alex forsyth, bbc news, westminster. now it's time for the travel show.t's funny but i'd always reckoned the oil—rich abu dhabi, here in the uae, was never that interested in attracting tourists. unlike its flashy, noisy neighbour dubai, for example. but on this trip, i think i might have to revise that opinion. because abu dhabi seems to be upping its game, especially in the cultural stakes. on myjourney, i'm going to experience world—renowned architecture, like the new louvre museum, and finding out how traditional local musical instruments are being revived. but i'll also be exploring both urban and desert landscapes, to get a sense of how this emirate is making the most of its unique environment. abu dhabi is entering a new phase in its breakneck speed development. but is it really going to reach the heights as a must see tourist destination in its own right? it's hard to believe abu dhabi was just a fishing village only a few decades ago. in 1971, the united arab emirates became a nation and its dominant stakeholder has always been abu dhabi, led by

alex forsyth, bbc news, birmingham.brating its most successful day in winter olympic history. lizzy yarnold won gold in the women's skeleton, becoming the first briton ever to retain a winter olympic title. there was a bronze, too, in the event — for her team—mate laura deas, and a bronze in the ski slopestyle for izzy atkin. david 0rnstein reports from pyeongchang. —— we will have much more on events injung chang and the rest of the day's sport at a quarter past 11. —— pyeongchang. the prime minister has called for a new security treaty with the european union after brexit, warning that lives could be at risk without full co—operation. in a speech in germany, theresa may said new arrangements over working together should be effective by next year. the president of the european commission, jean—claude juncker, agreed that a post—brexit security alliance was necessary, but said it should be negotiated separately from other issues, such as trade. 0ur political correspondent vicki young reports from munich. in defence and

alex forsyth, bbc news, birmingham.in winter olympic history. lizzy yarnold won gold in the women's skeleton — becoming the first briton ever to retain a winter olympic title. there was a bronze too in the event — for her team—mate laura deas, and a bronze in the ski slopestyle for izzy atkin. david ornstein reports from pyeongchang. guiding great britain to unprecedented glory, lizzy yarnold and laura deas turning dreams into reality, rewriting the record books. commentator: lizzy yarnold next, the olympic champion, can she make history and win it again? yarnold went into her final slide in second place, but conjured an imperious display, and the fastest time any woman has produced on this track, to enter sporting folklore. commentator: that is a gold medal winning run, i'm sure of it. so it's gold for lizzy yarnold. she's defended her title and become the most decorated british winter olympian in history. she was joined on the podium by team—mate laura deas. the pair rounding off the most successful day their nation h

alex forsyth, bbc news, birmingham. a new security treaty with the european union after brexit, warning that lives could be at risk without full cooperation. in a speech in germany, theresa may said the new arrangements over working together should be effective by next year. our political correspondent vicki young reports from munich. in defence and security of the uk is a significant player. the prime minister hopes that will get her a special deal. she arrived in munich, keen to lay out britain's contribution. generous spending on defence and expertise it wants to share even after brexit. theresa may urged the eu to take a practical approach. this cannot be a time when any of us allow competition between partners, rigid institutional restrictions or deep—seated ideology to inhibit our cooperation and jeopardise the security of our citizens. she's calling for a new security treaty so that the close partnership can continue. failure to agree one would have damaging consequences, she said. we must do whatever is most pra

alex forsyth reports. this report from alex forsyth contains some flash photography.idation, sexual harassment, allegations that prompted investigations and some resignations. and reflection on how to change a culture that allowed abuse. the leader of the house, lord president of the council. today, mps from all parties unveiled their plans. it is a right, not a privilege, to be treated with dignity and respect at work, and this ambitious report is a major step towards a safer and more professional environment. part of the problem had been those working here are often employed directly by mps, with only political parties to complain to. so this report proposes a new code of behaviour for everyone working in parliament and a new complaints and investigation system, independent of political parties. and there will be sanctions for inappropriate behaviour, anything from an apology to a possible suspension. in the worst cases, mps could face a public vote to keep seats, not under new rules but using existing ones. there are some questions about the fact complaints will be

alex forsyth, bbc news, westminster.d that the uk is planning a schmuck the eu is planning a schmuck the eu is planning a schmuck the eu is planning a mechanism of sanctions. well, as we've been hearing, it's emerged that the european union is planning a mechanism of sanctions to punish the uk for any breaches of the post—brexit transition. let's talk to our correspondent, adam fleming, in strasbourg. yes, this appears in this document which was published today by the european commission, which is a first draft of some possible legal text about the transition period that could end up in the withdrawal agreement, the final brexit treaty. 0ne agreement, the final brexit treaty. one of the footnotes says yes, we need to consider this mechanism whereby if the uk isjudged to have broken the rules by the eu during the transition period, the eu could shut off access to elements of the single market as a result. 0ne shut off access to elements of the single market as a result. one of michel barnier‘s advisers has been tweeting,

this report by our political correspondent alex forsyth includes some flash photography.rassment, allegations that prompted investigations and some resignations. and reflection on how to change a culture that allowed abuse. the leader of the house, lord president of the council. today, mps from all parties unveiled their plans. it is a right, not a privilege, to be treated with dignity and respect at work, and this ambitious report is a major step towards a safer and more professional environment. part of the problem had been those working here are often employed directly by mps, with only political parties to complain to. so this report proposes a new code of behaviour for everyone working in parliament and a new complaints and investigation system, independent of political parties. and there will be sanctions for inappropriate behaviour, anything from an apology to a possible suspension. in the worst cases, mps could face a public vote to keep seats, not under new rules but using existing ones. there are some questions about the fact complaints will be kept anonymous bu

this report from alex forsyth contains flash photography.arassment, allegations that prompted investigations and some resignations. and reflection on how to change a culture that allowed abuse. the leader of the house, lord president of the council. today, mps from all parties unveiled their plans. it is a right, not a privilege, to be treated with dignity and respect at work, and this ambitious report is a major step towards a safer and more professional environment. part of the problem had been those working here are often employed directly by mps, with only political parties to complain to. so this report proposes a new code of behaviour for everyone working in parliament and a new complaints and investigation system, independent of political parties. and there will be sanctions for inappropriate behaviour, anything from an apology to a possible suspension. in the worst cases, mps could face a public vote to keep seats, not under new rules but using existing ones. there are some questions about the fact complaints will be kept anonymous b

where alex forsyth is in birmingham. does this leave ukij the where does this leave ukip?rship contest. this will be the party's fourth in just over 18 contest. this will be the party's fourth injust over 18 months, since nigel farage stepped down. there are some here who fear ukip simply won't survive another divisive contest. there are others though, in fact the majority, who thought it was the right decision for henry bolton to because they said his personal life had become too much of a distraction from thejob. so he has now stepped aside. either way you look at this ukip wasa aside. either way you look at this ukip was a party that was riding high after the brexit referendum, but since then it has struggled with internal infighting, to find direction, search for leadership and there's a danger now that while today has passed with no high drama there is broad acceptance of this result, in the long term this will only deepen, not heal, the party's divisions. alex, thank you. president trump has met survivors of wednesday's high school shooting in florida, in which 17 pe

we will leave it there, alex forsyth.this story — and many others — are covered in tomorrow's front pages at 10:40 this evening in the papers — our guests joining me tonight arejoe watts, political editor of the independent and lucy fisher, senior political correspondent at the times. stagecoach‘s contract to run the east coast mainline rail franchise will end earlier than expected. the government said the operator had "got its numbers wrong". transport secretary chris grayling said stagecoach would only continue running the london to edinburgh line for "a small number of months". the contract was originallyjute and in 2023 and has already been cut short once. mr grayling told the commons that the taxpayer wants not going to pay for stagecoach‘s problems. the problem is very straightforward, stagecoach got its numbers wrong, it over bid and is now paying a price. stagecoach will be held all of its contractual lagoa she nations in full. as the brown report said a number of years ago, this is what you expect. if they fail t

alex forsyth, bbc news, westminster.herding a bag of ferrets! yes, what an image... the she said she would be robust, prompted by one of the backbenchers on the eurosceptic side, worried she might be backsliding, about a compromise too much with the european union. she is trying to reassure them, but also trying to reassure them, but also trying to reassure those on the remained side of the argument that she will have a smooth brexit, reassure the business community, that absolutely adamant that they need some answers and need them pretty soon. that is because we are just over a year away from leaving the european union. they need to plan for the future. i am joined by the snp‘s peter grant, also on the brexit select committee. the eu todayis brexit select committee. the eu today is really issuing threats, saying they want to be able to punish britain during the transition period. is that what we want from an arrangement with our closest trading partners question debated is fair to say they are issuing threats, the docum

our political correspondent alex forsyth is at chequers. how important is this meeting?ial because, as chris was outlining, the whole point of it is to try to get some agreement among theresa may's top tea m agreement among theresa may's top team about what the long—term relationship between the uk and the eu will be. the tricky aspect of thatis eu will be. the tricky aspect of that is trade. the prime minister has been clear it's her view of the uk will be leaving the single market and customs union. the question is what kind of trading relationship replaces that and crucially how closely aligned the uk will state of the eu with its rules and regulations, and what it is prepared to trade off in terms of the uk's own sovereignty in order to gain access to the markets. the difficulty is there are significantly different views about that, not just between significantly different views about that, notjust between parties but between the ministers who will be meeting here today. some of course whom campaigned for brexit, some of whom campaigned for brexit, some of whom wante

uncertainty ahead, the government's review has little wiggle room. 0ur political correspondent, alex forsythng why the government is launching their review into higher education. i think the government has been feeling pressure on this front for some time, which is in part because of the labour pledged to scrap jewish and fees entirely for all stu d e nts jewish and fees entirely for all students in england. that was largely credited for labour's popularity with younger voters. the conservatives believe they need to gain some ground on this. which is why they are reviewing higher education. the question is, what can they do on this issue of fees. as you heard, they remain committed to the principle that those who go to university, who benefit from a degree, that should benefit —— who should pay for it, rather than everybody. whether they would encourage different fees for different courses or shorter courses for. that is tinkering around the edges. the former education secretary said the issue of student finance should not be kicked around like a political football. sir anthony seldon is vic

our political correspondent alex forsyth reports from westminster.n which way brexit is heading. in front of business leaders, the international trade secretary restated the government's case, arguing that staying in the customs union would bind the uk to eu rules and limit trade opportunities. it would be a com plete opportunities. it would be a complete sell—out of britain's national interest and a betrayal of voters in the referendum. then there is the issue of constraints on the ability to negotiate independent range arrangements. a customs union would remove the bulk of incentives for other countries to enter into comprehensive free trade agreements with the uk. but only hours earlier, this man who was until recently be most senior civil servant in the department for trade warned that leaving the customs union would damage the economy. with market access through europe and preferential trade deals against bilateral trade deals with smaller markets, its like giving up a three course mealfor the promise of a packet of crisps. a customs union means

our political correspondent, alex forsyth, has been explaining why the government is launching theiration. i think the government has been feeling pressure on this front for some time. that is in part because of that labour pledge made during last yea r‘s of that labour pledge made during last year's election to scrap tuition fees entirely for all stu d e nts tuition fees entirely for all students in england. that was largely credited for labour's popularity with younger voters. the conservatives are conscious that they need to gain some ground on this front, hence the review of higher education. the question is, what can they do on this issue of these will stop as you heard, they remain committed to the principle that it remain committed to the principle thatitis remain committed to the principle that it is those who go to university who benefit for a degree, who should pay for it, rather than everybody. they were not match the offer and scrap fees altogether. the risk is that whatever they do in place, whether trying to encourage different fees for different courses 01’ different f

uncertainty and had the governance review has little wiggle room. 0ur political correspondent alex forsythe are in the middle of an intense period of brexit, why talk about education? theresa may is under pressure on two fronts, labours pledge to scrap fees but she has also faced criticism from her own mps about a lack of basic policy, not demonstrating enough vision beyond brexit. tomorrow we are getting this big speech at the education. theresa may will talk about the need to increase vocational and technical training but crucial issue announces big review of the whole system of student funding. she will acknowledge very serious concerns about value for money, student debt. she will have seen the market between two universities isn't working. most charge maximum fees and the prime minister will say that has created one of the most expensive systems in the world. question is, what can the government do about this? it won't match labour‘s fees to scrap fees because they believe graduates that benefit from degrees should pay towards them. the risk is, whatever this review comes up in a year

our political correspondent alex forsyth is in westminsterfor us.r trump has done it again. how much concern has he caused amongst america's closest ally? not the first time he has commented on something to do with the british government policy on social media. there was something of a backlash. you had people uniting from across the political spectrum to defend the nhs in light of president trump's comments. jeremy corbyn, the opposition leader said mr trump was wrong to treat his opposition to the nhs. many people made the point that the demonstrators were supporting the demonstrators were supporting the nhs and calling for more funding for it. jeremy hunt the health minister responded with a critique of us health policy. unity from the uk criticising donald trump's intervention. the prime minister theresa may was asked about this today and made the point that there isa today and made the point that there is a good relationship between the us and the uk, nonetheless it is fairto us and the uk, nonetheless it is fair to say that donald trump is tes

this report by our political correspondent alex forsyth includes some flash photography., intimidation, sexual harassment, allegations that prompted investigations and some resignations. and reflection on how to change a culture that allowed abuse. the leader of the house, lord president of the council. today, mps from all parties unveiled their plans. it is a right, not a privilege, to be treated with dignity and respect at work, and this ambitious report is a major step towards a safer and more professional environment. part of the problem had been those working here are often employed directly by mps, with only political parties to complain to. so this report proposes a new code of behaviour for everyone working in parliament and a new complaints and investigation system, independent of political parties. and there will be sanctions for inappropriate behaviour, anything from an apology to a possible suspension. in the worst cases, mps could face a public vote to keep seats, not under new rules but using existing ones. there are some questions about the fact complaints

thank you, alex forsyth. protection, more guns in schools and not a guns in schools. and he said effectively, this is their battle cry, always there battle cry, what it takes to stop a bad guy with a gun isa it takes to stop a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun. now, he is, by the look of it, prepared to compromise in some other areas. things like the increased background checks, not so much increased background checks but tightening up the system of registers that currently is meant to stop people with a felony, or with some other restriction from getting a gun. he said they have been calling for that for a long time. he also talked about the fact that people who are mentally incompetent, as he put it, shouldn't be able to have a gun either. certainly no talk about raising the age at which you can buy a gun. and any talk about banning things like the ar—15 assault rifle, he didn't mention it specifically, but the nra would be implacably opposed to that. the american vice president mike pence has bee

alex forsyth, bbc news, westminster.ss as far as possible as we do now. what is it you think is that showboating aspect because the government says it is still in negotiations. i accept that and of course any other trade elsewhere around the world is to be welcomed but we need to sort out first what is going on in our own backyard, ensuring that trade can flow and businesses can operate. that is what politicians should focus on now rather than perhaps longer term. we do now to preserve that use of trade. i suspect you would prefer things to be as they were before, that there would be no change. indeed we would like to see exactly the same situation, goods entering the same situation, goods entering the network easily. but if we are to be outside the customs union, any customs procedure must be as light touch as possible, the sharing of data between ourselves and the eu for example so we do not have intrusive customs checks. presumably the technology is already there to do that. it can be there, it is in development and w

and already we're being told the meeting could go well into tonight. 0ur political correspondent alex forsythlled out to eve ryo ne agreement has been spilled out to everyone in the conservative party. yes there has been a growing call for clarity, not just yes there has been a growing call for clarity, notjust from mps in westminster or people in the uk but crucially also from the other 27 eu countries. what we want and what theresa may's top team is here for is to work out the more detail about what the uk believes is a long—term relationship with the european union. joined any chance —ish in period, the tricky part is the trading relationship. the question is what will replace the customs union and single market. how closely will the eu —— the uk be aligned to the eu beyond brexit and what will some people see as what we are prepared to trade off regarding sovereignty to get access to these markets. these are the kind of thing is the senior ministers will be discussing and continue discussing for the next few hours, to try and provide the clarity so many people are calling forth. it sounds

here's the bbc‘s political corresponent alex forsyth, outside the chequers meeting, on what we can expecty today, but in the next week or so when we are expecting theresa may to give a speech with a bit more detail, fleshing out the endgame that the uk hopes to achieve, but of course it is worth mentioning this... this is the senior level ministers trying to work out what they want from brexit the long term. that is just a starting position. that then has to be negotiated with brussels, and once again we are hearing from the eu that there can be no cherry picking. the uk can't have all the benefits of the eu without the rights and obligations. so i think theresa may's balancing act, that she is probably conducting round the dinner table right now, well, that is going to continue for some time. an interesting subtext to all this. since the vote for brexit, the number of eu citizens leaving the uk has risen to its highest level for a decade. 130,000 emigrated in the year to september. though 220,000 eu nationals moved to the uk in the same period. that means net eu migration was 90,000, tha

hard border in northern ireland, as typically facile and thoughtless. 0ur political correspondent alex forsythin which way brexit is heading. applause. thanks very much. in front of business leaders, the international trade secretary restated the government's case, arguing that staying in the customs union would bind the uk to eu rules and limit trade opportunities. it would be a complete sell—out of britain's national interest and a betrayal of voters in the referendum. then there is the issue of constraints on the ability to negotiate independent trade arrangements. a customs union would remove the bulk of incentives for other countries to enter into comprehensive free—trade agreements with the uk. but only hours earlier, this man, who was until recently the most senior civil servant in the department for trade, warned in no uncertain terms that leaving the customs union and the single market would damage the economy. with market access we have now through europe and the preferential trade deals against bilateral deals with smaller markets, it's like giving up a three—course meal for britain

let us go live now to chequers and alex forsyth is their followers. from two o'clock. so far down that road to thrash out the detail about that future relationship. it is unlikely we will get any new detail about what the uk wants to achieve in terms of its trade relationship with europe. we may get principles that senior ministers have agreed upon. they are trying to reach an agreed position to mark the start point of negotiations. then there has to be talks in brussels about whether that is achievable. there are fundamental difference of opinion. it boils down to how closely aligned britain should remain with the eu rules and regulations in the long—term, whether that there is a trade—off to be gained between the uk regaining sovereignty and maintaining access to eu markets. it is that kind of detail we expect them to talk about today. we expect more detail from the prime minister next week, setting out her vision is the compromise here, that will have to be agreed by parliament and mps and with 27 eu member countries as well. todayis with 27 eu mem

commerce are demanding more clarity about the government's brexit plans. 0ur political correspondent alex forsythching crunch time. her government must decide what brexit will really mean. it is notjust brussels, but mps and businesses too who want to know in which direction the country is heading. small businesses and large firms really do need some greater clarity from government about how it is going to approach the upcoming negotiations. businesses are trying to plan. they are thinking about investments and they're having a hard time drawing conclusions from the current picture. questions to the prime minister. she says the transition period will give businesses certainty. beyond that, the government wants frictionless trade. all subject, of course, to negotiations. and we will be robust in our arguments as i have said right from the very beginning. we will hear noises off, we will hear all sorts of things being said about positions that are being taken. what matters is the positions that we take in the negotiations as we sit down and negotiate the best deal. but ministers, meeting here today

deliver a speech on the government's brexit negotiating position. 0ur political correspondent alex forsythfeeling, as well as talking about the weather, it will be another brexit week, alex? you are probably right and this is becoming the next big brexit battle ground. the customs union allows its members to trade goods across borders without any tariffs. yesterday we had fun jeremy corbyn and why he thinks the uk should stay in a customs union with the eu. he said it would keep trade flowing and stop any hardening of the border with ireland, which will become the border between the uk and the eu, once we leave. today we will hear from liam fox, saying why he thinks the uk should leave a customs union. he thinks staying in one will mean we have two followed brussels' rules about having a say. it. is making trade deals with the rest of the world and it will be a sell—out of britain's national interest. it is about our future trading policy. what is agreed will affect that crucial topic of the border on the island of ireland, but this is politically important. it is one of the areas of real