this is bbc news — our latest headlines. theresa may says she is concerned about the role of the police in the sacking of first minister of state damian green. the prime minister made the comments at a summit in poland. i share the concerns that have been raised across the political spectrum about comments made by a former police officer, and i expect this to be properly investigated, ta ken seriously and properly looked at. toy retailer toys r us has avoided going into administration. a deal has been struck between the company and one of its largest creditors — by agreeing to put more money into its pension fund. the company employs around three thousand people in the uk nazanin zaghari—ratcliffe, the british womanjailed in iran, has been told by her lawyer that she's eligible for early release, according to her mp — who says the news has been welcomed by her husband. richard was very excited about this

when he told me and now is an infield hopeful as well. you can imagine it has been a very long journey. 18 months of continuous campaigning from my constituent richard radcliffe to free his wife and bring his toddler home. a man's been arrested in the australian city of melbourne, after he drove into a crowd at a busyjunction, injuring at least nineteen people . police have called it a "deliberate act" but say there's no evidence it was terror— related . the bbc learns that tens of thousands of mothers and babies in england were harmed by lapses in maternity care in the past two years. now on bbc news, it's been a turbulent year in politics, from theresa may's snap election that backfired so spectacularly, to continuing tussles with the eu over brexit. ellie price reviews the year in british politics. the headlines this morning, theresa

may's decision to call the general election... it was with reluctance i decided the country needs... the prime minister spelt out her strategic goals. history has been made. article 50 of been triggered. brexit negotiations in a shambles. 2017 was shaped by what happened when a pretty influential person went for a nice long walk in the countryside and has a little think about things. that was, of course, theresa may, who went on a hike with her husband in april and came back thinking it would be a jolly good idea to call a general election. the decision made on that little stroll defined the year. but plenty

happened in the months running up to it. the 2017 journey started as we all expected with brexit. are we going to get a detailed plan, prime minister? only a few days shy of the eu referendum's six—month anniversary, theresa may made a speech at lancaster house. it became known as the lancaster house speech. setting out a blueprint of her main objectives for brexit negotiations. asa objectives for brexit negotiations. as a priority we will pursue a bold and ambitious free trade agreement with the european union. the days of britain making vast contributions to the european union every year will end. no dealfor britain is better than a bad deal. the pm confirmed britain would come out of the eu single market but there would be a transition period from eu membership to whatever is agreed after. she said parliament will be given a vote ona said parliament will be given a vote on a final deal. but it was parliament getting a say on the start of negotiating that deal which was the big news a few days later.

the government got taken to court for wanting to trigger article 50. the mechanism to leave the eu. without having to ask mps first. by a majority of 8—3, the supreme court rules that the government cannot trigger article 50 without an act of parliament authorising it to do so. no prime minister, no government, can expect to be unanswerable or unchallenged. parliament alone is sovereign. parliament was given that very vote a few weeks later. ayes to the right, 494. nos to the left, 122. and historic vote today. it got through by a large majority at every turn. it has carry out the will of the british people. the stage was set, then, and on the 29th of march article 50 was triggered. this is an

historic moment from which there can be no turning back. all it took was a short letter delivered by hand to brussels, signed by theresa may. though you might not know it from that signature. so here it is. six pages. thank you and goodbye. now it was time for the difficult bit to start. negotiating the terms. we we re start. negotiating the terms. we were all doggedly talking about brexit, but other things happened, too. the conservative party candidate, 13,748. in february the tories won the copeland by—election, a first such win by a government party over its opposition in 35 yea rs. party over its opposition in 35 years. ina party over its opposition in 35 years. in a place that had been labour since 1935. on the same night labour since 1935. on the same night labour held onto their stoke—on—trent seat. labour held onto their stoke-on-trent seat. you going to resign? seeing off a challenge from ukip. it was a message that hope

triumphs over fear. elections, too, for the northern ireland assembly. sinn fein came within one seat of drawing level with the dup after a bitterly divisive campaign. just a few weeks later, the death of sinn fein's martin mcguinness, northern ireland's former deputy first minister. martin mcguinness was a feared fighter ozturk —— freedom fighter. even now, still no sign of a breakthrough so that power—sharing can be restored at stormont. saving for a can be restored at stormont. saving fora rainy can be restored at stormont. saving for a rainy day chancellor? in london philip hammond if the first of his budgets this year. theresa may was really looking forward to it. the chancellor said it would prepare britain for brexit. we provide a strong and stable platform for those negotiations. strong and stable, a phrase we would all get bored. —— of. on the 22nd of march a terrorist ploughed through pedestrians on westminster bridge

killing four and injuring 50. he then stabbed to death a policeman just outside the houses of parliament. he was later shot dead. the first three months of the year in westminster and beyond had already provided plenty to fill the airwaves and newspapers. then a surprise announcement airwaves and newspapers. then a surprise announcement no one airwaves and newspapers. then a surprise announcement no one saw coming. i've just chaired a meeting of the cabinet where we agreed the government should call a general election. to be held on the 8th of june. every vote for the conservatives will make me stronger when i negotiate for britain with the prime ministers, president and chancellors the european union. every vote for the conservatives will mean we can stick to our plan for a stronger britain, and take the right long—term decisions for a more secure future. general election. you're joking, not another one! go on, go on. the path ahead seemed

pretty clear forgeries in may and the tories could almost smell victory. they thought. the local elections saw the conservatives make big gains across the country. at the expense of ukip, whose vote collapsed. and labour. we've had very disappointing results in other parts of the country. yes, we have to go out there in the next four weeks and get the message out. there we re weeks and get the message out. there were recriminations, too, among some labour mps. it's a pretty disastrous picture. simply not good enough for a party that has been in opposition for seven years, that is heading towards a general election in five weeks, to not be picking up seats and not making forward progress. weeks, to not be picking up seats and not making forward progressm much progress was made on the labour election manifesto that it was finished five days early and prom ptly finished five days early and promptly leaked finished five days early and prom ptly lea ked to finished five days early and promptly leaked to the press. when

formally lodged it called for the renationalisation of water companies and an end to tuition fees. this is and an end to tuition fees. this is a programme of hope. the tory campaign by contrast is built on one word. fear. the tories unveiled a document that included scrapping free school lunches for children in england and a shake—up of the social ca re system. england and a shake—up of the social care system. with confidence in ourselves and a unity of purpose in ourselves and a unity of purpose in our country, let us all go forward together. applause then theresa may seemed to lose her way. the direction and clear. in a series of unforced errors. there was that you on social care. you've just announced a significant

change to what was offered in your ma nifesto, change to what was offered in your manifesto, saying there will now be the possibility of a cap on social care. that was not in the plans announced just four days ago. our social care system will collapse unless we address this problem. nothing has changed. nothing has changed. that she refused to take pa rt changed. that she refused to take part in any head—to—head televised debate. the prime minister is not here tonight, she can't be bothered, so why should you? in fact, bake off is on bbc two next. it wasn't bake off, but she did go on tv to talk about the bins. it all seemed a bit cringing. there is give and take in every marriage isn't there? i get to decide when i take the bins out, not if. there are boy jobs and decide when i take the bins out, not if. there are boyjobs and build jobs, you see. there was that weird time the prime minister was asked what was the naughtiest thing she ever done as a child. she said it

was to run through a field of wheat. come on, ed, come on, ed. # the hills are alive with the sound of music #. meanwhile, jeremy corbyn was positively frolicking out on the campaign trail. greeted like a rock star at his well attended rallies. campaign trail. greeted like a rock star at his well attended rallieslj never was into politics because i never was into politics because i never thought politicians were, like, normal people. until now. tadhg you won't say whether you think having gay sex is a sin. elsewhere the lib dem leader tim farron, a devoted christian, kept being asked the same question. farron, a devoted christian, kept being asked the same questionlj don't being asked the same question.” don't believe gay sex is a thing, i ta ke don't believe gay sex is a thing, i take the view as a political leader, ijobis take the view as a political leader, ijob is not to pontificate on theological matters. —— don't believe gay sex is a sin. he provided one of the best

catchphrases of the campaign. smell my spaniel, maybe. the snp seems pretty cool about the challenge ahead. winning 56 it will be a huge challenge for nicola sturgeon's party, ruth davidson has predicted we've hit peak that, the only way is down. this party... hello. ukip's ma nifesto down. this party... hello. ukip's manifesto was memorable for its proposed ban on burgers in public but to lead a paul nuttall had trouble with his own memory.” but to lead a paul nuttall had trouble with his own memory. i think it's absolutely right, what we need to do... i'm not natalie! he's done it twice now. have i? i'm sorry about that. politics was overtaken by tragedy not once, but twice. 23 people, including the attacker, were killed after a bomb went off at a p0p killed after a bomb went off at a pop concert at the manchester arena. this was among the worst terrorist incidents we've ever experienced in the united kingdom. less than two

weeks later and five days before the election, a second terror attack, this time on london bridge. eight people killed and the three attackers shot dead by police. on both occasions, the campaign was suspended for several days. what we're saying is the conservatives are the largest party. note, they don't have an overall majority at this stage. overall, the conservatives lost 12 seats, creating a hung parliament. they we re creating a hung parliament. they were the biggest party but didn't have a majority. surprising even themselves, labour gained an extra 30 seats. the snp lost 21, including that of theirformer 30 seats. the snp lost 21, including that of their former leader alex salmond. former lib dem leader nick clegg also lost his seat. theresa may stayed on as pm, but onlyjust.

i'm sorry for all those candidates and ha rd—working i'm sorry for all those candidates and hard—working party workers who weren't successful. with their majority got a vocal number of tory mps thought it stank. and theresa may would have to clean up the mess. that's what she promised to do. but still there was pressure on her to resign, including from a former close colleague who, by the way, had got a newjob as editor of the london evening standard. theresa may isa london evening standard. theresa may is a dead woman walking, it's how long she will remain on death row. tim farron did decide it was time to 90, tim farron did decide it was time to go, even though the lib dems had regained an extra eight seats. to be a political leader especially of a progressive, liberal party, in 2017, and to live as a committed christian, to hold faithfully to the bible's teaching has felt impossible for me. watching on was the man who took over, vince cable. not all, paul andrew. paul nuttall, who failed to win a seat, also resigned. for us, though the tide may be out

at the moment, at this present moment in time, i am convinced it will return. deal or no deal mrs foster? to get enough mps to pass any laws, theresa may the democratic unionist party's ten mps from northern ireland onside. this discussion is still going on. norman, what can you tell us? you keep looking over your shoulder in case she comes out the door, what can you tell us so far? tadhg actually i was looking at a much more interesting fight about to erupt between palmerston and larry, who is lying flat on the street, a serious clash that could be about to unfold, i don't know whether i should intervene. don't worry, there is no fight, they came to an arrangement, as did the dup and government, 18 days after the election. today we've reached an outcome that is good for the united kingdom. then remember the guy being treated like a rock star? jeremy corbyn went to glastonbury. plenty did ijust. it was onlyjune,

theissue plenty did ijust. it was onlyjune, the issue of brexit haven't gone away, time for the eu and uk to get stuck in. a hugely important decision was taken by the remaining 27 countries in the eu at the end of april. to start with negotiators would only took about three subjects, the border between ireland and the republic of ireland, the right of eu citizens living in britain and vice versa and how much britain and vice versa and how much britain owed the eu, the so—called divorce bill. only when sufficient progress was made in those areas could talks move on to the nitty—gritty of trade deals. could talks move on to the nitty-gritty of trade deals. we all wa nt nitty-gritty of trade deals. we all want a close and strong future relationship with the uk. there's

absolutely no question about it. before discussing the future, we have to sort out our past. the very next day, a german newspaper published details of a meeting between the eu mission president jean—claude juncker and the pm, between the eu mission president jean—claudejuncker and the pm, it was alleged the meeting had been frosty and jean—claude juncker had left ten times more sceptical. theresa may dismissed the report as gossip. byjune, it was time to get on with it. i'm here in brussels today, like michel, to be in the next phase of our work to build a new comedy band special partnership with the european union. that beazley wouldn't be easy. translation: the uk decided to leave the eu, not the other way round, and the eu, not the other way round, and the consequences are substantial. we come bearing gifts. enterjeremy corbyn to mix things up, he met the eu chief negotiator to discuss labour's brexit position, which may not have been as obvious as his

football allegiance. a football shirt stem barnier! you now play for arsenal. the british government published a series of papers clarify its position on a range of issues. by its position on a range of issues. by the end of august the eu seem to suggest it wasn't enough. to be honest, i'm concerned. time passes quickly. with the clock ticking theresa may made another speech, this time in florence. she said there should be a transition period of two years after brexit, and that britain was prepared to pay a financial settlement. people, businesses and public services should only have to plan for one set of changes in the relationship between the uk and eu. the uk will honour commitments we've made during the period of our membership. let us be creative as well as practical in designing an ambitious economic partnership that respect the

freedoms and principles of the eu and the wishes of the british people. a month later, another dinner, another kiss with jean—claude juncker. another german newspaper report. this time it said the pm had begged for help when they met, and she seemed tired and politically weak. he denied the account. she was in good shape, she was not tired, she was fighting. as is her duty. everything for me was ok. she didn't plead with you for help? no, no. still, by december, no decision on whether sufficient progress had been made. a deal was subtitles by red bee media. ..so subtitles by red bee media. .. so near. theresa may was even in brussels. the sticking point was the dup who said they weren't happy with proposals for northern ireland. we will not accept any form of regulatory diverging switch separates northern ireland economically or politically from the re st of economically or politically from the rest of the uk. a dramatic intervention and back to stalemate.

after more late—night talks, finally, a breakthrough. for now at least. sufficient progress has now been made on the terms of the divorce. this was a difficult negotiation for the european union as well as for the united kingdom. you can say that again, jean—claude. that is what it was all about.” very much welcome the prospect of moving ahead to the next phase. will you be separated, mr barnier, cracking open the champagne? i'm still working. the chief negotiator wasn't quite jumping for i°y- ultimate arbiter, put about in your pipe and smoke it. back home, critics like him would sell rating either. amazing isn't it british by minister has to fly through the middle of the night to meet some unelected bureaucrats who patted on ahead and you've met all our demands, made sufficient progress, we can move onto the next stage, the whole thing is a humiliation. there is little doubt it did come as some relief to the pm. even if less than

one week later... the ayes to the right, 309, nos to the left 305. she was defeated in the commons when rebel tory and opposition mps forced the government to give a legal guarantee of a vote on the final brexit deal. overall, a year of brexit deal. overall, a year of brexit negotiations ended with agreement. at least the first bit. is theresa may's of a full agreement by march 2019 realistic? still realistic and, of course, dramatically difficult. with the election over and brexit dominating the whole of 2017, it was a long slog. keeping control of her own party has been an uphill struggle for the pm. not least when you compare it to

jeremy corbyn's fortunes. they may have lost the election but labour's party conference felt more like a victory parade. it was like this last year. thank you so much for that wonderful welcome and this incredible feeling and spirit of unity on love and affection we have here. the run-up to the tory conference was less than harmonious, borisjohnson hit conference was less than harmonious, boris johnson hit the conference was less than harmonious, borisjohnson hit the headlines for an article he wrote outlining his own red lines in brexit negotiations. they seemed to go further than that of the prime minister and what was agreed by the cabinet. once again there were whispers about his leadership aspirations. a little taste of italy. as they were about this man, jacob rees—mogg, though he told me he wants theresa may to stay on as leader. for ever and ever, eternity, even eternity is too short to extol her. you don't fancy it yourself? of

course not, i want mrs may to go on for ever and ever. in the end it was theresa may's conference speech that went on and on. it started with a prankster. prepare for a run on the ground. boris, job done, given her the p 45. of course it had nothing to do with the foreign secretary.” was about to talk about somebody i would like to give a p 40 52, that isjeremy corbyn. and then came the frog in the throat. the deficit is back to precrisis levels... sounds as if my voice isn't on track. as if it can get any worse, even the scenery started falling down. the pm put on a brave face and was supported by her husband and, in the coming days, after some whisperings about her

leadership, her cabinet. by the end of october, scandal once again hit westminster, this time about sexual harassment. very quickly it became clear it was and party political, with various mps implicated. and then a cabinet minister. in recent days allegations have been made about mps conduct. including my own. many of these allegations have been false. but i realise that in the past i may have fallen below the high standards that we require of the armed forces that i have the honour to represent. i have reflected now in my position in government and i am therefore resigning as defence secretary. one week later, jetting back this time from an official ministerial trip, priti patel, the international element secretary, called into downing street and also resigned. this time over unauthorised meetings she'd had with israeli officials

while on holiday. in her resignation letter, ms patel said her actions fell below the standards of transparency and openness. it wasn't just troublesome friends at home. in january the pm and donald trump had got on so well when she went to washington they even held hands. mrs may invited the president over for a state visit at some stage. it didn't go down well with some people back home. so when the president retweeted some unsubstantiated posts from a british far right group called britain first, it was, at best, a bit awkward. theresa may said he was wrong to do it. he told her, don't focus on me. the year didn't end as friendly as it had started but is the president still coming over? an invitation for a state visit has been extended and has been accepted. we have yet to set a date. thank you. something to look forward to next year. so much going on, little sign of

things slowing down. politics aside, there was one more important moment in westminster this year. the silencing of an old friend. big ben stopped bonging. apart from remembrance sunday and new year's eve, the bell will stay silent as repair works go on. forfour years. even the prime minister is a bit upset about it as our other mps. even the prime minister is a bit upset about it as our other mpsm means something it really does, these are the chimes of freedom and they have to be respected. we've got to keep them bonging. it really has been all about timing this year. an election and all the fallout,

brexit and the ongoing negotiations, scandals at westminster. it's been quite a year. next year couldn't possibly be so frantic, could it? good, it is a mild and clouded over the winter solstice today, the shortest day of the year. we've got drizzly outbreaks of rain across parts of northern england, northern ireland, through this evening. some of that rain will push and wales and the south—west. the be dry tonight across the south—east. mild most places, but scotland we could well see sharp frost. mist and fog through the day tomorrow, drizzly rain in the south and west, which should ease away. it'll continue to be pretty murky across western areas with hill fog persisting through the day. more brightness tomorrow for the east, perhaps a few brighter spells for the south—east of england towards eastern scotland and temperatures between 9—12d. saturday, some heavy rain across the far north—west of scotland, more of

a player through the weekend and into christmas, potentially disruptive rain here in the north—west of scotland. dry and mild. through into christmas, things stay in miles, pretty cloudy, pretty breezy, some potentially heavy rain towards the north. goodbye for now. hello, you're watching afternoon live — i'm martine croxall. today at 4: theresa may is in poland — where she expressed concern about the role of the police, after she sacked first minister of state damian green. i share the concerns that have been raised across the political spectrum about comments that were made by a former police officer and i expect that issue to be properly investigated. creditors of the struggling retailer toys r us have approved a rescue plan to prevent it going in to administration. zaghari—ratcliffe, who is jailed in iran, has been told by her lawyer that she's eligible for early release. coming up all the sport with olly

and we now have it confirmed — birmingham will host the