labour pledges to outspend the tories with an extra cash boost for the health service. it would amount to an additional £6 billion a year for the nhs in england by 2023—24. labour will end austerity to bring waiting lists down, stabilise our accident and emergency services and deliver the quality cancer care patients deserve. we'll be looking at the figures and seeing whether they add up. also tonight: as the army arrives to bolster flood defences, the prime minister visits some of the worst affected areas. since the government came in in 2010, there's been a huge amount allocated to flood defences, but it's plain we're going to have to do more. after weeks of secret testimony, the impeachment hearings into donald trump begin on live television.

and postal votes and christmas post is secure as a proposed strike by royal mail workers is ruled unlawful. and coming up on bbc news, the scoring sensation — australian striker sam kerr is on her way tojoin the team at the top of the women's super league. good evening and welcome to the bbc news at six. labour has pledged to outspend the tories on the nhs in england, promising an additional £6 billion a year by 2023—24 — that's on top of the £20 billion a year originally promised by theresa may. wales, northern ireland and scotland would get the same percentage increase. meanwhile the prime minister has

renewed his calls to get brexit done and promised to double investment in industrial research and development on a visit to an electric taxi manufacturer in coventry. our political editor laura kuenssberg has the latest. filters tried to take charge today. why have you been?! about the prime minister in yorkshire, being given a talking to by people whose lives have been turned upside—down by floods. too late, his offer of help, they said. it is a little bit too late. the labour leader was confronted on the campaign trail in glasgow. and even the lib dems' battlebus was blocked in. can we observe a minute's silence for the victims austerity? protest at

decisions they took in coalition with the tories years ago. this is the smoother side of the campaign the smoother side of the campaign the conservatives want you to see. promising a greener government and, again and again, borisjohnson‘s vowed to take us out of the eu without delay. it is done, it is ready to go, it is the blue peter deal, here is one i made earlier. all we need is a working majority, all we need is a working majority in parliament to make parliament work, just nine more seats. none of his a nswe i’s a re just nine more seats. none of his answers are good enough for one of his former colleagues who will stand as an independent and thinks you should think about voting lib dems. traditional conservative voters like me should lend support to the liberal democrats, but i think i'm best place to run as an independent. voters in yorkshire have been very unimpressed by your handling of the floods and several of your former colleagues, conservative ministers,

suggested people should think seriously about voting lib dems. are you in control of this campaign? your second question was about the election, and all i would say there, laura, is, look, of course we need to get brexit done, i make no apology for mentioning it, because it has been paralysing politics for three and a half years. i am afraid to say the only way to get brexit done at this election is to vote for the conservatives and hope we can get a working majority. the trail looks the same, but this is the strangest, least predictable and most important election in a long time. all of the parties will try to stick to their favourite subjects, but as they clog up the miles and crisscross the country, every leader is likely to be pushed well beyond their comfort zone. labour wanted to concentrate on the extra big cheque they were dried for the nhs. with a

labour government, there will be £26 billion extra in real terms for the nhs. change is coming for patients and nhs staff. vote labourfor our nhs, thank you very much. but there was confusion, mcdonald said that nhs would not be part of their plan for a four day week, but the charm on the right... this morning, john said it was nonsense to suggest that the four—day week could include the nhs, which is it? we work to live, we don't live to work. cheering that will apply to everybody, because as you grow your company... it is early in this campaign, the official manifestos will not emerge for another week but all sides have been full to go off script already.

——. to go off script. the prime minister's motorcade had swept away from the choreographed visit and photo opportunity that politicians love. but whether boris johnson wa nts to love. but whether boris johnson wants to talk about brexit being com plete wants to talk about brexit being complete all the time orjeremy corbyn and the labour party who want to keep the focus on public services, they both know very well it is not up to them. they can't control what happens everyday, let alone in the next five weeks also. we are still in the beginning stages of this campaign, the foothills of what might be an epic menton range and at this stage it is too early to know what is on the other side. laura, from coventry, thank you. as we heard there, labour are promising to increase spending on the nhs in england. but what difference could it make? our health editor hugh pym has been taking a look at the figures. once again, the nhs is front and centre in the run—up to polling day, with the parties vying to outspend each other. the conservative government's

already promised an extra £20 billion a year after inflation, by 2023 in england. labour have said they will add another 6 billion to that, bringing the annual increase to 26 billion, and spend some of that on cutting waiting times for patients. are you ready? that's it. here. frances has arthritis. she's finding life a lot easier after a hip replacement, but she had to wait more than six months to get it done, two months longer than the official nhs target. she says the delay affected her in many ways. waiting that extra time was had. i mean, i was deteriorating. week by week, i could do less and less and less, so, not only had eye problems with my left hip, but, basically, my right hip and right knee were taking an awful lot of the strain. and they were playing up, big time, as well. so, i was in a really bad physical shape. whether it's a hip operation or managing a long—term health condition, the big challenge

for the nhs is keeping up with increasing demands for patient care. and finding the money for that is never easy. government spending this year on the health service in england is £139 billion, that sounds like a lot, and has been an upward trend for total spending over the last decade. but, spending per person actually fell for a while, once you have adjusted for the needs of a growing and ageing population. that's the bottom line. it's only started picking up in the last couple of years. and, as a percentage of gdp, that's the uk's national income, you can see here that uk health spending has actually fallen over recent years. spending is all very well, but longer term workforce planning with more done to retain staff what many in the nhs say is the biggest priority. laura, who's a matron on a children's ward, told us the pressure was relentless. from a stress perspective, it really is quite clear that nurses are way up at the top, there.

and it's horrible to see, especially when you see really, really good nurses leaving the profession on the advice of gps, because, you know, theyjust can't handle it anymore, working in the nhs. the politicians will have to persuade us they really are serious about supporting the people at the heart of the nhs. hugh pym, bbc news. let's take a look at some of today's other election news. the liberal democrats are promising a £500 million per year increase in funding for youth services in england to help tackle what their leaderjo swinson called an "epidemic" of knife crime. the hope is to stop young people falling into violence and gang culture by co—ordinating help from teachers, health professionals and social services. scotland, wales and northern ireland would also receive extra money. nigel farage — who also chose a boxing theme for his campaign speech — has once more refused to stand down brexit party candidates in labour marginal seats.

he's been under pressure to withdraw from some constituencies where conservatives fear he could split the leave vote. earlier this week, he withdrew brexit party candidates from all of the seats won by the tories at the last election. the labour leaderjeremy corbyn has been forced to clarify his position on a second referendum on scottish independence as he took his campaign to scotland today. the party had said it could support a second vote as long as it wasn't in what it called the formative years of a labour government. but today mr corbyn said he would not allow one during the entire first term of a labour government. the labour leader was visiting glasgow as the party fights for seats in scotland. it was until recent times a labour heartland. in 2010, labour won 41 of the 59 seats. but in 2015, the year after the first independence referendum, the snp swept the board, leaving labour with just one seat north of the border. 2017 saw the party make a slight comeback, returning seven scottish labour mps.

but jeremy corbyn‘s chances of becoming prime minister may depend on winning back more scottish seats. with more, here's our scotland editor sarah smith. a tartan scarf and the gift of some brand—new gloves may well be required for winter and campaigning in scotland —— winter campaigning in scotland, where labour is facing a tough election. the choice is simple, a tory government ollie labour government. he did not mention the snp or the demand for another independence referendum, thatis another independence referendum, that is the big question in scotland. no referendum on the first ten for labour, we need to concentrate completely on investment across scotland. provides that is not quite official policy, his advisers wish to clarify. labour might allow another vote after 2021. i have answered that question is about ten times today already. so what exactly is the formal position?

in the early years of a labour government i want to concentrate on investment across the uk, including the 70 billion... eight means saying in the early years, lets say no to that and concentrate on what matters. independence matters in scotla nd matters. independence matters in scotland and you need to know where you stand. labour will have to work really ha rd to you stand. labour will have to work really hard to try to win any new seats in scotland. in truth, they are hoping to hold on to the few they already have. with its proud industrial heritage, central scotla nd industrial heritage, central scotland used to be rock—solid labour, but the machinery is now in a museum and, in the cafe, voters have moved on. my political outlook has always been slightly left of centre. that hasn't changed. the labour party, to me, i drifting into yesterday's politics. i would vote for labour if they were not a separate party within scotland, and if they represented what they used to represent. probably a choice

between borisjohnson to represent. probably a choice between boris johnson and jeremy corbyn, who would you rather see? jeremy corbyn. do you look forward to the idea of a jeremy corbyn prime ministership? i would dread a place in the alternative. snp leader nicola sturgeon obviously cannot become prime minister but does not wa nt to become prime minister but does not want to be left out of the argument. she is taking legal action, demanding to be involved in televised leaders' debates. the uk is no longer a two—party state. the snp is not just is no longer a two—party state. the snp is notjust the biggest party in scotland, the governing party in scotland, the governing party in scotland, the governing party in scotland, the third biggest party in westminster, we could hold the balance of power after the election so voters have a right notjust to hear our views but see them subject to scrutiny. she says she would work with a minority labour government to keep the tories out of power but onlyjeremy corbyn allows another independence referendum next year. it is almost 6:15pm.

our top story this evening: labour promises an additional cash boost for the nhs while borisjohnson visits the flood affected areas in yorkshire and the east midlands. still to come: venice is also underwater, experiencing severe floods after its highest tide in over 50 years. coming up on sportsday on bbc news, rafa battles back at the atp finals. nadal comes from 5—1 down in the decider to beat daniil medvedev in london. the army has arrived in south yorkshire to help with flood relief, as people in some of the worst—hit areas have been told it could be weeks before they can return home. hundreds of people in the village of fishlake, near doncaster, were flooded out of their homes six days ago. the prime minister has visited some of the worst—affected areas, getting a robust response from some local residents fed up with how long it's taking to get help. our correspondentjudith moritz is in fishlake.

what's the mood like there now? well, there is a sense of pride, this evening, at how this community has coped, how they have looked after themselves, you can see it here inside saint cuthberts church, the donation of clothes and toiletries that have been brought down for people, some of whom have lost everything, but there is a feeling of disappointment, people saying they feel let down by some of the authorities, and today, some of that frustration was directed at the prime minister. —— st cuthbert‘s. you should have been there, saturday morning, having a meeting, making sure we got the help and support we needed. he may have been looking to win hearts and minds but it was not that easy for the prime minister, visiting stein for five days after flooding began. we expected rain on thursday, we want to know, where we re you , thursday, we want to know, where were you, and are you investing the money that we need, make these people understand that they matter. pam webb was determined to show

borisjohnson how pam webb was determined to show boris johnson how hard pam webb was determined to show borisjohnson how hard it has been, she wanted to visit —— him to visit nearby fishlake where she has lost her home and business. —— stainforth. i made a direct appeal, to say, come and see what is happening, ican to say, come and see what is happening, i can tell you but you cannot see and feel it for yourself unless you visit. she got her wish, she steered the prime minister towards the fishlake relief centre and inside he saw something of the community response. there have been people who have been angry today, mr johnson, can you understand that? people who have been angry today, mr johnson, can you understand thawm course, i have got massive sympathy with people who. .. course, i have got massive sympathy with people who... whose lives have been so badly affected, and... you know... clearly, we are going to do everything we can to help them. £500 per household, from the council, is that enough, 2500 for businesses...? there will be more available, i have made that point, i have made that clear to people today. he has given a pledge that no one will suffer as

a pledge that no one will suffer as a consequence of this, he has made that pledge in front of the national media and believe me, iwill that pledge in front of the national media and believe me, i will hold him to task. she will, as well! extra reassurance with the arrival of troops, drafted into shore up flood defences ahead of more forecasted rain. people here tell me that they are just thankful that the army have come in because some of their homes have been underwater now since the weekend, and the thought of further flooding as more since the weekend, and the thought of furtherflooding as more rain comes down is unbearable. 200 soldiers have been working since first light, laying up to three kilometres of new flood barriers to protect this village in the coming days, the community here has already suffered so much, they cannot fault to ta ke suffered so much, they cannot fault to take any chances. the hearings in president trump's impeachment inquiry, which so far have been behind closed doors, are now taking place on live television for all to see. this is only the fourth impeachment

inquiry in us history. donald trump is accused of pressuring ukraine to dig up damaging information onjoe biden — a possible presidential rival in next year's elections. the process could eventually see trump removed from office. our north america editor jon sopel has been watching. history in the house... this is like the super bowl for politics, daily impeachment hearings go public and coast—to—coast, all the us television networks gearing up for an unfolding drama that could be the decisive moment of the trump presidency. inside the committee room, it is a scrum one hour before the hearing gets under way. first up, this man, george p. kent, senior state department official, overseeing ukraine affairs. state department official, overseeing ukraine affairslj state department official, overseeing ukraine affairs. i do not believe the united states should ask other countries to engage in selective liturgy associated investigations or prosecutions against opponents of those in power, because such selective actions

undermine the rule of law. at the heart of this, the allegation that the president ordered a halt to military aid to ukraine until it agreed to dig dirt on a gas company that hunter biden, son of former vice presidentjoe biden, and donald trump's potential 2020 rival, was a director of. next up, bill taylor, the acting ambassador to ukraine, and he says there was such a quid pro quo. by mid-july, it was becoming clear to me that the meeting that president zelensky wanted was conditioned on the investigation of burisma an alleged interference in the ukrainian elections. it seemed to cast doubt on everything and everyone involved in the impeachment enquiry, including the undermining of these lifelong public servants. ambassador taylor, mr kent, i would want —— i would like to welcome you here and congratulate you for passing the democrats star chamber auditions

held for the last weeks in the basement of the capital. it seems you agreed, wittingly or unwittingly, to participate in a drama. impeachment is the mechanism by which a sitting president can be removed from office, for high crimes and misdemeanours. the first stage isa and misdemeanours. the first stage is a vote in the house of representatives, which is to be carried by a simple majority. if thatis carried by a simple majority. if that is carried, the articles of impeachment go to the senate, and here, the president is put on trial, with 100 senators acting as the jury. for donald trump to be removed from office, two thirds of senators would have to find him guilty, a threshold that has never been reached before. on this blockbuster wednesday, donald trump is meeting the president of turkey, president erdogan. i am too busy to watch it, it isa erdogan. i am too busy to watch it, it is a witchhunt, it is a hoax, i am too busy to watch it, i am sure i will get a report. donald trump is railed against the unfairness of the process and has insisted repeatedly

he has done nothing wrong. as things stand it seems 100% certain that donald trump will become only the third american president in history to be impeached, and that is what makes him so angry, he is furious, he does not want that on his cv, but equally, as things stand, it seems there is a 0% chance the republicans will vote to remove him from office. so, what is at stake here, it is that the democrats are trying to persuade the american public through these televised hearings that the president has abused his office and ought to be, and put pressure on republicans. these stakes could not be higher. thank you. a court order protecting the identity of two police officers charged in connection with the death of a former aston villa striker has been lifted by a judge. dalian atkinson died after he was restrained by police and tasered in 2016. west mercia police constable benjamin monk is charged with murder. a second officer, mary

ellen bettley—smith, is charged with assault causing actual bodily harm. inflation has fallen to its lowest level in nearly three years. the annual rise in the cost of living — as measured by the consumer prices index — was 1.5% last month, down from 1.7% in september. the office for national statistics says inflation has been affected by changes to the energy price cap which brought down the cost of gas and electricity. the high court has blocked plans by postal workers to stage a series of strikes before the general election and in the run up to christmas. royal mail brought the case, arguing that the strike ballot by the communication workers' union "was unlawful". emma simpson is here with me. what was the strike about and why has it been ruled unlawful? this dispute is about a huge range of issues, from job security, terms and conditions, to the future direction of the business, now, the

cw you secured a huge mandate for strike action, 97% voted in favour ona strike action, 97% voted in favour on a big turnout. —— cwu. the royal mail said that there was irregularities in the voting process , irregularities in the voting process, members were being pressed into opening ballot papers at work instead of at home, and encouraged to vote yes, contrary to the rules on industrial action. thejudge agreed, they said that what the cwu did was an interference with voting, a subversion of the ballot process. a damning finding from the judge, the union has said it was italy disappointed and intends to appeal. for now, strike action has been hunted, and that has the potential —— that had the potential to be hugely disruptive. —— the union has said that it was bitterly disappointed. well, as we saw earlier, the flooding may be bad in parts of england but venice has also been hit by severe flooding after the highest tide in more than 50 years.

water levels in the canals rose by just over six feet, flooding st mark's basilica for only the sixth time in 1,200 years. our rome correspondent mark lowen reports. italy's city of water has succumbed to it. venice, submerged by its highest tide in over 50 years. six feet, the second—highest since records began. st mark's square, with its byzantine basilica, drowning in water, its 12th century crypt flooded, no word yet on the priceless frescoes and mosaics inside. a city blessed with canals now cursed by them as fierce winds whipped the torrential rain. even the gondolas that glide beneath the rialto couldn't cope. hotels and shops have been hit, the damage will cost hundreds of millions. a floodgate project under way could have saved them but has been plagued by corruption and overspend. translation: they've done nothing.

our politicians are all thieves. they should be injail. translation: everything is damaged. look at what we are living through. there's really something to cry about. some reaped the benefit. a swim with a view. with rising seas and over—tourism, venice is fighting to survive, a city of art and love no match for our changing climate. mark lowen, bbc news. time for a look at the weather. here's nick miller. water everywhere, it seems. and more rain coming to areas that do not wa nt rain coming to areas that do not want any more, that is in the forecast, we will look at that in a moment. first, a rare dry day across many parts of the uk, but this afternoon, that has been changing due to another wales and a bit of si'iow due to another wales and a bit of snow into dartmoor. tomorrow this feeds further north, back into those areas are seeing flooding at the moment. tonight, the

rain band will push east, into more of the midlands, staying with us in wales, producing a bit of snow to the higher peaks, for northern england, northern ireland and scotland, dry, clear weather, england, northern ireland and scotland, dry, clearweather, wintry showers in eastern scotland may turn things icing. —— icy. for much of scotland, northern income, north wales tomorrow, it is going to stay dry with some sunshine, but close to this area of rain, at the very least, risk of disruption, miserable travelling times. clear from south—east england, pivoting across the east midlands, toward south and east yorkshire, not the same rain totals we saw last week, thankfully, but still, further rain could bring problems on another cold day, quite strong winds across the north and we st of strong winds across the north and west of the uk. area of low pressure still close by on friday, though it is weakening, for england and wales

a good deal of cloud around, some outbreaks of rain pushing south, that may pep up later in the day towards east anglia and south england, aired other area staying dry, chilly wind, single figure temperatures. low pressure close by into the weekend as well, that means a lot of cloud around at the very least, a little bit of rain, nowhere looking particularly wet, looking for sunshine, you will struggle, looking for warmth, that is out of the question. details on the website for the weather warnings. that's all from the bbc news at six, so it's goodbye from me, and on bbc one we nowjoin the bbc‘s news teams where you are.

hello, this is bbc news. the headlines. labour pledges to outspend the code tories, with extra cash for the nhs. labour will end austerity to bring waiting lists down, stabilise our accident and emergency services, and deliver the quality cancer care patients deserve. as the army arrived in south yorkshire, the premise of this is people who have suffered in the floods. where have you been? in the worst expected areas, people are expected to be out of their homes for weeks. more rain forecast for tonight and tomorrow in large part of the country. since the government came in in 2010, there

has been a huge allocated to flood defences, but explain we have to do more. royal mail has won its legal battle to prevent postal strikes ahead of the election on christmas. the communications workers union has called the decision and outer outrage. a historic task. democrats say they aim to prove donald trump's actions warrant impeachment, as the first public hearings are under way in russian tendon. —— washington. if this is not impeachable conduct, what is? severe