the three main parties. the cost of living, the housing crisis, and immigration are reported to have been among issues weighing on voters. more protests last night in georgia: thousands took to the streets to demonstrate against the ruling party's decision to suspend eu membership talks. more now on our top story here — mps voting in favour of a bill to legalise assisted dying in england and wales. it's a landmark moment, but the argument is far from over. there will be months of debate and scrutiny — and the bill will need approval from both the house of commons and the house of lords before it becomes law. tim muffet has been speaking to two high—profile campaigners — on either side of the issue.

chanting: assisted dying now! chanting: assistance to live! not to die! — a matter of life and death. bringing in an assisted dying bill now is just absolutely wrong. it's very simple. ijust passionately believe in it. rarely has a parliamentary vote felt so consequential. the ayes to the right, 330. the noes to the left 275. the ayes have it, the ayes have it. amongst those congratulating mp kim leadbeater, whose private member's bill this was, rebecca wilcox, here in the dark blue coat and purple scarf. her mum, dame esther rantzen, has stage four lung cancer. she'd been urging mps to support the bill. dame esther, what is your reaction to the result of the vote in the house of commons? well, i'm very relieved.

i wonder how i would be feeling if the bill had not got any further, and i think it would have been a profound disappointment, not for me, but for all those people who've been so brave, so hard—working, so compassionate to try and get the current mess of a law changed. the ayes have it. the ayes have it, unlock. actor liz carr had been campaigning against the bill. it does feel frightening. it does. i'm quite shattered and, um, gutted. it feels irresponsible by parliament. there's a lot of people who really feel quite frightened now that we've lost, you know, this beginning of a vote. chanting: not to die! assistance to live! - we just don't see that the safeguards will protect us. we also look at all the other countries where this has been brought in.

it's always, to varying degrees, been extended. and in the majority it's been extended. orfrom the beginning, it's been about disability, too. i can envisage a time when i would want to die because my situation would be that difficult. i had it as a teenager. why would i not want that again? being told, "no, it's not possible," i think sometimes we need that. laws are there to protect us. they're not just about giving us personal freedoms. that has to be balanced with protecting us. and often that's protecting us from ourselves. chanting: kill the bill! not the ill! _ it's not the end of the road, we know that. there are other chances to vote out the bill, but this was the first chance and possibly the easiest opportunity to do that. obviously, there are several more stages to go before this becomes law. how confident are you that this

will move relatively quickly? kim said in the debate, it's better to get it right than do it fast. and i think she's absolutely right. the drug i'm on is one of these newfangled miracle drugs, and it seems to be holding the cancer back from spreading much further. so i have my next scan at the end of the year, and we'll see then. if things have gone badly wrong, then i suppose i'll have to get on the plane to zurich to have an assisted death, because i'm afraid i don't think i'll last long enough to see this bill made law, but it was never really about me at all, because i knew that nothing could happen in time. i'm just astonished that i could live long enough to hear the debate. earlier i was joined by two labour mps who sit on opposite sides of the argument. the labour mp for brent west, barry gardiner, voted against the bill while labour mp for worthing west, beccy cooper, voted in favour.

it was a decision that i came to after a lot of thinking. and i should also point out that i'm a doctor by trade and i'm a public health doctor, so i look at population health. so we look at lots of these really difficult issues. we talk about nanny state quite a lot of the time, we talk about freedom of choice. i speak to a lot of ethicists in my role as a public health professional. so i had quite a lot of time to think about this sort of issue. and when it came to the bill, i read the bill thoroughly, and i looked at the criteria that was being drawn up in this bill. and it is a very specific bill. it is entitled terminally ill adults end of life bill. and i was satisfied with the criteria that the bill was outlining. it is a very narrow criteria, actually, and i have had some people talking to me about whether it's too narrow. but for me, those safeguarding criteria in there are safeguarding criteria that i agree with, that i can understand that i think legally will be enforceable. as i say, i'm a doctor. i've spoken to lots of doctors about the fact that it will take two doctors

and a high courtjudge. that it is a choice — its six months before the, you know, the terminal diagnosis. and so i felt that actually, all things considered, i was prepared to vote for this as a second reading of the bill. i absolutely appreciate those people who have been campaigning against it and i'm very pleased that the debate will continue. it was such a respectful debate yesterday. i was so proud to be a parliamentarian and i think the committee will now go through it line by line. it will then go to the house of lords and then it will come back for a third reading. so, you know, there's lots more debate to be had. but for me yesterday that was the right vote. and barry, can we come to you about your decision to vote against? yes. look, beccy's right. it was a thoughtful debate yesterday and i was proud to take part in it. proud to see the way the house of commons dealt with this so thoughtfully. and although i was on the losing side of the debate, i recognise that for many people, this will bring relief of suffering and a sense of dignity, and that's important. my concern has always been that

parliament needs to legislate notjust for individuals and their choice, it has to legislate for the whole of society and in particular to protect those who are most vulnerable. and i am very concerned that there will be people, even if they are not pressurised by others... and the bill makes specific reference to trying to avoid that. but we've seen through the coercive control bill that we dealt with last year just how difficult it is to tell when somebody is being coerced. but even if it's not a third party coercing them, because we've now made this legal, because we've now said it's possible to do this and not break the law, many people will now feel that they're obliged to consider it and they'll think, "well, ought i to do this?" "would my family be better off if i did this?"

am i too much of a burden on them? or even considerations like the... "are my care costs going to eat into my grandchildren's legacy? " so i don't think it's right that people should be put into that position at a time at the end of their life, when they've only got six months left to live, they're feeling very vulnerable. and the bill cannot guard against that. the bill makes, as i say, specific reference to third party control — third party coercion. but this is actually about people then internally feeling obliged to do something. and that, of course, is a choice. but in my view, it's a choice that we should not be facing people with. i wonder for both of you, let's turn to beccy first, were the thoughts of your constituents taken into consideration when you were making this vote? because it seems that it's quite a personal issue,

a personal decision, this one. yeah, very much so. so, as i said, i came to this role as a parliamentarian with my background in public health medicine. so i brought that expertise to bear. but my constituents have been they've been fantastic, actually. i'm sure barry's have too. they've been really interactive, very respectful in their debating as well. i've had huge amounts of correspondence with it and i have done my best to reply to every email thoughtfully — i'm sure there are some still that i need to do. and there has been debate in the constituency. there are obviously sort of pros and against in the constituency, there are people who feel very strongly both ways. but when i explain my thinking, when i explained that i had listened to what people had said, and overall this is what my vote would be, people were very respectful. and the people who felt that this was the appropriate vote said, "absolutely fantastic, thank you." the people who didn't said they were disappointed, but they understood and they want to keep that dialogue going. and, you know, as a parliamentarian, that's ourjob is to keep in touch with our constituents. so as we move forward

in this process, there will be other opportunities for our constituents, for all parliamentarians to keep engaging and to keep hearing, because the mood of the public is such that we need to make sure that we are sort of ensuring that this legislation, as barry says, is doing what it needs to do and that the public are understanding what the legislation does and that we, sort of, we are changing, you know, our societal approach to death. and that's really important and something that, you know, as parliamentarians, as responsible parliamentarians, we take the views of our constituents with us in whatever we do. and, barry, just briefly, if you can, did you take the thoughts of your constituents into mind? of course, i wrote back to every constituent who wrote to me. but this was a conscience vote. and it's at times like that that parliament often is at its best, as it was yesterday, because mps are forced to think very, very deeply. and in fact, at the beginning i thought i would probably vote

in favour of this bill. but the more i thought about it, the more i couldn't get over that one final issue. i think the bill will manage to put in place many of the safeguards that i would wish to see, but ijust felt it could not manage that final safeguard of one's own sense of obligation to do this, that many people will feel they don't want to be a burden, and that's what really troubled me and caused me to vote against the bill yesterday. but i've written back to all of the people who wrote to me. in fact, i said to them that i was really torn, and i put both sides of the argument that i was having with myself. so, you know, it's been a very difficult decision to come to, and i think all members of parliament have felt that.

a memorial service for the former first minister of scotland alex salmond has just ended. around 400 people attended the invitation—only event at edinburgh's st giles cathedral. alex salmond died last month in north macedonia at the age of 69. there have been a few speakers at the memorial, including alex salmond's niece. alexander elliot anderson salmond. to the world he was a political giant, a strong leader, a fearless campaigner. to us, he was a dearly loved husband, brother, and uncle. let's speak to our scotland correspondent lorna gordon. we were seeing people leaving the service is just a short time ago. have you had a chance

to speak to anyone and hear their thoughts?— to speak to anyone and hear their thoughts? several hundred eo - le their thoughts? several hundred peeple invited — their thoughts? several hundred people invited to _ their thoughts? several hundred people invited to the _ people invited to the service... some of them still behind me. for many of them it was a very moving moment to pay tribute to theirfriend, was a very moving moment to pay tribute to their friend, to many, their mental. to many, a person they are held in great esteem, in terms of what they said he had achieved for scotland. you heard his niece they're speaking about alex salmond, the man, we heard about how he had grown up in a council house that had loved football, and that he loved scottish history. this is the background that formed the man who would go on to lead scotland for seven years as first minister. a period of time where ya the unprecedented achievement of winning a majority in the scottish

parliament, and then negotiated this referendum on scottish independence, which in 2014 he came so close to winning. the acting leader of the party that alex salmond went on to form after he left the snp, described him as a giant of a man, a political genius, a communicator without parallel. he said that mr salmond made people walk at all. we also heard from... the wider impact that alex salmond had. dominance at success that was spectacular and unrivalled. he said alex salmond was the beating heart of the snp. the current leader of the snp, first ministerjohn swinney when he arrived, was met with boos and cheers of traitor from

some in the crowd here. the crowd outside, several hundred strong, there were claps and cheers. but there were shouts of traitor. a sign that perhaps this movement that alex salmond once led is no longer united. but most of that was put to one side. the vast majority of this morning's proceedings... people gathered just to pay their respects on the life and legacy of alex salmond. an ex—director of harrods has told the bbc that mohamed al fayed manipulated managers to conceal his crimes, and sacked those he could not control. jon brilliant worked at the luxury department store from 2000 to 2002. he said al fayed plied him with $50,000 of cash in envelopes, which he believes was

an attempt to control him. he gave ben king this exclusive interview. how did mohamed al fayed get away with his crimes for so long? did harrods' directors know? jon brilliant worked in his private office for a year and a half. he was on the harrods board. he helped to run the paris ritz, fulham football club and the balnagowan estate in scotland. a week into the job, al—fayed handed him an envelope as he left for a business trip. i opened it up and it was $5,000 in cash with no note, nothing. i started to ask, like, "why would...? "why would i do that?" 0r, "why was i being given this money?" and someone said, uh, in theirjudgment that, "he was trying to get you to compromise yourself. you to come back and say, �*0h, i spent money on drugs,�* or, �*i spent money, frolicking, doing something that i shouldn't have been doing,�* and that he would then use that information against you if you should ever turn on him."

i am certainly aware of people who, i'll call it, succumbed to the temptation and took advantage of what he was willing to provide in terms of cash and what it allowed them to do. the envelopes of cash continued for six months. mr brilliant didn't spend them and tried to give them back. about a year later, information from a private phone call was quoted back to him in a meeting. i get kind of goosebumps and the hair stands up on the back of my neck, realising that my phones were being listened in on. shortly afterwards, he was sacked. al fayed routinely bugged staff in their offices and homes, and he fired dozens of managers, all to prevent challenges to his power. do you think that the management culture that we've talked about made it easier for him to get away with the things he did? oh, i think 100%. when i look back at it now, i can understand the construct and how he consciously or unconsciously, or people who worked for him, you know,

set up this situation. "let's provide money to somebody to see if we can trust them." "let's provide money to see if they compromise themselves, and then we'll own them, and therefore, if they ever witness anything, they'll never turn on us because we'll turn on them." were you ever made aware of any allegations of sexual assault against mohamed al fayed? none whatsoever. in terms of my experience there, not one iota of an indication that something like that was going on. do you ever regret not doing more? yeah. meaning, i have a regret that... should i have seen? should i have known? should i have picked up on something? should i have questioned more? i do beat myself up and say, "were there things i should have picked up on and should have questioned more?" i can't say there's one specific thing or one individual thing thatjumps out at me like, "man, if i pulled on that thread,

i would have discovered..." i wasn't privy to that amount of information that would otherwise, you know, suggest that there was something deeper going on. harrods did not respond to mr brilliant�*s claims. it has previously said that it is a very different organisation to the one owned and controlled by mohamed al fayed, and is appalled by the allegations of abuse by him. why did you decide to go on the record today? 0ne, if there's anything that i'm able to say or do that shows support for these women who have been horrifically treated, traumatised, i want to do whatever i can. and i think secondly is my hope is that, by my willingness to speak out, others will come and speak out themselves. four other former harrods managers have anonymously confirmed elements of his account. what do others know about how al fayed concealed his crimes? ben king, bbc news.

they live less than a mile apart and go to the same school, but they only met for the first time while being treated for the same rare form of cancer. betsy and lacie are seven and five. they are living with acute lympho—blastic leukaemia, which affects just 440 children each year in the uk. the girls have become great friends while going through chemotherapy together, and they've been telling their story to our reporter, nicola bryan. she's special to me because she's my best friend. and why is she your best friend? because we met in hospital. what's lacie like, would you say? really kind. really funny and just really kind all the time. betsy and lacie live less than a mile apart in bridgend, but only met each other 18 months ago on a children's cancer ward, where they discovered they go to the same school.

so we've got our- lovely nurse, lesley. she comes to school every tuesday, collects betsy. and then collects lacie. both of them go hand in hand to the office, where they go l and have their bloods done l together and help each other through the ordeal. having a blood sample, they're really very supportive of each other, because i think lacie found it quite difficult having a blood sample in school for the first couple of times, but betsy was really encouraging, so it made it made the whole process easier. betsy and lacie both have acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, a cancer of the blood cells. withjust 800 people in the uk diagnosed with the condition each year, their families were amazed to discover there was another child in their school with the same diagnosis. i had a text message off a mutual friend who said, i hope you don't mind me messaging, but i have a friend who's in the same school as you. um, who lives local and has just been given the news that her daughter has got the same diagnosis. we were in the first week

of diagnosis when charlotte messaged me, and i'm so glad she did, because she could give me an insight of what was to come. they met in the hospital and theyjust hit it off straightaway. they were like hugging. they were getting to know each other, asking each other questions and it's just evolved from there. they've lost their hair at the same time they've had, you know, when they're both on the steroids at the same time, they can both be, you know, a little bit moody sometimes maybe. and for them both to have that understanding and to see each other, you know, being the same i think has been such a huge help. they don't feel so alone. they've got each other. both girls still have regular visits to noah's ark children's hospital for wales in cardiff, have to take daily medication and are due to finish their treatment next year. the families meet up regularly and say they continue to be a lifeline to each other. it's really nice to have a friend that's always with you in hospital.

i think i'm going to be as brave as betsy is. both families face a long road ahead, but one thing they know for certain is they have each other. what lovely little girls and we wish them all the very best. 0vernight stays in hotels across wales could be about to get a bit more expensive — if a tourist tax is introduced. the welsh government is looking at bringing in the fee, which could add as much as £1.25, per person per night, to the cost of a room. 0ur reporter daniel davies has more. you can see why they flock to llandudno in peak season. would a tourist tax put them off? i think for the experience, to be able to experience all these landmarks and the nature, £1 extra is not that much... i5

landmarks and the nature, £1 extra is not that much... is a ureat extra is not that much... is a great place _ extra is not that much... is a great place to _ extra is not that much... is a great place to come. - extra is not that much... is a great place to come. i - extra is not that much... is a great place to come. i don'tl great place to come. i don't think you — great place to come. i don't think you should _ great place to come. i don't think you should have - great place to come. i don't think you should have to - great place to come. i don't| think you should have to pay it. ., ., �*, it. you pay enough. it's another— it. you pay enough. it's another tax. _ it. you pay enough. it's another tax. the - it. you pay enough. it's another tax. the visitor it. you pay enough. it's - another tax. the visitor levy would be — another tax. the visitor levy would be applied _ another tax. the visitor levy would be applied to - another tax. the visitor levy would be applied to all - another tax. the visitor levy| would be applied to all sorts of stays. and children would be charged to. the tourism industry says it would make wales a more expensive destination and this hotel owner has doubts. ii destination and this hotel owner has doubts. if people stay three — owner has doubts. if people stay three or _ owner has doubts. if people stay three or four _ owner has doubts. if people stay three or four nights - owner has doubts. if people | stay three or four nights this all mounts up. i've heard a lot about who is going to collect it and i've heard precious little about where it's going to be spent, and when it's going to be spent and what aspects will that revenue be spent on. aspects will that revenue be saent om— spent on. councils will be deciding _ spent on. councils will be deciding whether - spent on. councils will be deciding whether to -

spent on. councils will be l deciding whether to charge spent on. councils will be - deciding whether to charge the levy. the money raised could help fund visitor centres and pay for each clean—up in tourism hotspots. pay for each clean-up in tourism hotspots.- tourism hotspots. local authorities _ tourism hotspots. local authorities who - tourism hotspots. local authorities who depend j tourism hotspots. local. authorities who depend on tourism _ authorities who depend on tourism is a potent part of their— tourism is a potent part of their economy will be thinking about— their economy will be thinking about whether this is the right moment— about whether this is the right moment to introduce the charge. and when— moment to introduce the charge. and when they do it will still be a — and when they do it will still be a very— and when they do it will still be a very small fraction of the total— be a very small fraction of the total cost_ be a very small fraction of the total cost in the family would incur— total cost in the family would incur in— total cost in the family would incur in going on holiday. plaid _ incur in going on holiday. plaid cymru backed this proposal but conservatives fear for a tourism industry that employs more than hundred 50,000 people. barcelona, paris, manchester, all have tourist taxes. could somewhere in wales soon join that list?

for today st andrew's day, some of the best of the sunshine is across scotland and to the north and east of high ground. weather france waiting out... temperatures are above the seasonal average. temperatures are above the seasonalaverage. for temperatures are above the seasonal average. for the rest of these afternoon, down through the east of the high ground in northern ireland, the wind picking up through the day the mist picking up. temperatures generally between 12 and 16 celsius. it'll keep the strength of the southerly south—westerly wind as we had three tonight. there will be some breaks of rain, down through wales and central southern england as we head into tomorrow morning. could be

clearer spells following on behind. it is a mild night across the board for all of us. temperatures will stay in double figures. let's take a brief look at sunday. still this weather front pushing further eastwards, bringing further eastwards, bringing further rain. but also brighter conditions to wester areas. watch out for a rash of showers. in east anglia it's much cloudy for much of the day. it does say mild, temperatures 12 to 14 or 15 degrees. but that is about to change. on sunday night into monday we draw down a northerly wind with some cold arctic air. there will be a drop in temperature. as this friend gradually pushes southward on monday, across the pennines and across the scottish hills, there is some risk of transient

snow. as we had three monday, will keep the double figures in the south, but turning cooler into the start of next week. it will be unsettled at times and turns milder by thursday and friday.

live from london, this is bbc news. russian and syrian jets bomb islamist rebels, after they seized most of syria's second city aleppo. it comes as syrian rebels mount the largest offensive in years. the syrian military says it's suffered dozens of casualties. senior doctors say a vote backed by mps to allow assisted dying in england and wales is a chance to "fix" end—of—life care. counting is under way in ireland's general election. an exit poll suggests

a tight race between the three main parties and cate blancett talks to the bbc about her �*deep concerns' on the use of ai and its role in the film industry. hello, i'm kylie pentelow. we start in syria, where fighting has erupted in aleppo for the first time since rebel forces were forced out of the city by government troops in 2016. the army says dozens of its soldiers have been killed or injured, and islamist rebels are now reported to control the majority of the city. we've just received these pictures of rebels patrolling the streets and celebrating outside