this is bbc news. i'm joanna gosling. these are the top stories developing at 11.00. six months after the salisbury nerve agent poisoning the police are giving a significant briefing on their investigation, we'll have the details in the next few minutes. bbc 5 live presenter and newsreader rachael bland has died this morning, nearly two years after she was first diagnosed with breast cancer. the former bank of england governor mervyn king brands britain's preparations for leaving the eu as "incompetent". if a government cannot take action to prevent some of these catastrophic outcomes, whatever particular take on the eu, it illustrates a whole lack of preparation. it doesn't tell us anything about whether the policy of staying in the eu is good or bad, it tells us everything about the incompetence of the preparation for it. the nhs says children in england will receive a revolutionary new treatment for leukaemia — after striking a deal with the treatment‘s manufacturers. also this hour — the worst typhoon

to hitjapan in 25 years. at least 11 are killed, and hundreds of others are injured as the storm left a trail of destruction across the country. global health experts issue an urgent warning afterfinding1.4 billion people do not exercise enough. good morning, it's 5th september. i'm joanna gosling. welcome to bbc newsroom live. breaking news. there was a significant news briefing under way about the salisbury nerve agent poisoning. we arejust about the salisbury nerve agent poisoning. we are just hearing two russians have been named, suspected

of murdering the. they are alexander petrov and rusan buslarov. we are possibly expecting a statement in the commons from the pine prime minister with more on the novichok poisoning. thisjust minister with more on the novichok poisoning. this just coming through that two russians have been named as suspects in the murder of the skripals. . they are seen in those pictures. sorry, the attempted murder of the skripals. the russians who have been named are alexander petrov and rusan busarov. sergei skripal and yulia skripal were poisoned earlier in the year in salisbury and the foreign secretary

described the action as recklessness by russia. russia has denied any involvement in the poisonings. international chemical weapons experts investigating these su bsta nces experts investigating these substances used and reached the conclusion that the poison had come from russia. the foreign secretary said the russian state in bringing a nerve agent into the uk and total disregard for the safety of the public is appalling and irresponsible. we are expecting to hear more from scotland yard and also the prime minister. she will be making a statement on this after prime minister's questions. the bbc 5 live newsreader, rachael bland, who was widely praised for her blog describing her treatment

for breast cancer — has died. she was a0. her family said that her death had left a huge hole that they would never be able to fill, but that they took comfort and pride that her work had helped to reduce the stigma around the disease. our correspondent sophie long joins me now. very sad news in the past few moments. very sad. rachel's family confirmed she died this morning shortly after 3am. we are told she died peacefully surrounded by her family. tributes are pouring in. let's ta ke family. tributes are pouring in. let's take you through what we've heard from her family. let's take you through what we've heard from herfamily. her husband steve said rachel's death has left a huge hole in ourfamily that steve said rachel's death has left a huge hole in our family that we will never be able to fill. he said, we ta ke never be able to fill. he said, we take such comfort and pride from the amazing and tireless work she has done since her diagnosis to reduce the stigma around cancer and prove it is possible to live life to the fullest even when facing huge challenges on a daily basis. even though her body was at its weakest, her voice was at its strongest and

most powerful. rachael will always be an incredible inspiration to eve ryo ne be an incredible inspiration to everyone she met. for us she was perfect in every way and we will miss her more than words can say. we have heard from jonathan wall, controller of bbc radio five live. he said that she was part of the fabric of radio 5 live. he said she was a very talented broadcaster and a beautiful, loyal colleague. she turned the final year of her life into the finest year of her life delivering the most important broadcasting i have ever heard about living with cancer and ultimately facing death because of cancer. she has made a profound difference to so many lives, we are so proud of what she has achieved. a truly heroic broadcast and lovely wife, daughter and mother. bbc director—general tony hall has said rachael was a popular and inspiring journalist, eve ryo ne popular and inspiring journalist, everyone has been moved by her courage and dignity. she will be

hugely missed by her many listeners and staff across the bbc. our sympathies go out to her family and friends. we've heard a lot about her broadcasting, this ground—breaking broadcasting, this ground—breaking broadcasting she did. she had a podcast, you, me & the big c, which she hosted with debra james and laura mun who both suffered with cancer. i was speaking to debra james yesterday who told me about when they came up with the idea. and how funny it was that rachael went to her bosses and said she wanted to doa to her bosses and said she wanted to do a podcast, three women sitting around talking about cancer, two of whom have got no broadcasting experience at all. yesterday we heard it had topped the itunes podcast charts. her husband steve tweeted to say how happy she was about that because she wanted to change the language surrounding cancer and make it ok for people to talk about it in the open way that

she did with lauren and deborah. we can listen to a bit of the interview you did with deborahjames. rachael tried everything. everyone saying have you tried this, have you tried turmeric, standing on your head, doing triple somersaults. yes. but she was unlucky, and i don't know whether i'll be lucky but i know whether i'll be lucky but i know that i will make absolute certain that now, the time that i have left, i will use as productively as possible. i know that rachael wouldn't want me running into a whole and not building on what we've already started. that was deborah speaking to me yesterday. she has stage for cancer, she is watching herfriend go before her. she said what rachael would want was for her to carry on.

i don't know if they will continue the podcast, they want to carry on in some way she was telling me. it's ha rd to in some way she was telling me. it's hard to describe the sense of humour that deborah was telling me that rachael had. she was telling me up one point we should rename the podcast "till death do us part" because that's going to happen and sadly today it has happened. her family and co—presenters need to work out a way forward. deborah brady had a sense of pride that she was able to be part of this thing with rachel and really change the language of cancer. she said it would be very important that she didn't lose a battle, rachael wasn't a loser. she died of cancer but she fought it in every way she could. deborah said she has never met anyone who wanted to live as much as rachael did. well the 5 live presenter tony livesey worked closely with rachael bland — he gave this tribute. when i met rachael she was the

celebrity radio presenter. very quickly she became a family person as well. i knew her husband and when freddie was born we alljoined in the celebrations. i started to see a different side of rachael then. she was an all—round human being. when she did this podcast, she became an absolutely different person to me. she was no longer a colleague, she became an inspiration. she said to me, whenl became an inspiration. she said to me, when i did the breakfast show just before she died, she looked at me and said, tony, i hate that phrase, never do that face at me. that's why i'm going to laugh my way through this, because she told me to. she said, there's nothing we can do about it. she said, i'm not frightened of death, i'm frightened of what i'm leaving behind. she has inspired millions of people in these la st inspired millions of people in these last few months and for that what more legacy could she want? tony livesey talking about smiling

and laughing through this. the sense we got from deborah yesterday is thatis we got from deborah yesterday is that is exactly what rachael would have wanted. deborah was saying when she learned her cancer had moved on her friends were deeply upset and rachael's response was to send her a joke about getting two on the funeral. a very sad day. her husband steve a nd funeral. a very sad day. her husband steve and young son freddie. thank you. we are talking about novichok and the poisoning of sergei skripal and yulia skripal and the fact we have just been hearing that two russians have been named as suspects in the attempted murders of sergei skripal and your gaze grip —— yulia skripal. the police have been giving a news

briefing and have cherry men. they believe the two men are travelling under aliases. their names are alexander petrov and ruslan boshirov. just take you back it was in march this year that sergei skripal and yulia skripal were poisoned with a military grade nerve agent of a type developed by russia. the cps director of legal services put out a statement saying a police officer ds dick baillie involved in searching their home address after the attack was also poisoned. the counter terrorism policing network has conducted a forehead investigation into how it happened. they have recently submitted a file of evidence to the cps to make a decision whether criminal charges could be brought against anyone involved in these events. the cps

counterterror division have considered the evidence and concluded there is sufficient evidence to provide a realistic prospect of conviction and therefore it is clearly in the public interest charge alexander petrov and ruslan boshirov with the following offences. conspiracy to murder sergei skripal, attempted murder of sergei skripal, attempted murder of sergei skripal, attempted murder of sergei skripal, yulia skripal and nick bailey. possession of novichok, causing grievous bodily harm with intent to yulia skripal and nick bailey. we can show you some pictures of the two suspects. it is alexander petrov and ruslan boshirov. it is believed the uk counterterrorism police chiefs said they are travelling under aliases. alexander petrov and. ruslan boshirov. russia has made it clear

they do not permit extradition of its own nationals. should this position change then an extradition request would be made. we have obtained a european arrest warrant which means if either man travels to a country where and eaw is valid they will be arrested and face extradition on these charges for which there is no statute of limitations. those two men are wa nted limitations. those two men are wanted for questioning over the attempted murders of sergei skripal and yulia skripal and also a police officer who was also poisoned with novichok when he searched the skripals home address. the prime minister is going to be making a statement in the commons after pmqs. more on today's main stories coming up on newsroom live here on the bbc news channel, but now we say goodbye to viewers on bbc two. we will keep you updated on that

breaking story about the naming of two russians wanted in connection with the attempted murders of sergei skripal and yulia skripal. we'll be speaking to our reporter shortly in the news briefing. the former bank of england governor mervyn king has branded britain's preparations for leaving the eu as "incompetent". lord king has previously spoken of his optimism about leaving the european union. but speaking to our business editor, simonjack, he now says the lack of planning for the possibility of a no—deal brexit has undermined the government in the negotiations. if as a country we cannot take a big decision about whether or not we should be in the european union, which is based on sovereignty, based on controlling our borders, there are arguments on both sides, we ought to be able to have a reasonable and civilised debate on that and then have a vote.

what we're now getting is not a reasonable or civilised discussion, it's a discussion where both sides seem to be throwing insults at each other. i find that deeply depressing, and frankly if a government cannot take action to prevent some of these catastrophic outcomes, whatever position you take on the eu, it illustrates a whole lack of preparation. it doesn't tell us anything about whether the policy of staying in the eu is good or bad, it tells us everything about the incompetence of the preparation for its. that this government has been incompetent? the group of people tasked with trying to make decisions on all this is parliament as a whole, notjust the government, and the civil service, have brought us to a position where we are now being told that we have to accept a certain course of action because otherwise it would be catastrophic. now, it beggars belief that the sixth biggest economy in the world should get itself into that position. everyone in europe has a strong economic incentives in coming to a free trade agreement. that is something we should have said in 2016 was what we wanted to do.

but the only way to get other countries to agree to that is to demonstrate that we can actually put in place credible plans to be prepared to leave without a deal, because we can't impose a deal on anyone else. you've got to have a credible bargaining position. we haven't had a credible bargaining position because we haven't put in place measures where we can say to our colleagues in europe look, we'd like a free—trade deal, we think that you would probably like one too, but if we can't agree don't be under any misapprehension we have put in place the measures that would enable us to leave without one. that is a practical thing that can be done. it can't be done in six months. it takes several years. let's go live to westminster, where i'm joined by our assistant political editor — norman smith. well, mervyn king is the latest in a line of seniorfigures well, mervyn king is the latest in a line of senior figures who have come out and been highly critical of

theresa may's handling of the negotiations. we heard from boris johnson accusing her of waving the white flag. david davis who resigned as brexit secretary equally critical. joining me is theresa villiers. do you share lord keen‘s concerns that the negotiations have been mishandled and the government has been in his words incompetent?” have some sympathy with what lord king has said. i don't think i would go far with his harsh criticism but this serious intervention as a wake—up call. the government needs to make sure we are ready on the 29th of march, regardless of whether they reach an agreement with the eu or whether they don't. why did the government not make plans earlier? mervyn king is clear, now it's too late. six months is too late, he says. well, there's still time to

step up the preparation for a situation where there isn't a deal and i'm urging the government to do that. i think work has been under way, there has been some good work but it needs really strong political leadership to drive it to make sure that we are ready on day one. we can't assume that the negotiations will successfully deliver an implementation period. the government ought to be operating on the basis that they must be ready on the basis that they must be ready on the 29th of march even if there is fio the 29th of march even if there is no deal on an interim period. there has been widespread criticism within the tory party of mrs may's proposed checkers brand. lord king says we are in the worst of all worlds where we are poised to leave and would have no say, and yet in his view would remain under large parts of the authority of the eu ‘s. would remain under large parts of the authority of the eu 's. well, like many i have my worries about the chequers plan because it would leave us subject to many rules from

the eu without say over them. my greater worry is an ultimate agreement may require further concessions from the government which would leave us subject again to even more roles of the single market without a save. that's one of my concerns about the way the negotiations are going currently. given that, what do you think are the prospects of mrs may being able to push through her chequers deal to get it through parliament? it's difficult to say without seeing the exact terms of an agreement that the prime minister may bring back. also, the context, the alternatives. but it isjust the context, the alternatives. but it is just absolutely vital that the contingencies are properly planned for. so, if there is an agreement and it is voted down in parliament, the government needs to be ready to make sure the basics of our borders can continue to function and flow freely. one other option floated by the labour mair of manchester andy burnham this morning is that if there is no agreement, and we seem to be heading no deal, why not delay

article 50? in other words, why not ask for more time to negotiate a better deal? there's a sense of exhaust narration across much of the country not just from leave voters but some remain voters. the sentiment is we made a decision as a country, you've just got to get on with it. indefinitely postponing isn't the right answer. would you go as far as isn't the right answer. would you go as faras mr isn't the right answer. would you go as far as mr burnham because he said if there was a second referendum there would be unrest. do think a second referendum could actually spark civil protest and disobedience? i don't believe so. but i do think that a second referendum would be very hard to justify democratically. it doesn't seem justify democratically. it doesn't seem fair, when you give the choice to people to make in a referendum and then you ask them to vote again if the establishment doesn't like the answer. that's why i feel a

second referendum isn't justified. theresa villiers, thank you. i'm sure we'll get more on chequers and all things brexit at pmqs where i suspect mrs may may well be challenged by some of her own backbenches on whether she is prepared to make further compromises to the eu over her chequers plan. thank you. we are also expecting a statement from theresa may after pmqs on the use of novichok. a european arrest warrant has been issued for two russians blamed for the nerve agent attack on yulia and sergei skripal. they have been named as alexander petrov and ruslan boshirov, both named for trying to kill the former russian double agent sergei skripal and his daughter yulia with novichok earlier this year. our correspondent richard galpin is at

new scotland yard and has the details. bring us up—to—date. bring us up-to-date. this is very, very important. not only have they actually named the people they suspect of carrying out the attacks but they are saying they have brought charges against them and they believe there is a realistic prospect of convicting them. they've named them. alexander petrov and ruslan boshirov. police have said they think these are aliases, not their real names. there is also detail about what exactly happened in march when the skripals or poisoned. they said these two men allegedly left the the uk on the same day as the poisoning and prior to that had been staying in a hotel in london. and apparently they did a

reconnaissance trip to salisbury and then the poisoning took place on the sunday. police think that a purview bottle was used to spray the novichok agent on the door handle of the skripals' house in salisbury. we know it was a purview bottle which dawn stu rgess know it was a purview bottle which dawn sturgess and charlie rowley from amersham who were taken ill suddenly in june and from amersham who were taken ill suddenly injune and were also found to have been poisoned with novichok. they had picked up a purview bottle and there are reports that dawn stu rg ess ha d and there are reports that dawn sturgess had sprayed it on to her wrist —— perfume bottle. we know that she died several days after being admitted to hospital. charlie rowley survived although he hasn't been well. in the statement the cps have put out, they say it's clear that russia would not agree to extradite these men so they won't be applying to extradition but they've put out a european arrest warrant

for them. yes, that's right. it's the same as the alexander litvinenko case. it was never possible to extradite the two culprits. the russians saying the constitution says they cannot extradite people to be prosecuted in a court abroad. i think there's no chance that these two men who have now been named will ever come to this country. obviously the european arrest warrant has an impact in the sense that it means their movements are therefore restricted. whatever the european arrest warrant is valid. if they go into any of those countries they could be arrested. they will be aware of that and presumably will make sure they don't go anywhere where they are likely to be arrested. in diplomatic terms what impact will the naming have? obviously, already there's been a statement from jeremy hunt talking about the appalling recklessness of the russian state in what they did,

bringing ina the russian state in what they did, bringing in a chemical weapon novichok into this country and with the attempted murder of the skripals. it's going to lower relations, obviously they are at an all—time low at the moment anyway. this is obviously very important and the russians have put out a statement and are talking about the skripals being held against their will and not able to contact relatives and not being able to contact russian officials. thank you. there will be a statement by the prime minister after pmqs. the strongest typhoon to hit japan in a quarter of a century has claimed the lives of several people and injured more than 150. typhoonjebi has battered western parts of the country with ferocious winds and rain — with more than a million people told to leave their homes and thousands of passengers trapped at one of the country's major airports.

our correspondent robin brant is in tokyo. it feels like it's going on and on. yes but the good news isjebi has moved north and been downgraded from a typhoon to what is known as a low pressure system. it is off the coast of russia and no longer a threat to japan. in the brief period when it made landfall on the west coast of japan and moved over a path around osaka which is the industrial heartland of japan in osaka which is the industrial heartland ofjapan in the osaka which is the industrial heartland of japan in the south, osaka which is the industrial heartland ofjapan in the south, it caused devastation. at 1.2 million homes were off the power grid, the official death toll currently stands at ten. kansai international airport, we had a scene where essentially most of the tarmac and concrete around the terminal building was submerged under water caused by the storm surge yesterday.

and the bridge which links the airport to the mainland was damaged bya airport to the mainland was damaged by a boat blown from its anchor. some 4000 passengers were stranded, they were marooned and had to sleep there. there was no way in or out and rescuers have spent most of today using buses and boats to try and get those people out. that operation is ongoing and they hope to co m plete operation is ongoing and they hope to complete that by the end of today. there is real concern about ka nsai today. there is real concern about kansai international airport which is hugely important, a tourist hub, some 400 flights a day in and out. there are some reports tonight it could stay closed for a week. flooding was extensive. notjust around the outside but inside the terminal as well. thank you. a revolutionary new treatment to tackle a rare form of childhood leukaemia is to be made available through the nhs in england. health experts say the therapy — which uses the body's own immune cells to fight the cancer —

represents one of the most exciting advances for decades. there are hopes it could also have an impact on other cancer treatments. joining me is rose gray who is policy manager at cancer research uk. thank you forjoining us. how much ofa thank you forjoining us. how much of a breakthrough is this? this is a really exciting new treatment. it involves taking the patient‘s immune cells out of their body, engineering them ina cells out of their body, engineering them in a lab and giving them back to the patient where it educates the patient‘s other immune cells and fight the cancer. it is tailor—made treatment which could lead to long—term improvement, so this is why everyone is so excited. currently it is solely for a rare form of childhood leukaemia, why is that? that's because it's the specific type of childhood cancer that a drug company has done the

clinical trials then. we know there isa similar clinical trials then. we know there is a similar treatment currently being considered by nice which is responsibility for approving new drugs. that was recently rejected but we are hopeful that if further discussions are more fruitful that could be approved in future but it's being investigated for different types of cancer. is there any reason to think it wouldn't work for other types of cancer? it is complex because it involves engineering immune cells, it's a really new technology. it depends on what the science shows and what the clinical trials show. it's something we are really excited about and are going to monitor developments closely and. what is the potential likely expected outcome for a child that would have this treatment? the difference with this compared to normal chemotherapy if it is a one—off treatment. when it works, it works really well and can lead to long—term remission without need for

further treatment. because it's so new, we haven't seen long—term results. we've only got a few years where we've seen some patients do really, really well. because of that and because there is still some uncertainty, the drug has been approved in the cancer drugs fund which is a really exciting thing because it shows the nhs has been flexible, as have the drug company and making sure this gets to patients. it's therefore a few years while more data is collected about how effective it is. it will give great hope to many people about the potential for it. it's very expensive isn't it? it is and we do not actually know what you'll has been reached yet, a lot of these discussions are very complicated and absolutely confidential but because it is an expensive treatment you can imagine there has been some discount on behalf of the pharmaceutical company

but also flexibility from nhs england in terms of how the drug gets to patients. thank you. time for a look at the weather with lucy. not a bad day to day for most, fine and dry and bright but something a bit more autumnal to come any next couple of days. not dry and bright for all, it outbreaks of rain and northern ireland and north—west scotland. eastern scotland seeing sane and across england and wales, cloudy in east with the risk of one or two showers and the south—east, temperatures and mr hyde team is perhaps the low 20s in the south and south—east. through this evening, working east and patchy and light rainfor working east and patchy and light rain for northern england elsewhere clear spells and temperatures falling to single figures in the north, ten to 13 in the south. tomorrow a northerly breeze so

fresher with sunshine and scattered showers and perhaps a longer spell of rain and the south—west later and temperatures in the mid—to high teens, 21 and the south—east. this is bbc news. our latest headlines... police say they have enough evidence evidence to charge two russian nationals — alexander petrov and ruslan boshirov — with conspiracy to murder the former russian spy, sergei skripal, and his daughter, in the english city of salisbury, with the nerve agent novichok. russia denies any involvement. bbc 5 live presenter and newsreader rachael bland, has died this morning, nearly two years after she was first diagnosed with breast cancer. the former governor of the bank of england, lord mervyn king, claims incompetent brexit preparations have undermined the uk's negotiating position. lord king, who supported leave

during the referendum, warns britain could have follow eu rules it had no say in making. the nhs says children in england will be able to get a revolutionary new treatment for leukaemia — after striking a deal with the treatment‘s manufacturers. car—t is a cutting—edge treatment for aggressive leukaemia when other drugs have failed. at least 11 are killed, and hundreds of others are injured as the the worst typhoon to hit japan in 25 years leaves a trail of destruction across the country. sport now, here's olly foster. the ryder cup captain has picked his

team, ian poulter is a veteran, sergio garcia, paul casey and henrik stenson also in the frame. american ryder cup captainjim furyk has chosen tiger woods, phil mickelson and bryson dechambeau as three of his four wild card picks for the united states team to face europe in this month's competition. i have not been part of the team playing for six years, served as vice i have not been part of the team playing for six years, served as vice captain i have not been part of the team playing for six years, served as vice captain and i have not been part of the team playing for six years, served as vice captain and that i have not been part of the team playing for six years, served as vice captain and that was i have not been part of the team playing for six years, served as vice captain and that was incredible to be part of the team and these young guys and to try and help them in any way shape or form i could whether it was worth pairing is,

spikes or summonses on what whatever they needed i was there and this year to beat have the honour to be able to play again is beyond special. rafa nadal failed to win a single game in the opening set of his us open quarter—final against dominic thiem on tuesday. but the defending champion fought back to beat the austrian in five sets, in a match that ended after 2 am in new york. the spaniard will now face third seed juan martin del potro in semi—finals, giles goford reports. a tough match against a great opponent, physically demanding because the conditions were tough, but not crazy. i played against a great opponent who played a good match so sorry for him. he has a

tough guy, one of the best guys on tour. six time winner serena williams is through to the semi finals after a straight sets win over karloina pliskova. the 23 time grand slam champion won 6—4, 6—3. england defender luke shaw suffered an injury and has been recalled by gareth southgate for games against spain and switzerland. i nearly lost my leg, i was close to that and i never knew that until six months later when the doctor told me and if i knew that then i would have never evenif i knew that then i would have never even if he had told me there was a worry i would have tried but i found out that six month later and it was ha rd out that six month later and it was hard for me to realise that but the

la ke hard for me to realise that but the lake is feeling really strong now so it is good. that's all the sport for now. i'll have more for you in the next hour. more on our breaking news this hour — that prosecutors say they have sufficient evidence to charge two russian nationals with conspiracy to murder in connection with the nerve agent attack in salisbury in march. they've been named as alexander petrov and ruslan boshirov — although it's believed these were aliases. let's go live to moscow and speak to our correspondent oleg boldyrev. has there been any reaction may yet from moscow or is it too soon? not so far to this particular information and as you say the names are probably not real. alexander petrov is a very common name in russia. we see the snapshot of the two suspects but nothing particular comes out of any of the russian

bodies are so far. earlier a presidential spokesman said about the upcoming report that russia is looking forward to sharing something coherent from the british side because they said russia was excluded from the investigation despite numerous requests to participate. we have just had from one of the news agencies are saying the russian foreign ministry saying the russian foreign ministry saying the names published by britain do not mean anything to us. one of the things the crown prosecution service has said and putting out the details of the two suspects is that it is they will not be applying to russia for extradition as the russian court magician does not permit extradition of its own nationals and that is obviously something clear. —— the

russian constitution. the article appeared later but despite the fact you keep prosecutors and detectives we re you keep prosecutors and detectives were allowed to go to russia and 2007 and identified quite early on the suspects who were later confirmed it was them who slipped polonium into the tree, russia firmly refused to hand them over and moreover one has become a member of parliament and they continue to deny any connection to the murder. london knows it is quite pointless to demand any expression and russia is waiting to see what will come out of the prime minister's address in parliament. before the secretary said the recklessness of the russian

state and bringing in a region into the uk and total disregard for the safety of the public is appalling and irresponsible. what is the likely diplomatic fallout? not on the uk and russia but the wider unit and united states and canada, participated in tit—for—tat expulsions of diplomats and there could be any other measures and russia has promised and said several times it would be responding in kind to any new sanctions on punitive measures. what he measures and we do not know yet. thank you. we're waiting to hear from the not know yet. thank you. we're waiting to hearfrom the prime minister will be making a statement after prime ministers questions. as we've heard the former governor of the bank of england — and brexit supporter — lord king has criticised prepartions for leaving the eu as incompetent. but what do voters make of how the negotiations are going? the national centre for social research has been looking into it and has found that at

the beginning of 2017, a third of people they surveyed thought that britain would get a good dealfrom the brexit negotiations. while 37 per cent belived that the uk would get a bad deal. but it appears that there has been a decline in confidence during the last 18 months, and now less than a fifth of voters of say they think britain will end up with a good deal, while more than half now anticipate that it will be a bad deal. let's get more now on those figures and hear about other areas where attitudes have changed following the brexit referendum. joining me now from north london is sirjohn curtis — senior research fellow at the national centre for social research who carried out this research. thank you forjoining us. as the any indication, obviously people are more pessimistic by the figures, to give us more about what you finding out? you're absolutely right, people are more pessimistic and it is not

just remain voters, so also those who voted leave and 2016. when it comes to whether or not this perception that the talks are not going terribly well actually shifts people's attitudes towards the merits of brick of brexit body discovered as a does not make that much difference. the truth is voters are blaming the politicians on both sides of the negotiating table for the fact that looks as though the negotiations are not going very far and we may get a bad deal. leave voters in particular are blaming the eu and think they are handing negotiations badly and equally remain voters but also leave voters are looming the uk government. both the uk and the eu voters are more critical so in other words when we're talking about the brexit process and what kind of deal we might get in so far as voters are anticipating disappointment they are

saying that as the politicians fault, and does not lead me to question for example voting to leave. what it does mean they begin to question whether or not it should be voted leave remain as whether or not they think brexit is going to be good or bad for the uk economy. still the case that many a lever voter thinks that brexit is going to be good for the uk economy but that if is going to be bad then there are signs that some of them at least have appealed off from the league side. was the question specific asked about that the very second recommend referendum how would people vote? there was, take a simple headline figure that shows 59% for remain, 41 ford leave but you need to read the detail because it acknowledges 53% of people said they voted remain and 2016 and 40 74 leave another once we have slightly

too many remain voters. when shooting into account the poll is pointing to a 5% 6% swing to remain competitive 2016 which is roughly what the opinion polls are saying. we should in mind that in part this has looked as though it leave voters we re has looked as though it leave voters were a little less oil than remain voters to their vote two years ago primarily because of the voters some of them had doubts about the consequence of brexit but also there is another crucial group and that is the people who did not vote two yea rs the people who did not vote two years ago, they are at least 2—1 in favour of remain if they express a view and they are also relatively pessimistic about the economic consequences of brexit so and so far as everywhere to have a hypothetical referendum tomorrow are pulling together with lots of other polling suggests a small remain leave. much depend on whether and not those folk who did not turn up two years ago

good a second time around another once although there might be a leave for remain on the ground on which it has built men at so solid as maybe some remain campaigners might hope. the bbc five live newsreader, rachael bland — who was widely praised for her blog describing her treatment for breast cancer — has died. she was 40. her family said that her death had left a huge hole that they would never be able to fill — but that they took comfort and pride that her work had helped to reduce the stigma around the disease. iam afraid i am afraid i have some very sad news to bring you and that is that rachael bland has died this morning nearly two years after she was first diagnosed with breast cancer. she leaves behind her husband steve and young son freddie.

and the controller of bbc radio 5 live and 5 live sports extra, jonathan wall, has been speaking about the success of her podcast when i heard the first couple of episodes i was not surprised either the action, i knew it was something of its type that was new and original because in her heart the reason why she wanted to do it was to inform about a topic she knew most people were frightened to talk about and it was that courage to address that with lauren and deborah and it was that freshness that made amazing. in a moment we'll have all the business news, but first the headlines on bbc news... police say they have enough evidence evidence to charge two russian nationals — alexander petrov and ruslan boshirov — with conspiracy to murder the former russian spy, sergei skripal, and his daughter bbc 5 live presenter and newsreader rachael bland,

has died this morning, nearly two years after she was first diagnosed with breast cancer. the former governor of the bank of england, lord king, has condemned the uk's preparations for brexit as "incompetent" in the business news lord king has criticised brexit preparations — with a warning over the way negotations have been handled. the former governor of the bank of england — who supports brexit — said it "beggared belief" that the world's sixth—biggest economy should be talking of stockpiling food and medicines, warning that it left the government without a credible bargaining position. thousands of people in the uk were charged twice for debit card payments, due to an issue with a card terminal run by cardnet, a joint venture between lloyds bank and first data. money was taken from bank accounts twice but transactions only showed

up once on many receipts. lloyds says customers have now been refunded. ride sharing firm uber is to block customers in australia and new zealand if they have a low passenger rating. riders rated four—out—of—five stars or lower will be banned for six months. ratings are based on feedback left by drivers after each journey. the move is aimed at improving passenger behaviour. the archbishop of canterbury has called for a fundamental rethink of how the economy works, including more public spending and higher taxes on technology giants and the wealthy. to mark the launch of a major report by the commission on economicjustice, of which he is a leading member, archbishop justin welby told our economics editor, kamal ahmed, that the present economy was "unjust" overall the answer is no it is not a

just economy because it is notjust for everyone. people suffer from injustice in the economy. people suffer from the need to go to a food bank even when you have got to adult in the household living reasonably tightly and both working. people suffer from being caught tightly and both working. people sufferfrom being caught in a debt trap because they cannot replace a basic bit of equipment they need, a new stove my washing machine. let alone have lunch luxuries. do you think public spending should be cut or increased? do we need more money to be spent in key areas like housing, education and health? the armed forces was a defence and other areas. yes we do.

because we care about human dignity so that when someone falls into mental illness they do not get discarded, when someone who has worked hard all their life and paid taxes and needs help at the end of the life and the nhs is there to help them. to pay for the extra spending you say is necessary, as are spending you say is necessary, as a re necessary spending you say is necessary, as are necessary for the wealthy and businesses to pay more tax? what is clear is that tax should be a fundamental part of being a citizen. those who have the most should pay the most. no company through being a multinational or global can afraid the leg evade the responsibility of paying the proper amount of tax based on the revenues it earns. some people will need to pay more. house—builder barratt has reported

a hefty rise in annual profits as it hailed an "outstanding" year. the group posted 9.2% rise in annual pre—tax profit to a record £835.5 million. the number of houses built and completed were up 1.1% to 17,579 — the highest number in a decade — and the average selling price on completion increased 5% to £288,900. looking at those figures, a higher record of building, there's no crisis, as they are? not if you are in charge of trying to solve the housing crisis. the results are reflected elsewhere in the sector, other brands and also people with upbeat reports over the last couple

of weeks and we expect them to continue. it is difficult to get it wrong in the current climate, the others an essential demand, the government is giving assistance to the sector through schemes like out to buy so it is no surprise that actually it is shareholders and businesses that appear to be making hay through the housing crisis. there's always the criticism that help to buy doesn't help us, it helps the house—builders make money. it was a vital need when it was launched and a 175,000 buyers now only home but it remains highly controversial but the government through the equity participation and help to buy and a rising house prices have netted an extra £1 billion in equity that they share with those who bought properties will stop it is already scheduled to come to an end and about two years.

people think it is time to curtail the service and perhaps red hat and a bitand the service and perhaps red hat and a bit and i am sure the service and perhaps red hat and a bitand i am sure it the service and perhaps red hat and a bit and i am sure it is something the government will be looking at in november at the budget. sorry to cut it short, thank you. let's look at the numbers. that's all the business news. the first prime minister's questions after the summer break will be getting underway shortly — our assistant political editor norman smith is in westminsterfor us. there's lots to talk about, what do you think will happen? it is going to bea you think will happen? it is going to be a big pmq because of the is going to be one of the most tumultuous parliamentary sessions and modern times and no one very clear about what on earth is going

to happen in terms of brexit, mrs may and so on. i would think and be surprised ifjeremy corbyn do not seek to capitalise on the infighting and tensions in the tory party over brexit but we had david davis at the weekend saying the deal mrs may had got was almost as bad staying in the eu then boris johnson got was almost as bad staying in the eu then borisjohnson and the newspaper saying mrs may was waving the white flag and jacob rees mogg saying michel barnier agreed with them. real pressure on mrs may and i would imaginejeremy corbyn would seek to capitalise on that although maybe more interesting will be what we hear from tory backbenchers, whether they to try to eat out of mrs may further signs of what compromises she might be prepared to make on the chequers deal and for mrs may i think what we will be looking for is if she has a sense of

confidence about how approach to chequers, whether she gives any indication that she is notjust up for it but is sure she can get it through parliament, another once rather than as an element of defiance by mrs may following the interventions by boris johnson defiance by mrs may following the interventions by borisjohnson and so on. a big moment and i expect the headlines will probably come from brexit. thank you, we will be back for prime minister's questions and mrs mabel beginning a statement afterwards about the news we have just been breaking andy last and other prosecutors have identified two russians they have accused of trying to murder the former russian spy trying to murder the former russian spy in salisbury. we can hear from the head we can hearfrom the head of counterterrorism. we have meticulously follow the evidence working closely with forensic teams and scientist and we have

investigated by the attack in salisbury and the poisoning of dawn stu rg ess salisbury and the poisoning of dawn sturgess and charlie rowley. we have no doubt that these two incidents are connected and they form one investigation. today was mike and ozment iv crown prosecution service marks the most significant development in this investigation and we have to evidence to bring charges and domestic and european arrest wa rra nts charges and domestic and european arrest warrants have been served and we will be seeking to serve and to poll notices. our enquiries do not stop here and today as well as updating you about the progress of the investigation i am appealing once more to the public for their help as we continue to build the evidence in this case. now it's time for a look at the weather. sunny spells for many but more than

end of the week. cloudy with rain and northern ireland and offer scotla nd and northern ireland and offer scotland but sunny spells elsewhere and sunny spells through north—west england into wheels and more anyway a cloud lingering in the south—east with one or two showers, temperatures in the high teens perhaps creeping into the 20s in the south and south—east as we go through this evening and overnight, outbreaks of rain spreading south and east, further south the weather front fizzles someone like light rain and drizzle spreading to the north—west of england and the midlands. elsewhere the good clear spells and temperatures between six and 12, tomorrow a shift in the weather, northerly feed with a good deal of sunshine, scattered showers and they could merge to bring prolonged spells of rain and the south—west for a time, temperatures generally in the mid to high teens, perhaps a little bit warmer in the south—east. this is bbc news —

i'm joanna gosling. these are the top stories developing at midday. police say they have enough evidence to charge two russian nationals — alexander petrov and ruslan boshirov — with attempting to murder the former russian spy, sergei skripal, and his daughter. over the last six months we have meticulously followed the evidence, working closely with specialist forensic teams and scientists, as we have investigated both the attack on sergei and yulia skripal in salisbury and the poisoning of dawn sturgess and charlie rowley. theresa may will make a statement on the salisbury nerve agent attack in the house of commons in the next hour. bbc 5 live presenter and newsreader rachael bland has died this morning, nearly two years after she was first diagnosed with breast cancer. the former bank of england governor mervyn king brands britain's preparations for leaving the eu as "incompetent". and — theresa may faces the labour leaderjeremy corbyn for

the first prime minister's questions after the summer break. we will be live in the house of commons as soon as pmqs begins. first, the breaking news that british prosecutors have identified and. russian nationals who they suspect over the attempted murders of sergei skripal and yulia skripal. it is alexander petrov and ruslan boshirov. they have been named a suspect although prosecutors say they suspect they were travelling

under aliases. they are probably not their real names. this is some cctv footage of them. it is known they arrived in london prior to the poisonings of sergei skripal and yulia skripal on the 4th of march in salisbury. they stayed in a hotel and left on the same day as the poisoning. now, let's go to the house of commons for prime minister's questions. i'm sure members would like tojoin me in congratulating both the english and scottish women's football teams for an excellent performance in qualifying for next yea r‘s world performance in qualifying for next year's world cup. i had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others in addition to my duties in this house i will have further such meetings later today. mr speaker, my constituent nazanin zaghari—ratcliffe constituent nazanin zaghari— ratcliffe was constituent nazanin zaghari—ratcliffe was released temporarily for three days last month before being hauled back to prison in iran. when she was there,

she was contacted by the iranians revolution any guard saying if she attempted to contact the british embassy her family would be harmed —— iranians revolution regard. i find it deeply troubling that a british citizen was threatened against contacting her embassy. does the prime minister share my concern and does she speak to him perhaps in new york? i share the concerns she has expressed and our thoughts remain with nazanin zaghari—ratcliffe during this difficult time and with her family and friends who had been campaigning tirelessly for her release. the honourable lady will note that one of the difficulties is the question of the difficulties is the question of whether or not the iranians government recognises dual nationality, which they do not and

they are not obliged to under international law. she asked me to raise this matter with president rouhani. i readily do whenever i speak to rouhani. i readily do whenever i speakto him. rouhani. i readily do whenever i speak to him. it's also an issue which is consistently raised with the iranians government and we will continue to do so. anti-semitism has no place in british public life. will my right honourable friend ashour the house that she will always work to make sure this the case? can i say to my honourable friend, jewish people living in this country should feel safe and secure and not have to worry about their futures in their own country. there is no place for racial hatred in our society and it's important we take every step to tackle it. as a government we were the first country in the world to adopt the definition of anti—semitism set up by the

international holocaust remembrance alliance. we've been taking steps to ensure steps can be taken and we've provided funding to the holocaust memorial day trust. i believe that we should all be united in our determination to tackle anti—semitism. when the leader of the labour party stands up, he should apologise for saying that jewish people who have lived in this country their whole lives do not understand english irony. jeremy corbyn. mr speaker, there is no place for racism in any form within our society, and that we are all agreed and we should tackle it wherever it arises in our rent parties as well. that includes the conservative party chairman. i joined the prime minister in congratulating the english and scottish women's teams on their qualification for the world cup and

i look forward to them doing extremely well. mr speaker, the international trade secretary said the likelihood of a no deal is now 60-40 the likelihood of a no deal is now 60—40 which means it's a pretty good chance there won't be a deal. that means more likely than not. prime minister, is he right? can i say to the right honourable gentleman, we are continuing to do what we've a lwa ys are continuing to do what we've always been doing which is working to get a good deal with the european union for ourfuture to get a good deal with the european union for our future relationship once we have left the eu. but it's entirely right and proper that we should prepare for all eventualities. we haven't come to the end of the negotiations. that means it's right that we are preparing for no deal, as indeed the european union have been doing sending out notices in relation to no deal. we have been publishing technical notices so that businesses and citizens know where they stand and citizens know where they stand and how to prepare in the event of

no deal. we've published over 20 the final total likely to be around 70. crucially, what this government is doing is working for a good deal, preparing for every eventuality and preparing for every eventuality and preparing to ensure that this country makes a success of leaving the eu regardless of the outcome of the eu regardless of the outcome of the negotiations. so, mr speaker, the negotiations. so, mr speaker, the international trade secretary says he is unfazed by no deal. the new foreign secretary who was here this morning says that over the summer that this morning says that over the summerthata this morning says that over the summer that a no—deal brexit would bea summer that a no—deal brexit would be a huge geostrategic mistake. and the chancellor sitting next to her has written to the treasury select committee stating that a no—deal brexit would slash gdp by almost 8%, camp arable with the global financial crash. which assessment does she agree with? —— can parable with the global financial crash. the director of the world trade

organisation said no deal wouldn't bea organisation said no deal wouldn't be a walk in the park but it wouldn't be the end of the world. shouting. the government is right to make the necessary preparations for no deal, while at the same time we are working for a good deal to ensure we deliver on the fate of the british people and that we come out of the eu on the 29th of march 2019, that we do so in a way that protects jobs and livelihoods, ensures no ha rd jobs and livelihoods, ensures no hard border between northern ireland and ireland and maintains the precious union of our uk. on one thing i'm clear. we are working for that outcome and we will not have a second referendum. he should stand up second referendum. he should stand up and rule out a second referendum. mr speaker, the prime minister says no deal is better than a bad deal,

the chancellor says no deal would cause a catastrophic collapse of our economy. and yesterday, the brexit secretary said there were countervailing opportunities to a no—deal brexit. the prime minister in light as to what these countervailing opportunities are? —— enlighten us. as i said, this government is working to ensure whatever the outcome of the negotiations, this country makes a success of coming out of the eu. we see a brighter future for people in this country. interestingly, i suggested to the right honourable gentleman yet again as i have done on other occasions that he stand up and categorically rule out a second referendum. he refuses to do so, so i'll give him another opportunity. mr speaker, i'll give him another opportunity. mrspeaker, a i'll give him another opportunity. mr speaker, a majority of people might have voted to leave but they expected the negotiations to be

handled competently and they certainly are not. i didn't hear a single one of these countervailing opportunities. i say to the prime minister quite simply this. she can't keep dancing around all the issues. laughter it seems... laughter it seems, mr speaker, that panasonic have taken the queue and agreed to dance off altogether. they are relocating out of this country. could the prime minister tell the house how many other companies have beenin house how many other companies have been in touch with her or her ministerial team and told her privately that they intend to relocate in the absence of a serious, sensible deal with the eu? cani serious, sensible deal with the eu? can i say to the right honourable

gentleman, what we have seen is businesses showing confidence in our economy. in august dyson announced investment in their electrical vehicle testing facility. bernard matthews have one major contracts with supermarkets underpinning new jobs. 200 new techjobs in salford. we welcome hundred and 30 million foreign direct investment in the automotive sector from four companies in july generating automotive sector from four companies injuly generating around 500 newjobs. what we are doing is negotiating a brexit deal that will deliver for this country, deliver on the fate of the people and ensure we do so protecting jobs, maintaining our union do so protecting jobs, maintaining ourunion and do so protecting jobs, maintaining our union and ensuring no hard border between northern ireland and ireland. and what we get from the right honourable gentleman? he said he wanted to do new trade deals, now he wanted to do new trade deals, now he wants to be in the customs union. at one stage the right honourable gentleman was asked about his view on free movement. he said "labour is

not wedded to freedom of movement for eu citizens of the point of principle, but nor do we rule it out. he can't even agree with himself on his own position! i'm not quite sure who the prime minister is listening to but she may have heard... she may have heard from the national farmers union that says it would be an armageddon scenario. the tuc says no—deal brexit would be devastating for working people. the eu chief negotiator and president macron both seem to have categorically ruled out the prime minister's chequers proposals. we are now at a critical point. can the prime minister tell the house if she believes they deal will be reached by the agreed deadline of october? that's october 2018, not any other one. we are working for a good deal,

we are still working for the timetable that was set in october because we are leaving the eu on the 29th of march 2019. we will need to pass legislation in this house prior to our leaving the eu. but he talks about no deal. i'll tell him what would be bad for this country. that would be bad for this country. that would be bad for this country. that would be signing up to a deal at any price whatsoever which is the position of the labour party. that would be bad for the british people. yesterday the brexit secretary admitted there had been some slippage. today lord king condemned the incompetence of the preparation saying it beggars belief that the sixth biggest economy in the world should get itself into that position. the prime minister has repeatedly said that no deal is better than a bad deal. but no deal isa better than a bad deal. but no deal is a bad deal, and everyone from the

cbi to the tuc to her own chancellor telling her the same thing. the chequers proposal is dead, already ripped apart by her own mps. when will the prime minister publish a real plan that survives contact with her cabinet real plan that survives contact with hercabinet and real plan that survives contact with her cabinet and with reality? those are her cabinet and with reality? those a re two her cabinet and with reality? those are two very separate concepts. when will we get proposals that putjobs and the economy ahead of the survival of herself and her own government? we have published a plan that we are discussing with the eu that we are discussing with the eu that ensures we deliver on the fate of the british people, that ensures we bring an end to freedom of movement, that we come out of the common fisheries policy, no longer send vast amounts of money to the eu every year, no longer have the jurisdiction of the european court ofjustice in this country, that we don't have a hard border or a border between northern ireland and great britain. what i'm doing is

negotiating a brexit deal for britain. i'm making sure the economy works for everyone. i'm building a stronger, fairer country. what is the right honourable gentleman doing? he's trying to change his party so anti—semites can call the creation of israel racist and he should be ashamed of himself! shouting. the prime minister will be aware of the campaign to extend the borders railway. this would provide a huge boost to the local economy and would help demonstrate what the government in scotland can do for my region. what will the prime minister do to allow this project to move forward ? do to allow this project to move forward? i understand the importance to partners across the region of the campaign and proposal he has referred to. i'm sure he understands

this is a devolved transport issue but i would encourage all parties involved to come to a workable solution and ensure the best outcome for the entire region. this can bring great benefits and in addition to the point he made about the borderlands growth deal, the uk and scottish governments will continue to work in partnership to deliver that deal. can i congratulate scotland and england in qualifying for the world cup. all of us in scotland are immensely proud of our scottish women's team. mr speaker, when the tories introduced thatcher 's poll tax in the 1980s, scotland was used as a guinea pig. the scottish tories paid a price for their folly, being wiped off the political map of scotland. the prime minister's chequers plan is even more unpopular than the poll tax. why is the prime minister gambling

with scotland's future by taking us out of the eu against her will, with her disastrous chequers plan? the only people who are gambling with scotland's future are the snp who wa nt to ta ke scotla nd scotland's future are the snp who want to take scotland out of the uk! that was no answer to the question. i would remind the prime minister is prime minister 's questions. mr speaker, michel barnier has said the chequers plan is not acceptable. mervyn king has called the government's preparation is incompetent. prime minister, your chequers plan is as dead as a dodo. with the clock ticking, with the prime minister now finally concede that backing the single market and customs union is the only option to protect the economy and to protect the good friday agreement? can i say

to the right honourable gentleman that we have put forward a proposal under the chequers plan that protects jobs, that protect livelihoods, that ensures we deliver on the boat of the british people, that ensures we deliver on no hard border between northern ireland and island and maintain the union of the uk. thejob island and maintain the union of the uk. the job bonnier island and maintain the union of the uk. thejob bonnier has put forward another proposal which keeps northern ireland in the customs union and single market —— michel barnier has put forward another proposal. it creates a border down the irish sea. i have said it is unacceptable the irish sea. i have said it is u na cce pta ble to the irish sea. i have said it is unacceptable to me as prime minister. i believe there is no british prime minister who would find that deal acceptable that is being proposed there. we are negotiating on the chequers deal. it delivers that the uk, and the people of the whole of the uk's. mr speaker, walsall manor hospital says many of my constituents and

desperately needs a new and extended a&e department. with the hospitals in the black country supporting their bid, can the prime minister assure me that the additional funding for the nhs is coming to walsall to improve a&e provision? we are committed to providing local nhs with the funding they need. we have announced over 3.9 billion of new additional capital funding for the nhs up to 2022. the majority support the implementation of plans from local communities. i understand the walsall health care nhs trust have resubmitted an application for the 36.2 million funding injuly for the walsall manor hospital emergency department. the department of health expects the scheme is to be announced in the autumn but the health secretary would be pleased to meet my honourable friend to discuss. what took you so long?

laughter will scotland is facing a depopulation crisis. a crisis exacerbated by brexit. last week the chief executive of argyll and bute council added his name to those calling for a more flexible devolved and regional immigration policy. and offered argyll and bute as a test case to test this. will the prime minister agreed to meet with myself and the chief executive of argyll and the chief executive of argyll and bute to discuss the merits of such a proposal? can i welcome the honourable gentleman for asking a question here at pmqs. can i say to him, he's asked a question about a regional immigration policy which is actually something the migration advisory committee looked at awhile back and made very clear this wasn't a situation they felt the government should accept because of the practical problems in implementing

that. when we put forward our proposals for the immigration policy for people coming from the eu, we will be ensuring we put forward proposals right for the whole of the uk. eu wide databases, a lot of which the uk helped to shape and which the uk helped to shape and which keep us safe. while there is much debate about the type of trading arrangement we will have with the eu, can i ask the prime minister for reassurance there will still be the highest level of security arrangements with the eu as we leave the eu? any reduction in thatis we leave the eu? any reduction in that is completely unacceptable to the people of the uk. can i say to my right honourable friend she's absolutely right to highlight the importance of our security relationship with the eu. i remember the debates that led to the establishment of the pnr directive. the white paper provides an ambitious vision for the future

security relationship and that's why we are proposing that partnership to protect our shared law enforcement and criminaljustice protect our shared law enforcement and criminal justice capabilities, facilitate continued cooperation and support ourjoint facilitate continued cooperation and support our joint working facilitate continued cooperation and support ourjoint working on security issues such as counterterrorism. michel barnier has recognised the progress made in our discussions on security, so our focus should be on trying to obtain and define that ambitious and unprecedented partnership which will help to keep notjust people here safe but those across the whole of the eu. the opening of the b and a museum in dundee is attracting worldwide attention —— v&a museum. the prime minister will also be aware that the announcement to provide funding for the city's deal is imminent and key to providing for the prosperity of the tay city region. will the prime minister

today express a firm commitment for the introduction of a new directing of service to dundee and the associated investment required to secure that? he's right to bring to the attention of the house both the deal and the opening of the v&a in dundee. these are important ways the uk government is working to ensure that support for scotland and those opportunities in relation to the scottish economy. this is a government that has taken the decision to enable the third runway to go ahead at heathrow and we expect to see better connectivity within the united kingdom. this september is blood cancer awareness month and therefore i'm delighted that yesterday it was announced the nhs will be providing innovative

car-t nhs will be providing innovative car—t immunotherapy to the under 25s. can i seek assurances from my right honourable friend the prime minister that a focus on blood cancer awareness and diagnosis and prevention will continue into the future? can i first of all commend my honourable friend for the work he has done to champion the cause of blood cancer and raising a greater awareness of this issue. i can assure him this will continue to be an issue that we want to press on and continue to raise awareness of. and like him i'm pleased the decision has been able to be made. once again! decision has been able to be made. once again i congratulate my honourable friend because he has personally campaigned on this and championed this cause. studio: we will leave pmqs with coverage continuing on bbc two. we will be backin continuing on bbc two. we will be back in the commons when the prime minister gives her statement on the news that two russians have been

named in connection with the attempted murders of sergei skripal and his daughter yulia in salisbury. significant news this morning with the release of those two names although it's suspected they are aliases. that's right. it's exactly six months this week since sergei skripal and his daughter yulia fell ill from novichok poisoning, and six months on their home is still the scene of police activity, still cordoned off. life on this cul—de—sac goes on almost as normal for other people, but that is a co nsta nt for other people, but that is a constant reminder of what happened here and the extraordinary events of the last few months. notjust the fa ct the last few months. notjust the fact they were poisoned but the fact that subsequently dawn sturgess and charlie rowley were also poisoned. dawn stu rgess charlie rowley were also poisoned. dawn stu rg ess of charlie rowley were also poisoned. dawn sturgess of course died. after all the questions and rumours and

theories and competing narratives of theories and competing narratives of the last few months for people here, today out of the blue a blizzard of information. notjust these two police pictures of the suspects, these two russian suspects released this morning so their faces and names people can look at, but cctv images of them arriving at the airport in london and leaving london. also these two men a p pa re ntly london. also these two men apparently here in salisbury in the minutes and hours before police say the attack happened here at the skripals' home. people are trying to get their heads around it. they are being asked by police do you recognise these men, did you see them here in the centre of salisbury? all of a sudden people have something to go on and yet at the same time a lot of people would wish this would go away. it's a very painful episode in this city's history. at the news conference, the police said they had no doubt the

two separate incidents, yulia and sergei skripal and dawn sturgess and charlie rowley are connected and they form one investigation. no charges though laid out today in relation to charlie rowley and dawn stu rg ess. relation to charlie rowley and dawn sturgess. that's right. i think people here have struggled with this, the fact i think it was four months after the initial incident involving the skripals that charlie rowley and dawn sturgess became ill. that really shocked people. it was one thing knowing a former russian spy one thing knowing a former russian spy had apparently been attacked in salisbury. but then that two a p pa re ntly salisbury. but then that two a ppa re ntly com pletely salisbury. but then that two apparently completely innocent people had been accidentally contaminated really shocked people here. i think it's interesting that the two investigations, while still separate in time, investigations are

now dovetailing by police. they are publicly linking them which is significant, even though these potential suspects are only being linked in the case of the skripals. people here still have so many questions but now they will be able to look at the images of the station in salisbury, at the roads and are being asked to remember the weekend when the skripals were attacked was a particularly cold snowy weekend. all of a sudden there is information and bits of detail which might trigger memories in somebody and might add to all the information that police have had to kind through in the last six months. let's hear more from the metropolitan police assista nt more from the metropolitan police assistant commissioner. today's announcement by the cps

mocks most significant development in this investigation. we now have sufficient evidence to bring charges in the attack and sergei skripal and yulia skripal and domestic and european arrest warrants have been issued for the suspects and we will beat seeking to circulate interpol notices. however, our enquiries do notices. however, our enquiries do not stop here. today as well as updating you on the progress of the investigation and appealing once more to the public for their help as they continue to build the evidence in this case. to recap, sergei skripal and his daughter yulia were found unconscious on a bench in salisbury city centre at four 15p on sunday the 4th of march this year having been poisoned by novichok, a nerve agent. they both spent weeks critically ill in hospital but tha nkfully critically ill in hospital but thankfully are now making a good recovery. detective sergeant nick bailey, a wiltshire police officer was also seriously ill having been exposed to the same nerve agent. he continues to make good progress. the

medical support provided by both then national health service, public health england and expert scientists has been fantastic, particularly given the fact we have never had to deal with a poisoning by a novichok nerve agent in the uk. tragically, 44—year—old mother of three dawn stu rg ess 44—year—old mother of three dawn sturgess died in hospital on saturday night the july, having sturgess died in hospital on saturday night thejuly, having been exposed to novichok having never regained consciousness. her partner charlie rowley was also exposed to the nerve agent and became seriously ill later that day. he then received treatment at salisbury district hospital over three weeks. we've now linked the attack on the skripals and the events in amesbury which affected the one and charlie. it now forms one investigation. we do not believe they were deliberately targeted but became victims as a result of the recklessness with which such a toxic nerve agent was

disposed of. we know novichok was applied to the skripals's front door in an area accessible to the public which then endangered lives of members of the public and emergency services responding. our rationales are linking the two investigations is primarily based on four facts. first of all analysis and the organisation of the probation of chemical weapons based in the hague has confirmed this intake of novichok was used in both cases. the nerve agent is one of the realist chemical warfare agents in the world and its discovery twice in such close proximity must be bjorn and co nsta nce. close proximity must be bjorn and constance. beyond coincidence. the manager about the packaging has been adapted makes it perfect cover for smuggling such a weapon into this country and it perfect delivery method for the attack. the lack of

crossover between the known movements of the suspects and dawn and charlie adam salisbury and the fa ct and charlie adam salisbury and the fact there is no evidence to suggest they have been targeted meat is much more likely that dawn and charlie found this. by then the meticulous structures and although unlikely it is impossible to guarantee there are no other materials present in the salisbury area therefore we are repeating the advice from public health england that people should not pick up items which do not belong to them. we do not yet know whether suspects disposed of the novichok that the use to attack the skripals' front door of the the bottle that poisoned them of that is the same bottle that has been used in both poisonings. let's go live to moscow and speak to our correspondent steve rosenberg.

we have the police talking about for fa cts , we have the police talking about for facts, it doesn't matter how many fa cts facts, it doesn't matter how many facts in the uk authorities present, russia will continue to deny any link to the poisoning. a short while ago a spokeswoman for the edition foreign ministry 's said in a statement that the names and photographs of the suspects which had been published in mean nothing to us she wrote,. she accused british authorities of information manipulation and called for practical cooperation between moscow and london on this case saying that investigation of such serious crimes demands the most detailed work and scrupulous analysis. this continues the line that russia has been pushing, not admitting any connection to the crime and claiming that russia wants to cooperate with britain in investigating the salisbury poisoning. the cps said

that there is no way these two suspects will ever be extradited from russia. i think that is probably the right analysis. russia has made it clear continually that there is no clause in the russian constitution which allows the exhibition of russian nationals from this country so that is unlikely. the fact that european arrest wa rra nts the fact that european arrest warrants have been announced shows that the suspects travel at their own risk to european countries where those wants work. —— was once worked. it isa it is a sign that the british police have put together an investigation into what has happened and salisbury six months ago and it would pressure on moscow but i do not think you will get the russians to admit any connection to this poisoning. as the

likely to be more dramatic fallout from this? —— diplomatic fallout from this? —— diplomatic fallout from this? —— diplomatic fallout from this? i suspect that is not the appetite across europe for a diplomatic spat with russia. we know several european countries quite the opposite wants to improve relations with russia, austria and italy for example. although several months ago the uk government was able to get eve ryo ne the uk government was able to get everyone together for a quarter knitted diplomatic push against russia i suspect that is not the appetite for that. it'll be interesting to see whether the british government wants that and tries to bring that about and whether it can do so. thank you. the national lead for

counterterrorism, we have a few moments ago. reed we heard from him a few moments ago. we are unable to bring you that at the moment, we will bring it to you as soon as we can. we willjust try and 60 technical issues and bring you up—to—date with the latest on that if you are just up—to—date with the latest on that if you arejustjoining us, police have named two russian nationals they suspect over the attempted murders of sergei skripal and yulia skripal who are attacked with the novichok nerve agent back in march and have released the names of two suspects. you as a picture of one of them. although police say the names are actually illnesses they have been named as alexander petrov and ruslan boshirov, they were seen in

the salisbury on cctv footage and had arrived in britain from moscow on the 2nd of march and stayed in london and then left on the 4th of march, the same day of the attack. traces of novichok were found in the wood hilgon them about the state and london. —— and the hotel in london. we can now bring you that interview. alexander petrov and ruslan boshirov have been identified as travelling into this country on the 2nd of march and out on the 4th of march and we have released cctv coverage of them travelling between london and salisbury. doing reconnaissance on the skripal and we say it is likely the attack to the front door and left the country. we have some detail of the administrative were not identified until late and

therefore we need the public help to do two things, one nephew now they will recognise them we want that person to come forward —— if we if you know them. we also need to know the other movements and there are gaps and be what the public to come forward and cfc you saw them recognise them at any point in march to please come forward. a very clear image of them on the sunday on the cdtv footage, what is it you think that they did after that image to carry out the attack, but form does it take? because of the vessel discovered by dawn and charlie which caused dawn's death and charlie's serious illness we think that was the moment which was applied to the front door. we can say about that we

have released a picture of the box and bottle and applicator and that looks like the perfect vessel to have applied some form of agent through a have applied some form of agent througha pump, have applied some form of agent through a pump, ajournal or liquid onto the door of the skripals' home which has contaminated them. what we need is for people to have may have seenin need is for people to have may have seen in that bottle box because we need to find out whether it was between the time that charlie says he discovered it on the 27th ofjune and the 4th of march when we say it was recklessly disposed of in the salisbury area by whoever committed this attack. the crown prosecution service have looked at the evidence and said that the sufficient to charge both alexander petrov and ruslan boshirov with these heinous offences. you are not convinced that the names on the passports that the entered the uk on this occasion and previously are their real names. we

believe they are aliases. one intelligence do you have about who these people might be other than to russian men travelling underfalse names coach—mac we have very significant lines of enquiry at the moment, but i need the evidence. people who know them to come for what can the main line of enquiry as if you are coming to commit such a serious offence using sophisticated tradecraft in this country you would be highly unlikely to be travelling in your real names. we would want anyone who recognises them knows them to come forward and speak to us. that is on or hotline, ali and we have set up an e—mail address as well and that is open 24 hours. do you think these men were

employees of the russian state? hours. do you think these men were employees of the russian state ?m isa employees of the russian state ?m is a significant line of enquiry based on what the prime minister said on march 14 and we stand by that statement but i need evidence. that is the head of counterterrorism with the latest on the investigation into the novichok attack on sergei skripal and yulia skripal. two men have been named by police are appealing for help from the public coming up with more information to help the investigation. bbc 5 live presenter and newsreader rachael bland has died this morning, nearly two years after she was first diagnosed with breast cancer. i am afraid i have some very sad

news to bring you and that is that rachael bland has died this morning nearly two years after she was first diagnosed with breast cancer. she leaves behind her husband steve and young son freddie. the five live presenter gave this tribute. and you have husband and she worked with us and be joined in celebrations when they are son was born so i saw a different side of file then. she was an all—round human being and i would say when she did this podcast she became a different person to me, she was not longer a colleague, she became an inspiration, thought about looking death in the face. she said to me when i did the breakfast showjust

before she died she said i hate that face, never do that face at me so thatis face, never do that face at me so that is why i am going to laugh through this because she told me to, she said there was nothing to do about it. she said she was not frightened of death but frightened of watching was leaving behind. should we need to smile to help those people and she has inspired millions and for that what one legacy could she want. the control of five live has been speaking about her podcast. when i heard the first couple of episodes i was not surprised either the action, i knew it was something of its type that was new and original because in her heart the reason why she wanted to do it was to inform about a topic she knew most people were frightened to talk about and it was that courage to address that with lauren and deborah and it was that freshness that made

amazing. deborah james cook deborahjames cook presented the podcast. she tried everything, ivo said have you tried eating turmeric and doing some but she was unlucky and doing some but she was unlucky andl and doing some but she was unlucky and i do not know whether i will be lucky but i know that i will make absolute certain that no the time i have left i will use it productively because i know rachael would not wa nt because i know rachael would not want me not building a rugby have already started. the former bank of england governor mervyn king brands britain's

preparations for leaving the eu as "incompetent". if as a country we cannot take a big decision about whether or not we should be in the european union, which is based on sovereignty, based on controlling our borders, there are arguments on both sides, we ought to be able to have a reasonable and civilised debate on that and then have a vote. what we're now getting is not a reasonable or civilised discussion, it's a discussion where both sides seem to be throwing insults at each other. i find that deeply depressing, and frankly if a government cannot take action to prevent some of these catastrophic outcomes, whatever position you take on the eu, it illustrates a whole lack of preparation. it doesn't tell us anything about whether the policy of staying in the eu is good or bad, it tells us everything about the incompetence

of the preparation for it. that this government has been incompetent? the group of people tasked with trying to make decisions on all this is parliament as a whole, notjust the government, and the civil service, have brought us to a position where we are now being told that we have to accept a certain course of action because otherwise it would be catastrophic. now, it beggars belief that the sixth biggest economy in the world should get itself into that position. everyone in europe has a strong economic incentives in coming to a free trade agreement. that is something we should have said in 2016 was what we wanted to do. but the only way to get other countries to agree to that is to demonstrate that we can actually put in place credible plans to be prepared to leave without a deal, because we can't impose a deal on anyone else. you've got to have a credible bargaining position. we haven't had a credible bargaining position because we haven't put in place measures where we can say to our colleagues in europe, look, we'd like a free—trade deal, we think that you would probably like one too, but if we can't agree don't be under any misapprehension we have put in place the measures that would enable us

to leave without one. that is a practical thing that can be done. it can't be done in six months. it takes several years. you're watching gmt on bbc world news. our top stories... british authorities say they have enough evidence to charge two russians with conspiracy to murder the former spy, sergei skripal, and his daughter. bbc 5 live presenter and newsreader rachael bland has died this morning, nearly two years after she was first diagnosed with breast cancer. the former bank of england governor mervyn king brands britain's preparations for leaving the eu as "incompetent". we're just going to check in to the

house of commons because we think the premise that is going to give a statement on what has been happening and relation to the nerve agent attack on the skripals. let's stay with us for a moment in case the prime minister gets to her feet for that statement that we are expecting following the news that to russian nationals have been named in connection with the attack and salisbury in march. they have been named as alexander petrov and ruslan boshirov. the prime minister is not

going to be making a statement right now, there's a dialogue between the speaker and an now, there's a dialogue between the speakerand an mp now, there's a dialogue between the speaker and an mp about procedural matters as far as i understand it but we're going to stay with the pictures and hope the prime minister sta rts pictures and hope the prime minister starts in just pictures and hope the prime minister starts injust a pictures and hope the prime minister starts in just a few moments for this statement. it comes in the light of the significant news about the crown prosecution service saying it does have sufficient evidence to bring charges although it is unlikely that that will happen because there would not be expected. i would like to update the house on the investigation into the attempted murder of sergei skripal and yulia skripal and the subsequent poisoning of dawn stu rg ess skripal and the subsequent poisoning of dawn sturgess and charlie rowley. this was a sickening and despicable

act in which a devastatingly toxic nerve agent known as novichok was used to attack our country. it left four people fighting for their lives and one innocent woman dead. i know the thoughts of the whole house will be with the family of dawn sturgess in particular following the tragic loss. and march i set out for the house by the government concluded that the russian state was culpable for the attempted murder of the skripals and also said well we also share a sense of impatience to bring those responsible to justice as a nation that believes in the rule of law we would give the police the space and time to carry out the investigation properly. since then around 250 detectives have trawled through more than 11,000 hours of cctv and ta ken through more than 11,000 hours of cctv and taken more than 1400 statements. working around the clock they have carried out painstaking

and methodical work to ascertain exactly which individuals were responsible and the methods they used to carry out this attack. this forensic investigation has now produced sufficient evidence for the independent director of public prosecutions to bring charges against two russian national is for the conspiracy to murder sergei skripal, the attempted murder of sergei skripal and yulia skripal and the attempted murder of nick bailey, the attempted murder of nick bailey, the use and possession of novichok and grievous bodily harm and intent. the police have set out how the two russian nationals travelled under the names of alexander petrov and ruslan boshirov, names the police believed to be aliases. they arrived at gatwick airport at 3pm on friday 2nd of march having flown from

moscow. they travelled by train to london and onto waterloo before going to the hotel in east london. they stayed there on friday and saturday and traces of novichok were found in the hotel room. on saturday 3rd of march they visited salisbury, are arriving at approximately 2:25pm and leaving less than two hours later at 14 pm. the police are confident this was for reconnaissance of salisbury. on sunday the 4th of march they made the same journey travelling by underground to waterloo station at approximately 8:05am underground to waterloo station at approximately 8: 05am before continuing by train to salisbury. the police have today released cctv footage of the two men which clearly places them in the immediate vicinity of the skripals' house

which the police say was moments before the attack. they left salisbury and returns to waterloo at approximately 4:45pm and boarded the underground at approximately 6:30pm to heathrow from where they returned to heathrow from where they returned to moscow on a flight departing at 10:30pm. this hard evidence has enabled the independent crown prosecution service to conclude they have a sufficient basis on which to bring charges against these two men for the attack in salisbury. the same two men are now also the prime suspects in the case of dawn stu rg ess suspects in the case of dawn sturgess and charlie rowley. there is no other line of enquiry beyond this. the police today have formally linked the attack on the skripals and the events in amesbury such that it forms one investigation. there are good reasons for doing so. alone analysis together with the report

from the organisation for the prohibition of chemical weapons has confirmed the exact same nerve agent was used in both cases. there is no evidence to suggest that dawn and charlie may have been dealt with the targeted by brother were victims of the reckless disposal of this agent. the police have today released further details of the small glass counterfeit perfume bottle and box discovered and charlie rowley pots house found to contain this nerve agent at the manner in which the bottle was modified leaves no doubt it was a cover for smuggling the weapon into the country and for the delivery method for the attack against the skripals. the police investigation into the poisoning of dawn and charlie is ongoing and the police are today appealing for further information but were these two suspects within ourjurisdiction there would be a clear basis in law for their arrest for murder. we

repeatedly asked russia to account for what happened in salisbury and march and they have applied with a obscuration and lies. we have tried to place blame on to terrorists, international partners and the future mother—in—law of yulia skripal. they even claim that i myself invented novichok. they attempt to hide the truth by pushing out a deluge of disinformation simply reinforces the probability. —— the probability. —— culpability. novichok nerve agents were developed by the soviet union any 1980s and within the past decade russia has produced and stockpiled small quantities of these agents long after it signed the chemical weapons convention. during the 2000 is russia commenced a programme to test means of delivering nerve agents

including by application to door handles. we were right to say in march that the russian state was responsible and now we have identified the individuals involved we can go even further. just as the police investigation has enabled the cps to bring charges against the two suspects saudi security and intelligence agencies have carried out their own investigations into the behind this attack. based on this work i can today tell the house that based on a body of intelligence the government has concluded that the government has concluded that the two individuals named by the police and cps are officers from the russian mirror to the intelligence service —— military intelligence service. known as the gru, with a well—established chain of command. this was not able operation almost

certainly approved outside the gru athletes in your level of the russian state. the house will appreciate i cannot go into details about the work of our security and intelligence agencies but who will be briefing opposition leaders and others on privy council terms and also giving further detailed to the intelligence and security committee. let me turn to our response to this appalling attack and the further knowledge we now have about those responsible. first with respect to the two individuals as the crown prosecution service and police and estonia today we have obtained a european arrest warrant and will shortly issue a interpol red notice. russia has repeatedly refused to a lower its nationals to stand trial overseas sighting a bar on extradition. as we found following the murder of alexander litvinenko any formal request would be futile but should either of these individuals travel outside russia we will take every possible step to

detain them and to expect them and to bring them to face justice here in the united kingdom. this chemical weapon attack on our soil was part ofa weapon attack on our soil was part of a wider pattern of russian behaviour that persistently seeks to the main security and that of an allies around the world. they fermented conflict, annexed claim you are legally, violated a space and mounted a sustained campaign of cyber espionage and election interference. they were behind a violent attempted coup in montenegro and a russian—made missiles launched by its territory held by a russian backed separatists but don't emit 17. we must step up our efforts and response to this great and that is what we have done since the attack and much domestic and collectively with an allies. we're just used a new power to detain people at the uk border to determine whether they are engaged in hostile state activity.

we introduced at the moment to the sanctions and money—laundering act in response to the violation of human rights and we have radically... theresa may addressing the commons, coverage continues on bbc parliament. right now it is time for the one o'clock news. a european arrest warrant is issued, as two russian nationals are named as suspects in the poisoning of former spy sergei skripal and his daughter, yulia. caught on cctv moments before the attack in salisbury — scotland yard says there's "sufficient evidence" to charge alexander petrov and ruslan boshirov over the attack. today's announcement by the crown prosecution service marks the most significant development in this investigation. we now have sufficient evidence to bring charges in relation to the attack on sergei and yulia skripal in salisbury, and domestic and european arrest warrants have been issued. this was a sickening and despicable act, in which a devastatingly toxic nerve agent known as novichok was used to attack our country. we'll have all the latest

from salisbury and moscow. also this lunchtime: a gamechanger in child leukemia treatment.