this is bbc news — these are the latest headlines in the uk and around the world. i hereby declare that kim leadbeater is elected! _ labour narrowly win the batley and spen by—election byjust 323 votes. the seat was won by kim leadbeater — sister ofjo cox who represented the area until she was murdered in 2016. i'm absolutely delighted that the people of batley and spen have rejected division and they've voted for hope. the german chancellor, angela merkel, is in the uk today for talks with hopes that strict quarantine rules for britons travelling to the eu will be eased. the last us troops leave bagram — their main base in afghanistan —

heralding the end of almost two decades of military engagement in the country. anger over a proposed 1% pay rise — senior doctors in england will be consulted on possible industrial action if there's no improved offer. the family of saskia jones — who was murdered by a convicted terrorist at a prisoner rehabilitation conference near london bridge — speak about the impact of her death. people need to know what has actually happened here, the enormity of what has happened and what a devastating effect it has had on ourfamily and a number of other people. and not even a teenager yet — 12—year—old sky brown is set to become britain's youngest summer olympian of all time — after being named in the team gb skateboarding squad.

hello and welcome if you're watching in the uk or around the world. labour has narrowly won the batley and spen by—election in west yorkshire. the new mp — kim leadbeater — now represents the seat previously held by her sister, jo cox, who was murdered in the constituency in 2016. the result will ease pressure on labour leader sir keir starmer after recent election defeats for his party. ms leadbeater saw the party's majority cut from more than three—and—a—half thousand to 323, after a strong challenge from the conservative candidate ryan stephenson. the former labour and respect mp george galloway, who had targeted labour voters, came in third. our political correspondent nick eardley reports.

i do hereby declare that kim michelle leadbeater is duly elected. it was the narrowest of wins. but one that was met with a mighty sense of relief by labour. kim leadbeater is the new mp here. beating her conservative rival byjust over 300 votes. but in a seat many thought would turn blue overnight, labour are delighted. the campaign here has been heated, with allegations of harassment, and the police sometimes accompanying candidates. the new mp said she wanted to heal some of the divisions. i will do my very best to represent the whole of batley and spen as their new mp. i'm absolutely delighted that the people of batley and spen have rejected division and they have voted for hope. this result has extra significance for kim leadbeater. her sister, jo cox, used to be the mp here. she was murdered in 2016 by a far right extremist.

it is inevitable not to think aboutjo and mum and dad and particularlyjo�*s children. obviously, as i said before, it was a very big decision to put myself forward. it has been a very emotional campaign and today is very emotional for me for lots of reasons, but if i can be half the mp thatjo was, i know that i will do her proud and my family proud. fingers crossed that i do a fantasticjob just as she did. we are all incredibly proud of what kim has done. she was incredibly brave to step forward into it, not just around the sort of security side of things, given what happened to jo, but also the context of a very bruising and a pretty horrible campaign at times, and to put yourself into that, to try to keep positive, to try to keep a vision focused on what you want to change and how you bring people together, i think she has done amazing. win or lose, i would have been just as proud of her.

the result is also a massive relief for the labour leader. keir starmer has faced pressure in recent weeks over his strategy. if labour had lost, the criticism would have increased. and some think his job would have been in question. but instead, his allies say if this was a referendum on his leadership he has won. nick eardley, bbc news, batley and spen. ms leadbeater said: "the focus of the campaign was very much listening to local people." but she also said it was marred by personal abuse and allegations of dirty tricks. we need to do politics better. we need to do politics differently. there is no place for abuse, intimidation, you know, for me personally, but actually for the people who were campaigning with me. we've had things thrown at people, we've had an assault, you know, someone's been arrested. that's not what we need in our communities, what we need in our country.

and if i canjust work a little bit through this role to try and improve things and try and show a different way then i think that's really important. and you didn't name george galloway directly in that tweet last night but was that directed at him and his party or was it a broader message? i think there's a broader message around how we do politics and what's acceptable and what's unacceptable. but there are certainly individuals during this campaign who have yeah, in my view, overstepped the mark of what's acceptable. after victory, is there a message for those people? yeah, the message now is let's think about you know the way we want our country to be run, the way we want our politics to be done. let's think about, you know, what it means to people. the big thing for me as well is the number of people who don't vote, you know, so many peoplejust, and that's just because they disengaged with it. so we have to think about how we can reconnect with people who haven't had, i don't know what the turnout was but it wasn't great. it was less than 50%. for those 50% of people that stayed at home, i don't blame them for not coming out and voting when they see

some of the scenes that they've seen over the last few weeks. so let's think about how we can make politics more relatable and we can engage people with it more. what is going to be your first priority for the constituency? the first priority is to start getting people together. that's my big thing, that's one of the things i'm good at so all the stuff we've talked about, crime and anti—social behaviour, whether it's the state of the roads, who are the people who can make a difference, who are the people who can act on these things. let's get the councillors together, let's get the police involved, let's look at where we can get some funding. you know, get people around the table and have those conversations. and do you think the conservatives took their foot off the pedal and maybe thought this one, after hartlepool, was perhaps in the bag? i think the conservatives were kind of hoping that someone else would do the work for them. but listen, they've been nothing but respectful throughout the campaign and i think that's really important to say as well. as have the lib dems. and other candidates. so i think it's been a very civilised campaign and i respect ryan stephenson and his team for the way that they've conducted themselves. and just finally, how do you feel going to the house of

commons next week? and following on from wherejo left off five years ago? it's really emotional, of course it is. i've just spoken to mum and dad and as a family, this is a huge deal. it's massive but if i can be half as good an mp asjo was then i will be very proud of that. that was kim leadbeater the victorious candidate. let's talk to our political correspondent. this was not a typical by—election, lots of different local issues raised, what are the wider political implications that you think we can draw from this result? you implications that you think we can draw from this result?— draw from this result? you are absolutely _ draw from this result? you are absolutely right. _ draw from this result? you are absolutely right. local- draw from this result? you are absolutely right. local factorsl draw from this result? you are i absolutely right. local factors are always a big thing in by—elections and certainly here, the role of kim leadbeater has been pretty significant as both a local person and somebody who obviously has the link to jo and somebody who obviously has the link tojo cox, the former mp here. but i think nationally, this gives sir keir starmer a bit of breathing

space. we've seen over the last few weeks a number of questions asked by some of his internal critics, particularly from the left of the labour party, about his direction, we've seen some actually who backed him to be the labour leader, questioning whether he's had enough of a vision, whether he's done enough to win over voters. this result today gives him as i say a bit of breathing room because had it gone the other way, i think we would have been asking completely different questions about the labour leader �*s future, he would have been under a lot of pressure. there is even talk of potentially some sort of leadership challenge from the left of the party, all of that will disappear i think into the background for a little while at least. it gives keir starmer the chance to say look, this is working in marginal places like batley and spen, we can still hold on and it's worth bearing in mind although the majority here was reduced, there were a number of factors that were

actually working against the labour party locally. you had the fact that george galloway stood, it was targeting the asian community here which is traditionally voted for the labour party, despite the fact he won a thousand votes, labour managed to hang on. the results of the fact last time back in 2019, there was an independent candidate who had been the ukip chairman here, it was thought many of his votes might go to the conservative party but it doesn't seem like that panned out so the labour party will be mightily relieved that they've held on here. it gives keir starmer the chance to say to his internal critics, we are doing 0k say to his internal critics, we are doing ok but don't think that is drawing a line under the matter. keir starmer is still under a lot of pressure from his party to deliver and really set out more of a vision. nick eardley, thank you. let's explore some of what nick was

talking about, we canjoin explore some of what nick was talking about, we can join the labour mp diane abbott who joins me from east london and a very good morning to you! thank you for joining us. keir starmer has said after this result this result shows labour at its best, this isjust the start. is this a real victory for keir starmer?— start. is this a real victory for keir starmer? it's a great result, it is a great _ keir starmer? it's a great result, it is a great result _ keir starmer? it's a great result, it is a great result for _ keir starmer? it's a great result, it is a great result for the - keir starmer? it's a great result, it is a great result for the people| it is a great result for the people are batley and spen and a great result for the people who led the campaign on the ground because in a tight campaign like that, every door unicorn counts and above that it is a great result for kim leadbeater and we are all very happy because we are socialists. but and we are all very happy because we are socialists.— are socialists. but is this a victory for _ are socialists. but is this a victory for keir _ are socialists. but is this a victory for keir starmer, i are socialists. but is this a i victory for keir starmer, that are socialists. but is this a - victory for keir starmer, that is my question. it victory for keir starmer, that is my cuestion. , . victory for keir starmer, that is my cuestion. . ., , victory for keir starmer, that is my cuestion. . ., question. it is a victory for the labour movement _ question. it is a victory for the labour movement and - question. it is a victory for the labour movement and the - question. it is a victory for the i labour movement and the labour movement is what it is all about. but he is the leader of the labour movement, why are you not agree on for me that it is a victory for keir starmer? ~ , ., , ., for me that it is a victory for keir

starmer? ~ , ., y., , ,, for me that it is a victory for keir starmer? ~ , ., , ,, ., starmer? why are you pressing on that point? — starmer? why are you pressing on that point? what _ starmer? why are you pressing on that point? what we _ starmer? why are you pressing on that point? what we need - starmer? why are you pressing on that point? what we need to - starmer? why are you pressing on that point? what we need to do i starmer? why are you pressing on i that point? what we need to do now is the labour party, as a movement, is the labour party, as a movement, is stay together, move forward and focus on getting the policy of her right. and it would be a mistake in my view to abandon the policy is in 2017, 2019, which were so popular. thejeremy 2017, 2019, which were so popular. the jeremy corbyn 2017, 2019, which were so popular. thejeremy corbyn policies? do you thinkjeremy corbyn �*s labour party would have done better than keir starmer in this constituency by—election? ! starmer in this constituency inf-election?— starmer in this constituency b -election? . , ., ., ~ by-election? i am trying to talk about policy. — by-election? i am trying to talk about policy, not _ by-election? i am trying to talk about policy, not about - by-election? i am trying to talkj about policy, not about people, by-election? i am trying to talk. about policy, not about people, it is a real westminsterjournalist thing to make it about who is up and down and individuals. i am talking about the movement and the policies that will take us forward to win at the next general election. thea;e that will take us forward to win at the next general election. they were the next general election. they were the olicies the next general election. they were the policies of _ the next general election. they were the policies of jeremy _ the next general election. they were the policies of jeremy corbyn - the next general election. they were the policies of jeremy corbyn which l the policies ofjeremy corbyn which were catastrophic from labour �*s point of view, defeated at the last election. ., . ., ., ~ election. you are determined to make this about individuals, _

election. you are determined to make this about individuals, it's _ election. you are determined to make this about individuals, it's a _ election. you are determined to make this about individuals, it's a real- this about individuals, it's a real westminsterjournalist this about individuals, it's a real westminster journalist thing. this about individuals, it's a real westminsterjournalist thing. let's talk about the labour group, let's talk about the labour group, let's talk about the labour group, let's talk about kim leadbeater who fought an incredible campaign against the kind of homophobia unleashed by some of her opponents. and let's talk about the sort of policies people want to hear about and can actually save this country from this appalling tory government. keir starmer is _ appalling tory government. keir starmer is the _ appalling tory government. keir starmer is the leader of your party, he is your party leader, do you actually have confidence in keir starmer is the leader of the labour party? ! starmer is the leader of the labour pa ? ., ., starmer is the leader of the labour pa ? . ., .,, starmer is the leader of the labour pa ? . ., ., party? i am somebody who wants to su ort party? i am somebody who wants to suoport the — party? i am somebody who wants to support the leader _ party? i am somebody who wants to support the leader of _ party? i am somebody who wants to support the leader of the _ party? i am somebody who wants to support the leader of the labour - support the leader of the labour party, i don't want to do to keir starmer what the right of the party did tojeremy corbyn and make it about an individual. i want to talk about an individual. i want to talk about the party, the policies and i want to talk about how we all go forward together. 50 want to talk about how we all go forward together.— want to talk about how we all go forward together. so the question was do you _ forward together. so the question was do you have _ forward together. so the question was do you have confidence - forward together. so the question was do you have confidence in - forward together. so the question l

was do you have confidence in keir starmer, yes or no? i was do you have confidence in keir starmer, yes or no?— starmer, yes or no? i have confidence — starmer, yes or no? i have confidence in _ starmer, yes or no? i have confidence in the - starmer, yes or no? i have confidence in the party - starmer, yes or no? i havej confidence in the party and starmer, yes or no? i have. confidence in the party and i starmer, yes or no? i have - confidence in the party and i will support the leadership of the party, i will not do to keir starmer what some of the people who are not supporting him did tojeremy corbyn and i will put it to you, wouldn't it be better for the people of batley and spen if we spoke about how we can go forward in the kind of policies, whether it's what's happening with coronavirus, unemployment, education, it's about the type of policies that will help communities like batley and spen. ! communities like batley and spen. i put it to you, wouldn't it be better to simply answer a very simple question, do you have confidence in keir starmer is the leader of the labour party? ! keir starmer is the leader of the labour party?— labour party? i will never do to keir starmer _ labour party? i will never do to keir starmer what _ labour party? i will never do to keir starmer what the - labour party? i will never do to keir starmer what the right - labour party? i will never do to keir starmer what the right of l labour party? i will never do to i keir starmer what the right of the party did tojeremy corbyn and you won't make me do it. what party did to jeremy corbyn and you won't make me do it.— won't make me do it. what do you think about _ won't make me do it. what do you think about what _ won't make me do it. what do you think about what lord _ won't make me do it. what do you think about what lord mandelsonl won't make me do it. what do you i think about what lord mandelson has been saying, peter mandelson. he said today elements of thejeremy

corbyn left seemed far too eager for george galloway �*s presents to result in a blow for keir starmer �*s leadership in batley and spen, while others were campaigning, they were conspiring, they should now stop their whispering and stop their agitation. their whispering and stop their aritation. . �* , their whispering and stop their aritation. . �*, , ., , , agitation. that's complete nonsense. eve one agitation. that's complete nonsense. everyone knows _ agitation. that's complete nonsense. everyone knows what _ agitation. that's complete nonsense. everyone knows what george - agitation. that's complete nonsense. l everyone knows what george galloway is. i wasn't conspiring with george galloway, people were on conspiring, thatis galloway, people were on conspiring, that is complete nonsense from peter mandelson and what he wants to do is talk about how we all come together and the policies we need to go forward. ~ , ., and the policies we need to go forward. ~ ,., .., , , ., forward. were you conspiring to get the deu forward. were you conspiring to get the deputy leader _ forward. were you conspiring to get the deputy leader angela _ forward. were you conspiring to get the deputy leader angela rayner i forward. were you conspiring to get the deputy leader angela rayner to | the deputy leader angela rayner to become the new leader of the party? no, i was not. you don't want anyone else to be the leader of the party at the moment? i’m else to be the leader of the party at the moment?— at the moment? i'm not up for conspiracies. _ at the moment? i'm not up for conspiracies, i'm _ at the moment? i'm not up for conspiracies, i'm not— at the moment? i'm not up for conspiracies, i'm not up - at the moment? i'm not up for conspiracies, i'm not up for. at the moment? i'm not up for i conspiracies, i'm not up for talking about individuals, i am up for talking about how the party moved forward from this great result to win at the next general election. and to win at the next general election with keir starmer as your

leader? . �* , . . election with keir starmer as your leader? . �* , ., ., ., leader? that's a matter for the -a as leader? that's a matter for the party as a _ leader? that's a matter for the party as a whole. _ leader? that's a matter for the party as a whole, what - leader? that's a matter for the party as a whole, what i - leader? that's a matter for the party as a whole, what i am i party as a whole, what i am saying... party as a whole, what i am saying- - -— party as a whole, what i am sa in... �* ., ., ., saying... but you are a leading part ofthe saying... but you are a leading part of the party — saying... but you are a leading part of the party so _ saying... but you are a leading part of the party so what _ saying... but you are a leading part of the party so what you _ saying... but you are a leading part of the party so what you say - of the party so what you say matters. . �* , of the party so what you say matters— of the party so what you say matters. . �*, , ., of the party so what you say matters. ., �*, , ., ., matters. that's why i am careful not to do to keir — matters. that's why i am careful not to do to keir starmer _ matters. that's why i am careful not to do to keir starmer who _ matters. that's why i am careful not to do to keir starmer who some i matters. that's why i am careful not to do to keir starmer who some of l to do to keir starmer who some of the people supporting him, including mandelson... ! the people supporting him, including mandelson---— mandelson... i am sure keir starmer would love — mandelson... i am sure keir starmer would love to — mandelson... i am sure keir starmer would love to hear _ mandelson... i am sure keir starmer would love to hear you _ mandelson... i am sure keir starmer would love to hear you say _ mandelson... i am sure keir starmer would love to hear you say i - mandelson... i am sure keir starmer would love to hear you say i will- would love to hear you say i will support him and he will be leader at the next election.— the next election. what i am saying is the important _ the next election. what i am saying is the important thing _ the next election. what i am saying is the important thing at _ the next election. what i am saying is the important thing at this - the next election. what i am saying is the important thing at this pointl is the important thing at this point is the important thing at this point is look at the policies, build on what was popular in the policies of 2017 and 2019 and move forward to win at the next general election, whenever that might be and it might come sooner than we all think. viewers watching it now might say, labour is still as hopelessly divided as it always was, why should i vote for this party?— i vote for this party? because that's the _ i vote for this party? because that's the message _ i vote for this party? because that's the message you're i i vote for this party? because i that's the message you're trying to get across and i'm trying to talk to about people of batley and spen and policies and moving forward and you

are wanting to bank that westminster journalist drumm about divided parties. i don't think that's really what people want to hear. they want to hear about policy, they want to hear about how we are going to defeat the tories at the next general election and what you need to distinguish is about what westminsterjournalists to distinguish is about what westminster journalists want to talk about and what people out there, in the middle, still, one of the greatest public health crisis of my lifetime, what they want to hear about. , ., ~ , ., ,, lifetime, what they want to hear about. , ., ~ ., ,, lifetime, what they want to hear about. ., ,, about. diane abbott, thank you so much forjoining _ about. diane abbott, thank you so much forjoining us. _ conservative party chair amanda milling said that the story around former health secretary matt hancock was a topic that "came up on the doorstep" during the by—election campaign in batley & spen. i will be honest with you, the issue with matt did come up on the doorstep. but it was a whole wide range

of different issues. we have to come back to the fact that governing partiesjust don't gain by—elections. it is unprecedented to do so, and it was unprecedented in hartlepool. do you want to tell us about how that came up, presumably in a non-positive way? you know, that was an issue that was coming a _ particularly at the weekend but it was right that matt hancock resigned and we have a new health secretary. do you want to flesh out what you meant when you said it came up on the doorstep? what were people saying? look, it was one of a number | of different dishes that came up but | obviously people have made many, many sacrifices over the last 12 months or so. and you know, they've been frustrated by the impact the virus has had on our lives but as a government, we are totally focused on getting those vaccines rolled out so we can't get life back to normal.

that was the conservative perspective on the result in batley and spen. let's get some more analysis of results, lewis is with us for some details. the analysis of results, lewis is with us for some details.— us for some details. the labour party has _ us for some details. the labour party has pulled _ us for some details. the labour party has pulled off _ us for some details. the labour party has pulled off what - us for some details. the labour party has pulled off what a i us for some details. the labour party has pulled off what a fewl us for some details. the labour i party has pulled off what a few days ago pundits said was a lost cause, holding onto batley and spen in west yorkshire. it was a narrow sliver of a victory, let's look. the majority was way down. labour at 35.3%. 34.4% of the conservatives, george galloway with 21.9%, the lib dems lost their deposit on 3.3%. there were two factors which made people think this would not happen for labour, the first was george galloway standing, targeting the british muslim vote in the constituency which is sizeable. many assumed he would bleed into the labour vote and add into that, go back to 2019, the general election,

another independent candidate in the seat, they did very well, pro brexit, without him standing, it was assumed his boat would bolster the conservative vote, put those together with the fact the conservatives are pulling very well nationally and many assumed a tory victory was in the bag but it did not happen so why not? let's look at the change in vote from 2019, the labour vote down by 7.4%, conservatives down 1.6%, liberal democrats down by 1.3%, why? george galloway is not on the graph but his vote is up a great deal, three things to say. the first, the fact that labour won and george galloway got so many votes suggests labour �*s victory is more impressive than the headline majority might suggest. without george galloway standing it would have meant probably labour would have meant probably labour would have meant probably labour would have had a bigger victory. second, labourwon would have had a bigger victory. second, labour won despite leaking a lot of votes to george galloway suggests they might have done better

with traditional boat in the constituency, maybe with potential tory switchers, certainly with the liberal democrats who appeared to vote tactically, it is important given the small majority. the labour operation got the vote out successfully and what's behind that? kim leadbeater herself, local candidate, much respected locally, the conservative lead nationally still pretty gaping in the polls, has importantly narrowed a touch in recent weeks, perhaps as a result of the matt hancock affair, perhaps the vaccine shy becoming less lustrous for the government. this has been a labour seat since 1997, it is the 11th year of a conservative government, in one form or another, they ought not to be in contention at all but we saw a swing from the labour party to the conservatives of 2.9%, you see, the vote holding up pretty well, that happened that a general election labour would lose seats elsewhere, but you must treat this with caution because the presence of george galloway distorts the picture a little. keir starmer

has tweeted, a relieved man today, fantastic result for the brilliant and brave kim leadbeater but this doesn't solve his problems, after hartlepool he could not afford another loss, this has brought and bought him time and breathing space come into the summer, party conference season, to rethink and consider his strategy and boris johnson, he remains dominant in many ways, this result alongside the chesham and amersham result tells us there are limits to that dominance, something which we did not know for certain only a few weeks ago. lewis gooule, certain only a few weeks ago. lewis google. thank— certain only a few weeks ago. lewis google, thank you. _ the headlines on bbc news... labour narrowly win the batley and spen by—election byjust 323 votes. the seat was won by kim leadbeater, sister ofjo cox, who represented the area until she was murdered in 2016. the german chancellor, angela merkel, is in the uk today for talks, with hopes that strict quarantine rules for britons travelling to the eu will be eased. the last us troops leave bagram,

their main base in afghanistan, heralding the end of almost two decades of military engagement in the country. us defence officials in afghanistan say the last troops have left bag, their main military base in afghanistan. a ceremony marking the formal handover of the air base which is north of the capital will take place on saturday. president joe biden has promised all american troops will leave by the symbolic date of september the 11th. 0ur correspondent is in campbell and is following developments. bag ram air base was a symbol of the us military might in this country. 30 miles

north auth where i am in kabul, it was the us forces, they went there in december 2001, it was developed into a huge station which could have the capacity to have as many as 10,000 people there, in fact at the peak of the us led war in this country, thousands of forces were stationed at the bagram airbase and a bustling city grew around it. there was a hospital at the base. there's also detention facilities for those taken in by us and foreign troops there as well. and so today, all us and other coalition forces leaving this station is a very symbolic moment, it's a significant milestone in the wrapping up of foreign military operations in afghanistan. let's bring you some details on

coronavirus cases in the uk, public health england has said there are 161,981 confirmed and probable cases of the covid—19 delta variant identified in the uk. up byjust over 50,000 or 46% in the previous week. and it comes alongside new vaccine hesitancy data published by the office for national statistics this morning. it's found more than nine in ten adults or 96% in great britain report positive sentiment towards the coronavirus vaccine, 1t% reported some kind of vaccine hesitancy, that is on data collected between the 26th of may on the 20th ofjune, down slightly from the previous period between the 28th of april and the 23rd of may when vaccine hesitancy was 6%. the highest rate of hesitancy was in black or black british adults at 18%.

borisjohnson will meet with chancellor angela merkel today, on her last visit to the uk as head of the german government. coronavirus travel restrictions are expected to be high on the agenda. it comes as mrs merkel reportedly wants to ban uk tourists from entering the european union because of concerns over the delta variant. mrs merkel will also become the first world leader since bill clinton in 1997 to address the british cabinet. with me in the studio is our correspondent sanchia berg. there's a whole idea of the british people could travel to the eu, and how easily they could travel, that's very much up for discussion when angela merkel meets borisjohnson. that's right, for british people wanting to travel to europe, germany is one of the more difficult countries because even if you are double vaccinated you must

quarantine for 1h days. angela merkel has been encouraging other eu countries to follow suit because there is great concern about delta variant. but there is some suggestion in the times newspaper that actually germany might be ready to relax its restrictions and their four other european countries would follow which would be a great thing for the prime minister and clearly, something he is going to try and move towards.— something he is going to try and move towards. also suggestions in another paper. _ move towards. also suggestions in another paper, the _ move towards. also suggestions in another paper, the telegraph, i move towards. also suggestions in i another paper, the telegraph, saying european holidays could be off limits to millions of british people who have had the astrazeneca champ but the one made in india, what more can you tell us? this but the one made in india, what more can you tell us?— can you tell us? this is all to do with the digital— can you tell us? this is all to do with the digital passport - can you tell us? this is all to do with the digital passport that i can you tell us? this is all to do. with the digital passport that you have, that allow you to travel to europe in the first place and then to travel freely within europe, crossing european borders. so the european covid certificate this digital covid certificate is the tool that will allow you to travel within europe and the daily

telegraph says this does not recognise the astrazeneca that is made in india and particular batch numbers which are listed in the daily telegraph are those indian batches. and while those, if you look at the nhs covid app, the travel pass that allows you to go to europe in the first place, the government says all astrazeneca vaccines are of the same and they are all listed in the same way on that nhs app, there is this suggestion that once the nhs app meets the eu app, badge numbers will be uploaded and that will mean you won't be able to travel freely or even go to europe in the first place. even go to europe in the first lace. �* , . even go to europe in the first lace, �* , ., , even go to europe in the first lace. �* , ., , ., place. and 'ust a brief word, the last word place. and just a brief word, the last word on _ place. and just a brief word, the last word on angela _ place. and just a brief word, the last word on angela merkel, i place. and just a brief word, the last word on angela merkel, herj place. and just a brief word, the i last word on angela merkel, her last visit as i said to britain as german leader, she's been leaderfor a very long time and part of the sword of honour of this last visit is that she will address the british cabinet but also meet the queen as well at

windsor castle. she but also meet the queen as well at windsor castle.— windsor castle. she has met the queen before _ windsor castle. she has met the queen before of _ windsor castle. she has met the queen before of course, - windsor castle. she has met the queen before of course, she i windsor castle. she has met the| queen before of course, she said through her spokesman she was excited and honoured by the chance to spend some more time with the queen and i guess this is representative of these tours that she is making, her valedictory tour, if you like, a last chance to meet the queen, and meet other world leaders as well. i the queen, and meet other world leaders as well.— leaders as well. i wonder if they will talk about _ leaders as well. i wonder if they will talk about the _ leaders as well. i wonder if they will talk about the football! i leaders as well. i wonder if they i will talk about the football! thank you so much. from today, travellers from the uk visiting spain will have to show proof of being double vaccinated or a negative pcr test. the spanish government's new requirements apply to passengers from the uk aged 12 and over. mainland spain is currently on the government's amber list — meaning people returning to the uk must quarantine at home for ten days. australia is halving the number of people allowed into the country from overseas,

following leaks in its covid quarantine system. the weekly intake will be cut to around 3,000 people — and residents remain banned from leaving the country. nearly half the population — more than 12 million people — are now under stay—at—home orders. the government has come under increasing pressure over its vaccine rollout, with only around 7% of the population fully vaccinated. the prime minister scott morrison has been explaining the new restrictions. to temporarily reduce passenger arrivals to 50% on current caps, to reduce pressure on quarantine facilities, and reduce the increase risks of the delta strain of the virus. while the reduction of those caps will certainly, right across the system, take some pressure off, as we have observed over the course of the past 18 months, that alone does not provide any fail—safe regarding any potential breaches. we have seen breaches occur,

predominantly as a result of infection control procedures, human error and so on and those issues need to continue to be strengthened. the australian prime minister. our correspondent in sydney, shaimma khalil is following developments. the idea, the prime minister said, is to ease the pressure on the quarantine system. this has been one of australia's biggest defence is to control the spread of covid—19. this and the tight border restrictions. but virus leaks from hotel quarantine systems have been the reasons behind a number of outbreaks here and as the country to the government scrambles to control the delta variant that has spread across the country, with the biggest cluster being here in sydney where i am, we are still under lockdown for another week. there is a four phase pathway, if you will, with the endgame, coming back to normal. the first one is what we are in right

now, and the decision to cut the number of international arrivals from around 6500 to nowjust over 3000. and i can tell you if you are an australian stranded overseas and you have been trying to come back home for the weeks and months before, this is not the news you want to wake up to. lets get more and our were mae news, the labour party holding onto the seat of batley spent in yesterday's by—election with kim leadbeater taking the seat with a hugely reduced majority down from three and a half thousand down to just 323 after a strong challenge from the conservatives. we can get some analysis from the professor of political science jane green from nuffield college at the university of oxford. thank you for being with us. what can you read nationally in terms of uk politics from this by—election result? because it was quite a specific constituency with

very specific local issues that were very specific local issues that were very dominant. very specific local issues that were very dominant-— very specific local issues that were very dominant. precisely that. it, a remarkable — very dominant. precisely that. it, a remarkable context _ very dominant. precisely that. it, a remarkable context and _ very dominant. precisely that. it, a remarkable context and candidate. very dominant. precisely that. it, a i remarkable context and candidate and a really quite remarkable campaign, for good and for bad. so it's really difficult to read across, i think, from this constituency result to other constituencies, particularly thinking about labour's national problem. what is their national problem? it is that the labour party risks losing votes on the brexit side, the conservatives have been more effective on unifying the leave vote. there was some question in batley and spen as to whether that would happen. but in batley and spen, those who had voted for ukip, many thought they would go straight to the independent standing, but we did not understand fully who those voters were perhaps they wanted a local candidate. on the other side of the labour problem is splitting the vote on the left. this was very

particular in batley and spen. we had the george galloway campaign and many thought he was solely appealing to muslim labour voters and i think it was much more complicated than that. very likely we will never really know because we don't have the ability to at the photos and what caused people to switch and we have to be careful in reading too much into it. but i think labour still has the same problem nationally, but it might have a different form. it might be that the labour vote splits to the lib dems or the greens, and brexit party voters in 2019 don't have them as an option in a future general election. kim leadbeater was a very popular local campaigner. the only local candidate. and hugely emotive and significant and symbolic in batley and spen. it is a great result for labour, and i think it's remarkable given the challenges they were up against in batley and spen but i

think they also have to really look at this result and say, what was it that managed to get people to vote for kim leadbeater and can they replicate that in the future? i think we will have to wait and see if they can do that. you think we will have to wait and see if they can do that.— if they can do that. you mention geora e if they can do that. you mention george galloway, _ if they can do that. you mention george galloway, he _ if they can do that. you mention george galloway, he got - if they can do that. you mention george galloway, he got quite l if they can do that. you mention george galloway, he got quite aj if they can do that. you mention i george galloway, he got quite a few thousand votes. most analysts seem to think that most of those votes would have gone to labour, so actually they would have had a much healthier majority had he not been running. healthier ma'ority had he not been runninu. , _ ., running. yes, quite possibly, and also uuite running. yes, quite possibly, and also quite possibly _ running. yes, quite possibly, and also quite possibly he _ running. yes, quite possibly, and also quite possibly he might i running. yes, quite possibly, and also quite possibly he might have gained votes from brexit party supporters. and also had he not run there might not have been a backlash against that by perhaps a more moderate conservatives, may be conservative remainers or liberal democrat voters who didn't vote for the lib dems but in this instance voted for the labour party. so that aspect of the campaign has thrown up lots of uncertainties. i think labour still has questions to answer about why it was seen during the

campaign many people looked to george galloway as an alternative. labour has to think about its appeal to muslim voters and other voters who supported george galloway. like i say, george galloway was labour's potential problem in batley and spen. that doesn't mean that if george galloway isn't in another constituency where there might be a lib dems recovery that labour doesn't have a potential challenge among its traditional voters and indeed it has lost voters in recent elections to the conservative party, especially those labour voters who supported leave. labour's predicament prevails but i think they nevertheless deserves, and kim leadbeater deserves credit for the win, and it was against expectations, meaning it has additional political significance. very briefly, there was a lot of talk before the by—election that if labour had lost it could have been curtains for labour leader keir starmer. they won, so does that mean he is safe for now? blew; starmer. they won, so does that mean he is safe for now?—

he is safe for now? very likely. it is difficult — he is safe for now? very likely. it is difficult to — he is safe for now? very likely. it is difficult to mount _ he is safe for now? very likely. it is difficult to mount a _ he is safe for now? very likely. it is difficult to mount a challenge l is difficult to mount a challenge against a leader who has fought off such a challenge, whether or not it is due to him of course will be the question. i don't think the question is will disappearfor question. i don't think the question is will disappear for labour and question. i don't think the question is will disappearfor labour and i don't think they will disappear for keir starmer. but this has brought him more time to address them going forward. . ., him more time to address them going forward. ., ,, , ., him more time to address them going forward. ., ,, y., ., him more time to address them going forward. . ~' ,. ., ,. him more time to address them going forward. ., ,, y., ., y., ., forward. thank you for your time and anal sis. rescuers in miami have resumed searching in the rubble of an apartment block that collapsed last week. so far, 18 people have been confirmed dead and 140 people are still unaccounted for. on a visit to the scene yesterday, us presidentjoe biden said he was still hopeful of finding life in the rubble. sophie long has this report. how are you? president biden thanking the rescue workers who've been searching for survivors day and night. he also spent time with the families affected, who he said are going through hell.

they had basic, heart—wrenching questions. will i be able to recover the body of my son or daughter, my husband, my cousin, my mom and dad? how can i have closure without being able to bury them if i don't get the body? what do i do? jill and i want them to know that we're with them and the country's with them. when i saw the video, my heart was ripped from my chest because that's the moment i saw my mom and my grandmother die. so it was very difficult. and that's all i see now when i close my eyes. now, pablo tries to hold on to memories of happier times. in the days that have passed since the building where his mother and grandmother lived crashed to the ground, rescue teams have been working around the clock, painstakingly removing rubble, searching for survivors. it is a dangerous and demanding task, both physically and emotionally. we are human beings and we are dealing with human beings beneath the surface.

and we know that we look for them and we do the best to get to them. but still, the thought that under all this concrete, all this, still there is a person, maybe a little boy that is buried there, it's very difficult to fail to understand. the families of those still unaccounted for have been to visit the site. and some have told me that seeing the homes that they used to visit reduced to rubble with their own eyes, is helping them now to start to prepare for the worst. all of them, though, have one question — how long? how long can someone possibly survive in there? it's a question no—one can answer, but they were able to see what's being done to reach those trapped in the twisted metal and concrete before the hope they cling to fades completely. sophie long, bbc news, surfside, miami.

senior doctors in england will consult on taking industrial action if the government's 1% pay rise offer isn't approved. meanwhile the royal college of nursing has already considered balloting over industrial action and has called for a 12.5% pay rise this year. the government says it has committed to increasing pay for nhs staff and that rises for the rest of the public sector have been paused. we can talk about this a bit more with health correspondent katharine da costa. what's the background to this? the department of health put — background to this? the department of health put forward _ background to this? the department of health put forward a _ background to this? the department of health put forward a 1% _ background to this? the department of health put forward a 1% pay i background to this? the department of health put forward a 1% pay offerl of health put forward a 1% pay offer for most nhs staff england and it asked aidan independent pay review panel to look into this. there are commendations have not yet been published but the doctor's union, the bma, have said they are pushing for a figure closer to li% and its consultants back industrial action

it would mean stopping paid and unpaid overtime and they say that will impact patient clinics and long hospital waiting lists which are at record levels. senior doctors haven't tended to be caught up in pay disputes so this is unusual. if it does get backing it will be the first time they have walked out since the 1970s. nurses have also backed balloting for industrial action. the royal college of nursing is calling for a 12.5% pay rise and they feel it is an insult. they are worried their members might consider leaving their posts and it could escalate problems with staffing within the nhs.— within the nhs. what is the government _ within the nhs. what is the government saying? - within the nhs. what is the government saying? the i within the nhs. what is the - government saying? the prime minister has _ government saying? the prime minister has previously - government saying? the prime i minister has previously defended the 1% pay offer and the department of health has said it recognises the hard work in the nhs has made during the pandemic. it says it is committed to increasing nhs pay and for consultants, when others in the

public sector are facing a pay freeze. it's worth pointing out that elsewhere in scotland, northern ireland and wales, they are run by devolved administrations but members in scotland of the largest health union, unison mac have voted in favour of backing a li% pay rise. you can imagine that's likely to fuel feelings of anger and resentment among staff in england. katharine da costa, among staff in england. katharine da costa. thank — among staff in england. katharine da costa, thank you. _ in november 2019, saskia jones was volunteering at a prisoner rehabilitation conference in central london when she was attacked and killed by convicted terrorist, usman khan. now, in herfamily�*s first interview, saskia's uncles, phil and petejones, have been speaking about the impact of her death. they've been telling their story to zoe conway. we want to represent how she saw the world, how she interacted with people, how much we loved her and still love her. people need to know what has actually happened here.

the enormity of what's happened, and what a devastating effect it has had on ourfamily and a number of other people. convicted terrorist usman khan surrounded on london bridge. three men, armed with a fire extinguisher and a narwhal tusk, tackle him to the ground. nearby in fishmongers' hall, saskia jones and jack merritt lay dying. khan had stabbed them with knives strapped to his wrists. just two hours earlier, he was sat at a table chatting to saskia. both were guests at a prison education event. it's actually emotionally difficult to come to terms with anyone sitting almost next to someone for that amount of time, and then a person, whatever the human being, whoever the human being is, doing what they did to that person. that's very difficult to take. once in a while, we realise

that these names are inadequate for the problems we are seeing. this is saskia taking part in a discussion at the fishmongers' hall event. she believed in prisoner rehabilitation, and had been a volunteer for learning together. how do you want to remember her? we have so many memories of saskia that contribute to remembering her. she was vibrant. i always remember her as being challenging, actually, because whatever i said to her, she would challenge it, absolutely challenge it, and she'd make sure that i was on firm ground, and she would make sure that there was justice, notjust in the wider sphere ofjustice, butjustice in everyday dealings with people. i've lived for 20 years longer than saskia did, and i view what she achieved in her short life as of far greater value than anything i've achieved so far. and building upon that is something

that i'm and we're focused upon. as a teenager, usman khan was convicted of plotting to set up a terrorist training camp and went to prison. shortly before his release in 2018, m15 had intelligence he was planning another attack. he was monitored in the community by the probation service, the police and m15. they allowed him to go to fishmongers' hall that day without a police escort. learning together is a theoretically informed, values—led educational mission. amy ludlow and ruth armstrong are the directors of the cambridge university learning together programme, which teaches prisoners and university students side by side, and which held the event at fishmongers' hall. i'm going to explain- to you how i got introduced to learning together. khan became one of their students in prison. amy and ruth, amongst others, saw him as a success story. they put him on their leaflets. they gave him a computer.

i think people saw the advantage of having him as somebody they had involved in their programme, showing some capability to deal with even the highest category of offender. theyjust lost sight of the danger to the public, their employees and anyone else associated with the programme. at the inquest into saskia's death, learning together said it was the responsibility of the prison and probation service to assess khan's risk, and they'd relied on those agencies' expertise. something that was put to amy ludlow — if, after everything that's happened, learning together would rule out working with categories of prisoner, terrorist offenders. and her answer was no, because there's no research evidence to support that. yeah, and we heard a number of times there's no research evidence for this and no research evidence for that. i suggest that the main evidence we have now is that it wasn't a wise idea. the arrogance in thinking that academics necessarily can,

on their own, deal with the types of prisoners that usman khan was, to the point where, you know, someone can manipulate their organisation. amy ludlow and ruth armstrong received several awards for their work, which was also praised by the prisons inspectorate. but the organisation is now suspended whilst cambridge university carries out a review. do you think ruth armstrong and amy ludlow can continue to lead this organisation? they shouldn't be leading an organisation that got something badly and tragically wrong. from a family point of view, we'd be very distressed, upset and frankly insulted, if they did. in a statement, cambridge university said...

saskia was passionate about improving justice for rape victims, and her dissertation on the subject was recently cited in a government report. there's now a phd in her name at anglia ruskin university, where she was once a student. saskia obviously will be forever young in our eyes, but her legacy is already far bigger than she would ever have hoped for, if she had thought about her legacy, which she absolutely wouldn't have done. at the end of the day, we want to represent how saskia is positioned in our hearts as well as in our minds.

the uncles of saskia jones. some news just in from the metropolitan police, they are saying that a 23—year—old man, lewis hughes, has been charged with common assault after england's chief medical officer, professor chris whitty, was accosted in a central london park. a man, 23—year—old lewis hughes, charged with common assault after england's chief medical officer, chris whitty, was accosted in a central london park. a company appointed to help oversee britney spears' financial affairs has asked to withdraw from an arrangement that has controlled the singer's life for the last 13 years. the organisation had been named asjoint guardians of her estate, along with her father, jamie spears. the announcement comes days after the pop star said she was "traumatised"

by the arrangement. we can speak more about this with our entertainment correspondent colin paterson. a lot of people have been following this story, very sympathetic with britney spears, but it is a very complicated situation legally, isn't it? it is a very complicated situation legally. isn't it?— legally, isn't it? hugely complicated. _ legally, isn't it? hugely complicated. the i legally, isn't it? hugely complicated. the first i legally, isn't it? hugely- complicated. the first thing to legally, isn't it? hugely— complicated. the first thing to say as there are two conservatorship arrangements over britney spears. one involving her health and one involving her wealth. we are talking here about the financial one. last november britney spears fired two and la court asking for her father jamie spears to be removed as the co—conservator looking over her finances. —— filed to an la court. the trust we are talking about had recently been filed as co—conservatives. on wednesday a judge ruled that britney's request was not to be granted and her father would continue as the

co—conservator. a day later the trust has said they do not want to be a co—conservator. we heard what britney spears said in la. the previous week it was about a different matter, but they heard what she said, they believe her, and they feel she is being held against her will in this conservatorship and they have decided they no longer want to be part of it, throwing all kinds of questions into the air. very briefly, given that it is so complicated, it might be hard to answer, but what happens next? there will be another — answer, but what happens next? there will be another court _ answer, but what happens next? ii—iiff will be another court appearance later this month. the crucial thing is britney spears has not yet actually filed in a court asking for the conservatorship to be ended. that's what britney spears needs to do and that's what will happen, but senators are getting involved now. questions are being asked at the top end of us politics about these conservatorship arrangements and how

they work because what has shocked many people is that britney spears not only has to pay for her own lawyers, she has to pay for the lawyers, she has to pay for the lawyers representing the people who she says are actually representing against her wishes. she has to pay for both sides of this very long court battle.— for both sides of this very long court battle. . ,, , ., , . court battle. thank you very much, colin paterson, _ court battle. thank you very much, colin paterson, entertainment i colin paterson, entertainment correspondent. 12—year—old sky brown is set to become the youngest british summer olympian of all time after being named in the team gb squad. she'll be 13—years and 11 days old when she competes in the skateboarding in tokyo this month. ricky boleto reports. she might be team gb's youngest athlete, but with a smile like that, she's the happiest, too. sky turns 13 just a week before the tokyo games begin, becoming a teenager and aiming for gold in skateboarding, which will feature at the olympics for the first time ever. well, obviously, trying to get a gold medal, but i'm just going to try and have fun, enjoy being at the olympics and show the world what skateboarding

is like and inspire. although she is used to life in america, sky's mum is from japan and her dad's from england. she wants to do both countries proud. it means a lot to me. i'm glad that, you know, i get to compete for england, which i love, and japan, which i also love, and be injapan but also compete for england. i don't know, ijust feel like it could bring the countries together. the family spend most of their time in los angeles. they needed a lot of convincing to let sky compete at the olympic games. my parents didn't want me to. really? yeah, they thought it was too much pressure, but then lucy adams and team gb said that there is no pressure, just get out there, have fun. just enjoy the journey, you know, and, yeah. my parents still said

no but i begged them and they finally said yes. and there are other pressures too. well known for sharing her ups and downs on social media. but this was the toughest of them all, a spectacular fall last year caught on camera and shared with her millions of fans. can you just tell us what the last 12 months have been like for you? i've been feeling, i mean, really good. ifeel like i got stronger after the accident. it may sound weird but i feel like i have more power and i'mjust more, like, ifeel like i have more of a fire in my heart to just do stuff now because, i don't know, ijust feel like i missed a little bit of time so i'm just like, ok, let's go and do this now. sky suffered skull fractures and a broken wrist and hand. her helmet and arms saved her life. she first got into skateboarding because of tutorials she'd seen on youtube.

now she is representing great britain and could become the youngest olympic medallist for 85 years. it's really nice to have lots of fans. that really motivates me as well. you have such a wonderful smile and a great personality. we hope to speak to you... so, best of luck. thank you! thank you so much, bye. sir richard branson is a step closer to beating rival billionaires in the race into space. he's announced the date he'll blast beyond the earth's atmosphere — nine days ahead of the amazon founderjeff bezos. both tycoons have created space tourism companies offering flights for the wealthy. branson's vehicle can climb to an altitude of 90km giving those on—board a few minutes of weightlessness and a view of the curvature of the earth.

you're watching bbc news. german confectionery giant haribo says it's struggling to deliver its sweets to shops in the uk because of a shortage of lorry drivers. the company said it was working with partners to adderss the problem, which affects all of haribo's sweets. the haulage industry has blamed the pandemic and brexit for thousands of unfilled hgv driverjobs. now it's time for a look at the weather with matt taylor. hello. summer weather in the uk is never straightforward and over the next few days we certainly take the turn to the changeable side of things. one hour, one day, different to the one that precedes it and the one that follows it. there will be some sunshine around but be prepared for graying skies and even some rumbles of thunder and flashes of lightning too.

there could be one or two of those this afternoon, southern scotland and northern england in particular as showers start to blossom as we go through the day. one or two elsewhere, probably a bit lighter and few in number so most will be dry, a lot of sunshine around for many of you compared to this morning, even if the sunshine is hazy. patchy rain in the far north—east of scotland turning damp towards the south—west later. it means there is an increasing risk of an isolated shower or two close to wimbledon in the late afternoon and into the evening. they will gradually fade away through tonight, lasting the longest across parts of scotland. but cast your eyes to the south—west, thickening cloud and rain pushes in to the south of northern ireland, across wales, south—west england, where we will see some of the wettest conditions through the night, into tomorrow morning. won't be a chilly start to the weekend, though, temperatures into double figures if not the mid—teens for many. but it will be changeable because we are governed by an area of low pressure to the west of us, warm weather front pushing its way northwards and decaying, and that low—pressure nearby we'll start to see showers blossom widely as we go through to sunday. details for saturday, some of the wettest condition moving north—east across england

during the morning, early afternoon. followed on by a mixture of some sunshine but plenty of heavy, maybe thundery showers, some see more than others. a few showers during the day northern ireland. scotland, dry for a good part of the day, some will stay that way all day long but in the afternoon we could see heavy and thundery showers with temperatures down a little bit on today's values. into the evening, we continue to see some showers for a time but we won't see any of that in rome. hot and sunny weather for england's match against ukraine with temperatures peaking in the afternoon, around 29 degrees, dropping slowly through the evening. back to our shores on sunday, even if you do start dry and bright, can't promise you will stay that way. through the day we'll see shower clouds bubbling up, some will be slow moving, torrential and thundery. rainfall amounts varying drastically from one area to the next. some staying dry, particularly, around the coast, a bit cooler than it will be over the next couple of days. we stay with the showery theme as we go through monday and tuesday with temperatures down a little bit down on where we want

at this stage injuly.

this is bbc news. the headlines at 11: i hereby declare that kim michelle fled peter is duly elected —— kim leadbeater. fled peter is duly elected -- kim leadbeater-— fled peter is duly elected -- kim leadbeater. ., ., ., , leadbeater. labour naturally when the batley and _ leadbeater. labour naturally when the batley and spen _ leadbeater. labour naturally when the batley and spen by-election i leadbeater. labour naturally when | the batley and spen by-election by the batley and spen by—election by 323 votes. it was won by kim leadbeater, sister ofjo cox who represented the area until she was murdered in 2016. tim represented the area until she was murdered in 2016.— represented the area until she was murdered in 2016. i'm delighted the --eole of murdered in 2016. i'm delighted the people of batley _ murdered in 2016. i'm delighted the people of batley and _ murdered in 2016. i'm delighted the people of batley and spen _ murdered in 2016. i'm delighted the people of batley and spen have i people of batley and spen have rejected division and have voted for hope. rejected division and have voted for ho e. , ., ., . ., rejected division and have voted for hoe. , ., ., . ., . ., hope. the german chancellor angela merkel is in — hope. the german chancellor angela merkel is in the _ hope. the german chancellor angela merkel is in the uk _ hope. the german chancellor angela merkel is in the uk for— hope. the german chancellor angela merkel is in the uk for talks - hope. the german chancellor angela merkel is in the uk for talks with i merkel is in the uk for talks with hopes that strict quarantine rules for britons travelling to the eu will be eased. anger over proposed 1% pay rise.

senior doctors in england will be consulted on possible industrial action if there is no improved offer. i23 old man has been charged with common assault after professor chris whitty was accosted in a park in central london. the family of saskia jones who was murdered by a convicted terrorist at a rehabilitation conference speak about the impact of her death. people need to know what is actually happening, the enormity of what has happened. and what a devastating effect it has had on ourfamily and other people. a modern twist on the space race, richard branson is aiming to beat fellow billionairejeff bezos into space by a matter of nine days.

labour has narrowly won the batley and spen by—election in west yorkshire. the new mp, kim leadbeater, now represents the seat previously held by her sister, jo cox, who was murdered in the constituency in 2016. the result will ease pressure on labour leader sir keir starmer after recent election defeats for his party. ms leadbeater saw the party's majority cut from more than 3,500 to 323, after a strong challenge from the conservative candidate ryan stephenson. the former labour and respect mp george galloway, who had targeted labour voters, came in third. our political correspondent, nick eardley, reports. i do hereby declare that kim michelle leadbeater is duly elected. it was the narrowest of wins. but one that was met with a mighty sense of relief by labour.

kim leadbeater is the new mp here. she beat her conservative rival byjust over 300 votes. but in a seat many thought would turn blue overnight, labour are delighted. the campaign here has been heated, with allegations of harassment, and the police sometimes accompanying candidates. the new mp said she wanted to heal some of the divisions. i will do my very best to represent the whole of batley and spen as their new mp. i'm absolutely delighted that the people of batley and spen have rejected division and they have voted for hope. this result has extra significance for kim leadbeater. her sister, jo cox, used to be the mp here. she was murdered in 2016 by a far—right extremist. it is inevitable not to think aboutjo and mum and dad and particularlyjo's children. obviously, as i said before, it was a big decision

to put myself forward. it has been a very emotional campaign and today is very emotional for me for lots of reasons, but if i can be half the mp thatjo was, i know that i will do her proud and my family proud. fingers crossed that i do a fantasticjob just as she did. we are all incredibly proud of what kim has done. she was incredibly brave to step forward into it, not just around the sort of security side of things, given what happened to jo, but also the context of a very bruising and a pretty horrible campaign at times, and to put yourself into that, to try to keep positive, to try to keep a vision focused on what you want to change and how you bring people together, i think she has done amazing. win or lose, i would have been just as proud of her. the result is also a massive relief for the labour leader. keir starmer has faced pressure in recent weeks over his strategy. if labour had lost, the criticism would have increased. some think his job would

have been in question. but instead, his allies say if this was a referendum on his leadership, he has won. only just onlyjust a only just a narrow victory. only just a narrow victory. only 323 votes in it but there is a palpable sense of relief among the labour hierarchy today. this has been a rather bitter and at times acrimonious campaign. there were 16 candidates including george galloway, the former respect mp and there was real concern among the labour leadership that he may split the labour vote because he was clearly targeting the asian community in this constituency and he picked up more than 8000 votes so it was a close run thing but in the end, labour prevailed buy that wafer

thin majority. there is a lot of personal connections here. kim leadbeater is the sister of the murdered former mp of this constituency murdered former mp of this constituencho cox so a lot of family loyalties which may have played a part in the selection but when it comes to the bigger national picture around questions about sur keir starmer�*s leadership and a vision for the future of the labour party, i think those questions may dissipate for the time being and we are expecting keir starmer within the constituency in the next hour or so so we'll hopefully get some reaction from him but i think tonight or today, the labour leadership will be breathing a little easier.— leadership will be breathing a little easier. �* ., , ., little easier. and the conservative candidate ryan — little easier. and the conservative candidate ryan stephenson, i little easier. and the conservative candidate ryan stephenson, he i little easier. and the conservative candidate ryan stephenson, he is| little easier. and the conservative l candidate ryan stephenson, he is a local mp but not as local as —— a local mp but not as local as —— a local politician but not as local as kim leadbeater. he did well to gather that many votes in an area that doesn't traditionally choose a conservative.

that doesn't traditionally choose a conservative-— that doesn't traditionally choose a conservative. this constituency has been labour _ conservative. this constituency has been labour since _ conservative. this constituency has been labour since 1997 _ conservative. this constituency has been labour since 1997 but - conservative. this constituency has been labour since 1997 but you i conservative. this constituency has been labour since 1997 but you are j been labour since 1997 but you are right, he did exceptionally well and was so close to beating labour and the conservatives, i know there was a sense of disappointment, they will traditionally say governments in power don't do well in by—elections but following what happened in hartlepool, i think there was a hope and more of an expectation that they could really impact on labour's traditional red wall here. in the end, that didn't come off for them but ryan definitely put in a good campaign and to lose byjust 300 votes will be a bitter disappointment to him but the conservatives did run labour very close indeed. ms leadbeater said, "the focus of the campaign was very much listening to local people." but she also said it was marred by personal abuse and allegations of dirty tricks. we need to do politics better. we need to do politics differently. there is no place for abuse, intimidation, you know,

for me personally, but actually for the people who were campaigning with me. we've had things thrown at people, we've had an assault, you know, someone's been arrested. that's not what we need in our communities, what we need in our country. and if i canjust work a little bit through this role to try and improve things and try and show a different way then i think that's really important. and you didn't name george galloway directly in that tweet last night but was that directed at him and his party or was it a broader message? i think there's a broader message around how we do politics and what's acceptable and what's unacceptable. but there are certainly individuals during this campaign who have, yeah, in my view, overstepped the mark of what's acceptable. after victory, is there a message for those people? yeah, the message now is let's think about, you know, the way that we want our country to be run, the way we want our politics to be done. let's think about, you know, what it means to people. the big thing for me as well is the number

of people who don't vote, you know, so many people and that's just because they disengaged with it. so we have to think about how we can reconnect with people who haven't had, i don't know what the turnout was but it wasn't great. it was less than 50%. for those 50% of people that stayed at home, i don't blame them for not coming out and voting when they see some of the scenes that they've seen over the last few weeks, so let's think about how we can make politics more relatable and we can engage people with it more. what is going to be your first priority for the constituency? the first priority is to start getting people together. that's my big thing, that's one of the things i'm good at so all the stuff we've talked about, whether it's crime and anti—social behaviour, whether it's the state of the roads, who are the people who can make a difference, who are the people who can act on these things. let's get the councillors together, let's get the police involved, let's look at where we can get some funding. you know, let's get people around the table and have those conversations. and do you think the conservatives took their foot off the pedal and maybe thought this one, after hartlepool, was perhaps in the bag? i think the conservatives were kind of hoping that someone else would do the work for them.

but listen, they've been nothing but respectful throughout the campaign and i think that's really important to say as well. as have the lib dems and other candidates. i think it's been a very civilised campaign and i respect ryan stephenson and his team for the way that they've conducted themselves. and just finally, how do you feel going to the house of commons next week and following on from wherejo left off five years ago? it's really emotional, of course it is. i've just spoken to mum and dad and, as a family, this is a huge deal. it's massive, but if i can be half as good an mp asjo was, then i will be very proud of that. the conservative party chair amanda milling said that the story around former health secretary matt hancock was a topic that "came up on the doorstep" during the by—election campaign in batley and spen. i will be honest with you, the issue with matt did come up on the doorstep. but it was a whole wide range of different issues. we still have to come back to the fact that governing partiesjust don't gain by—elections. it's unprecedented to do so, and it was unprecedented in hartlepool.

do you want to tell us more about how that came up, presumably in a non—positive way? you know, that was an issue that was coming up particularly at the weekend, but it was right that matt hancock resigned and we have a new health secretary. do you want to flesh out what you meant when you said it came up on the doorstep? what were people saying? look, it was one of a number of different issues that came up, but obviously people have made many, many sacrifices over the last 12 months or so and, you know, they've been frustrated by the impact the virus has had on our lives, but, as a government, we are totally focused on getting those vaccines rolled out so we can get life back to normal. with me now is ash sarkar, contributing editor at novara media. thank you forjoining us. who is this a victory for other than kim leadbeater personally? i

this a victory for other than kim leadbeater personally?- this a victory for other than kim leadbeater personally? i think you have to give _ leadbeater personally? i think you have to give kim _ leadbeater personally? i think you have to give kim leadbeater- leadbeater personally? i think you have to give kim leadbeater heri have to give kim leadbeater her props. in a really challenging campaign where she had it tougher than most, there were lots of personal attacks, harassment, all sorts of nasty behaviour, she not only stood her ground but managed to hold onto the seat in these really challenging circumstances so i think that with a different candidate, a less talented candidate, maybe this would have been a loss for labour. looking at the voting operation on the day, they were activists flooding in from all corners of the country to knock on those doors and when you've got a margin ofjust over 300 votes, you can tell that that made a huge difference. i do think there are still huge challenges for labour and for keir starmer but he can look at this result is a bit of a reprieve. yeah, his allies are _ result is a bit of a reprieve. yeah, his allies are saying _ result is a bit of a reprieve. yeah, his allies are saying this _ result is a bit of a reprieve. yeah, his allies are saying this was i result is a bit of a reprieve. yeah, his allies are saying this was a - his allies are saying this was a referendum on his leadership but how much are people going to step back and leave him be? i

much are people going to step back and leave him be?— much are people going to step back and leave him be? i can see why they would say that _ and leave him be? i can see why they would say that because _ and leave him be? i can see why they would say that because it's _ and leave him be? i can see why they would say that because it's their - would say that because it's their job to spin in their guy's favour but if it's a referendum on his leadership, why is that labour had 3000 majority in 2019 and it's down to just over 3000 majority in 2019 and it's down tojust over 300 3000 majority in 2019 and it's down to just over 300 after keir starmer�*s leadership? to just over 300 after keir starmer's leadership? isn't it true there were _ starmer's leadership? isn't it true there were lots _ starmer's leadership? isn't it true there were lots of _ starmer's leadership? isn't it true there were lots of other _ starmer's leadership? isn't it true there were lots of other factors i starmer's leadership? isn't it true there were lots of other factors at play here, notjust the labour leader? as you said, it was a very difficult campaign for many of those involved. at difficult campaign for many of those involved. . ., , difficult campaign for many of those involved. _, , ., , involved. of course, there were lots of different — involved. of course, there were lots of different factors. _ involved. of course, there were lots of different factors. one _ involved. of course, there were lots of different factors. one that - involved. of course, there were lots of different factors. one that came l of different factors. one that came up of different factors. one that came up again and again is you had a lot of voters saying, hang on, kirklees council as a labour council, why do i see so much funding going to huddersfield and not here in batley and spen? so there was also a dimension of local politics to do with local services and a feeling of decline which really did matter and that's what is bigger than keir starmer's leadership. horse that's what is bigger than keir starmer's leadership. that's what is bigger than keir starmer's leadershi. ., . ., starmer's leadership. how much would ou starmer's leadership. how much would you commend — starmer's leadership. how much would you commend the _ starmer's leadership. how much would you commend the labour—

starmer's leadership. how much would you commend the labour leadership i you commend the labour leadership for controlling the narrative through that campaign because it seemed quite obvious that they were not nailing their colours to the mast, they were not saying this is a done deal, they knew they were facing a challenge from the conservatives and also the workers party. i conservatives and also the workers a a . ., conservatives and also the workers party. i would say they didn't control the _ party. i would say they didn't control the narrative - party. i would say they didn't control the narrative very - party. i would say they didn't i control the narrative very well. when you look back at those briefings that were coming from high—level labour sources, lots of them seems to be getting their excusesin them seems to be getting their excuses in early and there was a lot of nastiness and implication that the muslim community in batley and spen was somehow homophobic, bigoted, simply because of other reasons nothing to do with lgbt issues, like crime, palestine. i don't think they controlled the narrative, i think they were trying to get excuses in early and astonishingly talented candidate, kim leadbeater, and a really good get out and vote operation provided a surprise victory for the party. what does keir starmer need to do in

your opinion to shore up his position as a leader? i your opinion to shore up his position as a leader? i think one of his problems _ position as a leader? i think one of his problems as _ position as a leader? i think one of his problems as he _ position as a leader? i think one of his problems as he is _ position as a leader? i think one of his problems as he is so _ position as a leader? i think one of his problems as he is so scared - position as a leader? i think one of his problems as he is so scared of| his problems as he is so scared of being divisive that he never actually takes a stance on important issues. if you ask the average voter, what does keir starmer vote for, what is he going to do with power if he gets it? no one can really tell you, they just say, power if he gets it? no one can really tell you, theyjust say, he looks better in a suit thanjeremy corbyn did. at this time when people are suffering because of the pandemic and an unemployment crisis, there is an ongoing cost of living crisis, that's simply not good enough so i think that keir starmer has got to put his big boy pants on, make some decisions, come up with policies and stand for something because being the kind of least offensive option right now simply isn't cutting through. are correspondent lewis goodall has more analysis of the results. labour has pulled off what many pundits said was a lost cause. they've held onto batley and spen in

west yorkshire. it was a narrow victory. the majority was way down. labour 35.3%, conservatives 34.4%, george galloway at 21.9%, liberal democrats 3.3%. two factors made people think that labour, this wasn't going to happen, labour were finished here. one was that george galloway was standing, targeting the muslim vote in a constituency which is sizeable. few thought he would eat into labour's vote and when we go back to 2019, there was another independent candidate in the seat. they did very well, pro brexit, and without him standing, it was assumed that his votes would bolster the conservative vote. the conservatives are also polling well nationally and many assumed it would be a tory victory but it didn't happen. why

not? let's have a look at the change in vote from 2019. you can see the labour vote down, conservative vote down. how can they all be down? george galloway didn't stand so he's not on this graph but his vote is up a great deal. three things to say about that. the fact that labour were victorious and galloway still got so many votes suggests labour's victory is more impressive than the headline majority might suggest. without george galloway standing it would have meant labour would have a bigger victory, would have meant labour would have a biggervictory, probably. the would have meant labour would have a bigger victory, probably. the fact that labour won despite almost losing a lot of votes to george galloway suggest they might have done better with their traditional vote in a constituency, maybe with potential tory switches, certainly with the liberal democrats who seem to have voted tactically. not many of them but it's important given such a small majority. behind labour's success is kim leadbeater, she's a local candidate, much

respected locally. the conservative lead nationally is still gaping in the polls, hasn't significantly narrowed in recent weeks, perhaps the result of the matt hancock affair. the vaccine shine perhaps becoming less lustrous for the government. this seat has been labour since 1997 and it's the 11th year of a conservative government. they ought not to be in contention at all but we saw swing from labour to conservatives of 2.9%. the vote held up well. if that happened at a general election, labour would lose seats elsewhere. you've got to treated with caution because george galloway�*s presence distorts the picture a little bit. keir has already tweeted. this doesn't solve his problem. after hartlepool, he couldn't afford another loss. this has bought him time, breathing space, into the summer, into party conference to reconsider his strategy. as for boris johnson,

although he remains strategy. as for borisjohnson, although he remains dominant in many ways, this along site alongside the chesham result has told us there are limits to his dominance, something which we didn't know for certain only a few weeks ago. borisjohnson will meet angela merkel today on her last visit to the uk as head of the german government. travel restrictions are expected to be high on the agenda. it comes as angela merkel reportedly wants to ban uk tourists from entering the eu because of concerns over the delta variant. angela merkel will also become the first world leader since bill clinton in 1997 to address the british cabinet. let's take a look at how angela merkel�*s last uk visit as german chancellor will unfold. the meeting will take place at the prime minister's country residence of checkers in buckinghamshire where angela merkel will also address a virtual meeting of the british cabinet. it will be followed by a news conference and later today she is set to visit the queen at windsor

castle. we can bring you some of the latest information on coronavirus cases in the uk. public health england have said there are now a total of 161,981 confirmed and total of 161 , 981 confirmed and probable total of 161,981 confirmed and probable cases of the covid delta variant identified in the uk. that's up variant identified in the uk. that's uo by variant identified in the uk. that's up by over 50,000 or 46% on the previous week. it comes alongside new vaccine hesitancy data published by the office for national statistics this morning which has found that more than nine in ten adults or 96% of adults in great britain report a positive sentiment towards a coronavirus vaccine. li% reported some kind of hesitancy in data collected between the 26th of may and the 20th ofjune, down slightly from the previous period between the 28th of april and the 23rd of may when vaccine hesitancy was at 6%. the highest rate of hesitancy was in black or black

british adults at 18%. from today, travellers from the uk visiting spain will have to show proof of being double vaccinated or a negative pcr test. the spanish government's requirements apply to passengers from the uk aged 12 and over. mainland spain is currently on the government's amber list many people returning to the uk must quarantine at home for ten days. andy matthews is the owner of a club in ibiza and hejoins us now. that's quite an impressive chair! tell us what the last 18 months has been like for you. it’s what the last 18 months has been like for you-— like for you. it's been really tricky for — like for you. it's been really tricky for everybody. - like for you. it's been really - tricky for everybody. everybody is on the same vote, especially a little island like here. we rely on summer trade and it has been tricky. we've had strict lockdown than all

of europe, it's been really tough, so now we are coming out of it. last night, personally it looks like a normal summer night here, controlled obviously but it was really busy, the tourists were back, a lot of english were here so hopefully this will kick—start us. you english were here so hopefully this will kick-start us.— will kick-start us. you see controlled, _ will kick-start us. you see controlled, what - will kick-start us. you see controlled, what changes | will kick-start us. you see - controlled, what changes have you had to make to fit with the restrictions on the requirements? personally i've moved locations, i had 18 years of the same place in san antonio but it was an indoor small venue and i thought long about it but i had to move because of the restriction so i've now got an inside venue with a huge terrace which is more appropriate these days going forward so i have totally adapted. there is hand sanitiser as you walk through, sitting down, seating, service, masks. we are well

adapted and trained on how to control this. we need the summer to happen. we control this. we need the summer to ha en. ~ ., control this. we need the summer to ha en, . ., ., control this. we need the summer to ha en. ~ ., ., ., ., happen. we are now told that visitors to _ happen. we are now told that visitors to the _ happen. we are now told that visitors to the bill— happen. we are now told that visitors to the bill eric's - happen. we are now told that visitors to the bill eric's from | happen. we are now told that. visitors to the bill eric's from the uk won't have to quarantine on their way home —— to the bill —— balaeric islands. way home -- to the bill -- balaeric islands. �* , way home -- to the bill -- balaeric islands. �*, ., ., , islands. it's so important for us. we are waiting _ islands. it's so important for us. we are waiting for _ islands. it's so important for us. we are waiting for the _ islands. it's so important for us. we are waiting for the british i we are waiting for the british tourism to kick start here, it's where our money is. other tourism is fantastic but the british come over here and they spend their pounds. it's a fact. it's super important to how this economy works on this island. we are hearing that angela merkel would like the eu of which spain is parked to impose more restrictions on the uk. that would add to more uncertainty. ihla restrictions on the uk. that would add to more uncertainty.- restrictions on the uk. that would add to more uncertainty. no one can answerthis— add to more uncertainty. no one can answer this question, _ add to more uncertainty. no one can answer this question, why _ add to more uncertainty. no one can answer this question, why is - add to more uncertainty. no one can answer this question, why is it? - add to more uncertainty. no one can answer this question, why is it? is i

answer this question, why is it? is it political? not with the figures, there are no people in hospital on this island. we've only got three months of summer left at a push. we need this tourism to happen. she can say what she wants but i don't agree, she's completely wrong and it's very political in my view. it's more about what british visitors would be bringing with them if they are coming from a country where we are having a surge of the delta variant.— delta variant. yeah but if they are double vaccinated _ delta variant. yeah but if they are double vaccinated and _ delta variant. yeah but if they are double vaccinated and have - delta variant. yeah but if they are double vaccinated and have a - delta variant. yeah but if they are double vaccinated and have a pcrj double vaccinated and have a pcr test, how can it travel? i don't understand. if we are all double vaccinated, what's the problem? i can't see it. this economy has to move, people's lives are at stake, we need to get the economy moving. she can say what she wants but i don't agree with it at all. it don't agree with it at all. it certainly sounds like there's an appetite for people to get away on holiday. i hope you manage to benefit from that. thank you very

much. . ~ benefit from that. thank you very much. ., ~ i. benefit from that. thank you very much. ., ~ ~ ., , benefit from that. thank you very much. ., ~ ., , ., much. thank you, the cocktails are onl when much. thank you, the cocktails are only when you _ much. thank you, the cocktails are only when you come _ much. thank you, the cocktails are only when you come over! - much. thank you, the cocktails are only when you come over! you - much. thank you, the cocktails are i only when you come over! you heard it here! the telegraph reported up to 5 million britons are prevented from going on holiday because their astrazeneca vaccinations are not recognised by the eu passport scheme. it says doses administered in this country but made in india don't qualify for the eu passport scheme as they are not yet authorised by the european medicines agency. this could mean that people are turned away at eu border crossings when the batch numbers on their vaccines when digitally checked. the travel editor of the sun newspaperjoins us now. lisa, why is it that astrazeneca is not being recognised by the eu at the moment? , ., ., moment? these are the 5 million doses with _ moment? these are the 5 million doses with batch _ moment? these are the 5 million doses with batch numbers, - moment? these are the 5 million doses with batch numbers, thesej doses with batch numbers, these three particular batches that were made in india and at the moment the india version of the astrazeneca jab

is not recognised by the eu in general. what is utterly confusing for me is that you actually have got to seven eu countries that have recognised the indian version of astrazeneca including germany, spain and greece but the likes of france have not yet done and nor has the eu as a whole. this is yet another blow for people. i'm one of those affected, i did have one of those particularjabs for my affected, i did have one of those particular jabs for my first jab affected, i did have one of those particularjabs for my firstjab in march and this now means effectively that the jab was done for good reason of protecting myself, my family and people of this country but it offers me no other freedom other than just protection. the really important health protection. but i'm back to square one, i might as well not be vaccinated. hour but i'm back to square one, i might as well not be vaccinated.— as well not be vaccinated. how do ou know as well not be vaccinated. how do you know whether _ as well not be vaccinated. how do you know whether you _ as well not be vaccinated. how do you know whether you are - as well not be vaccinated. how do - you know whether you are astrazeneca vaccine came from india?—

vaccine came from india? according to the telegraph, _ vaccine came from india? according to the telegraph, is _ vaccine came from india? according to the telegraph, is one _ vaccine came from india? according to the telegraph, is one of- vaccine came from india? according to the telegraph, is one of three i to the telegraph, is one of three particular batch numbers. i had the nhs app and can prove i have been double vaccinated and on their it gives you the fax number —— batch number and gives you the fax number —— batch numberand mine is gives you the fax number —— batch number and mine is the one in the story. if that's right, it means i will be barred from going into countries like france. we were mentioning — countries like france. we were mentioning that _ countries like france. we were mentioning that angela - countries like france. we were | mentioning that angela merkel countries like france. we were - mentioning that angela merkel would prefer that there were restrictions imposed on people coming from the uk because we are seeing this rise in the delta variant. that is adding more uncertainty and concern. that's riaht more uncertainty and concern. that's ri . ht and more uncertainty and concern. that's right and we — more uncertainty and concern. that's right and we have _ more uncertainty and concern. that's right and we have the _ more uncertainty and concern. that's right and we have the same - more uncertainty and concern. trust�*s right and we have the same problem in this task force looking at the transatlantic route which is being held up by the fact the us medical agencies don't recognise astrazeneca and they have various concerns about the rising delta variant cases in the rising delta variant cases in the uk. it doesn't look like we are going to see any kind of agreement on that anytime soon.—

going to see any kind of agreement on that anytime soon. working people who are double _ on that anytime soon. working people who are double vaccinated _ on that anytime soon. working people who are double vaccinated like - on that anytime soon. working people who are double vaccinated like you - who are double vaccinated like you with these particular batches hope to travel to outside the uk? $5 with these particular batches hope to travel to outside the uk? ben to travel to outside the uk? as i said, it's to travel to outside the uk? as i said. it's yet _ to travel to outside the uk? as i said, it's yet to _ to travel to outside the uk? as i said, it's yet to be _ to travel to outside the uk? " i said, it's yet to be decided. to travel to outside the uk? isi said, it's yet to be decided. this is a news story that is onlyjust breaking but as far as i can understand it, the countries in the eu that have actually approved the indian version of the astrazeneca jab includes germany, austria, greece and spain. you should be fine to go into those countries. what it is not being recognised as the eu's digital passport version so if those countries still exist on it and it matches up with their digital passport, we could still be in trouble. it's one of these really confusing situations we have seen with spain this week where we didn't know whether or not we could have a lateral flow test on a pcr test to come into the country and its utter chaos across the board and it's not going to be good news for people trying to get away.

after a great start it is brightening up for most now and there will be sunshine this afternoon but it could stay misty around the channel coasts and fog some towards the west, most will see sunny spells but as temperatures rise we will see some showers develop, most will stay dry but particularly across northern england and southern scotland where they could be thundery. temperatures in the warm side, most places in the low 20s. this evening, showers will start to fade but later in the night, cloud pushes into southwest england and wales and northern ireland with longer spells of rain, some of which will be heavy towards the southwest but it will be a chilly start to the weekend, temperatures for most will be in the teens. for saturday, plenty of cloud to begin with, the wettest weather will be across parts of england, heavy rain pushing north—eastwards followed by a mixture of sunshine and showers, some of them heavy and

thundery. showers spreading to scotland and parts of northern ireland and it will feel cooler than today.

hello this is bbc news. the headlines. labour narrowly winds the batley and spent by election byjust 323 votes. the seat was won by kate leadbetter, sister ofjo cox, who represented the area until she was murdered in 2016. angela merkel is in the uk today for talks and hopes that strict quarantine rules for britons travelling to the eu will be eased. doctors in england will be consulted over industrial action if there is no improvement on the government 21% pay rise offer. a 23—year—old man has been charged with common assault

after england's chief medical officer chris whitty was accosted in a park in central london. parents of teenage motorcyclist harry dunne had given evidence in the united states against a woman suspected of causing his death two years ago. sport, and a full round up, from the bbc sport centre. good morning. not long to wait until england's quarterfinal against ukraine at euro 2020. the full squad of 26 has been training at st george's park this morning, before they fly to rome. this match will be the team's first away from wembley, but manager gareth southgate, doesn't think that will affect his players. it was immense the other night. i thought the funds were incredible. actually, i think it would be really hard to replicate three days later, so i think it is a good thing for us

to go away from wembley to this game will be about toes. we might have some support in the stadium, but if we do it will not be vast numbers. it is about what we do as a group and our own spirit and i think that is a good step forward for us —— about us. scotland midfielder billy gilmour, will play for norwich when they return to the premier league next season. he'lljoin on a year—long loan from chelsea, after an impressive performance in his first international start against england at the euros, before he tested positive for covid—19. gilmour said he was looking forward to exciting times ahead. we need to show you what is happening in west yorkshire. this is

the labour leader sir keir starmer visiting his freshly minted, newest mp, kim leadbetter, who won the batley and spent by election which was held yesterday. of course, a much reduced majority, down from the mount 3500 after this by—election. she won by 323 votes. keir starmer has been under pressure for quite some time. part of his party really not happy with the direction he is taking the party and it is not entirely clear, they say, what he stands for. but his allies say this narrow victory is a referendum on its leadership, but i don't know whether that will make a great deal of difference to his critics. kim leadbetter, as we see there, she is the sister of former mpjo cox, who was murdered by a far right

extremist injune 2016. she has been talking about the bittersweet nature of this victory. she thought long and hard about whether she should stand. jo cox's widower said she has been immensely brave to take on this role and win it by trained and 23 votes. she is born and bred in this constituency and she feels that it is very much been an important factor in her winning this. that looks very familiar to me. i am pretty sure i was there on tuesday in that memorial park and it was a glorious day. not quite so hot and sunny today. there is a lance price, who has been supporting kim leadbetter. a huge amount of interest in her because of her family connections to this constituency. but the by—election was triggered because the previous

mp was elected as the west yorkshire mayor in the recent vote. so she had to stand down. it was thought at one point she could carry on both jobs at once, but that was not to be. soak this by—election was triggered. but it was very close. the conservative candidate ryan stephenson was a very close second. george galloway from the workers party, he managed to take about 8000 votes. very popular with the muslim population in this constituency. a lot of labour supporters their gathering and a huge amount of press interest, as you can see. we will be hearing from both of them. they must be rather tired but buoyed up by their victory. we will be hearing from kim leadbetterfairly soon their victory. we will be hearing from kim leadbetter fairly soon and also sir keir starmer as well. a bit ofjostling. and we will hear from

them in a second when they start talking. george galloway was appealing very much to the muslim vote. he said that the labour party were not taking notes of the concerns that many voters had about issues to do with cashmere and palestinians in recent conflicts in the middle east. let's listen to kim leadbetter. i the middle east. let's listen to kim leadbetter. ., . , , the middle east. let's listen to kim leadbetter. . . , , , ., leadbetter. i am incredibly proud that we have _ leadbetter. i am incredibly proud that we have pulled _ leadbetter. i am incredibly proud that we have pulled the - leadbetter. i am incredibly proud i that we have pulled the community together. and we couldn't have done it without each other. and i think thatjob now is to build on this success, to build on this victory and concentrate on listening to every single person in batley and spen and making sure we know what our communities are really about and i'm very proud of what we have done. so thank you so much. what i'm very proud of what we have done. so thank you so much.— so thank you so much. what a fantastic victory! _ so thank you so much. what a fantastic victory! what - so thank you so much. what a fantastic victory! what a - so thank you so much. what a fantastic victory! what a really important victory for batley and

spent — important victory for batley and spent of — important victory for batley and spent. of hope over division and decency— spent. of hope over division and decency of— spent. of hope over division and decency of hatred. ijust want to say by— decency of hatred. ijust want to say by saying a massive thank you. a great _ say by saying a massive thank you. a great candidate, a great campaign and a_ great candidate, a great campaign and a great team. thank you for every— and a great team. thank you for every minute, every hour, every week you are _ every minute, every hour, every week you are put _ every minute, every hour, every week you are out in. — every minute, every hour, every week you are put in, the blood you have sweated. — you are put in, the blood you have sweated, every dollar that you have knocked _ sweated, every dollar that you have knocked because that is what has brought _ knocked because that is what has brought this about. —— every door. it took— brought this about. —— every door. it took incredible courage for kim to stand — it took incredible courage for kim to stand here and to go through this campaign _ to stand here and to go through this campaign. incredible courage. kim epitomises everything i want our labour— epitomises everything i want our labour party to be, everything i want _ labour party to be, everything i want our— labour party to be, everything i want our labour party to be. she is of her_ want our labour party to be. she is of her community. you can go around batley— of her community. you can go around bailey and _ of her community. you can go around batley and spent and not know came for what _ batley and spent and not know came for what she has put in. she is for her community. she believes

integrity. _ her community. she believes integrity, truth and modesty and in bringing _ integrity, truth and modesty and in bringing people together. and that is exactly— bringing people together. and that is exactly what i want for our labour — is exactly what i want for our labour party, the values of our labour— labour party, the values of our labour party. she will be a fantastic— labour party. she will be a fantastic labour party representative for batley and spent and i was _ representative for batley and spent and i was elected into parliament on the same _ and i was elected into parliament on the same day asjo cox. there isn't a day— the same day asjo cox. there isn't a day when — the same day asjo cox. there isn't a day when we all don't missjo cox, but came, _ a day when we all don't missjo cox, but came, she would be so proud to see you _ but came, she would be so proud to see you today. so proud to as a member— see you today. so proud to as a member of— see you today. so proud to as a member of parliament. and i know you want to— member of parliament. and i know you want to have _ member of parliament. and i know you want to have some phase. yes, member of parliament. and i know you want to have some phase.— want to have some phase. yes, i am deserate want to have some phase. yes, i am desperate for _ want to have some phase. yes, i am desperate for a _ want to have some phase. yes, i am desperate for a glass _ want to have some phase. yes, i am desperate for a glass of _ want to have some phase. yes, i am desperate for a glass of fizz - want to have some phase. yes, i am desperate for a glass of fizz and - desperate for a glass of fizz and football! �* , ., desperate for a glass of fizz and football! �* ,., , , desperate for a glass of fizz and football! �* , , ~ , football! and some sleep. as you would say. _ football! and some sleep. as you would say. you — football! and some sleep. as you would say, you have _ football! and some sleep. as you would say, you have to _ football! and some sleep. as you would say, you have to crack- football! and some sleep. as you would say, you have to crack on i football! and some sleep. as you i would say, you have to crack on with it. would say, you have to crack on with it crack _ would say, you have to crack on with it crack on! — would say, you have to crack on with it. crack on! we want you down in

parlianrenl— it. crack on! we want you down in parliament and we will all be so proud — parliament and we will all be so proud i— parliament and we will all be so proud. i will be so proud sitting at the dispatch box in parliament on monday— the dispatch box in parliament on monday when kim is sworn in as a member— monday when kim is sworn in as a member of— monday when kim is sworn in as a member of parliament for batley and spent _ member of parliament for batley and spent. what a moment! but this campaign — spent. what a moment! but this campaign has been tough because others _ campaign has been tough because others have poisoned it, poisoned it with hatred, with division, finding difference, misinformation, of lies, of harassment, threats and intimidation. that should have happened in batley and spent of all places— happened in batley and spent of all places is— happened in batley and spent of all places is disgusting. that that should — places is disgusting. that that should have happened to kim, of all people. _ should have happened to kim, of all people. is— should have happened to kim, of all people, is unforgivable. and for all those _ people, is unforgivable. and for all those who— people, is unforgivable. and for all those who engaged in it and all those _ those who engaged in it and all those who engaged in it and all those who didn't call it out, who didn't— those who didn't call it out, who didn't call— those who didn't call it out, who didn't call it out, they should be utterly— didn't call it out, they should be utterly ashamed of themselves. this is a victory—

utterly ashamed of themselves. this is a victory of hope over division. it is _ is a victory of hope over division. it is a _ is a victory of hope over division. it is a start _ is a victory of hope over division. it is a start. labour is back. labour— it is a start. labour is back. labour is _ it is a start. labour is back. labour is back! that battle that went _ labour is back! that battle that went on — labour is back! that battle that went on here between decency and honesty— went on here between decency and honesty and bringing people together and division, manipulation, misinformation, lies, that battle isn't _ misinformation, lies, that battle isn'tiust— misinformation, lies, that battle isn'tjust here, it is a battle of modern — isn'tjust here, it is a battle of modern politics and the labour party is in that— modern politics and the labour party is in that battle. we will fight all the way. — is in that battle. we will fight all the way, every inch of the way and we will— the way, every inch of the way and we will win— the way, every inch of the way and we will win that battle. we've got to fight _ we will win that battle. we've got to fight that, but labour is back. it isjust— to fight that, but labour is back. it isjust the start of many more days— it isjust the start of many more days like — it isjust the start of many more days like this. labour is coming home! — days like this. labour is coming home! ., ., .,~ days like this. labour is coming home! ., ., ., days like this. labour is coming home! ., ., , home! folks, can we all take a step back. the labour _ home! folks, can we all take a step back. the labour leader— home! folks, can we all take a step back. the labour leader in - home! folks, can we all take a step back. the labour leader in west - back. the labour leader in west yorkshire meeting _ back. the labour leader in west yorkshire meeting his— back. the labour leader in west yorkshire meeting his newest i back. the labour leader in west i yorkshire meeting his newest mp, back. the labour leader in west - yorkshire meeting his newest mp, kim

leadbetter, who won that by—election by three and in 23 votes. he was there thanking campaigners for all that they did over the last few weeks and thanking voters for choosing hope over division, decency over hatred, he said, and talking about the town at times of what was often a rather hostile campaign. coventry airport has already been identified as another site where a new factory could be in operation by the middle of the decade. but how many electric cars are already on the road? is infrastructure ready for many more? our correspondent chris morris is here. just a reminder why we are talking about this. uk is committed bylaw reminder why we are talking about this. uk is committed by law to getting net zero carbon emissions no later than 2050, limit the rise in

global to project. that might sound like a long time in the future, but are getting it zero action has to start now and accelerate quickly. transport is one of the big challenges. it is currently responsible for 27% of all the greenhouse gas emissions that cause global warming. greenhouse gas emissions that cause globalwarming. cars greenhouse gas emissions that cause global warming. cars account for more than half of that amount, as you can see on this chart. all that petrol and diesel which is being used. that is one of the reasons why the government has announced there will be no more sales of new petrol and diesel cars after the end of this decade. it also means there needs to be a rapid increase in the production and use of electric vehicles, a process well under way. at the end of 2020 there were 432,000 ultra low emission vehicles on uk roads, most of them electric cars. that's not much more than 1% of the overall total, but there were none just over a decade ago. and worldwide, globalsales

none just over a decade ago. and worldwide, global sales of electric cars rose by nearly 50% last year, with well over 3 million sales taking place during the pandemic. one estimate is that one in five new cars sold will be electric by 2025. car companies are making massive investments in electric car production. plans to phase out the use of the internal combustion engine. new nissan battery factory announced yesterday in sunderland is just one example. but there are big challenges. cost has been an issue. electric cars are more expensive to buy than petrol or diesel cars, even if they are cheaper to run. making batteries is getting easier. the industry expect a tipping fairly soon. �* . , . industry expect a tipping fairly soon. 1, , ., .., industry expect a tipping fairly soon. 1, , ., _, ., soon. batteries are coming down in rice. and soon. batteries are coming down in price- and plans — soon. batteries are coming down in price. and plans to _ soon. batteries are coming down in price. and plans to increase - price. and plans to increase production here in the uk, as we have seen with a nissan announcement this week, it will help with that. so i think it is probably made decade before we reach that tipping point when an electric car has the same ticket price as a petrol or

diesel car. same ticket price as a petrol or diesel car-— same ticket price as a petrol or diesel car. ., , , , ., diesel car. the other issue is how to recharge _ diesel car. the other issue is how to recharge your _ diesel car. the other issue is how to recharge your battery, - to recharge your battery, particularly on longerjourneys. range anxiety has been identified as a factor making people reluctant to intergalactic. the government said there are currently more than 23,800 public charging points around the country, including 4000 rapid chargers, £1.3 billion is being invested. but labour says it is not enough. it points out that the independent committee on climate change said there should be 150,000 change said there should be150,000 public charging points by 2025. so a big increase is needed. there are regional disparities, with far more charging points in london another part of the country. it is notjust about motorways, there is also the issue of charging at home. it is fine if you have a driveway, but people who only have access to on street parking need farm of local schemes, such as charges built into bmp schemes, such as charges built into lamp posts. so the ship to electric cars is happening. the challenge is

making sure that the infrastructure keeps up with the of change. thank you very much, chris. the parents of teenage motorcyclist harry dunne had given evidence against a woman suspected of causing his death in 2019. charlotte charles and tim dunn flew to washington dc earlier this week ahead of legal proceedings against the suspect, anne sacoolas. david willis has this report. harry dunn died after a car travelling on the wrong side of the road hit his motorbike outside raf croughton in northamptonshire. the driver, anne sacoolas, pictured here on her wedding day, was charged with causing death by dangerous driving but fled the country and claimed diplomatic immunity. officials here have refused to extradite her. last month, at the g7 summit in cornwall, borisjohnson reiterated to president biden his desire to see justice done, and there are now plans for ms sacoolas to attend a virtual civil trialfrom her home in the state of virginia.

with the process gathering pace, harry's parents have come here to give evidence under oath. there has got to be a proper end to this. there's got to be justice of some description. this cannot be just left as it is. we will keep going. we will keep going, even if it takes us forever, we will keep going. are you any more confident after today justice will be served? yes, absolutely. you know, like i said, everything we do is a step in the right direction. so, we are confident that what we are doing will all go towards getting justice for our boy. it is nearly two years since harry dunn's death, and his parents know they may have to wait another six months before they get their day in court. david willis, bbc news, washington. a 23—year—old man has been charged after chris whitty was

accosted in a park in london. metropolitan police says the refuse had been charged with common assault. the incident took place in the evening of the 27th ofjune in stjames's took place in the evening of the 27th ofjune in st james's park. senior doctors in england will be consulted on taking industrial action if the 1% pay rise officer isn't improved. the british medical association will ask members about stopping paid and unpaid overtime if the figure quoted in 4% isn't agreed. the royal college of nursing will consider balloting over industrial action is cold for a 12.5% pay rise. the government says it is committed to increasing pay for nhs staff and it rises for the rest of the public sector have been caused. the german confectionery giant harry bell says it is struggling to deliver to the uk because of a shortage of lorry

drivers. the company says it was working with partners to address a problem. the haulage industry has blamed the pandemic and brexit for thousands of unfilled hdv driver jobs. it is believed it is a shortfall of around 60,000 drivers. let's speak to the managing director at the road haulage association. it can'tjust be suites that are being affected or harry bell, for that matter. , , ., matter. there must be other companies — matter. there must be other companies too. _ matter. there must be other companies too. it _ matter. there must be other companies too. it is - matter. there must be other i companies too. it is absolutely right. it is notjust a shortage, but gaps in supermarket shelves. it is not that we're running out of food but when you go to the supermarket sometimes the afternoon not all the things are in in the way we would normally expect. and that is because some supermarkets are only getting one flurry delivery a day instead of the usual number, two or more. —— lorry delivery. think

about the same in factories, the same in terms of picking up fruit. in the west country we have a case of a farmer who can only get one lorry collection a week for his fruit when he'd normally get five, and of course that means some of that fruit is on the turn by the time it gets to the supermarkets. you have said, your organisation said that brexit and the pandemic have caused this shortage of drivers. how likely is it that we can provide drivers domestically. the government says it is increasing testing capacity to become drivers. it is good the 30,000 driving test last year cancelled because of the pandemic restrictions will take place. we want them to be prioritised and lorry drivers to go through the process as they are essential workers. that is a step in the right direction. the loss of

15,000 or so european lorry driver since the beginning of the year because of the immigration rules has been a real issue for us. there was this underlying shortage of 60,000 and add these other two factors on top and we have a shortage of around 100,000 drivers now. so we really need to focus on attracting a new generation of drivers into our industry. generation of drivers into our indust . ., ' . ., , industry. how difficult it a try drivers from _ industry. how difficult it a try drivers from outside - industry. how difficult it a try drivers from outside the - industry. how difficult it a try i drivers from outside the country industry. how difficult it a try - drivers from outside the country to come in here to fill these roles? notjust necessarily come in here to fill these roles? not just necessarily from come in here to fill these roles? notjust necessarily from the eu, as you have said, they do face restrictions. it you have said, they do face restrictions.— you have said, they do face restrictions. it is very difficult because drivers _ restrictions. it is very difficult because drivers are _ restrictions. it is very difficult because drivers are not - restrictions. it is very difficult because drivers are not listed restrictions. it is very difficult i because drivers are not listed on the shortage occupation list and that means they are almost certainly fail the immigration process and therefore they won't be able to come and work here. which would be fine if we had enough home—grown british lorry drivers, but we don't. it is

expensive to train eight lorry driver, may be about £7,000. and there are a lot of obstacles for them to ever come along the way of getting their license. so that is one of the problem is that we have got to face. one of the problem is that we have got to face-— one of the problem is that we have got to face. from the road hauliers association- — got to face. from the road hauliers association. thank _ got to face. from the road hauliers association. thank you _ got to face. from the road hauliers association. thank you very - got to face. from the road hauliers association. thank you very much i got to face. from the road hauliers i association. thank you very much for your time. association. thank you very much for yourtime. some association. thank you very much for your time. some breaking news. the prosecution of a former soldier for the murder of a 15—year—old boy in londonderry in 1972 daniel hegarty will not proceed, according to the solicitor for daniel heggarty�*s family. daniel was shot twice in the head during an army operation near his home in 1972. the army veteran known as soldier b was charged two years ago with murdering him and wounding his cousin. the director of public prosecution says they have informed the family today, saying that the case for murder has been

dropped. an inquest in 2011 found that daniel hegarty posed no risk and was shot without warning as the army moved into clear what was known as a no—go area, in operation motorman. court proceedings against soldier b had not yet begun. a company appointed to help oversee britney spears, financial affairs has been asked to withdraw. the organisation has been named asjoint guardians of her estate, along with their fatherjamie spears. guardians of her estate, along with theirfatherjamie spears. the their fatherjamie spears. the announcement theirfatherjamie spears. the announcement comes days after the p0p announcement comes days after the pop star said she was traumatised by the arrangement. canadian authorities are battling wildfires after the extreme heat that has hit the west of the country. on tuesday the west of the country. on tuesday the town of litton recorded canada's highest images of nearly 50 celsius. leading climate scientists say the unprecedented heatwave is almost

certainly contributing to global warming. while fire broke out causing an evacuation and then destroyed most of the town and damaging a nearby hydropower station. of the town and damaging a nearby hydropowerstation. it of the town and damaging a nearby hydropower station. it set a record of 49.6 celsius on tuesday, the previous high in canada was 45 celsius. in british columbia at least 486 sudden deaths were reported over five days. columbia at least 486 sudden deaths were reported overfive days. that is nearly three times more than usual over that period. this prolonged dangerous and historic heatwave has also affected the province of alberta. daytime height images have been above 30 degrees. in edmonton on thursday, which was canada day, residents flocked to spray packs trying to cool off. than? spray packs trying to cool off. any time ou spray packs trying to cool off. any time you have _ spray packs trying to cool off. in; time you have people that end spray packs trying to cool off. my time you have people that end up passing because of something like a

heatwave, which is avoidable, with getting inside, with hydration, it really hurts and we don't want to see that sort of thing happened. she has a new baby and says it has been so hard swaddling her child in the hot weather and getting to sleep. this is unusual for edmonton. hot weather and getting to sleep. this is unusualfor edmonton. i obsess myself in wintertime why i still live here because when it is -30 still live here because when it is —30 degrees, ijust want still live here because when it is —30 degrees, i just want to stay inside and the fact that it is a 70 degrees different from —32 plus 40 is crazy. degrees different from -32 plus 40 is cra . , ., , ., is crazy. the high temperatures have been hazardous _ is crazy. the high temperatures have been hazardous for _ is crazy. the high temperatures have been hazardous for those _ is crazy. the high temperatures have been hazardous for those who - is crazy. the high temperatures have been hazardous for those who are i been hazardous for those who are homeless. earlierthis been hazardous for those who are homeless. earlier this week, the city of edmonton activated its extreme weather response when police officers give out water to vulnerable people. volunteers like julie have also been driving around giving out water and pizza. it is giving out water and pizza. it is extremely _ giving out water and pizza. it is extremely hot _ giving out water and pizza. it is extremely hot and _ giving out water and pizza. it is extremely hot and people out here don't _ extremely hot and people out here don't have — extremely hot and people out here don't have food, water or shelter. and it _

don't have food, water or shelter. and it is _ don't have food, water or shelter. and it is so — don't have food, water or shelter. and it is so sad, so we are delivering _ and it is so sad, so we are delivering water and pizza to as many— delivering water and pizza to as many people as we can get to and hopetully— many people as we can get to and hopefully that helps a bit. this hot weather has _ hopefully that helps a bit. this hot weather has really _ hopefully that helps a bit. this hot weather has really surprised - hopefully that helps a bit. this hot| weather has really surprised people here in western canada. it is very unusual and people are not prepared. many do not have air conditioning and they are covering their windows, using fans and moving down to the cooler basements. this weekend it says it is going to be cooler and people are looking forward to that break and hope that this hot weather is not a sign for temperatures for the future. sir richard branson is a step closer to beating rival billionaires in the race into space. he's announced the date he'll blast beyond the earth's atmosphere — nine days ahead of the amazon founderjeff bezos. both tycoons have created space tourism companies offering flights for the wealthy. branson's vehicle can climb to an altitude of 90km giving those on—board a few minutes o weightlessness and a view of the curvature of the earth.

time for the weather with matt. summer weather in the uk is never straightforward and over the next few days we are certainly taking a turn to the changeable side of things. one hour, one day different to the one that precedes it and follows it. there will be some sunshine but they'd be prepared for grey skies and rumbles of thunder and lightning. there will be some this afternoon. southern scotland, northern england, as the show will start to blossom through the day. some more elsewhere and a little bit lighter. mostly dry, a lot more sunshine for many competitor this morning. rain, turning damp towards a south—west later. it means there is a increasing risk of isolated showers. close to wimbledon, late afternoon and into the evening. they will fade away through the night and last longer through parts of scotland. thickening cloud in the south—western rain pushes out into the south west of england, northern

ireland where we see some of the wettest conditions. chilly started a weekend. temperatures in double figures if not the mid—teens, but it will be changeable and that is because we are governed by low pressure to the west, a warm weather front pushing its way northwards and decaying and with that low pressure we will start to see showers blossom as we go through into sunday. the details for saturday, some of the wettest conditions will be moving north—eastward across england during the morning and early afternoon. followed on by a mixture of some sunshine but plenty of heavy and thundery showers. some showers in the day in northern ireland. scotland, dry for most of the day but through the afternoon we could see some heavy and thundery showers. temperatures down from today. in to the evening, some showers but we won't see any of that in rome. hot and sunny weatherfor the won't see any of that in rome. hot and sunny weather for the match against ukraine. temperatures dropping slowly through the evening.

sunday, through the day the shower cloud bubble up. some will be slow moving, torrential and thundery and it will vary quite drastically. some staying dry, particularly near the coast, a little bit cooler. we stayed with that show the theme as we go through monday and tuesday with temperatures a little bit down. bye for now. feels

this is bbc news. the headlines: the labour leader sir keir starmer welcomes victory in the batley and spen by—election — the party won by just 323 votes. what the party won byjust 323 votes. a really important batley what a really important victory for batley and spen.— what a really important victory for batley and spen. hope over division and decency — batley and spen. hope over division and decency over _ batley and spen. hope over division and decency over hatred. _ a 23—year—old man has been charged with common assault after england's chief medical officer professor chris whitty was accosted in a park in central london. anger over a proposed 1% pay rise — senior doctors in england will be consulted on possible industrial action if there's no improved offer. the german chancellor, angela merkel, is in the uk today for talks with hopes

that strict quarantine rules for britons travelling to the eu will be eased. richard branson is aiming to beat fellow billionairejeff bezos into space by a matter of nine days. britain's opposition labour party has narrowly won the batley and spen by—election in west yorkshire. the new mp, kim leadbeater, now represents the seat previously held by her sister, jo cox, who was murdered in the constituency in 2016. the result will ease pressure on labour leader sir keir starmer after recent election defeats for his party. ms leadbeater saw the party's majority cut

from more than 3,500 to 323, after a strong challenge from the conservative candidate ryan stephenson. the former labour and respect mp george galloway, who had targeted labour voters, came in third. the labour leader has hailed the victory against the odds. he celebrated with the new mp kim leadbeater at the king edward vii memorial park and paid tribute to labour's brilliant and brave winning candidate. he added that labour is true to the values of decency, honesty and is committed to improving lives. kim leadbeater spoke first and thanked her team. we've all done our bit to get this amazing result in what i'm incredibly proud of is we've pulled this community together in the face of adversity and we couldn't have done it without each other and i think thejob now done it without each other and i think the job now is to build done it without each other and i think thejob now is to build on

this success, to build on this victory and concentrate on listening to every single person across batley and spen and making sure we show what our communities are really about, and i'm very proud of the work we've done together so thank you so much. keir starmer said the result was a victory for hope over division and that the labour party is back. i that the labour party is back. i didn't sleep and i was so delighted when _ didn't sleep and i was so delighted when this— didn't sleep and i was so delighted when this news came through because it's really— when this news came through because it's really important for batley and spen _ it's really important for batley and spen that— it's really important for batley and spen that they've got in kim a champion— spen that they've got in kim a champion of their community who will fi-ht champion of their community who will fight for— champion of their community who will fight for everyone, she will fight here, _ fight for everyone, she will fight here, in— fight for everyone, she will fight here, in parliament, she will fight me, here, in parliament, she will fight me. so— here, in parliament, she will fight me, so batley and spen have a fantastic— me, so batley and spen have a fantastic champion, it's a real victory— fantastic champion, it's a real victory for— fantastic champion, it's a real victory for batley and spen and a real victory for hope over division and decency over hatred and that really. _ and decency over hatred and that really, really matters. and and decency over hatred and that really, really matters.— really, really matters. and it was such a tight _ really, really matters. and it was such a tight race, _ really, really matters. and it was such a tight race, the _ really, really matters. and it was such a tight race, the tories - really, really matters. and it was| such a tight race, the tories were favourites to win the whole way through. you really took aim at borisjohnson in the comments this

week over his decision not to sack matt hancock over his role breaking. do you think that hurt him on the doorstep here? i do you think that hurt him on the doorstep here?— do you think that hurt him on the doorstep here? i think that people are caettin doorstep here? i think that people are getting fed _ doorstep here? i think that people are getting fed up _ doorstep here? i think that people are getting fed up with _ doorstep here? i think that people are getting fed up with the - doorstep here? i think that people are getting fed up with the politicsj are getting fed up with the politics of misinformation and half—truths, untruths and division and what they want is what kim leadbeater can give them which is positivity, bringing communities together. she is of her community, for her community, it's about decency and integrity versus misinformation, manipulation, lies and half—truths, and that's been the battle in batley and spen but it is the wider battle of modern politics. but this has been a very positive campaign against a wall of hostility and poison from other candidates. d0 and poison from other candidates. do you think tory sleaze as you would call that is beginning to stick to borisjohnson? has he peaked? i borisjohnson? has he peaked? i think people are beginning to see there's a gulf of difference between integrity, honesty and bringing

people together and the politics of division, hatred, dividing everybody and miss truths and half—truths and kim leadbeater epitomises that. todayis kim leadbeater epitomises that. today is a really important start for us. labour is back. in today is a really important start for us. labour is back.— today is a really important start for us. labour is back. in terms of labour for us. labour is back. in terms of labour being _ for us. labour is back. in terms of labour being back, _ for us. labour is back. in terms of labour being back, the _ for us. labour is back. in terms of labour being back, the track - for us. labour is back. in terms of. labour being back, the track record would say this is a victory for kim leadbeater and it's not about you as leader, this is not your victory. this is victory for the whole labour movement and i've had messages from across the whole uk this morning. of course it's a special victory for kim leadbeater, she's a fantastic candidate who offers incredible... but this is a victory for labour —— victory for labour and those core labour values are going to win out and will win out. you labour values are going to win out and will win out.— labour values are going to win out and will win out. you said labour is back but let's _ and will win out. you said labour is back but let's be _ and will win out. you said labour is back but let's be truthful, - and will win out. you said labour is back but let's be truthful, 323 - back but let's be truthful, 323 votes was the difference between you being in london today facing a

potential leadership challenge and you being able to come up here and celebrate. that is how tight it is. that's how difficult it is for you as labour leader. when i talk about that leadership challenge, how do you feel? angry, vindicated, defiant? , . , you feel? angry, vindicated, defiant? , ., defiant? the divisive politics took 8000 votes _ defiant? the divisive politics took 8000 votes from _ defiant? the divisive politics took 8000 votes from labour - defiant? the divisive politics took 8000 votes from labour so - defiant? the divisive politics took 8000 votes from labour so there j defiant? the divisive politics took - 8000 votes from labour so there was an attempt to divide the labour vote and yet kim leadbeater won. the tories thought they could say nothing about harassment and when and kim has one because former tory voters in batley and spen voted for her so the labour vote was split but we won, the tories had a clean hit, nobody was going against them and they didn't win. they expected to win, make no mistake about that. but m oint win, make no mistake about that. but my point was had you lost this by—election, he would have calls this morning for your resignation.

how do you feel about that? i feel ve aood how do you feel about that? i feel very good that _ how do you feel about that? i feel very good that all _ how do you feel about that? i feel very good that all i've _ how do you feel about that? i feel very good that all i've had - how do you feel about that? i feel very good that all i've had all- very good that all i've had all morning as calls and texts and messages from across the country of people wanting unity and the values that kim leadbeater has put on show here, values to her core that have triumphed and i think that's a moment of real unity for the labour party, for batley and spen but across the country people are yearning for people like kim leadbeater and labour party leaders that can pull people together. what that can pull people together. what is our that can pull people together. what is your message — that can pull people together. what is your message to _ that can pull people together. what is your message to those on the labour left that would have today called for a leadership challenge to you? what is your message that the party is still not unified and are still divided and there are still manoeuvres against you less than two years since you were elected? mr; years since you were elected? ij�*i messages years since you were elected? ij�*i1: messages when years since you were elected? i’i1 messages when the years since you were elected? ii1 messages when the labour years since you were elected? ii1: messages when the labour party sticks to its core values, is rooted in communities, we can win as we have one here. this is the start. labour is back. —— as we have won.

some newsjust in. the public prosecution service in northern ireland has dropped a murder case against a former british soldier charged with killing a londonderry teenager in 1972. daniel hegarty was 15 when he was shot twice in the head during an army operation near his home in creggan in july 1972. we are hearing from our correspondent that prosecutors are also dropping a high—profile murder case against soldier f as opposed to soldier b for the killing on bloody sunday in 1972. prosecutors say that is no longer a reasonable prospect of conviction. our correspondent in londonderry is danjohnson. two high—profile long—standing cases that will not go forward. absolutely. this all goes back 50

years to july 1972 absolutely. this all goes back 50 years tojuly1972 when daniel hegarty was shot in an army operation and earlier injanuary 1972, bloody sunday, those images that in many ways have defined the troubles and the painful legacy that northern ireland has had to deal with for a quarter of a century. families have been here at this hotel in londonderry this morning for a meeting with the public prosecution service and that is where they have been told that the case against those two soldiers, soldier b, the case about daniel hegarty, is likely to be discontinued and soldier f, charged with the murders ofjames discontinued and soldier f, charged with the murders of james ray discontinued and soldier f, charged with the murders ofjames ray and william mckinney on bloody sunday, the case against him to be discontinued by the public prosecution service probably to be concluded that a court hearing next week which will be a major disappointment to families who have campaigned forjustice for so many

years. we've had a statement from the solicitor representing the families who lost loved ones at bloody sunday. it says this decision represents another damning indictment of the british justice system. they say they believe that the bloody sunday inquiry which ran for 12 years, the longest public inquiry, put responsibility onto soldier f. they have criticised the anonymity that he has and said that they will challenge the decision as far as they can. the issue is far from concluded, the family say. "we will fight on." that is a statement on behalf of families who lost loved ones on bloody sunday, particular the families ofjames ray and the families of james ray and william the families ofjames ray and william mckinney. soldier f was facing a murder trial in relation to those shootings on bloody sunday and another family, those shootings on bloody sunday and anotherfamily, the family those shootings on bloody sunday and another family, the family of daniel hegarty, a 15—year—old who was shot in the head twice in a different

army operation later in 1972, that family has also been told that the case against soldier b will be discontinued so progress on some extent are the legacy issues northern ireland has to deal with but will be received negatively by families here who had been holding out for justice families here who had been holding out forjustice in these cases, in the hope that they would see people brought to court. the solicitor on behalf of daniel hegarty�*s family said what they had been told by prosecutors this morning as it was all about the way statements were taken from soldier b in the immediate aftermath of the army operation he had been involved in an even more recently, the fact those statements were not taken properly and would be admissible in court, the call from the solicitor here today was that that soldier should be reinterviewed now, should volunteer to come forward and give

evidence again so that the process could start again and there could potentially be another prosecution in future but that is potentially something to be looked at but for the immediate future, it looks like those two major prosecutions are now going to progress any further in the immediate future and that will be a source of serious disappointment to those families and people in londonderry. it will be a relief to those soldiers who were facing court cases after so many years, people have campaigned on their behalf saying that these legacy issues had gone on for too long, that memories had faded, that they were being charged with the things they didn't deserve to be facing the consequences of it so far down the line. of course, they denied and maintained their innocence for all these years. you can hear some applause, one of the family is just coming out to speak to the media now. ~ ., , .,

coming out to speak to the media now. . .,, ., ., ., now. we hope to get reaction from the family members _ now. we hope to get reaction from the family members to _ now. we hope to get reaction from the family members to those - the family members to those decisions in a little while. thank you very much. the conservative mpjohnny mercer also a former british army officer has posted saying, another veteran's life ruined, investigations dropped, charged, dropped. senior doctors in england are to be consulted by their union, the british medical association, about whether they wish to take industrial action. consultants are angry about a proposed 1% pay offer and are demanding a rise closer to 4%. the government says it's committed to increasing pay for nhs staff. i can now speak to dr vishal sharma, the deputy chair of the british medical association consultants committee. thank you forjoining us. what sort

of pay rise do you think is realistic, given the fact that we are trying to get past all of this spending that has gone into propping people up during the pandemic? there has been the — people up during the pandemic? there has been the worst _ people up during the pandemic? there has been the worst pay _ people up during the pandemic? ii—ii” has been the worst pay erosion for consultants of any group over the last decade, nearly 30%. that's across public and private sectors. we recognise things are difficult but consultants have had to go through a very difficult period of 15 months like all nhs staff and fighting for patients during this pandemic. the report was clear that we want at least 5% this year and that's not a reasonable —— that is a reasonable amount since inflation will be 4% by the end of the year. we need to start addressing the long term pay erosion that has happened for consultants. the

term pay erosion that has happened for consultants.— term pay erosion that has happened for consultants. the government says ublic for consultants. the government says public sector — for consultants. the government says public sector pay _ for consultants. the government says public sector pay increases _ for consultants. the government says public sector pay increases have - public sector pay increases have been paused. why is it any different for doctors when many in the public sector are regarded as key workers and have kept going to work during the covid crisis? irate and have kept going to work during the covid crisis?— the covid crisis? we don't agree that other _ the covid crisis? we don't agree that other workers _ the covid crisis? we don't agree that other workers should - the covid crisis? we don't agree that other workers should be i that other workers should be excluded, everybody has worked incredibly hard during the pandemic and deserves to be supported. 4% inflation is a massive pay cut to people despite the difficult time, we should be levelling down across groups, everybody deserves a pay rise. ., ~' , , groups, everybody deserves a pay rise. ., ~' i, , , rise. how likely is it your members will vote for _ rise. how likely is it your members will vote for some _ rise. how likely is it your members will vote for some sort _ rise. how likely is it your members will vote for some sort of - will vote for some sort of industrial action if not strike action? obviously because of the very nature of the work they do, they don't readily step away from theirjob. they don't readily step away from their 'ob. ~ ,,., , ., , ,.,, their 'ob. absolutely, the opposite if theirjob. absolutely, the opposite if anything- _ theirjob. absolutely, the opposite if anything. consultants _ theirjob. absolutely, the opposite if anything. consultants always - theirjob. absolutely, the opposite if anything. consultants always go | if anything. consultants always go above and beyond for patients and the very fact people are so upset

and angry about this is an indictment of how the government have treated it the last year. to be talking about any form of action is unheard of. what we are concerned about beyond industrial action is the loss of goodwill. the nhs relies on goodwill from its staff and the underfunding, it means consultants will normally do an extra 20 hours on top of their core hours and we know from our members they are exhausted, tired and feel undervalued and that's the sort of stuff they think makes them feel that they can do it any more. enough is enough and these are things we can't continue to do forever if we are not being treated fairly. thank ou, are not being treated fairly. thank you. doctor- _ are not being treated fairly. thank you, doctor. breaking _ are not being treated fairly. thank you, doctor. breaking news - are not being treated fairly. thank you, doctor. breaking news regarding coronavirus, the prevalence of covid infections in england is estimated

to have risen to one and 260 people in the week tojune 26 according to the office for national statistics. this is because a new wave of cases of the delta variant has gathered pace. to give you an idea of how much it has gone up, the previous week it was one in 440 people as opposed to one in 260 with coronavirus. the ons said it was the highest estimated rate of positivity since february 27th but the prime minister has said he expects to reopen england's economy fully on july 19 even though cases arising, hoping that the vaccine roll—out is breaking the link between cases and deaths or hospitalisations significantly although as a caveat, the prime minister said there might need to continue to be some further restrictions or ways in which we behave to try to keep the number

down. sport and for a full round up, from the bbc sport centre, here's jane. not long to wait until england's quarter final against ukraine at euro 2020. the full squad of 26 has been training at st george's park this morning, before they fly to rome. this match will be the team's first away from wembley, but manager gareth southgate, doesn't think that will affect his players. well, it was immense the other night. the fans were incredible but, actually, i think that would be really hard to replicate three days later so i think it's a good thing for us to go away from wembley to this game which will be about us. we might have some support in the stadium but if we do it's not going to be vast numbers by the sounds of it. therefore it's about what we do as a group and creating our own energy and our own spirit. i think

that's a good step forward for us. scotland midfielder billy gilmour will play for norwich when they return to the premier league next season. he'lljoin on a year—long loan from chelsea, after an impressive performance in his first international start against england at the euros, before he tested positive for covid—19. gilmour said he was looking forward to exciting times ahead. andy murray will be back on centre court at wimbledon this evening, against denis shapovalov of canada in round three. the pair have never played each other before and with shapovalov ranked 12th in the world, murray knows he's in for a tough day. he's definitely a shotmaker. he likes playing in front of big crowds and stuff. so, yeah, the thing i've got on my side is the experience and obviously having played a lot on centre court. i'm not saying we will definitely play on there but i would imagine

there would be a good chance of that. so it'll be quite new for him. before that, british number one dan evans will be hoping to break new ground by reaching the last 16. after two straight sets victories so far, he'll face a stiff test against the young american sebastian korda. world championship leader max verstappen was quickest in first practice for the austrian grand prix. following his victory at the same circuit last weekend, the red bull driverfinished clear of charles leclair and carlos sainz, with lewis hamilton down in 7th — more than half a second adrift. verstappen is 18 points ahead of hamilton in the standings. second practice begins at two. that's all the sport for now. i'll have more for you in the next hour.

there's just one more day to wait, before england's quarter final against ukraine at euro 2020 in rome but england fans hoping to jump on a plane to the match in italy are likely to be disappointed because of the current coronavirus restrictions in the country. current rules mean that any passengers would need proof of a negative test taken in the 48 hours before travelling and upon arrival they would have to isolate for five days. the italian ambassador to the uk, his excellency raffaele trombetta, joins me now. a very warm welcome to you, thanks forjoining us. what is your advice to england fans who are tempted to try to make it to rome from the uk? good afternoon. my advice is not to do that, stay in england, watch the match with friends in the uk. as you said, only those who can prove that they have arrived in italy at least six days previously of the match, five days of quarantine and then

have taken a covid—19 test with a negative result, so obviously these conditions cannot be filled in by those who want to leave today or even tomorrow.— those who want to leave today or even tomorrow. what about fans who mi . ht even tomorrow. what about fans who might already — even tomorrow. what about fans who might already have _ even tomorrow. what about fans who might already have been _ even tomorrow. what about fans who might already have been in _ even tomorrow. what about fans who might already have been in another. might already have been in another part of europe and want to make their way to italy? how different are the rules from them? —— for them? are the rules from them? -- for them? ., ., , ., ., ,., them? you need to prove that you have not been _ them? you need to prove that you have not been in _ them? you need to prove that you have not been in the _ them? you need to prove that you have not been in the uk _ them? you need to prove that you have not been in the uk in - them? you need to prove that you have not been in the uk in the - have not been in the uk in the previous 14 days so if you were in the uk 14 days before the match and then you travelled to another european country and then you go to italy, still, you are not complying with our rules. since the match is against ukraine, the same applies to ukraine fans. in their case, the quarantine is ten days so it's even worse. we have put additional checks

at the border in order to make sure that people are observing these rules. these are not many entry points, both at the land rules. these are not many entry points, both at the [and borders as well as the airport. points, both at the land borders as well as the airport.— well as the airport. what checks to the authorities _ well as the airport. what checks to the authorities make _ well as the airport. what checks to the authorities make on _ well as the airport. what checks to the authorities make on people i well as the airport. what checks to l the authorities make on people who were meant to be self—isolating within italy? were meant to be self-isolating within italy?— within italy? first of all, before ou within italy? first of all, before you travel. _ within italy? first of all, before you travel. you _ within italy? first of all, before you travel, you need _ within italy? first of all, before you travel, you need to - within italy? first of all, before you travel, you need to fill- within italy? first of all, before you travel, you need to fill in l within italy? first of all, before you travel, you need to fill in a| you travel, you need to fill in a locator form so authorities can check when you get to italy if you are actually in the location that you have specified in the form. when you have specified in the form. when you arrive, you need to notify your presence to our health authorities. it's another way to check that you are complying with the rules. itair; are complying with the rules. italy face belgium _ are complying with the rules. italy face belgium tonight, what is your prediction? you face belgium tonight, what is your rediction? ., ., , prediction? you never ask these thin . s to prediction? you never ask these things to an _ prediction? you never ask these things to an italian _ prediction? you never ask these things to an italian before - prediction? you never ask these things to an italian before a -

prediction? you never ask these i things to an italian before a match! i think belgium is a strong team, number one in the uefa ranking. we also have a good team so i think either way it is going to be an entertaining match but i will gladly support italy and i think we have a chance, but we'll see. it's not an easy match but we will enjoy it. and also, i hope that england will have also, i hope that england will have a good match tomorrow and i will support england and i will hope that we can then meet in the final. i’m we can then meet in the final. i'm so lad we can then meet in the final. i'm so glad you _ we can then meet in the final. i'm so glad you said that, that was going to be my next question, but your loyalty would be torn! i guess i know who you would decide to back in the end. ambassador, lovely to talk to you, thank you very much. thank you very much. a 23—year—old man has been charged after england's chief medical officer professor chris whitty was accosted in a central london park. the metropolitan police said lewis hughes had been charged

with common assault. the incident took place on the evening of saturday 27th june in stjames park. borisjohnson will meet with chancellor angela merkel today, on her last visit to the uk as head of the german government. coronavirus travel restrictions are expected to be high on the agenda. it comes as mrs merkel reportedly wants to ban uk tourists from entering the european union because of concerns over the delta variant. mrs merkel will also become the first world leader since bill clinton in 1997 to address the british cabinet. back now to our top story, as labour held the batley and spen seat in yesterday's by—election. labour's shadow culture secretary alison mcgovern mpjoins me now. how much can you celebrate this when, given that there was only a majority of 323 votes? in a when, given that there was only a majority of 323 votes?— majority of 323 votes? in a tight election win _ majority of 323 votes? in a tight election win like _ majority of 323 votes? in a tight election win like that, _ majority of 323 votes? in a tight election win like that, credit - election win like that, credit

really belongs to the people on the ground, all of labour activists and crucially kim leadbeater who just was absolutely brilliant from the word go but absolutely a tight victory but itjust shows what happens when people put incredible effort in, when you've got a candidate who is just energetic and enthusiastic and a champion of the place she was born and raised and i'm just so pleased for people in batley and spen or deserve a great mp and that's what kim will do. iirat’ith mp and that's what kim will do. with such a narrow _ mp and that's what kim will do. with such a narrow margin of victory, how likely is it that the criticisms of keir starmer as the labour party leader will now abate? the most im ortant leader will now abate? the most important thing _ leader will now abate? the most important thing here _ leader will now abate? the most important thing here is - leader will now abate? the most important thing here is that - leader will now abate? the most i important thing here is that there's been quite a divisive election campaign that the people in batley and spen have endured and i'm glad they've got a good mp in kim. she and i became friends in the worst

possible circumstances but the last five years have shown her to be an incredible person. that's what this is about. keir starmer, and we all have to make the case for a labour government, that's what we have to do to win the general election, but that was true before this by—election result and it's true today. by-election result and it's true toda . �* ., , by-election result and it's true toda . �* . , , , today. but there are still members ofthe today. but there are still members of the labour— today. but there are still members of the labour party _ today. but there are still members of the labour party who _ today. but there are still members of the labour party who are - today. but there are still members of the labour party who are still. of the labour party who are still not satisfied. they say he could have easily been facing a leadership challenge today because of that tiny margin that kim leadbeater one by —— won by. margin that kim leadbeater one by -- won b . , margin that kim leadbeater one by -- won b . ., margin that kim leadbeater one by -- wonb. ., ., won by. the case for a labour government _ won by. the case for a labour government is _ won by. the case for a labour government is clear - won by. the case for a labour government is clear and - won by. the case for a labour government is clear and has i won by. the case for a labourl government is clear and has to won by. the case for a labour - government is clear and has to be made and nothing about this by—election changes that. the most fantastic thing is for those organisers and campaigners and activists who have put a massive shift in to make sure we could hold this seat in very, very difficult

circumstances. kim is an incredible human who has done brilliant things over the past five years. i've come to know her and the worst possible circumstances. i'm so very glad that i have and i am so proud that she will be with us and in the house of commons standing up for people in batley and spen. but commons standing up for people in ltatley and spen-— batley and spen. but no one will foruet batley and spen. but no one will forget that _ batley and spen. but no one will forget that not _ batley and spen. but no one will forget that not long _ batley and spen. but no one will forget that not long ago, - batley and spen. but no one will forget that not long ago, labour| forget that not long ago, labour lost the hartlepool by—election, they have onlyjust narrowly held onto a seat they have held for 24 years. it isn't the most ringing up endorsements of the party or its leadership. endorsements of the party or its leadership-— endorsements of the party or its leadership. no, are not that long aro we leadership. no, are not that long ago we had _ leadership. no, are not that long ago we had a _ leadership. no, are not that long ago we had a terrible _ leadership. no, are not that long ago we had a terrible general - ago we had a terrible general election result but we all have to move on. if we want to have a different government and i think the case is absolutely clear for no longer having a conservative government, then it is the responsibility of the labour party to make the case for our country that can address some of the big challenges we've seen in this pandemic, for a country where people have more enjoyment in life and have

healthier, happier lives. ithink have more enjoyment in life and have healthier, happier lives. i think we have to make that case. healthier, happier lives. ithink we have to make that case.— healthier, happier lives. ithink we have to make that case. today i am 'ust have to make that case. today i am just thinking — have to make that case. today i am just thinking about _ have to make that case. today i am just thinking about how— have to make that case. today i am just thinking about how fantastic i have to make that case. today i am just thinking about how fantastic it | just thinking about how fantastic it has been to have —— how fantastic it is to have kim leadbeater as the memberfor is to have kim leadbeater as the member for batley and spen. is to have kim leadbeater as the memberfor batley and spen. she is to have kim leadbeater as the member for batley and spen. she has been through — member for batley and spen. she has been through things _ member for batley and spen. she has been through things no _ member for batley and spen. she has been through things no one _ member for batley and spen. she has been through things no one should i been through things no one should have to and she has borne that with incredible courage and determination. i'm looking forward to working with her in her new role. thank you very much.— now it's time for a look at the weather with matt taylor. hello. after a grey start it is brightening up for most now and there will be sunshine this afternoon, but it could stay misty around the channel coasts and fog some towards the west, most will see sunny spells but as temperatures rise and we will see some showers develop, most will stay dry but particularly across northern england and southern scotland where they could be thundery. temperatures on the warm

side, most places in the low 20s. this evening, showers will start to fade, but later in the night, cloud pushes into southwest england and wales and northern ireland, bringing longer spells of rain, some of which will be heavy towards the southwest but it won't be a chilly start to the weekend, temperatures for most will be in the teens. for saturday, plenty of cloud to begin with, the wettest weather will be across parts of england, heavy rain pushing north—eastwards followed by a mixture of sunshine and showers, some of them heavy and thundery. showers then spreading to scotland and parts of northern ireland and it will feel cooler than today.

hello this is the bbc news. the headlines... labour welcomes its narrow win in the batley and spen by—election

by just 323 votes. the new mp is kim leadbeater — sister ofjo cox — who represented the area until she was murdered in 2016. two army veterans facing murder charges from the northern ireland troubles, including on bloody sunday in 1972, will now not face trial. a 23—year—old man has been charged with common assault after england's chief medical officer professor chris whitty was accosted in a park in central london. the german chancellor, angela merkel, is in the uk today for talks — with hopes that strict quarantine rules for britons travelling to the eu will be eased. the parents of teenage motorcyclist harry dunn have given evidence in the united states against the woman suspected of causing his death two years ago. more now on our top story — labour has held the seat of batley and spen in yesterday's by—election. kim leadbetter took the seat with a vastly reduced majority, down from more than 3,500 thousand to 323, after a strong challenge from the conservatives. our correspondent lewis goodall has more analysis of the result.

labour has pulled off what a view days ago many pundits said was a complete loss cause. they have held on to batley and spent in west yorkshire. it was a narrow sliver of a victory. take a look. the majority was way down. we can see the result. labour, 35.3%. george galloway, 21.9%. the lib dems lost their deposit. two factors make people think that labour that labour were finished. george galloway, targeting the british muslim vote in the constituency. many assumed he would eat into labour's vote and then add into that, when we go back to the 2019 general election, there was another independent candidate in the seat. they did very well, pro brexit and without him standing, it was assumed that his vote would bolster the conservative vote. at the do

limb and two together, and people assumed a tory victory. but it didn't happen. why not? you can see that labour vote down 7.4%. you think, how could they all be done? george galloway didn't stand last time but his vote up a great deal. number one, the fact that labour won and galloway still got so many vote suggests that labour's victory is a bit more impressive than just a headline majority. because without galloway standing it would probably have meant labour would have had a bigger victory. the fact that labour won almost certainly leaking votes to galloway. maybe with potential switchers and lib dems, who voted tactically. labour's operation got the boat out successfully and what

is behind it? part of it is kim leadbetter. she is local, much respected locally. the conservative lead nationally has narrowed a touch in recent weeks, perhaps as a result of the matt hancock affair. vaccine shine becoming less lustrous for the government. remember, this has been a labour seat since 1997. it is the 11th year of the conservative government in one form or another and they ought not to be contentious, but we saw a swing of 2.9% to the conservatives. if that happened in the general election, they would lose a seat elsewhere. galloway�*s presents does distort the picture a little bit. keir starmer tweeted... this doesn't solve his problems. after hartlepool, he couldn't afford another loss. this has bought him time, breathing

space, into the summer, into party conference to rethink and reconsider his strategy. borisjohnson remains dominant, but this result has told us that there are limits to that dominance. something we didn't know for certain only a a few weeks ago. two army veterans facing murder charges from the northern ireland troubles, including on bloody sunday in 1972, will now not face trial. the cases involve individuals known as soldier f and soldier b. soldier f was to be prosecuted over the deaths of james wray and william mckinney on bloody sunday. the case against soldier b relates to the death of 15—year—old daniel hegarty, who was shot twice in the head in londonderry in july 1972. let's get a reaction to the development. they said the solicitor representing the family of daniel hegarty. representing the family of daniel hera . ., representing the family of daniel hera _ ., . ., representing the family of daniel hera , ., ., hegarty. you can get away with murder of—

hegarty. you can get away with murder of a _ hegarty. you can get away with murder of a child _ hegarty. you can get away with murder of a child if _ hegarty. you can get away with murder of a child if you - hegarty. you can get away with murder of a child if you are - hegarty. you can get away with murder of a child if you are in i hegarty. you can get away with i murder of a child if you are in the british army. because the state will always protect you. the state will subvert the legal system and use it to their advantage and they had done so in the past. and then the illegitimate will be legitimised by the pps and the court. in the present day. i make no criticism of mr hearn, who is the pps director, all of the court, because they are stuck with an elaborate cover—up, a conspiracy to perverted the course

ofjustice conspiracy to perverted the course of justice that was conspiracy to perverted the course ofjustice that was begun by the british army and the ruc back in 1972, when the ruc allowed the british army to do their own investigations.— british army to do their own investigations. the solicitor for daniel hegarty _ investigations. the solicitor for daniel hegarty plus _ investigations. the solicitor for daniel hegarty plus my - investigations. the solicitor for daniel hegarty plus my family. j the solicitor for daniel hegarty plus my family. conservative mpjohnny mercer quit as veterans minister earlier this year because he was unhappy about investigations into former personnel during the troubles in northern ireland. thank you forjoining us. what is your reaction to the decision to drop these cases against soldier f and soldier b? i drop these cases against soldier f and soldier b?— and soldier b? i think it is the riaht and soldier b? i think it is the right decision. _ and soldier b? i think it is the right decision. i— and soldier b? i think it is the right decision. i think - and soldier b? i think it is the right decision. i think it - and soldier b? i think it is the right decision. i think it is - and soldier b? i think it is the right decision. i think it is a i and soldier b? i think it is the i right decision. i think it is a sad day, a sad day in northern ireland, certainly for the families. but it also highlighted the experience is

not only forfamilies also highlighted the experience is not only for families but of the veterans who have been through this process over many years. the individual you are hearing from just then had some very fair points around the standards in investigations around what happened at the time. we do things differently now? of course we do. should we have done differently? yes. but this idea that you can look back 48 years later and try to really understand the narrative of what was going on in a very chaotic environment, i think it has always been a false narrative. i think it hurt everybody. this government has for a long time promised to do something about it and previous governments, and it is to their shame that they continue to avoid this issue and put both families and veterans through a horrendous process. veterans through a horrendous rocess. , ., , , process. given there has been criticism about _ process. given there has been criticism about the _ process. given there has been criticism about the way - process. given there has been criticism about the way that i criticism about the way that evidence was gathered all those years ago, what would your view be of these former service personnel

being reinterviewed today? i don't think ou being reinterviewed today? i don't think you will _ being reinterviewed today? i don't think you will get _ being reinterviewed today? i don't think you will get a _ being reinterviewed today? i don't think you will get a fair _ being reinterviewed today? i don't think you will get a fair result. - think you will get a fair result. the prosecutors have come back and said, thresholds and the integrity and the resilience required to get a murder conviction is not there. and that it's a situation we are facing. i am afraid there are some really hard truth is that all sides need to accept. it was a different time, things were not done as well as people would have liked. we do things differently now but the idea that we can look back through that lens and understand the granularity of what happened, to a standard of proof that is necessary to secure a conviction, it has always been a false narrative. it is peddled by people who know it is a false narrative and the people who are getting hurt are both veterans and their families. getting hurt are both veterans and theirfamilies. shah getting hurt are both veterans and their families.— their families. an inquest in 2011 found that _ their families. an inquest in 2011 found that daniel _ their families. an inquest in 2011 found that daniel hegarty - their families. an inquest in 2011 found that daniel hegarty posed | their families. an inquest in 2011 i found that daniel hegarty posed no risk and was shot without warning as the army moved into clear go areas. surely it does... it does the

british army and its reputation no good at all if these cases don't get resolved, ifjustice isn't done for families like daniel hegarty�*s. i families like daniel hegarty's. i don't disagree with that. i don't disagree that the british military has for some time been very poor at investigating the sort of allegations and holding people to account. it is something i try to really do when i was in the department and still find a certain reticence to do it. i don't dispute that. all i am saying is that the 47, 48 years later, i don't that. all i am saying is that the 47,48 years later, i don't think you will get a clear picture of what happened. it's not good enough, for the families, for the veterans, but ultimately all sites have been failed by the state in this process and the success of government —— successive governments have pledged to put in a proper system. they haven't done it and this is a

result. it is very predictable and sad but the responsibility lies with borisjohnson and previous prime ministers. from today, travellers from the uk visiting spain will have to show proof of being double vaccinated or a negative pcr test. the spanish government's new requirements apply to passengers from the uk aged 12 and over. mainland spain is currently on the government's amber list — meaning people returning to the uk must quarantine at home for ten days. the telegraph newspaper has reported that up to 5 million britons face being prevented from going on european holidays because it astrazeneca vaccinations are not recognised by the eu passport scheme. it recognised by the eu passport scheme. , , ., , scheme. it says doses administered in this country _ scheme. it says doses administered in this country but _ scheme. it says doses administered in this country but made _ scheme. it says doses administered in this country but made in - scheme. it says doses administered in this country but made in india - in this country but made in india don't qualify for the eu vaccine passport scheme, as they are not yet authorised by the european medicines agency. this could mean people being turned away at eu border crossings

when the vaccines are checked digitally. i have been speaking to a travel editor of the sun, who has received one of the vaccine is now in question. received one of the vaccine is now in question-— received one of the vaccine is now in question. these are the 5 million doses or batches, _ in question. these are the 5 million doses or batches, these _ in question. these are the 5 million doses or batches, these three - doses or batches, these three particular batch numbers that were made in india and at the moment their india version of the astrazeneca job is not recognised by the eu in general. what is utterly confusing for me is you actually have got seven eu countries that have got seven eu countries that have recognised it, including germany, spain and greece. but the likes of france have not yet done and nor has the eu as a whole. this is another blow for people. i am one of those affected. i did have one of those particular vaccines from my first one back in march and this means effectively that it was done with good reason of protecting myself, my family and the country, but it offers me no other freedoms

than otherjust protection. but i am back to square one. i might as well not be vaccinated. haifa back to square one. i might as well not be vaccinated.— back to square one. i might as well not be vaccinated. how do you know whether you — not be vaccinated. how do you know whether you are _ not be vaccinated. how do you know whether you are -- _ not be vaccinated. how do you know whether you are -- your _ not be vaccinated. how do you know| whether you are -- your astrazeneca whether you are —— your astrazeneca came from india? i whether you are -- your astrazeneca came from india?— whether you are -- your astrazeneca came from india? i have the nhs app and i can prove _ came from india? i have the nhs app and i can prove i— came from india? i have the nhs app and i can prove i have _ came from india? i have the nhs app and i can prove i have been _ and i can prove i have been vaccinated and on that it gives you the batch number and my first batch number is one of those ones in this telegraph story. so if it is actually correct and this is right, it means i will be barred from going to countries like france. we it means i will be barred from going to countries like france.— to countries like france. we were 'ust to countries like france. we were just mentioning _ to countries like france. we were just mentioning that _ to countries like france. we were just mentioning that angela - to countries like france. we were i just mentioning that angela merkel would prefer that there were no restrictions imposed on people coming from the uk because we are seeing this rise in the delta variant —— that there were restrictions. variant -- that there were

restrictions.— variant -- that there were restrictions. . , ,, restrictions. travel between the us and the uk. _ restrictions. travel between the us and the uk, that— restrictions. travel between the us and the uk, that is _ restrictions. travel between the us and the uk, that is being _ restrictions. travel between the us and the uk, that is being held - restrictions. travel between the us and the uk, that is being held up. restrictions. travel between the us| and the uk, that is being held up by the fact that at the moment that us agency don't recognise astrazeneca and they have concerns about the rising delta variant cases in the uk and it doesn't look like we will see any agreement on that anytime soon. so where could people with these double vaccinations, like you, with these particular batches hope to travel to outside the uk? i these particular batches hope to travel to outside the uk?- these particular batches hope to travel to outside the uk? travelto outside the uk? i think it is et to travelto outside the uk? i think it is yet to be _ travelto outside the uk? i think it is yet to be decided. _ travelto outside the uk? i think it is yet to be decided. this - travelto outside the uk? i think it is yet to be decided. this is - travelto outside the uk? i think it is yet to be decided. this is a - travelto outside the uk? i think it is yet to be decided. this is a new| is yet to be decided. this is a new study that is onlyjust breaking. as far as i understand it, the countries in the eu that have actually approved the indian version of the astrazeneca vaccine, you should be fine to go into those countries. what is not being recognised is the eu's version, their digital passport. if those countries still insist on you having something that matches up with a digital passport, then we could still be in trouble. it's a really

confusing situations we have seen with spain this week, when we didn't know whether we could have a lateral flow test or a pcr test are coming to the country. it is just utter chaos across the board. it is not good news for people trying to get away. good news for people trying to get awa . ., ., ., , away. the travel editor for the sun newspaper- _ away. the travel editor for the sun newspaper- the — away. the travel editor for the sun newspaper. the headlines. - labour welcomes its narrow win in the batley and spen by—election by just 323 votes. the new mp is kim leadbeater — sister ofjo cox — who represented the area until she was murdered in 2016. two army veterans facing murder charges in 1972 will now not face trial. a23—year—old man has been charged with common assault after england was my chief officer professor chris whitty was accosted in a park in central london.

let's shout you some pictures from buckinghamshire. check out, to be precise. there is borisjohnson welcome that german chancellor angela merkel on the agenda, trade and post—brexit relations, but perhaps most pressing, covid—19 travel restrictions. this is her final official visit to the uk as german chancellor. she will stand out later this year. she will address that uk cabinet virtually. a sign of the times. the elbow bump rather than a handshake for the cameras. there is concern for the prime minister because angela merkel said last week that she wanted other countries to follow germany's lead and introduce tougher restrictions for uk travellers wanting to visit the european union because of the rise in the number of delta variant cases here. the parents of teenage motorcyclist harry dunn have given

evidence against the woman suspected of causing his death in 2019. charlotte charles and tim dunn flew to washington dc earlier this week ahead of legal proceedings against the suspect, anne sacoolas. david willis has this report. harry dunn died after a car travelling on the wrong side of the road hit his motor bike outside raf croughton in northamptonshire. the driver, anne sacoolas, pictured here on her wedding day, was charged with causing death by dangerous driving but fled the country and claimed diplomatic immunity. officials here have refused to extradite her. last month, at the g7 summit in cornwall, borisjohnson reiterated to president biden his desire to see justice done, and there are now plans for ms sacoolas to attend a virtual civil trialfrom her home in the state of virginia. with the process gathering pace, harry's parents have come here to give evidence under oath. there has got to be a proper end to this. there's got to be justice

of some description. this cannot be just left as it is. we will keep going. we will keep going, even if it takes us forever, we will keep going. are you any more confident after today justice will be served? yes, absolutely. you know, like i said, everything we do is a step in the right direction. so, we are confident that what we are doing will all go towards getting justice for our boy. it is nearly two years since harry dunn's death, and his parents know they may have to wait another six months before they get their day in court. david willis, bbc news, washington. with the rapid growth of renewable energy and electric vehicles in recent years, it's no surprise the demand for the metals they rely on, is soaring. but could the answer lie deep underground in cornwall? our science correspondent, rebecca morelle, takes a look. heading underground

into cornwall�*s south crofty mine. we are about 120 metres below the surface right now and we are actually beneath the surrounding water table. all you can see here is basically the sheet of mineralisation that was mined. work stopped decades ago, but these caverns could soon open up again. minerals in cornwall have been mined for hundreds of years, but with the green economy, metals like lithium and here tin are now soaring in demand and the hope is that this mine could play a crucial part in the uk's supply. anything with an electric connection, a circuit board or whatever, has tin in it, so all of these objectives and uses that we are using to get to this carbon—neutral economy require tin to some degree and to have that domestic supply on your doorstep, it makes sense to see this mine into production. above ground too, new methods of mineral extraction are being trialled.

lithium, essentialfor batteries, is abundant in the south—west. this borehole reaches about a kilometre beneath my feet, where there are lithium—rich rocks. as the water down their washes over them, the mineral seeps out into the brine. that is brought back up and i have got some of the liquid here and it is from this that the lithium is extracted. the project is currently at the pilot stage. the aim is to have it entirely powered by renewable energy to make the process carbon neutral. right now, lithium comes from australia and south america, but the company thinks it could eventually supply around a third of the uk's future lithium needs. a typical mobile phone has about two or three grams of lithium in it, whereas an electric vehicle can have up to 50 kilos, so it really is a huge step change in lithium demand and that is why there is the need to look for it in places where we haven't looked for it before. two pieces of rock here that are both lithium ore. -

the world bank estimates we will need a 500% increase in the global production of lithium by 2050. we should work towards a circular economy where we just _ recycle the metals we use, but at this moment in - time we can't do that. it's just the growth is too fast, it's too rapid, and to hit- the target of net zero, _ we need those technologies now, so i think it's inevitablel we will continue mining. but mining in the future will have to be different to minimise and repair any environmental damage. experts say a green revolution is pointless unless the planet is protected in the process. rebecca morelle, bbc news. a company appointed to help oversee britney spears' financial affairs has asked to withdraw from an arrangement that has controlled the singer's life for the last 13 years. the organisation had been named as joint guardians of her estate, along with her fatherjamie spears. the announcement comes days after the pop star said she was "traumatised"

by the arrangement. our entertainment correspondent colin paterson has more. it is hugely complicated. the first thing to say is there are two conservative arrangements over britney spears, one involving her health, one involving her wealth. what we are talking about here is the financial one. last november, britney spears filed to an la court asking for her father, jamie spears, to be removed as the co—conservator from looking over herfinances. the company you are talking about, that trust, had recently been appointed as co—conservators. what happened this week was on wednesday a judge ruled that britney's request was not to be granted and her father would continue as the co—conservator. what has happened is, the trust a day later has said, we don't want to be the co—conservators. we have heard what britney spears said in court in la the previous week.

it was about a different matter, but they had heard what she said and they believed her and they feel she is being held against her will in this conservatorship, and they have decided they no longer longer want to be a part of it. throwing all kinds of questions into the air. there is going to be another court appearance later this month. the crucial thing is that britney spears has not yet actually filed in a court asking for the conservatorship to be ended. that is what britney spears needs to do, that is what will happen. but senators are getting involved now. questions are being asked at the top end of us politics about these conservatorship arrangements, how they work. because what has shocked many people is britney spears not only has to pay for her own lawyers, she has to pay for the lawyers who are representing the people who she says are actually representing against her wishes. she has to pay for both sides of this very long court battle. sir richard branson is a step closer to beating rival billionaires

in the race into space. he's announced the date he'll blast beyond the earth's atmosphere — nine days ahead of the amazon founderjeff bezos. both tycoons have created space tourism companies offering flights for the wealthy. branson's vehicle can climb to an altitude of 90km giving those on—board a few minutes o weightlessness and a view of the curvature of the earth. now it's time for a look at the weather with matt taylor. hello. may look like i have stepped out into the caribbean but i haven't. some try from earlier today in cornwall. and today is a day when most will see brighter skies, sunshine pushing in. we have thicker cloud stop this is an old weather front bringing interesting weather and this thicker cloud approaching the north of scotland. that is likely to bring outbreaks of rain to northern scotland over the course of the day. that diagonal, that could

bring rain to north west england but otherwise sunshine and showers. showers are most widespread and heaviest in the far north of england, eastern areas also picking up england, eastern areas also picking up downpours and the warmer day generally. temperatures between 20 and 24 degrees. tonight, showers coming and going but this area of thundery rain moving up from the south—west. a muggy night. mist and fog patches developing across england and wales. fresh in scotland and northern ireland with lows of around 11 to 13 degrees. this weekend, disturbed weather on the way with widespread downpours. thundery rain pushing northwards through the day followed by showers. they bring 30 millimetres of rain in one hour. that is enough to bring localised surface water flooding. worse still across the south—west where winds converge and lock these showers along this line, particularly across parts of

south—west england, we could see something like 40 to 80 millimetres of rain, enough to cause some nasty flooding. eight months worth of rain injust a a flooding. eight months worth of rain in just a a few hours. temperatures coming down. highs of high teens to low 20s. saturday, england are playing ukraine in the quarterfinals of the euro. after a warm day, ten pages will be down to the mid 20th by the time of kick—off. sunday, widespread heavy showers and thunderstorms. the heaviest working into western areas, western scotland, may be northern ireland. the north west of england and wales heavy downpours. some gaps in between, but a disappointing weekend and next week, wet and windy on monday and tuesday. showers gradually easing later in the week.

labour narrowly holds on in the batley and spen by—election — winning by a few hundred votes. cheering kim leadbeater wins the seat once held by her sister, the murdered mpjo cox. labour's leader says it's a hugely positive result. when a hugely positive result. the labour party sticks to core when the labour party sticks to its core values, is rooted in its communities and sticks together we can win us we've won here. this is the start, labour is back. we'll have the latest reaction from the constituency. also this lunchtime: covid infections across most of the uk have risen to levels similar to those last seen in february. the case is to be dropped against two former soldiers facing murder charges from northern ireland's troubles — including

from bloody sunday in 1972.