despite a backbench rebellion. the inquest into the death of steve dymond — the presenter jeremy kyle says he has been exonerated, after a coroner rules his tv show was not a contributory factor. and captain harry kane warming up the england team ahead of their nations league match against finland at wembley tonight. and coming up on bbc news... the chelsea boardroom tussle continues as todd bohley and clearlake capital battle for full control at stamford bridge. good evening and welcome to the bbc news at six. the first of thousands of prisoners in england and wales have been allowed out ofjail early today, as part of a new government scheme to try to ease prison overcrowding. more than 1700 have

been released today, in the first wave, with more than 5,000 to be let out early over the next two months. those released today had been sentenced to up to five years in jail. they have served 40% of their time rather than the usual 50%. the government says those jailed for more than four years for serious violent offences, orfor sex offences and domestic abuse, are not eligible for early release. the justice secretary says every available measure is being taken to protect the public. here's our uk correspondent daniel sandford. at wandsworth prison today... 0h! ..inmates walking free early from their sentences, celebrating with their friends. some hiding theirfaces as they left the jail. let's go! hi, let's go! 0thers making up for lost time with their partners, while a few were worried about their future.

i'm going to be sleeping on a bench tonight, do you know what i mean? there's no messing about. i'm going to go to probation, and if they've gotten an address for me, i'm the pope. in liverpool, prisoners coming out weeks earlier than expected. did you come out under the early release game? —— scheme. yeah. yeah. so how much earlier did you come out than you were expecting? two months. so how much earlier did you come out than you were expecting? two months. so is that a bit of a relief for you to get out of it early? of course, yeah. so is that a bit of a relief for you to get out of it early? of course, yeah. so how far the prisons so how far the prisons at the moment? at the moment? chock—a, absolutely rammed. chock—a, absolutely rammed. you out under early release? you out under early release? yeah. yeah. how much earlier did you come out how much earlier did you come out today than you were supposed to? today than you were supposed to? eight days. eight days. how much? how much? eight days early? eight days early? they came out in groups they came out in groups every half an hour or so. every half an hour or so. all day there's been a steady there is more that we must do, all day there's been a steady release of inmates from prisons release of inmates from prisons across england and wales. across england and wales. one of the biggest mass one of the biggest mass releases of prisoners ever releases of prisoners ever seen on a single day. seen on a single day. and even while they were still and even while they were still coming out, the minister in charge coming out, the minister in charge of prisons was explaining why of prisons was explaining why to the house of commons. to the house of commons. if we had not done this, we faced if we had not done this, we faced courts unable to hold trials, courts unable to hold trials, police unable to make arrests police unable to make arrests and a total breakdown and a total breakdown of law and order. of law and order.

this is not the long—term solution, this is not the long—term solution, there is more that we must do, but it was the necessary first step that we had to take following the disgraceful dereliction of duty by the previous government. it was the record prison population that led today's mass release, but it's now putting huge strain on the probation system, with officers worried many will just reoffend.

there's a pattern of behaviour, there is no grey area about whether or not it's domestic abuse. the ministry ofjustice says martin underwood has served his time for the domestic abuse offences of strangulation and threats to kill and is being released early from an additional sentence for assault. and danieljoins me now. just to underline this is very much a temporary solution, isn't it, not a temporary solution, isn't it, not a long—term fix per prisoner overcrowding? a long-term fix per prisoner overcrowding ?_ a long-term fix per prisoner overcrowding? a long-term fix per prisoner overcrowdina? ,, . ,. , ., overcrowding? surreal scenes that we saw outside prisons _ overcrowding? surreal scenes that we saw outside prisons across _ overcrowding? surreal scenes that we saw outside prisons across the - saw outside prisons across the country today. they are not the short term solution, that was when they actually stop taking people to court at all. they are a medium term solution, they were by the government about 5000 places of breathing space, which should get them about another year and a half before prisons are full again. but some of those places have already been taken up with the some rioters, several hundred of those places avoid been taken up. so that means

their breathing space is starting to shrink but it is definitely not a long—term solution. thejustice secretary herself said in the commons it was not a long—term solution. we don't know what the long—term solution is going to be. is it going to be to quickly build more prisons or more prison places? or is it going to be to come up with another alternative than sending so many people to prison?— many people to prison? daniel sandford. _ many people to prison? daniel sandford, thank _ many people to prison? daniel sandford, thank you. - the cut in the winter fuel payments will go ahead after the government won a vote in the house of commons this afternoon. the payment which is worth up to £300 was introduced by the last labour government in 1997. nine million pensioners will no longer be eligible but those on pension credit will still receive the benefit. it comes as the state pension is set to rise by 4% — that's an extra £160 for most

in april next year. earlier the prime minister addressed the tuc conference in brighton. 0ur political editor chris mason reports. autumn by the seaside, a tad grey and bleak, even for the hardy. the tuc is a collection of trade unions representing around five million people. slogans and labels of loyalty aplenty. the last prime minister to roll up at this get—together was gordon brown in 2009. today, keir starmer with a familiar rather bleak message. i have to level with you. this will take a while. it will be hard. the light of a fairer britain, a more prosperous, secure and dynamic country is at the end of the tunnel. that doesn't mean that it's easy to get there. the light at the end of the tunnel hasn't been turned off, but it's not exactly blinding, the gist of it. his reception here warm and upbeat, not rapturous. the winter fuel payment gone for millions of pensioners.

i think in this room, there are a lot of concerns about the winter fuel payment. we've called on the chancellor to think again. do you believe the labour government has done it? to think again about making sure that they use the budget so that no pensioner goes into the winter worried about putting the _ heating on. the truth is, right now, there are pensioners with just that worry. down the road at a cafe for older people run by a charity, more than a few opinions on the prime minister's decision. i voted labour all my life. do you feel let down by them now? i felt very surprised. i'm outraged. i couldn't believe it when i heard it. they say it's means tested, but that's because they've based it on pension credits, but like many a pensioner, i'm not poor enough for pension credits but i'm still poor enough to get the means tested housing benefits. do you thank you are going to struggle as a result of not getting it? yes. i'm lucky in that i've got a south facing window, double glazed, in my flat, which means when the sun shines, my flat can warm up a bit.

there is no easy answer, i mean... it sounds like you have some sympathy with the government. well, yeah, i think it looks professional. he's being honest with us to say it's not going to be easy and it's not, really, because we haven't got the money. plenty of labour mps are deeply uncomfortable about this, some unwilling to vote for it. it's with my conscience that i cannot vote for these measures, but i am determined to work with government to find the mitigation, which is absolutely crucial. 0pposition parties don't like it either. these measures are going to lead to untold hardship for millions of elderly and vulnerable people right up and down this country. it is wrong to strip support from many of the poorest pensioners, just as energy bills are set to rise again.

it is wrong to force elderly vulnerable people to make that choice between heating and eating this winter. and so the results? the ayes to the right, 228. the noes to the left, 348. victory by 120 votes for the government. when you've got a colossal majority, you can win by a mile even with grumbling on your own side. but just over 50 butjust over 50 labour but just over 50 labour mps butjust over 50 labour mps found something better to do this afternoon than actually backed the government. 0ne voting explicitly against but others not voting at all. now there could be all sorts of reasons why an mp might not vote, the mag on government business, they might have a medical appointment etc etc. it is striking tonight that labour folk are saying over and over again on my what saps and text that they reckon just 12 labour mps again on my what saps and text that they reckonjust 12 labour mps had what they describe as an unauthorised absence. we are making our own calls to double check that but they are trying to play down the sense of mutiny. little wonder because plenty of labour mps are bruised and the prime minister is promising more difficult decisions to come. chris mason our political

editor, thank you. well, you heard from some pensioners there in chris' report — but our cost of living correspondent colletta smith has been finding out what people in the chancellor's own constituency in leeds make of it all. losing the winter fuel payment has left a bitter taste for many of the pensioners here. of course you try to help yourself, you are penalised for it. moreen is 84 and has a small private pension from when she worked in a shoe shop. we went without other things to pay for that extra. but those private pensions have put her over the threshold to keep the winter fuel payment, which until now, has helped her manage on a low income. you'd be able to go out or do something a bit extra that you think twice about now because i don't want to run out of money for my heating. but everyone receiving pension credit will be able to keep the cash to help with those fuel bills. there are more than three quarters

of a million pensioners who could claim pension credit but aren't at the moment, so if you are on a low income, that means if you are single, £218 a week, or if you are in a couple, £318 a week, it is worth contacting the government directly to see if you can qualify. that would bring your income up to those levels and mean you can still keep your winter fuel payment. but according to the resolution foundation, there is still half a million pensioners in poverty who aren't eligible for pension credits. including those on the new pension rate, people like jane. i've only had the fuel allowance twice, so last year, it helped, it did help me. and some are on pension credit more than i am on. ten miles down the road, retired victor, jenny, feels that she doesn't need the money. in previous years, i've passed it on to other good causes because i felt that was the right thing to do

because i didn't need it. of course, there are lots of people who do need it most desperately. although i'm very much behind the labour government, i do think this is a misstep. frustrations for many at the change in direction. colletta smith, bbc news, in pudsey. at least 19 people have been killed in southern gaza overnight in an israeli air attack. residents say the strike hit a tented camp crowded with displaced palestinians in what was a designated humanitarian zone, called al—mawasi, close to the city of khan younis. israel said it was targeting a hamas command centre. 0ur middle east correspondent lucy willamson reports. they searched for survivors in the place people fled to survive. gaza's mawasi safe zone, hit by israeli air strikes last night. an encampment of displaced families who went to sleep in tents and woke up in this. even the living stood lifeless this morning.

the loss after 11 months of war impossible to avoid, difficult to take in. there had been no warning, survivors said, of the air strikes that buried families, set fire to shelters. local staff at a uk field hospital said shrapnel sliced through their tents. there are no fighters here, this man says, just displaced people. these are the rockets they drop on children. aya madi, displaced from rafah, said she dug her seven children out of the rubble. translation: we woke up| to nothing but sand and fire. my children were screaming "mama, mama." i couldn't tell if they were alive or dead. i held my two—month—old son, thinking he was dead, covered in sand. thank god he was still alive. israel's army said it used precise weapons to target three

hamas commanders directly involved in the 7th of october attacks. so far, it's not confirmed they are among the casualties but medics say women and children are. today, they wrap this three—year—old in a sheet for burial. her mother and her aunt both pinned to the floor in grief. israel has bombed the mawasi safe zone several times before, blaming hamas for using it as cover. and raising questions over whether that grim calculation is breaking international law. lucy williamson, bbc news, jerusalem. the us secretary of state, antony blinken, has accused iran of supplying short—range ballistic missiles to russia for its fight against ukraine. in talks in london with the foreign secretary, david lammy, mr blinken said new sanctions will now be imposed on iran. he warned the missiles would probably be used against ukraine within weeks.

france, germany and the uk have responded with sanctions against iran. the public inquiry which has been set up to examine how the former nurse lucy letby was able to murder babies at the countess of chester hospital has opened in liverpool today. it will look at how her case was handled by the nhs, staff and regulators. the 34—year—old was convicted of murdering seven newborn babies and attempting to kill seven others at the hospital neonatal unit. judith moritz reports from liverpool. her case has been in the headlines for weeks, with sceptical commentators questioning her guilt. but lucy letby stands convicted as britain's most prolific baby killer of modern times. ladyjustice thirlwall�*s public inquiry is based on that finding that lucy letby murdered and attempted to murder babies at the countess of chester hospital, and she opened the proceedings by referring straightaway to the recent debate about the case. i make it absolutely clear that it is not for me as chair of this public inquiry to set about reviewing the convictions.

the court of appeal has done that with a very clear result. the convictions stand. the parents of the babies named on the indictment who waited for years for the answers to their questions, it's time to get on with this inquiry. letby�*s trial heard months of detail about how babies suddenly collapsed and died at the hospital in 2015 and 2016 and how the nurse was there every time. but there were plenty of details which didn't come out in the trial which the inquiry is set to reveal. today, it emerged that as a student, letby was taught about the case of beverly allott, who murdered children at a hospital in lincolnshire in 1991. letby qualified as a nurse at the university of chester in 2011. you will hear about her training and qualification in due course. in a statement to the inquiry, a senior lecturer on the child nursing programme at the university of chester tells us that the case

of beverly allott formed part of student training and learning on the foundation programme. the inquiry also heard new detail about what was going on in early 2017 during that time when letby had been taken off the neonatal unit but before the police were called. it seemed she made a number of visits to alder hey children's hospital here in liverpool and observed clinics and ward rounds. she also went back onto the unit in chester, where nurses held a tea party to welcome her. the parents of babies involved in the case will appear at the inquiry in coming weeks to give evidence. the families came into this, i think, wanting answers to a number of important questions, and i think our sense certainly from day one of this inquiry is that the inquiry is determined to investigate those questions in a meticulous and comprehensive way. the inquiry is expected to last until early next year with its report due to be published next autumn. judith moritz, bbc news, liverpool. the time is 6:18.

our top story this evening: friends gather to greet the first of thousands of prisoners in england and wales released early in a bid to tackle prison overcrowding. monarch for the first time in almost 50 years. coming up on sportsday... sailing legend sir ben anslie tells us how his team are building momentum as they try to become the first british crew to win the america's cup after topping the round—robin stage in qualifying. there are just two months to go before the us presidential election — and tonight for the first time, donald trump will face his rival, kamala harris, in a head—to—head debate. what happens in just a few hours' time could prove pivotal in the battle for the white house.

the race between the former us president and the current democratic vice president is a close one that could swing either way. the debate is particularly important for kamala harris — with many voters saying they still don't feel they know enough about her. 0ur north america editor sarah smith reports from philadelphia. after all the showbiz razzmatazz of the summer conventions, this race is about to get a lot more scrappy, as they go head—to—head in what may be the pivotal moment of this very close race. and the stakes could not be higher. the last time donald trump took part in a tv debate, his opponent's candidacy collapsed. president trump? i really don't know what he said at the end of that sentence. - i don't think he knows what he said either. l kamala harris insists she is more than ready to meet donald trump face to face for the first time. as the saying goes, if you've got something to say... cheering ..say it to my face! american voters say they do want to see major change, and that could be tricky for a candidate who has been in office as vice president

for the last four years. kamala harris wants voters to focus instead on the dangers of re—electing donald trump. donald trump is an unserious man. but the consequences... ..but the consequences of putting donald trump back in the white house are extremely serious! donald trump has appeared unsettled by kamala harris. lying kamala harris, lying. i call her laughing kamala. you ever watch her laugh? she's crazx _ i'm a better lookingl person than kamala! philadelphia loves this famous landmark sculpture. while the summer loving enjoyed by kamala harris both in voter enthusiasm and fundraising is inevitably fading. —— the summer love—in. in fact, this debate feels so crucial because both candidates

are now neck and neck in the polls. this will be donald trump's seventh presidential debate, kamala harris�*s first. with hillary clinton in 2016, he loomed intimidatingly behind her. because you'd be injail. four years ago in the vice presidential debate, ms harris wasn't taking any nonsense from mike pence. and i want to add... mr vice president, i'm speaking. i have to weigh in. i'm speaking. the manner in which both candidates are preparing for this debate tells you a great deal about them. kamala harris has been carefully practising for days on a purpose—built stage, while donald trump is discussing policy with some aides, but won't actually rehearse. he wants to rely on his gut reactions on the night. both candidates know what they cannot afford any mistakes. it could be this debate that decides who claims victory in eight weeks' time. sarah smith, bbc news, philadelphia. well, you can watch the debate here on the bbc — though it won't be until the early hours of tomorrow morning. the abc news presidential debate will be simulcast live here on bbc one and bbc news, with special coverage starting from 1am.

the former leader of the democratic unionist party, sirjeffrey donaldson, will go on trial in march next year after pleading not guilty in court today to charges of historical sexual offences. the 61—year—old is accused of 18 offences — including rape, gross indecency and indecent assault. all charges allegedly occurred between 1985 and 2008. his wife, lady donaldson, also denied charges related to aiding and abetting. the tv presenterjeremy kyle has said that he feels "exonerated" after a coroner ruled that his show was not a "contributory factor" in the death of one of its guests. 63—year—old steve dymond, from portsmouth in hampshire, took his own life seven days after filming for thejeremy kyle show in 2019. duncan kennedy reports from winchester. she says from the day she met steve, this guy has lied about his age, he's lied about being in the navy... it was that show that was never broadcast that has

been much discussed. since the start of your relationship with jane, have you passionately kissed anyone else? steve dymond had gone on thejeremy kyle show to take a lie detector test to prove he wasn't cheating on his partner, jane callahan. but i was never unfaithful. audience: boo! the coroner said today that steve dymond had mental health problems long before his appearance on the show and that he knew jeremy kyle's style of presenting. giving his narrative verdict, the hampshire coroner, jason pegg, said... he went on... afterwards, lawyers for steve dymond's son, kyle, gave his reaction. in my view, anyone watching

the clips of the show can see that he was in tears and spoken to in the most brutal way by jeremy kyle. jeremy kyle gave evidence last week. in a statement today, his representative said... speaking to the bbc, jane callahan, steve dymond's former partner, said she believed he regretted his appearance. he didn't like it. he didn't like it at all. he believed in some of the things, like the lie detector and that, but he didn't like the way he was spoke to by other people and that. itv also issued a statement saying that the coroner had confirmed

that thejeremy kyle show had a comprehensive set of policies in place for the selection of guests and their aftercare. itv also extended its deepest sympathies to those close to steve dymond. some saw the inquest as an inquiry into daytime television. but the coroner said this was about the mental illness of one man and its tragic consequences. duncan kennedy, bbc news. the race to become conservative party leader and leader of the opposition was whittled down again today in the latest round of voting by conservative mps. robertjenrick came out top with 33 votes. kemi badenoch came second wth 28 votes. the former work and pensions minister mel stride was knocked out. there will be further voting after the party's conference later this month before party members pick one of the final two to be the new leader in early november. the prince of wales has described the end of princess catherine's

chemotherapy treatment as "good news", but added his wife still has "a long way to go". he made the comment during a visit to wales, a day after the release of a personal video from the princess, reflecting on her cancerjourney. prince william was in the town of llanelli, to celebrate welsh sport and culture. next month the king and queen will head to australia and samoa — the king's first foreign royal tour since being diagnosed with cancer earlier this year. 0ur senior royal correspondent daniela relph is outside buckingham palace. and you've been hearing more about what is planned? yes, that's right. buckingham palace haveissued yes, that's right. buckingham palace have issued more details about that 0ctober tour. have issued more details about that 0ctobertour. it have issued more details about that 0ctober tour. it is the king's first visit to a commonwealth realm since becoming monarch and it's a pretty traditional programme but it will include the experience of an australian barbecue, the couple will meet doctors carrying out pioneering

research into cancer treatment. and the king's own cancerjourney has impacted the plans for this tour. new zealand has been completely removed from the programme on the advice of doctors to try to make the travel more manageable. rest periods have been built into the programme and in consultation with the australian government it has been decided to focus engagements just in sydney and canberra in australia. 0n arriving, the royal couple will be greeted by the prime minister anthony albanese. in the past he has said that an australian republic is inevitable but next month, he will host a king and queen. four civilians have blasted off from florida on board a spacex rocket to attempt the world's first private spacewalk. the polaris dawn mission is aiming to send its crew further into the cosmos than any other manned mission in more than half a century, since the end of the apollo era in the 1970s. on board is the billionaire jared isaacman, who funded the mission and is leading the team. they plan to spend five days

in orbit around the earth. injust over an hour, england face finland at wembley in the second match of their 2025 nations league campaign. captain harry kane will win his 100th cap for england tonight — only the tenth man to gain that accolade. 0ur sports correspondent natalie pirks is at wembley stadium. yes, harry kane will become the first man since wayne rooney in 2014 reach 100 caps. he wore golden boots in training yesterday and there will be a special presentation tonight where he receives his golden cap from fellow centurions and flanked by his three other children, a moment he says he will look back on with immense pride. fitting that it should be here at wembley because it was right here in 2015 as a 21—year—old when he made his debut. 79 seconds after he came on, he scored. it's that incredible

goal—scoring ability that has really endured, 66 goals for england, more than any other players. he said he has set his sights on scoring 100 goals for england that is not the only man who will be honoured here tonight. there will be a special tribute to the former england manager sven—goran eriksson who died at the age of 76 last month. players will wear black arm bands in honour of the man who managed england 67 times. . . ., ~ , ., time for a look at the weather. here's tomasz schafernaker. rather autumnal feel? technically it is still summer! still some days away from the autumn equinox but the temperature is already closer to what we have in october in fact over the next few days. tomorrow we have sunny spells and blustery showers in the way. the air is coming in from northern

climes, look at these blue colours flooding the uk, yellow covers spinning as far south as the mediterranean so temperatures will take quite a dive across many western and central parts of europe and you can see the low pressure in northern portion of the north sea, called a wind blowing around it, we had rain earlier on across some southern parts of the uk, that should be out of the way. temperatures in city centres will be closer to 3, 4 degrees, really nippy start to wednesday. but not the coldest night, there could be later in the week. tomorrow, sunny spells, scattered cloud, occasional showers, quite blustery winds around some of these western and north—western coasts. you will feel chilly but look at these temperatures come on the north coast of scotland around 10 or 11. in the south at best about 15. not great. that is certainly chilly, you will need your coach. similar weather expected on thursday. again we have a northerly wind, the crucial direction, that

does tend to be pretty nippy. and