live now to our political correspondent peter saull.s through what the british government has been saying about why it decided to launch these attacks inside yemen? the about why it decided to launch these attacks inside yemen?— attacks inside yemen? the rhetoric has been getting — attacks inside yemen? the rhetoric has been getting stronger - attacks inside yemen? the rhetoric has been getting stronger in - attacks inside yemen? the rhetoric has been getting stronger in recentj has been getting stronger in recent days. the defence secretary grant shapps said, watch this space, a couple of days ago, about this growing concern about attacks on ships in the red sea. and now alongside american allies, they have decided to take this action. there was a hastily convened cabinet called last night. the leader of the opposition, keir starmer, was invited too, as was the speaker of the house of commons. together, they were briefed on what the government was intending to do. it has in a way, is a bit of a bolt from the blue. it was not something

that was our political correspondent peter saull in westminster.to ukraine to meet volodymyr zelensky. his visit coincides with an announcement that britain will give ukraine more than $3 billion in military support for the next financial year. it's the largest annual commitment the uk has made to ukraine since russia's invasion nearly three years ago. mr sunak is also expected to sign a new agreement which will commit britain to supporting ukraine's long term security. officials said the package would be focused on providing long range missiles, air defence and artillery shells. the inquiry into the horizon it scandal has today turned its attention to the failure by the post office to hand over documents to the inquiry team on time. hundreds of sub—postmasters were convicted after the faulty software made it look as if money had been missing. on thursday, the inquiry heard from a post office investigator accused of intimidating and mistreating sub—postmasters. ben king reports. this inquiry has been going on for more than three years, but there ha

peter saull, bbc news. around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news.n on the ashdown forest and immediately we spot a herd of fallow deer. stalker charlie harwood has a hugejob on his hands trying to reduce the numbers of the animals, which he says have now reached unprecedented levels. we're estimated to have around 14.2 deer per square kilometre around the ashdown forest. in comparison to where we want to end up, scotland have suggested that five is a healthy number to be around. but shooting the animals is very controversial and some see culling as a cruel and ineffective way of controlling numbers. the ashdown forest's own countryside manager agrees a dramatic increase in the deer population is affecting native wildlife and says numbers need to be sustainably managed. for more stories, head to the bbc news website. hello again. you're live with bbc news. it has had to australia. the country is considering setting up country is considering setting up a disaster relief force. that is to help relieve a military overstretched by regular natural disaste

peter saull, bbc news. five people have died while trying to cross the english channel, in what are the first recorded fatalities of the year. the major incident happened in the early hours this morning as dozens of migrants tried to board a small boat in the waters near the seaside town of wimereux in northern france. 72 people, including ten children, were rescued from the beach and one person was taken to hospital. the former prime minister theresa may, who awarded paula vennells a cbe in 2019 for services to the post office, has said it's right that it was handed back. it comes as there are growing questions over why the honour was given in the first place, despite reports today that concerns were raised during the vetting process. our business correspondent marc ashdown is here. to give you the nuts and bolts of how the new year's honours system works, people are nominated from all walks of life, it is then vetted, it goes to the pm and the monarch bestows the honour. paula vennells received her cbe in

peter saull bbc news.ed for prostate cancer and that his prognosis is excellent. but the white house says they didn't know about his diagnosis until today. they also say they did not know he was under general anaesthesia during his surgery in december. it's also emerged that the pentagon didn't notify the white house or austin's deputy until three days after he had been hospitalized. the delays and apparent secrecy over his healthcare treatment has sparked a political row in recent days. this is what the pentagon's press secretary had to say on the issue. we are going to try and provide you with the most information we have as quickly as we have it. recognising that as i say that, we could have done a betterjob last that, we could have done a better job last week. that, we could have done a betterjob last week. again, we have this information out from these medical professionals and i think it will go a long way in terms of helping to understand the situation and what needs to be done going forward. live n

peter saull, bbc news. from the prime minister shortly, there will be a news conference at downing street around 10:15am and he is expected to speak and take questions from reporters. we will bring that to you when it happens. pakistan has confirmed it carried out missile strikes inside iran targeting militants of pakistani origin. earlier, iranian media reported that several missiles had hit a village on the iran—pakistan border — in the sistan—balochistan province. a number of people are reported to have been injured. it comes two days after iran conducted strikes inside pakistani territory — saying it was targeting anti—iran groups. pakistan's ministry of foreign affairs issused a statement about its military action inside iran. it says it used specifically targeted precision strikes, against pakistani terrorists, who have based themselves in ungoverned spaces inside iran. it says it had shared evidence of their activities — but no action was taken — and says pakistan acted now because it had credible in

peter saull, bbc news. the occupied west bank were palestinian civilians who posed no threat to israeli forces, witnesses have told the bbc. violence in the territory has been rising. the un says more than 300 palestinians have been killed by the israeli army in the west bank since the hamas attacks in october. our middle east correspondent lucy williamson has been to investigate the killing of the four brothers, which happened hours after a 19—year—old israeli officer was killed during clashes with palestinian groups in jenin. gunshots, sirens the war is in gaza, but it's hard to miss the warnings coming from west bank cities likejenin. since the hamas attacks, the israeli army has come intojenin again and again and again, determined to root out hamas and its sympathisers. jenin armed groups here, determined to resist. those armed groups proudly claim any members killed in israeli operations as martyrs for their cause. none have claimed the four darweesh brothers, killed in an israeli air strike ten days a

live now to our political correspondent peter saull.onservatives, isn't it? yes. conservatives, isn't it? yes, potentially. _ conservatives, isn't it? yes, potentially, or— conservatives, isn't it? yes, potentially, or the _ conservatives, isn't it? yes, potentially, or the richard i conservatives, isn't it? yes, i potentially, or the richard tice were saying then, still, i wrote for reform is not necessarily a vote for the labour government. we kept using this phrase starmergeddon, referring to what is going to happen, richard tice, the leader of the reform party and the liberal democrats want an election sooner rather than later, a fact sir ed davey was also saying, he was going to take on legislation in the house of commons later on that would bring back the fixed terms parliament act, from when the lib dems were in coalition with the conservatives, then repealed by borisjohnson, but that legislation boris johnson, but that legislation would have meant that the election would have meant that the election would have meant that the ele

our political correspondent peter saull reports.he right 320, the noes to the left, 276. a government victory, in the end by a relatively comfortable margin. but at times this was in doubt. 61 conservative mps tried but failed to change the legislation, including the former home secretary. this bill needs to work. it is our last chance. if we get it wrong, the british people will not forgive us and they would be right to do so. most of her colleagues fell back into line, but she was one of 11 conservatives to rebel in the main vote. and this is what the latest tory row is all about — a plan to dissuade people from getting in boats by saying, "if you come to the uk like this, we'll send you here to rwanda, where you'll have your asylum claim processed and you can stay." but the scheme has been beset by problems. borisjohnson was prime minister when the idea was first mooted nearly two years ago. the first flight was blocked by the european court of human rights a few months later, and then, after a series of legal battles, the uk sup

our political correspondent peter saull told me what the arguments were among the ii mps who voted againstthey don't think this bill is going to work in its stated aim of stopping the boats, of deterring people from crossing the english channel. and because they believe that this rwanda policy is the best and only deterrent, really, that ultimately when people arrive on uk shores, they will be deported to rwanda. now, there were various different amendments that were voted on over the past 48 hours or so. we heard reference to them in chris's piece there. one, for example, blocking the idea of pyjama injunctions, last—minute interventions from the european court of human rights, stopping flights from taking off to rwanda. 61 tory mps backed that amendment, so that's a significant number of tory backbenchers. ultimately, though, the vast majority of them rowed back into line and when it came to the main vote at the end, the third reading vote, as it's known, just 11 conservative rebels. some pretty big names in there — the former home secretary, suella braverman, a former immigration minist

peter saull, bbc news.ay on bbc news. around the world and across the uk. this is bbc news. new figures show retail sales increased byjust i.7% across the uk in december — significantly lower than the 6.9% rise in 2022. the british retail consortium says shoppers held back on their festive spending due to a lack of confidence in the economy. the group warned shoppers and retailers they of a "challenging" year ahead. the insurance firm admiral says pothole—related claims soared last year. they said customers made a0 per cent more claims for pothole damage in 2023, at an average cost of over £3,000 per claim. higher—tech vehicles and a general rise in the price of repairs is thought to be behind the spike. a double—decker bus in kirkcaldy lost control yersterday after it hit freezing rain, crashing into parked cars, before skidding into a garden wall. it had been on its way to a local primary school. luckily no passengers were onboard and no one was injured. an amber health alert has been issued for much of e

peter saull, bbc news. around the world that across the uk, this is bbc news.tail sales increased byjust i.7% across the uk in december — significantly lower than the 6.9% rise in 2022. the british retail consortium says shoppers held back on their festive spending due to a lack of confidence in the economy. the group warned shoppers and retailers they of a "challenging" year ahead. the insurance firm admiral says pothole—related claims soared last year. they said customers made 40% more claims for pothole damage in 2023, at an average cost of over £3,000 per claim. higher—tech vehicles and a general rise in the price of repairs is thought to be behind the spike. as a cold spell hits much of the uk, a double—decker bus in kirkcaldy lost control yersterday after it hit freezing rain, crashing into parked cars, before skidding into a garden wall and finally coming to a stop. it had been on its way to a local primary school. luckily, no passengers were onboard and no one was injured. you're live with bbc news. south korea's parliament has voted to ban the killing

let's get more on this with our political correspondent, peter saull.course, but there's the potential that the post office is liable for a tax bill of up to £100 million. this is according to tax experts, because what they've been doing is deducting the compensation payments that they've handed out to sub—postmasters and mistresses from their profits, which lawyers reckon is against tax law. so a huge potential sum there that they could be liable for. the post office is owned by the government, so it's potentially the taxpayer that is liable to deal with that shortfall. equally, lots of talk about accountability for those responsible for the horizon scandal. the minister responsible for postal affairs, kevin hollinrake, has said for the first time that he thinks those responsible should be ultimately sent to prison. no prospect of criminal prosecutions quite yet. the public inquiry into the scandal is still ongoing. kevin hollinrake also indicating quite strongly that the government is going to make some changes to the way that organisations like the p

live now to our political correspondent in westminster, peter saull.s a message that the what they have been doing attacking ships in the red sea is unacceptable. they have also published a summary of the legal advice they have received, and they believe they are acting within international law, because it is happening in defence of the ships. there was an economic consideration in all of this and it is an ongoing want to because it is such an important route through the red sea and a lot of ships are now having to go around the whole continent of africa, which is costing them somewhere in the region of $1 million perjourney, and extra fuel costs, which may well then be passed onto consumers in the shops here in the uk, inflation is a major political issue, so lots of reasons why the government would want to get on top of this, but whenever you intervene militarily and overseas, it is a risk. it is a risk politically, because if you do it without the approval of parliament, you have mps without the approval of parliament, you have mstumping up and down

peter saull, bbc news.ore on this now from our chief political correspondent, henry zeffman. morning to you. i suppose the question is now quite simple, the answers may be not so simple. will the flight happen?— the flight happen? look at was a trium - h the flight happen? look at was a triumph for _ the flight happen? look at was a triumph for rishi _ the flight happen? look at was a triumph for rishi sunak, - the flight happen? look at was a triumph for rishi sunak, that - the flight happen? look at was a triumph for rishi sunak, that is i the flight happen? look at was a i triumph for rishi sunak, that is the truth of it. for the second parliamentary stage in a row, all this sound and fury from tory rebels, i'm not even sure that is the right word at this point. rishi sunak�*s version of this legislation has passed through the house of commons without a single word, comma, apostrophe altered article. interestingly the house of lords have concerns on the other side of the argument. they are not going to s

live now to our political correspondent in westminster, peter saull.xt is where you are. tell me about how this is going down in westminster.— how this is going down in westminster. ~ , , ., , westminster. ministers have been thinkin: westminster. ministers have been thinking about _ westminster. ministers have been thinking about air _ westminster. ministers have been thinking about air strikes - westminster. ministers have been thinking about air strikes on - thinking about air strikes on houthis for some time, it has been talked about within government since before christmas but it all came to a head last night when the americans decided they wanted to carry out these air strikes, the uk government wanted to go with them so there was a hastily convened call of cabinet ministers, the leader of the main opposition party, sir keir starmer, he was invited to a call, as well. they have now gone ahead with it. this morning, as well, we have had publication of legal summary and advice to the government as to why it believes this action is justified under i

here's our political correspondent, peter saull. sub—postmaster, so i'm locked in and everyone else is locked out. so if you want to see my account... this is a scandal going back decades, and now a tv drama watched by millions has pushed it to the top of the political agenda. i know it's probably me because i'm really rubbish with technology, but...|'ve declared my cash, i've declared my stock, i've done it all three times and i still can't get it to balance. mr bates vs the post office tells the real—life story of sub—postmasters and mistresses wrongly accused of stealing because of a dodgy computer programme. so on one hand, you had the post office saying that you're the only one, it must be you. and, obviously, people in the community then start to believe what they're being told by the post office. and that's really difficult, actually — is people... there was a trusted brand — the most trusted brand — now, obviously, that brand i think�*s destroyed. the huge miscarriage ofjustice has been discussed many times before in parliam

our political correspondent peter saull recaps the day's events.n in the year. it certainly feels like an election year. please welcome keir starmer. he hopes to become prime minister in 2024, so no surprised he has his sleeves at least partially rolled up. it is what we have been waiting for, preparing for, fighting for. a year of choice, a chance to change britain, a clock that is ticking on this government. there was an acknowledgement that voters had become weary of politics. you are right to be anti—westminster. angry about what politics has become. but hold on to the flickering hope in your heart that things can be better. that message of project hope is designed to persuade you to put a cross in a box and he attempted to counter the argument, including from some within his own party, that his parties are unambitious. why labour? because we serve your interests. why labour? because we will grow every corner of our country. why labour? because we have a plan to take back our streets, switch on great british energy, get the nhs back on its feet

with more on this let's speak to our political correspondent peter saull. that the post office is liable for a bill for £100 million, according to a tax expert, because what they have been doing is deducting the compensation payments handed out to people from their profits, so a huge potential sum there that they could be liable for. the post office macro is —— the post office is owned by the government was —— the minister kevin hollinrake has said those responsible should be ultimately sent to prison, no prospect of criminal prosecutions quite yet, the public inquiry of the scandal is still ongoing, kevin hollinrake indicating the government is going to make changes to the way organisations like the post office can bring about private prosecutions for the vast majority of those branch managers who were wrongly convicted had done so under private prosecutions from the post office who are saying thejustice secretary is looking at that in the round, he said in the future there was a chance in hell that the post office would be able to bring about private pros

with more on this let's speak to our political correspondent peter saull.oday. yes, that i watering tax bill _ latest lines today. yes, that i watering tax bill will - latest lines today. yes, that i watering tax bill will no - latest lines today. yes, that i | watering tax bill will no doubt latest lines today. yes, that i - watering tax bill will no doubt get a lot of attention this morning, you can read more about it on the bbc news website. but more law —— lots more to talk about. last night, the minister responsible for postal affairs, kevin hollinrake, he was asked about the prospect of criminal prosecutions against those responsible for the scandal, he said ultimately he would like those to be held to account and that might includejail time for senior held to account and that might include jail time for senior post office managers, i think that is the furthest that any minister has gone in that regard, and i think there is any prospect of any criminal prosecutions until after the public inquiry into the scandal has concluded, it is due to carry on ca

peter saull, bbc news. speak now to our chief political correspondent henry zeffman. this is likely to dominate events in westminster today. henry is there live. we know that paula vennells is handing back her cbe but talking to victims here on the sofa this week they are adamant that this is not just about her, they say that accountability has to go much wider, much further than her. i accountability has to go much wider, much further than her.— much further than her. i think that is riaht, much further than her. i think that is right. jon. _ much further than her. i think that is right. jon. and _ much further than her. i think that is right, jon, and i— much further than her. i think that is right, jon, and i think— much further than her. i think that is right, jon, and i think that's - is right, jon, and i think that's where the conversation in westminster is going as well. let's just take a step back and think about what has happened in just a few short days this week. this is a scandal that has been r

we're joined now by our political correspondent peter saull. peter, what has the minister said?, but on that it seems the changes coming.— the changes coming. the inquiry is all about learning _ the changes coming. the inquiry is all about learning lessons, - the changes coming. the inquiry is all about learning lessons, and i the changes coming. the inquiry isi all about learning lessons, and the tuc is asking questions about what lessons have been learnt more currently really.— lessons have been learnt more currently really. yes, this is to do with legislation _ currently really. yes, this is to do with legislation passed _ currently really. yes, this is to do with legislation passed last i currently really. yes, this is to do with legislation passed last year i with legislation passed last year designed to improve transparency around the government, other public organisations, and private companies. what the tuc was talking about when this legislation was going through parliament last year was the fact that private companies could be subject to freedom of frate —— freedom of