and institutions in private and in public with all their quirks and their flaws wrestle with language and labels and the concequences of that they are clearly racist. and they are clearly sexist. and i think diane was right to point out that the call to violence — even in a flippant way — is really inappropriate if you as a pm cannot call this out, then you're not fit to be _ a prime minister of this country. because as a prime minister, - you're supposed to represent people from all diverse backgrounds the labour mp diane abbott says she has been left "frightened" by alleged comments from a top conservative donor, that she should be shot. the business secretary kemi badenoch, who is also minister for women and equalities, has said hester�*s alleged comments, if true, "were racist".

we'll get reaction to the way number ten has dealt with it. also on the programme, a ship carrying aid for palestinians has left cyprus, but how are they going to move that aid, when the american pontoon for gaza is still 30 days away? and are uk pet owners overpaying for vet bills. the competition and markets authority says it has identified "multiple concerns" about drug pricing and the monopilisation of vetinary practices. good evening. the british businessman frank hester has given the conservative party £10 million. last night the guardian newspaper published minutes of a company meeting in 2019 in which he told colleagues that looking at diane abbott made you "want to hate all black women" and that the mp "should be shot". his spokesman has said "mr hester admits to being rude

about diane abbott in a private meeting several years ago but says his criticsim had nothing to do with her gender nor the colour of her skin". the bbc has not heard a recording of the comments so we cannot verify the guardian's story. we did, though, put the allegation to senior conservative figures who all roundly condemned the comments. and yet it was notable no one seemed prepared to call it racist. here's the government minister graham stuart. i don't know. it's not my decision to make. what i would say is that, clearly, it's uncomfortable, i am uncomfortable talking about it now because he was clearly wrong, but we need to show understanding. and the important thing was he did apologise, and that he has done so, and i think quite right, like i said, i don't exactly what it was he said, it hasn't been, as i understand, verified, but is not something with which he can be proud. the first to break ranks was former

chancellor kwasi kwarteng they're clearly racist, and they're clearly sexist, and i think diane was right to point out the call to violence even in a flippant way, is really inappropriate. so, they were very stupid remarks. i do not know that they were said because i've not had independent corroboration. some hours later, the business secretary kemi badenoch, who is also minister for women and equalities, posted on x that the alleged comments, if true, "were racist". "the idea of linking criticism of her to being a black woman is appalling." tonight dianne abbot reported frank hester to the parliamentary liaison and investigations team. it is a unit of the metropolitan police, and was set up following the murder of mp jo cox in 2016. it investigates alleged crimes against mps in their capacity as elected representatives. ms abbott is not doing any broadcast interviews. but in a statement said this.

joining me now is jacqueline mckenzie, who is a human rights lawyer for leigh solicitors and fiyaz mughul, founder of organisation faith matters. faith matters and tell mama — a national project supporting victims of islamophobia. he was until last week the frontrunner to become the government adviser on anti—muslim hate. but he withdrew after receiving "extreme threats" from far—right groups. welcome to both, gratefulfor your time this evening. let's start with you, jacqueline, so many barriers to black women in public life, what did you think of the comments when you

read them this morning and how did you feel as a black woman here in the response this morning? it’s the response this morning? it's horrifying. _ the response this morning? it's horrifying. i— the response this morning? it�*s horrifying, i have known diane since eric campaign back in 1987, when i worked as a race equality officer, and it was herfirst worked as a race equality officer, and it was her first time as a candidate standing in her constituency, so i have known her almost a0 years, and have seen the sort of abuse and attacks she has received. this made me shudder. and although it is about diane today,

last august i was also a victim of an attack that came from the tory party, where four newspapers actually in quite derogatory terms and misleading terms. the sort of hate mail that i received to my personal and working addresses and on social media, threats to kill, were so scary, because i am not in the public eye, and it was the first time in my life i received and like this, and it was so scary and it diminished me and affected me badly

to stop i cannot imagine what someone was been going through this for nearly a0 years. in fact, i spoke to one of her aides last night to see how i could offer solidarity, and they said she was so scared, so it and diane is quite a strong woman, she's in parliament and dealing with all these attacks coming up for decades, but something like this is so egregious and wrong has hit her to the core and has hit a lot of us to the core two. before i seak a lot of us to the core two. before i speak to — a lot of us to the core two. before i speak to fiyaz — a lot of us to the core two. before i speak to fiyaz mughal _ a lot of us to the core two. before i speak to fiyaz mughal about - a lot of us to the core two. before | i speak to fiyaz mughal about this, can we talk about the legal aspect, she has referred frank hester to a liaisons investigation team, on what grounds would it be investigated question mark is it hate speech? 1 question mark is it hate speech? i think it is hate speech, incitement to hatred. the threshold and test for those are difficult but i think she has a case does it matter that it was historical because it dates

back to 2019. it was historical because it dates back to 20153-— back to 2019. didn't insight and want to attack _ back to 2019. didn't insight and want to attack her, _ back to 2019. didn't insight and want to attack her, so - back to 2019. didn't insight and want to attack her, so does - back to 2019. didn't insight and | want to attack her, so does that matter? it want to attack her, so does that matter? , ., , ., _, ., matter? it is only now coming to the ublic matter? it is only now coming to the -ublic the matter? it is only now coming to the public the pain _ matter? it is only now coming to the public the pain -- — matter? it is only now coming to the public the pain -- the _ matter? it is only now coming to the public the pain -- the main, - matter? it is only now coming to the public the pain -- the main, you - public the pain —— the main, you don't have to be attacked, it's incitement, you've created this fear and for an attack. there may be, i think, some defamatory statements there, he referred to her as stupid. it is appalling, and is there a criminal offence? who knows? there me be, but it is shocking to hear somebody make such a statement of an elected member of parliament. it would be wrong to make it of anybody but to somebody who occupies quite a prominent place in society, and a businessman, someone who is a major donor to our ruling party can make such a statement, notjust about diane, because i heard he said other things too, is shocking in 202a, this is where we are at. things too, is shocking in 2024, this is where we are at.- things too, is shocking in 2024, this is where we are at. fiyaz, some officials appeared _ this is where we are at. fiyaz, some officials appeared this _ this is where we are at. fiyaz, some officials appeared this morning - this is where we are at. fiyaz, some officials appeared this morning on . officials appeared this morning on radio and condemned it, but they were reticent to call it out as

racist, why? i were reticent to call it out as racist. why?— racist, why? i think they are frightened _ racist, why? i think they are frightened because - racist, why? i think they are frightened because he - racist, why? i think they are frightened because he is - racist, why? i think they are frightened because he is a l racist, why? i think they are - frightened because he is a major donor, _ frightened because he is a major donor, the — frightened because he is a major donor, the reality is he isn't major donor_ donor, the reality is he isn't major donor and — donor, the reality is he isn't major donor and they are frightened thinking — donor and they are frightened thinking they may lose the donation or get— thinking they may lose the donation or get litigated against by him to stop i_ or get litigated against by him to stop i think those are two important factors_ stop i think those are two important factors they are thinking. let me -ive factors they are thinking. let me give you — factors they are thinking. let me give you this, this is primarily its emma _ give you this, this is primarily its emma they— give you this, this is primarily its emma they are thinking about possible — emma they are thinking about possible litigation by him, a wealthy— possible litigation by him, a wealthy man, and the loss of donation _ wealthy man, and the loss of donation in the incoming election. why are _ donation in the incoming election. why are they not thinking of racism as the _ why are they not thinking of racism as the first — why are they not thinking of racism as the first thing in their minds? that— as the first thing in their minds? that is— as the first thing in their minds? that is the — as the first thing in their minds? that is the first thing to be asked because — that is the first thing to be asked because you think about litigation or you _ because you think about litigation or you think about the election, in their— or you think about the election, in their minds most probably as a first thing. _ their minds most probably as a first thing, instead of thinking it as unacceptable. it might've been made in a private _ unacceptable. it might've been made in a private meeting but it is unacceptable and it is racist. so why is— unacceptable and it is racist. so why is it — unacceptable and it is racist. so why is it racist? here is the connection. the individual may suggest — connection. the individual may suggest that he did not talk about sex, what — suggest that he did not talk about sex, what he did, because diane abbott _ sex, what he did, because diane abbott is — sex, what he did, because diane abbott is a — sex, what he did, because diane abbott is a female, he didn't talk about— abbott is a female, he didn't talk about race, but here is a thing, he doesn't _ about race, but here is a thing, he doesn't like — about race, but here is a thing, he

doesn't like diana —— diane abbott political— doesn't like diana —— diane abbott political views, doesn't like diana —— diane abbott politicalviews, but doesn't like diana —— diane abbott political views, but why did the bring _ political views, but why did the bring up — political views, but why did the bring up the question of black womem _ bring up the question of black women,. . ., ., bring up the question of black women,. _, ., ., women,. the co-founder of conservatives _ women,. the co-founder of conservatives against - women,. the co-founder of| conservatives against braces women,. the co-founder of - conservatives against braces and said the test here if that had been made about a jewish mp, that a jewish mp was going to be shot, would they have called it out as anti—semitic and the answer is yes they would, so should they have updated the same manner to a black woman? ~ , , , ., woman? absolutely there is no give-and-take _ woman? absolutely there is no give-and-take on _ woman? absolutely there is no give-and-take on issues - woman? absolutely there is no give-and-take on issues of- give—and—take on issues of prejudiced. there is no give—and—take, there's a straight line which— give—and—take, there's a straight line which is pretty clear across the different forms of racism and bigotry~ — the different forms of racism and bigotry. this is one of them, and that was— bigotry. this is one of them, and that was a —

bigotry. this is one of them, and that was a good test dimension. i also applied this test. people can dislike _ also applied this test. people can dislike what politicians say, why are they — dislike what politicians say, why are they bringing their race and gender— are they bringing their race and gender into it? it has no connection between _ gender into it? it has no connection between disliking their political views, — between disliking their political views, and that is another test. did this views, and that is another test. this double views, and that is another test. d c this double standard, did that play a part, i know there was racial hatred that you yourself faced once it became known you would take this job, but did that double standard attitude play a part in you will not taking the job as the anti—muslims are? taking the 'ob as the anti-muslims are? , , . . , taking the 'ob as the anti-muslims are? , ., taking the 'ob as the anti-muslims are? , , ., . taking the 'ob as the anti-muslims are? ,,, ., are? yes, because not a single minister. _ are? yes, because not a single minister, government - are? yes, because not a single minister, government official, | are? yes, because not a single i minister, government official, not are? yes, because not a single - minister, government official, not a single _ minister, government official, not a single one. — minister, government official, not a single one, has actually objected to the racism — single one, has actually objected to the racism and the anti—muslim abuse i the racism and the anti—muslim abuse i got _ the racism and the anti—muslim abuse i got not— the racism and the anti—muslim abuse i got not a _ the racism and the anti—muslim abuse i got. not a single one called it out and — i got. not a single one called it out and said" we are sorry to hear that fiyaz— out and said" we are sorry to hear that fiyaz mughal, we wanted him to be our— that fiyaz mughal, we wanted him to be our official un—anti— muslim hatred — be our official un—anti— muslim hatred has— be our official un—anti— muslim hatred has suffered anti—muslim

hatred — hatred has suffered anti-muslim hatred. , ., hatred has suffered anti-muslim hatred, , ., ., hatred has suffered anti-muslim hatred. . , hatred has suffered anti-muslim hatred. . hatred. so, you have faced this same double standards _ hatred. so, you have faced this same double standards as _ hatred. so, you have faced this same double standards as diane _ hatred. so, you have faced this same double standards as diane abbott? . double standards as diane abbott? indeed, because it is not being called — indeed, because it is not being called out, and this is the keying thing _ called out, and this is the keying thing it— called out, and this is the keying thing it is— called out, and this is the keying thing. it is not being validated for what _ thing. it is not being validated for what it— thing. it is not being validated for what it is — thing. it is not being validated for what it is. that is the key. we as people _ what it is. that is the key. we as people of— what it is. that is the key. we as people of colour want people to be able to _ people of colour want people to be able to validate what is happening to us, _ able to validate what is happening to us, and — able to validate what is happening to us, and when we don't receive that validation, it is undermining the very— that validation, it is undermining the very basis of work on antiracism, and is undermining the premise _ antiracism, and is undermining the premise of— antiracism, and is undermining the premise of people in authority. the prime premise of people in authority. tie: prime minister spokesman has come out tonight and said it was racist and wrong and frank hester has rightly apologised for the offence caused. is it so serious, jacqueline, that would you have expected the prime minister to come out in person and condemn it. yes. expected the prime minister to come out in person and condemn it.- out in person and condemn it. yes, i would've expected _ out in person and condemn it. yes, i would've expected the _

out in person and condemn it. yes, i l would've expected the prime minister to come out in person and condemn what frank hester said, i am pleased that both him and kemi badenoch who occupies an important position for inequalities and women, has also condemned it and defined it as racist and misogynist. so that is good, i think now that there needs to be more. i think to make such a statement, to call for an elected member of parliament to be shot, requires further action. like what? like a statement _ requires further action. like what? like a statement they _ requires further action. like what? like a statement they will - requires further action. like what? like a statement they will take - like a statement they will take money from him again? . i don't involved in party politics but i would say they should return it, it would say they should return it, it would be a great show of zero tolerance to racism towards african people, and there should be a zero tolerance towards anti—semitism, we

have seen her in this things happening tojewish people in our community, but i am afraid as a black woman and someone who has worked for a0 years in london, including a number of roles in race equality, some forms of racism are just not addressed with the same vigour, and i think that is what diane is experiencing, and she made that clumsy statement last year, i think perhaps that is what she was getting to, though she didn't quite say it. i getting to, though she didn't quite sa it. ., getting to, though she didn't quite sa it. . ., . . , ., say it. i want to ask you a question about that, — say it. i want to ask you a question about that, it _ say it. i want to ask you a question about that, it was _ say it. i want to ask you a question about that, it was an _ say it. i want to ask you a question about that, it was an important - about that, it was an important point to my mum got me made today about dina about, she made ill judged comments in a letter that was printed by the observer, and he is saying that the slight problem in our society right now is that it is absolutely right we have 80 tolerance it —— tolerance approach tolerance it —— tolerance approach to racism, but there is no rehabilitation, there's been no

rehabilitation, there's been no rehab due dan abbott, who was done so much for race equality, she is still suspended in your own, do we need to change our approach, but it's out, but the cancer closure, is it's out, but the cancer closure, is it right, is that white mps today have been reticent to call them up? it could be because you could be accused of double standards, but also labour, what have they been doing with her, she has been under investigation for a year, there could be a general election anytime now, i understand she might not be standing, but the issue about the web has not been dealt with, so i think the labour party is what it to offer some protection to diane because i do except people do stupid things and say stupid things, and i don't support a complete cancer closure, particularly when you have someone like diane, first government mp, 30 odd years of incredible

service to her constituents. i appreciate what you're saying, i'm tight for time, i want to ask fiyaz one more question before i am me, they are about to publish on thursday a new definition of extremism, does this and their reaction to it today complicate what they would put out there? does this complicated? _ they would put out there? does this complicated? no, _ they would put out there? does this complicated? no, it— they would put out there? does this complicated? no, it doesn't - complicated? no, it doesn't complicated, but there are very clear— complicated, but there are very clear lines— complicated, but there are very clear lines around issues with racial— clear lines around issues with racial harassment and hatred. there are clear— racial harassment and hatred. there are clear lines between what extremism is, so does it complicated? no but i want to ask one thing — complicated? no but i want to ask one thing if i me, you talked about rehabilitation, i am a firm believer in the _ rehabilitation, i am a firm believer in the following. people make mistakes, this is a private meeting, he should _ mistakes, this is a private meeting, he should have never said what he said, _ he should have never said what he said. and — he should have never said what he said. and he — he should have never said what he said, and he should apologise for his racist— said, and he should apologise for his racist comments but i believe that people make mistakes. people

make _ that people make mistakes. people make erratic comments. we should have the _ make erratic comments. we should have the chance to give them the opportunity to rehabilitate. i do not like — opportunity to rehabilitate. i do not like the cancer closure. people can change — not like the cancer closure. people can change and we need to keep that door open _ can change and we need to keep that door oen. , ., can change and we need to keep that door oen. , . ., can change and we need to keep that dooroen. , . ., can change and we need to keep that door oen. , . ., ., can change and we need to keep that dooroen. , . ., ., door open. grateful to both of you for our door open. grateful to both of you for your time _ door open. grateful to both of you for your time this evening, - for your time this evening, jacqueline mckenzie and fiyaz mughal, thank you for your time. around the world and across the uk. this is bbc news. let's look at some other stories making news the rate of unemployment in the uk rose to 3.9% in the three months to january. that's up from 3.8% from the previous three months. the new labour market figures, released by the office for national statistics, also showed that more than a fifth of 16 to 6a—year—olds in the uk were not actively looking for work. cambridge university says it's working on a new plan — that could drop it's current quota for undergraduates coming from state schools. it says it plans to take into account a wider range of factors about a student's

background, including whether applicants received free school meals. cambridge has faced criticism for admitting almost half of it's students from london and the south east. a tiktok star who used the platform to document her rare type of cancer has died at the age of 22. leah smith from merseyside, suffered from ewing's sarcoma, which usually affects children and young people. more than half a million people followed herjourney on tiktok, which recorded her daily life living with the disease. you're live with bbc news the british foreign secretary lord cameron has demanded answers from the israeli government after a bbc report revealed that medical staff from the al nassr hospital in gaza had been mistreated. the staff have told the bbc they were detained, beaten and prevented from carrying out vital duties — after a raid on their hospital last month. some detainees say they were stripped, kept in stress positions for several hours,

or had muzzled dogs set upon them. israel said, it occupied the nasser hospital believing it was used by hamas, and that several freed israeli hostages have said, they were held there. he is lord cameron, giving his response to that report in the house of lords this afternoon. these are very disturbing pictures and reports that have come from this hospital, and we need to get to the bottom of what exactly happened and we need answers from the israelis about that and when we have those then it would be easier to comment. a spanish ship towing a barge loaded with 200 tonnes of desperately needed food supplies for palestinians in gaza has finally set sail from cyprus. the open arms left larnaca this morning on a journey which could take as long as two days. it's the first shipment along a new maritime corridor which it's hoped will bring increase aid supplies to the palestinians, especially those in the north. but future operations will depend on a floating pontoon which the americans will build on the gaza shoreline. the support ship, general frank s besson, set sail from a military base

in the state of virginia on saturday. the pentagon has said it could take up to 60 days to build the pier with the help of 1,000 troops — none of whom would go ashore. charities have said those suffering in gaza cannot wait that long. let's speak to malcolm nance who is a former us naval intelligence officer. he knows a bit about how this will unfold. thank you for being with us and your patience as we were talking about our are the issues. can we first discuss how this will work question mark tell me about the pontoon and how it would be deployed. pontoon and how it would be deployed-— pontoon and how it would be delo ed. ., . , ., deployed. you are using the wrong hrase, deployed. you are using the wrong phrase. they _ deployed. you are using the wrong phrase, they will _ deployed. you are using the wrong phrase, they will build _ deployed. you are using the wrong phrase, they will build a _ deployed. you are using the wrong | phrase, they will build a causeway, which is a long series of connected bridge pieces that will make a large vehicle roadway which will connect either to the pier in gaza at the old gaza port which is where it large fishing fleet is that, they are roadway and there which is badly damaged and does not give ships with

deep water capability the ability to come into the shore. 0r deep water capability the ability to come into the shore. or they are going to float the causeway street to any designated beach, at the israeli army would actually have to secure the ends of it and it will then allow perhaps a 500 metre longer segment of bridge that would allow ships to load directly onto trucks and those trucks can come ashore. so trucks and those trucks can come ashore. ,, ., trucks and those trucks can come ashore. a, . ashore. so the trucks that will drive down — ashore. so the trucks that will drive down the _ ashore. so the trucks that will drive down the causeway, - ashore. so the trucks that will l drive down the causeway, those ashore. so the trucks that will - drive down the causeway, those will be driven by who?— be driven by who? they'll be driven be driven by who? they'll be driven by probably — be driven by who? they'll be driven by probably united _ be driven by who? they'll be driven by probably united nations - by probably united nations contractors that would have the capacity to take in bulk materials, so you're talking about flour bags, which have to come off a vessel that has a green or has to be manually loaded onto them, then trucks can go down the causeway bringing large tonnage of supplies to a distribution point which would have to be somewhere in that area. of

course, this requires an enormous amount of security. the americans do not have to come ashore, is really army combat engineers can do most of the legwork might build report —— repair most of the word roads to get the trucks are there, then create a central distribution point for humanitarian goods to go out to the population in the north. this humanitarian goods to go out to the population in the north.— population in the north. as you are ou as population in the north. as you are you as frustrated _ population in the north. as you are you as frustrated that _ population in the north. as you are you as frustrated that the - population in the north. as you are| you as frustrated that the president and the current secretary at simeu they are that we have not found a better way to do this through the four crossing points into gaza, such that american troops will be in harm's way? i that american troops will be in harm's way?— that american troops will be in harm's wa ? ., �* ~ ~ harm's way? i don't think american troo -s harm's way? i don't think american troops would _ harm's way? i don't think american troops would really _ harm's way? i don't think american troops would really be _ harm's way? i don't think american troops would really be in _ harm's way? i don't think american troops would really be in harm's . troops would really be in harm's way, most of the work will be done in the israeli port of ashdod or another report, so this system can be floated down and put in by tugs and then the israeli army would have to take control of it for security

purposes using their own engineers. that being said, though i have been to the border crossings, ijust have come from a month in israel, the security concerns of getting weapons and equipment and resupply to hamas are very real, so the trucks that come through the crossings, about 150 per day, have to be scanned and checked. the problem is not that trucks are coming, it is the capacity and numbers of vehicles that have to come in now that the infrastructure of gaza has been destroyed, hamas needs a lot of this cargo and is weeding it selectively them a soak for bringing the port into operation with many times that capacity to come out and allow the distribution to occur in the north as opposed to the border crossings in the south down at rafa. since ou've in the south down at rafa. since you've seen _ in the south down at rafa. since you've seen the _ in the south down at rafa. since you've seen the operation - you've seen the operation first—hand, maybe you can comment on what the chair of the foreign

affairs committee said to us yesterday, that the rules in respect to the aid as change time and again, they are told that certain pilots can not be taken and others change all the time, have the israelis got in the way of the aid operation, could they have done better? imilieu could they have done better? when ou're could they have done better? when you're distributing _ could they have done better? when you're distributing aid _ could they have done better? when you're distributing aid in _ could they have done better? when you're distributing aid in a - you're distributing aid in a humanitarian situation during a war, you will never be doing enough. the problem is that the organisation that existed for infrastructure andra, is not trusted by the israelis at all, lots of evidence that that organisation which was all modest indian manned, local workers, many of whom were members of one or so when you do not have that level of trust it would be difficult. the israelis would like the united nations to use another organisation like the world food programme or

unhcr, but we are talking on the fly, and the israeli demands for the screenings are reasonable but they are slow and if you are talking about an emergency mission to feed the palestinian people and keep them with enough food so that food is distributed evenly across the entire of the a0 kilometres of the gaza strip, this is an enormous challenge. i have worked these operations in iraq, is not any when canjust do on—the—fly. operations in iraq, is not any when can just do on-the-fly._ can 'ust do on-the-fly. thank you for can just do on-the-fly. thank you for our can just do on-the-fly. thank you for your time. _ can just do on-the-fly. thank you for your time, malcolm, - can just do on-the-fly. thank you for your time, malcolm, we - can just do on-the-fly. thank you for your time, malcolm, we will. can just do on-the-fly. thank you i for your time, malcolm, we will take a short break and at the other side of the break we will talk about ukraine, we like to focus on ukraine on this programme and keep you up to pace on what is happening, and there's a lot tonight, getting into that right after this. hello there, good evening.

it's been another really quite wet day for many of us, particularly across england and wales. in fact, parts of south—east england have already seen their average march rainfall. we're not yet halfway through the month. a lot of saturated ground out there. and although the air is milder as we head through the rest of the week, there will be further spells of rain at times, especially in the north and the west. and if we just take a look at the rainfall accumulation chart for the rest of the week, most spots are in for another 20 to 30 millimetres, but parts of north—west england and north—west wales could see as much as 70 to 80 millimetres of rainfall, so it willjust add to the risk of localised flooding, and there are already plenty of flood warnings in place. that's also partly due to the spring tides yesterday and today. this was the situation earlier on, then, so this low pressure out towards the north—west of scotland just pushing these weather fronts further eastwards. but the rain has now cleared across parts of east anglia and kent. there will be another set of weather fronts just pushing down from north—west scotland, through into north—west england and western wales, so turning really quite wet here. but ahead of the front, some very mild—feeling conditions, a lot of mist and nurk, but temperatures here may not drop

out of double figures. it will be a mild start to the day across the board. and then on wednesday, our weather front is stalled across wales and into north—west england. to the north of the front, some sunshine, but some showers move in across north—west scotland later. gales across the north of scotland, with the low pressure centred here. further towards the south and the east, ahead of the front, there will be a lot of cloud. but given any brighter spells, temperatures could rise here in the milder—feeling air to 15, 16 degrees. now, as we head through wednesday night and into thursday, our weather fronts start to retreat further northwards again, bringing some further spells of possibly quite heavy rain across northern ireland, northern england and into southern scotland. again, some brighter skies towards the north of scotland, but a lot of cloud as well. a rash of heavy, thundery showers across wales, south—west england, gradually pushing further eastwards, but plenty of dry weather again for east anglia, parts of kent and sussex. given some brighter skies, we could see 16 or 17 degrees in all of that milder—feeling air.

but the colder air still across parts of northern ireland and scotland, and that's gradually going to sink a little further southwards as we head through friday. so we'll come into some slightly cooler—feeling conditions as we head into the start of the weekend, staying unsettled, more rain at times.

hello, i'm christian fraser. you're watching the context on bbc news. why are bananas getting more expensive? a conference in rome is looked at a growing global problem. sport and for a full round—up, from the bbc sport centre, we will get read to the champions league looking to sell their spots in the quarterfinals arsenal looking at to make it to the last eight and in the emirates at the moment, losing 1—0 from the first leg and is goalless at the moment and in the last half of the match there, winning this competition 20 years ago in the game, barcelona are one all coming into the second leg into one up now and la paz with the goal. monopoly have 2—1 at the moment.