how do you justify what you do? i just do paperwork. i don't force them to take certain routes. this has been the deadliest year so far for lives lost crossing the channel. also on the programme... keir starmer says the cap on bus fares in england will be raised in the budget from £2 to £3. after months of speculation, manchester united call time on erik ten hag. he's sacked after a run of poor results. i'm in the us, doing a road trip across the swing states talking to young voters. tonight they're telling me what they think about gun laws ahead of next week's vote. and lily and margot�*s big adventure. we meet the macaws who decided to migrate up the m1... to cambridgeshire! on bbc london: we're with two small businesses and on sportsday later in the hour on bbc news — going down to the wire and with plenty of needle, lando norris cranks up his rivalry with max verstappen in the race for the formula 1 driver's title.

good evening and welcome to the bbc news at six. a vietnamese people smuggler who entered the uk illegally this year in a small boat has told bbc news that he's forging visa documents for other vietnamese who want to come here. he's claiming asylum despite admitting he's been people smuggling for nearly 20 years. so far in 2024, nearly 30,000?people have crossed the channel in small boats — that's more than all of last year. over 50 people have died attempting the crossing this year, making it the deadliest on record. and now at close to 17%, migrants from vietnam have replaced afghanistan, iran and syria as the biggest source of people making illegal crossings. it's a lucrative business. after an investigation lasting many months, andrew harding tracked down one people smuggler who agreed to tell him about the illegal

trade and his role in it. beside me on the sofa is a people smuggler, a prolific criminal now living here in britain. a man who's still helping people to reach this country illegally. we'll call him tan. it's a very lucrative business. if you have a good reputation, the clients come to you. no force, no violence. tan came to the uk earlier this year. he was part of a sudden rush of people from vietnam using small boats to reach our shores. in the migrant camps in northern france, i'd already met with groups of vietnamese waiting to cross the channel. they told me they were in debt back home and were being trafficked to the uk by criminal gangs. already in britain and claiming asylum, tan agreed to meet me, and we agreed to keep his identity confidential in return for valuable information

about the smuggling gangs. he soon began to reveal his life of crime and of lies. you told the british authorities you've been trafficked here, but that's not true, is it? no, i was not trafficked here. i said i was because that's just the way it's done. it's what you say in order to get asylum. but human rights groups insist trafficking from vietnam is widespread in britain. i'm arresting you on suspicion of facilitating the illegal entry of non—uk nationals into the united kingdom... the authorities say vietnamese gangs are trapping migrants in conditions of modern slavery. tan himself became involved in smuggling years ago, running a gang at a time when people hid on lorries rather than in small boats to reach the uk. later, he moved back to vietnam for a while, and began forging documents for people trying to

get visas to europe. he's showing me here some of the documents that he's actually forged. he's got copies on his phone. one is for a bank statement, another is for some payslips. and this is a hungarian visa, a genuine visa that one of his customers was given on the basis of his forged documents. and he's still forging, and boasting of bribing banking officials in vietnam to provide false paperwork. i'm good at this work. people trust me. i neverfail. how do you justify what you do here? you've come to the uk illegally. you're still breaking the law by assisting other people to come here illegally. at the same time, you're taking british taxpayers�* money to be fed, to be sheltered here in the uk. ijust do paperwork. i help people to travel.

i don't force them to take certain routes. i think a lot of british people watching this will not buy that. they will say that you are a criminal and that you should hand yourself in to the police. i don't think i'm breaking the law here. i'm only breaking the law in vietnam. why have you chosen to talk to us, to tell us all this, about all the crimes that you've been party to? i want people in vietnam to understand the truth that life here is no better. they should stay at home rather than make a dangerousjourney and get deeper into debt. but back in france, the smuggling goes on, and we're now trying to contact a different and elusive vietnamese gang operating near dunkirk. looks like the plan is working. my colleague here, she's been posing as a vietnamese migrant. she's now in touch with one of the smugglers.

and that's him on the phone now, telling her "let's meet" and to follow his instructions. wearing a secret camera to allow us to see the gangs work up close, our colleague heads to a rendezvous point. we follow at a distance. the smuggler talks money. £2,600 for a small boat ride to britain. but now, he wants her to move away, through a fence and into the woods. hands on head, she signalled that hands on head, she signalled that she's not comfortable she's not comfortable with that, and we move in. with that, and we move in. hello. hello. hello, guys. hello, guys. and there's the smuggler, and there's the smuggler, dyed blonde hair, retreating fast. violence around here. dyed blonde hair, retreating fast. so we know for sure that so we know for sure that that was our vietnamese smuggler. that was our vietnamese smuggler. he disappeared into the forest here. he disappeared into the forest here. we're not going to pursue him. we're not going to pursue him. we know a lot of we know a lot of these gangs are armed. these gangs are armed. there's been a lot of there's been a lot of

violence around here. but i think what we can say for sure is that the vietnamese smuggling business is continuing and is clearly very lucrative. and andrew is with me now. that investigation is revealing and horrifying. are there any signs that the various government attempts to crack down on people smuggling gangs are making any difference? the statistics

spread way beyond europe, all the way to vietnam. people use burner phones. they can cross that would cross international borders very easily. forgeries now, crossing europe with open borders. so it is very, very difficult for this wide array of police forces to actually make a significant impact on these gangs. andrew, thank you. sir keir starmer says there are tax rises to come in a speech ahead of wednesday's budget, but that what he calls "working people" will be protected. he promised the money will be used to "rebuild public services" and that he will prevent a return to what he called "devastating austerity". the conservatives say labour haven't been straight with the british people. our deputy political editor vicki young sent this report from birmingham. there is a lot of detail to get rights when you are preparing for a special occasion, and the run—up to the big day can feel like it's dragging on a bit. there won't be many gifts and keir starmer�*s first budget. and he's blaming that on his

conservative predecessors. today, he promised change. stability, to prevent chaos or stop borrowing that will drive long—term growth. tax rises to prevent austerity and rebuild public services. we choose to protect working people. we choose to get the nhs back on its feet. ministers have struggled to define exactly what they mean by working people, but the latest promises to protect their payslips. it is likely that employers will have to pay more national insurance. you're promising to be honest with people, but isn't this turning out to be a budget of sneaky tax rises? you are putting up employers�* taxes, which will be passed on to the working people that you say you want to protect. the purpose of the decisions we are making this week are to ensure that we do stabilise our economy, and ensure that we have got the foundations to rebuild our country,

and that is vitally important. of and that is vitally important. of the conservative say the prime minister is not being straight with people. he is going to increase taxes, so after_ he is going to increase taxes, so after saying 50 something times during _ after saying 50 something times during the general election campaign that labour would not increase taxes on working _ that labour would not increase taxes on working people, it is now very clear— on working people, it is now very clear that — on working people, it is now very clear that they are going to do just that _ that. the that. — the government has spent a that. the -overnment has spent a lot of the government has spent a lot of time warning people that there are tough decisions coming this week. today, the prime minister was more explicit about taxes rising to pay for public services like health and education. trying to make the case that paying now will be worth it later. but for small businesses like this coffee shop, these are worrying times. ownerjames would have to pay for any rise in employers�* taxes or the minimum wage. that�*s coming from somewhere, my salary, my profit, but that is already very thin as it is, so if we keep getting squeezed, i will have to put up the cost of prices, —— of

products, of oatmeal or coffees. i will have to work some more hours, but ultimately, if not, i will have to make it smaller. there have been some missteps ahead of this budget as the prime minister attempts to explain his approach, but he says he is being realistic and there are better days ahead. vicki young, birmingham. the prime minister also announced in his speech that the cap on bus fares in england will be raised from £2 to £3. the previous cap was introduced under the conservative government to help with the cost of living and was due to expire in december. it�*s sparked anger in some quarters, but there�*s also relief that the cap hasn�*t been scrapped entirely, as many were fearing. our transport correspondent, sean dilley, has been finding out more. disdain from these passengers in coventry. it is going to be too much. £3 is too much for a single fair! you see people using buses, they are using _ you see people using buses, they are using them _ you see people using buses, they are using them for a reason, because they cant— using them for a reason, because they can't afford cars. i can't afford — they can't afford cars. i can't afford to _ they can't afford cars. i can't afford to have a car, because insurance _ afford to have a car, because insurance is horrendous. with— insurance is horrendous. with the _

insurance is horrendous. with the cost of living the way it is at _ with the cost of living the way it is at the — with the cost of living the way it is at the moment, _ with the cost of living the way it is at the moment, yes, - with the cost of living the way it is at the moment, yes, i- with the cost of living the way it is at the moment, yes, i think. with the cost of living the way it. is at the moment, yes, i think we need _ is at the moment, yes, i think we need to— is at the moment, yes, i think we need to keep _ is at the moment, yes, i think we need to keep the _ is at the moment, yes, i think we need to keep the cost _ is at the moment, yes, i think we need to keep the cost of - is at the moment, yes, i think wei need to keep the cost of travelling down _ down. the i down. | the £2 down. - the £2 fare cap down. — the £2 fare cap for most single journeys in england was introduced by the last conservative government to combat the increased cost of living. but with labour claiming a £22 billion hole in britain�*s economy, the prime minister says there is no money to fund it beyond there is no money to fund it beyond the end of the year. instead, a £3 fare cap will replace it until the end of 2025. this, though, will hit some of the most isolated hard. many older and disabled people are expected to be an impacted, and that is because we understand the government is not planning to remove funding for the english concessionary bus scheme. the bus network, though, remains the most used form of public transport, so many of us from the new year will have to pay 50% more to take the same journeys we are taking today. smaller operators have welcomed the announcement. this is certainly good news for passengers. it means that passengers particularly in the longer distance

services will carry on benefiting from a lower fare, services will carry on benefiting from a lowerfare, and hopefully, it�*s also good news for us as operators, because some of those extra passengers that have been generated by the lower cap will carry on travelling by bus, albeit at the slightly higher fare. whitehall sources say this was a decision they never wanted to make, but they insist the current scheme represented by value for taxpayers. sean dilley, bbc news. the far—right activist tommy robinson has beenjailed for 18 months for contempt of court. robinson, whose real name is stephen yaxley—lennon, admitted breaching a court order which banned him from repeating false allegations about a syrian refugee. this case was the fourth contempt case he has faced, having previously received a suspended sentence and a six—month jail term. after months of speculation, manchester united have sacked their manager, erik ten hag, after defeat at the weekend left them 14th in the premier league. ten hag was appointed in april 2022 and led the club to two domestic trophies, including the fa cup this year.

katie gornall has the latest. for a while, it has felt as if erik ten hag was on borrowed time. he had overseen one of the worst starts to a premier league season in manchester united�*s history. defeat to west ham yesterday proved the final straw. this morning, the club confirmed he had left his role, saying in a statement: we are grateful to erik for everything saying in a statement: we are grateful to erikfor everything he has done during his time with us, and wishing well for the future. the loss was united�*s fourth in nine games and saw them fall further down the bottom half of the table. ianthem the bottom half of the table. when the bottom half of the table. when the results go _ the bottom half of the table. when the results go as _ the bottom half of the table. when the results go as they _ the bottom half of the table. when the results go as they have - the bottom half of the table. easier! the results go as they have done the bottom half of the table. when the results go as they have done for manchester united, i guess that is what happens. when you are 14th in the league and you haven�*t won in europe for so long, and there does not seem to be any improvement in the team, then, you know, as a manager, ultimately what happens. the dutch man arrived at old trafford is one of the top coaches in europe, a league winner with ajax. silverware with united came

just months later in the carabao cup. in his second season, united struggled, but still lifted another trophy. beating manchester city in the fa cup final. it was enough to earn ten hag a contract extension from the club�*s new ineos lead hierarchy and significant backing in the transfer market, but after failing to see progress this season, their patients eventually ran out. he has done a pretty decentjob over the last— he has done a pretty decentjob over the last couple of years, i think. he had — the last couple of years, i think. he had a — the last couple of years, i think. he had a lot of injuries last year, but this— he had a lot of injuries last year, but this year, the wheels have kind fatten— but this year, the wheels have kind fatten off~ — fallen off. i - fallen off. i don't think it'sjust down fatten off. — idon't think it's just down to the i don�*t think it�*s just down to the manager. i think the players need to take a long, hard look at themselves. there are a lot of issues, and i don't _ there are a lot of issues, and i don't think— there are a lot of issues, and i don't think sacking _ there are a lot of issues, and i don't think sacking the - there are a lot of issues, and i. don't think sacking the manager there are a lot of issues, and i- don't think sacking the manager will really— don't think sacking the manager will really improve — don't think sacking the manager will really improve it _ really improve it. in— really improve it. in his _ really improve it. in his three - really improve it. j in his three years really improve it. - in his three years here, really improve it. _ in his three years here, they spent more than half £i in his three years here, they spent more than half £1 billion trying to build a squad challenge for the league title. if anything, united�*s glory days feel even further away. after the departure of erik ten hag the club have turned to a familiar

face in ruud van nistelrooy, he has been placed in interim charge for the visit of leicester here on wednesday. in the meantime united are searching for their sixth permanent manager since sir alex ferguson retired back in 2013. after the turbulence of the last four years, the club�*s hierarchy know it is a decision they can ill afford to get wrong. the time is 6.15. our top story this evening: a people smuggler tells the bbc he forges documents for vietmanese people trying to get to the uk as they become the single largest group crossing the channel. coming up — why the vibrant colours of autumn are under threat from climate change as tree species decline. and on bbc london: and on sportsday in the next 15 minutes on bbc news — storm brewing at the ballon d�*or awards with reports that real madrid have staged a boycott because manchester city�*s rodri has emerged as the favourite.

fertility rates in england and wales are at their the lowest level since records began in 1938. latest figures for last year from the office for national statistics say the rate has fallen to an average of 1.41; children per woman. our chief economics correspondent dharshini david is here. you�*ve been going through the numbers? it�*s a global trend — women are having fewer children than their mothers. but it may only be partly out of choice. let�*s take a look back at england and wales over the last 90 years, and the trend has been one of falling fertility rates, particularly with more effective contraception, equal pay, and more women than men going to university. by last year, women were having fewer than 1.5 children each. however, surveys suggest that�*s fewer children than many actually want. partly because economic forces are against them.

rising childcare costs can take up a quarter of a couple�*s pay. and rising property prices mean most people are now over 35 before they can get on the housing ladder. meanwhile, the gender pay gap for women opens up after they have children. all of this may make people hesitate before starting or adding to a family. along with higher life expectancy, the lower birth rate is changing the face of our population. these 100 dots represent the uk population as it was in the early 1970s. this section in red are the over 65s, just one in seven of people. and the blue dots are the one—in—four under 16. in 2024 the number of older people had increased, while the number of under 16s had fallen. and in 50 years from now, just under a third of the population will be over 65, and just one in seven will be under 16. in the meantime, the proportion

of us of working age, is set to shrink, which affects government spending, as shown in this chart. all of this is what the government spends, and over half already goes on debt interest, health, social care and welfare. and an older population means that will only increase. official estimates also suggest we�*d have to borrow more, meaning the interest payments needed to fund that, this blue section, would also soar. that�*s a hefty burden for a shrinking number of taxpayers. so what feels like an unaffordable luxury for would—be parents today could have national repercussions for decades to come. with just over a week to go until the us election, radio 1 newsbeat is travelling across america, talking to young people about issues that matter to them and how they will be voting on the 5th of november. the first stop for political reporterjordan kenny

is atlanta, georgia — one of the seven swing states where this election will be won or lost. georgia is a young state with a high share of potential voters under 30. it was won byjoe biden for the democrats in 2020 with a small majority ofjust 12,000 votes. jordan kenny sent us this report from atlanta. atlanta, a city of the south. i�*m here as both candidates are neck and neck and targeting young voters. # tell me lies, we can argue, we can fight # yeah, we did it before, but we�*ll do it tonight... # and thousands of them are out having a good time. # with dark skin, looking at me like he know me... # this festival is celebrating the city�*s links to hip—hop music, a genre all about words and people having their say. # i want someone to love me # i need someone who needs me # cos it don�*t feel right

when it�*s late at night # and it�*s just me and my dreams... # but between performances... if you have voted already in early voting... ..the election is a hot topic. you haven�*t decided yet who you�*re going to vote for? no, it�*s undecided. we�*re definitely undecided, yeah. go vote, 0k? georgia has some of the most relaxed gun laws in the country, and gun control is thought to be one of the top issues for young voters. i am an expert shot. i do practice safety, as far as guns in my home. but i do believe that everyone should have the right to protect themselves. i don't feel like guns is a bad thing. 1462 00:21:42,080 --> 00:21: