2026 2021; group play their final euro 2024 group game tonight when they take on slovenia, but they have already qualified for the next round. i marry moshiri, welcome to bbc news. it's a legal saga that has lasted for years, but now the wikileaks founder julian assange has — after spending the last five years in a british prison — left the uk after striking a deal with us authorities that will see him plead guilty to criminal charges and go free. he spent seven years hiding inside the ecuadorian embassy in london as the us tried to extradite him after his wikileaks website published thousands of confidential us documents in 2010 and 2011 about the wars in iraq and afghanistan. us athorities accuse him of endangering the lives of american operatives. us athorities accuse him of endangering the lives of american operatives. he was arrested in april 2019 over a breach of his bail conditions, and had spent the last five years inside a london prison,

fighting his extradition to the us. a uk court ruled last month that he could appeal this decision after mr assange argued that he would not receive a fair trial. now he's agreed a plea deal, and legal documents show that mr assange is set to appear before a court in a us territory in the pacific ocean before an expected return to his home nation australia. paul hawkins has more. wikileaks published this clip on social media showing its founder flying published this clip on social media showing its founderflying out published this clip on social media showing its founder flying out of the country late on monday afternoon. it said it spent 9000 2/9000 days in prison for publishing what he called ground breaking stories of corruption and human rights abuses in this stories of corruption and human rights abuses i— stories of corruption and human rights abuses in this period of our lives, i rights abuses in this period of our lives. i am _ rights abuses in this period of our lives, i am confident _ rights abuses in this period of our lives, i am confident now, - rights abuses in this period of our lives, i am confident now, has . rights abuses in this period of our. lives, i am confident now, has come to an end, and i think by this time next weekjulian will be free. to an end, and i think by this time next weekjulian will be free. those stories were — next weekjulian will be free. those stories were top _ next weekjulian will be free. those stories were top secret _

next weekjulian will be free. those stories were top secret us - next weekjulian will be free. those stories were top secret us militaryl stories were top secret us military files which is why for the past 14 years sanchez fought extradition to the us to face charges of espionage, first by spending his time in the ecuadorian london assembly, and then from belmarsh high security prison in london via the courts. he also faces charges of rape in sweden which were dropped in which he has denied. he is said to be heading to the northern mariana islands in the south pacific to plead guilty to one criminal charge, before heading to nearby australia, where he was born. regardless of the views people have about mr assange's activities, the case has dragged on for too long. there is nothing to be gained by his continued incarceration and we want him brought home to australia. he will spend no time in us custody because of the time spent in prison in the uk. paul hawkins, bbc news. julian assange plus mike —— julian

assange's wife stella has been sharing her reaction with the today programme on radio 4. i am elated, it is incredible. _ programme on radio 4. i am elated, it is incredible. it _ programme on radio 4. i am elated, it is incredible. it feels _ programme on radio 4. i am elated, it is incredible. it feels like _ programme on radio 4. i am elated, it is incredible. it feels like it - it is incredible. it feels like it is not real.— it is incredible. it feels like it is not real. , ., ., , is not real. tell us what the last da or is not real. tell us what the last day or perhaps _ is not real. tell us what the last day or perhaps even _ is not real. tell us what the last day or perhaps even the - is not real. tell us what the last day or perhaps even the days i is not real. tell us what the last - day or perhaps even the days before that have _ day or perhaps even the days before that have been like, what are the conversations that led to the moment where _ conversations that led to the moment where julian assange was allowed to leave belmarsh? it where julian assange was allowed to leave belmarsh?— where julian assange was allowed to leave belmarsh? it has been so touch and no. leave belmarsh? it has been so touch and 90- we — leave belmarsh? it has been so touch and 90- we were _ leave belmarsh? it has been so touch and go. we were not _ leave belmarsh? it has been so touch and go. we were not really _ leave belmarsh? it has been so touch and go. we were not really sure - and go. we were not really sure until the last 24 hours that it was actually happening. we were talking about, i don't know, what he needed to do one take from his cell and i had to pack things up and head to australia 24 hours before he left. it has been nonstop for the past 72

hours. �* ., . ., ., , , hours. but touch and go because there was something _ hours. but touch and go because there was something on - hours. but touch and go because there was something on paper, i hours. but touch and go because i there was something on paper, on offer. _ there was something on paper, on offer. from — there was something on paper, on offer, from the us authorities? there _ offer, from the us authorities? there is— offer, from the us authorities? there is an _ offer, from the us authorities? there is an agreement in principle betweenjulian and the department of justice and that has to be signed off by a judge in these northern mariana territories, ireland, surrey, in the pacific ocean where he is going to be headed. he is currently in bangkok on a layover. 0nce currently in bangkok on a layover. once the currently in bangkok on a layover. 0nce thejudge signed currently in bangkok on a layover. once the judge signed off then it is formally real, so i am also a little bit limited as to what i can say right now about the agreement in principle. but right now about the agreement in --rincile. �* , ., principle. but is it the case that it does not _ principle. but is it the case that it does not hold _ principle. but is it the case that it does not hold him _ principle. but is it the case that it does not hold him pleading i principle. but is it the case that - it does not hold him pleading guilty to one _ it does not hold him pleading guilty to one charge?— to one charge? yes, the charge concerns the _ to one charge? yes, the charge concerns the espionage - to one charge? yes, the charge concerns the espionage act - to one charge? yes, the charge concerns the espionage act and| concerns the espionage act and obtaining and disclosing national

defence information. mas obtaining and disclosing national defence information.— defence information. was that difficult for _ defence information. was that difficult for your _ defence information. was that difficult for your husband - defence information. was that difficult for your husband to i defence information. was that. difficult for your husband to agree that he _ difficult for your husband to agree that he was guilty of.— that he was guilty of. again, i don't want — that he was guilty of. again, i don't want to _ that he was guilty of. again, i don't want to say _ that he was guilty of. again, i don't want to say too - that he was guilty of. again, i don't want to say too much i that he was guilty of. again, i i don't want to say too much until it has been signed off by a judge, but the important thing here is the deal involved time served, but if he signed it he would be able to walk free. 50 signed it he would be able to walk free. , signed it he would be able to walk free, , 4, signed it he would be able to walk free, , y., , ., free. so it is your understanding that once he _ free. so it is your understanding that once he has _ free. so it is your understanding that once he has made - free. so it is your understanding that once he has made that i free. so it is your understanding | that once he has made that court appearance and it is signed off by the judge, appearance and it is signed off by thejudge, he appearance and it is signed off by the judge, he will be a free man? he the 'udge, he will be a free man? he will the judge, he will be a free man? hrs. will be the judge, he will be a free man? will be a free the judge, he will be a free man? he: will be a free man once it has been signed off by thejudge, and that will happen tomorrow. tell signed off by the judge, and that will happen tomorrow.— signed off by the judge, and that will happen tomorrow. tell us about ou and will happen tomorrow. tell us about you and your — will happen tomorrow. tell us about you and your sons, _ will happen tomorrow. tell us about you and your sons, you _ will happen tomorrow. tell us about you and your sons, you have - will happen tomorrow. tell us about | you and your sons, you have brought them _ you and your sons, you have brought them to— you and your sons, you have brought them to australia with you? yes, you and your sons, you have brought them to australia with you?- them to australia with you? yes, we took a flight — them to australia with you? yes, we took a flight on _ them to australia with you? yes, we took a flight on sunday _ them to australia with you? yes, we took a flight on sunday morning i them to australia with you? yes, we took a flight on sunday morning and | took a flight on sunday morning and we flew into sydney. haee took a flight on sunday morning and we flew into sydney.— we flew into sydney. have you told the children _ we flew into sydney. have you told the children that _ we flew into sydney. have you told the children that their— we flew into sydney. have you told the children that their father i we flew into sydney. have you told the children that their father is i the children that their father is going — the children that their father is going to — the children that their father is going to be free and will be part of

the family? going to be free and will be part of the famil ? , , going to be free and will be part of the family?— the family? they still don't know. we have been _ the family? they still don't know. we have been very _ the family? they still don't know. we have been very careful- the family? they still don't know. | we have been very careful because obviously no one can stop and a seven—year—old from shouting it from the rooftops at any given moment and because of the sensitivity around the church having to sign off the deal we have been very careful, just gradually, incrementally telling them information. they are excited to be in australia, though. imilli them information. they are excited to be in australia, though.- to be in australia, though. will you tell them before _ to be in australia, though. will you tell them before they _ to be in australia, though. will you tell them before they see - to be in australia, though. will you tell them before they see him? i to be in australia, though. will you| tell them before they see him? you will tell— tell them before they see him? you will tell them? they have never seen him outside — will tell them? they have never seen him outside the prison all, for the older_ him outside the prison all, for the older one. — him outside the prison all, for the older one, the ecuadorian embassy. they have _ older one, the ecuadorian embassy. they have never seen him, no, outside of belmarsh, all their interactions with julian outside of belmarsh, all their interactions withjulian have been interactions withjulian have been in a single visitor is�* room inside belmarsh prison, it has always been for a little more than an hour at a

time, it has been very restricted. that was stella assange talking to my college mishal husain on the today programme on radio 4. the australia prime minster, anthony albanese, says he wants julian assange brought back home as soon as possible. regardless of the views that people have about mr assange's activities, the case has dragged on for too long. hear, hear. there is nothing to be gained by his continued incarceration, and we want him brought home to australia. and we have engaged and advocated australia's interests, using all the appropriate channels, to support a positive outcome, and i've done that since very early on. we have had some reaction in the last few minutes from the united nations, which says it welcomes the release of the wikileaks founder julian assange from uk detention. let's speak to rebecca vincent, director of campaigns for reporters without borders, who have been campaigning

for assange's release we have indeed, and we are hugely relieved this morning. this is good news, a victory forjournalism and press freedom and shows that campaigning works. talk press freedom and shows that campaigning works.— press freedom and shows that campaigning works. talk me through the campaign- _ campaigning works. talk me through the campaign. what _ campaigning works. talk me through the campaign. what have _ campaigning works. talk me through the campaign. what have you - campaigning works. talk me through the campaign. what have you done l the campaign. what have you done over the last few years to bring you here? ,:, , over the last few years to bring you here? , : :, over the last few years to bring you here? ,: :, , here? reporters without borders has defended julian _ here? reporters without borders has defended julian assange _ here? reporters without borders has defended julian assange from - here? reporters without borders has defended julian assange from the i defended julian assange from the very beginning because of its contribution to journalism, we believe the publication of the leaked classified documents within the public interest so for years, throughout his period at the embassy and the last five years in belmarsh prison we have done everything we can to campaign for his release. we have monitored the entire extradition proceedings in uk courts and were the only ngo observers to do so, we fought to gain access to him and belmarsh prison, we visited him and belmarsh prison, we visited him recently six times, in addition to engaging in advocacy with all of

the governments involved, the us, the governments involved, the us, the uk and australia, and launching a big public mobilisation campaign internationally, so we are really pleased to finally have good news. are you surprised it has happened in this way? for those of us not behind—the—scenes, it feels like it has happened quickly. it behind-the-scenes, it feels like it has happened quickly.— has happened quickly. it does not feel like that — has happened quickly. it does not feel like that because _ has happened quickly. it does not feel like that because it _ has happened quickly. it does not feel like that because it has i has happened quickly. it does not feel like that because it has been | feel like that because it has been so many years, but the timing is surprising just because it has gone on for so long. we have maintained optimism and recently it felt like things are shifting but there was an appear —— an appeal hearing scheduled for the ninth to 10th of july so the fact it came so quickly before that is a surprise, but a welcome surprise.— before that is a surprise, but a welcome surprise. before that is a surprise, but a welcome surrise. :, ,, , :, welcome surprise. have you spoken to juuan welcome surprise. have you spoken to julian in recent — welcome surprise. have you spoken to julian in recent days, _ welcome surprise. have you spoken to julian in recent days, what _ welcome surprise. have you spoken to julian in recent days, what has - welcome surprise. have you spoken to julian in recent days, what has his i julian in recent days, what has his said to you? hot julian in recent days, what has his said to you?— julian in recent days, what has his said to ou? :, , :, ., said to you? not this morning, i am hoinu to said to you? not this morning, i am hoping to speak _ said to you? not this morning, i am hoping to speak to _ said to you? not this morning, i am hoping to speak to them _ said to you? not this morning, i am hoping to speak to them later i said to you? not this morning, i am hoping to speak to them later today but i saw him a month ago in prison and at that time he seems more optimistic than in previous visit so perhaps this was already in the

works, i can't know for sure. when ou works, i can't know for sure. when you speak — works, i can't know for sure. when you speak to _ works, i can't know for sure. when you speak to him _ works, i can't know for sure. when you speak to him once _ works, i can't know for sure. when you speak to him once he - works, i can't know for sure. when you speak to him once he arrives l works, i can't know for sure. when | you speak to him once he arrives in australia? we you speak to him once he arrives in australia? ~ : ., , , :, australia? we will certainly try to, i know he australia? we will certainly try to, i know he has _ australia? we will certainly try to, i know he has been _ australia? we will certainly try to, i know he has been thankful- australia? we will certainly try to, i know he has been thankful for. australia? we will certainly try to, | i know he has been thankful for our i know he has been thankfulfor our campaigning and we are grateful for his courage in taking a stand in fighting for press freedom for journalism, he has fought for the public�*s right to know, and although he has paid a very price he has finally won and this will make it safer for journalists everywhere to do their jobs safer for journalists everywhere to do theirjobs that make it easier for the public to have access to information like this and to hold governments to account. rebecca vincent from — governments to account. rebecca vincent from reporters _ governments to account. rebecca vincent from reporters without l vincent from reporters without borders, thank you. greg burns is an australian barrister and adviser to the otherjulian assange campaign, he has told the bbc that this is a great day, he said the pressure across the political spectrum, including a delegation which visited the us last year, had made it clear

to the americans that there was a lot of political support for the return home of mr assange and that this had borne fruit, that is from greg barns, the australian barrister and adviser to the assange campaign. with me isjoshua rozenberg, a legal commentator. good to have you on sight. we heard from greg burns, there was a lot of pressure from the australian government, how much does that have to bear on this? i government, how much does that have to bear on this?— to bear on this? i think it has been crucial. clearly _ to bear on this? i think it has been crucial. clearly the _ to bear on this? i think it has been crucial. clearly the us _ to bear on this? i think it has been crucial. clearly the us has - to bear on this? i think it has been crucial. clearly the us has agreed l crucial. clearly the us has agreed to this, where the president biden fancied the idea ofjulian assange in the united states awaiting trial to the election or challenging his extradition in that period we do not know, but clearly the us has agreed to this. it is not unknown for a deal to be rich between prosecutors and a defendant whereby the defendants agreed to plead guilty to one charge and the others are dropped and apparently that is what have end. , , :,,

have end. there might be people watchin: have end. there might be people watching this _ have end. there might be people watching this at _ have end. there might be people watching this at home _ have end. there might be people watching this at home who i have end. there might be people watching this at home who are i have end. there might be people i watching this at home who are unsure what this is about. == watching this at home who are unsure what this is about.— what this is about. -- that is what happened- — what this is about. -- that is what happened- can — what this is about. -- that is what happened- can you _ what this is about. -- that is what happened. can you explain - what this is about. -- that is what happened. can you explain to i what this is about. -- that is what i happened. can you explain to those who miaht happened. can you explain to those who might rrot _ happened. can you explain to those who might not have _ happened. can you explain to those who might not have the _ happened. can you explain to those who might not have the legalese i happened. can you explain to those i who might not have the legalese you have whatjulian assange was accused of and why this took so long to get here? he of and why this took so long to get here? :, , of and why this took so long to get here? , ., of and why this took so long to get here? , :, ,, here? he was accused of conspiracy to obtain and _ here? he was accused of conspiracy to obtain and disclose _ here? he was accused of conspiracy to obtain and disclose national- to obtain and disclose national defence information, national secrets, and he enablejournalists to publish a large number of secret cables and communications, apparently naming people who had supplied information to the us, allegedly endangering their personal security as well as national security as well as national security of the united states. these are serious charges. he always thought the us was seeking his extradition, seeking to get him sent from the uk where he was to the united states, there was this diversion about charges in sweden which all went away, he has been fighting extradition. the last

hearing last month, the us government failed to provide diplomatic assurances requested by a court here in london that might have put an end to his appeal, might have enabled the extradition to go ahead. that was when we begin to get the feeling that maybe the us was not so keen on the extradition after all. in this whole deal he is pleading for one charge. talk in this whole deal he is pleading for one charge.— for one charge. talk me through that. he for one charge. talk me through that- he is _ for one charge. talk me through that. he is pleading _ for one charge. talk me through that. he is pleading guilty i for one charge. talk me through that. he is pleading guilty to i for one charge. talk me through | that. he is pleading guilty to the charge of unlawfully obtaining and disseminating classified information relating to the national defence of the united states, that is one of the united states, that is one of the charges. it is understood the prosecutors will ask the judge for a sentence of 62 months, just over five years, which happens to be the amount of time he spent in prison here in london at belmarsh high security prison. it is quite standard for time spent on remand awaiting trial to be deducted from a

sentence and that seems to work on an international basis too. late sentence and that seems to work on an international basis too.— an international basis too. we have heard from — an international basis too. we have heard from reporters _ an international basis too. we have heard from reporters without i an international basis too. we have i heard from reporters without borders and we have heard from his wife, stella, but there is the us side at the us has always maintained that what he did put lives in danger? yes, and that will never be tried in court. 0bviously that is denied by julian assange and his supporters but there are others who say people simply publishing confidential information is a very, very dangerous thing. people who give information to any government, to journalists, do so on the basis that their names will not be diverged because they may be in danger, that is the allegation against him, but on the other hand he has spent five years in prison, seven years in self—imposed exile at the ecuadorian embassy, we do not know about his state of health, he was too ill to appear in court on previous occasions though some would say, and

this is certainly the position of the australian prime minister, that he has been punished enough. he has been incarcerated _ he has been punished enough. he has been incarcerated in _ he has been punished enough. he has been incarcerated in one _ he has been punished enough. he has been incarcerated in one way - he has been punished enough. he has been incarcerated in one way or- been incarcerated in one way or another for many, been incarcerated in one way or anotherfor many, many been incarcerated in one way or another for many, many years. been incarcerated in one way or anotherfor many, many years. yes. another for many, many years. yes. and he was — another for many, many years. yes. and he was first _ another for many, many years. yes. and he was first of _ another for many, many years. yes. and he was first of all _ another for many, many years. yes and he was first of all punished for jumping bail, because he escaped to the ecuadorian embassy, he got political asylum via until the ecuadorian is decided they wanted to end his stay there and he was arrested by the british authorities. then he was convicted ofjumping bail, various people lost their money and that he has been awaiting extradition to face trial in the us and clearly because the us authorities have told the uk authorities have told the uk authorities there are no longer seeking his return to the continental united states, that is why he was granted bail and allowed to leave the uk yesterday. it i why he was granted bail and allowed to leave the uk yesterday.— to leave the uk yesterday. if i may, let me read — to leave the uk yesterday. if i may, let me read to _ to leave the uk yesterday. if i may, let me read to you _ to leave the uk yesterday. if i may, let me read to you a _ to leave the uk yesterday. if i may, let me read to you a tweet - to leave the uk yesterday. if i may, let me read to you a tweet by i to leave the uk yesterday. if i may, i let me read to you a tweet by former vice president mike pence in america, who says "julian assange

endanger the lives of our troops in a time of war and should have been prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law." how popular is that view in the us? it is very hard to say. i don't know whether people have lost interest in julian assange, i don't know whether the us really understood what this was all about, but it is certainly a point of view and you have seen this from one former australian political leader, there are people who think he should have been punished, but on the other hand he thought and his supporters said that if he was convicted of all the charges faced he would be convicted for the rest of his life. some people said that would be too much, he has served time in prison and the argument goes that he has served enough time to

represent the offence, after all, pay bargains are very common in the united states. it is a matter of opinion. should he have gone to the us, should he have been sent to prison for life, was it serious or was it freedom of expression that a journalist which rely on? the courts will never decide, public opinion will never decide, public opinion will decide. will never decide, public opinion will decide-— will never decide, public opinion will decide. :, ~ , :, , . if you want to read more about the julian assange case you can go to the bbc news live page, to being updated by colleagues here and in australia, minute by minute. the bbc has been told the gambling commission is considering whether more police officers are involved in alleged betting on the date of the general election. four conservatives and the police officer assigned to the protection of rishi sunak are known to be facing inquiries.

scotland yard has denied reports it leaked the name of some of those involved. did you have inside information when you placed your bet on the election date? i made a statement. it's been nearly two weeks since this aide to the prime minister — who's also a conservative candidate — said he'd made a huge error ofjudgement in betting on the date of the general election. another candidate and two members of the conservative party staff are also being investigated by the gambling commission. last night, interviewed by the sun newspaper and some of its readers, it was pretty much odds—on that the prime minister would be asked about the issue. he said the conservative party was also investigating the allegations, but his frustration was clear. we should just be careful — there are independent inquiries ongoing. those haven't concluded. they're being done by very serious bodies. the gambling commission... your aide craig williams... the gambling commission... ..said that he made a huge error ofjudgement. gambling commission and the police. it's important that nobody says or does anything that compromises the integrity of those investigations. then, this morning, the telegraph newspaper said a source close to a government department had

suggested the names of those being investigated had been leaked from inside the metropolitan police. in a statement, a police spokesperson said... labour had called for the gambling commission quite simply to make public the names of all those who are under investigation. but it said... labour and the lib dems have called on rishi sunak to suspend any candidates who may be involved. if these were my candidates, i tell you what, they'd be gone. their feet wouldn't have touched the floor. the gambling allegations aren't limited to those directly involved in politics. 0ne vip protection officer was arrested and questioned last week on suspicion of misconduct in public office. the bbc understands new information has been given to the met about a handful of other officers — but sources have suggested that the information is sketchy. voters go to the polls

in little more than a week. the current opinion polls suggest there are long odds on a conservative victory. so the prime minister will need to find a way to move the focus from gambling and onto issues that might have a more positive iain watson, bbc news. let's cross live to our chief political correspondent henry zeffman, who joins political correspondent henry zeffman, whojoins me now. nine days until voting and yet this dark cloud of alleged election betting just will not shift? of alleged election betting 'ust will not shimi will not shift? no, and it is so strikin: , will not shift? no, and it is so striking, nine _ will not shift? no, and it is so striking, nine days _ will not shift? no, and it is so striking, nine days until- will not shift? no, and it is so. striking, nine days until polling day, 11 days... sorry, 13 days since the story first broke and it is still expanding as a story. today's development is about the metropolitan police potentially rather than the conservative party, but the fear in the conservative campaign will be that it keeps the story, keeps the questions about

these gambling allegation is uppermost in voters' mines, and that is not ideal given that there are, as we have learned in recent days, at least four conservatives being looked at by the gambling commission. they all deny wrongdoing. it has that elusive thing that they call in westminster cut—throat, where people who might not pay that much attention to politics just really notice that this story is out there, and that has to be concerning for the conservative campaign so close to polling day. conservative campaign so close to polling day-— conservative campaign so close to ollin: da . ~ :, , ., , polling day. while the conservatives are forced to — polling day. while the conservatives are forced to think— polling day. while the conservatives are forced to think about _ polling day. while the conservatives are forced to think about election i are forced to think about election betting, labourare are forced to think about election betting, labour are continuing their campaign trail with sir keir starmer talking about a plan to cut knife crime, among other things? where are active at any — crime, among other things? where are active at any stage _ crime, among other things? where are active at any stage of _ crime, among other things? where are active at any stage of this _ active at any stage of this campaign, never mind the whole gambling thing, we have heard the parties�* manifestos and they have such huge store on them being fully costed, although there are some dispute over whether they truly are —— we are at a funny stage. the

parties cannot announce new things after manifestos are released because it would disrupt the delicate economic balance so instead parties are reviving, reiterating and focusing on existing policies they hope will get voters to the polls, so in the case of labour today that its knife crime, talking about tough sanctions for people found with knives, which i think they first announced back in january. the conservatives are talking about immigration, both legal and illegal, reiterating their manifesto announcement about having parliament votes on an annual cap on the number of illegal migrants coming to this country for the first time ever and the lib dems focusing, as so often during this campaign, on social care. so you have the party is going round and round over what they hope the voters will see as their greatest hits, meanwhile there is this huge and growing question about gambling on the date of the election, just happening to the side. election, 'ust happening to the

side. , ' ., election, 'ust happening to the side. , ' :. :. ~ election, 'ust happening to the side. , ' :, ., ~ side. henry zeffman, thank you. the ja anese side. henry zeffman, thank you. the japanese emperor— side. henry zeffman, thank you. the japanese emperor will— side. henry zeffman, thank you. the japanese emperor will officially i japanese emperor will officially begin his three—day state visit to the uk on tuesday where he will be hosted by king charles. the kynard queen camilla will entertain emperor naruhito and his wife with a ceremony at horse guards parade before a state banquet. sounds nice. the emperor has been in the uk since saturday. the visit had been adopted as it can sites —— coincides of course with the general election campaign, which has been adapted, but that state banquet sounds like it is going to be lush. i'm hungry already. spain's defeated albania last night ensured that england would the very least go forward in the euros as one

of the best third placed teams. it will be an important match in some ways, john watson, because we will see how gareth southgate responds to the criticism, but they have qualified so we do not have to sit on the edge of our seats? it is on the edge of our seats? it is strange. _ on the edge of our seats? it is strange. with _ on the edge of our seats? it 3 strange, with england through to the last 16 overnight as a result of results elsewhere going their way. on the face of it hit looks really 0n the face of it hit looks really positive for england when you consider they have four points and are through with a game to spare, but there has been negativity about some of the performances so far after that rather drab 1—1 draw against denmark last time and it has led to criticism of gareth southgate and the team and there is a feeling among supporters that the players england have should produce better performances. there has been some recognition from the england team of fat, gareth southgate says he knows his team should perform better and are capable of performing better and there has been a lot of criticism

from former players and four pundits, something the england captain harry kane was quick to respond to. the atmosphere was building, england will hope they can get that victory against slovenia later which would see them qualify as the top team in the group. john. as the top team in the group. john, tau~ht me as the top team in the group. john, taught me a — as the top team in the group. john, taught me a little _ as the top team in the group. john, taught me a little bit _ as the top team in the group. john, taught me a little bit through i as the top team in the group. john, taught me a little bit through the other qualifiers, we are now getting towards the point where we will know who the last 16 are soon? we towards the point where we will know who the last 16 are soon?— who the last 16 are soon? we will see denmark _ who the last 16 are soon? we will see denmark against _ who the last 16 are soon? we will see denmark against serbia - who the last 16 are soon? we will| see denmark against serbia later, that match is on england's with, we will see france against poland, france are already through due to results going their way so we will see if kevin mbappe is fit to start. and that the netherlands against austria is the other match in that group, the netherlands also through and austria could progress with a win. should we look at england's match to come? andy swiss has been

in cologne already alongside some of those england fans who were feeling confident. ., ., , ., ., confident. england fans in cologne en'o inc confident. england fans in cologne en'o in: a confident. england fans in cologne enjoying a cruise _ confident. england fans in cologne enjoying a cruise on _ confident. england fans in cologne enjoying a cruise on the _ confident. england fans in cologne enjoying a cruise on the river - enjoying a cruise on the river rhine, that after 13's stud she started the year rose it has hardly been plain sailing. we started the year rose it has hardly been plain sailing.— started the year rose it has hardly been plain sailing. we have the best attackin: been plain sailing. we have the best attacking players — been plain sailing. we have the best attacking players in _ been plain sailing. we have the best attacking players in the _ been plain sailing. we have the best attacking players in the tournament | attacking players in the tournament but we have not been using them right. we but we have not been using them riuht. ~ ., ., ., ., but we have not been using them rirht.~ ., ., ., .,, but we have not been using them riuht. ., ., ., right. we do not want to peak too earl , right. we do not want to peak too early. slow _ right. we do not want to peak too early, slow and _ right. we do not want to peak too early, slow and steady _ right. we do not want to peak too early, slow and steady and - right. we do not want to peak too i early, slow and steady and hopefully by the _ early, slow and steady and hopefully by the knockouts we will be at full speed _ by the knockouts we will be at full speed 00 — by the knockouts we will be at full seed. ,, , by the knockouts we will be at full seed. , speed. do you still feel confident after the first _ speed. do you still feel confident after the first two _ speed. do you still feel confident after the first two games? - speed. do you still feel confident after the first two games? 0h, . speed. do you still feel confident - after the first two games? oh, come on. yes, after the first two games? oh, come on. yes. 100%- _ after the first two games? oh, come on. yes, 100%. it _ after the first two games? oh, come on. yes, 100%. it will— after the first two games? oh, come on. yes, 10096. it will get _ after the first two games? oh, come on. yes, 10096. it will get better. - on. yes, 10096. it will get better. encland on. yes, 10096. it will get better. england were _ on. yes, 10096. it will get better. england were booed _ on. yes, 10096. it will get better. england were booed off - on. yes, 10096. it will get better. england were booed off by - on. yes, 10096. it will get better. england were booed off by some | england were booed off by some supporters after the frustrating draw with denmark last week, but they are still top of their group and these fans are keeping the faith. ., , ., ~ ., ., faith. england, you never know what ou are faith. england, you never know what you are going _ faith. england, you never know what you are going to _ faith. england, you never know what you are going to get _ faith. england, you never know what you are going to get that _ faith. england, you never know what you are going to get that the - faith. england, you never know what you are going to get that the fans i you are going to get that the fans are there to support them on the way and it is coming home, hopefully.

once they had scored they go on the defence _ once they had scored they go on the defence rather than the attack, i think_ defence rather than the attack, i think they— defence rather than the attack, i think they need to change that. but ou are think they need to change that. you are still think they need to change that. pm you are still confident? think they need to change that. but you are still confident? yeah, - you are still confident? yeah, southgate — you are still confident? yeah, southgate has _ you are still confident? yeah, southgate has got _ you are still confident? yeah, southgate has got it, - you are still confident? yeah, southgate has got it, kids, i you are still confident? yeah, | southgate has got it, kids, no problem _ southgate has got it, kids, no roblem. ., southgate has got it, kids, no roblem. . ., ., , , ., problem. england have not been short of critics. captain _ problem. england have not been short of critics. captain harry _ problem. england have not been short of critics. captain harry kane - problem. england have not been short of critics. captain harry kane says - of critics. captain harry kane says former players who are now pundits should be more supportive but the manager says he has not bothered. it is not important to me, there is nothing to be games that will help us listening to external criticism. we know what we have done well, we are very honest, we know where we need to be better, we are brutally honest about that.— honest about that. while england fans will be _ honest about that. while england fans will be hoping _ honest about that. while england fans will be hoping for— honest about that. while england fans will be hoping for a - honest about that. while england fans will be hoping for a win - fans will be hoping for a win against slovenia they will hope for against slovenia they will hope for a performance too. england arrived in germany as one of the tournament favourites, it is time to start showing why. studio: lets take a look at the weather with carol.

yesterday we had the hottest day of the year so far, 28.3 celsius. we could see potentially higher than that for some today. unsurprisingly the uv levels are high. still some strong june sunshine to be had. some others have had it from the get go this morning, cloud in the north and west breaking up, more sunshine in the south—west today than yesterday, we could see the odd spot of drizzle for a time in northern ireland, and heavier showers across eastern scotland. one thing you will notice as it will feel fresher in the north—west today, compared with yesterday, but still hot and humid, particularly further south and east. for this evening and overnight, the showers fade or move away but we are left with some cloud around, some coastal mist and fog and some clear skies. so a little bit of mistiness developing in line. it's not going to be cold, though. we are looking at overnight lows of six and about 15

degrees north to south. tomorrow we start off on that note, gain a lot of dry weather around. the cloud across north—east england and south—east scotland advancing northwards, taking some showers with it. again, a fair bit of sunshine, strong sunshine, but the cloud will build in the west, heralding the arrival of some rain. highs in belfast, 21 degrees but still the potential for 30 around the london area. that's going to change because this area of low pressure is moving closer to us with its weather fronts. weather fronts are a fairly weak affair but you can see from the isobars the wind is also going to pick up. we'rejust clinging on to the hot and humid air across the far south—east. cooler, fresher conditions coming in from the north and the west. here is the weather front pushing towards the south and east but it won't be much more than a band of cloud. might get the odd shower in it, but out towards the west it's going to be wetter and it's also going to be windier. temperatures during the course of thursday, they are picking once again at about mid 20s into the south—east,

which will be lower than the next couple of days but still high for the time of year, 15 in stornoway and about 21 in belfast. beyond that, the weather does remain fairly settled. temperatures closer to where we would expect them to be at this time of year and glastonbury is looking quite dry.

this is bbc news, the headlines: julian assange leaves the uk, after agreeing a plea deal with us authorities. the bbc has been told that more metropolitan police officers are facing inquiries by the gambling commission, over alleged bets on the timing of the election. princess anne spends a second night in hospital after a receiving minor injuries in an accident involving a horse at her estate in gloucestershire. england's footballers play their final group game at euro 2024 tonight, when they take on slovenia.

let's bring you a bit more on princess land. she has spent a second night in hospital after an accident involving a horse at her estate in gloucestershire. she suffered minor injuries. our correspondent danjohnson is outside southmead hospital in bristol where the princess is being treated. dan, are we expecting an update this morning? no, we are not. the palace is not going to give a running commentary on her condition, perhaps only updates if there are any changes. last night we were told she was stable, comfortable, conscious and expected to make a full recovery. she is expected to spend a few more nights at the hospital as a precaution. it sounds like this was a serious incident. it's not clear what happened. it sounds like princess anne himself hasn't been able to give a full recollection of what has happened. she was out walking on her estate which is about

115 minutes drive n. of here in gloucestershire. she came into contact somehow with the horse. the force either collided with her it kicked up. she wasn't riding at the time, she was working but she was concussed. paramedics were called and they assessed her and they decided she needed to be driven by ambulance here to hospitalfor further assessment and treatment. she has been advised not to conduct any of her royal engagements for at least the next week, so she won't be at the state banquet for the japanese at the state banquet for the japanese emperor that is taking place at buckingham palace tonight. she won't be able to take part in the trip to canada she was due to embark on at the weekend. disruption to her schedule and this is someone who has been a very busy of the royal family, who has been a very busy of the royalfamily, at who has been a very busy of the royal family, at the forefront of conducting royal events and even of the best of times, but especially in the best of times, but especially in the last six months while other senior members of the royal family have been unavailable because of their own medical issues. but the

palace is saying princess anne is comfortable and is expected to make a full recovery and it is expected to take a few more days, even a few more weeks because presumably she will need more time at home to recover. ., ~' will need more time at home to recover. . ~ , ., , . princess anne had been due to join the king, who's hosting a three—day state visit to the uk by the emperor ofjapan, which officially begins today. emperor naruhito and his wife empress masako willjoin king charles and queen camilla for a ceremony at horse guards parade before a state banquet. let's join our royal correspondent helena wilkinson, who is outside buckingham palace for us. these state occasions are always rather fabulous, these state occasions are always ratherfabulous, talk these state occasions are always rather fabulous, talk me through what is being planned? yes. rather fabulous, talk me through what is being planned? yes, they are and the weather _ what is being planned? yes, they are and the weather is _ what is being planned? yes, they are and the weather is really _ what is being planned? yes, they are and the weather is really hot - what is being planned? yes, they are and the weather is really hot and - what is being planned? yes, they are and the weather is really hot and a i and the weather is really hot and a really sunny day, perfect conditions for, as you say, is the first day of the state visit. the japanese royal couple will get a full ceremonial

welcome by king charles and queen camilla later on this evening. there are some crowds gathering outside buckingham palace, but in terms of the timetable for events today, the emperor and empress will be met by the prince of wales, prince william and he will travel with them to horse guards parade which isjust along the mall on the other side. there, they will be greeted formally by the king and the queen and there will be other members of the royal family and politicians as well. and then we will see that very grand carriage ride which will bring the emperor and empress, along with the king and the queen and the prince of wales along the mall behind us into the palace. they will have lunch together and then they will be shown parts of the royal collection with items from japan inside buckingham

palace. later on, they have a busy day ahead, later on they will visit westminster abbey and the centrepiece of any state visit that will take place behind us in buckingham palace is the state banquet, the huge, lavish affair and glitz and glamour involved. the prime minister will attend and also the labour leader, sir keir starmer as well. there will also be other senior members of the royal family there, obviously the king and the queen are hosting that event this evening. state visits are all about strengthening ties between two countries and during this visit the emperor and empress, who arrived at the weekend, they are and have been carrying out some private engagements. both of them went to oxford university. later this week they will make a private visit to oxford university and yesterday the emperor visited the thames barrier because he has a keen interest in

the river thames. it was part of his studies at oxford university and he wrote a book called the thames and i. later on this evening at buckingham palace he will be tucking into what will be a very special meal. ,., . into what will be a very special meal. ., ., , ., ., , ., meal. do we have any idea what is on the menu? — meal. do we have any idea what is on the menu? i— meal. do we have any idea what is on the menu? i have _ meal. do we have any idea what is on the menu? i have no _ meal. do we have any idea what is on the menu? i have no idea, _ meal. do we have any idea what is on the menu? i have no idea, but- meal. do we have any idea what is on the menu? i have no idea, but i - meal. do we have any idea what is on the menu? i have no idea, but i will. the menu? i have no idea, but i will tell ou the menu? i have no idea, but i will tell you as— the menu? i have no idea, but i will tell you as soon _ the menu? i have no idea, but i will tell you as soon as _ the menu? i have no idea, but i will tell you as soon as i _ the menu? i have no idea, but i will tell you as soon as i find _ the menu? i have no idea, but i will tell you as soon as i find out. - tell you as soon as i find out. thank you very much indeed, our correspondent outside buckingham palace. at the post office inquiry, a former fujitsu engineer will be questioned today about his role in designing the faulty horizon software. garethjenkins is a key figure in the inquiry into how hundreds of sub—postmasters were falsely accused of theft. let's speak to my colleague azadeh moshiri who's at the inquiry for us.

no, it can't. there are some sirens right now. garethjenkins did enter about an hour ago and sub—postmasters have said they have been waiting for this moment because of the role he played in defending the horizon it system, faulty software alongside the post office. he was used as an expert witness by the post office in both civil and criminal cases. and he continued to defend the robustness of a system we now know had bugs in it. the problem as he did not disclose those bugs to the court, and no to the sub—postmasters legal teams. that includes the case of the victim who was convicted in 2010 for stealing £70,000, and sent to prison when she was eight weeks pregnant with her second child. that lack of

disclosure in these cases were so significant that the post office was advised in 2013 that it was in breach of its duties as a prosecutor. he is notjust being scrutinised by the public inquiry, he is being scrutinised by the metropolitan police as they investigate him for potential perjury and perverting the course of justice. his lawyer said it would be inappropriate to comment before his appearance today, but that is why he is appearing over the course of four days all in one go, even longer than full of annals, the chief executive of the post office.— of the post office. thank you very much indeed _ of the post office. thank you very much indeed for _ of the post office. thank you very much indeed for that _ of the post office. thank you very much indeed for that update. -- | much indeed for that update. —— paula vinyls. tomorrow the bbc is hosting the final head—to—head tv debate of the election campaign, in nottingham. the midlands city boasts two major universities, as well as a number of business schools and colleges — which all means that it's home to a lot of young people. what are they saying about how they're going to vote on what they

are thinking about the election this time round? our reporter lola shroer is at nottingham college this morning to find out what issues students care about in this election. welcome to the east midlands, the city of nottingham. i am here to find out what young voters care about in this general election. i find myself at nottingham college. let's find out about what the student to care about. we will start with you, how are you? you are the president of the student union and when you are walking around the college, do you hear people talking about the general election? blot about the general election? not reall , about the general election? not really. no- _ about the general election? not really, no. what _ about the general election? not really, no. what are _ about the general election? not really, no. what are they - about the general election? not| really, no. what are they talking about instead, _ really, no. what are they talking about instead, is _ really, no. what are they talking about instead, is it _ really, no. what are they talking about instead, is it something i really, no. what are they talking i about instead, is it something they do not care about?— about instead, is it something they do not care about? maybe something on social media. _ do not care about? maybe something on social media. let's _ do not care about? maybe something on social media. let's talk _ do not care about? maybe something on social media. let's talk about - on social media. let's talk about social media _ on social media. let's talk about social media then, _ on social media. let's talk about social media then, a _ on social media. let's talk about social media then, a lot - on social media. let's talk about social media then, a lot of - on social media. let's talk about | social media then, a lot of parties have been posting on social media and you know, our people interacting with that or do you think partey should be trying something else to

reach young voters? thea;r should be trying something else to reach young voters?— reach young voters? they should advertise more _ reach young voters? they should advertise more on _ reach young voters? they should advertise more on social- reach young voters? they should advertise more on social media | reach young voters? they should | advertise more on social media to attract _ advertise more on social media to attract young voters and they should implement policies for young people. what are _ implement policies for young people. what are the issues you care about in this general election? for what are the issues you care about in this general election?— in this general election? for me, the issues _ in this general election? for me, the issues i _ in this general election? for me, the issues i believe _ in this general election? for me, the issues i believe is _ in this general election? for me, the issues i believe is health - in this general election? for me, | the issues i believe is health care. for example, it is difficult to book an appointment with the same gp which _ an appointment with the same gp which means patients will have to explain _ which means patients will have to explain their medical history to another— explain their medical history to another doctor. causing the treatment to be delayed or additionally even the nhs waiting list because it is really long. patients _ list because it is really long. patients might even get treatment after months or even years. the nhs is a big issue — after months or even years. the nhs is a big issue you _ after months or even years. the nhs is a big issue you care _ after months or even years. the nhs is a big issue you care about? - after months or even years. the nhs is a big issue you care about? we - is a big issue you care about? we will speak to adam. hello, adam. you

are studying politics at nottingham couege are studying politics at nottingham college and in your class have you been speaking about the general election, what is the vibe comedy people care about it? in election, what is the vibe comedy people care about it?— people care about it? in the olitics people care about it? in the politics class, _ people care about it? in the politics class, most - people care about it? in the. politics class, most definitely people care about it? in the - politics class, most definitely come it is important— politics class, most definitely come it is important to _ politics class, most definitely come it is important to keep— politics class, most definitely come it is important to keep up— politics class, most definitely come it is important to keep up with - it is important to keep up with political— it is important to keep up with political news. _ it is important to keep up with political news.— it is important to keep up with political news. what about issues ou care political news. what about issues you care about — political news. what about issues you care about in _ political news. what about issues you care about in the _ political news. what about issues you care about in the selection? l you care about in the selection? housing and nhs of the two most important — housing and nhs of the two most important things— housing and nhs of the two most important things to _ housing and nhs of the two most important things to me. - housing and nhs of the two most important things to me. i111th?- housing and nhs of the two most important things to me.— housing and nhs of the two most important things to me. why are they im ortant important things to me. why are they important to? — important things to me. why are they important to? l— important things to me. why are they important to? i am _ important things to me. why are they important to? i am looking _ important things to me. why are they important to? i am looking to - important things to me. why are they important to? i am looking to move l important to? i am looking to move out in the future _ important to? i am looking to move out in the future and _ important to? i am looking to move out in the future and it _ important to? i am looking to move out in the future and it is _ out in the future and it is difficult _ out in the future and it is difficult in _ out in the future and it is difficult in the _ out in the future and it is difficult in the current. out in the future and it is- difficult in the current housing market — difficult in the current housing market and _ difficult in the current housing market and the _ difficult in the current housing market and the nhs _ difficult in the current housing market and the nhs is- difficult in the current housing i market and the nhs is important difficult in the current housing - market and the nhs is important to everyone _ market and the nhs is important to everyone lbul— market and the nhs is important to eve one. ., ., , ., everyone. out of the manifestos of all the parties. _ everyone. out of the manifestos of all the parties, what _ everyone. out of the manifestos of all the parties, what are _ everyone. out of the manifestos of all the parties, what are the - everyone. out of the manifestos of all the parties, what are the and i all the parties, what are the and policies you think are attractive to young people and perhaps what you like and what you don't like? the ledaes like and what you don't like? the pledges for _ like and what you don't like? the pledges for there to be more nurses from both— pledges for there to be more nurses from both the — pledges for there to be more nurses from both the major— pledges for there to be more nurses from both the major political- from both the major political parties — from both the major political parties is _ from both the major political parties is good _ from both the major political parties is good and - from both the major political parties is good and most - from both the major political. parties is good and most young people — parties is good and most young people in— parties is good and most young people in like _ parties is good and most young people in like that. _ parties is good and most young people in like that. i— parties is good and most young people in like that. i am - parties is good and most young people in like that. i am not. parties is good and most young i people in like that. i am not sure how most— people in like that. i am not sure how most young _ people in like that. i am not sure how most young people - people in like that. i am not sure how most young people feel - people in like that. i am not sure i how most young people feel about national— how most young people feel about national service. _ how most young people feel about national service. 0k, _ how most young people feel about national service.— national service. ok, let's go to robin. i have _ national service. ok, let's go to robin. i have one _ national service. ok, let's go to robin. i have one question - national service. ok, let's go to robin. i have one question for. national service. ok, let's go to - robin. i have one question for you, what are the issues and policies in the manifestos you care about that

parties have been putting out? i care about a lot and the environment and the _ care about a lot and the environment and the nhs. public services in general~ — and the nhs. public services in general~ it— and the nhs. public services in general. it is really important we will have — general. it is really important we will have those public services there — will have those public services there when we need them. thank you so much, there when we need them. thank you so much. those _ there when we need them. thank you so much, those are _ there when we need them. thank you so much, those are some _ there when we need them. thank you so much, those are some of - there when we need them. thank you so much, those are some of the - so much, those are some of the issues the young people here in nottingham care about. i will speak to a variety of young people and i will get the information to you throughout the day.— will get the information to you throughout the day. lola, fantastic. thank ou throughout the day. lola, fantastic. thank you very _ throughout the day. lola, fantastic. thank you very much _ throughout the day. lola, fantastic. thank you very much indeed - throughout the day. lola, fantastic. thank you very much indeed for - throughout the day. lola, fantastic. i thank you very much indeed for that. let's look at live pictures coming in now from kenya. police have been trying to disperse the protesters outside parliament where proposals are being debated. these are unpopular tax proposals which have been put forward by the government and there is a lot of anger, specifically from young people. they are angry about the political

parties, they are angry about tax proposals being put forward, particularly they are protesting about what the government is putting them through what they perceive the government is putting them through. there has been a lot of concern amongst people about arbitrary arrest, the intimidation of activists during earlier protest. the police are very much in focus right now. we have seen a lot of this type of action, the protests have been dubbed occupied parliament. they have been pretty coordinated and mobilise particularly through social media. social media websites like tiktok have been very important in galvanising youthful demonstrators. as i mentioned, it is happening up and down the country. you can see protesters and the police trying to disperse them using water cannon.

there have been many, many arrests, more than 200 people have been arrested so far. some of them have been released, but there has been a lot of criticism as i mentioned earlier of the police reaction. it has to be said that the atmosphere in many of the cities across kenya is really unhappy with the kenyan government and the proposals that have been put forward. these are the latest pictures live coming to us from nairobi. we will try and bring you more on the story and potentially go to live pictures later in the programme. there are concerns thatjails in england and wales could run out of space in a matter of days, according to a letter seen by the bbc from the prison governors' association. the letter warns that

the justice system is on the "precipice of failure", with police officers unable to detain people because there will be nowhere to put them. they also warned that 'procrastination is not an option'. last month, the government announced an emergency measure called operation early dawn, to relieve some of the pressure of overcrowding. it involved some defendents being kept in police custody for longer, or being bailed. a government spokesperson said public safety would always be the priority. throughout the general election campaign, as part of our 'your voice your vote' series, we've been asking which issues matter most to you, and, amongst the many responses we have had are concerns about mental health support. simon from harrogate tried to take his own life last year amid a mental health crisis, he's been telling our correspondent navtej johal why he believes it's a key election issue. ijust felt like i'd let everybody down, that i'd failed... ..that i wasn't good enough, that i would be better off... ..not here any more.

in november last year, simon felt like his world was crashing down around him. pressures at work and home, the wait for an autism assessment — that he's still waiting for — all became too much, and he wanted to take his own life. if it wasn't for my wife and daughter, i could have done something quite serious. they locked me in the house, thankfully, and i ended up going to hospital, to a&e. it was devastating. they... they didn't know what to do. they'd never seen me like this before. he was diagnosed with depression, and tried to kill himself before receiving the help he needed. he says he still feels guilty about what he put his family through. i forgive myself for feeling that way because i know that it is... it's natural, it happens.

so i do forgive myself for that. i find it difficult forgiving myself for the impact that it had on my family. simon's doing a lot better now, and finding joy in his favourite hobby again. 50, simon, do you remember the first stamp that you got? not the first stamp that i actually got, but i do remember the first christmas stamps i got...in 1987. how many stamps do you have in total? thousands? probably... ..there are around about a million. what?! yeah, i give away... but many people struggling with mental—health issues are not receiving the support they need. the latest figure from the nhs shows that around two million people are on waiting lists for mental—health services. it's the issue simon believes the politicians should be talking about more in this election. he got in touch with us via your voice, your vote. there needs to be more...more investment in those services so that

people can get access to them when they need them... ..without having to wait until things get worse. and those working in mental—health services agree that more needs to be done by those in power. we can raise the standard of health care in mental—health hospitals, we can reform the mental health act — something that's been so long overdue. but the longer mental—health services go unfunded and deprioritised, the worse this is going to get. so it's very, very urgent that whoever comes into the next government prioritises mental health — all right, lads, welcome to- andy's man club here in harrogate. just for those of - you thinking about... for simon, this is one of the places that's kept him going. my name's simon. i started coming earlier in the year. a local support group in harrogate for men who've faced mental—health struggles. i wasjust miserable every day. i didn't want to be here.

i didn't want to be alive, i thought the world would be better off without me. and part of me, as silly as it sounds, thought that if ijust ended my life, then maybe the bullies would realise what they were doing to someone. suicide is the leading cause of death for men under 50, and this group is trying to help them open up. but many here also feel more support is needed from government. the hoops that you've got to jump through just to get some help — it's. ..unmanageable. certainly the question that rattles around in your mind is, do they actually care? my message would be, to the next prime minister — whoever that might be — is to prioritise mental health. simon believes there's still a taboo around men's mental health, but he hopes by speaking out, he'll get the parties talking about it, too. nobody should take their own life, because that's a permanent decision that you can't take back. feeling depressed is a temporary thing, but taking your own life is a permanent one. navteonhal, bbc news, harrogate.

let's go live to the labour party campaign. 50 keir starmer is currently in london and you can see the hollywood heart—throb actor, idris elba, hasjoined in. the labour party is unveiling an action plan to cut knife crime, including a plant which involves families of those killed by knives and knife crime. some of the members of those families are there with him. let’s families are there with him. let's have a listen. _ families are there with him. let's have a listen. you _ families are there with him. let's have a listen. you cannot - families are there with him. let's have a listen. you cannot do - families are there with him. let's have a listen. you cannot do it i families are there with him. let�*s have a listen. you cannot do it in an unmarked envelope. the harder stuff, which is getting those that are going off the rails out of the system, this does take time to set “p system, this does take time to set up and it takes patience. we have to avoid the political inclination to pretend that everything can be done very quickly. but we will work with you on this and be held to account, i will be held to account by you on this. i was chief prosecutor for

five years and many families have been through the criminaljustice system and didn't have a good experience. what i did as a result of that was well up my sleeve and say we will change the criminal justice system. we cannot keep meeting families and having a version of the same conversation, we have got to change the system. that is why we will form a cross—party alliance, if you get over the line. i want you to know that whoever is in power shouldn't make any difference to the change that we need to make.— need to make. that is really important- _ need to make. that is really important. the _ need to make. that is really important. the campaign i need to make. that is really important. the campaign in| need to make. that is really - important. the campaign in january, important. the campaign injanuary, we sat— important. the campaign injanuary, we sat and _ important. the campaign injanuary, we sat and we highlighted longevity is their— we sat and we highlighted longevity is their way. to some degree there is their way. to some degree there is a generation who might not even feel the _ is a generation who might not even feel the effects of what we are trying — feel the effects of what we are trying to — feel the effects of what we are trying to do here so thinking long term _ trying to do here so thinking long term is— trying to do here so thinking long term is important. this is our third or fourth— term is important. this is our third or fourth meeting i have had and it is nonpolitical, i am not here to do politics _ is nonpolitical, i am not here to do politics but — is nonpolitical, i am not here to do politics. but at the end of the day

there _ politics. but at the end of the day there is— politics. but at the end of the day there is a — politics. but at the end of the day there is a long term plan, i see with— there is a long term plan, i see with the — there is a long term plan, i see with the joined up thinking that we've _ with the joined up thinking that we've already started doing and having — we've already started doing and having these moments we are talking about— having these moments we are talking about and _ having these moments we are talking about and seeing one thing happen connected to the other, that is a long-term — connected to the other, that is a long—term plan. ithink connected to the other, that is a long—term plan. i think that, connected to the other, that is a long—term plan. ithink that, you know. _ long—term plan. ithink that, you know. keir— long—term plan. ithink that, you know, keir said it to me and i said it to— know, keir said it to me and i said it to him. — know, keir said it to me and i said it to him, think whatever happens with politics, this doesn't stop. we will keep— with politics, this doesn't stop. we will keep going and we still think we have — will keep going and we still think we have to hold the government, whatever— we have to hold the government, whatever government it is, accountable. that is going to go on for years. — accountable. that is going to go on for years, actually. ithink accountable. that is going to go on for years, actually. i think it is a really— for years, actually. i think it is a really important thing to say that we want — really important thing to say that we want to see some joined up thinking — we want to see some joined up thinking. you know, long term. and we have to — thinking. you know, long term. and we have to see _ thinking. you know, long term. situc we have to see some thinking. you know, long term. fifui we have to see some delivery. thinking. you know, long term. a1c we have to see some delivery. some of the stuff has been talked about for a long time and you must be feeling very frustrated... for a long time and you must be feeling very frustrated. . .- for a long time and you must be feeling very frustrated... yes. at how things _ feeling very frustrated... yes. at how things are _ feeling very frustrated... yes. at

how things are going. definitely, i feeling very frustrated... yes. at l how things are going. definitely, it is cominu how things are going. definitely, it is coming up _ how things are going. definitely, it is coming up eight _ how things are going. definitely, it is coming up eight years _ how things are going. definitely, it is coming up eight years for- how things are going. definitely, it is coming up eight years for my i how things are going. definitely, it i is coming up eight years for my son, iwork— is coming up eight years for my son, i work in _ is coming up eight years for my son, i work in education, _ is coming up eight years for my son, i work in education, i _ is coming up eight years for my son, i work in education, i work— is coming up eight years for my son, i work in education, i work with i i work in education, i work with children— i work in education, i work with children who _ i work in education, i work with children who have _ i work in education, i work with children who have been - i work in education, i work with i children who have been excluded i work in education, i work with - children who have been excluded from school _ children who have been excluded from school and _ children who have been excluded from school and so — children who have been excluded from school and so many— children who have been excluded from school and so many of _ children who have been excluded from school and so many of them _ children who have been excluded from school and so many of them have i school and so many of them have histories — school and so many of them have histories behind _ school and so many of them have histories behind them _ school and so many of them have histories behind them of- school and so many of them have histories behind them of crime i school and so many of them have histories behind them of crime ofi histories behind them of crime of some _ histories behind them of crime of some sort — histories behind them of crime of some sort they— histories behind them of crime of some sort. they are _ histories behind them of crime of some sort. they are not - histories behind them of crime of some sort. they are not on i histories behind them of crime of some sort. they are not on the i histories behind them of crime of. some sort. they are not on the right path and _ some sort. they are not on the right path and they— some sort. they are not on the right path and they don't _ some sort. they are not on the right path and they don't have _ some sort. they are not on the right path and they don't have the - some sort. they are not on the right| path and they don't have the support mechanisms — path and they don't have the support mechanisms to — path and they don't have the support mechanisms to make _ path and they don't have the support mechanisms to make the _ path and they don't have the support mechanisms to make the right- path and they don't have the support i mechanisms to make the right choices orto mechanisms to make the right choices or to see _ mechanisms to make the right choices or to see something _ mechanisms to make the right choices or to see something different. - mechanisms to make the right choices or to see something different. that. or to see something different. that is what _ or to see something different. that is what i _ or to see something different. that is what i feel— or to see something different. that is what i feel passionately- or to see something different. that is what i feel passionately about, l is what i feel passionately about, we need — is what i feel passionately about, we need to— is what i feel passionately about, we need to provide _ is what i feel passionately about, we need to provide more - is what i feel passionately about, we need to provide more for- is what i feel passionately about, we need to provide more for ourl we need to provide more for our young _ we need to provide more for our young people. _ we need to provide more for our young people. give _ we need to provide more for our young people, give them - we need to provide more for our young people, give them better| young people, give them better choices— young people, give them better choices and _ young people, give them better choices and give _ young people, give them better choices and give them - young people, give them better choices and give them options, | choices and give them options, making — choices and give them options, making sure _ choices and give them options, making sure at _ choices and give them options, making sure at the _ choices and give them options, making sure at the first - choices and give them options, making sure at the first point, i making sure at the first point, parents — making sure at the first point, parents see _ making sure at the first point, parents see that _ making sure at the first point, parents see that our - making sure at the first point, parents see that our children. making sure at the first point, i parents see that our children are not coping — parents see that our children are not coping with _ parents see that our children are not coping with mainstream i parents see that our children are i not coping with mainstream school starting _ not coping with mainstream school starting to — not coping with mainstream school starting to do — not coping with mainstream school starting to do things _ not coping with mainstream school starting to do things they- not coping with mainstream school| starting to do things they shouldn't be doing. _ starting to do things they shouldn't be doing. that _ starting to do things they shouldn't be doing, that we _ starting to do things they shouldn't be doing, that we can— starting to do things they shouldn't be doing, that we can get- starting to do things they shouldn't be doing, that we can get the i be doing, that we can get the support— be doing, that we can get the support rather— be doing, that we can get the support rather than— be doing, that we can get the support rather than trying i be doing, that we can get the support rather than trying toi be doing, that we can get the i support rather than trying to fish around, — support rather than trying to fish around, trying _ support rather than trying to fish around, trying to— support rather than trying to fish around, trying to find _ support rather than trying to fish around, trying to find someone i support rather than trying to fish i around, trying to find someone who can support — around, trying to find someone who can support us _ around, trying to find someone who can support us and _ around, trying to find someone who can support us and then— around, trying to find someone who can support us and then it - around, trying to find someone who can support us and then it is - around, trying to find someone who can support us and then it is too i can support us and then it is too late _ can support us and then it is too late we — can support us and then it is too late we need _ can support us and then it is too late. we need that. _ can support us and then it is too late. we need that.— late. we need that. they need a future so they _ late. we need that. they need a future so they don't _ late. we need that. they need a future so they don't take - late. we need that. they need a i future so they don't take somebody else's _ future so they don't take somebody else's. , ., ., else's. they need to value their future, value _ else's. they need to value their future, value life. _ else's. they need to value their future, value life. it— else's. they need to value their future, value life. it is- else's. they need to value their future, value life. it is getting i else's. they need to value their| future, value life. it is getting in earl as future, value life. it is getting in early as well _ future, value life. it is getting in early as well because _ future, value life. it is getting in early as well because there i future, value life. it is getting in early as well because there is i future, value life. it is getting in early as well because there is a l early as well because there is a connection between people who are struggling at secondary school and

finding themselves excluded and those beginning to struggle a primary school. all of the time i was chief prosecutor, people always say how do you reduce crime? what are the characteristics? in the end, the dominant characteristic, not the only one, was difficulties at primary school beginning to emerge... studio: that is sir keir starmer and relatives of knife crime victims and idris elba, the hollywood actor, launching and unveiling labour�*s action plan to cut knife crime. labour well and truly continuing their campaign throughout the day. we will go back to labour in what they have been saying later on in they have been saying later on in the programme. the search for teenagerjay slater has been continuing in tenerife. he was last heard from a monday last week. search teams narrowed their efforts over the weekend on small buildings close to where his last phone

movement. close to where his last phone movement-— close to where his last phone movement. , ., . .., , , movement. the search continues but we are contacting _ movement. the search continues but we are contacting the _ movement. the search continues but we are contacting the police - movement. the search continues but we are contacting the police again i we are contacting the police again to ask if those searches you have been talking about, concentrating on those outbuildings, have they been scaled back or moved elsewhere? this is because when we were high up on the mountain yesterday this is the area where he went missing over a week ago, where he went to the remote holiday home with two men he met at a bar. when we were there yesterday we didn't see any of the ground searches we had seen in previous days, sniffer dogs, mountain rescue teams, fire fighters. we are trying to establish how they are working to decide whether or not they have scaled back the search or they have been moved elsewhere, because that national parkis elsewhere, because that national park is vast. that was fiona trotter bringing the

latest from tenerife. you can read more about jay slater on the website. this is live pictures coming into us from the kenyan capital, nairobi. the police have been firing rubber bullets at protesters. you can see one protesters. you can see one protester standing close to where the news cameras are filming. police have been clashing with anti—tax protesters in the capital nairobi, but it has to be said, demonstrations have spread across the country. why are people demonstrating? it is all to do with those controversial finance bill which has introduced a number of unpopular tax proposals. there have been a lot of controversies over the bill and it has gone through and it has gone through its second reading stage. protest started on tuesday last week. there is a huge public outcry which at that point forster government to withdraw some of the

most contentious elements of the bill including tax on bread and an annual 2.5% tax on vehicles. the protesters have said that concession the government put forward is not enough. they want more. so these protests are a continuation of those and these have very much been youth protest. the youth protest has been galvanised through social media and you can see the kenyan police are reacting to these protesters. we will bring you more on this story and bbc news.

live from london, this is bbc news. julian assange leaves the uk, after agreeing a plea deal with us authorities, as his wife tells the bbc of her relief. it's a whirlwind of emotions. i mean, i'm just elated, frankly. it's just incredible. the bbc is told that more metropolitan police officers are facing investigation, over alleged bets on the timing of the election.

england's footballers play their final group game at the euros tonight, when they take on slovenia. they have, of course, already qualified for the next round. hello, i'm maryam moshiri. welcome to bbc news. it's a legal saga that has lasted for years, but now the wikileaks founder, julian assange, has been flown out of the uk after striking a deal with us authorities that will see him plead guilty to one criminal charge and then be released. he spent seven years inside the ecuadorian embassy in london as the us tried to extradite him over the publication, on his wikileaks website, of thousands of confidential us documents in 2010 and 2011 about the wars in iraq and afghanistan. us authorities accused him of having endangered the lives of american operatives. he was arrested in april 2019 over a breach of his bail conditions, and spent the last five years

inside a london prison, fighting extradition. a uk court ruled last month that he could appeal that decision after mr assange argued that he would not receive a fair trial in the us. now he's agreed a plea deal and is set to appear before a court in a us territory in the pacific before an expected return to his home nation, australia. but there's been criticism of the deal from the former us vice president mike pence. posting on x, he said that julian assange had endangered the lives of american troops in a time of war and "should have been prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law." paul hawkins reports. wikileaks published this clip on social media showing its founder flying out of the country late on monday afternoon. it also said he'd spent 1,901 days in prison for publishing what it called "ground—breaking stories of government corruption and human rights abuses" in 2010.

this period of our lives, i'm confident now, has come to an end, and i think by this time next week, julian will be free. those stories were top—secret us military files — which is why, for the past 111 years, assange has fought extradition to the us to face charges of espionage — first by claiming asylum for seven years inside ecuador�*s london embassy, until his arrest in 2019, and then from belmarsh high—security prison in london via the courts. he also faced charges of rape in sweden — which were dropped, and which he's also denied. wikileaks now says he's heading for the american territory of the northern mariana islands in the south pacific, to plead guilty to one criminal charge before heading on to nearby australia, where he was born. regardless of the views that people have about mr assange's activities, the case has dragged on for too long. there's nothing to be gained by his continued incarceration, and we want him brought home to australia. assange will spend no time in us

custody because of the time spent in prison in the uk. paul hawkins, bbc news. julian assange's wife, stella assange, has been sharing her reaction on the bbc�*s today programme. here's what she had to say... it's a whirlwind of emotions. i mean, i'm just elated, frankly. it's just incredible. i don't know, it feels like it's not real. well, tell us what the last day or perhaps even the days before that have been like. what are the conversations that led to the moment where julian assange was allowed to leave belmarsh? well, it's been so touch and go. we weren't really sure until the last 211 hours that it was actually happening. and we were talking about... i don't know, what he needed to do and take from his cell.

and i also had to pack things up and head out to australia 211 hours before he he left. so it'sjust been non—stop for the past, i think, 72 hours. but touch and go because there was, there was something on paper on offer from the us authorities. what there is is an agreement in principle betweenjordan and the department ofjustice, and that has to be signed off by a judge in these northern mariana territories... islands, sorry, which is in the pacific ocean, where he is going to be headed. he's currently in bangkok on a layover, and once thejudge signs off on it, then it is formally real. so i'm also a little bit limited as to what what i can say right now about the about the agreement in principle.

but is it the case that it does involve him pleading guilty to one charge? yes. the charge concerns the espionage act and obtaining and disclosing national defence information. and was that difficult for your husband to agree that he was guilty of? again, i don't want to say too much until it's been signed the off by a judge, but the important thing here is that the deal involved time served, that if he signed it, he would be able to walk free. so it's your understanding that once he's made that court appearance, and this is essentially signed off by thejudge, that he will be a free man? he will be a free man once it has been signed off by the judge. and that will happen sometime tomorrow. tell us about you and and your children, your sons. have you...?

you've brought them to australia with you? yes. we took a flight on sunday morning and we flew into sydney. so have you told the children that their father is is going to be free and is going to be part of the family? they still don't know. we've been very careful because obviously no—one can stop a five and a seven—year—old from from shouting it from the rooftops at any given moment. and because of the sensitivity around the judge having to sign off the deal, we've been very careful, just gradually, incrementally telling them information. they're very excited to be in australia. but will you will you tell them before they see him?

because they have never seen him outside the prison, orfor the older one, the ecuadorean embassy. they've never seen him... no, they've never seen him inside, sorry outside of belmarsh. all their interactions withjulian have been in a in a single visitor's room inside belmarsh prison. it's always been for a little more than an hour at a time. it's been very restrictive. the australian prime minster, anthony albanese, says he wants julian assange brought back home as soon as possible. regardless of the views that people have about mr assange's activities, the case has dragged on for too long. hear, hear. there is nothing to be gained by his continued incarceration, and we want him brought home to australia. and we have engaged and advocated australia's interests, using all the appropriate channels, to support a positive outcome, and i've done that since very early on. with me is our diplomatic correspondent caroline hawley.

caroline, this case has been going on for so long, and you have been following it? it is the end of an extraordinary legal and, as you heard from the start human drama which spans many continents. where it first began, in 2010 julian assange's wikileaks published assange's wikilea ks published footage assange's wikileaks published footage showing the helicopter gunships shooting iraqi civilians. that had been obtained illegally, the us said, and it follows after that the biggest leak of us military secrets in history. then there was an international arrest warrant in a completely separate case from sweden, and this is how his legal issues began. two swedish women accused him of sexual assault. he fought extradition to sweden, he went into the ecuadorian assembly in 2012, you might remember the

round—the—clock policing at the time. a large cost to the british taxpayer. in 2019 he had outstayed his welcome and that the extradition from the us came in and he spent the last five years in belmarsh jail, from the us came in and he spent the last five years in belmarshjail, so we have been following the legal twists and turns for many years, it is hard to believe it is finally coming to an end but it seems a deal, we do not know exactly how it was reached, has been reached. the australians were pushing very, very hard for it. in apriljoe biden said he was considering dropping the prosecution. this seems to be a compromise that suits everyone. julian assange wants to be free, his health was failing, the americans probably do not want to prosecute this now. the australians wanted him back. ., ., . this now. the australians wanted him back. ., ., , ., 52 this now. the australians wanted him back-_ 52 years i back. how old is he now? 52 years old and this _ back. how old is he now? 52 years old and this began _ back. how old is he now? 52 years old and this began in _ back. how old is he now? 52 years old and this began in 2010 - back. how old is he now? 52 years old and this began in 2010 when i back. how old is he now? 52 years| old and this began in 2010 when he

was still in his late 30s, it has been going on for a very, very, very long time. so many hearings, he has fought extradition all the way, firstly the request from sweden after the international arrest warrant and the sexual assault charges against him expired because of a time limitation, by the way. then he has been fighting extradition all the way up to the highest courts in the land to the us, and he was due to have another hearing in earlyjuly, i think the ninth or tenth, but now this deal has been struck, as far as we know at the moment he is in bangkok on a layover and then he flies on... to a pacific island _ layover and then he flies on... to a pacific island under _ layover and then he flies on... to a pacific island under us _ layover and then he flies on... to a pacific island under us control? it i pacific island under us control? it is us territory, and one that has happened we will know he is really going back to australia. bier? going back to australia. very briefly as _ going back to australia. very briefly as possible, - going back to australia. very briefly as possible, i - going back to australia. very briefly as possible, i read i going back to australia. very briefly as possible, i read he paid

for his own flight? that briefly as possible, i read he paid for his own flight?— for his own flight? that is what i write, i cannot _ for his own flight? that is what i write, i cannot confirm, - for his own flight? that is what i write, i cannot confirm, but i for his own flight? that is what i write, i cannot confirm, but we | for his own flight? that is what i i write, i cannot confirm, but we know he was on a private charter from stansted airport, presumably that cost a fair amount. i stansted airport, presumably that cost a fair amount.— cost a fair amount. i think half a million, cost a fair amount. i think half a million. i _ cost a fair amount. i think half a million. i am — cost a fair amount. i think half a million, i am not _ cost a fair amount. i think half a million, i am not sure, - cost a fair amount. i think half a million, i am not sure, half- cost a fair amount. i think half a million, i am not sure, half $1 i million, i am not sure, half $1 million, i am not sure, half $1 million, unverified buti million, i am not sure, half $1 million, unverified but i read that, it seems like an incredible amount to pay for a flight. i do it seems like an incredible amount to pay for a flight.— to pay for a flight. i do not know about the _ to pay for a flight. i do not know about the flight _ to pay for a flight. i do not know about the flight but _ to pay for a flight. i do not know about the flight but he - to pay for a flight. i do not know about the flight but he has i to pay for a flight. i do not know about the flight but he has a i to pay for a flight. i do not know about the flight but he has a lot| to pay for a flight. i do not know. about the flight but he has a lot of very vocal support but he was and is a deeply polarising figure. some people see him as a great campaigner for truth and some people say he endangered lives. and then there was this murky personal background that was never tested on courts because of the time limitations on the swedish cases and the swedish women have never spoken.— have never spoken. thank you very much, caroline. _ earlier we heard from legal commentator, steve rozenberg. i asked him if whether the pressure from the australian government has much to bare on today's announcement. i think that has been crucial.

clearly the us has agreed to this. whether president biden fancied the idea ofjulian assnage in the united states awaiting trial in the run—up to the election or challenging his extradition in that period, we don't know. but clearly the us has agreed to this. it's not unknown for a deal to be reached between prosecutors and the defendant, whereby the defendant agreed to plead guilty to one charge and the others are dropped and that's what happened, apparently. right, let's take this back a bit because there might be people watching this at home, joshua, who are thinking, what is this all about? can you explain as clearly as you can to people who may not have the legalese that you have, what is it that julian assange was accused of and why has it taken so long to get here? specifically he was accused of conspiracy to obtain and disclose national defence information. secret documents, national secrets. and he enabled journalists to publish large number of secret cable, secret communications, apparently naming people who had supplied

information to the us, allegedly endangering their personal security as well as national security of the united states. and these are serious charges. he always thought the us was seeking his extradition, seeking to get him sent from the uk where he was to the united states. there was this diversion about charges in sweden. that all went away and he has been fighting extradition. very interestingly, at the last hearing last month the us government failed to provide diplomatic assurances requested by a court here in london that might have put an end to his appeal, it might have enabled the extradition to go ahead, and that was when we begin to get the feeling that maybe the us wasn't so keen on the extradition after all. and in this whole deal he's pleading, isn't he, for one charge? talk me through that.

yes, he's pleading guilty to the charge of unlawfully obtaining and disseminating classified information relating to the national defence of the united states. so that's one of the charges. it's understood that the prosecutors will ask the judge for a sentence of 62 months, just over five years, which happens to be the amount of time he spent in prison here in london at belmarsh high security prison. it's quite standard for time spent on remand awaiting trial to be deducted from a sentence and that seems to work on an international basis as well. i mean, obviously we've heard from reporters without borders, we've heard from his wife, stella, but there is the us side, isn't there, and the us have always maintained that what he did put lives in danger? they have, and that will never be tried in a court. obviously, that is denied byjulian assange and his supporters but there are others who say that people simply publishing confidential information is a very, very dangerous thing to do.

people who give information to any government, people who give information to journalists, do so on the basis their names will not be divulged because they may be in danger. and that is the allegation against him. but on the other hand he has spent five years in prison, he spent seven years in self—imposed exile at the ecuadorian embassy. we don't know about his state of health, he was too ill to appear in court on previous occasions. so some would say, and this is certainly the position of the australian prime minister, that he's been punished enough. yes, he's been incarcerated in one way or another, at the ecuadorian embassy and then at belmarsh prison, for many, many years? he has. he was first of all punished forjumping bail. because he escaped to the ecuadorian embassy, he got political asylum

there until ecuadorians decided to end his stay there and he was arrested by the british authorities. and then he was convicted ofjumping bail, various people who put up money lost their money, and then he has been awaiting trial, rather awaiting extradition to face trial in the united states, and clearly because the us authorities have told the uk authorities they are no longer seeking his return to the continental united states, that's why he was granted bail, that's why he was allowed to leave the uk yesterday. and let me read to you, if i may, joshua, a tweet from the former vice president mike pence in america. he says this, "julian assange endangered the lives of our troops at a time of war and should have been prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. the biden administration's plea deal with assange is a miscarriage ofjustice and dishonours the service and sacrifice of the men and women of our armed forces and their families. there should be no plea deals to avoid prison for anyone that endangers the security of our military or the national security of the united states. " how popular is that view in the us? it's very hard to say, isn't it? i don't know whether people

have lost interest in julian assange, i don't know if they in the united states really understood what this is all about. but it certainly a point of view, and you have heard this from alexander down, a former australian political leader. there are people who think he should have been punished. on the other hand, he thought, and his supporters said, that if he was convicted of all the charges he faced he would be in prison for the rest of his life. some people say that was too much. he has served time in prison and the argument goes that he has served enough time to represent the offence. after all, plea bargains are very common in the united states. but it is a matter of opinion, isn't it? should he have gone to the us? should he have been sent to prison for life? was it so serious or was a just freedom of expression that a journalist would rely on? the courts will never decide, public opinion will decide. joshua rozenberg. and you can follow this

story on our website. we have a live page being updated minute by minute by correspondence both here, in australia and in the us. you can see the video ofjulian assange climbing the steps and walking into his privatejet as he left the uk on his way eventually to australia. that, as always, on the bbc website wherever you are. now a little bit more about the world of politics. the bbc has been told that the gambling commission is considering whether more police officers are involved in alleged betting on the date of the general election. four conservatives and a police officer assigned to the protection of rishi sunak are known to be facing inquiries. scotland yard has denied a report that it leaked the names of some of those under investigation. earlier we heard from our chief political correspondent, henry zeffman. with nine days to go until voting, i asked him why this dark cloud of alleged betting doesn't seem to be shifting. it is so striking, nine days to go

until polling day and 11 days... sorry, 13 days, actually, since this story first broke and it's still expanding as a story. today's development is about the metropolitan police, potentially, rather than the conservative party. but the fear in the conservative campaign is that it keeps the story, keeps the questions about these gambling allegations uppermost in voters' minds. and that's not ideal given that there are, as we have learned in recent days, at least four conservatives who are being looked at by the gambling commission. they all deny wrongdoing. it has that elusive thing, doesn't it, that they call here in westminster, cut through, where people who might not pay that much attention to politics just really notice that this story is out there, and that has got to be concerning for the conservative campaign so close to polling day. and while the conservatives are forced to think or talk about election betting, labour are

continuing their campaign trail with sir keir starmer today talking about a plan to cut knife crime, amongst other things? yes, we are in a funny stage of this campaign, never mind the whole gambling thing, which is that obviously we have had the parties�* manifestos, and they set huge stall by then being fully costed, although, as we discussed yesterday, there are some disputes over whether they truly are. but that means the parties cannot announce new things after their manifestos have been released because it would disrupt that sort of delicate economic balance. so instead you have the party is reviving, reiterating, focusing on existing policies that they hope will get their voters to the polls. so in labour's case today that is knife crime, talking about tough sanctions for people who are found with knives. i think they actually first announced this injanuary. the conservatives are talking about immigration, both legal and illegal. they are reiterating their announcement that was in their manifesto about having parliament vote on an annual cap on

the number of legal migrants coming to this country for the first time ever. and the liberal democrats focusing, as they have so often during this campaign, on social care. so you have the parties kind of going round and round over what they hope the voters will see as their greatest hits. meanwhile, there is this huge and growing question about gambling on the date of the election, just sort of happening to the side. our chief political correspondent henry zeffman. some live pictures from kenya now, we are bringing them than to you because it is a significant protest happening in the capital of kenya, nairobi, but it is being reflected in cities and towns across the country. these people are protesting against a controversial finance country. these people are protesting against a controversialfinance bill which was introduced or has been put through parliament, the beginning of the process, last week. protest started on tuesday. people are very unhappy with the government because

of these tax laws which are coming in. the pressure they have put on the government has forced the government to drop a couple of the more contentious provisions in the bill including a 16% tax on bread which was planned, and an annual 2.5% tax on vehicles. this is very much a youth protest, lots of the protesters have been galvanised through social media, through websites like tiktok, we have heard in the last hour also that kenyan police have been using rubber bullets against the demonstrators. there has been some criticism of their reaction to demonstrators in nairobi. those are live pictures, a little bit wobbly but you can understand we are in the middle of the protest, it is looking like. we will bring you more on this when we get it. the japanese emperor will officially begin his three—day state

visit to the uk today, where he will be hosted by the king. emperor naruhito and his wife empress masako willjoin king charles and queen camilla for a ceremony at horse guards parade before a state banquet. the visit is intended to reinforce military, cultural and scientific links between the two two nations. but because of the general election it won't include the usual visit to downing street to meet the prime minister. let's join our royal correspondent helena wilkinson, who is outside buckingham palace for us. it isa it is a glorious day at buckingham palace, a wonderful way to start a state visit?— state visit? indeed, the sun is shinina , state visit? indeed, the sun is shining. it _ state visit? indeed, the sun is shining. it is _ state visit? indeed, the sun is shining, it is really, _ state visit? indeed, the sun is shining, it is really, really i state visit? indeed, the sun is| shining, it is really, really want today, perfect conditions for the first day of the state visit for the japanese emperor and empress shortly, but later around lunchtime they will be greeted and formally welcomed by the king and queen on horse guards parade and they will be treated to a full ceremonial welcome. no politics involved, it is

unusual to have a state visit during an electoral campaigning period so we will not see the downing street photo opportunity, but the prime minister will be at the state banquet at buckingham palace a bit later. let's talk to our guest, a historian in modern japan. talk as festival through the significance of such a state visit?— such a state visit? thank you for havin: such a state visit? thank you for having me- _ such a state visit? thank you for having me- it — such a state visit? thank you for having me. it is— such a state visit? thank you for having me. it is very, _ such a state visit? thank you for having me. it is very, very- having me. it is very, very significant historically, culturally and diplomatically because this is the first— and diplomatically because this is the first visit since 1998 and they'll— the first visit since 1998 and they'll wear magical year in 2020 but had _ they'll wear magical year in 2020 but had to— they'll wear magical year in 2020 but had to cancel due to covid. this is very— but had to cancel due to covid. this is very significant —— they were meant — is very significant —— they were meant to— is very significant —— they were meant to come here in 2020 but had to cancel— meant to come here in 2020 but had to cancel due to covid. what meant to come here in 2020 but had to cancel due to covid.— to cancel due to covid. what is the significance _ to cancel due to covid. what is the significance for _ to cancel due to covid. what is the significance for the _ to cancel due to covid. what is the significance for the japanese i to cancel due to covid. what is the l significance for the japanese people

to have a state visit, for the emperor and empress to be in the uk? how important is it forjapanese people? how important is it forjapanese --eole? , how important is it forjapanese eo le? , , ., ., how important is it forjapanese --eole? , ., , people? very important, the japanese eo - le love people? very important, the japanese people love british _ people? very important, the japanese people love british culture, _ people? very important, the japanese people love british culture, the - people love british culture, the music— people love british culture, the music and _ people love british culture, the music and art scenes, lots of people come _ music and art scenes, lots of people come here _ music and art scenes, lots of people come here to study so it is a very important — come here to study so it is a very important moment forjapanese people too because the emperor and empress are very— too because the emperor and empress are very popular too, it means a lot to japanese — are very popular too, it means a lot to japanese people who live here too. ~ ~' ., to japanese people who live here too. ~ ~ ., ., , ., too. we know that while the emperor and empress — too. we know that while the emperor and empress are _ too. we know that while the emperor and empress are in _ too. we know that while the emperor and empress are in the _ too. we know that while the emperor and empress are in the uk, - too. we know that while the emperor and empress are in the uk, today i too. we know that while the emperor and empress are in the uk, today is i and empress are in the uk, today is all about the ceremonial, formal welcome, but they have already carried out some private engagements and they will, towards the end of the week. personally, for then, how important it is a trip like this? i heard the emperor speaking to the japanese _ heard the emperor speaking to the japanese news saying he was so looking — japanese news saying he was so looking forward to coming here with his wife _ looking forward to coming here with his wife his— looking forward to coming here with

his wife, his beloveds empress masako, — his wife, his beloveds empress masako, because they both studied here, _ masako, because they both studied here, separately, they are really looking — here, separately, they are really looking forward to going back to oxford — looking forward to going back to oxford together. it looking forward to going back to oxford together.— looking forward to going back to oxford together. it means a lot to them both- _ oxford together. it means a lot to them both. they _ oxford together. it means a lot to them both. they did _ oxford together. it means a lot to them both. they did not - oxford together. it means a lot to them both. they did not meet i oxford together. it means a lot to them both. they did not meet at. them both. they did not meet at oxford? , �* ., ., oxford? they didn't get together at club -- at oxford, _ oxford? they didn't get together at club -- at oxford, they _ oxford? they didn't get together at club -- at oxford, they met i oxford? they didn't get together at club -- at oxford, they met at - oxford? they didn't get together at club -- at oxford, they met at a . club —— at oxford, they met at a foreign — club —— at oxford, they met at a foreign function injapan. he fell in love _ foreign function injapan. he fell in love with her instantly, apparently, it was his first love and he — apparently, it was his first love and he just wanted to marry her. and and he 'ust wanted to marry her. and she and he just wanted to marry her. she declined? and he just wanted to marry her. and she declined? yes, _ and he just wanted to marry her. and she declined? yes, because - and he just wanted to marry her. and she declined? yes, because she - and he just wanted to marry her. and she declined? yes, because she was| and he just wanted to marry her. and| she declined? yes, because she was a -aromisin she declined? yes, because she was a promising diplomat. _ she declined? yes, because she was a promising diplomat. she _ she declined? yes, because she was a promising diplomat. she is _ she declined? yes, because she was a promising diplomat. she is super- promising diplomat. she is super smart, _ promising diplomat. she is super smart, very— promising diplomat. she is super smart, very beautiful and, yeah, he 'ust smart, very beautiful and, yeah, he just started — smart, very beautiful and, yeah, he just started working at the ministry of foreign — just started working at the ministry of foreign affairs. she declined first but— of foreign affairs. she declined first but because he was so sincere and so _ first but because he was so sincere and so lovely, she said yes, i will marry— and so lovely, she said yes, i will marry you. — and so lovely, she said yes, i will marry you, and they got married in 1993. _ marry you, and they got married in 1993, i_ marry you, and they got married in 1993, ithirrie — marry you, and they got married in 1993, ithink. in marry you, and they got married in 1993. mink-— 1993, i think. in terms of what the em eror 1993, i think. in terms of what the emperor and _ 1993, i think. in terms of what the emperor and empress _ 1993, i think. in terms of what the emperor and empress hope - 1993, i think. in terms of what the emperor and empress hope to - 1993, i think. in terms of what the emperor and empress hope to getj 1993, i think. in terms of what the - emperor and empress hope to get out of this trip, politics, there will

not be any, especially given the election campaign period. what do you think they would hope to take back to japan from this trip? timer;r back to japan from this trip? they are not really _ back to japan from this trip? they are not really allowed _ back to japan from this trip? they are not really allowed to - back to japan from this trip? they are not really allowed to get involved _ are not really allowed to get involved in politics, they are symbolic _ involved in politics, they are symbolic. what they want to achieve here is _ symbolic. what they want to achieve here is to _ symbolic. what they want to achieve here is to basically promote great diplomatic relations, not diplomatic but the _ diplomatic relations, not diplomatic but the diplomatic relationship between the two countries, obviously. between the two countries, obviously-— between the two countries, obviousl . . ,, , . , obviously. thank you very much, dr satona suzuki, _ obviously. thank you very much, dr satona suzuki, for _ obviously. thank you very much, dr satona suzuki, for your _ obviously. thank you very much, dr satona suzuki, for your thoughts i obviously. thank you very much, drj satona suzuki, for your thoughts on that. laterwe satona suzuki, for your thoughts on that. later we should get sight at some point of the menu, because there will be that very lavish state banquet here at buckingham palace later, the king and queen hosting that state banquet and we are waiting to hear what will be on the menu. i waiting to hear what will be on the menu. . , ~' waiting to hear what will be on the menu. . , ~ . ,.,

menu. i am hungry thinking about it. you know i — menu. i am hungry thinking about it. you know i love _ menu. i am hungry thinking about it. you know i love a _ menu. i am hungry thinking about it. you know i love a good _ menu. i am hungry thinking about it. you know i love a good state - menu. i am hungry thinking about it. | you know i love a good state banquet but i am never invited! now it's time for a look at the weather with carol. hello again. yesterday we had the hottest day of this year so far. at wisley, it was 28.3 celsius. we could see potentially a little bit higher than that for some today, so unsurprisingly the uv levels are high. still some strong june sunshine to be had. some of us have had it from the get go this morning. the cloud in the north and the west breaking up, there will be more sunshine in the south—west today than yesterday. could see the odd spot of drizzle for a time in northern ireland but a lot of dry weather here but some heavier showers across eastern parts of scotland. one thing you'll notice is it's going to feel fresher in the north—west today compared with yesterday, but still hot and humid, particularly further south and east that you travel with highs up to 28, potentially 30 degrees. for this evening and overnight, the showers fade or move away but we are left with some cloud around, some coastal mist and fog and some clear skies. so a little bit of mistiness developing inland. it's not going to be cold, though.

we are looking at overnight lows of six and about 15 degrees north to south. tomorrow we start off on that note, gain a lot of dry weather around. the cloud across north—east england and south—east scotland advancing northwards, taking some showers with it. again, a fair bit of sunshine, strong sunshine, but the cloud will build in the west, heralding the arrival of some rain. highs in belfast 21 degrees, but still the potential for 30 around the london area. that's going to change because this area of low pressure is moving closer to us with its weather fronts. weather front�*s a fairly weak affair but you can see from the isobars the wind is also going to pick up. we'rejust clinging on to the hot and humid air across the far south—east. cooler, fresher conditions coming in from the north and the west. here is the weather front pushing towards the south and east, but it won't be much more than a band of cloud. might get the odd shower in it, but out towards the west it's going to be wetter and it's also going to be windier. temperatures during the course of thursday, they are picking once

again at about mid 205 into the south—east, which will be lower than the next couple of days but still high for the time of year — 15 in stornoway and about 21 in belfast. beyond that, the weather does remain fairly settled. temperatures closer to where we would expect them to be at this time of year, and glastonbury is looking quite dry.

this is bbc news, the headlines: after a 1k year legal battle, julian assange leaves the uk, under a plea deal with us authorities. the bbc has been told that more metropolitan police officers are facing inquiries by the gambling commission, over alleged bets on the timing of the election. princess anne spends a second night in hospital after a receiving minor injuries in an accident involving a horse at her estate in gloucestershire. england's footballers play their final group game at euro 2024 tonight, when they take on slovenia.

princess anne has spent a second night in hospital after an accident involving a horse at her estate in gloucestershire. she suffered minor injuries. earlier i spoke to our correspondent danjohnson, who is outside the hospital where princess anne is being treated. the palace is not going to give a running commentary on her condition, perhaps only updates if there are any changes. last night we were told she was stable, comfortable, conscious and expected to make a full recovery. she is expected to spend a few more nights at the hospital as a precaution. it sounds like this was a serious incident. it's not clear what happened. it sounds like princess anne herself hasn't been able to give a full recollection of what has happened.

she was out walking on her estate which is about 45 minutes drive north of here in gloucestershire. she came into contact somehow with the horse. the horce either collided with her it kicked up. she wasn't riding at the time, she was working but she was concussed. paramedics were called and they assessed her and they decided she needed to be driven by ambulance here to hospital for further assessment and treatment. she has been advised not to conduct any of her royal engagements for at least the next week, so she won't be at the state banquet for the japanese emperor that is taking place at buckingham palace tonight. she won't be able to take part in the trip to canada she was due to embark on at the weekend. so disruption to her schedule and this is someone who has been a very busy of the royal family, at the forefront of conducting events and even at the best of times, but especially in the last six months while other senior members of the royal family have been unavailable because of their own medical issues. but the palace is saying princess anne is comfortable and is expected to make a full recovery and it is expected

to take a few more days, even a few more weeks because presumably she will need more time at home to recover. let's bring you some breaking news with regard to the alleged betting scandal that has surrounded the tory party which we have been talking about on bbc news. we hearing from our corresspondent at the conservative party is considering withdrawing support from the candidates involved in the election date gambling scandal. the bbc understands that two sources have told the bbc that the party board have held urgent discussions about how to handle this row. this is all about craig williams, the candidate in montgomeryshire and lola saunders, the candidate in bristol north west. there is plenty to pack so let's cross live to the source of this, our chief political

correspondent, henry settlement in westminster. i correspondent, henry settlement in westminster-— westminster. i can update you because since _ westminster. i can update you because since i _ westminster. i can update you because since i have _ westminster. i can update you because since i have been - westminster. i can update you - because since i have been reporting that in the last ten or 15 minutes, the story has developed. i have just had this through from a spokesman from the conservative party. they say as a result of ongoing internal inquiries we have concluded we can no longer support craig williams or laura saunders as parliamentary candidates. we have checked with the gambling commission that the decision does not impact on their investigation. so there you have it, craig williams and laura saunders are no longer going to be elected at the general election. they will still appear on the ballot because people will have voted via post. they will have no longer have support from the conservative party and if they were to win they would sit in the house of commons

initially as independent mps. some --eole will initially as independent mps. some peeple will say _ initially as independent mps. some people will say they _ initially as independent mps. some people will say they should - initially as independent mps. some people will say they should have happened a while ago, especially people say they have been putting pressure on the party to take some form of action against these people? yes, i think there will be real frustration from some conservative candidates and other conservative operatives that it has taken the conservative campaign so long to do this. it is almost two weeks since craig williams admitted having placed a flutter, as he put it, on the date of the general election, although he denies wrongdoing. there will be people asking why rishi sunak other conservative campaign more generally didn't take this decision then. note in the statement i did read you, the conservative party saying they took this decision as a result of their own internal inquiry. what i think we will hear them arguing is that there is a gambling commission process they don't want to second—guess and they want to allow the gambling commission to come to its own conclusions, as is their legal

responsibility as the gambling regulator. but they have conducted their own internal conservative process and have decided they don't want to go forward with these two as their candidates. timer;r want to go forward with these two as their candidates.— their candidates. they will still be on the ballot _ their candidates. they will still be on the ballot paper— their candidates. they will still be on the ballot paper because - their candidates. they will still be on the ballot paper because you l on the ballot paper because you cannot take that back, they will still be the word conservative next to the name but if they get elected they will be independent. does that mean they could be welcomed back into the conservative party further down the line?— down the line? potentially, that is some way through _ down the line? potentially, that is some way through the _ down the line? potentially, that is some way through the process - down the line? potentially, that is| some way through the process and various votes to be cast and investigations to be conducted and concluded before them. of course, the same way any empty without party affiliation and with party affiliation and with party affiliation can swap party affiliation. this is not them being expeued affiliation. this is not them being expelled from the conservative party, as far as i can tell, but it is then no longer being supported by the conservative party as candidates. let's be clear, it is a big deal, a really big deal. laura saunders was not an mp in the

previous parliament and that is a fairly safe labour seat, but let's see what happens because there is a full list of candidates available on the bbc website. craig williams was an mp from 2015 to 2017. he is a really close ally of rishi sunak. he was his parliamentary private secretary. that means whenever rishi sunak appears in the house of commons, the man sitting behind him, easily his knees that you can see, but occasionally his face, that is craig williams passing the prime minister notes, explaining to him parliamentary intelligence. they are close of this would have been a difficult decision for the campaign to make, but a lot of people will be wishing that difficult decision would have been breached some time ago. would have been breached some time auo. would have been breached some time aro, , , , would have been breached some time ao. , , , . ., would have been breached some time auo. , , , .., ., ago. the pressure coming on the prime minister _ ago. the pressure coming on the prime minister from _ ago. the pressure coming on the prime minister from this - ago. the pressure coming on the prime minister from this was - ago. the pressure coming on the prime minister from this was notj prime minister from this was not just coming from people outside but people from within. joejohnson, people from within. joe johnson, criticised the response of the party and said no one can understand why

people haven't been suspended. this has been a black cloud hanging over the conservative party and one wonders had they taken action earlier, the cloud might have shifted slightly, i don't know? potentially, that would have been the discussion they have been having for several days. worth noting, there are two conservatives, neither of them candidates, party officials who are caught up in this, they have taken leave who are caught up in this, they have ta ken leave of who are caught up in this, they have taken leave of absence from their jobs. they also deny wrongdoing. as we were discussing a little while earlier this morning, there is a metropolitan police officers caught up metropolitan police officers caught up in this. one who has been, not just suspended from theirjob, but arrested and questioned on suspicion of misconduct in public office. and there are suggestions the gambling commission and the police might look at some other police officers, a number of them. although, apparently, at this stage, what they

may have done is more sketchy than the metropolitan police close protection officer.— the metropolitan police close protection officer. the metropolitan police close rotection officer. , . ,, , ., protection officer. henry, thank you very much- — protection officer. henry, thank you very much. there _ protection officer. henry, thank you very much. there is _ protection officer. henry, thank you very much. there is more _ protection officer. henry, thank you very much. there is more about - protection officer. henry, thank you | very much. there is more about that on the bbc website on our live page. let's take you out to another big issue of the election. the bbc is travelling around the country looking at those issues that really matter to you. we are talking about emigration. both legal and illegal migration have been the topic of much debate between the parties, along with those boat crossings and the asylum backlog and the gaps in the uk's workforce. we can cross to ben brown who joins us from dover. workforce. we can cross to ben brown whojoins us from dover. i hope workforce. we can cross to ben brown who joins us from dover. i hope you are wearing sun cream because it looks very sunny down there? it

really is, it is faltering. this is the place covered dover in kent with a particular interest on immigration because this is where many of the legal small boat crossings happen. there have been a couple this morning since we have been here. the weather is perfect, as you can see and the channel is very calm. rishi sunak has promised to stop the boats with his policy to send asylum seekers to rwanda. the labour party say that is a gimmick, an expensive gimmick which they would scrap. this year alone, gimmick which they would scrap. this yearalone, in gimmick which they would scrap. this year alone, in the first six months of this year there have been a record number of crossings for a six—month period, up 17% on the same time last year. but legal migration, it absolutely dwarfs the issue of illegal migration, more than 20 times higher. let's look at some of the figures.

times higher. let's look at some of the figures— the figures. and net migration was 685,000 the figures. and net migration was 685.000 people- _ the figures. and net migration was 685,000 people. in _ the figures. and net migration was 685,000 people. in the _ the figures. and net migration was 685,000 people. in the same - the figures. and net migration wasj 685,000 people. in the same year there werejust over 685,000 people. in the same year there were just over 637,000 illegal migration. and of those who came to the uk last year illegally, around 80% arrived on small boats. we can see how those numbers have changed over the last few years, ranging from between almost 10,000 to around 45,000 from between almost 10,000 to around 115,000 people a year. as of this time last week, 12,315 people have made the crossing so far this year. but as we have seen, the bigger numbers are net legal migration, 685,000 people last year. that includes people coming here for work, study and other reasons as well as those coming in the humanitarian schemes, for ukraine and hong kong. you can see there has been a significant increase in this legal migration over the last few

years. its make—up has changed since we left the european union, with non—eu arrivals from places like india and nigeria are now making up the vast majority of those coming here. according to the most recent data, about 14% of the uk's population was born outside this population, that is about 10 million people. that is a similar proportion to countries such as the united states, france, slavonia and the netherlands. it is a complex topic with lots of numbers. behind all of them, a person with a story. but also a question about how the united kingdom handles migration. there are some of the facts and figures, let's talk about what illegal and legal migration means for this country, from simonjones, a reporterfrom kent and has spent many years watching the small boat

crossings and lives up the road in canterbury. michael qian, political reporter for the bbc. canterbury. michael qian, political reporterfor the bbc. rishi sunak has promised to stop the boats, but on this evidence, no sign of that? the boats keep on coming we have 'ust the boats keep on coming we have just treen— the boats keep on coming we have just been on top of the famous white cliffs. _ just been on top of the famous white cliffs. but _ just been on top of the famous white cliffs, but we sold the border force bring _ cliffs, but we sold the border force bring in _ cliffs, but we sold the border force bring in one — cliffs, but we sold the border force bring in one group of migrants, i was told — bring in one group of migrants, i was told 22 _ bring in one group of migrants, i was told 22 people on board that boat _ was told 22 people on board that boat and — was told 22 people on board that boat. and then a second boat arrived that had _ boat. and then a second boat arrived that had about 60 people on board. it is that had about 60 people on board. it is taking — that had about 60 people on board. it is taking us to around 13,000 who have made _ it is taking us to around 13,000 who have made the crossing so far. that has risen _ have made the crossing so far. that has risen from the same time last year _ has risen from the same time last year the — has risen from the same time last year. the government is keen to point _ year. the government is keen to point out, — year. the government is keen to point out, if— year. the government is keen to point out, if you look at last year, crossings — point out, if you look at last year, crossings did come down, but they are track— crossings did come down, but they are back this year, and it is leading _ are back this year, and it is leading to _ are back this year, and it is leading to questions to all the political— leading to questions to all the political parties on what they're going _ political parties on what they're going to — political parties on what they're going to do to stop this phenomena. they need _ going to do to stop this phenomena. they need to stop the boats and stop people _ they need to stop the boats and stop people missing their lives out there in a busy— people missing their lives out there in a busy shipping lane but there is no tfetter— in a busy shipping lane but there is

no better consensus on how to do it. michael, _ no better consensus on how to do it. michael, what is the impact of this and what will it do to this area politically?— and what will it do to this area politically? there is a sense of frustration _ politically? there is a sense of frustration on _ politically? there is a sense of frustration on the _ politically? there is a sense of frustration on the ground. - politically? there is a sense of. frustration on the ground. every time _ frustration on the ground. every time they— frustration on the ground. every time they open _ frustration on the ground. every time they open their _ frustration on the ground. every i time they open their newspapers, every— time they open their newspapers, every time — time they open their newspapers, every time they— time they open their newspapers, every time they hear— time they open their newspapers, every time they hear the - time they open their newspapers, every time they hear the news, i time they open their newspapers, every time they hear the news, it| time they open their newspapers, i every time they hear the news, it is the association— every time they hear the news, it is the association with _ every time they hear the news, it is the association with small- every time they hear the news, it is the association with small boat - the association with small boat crossings _ the association with small boat crossings. locals _ the association with small boat crossings. locals will— the association with small boat crossings. locals will tell - the association with small boat crossings. locals will tell you l the association with small boat i crossings. locals will tell you that so many _ crossings. locals will tell you that so many issues _ crossings. locals will tell you that so many issues they— crossings. locals will tell you that so many issues they would - crossings. locals will tell you that so many issues they would like i crossings. locals will tell you thatl so many issues they would like the politicians — so many issues they would like the politicians to — so many issues they would like the politicians to get _ so many issues they would like the politicians to get involved - so many issues they would like the politicians to get involved with. - politicians to get involved with. but the — politicians to get involved with. but the local— politicians to get involved with. but the local news _ politicians to get involved with. but the local news is _ politicians to get involved with.| but the local news is dominated politicians to get involved with. - but the local news is dominated by the smatt— but the local news is dominated by the small boat _ but the local news is dominated by the small boat crossings _ but the local news is dominated by the small boat crossings and - but the local news is dominated by the small boat crossings and it - but the local news is dominated byl the small boat crossings and it does frustrate _ the small boat crossings and it does frustrate the — the small boat crossings and it does frustrate the locals. _ the small boat crossings and it does frustrate the locals.— frustrate the locals. simon, when ou watch frustrate the locals. simon, when you watch the _ frustrate the locals. simon, when you watch the crossings, - frustrate the locals. simon, when you watch the crossings, tell- frustrate the locals. simon, when you watch the crossings, tell us l you watch the crossings, tell us more about what happens when they arrive? it more about what happens when they arrive? . more about what happens when they arrive? , ,., ., . ., arrive? it is the border force of generally _ arrive? it is the border force of generally bring _ arrive? it is the border force of generally bring people - arrive? it is the border force of generally bring people back- arrive? it is the border force of generally bring people back to | arrive? it is the border force of - generally bring people back to shore in dover, _ generally bring people back to shore in dover, but sometimes the lifeboat when _ in dover, but sometimes the lifeboat when it— in dover, but sometimes the lifeboat when it is— in dover, but sometimes the lifeboat when it is particularly busy in the channel — when it is particularly busy in the channel. today, you have a couple boat _ channel. today, you have a couple boat they— channel. today, you have a couple boat. they will have made it halfway across— boat. they will have made it halfway across the _ boat. they will have made it halfway across the channel into uk voters and those — across the channel into uk voters and those people become the responsibility of the uk authorities. they will be out on those _ authorities. they will be out on those flimsy overloaded dinghies in the middle of the channel, they will .et the middle of the channel, they will get on _ the middle of the channel, they will get on board the border force boats and be _ get on board the border force boats and be brought to shore. in dover there _ and be brought to shore. in dover there is— and be brought to shore. in dover there is initial processing that

lasts — there is initial processing that lasts maybe an hour when people are given _ lasts maybe an hour when people are given a _ lasts maybe an hour when people are given a basic health check, because some _ given a basic health check, because some of— given a basic health check, because some of them will have been out at sea for— some of them will have been out at sea for several hours and in some days. _ sea for several hours and in some days, in— sea for several hours and in some days, in pretty grim conditions. they— days, in pretty grim conditions. they will— days, in pretty grim conditions. they will be given a basic identity check— they will be given a basic identity check and — they will be given a basic identity check and then taken to the processing centre where they will spend _ processing centre where they will spend a _ processing centre where they will spend a couple of days and there will be _ spend a couple of days and there will be further identity checks. most— will be further identity checks. most will claim asylum, but as things— most will claim asylum, but as things stand they will not be able to see _ things stand they will not be able to see there asylum claims pursued in this— to see there asylum claims pursued in this country, if the government .et in this country, if the government get its _ in this country, if the government get its way— in this country, if the government get its way of sending people to rwanda — get its way of sending people to rwanda. then people are dispersed around _ rwanda. then people are dispersed around the — rwanda. then people are dispersed around the country and that is why we see _ around the country and that is why we see a _ around the country and that is why we see a lot — around the country and that is why we see a lot of people ending up in hotels _ we see a lot of people ending up in hotels because there is a backlog of people _ hotels because there is a backlog of people waiting for their claims to be heard — people waiting for their claims to be heard. ~ . . . ., be heard. michael, immigration, miaration be heard. michael, immigration, migration is _ be heard. michael, immigration, migration is one _ be heard. michael, immigration, migration is one of _ be heard. michael, immigration, migration is one of the _ be heard. michael, immigration, migration is one of the big - migration is one of the big electoral issues in kent, but not the only issue, lots of other issues on the minds of the people here? people care for potholes, seeing the

streets _ people care for potholes, seeing the streets clean, — people care for potholes, seeing the streets clean, they— people care for potholes, seeing the streets clean, they want _ people care for potholes, seeing the streets clean, they want hospitals i streets clean, they want hospitals without _ streets clean, they want hospitals without waiting _ streets clean, they want hospitals without waiting lists _ streets clean, they want hospitals without waiting lists and - streets clean, they want hospitals without waiting lists and go - streets clean, they want hospitals without waiting lists and go to i streets clean, they want hospitals| without waiting lists and go to see their gp~ — without waiting lists and go to see their gp~ we — without waiting lists and go to see their gp. we are _ without waiting lists and go to see their gp. we are rightly— without waiting lists and go to see their gp. we are rightly the - without waiting lists and go to see their gp. we are rightly the port l without waiting lists and go to seel their gp. we are rightly the port of dover— their gp. we are rightly the port of dover and — their gp. we are rightly the port of dover and so — their gp. we are rightly the port of dover and so often _ their gp. we are rightly the port of dover and so often we _ their gp. we are rightly the port of dover and so often we are - their gp. we are rightly the port of dover and so often we are talking i dover and so often we are talking about _ dover and so often we are talking about gridlock— dover and so often we are talking about gridlock in _ dover and so often we are talking about gridlock in this _ dover and so often we are talking about gridlock in this time. - dover and so often we are talking | about gridlock in this time. people will tell— about gridlock in this time. people will tell you — about gridlock in this time. people will tell you there _ about gridlock in this time. people will tell you there are _ about gridlock in this time. people will tell you there are a _ about gridlock in this time. people will tell you there are a whole i about gridlock in this time. peoplej will tell you there are a whole host of issues _ will tell you there are a whole host of issues and — will tell you there are a whole host of issues and that _ will tell you there are a whole host of issues and that is _ will tell you there are a whole host of issues and that is the _ of issues and that is the frustration. _ of issues and that is the frustration. when- of issues and that is the frustration. when you . of issues and that is the i frustration. when you hear of issues and that is the - frustration. when you hear about those _ frustration. when you hear about those that— frustration. when you hear about those that you _ frustration. when you hear about those that you only— frustration. when you hear about those that you only hear- frustration. when you hear about those that you only hear about i frustration. when you hear about. those that you only hear about the small— those that you only hear about the small boat — those that you only hear about the small boat crossings _ those that you only hear about the small boat crossings and - small boat crossings and immigration. _ small boat crossings and immigration. locals i small boat crossings and immigration. locals will| small boat crossings and i immigration. locals will tell small boat crossings and - immigration. locals will tell you there _ immigration. locals will tell you there are — immigration. locals will tell you there are so _ immigration. locals will tell you there are so many— immigration. locals will tell you there are so many different- immigration. locals will tell you . there are so many different issues here they— there are so many different issues here they want _ there are so many different issues here they want sorted. _ there are so many different issues here they want sorted. we - there are so many different issues here they want sorted.— here they want sorted. we talked about the weather, _ here they want sorted. we talked about the weather, it _ here they want sorted. we talked about the weather, it does i here they want sorted. we talked about the weather, it does make | here they want sorted. we talked | about the weather, it does make a big difference to the number of crossings and people coming over the channel? ~ , ,., , crossings and people coming over the channel? ~ , , ,, crossings and people coming over the channel? ~ , , i. crossings and people coming over the channel? ~ , , . channel? absolutely, you can predict it when looking _ channel? absolutely, you can predict it when looking at _ channel? absolutely, you can predict it when looking at the _ channel? absolutely, you can predict it when looking at the focus. - channel? absolutely, you can predict it when looking at the focus. the i it when looking at the focus. the channel — it when looking at the focus. the channel is — it when looking at the focus. the channel is calm and the weather is nice _ channel is calm and the weather is nice that— channel is calm and the weather is nice. that means we are going to see crossings _ nice. that means we are going to see crossings. yesterday it was windy and we _ crossings. yesterday it was windy and we didn't see any crossings. border— and we didn't see any crossings. border force who oversee this, rate the day _ border force who oversee this, rate the day. today will be classed as a red day _ the day. today will be classed as a red day and — the day. today will be classed as a red day and that means crossings are going _ red day and that means crossings are going to _ red day and that means crossings are going to happen and probably in large _ going to happen and probably in large numbers. they have amber where it is possible _ large numbers. they have amber where it is possible there will be crossings and other days where they can predict— crossings and other days where they can predict looking at the weather, there _ can predict looking at the weather,

there won't— can predict looking at the weather, there won't be any crossings. the reality— there won't be any crossings. the reality is. — there won't be any crossings. the reality is, as _ there won't be any crossings. the reality is, as much as we talk about the politics— reality is, as much as we talk about the politics and the politicians are various _ the politics and the politicians are various ideas to stop the crossings, but the _ various ideas to stop the crossings, but the biggest deterrent that stops the crossings is bad weather. michael _ the crossings is bad weather. michael, do you think people here have a sense of resignation is the crossing keep happening no matter who is in downing street? there crossing keep happening no matter who is in downing street?- crossing keep happening no matter who is in downing street? there is a sense of resignation, _ who is in downing street? there is a sense of resignation, the _ who is in downing street? there is a sense of resignation, the people i who is in downing street? there is a sense of resignation, the people of. sense of resignation, the people of dover— sense of resignation, the people of dover field — sense of resignation, the people of dover field that _ sense of resignation, the people of dover field that is _ sense of resignation, the people of dover field that is exactly - sense of resignation, the people of dover field that is exactly what i dover field that is exactly what they have — dover field that is exactly what they have been _ dover field that is exactly what they have been consigned i dover field that is exactly what they have been consigned to. l dover field that is exactly what i they have been consigned to. they say they— they have been consigned to. they say they will — they have been consigned to. they say they will be _ they have been consigned to. they say they will be stopping _ they have been consigned to. they say they will be stopping the - they have been consigned to. they say they will be stopping the boats and they— say they will be stopping the boats and they say— say they will be stopping the boats and they say on _ say they will be stopping the boats and they say on july— say they will be stopping the boats and they say on july the _ say they will be stopping the boats and they say on july the 4th - say they will be stopping the boats and they say on july the 4th they. and they say on july the 4th they are frustrated _ and they say on july the 4th they are frustrated and _ and they say on july the 4th they are frustrated and angry- and they say on july the 4th they are frustrated and angry that i are frustrated and angry that perhaps _ are frustrated and angry that perhaps a _ are frustrated and angry that perhaps a lot _ are frustrated and angry that perhaps a lot of _ are frustrated and angry that perhaps a lot of politicians i are frustrated and angry that i perhaps a lot of politicians talking about _ perhaps a lot of politicians talking about what — perhaps a lot of politicians talking about what they _ perhaps a lot of politicians talking about what they will _ perhaps a lot of politicians talking about what they will do _ perhaps a lot of politicians talking about what they will do but - perhaps a lot of politicians talking about what they will do but so i perhaps a lot of politicians talking | about what they will do but so far, action— about what they will do but so far, action doesn't _ about what they will do but so far, action doesn't seem _ about what they will do but so far, action doesn't seem to _ about what they will do but so far, action doesn't seem to be - about what they will do but so far, action doesn't seem to be taking i action doesn't seem to be taking place _ action doesn't seem to be taking lace. ~ . ., ., ~' action doesn't seem to be taking lace. ~ . . . ~' , action doesn't seem to be taking lace. a . . , . place. michael, thank you very much. radio kent political _ place. michael, thank you very much. radio kent political reporter - place. michael, thank you very much. radio kent political reporter and i radio kent political reporter and simonjones. the issue of immigration is very much on everyone's mines. on the surveys over the last four years, opinion polls and people do see immigration as an issue, putting too much

pressure and strain on public services like the nhs, schools and housing. other voters say we need more foreign workers in some sectors where there are not enough workers, like construction, hospitality, social care and it will be, for many people in kent, a key issue when it come to cast their ballot next week. back to you. ben come to cast their ballot next week. ltack to you-— come to cast their ballot next week. backto ou. �* �* ., , . back to you. ben brown, my colleague there. back to you. ben brown, my colleague there- let's — back to you. ben brown, my colleague there. let's bring _ back to you. ben brown, my colleague there. let's bring it _ back to you. ben brown, my colleague there. let's bring it back _ back to you. ben brown, my colleague there. let's bring it back to _ back to you. ben brown, my colleague there. let's bring it back to the - there. let's bring it back to the breaking news story that came into us from henry settlement. we have brought up the live page, because thatis brought up the live page, because that is where you can read about it. let me tell you what the conservative party have said. a spokesman from the conservative party has confirmed those two candidates that we talked about earlier involved in the alleged election date gambling scandal have had support for them withdrawn by the party and they said this... as a result of ongoing internal inquiries we have concluded we can no longer support craig williams or laura saunders as parliamentary candidate

of the forthcoming general election. we have checked with the gambling commission this decision does not compromise the investigation they are conducting, which is rightly independent and ongoing. of course, we note that mr williams, who is rishi sunak�*s parliamentary private secretary, has admitted placing a flutter on the july secretary, has admitted placing a flutter on thejuly election, both him and laura saunders deny any wrongdoing. rishi sunak is on the record having said a number of times that he is incredibly angry about those allegations. those two staff members will still have their names on the ballot papers in their constituencies and the tory party logo next to them, but if they do get voted in, they will be independent candidates. as always, you can read the full list of all the candidates at the general election, wherever you are, on the bbc website. in london, sir keir starmer has been meeting the

families of victims of the crime. he was challenged and why people should trust his pledges are knife crime given the capital is a labour run city. i given the capital is a labour run ci . . . given the capital is a labour run ci . . , . given the capital is a labour run city. i was the chief prosecutor for five ears city. i was the chief prosecutor for five years and _ city. i was the chief prosecutor for five years and are _ city. i was the chief prosecutor for five years and are prosecuted i city. i was the chief prosecutor for. five years and are prosecuted many people involving the use of knives. i made it my personal mission to deal with this and that is a moral position. it isn't a question of urban versus rural. there is more knife crime sadly in rural areas, at least it is going up more quickly. it is not fair on the families we have been hearing from this morning to simply point the finger to somebody else. this is something the government needs to take responsibility for, i will take responsibility for, i will take responsibility for, i will take responsibility for on a cross—party basis, to make the change we need. some of it we can get on with quite quickly in terms of banning knives available online. some of it will take longer, but it is a moral mission and they made a commitment to these families and other families that we will now move from the talking stage to the action stage.

that was sir keir starmer talking early. even earlier to that he was at the event in london and he had idris elba, the hollywood actor with him as well as some of those families of victims of knife crime. it is going to be one of the key issues that labour are talking about today. earlier he spoke about his commitment to chairing an annual summit to track progress and what he himself called a moral mission. he said his party wants ministers, victims and tech giants to work together to tackle the sale of weapons online. our political correspondent damian grammaticas is that the labour campaign and i think we can cross live to speak to him. talk us through what you have been hearing today from the labour party? yes, we had this event which has just concluded. sir keir starmer and the actor idris elba, who has long

campaigned on knife crime. sir keir starmer saying he wants to make this one of his moral missions and the target for labour is to halve knife crime in a decade. so one of the key ways he says he wants to do that is to ban, increase the ban on sales of dangerous knives. particularly online and that will be one of the focus is. one of the families who were here talking to him where the family of ronan. we have his sister and his mum. you have met sir keir starmer before, but i wonder if you could tell me, did you hear anything today that is new, different that is making you think that action might happen on this?— happen on this? yes, i heard a lot of thins happen on this? yes, i heard a lot of things today — happen on this? yes, i heard a lot of things today that _ happen on this? yes, i heard a lot of things today that i _ happen on this? yes, i heard a lot of things today that i feel - happen on this? yes, i heard a lot of things today that i feel they i of things today that i feel they were _ of things today that i feel they were talking with not just empty promises, these promises will be

fulfilled _ promises, these promises will be fulfilled by keir starmer and idris elba was — fulfilled by keir starmer and idris elba was there. one fulfilled by keir starmer and idris elba was there.— fulfilled by keir starmer and idris elba was there. . , . ~ elba was there. one thing that stuck out was keir — elba was there. one thing that stuck out was keir said _ elba was there. one thing that stuck out was keir said this _ elba was there. one thing that stuck out was keir said this is _ elba was there. one thing that stuck out was keir said this is a _ elba was there. one thing that stuck out was keir said this is a moral- out was keir said this is a moral mission — out was keir said this is a moral mission and _ out was keir said this is a moral mission and the _ out was keir said this is a moral mission and the stuff _ out was keir said this is a moral mission and the stuff that - out was keir said this is a moral mission and the stuff that is i mission and the stuff that is happening _ mission and the stuff that is happening should _ mission and the stuff that is happening should have i mission and the stuff that is i happening should have happened mission and the stuff that is - happening should have happened a lon- happening should have happened a longtime _ happening should have happened a longtime ago~ _ happening should have happened a long time ago. maybe _ happening should have happened a long time ago. maybe ronan - happening should have happened a| long time ago. maybe ronan would have been— long time ago. maybe ronan would have been here, _ long time ago. maybe ronan would have been here, many— long time ago. maybe ronan would have been here, many other- long time ago. maybe ronan would l have been here, many other victims would _ have been here, many other victims would have — have been here, many other victims would have been— have been here, many other victims would have been saved. _ have been here, many other victims would have been saved.— have been here, many other victims would have been saved. ronan was 16 when he died? _ would have been saved. ronan was 16 when he died? sir— would have been saved. ronan was 16 when he died? sir keir _ would have been saved. ronan was 16 when he died? sir keir starmer i would have been saved. ronan was 16 when he died? sir keir starmer is i when he died? sir keir starmer is promising ronan's law, can you tell us a bit about your son, what happened and why that law is something that you think change things? something that you think change thins? ., ., .,, something that you think change thins? ., . ., ., , ,, things? ronan was murdered two steps awa from things? ronan was murdered two steps away from the — things? ronan was murdered two steps away from the house. _ things? ronan was murdered two steps away from the house. the _ things? ronan was murdered two steps away from the house. the perpetrator l away from the house. the perpetrator came _ away from the house. the perpetrator came from _ away from the house. the perpetrator came from behind. _ away from the house. the perpetrator came from behind. they— away from the house. the perpetrator came from behind. they didn't - away from the house. the perpetrator came from behind. they didn't see i came from behind. they didn't see ronan's _ came from behind. they didn't see ronan's face — came from behind. they didn't see ronan's face and _ came from behind. they didn't see ronan's face and it _ came from behind. they didn't see ronan's face and it was _ came from behind. they didn't see ronan's face and it was mistaken i ronan's face and it was mistaken identity— ronan's face and it was mistaken identity and _ ronan's face and it was mistaken identity and they— ronan's face and it was mistaken identity and they took— ronan's face and it was mistaken

identity and they took my - ronan's face and it was mistaken identity and they took my son's l ronan's face and it was mistaken . identity and they took my son's life by stabbing — identity and they took my son's life by stabbing him _ identity and they took my son's life by stabbing him in _ identity and they took my son's life by stabbing him in his— identity and they took my son's life by stabbing him in his heart. - identity and they took my son's life by stabbing him in his heart. he i by stabbing him in his heart. he didn't— by stabbing him in his heart. he didn't stand _ by stabbing him in his heart. he didn't stand a _ by stabbing him in his heart. he didn't stand a chance, _ by stabbing him in his heart. he didn't stand a chance, he - by stabbing him in his heart. he i didn't stand a chance, he collapsed there _ didn't stand a chance, he collapsed there and _ didn't stand a chance, he collapsed there and then _ didn't stand a chance, he collapsed there and then and _ didn't stand a chance, he collapsed there and then and died. _ didn't stand a chance, he collapsed there and then and died. i- didn't stand a chance, he collapsed there and then and died. i believe, | there and then and died. i believe, i there and then and died. i believe, i have _ there and then and died. i believe, i have been— there and then and died. i believe, i have been trying _ there and then and died. i believe, i have been trying ever— there and then and died. i believe, i have been trying ever since - there and then and died. i believe, i have been trying ever since to- i have been trying ever since to speak— i have been trying ever since to speak and _ i have been trying ever since to speak and come _ i have been trying ever since to speak and come forward - i have been trying ever since to speak and come forward and i i have been trying ever since to| speak and come forward and we i have been trying ever since to- speak and come forward and we did a petition, _ speak and come forward and we did a petition, we — speak and come forward and we did a petition, we have _ speak and come forward and we did a petition, we have done _ speak and come forward and we did a petition, we have done marches i speak and come forward and we did a petition, we have done marches but i petition, we have done marches but nobody— petition, we have done marches but nobody seems — petition, we have done marches but nobody seems to _ petition, we have done marches but nobody seems to be _ petition, we have done marches but nobody seems to be listening. - petition, we have done marches but nobody seems to be listening. so i nobody seems to be listening. so bringing — nobody seems to be listening. so bringing ronan's— nobody seems to be listening. so bringing ronan's law— nobody seems to be listening. so bringing ronan's law in _ nobody seems to be listening. so bringing ronan's law in his- nobody seems to be listening. so . bringing ronan's law in his memory is strengthening _ bringing ronan's law in his memory is strengthening the _ bringing ronan's law in his memory is strengthening the law— bringing ronan's law in his memory is strengthening the law in- bringing ronan's law in his memory is strengthening the law in itself. is strengthening the law in itself and that's— is strengthening the law in itself and that's what _ is strengthening the law in itself and that's what we _ is strengthening the law in itself and that's what we need. - is strengthening the law in itself and that's what we need. a - is strengthening the law in itself. and that's what we need. a strong law. , , and that's what we need. a strong law. . . , , and that's what we need. a strong law. , , , , . ., law. this is very, very hard for ou. in law. this is very, very hard for yon in this — law. this is very, very hard for you. in this case, _ law. this is very, very hard for you. in this case, this - law. this is very, very hard for you. in this case, this knife i law. this is very, very hard for. you. in this case, this knife was bought online and the person who killed ronan had bought a couple of dozen knives online? 25 killed ronan had bought a couple of dozen knives online?— dozen knives online? 25 plus weapons- — dozen knives online? 25 plus weapons. they _ dozen knives online? 25 plus weapons. they were - dozen knives online? 25 plus weapons. they were shown i dozen knives online? 25 plus| weapons. they were shown to dozen knives online? 25 plus - weapons. they were shown to us last ear, we weapons. they were shown to us last year. we were _ weapons. they were shown to us last year, we were sitting _ weapons. they were shown to us last year, we were sitting in _ weapons. they were shown to us last year, we were sitting in a _ weapons. they were shown to us last year, we were sitting in a court - weapons. they were shown to us last year, we were sitting in a court are i year, we were sitting in a court are looking _ year, we were sitting in a court are looking at— year, we were sitting in a court are looking at the _ year, we were sitting in a court are looking at the sizes _ year, we were sitting in a court are looking at the sizes of— year, we were sitting in a court are looking at the sizes of them. - year, we were sitting in a court are looking at the sizes of them. i - looking at the sizes of them. i never— looking at the sizes of them. i never even _ looking at the sizes of them. i never even imagined - looking at the sizes of them. i

never even imagined these i looking at the sizes of them. i - never even imagined these things were _ never even imagined these things were available. _ never even imagined these things were available. however, - never even imagined these things were available. however, they. never even imagined these things| were available. however, they are available — were available. however, they are available to — were available. however, they are available to 16—year—olds, - were available. however, they are available to 16—year—olds, how - were available. however, they are| available to 16—year—olds, how are they even— available to 16—year—olds, how are they even getting _ available to 16—year—olds, how are they even getting their— available to 16—year—olds, how are they even getting their hands - available to 16—year—olds, how are they even getting their hands on . available to 16—year—olds, how are i they even getting their hands on it? it is they even getting their hands on it? it is absotutety _ they even getting their hands on it? it is absolutely shocking _ they even getting their hands on it? it is absolutely shocking and - they even getting their hands on it? it is absolutely shocking and that. it is absolutely shocking and that is why— it is absolutely shocking and that is why nty — it is absolutely shocking and that is why n1y son _ it is absolutely shocking and that is why my son died _ it is absolutely shocking and that is why my son died because - it is absolutely shocking and thatl is why my son died because these things— is why my son died because these things are — is why my son died because these things are available. _ is why my son died because these things are available. the - things are available. the availability— things are available. the availability of— things are available. the availability of it, - things are available. the availability of it, the - things are available. the| availability of it, the post things are available. the - availability of it, the post office handed — availability of it, the post office handed it — availability of it, the post office handed it in _ availability of it, the post office handed it in without _ availability of it, the post office handed it in without doing - availability of it, the post office handed it in without doing the l handed it in without doing the correct — handed it in without doing the correct checks. _ handed it in without doing the correct checks. all— handed it in without doing the correct checks. all of- handed it in without doing the correct checks. all of that - handed it in without doing the correct checks. all of that hasi correct checks. all of that has played — correct checks. all of that has played a — correct checks. all of that has played a part— correct checks. all of that has played a part and _ correct checks. all of that has played a part and today - correct checks. all of that has played a part and today i - correct checks. all of that has played a part and today i am i played a part and today i am fighting _ played a part and today i am fighting every— played a part and today i am fighting every angle - played a part and today i am fighting every angle to - played a part and today i am i fighting every angle to make played a part and today i am - fighting every angle to make things right _ fighting every angle to make things right so _ fighting every angle to make things right so it— fighting every angle to make things right so it does— fighting every angle to make things right. so it does not— fighting every angle to make things right. so it does not get— fighting every angle to make things right. so it does not get repeated. i right. so it does not get repeated. so another— right. so it does not get repeated. so another child _ right. so it does not get repeated. so another child doesn't _ right. so it does not get repeated. so another child doesn't go - right. so it does not get repeated. i so another child doesn't go through what nry— so another child doesn't go through what rny son — so another child doesn't go through what my son has _ so another child doesn't go through what my son has gone _ so another child doesn't go through what my son has gone through. - so another child doesn't go through| what my son has gone through. your brother, what my son has gone through. your brother. was — what my son has gone through. your brother, was he _ what my son has gone through. brother, was he concerned about knives and about the dangers before this? was it something that was on his mind? it this? was it something that was on his mind? iii this? was it something that was on his mind? . .., , , ., , his mind? if i am completely honest, no. me, his mind? if i am completely honest, n0- me. my — his mind? if i am completely honest, no. me, my brother, _ his mind? if i am completely honest, no. me, my brother, my— his mind? if i am completely honest, no. me, my brother, my family, - his mind? if i am completely honest, no. me, my brother, my family, we i no. me, my brother, my family, we had no _ no. me, my brother, my family, we had no idea — no. me, my brother, my family, we had no idea about knife crime. i think— had no idea about knife crime. i think a — had no idea about knife crime. i think a tot — had no idea about knife crime. i think a lot of families kind of had that little — think a lot of families kind of had that little bit of complacency towards it because if you think your

child is— towards it because if you think your child is not— towards it because if you think your child is not involved, why do you need _ child is not involved, why do you need to— child is not involved, why do you need to be — child is not involved, why do you need to be concerned about these things? _ need to be concerned about these things? untilyou become a need to be concerned about these things? until you become a victim to it. if anything we can learn from ronan's — it. if anything we can learn from ronan's case, you don't need to be involved. _ ronan's case, you don't need to be involved, you can be in the wrong place _ involved, you can be in the wrong place at _ involved, you can be in the wrong place at the — involved, you can be in the wrong place at the wrong time and you can be murdered for no reason. that is why it _ be murdered for no reason. that is why it is _ be murdered for no reason. that is why it is so — be murdered for no reason. that is why it is so important for ronan's law to _ why it is so important for ronan's law to come — why it is so important for ronan's law to come into fruition. i think now— law to come into fruition. i think now that — law to come into fruition. i think now that the culture surrounding these _ now that the culture surrounding these weapons really needs to be cracked _ these weapons really needs to be cracked down on and that is what we're _ cracked down on and that is what we're trying to do.— cracked down on and that is what we're trying to do. aside from the law, for ronan's _ we're trying to do. aside from the law, for ronan's friends, - we're trying to do. aside from the law, for ronan's friends, your - law, for ronan's friends, your friends and your peers, what do you think would make a difference in this? sir keir starmer is talking about a mission to try to tackle this, elba said he thinks that there needs to be grades, take into why do things and you're criminalising and locking people up is not the answer, people are scared and that is why

they carry knives, but do you think broader things need to be done? definitely, the five step plan labour — definitely, the five step plan labour has _ definitely, the five step plan labour has proposed - definitely, the five step plan labour has proposed is- definitely, the five step plani labour has proposed is great, definitely, the five step plan- labour has proposed is great, but the first— labour has proposed is great, but the first step _ labour has proposed is great, but the first step is _ labour has proposed is great, but the first step is to _ labour has proposed is great, but the first step is to go— labour has proposed is great, but the first step is to go and - labour has proposed is great, but the first step is to go and ban- the first step is to go and ban those — the first step is to go and ban those knives, _ the first step is to go and ban those knives, there's - the first step is to go and ban. those knives, there's machetes the first step is to go and ban- those knives, there's machetes and swords— those knives, there's machetes and swords available _ those knives, there's machetes and swords available online. _ those knives, there's machetes and swords available online. of- those knives, there's machetes and swords available online. of course, | swords available online. of course, then we _ swords available online. of course, then we can — swords available online. of course, then we can think— swords available online. of course, then we can think about _ swords available online. of course, then we can think about the - swords available online. of course, i then we can think about the culture surrounding — then we can think about the culture surrounding it. _ then we can think about the culture surrounding it, schools— then we can think about the culture surrounding it, schools and - then we can think about the culture surrounding it, schools and police i surrounding it, schools and police where _ surrounding it, schools and police where we — surrounding it, schools and police where we can _ surrounding it, schools and police where we can go— surrounding it, schools and police where we can go and _ surrounding it, schools and police where we can go and crackdown l surrounding it, schools and police - where we can go and crackdown upon and the _ where we can go and crackdown upon and the youth — where we can go and crackdown upon and the youth. that _ where we can go and crackdown upon and the youth. that is _ where we can go and crackdown upon and the youth. that is my— where we can go and crackdown upon and the youth. that is my take - where we can go and crackdown upon and the youth. that is my take on - and the youth. that is my take on it. . ~ , ., , . and the youth. that is my take on it. thank you very much for taking the time to _ it. thank you very much for taking the time to talk— it. thank you very much for taking the time to talk to _ it. thank you very much for taking the time to talk to us. _ it. thank you very much for taking the time to talk to us. sorry - it. thank you very much for taking the time to talk to us. sorry for i the time to talk to us. sorry for your loss. sir keir starmer asked today about the crisis in the prisons and questions about prison governors need to let people out to create space because there is such a crisis. he said on that it wouldn't be an overnight fix, but labour will try to get on with prison building and a sign that this is a long—term issue with many different aspects. daemen, thank you very much. we are back at the top of the hour with bbc

news. live from london. this is bbc news. julian assange leaves the uk after agreeing a plea deal with us authorities, as his wife tells the bbc of her relief. it's a whirlwind of emotions. i mean, i'mjust it's a whirlwind of emotions. i mean, i'm just elated. it's a whirlwind of emotions. i mean, i'mjust elated. it'sjust incredible. the bbc is told that more metropolitan police officers are facing investigation over alleged bets on the timing of the election. england's football play their final group game at the euros tonight.

hello. welcome to bbc news. it's a legal saga that has lasted ia years. but now the wikileaks founder julian assange has been flown out of the uk after striking a deal with us authorities that will see him plead guilty to one criminal charge and then be released. he spent seven years inside the ecuadorian embassy in london as the us tried to extradite him over the publication — on his wikileaks website — of thousands of confidential us documents in 2010 and 2011 about the wars in iraq and afghanistan. us authorities accused him of having endangered the lives of american operatives. he was arrested in april 2019 over a breach of his bail conditions, and spent the last five years inside a london prison, fighting extradition. a uk court ruled last month that he could appeal that decision after mr assange argued

that he would not receive a fair trial in the us. now he's agreed a plea deal and is set to appear before a court in a us territory in the pacific before an expected return to his home nation australia. but there's been criticism of the deal from the former us vice president mike pence. he posted on x thatjulian assange had endangered the lives of american troops in a time of war and "should have been prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law". paul hawkins reports. wikileaks published this clip on social media showing its founder flying out of the country late on monday afternoon. it also said he'd spent 1,901 days in prison for publishing what it called "ground—breaking stories of government corruption and human rights abuses" in 2010. this period of our lives, i'm confident now, has come to an end. and i think that, by this time next

week, julian will be free. those stories were top—secret us military files — which is why, for the past ia years, assange has fought extradition to the us to face charges of espionage — first by claiming asylum for seven years inside ecuador�*s london embassy, until his arrest in 2019, and then from belmarsh high—security prison in london via the courts. he also faced charges of rape in sweden — which were dropped, and which he's also denied. wikileaks now says he's heading for the american territory of the northern mariana islands in the south pacific, to plead guilty to one criminal charge before heading on to nearby australia, where he was born. regardless of the views that people have about mr assange's activities, the case has dragged on for too long. there's nothing to be gained by his continued incarceration, and we want him brought home to australia. assange will spend no time in us custody because of the time spent in prison in the uk. paul hawkins, bbc news.

julian assange's wife, stella assange, has been sharing her reaction on the bbc�*s today programme. here's what she had to say. it's a whirlwind of emotions. i mean, i'm just elated, frankly. it's just incredible. i don't know. it feels like it's not real. well, tell...tell us what the last day or perhaps even the days before that have been like. what are the conversations that led to the moment wherejulian assange was allowed to leave belmarsh? well, it's been so touch and go. we weren't really sure until the last 2a hours that it was actually happening. and while we were talking about, i don't know, what he needed to do when take from his cell. and i also had to pack things up and head out to australia 2a hours before he left.

so it's just been nonstop for the past, i think, 72 hours. but touch and go because there was...there was something on paper on offer from the us authorities? what there is is an agreement in principle betweenjulian and the department ofjustice, and that has to be signed off by a judge in these northern mariana territories, island, sorry, which is in the pacific ocean, where he is going to be headed. he's currently in bangkok on a layover, and once the judge signs off on it, then it is formally real. so i'm also a little bit limited as to what i can say right now about the agreement in principle. but is it the case that it does involve him pleading guilty to one charge? yes. the charge concerns the espionage

act and obtaining and disclosing national defence information. and was that difficult for your husband to agree that he was guilty of? again, i...i don't want to say too much until it's been signed off by a judge, but the important thing here is that the deal involved time served, that if he signed it, he would be able to walk free. so it's your understanding that once he's made that court appearance and this is essentially signed off by the judge, that he will be a free man? he will be a free man once it has been signed off by the judge. and that will happen sometime tomorrow. tell us about you and your children, your sons. have you, you've brought them to australia with you? yes. we took a flight on sunday morning and we flew into sydney. so have you told the children

that their father is going to be free and is going to be part of the family? they still don't know. we've been very careful because obviously no—one can stop a five and a seven year old from shouting it from the rooftops at any given moment. and because of the sensitivity around the judge having to sign off the deal, we've been very careful, just gradually, incrementally telling them information. they're very excited to be in australia, though. but will you. . .will you tell them before they see him because they've never... yes. you will tell them because they have never seen him outside the prison, orfor the older one, the ecuadorean embassy. they've never seen him. no, they've never seen him inside, sorry, outside of belmarsh. all their interactions withjulian have been in a single visitor's room inside belmarsh prison.

it's always been for a little more than an hour at a time. it's been very restrictive. the australian prime minister, anthony albanese, says he wants julian assange brought back home as soon as possible. regardless of the views that people have about mr assange's activities, the case has dragged on for too long. hear, hear. there is nothing to be gained by his continued incarceration, and we want him brought home to australia. and we have engaged and advocated australia's interests, using all the appropriate channels, to support a positive outcome, and i've done that since very early on. with me is our diplomatic correspondent caroline hawley. this case has been going on in some way. many years now.—

way. many years now. that's right and now after— way. many years now. that's right and now after 14 _ way. many years now. that's right and now after 14 years _ way. many years now. that's right and now after 14 years we - way. many years now. that's right and now after 14 years we have i way. many years now. that's right and now after 14 years we have a l and now after 14 years we have a deal, we know the contours, we don't know all the details and we don't know all the details and we don't know exactly how it was negotiated but we know that the australians were pushing hard for it. joe biden said in april that he was considering dropping the prosecution, we know that union assigned is an intensely polarising figure and he has fought extradition, first to sweden and then to the us for years and years. first he was wanted in sweden on sexual assault allegations, those expired while he was in the ecuadorian embassy, then the us wanted to extradite him on 17 counts of espionage. under this deal he will plead guilty to one count and the punishment that is the time he's already served so he is now as far as we know on a layover in bangkok and then later he's going to fly to and then later he's going to fly to a remote palm fringed pacific island

where he will plead guilty and then he should be a free man. an extraordinary human and legal drama that's gone on for so many years, that's gone on for so many years, that spanned continents, cost a lot of money and paint to the family but you will remember that whenjulian assange was in the ecuadorian embassy between 2012 and 2015 there was round—the—clock policing outside the embassy. and obviously he's been in jail for the embassy. and obviously he's been injailforfive the embassy. and obviously he's been in jail for five years but now at last, a bizarre end to this long running saga stop at his 52 years old now. this all began when he was in his late 305 when he published a huge cash of military secrets. people may remember helicopter gunships footage shooting unarmed iraqi civilians. that's what brought him first into the limelight. many

people said, this is what needed to be done, he is exposing state secrets that needed to be exposed but the case against him was that he had endangered lives. his argument in the british courts was that this was state retaliation, the charges were based on his political opinions. that argument was rejected by britishjudges but opinions. that argument was rejected by british judges but he opinions. that argument was rejected by britishjudges but he had opinions. that argument was rejected by british judges but he had another chance to appeal his extradition that was going to happen injuly. but now obviously the deal has superseded that and he is on his way to freedom. superseded that and he is on his way to freedom-— to freedom. thank you, caroline. to former head — to freedom. thank you, caroline. to former head of _ to freedom. thank you, caroline. to former head of extradition _ to freedom. thank you, caroline. to former head of extradition at - to freedom. thank you, caroline. to former head of extradition at the - former head of extradition at the cps are now head of business crime at peters at peters and peters. good to you. your reaction to what happened today.—

to you. your reaction to what happened today. well, i think it's the outcome _ happened today. well, i think it's the outcome that _ happened today. well, i think it's the outcome that was _ happened today. well, i think it's the outcome that was most - happened today. well, i think it's the outcome that was most likely after the high court gave him leave to appeal last month because that was on a single ground as your viewers have heard which really only affected the publishing charges. so, he was allowed to argue that as a non—us citizen he would still be protected by the first amendment which is freedom of speech in publishing us state secrets. but of course that was nothing to do with the espionage charges which was effectively his complicity in chelsea manning's hack of the data that she then published. the short point is the us realised they may not get him on the publishing charges. so there was an incentive to do a deal where he would plead guilty to the espionage charges and i think both sides wanted to bring the saga to an end. igratith i think both sides wanted to bring

the saga to an end.— i think both sides wanted to bring the saga to an end. with the us feel therefore that _ the saga to an end. with the us feel therefore that it _ the saga to an end. with the us feel therefore that it has _ the saga to an end. with the us feel therefore that it has won _ the saga to an end. with the us feel therefore that it has won some - the saga to an end. with the us feel therefore that it has won some sort| therefore that it has won some sort of victory because of that play on espionage charges? i of victory because of that play on espionage charges?— of victory because of that play on espionage charges? i think so. they alwa s had espionage charges? i think so. they always had those _ espionage charges? i think so. they always had those two _ espionage charges? i think so. they always had those two parts - espionage charges? i think so. they always had those two parts of- espionage charges? i think so. they always had those two parts of the i always had those two parts of the case thatjulian assange assisted chelsea manning to hack information and secondly that he published it. it was the publishing that mike pence and others felt most strongly about because they say it endangered lives and it doesn't look like julian assange will be pleading guilty to any charges around publishing material. teiiii guilty to any charges around publishing material. tell me more about the australian _ publishing material. tell me more about the australian government. publishing material. tell me more i about the australian government role in this because it feels like they've put a lot of pressure, particularly anthony albanese himself. . �* . particularly anthony albanese himself. . �* , ., ~ himself. that's right and i think actually that — himself. that's right and i think actually that started _ himself. that's right and i think actually that started in - himself. that's right and i think actually that started in 2022 . actually that started in 2022 because at that point in his extradition appeal, one of the arguments was that he wouldn't be treated properly in us prison. he would be at a high risk of suicide

so australia wanted him to serve any sentence in australia. under the terms of that deal the australians would have been able to replace any sentence he received in the us with one they thought was appropriate and since then they've made it clear that they didn't think he deserved to spend any more time in prison. so there is this mechanism by which he would not serve any time and go back to australia was there for the last 18 months and the australians have been pushing very hard to use that as a way to pragmatically bring this to an end. i thinkjulian assange has got his government to thank. thank you very much indeed. if you want to read more about thejulian assange story, this is our live page. hejust posted assange story, this is our live page. he just posted this photograph, wikileaks posted this photograph, wikileaks posted this photograph which it says was taken on the approach to bangkok airport. further down you can read reaction

from around the world to the events of today. that and plenty more on the bbc news website. the conservative party has withdrawn support from two candidates being looked into by the gambling commission as part of the investigation into bets placed on the timing of the general election. let's speak to henry zeffman for the latest. what has happened because this is great news for the conservative party today. it’s this is great news for the conservative party today. it's not and it hasn't _ conservative party today. it's not and it hasn't been _ conservative party today. it's not and it hasn't been great - conservative party today. it's not and it hasn't been great news - conservative party today. it's not and it hasn't been great news forj and it hasn't been great news for them for some time. it's almost two weeks ago that craig williams, conservative candidate in a constituency but also a close aide to rishi sunak admitted having placed what he called a flutter on the date of the general election. about a week or so after that we at the bbc revealed this on the candidate laura saunders who is standing in bristol north west had placed her own bets that had brought

both of them under suspicion from the gambling commission. there is investigations were at an early stage and it doesn't necessarily mean that committed wrongdoing. there was a lot of pressure on rishi sunak and the concerted campaign especially in recent days because it's become clear this story is continuing to dominate the election campaign. there's been a lot of pressure on rishi sunak internally and externally to withdraw support. this morning suddenly that's what the conservative party announced it was doing. crucially, it said it was doing so after an internal investigation of their own so clearly they have conducted some kind of probe, perhaps asked questions of mr williams and miss saunders and have decided they essentially want to disown them as conservative candidates. what essentially want to disown them as conservative candidates. what does this mean for— conservative candidates. what does this mean for polling _ conservative candidates. what does this mean for polling day _ conservative candidates. what does this mean for polling day if - conservative candidates. what does this mean for polling day if you're i this mean for polling day if you're in those constituencies where they are standing? what we see on your voting sheet and what does it mean if they get elected? you voting sheet and what does it mean if they get elected?— if they get elected? you will still see them on _ if they get elected? you will still see them on your _ if they get elected? you will still see them on your ballot - if they get elected? you will still see them on your ballot paperi if they get elected? you will still.

see them on your ballot paper and they will still have the words conservative and unionist party next to them. nominations closed some time ago and actually should always be mindful that polling day isn't just polling day these days because so many people vote by post. some people will have already voted for them, certainly voted in their still in legal terms the conservative candidates but the conservative party won't give them any campaign in support longer and were either or both of them to win in their constituencies injuly both of them to win in their constituencies in july the 4th, both of them to win in their constituencies injuly the 4th, then when they arrive in parliament and the days after that they would be independent rather than conservative mps. . ~' , ., independent rather than conservative mps. . ,, . tomorrow the bbc is hosting the final head—to—head tv debate of the election campaign, in nottingham. the city boasts two major universities, as well as a number of business schools and colleges —

which all means that its home to a lot of young people. our reporter lola schroer is at stonebridge city farm in east nottingham this morning to find out which issues young people there care about in this election. i know you are at a farm but where are the animals? like i know you are at a farm but where are the animals?— i know you are at a farm but where are the animals? like you said, i'm in stonebridge _ are the animals? like you said, i'm in stonebridge talking _ are the animals? like you said, i'm in stonebridge talking to _ are the animals? like you said, i'm in stonebridge talking to young - in stonebridge talking to young volunteers about the issues they care about, whether it's climate change, the environment, animal welfare, job opportunities. but first, where are the animals? here are some guinea pigs. mega cute. we've also got a terrapin. i think it's my first time ever seeing a terrapin. let's meet some baby gates and the volunteers. this is james. you're a volunteer and you're18, so this is your first volunteer experience and how important is it for you to have opportunities and is that the kind of thing you look for

in a party manifesto? i that the kind of thing you look for in a party manifesto?— in a party manifesto? i look for allowin: in a party manifesto? i look for allowing people _ in a party manifesto? i look for allowing people the _ in a party manifesto? i look for| allowing people the opportunity in a party manifesto? i look for i allowing people the opportunity to have their choice of whether they do volunteering or don't and i believe that now— volunteering or don't and i believe that now with rishi sunak, he's now thinking _ that now with rishi sunak, he's now thinking about bringing in national service _ thinking about bringing in national service to — thinking about bringing in national service to forced a young generation of 18—year—olds like myself and be in of18—year—olds like myself and be in full— of18—year—olds like myself and be in full stint— of 18—year—olds like myself and be in full stint at that and i don't believe — in full stint at that and i don't believe that this is the right way to do— believe that this is the right way to do things because if he were to do it— to do things because if he were to do it this — to do things because if he were to do it this way it would cause more people _ do it this way it would cause more people to — do it this way it would cause more people to turn against him and he what _ people to turn against him and he what would you suggest to rishi sunak about how they can perhaps get people on board with the idea of national service?— people on board with the idea of national service? they can get it an incentive to — national service? they can get it an incentive to do _ national service? they can get it an incentive to do it _ national service? they can get it an incentive to do it like _ national service? they can get it an incentive to do it like giving - national service? they can get it an incentive to do it like giving them l incentive to do it like giving them money— incentive to do it like giving them money for— incentive to do it like giving them money for doing in the future. most of these _ money for doing in the future. most of these 18—year—olds don't have everything they need to fulfil these things— everything they need to fulfil these things in— everything they need to fulfil these things in national service.—

things in national service. sophia works here- _ things in national service. sophia works here. you're _ things in national service. sophia works here. you're 22 _ things in national service. sophia works here. you're 22 so - things in national service. sophia works here. you're 22 so this i things in national service. sophia works here. you're 22 so this is l things in national service. sophia j works here. you're 22 so this is a second time voting in a general election. what issues matter to you when it comes to making your decision? , ., , , when it comes to making your decision?— when it comes to making your decision? , ., , , ., . when it comes to making your decision? , ., _ . ., decision? obviously i do care a lot about animals _ decision? obviously i do care a lot about animals and _ decision? obviously i do care a lot about animals and it's _ decision? obviously i do care a lot about animals and it's something | decision? obviously i do care a lot| about animals and it's something i voice been passionate about. i also care about climate change and global warming, that's also been something that steers my way into voting for the right party. and i've graduated uni last year so i'm struggling with finances. so having to live with the current economic problems, that's another thing i look for in a manifesto to see what party helps young people and the younger generation with the cost of uni, how to help them financially. i do come from a poor background and i came here from poland, so i do look at

the immigration side of things to see which party helps poor families as well. . ~ see which party helps poor families as well. . ,, , ., see which party helps poor families as well. . ,, i. see which party helps poor families as well. . ~' ,, . see which party helps poor families as well. . ,, i. . . ,, as well. thank you so much. thank ou to as well. thank you so much. thank you to our — as well. thank you so much. thank you to our baby _ as well. thank you so much. thank you to our baby gates. _ as well. thank you so much. thank you to our baby gates. we - as well. thank you so much. thank you to our baby gates. we are i you to our baby gates. we are calling them bbc as there are three of them. studio: thank you for naming those goats. they are very cute. that is nottingham. this is the list of the candidates standing in the nottingham east constituency. do we have the candidates? i'm afraid we don't but on the bbc website you can get more information about who is standing in nottingham east and indeed wherever you are. labour and the conservatives have been exchanging blows about immigration by saying they are best

placed to get net migration levels down. i'mjoined by ben placed to get net migration levels down. i'm joined by ben brown hillis in dover. it’s down. i'm 'oined by ben brown hillis in dover. v . down. i'm 'oined by ben brown hillis in dover. �* , . , ., down. i'm 'oined by ben brown hillis in dover. �*, . , . , , in dover. it's a beautiful sunny day here, in dover. it's a beautiful sunny day here. very — in dover. it's a beautiful sunny day here. very hot _ in dover. it's a beautiful sunny day here, very hot in _ in dover. it's a beautiful sunny day here, very hot in dover. _ in dover. it's a beautiful sunny day here, very hot in dover. you i in dover. it's a beautiful sunny day here, very hot in dover. you can i in dover. it's a beautiful sunny day i here, very hot in dover. you can see the castle on the hill behind me and this is the port of dover. we've come here to talk about immigration and also illegal migration because this is where many of the small boat crossings happen. today alone we've seen two baked macro loads coming across the channel, roughly 60 on one and about 20 on the other. they are taken by border force guards and processed in dover behind me. rishi sunak promised to stop the boats on the whole real wonder policy is aimed at deterring migrants coming in the first place, sending asylum seekers to rwanda, although none have gone so far. the labour party

has said that the rwanda policy is an expensive gimmick which they would scrap if they got into office. but despite rishi sunak�*s promised to stop the boats, in the first six months of this year alone we've seen a record number coming in, up 17% last year. that is illegal migration, irregular migration. illegal migration figure is much higher, 20 times higher at least. let's look at the figures now. annual net migration, the difference between people coming to the uk and leaving in the year to december 2023 was 685,000 people. now, in the same year there werejust over 36,700 irregular arrivals. that's illegal migration. and of those who came to the uk last year illegally, about 80% arrived on small boats. you can see here how those numbers have changed over the last few years, ranging between almost 10,000

to around 45,000 people a year. as of this time last week, 12,315 people had made the crossing so far this year. but as we've seen, the far bigger numbers are net legal migration, 685,000 people last year. now, that includes people coming here for work, study and other reasons, as well as those coming under humanitarian schemes for ukraine and hong kong. and you can see there's been a significant increase in this legal migration over the last few years and its makeup has changed since we left the european union with non eu arrivals from places like india and nigeria, now making up the vast majority of those coming here. according to the most recent data, about 14% of the uk's population was born outside this country. that's about ten million people. that's a similar proportion to countries such as the united states, france, slovenia

and the netherlands. it is a complex topic with lots of numbers behind all of them a person with a story, but also a question about how the united kingdom handles migration. those are some of the facts and figures. joining me now from oxford is peter walsh, senior researcher, at the migration observatory. put it into context because david cameron once promised to get legal migration down to the tens of thousands. we've had that big spike in the last couple of years, talk us through the numbers. that in the last couple of years, talk us through the numbers.— in the last couple of years, talk us through the numbers. that target was alwa s through the numbers. that target was always going — through the numbers. that target was always going to _ through the numbers. that target was always going to be _ through the numbers. that target was always going to be pretty _ through the numbers. that target was always going to be pretty difficult i always going to be pretty difficult to meet, just because the uk we know remains a very popular destination amongst students and people who come here to work. net migration is a

tonne historic high. it's running at about twice what it was pre—brexit and the big shift has been from a larger number of eu citizens, now the net migration of eu citizens is negative that they are more than compensated for by citizens from the rest of the world. so, really, really interesting shift. not one i think that was entirely envisaged by the people drafting the proposed brexit migration system. some people think those figures _ brexit migration system. some people think those figures are _ think those figures are astonishingly high. give us an international perspective, how do we compare with other countries when it comes to immigration levels? . comes to immigration levels? , pre—brexit our average net migration figure in the year was between 250, 3000. that was very consistent and will we see in a number of eu countries, italy, spain, france, germany, but actually in the last couple of years ours is actually

trending higher. it's actually higher than a number of days in other countries. we know why, international students are driving at, many people going into the nhs and health and social care, care workers the big driver. and of course these humanitarian schemes, notably for ukrainians and hong kongers. so, we know why we have this high net migration, we are expecting it to come down automatically as many of the students who arrived post—pandemic departing. and as we see humanitarian number slowing down. considerably fewer ukrainians and hong kongers. the picture is not all that different in other countries of europe as well. find that different in other countries of europe as well.— that different in other countries of europe as well. and of course, some --eole europe as well. and of course, some people would — europe as well. and of course, some people would say _ europe as well. and of course, some people would say too _ europe as well. and of course, some people would say too many - people would say too many immigrants, putting pressure on the national health service, public services and schools, housing. others will say actually we need foreign workers in sectors where we

don't have enough workers, areas like social care, construction and hospitality. like social care, construction and hospitality-— hospitality. yes, it's a complex icture. hospitality. yes, it's a complex picture- high — hospitality. yes, it's a complex picture. high net _ hospitality. yes, it's a complex picture. high net migration i hospitality. yes, it's a complex picture. high net migration is l picture. high net migration is associated with a range of impacts and some people view those as creating challenges. we know that higher migration is associated with an increase in house prices, we know that some people are concerned about the pace of change in local communities where they would prefer greater stability but at the same time migration is driven by international students who pay high tuition fees, subsidising teaching and research and of course people are moving into care work which is a sector crying out for workers. it allows us to provide those services at a lower cost than if we were to rely on british citizens, not that many people are taking up that notoriously difficult work anyway. it's a complicated picture, a range of costs, benefits and a range of trade—offs because it affects so many parts of society.

trade-offs because it affects so many parts of society.- trade-offs because it affects so many parts of society. thank you so much, many parts of society. thank you so much. putting _ many parts of society. thank you so much, putting everything _ many parts of society. thank you so much, putting everything into i many parts of society. thank you so much, putting everything into a i many parts of society. thank you so much, putting everything into a bit| much, putting everything into a bit of perspective for us, a bit of context. when you talk to voters in kent, immigration is a central issue in this election. they say they don't want it to be the only issue that people think they care about, they care about potholes and hospitals as well. sometimes they think that's all people who care about but it will be a key issue when they come to cast their ballots in the general election next week. from dover, back to the studio. some breaking news. the first is on julian assange, he is about to land i think in bangkok on the first leg of hisjourney to i think in bangkok on the first leg of his journey to the pacific island where he will plead his case and then be moved to australia. in the

last few minutes his fatherjohn shipton has told the pa news agency thatjulian's freedom has lifted a huge burden from his family. that is the wikileaks founderjulian the wikileaks founder julian assange. the wikileaks founderjulian assange. some other news coming into us on the gambling election date scandal. we heard from henry zeffman that the conservative party have now said that they are withdrawing support from two candidates over election betting. sir keir starmer has said, why didn't that happen a week ago in response to the statement from the conservative party that it no longer supports craig williams or laura saunders. these on mccain throughout sir keir starmer was speaking to journalists away from tv cameras at a campaign eventin away from tv cameras at a campaign event in west london. he was shown a statement by a journalist and gave brief response. lots of responses

coming in for both of those stories. huge black cloud hanging over the conservative party, we will bring you as much as we can on the stories on bbc news.

now to the post office inquiry. the former fujitsu engineer who probably knows more about the horizon it system than anyone else. now, we're finally to hear what garethjenkins has to say about the faults. let's speak to azadeh moshiri,

who's at the inquiry for us. gareth is a key figure for the inquiry. gareth is a key figure for the inuui . . . gareth is a key figure for the inuui . , , . , inquiry. yes, this really illustrates, _ inquiry. yes, this really illustrates, before i inquiry. yes, this really illustrates, before he i inquiry. yes, this really i illustrates, before he even inquiry. yes, this really - illustrates, before he even began giving evidence, the chair advised him of the privilege to self—incrimination, advising him he can choose to not answer if the evidence can incriminate him, that's important because the public inquiry is not the only one scrutinising four fujitsu engineer, so is the metropolitan lease, for potential perjury, as well as for potentially perverting the course ofjustice. all of this has to do with his role from 2005 in defending the robustness of the horizon it system, which we now know was faulty, as well as acting as an expert witness for the post office in both civil and criminal cases. that includes

the case in 2010, the former sun postmistress who was eight weeks pregnant when she was sent to prison. —— former sauber postmistress. she is sitting and watching as he is giving testimony. he did not give information to her team know that there were bugs in the it system, that lack of disclosure was considered so significant that in 2013 the post office was advised it breached its duty as a prosecutor. today we have learned from his witness statement that he did not even find that out until seven years later. he was not told until 2020. still today when he is asked about a keyjudgment in 2019 that found the horizon it system was not remotely robust, he said he does not agree with that statement or finding and that on the whole system has worked well, as he put it. he also does not believe that bugs in the system created

shortfalls to the extent that talked about. . ~' , ., , shortfalls to the extent that talked about. . ~' ,, , . about. thank you very much indeed for that. the japanese emperor will officially begin his three—day state visit to the uk today, where he will be hosted by the king. emperor naruhito and his wife empress masako willjoin king charles and queen camilla for a ceremony at horse guards parade before a state banquet. the visit is intended to reinforce military, cultural and scientific links between the two two nations. but, because of the general election, it won't include the usual visit to downing street to meet the prime minister. let's join our royal correspondent helena wilkinson, who is outside buckingham palace for us. a gorgeous day to be outside the palace. i asked you before any did not know, are we any clearer as to what they are serving at the banquet? i have always wanted to attend a royal banquet, the food seem so lovely and delicious. i will seem so lovely and delicious. i will ut a seem so lovely and delicious. i will put a good — seem so lovely and delicious. i will put a good for _ seem so lovely and delicious. i will put a good for you. _ seem so lovely and delicious. i will put a good for you. we _ seem so lovely and delicious. in it put a good for you. we have not seen

the menu, that comes out later this evening so you will have to wait. in the next half an hour also, the king and queen will formally welcome the emperor and empress ofjapan on horse guards parade, not too far from where we are and we will see that extravagant carriage ride along the mall. it is the first day of the state visit. let's get more insight into the visit itself. we can speak to the chair of the japan society. thank you forjoining us. the weather is fantastic for this trip. tell us in your view how significant this trip is, firstly personally for the emperor and empress. personally for the the emperor and empress. personally forthe emperor— the emperor and empress. personally for the emperor and _ the emperor and empress. personally for the emperor and empress - the emperor and empress. personally for the emperor and empress it i the emperor and empress. personally for the emperor and empress it is i the emperor and empress. personally for the emperor and empress it is a i for the emperor and empress it is a miscarriage — for the emperor and empress it is a miscarriage trip, their first trip back— miscarriage trip, their first trip back to — miscarriage trip, their first trip back to the uk since, with time on their— back to the uk since, with time on their hands, — back to the uk since, with time on their hands, a strange thing to say on an— their hands, a strange thing to say on an official state visit, because

they had — on an official state visit, because they had studied at oxford in the 80s _ they had studied at oxford in the 80s they— they had studied at oxford in the 80s. they are comfortable in uk. the emperor— 80s. they are comfortable in uk. the emperor was — 80s. they are comfortable in uk. the emperor was privately comfortable in english _ emperor was privately comfortable in english and it is a very relatively relaxing — english and it is a very relatively relaxing idea for them to come to the uk _ relaxing idea for them to come to the uk. ., , u, , relaxing idea for them to come to the uk. ., , , , the uk. how significant is this tri - , this the uk. how significant is this trip, this state _ the uk. how significant is this trip, this state visit, - the uk. how significant is this trip, this state visit, for- the uk. how significant is this trip, this state visit, forjapan| trip, this state visit, forjapan and the uk?— trip, this state visit, forjapan and the uk? ., . and the uk? forjapan and the uk, we are both in a — and the uk? forjapan and the uk, we are both in a situation _ and the uk? forjapan and the uk, we are both in a situation where - and the uk? forjapan and the uk, we are both in a situation where we i are both in a situation where we have _ are both in a situation where we have known each other for 150 years, we have _ have known each other for 150 years, we have close relations, ups and downs. _ we have close relations, ups and downs. too— we have close relations, ups and downs, too stated in the mildest possible — downs, too stated in the mildest possible way, but recently both have started _ possible way, but recently both have started to _ possible way, but recently both have started to value the friendship. eight _ started to value the friendship. eight years ago last week rehab brexit. — eight years ago last week rehab brexit, britain needed friends and friends _ brexit, britain needed friends and friends diplomatically and in other senses, _ friends diplomatically and in other senses, we look to japan. japan needs— senses, we look to japan. japan needs friends because of the threat militarily— needs friends because of the threat militarily from china, north korea and emphasised by the invasion of

ukraine _ and emphasised by the invasion of ukraine in— and emphasised by the invasion of ukraine in 22, from russia. suddenly a uk- _ ukraine in 22, from russia. suddenly a uk- japan— ukraine in 22, from russia. suddenly a uk— japan relationship is good and warm _ a uk— japan relationship is good and warm and _ a uk— japan relationship is good and warm and now becomes very serious and we _ warm and now becomes very serious and we are _ warm and now becomes very serious and we are collaborating a lot on defence. — and we are collaborating a lot on defence, we have a joint programme developing _ defence, we have a joint programme developing a new fighterjet with italy. _ developing a new fighterjet with italy, sending troops to japan regularly forjoint exercises with the japanese forces, and we are collaborating diplomatically very strongly together. the state visit cements — strongly together. the state visit cements those ties, deepens them that notch — cements those ties, deepens them that notch further.— that notch further. what you think the will that notch further. what you think they will make — that notch further. what you think they will make of _ that notch further. what you think they will make of the _ that notch further. what you think| they will make of the extravagance of this state visit? we will see that formal welcome in about half—an—hour, on horse guards parade. half-an-hour, on horse guards parade. , ., , parade. they will love it, being born into an — parade. they will love it, being born into an imperial— parade. they will love it, being born into an imperial or - parade. they will love it, being born into an imperial or royall born into an imperial or royal family— born into an imperial or royal family seems to me as a common at more _ family seems to me as a common at more like _ family seems to me as a common at more like going into prison, a gilded — more like going into prison, a gilded cage, but if you are in a gilded — gilded cage, but if you are in a gilded cage, but if you are in a gilded cage, that pomp and circumstance is wonderful and seeing another— circumstance is wonderful and seeing another country's pomp and

circumstance is even more so, and compared — circumstance is even more so, and compared with the imperial house hold family injapan, the british royal— hold family injapan, the british royal family is much more out in the open. _ royal family is much more out in the open. open — royal family is much more out in the open, open to the public, more exposed — open, open to the public, more exposed to this kind of parade, in carriages — exposed to this kind of parade, in carriages with public waiting alongside. forthe emperorand alongside. for the emperor and empress. — alongside. forthe emperorand empress, they will be closer to the british— empress, they will be closer to the british public and those japanese here than— british public and those japanese here than they can be at home to the japanese _ here than they can be at home to the japanese public. here than they can be at home to the japanese public-— here than they can be at home to the japanese public. thank you very much indeed. japanese public. thank you very much indeed- that — japanese public. thank you very much indeed. that formal _ japanese public. thank you very much indeed. that formal welcome - japanese public. thank you very much indeed. that formal welcome by i japanese public. thank you very much indeed. that formal welcome by the l indeed. that formal welcome by the king and queen taking place in the next half hour also and then this evening the very lavish state banquet here at buckingham palace. thank you very much. there is the live shot of horse guards parade, a gorgeous day in london. there are concerns thatjails in england and wales could run out of space in a matter of days,

according to a letter seen by the bbc from the prison governors' association. the letter says that the justice system is on the "precipice of failure", with police officers unable to detain people because there will be nowhere to put them. last month, the government announced an emergency measure called operation early dawn, to relieve some of the pressure of overcrowding. it involved some defendents being kept in police custody for longer, or being bailed. with me is uk correspondent sima kotecha. told me through exactly how bad the situation is. ~ . . ., ., situation is. according to the prison governors _ situation is. according to the | prison governors association, incredibly bad, the letter is now in the public domain but the language makes incredibly clear how bad they see the situation. here are some quotes. it says that because prisons are running out of space, the entire justice system will grind to a halt within a matter of days and as it fails, the public will be put at risk. it goes on to say there is this and the public is put at risk and people who would normally be in prison will be left on the streets

until spaces become available, this is how bad it will become. they are basically saying there is no room and so police are not able to detain people and courts will not be able to sentence people to prison because there will be nowhere to put them. they are saying that this will happen in a matter of days. we have also heard from sources who work in the ministry ofjustice that ministers and officials have been considering emergency legislation to alleviate some of that pressure that could happen and that won't happen this side of the election but might the other side. there are lots of talks going on between civil servants and ministers and other people in various parties. i have got a statement from the ministry of justice in response to this scathing letter, saying public safety will always be the priority, the police and prison service have long established processes to manage short—term capacity issues and the

civil service is working closely with partners across the justice system to make sure we have the prison places needed to keep people safe. . ~ prison places needed to keep people safe. . ,, i. in london, sir keir starmer has been meeting the families who have been the victims of knife crime. i was the chief prosecutor for five years, and i have prosecuted many cases involving the use of knives and i have made it my personal mission to deal with this, it is a moral mission as far as i am concerned. it is not a question of urban versus rural, and i think there's more knife crime sadly enrol areas, at least it is going up more quickly, and i think it is not fair on the families that we have been hearing from this morning to simply point the finger to somebody else. this is something the government must take responsibility for, i will take responsibility for it on a

cross—party basis to make the change that we need. some of it we can get on with oakley in terms of banning knives online, some will take longer, but it is a moral mission as far as i'm concerned. i have made a commitment to these and other families that we will now move from the talking stage to the action stage. that is sir keir starmer _ to the action stage. that is sir keir starmer on _ to the action stage. that is sir keir starmer on the _ to the action stage. that is sir keir starmer on the campaign | to the action stage. that is sir- keir starmer on the campaign trail for labour. throughout the general election throughout the general election campaign, as part of our 'your voice your vote' series, we've been asking which issues matter most to you, and, among the many responses we have had are concerns about mental health support. simon from harrogate tried to take his own life last year amid a mental health crisis — he's been telling our correspondent navtej johal why he believes it's a key election issue. ijust felt like i'd let everybody down, that i'd failed... ..that i wasn't good enough, that i would be better off... ..not here any more.

in november last year, simon felt like his world was crashing down around him. pressures at work and home, the wait for an autism assessment — that he's still waiting for — all became too much, and he wanted to take his own life. if it wasn't for my wife and daughter, i could have done something quite serious. they locked me in the house, thankfully, and i ended up going to hospital, to a&e. it was devastating. they... they didn't know what to do. they'd never seen me like this before. he was diagnosed with depression, and tried to kill himself before receiving the help he needed. he says he still feels guilty about what he put his family through. i forgive myself for feeling that way because i know that it is... it's natural, it happens. so i do forgive myself for that.

i find it difficult forgiving myself for the impact that it had on my family. simon's doing a lot better now, and finding joy in his favourite hobby again. so, simon, do you remember the first stamp that you got? not the first stamp that i actually got, but i do remember the first christmas stamps i got...in1987. how many stamps do you have in total? thousands? probably... ..there are around about a million. what?! yeah, i give away... but many people struggling with mental—health issues are not receiving the support they need. the latest figure from the nhs shows that around two million people are on waiting lists for mental—health services. it's the issue simon believes the politicians should be talking about more in this election. he got in touch with us via your voice, your vote. there needs to be more...more investment in those services so that

people can get access to them when they need them... ..without having to wait until things get worse. and those working in mental—health services agree that more needs to be done by those in power. we can raise the standard of health care in mental—health hospitals, we can reform the mental health act — something that's been so long overdue. but the longer mental—health services go unfunded and deprioritised, the worse this is going to get. so it's very, very urgent that whoever comes into the next government prioritises mental health. all right, lads, welcome to- andy's man club here in harrogate. just for those of i you thinking about... for simon, this is one of the places that's kept him going. my name's simon. i started coming earlier in the year. a local support group in harrogate for men who've faced mental—health struggles. i wasjust miserable every day. i didn't want to be here. i didn't want to be alive, i thought the world would be

better off without me. and part of me, as silly as it sounds, thought that if ijust ended my life, then maybe the bullies would realise what they were doing to someone. suicide is the leading cause of death for men under 50, and this group is trying to help them open up. but many here also feel more support is needed from government. the hoops that you've got to jump through just to get some help — it's. ..unmanageable. certainly the question that rattles around in your mind is, do they actually care? my message would be, to the next prime minister — whoever that might be — is to prioritise mental health. simon believes there's still a taboo around men's mental health, but he hopes by speaking out, he'll get the parties talking about it, too. nobody should take their own life, because that's a permanent decision that you can't take back. feeling depressed is a temporary thing, but taking your own life is a permanent one. navteonhal, bbc news, harrogate.

the search for lancashire teenagerjay slater has entered its second week. the 19—year—old went missing in tenerife after attending a music festival and was last heard from on monday last week. search teams narrowed their efforts over the weekend on small buildings close to where his phone signal was last located. our correspondent fiona trott sent this update from tenerife. the search does continue, but we are contacting the police again today to ask if those searches we've been talking about, concentrating on those buildings, have they been scaled back or moved elsewhere? this is because when we were high up on the mountain yesterday — this is the area where he went missing over a week ago when he went to that remote holiday home of two men he met at a bar — when we were there yesterday we didn't see any of those ground searches that we'd seen previously, sniffer dogs, mountain rescue teams, firefighters.

so we're trying to establish how are working, to decide whether or not they have simply scaled back their searches or they've been moved elsewhere, because that national park is vast. in ukraine, there are many openly lgbt soldiers serving on the front line, they are challenging people's prejudices in a country where many still hold socially conservative and even homophobic views. but the war has exposed inequality, as our correspondence reports. this is where ukraine's fallen are remembered... ..and mourned. for pride month, the lgbt community have come to lay flags for their dead. rodian's former boyfriend was killed during the first months of the invasion.

roman was just 21 when a local family leaked the position of his unit to the russians. roman was like, you know, really, ithink, like, one of best people, you know? the deaths of gay soldiers on the front line has exposed an injustice here. lgbt people don't have equal marriage rights. all these deaths, all this blood — the same, the same. no matter is heterosexual people or homosexual people, it's the same. i don't want to feel like i'm, like, one half citizen. i'm the same human as anyone. like, i pay the same tax, i'm the same pro—ukrainian, yes. and the rocket can kill me the same way, like everybody else. this is the first pride march to be held since the start of the war... ..and military campaigners

are using this moment to back a new law to allow same sex partnerships. as it stands, the partners of those killed in combat are not entitled to collect their bodies. the marchers are only allowed to move a few hundred metres. there's a risk of homophobic attacks. this community is still battling against conservative views, even though these soldiers are challenging people's prejudices. we showed that there are lgbt defenders on the front line, and the ukrainians respect that. and that is why they are more... they became more inclusive towards the lgbt community. but the celebrations are quickly wrapped up... ..as hundreds of protesters make their way to the symbolic maidan square. this group of far right protesters have just turned up to try and counter the pride march, and they have been shouting incredibly offensive

and homophobic slogans. now, the lgbt organizers are saying that they are not reflective of society, there are always going to be people who are homophobic. they say that society is growing more tolerant, but this gives you a sense of some of the opposition that they're up against. there's opposition in parliament too. the bill on same sex partnerships has been blocked by conservative mps. and lgbt soldiers worry the war might not provide the window for change they'd hoped for. jean mckenzie, bbc news, kyiv. england's footballers play their final group game at euro 2024 tonight, when they take on slovenia. they've already qualified for the last 16 of the competition, after spain's defeat of albania last night ensured that england would — at the very least — go through as one of the four best third—placed teams. here's our sports correspondent andy swiss.

we don't have that report, i'm afraid. let's take you from football to royalty. there's a lovely segway, because the royal family, to royalty. there's a lovely segway, because the royalfamily, big to royalty. there's a lovely segway, because the royal family, big fans of football, aren't they? let's take you to the mall, and this is not buckingham palace, that is the mall, on the way to buckingham palace, it is the preparation for the state banquet, the state visit of the japanese prime minister. the japanese prime minister. the japanese prime minister is currently watching the horse guards at horse guards, at the mall. this is a three—day state visit by the emperor and empress ofjapan, they will be visiting the uk, making a few visits here and there, they will receive a ceremonial welcome at the mall, then later a state banquet hosted by king

charles iii at buckingham palace. normally on these types of state occasions, the japanese royal couple would have made a trip to downing street to visit the prime minister because of the general election, that visit is not happening. it's a beautiful day in london, as you can probably see. it's warm, it is sunny, it is a perfect day for the state visit. there we have prime minister rishi sunak and lord cameron, foreign secretary, james cleverley the home secretary as well, all three of those men are involved in today's state visit. they are part of it. it's very quiet, isn't it? normally one would hear music is something to drown out my voice, right? wishes... there is

a tiny bit of music. anyway, let's give you a little bit of history. it's the first visit by a japanese head of state to the uk since 1998, and will begin with a formal royal greeting at horse guards parade and then a procession to buckingham palace. now, the japanese visit has gone ahead despite the general election. this is unusual, not unprecedented, but as i mentioned earlier, the visits to downing street to visit rishi sunak has been cancelled. the centrepiece to all of this will be the state banquet in the lavish surroundings of the ballroom at buckingham palace. king will toast his visitors, as he always at such events, often in their own language, though the emperor and empress speak fluent

english, and the king will also make a speech in honour of his guests. let's have a listen to horse guards. we are going to dip the sound and bringing our royal correspondent.

she is following events from nearby buckingham palace. helena, talk us through this visit, what are we expecting and how important is it? it's a very significant visit, a state visit always is, they are all about strengthening relationships between the two countries. the japanese emperor and empress arrived in the uk over the weekend, they carried out some private engagements, but today is the formal ceremonial welcome for the royal couple. we are going to see in the next ten minutes or so is the king and queen will be on horse guards parade in the glorious sunshine and they will formally welcome the japanese emperor and empress. they will also spend about ten minutes there, there will be presentations

made on horse guards parade, a guard of honour will then give a royal salute, and the japanese national anthem will also be played. after that, as is traditional, the king will accompany the emperor, they will accompany the emperor, they will inspect a guard of honour and then the emperor and empress will join the king and queen in a carriage procession, that very elaborate carriage procession that we see during state visits along the mall, over to where we are, to outside buckingham palace, where they will then be met by a second guard of honour formed they will then be met by a second guard of honourformed of they will then be met by a second guard of honour formed of the 1st battalion welsh guards. once they are inside buckingham palace, they will have lunch together, the king, the queen and the emperor and empress, and then they will view the special exhibition in the picture gallery, items from the royal collection relating to japan. a

significant trip for the japanese emperor and empress, and a personal one as well, one that they will be pleased about personally, because both of them separately studied at oxford university when they were here in the uk. it is the first japanese state visit since 1998, unusual to have a state visit during an election period, so politics will be stripped out of this trip and you can see that the pictures that we are showing you on horse guards parade, the preparations ahead of the arrival of king charles and the queen, who will, as i say, in around ten minutes' time, formally welcome the empress and emperor ofjapan for their state visit. that will get under way in the next ten minutes or so. under way in the next ten minutes or 50. politics will be stripped out of

this trip, there will be no downing street photo opportunity, the royal couple are here to strengthen ties with the uk, but because of the election period, the campaigning, they will not meet the prime minister, for example. but later this evening at buckingham palace, the emperor and empress will be treated to a lavish state banquet hosted by the king and queen, and the prime minister and labour leader sir keir starmer will be in attendance later this evening. but in the next ten minutes or so we will see the arrival of the king on horse guards parade with the queen in the very hot sunshine this afternoon and the formal ceremonial welcome of the japanese emperor and empress to london on what is the first japanese state visit since

1998. we just saw the king's limousine, his car driving up towards we believe horse guards parade. this is a very symbolic visit to, isn't it, by the japanese emperor and empress. they studied here, they had a deep connection here both of them. yes. it's connection here both of them. yes. it's significant _ connection here both of them. yes. it's significant in _ connection here both of them. yes. it's significant in many _ connection here both of them. jezs it's significant in many ways this trip by the japanese emperor and empress. what they're going to be doing here as well as a state visit, they arrived in the uk over the weekend. they both studied at oxford university as you rightly say and later on they will carry out a private visit to oxford university and i'm sure that that will bring back many memories of their younger

years while they were studying at university. yesterday, the emperor the thames barrier. he has a keen interest in the river thames. during his studies at oxford, one of his major studies was water transport on the river thames in the 18th century. then the emperor went on to write a book about the tens. yesterday he carried out a private visit to the thames barrier. taste yesterday he carried out a private visit to the thames barrier. we see the kin: visit to the thames barrier. we see the king arriving. _

david cameron, james cleverly and rishi sunak. so, helena, we'rejust seeing so, helena, we're just seeing the king and queen camilla greeting dignitaries. talk me through what the rest of the state visit will look like today. i know there are other elements but today is really

important and it's going to end later with the banquet. yes. important and it's going to end later with the banquet. yes. it's a ve bus later with the banquet. yes. it's a very busy day _ later with the banquet. yes. it's a very busy day for— later with the banquet. yes. it's a very busy day for the _ later with the banquet. yes. it's a very busy day for the japanese i very busy day for the japanese emperor and empress. what we're seeing here, you're watching those pictures on horse parade. as you mentioned, the king and queen arriving, greeting others there. at 1210pm arriving, greeting others there. at 12 10pm the japanese emperor and empress will arrive on horse guards parade. they will have been greeted by the prince of wales, prince william earlier on today. he's collected them and it's going to be travelling with them to horse guards parade for this formal ceremonial welcome for the japanese emperor and empress. so, it's a very extravagant

state affair today. once formal welcome takes place, it doesn't last too long, about ten minutes. then what will happen, the king will with the emperor along the mall in a carriage followed by the empress and the queen and prince william will also be travelling in a carriage along the mall, which is lined with japanese flags in the glorious sunshine this afternoon. they will then be at buckingham palace where they will enjoy lunch hosted by the king and queen. then they've got quite a lot to get through this afternoon. during the first official day of their state visit. they will be taken round a special exhibition of items from the royal collection relating to japan. that will take place privately inside buckingham palace. this often in the royal

couple will visit westminister abbey, the emperor will lay a wreath at the grave of the unknown warrior. dean of westminster will be there. the couple will get a tour of westminster abbey later this afternoon and then this evening as you mentioned, they have that lavish state banquet to look forward to. we expect the prime minister rishi sunak will be there, the labour leader keir starmer, other dignitaries as well. let's not forget that a state visit during an election campaigning period is unusual but there are not going to be discussing politics. politics will be stripped out of the state visit and in any event be japanese emperor and empress do not get involved in politics but the state

banquet is a lavish affair. the menu, what they're going to be eaten, we should get sight of that later this evening. but a busy day for them during the first day of the state visit. as i mentioned, the couple both studied at oxford say they have very personal connections to the uk and later on this week they will also be visiting as a private engagement, they will be visiting oxford university and no doubt many memories of when the couple were younger will come flooding back to them. we also know that later this week they will visit st george's chapel at windsor castle. again, not part of the state visit but as a private engagement and they will lay a wreath on the tomb of late queen elizabeth. that will be another engagement they will carry out while in the uk for the

significant state visit by the japanese emperor and empress, about to be formally welcomed by the king and queen on horse guards parade the sunshine. it’s and queen on horse guards parade the sunshine. �* . . and queen on horse guards parade the sunshine. �*, . . , , sunshine. it's an absolutely beautiful — sunshine. it's an absolutely beautiful day, _ sunshine. it's an absolutely beautiful day, is _ sunshine. it's an absolutely beautiful day, is it - sunshine. it's an absolutely beautiful day, is it not, i sunshine. it's an absolutely beautiful day, is it not, in l sunshine. it's an absolutely i beautiful day, is it not, in london. i want to list the other state visits that the king has received since sending to the throne. in november 2022 he welcomed president cyril ramaphosa of south africa. in november 2023 he welcomed the south korean president and his first lady as well. both state visits to buckingham palace. this is the third state visit received by king charles. the first to happen in the summer and the first one to happen with the weather this beautiful, the

sun shining so brightly under blue skies over the capital city. rishi sunak, lord cameron, james cleverly having a private chat. as they await the formal welcome of the japanese emperor norris —— emperor naruhito and empress masako. talk me through one person sadly missing from the ceremony and that is the princess royal, princess anne. she was due to attend this banquet this evening. she was due to play a part in proceedings and due to an accident, an incident, she is no longer able to attend. . an incident, she is no longer able to attend. , . �*, to attend. yes, that's right. princess _ to attend. yes, that's right. princess anne _ to attend. yes, that's right. princess anne was - to attend. yes, that's right. princess anne was due i to attend. yes, that's right. princess anne was due to i to attend. yes, that's right. | princess anne was due to be to attend. yes, that's right. i

princess anne was due to be here to attend. yes, that's right. - princess anne was due to be here and be part of this state visit today but because of that incident over the weekend on sunday, she remains in hospital. the princess royal princess anne spent a second night in hospital last night suffering from minor injuries and concussion. it believed the incident was related to a horse. however, it's still not entirely clear what exactly happened but princess anne, who is considered one of the most hard—working members of the royalfamily, of one of the most hard—working members of the royal family, of course she had to pick up many of the engagements following her brother the king's cancer diagnosis earlier this year. the princess royal had to pick up some of his engagements as well. so, she had extra work if you

like to carry out over the past months but she will not obviously be attending, she was meant to be attending, she was meant to be attending the state visit here today and was meant to attend the state banquet, that lavish state banquet that will take place at the palace late on this evening. but princess anne is in hospital, she remains in hospital, the message from the palace is she is expected to make a swift recovery from those minor injuries. but she remains in hospital following that incident over the weekend.— hospital following that incident over the weekend. thank you. the latest on the _ over the weekend. thank you. the latest on the princess _ over the weekend. thank you. the latest on the princess royal i over the weekend. thank you. the latest on the princess royal is i over the weekend. thank you. the j latest on the princess royal is that she remains in hospital, she is expected to make a full recovery after that incident helena was talking about there. so, as king charles and queen camilla await the arrival of the emperor and empress

ofjapan, for the formal welcome, we can reflect a bit on the history between the two countries. this is the first visit by a japanese head of state since 1998. that is an awfully long time for them not to have been a state visit. many would argue it's been a long time coming and i suppose perhaps one wonders whether that is one of the reasons why the state visit was knocked postponed because of the general election being called, the snap general election. maybe that's one of the reasons why this visit continues. there will be no meeting between the prime minister rishi sunak and the emperor outside or inside downing street. there is a

deep connection that the japanese emperor in the uk. that will be underlined and underscored later when he lays a wreath at westminster abbey and then later on and still he will be touring one of britain's premier biomedical research institutes. the big visit for him will be to the retractable flood control gates on the river thames, the thames barrier. it's not normally one of your top ten visiting locations but the emperor apparently is fascinated by the thames, he is fascinated by what is of course the centre of london. i think he studied 18th—century

commerce on the river as a graduate at the university of oxford many years ago. as i said, there's a connection between him but we say goodbye now to our viewers watching these events on bbc two. if you like to continue watching the ceremony you're more than welcome to switch over to the bbc news channel but for those of you staying on bbc two you can enjoy politics live in a few moments time. so, let's keep watching these events. queen camilla and king charles. as always with these events there is a lot of waiting around, there's a lot of wondering when the next stage is going to happen. i'm sure you've covered quite a lot of these in your time as royal correspondent at the bbc. they are fascinating events. i

find the royal family and royal events fascinating. i love it and i love watching them and a lot of people around the world enjoy the p°mp people around the world enjoy the pomp and ceremony. it's one of the things we do so well. helena, can you hear me? i things we do so well. helena, can you hear me?— you hear me? i can, yes, sorry. bible isjust— you hear me? i can, yes, sorry. bible isjust asking _ you hear me? i can, yes, sorry. bible isjust asking you - you hear me? i can, yes, sorry. bible isjust asking you about i you hear me? i can, yes, sorry. | bible isjust asking you about the bible is just asking you about the p°mp bible is just asking you about the pomp and ceremony that you see in these events. how important the tiscali uk, for soft diplomacy and how popular it is around the world. people love it, don't they? thea;r how popular it is around the world. people love it, don't they? they do and we are — people love it, don't they? they do and we are going — people love it, don't they? they do and we are going to _ people love it, don't they? they do and we are going to see _ people love it, don't they? they do and we are going to see the - and we are going to see the carriages glistening in the sunshine. you couldn't ask for more perfect weather for this visit and this is an event that people will be watching across the world. we are watching across the world. we are watching as you can see on your screen, pictures of king charles and the queen waiting patiently for the

arrival of the japanese emperor and empress who will be accompanied by the prince of wales prince william. it is extremely hot today and so it's a good thing that they don't have to stand out in the heat for too long. that formal ceremonial welcome will take about ten minutes orso welcome will take about ten minutes or so and they will be formally greeted and then we will see the carriage procession, that extravagant carriage procession that will make its way from horse guards parade, not too far from where we are outside buckingham palace and make its way along the mall, which is lined with japanese flags. i'm looking down the mall and there are already crowds of people who have gathered to wait to get sites of the carriages, once they start making their way along the mall to the

palace. so,