they've had enough of the decline of the last 13 years and they are crying out for change. the conservatives have blamed a low turnout and say their voters stayed at home. also on the programme this lunchtime... hundreds of people evacuated from their homes in north—eastern scotland as storm babet wreaks havoc and leaves two people dead. these teams have so far rescued around about 50 residents this morning. no one knows for sure how long this water will remain here, but it is thought it might stay flooded for the next couple of days. trucks with relief supplies for gaza wait to be allowed in from egypt. the un secretary general appeals for the aid to be let through. and we talk to eric cantona, footballer, actor and now a singer as well embarking on a uk tour.

and coming up on bbc news... new zealand look to erase rugby world cup scars of 2019 as they look to reach a record fifth final when they face argentina later. good afternoon. the labour leader sir kier starmer says his party's two by—election victories last night are history in the making. labour overturned huge conservative majorities in the previously safe tory seats of mid—bedfordshire and tamworth in staffordshire. in mid bedfordshire, the former seat of nadine dorries, the tory majority of more than 2a,000 collapsed with a swing to labour of 20.5%. while in tamworth the swing was even bigger — 23.9%. the conservatives have blamed low turnout, saying their voters stayed at home.

our political correspondent iain watson reports. two previously tory seats, two big wins for labour. keir starmer has been to visit both with big swings for his party from the conservatives in tamworth, but his first stop this morning was to celebrate his close victory in mid bedfordshire. we know that voters who _ victory in mid bedfordshire. we know that voters who have _ victory in mid bedfordshire. we know that voters who have voted _ victory in mid bedfordshire. we know that voters who have voted for - victory in mid bedfordshire. we know that voters who have voted for us - that voters who have voted for us and they have put their trust and the confidence in a changed labour party and we will repay them for that trust and confidence. we do so humbly. that trust and confidence. we do so humbl . , ., ., humbly. there is no wonder keir starmer is _ humbly. there is no wonder keir starmer is looking _ humbly. there is no wonder keir starmer is looking so _ humbly. there is no wonder keir starmer is looking so pleased i humbly. there is no wonder keir. starmer is looking so pleased with himself. before polling day campaigners here told me that it would be between a conservative hold and a historic labour victory, but now his party has overturned the biggest numerical majority at the by—election ever and in a seat which

has been conservative since before the second world war. some voters said... i the second world war. some voters said... . ., ., said... i need change. ivoted conservative _ said... i need change. ivoted conservative last _ said... i need change. ivoted conservative last time - said... i need change. i voted. conservative last time because said... i need change. i voted - conservative last time because that is the _ conservative last time because that is the way— conservative last time because that is the way things were going. but now it _ is the way things were going. but now it is — is the way things were going. but now it is a — is the way things were going. but now it is a time for change, definitely— now it is a time for change, definitely it is. i am not too keen on keir— definitely it is. i am not too keen on keir starmer.— definitely it is. i am not too keen on keir starmer. some other voters were showing _ on keir starmer. some other voters were shopping around _ on keir starmer. some other voters were shopping around for— were shopping around for alternatives to the conservatives as well. they said the track record for the mp who had resigned when she didn't get a peerage had been a fresh pack for labour.— fresh pack for labour. nadine dorries was _ fresh pack for labour. nadine dorries was absent. - fresh pack for labour. nadine dorries was absent. i - fresh pack for labour. nadine dorries was absent. i voted i fresh pack for labour. nadine l dorries was absent. i voted for fresh pack for labour. nadine - dorries was absent. i voted for the lib dems, — dorries was absent. i voted for the lib dems, mainly because i wasn't prepared _ lib dems, mainly because i wasn't prepared to — lib dems, mainly because i wasn't prepared to vote for the conservatives. i sort of wish i now had voted — conservatives. i sort of wish i now had voted for labour. why conservatives. i sort of wish i now had voted for labour.— conservatives. i sort of wish i now had voted for labour. why is that? because i think _ had voted for labour. why is that? because i think the _ had voted for labour. why is that? because i think the country - had voted for labour. why is that? because i think the country is - had voted for labour. why is that? l because i think the country is ready for a change. the because i think the country is ready for a change-—

because i think the country is ready for a change. the lib dems fought a robust campaign _ for a change. the lib dems fought a robust campaign increasing - for a change. the lib dems fought a robust campaign increasing their - robust campaign increasing their vote and coming a close third, but by potentially eating into conservative support i asked keir starmer plasma campaign coordinator if on reflection it had helped labour. would you like to thanks a ed davey? labour. would you like to thanks a ed dave ? , ., ., ., ed davey? they got the politics and the oli ed davey? they got the politics and the policy is — ed davey? they got the politics and the policy is wrong _ ed davey? they got the politics and the policy is wrong and _ ed davey? they got the politics and the policy is wrong and the - ed davey? they got the politics and the policy is wrong and the entire . the policy is wrong and the entire campaign wrong. the idea of the labour party hasjust campaign wrong. the idea of the labour party has just scored this incredible victory over the lib dems is fanciful. �* ., ~ is fanciful. although mid bedfordshire _ is fanciful. although mid bedfordshire was - is fanciful. although mid bedfordshire was a - is fanciful. although mid - bedfordshire was a spectacular is fanciful. although mid _ bedfordshire was a spectacular win, tamworth was even more significant for labour and it could suggest that it was a move back to when they voted for tony blair. the conservative candidate made a hasty exit and the government blamed traditional voters who hadn't turned up traditional voters who hadn't turned up at all. traditional voters who hadn't turned u- at all. ., , traditional voters who hadn't turned u- atall. , ., ., traditional voters who hadn't turned uatall. , ., ., ., up at all. people stayed at home and what people — up at all. people stayed at home and what people want — up at all. people stayed at home and what people want for _ up at all. people stayed at home and what people want for us _ up at all. people stayed at home and what people want for us is _ up at all. people stayed at home and what people want for us is to - up at all. people stayed at home and what people want for us is to focus i what people want for us is to focus on the priorities we have to deliver. we still have to demonstrate to them it is worth getting out of their house and

voting conservative like they usually do. voting conservative like they usually do— voting conservative like they usually do. the conservatives believe they _ usually do. the conservatives believe they will _ usually do. the conservatives believe they will have - usually do. the conservatives believe they will have a - usually do. the conservatives l believe they will have a narrow usually do. the conservatives - believe they will have a narrow path to victory at the general election, it now feels more a bit like a tightrope. it now feels more a bit like a tightrope-— tightrope. the truth is two by-election _ tightrope. the truth is two by-election results, - tightrope. the truth is two l by-election results, both of tightrope. the truth is two - by-election results, both of them by—election results, both of them extremely bad news for the conservatives. whatever criteria you use, they are up there very clearly in the top ten of worst conservative performances against the labour party. performances against the labour pa . j . ., performances against the labour pa .j . ., ., performances against the labour pa .j .., ., ., ., party. by-election often attract a rotest party. by-election often attract a protest vote. _ party. by-election often attract a protest vote, but _ party. by-election often attract a protest vote, but what _ party. by-election often attract a protest vote, but what is - party. by-election often attract a protest vote, but what is bound l party. by-election often attract a | protest vote, but what is bound to worry conservative mps is that labour have just 12 seats that were so safe and so solid until yesterday. nick eardley is in mid bedfordshire for us, but first let's go to our chief political correspondent henry zeffman in tamworth. how worried are the conservatives, especially conservative mps, by this defeat?

the picture for conservative mps from here in tamworth is unavoidably bleak. that is a word one of them use to me early this morning as they were digesting the result. it is not just that this is the second biggest swing from conservative to labour in a by—election since the second world war. it is also the kind of seat that tamworth is. this staffordshire town voted strongly to leave the european union in 2016 and if voters who left the labour party over brexit are now willing to vote for them again, then there is all sorts of other parts of the country that may well be back in play for the labour party. when keir starmer addressed activists behind me a couple of hours ago, he was actually trying to dampen down the enthusiasm a bit, ithought. but you trying to dampen down the enthusiasm a bit, i thought. but you can see why labour activists, labour mps, are getting very excited, because of this result was replicated across the country at a general election,

it wouldn't mean a labour victory, it wouldn't mean a labour victory, it wouldn't mean a labour victory, it would mean a conservative annihilation. so if you are a conservative mp looking at this, if you have a majority of basically any size, you are going to be worried. henry, thank you. nick, how much do you think we can read into the result where you are in mid bedfordshire? are labour on track for a general election victory and a return to power? when keir starmer was here this morning he told the bbc that he didn't want to get ahead of himself. he still wanted to be humble and every vote still needed to be won. clearly labour does not want to be seen to be getting overexcited or complacent by a result like this. but it is also pretty clear when you speak to senior labour people that they are excited. sir keir starmer talked about this result in mid bedfordshire being a game changer.

he said it was now possible for labour to go he said it was now possible for labourto go and he said it was now possible for labour to go and fight and win in parts of england that it has never won in before. of course, by—elections and general elections can be different things. there is possibly quite a long time to go until the general election and a lot could change in that time. if you are sitting in labour hq this afternoon, you are considerably more optimistic than you were yesterday or a few weeks ago, you can see a path to victory. if you are in conservative hq, it will be very bleak indeed.— conservative hq, it will be very bleak indeed. nick eardley, our olitical bleak indeed. nick eardley, our political correspondent. - two people have died as storm babet brought torrential rain and flooding to parts of scotland. a 56—year—old van driver was killed when a falling tree hit his vehicle in angus yesterday, and a 57—year—old woman died also in angus after being swept into a river. the met office has issued a second red weather warning for the north—east of scotland from midnight tonight. fiona lamdin reports from brechin,

north of dundee, where people had to leave their homes because of the risk of flooding. in the dark they hadn't realised just how deep it was. the south esk river burst its banks in brechin around four in the morning. 70—year—old muriel has lived here for 20 years. last night she was adamant she wasn't leaving. when i heard the water in the garage of our house, and this is how close we have got to escaping in our car, which is a hybrid, but we thought for a horrible moment we were trapped in it because we couldn't get the doors open. we feel rescued now. david and isla and their beloved spaniels where sheltering in their attic before help came. we all came out through the bedroom window. i've been up in the attic since five o'clock basically, since the water started coming into the house. this is still very much an ongoing operation.

these teams have so far rescued round about 50 residents this morning. no—one knows for sure how long this water will remain here, but it is thought it might stay flooded for the next couple of days. and listen to this. just a0 miles up north in aberdeen winds of up to 70 miles an hour. along the coast these homes were submerged and damaged. yesterday the body of a 57—year—old woman was rescued from a river in angus. within the last hour police have confirmed the death of a 56—year—old driver after a falling tree hit the fan here for ph. some parts of scotland have now been issued a new red danger to life weather warning for tomorrow. but for today it has been downgraded to amber as a for today it has been downgraded to amberas a warning for today it has been downgraded to amber as a warning for tomorrow. but for today it has been downgraded to amber as it travels south.

parts of northern england at the midlands are now bracing themselves for what is to come. fiona lamdin bbc news. 0ur reporter louise cowie is in brechin for us now. as we were hearing, it has been really badly hit by the storm. what is the picture there today? absolutely, and on cue the wind has whipped up and it has started raining again. as you can see behind me, a huge rescue operation is still very much under way as you heard in fiona's report. dozens of people had to be rescued and evacuated from their homes overnight. that operation is very much continuing. police are still receiving calls from people who are trapped or who have simply been unable to get out of their homes. as we also heard, sadly the storm has already proved deadly. a 57—year—old woman was swept away in a nearby river yesterday and 56—year—old man died when a fallen tree his van just

south of here yesterday evening. the worrying news is things could be about to get worse. a further red weather warning has been issued for parts of scotland which were affected by yesterday's red weather warning and that is due to come into force from midnight, which means we can expect very wet and wild conditions. scotland has been hardest hit, but other parts of the uk have not escaped. trains between london and south wales have been cancelled because of flooding on the line and an amber weather warning for rain is in place in the midlands which has already seen some flooding. it is safe to say if you haven't been affected by this storm in some way you are in the minority. it looks like being a further tricky couple of days ahead for many people across scotland and indeed across the uk. ., , the time is 13:10. our top story this afternoon:

labour claim there's been a political earthquake, after they win two by—election victories in what had been safe conservative seats. and coming up: we talk to eric cantona — footballer, actor and now a singer. and coming up on bbc news: england women make a winning start to rugby's reboot, as the new global 15s competition gets started. they ran in six tries, in a dominant display against australia. the un secretary—general antonio guterres has visited the rafah crossing on egypt's border, appealing for aid to be let into gaza. aid agencies are hoping about 20 trucks with relief supplies will be allowed in today, through the crossing to the territory. the lorries contain food, water and medical supplies. the death toll from the attack on israel by hamas — designated a terror group by the uk government — is now 1,400. the authorities in gaza say more than 3,700 people have been killed

there in retaliatory israeli strikes. 0ur chief international correspondent, lyse doucet, is in southern israel for us. the un secretary—general�*s trip to the egyptian side of the gaza crossing has underlined the urgency of what the un has called a humanitarian catastrophe in gaza. antonio guterres said the aide waiting to go would make the difference between life and death for the people of gaza. un officials are now cautiously saying they hoped the first trucks will enter in the next 2a hours, but there are said to still be differences between the egyptians and the israelis about security arrangements. israel continues its air strikes against the gaza strip at a rate not seen in decades. 0urfirst report the gaza strip at a rate not seen in decades. our first report is from our middle east correspondent tom

bateman. in gaza, the rescuers are still saving who they can, but the civilian death toll continues to mount, amid israel's bombardment. and frustration is spilling over. translation: we don't want to receive aid. - we want the destruction and the killing of children in their sleep to stop. we are tired. israel says it hit more than 100 hamas targets overnight, killing a top figure involved in the october the 7th massacres. with a million people homeless, scrambling for food and water. the supplies are readyjust over the border in egypt. but despite hopes the trucks would start rolling today, they are at a standstill. the world's top diplomat headed to the crossing himself to put on pressure. what we need is to make their move. to make the move to the other side of this wall.

to make the move as quickly as possible and as many as possible. president biden, just back from the region, promised funding for more weapons for israel to fight hamas, but he made another call for restraint. we mourn every innocent life lost. we can't ignore the humanity of innocent palestinians who only want to live in peace and have an opportunity. and after his meeting with the saudi leader yesterday, the british prime minister rishi sunak is now in cairo, amid talks to try to stop this crisis spreading. but there was more rocket fire from gaza deep into israel last night. and the israeli—occupied west bank is at boiling point. dozens of palestinians have been killed by israeli forces and settlers in the last fortnight. the israeli army has been putting these kind of roadblocks all over the place.

it's stopping ordinary palestinians moving from city to city. and that is adding to the very volatile atmosphere. this is no longer about the current crisis spreading from gaza to the west bank, it is already here and it's getting worse. meanwhile, for the israelis whose loved ones are being held hostage by hamas or still missing, there are few answers. shira perez's brother daniel is a soldier, among those who fought the attack on an army base near gaza. it's impossible to accept, and i think me personally, i've become numb to the situation because if i accept how truly hard and truly sore this is, i don't think my body will be able to accept it. israel's forces, massed on the gaza perimeter, are still waiting for the order to come in. it could come at any time.

the rest of the region is bracing itself. tom bateman, bbc news, jerusalem. nearly two weeks since the attack on israel, we're still learning about those killed during the war. the british government has said at least nine british nationals have died. our special correspondent lucy manning has been hearing some of their stories. yoni rapoport in the middle, a massive man united fan. he planned to bring his son, yosefi, to the little boy's first game next month. that now won't happen. yoni, a british—israeli father—of—two, murdered by hamas. he was so excited to be taking yosefi with him. it's very heartbreaking now. yoni will always be with us. he's in my heart and always will be, and i miss him, ijust miss him. before the destruction of kibbutz be'eri, yoni tended the gardens — an expert on trees, a nature lover. he was a lovely man. he was quiet, he had a most amazing smile, which just lit up the room.

the family said he saved his two children, telling them to hide under the bed when the terrorists burst into the safe room. and they killed yoni, and they killed a lot more of my friends. we are not an army base, we are just a peaceful village. we got slaughtered because we are jewish. in the midlands, dr 0mar hassouna is mourning multiple members of his family who have been killed by israeli air strikes in gaza. three, four days ago, _ my niece and her three children, as well as her husband, has been killed. - two days ago, a further my niece |again, with her husband and her| baby, which is aged three months. she was being bombarded, their house, killed. - dr hassouna heard that his cousin and around 1a members of the cousin's extended family had been killed. i feel very frustrated.

i feel anger. i feel, you know, really unfair, targeting illegitimate, - you know, targets — _ human beings and civil people. yoni's mum said their kibbutz was peace—loving, palestinians working with them. today, that peace seems ever further away. lucy manning, bbc news. tension is also rising on israel's northern border with lebanon. where lebanese hezbollah, allied to iran, have been attacking across the border. and the israeli military has also been attacking positions into lebanon. this morning, the israeli government announced it was now evacuating a city among growing fears about that area. our correspondent anna fosterjoins us now, what is the latest, what has

been happening?— now, what is the latest, what has been happening? well, this city is in the process _ been happening? well, this city is in the process of— been happening? well, this city is in the process of being _ been happening? well, this city is| in the process of being evacuated, that order came from the israeli government this morning. it is large city, a population of 20,000 being moved out of their homes to add to the communities along the border from west to east that have already been evacuated in previous days. again, tens of thousands of people, nearly 30 communities in total, and it shows you how seriously the threat is being taken on the northern border. those exchanges of fire you talked about were sporadic in the first few days after the attacks on the south, but now they are happening multiple times through the day every day right along the border. and you see here as well the troop build—up, israel has sent many of its reserve troops, its reserve forces appear to the northern border. i was with some of them yesterday evening, they had the artillery trained on lebanon, they were poised, they said, and a state of high alert if an attack is launched by hezbollah from the north

on israel. and all of that really has an impact on the wider region. hezbollah strongly allied to iran, backed and armed by iran, and many people say that iran pulling the strings here. and i think when you look more widely across the region as well, we have seen drone attacks on us troops stationed in different parts of iraq and also in northern syria as well. and then yesterday, the pentagon said they intercepted three missiles fired by rebels in yemen they believed were directed towards israel and all that together shows you why there is so much diplomatic concern about this becoming a regional war. becoming a regionalwar. indeed, anna foster. _ becoming a regionalwar. indeed, anna foster, thank _ becoming a regionalwar. indeed, anna foster, thank you _ becoming a regionalwar. indeed, anna foster, thank you for - becoming a regionalwar. indeed, | anna foster, thank you forjoining us. so nearly two weeks into this war, the crisis continues to intensify. the big question on everyone's mind is when will israel carry out its widely expected ground attack? last night, israel's defence chief yoav gallant visited the

thousands of israeli troops are massed on the border and said to them, you can see gaza from here and soon, you will see it inside. that will be the next phase of this next deadly war and that is what the people of gaza are bracing for. thank you very much. lyse doucet, our chief international correspondent in southern israel. the health regulator has warned the quality of care in england is increasingly determined by where people live and how much they can pay for treatment. the care quality commission says long waiting lists, poor funding and a lack of staff all risk turning health and social care services into an unfair, two—tiered system. 0ur social affairs editor, alison holt, has this report. ella. come here, darling. taking the dog for a walk is something of a triumph for dave lockyer. until recently, the 65—year—old was in so much pain from his hip, he was struggling to get dressed...

..yet he was told he'd have to wait at least two years for the nhs operation he needed. clever girl! i was a shell of myself, my mental health just got worse. we needed to increase my antidepressants. i wouldn't have lasted two years. i simply wouldn't have lasted two years. so dave raided his pension pot to find the £15,000 needed for a privately—done hip operation — according to today's report, one of the signs of an increasingly unfair system. sit. good girl! having paid into the system for over a0 years, with a decentjob, and therefore paying quite a lot of money into it, then when i needed something as badly as i needed it then, yeah, it was... we felt it was wrong. the care quality commission warns of a growing two—tier system in england, where the length of time you wait for health and care services becomes dependent

on where you live and whether or not you can pay. the ongoing cost—of—living crisis, coupled with accelerating workforce pressures, has meant that there's a real risk of unfaircare. and what that means for people, in reality, is longer waits for care, poorer quality when they do get it, and ultimately, that leads to poorer health outcomes for a number of people. some of our clients are really frail, some of them can't, - they can't even get out of the chair. _ and growing demand means increasing pressure on staff like michelle. she loves herjob as a home care worker in the north east, but the pay puts most people off. it's atrocious, honestly. it's disgusting, to be i quite honest with you. for what we do and, like, i forthis, you know, driving. today's report also says council social care budgets have not kept up with the cost of living and rising demand, and if they don't pay enough, then it's difficult

to provide care when needed. hiya, kath, are you all right, love? it's only me. 85—year—old kath was stuck in hospital, and then in a care home, for several months because her local council couldn't find the support she needed to return here. i had to stop in another three months, i think, before i could get the care to get me back in my own home. and i kept saying to them, "why is it so hard?" they said they can't get the lasses to do the job. i said, "is it because they can't pay them enough?" how's everything, tracey? yeah, good. a fundamental problem, according to michelle jackson, whose company provide's kath's care. she wants to pay staff more, but needs higher council fees to do that. they're turning away 60% of care requests, in a system which she says desperately needs fixing. we can't take work on if we don't have the staff to be able to do that work safely. we're always bumping from crisis to crisis,

from day to day, and unfortunately, it's, well, it needs to stop. not unfortunately, it just needs to stop. are we going to do| your shopping list? the government says it's investing record sums of money into health and social care — to improve access to services and cut waiting lists. alison holt, bbc news. teachers and school leaders have reacted angrily to a government announcement that minimum levels of service are to be introdcued during education strikes. the education secretary, gillian keegan, says the change is needed because school children in england lost "25 million days of school" during the pandemic. we've known eric cantona the footballer. eric cantona the actor. now it is time for eric cantona the singer. after teaching himself the guitar during lockdown, the former manchester united superstar is releasing a new single and heading off on a uk tour. colin paterson went to meet him. # i've been a fool

# i've been right # i've been uncool...# eric cantona, as you've never heard him before. # you love me...# what kind of performer are you on stage? a great performer. he laughs of course. you know that! james gets there just first. cantona! during his six seasons in english football, cantona won the league five times and did the double twice. # ooh—aah, eric cantona! # ooh—aah, eric cantona...# fans chanted his name, - now he's the one doing the singing. and next week, at the age of 57, he starts his first uk tour. how long has this been a dream of yours? when i was a kid, i had two passions. it was art and sport, football. i have a deep need of expressing myself. since, er, like ever.

i was born with that, i think. so when i stopped football, i started to act. sometimes, i forget that you're just a man. i'm not a man. iam cantona. and then, the lockdown happened, arrived. and then, i started the guitar. 0bsession — hours. i'm very bad at guitar. very, very bad guitarist. still very bad at guitar... but that's what you write the songs on? ..but good enough to write songs with my guitar. with the lyrics, what do you want to write about on this album? i've been good, i've been bad. you hate me, you love me. # i've been heroic # i've been criminal...# the manchester united footballer eric cantona has been charged with common assault on a spectator... it was january 1995 when cantona karate—kicked a fan who was abusing him, after he was sent off at crystal palace. cantona was given a two—week prison sentence, which was overturned on appeal.

so, cryptically, ithink you are saying that that famous moment, at crystal palace, might feature in this song? yeah. that's what i say. i've been heroic, i've been criminal. you hate me, you love me. i'm onlyjudged by myself. i go to hell or i go to heaven, but wherever i go, i make my own heaven. eric cantona... thank you very much. c'est la vie. time for a look at the weather. here's chris fawkes. babet has been battering the uk, take a look at this weather watcher picture, which is from the south shields area. north east england. down the north sea coast, gusts running into the sixties miles per hour. elsewhere, flooding the major concern. and we still have five severe flood warnings in force in scotland a stretches of both the north and the south —esque. along

with these five severe warnings, 16