harry farley is at westminster. what is the background to this, harry? abs.n _ harry? a possible conflict of interest between steve - harry? a possible conflict of- interest between steve barclay's interest between steve barclay�*s role as environment minister and as an mp. it relates to proposals to build one of europe's largest waste incinerators in his constituency in wisbech. the plans were approved last month by the energy department but the final go—ahead needs a permit from the environment agency, public body sponsored by mr berkeley's department. what we know, clive, three things tonight. 0ne, mr barclay is opposed to the scheme, and when that initial proposal was given he said it was "terrible news for our area" and he said he would continue to do everything possible to fight it. two, civil servants raised concerns with his cabinet ethics unit about his involvement and, three, the ethics unit has discussed the matter with mr barclay. now a government spokesman said this morning mr barclay is recused from the decision and they say that will be made by

harry farley, bbc news.girl has drowned after a small boat carrying 16 migrants heading to the uk capsized, according to the authorities in northern france. the girl's parents and three siblings were taken to hospital in dunkirk. this is the third fatal incident in a channel crossing attempt so far this year. last year, nearly 30,000 people reached britain, according to government figures. our reporter, nickjohnson, explained more. we know that this happened well within french waters. we now know it actually happened on a canal some 30 kilometres or so from the coastline itself. we have seen footage of that canal in question. the water level is very high, it is a wide waterway, it is flanked on one side by forests and, on the others, by some homes. we have also seen footage of emergency services appearing to be by the bow of a small white boat, which isjutting up from the water line. alongside that as well, belongings strewn all over the tow path. now, the authorities in france say that the boat was just too

harry farley, bbc news. to pakistan next.f has been re—elected as prime ministerfor a second term. it comes weeks after a controversial election, marred by allegations of widespread vote—rigging. mr sharif was elected by 201 votes to 92, he'll now preside over a coalition that has shut out followers of the jailed opposition leader, imran khan. last month's election produced no outright winner. independent candidates backed by imran khan's party won the most seats, but failed to get a majority. our bbc urdu news reporter in islamabad, sahar baloch, has more. sharif has been elected as the prime minister of pakistan for the second time. i heard a lot of shouting and sloganeering inside the parliament today. as soon as shahbaz sharif got elected, as announced by the speaker, a lot of people from especially the candidates from the opposition parties, they surrounded the dais and did not let him speak for a while now. sharif got 201 votes in the parliament today. and this also speaks of the recent elections, the recent general ele

harry farley, who's been in westminister following the story...ics or at least the mps in westminster are very much interested in him and his future as conservative party leader. i have been over in the house of commons or the houses of parliament this morning and the mood among conservative mps is dire, to say the least. it is fractious, they had a very difficult week last week. lee anderson, the former deputy chairman of the conservative party, joining the rival party on the right, reform uk. there was also this reference they are about a conservative party donor, a businessman, mr hester, and comments he made about a former labour mp diane abbott. the perception from some was that those two rows were handled badly by rishi sunak and his team and ultimately conservative mps are looking at the same polls that we can all see, which show the conservative party trailing the labour party by a significant distance. and conservative mps, some of them are thinking, well, can it get any worse? i have been over in the house of commons. you don't have a ma

harry farley, bbc news. let's get more on the worries about the hopes for a ceasefire in gaza. therefore as now. what can you tell is about what the israelis are saying? £31 you tell is about what the israelis are saying?— you tell is about what the israelis aresa inc? , , are saying? of this is unconfirmed at the moment _ are saying? of this is unconfirmed at the moment that _ are saying? of this is unconfirmed at the moment that they - are saying? of this is unconfirmed at the moment that they are - at the moment that they are increasing reports on the israeli media that the israeli delegation he was meant to go to cairo this morning to take part in these indirect talks with hamas mediated through the qataris, the americans and the egyptians, this was all planned to lead to some sort of cessation into hostilities in a week's time. the israeli delegation has reportedly not travelled because they say that hamas has failed to produce a list of hostages who would be released as part of any agreement. then israel would also be releasing a larger number of palestinian prisoners in

our political correspondent harry farley.ge from hospital in malaysia. the king was hospitalised while on a private trip to the country, and received treatment for an infection as well as a temporary pacemaker. earlier this week the palace said that the king was doing well under the circumstances, but still required rest. delegates are beginning to arriving in china for the annual meeting of the national people's congress. the event will lay out the government's policy blueprint for the year ahead. high on the agenda is the economy, with the ruling patry being closely watched to see how they might try to rescue china's struggling economy. a zoo in south korea threw a farewell party for the first giant panda born in the country, ahead of the animal's return to china. thousands queued up to say their farewells , the panda has attracted a huge fan base since she was born in july 2020. she will now spend a month in quarantine before heading home to the sichuan province. enjoying a munch on that bamboo! it's was british music's bi

with more on this let's go live to our political correspondent, harry farley. usual or frequent that the prime minister would use this particularforum, is it? why do you think you did it, and why now? that's right. a podium moment outside downing street is unusual. it is rare and normally an indication of a big moment, a big intervention, or even calling a general election. i think the reason why rishi sunak wanted to have this moment outside downing street is his fear, and the government's fear that temperatures are rising over the war in the middle east here in the uk, and not falling. you reference the election of george galloway, the left—wing firebrand politician, i suppose. he will arrive in the house of commons on monday. there is concern about that, there is concern about the policing of pro—palestinian protests as well. i think rishi sunak wanted to take a moment to reset, in his mind, what he sees as normal levels of political protest. 0bviously he sees as normal levels of political protest. obviously the context to all of this is we have seen a numbe

harry farley, bbc news.from the institute for fiscal studies there. i'm pleased to say he joins us now live. how narrow is the room for manoeuvre for the uk chancellor? irate how narrow is the room for manoeuvre for the uk chancellor?— for the uk chancellor? we will find out the details _ for the uk chancellor? we will find out the details on _ for the uk chancellor? we will find out the details on wednesday - for the uk chancellor? we will find | out the details on wednesday when for the uk chancellor? we will find - out the details on wednesday when we see the offer office for budget responsibility, forecast, but i think the answer is almost certainly very narrow. back in november, he was meeting his mentorfiscal rule about the skinniest of the slim margins, and there is no particular reason to think that will have got a lot better since. and he does want to make significant tax cut. it is probable to have to find some savings elsewhere. we probable to have to find some savings elsewhere.— probable to have

let's speak to our political correpsondent, harry farley.rs one can understand why conservative mps might be speculating yet again about the leadership. but given what he has just said, how effective do you think rishi sunak is going to be at trying to shut this speculation down? what rishi sunak has just said as he is not interested in westminster politics. i think the problem for him is that westminster politics, or at least the conservative mps in westminster, are very much interested in him, and his future as the conservative party leader. i have been over in house of commons, the houses of parliament, this morning, and the mood among conservative mps is dire, to say the least. it is fractious. they had a very difficult week last week. lee anderson, the former deputy chairman of the conservative party, joining the rival party on the right reform uk. and you also her reference they are met the conservative party donor and businessman frank hester and the comments he made a bit former labour mp diane abbott, and the perception from some wa

harry farley, bbc news.uk capsized, according to the authorities in northern france. the girl's parents and three siblings were taken to hospital in dunkirk. this is the third fatal incident in a channel crossing attempt so far this year. last year, nearly 30,000 people reached britain, according to government figures. turning to with the war in ukraine, berlin says the leaking of german military discussions about aid to ukraine is a russian hybrid attack and part of its information war. audio of the meeting was posted to social media by the head of russia's state—run rt channel. in the leaked recordings, senior military officers discuss giving ukraine long—range taurus missiles, and also possible targets. so far germany has refused delivering the arms to ukraine, fearing it would lead to an escalation of the conflict. here's germany's defence minister, boris pistorius, speaking at a press conference earlier. translation: it is part of an information war i that putin is waging. there is absolutely no doubt a

let's speak to harry farley our political correspondent in westminster.he government 's plans. it may well in the next _ for the government 's plans. it may well in the next few _ for the government 's plans. it may well in the next few minutes - for the government 's plans. it may well in the next few minutes as - for the government 's plans. it may well in the next few minutes as i'm| well in the next few minutes as i'm talking to you may be five. there are other votes going on in the house of lords is a speak. as he said, the bill aims to prevent prove further legal challenges. the government wants to stop legal challenges to that scheme, it's necessary to stop the boats, provide a deterrent for people to cross the channel and make that dangerous crossing, they say that's necessary. but late last year, the government, the supreme court ruled that the scheme was unlawful and the particular reason, one of the key reasons it cited is it didn't believe that rwanda was necessarily a safe country to send asylum—seekers too. so what the government is trying t

limited budget that perhaps jeremy hunt had hoped for a few weeks ago. 0ur political correspondent harry farley that love can is they did withjeremy hunt a little later in this hour. —— more of that interview that laura kuenssberg date. final vote counting is taking place following iran's parliamentary elections. unofficial figures put the turnout at about a0 % — which would be the lowest since the islamic revolution in 1979. iran's rulers had been pressing for high participation to help repair the regime's reputation, after nearly two years of protests sparked by the death in custody of the young woman, mahsa amini. 0ur correspondent caroline davies — who is in tehran — told us more about the turnout. the result of friday's elections are still not announced but, interestingly, some of the state newspapers here in iran had some of their own figures about turnout. these are all unofficial early indications of figures. but here it says that they believe that there's been a a1% turnout across iran. and here in the capital tehran, it's at 24%. now, if these figures are correct, a1% turnout across t

be announced that would improve the conservatives' record in power. 0ur political correspondent harry farleyome for more money on defence and housing, others want tax cuts. the chancellor was giving little away as she arrived this morning, but it took give this event. —— but he did give this hint. i do want, where it's possible to do so responsibly, to move towards a lower—tax economy, and i hope to show a path in that direction, but this will be a prudent and responsible budget for long—term growth. something he is thinking about is nicking labour's idea to raise money by scrapping the non—doms tax exemption for people who live in the uk but whose main home is abroad, but that could be awkward. you said, "these are foreigners who could live easily in ireland, "france, portugal or spain. "they all have these schemes. "i would rather they stayed here and spent their money here. do you want to take that back? let me say this. the country sees through gimmicks and we are not going to do gimmicks on wednesday. jeremy hunt is under tremendous pressure to deliver tangible tax cuts. many conservati

let�*s get more from our political correspondent harry farley — who�*s in the newsroom.ons are what hasjeremy hunt been seen? tij: indications are this will be a limited budget, the chancellor was talking up the prospect of a big tax cuts, he compared himself to nigel lawson and this was supposed to be a big moment for the conservative government, part of their big offer to voters ahead of the general election. all that has changed, largely because the treasury has less money to play with if it is to stick within the rules it sets itself to manage the economy. jeremy hunt is enabled of a bind, conservative mps are putting pressure on him to cut taxes, on the other hand ministers saying begging the chancellor for more money as has the chancellor for more money as has the housing secretary for this is whatjeremy hunt said this morning. we've always said, we have been very consistent, that we would only cut taxes in a way that was responsible, prudent, and, if i may say, i think the most un—conservative thing i could do would be to cut taxes by increasing borrowing. because

we're joined now by our political correspondent harry farley, who's in our london newsroom. een said? yes, that's right. it doesn't _ reaction to what has been said? 13:3 that's right. it doesn't happen very often, and it did feel like a moment. the reaction, if you look at some of the conservative leaning papers this morning, perhaps, has been very positive. the express calling it a landmark speech, the mail saying it was the speech that was needed to hear. sir keir starmer, the labour leader, also largely positive, saying the prime minister was right to advocate unity. some of the other parties were less positive. the leader of the liberal democrats saying the uk will take no lessons from a prime minister, in his words, who has" sought to sow division for years". their home affairs spokesperson also largely negative, saying that the tories, in her words, largely negative, saying that the tories, in herwords, are largely negative, saying that the tories, in her words, are the architects of the culture wars. —— the snp's home affairs representative. the question is what the p

let�*s got more on this from our political correspondent, harry farley. oping to make a few months ago. hunt was hoping to make a few months auo. :, ~' hunt was hoping to make a few months auo. :, ~ 1 :, hunt was hoping to make a few months ago. thank you. the chancellor will be on with one _ ago. thank you. the chancellor will be on with one at _ ago. thank you. the chancellor will be on with one at mainly _ ago. thank you. the chancellor will be on with one at mainly m. - mediators are due to meet in cairo for further talks about how to stop the fighting in gaza. yesterday a senior us official said israel was close to accepting a proposal for a six week pause, to allow for the release of hostages held by hamas in the territory. our correspondent wyre davies sent us this report from jerusalem. it�*s really important not to get ahead of ourselves here, even though, according to those unnamed sources in the united states, we are perhaps closer than we were a few days ago to a potential ceasefire, of course, over the muslim holy month of ramadan. that doesn�

let's get more from our political correspondent harry farley who's in westminster.ere will be a number of votes on this, but we already have the result of the first one. ~ . . already have the result of the first one. ~ ., ., , , ., , one. we have, and peers in the house of lords defeating _ one. we have, and peers in the house of lords defeating the _ one. we have, and peers in the house of lords defeating the government - one. we have, and peers in the house of lords defeating the government in l of lords defeating the government in the first amendment to be voted on. 0ver the first amendment to be voted on. over two days of debates that we are going to have on this today, and then on wednesday, peers voted by 274 to 172 to defeat the government and insert that class but she insists the bill must be compliant with international and domestic law. the government argued it already is and this would just delay the implementation and waste time. but remember, this is about the government's plan to try and send asylum—seekers coming to the uk in small boats to rwanda. t