live from london. this is bbc news of the verdict allows baby to move forward from what is been a very difficult time. my back less than 48 hours, rishi sunak two visits campaign insisting he has not given up campaign insisting he has not given up and can still win.— up and can still win. around about some of the _ up and can still win. around about some of the main _ up and can still win. around about some of the main claims - up and can still win. around about some of the main claims of- up and can still win. around about some of the main claims of the i some of the main claims of the political parties that we have scrutinised in this election campaign. the hurricane strength and stricken with away five storm as it sweeps across the caribbean. the latest children's laureate. reading at a ouna latest children's laureate. reading at a young age _ latest children's laureate. reading at a young age makes _ latest children's laureate. reading at a young age makes a _ latest children's laureate. reading at a young age makes a real - at a young age makes a real difference and makes you happy and i

know what i owed to children's books and to be able to put in a position to bring children that happiness is an amazing feeling. the former nurse and convicted serial killer, lucy letby, has been found guilty of the attempted murder of a premature baby girl, known as baby k. the jury in her retrial at manchester crown court unanimously agreed that in february 2016 letby had dislodged the baby's breathing tube — less than two hours after her birth — and was caught "virtually red—handed" when a doctor walked into the room. the 34—year—old is already serving 14 whole life terms for murdering seven babies, and attempting to murder six more.

when detectives arrived at her door, the game was up for lucy letby, most prolific baby killer had been found out. injune 2015, shut down a murder spree at the countess of chester hospital, last year she was convicted of killing seven babies there and attempting to murder another six. now she has been found guilty of trying to murder another child, a premature girl who could only be referred to as baby k. this consultant virtually caught lucy letby red—handed and could see that the baby was in trouble and the nurse was standing by her doing nothing to help. this was the tube that passed through the babies throat and down into the hole. this was shown to the court to show how babies are given breathing support by ventilators. the pressure warning. lucy had dislodged her a tube and the monitor alarm was silenced, it was a technique that the experts believe she used on further occasions too.

i reviewed a number of cases other than the one in this trial and found a number of cases where the tube, breathing tube had been displaced going back at least a year prior to the first fatality. so, i think there was a pattern of breathing tubes being displaced when lucy letby was on call for about 12 months or possibly more before the first fatality. you think this is what she started doing and as perhaps the easiest way of harming babies before moving on to other techniques? i think she could well have started off by displacing breathing tubes. i think she then moved on to injecting stomachs with lots of milk and air. investing her entire time

and further criminal charges could follow and why does this particular trial happen now? at the end of the original trial, the jurors are undecided on charges of attempted murder relating to five children. the prosecution could have decided to retry all of those charges but in the event, chose to have just one involving baby k before a newjury. why have a retrial? i don't know what was going - through the minds of the prosecutors in this case but in previous cases, i where someone has been convicted of a homicide and been given a significant sentence, - it would take a lot for me to retry the something else that would i them for something else that would necessarily add to that sentence. i however, children being harmedl and losing their lives in this case, i can understand why— it was significant enough for them to say we will pursue this case. lucy letby is already serving 14 whole life terms and this will not

increase her actual jail time but at the last trial, she refused to appear in the dock for the sentencing and it is not known if she would do the same thing this time around too. earlier, a senior police officer at cheshire constabulary gave her reaction to the verdict. this has been a difficult trial for the family of baby k and everyone connected to the case and once again, in the face of profound adversity, baby k's parents have displayed enormous courage, dignity and sensitivity. this is in spite of the prosecution case and the team throughout the presentation and the preparation for this trial. over the last three weeks, we have seen medics and nurses give their evidence in a professional and personal manner. without this, the family and parents of baby k

would not have received the justice that they received today. our correspondent phil mccann was in court for the verdict and gave this analysis of the work police officers undertook — which led to this conviction. operation hummingbird. it has led them to interview a case of lots of hospital staff who had to think the unthinkable that one of their own could be involved in this. we also heard the statement from the family of baby k and when the verdicts were delivered in manchester crown court this afternoon to just three nadav hours of deliberations, we saw the father of baby k put his head down in his hands and we saw family members crying is lucy letby sat in the dock looking completely expressionless. in a statement on the court steps from baby k's and of dignity said losing our precarious newborn,

nothing prepares you for that news. justice has been served but it would not take away the extreme hurt, anger and distress and it does not provide explanation, an explanation for why it took place. as for explanations and unanswered questions, there will be attempts to answer some of them because after lucy letby was convicted last year, there were so many unanswered questions as to how she could've murdered so many babies and tried to murder somebody more before measures are put in place to take to take her off the neonatal care unit and questions to the hospital, questions to the nhs and questions ultimately for the government and because of that, an independent inquiry was ordered and it's the third inquiry that will begin its work in september. just two days before the general election, a second reform uk candidate has defected to the conservatives, saying the "vast majority" of party nominees are "racist, misogynistic and bigoted" — the prime minister gave his reaction to that a little earlier. these candidates know that if a vote for reform is just a vote to put

keir starmer in number ten and if you want your taxes cut, pension protected and boarded secure, the only way to deliver that is to vote for conservative candidates. quite a specific criticism saying that the reform candidates are racist and do you agree with that characterisation? we have seen some appalling comments that have been made that ijust last week what we have seen these candidates and campaigns openly espousing racist and misogynistic views seemingly without challenge and that tells you something about the culture within the reform party and questions for nigel farage and if you want your pension protected and our borders secure and a vote to prevent a super majority, the only way to do that is to vote conservative and that is very strong message that these candidates have made very clear. concerns that people are not going to vote because the postal

votes aren't getting through in time and how through in time and how worried are you about that which can be done to solve it? is said they will look at any concerns they are raised and want to make sure that everyone can vote because it's an important an important election, in spite of what people want others to believe that it's all a foregone conclusion, every vote matters. a little earlier the labour leader sir keir starmer sat down with our political editor, chris mason. are you ready to be prime minister? we have worked for four and a half years to change the labour party to get us into a position we can run a positive campaign and be ready to bring about the change we need in this country and so, we are fully prepared we are fully ready and we are not complacent because we know that with every vote

has to be earned and there are plenty of constituencies and this would be won here will go down to just a few hundred votes and will campaign at ten o'clock on thursday making it clear that if you want change, you have to vote for it but we have done the preparation to make sure that on day one, we reset politics and on the first steps of change, it will be change well with having. some carefully worded promises on tax if you win, and yet, the tax burden is going to remain high whoever wins let's be straightforward about that. we know there is increases in income tax and vat — but those are the same as far as income taxes concerns. other than the ones we have set out but i'm not going to pretend that we can make tax cuts

unless they are funded sustainable and we have to repair the damage to the economy and that's why the emphasis on growth and wealth creation and make sure that people feel material better off under the labour government. and get more people will be directed to a higher tax brackets in the economy might grow but people can find themselves paying more tax? but will grow the economy and people will feel their living standards are rising and better off in the broadest sense of the word, we are attempting to get the nhs not just back on its feet but fit for the future and make sure the public services and people are expecting and they're entitled to and so, people will feel better off and i think that is been the missing ingredients for the past 14 years at. some of the instances you would give for what you would have to undertake if you are to win in a couple of days' time, would you let

prisoners out early because the jails are full? this is going to be a problem we would inherit ever to come to serve and i'm not going to pretend to you that i can build a prison on the first day in the labour government and there's been an absolute failure in the prison and have the money allocated has not been spent and we don't have enough prison places. so that means letting people out early? we would have to continue with that because it wouldn't be realistic for me in the prisons are overcrowded on thursday at ten o'clock and somehow, i have magicked up another prison on friday morning that's gonna happen. and to inherit a problem like that but our criminaljustice system has gotten to a point where we are releasing people early and, given instructions not to arrest and that is broken the system is at to pick that up and start a fix, not just a fix but to bring it forward. the government has said it's

urgently looking into reports that some voters in parts of scotland and southern england are yet to receive their postal ballots. royal mail has insisted it does not have a backlog. the electoral commission has said it recognises there is pressure on the postal voting system, but it's not aware of any large—scale problems. our scotland reporter katie hunter spoke to the leader of the snp, john swinney, and asked him how concerned he was. i'm very concerned about the situation and there would be practical implications of this election happening in summer holidays and people have applied for postal homes and from the reports i am receiving and also messages and beginning from members of the public for a lot of people, those votes have not arrived and they have been disenfranchised and i think the casual way in which these have been dismissed by the prime minister who called the selection and all it is

is frankly, unacceptable. we are joined now by the leader of the scottish labour party, anas sarwar. thank you for talking to us, let us put that question to you about the concerns that you might have about postal votes and how critical could they be the labour party in scotland?— they be the labour party in scotland? ,, _, . ., ., scotland? less concerned about what that means the _ scotland? less concerned about what that means the outcome _ scotland? less concerned about what that means the outcome of _ scotland? less concerned about what that means the outcome of the - that means the outcome of the election but still concerning because one voted this disenfranchises one too many and i know of countless families who have left to go on holiday and applied for a postal vote and did not receive in time to have their voice heard in the election i think it requires an urgent investigation by the election manager and the royal male and imposed after the election.

are concerned are you the people think the polls say that labour and be able turning up.— be able turning up. the scottish national party _ be able turning up. the scottish national party and _ be able turning up. the scottish national party and the - be able turning up. the scottish national party and the tories i be able turning up. the scottish l national party and the tories they very decided that people don't need to use their voice but if they do use their voice, they can use it to protest and the reality is, if you want to make sure we get rid of the tories and deliver the change a country needs that scotland needs to use its vote and vote for what you want if you do not want to wake up five more years of rishi sunak in the tories and with the labour government, you have to go out there and vote for it. government, you have to go out there and vote for it— and vote for it. they have called ou the and vote for it. they have called you the next _ and vote for it. they have called you the next king _ and vote for it. they have called you the next king of _ and vote for it. they have called you the next king of scotland, l and vote for it. they have called i you the next king of scotland, how much power do you think you would have the labour government which sits in westminster was yellow i saw that headline is mildly embarrassing my kids about a lot ofjokes at my expense of being the king of my own

households but relationship with keir starmer and part of the process of the selection and want to elect scottish labour mps,. we of the selection and want to elect scottish labour mps,.— of the selection and want to elect scottish labour mps,. we don't want to shout and — scottish labour mps,. we don't want to shout and come _ scottish labour mps,. we don't want to shout and come out _ scottish labour mps,. we don't want to shout and come out with - scottish labour mps,. we don't want to shout and come out with nothing, i want elect scottish labour mps sit around the table make the decision and get the delivery for scotland in terms my relation with keir starmer, it is one of respect with mutual interest in delivering the changes and get the delivery for scotland in terms my relation with keir starmer, it is one of respect with mutual interest in delivering the changes interest in delivering the changes in similar value basis and a strong relationship will be really important for scotland let me within that. this is the first opportunity we've had in 14 years to elect someone as a prime minister actually cares about scotland, understand scotland and wants for 14 years in a tory government stop by putting scotland for us, why not have the scottish national party rather than labour which is primarily going to be based in westminster was yellow

every single candidate in scotland is a scott in every single one is the real deal scott and i will not take this nonsense from the snp that somehow only if you represent the scottish national party, d represents, to stand up for scotland, reality is they had been down for over a decade and shouting and practising and ultimately failing in terms of people across the country where people are sick of his 14 years of chaos under the tory party and failure under the snp and we have the opportunity to turn the page of that decade and we have seen scottish labour voices delivering for the people of scotland. i5 set for the people of scotland. is set immigration _ for the people of scotland. is set immigration to _ for the people of scotland. is set immigration to the _ for the people of scotland. is set immigration to the uk _ for the people of scotland. is set immigration to the uk needs - for the people of scotland. is set immigration to the uk needs to i immigration to the uk needs to fall and we are on scotland sunday shell, you said there was a fundamental breakdown between our skill system and our migration system and what is the fix was yellow right now, our migration levels of watching across

the uk but we do have to recognise that there is different skill needs in different sectoral needs and the challenge we have right now of not having to manage skill system and immigration system is that we are relying on immigration to fill short—term skill needs we relying on immigration to fill short-term skill needs we are not ”lannin short-term skill needs we are not planning and _ short-term skill needs we are not planning and training _ short-term skill needs we are not planning and training a _ short-term skill needs we are not planning and training a brown - short-term skill needs we are not i planning and training a brown young people to fill those jobs of the future and to match your skills policy and immigration policy to make sure we can legitimately fill those gaps we can with the rear of her on to fill those gaps in the future and a primitive example of thatis future and a primitive example of that is around the industry where the publicly owned energy company and we want to have tens of thousands ofjobs and we want to have tens of thousands of jobs for the and we want to have tens of thousands ofjobs for the transition and we need to see from oil and gas and we need to see from oil and gas and also the newjobs in the future i will be upscale or young people in scotland the way to deliver on those jobs and that's what we need to look at. �* , , ., ., jobs and that's what we need to look at.�* , ., ., jobs and that's what we need to look at. �* , ., ., ., at. i'm sure you would admit that we are both fortunate _ at. i'm sure you would admit that we are both fortunate with _ at. i'm sure you would admit that we are both fortunate with your- are both fortunate with your

upbringing that you were privileged to go to the quite good school and become a dentist and how often do you get asked about how the privileged upbringing equip should understand the difficulties of so many people sing in the country at the moment with the cost of living being as high as it is.— being as high as it is. i'm really luc . being as high as it is. i'm really lucky- my _ being as high as it is. i'm really lucky. my parents _ being as high as it is. i'm really lucky. my parents were - being as high as it is. i'm really lucky. my parents were tarred i being as high as it is. i'm really i lucky. my parents were tarred and they made the sacrifices in order for me to get the education i had and for me to become an nhs dentist and for me to become an nhs dentist and i deliberately chose public service because as i want to go into. ., ., ., , ., service because as i want to go into. ., ., .,, ., , into. your father was a very successful _ into. your father was a very successful businessman. i into. your father was a very | successful businessman. he into. your father was a very - successful businessman. he was in si . nificant successful businessman. he was in significant employer _ successful businessman. he was in significant employer in _ successful businessman. he was in significant employer in the - successful businessman. he was in significant employer in the city - successful businessman. he was in significant employer in the city of. significant employer in the city of glasgow but the route i chose was to work in our nhs and were the most parts of our nhs here in scotland and nhs dentist and i saw that as a public service in a sea representing my city of glasgow in the city of scotland and public service and that

is uncommitted to be across the country can see while someone is going to do with their life, i'm not going to do with their life, i'm not going to do with their life, i'm not going to be rishi sunak and pretend i've had to make sacrifices in my life, people made sacrifices for me and there are lots of parents making sacrifices for the children across the country and is far too many children that are not getting the opportunities they deserve and that is why we are going to turn the page of 14 years of tory chaos.— of 14 years of tory chaos. thank you very much- — let's speak to tom symonds, on the lib dem campaign trail you're following the leader that is done start after stone, was it cornwall?— done start after stone, was it cornwall? , ., ., ,

cornwall? yes, coming from lands and and the end — cornwall? yes, coming from lands and and the end of— cornwall? yes, coming from lands and and the end of this _ cornwall? yes, coming from lands and and the end of this journey _ cornwall? yes, coming from lands and and the end of this journey doesn't - and the end of this journey doesn't end here in three more constituencies on the way in london and the final stopping point for the liberal democrats but it's another one of the constituents especially in the south of england where the lib dems are fighting the conservatives was quite close and the parties on internal polling suggests that they are neck and neck slightly ahead of where they hope to make significant inroads into what they have consistently done to the blue wall and we are about to see an interesting polling tonight from this suggesting again that the lib dems can be rivalling the conservatives in a position and just one pole and have been other polls so positive towards the party but the lib dem officials and an additional campaign with a 42,019 because they're focusing on winning

seats and not sharing votes and that is a big difference because the feeling was last time they didn't do too badly begin to share the pope because they did not target their campaign, they did not win enough seats and that's what they say will be different this time. you seats and that's what they say will be different this time.— be different this time. you very much. be different this time. you very much- just _ be different this time. you very much. just joint _ be different this time. you very much. just joint as _ be different this time. you very much. just joint as normative i be different this time. you very - much. just joint as normative labour much. justjoint as normative labour been up to? == much. just joint as normative labour been up to?— much. just joint as normative labour been u- to? . ., ., , been up to? -- what have labour been u . been up to? -- what have labour been u- to. been up to? -- what have labour been up to- today. — been up to? -- what have labour been up to- today. first _ been up to? -- what have labour been up to. today, first of _ been up to? -- what have labour been up to. today, first of all, _ been up to? -- what have labour been up to. today, first of all, he _ been up to? -- what have labour been up to. today, first of all, he was - up to. today, first of all, he was at a _ up to. today, first of all, he was at a local— up to. today, first of all, he was at a local football ground that elects — at a local football ground that elects to visit, his football ground during _ elects to visit, his football ground during this — elects to visit, his football ground during this campaign and the look-see _ during this campaign and the look—see with drinks distribution warehouse and surrounded by literally— warehouse and surrounded by literally millions of cans of blues and later— literally millions of cans of blues and later in the day he went to a community— and later in the day he went to a community centre with a labour party activist _ community centre with a labour party

activist and _ community centre with a labour party activist and the messages are broadly— activist and the messages are broadly the same throughout reading labour— broadly the same throughout reading labour saving want change, after vote and — labour saving want change, after vote and trying to combat some of the tory— vote and trying to combat some of the tory messaging, particularly the conservatives saying a warning against — conservatives saying a warning against a — conservatives saying a warning against a potential labour super majority — against a potential labour super majority in china compacting the potential— majority in china compacting the potential complacency and thinking about— potential complacency and thinking about supporting them. but overall, the mood _ about supporting them. but overall, the mood for labour activists and people _ the mood for labour activists and people i— the mood for labour activists and people i speak to is pretty good and they're _ people i speak to is pretty good and they're feeling pretty optimistic in they're feeling pretty optimistic in the event — they're feeling pretty optimistic in the event this persistent lead throughout the six weeks of the campaign and keir starmer has been accused _ campaign and keir starmer has been accused of— campaign and keir starmer has been accused of being too cautious even boring _ accused of being too cautious even boring and — accused of being too cautious even boring and not being frank enough about— boring and not being frank enough about some of the challenges that he would _ about some of the challenges that he would take on if he were to become prime _ would take on if he were to become prime minister on tax—and—spend but not long _ prime minister on tax—and—spend but not long to _ prime minister on tax—and—spend but not long to find out whether she will have — not long to find out whether she will have to face those challenges as the _ will have to face those challenges as the next prime minister on polling — as the next prime minister on

polling day on thursday so, not long now _ polling day on thursday so, not long now. ., ~' polling day on thursday so, not long now. . ~ , ., polling day on thursday so, not long now. ., ~ , ., y polling day on thursday so, not long now. . ~ i. , . data obtained by the bbc shows that almost 1.8 million people now have student debt of at least fifty thousand pounds. figures from the student loans company show that more than 6i—thousand people have balances of above ioo—thousand pounds, while another 49 people owe upwards of 200—thousand. the new children's laureate has been revealed — as the award—winning author and screenwriter frank cottrell boyce. he wrote his first children's novel, millions, 20 years ago, and says he wants to use his two—year tenure to fight inequality through reading. jayne mccubbin has been to meet him. can you introduce yourself with your new title? i am frank cottrell—boyce, the 13th waterstones children's laureate. how does that feel? it feels amazing. yeah, amazing. it's an amazing lineage to step into. frank is a multi—award winning authorfrom liverpool. but if you don't have

children to read to... ..well, this may be the cottrell—boyce work you're most familiar with. good evening, mr bond. good evening, your majesty. the queen acted twice in her life. twice. and both times i was in the writing team. how the hell did that happen? that's so weird. how did it happen?! so weird. i always keep one for emergencies. so do i. and as joyful as that is... i keep mine in here. ..it�*s being with kids that is your number one? 100%, 100%. scripting a moment for the world's most famous monarch to seemingly skydive into the 2012 olympics with 007 is obviously pretty special, but frank says it's nowhere near as special as writing for and reading to children. reading at a young age makes a real difference, helps to make you happy.

and i know what i owe to children's books. so being put in a position to bring more children to that happiness is an amazing, amazing feeling. this is my dad. wasn't he handsome? this is my mum. that's their wedding photo. obviously that's their wedding, they didn't dress like that all the time. who read to you, frank? well, my mum, my dad, me and my brother lived in one room and my gran lived in the other. so my mum used to take me to the library a lot, i now realise to just get some space. and then the other people who read to me were bernard cribbins and kenneth williams and john grant onjackanory. "is there nothing we can do? "asked the ladybird, appealing to james. | "surely you can think of a way out of this? " why do you suppose his hands are all covered - "why do you suppose his hands are all covered - with spaghetti in cheese sauce? well, perhaps he's a burn case. an emergency. amazing. you know, the power of your voice. reading to people is huge. read to your children.

do it. despite the cold of the ice age and the frequent lack of food and the danger from wild animals, the neanderthal folk are quite a merry lot. you can see a moment sometimes when you're reading to kids, that something clicks and that the whole world becomes different for them, you know, and that you have to imagine things before you do them. you know, we had to dream of going to the moon before we went to the moon. clinging high to the branches... for 25 years, the children's laureate has promoted the importance of children's literature. but the latest author to hold the title fears underprivileged children are left out. today he's calling for a national provision to guarantee every child has access to books. after 20 years of writing for children and visiting schools, how do you feel about what you see? um, first of all, it's always a joy, absolutejoy, everywhere you go, which is a wonderful thing, but also incredible inequality. um, first of all, it's always a joy, absolutejoy, everywhere you go, which is a wonderful thing, but also incredible inequality. you know, you go from one school to another and there's just no level playing field at all. some kids are really struggling

in terms of the buildings, in terms of the neighbourhoods. we know that if you are used to books and if you're read to at a young age that bestows, like, an enormous invisible privilege on you. so if i can help those kids who are missing out on that enormous invisible privilege to access that, i mean, what a thing to spend a couple of years doing. that's your mission? that's my mission. mission not impossible. then a broad grin broke out on his face. tomorrow i'll tell you what they saw, and you will be, _ as they, were amazed. because you believe in happy endings? i believe in happy endings. yes, absolutely. goodbye. sportsday coming up in a couple of minutes, but first — for a look at the weather

here is darren bett. hello there. these were not the sort of skies you'd expect to see at this time of the year, and the weather pattern isn't changing much through the rest of the week. the westerly wind could strengthen, it will bring in some further rain at times and keep it cool for this time of the year. now, what's changed from a couple of weeks ago when we had temperatures of 30 degrees? well, the position of the jet stream back then the jet was to the north of the uk. we sucked in all that heat and humidity, but what's happening now and through the rest of the week is the jet stream is further south. we're on the colder side of the jet, and those temperatures are going to be a lot lower, and the jet is going to steer in more cloud from the atlantic. this is where our weather is coming from. already had some heavier rain in western scotland,

and that thickening cloud will bring more rain into scotland, into northern ireland, and that rain will gradually push its way southwards and eastwards into most of england and wales, and with a lot of cloud around overnight, it's going to keep the temperatures generally ten or 11 degrees. it may briefly get a little cooler in eastern parts of scotland, but that rain from overnight will soon clear away early tomorrow morning, leaving a lot of cloud, some pockets of light rain or drizzle, and then we'll get some sunshine after the rain in northern ireland and in scotland in the afternoon with some showers, some late sunshine for wales and western england as the rain clears later. but for much of the day wales and the south west could be rather dull and misty, and the afternoon temperatures on wednesday very similar to what we had today. now the weather fronts should be moving away fairly quickly, taking most of the rain away, but with low pressure to the north. we're going to have some stronger winds on thursday, and those winds will be strongest across the northern half of the uk, where we'll see some showers, frequent showers, heavy showers in scotland with some thunder generally as you head further south a better chance of staying dry, maybe some welcome sunshine around as well, just giving the temperatures a boost by a degree or two, but still cool for this time of the year.

and as we move into friday, we could see another