this is bbc news with the latest headlines for viewers in the uk and around the world. the labour leader sir keir starmer is preparing to reshuffle his team after the party's disappointing performance in the elections — he's already sacked his deputy angela rayner. when the leader of the party on friday says he takes full responsibility for the election result in hartlepool in particular and then scapegoats angie rayner, i think many of us feel that was unfair. nicola sturgeon and the snp win a historic fourth term, as the party sets its sights on a second referendum on scottish independence. the people of scotland have voted for the snp on the strength of offering when the time is right an independence referendum. the priority at the moment is not court cases, it's not independence

legislation, it is recovery from the pandemic. disruption continues on some of britain's busiest rail lines after small cracks are found in some high speed trains. and coming up at 11.30, we'll bring you the latest edition of hardtalk. hello and welcome if you re watching in the uk or around the world. the labour leader, sir keir starmer, is expected to reshuffle his shadow cabinet today. sir keir is facing a furious backlash from some of his mps and members after sacking the deputy leader, angela rayner, as national campaign co—ordinator and chair of the party. labour sources suggested

angela rayner had to take responsibility for what was described as a bungled election campaign. but they stressed she would be offered another role. let's bring you these pictures. this is so kier starmer leaving his home this morning. he this is so kier starmer leaving his home this morning.— this is so kier starmer leaving his home this morning. he didn't have much to say _ home this morning. he didn't have much to say to _ home this morning. he didn't have much to say to reporters. - home this morning. he didn't have much to say to reporters. it - home this morning. he didn't have| much to say to reporters. it follows disappointing elections for the labour party in england particularly, and keir starmer having said he would take responsibility for the results now looked like he's going to change his top team as he is under pressure to start to really turn the tide and fight back against the conservative party. let's speak to our political correspondent iain watson who's in westminster. it sounds like that reshuffle is going to be coming later on today. what is going on, given that sir keir starmer said he would take responsibility? doesn't sound like he is. �* ,

responsibility? doesn't sound like he is. v a' responsibility? doesn't sound like heis. �*, ,, , he is. he's taking responsibility for reshuffling _ he is. he's taking responsibility for reshuffling his _ he is. he's taking responsibility for reshuffling his shadow- he is. he's taking responsibility . for reshuffling his shadow cabinet, we knew there were going to be changing some of the staffing behind the scenes as well, changing the way the scenes as well, changing the way the party operates. there was a feeling i think that the shadow cabinet perhaps in some cases individually but also collectively weren't making a sufficient impact. we will see some of the faces change around labour's top table. because the reshuffle was on its way, for me shall we say a news management point of view it's unfortunate for kier starmer that the news of angela rayner being deprived of her campaigning role came out before any news of what she would be offered in return. so party sources are saying angela rayner will get another front—line post, she retains her post as deputy leader because that selected by the members, but there was indeed a furious backlash, especially from people on the left of the party, when they found out it looks as though she is having to carry the can for the poor election

results and the former shadow chancellorjohn mcdonnell today suggesting sir keir himself was evading responsibility. when the leader of the party on friday says he takes full responsibility for the election result in hartlepool, in particular, and then scapegoats angie rayner, i think many of us feel that was unfair. particularly, as we all know, actually, keir's style of leadership is that his office controls everything centrally. he's very centralised and he controlled the campaign, so i think many of us just think it's really unfair. what public relations genius thought this was a good move on the very day actually we were having successes? andy burnham in manchester, in rotherham, liverpool, salford, marvin in bristol, sadiq in london, the very day we are actually recovering a bit and having successes, then they do this. ijust think it's a huge mistake. john mcdonnell of course was a leading figure in the labour party

during its 2019 defeat, an historic defeat for the party, but he said the difference between him and kier starmer was he owned that defeat himself, owned it personally. the reshuffle perhaps not getting off to the most auspicious of starts but i suppose until we get some names emerging later today we should probably just emerging later today we should probablyjust indulge in some idle speculation. this is what people are talking about in westminster, they are asking whether sir keir starmer as well as promoting rising stars such as wes streeting who seems to perform very well on television, can he attract back some of the big beasts with shadow and actual ministerial experience? people such as yvette cooper and hilary benn for example. and although reshuffles can strengthen party leaders, they can sometimes do the opposite as well. he's doing this under the cloud of worse than expected results for the labour party, so the question is those who perhaps will be losing their shadow ministerial roles or

moved to other roles they feel uncomfortable about, will they stay on board? it could end up with a cabinet that makes more impact, but could in the process create more political enemies. find could in the process create more political enemies.— political enemies. and a lot of eo - le political enemies. and a lot of peeple will — political enemies. and a lot of peeple will say _ political enemies. and a lot of people will say changing - political enemies. and a lot of people will say changing the l people will say changing the personnel is on its own not going to be enough. just sum up the huge facing labour leader. it is be enough. just sum up the huge facing labour leader.— facing labour leader. it is a huge challenae facing labour leader. it is a huge challenge on _ facing labour leader. it is a huge challenge on a _ facing labour leader. it is a huge challenge on a number— facing labour leader. it is a huge challenge on a number of- facing labour leader. it is a huge challenge on a number of fronts. facing labour leader. it is a huge - challenge on a number of fronts. the first challenge is there is no consensus on what to do about the poor election results. already we have seen coming out of the traps people on the left of the party saying in effect there is a vacuum when it came to policy and he should be articulating some of the policies they claim are still popular with voters, including for example nationalisation of more industries. 0n the other hand people such as lord mandelson have been very vocal as well saying what is needed to happen now is the party has to tell

the public it is moving even further away from the jeremy corbyn the public it is moving even further away from thejeremy corbyn era and he thinks the announcement of a policy review, review of the party's policies will help them do that and put some distance between the party and the 20 —— 2019 manifesto. it's likely kier starmer is likely to take that approach but there is no consensus in the party on what he should do. gordon brown's from poster deborah martinson for example has been brought in as director of strategy, the party recognises that its data around polling has been poon its data around polling has been poor, and they will be trying to reconnect more with voters who have lost by moving more staff out into the regions as well, so there will be quite a big approach here but the question is whether kier starmer himself is somebody who, if he can be introduced further post—pandemic to the public, will make an impression, where the people around him will be able to make an impression, and whether he can avoid potentially damaging division if

he's going to move the party away from the policies ofjeremy corbyn. thank you very much. iain watson with the latest from westminster. the cabinet office minister, michael gove, has refused to be drawn on whether the government at westminster would challenge a second scottish independence referendum in the courts. he said the focus of the devolved administration in edinburgh should be the recovery from the pandemic. but the first minister of scotland, nicola sturgeon, warned number ten against using legal arguments. it comes as the prime minister invites the leaders of the devolved nations to a summit on how to recoverfrom the pandemic. it follows another triumphant victory for the snp. let's take a look at the results in scotland. snp are on 64 — up one seat — conservatives in second with 31 seats, labour down two seats on 22, and the greens on eight seats — up two, and lib dems on four — down one seat. which means that there is a majority for independence supporting parties at holyrood.

let's speak now to nick eardley in edinburgh. 0f let's speak now to nick eardley in edinburgh. of course there is a mandate in the sense the majority of msps in that building behind you are pro independence, but what does this mean for nicola sturgeon? when is she going to act? it is complicated, is the short — she going to act? it is complicated, is the short answer. _ she going to act? it is complicated, is the short answer. the _ she going to act? it is complicated, is the short answer. the slightly - is the short answer. the slightly longer one is probably not for a while. i think you will see nicola sturgeon make a very public play in the next couple of days about going back to work and focusing on the big pandemic decisions that she has to make. but there is also two things coming, there is a political battle which is going to be nicola sturgeon saying i have my mandate, you have got to give us another referendum, and the uk government saying no, and potentially after that a legal battle as well over whether the scottish parliament can publish

legislation to hold another referendum and whether that will be challenged by the uk government in the courts. we have been hearing that the two cases that are going to be a big part of scottish and uk politics over the next few years this morning on the bbc. let's bring you first nicola sturgeon speaking to andrew marr about her case for another referendum. i to andrew marr about her case for another referendum.— to andrew marr about her case for another referendum. i haven't been ”lannin another referendum. i haven't been planning for — another referendum. i haven't been planning for a _ another referendum. i haven't been planning for a referendum, - another referendum. i haven't been planning for a referendum, i - another referendum. i haven't been planning for a referendum, i have l planning for a referendum, i have been _ planning for a referendum, i have been focusing on covid but any government has to consult its law officers _ government has to consult its law officers before it brings forward legislation so that will all be part and parcel of what we do. i don't want _ and parcel of what we do. i don't want to— and parcel of what we do. i don't want to lose this point, andrew. no, we hevenl— want to lose this point, andrew. no, we haven't got to the stage of introducing a bill formally but that will he _ introducing a bill formally but that will be part and parcel of the process _ will be part and parcel of the process. what can ijust be clear because — process. what can ijust be clear because i— process. what can ijust be clear because i think it is important we don't _ because i think it is important we don't lose — because i think it is important we don't lose sight of this point. all of this_ don't lose sight of this point. all of this talk— don't lose sight of this point. all of this talk about legality and whether or not the uk government would _ whether or not the uk government would challenge the scottish

government in court misses the point _ government in court misses the point the — government in court misses the point. the people in scotland have voted _ point. the people in scotland have voted for— point. the people in scotland have voted for the snp on the strength of offering _ voted for the snp on the strength of offering when the time is right an independence referendum. and as in 2011 leading up to 2014, any uk government would simply accept that and come _ government would simply accept that and come to an agreement with the scottish— and come to an agreement with the scottish government that put it beyond — scottish government that put it beyond any legal doubt. so scottish government that put it beyond any legal doubt. so that is nicola sturgeon's _ beyond any legal doubt. so that is nicola sturgeon's case. _ beyond any legal doubt. so that is nicola sturgeon's case. the - beyond any legal doubt. so that is nicola sturgeon's case. the uk i nicola sturgeon's case. the uk government isn't getting into the specifics of what a legal challenge might mean if the scottish parliament was to pass a bill for another referendum. i don't think we can read too much into that at this stage to be honest. i think michael gove was trying to avoid talking about it this morning because it would probablyjust increase the sense of division between westminster and edinburgh. but the case you will hear from the uk government is that focus should be completely on the pandemic over the

next few years and the economic recovery, and the case michael gove was making on andrew marr�*s programme this morning was that working together makes that recovery easier. have a listen. you won't take her to court? the first thing _ you won't take her to court? the first thing i— you won't take her to court? the first thing i should say is congratulations to nicola. she has secured _ congratulations to nicola. she has secured a — congratulations to nicola. she has secured a significant election victory— secured a significant election victory and i want to congratulate her on _ victory and i want to congratulate her on that. i also want to take the opportunity— her on that. i also want to take the opportunity to congratulate the new members _ opportunity to congratulate the new members of the scottish parliament who had _ members of the scottish parliament who had been elected, and more diverse _ who had been elected, and more diverse group than ever before representing different traditions and communities in scotland. showing democracy— and communities in scotland. showing democracy in scotland is healthy. the other— democracy in scotland is healthy. the other thing that is critically important is an acknowledgement on the part— important is an acknowledgement on the part of— important is an acknowledgement on the part of all others as political leaders — the part of all others as political leaders whatever parties we come from _ leaders whatever parties we come from that— leaders whatever parties we come from that the priority at the moment is not _ from that the priority at the moment is not court — from that the priority at the moment is not court cases, it is not independence legislation, it is recovery— independence legislation, it is recovery from pandemic. to be fair to nicola _ recovery from pandemic. to be fair to nicola sturgeon, during the course — to nicola sturgeon, during the

course of— to nicola sturgeon, during the course of this election campaign she said that _ course of this election campaign she said that was the single most important thing that we should all be concentrating on, and we should work— be concentrating on, and we should work together as team uk in order to deal the _ work together as team uk in order to deal the pandemic. canl work together as team uk in order to deal the pandemic.— deal the pandemic. can i ask a very straightforward _ deal the pandemic. can i ask a very straightforward philosophical- straightforward philosophical question? is scotland allowed to leave the uk? riff question? is scotland allowed to leave the uk?— question? is scotland allowed to i leave the uk?_ how? leave the uk? of course it is. how? throu~h a leave the uk? of course it is. how? through a legal— leave the uk? of course it is. how? through a legal referendum - leave the uk? of course it is. how? through a legal referendum which l through a legal referendum which would _ through a legal referendum which would allow people to make that choice _ choice. the big debate is choice. — the big debate is how you get that legal referendum. the scottish government under nicola sturgeon is going to argue that their political mandate is there to have it, the uk government is going to say now is not the time. when we are back at westminster i think this will be a big issue over the next few years. the political debate and potentially a legal one too.— a legal one too. indeed. nick eardleyfor— a legal one too. indeed. nick eardley for us _ a legal one too. indeed. nick eardley for us in _ a legal one too. indeed. nick

eardley for us in edinburgh. i with most of the results in the england elections in, so far the conservatives have gained control of 12 more councils while labour lost seven — but it did better in the mayoral elections. eight labour mayors kept theirjobs — including london's sadiq khan — and the party took another two spots from the conservatives. 0ur political correspondent damian grammaticas reports. from london, this was something to lift labour's battered spirits. i therefore declare sadiq aman khan elected as the mayor of london. cheering and applause. 55% of the vote and a second term as mayor. labour holding the capital on the heels of conservative wins in former labour heartlands. the results of the elections around the uk show that our country, and even our city, remain deeply divided. the scars of brexit are yet to heal. a crude culture war is pushing us further apart. there's a growing gap between our cities and towns.

and economic inequality is getting worse. therefore i declare that andy burnham is duly. elected as the mayor- of the greater manchester combined authority. greater manchester was one of seven more mayors�* offices so far retained by labour. and it won the west of england mayor's job from the tories. cambridgeshire and peterborough too. but in the west midlands, labour's challenge failed. conservative cheers here were echoed across england's councils. conservatives have seized control of a dozen local authorities, taking southampton from labour, who also lost overall control of durham for over 100 years. —— for the first time in over 100 years. more than 200 seats gained by conservatives, many in labour's strongholds. there's a lot of work now to do. we've got to finish the job

with covid and that's by no means over, get the remaining 18 million people in the country who haven't been vaccinated to be jabbed. we've got to deal with the challenges, the backlog in the nhs created as a result of the pandemic, the lost hours of children's education, and then, of course, we've got to make good on the promise we made at the general election to level up all parts of the country. from the labour side it's emerged that angela rayner, the deputy leader elected by party members, has been stripped by sir keir starmer of responsibility for running campaigns. so the story of these elections, conservative advances that have left labour questioning what its path forward should be. damian grammaticas, bbc news. the headlines on bbc news... the labour leader sir keir starmer is preparing to reshuffle his team after the party's disappointing performance in the elections — he's already sacked his deputy angela rayner. nicola sturgeon and the snp win a historic fourth term, as the party sets its sights on a second referendum on scottish independence. labour did win a number

of the mayoral contests, including sadiq khan installed for a second term as london's mayor. serious disruption on some of the uk's busiest rail lines continues today after cracks were discovered in some high speed trains. great western railway and london north eastern railway have advised passengers not to travel today. let's speak to our news correspondent sean dilley, who's at king's cross station. are passengers listening to that advice? it are passengers listening to that advice? , ., .,' are passengers listening to that advice? , ., ., advice? it started off almost sookil advice? it started off almost spookily quiet _ advice? it started off almost spookily quiet but _ advice? it started off almost spookily quiet but we - advice? it started off almost spookily quiet but we have l advice? it started off almost | spookily quiet but we have to remember it is a sunday, so probably the best time of the week if there is any for the rail operators. but behind me it has begun to build up in terms of people traffic. 0ne in terms of people traffic. one thing we should say is this is one of the major hubs in london that people travel to from scotland,

newcastle, york, peterborough, so what i would say here is there are trains running. there's plenty of lner staff helping passengers turning up, and there are despite trains running fairly regularly still messages saying there may be disruption as the result of multiple trains being repaired at one time. the question everyone is asking is how long will the disruption last. we heard from robert nisbet on bbc breakfast earlier from the rail delivery group who represent the train operating companies concerned. they said they are working as fast as they can to get the 183 affected hitachi trains that were removed from service yesterday inspected by hitachi engineers ideally by the end of today. but they do say there is no way of saying precisely how long disruption will last but they expect it to last into the week. the advice here is if you really must travel, staff are here to help you. if you

can avoid travelling today, please avoid it, and the message from the rail operators as a whole is they are working with operators have flexibility around your train tickets where you are affected. thank you very much indeed, the latest there from king's cross station. police investigating the death of community support officer julia james have arrested a man in his 20s. the man, from the canterbury area, was arrested on friday and remains in custody. 53—year—old ms james was found dead on 27th april in woodland near dover, having suffered serious head injuries. simonjones is in aylesham. simon, what is the latest on the investigation?— simon, what is the latest on the investigation? this is day 13 of the murder investigation. _ investigation? this is day 13 of the murder investigation. the - investigation? this is day 13 of the murder investigation. the man - investigation? this is day 13 of the l murder investigation. the man who was arrested was detained by kent police at around 9:30pm on friday. he remains in custody this morning and is still being questioned. also this morning there's been a lot of police activity at this house in

aylesham which is not far from the murder scene. we have seen forensic officers going through a skit behind me and we have seen them taking out some paving slabs, and there are a number of officers currently inside the property. the police haven't confirmed who exactly lived here but they have said this search is linked to the murder investigation. julia james was found dead on tuesday of last week. she had been working from home that day. she went for a walk with her dog toby when she was attacked, she was found with severe head injuries. police are continuing to appealfor head injuries. police are continuing to appeal for witnesses, they particularly want to hear from anyone who saw anything suspicious in this area between 1pm and 4:30pm on that tuesday the 27th of april. they also are asking people, did you see someone who made you feel uneasy? perhaps you decided to cross the road or take a different path.

it may seem insignificant but could be important for the investigation. there are hundreds of officers working around the clock. we saw an area of woodland cordoned off and a police officer standing guard there. kent police have asked officers from other forces to help with the investigation. the national crime agency is providing expertise, other forces are sending officers to help with door—to—door inquiries and the surge because this is a very rural area. police have been combing through fields over the last few days and so there is a lot of area to cover, but the police say this is a fast—moving investigation and the man they are questioning is still in custody today. man they are questioning is still in custody today-— man they are questioning is still in custod toda . ,, ., ., ,, , custody today. simon, thank you very much indeed- — tomorrow the prime minister will announce a relaxation in social distancing measures which will permit intimate contact between friends and family. cabinet secretary michael gove said on the andrew marr show this morning that we ll find out when hugging will be allowed in public.

the prime minister will confirm tomorrow that there will be a relaxation. we have already indicated a proportionate relaxation on international travel, very limited at this stage because we had to be safe, and in the same way as we move into stage three of our road map it will be the case we see people capable of meeting indoors. and without prejudice to a broader review of social distancing, it is also the case friendly and intimate contact between friends and family is something we want to see restored. is something we want to see restored-— restored. the 17th of may or thereabouts, _ restored. the 17th of may or thereabouts, hugging, - restored. the 17th of may or thereabouts, hugging, as. restored. the 17th of may or| thereabouts, hugging, as we restored. the 17th of may or - thereabouts, hugging, as we call it. yes. but the director of the oxford vaccine group, professor andrew pollard, the oxford vaccine group, we can consider life without masks. i think there is a future with no more social distancing and no more masks but from a global perspective we are still a long way from that. yes, here in the uk we have had remarkable success through the vaccine programme and so that is getting closer to happening, but

from a global perspective there is such a long way to go. that from a global perspective there is such a long way to go.— such a long way to go. that was professor _ such a long way to go. that was professor andrew _ such a long way to go. that was professor andrew pollard - such a long way to go. that was| professor andrew pollard there. the queen's cousin, prince michael of kent, has been secretly filmed talking about taking large sums of money for access to russian decision—makers. the footage was recorded by undercover reporters from the sunday times and channel four�*s dispatches programme, who were posing as business—people seeking access to kremlin officials. here's our royal correspondent nicholas witchell. he is his royal highness prince michael of kent, a first cousin of the queen. he is not a full—time working royal and does not receive any funding from the public purse. prince michael does, however, have long—standing cultural and other links with russia and it was supposedly to take advantage of those links... ..that two people representing posing as representatives of the south korean company dealing in gold set up a meeting

with the prince. in reality they were reporters with the sunday times and channel 4. they hoped the prince could open doors for them in the kremlin. the fee offered was a generous one. how about the fee, $200,000 us that we offer, was that acceptable? very much so. very good, thank you so much _ very much so. very good, thank you so much is — very much so. very good, thank you so much. , ., i. so much. is it in line with what you normally charge — so much. is it in line with what you normally charge for _ so much. is it in line with what you normally charge for a _ so much. is it in line with what you normally charge for a speech - so much. is it in line with what you normally charge for a speech like l normally charge for a speech like this? , , ., normally charge for a speech like this? , ,., ., ., this? yes, indeed so, i have no questions _ this? yes, indeed so, i have no questions for — this? yes, indeed so, i have no questions for you _ this? yes, indeed so, i have no questions for you on _ this? yes, indeed so, i have no questions for you on that, - this? yes, indeed so, i have no questions for you on that, i'm l this? yes, indeed so, i have no i questions for you on that, i'm very happy _ in a statement, prince michael's officer said he hadn't met president putin since 2003. his representative, the statement said, had made suggestions that prince michael would not have been able to fulfil. buckingham palace declined to comment. nicholas witchell, bbc news. spain has lifted a national state of emergency imposed six months ago to contain the coronavirus pandemic.

the measures included an overnight curfew and restrictions on travel between regions. spain's infection rate has been dropping and is lower than that of many of its european neighbours, but authorities expect a surge in new cases. debris from a chinese rocket that had been hurtling back towards earth at 18,000 miles per hour has reportedly crashed into the indian ocean. the faint spot you can see here is the so—called "space junk" passing over the us state of iowa last night. the united states criticised china for allowing the rocket�*s uncontrolled descent, after fears debris could land on us soil. however, chinese state media says it has now landed harmlessly near the maldives. edinburgh zoo is celebrating the arrival of nine gentoo penguin chicks. staff at the zoo will keep a close eye on the new arrivals as the first month is critical. the first two eggs hatched last week

to parents muffin and mittens, and it is hoped more chicks will emerge in the coming weeks. apparently gentoo chicks weigh around 98 grams when they hatch, which is equivalent to half an avocado. now it's time for a look at the weather with susan powell. hello. some pretty lively weather heading our way through the week ahead. low pressure dominating means there will be some fairly frequent showers, but it also means we will be pulling in airfrom the it also means we will be pulling in air from the atlantic. in contrast to last week, much milder. we will lose the risk of overnight frosts finally. here is the low in question, on sunday with the centre of the low closest to ireland and scotland, here is where we will see most frequent showers. much of england and wales have a dry afternoon. there's a lot of mild air

getting pulled up on southerly wind across the uk but some particularly warm air through the afternoon for east anglia and the south—east of england. we could see temperatures here in the sunshine up to 21 degrees. always a bit more cloud further west, the tail end of the weather front could bring further west, the tail end of the weatherfront could bring heavier showers into the south—west and wales as the afternoon comes to a close. northern ireland and scotland getting the heaviest of the day's showers, some rumbles of thunder possible, some more persistent out for the north west of scotland and some blustery winds. but still milder than yesterday, temperatures in the mid teens. through the evening and overnight, we have got that warm muggy air across the south—east and east anglia. rumbles of thunder and local downpours moving into the early hours of monday, those look like they could even closing on the coast of the north—east of england. 0vernight of

“p north—east of england. 0vernight of up to 12 degrees, but across the board we are frost—free. low pressure still with us on monday potentially pushing up some more persistent rain to the north—east of scotland. i think that will head towards the northern isles though, this area of heavy rain, as monday shapes up. towards the west the centre still rolling away to the west of ireland, that means more showers for northern ireland and scotland through the day. more hit and miss across england and wales but they will be the odd sharper one. still breezy, cooler in the south—east but temperatures around average for the time of year which is doing better than we have done in the last week or so. and that sets the last week or so. and that sets the tone for the rest of the week, it stays showery with temperatures sitting in the mid—teens.

hello this is bbc news.

the headlines: the labour leader sir keir starmer is preparing to reshuffle his team after the party's disappointing performance in the elections — he's already sacked his deputy angela rayner. nicola sturgeon warns the westminster government against using legal arguments to prevent a second independence referendum, after a fourth consecutive victory for the snp. disruption continues on some of britain's busiest rail lines, after small cracks are found in some high speed trains. now on bbc news, it is time for hardtalk. welcome to hardtalk, i'm stephen sackur. month by month, us president joe biden is shifting away from trump—era foreign policy positions. but how dramatic will the pivot be? in the middle east, there are signs of a changed

approach to the region's two oil—rich adversaries