hello, i'm ros atkins, this and israelis are always worried, so we will have to see what will happen is outside source live from london, paris and first israel. i'iow. we will have to see what will happen now. i think that benny gantz, i'm lyse doucet injerusalem whether he wins or loses, or he is bringing you all the latest on a very closely fought pa rt of israeli election. whether he wins or loses, or he is part of the government or is prime exit polls suggest the result minister or anything has done will be tight but that phenomenally. i did a poll in benjamin netanyahu's likud party has december, two polls before the election is called and we ask an been beaten into second place. open—ended question at the end and ask who you would vote for and he i'm christian frasier in paris was polling at less than 2%. he was an unknown on people's mines and where theresa may has been somehow since the end of december and early january he meeting the french president to try somehow since the end of december and earlyjanuary he has skyrocketed. he is a phenomenon and to rent his support for another his success is unbelievable. we can brexit extension. announce that israelis have voted and the polls have closed and now we'll also be in brussels to look through the eu's draft conclusions the predictions, the projections for wednesday's summit. one thing is missing — and that's how long this from the exit polls are now coming we are having a channel and exit polls that says the blue and might have come in with 37 seats and these are just projections but this is what we are hearing, at least one of

the exit pulls, coming in with a one seat difference. between the two main parties. the party of benjamin netanyahu, according to channel one, 36 seats and 37 for the blue and white alliance. there is another pole coming and now. you are the poster and we are seeing the images coming in from tea party headquarters. this poll shows a difference of 37 to 33 for the blue and white and it shows that blocks out and white and it shows that blocks our60—60 and a and white and it shows that blocks our 60—60 and a number of parties either at the threshold or might not be. ithink either at the threshold or might not be. i think tonight we are going to get a good indication but we'll have a lot of unanswered questions until every valid as counsel, counted and every valid as counsel, counted and every soldier and until official results and create change by four, five, even eight seats but we have an indication that more israelis have voted who voted for prime

minister have voted for reggie which seems to be a trend here. —— for benny gantz which seems to be a trend here. we can go to the party headquarters, the headquarters where we can see that the flags are waiting and who works for the jerusalem post as they are and what is the mood like with the publication of the exit polls? the maid here has been pretty dire and they have been expecting pretty bad results for hours now. benjamin netanyahu results for hours now. benjamin neta nyahu has results for hours now. benjamin netanyahu has been warning if there is not high voter turnout, then they will not win and a lot of people dismiss that as just spend but it looks like now, he still has a chance of being prime minister but it depends what poll you are looking at. the blocks are really neck and neck and he will have an uphill challenge, and i think that this is going to be one of those nights where we have to stay up all night

and wait for the real results to get and wait for the real results to get a better idea of what is going to happen because every little suede of the real result of the examples, one person here or there could change is going to be who is going to be prime minister. we understand even that they have delayed the appearance of any of benjamin netanyahu at the likud had pulled down the corridors because they were worried about the turnout that they were worried then about the result. —— likud headquarters, they were worried about the turnout. they were going to avoid any chance of skipping voting to come to the event. the turnout, they have not released final turnout numbers, it has been up final turnout numbers, it has been up until now very closely in line but slightly lower with the turnout for yea rs but slightly lower with the turnout for years ago where benjamin

netanyahu for years ago where benjamin neta nyahu won by for years ago where benjamin netanyahu won by a landslide. you think people will stay long into the night there because they are going to watch those polls, they are showing different gaps between the two main contenders in the exit polls that we have seen so far, just projections we have to underline. yes, anyone who is a political junkie, whether you are in the media oi’ junkie, whether you are in the media or working for a party, people are going to be staying up all night. but also in 2005, likud and the main competitor were neck and neck in the exit polls and then when most of us woke in the morning, they found that benjamin netanyahu woke in the morning, they found that benjamin neta nyahu was woke in the morning, they found that benjamin netanyahu was leading by fire self they are very close results and it is unclear who is going to be. tel aviv time at 4am tomorrow we will know exactly who

the prime minister is. of the jerusalem post, thank you very much for joining jerusalem post, thank you very much forjoining us live from benjamin netanyahu forjoining us live from benjamin neta nyahu one forjoining us live from benjamin netanyahu one headquarters. the —— from the likud headquarters. 33 for likud and 37 for blue and white and a much bigger gap there. likud and 37 for blue and white and a much bigger gap therem likud and 37 for blue and white and a much bigger gap there. it is much closer on the other one which is why we have to really wait and i have to remind you for it in 1996, when he won by less than a percentage point, he was already celebrating the victory when he found out he really lost in the next morning. it is early to celebrate victory but there seems to be a trend here but we have to wait until the votes are counted at the night isjust getting started. i am looking at some of the early projections from the religious party and some of them seem to be making it and according to some of the projections, according to channel one, seven seats, and united

judaism is seven seats, the left—wing party as five seats perhaps. a centrist party they might not even make it and, a projection that they could have at least five seats. you are nodding and we just have to wait and see. people are expecting this collection to reveal a lot about the shifting political tendencies across the religious and ideological spectrum and israel. tendencies across the religious and ideological spectrum and israelm many ways what you're saying is the same old story, half—and—half, split in the middle, blue and white and the role of the old labour party, some new right—wing parties, old right wing parties and the same result you have and israel for decades. even split in the middle, which actually means that if blue and white and benny gantz are able to hold the lead, they are going to

get the mandate to try to form a coalition and get the first. no one is saying and hidden public of a national... that seems to be where it is heading because you have a lot of the smaller parties that make it four or five seats and they are not dependable partners and you do not wa nt dependable partners and you do not want to happen in your coalition for benjamin netanyahu, you can depend on the ultra orthodox and if you have two big blocks going together you can have a solid government and benjamin netanyahu, if he is tested, it could turn from a divisive to a united figure. and if it is benny gantz who is asked to do it, he needs all the help he can get. new in the game and has some good people on his team but he needs a whitest base of support. i think that is where it is headed from both sides of it. that will be the best thing for israel, to have some agreement.

so much at state but so much uncertainty still. minutes after the polls have closed, here in israel, the elections for the 21st parliament, exit polls are out showing narrow margins that benny gantz, the main challenger to benjamin netanyahu, according to those projections, they arejust projections, just merrily ahead. let's go to the party headquarters tojoin our let's go to the party headquarters to join our correspondence. how are people digesting the projections coming out from the main channels here in israel? joining us now from the party headquarters, can you hear me, just update us on what you're hearing now? actually, benny gantz has announced that they have

won this election but we did not hear anything from the likud party yet. regarding these figures, the projections, they are very interesting. they are almost had to head but the ability of each party now to find the next government is what is standing, striking. at the projection says that actually likud, the right wing still has the ability to form a government of 66 seats and these are preliminary projections. these are not final results of the elections but the winning party which is benny gantz has 5a seats and that means he might not be able oi’ and that means he might not be able or may be able to convince other parties from the right to actually join ina parties from the right to actually join in a coalition government. this election was about benjamin

netanyahu, a referendum, whether to vote and keep benjamin netanyahu or for him to leave. these projections show that there is a huge possibility of not having benjamin netanyahu possibility of not having benjamin neta nyahu as the possibility of not having benjamin netanyahu as the israeli prime minister. you mentioned the statement by benny gantz and his partner and this blue and white coalition, let me read it to use. we won, he said and!, the israeli public had their say. thinking to the thousands of activists and over 1 million voters. these elections have a clear winner and a clear loser. that is a very immediate reaction. a reaction that our victory in the elections that it is too soon to say they are too close too soon to say they are too close

to call but he wants to send a strong message. it is the first election, he may need to learn to have a little patience and a little modesty until they count the votes. it isa modesty until they count the votes. it is a little early to say they won. it is notjust that, he wants to send a message because the negotiations to build a negotiation, he wants to send a message of don't bother with anyone else, i am going to receive the mandate and therefore start talking with me and do not try to haggle with the other party because i am going to be prime minister. and the remind our viewers israeli special, we have projections all of them getting a very narrow edge to benny gantz, the main challenger to the prime minister, benjamin netanyahu, 37, 37, 36 and

for likud, the party of benjamin netanyahu, 36, 33, 36. so close. 50 this will be a long night. i am looking again, some merits that the left—wing party, on the israeli landscape for a long time, and they may be against the predictions still get into this party. some of the israeli examples are also saying that arab parties could actually get a representation in the parliament, based on projections, there was a concern with the alarmingly low turnout, they managed to get. 50 much has been focusing on these two main players that in fact almost equal importance is what will be the alignment of the left—wing and right—wing and far right, and he will be crucial players and the kingmakers and whoever formed the government. there are a few with

benny gantz if he tries to create the government, he could pick off. he went in with the government and so he went in with the government and so right now, the parties are going to be looking at what the trend is in the first ones that are going to jump in the first ones that are going to jump are going to get the best deal. we are going to have to wait and see and there is going to be a realignment of thinking at least as to benjamin netanyahu is not the only game in town and maybe the israeli public made a statement and we have to follow that and see what we have to follow that and see what we can do. to safe to say and to close to call, we will go to the headquarters of the blue and white alliance and see what their reaction, where they have been reporting the statement by benny gantz and his partner in the alliance, and our correspondent is there, tell us what the mood is. you

could probably say that those exit polls right now, on the screen behind us here, there was a huge cheer by the activists here and the supporters of benny gantz, the first example they showed on the screen on the israeli tv channel split benny gantz at 37 seats and likud at 33 so a clear lead and it is showing the two boxes as equally tied. the crowd here it just two boxes as equally tied. the crowd here itjust went pretty crazy. we have been hearing the people were confident here, good divides after it the day of voting. those seem to consolidate that and in terms of blocks ahead and bucket loads of salt over all of that because they started counting the real votes and assist where exit polls did not

matter. making sense of when the party leaders may show up at election headquarters and speak to their supporters? we had heard initially that it might be around now, we were then told that as far as benny gantz is concerned it might be around in our‘s time and the same coming from benjamin netanyahu and a slight delay, that is all within a context of really all the party saying that they have people not turning out to vote and we heard benjamin netanyahu raising the alarm all day saying that the right wing and israel was in danger and wiggled ina and israel was in danger and wiggled in a meeting to save the right and it was all day to get out and vote and use that tactic and other elections. as i say, within the next hour or so it is going to be making

these people pretty happy when he shows up. i would think that you probably expect more of the supporters to start arriving even though they should be cautious as every israeli notice, these examples can be dramatically different but still given the statement by the party leader already and leaders that they have one, this may be a signal to more people to come out to the party headquarters, to party. yes, the exit polls last time in 2015 where pretty dramatically wrong, they waited show when the official results were out that the exa m ples have official results were out that the examples have been out by four or five seats, getting bad when you're looking at who can pull that block and perform a coalition government by getting the majority and israeli parliament, some of these numbers matter and we stop by the exit polls one of the right—wing parties, a new

right wing wiped out and that party is an education minister, part of the security cabinet and a key figure in israeli politics and a lot of reason that his party wipe out would be a dramatic move. b as exit polls got it quite wrong last time so we polls got it quite wrong last time so we have to be cautious about that and after that is what happens next and after that is what happens next and the president will be watching quite closely because he is the person who decides which party leader and it could be any of them, he feels has the confidence to command the majority in parliament. we will return to you again, and reporting from the headquarters of the blue and white alliance and here in ourjerusalem studio in the balcony overlooking the city, we have the poster, and othersjoined

by the israeli journalist who works from many prominent publications and you have been looking at the results, what strengths you most about these and let us underline projections we have received so far? we are always told that every israeli election bring surprises and this is a surprise. we seem to be at a flat even tonight and that was not really predicted. at least one of the channels and gives at least four seats more to the blue and white which is still very narrow. that is a crucial point, all people seem to show a slight difference but an equality of the voting blocks so if benny gantz wins the election outright, benjamin neta nyahu benny gantz wins the election outright, benjamin netanyahu will make a serious push to be selected by the president to find the next government. that is an important point because as we have been emphasising that it has never happened that one party rolls on its

own. to get to the magic 61, they need to have a coalition. you have been going through the projections about the right wing and religious parties and how does it look with the right and far right, the common people that he would turn to? and one not surprise me so far is the party that was predictive to be the big winner is the big loser. rebuilding the ancientjewish temple and legalizing pot, a strange pipeline but it appeared to appeal to young people and we don't know if the next red pollsters or they change their mind at the last minute, but from what we can tell and what we can responsibly say at the moment, in terms of voting blocks, it seems to be flat even.

what is important to say though is already a victory, he is notjust fantasising, benny already a victory, he is notjust fa ntasising, benny gantz. already a victory, he is notjust fantasising, benny gantz. benjamin netanyahu fantasising, benny gantz. benjamin neta nyahu is a fantasising, benny gantz. benjamin netanyahu is a dominant force in israeli politics and any politician who comes close to beating him has already had, a major victory tonight. what is also interesting is that benjamin netanyahu has, it will bea that benjamin netanyahu has, it will be a question of whether he finds the next government and if he doesn't, what will happen with benjamin netanyahu? we have not mentioned that, if he has not tap into it, he may have trouble with and his party keeping things together because there have been a lot of people who are waiting more than ten years to find new blood and the party so that is something that is interesting that came out tonight as well. notjust in his party, the corruption indictments which are pending, it is cases that the attorney—general has filed and he said of course that if the prime

minister called an early election eight months early so he could try to beat the attorney—general to win a new mandate before the trade were announced by the attorney—general preempted him but he cloud is hanging over. but until someone is convicted he can still maintain and if he has his way he will run a government or if he has his way he will run a government 01' even a if he has his way he will run a government or even a unity government or even a unity government said that the problems will be so great that no one will try to get him out even if he does not have to be because he is the man that can save israel. it will be interesting, again, a phenomenon with benny gantz coming together but that one problem i will mention is that one problem i will mention is that they are a team that never worked together, they came together asa worked together, they came together as a rest where the other parties had a tradition where they have been in the prominent and had primaries and these are people got together and these are people got together and selected on the list but the majority of the people have will be doing it for the first time and they

never work together as a team so it will be interesting to see how they got the script to coalesce especially if they are going to be a ruling party. likud so many big issues tonight and still so much uncertainty. stay with us here, we will return to one of the party headquarters, we can go back to likud tojoin headquarters, we can go back to likud to join correspondent for the jerusalem post who joined likud to join correspondent for the jerusalem post whojoined us earlier just after those exit polls and we have to keep reminding you they are just projections and they have proved to be sometimes in the past reliable indicator but sometimes spectacularly wrong. what is the made up now? here at the party headquarters, top politicians and the benny gantz are showing up and speaking to the news channels and their emphasis here is that the right wing block is going to be bigger. into out of the three major

news channels, the right is significantly bigger than the left and benjamin netanyahu is not here yet but a statement saying that he is about to start doing work to find the next government and already spoke to one of the parties, the ultra—orthodox united toward judaism and they said they will keep their promise to recommend him for prime minister said they are showing as much optimism as possible and emphasising that the exit polls are not the final result. they are looking at everything with the glass half full. has there been any reaction to the immediate statement by benny gantz of the blue and white alliance that we have one? by benny gantz of the blue and white alliance that we have one ?|j by benny gantz of the blue and white alliance that we have one? i have not heard any reaction specifically to that yet but knowing benjamin netanyahu to that yet but knowing benjamin neta nyahu he will to that yet but knowing benjamin netanyahu he will have something snarky to say in his speech later tonight. from the jerusalem

snarky to say in his speech later tonight. from thejerusalem post, thank you very much forjoining us here as part of our election coverage, the elections for the 21st israeli parliament, at the polls closed a short time ago as we have been discussing the exit polls, the projections have been released by three israeli television channels and they get a narrow edge to the blue and white alliance of benjamin netanyahu's main challenger, the toughest challenger in the last decade but we have to wait and see. a statement on twitter... a statement from benjamin netanyahu saying at the right block headed by the likud won a clear victory. he does not even say yes likud butjust the block that has won a victory and thatis the block that has won a victory and that is not a usual benjamin netanyahu that is not a usual benjamin neta nyahu statement especially compared to benny gantz saying we have one. not usually the style of

benjamin netanyahu. and you notice that immediately, you have to look at the two top parties and holistically, who stands the best chance of finding a government and what is the colour, what it be political, religious, ideological colour of that religion and are you seeing something? we are seeing good chances of the next israeli government being a centrist government being a centrist government instead of the right wing government instead of the right wing government that had been universally projected. nothing radical and a return to a sober, centrist last bombastic style of politics and it is fascinating. benjamin netanyahu's style as mitchell pointed out, this is basically from my point of view and a sign of defeat for benjamin netanyahu, and a sign of defeat for benjamin neta nyahu, he and a sign of defeat for benjamin netanyahu, he is quick to take credit for victories and this is not

a victory call at all. and what we have seen so far, as tentative as it is, move away from a political unity covering, these two working together? what it brings us back to you is an easy likud, seeing a reader who brought them to the foot of failure and we are going to see younger likud leaders start to rebel so younger likud leaders start to rebel so they could push for a centrist, tojoina so they could push for a centrist, tojoin a centrist so they could push for a centrist, to join a centrist government led by benny gantz and benjamin netanyahu could still make a serious play for government and i did not want to knock him out but it seems more and more unlikely that he will be able to find that sort of extremist government with really strange right wing extremist parties that we heard he hoped would help him eat indictments topic there is one other thing that i think it's important to say and it is the popular and israel. so if the president is

convinced that benjamin netanyahu it nevertheless has the best chances of finding the next government and he could go that way, you are going to have 50% of israelis, more or less who voted for benny gantz screaming in the streets because that party it nevertheless has a clear victory as it would appear right now and that could mean an interesting dynamic. we will come back, that is how it looks now but the numbers are out and be projections, they are only projections after the polls have closed here in israel as we have been discussing. they get a narrow edge to the blue and white alliance, led by benjamin netanyahu's challenger, benny gantz and his co—founder of the alliance and as we are seeing through the numbers, telling us about ships on the

israeli political landscape and there may be a more left wing government colouration emerging which made whatever the differences are between the two main players, but actually the nuts and bolts of the new political landscape means it may be easierfor the new political landscape means it may be easier for benjamin netanyahu to form a new government. a lot of other trends tell us something about the future but it is too early to say and so we will stay here and jerusalem with the correspondence at the main party headquarters and we will continue the analysis of the elections in israel. they have voted and the boats are being counted and and the boats are being counted and and hoursaid, we and the boats are being counted and and hour said, we have and the boats are being counted and and hoursaid, we have a and the boats are being counted and and hour said, we have a clear picture of what lies ahead for israel and it is also about the future of this region and beyond. back to you in london for now. we will be back injerusalem, throughout this addition of outside source with the exit poll and israel and all the reaction to it. going

away from that we are going to brexit. theresa may's been busy making the case for a delay to brexit. tomorrow, the eu will decide whether to grant an extension. the prime minister started in germany. make of this what you will, but angela merkel wasn't on the red carpet to greet her. but in the end they did meet and they got down to talks. theresa may will has had two wants an extension until the 30th of june will has had two wants an extension until the 30th ofjune with an option to leave earlier if and it is a big as, her deal gets there parliament. here'sjenny hill in berlin. angela merkel is of all the eu 27 metres, the most relaxed about granting britain more time and space to sort out the brexit dilemma. she is said to have spoken to emmanuel macron who is known to be getting rather impatient with britain to urge him to agree to an extension to

article 50. she then travelled to paris to meet and macron who was meeting doug waiting to meet her. the french want to attach to certain conditions before they agree to any extension, they have concerns that granting more time will not necessarily guarantee more progress. of course france and germany have been players but presently representing the eu and negotiations is michel barnier and this is where he has got to. this extension has to serve a purpose. to provide monitoring if necessary to ensure that the political process is described can be crowned with success. this majority can be attained. let's bring a christian who is life in paris. watching from london, it appears that only

leverage on one side of this equation in terms of the eu and the uk. i think you are right. it has been a day but it has been driven home to the uk site that it is the 27 eu leaders that are calling the shots. a humiliating date that are calling the shots. quite a humiliating day for theresa may, arriving in germany but the german media saying that she was on her backing door, and the different chair talking about some of the strict conditions that will be applied to any extension that was granted to tomorrow because eu summit. being held and what is described as an airlock. they can have their own ep but they cannot have their own ep but they cannot have a seat on the european commission. this check every three months to make sure that the uk is not disruptive voice within the european union. it is as theresa may said it would be that the eu are now calling the shots because the withdrawal agreement has not gone through. looking tonight at the draft conclusions that have been put

apart eu leaders and will be put up by them tomorrow, being drawn by the eu ambassadors, there is a line that says there will be an extension. but it does not do is fill in the date. at least that blank. as we know, that this disagreement in europe as to whether that will be a short extension or a much longer once at the end of the year. if that is a big blank to fill in. christian, do not go anywhere. when she was meeting people, she was ushering details on how those talks will go and westminster but dark government and westminster but dark government and the labour party. we know that labour once a number of things before it was a compromise. one thing is to remain in the eu parliament customs union. today, international trade secretary liam fox hinted that he may resign at any deal includes a customs union. the daily telegraph has a leak letter from him which he describes a custom union as the voice of both world.

nor will they be able to influence the european unions custom union. before we go to buy down that line of analysis, remember that there is no deal quite yet. here is nicholas from the bbc news night programme saying the parties have agreed to get on thursday. once the european council has concluded. that means no agreement for labour but talks are not collapsing. let's get the views of laura kuenssberg. these costs party talks are genuine and serious. but the problems that confront them are extremely serious too. —— cross party talks. in the big picture, the policy proposals from both sides of brexit are potentially not that far parts. the political distance is still enormous. that is really not much trust on either side. one of the really interesting things in the last 48 hours, i have had people on

both sides asking me and other journalists do they think they are serious? they do not know each other. there is no common cause. i think at this point, it is hard to see how they actually are able to reach a deal. that does not mean they are not trying hard, and it does not mean that they cannot. they are in line by line going through what might break. there is no sign yet of anything that will be described as a big open offer. back to christian on this. it's a manuel macron and his colleagues are watching, this will continue their concerns what it, you grant an extension, but that does not resolve the core problems. no, that is true. but they really want to know if there is a majority for any wait for it. what has been interesting today, some symmetry really in the approach of both labour and the european union, that is what comes next. they all know that there is a finite time for theresa may, if there is a more

brexit leaning prime minister coming forward at the theresa may, then what assurances are there that they will stick to the plan. of course, you have heard from the french site today that they want to ensure that the uk is a disruptive force. you are from the labour site saying that we wa nt are from the labour site saying that we want some legislative lot to make sure that whatever we agree with the conservatives will be upheld by the prime minister, the next prime minister. these are the confines that theresa may is making in at the moment. when you look at what has happened around the brexit debate today. you have had these really strong words from foster from the dup, other saying many executive votes, a ball of confidence for theresa may because there's no confidence left within the conservative party. the sort of comments that we have heard here in europe about her leadership, it really begs the question of how much longer this is sustainable. that is the concern for european leaders

that in the end of the summit and at the end of this week, when does teresa may go from here? —— where does theresa may go from here? the uk is still scheduled to leave on friday. they would need to reject any extension. it looks highly unlikely. another development, today, the opposition np yvette cooper tweeted this image showing a bill that she has brought pastor parliament, the build forces the government to seek an extension to brexit rather than leave about a deal. it was debated today. this is all reasonably surreal because as you would have noticed, the mp5 had been debating forcing the prime minister to do something that she has already doing. the british journalist sums this up by saying this. he then find some possible

purpose by this all saying that it can function as a shot across the bows of the government. mps have shown that any later attempt to parse no deal can be resistant. christian, displays and to the point that you are making that this is so complicated, so dysfunctional, it feels like it is becoming unattainable. yes, absolutely. you look at the vote tonight after that date, and you have 97 conservatives, only a third of the party voting against the government position. only 100 3140 two —— only 191 voting for it. is a shame. speaking from paris, then suddenly he was gone. that look like a battery went out. we will ensure that he is ok. you can have more information on brexit whenever you want it. go to the

website, i am sure you know how to find it. or you can access the same information through the bbc news app. you are watching bbc news. let's get a perspective now from westminster. first of all, alex, the prime minister, the prime minister getting a lift with the comments voting to back her call for an extension to the brexit process. yes, they agreed to the idea that she has put forward, which is requesting an extension up tojune the 30th, leaving the open option to leave earlier if parliament can get idid an leave earlier if parliament can get i did an excellent deal. a motion with but down today and the common support that. and despite noting that more than 100 mp5 voted against it. that is more abstained. it did not take part in devil at all, including a number of ministers. i am told that they had a good reason for not being there and they were expected not to vote. so they were

accounted for in the parliamentary system. nonetheless, it is a sign of how much unhappiness there is among many in the conservative party of the brexiteers at another proposed delay to this process. many say that the prime minister and state that we will be from march the 29th. she slept once, and it looks like she makes up again. they have been a lot of people very unhappy. at the moment, the only deal on the table as her death. meanwhile, the conservatives have continued to talk to the labour party to get a potentially another deal. —— the only deal on the table is her deal. we know that there are conversations this afternoon. those talks lasted for more than three hours. there was a working lunch involved. when they left, both sides making really clear that they were taking this process seriously. they were engaged and it's that they were hoping that the stocks are productive, that they

wa nted stocks are productive, that they wanted to really try and find a compromise, but labour again suggesting that the government has not really moved on some of the significant areas where labour was looking for compromise. the sense is that while both sites are continuing to try, we expect there to be another round of talks on thursday. there is still significant differences between them on key issues on whether or not the uk should stay in a customs union with the eu. remember, the party leadership, those people sat in the room over these pressures of their members on both sides. labour, jeremy corbyn team, those who wanted to know the public vote. theresa may's team and the conservatives who simply but not countenance the idea of separating economic ties with the eu. finding common ground between the two is tricky. at these talks do break down, and that seems to be the way some people believe it will be in debt, because of the distance between sites, but happens they? does theresa may have to simply but

void her delegated to the comments? theresa may has set out a process. theresa may has set out a process. the discussions will continue with labour on thursday to try to find a compromise, but if there is a modern use, the next step from the government cosmic perspective as to hold another series of what are called executive votes. putting back before parliament a breach of brexit options. perhaps anything including another boat, referenda, and with even without a deal, the prime minister's deal. letting parliament have a say. you will remember that parliament had tried to do this twice before, it did not reach a consensus about anything. there was not a majority for any one option. if the government was to bring forth a similar process by third time, attention will be whittling down to one option. perhaps the system of preferential voting where parliament has to eventually get behind something, and that the government says it would adhere to, but only if labour agrees. that is what the government is looking. that is a

couple steps down the line. the first date is about theresa may securing some extension to this whole process. the types of labour continuing, and if all that fails, another series of votes in parliament. alex break there in westminster. lenders have taken control of the high street chain debenhams — after the company rejected a rescue attempt by mike ashley's sports direct. debenhams' stores are continuing to trade as normal for now, although 50 branches had already been earmarked for closure. the chain issued three profit warnings last year. here's our business correspondent, emma simpson.. and has more than 25,000 records and has more than three billion pounds with the sales. to think up some

eggs, and way too much debt, which they cannot afford to repay. as lenders have decided to take control. a kind of today. it is business as usual. stores and shoppers are not effective. this transaction will ultimately lead to 50 closures. the first expected after christmas. the company says that it after christmas. the company says thatitis after christmas. the company says that it is the only way to save the business. sorry about that. but shareholders have been wiped out, including the boss of sports direct to the tune of £150 million, he had a 30% stake and has been an acrimonious battle to take over debenhams. his office were rejected, and his right—hand man told me that they want the decision reversed. we think it is a disgrace that has come to this. there is no need for this to this. there is no need for this to come to the best. we have perfectly good and achievable

solution, debenhams's management, the advisers, they are not engaging with us whatsoever. is it a bad loser? i will call it a good retailer. debenhams says that his proposals had too many strings attached and did not address fundamental problems which run deep. a lot of the seats were sold during private equity ownership about 15 years ago. they stripped out loads of cash, replace it with that, and that i baked that might otherwise have been used to invest in the business. debenhams is in the hands of the banks and us hedge funds now. and a dignified outcome for this household name. they are already looking for a new buyer, one willing to ta ke looking for a new buyer, one willing to take on its debts. i'm joined now by retail expert catherine shuttleworth.

as she was saying in the report, the banks in us hedge funds are in control of the high street chain. they are trying to find a buyer. what my potential buyers see in debenhams' what my potential buyers see in debenhams ' make them fail, you know what, we will take on this? it is a british brand name in a retail name that shoppers do left. to be honest, finding a buyerfor it that shoppers do left. to be honest, finding a buyer for it now is going to be tricky because as of yesterday, some say he would look into buying into effect. that has been absolutely reject it by the board of debenhams. i think that will not be many people interested in buying debenhams at the moment. the influence of mike ashley is there and delete east to believe it is on the line? i think but he is saying today is that he really wants to fight to the death of this. he looked up to the edge of the earth to try to save debenhams and their staff. this is a story that has had many twists and turns at the

beginning of this year, and i think it is going to continue. they certainly do not feel that this is the end of the battle quite yet. meanwhile, practically, stores are going to close. 50 i am told. at that picture get worse?|j going to close. 50 i am told. at that picture get worse? i think that thinking is at the beginning of the year at the christmas trade at 50 stores were closed, i think i will be speeded up now and maybe other stores as well that will follow suit. this business has got to many physical shots. in a well way online, we —— physical stories. they need a smaller number of stories. if they do that, there is some chance alongside thinking investment, which is needed, to try to pull some shoppers back. if that part at the fundamental problem again, we have heard it a lot as far as change, and not getting enough of online

presence, and not giving shoppers essentially what they want.|j presence, and not giving shoppers essentially what they want. i think debenhams is coming from all angles. the average rent link these is 18 yea rs. the average rent link these is 18 years. they estimate into the deals with the next 18 years. their bills are huge. a last differentiation, people are not shopping there because they are not excited about the product range. offer is behind competitors. each part of the business that they have real challenges that they see a. predict how we will be having a discussion in12 how we will be having a discussion in 12 months' time on this. debenhams will not look like it is today. they will be a different owner. let's hope it's on the high street because there are 25,000 people who break for this business and depend on it. that is been important. we see hundreds of thousands of jobs though. important. we see hundreds of thousands ofjobs though. we are letting the shop slipped out of my hands. let's open ears. the talking about some kind of saviour, and for those people and for those families

but they likely has to be kept intact. thank you by talking to us, kathryn from leeds. the headlines on bbc news... with just 3 days to go before the the uk's set departure date for leaving the eu —the prime minister has been in paris for talks with president macron in — seeking another extension to the brexit process. mrs may also spoke to german chancellor angela merkel in berlin. the gerrman chancellor says a delay to brexit until the end of the year, is a possibility. in the israel election, an exit poll suggests there is no clear winner — with neither benjamin netanyahu or benny gantz able to govern without forming a co—alition. divorce laws in england and wales are to be radically overhauled in the biggest change for 50 years. it will allow couples to separate more easily, without proving that one of them is at fault. it's a system that scotland has

had for some years — northern ireland has no plans to change its law. thejustice minister david gauke said it would help to end what he called "the blame game". here's our legal correspondent clive coleman. when the fizz and sparkle have gone from a marriage and it has irretrievably broken down, divorcing couples are forced to blame each other on the grounds of adultery, desertion, or behaviour which is intolerable to live with. 0r prove they have been separated for a minimum of two years, or five if one spouse doesn't agree. christmas eve, 2014, was my decree nisi. jenny divorced several years ago, but blame and fault meant the entire family suffered. it caused complete communication breakdown and hostility. obviously, mostly from me, i became very hostile towards him, which i hadn't been and it caused shouting matches and problems that

my children were then witness to. for decades, campaigners have been pressing the government to change the law because they argue that when you are getting divorced, you are being torn apart emotionally and financially, trying to sort out living arrangements for your children, and so to throw fault and blame into the mix at that point is to make a bad situation a whole lot worse. the government listened and now new legislation will remove fault and introduce a requirement to provide a statement of irretrievable breakdown, create an option for a joint application, and remove the ability of one spouse to block a divorce. when there are children involved, the need to strip out as much acrimony as possible is really essential. and there is a better way of having a civilised relationship in order to co—parent your children than actually dredging

through the history of a marriage and apportioning fault. those are children like rachel who wishes she did not have to blame her pa rents for wishes she did not have to blame her parents for the divorce.|j wishes she did not have to blame her parents for the divorce. i must have been, andi parents for the divorce. i must have been, and i cannot quite understand it. i think the blame and expect meant that certainly every action by both my parents and my family was more heightened than it would have been at that element was not there. the government's reforms have angered some, who fear a more on demand system will see divorce rates rise, but ministers are determined to help those caught in a blame game. clive coleman, bbc news. let's look at some other headlines on bbc news. a doctor convicted over the death of a six—year—old boy can return to work, according to a medical tribunal ruling.

in 2015, dr hadiza bawa—garba was found guilty of gross negligence manslaughter over the death of jack adcock. she was struck off last year but appealed against the decision. the ministry ofjustice confirms thirteen prison officers had to be hospitalised after being assaulted by teenagers at feltham young offender's institution. the officers were among about 20 staff attacked during an outbreak of violence at the site in west london over the weekend. the prison service said the assaults were "completely unacceptable". chelsea midfielder danny drinkwater has been charged with drink—driving after a car crash in cheshire in the early hours of monday morning. the 29 year old, who has three england caps, was arrested after the incident which police say involved one vehicle. three people were treated at the scene for minor injuries. finally... what happens when you force mps from different parties to work together in an attempt to overcome a different sort of brexit deadlock? we put conservative andrew bridgen, liberal democrat layla moran and labour's yasmin qureshi in an ‘escape room', and forced them

to cooperate on tasks in order to unlock the door. each time they solved a puzzle, they had to answer a question on brexit. here's how things turned out... what is the flag could? the mps but is now trying to get to their objective. the clues, bf 110. have you got the names right? and before long, they have the first clue cracked. 0k. on what long, they have the first clue cracked. ok. on what date was article 50 triggered? the mps quickly uncover another clue.

article 50 triggered? the mps quickly uncover another cluem article 50 triggered? the mps quickly uncover another clue. it has got a little arrow on it. it is put into something isn't it? up there. the radio. it is pointing to the right. the shelf. well done. you have got to close. in which he ate that benson originally joined have got to close. in which he ate that benson originallyjoined the eec, now known as the european union? in which year date bring it ain't originallyjoined the eec now known as the european union? ! that quickly prompted a debate. by the british people, it has all been about the trade. it is becoming a united states of europe. it has not. it does not have an army, it does not want to have an army. mrs michael in this debenhams. do not

exaggerate, let's go to the next one. ! the mps are by step closer to freedom —— one. ! the mps are by step closer to freedom -- the npi one step closer to freedom. no taxation without representation. we left america because of that. one, three, five. that is there. how many people voted in favour of another referendum? 280. she is quickly set but caught the 280 mp5 who voted in favour of that another referendum. but the last card in place, the team may at last card in place, the team may at last be getting close to freedom. that is a t here. accelerant. let's go. that is a t here. accelerant. let's 90~ -- that is a t here. accelerant. let's go. —— there is a t here.

that is a t here. accelerant. let's go. -- there is a t here. well done. it's only got brexit talks would have gone as smoothly as that. hello. for some, it has been a day of blue skies and sunshine. for others, cloudy, cool, and wet. the rain has come courtesy of this frontal system here, still lingering for a time for this evening. collect conditions will extend all the way across the uk over the next few days. things will be turning much cooler. look at the different this afternoon, cool, cloudy and wet. but by the north, blue skies and sunshine. must have had the clear skies for the afternoon, we'll keep them generally overnight, it will become quite chilly. we had the

rain is that the counties below way south. by don, it will be lingering across the southern counties. —— dawn does not where we had at the clinic skies it is going to be a chilly night. much of scotland and northern ireland, temperatures hovering around or just northern ireland, temperatures hovering around orjust above freezing for the south. still some cloud and a few showers across england tomorrow morning. they will pull away. we had the cloud lingering, parts of england scotland. northeast england later in the day. a fine day. plenty of sunshine to be found. quite noticeable, but easterly breeze, around the east coast. temperatures here are only going to get that nine or10 here are only going to get that nine or 10 celsius. i loved for most, it isa or 10 celsius. i loved for most, it is a fine and dry day. a fine evening for many. that cloud being

separate to go on east impact of scotland. clear skies as he got the tomorrow night. temperatures quite rightly getting down to freezing. a few degrees below. by the end of the week, a little change. dominant feature. still doing inlays from the east are not east. western part of scotland, england, more cloud across northern ireland. mark lot across north and east part of scotland and the eastern side of england. at on the eastern side of england. at on the eastern side of england. at on the eastern and not easily breeze. as he had said friday and it said the weekend. things will stay dry. temperatures are going to struggle to get that 10 celsius.