the heartbreaking words lives. the heartbreaking words of a mother are today's sentencing of lucy letby, the most prolific child serial killer of modern times . killer of modern times. >> letby refuses to appear in court for her sentencing , >> letby refuses to appear in court for her sentencing, a >> letby refuses to appear in court for her sentencing , a move court for her sentencing, a move branded cowardly by the prime minister, who says an inquiry into her crimes should now happen as quickly as possible. we're live from manchester crown court . court. >> in other news today , all the >> in other news today, all the leaves are brown and the sky is grey. california declares a state of emergency is even death valley is flooded by storm. hillary and then an earthquake hits for good measure . hits for good measure. >> plus, the pin up bachelor boy because he may not be the young ones very long. cliff richard releases his 2024 calendar at the age of 82. first, the latest headunes

the age of 82. first, the latest headlines with . tamsin pip. headlines with. tamsin pip. >> thank you. good afternoon from the gb newsroom. at 12:01, the mother of a baby murdered by lucy letby says her experience in hospital was like something out of a horror story . in hospital was like something out of a horror story. impact statements by parents are currently being heard at manchester crown court before the former nurse does sentence later. one mother said she was haunted by vivid images that letby had destroyed her life after two of her triplets were killed . the 33 year old was killed. the 33 year old was found guilty of murdering seven babies and attempting to murder six more at the countess of chester hospital between 2015 and 16, letby has refused to attend court for sentencing . the attend court for sentencing. the prime minister has said this morning the inquiry into letby crimes should happen as quickly as possible . as possible. >> well, i think the important thing for the inquiry to do is make sure that families get the answers that they need that it

is possible for us to learn the lessons from what happened . lessons from what happened. >> everything conducted transparently and to happen as quickly as possible . those are quickly as possible. those are the that we want for the objectives that we want for the objectives that we want for the make sure the inquiry and will make sure that set up deliver on that it's set up to deliver on those aims . those aims. >> the mother of two of letby victims, one of whom survived, called her absence in court a final act of wickedness from a coward . well, shadow prisons coward. well, shadow prisons minister ellie reeves says it's shocking , cowardly behaviour on shocking, cowardly behaviour on the part of lucy letby. >> she should be in court today to hear the victim impact statements , to hear the statements, to hear the devastating effect of her awful, awful crimes on the families and the fact that the that she can't be compelled to be there. it is frankly shocking . frankly shocking. >> in other news now, a 50 year old man will appear in court later following the major police data breach in northern ireland. he's been charged with possessing documents likely to

be to terrorists . it's be useful to terrorists. it's after the details of 10,000 officers and staff were published online by mistake . the published online by mistake. the leak contains the surname and initial of every employee. their rank where they're based and the unit they work in. police believe the information is now in the hands of dissident republican means. the in the hands of dissident republican means . the government republican means. the government is calling on housing associations. social landlords and developers to review tenancy contracts to help childminder work from home. many living in rented accommodation are prevented from using their homes for business purposes . the for business purposes. the department for education says too often prospective child minders are having the door slammed in their face. the government is also bringing in measures to encourage more people care for school aged people to care for school aged children, including a £1,200 start up grant from today, londoners are eligible for a cash grant of up to £2,000 for cars that don't comply with ulez policies. the mayor of london

scrappage scheme will cost around £110 million. it begins today ahead of the expanded ultra low emission zone, which will cover all london boroughs from the 29th of august. but the policy faces opposition in other parts of government, policy faces opposition in other parts of government , with the parts of government, with the council leader in hertfordshire refusing to erect signs warning drivers of the new low emission zone. drivers of the new low emission zone . conservative london zone. conservative london assembly member neil garrett says sadiq khan's new ulez requirements are happening too quickly . quickly. >> he's really rushed this through . he only announced in through. he only announced in november last year that he was going to do this, so people have had less than a year at a time of financial pressure of real financial pressure potentially to try to replace their car . potentially to try to replace their car. and now we're seeing this evidence that the benefits that for ulez that are touted for the ulez expansion very small expansion are either very small or, you know, there's question marks about the evidence behind them. i think the whole policy is really needs, needs a rethink. this the best way to rethink. is this the best way to clean up london's air and have people time to people been given enough time to get ready for it.7 i don't think they have. >> england captain millie bright

says definitely says the team will definitely bounce back their world cup bounce back from their world cup final loss to spain. the skipper says she's proud the girls says she's proud of the girls and that it isn't the end of the journey. the lionesses are now on their back from on their way back from australia. both labour leader sir keir starmer and lib dems davey have called for them to be given honours . and today given honours. and today britain's oldest person gets a year older. ethel may, katrin from hampshire, is celebrating . from hampshire, is celebrating. her 114th birthday. the super centenarian was born in 1909. while happy birthday ethel. have a wonderful day . this is news a wonderful day. this is news across the uk on tv in your car, on digital radio and on your smart speaker. by saying play gb news now , though, it's back to news now, though, it's back to mark and . pip lucy letby, mark and. pip lucy letby, britain's most prolific child killer, is set to spend the rest

of her life in prison when she sentence court this afternoon at manchester crown court. >> but she's not expected to be in the dock as she's refusing to leave her cell. letby was found guilty of murdering seven babies and attempting to murder six more at the countess of chester hosphal >> well, the court , which has >> well, the court, which has just adjourned until 1230, has been listening to impact statements. this morning from the families of the babies that she had killed. the mother of one of those babies saying letby had decided to play god with our children's lives. the neonatal nurse deliberately injected the babies with air force, fed others milk and poisoned two infants with insulin . infants with insulin. >> the murders make her the worst child serial killer in modern british times. in a statement read to the court, the mother of child, i said, i don't think we will ever get over the fact that our daughter was tortured until she had no fight left in her and everything she went through over her short life was deliberately done by someone

who was supposed to protect her and help her come home where she belonged . we were both belonged. we were both absolutely broken that someone belonged. we were both absolldo y broken that someone belonged. we were both absolldo somethingiat someone belonged. we were both absolldo something so someone belonged. we were both absolldo something so evilaone belonged. we were both absolldo something so evil to re could do something so evil to our precious little girl and this has had a massive effect on our family even until this day. >> well, the prime minister called letby actions in not appearing today coward , he appearing today as coward, he said. an inquiry into how she was allowed to kill so many should be held as quickly as possible. let's speak now to consultant forensic psychologist dr. kerry nixon. we're hoping to speak to her to him shortly. let's get criminal lawyer nick freeman while we wait for kerry to join us. nick, thanks for joining us. we are being told the court is likely to come back in the next 20 minutes for the sentencing remarks. the prosecution has asked or call for her whole life tariff. and she would be what the only, i think, fourth woman to receive such a sentence .7 such a sentence? >> yeah, the there's three

previous women rose west and two others who have received this. so it's extremely rare . it so it's extremely rare. it relates to multiple murders , relates to multiple murders, premeditated. obviously here we're dealing with the most vulnerable of children, the most vulnerable of children, the most vulnerable people in our society. and a huge breach of trust. so all the aggravating features are there. she's over 21 and i think a whole life tariff is inevitable . tariff is inevitable. >> and just explain to us, nick, what a whole life tariff means. does that mean that she will never get out of prison? she will spend the rest of her life there ? there? >> it does. unless there are extraordinary , compassionate extraordinary, compassionate grounds for releasing her at some stage at a well advanced stage of a sentence . but in stage of a sentence. but in essence, it means she will never be released from prison. normally you receive a life sentence and when you receive a life sentence as a sometimes a minimum sentence, impose , that minimum sentence, impose, that means that is the time you do a whole life. tariff means what it says. it's the whole of your

life behind bars. >> is it also significant that her defence team offer no mitigating circumstance ? in mitigating circumstance? in their comments this morning ? their comments this morning? >> what ever they said, i don't think will make the slightest difference to the sentence . i difference to the sentence. i think the writing's on the wall. the judge really doesn't have a discretion in how to with discretion in how to deal with this. there's only one sentence that you can receive and that's the life tariff. and that the whole life tariff. and that there really no there is really, really no useful mitigation that can be advanced. it would not achieve anything and therefore it would simply be wasting the court's time. >> now , lucy letby is refused to >> now, lucy letby is refused to appearin >> now, lucy letby is refused to appear in the dock for her sentencing or to hear those impact statements from the baby's families . she has the baby's families. she has the power. i mean, it sounds ridiculous . she power. i mean, it sounds ridiculous. she has the power. i mean, it sounds ridiculous . she has the power to ridiculous. she has the power to say that that she does not want to appear in the dock. it sounds ridiculous. >> it sounds perverse . it's >> it sounds perverse. it's a ridiculous anomaly in the law

that i've been calling for, for it to be changed for some time now. and i think this case will prove to be the catalyst. the judge certainly has no power from a legislative perspective to do anything to force force her attendance . she's in custody her attendance. she's in custody . whether or not the prison authorities decide to use the expression lawful enforcement. and when the judge asked for her to attend, they might liberally interpret that as meaning we're going to enforce her lawfully to attend in compliance with the judge's request, which in essence will mean picking her up and putting her or putting her in the dock. i think the law will be changed, inevitable . will be changed, inevitable. now, to force defendant as a victim, as a victims act that's going through at the moment. it's due to go through for final stages in november. and i think legislation will the relevant provisions will be rushed through in relation to this aspect of that. but the reality is the reality is if you're deaung is the reality is if you're dealing with somebody , one of dealing with somebody, one of the worst offenders that you can imagine, someone who's going to

receive a whole tariff, receive a whole life tariff, what is the penalty that you're going to impose? and i think it's one of the usual situations where to say, she can where you have to say, she can be forced to attend and she can be forced to attend and she can be forced to attend and she can be forced physically to attend . be forced physically to attend. so that, first of all, the complainants, the victims parents can see her. they can see justice being done. and also so the person, the defendant has the opportunity of hearing the victim's impact statements , victim's impact statements, which which is for critical her and for the judicial system. another approach, of course , another approach, of course, would be to put cameras in her cell and make sure that she is she is she hears she is aware of what's happening. she is aware of what's said. obviously, that's something she can't do anything about . and that that is anything about. and that that is what i would as an what i would do as an expeditious step in relation to these so that she these proceeding so that she can't circumnavigate the lacuna that currently exists . because that currently exists. because if the authorities don't listen , it's too much of a slap in the face. a final insult for the families. i would have cameras

placed in a cell and make a listen. and of course, listen. and that, of course, would that's something that i would be that's something that i think case as think would satisfy the case as much as it can be satisfied at the moment. yeah. >> robert buckland, former >> sir robert buckland, former minister, that gb minister, outlined that on gb news on friday. and there news here on friday. and there is precedent that evidence is given cells , police cells given from cells, police cells or prison cells by video link for cases . for cases. >> yeah. yeah. well i think that that might be what happens here. the government had been talking about trying to force her to attend. i don't know whether the government have spoken to the prison but in prison authorities, but in essence unaware of any legal essence i'm unaware of any legal power can force her power that can force her attendance. and of course, the problem is if they physically pick legal pick her up without that legal power, she she may have an action for assault and other civil actions, which would be ludicrous . but they may actually ludicrous. but they may actually exist in law because you can't just physically pick someone up without having the relevant authority. and we can't just make up that law . so, you know, make up that law. so, you know, the law needs to be in place to

protect people, to make sure that she is in the dock. she listens to what happens, not just in her case, but in other cases as well. and this isn't the first time we're confronted with this situation. and i have to say, the government seemed to be particularly in reacting be particularly slow in reacting . should . it's a situation that should never be encountered, particularly because of the families are concerned they should be able to see, we say justice needs to be seen to be done the last that done. and at the last that crucial stage, they're being depnved. crucial stage, they're being deprived . it's wrong. deprived. it's wrong. >> nick, thank you for those thoughts . stay with of thoughts. stay with us. of course, as sentencing course, as the sentencing remarks expected in the next remarks are expected in the next 20 minutes or so, let's cross to manchester crown court and speak with gb news, northwest of england . england. >> reporter sophie reaper sophie, you have been covering this case for the last ten months or so . the case will months or so. the case will resume . the judge will start resume. the judge will start making his remarks in the next few minutes. but the small thing must have been so emotion finally charged hearing those victims impact statements from the baby's families .

the baby's families. >> it was indeed . and it was, as >> it was indeed. and it was, as we suspected, lucy letby refused to appear in court this morning as we heard those victim impact statements from the parents of each child . and the former nurse each child. and the former nurse has been found guilty of attacking . first of all, we attacking. first of all, we heard from the prosecution, nick johnson, kc . he suggested and johnson, kc. he suggested and submitted to the judge that lucy letby should indeed be awarded the whole life order. we then heard from benjamin myers, kc of the defence, and he said effectively there was nothing he could add in terms of mitigation. the jury had found her guilty of those various offences . we then moved on to offences. we then moved on to those impact statements and as you say, they were highly emotionally charged. i don't mind saying that it did bring a tear to my eye. in fact, listening in some of the some of the statements were read out by a member of the prosecution. some of them we heard from the

parents directly. and of course, that was incredibly difficult for them to do, an incredibly difficult for us all in court to hear. difficult for us all in court to hear . i've difficult for us all in court to hear. i've picked out a couple of the key statements from from the a few key phrases, apologies from those statements. for example , the parents of child example, the parents of child a and child b, and we heard a joint statement from them. child a was murdered and child b was an attempted murder charge . the an attempted murder charge. the mother of those two children said to lucy letby, we hope you have a very long life and spend every day suffering for what you've done . you are nothing . you've done. you are nothing. the mother of child c who was also murdered described it as something like out of a horror story . and then finally , from story. and then finally, from the father of children. child oh, and child. p he said , lucy oh, and child. p he said, lucy letby has destroyed our lives. the anger and the hatred that i

have for her will never go away. it was destroyed . me as a man it was destroyed. me as a man and as a father. now, of course , these statements will now be taken into consideration by justice gospel, even without them . now that we know lucy them. now that we know lucy letby is the most prolific serial killer of children in modern british history, it was always really there was really never any doubt that she would most likely receive a whole life order for her crimes. >> and sophie, throughout this process and today, where they are seeing justice being done , are seeing justice being done, the thing that's missing is they still don't understand why she did this . did this. >> that's absolutely right. we've never heard any kind of motive . lucy lambie, of course motive. lucy lambie, of course throughout the entirety of this process, ever since her arrest back in 2018, has always maintained her innocence. she has always said that she is not guilty of all of those 22 charges on that original indictment. we, of course now know that she was not guilty of

two fine by the jury, but that she was guilty on 14 of those crimes, including seven murders between june of 2015 and june of 2016. and i think that's the real concern of those families, is that, okay, they may now know what happened medically and ultimately going forward for their child, but what they don't know, as you say, is what happened. excuse me? why what happened. excuse me? why what happened happened . happened happened. >> and sophie was any reason given in court as to why lucy letby is refusing to appear in the dock ? or was it just made as the dock? or was it just made as a as a statement? she's not going to come ? well one morning going to come? well one morning we did notice that she just hadnt we did notice that she just hadn't appeared in the dock and there were questions among the media as to why that may be. >> of course, it may have been due to illness. we didn't know at that time. justice goss then questioned as to why at that time. justice goss then que defendant as to why at that time. justice goss then que defendant hadn't as to why

at that time. justice goss then que defendant hadn't appeared'hy at that time. justice goss then que defendant hadn't appeared in the defendant hadn't appeared in court that morning and going forward and after a short investigation by benjamin myers, kc of the defence, he came back to justice goss to inform him that it was the decision of lucy letby that she was refusing and that she would no longer appear in the dock . in the dock. >> now the other aspect of this is that this is the culmination of these particular cases after ten months. but now we have police saying they are going back through some 40,000 neonatal cases to look at perhaps what could be other attempts or indeed other deaths as a result of her actions. >> indeed , i think cheshire >> indeed, i think cheshire constabulary have stressed that that number, 4000 isn't necessarily for thousand incidents of guilt. it's just happens to be there were 4000 babies that lucy letby may or may not have cared for along that time period. now that investigation will continue, of

course , we don't know too much course, we don't know too much at this point. and realistically, it's a moot point when it comes to lucy letby right now, because if she's already already going to receive the whole life order, then realistically, it's not going to affect how long she will remain in prison . she will be remaining in prison. she will be remaining in prison. she will be remaining in prison. she will be remaining in prison indefinitely , most in prison indefinitely, most likely anyway. but what it will do is give families answers to questions that they may now have. sophie reaper, we will come back to you live outside manchester crown court. >> the judge is expected to start speaking in the next ten minutes or so to just update you as well. >> a bit more coming from downing street. the government looking to looking at changing the law to ensure criminals their ensure criminals do attend their sentencing downing sentencing in court. downing street . the prime street just saying. the prime minister's official spokesman saying to reporters, we're looking the to looking at changing the law to make sure attendance happens. it's something bring it's something will bring forward in due course . forward in due course. >> you're with the live desk on gb news. stay with us. the weather is next. >> that warm feeling inside from

boxt boilers. proud sponsors of weather on . gb news alex deakin weather on. gb news alex deakin here with your latest weather update from the met office for gb news. >> pretty warm and sunny across much of the south today. the breeze picking up further north where bit more cloud. where there is a bit more cloud. we've wet weather we've got some wet weather across northwest scotland from this area pressure. and this area of low pressure. and this area of low pressure. and this fronts , but high this weather fronts, but high pressure the pressure dominating across the south. it allowed a bit of mist and fog first thing and still a fair of cloud around some fair bit of cloud around in some areas. generally telling areas. but generally telling sunny midlands, sunny now across the midlands, eastern and southern england, a few scattered showers over central and southern scotland, but more persistent rain as the winds pick up across the highlands and the western isles of scotland . temperatures here of scotland. temperatures here in high teens , but head in the high teens, but head further south. we're getting into 20s, mid 20s across the into the 20s, mid 20s across the south—east, 26, possibly even 27 celsius. a few more showers this evening, perhaps parts of wales and then northeast england could see a few. and the rain will pushin see a few. and the rain will push in across scotland and

northern ireland overnight, tending to ease off as it does so. but it's nevertheless a fairly dampened, blustery night here across the south. it stays dry and everywhere, pretty warm nights, temperatures holding up 15 or even 16 c in some urban areas . on to tuesday, a bit of areas. on to tuesday, a bit of a mess again, generally speaking, dner mess again, generally speaking, drier and sunnier across the south. more cloud further north. a few more showers tomorrow for wales and northern england and more to come across parts of scotland, although the highlands and the western isles turning a little drier again, the sunny skies be the south skies will be across the south and that's the top and that's where the top temperatures more. temperatures will be once more. getting the mid 20s by for getting into the mid 20s by for now , that warm feeling inside now, that warm feeling inside from boxt boilers >> proud sponsors of weather on gb news

christys on gb news. i'm gb news radio . radio. >> you're watching the live desk on gb news. lucy letby , on gb news. lucy letby, britain's most prolific child killer is set to spend the rest of her life in prison when she's sentenced this afternoon at manchester crown court. she's not expected to be in the dock as she's refusing to leave her cell. she was found guilty of murdering seven babies and attempting to murder at attempting to murder six more at the countess of chester hosphal >> that sentencing is due in the next few minutes at manchester crown court. but let's speak now to consultant forensic psychologist dr. kerry nixon. kerry, thank you for joining psychologist dr. kerry nixon. kerry, thank you forjoining us kerry, thank you for joining us because we've we've heard the impact statements from the

families this morning. impact statements from the families this morning . and one families this morning. and one of the phrases that's cropped up is their assertion that let be played god effectively with their children. i mean, is that one way of trying to understand what went on? >> i think the one thing in this case at the moment is there's so many unanswered questions, and that's why it's heartbreaking for the families that they're not going to be able to face up . and families scrutin in . and often families scrutin in the face of, you know , the the face of, you know, the killer, the murderer in the case to try and answer that question . why, why, why have they done this? so the fact that they're not going to be able to look her in the face and try to read what's been going her is what's been going on for her is what's been going on for her is what heartbreaking and just what is heartbreaking and just trying to get into her head , trying to get into her head, which obviously is nigh on impossible . impossible. >> but in terms of why she would refuse to appear in court for sentencing, what might her reasoning be, do you think ? reasoning be, do you think? >> there could be many, many

reasons . it could be for a lot reasons. it could be for a lot of offenders , it's power still of offenders, it's power still having that control at that last moment, not wanting to face the families and see what she's caused. so there's many reasons . and you know, you mentioned power at the beginning and, you know, playing god . and she was know, playing god. and she was in the ultimate position of power. and there was that awful quote that somebody mentioned that she said, trust me, am i nurse? so, you know , power and nurse? so, you know, power and control is absolutely central to this . this. >> now, we understand that it may be a whole life tariff . may be a whole life tariff. certainly that's been asked or called for by the prosecution , called for by the prosecution, even if that's not handed down, it will be a substantial sentence. what is likely to happenin sentence. what is likely to happen in prison? will there be an attempt medically to try and get her to explain what went on and her reasoning ? and her reasoning? >> yes , she will be. she worked >> yes, she will be. she worked with the psychologists, will assess her and probation officers. there will be a lot of

work and they'll also be, i imagine it will be very high risk. i imagine that she will be potentially on suicide watch. um there's going to be a lot of work for a lot of people to do over the coming years . over the coming years. >> now, the other aspect is that she has not admitted anything , she has not admitted anything, even though she's been found guilty . is even though she's been found guilty. is that something that could continue for her imprisonment that she does not acknowledge what's happened, even to herself ? even to herself? >> absolutely. and we see this a lot. i've worked with many , many lot. i've worked with many, many offenders who continue to say that they're innocent for many years to come. and that that's what makes it really difficult for families , is that they don't for families, is that they don't ever receive those answers. and often there is never an answer, because even the answer doesn't help them have closure. so one of the families mentioned that there's never going to be closure for them. they're never

to going be able to deal with this. but to have somebody still denying it and to have no insight into why is what's really, really awful for the families . families. >> there has been plenty of comments over over the weekend since the verdicts came in on friday of, oh, she doesn't look like a child killer. not that you really know what a child killer should look like anyway. i it was just ridiculous i mean, it was just ridiculous or maybe worded , but i or maybe badly worded, but i guessi or maybe badly worded, but i guess i guess it's about the fact that she had, to all intents and purposes , a very intents and purposes, a very regular upbringing, unlike the other serial killer, rose west, for example . for example. >> absolutely . and i think >> absolutely. and i think that's what makes it so shocking. i think all of us have sat here in shock thinking how you know, the smiling picture of her holding the baby, the fact that she herself was ill as a baby. and that's what made her want to become a neonatal nurse. i mean, it's just we can't imagine it. i think as as women, as mothers, we can never imagine

it. but in this case, somebody who spent her whole childhood saying to people that she wanted to help children, you just can't reconcile that in your head . and reconcile that in your head. and there's many times that people have committed horrific acts and they don't look like a typical stereotypical killer. but in this case, it's just that everything her upbringing, her education, her social life, her friends, nothing in fits with the acts that we've seen her commit . commit. >> dr. kerry dixon, consultant, forensic psychologist , thank you forensic psychologist, thank you very much indeed forjoining us. i know you've got patients that you need to go and see now, but thank you for and thank you for joining us and bringing on bringing your thoughts here on gb news. >> w- e very much. >> thank you very much. >> thank you very much. >> sentencing is due >> lucy letby sentencing is due to with baby to start shortly with the baby killer predicted to be handed a full term . full life term. >> well, we had, of course, those impacts statements this morning at the court at manchester crown court. earlier, mother child was mother of child a who was murdered by letby and child b, who attempted to kill, said

who she attempted to kill, said you thought it was your right to play you thought it was your right to play god with our children's lives. little did we know you were waiting for us to leave so you could attack the one thing that gave reason to carry that gave us a reason to carry on life . maybe you thought by on in life. maybe you thought by doing this you would be remembered forever. but i want you to know my family will never think of you again. from this day. you are nothing . day. you are nothing. >> the mother of child d has also spoken to the court and said, lucy letby had a chance to say something to us. all parents of the victims . and she had only of the victims. and she had only one word unimagined her wicked sense of entitlement and abuse of her role as a trusted nurse is a scandal . of her role as a trusted nurse is a scandal. lucy of her role as a trusted nurse is a scandal . lucy letby you is a scandal. lucy letby you failed god and the plans he had, you even called it fate. you were clearly disconnected with god . god. >> well, we're expecting the sentencing remarks from mr justice goss to start at manchester crown court shortly. we'll have that live for you here on gb news. but let's get an update now on the other headunes an update now on the other

headlines with . tamsin headlines with. tamsin >> mark, thank you. hear the headunes >> mark, thank you. hear the headlines at 1232. the worst child serial killer in modern british history is due to be sentenced a few moments. sentenced in a few moments. impact statements by parents have heard morning at have been heard this morning at manchester court. the manchester crown court. the mother of one baby murdered by lucy letby says experience lucy letby says her experience in hospital was like something out of horror story . one out of a horror story. one mother she was haunted by mother said she was haunted by vivid images and that letby had destroyed her life after two of her triplets were killed . the 33 her triplets were killed. the 33 year old was found guilty of murdering seven babies and attempting to murder six more at the countess of chester hospital between 2015 and 16. well, we can take you straight to manchester crown court now for that sentence in her absence , i that sentence in her absence, i shall deliver the sentencing remarks as if she was present to hear them. >> and i direct that she is provided with a transport of my

remarks and copies of the victim personal statements read to the court . in lucy letby over a court. in lucy letby over a penod court. in lucy letby over a period of almost 13 months between . june 2015 and june between. june 2015 and june 2016, when anne, in your mid—twenties and employed as a neonatal nurse in the countess of chester hospital in chester with specialist training in intensive care , you murdered intensive care, you murdered seven babies and attempted to murder six others in the case of one of them trying on separate occasions, two weeks apart to murder her. you are now to be sentenced for your crimes . i sentenced for your crimes. i order payment of the statutory surcharge in the appropriate amount . you acted in a way that amount. you acted in a way that was completely contrary to the normal human instincts of

nurturing and caring for babies and in gross breach of the trust that all citizens place in those who work in the medical and caring professions . the who work in the medical and caring professions. the babies you harmed were born prematurely , and some were at risk of not surviving . but , and some were at risk of not surviving. but in , and some were at risk of not surviving . but in each case, you surviving. but in each case, you deliberately harmed them, intending to kill them in your evidence. you said that hurting a baby is completely against everything , that being a nurse everything, that being a nurse is as indeed it should be. you also claimed you never did anything that was meant to hurt anything that was meant to hurt a baby and only ever did your best to care for them . that was best to care for them. that was but one of the many lies you were found to have told in this case. there is no doubt that you

are intelligent and outwardly were a very conscientious , were a very conscientious, hardworking, knowledgeable , hardworking, knowledgeable, confident and professional nurse, which enables you repeatedly to harm babies on the unit without arousing suspicion for some time . you prided for some time. you prided yourself in your competence , yourself in your competence, yourself in your competence, your fellow neonatal nurses spoke very highly of you , and spoke very highly of you, and several of them became your close friends . several of them became your close friends. having several of them became your close friends . having started several of them became your close friends. having started as a band five nurse at the countess of chester in 2012, you became a mentor to student nurses , and in the spring of nurses, and in the spring of 2015 gained the qualification that enabled you to care for the sickest babies on the units, on the unit , or sickest babies on the units, on the unit, or those requiring the most intensive care . you

most intensive care. you relished being in the intensive care nursery . your messages to care nursery. your messages to colleagues revealed an interest in babies that were on or were coming to the unit who had uncommon medical conditions as the methods you employ to carry out your murderous intent were only revealed by the later detailed investigation into the events of and surrounding the collapses and deaths of the babies which commenced in 2018. there was premeditation , there was premeditation, calculation and cunning in your actions . you specifically actions. you specifically targeted twins and latterly triplets . some babies were triplets. some babies were healthy, others had medical issues of which you were aware . issues of which you were aware. the great majority of your victims suffered acute pain as a

result of what you did to them . result of what you did to them. they all fought for survival . they all fought for survival. some sad struggle in vain and died . you used a number of died. you used a number of different ways to try to kill them, thereby misleading clinicians into believing the collapses had or might have had a natural cause or a consequence of a developing medical condition . you took condition. you took opportunities to harm babies when staff were in breaks or away from babies . on some away from babies. on some occasions you falsified records to indicate there were signs of a deteriorate before a collapse occurred. you knew that the last thing anyone working in the unit would or did think was that someone caring for the babies was deliberately harming them as the number of unexpected and unexplained collapses and deaths

escalated , senior doctors escalated, senior doctors started to think the unthinkable and consider the possibility that someone was in fact deliberately harming the babies. and you were identified as the common factor. and you were identified as the common factor . you had a common factor. you had a detached enthusiasm for the resuscitate patients. and what followed you endeavoured to impress colleagues and clinicians and sought reassurance from them as to your competence and skills and would message others to the effect that no one was at fault . on that no one was at fault. on occasions you cruelly and callously . made inappropriate callously. made inappropriate remarks to some of the grieving parents at the time of or in the immediate aftermath of a death when the homes of both you and your parents were searched . your parents were searched. confidential documents relating

to babies include handover and resuscitation sheets and notes and blood gas readings were found and there were entries in a diary recording relevant events , handover sheets relating events, handover sheets relating to all but the first four of the babies had been taken from the unit and kept by you . i am unit and kept by you. i am satisfied you started to keep these documents after those initial offences in june 2015. as morbid records of the dreadful events surrounding the collapses of your victims and what you had done to them , you what you had done to them, you had a fascination with the babies and their families, which extended to making repeated searches on facebook for their parents, sometimes immediately following the events and on occasions much later, a piece of paper with dense writing on both sides , setting out your thoughts sides, setting out your thoughts and feelings was found in the

first search of your home in 2018. a amongst the phrases you wrote were the world is better off without me and i am evil. i did this . the impact of your did this. the impact of your crimes has been immense as disclosed by the deeply moving personal statements that have been read to the court this morning . the lives of newborn or morning. the lives of newborn or relatively newborn babies were ended almost as soon as they began and lifelong harm has been caused at all in horrific circum stances. love loving parents have been robbed of their cherished children and others have to live with the physical and mental consequences of your actions . siblings have been actions. siblings have been depnved actions. siblings have been deprived of brothers and sisters . you have caused a deep cycle of trauma, brought enduring grief and feelings of guilt,

caused strains in relationships and disruption to the lives of all the families of all your victims . it all the families of all your victims. it is no part of my function to reach conclusions as to the underlying reason or reasons for your actions. nor could i, for they they are known only to you . i must. cross only to you. i must. cross appropriate since seriousness of your offences , the facts of your offences, the facts of which i now describe briefly . which i now describe briefly. just to explain, there are legal restrictions on some of the things that we can show or relay from the court . from the court. >> that's why it goes to that slate. indicate mrjustice goss is going through some details that cannot be broadcast, but clearly he is now setting out in detail the various charges that were proved against letby. as he

said , it's not his part to try said, it's not his part to try and work out the reasons as to why she did what she did. but clearly, he said each case had been deliberately harmed. each baby intends to kill them. intelligent outwardly conscientious and competent , conscientious and competent, common with all nurses . common with all nurses. >> you knew from your training on the dangers caused by air getting into the venous system and that air embolus was very rarely encountered in clinical practise as . again, the video practise as. again, the video feed has been suspended. >> we do apologise if you are listening to us on the for radio any distressing content . but the any distressing content. but the judge, mrjustice james goss, judge, mr justice james goss, his remarks so far has said that lucy letby had what he described as a detached enthusiasm for resuscitation, for resuscitation , those babies, she cruelly and

callously made inappropriate remarks to some of the grieving parents and documents that were found at her home and at her parents home diary entries. the judge said she kept them as morbid records of the dreadful crimes that she had committed. she was fascinated with the babies and their families , even babies and their families, even undertaking extensive searches on facebook . on facebook. >> yeah, one of the diary entries i am evil. i did this. mr justice goss telling the crown court there was premeditation calculation and cunning in your actions. he said that letby had relished being in the intensive care unit where she took an interest in on common complications, targeted twins and triplets. the judge saying the defendant priding herself in a professionalism which enabled to her start harming children without suspicion and how she did that was she took the opportunity to harm the babies when the staff were away, because the judge said she knew that the last

thing colleagues would expect is that a professional like her, somebody who'd always wanted to work with babies, was actually harming them. >> justice mr justice harming them. >> justice mrjustice goss is passing sentence at the moment. we will bring you his remarks as soon as we can. lucy letby is not in court for sentencing . she not in court for sentencing. she is refusing to attend . she can is refusing to attend. she can cross to our correspondent sophie reaper, who is at manchester crown court. sophie has been covering the case for months. sophie tell us a little bit more about what you've been heanng bit more about what you've been hearing . hearing. >> well, as we know, lucy letby has refused to appear in the dock for this sentencing, but at the start of his remarks, justice goss announced that he would treat this as though she were in the dock. and he did tell us that last week. and the reason for this is to make sure that those families of the victims who are in prison , in victims who are in prison, in court today feel as though

justice truly is being delivered, even though lucy letby is not in the dock, she's refused to come up to face those families and to face her sentencing head on. now, some of the remarks so far, of course, as you say, we are in the middle of it, but because of certain sensitivities with the names involved that were not allowed to report for anonymity reasons, that's why we're not hearing certain elements to this sentencing. but some things we've already heard. he said. lucy letby over a period of almost 13 months, when in your mid 20s and employed as a neonatal nurse, you murdered seven babies and attempted to murder six others. of course , murder six others. of course, one of those babies . oh, i think one of those babies. oh, i think we can go back to court now. i'm just hearing . so we'll go back just hearing. so we'll go back to justice goss for more of the sentencing . yeah i think we've sentencing. yeah i think we've we've just lost the feed again, sophie, as you were indicating, to just explain to people because of the legal circumstances, clearly some

details in terms of identification of the families cannot be gone into. >> but just give us a sense of you being in court again this morning after these months where you followed the case about how the families are and how they've been coping with this day ? been coping with this day? >> well, it's been emotional from the onset. of course, this is something that the families since lucy libby's arrest back in 2018 have known is going to be coming. they've had time to prepare for it. but, of course , prepare for it. but, of course, one can never be fully prepared to hear the graphic detail that we've heard in the evidence over the past ten months. today it reached a real peak , though, in reached a real peak, though, in terms of the emotions felt in the courtroom. there was not a dry eye in the house, as we heard statements, victim impact statements from those family members of each of the babies that lucy letby has been found guilty of attacking. some of them were read out in statement form by a member of the prosecution because the family

members felt simply that they would be unable to cope with the emotion of reading it out in person. some of them, however, did feel they could cope and did read it out in person for example, the mother of baby c, her son was murdered by lucy letby and she she talked about this and the impact that it has had on on her since losing her son. she described it as something like out of a horror story. one can only imagine the heartbreak that all of these families have felt over the past ten months. it's truly so , so ten months. it's truly so, so harrowing, incredibly gruelling for the jurors as well. >> sophie, are all the jurors back in court today for sentencing ? sentencing? >> several of them are not all of them, of course. as you say, it's been incredibly gruelling for them these past ten months. justice goss, when he discharged them of friday of last week, he

did say to them that they would be able to access support if they felt they needed it , having they felt they needed it, having deau they felt they needed it, having dealt with such such harrowing material over the last ten months. and he also told them that they would never have to face jury duty again. of course, thatis face jury duty again. of course, that is everyone's civic duty. but now that they have dealt with such a long, lengthy trial, with such a long, lengthy trial, with so much evidence and so much, it's it must have been so hard for them . so not only hear hard for them. so not only hear that evidence, but then come to that evidence, but then come to that decision ultimately that they have now been excused from jury they have now been excused from jury duty for the rest of their lives . lives. >> and a very telling statement then goss then from mrjustice goss relating that , not his then from mrjustice goss relating that, not his part relating to that, not his part of his function . he said to look of his function. he said to look at the reasons why. and i guess this would have occurred to the jurors as well. why did do jurors as well. why did she do this? and even though we'll get legal closure , if you like, legal closure, if you like, today in terms of the sentencing , questions remain . , those questions will remain. absolutely >> and i think we've got a real sense of that from a lot of the

families in their impact statements, things like what they say that they will never forgive her and that they will always have hate towards a few of the family members did say that after today , they will that after today, they will never think about her again. i believe it was the mother of child a and child b, one of whom was murdered, one of whom was an attempted murder charge. she told the court that she would never think of lucy letby again as she said, you are as of today, she said, you are nothing. and i think that really does sum up exactly what the parents feel about lucy letby, several of them saying they didn't debated whether or didn't they debated whether or not they wanted to give the impact statement they impact statement because they didn't lucy letby didn't want to give lucy letby the satisfaction of knowing exactly how much pain she has caused. but ultimately it won out that they did give the victim's statements to make sure that justice goss knows exactly what lucy letby has done to them and their families. >> sophie reaper we will rejoin you just just stay there for the moment with us in the studio is former met police officer mike

neville . good to see you again, neville. good to see you again, mike. judge is passing sentence the feed is dropping out for legal reasons. but 1—1 thing he said in passing sentence was that lucy letby had a detached, enthusing time for resuscitation i >> -- >> it's just utterly weird, isn't it, when you entrust your children to a nurse in a specialist unit that they would create more harm. it's completely against the ethos, isn't it? of. of what? a nurse and what of anybody in the medical profession is doing. and but i think the judge is doing the right thing. mrjustice costa reading it out as though she was in court and i just think the public will want to know this is allowed. why is know why this is allowed. why is this she not being put in handcuffs and carried up those stairs and sat in a chair and if need be, tied to the chair to face justice? just think it's face justice? i just think it's utter nonsense. >> yeah. minister >> yeah. prime minister spokesman saying spokesman downing street saying earlier they're looking urgently at a bill at this and there is a bill going parliament the going through parliament at the moment. this going through parliament at the mom

mrjustice said, he cannot act actually physically make her appearin actually physically make her appear in court. however, there's the additional aspect now that we understand all 4000 admissions to the hospital are being looked at by police . being looked at by police. clearly, there are questions they think over at least 33 babies as to what might happen . babies as to what might happen. what will the police process be now, hearing this evidence in court as to what they look at and how they look at? >> right. so originally , i've >> right. so originally, i've got to congratulate cheshire police on the excellent investigation here. of course, what would have happened there would have been initial filter to look at what are the most serious and obvious cases , serious and obvious cases, because come to court, because if you come to court, you can't present 100 cases of which 90 are questionable. and so they've focussed on the cases where there's absolutely key evidence. now of course, with the guilty finding, they will look at every single case. now they'll be looking in detail , they'll be looking in detail, they'll be looking in detail, they'll be looking in detail, they'll be working with medical i >>i -- >> i was going to say, presumably they're to going need a lot of help terms of trying

a lot of help in terms of trying to interpret what should have happened and what happen. happened and what didn't happen. >> be you >> absolutely. you'll be you know, about doctors, know, we all joke about doctors, handwriting notes. handwriting and doctors notes. they'll all they'll be confronted with all sorts , you know, sorts of information, you know, all sorts of terms , details, all sorts of terms, details, medication that they'll need somebody they'll need a consultant paediatrician to be able to advise them on what all this means , what the specialist this means, what the specialist care would mean . and then i'm care would mean. and then i'm sure seeing what cheshire police have done, i think we can rely on them to do a full examination of every possible case because there will be parents out there if either lost a baby or who's some of the most awful things is these child are no brain damaged, disabled and unable to eat. they will want answers because if she was there at that time when their child suffered death or some awful thing, they'll want to know. and i have great confidence that cheshire police will do an exceptional job that. job on that. >> and think they're looking >> and i think they're looking at as mark said, 4000 other at so as mark said, 4000 other babies that were under her care,

not just at the countess of chester hospital, but lives women's hospital as well, because she started over ten years ago, didn't she, as nurse? >> absolutely. so every place she has been, every shift, one of the things is crime pattern analysis. to be looking at the any injury that occurred when she was on duty and going through every shift roster that she was on that will give an early indication of whether they can say to a parent, look , your can say to a parent, look, your child suffered the injury and she was off duty, so you can give some people some kind of assurance nearly straight away. give some people some kind of ass now,a nearly straight away. give some people some kind of ass now, thisarly straight away. give some people some kind of ass now, this isy straight away. give some people some kind of ass now, this is astraight away. give some people some kind of ass now, this is a trickyt away. give some people some kind of ass now, this is a tricky one ay. >> now, this is a tricky one because these are allegations where it's suggested by some of the consultant that they had warned the hospital administrators, the nhs structure, in other words, about what was going on, that some of the doctors say they were ignored. some they're saying they were fobbed off. there are questions as to whether manslaughter charges should be looked at in terms of that sort of now that again, is

of structure. now that again, is going to be pretty tricky for the police to investigate that . the police to investigate that. >> yes, of course. but what they can look they can now take can look at, they can now take statements those doctors statements off all those doctors who they they made a who say they gave they made a complaint. can look at the complaint. they can look at the hospital records to see what people it can be people did and if it can be shown that somebody was so negligent deaths occurred, negligent that deaths occurred, then of manslaughter may then charges of manslaughter may well follow. and i'm sure that's like part two of the inquiry. yes, i was looking all this looking that and not just looking at that and not just individual charges , but a individual charges, but a corporate manslaughter structure as well, the systemic as well, where the systemic failure, if you like. absolutely. i think corporate is one thing. but i think what people want to see is head's role . need see who those role. we need to see who those people were individually, who somebody went to and said, i've got real issues here. and they were either fobbed off or made to make apologies or they apparently the hospital actually paid for a master. lucy, let bs master's degree. so when she was suspended and oh removed. so there's all these issues. but i personally think and i think the pubuc personally think and i think the public want to see not

organisations punished, they want to see those people who made those dreadful decisions which then resulted in babies being harmed and murdered, brought to book, not allowed to have massive pensions and fly off to some other well—paid job. >> and in terms of a public inquiry, we know that is going to happen, but there are calls for it to a statutory public for it to be a statutory public inquiry in front of a judge so that witnesses are compelled to give evidence which they currently wouldn't under the terms of the current one that's planned. and i think that, again, what that's what the pubuc again, what that's what the public request here. public would request here. >> mean, us i've got >> i mean, all of us i've got i've got a one month old grandson want to grandson, you know, you want to be assured, don't that be assured, don't you, that the likelihood this ever likelihood of this ever happening are reduced. happening again are reduced. you're always going to get evil people no matter what do in people no matter what you do in the there's always a the world. there's always a doctor. a wayne doctor. shipman, a wayne cousins, a lucy letby people who take advantage of their position to kill. but we've got to make it as as possible that this it as hard as possible that this never happens of the never happens is one of the problems . problems. >> if that inquiry >> however, if that inquiry becomes statutory , i by becomes statutory, i led by a judge people are called,

judge and people are called, they have to give evidence on oath the police then have oath that the police then have to sure that evidence to make sure that the evidence they provide is actually gone through more detail. and that makes the process much longer. i think that's not a problem. >> i think i think it needs to be dealt with officially, particularly if you are looking at manslaughter charges. they have when you have got to be very when you charging on neglect and charging somebody on neglect and that neglect is what we've seen. people managing things people not managing things properly, not dealing with things properly. think we things properly. i just think we need evidence will need that evidence will be as tight possible. think the tight as possible. i think the pubuc tight as possible. i think the public understand that that public will understand that that will they've seen how will take time. they've seen how long this case. they've seen how long. but the facts are the facts. was done. it's better facts. it was done. it's better long right, rather than long and right, rather than short and a mess. >> and i suppose what also is very challenging about this is that you're dealing with medicine . and one of the medicine. and one of the problems that seems to have occurred along the way here is the interpretation of the medical records, the medical language that was used, which meant that certain things were overlooked .

overlooked. >> absolutely. and this is a real this is why the police will be relying on medical experts who can give that forensic detail about what this actually means. and the other difficulty, of course, if fail, is that they face is that a lot of these children may well have died naturally. they're on that. they're that . they're there they're on that. they're there because they're very premature . because they're very premature. they're they're there because they're very, very ill. and this is the this is a real difficulty for the police because it's proving that that action killed that child when there be all sorts of serious things that that baby of challenges of that baby just faced from a natural life anyway. >> well , let's reflect, of >> well, let's reflect, of course , that justice is being course, that justice is being done today in terms of these charges. there may well be others to come. but mike, for the moment , thank you. thank you the moment, thank you. thank you for that. let's just update you on what is happening at manchester crown court. we do have the judge, mr justice manchester crown court. we do have the judge, mrjustice goss, making his remarks ahead of the sentencing. the prosecution have

asked for a whole life tariff for lucy letby , which for lucy letby, which effectively means she spent the rest of her natural life behind bars . bars. >> lucy letby is not in court for sentencing . she has refused for sentencing. she has refused to appear in the for sentencing. she has refused justice goss has said he will pass sentence as if she was in the courtroom. he says it is not part of his role to reach conclusions about the underlying reasons for her actions. he says they are known only to you, but they are known only to you, but the impact of her crimes has been immense . lifelong harm has been immense. lifelong harm has been immense. lifelong harm has been caused. after lucy letby targeted babies who whose lives were cut short almost as soon as they began . they began. >> yeah, the judge said you acted in a way that was completely contrary to the normal human instincts of nurturing and caring for babies and in gross breach of the trust that all citizens place in those who work in the medical and caring professions. went on caring professions. he went on to , the babies harmed to say, the babies you harmed were prematurely . some are were born prematurely. some are at not surviving , but in

at risk of not surviving, but in each you deliberately harm each case you deliberately harm them, intending to kill them. the judge going on to say there was premeditation , calculation was premeditation, calculation and cunning in your actions. he said that letby had relished being in the intensive care unit where she took an interest in uncommon complications , even uncommon complications, even targeting twins and triplets. the judge saying that letby pnded the judge saying that letby prided herself in a professional , enabling her to start harming children without suspicion . children without suspicion. >> we are following the sentencing by mrjustice >> we are following the sentencing by mr justice james goss at manchester crown court. our correspondent sophie reaper is also there bringing us the very latest . that sentencing is very latest. that sentencing is expected to continue into the afternoon . we will bring it here afternoon. we will bring it here to you live here on gb news now, though, let's get the latest headunes. though, let's get the latest headlines . thank headlines. thank >> thanks very much. well, let's

just take you straight back to manchester crown court for the sentence of lucy letby . sentence of lucy letby. >> over a period of just under 13 months, you killed seven fragile babies and attempted to kill six others. some of your victims were only a day or a few days old. all were extremely vulnerable. they were in a hospital where others were striving to provide them with dedicated medical and nursing care . by their nature and number care. by their nature and number of such murders and attempted murders by a neonatal nurse in trusted to care for them are offences of very exceptional seriousness . the offences of very exceptional seriousness. the damaging impact of your actions on others working at that hospital , working at that hospital, including those who numbered you

as a friend, betraying their trust and creating upset and suspicion , as well as eroding suspicion, as well as eroding confidence in clinicians and nurses generally aggravates their seriousness . this was their seriousness. this was a cruel, callous , belated and cruel, callous, belated and cynical campaign of child murder involving the smallest and most vulnerable of children. knowing that your actions were causing significant physical suffering and would cause untold mental suffering . you created suffering. you created situations orphans, so that collapses or causes of collapses would not be obvious or associated with you . you removed associated with you. you removed and retained confidential records of events relating to your crimes and checked up on bereaved parents. there was a deep malevolence bordering on sadism in your actions during

the course of this trial. you have coldly denied any responsibility for your wrongdoing and sought to attribute some fault to others . attribute some fault to others. you have no remorse . there are you have no remorse. there are no mitigating factors . in their no mitigating factors. in their totality. the offence of murder and attempted murder were of exceptionally high seriousness and just punishment. according to law, requires a whole life . to law, requires a whole life. order lucy letby on each of the seven offences of murder and the seven offences of murder and the seven offences of attempted murder, i sentence you to imprisonment for life because the seriousness of your offence is exceptionally high. i direct that the early release provisions do not apply the order of the court. therefore there is a whole life order on

each and every offence and you will spend the rest of your life in prison . so there you have it. in prison. so there you have it. >> a whole life tariff on every of the seven offences that she had faced and was found guilty of in terms of murder, attempted murder. the judge saying it was a cruel, cynical, calculated campaign of child murder with a deep malevolence bordering on sadism . sadism. >> he told lucy letby, who was not in court for sentencing because she refused to appear in the dock. but he did tell her that you have shown no remorse . that you have shown no remorse. there is there are no mitigating factors . a whole life order is factors. a whole life order is what he has imposed for each and every offence . she will spend every offence. she will spend the rest of her life in prison. the worst child serial killer in modern british history. lucy letby, 33 years old. >> letby was not in court to hear that, but the judge indicating he was addressing his

remarks directly to her. mr justice goss telling her she would be provided with copies of his remarks and the personal statements of all those families of her victims had spoken in court. this morning. and, of course, we heard their evidence that they had accused it of playing god effectively . prime playing god effectively. prime minister rishi sunak saying it was a cowardly act that those who had committed such horrendous crimes did not face their victims . but she will now their victims. but she will now spend the rest of her life in prison. after that whole life order at manchester crown court i >> -- >> over the last few hours, the babies families this morning have been giving their victim impact statement. one mother have been giving their victim saying the murder of her son was like something out of a horror story . other parents told the story. other parents told the court that their survival children who let be a tempted to murder, they are now disabled . murder, they are now disabled. but judge justice goss in the last few moments has given lucy

letby a whole life sentence for the murder of seven babies and the murder of seven babies and the attempted murder of six the attempted murder of six more. that whole life sentence means that she will never be released from prison. >> the judge said that letby had relished being in the intensive care unit where she took an interest in uncommon complications, even targeting twins and triplets . the judge twins and triplets. the judge saying she prided himself on a professionalism, enabling her to start harming children without suspicion. well, mike neville is still with us here in the studio because in addition to this sentencing today, mike, we now have police saying they will be looking at all 4000 babies that went through this unit at the time she was there with what, 30 to 40 maybe babies being looked at now with a completely different mindset . they will be different mindset. they will be thinking the unthinkable as a result of what this judge has said and examining things in a completely different way. >> yes, i agree. i mean, they'll be going through, whereas before

there was that main focus on the cases which were really, really strong, that where they knew there was absolute evidence that she had committed some atrocious, atrocious thing here they'll be looking at every single case going through. and i think the first is to look think the first thing is to look at was she on duty. a key at where was she on duty. a key thing, is assure thing, i think, is to assure parents child were not parents whose child were not attacked by lucy letby, that's the case of their child. and their put in the minds their minds are put in the minds of child of whether their child is disabled. child passed away. disabled. a child passed away. they've got that they've at least got that reassurance . it it was reassurance. it was it was nature's and not some wicked nature's way and not some wicked act created the other act that created the other aspect being. >> and heard in the evidence >> and we heard in the evidence that she had used air, she had used overfeed feeding of milk as well as insulin. so therefore it would not have been immediately apparent, effectively hiding what she did as the judge of absolute. >> and these things, of course, are not controlled drugs . are not controlled drugs. everybody has access to air to baby milk in those environments . insulin isn't very well controlled . so it's very these controlled. so it's very these are the difficult things to control. and so easy for a

wicked person to use. and this is what she's done . she's taken is what she's done. she's taken advantage of a position almost seemingly . will we ever know seemingly. will we ever know why? i think people want to know why? i think people want to know why she did this. and i'm sure people will be doing everything in their possible to find out. >> mike, thank you, sophie reaper joins us >> mike, thank you, sophie reaperjoins us again from reaper joins us again from manchester crown court. sophie judge justice goss, he has given lucy letby that whole life sentence. what was the reaction in court . in court. >> well, i don't think they could have been really any other opfion could have been really any other option for justice goss could have been really any other option forjustice goss in terms option for justice goss in terms of the reaction. i've been outside here listening across it, so i'm not 100, but i can only imagine that the families , only imagine that the families, the way they would have reacted was to be a mixture of both relief, but also anger at confirmation that the person who murdered their babies has indeed become this this figure , head of become this this figure, head of

the media. and she now faces life in prison. we've just received a statement from senior crown prosecutor pascale jones . crown prosecutor pascale jones. she says today's sentence means letby will never again be able to inflict the suffering she did while working as a neonatal nurse. she has rightly been brought to justice by the courts. my thoughts remain with the families of the victims who have demonstrated enormous strength in the face of extraordinary suffering. i hope that the trial has brought answers which had long eluded them. now of course, it has brought answers to them. but as we were talking about earlier , we were talking about earlier, there's one thing they will most likely never get an answer to and that is why lucy letby carried out these heinous crimes. seven babies murdered, six others attempted murder , one six others attempted murder, one of whom she attempted to murder on several occasions. these crimes. justice goss, in his sentencing, he described it as a

gross breach of trust . he said gross breach of trust. he said there was premeditation and calculation and cunning in your actions. and that the impact of your crimes has been immense. now of course, we expected lucy letby to be awarded a whole life tariff. realistically there was no real other option for justice goss, given the nature of her crimes. and we now know that lucy letby britton is in modern history. britain the most prolific serial killer of children . she will die in prison i >> interesting that the judge was explaining that he was addressing the court as if she was there and then going on to say that she would be provided with copies , not just of his with copies, not just of his remarks, but those statements that we heard earlier today from the families in court. >> of course. i mean , it's been >> of course. i mean, it's been highly controversial that lucy letby has been able to refuse to come up to the dock, not only to

face the families of those victims , to hear those highly victims, to hear those highly emotional impact statements, but also to avoid looking justice gossin also to avoid looking justice goss in the eye as he sentenced her this afternoon . now, we, her this afternoon. now, we, lucy letby, will spend life in prison, but a lot of people still perhaps may think that's not enough and that she may be provided with these statements. we, of course , doubtful that she we, of course, doubtful that she will actually read them , but will actually read them, but it's perhaps almost the next step for the families now is that they can imagine that the best case scenario is that she'd been provided these statements and that at some point she will read them and she will understand the hurts that she has caused and those has caused them. and those babies, sophie, it was five boys and two girls killed by sophie, killed by lucy letby . killed by lucy letby. >> two of the boys were brothers from triplets , and lucy letby from triplets, and lucy letby was one of the last to hold them. she even dressed him after

he died. i mean them. she even dressed him after he died. i mean, what dreadful, dreadful thing for that baby's parents to have to live with just unimaginable pain. >> i imagine that those family bullies have experienced. you mentioned the two boys who were part of a set of triplets. we heard statements from their parents, both the mother and father . they were pre—recorded father. they were pre—recorded statements that were filmed and they were played out in the court because both parents simply felt they would be unable to cope. reading them out in person . the father of those two person. the father of those two boys. child oh, and child. p he said that at one point he was he considered taking his own life. he was so distraught that he'd hit rock bottom. he said, lucy letby has destroyed our lives. the anger and hatred i have for her will never go away. it has destroyed me as a man and as a father. and i think that really encapsulates the feeling of a lot of those parents who were sitting in court today to hear

that sentencing that she has effectively ruined a lot of their lives. and this is pain that they will now have to deal with for the rest of their lives . and although lucy letby will now die in prison, it's really just a consequence at this point . they will still have to suffer with the fact that either lucy letby attempted to murder or did in fact murder their babies . in fact murder their babies. >> now, one of the processes, sophie, that they may find some sort of answers is the inquiry that will now take place with the court case having concluded and rishi sunak the prime minister saying he wanted that to happen as quickly as possible. but there are questions now is possible. but there are this should be something that is judge led and statutory, where people are called to give their evidence and they have to give that evidence on oath. that is a longer process. i mean, have you had any indication from the families that you've spoken to as to how they believe this should now be taken forward ? i i

should now be taken forward? i i think at this point, mark, the families are really just trying to process . to process. >> yes. what they've been heanng >> yes. what they've been hearing not only over the past ten months, but specifically the last few weeks, of course, as we've been hearing those verdicts come in in dribs and drabs. we've been unable to report them until since last friday. until last friday. sorry and at that point, as they've been coming in, of course, each parent and each family have been having to process that . so having to process that. so i think at this point, many of them, they're unable to comment on exactly how they're feeling and exactly what is to come in the future. >> but in the last few moments , >> but in the last few moments, sophie, we're hearing that justice goss has thanked the jury justice goss has thanked the jury for their outstanding diligence and knowledge that the trial will have a very emotional impact . also telling them that impact. also telling them that there is support available , there is support available, which underlines how difficult this trial has been for the this trial has been for the families, the victims families, but also the jurors themselves

having to listen to huge swathes of evidence over 9 or 10 months i >> -- >> well, i think m >> well, i think a great example of their diligence is exactly how long they spent on their deliberations. of course, there were 22 charges on the indictment. so we always knew that there was going to be a significant period of time. they would take to come to their verdict . but they spent over 100 verdict. but they spent over 100 hours in that deliberating room trying to come to verdicts. we got to at three unanimous verdict sorry . and then the rest verdict sorry. and then the rest were on the majority direction. there were six that were left as hung because they were unable to come to that verdict. but they did . they spent as much time as did. they spent as much time as possible. and it was only when the judge asked if given more time, would they be able to come to more verdicts that they then did concede and they were dismissed those final six, dismissed on those final six, but were able to come on 14 but they were able to come on 14 of those verdicts, what, 16 if you include the two not guilty

verdicts . so i think it's verdicts. so i think it's a testament to their diligence over the past ten months. of course, the evidence, some of it has been quite graphic. and in other places very harrowing. heanng other places very harrowing. hearing the evidence given by many members of the families. and it must have been incredibly difficult for those jurors to sit not only and take it all in, but to also not let emotion impacts their family. but to also not let emotion impacts their family . sophie for impacts their family. sophie for the moment, thank you for that. >> but of course, we are expecting some reaction from the crown prosecution service and the police outside the court there. and we'll return to as we get that. but let's just update you on something else that's coming through, and that is that the senior manager in charge of nursing , the senior manager in charge of nursing, when the senior manager in charge of nursing , when lucy letby and nursing, when lucy letby and took these murders and seriously injured the babies, has now been suspended . alison kelly and suspended. alison kelly and other managers at the countess of chester hospital being accused , of course, in the accused, of course, in the evidence at court of ignoring warnings. from the warnings. this was from the consultants who gave evidence .

consultants who gave evidence. she is now nursing director at the northern caroline's, but has since been suspended in light of information that emerged during the trial . that from the the trial. that from the national health service as we've been saying, lucy letby refused to attend court today for sentencing . sentencing. >> zara, elena's killer , jordan >> zara, elena's killer, jordan mcsweeney, you might remember that case well. he also refused to attend court. and we can now speak to zara's aunt, farrow now. good afternoon to you . now. good afternoon to you. thank you for joining now. good afternoon to you. thank you forjoining us on gb thank you for joining us on gb news fully appreciate this must be a very , very difficult day be a very, very difficult day for you as well. what are your thoughts on today's events? primarily the fact that letby refused to appear in the dock just like zara's killer ? just like zara's killer? >> i think i think that the important question to ask is why offenders are doing this and why this is becoming a trend.

offenders are doing this and why this is becoming a trend . is it this is becoming a trend. is it because they're too distressed or is it because they know they can get away with not attending their sentencing and i think if it's the latter , then really it's the latter, then really something needs to change, doesn't it? because facing your something needs to change, sentencing is the moment that you're held accountable at sentencing is the moment that moment that you face the judgement . and think we all judgement. and i think we all agree that it would be ideal for offenders to stand in the dock and face their judgement, both for the victims , for the for the victims, for the families , for the person families, for the person themselves and for society, because we all know that justice has to be seen to be done in to order feel that it is being done. and, and for us, certainly when there was just this empty

space case in the courtroom , it space case in the courtroom, it made our victim impact statements feel pointless . where statements feel pointless. where were they landing ? the judge had were they landing? the judge had already read victim impact statements. the was it for the press . it was supposed to for be press. it was supposed to for be the offender for and the offender to hear the impact . offender to hear the impact. whether they listen or not is another is another story. and maybe they don't listen. but as victims, we need to feel that the process includes us in order for us to be able to feel some sense of retribution . sense of retribution. >> yeah. and the government says it's looking at this urgently . it's looking at this urgently. they have got the victims and prisoners bill going through parliament at the moment, but you'll know that the counterargument is that it could be as upsetting or disruptive if you have someone who's

physically refusing to come into the dock or that makes a noise and tries to disrupt the court proceedings, even if they are made physically to attend a totally understand that counter argument . argument. >> this this loophole was created . so in you know, created. so in you know, historically we when felons refuse to attend the courtroom, the process was slowed down. so this and then as as the process is slowed down it's much it's harmful for victims. so it was this loophole was in fact created to serve victims. so i totally understand that. and i think it's important that we don't go back to that . but and don't go back to that. but and neither do we have to force offenders into the courtroom. who's saying that we have to use brute force? we use the language that they understand, and that is okay. of course, this wouldn't work. in the case of letby , but certainly in our

letby, but certainly in our case, if he on his minimum tariff , he got five years taken tariff, he got five years taken off because he pleaded guilty on all that had to be said to him was right that five years goes back on. you don't attend. you behave badly, you get taken out. the five years goes back on. it's simple. but but also we can use technology, can't we? and we can streamline. >> well, i was going to ask you about that. yeah, because we had robert buckland, the former justice gb justice secretary here on gb news friday, saying, look, news on friday, saying, look, the . you can the technology is there. you can beam all those witness statements. the judge's remarks to the prison or the police holding cell, and they are physically there and they have to watch and listen . to watch and listen. >> yes . and i think why don't we >> yes. and i think why don't we use that technology? i suppose the questions i here is what are we doing this for ? why? why do we doing this for? why? why do we doing this for? why? why do we want offenders to face the judge ? and there's a couple of judge? and there's a couple of there's a couple of answers to

that possibly i'm i don't know for certain , but i've thought for certain, but i've thought about this a lot. this is, of course, the most important factor when you're a victim of murder. the most important factors are that they get caught, that they get punished, that society has kept safe from them, and that's what's really important . them, and that's what's really important. but this them, and that's what's really important . but this is them, and that's what's really important. but this is important because because victims get a sense of i'm involved in the justice system and we have to , justice system and we have to, as society, members of society , as society, members of society, we feel like we're being represented , counted. and if represented, counted. and if we're asked to give victim impact statements, we have to feel like they're going to land somewhere, even if you know on deaf ears that that they go somewhere . but but, but why somewhere. but but, but why would we be doing this? and i think the key thing here is, is that actually making offenders attend the courtroom is actually it's a frightening thing for them to stand in front of a judge and to be judged and maybe

they feel a moment of shame in that. they feel a moment of shame in that . well, if we don't do that, that. well, if we don't do that, if we don't make that happen somehow, maybe what we're doing is we're removing a deterrent, an important crime deterrent. yeah >> and do you feel when you look back that there's still a hole there where you couldn't quite get closure ? i mean, i'm not get closure? i mean, i'm not i don't think you ever will get closure, will you? but there's a hole there because such an important part was missing when he didn't appear. it's it is there is a hole . there is a hole. >> but i don't really know for certain how the holes, how it all works out because the hole for us is that , you know, our for us is that, you know, our sorrow was murdered and we'll never know why exactly. you know, what was going on in his mind , why he murdered in the way mind, why he murdered in the way that he did . and so there's that he did. and so there's always a gap. but as human

beings, i think whenever somebody offends us, hurts us, damages us, you know, destroys one of ours that we love, we want to be able to face that person. we as humans, we want to look at that person and say, you did this to me. look at that person and say, you did this to me . and i think that did this to me. and i think that that's a natural human need. but but maybe it can't be for all of us, you know, and we can only do the best here for. >> thank you for taking the time to speak to us here on gb news. and again, we know how difficult it is for you to reflect on these. but thanks very much indeed for that. mike neville is still with us studio, still with us in the studio, former detective. former met police detective. just at the crown just looking at what the crown prosecution is saying, prosecution service is saying, they've issued a statement letby will able to again will never be able to again inflict the suffering did inflict the suffering she did while working neonatal while working as a neonatal nurse. rightly been nurse. she has rightly been brought justice by the court, brought to justice by the court, going on to say, thoughts going on to say, our thoughts remain families of going on to say, our thoughts victims who demonstrated enormous the face

enormous strength in the face of extraordinary suffering and i guess the other aspect. guess that's the other aspect. it's gone it's not just having gone through their shattering experiences initially . they've experiences initially. they've had to relive it all through this court case as well. >> this is the wickedness of letby guilty . if letby pleading not guilty. if she'd have pleaded guilty to these, course , much of this these, of course, much of this wouldn't. all detail would wouldn't. all this detail would not have to have been relived by the parents relatives. the parents and relatives. >> have to prove the case. >> yeah, absolutely. and just show and i just feel with this business going into the dock, business of going into the dock, this used happen. i've this never used to happen. i've never happened in my never known it happened in my police service and it's all the time seem to have time the criminal seem to have more human rights than the victims and the families of victims. and this is where we've seemingly as seemingly gone wrong as a society. and we hear politics and say in there urgently looking at it. but nothing seems to urgent at all. and the to be urgent at all. and the pubuc to be urgent at all. and the public deserve better. they need to see criminals punished and the criminals need to stand there and hear the judgement upon them . upon them. >> has there been sort of a creeping increase in this? >> because just like you , i

>> because just like you, i covered when i was a newspaper reporter , spent in crown reporter, i spent hours in crown court covering cases. never do i remember ever. a defendant refused to appear. it just didn't happen . didn't happen. >> i'm with you on that. this is a new thing and it'll be from some lawyer who tells us all about the human rights of these people. and we forever forget that the victims and the families deserve the human rights, not the person who's murdered seven babies and done other wicked acts. >> but what about the point i was making a fire that the flip side is if you've got someone kicking being kicking and screaming, being dragged into the dock in very difficult circumstances and lots of families there who are very upset anyway, it's counterproductive in those circumstances , i don't know. circumstances, i don't know. >> i think you need to see that person there and that person needs listen to what the needs to listen to what the judge is saying. and there is a power in the court where the judge in his robes and the atmosphere there, the royal court of arms, that most people will behave. even the kray twins stood to attention when they

were sentenced . you know, and we were sentenced. you know, and we live in a different world now, but too much , too much but we give too much, too much leeway to criminals because, again , it was mentioned there again, it was mentioned there that if somebody had time taken off, put on the crime, they would turn up . this is very would turn up. this is very difficult with lucy letby, but i'm sure that three prison guards could have put it in handcuffs carried handcuffs and carried her. >> say, is >> what i was going to say, is it a case of them being chained and, carried up there, and, you know, carried up there, gaggedif and, you know, carried up there, gagged if they have to be? >> much >> well, it doesn't take much really that if you really in the sense that if you say to people, if you give somebody the you don't somebody the choice, you don't have won't go. you say have to go, i won't go. you say you're i'll you're going and well, i'll carry you there. or you can you're going and well, i'll carry upu there. or you can you're going and well, i'll carry up there here. or you can you're going and well, i'll carry up there and. or you can you're going and well, i'll carry up there and stand»u can you're going and well, i'll carry up there and stand to :an walk up there and stand to attention yourself. i think most people have given that the choice now for choice is too easy now for criminals say, i'm not going criminals to say, i'm not going to were given that to go. if they were given that opfion to go. if they were given that option you either go option that you either go yourself up this, yourself or we carry up this, the options are very the two options are not very good. and they'll walk good. then and so they'll walk up stairs. so i just think up the stairs. so i just think it's gone far . up the stairs. so i just think it's gone far. and up the stairs. so i just think it's gone far . and we've it's gone too far. and we've just criminals are taken off. right. >> what do you make of this suggestion that sir robert buckland, former justice buckland, the former justice minister, here, that , you

minister, made here, that, you know, you've got the technology already where you get evidence provided from prison into provided from prison cell into court, reverse the process so that the prisoner then has to listen and see what's going on in the court itself . in the court itself. >> i still think they should stand up in that physical presence and then the victims can see justice done. they criminal knows that they're being sentenced to this, not if this sat downstairs with some tv system on. they could just simply hide in the corner. do it when you're in the dock, you're in a physical place where you've got to look at it. >> i guess the other aspect is that, as we've known today, eight have gone eight of the jurors have gone back court today for the back into court today for the sentencing. that's the other aspect jury who have aspect is that the jury who have decided whether you are guilty or not, not judge, they see or not, not the judge, they see the sentencing being carried out. think that's right. out. i think that's right. >> it's important, it, >> and it's important, isn't it, in our country, in western democracies, we have jury jury trials the community trials that the community is involved in justice. it's not a hidden thing. involved in justice. it's not a hidden thing . the community is hidden thing. the community is involved the dedication involved and the dedication shown by those jurors to listen

to harrowing evidence, to that harrowing evidence, many of medical of them will have no medical experience from experience whatsoever apart from going to the doctor. and obviously, they want to know the results of this case. and she joins, doesn't the infamy joins, doesn't she, the infamy of being let no joins myra of being lucy let no joins myra hindley rose west the very, very few women , 3 or 4 have been few women, 3 or 4 have been given these life whole life orders. i imagine. >> i mean, the judge underlined how how harrowing this case has been by saying to the jurors there is support available for you if you need it, there is support available for you if you need it , that would you if you need it, that would surely to the judge as surely extend to the judge as well. yes >> yes, i'm sure. >>— >> yes, i'm sure. >> i'm sure the security staff, anybody who sat in, anybody who's listened to that awful evidence . evidence. >> because unless you've got police or medical experience police in or medical experience where to dealing where you're used to dealing with trauma and damaging things, it must be all if you're a greengrocer on that jury is suddenly confronted with this dreadful evidence of a children being hurt and harmed and murdered. it must be terrible, but it's good that the judge recognises this and takes that into account. >> yeah . if you're just joining

>> yeah. if you're just joining us here in gb news, let's just update you fact that mr update you on the fact that mr justice has handed down justice goss has handed down whole tariffs all the whole life tariffs on all the charges that letby was found guilty of both murder and attempted murder. he had told her addressing her, even though she was not in the court itself. there was a malevolence bordering on sadism. in your actions during the course of this trial, you've coldly denied any responsibility for your wrongdoing . you have no remorse. any responsibility for your there are no mitigating factors . and he went on to say in sentencing her to basically life behind bars , you will spend the behind bars, you will spend the rest of your life in prison by the nature and number of such murders and attempted murders by neonatal nurse entrusted care neonatal nurse entrusted to care for it's a case of very for them, it's a case of very exceptional circumstances. >> lucy letby force fed babies milk. she forced air into their stomachs and she poisoned them with insulin . and this was over with insulin. and this was over a period of 12 months. lucy letby 33 years old and from

hereford , she has no chance of hereford, she has no chance of parole. she has been given that whole life term and it's been described as a cruel, calculated and cynical campaign of child murder . murder. >> yeah, we are expecting more reaction at manchester crown court from both the police service, who of course will continue now to investigate some 4000 missions to the hospital there in chester and also the suggestions that there could be some 30 to 40 babies where they have to look in more detail. we'll update you on that and any more news about the inquiry that will follow. but let's get an update the news update now on the news headlines. is waiting for headlines. tamsin is waiting for . us >> mark, thank you. here are the headunes >> mark, thank you. here are the headlines at 130. there worst child serial killer in modern british history will spend the rest of her life in prison within the last half an hour. lucy letby was given a whole life term at manchester crown court. the 33 year old was found

guilty of murdering seven babies and attempting to murder six more at the countess of chester hospital between 2015 and 16. letby refused to attend court for sentencing . handing down the for sentencing. handing down the sentence, mr justice for sentencing. handing down the sentence, mrjustice goss said there was premeditation calculation and cunning in her actions . actions. >> you acted in a way that was complete contrary to the normal human instincts of nurturing and caring for babies and in gross breach of the trust that all citizens play face in those who work in the medical and caring professions impact statements from parents were heard by the court this morning . court this morning. >> the mother of one baby murdered by lucy letby says her experience in hospital was like something out of a horror story . another said she was haunted by vivid images and that letby had destroyed her life. after two of her triplets were killed . the prime minister says the

inquiry into letby crimes should happen as quickly as possible . happen as quickly as possible. >> well, i think the important thing for the inquiry to do is make sure that families get the answers that they need, it answers that they need, that it is possible for us to learn the lessons from what happened. everything conducted transparent and to happen as quickly as possible. those are the objectives that we want for the inquiry and will make sure that it's set up deliver on those it's set up to deliver on those aims . aims. >> well, you can get more on this story by visiting our website, gb news.com . direct website, gb news.com. direct bullion sponsors the finance report on gb news for gold and bullion sponsors the finance silver investment. >> here's a quick snapshot of today's markets. >> the pound will buy you $1.276 and ,1.1695. the price of gold

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this evening. gb news the people's . channel people's. channel >> you're watching the live desk on gb news, britain's most prolific child killer, lucy letby , will spend the rest of letby, will spend the rest of her life in prison as the 33

year old former nurse was handed a whole life tariff at manchester crown court. a short time ago, mrjustice goss said that lepage showed premeditation , calculation and cunning in her actions when sentencing her. >> the parents of one of her victims being quoted as saying, lucy letby did steroid our lives i >> -- >> well, some political reaction now in the labour leader, sir keir starmer has called for the government to change the law on offenders not attending sentencing hearings . sentencing hearings. >> we need to change the law. i hope the government will do it because i think it can be done very quickly. if they do not, we will force an amendment to appropriate legislation . but appropriate legislation. but actually my position is to invite the government to get on with it to offer labour support so this could go through very, very quickly . this isn't the very quickly. this isn't the first case. the government has been dragging its heels on this . get on with it for the sake of these victims. and of course the other case is that went before

it . well, in terms of the it. well, in terms of the government , the justice government, the justice secretary, alex chalk , said this secretary, alex chalk, said this after verdict . lucy letby, after the verdict. lucy letby, he said, is not just a murderer, but a coward who's failure to face a victims families refusing to hear their impact statements and society's condemnation is the final insult. he went on to say , we're looking to change the say, we're looking to change the law so offenders can be compelled to attend sentencing hearings. well, let's get more now with our political editor, chris hope, who can join us at westminster. and chris, certainly there is the i think the victims and prisoners, bill, it's called. it's going through parliament at the moment. could that be the vehicle for this ? that be the vehicle for this? >> well, number 10 and say today that can't be a vehicle for this. so keir starmer, they're saying we all support the government or even if they won't do we'll do it for you. and do it, we'll do it for you. and he's director of public he's a former director of public prosecutions, all about prosecutions, knows all about prosecuting the prosecuting and the frustrations. but that legislation you mentioned, denmark this denmark cannot be used for this . therefore, waiting on . so therefore, we're waiting on new legislation to be produced for the king's speech. when the

government its plans government sets out its plans for next year with new for the next year with new laws that around november that should be around november time. there'll be quite time. and then there'll be quite a rush on to get that through in double quick time before parliament breaks up for the general next year. but general election next year. but with support not with labour support it's not very to be very very good. not going to be very controversial. get controversial. it should get through. are through. the current rules are that don't, if you refuse that if you don't, if you refuse to turn for sentencing, you to turn up for a sentencing, you can get two years added to your sentence for contempt of court. but serious case but in the most serious case cases which lucy letby is cases of which lucy letby is a the serious case, the 2—2 the most serious case, the 2—2 more years makes no difference. it's a whole life tariff. so they're looking at other ways of doing idea rather doing it. one idea rather buckland on news last week buckland on gb news last week saying how the verdict could be piped into the cells as you were saying earlier, mark, that's one idea. of course . how do you idea. of course. how do you compel someone to come along ? compel someone to come along? yeah >> and chris keir starmer is saying the government is dragging its heels over this . i dragging its heels over this. i mean, is there not any way that this law can be rushed through more quickly ? he's got a point.

more quickly? he's got a point. >> keir starmer, back in february , dominic raab remember february, dominic raab remember him? he was the justice secretary, he said then that the government would move ahead rapidly to try and enforce to force criminals to come and hean force criminals to come and hear, hear their sentence . and hear, hear their sentence. and it also here, crucially for here the victims, victim impact the victims, the victim impact statements number 10 today, he said, well , yes, yes, it's said, well, yes, yes, it's important , said, well, yes, yes, it's important, but we have conflicting priorities. we have to do other things , too, in to do other things, too, in government, not just one thing. so, yes, they are dragging their heels. right on heels. keir starmer's right on that. and the hope is that the anger and the fury these anger and the fury over these crimes the crimes will mean that the political will will get behind this we'll see something this and we'll see something in november. then on the november. and then maybe on the statute know, well, this statute by, you know, well, this time year, sir. time next year, no, sir. >> starmer has also said >> keir starmer has also said that this inquiry into what happened should be on a statutory footing. this is the other argument that seems to be going on with certainly rishi sunak saying he wanted to see the process as quickly as possible. and of course , possible. and of course, statutory hearings aren't quick , are they ? , are they? >> that's right . the balance is

>> that's right. the balance is speed again , doing a thorough speed again, doing a thorough inquiry now , the government was inquiry now, the government was informed by representatives of the victims family last week that they were to going go as fast as they can and they thought then that the non—statutory inquiry would work. but but in fact i think the government's today is saying, well, rishi sunak is saying, well, rishi sunak is saying that they are leaning towards works, you will towards whatever works, you will do problem that as do it. the problem is that as you say, mark, if you get lawyers involved, for lawyers involved, lawyers for all all all the trust lawyers for all the managers and executives, lawyers the families, lawyers for the families, it's soon time soon racks up costs and time. and really, frankly, there needs to be lessons learned quickly. so another letby case can't happen . happen again. >> christopher, for the moment, thank you for that. we'll see, of course, what emerges in terms of course, what emerges in terms of both the pressing need to get of course, what emerges in terms people in the dock. and then, of course, the inquiry as well. but let's now return to manchester let's now return to manchester crown court and sophie reaper is there, of course, our northwest of england reporter who's been following this from the very beginning. sophie just give us

anidea beginning. sophie just give us an idea of the atmosphere there, because of course we're getting these fairly dry comments from these fairly dry comments from the judge , but indicating the the judge, but indicating the pain that the families have gone through have we had any indication how they're coping with this day , the day of with this day, the day of reckoning, if you like ? reckoning, if you like? >> well, although i wasn't present in court for the sentencing because i've been out here reacting. i spoke with a colleague moments ago and asked him what the reaction was like when justice got passed. that sentence of a whole life tariff. and he told me that there was absolute silence in the courtroom. but some of the family members were crying . so family members were crying. so i think that's highly indicative of exactly what they are feeling . they're probably too emotional to react in any other way than to react in any other way than to allow a few tears to fall . to allow a few tears to fall. they're probably still in a bit of shock, still coming to terms with the fact that the woman who murdered their children or attempt to murder their children will now spend the rest of her

life in prison . today lucy life in prison. today lucy libby's parents, they were not in court either for the sentencing, and yet they had been supporting their daughter throughout this trial, hadn't they ? they? >> yes , they have been present >> yes, they have been present at court every single day since october. >> they've always been a presence there for their daughter . however, once lucy daughter. however, once lucy stopped appearing in the dock , stopped appearing in the dock, we then noticed that her parents stopped appearing in court. so one would imagine that they were coming to show their support for their daughter and when they realised that she was no longer going to be there to see their support, that they instead would quietly take step back and quietly take a step back and instead perhaps watch the news from home about exactly what the sentence would be. >> and, you know, talking about this this personal reaction we've heard from detective chief inspector nicola evans , who's inspector nicola evans, who's been again with this case from

the beginning , indicating that the beginning, indicating that the beginning, indicating that the impact statements read out in court today, hearing their own experience, she said in their own words , it has been their own words, it has been truly heartbreaking . and let's truly heartbreaking. and let's not forget that those pursuing this case have had to go through all these details . and there's all these details. and there's more work to do, if you like, with what 4000 admissions to the hospital. they now have to look at absolute lutely. >> and that statement from nicola, i can confirm, is sincere because when those impact statements were being read out, we could see her in court and she was in fact crying as a reaction to those impact statements . so it is a sincere statements. so it is a sincere statements. so it is a sincere statement from detective chief inspector nicola evans. i have got the statement here, so i'll read just a little bit out for our our viewers at home. she says today lucy letby has been handed a whole life order. the sentence reflects the true scale and gravity of her horrific crimes and ensures that a

calculated and dangerous individual is behind bars for a very long time . nothing will very long time. nothing will bnng very long time. nothing will bring back the babies who died or take away the pain and suffering experienced by all of the families over the years . but the families over the years. but ihope the families over the years. but i hope that the significance sentence will bring some comfort at this dark time. now i've worked with nicola evans over the course of this case. she's been a key figure for the media to liaise with over this investigation. she's been right at the heart of it . we at the heart of it. we interviewed her ahead of those verdicts coming in, and she told us what lucy letby was like when she'd spoken to her. and i think the word that sticks in my mind that nicola used was beige. and when we asked her about that, the reason for that, she said , the reason for that, she said, was because she just seems like a normal average nurse. she wasn't extraordinary in any particular way. she wasn't particularly memorable. she was just beige and i think that really does describe lucy letby

quite well. she was able to carry out these heinous crimes under the cover of being the average nurse. the quiet one who didn't really speak that much. and that's why it took so long for anyone to realise exactly what was going on. on the neonatal unit at the countess of chester. >> when lucy letby did appear in court and was in the witness box, what were your observations of her? sophie one of the things i've kept reading is actually she's very softly spoken . she's she's very softly spoken. she's very emotionless . what did you very emotionless. what did you think when you saw her? well, on the very few occasions we actually heard her speak until she began her evidence, she was very softly spoken. >> but as she sat in the dock, she was always remarkably cool, calm and collected. she never really showed much emotion on her face. she always seemed to take everything in her stride . take everything in her stride. there were a few instances where you did see a flicker of emotion, but until she began to

give her own evidence, there wasn't really much. however, when she did take the stand, that's when we really did start to see the facade slipping on. on a few separate occasions . on a few separate occasions. there were several instances where there was heavy tears , and where there was heavy tears, and there was even one day where we had to stop court altogether because she simply said she just couldn't take it anymore and that she needed a break. so i think as we got on with those ten months, then we did start to see the reactions coming. but the majority of the time she was quite collected , i would say. quite collected, i would say. and then , of course, when we quite collected, i would say. started to hear those verdicts, the first few that she was indeed present for in the dock, we heard on the 8th of august, the first two guilty verdicts for those two verdicts. she was very emotional. we could hear her sobbing as she was led away from the dock. then on the next set of verdicts, when we heard those first murder, guilty of murder verdicts, then she became her old self. then she remained completely emotionless , stony

completely emotionless, stony faced, not reacting in any way. and after that, we didn't see her again. that was the last time we saw her in the dock . time we saw her in the dock. perhaps because she had she at that point had accepted her fate . she knew she'd been found guilty at that stage of four murders, and she must have realised it, that realistically she was looking at life in prison at that point . so her prison at that point. so her emotions have been up and down. >> i was going to say that the other interesting phrase that nicola evans, a detective chief inspector used by the interview nicola evans, a detective chief process that they went through, she said it was surreal in terms of the answers that they were getting and the way that it was going. you know, she's a very experienced detective . this may experienced detective. this may indicate difficulty in going indicate the difficulty in going forward to investigate these further cases that they're looking at now at the hospital . looking at now at the hospital. >> well, given what we've heard today, that sentence of a whole life tariff, i can't imagine that lucy letby will be particularly willing to comply with any further questioning

from cheshire constabulary. so, as you say , that perhaps does as you say, that perhaps does put on the back foot in put them on the back foot in terms of this new inquiry, in terms of this new inquiry, in terms of this new inquiry, in terms of any further investigations that will be going on, they will be instead relying on evidence from perhaps other people that she worked with at the time . with at the time. >> sophie reaper thank you for your observations. i know it's been a very gruelling time for you as well. so thank you for your brilliant, brilliant reporting from manchester crown court, where lucy letby has been sentenced to a whole life term . sentenced to a whole life term. the former met police detective mike neville is with us. sir keir starmer commenting. mike saying that the inquiry into lucy letby crimes should be absolutely put on a statutory footing and that's partly because it's what the victim's family want. now that has to be a consideration, doesn't it? >> think so, yes. you should >> i think so, yes. you should care what the care for listening to what the victims families and the victims families and all the other potential victims families as i just think this as well. and i just think this is so grave , this incident that

is so grave, this incident that we have to have the inquiry at the level, led by the highest level, led by a judge . so evidence is on oath so judge. so evidence is on oath so they can see and as indicated before, slow and correct is much better than fast . and getting it better than fast. and getting it wrong and having to revisit things. >> and i guess the parallel would be where we've been discussing the fact that letby has not been in the dock to hear the sentencing, the statutory bafis the sentencing, the statutory basis for the inquiry means people have to be called to, if you're called , you have to turn people have to be called to, if up. there's no get out. there's no there was no get out clause at all. >> you have to turn up. you have to give your evidence and that evidence is on hold. so if you tell lies, you will face criminal proceedings before perjury. so i just think it's the right way to go . this is the right way to go. this is dreadful. we've heard that there may be many, many other cases. people and people have got to be assured. you know, when we had the wayne cousins, the the case of wayne cousins, the police officer who killed one person, there calls for person, there was calls for disbandment the metropolitan disbandment of the metropolitan police and the like. here we

have a who's killed at have a nurse who's killed at least seven babies and added on to that, you know, the cases of beverley , alice and shipman, beverley, alice and shipman, harold shipman as well. these harold shipman as well. these should go into hospital and be should go into a hospital and be absolutely they're absolutely trusting. they're going best treatment going to get the best treatment . you cheshire police >> you praise cheshire police for what they've done so far, but now whether but one wonders now whether they're some they're going to need some outside bearing in mind the outside help bearing in mind the scale they've in scale of what they've got in front of them. scale of what they've got in absolutely, because cheshire constabulary is a very small force. >> you know, it's surrounded by manchester merseyside police manchester and merseyside police and they'll have of course, they've got they've got senior detectives involved in this case and they'll every day and they'll have every day they'll there'll and they'll have every day the burglaries there'll and they'll have every day the burglaries , there'll and they'll have every day the burglaries , robberies,�*re'll and they'll have every day theburglaries , robberies, rapes be burglaries, robberies, rapes have be dealt with. and have to be dealt with. and i think only right that other think it's only right that other forces will in and assist. forces will come in and assist. and procedures for and there are procedures for that happen under mutual aid that to happen under mutual aid . other forces supply . other forces will supply detectives rather like the hillsborough inquiry had detectives from several different forces investigating . different forces investigating. so i think that would be right. but the key thing is as well, of course, is the medical experts who be absolutely

who will be absolutely intrinsically part of that inquiry . inquiry. >> do some police officers get special training on that? it's you know, obviously, they have forensic officers, instance you know, obviously, they have f

for these families that will continue? surely it's not a case of what's happened today that's that's it. now, she's been sentenced. >> absolutely. so the family liaison officers in the police, they're highly trained officers who've got a real ability to communicate, to look after people . they won't just be some people. they won't just be some simply withdrawn . they'll simply withdrawn. they'll maintain a relationship with the families as well. but as you say, it's a it's an absolute nightmare. i remember my own grandpa had lost the children and a child and it never was forgotten . and how could you forgotten. and how could you ever forget if it's lost in such evil circum stances? it's just dreadful. and i just my prayers are with the families of those who died and those who have been very seriously injured and disabled. >> yeah. unless also perhaps reflect on the police directly involved as well. sophie indicating of course, that detective chief inspector nicola evans, she had tears in her eyes in that court hearing. you know, they're beings. everybody they're human beings. everybody police officers, police officers are beings. yeah, well, are human beings. yeah, well, let's reflect on those let's just reflect on those thoughts nicola evans that

thoughts from nicola evans that we had a statement saying the we had in a statement saying the sentence reflecting the true scale and gravity of lucy letby is horrific crimes and ensures that a calculated and dangerous individuals behind bars for a very long time . nothing will very long time. nothing will bnng very long time. nothing will bring babies died bring back the babies who died would pain and would take away the pain and suffering experienced by all the families. that the families. but i hope that the sentence will bring some comfort at dark time . at this dark time. >> a brighter outlook with boxt solar proud sponsors of weather on . gb news. solar proud sponsors of weather on. gb news. i'm solar proud sponsors of weather on . gb news. i'm alex deakin and on. gb news. i'm alex deakin and this is your latest weather update from the met office for gb news for the rest of monday. >> pretty warm across the south with many places seeing sunny spells. there are a few showers around and it's more than just a few the far few showers in the far northwest. low pressure northwest. this low pressure system wet system bringing pretty wet and windy across the windy conditions across the western and increasingly western isles and increasingly now across the highlands as well. so staying wet here, we'll see a few showers this evening over wales, perhaps over northern so northern england for a time. so some heavy bursts of rain before that away, turning

that clears away, turning down across most of scotland and northern through northern ireland through the night across the south, it night. but across the south, it generally stays some mist generally stays dry. some mist and fog is possible, staying pretty as well across the pretty warm as well across the whole of the uk. actually temperatures holding in the temperatures holding up in the mid—teens in most urban areas. so quite a mild start tuesday so quite a mild start to tuesday suddenly start over the midlands and eastern england and another fine day generally across the south. once we've lost any morning mist and fog across northern england, wales, southern cloud southern scotland, more cloud than there will than today and there will be a few more showers around as well . the showers easing off across . the showers easing off across scotland, though, so northwestern scotland, though, so little drier. a cooler feel little drier. a cooler feel across the north. but again, in the south, in the sunshine, temperatures easily get temperatures could easily get into 26, 27 is into the mid 20s, 26, 27 is possible by wednesday. again, quite a lot of cloud at times, but generally, again, most places looking fine and sunny. increasing chance of a few showers over the southwest and west wales and again, of course western parts of scotland, there will be some showers and generally cooler. but generally a bit cooler. but again in the sunshine in the southeast, 27 is possible .

southeast, 27 is possible. >> a brighter outlook with boxt solar proud sponsors of weather on .

gb news. well. good afternoon . well. good afternoon. >> this is the live desk here on gb news. coming up this monday lunchtime, a judge tells lucy letby she will die in prison,

sentencing her to a whole life tariff for the murder of babies in her care. >> he said she was guilty of a cruel, calculated campaign of child murder. >> the sentencing comes after victims statements were read out to the court. the words of one mother you thought it was your right to play god with our children's lives . children's lives. >> letby was not in the dock for the hearing. her refusal to attend called cowardly by the prime minister, but the justice secretary says a review of the law is now underway. labour says the government is dragging its heels issue . heels over the issue. >> during the next hour we'll bnng >> during the next hour we'll bring you all the latest reaction from manchester crown court and westminster , all of court and westminster, all of that very shortly . first, your that very shortly. first, your headunes that very shortly. first, your headlines with . tamsin pip.

headlines with. tamsin pip. >> thank you. good afternoon from the gb newsroom. it's 2:01. the most prolific child serial killer in modern british history will spend the rest of her life in prison. lucy letby has been given a whole life term at manchester crown court. the 33 year old was found guilty of murdering seven babies year old was found guilty of murdering seven year old was found guilty of attempting to murder six at attempting to murder six more at the countess of chester hospital between 2015 and 16. let's be refused to attend court for sentencing, handing down the sentence, mr justice sentencing, handing down the sentence, mrjustice goss said there was premeditation, calculated and cunning in her actions . as you acted in a way actions. as you acted in a way that was completely contrary to the normal human instincts of nurturing and caring for babies and in gross breach of the trust that all citizens play face in those who work in the medical and caring professions , impact and caring professions, impact statements from parents were

heard by the court this morning. the mother of one baby murdered by lucy letby , says her by lucy letby, says her experience in hospital was like something out of a horror story. another said she was haunted by vivid images and that letby had destroyed her life after two of her triplets were killed and a further mother of two of letby victims, one of whom further mother of two of letby calls victims, one of whom survived, calls her absence in court a final act of calls her absence in court a final act of wickedness from a coward labour leader, sir keir starmer says that if the government doesn't change the law, they'll face an amendment . law, they'll face an amendment. >> we need to change the law. i hope the government will do it >> we need to change the law. i because i think it can be done >> we need to change the law. i very quickly. if they do not, we veryforcezly. if they do not, we very quickly. if they do not, we veryforce an if they do not, we very quickly. if they do not, we veryforce an amendmentit, we very quickly. if they do not, we veryforce an amendment to we will force an amendment to appropriate legislation . but appropriate legislation. but actually my position is to invite the government to get on with it , to offer labour invite the government to get on with it, to offer labour support . so this could go through very, very quickly . this isn't the very quickly. this isn't the first case. the government has been dragging its heels on this. get on with it for the sake of these victims and of course the

other cases that went before it i >> -- >> the prime minister has defended the non—statutory inquiry announced by the government, internet based crimes amid calls for it to be put on a statutory footing with the power to compel witnesses to appear before it . appear before it. >> well, i think the important thing for the inquiry to do is make sure that families get the answers that they need that it is possible for to us learn the lessons from what happened . lessons from what happened. everything conducted transparently and to happen as quickly as possible . those are quickly as possible. those are the objectives that want for the objectives that we want for the objectives that we want for the inquiry make sure the inquiry and will make sure that up to deliver on that it's set up to deliver on those aims. >> well, two other news now, some breaking news. 700 migrants have crossed the english channel so far today as the border force begins a week of so—called red days. begins a week of so—called red days . the forces internal red days. the forces internal red alert system is predicting high numbers of arrivals after poor weather in the channel in recent weeks. forecasters are now expecting close to ideal conditions. gb news reported

that 13 small boats had made it to the uk waters by midday today , with at least 700 migrants transferred to several border force vessels and lifeboats . a force vessels and lifeboats. a 50 year old man will appear in court later following the major police data breach in northern ireland. he's been charged with possessing documents likely to be useful to terrorists . it's be useful to terrorists. it's after the details of 10,000 officers and staff were published online by mistake. the leak contains the surname and initial of every employee their rank, where they're based and the unit they work in. police believe the information is now in the hands of dissident republican means. the in the hands of dissident republican means . the government republican means. the government is calling on housing associations. social landlords and developers to review tenancy contracts to help child minders work from home. many living in contracts to help child minders rented accommodation are prevented from using their homes for business purposes. the department for education says too often prospective childminders are having the door

too often prospective slammed in their face. the government is also bringing in measures to encourage more people to care for school aged children , including a £1,200 children, including a £1,200 start up grant from today, londoners are eligible for a cash grant of up to £2,000 for cars that don't comply with ulez policies . the mayor of london policies. the mayor of london scrappage scheme will cost around £110 million. it begins today ahead of the expanded ultra low emission zone, which will cover all london boroughs from the 29th of august. but the policy faces opposition in other parts of government, policy faces opposition in other parts of government , with the parts of government, with the council leader in hertfordshire refusing to erect signs warning drivers of the new low emission zone in this is gb news across the uk on tv in your car , on the uk on tv in your car, on digital radio and on your smart speaker by saying play gb news now it's back to mark and . pip

now it's back to mark and. pip for tamsin. >> thank you. lucy letby will spend the rest of her life in jail for her cruel, calculated spend the rest of her life in and cynical campaign of murder and cynical campaign of murder and attempted murder of babies at the hospital where she worked. the most prolific child serial killer in modern british history was told by judge mr justice goss that there was a malevolence bordering on sadism. in your actions for which you have no remorse. >> well, the 33 year old convicted by a jury of murdering seven babies and trying to kill six more while she was working in the countess of chester hosphaps in the countess of chester hospital's neonatal unit between 2015 and 2016. the judge handed down the whole life order at manchester crown court, making her only the fourth woman in uk history to be told she'll never be released from prison. let's get more now with our gb news northwest of england. reporter sophie reaper, who's been following this case from the beginning. there at manchester crown court with many other reporters . and i guess

reporters. and i guess everyone's still trying to work out why she did this. clearly, the judge indicate that he could not answer that. now, there are the questions about the inquiry, whether that will be statutory or not. to find out what the health service, the hospital administrators knew or didn't know about what was going . on know about what was going. on >> well, i think in terms of the why of it all, i think that is the one gaping hole across this whole court case. and i think it's something that we realistically will never have an it's something that we answer to. the motive behind this was never discussed across answer to. the motive behind the entirety of the ten months of this court case. and lucy letby herself has always maintained her innocence. she pled not guilty to all 22 charges on the indictment over the past few few sessions in court. she's refused to appear in the dock, including today, for the sentencing . she refused for the sentencing. she refused to appear there to face the

families of her victims and to face justice goss as he read out that sentence. subject her to a face justice goss as he read out whole life order, meaning she will now spend the rest of her life in prison . life in prison. >> and just to explain to people that there are legal restrictions on identifying the families and the babies, hence we talk about child a child b, and so on. but the raw emotion we talk about child a child b, of the impact statements that were read out in court, the judge wanted those always indicating those will be judge wanted those always delivered to let be in her cell i >> absolutely. i think emotions have been high throughout the entirety of this court case, as entirety of this court case, as you would expect. but i think entirety of this court case, as todayit entirety of this court case, as today it reached a new level heanng today it reached a new level hearing from those family members , mothers and members, mothers and fathers, who either lost children or members, mothers and fathers, whose child was affected. and members, mothers and fathers, that's therefore affected their relationship with them that's therefore affected their ability to trust people. never

that's therefore affected their mind the nurses in that's therefore affected their mind the nurses in that in that particular profession. it mind the nurses in that in that tainted them . one father to two tainted them. one father to two of the boys who were murdered said about how much hatred he has for lucy letby and the fact that that will never, ever dissipate, even though, of course, she has now been given that whole life tariff. those families will always have to suffer with the fact that either their baby was taken away or that they almost were nearly taken away due to lucy . let taken away due to lucy. let these actions . these actions. >> and that's another aspect of this, sophie, is that as well as those babies who are murdered, we heard from the those babies who are murdered, the babies that survived. but they too have a life sentence , they too have a life sentence, if you like, in terms of the condition. i think one's lost their sight. they have to be fed by a tube. and the families having to cope with that. now by a tube. and the families >> absolutely. that's child by a tube. and the families that you're referring to there, mark, we heard from her father whether she has been left

severely disabled by lucy letby actions . and one line actions. and one line that particularly stuck with me was that after a child almost died , that after a child almost died, he'd prayed to god for her and he'd prayed to god for her and he said, god saved her, but the he'd prayed to god for her and devil found her, obviously referring there to lucy letby. and i think that's a really poignant line. it's something that affects not only that particular family, but all the families who have lucy letby has now been found guilty of attacking their baby . attacking their baby. >> and we must remind ourselves attacking their baby. as well, sophie, that these babies were were premature. they were incredibly vulnerable . they were incredibly vulnerable. they could fit into the palm of your hand. they still had a chance of survival, though , until lucy survival, though, until lucy letby was looking after them . letby was looking after them. >> absolutely. of course , when >> absolutely. of course, when a child is on a neonatal unit, that does often mean there is some kind of potential lie life threatening issue. as you say, many of them premature or with some kind of condition, but

often they were being treated and the a repeated theme that often they were being treated we've heard throughout this trial is my baby was improving or they trial is my baby was improving stable. and then lucy letby became involved . and that's when became involved. and that's when they either began to crash or they either began to crash or they or they did crash. and they were unable to be revived . were unable to be revived. >> now, have we got any indication as to whether the crown prosecution service and the police will be giving any reaction outside the court? i know we've had this statement from nicola evans, the chief inspector of chief inspector, because clearly they still have to keep the families, if you like, in terms of the legal process. they have to be not identified in any way . we don't identified in any way. we don't believe there's going to be any kind of further statement here today outside manchester crown court. >> of course, they did . they did >> of course, they did. they did react on friday after we were able to report on those verdicts. and the jury was discharged. they did all react

then. and we have heard, as you say, from nicola evans, but also from pascal , from the crown from pascal, from the crown prosecution service . she has prosecution service. she has reacted this morning giving us a statement in which she said today's sentence means letby will never again be able to inflict the suffering she did while working as a neonatal nurse. she is rightly been brought to justice by the courts , and that's a key word there. justice. i think when we heard the joint statement from the families on friday, they did say that now they believe justice has been served . but there is has been served. but there is still some way to go . still some way to go. >> sophie, thank you very much for updating us there at manchester crown court after the sentencing. and that whole life tariff. thank you . tariff. thank you. >> former police and crime commissioner martin underhill can join us now. good afternoon to you, martin. the justice secretary, alex chauke, has branded lucy letby refusing to appearin branded lucy letby refusing to appear in the dock for her sentencing as an insult to the

families of her victims. would you like to see a change in the law as a matter of urgency ? law as a matter of urgency? >> good afternoon . yes, i would. >> good afternoon. yes, i would. and the justice secretary's comments are absolutely right . i comments are absolutely right. i think most viewers would agree . think most viewers would agree. i'm a bit concerned to hear that already. they're saying that the law can't be changed until this time next year. and labour aren't opposing this change in the law. everybody's supporting it. so i'm really surprised that what they call the negative statutory instrument can't be put through to amend the current bill going through parliament. but in the last half an hour , but in the last half an hour, several commentators are saying we wait king's we have to wait for the king's speech and law to take a year , speech and law to take a year, which just seems ridiculous . and which just seems ridiculous. and actually it says a lot about our parliamentary system when every politician in the country, every member of the country wants to see this law change quickly. and we're told it can't we're being told it can't happen. don't forget, in february this year , the justice february this year, the justice minister said he would be looking to change the law. this isn't the first time this has

happened. the government has happened. so the government has left us six months in the lurch and now they're saying it could be another year before the law has changed. and actually , all has changed. and actually, all of us, everybody watching this programme would support a change in the law. so i think it's also important . important. >> yeah. do you agree with sir keir starmer's assessment this lunchtime that the government's been its feet on this? been dragging its feet on this? then >> well, it has to be honest. they announced in february after another profile case another high profile case identical to letby in a sense that the defendant refused to go to court, that the government would seek a change law would seek a change in the law very i think it's also very quickly. i think it's also useful to remember that the law does exist prison does actually exist now. prison officers allowed to use officers were allowed to use reasonable to make someone reasonable force to make someone attend court and the prison service chose not to. so the only way this law can work is the same as fingerprinting. if someone refuses to be fingerprinted or to have their dna taken , the police can use dna taken, the police can use force to take it. and i can only see a similar law to that being brought in to mean that more

than reason force can be used so that the victims get their justice in court. >> what about the point and i have asked others this this morning that it could be yet even more disruptive if you've got someone being dragged kicking and screaming into the dock where you've got families who've gone through all sorts of trauma already, having to see those scenes played out in court i >> -- >> no, i agree . >> no, i agree. i'm >> no, i agree . i'm not >> no, i agree. i'm not suggesting that be dragged into the court. what i would suggest is that they are restrained in a small room and made to watch the tv feed, which means that the victims can watch the defendant . the defendant can watch the court case without, as you say, the distressing scenes of insults or violence being displayed at a time when the families had just read their victim statements and are in a traumatised state. >> so this this would be robert buckland point that the technology would be used and you'd have video links between the court and some kind of holding cell. instance . holding cell. for instance. >> absolutely. that is the

common sense way to do it. an amendment to the police and amendment to the police and criminal evidence act that a statutory instrument could be achieved quickly . the achieved very quickly. the police evidence act police and criminal evidence act dictates what the police do when people are in custody or the law that's going through parliament now could be changed. to hear that, the government saying that, the government is saying we've need a new law to we've got we'd need a new law to come king's speech is come in, in the king's speech is depressing. and frankly unacceptable . unacceptable. >> is it something that you've known an increase in, though, in recent years? we were saying earlier that that it didn't seem to ever happen. a defendant was just expected to appear in the dock and now they're refusing. is that because it is and others have got involved and i it is a new thing. >> and i think part of it is because we are now televising court cases. you know, 20 years ago when i was running murder inquiries, never saw anybody inquiries, you never saw anybody refused sentenced. but refused to be sentenced. but now, course , as you've seen now, of course, as you've seen today justice goss, he was today with justice goss, he was live on tv showing the sentence . so i think that bringing this

into the tv, into the courtroom is why people are now stopping attending their own sentencing . attending their own sentencing. but as you already said in your earlier coverage, you can't add a penalty to. let me to make her get there. the only way this can be done is by using force, which is why i think robert buckland suggestion is a good one. have an ante room in the prison where the defendant has to listen to the defendant has to listen to the judge and the defendant is seen by the members of the jury and other members of the jury, by the families who want to see justice done . justice done. >> okay. former police and crime commissioner martin underhill, thank you . thank you. >> well, let's now speak to former senior investigating officer at the met, simon harney, who can join us. simon thank very much indeed for thank you very much indeed for your time. what happens next? because we are hearing from cheshire police that they've got, what, 4000 admissions to this neonatal unit. they're going to be looking at 30 or more babies . maybe they've got more babies. maybe they've got to look at in more detail.

that's quite a caseload to take on. >> it is a caseload. but i don't think they'll shy away from that at all. i mean, you firstly, you've got the six or so cases where they were unable to find a decision , the jury. so like decision, the jury. so like a hung jury and they the decision there has to be in the next month, 28 days that whether or not they retry those with a new jury , not they retry those with a new jury , that may then start to jury, that may then start to coincide with other cases that come to the forefront. obviously 4000 cases, as you say, is a huge amount of work. yeah, you know , you'd be proud to do it if know, you'd be proud to do it if it's what police officers are there for. you know, dci evans and her team have done a fantastic job, and i don't think they'll shy away from carrying on with it, irrespective of the fact that she has a whole life order. >> and how do they they do that? because as we've said earlier, got to start thinking the unthinkable. i mean, this behaviour beyond the norms that we accept. so they're going to

have to sort of put their minds in a very dark place . in a very dark place. >> yeah, it's not an easy job to do. obviously we know that you know, investigated murders for many years and you know, but you, you take yourself outside that because important that because the most important people families. people here are the families. and you know, because there and you know, just because there are more to look at, are thousands more to look at, if there is one case within that which that trial for which is worth that trial for that family to get to court to find person killed find that person that killed their it's worth every their child, it's worth every hour put into it. hour you put into it. >> and how will they approach lucy letby now then, in terms of interviewing her again, trying to get informed of her and hoping that she might crack ? hoping that she might crack? >> yeah. well, that's i mean, that's something which is available to them in certain circumstances to go and speak to her if she's willing. obviously, if she's then she just if she's not, then she just won't meet any officers that do it. but then you still have this other judicial process. i mean, otherjudicial process. i mean, whether helps with now otherjudicial process. i mean, whethyon helps with now otherjudicial process. i mean, whethyon whatelps with now otherjudicial process. i mean, whethyon what she'sith now otherjudicial process. i mean, whethyon what she's been now otherjudicial process. i mean, whethyon what she's been given, based on what she's been given, but then she hasn't admitted anything. obviously, we know

there's remorse . um, so will there's no remorse. um, so will she help officers do that? well, you know, you hope so. in your heart hearts to some heart of hearts to give some sort of help to those families that are still waiting for information and those that haven't what they want so haven't had what they want so far . you it's one of far. so, you know, it's one of those strands of the investigation that dci evans and her and the superintendent above her and the superintendent above her will be looking at. but at the moment, they'll still be working tirelessly to go through those cases . those other cases. >> yeah. and what about the complicating factor that we complicating factor now that we may this statutory inquiry, may get this statutory inquiry, which will be a judge being involved , questions about what involved, questions about what the health authority, the nhs and the hospital administrators were doing or not doing with suggestions that they may even have to be consideration of manslaughter being looked at in some circumstances . yeah, i've some circumstances. yeah, i've seen that. >> i mean, the corporate manslaughter is complicated and it's not the greatest law that we have in this country. it's very prove that. very difficult to prove that. but would be but and that would be essentially another

investigation . you know, you'd investigation. you know, you'd have health and safety involved in have police in that. you'd have police officers right time officers at the right time coming well . so coming into that as well. so that be a potentially that that will be a potentially even bigger to look at. but then after all these inquiries , such after all these inquiries, such like, you know, in the policing side of it, the cousins inquiry and other people like that, there is always going to be a fallout that because need fallout to that because you need to you know, what's to understand, you know, what's gone know, can this gone wrong. you know, can this be improved ? but let's not just be improved? but let's not just then say we will then turn around and say we will learn from this. let's get let's do something about it. >> much work still to >> yeah, as much work still to be former senior senior be done. former senior senior investigating officer at the met police , simon harding. thank you police, simon harding. thank you for thoughts today . when we for your thoughts today. when we come back, the political reaction to lucy letby sentencing and her decision to stay away from the court . stay away from the court. >> a brighter outlook with boxt solar proud sponsors of weather on . gb news.

solar proud sponsors of weather on. gb news. i'm solar proud sponsors of weather on . gb news. i'm alex deakin and on. gb news. i'm alex deakin and this is your latest weather update from the met office for gb news. >> for the rest of monday, pretty warm across the south with many places seeing sunny spells showers around. spells or a few showers around. and than just a few and it's more than just a few showers in the far northwest. this low pressure system bringing and windy bringing pretty wet and windy conditions western conditions across the western isles and increasingly now across the highlands well. so across the highlands as well. so staying here, we'll see staying wet here, we'll see a few showers this evening over wales, perhaps over northern england time. so some england for a time. so some heavy before that heavy bursts of rain before that clears , telling damp across clears away, telling damp across most scotland in northern most of scotland in northern ireland through the night. but across it generally across the south it generally stays . some mist fog is stays dry. some mist and fog is possible. staying pretty warm as well. the whole of the uk well. across the whole of the uk actually, temperatures holding up mid—teens in most up in the mid—teens in most urban areas. so quite a mild start to tuesday suddenly start over the midlands and eastern england another fine day england and another fine day generally across the south. once we've mist and we've lost any morning mist and fog across northern england, wales, southern scotland, more cloud than today and there will be a few more showers around as well. showers off well. the showers easing off across , though,

across scotland, though, so northwestern turning northwestern areas turning a little cooler feel little drier, a cooler feel across the north. but again, in the south, in the sunshine, temperatures easily get temperatures could easily get into 26, 27 is into the mid 20s. 26, 27 is possible by wednesday. again, quite a lot of cloud at times, but generally, again, most places looking fine and sunny, increasing chance of a few showers over southwest and showers over the southwest and west wales and again of course western parts of scotland. there will be showers and will be some showers and generally a bit cooler. but again, in the sunshine in the south—east, 27 is possible . south—east, 27 is possible. >> a brighter outlook with boxt solar proud sponsors of weather on .

this evening. news the people's . channel >> welcome back to the live desk on gb news, bringing you some political reaction now into the sentencing of lucy letby, the labour leader, sir keir starmer has called for the government to change the law on offenders not attending sentencing hearings, and he wants that law changed quickly, saying the government is dragging its heels . is dragging its heels. >> we need to change the law. i hope the government will do it because i think it can be done very quickly . if they do not, we very quickly. if they do not, we will force an amendment to appropriate legislation. but actually my position is to invite the government to get on with it, to offer labour support so this could go through very, very quickly. this isn't the first case the government has

been dragging its heels on this, get on with it for the sake of these victims. and of course the other cases that went before it . mark colvin well, in terms of the government's position, this is what the justice secretary, alex had say following alex chalk, had to say following the verdict. he said lucy letby is not just a murderer, but a coward whose failure to face the victim's families, refusing to hear the impact statements and society's condemnation is the final insult. he went on to say, we're looking to change the law so offenders can be compelled to attend sentencing hearings . attend sentencing hearings. >> well, with us now is gb news is political editor christopher hope. good afternoon to you, christopher . alex chalk is christopher. alex chalk is saying that the government does want to change the law, but the question seems to be is how quickly they're going to change it because it doesn't seem like it's going to happen very fast. >> they've been talking about this for a while, haven't they? since february, when dominic raab him, he just raab remember him, he was just justice secretary at the time. he changes he said there would be changes to law we now have to

to the law where we now have to wait till the king's speech, when the government out its when the government sets out its plans the plans for new laws over the next 12 and that's out in 12 months. and that's due out in november. there is a bill going through right now. through parliament right now. it's victims and it's called the victims and prisoners bill, but that can't be amended if we're told so . be amended if we're told so. keir starmer's very generous offer to the government there to support an amendment can't go through, according to the government as things stand. but it like there is it looks like there is cross—party support, which should thing should mean this kind of thing should mean this kind of thing should double should get through in double quick and time of the quick time and time is of the essence. can't have this essence. you can't have this situation today , when situation as we had today, when lucy can thumb her nose, lucy letby can thumb her nose, that the entire justice system not hear the sentencing and not hear those those heartrending victims. impact statements were read in court. it's read out in court. it's important she hears that. she sees that that's just as being seen to be done . she understands seen to be done. she understands the impact of her crimes. and if she's not looking at the website, gb news, website or the newspapers tomorrow morning , how newspapers tomorrow morning, how will hear that? it's will she ever hear that? it's very important that they are made very important that they are ma yeah, of people are >> yeah, a lot of people are asking, can't you just asking, well, why can't you just use of court, which is

use contempt of court, which is existing i existing legislation? but i suppose still have suppose that still doesn't have the physically get the power to physically get people court . people into the court. >> yeah. and in the case of the most serious cases, mark, it wouldn't have much bearing, wouldn't have much bearing, would it? because of course, lucy letby has had a whole life tariff imposed. the maximum you can get under contempt court can get under contempt of court for this is years, two years for this is two years, two years extra your sentence. that extra to your sentence. that makes no difference to somebody who should be released. who should never be released. and therefore, what's the point? the robert buckland on the idea from robert buckland on gb of last week gb news at the end of last week piping gb news at the end of last week piping the verdict into into piping in the verdict into into into a cell that's kind of okay, but not what victims want to see. they want to see the person who did it in court being made to listen. i've been reliably informed, that human informed, mark, that that human rights an issue rights concerns are not an issue here. the here. according to the government. even government. they say that even in you can be compelled in france you can be compelled to a degree. so the issue of the european human european convention of human rights apply. so that rights does not apply. so that should give government should give the government a free on with it. free hand to get on with it. they're in lobby they're asked in lobby this morning. we morning. the lobby briefing we have in parliament with the have here in parliament with the government, government, government, with the government, the pm's spokesman, he just said

simply some simply and there was some sympathy here. there's of sympathy here. there's lots of competing government competing demands on government time. an time. they recognise now it's an important issue will important issue there will prioritise , but that's why prioritise it, but that's why there's a so far. there's been a delay so far. >> right? number ten also having it say on this debate going on as to what the inquiry should be doing in terms of looking into the letby case, whether it should be statutory. i led by a judge with people having to give evidence oath . evidence on oath. >> yeah. to be fair to the government or the senior figures in , the department of in dhsc, the department of health and social care , they health and social care, they were to believe by the were led to believe by the families that families last week that a non—statutory inquiry was was acceptable . that's changed over acceptable. that's changed over the weekend. and we heard rishi sunak, didn't we? speaking earlier richmond in earlier in richmond in yorkshire, all his yorkshire, saying that all his priority is to do the best by the victims , the families the victims, the families victims, trying to get victims, and also trying to get a thing done as quickly as possible. problem with possible. the problem with the statutory it can get statutory inquiry is it can get tied legal argument tied up in legal argument for a long seeing that long time. we're seeing that right with the covid right now with the covid inquiry. huge cost taxpayer. inquiry. huge cost of taxpayer. everyone gets a lawyer. the victims and it can go on for quite, quite a while. so they're

trying instant view of trying to get instant view of what happened here. the is what happened here. the view is there court case there has been a court case that's all been almost the facts are settled from the court case. what lessons what are the lessons to be learned? the question what are the lessons to be l

33 year old was found guilty of murdering seven babies and attempting to murder six more at the countess of chester hospital between 2015 and 16, when lucy letby refused to attend court today , handing down the sentence today, handing down the sentence , mrjustice goss said there was , mr justice goss said there was premeditation calculation and cunning in her actions. >> you acted in a way that was completely contrary to the normal human instincts of nurturing and caring for babies and in gross breach of the trust that all citizens played in those who work in the medical and caring professions impact statements from parents were heard by the court this morning. >> the mother of one baby murdered by lucy letby , says her murdered by lucy letby, says her experience in hospital was like something out of a horror story. another said she was haunted by vivid images and that letby had destroyed her life after two of her triplets were killed and a

further mother of two of lett b's victims, one of whom served and called her absence from court today a final act of wickedness from a coward. well labour leader sir keir starmer says the government must change the law to force criminals to hear their sentences . hear their sentences. >> we need to change the law. i hope the government will do it because i think it can be done very quickly. if they do not, we will force an amendment to appropriate legislation. but actually my position is to invite the government to get on with it. to offer labour support. so this could go through very , very quickly. this through very, very quickly. this isn't the first case. the government has been dragging its heels on this . get on with it heels on this. get on with it for the sake of these victims. and of course , the other cases and of course, the other cases that went before it . that went before it. >> well, you can get more on this story and others by visiting our website, gb news. com .

gb news radio . gb news radio. >> welcome back. the met police has confirmed that no further action will be taken after king charles's charity, the prince's foundation, was caught up in an alleged plan to offer wealthy donors honours in exchange for financial donations. well that complaint brought against the foundation in 2021 by the anti—monarchy group republic

newspapers had exposed leaked documents. >> let's get more with our royal correspondent, cameron walker, joining us in the studio. and remember the publicity at the time involving michael fawcett and suggestions of suitcase of cash from the saudi arabians? all sort of allegations. >> yes, it all got incredibly messy. michael fawcett was the former very close confidants of charles, now, of course. king but then prince of wales tipped to be the next master of the household. that's essentially the chief executive of buckingham palace. but he had to essentially resign after this scandal erupted. he resigned as chief executive of one of the king's charities , the princes king's charities, the princes foundation , after exposed foundation, after exposed information . and i suppose in information. and i suppose in papers , appeared to show that he papers, appeared to show that he had offered a wealthy saudi billionaire an honour, i.e. billionaire an honour, le. a knighthood. and indeed uk citizenship. in return for a cash donation to king charles's

charity, which is where the suitcase of cash perhaps came from. so after he resigned, the princes foundation launched an independent investigation and found that there was evidence of this exchange of information or communication, but none of their trustees were , in fact, trustees were, in fact, involved. now, the problem comes that it involved. now, the problem comes thatitis involved. now, the problem comes that it is actually a criminal offence to offer a honours in return for cash. so the anti—money group republic a couple of years ago puts in an official complaint to the metropolitan police against the king when he was prince of wales and michael fawcett . now the and michael fawcett. now the police started their investigation in february 2022, on the 6th of september, we found out today, about two days before the late queen died by the way, that they questioned two men at the london police station under caution today . station under caution today. they have told us that they are taking no further action. so buckingham palace spokesperson today say we have noticed that

noted the decision of the metropolitan police, all other inquiries are a matter for the princes foundation and the princes foundation and the princes foundation and the princes foundation said they want to focus now on delivering the education and training programmes of the princes. >> but we should make it clear there no suggestion that the there is no suggestion that the prince was king. now was prince as he was king. now was one of those who was interviewed by as far as we know, by the police as far as we know, yes, far as know, the yes, as far as we know, the prince now, was not prince now, king was not interviewed by the police. >> and actually at the the >> and actually at the time, the clarence spokesperson, clarence house spokesperson, he had knowledge had absolutely no knowledge of any until any of these allegations until the newspaper was leaked. the information metropolitan police have told us today that no arrests or charges have been brought in. >> what's happened to michael fawcett? >> well, he is no longer employed by the royal household or anything associated with the royal household. a paper run , a royal household. a paper run, a story last year which showed a paparazzi photograph of him walking dog down the london walking his dog down the london streets, perhaps living a life of solitude. now the prince's trust , from a statement we got trust, from a statement we got today, appears to essentially

wash their hands of him, but it's perhaps a bit of a spectacular fall from grace. >> he was literally the right hand man, wasn't he? >> he was. i mean, he was rumoured to at one point actually put toothpaste on the prince's because the prince's toothbrush because the prince's toothbrush because the prince broken his arm in prince has broken his arm in a polo match. so, you this polo match. so, you know, this is he was in incredibly is a guy he was in incredibly close future. king and is close to the future. king and is now no longer associated with him scandal. it him because of this scandal. it has been a cloud over buckingham palace, and particularly the palace, and particularly in the early king's reign. early days of the king's reign. and i think from the speaking to people buckingham i people in buckingham palace, i think to think they very much want to move now. buckingham palace move on now. buckingham palace say decision . say they've noted the decision. >> king is at balmoral. >> king charles is at balmoral. is he still for the summer? >> yes , he is. today we have >> yes, he is. and today we have seen of him arrive for seen pictures of him arrive for an official welcome ceremony to balmoral castle. it's understood that he's actually been staying in his private property. birkhall very close by with the queen camilla, but he got an official welcome accompanied by his ex—wife, johnny thompson. a couple of military bands and regiments there just for the

short haul from birkhall to balmoral . we saw pictures of him balmoral. we saw pictures of him driving the car from the birkhall estate to the gates of balmoral castle, and he got out of the car, greeted of the of the car, greeted some of the soldiers and military personnel who who had been there, who had who had been there, maybe is difficult. >> we understand that andrew and fergie will also be attending the family get together. >> it seems like a family reunion. people seem to forget that andrew and fergie, by extension, are still members of the private windsor family. it's just because of clearly all the scandals that have happened with those two. they are no longer working members royal working members of the royal family. papers are reporting family. the papers are reporting that been offered that they have been offered gregory and lodge, which is the kind of a house on the balmoral estate that was the queen's favourite, wasn't it? >> use. they'll be staying >> to use. they'll be staying there, understand duke there, we understand the duke and edinburgh and duchess of edinburgh are also going up at also expected to be going up at some point. and the prince and princess wales and their princess of wales and their three children as well. the king wanting spend time with his grandchildren. >> so the barbecue will out . >> so the barbecue will be out. >> so the barbecue will be out. >> the anniversary of >> yes. well, the anniversary of the far the queen's death is not far

away. far ? away. is it far? >> a couple of weeks away from that. >> yeah. cameron, thanks for taking through all that. taking us through all that. thank you much indeed. thank you very much indeed. now, last , the government last year, the government announced a hydro region strategy, all part of the uk's commitment to reach net zero carbon emissions by 2050. >> but a row has now broken out in south wales over a japanese companies plans to build a hydrogen plant close to the centre of bridgend . our centre of bridgend. our economics and business editor liam halligan brings you the details . details. >> a hydrogen powered bus drives through bridgend , 20 miles west through bridgend, 20 miles west of cardiff . of cardiff. >> it's a test model. the local council doesn't yet use hydrogen buses. tamaki nishino hopes they will, while granting his company the japanese industrial giant marubeni permission to build a new hydrogen production plant here in bridgend. so we are building this solar and onshore wind assets near bridgend and try to connect it at the green power as much directly to the

electrolyser as possible so the people in bridgend can proudly say this is as green as you can get the hydrogen. >> tamaki explains. >> tamaki explains. >> hydrogen is produced via electrolysis splits atoms from water. marubeni wants to power that electric assist by building wind and solar facilities, creating zero carbon green hydrogen . tamaki says marubeni hydrogen. tamaki says marubeni plant could drive industry across south wales, but hydrogen is highly explosive and many bridgend locals worry such a plant would be unsafe . tamaki plant would be unsafe. tamaki insists his hydrogen project will bring wider benefits to bridgend. he says millions of gallons of hot water a by—product of electrolysis could be piped to this local swimming pool to help with heating the school and this bridgend school, he says, could also get cost effective heat from the plant's . there is local support for net zero clean energy policies and britain's labour led council has

allocated this site for tamaki hydrogen plants. although the facilities yet to get full planning permission . building planning permission. building and operating the new plant would create over 100 local jobs, says tamaki. and this is what it might look like. but many locals say the site's too close to other businesses and houses. given the risks of a hydrogen explosion , nemean and hydrogen explosion, nemean and environmental technology manufacturer is less than a hundred yards away. there are a plethora of issues with the proposal in terms of utility supply for water, for electricity in terms of oxygen being vented out as a by—product from the from the electrolysis of hydrogen , which makes for of hydrogen, which makes for a bigger fire hazard that does increase the fire hazard considerably , reduces the considerably, reduces the required energy to cause ignition and therefore increases the likelihood of an explosion . the likelihood of an explosion. there are now regular anti high bond protests out outside bridgend council offices and at

this cafe near the high bond site. locals are concerned our house was within the blast range andifs house was within the blast range and it's not like a filling station. >> it's more like a refinery . >> it's more like a refinery. >> it's more like a refinery. >> what concerns me is the lack of interest that the councillors have shown to the planning application and they haven't looked at the details of some of bridgend independent councillors are also oppose raised concerns with me about the lack of scrutiny. >> the lack of transparency, the incomplete ness and incorrectness and misinformed action from planning policy documents . so what i really documents. so what i really think needs to be done now is this development needs to be brought back into the welsh government to make a decision. >> bridgend council's due to make a decision this autumn to mckee says marubeni always puts safety first. the uk has just a handful of hydrogen plants, but dozens more are planned. whether or not they're built may depend on what happens to this scrap of

land in south wales. liam halligan gb news in bridgend . halligan gb news in bridgend. >> well, staying with net zero because drivers with a non ulez compliant vehicle will be able to apply for up to £2,000 to replace their car from today . replace their car from today. >> yeah, all part of that expansion of the ulez scrappage scheme open now to all londoners that has been announced by london's mayor khan. london's mayor sadiq khan. they'll also be more support for businesses, charities and disabled drivers. >> ahead of the zone being >> it's ahead of the zone being widened to the whole of >> it's ahead of the zone being widycapital the whole of >> it's ahead of the zone being widycapital from the whole of >> it's ahead of the zone being widycapital from next whole of >> it's ahead of the zone being widycapital from next mondayf >> it's ahead of the zone being widycapital from next monday . the capital from next monday. >> let's get more with lisa hartle , is london hartle, who is our london reporter and i think you've you've got white van man there without being too unkind about it . it. >> hello. >> hello. >> yes, well, we've we've been heanng >> yes, well, we've we've been hearing a lot of stories today from a lot of people. >> so we're in sutton at the moment. so the scrappage scheme has come into play here today in south london. i'm joined by rhonda , who's a florist, and rhonda, who's a florist, and she's got so she's work she's got so she's got a work vehicle, which can see just she's got so she's got a work vehic and hich can see just she's got so she's got a work vehic and she's can see just she's got so she's got a work vehic and she's gotan see just she's got so she's got a work vehic and she's got heree just she's got so she's got a work vehic and she's got her own st here. and she's got her own personal which are

personal car, both of which are affected. and compliant. so affected. and not compliant. so she's going to either she's going to have to either pay she's going to have to either pay 50 a day drive each pay £12, 50 a day to drive each vehicle or to have a new vehicle or pay to have a new car, pay that scrappage scheme amount of money. rhonda, how much have you been offered for your van or your car ? your van or your car? >> my car. i've been offered 2000. i can't do anything for my car at the moment. i'm a carer for my mother, for my sister . so for my mother, for my sister. so at the minute the car has got to say, i can't afford to get a vehicle . my van, they're not vehicle. my van, they're not sure if it's the 5000 to 7000 or even if i'm compliant enough. so i'm still waiting on the decision coming back to decide where i go with that. >> and so what happens then? so if they do give you , do you have if they do give you, do you have to scrap the car first, then you get the certificate, then they pay get the certificate, then they pay you. >> so i have to scrap the >> and so i have to scrap the van, a place that they recommend . and then i have to send the certificate. and then once that's all gone through, they'll

apparently put money into people's accounts. so and even on doing that, being a carer, any money that goes into your account because of the high percentage that is supposed to be, it does affect people's carer's allowance. >> so , so what are you going to >> so, so what are you going to do then with your. well, both the business, the van are you going to be able to. can you even how much is a new van to replace this one that is compliant, a new one, but compliant, not a new one, but even a used one, it's even if it's a used one, if it's a could possibly, a used one, i could possibly, according the people that according to the people that i've spoken to, probably around 4 or 5000, i tried to keep my costs low with covid. >> with the pandemic, people are going through a crisis at the moment, but it's just hard every day going to bed people's mental health is just being affected because it's a constant worry. so and you were telling me before that you think this should have been rolled out late , later down the line, because there's a lot of things people are still getting yeah are still getting over? yeah i mean, my shop to covid

mean, i lost my shop to covid and then we went through the covid pandemic. and then we went through the covid pandemic . and even now covid pandemic. and even now we're going through a living crisis . and to try and puzzle crisis. and to try and puzzle out where you're going to find 1250 a day to care for your elderly mother, even our local hospice and our cancer hospital has been affected as well. so it's just a constant worry on people . people. >> i'm so sorry to hear that this is affecting you so much, but thank you so much for sharing your story with us. >> welcome. >> welcome. >> thank you. so that scrappage scheme into today and scheme comes into play today and the expansion will roll out the ulez expansion will roll out on the 29th of this month. >> lisa, thanks very much. yeah, good luck finding anything worthwhile at £2,000? of course. that's part of the problem, isn't it? thank you very much indeed. >> around 300,000 fewer top gcse grades could be awarded this week in a shock to both students and parents. exams regulator quual has said that a return to pre—pandemic grading means that this year's result will be lower than last year and similar to pre—pandemic 2019. >> indeed, education experts

predict that families may find that drop in their gcse grades hard to accept. joining us now, political correspondent catherine force and catherine are proof in the pudding already with the a—level results, i guess. you know, people have had the already . the warning already. >> yes, exactly . last week's >> yes, exactly. last week's a—level results , there were a—level results, there were 73,000 fewer top grades than in dunng 73,000 fewer top grades than in during the pandemic. now, we have forecasts that when the results for gcses come out this thursday , top grades that seven thursday, top grades that seven eights and nines or a's and a stars in wales and northern ireland that those grades will be down by a huge 300,000. and professor alan smithers from the university of buckingham has said that this will be a shock to many students and parents. and they're also going to find it hard to accept and of course, this wild sort of volatility in a—level and gcse grades is a

direct result of the government's decision to close schools twice during the pandemic to and cancel exams twice because what happened, of course , in 2020, they cancelled course, in 2020, they cancelled the exams. they replaced it with what boris johnson later called a mutant algorithm that had huge flaws in it and had to be abandoned in favour of teacher grading. the following year, the then education secretary , gavin then education secretary, gavin williams, said he gave a cast iron guarantee that exams would go ahead not long after that. you've guessed it, he cancelled exam aims again. teachers were left to give the marks. they went up enormously. something like 45% of a—level grades were given at a and a stars . so now given at a and a stars. so now grades are being brought down gradually to where they were before the pandemic . gradually to where they were before the pandemic. but gradually to where they were before the pandemic . but there's before the pandemic. but there's plenty of students not going to be very happy about it. >> no, indeed. a hard lesson to learn, of course. catherine,

thanks very much indeed for updating at updating us there at westminster. you . westminster. thank you. >> and that has been the live desk news today . thank you desk on gb news today. thank you for your company. we are back tomorrow. up next, it is patrick christys . christys. >> stay with us for all the latest here on gb news. we'll be back tomorrow at 12 noon. see you then . you then. >> a brighter outlook with boxt solar proud sponsors of weather on . gb news. on. gb news. >> i'm alex deakin and this is your latest weather update from the met office for gb news for the met office for gb news for the rest of monday. pretty warm across the south with many places seeing sunny spells. there are a few showers around andifs there are a few showers around and it's more than just a few showers far northwest. showers in the far northwest. this system this low pressure system bringing pretty wet and windy conditions western conditions across the western isles increasingly now isles and increasingly now across highlands as well. so across the highlands as well. so staying wet here, we'll see a few showers this evening over wales, over northern wales, perhaps over northern england time. so some england for a time. so some heavy rain before that heavy bursts of rain before that clears turning across clears away, turning down across most of scotland and northern ireland night. but

ireland through the night. but across south, it generally across the south, it generally stays mist fog is stays dry. some mist and fog is possible , staying pretty warm as possible, staying pretty warm as well across the whole of the uk. actually temperatures holding up in mid—teens in most urban in the mid—teens in most urban areas. quite a mild start to areas. so quite a mild start to tuesday suddenly start over the midlands and eastern england and another fine day generally across the south. once we've lost morning mist and fog lost any morning mist and fog across northern england , wales, across northern england, wales, southern more cloud southern scotland, more cloud than there will be a than today and there will be a few showers around well. few more showers around as well. the easing off across the showers easing off across scotland, though. so northwestern areas turning a little drier. a cooler feel across the north. but again, in the sunshine, the south, in the sunshine, temperatures easily get temperatures could easily get into 20s, 2627 is into the mid 20s, 2627 is possible by wednesday day. again, quite a lot of cloud at times, but generally, again, most places looking fine and sunny. increasing chance of a few showers over the southwest and west wales. again, of and west wales. and again, of course western parts of scotland. will be some scotland. there will be some showers and generally a bit cooler. again, the cooler. but again, in the sunshine southeast , 27 is sunshine in the southeast, 27 is possible . possible. >> a brighter outlook with boxt

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well . it's 3 well. it's 3 pm. is well . it's 3 pm. is patrick christys. >> is gb news lucy letby, britain's worst ever child serial killer , was called serial killer, was called a sadist in court today and handed a whole life tariff . however, a whole life tariff. however, i will be launching a campaign

today right here on gb news to make killers face real justice and other violent offenders as well. she was too cowardly to come and sit in the dock to hear the victim impact statements and also hear her sentence handed down to her. that needs to change. we have a petition live right now. gbnews.com forward slash justice. sign that petition. let's get a change in the law and make vile, evil monsters like lucy letby faced a real human consequences of their crimes. in other news, i'll be talking about this as well. the lionesses. should we give them an honour? do they deserve an honour? won the euros. honour? they've won the euros. they've of the they've got the final of the world cup. we think that they world cup. do we think that they should all some kind of should be all given some kind of honour and finally, i'll be discussing this this as discussing this this hour as well. are in a well. the lib dems are in a little bit of a pickle. that's right. apparently, they can't decide not decide whether or not menstruation a woman's menstruation is just a woman's issue.i menstruation is just a woman's issue. i know the world really has gone absolutely bonkers. patrick christys . gb news. i'm