rain is becoming more persistent rain is becoming increasingly confined to eastern parts of england, but we will keep cloud and some rain here, a little into south—east scotland. the lowest temperatures are likely to be across the north. as we head into tomorrow, this band of cloud first thing across eastern parts of england, some splashes of rain with that. the cloud will tend to break to give some sunny spells but there could be quite sharp showers across eastern is england through the afternoon. in the sunshine it will not feel too bad at all, temperatures higher than they have been, up to 15 degrees. some cloud getting into northern ireland late in the day because of this frontal system. this weather front will be with us as we head on into sunday, it is going to introduce more in the way of cloud. however, with southerly winds, most of us are going to get into some somewhat warmer air. so for sunday, more cloud in the next, producing a little bit of patchy rain here and

there. northern ireland may brighten up there. northern ireland may brighten up with showers into the afternoon. if we see sense and across eastern england, perhaps scotland, that is where we will see the highest temperatures, 16 or 17 degrees. so, not a heatwave but it will feel different to how it has this week, and that theme of mainly dry and relatively warm weather continues into the start of week. thanks, ben. that's it. there's more analysis of the day's main stories over on newsnight with victoria derbyshire, just getting under way on bbc two. but here on bbc one, let's join our colleagues across the nations and regions for the news where you are. have a very good night.

so police bosses in london fear that trust has tonight been further will consider co—ordinated strike action with junior doctors. what does that mean for patient safety and for public support for nurses?

why have members of the royal college of nursing tonight rejected the same pay deal that unison members have accepted? as emergency care is set to be hit, we'll hear from the rcn's director of nursing for england. also tonight — we're live in paris as protestors react to the judicial green light to president macron raising the retirement age. what started as a widespread protest against pension reform has evolved into something much bigger, much deeper — about the future of this country. we'll talk to an official from one of the striking unions. and a newsnight report reveals senior staff involved at the the soon—to—be—closed tavistock children's gender clini have been given key roles

in shaping its replacement service. good evening. nurses are due to strike again at the end of the month — because members of the biggest nursing union the rcn have voted against the government's pay offer. but it's the same offer that's been accepted by ambulance crews, some nurses and other nhs health staff who are unison members. anna is here. people may be watching thinking "i thought this was sorted" — what's going on? they wouldn't be alone. even rishi sunak at the start of this week outlined his successes since becoming prime minister and one of the successes is that he secured a fair pay deal for the successes is that he secured a fair pay dealfor nhs the successes is that he secured a fair pay deal for nhs workers. nurses insist this was never going to be a done deal until they had had their say. this afternoon we had their say. this afternoon we had their say. this afternoon we had their say and the modest majority of them rejected the offer. if we take a closer look at the ballot, the royal college of nursing says 61% of

eligible members took part in the ballot but they were not able to confirm how many people that was. of that, 54% voted to reject the government's deal. the government may be concerned about what this will mean for other union members who are still voting. but there was some positive news from this afternoon involving a separate vote involving the largest health union involving the largest health union in the country. unison says 288,000 members took part in their ballot and 74% voted to accept the offer. so that is around three quarters. let's hear from unison. so that is around three quarters. let's hearfrom unison. what we have let's hear from unison. what we have -ot let's hear from unison. what we have got is _ let's hear from unison. what we have got is a _ let's hear from unison. what we have got is a clear. — let's hear from unison. what we have got is a clear, decisive majority wanting — got is a clear, decisive majority wanting to _ got is a clear, decisive majority wanting to accept this offer. it is certainly— wanting to accept this offer. it is certainly not because it is as much as health — certainly not because it is as much as health workers should be paid, deserve _ as health workers should be paid, deserve to be paid and what is needed — deserve to be paid and what is needed to solve the crisis. but there — needed to solve the crisis. but there is— needed to solve the crisis. but there is a _ needed to solve the crisis. but there is a need for the cash now which _ there is a need for the cash now which people need in a cost of

living — which people need in a cost of living crisis. there is the uncertainty of rejecting it and not knowing — uncertainty of rejecting it and not knowing what might happen after that and whether that would require many more _ and whether that would require many more months of strike action. what does this mean _ more months of strike action. what does this mean for _ more months of strike action. twat does this mean for patients? more months of strike action. what does this mean for patients? we i more months of strike action. whatl does this mean for patients? we can exect a does this mean for patients? we can expect a 48-hour — does this mean for patients? we can expect a 48-hour strike _ does this mean for patients? we can expect a 48-hour strike in _ does this mean for patients? we can expect a 48-hour strike in england l expect a 48—hour strike in england during the first bank holiday weekend in may. for the first time as well, life—saving services such as well, life—saving services such as emergency departments or critical care wards will not be staffed during that time period. the government says this will be extremely concerning for patients. i spoke to one rcn member this evening he said they have no choice, they have to escalate their response. the nhs trust, from labour and the liberal democrats says the government and unions have to come together to prevent further strikes, so the nhs can focus on tackling those lengthy waiting lists and improve care. those lengthy waiting lists and improve care-— those lengthy waiting lists and imrove care. ., ,, , . i've been talking to the rcn's director for england patricia marquis.

she says the union will consider co—ordinated strike action with junior doctors who finished their four day strike today. but first, why does she think her members voted against the government's latest pay offer? so for our members after 106 years they took historic action and what we haven't got is a historic pay offer and i think members have told us quite loud and clear that it's not enough, it doesn't address the pay... it doesn't restore pay and it doesn't address the issues of the inflation rise so i think, i don't know what members from unison, for example, are thinking but i do know what our members are saying and that isit�*s just not enough, it won't resolve the issues for nursing, it won't restore pay and it won't encourage people to join and to stay in the profession. but you, as the leadership of the rcn, recommended to your members that they accept this deal, presumably because you thought this is as good as it's going to get? we recommended it weighing up the risks of it being taken off the table and we have got members who are saying to us,

they did accept it. they do want the cash now. but the majority is saying to us, no, that isn't what we want, we want to continue to fight for more. but they haven't listened to you, you have been ignored and i wonder hoperenegotiating the government, why should they have any faith in your position and your credibility when the members don't listen to you? so i don't think it is about the members not listening to us. we said to them that our council had weighed up the risks and felt it was an offer that was credible enough to put to members and that it is one they should seriously think about accepting. the fact that members now have told us loud and clear, not only have they told us loud and clear they've demonstrated that they are prepared to continue to take action. in probably larger numbers than they did before. so that will give us a stronger mandate. we've written to mr barclay

already today to say please come back to the table and we will ballot our members to take action first of all at the end of april and we will ballot our members again. as you say you have announce this further 48—hour strike at the end of april, which for the first time, will mean for example, there will be no nurses on intensive care. now that risks patient safety and not only that, it risks the public losing sympathy with you, doesn't it? of course, what we are saying about the new strike dates that we've issued is that there will be no derogations. and just to explain what that means for our audience, to be absolutely clear that means there will be no exceptions, so all rcn members will walk out from emergency cover, intensive care, cancer cover? absolutely, so all rcn members that choose to do so will be able to take strike action.

so absolutely, it is a move beyond what the strikes previously did. but we are going to be working, as have other organisations. we are going to be working with employers and nhs england to ensure that they are able. they have two weeks, they have planning time to think through what services they will need to deliver. they have got other staff that are available, there are nurses who are not in the rcn, who are in the unions. there are other staff that can step in and can support these services. so just to be clear, do you think patient safety can be guaranteed if that strike goes ahead? i think, as we've said many times before, patient safety sadly isn't guaranteed any day at all. we have many... but this will make it worse, won't it? ..they are at work and they have not got enough staff to do what needs to be done. so absolutely, patient safety

is a priority for every nurse and they will continue to be mindful of that as will we and we will work with employers to try and ensure that they have time, they have identified people that are able to cover but it will mean they will need to disrupt services, they will need to cancel things and for that we are very sorry, very sad. can i ask you, would you consider coordinating strike action withjunior doctors? i mean, that's obviously something that will have to be considered, if not least because we are all in the same space, we all work in the same places and therefore there may be an issue where our strikes do, at some point, either coordinate or overlap in some way as they have done in previous times when we haven't necessarily coordinated, but actually they have knocked alongside some of the other unions taking action in the ambulance service. we are having conversations with the bma, not specifically

around coordinating, but really to get the government to understand just how difficult the situation is for staff in the nhs and the impact that it's having on patients every single day. patricia marquis, thank you very much for talking to newsnight this evening. thank you. what now for french protestors after france's top constitutional body ruled that president macron's unpopular pension reform plan can go ahead? tonight, the constitutional council gave a green light to raising the retirement age from 62 to 64. it comes after mr macron's centrist government forced the pension bill through parliament without a vote, using a special constitutional power. joe inwood's in paris. chanting so, one of the most significant

political decisions in modern french history is currently taking place in that building, the constitutional council, a group of french political grandees deciding whether the pension reforms are president macron are in—line the french constitution. and what they're trying to do is to raise the age at which french people retire from 62 to 64. it's been met with huge opposition right across the country. as you can see, for the moment, they're trying to keep that opposition away. butjust down that road, thousands of protesters are coming to have their voices heard. today, i think we are in a democratic crisis in france, because the government has to force the bill. so i think if the government doesn't withdraw the bill, even if the constitutional council say it's ok, it will be a really ungovernable country in france.

what are they booing? i don't know! has itjust been announced? it's 6pm... 6pm. so the news is just trying to filter through the crowds. the constitutional council have made the decision. they've pulled up six minor points, but the big ones — the chance of a referendum, that's been refused, and they've said the pension age can go up to 64. people think that french people are always doing revolutions, making revolutions, burning things and everything in the streets. this is not the case. actually, people are patient. i don't know what's going to happen this evening and maybe tomorrow. i don't know, but if people don't stop being violent... macron is violent too. this is really socially violent, economically violent, politically violent, so how can we answer to that?

i don't know, because he doesn't want to listen to his own people. he's our president and he doesn't do anything for us. he does things only for the wealthiest. and in a moment, the mood changed entirely. we've had a few bottles coming in. this is a protest, this is a movement, which started about pensions. and of course, that is still at the heart of it, but it's become something much more than that. the people you speak to in that crowd say this is about the sort of society they want to live in. it's about the relationship with the government and their views on president macron, a president who is becoming increasingly controversial and, they think, is taking france in a direction which they are not happy with. chanting are you going to carry on protesting?

will you continue protesting? yes. we'll continue protesting, like... ..until these reforms are stopped. is it possible... booing do you think, is it possible for this street movement, for these protests — is it possible for them to win? and if so, how? i don't know, but still this is the only way to protest, so we continue even if it's not working... i think this is the best way, but i think... we are not going to win this way, i think. well, joe joins us now live from paris. joe, what are you seeing where you are? this evening, there are running battles around the city. we are at the constitutional council and this is where the protesters wanted to get too but there has been an

incredibly heavy police response. charges coming in and push the protesters back and keep them away from here. this is where the decision was made. it is worth pointing out that people we spoke to came from one side of the argument. they do represent the majority view in france, but there is a significant minority that backs the president and his reforms. and the point the president made, which of course we wouldn't have heard here today, this is essentialfor reforming a system the government is saying is unaffordable. i was reading the newspaper today and they say at the moment a quarter of the french population is over 60 but within 20 years it will be more than a third of the population. there is a third of the population. there is a concern of the budget and the affordability. they say there is a deficit by the end of the decade of more than 10 billion euros and that is why the government wants to get this through. i think they probably will do now, the decision taken in

that building means these reforms will go through. 0ne that building means these reforms will go through. one thing worth teasing out, these protests were organised by the left, the trade unions and they protest against a centre—right government, but many people are saying the winner from this politically is going to be the far right, it is going to be marine le pen. this whole situation has fed into discussions, notjust around pensions but around the way this country is going and whether people are being listened to. the populace narrative of an elite president living in the elysee palace doesn't listen to ordinary people, that is going to be very valuable, very powerful thought marine le pen in the next presidential election. thank you very much. let's speak now to randja kanouni, who is an elected official for the cgt, france's second largest union. thank you for talking to us. i understand you have had a meeting tonight with lots of other unions, is there anything left you can do to stop this reform now?— stop this reform now? well, yes, of course, stop this reform now? well, yes, of course. we — stop this reform now? well, yes, of course. we can _ stop this reform now? well, yes, of course, we can continue _ stop this reform now? well, yes, of course, we can continue to - stop this reform now? well, yes, of course, we can continue to put - course, we can continue to put pressure on the government. the

thing is, macron is playing confidence, but he is not that confident. he cannot govern properly, he doesn't have a majority in parliament. when he goes abroad, he is booed by people. when he goes outside in france, he is meeting protesters. when the prime minister is going in the supermarket for marketing operators —— operations, she is welcomed by more protesters. 0ur ministers are afraid to go out. so he cannot govern in this situation. he is actually under pressure and will continue to put pressure and will continue to put pressure —— we will continue to put pressure —— we will continue to put pressure on him until he is listening to us, the people. but he hasn't listened _ listening to us, the people. but he hasn't listened so _ listening to us, the people. but he hasn't listened so far, _ listening to us, the people. but he hasn't listened so far, you - listening to us, the people. but he hasn't listened so far, you have . hasn't listened so far, you have been doing this for three months, we have seen millions on the streets, we have seen violence, there is now this green light from the top constitutional body in france today, it is constitutional, that is it. well, no, that is not it, the fight is still on, workers and the unions

stand together and we are very committed to have this reform being withdrawn and we believe that we can still achieve it. it has been done in the past. in 2006, there was another reform that was voted. and with the pressure from the streets of the government and the president decided not to apply the reform and we intend to obtain the same result with this one. do we intend to obtain the same result with this one-— we intend to obtain the same result with this one. do you agree that one of those who — with this one. do you agree that one of those who could _ with this one. do you agree that one of those who could benefit _ with this one. do you agree that one of those who could benefit from - with this one. do you agree that one of those who could benefit from all i of those who could benefit from all this is marine le penn? because she says to people, look at the political elite, they don't listen to you. political elite, they don't listen to ou. ~ ., , , political elite, they don't listen to ou. , to you. well, apparently, according to you. well, apparently, according to olls, to you. well, apparently, according to polls. she _ to you. well, apparently, according to polls. she is— to you. well, apparently, according to polls, she is benefiting - to you. well, apparently, according to polls, she is benefiting from - to polls, she is benefiting from this crisis, which is unfortunate. but what is also true is people are getting together, socialising, getting together, socialising, getting more political. and i am not sure that she will be the only winner in this situation. i believe that if we continue to put pressure on the government and we win the withdrawal of this reform, actually

workers and people will be the real winners of this crisis. and workers and people will be the real winners of this crisis.— winners of this crisis. and how do ou winners of this crisis. and how do you answer _ winners of this crisis. and how do you answer this _ winners of this crisis. and how do you answer this point _ winners of this crisis. and how do you answer this point the - winners of this crisis. and how do i you answer this point the president macron says, we are going to have massive pension deficits in france, 13.5 billion euros by 2030 according to government figures, what alternative measures are you proposing to stop that happening? well, we hear the president when he says there will be a deficit. we disagree with the fact that there is an emergency to reform now and that it is massive. because the deficit of around 12 billion euros is less than the 18 billion euros of social contribution cuts that he is allowing to companies in france. so if you just stop and you make everyone pay what they are, what they ought to be pain, you have the money. if you pay females just as much as males, equal pay, you have five or six more billions at least to put to the table. and you have in

france 150 billion euros that are given to companies, presumably to help withjob given to companies, presumably to help with job creation, but we have a lot of studies that showed that it is not helping. so maybe we should have a look at those and find those 12 or 13 billion that he is searching for and not ask people to work more. searching for and not ask people to work more-— searching for and not ask people to work more. ., ,, i. ., ., ,, ., work more. thank you for talking to us, work more. thank you for talking to us. thank you. _ work more. thank you for talking to us, thank you, randja _ work more. thank you for talking to us, thank you, randja kanouni. - the announcement last year of the closure of nhs england's only gender clinic for young people has caused a period of uncertainty for many children and teenagers seeking help. the gender identity and development service, known as gids, at london's tavistock and portman nhs foundation trust is due to close this year, after a report highlighted concerns about aspects of its approach to care and its capacity to cope with ever—growing demand. in its place will be two new centres, one in london and one in the north—west of england, where treatment is expected to be shaped to reflect issues

raised by the review. newsnight has learned of new concerns, after the appointment of some senior members of staff from gids to key roles in training a new cohort of professionals to work in these new services. today, the former health secretary sajid javid told us he feared the reform of children's gender services was now "under threat". 0ur investigations producer hannah barnes has been reporting for several years on gender services for young people and has this. i would absolutely advocate for a clean slate in setting them up, you know? putting anyone who is really in a position of power, in a position of leadership, back into a position of leadership would be incredibly foolish and, i mean, pretty negligent. these parents are talking about plans for new regional gender identity services for children. their teenager is currently on a lengthy waiting list for help.

our daughter started identifying as, first, nonbinary, and then trans boy during the lockdown period. mm—hmm. before that, we'd had no indication that there was anything that she was unhappy about. 0ur child has autism, has had difficulties with, you know, mental health, and they're same—sex attracted — all things that we have come to understand are quite common factors that go along with a trans identity. their child won't be seen at the gender identity development service, or gids, the only dedicated nhs youth gender clinic in england and wales. after the service was rated "inadequate" by the health care regulator the cqc and an independent review into this area of health care led by dr hilary cass called for a fundamentally different service model, gids was officially earmarked for closure last summer.

it will be replaced initially by two regional hubs. a southern one, in london, which includes great 0rmond street hospital, and a northern one, in north—west england. it was hoped these would replace gids in spring 2023, but that timeframe looks unlikely to be met. hilary cass has recommended these new services offer more holistic care than gids was able to. in her interim report,

dr cass identified a number of significant issues with the service. cass identified that many of the children and young people presenting have complex needs, but once they are identified as having gender—related distress, other important health care issues can sometimes be subsumed by the label of "gender dysphoria". and an independent group working alongside gids told the review from the point of entry to gids, there appears to be predominantly an affirmative, non—exploratory approach. newsnight has now learnt there are concerns over several people appointed to a key role in training the new cohort of staff who will work in the regional hubs. one is a senior clinician at gids at the moment, who says that social justice underpins their approach to the work, and who describes themselves as "devoted" to an "affirmative approach" with trans clients. another person, who does not work for gids or the tavistock trust, has openly questioned dr hilary cass and nhs england's more cautious stance on social transition. that's the changing of names, pronouns, perhaps the way someone dresses. applicants invited for interview for this education role

were initially told that dr polly carmichael — the head of gids since 2009 — would be on the interviewing panel. she didn't ultimately take part. the cqc rated the leadership of gids as "inadequate". dr carmichael was also judged by an employment tribunal to have communicated to gids staff not to seek external safeguarding advice in the trust. it's understood that great 0rmond street hospital, which ran this recruitment process, has now invited external candidates for interview, too. and pre—employment checks are under way for candidates who have been offered roles so far. a spokesperson for great 0rmond street hospital for children said... "we want to recruit a wide range

of people to the roles of education leads, to collectively develop the materials in line with the cass review recommendations. while we appreciate they may hold differing views, there will be strong governance processes in place to ensure the curriculum aligns with both the cass review and all available evidence." official board meeting minutes from alder hey hospital — part of the northern hub — suggests that staff at gids�* smaller leeds site will also be involved in the development of new services, but it's unclear how. like all aspects of this area of health care for young people, there is disagreement on what role staff at gids should play in the services that will replace it or, indeed, whether they should play a role at all. people involved in the service who are making some of the statements originally made by the service, which have now been so heavily criticised, are now being put in positions of authority, in terms of training. that is... i find that almost unbelievable. dr david bell worked in the adult service

at the tavistock trust for 25 years. ten gids staff went to him with their serious anxieties about the service. should those who raised concerns be excluded from working at the new hubs, too? the whistle—blowers were the people who recognised the problem long before anyone else did. they were the people who had the capacity to not be dominated by the groupthink and the ideological process. they said, there's something wrong here, and they've all been proved right. so, from that perspective, who could be better? former health and social care secretary sajid javid told newsnight that our findings made clear that much—needed reform is under threat. mrjavid said the individuals who oversaw significant failings at the tavistock should clearly not be managing the setup of the new system. appointment processes should be urgently reviewed. as an organisation supporting... some in the trans community — like charity gendered intelligence — say talk of who will staff new gender identity services

is not their priority. for us, what's important is that how that staffing is going to work is communicated to the young people. it's how waiting lists are going to be handled and how that's communicated to the young people and to the families. you know, it's how much support is offered in terms of, like, emotional support, in terms of checking in with people who are on those waiting lists.