the prime minister tells mps to back his deal, and to back his timetable or says he could push for an early general election. two crucial votes take place this evening. the first to see if boris johnson's brexit deal has the support of parliament. the second to see if mps will agree to rush it through in just three days. the deal is here on the table. the legislation to deliver it is here before us. a clear majority in the country is now imploring us to get brexit done. but it's the timetable that's expected to cause most problems — with many mps feeling they're being given too little time to debate such crucial legislation. page after page of what amounts to nothing less than a charter for deregulation with a race to the bottom.

what on earth are we doing? pushing this legislation through over a couple of days. also on the programme: there's to be a public inquiry into the manchester arena bomb attack, which killed 22 people. a us company says its developed the first drug that can slow down alzheimer's disease. and england mind games ahead of the rugby world cup semi final. coach eddiejones says the pressure‘s on the all blacks. and in sport on bbc news — after a torrid start to the season for tottenham, can they get back on track in the champions league later? they host red star belgrade.

good evening from westminster, where in an hour's time mps will begin voting on the prime minister's brexit deal. if he wins he'll be a step closer to delivering his promise of brexit on 31st october. if he loses he could abandon his brexit legislation and push instead for a general election, but what's in the deal mps are voting on shortly? it includes a transition period when the uk will still abide by the eu's rules to give time to negotiate a new trade deal. it ensures that eu and uk citizens retain their rights on residency and social security and it says the uk will pay around £33 billion to the eu in a so—called divorce bill, but it ditches the backstop that was in theresa may's deal — and instead essentially draws a new customs border in the irish sea. that first vote could be close — tonight could be the first time mps actually back a brexit deal — but it's the second vote on the timetable for passing that legislation

that could cause problems. the prime minister wants it done in just three days — some say it's not long enough. if his timetable is rejected, borisjohnson says he'll pull the whole bill. here's our political editor laura kuenssberg. boris editor laura kuenssberg. johnson's deal, boris johnson's boris johnson's deal, boris johnson's day. sweeping to the commons for the first time for mps to vote on the full agreement. rushing to push it through, but will there be more hiss than speed?” called the prime minister. and we come together now and the very best traditions of their size door—to—door coming together? traditions of their size door-to-door coming together? chance would be a fine thing. threatening mps with an election if they don't agree to his timetable tonight and the eu says delay. if parliament refuses to allow brexit to happen and instead gets its way and decides

to delay everything untiljanuary or possibly longer, in no circumstances can the government continued with theirs. the bill will have to be pooled and we will have to go forward , pooled and we will have to go forward, much as he may not like it, toa forward, much as he may not like it, to a general election. labour doesn't believe that threat and could try to block an election a nyway could try to block an election anyway with no intention of backing the agreement with the eu or the rapid timetable to push it through. page after page of what amounts to nothing worse than a charter for deregulation and a race to the bottom. a deal and a bill that fails to protect our rights and our natural world. fails to protectjobs and the economy. fails to protect every region and nation in the united kingdom. none of the opposition parties are on board.

together we can stop brexit and whatever the result is tonight this is not over. this change in this agreement is the most fundamental change to a reunion since the act of union and that merits debate and discussion and this house needs to listen to that. let this house do itsjob and listen to that. let this house do its job and rights listen to that. let this house do itsjob and rights have proper scrutiny over something which is absolutely so fundamental. inside and outside brexit doesn't split round normal lines. listen to former tories who will not back it. to see a government with a constitutional measure playing bully boy tactics with this house, it can only be counter—productive with this house, it can only be counter— productive to the with this house, it can only be counter—productive to the very ends of the government itself would like to achieve. labour then -- mps pleading with their own leader. seats that voted very heavily to leave that stood on a manifesto that

said that we would respect the result of the referendum feel very strongly that this bill should be allowed to proceed. theory about the pace and proposals of the prime minister's plan matters because borisjohnson is minister's plan matters because boris johnson is rising minister's plan matters because borisjohnson is rising as fast minister's plan matters because boris johnson is rising as fast as he can against the clock. in theory we could still leave the european union in nine days. even though the government has had to ask for the delay didn't want. do you think the deal will go through tonight?“ delay didn't want. do you think the deal will go through tonight? if the laws cannot pass through parliament is up to the eu to decide if there is up to the eu to decide if there isa is up to the eu to decide if there is a delay. they say they hope this is a delay. they say they hope this is the only possible deal and they do not want this dragging on any longer than the uk government. we will always regret the united kingdomto leave the union but at least we can look ourselves in the eye and say that we have done all another power to make sure that this

departure is orderly. they must have document? have you read all the pages? it is a fantastic page turner. are you hopeful of getting the deal through? a massive change for the whole country and whether this cabinet, best prime minister, is willing to risk their shaky grip on power to make it finally come true. so, the first of tonight's deciding votes — on the brexit deal itself — is at around 7pm. the second on the timetable is soon afterwards. in short, we will know tonight whether we leave the eu on halloween. our deputy political editorjohn pienaar looks at what could now happen one way or the other. the government has got a brexit plan, the withdrawal agreement bill, and has planned a route, but how far will it get? first, the bill must

pass a vote on its broad principles, the second reading its cold, so mps can the second reading its cold, so mps ca n press the second reading its cold, so mps can press on. if the answer is no, journey over, borisjohnson will seek a snap election. if the government when the gets a green light for the first time the journey through parliament gets really tricky. they cannot meet the deadline of october the 31st are mps vote tonight to limit the time for debate and it looks tight. the opposition including the dup, some independent mps, especially former tories, could come together to defeat the government. boris johnson's big warning as it will not ta ke johnson's big warning as it will not take a long brexit to reoffend when it is offered by the eu. he would drop the bill and challenge the opposition to a snap general election the side of christmas. if the pm wins mps have until thursday to finish their work and send the bill to the lords but the route gets bumpier. a student is coming on

whether to hold another referendum that the mps who want as local peoples vote me like the numbers. some labour mps who want to stay close to the eu via evil to's backlash if the under the brexit referendum. either way a plan by some brexit critics to keep their uk in what is called the customs union could be a bigger obstacle. what is the customs union? it is when countries agreed to charge no bar to taxes. they also agree there will be no separate trade deals with countries outside and that is a big pa rt countries outside and that is a big part of the brexit plan. enough o bsta cles ? part of the brexit plan. enough obstacles? not yet. critics could vote to extend the transition period for as long as it takes to get a free trade agreement with the european union, so no brexit with no deal. the hardline brexiteers would hate that. a snap election anyone? the brexit journey is hate that. a snap election anyone?

the brexitjourney is as tough as ever. feeling travel sex? sorry, there is no easy way round. —— travel sick? let's get the latest from laura. have you any sense of the numbers? it is hard to tell. it is feeling like something that is ebbing and flowing. a lot of mps are agonising over what is the best thing for them to do, whether to try to satisfy their constituents, their party, whether or not the sense of momentum is on their site or not. this is for a lot of mps they know they may not have much public sympathy but it is difficult for them to make these decisions. the conventional wisdom is that the first vote on the second reading, seeing mps —— do mps think it is worth debating this, that seems more likely than not to go through, but maybe only by a

whisker. the second bit about the prime minister's timetable, his attempt to get this through at 100 mph, that has been tricky for the government, and i think there it is too close to call. another is not very long for any of us but an error in the elastic political time is a long time indeed. if both votes fail, and even ifjust the timetable fails, it may be that borisjohnson tries to start a new argument altogether. whether or not he can persuade the rest of the parliament to go for a general election. it is a cliche but the stakes can hardly be higher. our europe correspondent adam fleming is in strasbourg, where eu leaders and politicians have been meeting today. adam, what is being said there? i think they are watching to see what happens where you are tonight because it is a very confusing picture. if there is a need for an

extension then the eu would say yes because if they said no they would because if they said no they would be risking an audio brexit and that is the one thing they will do anything to avoid. if there is an extension in an ideal word for the eu it would be a short one, maybe to the middle of next month or two the end of january as the the middle of next month or two the end ofjanuary as the prime minister's very unenthusiastic later asked for. if they need more time i have had all sorts of dates, the end of march, the end ofjune, maybe even the end of next year but that is just speculation from diplomats, andi is just speculation from diplomats, and i hope i am making it clear that people here are not sure what is going to happen and they are waiting to see what happens with you in the next couple of hours, but one thing is not going to change, michel barnier is staying in the european commission to oversee whatever happens next. that's it for now from westminster. i'll be back later in the programme, but now back to clive in the studio.

a public inquiry will be held into the manchester arena bomb attack, which killed 22 people, in may 2017. the home secretary, priti patel says it's the best way for those who survived or lost loved ones, to get answers. the announcemernt comes as the younger brother of the bomber, appeared at the old bailey, and pleaded not guilty to murder. our north of england correspondent, judith moritz is at the manchester arena for us this evening. is this what the families and survivors of those who died wanted? it is what they expected because they were due to be inquests in this inquiry will replace those inquests because last month the coroner agreed that the result should be kept secret on the grounds of national security but he warned it would be difficult to hold an

inquest and it was the coroner who asked for a public inquiry instead because this may seem like a contradiction but he will be able to hear that evidence himself in private behind closed doors without those families and the public being present. the home secretary said today in granting the inquiry this is an important step for those affected to be able to move on. she knows they want answers as quickly as possible. having spoken to some of the families and their lawyers they say they are demanding complete candourfrom they say they are demanding complete candour from the authorities and they are frustrated about how low may see this has taken. they want the inquiry to begin as soon as possible but i understand it will not go under way until the completion of criminal proceedings against hashem abedi his trial was due to start injanuary next year and the public inquiry will follow one after that. the american woman who fled the uk, after a fatal road collision

with the teenager harry dunn, has asked to be interviewed by british police in the us. anne sacoolas is believed to have been driving on the wrong side of the road, when the accident happened in northamptonshire, in august. she later left britain claiming diplomatic immunity, despite telling police she had no immediate plans to return to america. duncan kennedy reports. he wasjust 19 years he was just 19 years old. harry dunn died in august, riding his beloved motorbike on a quiet, country road. since then, his parents charlotte and tim have been everywhere from the white house to whitehall in their efforts to bring the suspect in his case to justice. they say anne sacoolas, the driver of the car involved in harry's collision, should return to britain from the united states. today, the chief co nsta ble of united states. today, the chief constable of northamptonshire said his officers would go to the us to interview anne sacoolas under caution. she wants to meet officers face to face and put her side of the

story across and also wants to emphasisejust story across and also wants to emphasise just how devastated she is by all of this. it's nearly eight weeks since harry had his accident ona weeks since harry had his accident on a road in northamptonshire. it was on august the 27th that he died. three days later, the us embassy told britain that anne sacoolas had diplomatic immunity. on the 15th of september, they revealed she had left the uk. ten days later, police confirmed her departure to harry's family. today, to man charlotte said they were amazed anne sacoolas had 110w they were amazed anne sacoolas had now offered to be interviewed. it's a huge step in the right direction. very much so. it feels like that we are finally getting somewhere. we we re are finally getting somewhere. we were surprised, because obviously she left the country and it's a complete turnaround for us, really. we we re complete turnaround for us, really. we were not expecting that at all. police investigating the crash in northamptonshire say they will fly to the united states to interview anne sacoolas as soon as their visas

are in place. they say they will then bring the information back, handed to the crown prosecution service and it is they who will decide if she is to be charged. harry's family want the home office to then seek the extradition of anne sacoolas. they say it is britain where harry died and a britain where any consequences should be faced. duncan kennedy, bbc news. an american pharmaceutical company says it may have developed the first drug to slow alzheimer's disease. the company, biogen, says it will soon seek regulatory approvalfor the drug in the us. our health and science correspondent, james gallagher is here. this is the holy grail of alzheimer's research but there is a long way to go, surely. exactly. there have been many false dawns before, but there is genuine excitement because what you have to remember is there is no drug that can slow the pace of any dementia, so if this one is capable of doing it in alzheimer's, that would

genuinely be one of the biggest moments in modern medical research, however the question is, are we there yet. we are not entirely sure we have the answer, so biogn looks at the date and said it didn't work, but now it looked in more detail and it's looked at the patients who are getting the highest doses and is there a benefit in terms of memory, language ability and day to day tasks like getting dressed in the morning. so the question now is, what does it really mean? scientist wa nt to what does it really mean? scientist want to see the data in much greater levels of detail than they are able to at the moment and only then will they say if this is a turning point or not. let's take a look at some of the day's other top stories. a court has been hearing how the decision to revoke the british citizenship of shamima begum, one of the three bethnal green schoolgirls who travelled to syria to join the so—called islamic state, has left her at risk of hanging. her lawyers claim she's in "an incredibly fragile and dangerous" position in a syrian refugee camp. ms begum says stripping her

of british citizenship leaves her stateless, cotravening, international law. turkey's president has threatened to resume military action in north—eastern syria, unless kurdish fighters withdraw from the border area. the offensive began almost two weeks ago after donald trump ordered us troops out of the area. turkish forces, allied with syrian rebels, say they're trying to establish a "safe zone," to combat kurdish terrorism. the canadian prime minister, justin trudeau, has won a second term after his liberal party narrowly won yesterday's general election. but he now leads a minority government, with his party losing more than 20 seats. in an elaborate ceremony, japan's emperor naruhito, has formally ascended to the throne. the emperor officially began his reign in may after the abdication of his father, the then—emperor akihito. his ascension has now been formalised, after a series of rituals, inside the imperial palace, in tokyo. the england rugby coach eddiejones says all the pressure

is off his side ahead of their semi—final against new zealand on saturday in the world cup. the all—blacks start as firm favourites. wales, meanwhile, take on south africa in the other semi—final. from tokyo, here's our sports editor, dan roan. preparing for the game of their lives, england trained in the rain here this morning, just one win away from a first world cup final in 12 years. all that stands in their way, the might of the all blacks. but the man plotting their downfall believes his team have nothing to lose. do you think during new zealand are under more pressure than england? well, we don't have any pressure, mate. put up your hand if you think we can win. there you go. so no one thinks we can win. new zealand talk about them walking towards it, the pressure. well, this week, the pressure's going to be chasing them down the street. that's the reality of it. england's convincing quarter final victory over australia at the weekend was a defining moment injones's tenure, but he now seems

intent on trying to unsettle a team he describes as the greatest in the history of sport. they've got to deal with all this pressure about winning the world cup three times. you know, it's potentially the last game for their greatest catch, potentially the last game for their greatest captain. and they're going to be thinking about those things. those thoughts go through your head. you know, it's always much harder to defend the world cup and they'll be thinking about that and therefore, there is pressure for them. most of england's training session this morning was conducted in private behind that screen that surrounds the pitch here near their base in tokyo. but were they being spied on? jones also claiming that his players earlier were being filmed by somebody up there in one of those apartments. there was definitely someone in the apartment block filming. look, you just don't need to do it any more, mate, because you see everything. you can watch everyone's training on youtube or whatever there is. there's everything out there.

there's no value in doing that sort of thing now. absolutely zero. ifjones is resorting to mind games, perhaps it's no surprise. after all, new zealand have beaten england in all but one of the last 16 fixtures — that a measure ofjust how special victory this weekend would be. dan roan, bbc news, tokyo and new zealand. now let's go back to sophie, at westminster. clive, thank you. in about half an hour's time, mps will vote on the prime minister's brexit deal and, crucially, there'll be a second vote on how much time they should have to scrutinise the legislation. we've already heard what some of them think about that, but what do voters make of it? our political correspondent alex forsyth has been to two neighbouring constituencies whose mps have taken a very different approach to brexit. it's no small thing trying to navigate your way through the brexit stalemate, and at beaconsfield's

famous model village some are exasperated at the scenes in westminster as mps argue over whether to back the prime minister's brexit plan in his timeframe, here, many just want clarity.” brexit plan in his timeframe, here, manyjust want clarity. i just want to get the flipping thing finished, done, dusted, get out, orwhatever. that is the crux of borisjohnson's case or trying to push this through quickly. he thinks the public want to stop going round in circles. while that is true for many, it is not universal. it's gone on too long, basically. ithink not universal. it's gone on too long, basically. i think the politicians have dragged their feet. i was four remain but at this stage ijust want i was four remain but at this stage i just want something to be i was four remain but at this stage ijust want something to be done about it. i don't think we can rush it. if we are going to leave, which i'd rather we didn't, it. if we are going to leave, which i'd ratherwe didn't, if it. if we are going to leave, which i'd rather we didn't, if we it. if we are going to leave, which i'd ratherwe didn't, if we are, we need to leeward all the information having giving things proper scrutiny. do you think a general election might solve it? a general election might solve it? a general election will delay things and make everything more uncertain again. election will delay things and make everything more uncertain againm we have one now, it would be a brexit election, so i think the

election needs to be about other issues as well. in beaconsfield, the local mp, dominic grieve, is one of those pushing for another brexit referendum, the so—called peoples vote before an election. but down the road in neighbouring wycombe, the road in neighbouring wycombe, the mp steve baker is a prominent brexiteers who just wants out of the eu. the fact that two mps from neighbouring constituencies who were both tories are on different sides of this debate shows why it has been so hard, but now borisjohnson will push back against any mp who wants further delay because rightly or wrongly, his political calculation is mostly that people want this bit of brexit done. that is certainly true for chris, who runs a business in high wycombe making bespoke curtain tracks. he was a remain who now wa nts curtain tracks. he was a remain who now wants an exit deal done but does not trust the prime minister or parliament to find a solution. there is no consensus, no uniformity to get this sorted or across the line.

what is good for one party or another party or one person or another party or one person or another person, nothing gets done. and at this exercise class for mothers, there is a similar lack of faith from the fitness instructor who fears public views are being overlooked. it doesn't really matter what the constituency wanted, if the mp wanted to stay or leave, that is what they will push for. that view might worry all mps facing a potential election. the loss of public faith in a political system that has so far failed to work this out. alex forsyth, bbc news, bucks. well, let's get a final word from our political editor, laura kuenssberg. the country is divided, parliament is divided and it feels like it is ona is divided and it feels like it is on a knife edge and we should know in the next hour or two which were able to. that's right and let's remember what it is about tonight, after so long arguing about everything in this place this tonight is about whether or not borisjohnson tonight is about whether or not boris johnson can carry tonight is about whether or not borisjohnson can carry on trying to get his legal agreement that he made

with brussels through the house of commons. for that to happen and for us commons. for that to happen and for us to leave, that international treaty has to be turned into uk law and he would desperately love to be able to do that in the next ten days and if it goes exactly his way, he can leave the european union in ten days' time with a deal but he is very well aware, and everybody is as well that he has an enormous fight on his hands, and if he loses at stage one tonight we could be on the edge of tipping into a general election. just as with the first scenario, borisjohnson election. just as with the first scenario, boris johnson might election. just as with the first scenario, borisjohnson might have resista nce scenario, borisjohnson might have resistance from the opposition and it might take awhile to get there but what happens in the next couple of hours will have a huge influence whether we are on track for departure or on track for asking all of us who we want to run the country. laura, thank you. let's have a look at the weather with matt taylor. a fine end to choose weather—wise across much of the uk and dry

weather dominating across the country and an area of high pressure which has been sliced in between this area of low pressure producing stormy conditions across the eastern parts of spain and southern france and this area of low pressure which bring splashes of rain across northern scotland and continues to do so and keeps the temperature is at ten or 11 degrees, but partly clear skies and a chilly night with temperatures low enough for a touch of frost across england and wales to start tomorrow and there could be dense patches of fog as well but sunshine will develop widely to begin with and then clouds over again from the south so central england with splashes of rain later in the day and much of the uk will stay dry although the exception will be the north and west of scotland where it will turn wetter later on as the breeze picks up and temperatures between 12 or 15 degrees, so similar to today by the weather front across scotland and northern ireland will bring rain into wednesday night and almost joins forces with the developing weather front towards the south—east

corner on thursday will have a cloudy start for england and wales. outbreaks of rain confined to east anglia and the south—west —— south—east and may be a few showers here and there in the south—west but heathery thundery showers in scotla nd heathery thundery showers in scotland and northern ireland and the wind picking up, 50 or 60 mph in south—west scotland and the northern irish sea later which will bring in colder air across the uk as we head through thursday night and into friday, but milder air as we head from the south and in between the two we will see this active weather system develop and all eyes on this from friday to saturday. england and wales especially, and particularly northern england and wales where we could see a huge amount of rainfall and the potential for flooding and travel disruption. we will keep you updated on all of that but for the next 2a hours, many will be dry until later in the day and that is how the weather looks for now. a reminder of our top story... the first of two crucial votes on brexit will begin in around half an hour to see if borisjohnson's

brexit deal has the support of parliament. that's all from the bbc news at six. there will be special coverage from 7pm of the brexit votes with huw edwards over on bbc two. but for now it's goodbye from me, and on bbc one we nowjoin the bbc‘s news teams where you are.