainstream parties and parliamentarians have a mandate, and that should be respected . Elected mainstream parties. In this house and in this parliament, it is right that we have proper debate and scrutiny of proposals put forward by the government, and that arguments on both sides of the house are rightly challenged. And those discussions take place. But i said to the right honourable gentleman that what the british able, the people of the uk voted for last year, was for the uk to leave the European Union. The british people. There is no turning back. But it is clear from statements made by the scottish nationalists and others that they do want to use this house to try to frustrate that process. I will be asking the british people for a mandate to com plete british people for a mandate to complete brexit and to make a success of it. Its disappointing the Prime Minister didnt take the opportunity to condemn the intemperate language when describing either democratic politicians. There is heckling from the other side and the Prime Minister should take the opportunity to underline something we should all agree on, that describing people in the way we have read in some daily newspapers by leading politicians is not acceptable. Most people know that the reason why we are having a General Election is because of the woeful state of the labour party. If the Prime Minister is so confident that her hard brexit pro austerity, anti immigration case is right, she should debate it with Opposition Leaders during the campaign. We look forward to the straight fight between the snp and the tories, can the Prime Minister tell the people why she is Running Scared of a televised debate with Nicola Sturgeon . First of all, can i say to the right honourable gentleman, one of the crucial thing is we have in this country that underpins democracy is a free press. I believe thatis democracy is a free press. I believe that is important and that people in this chamber should stand up for the freedom of the press. As for the tv debates, i can assure the right honourable gentleman that i out there, campaigning in every part of the United Kingdom, taking our proud record of a conservative government that has delivered for every pa rt government that has delivered for every part of the United Kingdom. And i might suggest to the scottish nationalists that actually now is the time for them to put aside. Wait for it. Now is the time for them to put aside their Tunnel Vision on independence. And actually explain to the scottish people why, under the snp, they are not putting as much money into the Health Service as they have been given from the uk. They are not exercising the powers they have been given, and Scottish Education is getting worse. Its Scottish Education is getting worse. Its time they got back to their day job. Thank you, mr speaker. I also welcome the announcement from the Prime Minister yesterday and i look forward to the General Election, and taking my positive message to my constituents. Over the last two yea rs, constituents. Over the last two years, i have pressed for First Class Transport Infrastructure in cheadle, and this week i launched a Transport Survey so my constituents can have their say on what is needed to keep them moving and for us to be at the heart of the northern powerhouse. Does my right honourable friend agree that residents in cheadle need to vote conservative on june residents in cheadle need to vote Conservative Onjune 8th to continue getting investment in transport and infrastructure, not only in cheadle but across the northwest . absolutely agree with my honourable friend on that point. I know she has been working very hard for her constituents in cheadle on this Transport Issue and others. It is under this government that we are investing £290 million to improve transport links to Manchester Airport through cheadle, and £2. 1 million committed to improving walking and cycling routes around the cheadle hume district centre. That is why the choice is clear. If you want to see that funding into infrastructure, we need a Strong Economy and only the conservatives can deliver that Strong Economy. Because of the Prime Ministerschanges to education funding, every school in the country will face real terms cuts. Manchester is hit harder than anywhere outside london. With Chorlton High School and another in my constituency each losing the equivalent of over 30 teachers. Sol asked the Prime Minister the same question a head teacher asked me. What would the Prime Minister cut to balance the books . What subjects which you choose to sack teachers from . As the honourable gentleman knows, there are Record Levels of funding going into our schools. Everybody across this house has recognised for many years that the current Funding Formula is not fair across the country. And its necessary for us across the country. And its necessary for us to look for a fairerFunding Formula. Necessary for us to look for a fairer Funding Formula. We necessary for us to look for a fairerFunding Formula. We have consulted on that and will be responding to that consultation. But i say to the honourable gentleman, as he faces up to the election, i note that last year he failed to back, he opposed the leader of his party. If he wasnt willing to support him as leader of his party, why should his voters support him as leader of the country . Thank you, mr speaker. The only way to fund crucial infrastructure is with a Strong Economy. To that end, does my right honourable friend agree that the st james does my right honourable friend agree that the stjames link road in northampton would help with traffic flow in the town and on the development in the enterprise zone, and will the next conservative government continue to support me as the mp in backing the scheme . My honourable friend is absolutely right that you need to have a Strong Economy to be able to fund that crucial infrastructure. Thats why, since 2015, we have increased annual investment in economic infrastructure by almost 60 , £22 billion by 2021, including £2. 6 billion by 2021, including £2. 6 billion for improvements in transport projects. I am happy to see the Link Road Proposal being put forward by his local lep, which i think will improve access to Business And Unlock Development in the area. My honourable friend has worked hard to see this happen and i am sure he will continue to campaign on issues like that which matter so much to his constituents. Recent changes to Housing Benefit Entitlement for 18 21 olds will affect 195 young people in merthyr tydfil. The government is constantly challenging people to leave benefits for the world of work, but we are concerned these changes will be a major barrier to learning and training for youngsters who do not have a safe and secure environment at home. Does the Prime Minister agree we should do everything we can to help young people in thejob market, including offering Financial Support for housing . And will she pledged to strengthen the guidelines so no more young people risk falling through the net and ending up on the streets . Through the net and ending up on the streets . The principle behind what is being done in terms of the change in Housing Benefit is right, which is to say its only fair that people who are not able to make decisions when they are on benefits, that they wouldnt be able to make when they are in work. But it is right that we ensure for those young people for whom staying at home, for whom there isa whom staying at home, for whom there is a particular difficulty are supported through the system, so significant exceptions have taken place, and we recognise that need. Closed question, mr philip hollobone. I would be happy to visit the kettering constituency in future if my diary allows. I suspect in the next few weeks i will be visiting quite a few constituencies. Life for ordinary Working Families is harder than many people At Westminster realise. You have a job but not necessarily job security. Realise. You have a job but not necessarilyjob security. You are just about managing but you are worried about the cost of living and getting your kids into a good school. You are doing your best and a conservative government will do all it can to make sure you have more control over your life. Mr speaker, these were the inspiring words of the Prime Minister when she took office lastjuly. Will the Prime Minister come to kettering, britains most average town, and repeat these, her core beliefs . Because if she does so, i know she will be warmly and widely acclaimed as the Prime Minister this Country Needs for the next five years. Well, my honourable friend is absolutely right to highlight ordinary Working Families who do rely on the government to provide stability and certainty for them. And thats what this conservative government has done. We have supported jobs through significant new investment in skills. We have invested in Public Services like childcare and the nhs. And we have enhanced consumer protections. I am happy to repeat the words i said outside Downing Street onjuly 13th outside Downing Street onjuly13th last year, but its conservatives in government that have delivered strong and stable leadership and thatis strong and stable leadership and that is the message i will take to the country during this election. Does the Prime Minister support the people of darlington when they oppose the downgrading of their a e and Maternity Services . They want an a nswer and Maternity Services . They want an answer they can trust, Prime Minister. Is it yes or no . The proposals for the configuration of Health Services in local areas is a matter that is being determined by local permissions in the best interests of services in the local area. But i am interested, the honourable lady refers to the views of her constituents in darlington. She has said, the leader of the opposition, the leader of her party, my constituents in darlington have made it clear to me they cannot support the labour party under your leadership. How can they possibly support him as leader of the country . Thank you, mr speaker. Can i welcome the fact that because the conservatives have managed the economy so well, there is record funding. In east sussex, for example, some of the best Performing Schools in the country, they are set to receive an increase of 3 . However in lewes in my constituency, many small, normal primary schools are set to see a reduction. Could the Prime Minister look at the issue of rural primary School Funding so we can even out fairer distribution of the money . She is absolute right to point out the Record Levels of funding going into schools. It is also the case, as i said earlier, that there has been over the years a general acceptance across this house that the Current System of funding is not there in certain parts of the country. That is why we want to end the Postcode Lottery and look at a system that is fairer and more up to date. A system that will support our plan for a society where progress is based on merit, not privilege. I am progress is based on merit, not privilege. Iam happy progress is based on merit, not privilege. I am happy to look at the concerns, i recognise small rural schools have particular issues and i am happy to look at those two ensure we get funding right and we can spread the money as fairly as possible. Every school in my area is facing a massive budget cut. Why is a child there worth less than a child in Tory Heartlands in the south . We currently have a situation where there are significant sums of money going into children in certain schools, sometimes double the amount of money going to a child in another school. We need to find a fairer system. We have consulted on that system. We have consulted on that system and we will be responding to that system. But i note from the honourable gentleman about what he has said about his leader, the leader of his party, the leader of the opposition. He said, hes not fit to rule. The public see this is a man who doesnt take responsibility serious lie. And he cant take the Party Forward other than ina cant take the Party Forward other than in a divisive way. Serious and dry. If we cant take the Party Forward , and dry. If we cant take the Party Forward, how can he hope to take small forward, how can he hope to take businesses provi share Small Businesses provide the lions share ofjobs in cornwall and the isles of scilly. The difficulties of attracting credit, rising operational costs and red tape make running a Small Business increasingly difficult. What can the Prime Minister do to help these Small Businesses so that they can continue to be the engine of rural economies like west cornwalls . Continue to be the engine of rural economies like west cornwalls . My honourable friend is absolutely right that Small Businesses are the engine of the economy. I know he has been a champion for Small Businesses in his constituency, and he recognises that, if we are going to insure we can create those jobs, we wa nt to insure we can create those jobs, we want to encourage Small Businesses. That is why at the budget the chancellor provided £435 million to support businesses in england facing the steepest business rate increases. It is why we have cut Business Rates by nearly £9 million, we will do over the next five years, and why we have listened to Small Businesses and given an extra year to prepare for making tax discs making tax digital for over 3 million businesses. I recognised the importance of Small Businesses in cornwall and i look forward to visiting cornwall and being able to talk to him and others about the importance of Small Businesses in there. Can ijoin with the Prime Minister, with the expressions of Condolence Led by the Prime Minister early on . This election can change the direction of our country, from the direction of our country, from the consequences of potential hard brexit outside the Single Market to the future of our nhs and social care. Our schools and our environment. The British Public deserve to hear the Party Leaders set out their plans and debate them publicly, but the Prime Minister has refused to take part in televised leaders debates. The Prime Minister and i, back in 1992, debated publicly, forcibly and amicably when we we re publicly, forcibly and amicably when we were both candidates together. Indeed, mr speaker, the Prime Minister called out the then incumbent, who didnt show up for the debate. Why will she not debate thoseissues the debate. Why will she not debate those issues publicly now . What is she scared of . I can assure the honourable gentleman that i will be debating these issues publicly across the country, as well every Single Member of the conservative team. We will be taking a proud record of the conservative government but, more than that, we will be taking our plans for the future of this country, for making brexit a success in delivering a stronger britain. He talks about the possibility of changing the future of this country. What do we know that the leader of labour, the lib dems and the scottish nationalists have in common . Corbynite, farron and sturgeon. They want to unite together and divide our country and we will not let them do it. The government wishes to pursue a National Industrial strategy. Cumbria has some specific strengths, such as tourism, agriculture, Nuclear Among others, but also some weaknesses. In the next parliament would the Prime Minister agree that any industrial strategy must take into account regional and subregionalfactors, into account regional and subregional factors, and would she be receptive to a cumbrian strategy that works within a national one . My honourable friend s body to an important part of our plans for the future of britain, the modern industrial strategy. We want an economy that works for everyone, that delivers good, high skilled, high paid jobs and create conditions for a competitive, world leading business to prosper in the uk. But he is right, as we look at that industrial strategy, we need to look at the particular factors industrial strategy, we need to look at the particularfactors in parts of the country. He has long been a champion not just for ca rlisle of the country. He has long been a champion notjust for carlisle but for cumbria, andi champion notjust for carlisle but for cumbria, and i recognise the need, as does the business department, as we look at that industrial strategy to tailor it according to the needs of particular areas. The Prime Minister yesterday said she was calling a General Election because parliament was blocking brexit but but three quarters of mps and two thirds of the laws voted for article 50, so that isnt true, is it . A month ago, she told her official spokesman to rule out an early General Election, and that wasnt true either, was it . She wants us to believe that she is a woman of her word. Isnt the truth that we cant believe a single word . Order, order. The house is rather overexcited. The question has been heard. The answer will be heard. Prime minister. This house and this parliament voted to trigger article 50, but the labour party made it clear that they were thinking of voting against the final deal. The scottish nationalists. The scottish. The scottish nationalists. The scottish nationalists. The scottish nationalists have said that they will vote against the legislation necessary to leave the European Union. The Liberal Democrats say they are going to grind government toa they are going to grind government to a standstill, and the house of lords have threatened to stop us every inch of the way i think is right now to ask the british people to put their trust in me and the conservative party to deliver on their vote last year, a brexit plan that will make a successful this country and deliver a stronger, fairer Global Britain in the future. Mr speaker, i see rats and fly tipping as a result of beans having not been emptied for up to three weeks across lib dem ryan sutton. Lib dem run sutton. That follows a shambolic change to refuse collections. Does my right honourable friend agree that accepting greater delegated powers, elected councillors must plan changes carefully and take full responsibility as accountable representatives when things go wrong . I dont know about the howling of derision coming from the opposition benches, because my honourable friend raises an important point on an issue that actually matters to people up and down the country, and it is our goal to dues littering in england to make sure that our high streets and villages, our parks and green places, that they are pleasant. We have published the First Ever National litter strategy for england and we are supporting comprehensive and we are supporting comprehensive and frequent bin collections, but from what he says, that the Liberal Democrats run Sutton Council is doing, it shows that the Liberal Democrats charge the highest council taxes but, under the lib dems, you pay more and you get less. Will the Prime Ministerjoin the Scottish Government, North Ayrshire council and all ayrshire local authorities and all ayrshire local authorities and pledge today to support the ayrshire growth deal, requiring £250 billion of investment targeted to regenerate ayrshire and improve the lives and prospects of all the people of ayrshire . £250 million. Is the honourable lady will know, we have already shown our commitment to growth deals in scotland from the deals that have been agreed. I understand the secretary of state for scotland has met with the Scottish Government to discuss the growth dealfor ayrshire Scottish Government to discuss the growth deal for ayrshire she has referred to, and we are in discussion about it. We have already shown our commitment through the deals that have already been struck, for example, for aberdeen. As part of southends celebrations as the alternative city of culture, on the morning of monday the eighth monday the 1st of may, stilt walkers will book nonstop from southend to number ten downing st to raise money for the region the music meant project to help people with downing people with learning difficulties and a charity for child refugees. Would my right honourable friend arranged on the morning of Tuesday The 2nd Of May for somebody on her behalf to receive the stilt walkers and accept from southends town crier the proclamation that, in this, the 125th anniversary of the founding of the borough, southend be declared a city . Can i say to my honourable friend that, when i first heard this issue of the stilt walkers, i thought it sounded a bit ofa walkers, i thought it sounded a bit of a tall order myself. But i am sure they will be making Great Strides as they approach Downing Street, and we will look carefully at that. I am pleased to hear what he says about southends celebrations but also the efforts being made to raise money for important causes, and we will certainly look into what can be done in Downing Street when they arrive. Will the Prime Minister give a guarantee that no tory mp who is under investigation by the police and the legal authorities over election expenses in the last General Election be a candidate in this election because, if she wont accept that, this is the most squalid Election Campaign that has happened in my lifetime . squalid Election Campaign that has happened in my lifetime . I stand by all the Conservative Mps who are in this house and who will be out there, standing again, campaigning, campaigning fora there, standing again, campaigning, campaigning for a conservative government that will give a brighter and Better Future for this country. Iam and Better Future for this country. I am proud that my party in government has ensured that we fulfil in this country our commitment to nato, to spend 2 on defence, and our commitment to the un, to spend 0. 7 of gdp on overseas aid. Will my right honourable friend please omit a future conservative government to do the same . Please commit. My right honourable friend is correct. We have committed to meet our nato pledge of 2 being spent on defence every year this decade. We are to bring on it. We have a 36 billion defence budget, rising to almost 40 billion by 2021, the rising to almost 40 billion by 20 21, the biggest in europe and the second largest in nato. We are meeting our commitment to spend 0. 7 of gm eye on overseas development assistance, and i can assure my honourable friend that we remain committed as a conservative party to ensuring that we ensure for the defence and security of this country and work for a stronger world. Schools in westchester already underfunding by £400 per pupil on average before the new fair Funding Formula came in, and now every school in chester is cutting staff and racing class sizes. That is the education budget. Can she explained the house why is it that the National Fair the house why is it that the nationalfairfunding the house why is it that the National Fair Funding Formula provides neither fairness nor funding . As i have said in this chamber before, we need to look at the Funding Formula. We have published proposals and consulted on them and, in due course, the government will respond to those proposals forfair government will respond to those proposals for fair funding. I was interested to see the honourable gentleman being interviewed yesterday and being asked whether he would put a photograph of his leader on the election literature, and he said that the only photo he wanted on his literature was his own. He wasnt prepared to support the leader of his party. Will be returning to the chamber on that debate on the call for a General Election, expected to be rubber stamped in the House Of Commons earlier. There is a walled bowl first, then we will return to the commons. Our correspondent norman smith is in the central lobby of the houses of parliament for us, where a debate on plans to call an early election will be debated shortly. I want to talk about something that was discussed that, the announcement that George Osborne was standing down. It came, whereas, in the evening standard. He received ferocious criticism when he took over the editorship. A lot of people thought, how many jobs over the editorship. A lot of people thought, how manyjobs as George Osborne got . Can he really do the job of being an mp if he is taking over thejob of the job of being an mp if he is taking over the job of the editing of a significant and important newspaper, while at the same time advising a Financial Company and doing a fellowship at an american university. Hes got a think tank on his northern powerhouse. He received a lot of criticism forjuggling many balls in the air. It is the further end ofan balls in the air. It is the further end of an era, its the departure for a cameron era. We saw mrs may clear a ll for a cameron era. We saw mrs may clear all of the cameron era mps out of the cabinet when she became Prime Minister. Now, gradually, there was a part in the political stage. David cameron obviously left several months ago. George osborne is taking this opportunity to depart, too. You just get the sense that the whole project is, bit by bit, being taken apart. What will be fascinating is when we get the Tory Manifesto, if other key planks of the cameron era just ripped away. Such as that pledged to spend 0. 7 of gdp on overseas aid. Unreachable knock on pensions. Whether those sort of commitments will also be stripped out. We are seeing, i think, the sort of dawn of the may era, and a com plete sort of dawn of the may era, and a complete ending of the cameron era. The biggest cheerfrom complete ending of the cameron era. The biggest cheer from the labour benches was for yvette cooper. Yeah, asking those very direct, hard questions which mr corbyn has sometimes struggled to deal with. Why did theresa may say Opposition Mps or the house of lords were seeking to frustrate brexit when they had overwhelmingly backed it . Why did she say she wouldnt hold a Snap Election and then go on holiday Snap Election and then go on holiday Snap Election . Those sort of direct, sharp questions. I think we did also learn something about the conservative Election Campaign. Yes, we know its going to be about brexit, theresa may made that very clear yesterday. We also know the second tranche of the tory attack is going to be leadership. Im very first answer, theresa may accused mr corbyn of not being fit to lead. A tory victory, she said, would provide Strong Economy, defence and leadership. Its quite clear that the conservative party wants to pitch this election is notjust other choice about brexit, but as a choice about two individuals theresa may versus Jeremy Corbyn. Choice about two individuals theresa may versusJeremy Corbyn. I think were going to hear that again throughout this campaign. Theresa may got quite animated and she had a clear message for those who she thinks are against her. She named them. Corbyn, sturgeon, farron. That is part of the weak leadership head that mr corbyns Prime Minister should, if he was to be successful, he would have to be propped up by the Liberal Democrats. It is the st ouen that worked so effectively for David Cameron when he made the same charge about the pockets of alex allan. Its the weak leadership that has to depend on others. Pockets of alex salmond. He was take was to try and hard theresa may with the trust issue. Can you trust this woman . The woman whose broken her promise on a Snap Election, broken promises on the deficit and debt, broken promises on the nhs and School Funding, and to cap it all isnt even prepared to defend her record in tv debates. The question is, how much traction will that tv debate issue get . Willjust be something in the westminster village where well get exercised about . While voters that there are not really that fast . Will voters think, no, come on, we want to see our future Prime Minister debating head to head with her main challenger. Its to head with her main challenger. Its slightly ambiguous as to how much traction that issue will get. Quickly, just explain what will happen in the next 15 minutes . We are now having what is called a ten minute rule bill. I would part that for the time being. Around 12 55, theresa may will get her feet and make the case for the Snap Election. It will last about 90 minutes, at the end of which you would expect a huge majority for mrs may because labour say theyre going to back it, Jeremy Corbyn said he would welcome the election. Only the snp are going to abstain. So therell be an overwhelming majority for triggering an election on june overwhelming majority for triggering an election onjune the 8th. Overwhelming majority for triggering an election on june the 8th. Full coverage on . The bbc news channel lobbed joining me now is Greg Mulholland from the Liberal Democrats, labours Jonathan Reynolds and the conservative, mark harper. Why do you think Nicola Sturgeon has refused . I think she is absurd. I think quite frankly theres enough interest in debates and election time for her to go ahead. If shes not willing to do it, they should go ahead without her. If she has nothing to say to the british people at the time of a General Election, that looks absurd. She debates Jeremy Corbyn every week in the House Of Commons. Shes been very clear that shes going to take her case to the people and go out to every part of the United Kingdom. Shes going to engage with real vote rs shes going to engage with real voters and take her case to the people. Im very confident that when she does so, theyll be very clear that she offers the leadership the Country Needs to get a really good deal for brexit and the plan that weve set out for the country, and they will make the right decision on june the 8th. That is an argument for having tv debates, you cant make that argument and then say youre not going to have a tv debate. She debates Jeremy Corbyn every week in the House Of Commons. I think the country is very clear about the two individuals up for the job. So you think the country doesnt want a tv debate . I think theyve seen of these debate in the House Of Commons every week and their clear about the capacity of their clear about the capacity of the two. I think their clear that theresa may offers the leadership required. Im confident when thats put to the people that they will make the right decision onjune the 8th. Shall be asked in every part of the United Kingdom putting a case directly to the people. Were joined by Greg Mulholland from the Liberal Democrats. Its quite clear with local elections, the Liberal Democrats traditionally do well. There are they balance about lib dem mps at the moment. Various, indeed. I think this election was called cynically by theresa may in the interests of the conservative party, not the country. But we are delighted to take the opportunity to get out and really hold her and her divisive unnecessarily hard government to account. I think the sheer dishonesty of her behaviour saying there would be an election, then announcing one, claiming that parliament was trying to frustrate it even though parliament voted article 50, it simply doesnt make any sense. R. Your 13 classic tory elegance you also seem classic tory arrogance of refusing to debate. When we look at scotland, we need to be seeking to keep the union together. She is playing into Nicola Sturgeons hands. Its not focused on the north of england, its focus only on certain groups of people in the south of england. This election cannot be about britain. People will say weve giving you our decision on that, we want you to get on with it. The House Of Commons is very clearly respected the decision on the referendum in terms of the boat that was taken. This is an election about the record of this conservative government which has caused real pain in areas like my and other parts of the country. That Record Holding to account is exactly what should happen, including tv debates, as part of the selection process. The Liberal Democrats voted against brexit. They dont respect the result of the referendum stop. You voted against even starting the process. She has asked how she was to achieve brexit very clearly and she wants to get a mandate from the public for that. Shes also been clear about the sort of britain that she wants to see as Prime Minister about continuing the growth of the economy. We see unemployment at a record low. Constituencies like mine, ive got very few people who wa nt to mine, ive got very few people who want to work who cant find a job. Thats an impressive record. The public will treat theresa may record. The public will treat theresa may happen is achieving success brexit. A red white and blue brexit. And we then sepp blatter white paper. There are 12 and we then set them out in a white paper. They talk over each other im confident when given the choice between theresa may and Jeremy Corbyn, the only possible contenders to be Prime Minister, im confident they will choose theresa may. To be Prime Minister, im confident they will choose theresa maym to be Prime Minister, im confident they will choose theresa may. It was interesting that the biggest cheer from the labour party was in for the leader, but for yvette cooper. In every sense that the great unspoken problem that youre going to have is a personal one, it is your leader . Yvette coopers questions would get a good cheer and her question was about the lack of honesty from theresa may. She was right to raise up. She said on several occasions. Should not have been up to actually do to us by question . He asked very good questions on school cuts. Focus on that how can that be the right way forward for this country . Take money from primary and secondary schools. That is the kind of thing the selection will be decided on. The arrogance we see from the conservative party will start to come unstuck when people see exactly what it is theyre doing in the area stop by the traditional arguments, if you like, from labour and the tories, whether reverting to an argument almost pre brexit. Tories, whether reverting to an argument almost prebrexit. Where the concentrating on nhs, care costs and education, does that worry you given that you are, presumably, hoping that the brexit bounds, those who feel a hard brexit is to be avoided, those other voters you are really targeting . Well be targeting vote rs really targeting . Well be targeting voters up and down the country regardless of their vote last year, and actually on all sorts of issues. I think one of the reasons are so important and the Liberal Democrats do that, and this is a shame, is because the labour party have failed to provide any coherent opposition. You saw the faces behind the leader unable to show any support for him today. Thats an extraordinary and devastating position for them, going into an election. Were going in positive. Well be talking about the lack of a plan for social care for older people, a proper plan of how we fund our Health Service. Well be talking about all the issues and were looking forward to showing that we are the real defective opposition to this divisive tory government with its divisive plans under unnecessarily hard brexit, which damagesjobs under unnecessarily hard brexit, which damages jobs and affects peoples businesses and lives. Any General Election has its risks. As the risk that theresa may is taking, pinning everything on brexit and hoping that will carry us through . This has been about strengthening the mandate that she has got to get that best possible deal for the country. She will also be setting up a plan for britain and setting up what she wants to achieve, a country thatis what she wants to achieve, a country that is competitive, successful, continues to generate jobs. And that is competitive, successful, continues to generatejobs. And make sure their opportunities for people from all sorts of backgrounds for eve ryo ne from all sorts of backgrounds for everyone in the country, for those ordinary Working Families to be successful. The Prime Ministers on her feet. Were going to go back to the commons. That motion confronts every moment of this house with a clear and simple opportunity. A chance to vote for a General Election that will secure the strong and stable leadership the Country Needs to see us through brexit and beyond. It invites each one of us to do the right thing for britain and to vote foran right thing for britain and to vote for an election that is in our countrys National Interest. My priority, when i became Prime Minister, was to provide the country with economic certainty, a clear vision, and strong leadership after the long and passionately fought referendum campaign. This government has delivered on those priorities. In the time honoured fashion, my right honourable friend has called the selection in what she considers andl the selection in what she considers and i consider to be the National Interest at this moment. Itll be a great man and woman who votes against this. The fixed term Parliaments Act seems to be an emperor without clothes. Its there was no purpose. Many of us have questioned it for many years. The first light in our manifesto be to scrap it . What is clear is that the fixed term Parliaments Act does give us an opportunity to have elections at another time. But it is of course for this house to vote for that election. Like my honourable friend, i think it is very clear that this house should be voting for the selection. The Prime Minister pledged time and time ago not to call an early election. In her easter message sheetrock readily of her christian values. Could she explain why she has such a losing, located relationship with telling the truth . Order, order. The Prime Ministers perfectly well able to fend for herself, but in terms of order, what the honourable gentleman has that is a breach of it. I must ask emma, hes versatile and the use of language. He used a pen articles, he isa of language. He used a pen articles, he is a journalist. Of language. He used a pen articles, he is ajournalist. Im of language. He used a pen articles, he is a journalist. Im very happy to withdraw and reformulate. Why does the Prime Minister have such a complicated and loose relationship with giving the country a clear indication of her intentions . think yesterday ive given the country a very clear indication, and if he has a little patience and he will know the reasons why i have done that. The government is delivering on the priorities i have set out, despite difficulties are immediate financial danger, we have seen Consumer Confidence remain high, record numbers ofjobs and Economic Growth that has exceeded all expectations. At the same time we have delivered on the mandate we re we have delivered on the mandate were handed by the referendum result by triggering article 50 before the end of march as we pledge to do. As a result, britain is leaving the eu and there can be no turning back. Doesnt it take brass neck to call an election when you are facing allegations of the last one . That intervention was not worthy of the honourable gentleman, i have to say. Can the Prime Minister clarify for us, does she support fixed term