the doctor at the centre of the gosport hospital deaths scandal appears in public for the first time since the damning report. drjane barton appeared outside her home with her husband — whose statement said she'd done her best for her patients. she has always maintained that she was a hard—working dedicated doctor doing the best for her patients in a very inadequately resourced part of the health service. we'll have the latest live from gosport. also on today's programme... firefighters say they're facing huge challenges tackling a fire on saddleworth moor near manchester — local people are told to stay indoors. we noticed a new thick black plume of smoke and then i heard crackling and heard the fire and then all this ash and thick black smoke came tumbling down and we couldn't breathe — it was horrendous. prince william meets the palestinian president mahmoud abbas in ramallah —

the first royal to officially visit the palestinian territories. everyone over a0 in england should pay a new tax to help fund care in old age, says a new report by mps. and comeback queen serena williams is seeded 25th for wimbledon — despite being outside the top 100 after having her first child. and coming up on bbc news: changes are expected to the england side for their final group game — they head to kaliningrad later, for tomorrow night's match against belgium. good afternoon and welcome to the bbc news at one. the doctor who oversaw the practice of prescribing powerful painkillers at gosport war memorial hospital has claimed she was working in an inadequately resourced part

of the health service. drjane barton stood next to her husband while he read a statement on her behalf — saying she was a doctor "doing the best for her patients". a damning report last week concluded that hundreds of patients had their lives shortened at the hospital in hampshire from 1989 until 2000, as the result of the overproscription of diamorphine and other opiates. duncan kennedy is in gosport. duncan. jane two it's exactly one week since that's damning report was published and today for the first time, we've heard from the doctor at the centre of it, drjane barton. speaking through her husband she said she was a dedicated medical practitioner, but we've spoken to some of the families of the patients

involved in this and they tell us they are extremely disappointed by what dr barton had to say. jane barton is the doctor at the centre of the gosport hospital deaths inquiry. speaking through her husband, tim barton, she spoke for the first time today since the report was published, and said she had always been a professional medical practitioner. she has always maintained that she was a hard—working, dedicated doctor, doing the best for her patients in a very inadequately resourced part of the health service. we ask that our privacy is respected at this difficult time and she will be making no further comments. i did ask one question. do you have any message for the families? last week's report concluded a56 people died at the gosport war memorial hospital after being given inappropriate amounts of painkillers. a further 200 patients probably died in the same way. robert wilson was admitted to recover from a shoulder injury

and other conditions, but his family said he was dead within four days. his daughter tracie said she was disappointed by today's statement from dr barton. she had an opportunity today to come out and take responsibility for her actions. but she has chosen once again not to do that. she has portrayed herself as a victim, which i find quite distasteful. she is not a victim. drjane barton, seen here at an earlier inquest, wasn't the only individual or agency criticised in the inquiry. it said there was a disregard for human life at the hospital over a period of around 12 years, and the families say it is now time for the police to take action. hampshire police were also severely criticised in that report for their three investigations into the deaths, and they have now stepped aside. but families this morning

have told us they want a new force is appointed as soon as possible and they say the first person to be interviewed by that force should be drjane barton. interviewed by that force should be drjane barton. duncan, thank you. firefighters say they're facing enormous challenges in their attempt to tackle a vast blaze on saddleworth moor near manchester. local people have described flames leaping 20 feet in the air, as crews try to contain the situation in the heatwave. the army has been placed on standby to help. it's feared more than 2,000 acres of moor have been destroyed. smoke from the fire can be seen from space, and the authorities have warned people who live nearby to stay indoors and keep their windows closed. judith moritz is in carrbrook: this is a fire whose effects can be felt far and wide. public health england are monitoring air quality gci’oss

england are monitoring air quality across the whole of greater manchester and you can see why. it looks like a foggy morning here. it isn't, this is all smoke. i can feel it in my eyes, the ashes floating around like rain. this has been a moving situation because when i arrived here are a few hours ago it was clear. you can arrived here are a few hours ago it was clear. you can see arrived here are a few hours ago it was clear. you can see that with the wind changing the fire has moved. this is a battle in which firefighters are finding that the front line keeps moving. it looks like a wildfire in the californian bush or the australian outback. but this is six miles from 0ldham. last night as the moon rose over saddleworth, fire raged on the moor. drone footage in daylight shows the extent of the blaze. and meters away, homes bought for their tranquil views, suddenly threatened. residents were told to spend last night elsewhere. i kept looking out the window and we went about our usual business, having something to eat, etc. and there was just a knock at the door after eight o'clock and it was one of the special police officers and they said, you know,

you're going to have to get out. you're going to have to evacuate. as they were telling you to get out, did you think, my house is at risk? absolutely, yes. the last thing i said to him was, don't let my house burn down! some local schools have closed, unable to keep their classrooms ventilated. i have been here about 20 years and we have never been in a position where we've had to close the school premises because of fire and there has certainly not been any evacuations in the past. so this is unprecedented, without a doubt. the fire service declared a major incident. 50 firefighters said to be putting a heavy attack on the blaze. it is not unusual for the moorland to catch fire, particularly in the summer months. but the residents here say what is unusual is that their houses are so close to pockets of flame like this which keep flaring up. it is unforgiving, inaccessible land. the hoses only reach so far. firefighters have to stamp out some elevated hotspots and keep coming

back to re—extinguish fires. the heat was that intense it was turning the spray to steam, if you like. but it did stop it. it stopped it right on the peak. but as you can see this morning, it is flaming up again. it was just the smoke. the stinging smoke in your eyes. the army has been asked to be ready to respond. a request is being put together for help. but we have not made a decision yet whether or not to actually submit that request. so we are making the necessary preparations should they be needed. the point being, i think i get this sense just from being here, for the last couple of hours, it is a very changeable situation. as the country basks in a heat wave, imagine the temperatures these firefighters are coping with. it is exhausting and it is continuing. with talk of this fire taking many days to beat. and in the last few minutes, an

update from the greater manchester fire and rescue service who say they expect to be increasing the number of firefighters tackling the fire, perhaps reaching as many as 100, not just from manchester but from surrounding areas, as well. as for the people living here, they have been told for now they can come back to their homes but they have to give all of their details, names, addresses and so on, to the authorities because, should they need to get them out again, they need to get them out again, they need to get them out again, they need to be able to get hold of them and there have been reception centres in the area to look after them as necessary. at the moment it isa them as necessary. at the moment it is a very changeable situation and for residents, firefighters and eve ryo ne for residents, firefighters and everyone else in this area, they are having to keep an eye on its minute by minute. thank you. the prime minister has defended her brexit strategy following warnings from business last week that a failure to reach a deal with the eu could threaten investment in the uk. at a stormy session of prime minister's questions, theresa may insisted she was listening to business and placing jobs at the heart of the government's plans. butjeremy corbyn warned her threat

to walk away from brexit negotiations was a risk to britishjobs. 0ur political correspondent, ben wright, reports. are you in charge of your cabinet, prime minister? theresa may's ministers seem to be going rogue, speaking out about their colleagues and policy in a way that suggests a splintering cabinet and a breakdown in discipline. for instance, here is the number two at the treasury, liz truss, mocking the environment is secretary, michael gove, last night. too often we are told we are thinking too much. maybe that's just me. eating too many doughnuts or enjoying the warm glow of our wood—burning goves. i mean stoves. at that point there is a lot of hot air that emerges. then there is borisjohnson, who arrived back at heathrow yesterday after ducking a vote on the airport's expansion. he

has not denied using very blunt language to criticise concerns from businesses about brexit. colleagues have not been impressed. this is usually important to us and i don't think anybody should be dismissive but this was, as i understand it, a throwaway remark at a drinks reception and probably not wise but i wouldn't read any more into it than that. and of course brexit divides the cabinet. theresa may will try to hammer out its differences at a meeting next week. differences jeremy corbyn tried differences at a meeting next week. differencesjeremy corbyn tried to export at prime minister's questions. isn't the truth that the real risk tojobs in our questions. isn't the truth that the real risk to jobs in our country questions. isn't the truth that the real risk tojobs in our country is a prime minister who is having to negotiate around the clock with her owi'i negotiate around the clock with her own cabinet to stop it falling apart, rather than negotiating jobs of workers in this country? weekly good article 50, agreed and implementation period, past the eu withdrawal bill. britain fit for the future and leaving the eu on the

29th of march 2019. but how and on what terms? in the coming weeks, theresa may has some big choices to make. thejohn lewis partnership has warned that its profits in the first half of this year will be close to zero. the chain's chairman has also warned that if britain leaves the eu without a deal, there will be chaos. simon gompertz is with me. a profits warning. yes, and this is the retailer, the department store chain that always seems to do better than the others and yet it doesn't seem to be immune to the tribulations that there are on the high street at the moment. they are closing some waitrose stores, because they own waitrose, as well. they are being transferred to the co—op and algae. they are worried about the second half of the year and it is people not shopping in

department stores, people not feeling very well off, so that is the worry. charlie mayfield, the chair ofjohn lewis, has also pitched into this debate about the consequences of brexit and he was making the point today that he thinks it's important for business to speak out over this. when faced with the level of uncertainty and whether the significant risks that they can see, and with the apparent misunderstanding, or a lack of appreciation of the scale of those risks, i would say that it seems to be irresponsible for people who know that some of those things could happen not to flag those. and a couple of warriors from him, for insta nce couple of warriors from him, for instance fresh food coming into the uk if there is disruption, salad may go beyond its sell by date. but also that in the destruction shoppers might not spend, and that might affect stores. the head of nissan and renault has also said today that

as far as the uk is concerned they are not making decisions about things like investment because of the uncertainty. more pressure from business. simon, thank you. plans to build community prisons for women in england and wales have been scrapped. instead, the government will open five residential centres where female offenders will be helped with drug and mental health problems, and finding work. ministers say custodial sentences haven't stopped reoffending — and should only be used for more serious crimes, asjune kelly reports. inmates at work in the grounds of styal women's prison in cheshire. for years, reformers have been saying that prison doesn't work for many female offenders. the majority of women behind bars are assessed as low or medium risk and commit nonviolent and low—level crimes. paula harriet served four years for drugs offences. she knows what life is like on the inside for women. the lack of support that there is in the prison environment to really tackle things like serious mental health, serious addiction, childhood abuse, domestic abuse.

you know, all of these issues require therapy, they require support. women make up about 5% of the prison population in england and wales. nearly 60% have suffered domestic abuse, and many have mental health problems. 70% of those on short sentences will go on to reoffend. now, the ministry ofjustice says rather than women going to prison, there will be a network of residential centres. women can get the support that they need to turn their lives around, to stop them reoffending. that helps us bring down crime and it helps ensure that we get people on the right track. the change is very welcome. we don't need more prisons for women. we need money into women's centres and crime prevention support for women in the community. this is really good news. campaigners say the new alternatives to prison must be properly funded to be effective.

june kelly, bbc news. our top story this lunchtime: the doctor at the centre of the gosport hospital deaths scandal claims she did her best for patients as she appears in public for the first time since the damning report. and still to come. heterosexual couples win their fight at the supreme court for the right to a civil partnership. coming up on bbc news. serena williams is seeded for wimbledon — despite being outside the world's top 100 after giving birth last year, she's in at number 25. britain is basking in the hottest weather this year — porthmadog in north wales has recorded the highest temperature of the year so far, 30.8 celsius, and the sweltering conditions will continue, with forecasters saying a high of 33 degrees

is possible in the coming days. 0ur correspondent, emma vardy, is in bangor in northern ireland. ican i can tell you that northern ireland could be set to see its hottest day on record today. the previous top temperature was 30.8 degrees and that was set back in 1976. forecasters have been predicting that we could just be that this afternoon. people on the east coast have been making the most of it. testing the water. about 15, 16 degrees, so we have had warmer water days over the last few weeks, but this is nice, it's perfect. just too good not to take a quick break from the dayjob to enjoy it. i get an hour in the water, a bit of a shiver getting out, even today, then back to work. northern ireland has been enjoying its share of the uk's heatwave. today could break the record

for the hottest temperature recorded here for more than a0 years. i'm taking a kayak out here because it is a lovely day here in bangor. it's amazing, not often it comes like this, so we just have to make the most of it and enjoy it while it is here. weather warnings continue to be issued around the uk as the heatwave intensifies. temperatures are above 30 degrees again in wales, which yesterday was the hottest place in the uk. rather cooler in aberdeen, around 22 degrees, but still ice cream weather. the hot weather also means difficult conditions for some. the top temperature in northern ireland is expected to come sometime in mid—afternoon. forecasters will find out if the records have been broken. but on the beach for now 20 of space

on the sand but many other children are waiting to dissent as soon as their lessons are over. we will pick up their lessons are over. we will pick up her brother and sisterfor their lessons are over. we will pick up her brother and sister for school and come down to the beach for a swim in the sea. if you do not fancy a swim there is also pedal power as northern ireland savours the moment. well we've seen another brave group of open water swimmers setting out from the beach and not a wet suit inside. i'm told the highest temperature in northern ireland so far recorded at midday in land was 27 degrees. so just a little way to go before breaking the record just yet. a heterosexual couple who want to enter a civil partnership — instead of a marriage — have won a major legal battle. rebecca steinfeld and charles keidan argued that marriage had, for centuries, treated women as property, and so wasn't an option for them, but as the law stands, civil partnerships are only available to same sex couples. the supreme court ruled unanimously in their favour, saying current law is incompatible

with the european convention on human rights. our legal affairs correspondent, clive coleman, is at the supreme court. ironically since gay marriage was legalised in 2013 there has been inequality between gay couples who have the option of either marrying 01’ have the option of either marrying or entering into a civil partnership is again straight couples who can only marry. today the supreme court ruled that that inequality amounted to discrimination and it also breached article eight of the european convention on human rights. the right to a private and family life. this was charles keidan after their victory. while there is no formal time limit, i think the ruling which is so resounding and emphatic in our favour today, really poses a serious question to the government about what it is going to do on behalf of the over 3 million cohabiting couples in this country, the fastest—growing family type.

opening civil partnerships would be good for them, good for families, and children across the country. notjust for us. and that is why this case is so important today and that is why we fought all the way that we have to the supreme court. well we're waiting for a statement from the government this afternoon. the supreme court cannot force the government to act but it has put pressure on the government to open up pressure on the government to open up civil partnerships to that 3.3 million cohabiting heterosexual couples who may not want to get married but may very well want the legal and financial protections but a civil partnership would give them and those are akin to the same protections you get when you get married. people over the age of a0 in england should pay a new tax to help fund elderly care, according to mps. the suggestion comes as ministers consider how to reform adult social care. the mps say the money would help ensure that everyone who needs support in their old age receives it.

frankie mccamley has more details. currently, when it comes to social care, only the poorest get help towards the cost, be it in their own home or a care home. others have to pay for it themselves, with one in ten facing costs of more than £100,000. some have to rely on friends and family or simply go without. now a group of mps are trying to find ways to reform the system and raise extra cash. they're calling for a new social care premium paid by employers, people over a0 and those in retirement. it would be based on income, those who could not afford to pay would not be expected to. it is looking at the principles of fairness, raising extra resources because without it, i'm afraid, social care is in a very precarious state, and a lot of people are just not getting the support they need. the combination of an ageing population and a squeeze on council budgets has left the social care

system at breaking point. and with the over—65s being the fastest—growing age group in england, predicted to make up more than half the population in 25 years' time, it is clear, reform is needed. when i get to over a0, i wouldn't mind paying it, but until then, they can pay for themselves because they are going to need it first. why over the age of ao — why not young people, everybody pay it, instead ofjust half the population? i don't care how much they get for the pensions and their private pensions and whatever, they have worked for that, and i think they should be entitled to have it. so, you know, they've just got to find another way of doing it. but no matter how they do it, with current spending, more funding is needed. i think there is agreement across the nhs, across gps, across the care providers, that the care system isn't working for people and we need to do something radically different to make sure people get the care they need.

the government says it plans to publish a green paper on social care reform in the autumn. serena williams has been made the 25th seed for wimbledon — despite being outside the top 32 in the rankings. she returned to competitive tennis following the birth of her first child last september, having won 23 grand slam singles in her career. our sports correspondent andy swiss reports. making an exception for one of sport's most exceptional talents. there we are! it is serena williams again. this was the last time we saw serena williams at wimbledon in 2016. champion once more. then, a new arrival. baby alexis. and williams took a year away from sport. but because of that break, her ranking plummeted. she is currently the world 183, despite that, though,

wimbledon have named her as one of their 32 seeds. number 25, in fact. which means she will avoid other top players in the early rounds. but it is a controversial decision. wimbledon normally seed players in line with the rankings and williams's promotion means the world number 32, dominika cibulkova, is not seeded. something she said yesterday be unfair. i don't know if something like this ever happened before. i do not think it is fair and i do not think it is the right thing to do. in the past, other top players who have returned from having children, such as the former number one victoria azarenka, have not been seeded. but tennis fans today largely supported wimbledon's decision. if i had a baby and went to work, i would quite like to be able to go back to where i was and not be put right back at the bottom and not have a chance. it is unfortunate for those missing out because of that seeding. but i think it is

the right thing to do. williams wasn't seeded at last month's french open, but still reached the last 16. with this extra lift, then, her wimbledon rivals will certainly be watching out. andy swiss, bbc news. two of the favourites for the world cup are in contention today, with germany and brazil both hoping to seal their positions in the final 16. last night argentina scraped through, after beating nigeria with a late goal. later today england head to kaliningrad for their final group match against belgium. david 0rnstein is at the england camp in repino: england left here just under an england left herejust under an hour ago making the a5 minute journey to st petersburg airport where they will make the relatively short flight will make the relatively short flight south west to kaliningrad. it isa flight south west to kaliningrad. it is a city which between poland and lithuania said england may enjoy increased travelling support. it is also likely to be slightly cooler

and that could also help. they claimed this morning, all 23 days involved. including delle alli. but there is a feeling that harry kane will start after scoring five goals in their opening two games. eric dier also likely to start and we will hear from dier also likely to start and we will hearfrom him later in a news conference about yesterday we had that victory for argentina nigeria. last gasp with a goal from the unlikely hero marcus rojo. and lionel messi finally shone at the world cup watched on from the stands by diego maradona. we have brazil and germany trying to book a place in the last 16 today. england are already there and need to find out if they will play on monday or tuesday against japan, senegal or colombia. belgium is first, 7pm kick kick—off tomorrow night. prince william has

met the palestinian president, mahmoud abbas, in the israeli—occupied west bank. the duke of cambridge is the first british royal to visit israel and the palestinian territories. israel's prime minister, benjamin neta nyahu, yesterday urged him to take a ‘message of peace' to mr abbas. let's talk to our correspondent. we used the word historic already about this royal visit. today is no exception. another historic marker, the first visit by a british royal to be occupied west bank of the prince william arrived here at the presidential headquarters and he went in down the red carpet to meet the palestinian president mahmoud abbas and have lunch with him. of course the prince is supposed to be a strictly nonpolitical visit but he

was asked by the israeli leadership yesterday to pass that message of peace as it was called to resident mahmoud abbas to encourage them to ta ke mahmoud abbas to encourage them to take the first step towards peace with israel and end the tragedy for their people. now the prince got an answering, an answering kind from my mood about us, the message delivered back to him as were told that they are serious about peace and committed to a two state solution living side by side with israel. that is very much the standard power steering message that was passed back to him. we are told by the british position to israel that the prince is supposed to be here to listen and to learn on both sides, not to deliver a particular political message. but he has come ata political message. but he has come at a sensitive time, there have been no direct peace talks between israel and the palestinians now for four yea rs and the palestinians now for four years and this will be a powerful reminder of that. he hasjust years and this will be a powerful reminder of that. he has just since been to a palestinian refugee camp

here and soon will be coming to attend some cultural events just behind me. time for a look at the weather. here's ben rich. it is all getting familiar by now, another day of blue skies and sunshine. and according to the met office we already have reached close to 32 degrees in wales. the east coast has been struggling a little, you can see from the satellite picture there has been more in the way of cloud across eastern areas. much of that moving back out to sea. but for some beaches along the east coast we could have some low cloud at