the government's flagship welfare reform, universal credit, is delayed yet again. it won't be complete for at least five years. it's six payments rolled into one — it was meant to be simple — but many who've been moved onto it already say they're struggling. i had loads of problems with my childcare payments. having to call them up every month to remind them to pay me. and notjust once a month, it would be a few times a month. but the government has defended the reforms saying it was always designed to be a test and learn process. also tonight. the cabinet meets before tomorrow's crucial eu summit on brexit — as brussels tells theresa may she needs to come up with concrete proposals to break the deadlock. murdered 32 years ago — the nine—year—old girls who disappeared after going out to play. a man goes on trial for a second time accused of killing them fresh calls for the speaker of the house of commons, john bercow, to resign following a report about bullying in parliament. the bbc understands he'll stand down next summer. and rolling back the years

as blue peter, the programme that generations have grown up with, celebrates its 60th birthday. and coming up on bbc news: a trip across the irish sea for wales — they're in dublin to take on ireland in the nations league. good evening and welcome to the bbc news at six. it was supposed to be up and running last year. but the bbc has discovered that the government's flagship welfare reform — universal credit — will not now be fully implemented for at least another five years. one million people are already receiving universal credit — which is six benefits merged into one payment. but plans to roll it out to around four million others have been beset with delays and difficulties.

leaked documents, seen by the bbc, reveal that the government is also drawing up plans to spend hundreds of millions of pounds, in an effort to prevent those who claim the new benefit, from being worse off. the government insists it always intended to introduce the benefit slowly. our social affairs correspondent michael buchanan, who broke the story, has our first report this evening. another day, another protest against universal credit. small in number perhaps but raising large concerns. those who are particularly vulnerable really struggle with the system. it's gone too far to scrap it know that urgent action needs to be taken. ministers appeared to agree and are delaying plans to start moving almost 4 million existing benefit recipients onto universal credit next year. tens of thousands of people were due to start getting letters nextjuly telling them they had to apply for a universal credit. we've learned that process won't start until november

2020, which means that universal credit won't be fully rolled out until december 2023, putting the project almost seven years behind its original schedule. leaked documents show ministers planned to use the delay to significantly change the benefit. they hope to get people longer to repay any loans, make it easier for the self—employed to receive the new benefit and they would like to continue paying some existing benefits for a fortnight after people have applied for universal credit. any changes will not ina universal credit. any changes will not in a fit this lady however, the 25—year—old single mother has struggled with universal credit for three years. they repeatedly failed to pay her the right amount each month leaving her and her daughter are struggling. there has been so many errors i would not be afford to buy food living on my own on universal credit. a single parent. someone would help me buy food and help me club my daughter. the

secretary of state was tight—lipped this morning when asked about the benefit. is universal credit still fit for purpose? goodbye. it was left to a junior minister to respond. we have always said it's a test and learn approach and as we test and learn approach and as we test and learn we adapt and earlier this year we put in an earlier £i.5 billion to support claims and clearly this is a process. there is an acknowledgement in the document that any changes may not be enough. there is no assurance that ultimately these proposals will prove to be deliverable. and addressing another concern officials right there is nothing we can do to mitigate the issue. we've had people going into arrears and people losing their homes as a result because of eviction. it's a real mess of a programme and the government needs to get its act together and sort it out. universal credit is a new service that helps ensure you're better off in work than you are on benefits... universal credit was meant to be the

a nswer to universal credit was meant to be the answer to the fiendishly complicated benefits system. for too many people however, the beleaguered benefit is a living nightmare and ministers are clearly struggling to achieve its original names. the president of the european council — donald tusk — has called for theresa may to come up with ‘concrete proposals' to break the deadlock in the brexit negotiaitons over the irish border, ahead of tomorrow's crucial eu summit in brussels. the prime minister has told her cabinet that a deal on brexit is in reach, if the government ‘stands together and stands firm'. our political editor laura kuenssberg reports. what do we want? high volume. she's wasted time, we just have to get out and get out now. high stakes. we need to do something more radical. we want the government to say brexit because it's a mess. more than a sprinkling of ministers worrying. no one is planning to resign, we are

doing ourjob and trying to get the best deal for the country. the prime minister is doing a very, very competitive job. the uk might stay closely tied to the eu for good. but what there was not today was a huge bust up over that backstop. the plan to avoid a hard border in ireland, ifa to avoid a hard border in ireland, if a big trade deal can be reached, with the eu and the uk following the same customs rules. there was no huge clash here today because there was no huge decision. the talks stalled and there are indications now that a final deal might not be done until december. the cabinet did agree that the current backstop plan from the eu just is not acceptable but as so often they find it easier to agree on what they don't like rather than what they do. and the uk's alternative i am told is still not fully formed. the problem, that

is exactly what the eu says is required and fast. its top brass demanding that the prime minister turns up in brussels tomorrow with a new plan. and if not, well, he's hardly sounding cheery. the only source of hope for a deal for now is the good will and determination on both sides. however, for a breakthrough to take place, besides goodwill we need acts. tomorrow i am going to ask prime minister theresa may if she has concrete proposals on how to break the impasse. there are not yet any new facts, the conundrum stays the same. the prime minister has almost no room for manoeuvre but has almost no room for manoeuvre but has no choice to do anything but keep rolling on. and it's not absolutely impossible to get this done, let's be clear

about that. but even though there we re about that. but even though there were no big cabinet bust ups or stro ps were no big cabinet bust ups or strops walk—outs today, the prime minister is in a very, very difficult position notjust because the eu is seeing over to you, where isa the eu is seeing over to you, where is a better idea to work out these conundrums that frankly the two sides have been stuck on for many, many months, but also because she has a parliamentary party tory mp's who are unhappy about the cause she's chosen. the opposition parties are against her as well. none of this is straight forward and it's getting harderfor this is straight forward and it's getting harder for theresa this is straight forward and it's getting harderfor theresa may rather than easier. a man has gone on trial for the second time charged with murdering two nine—year—old girls 32 years ago. 52—year—old russell bishop is accused of strangling nicola fellows and karen hadaway who were found dead in woods near brighton in october 1986. daniella relph reports. more than 30 years ago the families came to court for the first murder

trial. today they returned, at times in tears as they again sat through the evidence. karen hadaway was nine yea rs old the evidence. karen hadaway was nine years old when she died, described in court as a sensible girl who knew right from wrong. nicola fellows was also nine and was said to be the stronger of the two, outgoing and speaking her mind. the girls were neighbours, their bodies were found on october nine, 1986. they had both been strangled and sexually assaulted. they were discovered together in a park in brighton, just half a mile from their homes. they had both disappeared after going out to play. back then, russell bishop was arrested and tried for their murders but he was acquitted and released. three years later, he assaulted and attempted to kill a seven—year—old girl. she survived and identified him. he was found guilty at trial. today he was back in court again, accused of the murder of nicola fellows and karen

hadaway. jurors were told there was new evidence, much of its dna —based. the prosecution told the jury —based. the prosecution told the jury that the bodies were discovered in undergrowth in the park. and that russell bishop told the police details about the scene that only the killer himself could have known. this is a key location the jury will see for themselves. all 12 jurors will be brought here from london to view a number of areas that are significant in the case. the families face a trial of up to eight weeks. the case remains the largest and longest—running enquiry ever undertaken by sussex police. wages rose this summer at their fastet rate for almost a decade and unemployment fell to its lowest level since the mid 19705. that's what was happening in thejobs market betweenjune and august. our economics editor kamal ahmed has been looking at the figures and working out what it means for us all. wage growth matters. if you're in work and your pay is going up it makes you feel more

confident about the economy. and if we feel more confident, we tend to spend more. our spending drives 60% of the economy. in cardiff there was a more positive mood, for some. where i was, the pay rise was impossible. it was never going to happen, so you have to look around and there are better opportunities and people willing to pay better wages to do pretty much the same job. the price of living is going up very fast. and my wages aren't keeping up. i do feel better off, definitely, but because our wage was quite low before, it kind ofjust brings you up to where everyone else is, ithink. well, the story of our wages has been the story of our economy since the financial crisis. in 2008, before the crash, wages were growing at above 4%, then there was this long dip to below 1% as the recession fears over job losses hit hard,

and now, a recovery which appears to be accelerating to 3.1%. high levels of employment in sectors like construction and hotels and restau ra nts mea ns that firms are having to compete for workers and pay them more. the highest for a decade. now, it's not all good news. prices have also gone up, often faster than what we earn, which means that average wages are still £20 per week less than ten years ago. so what do today's better figures mean for this man, philip hammond, the chancellor? he has a budget in two weeks. well, better economic news will help that there are still major challenges. i think it's almost inconceivable that we won't tax rises over the next five to ten years at least. the scale of cuts we've seen in public services have been really quite dramatic. more money for the national health service and the

population is ageing. and there's lots more demand for other things to. that's not going to be payable for in the long run just by borrowing more. some of those tax rises may come in the budget — but with brexit uncertainty still dominating, mr hammond may hold off until our relationship with the rest of the european union is clearer. and that could be some way off. sophie. the speaker of the house of commons, john bercow, is facing fresh calls for him to resign following a damning report into the handling of bullying and harassment in the house of commons. the bbc understands that mr bercow has told friends he will stand down next summer. his departure — injune orjuly — would coincide with his tenth year in office. john pienaar reports. he loves hisjob he loves his job and he loves hisjob and it he loves his job and it shows, he loves hisjob and it shows, one

of the highest in the land, high enough to slap down mps. be quiet. if you cannot be quiet get out. and high enough to hold the politically powerful to account. a total mishandling by his department for which the right honourable gentleman is solely responsible. but no john bercow is preparing to walk away, why? next summer will mark ten years in office and an enquiry into bullying and harassment says he should consider standing down as the man at the top. everyone has agreed the westminster culture of abuse must change. we have all been shocked and appalled at the reports of bullying, harassment and sexual harassment in westminster and i am determined to stamp it out. the man who has refereed countless political battles could only sit and listen to mps demanding to his face that he should go. the report is clear that there needs to be a complete change in leadership at the most senior

level, including new mr speaker. it's the old adage that the fish from the head, and the leadership failings highlighted in this report are worrying. i understand the speaker has told close friends and collea g u es speaker has told close friends and colleagues he means to step down next summer. as one source put it he does not want to look as though he's been forced out but maybe it will not be enough, some will want to go sooner, and he was right about that. this was a pre—emptive strike to try and head off inevitable calls for him to go immediately following the very damning criticism he's received. among mps opinions are split, the speaker is seen as a help standing up to ministers especially with battles over brexit. we need an experienced speaker, we need to make sure the decisions that are made in the next few months are in the interest of the country and made properly so i am very worried about the idea of having somebody in the speaker ‘s place is not experienced.

but it's the scandal of bullying at westminster which is worrying many mp's today and who should best force things to change. downing street is pressing for all the complaints to be investigated which could mean more pressure, more embarrassing accusations of misconduct. after yea rs of accusations of misconduct. after years of power, pomp and ceremony the speaker is now locked in a bruising struggle to go in his own time, on his own terms. divisive figure or not, john bercow has risen toa figure or not, john bercow has risen to a rear height, his story will not now end the way he joined it would. john pienaar, bbc news, westminster. the time is 6:16pm. our top story this evening. the roll—out of the government's flagship welfare reform, universal credit, is delayed yet again and it won't be complete for more than five years. and coming up. here's one i made earlier. a0 years ago, to be precise. and that is from sophie of twickenham. you can see, it is a pink pigeon. delving into the archives — as blue peter celebrates its 60th birthday today. coming up on bbc news, sliding to a

stop, lizzie yarnold retires from skeleton and we find out what is next for the double olympic champion. every year hundreds of children are born in the uk with parts missing from their oesophagus, the tube that connects your mouth to your stomach. repairing it requires complex surgery and causes many of them problems for life. but now scientists in london have managed to grow one that is capable of the muscle contractions needed to move food down into the stomach. our medical correspondent fergus walsh has been talking to the scientists at great ormond street hospital and the francis crick institure who are behind it. suspended in the middle of this glass jar is a laboratory—grown oesophagus. you can see the wave—like contractions of the muscle. the oesophagus is a muscular tube which carries food down into the stomach.

in this animal study, scientists stripped a rat oesophagus of its cells, leaving a collagen scaffold. they seeded it with several cell types, which form muscles, nerves and the delicate lining tissue. the ability to contract is essential for moving food through the organ. the work, published in nature communications, was led by scientists at great ormond street hospital and the crick institute, who are pioneering regenerative medicine. i think it's very crucial. this has implications for the oesophagus, first of all, of course, but it has indications for other organs like the gut, the intestine, because the structure is not so different. a key advantage of the bio—engineered oesophagus is that it can be seeded with a patient‘s own stem cells, minimising the risk of organ rejection, which is one of the major hurdles in transplantation. is that nice?

yes? hudson and hank are twins and enjoy the same foods, but hudson was born with part of his oesophagus missing, and needed surgery to pull his stomach up to connect with his throat. an artificial oesophagus could have helped him. i think we definitely would have picked that option, if it had been there at the time. it would take a lot of pressure off of him, i think, with his eating, it would be more natural, the feeling would have been more normal. clinical trials are still at least five years away, but this promising research could ultimately help many children every year. fergus walsh, bbc news. the us secretary of state, mike pompeo, says saudi arabia has agreed on the need for a thorough and transparent investigation into the disappearance of the us based saudi journalist, jamal khashoggi. he was last seen alive

entering the saudi consulate in turkey two weeks ago. mr pompeo met saudi arabia's ruler king salman, and he also talked to the crown prince, mohammed bin salman. jamal khashoggi has not been seen since he went to get paperwork for his forthcoming wedding. our turkey correspondent mark lowen is in istanbul. and the consultate in turkey was searched yesterday — what's the latest on his disappearence? the saudi consul general‘s residences being searched and he has been recall to rehab. the president said that the search of the consulate unearths material that had been painted over. this comes its report that saudi authorities might be preparing to say the jamal khashoggi was killed by accident after a botched interrogation, possibly by unauthorised officials.

that will be met with scepticism given that the saudi team sent here, labelled the hit squad, comprised a forensics expert and carried a bone saw with them and the fact that very little of this nature happens in the saudi kingdom without prior knowledge or approval of those on high. so the question and ideas, are they trying to shield the highest members of the government from the repercussions of what happened here and are the saudi allies willing to buy into the narrative to protect their own relations with the saudi kingdom? thank you. the number of hate crimes committed against people because of their race, religion, sexuality or disability has risen by nearly a fifth in england and wales according to the latest police figures. there were just over 94,000 such offences recorded between 2017 and 2018, most of them because of race. but the sharpest rise was in the number of hate crimes carried out because of religion. it almost doubled in a year, partly down to better reporting. our religious affairs editor, martin bashir, reports. just after midnight,

and a car surges towards an islamic centre in north london. right there. the guyjust came through with a car. 5000 people had been commemorating the life of a much loved muslim cleric. the driver came out of the side road, his window was down, he was clearly deranged. witnesses recount that he was shouting anti—islamic slurs. five people were injured and police have made no arrests. they are people, they are londoners, british people going about their daily lives, and to feel under threat and feel paranoid in a country that they call home is very worrying. this is not an isolated incident. darren osborne was convicted of murder after driving a van into a crowd outside finsbury park mosque. rhodenne chand from birmingham was jailed after saying he wanted to slit a muslim's throat. jonathan jennings from

carmarthenshire was jailed after saying all muslims should be forcibly sterilised. today's report says the increase in religious hate crimes can be partly explained by better police reporting and a greater willingness by victims to come forward. but last year also saw a spate of terror attacks. in manchester, london and elsewhere. plus what some say is an increase in anti—immigrant rhetoric. sara khan, the commissioner for counter extremism, is preparing a report on the state of the nation. when i speak to lots of people in the different towns and cities across the country, there is a concern that there is rising intolerance and hatred in our towns and cities that perhaps didn't exist 30 years ago. something has indeed changed. so while police are recording more hate crimes, when you ask people if they have been a victim, the numbers over the last decade haven't changed.

martin bashir, bbc news. blue peter. i grew up watching it like millions of children all over the uk. it's turned its presenters, and pets, into household names and awarded hundreds of thousands of those sought—after badges. and today, blue peter is celebrating its 60th birthday. colin paterson is at the blue peter studios in salford where the party has been in full swing. colin. a live one hour special for the 60th birthday has just finished which contains the classic elements, sticky back plastic, badges were given out there was a time capsule. wear, this report contains a truly remarkable papier—mache pigeon. wear, this report contains a truly remarkable papier-mache pigeon. over its 60 year history there have been 37 blue peter presenters and today 27 of them were back in the studio for a special birthday show. 27 of them were back in the studio for a special birthday showm feels like being at the biggest

family reunion. that's what it feels like. there is just family reunion. that's what it feels like. there isjust a family reunion. that's what it feels like. there is just a warmth and it's quite profound. it's like coming home. it genuinely weirs, the smell of the studio, seeing the faces you love and the people you loved as a kid as well —— it genuinely is. since 1958, blue peter has had 25 pets, coined the phrase, here's one i made earlier. a secret hideaway of the famous international rescue team. interacted with the viewers. and that is from sophie raworth of twickenham and you can see it is a pink pigeon. and awarded more than1 see it is a pink pigeon. and awarded more than 1 million of its famous badges. wow, me and the queen. the singer ed shearer and received a golden one today. —— aired sheersn. why has it lasted ? golden one today. —— aired sheersn. why has it lasted? this tells people to be who they want to be, to be daring, caring, sharing and that is the message relevant now as it was

60 years ago. and the most loved moments are those when it all went wrong. oh, get off my foot. you couldn't script it. everything went wrong or right, because it didn't bother us. i was trying to keep going all the time. children's viewing habits have changed, so the show which is now on the cbbc channel only attracts a fraction of the 9 million who tuned in during its bbc one heyday, but there is no sign that the blue peter file will go outjust sign that the blue peter file will go out just yet. sign that the blue peter file will go outjust yet. i am very proud of my blue peter badge. time for a look at the weather. here's susan powell. disappointed you are not wearing it now. some sparkling sunshine across the east and temperature has done very well, 21.3 in saintjames ‘s park. here was the sunshine in essex earlier today. looking different in

cumbria through the afternoon with cloud gathering and the reason for the contrast, a weather front. as we go through the evening there will be more rain to come for the north—west, pushing into wales as well and into the small hours of wednesday it will move to the south—west of england. ahead of it, the sky is pretty clear, but look out for patches of mist and fog first thing tomorrow towards the south—east. behind the weather front, clearer skies but sharp showers were a time across western scotla nd showers were a time across western scotland and northern ireland. quite short lived and as we push into wednesday the showers across northern ireland will fade quickly and it will be the northern half of the british isles that gets the best of the sunshine. the front in the southis of the sunshine. the front in the south is keen to linger and the south west could brighten but then cloud will push into the south—east and east anglia, different day to today, cooler and temperatures in the high teens and some cloud and light rain around. that front will not be around for long because high pressure will build from the atla ntic pressure will build from the atlantic pushing it towards the

continent and weakening it as it does, so by thursday perhaps a little bit of residual cloud for the southern counties but overall a pretty glorious day the time of year, fine weather across the british isles, a light breeze and pleasa nt british isles, a light breeze and pleasant spells of sunshine. temperatures down a little kind of where we would expect them at this time of year as we have been spoiled with warm weather in recent days. friday, the high pressure does a good job of keeping a strike with some fronts trying to roll in with cloud and rain parade time but the high looks keen to stick around into next week so more decent autumn weather to come. thank you. the rollout of the government's flagship welfare reform — universal credit — is delayed yet again and it won't be complete for more than 5 years. that's all from the bbc news at six. ao it's goodbye from me, and on bbc one we nowjoin the bbc‘s news teams where you are. hello this is bbc news. the headlines. the commons speaker — john bercow — will stand

down next summer — the bbc understands. the news comes after a damning report on bullying and harassment at westminster. the only possible way to resolve this matter is the establishment of a body which is both entirely independent of and external to parliament. there's another delay to the rollout of universal credit — the government's flagship welfare reform — to prevent claimants suffering hardship. ahead of this week's crucial eu summit — theresa may updates her cabinet on the state of the brexit negotiations. reports of religious hate crimes in england and wales — have increased by a0 per cent — new figures show.