the bank of england holds interest rates at 5.25% but says future cuts are coming. the highest number of people this year in a single day cross the channel in small boats — around 500. a woman has been found guilty of murdering her three—year—old son, along with four separate charges of child cruelty. the tech giant apple is getting sued by the us government, accused of squashing the growth of rival products. and they've done it — wales beat finland 4—1 in their men's euro 2024 play—off semifinal in cardiff. on newsnight at 10.30, we'll go deeper behind the headlines the labour deputy leader speaks to us and we will be asking about whether she paid all the capital gains tax due on the sale of her home.

good evening. millions of women who were not properly warned about the increase in their state pension age should be given compensation by the government — that's the recommendation from the parliamentary ombudsman. the department for work and pensions has been told it should apologise to the women, who expected they'd be able to claim their state pension at 60 but were not adequately informed of the government's decision to raise the age to 65. campaigners say many have suffered serious financial hardship. chris mason has our top story. it was so hard. i ended up on my brother's driveway in a caravan. i didn't know about it and it doesn't give you much chance to sort of put together any extra pension. i went onto this website and was told, "you've got to wait till you're 66," and i said, "what?" the state stands accused of failure from one government to the next over the best part of a generation.

grab a seat. thank you. angela had expected her state pension in 2014 — until, that is, this moment. i got a letterfrom the department of work and pensions in march 2012 telling me that i would receive my state pension in march 2020, almost six years later than expected. i was absolutely floored. what do you say to our viewer, perhaps younger viewer, who might say, "maybe you could have found out more about what was happening here"? mm... i would say, "no". so in order to find out that something has changed, you have to have some idea of what you're looking for. they could've given me 15, 16 years�* notice of a change to my state pension age, but they chose not to. and i don't know why they made that choice. there's one waspi woman now dying every 13 minutes, and that's why we've always asked for fair

and fast compensation. i am talking to you today... the post—war labour government, led by clement attlee, brought in pensions for all — at 65 for men, 60 for women. but fast—forward into colour in the 1990s, and... today i've announced that| by the year 2020 the state pension age for women will be raised to 65, . the same as for men. # heigh—ho, heigh—ho! # it's off to court we go... # but thousands of women say this was never properly explained, and today a report concludes that from 2005 onwards the communication from the department for work and pensions, the dwp, was hopeless. what we're saying is, when you're providing a public service, you've got to do it right. you've got to understand your audience and the members of the public that you're dealing with. we want the dwp to be able to say to women, "we understand, we've heard, we've reflected and we're sorry this happened to you." and none of those

things have happened? no. here's what has happened. they sent us a statement that hints that compensation would cost a fortune. "we will respond in due course, having cooperated fully. "the government has always been committed to supporting all pensioners in a sustainable way." and listen to this cabinet minister. is he offering compensation? no. that report has just come out. obviously, the government will look at the findings and the recommendations of that report. i'm not in a position where i can comment on the details of it. words but no commitment from the conservatives. from labour too. well, we're going to have to look carefully at that report. i haven't had the chance to go through it myself yet. i think, as i understand it, there are a number of different proposals in it. so we will, as the government i think is doing, look at the report

and consider it. failure with consequences over decades described today — not yet resolved. well, chris is here with faisal islam, our economics editor. and, chris, will the government pay up? that's what people want to go —— want to know. in an act that is the big question and the short answer tonight, as far as things stand, no. they have been presented with the opportunity as have labour they might be forthcoming with some sort of compensation, and you heard that verbiage they are from both main parties, desperate to avoid answering the question. why? it would come at astronomical cost. if a particular government decides to try to rectify, as it may see it, a legacy issue going back a generation or more, the cost could be really significant, and we have seen the politics of this playing out. the labour party going into the general election in 2019 said it would offer compensation to these women and then they were crushed in a general

election. they are now much more cautious, as is the government. what we saw today from the ombudsman was a unique decision from them to say we are giving this to parliament because of the response, ie nonresponse, really, they have had from the government. the context of this is we have had this, yes, but also we have at the post office scandal and the infected blood scandal, also issues that have spanned a generation or more. that's why the campaigners have showed the kind of stamina they have shown for a long time and i suspect will have to continue to show. yeah, windrush -a outs to continue to show. yeah, windrush payouts tom — faisal, this could be quite a hefty bill, on top of everything else. to think of this another way, campaigners are pointing out that the actual— campaigners are pointing out that the actual policy has saved the government about 180 billion over the years. — government about 180 billion over the years, but this criticism was about_ the years, but this criticism was about the — the years, but this criticism was about the equalisation policy, it was about— about the equalisation policy, it was about the conduct of it and the redress— was about the conduct of it and the redress for— was about the conduct of it and the redress for people not knowing and not having — redress for people not knowing and not having the information. you are looking _ not having the information. you are looking at _

not having the information. you are looking at with 3.6 million female pensioners, if it was £1000 each on average. _ pensioners, if it was £1000 each on average, that would be 3.6 billion or with _ average, that would be 3.6 billion or with 10,000 it would be 36 billion, — or with 10,000 it would be 36 billion, and there certainly is no contingency budget with tens of billions — contingency budget with tens of billions in it to pay this out. more than that, — billions in it to pay this out. more than that, both main parties have signed _ than that, both main parties have signed up — than that, both main parties have signed up to a strict rule on debt that would — signed up to a strict rule on debt that would make that difficult. there — that would make that difficult. there is — that would make that difficult. there is not the spare cash. they could _ there is not the spare cash. they could make — there is not the spare cash. they could make a political choice to borrow — could make a political choice to borrow more location act but what we have learned from both main parties is they— have learned from both main parties is they have — have learned from both main parties is they have other priorities, cutting — is they have other priorities, cutting taxes or spending money on green _ cutting taxes or spending money on green investment, but this is a general— green investment, but this is a general election year and this is a demographic that tends to use its about— demographic that tends to use its about or— demographic that tends to use its about or perhaps watch this space. yeah _ about or perhaps watch this space. yeah. meanwhile, interest rates held at 5.2% by the bank of england. is the government as upbeat about the economy as we have heard ministers andindeed economy as we have heard ministers and indeed the prime minister yesterday upbeat? the and indeed the prime minister yesterday upbeat? and indeed the prime minister esterda ubeat? . , ., ., yesterday upbeat? the decision today was to keep rates _ yesterday upbeat? the decision today was to keep rates on _ yesterday upbeat? the decision today was to keep rates on hold. _ yesterday upbeat? the decision today was to keep rates on hold. there - yesterday upbeat? the decision today was to keep rates on hold. there was| was to keep rates on hold. there was one vote _ was to keep rates on hold. there was one vote in _ was to keep rates on hold. there was one vote in this 9—member panel to cut, actually~ —

one vote in this 9—member panel to cut, actually. it was an incremental move _ cut, actually. it was an incremental move towards cutting at some point. we had _ move towards cutting at some point. we had today from the bank of england — we had today from the bank of england on that. but then speaking to broadcasters, the governor of the bank of— to broadcasters, the governor of the bank of england seemed to push things— bank of england seemed to push things a — bank of england seemed to push things a little further in terms of his description of the economy and expectations about when we may get that first _ expectations about when we may get that first rate cut. we do need to see further progress, but i do want to give this message very strongly — we've had very encouraging and good news, so i think, you know, we can say we're on the way. what you are suggesting elsewhere in that interview, we didn't necessarily have to wait for inflation _ necessarily have to wait for inflation to go below the 2% target inflation to go below the 2% target in order to — inflation to go below the 2% target in order to start the process of thinking — in order to start the process of thinking about rate cuts. it puts may in — thinking about rate cuts. it puts may in the _ thinking about rate cuts. it puts may in the zone of a potential discussion about a rate cut. this comes— discussion about a rate cut. this comes the — discussion about a rate cut. this comes the day after we had those very sunny— comes the day after we had those very sunny and optimistic words about— very sunny and optimistic words about the — very sunny and optimistic words about the economy from the prime minister _ about the economy from the prime minister. he would certainly be heartened by the idea the bank of england _ heartened by the idea the bank of england might seriously look at

cutting — england might seriously look at cutting rates in may. but expectations are more towards june. faisal— expectations are more towards june. faisal islam, and our political editor chris mason, thanks. now, a woman has been found guilty of murdering her three—year—old son and of four separate charges of child cruelty. dwelaniyah robinson died from a fatal head injury caused by forceful shaking, in november 2022. his mother, christina robinson, who's 30 years old, denied the charges. a warning — you may find some of the details in fiona trott�*s report distressing. dwelaniyah looked like a happy three—year—old boy. murdered by his own mother. hello. what's your name? christina. look how calm she appears when she opens the door to the police. inside, her little boy is lying unconscious. and then all of a sudden, like, sort of like spluttering sounds. ambulance service — - is the patient breathing? erm, i don't think so. christina robinson didn't make this call until 20 minutes after he stopped breathing. what she didn't tell them was that

she'd shaken him violently. he'd suffered a fatal brain injury. the police became suspicious, and their investigation uncovered weeks of abuse at his home. serious burns from being submerged in boiling water — a punishment for soiling himself. and they found this — a bamboo cane. christina robinson admitted using it the day he died, a punishment for playing with his food. she said at that time she was following her religious teachings. he's fine because obviously he's vomited it out, so he's all right. a voice note recorded by robinson on a mobile phone reveals more about family life. now he's picking up everything, and then he's going to get his ass kicked. christina robinson lied from the outset. i'm pleased today that the jury have seen through these lies and convicted her of his murder. and i'm proud of the dedication and commitment that the investigation team has shown to bring

justice for dwelaniyah. and the jurors were thanked too. three of them wept when they returned their verdicts. that's how much this trial has taken its toll and how different that was to christina robinson, standing metres away, who showed no emotion at all. during her trial, the prosecution accused her of remorseless arrogance. she even dismissed her legal team. but in the eyes of the jury, it made no difference — there was no defence for what she did. fiona trott, bbc news, newcastle. a bit of breaking news for you — in the last few minutes, the bbc has learnt that government officials have raised concerns about a potential conflict of interest, involving the environment secretary, stephen barclay. the government's ethics unit has done this, discussing whether he was involved

in approving or rejecting a waste incinerator project being built in his own constituency. harry farley is at westminster. what is the background to this, harry? abs. what is the background to this, har ? r , ., , , , what is the background to this, har ?~ .., harry? a possible conflict of interest between _ harry? a possible conflict of interest between steve - harry? a possible conflict of- interest between steve barclay's interest between steve barclay�*s role as environment minister and as an mp. it relates to proposals to build one of europe's largest waste incinerators in his constituency in wisbech. the plans were approved last month by the energy department but the final go—ahead needs a permit from the environment agency, public body sponsored by mr berkeley's department. what we know, clive, three things tonight. 0ne, mr barclay is opposed to the scheme, and when that initial proposal was given he said it was "terrible news for our area" and he said he would continue to do everything possible to fight it. two, civil servants raised concerns with his cabinet ethics unit about his involvement and, three, the ethics unit has discussed the matter with mr

barclay. now a government spokesman said this morning mr barclay is recused from the decision and they say that will be made by a more junior minister, mark spencer. labour have written to mr barclay tonight and say this raises serious issues potentially involving a breach of the ministerial code and they have asked him to publish all correspondence between him and the environment agency over that decision with the waste incinerator unit. . , . , decision with the waste incinerator unit. ., , ., , ., unit. harry farley, live at westminster, _ unit. harry farley, live at westminster, thank - unit. harry farley, live at westminster, thank you | unit. harry farley, live at i westminster, thank you for unit. harry farley, live at - westminster, thank you for that. the impact of the cost of living crisis was laid bare today when the government published official figures on levels of poverty in the uk. 12 million people were classed as living in absolute poverty in 2022/23 — that's a rise of 600,000 on the year before and the largest increase in 30 years. the figures also show the number of children in poverty has hit record levels. ministers say their cost of living support package has actually prevented many more families from falling into poverty. michael buchanan has that story.

atjubilee primary school in south london, 60% of pupils are on free school meals — more than twice the national average. that lack of money has consequences. we see more children coming to school hungry, which can leave them feeling upset and sometimes angry, often distracted. we see children struggling to always have consistent uniform and things like warm enough coats in winter. the school offers a breakfast club but for some of the parents, the greatest help comes from one another. some of us have created our own mums' groups so that if we are struggling we can speak to another mum because we know that they're feeling the same things that we're feeling, rather than keeping it to ourselves and beating ourselves up about it. today's figures show the impact of soaring prices, particularly that of energy following russia's invasion of ukraine. but millions of people were struggling before the war. over the past decade, thousands of food banks have become

mainstays of communities across the uk. they've been joined by baby banks and bed banks, as families have increasingly struggled. over the past 1a years, benefits have risen in line with inflation on just five occasions. so the basic rate of universal credit today is at an historic low. it is not providing enough for the barest essentials. you get an overall picture of a social security system which is simply not doing the job that it was set up to do. a record 4.3 million children are in relative poverty, living in households that get by on less than £327 a week. a recent international comparison showed that of 39 higher upper income countries, the uk had seen the greatest increase in child poverty rates. experts say benefit rules add to the problem. two child limit is a policy that means that parents can only get money for two children in their families. if you have a third child, then you're not getting any extra money. that doesn't mean that you don't have extra mouths to feed,

and itjust means that money is being spread far too thin. it's basically punishing kids for having brothers and sisters and that can't be right. ministers say that without what they call the biggest cost of living package in europe, worth an average almost £4,000 per household, more than a million more people would have fallen into poverty. michael buchanan, bbc news. more than 500 people crossed the channel in small boats yesterday, the highest number in a single day so far this year. that's well above the numbers arriving at the same time last year. mark easton, our home editor, is here to tell us more. yes, familiar pictures from dover, people making the crossing. 514 people yesterday. the total number of migrants arriving in the first 80 days of 2024 is an all—time record. weather is clearly a factor

but we have seen more than 4,000 this year already, 10% higher than last year and 25% higher than the year before. this is concerning because the government claims their tough new rules on asylum and the threat of sending migrants to rwanda was why crossings fell by a third last year. proof, they said, that their plans to beat the people smugglers were working. now, number ten is arguing that what they call a migration emergency demonstrates the importance of passing the rwanda legislation currently being batted back and forth between the house of commons and the house of lords. the prime minister's official spokesman said today — "it is exactly because we are still seeing people making this perilous journey across the channel, that the pm wants parliamentarians across the house to get behind this bill and to stop the boats." but critics of the rwanda plan have come to the opposite conclusion — that the crossings demonstrate the policy does not possess the deterrent effect claimed by the government. more people arrived on small boats yesterday than the government is planning to send to rwanda

in the next 12 months. and thatjust shows the gimmick that is the rwanda policy, that involves them sending £500 million to rwanda forjust 300 people. there is no firm evidence that a tougher asylum regime will deter migrants. we just don't know and it is too early to tell from the figures. but the prime minister is staking a great deal of his political reputation on demonstrating that his policies will stop the boats. thank you, mark easton, our home editor. in the post office it scandal, the bbc has learnt that an expert witness rephrased part of their testimony in response to comments from a post office prosecutor. the evidence was then used in a case against a subpostmistress, who ended up being wronglyjailed. marc ashdown has more details. the horizon it system was central to the post office scandal. testimony supporting its credibility was used time and again to prosecute

sub—postmasters accused of theft or fraud. one was seema misra, wrongly accused of stealing £75,000, tried and sent to prison while she was pregnant. to this day, the memory is painful. it was horrible. because i lost my faith in the system when i was sent to the prison. i said, if i can be sent to prison for a crime i never committed, anything is possible in this world. if i hadn't been pregnant, i would have killed myself because it brought shame to my family. at her trial in 2010, garethjenkins, the architect of horizon, was called as an independent witness. but evidence submitted to the public inquiry raises questions aboutjust how well he carried out that role. garethjenkins sent his draft witness statement to warwick tatford, the post office's barrister. in it, he said he could not 10% — he meant 100% — rule out problems with horizon screens as a possible cause for some cash shortfalls.

warwick tatford responded, saying, "please rephrase, this will be taken as a damaging concession." mrjenkins changed his statement, and wrote, "no scenario has been presented that could explain losses because of poorly calibrated touch screens." in another exchange, garethjenkins agreed with an expert defence witness that there could have been training issues on the horizon system. he wrote, "i support his finding regarding discrepancies in cash in almost every period." again, warwick tatford wrote back, "your agreement might be interpreted as a concession that the crown," ie the post office's case, "is entirely flawed." again, mrjenkins changed his statement and instead wrote, "cash discrepancies indicated at least poor management within the branch and probably something more serious." by law, the draft documents should have been disclosed to seema misra's defence team. all they saw was the final version — after all the changes had been made.

it's really sad to see that, it's just like putting words in somebody�*s else's mouth, what to say and all that. it's like a sad feeling, that this is what happened, which was not right. giving evidence to the public inquiry, warwick tatford apologised unreservedly and made this admission. i think it is unfair and i am sorry for that. ican... i think what i was doing wasjust trying to clarify matters and make things clear. but i do agree that i've overstepped the mark there. expert testimony was used by the post office to help secure many more convictions. garethjenkins is one ofjust two individuals being investigated by the police. what this evidence shows - is that the net should be probably widening to take in a much wider i group of people, including lawyers working within the post office and outside the post office. l neither mrjenkins nor mr tatford wanted to comment further at this stage. the post office said it was focused on righting the wrongs of the past.

marc ashdown, bbc news. researchers say the price of easter eggs is on the rise, with some costing 50% more than they did a year ago, while others have shrunk in size. the consumer group, which, says it's due to a spike in global cocoa prices after poor harvests, resulting in the overrall cost of chocolate going up by more than 12% in a year. leicester city have been charged by the premier league with allegedly breaking spending rules during their last three seasons in the top flight. the club has been referred to an independent commission for breaching profit and sustainability rules and failing to submit audited finances. if found guilty, the championship high—flyers could face a points deduction. the us government has filed a landmark lawsuit against the tech giant, apple, for maintainng a monopoly in the smartphone market. the justice deparment accuses the company of squashing

the growth of new apps and reducing the appeal of rival products. michelle fleury has more from new york. more than a billion of us around the world own an iphone. for many people, it's almost unthinkable that they would use any other sort. for me, apple works a little bit better than android. i have had an android before. it didn't do too well with me. it's just what my parents always got me and it'sjust easy to stick with it. the rest of my family also has an iphone so they're - just very compatible. all of which makes it one of the most successful companies. last year, sales ofjust the iphone made it more than £150 billion in revenues. and that much profit, as well as so many customers, tends to attract the attention of government officials. and now, the us department ofjustice, along with 16 different states, has filed a lawsuit against apple. as our complaint alleges, apple has maintained a monopoly power in the smartphone market not

simply by staying ahead of the competition on the merits, but by violating federal antitrust law. apple denies the accusations, saying in a statement... leaving apple in the us government headed for a lengthy argument in court over whether the tech giant is protecting its customers or making it difficult for them to leave. even very popular companies that make stuff that we care about have to compete for that loyalty that we have, and that apple isn't doing that. and i think this is the last in four major lawsuits that we're seeing against american tech companies and it is a deliberate attempt to kind of reinvigorate antitrust law enforcement in america.

apple argues this case will hurt its ability to create the kind of technology people have come to expect from it. a court will now decide. michelle fleury, bbc news, new york. channel 4 has apologised to a former employee after an internal investigation found the broadcaster hadn't looked into a "serious" allegation made against russell brand in 2009. the inquiry also found that managers didn't know about allegations against him while he was working there. the findings come after a channel 4 dispatches investigation revealed allegations of rape, assault and emotional abuse. brand has strongly denied the claims. labour's deputy leader angela rayner has been dogged by questions in recent weeks over her tax affairs. it's in relation to the sale of a house in stockport nine years ago, and whether she should have paid capital gains tax. newsnight�*s political editor nick watt has been speaking to her. i've been very clear. there was no rules broken. the police — they tried to

manufacture a police investigation. they said there's no issues there. i got tax advice, which says there was no capital gains tax. it's a nonstory, manufactured to try and smear me. and you can see newsnight�*s full coverage on all of this, over on bbc two, from 10.30. wales have beaten finland, 4—1, in their men's euro 2024 playoff semifinal in cardiff. it means they'll now face poland next tuesday for a place in the tournament in germany, which starts injune. hywel griffith has the details. bucket hats ready, brimming with... well, if not confidence then at least hope that wales can still squeeze through to their fourth major tournament in eight years. yeah! first hurdle, the fins. physical if not formidable opponents, who couldn't match wales' early pace.

david brooks putting wales ahead less than three minutes in. there could — should — have been a second minutes later. brennan johnson was through. harry wilson was on the floor. no penalty. never mind, because along came another golden opportunity. the ball slipped to neco williams, and wales were flying. perhaps a little too high. just before half—time, veteran striker pukki brought wales back down to earth. but not for long. anotherfree kick, and this time brennanjohnson in exactly the right place. they could have been more from moore. davies thought he had made things comfortable. var disagreed. it was left to danieljames to apply some final pressure. the confidence was contagious, the bucket hats will

be back in abundance to watch the play—off final on tuesday. definitely going to win. definitely come you hesitated? definitely, see you next week. how do you feel about next week? i you next week. how do you feel about next week? ., , .., , ., next week? i am gutted because i am on holiday from _ next week? i am gutted because i am on holiday from sunday. _ next week? i am gutted because i am on holiday from sunday. it is - on holiday from sunday. it is unfair, — on holiday from sunday. it is unfair, thinking of coming back early~ — unfair, thinking of coming back earl . ., ., ., ., ., early. potential to go all the way throu~h early. potential to go all the way through to _ early. potential to go all the way through to the _ early. potential to go all the way through to the euro _ early. potential to go all the way through to the euro is? - early. potential to go all the way| through to the euro is? definitely now, through to the euro is? definitely now. yeah- _ through to the euro is? definitely now. yeah- why _ through to the euro is? definitely now, yeah. why can't _ through to the euro is? definitely now, yeah. why can't we - through to the euro is? definitely now, yeah. why can't we win - through to the euro is? definitely now, yeah. why can't we win the | now, yeah. why can't we win the euros. _ now, yeah. why can't we win the euros. why— now, yeah. why can't we win the euros. why not? _ now, yeah. why can't we win the euros, why not?— now, yeah. why can't we win the euros, why not? poland will be a tou~her euros, why not? poland will be a tougher test _ euros, why not? poland will be a tougher test for _ euros, why not? poland will be a tougher test for wales, - euros, why not? poland will be a tougher test for wales, the - euros, why not? poland will be a l tougher test for wales, the stakes even higherfor a place in the euros. just five sleeps to go. just to underline how difficult the game on tuesday could be, poland went one better than wales tonight, beating estonia 5—1. they also beat wales here when they met 18 months ago. but tonight, wales proved they are a team moving on from the golden era of gareth bale, with plenty of attacking forwards proving they are up attacking forwards proving they are up to the mark and proving they

prove themselves in the big game next tuesday. indeed, many thanks. hywel griffith. a man who was an hour late for an organised dig, with a metal detector that was barely working, is one very lucky man indeed. richard brock who's 67 and from shropshire ended up finding what's thought be the largest gold nugget ever discovered in england. it weighs almost 65 grams, and is expected sell at auction for between £20,000 - £30,000. nice work if you can get it. what about the weather, will it be nice? yes, well, no. it will be turning colder. i wonder if he found the golden nugget at the end of the rainbow. lots of sunny spells and some showers and that theme will be continuing as we head through the rest of the week. so more sunshine, more showers but what you will really notice is it will be turning a lot colder. a big drop in temperature, particular by

night. why is this happening? because there is a cold front sinking southwards and eastwards as we head throughout the night and day tomorrow, the mild air away. some clear skies already across northern england, scotland and northern ireland. feeling chilly and some wintry showers over the hills of scotland. much milder again with some cloud and outbreaks of rain in the south—eastern quadrant. this is how we start the day tomorrow. the rain and cloud continues to clear south—eastwards tomorrow morning. not really clearing the kent coast until we get to the afternoon. but lots of sunshine behind it, also a scattering of showers particularly in the north and west. a brisk westerly wind. gales across the northern isles and temperatures are now at the seasonal average, between 8-12. but now at the seasonal average, between 8—12. but we are all coming into there were no rules broken. the police tried to manufacture a

resignation.