in court that it couldn't. the post office spent £100 million of public money pursuing sub—postmasters. why they did it is very hard to see, how people can lose all sense of morality in the way that the post office clearly did. the boss of the uk's biggest water company warns it could be nationalised after the shareholders refuse to stabilise the firm's finances. six people who fell suddenly ill at lewes prison are taken to hospital after eating a curry that made a number of inmates unwell. good morning, welcome to a new network, radio 5 live. 30 years ago today. dipping back into the archive on the day radio 5 live was born. and the country music stars flocking to the uk.

both: make sure that you stay tuned into... | and coming up in sport on bbc news — newcastle united midfielder sandro tonali is charged with misconduct by the football association for alleged breaches of betting rules. good evening and welcome to the bbc news at six. it has emerged that the post office spent £100 million of public money fighting wrongly accused postmasters in court even though the post office knew its defence was untrue. the bbc has uncovered a draft report that reveals that by 2017 the post office had seen evidence showing that the losses at post office branches could have

been caused by remote access to its horizon computers by fujitsu, who had supplied the system. despite that, their lawyers kept arguing until 2019 that theft or mistakes by subpostmasters must have been to blame. zoe conway has this exclusive report. in howey, mid—wales, there is something missing. for years this house was the village post office, but not any more. there was a counter that went from that wall, all the way across. this was all part the shop and then the post office is at the end. joan bailey and her husband had to give up the jobs they loved after being accused of stealing thousands of pounds. in the beginning, joan blamed herself for the £40,000 shortfall. i was thinking that, well, it must be me that's doing something wrong. but she came to realise the horizon system was at fault. how else to explain that the numbers on her computer screen

dramatically changed overnight? we were in bed! nobody else can get in the house. when they were suspended from running the post office, some villagers assumed they'd stolen the money. we were just pariahs. to be thought of as a thief, itjust seems wrong that we should be treated this way. whatjoan couldn't have known and what this secret 2017 report makes clear, is that her account could be accessed remotely without her knowledge and that the system was full of bugs and flaws. commissioned by the post office, it said fujitsu employees had the ability to amend or delete transactions entered by branch staff. the system wouldn't flag up to a postmaster a change had been made, and those changes could cause a shortfall in branch accounts. it also said a malicious actor could potentially change data. going to law will force

the post office to open their files. so finally, we'll get to know everything the post office knows. the subpostmasters took the post office to court in 2018. by then, post office management, lawyers and investigators knew about findings within the report. but instead of coming clean, they kept it secret. despite knowing their defence was false, they continued to discredit the postmasters. i'm shocked. i really am shocked. the barrister who acted for the subpostmasters has never seen the report before. this is exactly the sort of thing that we would have wanted to have, and to analyse, and put in front of thejudge. it's them admitting that they could do in 2017 something they were still denying that they could do in 2019. the case dragged on for two years.

it cost the taxpayer more than £100 million. i don't think the case should have happened. it should have been settled. and it's a great shame some of the people have died since then without having their names cleared. it's tragic and very, very sad. when victory came, it was bittersweet. the vast majority of the postmasters�* compensation was swallowed up in legal fees. lord arbuthnot has been a long—time campaigner on behalf of the postmasters. it's a significant report, which tells us things that we already suspected. i've been trying to bring the post office to a sense of its own responsibilities, but why they did it is very hard to see, how people can lose all sense of morality in the way that the post office clearly did.

in a statement, the post office said it was deeply sorry for the impact the scandal has had on people and told the bbc the public inquiry�*s next phase would look at the issues raised. fujitsu said that it regards this matter with the utmost seriousness and offered its deepest apologies to the subpostmasters and their families. it's disgusting. joan is still fighting for compensation, butjustice is about so much more. dignity is something you can't buy with any amount of money. it's got to be there for people to think, "i've got my dignity back now and i'm not going to be called a liar any more." zoe conway, bbc news, howey. the boss of the uk's biggest water company, thames water, has told the bbc it is "eventually possible" the company could be nationalised if it fails to secure fresh funding from investors. chris weston has also sought

to reassure customers that services won't be affected, whatever the outcome of the compa ny�*s financial difficulties. earlier today shareholders announced they would not be putting half a billion pounds towards a rescue plan. our business editor, simonjack, reports in the village of lambourn in west berkshire, drains have overflowed regularly, pouring raw sewage onto the streets and straight into the local river — a protected chalk stream. thames water says high rainfall has overwhelmed storm drains. villagers and local charities say it's down to years of underinvestment by the company. we'd like to see water quality being put above profit. we'd like to see people in towns and villages having their sewage treated, and it being returned to the river after being treated, so that we have healthy chalk streams. and we have communities not walking through sewage on their streets. thames is the biggest water company in the uk, serving 16 million customers.

but it also has nearly £15 billion in debts. having paid out millions to former shareholders in years gone by, its current owners were due to pump in £500 million by tomorrow — a first instalment and over £3 billion in extra cash — but that depended on the regulator approving a 40% increase in bills over the next five years. ofwat said no and the cash was withdrawn. the new boss says that the investment needed makes higher bills inevitable. i would argue that that is the price that customers have to pay for the investment in our infrastructure that is needed, and the investment that is required to cope with things like climate change and population growth. but public ownership is a possibility, isn't it? it is eventually possible, but i don't want to alarm anyone. and the first thing i would say about it, even if that were to happen, the services will continue to be provided. there will still be clean drinking water and we will still deal with all the waste that has to be dealt with.

thames water says it's got enough money in the bank to last it for a little over a year, but at some point it's going to have to raise fresh money to fund the vast investments that are needed, and those investors will want to see a return — which could inevitably mean higher bills. in north london, these blue pipes are replacing those laid when victoria was on the throne and these streets were fields. it will take tens of billions of pounds, and thames is not alone. ultimately, that money has to come from customers, meaning higher bills, orfrom taxpayers. simon jack, bbc news. a man has been arrested in connection with the death of the gogglebox star george gilbey. the ao—year—old channel 4 reality tv star who was a self—employed electrician died at work after falling from a height. essex police said a man in his 40s had been arrested on suspicion of gross negligence manslaughter. joining me now is news correspondent sophie long. sophie, what more can you tell us? well, sophie, many people will know

george gilbey from gogglebox, the tv show where every day people are filmed watching and commenting on tv. other whale know him from celebrity big brother, which really boosted his fame. as you say he was also a self employed electrician. essex police were called to an incident in shoebury in southend—on—sea yesterday following reports that a man working at height had fallen. we now know that man was george gilbey, who reportedly died at the scene. a little earlier today the force confirmed that they had arrested a man in his 40s in the witham area on suspicion of gross negligence manslaughter. essex police are conducting a joint operation with the health and safety executive, both bodies have confirmed that their inquiries are continuing. as you can imagine there have been many tributes to george gilbey on social media from people in the entertainment world, including one from the gogglebox x account, which said, our deepest condolences are with linda his mother and george's family and friends at this time.—

mother and george's family and friends at this time. sophie, thank ou. scotland could become the first uk nation to legalise assisted dying if a bill introduced at holyrood is approved. under the proposals, a patient could only request medical assistance to end(ani their life if they had an "advanced, progressive terminal" illness, which has been diagnosed independently by two doctors. two doctors would also need to establish someone is mentally competent. the patient must be aged 16 or over and a resident of scotland for at least 12 months. they must also administer the life—ending medication themselves. our scotland editor, james cook, has been hearing arguments for and against the bill. august 2015, i was diagnosed with secondary breast cancer. and it was terminal, it had spread. mandy has been defying the odds for nearly a decade. she was just 26 when she was told she could be dead within two years. advances in cancer care have

prolonged mandy's life, but concern about the end still keeps her awake at night. i spent a lot of time being anxious and worrying about dying a slow, horrible death, and my mental health would be so much better if this law got passed because i could sleep easy at night and i wouldn't be worrying constantly about the future, about how brutal it's going to be, and i wouldn't feel scared. it would be a huge, huge relief. i think for too long, too many dying scots have been failed. liam mcarthur is the liberal democrat whose proposal could help some terminally ill patients end their life — some, but by no means all. the terminal illness would need to be advanced and progressive. it would require the diagnosis not just of one but of two medics, who would also assess capacity, who would discuss with the patient the reasons why they had

arrived at that decision, to ensure that there hasn't been undue coercion or pressure applied. so, how's your day been today? audrey has terminal cancer, but she does not want the option of an assisted death. instead, she has found comfort at st columba's hospice in edinburgh. having being here and feeling the way it scoops you up, and it does, you know, and feeling the care and the expertise, the skills of the people, and now, i mean, that may change, but now i'm not afraid of dying. so, you think there might not really be a need for this legislation, if we as a society improved end—of—life care? yes. yeah — in a very holistic sense, yeah. many doctors who specialise in palliative care also have concerns about the bill. as a palliative care doctor, when i see patients who are suffering, i don't see the answer to their suffering as being to end the life of the sufferer.

how would you assess the state of palliative care in this country at the moment? in order to ensure that people have consistent and reliable palliative care where they are, when they need it, we need a much better investment in palliative care. supporters of the bill actually agree. they also know their plan faces profound objections — moral, religious and practical. these arguments are playing out not just here in scotland. sir keir starmer has said that if he becomes prime minister labour would consider introducing such a bill for england and wales at westminster. there are also steps being taken in the same direction injersey and in also steps being taken in the same direction in jersey and in the also steps being taken in the same direction injersey and in the isle of man and in a society built on the judaeo—christian and supple of thou shalt not kill, these would be potentially significant steps, potentially significant steps, potentially very significant changes, sophie. james, thank you.

three prisoners and three prison officers have been taken to hospital after eating a curry served after the maundy service. it's understood a number of people became ill soon after and were sick. it's not yet known what caused it but the prison service says it is suspected food poisioning. our correspondent graham satchell is outside the prison. well, this all started around 12.30 today when emergency services were called here to the prison, to what was described as a medical incident involving around 15 people. the ambulance service sent a chemical and biological involving around 15 people. the ambulance service sent a chemical and biological incident involving around 15 people. the ambulance service sent a chemical and biological incident van. involving around 15 people. the ambulance service sent a chemical and biological incident van. the local hospital set up a decontamination unit. it looks like something very serious indeed. the ambulance service were worried that it could have had something to do with fentanyl or some other kind of synthetic opioid. tonight, the ministry ofjustice is saying it was a case of food poisoning, that there had been a church service here at the prison and a meal immediately

afterwards, a curry. people became ill very quickly, vomiting, light—headed, slurring their speech. the meal was prepared here at the prison but tonight are six people remain in hospital, three prisoners and three chaplaincy staff. none are said to be in a life—threatening condition. the secret papers that show the post office knew its it system could have been accessed remotely — when it was arguing in court that it couldn't. and 700 years after it was taken to england we get a glimpse of the historic stone of destiny in its new home at perth museum coming up in sport on bbc news — we look ahead to rugby league's rivals round this easter weekend — including the meeting between the two super league heavyweights st helens and wigan warriors.

levels of violence and abuse from pupils in schools have risen significantly since the coronavirus pandemic — according to a teaching union. nearly one in five teachers in england who took part in a survey commissioned by the bbc said they had been hit by a student this year. and the same proportion said they've experienced verbal or online abuse from a parent or guardian since september. our education correspondent, elaine dunkley has more from west yorkshire. this is stjohn fisher catholic academy in dewsbury. it's a school with a bad reputation — rated inadequate and described by ofsted as unsafe for teachers and pupils. children were being suspended as early as 9:15 in the morning. there was a culture of bullying. there was frequent fighting. you'd be scared to walk into, like, certain corners or places

in the back of the classroom, or places in the playground. across the country, clips posted on social media give an insight into the chaos in classrooms. back in dewsbury, headteacher mr mackey has made a big difference with small changes. he joined the school a year ago and has banned mobile phones, and access to toilets is limited during lesson time. we had a lot of internal truancy. children were going into cubicles. i'm pretty sure they were vaping in there. we were spending, at times, thousands of pounds per week on damage. this year, you'll see them in lessons every single day. they're not late, they're in perfect uniform. they're trying their hardest. tameka was excluded from her last school because of her behaviour, but since joining this school she's thriving. i've settled down quite a lot more, got my work done and put my head down. if i'm struggling or if i am struggling with a lesson, then this places set out for where i can go to.

teachers here told me an increasing number of children are struggling to get support for special educational needs. difficult home lives and a lack of services for mental health are all part of the problem. hi, sweetheart. morning. hello. morning. hi, pet. and it's notjust pupil behaviour that's a problem. teaching unions say staff are also having to deal more frequently with abuse from parents. the examples we've been given are slashed tyres. in the last six months alone, i have supported numerous members who've decided that it's not a careerfor them, and often the final nail in the coffin is verbal and physical abuse from parents. behaviour is one of the biggest challenges facing schools. in response, the government says it's invested £10 million into behaviour hubs where schools work together, offering mentoring and support to those which are struggling. but despite the challenges, the rewards are high for headteachers like mr mackey. i'm immensely proud to be the headteacher here and before long it's our intention that this is the best school in west yorkshire, not only in dewsbury.

elaine dunkley, bbc news. he was dubbed the crypto king. 32—year—old sam bankman—fried became a billionaire through his cryptocurrency exchange platform ftx, but but the company collapsed spectacularly in 2022. now he will spend 25 years in prison for lying to investors and stealing customers funds. for more on this here's our north america business correspondent erin delmore. tell us more about it. the judge tell us more about it. the 'udge said today in i tell us more about it. the 'udge said today in a i tell us more about it. the 'udge said today in a court * tell us more about it. the judge said today in a court house - tell us more about it. the judge l said today in a court house behind me that he rejected entirely sam bankman—fried's claims that there were no actual losses when the cryptocurrency exchange ftx collapsed in november 2022. instead, thejudge pointed collapsed in november 2022. instead, the judge pointed to $8 collapsed in november 2022. instead, thejudge pointed to $8 billion in losses from customers, and more losses from customers, and more losses by creditors and investors totalling more than $11 billion. he said that is how he came upon his

recommendation to sentence sam bankman—fried to 25 years in prison. that fell far short of the 100 plus years that were allowed through the sentencing guidelines given to the judge, pursuant to the charges, and less than the 40—50 years that the prosecutors suggested. but far more than the 5—6 years that the defence requested. in explaining his reaching luck reasoning, he harked back to one of the testimonies, pointing to sam bankman—fried as somebody who was a risk taker who could do more harm in the future. sir keir starmer has launched labour's local election campaign promising to "level up" english regions more effectively than the conservatives by giving new powers to councils. the labour leader said the tories had failed on their pledge to reduce inequality across different parts of the country. our political correspondent iain watson reports from dudley, in the west midlands. keir starmer promised to bring power closer to local communities. and he accused the conservatives of letting down, rather than levelling up areas that felt left behind.

people say to me the worst thing you can do in politics is to prey on people's fear. yet, in some ways, preying on their hopes is just as bad. and that's what the tories did with levelling up. labour say they can now deliver where the conservatives failed. but there is a pressing problem. one in five councils fear they could go bankrupt in the next year. they want more than hope, they want hard cash. i am very worried at the state of our local councils after 1a years of this tory chaos. at the end of the first period of a labour government, should there be one, will councils be better off then than they are now? yes or no? yes, they would be. i want to make sure they're in a position to deliver the services they need to deliver. keir starmer is in the market for voters who backed the tories

for the first time in 2019. his campaign launches here, in conservative—controlled dudley. but he might find his most formidable political opponent is disillusionment. i've been brought up in dudley. and look how it's gone down. i shall vote, but who, i don't know at the moment. i don't know. i don't trust any of - them, at the moment. i don't trust any of i them, to be honest. politics? it's alljust a load of rubbish to me. we're not interested. conservatives, labour. disgusting. they get in, they are going to say a good thing, then they don't bother. it could take more than hope to convince voters that a change of government will also change the country. iain watson, bbc news, dudley. a major new museum is opening in scotland this weekend. its centrepiece will be the historic stone of destiny that is still used in every coronation — including king charles. it's been returned to perth for the first time in more than 700 yea rs.

our culture editor, katie razzall reports for the new perth museum. pearce. scotland's ancient capital. in the former city wall, which at one point faced demolition, a new museum is putting this region at the centre of scotland's story. the lead curator took me into see the star attraction. curator took me into see the star attraction-— attraction. this is to give people an understanding _ attraction. this is to give people an understanding of— attraction. this is to give people an understanding of what - attraction. this is to give people an understanding of what they l attraction. this is to give people i an understanding of what they are about to see. it is an understanding of what they are about to see-— an understanding of what they are about to see. , ., , about to see. it is an immersive way into the stone _ about to see. it is an immersive way into the stone of— about to see. it is an immersive way into the stone of destiny, _ about to see. it is an immersive way into the stone of destiny, still- about to see. it is an immersive way into the stone of destiny, still a - into the stone of destiny, still a potent symbol of scottish nationhood. and what is the relevance of the block of stone today? relevance of the block of stone toda ? , , ., . ., ., today? this is a live ceremonial ob'ects. today? this is a live ceremonial objects- for— today? this is a live ceremonial objects. for future _ today? this is a live ceremonialj objects. for future coronations, today? this is a live ceremonial l objects. for future coronations, it objects. forfuture coronations, it will be transported down to westminster and placed back in edward the first�*s coronation chair, it is still a relevant cultural symbol. it is part of the regalia, part of the crown jewels of scotland. part of the crown 'ewels of mandh part of the crown 'ewels of scotland. , , ., scotland. this is where it all happened. _ scotland. this is where it all happened, where _ scotland. this is where it all happened, where scottish i scotland. this is where it all- happened, where scottish monarchs were crowned on the stone of scorn.

this is a replica, but it is one of the most important historical sites in scotland. macbeth was made king here in 10110. too centuries later, edward the first seized the stone of scone and to it to england. westminster abbey lost one of its most precious relics.— westminster abbey lost one of its most precious relics. contested over the centuries. _ most precious relics. contested over the centuries, in _ most precious relics. contested over the centuries, in 1950, _ most precious relics. contested over the centuries, in 1950, former- the centuries, in 1950, former students took the ancient symbol back to scotland in an audacious raid. the stone went back to westminster abbey a year later, and officially returned to edinburgh in 1996. but it hasn't been seen in perth for more than 700 years. given its disputed history, it is held securely under these local sixth formers got a preview. i securely under these local sixth formers got a preview.- securely under these local sixth formers got a preview. i think it brinds us formers got a preview. i think it brings us all— formers got a preview. i think it brings us all together _ formers got a preview. i think it brings us all together as - formers got a preview. i think it brings us all together as a - formers got a preview. i think it| brings us all together as a nation and it makes me feel happy that it is close to home. i think it is where it should be.—

is close to home. i think it is where it should be. history itself needs to be _ where it should be. history itself needs to be reinforced _ where it should be. history itself needs to be reinforced in - where it should be. history itself needs to be reinforced in our- needs to be reinforced in our generation, to understand where their_ generation, to understand where their culture comes from.- their culture comes from. other hiddhlihts their culture comes from. other highlights in _ their culture comes from. other highlights in the _ their culture comes from. other highlights in the museum - their culture comes from. other. highlights in the museum include their culture comes from. odie highlights in the museum include a bronze age log boat, a coronation cake from 1953, the biggest ever british rod caught salmon. aha, lat cake from 1953, the biggest ever british rod caught salmon. a lot of --eole british rod caught salmon. a lot of -eo . le will british rod caught salmon. a lot of people will tell _ british rod caught salmon. a lot of people will tell you _ british rod caught salmon. a lot of people will tell you that _ british rod caught salmon. a lot of people will tell you that the - british rod caught salmon. a lot of people will tell you that the city i people will tell you that the city centre is not what it is like to be, but £26 million has been spent on a building in the centre of our city, and if this is one more thing that brings people into perth, that would be brilliant. advanced tickets to see the stone of scone booked out in 20 minutes, which bodes well for the city. bbc radio 5 live launched 30 years ago today. some of the stations stars have been looking back through the decades — here's a little look at where it all began. good morning, welcome to a new network. radio 5 live. news and sport from the bbc, 2a hours a day. 30 years ago. let's have a look, let's see how it started.

sure. that's all we needed. what are those? those are carts. we used to play audio off those. great to see a woman l behind the desk, there. look at the fashion. nothing's changed there. the reel. good knitwear. awful haircuts. no, brilliant haircuts. you have a really interesting range of listeners, who come back to you and who engage. over the wall! david beckham has done it! david beckham! ijust want to wish 5 live a very happy birthday. . you're getting old now, - but you look great for your age. wishing radio 5 live a very happy 30th birthday. happy birthday, bbc radio 5 live. hey, you've been brilliant. since the day you were born. best of luck for the future. here's to another 30. the uk is now one of the biggest markets for country music outside the united states. and its popularity is growing fast. now even the global megastar — beyonce — is embracing the genre, with the release of her first country album this week. felicity baker reports.

all: we're chapel hart and make sure that you stay tuned into bbc news. i if you haven't heard of chapel hart yet, you soon will. # oh,jolene...# it's an energy here, with the fans here that is unmatched. uk fans hit so different. like, y'all are a different breed, and we absolutely love it. # you can have him, jolene... they're one of many up and coming artists who are drawn to the uk's rapidly growing country scene. #jolene... beyonce's move into country is being hailed as a game—changer for a genre that's now taking on the mainstream.

i feel like we're next level. i think artists like beyonce, post malone, lana del rey doing things in country music is helping us get that exposure. i think it's a new time for country music in the uk, kind of going more mainstream, which i'm really excited about. this will be the biggest year for country in the uk, with more artists playing here than ever before. including grammy award winning duo brothers osborne, who first came to the uk nearly a decade ago. the whole purpose of us coming over here and playing our music is to connect with people and and show them kind of maybe the cliched things that they think about. country music isn't true. the thing about the uk that makes us want to come over here are the fans. they listen like the sober crowd and they react like a drunk crowd. it's like the perfect combination

that you want in an audience. # showed up this morning cos i didn't know where else to go... with other artists following beyonce's move into country later this year, audiences over here are only expected to get bigger. felicity baker, bbc news. time for a look at the weather. here's louise lear. i'm hoping you are going to give us some good news?— i'm hoping you are going to give us some dood news? ., ,, some good news? saturday and sunday, set our some good news? saturday and sunday, set your clock. — some good news? saturday and sunday, set your clock. it — some good news? saturday and sunday, set your clock, it will _ some good news? saturday and sunday, set your clock, it will get _ some good news? saturday and sunday, set your clock, it will get slightly - set your clock, it will get slightly better. we are all very familiar with this scene. there's been a lot of heavy rain clearing away from northern ireland, hill snow as well for a time and some wet weather moving its way across england and wales. hailand moving its way across england and wales. hail and thunder mixed in as well. if you are caught in it, it is miserable. it will feel cold, because it was pretty windy with 60 mph gusts on exposed coasts. the low pressure is not going very far very fast. the showers will continue this evening, but gradually fade away. where they do so, across northern

ireland in particular, low single