now obviously in mid bedfordshire we don't have polls in mid bedfordshire, we have the national picture and what's then going to matter is which kinds of voters split to which kinds of parties and if it's split three ways, which it could very well do, and if it essentially then is a three way marginal constituency, despite it being historically a conservative constituency since 1930s, then in that case, it really is potentially on a knife edge. but strong voices from a local, independent and other national parties. i'm offering something completely different from what we've had before. the political parties have let down the voters here on numerous occasions, so i'm offering a much more in—touch approach to all of the people where they can feel that they're actually getting the political representation that they deserve from someone who cares deeply about this area. looking at the news and what's happening around the world, i think people understand the climate needs to be at the centre of government policy and unfortunately westminster isn't listening. the green party is saying that we

and now the wonderful helen lindsay in mid bedfordshire.e councils. in scotland last year we boosted our counsellor base by a third and we are growing back there strongly as we hold the nationalist to account for the total mess they have made of, well, everything. in wales we took control of paris council for the first time ever. liberal democrats right across our uk, you should all be so proud of what we have achieved together. our campaigns and victories are changing the future of british politics and turning the tide against the conservatives. we showed the next election will not be all about the red wall. it is about the blue wall, as well and we have shown we are the only ones who can bring the change people crave. and even better, with the victory of richard in devon and sarah in somerset and superb local government we can now proudly say that the liberal democrats are back in the west country.— a second front against the conservatives where every liberal democrat vote is the powerful vote for change but now comes the big one. the gen

now obviously in mid bedfordshire we don't have polls in mid bedfordshire, we have the national pictureof the people where they can feel that they're actually getting the political representation that they deserve

they have in both brexit places like tamworth or middle england, rural, wealthy places like mid bedfordshire of trouble. ., ~' ., , conservative, any whole world of trouble. ., ~ ., , , trouble. thank you for bringing us u . trouble. thank you for bringing us u- to trouble. thank you for bringing us up to date- _ trouble. thank you for bringing us up to date- it _ trouble. thank you for bringing us up to date. it will _ trouble. thank you for bringing us up to date. it will be _ trouble. thank you for bringing us up to date. it will be an _ up to date. it will be an interesting autumn with those elections coming up. the uk government has announced it will be rejoining the european union's horizon science research programme after a post—brexit bilateral deal. it left the 100 billion euro — or 85 billion pound — programme when it left the eu bloc. the president of the european commission, ursula von der leyen, has said: "the eu and uk are key strategic partners and allies, and today's agreement proves that point. we will continue to be at the forefront of global science and research. " 0ur sci

votes will also take place for seats in mid—bedfordshire, and rutherglen and hamilton west, next monthhree tests for all the parties, leila three tests for all the parties, lei . ., �*, three tests for all the parties, lei . . �*, ., , three tests for all the parties, lei . . �* , ., , ., leila that's right, and 'ust had three in three fi leila that's right, and 'ust had three in three in _ leila that's right, and 'ust had three in three in july _ leila that's right, and just had three in three in july in - leila that's right, and just had three in three in july in which | leila that's right, and just had i three in three in july in which the three in three injuly in which the tories lost two and only narrowly clung on to the other. these latest by—elections have all been triggered by—elections have all been triggered by mps leaving the commons under a cloud but each contest will have its own tale to tell. we had the resignation of the mp chris pincher, his deep in staffordshire, majority of 10,000, his deep in staffordshire, majority of10,000, but his deep in staffordshire, majority of

what i can tell you is the by—election in mid bedfordshire is going _ by—election in mid bedfordshireprocess in parliament which leads to _ formal process in parliament which leads to a — formal process in parliament which leads to a by—election. i've just found _ leads to a by—election. i've just found out— leads to a by—election. i've just found out they are going to do that today— found out they are going to do that today so— found out they are going to do that today so that process is going to start _ today so that process is going to start which will mean that really key by—election will be held in mid—october. probablyjust after the mid—october. probably just after the other— mid—october. probably just after the other key— mid—october. probablyjust after the other key by—election which is happening in scotland, in rutherglen, i think that will be on the 5th _ rutherglen, i think that will be on the 5th of— rutherglen, i think that will be on the 5th of october, big race between the 5th of october, big race between the snp _ the 5th of october, big race between the snp and the la

all eyes on those and the next big one we are expecting is mid bedfordshire, the seat vacated by nadinettle while before she put her official resignation in and the expectation is we might get a date for that very soon and that could take place in october and that would be a hotly contested by—election. parliament sitting today after its summer recess and what is on a lot of people's mines is although we don't want to be talking about this too early, we are now approaching what many people think will be the year of the general election and that in part is what this reshuffle is about. sir keir starmer trying to put his party on a firm footing ahead of the general election campaign which whether our viewers want it or not is something we are going to be talking about a lot fairly soon. going to be talking about a lot fairly soon-— going to be talking about a lot fairl soon. , . fairly soon. remind us what the speculation _ fairly soon. remind us what the speculation is _ fairly soon. remind us what the speculation is on _ fairly soon. remind us what the speculation is on when - fairly so

they have a right to know if they are going to go and say in mid bedfordshire, they are going to votede a decision on those policies. i have every respect for the british electorate as did the liberal democrats. 50 electorate as did the liberal democrats.— electorate as did the liberal democrats. , ., . ., democrats. so you are saying that voters do not _ democrats. so you are saying that voters do not have _ democrats. so you are saying that voters do not have a _ democrats. so you are saying that voters do not have a right - democrats. so you are saying that voters do not have a right to - democrats. so you are saying that voters do not have a right to know if your party would go into coalition with the labour party and will only find out afterwards? that is not for i'm _ will only find out afterwards? that is not for i'm saying, _ will only find out afterwards? “inst is not for i'm saying, i'm saying the electorate must decide what they want and that's their decision. at the decide that they want a hung parliament or balanced parliament as we call it now that is up to them and they

and is _ dorries's seat in mid bedfordshire and is looking _ dorries's seat in mid bedfordshire andes's seat in mid bedfordshire and is looking exciting for us - and is looking exciting for us there — and is looking exciting for us there. �* and is looking exciting for us there. . , ., and is looking exciting for us there. �* , ., . and is looking exciting for us there. �* . ., and is looking exciting for us there. . . ., there. are you excited, ian? i think, there. are you excited, ian? i think. yeah. _ there. are you excited, ian? i think, yeah, having _ there. are you excited, ian? i think, yeah, having looked i there. are you excited, ian? i think, yeah, having looked at| there. are you excited, ian? i. think, yeah, having looked at the motions— think, yeah, having looked at the motions and the things that were passed _ motions and the things that were passed yesterday, we have so many -ood passed yesterday, we have so many good ideas — passed yesterday, we have so many good ideas going forwards. i think people _ good ideas going forwards. i think people would be mad not to vote

prime minister it means another by—election and another tory held seat because that is also mid bedfordshiremworth. the conservative party will try to defend seats they have held and the context is that a general election is likely coming up very soon, probably sometime next year and rishi sunak trying to reset the narrative that he is very behind in the polls and it will be a huge struggle for him at the next election with labour riding much higher so it will be a political test for him. some relief these by—elections will land after the conservative party conference. how will rishi sunak _ conservative party conference. how will rishi sunak and the conservative party view the prospect of yet another by—election? you're like there have been a few recently. although they did hold on to the former seat of although they did hold on to the former sea— former seat of boris johnson in london. former seat of boris johnson in london- the — former seat of boris johnson in london. the seat _ former seat of boris johnson in london. the seat in _ former seat of boris johnson in london. the seat in tamw

gained by labour from this by—elections into the ones coming up, notjust in tamworth, but in mid bedfordshireged labour party. we have a much changed labour party. we have a strong united team and there is quite a contrast between some of the chaos and division we are seeing in the side where rishi sunak is beginning to look more and more like a caretaker prime minister. fin beginning to look more and more like a caretaker prime minister.— a caretaker prime minister. on the uxbridue a caretaker prime minister. on the uxbridge issue, _ a caretaker prime minister. on the uxbridge issue, there _ a caretaker prime minister. on the uxbridge issue, there were - a caretaker prime minister. on the uxbridge issue, there were some i uxbridge issue, there were some criticisms that the labour position on the ulez charge was not the right one, that is why, even though there was a swing to labour, it was not enough to take the seat. are there lessons to be learned from that? it is true that ulez was a big issue in uxbridge. i was on the doorstep myself there for a few times and the lesson in any of these po

and i think probably from the prime minister's perspective, he already has a by—election in mid bedfordshire will be possibly two defeats for the conservatives in one night but that is probably better than having one defeat and then a month later another defeat, so it gives a chance to clear them out of the way perhaps by the middle of october. and potentially a strange situation for a successor to chris pincher in tamworth because of boundary changes. tamworth because of boundary chances. ~ , , tamworth because of boundary chances. , ._ changes. absolutely. boundary chan . es changes. absolutely. boundary changes still _ changes. absolutely. boundary changes still gives _ changes. absolutely. boundary changes still gives the - changes still gives the conservatives an advantage at the next election of probably another 10-15 next election of probably another 10—15 seats in these boundaries that have been decided by boundary commissions and been in operation since 2019, if so they would have had an even bigger majority of maybe 100 but it's a complicated situation.— 100 but it's a complicated

a mid bedfordshire by—election has been called for october 19, after conservative mp nadine dorries resignedly safe seat. despite that, both the labour party and the liberal democrats hope to take the seat, with the government trailing in the polls. 200 women in the uk who claim they were left in pain after having a permanent contraceptive device fitted have been given the go—ahead to take a "group legal action" against the manufacturer. the essure coil, made by the german company, bayer, was withdrawn from sale in 2017. the manufacture says it will defend itself vigorously. an original proof of harry potter and the philosopher's stone that was discovered at a primary school could be worth thousands of pounds. the book was found at st kenelm's primary school, in oxford. it was bought for e1 in 1997. it is expected to fetch up to £20,000 at auction. you're live with bbc news. the un secretary—general has called on the world to make africa a renewable energy superpower. his comments came on the second day of the africa climate summit in the kenyan capital, nairobi. antonio guterres said develo

there is some talk it could be the 19th of october so that is a possibility for that vote in mid bedfordshire be a big deal, that, because the conservatives have held the seat since the 20s, it is one they should be winning but both the labour party and the lib dems think they have a good chance of taking it so it's looking like a three—way battle. october has the possibility of being a blockbuster month really for those big electoral test because there will be a by—election in rutherglen just outside glasgow where the mp there was forced out. there will be a vote, i think on the 5th of october, both labour and the snp think they have a really good chance of winning that, it has been an smp seat but the labour party think they can win it and show that they are making something of a comeback in scotland. keep an eye on tamworth. that is the current seat of the former government whip chris pincher, you might remember he resigned after allegations of grouping were made against him. he has and he is likely to face a recall petition, he is appealing against a decision that was made by parliament,

tamworth, we are already facing a by—election where labour are desperate to challenge the snp, in mid bedfordshire labour are trying to take it off the tories. a busy few weeks ahead, and a big electoral test for the government.- weeks ahead, and a big electoral test for the government. thank you very much- — there are calls today for patients and their families to have the right to ask for a second medical opinion if they don't think doctors are taking their case seriously enough. the campaign is being led by the parents of martha mills, who died of sepsis in hospital two years ago when she was 13. they say doctors didn't listen to them when their daughter's condition deteriorated. our health correspondent dominic hughesjoins us now. dominic, this campaign follows the heartbreaking story of what happened to martha. yes, a little bit of background, martha heard her pancreas when she fell off her bicycle on a family holiday in wales. that was a nasty injury, but it should never have been fatal. she was admitted to a specialist unit at king's college hospital in london. but then her condition deteri

a mid—bedfordshire by—election, has been called for october 19, after conservative mp nadine dorriesernment trailing in the polls. 200 women in the uk who claim they were left in pain after having a permanent contraceptive device fitted have been given the go—ahead to take a group legal action against the manufacturer. the essure coil, made by the german company bayer, was withdrawn from sale in 2017. the manufacture says it will defend itself vigorously. an original proof of harry potter and the philosopher's stone that was discovered at a primary school could be worth thousands of pounds. the book was found at st kenelm's primary school in oxford. it was bought for £1 in 1997. it is expected to fetch up to £20,000 at auction. you're live with bbc news. this yesterday this we reported on women who say their children were forced by the uk's family courts to have contact with their fathers, even when the men had been accused of abuse. today we hearfrom mothers who've fled abroad — abducting their children. they all say they were victims of domestic abuse and that they've been let down

it's similar in scale in size, isn't it, to the one the dene tories is holding in mid—bedfordshire?ns , it may seats. if that happens, it may or may not happen. of course this is democracy. were that to happen next month, would this is democracy. were that to h.disasterext month, would this is democracy. were that to h.disaster for�*nonth, would this is democracy. were that to h.disaster for him h, would this is democracy. were that to h.disaster for him and would this is democracy. were that to h.disaster for him and just ould a disaster for him and just looking at the constituency itself in terms of tamworth, of course he's been sitting as an independent mp since losing the whip . whip. >> does that have an effect where the conservative agents get bit fed with the fact get a bit fed up with the fact that haven't got who that they haven't got who they voted at that general voted for at that general election ? election? >> well, they have got who they voted for in a sense. they have got chris pincher as their mp. he simply left the party that he was standing for at the last election

by elections we've got two big by elections coming , tamworth and mid coming up, tamworth and mid bedfordshireming up, tamworth and mid bedfcgotiire, the bookmaker has coming up, tamworth and mid bedfcgot laboure bookmaker has coming up, tamworth and mid bedfcgot labour as)okmaker has coming up, tamworth and mid bedfcgot labour as akmaker has coming up, tamworth and mid bedfcgot labour as a clearer has have got labour as a clear favourites they favourites in tamworth, but they don't really to know what don't really seem to know what to do in mid bedfordshire. they've got three parties they've got all three parties pretty there. pretty close together there. what's for both what's your prediction for both of have to be very of those? we have to be very quick quick. we're quick now, very quick. we're who's win? who's going who's going to win? who's going to win mid bedfordshire? who's going to win tamworth? >> afraid. >> well, i'm afraid. >> well, i'm afraid. >> i'm afraid. i'm afraid to say i'm i'm afraid say on current i'm i'm afraid to say on current by—election what we've by—election swings o

let's look at some other stories making news a mid bedfordshire by—election has been called for octoberoral test as the party trails far behind labour in national polling. the electoral commission says it failed a basic cyber—security test run by the uk government before it was hacked last month. names and addresses of 40 million voters were accessible. a spokeswoman for the commission admitted the failings, but claims they weren't linked to the cyber—attack. she also added that the commission had still not passed the test. an original proof of harry potter and the philosopher's stone that was rediscovered at a primary school could be worth thousands of pounds. the book was found at st kenelm's primary school, in oxford. it was bought for e1 in 1997. it is expected to fetch up to £20,000 at auction. you're live with bbc news. scotland's first minister's humza yousaf is due to give a statement shortly on his government has 's new programme for holyrood. humza yousaf said that childcare would be at the centre of his government's policy agenda for the coming year. he said improving access

they will be defending the sort in the seat of mid—bedfordshire.h constituencies to win them. important to say bye elections are unique beasts but inevitably the conquest will be seen through the prism of next year's likely general election. jess parker at westminster, thank you. the government orders urgent reviews after a jailbreak by terror suspect daniel khalife at wandsworth prison for stop the manhunt continues. prison for stop the manhunt continues-— prison for stop the manhunt continues. ., , , prison for stop the manhunt continues. . , ., continues. one day a player is going to die and then _ continues. one day a player is going to die and then they _ continues. one day a player is going to die and then they will _ continues. one day a player is going to die and then they will see. i to die and then they will see. coming up, conditions are way too hot at the us open according to semifinalist daniil medvedev. coming up on bbc news, another player swaps the premier league for saudi arabia. demarai gray leaves everton for al—ettifaq ahead of

we're expecting the mid—bedfordshire by—election. nadine dorries her seat to be quite soon. conservative, seat from the conservative, i think nadine dorries has a majority of something like 30,000, is very, very 30,000, but is very, very unpopular in her own constituency for the way that she's behaved over the last few months, saying she'll stand down and standing down and then not standing down etcetera. labour would love to win seat and you say , win that seat and as you say, perhaps why keir perhaps the reason why keir starmer has has gone in so starmer has has gone gone in so quickly with this reshuffle is that his ducks do need to be in a for these by elections. he a row for these by elections. he probably wanted pat mcfadden as national campaign in national director of campaign in place. labour will be place. whether labour will be able to snatch that seat from the conservatives will be really , really interesting to see a busy time ahead. >> olivia , as ever, thanks for >> olivia, as ever, thanks for updating us with the latest . updating us with the latest. thank you

there are two by—elections — in rutherglen and nadine dorries' former seat of mid bedfordshire — andwill be trying to put forward their visions for what their future government would look like, and the prime minister will be under pressure to fulfil his five pledges, including to stop the boats and cut nhs waiting lists. so what can we expect to see? joining us to discuss this and more is conservative peer and former advisor to william hague and john major, danny finkelstein, miranda green, deputy comments editor for the financial times and former press secretary to paddy ashdown, and sonia sodha, 0bserver columnist and adviser to labour's ed miliband when he was party leader. thank you so much to the three of you forjoining us. starting with you, danny, we can't ignore the raac story that's going on. it is day two, how well —— but how do you think, but do? figs two, how well -- but how do you think, but do?— think, but do? as long as it's are able to go _ think, but do? as long as it's are able to go back _ think, but do? as long as it's are able to go back it _ think, but do? as lon

there is to be a by—election in mid bedfordshire and now one in this particular constituency of tamworthlet's get back to wandsworth prison. prison problems, and, yeah, we havejoe. how are you doing? hi. problems, and, yeah, we have joe. how are you doing?— how are you doing? hi, i'm very well. yourself? _ how are you doing? hi, i'm very well. yourself? i'm _ how are you doing? hi, i'm very well. yourself? i'm fine. - how are you doing? hi, i'm very well. yourself? i'm fine. so - how are you doing? hi, i'm very well. yourself? i'm fine. so you| well. yourself? i'm fine. so you will have _ well. yourself? i'm fine. so you will have an _ well. yourself? i'm fine. so you will have an insight _ well. yourself? i'm fine. so you will have an insight on - well. yourself? i'm fine. so you will have an insight on this, - well. yourself? i'm fine. so you| will have an insight on this, what is it? ., ., ., ~' will have an insight on this, what is it? ., ., is it? so, i mean if we look at, i have the — is it? so, i mean if we look at, i have the inspectorate _ is it? so, i mean if we look at, i have

i think no cracks in deals and i think you have to look at you only have to look at campaign mid—bedfordshire committed as a position, we are committed to believe that to hs2 because we believe that what has long been neglected is the infrastructure to deliver the infrastructure to deliver the productivity and economic benefit that the uk desperately needs. benefit that the uk desperately needs . the government has needs. the government has stepped away from levelling up. it is meaningless. >> okay. another issue of confusion for me because of what your moran, your colleague layla moran, who's affairs who's the foreign affairs spokeswoman, said yesterday, we want to rejoin the eu. she told a fringe meeting at conference. yet at the same time, ed davey says you don't. who's right? layla moran or ed davey . layla moran or ed davey. >> so camilla, we as you know, the liberal democrats are very interested in policy, and that is what we're debating in the coming days. and we have a four point plan relation to how we point plan in relation to how we rebuild our relationship with europe. and i think

of the rutherglen violence scotland rutherglen violence in scotland and bedfordshire and the mid bedfordshirekely in england. so it could be an extraordinary conference season ending with a labour party showcasing a whole load of new policies, a symbolic policies important offers for different different voters. so i think labour's pacing it correctly at the moment, a small majority is a worry though, isn't it? >> john? the success of both margaret thatcher and tony blair, your former boss, was rooted in those large majorities. the ability to get legislation across the line if labour have a majority of, say, 10 or 20 seats or even five seats, those hard left corbynites will hold the balance of power, won't they ? of power, won't they? >> no , for a number of reasons. >> no, for a number of reasons. but the main one being the only way the labour party could be defeated with a small majority or even the minority. but the small majority . the only way to small majority. the only way to defeat the labour party is if the snp and the liberal democrats and the tories can all agree and it would be dea

of the rutherglen violence scotland rutherglen violence in scotland and bedfordshire and the mid bedfordshirekely in england. so it could be an extraordinary conference season ending with a labour party showcasing a whole load of new policies, a symbolic policies important offers for different different voters. so i think labour's pacing it correctly at the moment, a small majority is a worry though, isn't it? >> john? the success of both margaret thatcher and tony blair, your former boss, was rooted in those large majorities. the ability to get legislation across the line if labour have a majority of, say, 10 or 20 seats or even five seats, those hard left corbynites will hold the balance of power, won't they ? of power, won't they? >> no , for a number of reasons. >> no, for a number of reasons. but the main one being the only way the labour party could be defeated with a small majority or even the minority. but the small majority . the only way to small majority. the only way to defeat the labour party is if the snp and the liberal democrats and the tories can all agree and it would be dea

about the mid—bedfordshire by—election, the lib dems have put out leaflets saying that they are the bookieses. now they were the bookies favourites at the start, but they're no longer. i've been looking at the betting and i can read it out. i've got it in front of me here. labour are actually the bookies favourites to win that by—election, so will the lib dems refrain from putting dems now refrain from putting out leaflets that they out leaflets saying that they are the bookies favourites in that by—election? well i think as you've suggested, the odds go up and down, don't they? >> but no, i think the lib expectation is that there are cases where you have these very large to north shropshire was a good example where we came from a base after a big in 2019. so i've been there and there's a that we can do very well . that we can do very well. >> vince the line's not great. it seems to be cutting in and out a bit, so i think we might we might leave it there. i should just say just for completeness that the betting that i've got in front of me for the mid beds cheshire by—election feels by—elec

the october, the 19th of october, mid—bedfordshire that's the nadine dorries seat.eally safe tory seats, as you say, 19,000 majority there for chris pincher . he increased that from 6000 in 2010. so a big a big month coming going forward into october on the by—election. >> can i just clarify with you, did you say eddie hughes will be the candidate candidate in tamworth who's the mp for walsall? north yeah. does that mean he's standing down as mp for walsall north? >> that's right. well what's happened, you know there's, there's been this big shake—up of, of constituency of where they are walsall north is being dissolved in these changes. so what happens is within the parliamentary party they try and find other seats for mps and they are ahead of all the other candidates and they're given a good seat if they can find one locally. and eddie hughes is getting getting tamworth. so we knew that that was announced previously . what didn't previously. but what we didn't know that the test for him know was that the test for him is to happen next month is going to happen nex

the wonderful emma of course, the wonderful emma holland , lindsay in mid holland, lindsay in mid bedfordshire to have been our fantastic local election results this may we gained. fantastic local election results this may we gained . an this may we gained. an incredible 407 councillors right across england from sunderland to south hams from lewes to lancaster and gain control of 12 more councils . lancaster and gain control of 12 more councils. in lancaster and gain control of 12 more councils . in scotland last more councils. in scotland last year we boosted our councillor base by a third. we're growing back there strongly to , as we back there strongly to, as we hold the nationalists to account for the total mess they made of , well, everything . and in wales , well, everything. and in wales we took control of powis council for the first time ever. liberal democrats right across our united kingdom . you should all united kingdom. you should all be so proud of what we've achieved together . our campaigns achieved together. our campaigns , our victories are changing . , our victories are chan