19/04/2017 BBC Wales Today

The general election will be held on June 8th.

I see no reason to have one at the moment except the Prime Minister has

decided to cut and run and I think it's a cover-up. Difficulties with

the Brexit negotiations. So what are the burning

issues for voters? Our Political Editor heads

to Swansea to find out. What is this election about the you?

I want to get out of Europe with all those people telling us what to do

about our country. Also tonight, a man tells an inquest

how he woke up to find his flat on fire and saw flames coming

from the tumble dryer. The most high profile movie to be

financed by the Welsh Government. Why its Bafta-winning

star loved filming here. In tonight's sport: 12 Welsh players

picked for the tour to New Zealand. Among them, Sam Warburton,

who gets the call from coach I was in a supermarket car park, my

wife was getting bread and milk. I hang up the first time because I

thought it was one of the boys messing around.

Wales and the rest of the UK will go to the polls in just 50 days

The Prime Minister's decision was overwhelmingly backed by 522 MPs

with just one of the 40 Welsh members, Labour's Ann

So, the campaign will soon be underway in earnest with the parties

all fighting for our votes on June the 8th.

Let s head to Westminster now and our Parliamentary

Barely a day after Theresa May surprised us all with that

revelation that she wants an early general election the Prime Minister

now has her date. June the 8th. MPs are starting to focus on the battle

ahead. Successful prime ministers

get their own statues here. The more celebrated

in Parliament Square across the road In his day, MPs had no say

over election timing. But this afternoon, they spent

ninety minutes debating whether to allow Theresa May to call

an early general election. The official campaign won't get

started until next month. We welcome the opportunity for the

people of Wales to change our course in the long-term, away from Labour's

government in Cardiff, away from this centralised government in

London, cutting our path towards prosperity, social justice and a

confident place for Wales in the world.

Plaid Cymru's three MPs voted for an early poll.

The eyes to the right, 522. The nose to the left, 13.

I see no reason to have one except the Prime Minister has decided to

cut and run. It's a cover-up because of her difficulties with the Brexit

the ghostly Asians which day by day as they unfold shows it's not going

to be easy. So with the starting gun

fired and fifty days This parliament will end 25 working

days before the election, The next day, elections will be held

in all 22 councils in Wales During the rest of May

and the first week of June, Before we elect a new UK

government on the 8th of June. I am delighted to be going to

another general election. Political parties are now working

on their manifestos. I will be on the doorstep saying

what we have done in government, how we've helped pensioners and all

aspects of society and building on a manifesto which will deliver for

everyone in this country. The Liberal Democrats,

after a few lean years, What would be a good result? It is

not much fun being the only Welsh Liberal Democrats in the House of

Commons. I won't give you any predictions but you will see

candidates and the manifesto but I wasn't agony here.

In changing her mind about an early election,

Theresa May has taken a political gamble.

If she wins on June the eighth and can make a success

of Brexit Conservative MPs may one day want to see a statue

of their leader take its place in Parliament Square.

Tonight, Theresa May and Jeremy Corbyn are both out on the campaign

trail. The Prime Minister appealing to voters to give her a mandate to

do Brexit fairway. Jeremy Corbyn already ruling out any coalition

between Labour and the SNP. Plenty more of that to come. Only 50 days

to go. As we heard from David,

much of the election debate so far But the next UK government

will also have responsibility over issues like taxes,

pensions and security. So what will be the most

important issue when you come Our political editor Nick Servini

has been in Swansea to find out. 24 hours on and voters in Swansea

are still die jesting news of the snap general election. Swansea

epitomises so much of our -- about Wales 's relationship with the EU.

Investment from Brussels is everywhere and yet exactly like the

UK average 52% of people in Swansea voted to leave. So the conventional

wisdom goes that when it comes to a general election it's all about the

pound in your pocket, how much taxation up a and even things like

the Blick sector cuts. But how does that work this time round? When it

appears to be all but one thing. What about the you? I want to get

out of Europe with all those people telling us what to do about our

country. Our country should be our country. We don't need a general

election vote that. I know but these people up back stabbing her all the

time. What you think about this general election being called? I'm

not surprised. What is it about the you? Personally I voted out. It's

about Brexit because she is not getting support in parliament to

take it any further. What do you think about another election?

Anything that could slow the Tories hurtling towards a hard Brexit I

think is a good thing. Two solid Labour held constituencies with very

high public sector employment will be up for grabs here. Jeremy

Corbyn's and Yosemite ticket should play well. We'll have the

traditional divisions. The day for 70 leading has passed. Now I think

there is this general idea that we need to protect ourselves with

Brexit and there does seem to be a public narrative that the best way

to do that is to rein in public spending. And if the next seven

weeks are a rerun of the referendum the old divisions will resurface.

What is this election about the you? Backing the government on Brexit but

also getting the support of all the MPs behind. Who are you going to

vote for? I don't know. I might not even vote at all. I voted to stay

in. I voted out. You've had a lot of arguments about this. What about the

general election? There are normally plenty of issues for people to chew

over in election but this is no normal vote.

That was the view from Swansea and over in Rhondda they could see

one of the heavyweight battles of the election campaign in Wales.

But tonight Plaid Cymru leader Leanne Wood has said

she has still not decided whether to challenge

It's a seat she dramatically won at last year's Assembly election.

More from our political reporter Cemlyn Davies.

Leanne Wood's shock win was the standard result of last year 's

assembly election. After a hard-fought campaign the Plaid Cymru

leader beat the experienced high-profile Labour incumbent. Year

on she is considering trying to repeat the feat. I have not ruled

anything in or out. I think it's vital that Wales has the strongest

team of Plaid Cymru MP is possible after this election and in order to

have the strongest team we have to put forward our strongest

candidates. I am confident we can win this seat whether I am the

contrary the knot. You are thinking about it then. We are thinking about

everything at the moment. There is a feeling within Plaid Cymru the party

will never have a better chance to take this seat at the Westminster

level and Leanne Wood would be the best candidate. They have in the

shape of Leanne Wood a charismatic leader, especially on her own patch

in the Rhondda where people believe she is a different kind of

politician and it might be enough to make that significant breakthrough

at Westminster. Could anyone other than Leanne Wood win this for Plaid

Cymru? I don't think so. If Leanne Wood does stand will be a gamble for

her and her party. A win would see her elected to the Commons but she

would lose his seat in the assembly sparking a by-election Plaid Cymru

could easily lose. She would also have to stand down as leader because

of the existing party rules, that post must be held by an Assembly

Member. The current MP for the Rhondda Chris Bryant did not want to

comment on spec Laois and today but confirmed earlier on Twitter he will

be standing again. Leanne Wood says she and the party will make a

decision soon but for now all cards are on the table and it isn't clear

whether the Plaid Cymru leader will Stickle twist.

Dyfed Powys Police has launched a murder investigation

following the death of a 19-year-old woman nearly a week after

Katrina Evemy was in a critical condition in hospital

following the incident at Graig Avenue on Thursday.

A 21-year-old man was charged with attempted murder,

but police are now treating her death as murder.

A psychiatrist accused of thirteen charges of sexual assault

against five of his male patients has been found not guilty

A jury at Merthyr Crown Court has found Dr Brian Harris not guilty

of an indecent assault back in 1991 and a rape in 2009.

Jurors are still deliberating on the eleven remaining charges.

Tata Steel, which employs 6,000 people in Wales,

A man has described trying in vain to save his boyfriend

from a fire at his home, thought to have started

Garry Lloyd Jones from Llanrwst was giving evidence at the inquest

into the deaths of 19-year-old Bernard Hender and his

business partner Douglas McTavish in October 2014.

Receiving support from friends and relatives of those who died Adam

Lloyd Jones was the first witness to give evidence at the inquest. He

showed BBC Wales the devastation the blaze caused just a week after his

boyfriend and business partner were killed in the fire. It is thought

the fire was started by a tumble dryer. Gary Lloyd Jones told the

inquest the night before the fire he noticed that humble dryer was

switched off with the door open and towels inside. He woke up early the

next morning with the flat full of smoke and he saw flames coming from

the drum of the dryer. He went back to the bedroom and grabbed Bernard

Hender telling him to get out. He broke away and shock saying he can

find the doorway because of the smoke. Gary Lloyd Jones said he had

the teenager scream and that was the last time you heard him. He crawled

out and dialled 999. Bernard Hender was described as having a zest for

life. His business partner Douglas McTavish managed the best road where

he worked as a chef. The inquest also heard from firefighters were

called to the scene. Officers concluded the origin of the blaze

was around the two tumble dryers in the laundry room. The inquest is

expected to hear expert testimony from the manufacturer tomorrow.

Still to come in the programme: It's the toughest test a rugby

12 Wales players picked for the Lions tour of New Zealand.

And the Prime Minister decided to call a snap election

So, is there something about Snowdonia that helps

It's the most high-profile film to be financed

by the Welsh Government, with more than half

"Their Finest" tells a story of people who made propaganda films

One of its stars, the BAFTA-winning actor Bill Nighy, was in Cardiff

last night for the red carpet premiere, where he praised Wales

He was speaking to our Arts and Media correspondent Huw Thomas.

People like films because story is a structure.

Good things turn bad, it's still part of the plan.

Their Finest follows the film crews battling to boost morale

With so many locations and plenty of investment coming from Wales

The red carpet is out, the stars are here and it's

It's the most high-profile film to benefit from the Welsh Government's

?30 million film fund which is managed by Pinewood Studios

The government says it's good business to back films

and that its work in the creative sector over the past six years had

brought ?240 million of investment to Wales.

Their Finest is the first film it has funded that has put so much

of Wales on screen and with a star cast, including Bill Nighy,

They were looking for someone to play a chronically self absorbed,

pompous actor in his declining years and they came to me.

We all have a part to play in defeating Hitler.

He's dead before the end of act three.

We came in October when it was supposed to be wet and grey and it

turned out to be brilliant sunshine so we were very fortunate.

We shot on a sensational beach in Pembrokeshire.

People who didn't know Wales as well as I did were stunned

It could have been anywhere in the world.

The beach was Freshwater West in Pembrokeshire,

Although funding was a big draw for the producers,

shooting in Wales seemed the natural choice.

You can get support for coming to film in Wales but it

felt appropriate to us, not that that was part

of their decision-making process, but our main girl is from Wales,

She is based on a character, an original screenwriter

Former Bond girl Gemma Arthurton takes on the lead role

as well as a Welsh accent with a string of famous faces

It's already been well received a special screenings at some

of the world's top film festivals but it will be released

Tomos is here with news of the Lions squad.

It promises to be one of this summer's sporting highlights,

the Lions tour to New Zealand led by Captain Sam Warburton.

He's one of 12 Welsh players picked, six forwards and six backs.

Coach Warren Gatland has also gone with 16 England players,

11 from Ireland and just two from Scotland.

Scrum V's Ross Harries, who'll be following the Lions for us,

Four months ago Sam Warburton was relieved of the Welsh captaincy.

Today after months of rumour and speculation he was confirmed as

Lions skipper for the second time. In nearly 130 years of Lions history

only one other player, Martin Johnson, has done it twice. I was in

a supermarket car park, my wife was getting some bread and milk, I think

I hang up the first time because I thought it was one of the boys

messing around. One of the things I admire about the Sam, not just as a

player but as a person, his greatest quality is it's not about Sam

Warburton, it's about the team. Ironically it may be easier for him

to captain the Lions than the captain of Wales. He is under huge

pressure as Welsh captain. Sam Warburton is one of 12 Welshmen in

the squad. Three fewer than in 2013. But given that Wales finished fifth

in the six Nations you could argue it is a generous contingent. The ink

didn't dry on his squad until last night and several of the 50-50 calls

were made in favour of his trusted the tenants. Scarlets of the Ken

Owens did enough to deny England captain Dylan Hartley a place. He is

the third image captain in a row to miss out on Lions selection. There

was no place in the squad for England is a row to miss out on

Lions selection. There was no place in the squad for England's strongman

James Haskell like to make way for Ross Moriarty from Wales. And Dan

Biggar's defensive solidity earned him the nod over George Ford. Dan

has played well in the championship. He was outstanding against England.

He understands the control and structure of the game. He will get

on that plane believing everyone can been born in the Test series. A

proud day and believe is a big word, I think it was touch and go and the

flip of a coin and I am glad to be on the right side of it. I am over

the moon. With the suspense finally over those who have made the cat can

now focus on what lies ahead. The most this represents the absolute

pinnacle of their careers but it's also the toughest mission of rugby

-- a rugby player can embark on. And you can find the full Lions

squad on the BBC Sport website. Ryan Day, Wales is only

representative of the world Champion ship resume his first-round tie in a

few minutes. Despite a break of 125, his opponent leads six frames to

free. Welsh cyclist Geraint Thomas has won

stage three of the Tour of the Alps The Team Sky rider made a late

attack to finish just in front Thomas is now 16 seconds ahead

of the rest of the field It was a holiday in Snowdonia

which helped convince the Prime Minister to call a snap

General Election. So was it something in the air,

or just being away from the goldfish We sent Roger Pinney

to Dolgellau to find out. Decisions decisions. Shall I shan't

I? The best? How many of our decisions are as big as the one

Theresa May has just made. For me it's whether to have a beer but of

course not if I'm driving. How about a second slice of pizza? It wasn't

coming to premise which prompted the Prime Minister the change of mind

about holding election. The peace and quiet away from the hustle and

bustle of London, strolling the streets or hiking in the hills. Of

course the decision she has made could change the direction of the

country. How do you make your big decisions? I generally think about

it in my head first, check with my husband if he's in the same way of

thinking and then do the opposite to him. I would rush straight in. Both

feet straight in first. You just go straight for it? Yes. Theresa May is

not the first top Tory to make a decision walking in Snowdonia.

William Hague proposed to his wife in the mountains. Theresa May was

photographed on Palm Sunday leaving church in Dolgellau, perhaps it was

something about St Mary's which motor. I met a churchwarden there.

One considers decision when they are on their own wherever they are. If

you have something on your mind and it's a decision I have to think

about I come to church or go walking. However she reached her

decision there do seem to have been a Theresa May affecting Dolgellau,

at the craft shop with the -- where she bought a ring trade is up.

Across the road she picked up a couple of books, one as a gift for

Angela Merkel. Anyway she has made her decision, now we have seven

weeks to make ours. Well, lovely spring weather to get

out and about at the moment. Sue, what's in store

over the next few days? It has been a bright day for many of

us but cloudier tomorrow. I pressure kept things settled today this cold

front is moving southwards across the UK overnight into tomorrow so as

that front arrives cloud will increase. The odd spot of drizzle

possible on higher ground. Not as cold as the past few nights.

Tomorrow, some early drizzle especially in the hills but most

places will stay dry. Generally a cloudy day but some sunny spells as

well. Light westerly winds and highs of 11 Celsius and Ceredigion.

Tomorrow night starts dry with clear spells but turning cloudy overnight

with a few spots of drizzle starting to push in from the North West.

Cloud holding up the temperatures at seven to 10 Celsius. This cold front

will move southwards later on Friday so Friday is largely financed dry

with sunny spells but the odd isolated shower. Turning cloudy from

the North later on. Temperatures slightly above average. That cold

front does eventually move southwards Friday night in the

Saturday bringing mainly light rain. It hangs around on Saturday but also

a weakening feature so just bringing in the cloud. Behind it the winds

turn more northerly which will introduce cold air. Largely dried

and settled over the next few days but patchy rain at times. A chilly

start the next big end. I pressure building again to bring a more

settled day on Sunday but feeling chilly. Finally, today's picture

from Ken, sunny spells breaking through the cloud in Flintshire.

Wales and the rest of the UK will go to the polls and 50 days for the

general election. The Prime Minister 's decision for a June the 8th vote

was backed by MPs. We'll be back with a quick

update at 8:00pm and after From all of us on the programme,

have a good evening.