‘that ‘ that i ‘that i had looked at the only party that i had ever supported, there were those who told me, no, it wasn't for me. they even suggested that i should join the labour party. because that is what they felt... they did, they did. because they said that is what immigrants and their children should do. but, you know what, i refused to be labelled, to be put into a box and to be the person that people said that i should be. so when i was racially abused in school by the toughest guy in school, while rightly or wrongly, i punched him. when i was told i couldn't go to a better school, because the council wouldn't pay for my bus fare, i got on my bike, and i went anyway. and you know what's?

when labour tried to kibosh this launch of my leadership campaign... because... the leadership campaign they fear the most. they failed, and here we are! and cani they failed, and here we are! and can i thank you all for waiting for persevering, and can i thank you all for waiting for erseverin and i'm can i thank you all for waiting for persevering, and i'm very grateful, i hope you've been looked after, thank you. and you know, after university, i did get married to laura, and we now have four amazing kids, and we have a dog called bailey that you might have seen recently bailey that you might have seen rece ntly o n bailey that you might have seen recently on twitter. and my kids aren't half cast, they are not half anything. they don't even know the

meaning of that word. they are full british, and they are playing their role in modern britain. that's just one of the many ways written has got better and better in my lifetime. and these are just some of the barriers that i've broken through in my life. so i'm used to people telling me what i can't do, i've always been more interested in what i can do, because i know what i can do. and i'm optimistic and determined that what we can do together, as a party, to break through the barriers that people so broken, to heal the divisions people say can't be healed, and to make

post brexit britain the success that many naysayers say it never will be. that is why i have put myself forward to be the next leader of the conservative mac and unionist party, and the next prime minister of our country. that i can stand here today, and i can say those words is testament to the enduring party and our country, and it's thanks to those strengths that i believe that i am uniquely qualified to lead our party, and our country, through the challenges that lie ahead. i've got a credible, honest plan for delivering brexit, so honest plan for delivering brexit, so that we can leave by the end of october this year. and i've got the background, the ideas, and of the

positive vision for the future that will help bring this country together, and keepjeremy corbyn far away from ten downing st. because we have to recognise that making a success of brexit is only the first step we need to take. in some ways, you could say it's the easy bit. british voters are rightly very demanding of those who govern them. just delivering brexit, doing what we promised that we would do will not be enough for us to win a majority at the next general election. you know it might surprise some people here in westminster, but most people in this country do not just talk about brexit. and we know

that, and we have to show them that we know that. that we understand normal life. that we are tackling all the issues that matter. and that the conservatives have changed, and they are changing. i know we can do this, because in one part of the uk, we are already doing it. for years we are already doing it. for years we we re we are already doing it. for years we were behind in scotland. we all heard labourjoke we were behind in scotland. we all heard labour joke about we were behind in scotland. we all heard labourjoke about the number of pandas north of the border, then the scottish conservatives through out central casting, and they elected some of the totally different. someone who made people look at our party again. ruth davidson brought that change, and with her, she brought huge gains. thanks to ruth and her team, we are winning again!

in fact, without them, this would be a contest for the leader of the opposition, not prime minister. i am so opposition, not prime minister. i am so proud to have ruth on team sajid javid, because the change that she's brought to how route is —— the change i will bring to westminster! now we've heard the pitch from the rest of the candidates, i've listened to them all, i respect them all, i would listened to them all, i respect them all, iwould be listened to them all, i respect them all, i would be happy to work with them all. and i really want to see mark referee that fight between the

lion and the bear, but i believe now more than ever, that at this moment, as we face the challenges that are unlike any that we have faced before, this calls for a new kind of leadership from a new kind of leader. a leader is notjust for christmas, or just for leader. a leader is notjust for christmas, orjust for brexit —— christians. we cannot go with someone christians. we cannot go with someone who feels like the short term. we have been in power now for almost a decade. at some point in the next three years, we are going to have to face our fourth general election and try to win a majority. and that will be after only winning one general election majority in the last quarter of a century. and that was only just. a last quarter of a century. and that was onlyjust. a win that was achieved not by galvanising a narrow base, a base that, let's be honest,

is getting narrower all the time. but by building broad support across the country, now we can rebuild that appeal. we must, wejust need to show the public that we have changed, and we deserve a second look. we need tomorrow's leader, today. not the same old insiders, with the same old school ties, but a new generation with a new agenda. and that means understanding that we cannot call ourselves a one nation party if there are whole swabs of this country that don't think that we share their values and their needs. whether it's millennialist, especially young women, people who ca re

especially young women, people who care about climate change above all else, people who feel locked out of the housing market, people from minority backgrounds, or the disaffected working—class voters. who don't think that anyone really knows how they feel. a lot of that is about having the right language, the right motivations. make people feel included, and welcomed. not excluded and ignored. i know what that feels like. and from the tragedy of granville to the crisis of rough sleeping, to the scandal of wind rush, my experience has humbled me greatly. i have also watched with real concern, as increasingly profound divisions emerge in our society, and our country. notjust between remaining and leave, but between remaining and leave, but between regions and communities, rich and poor, rural and urban,

young and old, black and white. the temptation for some, and we have seen temptation for some, and we have seen this around the world, where we to double down on those divisions, i reject that path. we are at a crossroads, and we must stop our country going down the wrong direction. now to do that, we need to understand that we won't deliver on the referendum result simply by leaving the european union. that the vote to leave wasn't just a leaving the european union. that the vote to leave wasn'tjust a critique of the brussels establishments, it was also a critique of the uk establishment. against a system that feels increasingly rigged, and against a world where people feel

that our best days are behind us. and it means understanding what we have done wrong as a party, and as a government. because we have been too timid to often. somewhere along the way, we have lost our competence, and we have lost our confidence. i don't say this lightly, but as someone don't say this lightly, but as someone who's anxious for us to do much, much more, i passionately want to bring energy and ambition to our party, into our government. you know, i first took an interest in politics when i realised the power of government, and the power it had to give people the opportunities they deserve. and that will be the acid test, the acid test for my policy agenda as prime minister. are we going to keep people in their place? telling them what they should do? orare we place? telling them what they should do? or are we going to be taking on

the elites and the cartels in the public in the private sectors, and helping people with what they can do. because the people, the problem with much of the westminster elite, in all parties, is that they have a lwa ys in all parties, is that they have always been the insiders. never had to fight like the rest of us to get their foot to fight like the rest of us to get theirfoot in to fight like the rest of us to get their foot in through the door. life dealt them a good hand, and they've played it well. and i can't blame them for that. but it wasn't birth rates or connections that got me where i am today. it was hard work, public services, and family. and it's those three ideas that will light at the hearts of my bold policy agenda. a manifesto for change that will make our country fairer, stronger, and more united. that will allow us to face the future with confidence and pride.

because i want everyone in this country to know, i want them to feel that if they have ago, they will have every opportunity to succeed! and that means world—class public services, and bringing people together, as a stronger and more cohesive society. delivering on both of those things requires a strong economy to pay for it. that means low taxes, backing businesses and rewarding everyone that works hard. it means fiscal responsibility. keeping debt falling. and it means we need to invest in growth. that's why i've outlined plans for an ambitious new £100 billion national

infrastructure fund. taking advantage from some of the lowest interest rates this country has had for centuries, investing in projects that will create jobs, and for centuries, investing in projects that will createjobs, and ensure that will createjobs, and ensure that the british economy is fit for the future. the fund will be based outside london, with a core aim of rebalancing our economy, investing in all parts of the uk. because a more balanced economy, and more united country. i know talking about growth can feel a bit removed for ordinary life, one ofjeremy corbyn top advisers even wrote a book complaining that people are obsessed about talking about growth. well i'm not ashamed to say i am obsessive about growth. because it gives families the security of a regular income. and the knowledge that our world —class income. and the knowledge that our world—class public services will a lwa ys world—class public services will always be them for them. for me,

public services have neverjust been the names of government departments. they were my lifelines the teachers who made my career popped possible. the police officers who kept us safe when the street i grew up on became a centre for drug dealers. the nhs that cared for my father in his dying days. these aren'tjust numbers on a spreadsheet, they are the beating heart of our country, and they deserve a prime minister that truly believes in them. the biggest engine of social progress is a strong education system. which is why i have laid out a long—term investment plan for

education. ensuring that every child has the chance to get on in life. starting from well—funded colleges, and schools, and continuing with lifelong learning, so that our economy changes people that don't, make sure no one feels that they are left behind. of course none of that would mean anything without law and order on our streets. and our health service that is there for you when you need it. and i've been clear, we need to significantly increase resourcing for our police, providing enough for an additional 20,000 officers on the streets. and we will continue to invest in our precious nhs, so that it can continue to deliver world—class care, free at the point of use, now and in the future. our public services are the foundations on which our society is built. but as conservatives, we also

recognise the vital role that is played by families, and communities. you see i was lucky. i am lucky. i have a strong supportive family around me. where we can rely on each other for around me. where we can rely on each otherfor support, no around me. where we can rely on each other for support, no matter what happens. so we must ensure that government is supporting families in everything that it does. we need to build a stronger national family too. overcoming the sense of have and have—nots, and delivering that more balanced economy, so that no one feels left behind. and we need to strengthen our family of nations, thatis to strengthen our family of nations, that is our precious... something i would never do anything to undermine. it's almost two centuries since the

idea of one nation conservatives him was coined by disraeli. it's not a coincidence that it took a bit of an outsider to understand our strengths and weaknesses as a country, and as and weaknesses as a country, and as a party. we now have the chance to choose another outsider, as prime minister. and we have many opportunities to seize as a country, if we have the confidence to do so. our party, and our country have a great past, a past of which we can be very, very proud. but i am less interested in the history books, the stories that are yet to be written. i believe in my heart, that if we can unite as a party and as a country, our best days do lie ahead of us. and i speak with feeling about our party, because for me, it was a choice. and i speak with feeling about this country, because for my family, it was a choice. they

came here for freedom, for my family, it was a choice. they came here forfreedom, for security, for opportunity. and for prosperity. and it's because of these strengths that i've always been an optimist about britain's future. i feel a responsibility as their son, and as a child of this country, to help secure for this generation, and future generations, all that it is that makes britain a beacon for the world, through brexit, and beyond. thank you very much.

applause thank you very much, thank you. thank you very much, thank you. thank you very much, thank you. thank you all very much. so we will now take some questions, and once again, can! now take some questions, and once again, can i thank you all for being patient. and we will start, i've got some names down here, and i will start with those first, if i may, and we will have some time for some further questions. and please, sir, let me start with is beth rigby here? and beth, you shouldn't worry about anyone booing you at this event. for just about anyone booing you at this event. forjust doing yourjob. applause now can you go easy on me, because i've just now can you go easy on me, because i'vejust given now can you go easy on me, because i've just given you a clap. we met on the issue of fact, when borisjohnson was asked this morning

about his use of offensive language regarding muslim women. he said he would continue to speak directly, others might say he speaks divisively, are you concerned that the conservative party is about to turn back into the nasty party?” the conservative party is about to turn back into the nasty party? i am concerned about the rise of division in politics. and i was saying a moment ago, it's notjust in the uk, i refer to it globally, we are seeing a rise in division. and alongside that, sadly, some politicians, i'm not talking about anyone particular here, but pointed around the world, that think that the way to win votes is to exploit division. and i'm very worried about that. it's not something i want to see in our country. in fact, i think with another one of our great political parties, the labour party, think it's already gone that way. the leader of the labour party is all about identity politics about

absolutism, no compromise whatsoever, and i'm concerned about that. and we've got to make sure that. and we've got to make sure that our political future is not about division, but it's about bringing people together, and i think i'm well—placed to do just that. applause next i've got nick watts. you don't have to. some your supporters are saying that what we witnessed from borisjohnson supporters are saying that what we witnessed from boris johnson today with the jeering of beth rigby was sort of trampy and tactics in the uk, are you concerned that the us—born boris boris johnson uk, are you concerned that the us—born boris borisjohnson is pretty trumpian tactics. the element i think that was a warm—up act for me, boris' thing today, so i think and for that. but i think simply to,

i think summer to beth's question, i am concerned about division and politics, and whether they are, trumpian tactics are not, i think that for a healthy democracy, you know, you want, of course you want good, vigorous debate, but i think the best way to do that is to try and bring out the best in people, try to focus on those things that will unite people and bring them together, because the root of focusing on division on extremism it, you know, whatever and of the political spectrum it is, can only lead to ruin for democracy, and it's not something i want to see for our great country. applause dan hewitt, please. dan hewitt, please. dan hewitt, please. dan hewitt, ito be news. you said in your speech you want a new kind of leadership, you are a new kind of leader, what would you say was the

biggest difference between you and the front runner in this race, boris johnson? i would say, well, i could give a real long list of things if you like, but let mejust give a real long list of things if you like, but let me just focus on one. i would say i'm a changed candidate. boris johnson is yesterday's news. he's been around in politics a while, he's achieved a lot, and he's probably, you know, he's got a big role to play, but i think if we are trying to connect with the next generation and move forward as a country, then i think it's time for the next generation, with a bold new agenda. and what i can do in terms of the policies, i think being able to articulate those policies, it's not just think being able to articulate those policies, it's notjust about that message. you know, the core message, i think the message aches a real difference as well. and what i can do, you know, iam different. my background is different. my life experience is very different. and i think that connects with 90% of the

population of our country. and will merely took back really make a difference. applause and in terms of... so we will leave sajid javid there, the last of the ten contenders to set out his stall, and a little earlier on, we had borisjohnson who sajid javid is just talking about their describing him as yesterday's man, infact, their describing him as yesterday's man, in fact, he their describing him as yesterday's man, infact, he is their describing him as yesterday's man, in fact, he is borisjohnson the front runner in the race to become the next conservative party leader, and the next prime minister. he launched his conservative leadership campaign today — insisting he will ensure britain leaves the eu by the end of october. he said that although he wanted to reach an agreement with brussels, the uk had to "have the guts" to get ready for no—deal. tomorrow, the two men — and the eight other contenders — will face the first round of voting among conservative mps. our political correspondent,

chris mason, watched the launch. the people of this country deserve better from their leaders, they need courage, and they need clarity, and they want a resolution. and that is our mission today, and thatis and that is our mission today, and that is why i am standing before you, because now is the time to remember our duty to the people, and the reasons for the brexit vote. it wasn't just about democracy, although that was fundamental, it wasn't just about immigration although that was fundamental, it wasn'tjust about immigration that people were entirely reasonable in wanting national controls, i remember that campaign vividly, and i think remember that campaign vividly, and ithinki remember that campaign vividly, and i think i understood some of the feelings of those who voted to leave. they wanted to be heard. they wa nted leave. they wanted to be heard. they wanted to feel that they too could be part of the astonishing success of this country. they wanted to feel that their hopes and dreams where as important to the government as the

desires and priorities of any metropolitan style guru artech king at the head of some ftse 100 at the head of some ftse100 company. and so now is the time to unite this country, and unite this society. and we cannot begin that task until we have delivered on the primary request of the people, the big thing that they asked us to do. after three years, and two missed deadlines, we must leave the eu. —— on october the 31st. applause. so that was boris johnson on october the 31st. applause. so that was borisjohnson a little earlier on, let's talk to the conservative mp, jacob rees—mogg, who is backing borisjohnson's leadership bid. thanks very much for being with us. you might thank you for having me. we werejust being with us. you might thank you for having me. we were just hearing sajid javid come i don't know if you could hear him, but he was saying that boris johnson could hear him, but he was saying that borisjohnson is yesterday's man, and that it's time to connect with the next generation, and that sajid javid believes he's the man to do that. well, i think that boris

johnson is remarkable he good at connecting with people of all generations, it's one of his great su ccesses , generations, it's one of his great successes, and if you look at an opinion polling today's daily telegraph, boris johnson would opinion polling today's daily telegraph, borisjohnson would be able to win a convincing majority for the conservatives, because of his ability to connect. sajid javid isa his ability to connect. sajid javid is a brilliant candidate, and formidably able politician, and the conservative party is lucky to have ten people who could make good leaders, but i think boris would make a better one of all of them. just at that news conference, well where he was being asked questions there, sajid javid, it came up that people were quite concerned that at the borisjohnson people were quite concerned that at the boris johnson launch, people were quite concerned that at the borisjohnson launch, one of the correspondence who asked him a question was booed by borisjohnson supporters. do you think, do you agree with that kind of behaviour? well i certainly wouldn't boo beth rigby, who i think is a brilliant correspondent. formidably capable, and incisive, and asked a different question, which correspondence are entitled to do. yeah, but what the

point that was being made is may be that this is a kind of trump style behaviour by boris johnson that this is a kind of trump style behaviour by borisjohnson and his supporters. that's absurd. boris jensen answer the question respectively to me so what are good and tough question it was, he a nswered and tough question it was, he answered it fully, and in detail, it was a very impressive answer from boris, and a fair question from rigby. one question he didn't answer was about drug taking, which was in the news very often with michael gove and the other candidates, he seemed rather evasive when he asked if he was taking cocaine. yellow mackey wasn't asked if he had taken cocaine, he was asked by the daily mail about a quotation that was in a magazine in relation to something that happened when he was a 19—year—old. that happened when he was a 19-year-old. and he answer that to my mind pretty fully, a company in savannah, and! my mind pretty fully, a company in savannah, and i think the point here is that people don't care what 19—year—olds do. they care what someone 19—year—olds do. they care what someone in their mid—50s is going to do to deliver brexit and unite the country, that is what boris' campaign is about. people say that as foreign secretary, one of the great offices of state, he was actually not a very good foreign

secretary. he got, for example, he got gary radcliffe who is still in prison in iran, into an awful lot of trouble. first of all, people in a leadership campaign always criticise their opponents, that's fair enough. but the issue that you mentioned is that iran is a criminal regime that knocks out people who are innocent. this is not borisjohnson' fault, this is the failure of the iranian government, and i'm afraid the iranian government has a lot of apologies to make. he did not misspeak, he was not properly briefed. he was already in prison at the stage illegally for not committing any crime, because of a terrible regime. it's the terrible regime we should be criticising, we should not be an apologist for a rainy mismanagement and the government. surely is a cabinet minister, secretary, you should be brief, that story, that he doesn't have great attention to detail. i think it's entirely missing the point, and actually as foreign secretary, he achieved the great success after the poisonings in

saulsberry, of the biggest hit to russian spying that there's been in decades, since douglas was in prime minister, and that was a globe cooperation, so you have a number of triumphs as foreign secretary, which are in relation to looking at the details, so don't think your criticism is fair, and they don't think it's right to be an apologist for the uranian government. on the economy, he's promised tax cuts for the rich, is that what this country needs at the moment? well i don't know if you know the figures, but do you know how any people pay the high rate of tax in 1990? because if you don't come i will tell you, it was 1.7 million. it's now 4.28 million, it's gone up by over two and half million people, and being dragged into paying the high rate of tax, and these are doctors and nurses and police officers and teachers. these are not people who by any definition are not people who by any definition are the wealthy and the great. they are the wealthy and the great. they are people who have been caught, trapped in high rate tax, because of something called fiscal drag. and that's what borisjohnson is seeking

to address, and i think that's important, because there should be fairness across the tax threshold, and raising the tax threshold for the least well off has been very beneficial, it's now time that some people on very well off, and are being taken out of the 40% trap. does he believe in business, because he famously used a swear to denounce british business, which doesn't seem very good behaviour for somebody that wants to be prime minister of the united kingdom. as he pointed out he was a great advocate of business as mayor of london, even in 2008. he was a great supporter of financial services in the city of london. what he was talking about was the cbi. the cbi isa talking about was the cbi. the cbi is a lobby group for incumbents doesn't represent business properly. its history of getting things wrong is remarkable. i wouldn't ever be advised by the cbi. would boris

johnson prorogue parliament about brexit? i don't think that is anything more than an interest constitutional diversion. i can tell you about william iv promising to come and prorogue parliament in person if you want. we are talking about boris johnson. i'm putting it in context. people like me find discussing the constitution absolutely fascinating. but these are theoretical intellectual discussions. they are not the reality of modern politics. dominic raab, another candidate, he has talked about prorogue in parliament. boris has been very careful to say he would follow the normal constitutional conventions, assuming the constitution is operating in the normal way. so the constitution is operating in the normalway. so he would not prorogue parliament? parliament will be in due course prorogue because we have the longest session that we have had in modern history. usually parliament lasts a year but i would be astonished if there was an

emergency prorogation. it is also talked about not paying the billions of pounds... i don't know if you read the house of lords report explaining that we had no legal liability to pay any money at all if we left a the deal. this was a report that was endorsed by a lot of people and peers who backed remain. it is not a eurosceptic report. it isa it is not a eurosceptic report. it is a remainer report. there is no court to go to because the 1985 vienna convention on treaties between international organisations and state has never been ratified. therefore there is no court is to go to. but even if it didn't end up with us in the court it would poison relations with the eu. in terms of negotiating some sort of eu uk trade deal in the future. would it? it has upset monsieur macron but is on the

other side of the negotiation. he is quite worried about how effective borisjohnson would be. perhaps the irish backs of poisons relations. this is a negotiation and you have to use every card you have to get the best deal. the money is one of the best deal. the money is one of the strongest cards we have and without a good deal we shouldn't pay anything. we should make that clear. will there be any negotiations under a borisjohnson will there be any negotiations under a boris johnson premiership will there be any negotiations under a borisjohnson premiership with the european union? they have said time and time again they will not open up renegotiation. it is a very important point. the eu has consistently said things about negotiations but bearing in mind under eu treaty law it was illegal to bail out countries who are members of the euro. when those countries went bankrupt they decided they would bail them out anyway. the eu doesn't always do what it says it will do and you shouldn't take what people say as a negotiating stance as holy writ. he has said he is not

aiming foran ideal as holy writ. he has said he is not aiming for an ideal outcome. do you think we can get a deal before october 31? i completely support borisjohnson in that position. no deal preparation and not being frightened of it is an important pa rt frightened of it is an important part of negotiating a deal which is in everybody‘s interests but yes, i think that is possible. the eu now recognises or would recognise if borisjohnson was prime minister, that leaving without a deal is a realistic possibility that the eu doesn't want, not least because it wa nts doesn't want, not least because it wants millions of pounds of your and my money. but under theresa may arguably we were ready for a no—deal. we spent a lot of money on preparations for a no—deal brexit. but she didn't really mean it and thatis but she didn't really mean it and that is the problem. that is a fundamental weakness in negotiations that she ran. are you looking forward if boris johnson

that she ran. are you looking forward if borisjohnson does become prime minister to getting a job in his cabinet? no, i'm looking forward to being re—elected in north—east somerset which i have a better chance of doing if borisjohnson is elected than anybody else. would you ta ke elected than anybody else. would you take a job if offered? i'll support borisjohnson or whoever take a job if offered? i'll support boris johnson or whoever is take a job if offered? i'll support borisjohnson or whoever is elected. i want the tory party to unite once this has happened. my ambition is to be the member of parliament for north—east somerset. that's what i love doing. very good of you to spend so much time with us. thank you for being with us. it is a pleasure. jacob rees—mogg there in westminster. our business correspondence is here to talk about arcadia. phyllis in

what has happened. —— fill us in about what has happened. a week ago today philip green tried to get the rescue deals through. the landlords resisted this attempt to get through lower rents to safeguard the future of these retail brands, topshop and otherfamiliar of these retail brands, topshop and other familiar names on the of these retail brands, topshop and otherfamiliar names on the high street. now we're hearing that they have passed. eight separate deals and they have to be passed by landlords. we don't know exactly how close it was. a huge sigh of relief for thousands of employees around the country because the future of 500 stores also have been safeguarded for now. i say for now because the big question is what happens next. it is notjust about reducing this cost. we heard sports direct, the chain owned by mike ashley, these kind of arrangement is known as cva is given a lifeline to badly managed companies allowing

them to live on. so how do you get market share are up? most of these brands have seen market share slipping. topshop, remember ten yea rs slipping. topshop, remember ten years ago, kate moss was out there with her own range of clothes. that brand has really slipped. that is the question that analysts and customers are the question that analysts and customers a re really the question that analysts and customers are really talking about tonight. do they have a future? we will put that now to an expert. we will put that now to an expert. we will talk to the former house of fraser executive who now runs a different consultancy. she joins us now from oxford. is there a future for a now from oxford. is there a future fora group like now from oxford. is there a future for a group like arcadia? that is the $600,000 question. there are a number of brands. i think it is likely they will consider shutting some of those brands. there needs to be significant investment in order to try and bring those brands up—to—date. there are a number of

outlets such as dorothy perkins and top shop within arcadia and they have suffered from a lack of investment meaning they have been overta ken investment meaning they have been ove rta ke n by investment meaning they have been overtaken by other people on the high street. that is not help them when trade has been difficult anyway. you say bring them up—to—date, are you suggesting that they are selling is out of date? up—to—date, are you suggesting that they are selling is out of date ?|j think they have not kept up with trends. they have not invested and sold online. that has been demonstrated. in the event that you look at what investment they have had in stores i think a number of people around the country will say that the stores look a bit dull, they look a bit on looks after. they need to be brought up—to—date. the motorways is exhilarating with other brands focusing on new opportunities and arcade has been left behind. this appears to have been a very close vote. arcadia is kind of ok but is thatjust for now? is that a

temporary fix? i think it has to be a temporary fix. they have been rumours that arcadia have been saying they need to have only 300 stores in their portfolio rather than the 500 plus. that could mean the loss of some of those brands. the move to perhaps online only or the closure of some of the high street stores and most are concessions or vice versa. it is very difficult to tell. i think there will be more stores to go. good to talk to you. thank you for being with us here on bbc news. the government has announced ambitious plans to cut net greenhouse gas emissions in the uk to almost zero by 2050, in order to tackle global warming. britain is the first major nation to propose the target, which would be enshrined in law. the prime minister said reducing

pollution would also benefit public health and cut nhs costs. some say the drive is too late to avert serious damage to the climate — others fear the ambition will be impossible to achieve. our environment analyst, roger harrabin, has more details. carbon pollution from fossil fuels. it's helped drive our economies and increase our wealth for more than 200 years. now, in the uk by 2050, it'll have to stop. to ensure that we make our contribution to dealing with climate change by laying the legislation for a net—zero target by 2050 today. this puts us on the path to become the first major economy to set a net zero emissions target in law. the announcement has won applause. i think it's very welcome, it is the first major economy to set this target, which is the target which will get us to where we need to be globally. it sends a very strong message to developed countries — you need to come along and do this too. and it sends a very important message to developing countries that developed countries are taking their responsibility seriously.

in many ways, the clean energy revolution will be a quiet revolution you won't even notice. we'll be driving electric cars, for instance, but is this an electric car or is it petrol? i don't know, do you? so what about inside the house? well, your gas boiler will be replaced by a hydrogen boiler. you won't notice that either. and your electrical goods will be running on electrons generated by clean energy, not by gas. cutting emissions to zero will mean more gadgets like this q-bot which sprays insulation under your floorboards. but the scale of the challenge to make the uk's homes energy efficient is immense, so will the public buy into this low carbon revolution? the target will be meaningless if we don't have the people wanting to make it happen and there is a research base out there which is showing that people want to make it happen. whether they really understand what it will cost and what it means

for them on a day—to—day basis, that's a big question. climate change is a hot political issue in many countries now, but global emissions are still growing. the british government may try to achieve its climate targets by paying countries like india to cut emissions on its behalf if it's cheaper. but that's controversial. and so is a plan to review the uk targets after five years, to see if other nations are following. rather than giving business the real confidence that business needs in order to be able to go forward and invest in the green economy, they are saying that after five years, they will see whether anyone else is following us. if the government wants to claim it is showing climate leadership, that is not about dithering the door and constantly looking over your shoulder as to whether or not anyone is following you, it is setting a trajectory, giving businesses the confidence it needs and demonstrating that there is a real commitment to this way forward. and what about other weak points in

the government's case, like planes? britain has been hitting overall emissions targets so far, but it is slipping on future medium—term goals. what's more, ministers are expanding heathrow, building more roads and encouraging fracking. how do these carbon—intensive policies meet the urgent need to protect this fragile planet? more on our top story, borisjohnson and sajid javid both leading their campaigns to be britain's next prime minister. borisjohnson says he wasn't aiming for no deal but he says the uk must prepare for it. and mps have rejected an attempt by labour to give mps the plant to stop the new prime minister pushing through a no—deal brexit.

joe owen is with me, he's a programme director on the brexit programme at the institute for government, a think tank working to make government more effective. borisjohnson boris johnson saying borisjohnson saying he is not aiming fora borisjohnson saying he is not aiming for a no—deal but he is also saying we have to really make sure that all the no deal preparations are in hand because that is a possibility. the majority of the leadership contenders are standing ona leadership contenders are standing on a platform of renegotiating and having a deal in place for the 31st of october. that looks like a huge challenge when you take into account the first of all have to get the eu back round the table and they have said quite persistently they are not willing to do that, you then need to wrap it up with enough time to get the necessary legislation through parliament. even if the whole negotiation could be done and dusted by the 1st of september when mps get back from summer recess, legislation

is plunked down ready to go, they would have to pass it quicker than any really of the big eu treaties have been done in the past because there is this party conference recess. so there is only something like 20 parliamentary sitting days from mps getting back at the beginning of september to the end of october. so it is really tight to try and get a deal three by then. the question then is no deal versus extension, would they be willing to extend for a little bit to get a deal over the line? if not, do we end up with no deal? people talk about no deal all the time. paint is about no deal all the time. paint is a picture of what it would look like. that is a really difficult thing to do. so much is uncertain. there are three important factors in what no deal would look like. the first is government? based on what little we have seen there is big challenges. the international audit

office suggested there are big issues. the second is what will the eu do? everything the eu has said suggests they will take a hard line in areas like border and there is potential for severe disruption and big demands from uk traders for paperwork. the reason that government puts in place these systems is to support businesses. what we do know with business readiness is quite grim. in the run—up to march hmrc got only one in five traders had done the bare minimum and thinking about no deal. there is a huge risk that they are not doing much more over the next few months. businesses will say they have seen the government cry wolf twice before. they have already been spent quite a lot of money spending on no deal preparations. they'll be thinking that and if they can do that in the run—up to christmas. what guarantees are there there could be no deal? all of these

contenders say they would rather have a deal. there is a chance we end up being less ready in october than we were in march. let's talk about parliament and the attempt by labour effectively to start the process of giving parliament more power stopping some kind of legislation at no—deal brexit. they lost that the day by a few votes. does that mean parliament will still try again? ordo does that mean parliament will still try again? or do you think it is not really going to be possible for it to have that power to stop the no deal? lots of people point to the fa ct deal? lots of people point to the fact that parliament voted overwhelmingly against no deal but what this shows is that voting against no deal in principle and then getting mps to actually act and do something is a different prospect. the opportunities for mps to act between now and the 31st october could be quite slim. presumably the government is not going to be offering them an opposition day to do what they did

today again. they won't try that. then there is a question if whether new legislation comes back. a lot of opportunities parliament had in earlier this year with votes and trying to stop no deal, those opportunities have fallen away. that process we we re opportunities have fallen away. that process we were in that was defined by the european union withdrawal act, that is no longer relevant if the prime minister isjust act, that is no longer relevant if the prime minister is just intent on no deal and doesn't give mps an opportunity to vote. there are possible ways. the role of the speaker could come into question and what he does. but there are very few looking at it. procedurally, if any real opportunities for mps do something tangible and force government two hands in preventing the deal. good to talk to you. thank you very much. joe owen from the institute for government.

there has been bad unrest in hong kong. riot police using tear gas, pepper spray and rubber bullets came in hard to move demonstrators out of hong kong's central business district. protesters who had gathered in their tens of thousands ran for cover as the authorities moved against them block by block. earlier in the day, a large crowd gathered to oppose a move to allow extradition to the chinese mainland. this came despite an official announcement the demonstrations

would not be allowed near the local government headquarters. lawyers, academics and the business community have all warned that a fair trial is not possible in courts controlled by the communist party. so, when the government decided to take this bill to its next stage, striking workers joined students and small business owners surrounding the legislature. when you talk to people who have skipped class or work to come and join what has now become an occupation, they say they have no choice. these protesters feel the only way they can stop this bill is to take their argument to the streets and to sufficiently embarrass carrie lam and her government into backing down. but instead, the government decided to put an end to this act of mass defiance. it's getting a bit tense at the moment. the police are pushing back.

and you can see there is the use of pepper spray and the like at the front. the authorities have now decided to try and clear the streets. for most, this onslaught by the police was too much to resist. for now, the authorities are back in control of the city. stephen mcdonnell, bbc news, hong kong. a former gang leader who served ten years in prison for a shooting has thanked the police chief who locked him up. carlus grant once ran what officers called derby's most violent criminal gang, and was jailed in 2009. he now advises organisations on gang culture and says it was the time behind bars that helped him change his life. jeremy ball reports. this path here i used to walk every day down here to go to basketball. carlus grant's not proud of the path he chose right here almost years ago.

here almost ——20 years ago. and i took this journey up this path, went into the estate, and that's where all the madness happened, if you like. carlus started dealing drugs, then bought his first gun after rivals tried to kidnap him. i've made various drug sales on this bridge as well. before long, he was running a violent gang that was cornering the city's cocaine trade. yes, i terrorised the community. ifeel like in some respects, you know, the damage that we caused the community is kind of irreversible now. we had seven firearms that were accessible, i had a silver nine millimetre pistol. it's far from a glamorous lifestyle. there was about to be a shoot out. i had a firearm in my hand, i was trying to load my firearm, his came out, shot his gun from far ranged, the force of the pellets sprayed in my face. i've still got one lodged in my head here. carlus was jailed for ordering a shooting at a party here 11 years ago. the victim survived but police were worried it would spiral out of control. andy hough set up a dedicated team to tackle gangs and guns, then became derby's chief police officer.

at that time, carlus was about as dangerous as you can get. he and his colleague were the head of our most serious and violent gang. so now, after ten years behind bars, carlus wants to prove he's changed his ways and today he's agreed to meet andy hough face—to—face. i do want to say thank you for giving me that opportunity. without that opportunity, like i said to you before, i don't think i would have found a way out. it started by me going to prison. but it's your journey. but it's my journey. i feel like i've got another chance at life. and how can i not be grateful? carlus has the potential to have so much influence. he can show them that that's not a life you want to take and he can be a very positive role model if he wants to be. now they want to use carlus as a mentor back at his old youth club. but he knows he'll need to work hard to regain this community's trust and that he'll be judged by actions, not words. jeremy ball, bbc news, derby.

the six o'clock news is coming your way very shortly but first the weather. thank you very much indeed. we need the rain but all at once it is causing many issues. some places have had two month's worth of rain. since these values were taken its been raining again and with more rain to come overnight. so it is a really wet picture. the consequences area really wet picture. the consequences are a lot of spray and standing water on the roads but we do have flood warnings in force in england and wales and across scotland as well with more persistent rain to come, the number of flood warnings are likely to increase as well. some serious weather out there. it looks like a very wet night in england and wales, parts of northern ireland and

southern scotland as well. heavy and persistent rain for seven hours. were talking about 20 to 40 millimetres quite widely. but even up to 80 in some places. temperatures went fall below double figures in most parts. there is an amber warning figures in most parts. there is an amberwarning in figures in most parts. there is an amber warning in force across the south and east of scotland where the weather looks to cause most problems because the rivers are quite sensitive in those areas. you can see that in much of north—east england and looks thoroughly wet throughout thursday. the bigger picture isn't dry either. we start the morning with the rain stretching from eastern scotland to wales, the east of northern ireland and it gradually peters out. further south it turns more showery but they could well be some very active showers in the south and the rain persisting in the south and the rain persisting in the north causing a lot of spray and standing water. particularly with the northerly breeze we could get 18 degrees. something more than we

should do this time of year. something changes on friday. the logos to the north—west of the uk instead of where it has been in the east. the south—westerly wind brings in something a little warmer. between the showers temperatures might pop up a degree or two more by that stage we could see the wettest weather for northern ireland. that stage we could see the wettest weatherfor northern ireland. so that stage we could see the wettest weather for northern ireland. so we are re—orientating where the rain will be. everywhere else by no means dry with lots of showers. lots of heavy showers throughout the weekend. i would like to say anyway evenin weekend. i would like to say anyway even in the south will be dry although it does look as if we might see a drier interlude in the middle of next week. for the most part still very unsettled with weather warnings and you can find out those details on our website.

tonight at six, borisjohnson launches his campaign to become the next prime minister. the front runner, he defends his colourful style, saying the public want straight talking politicians and promises brexit by the end of october. delay means defeat. delay means corbyn. kick the can again and we kick the bucket. the home secretary, sajid javid, has also set out his leadership pitch — the last of the ten candidates to do so. as we face the challenges that are unlike any we have faced before, this calls for a new kind of leadership from a new kind of leader. tomorrow they all face the first round of votes.