Transcripts For BBCNEWS BBC News 20240714

State, we do not live in a totalitarian state, we live in a state which is limited by the rule of law. Scottish tory leader and vocal critic of the Prime Ministers approach to brexit, Ruth Davidson, resigns citing professional and personal reasons. A teenage boy has pleaded guilty to murdering 17 year old ellie gould, who was stabbed to death at a house in wiltshire in may. Councils in england warn that funding uncertainty means some some Vital Services for the elderly and disabled are at risk. And at 11 30pm well be taking an in depth look at the papers with our reviewers Ayesha Hazarika and christopher hope. Stay with us for that. Good evening. Mps are preparing for a showdown when they return to the house of commons next week after the uproar at the Prime Ministers plans to suspend parliament for five weeks in the run up to brexit. The labour leader, Jeremy Corbyn says a plan is already under way for next tuesday and mps will attempt to stop borisjohnson from shutting down parliament during what he called an utterly crucial period. The formerjustice secretary, david gauke, warned that it may be their only opportunity to prevent the uk leaving the European Union without a deal. But the government has called the uproar phoney and accused mps of trying to overturn brexit. Heres our Political Editor laura kuenssberg. Do you care about the people . Tempers hot, nerves frayed. Over and over. A member of the government and tory mp in cheltenham defending himself to protesters, but not entirely the governments approach. I have made my position clear, i have spoken to the chief whip about itand. Sssh. Time is short, but within days a swathes of mps will try to remove the possibility that Boris Johnson could take us out of the eu without a deal. With even Senior Tories on onside, they will try to change the law. It may well be that next week is the only opportunity. Im afraid it does look as if our options are now narrowed and if parliament is going to assert some control and say, well, ok if we leave with no deal, but that has to have the consent of parliament, then that would suggest that we need to move sooner rather than later. But is the moment when polite resistance could become more aggressive action . Well, i hope it will continue to be polite, but i also think its going to be robust. Those who fear the possible turmoil over leaving without a deal seem more determine now. The Prime Minister has caused outrage. Protesters notjust in westminster and the west country today, but in norwich tonight. Borisjohnson has cut the number of days the commons will have to scrutinise exactly what is going on. Frustration at that in leeds and other cities too. The official line, its totally routine for parliament to have a breather, to be prorogued for that amount of time. There is going to be lots of time to debate before the 31st of october. Parliament will be sitting then and will be able to have whatever motions it wants. I think the outrage is phony. But one peer in the government quit in protest and may be the defence secretary gave the game away. Ben wallace certainly learned at least that even at a summit in finland there are microphones everywhere. We do prove the parliament four days clearly more than it is . Those remarks got a less friendly welcome from number 10 who said later he misspoke. But to click borisjohnsons wings, to outlaw no deal, tories, lib dems, the snp all need to Work Together withJeremy Corbyn to get the numbers for a majority next week. What we are going to politically stop him on tuesday with a parliamentary process in order to legislate to prevent a no deal brexit and also to try and prevent him shutting down parliament during this utterly crucial period. The implications for this country are very, very serious. So just weeks into office, the new Prime Minister is up against protests around the country and many mps in parliament determined to try to defeat him next week. When they come to vote the numbers might be achingly tight. But when it comes to brexit, as ever, the difference of opinion is vast indeed. Our political corrrespondent Jessica Parker is in westminster. Just listening toJeremy Corbyn in that piece, jusco, breaking down what his referring to on tuesday jessica . It looks like he will, along with others, try and use an emergency debate in order to take control of the house of commons and pass some sort of legislation in order to prevent a no deal brexit. Exactly what that legislation will be, exactly what it will say, well, i think be, exactly what it will say, well, ithinka be, exactly what it will say, well, i think a lot of people have been pretty tightlipped on that front. Perhaps they dont want to tip off downing street to much about their upcoming tactics for next week. But that certainly seems to be the plan. The challenge owes of course making that initial step happen. Its not necessarily a simple process for someone necessarily a simple process for someone likeJeremy Corbyn to just turn up and demand the right to bring forward new legislation and then as well getting the numbers in then as well getting the numbers in the house of commons as well. Remember, back when the cooper bill came forward to mandate the Prime Minister then theresa may, to seek an extension to delay brexit, by how many an extension to delay brexit, by how ma ny votes an extension to delay brexit, by how many votes a pass in the house of commons . One. And are there any members in the conservative side of the government moving that there in that direction . We know corks is moving that way, there are a number of mps moving to stop a new deal exit gaukes. Interestingly, tonight we are hearing from downing street that the uk is that you try and intensify thoughts with brussels, me twice weekly through september to try and break the impasse in terms of brokering some kind of new deal with brussels, russell is saying its doors are a lwa ys russell is saying its doors are always open but its up to the uk to bring forward concrete proposals. But perhaps what is slightly on the back of borisjohnsons mine, or rather at the forefront of his mind at the moment, is to try and give those wavering tory mps pause for thought. Brian persuade them he is sincere in his attempts to try and get a deal with brussels by october the 31st. We might hope that by giving those conservative mps those possible rebels, that glimmer of hope that a new deal as possible, they would be less likely to support opposition groups next week as they try and legislate to block a no deal brexit, a measure from downing streets perspective, would undermine the game of hardball the new Prime Minister has been trying to play with brussels. Even if we got to that point where legislation was backed in parliament, with the Prime Minister be obliged to actually abide by it at this stage in the proceedings . We would have to see what the legislation says and what it does. On the face of it, if its in law, surely the Prime Minister isnt going to break the law . One thing that has been talked about his for example, should Boris Johnson be commanded to go and seek an extension from brussels . Would he necessarily have to do so . Or, if they do was to be passed by the commons and then by the house of lords as well, good he advised the queen to delay her assent to such peace of legislation . This is all under the category of wild speculation, weve certainly not heard anything from borisjohnson to say that he would consider doing that, but i think one of the reasons that, but i think one of the reasons that all these kinds of bits of speculations are coming out is because we are living in such unprecedented times and of course this week right a few people have been slightly ta ken this week right a few people have been slightly taken aback, although downing street it is very much business as usual with this prorogation of parliament. Thank you, jessica. Several legal moves have been launched against the move to suspend parliament. One of them was heard in scotlands court of sessions today. Our Legal Correspondent Clive Coleman took us through what happened there. Joanna cherry, she is also a qc, together with 7a other parliamentarians, on their behalf, aids and oneill qc argued his case and didnt mince his words. We do not live in an absolutist state, we do not live in a totalitarian state, we live in a state which is limited by the rule of law. Mr oneill went on to say it was unlawful and unconstitutional for the government to suspend parliament and he requested an order to stop that suspension, he also requested another order that would prevent any minister from another order that would prevent any ministerfrom advising another order that would prevent any minister from advising the queen in the future to make a new, similar order to provoke parliament. Mr oneill did something of a sort of historical, constitutional lecture, almost. He said that the government we re almost. He said that the government were bound by the extent 89 claim of rights, now, that is the equivalent of the scottish equivalent, to the 1689 bill of rights. That was the document that really curtailed the power of monarchs and made it clear that they couldnt override the wishes of parliament. It was interesting what mr oneill said, he quoted directly from the claim of rights and he said the fundamental constitution of the kingdom is one ofa constitution of the kingdom is one of a legal, limited monarchy, in which the regal power may not be exercised in violation of the laws and liberties of the kingdom, and in which constitution may not be altered into an arbitrary, despite it power by advise of evil and wicked counsellors. It power by advise of evil and wicked counsellors. I it power by advise of evil and wicked counsellors. I hesitate to draw parallels between what happened yesterday and what happened in the 17th century, but sometimes, my lord, its too tempting. Though, he was really not beating around the bush in terms of what he considered to be the wrongdoing of yesterdays announcement. Now, the government, roddy dunlop qc, his case was really pretty straightforward. He told the court that a relation or suspension of parliament was a legitimate, it had been used many times it was legitimate, and it would be unlawful for the courts to interfere. Essentially saying, look, these are political matters, you, the courts, should simply back off. Those are the arguments. We will get the ruling tomorrow. We think we will get that at 10am tomorrow. And well find out how this story and many others are covered in tomorrows front pages at 11 30pm, this evening in the papers. Our guests joining me tonight are editor of the londonder, Ayesha Hazarika and chief Political Correspondent for the telegraph, christopher hope. Ruth davidson has resigned as leader of the scottish conservatives after eight years in the job. She urged borisjohnson to strike a Brexit Agreement with the eu before the end of october. Shes been a vocal critic of the Prime Ministers approach to brexit but she said her decision to step down was primarily for personal reasons after she became a mother last year. Theres some flash photography in this report from our scotland editor, sarah smith. Anyone who had come to hear Ruth Davidson denounce borisjohnson and his brexit policy was in the wrong place today. She admits they dont entirely agree, but she believes he is trying to avoid a no deal exit. I stared him right in the eye and i asked him outright, look, i need to know are you actually trying to get a deal or not . And he categorically assured me that he was. I know that what would help further would be for people who want to avoid no deal to come out and say if a deal is brought back to parliament that they would back it at this time in the way they have failed to do three times already. Let the eu know you will pass a new deal, she urged like minded mps. While explaining the genuine, personal reasons that why, as a new mum, shes stepping down. I have to be honest where the idea of getting on the road to fight two elections in 20 months would once have fired me up, the threat of spending hundreds of hours away from my home and family now fills me with dread. And that is no way to lead. Ruth davidson played a large part in helping to elect 13 scottish tory mps at the last election, up from just one and keeping the conservatives in power. In the current political turmoil, there is a chance the conservatives might soon find themselves trying to defend newly won seats like berwickshire, roxburgh and selkirk, without their greatest electoral asset at the helm. They might even have to fight an election before theyve chosen a new leader. Shes given us a very Good Platform but im not lacking in ambition for the scottish conservative party, i believe theres more to do, theres more mps we can elect. His constituents say theyll miss her. I thought she did a lot for the conservatives, because they have nothing here at all. Her motives for stepping down, still a topic of debate. I think that she was going to stand down anyway, because of her commitment with the baby and so on. I dont think she gets on with boris, i dont think this she agrees with him. But who does . Whether or not they get on, the Prime Minister will be wondering if hes lost an electoral asset or got rid of a thorn in his side. Sarah smith, bbc news, melrose. A large fire has broken out at a hotpoint factory tonight in peterborough. The fire engulfed dozens of lorry trailers next to the factory. Authorities say at one point 50 firefighters were tackling the blaze. Residents nearby have reported hearing explosions since the fire began at around 7 00pm this evening. A teenager has admitted murdering 17 year old ellie gould, who was stabbed to death at her home in wiltshire in may. Thomas griffiths, who is also 17, pleaded guilty at Bristol Crown court. The judge lifted reporting restrictions to allow him to be named. Jon kay reports. Pictured at her prom, 17 year old ellie gould. The a level student loved animals and wanted to be a police officer. In may this year, she was stabbed to death at her family home in the wiltshire town of calne. Police described it as a violent attack. Today, thomas griffiths, who is also 17 and thought to have been at school with ellie, pleaded guilty to her murder. He is from the nearby village of derry hill. Until now, griffiths couldnt be named by the media because hes under the age of 18. But today, the judge here said he was lifting reporting restrictions because of the extremely grave nature of this crime. The families of the two teenagers sat just yards apart from one another in court. They left separately, without making any public comment. In a statement, Wiltshire Police said ellies family should have been enjoying the Summer Holidays with her now. But instead they are coming to terms with the fact that she has been cruelly taken away from them in unthinkable circumstances. Thomas griffiths was remanded in custody and will be sentenced in november. By then, he will have turned 18. Jon kay, bbc news, Bristol Crown court. Councils in england are warning they will have to start ending contracts which provide vital care for older and disabled people within weeks, unless they get more certainty over how much money they will get from government next year. Nearly £2. 5 billion worth of short term grants are due to end in 2020 and local authorities dont know if they will be replaced. Figures released by the organisation representing county councils show on average they represent more than a third of the Money Councils get from central government. Heres our social affairs correspondent, alison holt. Another person arrives at the busy front door of Harrogate Hospital in need of Urgent Medical help. To meet these constant pressures, staff have to do all they can to get other patients who are ready to leave, back home quickly and safely. The North Yorkshire county council patients waiting to go home, with four calls a day to support the patient back at home. Teams like this bring health and care staff together to make that happen. Its vital work, funded by short Term Government money, given to North Yorkshire county council. But it runs out in march and they dont know what happens next. We want to be able to think about what workforce we need in order to cope with the current strain on both Adult Social Care and Health Services and at the moment thats proving particularly difficult given funding will finish as of the 31st of march and weve invested in a number of additional roles that actually we may not be able to employ as of that period of time. Another scheme at risk in the county has helped 65 year old Margaret Miller regain her independence and mobility after a major cancer operation. She had feared shed end up in a care home. They were the ones that saw me in my worst possible state and the support and everything was second to none. And im here, in my own home and thats the biggest thing. The uncertainty that councils in england, including North Yorkshire, are facing over whether or not the short Term Government grants will continue to pay for vital care services. In Councils Like this, the grants represent 20 of the money they use to support older and disabled people. It means discussions are been taking place. We have to give notice to some of our contracts, with independent care providers, the volu nta ry with independent care providers, the voluntary services. Some contracts will be wound down within weeks. Voluntary services. Some contracts will be wound down within weekslj am will be wound down within weeks. am deeply worried as every treasurer will be across the country. We are not sure what plans to make it so we have to go on a different scenario and plan for the money being that all not being there. It is lots of peoplesjobs crucially all not being there. It is lots of peoples jobs crucially it is peoples jobs crucially it is peoples lives. Government says it has put extra providing care for people in communities across england and further funding will be looked at in next weeks spending review. Alison holt, bbc news. A bbc investigation has uncovered allegations of brutal beatings and torture by soldiers in indian administered kashmir. Its been 25 days since the Indian Government withdrew the regions semi autonomous status, leading to a clampdown on dissent and thousands of arrests. The indian army has described the allegations as baseless. Kashmir is claimed by both pakistan and india, with the Nuclear Armed neighbours controlling different sections of the state. Stripping indian administered kashmir of significant autonomy is being seen by some as a drive by the hindu nationalist government for more control over indias only muslim majority state. Despite a near communications blackout, Sameer Hashmi has been inside kashmir, from where he sent this report, some of which you may find distressing. Behind these razor wires lies an uneasy calm. Restrictions everywhere we go. But for many kashmiris, the crackdown has come at a cost. We have come to investigate disturbing allegations. Soldiers came here, we are told, looking for violent protesters. 13 men were allegedly pulled from their beds, tortured and beaten. These brothers, like all the people we spoke to, were too scared to reveal their identities. We saw their injuries. Still in shock, this man shows pictures of his bruises. He believes he was targeted because he is a muslim. We put these claims to the army, who responded with a written statement. Kashmir has been mired in conflict for decades. It is one of the most militarised zones in the world. There is huge sympathy here for the militant groups, who are seen by many as fighting forfreedom from indian rule. Animosity between Indian Security forces and locals runs deep. Often, it is civilians who get caught in the battle. It is notjust one village where allegations of torture have emerged. We have been told that several people across this region have faced similar experiences. We have come to a militant stronghold. Locals led us to this house, where they say soldiers tortured a young man. His brother is a militant. Across the rest of india there will be little sympathy for the families of militants. They see them as pakistani sponsored terrorists. Many have celebrated Prime Minister modis bold move to revoke kashmirs special status. Authorities say they are gradually lifting some of the restrictions, but internet and mobile phones remain shut down. Thousands are in detention. Kashmir has been virtually cut off from the rest of the world and anger here is growing. Samir hashmi, bbc news, indian administered kashmir. Time for a look at the weather for the week ahead with darren bett. Right now is the peak of the atla ntic right now is the peak of the atlantic Hurricane Season but every time you put a hurricane into the mix it makes it difficult to forecast the weather ahead in the uk and across the atlantic. Atlantic south westerly winds and that weather front focusing south westerly winds and that weatherfront focusing rain south westerly winds and that weather front focusing rain on and off across Northern Ireland and into scotland, quite heavy over the heals. Rain over the irish sea, threatening north wales. In the south, probably dry and when the sun is out, it will feel quite well with the south westerly winds. Cooler and wetter north. The rain will add up overnight and into saturday, over the hills of scotland and Northern Ireland. Easy a couple of inches of rain. It should change position moving away from Northern Ireland fairly quickly. Lingering longer and scotla nd fairly quickly. Lingering longer and scotland pushing into england and wales. The south east of england probably still dry for most of the day and still quite warm. Quite a temperature contrast across the uk on saturday, all because of that weather front. I had on saturday, all because of that weatherfront. I had about on saturday, all because of that weather front. I had about some warm hairand behind it weather front. I had about some warm hair and behind it something quite different. The rain should be moving away from scotland. But we introduce away from scotland. But we introduce a north westerly wind ringing with it some colder maritime air which is much cooler and fresher. The first day of autumn, it will feel more like autumn with a lot of showers in the northern half of the uk. Some will head further south where temperatures may reach 21 in london for many the mid teens. As a wind dropa for many the mid teens. As a wind drop a little bit, it will get quite chilly, down to 6 7d in towns and cities. A bright start for many on monday. South westerly bringing more moisture, cloud and rain particularly into scotland. Warmer in the south east of england again. Here, we have higher pressure across the uk hence the drier weather. Further north, whether front bringing more rain and the wind is picking up as we move into tuesday next week and we find cloud coming in from the atlantic again. Quite wet for western parts of scotland. Towards the south east of the uk, likely to be dry and temperatures are fairly standard for this time of year. To the other side of the atlantic, this area of cloud is now hurricane dorian. Morgan it wont ta ke hurricane dorian. Morgan it wont take much for it to cull out into the atlantic. With a bigger and more powerful system, or energy and heat into the atmosphere and that affects the patterns. For much of later next week, it may be assenting to the south west, allowing a north westerly wind which will be strong for northern part of the uk, bringing showers and may be longer spells of rain. Further south, closer to the high pressure, it should be much calmer. A little chilly at night but pleasantly warm by day. Hello. This is bbc news with julian worricker. Well be taking a look at tomorrow mornings papers in a moment with Ayesha Hazarika and christopher hope. First, the headlines. Anger grows at the governments decision to suspend parliament for five weeks as rebel tories and Opposition Mps accelerate their attempts to block a no deal brexit. What were going to do is try to politically stop him on tuesday with a parliamentary process. But one former minister warns that mps are running out of time. Parliament does have a responsibility to act, and it may well be that next week is the only opportunity for us to do so