tv BBC News at Six BBC News October 15, 2021 6:00pm-6:31pm BST
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at six: the conservative mp sir david amess has been stabbed to death in essex. the 69—year—old was attacked with a knife multiple times as he met his constituents at a local church in leigh on sea. he died at the scene. a 25—year—old man is being held on suspicion of murder. the prime minister has described sir david as one of the kindest people in politics. well, i think all our hearts are full of shock and sadness today at the loss of sir david amess mp, who was killed in his constituency surgery in a church after almost a0 years of continuous service
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to the people of essex and the whole of the united kingdom. one local councillor who was at the scene expressed the shock in the community. we have lost a very good, hard—working constituency mp who worked for everyone. didn't matter who you were, didn't matter about your religion or your culture. if you had a problem, he would work for you. the police are due to make a statement shortly. we'll bring you the latest. also tonight: pcr tests are suspended at a lab in wolverhampton amid concerns that more than 40,000 people were told they didn't have covid when they did. 0verheard at the welsh parliament — the queen appears to express irritation at world leaders�* inaction on climate change. and free to fly in again — the united states is opening up its borders to fully vaccinated travellers from the 8th of november. and coming up on the bbc news channel: steve bruce as there has been no discussions about his future as newcastle manager as it is confirmed that he will take charge of their game against
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tottenham this weekend. good evening and welcome to the bbc news at six. the conservative mp sir david amess has been stabbed to death during a constituency meeting at a church in essex. the 69—year—old was attacked as he met with constituents in leigh—on—sea just before midday. police arrived at the belfairs methodist church within minutes but sir david died at the scene, despite the efforts of paramedics. a 25—year—old man was arrested at the church and is being held on suspicion of murder. sir david amess had been an mp in essex for almost a0 years. he is the second serving mp to be killed while attending a constituency surgery in five
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years, following the death of the labour mpjo cox in 2016. tonight the prime minister has described sir david as a fine public servant — one of the kindest, nicest, most gentle people in politics. our home affairs correspondent, daniel sandford, is at the scene. (live top) there is a feeling of here in leigh on sea, almost a sense of disbelief. i saw people bursting into tears as news broke that sir david had died of his injuries. he was known as an mp with very strong views but also a man who stood up for those he represented, and now he is gone. forensics teams and firearms officers at the methodist church for the local mp had been holding his fortnightly surgery. his meeting with constituents had been from 10am to 1pm, butjust after midday, he was stabbed multiple times. he was treated at the scene
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by police and ambulance staff but died before they could get him to hospital. he was the mp for southend west and well respected locally. he had represented the seat for the conservative party since 1997 and was a high profile brexit supporter and a member of the european research group. h and a member of the european research group.— research group. i think all our hearts are _ research group. i think all our hearts are full _ research group. i think all our hearts are full of _ research group. i think all our hearts are full of shock - research group. i think all our hearts are full of shock and . research group. i think all our- hearts are full of shock and sadness today at the lost of sir david amess, who was killed in his constituency surgery in a church after almost a0 years of continuous service to the people of essex and the whole of the united kingdom. and the whole of the united kingdom. and the reason i think people are so shocked and saddened is, above all, he was one of the kindest, nicest, most gentle people in politics. the olice most gentle people in politics. the police investigation is still in its early stages, but a 25—year—old man has been arrested on suspicion of murder. detectives say the man was detained shortly after officers arrived, and a knife was recovered
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at the scene. one witness who was opposite the church when it happen told me he saw a woman coming out and calling an ambulance, and then, after armed police arrived, he saw a man of african appearance being led away. as constituents gathered neared the —— near the church, there was a sense of a cute shop. all were to pay tribute, regardless of which party they had voted for. —— of acute shock. party they had voted for. -- of acute shock.— party they had voted for. -- of - acute shock._ such a acute shock. what can i say? such a nice person — acute shock. what can i say? such a nice person who _ acute shock. what can i say? such a nice person who loved _ acute shock. what can i say? such a nice person who loved everyone. - acute shock. what can i say? such a nice person who loved everyone. he was doing _ nice person who loved everyone. he was doing such a brilliantjob nice person who loved everyone. he was doing such a brilliant job for all the _ was doing such a brilliant job for all the local residents. at was doing such a brilliant “ob for all the local residents._ was doing such a brilliant “ob for all the local residents. at 69 years old, sir david _ all the local residents. at 69 years old, sir david was _ all the local residents. at 69 years old, sir david was a _ all the local residents. at 69 years old, sir david was a veteran - old, sir david was a veteran politician who was first elected to parliament in 1983. he has become the second mp to be killed at a constituency surgery in just over five years. jo cox was murdered in
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june 2016. ., ._ , ., five years. jo cox was murdered in june 2016. ., ., ~ five years. jo cox was murdered in june 20165-— june 2016. today is a dark and a shockin: june 2016. today is a dark and a shocking day- — june 2016. today is a dark and a shocking day. the _ june 2016. today is a dark and a shocking day. the more - june 2016. today is a dark and a shocking day. the more so - june 2016. today is a dark and a - shocking day. the more so because, heartbreakingly, we have been here before. informed by his faith, sir david had a profound sense of public duty, and he was highly respected and much liked across the houses of parliament, on all sides. the murder of another mp _ parliament, on all sides. the murder of another mp at _ parliament, on all sides. the murder of another mp at a _ parliament, on all sides. the murder of another mp at a meeting - parliament, on all sides. the murder of another mp at a meeting with - of another mp at a meeting with constituents has again sent shock waves through the world of politics. how can politicians do their best for those they represent if public surgeries are seen as too dangerous? detectives are now trying to work out what the motivation behind the murder may have been. if there is a sense that there was an extremist ideology involved, then counterterrorism detectives will take over the case.
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sir david amess was a well—known figure in his local community and tributes have poured in from all sides of the political spectrum, as our political correspondent damien grammatical reports. sir david amess, described today as a man who devoted his life to his constituents. an mp for almost a0 years, this was general election night in 1992. his victory signalled a surprise win forjohn major's conservatives. david andrew amess has been duly elected to serve as member for this constituency. he was known as highly accessible to constituents in southend, an energetic advocate for the area. will my right honourable friend tell one of his ministers to organise a city status competition so at long last southend—on—sea can become a city? those who knew him best have been left shocked. he was devoted to that constituency and he was always full of enthusiasm for things that
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were going on in southend, full of enthusiasm for parliament, full of life. it's just a horrible shock. his senseless killing follows a series of attacks on mps all in their constituencies. in 2000 nigeljones, a liberal democrat, attacked with a sword. his aide andrew pennington died. in 2010 the labour mp stephen timms suffered life—threatening injuries — stabbed in the stomach, he survived. and in 2016 labour'sjo cox murdered, shot and stabbed while out during the referendum campaign. her killing happened as the nation argued over brexit. many worry that political debates are becoming increasingly polarised and social media has fuelled the trend, among them jo cox's sister, now an mp herself. it's really important that we get good people in public life, - but this is the risk— that we are all taking, you know, and so many mps today will be scared by this, i and my partner came home and said,
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"i don't want you to do it anymore." i in recent years security around parliament has become intense. here mps are tightly protected but outside in their local areas they are vulnerable. sir david amess himself wrote after the attack on nigeljones, "we all make ourselves readily available to our constituents. "it could happen to any of us." i think more should have been learned from previous attacks and i suspect that the house authorities will now do a complete review of security for mps and peers and their staff. we need to do it for everybody who comes face—to—face with the general public. sir david leaves behind his wife and five children, and urgent questions. why are they now bereaved? why is more not being done to protect mps? sir david amess, who has died today at the age of 69. the home
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secretary, priti patel, has said tonight questions are rightly being asked about the safety of mps, and she would provide updates in due course. live now to westminster and our political editor laura kuenssberg. deep shock tonight and lots of questions. there is a basic question of exactly what happened with this terrible crime. there is a harder question about how mps' security could be improved when they are out and about. parliament these days has got pretty tight security. the big gates, the panelled walls where mps come to serve, but part of the deal in this country in that unwritten contract between the public and the politicians who serve us is that we expect to see them face—to—face, we expect to see them face—to—face, we expect to see them face—to—face, we expect to see them out and about in their constituency, and most mps meet that expectation only two gladly. but it is a sad fact that in recent years, when political debate has been very toxic at times, that for many mps, they have felt that
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the job has come with some intimidation, it has come with abuse, whether online or in real life. it has come with sometimes harassment, notjust of them but also of their staff. and there is a difficult question to solve your, that agonisingly was asked very profoundly after the death ofjo cox five years ago — to what extent has the way that we all talk to each other, the way that politicians debate, the way that people interested in politics have conversations online too, to what extent has that made the job of serving the public, one that can be dangerous? and that is a question that westminster again so sadly we'll be asking tonight and in the days to come. i(film we'll be asking tonight and in the days to come-— days to come. our editor, laura kuenssberg. — days to come. our editor, laura kuenssberg, in _ days to come. our editor, laura kuenssberg, in westminster. i days to come. our editor, laura l kuenssberg, in westminster. we days to come. our editor, laura - kuenssberg, in westminster. we will have more on sir david amess later in the programme. we expect an update from essex police. we will bring you the details as we get them. our top story this evening —
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sir david amess has been stabbed to death in essex. he was attacked at a church in leigh—on—sea during a meeting with constituents. at 25—year—old man has been arrested. 0n the new will have more on sir david amess. it's emerged that tens of thousands of people who had a pcr test were told they didn't have coronavirus when in fact they probably did. 0perations have been suspended at a private laboratory in wolverhampton after more than a0,000 people — who'd had positive lateral flow tests in september and october — were then given negative pcr results. most of the affected cases are in the south west of england, with some in the south east and wales. 0ur health editor hugh pym reports.
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these are the lateral flow tests that we took. graham has the lateral flow test results which suggested there was covid in his household, except that the pcr test which they then had done told a different story — negative. friends had similar experiences. now he realises he probably did have the virus. i coach football. i carried on with that and went about things as i normally would because i was convinced ijust had a cold. i feel terrible. my wife took extra precautions as a teacher but i know she is upset that she may have taken the virus into school. the problems have been traced to a private laboratory on a science park in wolverhampton. around a3,000 pcr tests processed there from september 8th are thought to have given false negative results. work at the lab has been suspended. suspicions had been raised in recent weeks, including tweets by this academic. he says the consequences are potentially serious. tens of thousands of people have
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been given false negative results, thinking they maybe don't have covid even though they've had symptoms and a positive lateral flow device, they've been going into school and work and potentially infecting other people. public health leaders say after they were alerted they needed time to work out which lab might be at fault. why could you not have intervened sooner? we have been looking over that time i period and we do listen and in factl we welcome feedback. i want to make sure that - if there are any further problems with other laboratories, we can spot them - as quickly as possiblel so i will be conducting a serious incident investigation . within the health security agency. the latest revelations come at a time of rising covid cases, highlighted by the latest office for national statistics release on community infections. the 0ns survey suggests that last weekjust over1 million people in the uk had the virus, the highest since january, and that was largely driven by infections amongst children, but whereas cases went up in england and wales, they fell back in scotland and were little changed
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in northern ireland. the vaccine means that although we have the same number of cases as january we will not see anywhere near the same number of deaths or admissions but we are still seeing a significant number of admissions, over 700 a day, we are still seeing over 100 deaths a day. more cases means more work for the test and trace system. in the wake of news about faulty results, officials argue it was an isolated problem and the public should have faith in the testing and lab network. hugh pym, bbc news. the latest official coronavirus figures show there were a3,a89 new infections recorded in the latest 2a—hour period, the highest since the middle ofjuly. the average number of cases per day in the past week now stands at a0,1a9. 7,086 people were in hospital with covid yesterday. another 1a5 deaths have been recorded, that's of people who died within 28 days of a positive test
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which means on average there were 117 deaths per day, in the past week. 0n vaccinations, 85.8% of the population aged 12 and over, have had their first dose of a vaccine, and 78.8% have been double jabbed. the united states is opening its borders again to fully vaccinated travellers. from 8th november anyone who is vaccinated and has had a negative test before travelling will be allowed to enter the country again. there's also good news from travellers returning to england. from 2ath 0ctober anyone who's fully vaccinated will able to use private lateral flow tests rather than the more expensive pcr tests to prove their covid status. here's our transport correspondent caroline davies. packaged up forjetting off — from the 2ath of october if you are double jabbed and coming from a non—red list country you willjust need one of these, a cheaper lateral flow test rather rather than a pcr.
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testing companies are making the switch. it took some time to plan and prepare and of course we are ready but others might not be. it will make a big difference to the cost of travelling. pcr tests can cost around £100, lateral flow tests are closer to 20. we calculated it was going to be about £150 to £160. lauren is travelling to see her family in malta in november. they have not yet met her 16—month—old daughter. she feels more confident to travel and the reduced cost is a bonus. maltese food and my mum, that's all i want right now. with much of the rest of the economy moving again, international travel companies have felt they are on a different timeline but with changes to the traffic light system, a reduction in the number of countries on the red list and now this, the hope is they might be able to start catching up. bookings for holidays have gone up beyond just half term. we are seeing very strong demand going into christmas and into next summer so that pent—up
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demand we are seeing is starting to look further out now so people are starting to have confidence that the travel plans they make will actually happen. and earlier today there was more good news for those hoping to travel to the us. fully vaccinated uk travellers can visit from the 8th of november for the first time in nearly 20 months. pcr tests can be used to identify variants of concern. lateral flow tests cannot. the government have argued that the level of vaccination has changed the calculation when it comes to the type of test needed but some in the scientific community disagree on the timing of this change. we're worried about the winter, we're worried about variants. let's keep in mind despite fantastic vaccine uptake, we do have groups in the population not yet covered, particularly young people, so i think most of us in the public health community would prefer this to happen later, not immediately. the date and policy are currently only confirmed in england. the other nations are still in discussions about it
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but despite some uncertainties, travel for many into the country is about to get easier. caroline davies, bbc news. in afghanistan at least 37 people have been killed and more than 70 others injured after three explosions destroyed a mosque in the southern city of kandahar. the building was being used for friday prayers by the minority shia muslim community. it's being reported that the blasts were caused by suicide bombers. 0ne attacker detonated their device at the door of the mosque. two more set theirs off inside. a leading huntsman has been found guilty of offering members of the hunting community advice on how to hold illegalfoxhunts. mark hankinson, the director of the masters of foxhounds association, gave an online seminar on how legal trail hunting, which involves riders and hounds following a pre—set route, could be used as a "smokescreen" for illegal fox hunts. the seminar was given to the police by hunt saboteurs.
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hankinson was fined £3500 including damages and costs. the queen has been overheard expressing frustration at world leaders' inaction on climate change saying she is irritated by people who "talk" but "don't do". her remarks were picked up on a microphone during conversations at yesterday's opening of the welsh parliament, the senedd, in cardiff. the queen, who is due to attend the cop 26 climate summit in glasgow in november, was heard saying she did not know who was actually attending. 0ur royal correspondent nicholas witchell reports. she had been in cardiff for the opening of the welsh parliament. afterwards, she chatted to officials and the conversation turned to cop 26, the conference on global warming in glasgow, to which all the main world leaders have been invited. the exchanges are difficult to hear, hence the subtitles. "they talk but they don't do." that, from the queen, is a revealing insight into
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how she regards some politicians. it's particularly striking after very similar comments this week from other members of the royal family. here was prince charles in a bbc interview on monday. it's taken far too long. world leaders are gathering in glasgow to talk about the kind of issues that you... yes, but they just talk, and the problem is to get action on the ground, which is what i've been trying to do for the last a0 years. and this was prince william in another bbc interview yesterday. we can't have more clever speak, i clever words, but not enough action. so the three most senior members of the british royalfamily are all essentially saying or thinking the same thing, but which leaders might the queen have had in mind? the australian prime minister, scott morrison, has finally confirmed that he will attend cop 26. i confirmed my attendance at the glasgow summit. the big question is whether china's president xi will attend. he last visited britain for a state visit in 2015. will he be in glasgow for cop 26?
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it's far from certain but it can be assumed that the queen is hoping that he and other leaders who are still hesitating will be there to talk, and to do. nicholas witchell, bbc news. the government is planning to temporarily relax the rules around a number of deliveries and foreign lorry drivers can make. it is hoped to ease pressures in the supply chain but some hauliers have warned the move will undercut british companies. looped over a loan nearly 3000 lorries arrived from the eu every day. before brexit eu drivers were free to pick up work well here in the uk but that changed injanuary. they sing supply chain problems, the government offered three month visas
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for 5000 drivers but only 20 arrived sooner the government plans to let foreign drivers do more deliveries. since brexit you drivers arriving here are allowed to do to domestic uk deliveryjobs in one week but under this proposal they can do an unlimited number ofjobs and an extended two week period in a scheme that would last for six months in the industry estimates that means tens of thousands of uk delivery jobs will be done by the work paid eu hauliers. uk firms a site that will undercut companies here who have had to offer uk drivers wage hikes of 20% plus to attract and retain staff. hikes of 2096 plus to attract and retain staff-— retain staff. fuel duty is a lot lower in eu _ retain staff. fuel duty is a lot lower in eu countries - retain staff. fuel duty is a lot lower in eu countries to - retain staff. fuel duty is a lot lower in eu countries to the i retain staff. fuel duty is a lot i lower in eu countries to the uk. retain staff. fuel duty is a lot - lower in eu countries to the uk. the driver in their country will be cheaper. for hauliers coming to this country to do our work will definitely cut our rates and then big companies decide that is the
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going rate and they give you a choice, you either do it for that or do not do it at all.— do not do it at all. resorting to usin: do not do it at all. resorting to using foreign — do not do it at all. resorting to using foreign labour _ do not do it at all. resorting to using foreign labour put - do not do it at all. resorting to using foreign labour put the . using foreign labour put the industry at odds with what the prime minister said last week. the industry at odds with what the prime minister said last week.— minister said last week. the answer to the present _ minister said last week. the answer to the present stresses _ minister said last week. the answer to the present stresses which - minister said last week. the answer to the present stresses which are i to the present stresses which are mainly— to the present stresses which are mainly a — to the present stresses which are mainly a function of growth and economic— mainly a function of growth and economic revival is not to reach for that same — economic revival is not to reach for that same old believer of uncontrolled immigration. this morninu uncontrolled immigration. this morning the — uncontrolled immigration. t�*u 3 morning the transport secretary argued it was not uncontrolled and made sense. argued it was not uncontrolled and made sense-— made sense. having additional ca aci made sense. having additional capacity right _ made sense. having additional capacity right now, _ made sense. having additional capacity right now, i _ made sense. having additional capacity right now, i think - made sense. having additional - capacity right now, i think everyone agrees _ capacity right now, i think everyone agrees is _ capacity right now, i think everyone agrees is a — capacity right now, i think everyone agrees is a good _ capacity right now, i think everyone agrees is a good idea, _ capacity right now, i think everyone agrees is a good idea, this - capacity right now, i think everyone agrees is a good idea, this doesn'tl agrees is a good idea, this doesn't require _ agrees is a good idea, this doesn't require visas, _ agrees is a good idea, this doesn't require visas, people _ agrees is a good idea, this doesn't require visas, people are - agrees is a good idea, this doesn't require visas, people are already i require visas, people are already here _ require visas, people are already here so— require visas, people are already here so it's — require visas, people are already here so it's a _ require visas, people are already here so it's a common—sense - require visas, people are already - here so it's a common—sense measure these _ here so it's a common—sense measure these times _ here so it's a common—sense measure these times it— here so it's a common-sense measure these times-— these times. it is one of many thins. these times. it is one of many things- many _ these times. it is one of many things. many things, - these times. it is one of many things. many things, that - these times. it is one of many - things. many things, that includes short—term visas for butchers or an exit of eu workers has led to labour shortages in the pork industry, a move welcomed by a sector that has already seen thousands of pigs
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destroyed. it’s already seen thousands of pigs destroyed-— already seen thousands of pigs destro ed. �*, ., , . ., destroyed. it's a welcome piece of news. it destroyed. it's a welcome piece of news- it will— destroyed. it's a welcome piece of news. it will be _ destroyed. it's a welcome piece of news. it will be hand _ destroyed. it's a welcome piece of news. it will be hand to _ destroyed. it's a welcome piece of news. it will be hand to mouth - news. it will be hand to mouth over the next few months for everyone and some people have reached that critical point already. we willjust hopefully hang on. critical point already. we will 'ust hopefully hang omi critical point already. we will 'ust hopefully hang on. supply chains are stressed around _ hopefully hang on. supply chains are stressed around the _ hopefully hang on. supply chains are stressed around the world. - hopefully hang on. supply chains are stressed around the world. reaching for eu labour was not part of the poet brexit script but the government also knows a supply chain that cannot deliver would be a very unattractive political christmas present. it's her first new track for six years. adele, one of the biggest—selling singers of the 21st century, has burst back on to the scene today with a much anticipated comeback. the star said the new music is her attempt at explaining her divorce to her son. our music correspondent mark savage reports. # there ain't no gold in this river... the wait is over. after six years, adele is back, and she's singing about the end of her marriage in 2019.
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# i changed who i was to put you first # but now i give up...#. there is something hopeful about it as well as sad, but obviously i bawled my eyes out when i was writing it and when i was singing it for the recording and stuff like that, but there's an element of hope in it which in turn gave me hope because i was at my wits' end in the beginning of 2019. the song is about seeking forgiveness for her part in the breakdown of the relationship. adele has said her new album is in part an attempt to explain that situation to her nine—year—old son when he's older. that situation to her eight—year—old son when he's older. great art is made from great pain. when we heard she'd broken up you thought there would inevitably, as sad as it is for everybody concerned, there are going to be
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some really good songs coming out of the pain she's been through and i really admire the honesty for her to talk about so openly what has happened and all the feelings that she's had. # we could have had it all... adele's new record comes with big expectations. she already has 15 grammies, one oscar and nine brit awards. # i'll find someone like you... and she's inspired a new generation of artists including fellow brit nomineejoy crookes. # i don't know what i would do... i think the thing that adele made me feel ok with is that i'm _ not afraid of ballads. i know that in my past i've had - friends when i was younger be like, "why are you writing these kinds of songs?" _ and i rememberfeeling a bit ashamed of my writing, - and then the second thing is amidst iall her success, all the things thatl could have changed her, accolades, everything, i she'sjust so real. easy on me has already been strained millions of times but not everyone was impressed.
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i sent a snippet of me singing it as i was writing it to three of my closest friends here and one didn't like it, the other one was like, "well, yeah, maybe, keep trying, though", the other one was like, "i'm busy working", so that was the perfect response for me. mark savage, bbc news. time for a look at the weather — here's chris fawkes. the weather brightened up quite nicely today for most parts of the country, we saw long spells of sunshine but icy felt cooler and fresher but that cool down is brief because as we go through this weekend milder air will push back across our shores from the atlantic so we will see temperatures rise. this afternoon we had temperatures around 1a degrees in london can route the week and they will
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when they arrived, they found sir david amess mp who had suffered multiple injuries. this was a difficult incidence that our officers and paramedics from the ambulance service worked extremely hard to save sir david. tragically, he died at the scene. a 25—year—old man was arrested immediately at the scene on suspicion of murder, he remains in custody. a knife was also recovered at the scene. the investigation is in its very early stages and is being led by officers from the specialist counterterrorism command. we made it clear at the time of the incident that we did not believe there was any immediate further threat to anyone else in the area. it will be for investigators to determine whether or not this is a terrorist incident. as always, they will keep an open mind. today is a tragic day for the family and
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colleagues of sir david, the community of southend and indeed for the whole of greater essex. sir david has dedicated his life to serving the communities of essex and southend and today, he was simply dispensing his duties when his life was horrifically cut short. i know the residents of essex, southend west will stand with me today in remembering a member of our community. here at essex police, officers are right across our force and in particular south and have enjoyed a positive working relationship with sir david and today's events is hard to take. a specially trained family liaison officers are providing support to his family today. our officers will continue to work around the clock to ensure justice is delivered force a david and his family. i would like to thank the people of southend for their understanding as the
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