Transcripts For BBCNEWS BBC News At Five 20180222

A draft resolution. Senior ministers are at the Prime Ministers country residence to try to agree the governments goals in the brexit process. The number of eu citizens leaving the uk is at its highest for a decade, but immigration from countries outside the European Union is rising. Lectures and seminars at dozens of universities across the uk are disrupted because of strike action by lecturers over changes to their pensions. And reaction to that blistering political attack from grime artist stormzy at last nights brit awards. Its five oclock. Our main story is that the head of Americas National Rifle Association has backed President Trumps call to arm teachers trained to carry concealed guns. Wayne lapierre made the remarks following the School Shooting in florida that left 17 people dead. Mr lapierre heavily criticised the advocates of tougher gun control, calling them democratic elites chipping away at constitutional rights. The shooting in parkland, florida, was the second deadliest at a us public school, and its sparked extensive protests by young people in cities across america. Our correspondent Richard Lister has the latest. In florida, calls for a planned control not going away. Crowds in the state capital told the law because they must do something, anything, to combat Mass Shootings. President trump was listening to victims of the school attacked, but also to some of those that came before it. Andrew pollacks daughter was killed last week. It doesnt make sense. It should have been one School Shooting, and we should have fixed it it is my daughter i am not going to see again. She is not here. She is in North Lauderdale at the cemetery will. It doesnt make sense to her skill made either, especially the gunmans access to a semi automatic rifle. I dont understand. I turned 18 d day after. Woke up to the news that my best friend was gone. And i dont understand why i can still goal in a store and buy a weapon of war. The president s promised to press for a stronger background checks, but he is also suggesting this. Discard concealed carry, pretty teacher would have a concealed weapon on them. They would go for special training, and they would be there and you would longer have a gun free zone. It is an idc has been tweeting about today, saying. Music to the ears of the influential National Rifle association, his leader seems infuriated by the sergeants of gun control advocates. Its not a safety issue, its a political issue. They care more about control and more of it. Their goal is to eliminate the second amendment, and i fire goal is to eliminate the second amendment, and ifire rams of freedoms so they can eradicate all individual freedoms. At the same event, the Vice President said the white house was looking at my regulation of guns, and the mentally ill. I can assure you all of this, President Trump and our entire administration will continue to take strong action to make our schools save, and to give Law Enforcement and our families details to the need to deal with those struggling with dangerous mental illness. But the prime focus for these protesters is guns, innate country which has more Mass Shootings than any other, these stu d e nts Mass Shootings than any other, these students are trying to create a momentum for change. Estimate suggests it will be an uphill struggle. Our correspondent gary odonghue is in maryland where the head of the National Rifle association has been speaking. Can be put to some of todays very powerful contributions in context. Where is this debate is now developing . It is interesting, because there is a pattern to these things which means that the National Rifle Association Goes very quiet after big shooting events, keeps its head down, doesnt say anything. And that has been repeated this time around. The difference this time is that this story has not gone away. Normally, after a week, and i was in las vegas, after about a week it went away. The difference is this the young people involved in that school, their parents and teachers are not letting it go away, and that is why use such an impassioned defence of their possession from the nra here today. Repeating that man the always come outwith, that it ta kes a the always come outwith, that it takes a good guy with a gun to stop a bad guy with a gun. Doubling down on the message from the president this morning, the biggest savage sickos taking out School Children is to arm teachers. That is not something that has gone down particularly well with the teaching unions, with the parents are stu d e nts unions, with the parents are students visiting the white house yesterday. They kind of audience that that message was aimed at. When you had some of the contributions made at the white house, clearly from people who had suffered terrible loss, but really not in that kind of area at all in terms of a response. No. Many of them were talking about things like raising the age when you can buy a gun. One parent said, i is it my son can go into a store and buy an ar 15 rifle but he cannot go and buy a beer . But did talk of raising the age, that is not something the nra are going to accept. They are certainly not going to accept any control on the sale of assault rifles are generally, and beer in mind we are in an election year, the mid term elections, and every single congressmen has to run for election every two years, and many, many, many of them take contributions from the nra, and that counts. The dollar skank in this one, and they have a very powerful buyers, and if they dont like something, there is a good chance it can stop it happening. With all in that in mind, do you detect any signs that Public Opinion is shifting in any considerable way . Public opinion is interesting, because a kind of depends on the question you asked. Generally, other than 60 of americans believe that should be taken gun controls. You wouldnt notice that from the debate wiki, which is incredibly polarised, but there is some momentum and this occasion for things like improving the very disturbed germane to be checked against before you are allowed to buy a gun. That is, and 8 cents, only enforcing the law that excess, and the inevitable backless there is also the lot about mentally incompetent people, was the phrase, making sure they do not get guns. That should already be happening anyway. The Real Movement and the fa ct anyway. The Real Movement and the fact that there are more guns in america than there are people. I dont think it is going to be any change in that position any time 0011. Change in that position any time soon. Many thanks again. Some breaking news. Justin forsyth has tendered his resignation as Deputy Director of director of unicef. He has faced allegations of Inappropriate Conduct for which he has apologised, and he has now resigned from unicef. A Diplomatic Correspondent has been watching the story for us all along. What more can be said . Justin forsyth is a very seniorfigures can be said . Justin forsyth is a very senior figures within the aid agency world. He is a former danny street adviser. He had a big job as chief executive of save the children. He is a very senior figure at unison, from which he has now resigned. He faced allegations, complaints from women for an appropriate behaviour when he was at save the children five years ago. He apologised for those, thought that was close, but these claims and allegations and things for which he has apologised him back into the public domain. And since then, there has been intense media pressure. Since that story broke earlier in the week, he has been under a huge amount of pressure, and he has resigned. Crucially, he is saying he is not resigning because of the m ista kes is not resigning because of the mistakes he made working for save the children will stop he said this to be very clear. I am not resigning because of the mistakes, they were dealt with in the probably at the time, andi dealt with in the probably at the time, and i apologise for them. He said he is resigning because he thinks there is a danger to unicef and save the children. He says there is no doubt in my mind that some of the cabbage advent meat is notjust write late to hold me to act account, but also an intent to do serious damage to our cause and the case for it, so i am resigning because of the danger of damaging both unicef and save the children. In terms of that, clearly he has been under enormous pressure. Any thoughts on the way that unicef has responded to this pressure, and what their attitude may be . Unicef said that it was very clear they did not know about these alggatens,. ,. ,. That it was very clear they did not know about these alegaheafrz so know about these allegations, so there is clearly a . But the also made it very clear that they are talking both to mr forsyth and save the children to find at what is going on, and then they had a phrase that said they will take the appropriate action. They were never precise about what that would mean, but they were clearly taking it very, very seriously. Thank you very much. The United Nations special envoy to syria has warned of a massacre in the besieged enclave of ghouta, on the outskirts of damascus. The Un Security Council is due to meet right now and will vote on a resolution later this evening, calling for a 30 day ceasefire so that humanitarian aid can be delivered. Syrian Government Forces are continuing their intense bombardment of the rebel enclave of Eastern Ghouta for a fifth day. The un have described the enclave as hell on earth, and in the past few days hundreds of civilians, including many children, have been killed there. A warning, this report from paul adams does include some distressing images. A massacre, hell on earth, a monstrous campaign of annihilation. Knead. R refinefee es. Rs,,ls ,,tre. World i running out of to 4m is happening in describe what is happening in Eastern Ghouta. But the bombs are still falling, and the toll is gentle. And medicalfacilities are not being spared. This Childrens Hospital novak. Translation the Clinical Care unit is out. The surgery Clinical Care unit is out. The surgery is at. The incubator is out. The paediatric is out. All the departments at the hospital are com pletely departments at the hospital are completely out of service. The destruction is total. Ago. The situation was years ago. The situation was intolerable well before the terrible week. Translation these are hopeless cases. There is nothing be can do to save them. These victims have suffered severe head and brain injuries. Theres one has stopped breathing. I am injuries. Theres one has stopped breathing. Iam buoyed injuries. Theres one has stopped breathing. I am buoyed about this bys breathing too. Both of them need intensive care, but we cannot operate, because the bombing is the deadness. Where are the arabs . Where are the muslims . Do we have to appeal to israel instead to help us . Shame on you. This isjust a little boy. By eddie doing this . I dont know what to do. Why are you doing this . Can any of this beast to diplomacy . The un wants it ceasefire. Its envoy does not sound optimistic. I hope it will, but it is upheld, but i hope it will. And if there isnt one . Then we will have to push for it as soon as possible, because there is no alternative but bc s fire and humanitarian access. Russia says the real blame lies with terrorists firing out of ghouta into the capital. Jihadi fighters including some connected with alqaeda have been active in the area since the siege began. This, for president assad, is about securing damascus. There is no immediate sign of it stopping. Some breaking news. This is news from the payment of 21 year old 21 month old baby that the doctor said they got they could stop treatment for alfie. The parents reacted very strongly, as one can understand, and the pa rents as one can understand, and the parents have as one can understand, and the pa rents have now as one can understand, and the parents have now said that they will launch an appeal in london on thursday the 1st of march, so that is next week, a week today, and they will launch an appeal against that high court ruling. Any more of that, andi high court ruling. Any more of that, and i will bring it to you. This is bbc news at five. The headlines in the wake of last weeks florida shooting, the chief of americas all powerful National Rifle associationbacks the president s call for Armed Security at schools across the united states. The Un Security Council is meeting disease us discuss a draft resolution as the intense bombardment of Eastern Ghouta continues 45th day. Mr forsyth has resigned from unicef saying he does not want to damage unicef are save the children. The silver medallist from four years ago lost 9 5 to switzerland in their play off match. Closer to home, Nathan Hughes will start at number eight for england this weekend. He replaces sam simmonds. And can celtic make it to the last 16 of the Europa League for the last 16 of the Europa League for the first time in 1a years . They face zenit Saint Petersburg in under an hours time. I will be back with more on older studies at 5 30pm. The latest immigration figures show the number of eu citizens leaving the uk is at its highest level for a decade. The office for National Statistics estimates that 130,000 eu nationals left in the 12 months to last september. Overall, net migration into the uk was 2a4,000, a fall of 29,000 net arrivals. Its the second set of figures since britain voted to leave the eu injune 2016. Earlier, we spoke to the immigration minister caroline nokes, who said that although the number is falling, more people were coming in to take up more people were coming in to take up thejob more people were coming in to take up the job offers. What we can see particularly from the eu nationals that are coming here, is that more are coming with a job to come to that are coming looking for work, andi that are coming looking for work, and i think that is a significant proportion. They are coming here already written employment prospects are ready arrange for them. I think it is really important that we demonstrate that the uk is open for business and wants to attract people to come and work and study here. To help us make sense of these figures im joined by the bbcs head of statistics robert cuffe. Tell us about the basic shape of these figures. Lets take a look at these figures. Lets take a look at the graph. As you said, in the year ending september, we startjust under a quarter of a Million People coming into the uk than left, and it isa coming into the uk than left, and it is a deep freeze of about 20 9000. Those little blurbs from year to year, i wouldnt pay too much attention to. It is more important to look at the long term trend. An 2012, we saw a big increase, although we opted 2016, when we saw the highest migration into the uk. Since the bricks if, it has fallen all the way back down. Those are the longer term trends. Sometimes when these figures come out, people question the accuracy of them. It is important to remember the ad based ona important to remember the ad based on a survey. If your early for a fight going through heathrow, and somebody grabs you, and it is like an opinion poll. From that, the estimate how many people in total are coming into the uk. There is a margin of error, and we will see that. It is about plus or 40,000. And that is why i say small changes dont make much difference. One thing you can take from this that government target of net migration below 100,000, novak near it. |j mentioned in the introduction we we re mentioned in the introduction we were talking about patterns from within the eu, and it is a question about what happens for people who comes from outside the eu. Lets talk about inside first. In the evening, and the eu, we are seeing a continuation of the decline. The last resort but vastly different by immigration and from the eu, and the top we are seeing is from outside. It is the largest number of people leaving the uk into the eu in about ten years, but it is important to state that the balance is still in favour of in. We are talking about 100,000 eu migrants over the course of last year. When the state net migration is down, were talking about even more the year before. It is slowing down, but it is not, backwards. And the contrast with outside . That is about 40,000 over the last few years. It is harder to build a bigger picture, because the long term trend is not as clear. That entries of 40,000, they think it was because they were not capturing people from outside the eu who were coming to study. Interesting. Thank you very much indeed. A United Nations correspondent is at the headquarters, because we were discussing the crisis in country mac and Eastern Ghouta. Lets find out what is going on. Bring us right up to date. There was a whole that they would be a draft resolution voted on that would bring about a 30 day ceasefire across country mac, but the russians are blocking that at the russians are blocking that at the moment, so things are up in the air. What is going on right now is that schools a meeting called by the russians to discuss the situation. The western diplomats are viewing that a delaying tactic. It is to keep them talking but not take any action, and given that this early in regime more time to continue its offensive in Eastern Ghouta. Once again, the United Nations is being made to look chronic and britain because of the threat of a russian veto. They are saying they will block, at the moment, there is an attempt to bring about a ceasefire in country mac. Attempt to bring about a ceasefire in countrymac. Thank you. University lecturers across the uk are beginning a series of strikes in protest at planned changes to their Pension Scheme, which they say will leave them worse off in retirement. Our correspondent tomos morgan has sent this report from cardiff, where hundreds of University Staff are taking action. No ifs, no buts, no pension cuts. Picket lines, rallies, protests, the scene the same at universities across the country. Staff walking out in a dispute over pensions. Institutions say theres a £6. 1 billion deficit in the current scheme, which is unsustainable. They say changes must be made. But after 35 meetings over the past year, the university and College Union says the strikes were inevitable as the proposed new scheme would be far less generous. We are saying changes to the scheme should be fair. We are in the scheme which both the staff and employers are committed to. The employers have now, as it were, junked that approach and are going for something where the staff are being shoved aside. With lectures being affected by the strikes theres a danger that student degrees will be impacted. There are suggestions exams may have to be modified or marking relaxed. The thousands of students that have come out today to protest across the country are doing so alongside their lecturers. Their frustration is aimed at their institutions. They are seen as consumers in the eyes of regulators and the courts, and if this deadlock continues students believe they deserve some compensation from universities for their loss of teaching time. Students across the country have begun petitions, calling for universities to recognise that they are not receiving a service paid for by their tuition fees. The petition here in cardiff has already had almost 5,000 signatures. A lot of petitions are focused on financial compensation, whether its £300 here or £800 there. But we believe academic compensation is much more beneficial. We dont believe in the long run financial compensation will benefit students, and believe changes to exam feedback or essay deadlines benefits students much more. Hence we believe educational compensation is much better. The union says senior lecturers could be £10,000 a year worse off under the proposed new scheme. Universities uk, the body that represents institutions, says that they are making every effort to minimise the impact of industrial action on students, adding the changes proposed will make the Pension Scheme secure and sustainable, safeguarding the future of universities. Currently, 14 days of protests are planned. But unless a deal can be reached soon, unions say more strike action stretching into the summer exam period is inevitable. Tomos morgan, bbc news, cardiff. Lets talk to angus groom, a second year economics student at cambridge university, who is a member of the University Conservative association. Cani can i ask you what you think of the action, and do you have any sympathy with the lecherous revealed they have no option other than to take it . I do have sympathy with the lectured and in fact people in many professions across the country who are disgruntled by changing pension situation. But i believe, that the solution is not striking, but it is getting around the negotiation table. One smc have done because the negotiations have not got anywhere. I think that is probably reasonable, but for them to get anywhere at what we need is some sort of credibility for the unions, and we have seen recently that the way they have done this straight is a way that it is damaging as possible to students, and they have made completely disproportionate sets to cancel its and is. The union is going to lose credibility, and that will not help us. They think the union has set up deliberated damages students . think the way they have put these strikes into practice is an array thatis strikes into practice is an array that is more damaging to students. We had just a second ago some insane that what students want is academic not financial compensation. What we have had from the universities is that lecturers should actively not cover material that is missed during the strike. That is lecturers working against the interests of students. We have lecturers taking pa rt students. We have lecturers taking part in action that is organised by the unions, so do you not think it isa the unions, so do you not think it is a slightly forced extinction . think we have got to remember, and what the universities and colleges would like us got to remember, is that not all lecturers are part of the union. I am an economist, and all of my lecturers are still giving lectures, and i think some students unions such as cambridge to be telling students at all lecturers support the strike, and that all stu d e nts support the strike, and that all students should get behind this site are forgetting that there are many lecturers who want to continue to teach, and i think we should let them continue and not make it difficult for them. If you thought every effort was being made to avoid sites, would you then think that was acceptable . I think we would need to have a much more balanced possessing coming out from the universities and colleges. We need them to not make the disproportionate threats of strike action, and we need to see more negotiation happening, not threatening to cancel final exams. An awards of the universities minister, we need sides to get back around the negotiating table so that people can get back to learning and teaching as as soon as possible. Good to talk to you. Thank you for joining us today. And stay with us here on the bbc news channel. Shortly after 5. 30pm ill be speaking to sally hunt, the leader of the University Lecturers union the ucu, who will be live in our brighton studio. Ina in a moment people have the headlines and udays sport, but in the meantime, lets catch up with the meantime, lets catch up with the weather. She then we have been talking about this big freeze arriving and that will certainly be taking place. It will certainly be taking place. It will get colder over the next few days. To have freezing here from siberia across Northern Europe but in the meantime High Pressure dominates. Largely dry tonight, clear skies. It will be very cold, a widespread frost. We start tomorrow morning of cold and frosty but it should be great for many others. Good spells of sunshine, scotla nd others. Good spells of sunshine, scotland and parts of england and wales. Into the weekend, increasing amounts of sunshine, temperatures will continue to bring this cold air in. A chilly day to come on saturday. Even called on sunday but sunny. Colder. This is bbc news the headlines. The head of americas gun lobby the National Rifle Association Backs President Trumps calls for armed staff in us schools to help put an end to School Shootings in america. The Un Security Council meets to consider a draft resolution for a ceasefire in syria as Government Forces continue their intense bombardment of Eastern Ghouta for a 5th day. Former save the children chief executivejustin forsyth resigns from unicef saying he doesnt want to damage charities. He faced three complaints of inappropriate behaviour from female staff. Crucial brexit talks are getting underway at chequers where some senior ministers are at the Prime Ministers country residence to try to agree on the governments approach to its future relationship with the eu. Meanwhile the number of European Union citizens leaving the uk is at its highest level for a decade. Around 130,000 people left last year which is thought to be partly due of brexit. Lets get the sport news with holly hamilton. Hello there. Theres Europa League action tonight, as arsenal take a first leg 3 0 nill lead to sweden where they meet ostersunds fk. But first up, its celtic who kick off in russia in about half an hours time they have a slender 1 0 lead over zenit st petersburg. Chris maclaughlin is there. It is 21 it is 21 degrees here in st petersburg, absolutely stunning but absolutely freezing. The hermitage behind me, the Winter Palace isjust over here and he had a man who never feel of gold, pat bonner. It is a beautiful city, can celtic do it tonight . I think they can but they will need a performance. It played exceptionally well at celtic park, every Single Player and they will have to do that again. I expect Roberto Mancini to change the team a little bit, the temple will be up. The fullbacks will engage and celtic may have to change their shape a little bit. But if they played we be played celtic park, celtic can do it. Well celtic change our tactics . Be played at diamonds and used the middle of the pitch very well. They may have to change a little bit to not risk exposure in wider areas. Brendan is a tactical magician at times, he comes up at the right formations at the right times. He did that at celtic park and he will have to do that tonight. He will be interested in how they will set up because they are away from home. Thank you very much indeed. As i mentioned, it is cold but it will be warmer inside the stadium as it has a roof. Bbc radio scotland has the earlier kick off covered. Thank you very much. British gymnasts have sacked the mens head coach following allegations of misconduct. Eddie van hoof guided the british mens team to five gold medals at the rio olympics and was named 2016 coach of the year. He was suspended last november after an investigation was launched into his behaviour, and british gymnastis is citing irecconcilable differences for todays decision. The Winter Olympics next, and team gbs men couldnt match the women by reaching the semi finals of the curling competition. They had one last chance to make it a play off against switzerland but they were beaten 9 5 despite being ahead with just 2 ends to play. However the swiss did something you dont see too often, scoring five points in the penultimate end to advance. Its disappointment for team gb who took a silver medal in the event some positive news for skier dave ryding though he finished ninth in the mens slalom and vowed to come back and challenge for a medal in beijing in 4 years time. Ryding believes he can return to do the same as todays gold medallist. Eddiejones has made one change to his starting xv for the six nations meeting with scotland at murrayfield on saturday. Number 8 Nathan Hughes makes his first appearance in this years competition, replacing the injured sam simmonds in the back row. Propjoe marler comes in on the bench having missed the opening two wins with suspension. Injuries meanjoe schmidts had to make five changes from the ireland side that beat italy during their last six nations outing. No tadhg furlong or Iain Henderson but Andrew Porter will make his first six nations start while james ryans been drafted in have contributed tojoe schmidts selection ahead of saturdays natwest six nations clash against wales, with five changes in personnel from the victory over italy last time out. That is always spot for now, you can find the latest on our sports website. We will have more on sports day at 6 30pm. Thank you very much. At the moment, theresa may is meeting with Foreign Ministers at chequers. A senior mp has warned that holding back the withdrawal will cost the uk billions of pounds. The Prime Minister leaving downing street and heading 40 miles north. Cabinet ministers began arriving after lunchtime to the official country residence of british Prime Minister since 1921. This is chequers in the buckinghamshire countryside, hosting the meeting of the most seniorfigures involved in making breaks it happened. A chance for them to work out what they see our long term relationship with the eu looking like. Questions to the secretary of state for international trade. Back at westminster, brexit dominates everything. Liam fox face questions this morning as did the Prime Ministers a deputy who tried to talk things down. This is one meeting of a whole number of meetings of cabinet ministers to talk through how we approach the oncoming negotiations. Obviously everybody brings departmental interests to the table but if you look what happens before the december european summit, there was a lot of speculation that the cabinet would not reach agreement. We all reached agreement at the position of Prime Minister took at brussels. All of us in cabinet are determined to get the best possible dealfor the uk. Determined to get the best possible deal for the uk. There are continuing rise here that westminster at the length of the transition period. Crucially, there are differences around the cabinet table about the long term relationship with the eu after brexit. Those differences will not melt away easily and the Prime Minister has to keep brexiteer backbenchers onside. The brexit cabin all for the last general election on leaving the European Union and that is what theyre talking about, how we do that the Prime Minister announced that at the dispatch box yesterday, taking back control of our laws and our money, leaving the Single Market and the customs union. Labour has faced criticism about a lack of clarity about what it wants but it is no saying. A key issue for us is to say to the government, you have to have a transition period, these two yea rs we ca n have a transition period, these two years we can see in the Single Market but also for the long term, we could remain in the customs union. We think europe would be up for that. Spectacular views today but do not expect spectacular political theatre. The prospect of negotiating brexit at home and abroad is a slow and grinding one. Let us go live now to chequers and alex forsyth is their followers. Lots of comings and goings but what is your sense of the way this evening is likely to pan out . The senior ministers have been gathered here from two oclock. So far down that road to thrash out the detail about that future relationship. It is unlikely we will get any new detail about what the uk wants to achieve in terms of its trade relationship with europe. We may get principles that senior ministers have agreed upon. They are trying to reach an agreed position to mark the start point of negotiations. Then there has to be talks in brussels about whether that is achievable. There are fundamental difference of opinion. It boils down to how closely aligned britain should remain with the eu rules and regulations in the long term, whether that there is a trade off to be gained between the uk regaining sovereignty and maintaining access to eu markets. It is that kind of detail we expect them to talk about today. We expect more detail from the Prime Minister next week, setting out her vision is the compromise here, that will have to be agreed by parliament and mps and with 27 eu member countries as well. Todayis with 27 eu member countries as well. Today is important but only another step in this protracted process. Thank you very much for the latest there. The debate over gun control in the us is intensifying this evening. President trump began his day by attempting to clarify comments he made last night about the arming of School Teachers tweeting that he had never said he wanted to give guns to teachers. Mr trump did say teachers with Firearms Training could have concealed weapons in the classroom and said the National Rifle association were Great American patriots. The nra has been supporting the president s comments today and the head of the nra has been backing the call and the Vice President has just been speaking at the conservative Political Action conference in maryland. He said he would be working with the president trying to make schools and children safer. Later this week when he meets with our representatives in washington, he will make the safety of our nations schools and our students our top national priority. I can assure you all of this. President trump and our entire administration will continue take strong action to make our schools safe and to give Law Enforcement and families the tools they need to deal with those struggling with dangerous mental illness. That was the american Vice President speaking. We can now speak to anna fusco, a Florida Elementary School teacher and president of the Teachers Union in broward thats the county where last weeks School Shooting took place. She joins us live from Fort Lauderdale in florida. Thank you forjoining us. I know you have a busy day, what do you make of the president s latest remarks on arms and teachers in schools and concealed weapons . The comment is just ludicrous. It is nothing that we ever thought we would hear, especially our president to lay claim that teachers that are loving and nurturing educators should become armed gunman and gun when in defend our students. That is not we wa nt to defend our students. That is not we want to do. Gun woman to defend. We sought when and we saw people being very emotional yesterday, do you detect that the Political Climate is changing at all . The Political Climate is changing extremely well here, especially with their Young Students across our cou nty their Young Students across our county and our state. And across our country. They are standing up and speaking out, taking action. We want change. The change they want is not having their teachers armed with guns to be their protectors. We are already First Responders by being shocked and killed and shielding our stu d e nts shocked and killed and shielding our students but it is not the role we wa nt to students but it is not the role we want to play to be the protectors of our students for armed gunman coming into our schools. We stand strongly that that is not what we want and not what we will do. We have had the nra speaking in the strongest terms saying they will not put up with anything they consider to be chipping away at constitutional rights. With that Political Force against you, what hopes to you have you will actually achieve some kind of meaningful change . Nobody wants to chip away from amendment rights. Nobody wants to chip away from the nra to produce guns and give it all to people who are credentialled and Armed Service meant but we do not wa nt Armed Service meant but we do not want those types of guns. The er of 15, that is no purpose for that gun, it is not used for hunting. It was created from the vietnam war to kill in warand take created from the vietnam war to kill in war and take out a mass of people ina warsetting. In war and take out a mass of people in a war setting. We have people walking into schools and killing our stu d e nts walking into schools and killing our students and our colleagues, our custodians and our coaches unnecessarily. If he had walked in with the regular handgun, he might have killed someone or done damage but he would not have taken out 17 people in less than three minutes. We have seen and heard the president listening to what people have to say, yes he made the remark you have already responded to but i wonder if you think he has the political room for manoeuvre to do something that you would like him to do . He absolutely has the political room to do that. Does he walk around the white house with a gun . Does he armed himself to protect . No, he has hired and trained licensed officers to do that which is what our country has. Do i feel that our Current School should have armed officers . I wish we did not. When i went to school 30 years ago i did not have a school 30 years ago i did not have a School Officer Walking Around with their guns. Society has changed because the guns have changed and u nfortu nately because the guns have changed and unfortunately our social and emotional behaviours have changed for many reasons. I am not a psychologist, i do not want to get into that but i have been a teacher for over 25 years. We have seen the Society Change in so many ways and social media plays a large part of this but we should not be told that we are going to go to special training to be armed to learn how to ta ke training to be armed to learn how to take out somebody who walks through our doors. It isjust take out somebody who walks through our doors. It is just not going to happen. We are trained to write lesson plans and understand the needs of students. We are trained to teach, we do not want to get trained to arm ourselves to protect our students. If the common person wants to be trained on shooting a gun and getting their credentials to carry a concealed weapon, that is great but they do not belong on school grounds. Very good to talk to you, thank you forjoining us today. Thank you as well. That was a teacher at a floor routine school. Florida school. More now on one of our top stories today. Thousands of University Lecturers across the uk are beginning a series of strikes in protest at planned changes to their Pension Scheme which they say will leave them worse off in retirement. We spoke to a student a short time ago who was very alan outspoken so dot mac lets talk to the leader of the university and College Union sally hunt. Shes in our brighton studio. The student said they were damaging the student said they were damaging the prospect of students, what do you see to that . I think you need to look carefully at what has led to this disappointing day. For many months we have been trying to find an agreed solution to the pensions issue that is dividing us and our employers. The employers have refused to move from the position need to write at the beginning of the talks which was to see they would destroy all benefits within the scheme, in other words the part that our partners were knowing they could rely on in their old age. We told them very angry about this and be balloted our members. That was before christmas. They knew we were doing this and had time to change their minds. In january doing this and had time to change their minds. Injanuary we had the outcome of the ballot and met with the employers again. They had time to change their minds and refused. They have refused to refused to listen to their staff and diane sawyer, genuinely sorry for many students, but that what led to this action today. Hundreds of students who are affected by it and i am afraid there are another 13 days of strike action plans which will take place unless we get changes. There are questions about the affordability of Pension Schemes in the Public Sector other changes have gone through, do you accept that the kind of Pension Scheme people have traditionally enjoyed is no longer affordable . I do not accept that what we have in place for them our members is not affordable. We know we have a scheme that had more money going into it than is going out. We have more members peeing into it than those who are retired. It had a successful Investment Strategy and we know the resume for us to find an agreed solution. We already have a sheer dress and a 50 50 system. 50 on the stock market and 50 defined benefit. Have cashiered risk. I make no apology people are standing up make no apology people are standing up to protect their old age, i think they are right to do it and i hope people understand why. The point is who is being damaged in the process, clearly students view this action is unwarranted, at least at this stage, so what would you say to them . would say that what we need is to get back to a negotiation. Even today we have been in touch with vikas and said we are willing to sit down and talk and sort this out. With acas. Alongside the minister and the opposition, we believe we need to resolve this over a table but it takes to mike to do that. All i hearfrom but it takes to mike to do that. All i hear from the employers is that they have the same position as months ago. They are willing to discuss that same position but they will not change it. That is not how you sort out industrial relations and it is not the way we get our students back into the classrooms where they deserve to be. Thank you for talking to us. Thank you for joining us. Sally hunt who is at brighton. Britains Biggest Energy supplier centrica says its cutting 4 thousand jobs over the next couple of years. It follows a big drop in profits down by 17 per cent last year. The group which owns british gas has blamed its performance in north america as well in the uk. Our Business Correspondent emma simpson reports. Its been a disappointing yearfor britains Biggest Energy supplier. Today, the hard numbers. Centricas Group Profits down 17 to £1. 25 billion. It also lost 1. 4 million british gas customer accounts and more cost cutting is on the way, with 4000 jobs to go. And those cuts, the boss told me, are partly down to the governments looming price cap on bills. Its about competition and what customers are wanting, but theres a third reason. There is a link between our Cost Efficiency Programme and preparing for any price cap in the uk. Weve got to be competitive and this measure means that weve got to drive more efficiency. The posts will go over the next three years, mainly in its uk residential business. Its only a couple of years ago that i was talking to the chief executive around 5500 job losses and that being the necessary action required, and now here we are again with a further 4000 job cuts being announced. Its very, very concerning. The government says britains Energy Market isnt working. Customers are being overcharged. Thats why it wants to cap the most Expensive Energy bills. A move which could put another squeeze on centricas profits, so are price rises on the cards . I cant make any guarantees other than we watch the input costs closely and we are trying to make our energy as competitive as possible. From Government Intervention to increasing competition, the whole industry is in the midst of change, but will it come at a price, and for whom . Emma simpson, bbc news. Downing street has insisted theresa may is absolutely committed to supporting people affected by the Grenfell Tower tragedy after she was criticised by grime artist stormzy at the brit awards last night. During his performance hed demanded to know where the money for grenfell had gone. Stormzy came away with two awards, beating ed sheeran to win best british male artist and best british album. Our entertainment correspondent lizo mzimba reports. Yo, theresa may, wheres the money for grenfell . What, you thought we just forgot about grenfell . a powerful, political performance from grime star stormzy. He won best male and best album for gang signs prayer. Gang signs prayer, this was the hardest thing that ive never worked on Something Like this in my life. Everything i put in that album, i didnt have anything left after. You can ask fraser, we went in there, we made something that i feel like is undeniable, i can stand by it today. Gang signs prayer, album of the year, i love you guys. Thank you so much, man, thank you. One, dont pick up the phone. You know hes only calling cause hes drunk and alone. Two, dont let him in. Two awards, too, for 22 year old dua lipa. She won breakthrough artist and best female. She paid tribute to the many women in music whod influenced her. I want to thank every single female that has been on this stage before me, that has given girls like me, not just girls in the music industry, but girls in society, a place to be inspired by, to look up to, and that have allowed us to dream this big. There was a politically charged winners speech clearly referencing brexit from blur star damon albarn, whose band gorillaz won best british group. This country is, believe it or not, quite a small little thing, right . But its full of. Its a lovely place. What i want to say is, dont let it become isolated. Im only human, i do what i can. Ragnbone man won best single for his hit, human. Ed sheeran received the global success award. And there was a special tribute from liam gallagher, commemorating last months Manchester Arena bombing. Maybe i dont really wanna know how your garden grows. Lizo mzimba, bbc news. An update about the United Nations in new york, the session is ongoing. We are being told the russians are saying there is no agreement in the Security Council session on the resolution proposing a humanitarian ceasefire in syria. We are talking about the intensive bombardment of Eastern Ghouta. The russians are saying there is no resolution. More on that shortly. More on that shortly. Time for a look at the weather. Heres stav da naos. This long awaited cold snap is on its way. The source of this cold air is coming from siberia, travelling from russia and in too much of Northern Europe. These temperatures will continue to fall during the weekend and into next week. It looks like the clouds or clear away, clear skies and cold air is the recipe for a really cold night to come. A hard frost down to minus four or minus four. I really cold start to friday but it will be crisp and bright, good spells of sunshine stop there will be patches of cloud. Elsewhere, good sunny spells. Temperatures ranging from four to six celsius. Signs of the cloud melting away at weekends. Lots of sunshine throughout saturday but it will be cold and turning colder on sunday. Hell on earth the death toll rises again near syrias capital as Government Forces continue bombing civilians in rebel held areas. Around 400 have been killed in just five days and hundreds of thousands remain trapped. Translation shame on you. This is just a little boy who wants freedom. Why are you doing this . I dont know what to do. The United Nations Security Council is meeting tonight to try to bring about a ceasefire to get aid to those who need it. Also on the Programme Senior ministers gather at the Prime Ministers country residence to try to iron out the governments strategy on brexit. 4,000 jobs are to go at centrica britains Biggest Energy supplier it says political interference is partly to blame. Lecturers walk out at universities across the uk in protest