the businessman arron banks is accused of bluster and contradiction over his donation to a pro—brexit campaign. £8 million is being investigated by the national crime agency. mr banks says it was within the rules on political donations. i'm telling you, it came from a uk company that had cash generated in the uk. which uk company? rock services. one mp says there's still no proper explanation of where the money came from. also tonight: leicester city players pay their respects to the club's late owner at his funeral in thailand. tributes tojeremy heywood, the top civil servant who worked with four prime ministers, who's died aged 56. on the campaign trail in the united states with just two days to go to the big vote in the midterm elections. back on land and into the record books as the first person to swim around britain.

good evening. the pro—brexit businessman arron banks has again insisted that all the money he provided for a campaign to leave the eu was generated from his businesses in the uk and therefore within the rules on political donations. as the national crime agency begins an investigation into the source of an £8 million donation, mr banks said the money came from a uk company called rock services — which he said had all sorts of revenues. one mp has accused him of bluster and deliberate confusion. manveen rana reports. arron banks — brexiteer, businessmen and now the subject of a criminal investigation into the source of the funds he provided to the brexit campaign. as he arrived at the bbc

this morning to speak to the andrew marr programme, he faced serious questions about where the £8 million had come from. i would just like to say, absolutely, for the record, there was no russian money and no interference of any type. all right. let's follow the money, as it were. i just want to be absolutely clear about that. the electoral commission say they suspect arron banks was not the true source of the £8 million he loaned to brexit campaign groups. mr banks claimed the money came from his uk—based company rock services. however, the electoral commission suspects the money came from the parent company, rock holdings, registered in the isle of man, which would make it an illegal source of funds under uk electoral law. the money trail was at the heart of today's interview. where did the money come from? i am telling you, it came from a uk company which had cash generated in the uk. which uk company? rock services. we've evidenced that to the electoral commission. rock services is a shell company.

it doesn't generate money. you've just said it's a shell company. you told parliament that rock services was just a service company. you've told me something very different today. i haven't seen the actual transcript of that. i will go back and look at that. but i am telling you the source of the funding was rock services. this was arron banks‘s evidence to mps earlier this year. rock services, as we just discussed, it is a treasury function, itjust delivers the cash. it's just a service company. and the actual loan came from another one of my companies, that was delivered in. now, you told mps that the money came from, quote, another company that i own. which other company was it? i've said, rock services is where the money came from. it was generated from insurance profits made there. the electoral commission, who have seen the accounts of rock services, claim there were insufficient funds to justify such a large donation. you've not given me an answer. you're avoiding it... i've said... an mp from the select committee that quizzed mr banks says his explanations so far have been inconsistent and full of bluster.

it's clear from what mr banks said today that some of the lines that he is now presenting contradict what he told us on the select committee. it's a very confused picture that he is presenting. i think that's quite deliberate. arron banks denies any wrongdoing. as the criminal investigation now gets under way, he can expect months of financial scrutiny by the authorities. manveen rana, bbc news. meanwhile it's thought the prime minister is preparing to discuss the shape of a possible brexit deal with her cabinet on tuesday. our political correspondent chris mason is in downing street tonight. chris? for the last couple of weeks, the negotiations have been in what is called the tunnel. and not a lot of light has been shining into it. so, there is nothing firm written into

there is nothing firm written into the diary, but officials have been busy meeting behind the scenes that between the two signs. they are trying to reach a withdrawal agreement and sort out the border between the republic of ireland and northern ireland. ensuring that stays open under any circumstances, the so—called backstop. the government's plan is a uk wide customs union with the eu being extended, if necessary, for a period of time, but with the option of getting out of it. but that has to be agreed with the eu, it has to be agreed with the cabinet, it has to be agreed with parliament. boris johnson, the former foreign secretary, sounding off about it in the sun tomorrow. the cabinet will meet on tuesday. intriguingly, brussels, the eu, has a date pencilled into the diary in a couple of weeks' time for what could be a special brexit summit. and the meetings running up to that summit are going ahead. but will a deal be ready? we simply don't yet know. we know there has been scope for delays in this process so far, and plenty

of scope for more of them yet. at the time for delay is running out. chris mason in downing street, thank you. leicester city players have attended the funeral in thailand of the club's owner, vichai srivaddhanaprabha, who died last weekend. they attended a prayer ceremony at a temple in bangkok — part of several days of buddhist rituals. the helicopter crashed after taking off from the club's stadium, killing mr vichai and four others. from bangkok, jonathan head reports. they'd flown straight from their match in cardiff to be here. the leicester players and their manager, in bangkok, to show their late chairman how much he meant to them. theyjoined a traditional buddhist funeral, which will continue for several days, attended by some of the wealthiest and most powerful people in this country. they were greeted warmly by mr vichai's sons, who will now run the company and must try to maintain its lucrative hold on thailand's duty—free business. this is a far more formal occasion to what the players will have

experienced during those moving tributes to their late chairman back in britain. it is an important religious ritual, and also an affirmation of the power and status that mr vichai achieved as a businessman here in thailand. but it is their last farewell to the man who transformed the club, and it's bound to be an emotional one for the leicester team. after more than an hour inside the funeral pavilion, it was time to head off for a rest after their flight. but they are expected here again tomorrow night, before making the long journey back to britain in time for the next match. jonathan head, bbc news, bangkok. let's take a look at some of today's other news stories. police have launched a murder investigation after the body of a man who'd been stabbed to death was discovered in south east london this afternoon. it is the third fatal stabbing in london in less than 72 hours. two teenagers — a 15—year—old and a 17—year—old — died after being stabbed in separate

incidents on thursday and friday. firefighters are tackling a large blaze in nottingham in the city's former cattle market. people living near the site — now a business estate — have been asked to keep their windows and doors closed. there are no reports of casualties and the fire service has urged people to avoid the area where possible. seven of the eight children injured after falling from an inflatable slide in surrey yesterday, have been released from hospital. the slide had been erected at a fireworks funfair in woking, with police declaring a major incident when the children fell. one mp is calling for a temporary ban on inflatables. senior figures from across the political spectrum have paid tribute tojeremy heywood, the former head of the civil service who has died at the age of 56. lord heywood retired less than two weeks ago after serving four prime ministers — and was regarded as a key influence at the highest levels of government. our political correspondent jonathan blake reports. when i launched my

leadership campaign... he was the prime minister's right—hand man, putting the government's policies into practice and giving advice on how best to get things done. as cabinet secretary and head of the civil service, and in other senior roles, lord heywood has worked at the heart of government for more than 20 years, serving four prime ministers. jeremy heywood was the most outstanding civil servant, indeed the most dynamic civil servant of his generation. exceptional ability, unimpeachable integrity. as we saw in facing his illness, exceptional courage also. politicians on all sides have paid tribute. theresa may said lord heywood worked tirelessly to serve britain, and is a huge loss to public life. the labour leaderjeremy corbyn described jeremy heywood has an impressive and dedicated public servant. the former deputy prime minister nick clegg said it was heartbreaking news and he hadn't met anyone who had worked as hard and tirelessly in government. lord heywood's wife, suzanne, said he was a wonderful husband

and father who could light up any room. think we started with a 1975 guidance... despite huge influence, he kept a low public profile, described by one former colleague at most important person nobody‘s ever heard of. but his death, at 56, is a shock to those who knew him well. jeremy, ithink, was a wonderful public servant. he did, i think, a huge amount to hold governments together at a very difficult times. i obviously knew him very well personally. all thoughts with his family. despite his illness, lord heywood worked until recently. some nicknamed him sir coverup for resisting transparency, which he said frustrated him. but he'll be missed as a man who's had a hand in how the uk has been governed through some turbulent times. jonathan blake, bbc news. jeremy heywood — who has died aged 56 final campaigning is under way in the united states

ahead of tuesday's mid—term elections — a key test for president trump. in the last hour he's been addressing supporters at a rally in georgia, while barack obama, for the democrats, is campaigning in indiana. just over a third of the seats in the us senate are being contested this time around. at the moment, the republicans have a majority with 51 out of 100 senators. they've a bigger majority in the house of representatives. all 435 seats in this second chamber are up for grabs on tuesday and both sides believe they've a chance of winning control of it. our north america correspondent chris buckler reports. donald trump has been nothing but relentless in his campaigning. georgia is just the latest stop in a frantic week of rallies held in state, after state, after state. this is a president trying to defend his power, and saying whatever he can to shore up his support. that means talking up the economy but also talking tough

on the subjects that divide this country, including immigration. turn back now because you're not coming into the united states unless you go through the process. turn back. so, if you want more caravans and you want more crime, vote democrat. it's very simple. if you want strong borders and safe communities, vote republican. along america's southern border, the first of thousands of troops have already arrived to defend this country against what the president has called an invasion. he's talking about this caravan of migrants from central america. they're still many weeks away from the us. this election on the other hand is only days away, and it's clear with this, and issues like iran, that the president is trying to present a certain image.

in washington, sunday was game day for american football fans, but they know the truly crucial contest will happen on tuesday. if we don't have a secure border, we don't have a secure country. we just need to get the republicans out. if you don't like something, vote. i don't want to hear any talk after. you're too late. it's a biggie. as barack obama knows all too well. in the midterms, floating voters tend to favour the party that opposes the president, but democrats are well aware that nothing feels certain in american politics any more. america's at a crossroads. the health care of millions is on the ballot. a fair shake for working families is on the ballot. perhaps most importantly, the character of our country is on the ballot. hundreds of candidates are taking part in hundreds of elections

across this country, but donald trump cast a shadow over all of those races. it's hard to see the midterms as anything but a referendum on his presidency. chris buckler, bbc news, washington. an adventurerfrom lincolnshire has become the first person to swim almost 1800 miles around great britain. ross edgley left margate onjune the ist — swimming for up to 12 hours a day. he's been up against strong tides and currents as well as storms and jellyfish. john maguire went to meet him as he walked back onto shore this is the moment ross edgley set a new world record, became the first person to swim around britain, and set foot on dry land for the first time in more than five months. great britain's big, isn't it? you tell me — you swam round it! yeah, it's much bigger than i thought. scotland's big. people don't realise how big that is. the highs are so high but the lows are so low. scotland is probably

the best example. just amazing, the scenery is stunning. but it's also very humbling, just getting slapped in the face byjellyfish every single day. it feels weird now to be sort of looking back and reflecting because, for 157 days, i almost didn't allow myself to do that. so now it feels quite nice. swimming twice a day, every day for up to 12 hours, both day and night, he's battled storms, exhaustion, and waters seething with jellyfish. on margate beach this morning, where he first set off injune, well—wishers who'd followed his progress joined friends and family to welcome him home. absolutely immense. he's a man who has always had character and he's shown that over the last five months. he lived on board throughout the 2000—mile swim, consuming more than a million calories to fuel his endeavour. as for what's next, ross says he is keen to take on yet another swimming challenge — but that's after he gets

his land legs back. thank you, thank you. stop it. i'm going to cry! john maguire, bbc news, margate. with all the sport now, here's karthi gna nasegaram at the bbc sport centre. england's rugby league team have won their three match series against new zealand thanks to a man of the match performance from tommy makinson. the st helens winger was described as "unbelievable" by the england head coach, wayne bennett, with his hattrick of tries helping england to a 20 points to 1a win. david ornstein reports. normally home to one of the biggest teams in club football, today anfield was hosting two giants of international rugby league. a change in sport, though not intensity, as shown by new zealand's physical

approach. initially, it paid off. the kiwis, crossing for the opening try. wounded by defeating the first test, they were now in command. however, england stood firm and gradually turned defence into attack. the result, a spectacular reply as tommy makinson took to level the scores on the verge of half—time. after the break, only a carbon copy. anything you can do, we can dojust carbon copy. anything you can do, we can do just as impressively. the carbon copy. anything you can do, we can dojust as impressively. the men in black immediately hitting back, and regaining theirgrip in black immediately hitting back, and regaining their grip on the contest. there was far less of a grip on the tempers of both teams, and while the disharmony seemed to distract new zealand, england were energised amid the ferocity. a moment of finesse, tommy makinson again on hand with the finish. when jake connor went over it was all square, all to play for. if anyone would have the final say, it was going to be makinson. makinson comes back towards the middle. tommy makinson to finish off! a hat-trick

to seal the match and series. a bit emotional, the poll on the shirt with these lads, it means a lot, and to perform as a team as we did is brilliant. england ecstatic. another sporting occasion for anfield to savour. it's time to pop out of the room if you don't want to know today's football results as match of the day 2, and in scotland, sportscene follow soon on bbc one. manchester city are back at the top of the premier league after a 6—1 victory over southampton. city scored three goals within the first 20 minutes. chelsea also won today, beating crystal palace 3—1. in the scottish premiership, an 87th minute goal from lewis ferguson gave aberdeen a 2—1victory over kilmarnock at rugby park. there's more on the bbc sport website, including news ofjustin rose's return to the top of golf‘s world rankings, plus khachanov‘s victory over novak djokovic at the paris masters final. the moat around the tower of london was illuminated this evening with 10,000 torches — commemorating the final days of the first world war a century ago.

it took around 45 minutes to light the flames, in a ceremony that'll be repeated every night until remembrance sunday. as the nation prepares to mark 100 years since the guns finally fell silent, our religion editor martin bashir has been reflecting on one element of the kit issued to serving soldiers. as young british men prepared for conflict a century ago, they received the blessing of a chaplain and were armed with a helmet, a rifle and a bible. so, this is my grandfather's bible from the first world war. so, he was carrying this with him throughout the war. steve vinall‘s grandfather, george, was on the western front when his battalion came underfire. hours later, he wrote a letter describing how shrapnel had hit his bible.

where the bullet landed, he then opened it. and he said that the eighth verse of isaiah a9, where the bullet stopped, "contains these words, which caught my eye — directly i saw it. "i will preserve thee". he goes on to say, "may this be true of future days, until i see you all again is my heartfelt prayer." the words of scripture comforted soldiers during battle and, on occasions, at the end. soldiers, when they are very badly wounded, have a tendency to produce the new testament from their breast pocket and to read it as they die. now, this is a phenomenon that was recorded when soldiers who were killed on the 1st ofjuly 1916, the first day of the battle of the somme, were recovered and buried. many of them were actually found dead, though with the bible,

with the new testament in their hand. for george vinall, who survived the war, his faith increased and led him to work as a missionary. do you think we've been a bit remiss in the way that we haven't acknowledged the bible and its use by soldiers in the first world war? their faith, the belief that they were doing the right thing that in those sort of circumstances, it's often out of your control, and therefore it's in the hands of god. and that, i think, we do miss. it is, after all, a verse of scripture that best describes the sacrifice of so many. "greater love hath no man than this, that he lay down his life for his friends." martin bashir, bbc news. that's it from us. on bbc one now it's time for the news where you are. goodbye.

hello. this is bbc news with shaun ley. iam i am with you until midnight. as we've been hearing, the moat around the tower of london was illuminated this evening with 10,000 torches, commemorating the final days of the first world war a century ago. it took around 45 minutes to light the flames in a ceremony that'll be repeated every night until remembrance sunday. sophie long was there. well, the tower of london looking very beautiful this evening, the moat is lit up by 8,000 individual flames, in an act of public remembrance, as we approach the centenary of the end of the first world war.

a little earlier, this evening, at 5pm, a lone bugler played the last post and a minute's silence was observed as people here remembered the millions of men who died during that war, and the sacrifice that they made. now this is an evolving audio and visual installation, it is called beyond the deepening shadow: the tower remembers, and it will take place here at the tower of london every night, up to and including armistice day next sunday. now the first flame was lit by a veteran of the army, and the second was lit by corporal caleb smith, an air cadet. and i am pleased to say that corporal smith is with me at the tower of london now. that must have been a huge honour. how did you feel? it was a great honour, i felt really humbled as i went up and lit the flame, and itjust made me feel great. it is very beautiful.

what do you think of the installation itself? the installation itself is amazing. the planning was perfect and the way it's set up, itjust brings you to peace as you look at it. i know you are very pleased, obviously, that you were involved. i mean, it must have been quite nerve—wracking though. it looks beautiful now, but when you walked out there, you had press lined up, everyone was silent, all eyes on you, how did that feel? well, not going to lie, it was terrifying. as i walked up, i was shaking, but once you get there and you're in the zone, it feels amazing and it is quite peaceful, actually. and how important, do you think — i mean, you're an air cadet, you have been one for three years now, i think, what does armistice day and remembrance mean to you? to me, it's a sign of like, completion, as we've made it this far, and that we've managed to keep our power and stay as we are, independent, as british. and you are 15 years old now, do you think that you intend to go on to be in the air force?

yes, i would like to be a pilot for the royal air force, when i'm older. and how did you, how were you chosen, what did you do to get to be the person who had this great honour this evening? well, because i've been a cadet for three years and i've tried my hardest and been there for the cadets, i've just been lucky to be chosen out of my nco team by my 0c, and it's a great feeling, and i'm very honoured. and i think your mum and dad were here, watching, is that right? what do they make of it all? well, they're very proud of me and they're just trying to keep me calm, because i was shaking and i was terrified, as you know. did you have second thoughts? yes, just before i was doing it, i don't know, i didn't know if i could do it, but i brought myself together, and i managed to complete it. you did it perfectly as well, as they were watching. thank you very much indeed for sharing your thoughts with us this evening. thank you, corporal smith. so, the installation will be here, for the next eight nights, up to and including armistice day.

you have a very good view, all the tickets are sold, i'm afraid, but you can come to tower hill, and look down on the tower and see this beautiful installation. well coming up we'll be taking a look at what the monday morning newspapers are saying. a bit ofa a bit of a clue, the poppies are bearers well. that is at 1130, the second hit. our guests joining me tonight are the broadcaster, lynn faulds wood, and henry mance, political correspondent at the financial times. it's time for a look at the weather with stav danos. hello there. once we lost the winds across northern scotland, today was a fine one for much of scotland and northern ireland, with plenty of sunshine, but further south there was more cloud around for england and wales, and even some rain, all tied in with this next feature which is moving northwards as we speak, and pushing on in towards the irish sea. so we could have some damp weather across the west country, in towards wales, and then this rain will spill in towards the irish sea

overnight, into northern ireland, and across into western scotland. there could be some heavy bursts mixed into that as well, by around dawn. but elsewhere it should be a largely dry night with variable cloud, some clear spells, quite chilly out—of—town with maybe a little bit of mist and fog developing as winds will fall light. this is the pressure chart to start the new working week. this weather front draped across the north and west of scotland and northern ireland will produce quite a lot of cloud, some mist and murk and also outbreaks of rain, which should eventually clear away northwards, and then for mutch of the country it should be dry into the afternoon with sunny spells. best of the sunshine across the midlands into the south—east, where we could see 16 or 17 degrees, but that could set off an afternoon and evening shower here, which could develop a bit more widely into the midlands and then into northern england as we head on in towards bonfire night evening. so if you are heading out for any celebrations it looks like for most it will be dry, apart from the showers through central, northern areas. so as we head on into tuesday, and we look to the west, this next area of low pressure is likely to encroach

in towards our shores for tuesday and certainly on into wednesday to bring increasingly wet and windy weather. so for tuesday, it will start to turn windier across western areas, with outbreaks of rain, quite a lot of cloud, some of the rain could be quite heavy. the further east you are, the better chance of staying dry, the better chance of seeing the sunshine too. and again, it is going to be very mild with that southerly airflow. temperatures in the mid to maybe upper teens celsius. now on into wednesday, that weather system pushes its way further eastwards, so it looks like it could be wet pretty much anywhere across the united kingdom for wednesday, but i think the greater chance of seeing the rain will be across southern and western parts, with the odd heavy burst mixed in too. the sunshine will develop on into the afternoon and it will be quite a windy day too. temperature—wise, maybe not as high as what we are starting the week off on, but still, 11—14 is pretty good for the time of year. so for much of this upcoming week it should stay pretty mild, particularly early on, but will turn increasingly unsettled from the west

as we go through the week.