iain watson, thank you very much.or a summit in brussels are now waiting for tomorrow's vote. our europe correspondent adam fleming is there. if borisjohnson loses tomorrow, from an eu perspective, adam, what happens then? well, ben, that is not a subject which is being discussed publicly here because the eu is throwing everything at making sure this deal gets through. in that sense, they've signed up to that infamous boris johnson phrase sense, they've signed up to that infamous borisjohnson phrase of, get brexit done by 31st october. that means the lawyers and the translators are working overtime to get the revised deal into the 23 other eu languages and all sorts of bureaucratic procedures are being ditched to get the deal through on this side by 31st october. it might not sound like a big deal but these quys not sound like a big deal but these guys are bureaucrats, so, ditching bureaucratic procedures and cutting corners is a big sacrifice for them. in terms of what actually happens, there is a meeting pencilled i

our political correspondent, iain watson, had the latest from westminster earlier. it was just it wasjust in it was just in the summer that he was a contenderfor the it was just in the summer that he was a contender for the conservative party leadership. now, the autumn, he says that the old—style party politics is effectively dead, it is suffocating. he has to break out of the embrace of the party political system. interestingly, he announced to his local newspaper that he was standing down as the mp for penrith and the border, quitting the conservative party, and said he would not be standing against local conservatives there is an independent. they're notjust a few hours later, he said he would be standing as an independent when it comes to the london mayoral race next year, and would be standing against the conservative candidate sean bailey. he he welcomes everyone to that particular race, but rory stewart says he will now have an an opportunity to test his contention, that the tone of his old party is too aggressive for brexit, and people are in the mood for c

our political correspondent iain watson is in our westminster studio. what are you hearing about why leo varadkarand what are you hearing about why leo varadkar and boris johnson emerged from the meeting sounding so positive? what are the grounds for that positivity? i'm not sure entirely what the arguments are because downing street are keeping pretty tight—lipped and so are the dup. most of the cabinet were not briefed on the details of what happened at that meeting. clearly, as adam pointed out, there has to be some movement on these two issues, the two cs, customs and consent. there must have been some movement in those areas to have that optimism but fundamentally, what has to happen now is that borisjohnson clearly needs to get into what is called the tunnel with these intensive negotiations and so far we have only seen the light at the beginning of the tunnel and not at the end. we don't know if the serious negotiations will commence

our political correspondent iain watson is here. hey are usually brexit supporting newspapers but a whole range of his ministers are writing for a range of newspapers and the key messages britain will leave the eu by the end of the month, but the eu must step up of the month, but the eu must step up its game if it wants britain to do so with a deal. the effectively argued two things, he will carry out negotiations in the spirit of cooperation and compromise that might suggest he is willing to modify some of the proposals we have seen, though not big modifications like staying in the customs union. he says if he can go with proposals that mps support, he calls on mps to get on side but he might also be considering a vote in parliament ahead of the big eu council in the middle of the month to put pressure on brussels although downing street sources tell me tonight that no decision has been taken. he stresses again there will be no more dither and delay but denied jeremy corbyn said ata and delay but denied jeremy corbyn said at a rally

here's our political correspondent iain watson.moment as prime minister is pushing for a deal with his european counterparts. so that is his focus this week. so far though they haven't begun the intense negotiations you would like. so he does have to turn his mind to what happens if no deal is a prospect. and, as you say, he has been told that if there is no deal by the 19th of october he must seek a brexit extension. that is the law. that is what parliament has told him to do. there are lots of suggestions about how he gets around this. there isa about how he gets around this. there is a route towards the courts, i'm not sure it is quite the route that some of the newspapers are suggesting. there is a court in scotla nd suggesting. there is a court in scotland looking to pin him down to force him to send the letter. it makes again tomorrow. if it rules effectively against the prime minister then it is likely he will ta ke minister then it is likely he will take an appeal to the supreme court, to the ultimate court in the land. in

iain watson, bbc news.o our political correspondent chris mason, who's been with the prime minister in cambridge. but first to our assistant political editor, norman smith, who was listening to that speech from jeremy corbyn in battersea, south london. norman, the start of labour's campaign. we have blastoff with labour out of the blocks first. why, because they want to try and roll the pitch for the selection might make sure it is notjust about brexit but also about labour‘s suite radical domestic policies, nationalising railways, extending employee rights, eventually moving toa employee rights, eventually moving to a four day working week. and it went down a storm in here. the party supporters were cheering and stamping their feet, chanting jeremy corbyn‘s name. the question is, how does it go down amongst middle income voters? amongst middle england? and the calculation of team corbyn is that it is a message that resonates there, too, because such communities are equally fed up with austerity. but you ha

iain watson, bbc news.stable of northamptonshire police has urged the us embassy to waive the diplomatic immunity of an american woman who is a suspect in the investigation of a fatal car crash. harry dunn, who was 19, was killed six weeks ago when his motorbike collided with a car. our correspondent duncan kennedy has been speaking to his parents, who have made a direct appeal for the woman to return to the uk to face justice. he was the son who always smiled, the teenager who loved life. harry dunn's parents, tim and charlotte, say their pain is profound, especially as the police suspect in the case has now left the country. for this to happen is just unbelievable. i would just like her to come back and tell us why she left, why would she leave, and explain to me why she thought leaving was the right way to go. harry died here, when his motorbike was hit by a car driven by the wife of an american diplomat. but despite telling police she would co—operate, she has now flown back to the united states — somet

thank you, iain watson at westminster.aring a device which mimics the skeleton and is controlled by his mind. the team developing the technology in france say it might one day dramatically improve people's quality of life. the patient said taking his first steps in the suit felt like being the "first man on the moon". james gallagher reports. it's a small step for thibaut, but could this be a giant leap in paralysis? his arms and legs were paralysed after a fall damaged his spinal cord four years ago. but when he's strapped into this robotic suit he can use his thoughts to move again. he told me learning to walk came quite quickly, but using the exoskeleton to precisely bend and stretch his arms or rotate his wrists took much longer. so how does the exoskeleton work? well, first, thibaut has implants resting on the surface of his brain, they are reading his thoughts, his brain activity, his brain waves, and they are being beamed to a computer. now, the computer has to rapidly digest that information and transform that brai

iain watson, bbc news. and iain watson is at westminster.he retaliation in first, if you like, against boris johnson, this whole idea that perhaps it was parliament versus the people, and brexit, they say they are battling the elite themselves. borisjohnson, of course, as i suggested, occupying, or trying borisjohnson, of course, as i suggested, occupying, ortrying to occupy, labour's traditional territory, visiting a hospital and the police, talking about investment in public services. for the two main parties, they do have, to coin a phrase, a vested interest in not making this purely a brexit election. from labour's point of you, jeremy corbyn wants to try to appeal to voters in leave areas who might be put off by his party she has pledged to have another referendum, and he is trying to find policies which might appeal to some voters who might vote labour if they concentrate on issues other than brexit. that's why he was going i think quite so strongly on those dividing lines with the conservatives, the whole range of issues including for

let's speak to our political correspondent, iain watson, who's in westminster. ahead for the government? we have started to get some reactions from some of the leaders? we have indeed. david frost is going to be in brussels today. what brussels will try to find out from him is two things. firstly, the residual suspicion that boris johnson is simply trying to shift the blame for no deal away from returning to brussels and they want to find outjust how returning to brussels and they want to find out just how serious returning to brussels and they want to find outjust how serious he is forgetting a deal and how serious he is in compromising further, in particular, this idea for example of the democratic unionist party having evita. it is —— a veto. they will be testing the water there. he has to get a deal through parliament. people say he's a better place than theresa may and i think it is true but it is not guaranteed to get a vote through because labour mps are playing the cards close to that chest but not every conservative mp foran chest but not every conservat

iain watson, has this report.a turn—up for the books. iain watson, has this report. a conservative prime minister who actually seemed to enjoy his excursion to brussels. backslapping all round as borisjohnson secured a brexit deal yesterday, with 2a hours these days is a long time in politics. he is facing more difficulties back in britain than in brussels, as he struggles to get enough mps on side. so, what kind of deal will they be putting on? much of it is similar to theresa may's, for example, protecting citizens‘ rights, eu residents here, uk citizens over there. the uk will also pay what the eu regards as its financial obligations, a divorce bill of around £33 billion. but the deal is different when it comes to northern ireland. there will be no border checks in ireland, but there will be checks on some goods going from great britain to northern ireland, and this has cost the support of the dup. the deal is toxic as far as northern ireland is concerned. it does not meet the promises that the prime minister m

iain watson, bbc news.two men. officers found two people dead inside — the third was discovered in a car outside. a 32—year—old man has been arrested. a second whistle—blower has come forward in the impeachment inquiry into president trump's conversations with the ukrainian president. one of the lawyers involved has been speaking to a us tv network. live now to our correspondent chris buckler in washington. what do we know, chris, about the second individual? it is claimed this latest whistle—blower is a us intelligence official who has first—hand knowledge of that controversial conversation between the leaders of ukraine and the united states. you might remember that back injuly in a phone call donald trump asked volodymyr zelensky to launch an investigation into his potential presidential election rivaljoe biden and there are growing questions about whether there was an attempt to put pressure on ukraine either by dangling a visit to the white house or by threatening to suspend security assistant. that is

iain watson, bbc news. our chief political correspondent vicki young is at westminster.them with this official launch? theyjust today on the rest of them with this official launch? they just want to get out as quickly as they could and start getting their message across because so many labour people talk about 2017 when the party went into the election behind in the polls, jeremy corbyn‘s rating was low but he improved on that during their campaigning. it was way better than anyone expected. the party are looking at that and seeing we can go further and beat the conservatives. they think they can do that by talking about other than brexit. the offering from jeremy corbyn, a radical manifesto, renationalisation of the water industry and of the meal industry and railways as well and a higher living. they cannot ignore brexit completely because it has dominated everything for the last years butjeremy corbyn is saying our approach, after a lot of confusion, now he says it is very simple. he will renegotiate a deal if he is prime minister and put it back to the people in a re

iain watson reports. he says he is prepared to leave without a deal but now he wants to leave with onece concludes on wednesday, the government is expected to send new proposals to brussels. the main sticking point so far has been the northern road backstop. this would avoid a hard border in ireland where avoid a hard border in ireland where a new trade deal would happen after brexit. many brexiteers with the leave it would also keep the uk too closely in step the eu rules and the prime minister says it is antidemocratic so what is the alternative? the bbc understands the government will propose new customs checks on the island of ireland after brexit but these will be done away from the border, mostly where goods originate or at their final destination. the government hopes this will be enough to kick start a new intensive rounds of talks by the end of the week but the irish government says it still hasn't seen a credible alternative to the backstop. the prime minister is likely to say that the new proposals prove he is determined to get a deal. we should know by the weekend if the eu

summit at which any deal would be approved is now only 11 days away. 0ur political correspondent iain watson week when that question may finally be answered. borisjohnson is pushing brussels to open serious negotiations on his latest proposals. and government ministers are warning time is short. we have set out very serious proposals, including compromise on our side, and we now need to see creativity and flexibility on the eu side in order to reach that deal. under boris johnson's plan, after brexit, the northern ireland assembly could decide whether to remain more in step with some eu rules to ease cross—border trade, or adopt any new uk rules instead. critics say this would give too much power to northern ireland's dup, and the government seems open to a rethink. but i am told that will be no major modifications to the prime minister's plan. and in a phone call today, french president emmanuel macron told borisjohnson the eu would evaluate whether a deal was possible by the end of the week. the prime minister has a much better chance of getting a deal with brussels if he can convince eu l

iain watson. we will be finding more about the labour policies that they are proposing.vate companies to censor politicians or the news. at least 64 passengers have died on a train in central pakistan after a devastating fire which is thought to have started when a cooking stove exploded. the country's railways minister told the bbc the blaze had destroyed three carriages of the train, which was travelling from karachi to rawalpindi. it's 8:06am. the us military has released footage of its raid in northern syria, which it says was when the leader of the islamic state group was killed. the video, released by the pentagon, shows special forces approaching the compound where abu bakr al—baghdadi was hiding before he detonated a suicide vest. our washington correspondent chris buckler reports. in the first images released of the raid, you can see us special forces making their way into the building where abu bakr al—baghdadi was hiding. as they flew into the area, the american troops were shot at by militants. we're not showing the next portion of this video, but in it, they

our political correspondent iain watson reports.e says he is prepared to leave the eu without a deal, but would prefer to leave with one, and now those close to borisjohnson say he has a plan. soon after the conservative conference concludes on wednesday, the government is expected to send new proposals to brussels. the main sticking point so far has been the northern irish backstop. this would avoid a hard border in ireland while a new trade deal is being hammered out after brexit. but many brexiteers believe it would also keep the uk too closely in step with eu rules, and the prime minister said it is antidemocratic. so what is the alternative? well, the bbc understands the government will propose new customs checks on the island of ireland after brexit, but these would be done well away from the border, mostly either where goods originate or at their final destination. the government hopes this will be enough to kick start a new, intensive round of talks by the end of the week. but the irish government says it still hasn't seen a

our political correspondent iain watson is in central london outside the labour meeting. be a done deal surely that we are having an early general election with the support of the labour party. i think that is absolutely right. the shadow cabinet labour's headquarters to hammer this out. i am told that cheap web argued strongly against going for a general election but maybe others felt it was inevitable. jeremy corbyn said his conditions had been met. his condition primarily is to take no deal of the table because there is an extension now until the end of january, the 31st of january, that ta kes january, the 31st of january, that takes no gel of the table for three months and that would allow a general election. —— no deal off the table. if the liberal democrats and the snp are going to go for an early election, it would look ridiculous for labour to be dragged in behind more minor parties. there was a sense of inevitability that labour may have to get behind that election. emerging from that meeting the shadowjustice election. emerging from that meeting the shadow just

our political correspondent, iain watson, has this report.p for the books, a conservative prime minister who actually seemed to enjoy his excursion to brussels. backslapping all round, as borisjohnson secured a brexit deal yesterday. but 2a hours these days, is a long time in politics. and he is facing more difficulties back in britain than in brussels, as he struggles to get enough mps on side. so, what kind of deal will they be voting on? much of it is similar to theresa may's, for example, protecting citizens rights, eu residents here, uk citizens over there. the uk will also pay what the eu regards as its financial obligations, a divorce bill of around £33 billion. but the deal is different when it comes to northern ireland. there would be no border checks in ireland but there will be checks on some goods going from great britain to northern ireland, and this has cost the support of the dup. the deal is toxic as far as northern ireland is concerned. it does not meet the promises which the prime minister made, that the whole of the united

let's speak to our political correspondent iain watson. now about these proposals. lovely to have you on the sofa. lovely to have you on the sofam is very comfortable, as well. i think when boris johnson is very comfortable, as well. i think when borisjohnson makes his big conference speech today he will set out more of these proposals. and from what you are saying, it sounds like an uncompromising message, something which will rally the troops. either a new deal or no deal, a final offer at the eu. the question really is is it putting forward , question really is is it putting forward, if you like, impossible demands in order for the forward, if you like, impossible demands in orderfor the eu to reject them? then he can say it is theirfault if we reject them? then he can say it is their fault if we head towards no deal. speaking to a cabinet minister last night, despite what he was saying last month, he felt we were absolutely heading towards no deal. he now feels that compromises have been made and this is a serious proposal to the eu. an

let's get an idea of what's in store during the debate from our political correspondent iain watson. rime minister have the numbers he needs? it is an extraordinary day. johnson addressing the commons around 9:30am. fast forward, thereby three, effectively three potential results of the day. one more result than borisjohnson would like. he wanted this to be a decisive day. the meeting on saturday, special session, he wanted it to be deal or no deal, and in his view getting his deal through. it looks as though it may be a bit muddier by the end of the day. there is a potential third option, not deal or no deal but delayed. what is happening is that across party group of mps are saying they will back the deal in principle but want him to the european union and asked for a delay beyond brexit day, beyond 0ctober and asked for a delay beyond brexit day, beyond october 31 if necessary. their are fierce are fierce are two things. first, although there is a big vote on the deal there is a lot of comping legislation and detail that has to be done. they want that properly scrutinised. secondly

we're joined now by our political correspondent, iain watson.cal about whether it is time to get it done because you have to embark on trade negotiations and what is it you are actually doing? the trouble for boris johnson, what is it you are actually doing? the trouble for borisjohnson, some people on his own side do not like the look of the deal, long—standing brexiteers. they are saying they are worried about effectively a border in the irish sea between great britain and northern ireland. although dominic raab and boris johnson are pushing one way, the dup are pushing the other, telling us they will be actively trying to get conservative mps to back them and vote against their own prime minister. you can seejust vote against their own prime minister. you can see just how high the stakes are. meanwhile, john mcdonnell, as he said, leave areas, desperate to get this done too. john mcdonnell trying to tell them, it is not good for the rights of workers, please stay in line. i spoke to one senior politician a few minutes ago and he said tomorrow

let's get the latest with our political correspondent iain watson so, he's gone from wanting to be ad in such a short timescale. he was competing against boris johnson such a short timescale. he was competing against borisjohnson for the leadership, no leaving the party. it shouldn't come as too much ofa party. it shouldn't come as too much of a surprise, he was halfway out already, because he broke with boris johnson over the question of no—deal, one of those chucked out of the parliamentary conservative party, now resigning from the conservative party entirely, even as a grassroots member. he was also saying, i spoke to him after he took the decision to oppose boris johnson, he said he might stand as an independent mp, but he has now ruled that out as well full stop he has given his reasons and a brief resignation statement. he says that basically some people in his local party, some conservatives did not wa nt party, some conservatives did not want him to run again. others, other conservative party members elsewhere in the country, he didn't want to go and oppose them. he said he

referred to as super saturday — let's get an idea of what's in store from our political correspondent iain watsonns is sitting. can you condense us down to, by the end of the day, what are the options as to what might have happened? what the prime minister would like the options to be, quite stra ig htforwa rdly would like the options to be, quite straightforwardly deal or no deal. there is only going to be three options. deal, no deal or delay. he will be putting forward the deal he's got. it's going to be too close to call. a very narrow vote either way. if it fails to win, the option of no deal, he is forced to go back to the eu and ask for a brexit extension, possibly even a renegotiation but there is a third way, a third option which of actively says, as mp5, we will agree this dealfor now actively says, as mp5, we will agree this deal for now but what we have to do is get all the —— legislation for parliament. and we're still going to ask you, just in case we reach the 31st of october, in case we fall out of the european union by default. we are still going to ask you to go back to brussels

iain watson, bbc news, westminster. with me now is the conservative mp siralan duncan.then i thought not, because i was beginning to find it quite emotional. after 27 years and god knows how many prime ministers, i thought, this is the last one. you are not regretting your decision? no. it's difficult. you have to be very self—aware in this business and i thought that after 27 years, i can sit there being in on events, but being so wise and all this kind of stuff, no one would really listen. politics has changed. in the days when people of deep experience would stay in politics because their political career could be ministerial, they could earn some money, but stay in the pull of politics, have gone. you can't earn money and stay in politics these days. it has become a much more full—time professional occupation. i think it's full—time professional occupation. i think its basis of knowledge of the outside world has got shallower. but i thought this was the moment. i have done my 27 years in parliament. the basson has passed and the next generation, and i am just about

let's get an idea of what's in store from our political correspondent iain watson. you will be with us extraordinary time. in essence, there are only three possible outcomes. take us to what that might be. there is one possible outcome more than boris johnson would like. he wants that they must praise deal or no deal and prefera bly they must praise deal or no deal and preferably a deal. he wants to make sure his deal is past. if it is, it will be by very narrow margin but what confuse matters is the third option which sounds like a compromise on the surface. deal, no deal or delay, a cross—party group of mps, former foreign secretary, they are saying, let's change this deal and agree on condition that borisjohnson is willing to go back to the european union and ask for a delay in the brexit leaving date, the 31st of october. lots of arguments in parliament. what they are worried about is potentially that britain falls out of the eu by 0ctober that britain falls out of the eu by october 31 without a deal and by mistake, simply because you haven't got that legislation through. they wa n

we will be talking to our political correspondent iain watson about this breaking news in the next fewef europe advisor will hold another round of talks in brussels today, as the government tries to break the brexit deadlock. david frost's visit comes as the eu's chief negotiator michel barnier said he still had plenty of questions about the uk's plans. the irish prime minister leo varadkar has voiced his concerns about how the plans would be enforced. and our ireland correspondenr chris page is in dublin. just elaborate on your thoughts on the concerns that leo varadkar has? the irish government expressing concerns and strong reservations, but also holding out that may be the proposals from boris johnson could form the basis for some kind of discussion to try to move things forward. the objection is that leo varadkarand forward. the objection is that leo varadkar and his deputy have been talking about in the last few hours oi’ talking about in the last few hours orso, talking about in the last few hours or so, there are two of them. the first is the idea that there would have to be cu

correspondent in belfast, chris page, but first to westminster, and our political correspondent, iain watsonncredibly tight. they are going to be very tight indeed. borisjohnson supposedly on a charm offensive to win people over, have to be very charming to some of those conservative mps he chucked out of the party because they were opposed to no deal. possibly very offensive towards some of the mps long—standing brexiteers in his own ra nks long—standing brexiteers in his own ranks have severe doubts about this because northern ireland's dup are not only not coming on board but they are saying actively they will try to encourage conservative mps to vote against it. they have concerns over a de facto border in the irish sea. earlier i spoke to the foreign secretary dominic raab and said, look, are you going to be as tough on those mps as on some of the other conservative mps who wanted to avoid no deal, would you take the conservative whip away from those mps if they do not back boris johnson in the crucial vote tomorrow? this is how he responded. let us leave the whipping to the chief whip.

our political correspondent iain watson says it‘s a decision which wasn‘t entirely unexpected. he was going to stand as an independent member of parliament. so we had a tale of two announcements this morning — his first was to his local party and local paper in cumbria saying he would not be standing again as an mp, he was resigning from the conservative party completely, even as a grassroots member. and he said in addition to that he didn‘t want to stand against local conservatives, so he wouldn‘t be standing as an independent mp. but that is not a template which he is attaching to london, because he is now going to stand against the already selected conservative candidate for mayor of london. he made that announcement around 11am this morning. in fact, when he said he was standing down for the conservative party, a range of former conservatives and independents were bemoaning his loss to politics, amber rudd amongst them. but i think as soon as they opened the evening standard they realised that he very much intends to continue in politics, and his pitch is going to be, and i