two major floods and one before? two ma'or floods and one minor, before? two ma'or floods and one minor. we — before? two major floods and one minor. we never— before? two major floods and one minor, we never had _ before? two major floods and one minor, we never had it _ before? two major floods and one minor, we never had it like - before? two major floods and one minor, we never had it like this i minor, we never had it like this before — minor, we never had it like this before. unfortunately all the units this time — before. unfortunately all the units this time are affected, before it was only— this time are affected, before it was only five or six units. i feel very— was only five or six units. i feel very sorry— was only five or six units. i feel very sorry for the tenants. there are a _ very sorry for the tenants. there are a lot — very sorry for the tenants. there are a lot who have their own businesses and everything. all goes on in there- — businesses and everything. all goes on in there. some _ businesses and everything. all goes on in there. some are _ businesses and everything. all goes on in there. some are telling - businesses and everything. all goes on in there. some are telling me . on in there. some are telling me they raised all their precious equipment and hope of saving it? that is correct. we thought it might -et that is correct. we thought it might get a _ that is correct. we thought it might get a bit _ that is correct. we thought it might get a bit bad that is correct. we thought it might get a bit had last night, we never realised — get a bit had last night, we never realised a — get a bit had last night, we never realised a red warning was so severe — realised a red warning was so severe it _ realised a red warning was so severe. it isjust because the river has come — severe. it isjust because the river has come over the wall, it was the lowest _ has come over the wall, it was the lowest part— has come over the wall, it was the lowest part of the whole time, so all the _ lowest part of the whole time, so all the water accumulates in this area, _ all the water accumulates in this area, and — all the water accumulates in this area, and there's really nothing we can do— area, and there's really nothing we can do about it. it is all hemmed in by the _ can do about it. it is all hemmed in by the defences as well, the defences keep the water in as well as keeping it out, so there's no place _ as keeping it out, so there's no place for— as keeping it out, so there's no place for the water go down. when

the river— place for the water go down. when the river goes down, there is no place _ the river goes down, there is no place for— the river goes down, there is no place for this floodwater in here to id place for this floodwater in here to 90 to, _ place for this floodwater in here to go to, so— place for this floodwater in here to go to, so we have to pump it out. did you have power? you livejust up the hill. did you have power? you live 'ust up the hill. ., ., ., , the hill. the bottom of the town is dealt with power, _ the hill. the bottom of the town is dealt with power, behind - the hill. the bottom of the town is dealt with power, behind my - the hill. the bottom of the town is| dealt with power, behind my back, the substation for the bottom of the town is— the substation for the bottom of the town is under four feet of water, so the whole _ town is under four feet of water, so the whole of— town is under four feet of water, so the whole of the bottom of the town is out _ the whole of the bottom of the town is out. ., ., ., i. the whole of the bottom of the town is out. ., ., ., ,, ~ is out. how long do you think it would take _ is out. how long do you think it would take to _ is out. how long do you think it would take to get _ is out. how long do you think it would take to get power - is out. how long do you think it would take to get power back, | is out. how long do you think it i would take to get power back, the water out? how long before this town can be walked through, before it is a road again?— can be walked through, before it is a road again? honestly, two weeks before some _ a road again? honestly, two weeks before some of _ a road again? honestly, two weeks before some of the _ a road again? honestly, two weeks before some of the businesses - a road again? honestly, two weeks i before some of the businesses start, power. _ before some of the businesses start, power. the _ before some of the businesses start, power, the substation is underwater, we don't _ power, the substation is underwater, we don't know on that at all, we don't _ we don't know on that at all, we don't know— we don't know on that at all, we don't know the consequences of the floodwater. . ~ , ., , don't know the consequences of the floodwater. . ,, , ., , . floodwater. thank you very much, euan. i floodwater. thank you very much, euan- i am _ floodwater. thank you very much, euan. i am really _ floodwater. thank you very much, euan. i am really sorry, _ euan. i am really sorry, heartbreaking seeing it. it is so sad seeing people coming down and

realising, looking at their homes and cars and realising that they are underwater and they have lost so much, but the really important thing everyone is holding onto at the moment, they believe they have everybody out, so we believe at the moment everybody is safe, they have got people who are cold and wet to the evacuation centres, so the main message is, the emergency services have been working wonderfully, the plan has worked, they have got everyone safe. now a massive clear up everyone safe. now a massive clear up operation and there are still some people trapped and until the water goes down, they will have to remain at there in the top floor. for now, thank you, we will let you go somewhere dry now. now alison in whitley bay. we can see right behind you the water on the lens, pretty wet and wild. talk us through how it

has felt there. you wet and wild. talk us through how it has felt there.— has felt there. you have hit the nail on the _ has felt there. you have hit the nail on the head, _ has felt there. you have hit the nail on the head, extremely - has felt there. you have hit the i nail on the head, extremely wild, sea foam is being blown off, the sea looking almost completely white from the strength of the wind. we have seen some huge breaking wavesjust further down, hitting the sea wall behind us, people have been coming down to have a look, we are at quite a safe distance. the gusts are around 60 mph today and there was a yellow weather warning in place for the wind at the moment. in terms of the wind at the moment. in terms of the effect it is having, some branches have come off the trees in the local park, also some big planters outside of cafes and restaurants have been knocked over, quite a bit of baby on the roads. very gusty, very well. —— quite a bit of debris. the ferry has been cancelled over the river tyne and a crossing from newcastle to amsterdam has been cancelled because of the

incredibly strong winds. a school was shut yesterday because of weather damage, the wind damaging the roof. the yellow warning is going to finish at around lunchtime today, 12 o'clock, and from then there will be a number weather warning coming in, for rain, and it moves far more inland, down the spine of the north of the country. there could be anywhere in the region of 120 millimetres of rain, there is a chance of some flooding. people in those areas are being asked to take care and to prepare for the chance they could be flooding and more disruption. for now, good to have you with us, alison, whitley bay. thank you. matt taylor in the weather centre, explain for us, we have a sense of the local feel of the storm, what has happened so far? give us a sense of the overall picture. it has happened so far? give us a sense of the overall picture.— of the overall picture. it has been twofold, of the overall picture. it has been twofold. you _ of the overall picture. it has been twofold, you saw _ of the overall picture. it has been twofold, you saw the _ of the overall picture. it has been

twofold, you saw the winds, - of the overall picture. it has been twofold, you saw the winds, this | of the overall picture. it has been . twofold, you saw the winds, this was the scene in eastern scotland yesterday, some parts of aberdeenshire saugus over 70 miles an hourfor over nine hours in total —— saw costs. the rainfall has been the big issue and it will be the biggest issue of the storm. southeast grampians, perth, this area feeds the rivers across the red warning area, a months worth of rain in little over a day and a half for forfar. also across other parts of england right now and north—east wales, rainfall totals continuing to tot up and minor flooding wales, rainfall totals continuing to tot up and minorflooding is wales, rainfall totals continuing to tot up and minor flooding is already on the go. tot up and minor flooding is already on the no. . . tot up and minor flooding is already on the no. , . ., tot up and minor flooding is already on the no. _, ., , , tot up and minor flooding is already onthe no. _, ., , , on the go. explain to us why it has been so bad. _ on the go. explain to us why it has been so bad, why _ on the go. explain to us why it has been so bad, why are _ on the go. explain to us why it has been so bad, why are parts - on the go. explain to us why it has been so bad, why are parts of - been so bad, why are parts of scotland feeling this so heavily? abs, scotland feeling this so heavily? big area of low pressure with us, here it is on the chart, high pressure across scandinavia stopped it moving and it means anything wrapped around it gets stuck in the same place for a length of time.

quite a bit of warmth mix ten which means higher rainfall, strong easterly winds coming and across scotland and north—east england causing rainfall totals to get higher particularly over the hills. combined with the warmer air, causing excessive amounts of rainfall. . . , rainfall. the weather warning still in lace, rainfall. the weather warning still in place. we _ rainfall. the weather warning still in place, we note _ rainfall. the weather warning still in place, we note the _ rainfall. the weather warning still in place, we note the red - rainfall. the weather warning still in place, we note the red warning rainfall. the weather warning still. in place, we note the red warning in place until midday, you are telling us earlier water levels will still keep on rising?— us earlier water levels will still keep on rising? indeed, it takes a while for the _ keep on rising? indeed, it takes a while for the water _ keep on rising? indeed, it takes a while for the water to _ keep on rising? indeed, it takes a while for the water to come - keep on rising? indeed, it takes a while for the water to come off i keep on rising? indeed, it takes a | while for the water to come off the hills down through the rivers. the warning area, while it lapses at midday, does not mean we are out of the woods, whether levels will continue to rise for a while afterwards and these areas will see more rain tomorrow after respite later in the day. notjust here at risk of flooding, other amber

warnings for heightened risk of flooding across eastern scotland and as alison mentioned a number warning comes into place at lunchtime down the eastern side of the pennines, peak district, parts of north—west england, north west midlands. easterly winds, rain full piling in, rainfall totals will continue to tot up. flooding has been reported in west midlands and north wales because of the relentless rain which will ease through the day. pretty wet in northern ireland. the brighter colours, they set in across parts of eastern england from north—east midlands, lincolnshire, north, south—east scotland. northern parts of scotland drier and brighter but still windy. much, by comparison in southern counties. heavy showers. the winds in the north, 50—60 mph. temperatures, big split from north to south. respite later today in the north of scotland, but the rain will move north and will sit there for much of saturday. the worst may yet

be taken. �* , , much of saturday. the worst may yet be taken. �* _ , . ., much of saturday. the worst may yet be taken. �* _ . . ., much of saturday. the worst may yet betaken. �* _ . . ., be taken. busy day ahead for you. matt taylor _ be taken. busy day ahead for you. matt taylor in _ be taken. busy day ahead for you. matt taylor in the _ be taken. busy day ahead for you. matt taylor in the bbc _ be taken. busy day ahead for you. matt taylor in the bbc weather i matt taylor in the bbc weather centre, thank you. full coverage on the bbc website, the bbc weather team have all you need to know and stay tuned to radio, that will have any latest changes as far as the weather picture is concerned. live now to debbie—jo marsh in montrose on the boarder of aberdeenshire and angus. a tough night for you. tell us what impact it has had where you are. abs, impact it has had where you are. noisy night. constant rain, pretty wild. thankfully we are safe, warm. the village i live in, just outside montrose, we have not yet had flooding, really pleased about that. we have felt prepared, we have tonnes and tonnes of notifications from the scottish environment protection agency, i work for the

nhs, they have been brilliant at giving us constant updates and making sure we are safe. we feel prepared. adverse weather isn't unusualfor prepared. adverse weather isn't unusual for scotland prepared. adverse weather isn't unusualfor scotland but prepared. adverse weather isn't unusual for scotland but red warnings are. we have put our things away in the garage, anything that could fly around, we have charged that devices, make sure we have got torches, warm clothes, flasks filled. , . . filled. feeling prepared. what warnin . s filled. feeling prepared. what warnings did _ filled. feeling prepared. what warnings did you _ filled. feeling prepared. what warnings did you get? - filled. feeling prepared. what warnings did you get? you i filled. feeling prepared. what| warnings did you get? you said filled. feeling prepared. what i warnings did you get? you said you feel like you were in safe hands, you had the right preparations. with a storm of this magnitude, what actual preparations can you make? irate actual preparations can you make? we had actual preparations can you make? , had alerts from a community council, our village has a community council which is on social media, constant things there from aberdeenshire council as well as angus, we are right on the border. they were consistently giving us messages to advise us what to do. thankfully we

have not needed to evacuate but we know family and friends and colleagues are needing to evacuate. from the nhs, again, just reminding us to stay at home. it is not vital i go into the hospital where i work, so i have been able to work from home. we know that near us are closed because of safety. also we know there trees down. —— we know bridges near us are closed. we have community whatsapp groups and trying to keep in touch with each other. willie is so important at a time like this to stay up—to—date with everything you need to know —— it really is so important. matt taylor was saying the worst might be still to come particularly when it comes to come particularly when it comes to rising water levels. what are you expecting and preparing for over the next 2a hours? l expecting and preparing for over the next 24 hours?— next 24 hours? i am trying to keep m self next 24 hours? i am trying to keep myself indoors _ next 24 hours? i am trying to keep myself indoors because _ next 24 hours? i am trying to keep myself indoors because the - myself indoors because the temptation... we live by the sea, and temptation to go out and see the

drama and the waves is very real, but i will not be going out doing that. we are grateful we have got power but it may change. again just keeping things charged, keeping connected with people. and making sure food is shared. we have a little shop here, it is still open thankfully. we are feeling prepared. hunker down, stay warm and dry, thank you for talking to us, sending you all our best and i hope it passes over quickly. thank you. let us return to the main story today. labour overturned substantial majorities in mid bedfordshire and teignmouth. we promised reaction from the conservative party, here is the chairman greg hands. the results are very disappointing, _ the chairman greg hands. the results are very disappointing, disappointed i are very disappointing, disappointed to have lost both the by—elections. we had great candidates, i think we

had good campaigns. i think the biggest problem was previous conservative voters staying at home. the turnout was very, very low in both the polls. we did not see any increase in labour's vote. the lib dems did not do well. i think it was principally a problem we need to find better ways to energise our conservative voters to come out and support the government. he conservative voters to come out and support the government.— conservative voters to come out and support the government. he say they are sta in: support the government. he say they are staying at — support the government. he say they are staying at home, _ support the government. he say they are staying at home, it _ support the government. he say they are staying at home, it effectively i are staying at home, it effectively means they are not voting, we spoke to daisy cooper earlier from the lib dems who sat on the doorstep, i would be interested to hear what you think has been happening on the doorstep of the constituencies, she spoke to an eight—year—old who had always voted conservative, she was furious with the party —— an 18—year—olds. have you recognise that? have you seen that? heard that from your candidates? l that? have you seen that? heard that from your candidates?— from your candidates? i think there is a lot of theory _ from your candidates? i think there is a lot of theory about _ from your candidates? i think there is a lot of theory about the - is a lot of theory about the background to the by—election, what caused them. he mentioned the lib

dems, of course the lib dems lost their deposit in tamworth and they did not make any progress in mid bedfordshire. clearly for us, i think it is right a number of our voters are unhappy with the government, we clearly have a job to do to win them back into our colon. what i might say, having been ten times to mid bedfordshire, i did not meet a single person saying the solution was keir starmer, labour or the lib dems —— into our column. even though there was a low turnout, those who turned out voted labour. you say you have to encourage conservative voters out, just because they stayed at home, does not mean they necessarily would have voted for you anyway. i not mean they necessarily would have voted for you anyway.— voted for you anyway. i think the labour vote _

voted for you anyway. i think the labour vote is _ voted for you anyway. i think the labour vote is down _ voted for you anyway. i think the labour vote is down in _ voted for you anyway. i think the labour vote is down in mid i labour vote is down in mid bedfordshire slightly, clearly the bigger issue for us is getting previous conservative voters to come out and vote conservative this time. that is what the national opinion polls tell us as well. flan that is what the national opinion polls tell us as well.— polls tell us as well. can i be clear- -- _ polls tell us as well. can i be clear... can _ polls tell us as well. can i be clear... can i— polls tell us as well. can i be clear... can i try _ polls tell us as well. can i be clear... can i try to - polls tell us as well. can i be l clear... can i try to understand this? , ., . . this? delivering good governance while laying _ this? delivering good governance while laying out _ this? delivering good governance while laying out a _ this? delivering good governance while laying out a vision - this? delivering good governance while laying out a vision for i while laying out a vision for change... while laying out a vision for change- - -— while laying out a vision for change... while laying out a vision for chance... ~ ., ,. ., change... would you explain to me, ou have change... would you explain to me, you have done _ change... would you explain to me, you have done research, _ change... would you explain to me, you have done research, there i change... would you explain to me, you have done research, there is i you have done research, there is research that says, there are people who would vote conservative, still going to vote conservative, according to you, but did not come out to vote?— according to you, but did not come out to vote? by-elections. .. that is why by-elections — out to vote? by-elections. .. that is why by-elections frequently - out to vote? by-elections. .. that is why by-elections frequently have i out to vote? by-elections. .. that is why by-elections frequently have a | why by—elections frequently have a lower turnout than a general election, that has been the case for more than... election, that has been the case for more than- - -— election, that has been the case for more than... who has come out and voted? more than. .. who has come out and voted? for— more than... who has come out and voted? for the _ more than... who has come out and voted? for the by-election, - more than. .. who has come out and voted? for the by-election, of- voted? for the by-election, of course it— voted? for the by-election, of course it does, _ voted? for the by-election, of course it does, but _ voted? for the by-election, of course it does, but for- voted? for the by-election, of course it does, but for the i voted? for the by-election, of- course it does, but for the general election, you would expect the turn out to be about twice what it was for the by—elections, in which case, it becomes a very different

election. i am it becomes a very different election. lam not it becomes a very different election. i am not in any way trying to sound complacent about it, we have a lot of work to do as a government, as a party, to windows voters back to the conservative cause. i would say they have not gone to labour —— to win the voters back. they have not gone to the lib dems who lost their deposit in tamworth. the onus is on us to get the previous conservative voters energise to vote conservative. greg hands, conservative _ energise to vote conservative. greg hands, conservative party chairman speaking earlier. john rentoul is the independent�*s chief political commentator, greg hands says it is down to low turnout. he greg hands says it is down to low turnout. . . . ., , turnout. he did a valiant 'ob. the turnout. he did a valiant 'ob. the turnout was i turnout. he did a valiant 'ob. the turnout was roughly i turnout. he did a valiant job. the turnout was roughly what - turnout. he did a valiant job. the turnout was roughly what you i turnout. he did a valiant job. the i turnout was roughly what you would have expected in a by—election. the important things to look at all the

swing and as professorjohn curtice explained earlier the swings were comparable with the sorts of swings tony blair was winning in opposition. i am tony blair was winning in opposition. lam not tony blair was winning in opposition. i am not saying tony blair was winning in opposition. lam not saying keir starmer is the second coming of tony blair but certainly the second coming of blairism, suggesting labour is heading for the kind of swing in a general election tony blair won in swing in a general election tony blairwon in 97. swing in a general election tony blair won in 97. me swing in a general election tony blair won in 97.— swing in a general election tony blair won in 97. ~ . . ., blair won in 97. we are hearing from sir keir starmer _ blair won in 97. we are hearing from sir keir starmer this _ blair won in 97. we are hearing from sir keir starmer this morning - blair won in 97. we are hearing from sir keir starmer this morning saying | sir keir starmer this morning saying he is not complacent, labour cannot afford to get carried away, still a long way to go. he makes the point, he says it is a game changer that shows there is now a confidence in what he says is a changed labour party. that has been the labour strategy, look at us, come back to us, we have changed. ihlat strategy, look at us, come back to us, we have changed. not working? clearl . it us, we have changed. not working? clearly- it is — us, we have changed. not working? clearly. it is very _ us, we have changed. not working? clearly. it is very much _ us, we have changed. not working? clearly. it is very much -- _ us, we have changed. not working? clearly. it is very much -- is - us, we have changed. not working? clearly. it is very much -- is not i clearly. it is very much —— is not working? a carbon copy of what tony blair did in the 19905. i have seen quite a lot of commentary around

suggesting labour is heading for a tony blair style majority. that is not right. you have to remember labour starts the next general election from a much lower base than tony blair did in 97. if we are looking for a kind of blairite result in a general election, we would be looking at a labour majority of up to 60, but i think keir starmer would take that rather gratefully, considering the state of the party he inherited in 2020. l’m the party he inherited in 2020. i'm lookin: the party he inherited in 2020. i'm looking at some of the headlines, john, hard to find much reason to be helpful if you are a conservative mp this morning. the first time labour has made two by—election gains on the same day since 1962, no government has previously lost so safe a seat as tamworth to the opposition party in a by—election. what do you think is going on right

now in conservative party headquarters? how do they come back from this? notjust these two, the previous one they lost. that from this? notjust these two, the previous one they lost.— previous one they lost. that is ri . ht, previous one they lost. that is right. were — previous one they lost. that is right, were slightly... - previous one they lost. that is right, were slightly... they i previous one they lost. that is i right, were slightly... they took their eye off the selby by—election in north yorkshire because uxbridge was on the same day and the conservatives did do extremely well to hold oxbridge, we can see it was a single issue local campaign and selby was the real indicator of the state of national opinion —— hold oxbridge. the result in tamworth was even better. what must be depressing the conservatives surveying the wreckage is labour seems to be improving still whereas if you go back to the tony blair era, he won a stunning by—election in dudley west a few months after he became leader and after that rather tailed off. keir starmer is building up from strength to strength. the conservatives have to worry. they

have got maybe a year, may be a bit more if they really want to push it to the extreme, but they have got to hope the economy will recover and voters will then think that labour would threaten the gains made and neither of those seem to be likely. john, let usjust neither of those seem to be likely. john, let us just hope neither of those seem to be likely. john, let usjust hope lib dems, we have heard from the deputy leader this morning, daisy cooper, saying understandably disappointed not to have won either by—election, incredibly proud the party nearly doubled its share of the vote in mid bedfordshire. where do they sit in this? we talk a lot about labour and the conservatives and the battle for the conservatives and the battle for the general election, what role could the lib dems play? mid bedfordshire _ could the lib dems play? m c bedfordshire was very significant victory for labour in the tussle between labour and the lib dems. the lib dems were hoping to establish

themselves as the natural party of opposition to the tories in the south—east. labour have shown they can compete for that title. that is going to work to the advantage of both parties i suspect because i think the lib dems in the end helped labour in mid bedfordshire by taking even more votes away from the tories than labour could have done on their own. we will see tactical voting in the general election which suggests that a strong lib dem performance will help labour.— that a strong lib dem performance will help labour. john, always good to talk to you. _ will help labour. john, always good to talk to you, thank _ will help labour. john, always good to talk to you, thank you _ will help labour. john, always good to talk to you, thank you for - will help labour. john, always good to talk to you, thank you for being l to talk to you, thank you for being with us this morning, the independent chief political commentator. one of the other main stories we are following, news from the middle east. us president biden has told americans support for israel in its war again hamas is vital to us security. in a televised address overnight,

he drew a link between the conflicts in ukraine and israel and urged us politicians to do more to deliver aid to both nations. here's more from our north america correspondent, david willis. fresh from a whirlwind trip to israel, president biden sought to draw a link between two separate conflicts on two separate continents, which he said could have profound implications for the united states. hamas and putin represent different threats, but they share this in common — they both want to completely annihilate a neighbouring democracy. completely annihilate it. hamas' stated purpose for existing is the destruction of the state of israel and the murder ofjewish people. more than a million people having already fled to the south of gaza in anticipation of an israeli ground offensive, president biden also offered his support to civilians in palestine and stressed the need for israel to adhere to the terms of international law. but it is israel, along

with ukraine, that will benefit from a new us military aid package thought to be worth around $100 billion. if we walk away from ukraine, if we turn our backs on israel, it's just not worth it. that's why tomorrow i'm going to send to congress an urgent budget request to fund america's national security needs. to support our critical partners, including israel and ukraine. it's a smart investment that's going to pay dividends for american security for generations. with convoys carrying desperately needed supplies lined up on the border with egypt and waiting to cross into gaza, president biden said the world couldn't give up on peace, or the possibility of a two—state solution. chanting but with anger rising around the world, sparked by hamas' deadly attacks nearly two weeks ago, peace seems a distinctly distant possibility right now. david willis, bbc news, washington.

we saw the tracks at the border of the rafah crossing and the first 20 carrying humanitarian aid are due to enter gaza later. the rafah crossing is set to open for several hours after president biden agreed a deal with thejet. he has after president biden agreed a deal with the jet. he has warned that crossing would close if any aid was confiscated by hamas —— a deal with egypt. at the bottom of the match, the crucial entry and exit point for people and aid crossing the border from gaza. the un has warned the initial supply is simply nowhere near enough to help more than a million displaced palestinians. they say around 100 aid lorries a day are needed for gaza where supplies of food, fuel and water are running dangerously low. the prime minister rishi sunak food, fuel and water are running dangerously low. the prime minister rishi sunak is food, fuel and water are running dangerously low. the prime minister rishi sunak is continuing food, fuel and water are running dangerously low. the prime minister rishi sunak is continuing his food, fuel and water are running dangerously low. the prime minister rishi sunak is continuing his tour of the middle east. yesterday he met his israeli counterpart angela

netanyahu and pledge support for israel and went to saudi arabia where he urged leaders not to allow the conflict to escalate —— benjamin netanyahu. he has met with the leader of qatar talking about the challenges of making sure a humanitarian crisis is avoided. this is the scene live at the rafah crossing. expectation is the border crossing. expectation is the border crossing will reopen today, but there are a lot of issues to resolve before that. yesterday we were told simply logistics need to be done, repairing holes on the road to allow trucks to pass through the crossing, needed to be done first, clearly a lot of politics involved in making it happen. the border controlled by and lodged by egypt, there is concern about whether the aid will passin concern about whether the aid will pass in and concerned about it falling into the hands of hamas are not getting to the people who need it and a question about evacuating civilians, particular those with foreign passports trying to leave.

the position of the rafah crossing right now. the very latest on the story and the situation on the ground with our defence correspondentjonathan beale because he has been to one keep where the crisis began. —— one kibbutz where the crisis began. rocket explosion hamas rockets are still being fired towards israel. here, while we were waiting at a checkpoint near the border. most intercepted by israel's iron dome. intense air strikes haven't silenced hamas. wejoined an israeli cabinet minister on a visit to one of the scenes of this month's massacre. his pistol and armored van, just a precaution. nir barkat is one of the first ministers to come to see for himself the carnage and devastation.

this is written with blood. kibbutz kfar aza was where more than 50 israelis were murdered, others taken hostage. these are the homes of families and young people. now, just reminders left, photos and belongings. you've had a look around here for the first time. what's your feelings? i've been to war. this is not war, this is hell. i just can't think of what these people went through. the hell they went through.

what's going to happen to hamas now? hamas will be wiped out from the face of the world. how? with force. so israeli troops will be going in there soon? with force, i said with force. can't, uh... do you understand why? do you understand why israel has to finish this war? beyond the gates, which hamas broke through to bring their mayhem and murder is gaza, a few kilometres in the distance. israeli troops are nowjust awaiting the order to enter. jonathan beale, bbc news, kfar aza. much more on the ongoing conflict in the middle east available on the bbc website. i will be back with the

headlines very shortly. stay with us on bbc news.

live from london, this is bbc news. a double victory for labour. keir starmer�*s party overturns huge conservative majorities in tamworth and mid—bedfordshire, to secure historic by—election results. it is clear that the voters here have turned their back on a failed tory government. they have had enough of the decline of the last 13

years, and they are crying out for change. a woman dies after being swept into a river, as storm babet hits parts of scotland. there's a warning of widespread flooding and a risk to life. president biden addresses the american people and tells them supporting israel is vital for us security. the first humanitarian aid convoy is due to enter gaza this morning. hello to you, welcome to the programme. the conservatives have suffered crushing defeats in two by—elections overnight, with labour overturning substantial majorities in both mid—bedfordshire and tamworth. the result in mid—bedfordshire represents the largest conservative majority, overturned by labour at a by—election, since 1945. it was triggered following the resignation of former culture secretary nadine dorries. here's our political correspondent, helen catt.