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 12:43 · John Rentoul]

"That's the real reason why you're calling it." Dennis Skinner shouts after PM ducks his Q about Tory election expense investigations

[19 April 2017 12:47 · Kristin Hugo]

May is on the attack again, responding to another question about television debates by taking the fight to her rivals.

"Corbyn, Farron and Sturgeon - they want to unite together to divide our country and we will not let them do it", she shouts, to raucous cheers from her own benches.

[19 April 2017 12:50 · Kristin Hugo]

Possibly the best question of PMQs so far comes from Yvette Cooper, who spent several years shadowing Theresa May when she was Home Secretary and therefore knows the Prime Minister better than most MPs.

She takes May to task over her claim to be calling an election because Parliament was blocking Brexit. "That's not true is it?", Cooper asks, highlighting that Parliament voted by a significant majority in favour of triggering Article 50.

She also points out that the Prime Minister had repeatedly said she would not call an election before 2020.

"She wants us to believe that she is a woman of her word. Isn't the truth that we cannot believe a single word she says?", Cooper adds.

[19 April 2017 12:55 · Kristin Hugo]

Labour veteran Dennis Skinner demands a guarantee that no Tory MP under investigation over their 2015 election expenses will be a candidate in this election. Otherwise "this is the most squalid election campaign that has happened in my lifetime", he says.

May says she stands by all current Conservative MPs.  

[19 April 2017 12:57 · tompeck1000]

"We now come to the motion on the early parliamentary election..." minor bit of history, that.

[19 April 2017 13:00 · Kristin Hugo]

That's it for PMQs this week, and possibly the last one of this Parliament. Some rumours suggest purdah - the pre-election restrictions on Parliament and other public institutions - could begin as early as this Friday.

Most, however, expect at least one more session of PMQs before Parliament is dissolved for the election.

Later this afternoon MPs will debate the motion that will trigger a general election, with some Labour MPs furious that only 90 minutes have been allocated for the debate. 

[19 April 2017 13:03 · Jon Stone]

Theresa May says Tory MPs under criminal investigation for election fraud can stand as candidates anyway independent.co.uk/news/tory-elec…

[19 April 2017 13:09 · John Rentoul]

.@IndyVoices I think there are 7 Tory seats that voted Remain the Lib Dems can win with swing of up to 7pts, & 3 Lab seats with swing of up to 10pts.

[19 April 2017 13:13 · John Rentoul]

.@IndyVoices I think there are 6 Tory seats that voted Remain the Lib Dems can win with swing of up to 7pts, & 4 Lab seats with swing of up to 10pts.

[19 April 2017 13:14 · John Rentoul]

.@IndyVoices Con: Lewes, Twickenham, Kingston, Bath, Cheltenham, CheadleLab: Bermondsey, Cardiff C, Hornsey & WG