borisjohnson emerges as the clear frontrunner in the race to become the next prime minister. the former foreign secretary secured the backing of a third of his conservative colleagues in the first round of voting. jeremy hunt and michael gove come second and third. there are now seven candidates left in the race, after three failed to get enough support. mrjohnson is well ahead of the rest of the pack tonight but there's a long way to go before the vote goes out to tory members around the country. also on the programme tonight... america accuses iran of being behind attacks on two tankers in the gulf of oman — one of world's busiest oil shipping lanes. criticism, as it's revealed that almost of two thirds of the people who bought homes in england using the government's help to buy scheme could have

afforded a home anyway. the warning just moments before a high—speed crash during training that's left britain's champion cyclist in intensive care after six hours of surgery. and a small whiskey. and the secret to a long life from britain's oldest person — gracejones — who has died at the age of 112. just a little drop every night in bed. and coming up on sportsday on bbc news, rory mcilroy makes a strong start as golf‘s third major of the year gets under way. we'll have the latest from the opening round at pebble beach. good evening. boris johnson has overwhelmingly won

the first round of votes to become the next conservative leader — and prime minister. the former foreign secretary now seems almost certain to make it into the final two, after picking up the support of 114 of his conservative colleagues. ten candidates were in the running. borisjohnson was way out in front — followed byjeremy hunt and michael gove. three candidates — andrea leadsom, mark harper and esther mcvey — didn't get enough support and were eliminated from the race, leaving seven mps to face more votes next week. here's our political editor, laura kuenssberg. who is it to be? mps voting behind the gates of the commons. i shall be voting for boris. i will be voting for boris. borisjohnson. the person who might beat boris is boris himself. get used to seeing this room, where the tory committee announces results.

jeremy hunt, a3. and by a clear margin... borisjohnson, 114. murmurs of surprise at the numbers. boris johnson way ahead, with 114 votes, almost certain to be in the final two. the foreign secretaryjeremy hunt a clear second, only just ahead of michael gove. ten votes behind, brexiteer dominic raab. the home secretary and health secretary both tucked in after him. a fifth member of the cabinet, rory stewart, just makes the cut, but three others are knocked out. will you top the ballot today, mrjohnson? so the numbers proved. borisjohnson, whose reputation has sunk and risen like the sun, really is the frontrunner in this frenzy. this is a very strong result for boris, and i think it really shows how he's united our party, bringing people together from all different sections our party, both remain,

leave, but also people with different ideas as well. with no other break—out candidate, the contest now is not about catching up with mrjohnson among mps, but grabbing the other spot in the final two. boris did well today, but what the result shows is that when it comes to the members' stage, i'm the one to take him on, and the argument i'll be making is a very simple one. that if you choose me, i'll be the first prime minister who has a background as an entrepreneur. i can negotiate a deal with the european union that is a better way forward. right now, none of the middle of the pack are giving up on the race. morning! even if they are huffing and puffing to keep up. we're going to succeed as a country... whether former remainers in cabinet... and we have a dog called bailey that you might have seen recently on twitter. ..or brexiteers who quit, they're all hoping to pick up votes from those who dropped out. we've got a strong base and we are looking forward to the next rounds. this is round one, so we're off and running, and looking forward

to building on that support, particularly given the way the votes fell. the outsider candidate, who just made the cut, says he believes anything could happen. are you, at this moment, really in a position where you, rory stewart, can see yourself moving into number 10 at the end ofjuly? i'm much closer to it than i was four weeks ago, i'm closer than i was two weeks ago. we shall see. politics can be a lonely old game. those who lost out today put themselves on the line, but it's the contest to be all of our prime minister, notjust some tory family business. i think it's a fine result, and let's see what happens on the next round. have you spoken to your son? no, i havejust sent him something called a whatsapp, do you know about whatsapps? haven't heard of it, actually. yeah, it is a very modern thing. there's a long distance to go, though. plenty, plenty more chances for missteps. laura kuenssberg, bbc news, westminster. so what happens now? tory mps vote again onjune 18th. each candidate needs at least 33

votes to stay in the contest. the plan is that further rounds of voting will whittle down the remaining candidates to just two by the 20th june. after that the tory party membership have their say. the name of the new prime minister will finally be announced in the week ofjuly the 22nd. laura joins me from westminster. so seven candidates left. are they all expected to stay in the race? it's a critically nationally important game now off catch him if you can and there have been lots of conversations between the rival camps this afternoon, as i understand it. i know the home secretary sajid javid on the health secretary sajid javid on the health secretary matt hancock had a meeting this afternoon and sources close to mr hancock tell me tonight he's mulling it over and they might be a decision from him this morning over whether his plans to stay in and carry on are still there, so it's not impossible in a very fluid situation that by tomorrow the seven

may go down to six, and of course that patent might keep changing in the coming days before we get to the next round of official voting, which is on tuesday. as far as the other candidates are concerned boris johnson is so far in front of the fight is not about who can take him on here in westminster, but it's about who can get to be the other person in that duet then goes out to the national conservative vote. meanwhile change is afoot elsewhere? it's certainly all the range. —— rage. chuka umunna, the prominent former labour mp who was part of that breakaway group who went to form that brand—new party, change uk, in the hope of trying to stop brexit happening, has tonight made another different decision. he's told the times newspaper that he is joined the liberal democrats. so these days wherever you look the picture is changing almost in front of our eyes. sir vince cable, the departing leader of that party, has also told the times newspaper he is in talks with other mps who he hopes

might follow him. laura kuenssberg, thank you. the us secretary of state, mike pompeo, has accused iran of carrying out attacks on two oil tankers in the gulf of oman today, in a further escalation in tensions between the two countries. dozens of crew members had to be rescued after the explosions on both vessels. iran has denied being behind the attacks, which took place in one of the world's busiest oil export routes. news of the blasts sparked a rise in oil prices. here's our chief international correspondent, lyse doucet. this morning in the gulf, a first oil tanker set ablaze, ignited by an explosion. crew members on this norwegian vessel were rescued by a passing cargo ship. these scenes filmed by iran's navy. an hour later, another tanker, japanese owned, also hit by an explosion. it's still not clear what caused these latest attacks in one of the world's busiest shipping lanes. today in washington,

unequivocal condemnation of iran. these unprovoked attacks present a clear threat to international peace and security, a blatant assault on the freedom of navigation and an unacceptable campaign of escalating tension by iran. the attacks took place close to the strategic strait of hormuz, vital to world trade, where tensions have been mounting for months between regional rivals. on one side there are arab states including key us allies in the gulf. on the other side is iran. at its narrowest point, the strait of hormuz is just 21 miles wide, and there are two lanes for tankers to pass in opposite directions. a fifth of the world's oil exports, almost 19 million barrels a day, passes through. so attacks on tankers can threaten oil supplies, drive up prices and fuel the tensions many worry could tumble towards war. this was meant to be a week of diplomacy. japan's prime minister,

shinzo abe, is in tehran, hoping to help ease tensions, only to see them escalate. today he met iran's top leader, ayatollah khamenei. iran calls the timing of these attacks are suspicious, and reject any responsibility. iran is also blamed for this. an attack yesterday on an airport in saudi arabia, 26 injured. yemen's houthi rebels, aligned to iran, say this was their work. two weeks ago, king salman called arab and muslim leaders to mecca, islam's holiest site, urging them to condemn iran. saudi officials told me then they don't want a war, but some sources spoke of a proportionate response. so what's next? last month the us moved an aircraft carrier and bombers to the gulf. president trump says he wants to talk to iran. they won't, not while he imposes crippling economic sanctions. everyone says they don't want a war, but everyone is on edge.

lyse doucet, bbc news. the public spending watchdog says that nearly two thirds of the people in england who have bought their homes through the government's help to buy scheme could have purchased a property anyway without help. the scheme, which was introduced in 2013 under david cameron, offers loans of up to a0 % of the house price and requires only a five per cent deposit. here's our business correspondent, colletta smith. help to buy loans are popular — very popular. more than 200,000 people have got a top—up for their mortgage for a new—build home. hayley is one of them. for us to be able to buy this, yeah, it was huge. we've no reason to move. this could be our forever home. the government's spending watchdog has now reviewed the whole scheme, and there's a lot to say about the three different groups who've been impacted. the national audit office say nearly two thirds of those who got a loan

would have been able to buy a house anyway. that's true for hayley, but she wouldn't have been able to get this house. the houses we were looking at were sort of like terraces, doer—uppers, mid—terrace, probably only two bedrooms. it never entered my head that we could get something of this size or this nice. what percentage does the government own and what do you have to pay back? it's a bit daunting when you look at the figures. we've got a huge loan that's like separate to our mortgage, and it is quite easy to look at that and get worried. the report also points out that some of those the government's lent to have incomes of more than 100 grand a year. two thirds of the take—up is from households on incomes of less than £50,000, so it's a very small fraction. it's one in 25 have household incomes in excess of 100,000, and that's the reality of household incomes in parts of the country, particularly in london and the south—east. the report says house—builders have been boosted by the extra government money sloshing round the system.

with the big players like persimmon making a record £1 billion profit last year, with half of their sales coming from help to buy homes. it's easy to be cynical and suggest perhaps they were trying to help house—builders and their shareholders. they've certainly benefited since it was introduced in 2013. there's undoubtedly been additional profit in the market, but that's not directly linked to help to buy. it's a function of the fact we've built as many homes as we have over the last five years. the government's spent £11 billion on this scheme so far. it's all in loans, of course, so they are hoping to get that money back, but it's a lot of public money to have tied up in a scheme that's effectively underwriting the housing market at the moment. if the value of properties goes up then the government will make more money, but if it falls then the value of those loans falls, too, which leaves the government exposed. and that's the biggest concern for the spending watchdog. if things go wrong, we may all end

up shouldering the cost of those 200,000 dream homes. colletta smith, bbc news, in skipton. the british champion cyclist chris froome remains in intensive care after suffering multiple injuries in a high—speed crash during a practice ride in france yesterday. he hit a wall at almost a0 miles an hour. froome has undergone six hours of surgery after fracturing several bones. here's our sports editor, dan roan. chris froome out training yesterday before the sickening crash that's left him fighting to save one of cycling's greatest careers. a team—mate warns him against letting go of his handlebars, butjust minutes later froome seemingly did exactly that to blow his nose, lost control in high winds, and ploughed into a wall at 55 kph. having been airlifted to hospital with a fractured leg, hip, elbow and ribs, froome underwent a successful six—hour operation and remains in intensive care.

how long? i think we need at least six months, ok, to come back, but it's difficult for us to be sure, because maybe we will need to do other things, maybe the rehabilitation will not be as we want. today, froome‘s team—mates continued without him in a warm—up event for the tour de france, a race he was aiming to win for a record—equalling fifth time, but which he'll now miss. team ineos said their star rider was already discussing his recovery, which they described as very encouraging. our first primary thought is for his care, to make sure he gets the best medical care now as he possibly can, think about his family, make sure they're ok. former olympic champion dani rowe suffered a training accident in 201a which left her with broken ribs and a collapsed lung,

and she says returning from such serious injury is a challenge for mind as well as body. it is really hard to come back from this kind of accident, i think mentally more than physically. there's been some horrific injuries from this crash, but knowing chris' kind of mental strength and determination, he will definitely be back, i'm sure. already one of the most decorated cyclists in history, froome today received some timely good news — learning from his hospital bed that he's set to be awarded one of the sport's biggest races, the vuelta a espana from 2011, after the winner was found guilty of an anti—doping violation. that would take his tally of grand tour triumphs to a remarkable seven, but for now his focus will be the long road to recovery. dan roan, bbc news. sudan's military rulers have tonight admitted that they did give the orders for an operation that led to the killing of more than 100 peaceful protestors ten days ago. the un security council has condemned the massacre and called for an end to attacks on civilians.

the protestors were demanding a swift transition to civilian rule. our africa editor fergal keane — who's in the capital khartoum — has been talking to some of those who witnessed the atrocity at first hand. the massacre had one aim — to break the revolution by traumatising its supporters. the rapid support force militia was unleashed on peaceful protesters. in the weeks before, i'd seen how thousands believed that peaceful protest could end decades of military rule. everybody‘s chanting, everybody just feels the sense of freedom. they have never felt before. and i feel i am very empowered. it's the sudan that i wanted to have. but in the dawn hours ofjune the 3rd, freedom was stolen.

now for the first time, some who witnessed the worst of the brutality are speaking. translation: there was a huge number of these soldiers, and there was very intense shooting. people who were getting shot and falling. along with the shooting, there were people around us who were hitting us with sticks and whips and things, so we weren't able to carry all the people who were shot. ahmed was shot himself as he ran. wasab al tahir was badly beaten when militia attacked a clinic. only the intervention of the regular army saved his life. translation: i was beaten all over my body until i passed out. all the people with me had serious injuries. one of them was a doctor with broken ribs and arm. he was also hit on the head. at that point, they had already cocked their weapons, and were ready to shoot us inside the clinic. the army officers took them outside. if they hadn't arrived,

we would have been executed. after the killings, the round—ups began. the massacre scattered the opposition, but there are activists hiding out all over the city. we are on our way now to meet some of them at a safe house. these witnesses asked for their identities to be protected. the man on the bed was shot, and on his way to hospital when the militia stopped the ambulance. translation: there was another patient lying next to me. his stomach was open from one side to the other, and some of his organs were outside. one of the people with me said to them, this guy's stomach is open, his intestines are out. he could die. they said, "let him die." then they hit the female doctor with a stick. the militia are also accused of rape. an ambulance driver witnessed the attack on what appeared to be a wounded woman being helped by an activist. translation: they were feeling her up. they were arguing over who gets her.

each one of them wanted to take her off the shoulder of our brother. what's important is that they took her and they did what they did. at the end, we found out that the girl had been dead from the start, but they still didn't let her be. i told you i cannot describe 1% of what i saw. death in all its forms, ugliness of all kinds. the details... the regime tonight denied any arrests took place, but it is refusing to allow an international investigation. it's left the revolution in trauma. even women older than me, could be 50 or 60, they made

them lie on the road and they beat them up. you saw this? yes, i saw this, and then i stopped looking out the window. i feel guilty, actually, because i'm safe. this sudan of protest has been driven underground, but all i've met in the last few days still believe in peaceful change. after what's happened, that feels remarkable. fergal keane, bbc news, khartoum. president trump has revealed that his press secretary, sarah sanders, will leave herjob at the end of the month. she has been a fierce defender of the president. our north america editorjon sopel is in washington. something of a surprise, jon. why is she going? she has had a turbulent relationship with the press tumultuous time, but she has been donald trump's mouthpiece for the last two and a half years. she was meant to preside over the daily briefing, there hasn't been one for three and a half months, and what really compromise the relationship

was when she was found to have lied during the course of the muller report over the firing of the fbi directorjames comey. i met her in her office a couple of months ago, and we were talking about what it's like doing thatjob, and i said," how do you quote with the madness?" without missing a beat, she said boorman. i think she was only half joking. jon sopel, thank you. two years ago tonight grenfell tower went up in flames — it was one of the uk's worst disasters in modern times. more than 70 people died after the huge fire ripped through the flats in west london. tomorrow survivors and families of the victims will attend a memorial service nearby. our correspondent adina campbell has been talking to one teenager who made the headlines after sitting her gcses just hours after escaping the blaze. news archive: the headlines this morning — a fire has engulfed a 27—storey block of flats in west london. hundreds of firefighters and ambulance crews... a night that devastated an entire community and shook

people all over the world. 16—year—old ines alves was one of the survivors who spoke to me that summer. she escaped from the family home on the 13th floor, moments after being woken up by her dad. at first, i was kind of annoyed at him for calling me out, because it was such a small fire, but then we realised how big it was getting when it started reaching six floors above it, and then just carried on going up and up. ines made headlines for achieving an a grade in her chemistry gcse, an exam she took hours after the fire. but two years on, studying for her a—levels has been difficult and she's now re—taking a year. emotionally, a year on was a lot worse than two years on. two years on, i kind

of know what to expect. i can see how my emotions can flood my well—being, and i'm glad that i know how to cope with it now, so it's been going not well, but doable. we used to be a family and... ines' parents are also coming to terms with their new life and new home. we're surviving... that is maybe the word i should use because, as a survivor, and we are surviving because there's a lot of small things that we have to pass through. i need to cry for the things i've lost and i haven't done this yet. you haven't been able to cry? i can't, because i think i'm selfish if i'm crying for material things, when so many people lost their life. the whole family, including their 22—year—old son tiago, are having regular counselling to help cope with the emotional trauma.

you now live close to the tower. is that challenging? is it comforting? my anxiety was never around being close to the tower. quite the opposite, because being close to the tower is being close to the community that supported me after the fire. that is still there as a reminder. it's almost like you use the symbol that oppresses you to be able to push forward and move forward into a different state of mind. some of the survivors of the grenfell tower fire speaking to adina campbell. that's almost it from us. but we leave you now with a last word from britain's oldest person, who has died at the age of 112. gracejones was born in september 1906. she lived through 21 prime ministers and five monarchs. her daughter, who is 80, said her mother — known as amazing grace — was very fit and active right up until the very end. and the secret to such a long life?

well, this is what grace jones put it down to. good night. i was happy all the time. i had a very good childhood. i met my future husband. he was a vicar‘s son. and it went on from there. every day, happy. have a little drop, just a bit of water in the whiskey, every night in bed. that's the only drink i have. never drink in the day. a little drop at night. very good.

hello and welcome to sportsday — i'm chetan pathak, coming up on the programme... rory mcilroy makes a strong start as golf‘s third major of the year gets underway, we'll be live at pebble beach with the latest from the opening round. a five goal thriller as australia fight back from two goals down to beat brazil at the women's world cup.

and recovering from his horror crash. doctors say they're very happy with chris froome's progress following a successful operation. hello and welcome to sportsday. welcome to the programme, thanks forjoining us. first to california where golf's third major of the year is under way. rory mcilroy‘s made a strong start shooting an opening round three under 68. and in the last hour some of the other big names and former champions, including the man hoping to win three in a row brooks koepka, have teed off. our golf correspondent ian carter is at pebble beach. rory mcilroy will be happy with that start?

yes i think he has every reason to be satisfied, he spoke in the build—up to the championship about the importance of getting up to a good start because he failed to do that at the masters and failed to do that at the masters and failed to do that at the pga, and he did not challenge in either championships that we have seen already this year. this is much better, around a 68 despite dropping a shop on the first hole, defending champion is out on the course already opening with the birdie and that paste set at the top of the leaderboard we have rickie fowler, xander show flake and louis, all five under par, here is a birdie and that paste set at the top of the leaderboard we have rickie fowler, xander showed flake and louis, all five under par, here isjoe to round up five under par, here isjoe to round up welcome to pebble beach, this is golf‘s ultimate test of position and nerve, the california coast is a beast in itself, became in the elements is easier with momentum, rory mcelroy come here after a dominant win in canada lastly, it's 110w dominant win in canada lastly, it's now five years since his last major,

but this was an opening round that laid a solid foundation. verities on the back nine have been three under par, just to offer leaders. with him on the british chart is a terrible happen, after his ryder cup cameo last year, he said listed the top of europe champion. one of his clubs is inscribed with liverpool. in and he flipped it when i do, but still in touch with day when leaders, the american ricky fowler is been top three at all the majors, but never champion. his five under par could bea champion. his five under par could be a start for a changing things. but on the biggest stage, strange things can happen. this is phil mickelson, five—time champion missing from a foot. to master the elements, he cannot forget the basics. condition still remain pretty good for the afternoon started as the greens might get a little tricky though, as the day goes on, that might affect tiger woods, you got

there already a