Transcripts For BBCNEWS BBC News At One 20180226

Will protect 11 million households from rip off bills by next winter. Iamat i am at Heathrow Airport, terminal 5, where britains Winter Olympics team, the most successful ever, will return home in around one hour. And coming up in sport on bbc news former british and irish lions number eight Jamie Heaslip has announced his retirement from rugby after an illustrious career for club and country. Good afternoon and welcome to the bbc news at one. Jeremy corbyn has confirmed that a Labour Government would support a Customs Union with the eu after brexit. Speaking at an event in the midlands, mr corbyn said he wanted to put peoples jobs and Living Standards before ideologicalfantasies. A new Customs Union, he said, would ensure no Tariff Barriers with the eu, and no hard border in ireland. The shift in policy could lead to labour siding with tory rebel mps to defeat the Prime Minister on her brexit strategy. Downing street responded by saying the uk would not bejoining a Customs Union after brexit. Our political correspondent, chris mason, reports from westminster. Monday morning in coventry. Jeremy corbyn has come here to talk brexit and spell out how his outlook is different from the governments. The leader of the labour party, Jeremy Corbyn. The backdrop, at the university, the next generation of cars. A good example of an industry, he said, reliant on european co operation. A mini will cross the Channel Three times in a 2,000 milejourney. Before the finished car rolls off the production mine. Starting in oxford, it will be shipped to france to be fitted for key components. Before being brought back the bmws plant in warwickshire where it is drilled and milled into shape. Once that process is complete, the mini will be sent to munich to be fitted with its engine, before ending its journey back at the mini plant in oxon forfinal journey back at the mini plant in oxon for final assembly. If that car is to be sold on the continent, many of its components will have crossed the channel four times. The sheer complexity of these issues demands that we are practical and serious about this next stage. And so, he said. Labour would see to negotiate a new, comprehensive uk eu Customs Union to ensure there are no tariffs with europe and to help avoid any need whatsoever for a hard border in northern ireland. Asa border in northern ireland. As a member of the eu, we are in the Customs Union and the idea is pretty simple. A single set of tariffs, taxes imposed on goods imported from outside the eu, goods can then move freely without tariffs around the block, but members cannot do their own trade skills. The eu also has a Single Market that allows capital, services and people to move freely around member states. The government states we will leave the Customs Union and the Single Market after exit. Back at westminster, whatJeremy Corbyn are saying about a Customs Union matters because there may be a majority of mps in the commons who broadly agree with his outlook and that could eventually force the government to change its position. So theyre part dutch for their part, the government repeats it does not want to be in a Customs Union after brexit and downing street has confirmed the premise to will hold a special Cabinet Meeting on thursday ahead of her big brexit speech on friday. And theresa mays ministers have repeated by think mr corbyns outlook on a Customs Union is a mistake. If we are in a Customs Union, we have to be rule take is, we cannot negotiate trade deals with the rest of the world and these things we absolutely have said we need to rule that if we are going to deliver a smart brexit. I find need to rule that if we are going to deliver a smart brexit. Ifind it fascinating to see the labour partys hokey cookie on brexit, we are in, out, shake it all about. Some within labour fear it would not amount toa some within labour fear it would not amount to a proper brexit or be achievable. There is no way that it could be delivered. And i wish he could be delivered. And i wish he could deliver it. It would be fantastic. But he knows what they are like in brussels. It is a reminder that both our biggest Political Parties are guaranteed to alienate some as they choose the type of brexit they want. But there is now clear blue water between labours instincts and the governments. Our assistant political editor, norman smith, is in coventry. Picking up on what was said. I think were having a problem. Im about that. I am sorry. Four people are now known to have died in a large explosion in leicester last night, which destroyed a building in the middle of a parade of shops. Six other people were taken to hospital. One is said to be in a serious condition. This report, from sima kotecha, does contain pictures of the explosion. Today, large plumes of smoke billowing into the sky. Last night, just after seven, an explosion. I felt a tremendous shock through the house. It felt like it was going to bring the ceiling down. Well, ijust rang the police, 999, and they asked me which service i want. I said, everything you can send. Flames shot up into the air, around seven metres high, towering over the surrounding buildings. Police were quick to declare it a major incident. A shop, and the flat above it, were destroyed. Debris was strewn across nearby roads. Six fire engines were deployed, along with several sea rch and rescue teams. 60 homes were evacuated. Its been cold weather. Weve had to turn off the electricity to houses in the area, so people have had to be moved out on occasion. And obviously, the fire crews and the Police Service have been trying to keep the area safe for members of the community, who did help initially last night, which is really good, and thank you for them. Earlier today, Police Confirmed that four people had died inside the building. Well, walking along here, and what really gets to you is the smell of smoke. You can feel it at the back of your throat. Now, firefighters are saying that theyre putting all their resources into a search and rescue mission. They say there could be some people still stuck in the rubble back there. It was obviously a shop on the ground floor. We know the shop was due to be open until ten oclock in the evening and the explosion occurred at seven. Its very difficult to know exactly how many people may have been in the shop at the time. Theres a two storey flat above. We know there are a Family Living in there. Thats collapsed, obviously. So were just trying to assume that there could potentially be people inside, and well work through still on the basis that theres potential for lives to be saved. The cause of the fire is still not known, but hours after it was brought under control, its still burning. Sima kotecha, bbc news, leicester. A man has admitted killing three teenage boys in a car crash in west london last month. The victims, aged 16 and i7, were hit near a bus stop as they walked to a birthday party. 28 year old jaynesh chudasama, from hayes, has admitted three counts of causing death by dangerous driving. Richard galpin is at the old bailey, in central london. Tell us more about what was said in court this morning. Yes, a lot of very important detail has come out. Now that he has pleaded guilty. Perhaps the most significant, the fact that mr chudasama had been drinking. And according to an investigation, it is estimated that he was 2. 5 times over the legal alcohol limit at the time of the fatal incident. An accident Investigation Report has also found that he was travelling at 71 malls per hour on a road where the limit was 60 mph. Eyewitnesses said that he had been overtaking a car in front of him, in what was described in court today as a hazardous manoeuvre. And he lost control of the car. It mounted the pavement and it ploughed into a group of five boys. There were three other children who were very nearby as well. And according to eyewitnesses, the three boys who were hit were thrown up into the air by the force of the impact of the car. One of the boys, the body was found over a wall ina boys, the body was found over a wall in a cemetery. Richard, thank you. Its being billed as the beast from the east a freezing weather front sweeping in from russia this week and its set to bring temperatures lower than the arctic to much of the uk. Yellow and amber weather warnings are in place for snow, and disruption to road, rail and air travel is expected. Richard lister has the details. The beast from the east is on its way. Londoners woke the snow flurries and subzero conditions this morning, as did people across eastern britain. But we are expecting up to ten centimetres of snow and wind chill temperatures as low as 15 in the next couple of days. And then it gets worse. We are particularly concerned about thursday and friday. We have the colder and it is well established across europe and the uk. This is out in the atlantic. This looks like it will travel through spain and potentially ring lizards, Gale Force Winds and a widespread all of heavy, wet snow and the risk of freezing rain which is very treacherous indeed and bring blizzards. Rain which is very treacherous indeed and bring blizzards. That means travel disruption for millions. One train operator has warned it will limit its services from this evening. It advises people not to travel tomorrow. Greater anglia trains will also be affected, with reduced and Slower Services from ipswich, cambridge and peterborough. Inconvenient for some, but this arctic chill could be deadly for others. Rough sleepers are particularly vulnerable. Latest estimates in england suggest almost 5,000 people bedding down on the street on any given night. As the temperature drops, charities are urging us all to stay vigilant. We suggest the public do not walk on by, if they are concerned about the welfare of anyone sleeping rough, dial 999 if it is a medical emergency, or contact street link, to get in touch with that person to respond as quickly as possible. How bad could it get . The beast has already hit rome, causing the biggest snowfall in decades. Schools are shot, public transport disrupted and flights delayed. The first time i have seen snow like this in years. This was chatham, in kent, today. Britain has had the smallest taste of what is to come, but snow are gathering. Legislation to cap poor value Energy Tariffs is being introduced in parliament today. The government says it will protect millions of customers from higher bills. But energy uk, which represents gas and electricity suppliers, has warned the cap could halt the growth of competition. Our personal finance correspondent, simon gompertz, has the details. As the cold takes hold, hope of cheap heat and power for many people. Not now, but by next winter. People like ann godden, in hull, who is on the standard tarriff to be capped, like 11 million others. Its over 800 a year, so its a lot. Its high. And im better off than a lot of people my age i know. Not well off, by any means. Ann tried to switch suppliers, but pulled out because she didnt trust the process. The sort of customer ministers say they will protect. Customers who are on these default tariffs, these poor value tariffs, are paying about £1. 4 billion more than they should do. So it will save, you know, im not sure it will say that total amount, but it will definitely save households. So in another freeze, next year, how much would you gain from a price cap . Well, the average standard variable tariff is £1,122 a year. There is an existing price cap for those on the lowest incomes, and that saves them £33 a year, which is our best guide to what the governments wider cap would be likely to bring. Whereas if you shop around for the cheapest deals, you could save more than £300 a year off the standard variable tariffs. Theres a worry among the Price Comparison websites which thrive on the switching business that the cap could take the heat out of energy competition. The worry is that people will be lulled into a false sense of security, thinking theyre on a good deal, when there are much better deals available elsewhere. Any the other problem is if people are not shopping around because the cap, new competitors wont come into the market because there wont be the business available. And maybe its no surprise, but the biggest supplier, centrica, which owns british gas, is strongly opposed. Just Like University fees, what tends to happen with caps is that all prices end up at the cap, and quite often, choice gets taken out of the market. So we dont agree with it. But there is widespread support in parliament for giving protection to those on expensive standard rates, and that is still most customers, with the new cap due to be in place by the end of december. Lets go to top story which is that the labour Leaderjeremy Corbyn has confirmed labour would support a Customs Union with the eu after brexit. We can go back now to our political correspondence, norman smith. Norman, how much of a political problem does labours announcement now pose for the government . Well, we now have a clear divide, battle lines are drawn, between the two main parties over brexit, with mr corbyn in effect planting labour very firmly on the touraine marked soft brexit, by saying labour would stay in a Customs Union and they want a stronger bespoke relationship with a Single Market and that may chime with the views of tory remainders and if labourand with the views of tory remainders and if labour and tory remainders work together, theresa may could possibly be defeated in the commons over brexit. But if we got the divide we did not get the detail. We dont know what sort of price Jeremy Corbyn is prepared to pay. To get this strong relationship with the Single Market. Would he want to continue paying money to the eu . Would he abide by the European Court ofjustice . Would he abide by the European Court of justice . What happened would he abide by the European Court ofjustice . What happened to freedom ofjustice . What happened to freedom of movement and, crucially, how would brexit supporting labour mps and labour voters react and will debut this as betrayal . Norman, many thanks, norman smith. Our top story this lunchtime. Jeremy corbyn commits labour to a new and comprehensive uk eu Customs Union to ensure tariff free trade after brexit. And coming up how smart is your phone . We take a look at the newest models at the worlds biggest industry show. Coming up in sport, celtic captain scott brown has announced his retirement from International Football with scotland for a second time after talks with new manager alex mcleish. Further air strikes and heavy clashes have been reported near damascus in syria, despite a Un Security Council resolution calling for a ceasefire. Local Health Officials say several people have suffered symptoms consistent with exposure to chlorine gas in the rebel held enclave of eastern ghouta. The Syrian Government has always denied using chemical weapons. Our middle east correspondent martin patience is in neighbouring beirut. Martin, what do we know about this chemical attack . Well, in one incident, activists told us more than 12 people were treated for the suspected symptoms of a chemical attack. They think it was perhaps chlorine gas, and when rescuers went to the scene of the incident they smelt of that gas and there was very distressing videos posted on social media. It has not been confirmed and, interestingly, the Syrian Governments ally russia has come out to dispute those claims describing these claims as totally bogus. Now, in the past, the Syrian Government has denied using chemical weapons and that is not the position of the west and last year, in april, we saw america carry out air strikes following a deadly chemical attack. Martin, given the reported clashes, can be even say a ceasefire is holding in that area . No, i dont think we can. The un has called for a ceasefire to be implemented. Russia seems to be implying that the ceasefire hasnt even started. I think this suppose it ceasefire is a reflection of where the International Community that in regard to syria, thinking practically agreeing on nothing. What we can say is there has been a reduction in violence but for the people of eastern ghouta, this is a ceasefire with bombardment continually and as far as they are concerned, that is no ceasefire at all. Martin, thank you. An inquest has heard how a five Year Old Girl who was asthmatic was turned away by a gp because she was late for her emergency appointment. Ellie may clarke died later the same day from a severe asthma attack. Our wales correspondent sian lloyd is at Gwent Coroners Court in newport. Ellie may clarke suffered from severe bouts of asthma and on the 26th of january, 2015, she was unwell. Her mother needed to make an emergency appointment for her at her local doctors, the grange clinic here in newport. When she rang, she was given an appointment and her mother said she might be a bit late, she had to get a friend to take them there. By the time she arrived, the surgery was there. By the time she arrived, the surgery was busy and by the time the receptionist saw her, it was ten minutes after the appointment time, around ten past five the receptionist rang the gp and the gp told her she couldnt see her because she was late, she was told she must return the next day. Now sadly that evening, ellie mays condition deteriorated. She had a seizure, turned blue, was rushed to the royal gwent hospital where she died. And jones, the receptionist who saw ellie may and her mother when they arrived at reception, has been giving evidence to the inquest this morning. She has spoken about the so called ten minute rule and said this is not something set in stone, not a hard and fast rule, however it was a time management issue and understanding not all the doctors are dear to it and in this case doctorjohn rowell did and it had never been used for an emergency appointment before and the doctor has been telling the inquest this morning he now accepts it was unacceptable that he did send ellie may away. Thank you. Now, has the smartphone craze peaked . There have been fewer big technological advances for the hand held device in recent years, and the growth in sales has been slowing. So whats next for the mobile market . Well, the industrys biggest annual show the mobile World Congress gets under way today in barcelona and some of the new models have been unveiled already. Our Technology Correspondent Rory Cellan Jones sent this report. The fastest moving industry on earth is in barcelona this week. But lately, the mobile phone business has hit a speed bump. Smartphone sales dipped at the end of last year. And the phone Companies Know they need to give people new reasons to upgrade. I want access to internet, wherever i am. I want instant access to everything. If my phone slows down to the point where its not processing the way i need it to, thats when i go get a new one. I feel they would have to replicate the iphone a lot because thats the standard. It would have to almost exceed expectations of the iphone. Dont tell that to samsung which believes its galaxy smartphones set the standard. The industry giant put on a spectacular show to introduce the latest version, the s9, which looks very similar to last years model. Getting a high end smartphone to stand out from the crowd is getting ever harder. But samsung believes slow motion could be the answer. The camera on the s9 can make anything happen about 30 times slower. Another gimmick, you can create an animated emoji that looks just like you. Is this me, really . Well, sort of. Samsung has decided its the camera and everything it can do which is now key. We know annually there is over a trillion photos shared globally but today on a daily basis people share five billion emojis and one billion gifs, so things have changed in the way people are using their camera. Its not just for taking photos any more. Meanwhile the nokia brand revival continues. Last year the very basic 3310 stole the show. This time there is another retro, the 8110, the so called banana phone. It seems every company is struggling to look different. All the devices pretty much black rectangles, some marginal gains here and there, slightly brighter screen, slightly better camera, but consumers ultimately gravitate towards the best brands, they gravitate towards the best deals and i think they are really going to not think about replacing their phones as quickly as they used to. Mobile phones are now sophisticated supercomputers offering so much more than phones and texts. But impressing jaded consumers is getting ever harder. Rory cellan jones, bbc news, barcelona. Now have you still got any old paper £10 notes . Well, from midnight on thursday theyll no longer be legal tender. Our Business Correspondent Nina Warhurst has been speaking to people in bolton to find out if theyre ready. It was Charles Darwin who decreed that Human Progress requires change. We will never know what hed make of the extinction of his face in favour of jane austins, but in bolton theyre not sure evolution is always for the best. I dont like the new ones. Why not . Its like monopoly money to me. I dont like the feel of them. No. It doesnt look the same in your wallet neither. Do you not like change . No. For sarah they are simply too slippery. Them are the old ones. When you go to pull them out theyjust come out nice and easy. These ones, you go to pull that out. Does that happen a lot . A lot. Its risky. Yes. You might give someone too much change. Yes. What can you tell me about this £10 note, tony . What else can i tell you about a £10 note. Theyre going out of circulation and being replaced. Why . Good question, tony. The paper is being replaced with a material called polymer. The bank of england says its harder to fake and more durable. Meaning it will survive a spin in the wash. You have untiljust before midnight on thursday to get your old £10 notes spent. After that your bank might accept them but they dont have to. The one place that is guaranteed to swap them is the bank of england. They will keep changing them for as long as you keep bringing them. They tell me they are still accepting some shillings there. Is that the queen . No, thats jane austen. She looks a bit like the queen. If you had no idea whos on the new notes, youre not alone. Its jane austin, yeah. Shes replacing Charles Darwin. 0h. What do you think about that . Like all species, boltonians will have to adapt. All 1. 1 billion of the new tenners are here to stay. Nina warhurst, bbc news. After more than a fortnight of competition, the Winter Olympics in pyeonchang have closed with a colourful display featuring nearly 3,000 athletes. That heavyweight of winter sport norway topped the medal table, followed by germany, but its been a record breaking games for team gb, with five medals, including gold for Lizzy Yarnold in the skeleton. Our Sports Correspondent David Ornstein looks back at some of the highlights of the games. In plummeting temperatures and gusting winds, the games began. Only here it was so cold and blustery that events were disrupted, athletes blown off course. For great britain, hopes were high and though initially podium places proved hard to come by, don parsons broke the seal before three medals followed on a glorious super saturday, including gold for Lizzy Yarnold, the first briton to defend a Winter Olympics title. Not everything went to plan. Notably for elise christie. Commentator christie goes down before they reach the very first corner. From near misses to underachievement. Injuries, disqualification, disbelief. But in the end it was a record breaking games for team gb. Fuelled by unprecedented levels of investment, itself a source of much debate, the target of five medals was met, so is britain becoming a Winter Sports nation . We do really well in Winter Sports. We dont have much snow, but we always like to push the boundaries as much as possible and weve got a good attitude towards sports so well continue to do well. The medal table was topped by norway. Yet the moment of the games perhaps belonged to a 22 year old czech by the name of ester ledecka. The first woman to win gold in two different sports at the same Winter Olympics. Commentator the first ever bronze medal in mixed doubles curling. Pyeongchang wouldnt though pass without controversy as two russians failed drug tests. One of them, the mixed curler alexander krushelnitsky. They were among a group cleared to compete as neutrals after their country was banned for systematic doping. It meant russias olympic sanctions would not be lifted in time for the closing ceremony. On the political front there was a thawing in relations on the korean peninsula. North korea sending a delegation to the games and a combined team taking part in the womens ice hockey. One of the highlights of an event olympic organisers hailed as a success. We have seen fantastic sport. And we have seen great personalities during these games. We have seen olympic legends confirming their legendary status. And we have seen new stars rising. And it was a games that ended in spectacularfashion. The torch now passing to beijing, host city for the next Winter Olympics in four years time. David ornstein, bbc news, pyeongchang. Daniela relph is at Heathrow Airport in london, where some of the team gb athletes are due to arrive in an hours time. I have an Early Arrival with me. Lizzy yarnold, you came back early with your gold medals from the skeleton. Why are you sure you home before everybody else . Skeleton. Why are you sure you home before everybody else . |j skeleton. Why are you sure you home before everybody else . I had to come home early because of my chest infection. I needed to arrest. Now im here ready to work on the team. What is that moment like, youve done it before, of course, when you come back here and are greeted by friends and family at the airport . Its completely overwhelming. You dont realise how much the nation are supporting you until you walk in here, and people are asking me for photographs and telling me theyve watched the event and were screaming at the tv which means everything to us. What about broadly reflecting now on the success of the team and how they have done . Now on the success of the team and how they have done . |j now on the success of the team and how they have done . I think how they have done ; f . equite their dreams, just be so proud of should just be so proud of themselves because this moment, going to the Winter Olympics is a dream people of held close to them for maybe eight years, and thats a lifetime worth of horrible training and they have done their best and im really proud of everyone and to bring home a five medals between us isa bring home a five medals between us is a huge achievement. Have you got another Olympic Games in you, do you think . Its a hard question at this time but im just