tonight at ten — the people of france have chosen their new president, the youngest in the country's history. the youngest in the celebrations in paris tonight, as emmanuel macron, a strong supporter of the european union, wins power at the age of 39, it will be his first experience of elected office. translation: with total devotion, with total determination, i'm going to serve our country. with total determination, i'm going to serve france on your behalf. long live the republic and long live france. it's a night of defeat for the hard right campaign of marine le pen, but she insists her agenda is now in the mainstream of political debate. in the mainstream translation: i will be at the head of a battle to gather together, all those who choose france to protect its independence, its freedom, its prosperity and its security. we'll have reaction from paris and we'll be asking what this result

means for the future of the european union, as the brexit process unfolds. of the european union, and also on tonight's programme: of the european union, labour's tax pledge — if it wins the election it won't raise income tax for anyone earning less than £80,000 a year. the conservatives focus on mental health — promising another 10,000 staff in england if they're re—elected onjune the 8th. in england if they're and a first glimpse of the 82 nigerian schoolgirls, kidnapped three years ago and now free after a prisoner swap. good evening from paris, where emmanuel macron has

scored a notable victory in today's election. he'll take office in a week's time as the youngest president in the history of france, at the age of 39. he has never held elected office before and his independent political movement was formed only a year ago. before and his independent political the margin of victory, after a divisive campaign, was convincing, projected results show centrist macron took 65% of the vote, while the hard—right marine le pen took 34%. while the hard—right the turnout was slightly down on the last presidential contest five years ago. on the last presidential mr macron comes to power at a critical moment not only for france, but also for the european union, as it grapples with many challenges, including the brexit process, in the years ahead. including the brexit process, our first report tonight on the result is by our europe editor katya adler. on the result is by our europe there is some flash photography coming up. young, dynamic and very, very

confident. emmanuel macron, said to be the youngest leader since napoleon took the crowd by storm. in the face of extremism, i know there are disagreements and i will respect this. and i will be faithful to that commitment taken, i will protect the republic. this is an incredible moment. an economic and political world heavyweight comic key eu nation will be presided over by a 39—year—old virtual political new, who has made a lot of big promises. to bring revolution, to change hungry france and the european union. business friendly, yet socially just, neither union. business friendly, yet sociallyjust, neither left nor right wing. sound like a tall order? his delighted supporters have faith.

iam very his delighted supporters have faith. i am very happy because he is a good choice to keep our valour in france. we love europe. i'm very happy about this result. we love europe. he means confidence, he means the future, france is not dead, france is not an old country, dying. france has hope. an old country, dying. but an old country, dying. easy it won't be, this is a divided but easy it won't be, this is a divided country. marine le pen may have lost an eye, but millions voted for her and her far have lost an eye, but millions voted for her and herfar right programme. translation: i propose to transform oui’ translation: i propose to transform our movement into a new political force, for small french people are calling for and which is more necessary than ever before to rebuild our country. i call on all patriots to join us for a decisive, political battle which begins this evening and we continue in the months ahead. far from being

defeatist, her supporters were defiant. you are never happy unless you win, but we have got to look at the good side of this result. we have gathered around us, people from outside the party for the protectionist views we have for the programme of independence put forward. supporters also took to the streets tonight, some in a violent mood. for them, emmanuel macron streets tonight, some in a violent mood. forthem, emmanuel macron is no solution. he is part of the problem, they think, of elitist, big business minded government. but the night, i knew french revolution is promised with a new president from a brand—new party announcing a new dawn for france. for his supporters at least, the three colours of the french flag are notjust at least, the three colours of the french flag are not just about liberty, equality and fraternity, but above all, hope. by any measure, the political rise of emmanuel macron

has been remarkable. rise of emmanuel macron he's a former investment banker, and served as an adviser and later a minister, in the socialist government of francois hollande, the outgoing president. but he resigned last year to form his own centrist political movement, called en marche, or on the move. lucy williamson reports now on the man chosen to be france's new head of state, and asks what kind of president he's likely to be. and asks what kind of president he's he's the choice of a country desperate for change, neither left nor right, part of the french establishment yet never before elected. part of the french establishment yet a fresh face who served in the outgoing government. so, who is emmanuel macron? in the outgoing government. to his supporters he is their emmanuel, their political messiah, a provincial boy from outside the establishment who worked his way to power. the establishment who he's a new man to politics. the establishment who he's trying to find new solutions. the establishment who

he is a new face, he is our hope. the establishment who but he went to france's most prestigious schools, met its most powerful people and made millions in an investment bank. and made millions in a former colleague says that macron‘s rise is partly down to charm but that at heart, he is a secretive man. he is able to tell people what they really want to hear. so a very seducive man and he manages to agree so a very seducive man and he managed to agree with nearly anyone. and he managed to agree that is a talent. and he managed to agree macron‘s wife, brigitte, told one journalist that her husband never let people close. told one journalist that her husband the couple met when she taught him drama at school. their unusual love affair is a sign, says one of macron‘s old friends, of his determination, self—belief and drive. i think the only person who really

knows him inside deeply is brigitte. you have to imagine, he seduced her, he convinced her to marry him, convinced his family. he convinced her to marry him, just imagine, it's not a small thing. france has not opted for the political extremes, the far right rejected in favour of a liberal newcomer with his own promise of change. of a liberal newcomer emmanuel macron has vowed to unite a divided and disillusioned france but his critics say he is the old wine in a shiny new bottle and the price of failure could be high. some say that emmanuel macron has won the presidency by being all things to all people but he won't be able to govern that way. but he won't be able he has five years to solve france's problems or risk it choosing more radical change next time.

problems or risk it choosing more lucy is with me now. he has talked about rebuilding a divisive france after the campaign. for those who voted for him, despite themselves and those who voted for marine le pen, he is aware he won decisively the night with his liberal vision. a third of people voted for the far right. if you think back a couple of weeks to the first round, mr macron was the first choice for less than a quarter of the electorate, so he knows he has a lot of work to do. we have been underlining all day why this result is notjust important for france, but the european union.

it is facing many challenges, not least the brexit process coming up. to what extent will the government of the uk be wanting to talk to him carefully in the months ahead? they will want to talk to him, he will have a big say because he is a com plete have a big say because he is a complete europhile and wants closer cooperation with the european countries and the eu. he said some tough things about brexit, so it remains to be seen if he follows through on them. he really wants to build up the economy of france in that way. so theresa may will want to talk to him very soon. lucy williams, thank you very much. we'll have more from paris a little later and we'll be looking at the campaign promises made by mr macron and asking what he's likely to prioritise when he takes office in a few weeks' time. but now it's back to mishal in london. in election campaigning here, labour has made a pledge on tax, saying that if it wins onjune the 8th, it wont raise income tax for anyone earning less than £80,000 a year.

the shadow chancellor, john mcdonnell, said those earning more than that would be asked to pay "a bit more" to help fund public services. "a bit more" to help the conservatives say they have no plan to raise income tax but have so far refused to completely rule it out. 0ur political correspondent ben wright reports. it was a slogan used by tony blair, now revived by labour's new leadership. by tony blair, now revived setting out what he called a big deal to upgrade the economy, john mcdonnell promised not to raise vat or national insurance for anyone, but said the top 5% of earners would pay more. if labour is elected next month, we will guarantee for the next five years, there will be no income tax rises, for all those earning less than £80,000 a year. rises, for all those earning less labour is now the party of low taxes for middle and lower earners. mr mcdonnell said people earning more than £80,000 a year would pay a modest amount more but the rates and details would have to wait for the manifesto. and details would have the conservatives have promised not to raise vat but have so far made no

matching pledge on national insurance or income tax. today, the tories said labour was going back to the past. this is a clear statement of intent. was going back to the past. they want to raise taxes, they want to penalise business, they want to penalise wealth creation and i think they will end up wrecking the economy as they have done in the past. the total amount of income tax raised in 2016 is just over £169 billion. tax raised in 2016 is the top 5% of uk earners, labour's target group for tax rises, paid just over 47% of that, close to £80 billion. you cannot make a really big change to the amount of money that is available just by focusing on people over 80,000 a year, partly because they already pay an awful lot of tax and a lot more than they did a few years ago, but partly because if you really want significant amounts of money, you have to do something the politicians don't like doing, which is hit the majority of people, which is where vat and the national insurance and a lot of income tax is actually paid. insurance and a lot of income

you are pledging to increase tax on high earners have to pay for public services and borrow billions for infrastructure, but that has been labour's message sincejeremy corbyn became leader. why do you think it can turn things around for labour in the last four weeks of this general election campaign when it seems it has not worked so far? campaign when it seems it i think there is an opportunity now in the general election campaign which we have not had before since jeremy corbyn was elected leader. i think we can turn the polls around and i genuinely think we can secure a majority onjune 8th. and i genuinely think we can secure many of the bankers and financiers who work here would pay more income tax under labour's plan and this is the first general election for many years, when there is a stark choice developing between labour and the conservatives with how the economy should be run and how money should be raised and spent. the conservatives put the focus on mental health today, promising to reform the law to reduce discrimination, and recruit thousands

more staff in england. the health secretary, jeremy hunt, said a "lot of new money" is going into improving england's mental health services under the conservatives, the liberal democrats dismissed today's pledge as "meaningless rhetoric". here's our health editor, hugh pym. "meaningless rhetoric". theresa may has already talked of transforming the way mental health problems are dealt with across society. now there are more details of what she wants to do if she gets back to downing street. of what she wants to do if she gets the conservatives say there are concerns that individuals, including young people, are detained unnecessarily in police cells and secure mental health wards, so the mental health act, which dates back more than 30 years, should be scrapped and replaced. which dates back more than 30 years, if you have a child that has severe mental health problems and you find that child, instead of being treated by the nhs, actually ends up in a police cell, it's a terrible thing for the child, probably make their condition worse,

but it's also very bad for the police as well. but it's also very bad we want to stop that. but it's also very bad but the liberal democrats criticised the conservative government's record on mental health. the conservative government's when i come across families who are waiting desperately for their children to receive the care they need, they feel badly let down by this government. the care they need, they feel badly so for me, it's empty rhetoric at the moment. the conservatives also say they want to increase staffing levels in all areas of mental health care in england, with 10,000 more planned by 2020. care in england, with 10,000 currently, there are 200,000 in a variety of roles, but according to government figures, the number of mental health nurses is down 6,600 since 2010. the number of mental health nurses mental health charities welcome the aims, but are doubtful about what can be delivered. the aims, but are doubtful we've got to resource the front line so that there are enough beds and enough people and we wonder if the 10,000 people promised that will be trained by 2020, will be sufficient to meet such demand. the conservatives acknowledge

funding will come from existing planned nhs budget increases. funding will come from existing labour said the tories hadn't delivered on a promise to give mental health the same priority as physical health and warm words wouldn't help tackle the injustice of unequal treatment. hugh pym, bbc news. of unequal treatment. 82 nigerian schoolgirls, kidnapped by the extremist group boko haram three years ago, met their country's president today after being freed in a prisoner swap. they were among more than 200 girls taken from their school in the town of chibok, at least 100 are still being held. with more details, here's our africa correspondent, alastair leithead. released only a day ago. correspondent, alastair leithead. three years held in the forest by boko haram, here they are in the nigerian capital, meeting the president. campaigners and the families of those held, still don't

know if their daughters are among those freed. or that more than 100 are still being held. whether she is among the ones that's freed or still in captivity, i don't know yet. whether my baby is freed or not, i am very happy. this photograph was the first proof they were free. a helicopter ride to the capital. proof they were free. and once in abuja, they were under the care of nigerian soldiers, taken for a medical checkup. the care of nigerian soldiers, they looked tired and confused by all the attention. some needed treatment. by all the attention. i am very glad and every nigerian today must be forgetting how they were suffering because this is a veryjoyous moment. this boko haram video shows the girls shortly after they were kidnapped in april 2014, they were taken from chibok government girl's secondary school. 2014, they were taken from chibok it sparked international outrage and a global campaign to have them freed.

outrage and a global last october, the first 21 were released, as negotiations finally bore fruit. were released, as negotiations the government says talks will now continue to free the rest. these girls have grown up under boko haram. captives are often forced to marry their captors. emotions will be in turmoil and returning to their families and communities will not be easy. and returning to their families north korea says it has detained an american citizen on suspicion of carrying out what it called "hostile acts". the state news agency said the man had been working for the pyongyang university of science and technology. he's the second american to be detained by north korea in a fortnight. to be detained by north a total of four us nationals are now being held by pyongyang. back to the general election now and the liberal democrats have said today their manifesto will include a commitment to keep the "triple lock" on the state pension, which guarantees it rises by as much

as wages, inflation or 2.5%, whichever is highest. labour has also pledged to retain the triple lock. theresa may has declined to say whether the conservatives would do so. to say whether the each week, the bbc‘s steph mcgovern, and the reality check team, will be looking at some of the key issues facing voters. starting tonight with the state pension, and the triple lock protection, how affordable is it? pension, and the triple lock i'm sure we've all thought of ways to try and make a bit of extra money and make life a bit easier, especially as you're getting older and thinking about retiring. especially as you're getting older it can be tough to save for a private pensions for a lot of people rely on the state one. a private pensions for a lot there are around 13 million people claiming the state pension. it works out at a maximum ofjust over £159 a week and that costs over £90 billion a year, about 12% of the government's total spending. about 12% of the government's so how much it goes up by each year is based on something

called the triple lock. is based on something statisticians will look at how much average earnings have gone up by and how much inflation, the cost of living, has risen as well. the cost of living, if either of them are over 2.5% then they will go with the highest. if they are less than that then they will increase the state pension by 2.5%. then they will increase basically whichever of these three is highest. so this means that even at times when price rises and the increase in the cost of living has been close to zero, the state pension has still been going up by 2.5%. to zero, the state pension has have a look at this graph. to zero, the state pension has since april 2010, the state pension has gone up by 25%, compared with earnings going up by 14% and prices, inflation, by 15%. by 14% and prices, a big difference. by 14% and prices, so, if you're retired or close to retiring then this system is good news for you. to retiring then this system barry, you think you deserve this rise? i do deserve the rise, we need the increase every year.

i am 73 years old and i'm still working. i'm going to let you get back to it. i'm still working. but for george, a different story, because you are a lot younger and you're finding it tough to save for anything. yes, i'm 28 and i've been working since i finished university and i haven't saved much money yet. since i finished university do you think you'll be working a long time before you retire? yeah i feel that retirement is a long way off. it's clear the triple lock system divides the generations. older people are more likely to vote in an election so it is good for harnessing the grey vote but it's stirring up inequalities between the young and old in the future. there's also the question about whether it is sustainable. tom, come with me. about whether it is sustainable. is it sustainable? about whether it is sustainable. no, it's not. about whether it is sustainable. it's already costing the country several billion pounds more to sustain at the moment and the cost is going to go up over the decades to come. and the cost is going to go up over so the next government is going to have to make some pretty tough decisions about how and when it is going to get rid of the triple lock and what it will do instead. i will let you get back to your shopping.

if we don't have that system, what do we do, because people still need money when they retire and it can't be a fixed rate when everything around is changing. and it can't be a fixed rate so, one option is to have a double lock system, get rid of the 2.5% minimum and instead go by either how much earnings are increasing or how much the cost of living is rising. much earnings are increasing or how this is about fairness and sustainability. some organisations think the triple lock system is simply an arbitrary way of setting pension rises and, if things carry on as they are, it's highly likely the age of retirement will have to keep going up. of retirement will have steph mcgovern, bbc news, walton on thames. pa rt news, walton on thames. of a new series we will i running part of a new series we will be running between now and the election. football now and you'll be able to watch highlights of today's premier league and scottish premiership matches in match of the day 2 and sportscene later on.

meanwhile, newcastle have won the championship title after beating barnsley 3—0. the championship title it comes as the 1995 premier league champions blackburn were relegated to the third tier of english football, that's despite beating brentford 3—1. football, that's despite that's it from me in london, now back to huw edwards in paris. so the people of france are taking in the news that they have elected the youngest president in their history, a politician with no background of elected office, he's beaten marine le pen of the front national, who declared tonight that her party was now firmly established as the main party of opposition in france. as the main party of 0ur paris correspondent lucy williamson is with me. i'd lucy williamson is with me. like to talk about what president i'd like to talk about what kind of president mr macron will be. what do you think this presidency will be about? he is young, energetic,

charismatic. he talks about optimism. he talks a lot about breaking the system, renewing the system. i will tell you an anecdote from his time as a state auditor. 0ne from his time as a state auditor. one of his colleagues remembered how he used to leapfrog layers of senior management. he once took his oppose all straight to the lee is a palace. he doesn't like obstacles getting in his way. he has the parliamentary elections next month. with out a sta ble elections next month. with out a stable coalition and a good result, he won't be able to implement his project very easily and that is the biggest thing facing him at the moment. lucy, thank you very much. that's all from paris for tonight, in a moment we'll have the news where you are, but we'll leave you with some of the memorable scenes from france, on the day emmanuel macron was elected president of the republic. emmanuel macron was elected good night. emmanuel macron was elected merci, mes amis! cheering.

a spring day for many of us, the warmest day of the year in northern ireland and in south—west wales, 20 degrees. you can see the extent of the sunshine from earlier on today, keeping cloud in yorkshire, lincolnshire and the north—east of scotland. under the cloud in aberdeenshire, quite a bit cooler. for the rest of the evening and overnight, cloud coming from the north sea, developing more widely in central england eventually. further west with clear skies, temperatures not far from freezing. essentially on monday we have pretty much a west east split, a cool breeze from the

north sea feeding cloud across many central and eastern parts of the uk with more sunshine towards the west but even with the sunshine, temperatures will be lower than they we re temperatures will be lower than they were today. still the mid to high teens in south—west scotland and northern ireland. the cloud may break in northern and eastern england at times. in the midlands, yorkshire, east anglia, a lot of cloud. sunshine in wales and the south—west, 17 degrees is likely that more cloud in the midlands and south east of england, especially chile near the north sea coast. the wind coming around in a high—pressure area that extends towards greenland and that is dominating our weather for the start of the week. i love of dry weather on tuesday, one or two showers —— a lot of dry weather. some cloud further west, not so much on tuesday. some sunny spells almost

anywhere really and temperatures typically into the mid—teens. more cloud tuesday, high—pressure around on wednesday but things will change later in the week as pressure drops we may see the first significant rain coming from the south and spreading north across the uk. ahead of that, sunny spells quite worn by day, clear skies at night, maybe cold. potentially heavy rain later in the week. hello. this is bbc news with martine croxall. we'll be taking a look we'll be taking a look at tomorrow mornings papers in a moment — first the headlines at 10.30pm. emmanuel macron triumphs over his far—right adversary in the french presidential election. he's set to be the country's youngest head of state since napoleon. in a sombre television address he said he wanted to unite the nation. translation

with total devotion, with total determination, i'm going to serve our country. i'm going serve france on your behalf. long live the republic and long live france. and more than one third of french voters chose the hard right vision for france presented by marine le pen, she promised to turn her attention to the forthcoming parliamentary elections. in the election here — a pledge from labour — they won't raise income tax for anyone earning less than 80 thousand pounds a year.