tv BBC News at Ten BBC News April 25, 2017 10:00pm-10:31pm BST
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tonight at ten: labour sets out its strategy for negotiating britain's exit from the european union. it leaves open the possibility of going back to the negotiating table, if the brexit deal is rejected by parliament. and in a major policy move the party makes a stand on the rights of eu nationals in the uk after brexit. on day one of a labour government, we will immediately guarantee that all eu nationals currently living in the uk will see no change in their legal status as a result of brexit. day one — big commitment. but theresa may, campaigning in the traditional labour heartland of south wales, said there was only one option for a strong approach to brexit. we wa nt we want to get votes and support here in wales, because that will strengthen my hand in the brexit negotiations. we'll be reporting on the day's campaigning and we'll be exploring the policy initiatives announced by labour. also tonight... a special report from lebanon
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on the illegal trade in human organs and the syrian refugees who are the main victims. in berlin ivanka trump takes to the international stage and defends herfather‘s record on upholding women's rights. a decade after the disappearance of madeleine mccann police say there are still significant avenues of investigation. and we talk to british fighter anthonyjoshua ahead of one of the biggest boxing bouts of recent years this weekend. in sportsday on bbc news: can chelsea put seven points between them and the rest in the premier league? a win at stamford bridge over southampton tonight would do it. good evening.
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labour has taken steps today to spell out its approach to the brexit process if it wins the election. the shadow brexit secretary sir keir starmer said a labour government would. it would retain the option of remaining in the eu customs union subject to some reforms. and eu nationals would still be allowed to move to the uk if they had a guaranteed job offer. it's being presented as a significant clarification of labour's policy, as our deputy political editor john pienaar reports. this is where the election‘s being decided, not in political meetings, but on the streets, in the homes and in the heads of voters. we're choosing a path for britain after brexit, and on this nation—dividing issue, labour's taking a gamble that will win some voters and maybe lose a lot of others. here in barking, in a lot of places where people voted labour and then chose to leave the eu.
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today labour's out to show it's more pro—europe, more open to compromise than theresa may's tories from the start. eu nationals here would keep their rights, no ifs, no buts. on day one of a labour government, we will immediately guarantee that all eu nationals, currently living in the uk, will see no change in their legal status as a result of brexit. day one, big commitment. after brexit, old rights of free movement across the uk border had to change, but then, more clarity on labour policy — get a job offer he told me and you're free to come in. freedom of movement has to go. therefore it will have to change. we must have immigration that works for our communities and for our economy. that means that there has to be movement of people to come and work in this country. how that's managed will have to be resolved. but the last thing we want is for our businesses to go bankrupt. then he poured cold water
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on the leavers‘ dream of using new freedoms outside the customs union to conquer markets beyond europe. i think it's worth keeping the customs union option on the table and seeing where we are in two years. but we have to focus on the eu trade agreement. that's 44% of our trade and make sure that is our priority. and not hypothetical free trade deals elsewhere in the world? the idea of hypothetical free trade agreements in april 2019 compensating for losing the eu is something nobody‘s contemplating. that's why we have to concentrate on the eu trade agreement. until now, labour and the tories have been sounding more alike over brexit than either side has been prepared to admit. now labour is showing more of its pro—european colours. the party needs to motivate its activists and loyal supporters. around here and in places like this, it's a gamble. for many people, europe is a gut issue. there's enough in this small island that otherwise we're going — it's going to be like a ship,
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we're going to sink. no need to let the europeans in to do those jobs? no, i don't think so. do you agree with that? iagree. why is that? no british can get a job. all the foreigners and other people coming in they're taking them. labour says if you're a european and you've got a job, you're welcome. are people welcome in that way? as long as they've got a job to come to. as long as that is documented and it's notjust a slip in, then yeah, i have no problem with that. now it's about which side can convince the voters. what do the others make of labour policy? not much. this is the first time that we've heard this clarity on free movement. unfortunately for both jeremy corbyn and keir starmer, many on the labour frontbench don't agree with him. you've got to feel sorry for him in one sense. he's trying to put a united front on a party, which is absolutely split down the middle on this issue as on so many others. it amounts to something
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which is too little, too late and too muddled. i'm still not clear whether labour believes we should be in or out of the single market. they say they now don't agree with the government's negotiating strategy, yet they fatefully voted for it in the house of commons. labour's struggle to sell a clear policy line. but now it's campaign time and the task is to get people to like what's on offer, assuming they can get the voters‘ attention. john piennar, bbc news, barking. theresa may has taken her conservative campaign to the heart of south wales one of labour's traditional strongholds and she's urged voters to drop what she calls the tribal politics of the past. the first minister of wales carwyn jones admitted today that labour had a mountain to climb before polling day and he urged the party leader jeremy corbyn to produce a labour manifesto with the widest possible appeal. our political editor laura kuenssberg reports. if the tories want headlines about a new iron lady... they're not very subtle about it.
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theresa may came to inspect the stea m theresa may came to inspect the steam and sparks in newport. must be doing something right shejoked. she needs to to achieve a big if, turn wales into tory territory. it's audacious to pop up in rock solid labour land at the start. she was only with activists, with friends, but her appeal is to you. give mea give me a mandate to lead britain. give me a mandate to speak for britain. to fight for britain and give me a mandate to deliverfor britain. she would not be drawn, again, on whether she'll raise or lower taxes. how far are you willing to go to grab seats in parts of the country that, until now, have been labour heartlands? so, i will be out and about around the country in all sorts of areas, all parts of the country, taking this message — a vote for me and for the local conservative candidate is
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a vote to strengthen our hand in the brexit negotiations. really? from coast to coast? taking places like porthcawl would mean taking lifelong labour voters, like brian and ira who have almost decided to do it. first time ever, if i do. because the valleys are labour. wales, labour's strong hold. i'm on the border really. i voted for out in the referendum. so, i don't know whether to vote labour or conservative this time. my father would spin in his grave. i'm a typical labour voter, but whether i'll be voting labour this year, because i've got no confidence in corbyn. but there again, i don't think i'll be voting for conservative. i've put the same effort and thought in the way i voted as last time. will you tell me how you voted last time. i voted labour last time. what about father and son, the edwards? he's
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been labour all his life. i think he swung been labour all his life. i think he swui'ig i'iow been labour all his life. i think he swung now to theresa may now. definitely. she's absolutely wonderful. mr corbyn, bye—bye. definitely. she's absolutely wonderful. mr corbyn, bye-bye. here, labour's in charge in cardiff. but even their leader at mittsjeremy corbyn has some —— admitsjeremy corbyn has some —— admitsjeremy corbyn has some way to go. to prove himself as a leader and as somebody who could be labour's candidate for prime minister. we have some weeks to go before the poll itself. but thatis to go before the poll itself. but that is the challenge. even from the start of theircampaign, that is the challenge. even from the start of their campaign, plaid cymru won't hesitate to stir up old memories. if people are considering voting conservative, then i would ask them to remember the past, the tories have been no friends to wales. we're not rolling over for any tory to take our seat. so we are here. we're going to be out in force. it's early days, but any day on the campaign trail is precious. leaders only turn up to places where
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they think they're in the game. with possible gains in wales and in scotla nd possible gains in wales and in scotland too, theresa may's notjust contemplating a tory majority, but hoping to make true her claim there are no tory no—go areas. brexit might have redrawn the map, but she wa nts to might have redrawn the map, but she wants to colour it blue. yet as she swept away, reminders for theresa may, it won't be easy. here or anywhere else, the tories can't be sure they'll always be welcomement —— welcome. our political editor laura kuenssberg is here. ona key on a key issue like brexit, are we seeing, between remember and the conservatives at least, a much greater distinction in this policy area? that's what labour hoped to achieve today. the tories know. it's clear talking to voters in that area of south wales today, that the tories are competitive in parts of the country like that. one of the reasons for that is because of
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brexit, because this has been such a conundrum for labour. remember, most of their mps were on the remain side. their leader, lukewarm about the whole thing. millions of their voters wanted out. what they have to do at the start of the campaign is try to solve that headache. today they went some way towards doing that. there was a very clear guarantee for eu nationals who've come to live in this country. they we re come to live in this country. they were clearer on freedom of movement. but one of the problems i think they still have is it is a deliberate pa rt still have is it is a deliberate part of their approach to leave some options on the table. that may be sensible. that may well appeal to lots and lots of voters, but by leaving some options on the table, like potentially some form of continued membership of the single market in one form or other, that still leaves them open to accusations from their political rivals that they're somehow kind of fudging the issue, they somehow aren't clear and to boot, that they don't quite agree amongst themselves. so i think they've got
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some distance down to provide a dividing line between the labour and tea party on their —— tory party on their approach on brexit. it is worth noting today, it's been labour that's the party that's putting policy and putting ideas forward at this part of the campaign with the tories for now, content to hang back and let labour, to some extent, try to contend with areas that are politically difficult for them. but the tories know also, that can't last. at some point they're going to have put some meat on the bones. laura, thanks very much. and you can find out more about where the parties stand on the brexit process — on our website. the liberal democrat leader tim farron has sought to clarify his attitude to gay sex following claims that he'd avoided giving a clear answer. mr farron, a practising christian, said today that he did not
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believe that gay sex was a sin, and he didn't want his religious beliefs to be a talking point during the election campaign. he spoke to our political correspondent eleanor garnier. it's fair to say, i've answered the question. it's a subject he's been asked about again... you won't say whether you think having gay sex is a sin. ...and again... does the honourable member think that being gay is a sin? ...and again... you said homosexuality not a sin. they say you didn't answer when they asked you whether gay sex was a sin. oh, come on robert. while he said being gay is fine. until today, the lib dem leader, a committed christian, has refused to answer this question: i don't believe gay sex is a sin. i take the view that as a political leader, though, myjob is not to pontificate on theological matters. this has become a talking point, an issue. in that case, if people have got the wrong opinion of what i think about on these issues, that's something it's right you correct.
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it's taken him almost two years, since becoming the leader of the lib dems, to clarify his position. but the pressure's increased since the election was called. so what's changed in the last 48 hours that you are now able to say you don't think gay sex is a sin, yet for the last two years, you have very blatantly swerved the question? i'm quite careful about how i talk about my faith. i don't bang on about it. i don't make a secret of it either. so, you were either misleading people before or you're misleading people now, which is it? so the answer to that is that i was asked the question early on, and i didn't want to get into a series of questions unpicking the theology of the bible. isn't itjust your christian belief and you didn't want to admit it? no, that's not the case. what i want is to make sure that we deal with something that's become an issue. so this is blatant electioneering?
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it's a sense of understanding, you know, the question was asked of me a week ago. i don't think people want political party leaders telling them what is and isn't sin. mr farron insisted the lib dems had undoubtedly the best record on gay rights out of all political parties. but it's clear the issue and the questions around it have troubled him personally and politically too. eleanor garnier, bbc news, westminster. the middle east is now considered the global hub for the trafficking of human organs, according to aid agencies. the flow of refugees from syria into neighbouring countries has created new opportunities to exploit deperate and vulnerable people. traffickers linked to the illegal trade in human organs are increasingly active throughout the region, so our correspondent, alex forsyth, went to investigate the buyers and sellers in lebanon. a warning that her report contains some distressing images. shut away in the back room
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of a make—shift coffee shop, a teenage boy lies in pain. "slowly, slowly", he says. he can barely move. he'sjust sold his kidney. translation: i am constantly taking painkillers. the pain is terrible. i'm exhausted. he's a refugee who fled syria when his brothers and father were killed there. at 17, he supports his mother and five sisters. desperate for money, he sought a dealer in human organs. translation: i met him at night, he blindfolded me with a bandage, i was so scared. i got paid £6,500, i've already spent most of the money paying the rent and clearing my debt.
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in lebanon, syrian refugees face heavy work restrictions, aid is limited and stretched. for some, like this man, there's opportunity in the poverty. he arranges organ sales and agreed to talk to us if he remains anonymous. translation: i exploit people, that's what i do. some of my clients would have died anyway, just like this boy. he could have died in syria. i'm exploiting him, but he's benefitting. i know what i'm doing is illegal, but i'm helping people. that's how i see it. working on commission, he's a middle man, brazenly armed. he finds refugees and takes them to clinics. in the past three years, he's organised around 30 kidney sales. business, he says, is booming. translation: i was once asked to get an eye, and i found a client who was willing to sell his eye.
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do you not care about these people? do you not care that they might die? i don't really care if the client dies as long as i got what i wanted. that's not my problem what happens next, as long as the client gets paid. organs are hard to transport, but we're told they can be exported to buyers around the world. all refugees are flown to nearby countries, like egypt, on fake papers to have surgery there. the middle east is becoming a hotspot in the international organ trade. according to some experts, who say the influx of refugees willing to go to extreme lengths to get money is providing a new market for brokers looking for body parts to buy, shifting the focus from china and the philippines to this region. in lebanon, lawful transplants are governed by strict rules, but despite efforts there's a lack of available organs.
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religious and cultural sensitivity around donating fuels the shortage. but legitimate surgeons warn there's untold danger in illegal operations. foreigners who travelled and they obtained organs, they came with much more problems. they came with bad organs, without being masked, they acquired infections, tuberculosis, hiv and so on because those operations to start with were done in very poor circumstances. but for those already caught in this trade, the warnings come too late. translation: i already regret it, but what can i do? i didn't want to do this, but i'm desperate. i had no other choice. authorities insist cases like this are rare and they're taking action. the true scale simply isn't known, but the consequences of choices driven by desperation are all too clear. alex forsyth, bbc news, beirut. government borrowing has fallen to its lowest
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level in nearly a decade. the office for national statistics says the figure — which excludes the amount borrowed by publicly—owned banks — was £52 billion in the year to march, which is £20 billion lower than in the previous 12 months. nestle says it's cutting 275jobs in the uk as part of a plan to move production of its blue riband biscuit to poland. the losses will mainly affect sites in york and newcastle. the company said a "rapidly—changing external environment" had led to the decision, but denied it was linked to brexit. president trump has indicated he's willing to delay trying to secure federal funds to build his so—called ‘great wall‘ along part of the us border with mexico. the president has until the end of the week to agree federal spending plans with congress or risk marking his 100th day in office with a government shutdown. our north america editor, jon sopel, has more details. reporter: mr president,
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are you going to insist on border funding? donald trump made his fortune as a builder, now the president is staking a huge amount of political capital on the most controversial construction project of his life. a 2,000 mile long wall to separate the us from its southern neighbour mexico. no—one can say it‘s come out of the blue. it was almost his campaign theme tune. we‘re going to do the wall and, by the way, who‘s going to pay for the wall? mexico! who is going to pay for the wall? mexico! who? mexico! but the mexicans have been blunt in their response. we‘re not paying a peso towards it, something the economy minister spelt out today to the bbc. if they decide to do it, it‘s in their own sovereign right. the only thing that is clear is that there is no way mexico is going to pay for it.
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so donald trump, initially at least, will have to rely on the us taxpayer. busy day. and though there‘s growing acceptance that‘s not going to happen right now, he‘s still talking tough. the wall gets built, 100%. thank you very much. reporter: wait, mr president. when will the wall be built? soon. very soon. we‘re already preparing. we‘re doing plans, we‘re doing specifications. but the government runs out of money this friday and could face another and could face another shut down, like it did four years ago, when thousands of staff were laid off and federal buildings and monuments closed. democrats will agree to an emergency funding package, but only if the white house removes the proposed expenditure on the wall. although republicans do have a majority in the senate, it‘s slim and to get this measure passed, you need what‘s called a supermajority, 60 votes, and they only have 52. president trump, approaching his 100th day in office, has faced a stark choice — either a government shut down or a personal climb down.
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because in democratic senators, the president has come across a rock solid wall which there is no way round. it‘s been a harsh lesson in the differences between the ease of campaigning and the struggles of governing. it‘s left democrats savouring another victory. it‘s really good news that the president seems to be taking the wall off the table in the negotiations we‘re having on an appropriations bill this week. the white house unveiled a new website today to celebrate the president‘s 100 days. it‘s been high energy and high—tempo. a raft of executive orders and growing economic confidence, but on his three signature policies — the travel ban, health reform and now the border wall, donald trump hasn‘t succeeded in the way that he‘d promised. jon sopel, bbc news, washington. president trump‘s daughter, ivanka, has been meeting the german chancellor, angela merkel, in berlin on her first international trip since being given an official position in the trump
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administration. she‘s recognised as an influential adviser to her father, but there‘s been growing criticism in the us about the nature of her role in the white house. our correspondent, jenny hill, reports from berlin. taking her place among the world‘s most powerful women. the first daughter, rubbing shoulders with a chancellor, a queen and a banker. though, almost immediately, ivanka trump found herself defending a president. the delegates here weren‘t impressed. he‘s been a tremendous champion of supporting families, and enabling them to thrive. and the new reality of... booing you hear the reaction from the audience, so i need to... still, donald trump‘s special adviser persisted. as a daughter, i can speak on a very personal level, knowing that he encouraged me and enabled me to thrive. i grew up in a house where there was no barriers
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to what i could accomplish. and the first daughter has gone on to make powerfulfriends. she‘s accompanied her father to talks with the leaders of canada, japan and germany. her first solo overseas trip was at the direct invitation of the german chancellor. do you consider yourself a feminist? angela merkel‘s official agenda... interesting reaction! . . .empowering women, and charming one in particular. berlin wants, needs, stronger ties to the trump administration. translation: it's the strategy of dialogue, that‘s the most important thing. you can reach trump through his daughter. every woman should do things by her own, and by her own status and by her own positions, and not because of her father's position. what you‘re seeing here may well mark a profound shift in the way that germany, europe, does business with the united states.
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ivanka trump wields significant influence with her father. the relationship that angela merkel and other leaders strike with the first daughter will be closely scrutinised on both sides of the atlantic. expect to see more of the first daughter of the international stage. in the age of trump, it seems, family comes first. jenny hill, bbc news, berlin. the united states has expressed deep concern about turkish air raids against kurdish fighters in syria and iraq. turkey said it was targeting groups linked to the banned pkk and said it had killed 70 militants. the us state department said the raids had not been properly co—ordinated with the coalition that‘s fighting so—called islamic state. the president of france has called for unity in what he said would be a long and difficult fight against terrorism. francois hollande made the remarks at a ceremony to honour
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the policeman shot dead in paris last week. xavierjugele, who was 37, was killed when a gunman opened fire on the champs elysees. british detectives investigating the disappearance of madeleine mccann, a decade ago, say they are still pursuing at least one "significant line of inquiry." a senior officer described it as a critical element with the potential to explain what happened to the three—year—old when she disappeared in the algarve in early may 2007 while on a family holiday. our home affairs correspondent, tom symonds, has the story. ten years, no answers. a desperate search with the media following every step. what happened here, where is madeleine mccann? this is still a missing persons inquiry, despite 2014‘s extensive police searches in portugal, there is no definitive ed she is dead. ——
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definitive ed she is dead. —— definitive evidence she is dead. for six years, with government money, the metropolitan police have been reviewing everything... tonight, scotland yard said it still had critical leads to follow. i know we have a significant line of inquiry which is worth pursuing and, because it‘s worth pursuing, it could provide an answer. but until we‘ve gone through it, i won‘t know whether we‘re going to get there or not. and that‘s all the police are saying. this investigation was once pursued by up to 30 officers, now there are just four on the case and a handful of leads. but while there is still something to investigate, there is still hope. in the last decade suspects have been discounted, including a man seen carrying a child that night. madeleine‘s face has become known across the world, endless possible sightings have been followrd up. the police say while there are leads, they will continue. i so wish i could say we could definitely solve it, but a small number of cases, sadly, don‘t get solved.
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what i‘ve always said on this case, and i‘ve said it to kate and gerry as well, we will do everything reasonably possible to try and find an answer. madeleine‘s parents have described the ten year anniversary as a "horrible marker of stolen time." they‘ve released a statement, promising never to give up. "there have been many challenges and low points along the way", they said, "but the warmth, encouragement and postivity we‘ve experienced from the quiet majority has undoubtedly sustained us and maintained our faith in human goodness." this is how madeleine might have looked as she‘s grown up, her 14th birthday is the week after next. tom symonds, bbc news. there‘ll be two heavyweight boxing titles at stake on saturday in one of the biggest boxing bouts of recent times when britain‘s anthonyjoshua, the olympic champion, takes on ukraine‘s wladimir klitschko at wembley stadium. our sports editor, dan roan, has been watching anthony
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joshua‘s preparations. there‘s some flash photography in his report. final preparations for the fight of his life. regarded as the man heavyweight box‘s been crying out for, anthonyjoshua is on the verge of becoming the sports biggest star. and, having granted us access to his training camp... how are you doing, bro? ..he told me just what it takes to become a champion. i‘ve broken my ribs before, my hand. you know, i‘ve dislocated shoulders and stuff in the gym, but we get it right for the fight. the coach‘s try to reveal your potential and then it becomes a bit of an ordeal because they start pushing you to places that you‘ve never been before. this is a new level, is it, for you? just a whole new level, completely. especially with the type of fight we‘re in as well. joshua has come a long way in a short space of time.
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