you are watching the context. now — it's time for europe votes 202a. elections in the uk, elections in the european union. two weeks today, 400 million people across europe will vote to elect their representatives to the european parliament. they will choose 720 politicians from 27 countries in what many people consider the most pivotal vote the european union has staged since members were first elected in 1979. and by the end ofjuly, there will

be new parliaments in both the eu and uk, with implications for both sides, for those negotiations post—brexit, and in a whole range of areas. most notably security, migration and trade. now, for those who don't follow politics in brussels, you should know there are the institutions involved in the legislative process. there is the european commission, that shapes policy, the parliament, directly elected, that debates and vote on those bills, and the council of european leaders, that have an equal say in what is adopted. and at the top of the commission, the presidency. the present—day incumbent is ursula von der leyen of the centre—right european people's party. the epp is projected to win the most seats again. but von der lyon will need the backing of the full parliament and the council to win a second term. there are four others vying for her post. all of them were on stage this afternoon in brussels for the last debate before the vote. the key question for von der lyon, how will she deal with the parties some have labelled the hard—right,

the euroskeptics and nationalists, currently split within three groupings in the european parliament. how would she approach the italian prime minister giorgia meloni, who no doubt will remain prime minister, but is standing to become an mep, and is top of the list for her party, the brothers of italy. then we're going to see whether those who are pro—european — and she is clearly pro—european, against putin, she's been very clear on that one, and pro rule of law if this holds, and then we offer to work together. i'm speaking about members of the european parliament. i want to see where they group themselves. and then we work with the groups that are clearly, clearly pro—european, pro—ukraine against putin and for the rule of law. just to double check ms meloni's policies on lgbtqi+, for example, don't bother you. i have a complete different approach. ok, but that's not a red line. that's not a... i'm not speaking i'm not speaking of groups.

i'm speaking of parliamentarians that will go to different groups. and we will see, as we have seen with the discussion of the candidates, that it's not clear how the different groups will be composed and how they will settle themselves. and therefore, you have to choose principles and be very clear on these principles. i'm joined by eddy wax, political correspondent for politico, focused on the european parliament. i'm sure he watched the debate this afternoon, how do you think she did, what stood out for you? i afternoon, how do you think she did, what stood out for you?— what stood out for you? i think the only interesting _ what stood out for you? i think the only interesting and _ what stood out for you? i think the only interesting and fascinating - only interesting and fascinating moment of words when she put on the spot and she struggled where you played that there where ursula von der leyen made the most clear comments that sheen has made to date that she is willing to have some kind of cooperation, whether informal or formal with giorgia meloni, who we suspect will be collected in great number in a few

weeks' time. is collected in great number in a few weers' time-— weeks' time. is very interesting. i'm auoin weeks' time. is very interesting. i'm going to _ weeks' time. is very interesting. i'm going to bring _ weeks' time. is very interesting. i'm going to bring in _ weeks' time. is very interesting. i'm going to bring in something | weeks' time. is very interesting. - i'm going to bring in something that we got from one of those who was vying for herjob, the socialist and democratic candidate nicolas schmit, who says he would never work with the extreme right. and he critisized von der leyen�*s coalition for refusing to sign a declaration ruling it out. well, certainly i am ready to work with all the democratic forces but i _ do not consider that the ecr or id are democratic forces. our red lines have been clearly exposed. they have been exposed in the berlin declaration. in the declaration that many other parties have signed. unfortunately, epp did not want to sign and this is no alliance, no arrangement with the extreme right. this is clear and i would say that on certain issues, we need clarity and not ambiguity. the tricky thing is for ursula von der leyen because she is the

favourite here, is that this is a significant voting block which could be a lot bigger in the new parliament so if you are trying to get policy through as the commission is, in a crucialfive get policy through as the commission is, in a crucial five year period where people are crying out, europeans are crying out for more integration, you need that blog, you need to find a way to work with them, don't you? orare need to find a way to work with them, don't you? or are we headed into a period of stagnation? i them, don't you? or are we headed into a period of stagnation?- into a period of stagnation? i don't think so, i— into a period of stagnation? i don't think so, i think _ into a period of stagnation? i don't think so, i think the _ into a period of stagnation? i don't think so, i think the signs - into a period of stagnation? i don't think so, i think the signs have - think so, i think the signs have been there for months that this particular section of the hard right witches giorgia meloni's part of it is having warmer ties with ursula von der leyen. ursula von der leyen has made many trips to italy and has made a big public effort to reach out to her and build up those ties. and giorgia meloni herself in the european council where the meet, is also a bridge building figure with the highgate hungarian by mr victor orban. there is an alliance here or a nascent alliance, i think it is

also important for ursula von der leyen because as you said at the top of the programme, she needs the first vote and when she will really care about in the next iteration of the european parliament, is the vote confirming the next commission president. whoever that may be, as you say, the front runner is ursula von der leyen. they will need 361 meps in a secret vote to vote in favour of this commissioner, commission president, rather. i think that is certainly top of her mind when she is thinking about who she can get on board and that is in a context where the socialist may not do as well as they currently are and the greens will certainly not really be a stronger force as they really be a stronger force as they really were during that green wave that we saw five years ago across europe. that we saw five years ago across euro e. �* , . that we saw five years ago across euroe. v . . , that we saw five years ago across euroe. �*, ., ., , europe. it's a really good point that ou europe. it's a really good point that you make _ europe. it's a really good point that you make there _ europe. it's a really good point that you make there and - europe. it's a really good point that you make there and bear. europe. it's a really good point. that you make there and bear that europe. it's a really good point - that you make there and bear that in mind i this up. anders vistisen, from the far—right who represented the id group in the lead—up to the elections, took to social media to criticised the debate. this gathering of the eu's elite for a debate does not represent the people of europe, and is not democratic at all.

they have chosen to exclude the undersigned and the representative of ecr, the other right—wing group, even though together we represent 20—25% of all eu citizens. one of the other candidates on stage this afternoon, also vying for the top job, the italian sandro gozi from the centrist, pro—european party renew. i spoke to him yesterday in brussels, on the side of the rehearsals, and i asked him how important he views this upcoming vote for the european parliament. i see the risk that the european union is going to disappear politically because we are in a time of power politics. so either you give yourself the power to sit at the table or you're out of politics. so it is a transformation period for the eu. it is the most important period after the second world war because we, the world is in a new disorder.

the eu must be part of the reorganisation of the world without military power, without industrial power. it cannot do it all. when we look at the polls, we see a shift towards the hard right, towards the populist parties, the nationalist parties, the dutch centre right. the vvd, which is part of your renewed grouping, has just aligned itself with geert wilders party. this is a parliament that is expanding and yet your voice is shrinking. well, i mean, first of all, let's see what is going to happen on the night ofjune, because i never campaign only based on the opinion polls. i campaign to look at the results in the european parliament. i totally screwed we totally screwed as renew europe. and we have said very clearly and we put it on paper in our alliance pact, we rule out any coalition with extreme right. so, i mean, because... so the dutch the dutch vvd are out. that's we've made

a national decision. i cannot intervene on all the 27 national regional decisions. i wouldn't have made the decision. i think personally the mistake, but i cannot decide for the dutch parliament. i can decide for our position as renew in the european parliament and in the european parliament, we say no to the extreme right to an alliance with extreme right. what about the commission president? ursula von der leyen has said that she will seek to accommodate the hard right if it comes to pass, that they take a lot of seats. does she get your support? well, she has to choose. if she wants our support, she cannot open to the extreme right. i would like to remind toher that there is no difference between the extreme right of vox, of the peace of kaczynski, of georgia, moroni, of the move and the extreme right of marine le pen and matteo salvini is not because on certain issues, there are some groups of extreme right that made the right decision, like ukraine. then we can open our door to them. they are the same. there are two former extremists

and i really amazed and disappointed with this declaration of rousseau underlined. —— declaration of ursula von der leyen _ the closer she gets towards meloni, the more far she gets from us. one of the things that's come up again and again in our series is investment in the european union, within the european union and spending. the eu says publicly that it wants to spend more on defence, on energy, on technology, yet it also wants to restrict the budget. how do you square the circle? you don't square the circle. you have to get rid of this dogma of a budget of 1% of european gdp and at the same time saying that you want a european military power, a european power, you want to fill the gap in the innovation compared to washington or beijing. this budget has been conceived in 1988. i cannot remember what i was doing. i think i was a high school in 1988 and we want to go towards 2034 with a budget structure conceived in 1988. you cannot drive to the future looking at the rear—view mirror. and this is why we have

to keep the budget and we have to add new resources. it doesn't mean new taxation on companies or people, but introducing resources like we have done with the carbon tax or the external border of the european union. we want to make those who want to sell their product to our market pay if they made the product without respecting the new green rules that we have introduced in europe. this isjust an example. we have revised the emission trading schemes, so we have to produce new resources which first give us new financial means. second, help us to reach those common objectives that we have. we have decided together, such as the neutral carbon neutrality in 2015. this is the way, in my view. eddy wax is still with me, eddie,

this is a point that gordon brown the former british prime minister has made, he takes an interest in what is happening. he says that not all debt is bad debt and what the european union is going to spend on defence, integration on infrastructure and technology, it cannot work to a budget that was set in the 1980s. he has a point doesn't he? , ., , in the 1980s. he has a point doesn't he? , ,. ., he? some people such as emmanuel macron certainly _ he? some people such as emmanuel macron certainly believes _ he? some people such as emmanuel macron certainly believes so - he? some people such as emmanuel macron certainly believes so and - macron certainly believes so and there has been this plan here, or not a plan yet, but an idea, which ursula von der leyen has been dodging, rather, about whether to have commonjoint debt, common dodging, rather, about whether to have common joint debt, common debts to fund defensive spending because defence and security is really the hot topic in brussels at the moment was dubbed it whatever it is talking about. there is no eu army but there is all this talk about how to do morejoint procurement is all this talk about how to do more joint procurement and find money for common european defence

shield, how to make weapons and sync up shield, how to make weapons and sync up than different national armies. all of that will need money as a sandro gozi was saying and some people do want to mimic the post covid recovery fund which was called debt and was a watershed moment for the eu and now they want to do that with defence but there is urgency now with the euro war in ukraine and russia still continuing to stop i do not know if that is going to happen it does depend on what happens after the elections. it does depend on what happens after the elections-— the elections. eddie, do stay with us, we the elections. eddie, do stay with us. we have _ the elections. eddie, do stay with us, we have plenty— the elections. eddie, do stay with us, we have plenty more - the elections. eddie, do stay with us, we have plenty more to - the elections. eddie, do stay with us, we have plenty more to talk | us, we have plenty more to talk about in these elections. i want to bring our viewers some breaking news. we arejust bring our viewers some breaking news. we are just getting some reports from spain that a building has collapsed on the beach in palma de majorca which is very popular with british tourists, killing at least two people and injuring at least two people and injuring at

least 12 in the tourism hotspot. this is the first picture that we have had on social media. you can see that it is actually a low building and we are told that it is a restaurant. spanish media have reported that is a restaurant. the restaurant part of a hotel that has collapsed. two people killed. spanish services are saying that there are around 12 to 1a injuries of different severities. we will obviously bring you more on that when we have it. a building collapse there in majorca, in a resort that is very popular with british tourists in palma de majorca. coming up.... what does all this mean for uk—eu relations? and what if it labour does win the election here on the lithjuly — would that open the door to a rapprochment? we will get into that after the break.

welcome back. when it comes to foreign policy, the two parties sound remarkably similar — there is full—throated support for ukraine, a nuanced but careful approach to china, and there is support for israel's right to defend itself, mixed with that mounting concern over the death toll. but on europe there is some difference. keir starmer, who often campaigned to remain, and had a dalliance with a second referendum, says he's now much more pragmatic. but if he becomes prime minister, he has signalled he will pursue a closer trade and security agreement with the eu. so, is brussels listening? i have been speaking to the commissioner for competition margaret vesteger, who will be key to any future negotiation. polls in the uk suggest that a labour government is poised to take over. they say they want an improved relationship with the eu so they want a new veterinary agreement to help tackle the trade barriers. they want mutual recognition of professional qualifications, improved touring opportunities for musicians, just some of the things they're talking about. this would most certainly play into your field. are you open to a discussion

about improving the relationship or have you moved on? well, i think we are always open to find out ways to making the relationship smoother. also with the press and government, just in recent days, there has been very high level meetings exactly on these areas because the uk is a neighbour, it's a former member, it's a neighbour, it's a trade partner. so of course we want a good relationship. but of course the relationship cannot sort of wish away the fact that the uk left. but at the moment there seems to be less of a relationship between the uk and the european union than canada or china has with the european union. so there has to be an improvement somewhere, doesn't there, given the security challenges that both both parties face? yeah, no. well, i think you're right. i have a daughter living in london and just, you know, sending her a bit of something once in a while to encourage her. oh, my god, what i have to go

through in order to make that happen, i think everybody feels it. every business feels it that there are barriers to what was usually she says they are open to discussions but it takes two to tango, what happens if the party goes right and we have a leftist government here in the uk? i’m goes right and we have a leftist government here in the uk? i'm not sure the parliament _ government here in the uk? i'm not sure the parliament is _ government here in the uk? i'm not sure the parliament is going - government here in the uk? i'm not sure the parliament is going to - government here in the uk? i'm not sure the parliament is going to go . sure the parliament is going to go totally to the far right and i don't think that it would necessarily mean that labour is out in the cold or anything like that. i think the main problem facing labour from an anything like that. i think the main problem facing labourfrom an eu perspective, from a brussels perspective, from a brussels perspective is that the conversation here in brussels over the last five years has totally moved away from brexit, it did not get a mention here today. ursula von der leyen almost said a few months ago that she had forgotten about it, forgotten about having to handle brexit at the being of her mandate as president. the focus now is about enlargement, as it's called, bringing in new members of the eu,

focuses on the ukraine and the western balkans. that is going to be the challenge to labour is to get the challenge to labour is to get the attention of the eu.- the challenge to labour is to get the attention of the eu. indeed so. lots of things _ the attention of the eu. indeed so. lots of things going _ the attention of the eu. indeed so. lots of things going on _ the attention of the eu. indeed so. lots of things going on to - the attention of the eu. indeed so. lots of things going on to occupy i lots of things going on to occupy the mind of the commission at the moment. were out of time, thank you for your company, moment. were out of time, thank you foryour company, eddie. we are moment. were out of time, thank you for your company, eddie. we are back with the context on tomorrow night. now sport news. we're starting with the news that the west ham midfielder lucas paqueta been charged with breaching alleged betting rule breaches. this relates to a full game is over an 18 month period where it is alleged that back into the lid deliberately tried to get a card for a referee in order to try to inference betting markets. the fa investigation was triggered by suspicious betting patterns. the brazilian has until the 3rd ofjune

to provide a response but he has already denied any wrongdoing on social media saying i would fight with with my breath to clear my name. , ., ,., ~ ., name. here is our reporter. what they have — name. here is our reporter. what they have said. — name. here is our reporter. what they have said, as _ name. here is our reporter. what they have said, as you _ name. here is our reporter. what they have said, as you say, - name. here is our reporter. what they have said, as you say, in - name. here is our reporter. what l they have said, as you say, in their statement — they have said, as you say, in their statement is — they have said, as you say, in their statement is basically that he is intentionally seeking to receive a card for— intentionally seeking to receive a card for the purpose of effecting the betting markets in those games in order_ the betting markets in those games in order for— the betting markets in those games in order for one or more persons to profit _ in order for one or more persons to profit from — in order for one or more persons to profit from betting on of those matches _ profit from betting on of those matches. that is absolutely prohibited under football association regulations. i think there _ association regulations. i think there is— association regulations. i think there is a — association regulations. i think there is a very dim view taken of players — there is a very dim view taken of players who bet basically on matches, or instances they are involved — matches, or instances they are involved in. _ matches, or instances they are involved in, we don't know the detail, — involved in, we don't know the detail, as _ involved in, we don't know the detail, as i _ involved in, we don't know the detail, as i say, he denies it. but

if he _ detail, as i say, he denies it. but if he is _ detail, as i say, he denies it. but if he is found _ detail, as i say, he denies it. but if he is found guilty i suspect the punishment will be quite heavy. meanwhile, west ham have officially appointed julen lopategui as their manager. he has been out of a job since leaving the premier league last year. he agreed a deal with west ham earlier this month and succeeds david moyes who won the europa conference league with west ham last year. wayne rooney is said to have talks with plymouth about their vacant managerjob, his last appointment was a disappointing speu appointment was a disappointing spell at birmingham last season where he lost nine games out of 13. they are looking for a new coach after the dismissal last month of the previous manager. they know rooney from his previous time at everton academy. a couple of scottish football matches tonight and are currently advantage ross county in the first leg of the play—off final which decides the last team who goes up or down into the top flight. there into the final

few minutes and ross county are beating raith rovers 2—1. six goal of the season from a penalty in the second half and jack baldwin doubled their advantage with 20 minutes to go before sam stanton pulled one back for rows rovers. the second leg is on sunday. they have got three minutes of added time there at the moment. the scottish women's premier league play—off isjust moment. the scottish women's premier league play—off is just one game. dundee united havejust won it. fighting back from a goal down beating kilmarnock to stay in the top division they beat their runners—up to — one at falkirk stadium. some cricket now and england with men has beaten pakistan in the one—day international at derby. batting first at the county ground, england lost a steady flow of wickets before they dug in to make 44 on record beating score.

pakistan could not get near their target finishing on 209—9 after their 50 overs with england winning try their 50 overs with england winning by 37 runs. now some dance action because luke littler has just thrown a nine dart finish on the way to winning the premier league final at the 02 winning the premier league final at the o2 arena in london. it is the perfect score with the fewest darts to win a leg and the teenager beat luke humphries in the final thrilling the crowd with this incredible 11th leg and he eventually went on to win by 11 legs to seven. british cycling has received a major funding to seven. british cycling has received a majorfunding boost to seven. british cycling has received a major funding boost to secure the future of the men and women tour of britain. lloyds bank have signed a fine five year deal to sponsor events. it was cancelled last year because of financial problems. it starts in welshpool next year and finishes in greater manchester. i next year and finishes in greater manchester-— manchester. i think the biggest challenae manchester. i think the biggest challenge with _ manchester. i think the biggest challenge with british _ manchester. i think the biggest challenge with british cycling i manchester. i think the biggest challenge with british cycling is| challenge with british cycling is engaging with the people who enjoy cycling in various ways whether that

be active, leisure or taking part in our sport and also that we can drive commercial red revenue that can be reinvested back and our obvious deal is to make sure we are sustainable financially in the future as the world changes around us and becomes more complex place that is super important. we see new disciplines, we saw bmx freestyle in a tokyo debut and a really big showcase in glasgow. i think it will present some iconic images in paris and we are very keen to step forward and have a younger audience, different audience, and decelerate all the people that enjoy cycling.- audience, and decelerate all the people that enjoy cycling. people that en'oy cycling. there is a more on — people that enjoy cycling. there is a more on that _ people that enjoy cycling. there is a more on that and _ people that enjoy cycling. there is a more on that and all— people that enjoy cycling. there is a more on that and all the - people that enjoy cycling. there is a more on that and all the sport . people that enjoy cycling. there is| a more on that and all the sport on the bbc website but for me and the team it is goodbye. hello. for some of us, the rain over the last couple of days has felt relentless. we've seen more than 100 millimetres of rain falling in some locations in the space of 48 hours. this weather system swirled its way in from the near continent and then just sat in place, and so the rainjust kept on coming. and this area of low pressure is still going to be with us

through tonight and into tomorrow, but it will be weakening. it will be loosening its grip, so the rain will continue to ease off. some heavier bursts of rain for a time across the northern isles. still quite wet for a while across central and southern parts of scotland. could see some further flooding issues here. broadly speaking, though, the rain continuing to peter out through the night. and where we see some clear skies, particularly down towards the south of england, it will actually be a little on the chilly side, maybe down to five, six or seven degrees. but that's where we'll start tomorrow morning with some spells of sunshine. further north, a good part of wales, the midlands, certainly northern england, northern ireland and scotland seeing a lot of cloud. that cloud still producing some bits and pieces of rain and drizzle, but it certainly isn't going to be as wet as it has been over recent days. in the sunniest spots down towards the south—east of england, temperatures will get to 19—20 degrees. and actually it does look relatively warm for this coming weekend. there will be some spells of sunshine, but also some heavy and possibly thundery showers.

now, most places will actually see some dry weather on saturday. this little weather feature here trying to nose its way in from the continent. that may bring some showery rain for a timejust clipping into eastern counties of england. also a frontal system bringing cloud and rain into south—west england, the south—west of wales, parts of northern ireland by the end of the day. but in between, there should be a slice of sunshine and just one or two showers. and where we have that sunshine, temperatures peaking at 20—21 degrees. now, as we head into sunday, there'll still be some sunny spells around, but also some pretty hefty showers. they'll be quite hit and miss. some places may avoid the showers and stay dry, others will get a real drenching with some thunder and lightning mixing in. in the sunniest spots, though, temperatures again into the high teens, maybe up to around 20 degrees celsius. perhaps a little bit less warm on monday. still some spells of sunshine, but also some hefty showers, especially in the north of the uk.

tonight at ten — it's straight on the general election campaign trailfor party leaders. pressing the flesh, obligatory selfies and, yes, babies to admire, but election battle lines emerge quickly too. nigel farage ends the will he, won't he speculation, confirming that he will not stand for reform uk. and the mad dash in parliament to pass bills before it dissolves tomorrow — victims of the post office scandal will have their convictions quashed, but phasing out smoking may not happen. all day in there, there have been high—stakes negotiations — which laws to push through,

which tojunk. also tonight... ten—year—old leah harrison, who died in a mudslide on a school trip in north yorkshire — her family say she was a happy, bubbly little girl. look at the state of it. we're inside myanmar, with rebel forces battling the military regime. and we speak to manchester city star phil foden, ahead of the fa cup final this weekend. and on newsnight at 10.30pm — we'll go deeper behind the headlines and speak live to key players on today's big stories. plus, we take a first look at what's on tomorrow's front pages. good evening. the party leaders' general election

campaigning marathon has started in earnest — with rishi sunak clocking up