a big brexit moment here at westminster — as mps begin a debate which will result in crucial votes this evening. if boris johnson persuades mps to back his deal — and a drastically accelerated timetable — number 10 hopes to get the uk to leave the eu in nine days‘ time. that's the prime minister's plan — but there are plenty of parliamentrary hurdles in the way. i'll be bringing you the latest from westminster. and the other main stories here this lunchtime. the death of 19—year—old harry dunn — british police will travel to the us to question the american diplomat‘s wife who's claimed diplomatic immunity. lawyers have clearly stated that the suspect wants to be personally interviewed by officers from northamptonshire police, in order for them to see her and the devastation that this has also caused her and herfamily. the fragile ceasefire between turkey and kurdish forces in northern syria

is due to expire this evening. electric cars could be given green number plates and possible parking concessions — in an attempt to drive the number being bought. and japan's emperor naruhito is formally enthroned in an elaborate ceremony inside the imperial palace. coming up in the sport later in the hour on bbc news — who's been spying at the rugby world cup? england head coach eddiejones says someone was filming their training session. good afternoon and welcome to the bbc news at one live from westminster — where crucial votes this evening will decide whether the prime minister will be

able to live up to his "do or die" commitment to take the uk out of the european union in nine days‘ time. borisjohnson will urge the commons to vote through his brexit deal. if mps agree to it, they'll have three days to scrutinise the legislation — which runs to more than 100 pages. but opposition mps say that's not long enough to examine the small print — and they could scupper the prime minister's plans this evening. here's our political correspondent helen catt. are you going to get the deal through today? the health secretary might be sounding cheaper but the government is now in a race against time. it's gotjust over a week to get its withdrawal agreement bill through both houses of parliament if it is to meet its promise of keeping to the brexit deadline of the 31st of october. it's giving mps just three days to debate the bill, not long enough say some full such an important document that's over 100

pages long. in order for politicians to do theirjob properly, we need to have time. the idea we are going to be bounced as a country out of the eu ina be bounced as a country out of the eu in a few days without politicians being given a chance to look carefully at the basis on which we are making this decision is wrong. of course we don't agree with this. this is an artificial timetable and we don't see why we should play boris johnson's game. we don't see why we should play boris johnson's game. the commons will be asked to agree this timetable, which is unusually short, this evening. if they don't, the government won't be able to limit how long they spent debating the bill which puts its high—speed strategy in jeopardy. and we know parliament can move pretty quickly. they have published bills and voted for them within a single day in the past including very important ones. parliament has been debating this issue for three and a half years. we had 500 hours of debate so most mps frankly are very familiar with the vast majority of issues in this

bill. as it stands, mps will vote on the principle of the bill at second reading at 7pm. if that passes, the vote on the timetable will be held straight afterwards. if they both pass the bill will go to the committee stage where mps will try to amend or make changes. some of those proposed changes are likely to include forcing the government to negotiate a customs union or putting the deal to a referendum. the bill deals with the technical nitty—gritty of turning what is in the withdrawal agreement into uk law. it sets out exactly how the uk will make payments to the eu. parliament has to pass it if the deal is to come into force and if it doesn't, the default legal position isa doesn't, the default legal position is a no—deal brexit next thursday. it's thought that in that case, the eu would almost certainly grant a further extension. borisjohnson eu would almost certainly grant a further extension. boris johnson has repeatedly made clear that isn't what he wants. the suspicion is if it looks like it won't be passed in time or if mps significantly change

what's in it, he would pull the bill entirely and pin the blame on parliament. the withdrawal agreement bill which mps are being asked to consider is complex and long. so let's get an explanation of what's in the legislation — and the potential hurdles ahead at westminster for it to become law, from our reality check correspondent chris morris — chris. well, we know the new withdrawal agreement — which specifies the terms on which the uk will leave the eu — has now been negotiated between borisjohnson‘s government and the 27 other eu countries. so, it's a draft international treaty. and the purpose of the withdrawal agreement bill is to turn that treaty into uk law and to give the government permission to ratify it. so now the prime minister needs to win the backing of mps several times in short order, to turn his agreement into legislation. part of the bill gets rid of the need to have an additional meaningful vote on the deal — the legislation would be enough. the prime minister wants to get this

bill through by the 31st of october to keep his pledge to leave the eu by then. if he had a comfortable majority in the house of commons, he mightjust be majority in the house of commons, he might just be able majority in the house of commons, he mightjust be able to do that. but he's going to find that very difficult, firstly because this is a hugely constitutionally significant piece of legislation that mps are going to want to scrutinise the details of very closely. more than that, mps are going to want to cause political trouble for the government, they will be trying to insert amendments to change the direction of travel. so, what are those amendments? some mps want to add the requirement of holding another referendum on brexit, others insist the aim after brexit should be to negotiate uk membership of a customs union with the eu. but what does the bill actually cover already? among other things, it sets out exactly how the uk will make "divorce bill" payments to the eu for years to come. it ensures that eu law will continue to apply in the uk as long as a post—brexit transition period lasts. it gives some idea of how

the new protocol on ireland — setting up a de facto customs and regulatory border between northern ireland and great britain — will work in practice. and it makes the withdrawal agreement in some respects "supreme" over other areas of uk law. in other words, it gets into some controversial topics. that's why the bill is tricky for the government — sensitive issues, such as what happens at the end of the transition, can be fudged a bit in political communications. but here they have to be set down in precise legal language — for all to see. the government has tabled a programme motion which is a timetabling motion which provides for the bill to get through the house of commons extremely quickly by the end of thursday this week. that is where a lot of the political controversy is going to be today. the government saying, let's get brexit done and get the bill through and mps saying, some mps saying, we

don't want to vote for this because we wa nt don't want to vote for this because we want time to scrutinise it properly. the government says it's time to get brexit done, but if it can't get the withdrawal agreement bill through parliament in time, then the default position is currently that the uk would leave the eu without a deal on 31st october. but under the terms of the benn act, the prime minister has now sent a letter to the european council president donald tusk making a formal request for an extension to the brexit process until 31st january 2020. the eu will watch events in westminster closely over the next few days, before deciding how to respond to the extension request. let's speak to our assistant political editor norman smith. this strategy of the prime minister, this high—speed strategy is very high risk. standby for tumultuous tuesday because borisjohnson is set to win one big vote today on the

broad principles behind his bill, and that is a big win. moments later he looks set to lose this programme motion, setting out this very fast timetable to get the deal through the commons. that might all sound a bit tacky and why do i care, it matters because if mps defeat him on that, that tells us they are going to kick off big time over the details of the bill, trying to pass a blizzard of hostile amendments —— techy. it also makes it increasingly unlikely mrjohnson will be able to get his bill and the deal through parliament by the deadline of 0ctober parliament by the deadline of october the 31st because if you don't have a timetable, it's like trying to navigate your way from muswell hill in north london to fife without a map. you are likely to get com pletely lost. without a map. you are likely to get completely lost. that's why number 10 said there would be serious consequences if mps defeated the

prime minister on the programme motion, opening up the possibility he could even pull the whole bill and say to the house, i will not put up and say to the house, i will not put up with this, and try again to trigger a general election. so, another calm, peaceful, restful day at westminster. thank you. well, meanwhile in strasbourg, the european council president donald tusk has told meps the political situation has become more complex — and that eu leaders will decide whether to grant any extension based on what westminster does — or doesn't — decide. the eu's chief negotiator michel barnier said the deal reached last week was "the only possible agreement". from strasbourg, adam fleming reports. tonight, the moment of truth. good morning, sir. do you think it will go through? it's the only question being asked today in the european parliament. president tusk, do you think the deal will go through tonight? are you going to cross your fingers?

presidentjuncker, do you think the deal will go through tonight? the answer can't come soon enough for some in the eu. in truth, it has pained me to spend so much of this monday dealing with brexit when i have thought of nothing less than how this union could do better for its citizens. waste of time and waste of energy. eu leaders are waiting for news from another parliament before deciding on a possible extension to the brexit process. i am consulting the leaders on how to react and will decide in the coming days. it is obvious that the result of these consultations will very much depend on what the british parliament decides or doesn't decide. we should be ready for every scenario. meps also want further reassurance about how eu citizens in the uk will be treated under the deal.

i want to see this problem solved, dear colleagues. we don't want that eu citizens become victims in another windrush scandal in britain. that cannot happen. and for the brits, this is their last trip to strasbourg...again. on saturday, i marched with a million others in london calling for a people's vote. i marched because leaving the eu through the british government's rotten deal poses a threat to our country. parliament does not have a democratic mandate for a second referendum or cancelling brexit, and yet they are amending their way to it. control has been stolen from my people. and that's it for today, for meps on all sides of the debate. the next time they talk about brexit, it will be to approve the final deal and they won't do that until it's gone through all its stages at westminster. adam fleming, bbc news, strasbourg.

that's it from me here at westminster. there will be continuing coverage of developments in the commons this afternoon on the bbc news channel and bbc parliament — and at 7pm huw edwards will bring you live coverage of the crucial votes in a special programme on bbc two and the bbc news channel. back to jane in the studio. now i look at the rest of the main stories. northamptonshire police have said the main suspect in the death of 19—year—old harry dunn has asked to be interviewed by british officers in the united states. anne sacoolas left the uk claiming diplomatic immunity, after the motorcyclist was killed in a road crash in august. harry dunn's family has expressed frustration and anger about how the case has been handled. charlotte gallagher has the latest. it's nearly two months since harry dunn died but his family to search for justice dunn died but his family to search

forjustice and dunn died but his family to search for justice and answers dunn died but his family to search forjustice and answers appears far from over. last week they met president trump at the white house but refused to be pressured into meeting the main suspect anne sacoolas after being told she was in the next room. now british police officers will also travel to the us after m rs officers will also travel to the us after mrs sacoolas contacted them. the suspect has cooperated fully with the police and with the authorities. she has also requested to be interviewed by british police officers under caution in the united states. lawyers have clearly stated that the suspect wants to be personally interviewed by officers from northamptonshire police in orderfor them to see from northamptonshire police in order for them to see her and the devastation this has also caused her and her family. northamptonshire police have defended their handling of the case of the claims the family waited more than ten days to be told anne sacoolas had fled britain. she left on the 15th of september but the foreign office asked police to wait a few days before telling harry

dunn's family. 0n the 23rd the family were made aware that she had travelled back to the us. police then met with them three days later. you can imagine the reaction when they found that out, that the authorities knew weeks before we did. it's astonishing that they decided to keep that information from them and where is that flow of information? they are entitled to be ke pt information? they are entitled to be kept up—to—date on progress of the case and they simply haven't been. it's been one cover—up or one lie after another. we just don't seem to be getting the truth out of anybody at the moment. 0urfight be getting the truth out of anybody at the moment. 0ur fight continues but we won't stop until we get some justice for harry and if that means not being able to get anne sacoolas back to the uk, then ourjustice will be to get at least the truth. harry dunn's death has led to serious questions about diplomatic immunity and how it is used or abused. for his family, it's an

agonising wait forjustice. in the past few minutes the government has announced that there will be a public inquiry into the manchester arena bombing. 22 people died in the attack in 2017, and more than 130 were injured. 0ur correspondentjudith moritz is in salford. a few minutes ago the home secretary priti patel ordered this enquiry in response to a request from the coroner said john saunders. he had previously said it wouldn't be possible to hold a full inquest into the attack because some of the evidence relating to the police and mis evidence relating to the police and m15 would have to be withheld on grounds of national security. he asked for the inquest to be converted into a public inquiry and that means he will be able to hear

some of that secret evidence, something which couldn't happen at an inquest. he will become the chairman of the inquiry. we have a little more detail about it. we expected to begin in april next year. sirjohn saunders has said that he promises it will be full and frank and fearless investigation. before that happens though, there will also be unconnected the criminal trial of the

coming up in the sport in the next 15 minutes on bbc news, a huge night for tottenham in the champions league — as their manager mauricio pochettino admits that his job is on the line unless results improve. the fragile ceasefire between turkey and kurdish forces in northern syria is due to expire this evening. turkey's president erdogan, who's in russia discussing the future of the region with president putin, has rejected calls to extend the deadline for kurdish troops to withdraw. let's cross to sarah rainsford who is sochi, where those talks are taking place. explain more about what they are trying to achieve and the overall role of russia now in all of this.

it's an extremely relaxed setting here at the black sea coast, but putin has described these talks is critical, and i think that is the general sense that there is around these talks. russia's role is central to resolving what is a critical situation on the ground in north—eastern syria. if russia was already playing an important role inside syria, the withdrawal of us troops from the north—east of the country just last week has troops from the north—east of the countryjust last week has added to russia's role because as the americans have withdrawn it is a syrian government troops and their russian backers who have moved into that area. as president erdogan talks about his desire for a safe zone along the border, i think russia's affection of the syrian government position on that has become critical so these talks are

about how much president erdogan wa nts about how much president erdogan wants and how much russia and president assad are prepared to give. sarah, thank you. electric cars could be given green number plates, under proposals being considered by the government. it could mean local authorities would allow zero—emission vehicles to benefit from incentives including cheaper parking and the government hopes that would boost sales of electric cars. more details from our transport correspondent tom burridge. imagine you could zip out of this congestion into the red lanejust like a taxi or a bus. well, under government plans, electric vehicle owners like rod... bristol particularly is a bit of a higgledy piggledy mess. ..might in future be allowed to do exactly that. i think that'd be a huge plus. that would probably half my commute time and would be a real incentive for me for driving a car like this. green number plates, which could look something like these, would, ministers

believe, make it easierfor councils to introduce incentives like free parking or access to the bus lanes. driving in a bus lane won't change my mind. i'd be up forjust driving an electric car cos it's better for the planet. it seems a good idea if you can move a bit quickly through a city. there's too many cars on the road anyway, and i think a better incentive would be to make the buses cheaper. ultimately, councils decide which incentives to introduce and where. the government hopes by making electrics more visible, it can drive change. we're pumping out the fumes from diesel and petrol that literally kill people so we want to change that. one way to do that is to raise the awareness of what i think is a quiet revolution going on on our streets, which are more and more low and zero carbon cars. in norway's capital, 0slo, electric cars are everywhere. their number plates start with an e. incentives such as free parking and open access to bus lanes have helped convert consumers there. the rest of the world, including the uk, is playing catch up. electrics are still a fraction of all new vehicles bought in britain today.

improving charging infrastructure is key, but the government hopes incentives like being able to drive in the bus lane can help us make the shift. but the upfront cost of an electric is a big barrier for many of us. a wider choice of more affordable models will be critical so they can become mainstream on our streets. tom burridge, bbc news, in bristol. there's a warning that an increase in the number of older prisoners in england and wales is causing a strain on staff and facilities. the prison officers' association says its members are increasingly looking after inmates who are frail, incontinent or have dementia. the oldest prisoner currently is 104. the prison service says guidance has been issued to governors about how best to support older inmates. emma glasbey reports. prisons are struggling. drugs, violence and overcrowding are everyday issues,

but there's another problem that's becoming increasingly challenging — older prisoners. the number of inmates in england and wales over the age of 60 is rising faster than any other age group. ken was released from a yorkshire prison earlier this year. as the over 50s rep in his jail, he helped develop a wing for older prisoners. if you needed a wheelchair, it might take three to four months to get a wheelchair, because it'll have to be designed for yourself, and it also has to come from the specific local authority that you came from. when you look at some of the prisons, and they're three orfourlandings high, how do you expect an elderly person to climb them? it's inhumane. prison sentences are getting longer. older people are being jailed for historical sexual offences.

there are now more than 13,500 people aged over 50 in prison. that's16% of the prison population of england and wales. currently, the oldest prisoner is 104. the prison officers' association says the situation is totally u na cce pta ble. this man worked as a custodial manager in a yorkshire prison. you're looking at young staff that are trained to be prison officers that are becoming carers. all their training is around the discipline and the rehabilitation of prisoners. it doesn't include end of life, it doesn't include people that are terminally ill and slowly dying, and that's what you've got the youngsters now actually having to cater for. many prisons were built in the victorian era for young men, but that's not the reality in 2019 and there are calls for the prison service to have a radical rethink. well, if things don't change, i'm afraid that in the future,

mr speaker, i wish this decision be taken through a meaningful vote on saturday but i respect powerfully the motives of my right honourable friend the member for west dorset though i disagree with the effects of his amendment. and i regret to that after saturday's vote, the government has been forced on the advice of the cabinet secretary to ta ke advice of the cabinet secretary to take the only responsible course which is to accelerate our preparations for a no deal outcome. but today, mr speaker, we have the opportunity to put all that right. because if this house backs this legislation, if we ratify this new deal, we i believe is in the interest of our whole united kingdom and a european friends, we can get brexit done and move entry on and we can de—escalate those no deal preparations immediately and turn them off next week and instead

concentrate on the great enterprise of building a new relate —— lack of any relationship with the european neighbours. and addressing our people post my priorities at home. and i give way with pleasure to the right honourable gentleman. a number of people before they vote today will be very concerned about various rights which are enshrined in europe which might be vulnerable if and hopefully when we leave. 0ne which might be vulnerable if and hopefully when we leave. one of those sets of rights will be the rights for working people. with the prime minister give an undertaking... the bill, that we have on the record, the villa is quite clear. if the government agrees within —— with enhanced rights of the people, that will become the law here. if the

government disagrees with a number ora government disagrees with a number or a single one are a number of enhanced rights, will he give an undertaking that he will bring those proposals before the house. well we have the chance to vote and instruct the government to accept them please? i can of course give the right honourable gentleman that assurance that not only will this country maintain the highest standards, both for workers' rights, but in the event that this house which is to, wishes to have higher standard than those proposed by the eu, if this house wishes to adopt standards proposed by the eu and the government disagrees, there will of course be in a double motion to give this has the opportunity to have its say. —— amendable. we will ensure that that is the case. if waste ——

like we pass this bill tonight, we will have the opportunity to address the opportunities not just will have the opportunity to address the opportunities notjust with the priorities with the eu but with those with people at home. i believe if we pass the steel and the legislation that enables it, we can turn the page and allow this parliament and this country to begin to heal and to unite. for those, like me, who believe our interest are best served by leaving the european union and taking back all, this deal delivers the biggest restoration of sovereignty in our parliamentary history and the biggest devolution of power to uk democratic institutions. i will give way with pleasure. i recognise that people who voted for brexit did not necessarily vote on economic lines. however, the government is refusing to publish an impact assessment of

this deal. he is expecting mps to vote for something we know will damage this country economically without revealing the impact assessment. what does his government have to hide? ifi may assessment. what does his government have to hide? if i may say to the honourable lady, i understand the point that she makes that she has had an answer from the chancellor yesterday. and i think it will be clear to everybody that the best way to avoid any disruption from a no—deal brexit is to vote for this deal today. to vote for this deal, to get it done and i think that will unleash a great tide of investment into this country. and a demonstration of confidence in the uk economy and by voting for this deal tonight, we will deliver a powerful, positive shot in the arm for the uk economy and i hope very

much that she does so. 0nce for the uk economy and i hope very much that she does so. once more, under this agreement, british people will be able to live under laws made by representatives who they elect and who they alone can elect and remove. laws enforced by british judges in british courts. i will give way to my right honourable friend. he must recognise that of the arrangements he has come to refer northern ireland, precisely don't deliver that for the people of northern ireland. of course, that may be a matter where in northern ireland opinion will be divided as to whether they want it or not, but the reality is that the clauses are going to continue to apply to northern ireland after the transition is ended for the rest of great britain. how does