we haven't had them _ because of the conservative party. he's counting on a level of fury with the existing government — meaning that no one really pays that much attention to what he'd do if he was actually in office. our panel tonight isjoe twyman, from the polling company deltapoll, and melissa sigodo, from the daily mirror. first, the latest headlines. the united nations says more than a million people in gaza are facing catastrophic levels of starvation by the middle of next month. israel is under pressure to allow more aid across the border, and doctors fear the situation will only get worse, especially for young children. tiktok says it offered the us government the power to temporarily shut the app down, in an attempt to address concerns politicians had over data protection and national security concerns. it was revealed in a legal

submission, as tiktok fights a ban in america. four members of britain's richest family have been sentenced to jail by a court in switzerland, for exploiting their domestic staff, who'd been brought overfrom india to work in their villa in geneva. during the trial, the prosecutor claimed the hindujas spent more on their pet dog than their servants. they say they'll appeal. a chief constable in the uk who lied about his military history, exaggerating his rank, length of service, and achievements has been dismissed for gross misconduct. nick adderley, of northamptonshire police, claimed he'd reached the rank of lieutenant and that he was a military negotiator in haiti in the 19805. the leader of reform uk, nigel farage, has claimed that the ukraine war had been "provoked" by europe and nato. mr farage told nick robinson in an edition of the panorama interviews that he'd previously said

he admired vladimir putin as a "political operator" but "disliked him as a person". this is the nonsense, you know, you can pick any figure, - current or historical, . and say, you know, did they have good aspects? and if you said, "well, - they were very talented in one area," then suddenly you're the biggest supporter. - yeah, no, but you're right about that, mr farage. and i'm not making that point, of course, we could take anything you say out of context. i'm doing it for a different reason — you want to be prime minister, that's what you want to be. and this is — europe is at war. now when the war happened, the big war, when vladimir putin sent his troops across the border in �*22, you blamed the west, not him, you said... right. ..i'lljust read it to you, then you can react, that, on a tweet, "it was a consequence of eu and nato expansion." yes. is that a judgment you stand by? right, i'll tell you - what you don't know. i stood up in the european - parliament in 2014, and i said, and i quote, "there will be

a war in ukraine". - why did i say that? it was obvious to me _ that the ever—eastward expansion of nato and the european union was giving this man a reason i to his russian people to say, i "they're coming for us again," and to go to war. but you were echoing him. i was — sorry? you were echoing him, that's what putin says. no, no, no, sorry, i'd been saying this actually since the 1990s. - that's a little portion from the interview, nick robinson with nigel farage earlier today. let's discuss it in a bit more detail with our panelists tonight, a reminder of who they are. joe twyman, from the polling company deltapoll, and melissa sigodo from the daily mirror. nick began showing nigel farage some of those polls that there's been a pump for reform uk, a bond that's

quite significant as it puts them close to the reform have been the success story, not just _ reform have been the success story, notiust due — reform have been the success story, notjust due to reform have been the success story, not just due to the election campaign, but overthe not just due to the election campaign, but over the entire calendar— campaign, but over the entire calendar year, campaign, but over the entire calendaryear, if campaign, but over the entire calendar year, if you go back to the end of— calendar year, if you go back to the end of last — calendar year, if you go back to the end of last year, they were really on a _ end of last year, they were really on a low— end of last year, they were really on a low figure is comparatively, fluctuating around three, five, 6%, but since _ fluctuating around three, five, 6%, but since the campaign began, and particularly since nigel farage announced that he would be the new leader_ announced that he would be the new leader of— announced that he would be the new leader of the party, and that he was running _ leader of the party, and that he was running in _ leader of the party, and that he was running in clacton, they really has been _ running in clacton, they really has been momentum behind the party, and momentum _ been momentum behind the party, and momentum is so important, but, having _ momentum is so important, but, having said — momentum is so important, but, having said that, it really is putting _ having said that, it really is putting this in context. there has been _ putting this in context. there has been lots — putting this in context. there has been lots of talk not least from farage — been lots of talk not least from farage himself about reforming ahead of the _ farage himself about reforming ahead of the -- _ farage himself about reforming ahead of the —— conservatives. —— reform uk. of the —— conservatives. —— reform uk~ there — of the —— conservatives. —— reform uk. there have been 16 polls published, just in the last week, that have — published, just in the last week, that have fieldwork dates post nigel farage's _ that have fieldwork dates post nigel farage's announcement. nine of those show the _ farage's announcement. nine of those show the conservatives ahead, four

of them _ show the conservatives ahead, four of them show a tie, and only three show— of them show a tie, and only three show reform head, only one of those shows _ show reform head, only one of those shows that _ show reform head, only one of those shows that being more than a by one point _ shows that being more than a by one point there — shows that being more than a by one point. there are questions around that _ point. there are questions around that if_ point. there are questions around that if you — point. there are questions around that. if you add all of that out, the average is that the conservatives are still three points ahead, _ conservatives are still three points ahead, so— conservatives are still three points ahead, so it is definitely moving in reform _ ahead, so it is definitely moving in reform uk's direction, but even in the share — reform uk's direction, but even in the share of the vote can be a lot ahead _ the share of the vote can be a lot ahead and — the share of the vote can be a lot ahead and to translate that the share _ ahead and to translate that the share of— ahead and to translate that the share of the vote to seat is quite a challenge — share of the vote to seat is quite a challen . e. share of the vote to seat is quite a challenue. ~ , ., challenge. 0k, melissa, in that interview. _ challenge. 0k, melissa, in that interview, there _ challenge. 0k, melissa, in that interview, there were - challenge. 0k, melissa, in that interview, there were some - challenge. 0k, melissa, in that- interview, there were some revealing moments, particularly when it nick robinson asked mr faraj about foreign policy, about his attitude towards vladimir putin. part of that, he said, was as if mr faraj sees himself as a credible leader of the opposition one day, perhaps even a prime minister, he needs to be able to answer those questions. what do you make of what his responses were? i do you make of what his responses were? ~ ., , ., , were? i think it was quite worrying and nick, obviously _ were? i think it was quite worrying and nick, obviously rightly - were? i think it was quite worrying j and nick, obviously rightly pointed out this issue of russia in the war thatis out this issue of russia in the war that is currently raging on, if he

does become at the prime minister, what does that mean, because it seems like he is making excuses for why this what is happening and why vladimir putin has started the war. 50 that is quite concerning and i so that is quite concerning and i don't know what that would mean for britain, because as we have seen in the last two weeks, they have been cyber attacks carried out by russia, on the nhs, where people's data has been published, people's sensitive data has been published twice. so it is really scary to hear nigel farage, who would say such a thing. let mejust to farage, who would say such a thing. let me just to bring you this statement, both of you, we have heard from the home secretary responding to that claim it back the war in the uk, that isjust mr faraj echoing thatjustification war in the uk, that isjust mr faraj echoing that justification from war in the uk, that isjust mr faraj echoing thatjustification from mr putin for the vile invasion of

ukraine. some of the things he has said in the past, even about the kingdom of almost come back to haunt him. , ., , ., ., him. there is a question about whether it _ him. there is a question about whether it will _ him. there is a question about whether it will actually - him. there is a question about| whether it will actually matter, whether— whether it will actually matter, whether it will actually matter, whether it will actually matter, whether it will have an impact. ultimately, his supporters are, essentially, supportive of him and his positions. so they will simply say his positions. so they will simply sav that— his positions. so they will simply say that nigel farage was speaking in advance of what actually happened and told _ in advance of what actually happened and told the truth. of course, that doesn't _ and told the truth. of course, that doesn't align with what most people in this— doesn't align with what most people in this country believe, either back then or— in this country believe, either back then or now. — in this country believe, either back then or now, but nonetheless for nigel— then or now, but nonetheless for nigel farage's the strongest supporters, i imagine this will either— supporters, i imagine this will either be _ supporters, i imagine this will either be essentially rejected, or simply— either be essentially rejected, or simply accepted as something that the mainstream media are otherwise ignorind _ the mainstream media are otherwise ignorind i_ the mainstream media are otherwise ignoring. i don't think there is much — ignoring. i don't think there is muchjustification for ignoring. i don't think there is much justification for believing that, _ much justification for believing that, but— much justification for believing that, but nonetheless i think that is what _ that, but nonetheless i think that is what will happen.— that, but nonetheless i think that is what will happen. another thing i thou . ht is what will happen. another thing i thought was — is what will happen. another thing i

thought was interesting _ is what will happen. another thing i thought was interesting was - is what will happen. another thing i thought was interesting was nick'sl thought was interesting was nick's line of questioning when he asked nigel farage, is your intent to take over the right wing of british politics? if you look at some of the polls, the idea that reform uk could take some of the conservative party's core base voters this time around? i party's core base voters this time around? ~ . �* , party's core base voters this time around? ,, ., �* , ., party's core base voters this time around? ,, ., �*, ., , , , around? i think that's a very simple thin to around? i think that's a very simple thing to do — around? i think that's a very simple thing to do for— around? i think that's a very simple thing to do for nigel— around? i think that's a very simple thing to do for nigel farage - around? i think that's a very simple | thing to do for nigel farage because if you look at some of the policies the conservatives have had, the rwanda policy, stop the boats, those are the types of things that speak to nigel farage's manifesto if you will. and him mentioning immigration is a big part of that — that ties into what the conservatives would do. so it's an easy spot for him. thanks for discussing that interview with us, and if you're watching in the uk and you want to watch it, that's available on the bbc iplayer, and of course there's plenty more updates on that interview and analysis on the bbc news website.

around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news.

with less than two weeks to go until the general election, allegations that tory insiders were betting on the election, continues to dominate the campaign. today, rishi sunak refused to be drawn on further questions surrounding it, and promised again to "boot out" anyone found to have broken gambling laws. meanwhile, labour has accused mr sunak of a "total lack of leadership". this week the conservative party's director of campaigning tony lee, took a leave of absence from hisjob. it came after it emerged he is being looked into by the gambling commission over an alleged bet relating to the timing of the general election. mr lee is married to a conservative candidate, laura saunders, who is also being looked into by the betting industry regulator.

there are multiple investigations that are currently happening. it's right that those investigations are allowed to proceed. they are independent, they are necessarily confidential, as you would appreciate. there's also a investigation, and these are potentially criminal matters and the police are conducting those — you'll be aware of that. and because of that, i hope you can appreciate there's not much more i can add. what i can tell you is, as i said, if anyone is found to have broken the rules, they should not only face the full consequences of the law — i will ensure they are booted out of the conservative party. 0ur panellists tonight — joe twyman, from the polling company, deltapoll — and melissa sigodo, from the daily mirror. let's stay away from too many of the specifics, butjoe, how do you think this particular conversation around these allegations could impact the polls? it these allegations could impact the olls? , ~ , these allegations could impact the olls? , ~' , ~' polls? it feels like every week, ou're polls? it feels like every week, you're just _ polls? it feels like every week, you're just imagining, - polls? it feels like every week, you're just imagining, what - polls? it feels like every week, j you're just imagining, what will polls? it feels like every week, - you're just imagining, what will the conservatives do this week to mess up conservatives do this week to mess up their— conservatives do this week to mess up their chances of closing the gap on labour? — up their chances of closing the gap on labour? and just when you think

the stories— on labour? and just when you think the stories couldn't get any more bizarre. _ the stories couldn't get any more bizarre, along comes betting on the election— bizarre, along comes betting on the election date. and from what we are seeing, _ election date. and from what we are seeing, we _ election date. and from what we are seeing, we are not talking about huge. _ seeing, we are not talking about huge, life—changing amounts of money, — huge, life—changing amounts of money, the kind of multi—million pound _ money, the kind of multi—million pound corruption you hear about in other— pound corruption you hear about in other countries is simply not the case _ other countries is simply not the case here — other countries is simply not the case here. but that's not the point - it's _ case here. but that's not the point - it's about— case here. but that's not the point — it's about the narratives, the stories— — it's about the narratives, the stories we _ — it's about the narratives, the stories we tell ourselves and each other— stories we tell ourselves and each other about the parties that can be so important in determining how people _ so important in determining how people vote, and this simply reinforces the narratives around a party _ reinforces the narratives around a party that — reinforces the narratives around a party that doesn't play by the rules, — party that doesn't play by the rules, that isn't really operating particularly well, and that appears to be _ particularly well, and that appears to be almost without effective leadership. and those kinds of things— leadership. and those kinds of things can be really, really damaging — and even if that's not the case, — damaging — and even if that's not the case, even if this instance doesn't — the case, even if this instance doesn't change the pole, every minute, — doesn't change the pole, every minute, every hour, every day this

is tatked _ minute, every hour, every day this is talked about, it means that conservatives are unable to talk about _ conservatives are unable to talk about the — conservatives are unable to talk about the kinds of things they want to get— about the kinds of things they want to get across as part of their campaign to actually change the bolts _ campaign to actually change the polls. and so it's yet another misstep— polls. and so it's yet another misstep by a conservative campaign that seems to be faltering at many steps _ that seems to be faltering at many steps along the way.— steps along the way. melissa, i'll brina ou steps along the way. melissa, i'll bring you in _ steps along the way. melissa, i'll bring you in on — steps along the way. melissa, i'll bring you in on this _ steps along the way. melissa, i'll bring you in on this as _ steps along the way. melissa, i'll bring you in on this as well. - steps along the way. melissa, i'll| bring you in on this as well. every general election i've covered, there is something that kind of goes off the script and dominates the campaign, meaning we aren't really talking about the issues that the parties want us to focus on. it seems like this is it for the selection, doesn't it?- seems like this is it for the selection, doesn't it? yes it does, and hearing _ selection, doesn't it? yes it does, and hearing rishi _ selection, doesn't it? yes it does, and hearing rishi sunak— selection, doesn't it? yes it does, and hearing rishi sunak speak - selection, doesn't it? yes it does, i and hearing rishi sunak speak about the investigation and taking action if anyone is found to be doing wrong, found to have gambled essentially, itjust reminds me of the lock and covid, and what came out of that — that the conservative party were essentially drinking in the faces of people who didn't even

get an opportunity to say goodbye to their loved ones, you know, people following the rules and members of the conservative party weren't. borisjohnson and even rishi sunak were fined. so it'sjust borisjohnson and even rishi sunak were fined. so it's just another misstep — misstep is an understatement, they are essentially burying themselves the selection, it's almost like self sabotage at this point. ijust don't know how they get out of this. nobody will be focusing on what they are promising, everybody will just be focusing on what they are promising, everybody willjust be seeing another repetition of the same old story of essentially conservative corruption. story of essentially conservative commotion-— corruption. allegations of corrurotion. _ corruption. allegations of corruption, i'll _ corruption. allegations of corruption, i'lljust - corruption. allegations of corruption, i'lljust stress j corruption. allegations of - corruption, i'lljust stress that, it still being looked into. butjoe, you are asking at the end of that, how will they get out of this? joe, from a pollsters's perspective, if you are advising any of the parties what they would do in terms of trying to flip the script, what

would it be?— trying to flip the script, what would it be? ,, ., i. _, would it be? essential you could look at elections _ would it be? essential you could look at elections and _ would it be? essential you could look at elections and very - would it be? essential you could - look at elections and very competent ways, _ look at elections and very competent ways, hundreds of thousands of data points, _ ways, hundreds of thousands of data points, or— ways, hundreds of thousands of data points, oryou ways, hundreds of thousands of data points, or you can look at things in very simple — points, or you can look at things in very simple terms. and the entire history— very simple terms. and the entire history of— very simple terms. and the entire history of modern british politics, the party— history of modern british politics, the party that ahead on the leadership and management of the economy— leadership and management of the economy wins the most seats at the generat— economy wins the most seats at the general election. that's been true for the _ general election. that's been true for the noun nine general elections that i've _ for the noun nine general elections that i've worked on in one way or another, — that i've worked on in one way or another, and it's been true for all the others — another, and it's been true for all the others as well. so concentrate on getting — the others as well. so concentrate on getting ahead in leadership, concentrate on getting ahead in the economy— concentrate on getting ahead in the economy because that's the game. you win that, _ economy because that's the game. you win that, you _ economy because that's the game. you win that, you win the election. but the difficulty the conservatives have _ the difficulty the conservatives have now is that the gap is notjust an enormous and sustained on both those _ an enormous and sustained on both those figures, but it is growing. and so, — those figures, but it is growing. and so, given the situation, given that nothing the conservatives seem to have _ that nothing the conservatives seem to have said during the campaign during _ to have said during the campaign during this year, during the last 12

months _ during this year, during the last 12 months has — during this year, during the last 12 months has made any difference, it's realty— months has made any difference, it's really difficult to see now, with two weeks remaining, what could possibly— two weeks remaining, what could possibly be done to change the overall— possibly be done to change the overall result of the election. melissa, _ overall result of the election. melissa, your take on that? it�*s melissa, your take on that? it's difficult to _ melissa, your take on that? it�*s difficult to answer because at this point, it really seems there's no hope for the conservatives. if i was really to go out and think about what they could possibly do to change this trajectory, i feel like maybe owning up to everything that's gone wrong and bowing out gracefully, and just saying, "you know what, we messed up, and that's that," or try and get behind labour and hopefully turn this country around — that would be my advice but they probably wouldn't want that. thank you, melissa. we heard from rishi sunak earlier on all of these allegations, let's have a listen to what keir starmer had to say. {iii what keir starmer had to say. of course you should suspend these candidates. if they were my

candidates, they would be gone now, out the door. he needs to take tough action, but is not even now saying if there's more involved. it's a total lack of leadership. i should say on the nigel farage interview, we've now had a response from the labour party, chris bryant saying on x, formerly known as twitter, "he's wrong, putin guaranteed the territorial integrity in the budapest protocols and installed them into crimea. vladimir putin is the aggressor and he doesn't need british apologies." that's after we've heard from nigel farage in a bbc interview where he said to the bbc, "the west provoked russia's invasion of ukraine by expanding the european union and nato military alliance eastwards," he was asked that by my colleague nick robinson. let's move onto another aspect the campaign. with the polls predicting a labour government, and many conservatives fearing an electoral wipe—out,

rishi sunak and other senior tories are claiming, if sir keir starmer wins by a landslide, he'd "change the rules" so the party could stay in powerfor a very long time. this was the pm earlier today. i warn you, don't fall into labour's trap, don't sleepwalk to the 4th ofjuly. i know you want to send us a message, but this is not a by—election. it will determine who governs our country for the next five years and potentially much longer. for if labour get in, they will change the rules so it's much harder to ever get them out. they want to give 16—year—olds a vote not because they think on principle that they are adults, but because they think they'll vote for them. and once they've got power, they will change every rule to make sure that they keep it. we can't let that happen, friends, and it's only we conservatives who can stop it.

rishi sunak there. changing the rules, melissa — what's your take on that? they say the conservatives that? they say the conservatives that by, for example, giving 16—year—olds the right to vote, a labour pledge, that won't actually be a good thing for the conservative party. i'mjust be a good thing for the conservative party. i'm just trying to get my head around what the political argument is here. is it that they want less democracy, do you think, in terms of lowering the vote? 0r want less democracy, do you think, in terms of lowering the vote? or is it something else? i in terms of lowering the vote? or is it something else?— it something else? i think it's a bit rich coming _ it something else? i think it's a bit rich coming from _ it something else? i think it's a bit rich coming from the - bit rich coming from the conservatives to say that labour would change the rules so that they remain in power, because that's what they've been doing for the last few years, is trying to change the rules, to put in protest laws so people can't go out and protest against them, it's trying to change the law so they can say that rwanda is a safe country even though it isn't. so for them to say that is

quite hypocritical. and on the point of 16—year—olds being able to vote, i feel like itjust shows of 16—year—olds being able to vote, i feel like it just shows that they have a lack of confidence as well, that they feel almost that young people do not want conservatives in power — and that's quite revealing for them to admit that they don't want 16—year—olds to vote. i think it's a depressing time for them really, they're kind of showing themselves as being weak and scared, and not having any self—awareness as well of how they are viewed. jae. well of how they are viewed. joe, wh is well of how they are viewed. joe, why is this _ well of how they are viewed. joe, why is this something that you think the conservatives are focusing on? we've not necessarily heard from labour saying they want to change from first past the post or anything like that. i from first past the post or anything like that. ~ ., , ., like that. i think the answer to that is, like that. i think the answer to that is. as _ like that. i think the answer to that is, as the _ like that. i think the answer to that is, as the great _ like that. i think the answer to that is, as the great political l that is, as the great political philosopherjon bonjovi said, "you live for— philosopherjon bonjovi said, "you live for the — philosopherjon bonjovi said, "you live for the fight when that's all you've — live for the fight when that's all you've got" and in the absence of any substantial discussion at the moment, — any substantial discussion at the moment, they are focusing on this

for today — moment, they are focusing on this fortoday. but moment, they are focusing on this for today. but let's be frank about this - _ for today. but let's be frank about this - att— for today. but let's be frank about this — all the political parties make — this — all the political parties make adjustments or attempt to make adjustments to the voting system to act in _ adjustments to the voting system to act in their— adjustments to the voting system to act in their favour. why do the snp want _ act in their favour. why do the snp want 16-17 — act in their favour. why do the snp want 16—17 —year—olds voting in scotland. — want 16—17 —year—olds voting in scotland, why do labour in the uk? they believe it favours them. why do the conservatives have introduced... why do— the conservatives have introduced... why do the _ the conservatives have introduced... why do the lib dems, reformat, and green _ why do the lib dems, reformat, and green want — why do the lib dems, reformat, and green want to switch to a proportional representation? because they think— proportional representation? because they think it benefits them. so essentially to the victor, the spoils' — essentially to the victor, the spoils, and the conservatives have enjoyed _ spoils, and the conservatives have enjoyed the spoils recently, now it's liber's— enjoyed the spoils recently, now it's liber's turned.— it's liber's turned. melissa, is there any _ it's liber's turned. melissa, is there any hint _ it's liber's turned. melissa, is there any hint or— it's liber's turned. melissa, is there any hint or indication i it's liber's turned. melissa, is i there any hint or indication from there any hint or indication from the labour party that they'd ever consider leaving the first past the post system? consider leaving the first past the post system ? = = consider leaving the first past the post system?— consider leaving the first past the post system? -- now it's labour's turn. post system? -- now it's labour's turn- i've — post system? -- now it's labour's turn- i've rrot _ post system? -- now it's labour's turn. i've not heard _ post system? -- now it's labour's turn. i've not heard any _ post system? -- now it's labour's turn. i've not heard any orderings| turn. i've not heard any orderings of it, i think _ turn. i've not heard any orderings of it, i think they're _ turn. i've not heard any orderings of it, i think they're playing - turn. i've not heard any orderings of it, i think they're playing it - of it, i think they're playing it quite safe that even if this was

something they wanted to do, they wouldn't reveal that until they come into power. i think that would definitely probably ruffled a lot of feathers, and it would be too much of a risk to take this close to reaching the end essentially. jae. reaching the end essentially. joe, i'll brina reaching the end essentially. joe, i'll bring you _ reaching the end essentially. joe, i'll bring you back— reaching the end essentially. joe, i'll bring you back in, _ reaching the end essentially. joe, i'll bring you back in, you mentioned how there have been rule changes already, if you want to talk about that in terms of democratic rule changes — for example, the expansion of mayors around the uk? yes, but crucially the voting system for mayors — yes, but crucially the voting system for mayors used to be done via alternative votes, which produced more _ alternative votes, which produced more proportional system, but also had first— more proportional system, but also had first and second preferences. that was — had first and second preferences. that was done away with to stick 'ust that was done away with to stick just to _ that was done away with to stick just to a — that was done away with to stick just to a first past the post system, _ just to a first past the post system, which the conservatives felt would _ system, which the conservatives felt would favour them particularly in somewhere like london. no it didn't make _ somewhere like london. no it didn't make a _ somewhere like london. no it didn't make a difference last time round, but that's— make a difference last time round, but that's an example of the kind of changes— but that's an example of the kind of changes that are introduced — ultimately the parties will claim

for democratic reasons, but really it's because they think it will benefit — it's because they think it will benefit them. and all the party is doing. _ benefit them. and all the party is doing. this — benefit them. and all the party is doing, this is not a party political point, _ doing, this is not a party political point, all— doing, this is not a party political point, all the point, allthe parties, smalland big, everyone in between will try to make _ big, everyone in between will try to make adjustments, as big or small, to act— make adjustments, as big or small, to act in— make adjustments, as big or small, to act in their advantage, and this isjust— to act in their advantage, and this isjust an — to act in their advantage, and this isjust an example of to act in their advantage, and this is just an example of that. haste isjust an example of that. have certainly heard _ isjust an example of that. have certainly heard the _ isjust an example of that. have certainly heard the lib - isjust an example of that. have certainly heard the lib dems - certainly heard the lib dems through many general elections talking about pushing for proportional representation, for example. exactly, and reform and the greens are pushing — exactly, and reform and the greens are pushing for that too. why? because — are pushing for that too. why? because those parties get much smaller— because those parties get much smaller percentages of the seats compared to the votes. you can argue it would _ compared to the votes. you can argue it would be _ compared to the votes. you can argue it would be more democratic to even those _ it would be more democratic to even those things out, but their arguments on both sides. ultimately, it doesn't— arguments on both sides. ultimately, it doesn't take away from the fact that making that change would not be to the _ that making that change would not be to the benefit of the labour and conservatives, but it would be to

the benefit of the smaller parties. so i the benefit of the smaller parties. so i can't — the benefit of the smaller parties. so i can't see any party that wins in the _ so i can't see any party that wins in the current system, then choosing to switch _ in the current system, then choosing to switch to — in the current system, then choosing to switch to another system unless it was _ to switch to another system unless it was doing some sort of deal with the smaller parties, and as the bolls— the smaller parties, and as the polls suggest at the moment, that's probably— polls suggest at the moment, that's probably not going to be necessary to say— probably not going to be necessary to say the — probably not going to be necessary to say the least. tony blair flirted with this — to say the least. tony blair flirted with this in — to say the least. tony blair flirted with this in 1997, then after assuming an enormous majority, pretty— assuming an enormous majority, pretty much forgot it immediately. thank— pretty much forgot it immediately. thank you — pretty much forgot it immediately. thank you very much, joe, and i can't believe we managed to talk about electoral systems" bonjovi in the same breath, so that's a first for the context. melissa and joe, we'll be back with you in just a moment. just a reminder we've had a bbc interview with nigel farage in which he told the bbc that the west provoked russia's invasion of ukraine by expanding the european union and nato military alliance

eastward, in an interview with nick robinson, the reform uk leader added that of course, the war was a vladimir putin's fault. and we've had some reaction to that — labour saying he was wrong and that prudent guaranteed the territorial integrity of ukraine in the budapest protocols, and james cleverly saying, "farage echoing vladimir putin's... i'm rajini vaidyanathan, this is bbc news. hello. friday's weather brought us an east—west split across the uk. we had quite a lot of cloud for many western areas, some patchy outbreaks of rain. this was the picture in argyll and bute a little bit earlier on, but a really different picture for many central and eastern areas. some spells of blue sky and warm sunshine, as you can see from the scene in whitby a little earlier on. now through the weekend, a bit more of this. we have still got some warm sunshine to come. there will be a little bit of rain

in the forecast at times. i think we won't all see it, but a slightly mixed picture over the next couple of days. through the course of this evening and tonight, we've got this cloud and patchy rain moving from west to east, so a bit of a damp start to saturday morning across central and eastern parts of england in particular. clearer skies, though, reappearing from the west. so it's here that temperatures will just about dip into single figures. but a mild night in the east, 13—14 celsius to kick off your weekend. but we do start with that low cloud and drizzly light rain in the east. it should tend to break up and brighten up through the day, and actually for much of the uk, then, we're looking at spells of sunshine. so a brighter day for scotland, northern ireland and wales, the south—west of england, too, but a bit more cloud just creeping into the far north—west by the end of the afternoon. so temperatures in stornoway for instance, just 15 degrees, but for the bulk of the uk, 18—22. so a touch cooler and fresher than it was on friday. but if you suffer from hay fever, you might want to look away now. very high levels of pollen really almost across the map, just low or moderate across the north of scotland. so as we move through into the second half of the weekend, now, we've still got those high pollen levels.

we've also got high pressure that's squeezing away most of those weather fronts. the remnants of a frontal system still bringing a bit more cloud to parts of northern england, wales, down towards the south—west on sunday, but that should break up through the day. either side of that, some longer spells of sunshine, and i think it'll feel a bit warmer than saturday and a bit more humid, especially towards the south—east, with a change in wind direction. 2a—25 celsius for london, the south—east as well, but we're looking at more widely temperatures in the high teens or low—20s. by the time we get to monday, again a bit more cloud drifting into the north—west of the uk. so some areas of cloud around, not wall—to—wall sunshine, but some spells of warm june sunshine and temperatures up to about 27, possibly 28 celsius. so some warm weather on the cards over the next couple of days. looks like things turn a little bit more unsettled and a touch cooler initially in the north—west, and then spreading a bit further east through the second half of this coming week. bye— bye.

hello, i'm rajini vaidyanathan. you're watching the context on bbc news. tiktok says it's offered the us government the power to temporarily shut the app down to address concerns over data protection and national security. four members of britain's richest family have been sentenced to jail

by a court in switzerland, for exploiting their domestic staff, who'd been brought overfrom india to work in their villa in geneva. prakash and kamal hinduja, with their son ajay and his wife namrata pictured here with their lawyer, received sentences ranging from four to four and a half years. they were acquitted on the more serious charge of people trafficking. the hindujas were accused of confiscating the passports of their staff, and of paying them as little as eight dollars a day. during the trial the prosecutor claimed the hindujas spent more on their pet dog than their staff. none of the four were in court to hear the verdict. speaking outside their lawyer said they would appeal the verdict. here's what else he said. translation: i have the feeling that this behaviour was judged i on moral grounds and not on legal grounds. 0n the one hand, you have a very wealthy family, and on the other, poor people.

obviously, therefore, it's a kind of punishment for this gap between the two groups of people.