Transcripts For BBCNEWS Beyond 100 Days 20240714

Signalled their intent. They will move tomorrow, to delay brexit for a further three months until january 31st. Also on the programme. Hurricane dorian is battering the bahamas. Catastrohpic winds and storm surge are causing widespred damage as the storm hovers over the islands. And more details are coming to light about the gunman who killed seven people during a weekend rampage in texas, while residents mourn another mass shooting. Hello and welcome im Christian Fraser in downing street. Michelle fleurry is in washington. The phoney war is truly over after meeting his cabinet here tonight the Prime Minister is puttting tory rebels on notice. Either they back him and his attempts to re negotiate a deal with brussels, or he will seek to trigger a snap election. Mps return from their recess tomorrow they will try to take control of Parliamentary Business to take no deal off the table. There are at least 20 conservative rebels thinking of voting with opposition parties, to demand another extension, this time pushing the date back until january 31st. The government has warned the rebels if they vote against the government this week they will be deselected as mps in that forthcoming election. Speaking in the past hour borisjohnson said that if mps voted to delay brexit this week they would be jeopardising negotiations with brussels. They will plainly chop the legs out from under the uk position and make any further negotiation absolutely impossible. And so i say, to show our friends in brussels that we are united in our purpose, mps should vote with the government against corbyns pointless delay. I want everybody to know there are no circumstances in which i will ask brussels to delay. Lets bring in the conservative mp charles walker, one of the most senior conservative backbenchers, a committed brexiteer and a co chair of the influential 1922 backbench committee. He is in our westminster studio. Good evening. Are you ready for an election . I am ready for an election, i have been ready for the past six months, a general election is inevitable at some stage in the very near future. But like the Prime Minister, i hope we can negotiate a deal with the eu and, like the Prime Minister, i want to leave the eu no later than 31st october. They estimate there are some 22 conservative rebels. I was looking at the list today, ten former cabinet ministers, 2i at the list today, ten former cabinet ministers, 21 foreign ministers, two former chancellors, a former deputy Prime Minister, a former deputy Prime Minister, a former lord chancellor and a former conservative party chair, not to mention churchills grandson. Are those the sort of people that you would consider expelling from the conservative party . I hope no one loses the whip or is expelled from the conservative party, i think it is incumbent on the party to come together, for the chief whip and people who perhaps have a different view brexit to sit down and work this out. It is just no good continuing to have a divided party thatis continuing to have a divided party that is falling out over the eu. We have had a miserable i2 that is falling out over the eu. We have had a miserable 12 months and i dont want to have another miserable few months ahead of us. So i dont think any of this is inevitable but ido think any of this is inevitable but i do think the government, chief whip, those who are allegedly unhappy with what is on offer Work Together to make sure this doesnt come to pass, that these these not happen. I am come to pass, that these these not happen. Iam not come to pass, that these these not happen. I am not in favour of the selection of of parliament, many of these are my valued colleagues who i am fond of and rate very highly. Iam not am fond of and rate very highly. I am not in favour of the deselection of members of parliament. Your former colleague, nick boles, a former tory mp, said that the hard right had taken over the party. Do you agree with that assessment . I do not. Im a conservative member of parliament andi conservative member of parliament and i dont recognise i dont think we are the party of the hard right. Certainly labour is the party of the ha rd left. Certainly labour is the party of the hard left. But after two, three yea rs, hard left. But after two, three years, there is an understandable determination on the part of the Prime Minister to deliver brexit and i think that is know what the country wants. They want decision made. Now, people trying to delay brexit again until the 31st of january are the same people, many of them in the labour party, not on my own benches, he voted three times against the previous Prime Ministers deal that would have got us ministers deal that would have got us out of the eu with a deal that met, i think, five of labours six tests. Given where we are, these unprecedented times, do you think people, rather than face this idea of deselection, should step aside if they cannot get behind the Prime Minister, who says he does not want to call an election . I am chairman of the Procedure Committee and i am very nervous about backbenchers taking over the order paper, because when you have the Government Contracting its business, you have a cou nterpa rty contracting its business, you have a counterparty that is the opposition and the agree timetabling, the amount of days for debate. When the house of commons does it, as it did last time, it runs a bill through the house in a day, all stages, second reading, committee stage, report stage, third reading, in a day. I dont think that is particularly democratic, which is why i voted against the houses attempt to take over the order paper the first time that it did it because there is no counterparty. Wenger in government, your counterpart is the opposition, and the usual channels. You are in government. The web agreed a and agenda for debate. The whips agree. So i dont think taking over the order paper is democratic at all. Unusual times. The order paper is democratic at all. Unusualtimes. Thank the order paper is democratic at all. Unusual times. Thank you for your time this evening. We should say, there are mps are starting to drift away, there has been a drinks for all conservative mps this evening hosted by the Prime Minister, all of them probably coming to terms that they could soon be facing a general election. We have just seen amber rudd leaving number ten, one of those who has expressed some concern over the town thatis expressed some concern over the town that is coming from the Prime Minister at the moment. Hilary benn, the labour mp who is chair of the Commons Brexit committee, has released the text of a bill that Opposition Mps and tory rebels will seek to pass this week to rule out a no deal brexit on the 31st october. It gives the government until the 19th october to reach either a deal with the eu, or obtain parliaments consent for no deal. If it fails in that, the bill says the goverment must seek an extension of the brexit negotiation process until 31st january. Lets speak to katy balls, deputy Political Editor of the spectator no explicit date for a general election but you can hear in what borisjohnson is saying, there is an implied threat of one. Yes, i think we so implied threat of one. Yes, i think we so borisjohnson was trying to shift the blame if we do end up in an election scenario. He spoke about the fact that he personally does not wa nt the fact that he personally does not wantan the fact that he personally does not want an election and urged tory mps not to repel tomorrow in brexit legislation. I dont think this with decreases the chances of an early election because borisjohnson also said that under no circumstances would he request an extension from brussels of brexit delay. A brexit delay. If he is not going to request that after legislation passes, what the Rebel Alliance want to do, that does suggest we are heading to an early election. He cannot just decree that heading to an early election. He cannotjust decree that it happens, though, can he . He would have to persuade parliament to vote for it. He needs two thirds of the votes within parliament. It puts labour in a funny position. What would labour do in those circumstances . a funny position. What would labour do in those circumstances . I think labour are divided at the moment, today we have heard mixed signals from various labour politicians about whether they would enable an early election. What is tricky for Jeremy Corbyn on this is he is frequently said the thing that is needed to solve brexit and his first preference has been an early election, going to the polls. So there is some talk from various labour shadow ministers that they would not want to enable an early election in the next couple of days if that would lead might lead to a no deal brexit. But i think it is tricky for her majesties opposition to not take the chance to challenge the government. So it could be that you have mps breaking the whip depending on what they try to get people to do. We had these comments from tony blair today, basically saying to the labour leader that this potential for an election saying to the labour leader that this potentialfor an election is saying to the labour leader that this potential for an election is a trap and that instead he should be focusing on trying to get a second referendum. I was curious on what youre reading is of situation . think when it comes to a second referendum, most of the campaigners for that think they where youre going to get a second referendum, realistically, would be through a general election and a change of government. Its hard to see how a second referendum gets through this parliament, it cant agree on much, it almost every that it doesnt want a no deal brexit but doesnt go that much further. It can almost agree. In general, an early election is looking inevitable, itsjust agree. In general, an early election is looking inevitable, its just a question of if its in a few weeks time ora question of if its in a few weeks time or a few months time. Question of if its in a few weeks time or a few months timelj question of if its in a few weeks time or a few months time. I want to ask you about the date. He said the date is mid october, the 14th, one day before the European Council summit. Instead of the queens speech. But there is some reporting that maybe he could change that, what do you know about that . think, when it comes to the date of an election, there are various numbers doing the rounds. Theres a debate going on about whether you should have that after the uk has left her before. And i think that is something that will keep being looked at. For the uk has left, or before. Some people would want it in early november. Thank you very much. With me as our political correspondent. I know you have been talking to people on their way out from the drinks, what was the reaction . The mps i have been speaking to as they exited, probably those that are broadly supportive of the Prime Minister will have made up a majority of the crowd in there but they said they were hearing, i think, quite similar to what Boris Johnson said here on the steps of downing street in terms of his plans, domestic agenda, more police officers, more money for the nhs, and that implicit warning that if conservative mps joint Cross Party Groups to try to block a new deal, then we are into general election territory. That was the message, even though he didnt quite explicitly say it, now were hearing of the date of october 14. So a high stakes of the date of october 14. So a high sta kes few days. Of the date of october 14. So a high stakes few days. High stakes for the rebels, as well, there are probably around 22 was the estimate this morning, but may be the threat of deselection, the pressure from fellow colleagues at the drinks tonight, do we really want a general election at this critical moment, how many are wobbling, do you think . I think there will certainly be a few considering what to do next. I spoke to an mp earlier he put it to me like this, they were 52 48 unsure, apparently said without irony at the time but i think there isa irony at the time but i think there is a hardcore group, if you like, who have really nailed their colours to the master said, i will support this legislation, i think it is the right thing to do for my constituents and wont be scared into doing otherwise. Nailed their colours to the and said. Perhaps some have already said they are going to stand down, some have already had high position in government and now have too much to lose, but perhaps those mps who do wa nt to lose, but perhaps those mps who do want to keep theirjobs and stand is a conservative candidate at the next general election which may be soon, will be given pause for thought tonight. Amber rudd was leading the party earlier, she is one of those that has expressed concern about the tone coming out of number ten. But for all the chaos, would it be fair to say that he is at least retain some control . Hes got those on the opposite side i was guessing at what is coming next. I think what youve seen is coming next. I think what youve seen out of this administration so far as they are not shy of confronting people and causing a bit ofa confronting people and causing a bit of a stir, whether that is suspending parliament unexpectedly forup to suspending parliament unexpectedly for up to five weeks, whether its this message that has come through over the weekend, conservative mps who dont back the government could lose the party with and not be able to stand at the next election, so certainly i think the tone from downing street has been a tough one. As you mentioned there, given that amber rudd it seems, to work and pensions secretary, it may be made her feel nervous, urging pensions secretary, it may be made herfeel nervous, urging caution, talking about, is it the right thing to do to look at very senior, very experienced conservative mps and make threats of this kind . But i think what we are seeing from this administration is a real willingness to ta ke administration is a real willingness to take people on but its not without risk. Sometimes rather than bring people back in, you can push them away. And of course, amber rudd, one of those with a wafer thin majority. Probably thinking about a general election. Thank you, jessica. It is worth saying, michelle, it almost feels like youve got this game theory going on on both sides, each side trying to guess what the other side is doing, when they went in for the drinks their phones are taken off them, such as the level of secrecy here was in government at the moment. But i was thinking a little earlier, when you think of how the week is unfolding, really, in a sense, if you are Boris Johnson, unfolding, really, in a sense, if you are borisjohnson, if youre in his position, you might be strategising that actually, you need that vote, you need to be able to go to the country and say, you can vote for me and my true blue brexit or vote for the sort of Rainbow Coalition of parties who dont want me, they dont want my brexit that dont really have a cohesive plan, as far as he would see it. Maybe in that sense, he is trying to create a pretext for the general election and he needs the votes this week to be able to do that. But its having a terrible effect if you want to have a look at the sort of value of the pound, right now i think its what, about 1 20 against the us dollar . We havent seen it touch that sort of lose since, really, when Boris Johnson first set, no ifs or buts we are out and at every 31st. The civil war is causing a great deal of anxiety in the financial markets. But there are different financial figures come as a remainers point to the yellowhammer documents and other concerns around the no deal brexit and today pointed comments from bankers in germany who say, actually, long term things might look quite rosy for the uk once the chaos has dissipated. So you do get both sides of the equation at the moment, and that of course is what will play out in the general election. And of course to get ready for brexit, the government is deploying a multi Million Pound Information Campaign to advise the public. Print advertisements, social media, billboards, will be rolled out later this week. But how prepared are Companies Across the uk . Our Business Editor has been finding out. The uk and eus deep trading relationship was on display today here in london. Uk firms are being urged to prepare themselves for a no deal brexit as the most expensive government Advertising Campaign in history was launched this week. In the newspapers, new campaign, tell you to get ready for brexit. We are not ready, europe isnt ready, none of the european distributors were touch as until it has gone through or not, so it a difficult time at the moment. We want some clarity. I think we are prepared in terms of where we are in this stage is a Small Business. Brexit ready, yes. Bring it on can we have a go . For the confused and unprepared, help is at hand. A new online questionnaire generates a Company Specific list of things you need to do. We filled it out and got the results. Do you have one of those . No. A to deferment account . Do you know what that is . No. Me neither. Some of these steps say that they will take more than four weeks. The number of items i got a look at a potential employ someone to get them result in time get them resolved in time, and continuing with the business, i think its going to take some time to really go through. Some businesses here say they have done all they can, others say they feel very underprepared. Most frankly dont know whether they are prepared for a no deal brexit. But there is a general level of frustration. Businesses are being asked to spend time and money preparing for something that officially, the government doesnt even want. Two months isnt long, but it is long enough to make a difference, according to the founder of a Small Business network. So businesses have got two months to prepare and one big reason why they havent been doing panning up until now is because they havent known the a nswe rs because they havent known the a nswers to because they havent known the answers to the questions they had. They didnt know for what they were planning. We still dont but what the government is saying today is, if you have a good fit business, you will be in a much better position to get through brexit. The governments £100 Million Campaign message is simple. When it comes to brexit preparation, its crunch time. We turn now to the most powerful storm to hit the bahamas since records began. The slow moving Hurricane Dorian made landfall on sunday battering grand bahama and the abaco islands, leaving parts of it underwater. Theres no official word on casualties in the bahamas but the red cross fears some 13,000 homes have been damaged or destroyed. Dorian which has weakened slightly and is now a category four down from a category 5 is the second strongest atlantic hurricane on record. Its packing sustained winds of up to 155 Miles Per Hour and may cause a storm surge of up to 23 feet. Here in the us states on the east coast including florida, georgia, and north and South Carolina have declared a state of emergency. Aleem maqbool sent this report from florida. Abaco in the bahamas has been hit hard by dorian, the strongest storm ever recorded there. Large areas of these low lying islands were totally submerged. Scraps of footage posted online as the hurricane barrelled through, before power and communications went down, painting a terrifying picture. Please, pray for us. Pray for abaco, please, im begging you. My babys only four, so please pray for us. The roof of the apartment block of the mother who took this video had been ripped off. She was clinging to the side of the building with her baby. Some people, the water just took them. Aid agencies estimate that up to 13,000 homes could have been destroyed as this catastrophic storm moves through the bahamas, at some points atjust one mile per hour. We have reports of casualties, we have reports of what is being seen. We cannot confirm those reports until we go out and have a look for ourselves. This is now the fourth year in a row in which there has been a category 5 hurricane in the atlantic, a record in the modern era, with experts attributed the increased frequency of these weather events to climate change. And dorian now heads towards florida, projections this storm could remain hurricane strength for as much as another five days. Well, with Hurricane Dorianjust hours away from the us mainland, emergencies have been declared in four states and compulsory evacuation orders are in place right along this coastline. Aleem maqbool, bbc news, on the east coast of florida. The Us Coast Guard has lauched helicopters and boats to try to rescue more than 30 people on board a chartered diving boat which caught fire off the coast, near Santa Cruz Island in california. Officials say all five crew members have been rescued, three other bodies have been found, but 31 people are still unaccounted for. The cause of the fire isnt known. Its emerged that a man who went on a shooting rampage in texas on saturday, killing seven people, had lost his job as a truck driverjust hours before. The gunman, who was named as 36 year old seth atro from odessa, was shot dead by police. Its the second mass shooting in texas in just four weeks. Were sadly used to the frequency of these tragedies but you may be surprised at just how often they happen. So far this year there have been 284 Mass Shootings across the country. Following saturdays attack, the president said his adminstration is working hard on policy to prevent future shootings, and downplayed calls for universal background checks. If you look at the last four or five, going back even five or six or seven years, for the most part, as strong as you make your background checks, they would not have stopped any of it. So its a big problem. Its a mental problem, its a big problem. So were no closer to knowing what exactly is going to be included this legislative package to stop any future shootings. It does seem that certainly background checks seem to be off the table for now. I will show you one tweet from a Republican Rep sensitive for the state legislature, Matt Schaefer basically equated gun ownership with basically peoplesgod rights. A Republican Representative. He says, all this so called gun control none of these so called gun control solutions will work to stop a person with evil intent. There are reports he was on the roof of his how shooting at animals and the neighbour called the police but the neighbour called the police but the police never went to his home, so presumably the investigation will focus on that direction. I should tell you, on a slightly lighter note, there is a new resident here in number ten. No, not that one. And strictly speaking he is living in the number 11 flat. He is Boris Johnsons new jack russell cross. I know, you are all saying, this is a crucial week. Stay focused. But look at the face hes 15 weeks old and he has been given the name dilyn. Which is suitably welsh he comes from a rescue home in wales. He was abandoned by puppy farmers. The Prime Minister and his partner Carrie Symonds are keen to promote lucys law, a bill that came in to force this year to end puppy farm cruelty. You can see him with Carrie Symonds. They say, if you want loyalty, get a dog. Of course on social media the remainers have been having no end of fun with this. Youre watching beyond 100 days. Coming up for viewers on the bbc news channel and bbc world news as florida and other states on the us east coast brace for Hurricane Dorian well bring you a live update from the National Hurricane center. And a new wave of tariffs in the trade war between the us and china which are expected to hit us consumers in the pocket well be finding out more. A quick word on Hurricane Dorian, of all the Atlantic Hurricanes is on record, there is only one stronger. Hurricane dorian spent most of the day across grand bahama, bringing catastrophic winds, gusts of about 200 mph other than the peak winds have come down a few Miles Per Hour. Damage is being done and we are expecting that to be catastrophic in nature. This is an incredibly powerful hurricane. Back to our weather, we have had some big contrasts weather wise today, many in england and wales started with sunshine but we did see cloud building, afew sunshine but we did see cloud building, a few showers the weather further north a lot wetter. Putting on across parts of north wales, north midlands, northern england, Northern Ireland and scotland, underneath that band of rain the skies looked rather like this at times in parts of cumbria, brisk winds around the coastline as well as the rain. Other night the rain is off for a time but there will be more rain turning back across Northern Ireland into west of scotla nd Northern Ireland into west of scotland and parts of western england and where is. Cloud could be low on the hills, may be patches of fog on the high ground. Mild temperatures for most, but still chilly across the far north of scotla nd chilly across the far north of scotland where we will keep some clear skies. Into tuesday, scotland where we will keep some clearskies. Into tuesday, most scotland where we will keep some clear skies. Into tuesday, most of us clear skies. Into tuesday, most of us will have a cloudy start but occasional brighter spells far north to scotland, shetland having some morning sunshine, probably bright for central and eastern parts of england. But at proudly. Across western areas, through the morning, that could be taken of cloud for the odd spot of rain. More persistent, heavy rain getting to Northern Ireland and scotland are turning increasingly damp across the north west of england and wales. Rain is associated with this weather front that will slide its way eastward, another front coming to the north of the uk on wednesday, both of these havent cooler air following them through. Both of these having a cooler air. The rain to start the day, some sunshine, a few showers across western areas, when moving across western areas, when moving across scotland and Northern Ireland and in the north west of england and wales and behind that turn in chilly. Into the afternoon, temperatures around 12 in aberdeen, before we factored in those cold northerly winds, so a chilly kind of day. Dry, though, for many of us as we head into thursday. Temperatures at 19 we head into thursday. Temperatures at19 in we head into thursday. Temperatures at 19 in london. Youre watching beyond one hundred days. This is beyond one hundred days. With me Michelle Fleury in washington, Christian Fraser is in downing street. Our top stories. Borisjohnson has warned mps in his own party not to vote with the opposition to postpone brexit. There are no circumstances in which i will ask brussels to delay. Were leaving on the 31st of october, no ifs or buts. Meanwhile mps opposed to no deal have revealed the draft legislation they will try to pass to extend brexit negotiations until january 31st. Coming up in the next half hour. Hurricane dorian barrels towards the southeast us its already destroyed 13000 homes in the bahamas. In the latest move of the trade war, the us hits china with a new wave of tariffs on shoes, diapers, and food. And not one, but two the berlin zoo celebrates the rare birth of panda twins. Well have the kinda cute baby pictures lets return to Hurricane Dorian which has had a catastrophic impact on islands in the bahamas according to the International Red cross destroying or severely damaging as many as thirteen thousand houses. The hurricane is moving slowly west, with Southern States on the eastern us coast bracing for impact. More than a Million People in florida, South Carolina and georgia have been ordered to leave their homes. We can now talk to the National Hurricane center. Good to have you with us. This has been moving so slowly that over the bahamas, there have been sustained winds were such a long period of time . That is correct. We have been saying that with the slow movements, they could be in Hurricane Force when, 73 miles an hour and higher and as we have seen much higher 130 miles per costs for about 36 hours is what some of these places have suffered, even the eia is only moving one mile an hour, it is only 30 miles wide so some places could be in devastating conditions for an extended period of time. What is the hurricane doing at the moment . I read a report there may be a second eye opening up, is that right, what is due to the power the hurricane . We have not seen the eye replacement yet but that would not be unexpected either. When that happens, the centre of the storm would not be as strong but it would extend outwards more winds, so the centre again would not be as high mile in her when in the middle but there would be more winds over a larger area extending when that happens. Often when one system of hurricane slows down and starts to turn, it will wea ken down and starts to turn, it will weaken in the middle and then get to be elongated, in this case north south winds might be more apt to be spread out further than they would be to the west, over florida. We have the Us Coast Guard themselves for the impact of Hurricane Dorian, what are your model showing in terms of the past, will it make direct la ndfall over of the past, will it make direct landfall over parts of florida . Most likely it will be dangerously close, just offshore to the east side of florida and then try almost parallel to the coast, up through florida and over the next couple of days. Then we have to be concerned with georgia, north and South Carolina. Notjust on the coastline. But the point we would like to make is even if it is just off the coast, it is very dangerous and powerful and the impact will be felt, the storm surges will be huge and the rainfall could be two to four inches or even up could be two to four inches or even up to six inches. We already have Tropical Storm force winds injuno beach in that area on the coast of florida so it may not be the devastating winds that the bahamas are suffering but plenty of reason to stay away from the beach. rememberfrom to stay away from the beach. remember from super storm sandy, much of the damage came not from the storm but the storm surge, what kind of wall of water are you expecting to see as a hurricane moves on . As it moves on right now, we have 4 7 forecasted for the coastline of florida, above that we will have to wait and see whether it is because even two days out before it gets to florida, which means it will move slow for the next couple of days and as it goes on we will know more about what will be the storm surges in georgia and carolina as well but they will be impacted with that. Also because of the angle with the coast, florida is 4 7 it is bad but not as bad as it could be. Joel klein from the National Hurricane centre, thank you, i know you will continue to monitor the path of this storm. If Boris Johnson does decide to seek an early general election, he cant call one unilaterally. Under the terms of the fixed Term Parliament act he would still need a 2 3 majority within parliament. That means he would rely on opposition support. TodayJeremy Corbyn hinted that he would welcome such a vote. It is the people, not an unelected Prime Minister, that should determine our countrys future. An election is the democratic way forward. But today the former Prime Minister tony blair warned his party to think very carefully. I know its counterintuitive for opposition parties to refuse an election, but in this exceptional case, its vital they do so, as a matter of principle, until brexit is resolved. Brexit is an issue which stands on its own, was originally decided on its own and should be reconsidered on its own. Tony blair speaking earlier today. Stephen kinnock, labour mp for aberavon joins us now from port talbot. I was looking some of the predictions you need earlier in the year, you were remarkably prescient. You said Boris Johnson year, you were remarkably prescient. You said borisjohnson would be number ten so what is going to happen this week . I am not going to change my career from happen this week . I am not going to change my careerfrom being a member of parliament to be a bookmaker. But yes, i think it was obvious, once labour, tragically in my view, pulled out of the cross party talks, we paved the way to the awful situation we now find ourselves in. It seems to me that we must of course push forward with the anti new deal legislation but it is highly likely at the moment Boris Johnson sees the government is going to lose that vote and he was the general election. That requires the two thirds majority of mps to vote for it to trigger it under the terms of the fixed term. It is a very difficult situation for the opposition because by definition we seek a general election, we want to be in power and get rid of this awful government but on the other hand, we have also got to prevent new deal. My sense is if they do set the general election date the 14th of october that would give us time to win that general election and prevent anode but if the election date is set later than that then i think we should oppose it. Present are no deal. It is a roll of the dice for both borisjohnson and Jeremy Corbyn. The risk isJeremy Corbyn does not win the election and borisjohnson is returned with a majority, either he could force through no deal or with that increase majority the European Union might feel more inclined to negotiate with it . Yes and that is when it becomes very challenging because as ic, it is the constitutional duty of the opposition to seek to replace the government but there are huge risks in all of this. One thing i was struck by today in terms of the Prime Ministers statements, he said there are no circumstances in which he was seek an extension. In which he will seek. So there is a risk if we plot the general election and pass the legislation, he will sit in number ten and run the clock time so we crashed out of the European Union without a deal. This seems to be a government hell bent on overturning our constitution, disregarding our norms and convention and behaving in a deeply undemocratic manner. So whenJeremy Corbyn takes a decision how labour should be whipped in the case of the general election, he needs to be those facts in mind. Stephen kinnock in port talbot, thank you very much for your thoughts. The trade war between the us and china escalated over the weekend as President Trump lived up to his promise to impose more tariffs. 112 billion dollars worth will be levied on chinese goods including nappies, shoes, food and dishwashers. This came into effect yesterday. By the end of this year, therell be 15 percent duties on 300 billion dollars worth of chinese imports. In response, beijing triggered additional tariffs on us goods and put a 5 percent levy on us crude oil. Its the first time fuel has been targeted since the trade war started. Us consumers will bear the brunt of these latest tariffs that could expand to include more than just chinese imports. A conflict with the eu over illegal subsidies for european aircraft maker airbus could make european cheese more expensive for americans, making a lot of cheese shops here nervous. Parmesan, pecorino, provalone and burata, just some of the cheeses at di paolos fine foods which has been selling imported italian fare on a Street Corner in manhattans little italy since 1925. We go back a hundred years, representing not only italian immigrants but also the food culture of italy. But lou di paolo who runs the store with his brother and sister worries that all these products may be about to become seriously expensive. If the tariffs go into effect, then i have to raise my prices, 50 70 , my sales will go down in the first thing that is going to happen, im going to have to start to eliminate employees, people who have worked for me for 30 years plus. The majority of products in the shop will be affected. How did we get here . You might be surprised to hear it is everything to do with a 14 year old dispute between brussels and washington over planes. Long before Donald Trumps protectionist trade policies, the us complained that subsidies given to airbus favoured the european giant at the expense of its american rival boeing. The World Trade Organisation acting as mediator, upheld the complaint, clearing the way for the American Government to retaliate in order to recoup losses. The tariffs are meant to punish the eu but the president of americas Specialty Foods association warned his members risk being collateral damage. So it is an airbus boeing situation, it is an Aeronautics Industry concern. Please leave food out of it. We are just not in relative size big enough to be getting involved in that. Lou told me he would stock more american cheeses if he had to but that he would always sell Italian Cheese, no matter the cost. Who should be the one to be hurt . It certainly shouldnt be families like mine. So there you have more evidence that us consumers are paying for these tariffs. We have had various people on programme recently who see it is a pto to duty to inflated prices but those in the opposite who see what is the end game over the street fight with china . How does the Consumer Confidence in the us economy hold up under that sort of pressure . This has been the interesting thing, so far it has been american businesses who support the fundamental grievance with china but are growing concerned, seeing it hit the bottom line, so far the consumer has been spared but that is about to change so economists are wondering as Consumer Confidence can hold up. That will be the thing to watch in the months ahead. hold up. That will be the thing to watch in the months ahead. I was going to Say Something smart, if there was no french or Italian Cheese and our house there would be a problem. Sorryi cheese and our house there would be a problem. Sorry i interrupted. Sorry i interrupted. Last month after more than 33 years, japan resumed catching whales for profit, in defiance of international criticism. For some in the country, its a tradition that goes back centuries. But theres a growing number of people who say hunting whales is becoming outdated and that theres a new way to make money from whales, as Rupert Wingfield hayes reports. A few hours ago, this ten metre long whale was harpooned off the Pacific Coast of japan. Now it is being hauled ashore on the little whaling town of wada. Immediately a team gets to work butchering the six tonne animal. The whalers here are delighted that, after 33 yea rs, they re finally free to hunt again. When we are eating our food we have the need for this food, Natural Resources like fish. Whaling is a hugely emotive issue. But here injapan, many people genuinely do not understand the outside worlds obsession with them catching whales. They say theyve been doing this for centuries. They do so to eat the meat, and they do so sustainably, and that this is a traditional part of japanese culture. But its also true that these people lining up to buy the whale meat are a tiny, ageing minority. This year, japanese whalers will catch just 227 animals. Even the most ardent whaling supporters say the industry cant make money. No, definitely not. How there they make money from 227 . And sooner or later, maybe within five years or ten years, my best guess would be, you know, no more whaling. But there are other ways to make money from whales. 1,000 kilometres south of tokyo lie the remote ogasawara islands. This is where the humpbacks come to breed and give birth, and this is where whale watching injapan began. Shes gonna put the hydrophone down into the water here, were going to see if we can hear the whales calling. Whales calling. Oh, wow. So thats the sound of whales calling to each other. Theyre a little far away but what an amazing sound for the yamamoto family, this has been a life changing experience. Translation when i saw the whales today, i thought, theyre so beautiful, so it is very hard for me to even think about catching and eating them. Far to the north, japans whaling fleet is setting sail. But, here, the whales are safe and the tourists can marvel at these graceful giants of the deep. Rupert wingfield hayes, bbc news, in ogasawara. Still to come a few blocks from the white house, where immigration policy is a major focus, a new gallery shows artists reactions to migrant displacement. Well take a look. A man has pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of a three and a half year old boy who was crushed behind a car seat in february last year. Stephen waterson, who is 26, had denied any involvement in the death of alfie lamb at an earlier trial in which the jury was unable to reach a verdict. Richard lister reports. Alfie lamb, described in court as the loveliest child you could ever meet, but his mother, adrian hoare, had taken him from one chaotic home to the next and alfies father figure, Stephen Waterson, was an angry, controlling man with a history of violence. These are the last images of alfie, struggling to keep up with waterson and hoare on a shopping trip. Theyre with two more adults and another child, who all lived in watersons flat. They seem almost oblivious to alfie, and hes about to be placed in the rear footwell of watersons overloaded car, between hoares feet, for the drive home. By the time they arrived back at their flat here in croydon, it was clear something was very wrong. During the journey, Stephen Waterson had become annoyed with alfie crying, and pushed his seat back against him. When they pulled the little boy out of the footwell, alfie wasnt breathing. Stephen waterson rang for an ambulance, but pretended to be a passer by. Is there a door number you can see . No, its a block of flats. Ive just literally been driving past. Right, ok. And whats the telephone number youre calling from, please . Its. Dont worry if you dont know, its fine. Giving evidence in february, alfies mother, adrian hoare, said hed cried, mummy, when waterson moved his seat back. But she said waterson responded that he wasnt being told what to do by a three year old. The jury were unable to reach a verdict on waterson in that trial, though they found hoare guilty of child cruelty. As his retrial was due to get underway this afternoon, waterson finally admitted he was guilty of alfies manslaughter. Throughout history art has often drawn on the most contentious issues of the time and thats certainly the case with a new exhibit at the phillips collection here in washington. Bringing together artists from around the world it focuses on the experience of migrants and the current global refugee crisis. Recently co curator natalie bell walked us through the warmth of other suns. The warmth of other suns is an exhibition that is looking at global stories of migration and displacement. Within the show you will encounter works from the last century and some of the early works that come to mind for me are photographs by lewis hine from ellis island. He is really making an effort to do portraiture in a traditional sense. It really gives dignity to these people. Within the show, you do find a lot of examples of portraiture. Whether it is gorky, portrait of the artist as a young child with his mother or more contemporary works, a large contemporary painting by aliza nisenbaum, which is a Group Portrait all women from immigrant backgrounds who are engaging in politics. A lot of the works in this room are speaking to the great migration, to the exodus of millions of black americans from the American South and also to other forced migrations within the United States including the trail of tears. That is a migration that is addressed in Benny Andrews painting. Wonderland, which is a video piece, shows a little syrian boy who is 13 years old and is deaf. What is heartbreaking is you see what this little boy has suffered and this is communicated without language, we do not need any translation. It is all visual language and gesturing. I think it is one of the most difficult works in the show but also one of most powerful. This is a show that really, it invites you to think about acts of hospitality and it is hard to leave the show without having some kind of reflection on that. The ethics of hospitality is something that i think would be wonderfulfor the Current Administration to give some thought to, however unlikely that may be, if this show can inspire visitors to give more thought to that, to think of other ways they can support immigrant communities or advocate for better treatment of immigrants at our borders, for changes to detention centres, just for a better approach to how we address immigration in this country then i think that is going to be a valuable contribution. Movement at the heart of so much of our politics at the moment. It is not really beyond 100 days unless we leave you with some sort of animal story. So here is a typically gratuitious offering. Berlin is celebrating after its giant panda population increased from one to three. They are not quite yet the cuddly black and white bears you might be imagining. In fact they look like moles at the moment. But they are at least healthy and they are twins. Meng meng a female adult panda which is on loan from china is seemingly right at home in germany. And once the cubs no longer need their mother, they will be sent to china, where there are fewer than 1900 living in their natural habitat. Yes, they are expanding. Ok. Let us return to the pandemonium here. Tomorrow is an important day because there is a vote on the motion to ta ke there is a vote on the motion to take control of the parliamentary agenda. We have heard from the Prime Minister tonight, if that happens, we could be looking at an election. We will be here at westminster to bring it all to use. Thanks for joining us. Hello there, quick word on Hurricane Dorian. There is only one atlantic hurricane which has been stronger, hurricane alan back in 1980. During has spent the day crossed grand bahama, bringing catastrophic when. Peak winds have come down a few miles an hour but damage is still being done. We expect the damage to being done. We expect the damage to be catastrophic, it is an incredibly powerful hurricane. Back to our weather, a big contrast, england and wales started with sunshine, bizarre cloud building but the weather further north has been a lot wetter. Wetwa re the further north has been a lot wetter. Wetware the piston across north wales, north midlands, north england, Northern Ireland and scotla nd england, Northern Ireland and scotland and that bands of rain has left skies like this in parts of cumbria, brisk winds in the coastline as well. Tonight the rain eases off but there will be another pulse of rain returning across Northern Ireland, into the south west of scotland and north west of england and wales. Some of the cloud could be low on the hills, fog patches on the ground. Highs of ten to 13 degrees but still chilly on the far north of scotland. Into tuesday, most of his will have a cloudy start with occasional bright spells for north east scotland, shetland has morning sunshine. It will brighten up morning sunshine. It will brighten upfor morning sunshine. It will brighten up for central insight is to england. Across western regions, the cloud could be thick enough rain anywhere. The afternoon sees more persistent rain in Northern Ireland and scotland, turning down across the north west of and wales. Rain is associated with this weather fronts, moving eastwards, another occluded front coming into the uk and on wednesday. Rain to start the day on wednesday, south east england creating, sunshine and the west but the korean made the growth Northern Ireland and scotland, into the north west of england and wales, turning chili. Temperatures around 12 degrees and aberdeen but factor in the cold when. It will be a chilly day but dry for many of us as we head into thursday, temperatures of 19 in london. This is bbc news. The headlines at eight. The headlines at eight. The Prime Minister insists he does not want a general election, and warns mps in his own party not to vote with the opposition for a further delay to brexit. If they do, they will plainly chop the legs out from under the uk position and make any further negotiation absolutely impossible. After the weekends protest, conservative mps opposing a no deal brexit are working with other parties, to try to force through a three month delay. There are millions of people watching the news tonight who are really worried about the impact of a no deal on theirfamily really worried about the impact of a no deal on their family and livelihoods. Those are the real issues that borisjohnson needs to worry about