Tories and Labour argue over tax plans • Trump and Putin vow to push for Syria peace • Former Madeleine suspect speaks of shock

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By Justin Parkinson

Election: Parties argue over tax plans

Parliament's been dissolved and Theresa May is expected to visit Buckingham Palace later to give the Queen formal notice of the general election on 8 June. And her Conservative Party is focusing today on the public finances. The Tories say Labour's plans for taxation and spending amount to a £45bn "bombshell", but Labour responds that they're "fully costed" and accuses the Conservatives of "huge errors" of calculation.

What you need to know about the election   Theresa May's Conservative Party has a big opinion poll lead over Labour so she will be hoping the election will see her getting a bigger majority in the House of Commons, tightening her grip on power.         Read election guide >        Alex Hunt and Brian Wheeler BBC politics staff

Other top stories

Amid all the excitement of the general election, local elections in England, Scotland and Wales have been overshadowed. But 4,851 council seats are up for grabs on Thursday, with eight mayoral races taking place, and today's the last full day of campaigning.

The US's Donald Trump and Russia's Vladimir Putin have spoken by phone for the first time since last month's US bombing of an air base in Syria. The White House called the conversation "a very good one", while the Kremlin said the presidents had agreed to push for a ceasefire in Syria.

Ten years after the disappearance of three-year-old Madeleine McCann on holiday in Portugal, former suspect Paulo Ribeiro has spoken of his shock at being questioned by British police. Last week, the Metropolitan Police announced there was no evidence to implicate Mr Ribeiro and three other men - who all deny any involvement - and the case against them had been closed.

What the papers say

Ahead of Brexit talks, the Guardian and Metro pick up on Theresa May's promise to be a "bloody difficult woman" in negotiating with the EU. The Times, however, talks of an "increasingly hardline approach" by EU leaders, with the Financial Times saying the EU has raised the UK's upfront "Brexit bill" to 100bn euros (£85bn). And the Sun warns that thousands of new one-pound coins are faulty.

Daily digest

Footballer detained - Everton's Aaron Lennon held under Mental Health Act

Duchess photos - Six go on trial over topless holiday pictures

How's your coverage? - UK's best and worst 4G cities revealed

Smell of success - Could sniffing rosemary help exam chances?

If you watch one thing today   The children who own a zoo

If you listen to one thing today   The script used by the first accountants

If you read one thing today   What's it like on long-term police bail?

Thursday lookahead

08:45 The shortlist for art's Turner Prize is announced. 20:00 French presidential candidates Emmanuel Macron and Marine Le Pen take part in a TV debate.

On this day

1951 King George VI opens the Festival of Britain on London's South Bank. 1997 Katrina and The Waves win a landslide victory in the Eurovision Song Contest with Love Shine A Light. It remains the last time the UK has won the competition.

Best of the rest Gay Chechens recount days of beatings (Independent) Child prodigy's life torn apart by violin theft (Daily Mail)

Is it really possible to live to 146? (Guardian) Aerial views of London, past and present (Londonist)

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