this is bbc news. i'm jane hill. the headlines at six: the labour leader, sir keir starmer, welcomes victory in the batley and spen by—election. kim ledbeater won byjust 323 votes. what a really important victory for batley and spen, of hope over division and decency over hatred. the case is to be dropped against two former soldiers facing murder charges from northern ireland's troubles, including from bloody sunday. angela merkel meets borisjohnson at chequers. they've discussed whether covid travel restrictions could be eased for britons visiting germany. translation: we think that, in the foreseeable future, _

those who have received double jabs will then, _ according to our classification — and now britain obviously is a high—incidence area — will be able to travel again without having to go into quarantine. senior doctors in england are to be balloted on industrial action if the government's proposed 1% pay rise isn't improved. the family of saskia jones, murdered by a convicted terrorist at fishmongers' hall, calls on the leaders of the organisation behind the event to step down. the england team set off for rome for their quarterfinal match against ukraine tomorrow.

hello, very good evening. sir keir starmer says �*labour is back�* after the party's narrow victory in the batley and spen by—election. in a close contest, kim leadbeater, the sister of the murdered mp jo cox, held the west yorkshire seat, with a majority of just 323 votes. the conservatives had hoped to gain the seat. they came second with george galloway in third. the result is likely to ease pressure on keir starmer for now, after recent criticism of his leadership from some within the party. our political correspondent nick eardley is in batley. a narrow win, but one that really matters for labour. some had written of the party's chances of winning batley and spen but kim leadbeater managed to hold on and labour's leader was delighted. —— written off. when the labour party

sticks to its core values, is rooted in its communities and pulls together, we can win, just as we've won here. this is the start, labour is back. if labour had lost here, the pressure on keir starmer would have increased significantly. there was even talk of a leadership challenge, but, for now, breathing space. all smiles today, but the campaign has been heated, sometimes ugly. accusations of harassment, police accompanying candidates as they canvas support. the new mp says she wants to heal some of the divisions. we need to do politics better. we need to do politics differently. there's 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. in batley this morning, the scale of the challenge was clear. we're divided and it will take i a hell of a lot to get that back. i hope she shows her true colours

and gets things done what she says to get done because, let's face it, where's batley going? it's going nowhere. i'll give hera chance, i'll give everyone a chance, but time will tell. the result has particular significance for kim leadbeater�*s family — her sisterjo cox was the mp here when she was murdered by a far—right extremist five years ago. but it's also an important result for national politics. labour held on despite losing thousands of votes to the former mp george galloway, who finished third. this result will come as a huge relief to the labour party. many were preparing for a loss, so a win, even a narrow one, will feel significant. but keir starmer still faces big questions about his leadership, about his vision for the country, about why he wants to be prime minister. so, while the labour leader will celebrate today's victory, it takes the pressure off for a while, but doesn't

remove it completely. for the conservative candidate, disappointment. his party admitted recent headlines and the resignation of the health secretary matt hancock may have harmed their chances. the issue with matt did come up i on the doorstep, but it was a wide range of different issues _ and at the end of the day, we 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 to do so in hartlepool. the batley and spen result matters to the local community, but it will have important ramifications in westminster, too. one of the government's advisers have warned ministers are facing a very difficult decisions on the 19th ofjuly given the rising cases. more than 27,000 cases were recorded across the uk today, but deaths

remain low. as morejobs might go into arms, officials are confident that vaccines are a producing the risk of serious illness. —— reducing. even so, the head of the 0ns told me that making the right call on ending restrictions in england won't be straightforward. this ending restrictions in england won't be straightforward.— be straightforward. this decision is the most difficult _ be straightforward. this decision is the most difficult that _ be straightforward. this decision is the most difficult that the - the most difficult that the government has to make. we are watching with laser focus every day the data so that the government will have all the information it needs in order, absolutely, to make these updates. order, absolutely, to make these u dates. , , order, absolutely, to make these udates. , , , , ., updates. the survey suggest that last week in _ updates. the survey suggest that last week in the _ updates. the survey suggest that last week in the uk, _ updates. the survey suggest that last week in the uk, there - updates. the survey suggest that last week in the uk, there was i updates. the survey suggest that last week in the uk, there was a | updates. the survey suggest that - last week in the uk, there was a 6796 last week in the uk, there was a 67% increase in those testing positive. and england, one in 260 have the virus. in scotland, it was one in 150. in wales, one in 450. all of

which there were increases. in northern ireland, one in 670 had the virus. the trend was said to be uncertain. nhs staff will hope that rising covid cases don't bring back the pressures they �*s all over the winter. —— they saw. the government will confirm soon whether that will be increased in england. seniors doctors say if that does not happen, members will be consulted. you have to go back to the 1970s to find the last time this sort of action was taken by consultants. it's highly unusualfor taken by consultants. it's highly unusual for them to get involved in the pay dispute, but the unions safe with pay after inflation having fallen during the last decade. we fed consultants sleeping in offices -- we've — fed consultants sleeping in offices —— we've had. it'sjust been awful. to be _ —— we've had. it'sjust been awful. to be offered _ —— we've had. it'sjust been awful. to be offered 1% and to have our pay

is to be offered 1% and to have our pay must— to be offered 1% and to have our pay isjust grueling. to be offered 1% and to have our pay isiust grueling-— isjust grueling. whether the challen . e isjust grueling. whether the challenge for _ isjust grueling. whether the challenge for the _ isjust grueling. whether the challenge for the new - is just grueling. whether the j challenge for the new health secretary, a spokesman said the government was committed to a pay up left for nhs staff, online other tell public sector workers. many staff, will announce their own offers soon. 27 people are reported to have died. that is someone who dies within 28 days of a positive test for the virus. in terms of the vaccination programme, more than 45 million people have received their first dose. that is more than 63% of all uk adults. 23—year—old man has been charged

with common assault after england's chief medical officer was accosted in a park in london. lewis use from east london will appear later this month before magistrates. the incident took place last sunday in st. james �*s park. northern ireland's public prosecution service is to drop the case against two former soldiers who were facing murder charges from the troubles, including on bloody sunday in 1972. our correspondent danjohnson is in londonderry. bloody is sunday spells out the worst of the troubles. the scenes from the day to find the most painful points and northern ireland history. there was a march through the bauxite estate here, and there was rioting and fire on a crowd and third teen —— i3 was rioting and fire on a crowd and third teen —— 13 people were shot dead. once those were james ray and william mckinney. the only person

prosecuted out of those events was a soldier, of british army veteran known as soldier f. this morning, the families of the victims were told that prosecution will go no further. that is in essex because there's been a review of the way evidence was gathered and submitted in some cases —— in essence. key evidence was about to be ruled inadmissible, so the public prosecutor decided to call that case at this stage in the family are very disappointed by that news. there was another case involving another soldier known as soldier b. he was charged with murder in relation to the death of 15—year—old daniel. as i say, disappointment for the families who were hoping they were grinding slowly towards getting justice. here's the reaction earlier today from william mckinney�*s

brother. today from william mckinney's brother. , . �* brother. they haven't communicated to the victims. _ brother. they haven't communicated to the victims, this _ brother. they haven't communicated to the victims, this damning - to the victims, this damning indictment. a mass murder has been permitted _ indictment. a mass murder has been permitted to evade justice without even standing trial. there were prosecutions for two out the murder. five people _ prosecutions for two out the murder. five people were murdered that day. there _ five people were murdered that day. there is— five people were murdered that day. there is no_ five people were murdered that day. there is no dispute that his actions resulted _ there is no dispute that his actions resulted irr— there is no dispute that his actions resulted in two women being robbed of their— resulted in two women being robbed of their husbands, 12 children being orphaned _ of their husbands, 12 children being orphaned and dozens of young men and women _ orphaned and dozens of young men and women deprived. six parents also lost a _ women deprived. six parents also lost a sort — women deprived. six parents also lost a son-— women deprived. six parents also lost a son. ., ., _, , , lost a son. there are of course very stron: lost a son. there are of course very strong feelings _ lost a son. there are of course very strong feelings about _ lost a son. there are of course very strong feelings about this - lost a son. there are of course very strong feelings about this on - lost a son. there are of course very strong feelings about this on all. strong feelings about this on all sides of. ~ , , ., , . ,

sides of. absolutely. the families have been campaigning _ sides of. absolutely. the families have been campaigning for - sides of. absolutely. the families have been campaigning for what l sides of. absolutely. the families - have been campaigning for what they calljustice have been campaigning for what they call justice for nearly have been campaigning for what they calljustice for nearly half have been campaigning for what they call justice for nearly half a century now, announcing these decisions. northern ireland's chief public prosecutor said he recognised this would bring further pain to victims and families who relisten with a salt forjustice and faith setbacks, but it will be a relief for those veterans —— who have sought forjustice. after so much time. this was the former veterans minister, johnny mercer, speaking earlier. , . ,. ., ., earlier. this current scenario, whether it — earlier. this current scenario, whether it is _ earlier. this current scenario, whether it is very _ earlier. this current scenario, whether it is very ... - earlier. this current scenario, whether it is very families earlier. this current scenario, - whether it is very families the only— whether it is very families the only people — whether it is very families the only people who _ whether it is very families the only people who are _ whether it is very families the only people who are happy - whether it is very families the only people who are happy are i only people who are happy are lawyers — only people who are happy are lawyers who _ only people who are happy are lawyers who are _ only people who are happy are lawyers who are making - only people who are happy are i lawyers who are making money. only people who are happy are - lawyers who are making money. it is a real— lawyers who are making money. it is a real tragedy— lawyers who are making money. it is a real tragedy and _ lawyers who are making money. it is a real tragedy and government - lawyers who are making money. it is a real tragedy and government havel a real tragedy and government have not sorted _ a real tragedy and government have not sorted out _ a real tragedy and government have not sorted out. the _ a real tragedy and government have not sorted out. the consequences. a real tragedy and government have| not sorted out. the consequences of that have _ not sorted out. the consequences of that have been — not sorted out. the consequences of that have been made _ not sorted out. the consequences of that have been made bare _ not sorted out. the consequences of that have been made bare today. . not sorted out. the consequences of that have been made bare today. til that have been made bare today. bloody sunday families is that in a

statement that this is another damning indictment of the british justice system. they say for them, theissueis justice system. they say for them, the issue is farfrom concluded and they will fight on, challenging that's as far as they can. it's another reminder of how much hurt is still to be healed even after 50 years of northern ireland's troubles. the german chancellor angela merkel has said that britons who have had two covid—19 vaccinations should soon be able to travel to germany without going into quarantine on arrival. mrs merkel met prime minister boris johnson today for talks at chequers on her last visit to the uk as head of the german government and covid travel restrictions were high on the agenda. translation: we think that, in the foreseeable future, those who have received double jabs will then, according to our classification — and britain is a high incidence area — will be able to travel again without having to go into quarantine. we would like to encourage people to have vaccinations in the beginning. we

didn't have that much experience with this variant. we are approaching this in the spirit and despair it is spreading very quickly. but let me point out, it's not only germany. the united kingdom has them quite a lot in order to protect its own citizens, and that is a can send continuous learning process. the talks were also an opportunity to discuss the disagreements over the brexit nothern ireland protocol. mrs merkel said that the �*pragmatic solutions' could be found. translation: i personally believe that on the basis of this protocol and within the framework of how it was negotiated, we can find pragmatic solutions on the one hand, maintain the integrity of the single market, but that will also contribute to creating acceptable solutions for

the people. it is obviously understandable that this is prolonged, and i think that is a good thing. i think it should be possible for all of us to come to a pragmatic solution within this grace period, and i think i'm optimistic that this can happen. that period, and i think i'm optimistic that this can happen.— period, and i think i'm optimistic that this can happen. that was part ofthe that this can happen. that was part of the press _ that this can happen. that was part of the press conference _ that this can happen. that was part of the press conference this - of the press conference this afternoon. and also this afternoon, the chancellor has met the queen at windsor castle. good afternoon. good afternoon. good to see ou good afternoon. good afternoon. good to see you again- _ we got the photographers here. this 'ust carries we got the photographers here. just carries on we got the photographers here. try 3 just carries on and she talks about... just carries on and she talks about- - -_ just carries on and she talks about... ., �* , , about... you've been seeing the prime minister? _ about... you've been seeing the prime minister? yes. _

about... you've been seeing the prime minister? yes. rather - about... you've been seeing the i prime minister? yes. rather lovely to hear all of— prime minister? yes. rather lovely to hear all of that. _ prime minister? is; rather lovely to hear all of that. that was angela merkel with her visit to windsor castle. and as our political correspondent damian grammaticas explains, the chancellor's visit spells the end of an era for european politics. this is the last visit angela merkel as canceller, i think it 16 years that she's been making these visits —— as chancellor. multiple prime ministers. this is her last one. that's part of the weeds and why she was afforded the meeting with boris johnson and went to meet the queen —— part of the reason. the substance was in the meeting with boris johnson, and quite a few different areas there. you touched on northern ireland. i think the message there was pretty straight from angela merkel. essentially, what she was saying was when the brexit deal was negotiated, borisjohnson was on one side, she was on the other side. obviously, it was done through the

eu, but what was negotiated was an agreement overseen by borisjohnson, arrangements for northern ireland. she was saying that has to be implemented. she said there can be a pragmatic solution within it. but there was no sign their of any sense that germany think there can be any negotiation. international duty uk has to abide by.— negotiation. international duty uk hastoabideb. . ., has to abide by. damian grammaticas. just a reminder— has to abide by. damian grammaticas. just a reminder of— has to abide by. damian grammaticas. just a reminder of these _ has to abide by. damian grammaticas. just a reminder of these evenings - just a reminder of these evenings headlines. the labour leader, sir keir starmer, welcomes victory in the batley and spen by—election. the party won by just 323 votes. the case is to be dropped against two former soldiers facing murder charges from northern ireland's troubles, including from bloody sunday in 1972. the german chancellor, angela merkel, has said she expects people from britain who are fully vaccinated will soon be able to travel to germany without having to quarantine on arrival.

cabinet office minister michael gove and his journalist wife sarah vine have "agreed to separate", according to the couple's spokesperson. the pair married in 2001 and have two children. the couple have released a statement, as our political correspondent jonathan blake explains. joint statement from michael gove and his wife, sarah vining, was released by the press association news agency in the last few minutes. i'll read you what it has to say in full. it's relatively short, saying michael and there i have agreed to separate and they are in the process of finalising their divorce. it goes on, they will continue to support their two children and they remained close friends. finally, adding the family politely asked for privacy.

—— sarah vine. will not be providing any further comment. there are no details as to the circumstances of the couple's separation and the divorce which they are clearly in the process of. but a friend of the couple has told the press association that they have drifted apart, describing it as a difficult and sad decision for michael and sarah after what has been 20 years of marriage. that friend has also quoted that it is entirely amicable separation and there is no one else involved. it goes on to say they have drifted apart over the past couple of years, but they remained friends and their absolute priority now is there children. a statement from michael gove and his wife, sarah vine, announcing that they have agreed to separate and are in the process of finalising a divorce. no details about the circumstances of this announcement, but it is not long since sarah vine wrote in the mail on sunday. she's a journalist

and is often reflecting on the nature of their own marriage. it being well known she is married to a high—profile politician, and in the wake of the matt hancock resignation after he was pictured kissing his aid in his office, talked about people who climbed the greasy pole and it changes a person. she says when someone changes, they require something new. and she also said the problem with the wife who has known since way before king of the world is she sees through your facade. many people might be reflecting on what sarah vine has had to say about the nature of being married to a high—profile politician, not necessarily her own marriage in the wake of this announcement. i think michael gove was asked about that, and he talked about his wife as being the perceptive one and he was the one who was getting on with the

job. i would expect that to continue, as michael gove reminds to be one of the highest profile and influential members of the cabinet. jonathan blake. the family of saskia jones, who was murdered by a convicted terrorist at a prisoner rehabilitation conference in central london, are calling on the leaders of the organisation behind the event to step down. saskia's uncles say the family will be �*distressed' and �*insulted' if the cambridge university academics stay in post. philjones and peterjones have been speaking to our correspondent zoe conway. 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 on 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. 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 initiative... 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. they just 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. 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. amy ludlow and ruth armstrong received several awards

for their work, which was also praised by the prison's inspectorate but the organisation is now suspended whilst cambridge university carries out a review. in a statement, cambridge university said... i've lived for 20 years longer than saskia did and i view what she achieved in her short life as a far greater value than anything i've achieved so far and building upon that is... ..is something that

i and we're focused upon. the uncles of saskia jones talking to the bbc. senior doctors in england are to be asked whether they want to take industrial action over pay. consultants are angry about a proposed 1 percent rise. ministers say they're committed to increasing salaries for nhs staff, but that pay for other public sector workers has been frozen. here's our health correspondentjim reed. it's been an extraordinary yearfor the nhs. now, after 18 months of covid, attention is turning once again to the issue of staff pay. the government has already offered most of those working in the health service in england a 1% rise this year. senior doctors say they will ballot for industrial action if that figure is not at least 4%. everybody who's worked incredibly hard during the pandemic needs to be supported. when inflation is 4%, these are massive pay cuts

that people are doing, despite having gone through a really, really difficult time, and we shouldn't be levelling down across groups. everybody deserves a decent, fair pay uplift. consultants say industrial action could mean stopping both paid and unpaid overtime. that could damage attempts by hospitals to reduce long waiting lists caused by covid. my first visit to a hospital on the job. for the new health secretary, it's another concern as he starts his first full month on thejob. in the past, the government has said a rise of 1% is affordable at a time when pay elsewhere in the public sector has been frozen. it is waiting for independent pay review bodies covering nhs workers to make final recommendations before deciding whether to increase that offer. but demands for higher pay are coming notjust from senior doctors. the nursing union is calling for a 12.5% pay rise this year and may also ballot

for industrial action. we have a massive shortage of nurses. we've had a year like no other year. people are exhausted, morale is really low and the nhs has got a lot of ground to recover. it's absolutely vital that there's a significant pay award for nurses and other health care workers this year in order that we retain all of those staff. pay talks are also under way in wales, where the government has said it will not set a 1% ceiling on pay awards. in northern ireland and scotland, all nhs staff have been offered a £500 bonus this year and longer term pay negotiations are continuing. jim reed, bbc news. the england squad flies to rome this afternoon, for their euro 2020 quarter final against ukraine tomorrow night. fans have been urged not to travel there because of coronavirus restrictions, but some lucky supporters who live in italy will be at the game to see whether england can clinch

a place in the semi—finals. our sports correspondent olly foster reports. after the euphoria of wembleyjust three nights ago, the players are refreshed and refocused. the mantra running through this england squad is that the victory against germany will count for very little unless they can get it right against ukraine tomorrow in the quarterfinals. if they do, then it won't be like this. tuesday night will live long in the memory but, in what will be their first away game in the tournament, there'll be no travelling fans. rome will be much quieter. well, it was immense the other night. i thought the fans were incredible. but, actually, i think that would be really hard to replicate three days later, so i actually think it's a good thing for us to go away from wembley to... this game 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. the capacity at the stadio olimpico is capped at 16,000 tomorrow but,

with strict quarantine restrictions in place, the english fa didn't take up their allocation of 2,500 tickets. travel is not being encouraged. translation: passengers arriving from britain will be checked - at the border by the police. they will be reminded that there is a mandatory five—day quarantine and they will be asked for the address of their home, hotel or private house where the self—isolation will take place. but there will be some english fans, uk nationals, who live in italy or mainland europe have been able to get tickets. this is dawn, a rome resident of 35 years. come on, england! you're young, you're i fresh, you're gorgeous. you can do this for us! we need this to happen! we're in rome and rome belongs to italy and the italians but, - on saturday night, it's - going to belong to england! well, i hope so, anyway!

over 20 million watched the win against germany. the fan parks and pubs will be packed again tomorrow — england's progress creating an economic boom around every big screen. the players are aware of the growing support, just as they grow into this tournament themselves. the low—profile group stage wins before they announce their arrival at the party with that victory this week. they're one win away from making it back—to—back major semifinals for the first time but, first things first, that mantra again — get things right tomorrow. well, the england players are on their way now, and gareth southgate has a fully fit squad available, all 26 raring to go, not many nations heading into the quarterfinals have that luxury. olly foster, bbc news, st george's park. people getting nervous

already!