52 years later, scott and naomi jones wondered if they could find it — and amazingly it's reappeared. it's just unbelievable. it's just absolutely thrilling, it's just wonderful, yeah. when we started looking for this bass, which was lastjuly, that was day one in the office, we thought we'd probably never find it. and here it is being authenticated by hofner, but where's it been? the key clue was from a roadie who helped the couple track it down to a deal in a pub and then it ended up in an attic — and it's now back with sir paul. so to be sitting here now knowing that the bass is back with paul mccartney, the bass is found, the search has been successful, the mission is accomplished, is unbelievable, it's brilliant. so after more than 50 years, the hofner bass is back where it belongs. david sillito, bbc news. time for a look at the weather,

here's louise lear. incredibly mild has been the theme today, temperatures peaking at 18 degrees, that is way above the average for the time of year, we should be seeing 8—9 c. we are going to keep the mild theme of the next few days, not quite as extreme, but nevertheless a mild and wet story, rain pushing in from the south—west, up rain pushing in from the south—west, up into the midlands, we could see another inch of rain on very saturated ground, so pretty miserable out there, i'm afraid. and that continues to track steadily eastwards, weakening in the london area. behind it, clearerskies, mist and murk forming, overnight lows generally not as mild as the night just passed, four degrees in scotland with a northerly wind kicking in. relatively mild start

for most, tomorrow is grey but generally brighter, a quiet day, sunny spells coming through, scattered showers drifting in on a brisk westerly wind from time to time, and a slightly cooler story continues on the far north of scotland, but still 9 degrees across aberdeenshire, generally highs of 12-14. into aberdeenshire, generally highs of 12—111. into the start of the weekend, not a bad start on saturday, rain is on its way, moving in from the west, and ahead of it hit will be quite cloudy, murky, drizzly for many on saturday, but the real wet weather probably not arriving until the end of the afternoon. temperatures generally around 10—111, afternoon. temperatures generally around 10—14 , the rain sweeps steadily eastwards, and for the second half of the weekend, with the rain lingering in the far south—east, for most of us a drier, brighter and quieter second half. quieter second half. and that's bbc news at ten. on bbc one, it's time

tojoin our colleagues the hour thanks sophie. you're watching bbc news. i'm nicky schiller and i'm going to be here, with the team, throughout the night bringing you updates on the two key by—elections in wellingborough and kingswood. we have a lot of coffee on hand. this is the scene live at the count centres — thornbury leisure centre is where the kingswood declaration will be made, whilst this is kettering leisure village is where we will hear the wellingborough result. the polls closed at 10pm so the boxes of votes will be making their way to the count centres. this is a big test for the parties in what, ofcourse, is expected to be a general election year. the conservatives hold the seats. labour will hope to take them both, and the liberal democrats want to try and cause an upset. voters in kingswood in south gloucestershire —

which is on the edge of the city of bristol — have been to the polls following the resignation of ex—conservative mp chris skidmore. the former minister stood down last month over the government's energy plans. the other by—election in wellingborough, was called following a recall petition in the northamptonshire constituency. it was prompted by former tory mp peter bone�*s suspension from the house of commons for six weeks, for breaching the mps�* code of conduct. well, already tonight we have had statements from labour and the conservatives. first the tories say we have fought robust campaigns on the ground first the tories say, "we have fought robust campaigns on the ground in both of these seats with local candidates. but these by—elections were always going to be hard. the government of the day rarely win by—elections. both of these seats have been labour

recently and they require smaller swings than were seen in recent by—elections". whilst pat mcfadden labour's national campaign coordinator said:"we are proud of the positive campaigns we have run in kingswood and wellingborough. we were always aware of the challenge ahead of us with the large conservative majorities in both seats, our campaigns have focused relentlessly on the cost of living and delivering for working people. we have highlighted that people in kingswood and wellingborough deserve better than a tory government which has presided over 1a years of failure and left the economy in tatters. rishi's recession means this tory government is unable to concentrate on what matters to people in both these areas and across the country. it will be some time before we know the results, but we are making real progress in all corners of our country and showing that with labour, we can get britain's future back."

those are the two statements we've had, certainly based on the length of the statements the conservatives a lot shorter than the labour party, so whether that's a sign of whether they feel this by election results is going, it will be early hours of the morning before we have those results and as i say, we will keep you updated throughout the night on all the developments. we'll start off in kingswood. our political correspondent hannah miller is at the by—election in kingswood for us this evening. the first votes are being opened and verified. postal votes are being looked at first here tonight. well, then the votes from the ballot boxes across the constituency come in from what is actually quite a wide area. the by—election is being held here in kingswood because of the resignation of the former conservative mp chris skidmore. he stepped back because he was unhappy about government plans to grant more oil and gas licences,

thought that they should be pursuing net zero much more quickly than they are doing. he had a majority that he won in 2019 ofjust over 11,000, and once upon a time, frankly, we wouldn't have been talking about seats like this being in play. it says something about the state of our politics that this is very much the type of seat that labour will be hoping to win if they can get a majority at the next general election. labour, ithink, are also quietly confident that they can win here tonight. the conservatives are already suggesting that it's very difficult for sitting governments to win in by elections. for sitting governments to win in by—elections. that probably tells you everything you need to know about how confident they are feeling. although they have said that locally, this has been a more positive campaign than some of the by elections that the party of the by—elections that the party has seen in recent months. if we look at the constituency as a whole, it's a constituency you could say with a bit of everything. there are country lanes here,

there are motorways, there are really urban areas, people commuting into nearby bristol and much quieter villages. it's slightly more affluent perhaps than the national average, but not hugely. and there are certainly pockets of deprivation here as well. in terms of the issues, labour have been seeking to fight this by election on the cost of living on the nhs. whereas the conservatives have been trying to make a real play of the council plans. the council being run by a labour and the lib dems to build thousands of homes on nearby green belt. it's also worth pointing out in all of this that the liberal democrats and the greens have done relatively well around here in recent council elections. final thought? in all but one year, kingswood has gone on to elect an mp who has represented the party that won the general election. this seat will not actually exist in its current form by the time the next general election comes around because of the boundary

changes that are happening. but if they can win here tonight, labour would certainly see that as a really positive step in their quest to win a majority at the next general election. that's the scene live where you can see those tables waiting for the results and the votes to come in, it will be the early hours of the morning before we have a result from south gloucestershire and indeed our other by election is in willingboro. it's happening in kettering and this is the live shot of the account in kettering and our political correspondent harry farley has set “p correspondent harry farley has set up camp there and sent us this update.

recent by elections they have lost big majorities and that and labour are hoping to. labour hoping to overturn a significant majority here for the conservatives, the other factor in this by election is the reform party, formerly the brexit party. they will be hoping that they can match their recent polling of around 10% in the vote chair they get this evening. 10% in the vote chair they get this evenina. , ., , ., ., evening. joining us throughout the niaht, also with us is polling guru sirjohn curtice now, professor of politics at the university of strathclyde. professor, thank you very much for joining us, i know you always enjoy these nights. a big test for conservatives and labour tonight. it

is indeed. there are two rather different constituencies, kingswood is a seed that labour actually one of he comfortably went tony blair was prime minister and the 97,2001 and 2005 elections, contrary to what pat mcfadden implied in his statement about labour, actually kingswood if in the next general election were being fought on the current boundaries which they are not going to become a kingswood would actually be in the list of seats that they say labour would need to pick up if they need the majority. the swing of 11% is a little bit less than the swing we are seeing we might need here in order to get a majority in the general election, willingboro in contrast a requires an 18% swing, thatis contrast a requires an 18% swing, that is above the swing that is currently being recorded in the national opinion polls, which is

around about 14.5% at the moment. but as the conservatives themselves be rather keen to point out, the swing is rather less so than was recorded in three by elections, mid bedfordshire, selby, and tamworth backin bedfordshire, selby, and tamworth back in the second half of last year. to that extent, at least, there is that widespread expectation that they beat labour will be able to pick this as well. i think one does have to unpick very slightly the conservative claim that governments always or almost always inspire actions. it's true that governments often suffer swings against by elections, but not necessarily on the scale that would be required for willingboro to fall. if be required for willingboro to fall. hindeed be required for willingboro to fall. if indeed willingboro and kingswood would fall tonight than the conservatives will have suffered

nine by election losses, of course they did gain one in hartlepool back in 2021 so a net loss of eight seats and by elections. the last time a government suffered in by elections was the parliament of 1992—1997 which did not end very happily for the conservatives, so i think we should say if indeed the conservatives were to lose both of these by elections, the historical precedents would not be as comforting to conservatives as the press statement is trying to make out. , ., , . ,., ., out. the people in willingboro were sa in: that out. the people in willingboro were saying that they _ out. the people in willingboro were saying that they have _ out. the people in willingboro were saying that they have a _ out. the people in willingboro were saying that they have a lot - out. the people in willingboro were saying that they have a lot of - saying that they have a lot of labour people campaigning but not many for the conservatives, certainly rishi sunak has not been to either of the by elections, has he? ~ ,, . ~' to either of the by elections, has he? ~ ,, ., ~' .,, to either of the by elections, has he? ~ ,, , he? mr sunak has been campaigning and other by —

he? mr sunak has been campaigning and other by elections _ he? mr sunak has been campaigning and other by elections but _ he? mr sunak has been campaigning and other by elections but it - he? mr sunak has been campaigning and other by elections but it does i and other by elections but it does seem to have been the case both in wellingborough and in kingswood is almost as though the conservatives had given up the fight for the beginning. —— from the beginning. both by elections have occurred in somewhat difficult circumstances, chris skidmore it had stood down and wellingborough is being critical of the net zero policies and that made life particularly difficult for him. peter bone, an ex brexiteer suspended from the house for about three weeks because he was having found guilty of bullying a member of staff. 10% of people signed a petition so that had the by elections so his partner, who is no standing in the sea, that made it a rather difficult backdrop for the

conservatives, but one would normally have expected a government particularly now little more than nine months our way from general election to be fighting by elections, as hard as they could. because frankly, mr sunak needs some good news on the electoral front. the opinion polls are suggesting that the conservatives are making minimal progress since sunak became prime minister, 26% in opinion polls, it was 25% when he became prime minister, around the whole of the last 15 months the conservatives badly need to be able to show they can start to climb the actual mountain they face if they were to lose both by elections, then the truth is it would be suggesting that they would not. i should be staying straightaway nikki, if in the end they do hang onto wellingborough, let's say it's a 17% swing, we had an opinion poll out this morning

saying maybe that would be the case. we shouldn't necessarily conclude that this is a dramatic reversal full labour, it will be disappointing for labour but if it is still in the order of 70% a 70% swing is still very substantial, still the kind of swing witch ended by election this close to a general election does raise questions. 17% —— reform uk were campaigning very hard. -- reform uk were campaigning very hard. ., ., ., , ., hard. that might have an implication for the conservative _ hard. that might have an implication for the conservative in _ for the conservative in wellingborough.- for the conservative in wellingborough. for the conservative in wellinaaborouh. ~ ., , wellingborough. well above the 5296 level across the _ wellingborough. well above the 5296 level across the uk _ wellingborough. well above the 5296 level across the uk as _ wellingborough. well above the 5296 level across the uk as a _ wellingborough. well above the 5296 level across the uk as a whole, - wellingborough. well above the 5296 level across the uk as a whole, so i level across the uk as a whole, so it's relatively ripe territory for reform, they have a very strong

pro—brexit anti—immigration message, they put up habib, one of their deputy leaders, and they clearly targeted the constituency. quite a lot of people in the polling community have been saying that so far reforms relatively anaemic performances and parliamentary by elections, best performances around 5-6% elections, best performances around 5—6% have been for them has been raising questions whether or not 10% of reform are now registering in the opinion polls in the last two or three months, perhaps it's overestimating reform strike. wellingborough will give us a crucial signal, wellingborough will give us a crucialsignal, reform wellingborough will give us a crucial signal, reform seemed to set themselves the target of 10%, frankly given how they might get something closer to travel 13 but we certainly know that reform, if the opinion polls are right, are taking a lot of votes off labour. at the moment for everyone voters who voted conservative in 2019 who says they are now going to vote labour, there

another one who says they're going to route vote for reform. conservative support since 2019, that's no longer simply a product of people swinging behind labour, it's also people swinging behind reform uk. sir also people swinging behind reform uk. ,, g ., ., ., also people swinging behind reform uk. sirjohn, for the moment, you're with us draw— uk. sirjohn, for the moment, you're with us draw tonight. _ let's cross back to the wellingborough count now and speak to harry farley. harry, what's the mood on the ground with you? harry, what's the mood on the ground with ou? harry. what's the mood on the ground with ou? with you? good evening, nikki, the countin: is with you? good evening, nikki, the counting is going — with you? good evening, nikki, the counting is going on _ with you? good evening, nikki, the counting is going on behind - with you? good evening, nikki, the counting is going on behind me, . counting is going on behind me, obviously the conservatives defending that more than 16,000 majority. peter bone was suspended, voted out by mp is facing accusations of bullying and being sexually inappropriate with staff, he denied these challenges and that's why i am here this evening. shadow environment minister and the lead campaign on the ground, mr perkins, you've overturned bigger majorities than this in recent by

elections. really disappointed if you don't went to light. always disappointed if you don't win any by election but the very fact we are asking that question when talking historically large majorities, a seat that we haven't been within 11,000 votes of winning in any of the last four elections is a mark of the last four elections is a mark of the progress that we've made under keir starmer. we've got a positive campaign, great response, so we are really helpful, we might get a great result but it would be a historic result but it would be a historic result if we did it. just to be clear, anything other than a victory is a disappointment this evening? indie is a disappointment this evening? we want to win elections, we run the best_ want to win elections, we run the best campaign, the country as a thirst_ best campaign, the country as a thirst for— best campaign, the country as a thirst for change and for that reason — thirst for change and for that reason of— thirst for change and for that reason of course we expect and want to win _ reason of course we expect and want to win every — reason of course we expect and want to win every election we go into. but it_ to win every election we go into. but it think— to win every election we go into. but it think it's important to have context_ but it think it's important to have context here. this will be a truly remarkable result and the fact that we've _ remarkable result and the fact that we've almost started to take for granted — we've almost started to take for granted or start to take for granted

this remarkable result, this is a tremendous amount about the progress we've made _ tremendous amount about the progress we've made. everything we've seen so far is suggesting it could be a close — far is suggesting it could be a close contest and i hope we just got over the _ close contest and i hope we just got over the line. we close contest and i hope we 'ust got overthe line.— over the line. we were 'ust hearing her from john * over the line. we were 'ust hearing her from john curtis _ over the line. we were just hearing her from john curtis there - over the line. we were just hearing | her from john curtis there about the high number of people who voted to leave the european union in willingboro. formerly known as the brexit brexit party, on your vote here tonight? —— wellingborough. contest begins everyone else, you're i’i l ht contest begins everyone else, you're right to _ contest begins everyone else, you're right to say _ contest begins everyone else, you're right to say that this reform vote who might — right to say that this reform vote who might otherwise have voted labour, — who might otherwise have voted labour, otherwise voted conservative, i don't think any of us will_ conservative, i don't think any of us will know from until an election is over— us will know from until an election is over what— us will know from until an election is over what that is. substantial votes _ is over what that is. substantial votes and — is over what that is. substantial votes and be really competitive gives _ votes and be really competitive gives us — votes and be really competitive gives us a — votes and be really competitive gives us a huge cause for optimism. do you _ gives us a huge cause for optimism. do you think— gives us a huge cause for optimism. do you think this is an indication and the fact you are challenging a seat like this, do you think this is

an indication that so—called red that the conservatives will won so many seats back, that you can be winning those seats back? this many seats back, that you can be winning those seats back?- winning those seats back? this is nowhere near _ winning those seats back? this is nowhere near a _ winning those seats back? this is nowhere near a redwall, - winning those seats back? this is nowhere near a redwall, this - winning those seats back? this is nowhere near a redwall, this is l winning those seats back? this is nowhere near a redwall, this is aj nowhere near a redwall, this is a seat _ nowhere near a redwall, this is a seat that— nowhere near a redwall, this is a seat that even when labour had a majority — seat that even when labour had a majority of — seat that even when labour had a majority of 60 back in 2005 there is no comparison in that regard, but we absolutely _ no comparison in that regard, but we absolutely are out to win all the seats that we need to win to win a general— seats that we need to win to win a general election. this wasn't even on that— general election. this wasn't even on that list — general election. this wasn't even on that list. up until the by election— on that list. up until the by election being called. but the fact that we _ election being called. but the fact that we are now here fighting for every— that we are now here fighting for every vote, thinking we've got a chance — every vote, thinking we've got a chance is— every vote, thinking we've got a chance is massively uplifting for us. �* �* , chance is massively uplifting for us. , us. and you've been the campaign lead to here _ us. and you've been the campaign lead to here for _ us. and you've been the campaign lead to here for labour— us. and you've been the campaign lead to here for labour for- us. and you've been the campaign lead to here for labour for a - us. and you've been the campaign i lead to here for labour for a number lead to here for labourfor a number of weeks, what are a number of things you found on the doorstep as you speak to people here? i things you found on the doorstep as you speak to people here?— you speak to people here? i think from the perspective _ you speak to people here? i think from the perspective of _ you speak to people here? i think from the perspective of voters - you speak to people here? i think. from the perspective of voters here, there _ from the perspective of voters here, there is— from the perspective of voters here, there is a _ from the perspective of voters here, there is a wound real disaffection with conservatives at a variety of levels _ with conservatives at a variety of levels of — with conservatives at a variety of levels of course around the government but also here in

northamptonshire, i think people have shown us their lives willing to -ive have shown us their lives willing to give the _ have shown us their lives willing to give the labour party a future. they responded — give the labour party a future. they responded really well to the right candidate we've got, and i think the message _ candidate we've got, and i think the message we had on their doorsteps has been _ message we had on their doorsteps has been positively received. we are ho eful, has been positively received. we are hopeful. we — has been positively received. we are hopeful, we really _ has been positively received. we are hopeful, we really are _ has been positively received. we are hopeful, we really are helpful. - has been positively received. we are hopeful, we really are helpful. it's i hopeful, we really are helpful. it's been a difficult week for the labour party, with questions swirling around anti—semitism and whether due diligence on your candidate is, do you think this might have an impact here tonight? will you think this might have an impact here tonight?— here tonight? will know better about that at the end _ here tonight? will know better about that at the end of _ here tonight? will know better about that at the end of the _ here tonight? will know better about that at the end of the election - that at the end of the election but in terms _ that at the end of the election but in terms of— that at the end of the election but in terms of my experience on the doorstep, — in terms of my experience on the doorstep, actually people were talking — doorstep, actually people were talking about the events of the last two years. — talking about the events of the last two years, the last two days, and the events — two years, the last two days, and the events of the last 14 years and ithink— the events of the last 14 years and i think that — the events of the last 14 years and i think that the issue of the labour party's_ i think that the issue of the labour party's travails in the last few days — party's travails in the last few days it — party's travails in the last few days it really hasn't featured much more _ days it really hasn't featured much more people have said to me, but weti— more people have said to me, but we'll get— more people have said to me, but we'll get a — more people have said to me, but we'll get a result and if you our's time _ we'll get a result and if you our's time and — we'll get a result and if you our's time and we'll put the weeks events

into context that the point. shadow environment _ into context that the point. shadow environment minister _ into context that the point. shadow environment minister thank - into context that the point. shadow environment minister thank you - into context that the point. shadowl environment minister thank you very much forjoining us this evening, here at the wellingborough count. a little bit of expectation management but quiet confidence as well, the conservatives as well will be hearing from hopefully later on this evening, but for now back to you nikki. let's cross back to our political correspondent hannah miller at the kingswood count in thorbury. good evening nikki. the verification ofthe good evening nikki. the verification of the votes — good evening nikki. the verification of the votes is _ good evening nikki. the verification of the votes is still _ good evening nikki. the verification of the votes is still under _ good evening nikki. the verification of the votes is still under way - of the votes is still under way here, and i'm joined of the votes is still under way here, and i'mjoined here of the votes is still under way here, and i'm joined here by lou cold who is the deputy chair of the conservative party, get the sense of what the motives among the parties and how the conservatives are feeling. thank you for doing this at this point. what is your feeling at the moment in terms of how this campaign has gone for you? the first coule of campaign has gone for you? the first couple of ballot _ campaign has gone for you? the first couple of ballot boxes _ campaign has gone for you? the first couple of ballot boxes have - campaign has gone for you? the first couple of ballot boxes have just - couple of ballot boxes have just arrived — couple of ballot boxes have just arrived here so it's possibility is understanding what the result be at the campaign is been very positive will be _

the campaign is been very positive will be taking the message out every single _ will be taking the message out every single door in the constituency we have _ single door in the constituency we have an _ single door in the constituency we have an excellent local candidate and sam — have an excellent local candidate and sam bromley, council member here for many— and sam bromley, council member here for many years who feels passionate about _ for many years who feels passionate about some of the issues he's been campaigning on like protecting green spaces. _ campaigning on like protecting green spaces, keeping car parking free and we are _ spaces, keeping car parking free and we are optimistic about what the result— we are optimistic about what the result might bring, we worked hard and will— result might bring, we worked hard and will have to see what the result is in the _ and will have to see what the result is in the next few hours.— is in the next few hours. confident, does that mean _ is in the next few hours. confident, does that mean yes? _ is in the next few hours. confident, does that mean yes? will - is in the next few hours. confident, does that mean yes? will have - is in the next few hours. confident, does that mean yes? will have to l does that mean yes? will have to see in the next couple _ does that mean yes? will have to see in the next couple of _ does that mean yes? will have to see in the next couple of hours. _ does that mean yes? will have to see in the next couple of hours. we - in the next couple of hours. we spoke _ in the next couple of hours. we spoke to — in the next couple of hours. we spoke to thousands of people in the last few— spoke to thousands of people in the last few weeks and had a good response, that's been done to the fact we've — response, that's been done to the fact we've had such a fantastic local— fact we've had such a fantastic local candidate who lived up in the community is whole life, he served as lead _ community is whole life, he served as lead for— community is whole life, he served as lead for the conservative group people _ as lead for the conservative group people responded well to that message and will have to see what the results — message and will have to see what the results are. he message and will have to see what the results are.— message and will have to see what the results are. he grew up here but moved to london _ the results are. he grew up here but moved to london and _ the results are. he grew up here but moved to london and said _ the results are. he grew up here but moved to london and said that - moved to london and said that he would move back, we are having this by election because chris skidmore, the current former conservative mp

resigned so the government should be putting ahead more quickly with net zero policies and he has since refused to endorse the conservative party in this by election and said that if you lose then you should take a lesson from that that the people want to hear more about green issues, is that the lesson that you would take if you were to lose here? firstly, chris is a very good friend of mine, — firstly, chris is a very good friend of mine, i— firstly, chris is a very good friend of mine, i still speak to him regularly— of mine, i still speak to him regularly and i very much well but i disagree _ regularly and i very much well but i disagree with the decision that he took _ disagree with the decision that he took he — disagree with the decision that he took. he has set in the last few days— took. he has set in the last few days that — took. he has set in the last few days that he greatly admires the conservative candidate on a personal level so _ conservative candidate on a personal level so you — conservative candidate on a personal level so you know, i think we'll see what the _ level so you know, i think we'll see what the result brings and a few hours' _ what the result brings and a few hours' time i'm not going to start speculating about what it may or may not mean _ speculating about what it may or may not mean but i can really tell you at this— not mean but i can really tell you at this point we've had a great campaign enjoyed it, spoken to thousands of people and we picked it fantastic— thousands of people and we picked it fantastic candidate. gnce thousands of people and we picked it fantastic candidate.— fantastic candidate. once upon a time ou fantastic candidate. once upon a time you might _ fantastic candidate. once upon a time you might not _ fantastic candidate. once upon a time you might not even - fantastic candidate. once upon a time you might not even be - fantastic candidate. once upon a i time you might not even be talking about majorities of 11,000 being in play in an election like the some party think they can potentially win tonight, are you worried about what

it means for a general election if again kingswood goes later tonight? by again kingswood goes later tonight? by elections are always difficult for governing parties. tony blair lost by— for governing parties. tony blair lost by elections, david cameron lost by elections, david cameron lost by— lost by elections, david cameron lost by elections, david cameron lost by elections and then went on to win _ lost by elections and then went on to win majorities. and it increased their— to win majorities. and it increased their share — to win majorities. and it increased their share of the next general election. — their share of the next general election, you shouldn't read too much _ election, you shouldn't read too much into— election, you shouldn't read too much into each by election result, it's too— much into each by election result, it's too early to tell what the result — it's too early to tell what the result will be, will have to wait a few hours — result will be, will have to wait a few hours to find out, we fought a great _ few hours to find out, we fought a great campaign and i'm proud of what we do. _ great campaign and i'm proud of what we do. i_ great campaign and i'm proud of what we do, i hope we get a great result tonight _ we do, i hope we get a great result toniaht. ~ . we do, i hope we get a great result toniaht. . ., ., ., ., we do, i hope we get a great result toni. ht_ . ., ., ., ., , tonight. what would it mean to rishi sunak if the party — tonight. what would it mean to rishi sunak if the party should _ tonight. what would it mean to rishi sunak if the party should lose - tonight. what would it mean to rishi sunak if the party should lose two i sunak if the party should lose two by elections tonight? i sunak if the party should lose two by elections tonight?— by elections tonight? i don't think we should speculating _ by elections tonight? i don't think we should speculating before - by elections tonight? i don't think we should speculating before we. we should speculating before we count _ we should speculating before we count the votes yet, we'll see in a few hours' — count the votes yet, we'll see in a few hours' time. leadership in the last year— few hours' time. leadership in the last year enjoyed serving under him as the _ last year enjoyed serving under him as the prime minister, it's important not to read too much into any of— important not to read too much into any of these — important not to read too much into any of these real results because they are — any of these real results because they are always tough but we fought a really _ they are always tough but we fought a really positive campaign, we had a

great _ a really positive campaign, we had a great candidate and we haven't got lon- great candidate and we haven't got long to _ great candidate and we haven't got long to wait. great candidate and we haven't got long to wait-— long to wait. thanks very much for s-ueakin long to wait. thanks very much for speaking to _ long to wait. thanks very much for speaking to us. — long to wait. thanks very much for speaking to us, luke _ long to wait. thanks very much for speaking to us, luke hall- long to wait. thanks very much for speaking to us, luke hall there, i speaking to us, luke hall there, one of the deputy chairman of the conservative party, as he says we will have the result and a few hours' time and then we'll get all the fall out and find out exactly what it means for the future of rishi sunak, for the general election and for the general sense of where the country is heading. hannah, do you have any idea of what sort of time you might expect some sort of time you might expect some sort of time you might expect some sort of result? i know it's really hard with these things but is there any mood music on the ground about what time you might actually get a result? �* ., ., ., ,, ., , , ., result? i'm going to take a guess at about 3am- — result? i'm going to take a guess at about 3am. we've _ result? i'm going to take a guess at about 3am. we've been _ result? i'm going to take a guess at about 3am. we've been told - result? i'm going to take a guess at. about 3am. we've been told anything sort of between 2—4, 3am �*s it's kind of firmly in the middle of the so let's hope that we have it by then and we're not staying out any later than that with all that tea and coffee that that would require. yes indeed, i've definitely got a lot of coffee on the go was already.

hannah miller at the kingswood by election being held there, we will be back with hannah, this is the scene live there in thornbury where they are counting the votes at the moment, as they come in. for the by election, as i said we have two by elections that we are covering throughout the night, the first one as we mentioned is the kingswood one in thornbury, the other one is the wellingborough by election. we are expecting a result there sometime between 4—5 am but it is again really hard to give a precise idea of when that will be. both the two main parties have already put out statements offering hints of how they think they've fared. i think it's known as expectation management, conservative party saying that the government of the day rarely win by elections, the labour party also stressing that the large conservative majorities in both seats are beyond their target list for the general election come a bit of expectation management from the two main parties at the moment.

as i say, this is the live scene in thornbury, if you want to follow throughout the night, then the bbc news live page is up and running, you will find that at bbc .co .uk/ news and throughout the night i will be back with updates as we have them from the two by elections. welcome to newsday, reporting live from singapore, i'm arunoday mukharji. lets get you the headlines.. donald trump will face his first criminal trial next month after a judge in new york denies his bid to have the case dismissed. dwindling ammunition and a growing casualty list. the bbc visits the ukraine front line — where soldiers are urging the us to provide fresh military assistance. the israeli army raids southern gaza's main hospital — it says it has credible evidence

hostages have been held there and...is melbourne "ready for it"? taylor swift kicks off the seven—show australian leg of her eras tour on friday. welcome to bbc news — broadcasting to viewers in the uk and around the world. we begin in the us, where donald trump will become the first former president to go on criminal trial after a new york judge set a court date for the end of next month. he is accused of falsifying business records in connection with payments made to an adult film star stormy daniels. from new york our north america editor sarah smith reports. this is now a familiar scene.

donald trump's motorcade arriving at a courthouse.