polls predict a shift from his party towards the far—right national rally. we'll bring you live analysis from across the country — on one of the most significant french elections in years. i'm martine croxall. the other main stories this hour... new prime minister, keir starmer, tours the uk's nations — with his first stop, edinburgh. demonstrations across israel, urging the government to reach a deal with hamas. the group is reported to have accepted a us proposal to begin talks of a hostage release. four volunteers emerge from a small compound in texas — having spent more than a year living in conditions simulating those on mars.

a very warm welcome to paris. it is a beautiful evening here in the french capital. you might be able to see behind me the eiffel tower. before that, like defence. and they golden dome where you can visit the tomb of napoleon bonaparte. it has been a rather odd feeling, actually, in the city this afternoon. in some respects, there is a party atmosphere building. you can see all of these dance going up for the olympics with just three weeks to go until the paris olympics. just at the foot of the eiffel tower, you can see them putting the final touches to the beach volleyball courts. and the countries in the semifinal of the euros. the party atmosphere in one senses building, but on the other hand this country are so deeply divided, and no sense from the final post last night that the election here is going to resolve the things for them any time soon. not that they are and enthused by the election. voter turnout today

is at the highest in the national assembly, of any national assembly vote since 1981. it is going to be “p vote since 1981. it is going to be up nearly 70%. earlier, president emmanuel macron cast his vote in le touquet. since we were talking about napoleon bonaparte, it is notable how invisible he has been. people in his own party don't want to campaign with him. he has fairly low approval ratings at the moment. it is slightly better for some of these candidates to campaign without him. looking at the result of the first round, there is no question who came out on top in the first round. it was the national rally with 33% of the vote. coming behind them, the leftist coalition with 28%. and then his ensemble coalition, which includes his renaissance party and a distant third. it really feels that gamble to call snap elections has

backfired. tonight, at eight o'clock, injust under an hourfrom now, the polls will close and we will get a prediction. and i call it a prediction rather than an exit poll, because when you see it on the telly, it is taken from a sample of the vote so it tends to be fairly accurate. and that should give us a view of what each coalition has got within the new assembly. 289 for an absolute majority. but there is polls suggesting that neither the rally or the other coalition groups will get to that magic number. what do the voters make of that? my colleague mark loewen has been out and about in paris today testing the mood. rarely have france's fraternal founding values felt so strained. but in this polarised, angry country, they voted in the most crucial parliamentary election in decades. the far—right national rally is at the gates of power for the first time since the second world war, eyeing a parliamentary majority. but across france, opposition

candidates have dropped out in three—way races, urging supporters to unite behind a single figure who can stop the far—right. its hard line on immigration attracts some, horrifies others. we are completely invaded. they invade all the... everywhere you go in the provence. they are pretty, beautiful towns. and they are completely not french any more. do you still believe in macron? um, i think i vote more to block the far—right than vote for macron. many voters today are being asked to hold their noses and back a candidate who could stop a far—right majority. the question is whether enough will do it, or whether that will actually galvanise national rally supporters, furious at what they'll see as a stitch—up to block them from power.

the prime minister cast his ballot knowing france has been plunged into uncertainty by president macron�*s snap poll, with probably either a far—right majority or a hung parliament and paralysis. france, europe, ukraine and beyond are on edge. mark loewen, bbc news, paris. it is notoriously difficult to predict the outcome of a second round assembly election here in france. there is that republican front that mark talked about. i have got some updated figures for you, which were collated last night. around 210 left and centre candidates who qualified in third place in round one withdrew before the deadline last night, so the number of three—way races which was originally a 306 in in 577 races has been reduced to around 100. you can see those difficult conversations that have been had amongst the centre—left, centre—right and even with the leftist coalition to reduce

the chance of the sentiment of the national rally getting in some of these races. you are really depending on the electorate playing ball, and some of them do view it as a stitch up. when we talk about turnout, are some of them coming out to support the rally because they're annoyed at what is going on, or are they holding their and voting for any party other than the national rally? we will not know for another 55 minutes until that result comes in. let'sjoin one of 55 minutes until that result comes in. let's join one of the 55 minutes until that result comes in. let'sjoin one of the camps. our correspondent azadeh moshiri is in stalingrad. we are going to hear at some point from jean—luc melenchon, the radical left that is organising this gathering here that is due to begin in around half an hour. and many here are hoping that somewhat of an unholy alliance between people who may not have stood together before the results we saw last week. they

are hoping that that coalition of sorts, that tactical voting that they are banking on will keep the far right at bay. now, there is a police presence on the outskirts of this gathering. it is not strong yet as you can see. things are pretty calm. what we do know from the prime minister pass off office is that 5000 police officers are being deployed across paris, 30,000 across france in addition. because of the fact they know people here feel so about this. and in terms of whether people feel like they have done enough, christian, as you know we are entering uncharted territory here. only the result will be able to give them that answer. either way, the reality here as people fear they will see a future they did not vote for, they did not bank on. the irony is, when i was in other parts of france earlier today, in rural

parts, people start this grouping, these people, this movement as the future that they fear, because they feel that the far right, marine le pen, these are the people that actually understand the day—to—day difficulties they are going through. people here, though, are going to be hoping that that feeling did not sweep the country.— hoping that that feeling did not sweep the country. jordan bardella, the 28-year-old _ sweep the country. jordan bardella, the 28-year-old he _ sweep the country. jordan bardella, the 28-year-old he will _ sweep the country. jordan bardella, the 28-year-old he will become - sweep the country. jordan bardella, the 28-year-old he will become the j the 28—year—old he will become the minister ready rally to win an absolute majority, has already said that if they do not get that absolute majority he is not going to go into cohabitation with the president. what hasjean—luc president. what has jean—luc melenchon president. what hasjean—luc melenchon said? what if they pick up 180, 190 seats but are short of an absolute majority? would some of that leftist coalition joined with emmanuel macron to put a government of sorts together? it is emmanuel macron to put a government of sorts together?— of sorts together? it is an interesting _ of sorts together? it is an interesting question - of sorts together? it is an i interesting question because of sorts together? it is an - interesting question because part of sorts together? it is an _ interesting question because part of the problem is that emmanuel macron

and the current prime minister have been insisting that they would not allow a future wherejean—luc melenchon was prime minister, and they have been really resisting this idea that, while they are engaging in tactical voting, while parties are in somewhat of an unholy alliance with the greens, does not mean that there will be a union between emmanuel macron and jean—luc melenchon. that sort of situation, a cohabitation which has not happened since 2002, that is not a future that emmanuel macron wants to see and coordinate with someone like jean—luc melenchon. they are that far apart. we jean—luc melenchon. they are that farapart. we are jean—luc melenchon. they are that far apart. we are seeing these people stand together somewhat because of the fact that they want to keep the far right at bay. but that does not mean that these are happy partners. we that does not mean that these are happy partnere— that does not mean that these are happy partners. we will come back to ou happy partners. we will come back to you through — happy partners. we will come back to you through the _ happy partners. we will come back to you through the course _ happy partners. we will come back to you through the course of _ happy partners. we will come back to you through the course of the - you through the course of the evening. thank you very much for that. if you look at a map of the

vote in the first round, you will see that a large part of it is purple, the colour of the national rally, in all of the towns and villages around the country, and particularly down there in the south of the country, in the rural areas. let's speak to chris bockman who's in toulouse in southern france. you are outside the prefects of this i understand. that is where all of the result of the south—west will be collated. what is the feeling down there tonight? do they think the national rally is going to get a majority they are seeking? the? majority they are seeking? they certainly hope — majority they are seeking? they certainly hope so, _ majority they are seeking? they certainly hope so, but _ majority they are seeking? tie: certainly hope so, but who knows. like i said earlier, the far right maybe ten years ago in this region did not even get double digit figures. just last weekend, they got 35, 37, up to figures. just last weekend, they got 35,37, upto 41 and 42%. the figures. just last weekend, they got 35,37, up to 41 and 42%. the way it works that, in the city centre, the socialists have gone to the far left. as you go two kilometres out,

toulouse, montpellier, bordeaux, you see that the far right is getting bigger and bigger all of the time. i have met many far right mayors and they run lots and lots of times around the part of the country now. what is the reason? the city centre has become too expensive for families who do not have big families, so they are moving out because of inflation, their families, they have to pay for energy, forfuel and families, they have to pay for energy, for fuel and they are resentful about that. on top of that, their perceived opinion is that, their perceived opinion is that the people from immigrant backgrounds are living in housing near the city centre with family allowances, child support, and of course council homes, and they are not making enough money to get help but they are making too much... you are really seeing a ring of the far

right stretching over to marseille in the east, and in the last five years it is moved inland. just a few kilometres from toulouse. it is now far right country. just two hours from here, the former president is running to be an mp as part of his comeback campaign. he is in a three horse race and the national front is not far behind from him. in an area which is traditionally very much socialist or centrist. find which is traditionally very much socialist or centrist.— which is traditionally very much socialist or centrist. and when you talk to people _ socialist or centrist. and when you talk to people down _ socialist or centrist. and when you talk to people down there - socialist or centrist. and when you talk to people down there in - socialist or centrist. and when you talk to people down there in the l talk to people down there in the south—west, i understand all the manifest problems you have just set out, but how much of it is about the personality of the president himself? i said personality of the president himself? isaid he personality of the president himself? i said he had almost been in exile since the beginning of this election. we saw him walking around in his aviatorjacket and his glasses, almost as if he was in disguise. a lot of people don't want him out on the campaign trail from

his own party. how much of that is at the root of what is going on in the rural part of france? it is at the root of what is going on in the rural part of france?- the rural part of france? it is a big part- _ the rural part of france? it is a big part- he — the rural part of france? it is a big part. he has _ the rural part of france? it is a big part. he has a _ the rural part of france? it is a big part. he has a lot- the rural part of france? it is a big part. he has a lot of- the rural part of france? it is a big part. he has a lot of mps. l the rural part of france? it is a - big part. he has a lot of mps. well, they were mps of his until parliament was dissolved a couple of weeks ago. they are likely to be swept aside. there are a couple who are still fighting. he is divisive, there is no question. he is considered arrogant, his way of running the country is very vertical, everything goes up towards him. and he did not have... he wanted everything to be reported back to him. last week, his advisers have told him to keep a low profile. we have hardly seen him, hardly hurt him. because every time he has talked to defend his coalition to keep out the far right and the far left, it has backfired and people have become more and more resentful of everything he says. there is no

question he has become a turn—off for a lot of people, even those who at one point backed him. i know people in my personal life and to my work with who did vote for him the last two times, and now they are not going to. last two times, and now they are not auoin to. , , last two times, and now they are not aoian to. , , ., ~ going to. very interesting. thank ou ve going to. very interesting. thank you very much — going to. very interesting. thank you very much for _ going to. very interesting. thank you very much for that. - going to. very interesting. thank you very much for that. he - going to. very interesting. thank you very much for that. he is - going to. very interesting. thank| you very much for that. he is only into the second year of a five year term, emmanuel macron. i heard a podcast earlier today, saying that the thing that jacques podcast earlier today, saying that the thing thatjacques chirac had that emmanuel macron did not have, is that he could sit down with kings and queens but he could also sit down in a bar here in paris. and they do not feel that about emmanuel macron when you talk to people out on the street. he feels aloof, remote from the people, and that certainly reflected in his approval ratings right now in the polls. we might see him tonight, though, because we are told, given the result in just under three quarters of an hour, he might come out and

speak about the result and tell us what is happening next year in france. we await to see what sort of statement they put out. we will of course bring you the result. we will come on airjust before the top of the hour. we hope you will stay with us for coverage of that. we will bring you the first projection from one of the national broadcasters. and remember, this is a projection of how many seats these different blogs have got in the national assembly. they tend to be broadly accurate because it is taken from a sample of votes. so that is just around a0 minutes away. to stay with us for that. martine croxall. christian, thank you very much. join you in a while. we start in scotland, where in the last hour the prime minister keir starmer has met with the scottish labour leader, anas sarwar. to rapturous applause, the two spoke of wanting to deliver for the scottish people. shortly, the prime minister will meet the first minister and snp leaderjohn swinney at bute house. he will then move on to meet the devolved leaders in wales and northern ireland tomorrow.

speaking a short while ago, the prime minister hailed what he called labour's "historic result" in scotland, before promising to govern as a "changed labour" with a clear mandate. many people will have voted labour for the first time ever orfor a long time, and we recognise that. and to those people who did not vote labour, i want to directly address you, too. because we will serve the entirety of scotland. we'll serve every single person in scotland. because that change matters to everyone and that is how we go forward. performance, self—interest — they're the politics of the past. the politics of this labour government of 202a is about public service, restoring standards and making sure that we always, always have in our mind's eye the people who elected

us into government. i'm really pleased to be here. i campaigned, i asked people to give us the opportunity to change our country for the better. i asked people in scotland — put their trust and faith in labour. i said that if they did so, we would deliver for scotland, deliver the change it needed. notjust through our labour mps here in scotland but through the entire team, and me leading that. and that's why i wanted to stand here today, to make good on that promise, to make good on that commitment at the first opportunity. to come here and say that wasn't something i said in the campaign — and i'm here starting that work delivering for scotland. as we have said, we are expecting the prime minister to meet the labour micro—leader of the snp, john swinney, at bute house this evening. this is where they will be meeting. of this is where they will be meeting. of course, john swinney�*s party

suffering a very bad defeat and losing so many of their mps on thursday when the uk went to the country. this is where they will meet. it is part of the keir starmer�*s first trip around the nations of the united kingdom. he will be in northern ireland and wales tomorrow. we will report back as to what happens between the first minister, john swinney, and keir starmer. to gaza next where in the last few hours there's been an evacuation order in central gaza city. the news comes as hamas media confimed a senior hamas official was killed in a strike on a school housing displaced palestinians in the city on saturday. officials said ehab al—ghussein — a former hamas interior ministry spokesman and deputy labour minister — was killed alongside three other people. meanwhile, sources from hamas say the palestinian armed group has accepted washington's proposal to begin talks on releasing hostages — also dropping their demand that

israel first commit to a permanent ceasefire. let's speak to our middle east correspondent, sebastian usher. first of all, talk to us about this hostage proposal that is coming to light. hostage proposal that is coming to liaht. ~ ., , hostage proposal that is coming to liaht. ~ . , ., light. well, we have been hearing from hamas _ light. well, we have been hearing from hamas sources, _ light. well, we have been hearing from hamas sources, unnamed, l from hamas sources, unnamed, essentially the same message for several days, essentially saying that hamas has dropped what was its key precondition essentially forgetting a ceasefire again under way. it has been seven months since the previous week long ceasefire last year at the end of november. there have been false start along the way but we never got there. and what hamas had said from the start was that it would not accept any form of a ceasefire if their work to be essentially a return to fighting afterwards. it wanted a permanent ceasefire nailed down to stop what

we're hearing from hamas sources are that they are changing their tune from this and are accepting the proposal put forward by president biden several weeks ago, which would have a first phase of ceasefire, hostages at civilians would be released, then a second phase will take place in which a permanent ceasefire might possibly finally be agreed. the talks for that will continue in this first phase. that is what hamas seems to have agreed on. there's been no formal announcement on this, as you would expect, because talks are going to resume hopefully this week. so hamas is unlikely to actually say something before that. but what we have just heard in the past half an hour or so is the first really direct response you would have to say, from the israeli prime minister, benjamin netanyahu. and his office has laid out non—negotiable demands. absolutely key to those non—negotiable demands are that he says that israel must continue to have the right to fight after any ceasefire if there is

still a threat presented by hamas or other palestinian factions. that could still be a major stumbling block on moving forward with these negotiations, whether hamas would believe that a permanent ceasefire, where it agreed during these three phases under president biden�*s proposal, whether they would believe that was actually a genuine ceasefire if israel still had the right to go into gaza and carry out attacks is very much open to question. i think that is ported in a bit of cold water on the hopes that had been rising for these talks there are about to resume. sebastien, for the moment thank you very much. sebastien asher in jerusalem. that's a return to our top story. turnout in the second and final round of france's parliamentary election is the highest in more than a0 years, according to officials. the far—right national rally

party is hoping to gain an absolute majority, having won the first round. but it's facing a concerted attempt to block it, mounted by two other alliances — the left—wing new popular front, and president macron�*s centrist "together" movement. let's speak to our europe editor, katya adler, who is at the headquarters of marine le pen's national rally party. how likely is it a friend is going to wake up to a different political scene tomorrow? let to wake up to a different political scene tomorrow?— to wake up to a different political scene tomorrow? let me quote a front-page — scene tomorrow? let me quote a front-page headline _ scene tomorrow? let me quote a front-page headline in _ scene tomorrow? let me quote a front-page headline in one - scene tomorrow? let me quote a front-page headline in one of - scene tomorrow? let me quote aj front-page headline in one of the front—page headline in one of the leading french newspapers from this morning. "france holds its breath." and that is how it feels here in the national rally headquarters, that because this is such a divided country, depending on who you speak to, people are fervently hoping for very different results. supporters hear of the national rally say this is the future of france. they looked at the spectacular result for the party in the first round of the election and said they are ready to govern, they are not racist, they

are conservatives, they are nationalists, who any time of cost of living crisis want to put france and the french first. but i went to polling stations today where i found other french men and women desperate. they say that the national rally party poses a danger to france, it threatens minority rights, it threatens democracy, they say. and they are hoping that that concerted effort, as you say, between the left and emmanuel macron�*s centre alliance, will block the national rally from coming with enough seats to get a majority and to be able to form a government. i'll tell you who else is holding their breath and watching all of this very closely, and that is the defence alliance nato and the eu. because of course, france alongside germany is the most influential eu country. it is the second largest country. it is the second largest country in the eurozone and it is the eu's only major military power, a key ally of ukraine. if after these elections there is a hung

parliament or if there is an extreme right—wing government, if this country is unstable and it is distracted, that could have a big impact outside france as well. what impact outside france as well. what im act will impact outside france as well. what impact will it — impact outside france as well. what impact will it in _ impact outside france as well. what impact will it in france, _ impact outside france as well. what impact will it in france, if— impact outside france as well. what impact will it in france, if they national rally do not secure an outright majority but still do pretty well?— outright majority but still do re well? ~ ., , ., pretty well? well, all polls leading u . pretty well? well, all polls leading u- to the pretty well? well, all polls leading up to the vote _ pretty well? well, all polls leading up to the vote today _ pretty well? well, all polls leading up to the vote today predict - pretty well? well, all polls leading up to the vote today predict that l up to the vote today predict that the national rally at the very least will become the biggest party in france's parliament, and that is huge. it means that a debate in france hasn't only been broken, it has been smashed. because for decades, this party, it has been renamed by marine le pen, but this party were seen as extremist and that it should belong on the fringes of french society. if it does become the biggest party in parliament, evenif the biggest party in parliament, even if it doesn't have a majority, it means that marine le pen has achieved her goal of softening the party's image and bringing it more

mainstream. but they do not have coalition partners willing to form a government if they do not have a parliamentary majority. so their supporters may feel cheated if they are not able to form a government after this election, even if opponents feel extremely relieved. and that is why we talk about probable divisions whatever happens in this election.— in this election. thank you very much. in this election. thank you very much- katia — in this election. thank you very much. katia adler, _ in this election. thank you very much. katia adler, our- in this election. thank you very much. katia adler, our europe | in this election. thank you very - much. katia adler, our europe editor at the headquarters of the national rally. and there is a life page you can take a look at on the bbc news website which is covering every twist and turn of the french election. stay with us here on bbc news. hello, there. the day's showers will ease quite quickly this evening, leaving clear skies over night — it will turn quite chilling as well. but as we head into tomorrow, it looks like more showers

will develop across northern areas and a new area of low pressure will push up on the south to bring cloud and rain. the showers, then, easing away quickly under this brief ridge of high pressure. with a slightly cooler air mass around, clear skies and light winds, it's going to turn quite chilly for many — temperatures dipping into single digits for most. cloud, breeze and rain pushing into south—west england. the channel islands will lift temperatures here, but a much chillier night further north under those clear skies. but it does mean monday starts off dry and bright — a lot of sunshine around before showers develop in central and northern areas. and then we'll see this area of low pressure bringing cloud and rain to southern britain as we move through the day, edging its way northwards into mid wales, the midlands by the end of the day. with more sunshine around, it could feel a little bit warmer after that cold start. top temperatures of 20 or 21 degrees. but it does look like, with low pressure close by — both monday and tuesday — we're likely to see showers or longer spells of rain. so more disruption likely to play there. as we move through monday

night, that area of rain pushes its way northwards. it becomes heavier across the south—west. could even have some rumbles of thunder with it. to the north — certainly the far north of england, scotland and far north in ireland, where skies stay clear — then it's going to be another chilly night here with single figure values. but further south, where we have the cloud, wind and rain, a lot milder. 12—1a degrees. tuesday, we see that rain continue to journey northwards, moving out of northern england and into scotland and northern ireland. quite breezy. a strong easterly breeze there. england and wales will see this skies bright up into tuesday afternoon. but will see a scattering of heavy, potentially thunder downpours. 20 or 21 degrees in the south — cooler in the north. that area of low pressure continues to pull away towards the end of the week. this area of high pressure tries to move in to settle things down, but it does look like low pressure will always be close by — mainly towards eastern areas. so quite a mixed bag of weather as we move towards the end of the week. showers or longer spells of rain,

temperatures remaining below par for the time of year. but there's just a small chance of it turning more settled towards the end of the week.

this is bbc news. the headlines: voters cast their ballots in france, where a second round of parliamentary elections is under way. turnout appears on course to be highest in over a0 years. centrist and left—wing parties are mounting a joint effort to block the far—right national rally.

the british prime minister, keir starmer, is in scotland where he's meeting the leader of the snp. sir keir wants to improve relations between the central government and other parts of the united kingdom. president biden is continuing to face doubts from democratic colleagues as he insists he won't drop his bid for re—election. leading democrats are meeting this weekend to discuss the party's future. and four volunteers have emerged from a small compound in texas where they've spent more than a year in conditions simulating those on mars. nasa says it wants to find out how they've coped. so trigger happy with their stings, these directors. the newly appointed british foreign secretary, david lammy, has been speaking about his desire to reset the uk's relationship with the eu whilst on a visit

to meet his polish counterpart. mr lammy stressed that the two countries share the same strategic