here's our political correspondent helen catt. the labour leader arriving at a football club in the west midlands, here to put the boot into the tories�* economic record and to explain what a labour government would do. stability is change. it's strange to say that in 2024 but a stable economy has to be the first step of an incoming labour government, and that is what will government, and that is what we will make an absolute priority if we are privileged enough to come in to serve. it comes as a leading think tank, the ifs, urged both labour and the tories to be open about the tough choices they will face over the country's finances if elected. for rishi sunak it was a low—key visit, a cuppa with veterans in the north of england.

�*s piece. cuts in the future. -- helen catt's iece. . ~' ,. cuts in the future. -- helen catt'stack on the city of tel aviv. rocket sirens have sounded there as well as across other cities in central israel. it's believed that the rockets were fired from the rafah area of southern gaza. northern israel has also come under attack from rockets fired from lebanon. 0ur correspondent in jerusalem, dan johnson, gave us this update. interceptions have been heard over the city by colleagues who are in tel aviv at the moment — at least six, possibly eight rockets that have been intercepted by israeli air defense systems, which are very secure, very effective. but it does look like some of these rockets that we believe have been fired from the south of gaza, from rafah, have got through. there are some videos emerging showing where rockets have landed on open ground. no word yet on whether any serious damage has been caused, whether there are any casualties. but this certainly does mark another moment in this conflict. it's the first time since, we think, january that tel aviv has actuall

we had a bit of his interview with helen - a bit of his interview with helen catt as well.? yeah. messages he wanted to portray? yeah, clearl , ou messages he wanted to portray? yeah, clearly. you could _ messages he wanted to portray? yeah, clearly, you could see _ messages he wanted to portray? yeah, clearly, you could see he _ messages he wanted to portray? yeah, clearly, you could see he was _ clearly, you could see he was feeling very confident and he was buoyed by what had happened and calling for a general election now, as you might expect from a party leader looking like they are 20 points ahead in the national polls. it was also interesting when helen catt asked him directly, are you going to win the general election? he did not give her a straight answer. i think it is because keir starmer has the element of caution about himself, he doesn't want to appear overly confident, he doesn't want the labour party to get over their skis on this, he still wants their skis on this, he still wants the labour to fight as if in second place, the underdog, because i think the l

helen catt, bbc news.says labour would lower the voting age to 16 for general elections if it wins power. in scotland and wales, 16 and i7—year—olds can already vote to elect members of their nation's parliament. sir keir says that should be extended. yes, i want to see 16 and 17—year—olds voting. they can go out and work, they can serve in our armed forces and, of course, if they are out and working they pay tax. and therefore they should have a say over how the money they are paying in is being used. so, yes, i want to see that vote for 16 and 17—year—olds. if you can work, you can pay tax, serve in your armed forces, then you ought to be able to vote. our political correspondent harry farley is following the labour leader in stafford. i am here in stafford, stafford rangers football club, this is exactly the sort of area labour need to win if they are going to win that majority they so hope for on july 4th. keir starmer here on a campaign visit, making a bit of a habit of campaign rallies at lower leagu

helen catt, bbc news. reminder you can follow all the latest on the general election on our website. we're running a live page with continuous updates. you can find that on the bbc news app or bbc.com/news. political rallies are taking place across south africa as parties make their final attempts to win support ahead of wednesday's election. they are seen as the most tightly contested elections since the advent of democracy in 1994. south africa's president, cyril ramaphosa, has promised to focus on job creation if the governing african national congress is voted back into power next week. the main opposition democratic alliance and two anc break away parties are also holding final rallies over the weekend. let's cross to my colleague catherine byaruhanga who is following events from the anc�*s final pre—election rally in johannesburg. tell us what is happening now. hello, lewis. it is a different kind of election campaign here in south africa compared to what you are reporting on in the uk. we have had m

helen catt, bbc news.ak to our political correspondent rajdeep sandhu, who's in the newsroom. so, this promise not to increase income tax?— so, this promise not to increase income tax? , ., , so, this promise not to increase income tax? , . , ., income tax? yes, there have been a lot of questions _ income tax? yes, there have been a lot of questions about _ income tax? yes, there have been a lot of questions about exactly - income tax? yes, there have been a lot of questions about exactly what l lot of questions about exactly what labour would propose for this election and their potential run in government and we now have something more solid from the shadow chancellor rachel reeves that they won't increase income tax or national insurance so we will see that going into the manifesto and we obviously don't have party manifestos yet but there is a nugget from it and she was pushed quite hard about labour's spending plans on that interview on laura kuenssberg's show this morning and she didn't rule out futur

helen catt, bbc news.d being asked about the economy today and made a promise not to raise income tax if they won the election. for more, i spoke earlier to our political correspondent rajdeep sandhu. yes, there have been a lot of questions about exactly what labour would propose for this election and their potential run in government and we have this now a bit more solid from the shadow chancellor, rachel reeves, that they won't increase income tax or national insurance so we will see that going into the manifesto and we obviously don't have party manifestos yet but there is a nugget from it and she was pushed quite hard about labour's spending plans in that interview on laura kuenssberg's show this morning and she didn't rule out future spending cuts. she did say that there would be difficult decisions would be difficult decisions to make and that it wouldn't be a return to austerity but she couldn't completely rule out spending cuts. she did talk about the areas where labour are promising extra spending

helen catt, bbc news.to be back in the uk, at the end of a three—day visit from america. the bbc has been given exclusive access to a charity event in central london he attended, and daniela relph was there. go! it's a side of prince harry we've not seen so much of lately. he mucked in for a very special party. every child in this room has lost a parent who served in the military. the charity, scotty's little soldiers, supports them. prince harry was the surprise party guest. since he left the uk for california, seeing him up close in this context has been rare. very nice to meet you. nice to have you back. how is it being here? it's great. it's amazing. what scotty's is doing with these kids is absolutely incredible and very needed as well. the more...the more opportunity we get to do these kind of events, the more that families and kids up and down the country actually know that scotty's exists, which is really the most important thing. is it nice to be back in the uk? nice to see you. the family fallout

helen catt, bbc news.e on this, political correspondent for website politichoe — ava—santina — joins me now. there is this line push by the government this morning that it could, if we extrapolate from the local elections could be hung parliament in the general election. presumably that suits them? i was presumably that suits them? i was confused when _ presumably that suits them? i was confused when i _ presumably that suits them? i was confused when i saw _ presumably that suits them? i was confused when i saw this _ presumably that suits them? i —" confused when i saw this headline on the front page of the times because i think this will be more helpful to labour and i think this will be more helpful to labourand keir i think this will be more helpful to labour and keir starmer and the team will be quite pleased with this front page because what they have been, the labour leadership, the antipathy amongst voters, complacency about getting voted out to put the ballot in the boxes on voting day and this h

here's our political correspondent, helen catt.prime minister to think about. rishi sunak appears safe from a challenge from his own mps, despite a very bad set of election results for the conservatives. mr sunak told the times he was determined that his party would come together and show people they were delivering. a view echoed by his party chairman. i think it's sort of self—indulgent for us to be talking to ourselves and talking about ourselves at the moment. whenever i go on the doorstep, i'd agree with some others who've spoken and said what they want to see is us putting forward a clear vision for the country. you know, i think we've seen a lot of that from the prime minister over the last few days. i just want to say thank you. among the losses, andy street, now no longer the mayor of the west midlands, along with nearly 500 councillors. mr sunak has said those losses were bitterly disappointing. yesterday the former home secretary suella braverman said the prime minister had to own the results and change course. i think h

i've been speaking to our political correspondent helen catt about the new guidance. rishi sunak ordered a review about this time last year into the teaching of relationships, sex and health education in schools in england. at the time it was after a number of conservative mps had raised concerns about what they said was inappropriate content that they claimed was being taught to some children. what is going to be in these guidelines which we haven't seen yet because they have not yet been published but it is understood what will be in them is a ban as you said on teaching sex education at all to children under nine, those in yearfive, there will also be other age limits on teaching certain specifics, and there will also be a ban from proactively teaching the different gender identities, and if that is taught then teachers will need to say some of that is contested and make that clear, so that is the broad thrust of this. the national association for head teachers has said there was never any evidence that there was any inappropriate content being taught in schools. b

helen catt, bbc news, westminster.t working day of this parliament. first, though, let's head to iain watson in north london, because it was announced there this morning that the former labour leaderjeremy corbyn will stand as an independent. iam in i am in his islington north constituency and it is quite astonishing when you think about it. the man who lead labour into the last two general elections is now going to be fighting against the labour party at this general election. the current labour leadership made it clear he wasn't going to be selected as an official candidate. he had been suspended from the parliamentary party after he made remarks suggesting the problem of anti—semitism under his leadership had been overstated by his opponents. once the process got under way to select the new labour candidate to replace him, he announced he would stand as an independent and i am told the kind of issues he'll be campaigning on here in islington north, will be the policies keir starmer —— keir starmer has ditched. i thi

helen catt, bbc news. around the world and across the uk, you watching bbc news.on eurovision, because the netherlands's entrant for the eurovision song contest has reportedly been stopped from rehearsing by organisers. the european broadcasting union said it was investigating an incident involving the dutch artist. he will not be performed untilfurther notice. on thursday, joost klein had told the israeli entrant she should answer the question whether her appearance was compromising the safety of other participants. let's head back to malmo. slowly, it seems to be emerging what the difficulty is here. tell us more about what you are picking up where you are. hello from malmo- _ are picking up where you are. hello from malmo. if _ are picking up where you are. hello from malmo. if you _ are picking up where you are. hello from malmo. if you didn't - are picking up where you are. hello from malmo. if you didn't think there was enough controversy surrounding the eurovision song contest here in a mall move, think again. there was a lot of confusion earlier on today.

now back home and using prosthetic limbs, he's been speaking to helen catt — and a warning, her reportital. what do you think, darling, have they been clever? craig mackinlay and his family have had to adjust to a lot of change in the last eight months. over the course of ia hours in september, he went from feeling slightly unwell to finding himself in hospital. within about half an hour, i went this very strange blue from top to bottom, ears, everything, blue. it's when you're having a very severe sort of septic event. they knew what it was and they pretty much immediately put me into an induced coma. and the next 16 days, i was in dreamland, really. my wife was told within a few hours, he is one of the illest people we have seen in this hospital, and prepare for the worst. but surviving was just the start. i can remember coming to, and all this discussion was happening about these arms and legs, because by then, they had turned black. they were like a plastic. you could almost knock them, and just looked dead. i probably shouldn't have survived this far. i've never seen anything like

helen catt reports.of national service is certainly an eye catching policy, but it wouldn't be national service quite like these men experienced between 1949 and 1963. it's nice and wide. instead, all 18—year—olds would have to choose between a year's military service or volunteer work in public services. it's about addressing the fragmentation that we've seen in society — too many young people living in their own bubble, whether it be a digital bubble or a social bubble. and we want to get back to the situation where people are mixing with young people from different areas, different economic groups, different religions. under the plans, 30,00018 year olds would do full time one year placements in the armed forces or cyber defence. they'd have to apply for selection. everybody else would have to volunteer for the equivalent of one weekend a month, 25 days a year, in places like the nhs, charities or the police. the conservatives say they would start piloting the scheme from september 2025. much of the d

helen catt reports. national service is certainly an eye—catching policy, but it wouldn't be national service quite like these men experienced between i949 and i963. instead all 18—year—olds would have to choose between a year's military service or volunteer work in public services. it's about addressing the fragmentation that we have seen in society. too many young people living in their own bubble, whether it be a digital bubble or a social bubble, and we want to get back to the situation where people are mixing with young people from different areas, different economic groupser different religions. under the plans, 30,000 18—year—olds would do full—time one year placements in the armed forces or cyber—defence. they would have to apply for selection. everybody else would have to volunteer for the equivalent of one weekend a month, 25 days a year, in places like the nhs, charities or the police. the conservatives say they would start piloting the scheme from september 2025. much of the detail wouldn't b

our political correspondent helen catt reports. cheering and applause.ommons... but the speaker made an exception for this moment. craig mackinlay returning after a life changing 18 months. it is an inspiration for the people in this country who have suffered from sepsis. the prime minister also paid tribute. no—one who watched the interview last night could have failed to be in awe of his incredible resilience. and so did the leader of the opposition. politics is about service, | and resuming your duties as an mp and being here today shows us, it is an example - for all of us of your deep - sense of service and we thank you for it. and as pmqs came to an end... thank you, mr speaker. this is an emotional day for me and if you could indulge me to say a few thanks because a few are due. and of course one of those, well an apology actually because i have caused the breaking of so many rules today — clapping! i've got trainers on because my shoes would not go over the plastic feet and myjacket would not go over the bionic arm. so apologies for that and than

now back home and using prosthetic limbs, he's been speaking to helen catt, and a warning — her reportvely ill in hospital. what do you think, darling? have they been clever? craig mackinlay and his family have had to adjust to a lot of change in the last eight months. over the course of 1a hours in september, he went from feeling slightly unwell to finding himself in hospital. within about half an hour, i went this very strange blue from top to bottom, ears, everything, blue. it's when you're having a very severe sort of septic event. they knew what it was and they pretty much put me into an induced coma. and the next 16 days, i was in dreamland, really. my wife was told within a few hours, he is one of the illest people we have seen in this hospital, and prepare for the worst. but surviving was just the start. i can remember coming to, and all this discussion was happening about these arms and legs, because by then, they had turned black. they were like a plastic. you could almost knock them, and just looked dead. i probably shouldn't have survived this far. i've never seen anything

helen catt, bbc news.nga is in winchester where the liberal democrats' campaign is under way. she gave me this update. i'v e i've just been walking along in this beautiful green field in winchester interviewing sir ed davey, the leader of the lib dems. he's been targeting the south of england because he thinks the lib dems have a good chance of making ground here. earlier this morning, he campaigned in chichester. on the stock walk, he was walking along the banks of the river and trying to highlight the problems that the lib dems foresee in sewage outflows across the country. the lib dems feel this is a good campaigning tool for them, issue for them, sewage outflows. he's been calling for awful lot to be expanded and for another regulatory body to be put in place. i spoke to him earlier today and this is what he said.— i spoke to him earlier today and this is what he said. we've been campaigning for— this is what he said. we've been campaigning for three _ this is what he said. we've been campaigning for t

let's speak to our political correspondent helen catt who is joining us from westminster. rishi sunak and indeed by keir starmer, what's the verdict? rishi sunak has a _ starmer, what's the verdict? rishi sunak has a challenge _ starmer, what's the verdict? i si sunak has a challenge here, and starmer, what's the verdict? i s5i sunak has a challenge here, and he knows it, doesn't take? he's looking notjust knows it, doesn't take? he's looking not just at the polls, knows it, doesn't take? he's looking notjust at the polls, but knows it, doesn't take? he's looking not just at the polls, but also when your party has been in government for 11; years, how do you convince people to give you another go to suggest that things are going to approve? we got a bit of a sense of that this morning from rishi sunak�*s speech. there are things he's going to be pitching to would—be voters ahead of that election, that here he is as painting the future is optimistic and suggesting that a change of party as it isn't going to alter the issues and problems and challenges that people feel they

let's cross to the newsroom and speak to our political correspondent helen catt.y are out and about today, the leaders. talk us what they will be doing today and their focus. yes. leaders. talk us what they will be doing today and their focus. yes, we will be seeing _ doing today and their focus. yes, we will be seeing them _ doing today and their focus. yes, we will be seeing them out _ doing today and their focus. yes, we will be seeing them out in _ doing today and their focus. yes, we will be seeing them out in various i will be seeing them out in various locations across the country. rishi sunak has been out this morning in the north of england meeting veterans. it is a lower case bit of campaigning than we have seen from him in the last couple of days when he has been doing a frenetic tour of all four nations of the uk. today much more low—key, quieter. we are expecting sir keir starmer to be out later. he will be talking about the economy, during a big campaign events and also expecting to see ed davey, the lib dem leader, out in another target seat that th

now back home and using prosthetic limbs, he's been speaking to helen catt, and a warning — her reportbeen clever? craig mackinlay and his family have had to adjust to a lot of change in the last eight months. over the course of 14 hours in september, he went from feeling slightly unwell to finding himself in hospital. within about half—an—hour, i went this very strange blue from top to bottom, ears, everything, blue. it's when you're having a very severe sort of septic event. they knew what it was and they pretty much immediately put me into an induced coma. and the next 16 days, i was in dreamland, really. my wife was told within a few hours, he is one of the illest people we have seen in this hospital, and prepare for the worst. but surviving was just the start. i can remember coming to, and all this discussion was happening about these arms and legs, because by then, they had turned black. they were like a plastic. you could almost knock them, and just looked dead. i probably shouldn't have survived this far. i've never seen anything like it in my life, but they say frostbite is a

now back home, and using prosthetic limbs, he's been speaking to our political correspondent helen cattent this very, very strange blue. �* went this very, very strange blue-- yes. _ went this very, very strange blue.- yes, my - went this very, very strange blue.- yes, my whole | went this very, very strange - blue.- yes, my whole body, blue. blue? yes, my whole body, to to blue. blue? yes, my whole body, tap to bottom. — blue. blue? yes, my whole body, top to bottom, he _ blue. blue? yes, my whole body, top to bottom, he has _ blue. blue? yes, my whole body, top to bottom, he has come - top to bottom, he has come everything blue, and that is, i can't remember the full name of it, but it's called a septic shock. dic is when you're having a very severe septic event, and they knew what it was, and they pretty much immediately put me into an induced coma. there were discussions happening about these arms and legs, because by then, they had turned black. craig's hands and feet were amputated in december. he plans to campaign for faster access to his types of prosthetics and raise awareness

the conservatives are defending a majority ofjust 3,690, in the blackpool south by—election, and helen cattlying has already begun? we are the tallying has already begun? - are expecting their first boxes to arrive in the next five to ten minutes. it is a constituency that takes in the major sites are black though, that i was, the pier at the pleasure beach but it is the third most deprived constituency in england. laboursources most deprived constituency in england. labour sources are confident they will pick up a win here. they are framing this, as you had pat mcfadden xi, the most important contest happening this evening because it is a straight parliamentary contest. labour did win this in 1997 and they held for 22 years and they held it until 2019. this by—election has come about because of a resignation after the mp was filmed offering to lobby ministers by undercoverjournalist posing as gambling customers. all the focus will be on what is the scale of the win. does it suggest keir starmer could be on course for a majority? a lot of attention being paid with what happened to reform th

more on yesterday's results, let's cross to the newsroom and speak to our political correspondent, helen catte on rishi sunak, of course. what more have you heard from concerned cuts in services? in heard from concerned cuts in services?— heard from concerned cuts in services? ,., ._ , ., , heard from concerned cuts in services? , ., , ., ~ services? in some ways, it has taken the immediate _ services? in some ways, it has taken the immediate pressure _ services? in some ways, it has taken the immediate pressure off - services? in some ways, it has taken the immediate pressure off rishi - the immediate pressure off rishi sunak. those who are the most vocal critics, who had been suggesting that she could be removed if there was about sets of results, if you could be removed as leader, they do not appear to be putting that a plan or that suggestion into action, despite the fact that these were bad results for the conservatives. undeniably bad results. but the long—term pressure is massively increased. you heard suella braverman saying that rishi sunak needs to on this results and it is “p needs

now back home, and using prosthetic limbs, he's been speaking to our political correspondent helen catts, i can't remember the full name of it, but it's called a septic shock. dic is when you're having a very severe septic event, and they knew what it was, and they pretty much immediately put me into an induced coma. there were discussions happening about these arms and legs, because by then, they had turned black. craig's hands and feet were amputated in december. he plans to campaign for faster access to his types of prosthetics and raise awareness about sepsis. you're live with bbc news. myanmar is in the grip of a war, largely forgotten by the outside world. rebel forces there are fighting an intense battle against the military regime. the country's transition to democracy was cut short, three years ago, by a military coup. people took to the streets in protest but were met by a brutal crackdown. in october, several disparate rebel groups united to form a single, nationwide insurgency, which has now conquered large swathes of territory. the fighters, known as the kndf, are presentin

now back home and using prosthetic limbs, he's been speaking to our political correspondent helen cattt it's called a septic shock dic, is when you're having a very severe septic event. they knew what it was and they pretty much immediately put me into an induced coma. what's the first thing you remember? there was discussions happening about these arms and legs. because by then, they had turned black. craig's hands and feet were amputated in december. he plans to campaign for faster access to his types of prosthetics and raise awareness about sepsis. you're live with bbc news. speaker of the house mike johnson is reportedly considering legislation to sanction the international criminal court, a day after the court requested arrest warrants for the israeli prime minister and defence minister over accuastions of war crimes. arrest warrants were also issues for three hamas leaders including yahya sinwar. the us denounced the icc�*s decision. speaking at a senate foreign relations committee hearing, us secretary of state antony blinken was critical of the move and said the decision will o

thank you - very much for having us through all that, helen catt. to appeal to the centre ground. the daily mail please on donald trump after he said he would appeal his conviction. the telegraph has former prime minister borisjohnson. the ft leads on president biden, saying israel has offered a three—part proposal. the guardian leads on ukraine, president zelensky saying the use of western weapons being delayed is cost ukraine lives. and in the daily express, a new at home so i the test to look for prostate cancer. police have charged a 20—year—old man with murder after a woman was stabbed to death on a beach in bournemouth. arnie gray — here on the left — was attacked on durley chine beach last friday night. the 3a—year—old personal trainer died at the scene. another woman was taken to hospital with serious stab wounds but has now been discharged. the man who's been charged will appear in court on saturday. the world's best darts players will face off against players from north america tonight in front of a record crowd in new york. one of the fir

let's speak to our political correspondent helen catt.. this is a new set of — the government is proposing. this is a new set of guidance _ the government is proposing. this is a new set of guidance that _ the government is proposing. this is a new set of guidance that is - the government is proposing. this is a new set of guidance that is due - the government is proposing. this is a new set of guidance that is due to | a new set of guidance that is due to be published tomorrow and it came about after rishi sunak ordered a review about this time last year into the teaching of relationships, sex and health education in schools in england. at the time it was after a number of conservative mps had raised concerns about what they said was inappropriate content that they claimed was being towed to some children. what is going to be in these guidelines which we haven't seen yet because they have not yet been published but it is understood what will be in them is a ban as you said on teaching sex education at all to children under nine, those in

let's get the latest from our political correspondent helen catt.nt is that the tories are saying about the return of mandatory national service. , ., ~' return of mandatory national service. , ., ~ ., service. yes, not the kind of national _ service. yes, not the kind of national service _ service. yes, not the kind of national service that - service. yes, not the kind of national service that was . service. yes, not the kind of- national service that was around until 1960, which was 18 months in the military for everyone. what they are saying is that all 18—year—olds would have to choose either between a year in the armed forces or a year's worth of volunteering, 25 day spread over a year volunteering with things like the police, the nhs or charities that tackle loneliness. james cleverly the home secretary was asked about this this morning. what we are putting forward is a mandatory national service, a small element of which will be with the military and anyone taking that route will volunteer to do so. so whilst you will be compelled to take par

our political correspondent helen catt reports. cheering and applause. commons... but the speaker made an exception for this moment. craig mckinley returning after a life changing 18 months. it is an inspiration _ life changing 18 months. it is an inspiration for _ life changing 18 months. it is an inspiration for the _ life changing 18 months. it is an inspiration for the people - life changing 18 months. it is an inspiration for the people in - life changing 18 months. it is an j inspiration for the people in this country who have suffered from sepsis. country who have suffered from se sis. ~ , country who have suffered from sesis. ~ , . sepsis. the prime minister also paid tribute. no one _ sepsis. the prime minister also paid tribute. no one who _ sepsis. the prime minister also paid tribute. no one who watched - sepsis. the prime minister also paid tribute. no one who watched the - tribute. no one who watched the interview last _ tribute. no one who watched the interview last night _ tribute. no one who watched the interview last night could - tribu

he has been speaking to our political editor, helen catt, and that interview will be available in fullut here is just a short clip from that interview. within about half an hour, i went this very, very strange blue, almost like your dress. yes, my whole body, top to bottom, everything blue. and that is, i can't remember the full name of it, but it's called a septic shock dic, is when you're having a a very severe sort of septic event. and they knew what it was and they pretty much immediately put me into an induced coma. what's the first thing you remember? yes, i remember coming to and there was discussions happening about these arms and legs, because by then they had turned black. they were like a plastic. you could almost knock them. and it was like...it was like a like your mobile phone plastic. they looked like pharaoh's hand that had just been dug up or peat bog man. they were black, desecrating, clenched and just looked dead. they were black, dessicating, clenched and just looked dead. and when they looked dead, i wasn't really surprised that the potential outcome. these things

live to westminster and our political correspondent helen catt. good to have you.sure _ expecting to hear today? labour has been under pressure for _ expecting to hear today? labour has been under pressure for a _ expecting to hear today? labour has been under pressure for a while - expecting to hear today? labour has been under pressure for a while to i been under pressure for a while to set up more detail about how it plans to tackle the issue of people being smuggled across the channel in very dangerous small boats. so what we�*re going to from sir keir starmer todayis we�*re going to from sir keir starmer today is labour�*s plan to do that. what we are being told he is going to announce is that he would use £75 million in the first year of money that, at the moment, is set to be put towards the rwanda scheme and, instead, set up a border security command unit which would oversee hundreds of new intelligence officers, cross—border police officers, cross—border police officers and others who will all be working together with european partners to try to tackle the

labour leader sir keir starmer was in blackpool this morning and spoke to our politcal correspondent helen cattand we are confident going into that general election because what this by—election shows is that the country wants change. this is a very clear divide. we've had 1a years of failure and decline. we've just got chaos and division from the tories. people want to turn the page on that and go forward with labour and our positive plan for the country. yes. why so cautious when you've had such a big win? we want a general election. we want to win that general election. we want to take our country forward. and i thank every single person who voted labour yesterday and put their trust in a changed labour party. but politics and by—elections are about messages and obviously there's a lot of discussion now. what does this mean? i think it's really straightforward. people have had enough. they want to turn the page. they want to go forward with labour. they know we've got a positive case. and i think now, you know, that's a direct message to the prime minister, the most direct of all these resul

let's speak to our politcal correspondent, helen catt, whojoins us live from blackpool.nd what you are there. . ., �* ., . ~ , ., ., tell us where you are and what you are there. . ., �* ., . ~ , a are there. i am at blackpool cricket club this morning _ are there. i am at blackpool cricket club this morning and _ are there. i am at blackpool cricket club this morning and i _ are there. i am at blackpool cricket club this morning and i am - are there. i am at blackpool cricket club this morning and i am here - club this morning and i am here because not so long ago so was keir starmer and the deputy leader of the labour party angela rayner and of course the brand—new labour for south, chris webb. they have been here greeting activists and thinking on this morning and doing a rally to mark this moment because sir keir starmer has called this win in blackpool south seismic. the size of the swing, 26% swing from the conservatives to labour. for more than labour says it would need to win a majority at a general election. they are very keen to mark this moment. sir keir starm

helen catt, bbc news.osed one of the main crossings used to deliver aid to gaza, after hamas fired rockets from the strip. the israeli army said the attack at the kerem shalom crossing killed three of its soldiers and injured many others. palestinian officials reported that hours later, israeli air strikes killed at least 16 people in southern gaza. china's president has arrived in paris to begin his first visit to europe in five years. president xi jinping is expected to meet with france's president, emmanuel macron, to discuss a range of issues, including trade between china and the eu. rescue efforts are continuing in brazil, where floods and landslides have left almost 80 people dead and over 100,000 displaced. among the worst hit areas is the state capital, porto alegre, where residents have been forced onto rooftops and whole neighbourhoods submerged by the floodwaters. here, rail passengers are facing widespread disruption this week as train divers in the aslef union begin a fresh round of industria

you could see the brilliancy in the mood, but when we spoke to helen catt afterwards we still had theand this is a snapshot of opinion overnight and local councils, a general election might not come until the end of the year and sir keir starmer was being ultra—cautious, he does not want labour to feel too presumptuous ahead of any general election and they are still scarred by the memories of 1992 and what happens and they don�*t want a repeat of that, they are looking for something more like 1997 and tony blair�*s victory. more like 1997 and tony blair's victo . ;, ~ more like 1997 and tony blair's victo . ., ~ more like 1997 and tony blair's victo . . ~' , more like 1997 and tony blair's victo . ., , . ., victory. thank you very much, great to have you — victory. thank you very much, great to have you on _ victory. thank you very much, great to have you on the _ victory. thank you very much, great to have you on the programme. - victory. thank you very much, great to have you on the programme. we | to have you on the programme. we will be back in blackpool throughout the day becaus

let's talk to helen catt who is in blackpool. we l helen catt who is in blackpool. to the stage. it is a long walk to the stage. there are the two main candidates, and the monster raving loony candidate next to them. let's listen into the results, the by—election for blackpool south. just waiting for another one to the candidates to make their way, gathering alongside. one of the nine candidates standing committee can see the green candidate just air and on the right of your shot, the man who is likely to become the next mp for blackpool south, labour candidate chris webber. let's listen into the declaration and the result, remember, listening are particularly what is happening with the reform candidate, his candidate is not yet there are that line—up. we spoke to him a couple of hours ago and he said he was hopeful of pipping the tories into second place. there he is. here we go. tories into second place. there he is- here we go— tories into second place. there he is- here we go-— is. here we go. good morning, everybody- _ is. here we go. good morning, everybody- w

let's go now to political correspondent helen catt.first burst of campaigning but before that, business of parliament has to be wrapped up. business of parliament has to be wrapped urn-— business of parliament has to be wrapped up— wrapped up. how will that look? parliament _ wrapped up. how will that look? parliament is _ wrapped up. how will that look? parliament is trying _ wrapped up. how will that look? parliament is trying to _ wrapped up. how will that look? parliament is trying to get - wrapped up. how will that look? l parliament is trying to get through some of the bills that have not quite become law and there has been negotiating between government and opposition to decide which go through. as you heard harry say, we expect the bill that would set up the compensation body for the infected blood scandal to compensate victims, that is expected to pass. another expected to go through is the leasehold reform bill, that is the leasehold reform bill, that is the bill that will stop new houses being sold as leasehold but not new f

for more on all of the results let's speak to our political correspondent in the newsroom, helen cattet of results will there be crisis talks happening within the conservative party? there is certainly an interesting read here, and you can see various people coming out trying to give their prescription for how they should be fixed, because this was undeniably a very bad set of results for the conservatives. in terms of crisis talks, in terms of rishi sunak�*s position, at first glance, it appears that she is actually safe from a leadership challenge. that is because friday, those mps who have been talking up about potentially challenging him for the leadership have said that they were not going to do so. i think the fact that they did to retain their mayoralty entities valley did help him there. it looks like to listen to concerted push to move him as leader. does that mean it's all plain sailing for him? very much not. you heard suella braverman in that package talking about what she thinks is wrong with the party, that they shouldn't change leaders but the need to change leaders but

our political correspondent helen catt is in the london newsroom. an. a lot of that detail we will not get the side of - the plan. a lot of that detail we will not get the side of the i will not get the side of the election because conservatives say they would set up a royal commission to look at the detail of all of this, a particular type of committee the people on it are appointed by the people on it are appointed by the king on the advice of the government, they do an investigation and come back with a report. you would not get a lot of that detail for a short time to come. there are other models the government could look at, the conservatives could look at, the conservatives could look at, the conservatives could look at, there are forms of selected military service for example sweden and norway, lots of other places could be looked to. what is interesting about this — this is the first policy announcement the conservatives have chosen to make for this general election campaign, it is worth looking at that for a second to see what it might tell

let�*s speak to our political correspondent helen catt.ng held _ interesting one? yes, it is a local elections being held across - interesting one? yes, it is a local. elections being held across england, 107 councils up for election across england, 37 police and crime commissioners being a lectern across england and wales and 11 mayoralty is up as well. this is a last big public moment that kier starmer and rishi sunak are going to have to get across their messages ahead of polling day. so, what might me expect to hear? they have been talking about the issues around rwanda and we�*re just hearing breaking news from the home office that they have now detained some of those people that they intend to try to deport on the first flight in july. no more detail on that, really, just that they have been detained in a series of operations. it is possible we hear about that. we also know that labour has been pushing hard this week this line about national strut insurance and the conservatives�* ambition to eventually abolish national insurance. th