PMQs and general election live: Theresa May faces Jeremy Corbyn amid accusations of 'opportunism'

Labour and SNP get first chance to grill May - 24 hours after she called a snap election

Corbyn questions May's 'proud' record in TV debate row

Here are the latest updates:

• Theresa May takes PMQs from 12:00 in the House of Commons
• Sources claim May called snap election 'before Corbyn had chance to resign'
• Experts say Labour faces worst result since WWII
• Green Party calls for anti-Tory alliance with Labour and Lib Dems
• PM also accused of using election to avoid Tory campaign expenses scandal
• Pound continues to trade at high levels as traders raise hopes of soft Brexit
• Analysis: What does the early election mean for Brexit?

Speaking ahead of PMQs today, Theresa May claimed that victory in the snap general election would strengthen her hand in Brexit negotiations with EU leaders.

The Prime Minister said that if she had not performed a U-turn on calling an early vote, the "crucial part" of the Brexit talks would have occurred in the build-up to a general election, which EU negotiators could have exploited as a "weakness".

Ms May appealed for the British people to trust her to handle Brexit and rejected claims the decision to go to the country on 8 June was motivated by political opportunism at a time when the Tories enjoy a healthy opinion poll lead.

She said she wanted a stronger mandate because, with a slim working majority of just 17 MPs, opposition parties were intent on "frustrating" Brexit, even though she has yet to lose a vote on the issue in the Commons.

MPs are today expected to back Mss May's demand for an early ballot, three years ahead of the next scheduled general election.

[19 April 2017 12:21 · tompeck1000]

Certainly is ram-packed. Most Labour MPs have managed to find a seat however. For the penultimate time... twitter.com/christopherhop…

[19 April 2017 12:24 · Faisal Islam]

Cheadle MP Mary Robinson gets a question about the importance of voting Conservative - seat won off Libs 2015, which Libs think can win back

[19 April 2017 12:24 · John Rentoul]

Corbyn during #PMQs studying text of his speech for next debate on early election as if he's never seen it before

[19 April 2017 12:26 · Kristin Hugo]

Corbyn is using all his questions to attack the Tories over their record on public services.

He says: "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?"

May says she will be "taking to voters the record of this Conservative government" but also her plan "to make Brexit a success and to build a stronger Britain for the future".

Repeating her claim made outside Downing Street yesterday, she says: "Every vote for the Conservatives will make it harder 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".

The Prime Minister ends with a long string of soundbites, claiming a Tory win at the election will allow her to stick to "our plan for a strong Britain and take the right long-term decisions for a more secure future".

[19 April 2017 12:27 · tompeck1000]

Philip Hollobone there, MP for Kettering, calls Kettering "Britain's most average Town."

[19 April 2017 12:27 · John Rentoul]

Philip Hollobone proudly describes his Kettering constituency as "Britain's most average town" #PMQs

[19 April 2017 12:28 · Kristin Hugo]

An interesting choice of questions from Corbyn, focusing less on process matters such as television debates and more on the issues that matter to voters, such as education and healthcare. 

It was a bold move to skirt over May's refusal to face public scrutiny in TV debates - but not necessarily a bad one.

[19 April 2017 12:28 · Harry Cole]

You'll hear this a lot: "if you, Lab MP, were not prepared to support Corbyn for Labour leader, why should your voters back him for PM?"

[19 April 2017 12:29 · Kristin Hugo]

Responding to the SNP's Angus Robertson, May refuses to condemn the Daily Mail front page, which referred to opponents of Brexit as "saboteurs".

[19 April 2017 12:30 · tompeck1000]

I can't agree however. Britain's most average town would surely have to have its most average MP.