this is bbc news. i'm clive myrie. the headlines at 11:00: theresa may says talks with the dup, that will give her a majority in parliament, have been productive and confirms that brexit negotiations will begin next week. we have worked as a party with the dup before and those are productive talks, the intent is to ensure that we have the stability of government in the national interest. we're talking about matters that pertain, of course, to the nation generally, bringing stability to the uk government in and around issues around brexit. in paris, meeting the french president — brexit topped the agenda along with an announcement of a joint anti—terror initiative to combat extremism online. inflationjumps to a four—year high — squeezing family incomes and outstripping wages. president trump's attorney general denies allegations he colluded with russia in the election campaign.

i have never met with all had any conversation with any russian or any foreign official concerning any type of interference with any campaign for election in the united states. who decides little charlie gard's future — his parents or medical experts? the answer now lies with the european court. and on newsnight: a tory minister dropped from theresa may's team yesterday, tells us why the party has to change its ways, and change its name. good evening and welcome to bbc news. talks between theresa may and the democratic unionist party to ensure the prime minister gets a working majority in the vommons to ensure the prime minister gets

a working majority in the commons have not yet resulted in a deal. both sides though said the talks had gone well and an agreement is expected tomorrow. the dup leader arlene foster has outlined her priorities — among them brexit and counter—terrorism. the former conservative prime minister, john major, has added his voice to concerns about the implications of a deal with the dup and its possible repercussions on the peace process in northern ireland. our political editor laura kuenssberg reports. they're all here. with new mps, parliament returning to its business. the commons' speaker elected, well, dragged, by tradition, to his grand chair again, but a government in charge? not quite yet. mr speaker—elect, on behalf of the whole house, may i congratulate you on your re—election. at least someone got a landslide. laughter. theresa may able to laugh about losing seats, but no deal in place yet that will prop her up.

as we face difficult challenges ahead, let us come together in a spirit of national unity, to keep our country safe and build a stronger, fairer and more prosperous future for everyone in every part of our united kingdom. the labour leader delighted in throwing the tory‘s campaign barbs back at her. democracy is a wondrous thing and can throw up some very unexpected results. and i'm sure we all look forward to welcoming the queen's speech, just as soon as the coalition of chaos has been negotiated. number 10's hoped—for deal with the northern irish unionists kept downing street waiting. even the resident cats involved in a stealthy power play. the dup, natural allies with the tories, seemed to be enjoying their big doorstep moment.

reporter: are you ready to drive a hard bargain mrs foster? arriving for talks, willing in principle, would they sign on the dotted line? but time passed, and more time passed. the dup chose the back door to leave. after nearly two hours of talks, it's the prime minister who's first to emerge. there's no sign of the dup. i've been told the is have been dotted and the t's have been crossed but there is no sign of a final deal. they're not exactly wearing their influence lightly. you can't blame this small party for seeming cock—a—hoop at their newly—public power, even though their involvement in government is anathema to some. i was on the right on saturday. we need some more people over to the right. i think there's been a lot of commentary around the issues that we're talking about and it won't surprise anyone that we're talking about matters that pertain, of course, to the nation generally, bringing stability to the uk

government in and around issues around brexit. obviously counter—terrorism and then doing what's right for northern ireland in respect of economic matters. but relying on a northern irish party for a government pact is a danger, according to one former tory pm. risking northern irish peace and power—sharing by appearing to take one side. i am concerned about the deal. i am wary about it, i am dubious about it. the danger is, that however much any government tries, they will not be seen to be impartial if they are locked into a parliamentary deal at westminster, with one of the northern ireland parties. concerns shared by the dup‘s rivals in northern ireland, sinn fein, who took a rare trip to parliament today. this new arrangement is very unsettling and people are concerned and wary of what it may mean and what promises will be given. tonight, theresa may, in paris, trying to get back to business,

but when it's hard to keep her papers in order, let alone her party, what options does she really have? what we are doing, in relation to the talks that we are holding, the productive talks we are holding with the democratic unionist party, is ensuring that it is possible to, with their support, give the stability to the uk government that i think is necessary at this time. yet no deal would be a risk everywhere. theresa may has few good choices. "chin up", as this card reads, perhaps her only helpful advice. laura kuenssberg bbc news, downing street. meanwhile theresa may has been meeting her french counterpart emmanuel macron in paris this evening. instead of opening discussions about brexit with the new french president from a position of strength, a politically weakened mrs may insisted that talks with the european commission will begin next week as planned. a joint anti—terror initiative

to combat extremism online was also announced. our europe editor katya adler reports from paris. it must have felt a bit lonely getting out of the car today at the grand elysee palace. emmanuel macron‘s greeting was friendly, though far from a effusive. from effusive. the prime minister will have imagined this visit very differently before the election. but now she's on the brexit back foot, her credibility damaged in europe, standing next to the passionately europhile french president, theresa may was determined to sound resolute. i think there is a unity of purpose among people in the united kingdom. it's a unity of purpose having voted to leave the eu, that their government gets on with that and makes a success of it. but president macron had word of warning. that britain shouldn't try to charm individual eu countries. a brexit deal, he said, would be negotiated

by the european commission alone. but he emphasised once again that the eu is reluctant to see britain go, and in case there's a change of heart... translation: the door is always open. the negotiations of brexit haven't been finalised, but that decision has been made by the people of the uk, to get out of the eu. and whether french or british people, i feel one has to respect that decision. this visit to paris is the prime minister's first trip abroad since the election, and it has been awkward because of her political difficulties at home and because of the confusion here in europe as to what kind of brexit the uk now wants. despite this, though, theresa may and the french president wanted to emphasise bilateral relations between their two countries remain strong. united in grief, the two leaders stood for a minute's silence to remember the victims of the attacks in manchester in london and here in paris, before an england—france football friendly. for a brief moment this evening, the

prime minister immersed herself in a sense of foot will and fun. the labour mp the labourmp mrs the labour mp mrs abed has revealed she has type 2 diabetes. she will step aside. —— mrs abbott. inflation is rising at its fastest rate for nearly four years. the cost of living, as measured by the consumer prices index, went up by 2.9% in the year to may. with wage increases failing to keep pace with the rise in inflation many households are feeling the squeeze. and it brings arguments about austerity back to the centre of political debate. our economic editor kamal ahmed has more. whether paying for a foreign holiday, finding the money for the electricity bill or buying your children new clothes,

there was only bad news today. rising prices, which has seen inflation increase from 0.3% this time last year to 2.9% today. the highest for four years. that rise in prices is biting. martin jackson is a nurse in barnsley. the government has capped his pay since 2010. just for one year, we might be able to manage but because it's been over several years and the cost of living has gone up significantly over that period, we're finding it year—on—year, more and more difficult to manage finances on a weekly and monthly basis. on every high street, higher prices, largely caused by the fall in the pound, linked to brexit uncertainty. real incomes are dropping and at the same time the government is still cutting. benefits, public sector pay — austerity is still with us. it was nick timothy, theresa may's former, all—influential chief—of—staff, who i think made the most significant intervention on this issue at the weekend. he said the public

were tired of austerity. it's a message that has cut deep with this government. tired indeed and pay put the surge in support for labour last week down to that weariness, despite evidence that controlling the public finances, rescued, in part, the economy. for supporters of a different approach, it's time for a change. we've had ten years of austerity and with it, real economic failure and weakness. my hope is that, finally, this defunct economic theory will be put to one side and government will have the sense to understand that the public sector needs to play a role in reviving the private sector. who could benefit if austerity is relaxed 7 theresa may's under pressure from her new partners, the dup, to ditch means testing of the winter fuel payments. in its manifesto, the dup said it wanted to guarantee pensions increases of at least 2.5%, backing the present triple—lock. they also said they wanted to maintain benefits.

could the benefits freeze be reversed 7 but a warning from george osborne's former chief—of—staff — take care on opening those spending flood gates. well, the deficit a much lower than it was. so if we ease up now, we'll probably be ok for a while but at some point, if another shock hits our economy, we could find ourselves vulnerable and we would really have repeated the mistakes of the past. it's a hot and toxic mix — fall in real incomes, rising prices and a government unsure of its economic direction. expect less on balancing the books and cutting those debts and more on higher government spending, to make everyone's life a little easier. kamal ahmed, bbc news. the us attorney general, jeff sessions, has fiercely denied colluding with russia to influence last year's presidential election in favour of donald trump. mr sessions was testifying before a senate committee. he said he had no meetings with russian officials about mr trump's election and had no knowledge of any campaign officials having such contacts. let me state this clearly, i have

never let with or had any conversation with any russians or any foreign officials concerning any type of interference with any campaign or election in the united states. further, i have no knowledge of any such conversation about anyone connect did to the trump campaign. i have been in no these body for at least 20 years and that suggestion that i participated in any collusion, that i was aware of any collusion, that i was aware of any collusion, that i was aware of any collusion with the russian government to hurt this country, which i have served with honourfor 35 years, or to undermine the integrity of our democratic process, is an appalling and detestable life.

the european court of human rights has ruled that doctors should continue to treat a terminally ill british baby, until midnight, on monday, to give his parents time to prepare a legal case. the parents of io—month—old charlie gard, who has a rare genetic condition, want to take him to america for experimental treatment. charlie's doctors, backed by three separate courtjudgements, insist it won't help him and argue he should be allowed to "die with dignity." now on bbc news it's time for newsnight. theresa may settles into her new life of endless haggling... ..with the dup. what price to keep mrs may in power? with the the factions of her own party. and the danger is that however much any government tries, they will not be seen to be impartial if they are locked into a parliamentary deal at westminster with one of the northern ireland parties.

oh, and not to mention the europeans. we'd better brace ourselves for non—stop negotiation, but with a government on a wafer thin majority, and, to make matters worse, a brexit department in some disarray. we'll ask if, out of the mess, a red, white and blue brexit consensus can be found. meanwhile, this former conservative minister says its time for his party to change its ways and its name. also tonight, we might have taken out eyes off the troubles of president trump, but his attorney general was testifying today. raise your right hand if you would, please. do you solemnly swear to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, so help you god?