there will be a labour government? there will be a fundamental — labour government? there will be a fundamental change _ labour government? there will be a fundamental change under - labour government? there will be a fundamental change under a - labour government? there will be a fundamental change under a labour| fundamental change under a labour government because i believe in devolution, more powers, resources going to our mayors, those with skin in the game are the best decision—makers and therefore there will be a new arrangement with an incoming labour government if we are privileged enough to come into serve, where you will see much greater powers to our mayors, a much better connection between government and mayors, and working together and co—operating rather than being in conflict. that will massively benefit everybody across the east midlands, whether on not they voted for us. if they did, we thank them for us. if they did, we thank them for their vote, for us. if they did, we thank them fortheirvote, but for us. if they did, we thank them for their vote, but even if they didn't, we will serve them. thank ou. to didn't, we will serve them. thank you- to do _ didn't, we will serve them. thank you. to do expand _ didn't, we will serve them. thank you. to do expand slightly - didn't, we will serve them. thank you. to do expand slightly on - didn't, we will serve them. thank| you. to do expand slightly on how ou're you. to do expand slightly on how

you're getting _ you. to do expand slightly on how you're getting involved _ you. to do expand slightly on how you're getting involved and - you. to do expand slightly on how you're getting involved and that l you're getting involved and that authority? you're getting involved and that authori ? . , . you're getting involved and that authori ? . ., ., authority? that is a matter for the -a authority? that is a matter for the party processor — authority? that is a matter for the party processor so _ authority? that is a matter for the party processor so i _ authority? that is a matter for the party processor so i will _ authority? that is a matter for the party processor so i will leave - authority? that is a matter for the party processor so i will leave it i party processor so i will leave it for them to carry out those processes. for them to carry out those processes-— for them to carry out those rocesses. ., ., ~ , , ., ., processes. looking behind you at the red behind you. _ processes. looking behind you at the red behind you, in _ processes. looking behind you at the red behind you, in mansfield, - red behind you, in mansfield, somebody made a sign saying red to blue, _ somebody made a sign saying red to blue. will_ somebody made a sign saying red to blue, will you turn that around? we are blue, will you turn that around? are standing blue, will you turn that around? - are standing in mansfield, a significant tory constituency we hope to win, but today is about reflecting on the fact across the east midlands, many voters have turned to the labour party, they see a changed labour party and have put their trust in us. i want to say thank you to everybody who voted for us, we will serve you and those who didn't vote for labour, we will also save you, because it is the job of the mayor to serve everybody across the mayor to serve everybody across the east midlands. if we are privileged enough to come into serve as labour government, i can assure

everybody that we will have a labour government working with our mayors to deliver across the east midlands. thank you for coming to mansfield. thank— thank you for coming to mansfield. thank you — thank you for coming to mansfield. thank you for coming to mansfield. thank you for having me. sir keir starmer there in the east midlands celebrating their new mayor claire ward. let's go to birmingham — and my colleague rajini vaidyanathan is at the count. we're waiting for the results that are just counting for the mayor of the west midlands. it's been a good day for sir keir starmer in the east midlands, but this seat here is one that the conservatives are really hoping they can hold onto for another term. the incumbent mayor

has already served two terms here and he is well known here and is hoping he can bank on his personal popularity and throughout the campaign he has effectively distanced himself from the conservative party if you look at his campaign literature and that kind of thing. this isjust one of his campaign literature and that kind of thing. this is just one of a number of races that continue to be counted throughout saturday. i'm joined by my colleague nick eardley, in the london newsroom. nick, you have been monitoring the other races that are still under way when it comes to counting. tell us more about what we can expect. irate comes to counting. tell us more about what we can expect. we are caettin a about what we can expect. we are getting a really — about what we can expect. we are getting a really good _ about what we can expect. we are getting a really good picture - about what we can expect. we are getting a really good picture of- getting a really good picture of what _ getting a really good picture of what the council results yesterday looked _ what the council results yesterday looked like for all the parties, the state _ looked like for all the parties, the state of— looked like for all the parties, the state of the parties, so what it might— state of the parties, so what it might tell us about the general election — might tell us about the general election. let's start with the up—to—date scoreboard here, only five councils — up—to—date scoreboard here, only five councils left to declare. this

is a pretty— five councils left to declare. this is a pretty thorough picture. labour are op. _ is a pretty thorough picture. labour are op. they— is a pretty thorough picture. labour are up, they have done well, not as well as— are up, they have done well, not as well as they— are up, they have done well, not as well as they would have done on a perfect _ well as they would have done on a perfect night but well nonetheless. look at_ perfect night but well nonetheless. look at the conservative number, down _ look at the conservative number, down 440 — look at the conservative number, down 440 councillors, losing just under— down 440 councillors, losing just under half— down 440 councillors, losing just under half of all the seats they were _ under half of all the seats they were defending, really bad result for them — were defending, really bad result for them and it will be worrying lots of — for them and it will be worrying lots of conservative mps, trying to figure _ lots of conservative mps, trying to figure out — lots of conservative mps, trying to figure out what it will mean for a general— figure out what it will mean for a general election. the lib dems in terms _ general election. the lib dems in terms of— general election. the lib dems in terms of results on thursday have actually _ terms of results on thursday have actually overtaken the conservatives. worth pointing out the greens have done really well, putting _ the greens have done really well, putting up— the greens have done really well, putting up 65 councils. this is what it means _ putting up 65 councils. this is what it means in — putting up 65 councils. this is what it means in terms of the vote share. what _ it means in terms of the vote share. what has _ it means in terms of the vote share. what has changed since these elections last held on 21, the conservative vote is way down, 12%, labour— conservative vote is way down, 12%, labour up _ conservative vote is way down, 12%, labour up % — conservative vote is way down, 12%, labour up 3%. again, it's good, maybe — labour up 3%. again, it's good, maybe not— labour up 3%. again, it's good, maybe not as much as it would have been _ maybe not as much as it would have been on _ maybe not as much as it would have been on a _ maybe not as much as it would have been on a perfect night, though when you are _ been on a perfect night, though when you are you _ been on a perfect night, though when you are you chat to the labour

party. — you are you chat to the labour party, they say it's crucial we are winning _ party, they say it's crucial we are winning 3% — party, they say it's crucial we are winning 3% in the country that we need _ winning 3% in the country that we need to— winning 3% in the country that we need to win — winning 3% in the country that we need to win a general election. these — need to win a general election. these are — need to win a general election. these are areas where the conservatives used to control the council _ conservatives used to control the council and — conservatives used to control the council and don't any more. this is a really— council and don't any more. this is a really interesting list it's different parts of the country. you have _ different parts of the country. you have hampshire, dorset, which the tories _ have hampshire, dorset, which the tories lost — have hampshire, dorset, which the tories lost last night to the lib dems. — tories lost last night to the lib dems, you have redditch, seen as a bellwether— dems, you have redditch, seen as a bellwether seat as it often votes the same — bellwether seat as it often votes the same way as the country ends up voting _ the same way as the country ends up voting. there is a spread of areas where _ voting. there is a spread of areas where the — voting. there is a spread of areas where the tories were in charge and aren't— where the tories were in charge and aren't any— where the tories were in charge and aren't any more. style in. —— let's dive _ aren't any more. style in. —— let's dive into— aren't any more. style in. —— let's dive into some of them. rushmoor, the blue _ dive into some of them. rushmoor, the blue conservative control is oven _ the blue conservative control is oven lt's — the blue conservative control is over. it's now a labour council. i want _ over. it's now a labour council. i want to— over. it's now a labour council. i want to dive _ over. it's now a labour council. i want to dive more into that result in dorset. — want to dive more into that result in dorset, because that's pretty

striking — in dorset, because that's pretty striking. the conservatives losing 13 councillors, the lib dems gaining 13 councillors, the lib dems gaining 13 councillors, the lib dems gaining 13 councillors, conservative rule there _ 13 councillors, conservative rule there is— 13 councillors, conservative rule there is over and it's now for the liberal— there is over and it's now for the liberal democrats. i want to show you this _ liberal democrats. i want to show you this one, welwyn hatfield, that is where _ you this one, welwyn hatfield, that is where grant shapps, the defence secretary _ is where grant shapps, the defence secretary has his seat, we have had some _ secretary has his seat, we have had some key— secretary has his seat, we have had some key wards in that constituency, and this— some key wards in that constituency, and this is— some key wards in that constituency, and this is what is happening. the conservatives are down 15%, labour up conservatives are down 15%, labour up 7%. _ conservatives are down 15%, labour up 7%. an— conservatives are down 15%, labour up 7%, an 11% swing from conservative to labour. interestingly, if that were replicated in the general election results _ replicated in the general election results from 2019, grant shapps would _ results from 2019, grant shapps would be — results from 2019, grant shapps would be really worried about losing his seat _ would be really worried about losing his seat. that's the defence secretary, someone who has had a decent. _ secretary, someone who has had a decent, fairly safe seat for the conservatives in the past. results like this— conservatives in the past. results like this will make him really nervous _ like this will make him really nervous. 0ne like this will make him really nervous. one other thing about last

night's _ nervous. one other thing about last night's results. let's see some tactical— night's results. let's see some tactical voting analysis. this is what _ tactical voting analysis. this is what is — tactical voting analysis. this is what is happening in areas where the conservatives were first and labour were second last time. look at the conservative drop, more than it was nationally. — conservative drop, more than it was nationally, labour up more than it was nationally, suggesting people who want to be conservatives out of voting _ who want to be conservatives out of voting for— who want to be conservatives out of voting for labour. but then look this. _ voting for labour. but then look this. this — voting for labour. but then look this. this is _ voting for labour. but then look this, this is what happened in areas where _ this, this is what happened in areas where last— this, this is what happened in areas where last time the conservatives were _ where last time the conservatives were first — where last time the conservatives were first and the lib dems were second — were first and the lib dems were second. again, the vote is slightly more _ second. again, the vote is slightly more than — second. again, the vote is slightly more than the national average but look who— more than the national average but look who is— more than the national average but look who is benefiting most. labour have some — look who is benefiting most. labour have some of the vote but the lib dems— have some of the vote but the lib dems are — have some of the vote but the lib dems are getting more of it, so there _ dems are getting more of it, so there are — dems are getting more of it, so there are some signs of tactical voting — there are some signs of tactical voting in— there are some signs of tactical voting in areas where labour are second _ voting in areas where labour are second and — voting in areas where labour are second and whether lib dems were second. _ second and whether lib dems were second. to — second and whether lib dems were second, to try to potentially oust matt conservative incumbent. nick -- oust that conservative _ matt conservative incumbent. nick --

oust that conservative incumbent. - oust that conservative incumbent. nicky, thank you. as we have been saying here in birmingham, counting is well under way in the west midlands mayoral elections, but there are other votes being counted and another hot lead to anticipated result today is the result in the london mayoral vote. incumbent sadiq khan for the labour party is hoping for another term. khan for the labour party is hoping foranotherterm. ben khan for the labour party is hoping for another term. ben is watching that vote. ben, overnight, we were hearing it could be a lot closer than some might have thought. yes. than some might have thought. yes, lots of speculation _ than some might have thought. yes, lots of speculation along those lines _ lots of speculation along those lines and — lots of speculation along those lines and that is what some people here are _ lines and that is what some people here are telling us too. this is the largest— here are telling us too. this is the largest of— here are telling us too. this is the largest of nine counting centres across— largest of nine counting centres across the — largest of nine counting centres across the capital. all counting votes — across the capital. all counting votes for — across the capital. all counting votes for the london mayo election and the _ votes for the london mayo election and the results from here and there is over— and the results from here and there is over nine — and the results from here and there is over nine centres will be fed into— is over nine centres will be fed into city— is over nine centres will be fed into city hall, where the result will be — into city hall, where the result will be declared. —— mayoral

election _ will be declared. —— mayoral election. they will count the london assembly— election. they will count the london assembly votes and declare them sometime afterwards. polls had predicted labour's sadiq khan, the incumbent — predicted labour's sadiq khan, the incumbent labour mayor who has been incumbent labour mayor who has been in power— incumbent labour mayor who has been in power for— incumbent labour mayor who has been in powerfor eight years, incumbent labour mayor who has been in power for eight years, had a lead on his— in power for eight years, had a lead on his conservative rival susan hall. _ on his conservative rival susan hall. but — on his conservative rival susan hall, but the reason people are thinking — hall, but the reason people are thinking it could be closer is turning _ thinking it could be closer is turning out. we had those figures yesterday— turning out. we had those figures yesterday and the votes being counted — yesterday and the votes being counted in this room are for the outer— counted in this room are for the outer london constituency of bexley and bromley. the constituency that has perhaps most been affected by the expansion of us, the ultra low emission— the expansion of us, the ultra low emission zone, meaning some motorists— emission zone, meaning some motorists have had to pay an extra £12 50 _ motorists have had to pay an extra £12 50 a _ motorists have had to pay an extra £12 50 a day to use their car. the turnout _ £12 50 a day to use their car. the turnout in — £12 50 a day to use their car. the turnout in this constituency, the highest — turnout in this constituency, the highest of— turnout in this constituency, the highest of any london constituencies, 48%, and if you compare — constituencies, 48%, and if you compare that to the inner london constituency of tower hamlets in newham. —

constituency of tower hamlets in newham, turn out there just 31%. people _ newham, turn out there just 31%. people are — newham, turn out there just 31%. people are asking, is this a ulez fact that — people are asking, is this a ulez fact that lots of people have been thinking _ fact that lots of people have been thinking about? susan hall, the conservative candidate put that at the centre — conservative candidate put that at the centre of hacking to pain —— centre — the centre of hacking to pain —— centre of— the centre of hacking to pain —— centre of her campaign, saying she would _ centre of her campaign, saying she would scrap it on day one. labour people _ would scrap it on day one. labour people i_ would scrap it on day one. labour people i have spoken to are still sounding — people i have spoken to are still sounding pretty confident. as for when _ sounding pretty confident. as for when the — sounding pretty confident. as for when the result is declared, it won't — when the result is declared, it won't be — when the result is declared, it won't be before 1:30pm, it could be sometime _ won't be before 1:30pm, it could be sometime after that. it depends how quickly— sometime after that. it depends how quickly they count. in this room they— quickly they count. in this room they have — quickly they count. in this room they have pretty much done it, but this is— they have pretty much done it, but this is five — they have pretty much done it, but this is five rooms and there are nine _ this is five rooms and there are nine other— this is five rooms and there are nine other counting centres too. i have _ nine other counting centres too. i have noticed suites on the counting table _ have noticed suites on the counting table and _ have noticed suites on the counting table and i'm sure they will be helping — table and i'm sure they will be helping l— table and i'm sure they will be helinu. ., �* , table and i'm sure they will be helinu. .,�* , ., , table and i'm sure they will be hel..in_ ., �* , ., , ., helping. i don't see anywhere we are in the west — helping. i don't see anywhere we are in the west midlands _ helping. i don't see anywhere we are in the west midlands so _ helping. i don't see anywhere we are in the west midlands so far, - helping. i don't see anywhere we are in the west midlands so far, but - helping. i don't see anywhere we are in the west midlands so far, but for| in the west midlands so far, but for the moment, thank you. as ben was

saying, the labour party are feeling fairly optimistic about the london mayoral vote but there have been conversations overnight that it could be much closer because of that ulez issue. in the west midlands, the incumbent is andy street, and here's for a third term. throughout the third time, the labour party thought they could be able to turn it over to them. richard parker, their candidates, was quite hopeful but in the last few hours also, sources have told my colleagues here in the west midlands that labour think they might not necessarily get it. we don't know until the count is over. my colleague the bbc west midlands political editor rob mayor had a conversation with a labour source, so what were they saying? labour really thought they might produce a massive upset here. we

don't know whether that will happen or not, but all signs are that they feel that might not happen. yesterday morning this happened, a source _ yesterday morning this happened, a source told — yesterday morning this happened, a source told us they felt they would lose this _ source told us they felt they would lose this mayo oh contest and they -ot lose this mayo oh contest and they got a _ lose this mayo oh contest and they got a lot— lose this mayo oh contest and they got a lot of— lose this mayo oh contest and they got a lot of the blame on that around — got a lot of the blame on that around the way they dealt with the issue _ around the way they dealt with the issue of— around the way they dealt with the issue of gaza. being pro—palestine has been _ issue of gaza. being pro—palestine has been a — issue of gaza. being pro—palestine has been a part of the campaign. attached — has been a part of the campaign. attached to this information was quoted _ attached to this information was quoted saying it was the middle east that would win the race for conservative andy street, not the west _ conservative andy street, not the west midlands, hamas once again the villains _ west midlands, hamas once again the villains. that was quickly slapped down _ villains. that was quickly slapped down by— villains. that was quickly slapped down by an official labour party spokesperson, calling the quote racist _ spokesperson, calling the quote racist and — spokesperson, calling the quote racist and saying that whoever had said it _ racist and saying that whoever had said it was — racist and saying that whoever had said it was not sharing values of the labour— said it was not sharing values of the labour party. the campaign team here running — the labour party. the campaign team here running richard parker's campaign _ here running richard parker's campaign to try to win this mayoral

campaign _ campaign to try to win this mayoral campaign have said this race is absolutely and neck, too close to call. , ., , absolutely and neck, too close to call. , .,.,,.,., , ., call. the party has apologised for makin: call. the party has apologised for making reference _ call. the party has apologised for making reference to _ call. the party has apologised for making reference to hamas - call. the party has apologised for making reference to hamas and i call. the party has apologised for- making reference to hamas and using certain language, but underlying that, there has been in other parts of the country, a shift from labour, particularly in muslim constituencies or constituencies with a high muslim population, because of the way some voters in those areas believe keir starmer has handled his position when it comes to the war in gaza. the handled his position when it comes to the war in gaza.— handled his position when it comes to the war in gaza. the labour party did condemn — to the war in gaza. the labour party did condemn this _ to the war in gaza. the labour party did condemn this yesterday, - did condemn this yesterday, apologising because they did not feel it _ apologising because they did not feel it was their comment. it's an important — feel it was their comment. it's an important distinction. the gaza issue _ important distinction. the gaza issue is— important distinction. the gaza issue is definitely a big thing. i was talking to a labour mp at the county— was talking to a labour mp at the county yesterday who said you can trace _ county yesterday who said you can trace it _ county yesterday who said you can trace it right back to the comments keir starmer made in that interview on radio— keir starmer made in that interview on radio station, he took a long time _ on radio station, he took a long

time to— on radio station, he took a long time to clear up that he had not meant — time to clear up that he had not meant what he said and lots of people — meant what he said and lots of people in— meant what he said and lots of people in communities where gaza was an issue. _ people in communities where gaza was an issue, they felt it had not been dealt _ an issue, they felt it had not been dealt with— an issue, they felt it had not been dealt with properly and the party has really struggled in places like birmingham and the wider west midlands to get a grip on that and convince — midlands to get a grip on that and convince people to come back to them _ convince people to come back to them. there are early indications here _ them. there are early indications here in_ them. there are early indications here in birmingham that the independent candidate has done well, we don't _ independent candidate has done well, we don't know if they are labour voters _ we don't know if they are labour voters who — we don't know if they are labour voters who are lending them their votes. _ voters who are lending them their votes. or— voters who are lending them their votes, or people who would not have voted _ votes, or people who would not have voted anyway. and it's much bigger than birmingham so we will have to see what— than birmingham so we will have to see what impact that will have. thank— see what impact that will have. thank you _ see what impact that will have. thank you for the moment. if you are fan of elections like i am, there's nothing more thrilling than people in a room counting votes, democracy at work. as rob was saying, this could be a very nice race. both parties concede it could be tight, and that is why we might not expect and that is why we might not expect a vote until late in the afternoon

here in birmingham for the west midlands mayoral vote. the incumbent andy street is hoping he can pay it off, and after a night when labour had a good run in those council elections, the conservatives are pinning a lot of hopes on a success here. counting continues. studio: thank you. we will keep you up—to—date with all the results from the local council elections. but alongside those, 11 mayors are being elected across england. seven results are due today in london, greater manchester, liverpool city region, south yorkshire, west midlands, west yorkshire, and salford. elections that have been declared — but they couldn't unseat the conservatives�* ben houchen, who held on in tees valley. here's our reporter, richard moss. ben houchen was never going to win as big as he did three years ago. in fact, he said he'd be happy to win by one vote. in the end, though, it was more comfortable than that.

i therefore give notice that conservative party candidate ben houchen is duly elected as mayor for the tees valley combined authority. a clear victory, a third term secured. a conservative defying political gravity, a rarity in these elections. his defeated rivals, though, insist it was the clear blue water between mayor houchen and his own party that was crucial. i've been campaigning against an incumbent of seven years who's been well resourced and has been for seven years. but more importantly, i've been campaigning against an incumbent that did not wish to be associated with the conservative party or rishi sunak one little bit. his campaign made very little mention of the fact he was a conservative and he vey much campaigned on the fact that he was an independent in all but name. and so it's difficult to draw any kind of conclusions for the national political context from this single campaign, in my opinion.

but a little while later, at teesside airport, who should turn up but the prime minister, keen to celebrate a rare win for the blues, and both pm and mayor now singing from the same anti—labour hymn sheet. we've had the labour party camped here for the last two weeks, the whole shadow cabinet have basically funded the tourism industry in teesside for the last two weeks because they thought they were going to win it, right? they thought they were going to have it, but they were nowhere near in the end. people knew that they couldn't be taken for granted. they knew that it was ben and the conservatives that delivered for them and they stuck with you in this election. and i know that come the general election, they're going to stick with us, too. we know now that ben houchen has secured his job for four more years, but it will need another election to decide whether the prime minister can keep his. this was, though, one result in a grisly 24 hours that left him at least some shreds of hope. the labour leader sir keir starmer has been speaking following a rally this morning to celebrate claire ward's election as the first mayor

of the east midlands. here's some of what he said. if you look across the country, i'm standing here in mansfield in the east midlands, where we have won a significant victory for the mayoralty here, that's the pattern across the country. we have been winning in blackpool in a by—election with a 27% swing, we won in york and north yorkshire, true blue territory, and constituencies like this that matter hugely in the general election. all of this is done with a purpose, i want a labour government to serve our country. this is essentially the last stop on the way to a general election and i'm really pleased we can show we have made progress, we have earned the trust of voters and are making progress towards a general election. very good set of for us. rishi sunak on the other hand has described significant losses for his party in england's local elections as "disappointing". with most results in, the conservatives have lost more than 450 seats on councils across the country and earlier,

science minister andrew griffiths gave this reaction to bbc breakfast. it's disappointing to lose a single conservative councillor or mayor or police commissioner because i know how hard they work for their local communities. we were coming off a difficult backdrop of when these were last fought and i think everyone will understand the last few years have been very difficult. i can understand that. people have made sacrifices, we have had to make some really hard decisions that no conservative loves doing. the geopolitical situation, conservative loves doing. the geopoliticalsituation, pandemic, what has happened in ukraine with russia's war. all of those set a very difficult backdrop, which is not to take away from the fact these are a disappointing set of results, but they also frame very clearly the choice we will see at the next general election, labour did not make as much progress in places like harlow, west keir starmer had said

they must win places like harlow, and you also see that where labour is in power, where people are actually feeling the impact of their policies, they are losing. they lost a by—election in wandsworth and to some independents against the loan traffic neighbourhoods in oxford. —— low traffic. i don't want to take away from the fact the result disappointing. labour's success in the local elections has seen it recapture control of a number of councils in places that could be key battlegrounds in the upcoming general election. one of those is redditch, bringing an end to six years of conservative leadership. our reporter, ben godfrey, has been getting the reaction from people in the area. labour's return to power in redditch might be seen as the beginning of the red wall rebuild, claiming 21 of 27 council seats. they'd promised a fresh start, to rejuvenate the town centre and keep the at—risk library exactly where it is. the library is the hub

and they stipulated i believe that they were going to keep the library there, which i think�*s really good idea. i'm very pleased. very pleased. need a change all around, really. i'm elated, really. ijust hope they pull their socks up and do something. but the mood among tory voters here was as damp as the drizzle—covered streets. i wouldn't vote labour if they were the last people on earth. it's going to be straight back to how it was before. rishi sunak needs a bit of a shock. i think he's got to realise that something's got to change. he seems to be in all this for himself and he's not looking after the average working person enough. should he be the leader of the conservatives going forward into an election? no, i think that we need boris back. the redditch election is usually pored over by westminster for an emerging national trend. yet here, bluntly, so many voters are failing to engage. in a couple of wards, only around one in five people

went to the ballot box. if they were to start putting obviously the people's thoughts first instead of their own, then obviously maybe everyone would have a different sort of view, but at the moment, everything's all one sided. the stuff that needs to be done is just not being listened to. so labour's thoughts here in redditch turn now to the general election, whenever the date may be, because they'll be thinking, well, can we actually overturn a conservative 16,000 majority at the 2019 election? the conservatives held onto walsall council but with some heavy lifting. here in bentley and darlaston north they fell behind labour, an independent and reform. sapphire harding is a student and grew up locally. she told me no party really connects with young people. when they do try and include us and stuff, they override our opinion with other opinions. and when we do speak out with issues that affect older generations as well, they're very much like, "ah, you're all young, you don't know anything"

kind of energy. the government has promised darlaston town centre more than £20 million of regeneration cash over the next decade. but it all depends on, will they actually do do what they promise, will they deliver? it's all about delivery. more work to do may be the message then from voters in redditch and walsall, but there's no denying there's also apathy in the air. ben godfrey, bbc news. let me take you to these live pictures injerusalem, where orthodox christians are marking holy saturday with a candlelit vigil injerusalem. thousands of christians filled jerusalem's old city on saturday for an important orthodox easter ritual, despite restrictions by israeli police. the holy fire ceremony drew huge crowds to the church of the holy sepulchre in occupied eastjerusalem, where israeli police control security.

it's the fourth of may today — which means it's star wars day. why? well, may the fourth be with you! the famous line is of course "may the force be with you", but it's an annualjoke that fans of the franchise love to make. it's also the 25th anniversary of the first prequel in the star wars saga — episode one: the phantom menace. it's been re—released in cinemas this weekend, and to mark the anniversary, mark hamill — aka luke skywalker — took the white house briefing yesterday. have a look. well, you know, i called him mr president, he said "you can call mejoe." and i said, "can i call you joe—bi wan kenobi?" he liked that.

but listen, i'm not really here to dominate. i have to turn it back over to our wonderful press secretary. so thank you all so much. thank you. finally this half hour, to one of the most read stories on the bbc news website and app, and it involves the latest song from north korean dictator kimjong—un — take a listen. this is called friendly father and it has gone viral on tiktok, with gen z users loving the synthy—electro pop. most are probably quite oblivious to the korean lyrics, which include "let's sing kim jong—un, the great leader, let's brag about kim jong—un, ourfriendly father." it the latest in a line

of propaganda pop songs churned out by the communist state in the past 50 years. for many american users, the irony�*s not been lost on them that it's gone viral on the chinese—owned app, while us lawmakers are trying to ban it. now it's time for a look at the weather with simon king. it's the bank holiday weekend and i think mix is probably the way way to describe the weather over the course of the weekend because while there is warm sunny spells for many, some sunshine and showers as well. this morning certainly has been wet across parts of northern england and northern ireland, that rain will continue this afternoon. the risk of some showers in the far north—west of scotland with sunny spells and sunshine in the south, there may be showers in the far south—east. those could be heavy and thundery, but one sunny spells across many southern areas. temperatures i7, 18 degrees. the areas. temperatures 17, 18 degrees.

the warmest may be in the west of scotland, 19 or 20 degrees. rain will continue tonight in northern ireland and scotland, but beneath cloudy skies, temperatures down to 9-11 , but cloudy skies, temperatures down to 9—11 , but clearerskies, quite a chilly night. temperatures tomorrow starting at 4—6 celsius. some cloud on sunday morning in devon, one or two showers developing. heavier showers in the north—east of scotland with thunder. the maximum temperature of 16—18 c and once again will feel quite pleasant when the sun comes out. interbank holiday monday, we have this weather front across the south and that will bring showers across southern england, and those showers could be heavy, maybe thundery into the afternoon. for much of north wales, the midlands

and eastern areas of england, it looks largely dry, sunny spells as well. temperatures on monday down a little, 14 degrees in aberdeen, 15 ori6 little, 14 degrees in aberdeen, 15 or 16 celsius further south and east across england. going through the rest of the week, high—pressure as building in and when we see higher pressure like this, certainly in spring, it's looking dry and sunny, and quite warm. temperatures responding nicely to that sunshine, you can see the temperatures will rise. 17—22 celsius by the end of the week into next weekend. on the whole, pretty settled week to come. at all from me. goodbye. —— that's all from me.

live from london. this is bbc news. the cia chief is in cairo to try to help mediate a gaza ceasefire deal between israel and hamas. rishi sunak insists the conservatives have "everything to fight for" , despite the party losing nearly half the seats contested in local elections.

if you look at the overacting picture and the purpose, purpose is to serve our country. this is the last upper for the election and we have made significant and very real progress. and why a north korean propoganda song has become a tiktok hit. hello, i'm samantha simmonds. we start with the latest on the israel gaza war, as efforts to secure a deal for the release of hostages and a ceasefire in gaza are intensifying. the head of the us central intelligence agency, william burns, is in cairo to help try to mediate a ceasefire deal between israel and hamas. hamas negotiators have also arrived in egypt for talks. foreign mediators have been waiting for a response from the group to an israeli proposal to halt the fighting for 40 days and to exchange hostages for palestinian prisoners.

unconfirmed reports in us media say israel has given hamas a week