Corbyn: Don't rule out Labour win • Police 'prepared to shoot' terror drivers • Commuters face misery after fire

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By Justin Parkinson

Don't rule out Labour win, urges Corbyn

It's the first full day of campaigning, after Theresa May got her plan for a snap election through Parliament with ease. The leaders are setting out broad themes that we can expect to hear more of in the run up to 8 June. Labour's Jeremy Corbyn, behind in the polls, will use a speech later to say the result on 8 June isn't a "foregone conclusion". He'll promise not to "play by the rules" and to take on the "powerful and the wealthy". Meanwhile, Mrs May has promised "strong and stable" leadership and to "get on" with making Brexit work. With seven weeks still to go, here's what you need to know about the election.

Why is May reluctant to join TV debate?   As David Cameron learnt very quickly, front runners in any campaign have everything to lose in TV debates, and the underdogs have everything to gain. Downing Street knows it will take a certain amount of flak for the decision not to play ball. But Theresa May's allies are willing to wear it, rather than broker the risk of taking part.         Read full analysis >        Laura Kuenssberg Political editor

Other top stories

The Westminster attack was one of several around Europe recently in which terrorists have used vehicles to kill members of the public. Previously UK police have been reluctant to shoot the driver, for fear of causing other dangers. But the national lead for armed policing, Simon Chesterman, says that's changed. "Driving a vehicle in front of it, for example, is not going to stop it," he explains. "So you need to shoot the driver."

Sarin gas, or a similar agent, was used in an attack on the Syrian town of Khan Sheikhoun, according to the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW). At least 87 people died. The OPCW says the evidence is "incontrovertible", but Syria's government insists it did not use chemical weapons.

Thousands of commuters will endure an unpleasant morning following a trackside fire in London that's caused disruption on the West Coast mainline. Engineers are working to restore services after damage to signalling equipment.

What the papers say

"Battle begins," states the i, as the general election campaign gets under way. The Mail reports that Theresa May will offer "cast-iron" pledges in the Conservative manifesto on leaving the European single market and ending the free movement of EU citizens in the UK. Meanwhile, the Times says the prime minister is "ready to soften" her opposition to taking foreign students out of immigration totals. Elsewhere, the Financial Times reports that UK firms are being "automatically" shut out of contracts by Brussels officials. And the Daily Star reveals that a priest has carried out an exorcism on the set of Coronation Street.

Daily digest

Dementia hope - Experts excited by brain "wonder drug"

Foreign aid - Keep up spending level, Microsoft's Bill Gates urges UK

Two wheels good - Cycling to work cuts heart disease and cancer risk, study finds

Office hippos - Does your boss remind you of a large, semi-aquatic mammal?

If you watch one thing today   The fridge that gives away free food

If you listen to one thing today   Is your attention span getting shorter?

If you read one thing today   Why an American went to Cuba for cancer care

Thursday lookahead

09:30 The England rugby union squad for the summer's tour to Argentina is announced. It will be missing the players selected for the British and Irish Lions tour to New Zealand. 10:30 Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary publishes its annual report on the state of policing in England and Wales. 19:00 Eleven candidates for the French presidency will be interviewed for 10 minutes each on the France 2 channel.

On this day

1968 Shadow defence minister Enoch Powell makes his so-called "rivers of blood" speech, in which he warns of violence if present immigration levels continue. 1992 A tribute concert for Queen's Freddie Mercury takes place at Wembley Stadium, featuring acts including David Bowie, Elton John, Liza Minnelli and George Michael. 1999 Fifteen people die as two students, wearing balaclavas and trench coats, rampage through Columbine High School in Denver, Colorado, firing automatic weapons and throwing homemade bombs.

Best of the rest To the lawyer who saved us from our abusive dad: Thank you (The Age) Chapel that survived 9/11 may have to close (New York Times)

Introverts 'more likely to be successful bosses' (Independent) Donald Trump is making dictionaries great again (Time)

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