Developments from westminster. The lectern in place after a downpour of anticipation. Cameras, reporters, brollies, the downpours coming from the skies too. At teatime, this. Earlier today, i spoke with his majesty the king to request the dissolution of parliament. The king has granted this request and we will have a General Election on the fourth ofjuly. Music blaring from campaigners in nearby whitehall, Rain Tumbling onto the Prime Ministers sodden suit. You must choose in this election who has that plan. Who is prepared to take the bold action necessary to secure a Better Future for our country and our children . Now, i cannot and will not claim that we have got everything right. No government should. But i am proud of what we have achieved together. The bold actions we have taken, and i am confident about what we can do in the future. Over the next few weeks, i will fight for every vote. I will earn your trust, and i will prove to you that only a conservative Government Led by me will not put our hard earned economic stability at risk, can restore pride and confidence in our country, and with a clear plan and bold action, will deliver a secure future for you, yourfamily and our united kingdom. So, this is it a General Election is on. Power will leave this most powerful of streets, and you will be able to decide whether he stays or whether he goes. And so the arguments, the persuasion begins. On days like this, one lectern leads to another, and the thrust of labours message hangs on one word. A chance to change for the better. Your future, your community, your country. It will feel like a long campaign, im sure of that. But no matter what else is said and done, that opportunity for change is what this election is about. Over the course of the last four years, we have changed the labour party, returned it once more to the service of working people. All we ask now, humbly, is to do exactly the same for our country, and Return Britain to the service of working people. And of course, the next six weeks are about lots of parties, Notjust Labour and the conservatives. The Liberal Democrat leader has been in surrey. In so many parts of the country, its the Liberal Democrats who can beat the conservatives, and i think people are crying out for change. They want to vote for someone who championed them, theirfamily and community, to sort out the crisis in the nhs and care, to get our economy back on track and end environmental scandals like the sewage scandal. Its a welcome opportunity to remove the tory government and to put scotland first. And thats what i will be saying to the public. But i also have to say that i think this is perhaps the latest act of disrespect from a conservative government, to call an election during the Scottish School holidays. Tonight, campaigning is already under way. Prepare to see plenty of events like this. Friends, friends, thank you, it is great to be with you all this evening. Elsewhere, from norfolk to london, placards of a different colour, a different message. The promising and persuasion starts here. Polling day is six weeks tomorrow. Here goes. Chris mason, bbc news. Earlier, i spoke to our Political Correspondent harry farley about the expectations from the upcoming elections. Well, it was a surprise. Not only to us, people like me who watch political events in westminster here every day, but also think too many of rishi sunak, uk Prime Ministers own Cabinet Ministers as well. Some Cabinet Ministers as well. Some Cabinet Ministers as well. Some Cabinet Ministers even had to delay or cut short trips abroad. The uk foreign secretary, david cameron, cutting a visit to albania short. It was only actually in the country for a couple of hours before he was called back for an emergency Cabinet Meeting where they were all told about rishi sunak� s decision to call, as you say, an election earlier than expected. Delay before this one uk will go to the polls, six weeks away, and already we have a shape of the campaign to come. Rishi sunak using inflation figures that were out this morning here in the uk showing a fall in inflation to 2. 3 , that is close to the bank of englands target of 2 . Using those inflation figures to hail what he described as a major milestone that shows our plan is working, our plenty means the conservative government was matt legg. Sir keir starmer, the leader of the Main Opposition Party of the uk, the labour party, responding to that announcement by rishi sunak stood above a one word on it change. And i thats how we can summarise his election bits to voters here in the uk. He will say that after 14 years of conservative government or conservative led governments it is time for change. We will argue that people are not better off than they were 14 years ago. And thats really, i suppose, the main picture of the election battles to come. We also heard from the Liberal Democrats, the snp, we will hearfrom other parties as well in the coming days. But as well as the economy i think we can expect immigration to be a major point of debate in the coming weeks. Housing, crime, and the National Health service as well. That is the shape of the debate to come. As you say, a surprise today in the uk going to the polls earlier than expected on july the fourth. That was our Political Correspondent harry farley theyre talking about the expectations from the coming elections. We will keep you updated throughout the day here on bbc news as the Election Campaign begins. But first ireland, norway, and spain have all announced plans to recognise a Palestinian State next week. Spain and ireland said the decision was not against israel or in favour of hamas but in support of peace. Israel has reacted angrily and recalled its ambassadors to the three countries. Lucy williamson reports. There are things a future Palestinian State wont change. The loss of a daughter. A son in law. Her grandchildren. Ten members of this family, bombed in Deir Al Balah as they sought shelter from the war. But the creation of a Palestinian State living peacefully alongside israel is, for many western nations, the only way to end decades of conflict. Spains Prime Minister today said it was time to recognise that future state. Benjamin netanyahu, he said, was creating so much pain, destruction and bitterness in gaza and the rest of palestine, and the Two State Solution was in danger of becoming unviable. But there is little support in israel, the mood dominated today by newly released footage from the bodycams of hamas attackers as they took female soldiers hostage on the seventh of october. Translation the intention| of several European Countries to recognise a Palestinian State is a reward for terrorism. 80 of the Palestinians Injudaea and samaria support the terrible massacre of october the seventh. This evil cannot be given a state. More than 140 countries have already recognised a Palestinian State, but in the west bank town of ramallah, full of palestinian flags and ministries but lacking power, faith in diplomatic gestures was mixed. Translation i welcome this recognition with much respectj and appreciation for these countries, and i ask other states to follow their example and recognise palestine. Translation palestinian diplomacy is weak. We have embassies in many countries across the world, but they are just useless. Theyjust Hire Employees who live a luxury life. In the west bank too, near daily reminders of dwindling peace and israels increasing control, of an unresolved conflict that ends lives and starts wars. Lucy williamson, bbc news, jerusalem. Lets turn to the French Pacific territory of New Caledonia, where president Emmanuel Macron has arrived for talks, aimed at taking control of the unrest triggered by a contested electoral reform. You can see president macron speaking here. He is speaking in french and will bring you the highlights later on or bbc news. The territory is under a State Of Emergency after the worst civil disturbances in a0 years. Its unclear if Pro Independence groups from the indigenous Kana Community will agree to meet mr macron. The unrest was started by separatists angry at pariss plans to widen New Caledonias franchise to more non native people. Speaking to reporters at the airport, mr macron said ensuring peace and security to the territory was his governments main priority. For weeks, all commercial flights have been halted, cutting the island off from the rest of the world. The Australian Royal air force has evacuated australian nationals from the territory, but others remain stranded. Among them are maxwell and Tiffany Winchester, an australian couple who have been stuck in their resort for the last week. Maxwell and tiffany, thank you for your time today. Get us up to speed with how it has been for you there. What have you been experiencing . For you there. What have you been experiencing . Thank you, steve. Been experiencing . Thank you, steve we been experiencing . Thank you, steve. We have been experiencing . Thank you, steve. We have basically been experiencing . Thank you, steve. We have basically been l steve. We have basically been trapped in our resort. We meant to stay here just for one night before flying back to australia and we got stuck here when the riots started. Were now on day 11, it is nearly two weeks being stuck here. 11, it is nearly two weeks being stuck here. How have you been treated, being stuck here. How have you been treated, due being stuck here. How have you been treated, due feel being stuck here. How have you been treated, due feel unsafe l been treated, due feel unsafe or safe ausmat what is the situation . Or safe ausmat what is the situation . The people at the resort have situation . The people at the resort have treated situation . The people at the resort have treated us resort have treated us amazingly, the people have been absolutely fantastic stock but that doesnt stop the volatile nature that doesnt stop the volatile nature of whats happening just outside nature of whats happening just outside our resort we have had gunfire outside our resort we have had gunfire exchange, we have had blockades set up, its not safe anywhere blockades set up, its not safe anywhere outside of within 100 anywhere outside ofwithin100 metres anywhere outside of within 100 metres of where we are right now metres of where we are right now. ~. , metres of where we are right now. ~. ,. ,. Now. We have seen that french president now. We have seen that french president emmanuel now. We have seen that french president Emmanuel Macron i now. We have seen that french. President Emmanuel Macron has arrived on the island. He has been speaking as well as we have seen in the last few moments. You get a sense or is there a feeling that since his arrival things may improve . Well, were worried it could go either way. Well, were worried it could go eitherway. If well, were worried it could go either way. If he says the right things that it might calm down, but he has been rather clumsy and handling this whole situation and our point of view, so were worried the whole thing mightjust explode again and the Australian Government are leaving it to the french government to evacuate us right now and given what we are seeing we are concerned about our safety in that regard. It is day 11 ali france government still have not managed to bring the situation under control and i would be worried if they had tickets to the olympics that the french government could manage safety at the olympics now. ~. , ,. , now. We will leave the olympics for another now. We will leave the olympics for another day, now. We will leave the olympics for another day, just now. We will leave the olympics for another day, just coming for another day, just coming back to where you are and the situation wonder. Are you getting any word from authorities, are they advising you on what you should be doing . You on what you should be doinu . , you on what you should be doinu 7, ,. You on what you should be doin . ,. , doing . Just shalt in place. There are doing . Just shalt in place. There are no doing . Just shalt in place. There are no flights doing . Just shalt in place. There are no flights until i there are no flights until Emmanuel Macron leaves. The luke anear suggest he may be more than 2a hours. It luke anear suggest he may be more than 24 hours. More than 24 hours. It may be ust more than 24 hours. It may be just quite more than 24 hours. It may be just quite a more than 24 hours. It may be just quite a concern more than 24 hours. It may be just quite a concern for more than 24 hours. It may be just quite a concern for you just quite a concern for you and families back in australia wondering what is going on. Are you able to stay in communication with what is going on there and also with yourfamilies back home . Going on there and also with your families back home . Yeah, we have. Your families back home . Yeah, we have we your families back home . Yeah, we have. We have your families back home . Yeah, we have. We have been your families back home . Yeah, we have. We have been in we have. We have been in contact we have. We have been in contact with them as much as we can contact with them as much as we can we contact with them as much as we can. We have been talking to our families back home as often as we our families back home as often as we possibly can. But again, what as we possibly can. But again, what is as we possibly can. But again, what is the message we can send them what is the message we can send them other than it might be today them other than it might be today and then its not today, maybe today and then its not today, maybe tomorrow then its not tomorrow. Were not able to give tomorrow. Were not able to give them a message as well, so its ireen give them a message as well, so its been difficult for everyone. Its been difficult for eve one. , , everyone. Now, i presume you are not alone everyone. Now, i presume you are not alone in everyone. Now, i presume you are not alone in this everyone. Now, i presume you are not alone in this resort. Are not alone in this resort. Are there others with you in a similar predicament and what are the locals and the people working in the resort telling you . Working in the resort telling ou . ~. You . Well, we have New Zealanders you . Well, we have New Zealanders and you . Well, we have New Zealanders and a you . Well, we have New Zealanders and a french | you . Well, we have New Zealanders and a french person here, there are not that many people here. But the resource employees have had to bring their Family Employees have had to bring theirfamily up to employees have had to bring their family up to keep them safe here and the families are slipping and open dining that looks down over the suburb we are near and they are a 24 hour watch. None of us are slipping because any noise that is happening we are wondering who is here and who is attacking. We dont sleep, they arent sleeping, they get about an hour and night. Sleeping, they get about an hour and night. Delegate could be an anxious hour and night. Delegate could be an anxious situation. Hour and night. Delegate could be an anxious situation. Could | be an anxious situation. Could you tell us about the security that you have at the resort . Well, i dont think anybody has any security at this point. We dont particularly have any and the australians stuck in the city have no security and some of them have no food so theyre having to go out and get coconuts off the ground or one shot went to a supermarket the only thing he could get was nurdles and he had to eat them dry. It is quite desperate, people are running out of medication. Its not a great situation to be in. Medication. Its not a great situation to be in. Thank you. Under the situation to be in. Thank you. Under the circumstances, situation to be in. Thank you. I under the circumstances, thank you very much was speaking to us and during what is going on in New Caledonia. Maxwell and Tiffany Winchester an australian couple who have been stuck in New Caledonia for the last week. Around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news. Youre live with bbc news. To iran now and its Supreme LeaderAyatollah Ali Khamenei has presided over a funeral for the countrys president , Foreign Minister and others killed in a Helicopter Crash on sunday. He led prayers at tehran university, where caskets carrying the dead were draped in