admitted to the public inquiry that she was very aware that she had let the subpostmasters down — although she insisted she did not deal in deception. but she was accused by lawyers for some of those affected of living in "la—la land" and being in a cloud of denial about her role. emma simpson reports from the inquiry. celebrations three years ago as the first wrongful convictions are overturned in court. now, hundreds more former sub—postmasters are having their names cleared. lee williamson on the right was given a suspended sentence for fraud in 2014 which is now being quashed. there's always been delay or frustration to delay the process. so to hear it is relief. maybe other emotions will come

to light when it settles in. so, who is to blame? did you put profits before people? it is day three for paula vennells at the public inquiry. time for the sub postmasters�* lawyers to ask questions. you still continue to live in a cloud of denial. - and they didn't hold back. i didn't know, nobody- told me, i can't remember, i wasn't shown this. i relied on the lawyers. i have tried to do this to the very best of my ability. looking under that rock you're going to find a problem it will devastate the post office. you couldn't let that happen, could you? i loved the post office. i gave it...

i worked... ..as hard as i possibly could to deliver... ..the best post office for the uk. she was asked about this episode of the one show and the case ofjo hamilton. she discussing it in an e—mail. did the mask slip? i made a mistake in this e—mail. is the reality what you said here reflected the behind closed doors attitude to these postmasters?

no. she has been rude to all of us. if she just sorted it out i she could have ended it. what? eight years ago? royal mail was split and privatised, the inquiry heard she removed a reference to horizon in a prospectus for the post office. you wanted to defuse it, because it was going to be immensely politically damaging, both to the post office itself, but also to the privatisation. i don't think it was ever my... ..style to try to please or to keep in with people. but she listed it in an appraisal as a key achievement that year. she admitted letting them down. but she says there was no deception.

it is now up to the inquiry chair tojudge her evidence. the united nations�* top court has ruled that israel must "immediately halt its military offensive" in rafah in southern gaza. the international court ofjustice, which rules on disputes between countries, said "the catastrophic situation" in gaza had deteriorated and described humanitarian conditions in rafah as "disastrous". israeli prime minister benjamin netanyahu's office again rejected allegations of genocide by israel, calling them false and outrageous. lucy williamson reports from jerusalem. israel's soldiers have been ordered to push into rafah. israel's leaders have been ordered to stop. footage from both sides shows the fighting as israeli troops edged closer to the city centre. but the un's highest court today focused on civilians, those still there, and the 800,000 who have fled. israel must immediately halt its military offensive. and any other action in the rafah

governorate which may inflict on the palestinian group in gaza conditions of life that could bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part. israel says this is a precise and limited operation, but satellite pictures of rafah show the destruction less than two weeks after the assault. today, israel's army said it had recovered the bodies of three hostages from northern gaza. one member of the war cabinet said israel had to keep fighting to return its hostages and safeguard its citizens, and would continue to act according to international law. foreign criticism of israel's actions in gaza is growing. but prime minister benjamin netanyahu, or bibi, as he's known, is comfortable being seen as the staunch defender of israel's security under siege. i don't like bibi. to say the least. i don't think he's a war criminal.

it's very easy to sit miles away and criticise what's happening. do we have a better alternative? i don't really care about what people are thinking about us. you can see that if we do care about what people think, so we should stop the war. no, we are here. we are israel. therefore, it's really important for us to have a support and we don't get it. the rafah offensive has blocked key aid routes through southern gaza. supplies brought in via a new us pier, quickly looted. the court today ordered israel to reopen the rafah crossing. two sides driven by promises to protect civilians, gaza ns and israelis. lucy williamson, bbc news, jerusalem. back now to the election and a reminder of the breaking news. cabinet minister michael gove is to stand down at the election —

he's been the mp for surrey heath for since 2005. he joins almost 120 members of parliament who are stepping down and not standing again. meanwhile the leaders of the main political parties have been back out on the campaign trail after the surprise announcement of a general election on the 4th ofjuly. there's been a row during the day over election tv debates — how many there should be and who should take part. during today's campaigning rishi sunak accused the labour leader, sir keir starmer, of lacking the "courage" to take part in weekly televised debates during the campaign. i have heard this morning that he said he wanted to debate the british people rather than me. i think what the british people want are answers. answers to the questions about what he would actually do if he became prime minister and how much it is going to cost them in higher taxes. i think those are the answers he should be providing. for my part, i am very happy to debate keir starmer so that i can set out what i want to do for this country, taking bold action, working towards a clear plan and delivering a secure future for everyone. that is the choice in this election. it is either going to be keir starmer or me that is prime

minister onjuly the 5th and he should want to debate me, i want to debate him. i hope that he takes up the offer. labour had indicated that rather than the six showdowns proposed by the tories, keir starmer would agree to meet rishi sunak on the two broadcasters with the largest audience — the bbc and itv. here's sir keir on the issue. there will be debates, but i could debate the prime minister once or 100 times, i know what he is going to say, he is going to stand there and say everything is fine, the cost of living crisis is over, the nhs is brilliant, nobody is struggling. there will be debates, but i could debate the prime we hear that every week at prime minister's questions, we have that debate. i want to talk directly to voters about what labour is offering and why this is an election which is all about change. the labour leader also firmly ruled out any deals with the snp after the general election. he said there was "no way" his party could work with scottish nationalists. meanwhile, the leader of the liberal democrats ed davey

has been on a campaign trail too. he's been speaking to voters in eastbourne. it's so good to be here in eastbourne because liberal democrats are bringing change to eastbourne and we are bringing change across our country, particularly across the south of england where everybody knows now that if you want to beat the conservatives you vote liberal democrat. and people want the conservatives out. they have made such a mess of our country, on the economy, on the health service, on the environment, on things like sewage, and we are determined to beat as many conservative mps as we possibly can. the former labour leader, jeremy corbyn, has confirmed he will stand as an independent at the election — in his seat in islington in north london. he's been suspended from labour since 2020 over the party's handling of anti—semitism claims when he was in post, and he's now been expelled. 0ur political editor chris mason reports. two leaders who want to convince you that they deserve to be

prime minister go head—to—head in the bbc prime ministerial debate. not even five years ago. how things have changed. twicejeremy corbyn led labour into a general election. this time around, he will be competing against the party he once ran. i am standing to be an independent candidate for the people of islington north. he announced his plan in this social media video today. he turned down my request for an interview. jeremy corbyn used to applaud keir starmer. look at them here. you won't see pictures like these again. mr corbyn was suspended from the parliamentary labour party in 2020, when in response to a report into the party's handling of anti—semitism complaints, he suggested the scale of the problem had been dramatically overstated. can you confirm that jeremy corbyn has been kicked out of the labour party,

and are you glad to see the back of him? jeremy corbyn will make his own decisions. i think he is standing as an independent. that is his choice, we will have an excellent labour candidate in islington north, as we have excellent labour candidates across the country. this afternoon labour picked their candidate, local councillor praful nargrund. and there will of course be others wanting to be elected as the mp for this part of north london. the liberal democrats, the green party and reform uk are among those who have already selected a candidate here, and others are likely to soon. for plenty in political circles, what is happening here is not wildly surprising, but it does illustrate so vividly the changing of the guard in the labour party, and expose the anger of some on the left at keir starmer�*s leadership. but from sir keir�*s perspective, a noisy row here gives him something to point to when he makes the case that the labour party has changed. i think back to 15 years ago,

when this party was torn apart over the issue of vietnam, because we had a labour government supporting the american imperialist adventures in vietnam. jeremy corbyn�*s been an mp for more than a0 years. he will have to beat the party he was a member of for decades to still be representing people here, in six weeks�* time. chris mason, bbc news in north london. and here is the list of the other candidates who have been selected, so far, to fight in the constituency of islington north on fourthjuly. the bbc will have a full list of candidates once nominations close. parliament itself packs up for the election tonight. dozens of mps are standing down, in

breaking news, michael gove will be standing down. one of those who gave their fairwell — is the former prime minister and outgoing maidenhead mp theresa may. it is important. powerful as this place is that mps always recognise that there are those who do not have that power and mps to be there for everybody and should give that voice to the voiceless. there has been work on a number of issues across this house to do just that over the years and i'm pleased to have been able to help in some of that work. my final comment about responsibility is the job about being a member of parliament. i think it is the best job in the world. of course, it has its frustrations, particularly when you're in government and people don't vote in your own side!

laughter. three times! but there we are. we get over these things, we carry on, we come back. but it is a really importantjob, and the key to it is to represent constituents. and i worry, and i wouldn't have said this elsewhere — i worry that today, there are too many people in politics you think it is about them, their ambitions, their careers and not about the people they serve. and being a member of parliament is a public service. we are here to serve our country and to serve our constituents. i've enjoyed my time, as i've indicated. it's had its ups and downs, but i've enjoyed my time. i can say to all of these benches, i've spent 13 years in opposition. you do not want to do that.

go out there and fight to make sure the conservative government is reelected. i wish my successor in the new maidenhead constituency all the very best and to all those who return to this chamber after the election. i ask only that they remember the importance of our democracy, that they can be a voice for the voiceless and that theirjob here is not to advance themselves, but to serve the people who elected them. here, here. meanwhile, harriet harman, who was also once leader of her party for a time in 2015 — gave herfinal speech to members — revealing he's stood up in the house more than 9,000 times. so, this is my last speech. the but the house — so, this is my last speech. the but the house of so, this is my last speech. the but the house of commons's so, this is my last speech. the but the house of commons's records so, this is my last speech. the but the house of commons's records shows that i have _

the house of commons's records shows that i have spoken this chamber 9.880 _ that i have spoken this chamber 9,880 times. when you time to on. but every time i have spoken in this chamber, i have had a profound sense of how important this house is and what a great honour and privilege it is to be a member of this parliament. and through good times and bad, i have felt that a great sense of responsibility and privilege to my constituents. harriet harman there. craig mackinlay, the mp who returned to parliament this week after having his hands and feet amputated following sepsis, has announced he will not be contesting his thanet south seat at the election. mr mackinlay received a standing ovation when he entered the house of commons on wednesday, just hours before rishi sunak announced the election. he said his return was an experience he'd "neverforget".

but, after 36 hours of intense soul—searching he's accepted he would find the rigours of an election campaign impossible at this time. a bit more on the breaking news that michael gove isjust a bit more on the breaking news that michael gove is just going to stand at the election. this from the liberal democrats. they have claimed that michael gove is running scared after he announced he would not stand for reelection. sarah only said...

that is some reaction from the root liberal democrats, who are set in the michael gove. we will expect a bit more reaction for that news. he has been the in mp since 2005 and his constituency. the average household should save the average household should save around £122 a year after the energy watchdog ofgem announced that the price cap — which is the maximum amount paid for a unit of energy — will go down. at the moment, the cap

is just under 1700 a year for an average home in england, wales and scotland. from july, it'll drop to £1,568 a year. 0ur cost of living correspondent colletta smith reports. after two years in a rising cycle, energy prices are now beginning to tumble. is it going to help to be charged a little less through the summer? any expense cut�*s an expense cut, so it does definitely help. you need that. right now, things are getting tougher and tougher. you've just got to carry on, keep moving, can't, you know... you know... stay as positive as you can. more customers have been coming here to pauline�*s laundrette since the energy crisis began. you know how tight people's budgets are at the moment. that's right, yes. people using our driers a lot more, and have done throughout the winter, because of that, and even washing machine — instead of two hours in the washing machine, 25 minutes here. it's always a struggle, but then again, it's how you live. i'm down to the bone. our data is showing that millions of people are in the red already, and are struggling to keep up with their essential costs

from month—to—month, so it feels like really it's is going to offer quite little comfort to those households who are still really facing cost of living pressures. the regulator says standing charges shouldn't increase injuly, and the price you are charged for each unit of gas and electricity will both fall. before you rush to spend that extra £122, it's worth remembering that if you pay by direct debit your bills are unlikely to fall, because those monthly payments are already averaged out to cover the expensive winter months. if you on a prepayment meter, you are less likely to feel the benefit over the summer because that is when people are spending less on energy any way. but lots of people can't cut back on the energy they use, even in the summer. deborah depends on charging her wheelchairs in order to get out and to move around her home. the lowering is still not enough to pay for my wheelchair to be charged every day, and this time i've had to put my electric, my gas and electric bill, energy bill, on my credit card and hopefully pay for it

the following month, when i will have a bit more money. whatever the weather this summer, there is another price rise forecast for the autumn. coletta smith, bbc news in ashton—under—lyne. back now to the election. we are only a day two. so, we're only into day two of the campaigning for the general election but there is a lot to discuss. who better to chew over the day than the newscast team — i should say this was recorded before the news that michael gove would not stand. hello, chris. 0urfriend has his own theme tune when he is coming on. name that tune. tune plays

to recognise that tv show theme? i'm to recognise that tv show theme? i“n struggling to place it. afternoon's struggling to place it. afternoon�*s 90s, green peppers. cooking show. james cook is here! hello, i have them. does that mean we can't afford you very often? we will be talking to you because the election very much has been in scotland for the last few days. one of the other things is parliament is getting through this thing called washup. they had the pass the legislation that allows pubs to stay open late. we

got the conservative peer lord sharp using some quite un—parliamentary language. figs using some quite un-parliamentary lanaauae. �* , using some quite un-parliamentary lanaauae. a using some quite un-parliamentary lanaauae. r ., said, it gives me particular pleasure _ said, it gives me particular pleasure that _ said, it gives me particular pleasure that the... - said, it gives me particular. pleasure that the... properly said, it gives me particular- pleasure that the... properly on the last _ pleasure that the... properly on the last please — pleasure that the... properly on the last. please drink— pleasure that the... properly on the last. please drink responsibly. - pleasure that the... properly on the last. please drink responsibly. but. last. please drink responsibly. but the aood last. please drink responsibly. the good thing about parliament last. please drink responsibly.- the good thing about parliament is that everything is recorded in minute details in this thing called hansard, and you can search for that by keyword. i have the hansard website up going back to 1980, and i think we could do a little game to do other words for drunk. james, do you want to give me one? billie do other words for drunk. james, do you want to give me one? blue turned to. i you want to give me one? blue turned t0- i wondered — you want to give me one? blue turned to. i wondered if— you want to give me one? blue turned to. i wondered if you _ you want to give me one? blue turned to. i wondered if you say _ you want to give me one? blue turned to. i wondered if you say that! - to. i wondered if you say that! a aood to. i wondered if you say that! a good scottish — to. i wondered if you say that! a good scottish word _ to. i wondered if you say that! a good scottish word for - to. i wondered if you say that! a good scottish word for drunk. i to. i wondered if you say that! a i good scottish word for drunk. how to. i wondered if you say that! a - good scottish word for drunk. how do ou sell good scottish word for drunk. how do you spell that? _ good scottish word for drunk. how do you spell that? not _ good scottish word for drunk. how do you spell that? not so _ good scottish word for drunk. how do you spell that? not so i _ good scottish word for drunk. how do you spell that? not so i spelled - good scottish word for drunk. how do you spell that? not so i spelled it. i

you spell that? not so i spelled it. -- that's how- _ you spell that? not so i spelled it. -- that's how. march _ you spell that? not so i spelled it. -- that's how. march the - you spell that? not so i spelled it. -- that's how. march the 28th, - you spell that? not so i spelled it. i -- that's how. march the 28th, 2019, —— that's how. march the 28th, 2019, and a debate about beer taxation and pubs. you want to guess who it was? mary black. pubs. you want to guess who it was? mary black-— mary black. no, it was jamie stone. chfis? mary black. no, it was jamie stone. chris? let's— mary black. no, it was jamie stone. chris? let's go _ mary black. no, it was jamie stone. chris? let's go to _ mary black. no, it was jamie stone. chris? let's go to tipsy. _ mary black. no, it was jamie stone. chris? let's go to tipsy. very - chris? let's go to tipsy. very chris mason word _ chris? let's go to tipsy. very chris mason word for— chris? let's go to tipsy. very chris mason word for drunk! _ chris? let's go to tipsy. very chris mason word for drunk! 12 - chris? let's go to tipsy. very chris mason word for drunk! 12 times. l mason word for drunk! 12 times. including ed bowles, injune 2014. he talks about the then education secretary —— ed balls. it will still be fun, but a very sober episode. it's adam in the studio. and chris.

and james. you have gone to high and no “acket, and james. you have gone to high and no jacket. chris _ and james. you have gone to high and no jacket, chris has _ and james. you have gone to high and no jacket, chris has gone _ and james. you have gone to high and no jacket, chris has gone jacket - and james. you have gone to high and no jacket, chris has gone jacket no - no jacket, chris has gone jacket no tie, i have gone for neither. that the impartiality you will get. james, the reason we summoned you is because there's been quite a lot of activity in scotland for the election on the first day of full campaigning. rishi sunak made it one of his stops. i campaigning. rishi sunak made it one of his sto s. ~ , , campaigning. rishi sunak made it one of his stos. ~ , , ., of his stops. i think this is a sianal of his stops. i think this is a signal of — of his stops. i think this is a signal of things _ of his stops. i think this is a signal of things to - of his stops. i think this is a signal of things to come. i of his stops. i think this is a - signal of things to come. whether this election, the route number ten might— this election, the route number ten might run_ this election, the route number ten might run to scotland, and for circular, — might run to scotland, and for circular, might ron along the river quiet _ circular, might ron along the river quiet -- — circular, might ron along the river quiet -- four— circular, might ron along the river quiet. —— four sir keir. there's a river— quiet. —— four sir keir. there's a river behind _ quiet. —— four sir keir. there's a

river behind me. why is that? about a decade _ river behind me. why is that? about a decade ago, there was a big shift, a decade ago, there was a big shift, a big _ a decade ago, there was a big shift, a big shitt— a decade ago, there was a big shift, a big shift in— a decade ago, there was a big shift, a big shift in support from labour to the _ a big shift in support from labour to the snp. for decades, labour would _ to the snp. for decades, labour would send dozens of mps. how many return? one. so, keir stamer— mps. how many return? one. so, keir starmer hopes to change that and there _ starmer hopes to change that and there are — starmer hopes to change that and there are some signs that he's right to be _ there are some signs that he's right to be helpful if you look at the polls. — to be helpful if you look at the polls, which suggest that some of the snp _ polls, which suggest that some of the snp support has been fading away and some _ the snp support has been fading away and some of the labour support has been _ and some of the labour support has been building back up. that's why he's here — been building back up. that's why he's here to capitalise on it and try to _ he's here to capitalise on it and try to win— he's here to capitalise on it and try to win seats here in glasgow. rishi _ try to win seats here in glasgow. rishi sunak, the conservatives have six seats— rishi sunak, the conservatives have six seats in— rishi sunak, the conservatives have six seats in scotland, and i could say that — six seats in scotland, and i could say that some of them are not the same _ say that some of them are not the same as— say that some of them are not the same as last time. nonetheless, they have six— same as last time. nonetheless, they have six seats. actually, this might be one _ have six seats. actually, this might be one part — have six seats. actually, this might be one part of the uk where

pollsters suggest the tories might not find _ pollsters suggest the tories might not find their support slipping at this election. it's a matter for voters — this election. it's a matter for voters at _ this election. it's a matter for voters at the end of the day. down in the _ voters at the end of the day. down in the south — voters at the end of the day. down in the south of scotland, where those _ in the south of scotland, where those conservative seats are in the country. _ those conservative seats are in the country. the — those conservative seats are in the country, the tories are pretty hopeful— country, the tories are pretty hopeful that they might hang onto them _ hopeful that they might hang onto them. maybe even hopeful that... why them. maybe even hopefulthat... why is that? why — them. maybe even hopeful that... is that? why do them. maybe even hopeful that... tang is that? why do you them. maybe even hopeful that... ttariy is that? why do you think them. maybe even hopeful that... tta�*iy is that? why do you think there's that different dynamic? tiara is that? why do you think there's that different dynamic? two reasons i think. one. — that different dynamic? two reasons i think. one, the _ that different dynamic? two reasons i think. one, the union, _ that different dynamic? two reasons i think. one, the union, the - that different dynamic? two reasons i think. one, the union, the fact - i think. one, the union, the fact that— i think. one, the union, the fact that the — i think. one, the union, the fact that the constitution and some of those _ that the constitution and some of those areas particularly is still in play. _ those areas particularly is still in play, particularly down the border with england, and the issue of oil and gas _ with england, and the issue of oil and gas in — with england, and the issue of oil and gas in the northeast. and who is best placed _ and gas in the northeast. and who is best placed to protect aberdeen and its status _ best placed to protect aberdeen and its status. if not for me to say whether— its status. if not for me to say whether or _ its status. if not for me to say whether or not the tories actually

are the _ whether or not the tories actually are the authentic voice on either matter. — are the authentic voice on either matter, but clearly they hope they can be _ matter, but clearly they hope they can be. other parties disagree. it�*s can be. other parties disagree. it's so can be. other parties disagree. it�*s so interesting, because one of labour's big pledges is about green energy and decarbonising by 2030. the conservatives attack that as an unrealistic goal that might cost the taxpayer money to get here. at least that's what the tory attack is uk—wide. in scotland, they say that's a labour threat to jobs in places like the oil and gas industry in their droves.— in their droves. also treading a fine line and _ in their droves. also treading a fine line and oil, _ in their droves. also treading a fine line and oil, the _ in their droves. also treading a fine line and oil, the fuel - fine line and oil, the fuel that drove — fine line and oil, the fuel that drove the _ fine line and oil, the fuel that drove the rise in the scottish nationalism way back in the 605 and into the _ nationalism way back in the 605 and

into the 705. the idea and the famous — into the 705. the idea and the famous campaign face, it'5 famou5 campaign face, it'5 scotland's oil. it could have been scotland'5 oil. it could have been untit— scotland'5 oil. it could have been until snp— scotland's oil. it could have been until snp i5 scotland's oil. it could have been until snp is blue in the face. it didn't — until snp is blue in the face. it didn't. whether or not they're right doesn't _ didn't. whether or not they're right doesn't matter any more. the issue 5till resonates, and the snp are butted _ 5till resonates, and the snp are butted in — 5till resonates, and the snp are pulled in both directions on that subject — pulled in both directions on that sub'ect. , ., , . pulled in both directions on that sub'ect. , . , . ., pulled in both directions on that sub'ect. , ., , . ., subject. chris, we have such a good reminder of— subject. chris, we have such a good reminder of devolution _ subject. chris, we have such a good reminder of devolution and - subject. chris, we have such a good reminder of devolution and where l reminder of devolution and where power lies. when you are at that event a few days ago, the unveiled his six first steps, got even more confusing because some of those steps apply only england because the uk government doesn't have the powers to deliver the steps in scotland. ~ , ,., , ., ., scotland. absolutely, the nature of default uk is _ scotland. absolutely, the nature of default uk is that _ scotland. absolutely, the nature of default uk is that many _ scotland. absolutely, the nature of default uk is that many of- scotland. absolutely, the nature of default uk is that many of the - default uk is that many of the levers of domestic political change, should a government seek to change

things, if you sit in westminster, those levers will only reach the borders of england. there will be decisions taken in those policy areas in edinburgh for scotland in cardiff or wales. not that the powers of those three are identical. you do get a sense of that all the time. you get curious uses of words like country, nation and state. they all have particular definitions, but they are used often interchangeably as if they all mean the same thing. talking about constitutional affairs, the piece that you wrote about the snp election launch in edinburgh was fascinating for all the important policy things, but the thing i really remember is the bit that the road at the start saying this election took them by surprise.