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tv   BBC News  BBC News  July 5, 2024 9:00pm-10:01pm BST

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changing a country's not like flicking a switch, but have no doubt that the work of change begins immediately. the prime minister appoints labour mps to key cabinet positions — rachel reeves becomes the first female chancellor. set to work straightaway. angela rayner is named deputy prime minister, david lammy foreign secretary and yvette cooper is home secretary. what is next for the conservatives? liz truss amongst a series of high profile people to lose their seat. rishi sunak is stepping down as party leader. i am sorry. i have given thisjob my all, but you have sent a clear signal that the government of the united kingdom must change, and yours is the only judgment that matters.
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and in scotland, it was a tough day for the snp, who've seen their vote crumble, losing dozens of seats to labour. hello and welcome to a very damp, dark downing street on day one of a new government and a new prime minister. the new prime minister hard at work tonight shaping his team, the people he wants around him, the people he hopes can deliver the change that he has promised. labour won a historic victory in this general election. the conservatives suffered their worst ever defeat in nearly 200 years of history. sir keir starmer promised to build a government of service.
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chris mason has the story of the day. just look at our new prime minister's face — undisguised joy. sir keir starmer and his wife victoria arriving their new street to be greeted by flag—waving labour activists. it has been 27 years since we have witnessed a moment like this — labour winning from opposition and assuming power. labour does usually lose elections, but this looks like a turning point. i have just returned from buckingham palace, where i accepted an invitation from his majesty the king, to form the next government of this great nation. cheering i want to thank the outgoing prime minister rishi sunak. his achievement, as the first british—asian prime minister of our country, the extra effort that that will have required, should not be underestimated by anyone. the country has voted decisively for change. whether you voted labour or not — infact, especially if you did not — i say to you, directly, my government will serve you.
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but he admitted... changing a country is not like flicking a switch. the world is now a more volatile place. this will take a while. but, have no doubt that the work of change begins immediately. and he promised... to restore service and respect to politics, to end the era of noisy performance, tread more lightly on your lives, and unite our country. jubilation, yes, but with terms and conditions,
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the slogan may have been changed, but he admits it will take time. keir starmer entering ten downing street as prime minister for the very first time. and with that, the business of governing begins. arriving this afternoon to join the cabinet, the new deputy prime minister angela rayner, the first woman to be chancellor ever, rachel reeves, and the new foreign secretary, david lammy. all of this began to unfold at ten o'clock last night. blimey, just take a look at those numbers. a nocturnal political earthquake. massive labour gains in england, scotland and wales, colossal conservative losses. just look at theirfaces. in norfolk, a former prime minister became a former mp. conservative party chairman richard holden had a nervous wait, winning byjust 20 votes. former cabinet minister jacob rees—mogg wasn't so lucky, and lost. thank you very much to everybody and good night _ # sweet caroline... lib dems leader ed davey could not resist a spot of
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dad dancing to greet his party was likely for a 270 one mps. the scottish national party lost 38 seats, and havejust nine. reform uk got more votes than the lib dems, but ended up with just five mps, one of them nigel farage, and the green party of england and wales one 46. among their victims, coded a carla denyer of beating out former labour frontbencher in the process. bristol, you made history today. in westminster, it is just over six weeks when i last got soaked in downing street when the election campaign began. it is going to be a busy morning for the lectern. there was a touch of deja vu as well as rain there this morning, as rishi sunak there. to the country i would like to say first and foremost, i am sorry. i have given thisjob my all. but you have sent a clear signal, that the government of the united kingdom must change. and yours is the only judgment that matters. i have heard your anger, your disappointment, and i take responsibility for this loss. he offered these words about keir starmer. whatever our disagreements in this campaign, he is a decent, public—spirited man, who i respect.
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these were his last public remarks in high office. to the country i would like to say first and foremost, i am sorry. i have given thisjob my all. but you have sent a clear signal, that the government of the united kingdom must change. and yours is the only judgment that matters. i have heard your anger, your disappointment, and i take responsibility for this loss. he offered these words about keir starmer. whatever our disagreements in this campaign, he is a decent, public—spirited man, who i respect. these were his last public remarks in high office. this is a difficult day, at the end of a number of difficult days. but i leave thisjob, or not to have been your prime minister. this is the best country in the world, and it is thanks entirely to you, the british people
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— the true source of all of our achievements, our strengths and our greatness. thank you. in truth, he tried everything to revive conservative fortunes, but had failed, leaving his party do catastrophic defeat. sir keir starmer, your majesty. and so leading to this moment. as keir starmer get used to recall small talk, and the country gets used to its fourth prime minister in under two years. chris mason, bbc news, westminster. chris there with the story of the day and how it unfolded here in downing street. as we said, keir
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starmer pointing his cabinet and already sending them to work. the telegraph newspaper reported that he is effectively killing off the conservative plan to deport illegal migrants to rwanda. effectively, the plan is now dead. 0ur political correspondent iain watson joins me from millbank. iain, we knew that this was promised by keir starmer, but he is seemingly wasting no time in killing off the plan. 0ne assumes he's launchings alternative. find plan. one assumes he's launchings alternative-— alternative. and i've 'ust been in contact which h alternative. and i've 'ust been in contact which is _ alternative. and i've 'ust been in contact which is now_ alternative. and i've just been in contact which is now the - alternative. and i've just been in contact which is now the home l alternative. and i've just been in - contact which is now the home office source and formerly shadow home office source. they have said to me 0ffice source. they have said to me quite simply there is nothing to kill off. there is actually no more
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work, and that doesn't come as much of a surprise because sources said close the campaign there are flight scheduled by the former prime minister
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michael get a clear idea michael net a clear idea of what michael get a clear idea of what exactly different steps for government with the set up during election and actually being able to implement clearly and take time to get new teachers put other things such as gb energy can set up quickly alongside the supported security command and some of those answers tomorrow but the impression is that there will be hitting the ground running. by by the first people to call keir starmer to congratulate him on his victory was the french president who was very vital in the setting up the effectiveness of the border for
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steam. it also the reason that labour will be keen to deal with that immigration issue is the success of reform yesterday with five mps, five seats and nigel saying that labour is very much in its sights. you'll make let's do will be rallying and the, vehicle they have said and suggested that they have said and suggested that they are not interested in bilateral agreements but would labour a sink of the course of the campaign as they are interested in bilateral agreements to france tackling the migration crisis but also multilateral agreements for the whole of the eu and the things that they're going to explore but you're right, reform had a moment has certainly helped give labour a very big majority by squeezing in
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conservative votes in many seats but also, as you rightly say, nigel from russia setting his sights on labour while he has very few mps in parliament, he will act as an opposition in the country and raise issues and some of those red wolves seats until the bricks are referendum where borisjohnson one —— brexit in second place attracting people using this as a weapon to protect the conservatives are disillusioned because some people who have done better than the past labour voters are deciding that they would turn out to reform nigel farage regards his five mps as a bridgehead in parliament that he can build and look at likely henderson was labour counsellor and she lends
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affected to reform his or keir starmer is a life to this and knows that if you're going to stop in the of politics, a drift to the right, they have to come up with actions notjust they have to come up with actions not just words and they have to come up with actions notjust words and terms of tackling some of the priorities of people up disillusioned with labour and may have yesterday been disillusioned with the conservatives. if have yesterday been disillusioned with the conservatives.— with the conservatives. if you get for the details _ with the conservatives. if you get for the details of _ with the conservatives. if you get for the details of that _ with the conservatives. if you get for the details of that story, - with the conservatives. if you get for the details of that story, willl for the details of that story, will be back with you a little later but the report suggests that the rwanda plan, it never took off. the suggestion that one of the first moves by keir starmer has been to put an end to that rwanda plan. announcing his cabinet but of course some would also argue that it's important to consider now what is
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the official opposition, who will hold the government to account and it is depleted conservative party will be in opposition or any position to hold labour to account. what does it look like with so few impute its on the conservatives up to the task and then returning to westminster is the third—largest party. what some would argue is just as important to consider is the official opposition, the much depleted conservative mps, whose job it is to hold the government to account. but with so few mps, are they up to the task? with me to discuss is dr nigel fletcher, a political historian at king's college london, and co—founder of the centre for 0pposition studies. the opposition party find themselves in power and need to make good on all their promises. the conservatives are finding having the keys to number ten, there are not having the keys to number ten, their non—opposition they have to gather in every group if they want to prove to be effective opposition. we in every group if they want to prove to be effective opposition.- to be effective opposition. we are focused very _ to be effective opposition. we are focused very much _ to be effective opposition. we are focused very much on _ to be effective opposition. we are focused very much on the - to be effective opposition. we are i focused very much on the transition to government and the flurry of
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activity that we will see now from keir starmer is the new prime minister of the new catlett. but i think the conservatives having been in office for 14 years would have a bit of a culture shock is august 1997 after they've been in power for 18 years and when they suddenly crashed into the opposition, they really did not know what they were doing and in some ways, they were in a better position than they had more mps than they do today and the rest of the political picture was in some ways, slightly more favourable to them and they didn't have the reform party snapping at their resumes and putting pressure on them and that side of the conservatives today going into a position of huge political problems that they will soon realise that the first problem is that god, like any other opposition when it starts going and opposition when it starts going and opposition is the logistical problem of how to organise themselves and they spent 1a years in government
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being supported by the officials and by the civil service and now, there is nothing. they're going to parliament on monday to try to find their way to the opposition offices in rishi sunak is not the leader of the opposition and she will have to assemble some kind of staff for the interim period that he is doing that interim period that he is doing that in order to start holding the government to account and there is no real experience on his side of doing that and it's really difficult pass and one that they'll have to get to grips with all frankly, most people are not interested in anything they have to say. the first thing in opposition to the discomforts is actually everyone is talking about government indifference interested is you're talking to ian watson about the rwanda plan and how that's been damaged take to make new initiatives —— ditched and also activities and all those things are exciting and the opposition and for the tories are up to really isn't of much
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interest anyone it will come as a surprise to some of them. do you expect there will be much sympathy across the country right now that the conservatives find themselves in a position not only having to regroup and work out what went wrong, they lost some senior players and their parties who lost their seats last night. at the same time, they found themselves will be vulnerable to the rise of the reform party. nigel farah �*s says he has others on his site, and really splitting the vote for the conservative, they face a battle on two or more fronts. 0ne assumes some relatively inexperienced people. absolutely. as i say, one thing they have to can do with is opposition.
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it's not very comfortable. it's also political challenge — how do you rebuild your party and how to mount a credible challenge as an alternative. the usual thing that happens to an opposition, a party will tend to argue amongst themselves. they have the election where they have contested views, and for the conservative party at the moment, it is really unclear as to what they can do. there would be an argument between one side, that will say they need to take on reform uk and to challenge nigel farage on the one hand, and then there'll be people on the other side — we've already seen people saying they need to somehow form an alliance with reform uk and bring the voters back. there are two very different strategies and there is going to be
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a heck of an argument between those sides of the conservatives about what to do about nigel farage and reform uk. at the same time, they have to work out how they recover all those voters. i think they'll be arguing for some time about how they address that, and that's on top of all of the things they have to do to rebuild their party organisation. the activists will be feeling pretty bloodied by the result. they will have lost personnel. in those areas, they will struggle to mount a campaign locally. there's a whole range of institutional things that go with having mps and have a nice size of commons, and even simple things like being able to shadow
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government... today have enough mps to do that. they sit alongside all of these problems that are going to be the subject of quite a lot of argument. what does effective opposition look like? the reason i ask is because when the polls predicted the massive majority for labour, rishi sunak said there was a danger to democracy of handing any parties such a majority. if you actually look at what transpired last night, a huge landside, a majority for labour. 0n just 35% of the vote. i therefore wonder where the opposition comes in and the role that that opposition plays in holding government to account. it got 35% of the vote.
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indeed. it's one of the reasons why the opposition is so important. under the faux systems we have, it's been a very long time since any government, won office on over 50% of the vote. most governments in the postwar period have won power on a basis of the minority of boats. in some ways, i always say it opposition is notjust half of the argument, it's more than half, because most people have voted for opposition parties if you break it down in that way. but i think it is something that the conservatives will be looking at ways... if there's any crumbs or comfort for them in attacking labour, it will be that there has been quite a low vote share for labour. it's difficult to take much comfort when it's even lower than that. but it does make the point that opposition is a large part of the political equation,
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whoever is doing it, but in the situation, labour have won barely more than a third of the vote and they have something like two thirds of the seats. i think we'll see some people who are in favour of proportional representation redoubling those calls. the conservative party has suffered. i think they will also be looking at this and wondering whether this is something they can use as an attack on labour as being a government with a huge majority that is not urgent their imagination —— in their imagination. they do have the massive majority in the conservative party that so much smaller is going to be massively outnumbered. the feeling of that, when they walk in on tuesday. they are feeling very
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much more sparse.— let's turn to scotland now — where before the election, john swinney, who'd only had a few weeks in post as the leader in scotland, that would be a mandate for a new independence referendum. but that didn't happen. the snp dropped from having 47 seats to just nine — with one scottish seat still to declare. mr swinney insists that the people of scotland do still want independence — but that at this election, they simply chose to vote for labour to be sure to be rid of a conservative government. i want to make it clear that i take full responsibility for the scottish national— full responsibility for the scottish national party campaign and the outcome — national party campaign and the outcome that has been achieved. that is what _ outcome that has been achieved. that is what leadership is about. we plan your campaign and you take
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responsibility for it when it's completed. i take full responsibility for that campaign. but i _ responsibility for that campaign. but i also — responsibility for that campaign. but i also come out of that campaign, commit us to listen and to learn_ campaign, commit us to listen and to learn from _ campaign, commit us to listen and to learn from the very obvious setback that we _ learn from the very obvious setback that we had — learn from the very obvious setback that we had last night. that the view in party. —— in scotland. we've talked about the success in those five seats. just align coming us from bbc new —— a line coming from bbc look north, saying the conservatives should invite nigel farage tojoin the party, saying that he's got to. reform voters invited to join them. we will assess those in the more half hour, but let's take a look at the weather right now with tomasz.
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hello, thanks forjoining me. friday brought somewhat of a mixed bag of weather. the weekend is upon us. let's see what's in store. well, you guessed it — another mixed bag with sunshine and showers. quite breezy and rather on the cool side, something we've been used to for quite some time now. so, here's the forecast then for the evening hours. a weather front in the south of the country. this is where the wettest of our weather has been so far through friday, and more of that to come through friday evening and into saturday. now, the forecast shows the rain in the south, and indeed the radar confirms that, you can see rain across southwestern england into central southern england, but the dry conditions further north. and we could have some clear spells overnight across the north east of england, maybe central scotland, but elsewhere, i think a good chance of encountering some rain. the temperatures first thing in the morning will be around 13 in the southeast of the uk,
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but further north where the skies will have cleared overnight, outside of town at least, it could be as low as six degrees celsius. so, saturday itself, well, we've already established that it's going to be a mixed bag with sunshine and showers. really big clumps of rain, i think, early in the morning, but then they'll give way to some sunny spells. but it will be a very blustery day, too, particularly around these south eastern coasts — gusts of 40mph or so. i think eventually, second half of the afternoon, the best of the weather and most prolonged spells of sunshine out towards the west. wimbledon, then — yes, showers are expected, some of them could be heavy, and there's also going to be a good breeze blowing out of the west. and i think further showers are likely on sunday. and in fact as one low pressure pulls away, — so that's what we wiil have had on saturday — this next weather front slips in off the atlantic and delivers us showers at least early in the day across the west of the uk. then the showers will move eastwards, and then actually, there'll be further showers building inland anyway through the course of the afternoon — could even be the odd
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crack of thunder. look, we're not even making 20 celsius anywhere in the uk. it'll be typically around 16—18 degrees, so mixed bag on the way this weekend. and that changeable, relatively cool theme continues into the week ahead. perhaps a gentle rise in the temperature, something closer to what we'd expect earlyjuly. that's it. bye— bye.
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this is bbc news, the headlines a new prime minister for the united kingdom,
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as keir starmer leads labour to a landslide election victory. changing a country's not like flicking a switch, but have no doubt that the work of change begins immediately. he set to work straightaway appointing his top team. rachel reeves becomes the first ever female chancellor. rishi sunak has confirmed he will resign as tory leader once arrangements are in place to choose his successor. and, there's beenjoy for the lib dems, with their best result in a century. and reform uk, led by nigel farage, have won five seats, despite getting the third most votes overall.
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will have all you need to know about the busy day and politics here in westminster and around the uk. it is certainly rainy and a bit damp will be back withjust certainly rainy and a bit damp will be back with just a moment but let's get all the latest sports news. sport and for a full round—up, from the bbc sport centre, here's lizzie greenwood—hughes. we're starting with football and the european championship — where portugal and france are playing ecah otherfor a place in the semi—finals... we're into the final 20 minutes — and it's still goalless. both sides have had their chances but neither has been able to make a breakthrough. the winner of this game will face spain in the last four next because spain have knocked out the hosts and early in the second wingspan went ahead and i look to be enough for they knocked out hosts germany in the first of the quarter finals. it was goalless until early in the second when spain went
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ahead through dani 0lmo. that looked to be enough for spain until florian wirtz equalised in the 89th minute. and just when it looked like it was going to penalities, mikel merino scored spain's winner in the last minute of extra time. the other two quarter finals take place tomorrow. the netherlands play turkey whilst england face switzerland. the match will be gareth southgate's 100th match in charge of england — but he insists he's only focused on reaching the semi finals. i'm very proud but it's the least important statistic of the week and doing thing that matters is that it is the quarterfinal and my complete focus is on trying to get my country into another semifinal and so, i'm sure in the years to come i'll look back on that and reflect with great pride but at the moment, it is the last thing on my mind, really. at wimbledon, emma raducanu has continued her impressive form to reach the fourth round of the grand slam. she beat ninth seed
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maria sakkari in straight sets — whilst pre—tournament favourite coco gauff eased into the last 16. defending men's champion carlos alcaraz is also into round four — but not without a scare. chetan pathak reports. next on centre court and just as when they met and that us open semifinal that year, it went away the british player in the ninth seed again running into an informed
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raducanu was playing her best attendance at a grand slam and hasn't dropped a set and has the home fans believing. someone who is also got the believing is coco gauff. ranked 298 in the world and causing problems for coco gauff before the american took charge of the match and ease to victory in the second seat is yet to drop a set and minnie's people favourite to win the title. another us champion is yet to reach the second week and he is 2 cents to one up but their match is suspended and will have to continue saturday because of the rain. it's the british formula one grand prix this weekend and lando norris headed both practise sessions at a wet silverstone a third of a second quicker than his maclaren team mate 0scar piastri. championship leader max verstappen was seventh fastest, well behind his red bull team mate sergio perez who was third on the timesheets.
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that's the sport. 78 minutes on the clock between portugal and france and the distilled goal is still goalless this could go all the way and it could be penalties. we'll have more on the bbc sports website. let's start with labour and sir keir starmer. his first official business once the outcome of it is rather damp but only the crazy people are out in the streets right now. probably warm in their homes and dry but time is ending up slightly will persevere with some umbrellas set up here and freeze up the hands and talking to you live easily. the main issue of the day.
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let's start with labour and sir keir starmer. his first official business once the outcome of the election was confirmed was to travel to buckingham palace for his formal appointment as prime minister. the meeting with king charles was held, as is traditional, in private — but buckingham palace did issue this video of the moment the monarch met the politician. after that it was a short trip back to his new residence at ten downing street. he and his wife victoria travelled the last few yards to the famous front door by foot — the people you can see greeting them on the pavement are labour party supporters, who'd been allowed into the gated street for the morning. sir keir then made his first speech as prime minister. my government will fight every day until you believe again. from now on, you have a government unburdened by doctrine, guided only by the determination to serve your interest, to defy quietly those who have
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written our country off. you have given us a clear mandate, and we will use it to deliver change, to restore service and respect to politics, end the era of noisy performance, tread more lightly on your lives and unite our country. mr starmer has been busy since going inside the front door at number ten — appointing his first cabinet. iam assuming i am assuming he is on speakerphone and is staring into the phone and smiling and he says the uk stands ready to continue to work with them to deliver security and growth at
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home and abroad. the new prime minister wasted no time in setting out his agenda. 0ne minister wasted no time in setting out his agenda. one of his first jobs was to appoint his new cabinet. most of the new ministers and secretaries are no surprise. angela rayner will serve as deputy prime minister. the uk will now have its first female chancellor of the exchequer — with rachel reeves taking on that role. yvette cooper — who was a cabinet minister under gordon brown the last time labour were in power, 1a years ago, will be the home secretary. and david lammy will become the uk's new foreign secretary. a feature of the election campaign were the headline—grabbing stunts from the liberal democrat leader sir ed davey — including falling off a paddle board and bungeejumping.
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well, it seems that the tactics worked. the lib dems now have 71 seats — 63 more than before — although their share of the vote only went up by 0.6 percent. as you can see from these pictures, sir ed was happy to celebrate the outcome. trust is a very precious commodity, it is hard one and sometimes you've lost it, you lose it. and you're left to work for a hard to win it back and i thank people for trusting us again. we will not let you down. we will honour your trust. the liberal democrats _
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we will honour your trust. the liberal democrats the third—largest party here in westminster and reform uk let's look at the reform uk party now. their campaign was of course spearheaded by nigel farage — who's become well—used to being heckled, and that continued at his party's post—election news conference this afternoon. he, as usual, carried on regardless — and with just over 14% of the national vote translating into just five seats — that's less than 1% of the total — he had this message for the country. when it comes to providing for the opposition, numbered to necessarily be thought of as the opposition in the house of commons play promised you something, we are going to be the opposition around the country. we are all committed to working from constituents and all committed to doing the best we can and
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parliament. but above all, what we are going to do from today is we are going to professionalize the party, we are going to democratize the party and those few bad apples will be gone. they will be long gone and we will never have any of their type backin we will never have any of their type back in our organisation. i can promise that. nearly 2a hours since we got the exit poll. to a large extent is pretty accurate of the final tally of those votes and what have we learned over the past few hours and everything that is been counted. with me to discuss is dr catherine haddon, programme director at the institute for government. nigel farage said hisjob now is to
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professionalize the party and he says he has labour in his sights and it was a difficult night, a disastrous night for the conservatives down in large part to the rise of the reform party. i wonder what role nigel farage plays in everything given but we find ourselves tonight. it is in everything given but we find ourselves tonight.— ourselves tonight. it is a good question- _ ourselves tonight. it is a good question. this _ ourselves tonight. it is a good question. this is _ ourselves tonight. it is a good question. this is a _ ourselves tonight. it is a good question. this is a party - ourselves tonight. it is a good question. this is a party that l question. this is a party that has four seats and it is not a massive contribution to the house of commons but it is played such a big role in those final results, particularly the number of seats which came second and also the way in which it may have affected the conservative votes and obviously, punching above their weight in terms of the number of seats and a bunch of vote share in those seats imply. that's going to be part of the problem and there are four seats it's not as you try people to be able to scrutinise the
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government and also as mps, if huge amount constituency work to do if they are representing their constituencies as fully as mps do in the party management. nigel faraj working as an operator and he left to think about how to work with those other mps and how they will operate as a political party together a bit more. there is lots of things to think about behind that point by professionalizing the party and thinking about the direction in which they can do over the next five years or so until the next general election. in years or so until the next general election. . ., . . ., ., a, , election. in that account from basil that was late _ election. in that account from basil that was late in _ election. in that account from basil that was late in the _ election. in that account from basil that was late in the text _ election. in that account from basil that was late in the text reform - election. in that account from basil that was late in the text reform to l that was late in the text reform to five seats and not a huge difference but we know now with five seats for the reform, but we look at the battle of the conservatives and labour, labourwent battle of the conservatives and labour, labour went in with that landslide victory, just 34% of the
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share of the vote. and to put this to you, did labour win this election did the conservatives lose it? there is an important difference, isn't there shallow it is an important difference that people are talking about in this election but the fundamental truth is yes, labour did when they the majority. that fundamental truth is yes, labour did when they the majority.— when they the ma'ority. that is all that matters — when they the ma'ority. that is all that matters and _ when they the majority. that is all that matters and they _ when they the majority. that is all that matters and they have - when they the majority. that is all that matters and they have the . when they the majority. that is all. that matters and they have the power and are in government they have majority to put through legislation and a lot troubles will be within their own party and not having to worry about other political parties and for them, yes, worry about other political parties and forthem, yes, it worry about other political parties and for them, yes, it is a victory but obviously, there be thinking about what is their vote share like and what kind of coalition they built up and during the next election, all of the mps looking at their own constituency and thinking about what are their constituents caring about and how did they vote
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and how does that affect how they approach issues and there's a lot of internal party management issues in terms of the vote and how they played out but the truth is, it was a victory and that is all that matters is the seat share in all this talk about this being so shallow is a very efficient distribution of their votes to win them and maximise the number of seats even though it was quite a low vote share compared to some others and you could look at it is a huge success for them. fit, and you could look at it is a huge success for them.— and you could look at it is a huge success for them. a couple of shocks from labour— success for them. a couple of shocks from labour overnight _ success for them. a couple of shocks from labour overnight and _ from labour overnight and particularly looking atjonathan particularly looking at jonathan losing his particularly looking atjonathan losing his seats albeit for very specific reason. what's going on in the middle east and the shadow health secretary was is majority of more than 9000 just 528 and a
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victory but a narrow one at that. palestine is going to continue being an issue as it's the concern of a lot of labour mps who care deeply about that issue in labour now in government and actually able to do something and notjust talk government and actually able to do something and not just talk about the issue. the brush will continue there undoubtedly. the question as well particularly with the others is how much that focus on trying to get those hard—to—reach conservative those ha rd—to—reach conservative seats those hard—to—reach conservative seats meant that they took their eye off the ball when it came to seats that bribes looks safe to them and money and resources and they probably would have a bit of questioning behind the scenes the strategies put them at risk to where they were not expecting it all down to specific conditions in most of those seats.
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to specific conditions in most of those seats-— to specific conditions in most of those seats. thank you for being with us on _ those seats. thank you for being with us on the _ those seats. thank you for being with us on the programme - those seats. thank you for being i with us on the programme tonight. a lot to get our heads around and christian fraser has been casting as i am what is been christian fraser has been casting his eye across what's been happening and is at the newswall... extraordinary set of hours this looks for all the world like a 1997 tony blair it has been an extraordinary 2a hours for labour and the new prime minister, sir keir starmer. this looks for all the world like a 1997 tony blair landslide. this an implosion for the conservatives. there is no precedent for this, even all the way back to 1832 and the great reform act. but there is a word of caution in these results for labour and the liberal democrats, and that is in the vote share. here is the collapsing conservative share, but look at labour's vote share —
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going upjust a couple of points to 35%. that is the lowest vote share for a party returned with a majority. it is lower than jeremy corbyn in 2017. it's certainly lower than that landslide we were talking about in 1997. similar picture for the liberal democrats. they've picked up 71 seats, but their vote share is flatlining. so how have they done it? well, the answer is in the way people voted and where they voted. so where labour was competitive against the conservatives, you see some evidence of tactical voting. labour's vote was up, the liberal democrat vote is squeezed, and there you see the split on the right. conversely, in liberal democrat—conservative seats, where liberal democrats were competitive against the conservative candidate, the liberal democrats are up 7%, labour's vote is squeezed.
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so this is more about a revulsion of the conservative candidates in these seats than it is about revolution. let's have a look at how that works in a couple of examples. so this is chichester a lib dem gain from the conservatives — there you see quite a big swing towards the liberal democrats, and that squeeze in the labour vote. yes, reform takes a big chunk out of the right, but it wouldn't have mattered because people are lending their votes to the liberal democrats to get rid of the conservative. similar picture the other way around in hitchin, where you have bim afolami, a former treasury minister. again, labour's vote going up and almost conversely, the liberal democrat vote going down. and again, the reform a lot of vote for reform, but it doesn't matter. and so that's why you get a situation where reform pick up four million in vote share and only get four, possibly five seats when it's all done and dusted. and yet the liberal democrats, with 3.5 million votes, get 71. their vote is concentrated in the seats where it counts. let's talk about the nations, so we can talk about scotland. back in 2019, the snp picked up 48
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of the then 59 seats. scotland lost two in the boundary review. any labour recovery had to come through glasgow, through the central belt, through north lanarkshire, south lanarkshire, east renfrewshire out to the west. let's click it on and see what happened. in fact, labour took all six glasgow seats, a total disaster for the snp. some interesting seats here. uh, this one here. cowdenbeath and kirkcaldy was formerly gordon brown's seat lothian east, douglas, alexander, um and of course now they have many, many more seats than that one seat they had in 2019, in edinburgh south. let's have a look at the picture in wales. in actual vote share terms in scotland, labour party did particularly well — doubled their vote share.
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but in wales, actually, their vote share was down 4%. and there's a reason for that. first of all, of course they're being judged on their record in wales because labour are in charge of the senned. and there's been that vote of no confidence in the first minister, vaughan gething. but the conservatives were very much on the defensive. we knew that in north wales, where they had a good night in 2019, a swing of 5% would deliver a clutch of seats for labour. so let's click it forward and see what happened, and you'll see that the conservatives are completely wiped out. the welsh secretary david tc davies, taken out in monmouthshire. in carmarthenshire, the chief whip, simon hart, is gone. this really good result actually should point this out for plaid cymru. that was a traditional three way marginal and they took it. so a really good result for plaid. and they finished with four having
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been reduced nominally speaking to two under the boundary review. not all great news though, for labour candidates up and down the country. spare a thought forjonathan ashworth, the man who appears on radio four today programme or on the bbc to defend labour and speak for the shadow cabinet. 0n the cusp of power, and he's taken out by an independent who is campaigning on gaza and the middle east, who's critical ofjonathan ashworth, the shadow secretary for work and pensions, because he hadn't voted for a ceasefire. and there's a big minority vote, muslim minority vote, in leicester south. in fact, in four seats, we've seen independents take seats from labour on a campaign for gaza and the middle east. and jonathan ashworth certainly one of those who paid the price. you will see in the cabinet a lot of sympathy for him, because,
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in fact, rachel reeves and yvette cooper who have taken two of the great offices of state — they were clinging on in 2019 up there in leeds, and now they're in government. yvette cooper has been there, of course, before home secretary. she's been on the front benches in power and in opposition. she's putting forward, as home secretary, a plan to tackle the boats crossing the channel. there will be a new border force with powers under the anti—terrorism laws. she will certainly bejudged on that. david lammy, mpfor tottenham, campaigning mp. he will become the foreign secretary. got a lot of praise actually through the campaign, particularly on d—day. bad for rishi sunak, but very good for keir starmer. and it was david lammy who put him alongside some of the world leaders on that day, working some of his contacts. rachel reeves — she's waited for this job. she's been trying to convince people and business that the labour party can be trusted with the economy and are fiscally responsible. she's talked about reducing debt as a share of national income to bring down borrowing, but of course she has to find growth. where will she find that growth? here's three others for you.
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angela rayner, who's been injeremy corbyn's shadow cabinet deputy prime minister. she'll also be secretary for levelling up, formerly a senior officer for unison, a union worker very much on the left of the party. you could maybe say she is the sort ofjohn prescott figure within this new labour government. who arere in the cabinet. as defence secretary, he served on ed miliband's shadow cabinet. he served onjeremy corbyn's shadow cabinet. now he is the defence secretary with sir keir starmer, and quite a job he has because although labour is committed to meeting that 2.5% target on defence spending, they have ordered a spending review. they say they will do it as and when they can. but lots of pressure on the defence secretary and wes streeting finally health secretary, also a campaigning mp, was formerly president of the national students union, someone who suffered himself with ill health.
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he had kidney cancer. he's recovering from that. so he knows all about waiting lists. he knows about the problems in the nhs, but quite a job to fix it. lots to do for the new cabinet and some very, very urgent work to get under way. taking us through the numbers and others votes stacked up as they came in overnight and what it tells us about the state of politics across the country and still quite a lot of division and one of the trials of the prime minister to bring some sort of cohesion but as a been discussing on the programme, that big majority weather that allows them to make big decisions and maybe unpopular are not universally welcome. talking a bit later, from a rather wet downing street will be back but deadlines. hello, thanks forjoining me. friday brought somewhat
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of a mixed bag of weather. the weekend is upon us. let's see what's in store. well, you guessed it — another mixed bag with sunshine and showers. quite breezy and rather on the cool side, something we've been used to for quite some time now. so, here's the forecast then for the evening hours. a weather front in the south of the country. this is where the wettest of our weather has been so far through friday, and more of that to come through friday evening and into saturday. now, the forecast shows the rain in the south, and indeed the radar confirms that, you can see rain across southwestern england into central southern england, but the dry conditions further north. and we could have some clear spells overnight across the north east of england, maybe central scotland, but elsewhere, i think a good chance of encountering some rain. the temperatures first thing in the morning will be around 13 in the southeast of the uk, but further north where the skies will have cleared overnight, outside of town at least, it could be as low as six degrees celsius. so, saturday itself, well, we've already established that it's going to be a mixed bag with sunshine and showers. really big clumps of rain, i think,
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early in the morning, but then they'll give way to some sunny spells. but it will be a very blustery day, too, particularly around these south eastern coasts — gusts of 40mph or so. i think eventually, second half of the afternoon, the best of the weather and most prolonged spells of sunshine out towards the west. wimbledon, then — yes, showers are expected, some of them could be heavy, and there's also going to be a good breeze blowing out of the west. and i think further showers are likely on sunday. and in fact as one low pressure pulls away, — so that's what we wiil have had on saturday — this next weather front slips in off the atlantic and delivers us showers at least early in the day across the west of the uk. then the showers will move eastwards, and then actually, there'll be further showers building inland anyway through the course of the afternoon — could even be the odd crack of thunder. look, we're not even making 20 celsius anywhere in the uk. it'll be typically around 16—18 degrees, so mixed bag on the way this weekend. and that changeable, relatively cool theme continues into the week ahead. perhaps a gentle rise in the temperature, something closer to what we'd
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expect earlyjuly. that's it. bye— bye.
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hello i'm ben thompson — and welcome to downing street.
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it has been a day of comings and goings, new appointments to a new cabinet positions for that labour party after their landside victory in the general election last night. in the next few hours, we'll take you through all of the headlines and key outcomes from the general election — hearing from representatives from all of the main parties. let's start by recapping the result. labour have taken power, winning 412 seats, which is set to give them a majority of 170. sir keir starmer has been appointed prime minister by king charles — and has spent the afternoon appointing his first cabinet. rishi sunak�*s conservatives fell to just 121 seats — down 251 on the last election. he has left downing street, and says he will resign as conservative leader. the liberal democrats have gained 63 seats. their total of 71 makes them the third largest party at westminster. reform uk — led by nigel farage — won 14.3% of the vote —
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but that has translated into just five seats.

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