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Live Reporting

Aiden James, Paul Gribben and Jackie Storer

All times stated are UK

  1. Recap: The key clips from the BBC TV election debate

    The morning so far has been dominated by reaction to the seven-way BBC TV election debate last night. Events are now moving on to the campaign trail with speeches from Theresa May and Jeremy Corbyn to come on Brexit due this afternoon. Click here to follow these events on our fresh BBC Election Live page.

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    Video caption: Highlights from Wednesday's BBC TV election debate

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    Video caption: Amber Rudd v Jeremy Corbyn

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    Video caption: Which party will help those in need?

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    Video caption: Where do the parties stand on immigration?

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    Video caption: Paul Nuttall and Jeremy Corbyn on corporation tax

    Scroll down for more of the reaction to the debate and to see how the debate itself unfolded, with lots of clips as well as text commentary and analysis. Alternatively watch the whole debate by clicking on the video tab at the top of this page.

  2. Clegg says Tories are 'divorced from reality' on Brexit

    BBC News Channel

    Nick Clegg

    Theresa May is to set out her vision of a bright future outside the EU but former Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg thinks "the Conservatives are divorced from reality".

    Mr Clegg, who is now his party's Brexit spokesman, tells BBC News that growth has slowed and house prices are stagnating.

    He attacks Theresa May for planning to take the UK out of "Margaret Thatcher's single market", calling the move "the greatest act of economic protectionism, possibly, in the post-war period".

    This will hit "just about managing" families and put "the British economy in serious jeopardy", he claims.

    Quote Message: It is a monumental act of economic self-harm and the author of that self-harm is Theresa May.
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    Video caption: As the UK prepares for a general election, BBC World Service asked people in Wales.

    As the UK prepares for a general election, BBC World Service asked people in Wales what they would do if they were leader.

  4. EU and Britain 'may want to be reunited' - George Soros

    Mr Soros added: "The divorce will be a long process, taking as long as five years. Five years seems like an eternity in politics, especially in revolutionary times like these. During that time the EU could transform itself into an organisation that other countries like Britain would want to join. If that happened the two sides may want to be reunited even before the divorce is completed. That would be a wonderful outcome worth striving for.

    "This seems practically inconceivable right now, but in reality it's quite attainable. Britain is a parliamentary democracy, within five years it has to hold another general election and the next parliament may vote to be reunited with Europe."

  5. George Soros: 'EU must resist temptation to punish Britain'

    George Soros

    Philanthropist billionaire George Soros believes that Britain remaining in the EU is still possible.

    Addressing the Brussels Economic Forum, he said: “Brexit will be an immensely damaging process, harmful to both sides. Most of the damage is felt right now, when the European Union is in an existential danger but its attention is diverted in negotiating the separation from Britain.

    "The European Union must resist the temptation to punish Britain and approach the negotiations in a constructive spirit. It should use Brexit as a catalyst for introducing far-reaching reforms."

  6. How do you electioneer with a newborn?

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    Video caption: New mums campaigning for election with their babies

    The snap general election caught many by surprise, particularly those MPs who had just become parents.

    Emma Reynolds, Labour's candidate in Wolverhampton North East, described how people react to seeing her with Theo, who was born just four days before the election was called.

    And in Morley and Outwood, Conservative Andrea Jenkyns explained how eight-week-old Clifford has given her a spring in her step, despite an unfortunate incident before meeting the prime minister.

  7. Theresa May 'to strike optimistic note' on Brexit

    Norman Smith

    Assistant political editor

    The prime minister is to promise Britain will become a "more prosperous" country after Brexit.

    Her claim that the UK will be wealthier is at odds with warnings from a number of independent forecasters. The Office for Budget Responsibility has warned Brexit will "reduce growth in exports and imports" and has revised down growth forecasts for the economy.

    But in a speech later, Mrs May will seek to strike a more optimistic note, predicting "a brighter future" after Brexit.

    "The promise of Brexit is great, the opportunities before us are enormous," she will say, describing Brexit as "a moment of great national change" which is "alive with possibilities".

    She will add: "I am confident we can fullfil the promise of Brexit and build a Britain that is stronger, fairer and more prosperous than it is today."

    Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn will also set out his approach to the Brexit negotiations later. Opposition parties have repeatedly warned of the economic risks the UK faces outside the single market.

  8. John Redwood: Brexit divorce bill 'a red herring'

    Donald Tusk and Theresa May
    Image caption: Donald Tusk and Theresa May

    Conservative candidate John Redwood has said he sees "no sign" of Theresa May wanting to pay a Brexit "divorce bill".

    European Council President Donald Tusk has stated that the UK's withdrawal terms, including any money it owes to the EU, will have to be agreed and the divorce bill would have to settled before talks on trade can begin.

    "I see absolutely no sign of her wanting to pay a big divorce bill because it would be a stupid thing to do and she's not silly," said Mr Redwood, who campaigned to leave the EU.

    Quote Message: We owe them absolutely nothing, other than our legal dues up to the date of leaving the regular payments, and that is very clearly the legal advice given to the EU as well as to us, and so I think the EU was just putting forward a rather silly red herring.
  9. Boris Johnson: 'Good' if people believe election is a close race

    Boris Johnson

    Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson has said it’s a “good thing” if people believe that the race has tightened between the Conservatives and Labour.

    “If people feel it could go to the wire then as far as I’m concerned, that's great," he said.

    "I want people to focus on it - I want people to come out and vote. This is the most important election for a long time because we have to get Brexit right."

    Mr Johnson said the government was “on the verge of doing something brilliant and something that will work” but he worried that if Labour were in charge, they would “frustrate” the process.

    He said the party hadn’t done the “intellectual heavy-lifting” to take the negotiations on.

  10. 'Messy' TV debate 'worthwhile' for voters, says Lib Dem Kramer

    Susan Kramer

    Any opportunity for voters to see politicians " is always worthwhile", Lib Dem economics spokesman Baroness Susan Kramer has said in defence of last night's televised debate.

    "It may not be pretty, it may be messy," she says, but it gives people the chance to see a potential future government.

    "People need to answer the questions that you have for them in a challenged format," she explains, "not where it's a protected format".

    She says she was glad Lib Dem leader Tim Farron was there, adding: "And I think he did really well."

  11. BBC assistant political editor's view of 'a right old bunfight'

    Victoria Derbyshire

    Norman Smith

    Who won last night's debate?

    BBC assistant political editor Norman Smith says it's possible that "the volume button on the TV remote won" for many viewers, given the noise of clashing politicians.

    "Let's be honest, it was a right old bunfight," he says.

    Theresa May was "damaged before anyone spoke a word" by her decision not to take part, Norman adds.

    For Jeremy Corbyn, there was not "a moment where he crashed through and had a big impact".

    Norman thinks that the Green Party's Caroline Lucas and Conservative Amber Rudd performed well - Ms Lucas for her attacks on Mrs May over her absence and Ms Rudd for sticking to "simple messages" such as Labour's spending commitments.

  12. Watch again: Conservatives would not 'unfreeze benefits'

    Today Programme

    BBC Radio 4

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    Video caption: Damian Green says the Conservatives are not planning to reverse benefit freeze
  13. TV debate was 'a bear garden' of shouting - Neil Hamilton

    Today Programme

    BBC Radio 4

    Neil Hamilton

    Neil Hamilton, leader of the UKIP group in the Welsh Assembly, said rather than strong and stable, Theresa May has been seen as "shrivelled" and "shrill" for refusing to take part in last night's TV debate.

    Home Secretary Amber Rudd stood in for the prime minister, who has come under fire for absenting herself from the event.

    Mr Hamilton, formerly a Conservative MP, says the programme came across as a "bear garden" of people shouting over each other, which meant voters did not get a great deal out of it.

    It was not a good opportunity for UKIP's leader Paul Nuttall to get his message across, he says.

    "Bear in mind you've got four parties who broadly agree about Brexit - they're against it - Labour, Liberals, Plaid and the SNP," he says.

    "Amber Rudd, who was a strong supporter of the Remain camp and her brother was the big PR man who was behind the Remain camp - and then there was Paul Nuttall.

    "And the audience reflected those proportions, so if you were having a Brexit debate, it wasn't half and half."

  14. Listen again: Labour quizzed on benefits freeze

    Today Programme

    BBC Radio 4

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    Video caption: Debbie Abrahams does not confirm Labour would unfreeze benefits
  15. 'Tangible change in the mood over Theresa May'

    Today Programme

    BBC Radio 4

    Being a "no show" is a very useful insult for other parties to throw at Theresa May following last night's televised debate, BBC political editor Laura Kuenssberg has said.

    The prime minister has been criticised for not taking part in the seven-way BBC event.

    "What we're sensing... there is a tangible change in the mood - people are much less forgiving of Theresa May," she says.

    "Support for Theresa May is more grudging, less willing," she continues.

  16. Watch: Boris Johnson on Brexit, Corbyn and £350m a week

    BBC Breakfast

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    Video caption: Boris Johnson on Brexit, Corbyn and £350m a week