as she updates mp5 on the brexit talks. shia announces new proposals for how the uk could a trader should that happen, to the derision of the opposition balances. while i believe it is in all our interests for the negotiations to succeed, it is our responsibilility as a government to prepare for every eventuality. 15 months on from the referendum we're still no clearer what the future of this country will look like. the question must be asked, what on earth has the government he doing all this time? but the european commission hits back, warning the ball is in the uk's court to speed up the brexit negotiations. also tonight... an inquiry hears how the police were stopped from pursuing allegations against the mp cyril smith of child sex abuse. a government audit reveals how people from ethnic minority backgrounds can be discriminated against even from nursery age. hollywood mogul harvey weinstein is sacked from the company

he founded, as allegations of his sexual harassment grow. and some won't take the new pound coins, some won't take the old — confusion as the deadline to scrap the old pound approaches. in sportsday on bbc news, wales and the republic of ireland meet in a good evening and welcome to the bbc news at six. theresa may has given mps her clearest indication yet that she is preparing for the possibility of leaving the eu without a deal.

she announced proposals that will pave the way for that and for the uk to operate as an independent trading nation post brexit. she said the ball is in the eu's court. eu has said the ball is entirely in the uk's court. laura kuenssberg is in westminster. both sides saying it is up westminster. both sides saying it is up to the other? that's right. theresa may and the tories have taken a political battering in the last few days as the cabinet appeared to be squabbling among themselves. but today theresa may's mainjob was to themselves. but today theresa may's main job was to look as if she is in charge, to look like she means business. in brussels, another round of those vital talks begin. since she last went to the house of commons she survived an attempt to force arrived, lost boys in front of the nation, and if that's not all, ministers‘ antics the nation, and if that‘s not all, ministers‘ antics have been fodder for the pages. but the biggerjob in hand is to get the date —— brexit

talks moving. statement, the prime minister. theresa may trying, hoping to ignore the pressure on her. but first, two tory nods, she said no deal might be an option. wile i believe it is profoundly in our interests for the negotiations to succeed, it is also our responsibility as a the government —— government to prepare for every eventuality. that is exactly what we are doing. corruption to dismiss the enemies, notjust with a shake of the head—butted determination to screw down on the other side. as we look forward, the ball is in their court. i‘m optimistic for a positive response. their answer? it‘s not me, it‘s you. not much mood for progress this week. there has been so far no solution found on step one, which is the divorce proceedings. so the ball

is entirely in the uk court. are you concerned about your own position? and there are jitters in brussels and at home about who is in charge. vows of loyalty now aplenty. but lots from labour to benefit from. just when britain needs a strong negotiating team, we have a cabinet at each other's throws. half of the conservative party one the foreign secretary site, the other half want the chancellor site. if this government can't negotiate a deal for britain, they should make way for britain, they should make way for a team that can. but with the ground shaky beneath the prime minister‘s feed, competing tory visions are on display. should she push for a deal, or be ready to walk away? they are still refusing to

discuss the long term relationship between veep —— eu and the uk. when do she called time? by march 2019, if we haven't got a deal as to the final brexit arrangements, then we willjump final brexit arrangements, then we will jump off the final brexit arrangements, then we willjump off the cliff and there willjump off the cliff and there will be no deal? theresa may's problem? her party likes different a nswe i’s problem? her party likes different a nswers to problem? her party likes different answers to those questions. doing a deal with their own tribe, the country and the rest of the continent is hard enough. whether it is overall if or when she walks away, there are so many questions the government is not ready or willing to answer right now. but remember, in part that is because they are locked in a negotiation. it impossible for ministers to make some promises on the floor of the house of commons in westminster. they would —— they would box in the negotiators in brussels. there are some demands

tory backbenchers want to put on the prime minister. but they are impossible for her to commit to. that said, part of the problem is because inside the tory party there is very farfrom because inside the tory party there is very far from universal agreement over exactly what she should be asking for. and in part as well it is because her authority has been under such attack, notjust because of what happened at the tory party conference last week, but also since the general election. the fact is, before she even thinks about what she wants to get out of brussels, theresa may has a job every day really to keep showing her party and the country that he is really in charge. lawro, thank you. the independent inquiry into child sexual abuse has heard that the police were stopped from investigating allegations of child sex abuse against the late sir cyril smith mp. the public hearings examining historic allegations of abuse at the children‘s home in residential school in rochdale has obtained new

evidence from mi5. tom symonds reports. in the 1960s, they called him mr rochdale. he became mayor of the town from labour but defected to the liberals. do you want a man to represent uri party robot? in the 60s, represent uri party robot? in the 605, it represent uri party robot? in the 60s, it was never revealed he had been accused of sexually depriving —— abusing deprived boys. now this public enquiry intends to get to the bottom of it. the decision to embark upon this investigation was in part in response to the public concern that some politicians, including cyril smith, or involved in child sexual abuse, and able to abuse with impunity because they were protected by the establishment. it's claimed cyril smith abused boys at a hostel, cambridge house, which closed in the mid—60s. it is now a private home. when police began an investigation

in1970, when police began an investigation in 1970, smith asked for a meeting, a transcript records a police officer saying... you want to see what we know? smith started laughing. cyril smith was hoping to move from local politics to national. he told the police... in three weeks i have got to give a decision one way or whether i am going to fight the next parliamentary election as a liberal democrat. and if i‘m going to be charged, not going to accept. guilty oi’ charged, not going to accept. guilty or not guilty, it would be on to the party. he wasn't charged. but years later the prescott wind, started asking questions. the enquiry has obtained these documents held by the security service, mi5, which record that the dpp‘s press representative had untruthfully told a journalist that they had no record of this case. smith was re-elected in

greater numbers than before and far from diminishing him, the allegations appear to have had absolutely no effect whatsoever. also went —— under investigation, sexual abuse link to this school, where smith was a governor. at one point a six offender roamed its corridors at night. but as with cyril smith, the central allegation is ofa cyril smith, the central allegation is of a cover—up. this enquiry is attempting to learn the lessons of the past so children can be better protected in the future. tom symonds, bbc news. tom symonds, bbc news. a man from birmingham who planned to target a railway line with a bomb made out of fairy lights and a doorbell has been jailed for life. thejudge at doorbell has been jailed for life. the judge at winchester crown court said he was strongly committed to carrying out multiple bombings after killing hundreds of videos posted by islamic state. defence company bae systems is set to announce more than a thousand job losses. it‘s understood that most of the posts affected will be

at its warton and samlesbury plants in lancashire, where the eurofighter typhoon jets are assembled. 12 people, including a border force officer, have been arrested on suspicion of importing class a drugs and firearms. the officer was detained by french police in calais, along with three other british nationals. eight men were later arrested in kent, six of whom have been charged. the president of the spanish region of catalonia will address the region‘s parliament tomorrow, following last week‘s controversial referendum on independence. he‘s threatened to declare full independence which would spark a crisis notjust in spain but potentially throughout europe. our europe editor, katya adler is in barcelona. katya, a lot of activity behind the scenes to stop this declaration going ahead? that‘s right. behind the scenes but also very much in public as well. as you point out, the issue of catalan

independence doesn‘tjust you point out, the issue of catalan independence doesn‘t just affect this region but the rest of spain and the european union. it affects european unity. today france ramped up european unity. today france ramped up the international pressure, saying it would not recognise an independent catalonia. the spanish prime minister has threatened to do everything in his power to make cata la n everything in his power to make catalan independence a practical impossibility. and yesterday in barcelona we saw thousands of people ta ke to barcelona we saw thousands of people take to the streets with spanish flags protesting in the name of spanish unity. to add to that political and social pressure, some businesses and banks are moving their headquarters out of this region as well, but not yet their employees. there are those pressurising the catalan prime minister —— president to go for independence, including those within his own party and voters here who say that is what they were promised by him. with only 2a hours to go until he addresses the catalan parliament, we still have no idea which way the president willjump.

katya adler. snp leader nicola sturgeon says it‘s not the right time to think about the timing of a second independence referendum, because of uncertainty about brexit. speaking from her party‘s conference in glasgow, scotland‘s first minister says she is considering the need for a second referendum on leaving the eu, and suggests she is planning to increase income tax rates in scotland. she‘s been talking to our scotland editor, sarah smith. since their last party conference, snp party members have been led halfway up the hill towards referendum and halfway down. now it seems they are neither up and are down. as nicola sturgeon says, she is considering calling for quite a different vote. a referendum on the result of the brexit negotiations. different vote. a referendum on the result of the brexit negotiationslj have result of the brexit negotiations.” have said i think the case for the argument for, not another vote on the principle of eu membership, but a vote on the outcome of that, may become quite hard to resist. i don‘t

think we are there yet, it is not my party‘s policy, but i think this is an argument that may gather strength. as the snp focus on public services not independence, income taxes may soon rise. you have made a lot of public spending commitments. are you planning to raise tax to pay for them? i think it is time to look at how we progressively use limited tax powers to protect our public services. we will do that responsibly. we have always been responsible on tax. we will not tra nsfer responsible on tax. we will not transfer the burden of austerity to the poorest. income tax will be going up in scotland? we will announce tax intentions in our budget. i would do that today. i am being open about the debate we have to have as a country and a parliament. the snp have asked voters tojudge them parliament. the snp have asked voters to judge them specifically on the record on education. scottish schools have slipped down international rankings. by your own government measures literacy and numeracy standards are falling. how

can you say you are proud of the snp record? i don't accept it at characterisation of scottish education. we have challenges to overcome. that is why we are pursuing the biggest reform to school education in the lifetime of the scottish parliament, empowering headteachers, pouring significant extra resources into the hands of headteachers, much more transparency around the performance of our schools, so the system can be held to account, and crucially, i end the government can be held to account on progress. you are doing a big round of media interviews today, since early this morning. how worried are you about losing your voice before your speech tomorrow? you are speaking to my inner anxiety is here. my voice is fine —— fine at the moment. i have a healthy supply of strep sores. fingers crossed my voice will hold out. that speech may bea voice will hold out. that speech may be a challenge, even without a calf. it is much harder to excite delegates with talk of tax rises and

full throated calls for independence. sarah smith, bbc news, glasgow. the time is exactly quarter past six. our top story this evening... theresa may says the ball is in the eu‘s court, and that the uk is preparing for every eventuality, as she updates mps on the brexit talks. coming up on sportsday on bbc news... castleford‘s zak hardaker is dropped from england‘s world cup squad after testing positive for cocaine — he could face a ban of up to two years. the government is on the eve of publishing an audit examining how people of different backgrounds are treated when it comes to education, employment, housing and health. the findings show that people from ethnic minority backgrounds are twice as likely to be unemployed. but also that white working class students who attend state school are less likely to go to university than people from ethnic minorities.

elaine dunkley reports. howfair is how fair is multicultural britain when it comes to race? this nursery in birmingham believes in equality start early and has a lasting effect. in the past we have had children who have been excluded, which is quite shocking, from nurseries and other settings in the area. sometimes when behaviour was identified in black boys particularly, it can be seen as challenging. black boys being badly behaved because they are very expressive or speaks very loudly and they are excitable, that is boys per se. that might also be girls per se, it is not exclusively black boys or girls, it is children. some have been labelled as young as one—year—old. been labelled as young as

one-year-old. the government says its mission is to create esiason —— to create a society that is fair for everyone. one area is employment, black, asian and minority ethnic graduates in britain are paid less than their white colleagues with a degree and less likely to find a job. i have a lawl got to -- i have a law degree but if you are capable you are not always given an opportunity to be the person you can be. if your name is on the cv, our cv could be thrown in the rubbish bin because they don't want a black person. injobs i always taken out my middle name. say like my white colleague was to have a fit at work, started swearing and carrying on,

"take your time off, have a few days off work" but with me it is a disciplinary. there are complexities and challenges amongst all races in britain. class, the environment you grow up in and aspiration can all play a key part. last year, children from white working class backgrounds we re from white working class backgrounds were the least likely to go to university according to the government‘s audit on race. university according to the government's audit on racem university according to the government's audit on race. if home life was better and more stable, maybe i would have paid more attention. stereotyping is a big thing. obviously i live with a travelling family, we get stereotyped all the time. it doesn‘t matter what background you are from, you have a choice whether you succeed in life but success doesn‘t a lwa ys succeed in life but success doesn‘t always start with writing the book. the hope is for a fairer society for the next generation. the challenge is finding radical measures that

will get under the skin of racial and social inequalities. the oscar—winning hollywood film producer harvey weinstein, who‘s behind a string of hits including pulp fiction and shakespeare in love, has been sacked by the company he co—founded. he is accused of sexually harassing women over three decades. the actress damejudi dench has said the allegations are horrifying. nick bryant reports. it contains flashing images. he‘s behind the camera figure who has become one of the most prominent red carpet stars of the industry. harvey weinstein now cast by some as a sexual predator. he is the producer behind a string of hits. pulp fiction showed how he could turn arthouse films into box office sensations. the king ‘s speech brought oscar—winning success. but now he‘s been fired from the company he co—founded. in light of what the

wine steam company described, his new information about his misconduct. ashleyjudd new information about his misconduct. ashley judd was new information about his misconduct. ashleyjudd was one of the first actresses to speak out and the first actresses to speak out and the new york times reported he‘d reached settlements with eight women. the question stands, who protected harvey weinstein? did the women believe this would hurt their careers? it is a movie mogul allegedly preying on aspiring young actresses in a modern—day version of the casting couch, but the industry has been slow to publicly condemn a figure of enormous influence. one with the power to break as well as make careers. harvey weinstein is a prominent democrat with friends such as hillary clinton in high places but today the first lady of hollywood, meryl streep, a friend who once referred to him as god spoke out about the claims. the

disgraceful news about harvey weinstein has appalled those of us who work he championed. the intrepid women who raised their voices to expose this abuse are our heroes. judi dench, who won an oscarfor her role in the weinstein movie shakespeare in love, said the allegations were horrifying. last week he apologised for behaviour which in the past had caused a lot of pain but also claimed many of the accusations are false. this is a storyline that even he cannot control. the co—leader of the greens, jonathan bartley, has told supporters the party can be the most influential force in 21st century politics. they only won one seat at this summer‘s general election, but mr bartley has told activists in harrogate that they are setting the agenda. but conference, let‘s not forget what we‘ve achieved together. our ideas and policies are now common currency, part of the mainstream. we achieved the party‘s second best general election result and we helped

deny theresa may her majority and her mandate. the dementia tax — dead, the ban on fox hunting — safe, the extreme brexiteers in retreat, and the tories in disarray. football now, and wales take on the republic of ireland in theirfinal world cup qualifier tonight. their chance of going to their first world cup since 1958 is very much in their hands. wales could qualify automatically for the first time in 60 years if they win and results go their way or they might face the playoffs. but lose and they‘d miss out altogether. andy swiss is in cardiff for us. very big night for wales... yes, wales fans are starting to arrive knowing it is make or break for their team. there are a lot of permutations but i will try to keep it simple. victory for wales would

guarantee a play—off place and it could see them top the group and qualify automatically if their rivals serbia slip—up in their match. that would be dreamland for these wales fans. a draw might be enough for a play—off place but they would need all the results to go their way. a defeat and their world cup hopes would be over. the republic of ireland know that if they win tonight they are guaranteed a play—off place so it is really up for grabs. wales haven‘t qualified for grabs. wales haven‘t qualified for the world cup finals since way backin for the world cup finals since way back in 1958. tonight they will be without their star player gareth bale who‘s injured, but of course they will have the vast majority of they will have the vast majority of the 30,000 fans on their side and they will be hoping that 60 year weight might soon be over. —— 60 year wait. if you have any old pound coins, now is the time to spend them. from next monday, the old pound

will no longer be legal tender and businesses will be able to refuse them. but will they? some shops are expected to ignore the royal mint‘s deadline and continue accepting old coins, at least for a few weeks. sima kotecha explains. they have been the same for more than 30 years but now it is all change. just days to go before the round pound coin will no longer be legal tender. and from sunday, retailers can refuse to accept it if they choose to do so. at this newsagents, the owner is making it herjob to tell customers the old coin is on its way out. how many old pound coins have you got in your tail? at least 30 in there. mostly older ones? know, a mixture. it's been replaced by the 12 sided pound coin in use since march. it was produced to help crack down on

counterfeiting. we take them to the bank because a lot of people don‘t know. we still take the old £5 notes because a lot of people don‘t know that, especially the tourists.” of people don‘t know that, especially the tourists. i have found a problem with some of the shopping trolleys and you have had to fiddle with them a little bit because the old ones were so easy because the old ones were so easy because they are round. these are 12 sided, aren‘t they? because they are round. these are 12 sided, aren't they? it's one of those things. this machine takes the new pound coin and the old one. the royal mint has advised that by sunday businesses must try their best to update any equipment so it can take the new money. but there‘s no need to panic, you will still be able to pay the old coins into banks and building societies. the advice is check the old coat pockets unless you have a few bob that need replacing, and do it as soon as you can. time for a look at the weather... here‘s louise lear.

and there is some kind of football much going on in cardiff, how‘s it going? i‘m not reading into this but in the last few hours the skies have brightened up across cardiff and it‘s not looking too bad at all. it was a pretty grey, miserable morning. 11; degrees, with temperatures falling away, butjust look how much cloud we had across the country generally. and in the last few hours, into eastern scotla nd last few hours, into eastern scotland is where we have seen the best of the sunshine. we have seen some glimpses through the day today and some pictures have been sent in reflecting this. beautiful across parts of yorkshire this afternoon. the cloud will gather in from the north—west and the winds are likely to strengthen, and it will bring rain as it sweeps steadily south. the weather front will weaken off. tomorrow morning we will see a band

of cloud syncing south, bringing more showers into the south—west, but for most tomorrow it will be drier day with more sunshine coming through, with the exception of the far north—west. the isobars squeezing together with wind and rain arriving will mean business as we go into wednesday morning. the rain and heavy for a time through scotla nd rain and heavy for a time through scotland and northern ireland as well as north—west england so that could be a nuisance, but either side there could be dry weather. that trade will gradually clear its way south through wednesday evening —— that rain. under the clearer skies, we are heading for a reasonably chilly night, and a chilly start a thursday morning. maybe even a touch of grass frost around first thing in the morning. but first thing will be a promising day, dry with sunny spells, feeling quite warm. for england and wales, warmer still for

friday and maybe into the weekend we could see the low 20s across england and wales, staying more unsettled and wales, staying more unsettled and breezy to the north—west. a reminder of our main story... theresa may gives her clearest indication yet she‘s preparing for england leaving the eu without the brexit deal. hello, you are watching bbc news. the top stories at 630. to wants a —— theresa may once a creative solution with the eu after brexit. she says it will be in the interests of the eu as well as the uk. the

independent enquiry into the child sexual abuse allegations into the late liberal mp cyril smith, failed to impede his political career. the trial of an army sergeant accused of trying to kill his wife by tampering with her parachute, has heard more about her jump over salisbury with her parachute, has heard more about herjump over salisbury plain. the high court in catalonia says it has asked for spanish national police to provide extra national security at a court building in case cata la n security at a court building in case catalan leaders press ahead with a unilateral declaration of independence. meryl streep has spoken out against the producer harvey weinstein, in the wake of sexual harassment allegations he is now being fired from his own company because of the controversy.