on rivers in england and the seven has a fever flood warnings, particularly when the kidderminster area. rain is mainly affecting the far south—west of england, some showers further north, the main band will not move very far, there will be showers into eastern scotland down the eastern side of england, lots of places will be dry, many of us lots of places will be dry, many of us enjoying sunshine and temperatures of 9012 degrees. we have the rain in the south—west, still quite windy for a time this evening. further north, fewer showers and clearer skies, where we keep the cloud in the south, temperatures will be higher. further north, the frost is more likely gci’oss north, the frost is more likely across northern england and into scotland, like last night. here we will have light winds, mist and found patches to clear away as well. we are close to the centre of the high pressure which is dominating the weather at the moment, we are being squeezed by these weather fronts in the south—west and they will bring the rain into

south—western parts of england. we have more rain here i suspect during the later part too. plenty of sunshine elsewhere to enjoy, fewer showers for eastern areas than today. when seizing down a touch on the south—west of england, picking up the south—west of england, picking upa the south—west of england, picking up a little for northern ireland during the afternoon —— the wind is easing down a touch. 9 degrees across parts of northern scotland, ten or 11 for much of england and wales, milder with the rain in the far south—west. later in the week, high—pressure moves into continental europe and the weather fronts are pushing in from the south—west, the first one on thursday is very weak but bring some milder air which will push across most areas into the end of week. with the milder air coming over the cold ground, it could be misty and murky on thursday. the best of the sunshine will be for eastern scotland, there will not be much rain or drizzle around, turning

wetter into friday but temperatures getting as high as 15 or 16 degrees by the end of the week. thanks, darren. more now from simon in westminster with the latest on a general election being held before christmas looking increasingly likely. in the last few minutes boris johnson has got into the prime ministerial car in downing street and will be heading for the house of commons, where for the first time he will ask mps for permission for a general election. today is different because it looks as though his christmas wish will be granted. let's speak to our assistant political editor norman smith. it is not if, it is now when? yes, we are heading for an election in the second week of december, we do not know the exact date but we are on course for a winter election which carries particular challenges with it. for journalists carries particular challenges with it. forjournalists covering it hit probably means a mild dose of

frostbite, and there are issues around turners, particularly for older voters who might find it harder to go out in the cold and dark, that may hit borisjohnson because we know older voters are more likely to back brexit. at the other hand, forjeremy corbyn, timing means many students will have gone home to their parents', will they lose out on their vote in their university towns? it will affect the tone of a campaign, politicians like tone of a campaign, politicians like to fight upbeat, confident, optimistic campaigns. easy to do on a bright springtime morning, much harder in the big midwinter. we have been here before, ted heath called an election in the teeth of the miners' strike in 1974, he left but the turnout was a whopping 78%. it may be freezing, but it can be done. thank you very much, norman. that is all from us, goodbye from me, we now

joined the bbc news teams where you are. after the south african forward said they would fight fire with fire in they would fight fire with fire in the rugby world cup final against england this saturday, leaving a puller has responded with three words, bring it on. the whole squad trained in tokyo earlier today including the ben spencer who has come in for including the ben spencer who has come inforan including the ben spencer who has come in for an injury. the verbal jousting is likely to continue. billy vunipola is in confident mood. we set out wanting to be the best in the world, and we have to back up what we did last week. it cannot just be a fluke, and i think the challenge has been laid down by south africa. they are very big people, but we have got a few big

quys people, but we have got a few big guys and our team as well. they have said they will fight fire with fire, andi said they will fight fire with fire, and i guess we return that by saying, bring it on. wales will not be on saturday's final, but will play the third—place play—off on friday. the wales camp are positive about the occasion and playing against new zealand. i'm glad it is against new zealand. i'm glad it is against the all blacks. i do not think it would be the same as we we re think it would be the same as we were facing some deals, because the all blacks are the all blacks. it is not everything that gets the opportunity to face them. especially in the world cup. that is no pressure on anybody, so it should be a very entertaining game. england women have named their squad to face germany and czech republic next month and manchester city pair ellen white and georgia stanway have been left out initially as they continue white has onlyjust returned after three months ago with a knee problem whilst stanway has been hampered with a hamstring strain.

both players will link up with the squad to have their fitness assessed to see if they are fit enough to play. toni duggan returns. a crowd of around 80,000 is expected for the germany game at wembley. the players have had a fantastic year, and this is obviously a spin off from the world cup, the success that we had comedy visibility the players had. from the manager's point of view, i want us to perform. in the 12 months' time, we have got a euros in england, and this is a great example of playing under immense expectation and pressure, andi immense expectation and pressure, and i want us to go out there and perform. after their initial match was abandoned due to alleged racist abuse, haringey borough and yeovil town will re—play their fa cup fourth qualifying round tie tonight. in a joint statement, the clubs say they want football to be the real winner. increased stewarding will be in place tonight. two men were arrested on suspicion of racially aggravated common assault and later bailed without charge. win, lose or draw, we're,

of course we are interested in a result, and of course we want to win, and a draw will be fantastic for the football club, but i would swap all of that just for the game to pass without any incident, of any sort of abuse, any sort of missile coming onto the pitch, and anyone getting hurt. australian open champion naomi 0saka has pulled out of the season—ending wta finals in shenzen due to a shoulder injury. despite playing and beating petra kvitova in her opening group game, she aggrivated an old injury and woke up yesterday in pain. she's been replaced by world number 10 kiki bertens who beat top seed ashleigh barty today. former boxing world champion nigel benn has called off his professional comeback at the age of 55 due to injury. he'd not fought since 1996, but was due to meet sakio bika in birmingham in a heavily criticised comeback fight. he says with a heavy heart that he's hanging up his gloves due to a shoulder problem. you're up to date.

there's more for you with holly in afternoon live. we are keeping an eye on the house of commons because we are expecting the debate to get under while we wait for that, let's take a look at where we are in the brexit process. labour have pressed the button of their election campaign, announcing they are supporting a general election, now that a no—deal brexit has been ruled out. the prime minister will now need a simple majority when mps vote on when to hold the election — borisjohnson is aiming for the 12th of december. the snp and liberal democrats have called for an early election on the 9th december. after labour's announcement, jeremy corbyn — surrounded by members of his shadow cabinet — said labour would be going out to win.

this is going to be the busiest foyer of any office block in the whole country! so get used to it, have a wonderful campaign, work strongly together, support each other, don't let stresses divide us, let stresses and sharing those problems unite us, because we are doing it for millions of people out there that want to see a different country, a better country, a fairer country, a more equal country, a government that faces up to the challenges of climate change and the challenges of inequality in britain. i am absolutely delighted and proud to lead our party in this great endeavour, to win an election for the next generation and generations that come after that. the excitement is already there all over the country. let's go for it, absolutely determined and united, and above all, win it. thank you. education secretary gavin williamson says it is "welcome" to hear labour moving to support a general election, but wants to see them deliver on their word.

the most sensible and logical thing is to table a fixed—term parliaments act amendment, with labour supporting that that means we can get on with a general election very swiftly. you cannot have this continued paralysis, you cannot have labour blocking no deal, blocking a deal, and are trying to block an election. but let's see if they will deliver on their word, let's see if they will be voting for a general election. what we are doing is setting out a positive agenda about creating opportunities, jobs, prosperity that this country needs. to benefit most of all young people, creating better homes for people to be able to buy and move into and to own, and actually have prosperity in terms of secure jobs into the future. we transformed education of the last nine years with rising standards, rising attainment for all

pupils. this is a good story to tell, and with our record announcement in terms of investment in every school in the country, it isa in every school in the country, it is a positive story and we look forward to going to the polls. let's cross to our chief political correspondent vicki young at westminster. a busy afternoon ahead, and busy a few weeks ahead, vicki. i think you could be right. everyone here talking about a possible general election, although no clarity really on the date as yet. the government still pushing for the 12th of december, some opposition parties not happy with that. and there is also the matter of whether this bill could be changed, amended, to include some things the government might not like, such as trying to give the vote to 16 to 18—year—olds, even to eu citizens living in this country. we will have to see how that progress is during the afternoon. before that, let's speak to conservative party chairman at james cleverly. are you confident you will get the selection?”

james cleverly. are you confident you will get the selection? i hope so, ithink you will get the selection? i hope so, i think we need an election. we don't particularly want a general election, but what we have seen now as parliament come to a complete impasse over the last few months saying no to everything, then flirting with the idea of passing we withdrawal agreement and then voting against the timetabling motion. i think what we really need to do now is have a general election, get a government that has a sustainable working majority, deliver the brexit deal that has been negotiated, and then also deliver the extra police officers on the street, the extra money to the front line of the nhs, the extra money to teachers' starting salaries, that's what the british people want us to do and what we want to do. lots of conservative mps i speak to are unhappy about the fact that boris johnson did not pursue the withdrawal agreement bill, having got through the first stage of the second reading, they think you should have given it a bit more time and at least tried to get through as you say, to resolve the issue of brexit rather than moving to a

general election. the problem we have with this as we have seen the goalposts moved so many times. we had people that said judges may's deal, the political declaration was stripped out, they would vote for the withdrawal agreement, then it didn't. they were telling us that if the prime minister came back with any deal, they would vote for it, then they didn't. they said it would vote for it at second reading, then they refused to vote for the timetable. but why didn't you at least try? that is what you are on conservative mps are saying. because we have seen this over and over again, people saying they would support something under certain conditions, then when those conditions, then when those conditions are met, they reneged on those promises. the simple truth of the matter is this has dragged on forfar the matter is this has dragged on for far too the matter is this has dragged on forfar too long. the british people wa nt forfar too long. the british people want this result, they want a parliament focusing on their priorities rather than about once again arriving about an issue 3.5 yea rs again arriving about an issue 3.5 years old. are you concerned about going into that general election with the prime minister having broken his promise to leave the eu

by the 31st of october, which is close on thursday, that is not meant to happen now? i think what people will have seen as the prime minister moving heaven and earth, reopening it withdrawal agreement, getting a deal that people said would never be renegotiated, putting it to the house, they will have seen who is blocking it at every stage, the lib dems, the snp, the labour party, seeing they respect the outcome of the referendum, and blocking it. the people who have fighting to get this done, they know who that is. but you know the brexit party will be making the point that the conservative government could not deliver on the promise to deliver brexit. the conservative party, the prime minister has made absolutely clear, we wa nt minister has made absolutely clear, we want to get brexit done with a deal. this is a good deal, the deal is on the table yet was rejected by the house of commons. but more than that, we want to also deliver on the priorities of the british people,

schools, hospitals, policing. the only party that is going to deliver brexit and deliver on the priorities of the british people is the conservative party. as chairman, you have to look at exactly what is going on with polls, for example, bejewelled in 2017, where the conservative party went in with an opinion poll lead and it was squandered. the reason we have this general election is not because of any polling numbers that may be in the ether, but because there is an impasse here in parliament. we want a government, we want to deliver the extra money to the nhs, the extra police officers, but until we have a sustainable working majority, we will be hampered from doing so by a parliament, the current make—up of which says know all the time, but frankly refuses to say yes. —— which says no. we are just going to go to the house of commons. before they start debating the selection bill for the general election on the 12th of december, there is something

called a business motion which has to be debated first. that is the timetable for getting this short bill through the house of commons in all its stages today, there could well be quite an argument over all of this. let's go to the commons now where the speaker is on his feet. of this. let's go to the commons now where the speaker is on his feetlj beg to move the motion standing in the name of my right honourable friend the prime minister. i'm sure honourable members will appreciate i do not wish to detain the house unduly. i hope they will support this bill so they can move on and consider the stages. this is a straightforward business of the house motion, which will facilitate consideration of a short bill in order that the house can agree the date of a general election. the motion are set aside up to six hours for consideration of the bill, including up to four hours for the second reading with the remaining time the committee of the whole house remaining in stages. in order to have a pre—christmas election on the 12th of december, this bill will

need royal assent by the 5th of novemberfor the need royal assent by the 5th of november for the house to dissolve just after midnight on the 6th of november. that general election timetable allows for the northern ireland budget bill to pass before dissolution, to ensure the northern ireland civil service can access the funding it needs to deliver public services and proper governance. the situation facing a number of northern ireland departments has become critical. and the bill is needed to allow the northern ireland civil service to continue to access the cash needed to deliver public services. in order to ensure that that a bill received royal assent to allow for dissolution on the 6th of november, and to allow 25 working days for the ministration of the poll, it needs to proceed quickly. we have their proper proposed that all common stages of the bill happened today. —— therefore proposed. the bill before the house is only two causes long, was a very short bill. it is also a simple bill in that it seeks only to set the polling day is the 12th of december.

the house should not therefore be disadvantaged by considering all stages of the bill in one day. turning to the honourable memberfor waltha mstow‘s turning to the honourable memberfor walthamstow‘s amendment, the government's business motion provides for an efficient timetable for the consideration of this bill, which is a straightforward piece of legislation for an election on the 12th of december. of course the government recognises that the selection of amendments as a matter for the speaker of the chairman of ways and means. however, it is entirely standard practice for an amendment not to be taken from a backbench mps on bills is as simple as this one for an expedited timetable is required. while it may not be a wrecking amendment in itself, there is no doubt that it is a gateway to amendments that could seek to obstruct the bill. the bill is simply designed to give effect to what all four of the biggest parties in this house have now said they support. that is a december general election. nothing more and nothing

less. we will have over six weeks, i will of course give way to the honourable leader. —— lady. will of course give way to the honourable leader. -- lady. since he became leader of the house, he seems to be trying to curtail debate on every government bill. i know he has had a long running of polite dispute with the speaker, but could he explain paragraph three b and why he felt it was necessary to say this because shower leave the chair whether or not notice of an instruction has been given. the speaker is never in the chair when we are in committee stage, why does the leader of the house for what is necessary to say that this afternoon? the honourable lady and i said on the procedure committee, the honourable lady must be aware that thatis honourable lady must be aware that that is complete with standard whenever the speaker leaves the chair to whenever the speaker leaves the chairto go into whenever the speaker leaves the chair to go into committee. nothing

is unusual about that, and if anyone thinks that in any way it is a dig at you, they simply do not understand the procedures of this house. i notice the speaker is indicating that he is in assent with what i am saying, so i am frankly surprised the honourable lady, a distinguished member of the procedure committee, is not aware of that basic procedure. so it is a december general election, nothing more and nothing less. there will be six weeks to discuss all of the great political questions facing our country before the people are given the chance to give their verdict. but the debate today is not about those great issues, it is simply about setting the 12th of december as the date for a general election. december at the date for the general election. the question is, the early parliamentary general election bill business of the house mission as on the order paper. the shadow leader

of the house. thank you, mr speaker and cani of the house. thank you, mr speaker and can i thank the leader of the house of lords this motion. mr speaker, this house is surprised and alarmed at the state of the government and for moving a motion for a general election in this way. the leader of the said yesterday that the bill would be published this morning. it was a great disservice to the house that the bill was not available yesterday. it is just bill was not available yesterday. it isjust one line bill was not available yesterday. it is just one line and we are now debating a programme motion to introduce a bill in one day. the government yesterday voted for the fixed—term parliaments act because they did not have a majority because they did not have a majority because they did not get the magic 434 in they did not get the magic 434 in the house so they are introducing another bill. can i ask the leader of the house of commons world government now repeal the fixed—term parliaments act? this bill will be

put through in one day, we criticise the eu withdrawal —— he criticised the eu withdrawal —— he criticised the eu withdrawal agreements and now he is doing the same. the whole process will take six hours with the second reading rate coming after four hours with one amendment. i think this is another way of crashing out of the eu without a deal. because they have not met their target of the 31st of october. this programme motion is unacceptable and is deliberately designed to avoid scrutiny on the government. and speaking of programme motions, the withdrawal bill is in the ether. when we were asking for the debate to discuss it asking for the debate to discuss it as necessary, the government did not

wa nt to as necessary, the government did not want to give us that time or deal with it, leaving the eu in an orderly way, and businesses, farmers, working people, and the environment. he will know the honourable member for cheltenham yesterday said, surely the precaution and sensible thing to do is to of the house more time. if it does not vote for it, —— offered the house more time. they should at least try. the leader of the house made it clear yesterday with his response that he had no intention of bringing their withdrawal agreement back to the house, why? why can we not have a proper debate on the withdrawal agreement bill, with a new programme motion where amendments are tested in a vote and then we can see where the house stands on this issue? i am most grateful. will she cast her mind back to the second reading debate of the withdrawal agreement bill, she recalled that labour ran out of speakers before the end of the debate by an hour. why did she then need more time? if the honourable

gentleman will have listened to what i have said previously, we need more time to amend the bill so that everyone's these can be taken into account. we didn't have an opportunity to amend the bill, even vote on the bill. we have tried to have discussions but the government was not listening. yesterday in response to the honourable member for north dorset, the leader of the said the reason for not bringing forward an allocation of time motion is that the house has made its mind clear. it does not want to deal or engage seriously with their withdrawal agreement bill. how did he know? i think this is highly patronising. we have been begging for extra time so we can have the vote so it is clear what the hell is's view is. —— what the house's view is. he knows that they will be a border in the irish sea, that is the previous

prime minister ruled it out, or it would result in the break—up of the uk. finally the leadership you do the right thing by the house, reintroduce the bill with a new programme motion which could be agreed in the usual channels which ta kes agreed in the usual channels which takes into agreed in the usual channels which ta kes into accou nt agreed in the usual channels which takes into account all sides of the debate and would help the country move on. has the honourable lady completed her speech? she has, indeed. thank you very much, and can i thank the other house for bringing forward to this very interesting business motion this afternoon. here we are once again considering another programme motion, i'm pretty certain the government are sick of these castings and who knows, after listening to the shadow leader's contribution there, we might be heading for meaningful programme motion two. i was getting the sense that the labour party look like they are about to oppose this business motion, programme motion which might

indeed mean that this will not progress. so my message to everybody is, if you are intending to get your brexit christmas decorations at, wait a moment until this will be concluded. mr speaker, we could have had all of this done and dusted. 0ctober could have been when we had all of this settled. the commons could have been reassembling right now to get on with the business of our constituencies. but the prime minister's bluff and bluster has brought us here to a deadlocked parliament, a broken britain and the spectre of their hard brexit still looming over us. but now there are a few things that we do know is we consider this programme motion. they will not get there no deal, which is good. he won't be able to bring back a withdrawal agreement until the british people have had their say. but probably most importantly, he has failed to get the united kingdom out of the european union on thursday. remember, do or die. no

ifs, no buts. die in a ditch. this was the very basis of his tory leadership campaign, his solemn pledge to this party. the ukip, the fa rajs, pledge to this party. the ukip, the farajs, and pledge to this party. the ukip, the fa rajs, and the pledge to this party. the ukip, the farajs, and the right—wing tories must feel like total mugs today. because he had not delivered he will bejudged. the date because he had not delivered he will be judged. the date of this bill is the 12th of december and we all know that a poll in december is less than ideal. in my constituency it get stuck at about 3:30pm in some of the highlands constituencies. —— it gets dark. it is worth that risk to get rid of this prime minister. calling an election by driving to a bill in one day is less than ideal. six hours to consider all of these details. using a programme motion to clamp down on any kind of amendments

is objectionable. that is why we will be supporting the honourable lady from walthamstow with her a moment today. there has never the scottish national party to vote with the tories on programme motions, we will not be standing in the way of this bill. we will not vote with the tories on this programme motion but we will back the general election that this country definitely needs to break the brexit deadlock and make scotland's voice loud and clear. can i ask if the honourable gentleman knows where his partner, the leaderfor the gentleman knows where his partner, the leader for the liberal democrats is in this debate, because she hasn't bothered to turn up and i thought it was something they agreed. i would ask her to categorise the liberal democrats of the scottish national party because

my partner could not be further from the truth. —— to categorise them as their partner would be not be further from the truth. sometimes the liberal democrats to have their values and uses although it is not very often, i would say, to the honourable lady. the challenge for this government is to get the numbers for this programme motion, and it is up to the rest of the parties to decide what they are going to do today. but the message from the scottish national party is that we want no part of this shambolic brexit, and we want the right to decide our own future in scotland. we will do our bit, take on the tories and beat them in scotland, it is up to the other parties to have the courage and self belief that they can beat the tories. we will be back in even greater numbers in this house following this election and we will continue to progress our nation's

independence and the demand that the is the right of scotland to choose the future it wants based on the decisions of the scottish people. hello, you're watching afternoon live — i'm simon mccoy at westminster. borisjohnson is trying once again foran borisjohnson is trying once again for an election on the 12th of december. he has tabled a short bill in the house of commons and the debate has begun. he will need a majority of just one debate has begun. he will need a majority ofjust one for the bill to be approved. labour has signalled support for an election. so let's rejoin the debate. stella creasy is on her feet. it showed what the government was trying to do was read today's debate. they have done that by removing part of the standard orders of this has which allows the chair proceedings the right to select any amendment, new clause or

new schedule for vote. to do that late at night without