hello, it's thursday, it's ten o'clock. i'm victoria derbyshire. good morning. more mps could quit labour and the tories and join the new independent group in parliament, the 11 breakaway mps have claimed. one of the ex—conservatives, heidi allen, says that the aim is to "ensure there won't be a tory party to go back to." we'll be asking these voters if they welcome this new group and whether they'd like it to become a proper political party. i hope the independent party can become an —— a home for moderate voters like myself. as a liberal democrat i believe political parties and groups with similar aims should work together. i believe the independent group is a mistake and it has damaged the labour party. also, we speak exclusively to a dad of two who worked with a group

of volunteer rescuers in syria, taking huge risks to save lives. he's one of 100 so—called white helmets and their families who, we can reveal, have been given asylum in this country. i left to a country with different traditions, lifestyle and language. but at the same time, i left a place where i was threatened by death or arrest to come to a place where you feel your value as a human being, and have rights. and the 1975 win best group and album at the brit awards, and beyonce and jay—z accept their award in front of a portrait of the duchess of sussex dressed as the queen. thank you so much to the brit awards for this incredible honour. you guys have always been so supportive. everything is love. thank you. you're welcome. what does that image say to you?

latest brits reaction, just after 10.30am. hello. welcome to the programme. we're live until ”am this morning. are you one of those who feels politically homeless? could you see yourself supporting this new independent group? we are going to get your reaction from all over the country. your reaction welcome wherever you are in the country. do get in touch. but first here's a summary of the news with joanna but first here's a summary of the

news withjoanna gosling. has told the bbc she expects a number of her former colleagues to join them in the coming weeks. two senior conservatives, dominic grieve and justine greening, have indicated they will leave the party if it backs and no—deal brexit. they will leave the party if it backs and no-deal brexit. if we simply become the brexit party, then ido simply become the brexit party, then i do not believe we have a successful future ahead of us. so you would leave ? successful future ahead of us. so you would leave? i don't think i would be able to stay part of a party that was simply a brexit party that had crashed was out of the european union. pope francis has called for concrete measures to tackle what he called the evil of child sexual abuse by priests. the ships around the world have travelled to the vatican for a conference to discuss how to deal with the issue. opening the event this morning, the pope prayed for those affected by abuse. survivors say new safeguarding protocols are needed to protect children in

future. at least 78 people have died in a fire in the bangladeshi capital dhaka. it broke out last night in a building used to store flammable chemical items. fatalities could increase. the fire is now under control. figures published in the last half hour show the government has micro—accounts were in surplus by almost £15 billion injanuary. it is the largest surplus on record. president trump has blocked the return of a woman who went to syria tojoin islamic return of a woman who went to syria to join islamic state return of a woman who went to syria tojoin islamic state militants. hoda muthana said she made a mistake and wants to go back to alabama with her child. a man who was charged after racist graffiti was daubed, he found this

five days after his family had moved in. a man will appear at manchester magistrates‘ court. the american actorjussie smollett alleged he had the 1975 where the big winners at the 1975 where the big winners at the brit awards last night. the indie band walked away with best british group and album of the year. however some viewers found out about their success early after a rogue television advert announced their win ahead of the ceremony. the ca rte rs, win ahead of the ceremony. the carters, also known as beyonce and jay-z carters, also known as beyonce and jay—z won international group and posed in front of a portrait of the duchess of sussex as they accepted their award. that‘s the latest news, back to victoria. mps were supposed to be

on a half—term break this week — that was cancelled a few weeks ago. instead, it‘s been a tumultous four days in politics. on monday, seven labour mps announced while this programme was on air that they were resigning from the party to form a new independent group in the house of commons. it is time we dumped this country has micro—old—fashioned it is time we dumped this country has micro—old —fashioned politics it is time we dumped this country has micro—old—fashioned politics and created an alternative that does justice to who we are today and gives this country a politics that is fit for the 21st century, not the last one. on tuesday night, another labour mp, joan ryan joined them, saying labour had become "infected with scourge of anti—jewish racism." yesterday they were joined by three conservatives — anna soubry, sarah wollaston and heidi allen, who have been critical of the prime minister‘s handling of brexit. they all took up their seats as a group together when we allowed a cabinet minister to say "f business" and we have a

prime minister dragging the country and parliament kicking and screaming to the edge of a no deal abyss, i am done. they all took up their seats as a group together in parliament yesterday. they now have the same number of mps as the liberal democrats. they aren‘t a political party at the moment, but do you want the chance to vote for them? do you want them to thrive and grow? or are you pretty disgusted with what they‘ve done? what‘s your message to others who might be thinking ofjoining them? we have got together some voters with different view. irene willis, a conservative voter who is concerned the party might split further. areeq chowdhury is a labour member and supports the party leaderjeremy corbyn. amin aboushagor is a member of the labour party who thinks the eight mps that left are damaging the party. amin aboushagor is a member of the labour party who thinks ruby chow is a liberal democrat activist. jordan white has been a labourand lib dem supporter in the past, but doesn‘t know who he‘ll vote for in the next general election. elizabeth anderson votes conservative and is sad three mps

left the party yesterday. tim perry is a floating voter who thinks a brand new political party would be a good thing. and elliot cohen who quit the labour party over his concerns about anti—semitism. and we‘ve also got two commentators with us — grace blakeley, who writes on economics and is broadly supportive of jeremy corbyn‘s and his policies, and sonia sodha who writes for the guardian and welcomes the new group. we are hoping we will be joined by one of the independent group of mps but i‘m not holding my breath frankly. anyway, welcome to you. elliott, would you say you are politically homeless right now?|j was politically homeless right now?” was until this week and i now feel the independent group have given me some hope, that there is a group of mps who want to bring us back to an age where politics is about friendly

disagreements and about being open and honest with each other and not about bullying and about misogyny and hatred of all sorts that i have seen and hatred of all sorts that i have seen too much of from both parties. and you are talking specifically about anti—semitism? and you are talking specifically about anti-semitism? yes, specifically anti—semitism from the labour party which is an area of my concern because i labour party which is an area of my concern because i have always voted labour but i couldn‘t do so in the last couple of elections because i don‘t believe jeremy last couple of elections because i don‘t believejeremy corbyn under the leadership care one jot about the leadership care one jot about the anti—semitism that has thrived and grown under his leadership. jordan, would you describe yourself as politically homeless at the moment? absolutely. in previous elections it was pretty clear for me who i wanted to vote for. since the turn of brexit and watching the negotiations and debate in society, in the house of commons and the

house of lords, it has taken a dark turn. i grew up close of the border in northern ireland so it's close to my heart not seeing a strengthening of the border and destruction of the fragile peace process. if there was a general election, to solve this crisis, i don't know where i would vote but i feel this independent group is providing me with some hope and optimism but i am cautious to label myself with them quite yet. but you would want them to become a political party? i would like to see that. it's a wonderful thing, people from conservatives and labour who are moderate coming together finding are moderate coming together finding a middle ground. they are all anti brexit so that is key for you? yes, because the referendum was based on a life for me. so some would say you are anti—democratic, as is this independent group. it's a democracy, you can change your mind. what do you can change your mind. what do you think about the three conservatives who left, irene? the

prime minister is disappointed. i am surprised because of the timing the three ladies have chosen to interrupt a very important time that out interrupt a very important time that our country finds itself fighting for our voted independence from the eu and there is so much going on, and the disruption, i feel loyalty toa and the disruption, i feel loyalty to a party but not just to a party but of the country. we are really trying to solve our problems. the other problem i have with a lot of negativity, everybody is negative. there is no positive thought in anyone at all and i am very positive person myself. i don't know if you heard heidi allen yesterday saying she felt liberated and excited to

have left the conservative party. she was positive but she comes from a different stance. but i don't find leaving the party helps, and 11, i don't know, 11 mp5 what can they do? what do you say, you are a labour voter? there is always space for a new party. our political system is breaking at the seams, it cannot handle all of these parties and the reality is at the next general election the choice will be between a labour government, rising food banks and property, or the conservative party. the independent group have to say who they will support. some of those labour mps, ex labour mps support. some of those labour mps, ex labourmps are support. some of those labour mps, ex labour mps are now in a group with x conservative mps who voted

for cut after cut in the coalition government since 2010. they are real political rivals. the only thing that unites them is brexit and the reality again of brexit is they will not be a people‘s vote in the next month before we leave the eu in march so what are they standing actually for? are they going to continue with, many on ed miliband has micro—shadow cabinet, it is not clear what they stand for. let me ask sonia, what is going to be the overwhelming theme of this new group? is it going to be about brexit or is it going to be about economics which in the end when it comes to a general election is what people vote on, grace? this is a trojan horse, they are using the brexit issue is a veil to cover up what is essentially an incredibly

regressive economic agenda. you have said these people are political rivals, they are not, most of them have been supportive of austerity in one form or another. the only real person to oppose austerity back when it wasn't popular to do so because nobody was talking about the real impact it was having, decimating communities. our economy is really fragile at the moment, we have had a decade of wage stagnation, really low investment... but x mps like mike gapes and ann coffey were voting against austerity. yes but there was a consensus voting against austerity. yes but there was a consensus that austerity was necessary. we didn't have any opposition to this massive agenda. in 2010, 2012, there was no consensus in 2010, 2012, there was no consensus austerity was necessary. i think it will be tricky for this

group. the one thing that unites them is they are all pretty anti brexit and some of the mp5 who joined this group are the real spokespeople for the campaign for a referendum on theresa may's deal. there's a lot that separates them actually. you did see anna soubry yesterday get behind the policies of the coalition government and that won't sit well with some of the labour mps won't sit well with some of the labourmps in the won't sit well with some of the labour mps in the group so it will be difficult but i think the reason why this grouping is important, and actually you can see if you are one of the two main parties feeling very tribal, but if you take a step back and think about where british politics is going, i don't think our two party system is doing well and brexit. were not seeing the leadership from either the prime minister orjeremy leadership from either the prime minister or jeremy corbyn, leadership from either the prime minister orjeremy corbyn, the leader of the opposition, and that

is what is partly behind this group forming. if you ask some of the ex labour mps forming. if you ask some of the ex labourmps in this forming. if you ask some of the ex labour mps in this group they will say we are absolutely anti—austerity, but we need to prevent brexit from happening first because brexit is actually going to increase the austerity we see in this country. they are also pro—privatisation and anti tax hikes on the rich. this will effect a generation, there will be more austerity and cuts if there is a senseless no—deal brexit going ahead. why do you think they didn't justjoin the lib dems, a pro—eu anti brexit party that wants a second referendum ? anti brexit party that wants a second referendum? ultimately it is ato second referendum? ultimately it is a to step process and as a liberal

democrats, we are just open to working with groups with similar aims. do you think it is because the lib dems brand is still tarnished because of the time in government with the conservatives?” because of the time in government with the conservatives? i think that was during the coalition, we have made great achievements. what you are ignoring my question, do you think it is probably to do with that? i cannot speculate but i think we will work closely together no matter whether they join we will work closely together no matter whether theyjoin our party or not. i think it is important to note that first of all the independent group are not yet a party, just 11 mp5. independent group are not yet a party, just 11 mps. i'm asking what people want them to become a political party. i am a jeremy corbyn supporter but my support has got this low because of brexit. because jeremy corbyn got this low because of brexit. becausejeremy corbyn doesn‘t got this low because of brexit. because jeremy corbyn doesn‘t seem to be heading towards that second referendum? yes, one of the reasons i found it damaging is because

before this happened the leadership was slowly inching toward supporting an amendment that would back the prime minister's deal, much like when the good friday agreement was passed, but i don't know if this has made them hard in their position and it worries me. let me read you some m essa 9 es it worries me. let me read you some messages from people around the country. hannah tweets, yes this could definitely be the party for me although i hope the independent group and lib dems down to field candidates against each other in the same constituency at the next election. they need cooperation across the centre ground. graham says they should have by—elections, they stood on the manifesto of their respective parties. if the voters wa nt respective parties. if the voters want change they will vote for it. paul tweets, the independent group area paul tweets, the independent group are a bunch of cowards...

of course we did have a referendum on proportional representation. it was the alternative vote system and a majority of people in this country said we don‘t want that, we would rather stick with what we have. between the av referendum and the current situation now, it has changed. the to parties have moved into more extreme direction and having a multiparty system to survive will allow more moderate voices to flourish. elizabeth, do you think your party has become more extreme, the conservative party? do you agree with what ruby said and what anna soubry said yesterday, the ha rd what anna soubry said yesterday, the hard right extreme anti—eu party?” don't agree with that and i think it is clever rhetoric on anna soubry's part. i don't think it is true. basically she saying 52% of the

population is hard right because they voted to leave the eu and i don't think you can possibly argue that. i don't think that is what anna soubry was saying at all. if you look at immigration for example i think theresa may is an out rider for the british population on immigration. when you survey the british public we are pretty pragmatic on immigration, happy to haveit pragmatic on immigration, happy to have it as long as there are some controls and economic benefits. what you have seen from theresa may and the conservatives in recent years is they have moved further and further to the right on immigration, adopting useless targets that they cannot achieve and it's a real problem for the conservative party. on the other hand, if theresa may's view was so unpopular, why did a poll yesterday show we are 12 points in the lead? it is one pole. it is indeed only one pole but on the other hand if these 11 mp5 all feel so strongly they are in the right

and they captured public mood, they should do what others have done when defected, force a by—election and allow local constituencies to decide. a lot of people are saying they should have by—elections now in their own constituency.” they should have by—elections now in their own constituency. i absolutely believe that. they have followed the conservative stance and they were chosen as conservative mps, and i believe that a lot of people do not vote for a personality, they vote for a party as i do for instance. i know my mp and it‘s really very upsetting that again, even here, all i hear is negative rhetoric. you mean even here as in in this television studio? well let me bring in you because at the beginning of the programme you said this may be a group for you and you are saying it

ina group for you and you are saying it in a positive tone, why? because at the minute there is no one really for me to vote for. the conservatives have gone too far right and labour have gone too far left. if this can provide me a party to vote for in the centre with moderate policies then that‘s a great thing. who did you vote the past? i have voted conservative, labour and liberal democrat in the past, and last time i voted green party. i am the definition of a swing voter for sure. so you would back the independent group ‘s anti brexit stance? for me brexit isn't the big issue in terms of this party growth. i like the idea of they haven‘t got an ideology and they are looking at each independent policy as it comes up and i think that is the right approach rather than having this dogmatic well we are on the right or the left and we have to

approach things in a certain way. this is the core of the independent group '5 ideology, that we have no ideology. they can say that because they are advocating the status quo and when the policies you are advocating are the same ones advocated over the last 40 years which is privatisation, slashing taxes for the rich and corporations, opening up our economy more and more to international finance, then you can easily say we don't have any ideology because it'sjust can easily say we don't have any ideology because it's just what everyone else thinks is happening. the reason we have had polarisation over the last ten years is because the status quo is not working any more. elliott is frowning at everything you are saying, explain why. it's a huge generalisation and there have been governments and oppositions in the last 40 years that have ta ken oppositions in the last 40 years that have taken a wide variety of positions including jeremy corbyn 's labour. he has taken a very different position to opposition in the past so i think it's a total

generalisationjust to the past so i think it's a total generalisation just to say these people don't have any principles. as well as brexit which is clearly crucial, the other issue of the 11 have in common is that they have all stated that they are fed up with the total obedience and subservience that seems to be required by the groups who appear now to be running labour and the conservatives, that if you don't agree with brexit100% you are a traitor, that if you don't bag jeremy corbyn100% you are a traitor and you should be deselected and hounded out of the party and it's that attitude that has led to these people, ithink, even more than brexit possibly... do you accept that? the labour party has become a massive party, obviously there will be some cranks here and there will be some cranks here and there who will be abusive and that should be stamped out, but if you look at especially the labour mps all they have done is increase the

likelihood of a conservative government. they haven‘t unified. we have seen is... luciana berger a year ago at a demonstration outside parliament saying enough is enough about anti—semitism begged people to join the labour party, and she tried and tried, and she has been abused and tried, and she has been abused and abused. there is only so much you can put up with. the problem is it's not really enough forjeremy corbyn to stand on a platform and say anti—semitism is wrong, of course it is, it's about actions and some of these mps who have joined the independent group, the reason they have done that is they don't thinkjeremy corbyn is committed enough to getting anti—semitism out of his party. luciana berger had these issues, both because she is tuition because she's a woman and thatis tuition because she's a woman and that is appalling but it is a farce to say angela smith hasjoined the party on the basis of antiracism

after yesterday saying people with a funny tinge. there is no place for racism, no place for anti—semitism in politics but jeremy racism, no place for anti—semitism in politics butjeremy corbyn has been so slow in stamping the problem out, too slow in addressing the problem and too slow in reacting to it. you respond. obviously all racism is wrong but let‘s look at the reality of the situation. by creating this new independent group they have increased the likelihood of the conservative government which has a massively racist immigration policy. that is far more dangerous, the labour party should unify and fight to the problems from within. how do we respond to areeq?” fight to the problems from within. how do we respond to areeq? i don't see this —— say this hoping for a

conservative government, but anti—semitism is growing and taking root in the party, but it could be some of these eight people, particularly luciana berger, feel the only way to make him take note and do something about it is to do something drastic and that i really respect. what i don't understand, andi respect. what i don't understand, and i agree the labour party, the seven that left the labour party, the time wasn‘t as relevant as the three that left the conservative party because it‘s very disruptive andi party because it‘s very disruptive and i probably at the moment in the may nine —— in the minority supporting theresa may and the biggest mistake was she put her hat in the ring to become a prime minister after david cameron has abandoned, running away, knowing very well what is coming. let's not go back over history. nobody outside of westminster cares about the fact

we have 11 mp5 who have resigned their parties, it doesn't affect people's lives. we are 36 days away from brexit. the prime minister is trying to negotiate her deal and we are talking about 11 mp5 who have quit their parties? that is an excellent point because actually i am not that optimistic about medium—term prospects for this grouping, depending what happens to them, whether they form a new party, but i think some of these mps have joined this new grouping because they are so desperate on brexit, they are so desperate on brexit, they don't think the prime minister's deal is any good, they see a total lack of leadership from jeremy corbyn. i think they are hoping for short term winds through this grouping and british politics is so volatile at the moment this group of 11 mp5 could potentially shape the future of brexit. jan says... i totally agree with the 11 mps who have had the courage to from this group. british politics has

been hijacked on one side who will never be satisfied with anything put forward on brexit and the other side who allow their mps to be abused in a nasty way. i hope more will have courage tojoin them a nasty way. i hope more will have courage to join them and not stay if they believe things are not right. i would vote for this group and my mp, should he or shejoin would vote for this group and my mp, should he or she join the would vote for this group and my mp, should he or shejoin the group. and on twitter says, unless they get their own democratic mandate it is double standards. i voted to remain but these people don‘t represent me, they are pro—austerity, pro—privatisation chances. helen says, it‘s a shame some mps felt the need to leave. sandra says i come from a strong true labour background but i have friends with strong political affiliations but they are becoming increasingly disillusioned regardless of brexit and have found choosing a party they want to vote for increasingly difficult and i‘m sure there are many throughout the

country who feel the same so the brave mps who left the labour party because it no longer resonates with their own values in order to create their own values in order to create the independent group... and i cannot read the end of the sentence! jordan, what did you to say? we seem to be talking as if the independent group will become a more —— majority government, but it is a protest that these groups of mps have seen their respective political parties be overrun. i think it was anna soubry who said the conservative party has become ukip, and i think it was luciana who said labour party has become momentum and they don‘t recognise their political homes any more. they are protesting they are tired of their party in the direction of this country, and they think, and i would say, the polls would show they are right, that british people are tired of the direction this country is going on

and they want change. also talking about anti—semitism in the labour party, there are members of the conservative party who speak about anti—semitism so let‘s not give them anti—semitism so let‘s not give them a free pass on this issue. also let‘s letjewish a free pass on this issue. also let‘s let jewish people a free pass on this issue. also let‘s letjewish people speak about anti—semitism because luciana is speaking and we are paying attention tojeremy corbyn. speaking and we are paying attention to jeremy corbyn. final thought, ruby. most voters are progressive, open—minded, and i think this independent group shares these values. and i think the liberal democrats, shall we work together? we have almost 2000 councillors and 100,000 party members, and we can then help achieve these open, progressive moderate views that most british voters... which stops brexit? yes, stop spreads it. you can argue the whole 52—48, but british voters did not vote for a

destination —— might guess, stop brexit. theresa may should have the courage to on the table and say, my deal or remain, and vote for a destination. british people, yes, they voted, but there is no final place. they can‘t even define exit during the referendum, what it is. thank you, thank you, everybody. sorry we didn‘t get someone from the independent group. but thank you. still to come on the programme... pope francis has called for concrete measures to tackle what he called the evil of child sexual abuse by priests. there is a conference going on in rome this morning. we‘ll speak to a man who was sexually abused by two catholic priests and has been calling for years

for the church to take the issue seriously. and we speak exclusively to a dad of two who helped save the lives of men, women and children in syria as part of a volunteer rescue force known as the white helmets. now he and his family have been rehomed in the uk, along with around 100 others. at the brits the 1975 were the big winners at last night‘s brit awards, winning best british group and album of the year. other winners included george ezra and jorja smith, who won best male and female. beyonce and jay z won best international group — and they accepted the award through rehashing a music video showing them posing next to a portrait of the duchess of sussex. thank you so much to the brit awards for this incredible honour. you guys have always been so supportive. everything is love. thank you. you're welcome.

with me here is our senior reporter chi chi izundu, who was at the awards last night. big winners of last night.... like you said, the big winners, the 1975, they took home two big prizes, best group, best album for their album, a brief inquiry into online relationships. the lead singer took that opportunity to criticise misogyny which goes on in the music industry. we can hear a clip from him now... male misogynist acts are examined for nuance, and defended as traits of difficult artists, whilst women and those who call them out are treated as hysterics who don't understand art. thank you very much. the won beg, and another big artist who has actually been nominated 14 times, unsuccessfully ever picking

up times, unsuccessfully ever picking upa times, unsuccessfully ever picking up a brit, really weird, considering he consistently makes the number one best paid dj around the world. calvin harris managed to actually get acknowledgement from the second night last night, best producer and... we can actually hear a bit from calvin harris, because he thanked fans, which is important. i want to thank the brits. yes! i want to thankjessie reyez who wrote the song with us. and i want to thank dua lipa. oh, thank you! hugh jackman opened the huthackman opened the show and pink close to it. any other standout performances? and i think one of the most standout performances was from jess glynne, who is interesting because she currently has the record for the most number singles of any british female solo artist, yet she doesn‘t seem to get acknowledged at awards like the brits. as you can

see, her performance was a number of women on stage publicly removing their make up while she sang live for her new single, thirsty, and on twitter and social media people were praising the inspiration behind being so naked on stage —— new single, thursday. if any women are like me, i don‘t really like to leave the house without a bit of slap on but she took herself in front of the whole music industry, the whole world, to make the point that people are beautiful regardless of having an outer things like hair and make—up done, and it was really well received, really beautiful and poignant as well. right, away from the brits, let‘s talk about the us actor charged with filing a false police report, jussie smollett indeed. this has been rumbling on for a number of weeks. back in januaryjussie for a number of weeks. back in january jussie released for a number of weeks. back in januaryjussie released some pictures of what he called a

homophobic and racist attack. he was beating up on the street and someone left a noose around his neck, but last night chicago police charged the actor with filing a false police report. there had been doubts circulating around his account of the story since he reported it to police. but mr smollett‘s lawyers have said they will conduct a thorough investigation and mount an aggressive defence. thank you very much, chi chi. thank you. this programme can reveal that around 100 volunteers and family members from the syrian white helmets civil defence group have been resettled in britain. they were evacuated from syria last year. in their first tv interview we spoke to one of these former white helmets. one who has left a life of pulling bodies from collapsed buildings in a bloody civil war in his home country, now starting to make a new life in britain with his family. our reporter catrin nye met him.

translation: working with the white helmets was not only a job. for me, it was my whole life. whether we were helping someone, responding to bombardment, carrying the dead body of a child, woman or a man, that feeling is beyond description. when war broke out in syria, khalil was working in his family business in the south of the country. khalil‘s 30 with a wife and young children. we have changed his name to protect his identity. he was faced with an awful choice. i was called up to join the army and ifaced two options — either take part in armed actions with the rebels or serve in the syrian army. both options meant that i would either be a killer or a dead man. khalil didn‘t want to fight, and wouldn‘t, so he and some other local men formed a team to help rescue civilians after the bombings. there was a lack of tactics and professional crew

to transport the injured. a man who we used to meet while responding to bombings proposed that we organise a team to help civilians. this team were then approached to become white helmets, part of a coordinated group of volunteer rescuers across syria. they are backed by the uk government, having so far had more than £38 million of uk funding. we went through sport and rope climbing tests. they examined our fitness. khalil went for training outside syria, training from a foundation founded by a former british army officer. some people were experienced because they were qualified nurses and knew about first aid. others were defectors from the fire brigade. those who passed the test then registered. he was trained in search and rescue, in fire extinguishing, in life saving and how to drive an ambulance, all in around four weeks. often, when we were transporting

an injured woman, man or child, they would start praying, kissing us, thanking us. it was such a beautiful feeling. for the people who are trapped in this conflict, the white helmets was their safety net. khalil was a white helmet in syria for three and a half years. although they say they would treat anyone, they operate in rebel areas and the syrian regime and its allies have falsely linked them to al-anda. they became targets for the syrian regime and eventually khalil and his family had to be evacuated from syria, along with 400 other white helmets and their family members. how hard has it been leaving behind?

how hard has it been leaving that behind ? it was so hard for me. it was almost as if you‘d taken out a part of my body. they were taken tojordan and then to the uk to live. do you remember when you first arrived? i was shocked that after being threatened by death or arrest, i was now in a safe country. here there is freedom, democracy, peace. a multitude of all different religions side by side, and many other things that i‘d been living without. so i was happy that i‘d arrived in the united kingdom. the white helmets went through a thorough vetting process and were given refugee status before arrival as part of the uk government‘s vulnerable persons resettlement scheme. for the first time the government has confirmed that it has resettled around 100 refugees who were syrian white helmets and their family members. what do you hope for the white helmets who have found a new life here? i would hope that they will play a full part in their communities here, that they will find safety, that they will learn english, that they will move into employment

and they will find security, safety and stability, not only for themselves, but for their families. many of them brought children with them, and i think it's about providing them with safety and the safe haven that the uk can be. a few months in, khalil and his family are getting used to life in the uk. certainly, it‘s hard. i left to a country with different traditions, lifestyle and language. but at the same time i left a place where i was threatened by death or arrest. to come to a place where you feel you have value as a human being and have rights. and what is the strangest thing about life here? i do not call them strange. rather, it is just a different lifestyle. time here is of utmost importance. it is quite precise. time commitment is very, very important. they don‘t waste time here without making use of it. initially, ifound it strange. but now i‘m used to it. life has completely changed. now i have goals.

firstly, to take care of my children and their future. and i‘m working hard on learning the language here. i also want to return the favour to the united kingdom and its people who supported us while i was still in syria. catrin nye reporting. pope francis is holding an unprecedented meeting of senior figures in the catholic church to try to ensure children and young people are protected from sexual abuse. hundreds of bishops and survivors of abuse from around the world are gathering in the vatican in rome for this four—day event. in recent years thousands of victims have come forward to give details of the abuse they suffered, with high—profile prosecutions of priests in several countries including the states, ireland and the uk. the vatican has been accused of not doing enough to help victims and to prevent abuse happening in the first place.

in some cases, priests who have carried out abuse have been able to travel from diocese to diocese without the church stepping in to stop them. last month, pope francis admitted that clerics have sexually abused nuns, and in one case they were kept as sex slaves. this what he said this morning... i ask the holy spirit to support us in these days and help us to transform this evil into an opportunity for understanding and purification. may the virgin mary enlighten us to try to heal grave wounds that the paedophilia scandal has caused to both the young and believers. thank you. let‘s talk to pete saunders, who says he was a victim of sexual abuse by two priests in the 1970s. he runs the survivors charity for people abused when they were children, and once sat on the papal commission on the protection of minors, which ultimately led to the conference this week. hello, thank you for talking to us. i wonder if you would be able to talk to our audience about what

happened to you as a child, pete, at that catholic secondary school. good morning, victoria, from a very sunny room. i have talked about what happened to me on many occasions. i don‘t think people need to hear again what happened to me, as i was among many thousands of other young people abused by priests in my childhood. but we are here in rome to talk about how we can prevent these crimes occurring in the future and how we can make our children safe today, because what is clearly apparent from everything we know and everything going on is that children within the institution of the roman catholic church in many parts of the world a re catholic church in many parts of the world are still not safe. why do you say that? well, it's a fact. i'm here with many colleagues, from 40 different countries, and they all have horrendous stories of abuse

that has occurred quite recently, and you will be aware, because we have actually discussed it on your programme, that the independent inquiry into child sexual abuse in england and wales has already shone a spotlight on some of the outrageous abuse and cover—ups that have occurred in england, specifically. yes, but are you saying the catholic church has still not put into place the right measures, the strong enough measures, the strong enough measures, enough measures, to stop this happening in the future? in a word, no, it hasn‘t. in certain parts of the world, for example in england and wales, the church has got good policies and procedures and safeguarding, you know, systems in place. it isn‘t always about that, and again the independent inquiry was able to expose that for example the benedictines in ampleforth and downside, and most recently in

ealing, not far away from where you are, ignored those safeguarding policies and procedures and children we re policies and procedures and children were still left in danger. and those revelations were absolutely shocking. but that was decades ago. no, victoria. it wasn‘t decades ago. read the reports into ampleforth and downside. i was at the hearings into ealing abbey. the abbot of ealing abbey was only jailed ealing abbey. the abbot of ealing abbey was onlyjailed about ealing abbey. the abbot of ealing abbey was only jailed about a ealing abbey. the abbot of ealing abbey was onlyjailed about a year ago, giving something like 18 years in jail, ago, giving something like 18 years injail, but other ago, giving something like 18 years in jail, but other people involved in that place have abused children far more recently. in no way was it decades ago. don‘t be misled by false rumours. these are things that i very current, and the pope has the power, as the supreme pontiff of eric church, and i say our church

because the church consists of hundreds of millions of people around the world, notjust the clergy. he has the power to build into the canon law, the church law, asa into the canon law, the church law, as a rule, that says if you come as as a rule, that says if you come as a priest, nun, orany other member of the clergy, abuse, rape or assault a child, you will not only be handed over to authorities with all the information we hold about that person to the authorities, but you will be permanently excluded from the priesthood, and that does not happen at the moment. that is what you would be calling for. absolutely, and likewise with a cover—ups. bishops and cardinals who cover—ups. bishops and cardinals who cover up, cover—ups. bishops and cardinals who coverup, and we cover—ups. bishops and cardinals who cover up, and we know that happens around the globe, they must also face total exclusion from priestly ministry. that is the only thing the church can do that will go some to protecting our children now and in the future. has this shaken your belief in your god? no, funnily enough, nothing shakes my belief in

the almighty. it continues to shake, and the pope‘s comments last night i just beyond... they are like a champion tantrum where last night he referred to people accusing the church of being a relative, friends, cousins of the devil. that is an increasingly inflammatory and horrible thing to say. it is water offa horrible thing to say. it is water off a duck toss—mac back to us survival, but to invoke the devil over this issue, it will be putting lots of people, particularly survivors can endanger in many other parts of the world where they hang on every world the pope says —— water off a duck‘s back. on every world the pope says —— water off a duck's back. where they said it acknowledged there was an and inadequate attempt to do with this issue, and they offer their sincere apologies and sorrow. they ask you to believe in their goodwill and sincerity. it says, we invite

you to work with us to put in place new structures to ensure the risks are minimised, and this will focus on the position of minors. do you not by that? absolutely not. yesterday the organising committee of this summit, which i have to say includes at least one cardinal who is already incredibly accused of covering up, and that has been acknowledged even by his own colleagues, cardinalfrom the united states. when you have an organising committee, and then 12—13 of my collea g u es committee, and then 12—13 of my colleagues went along to that meeting expecting to meet with the pope, the pope refused to turn up because he was meeting some politicians from spain to discuss probably something far less important than the protection of our children, i think that sums things up, and what was said at the end of that committee, victoria, and i think this is very important, was that the only person who can actually change canon law and go some to protecting these children in the way i have described is the pope

himself. thank you so much for talking to us. thank from rome. thank you, from rome. two yeas ago lucy evans became very ill. she started suffering from frightening delusions, and even believed she was an animal ina zoo. lucy evans had encephalitis — inflammation of the brain, but was misdiagnosed. encephalitis is more common than motor neurone disease and some types can kill in a matter of days, but it is frequently not correctly diagnosed, so patients often can suffer for months and even years without getting proper treatment. that‘s the finding of a report today by researchers at oxford university, who want to see doctors given better information to spot the symptoms. often, patients are wrongly treated for psychosis — a mental illness — because some signs of encephalitis are similar. let‘s speak to lucy evans, whose encephalitis wasn‘t diagnosed for six weeks, and dr ava easton is from the encephalitis society. welcome, both of you. thank you so

much for coming on the programme. lucy, you are 20 now, and you were 18 when you had this period of six weeks when everything started to go wrong. describe to our audience what happened. there was a six-week period where i was suffering from encephalitis but at that point people didn‘t know, and they were trying to section me because i was suffering from all sorts of delusions and hallucinations. like what? there was a time where i used to put a french plait in my hair and i thought i was a dinosaur, and it was like a dinosaur tail. there were things like that going on.” was like a dinosaur tail. there were things like that going on. i think there was a time when you left multiple messages on your then boyfriend‘s voice mail, over 25 messages, say|ng boyfriend‘s voice mail, over 25 messages, saying what?” boyfriend‘s voice mail, over 25 messages, saying what? ithoughtl was a monkey well then relationship needed to be over because i was going back to the zoo. all sorts of strange things like that were happening. but i was suffering from psychosis as well, so i was running

down the main roads, barging into neighbours‘ houses, all sorts of things. they were trying to section me because of that, then, luckily, after that horrible six week period, i finally after that horrible six week period, ifinally got after that horrible six week period, i finally got diagnosed with m i tess and mda, well then i was taken into morrison hospital where i was treated for it. let me in dr ava easton. what is an colitis, and how can we get it? a great question. it means inflation of the brain and it can be contracted into net ways, you can be contracted into net ways, you can either get it from ordinary everyday infections like the flu or cold sore virus, and those people become oh very quickly and are acute medical emergencies. the other way you can contract encephalitis is to a person because my own immune system, and in lucy's case we have chemicals in the brain called mda receptors and those chemicals

attacked that an error, by mistake, but these patients present very differently to the infectious cause of patients. -- in error. in lucy because my case and others like her, thatis because my case and others like her, that is when medics are not realising what is going on —— in lucy‘s case. so i am not sure. we only learned about these autoimmune types of encephalitis only ten years ago, which in medicine is yesterday, really —— mac yes, sure. what this report showed, colleagues at oxford, they looked at 464 patients very similarto they looked at 464 patients very similar to lucy, and they identified a way to end her psychiatrist clinic and mental health professionals to identify these patients more quickly than at the moment —— match away to identify. in terms of mis-diagnosing them as having psychosis, how to avoid that? siam are quite often in psychiatric conditions people

present with one psychiatric condition —— present with one psychiatric condition -- yes, quite often. these people are presenting with complex multiple conditions and so clinically, looking at the patient, one could be able to identify them much more quickly than we are, and if we identify them quickly that means we can diagnose them and treat them, preventing death and serious disability. how are you now? a lot of people think, she has been in for treatment and is on the necessary medication, she has gone home, she had mk and is fine now, but that is not the case. it has left me registered disabled, and although this was two years ago, well they might have learned to do a lot of things again, but it has affected me in so many different ways. i suffer from very bad fatigue, and that is definitely something really big in my life sometimes, where i sleep all day and all night and just have no energy to do anything. when i was

first ill, i couldn‘t walk very far, but i have gradually learned to walk further. had you been diagnosed earlier, with that have made a difference to how you are now, do you know? yes, i would have thought so, because the treatment i had, i went in and i had various treatments which didn‘t work, so what they did was give me a drug which they use in cancers and that is a very toxic drug, so if i hadn‘t have had to have that then that would have got my eye wouldn‘t have had so many things caused by that, like hair loss and things like that —— like i wouldn‘t have had. i was also put on steroids to dampen down the immune system, so it can‘t attack the brain again. but, again, by having the steroids i put on five stone, well they affects my health in other ways. and my ability to walk further. —— so that affect my

health. if i was diagnosed sooner i probably wouldn‘t have needed those treatments, so yeah. are we saying, then, the research, that there have been people basically placed into psychiatric units because psychiatrists have thought they were suffering from psychosis when actually they didn‘t need to be there at all? the paper hasn't made that statement particularly, but... it isa that statement particularly, but... it is a possibility? certainly we work with patients who have gone down psychiatric pathways for quite some time and have been misdiagnosed until eventually some kind of neurological symptom emerges such as having seizures or developing motor problems, and then the lights go on and, you know, neurology. that is why coming on your show and raising awareness about the condition and having world mk colitis des on friday as so important to us. thank you so much —— having world

encephalitis day and if you would like to come on the programme i put in your input, get in touch. this one, glad of the new independent group, saluting the new group us courage after our sad, dying two party system that are quite a few disagreed with that sentiment as well, but we are out of time. back tomorrow at ten o‘clock. good morning. over the next couple of days we will see our temperatures pick upa of days we will see our temperatures pick up a little further and of course there are already above average. drying up this wealth of milderair average. drying up this wealth of milder air from average. drying up this wealth of milder airfrom the average. drying up this wealth of milder air from the south—west, seeing cloud through this morning, a bit drizzly in places as well but through the afternoon most of that

will start to break up to allow for a bright, even sunny, intervals and it will dry up. breezy across northern ireland and northwestern scotla nd northern ireland and northwestern scotland but it is all about the temperatures today. we could see 17 celsius around the moray firth. this evening, increasing amounts of cloud across northern ireland in north—west scotland. here the winds will pick up. patchy rain possible. clear skies elsewhere. we could see low cloud, mist and fog up into the midlands and east anglia, which could be stubborn. not a particularly cold start, but some of that fog will be dense in places. mccloud for northern ireland and north—west scotland as this front tries to make inroads but it will tend to fizzle out as the day goes on. you begin to see the sunshine turn hazy through the afternoon but temperatures still doing well —— might we begin to see.

you re watching bbc newsroom live. it‘s 11am and these are the main stories this morning braced for further resignations — three former conservative mps who‘ve quit the party say others are also considering walking out. cabinet ministers are staying tight—lipped. sad to lose three good, committed colleagues, so we‘ll see what happens next. no breakthroughs yet in brussels — the head of the european commission says he‘s "not very optimistic" about the chances of securing a brexit deal. the largest january surplus on record, figures just out show the government‘s accounts were in surplus by nearly £15 billion last month.