you're watching bbc newsroom live. it's 11 am, and these are the main stories this morning — swedish prosecutors are to reopen an investigation into a rape allegation against wikileaks founder julian assange. as cross party brexit talks resume, the shadow brexit secretary warns two thirds of labour mps will reject any agreement which doesn't include another referendum. theresa may makes a promise to end the postcode lottery of support for victims of domestic abuse. the inquest into the london bridge attack hears about the final movements of 21—year—old sara zelenak who was on a night out with friends itv has taken thejeremy kyle show off air after a guest died a week afterfilming. and brighton sack manager

chris hughton after their 17th place finish in the premier league. good morning. welcome to bbc newsroom live. in the last hour, swedish authorities have announced they're reopening an inquiry into a rape allegation against wikileaks co—founderjulian assange. the investigation was dropped two years ago when swedish prosecutors said they felt unable to proceed while assange was avoiding extradition and seeking refuge inside the ecuadorian embassy. but prosecutors have been considering their options since the 47—year—old was evicted and arrested last month. assange denies the charges — his lawyer says the decision is "an embarrasment to sweden".

eva—marie persson, sweden's deputy director of public prosections, made the announcement, saying that new circumstances had brought about a need to revise their previous position. she speaks swedish translation: and circumstances have now brought about a need to revise our previous position. she speaks swedish the republic of ecuador has withdrawn the grant of political asylum to mr assange. subsequent to this, the british authorities arrested mr assange at the embassy on the 11th of april this year and removed him from the premises.

she speaks swedish due to this development, and due to the fact that mr assange has been deprived of the liberty of the uk, the council representing the aggrieved party has presented a request to reopen the preliminary investigation concerning rape and to continue the investigation of the case. our correspondent angus crawford is at belmarsh prison, wherejulian assange is being held. can you tell us more about this allegation, and about the process by which we get to today? you have to cast your mind back to 2010, when mr symes was visiting sweden. after he left, two accusations were made by two

complaints about both sexual assault and rape. —— mrassange. he fought and rape. —— mrassange. he fought an exhibition request from the uk about those accusations all the way through until 2012, and at that point, having lost his appeal to the supreme court, he took refuge in the ecuadorian embassy. several years later, 2015, the letter accusations fell away because of a statute of limitations. in 2017, the swedish prosecutor decided to drop the investigation into the accusation of rape because of the practicalities, that mr assange was still in the ecuadorian embassy. but they always reserve the right to reopen at that plea investigation. the triggerfor that was that last month, ecuador decided to relieve the asylum protection that it had given mr assange. he was arrested, taken out of the embassy very publicly. he was then prosecuted, found guilty of

breaching his bail conditions in 2012, and that is why he is in belmarsh prison here. he is serving a50 belmarsh prison here. he is serving a 50 week prison sentence, so cannot expect to be even eligible for release until at least six months' time. what the prosecutor has decided today in sweden is to reopen this pre—investigation, possibly to issue a european arrest warrant. she said there is probable cause to suspect mr assange committed rape or a lesser offence. now, what does that mean? the european arrest warrant may lead to a formal extradition request, or it may lead to another request, which is to interview him here in belmarsh prison. what is really interesting about this is it could mean, should the swedes issue an extradition request, that we have two competing extradition requests for the same man, for extradition requests for the same man, foer extradition requests for the same man, for mr assange. one extradition request, which is live at the moment

from the us, but the us authorities have to formally replace that by the 14th of june this have to formally replace that by the 14th ofjune this year. that may find itself in competition with any potential extradition request from the swedes. —— have to formally replace that. at that point, it becomes very interesting, a political decision for the home secretary, sajid javid, to decide which gets presidents. angus, thank you very much for that explanation. we will talk to you later. —— which gets presidents. talks between senior conservative and labour politicians will resume later in an effort to reach a deal on brexit. it comes as the shadow brexit secretary warned that almost two thirds of labour's mps would reject any agreement that failed to include a referendum on the final deal. sir keir starmer also said he was not afraid to pull the plug on cross—party talks as soon as this week, if the prime minister did not budge on her red lines. our political correspondent chris masonjoins me now.

groundhog day, week, month. it is really, because here we go again, these talks have been trundling on for weeks on end. there is an oddity at the heart of talks like this, two parties that are traditionally political opponents are coming around a table and attempting to reach some sort of agreement even though their instincts are pretty different. in addition to that, even where there is agreement amongst those around the table from both sides, either side has to look over its shoulder to see if it is taking a substantial number of its own tribe with it. ultimately, this is a numbers game, and if there is to be a deal that gets through the commons, there has to be a majority for that deal, and secondly, both parties want to emerge from any process as held together as they can be given the stresses and strains brexit is exerting on all parties with the range of perspectives that you get here at westminster on what should happen next. let's bring you up—to—date with where we are this morning, as these talks resumed today. here is tom watson, the deputy leader of the labour party,

who was on the today programme on radio for a bit earlier on. the reason we went talks is while we couldn't see an outcome at the start, if you sit round a table, the ingenuity of the people around a table can often find a solution no—one has thought of. i think the difficulty is just parliamentary arithmetic. and, you know, keir starmer has alluded to this today as well, john mcdonnell did last week — the whipping arrangements for these deals is very difficult because mps have hardened their positions within their parties. a perspective they are from the labour party. what about the government? here is the foreign secretary. we are talking to the labour leadership. we have had very detailed discussions. people have been pessimistic right from the outset that these discussions weren't going to go anywhere, but they have actually continued, so we have to see what happens this week. this is a crunch week. any possibility of a second referendum? i think from the conservative point of view, we have always said that we think that would be a betrayal

of what people voted for. we want to implement the first referendum. but let's see where these talks go to. let's talk about this further with the labourmp, let's talk about this further with the labour mp, good morning to you. you are an advocate of another referendum. why, what is the case for it? it is very clear at this stage in the process that the only way to break the deadlock in parliament, there actually as a point of principle, we should go back to the public with the deal that the prime minister is negotiating, and ask them what they know now —— based on what they know now, would they rather remain? i think that has been patently obvious for some time now, and these talks have become a distraction rather than a way of resolving the parliamentary deadlock. you must encounter this perspective frequently on the doorsteps. what do you say to people who say another referendum is democratic, not fulfilling the wishes of the last one, and that any prospect of us ever moving on from this brexit conversation is not going to happen

if we go through all that all over ain? if we go through all that all over again? firstly, a majority of the public would like to see a referendum, i think, for the public to decide for the way forward for brexit. but actually, this is a point of democratic principle. whichever option parliament now chooses looks so little like the promises made to the public by the league campaign. i think it is right asa league campaign. i think it is right as a point of principle to ask the public to resolve such an important issue. at this stage, it the only way to resolve the parliamentary deadlock. —— of the leave campaign. where these talks was a waste of time? i think the public always want politicians to sit down and talk about things. the problem has come from neither leader acknowledging the parliamentary arithmetic. jeremy corbyn has made it clear that a referendum would be the only way to break the deadlock, and i think the prime minister has made it clear again and again and again, almost to the point of exasperation, that she isn't prepared to move on her red lines, andi isn't prepared to move on her red lines, and i think that has been at the heart of so many of these problems, theresa may's

intransigence. so keir starmer said this morning about an estimate of 128 to 150 labour mps who think they should be another referendum. you must keep an eye on the numbers as well. does that seem right? is that a ballpark figure you would recognise? absolutely, and to be fairto cure sauna, recognise? absolutely, and to be fair to cure sauna, he has consistently spoken to labour mps right across the parliamentary party to gauge opinion, to try and lead us through this crisis, and i trust in keirand through this crisis, and i trust in keir and what he said. quick word aboutjohn smith, former liberal leader who died 25 years ago today. would you recognise the labour party of 2019? -- would you recognise the labour party of 2019? —— labour party leader. would you recognise the labour party of 2019? -- labour party leader. one of 2019? -- labour party leader. one ofjohnson of‘s first acts of rebellion was to bring us into the eu, he led the labour party skilfully and allowed the parliamentary labour party to decide. i think on the foreign policy, the crisis of anti—semitism i thinkjohn smith would have shown

far greater, stronger leadership. tragically, at the time he died, he was looking likely next prime minister. i don't think it is clear from labour because my position that we will be in government after the next general election, unless we resolve key issues and concerns voters have about our party, whether it is on europe, tackling racism in oui’ it is on europe, tackling racism in our own party, these are important issues, and in the local elections, jeremy corbyn came up on the doorstep a lot, right across the country, and it is important to acknowledge that. thank you for talking to us, wes streeting, labour mp, and we will get a different perspective from within the liberal party on this whole issue on how to proceed with the whole brexit question in the next hour. during the campaign for the european parliament elections, we're going to be interviewing all the main uk parties here on the bbc news channel. and we want you to send us your questions. tomorrow at 5.30 we'll have nigel farage of the brexit party, then the next day at the same time chuka umunna on change uk. you can email us at askthis@bbc.co.uk or text us

on 61124 or use social media with the hashtag #bbcaskthis. the inquests into the deaths of the eight people who were killed in the london bridge and borough market attack two years ago are continuing at the old bailey. three women and five men were killed in a van and knife attack by three jihadists who were shot dead by police in 2017. our correspondent richard lister is at the inquest for us. which would, what have you been hearing? today, we have been hearing details about the deaths of the third of the eight people killed, sara zelenak. she was a 21—year—old australian in london, reallyjust on what her mother described last week as the trip of a lifetime. we had then that sara was the happiest she had ever been, working, travelling, meeting new people, doing the things

21—year—olds should do, according to her mother last week. she was out with a friend who gave evidence today about what she saw that night. she said they had been out trying to have some fun, they had been trying to find a bar. they had originally intended to go to a bar in soho. they ended up at london bridge really by mistake, they had not intended to go there at all. but thatis intended to go there at all. but that is where they ended up. they we re that is where they ended up. they were just that is where they ended up. they werejust heading down that is where they ended up. they were just heading down the steps beside london bridge when they had a terrific bang behind them. she said, it was such a loud noise that they went back to see what had happened. because at that stage, they had no idea. they said, people then said ron. i started to run, and i thought sara was with me, but when i looked, she was not. everybody was running. she was asked, was that your last view of sara? and she said yes. she described scenes of panic as she ran through borough market and eventually took refuge in a restau ra nt. eventually took refuge in a restaurant. we have also heard from a man who was just across the street from that van when it crashed, and

he filmed the whole thing throughout. he went across the road, he saw the attackers attacking somebody, it is quite likely that was sara zelenak. he filmed over the barriers looking down at the bar where the two women had intended to 90. where the two women had intended to go, said that the three attackers we re go, said that the three attackers were trying to attack people, but he said people at the bars were things, glasses. one person even threw a chair. and he said, as the three attackers realised they were being assaulted themselves, they realised they were outnumbered and they started running away. but of course, as we have had, not before stabbing and killing a number of other people. in the end, eight people died, 48 were injured, and the inquests are continuing here. authorities in iran say an iranian national has been sentenced to ten years in jail on charges of spying for britain. in a tv broadcast, a judicial spokesman said the unnamed individual was responsible for managing a project for the british council connected with cultural influence.

the uk government is yet to comment. victims of domestic abuse and their children will have to be given secure accommodation by local councils in england under a change in the law proposed by the government. theresa may is promising extra money to help councils, but it's not yet clear how much. leigh milner reports. for victims of domestic abuse, having a safe place to stay can be life—saving. that's why, for the first time ever, councils in england will be legally required to provide secure accommodation for survivors of domestic abuse and their children. local authorities have been obviously squeezed over the years and have been looking for cuts, easy cuts to make. and, unfortunately, refuges have been one of the main casualties of that. so the real beauty of this, of putting a legal duty on local authorities to provide refuge spaces, means they are going to have to do that.

it is not yet clear, though, how much that will cost. in november, ministers awarded £22 million to buy more than 2000 beds for refuges and other safe accommodation, as well as access to education and employment. today's consultation comes just months after a new draft of the domestic abuse bill was published early this year. it said domestic abuse victims will no longer face cross—examination by their abusers in family courts. controlling and manipulative nonphysical abuse will be included in the government's definition of domestic abuse. and there will be specialist support for black, asian and minority ethnic, lgbt, and gypsy, roma and traveller survivors. charities and local councils say it is a positive step and they want to know how much money will be provided in the face of cuts to authority budgets. a consultation on the proposals will last 12 weeks. leigh milner, bbc news.

the headlines on bbc news — swedish prosecutors are to reopen an investigation into a rape allegation against wikileaks founder julian assange. as cross party brexit talks resume, the shadow brexit secretary warns two thirds of labour mps would reject an agreement that doesn't include another referendum. theresa may makes a promise to end the postcode lottery of support for victims of domestic abuse. in sport, the manchester city party went on a long into the night. captain vincent kompany went on a long into the night. captain vincent kompa ny lifted went on a long into the night. captain vincent kompany lifted the trophy in front of their fans at the etihad stadium. it is two premier league titles in a row after the win over brighton meant city sealed the title by one point. and following their defeat, brighton have sacked manager chris hughton. the club confirmed he left the club with immediate effect after narrowly

avoiding relegation. but under chris hughton's management, brighton were promoted to premier league for the first time, and this year, reached their first fa cup semifinal since 1983. lewis hamilton is back on top of the standings in formula one's world drivers championship. he won the spanish grand prix for a third year in a row. i'll be back with more on those stories after half—past. thejeremy kyle show has been taken off air indefintely after a guest who took part in the itv programme died a week after filming. with me is our correspondent charlotte gallagher. what can you tell us about this? this person had appeared on the jeremy kyle show, and then a week later, they died. itv have said they are shocked and saddened, and of course there are thoughts are with this person's friends and family. they have not said of this guest was a man 01’ they have not said of this guest was a man ora they have not said of this guest was a man 01’ a woman, they have not said of this guest was a man or a woman, what they were on the show to talk about, and what this person has died from. but i think we can probably presume it is

not natural causes, given that this particular programme, this episode, has been pulled indefinitely, and broadcasting and filming of the jeremy kyle show has now been suspended, and they say at this particular episode is going to be reviewed. i suppose it is worth seeing for those who may not be familiar with the show, that it deals with a lot of relationship conflict and life difficulties, it deals with a lot of vulnerable people. yes, it is a very confrontational show, a lot of shouting, screaming, people having relationship problems, doing dna tests on their children, lie detectors, people being reunited with theirfamily detectors, people being reunited with their family they have not seen for a long time. a lot of people with addiction issues as well, serious drug problems, and the programme actually does send them off to rehab and lots of cases. and the show makes a big thing about how they do a lot of after—care, they have councillors talking to people on site, and they will continue to