in the case of a group such as royal mail. _ yes. uld that include - royal mail, would that include responsibility for the oversight of business — responsibility for the oversight of business units such as the post office? — business units such as the post office? ., , . ., , office? under our structure, as i exolained _ office? under our structure, as i explained before, _ office? under our structure, as i explained before, that _ office? under our structure, as i explained before, that was - office? under our structure, as i explained before, that was a - explained before, that was a separate reporting function to the holding board. obviously, the financial numbers were collated by the groove chief financial officer, yes. the groove chief financial officer, es. ~ ., y ., the groove chief financial officer, es. . . , ., ., ., yes. what were your line management responsibilities? _ yes. what were your line management responsibilities? generally _ responsibilities? generally speaking. _ responsibilities? generally speaking, well, _ res

horizon enjoyed its latest amount of autonomy out of the wider royal mail group and was the wider royalits own governance set up. asked why that was the case, he said it goes back to the gamut setting up the company in 2000. royal mail had to modernise, be a commercial company, operating in an environment with competitors. post office on the other hand had to try to become a sustainable public service. adam crozier now confirms post office and royal mail relied on external legal advice, and was subsequently asked if he thinks some of the prosecutions of sub—postmaster is were conducted by external lawyers, he said, i believe they had a big role in that, yes. in his answer to a follow—up question he reveals, he is not sure exactly what that role entailed. what did you make of what he had to say? there were a lot of questions they are concerning the governance of the two organisations and to what extent they overlapped. we talked about it before, and it is what we expected. what they are trying to do right now is to find the relationship between royal mail and the post office during adam

i have accountability. _ provided by royal mail group? but _ provided by royal mail group? i have accountability, yes, but the - accountability, yes, but the responsibility was not direct. what responsibility was not direct. what do ou responsibility was not direct. what do you mean _ responsibility was not direct. what do you mean by — responsibility was not direct. what do you mean by that? _ responsibility was not direct. what do you mean by that? the - responsibility was not direct. what do you mean by that? the people| do you mean by that? the people doinu that do you mean by that? the people doing that work, _ do you mean by that? the people doing that work, did _ do you mean by that? the people doing that work, did not - do you mean by that? the people doing that work, did not work - do you mean by that? the people doing that work, did not work for| do you mean by that? the people i doing that work, did not work for me or somebody that worked for me. which people are you referring to? in the shared service functions, hr... ., ., .,

jazz and you joined royal mail group plc in august in 1989. 123 and you joined royal mail group plc in royal mail group plc in august 2002. . i mail group plc in august 2002. . your mail group plc in august 2002. your prior mail group plc in august 2002. . your prior bird experience before joining _ your prior bird experience before joining royal mail was being finance director_ joining royal mail was being finance director at _ joining royal mail was being finance director at two other companies. excuse _ director at two other companies. excuse me. _ director at two other companies. excuse me, yes. we director at two other companies. excuse me, yes.— director at two other companies. excuse me, yes. we will leave that the are excuse me, yes. we will leave that they are for — excuse me, yes. we will leave that they are for the _ excuse me, yes. we will leave that they are for the moment _ excuse me, yes. we will leave that they are for the moment but - excuse me, yes. we will leave that they are for the moment but if- excuse me, yes. we will leave that they are for the moment but if you

i am“ chair of the royal mail group? i am not sure, chair of the royal mail group? obably i was, yes. thank you, mr crozier. that brings _ was, yes. thank you, mr crozier. that brings to — was, yes. thank you, mr crozier. that brings to an _ was, yes. thank you, mr crozier. that brings to an end _ was, yes. thank you, mr crozier. that brings to an end today's - that brings to an end today's session. we will resume again... sorry, i should formally thank you for your witness statement and for answering so many questions during the course of today. so we will resume again that 10.00 on tuesday, i think with mr miller, is it? drastic! i think with mr miller, is it? david miller first and _ i think with mr miller, is it? david miller first and david _ i think with mr miller, is it? david miller first and david mills - i think with mr miller, is it? david miller first and david mills second. so there you have it, the conclusion of this week's evidence that we have been hearing at the post office inquiry in central london. it ended on quite a moment there. mr crozier, who

was anyone from royal mail group present — going on.

april 2010, so forjust over seven years you were ad director and chief executive officer of the royal mail groupoyal mail holdings? the first director of royal mail holdings? iie: first being a limited director of royal mail holdings? i“ie: first being a limited company, director of royal mail holdings? iie: first being a limited company, the second a plc. first being a limited company, the second a ole-— first being a limited company, the second a plc— second a plc. before 'oining royal mail ou second a plc. before 'oining royal manyou new h second a plc. before 'oining royal mail you held senior_ second a plc. before joining royal mail you held senior roles - second a plc. before joining royal mail you held senior roles in - mail you held senior roles in saatchi and saatchi from 1988 to 1999, is that right?— saatchi and saatchi from 1988 to 1999, is that right? 1995. i started there in 1988, — 1999, is that right? 1995. i started there in 1988, all— 1999, is that right? 1995. i started there in 1988, all the _ 1999, is that right? 1995. i started there in 1988, all the way - 1999, is that righ

royal mail, is that right?- can we _ chairman of the royal mail, is that right? yes. can we look at that letter please? _ this is dated 7th of august 2003, to the chairman of royal mail groupin general terms what the purpose was in writing to the chairman of royal mail group pic? by this time you had received plc? by this time you had received post office's decision to terminate your contract. i was still in post for the next few months — i was still in post for the next few months i— i was still in post for the next few months. i thought it was worth trying — months. i thought it was worth trying to— months. i thought it was worth trying to write to the chairman, to make _ trying to write to the chairman, to make him — trying to write to the chairman, to make him aware of what was going on. because _ make him aware of what was going on. because he _ make him aware of what was going on. because he may well have not known. hoping _ because he may well have not known. hoping that _ because he may well have not known. hoping that he might be able to undertake some kind of review into it, undertake some kind of review into it. look_ undertake some kind of review into it. look

royal mail do, definitely. she was the pr officer for the royal mail group. it officer for the royal mail group.the second paragraph for some strange reason there is a steadily building nervousness about the accuracy of the horizon system and the press are now on it as well. were you saying this is the significant and escalating issue? i was then, yes. as i then expressed in the next sentence, my confusion as to why but yes i accepted that we had an issue. what you connecting to various horizon challenges at that point, the computer weekly...? yes. horizon challenges at that point, the computer weekly. . . ? yes, this was around — the computer weekly. . . ? yes, this was around that _ the computer weekly. . . ? yes, this was around that time _ the computer weekly. . . ? yes, this was around that time that - the computer weekly. . . ? yes, this was around that time that it - the computer weekly. . . ? yes, this was around that time that it came | the computer weekly. . . ? yes, this i was around that time that it came to the fore for me, if you see what i mean. ., ., the fore for me, if you see w

, and again— executive of royal mail group, and again to _ executive of royal mail group, and againls, then managing director of— from paula vennells, then managing director of post office limited? let's _ director of post office limited? let's start — director of post office limited? let's start with your letter. if we can blow that up a little bit, please~ _ if we can blow that up a little bit, please. this is you writing on the 15th of— please. this is you writing on the 15th of december, 2011. to moya greene _ 15th of december, 2011. to moya greene the chief executive of royal mail group plc. you say, i have been contacted _ mail group plc. you say, i have been contacted by— mail group plc. you say, i have been contacted by a number of constituencies living in odiham and hampshire who are most upset by the fact their— hampshire who are most upset by the fact their local post office has been — fact their local post office has been closed and that a long—standing employee _ been closed and that a long—standing employee paul kemp has been dismissed due to irregularities, and 'ust d

royal mail— pursued. would that be a function of royal mail group board over the post office, _ royal mail group board overack— where does the responsibility for their lack of communication from the post office _ their lack of communication from the post office fall? i think you would have to say with the post office chief executive and chairman. that's... that's. .. that assumes, i beg your pardon- -- — that's. .. that assumes, i beg your pardon... that _ that's. .. that assumes, i beg your pardon... that assumes _ that's. .. that assumes, i beg your pardon... that assumes they - that's. .. that assumes, i beg your. pardon... that assumes they knew? exactly that — pardon... that assumes they knew? exactly that and _ pardon... that assumes they knew? exactly that and obviously _ pardon... that assumes they knew? exactly that and obviously i - pardon... that assumes they knew? exactly that and obviously i don't i exactly that and obviously i don't know whether they did or not. my assumption is that they didn't but i guess that is one of the rolls of the inquiry, to figure that out. figs the inquiry, to figur

for theft, fraud and false accounting and the subsequent prosecution, did you think about the royal mail groupy involvement in that? i would have thought they _ had any involvement in that? i would have thought they had _ had any involvement in that? i would have thought they had oversight, - have thought they had oversight, yes. have thought they had oversight, es. ~ , , ., ~ have thought they had oversight, es. ~ , ~ . because yes. why did you think that? because the were yes. why did you think that? because they were responsible _ yes. why did you think that? because they were responsible for _ yes. why did you think that? because they were responsible for the - yes. why did you think that? because they were responsible for the legal i they were responsible for the legal function _ i'm going to go back to the hypothetical, where we started earlier. if you were aware, assume you were aware that post office limited were making the decisions to prosecute... limited were making the decisions to prosecute- - -— limited were making the decisions to prosecute... yes. word you have sou . ht prosecu

he was there when the royal mail group and post office were part of the same organisation. , when hundreds of prosecutions against sub—postmasters took place. the key question will be what he knew about the prosecutions, problems with the it system, be horizon it system and how a big priority it was to the board. i5 how a big priority it was to the board. , , . ., , board. is the inquiry continues remind us _ board. is the inquiry continues remind us where _ board. is the inquiry continues remind us where we _ board. is the inquiry continues remind us where we are i board. is the inquiry continues remind us where we are to. i board. is the inquiry continues i remind us where we are to. this is -hase remind us where we are to. this is phase five. — remind us where we are to. this is phase five. the — remind us where we are to. this is phase five, the statutory - remind us where we are to. this is phase five, the statutory inquiry i phase five, the statutory inquiry has a lot of powers. it can compel witness testimony, it can compel evidence which is why so many witness victim

the chief executive of the royal mail group which owns the post office between 2003 and 2010 began givingmanaging director of the post office, hundreds of people were wrongly accused between 2006 in 2010 while he was in charge. he began by putting on record what he described as a personal apology to the sub—postmaster is and mistresses, as well as their families for all they have been through, let's listen in. i families for all they have been through, let's listen in. i wonder if i could just _ through, let's listen in. i wonder if i could just say _ through, let's listen in. i wonder if i could just say before - through, let's listen in. i wonder if i could just say before we - through, let's listen in. i wonder if i could just say before we get. if i could just say before we get started, i would like to put on record most

entirety— the business was actually almost entirely on the separation of the post office from royal mail groupfrom government, the need _ new party coming in from government, the need to— new party coming in from government, the need to refinance the business, which _ the need to refinance the business, which was _ the need to refinance the business, which was fundamental to its long—term existence, because it was coming _ long—term existence, because it was coming to— long—term existence, because it was coming to the end of funding packets with government. more latterly, the bank of— with government. more latterly, the bank of ireland, sort of final markings _ bank of ireland, sort of final markings of the banking crisis from 2008~ _ markings of the banking crisis from 2008~ and — markings of the banking crisis from 2008. and those elements, sad to say, were — 2008. and those elements, sad to say, were actually where the board was fundamentally focused through most of— was fundamentally focused through most of the time that i was with the post office — most of the time that i was with the pos

former royal mail group boss adam crozier is one of a handful of seniorfigures due to appear this weekowed later this month by angela van den bogerd, whose role in the post office prosecution of innocent subpostmasters has been heavily criticised. ex—chief executive paula vennells, who was stripped of her cbe earlier this year, will give three days of evidence in may. she will be asked about a draft report uncovered by the bbc, which shows the post office carried on using public money to fund court action, despite knowing its defence was untrue. in fenny compton, where the fightback began, victims told breakfast and the post office minister their battle was still farfrom won. the life is slipping away. i've spent now 37 years in the post office, so it feels like the life has been wasted. it feels like being stabbed in the back for serving the very people, for the very nation on behalf of the government. everybody's going to get through it. and the fact that when i was in hospital, the post office sent their own personal doctors to see if i was actually ill, that's what really hurt the

former royal mail group boss adam crozier will appear later this week. month by angela van den bogerd, whose role in their post office prosecution of innocent subpostmasters has been heavily criticised. ex chief executive paula vennells, who was stripped of her cbe earlier this year, will give three days of evidence in may. nick reed, the post office chief executive, watched on as alan bates gave evidence. counsel to the inquiryjason beer are read out an internal post office memo that had said alan bates had been an unmanageable subpostmaster, and the memo said he did not follow instructions despite copious support. instructions despite copious su ort. ~ , ., instructions despite copious su--ort.~ ., , support. were you given copious su ort? support. were you given copious support? laughter _ support? laughter no. what alan bates has been describing this morning has been what it has been like fighting the post office over the last two decades. he talked about in a witness statement how the post office has been denying, lying, defending and attempting to

many people as possible to have an opportunity to see in detail the management style applied by royal mail groupf the local post office. it is again trying to use what seems to be so often described in its outdated style and management approach in order to bludgeon its will on to the ports of postmaster, with an issue which could bankrupt every sub—post office in the country. whilst i appreciate that principles can be expensive, i cannot agree to any position which would leave me and every other sub—postmaster are liable for of pounds from post office without any redress or access 0ffice without any redress or access to data to check such claims. is that a reference to the disability or visibility, the reporting function, available to sub—postmaster is on the system? certainly that lack of it, yes. my only— certainly that lack of it, yes. my only defence until i can find an organisation willing to offer support is to make sure that the media and all those politicians who represent a ward with a sub—postmaster, sub—post office, as well as everyone who runs a sub—post office or who uses one, has a

an impact on — post office that would have had an impact on the group, either at the royal— impact on the group, either at the royal mailmanagement board meetings or the main— royal mail management board meetings or the main board meetings, royal mail management board meetings orthe main board meetings, is royal mail management board meetings or the main board meetings, is that right? _ or the main board meetings, is that riuht? , or the main board meetings, is that right? yes. when you say you trusted, right? yes. when you say you trusted. do — right? yes. when you say you trusted, do you _ right? yes. when you say you trusted, do you mean - right? yes when you say you trusted, do you mean that you assumed — trusted, do you mean that you assumed that they would? not “ust that. obviously, i assumed that they would? not “ust that. obviously, ii assumed that they would? not “ust that. obviously, i assumedfi assumed that they would? not “ust that. obviously, i assumed as h assumed that they would? not just | that. obviously, i assumed as good people are in senior positions, very qualified, that they would volunteer those is

for the minute do you i might put for the minute do you understand that you're being told that royal mail group the post office? yes, i would have been sceptical about that independence. and about that independence. and secondly that _ about that independence. and secondly that there was a separate audit of— secondly that there was a separate audit of horizon by daylight. yellow might— audit of horizon by daylight. yellow might guess, because there was something inherently implausible about— something inherently implausible about a _ something inherently implausible about a new computer system being completely fault free. haste about a new computer system being completely fault free.— completely fault free. have you, to the date, completely fault free. have you, to the date. ever— completely fault free. have you, to the date, ever seen _ completely fault free. have you, to the date, ever seen such _ completely fault free. have you, to the date, ever seen such an - the date, ever seen such an independent audit of the horizon system completed by deloitte? before the 13th of march 2012? when this

he was the former ceo of the royal mail group and some of his tenure overlaps with that, with that of2006—2010. can you explain the relationship between royal mail and the post office and i suppose there will be an effort this afternoon to try and see if there's any consistency with the story? that's a crucial question because at the time when adam crozier was chief executive, royal mail and the post office where the same organisation office where the same organisation but there was a governance board that he did not sit on, and so you are right. at the beginning of his testimony, he's likely to focus on the relationship between royal and the relationship between royal and the post office and therefore what adam crozier would have been aware of at the time. the issue is that there were hundreds of sub—postmasters who were prosecuted during his tenure and also there are sub—postmasters who say they've written to adam crozier during that period, one gave testimony to the inquiry in 2022, saying that he wrote to him, trying to explain what was happening and then received no response and

he also said he was not aware that lawyers within the royal mail group conducted prosecutions , groupshould not have been treated as thieves. sir keir starmer says he's confident angela rayner has not broken any rules after greater manchester police launched an investigation over her tax affairs. it's over the sale of her council house in stockport a decade ago. questions have been asked about whether she paid the right amount of tax and if it was her main home. angela rayner denies any wrongdoing. the labour leader says the investigation will reveal the facts. >> welcome this investigation >> we welcome this investigation because it will allow a line to because it will allow a line to be drawn in relation to this matter. i am fully confident that angela rayner has not broken the rules . she will broken the rules. she will cooperate with the investigation as you would expect, and it's really a matter for the police . really a matter for the police. >> defence secretary grant shapps has accused angela rayner of double standards and welcomed the launch of the police investigation . inve

he also said he was not aware lawyers within the aware that lawyers within the royal group conducted royal mail group conducted prosecutions, that prosecutions, and conceded that subpostmasters should not have been treated as thieves . energy been treated as thieves. energy minister graham stuart has announced he's standing down from his cabinet role to focus on local issues. the beverley and holderness mp said he plans to focus on issues such as making roads safer, broadband delivery and increasing the number of defibrillators in his constituency. justin tomlinson now takes on the role of minister for energy, security and net zero, a 23 year old man has denied murdering a good samaritan who died as he tried to help a stranger, 46 year old chris marriott was on a post—christmas walk with his wife and two young children when he stopped to help a woman who was unconscious in the street. he was killed when a car ploughed into a small crowd following a disturbance in the burngreave area of sheffield. hassan janga denied the murder and manslaughter of mr marriott, but pleaded guilty to causing his d

he also said he was not aware lawyers within the aware that lawyers within the royal group conducted royal mail group conducted prosecutions, that prosecutions, and conceded that subpostmasters should not have been treated as thieves . energy been treated as thieves. energy minister graham stuart has announced he's standing down from his cabinet role to focus on local issues. the beverley and holderness mp said he plans to focus on issues such as making roads safer, broadband delivery and increasing the number of defibrillators in his constituency. justin tomlinson now takes on the role of minister for energy, security and net zero, a 23 year old man has denied murdering a good samaritan who died as he tried to help a stranger, 46 year old chris marriott was on a post—christmas walk with his wife and two young children when he stopped to help a woman who was unconscious in the street. he was killed when a car ploughed into a small crowd following a disturbance in the burngreave area of sheffield. hassan janga denied the murder and manslaughter of mr marriott, but pleaded guilty to causing his d

he also said he was not aware that lawyers within the royal mail group conducted prosecutions , and conceded that prosecutions, and conceded that subpostmasters should not have been treated thieves . sir been treated as thieves. sir keir starmer says he's confident angela rayner has not broken any rules after greater manchester police launched an investigation over her tax affairs. it's over the sale of her council house in stockport a decade ago. questions have been asked about whether she paid the right amount of tax and if it was her main home. in a statement, angela rayner said the questions raised relate to a time before she was an mp and she set out her family's circumstances and taken expert tax and legal advice. >> we welcome this investigation because it will allow a line to because it will allow a line to be drawn in relation to this matter. i am fully confident that angela rayner has not broken the rules . she will broken the rules. she will co—operate with the investigation as you would expect , and it's really a matter expect, and it's really a matter for the police . for the po

he also said he was not aware that lawyers within the royal mail group conducted prosecutions and he conceded that subpostmasters shouldn't have been treated as thieves . energy minister shouldn't have been treated as thieves. energy minister graham stuart has announced he's standing down from his cabinet role to focus on local issues . role to focus on local issues. the beverley and holderness mp said he plans to focus on issues like making roads safer, broadband delivery and increasing the number of defibrillators in his constituency . justin tomlinson constituency. justin tomlinson now takes on the role of minister for energy, security and net zero. a 23 year old man has denied murdering a good samaritan who died as he tried to help a stranger, 46 year old chris marriott was on a post—christmas walk with his wife and two young children when he stopped to help a woman who was unconscious in the street. he was killed when a car ploughed into a small crowd following a disturbance in sheffield. hassan guy anker denied murder denied the murder and manslaughter of mr marriott, but plead

but admitted that he couldn't be sure he also said he was not aware that lawyers within the royal mail groupducted prosecutions, and conceded subpostmasters conceded that subpostmasters should been treated as should not have been treated as thieves . energy minister should not have been treated as thieves. energy minister graham stuart has announced he's standing down from his cabinet role to focus on local issues. the beverley and holderness mp said he plans to focus on issues such as making roads safer , such as making roads safer, broadband delivery and increasing the number of defibrillators in his constituency. justin tomlinson now takes on the role of minister for minister for energy, security and net zero, a man who attacked and killed another man with a serrated hunting knife in a cornwall nightclub has been sentenced to life in prison with a minimum of 23 years. jake hill also injured four others in just 20s outside the eclipse nightclub, causing fatal wounds to 32 year old michael radio allen, who intervene to protect others. the judge praised the victim's bravery, calling him a ma

former royal mail group boss adam crozier is one of a handful of seniorfigures due to appear this weeks month by angela van den bogerd, whose role in the post office prosecution of innocent subpostmasters has been heavily criticised. ex—chief executive paula vennells, who was stripped of her cbe earlier this year, will give three days of evidence in may. she will be asked about a draft report uncovered by the bbc, which shows the post office carried on using public money to fund court action, despite knowing its defence was untrue. in fenny compton, where the fightback began, victims told breakfast and the post office minister their battle was still farfrom won. the life is slipping away. i've spent now 37 years in the post office, so it feels like the life has been wasted. it feels like being stabbed in the back for serving the very people, for the very nation on behalf of the government. everybody's going to get through it. and the fact that when i was in hospital, the post office sent their own personal doctors to see if i was actually ill, that's what really hurt the most. the jour

he also said he was not aware that lawyers within the royal mail group conducted prosecutions and hes shouldn't have been treated as

to have other non—executives on post office limited board, and we did have the group it director sitting in the royal mailgs were going up to royal mail holdings board, and there was more challenge available there, a group legal director, a group it director, and whilst they were employees, they were not planned and just post office, so there was a level of independence in the interrogation. and i don't think, i have to say i didn't ask, but i didn't ask as i didn't ask, but i didn't ask as i didn't expect the organisation would want me to be looking for independent and non—execs to go on the post office limited board. let as stand back a bit. horizon records transactions for the post office business? see that again. horizon records transactions for post office business? yes. it for post office business? yes. it provided — for post office business? yes. it provided the _ for post office business? yes. it provided the data _ for post office business? yes. it provided the data from - for post office business? yes it provided the data from which the statutory and management accounts would be compiled? yes. a

adam crozier, the former ceo of royal mail group limited, former director of royal mail holdings.he inquiry a little later. we will, as ben says, bring you the latest here on gb news. >> all right. still to come, prince harry and meghan markle. they've netflix they've had two new netflix shows you shows commissioned. can you guess what they're about? one, is about sports and the other is about something meghan likes to get up to in her spare time. can you guess? this is britain's newsroom stay with . us. >> hello. welcome back. it is 1023. you're with britain's newsroom on gb news. with ben leo and pip tomson. >> welcome. we're joined now by political commentator emma webb and author and broadcaster amy nicole the studio. nicole turner. in the studio. we're going to get stuck into some newspapers and some of the day's newspapers and top shall we start with top stories. shall we start with amy, harry and meghan's new lifestyle and polo shows announced by netflix. what can you tell us? >> well, we have all been waiting with bated breath, haven't we, to see what will they do next? ye

nhs bosses and leading patient groups have expressed their concern about royal mail's plans to cut second—class every other weekday. in a letter to the daily telegraph, nhs providers says nearly two million nhs appointments were missed because people didn't receive their letters — and patient safety could be at risk. earlier, i asked our reporter ben wolvin about the medical concern. well, we know that royal mail finances are under a lot of pressure at the moment for some time. at the moment. for some time, the company has been looking to adapt its business model. in the first half of the last financial year, it posted losses of more than £300 million. these latest proposals announced earlier this week would mean cutting the delivery of second class mail so that second class letters are only delivered on three days a week. the problem is that that second class post includes a large amount of important correspondence from the nhs. this is appointment letters, treatment plans and test results and that has led to this concern from medics. and what has royal mail said in response to these concerns?

nhs bosses and leading groups have nhs bosses and leading patient groups have expressed their concern about royal mail's every other weekday. in a letter to the daily telegraph, nhs providers says nearly 2 million nhs appointments were missed because people didn't receive their letters and patient safety could be at risk. royal mail says it is exploring options for time—sensitive medical letters. the comedian and actor sacha baron cohen and his wife isla fisher have announced they are divorcing after 1a years of marriage. in a social media post announcing the split, the actors said theyjointly filed to end their marriage last year. the pair, who have three children, met in 2001 and married in 2010. stay with us here on bbc news. hello. storm kathleen dominated in recent headlines. it is bringing gale force gusts of wind in the far north—western tapping into warm air. we have seen a gust of wind in excess of 90 on the tops of the cairngorm through the isles of scilly gusts in excess of 60 close to 70. the storm anchored way to the west of the uk. that is allowing the south—westerly wind to push up very w

nhs bosses and leading patient groups have expressed their concern about royal mail's plans to cut second—classviders says nearly two million nhs appointments were missed because people didn't receive their letters and patient safety could be at risk. royal mail says it is exploring options for time—sensitive medical letters. train drivers from five more operators are on strike today, affecting journeys across england, wales and scotland. it is the latest industrial action by members of the aslef union. the dispute is over pay and working conditions and has been deadlocked for months. to slovakia next and voters are at the polls today to choose a new president. the current one, zuzana caputova, decided not to seek re—election after receiving what she said was a torrent of abuse including death threats. two men are bidding for the largely ceremonial but highly influential post — the pro—western former diplomat ivan korcok and peter pellegrini, the candidate of the populist nationalist government. let's speak to our correspondent rob cameron who's in prague in the neighbouring czech republic. can

nhs bosses and leading patient groups have expressed their concern about royal mail's plans to cut second—classto the daily telegraph, nhs providers say nearly two million nhs appointments were missed because people didn't receive their letters and patient safety could be at risk. royal mail say it is exploring options for time—sensitive medical letters. train drivers from five more operators are on strike today, affecting journeys across england, wales and scotland. it's the latest industrial action by members of the aslef union. the dispute is over pay and working conditions and has been deadlocked for months. the body of a construction worker who was killed after last month's baltimore bridge collapse has been recovered. father of two maynor suazo—sandoval from honduras, had been repairing potholes on the bridge when a container ship hit one of its support columns. three other workers are still missing. it comes as the us presidentjoe biden has said he'll move "heaven and earth" to help the city recover from the tragedy. 0ur reporter will vernon has the latest. 11 days after the disaster, th

group that included students. the teaching regulation agency says mr khan engagedin regulation agency says mr khan engaged in serious misconduct and undermined what were described as fundamental british values, and royal mailr to speed up reforms, including cutting back on second class deliveries to just three days a week. the postal service says urgent reforms are needed to cut costs following a major drop in demand, falling from 20 billion letters to 7 billion each year. the plan, set to save £300 million, would also lead to a possible 1000 redundancies. the liberal democrats are among many who have criticised the proposal , warning it would create a postage cost crisis for consumers as a religious charity is warning the scottish government against banning conversion therapy for lgbt people. the christian institute says the proposal is too broad and risks punishing what it calls harmless behaviour . but calls harmless behaviour. but the scottish government has rejected the claim, saying the proposed law would only apply when there's a clear intention to suppress someone's sexuality. a survey found that 7% of lgbt people in scotland have been subjected to or offered conversion therapies . and for conversi

group. he did not feature in the itv drama but he earned £9.7 million in pay and bonuses during his time at a royal mailose letters, if not, why not? that is going to be questions today because at the heart of this are questions about accountability, where does the buck stop? adam crozier was right at the top, albeit at royal mail, and today is a key date in understanding all of that. ., ~ is a key date in understanding all of that. ., ,, , ., is a key date in understanding all of that. ., ,, i. is a key date in understanding all of that. ., ~' ,, . of that. thank you, so much, frances- _ the uk economy grew by 0.1% in february, according to the office for national statistics. the figures were boosted by production and manufacturing, in areas such as the car industry, but the ons said that construction was hit by wet weather. labour leader, sir keir starmer, says the uk's nuclear deterrent is the "bedrock" of his plan to keep britain safe and the party will strengthen uk security and economic growth. our political correspondent, nick eardley is in westminster. explain exactly what this means, nick, good

groups that included some students. the teaching regulation agency says mr khan engagedin regulation agency says mr khan engaged in serious misconduct and undermined what have been described as fundamental british values . royal mail postal regulator to speed up reforms, including cutting back on second class deliveries to just three days a week. the postal service says urgent reforms are needed to cut the costs following a major drop in demand falling from some 20 billion letters a year to 7 billion. the plan, set to save £300 million, would also lead to a possible 1000 job losses. the liberal democrats are among many who've criticised those proposals, and they're warning it would create a postage cost crisis for consumers. it would create a postage cost crisis for consumers . excuse me. crisis for consumers. excuse me. and the king will open balmoral castle to the public this summer, giving curious visitors a rare glimpse inside the royal castle. it's the first time the pubuc castle. it's the first time the public has been allowed inside the original castle since it was purchased by queen victoria and prince albert in 1852. those guided tours will offer a peek inside the ballroom and a look at the king's collect