the biggest shake—up for a0 years, says the government, as it reveals its post—brexit immigration plans. people will be allowed to come and work in the uk based on their skills — rather than where they're from. we are absolutely not closing our doors. we are simply making sure that we have control over who comes through them. also tonight — angry scenes in parliament as the labour leader jeremy corbyn appears to mouth "stupid woman" at the prime minister. they're not interested and neither is the country. it's an allegation he later denied in the commons. as the government hints that the roll—out of universal credit could be delayed again, a special report on the impact of welfare reforms in the north—east of england. i didn't stop working because i'm lazy. ijust need help now. this man was loyal to his insurance company — it didn't pay off. it turns out he's one of millions paying far more than he should every year. old marley was dead, dead as a doornail. one of charles dickens‘ best—loved

stories, a christmas carol, turns 175 years old today. and coming up in sportsday later in the hour on bbc news... the return of ole gunnar solskjaer — he's manchester united's caretaker until the end of the season. good evening and welcome to the bbc news at six. controlling immigration was a key reason for many people voting leave in the eu referendum, and today the government has set out its plans for immigration post—brexit in what it says is the biggest change in policy for decades. in the long term, low—skilled workers from eu countries will no longer have the automatic right to work here,

but under the plans low—skilled workers from all over the world would be allowed to come for up to a year. the cap on the number of high—skilled workers coming here will be scrapped, with a possible minimum salary requirement of £30,000. current net long—term migration — that's the difference between those arriving in the country and those leaving — was 273,000 in the year tojune. that is down compared to previous years. the prime minister insisted the government will stick to its target of under 100,000. but the last time that happened was over 20 years ago. the proposed new rules won't be phased in until 2021, as our political editor laura kuenssberg reports. in factories, farms, towns and cities, in our daily lives, british and european citizens live, and work, side by side. staff at this company in salford know it's going to change. staff at this company in salford

know it's going to changeli staff at this company in salford know it's going to change. i think having some sort of system is always a good idea. so many different nationalities, and english is probably now the minority.” nationalities, and english is probably now the minority. i came not fully qualified or educated, and started working, at the bottom of the food chain. the boss is worried shifting the system will mean more hurdles for him. with good people of all colours, creeds, nationalities, and it's a fantastic melting pot of skills. anything thatjeopardises or dilutes that, we are very much against. there won't be an end to immigration, but our exit from the eu means she has a chance to change the controls. people voted to leave the controls. people voted to leave the european union, they voted for change. they want us to take back full control of our borders and for the first time in decades we will be ensuring it is the uk government that sets the rules for the can come here. fire from a straightforward

crackdown on comings and goings. there won't be a limit on who can, if they have a high level of skills and can get highly paid jobs. that level is yet to be set. and there is no plan for a cap on the number of less qualified workers who could come for a year. well, a lot is on the move, because while we are in the move, because while we are in the eu people from all over the continent have been allowed to move here for good, and that works the other way round. ministers are sketching out these big changes because of brexit, because of how we voted as a country in 2016. right 110w voted as a country in 2016. right now people from all over the eu, whether from poland or now people from all over the eu, whetherfrom poland or portugal, spain or slovakia, have the same rights to come and live and work here as we do, but that will come to an end, and people from any part of the world will have to jump through the world will have to jump through the same hooks to live and work in the same hooks to live and work in the uk. even inside the government, there is tension over how kate the new system should be. you might

remember the tories promised they would get immigration down to under 100,000. the home secretary didn't sound so keen on that today. there are 110 sound so keen on that today. there are no targets in this white paper. it isa are no targets in this white paper. it is a system that is designed to help bring net migration down overall, but there are no targets set. he cannot talk about an outward looking global britain and meeting the needs of society and employers, he cannot do that and also be part of government with a rhetoric of cracking down on migration. for the prime minister the exchanges are pa rt prime minister the exchanges are part of keeping the promises of brexit, even though the government's on plans suggest the measures may hit the economy. decisions perhaps based on today's politics rather than what we can know about the yea rs than what we can know about the years ahead. laura kuenssberg, bbc news, westminster. so what impact will the government's new immigration system have on the people who are already here to work? and will the new measures be enough for those who wanted tighter controls on migrants?

our home editor mark easton reports from folkestone, which voted to leave. crossing the uk border. after brexit and an end to free movement to and from the eu, who should be allowed to drive, say, through the channel tunnel, to live and work in the uk? the reason the government's immigration policy is now more than 18 months late is that the government simply can't agree on what should happen at the border, like right here on the channel tunnel. so is it about cutting numbers or what's best for business? today, the answers are belatedly emerging from the darkness. high—skilled workers will be welcomed. low—skilled workers will be able to come for a short time. there's no target on cutting net migration. so, in folkestone, where the tunnel surfaces, a town that voted emphatically to leave the eu, how do locals here view the proposals? i don't think anybody has got any problem — well, me personally — if anyone wants to come over

here and work for a living. then they are welcome. can i ask you which way you voted in the referendum? i voted the same as last time, out. out? 0ut. i think we should get the numbers down, but the ones that should be here working and making good, in the nhs and things like that, should be encouraged to come in. i think we should cut them all. that sounds awful, i know. you think it's about numbers, do you? yes, absolutely. this is what freedom of movement looks like now. these young dancers are very unlikely to earn anything like £30,000 a year. if the eu members of this troupe were no longer here, the few remaining british would dance alone. professional dance companies at the higher level in this country employ something like 30—35% eu nationals and, if they were unable to recruit those people because of the barriers to visas and salaries, those companies would be decimated. this hospital is

particularly concerned. javierfrom spain is a nurse. so is monica from portugal. petronella from romania is a nursing assistant. none earn more than £30,000. we'd be very concerned about the impact of an arbitrary salary cap. pay is not a proxy for skill level. the birth of this policy has been difficult, and it may not be over yet. there's further consultation, of course. it has to navigate its way through both houses of parliament — and, perhaps most importantly, any free—trade deal negotiated after brexit may well include special opt—outs and deals on immigration, not least the one with the eu. controlling immigration is about balance. fewer foreign workers here, most economists agree, will make the country poorer, but brexit has given voice to those who want to see far lower numbers. the government remains divided as to which immigration rhythm

the uk should dance to. mark easton, bbc news. the labour leaderjeremy corbyn has denied calling the prime mininster a "stupid woman" during prime minister's questions this afternoon. he was caught on camera appearing to mouth the words during heated exchanges at the despatch box. it caused angry scenes in parliament. mr corbyn later returned to the commons and said he had in fact said "stupid people". 0ur chief political correspondent vicki young reports. rowdy scenes in the house of commons — nothing new there but this went way beyond the usual heated exchanges. calm down! asjeremy corbyn left the chamber, conservative mps accused him of misogyny, and this is what they had witnessed minutes before. oh, yes, he is! oh, no, he isn't! theresa may with a seasonal pantomime—themed attack on the labour leader...

look behind you! they are not impressed and neither is the country. jeremy corbyn looked furious, and then this... he insists he muttered "stupid people". plenty of others think he said "stupid woman." the prime minister's team had to quickly explain to her what they'd seen. everybody in this house, particularly in this 100th year of anniversary of women getting the vote should be aiming to encourage women to come into this chamber. tory mps leapt to their feet. i saw it, sir. i saw him say it. he muttered words which were quite clearly visible, accusing the prime minister being a stupid woman. disgraceful! conservative mps and ministers tried and failed to persuade the speaker to watch the video footage circulating on social media. then a jaw—dropping moment as the speaker himself came under attack. ..why it is that when an opposition memberfound that you had called me

a "stupid woman" you did not apologise in this chamber. no, no. mr bercow said he had dealt with that matter months ago. all political parties say they want to do more to encourage women to take part in politics, but parliament has struggled to deal with accusations of sexism and inappropriate behaviour. today jeremy corbyn found himself in the firing line. jeremy corbyn... this afternoon he had to come back to the commons to explain himself to mp5. i referred to those who i believe were seeking to turn a debate about the national crisis facing our country into a pantomime as "stupid people. " mr speaker, i did not use the words "stupid woman." senior labour figures say this was a phoney row contrived by the conservatives. of course, everyone else will make up their own minds. vicki young, bbc news, westminster. the european commission has published a series of contingency

measures designed to limit what it calls the most significant damage that would be caused by a no—deal brexit. among other things, the measures would temporarily allow british airlines to operate flights into and out of the eu but not within in it, hauliers to carry freight by road into the eu for a nine—month period without having to apply for permits, uk financial services regulations — in a limited number of areas — would be recognised as equivalent to the eu's for up to two years. it also urged eu states to take a i. to the rights of uk citizens living in the eu in the event of a no—deal brexit, provided that was reciprocated. 0ur correspondent adam fleming is in brussels. all this designed to minimise disruption with a no—deal? southee, they are really trying to reassure british citizens living in other eu countries they will be able to continue to live and work there evenif to continue to live and work there even if there is no deal —— sophie,

they really. but this is really about protecting the eu's vital interests which they have identified in this contingency planning process. that stuff about truckers is all that eu trucks can go into the uk to, and about airlines similarly, about them being able to fly into the uk. and the stuff about limited recognition for services, thatis limited recognition for services, that is for financial services the eu wants to use in london. it is all designed to send a political message to the uk that the only deal is the deal that is on the table, and it is way, way better than any of this, and that the only way the uk can get that post brexit transition period is about signing up to the deal on the table. the one thing glaringly absent from all this paperwork today? what will you do on the irish border if there is no deal? nothing about that. adam fleming, thank you. it is almost a quarter past six. our top story this evening: the government sets out its plans

for immigration post—brexit in what it says is the biggest change in policy for decades. and guilty of perverting the course ofjustice — the mp who lied to police about who was behind the wheel of a speeding car. coming up on sportsday in the next 15 minutes on bbc news... we'll look ahead to the last of the league cup quarterfinals, including a north london derby between arsenal and spurs. over the past decade, welfare reforms across the uk have taken their toll on the money in some people's pockets. many are getting less than they used to, as ministers try to reduce the financial burden of benefits. hartlepool in the north—east of england has been one of the hardest hit. figures show that the extent of welfare changes mean people in the town will have lost out on £53 million over a decade since 2010. that's the equivalent of £920 being taken every year out of the pockets of each working age adult in hartlepool between 2010 and 2020. that's much higher than the average loss across britain, which is £650 per person a year. in the second of our series looking at how public sector cuts have

impacted hartlepool, our social affairs correspondent michael buchanan reports on the unintended consequences of welfare reform. welfare reform was not meant to make a poor town poorer. i don't live day—to—day. i live hour to hour.l drive to get everybody into work should not be causing evictions.- the moment i'd rather keep the house empty and pay council tax than push somebody in who won't pay the rent. a system that is here to help should not appear heartless.” a system that is here to help should not appear heartless. i didn't stop working because i'm lazy. ijust need help now. in hartlepool, people once queued for work. today, they

queue forfood. at once queued for work. today, they queue for food. at this church each thursday, the poor take the place of parishioners. helping in january because we didn't have food for three days. many have suffered and of its actions or delays. what started last year as a meal for 15 is now feeding more than 100. started last year as a meal for 15 is now feeding more than 100m started last year as a meal for 15 is now feeding more than 100. in the first 32 minutes 120 people came through the door, so we ran out of bags. in 2010, there were no soup kitchens of food banks in hartlepool. today, there are nine. how much money do you have right now? nothing. i haven't got any family orfriends now? nothing. i haven't got any family or friends pulled now? nothing. i haven't got any family orfriends pulled i am here on my own with one friend who doesn't have any benefit. she and rob live in this flat. two care leavers, friends since childhood, they are struggling to live without universal credit. kelly was sanctioned for missing an

appointment while visiting her family in tyneside. nothing. what did you have in here? white goods. cooker, microwave, bed, washer i've got loads of toiletries but i couldn't use them because i had no hot water but how will you get food for the next few weeks? we are survivors. while they eke by, others have become desperate. 0n survivors. while they eke by, others have become desperate. on a recent patrol in hartlepool, police say that petty thieves have blamed their crimes on delays with universal credit payments. in the last year, i've seen probably about half a dozen people who have been arrested on suspicion of theft and said the reason they are stealing was to feed themselves because of this new universal credit. universal credit

usually covers rent and living expenses and can amount to more than £1000 per month, more money than some have ever known. the temptation to spend can be overwhelming. some have ever known. the temptation to spend can be overwhelmingm some have ever known. the temptation to spend can be overwhelming. in the last year we've had evictions for 15 to 20. all of them were universal credit kevin owns nearly 200 properties in hartlepool and has a lwa ys properties in hartlepool and has always had tenants on housing benefit paid directly to him, but the new system pays red direct claimants, forcing kevin to evict and blacklist people. we've got 200 300 people we can't take because of the universal credit. and this is new? just the last year. the government ‘s sake advance payments are available with universal credit so are available with universal credit so nobody has to without money but the public have broadly supported welfare cuts since 2010 and the new system is less generous, more arduous. the last seven years of my life... this woman has been

navigating the payments system since her husband died in april, and his sudden death from cancer meant she had applied for universal credit. within six days of him passing away, i was at the jobcentre seven within six days of him passing away, i was at thejobcentre seven times in total. haley was penalised for having is their bedroom then told she'd lose disability payments. her experience highlights how the system worked, the changes made since 2010 but, for hayley, it's been a living hell. it's too much. you think, i've worked looking after other people for 20 years. i didn't stop working because i am lazy. ijust need help now. and you just... it is hurdle after hurdle constantly, and it's too much. no one has been immune

from welfare reform, but its impact has been uneven. the problems in hartlepool will be recognised in many other struggling towns. a labour mp is facing a possible jail sentence after being found guilty of perverting the course of justice, following a trial at the old bailey. fiona 0nasanya, who's been the mp for peterborough since 2017, lied to police to avoid a speeding charge. a labour spokesman said she has been suspended from the party and should resign as an mp. 0ur correspondent sophie long is outside the old bailey. what now for the mp? sophie, one way 01’ what now for the mp? sophie, one way or another it seems like her political career is over. the labour party has issued a statement. a neighbouring labour mp is also said she should stand down for the might depend on the sentence that she receives. if she isn'tjailed, technically she could remain as an mp, but she has already lost the

support of her party. if she is jailed for less than a year, there could be a recall petition and, if she is jailed for a year or more, she is jailed for a year or more, she would automatically lose her seat and there would be a by—election, so potentially the end of what could have been a glittering career, the woman who once said she dreamt of being britain's black prime minister tonight awaiting sentencing for perverting the course of justice. it appears it doesn't pay to be loyal. it turns out that millions of people who stay with companies for insurance and mobile phones for years are actually losing out by around £900 a year. that's the verdict of the competition watchdog. 0ur personal finance correspondent simon gompertz reports. the loyalty penalty can grind off your hard—earned cash without you noticing. nick near doncaster found he was paying more than £1000 a year more a year than he needed to for house insurance. we were paying £1929.82 a year. loyal for 21 yea rs, the cost had tripled. shopping around got him a policy for less than £500.

i think it's despicable, it's an easy way for them to make more money, so they'lljust constantly put the price up year after year after year. they assume that if people aren't making complaints, and they're not chasing it up, then it's a safe bet for them. insurers say they're taking action against the loyalty penalty. the provider santander explains nick made claims, though he says he only ever got £200. two strawberry £1. two blueberry, £1.50. at doncaster market nearby, such explanations from insurers, also mobile phone and broadband providers and banks, get short shrift. well, i think it's a disgrace actually because i think loyal customers should get treated better. it'sjust outrageous. should be the other way round. what would happen to you if you charged your loyal customers more than someone who just came in for the first time? i wouldn't last two minutes. i'd be bankrupt. so the competition watchdog

is targeting companies who introduce price rises by stealth or impose costly exit fees from deals, plus those who put up barriers to switching or cancelling and make you auto renew to get the deal, then roll it over at a higher price. it's an issue which infuriates people because it seems unfair, it seems underhand that prices should be allowed to creep up without you knowing. and it happens because big businesses are allowed to charge their long—standing customers more. so, how to protect people? today we're promised there will be court action against the worst perpetrators and caps on excessive prices if they're needed. simon gompertz, bbc news, doncaster. the artist banksy has confirmed that a new graffiti piece that has appeared in south wales is his. the work — on the side of a garage in port talbot — has predictably attracted a lot of interest since its appearance.

the owner of the garage says he hasn't slept for fear it might be vandalised. one of charles dickens‘ best—loved stories, a christmas carol, is 175 years old today. the story of scrooge, the miser who is forced to become compassionate by ghosts, was written in condemnation of the child poverty that dickens saw around him. the first edition published in december 1843 immediately sold out, and the tale has captivated people ever since. david sillito reports. # god rest you merry gentleman... marley was dead. to begin with, there was no doubt whatever about that. the register of his burial had been signed by the clerk. a christmas carol. simon callow is at the moment performing it onstage twice a day in this, its anniversary year. i'm holding this very gently because this is an original, a christmas carol, published exactly 175 years ago and they all sold out within five days.

and while it would be going too far to say dickens invented a victorian christmas, he certainly, for millions of us, defined what christmas should be. he certainly gave christmas a meaning which it had not had before. he says, "it is the only time in the long calendar of the year that i know of that men and women open their closed up hearts freely and think of those below them as fellow passengers to the grave." a christmas carol by charles dickens. who are you? what do you want? the story of scrooge and his night of ghostly encounters goes down through the generations. what do you want with me? much. there have over the years been 73 film and tv adaptations and marking today's anniversary, a display at the london pall mall gallery. this lost portrait was rediscovered in south africa, much

to the delight of charles dickens‘ great—great—great—granddaughter. this is what he looked like when he wrote a christmas carol. this is him at 31 years old. the intensity of those eyes. when you think about the campaigning in this book, this is what dickens looked like when he was writing it. thejob now, raising the money to buy it for the dickens museum. time perhaps for a bit of the spirit of a christmas carol. as tiny tim observed, god bless us every one. david sillito, bbc news. time for a look at the weather. here‘s matt taylor. no dickensian christmas on the way this year, but at least today we had a bit more sunshine. this is a glorious scene across the firth of forth late this afternoon but in the west, a different story but some showers during the day, and they will become more abundant in the

evening, especially in south—west england, wales and southern scotland. some of them heavy. enough breeze tonight to push the north and east. i can‘t promise anyone will stay dry, but drier further east. this is where temperatures will drop further this. parts of scotland and eastern england, don‘t be surprised in the morning if you wake up to some frost. cold for thursday morning commute, with showers possible just anywhere but during the day, more in the wake of drier, sunnier weather in the south compared to the showers you start with but for north west england and southern scotland, the showers keep going all day long, some of them heavy and dundry. the breeze picked up heavy and dundry. the breeze picked up on today, but nothing especially strong, but temperatures similar to this afternoon, around six to 11. for thursday evening, the showers continue for a time across northern england, scotland and northern ireland, but they tend to fade away on thursday night. a spell of wet and windy weather for england and

wales, but thankfully mostly at night from early risers for east anglia and the south—east on friday could start especially wet and wild west of the wet weather gets away, a few hours later will have a training weather front for northern england, southern scotland and northern ireland, always cloudier through friday. bright after a frosty start in northern scotland, six or seven, but 13 to 14 in northern scotland, six or seven, but 13 to 1a in the far south and, for the weekend, it stays mild, and it looks like you will need waterproofs for any christmas shopping. a reminder of our top story. the government sets out its plans for immigration post—brexit in what it says is the biggest change in policy for decades. that‘s all from the bbc news at six. 0n bbc one, we nowjoin the bbc‘s news teams where you are. goodbye. hello this is bbc news with lu kwesa burak. conservative mps accuse labour leader, jeremy corbyn, of calling therasa may a ‘stupid woman‘ during prime minister‘s questions , but he denies it. i did not use the words

"stupid woman" about the prime minister or anyone else and am completely opposed to the use of sexist or misogynist language in absolutely any form at all. the government sets out its immigration policy for the uk after brexit. ministers say it will be skills that matter from now on.