this is bbc news. the headlines: in washington, the row over the democrats' impeachment inquiry for donald trump has reached a new level. the president has called notjust for ukraine to investigate the democratic presidential candidate joe biden, but for china to do so as well. the democrat say it's a fundamental breach of the oath of office. the new brexit proposals, unveiled by the british prime minister borisjohnson, have already provoked a wave of scepticism, both at westminster and across the eu. the irish government says it has deep concerns and the european council president says he's unconvinced. the us health authorities say at least eighteen people across the country are now known to have died from lung problems linked to vaping e—cigarettes. it's estimated 1,080 cases of probable lung injury had been reported in the united states so far.

now on bbc news — thursday in parliament. hello — and welcome to thursday in parliament. as boris johnson offers a brexit compromise — with a warning: if our european neighbours choose not to show a corresponding willingness to reach a deal, then we shall have to leave on october 31 without an agreement. but labour say it's unrealistic and unworkable. and as i think the prime minister full well knows, will be rejected in brussels, rejected in this house and rejected across this country. and there's a warning his irish border plan will fail. not one single other political party or any organisation in northern ireland

supports this deal. borisjohnson told mps he has made "a genuine attempt to bridge the chasm" in order to get a fresh brexit deal with the eu. the prime minister's offer would see northern ireland continuing to follow some eu single market rules — if the stormont assembly agrees — and customs checks on the island of ireland. striking a less combative tone than previously, he admitted his plan was a compromise but he said if the eu rejected it the uk was ready to leave at the end of this month. this government's objective has always been to leave with the deal, and these constructive and reasonable proposal show our seriousness of purpose. they do not deliver everything we would have wished, they do represent a compromise, but to remain a prisoner of existing positions is to become a cause of deadlock rather than breakthrough. and so we have made a genuine

attempt to bridge the chasm and reconciled the apparently irreconcilable and to go the extra mile as time runs short. i do not for one moment resile from the fact that we have shown great flexibility in the interest of reaching an accommodation with our european friends and achieving the resolution for which we all yearn. if our european neighbours choose not to show a corresponding willingness to reach a deal, then we shall have to leave on october the 31st without an agreement. and we are ready to do so. but that outcome would be a failure of statecraft which all parties would be held responsible. jeremy corbyn said

the plan was "unworkable". he accused the government of wanting to rip away protection for workers' rights and the environment. no labour mp could support such a reckless deal, it will be used as a springboard, used as a springboard to attack rights and standards in this country. the truth is that after three years this government still has not found an answer to solving the issue of the irish border and the good friday agreement. where once the government was committed to having no border in ireland, they are now proposing two borders in ireland. he is doing nothing but seeking to divide and risking this country's future for his own political gain. an america—first deal with president trump, the proposals are unrealistic and damaging, and will, as i think the prime minister full well knows, be rejected in brussels, rejected in his house and it rejected across this country.

the uk government's document talks with the consent of the people of northern ireland as being required. where is the requirement for the consent of the scottish people in order to remain — whose voices are ignored by this conservative government? the snp will do everything possible to secure an extension and stop a no—deal brexit. i say to the prime minister, be warned, secure an extension or resign. if not, the snp stands ready to bring this government down. if you want to remove me from office, then the best thing he can do is to work on the right honourable gentleman opposite and persuade him to call a general election and try his luck that way. if the prime minister has bothered to go to the northern ireland

border, he would know the genuine fear that people there feel about his proposals, which they see will result in physical infrastructure for the border, whether that's actually on the border or as he euphemistically puts it, "at some other point in the supply chain". his plans there have been denounced as the worst of both worlds. a former conservative minister said borisjohnson had won the support of tory brexiteers and democratic unionists but doubted that would be enough. i congratulate him on getting a deal with the erg and the dup, but i remind him that the dup do not represent the people of northern ireland. and i observed they can't even be bothered to turn up today. could the prime minister confirm that not one single other political party or any organisation in northern ireland supports his con of a so—called deal?

the majority of people in northern ireland will be extremely concerned by the proposals that he has tabled yesterday and spoke into today. which is reduced to two borders in northern ireland. and may i remind the prime minister the people of northern ireland certainly do not want the uk to leave the eu without a deal. what people in northern ireland really want — all of them — it's to continue to enjoy the peace and stability delivered by the belfast good friday agreement. theresa may's brexit deal failed because she couldn't win over

tory brexiteers in the european research group, the erg. so can borisjohnson succeed where his predecessor failed 7 a leading member of the erg signalled support. does he recall that earlier in the year, when the house voted on the so—called indicative votes, on a number of different options a customs union and so on, all of those were defeated bar one. the one option that is ever passed this house other than the withdrawal agreement was the so—called brady amendment. the essence of which was to expunge the backstop in favour of alternative arrangements which passed the house of commons on the 29th ofjanuary by 16 votes. does that give him hope that this could get through? hear, hear! yes it does, mr speaker. i think my right honourable friend for his point, and he is right also in his ambition for what we can do with this deal. because it does liberate us to do free trade deals around the world and to take back control

of our customs... connect us to the prime minister to go to his eu colleagues with some confidence and tell them is every likelihood, if not certainty, that this proposition will command the support of the house of commons and take us forward and break the deadlock that has been dogging us for so long? but others were concerned about the consent aspect of the new northern ireland proposals. even if these proposals were to be agreed by the european union, and even if they were subsequently agreed by this house, if they were not then approved by the northern ireland assembly during the transition period, there would only last for a year following which we would have no commitment to the regulatory system that is essential for the open border.

mr speaker, the honourable gentlemen is making a valid point, if i may say, but the mechanism of consent is clearly vital and we are in the midst of discussions with our friends about exactly how it should work. but i won't hide it from the house, he is making a legitimate point, but i'm sure we will solve this question during the discussions about consent. plaid cymru asked if the pm had "stress—tested" his plans on the uk constitution? i know that his proposal claims to have equipped the assembly with the levers to control the direction of northern ireland's national question. does he not agreed to assess an interesting president for this to be equipped to review the wales constitutional relationship with westminster every four years as well, orjust the hope and pray that somebody will stop him?

as the right honourable lady knows, there is a unique situation in northern ireland under the good friday agreement and i think what we are proposing today gave this country the opportunity to develop and intensify that, but i'm willing to listen to her pleas for if there is anything i will consider them closely. it's clear that it is unlikely that every part of his proposal will be fully accepted, but can i draw the house's attention to the phrase in his letter yesterday that says it sets out whatever guard, it's a reasonable compromise come the broad landing zone which i believe a deal could take shape, as his tone and style to date suggest the compromise that he has been able to put forward is not yet finished and if there's needs to handle some of the difficult issues that's been raised is the opening that frame of mind to dictate this forward because it would now seem to be achievable if that turn is continued? my right honourable friend

is right, and what he — his surmise, but we should be reminded that with the uk has done, it's very considerable. we have moved quite some way and i hope that our friends and partners across the channel do understand that and hope that my honourable friend understands that as well. we have gone the extra mile. borisjohsnon striking a markedly different tone from last weeks bruising commons exchanges. you're watching thursday in parliament with me, david cornock. still to come — the speaker contemplates life in the celebrity jungle. thursday saw nicky morgan's first appearance at the despatch box as culture secretary, inheriting a series of questions surrounding regulating social media companies, accusations of invasions of privacy byjournalists

and access to broadband. one thorny issue the government has been trying to resolve is the decison by the bbc to scrap free tv licences for most over—75s. nicky morgan made it clear that the government's position hadn't changed. the government is very disappointed with the bbc‘s decision on the future of the tv licence concession. we know older people in particular value television as a source of companionship and entertainment and a way to stay connected with the world. i have met with the chairman of the bbc board and the director general of the bbc and i have asked them to do more to help those affected by this decision. mr speaker, promises matter, but when you're elderly, and lonely, when you are housebound, you're not interested in squabbling in this place. you are not interested in excuses. you want that promise honoured

and your free tv licence. so can the secretary of state say why she made a promise at the election, why she is letting down older people across the country, and what she will do about it? of course, it is not a promise that i made, i have only taken this job injuly. but she is right to say there was a commitment. there was also an agreement with the bbc in the 2015 funding settlement. we committed to increase the licence fee in line of inflation and close the iplayer loophole. but she is right to say that the people are not interested in squabbling in this way. whether it is about tv licenses or about anything else indeed. if older people are entitled to pension credit, they will get the help they need and as i said, the bbc will also be working to make sure that others are aware of the entitlement and other support available. another labour mp had identified how many pensioners in her constituency would be affected. there are 5,170 households in my constituency who look set to lose their free tv licences, which they were promised by the government at the last election. does the minister agree that you cannot means test for social isolation?

as the honourable lady also knows, we are the first government in the world to appoint a minister to lead work on tackling loneliness and last year we published the world's first government strategy on loneliness, as well as securing £20 million of new grant funding for projects run by charities and community groups to bring people together. we know there are people who are not claimed in the pension credit who will be entitled and will fall into the categories that she mentioned. i hope that she, like me, as a local mp, will work with all local agencies to make sure everyone entitled to that support gets it. there have been calls for more to be done to help mothers—to—be and new mums come forward to speak about their mental health. a labour mp who is eight months pregnant with her second child shared her own experience of struggling with prenatal depression while expecting herfirst child. society tells us that being pregnant and having a baby should be a wonderful, joyous time.

but the reality for many can feel quite different. so all too often, women don't discuss their problems because they feel embarrassed, ashamed or worried that the health professionals would think that they're not capable of looking after their baby. i think it's important to say now that i was one of those women. with my first son, i suffered from prenatal depression, which led to an exacerbation of anxiety and ocd. at the time, i didn't have enough knowledge of the condition to do anything about it. it isn't something that gets talked about, and so i didn't know how to ask for help. this time around, i've been able to spot the triggers and therefore deal with any problems before they have escalated. i also have the confidence to tell my gp of my past history, who was then able to give me some options. at times, preventing the onset of prenatal depression, this time around has felt like a daily battle, but it is one that i am pleased to say i have won. hear, hear.

it is absolutely wonderful to hear the truth spoken in this place, however difficult it might be. and that in an atmosphere which for decades, until very recently, considered childbirth to be some form of weakness, rather than the process through which every human being arrives in this world, is wonderful. postnatal depression is something that really is hidden, and the campaign that's been done by the nct — the hidden half campaign — addresses exactly that. and whoever has been a parent knows that parenthood is not easy. and probably all mothers go through some form of depression

or some sort of feeling really down after birth. and i keep saying even i — if anybody would've asked me, i would've probably said, "oh god, yeah, i'm not feeling particularly well." we need urgent investment in mental health. mental health services should be comprehensive for universal and we need to invest in early intervention is a priority. women should be able to access specialist, gender—specific inpatient community services that recognise the traumatic nature of domestic violence or abuse. and women experiencing a mental health crisis must be treated with dignity and respect, and too often that is not the case. on all of these areas, the government is simply not doing enough. women deserve better than being ignored orfobbed off with services that don't work. it is time to act and deliver a mental health system which truly delivers for everyone. winding up the debate, the new health minister revealed her own very personal reasons for making women's health a priority. women's mental health is incredibly important to me.

particularly perinatal depression. and this is because a very close a member of my family took her own a life with perinatal depression, and not only her own life, but that of her baby and her two existing children. it was an act that has reverberated through my family since and many other people. nadine dorries. back to brexit now — there's no escape on this programme. the law says that if the prime minister doesn't get a deal by october the nineteenth, he'll have to ask for a brexit delay. but borisjohnson has said he'd "rather be dead in a ditch". so when the attorney general faced mps' questions, they were keen to ask how he could reconcile his promise to leave the eu, deal or no deal, and to obey the law. i have the european union withdrawal number 2 act in front of me, so perhaps the attorney general can confirm his interpretation of it? because it is clear that if this house has not approved a deal, or if it has not approved leaving with no deal,

then the prime minister must seek to obtain from the european council an extension in the terms set out in the act. can the attorney general confirm that that is what this act of parliament requires? well, the honourable gentleman has read it out. he doesn't need any confirmation from me. he's a superbly competent lawyer. the government will... ..so i am told, by others on his side of the house. the reality is the government will comply with the law. i'm afraid it does require a confirmation from the attorney general. let me just explain why. because we keep being told the government will comply with the law. yet the prime minister goes around saying he'd "rather be dead in a ditch" than apply for the extension he is required to under this act. but does the attorney general not realise that the government's ambiguous position towards the rule of law is damaging ourjustice

system, it's damaging our society and it's damaging our international standing? why does the attorney generaljust stand by and let this happen? because i am quite convinced and completely satisfied that this government will obey the law. one mp tried a different approach. hypothetically, if the government was seen to be breaking the law, who would arrest the prime minister? would it be the met? 0r — who would arrest him? i don't think really it's for me to comment on ridiculous speculations and hypotheticals of that kind but i must say it is good to see the gentleman looking calmer this morning. the labour mp‘s anger a week ago was prompted by an impassioned outburst from geoffrey cox, who labelled this a "dead parliament". it would be good to hear the attorney general recognise the damage that a no—deal brexit would create and the severe disruption that we know

it would create across all government departments. instead of the language which we heard from him last week in parliament, when he said that this was a "dead parliament" and that mps had "no moral right to be here". will he apologise for those comments? certainly not. i stand by every one of them. when this parliament assumes its responsibilities to pass a withdrawal agreement, then i might reconsider then, but certainly not at the moment. i say to the honourable lady, we may soon have a chance to assume those responsibilities if we can get a deal from the european union. i hope then to see her vote for it. some of us however will stand up for parliament at all times. this parliament, i completely respect the right of the attorney to his view, this parliament is entirely legitimate. it's doing its work, it should be expected to do

so and no amount of cheap abuse directed at this parliament will stop it doing itsjob. that's the way it is. that's the way it will continue to be. that's the way it has to be. john bercow. more on his health in a moment. but now, a date for your diary. monday the 14th of october will be the date of the queen's speech — when the government sets out its legislative programme. so parliament will be suspended — or prorogued — next tuesday to allow time for preparations. probably lawfully this time as well. but labour weren't happy. the opposition were asking for parliament to be prorogued, mr speaker, on wednesday so that the prime minister could come to the house and account for himself to the house at parliament at pmqs. but no—show. he is like macavity the mystery cat. valerie vaz said borisjohnson has only done prime minister's questions once since he became prime minister.

jacob rees—mogg thought that unfair. the right honourable lady had the audacity to say that my right honourable friend the prime minister wasn't appearing in front of this house enough. that he was macavity. well, it is a rather odd version of it. my honourable friend, in the ten sitting days since he has been prime minister, has spent 494 minutes in front of this house. that didn't convince the snp. i think it is disappointing that prorogation is going ahead before the prime minister's questions next week. i was reflecting with my friend here that we think the right honourable member from maidenhead, the former prime minister, has spent more time in the backbenches at pmqs since july, than her successor has at the despatch box, given his absence last week. patrick grady. now as you may have noticed, the speaker, john bercow, sounded a little hoarse during the day's debates. mps were keen to offer assistance. thank you, mr speaker.

and i do have a supply of throat sweets should you need them. but i admire your stoicism indeed. the speaker is clearly suffering from his voice. and he does put enormous hours in the chair. and he stays there for quite extreme times and has to shout at times to keep the house in order. would it be appropriate, or would the leader recommend, i don't know the propriety of this, whether the speaker is asked not to chair those sort of debates, especially on the european union, to protect his health? laughter. the expression "dream on" springs to mind. laughter. in his party conference speech on wednesday, borisjohnson suggested voters would enjoy seeing the speaker in a celebrityjungle undergoing some bush tucker trials. john bercow was keen to reassure mps about his health — and his sense of humour.

colleagues, i am very grateful to the large number of people who have come up to the chair expressing concern about my throat, and their generosity of spirit and humanity are much appreciated but i just want to take the opportunity to confirm to the house that the state of my throat which is purely temporary, is not down to the consumption of a kangaroo's testicle. laughter. john bercow, sounding in need of a soothing medicament. time for him — and me — to rest our voices. thank you for watching thursday in parliament. i do hope you canjoin me on friday evening at 11 o'clock on bbc parliament for the week in parliament. until then, bye for now. hello. at one stage hurricane lorenzo,

way out in the atlantic, had winds gusting up to 190 mph. it is no longer a hurricane, and it weakens quite quickly as it moves from ireland across the united kingdom during friday. that said, it is still quite windy, though nothing too unusual for the time of year. as we start friday, winds easing in northern ireland, but they are going to be picking up towards south wales and south—west england. and it'll be fairly blustery wherever you are, with cloud and outbreaks of rain. a much milder start compared with thursday morning. and the winds pick up a bit further, south wales, south—west england, during friday morning, maybe gusting along some coasts up to around 60, maybe 65 mph, before easing later. a lot of cloud, outbreaks of rain to start the day, but edging southwards across south wales and southern england on through the afternoon, replacing any early brightness, whereas elsewhere it turns a bit drier and a little brighter. the best of the sunshine in northern scotland and throughout the day in the northern isles, and temperatures a little bit higher compared with thursday. so the winds ease further as we go on through friday night. still some cloud and patchy rain for parts of southern england, south wales, into northern ireland. the clearest skies to

the north and east of that. there'll be a few mist and fog patches developing, and where you are clear, temperatures are dipping down into single figures as we start the weekend. so on saturday morning, then, some mist and fog patches around. some sunny spells the further east you are, but there's another weather system coming in from the atlantic, and that's going to spread cloud further east. with it, initially some light and patchy rain. that rain, though, turning heavier into northern ireland and western scotland, with a strengthening south—easterly wind during the day. and, as for those temperatures, of course it'll feel best where you get to see some sunshine. but then again, as the breeze picks up, well, we'rejust talking about the mid to low teens. now, let's take a look at the big picture going into sunday. this frontal system is coming across us, and quite slowly, with some heavy and persistent rain. there could be some quite large rain totals in places on into sunday, so that's something worth watching. and, whilst there's a bit of uncertainty about how quickly this is going to clear eastwards, some of us will emerge into the sunshine on sunday. but the further east you are, some of us, as you can

see, will not. we'll keep you updated on how that looks over the next few days. and again, as for temperatures, well, we're talking mainly towards the mid—teens. in any cloud and rain, though, it is going to feel colder on sunday compared with saturday. and just a look into next week, a selection of places here. it's looking very autumnal. it will be quite windy throughout the week. it will be wet at times, not all the time. there'll be some sunshine occasionally, too.

welcome to bbc news. i'm reged ahmad. our top stories: democrats hit back as president trump calls on beijing to launch an inquiry into political rival joe biden and his son. china should start an investigation into the bidens because what happened to china is just about as bad as what happened with, uh, with ukraine. in the uk, prime minister boris johnson's brexit plan faces opposition in both parliament and the eu. and a special report from iraq on the sexual exploitation of children and young women by some shia muslim clerics. over a thousand lung injury cases related to vaping are reported in north america, as officials confirm the death toll stands at 18.