and that clearly has an impact. on young men, lads who look at those kind of images. we have cultural issues within the police and you may remember that i commissioned a report last week to look at some of those issues. and to make some really clear statements about the use of strip search within the police. i am saying there should be a presumption against it, and we need a real change there and picking up need a real change there and picking up on the issues around policing mentioned before, for me, when sarah everard was murdered, i will be honest and say to you, i had conversations with my daughters that i should have had before. but i finally did have in terms of understanding some of the issues they experience every day and when i really focused on things i realised that we needed a big culture change, i led a campaign in manchester aimed at men and boys challenging them in terms of their behaviour or the behaviour of their friends and they are witnessing it, saying we are not

accepting that any more, it has to be stopped. an gender—based violence board that has got going with domestic abuse cases brought to justice but we are in the foothills of this. and it will be voices like natalie�*s that will lead us into a much different place. so all power to her and two others in the programme who have spoken out tonight. programme who have spoken out toniaht. �* ., . ., _ tonight. ben houchen, obviously ou're tonight. ben houchen, obviously you're hearing — tonight. ben houchen, obviously you're hearing natalie _ tonight. ben houchen, obviously you're hearing natalie speak - tonight. ben houchen, obviously you're hearing natalie speak for| tonight. ben houchen, obviously i you're hearing natalie speak for the first time. you havejust you're hearing natalie speak for the first time. you have just had a you're hearing natalie speak for the first time. you havejust had a baby girl and she first time. you havejust had a baby girland she is first time. you havejust had a baby girl and she is very young, six months old. what did you think of what natalie was saying and the message we have to talk about? it is heartbreaking listening to the stories— heartbreaking listening to the stories and i would agree with what andy burnham said but what is interesting and what we need to get to grips— interesting and what we need to get to grips with is we need justice but also timely— to grips with is we need justice but also timelyjustice as well. one of the big _ also timelyjustice as well. one of the big issues you see with sexual offences_ the big issues you see with sexual offences and violence against women and domestic violence as it goes unresolved and it can be dragged out for a long _ unresolved and it can be dragged out for a long time, we heard about the

inquiry— for a long time, we heard about the inquiry starting in 2015, but will not report— inquiry starting in 2015, but will not report until 2026. even if it comes— not report until 2026. even if it comes to — not report until 2026. even if it comes to the right conclusions and -ets comes to the right conclusions and gets to _ comes to the right conclusions and gets to grips with it, 11 years, and alison_ gets to grips with it, 11 years, and alison first — gets to grips with it, 11 years, and alison first took legal action in 2011, — alison first took legal action in 2011, so — alison first took legal action in 2011, sojustice has to be timely as well because of it takes too long, you don't— well because of it takes too long, you don't get to grips with the cultural— you don't get to grips with the cultural changes and issues we have to tackle _ cultural changes and issues we have to tackle if _ cultural changes and issues we have to tackle if we want our women and young _ to tackle if we want our women and young girls — to tackle if we want our women and young girls and everybody to be safe _ young girls and everybody to be safe. ~ ., young girls and everybody to be safe. ~ . , ., . safe. we have barely got much time left. i safe. we have barely got much time left- i want — safe. we have barely got much time left- i want to _ safe. we have barely got much time left. i want to ask— safe. we have barely got much time left. i want to ask both of _ safe. we have barely got much time left. i want to ask both of you, - left. i want to ask both of you, because it was mentioned by maggie blyth, the police officer today, about the influence of people like andrew tate, and she suggested they are radicalising young men. [10 andrew tate, and she suggested they are radicalising young men.— are radicalising young men. do you auree are radicalising young men. do you a . ree with are radicalising young men. do you agree with that? _ are radicalising young men. do you agree with that? i _ are radicalising young men. do you agree with that? i think _ are radicalising young men. do youj agree with that? i think people like andrew_ agree with that? i think people like andrew tate have garnered a level of coverage, _ andrew tate have garnered a level of coverage, through social media, which _ coverage, through social media, which intensifies lots of this and creates— which intensifies lots of this and creates echo chambers of particularly young disaffected young men from _ particularly young disaffected young men from all backgrounds.- men from all backgrounds. anyone with a smartphone, _

men from all backgrounds. anyone with a smartphone, to _ men from all backgrounds. anyone with a smartphone, to be - men from all backgrounds. anyone with a smartphone, to be honest. l with a smartphone, to be honest. also, he is basically selling snake oil to— also, he is basically selling snake oil to young men and boys who feel disaffected in their communities and society— disaffected in their communities and society and that is something we need _ society and that is something we need to— society and that is something we need to get to grips with because i think— need to get to grips with because i think people like andrew tate should not be _ think people like andrew tate should not be listened to but he is a symptom _ not be listened to but he is a symptom of the problem and not a cause _ symptom of the problem and not a cause of— symptom of the problem and not a cause of the problem and that is why we need _ cause of the problem and that is why we need a _ cause of the problem and that is why we need a root and branch review of what _ we need a root and branch review of what the _ we need a root and branch review of what the causes are because it is not what the causes are because it is hotjust— what the causes are because it is notjust about dealing what the causes are because it is not just about dealing those affected by the stories tonight, it is about— affected by the stories tonight, it is about how can we stop this from happening — is about how can we stop this from happening early and how do we change that culture _ happening early and how do we change that culture towards women and girls? _ that culture towards women and uirls? ~ that culture towards women and i irls? . , ., , that culture towards women and iirls? , , , girls? we will pause there because we are out of— girls? we will pause there because we are out of time. _ girls? we will pause there because we are out of time. i _ girls? we will pause there because we are out of time. i want - girls? we will pause there because we are out of time. i want to - girls? we will pause there because we are out of time. i want to thank you very much, andy burnham, for joining us this evening. ben houchen, thank you very much. nick and myself are back tomorrow. that is it from us. we will see you then.

you're watching bbc news. good evening. it's just after 11pm. i'm nicky schiller. let's get more on two big political stories tonight. first, seven labour mps have been suspended for six months. it's after they defyed the government in the house of commons tonight, voting in favour of scrapping the two—child benefit cap. it is the first rebellion for sir keir starmer since becoming prime minister. the government comfortably won the vote by a majority of 260. we have also tonight had the first hat thrown into the ring for the contest to replace rishi sunak as the conservative party leader. the shadow home secretaryjames cleverly posted a video on social media confirming that he willjoin the contest, which officially

starts in the morning when nominations open. the former home and foreign secrertary said the conservatives needed to re—establish their reputation as a party who "helps grow the economy, helps people achieve their goals, their dreams and their aspirations". he added they could only do that as a united party. let's go live to westminster and our political correspondent nick eardley. nick, i would nick, iwould if nick, i would if we can start with the seven labour mps who have been suspended. keir starmer acting quickly, some might say ruthlessly, after they voted against the government?— after they voted against the overnment? ,., �* ~ �* , after they voted against the overnment? �* ~ �* , ., , government? don't think there's any doubt actually. _ government? don't think there's any doubt actually, it _ government? don't think there's any doubt actually, it was _ government? don't think there's any doubt actually, it was pretty - doubt actually, it was pretty ruthless. this was a vote tonight on the king's speech of the government's programme for the next year or so, government's programme for the next year orso, and the government's programme for the next year or so, and the snp put down an amendment saying this to child benefit cap, which stops many or most low income families getting universal credit or tax credit for more than two children, that that

should be scrapped, it is in a popular policy with a lot of people. the government has said he does not have the money to get rid of it at the moment. but this matters because king's speeches are big votes for government and mps were told, under no uncertain terms, you cannot vote against us, seven did and tonight they were told they are being kicked out of the party in parliament for the next six months, all left—wingers of all people pretty close to jeremy corbyn left—wingers of all people pretty close tojeremy corbyn when he was leader of the looting the former shadow chancellorjohn mcdonnell, including rebecca long—bailey who stood against keir starmer for the leadership, but i think it is pretty clear that what keir starmer is doing tonight is saying, there's going to be for this sort of thing. it is a show of force, it is him saying, if you vote against the government when you've been told you cannot vote against the government, there will be consequences. but there will be consequences. but there is a lot _ there will be consequences. but there is a lot of concern generally among a number of mps about this child benefit cap? bud

among a number of mps about this child benefit cap?— child benefit cap? and that's a key thin , child benefit cap? and that's a key thing. actually. — child benefit cap? and that's a key thing, actually, because _ child benefit cap? and that's a key thing, actually, because although | thing, actually, because although keir starmer can say, look at, i flexed my muscles a bit tonight and showed i am knocking to put up with dissent, it does not solve his bigger problem, which is that they are dozens of labour mp, probably considerably close to half, who want this to child but if it cap to go, who are hopeful that the government will change its mind to go —— two child benefit cap. in fact, some i chatted to our pre—optimistic that when the government find the money it will get rid of this, but although keir starmer has had that show of force tonight, although he said i am knocking to put up with this dissent, there is that wider challenge for him, which is that many mps even if they're not saying it publicly, even if they are not prepared to vote against the government in big votes like this, do want a change of heart and may be prepared to put more pressure on them as time rolls on. ok. them as time rolls on. ok, that's labour. them as time rolls on. ok, that's labour- let's _ them as time rolls on. ok, that's labour. let's turn _ them as time rolls on. ok, that's labour. let's turn to _ them as time rolls on. ok, that's labour. let's turn to the - them as time rolls on. ok, that's labour. let's turn to the race to l labour. let's turn to the race to lead the conservative party, and

james cleverly first out of the blocks with a rather slick video. let's take a look at that. we can only do this together. we can only do this as a united party, focused on the needs of the british people, relentlessly working to make their lives better. and if we do that, we can once again restore the confidence of the british people in us as a party. that is why i am putting myself forward to be leader of the party, and that is why i ask for your support. that's james cleverly�*s video, nick, not a surprise he is putting his hat into the ring? flat not a surprise he is putting his hat into the ring?— not a surprise he is putting his hat into the ring? not really post up he has been someone _ into the ring? not really post up he has been someone at _ into the ring? not really post up he has been someone at the _ into the ring? not really post up he has been someone at the top - into the ring? not really post up he has been someone at the top of. into the ring? not really post up he| has been someone at the top of the conservative party for some time, held some really seniorjobs, and interestingly, seniorjobs under interestingly, senior jobs under different leaders. interestingly, seniorjobs under different leaders. he was a cabinet minister under borisjohnson, under minister under boris johnson, under liz minister under borisjohnson, under liz truss, under rishi sunak, so he does have a bit of a argument to

make that he is someone who stuck with the party through thick and thin, when things were difficult, and when they were good will i do think, though, this isjust the first of a number of names we are likely to see over the next few days. my list of potential contenders is pretty long. as is going to be the leadership contest itself. we are knocking to find out who the new tory leader is until the month of november. we will hear a lot of ideas about what to do to turn around the fortunes of the party. turn around the fortunes of the .a _ , , ., turn around the fortunes of the party. interestingly, whoever puts themselves _ party. interestingly, whoever puts themselves in _ party. interestingly, whoever puts themselves in only _ party. interestingly, whoever puts themselves in only needs - party. interestingly, whoever puts themselves in only needs ten - party. interestingly, whoever puts| themselves in only needs ten other mps to be able to do that?- themselves in only needs ten other mps to be able to do that? yeah, and the will mps to be able to do that? yeah, and they will then — mps to be able to do that? yeah, and they will then go _ mps to be able to do that? yeah, and they will then go into _ mps to be able to do that? yeah, and they will then go into a _ mps to be able to do that? yeah, and they will then go into a wider- mps to be able to do that? yeah, and they will then go into a wider list - they will then go into a wider list which will be whittled down to four before the conservative party conference, then whittled down to two, who will go for the party membership, and that all means that we will still see a lot of rishi sunak, actually. he is going to be

interim leader of the conservative party up until november — pretty daunting task, that, isn't it, to be the man to turn up at big moments in parliament and continue to have to do prime minister's questions as leader of the opposition, starting tomorrow? �* ., �* leader of the opposition, starting tomorrow? ~ ., �* ., tomorrow? also tonight, we've got the news that _ tomorrow? also tonight, we've got the news that 55 _ tomorrow? also tonight, we've got the news that 55 asylum-seekers l tomorrow? also tonight, we've got l the news that 55 asylum-seekers are the news that 55 asylum—seekers are going to be flown home tonight? this is going to be flown home tonight? t1 3 is interesting. this is the government refurbishing the plane that was designed to take people to rwanda, underthe that was designed to take people to rwanda, under the last government scheme, to take people to vietnam instead. you will remember that keir starmer killed off the rwanda scheme within hours of becoming prime minister, says it was too expensive, it was a gimmick, it wasn't going to deliver a reduction in illegal immigration into the uk, instead the government is making a point of saying, what we're actually going to do is use all that resource already been brought in, the contractors we have, the planes that have been put

on standby, we are going to use that to return failed asylum—seekers to vietnam of a very different thing, there is a returns agreement with vietnam, it is seen as a safe country so people who have come from vietnam, arriving the uk illegally, claim asylum and have that claim rejected, can be sent back to vietnam, but chatting to people in the home office, this is the first time they say that people have been sent back to vietnam since 2021. it is designed by the labour government to beat them saying, there's a new leadership, there's a new strategy, and we're using these resources very differently. and we're using these resources very differentl . w' ., , and we're using these resources very differentl . . , ., differently. nick eardley at westminster, _ differently. nick eardley at westminster, thank - differently. nick eardley at westminster, thank you i differently. nick eardley at l westminster, thank you very differently. nick eardley at - westminster, thank you very much. we are going to stay with politics. the government says it will stop using the barge the bibby stockholm to house migrants byjanuary. home office officials said the contract for the vessel would not be renewed because it would not be needed. the barge is currently moored off portland in dorset. danjohnson has this report.

say it loud, say it clear! refugees are welcome here! even with a departure date, the bibby stockholm still divides this community. they are beggars, right? they are not beggars... concerns about conditions on board the barge have always sat alongside fears for this area. my children would love to live on that barge, because there's 200 rooms — they could run wild. but at the moment, they're stuck in one room. do you know what i mean? we cope, because we have to. you really think you'd be better off living on there? i do, yeah, i really do, because you know what? they get given food, they get a free bus, they get everything handed to them. we've got plenty of people in this country that need help before we start helping other people, and it'sjust disgusting at the end of the day that the government are overlooking everyone in this country to bring in others. it was supposed to show migrants wouldn't be housed in hotel luxury and bring down accommodation bills, but there were delays, a legionella outbreak and an albanian asylum—seeker, leonard farruku, is believed to have taken his own life. questions, too, over its value for money.

they should have... rather than investing all of this money in this hideous folly that is the barge, they should have been processing the claims. it'sjust a bit like rwanda — it's been a huge waste of money. brilliant news for us and for the people on the barge... and tonight, a rare insight from one of the 400 men — still fearing the consequences of speaking openly. the barge was really affecting the minds of the young people who haven't seen something like that. seriously? yeah. i know my roommate, he's taking pills because he's not able to sleep. now, with the news, everyone is happy. the conservatives said this move plays into the hands of the people—smugglers and labour was rolling out the red carpet in place of a strong deterrent to stop the boats. not everyone on that barge is of good nature... the barge symbolised a tougher line on immigration, but it was always weighed down with the controversy of a debate that continues. they're not all doctors and policemen. you are an embarrassment

to portland. danjohnson, bbc news, portland. next, britain'sjoint—most decorated female olympian, charlotte dujardin, has been provisionally suspended for six months by equestrian's governing body and has pulled out of the paris olympics. it comes after a video emerged showed her making what she called "an error ofjudgement". our sports news correspondent laura scott reports. having danced her way to dressage stardom at london 2012, charlotte dujardin cemented her status as one of the most successful british olympians of all time. selected for her fourth games, she was expected to make history in paris by winning another medal, a seventh medal, to overtake dame laura kenny as team gb's most decorated female athlete. but she won't claim that crown this summer because today came a shock announcement

that she was withdrawing from the games after a video emerged which she said showed her making "an error ofjudgment" during a coaching session four years ago. in a statement, she said... the world governing body for equestrian sport, the fei, said in a statement... the whistle—blower�*s lawyer claimed in a letter seen by the bbc that the video shows ms dujardin beating a horse excessively with a whip. dujardin has been suspended from the sport pending the outcome of the fei's investigation into the video. dujardin hadn't actually arrived in paris yet, but her absence will be keenly felt because she was a gold medal

contender notjust individually but as part of the british team. beyond the impact on team gb's medal hopes, this story could have major ramifications for the acceptance of equestrian sport in society, ahead of an event where it was set to be celebrated. with the olympics around the corner, this is a major blow to the british team and it could have far—reaching consequences. laura scott, bbc news, paris. i7 17 minutes past 11pm. let's turn to the us — the us vice president kamala harris has held herfirst campaign rally since she gathered enough party support to become the democratic nominee for president. speaking in the swing state of wisconsin, she accused her rival donald trump of wanting to take the country backward and vowed to unite her party in order to win the election. it comes as presidentjoe biden made his first public appearance since dropping out of the election race.

he's been isolating after contracting covid—19. in a social media post, he said he'd address the nation on wednesday to discuss how he'll spend his remaining months in office. here's our north america editor, sarah smith. it's back to work forjoe biden. he is not a presidential candidate any more, but he does have a day job — running america. reporter: why did you | drop out of the election? was it a difficult decision to make? he will explain his decision to the nation on tv tomorrow night — including why, if he's not fit enough to run for election, he is well enough to remain as the president for the next six months. beyonce herself has approved the use of this track, freedom, as part of the harris campaign. she is attracting all sorts of celebrity endorsements. # i'ma keep runnin' # cos a winner don't quit on themselves...#

and, more importantly, has also secured enough democratic delegates to be certain of being her party's presidential candidate. so, friends, we have 105 days until election day. and in that time, we've got some work to do. but we're not afraid of hard work. we like hard work, don't we? and we will win this election. her supporters are already convinced she can win. i am super excited about kamala. i've been following her for many years. i think she is the perfect candidate to run against trump. i do think she can win. i think she'll get the votes - that biden maybe couldn't have got, or maybe trump won't get. there's only one old man in the race now. and it's notjoe biden. we have a vibrant candidate, this is going to be a great election. and i expect kamala harris to be elected president of the united states. kamala harris has inherited the formidable machinery of what was the biden—harris campaign. and she'll need it, to run the shortest election campaign in modern american history. part of her pitch against

donald trump is based on her former career as a prosecutor, who brought criminals to trial. predators who abused women... ..fraudsters who ripped off consumers... ..cheaters who broke the rules for their own gain. so hear me when i say i know donald trump's type. so, can she defeat him? voters want to know more about her before deciding. she's hoping to appeal particularly to black voters, younger people and women concerned about abortion. the right of every woman, in every state in this country, to make decisions about her own body is on the line. and i've said it before, and i will say it again. how dare they?! it was this tv debate that killed joe biden's candidacy. donald trump says he will debate kamala harris — more than once, if she wants. she has a lot to prove in less than four months,

before one of the most crucial elections america has faced. sarah smith reporting. staying in the us — the head of the secret service has resigned, after days of criticism over alleged security failings at that rally where donald trump was shot. in testimony on capitol hill yesterday, kimberly cheatle admitted the assassination attempt was the agency's worst failing in more than a0 years. president biden thanked her for her service and said a new director would be appointed soon. here, the bbc�*s director general has apologised to strictly come dancing contestants after complaints of abusive behaviour on the show. tim davie said there are lines that should never be crossed, but he did confirm the show will return in september for its 22nd series. his comments come on the day the bbc�*s annual report showed that half a million households cancelled their licence fee last year and the top on—air salaries were published. more on that in a moment, but first, here's our culture and media editor katie razzall on strictly.

for weeks, instead of stories and sequins and celebrity pairings, the bbc�*s biggest entertainment show has been mired in allegations. as the strictly stories ramped up, we asked the corporation for an interview. instead, after the launch of its annual report, the bbc released a recording of the director general, who apologised for anyone who hadn't had a positive experience on the dance show. alongside the fun and entertainment, there will be a degree of of competitiveness, hard work and a will to do well. of competitiveness, hard work and a will to do well. that is part of what makes the show. but there are limits and the line should never be crossed. we will never tolerate unacceptable behaviour of any kind. claims first emerged after amanda abbingdon pulled out of last yea r�*s contest. she's accused her dance partner, giovanni pernice, of unnecessary, abusive, cruel and mean behaviour — accusations he denies. more recently, another dancer,

graziano di prima, was forced out after video showed him kicking his dance partner zara mcdermott. the latest revelations are from the paralympian table tennis player will bayley. he isn't criticising his partner janette manrara, but he had to pull out in 2019 after suffering a life—changing injury in rehearsal. if the bbc are brilliant enough to get people with disabilities in, they have to really support those people and make sure that they're safe. and it's not like i've brought this up now. i've brought this up in writing as well, and i've brought this up many times. it's just because i think the other stories have come out that mine's actually got listened to. today, tim davie said the bbc needs to listen and learn, that it has processes in place but can always improve. so has the bbc done enough to safeguard this jewel in its schedules, a show it sells to more than 60 countries across the world? there's little doubt what's been emerging has been deeply damaging,

but so far, it hasn't been fatal. and this week, the bbc released a photo of this series' dancers in rehearsal. the journalist who first broke the story in the sun says without new allegations, the show will survive. there have been mistakes and i think there's been some very unpleasant allegations and a lot of toxicity on the show. and it is hard for it to come back from that. but there seems to be a feeling of goodwill from the public. they want this show to come back. they love it. so, as things stand, yeah, i think probably the bbc are just about doing enough. hundreds of people, the bbc said today, have had a brilliant experience on strictly. but did the drive to win override the fun for some? with the newly announced plans for welfare officers and chaperones in rehearsal rooms, the hope is that the new series this autumn will restore the shine to the famous glitterball. katie razzall reporting.

the director general�*s comments came as the bbc�*s annual report was published — which includes details of salaries paid to some of its top stars, as well as how many people pay their licence fee. our culture correspondent charlotte gallagher talked us through the corporation's top earners. no surprise, really, that at the top of the list for a seventh year running is gary lineker, at £1.3 million. just below him, at under a million, is radio 2's zoe ball. and then that list continues. someone who's on the list who no longer works at the bbc, huw edwards, the former news presenter, he was actually paid an additional £40,000 last year compared to his salary the previous year. now he wasn't on air, of course, from july 2023 onwards — he took medical leave for reasons people will know. however, this additional £a0,000, it wasn't a raise that he got while he was away from the bbc. the bbc have said it was for work, extra hours, additional responsibilities that he took on while he was still here. so you imagine that's probably because he was leading the corporation's coverage

of the coronation, and that's where that money came from. there are also people who aren't on those lists, and people will think, "why are they not on there?" you know, we see them all the time on the bbc — on the light entertainment shows, the chat shows — and that's because they are paid either through bbc studios, which is the commercial arm of the bbc, or independent production companies, and it's very likely that some of them will be paid a lot more than gary lineker, so they in fact will be the bbc�*s top earners. charlotte gallagher. time to take a quick look at some of the front pages from tomorrow's papers. kamala harris is on some of them. let's ta ke let's take a look. the guardian breaks down her first rally as democratic nominee in wisconsin — where she assured voters, "we will win the election". the i is leading with "the uk has three years to get ready for war", referencing the new head of the army general sir roland walker's warning against a range of threats in what he called an "increasingly volatile" world.

the times also covers his three—year warning but leads with the report written by a labour health adviser, alan milburn, saying that "long term sick should be forced to work". the telegraph has gp industrial action and the provisional olympics ban for equestrian charlotte dujardin over horse welfare on its front page. the daily mail focuses on the extremist preacher anjem choudary, who has been found guilty of directing a terrorist organisation. the metro leads on that apology by the bbc�*s director general tim davie — after complaints of abusive behaviour on the programme strictly come dancing. the daily express also leading on the strictly allegations — with bbc chief ”very sorry' for bullying scandal". don't forget — you can get a full review of the papers when you wake

up in the morning on the bbc news website and app. time for a look at the weather with ben rich. hello. there is nothing too drastic or dramatic coming up weather—wise over the next few days. that said, it will be a somewhat mixed affair. some sunshine through the day on wednesday, equally a little bit of showery rain. what we've got is this big area of high pressure, the azores high, just trying to extend its influence towards the uk. however, we also have this frontal system pushing in from the west. so what that means is a lot of dry weather to start the day on wednesday, with some spells of sunshine, but with that weak frontal system pushing in, we'll see increasing amounts of cloud and some outbreaks of showery rain for northern ireland, parts of western scotland, wales, the south—west of england — and even further east, where we hold on to some sunny spells — we will see one or two sharp showers breaking out, but it will feel pretty warm in eastern and particularly south—eastern parts, 25 or 26 degrees. not quite as warm further west with the extra cloud, the showery rain.

and as we head through wednesday night, we'll see increasingly cloudy conditions. it will be quite murky and a little bit damp and drizzly in places as we import some more humid air. so temperatures on thursday morning generally starting the day between 13 and 16 degrees. pretty muggy start to the day, and a really complex weather chart with several different frontal systems in play across the uk. what that will mean is a lot of cloud, some outbreaks of rain, one clump of potentially heavy rain pushing across southern counties of england and the channel islands. elsewhere, we'll see some bits and pieces of showery rain across parts of northern ireland, western scotland, in between one or two glimmers of sunshine and temperatures between 16 and 22 degrees. now, as we head into friday, actually, it's not a bad looking day, we'll see some spells of sunshine. the chance for one or two showers, particularly across scotland and northern ireland — not as many showers for england and wales — and in the sunshine it is going to feel warm.

the sun is strong at this time of year, temperatures easily getting up into the 20s. a little bit cooler further north and west with more cloud and with those showers. and then as we head towards the weekend, it's a familiar story, really, this area of high pressure, the azores high, still trying to exert its influence, but not strong enough to fend off all the frontal systems. so there will be some showery rain at times, particularly towards the north and the west of the uk, drier and turning warmer further south and east. welcome to hardtalk. i'm stephen sackur. london is a melting—pot city. you see it on the streets, you see it in the restaurants. there is an almost overwhelming variety of international cuisine on offer here. the brits have a particularly ardent and long love affair with south asian food, and my guest today is the renowned

indian—born chef asma khan, who is also a pioneer. she created the first all—female, high—end indian restaurant in the world. she says she was born to set the world on fire. how does that work in a professional kitchen? asma khan, welcome to hardtalk. thank you very much. well, it is a great pleasure to be in your restaurant. i just wonder if the young asma, say, teenage asma, could see you now — with your own restaurant, a bit of a food guru in the united kingdom, a social activist as well — would she believe it could be possible?

no, because the way that girls were brought up