john pienaar reporting.brexit campaign group vote leave has been fined £61,000 and referred to the police for breaking electoral law. the electoral watchdog said vote leave, which was supported by senior politicians including boris johnson and michael gove, exceeded its spending limit by funnelling extra money through another pro—brexit youth group. vote leave says the report is politically motivated and inaccurate. vicki young reports. taking its message around the country, supported by high profile politicians like boris johnson and michael gove. let's vote leave, take back control. vote leave was the official pro—brexit campaign group during the eu referendum. it masterminded a famous victory but the independent elections watchdog says it broke the law. parliament set a remit for the electoral commission which is about making sure there is transparency and accurately of how the money spent is reported and where it comes from. and that is where we are looking at today and it is for us to make sure that whe

john pienaar, bbc news.get more now from westminster, our political correspondent, jonathan blake is there. so, no breakthrough, but how much closer it is theresa may to having a constructive discussion with the eu? by constructive discussion with the eu? by the nature of this process, theresa may managed to get agreement with inner cabinet, not without a couple of resignations along the way, and a print rebellion by members of her own party in parliament. this was for his first response to the british government's white paper, its policy in black and white of it is in poor brexit from the european union. i think you could summarise it through the phrase, there is some interesting ideas here but we need to talk. michel barnier responded as you heard, with a series of questions, it was not dismissed out of hand, which will be something of a relief for the government, but there are big issues, as far as the eu is concerned with what the british government has put forward. they are preparing for their summer br

john pienaar, bbc news.tate, mike pompeo, has urged members of the un security council to maintain economic pressure on north korea until it acts on its promise to give up nuclear weapons. mr pompeo said pyongyang was still evading sanctions by smuggling fuel into the country, mainly by transfers at sea. the countries of the security council are united on the need for final, fully verified denuclearisation of north korea as agreed to by chairman kim, strict enforcement of sanctions is critical to achieving this goal. members of the un security council, and by extension all un member states, have unanimously agreed to fully enforced sanctions on north korea, and we expect them to continue to honour those commitments. when sanctions are not enforced, the prospects for the successful denuclearisation of north korea are diminished. right now, north korea is illegally smuggling petroleum products into the country at a level that far exceeds the quotas established by united nations. —— united nations. stay with us

john pienaar, bbc news. wiltshire, charlie rowley, has been discharged from hospital. he is thought to have found the substance in a perfume bottle. his partner, dawn sturgess, who was also contaminated, died earlier this month. 0ur correspondent duncan kennedy reports from salisbury. it has been a life—changing three weeks for charlie rowley, poisoned by a nerve agent but now well enough to leave hospital. the hospital said he'd been decontaminated to ensure the novichok can no longer affect him or anyone else. i'm pleased to confirm that, earlier today, charlie rowley was discharged from hospital. charlie has been through an appalling experience most of us could never imagine. today is a very welcome milestone in his recovery, and all of us here at salisbury hospital wish him well as he continues to get better. nearly two weeks ago, dawn sturgess, charlie's partner, died after she received a high dose of the novichok. today, in a park in salisbury, a few of those who knew dawn gathered to remember her as a

john pienaar, bbc news. our europe correspondent, damian grammaticas, in brussels. that was pretty gloomy. what sense do you get there of how much of the talk is brinkmanship, and how much realfear that there will be no deal? i think, fiona, ithink, fiona, there i think, fiona, there is an element of brinkmanship on both sides, but much more important than that, a real fear absolutely that this could lead to no deal and both sides seemingly getting more entrenched. we saw michel barnier today, he seemed to me more angry, we saw michel barnier today, he seemed to me more angry, more frustrated, more determined than he has appeared before. why? well, he said there is 13 weeks to sort all this out. the key issue remaining is that border in northern ireland and it is that backstop, the insurance policy in case they cannot agree in the future trade deal how to avoid those border checks. both sides agreed back in december they would have won. today, mrs may stood in belfast and said, unacceptable, the eu's proposa

our deputy political editor john pienaar is at westminster. what has been going on?e past fortnight over brexit and today, downing street had to fend off labour demands for two more scalps over accusations the chief whip and the party chairman broke westminster‘s on a code on voting for the sake of avoiding a defeat for the sake of avoiding a defeat for the sake of avoiding a defeat for the brexit plan this week. pairing is an old custom at westminster, you scratch my back and i'll scratch yours, kind of arrangement, where mps say, "if you don't vote for whatever i won't, either". trouble is, chief whip judith smith is said to have told and text did a number of conservative colleagues, telling them to break the pledge and one did but that was the party chairman brandon lewis who was paired with a liberal democrat mp on maternity leave. he said it was a mistake and said sorry and the prime minister has said it should not happen again but labour is saying someone is lying about what actually happened and the chief whip or the party chairman or both should resign. a lot

john pienaar, bbc news.irst time that the eu leaders gave their reaction to theresa may's white paper, and as our europe correspondent damian grammaticas reports, there are fears in brussels that we are heading towards a no deal. michel barnier, we saw today, seems to me more angry, more frustrated, more determined then he has appeared before. why? well, he said there is 13 weeks to sort all this out. the keyissue 13 weeks to sort all this out. the key issue remaining is that border in northern ireland, and it is that tax top, the insurance policy in case they cannot agree in the future ona case they cannot agree in the future on a trade deal, how to avoid border checks. —— that backstop. sides agreed in december they would have w011. agreed in december they would have won. today mrs maister in belfast and said the eu's proposal was unacceptable. michel barnier said there has to be one and it has to be legally workable otherwise there is no agreement and the uk crashes out. so he is concerned about that, the

our deputy political editor john pienaar has the latest.sters often turn out for theresa may but the problems of brexit follow her everywhere. today, she was in belfast with a plea and a promise. a promise there will be no hard irish border when the uk leaves. and a plea to the eu. she had compromised on her brexit plan. now, it was brussels's turn. the white paper represents a significant development in our position. it is a coherent package. it is now for the eu to respond. not simply to fall back on previous positions which have already been proven unworkable. as for the border, her plans sees goods moving freely between the uk and the eu, including ireland with no customs or other checks. so, no special status for northern ireland, no undermining the union. the solution we have put forward is a practical, workable solution to do that which respects the vote of the british people, protects jobs but also ensures that we don't see a hard border between northern ireland and ireland. in brussels, the stage was set for an important moment. ho

john pienaar, bbc news.s set to be an extraordinary next few days, weeks and even months — is stephen bush, the specialist correspondent from the new statesman. and the broadcaster and political commentator, iain dale, who's at westminster. welcome to both of you. iain dale, one concern that was written in the mail on sunday of borisjohnson, he said we wanted his churchill and he gave us his neville chamberlain. do you think that kind of criticism stung him? it's surprising he didn't resign much sooner. it is surprising he didn't resign before now, he could have resigned over heathrow and many people would have thought that would have been an honourable resignation. i think today's resignation. i think today's resignation may have been coming for some time but i think it's been triggered by david davis more than anything else. i think borisjohnson has a single question to answer. david davis resign because it was his portfolio. he could not look michel barnier in the eye and believe what he was saying. boris

of the plan have already been dismissed by prominent brexiteers. 0ur deputy political editor, john pienaarline brexiteer ministers or mps who are deeply suspicious of what they are calling brexit in name only, brino. the plan would be to seek a single market deal, they wouldn't be called on trade in goods and farm products and animal — animal products and food as well. now that would eliminate, this is the theory, eliminate border checks and tariffs and extra bureaucracy but it would mean sticking to eu laws and standards. recognising the authority, in the european court in some fought, allowing preferential access to eu citizens wanting to come to this country. now there would be freedom to go out for britain to go out and seek trade deals around the world and there would be refunds, to free funds whether a lower tariffs agreed with the countries, where deals were struck. so that is the plan, but will it fly? while brigadier no ministers for examples it to change the plan now and in the days leading to the special cabinet meeting, at the prime minister's country residence chequers mat on

our deputy political editor, john pienaar is in westminister, john...lease ha rd—line well, theresa may's latest plan will not please hard—line brexiteer ministers or mps who are suspicious of what they call, brexit in name only. the plan as i understand that would mean seeking a single market deal but it would not be called that on trade and goods and farm products and animal products and food as well. that would eliminate border checks and tariffs and extra bureaucracy but it would mean sticking to eu laws and standards, recognising the authority of the european court in some form and perhaps allowing preferential access to eu citizens wanting to come to this country. there would be freedom to go out, for britain to go out and seek trade deals around the world and it would—be tariff refunds when the terms were agreed with the countries. that is the plan, but will it fly? will brexiteer cabinet ministers seek to change the plan now and in the days leading to the special cabinet meeting at chequers on friday? will it simply be dismissed out of hand by b

john pienaar, bbc news. on north korea until they give up nuclear weapons. he said they were still stumbling fuel into they were still stumbling fuel into the country, many by transfers at sea. the countries of the security council are united on the need for final, fully verified denuclearisation of north korea, as agreed to by chairman kim. strict enforcement of sanctions is critical to achieving this goal. members of the un security council, and by extension all un member states, have unanimously agreed to fully enforce sanctions on north korea, and we expect them to continue to honour those commitments. when sanctions are not enforced, the prospects for the successful denuclearisation of north korea are diminished. right now, north korea is illegally smuggling petroleum products into the country at a level that far exceeds the quotas established by the united nations. 215—year—old boys who plotted the murder pupils and teachers in the north of england have been given sentences. they said they were inspire

borisjohnson has led his political career as a colourful maverick. 0ur deputy political editor john pienaarhis time as foreign secretary. up up or down, in or out of government, there is no—one quite like boris johnson. it is going very well. it is going well he said, hanging in the air. like his future now. borisjohnson like his future now. boris johnson helped like his future now. borisjohnson helped front like his future now. boris johnson helped front the like his future now. borisjohnson helped front the leave campaign. this is a once in a lifetime xans. after he told friends he owned brexit. becoming foreign secretary was a surprise especially to him. butting into brexit negotiations wasn't. sometimes speaking to brussels. the sums i have seen they propose to demand from this country, seem to me to be extortionate and to go whistle is an appropriate expression. and lecturing theresa may. calling the prime minister's ideas crazy in her favourite paper was pushing it. many loyalists thought so. favourite paper was pushing it. many loyalists thought solj favourite paper was pushing it. m

our deputy political editor john pienaar has the latest. protesters often turn out for theresa may, but the problems of brexit follow her every where. today she was in belfast with a plea and a promise. a promise there would be no ha rd promise. a promise there would be no hard irish border when the uk leaves. the white paper represents a significant development of our position. it is a coherent package. it is now for the eu to respond. not simply to fall back on to previous positions which have already proven unworkable. as for the border, her plan sees goods moving freely between the uk and the eu, including ireland w no customs or other checks. so no special status for northern ireland. no undermining the union. the solution we have put forward is a workable solution which respects the vote of the british people, protects job, respects the vote of the british people, protectsjob, but also ensures that we don't see a hard border. in brussels the stage was set for an important moment. how would the british compromises go down? eu foreign m

moment, we'll speak to our europe editor, katya adler, but first, our deputy political editor, john pienaartwo narrow victories in as many nights for theresa may over her brexit plans. but this won't be the end of it? no, it won't, fiona. theresa may and her cabinet soldier on. upright, but tottering slightly towards a reckoning in the autumn which downing street is hopeful will lead toa downing street is hopeful will lead to a breakthrough. senior officials and government ministers are privately perfectly open about their expectations that brussels will demand more concessions, more ground from the government. and that would cause and it will cause more problems and trouble at westminster which could threaten the entire brexit plan and even the position of theresa may as prime minister. meanwhile, those most worried about brexit hope quietly there could be another chance of another referendum. as a result of this. what could ease pressure on the government? 0ne senior conservative close to theresa may told me the great hope was that brussels would give ground, maybe under pressure from a m

been notable for a series of controversial stances and statements, as our deputy political editor john pienaarr out of government 01’ up or down — in or out of government or in the air. like his place in the tory battle of brexit, there is no one else like borisjohnson. boris johnson helped front the leave campaign. it is a once in a life tooichl chance. and believes he owns the victory. becoming foreign secretary was a surprise. a chance to push for the brexit he wanted. 0ut to push for the brexit he wanted. out of the eu with no loss of benefits. as he put it pro having ca ke benefits. as he put it pro having cake and eating it. butting into brexit negotiations came naturally. sums i have seen that they propose to demand seem to be large. even lecturing theresa may. are you ready to resign. calling the prime minister's ideas crazy and not resigning was pushing it. may loyalists thought. . this is back seat driving. yes. i hope my collea g u es seat driving. yes. i hope my colleagues will get behind her in the same way. but that wasn't the borisjohnson way, the crossing the globe as foreign s