alex forsyth with the latest at westminster. | alex forsyth with the latest at westminster. daily coronavirus cases has risen for the first time in a week. the latest government figures show there were just over 27,731; new cases in the latest 24—hour period, though that number is less than the same time last week, which means on average, there were 30,494 per day in the last week. 91 deaths were recorded in the last 2a hours, meaning on average, 71 deaths were recorded per day in the last week. the number of people in hospital with covid continues to rise. there are now more than 6,000 for the first time since march 18th. more than 88% of uk adults have now had theirfirstjab and more than 71% are now fully vaccinated. today's news from the olympic games in tokyo. there have been more gold medals for great britain. team gb now has five gold, six silver and five bronze medals, with tom dean becoming the first male british swimmer to win more than one gold medal at the same olympic games in over a century. he helped team gb to victory in the 4x200 metres freestyle relay. an ex

alex forsyth, bbc news in batley and spen.vernment's advisers on coronavirus has warned that ministers are facing a very difficult decision about lifting all england's restrictions on the i9thjuly — given the continuing rise in cases. more than 27,000 new cases were recorded across the uk today, but deaths remain low. here's our health editor, hugh pym. as more jabs go into arms, officials are confident that vaccines are reducing the risk of serious illness. the office for national statistics says hospital admissions are much lower than they would have been without vaccines. but, even so, the head of the 0ns told me that making the right call on ending restrictions in england won't be straightforward. this decision is the most difficult that the government has to make. we are watching with laser focus every day the data, so that the government will have all the information it needs in order, absolutely, to mean that it's data, not dates. the 0ns infection survey suggest that last week in the uk, there was a 67% increase in tho

alex forsyth, bbc news, warwickshire.ough to stop racist and abusive messages on their platorms. in his first public comments since missing a penalty at the euro 2020 final he thanked people for all their support but said he hoped no—one would receive the kind of hateful and hurtful messages that he and his teammates were sent after the defeat. the information commissioner has seized computer equipment after two homes were searched in connection with leaked cctv footage that led to matt hancock resigning as health secretary. mr hancock stood down after the release of the footage by the sun newspaper showing him kissing his aide in his office, in breach of covid rules. police are hunting the driver of a stolen car who hit several vehicles — and injured two officers — before ending up driving . along railway tracks at ches— unt in hertfordshire, causing major disturption to train services. golf, and the 0pen�*s underway at royal st george's in kent. more than 30,000 spectators have been allowed into the event. former open c

our uk political correspondent alex forsyth has this update.fraught. perhaps that's a sign of just what's at stake, because a loss here for labour would be damaging and would undoubtedly prompt another period of introspection about the party's direction, but perhaps more crucially, the party's leadership. now, for the tories, this is a test of whether they can continue their charge in this part of the country, now that it's their handling of the pandemic rather than brexit that's at the forefront of people's minds. so the result here will have national significance, but there are important local factors at play here too. this was the seat once of jo cox, the mp who was murdered by a far right extremist, so it has known division before, and this has been a difficult campaign, tense. there's been anger, there's been harassment, there's been a police presence on the ground. it's been a highly charged contest in a very crowded field, some 16 candidates standing. and among them, george galloway, the former mp. now, he's been targeting labour support

let's go to alex forsyth of the sac.— alex forsyth of the bbc.ave painted a clear picture of the day of the impact i minister, you have painted a clear picture of the day of the impact of an unbalanced _ picture of the day of the impact of an unbalanced economy, - picture of the day of the impact of an unbalanced economy, but - picture of the day of the impact of an unbalanced economy, but youl picture of the day of the impact of - an unbalanced economy, but you have not given— an unbalanced economy, but you have not given us— an unbalanced economy, but you have not given us a — an unbalanced economy, but you have not given us a lot _ an unbalanced economy, but you have not given us a lot of— an unbalanced economy, but you have not given us a lot of new— an unbalanced economy, but you have not given us a lot of new detail - not given us a lot of new detail about— not given us a lot of new detail about how— not given us a lot of new detail about how you _ not given us a lot of new detail about how you deal— not given us a lot of new detail about h

alex forsyth, bbc news, warwickshire. the time is 6.18.of western europe. 25,000 troops are being deployed by south africa after days of violence — and looting of businesses — which have left nearly 120 people dead. clashes were sparked by the jailing of the former presidentjacob zuma, who had refused to appear at a corruption inquiry. but — 27 years after the end of apartheid — there's also widespread anger over hardship and inequality. the worst violence in years has seen clashes in areas including johannesburg and durban, from where nomsa maseko has sent this report. residents ofjohannesburg protecting their livelihoods. guarding against rioters and looters since the beginning of this week. in durban, checkpoints have been set up across the city. people are looking to protect themselves and their businesses from luton. people are hunt at businesses from luton. people are hungry at the _ businesses from luton. people are hungry at the moment. _ businesses from luton. people are hungry at the moment. people - businesses from luton. people

3,000 and it's being seen as a test of sir keir starmer�*s leadership. 0ur political correspondent alex forsythrd—fought and at times fraught. perhaps that's a sign of what is at stake, because a loss here for labour would be damaging and would undoubtedly prompt another period of introspection about the party's direction, but perhaps more crucially, the party's leadership. for the tories, this is a test of whether they can continue that charge in this part of the country now that it is their handling of the pandemic rather than brexit that is at the forefront of people's minds. so the result here will have national significance, but there are important local factors at play here too. this was the seat once ofjo cox, the mp who was murdered by a far right extremist, so it has known division before, and this has been a difficult campaign, tense. there has been anger and harassment and police presence on the ground. it's been a highly charged contest in a crowded field, some 16 candidates standing. among them, george galloway, the former mp. he has been targeting labour supporters among this area

alex forsyth, bbc news in batley & spen.e can speak now to the political commentator, author and podcaster, steve richards thank you for being with us this evening. kier starmer has painted this is a triumph. can win of only 300 votes over the conservatives in a seat that was held by labour at the last general election really constitute a dramatic turn of good fortune for party?— fortune for party? well, it constitutes _ fortune for party? well, it constitutes a _ fortune for party? well, it constitutes a dramatic - fortune for party? well, it| constitutes a dramatic turn fortune for party? well, it. constitutes a dramatic turn of fortune for party? well, it - constitutes a dramatic turn of the orthodox narrative because it defied expectation. that is when by—elections make an impact, so there was a narrative that labour was going to lose, that kier starmer could face a leadership challenge and that labour would erupt into one of theirfamiliar civil and that labour would erupt into one of their familiar civil wars. the win,

alex forsyth, bbc news, warwickshire.cation secretary, justine greening. she's also a joint—founder of the charity, the social mobility pledge. what did you make of the intention the prime minister set out in the practical hurdles for turning that into a levelled up country? i practical hurdles for turning that into a levelled up country? i always welcome the _ into a levelled up country? i always welcome the prime _ into a levelled up country? i always welcome the prime minister - into a levelled up country? i always welcome the prime minister giving | into a levelled up country? i alwaysl welcome the prime minister giving a speech and levelling up but the real challenge now he is two years into his premiership is for him to set out a very comprehensive plan on how he wants to go about levelling up britain. it was not a complex challenge and, as you started to get into in the package, different parts of the country will face very different challenges. if you are in rural areas it is probably very much about connectivity.

our political correspondent alex forsyth joins us now from westminster. nt, but still with significant exceptions. yes, the government has been under significant pressure from the travel and tourism industry for some time so perhaps it is no surprise this has been widely welcomed by the sector not least because some eu countries had started to open up to us travellers, but this is by no means a travel free for all. it is still a complex picture with restrictions on travellers coming into the uk from france and while those who have had double vaccinations in the us can travel to england and scotland it doesn't work the other way. despite the government has backed efforts to get agreement us borders remain close to uk travellers. the government has decided to press ahead and in large part that is down to the success of the vaccine programme and a growing sense in government that has to bring some benefits particularly when it comes to opening up the economy and getting it moving. outwardly ministers are still keen to stress the road ahead is unpredictable, t