can you improve your deal, prime minister? mrs may had to admit there was widespread disagreement on parts of her plan, especially on the question of the backstop guarantee for the irish border. let me be clear that while there is broad support for many of the key aspects of the deal... laughter. ..on one issue, the northern ireland backstop, there remains widespread and deep concern. the government has lost control of events and is in complete disarray. it's been evident for weeks that the prime minister's deal did not have the confidence of this house. watching closely are the other 27 eu member states who warn that the current deal can't be renegotiated. it took over a year and a half to negotiate, it has the support of 28 governments, and it's not possible to reopen any aspect of that agreement without reopening all aspects of it. also on tonight's programme... a man is found guilty of the murder of two schoolgirls near brighton more than 30 years ago. france's president macron

addresses the nation, announcing tax cuts and wage rises following weeks of violent protests. your cousin mary has returned to rule in scotland... and two women in a world dominated by men. a look at the new film on the rivalry between mary queen of scots and elizabeth i. and coming up on sportsday on bbc news — everton boss marco silva faces former club watford for the first time since leaving vicarage road. good evening from westminster where it's been a chaotic day for theresa may's government.

the prime minister came to the house of commons to announce that the big parliamentary vote on her brexit plan due tomorrow had been delayed. she acknowledged there was no majority among mps for the withdrawal agreement and said she'd consult fellow eu leaders in the coming days. mrs may's main goal is to seek further assurances on the so—called backstop guarantee relating to the irish border. european leaders have insisted again today that the current deal can't be reopened and labour has secured an emergency debate tomorrow on the delay. we're have the latest from brussels and from northern ireland. but our first report on the delayed vote — by our political editor laura kuenssberg — contains some flash photography. the landmarks look the same, but these are extraordinary days this place will remember. on the prime minister's most important plan — the brexit compromise that's taken more than two years — theresa may simply didn't

have the mps to back her so, instead, the prime minister backed down. if we went ahead and held the vote tomorrow, the deal would be rejected by a significant margin. we will therefore defer the vote scheduled for tomorrow and not proceed to divide the house at this time. in other words, she knew she would lose, so there'll be no vote tomorrow. instead, she's appealing to the rest of the eu to look again at the most controversial part of the agreement, the backstop. i will go to see my counterparts in other member states and the leadership of the council and commission. i will discuss with them the clear concerns that this house has expressed. we are also looking closely at new ways of empowering the house of commons to ensure that any provision for a backstop has democratic legitimacy. the cabinet can nod along, but was the commons really listening? is it realistic to reckon she'll ever get the support

she really needs? i still believe there is a majority to be won in this house in support of it, if i can secure additional reassurance on the question of the backstop, and that is what my focus will be in the days ahead. does this house one to deliver brexit? —— want to. that's the sound of the divide in here. dozens of mps wish none of this was happening, dozens on the other side wish we'd left already. if the house does, does it want to do so through reaching an agreement with the eu? if the answer is yes — and i believe that is the answer of the majority of this house — then we all have to ask ourselves whether we're prepared to make a compromise. i am determined to do all i can to secure the reassurances this house requires to get this deal over the line and deliver for the british people, and i commend this statement to the house.

but the government's efforts to compromise have led them to a crisis. the government has lost control of events and is in complete disarray. it's been evident for weeks that the prime minister's deal did not have the confidence of this house, yet she ploughed on regardless, reiterating — this is the only deal available. this is a bad deal for britain, a bad deal for our economy and a bad deal for our democracy. our country deserves better than this. even the speaker furious that the government's dropping a major vote like this. halting the debate, after no fewer than 164 colleagues have taken the trouble to contribute, will be thought by many members of this house to be deeply discourteous. but that procedural palaver was nothing compared to the onslaught for the prime minister

from all sides. does she not realise that every time she comes back here with her tail between her legs, she humiliates the british people? i put it to her that she's lost the trust and credibility of the house, lost the trust and credibility of the country and, most importantly, she's lost the trust and credibility of the european union. does she not realise how chaotic and ridiculous this makes our country look? the prime minister has been forced to pull tomorrow's vote, in a stunning display of pathetic cowardice. we have found an impasse in this house. it's time now to take this back to the people and have a people's vote. what she's done today — f—r—i—t. she's frit! far from being frit, i think this prime minister has great courage in coming back... hear, hear! tonight mps were so frustrated at not having about their was a rare

grabfor not having about their was a rare grab for the mace. watch as one labourmp grab for the mace. watch as one labour mp the just about the most rebellious thing they can do to disrupt proceedings. this afternoon, all the more agonising for the prime minister because, this morning, cabinet ministers were making the case for cracking on. is the vote definitely, 100%, going to happen? yes. the prime minister has been clear the vote's going ahead, and i believe it should. should it go ahead? i certainly hope so. the prime minister's confirmed that. leaving ministers obviously angry, stuck for an explanation. it's all moving so quickly, so... it is all moving so quickly. so, as far as we understand it, the vote has been delayed. yes. what do you think of that decision? erm, i can see the logic of it. obviously, we will all need to work out what that then leads to. but, you know, i keep on saying to my colleagues — and i don't think i can say it enough — beware of stepping into an abyss of chaos. it's the prime minister that's pushing things into chaos, though. she's the one who's delayed the vote, after saying again

and again it was going to happen. even this morning, cabinet ministers were saying it was going ahead. every single time she's tried to negotiate something, the erg — the conservative group in parliament — have boxed her in this way, boxed her in that way, told her to flex her muscles, and narrowed down her negotiating options. so they are the ones, i think, who have laid the ground for the wrecking we're now seeing. but if the prime minister's banking on the eu making changes, it doesn't sound promising — not at all. the withdrawal agreement, including the irish backstop, is the only agreement on the table. it took over a year and a half to negotiate, it has the support of 28 governments, and it's not possible to reopen any aspect of that agreement without reopening all aspects of it. can you really improve your deal? for weeks, the chatter in this circus has been about winning the arguments but, tonight, theresa may's enemies might claim she's losing her nerve. laura kuenssberg, bbc news, westminster. as we heard theresa may

will travel to brussels in the coming days to try and get assurances over the issue of the so—called backstop the guarantee on the future of the irish border. european leaders have been clear today that the deal already agreed — cannot be altered. so what kind of reaction will the prime minister get in brussels and how realistic is the prospect of the kind of change that some of her mps are demanding? our europe editor katya adler has been looking at the reaction from europe. eu leaders tonight are reflecting on their brexit options. taken by surprise by the delay to the brexit vote in parliament. that brexit deal is the eu final offer, they say but they know that the prime minister needs their help. tonight donald tusk the european council president announced a special brexit summit of eu leaders this thursday to

negotiate, no, he said. to facilitate the ratification of the deal in the uk. the decision to delay the brexit vote in parliament while dramatic in the uk actually changes little here in the eu. of course eu leaders want the vote to pass and what to avoid an no—deal brexit so they're open to hearing from the prime minister what she needs from them, up to a point. reassurances on the backstop, that they can provide. re—negotiation, absolutely not that is the you here tonight. the eu is well aware the main sticking point is the irish border guarantee known as the backstop. something that the eu shows no sign of backing away from. the deal is the deal and it has taken the deal is the deal and it has ta ke n two the deal is the deal and it has ta ken two years to the deal is the deal and it has taken two years to put together. it isafairer taken two years to put together. it is a fairer dealfor taken two years to put together. it is a fairer deal for both sides and objects from an irish perspective and british perspective peaceful relationships on the island of ireland. critics in the uk do not

like the backstop goswick keeps the uk tied to eu customs regulations and prevent the uk making its own trade deals in the uk and eu go—ahead to get out of the backstop onceit go—ahead to get out of the backstop once it is triggered. theresa may, her your adviser ollie robbins was snapped arriving here in brussels this afternoon ahead of her visit. but what is that you prepared to give? i think they will be receptive audience for suggestions that certain aspects might need to be clarified or explained better. but not changed ? i clarified or explained better. but not changed? i understand that to be the position, yes. people want this done now, it is a distraction at a time when there are many other burning issues in european politics. frustration is growing in some parts of the eu. take a look at this exasperated message from the european parliament brexit negotiated today. i cannot follow any more, he writes. this delay

aggravates uncertainty for people and business, it is time the made up their mind. the eu believes a decent deal is on the table and the ball is in the uk court. that is why it is not significantly changing position. but the threat of an no—deal brexit but neither the prime minister ignored the eu want looms larger on both sides of the channel. in a separate development today the european court of justice separate development today the european court ofjustice has ruled that the uk can unilaterally cancel brexit if parliament and the government so what. that case had been brought to the ec] by a group of anti—brexit uk parliamentarians but in the eu circles it has not made many ways. you would rather that the uk stayed in the club but they believe that we are on our way out. eu leaders now need to decide what they can get the prime minister without compromising their red lines. the latest in brussels.

as we've been hearing the main sticking point for most mps which appears to have united many across the political divide is opposition to the so—called ‘backstop' guarantee which would keep the border between northern ireland and the republic open in the event that the uk and eu couldn't agree a future relationship. northern ireland's dup whose support mrs may relies on in the commons are totally opposed to the backstop. so what's the mood tonight on what could soon be the uk's only land border with the eu? our correspondent emma vardy is in jonesborough a village in northern ireland on the border with the republic. this is still a challenge obstacle? for many farmers and manufacturers north and south of the border their production lines are so intertwined so production lines are so intertwined so they have faced months of uncertainty and tonight that is just prolonged once again. but you have

to remember there is in the middle of all the politics this unique feature of northern ireland, it is a place which looks to waste. workable identify as both a dish and irish vote up the communities rely on being able to live their lives in many respects as if the island of ireland is as one. and so keeping all that the same whilst changing the status of northern ireland was a lwa ys the status of northern ireland was always going to be such a difficult task. that is why this invisible line here which crosses field and even houses and back gardens was a lwa ys even houses and back gardens was always going to end up as the crux of just how close always going to end up as the crux ofjust how close or not we may have to remain with the eu in the future. it is important to say many businesses in northern ireland, and all but many had backed the plan put forward by tories may but in the end that was not enough. the politics are so that was not enough. the politics are so emotionally charged but some people say it is notjust at stake peace and harmony. during the day,

the pounds value fell after the prime minister confirmed she would defer the vote. at one point sterling was down almost two cents against the dollar, its lowest level since april 2017. the steep fall reflected the growing uncertainty about the terms of brexit. our political editor laura kuenssberg is with me. in her statement today the prime minister repeated her read as today stand? this is one of the most difficult days, no question about it, even in these bizarre, strange political times, some of the traditional rules still hold. that being, don't hold a vote if you're certain you're going to lose it. don't ask a question if you don't know what the answer is going to be. and theresa may was staring something very grim in the face and almost —— an almost certain defeat, of probably quite a significant proportion, and rather than risk that tomorrow night, with all the

potential consequences which could even have ended up forcing herfrom office, she made the decision to defer, but not necessarily the decision to go for something dramatically different. yes, she told mps she will be looking for the assurances on that most controversial of issues, the backstop, the guarantee of no hard border in ireland, but there is no sense from theresa may that she is going off to see her counterparts in holland and then in germany tomorrow, maybe in brussels as well, there is no sense from her that she is looking for something radically front. the reason for that is clear, she has been at this for more than two years, she doesn't think it is the time to look for something different. but if she isn't on course to get something very different, it's hard to see how she is going to get a front members in the house of commons. laura kuenssberg, thank you very much. in her statement today the prime minister repeated her insistence that her focus was delivering on the result of the 2016 eu referendum. and she warned that the integrity of the political process was at stake. a bbc poll conducted by yougov

of more than 1,700 people suggests that more than three—quarters believe that british politicians are handling brexit badly. only 4% of voters think they've responded well since the referendum in 2016. our home editor mark easton has been to deal in kent, which voted to leave, to get a response to today's developments. historic deal? not yet. the latest setback on the road to brexit prompts weary shrugs in a town that fears the politicians aren't up to the task. at the new inn, a deal pub old enough to remember the english civil war, customers reflect on how the baffling complexity of brexit has paralysed their parliament and humbled their government. she changes her mind too often. she tells us one thing and does another. i'm not a big fan of may

but i think she's been strong and maybe she will pull this off. i'm just exasperated. two thirds of voters around here opted to leave in the referendum. but on the pier, they're starting to wonder if it will ever happen. i just don't understand what the problem is. we just want a deal that suits us. we want to stop people coming into the country, we want to stop people coming here and treating it like treasure island. a uk border force boat is on the lookout for illegal immigrants as deal‘s time tower marks another belligerent day of brexit. well, there has to be a brexit now, surely. i think if we backtrack, the country will fall apart. what do you mean by that? what do i mean by that? ithink... you will lose faith in what we all stand for. so democracy and our politics

are on the line here? without a doubt. the english civil war saw deal castle besieged as two irreconcilable visions of england split the nation, dividing family and friends. historians draw parallels with brexit, with every conceivable escape route from the current stand—off seemingly blockaded. some people are warning this is a real rupture in our country, it's torn the fabric apart. i believe it is. there are people who i don't speak to any more since. i wish the whole thing happened happened. it doesn't work like that, though, does it! so what would you like to see happen now then, what would be the best option? a time machine! doctor who, we'll do it that way. we will all go back, fix it, it will be fine! christmas is coming to deal but most people here don't believe we will agree on a deal before christmas. the only aspect of brexit that unites them is that politicians are making matters worse.

mark easton, bbc news, deal. that's it from westminster for now. we'll be back later in the programme, but now back to clive for the day's other news. a convicted paedophile has been found guilty of murdering two schoolgirls found strangled and sexually assaulted near brighton more than 30 years ago. at the old bailey, new dna evidence helped convict russell bishop, who's 52. he'd been acquitted of the killings, which became known as the "babes in the wood" murders, at an original trial back in 1987. sarah campbell reports. every october for the last 32 years, the families of karen hadaway and nicola fellows leave tributes at the site of their murder. their pain has never gone away. nicola's mothers grief still overwhelming. karen's father wouldn't live

to see his daughter's killer found guilty. she was our first born and the apple of his eye. he went into that mortuary, the man i loved and adored and would have done anything for, and came out a complete stranger. as this police reconstruction from the time showed, karen and nicola went out to play in the local park one october evening in 1986. they never returned home. the following day their bodies were found in dense undergrowth. one lying across the other in this makeshift den. both had been strangled and sexually assaulted. russell bishop, then aged 20, was charged with the double murder. but a year later, in 1987, a jury took less than two hours to acquit him. speaking to the bbc, he played the victim. i can't stand being around kids now. i can stand it. i don't even like taking mine out the door because i'm looked at.

karen and nicola's families tried to keep the inquiry into their daughters‘ deaths open. maybe someday someone will realise there is a murderer out there on the street. ijust hope they don't realise when it's too late. just two days after michelle's warning, in february 1990, bishop attacked and almost killed a seven—year—old girl. he locked her in the boot of his car and he drove here to devil's dyke, a beauty spot around ten miles from brighton. miraculously, she survived and was able to identify her attacker. bishop was sentenced to life in prison and in 2016, 30 years after the murders, he was taken from his cell to be told he was being rearrested. i'm not going to sit here like i did 13 years ago and go over and over and over, round in circles. not happening. please, crack on with your questions. what bishop didn't know was that forensic scientists using the latest techniques had found forearm, tying him to the murder scene.

his dna on karen's forearm, tying him to the murder scene. the guilty verdict doesn't bring nicola and karen back, but we know that other children are now safe from the hands of russell bishop. thank you for all your support and love. it has taken 32 years but finally their search for justice is at an end. france's president emmanuel macron, has promised an increase in the minimum wage, and offered tax cuts for pensioners, in response to weeks of violent protests against the rising cost of living. in an address on national television, he said he believed there was a way out of the country's current problems. lucy williamson reports from paris. it's not easy to spot what divides people here, their politics kept hidden under the neon protest uniforms. voters from both far left and far right brought together by a president who promised to unite france. after weeks of demanding a response to their protest, mr macron

addressed the nation today. some said they wouldn't even bother to watch. why should i listen to him, elena said, he doesn't listen to us. mr macron spent the day listening to proposals. a new, humbler image, orjust a smart political move? the task for emmanuel macron today is to show humility and concern. economic concessions alone may not work. what protesters want, many say, is a sense the president values them. what he offered today were four concessions. a rise in the minimum wage, tax—free overtime and bonuses and a freeze in pension taxes. what he didn't say was sorry. translation: i know that i have hurt some of you with my remarks. i want to be very clear with you, if i have fought to shake up the system, it's precisely because i want to serve our country, which i love. his concessions today were more than anyone could have imagined just a few weeks ago. but to some protesters

in amiens, it wasn't enough. translation: he tries to make us believe he regrets his behaviour but he didn't respond to our demands and tonight we have lost trust. it feels like we're talking to a brick wall. frankly, we're frustrated. protesters here are already booking a bus back to paris on saturday for act five of the weekly demonstrations there. president macron told them today that france would find a solution together, but to many, this is what solidarity looks like, not macron and his economic reforms. the prime minister of new zealand has made an emotional apology to the family of the murdered british backpacker grace millane, saying she should have been safe in the country. a body believed to be that of the 22—year—old was found yesterday on the outskirts of auckland. a 26—year—old man who can't be identified has appeared in court,

charged with murder. crossrail, currently britain's biggest engineering project, will need up to an extra £2 billion before it's finished, and its completion date is unlikely to meet a new deadline, of august next year. the project will provide a new rail line running east—west through the heart of london. our transport correspondent tom burridge reports. it isa it is a feat of engineering, the tunnel underneath central london. but the new rail line, east to west, could cost up to £2 billion extra. the whole project was supposed to come in at around £15 billion. the chairman was forced out last week and there is disagreement over when london's mayor view the project was delayed. we have still got to fit out the stations and complete the tunnels and do the testing. and while it's incredibly frustrating, which is why i've not

hidden my anger and frustration since i was told that the 9th december date would be missed. this is the new crossrail bond street station. by no means finished. and to think that this was supposed to be ready and open to passengers this week. delays to the infrastructure are part of the problem, but sources close to the project tell me that the new trains are still not compatible with signalling systems on the line. the crossrail project is all about showing that british engineering is absolutely world—class. and indeed, the tunnels and the process of digging it has been very successful. but now, with these setbacks, it will cast something of a black mark over the whole scheme. government loans will cover the overspend — london will have to pay it back. but as things stand, new management cannot say when crossrail will be finished. tom burridge, bbc news. chelsea football club has suspended four fans, as it investigates allegations of racist behaviour at the weekend, of racist behaviour at the weekend

towards the manchester city striker raheem sterling. the professional footballers‘ association says it stands shoulder to shoulder with the player, and condemned some of the negative media coverage of black footballers. here's our sports editor, dan roan. it was the alleged racist abuse that's led not only to a police investigation but also an examination of the media. manchester city star raheem sterling was the victim of the incident at stamford bridge. images have been blurred for legal reasons. he says negative press coverage of young black players fuels racism in football, and today he received backing. our boardrooms at the moment are very reflective of the people that write the news stories. we don't have across our boardrooms enough black and ethnic minority people of authority. that's a massive issue, because absolutely there's a lack of understanding or appreciation of what these players are going through. only last weekend, a banana skin was thrown on the pitch after pierre—emerick aubameyang scored for arsenal. a spurs fan was arrested. a spurs fan was arrested.

and although football has worked hard to tackle racism, reports of discriminatory abuse in the game have increased in each of the last six years. raheem sterling is arguably the highest profile english player of his generation, a star for both both club and country. and he's now spoken out in a way few footballers do. by suggesting the way that he and other black players are portrayed by the media is partly to blame for recent abuse at matches at a time when the problem appears to be getting worse, he's raised some comfortable questions for both football and the media. it's not a case of a deliberate action, but there is definitely a need for newsrooms to take a step back, have a look and ask themselves, "well, is there any truth and credence in this, that raheem sterling is putting forward and others? " and say, "yes, i think there is. so how did we get to this position and what can we do about it in the future?" but this isn't confined to the top of the game. west riding fa is investigating alleged racist abuse injuniorfootball.

the coach of this club in leeds considered quitting after his players were targeted in a recent game. that racial abuse there was one of the worst i've ever seen, the n—word, the "black this", all the negative connotations around race to all different cultures happened in that one match, it was disgusting. tonight, chelsea suspended four people from attending matches. this, the latest reminder that football cannot afford to be complacent. dan roan, bbc news. a new film chronicles the 16th century power struggle between two female leaders in a male—dominated world. mary queen of scots, which explores the relationship