labour party is hoping it can retain the seat in the north of england but the race with the conservative partyt. the contest has wider implications for politics in britain with many seeing it as a test of the leadership of the labour party. under its leader, sir keir starmer. we can speak to mo hussein, a former press officer who worked at downing street under david cameron. what are you hearing from your colleagues on the ground there, mo? ~ ~ �* , mo? well, i think there's quite a confidence _ mo? well, i think there's quite a confidence and _ mo? well, i think there's quite a confidence and it _ mo? well, i think there's quite a confidence and it does - mo? well, i think there's quite a confidence and it does look. a confidence and it does look tight, and let's remember this has been a labour seat for 2h years now, so if there were to be a conservative victory, then i think it would be seen as a welcome bonus but i don't think anything has been taken for granted. and it seems that the messaging that the conservatives will have been using on the doorstep around jobs, investments, policing ha

stevenson, ryan, conservative party candidate, 12,973. freedom, 100. waters, anna maria, the, 197. the number rejected our want of an official mark, zero, loading for more candidates for that rotor was entitled to, 30. writing or mark by which motor could be identified, one. unmarked or wholly void for uncertainty, 52. the total number of ballot papers rejected, 83. i hereby declare that to michelle leadbetter is duly elected. —— leadbeater. applause. amiok am i ok to speak? is it ok? ok, iam not am i ok to speak? is it ok? ok, i am not going to speak too long because i think we are pretty tired, i know i am. it has been a gruelling few weeks. i want to say a few thank you. i want to say a few thank you. i want to thankjackie cadman, returning officer and her team for organising this evening, and all of the staff involved in doing the count tonight. i want to say a huge thank you to the police who, sadly, i have needed more than ever over the last few weeks. i want to say a huge thank you to the whole labour party team for the hours, time,

and _ happened to be in the conservative party and it looks as though the conservative leadership isian backbenchers to go quickly ahead with this — backbenchers to go quickly ahead with this easy and restrictions when it comes _ with this easy and restrictions when it comes to— with this easy and restrictions when it comes to masks. even when it's 'ust it comes to masks. even when it's just not— it comes to masks. even when it's just not too— it comes to masks. even when it's just not too much of an inconvenience for most people. and does credit— inconvenience for most people. and does credit big deal for those that wear— does credit big deal for those that wear masks and we seen some leadership on this. again, a lot of uncertainty — leadership on this. again, a lot of uncertainty from government on this issue _ uncertainty from government on this issue. .. , uncertainty from government on this issue. ,, .., , uncertainty from government on this issue. , . , issue. say could be quite patchy because not _ issue. say could be quite patchy because not all— issue. say could be quite pat

the conservative party about just how wake—up call for the conservative party aboutjust how our words is saying, we suffer racism. the labour leader _ is saying, we suffer racism. the labour leader said _ is saying, we suffer racism. the labour leader said the prime minister�*s promised to act now rang hollow. minister's promised to act now rang hollow. ~ , , hollow. either the prime minister is with the england _ hollow. either the prime minister is with the england players _ hollow. either the prime minister is with the england players in - hollow. either the prime minister is with the england players in their. with the england players in their stand against racism, or he can defend his own record, there was of his ministers on some of his mps. but he can�*t have it both ways. i but he can't have it both ways. i don't want to engage in a political culture _ don't want to engage in a political culture war— don't want to engage in a political culture war of any kind. i want to -et culture war of any kind. i want to get on _ culture war of any kind. i want to get on with— culture war o

that the — conservative party headquarters. that the commune 0k conservative party headquarters.tjust to make sure that _ that the commune 0k butjust to make sure that they are reassuring traditional voters as well as those in the _ traditional voters as well as those in the midlands. and you will hear this phrase, we are not robbing peter— this phrase, we are not robbing peter to— this phrase, we are not robbing peter to pay paul, and you know the success _ peter to pay paul, and you know the success of— peter to pay paul, and you know the success of the north and the midlands will not come at the expense _ midlands will not come at the expense of the southeast. i think the prime — expense of the southeast. i think the prime minister wants to make a point _ the prime minister wants to make a point that— the prime minister wants to make a point that actually if you spread wealth — point that actually if you spread wealth more evenly around the country — wealth more evenly around the country you take the pressure off of the southeast in terms of the pressure _ the southeast in ter

so interestingly, thel conservative party is assailing these — conservative party is assailing theserms — and also internally in response to the _ these norms — and also internally in response to the pandemic, - these norms — and also internally in response to the pandemic, there i these norms — and also internally ini response to the pandemic, there are hu-e response to the pandemic, there are huge scandals — response to the pandemic, there are huge scandals with _ response to the pandemic, there are huge scandals with regards - response to the pandemic, there are huge scandals with regards to - huge scandals with regards to illegal— huge scandals with regards to illegal or— huge scandals with regards to illegal or irregular— huge scandals with regards to - illegal or irregular commissioning of tory— illegal or irregular commissioning of tory donors _ illegal or irregular commissioning of tory donors to _ illegal or irregular commissioning of tory donors to help _ illegal or irregular commissioning of tory donors to help with - illegal or irregular commissioning . of tory donors to

i'm booked for the conservatives party conference and double jabbed. i wouldn't be going to the conference if we're excluding people on the basis of their vaccination status, with a heavy heart and apologies to event organizers. likewise, i'm afraid the same will apply to me while the debates around vaccine possible it's has indeed resurface with boris johnson. the prime minister being rather keen on introducing the idea of crowded places later in the, in the autumn. now the labor party, i'm the lip, them say absolutely hate the idea suggesting that they would vote sit down in the house of commons, but around full teach, worry rebel m p 's. i'm saying the absolute same thing that they tooth would be the idea. now those also talk of a protest outside the venue and that would be a freedom zone. but there's definitely mixed reaction to the idea among the public . like i go to take the vaccine, i have it myself, but i have no choice. if you don, year to jobs and you want to go and interior somewhere, no restaurant, why should you take the risk of been infe

conservative votes are down by six points. it might imply the labour partye a little bit better with conservative voters and potential labour— conservative vote switches. what one reason could be they might see the conservative vote lead coming down in the last week or so. we saw what happened with matt hancock, that could have had an effect. we talk about small margins, those were 300 votes. leadbeater is a very credible local candidates that would have had an effect. something else that may have had an effect is that you may have seen george galloway actually putting off a certain conservative voters from actually voting conservative, not liking george galloway, not wanting him to represent his constituents, potential waverers thinking about the best way to think about getting galloway out... you think you can gain by—elections, you think they can be predictable but they are very, very unpredictable vehicles of politics. i think we have seen that again tonight. thank you. let's get reaction now from siena rogers. we're alsojoined by has seen who worked as

— that this conservative party is so afraid of? , ,., that this conservative party is so afraid of?ople, this is developed _ afraid of? just so people, this is developed over _ afraid of? just so people, this is developed over the _ afraid of? just so people, this is developed over the last - afraid of? just so people, this is developed over the last few - afraid of? just so people, this is i developed over the last few weeks where initially, ministers were asked about footballers taking the need to protest against racism and the highlight racism and detail and borisjohnson initially said, i'm not going to condemn people but they did say nobody should brew the players. that position shifted along in recent times but that is where they saw it in a began to brew. what do you see to there? because some people, including your own party, have been uncomfortable about the government seeming hesitant on this issue. i government seeming hesitant on this issue. ~ ' . , government seeming hesitant on this issue. ~' ' . , ., issue. i think the difficulty for this for all— issue. i think the di

what is it that this england team symbolizes that this conservative party is so afraid of. >> mr. speaker, i think the house can judge for themselves the quality of the question that the honorable gentleman. i think the whole house is united including our distinguished members from scotland, by the way, mr. speaker in admiration of the england team, of every single member and what they do. and we stick up for them, mr. speaker. what we are doing is taking practical steps to fight racism, changing order and by the way, we will use more of the decision if we have to -- just as we use legislation, mr. speaker, to stop the european super league and we will get on, get on with delivering for the people of this country. we will get on with vaccinating the people of the country while they continue to -- to vaccinate. we will continue to immunize people in the country while they improvise. i don't want to engage in a political war of any kind. i want to get on with delivering for the people of this country. he wants to get on with -- >> here. >> he doesn't want to engage in a culture war

are you a political paper for the conservative party? no. i i for the conservative party? no. don't rememberand it many come out forjeremy corbyn. i don't remember and it many newspapers doing _ remember and it many newspapers doing that — remember and it many newspapers doinu that. , ., ., �* doing that. even the guardian didn't doing that. even the guardian didn't do that. doing that. even the guardian didn't do that- even _ doing that. even the guardian didn't do that. even the _ doing that. even the guardian didn't do that. even the guardian. - doing that. even the guardian didn't do that. even the guardian. we - doing that. even the guardian didn't do that. even the guardian. we did| do that. even the guardian. we did b the do that. even the guardian. we did by the way — do that. even the guardian. we did by the way way _ do that. even the guardian. we did by the way way before _ do that. even the guardian. we did by the way way before my - do that. even the guardian. we did by the way way before my time - do that. even the guardian. we did i by the way way before my time

mp, and he saying that we _ conservative party mp, and he saying that we should rethink takingtude to— was too harsh and the government attitude to take any being a very against — attitude to take any being a very against that made people think that the government thought it was ok and that racist— the government thought it was ok and that racist abuse with ok in some way which — that racist abuse with ok in some way which the government has never thought _ way which the government has never thought. what has happened in the last few— thought. what has happened in the last few days perhaps will open peoples — last few days perhaps will open peoples eyes to racism that has been experienced and i hope asjessica says that — experienced and i hope asjessica says that something good comes out of the _ says that something good comes out of the its— says that something good comes out of the it's a _ says that something good comes out of the it's a shame it got to the depths— of the it's a shame it got to the depths something good might come out of it. depths something good might come

and i think the labour party and some conservatives are quite _ labour party and some conservatives areuite against it. so i think it's a last _ are quite against it. so i think it's a last ditch kind of attempt and to— it's a last ditch kind of attempt and to be — it's a last ditch kind of attempt and to be honest a bit of a threat to say— and to be honest a bit of a threat to say you — and to be honest a bit of a threat to say you are not going to have any life after— to say you are not going to have any life after not — to say you are not going to have any life after not being in nightclubs for over— life after not being in nightclubs for over 50 months. this is kind of the last— for over 50 months. this is kind of the last ditch attempt to get the young people to get vaccinated so i definitely _ young people to get vaccinated so i definitely see it as a stick rather than _ definitely see it as a stick rather than a _ definitely see it as a stick rather than a carrot.— definitely see it as a stick rather than a carrot. ., ., than a carrot. 0k, fair enough. the oint than a carrot. 0k,

this is just nonsense. friends, prime minister faith is a major split within his conservative party with m. p. 's, furious over the countries latest coven restrictions for the members of parliament . and declaring the boy called the upcoming party conference software to merge the vaccine. passports will be required to get in. i am booked for the conservatives party conference. i'm double jabbed. i won't be going to the conference if we're excluding people on the basis of their vaccination status, with a heavy heart and apologies to event organizers. likewise, i'm afraid the same will apply to me while the debates around vaccine possible it's has indeed re stuff. it was boris johnson, the prime minister, being rather keen on introducing the idea. crowded places later in the, in the autumn. now the labor party on the live terms, they absolutely hate the idea suggesting that they would vote sit down in the house of commons. but around 40 tory rebel m p 's. i'm saying the absolute same thing that they to would be. so the idea now those also talk of a protest outside the venue and that would

for you then this our british prime minister parish johnson faces a major split within his conservative party with m. p. 's, furious over the country's latest cobra restrictions, tory members of parliament, and declaring the boy called the upcoming party conference. after emerge the vaccine, passports are going to be required to get in. i'm booked for the conservatives party conference and double jabbed. i wouldn't be going to the conference if we're excluding people on the basis of that vaccination status. with a heavy heart and apologies to event organizers, likewise, i'm afraid the same will apply to me while the debates around vaccine possible it has indeed resurface with boris johnson. the prime minister, being rather keen on introducing the idea of crowded places later in the, in the autumn. now the labor party, i'm the lip, them say absolutely hate the idea suggesting that they would vote sit down in the house of commons, but around full teach. worry rebel m p 's, i'm saying the absolute same thing that they tooth would be the idea. now those also talk of a protest outside the venue an

this design, conservative party and tory members of parliament, and i are threatening to boycott their annual autumn conference to offer to merge that faxing passport would be required to attend that i'm booked for the conservatives party conference. i'm double jabbed. i wouldn't be going to the conference if we're excluding people on the basis of the vaccination status with a heavy heart and apologies to event organizers. likewise, i'm afraid the same will apply to me while the debates around vaccine possible it's has indeed re stuff. it was boris johnson, the prime minister, being rather keen on introducing the idea. crowded places later in the, in the old, not the labor party. i'm the lip, them say absolutely hate the idea suggesting that they would vote sit down in the house of commons, but around 40 tory rebel m p 's saying the absolute same thing that they tooth would be. so the idea now those also talk of a protest outside the venue and that would be a freedom zone, but there's definitely mixed reaction to the idea among the public godes. so we take the vaccine, i have it myself

so there are two separate issues — the politics of it within the conservative party, and what needs toe younger people who are reluctant. and what needs to be done — and here even the libertarian—ish boris johnson seems to be in agreement — is they need to get those vaccinations. now, here the government is sort of doing it by saying, "if you don't, you might have to show a vaccine passport in nightclubs and so on." there needs to be more of that, clearly — as we are seeing elsewhere in france and other places, the united states with talk of $100 to get vaccinated — to make sure we don't get an epidemic of the unvaccinated. so it seems to me he was making an absolutely straightforward observation. the question is now whether further measures are needed, irrespective of the mood of a percentage of the conservative parliamentary party. mina, one argument they can use to push back against those who say the frustration of all these restrictions is the impact it's had on the economy is to point to the imf report this week which suggested economic recovery and the strength of it is dependent

it is a wake—up call for the conservative party.we navigate these issues and we just have to get alongside those players who are taking the knee and understand that they are not saying defund the police, they are not anti—capitalist. what they are doing is saying, we suffer racism. these england players have been hailed as role models. some conservatives are worried the party is sounding unsympathetic to their cause. vicki young, bbc news, westminster. more than 70 people have now died after a week of unrest in south africa sparked by the jailing of former president jacob zuma. shops and warehouses have been looted and set on fire, with the worst violence in years centred on durban and johannesburg. the government says it plans to deploy 25,000 soldiers on the streets to try to quell the violence. 0ur south africa correspondent nomsa maseko reports. factory, after factory, after factory, ransacked and burned by looters. two young men lying dead beside a railway line 48 hours after they died. this is what six days of looting and riot

and as prime minister _ the conservative party and as prime minister.eal, — minister. but that's another thing. it is a real, real problem. the problems— it is a real, real problem. the problems are mounting up. we are going _ problems are mounting up. we are going into — problems are mounting up. we are going into the summer, the summer recess _ going into the summer, the summer recess as— going into the summer, the summer recess as i_ going into the summer, the summer recess as i say, it must be a huge relief— recess as i say, it must be a huge relief for— recess as i say, it must be a huge relief for some people at checkers. next story— relief for some people at checkers. next story on the telegraph, forcing his children to self—isolate needless. this is a really interesting story. just going through exactly this during the school summer term. flit through exactly this during the school summer term. of course that is riuht. i school summer term. of course that is right. i hadn't _ school summer term. of course that is right. i hadn't realised _ school

should be vaccinated. latest with the rules of annoyed even n page 2 with the prime minister, conservative party, tory members of parliament and threatening to boy, caught that annual tim conference offered merge that vaccine, passports would be required to get into the final for the conservatives party conference and double chopped, i won't be going to the conference if we're excluding people on the basis of that vaccination status with a heavy heart and apologies to event organizers. likewise. i'm afraid the same will apply to me. well, the debates around vaccine possible if has indeed resurface was boris johnson, the prime minister being rather keen on introducing the idea at crowded places later in the, in the autumn. now the labor party, i'm the lip, them say absolutely hate the idea suggesting that they would vote sit down in the house of commons, but around full teach will re rebel m p 's. i'm saying the absolute same thing that they tooth would be the idea. now there's also talk of a protest outside the venue and that would be a freedom zone. but there's definitely mixed reaction to the

with me are social commentator joanna jarjue and the former conservative party press chief and politicalmentator giles kenningham. welcome to both of you. tomorrow's front pages, starting with... according to the guardian, pressure is mounting on ministers to outlaw companies�* "no jab, no job" policies amid warnings that firms could be hit by a wave of legal claims for discrimination. the daily mail says families are in a fight to save summer, with holiday hotspots in europe facing new travel rules. the daily mirror speculates this summer could be one to forget as bad weather and covid rules put holidays under a cloud. the i suggests almost 3 million young people will be warned they must get their first vaccination within days or they will face restrictions on what they can do later in the year. according to the daily telegraph, the nhs drew up secret plans to withdraw hospital care from people in nursing homes in the event of a pandemic. the times says householders have been warned to brace themselves for the biggest energy bills rise in a decade, with more than half facing an increase

but the conservative party has been on the back foot on this whole issue, as it struggled to explainighlight racial inequality, and that it was nothing to do with the political organisation black lives matter. the labour leader said the prime minister's promise to act now rang hollow. either the prime minister is with the england players in their stand against racism, or he can defend his own record, those of his ministers and some of his mps. but he can't have it both ways. tonight, a heartfelt message from jadon sancho, one of the young players subjected to racism. as a society we need to do better, he said, and hold the abusers accountable. hate, he said, will never win. vicki young, bbc news, westminster. after a very scaled—down ceremony last year due to the pandemic, this year's bastille day procession to the pandemic, this year's bastille day procession in paris once again featured the cavalry of the republican guard, members of the foreign legion and an aircraft fly—past. this was the scene a few hours ago at the eiffel tower — fireworks to celebrate france's national day. de

but the conservative party has been on the back foot on this whole issue, as it struggled to explainre doing it, and there was nothing to do with there was nothing to do with the political organisation black lives matter. the labour leader said the prime minister's promised to act now rang hollow. minister's promised to act now rang hollow— rang hollow. either the prime minister is — rang hollow. either the prime minister is with _ rang hollow. either the prime minister is with the _ rang hollow. either the prime minister is with the england | minister is with the england players _ minister is with the england players in their stand against racism, — players in their stand against racism, or— players in their stand against racism, or he can defend his own— racism, or he can defend his own record. but he can't have it both — own record. but he can't have it both ways. own record. but he can't have it both ways-_ it both ways. tonight, a heartfelt _ it both ways. tonight, a heartfelt message - it both ways. tonight, a heartfelt message from j it both ways. tonight, a - heartfelt messag

otherwise, we have with the people and bbc news who have been members of the conservative party and membersur party and many other parties that work for left ring and right wing organisation. the performances have been subscribing to the bbc values when they are in the post. is a reference on executive directors who were incidentally in the past themselves, the head of the bbc political programmes, to express a view on the editorial appointment? the bbc now has a unitary board which means members of the executive and nonexecutive directors consider on the table together and i do not think it is surprising or improper for them to share views about all sorts of issues around what would be improper it would be for nonexecutive director to seek a veto for the process. the bbc, like most organisations and certainly more public organisations have appointments, framework to ensure selection, diversity and it would be quite improperfor them to trade interfere in that, but there's no indication that that happened. nonexecutive director docking with the head of news and saying board with potential ap

that's the conservative party. >> thank you, mr. speaker. this is a party that has -- the u.k. is packed full of incredible innovation led businesses capable of leading entire streets. i know this government wants to ensure the best possible access to venture funding over multiple rounds to catapult, scale up business is a full of potential into world beating companies. with the prime minister meet with me to discuss how we can best make venture work for the scale up community and transform some of our better ideas into some of the world biggest businesses? >> i think the honorable lady --thank the honorable lady. this is a fantastic opportunity. we do indeed produce a great many tech rectors. we are looking very much on how to make sure that we scale up fast. but as i speak, there are three countries in the world that have scaled up tech breakthroughs to unicorns worth more than a billion, a hundred unicorns worth a billion pounds. only three. they are the united states of america, china and the united kingdom. >> for over seven years, calling for the gargantuan to be treated

as a response, the ruling conservative party has called the police to be given great to power. while many journalists in the british media is a gang label without factoring in the all the reasons that lead to define it. to me, you've spoken about the importance of the distinction between the gang coach. i need violence. why do you think it's so important that that distinction is understood, developing an understanding of how particular labels are used to fathom marginalized, and ostracized particular groups? the word gang in this country has become synonymous with black youth. why one would off that as a question why? what really is a guy? i mean, when you look at the legal definition, hooligan, they could be a gotten by the legal definition of various groups of people that could fit the definition of a gun. but the word gang is never used to enable them. and there's various research and studies freeform one by hard bessie that showed that a cross section of the media. but they studied 62 percent of the time. and when a label was being used to describe black youth, black men an

but are you a political paper for the conservative party? no. i think we would change... remember many newspapers coming out for corbyn. even the guardian didn't come out for corbyn. yeah, i think that might be the point. we did, by the way, i mean, way before my time, come out for tony blair. so no, i would absolutely take each election depending on who we thought was the right person, that our readers thought as well to take the country forward in the best possible way. and that's the same for the mayor, as well. sure. i mean, tobyn, the hope is any scoop, especially a political one, will have real impact and force change. they're notjust there to win awards. but is that more difficult in an era where politicians tend to try to tough things out? resignations — shame, one would say — doesn't come as easily to public figures these days. well, in a way, that comes back to the point i was talking - about earlier, which is that, - in regards to the hancock story, was that clearly the view had been taken in downing street, - which was symptomatic of a widerl feeling, i think,

are you a political paper for the conservative party? no.e the country. we didn't come out forjeremy corbyn. i don't remember many newspapers doing that. even the guardian didn't do that. even the guardian. we did by, the way, way before my time, come out for tony blair. no, i would absolutely take each election depending on who we thought was the right person, that our readers thought as well to take the country forward in the best possible way. and that is the same for the mayor. tobyn, the hope is any school, especially political ones, will have real impact. ones, will have real impact and force change. they are notjust there to win awards. is that more difficult in an era politicians tend to try to tough things out? shame, one would say, doesn't come as easily to public figures these days. in a way, that comes back to the point i was talking i about earlier, which is that, l in regards to the met hancock story, clearly if you had been taken in downing street - which is symptomatic. of a wider feeling i think in downing street, - that the