what lessons can be see what lessons can be learned. see what lessons can be learned-— the release of 1700 prisoners has begun across england and wells is part of an adventure to bid to ease overcrowding in jails. beginning this morning, some offenders who served at least 40% of their sentences will be released. the government says it will free up 5500 more prison spaces in the next few months. here is our reporter adina campbell. 0ne reporter adina campbell. one of the most dangerous and crowded jails in the uk. 1115x4114?f crowded jails in the uk. hmv bentonville. _ crowded jails in the uk. hmv bentonville. this _ crowded jails in the uk. hmv bentonville. this was - bentonville. this was pentonville _ bentonville. this was pentonville prison . bentonville. this was pentonville prison in | bentonville. this was - pentonville prison in north london last week. the bbc was given rare access and within minutes... disorderwas given rare access and within minutes... disorder was rife. in an attempt to fix a criminal

justice system at breaking point, from today thousands of prisoners in england and wales will be released after serving 40% of their sentence rather than 50%. it 4096 of their sentence rather than 5096-— than 50%. it was the only 0 tion than 50%. it was the only option on _ than 50%. it was the only option on the _ than 50%. it was the only option on the table - than 50%. it was the only option on the table and l than 50%. it was the only - option on the table and that's because the alternative to not making this change would have been to allow the prison system to collapse and therefore to allow the law and order in this country to collapse. but these emergency measures are controversial with big concerns from some prison staff and campaigners about public safety and an increase in reoffending. they have nowhere to live, they fall back — they have nowhere to live, they fall back into drug—taking, they— fall back into drug—taking, they have mental health difficulties already. if they are not— difficulties already. if they are not getting the support, the treatment, the stable housing, the danger either they fall back— housing, the danger either they fall back into reoffending or they— fall back into reoffending or they simply breached their licensing conditions and end up inside — licensing conditions and end up inside again anyway. the prison imputation _ inside again anyway. the prison imputation in — inside again anyway. the prison population in england _ inside again anyway. the prison population in england and - population in england and waleses record high with more than 88,000 people injail according to the latest ministry ofjustice data it is

estimated 4000 extra male prisoners and around 1000 female inmates will be released over the next 18 months under these new measures with the government hoping to free up 5500 beds to whole newly sentenced criminals. those convicted of the most serious crimes such as murder, terrorism and domestic abuse are excluded from this programme. but for rebecca, a victim of domestic abuse, she is fearing the worst again. she recently received a letter saying her ex partner who served time for domestic abuse would now be released early for a connected offence. it would now be released early for a connected offence.— a connected offence. it feels like he has _ a connected offence. it feels like he hasjust_ a connected offence. it feels like he hasjust had - a connected offence. it feels like he hasjust had a - a connected offence. it feels like he hasjust had a bit - a connected offence. it feels like he hasjust had a bit of. a connected offence. it feels| like he hasjust had a bit of a slap on the wrist and told not to be a naughty boy. nothing else. whereas i have to deal with the damage that he has done to me. the conservatives say the

government should focus on building more prisons to help ease overcrowding. and for those charged or convicted of offences related to the recent riots, more prison places are expected to be quickly filled in the coming weeks. adina campbell, bbc news. let's speak to our reporter megan 0wen who is outside wormwood scrubs prison in west london. i know you have had a chance to speak to some people. how will this policy affect families who are there waiting for their loved ones to be released?- ones to be released? well, sarah, ones to be released? well, sarah. only _ ones to be released? well, sarah, only in _ ones to be released? well, sarah, only in the - ones to be released? well, sarah, only in the last - ones to be released? well, sarah, only in the last hourj sarah, only in the last hour have we seen prisoners start to be released. it has been quite staggered so they have come out in groups of four or five staggered so they have come out in groups of four orfive and i've had the chance to speak to family medicine friends who have been waiting to be reunited with them. interestingly, there obviously is excitement. 0ne interestingly, there obviously is excitement. one man said he

couldn't wait to hug his brother. another woman said she couldn't wait to be reunited with her partner after two years. one of the family members have spoken to said that whilst the plan to release prisoners early has worked for them, they don't necessarily agree that it should apply to everybody because they are worried that it will encourage people to continue offending. so, really interesting thoughts from some of the family members. we have also had an increased police presence around here but also prison charity members are waiting outside the prison to help assist those being released early. assist those being released earl . . , ., assist those being released earl . . ., ., ., early. have you managed to get any sense _ early. have you managed to get any sense from _ early. have you managed to get any sense from the _ early. have you managed to get any sense from the families - early. have you managed to get any sense from the families as. any sense from the families as to what the conditions are like inside wormwood scrubs, which is a very large prison in london?— is a very large prison in london? ~ . ., ., ., london? we have. one woman told me that it has _ london? we have. one woman told me that it has been _ london? we have. one woman told me that it has been really, - me that it has been really, really difficult for her partner and she said she is not surprised that this scheme has

come into force now because of just how overcrowded they are. and of course, the chief inspector of prisons did release a report today saying what we already know which is there is lots of overcrowding, there is lots of overcrowding, the prisons are understaffed, there is high levels of violence across england and wales in those prisons. so of course, the government have said that by releasing these prisoners this is the solution to tackling in the short term this overcrowding.- to tackling in the short term this overcrowding. meghan owen outside wormwood _ this overcrowding. meghan owen outside wormwood scrubs, - this overcrowding. meghan owen | outside wormwood scrubs, thank you for that. clearly this is affecting a lot of people and there are concerns at the early release of so many prisoners having a knock—on effect on the probation service which is already struggling with its workload. we are joined already struggling with its workload. we arejoined by ian lawrence, the general secretary of the national association of probation officers. mr lawrence, thank you forjoining us on bbc news. take us through

the reality for your members, probation officers, what this will mean for them.- probation officers, what this will mean for them. thank you. it is a will mean for them. thank you. it is a huge _ will mean for them. thank you. it is a huge challenge _ will mean for them. thank you. it is a huge challenge for- it is a huge challenge for probation staff. they are already massively overworked and understaffed and underpaid dealing with what we would call normal probation supervision work. this early release scheme replaces the previous one and ought to allow more time for processing releases and is a bit of an improvement but there are still huge pressure on our members to exercise the scheme in the way that is wanted by the government. so it is a challenge. we have a negotiated overtime package for our members to try and break the logjam but that presupposes the energy and capacity to do that over time. energy and capacity to do that overtime. it's energy and capacity to do that over time. it's not a proper solution, it is a short—term palliative. solution, it is a short-term palliative-— palliative. just take us through _ palliative. just take us through the _ palliative. just take us through the process. i palliative. just take us - through the process. because obviously a lot of people will be concerned about offenders being released early as to whether they actually should be

released early, and it's largely up to the probation service to monitor and check on them. take us through when these prisoners are released, how much contact will they have with the officers, with your members, and what is your role in terms of keeping the public safe? is in terms of keeping the public safe? , . .., in terms of keeping the public safe? , . safe? is much contact as we can muster. safe? is much contact as we can muster- that — safe? is much contact as we can muster. that involves _ safe? is much contact as we can muster. that involves prison - muster. that involves prison staff as well as probation. the checks and balances, safeguarding requirements need to be gone through as part of that process. where is the individual going to live? is it a safe place? if there were previous issues around sex offending, are there safeguarding issues there? what is the mental health capacity? because this is a huge problem. too many people in our prison system are already suffering from mental health issues and need immediate support for drug, alcohol abuse etc. we need to make sure that wherever that prisoner goes, they stand

as little chance as possible of reoffending. as little chance as possible of reoffending-— reoffending. which is incredibly _ reoffending. which is incredibly difficult. i reoffending. which is l incredibly difficult. i'm reoffending. which is - incredibly difficult. i'm just wondering how you are feeling about this at the moment today. are your members nervous? are they supportive of this scheme? do they understand why it is necessary?— necessary? yes, we have to su ort necessary? yes, we have to support the _ necessary? yes, we have to support the scheme, - necessary? yes, we have to support the scheme, there l necessary? yes, we have to| support the scheme, there is necessary? yes, we have to - support the scheme, there is no alternative right now that could replace it because the prison population has burgeoned recently because of those involved in the disgraceful societal racist disorder of late. that has put pressure on capacity already. yeah, members are saying to us they are concerned about what happens if serious reoffending incident occurs. our people will do everything they can to make sure public safety is the number one priority and the lord chancellor made that clear and we support that. but i cannot sit here and say the scheme is not without risk. what needs to happen is we need to look at short—term prison

sentencing and ask the question, why are so many people languishing in prisons that have not committed what i call public safety facing offences? and why aren't we looking at ways of bringing them out into the community, supervised by an effective, efficient and properly funded probation service? that's the macro question.— macro question. one of the other questions _ macro question. one of the other questions you - macro question. one of the other questions you have i macro question. one of the | other questions you have to deal with as a probation service is you also have to contact victims and let them know that the offender potentially is being released. that again is going to put a huge strain on your resources. yes, a victim engagement officer staff are doing an excellentjob alongside officer staff are doing an excellent job alongside the practitioners who monitor the prisoners on release. yes, there is pressure on them because 1700 people are being released today and hasn't given us all the time we need to go

through that process. the longer term, through that process. the longerterm, it through that process. the longer term, it will do. that is the improvement scheme that probation practitioners should have a longer lead in but that's why we have an overtime scheme because the pressure is huge. but like i say, there is no alternative. the alternative is people committing crimes would not get arrested. and that's an intolerable position as well. ., ., ., as well. on that note we have to leave it. — as well. on that note we have to leave it, ian _ as well. on that note we have to leave it, ian lawrence, - to leave it, ian lawrence, general secretary of the national association of probation officers, thank you. if you want more on this, you can find out much more from our website. we are running a live page with constant updates and analysis looking atjust how crowded britain's prisons are. now, another story that is running today is that in the next few hours parliament will vote on whether to end winter fuel payments for all but the poorest pensioners. the chancellor has urged fellow labour mps to back a plan which would see the winter allowance of up to £300 becomes means

tested, meaning millions of people would no longer be eligible. the treasury says this will save around £1.4 billion. our political correspondent anna miller has this report. correspondent anna miller has this rwort-— this report. those not in receipt _ this report. those not in receipt of _ this report. those not in receipt of pension - this report. those not in| receipt of pension credits this report. those not in - receipt of pension credits or certain other means tested benefits will no longer receive the winter fuel payment from this year onwards. it’s the winter fuel payment from this year onwards.— this year onwards. it's the most controversial - this year onwards. it's the most controversial move l this year onwards. it's the i most controversial move the labour government has made so far, a cut for pensioners that has fuelled discontent among mps. these are the necessary and urgent decisions that i must make. dozens of labour mps are known to be unhappy about the decision to limit the winter fuel payments to only the poorest pensioners, and 17 are calling for it to be postponed. one of them is diane abbott. i certainly won't support it. we are all discussing whether to vote against or abstain. but you can't possibly support it. it wasn't in the manifesto. ministers say they have no plans to offer any further

we have all had hundreds of letters — we have all had hundreds of letters about it and even if you — letters about it and even if you claim the pension credit which — you claim the pension credit which actually that is unlikely to happen before the winter, there — to happen before the winter, there will still be 3 million pensionersjust above there will still be 3 million pensioners just above the threshold to pension credit who are going — threshold to pension credit who are going to be old and cold this— are going to be old and cold this winter because of losing their— this winter because of losing their winter tax arrangement. ministers say they have no plans to offer any further support, arguing that the state pension has gone up by £900 compared to a year ago and will go up again in the spring. supporters insist that savings have to be found somewhere. nobody in the labour party would like to see the sort of problems that will be caused for elderly people who are just above that threshold of £12,460. when you inherit a £21.9 billion black hole, not in the future, but in the current year, you have to take tough choices.

the government will win today's vote, such is the size of its majority, but ministers have still been trying to convince wavering mps to vote with them in order to show a united front. they say this isn't the only tough choice they will be making in the coming months, making today a test of party discipline. the prime minister is going to brighton this morning to give a speech to unions despite some leaders calling for him to change course. labour mps fear they are about to face a significant wave of criticism. they hope it's one they can withstand. hannah miller, bbc news. the government has come under a lot of pressure from many of its own mps over their winter fuel payment policy. our chief political correspondent, henry zeffman says the government are not

showing any signs of a u—turn. i think the government are adamant that this is absolutely the right thing to have done, both fiscally, where it will save, they reckon, about £1.5 billion just this year, but also politically as a demonstration that they are willing to make tough decisions, indeed, that they have to make tough decisions because of what they say is the worst economic inheritance of any government pretty much ever. it's much more backbench labourmps, labourmps with no particular status in the government, many of them new to politics, just this year. they're the ones who are really anxious about the political capital that may have been expended here, notjust by the government, but also for those labour mps, many of whom have very marginal seats. now, the next general election isn't until four or five years away, but older people tend to vote in greater numbers than younger people. and a lot of labour mps are conscious that they are not a demographic group that any government necessarily

can afford to upset. so those are some of the political calculations here. but i should stress, it feels from talking to people in government this morning that things are moving in their direction. there was never any danger they would lose this vote because they've got such a vast majority. but in terms of the size of the rebellion, people in government are increasingly optimistic that the number of labour mps who defy them is falling pretty much by the hour. that was henry zeffman. i should just say that probably in the next 15 minutes, the prime minister is due to address the tuc, the trades union congress. you can see other speeches going on at the moment. but as i say, sir keir starmer will be there in roughly 15 minutes and we will bring you that live on bbc news. now to the middle east and rescuers are searching for survivors buried under the sand in a designated humanitarian

zonein in a designated humanitarian zone in the southern gaza strip which was hit by israeli air strikes overnight. the israeli military said it had targeted hamas commanders directly involved in carrying out the october 7th attack. local residents said three strikes targeted tents in al—mawasi, west of the city of khan younis. the hamas—run civil defence authority says at least 40 people were killed — although israel's military says this number �*does not align' with its own information. the strikes left craters several metres deep — these are some of the latest pictures from the scene. residents said more than 20 tents housing displaced palestinians were destroyed. rescuers have been searching for survivors buried under the sand. palestinian officials said search and rescue efforts were being hampered by a lack of necessary equipment. the israeli military said that it had taken steps to mitigate risk of harming civilians.

hamas denied it was present there. our middle east bureau chief, jo floto, is injerusalem for the latest. the hamas run civil defence group say they are at least 40 killed. we cannot verify that at the moment. the idf say it doesn't tally with their information. we have at least 13 confirmed dead have arrived at nasser hospital in khan younis and we think that will rise and there are dozens of confirmed wounded. these really defence forces say they were targeting what they call significant hamas terrorists and they have released the names of three people they describe as commanders, senior commanders in hamas, all of whom intimately involved in the october seven assault on israel. forthe october seven assault on israel. for the civilians living in al mawasi it is a different story, they tell of these huge explosions coming just after midnight and ripping

through this tent city. thousands of families have been sheltering in al mawasi. they are living under canvas or improvised shelters and none of that would have provided any shelter at all from heavy munitions coming from the sky. that was jo floto, that wasjo floto, our bureau chief injerusalem. here in the uk, america's top diplomat, secretary of state, antony blinken, is expected to discuss the war in ukraine and the middle east on a trip here. he arrived in london late last night and is expected to meet both the prime minister, sir keir starmer, and the foreign secretary, david lammy. his visit comes ahead of sir keir visting washington on friday. we do have some breaking news. people will know that the spectator political magazine has been up for sale for a while now and there is breaking

news via the reuters news agency that paul marshall has bought it. he is a hedge fund founder, he's the chief investment officer of the billion global hedge fund and he has bought the spectator magazine, it was put up for sale alongside the daily telegraph, sunday telegraph in june after redbird imi, which was abu dhabi backed, was blocked from owning the newspapers by the british government. paul marshall, hedge fund manager has bought the spectator political magazine. australia is to ban children from using social media. the legislation will impose and enforce a minimum age to use platforms such as facebook and instagram by the end of the year. although the exact age hasn't been revealed the government is consulting on setting it between 14 and 16. let's listen to prime minister, anthony albanese explaining his

reasoning behind the change. i want to see kids off their devices and on to the footie fields and the swimming pools and the tennis courts. we want them to have real experiences with real people because we know that social media is causing social harm. this is a scourge. we know that there is mental health consequences for what many of the young people have had to deal with, the bullying that can occur online, the access to material which causes social harm. that's the australian prime minister anthony albanese. our correspondent in sydney, phil mercer has sent the latest. as we heard there from the australian prime minister anthony albanese, he doesn't want an australian child's best

friend to be a device. he wants them out on the football field or playing netball on a court. so what his government is proposing is that before the next election, which is due before may of next year he wants to bring in new legislation that would set a minimum age for children to access social media. he has not said how young an australian would have to be — or how old they would have to be — in order to set up an account. it is likely to be somewhere between 14—16 years of age. the prime minister is favouring the upper level in that age range. but many unanswered questions remain. how would this be enforced. we know that facial recognition and age verification software will be trialled in this country ahead of any specifics relating to this legislation. so essentially, anthony albanese, the prime minister, wants to clamp down on young people's use of social media because he says that parents are worried sick

about what they are experiencing. phil mercer in sydney for us. george lucas, the creator of star wars, has led tributes to the darth vader voice actor, james earljones, who's died at the age of 93. lucas described him as a beautiful human being. mark hamill who played the film's protagonist and darth vader's son, luke skywalker, tweeted "rip dad." as well as the star wars villain, jones was well—known for a wide array of roles over his six—decade career. lizo mzimba looks back at his life. from his first film role, he clearly had something special. the fire is out. emergency power is on. everything seems to check out all right. that voice. will advise. before dr strangelove, james earljones had served in the military,

but he really wanted to act. i've been waiting foryou, obi—wan. we meet again at last. then came something that made his voice world—famous. when i left you, i was but the learner. now i am the master. you are part of the rebel alliance and a traitor. take her away! his voice's gravity and depth made him a natural choice for the lion king... look, simba. everything the light touches is our kingdom. ..and its remake a quarter of a century later. one day, simba, the sun will set on my time here, and will rise with you as the new king. while he again played a king opposite eddie murphy in coming to america... i want a woman to love me for who i am, not because of what i am. ..he also had the chance to show his gift for comedy. and who are you? i am a man who has never tied his own shoes before. wrong. you are a prince who has

never tied his shoes. believe me, i tied my own shoes once. it is an overrated experience. on tv, he played the author alex haley, whose search for his african ancestors led to the ground—breaking series roots. the force is with you, young skywalker, but you are not a jedi yet. and is all the more admirable in that a young boy who barely spoke because of his stutter... most impressive. ..should become an actor whose stirring tones... ha—ha—ha! that's very good! ..earned him the accolade of having perhaps the world's most recognisable voice. simba, remember. kunta kinte, i've found you! i am your father. james earljones who has died at the age of 93. the former

dup leader sirjeffrey donaldson has arrived at court this morning for the latest stage of his prosecution for alleged historical sex offences. he is expected to be asked to enter pleas in respect of the 18 charges he is facing. his wife, lady eleanor donaldson, is a co—accused and she will appear with him at an arraignment hearing scheduled at newry crown court. in the next few minutes, the prime minister is to address members of the trades union congress — who have gathered for their annual conference in brighton. it is expected sir keir starmer will warn workers that decisions on pay will be shaped by the "tough decisions" needed to protect the economy — amid calls from unions for �*pay restoration' to address below—inflation rises in the public sector.

you can see the prime minister sir keir starmer has entered. he is sitting down. he isn't due to talk until 11 o'clock. our political correspondent iain watson is in brighton for us. just take us through what we are expecting sir keir to talk to congress about this morning. talk to congress about this morning-— talk to congress about this morninu. , ., morning. there will be no new announcements _ morning. there will be no new announcements from - morning. there will be no new announcements from sir - morning. there will be no new announcements from sir keirl announcements from sir keir starmer, it will be some of the things we have heard from him before on difficult choices. as far as i'm before on difficult choices. as faras i'm aware before on difficult choices. as far as i'm aware he's not going to use the words winter and fuel together. that debate of course taking place this afternoon in the house of commons. but he's going to frame that is part of these difficult choices which will include potentially future pay increases. i think that aspect of it is not so much aimed at the audience in the room with a wide audience because he was

underfire of course wide audience because he was under fire of course for some of these big pay rises immediately after labour came to power while simultaneously taking away money from some of the pensioners who are not on pension credit, 10 million pensioners. so he will be saying the unions may face a rough road ahead but he will also say things which he would expect them to cheer as well, he will be hailing the biggest uplift, as he would call it and workers' rights in a generation, the repealing of two major pieces of conservative anti—trade union legislation as he would see it. there will also be the promise of more workers' rights, rights to organise, more rights in the workplace. so that i think would go down relatively well. i can tell you from conversations and what has been said publicly by some union leaders, at the least they don't think the party leadership has handled the winter fuel row desperately well and they will be worried about some of the other issues as well, some of which were discussed yesterday here in the tuc. for example, they are worried about what will happen to oil and gas workers as

labour moves towards its green transition and also worried about their being too tight a grip on public spending. we will hearfrom keir grip on public spending. we will hear from keir starmer himself. no point in me tell you what he will have to say. let's hear from the you what he will have to say. let's hearfrom the prime minister. thank you, matt, thank you, congress. it is such a pleasure to be back with you again here in brighton. a city of sanctuary, of solidarity, and a city that once again this summer showed that there is no place for hatred, division or violence on our streets. applause applause a city that i'm delighted to say now has a labour council once again. applause and a city that's joined by a string of labour mps across sussex from worthing to hastings. congress, brighton holds a special place in my

heart because three years ago i gave my first in—person conference speech as labour leader here in this very hall. i said that our party had to change if we were to win a general election. and congress, we did. and thank you all for the part that you played in that. applause and now, because of the hard work that we did together, i'm able to address this congress the first time as prime minister. applause the first time, i think i'm right in saying, that a prime minister has come here for 15 years since 2009. that is a

years since 2009. that is a year that you will remember well, paul, it's the last time everton got through to a cup final. although i actually think you lost a 2—0 to one of the lesser london teams. the one promise i can make today is that prime ministerial visits were a bit more frequent perhaps than everton cup finals. because, in all seriousness, i sat on the opposition benches and took many a lecture from the tories telling the world what working people do or don't want, and you know that every single one of them was delivered without the common decency of coming here and showing some respect to the people who fight for the living standards of working people every single day, and that iraq is now over, congress. —— era. iwould that iraq is now over, congress. —— era. i would like to thank every one of you who

played a role in ending it. everyone of you who took