tonight at 10:00pm, the plans for a big expansion of free childcare in england at the heart of tomorrow's budget. the chancellorjeremy hunt is expected to announce measures to encourage more people including younger parents back to work. in england the current 30 hours of free childcare for three and four—year—olds will be extended to one and two—year—olds on what's being called the centrepiece of the budget. we'll be looking at the budget challenges facing the government and also the pressure on household and business budgets. also tonight: a woman who faked an attack, falsely claiming she'd been raped and trafficked by a gang, is jailed for eight years as her victims

describe their suffering. i've got complex ptsd from it all, i've had mental health problems from it all, i tried ending my life because of it all, i couldn't have a bond with my son when he was first born because of it all. storm freddy, one of the strongest storms recorded in the southern hemisphere, has now hit malawi causing more than 100 deaths. and in tonight's football, manchester city recorded a convincing 7—0 win against rb leipzig. erling haaland scores five goals. and coming up on the bbc news channel. constitution hill remains unbeaten in the victory of the champion hurdle on day one of the festival! good evening.

on the eve of the budget — the first to be delivered by the chancellorjeremy hunt — there's expected to be a significant expansion of free childcare provision in england. it's part of a strategy to get more people back to work given the shortage of staff in some key sectors. scotland, wales and northern ireland are expected to receive equivalent levels of funding. the latest economic figures underline the challenge facing the government as well as the pressure on household budgets. our economics editor faisal islam has more details. it is a back—to—work budget, that's the promise, but will it help it will centre on one of the biggest expansions of childcare in england equivalent to the other nations. parents of one end two—year—olds will get the same 30 hours of support is currently extended to three and four—year—olds and more funding will go to providers that could see tens of thousands of

parents helped back to work. we have already seen — parents helped back to work. we have already seen the _ parents helped back to work. we have already seen the chancellor— parents helped back to work. we have already seen the chancellor is - parents helped back to work. we have already seen the chancellor is going i already seen the chancellor is going to do something on child care for people on universal credit, people on low incomes, to support their move back into work. we might also see some additional support for everyone with young children. but will the plan helped end the strikes of public sector workers such as jodie? a nurse who's struggling with wage rises well below the high rate of inflation. being quite strict with the timer on the heating and only occasionally, if the house is really cold just putting it on for an extra hour. i'm just genuinely really looking forward to the warmer weather, not only because that will be lovely, but also because it means i don't have to worry about my bills as much. but there will be further

help with energy bills, the main driver of high inflation. you can see here where energy bills would have gone with no help — in the lighter shade. the government has spent tens of billionsjust to keep bills at £2,500 for a typical household. you can see that in october and january. while that was due to rise to £3,000 in a few weeks' time, we understand that will be postponed, effectively cancelling the further rise. eventually those prices will fall. what in the autumn was predicted to be a significant recession you can see here, will turn into a milder economic downturn, right now. but over the next few years a smaller workforce and vacancies which have fallen back but are still well over a million risk holding the economy back. the government is sceptical of what many businesses and economists point to, loosening the post—brexit visa system for foreign workers in shortage sectors such as agriculture. there is still a shortage of people, and the consequence is we are letting lots of local

farmers and clients down. basically they don't have enough staff to pick fruits in a certain time of the year. farms are actually closing because they can't get workers? yes, they do. i had a client in kent last year who had to close his farm which he had over 60 years because he didn't have enough labour to pick his apples at a certain time of the year. as the chancellor put the finishing touches to what is expected to be a lengthy speech tomorrow, he will try to address two fundamental economic weaknesses, low investment by this mrs and a workforce which is still well below full strength. —— low investment by businesses. you will hear a lot tomorrow about a plan for growth, about a dozen canary wharfs built around the country, about five high—tech sectors using post—brexit to regulatory freedoms. his advisers feel vindicated about a cautious approach to borrowing since the chaos of the mini budget last year, so no tax cuts and no extra money for public sector wages but his challenge will be to book recent economic history and deliver more

investment and more workers with this, the last chance to put in place policies that demonstrably boost the economy before the next election, and the focus on childcare meant to appeal to a key electoral target group too. faisal islam, economics editor, thank you. and there's much more information on what might be in the chancellor's budget and how it might affect you on bbc news 0nline head to bbc.co.uk/news or use the bbc news app. a woman has beenjailed for eight and a half years after being found guilty of lying about being raped and trafficked. eleanor williams, who's 22, and from barrow—in—furness was convicted injanuary on nine counts of perverting the course of justice. the judge sentencing her today said her allegations were "complete fiction" and she was criticised her showing "no significant signs of remorse". she said she'd been beaten and made

to attend "sex parties" by an asian grooming gang. 0ur north of england correspondent nick garnett reports. when eleanor williams told cumbria police she had been raped, assaulted, drugged and abused by a series of men, they took those claims seriously. arrests were made, charges brought, but everything she said was a lie. for the men she accused, it made their life hell. they smashed the windscreen... mohammed ramzan was targeted after she said he ran a grooming gang. in actualfact, he ran an ice cream van. today at court he described the lasting impact. i'm not sure how my family and i are going to recover from this. the mud sticks, and ifear it may take some time. but as a family we remain strong and we will be strong, and we're determined to move forward positively with our lives. in barrow—in—furness, her claims spread like wildfire. horns honking.

right—wing protests took place in the town. there was an upsurge in hate crime. on facebook she claimed a grooming gang had attacked her with a hammer, the photos went viral. but these were self—inflicted injuries. she was uncovered when detectives found cctv of her buying the hammer she had used in a supermarket. she created fake social media accounts, sent text messages to herself. one of the men she falsely accused was remanded in prison. like two other victims of williams, he tried to take his own life. i've got complex ptsd from it all, i've had mental health problems from it all, i've tried ending my life over it all. i couldn't have a bond with my son when he was first born because of it all. when i was in custody, there was no help and support for myself. i lived every day in myself. no one deserves to be in prison if they've done nothing wrong. today, williams was given an 8—and—a—half—year sentence for perverting the course ofjustice, half of which she will spend in prison. the judge told preston crown court the implications of williams�* lies are serious for genuine victims

of sexual abuse. the harm of this offending extends to an undermining of public confidence in the criminaljustice system. we are aware that sex trafficking of young females does occur. there is a risk that genuine victims will, as a result of this defendant's actions, feel deterred from reporting it. people may be less likely to believe their allegations. cumbria police say they are used to people telling lies as part of their investigations, but not this extreme. the judge says he's taken into account williams�* age. she was only 16 when she carried out the first of her crimes. but the length of the sentence has angered some of those who were her victims. 0utside, williams�*s mother accepted the court's sentence. i think thejudge has been really fair in seeming to take into account her age and vulnerabilities. and, you know, for her to be able to move on and find a life as well. she's really young. the judge today said we may never know what motivated eleanor williams

to live the way she did, but the impact of her deception to lie the way she did, but the impact of her deception could be far—reaching. nick garnett, bbc news, preston. the united states says a russian fighterjet has collided with an american military drone over the black sea. the us military said the plane was struck in what it called a reckless and unprofessional action. russia's ambassador to the us has been summoned to the state department to explain the incident. the us says the drone was involved in a routine operation in international airspace when the russianjets tried to intercept it. let's get the latest from our washington correspondent, gary 0'donoghue. what have you managed to pick up here? ,, , _ , what have you managed to pick up here? ,, , , ., here? the us is saying they have made their— here? the us is saying they have made their strong _ here? the us is saying they have made their strong objections - here? the us is saying they havel made their strong objections clear to the russians both here in washington and in moscow about what they call this unprofessional and

reckless act. we have been learning some interesting details. apparently this incident lasted for 30 or a0 minutes and these two russian fighters say the us were harassing this drone, dropping fuel on top of it, flying in this way, and in the end the americans had to bring the drone down into the sea. they say it was over international waters, in international airspace, conducting intelligence surveillance and reconnaissance. the russians say the drug was flying towards russia, it was in a restricted zone and they did not collide with the drone at all. there are intercepts between aircraft on a regular basis. we have seen it around the uk coast with the raf being scrambled to intercept russian planes coming close, so you do get this on a pretty regular basis. but i collision is something obliquely different. so is it a serious escalation given where it is happening in the black sea? yes, it is, it is a serious escalation, but it is probably account related

escalation by the russians because if this had been a plane with a us pilot on board and it had come down, this would have been much, much worse. , �* ., worse. gary o'donoghue in washington. _ worse. gary o'donoghue in washington, thank - worse. gary o'donoghue in washington, thank you. i the jury at the trial of lucy letby the nurse who's accused of the murder of seven babies has heard that hospital management refused to move her despite warnings from a consultant about her conduct. lucy letby is also accused of the attempted murder of ten other babies on the neonatal unit at the countess of chester hospital. she denies all the charges. 0ur north of england correspondent judith moritz is following the case. the number of baby deaths on the neonatal unit had been worrying doctors at the countess of chester hospital for some time, when two of three triplets died within 2a hours of each other in june 2016. consultants say they had started to suspect that nurse lucy letby was associated with the series of deaths. when the second triplet died, there was a meeting about his case. the head of the neonatal unit,

consultant stephen brearey, had become personally concerned. he told thejury... dr brearey said medics had already expressed their concerns to hospital managers, but now he picked up the phone to the senior nursing executive on duty. the court heard that during that call, stephen brearey said he didn't want lucy letby to come to work until the deaths had been investigated. but his request was denied. he was told there was no evidence. he said he asked the executive if she would be happy to take responsibility should anything happen to any more babies on the unit the following day, and she said she would. it's alleged that on her shift the next day, lucy letby attempted to murder another baby

by injecting him with air. that was the last time she worked on the neonatal unit. in court, the nurse's defence team said that if there was basis for the doctor's suspicions, they would have gone to the police rather than management. nurse letby denies all the charges against her — the trial continues. judith moritz, bbc news, manchester. one of the most powerful storms on record has brought widespread flooding and landslides to southern malawi and is now known to have claimed the lives of at least 190 people. rescue and relief efforts are being hampered by continuing rain in the wake of tropical storm freddy. according to the red cross more than 20,000 people have been made homeless. in an unusual weather pattern it's the second time in a month that storm freddy has struck southern africa previously hitting neighbouring mozambique

and madagascar before reaching malawi as our africa correspondent andrew harding reports. this is southern malawi. whole neighbourhoods have been swept down hillsides, washed away by the storm that won't stop. there are plenty of houses, plenty of houses, but they are all gone. here in blantyre, malawi, grieving relatives queue outside hospitals waiting to identify the dead. rescue workers already grappling with a cholera outbreak are entirely overwhelmed. cyclone freddy first hit mainland africa last month, but instead of petering out as expected, it swerved back out to sea, picked up more strength, then headed back to shore, tearing through one of the poorest corners of the continent.

in the hospital where i am speaking from at the moment, they've had around 119 deaths. at least half of those of children and the residents where the mudslide was said that there were an awful lot more people buried in the mud. so i think this is going to get worse as we get a fuller picture of what's going on. freddy first took shape off the coast of distant australia. it's since become one of the longest and most powerful storms on record. only four storms have made the journey all the way across the indian ocean from australia to africa. so this is really unusual. now, as for climate change, will it make long—lasting storms like this more common? that is really unclear. but we know in a warmer world we expect more rainfall, more flooding. so the impacts will get worse. right now, this region needs urgent help. tens of thousands of people

are homeless and the full extent of the destruction caused by the relentless cyclone freddy is not yet clear. andrew harding, bbc news, south africa. a number of cough medicines sold at pharmacies are being withdrawn because of safety concerns. health experts say there is a very rare chance of people experiencing an allergic reaction linked to an ingredient called pholcodine. our health editor hugh pym is with me. what is the extent of the problem? this follows an intervention by the medicines regulator at the mhra, and it has ordered that these products in question which have that ingredient pholcodine, a cough suppressant, should be removed from sale. these are found in a number of medicines which are on sale at the moment, and they are normally recommended for people with a dry cough. you can see the full list on

the bbc news website with more details there on what's actually recommended today. just to be clear these are not on sale on pharmacy shelves or supermarket shelves. you can only get them if you go to a pharmacist, and on advice they are provided from behind the counter. the move today is because of research which shows that in a very small number of cases people who have had one of these medicines go on, if they have a general anaesthetic subsequently for an operation or whatever they developed a nasty reaction, an allergic reaction. the advice is if you have had one of these medicines and you are going into hospital and you had it a few months ago you should seek advice and tell the anaesthetist or advice and tell the anaesthetist or a doctor at the hospital. the advice is if you have got pholcodine medicine at home, take a look in the cupboard and actually go to your pharmacist and ask for an alternative because there are medicines out there for a dry cough which can be recommended for use.

many thanks, hugh pym, our health editor. almost all of britain's major developers, including britain's biggest house—builder barratt, have agreed to sign contracts to remove flammable cladding from tower blocks and to fix other building defects discovered in the wake of the fire at grenfell tower in west london. the housing secretary michael gove had threatened them with being banned from building if they don't sign up. but developers and cladding campaign groups claim the legal contracts will only tackle a small proportion of the overall problem as phil hendry explains. chanting: we cannot pay! it's taken protests and endless amounts of campaigning. but nearly six years on from grenfell, have the flat owners caught up in the cladding crisis finally got what they want? enough is enough. developers signing contracts to fix their flammable

and unsafe buildings. by signing the contract, these developers have committed to fixing at least 1,100 buildings. they will invest more than £2 billion in that work. let me take this opportunity once again to apologise to those leaseholders and others who've waited so long for this work to be done. but tonight mr gove's apology rang hollow for residents of this ipswich town block, the fire service issuing a probation order telling them to evacuate because of cladding and other fire safety problems. today's been devastating, _ other fire safety problems. today's been devastating, i— other fire safety problems. today's been devastating, i live _ other fire safety problems. today's been devastating, i live in - other fire safety problems. today's been devastating, i live in an - been devastating, i live in an orphaned building, we have no developer to go after, there are 80 families have lost their homes here who have got no idea whether they are ever, ever going to be able to come home again, if ever. it’s are ever, ever going to be able to come home again, if ever. it's the same problem _ come home again, if ever. it's the same problem at _ come home again, if ever. it's the same problem at olympic - come home again, if ever. it's the same problem at olympic park - come home again, if ever. it's the same problem at olympic park in | same problem at olympic park in stratford, the developer dissolved after they were built for the 2012 games. the glossy promotional video can't hide a range of fire safety issues for the people living there

now. ~ ., ., ., ., now. we have no timeline, we have no lan now. we have no timeline, we have no [an of now. we have no timeline, we have no plan of action- — now. we have no timeline, we have no plan of action- we _ now. we have no timeline, we have no plan of action. we are _ now. we have no timeline, we have no plan of action. we are kind _ now. we have no timeline, we have no plan of action. we are kind of - plan of action. we are kind of waiting around for other people to make decisions and we are trying to lobby government organisations and no one really wants to listen. the government _ no one really wants to listen. the government says _ no one really wants to listen. the government says residents here should be helped by the existing £3 billion building safety fund. but while stratford continues to expand the post two years after submitting a0 applications to the fund to fix the existing blocks, residents are still waiting to hear about most of them. the developer going bust or being the salt is not uncommon problem, michael gove's latest initiative may only help a 15% of dangerous tower blocks, according to the house builders federation who represent britain's biggest developers. represent britain's biggest developers-_ represent britain's biggest develoers. , ., ., , developers. they are also being asked through _ developers. they are also being asked through taxes _ developers. they are also being asked through taxes and - developers. they are also being | asked through taxes and through levies to pay for problems with buildings that they didn't build built by overseas developers or by developers who are no longer around, and that's the majority of these buildings.

and that's the ma'ority of these buildin . s. . and that's the ma'ority of these buildinus. . .., ., and that's the ma'ority of these buildinus. . ., ., , buildings. including cardinal lofts in i swich buildings. including cardinal lofts in ipswich where _ buildings. including cardinal lofts in ipswich where they _ buildings. including cardinal lofts in ipswich where they know - buildings. including cardinal lofts in ipswich where they know only | buildings. including cardinal lofts i in ipswich where they know only too well tonight the cladding crisis is very far from over. well tonight the cladding crisis is very farfrom over. phil hendrie, bbc news. now a look at some other stories making the news today. scotland's public spending watchdog has raised concerns over bonuses paid to some senior managers at ferguson shipyard in inverclyde. a report for the scottish parliament said that two ferries being built at the shipyard, already five years behind schedule, may need a further £9 million on top of nearly £300 million already committed. meta, the company which owns facebook, instagram and whatsapp has announced its to lose 10,000 jobs. meta had already announced 11,000 job cuts last october. in a statement the boss mark zuckerberg described the losses as tough but said there was no way around them. nhs england says the health services under severe pressure as tens of thousands ofjunior doctors hold thousands of junior doctors hold

their second thousands ofjunior doctors hold their second day of strike action in a dispute about pay and conditions. it is medical director professor stephen powis said some emergency departments experienced their busiest monday of the year yesterday. he is urging patients only to call 999 or to use accident and emergency in life—threatening emergencies. former prime minister borisjohnson will give evidence in public next week about whether he misled mps over so—called partygate. he will be questioned by a cross party parliamentary committee in a televised session on wednesday 22nd march. an initial report published earlier this month said mrjohnson may have misled parliament multiple times. he has rejected this and says he believes the process will �*vindicate' him. the three people competing to become the next first minister of scotland, and leader of the snp, have traded blows in their final tv debate tonight. kate forbes, the finance secretary, humza yousaf, the health secretary,

and ash regan, a former minister, answered questions from a live audience about health care, the economy and the question of scottish independence. our scotland editor james cook was watching. enter the lion's done, these three have been debating each other on tv and in town halls for the past fortnight. now for the first time they were face to face with a live studio audience.— they were face to face with a live studio audience. what do you say to eo - le studio audience. what do you say to people spending _ studio audience. what do you say to people spending their _ studio audience. what do you say to people spending their life _ studio audience. what do you say to people spending their life savings i people spending their life savings on private surgery because of the length of nhs waiting lists in scotland? , , ., , scotland? firstly, can i apologise to ou scotland? firstly, can i apologise to you because — scotland? firstly, can i apologise to you because you _ scotland? firstly, can i apologise to you because you shouldn't - scotland? firstly, can i apologisel to you because you shouldn't have scotland? firstly, can i apologise - to you because you shouldn't have to wait that _ to you because you shouldn't have to wait that length of time for your operation — wait that length of time for your operation. but what i would say, and i know_ operation. but what i would say, and i know this _ operation. but what i would say, and i know this is — operation. but what i would say, and i know this is a hard message, the covid _ i know this is a hard message, the covid pandemic that has lasted for the last— covid pandemic that has lasted for the last three years has been the biggest _ the last three years has been the biggest shock that our nhs has faced~ — biggest shock that our nhs has faced. ~ . �* biggest shock that our nhs has faced. ~ ., �* ,_ biggest shock that our nhs has faced. ~ ., �* , ., faced. what i'm saying is that rather than _ faced. what i'm saying is that rather than trying _ faced. what i'm saying is that rather than trying to - faced. what i'm saying is that rather than trying to make . faced. what i'm saying is that. rather than trying to make things work_ rather than trying to make things work under— rather than trying to make things work under devolution, - rather than trying to make things work under devolution, if - rather than trying to make things work under devolution, if we - rather than trying to make thingsl work under devolution, if we want rather than trying to make things i work under devolution, if we want a better— work under devolution, if we want a better scotland, _ work under devolution, if we want a better scotland, if— work under devolution, if we want a better scotland, if we _ work under devolution, if we want a better scotland, if we want -

work under devolution, if we want a better scotland, if we want to - work under devolution, if we want a better scotland, if we want to solve j better scotland, if we want to solve these _ better scotland, if we want to solve these challenges, _ better scotland, if we want to solve these challenges, if— better scotland, if we want to solve these challenges, if we _ better scotland, if we want to solve these challenges, if we want - better scotland, if we want to solve these challenges, if we want to - better scotland, if we want to solve these challenges, if we want to put| these challenges, if we want to put more _ these challenges, if we want to put more money— these challenges, if we want to put more money and _ these challenges, if we want to put more money and investment - these challenges, if we want to put more money and investment into l these challenges, if we want to put l more money and investment into the nhs, _ more money and investment into the nhs, if— more money and investment into the nhs, if we _ more money and investment into the nhs, if we want— more money and investment into the nhs, if we want to _ more money and investment into the nhs, if we want to make _ more money and investment into the nhs, if we want to make sure - more money and investment into the nhs, if we want to make sure that i more money and investment into the i nhs, if we want to make sure that we don't have _ nhs, if we want to make sure that we don't have children _ nhs, if we want to make sure that we don't have children that _ nhs, if we want to make sure that we don't have children that are _ nhs, if we want to make sure that we don't have children that are living - don't have children that are living in poverty. — don't have children that are living in poverty. then _ don't have children that are living in poverty, then what _ don't have children that are living in poverty, then what we - don't have children that are living in poverty, then what we need i don't have children that are living in poverty, then what we need to| don't have children that are living i in poverty, then what we need to do is get _ in poverty, then what we need to do is get independence _ in poverty, then what we need to do is get independence for— in poverty, then what we need to do is get independence for scotland. i is get independence for scotland. another— is get independence for scotland. another key— is get independence for scotland. another key concern _ is get independence for scotland. another key concern for- is get independence for scotland. another key concern for the - is get independence for scotland. - another key concern for the audience was the economy.— was the economy. small businesses need sopport. _ was the economy. small businesses need sopport. they _ was the economy. small businesses need support, they are _ was the economy. small businesses need support, they are the - was the economy. small businesses| need support, they are the backbone of the scottish economy, support them. that's nothing to do with being right wing, that's about standing up for scottish industry, scottish business, scottishjobs, and ultimately those in poverty in scotland that need our support. i am reall ruite scotland that need our support. i am really quite slightly _ scotland that need our support. i am really quite slightly concerned that there _ really quite slightly concerned that there is _ really quite slightly concerned that there is a — really quite slightly concerned that there is a total lack of acceptance of accountability. all three of you who are — of accountability. all three of you who are members of the snp government. applause the snp have been in charge for decades, — the snp have been in charge for decades, and for you to sit here and tell me _ decades, and for you to sit here and tell me that— decades, and for you to sit here and tell me that it's going to get better, _ tell me that it's going to get better, why haven't you done it before? — better, why haven't you done it before? it _ better, why haven't you done it before? it is ridiculous! that was apparently _ before? it is ridiculous! that was apparently aimed _ before? it is ridiculous! that was apparently aimed at _ before? it is ridiculous! that was apparently aimed at all - before? it is ridiculous! that was apparently aimed at all three - before? it is ridiculous! that was apparently aimed at all three but there are splits here, not least on whether anyone can declare their changing gender, even a double rapist. changing gender, even a double raist. , . changing gender, even a double raist. ,., �* _ changing gender, even a double raist. �* , ., ., ., rapist. isla bryson should not have been in a women's _

rapist. isla bryson should not have been in a women's prison. - rapist. isla bryson should not have been in a women's prison. is - rapist. isla bryson should not have been in a women's prison. is isla l been in a women's prison. is isla b son a been in a women's prison. is isla itryson a man — been in a women's prison. is isla itryson a man or— been in a women's prison. is isla itryson a man or a _ been in a women's prison. is isla bryson a man or a woman? - been in a women's prison. is isla bryson a man or a woman? isla i been in a women's prison. is isla - bryson a man or a woman? isla bryson is a raist bryson a man or a woman? isla bryson is a rapist who _ bryson a man or a woman? isla bryson is a rapist who is — bryson a man or a woman? isla bryson is a rapist who is completely _ bryson a man or a woman? isla bryson is a rapist who is completely at - bryson a man or a woman? isla bryson is a rapist who is completely at it, - is a rapist who is completely at it, i don't think a genuine trans woman. but the whole debate ended up as debates there often do about independence. it debates there often do about independence.— debates there often do about independence. if you were first minister will _ independence. if you were first minister will scotland _ independence. if you were first minister will scotland be - minister will scotland be independent _ minister will scotland be independent in- minister will scotland be independent in the - minister will scotland be independent in the nextl minister will scotland be - independent in the next five minister will scotland be _ independent in the next five years? time _ independent in the next five years? time scales, — independent in the next five years? time scales, humza _ independent in the next five years? time scales, humza yousaf? - independent in the next five years? time scales, humza yousaf? [- independent in the next five years? time scales, humza yousaf? i believe it can be and — time scales, humza yousaf? i believe it can be and i'd _ time scales, humza yousaf? i believe it can be and i'd want _ time scales, humza yousaf? i believe it can be and i'd want to _ time scales, humza yousaf? i believe it can be and i'd want to be _ time scales, humza yousaf? i believe it can be and i'd want to be the - time scales, humza yousaf? i believe it can be and i'd want to be the one i it can be and i'd want to be the one that delivers independence but to do that delivers independence but to do that we have to stop talking about policy, sorry, stop talking about process and start talking about policy. process and start talking about oli . ., ., , , process and start talking about oli . . process and start talking about policy. kate forbes you said independence _ policy. kate forbes you said independence is _ policy. kate forbes you said independence is coming - policy. kate forbes you said . independence is coming sooner policy. kate forbes you said - independence is coming sooner than people _ independence is coming sooner than people think, within five years? yes, _ people think, within five years? yes. i_ people think, within five years? yes, i believe so. take the cost of living _ yes, i believe so. take the cost of living crisis. — yes, i believe so. take the cost of living crisis, the _ yes, i believe so. take the cost of living crisis, the fact _ yes, i believe so. take the cost of living crisis, the fact people - yes, i believe so. take the cost of living crisis, the fact people can'tl living crisis, the fact people can't afford _ living crisis, the fact people can't afford next — living crisis, the fact people can't afford next month's— living crisis, the fact people can't afford next month's energy- living crisis, the fact people can't afford next month's energy bill. living crisis, the fact people can't| afford next month's energy bill in living crisis, the fact people can't. afford next month's energy bill in a country— afford next month's energy bill in a country that — afford next month's energy bill in a country that is— afford next month's energy bill in a country that is rich _ afford next month's energy bill in a country that is rich in— afford next month's energy bill in a country that is rich in energy- afford next month's energy bill in a country that is rich in energy in - country that is rich in energy in terms — country that is rich in energy in terms of— country that is rich in energy in terms of oil— country that is rich in energy in terms of oil and _ country that is rich in energy in terms of oil and gas, _ country that is rich in energy in terms of oil and gas, in - country that is rich in energy in terms of oil and gas, in termsl country that is rich in energy in i terms of oil and gas, in terms of our renewables _ terms of oil and gas, in terms of our renewables. that _ terms of oil and gas, in terms of our renewables. that doesn't - terms of oil and gas, in terms of. our renewables. that doesn't stack up. our renewables. that doesn't stack up i— our renewables. that doesn't stack u . _ , �* , our renewables. that doesn't stack u. , �* , ~ , up. i believe if i'm first minister scotland will _ up. i believe if i'm first minister scotland will become _ up. i believe if i'm first minister l scotland will become independent up. i believe if i'm first minister - scotland will become independent in the next _ scotland will become independent in the next five years. and for me it is urgent, — the next five years. and for me it is urgent, because of things like brewit— is urgent, because of things like brexit which has had a

disproportionate impact on the scottish— disproportionate impact on the scottish economy. gf disproportionate impact on the scottish economy.— disproportionate impact on the scottish economy. of course, saying it is easier than _ scottish economy. of course, saying it is easier than doing _ scottish economy. of course, saying it is easier than doing it. _ they are already tearing down the set here but this time at least the candidates did not tear each other apart. it was less fiery than previous debates and there was probably more focus on policy, and as we saw, some tough questions from some frustrated members of the audience, a reminder that the leader of the scottish national party, whoever is going to be, has to really do two things. on the one hand, make that case and argue for independence, and on the other hand govern competently. and these candidates disagree on quite a lot. but they know that you cannot really disentangle those two tasks. james, many thanks for the report on that debate tonight. james cook, our scotland editor. let's turn to some sports news. at the cheltenham festival constitution hill produced a strong performance to win

the champion hurdle on the first day. the a—11 favourite ridden by nico de boinville for trainer nicky henderson triumphed by nine lengths. it was a fifth consecutive victory for the constitution hill. it's been a memorable night for manchester city and their top scorer erling haaland. his five goals put city into the quarter finals of the champions league with an overwhelming win this evening. our sports correspondent joe wilson was watching. here's a club built to be european champions. down there the centre forward bought to fulfil manchester city's ambitions. erling haaland on the charge. red bull leipzig in his way, that time. so let's play spot the handball. it's the modern fascination. there? well, that was a penalty, decided the officials. one perplexed defender. haaland versus goalkeeper, 1—0 to city on the night. 2—1 overall. but only for a few seconds. when the ball hit the crossbar haaland reacted. 6'5", one idea. try to stop him.

no chance. there are blistering full—throttle finishes and then there are ricochets off the knee from about five inches. they all count. that's three. of course there are other players in the manchester city team. one for gundogan. a-o. we had to wait about four minutes for haaland to score again. that's ridiculous. no, he is ridiculous. that's his fifth goal. city actually scored seven. too good, goodbye. who wants to play him in the quarterfinals? joe wilson, bbc news. indeed. coming up to 10:30pm and a look at the weather with louise. hi. we had four seasons in one day to day, i can't believe some of these pictures. this was cumbria, lying snow, plenty of snow showers here today. it wasn't snow showers further south and east, it was a rumbles of thunder, a really dramatic looking sky from norfolk just a few hours ago. we did actually have some sunshine. i know

it has been a pretty cold day in comparison to the last couple of days, but believe it or not we have got 12 degrees in cardiff and it was a lovely afternoon at times. but we have showers of sinking southwards, and actually the temperatures are falling away as we speak. it is going to be a bitterly cold night. before we change the weather story again with this area of low pressure, which is going to drive in milder air over the next few days. for the here and now, the temperatures falling away, widely below freezing, the only exception the far southend west. that means the far southend west. that means the potential for some the far southend west. that means the potentialfor some icy the far southend west. that means the potential for some icy stretches first thing tomorrow morning. crystal blue sky and sunshine to begin with, but not for long because cloud will start pushing in from the west in this weather front, bringing rain to northern ireland, north—west england and parts of wales. a pretty cold afternoon for many, particularly as the cloud and rain starts gathering, 6—9 . as we go through the evening hours, colder

still in scotland. on the leading edge there could be some snow for a