Of flats in south west london. And tommy, where progress can be residents say theyre relieved they got out alive. Made and facilitation is people have im just thankful we got been talking about for a long time, the family out, all of us out, everyone is safe. Trusted trade agreements or whatever is in there welljust have to get back somehow, electronic preclearance of goods. Some way but as long as were safe, there is a lot that can be done there. I think there is another area i suppose. Coming up, little mixsjesy nelson which is the concept of the unity of calls for a crackdown on online trolls, as she reveals she tried the island of ireland were sanitary to take her own life following cyberbullying. Purposes, in other words for agra and in sport rafael nadal has won foods. If you can do both of those his 19th grand slam tennis title, with an epic victory at the us open. Things you get a long way through the problem. There are still issues to be resolved, but there are other ideas that we will be bringing forward to address the full range of complexity involved. I dont under estimate the difficulties that we face and the technical problems and the political sensitivities. All i am saying to you today is that i do good morningand welcome to the bbc news at 9 00. Think there is a way through that the Prime Minister is in dublin this morning where hes holding talks can satisfy the needs of irish with the irish Prime Minister leo varadkar on brexit. Business and farmers and everybody it comes ahead of another critical week with the government expected to face another defeat when it asks mps to agree to an early in this country, but also ensure election for a second time. Lets have a look at what were that the uk is able to respect the expecting to happen today. Democratic wishes of the whole uk. I think there is a way of doing that. As ive mentioned, borisjohnson is meeting his irish counterpart leo varadkar now. I accept fully, by the way, that the theyre discussing the contentious locus for the negotiation remains issue of the irish backstop. Brussels, and that is very, very important andl brussels, and that is very, very important and i think that the 27 will continue to want to have a later today a bill tabled shared position and we absolutely respect that. But we will want to be by the labour mp hilary benn which would require the Prime Minister to seek an extension to the brexit deadline discussing very sincerely now with of 31st october if a deal is not our irish friends how we can assist reached, is expected to become law. In that process and how we can also today in the commons, the government is expected to face perhaps jointly make some another defeat when it asks mps in that process and how we can perhapsjointly make some progress together, because as i have been to agree to a snap election for a second time. Travelling around the eu and talking this is the live scene to other eu members, there is no in dublin where borisjohnson doubt the first thing they say to me and leo varadkar are meeting. Is, well, how are you getting on with your irish friends . Have you made some progress there . I think it is incumbent on us as the uk to talk first to ireland. Our assistant Political Editor studio we will leave the prime norman smith is in westminster. Minister tos there. Fascinating to norman, there are so many huge listen to them there. Leo varadkar stories this morning, huge angles, saying any alternative to the backstop must be realistic, we have which do you pick first . not received such proposals to day, stories this morning, huge angles, which do you pick first . I think they are held together by one, he says. Borisjohnson said strip central fact which is the prime away the politics and you find practical issues which can be ministers room for manoeuvre, his options seem to be narrowing the resolved with energy and spirit of whole time. We know today mps are to compromise. Lots more from the news channel across the morning. Thwart his second attempt to trigger a general election. He is likely to lose his battle to avert this legislation which could pave the way for a further brexit delay and he has also lost control of the parliamentary timetable bill, by and large to his own miscalculation, which he has prorogued parliament or arrange for parliament to be suspended. That is likely to kick into night, which means there is no time to find any sort of mechanism to trigger an election. Which means we have this extraordinary soar a five week, i dont know, drift when we just drift towards this crucial eu summit on october the 17th. After which, if the Prime Minister has not got a deal, he will have to write a letter asking for some sort of an extension. Yet, we know the Prime Minister he, under no circumstances, will countenance any delay. My sense is, this is a story of a Prime Minister increasingly hemmed in its monday, its 10 00am. Heading and being pushed towards im victoria derbyshire. This october the 19th deadline has the prime minster found a way where, all the signs are he will to get round the new emergnecy have to write that letter under the law to delay brexit law, seeking a further extension to avoid no deal. I suppose, norman, without breaking it . All of that that you have mentioned puts more pressure on the talks this morning because you could argue that the road to brussels lies through borisjohnson may not have dublin. If he can get some movement to do if he gets a deal. On the backstop issue, he might be able to pull the necessary rabbit well talk about Boris Johnsons options. Also in her first tv interview out of the hat . The easiest way for since being chucked out of the conservative party, borisjohnson to resolve this well speak live to margot james, crisis, as you say, it would be to one of the 21 mps thrown out for voting to delay a possible no deal. Get a deal. One idea mrjohnson has floated its have an all ireland customs union, where they would be she doesnt want be brought back no barrierfor animal into the fold and predicts more customs union, where they would be no barrier for animal and food cabinet ministers will resign. Products. That get round a border for that section of trade. But that only accounts for around 30 of trade between Northern Ireland and ireland. It is not a complete solve all answer. Added to which, it would mean from the dups point of view, have a border between the island of ireland and the uk. Something they have always resisted. That may not get liftoff which is why the second ave they are looking at is try to circumvent the no deal legislation by suggesting the Prime Minister, yes, if he has to would request a delay, but would also write a second letter that would say i, Boris Johnson disagree with any delay, i am opposed to it, i believe parliament is exceeding its powers. In the hope the eu might think, what is the point in granting a delay if the Prime Minister is so vehemently opposed to it. He is likely to be a Disruptive Force if we keep him in the eu. In other words, the eu might say there is no point at an extension. Tory rebels take the view that a second letter simply would not cut it. Have a listen to david cork, the formerjustice secretary, who has now been deselected. It carries no weight, it would save the Prime Minister is writing to the European Union seeking an extension. Of course the European Union can refuse that extension, but i personally think they would not want to be blamed for a no deal brexit and the degree to an extension but the risk has not gone away entirely. The fact is, the mechanism byjust a few days ago people were saying there wasnt anything parliament could do, nothing will work and if there is something mps will be scared away from supporting it. That mechanism is now in place and i think the consensus view in the legal world is, it is pretty watertight. This is not just this is notjust the legal world, it would mean a second letter from borisjohnson would carry no legal weight, but a second letter, eu countries like france are getting weary of our endless today and the twitch if there was to be an extension under eu law, there has to bea extension under eu law, there has to be a reason for an extension, like an election or another referendum. If there is no sign of that, would there be a justification for a delay . But the key thing, would there be nervousness if they agree a delay until january the there be nervousness if they agree a delay untiljanuary the 31st, Boris Johnson it willjust prove a pain in the butter in europe. In other words he would cause trouble, be obstructive. He would make life within the eu incredibly difficult. So might eu countries conclude, you know what, we are better to draw this to a conclusion, veto any extension and just get it over with. Politically, there could be away for borisjohnson to meet his october the 31st do die deadline. Norman, thank you for explaining that. Lets speak to our ireland correspondent helena wilkinson. Everybody will be watching this meeting very closely because it is so meeting very closely because it is so important. We saw over the weekend, the departure of amber rudd, talking about the failure to negotiate in good faith, all as she saw it. So watching what really happens between borisjohnson and mr varadkar, crucial all round . Yes, it isa varadkar, crucial all round . Yes, it is a crucial meeting. This is the first time the two men, Boris Johnson and leo varadkar have met in person for the first time. A lot of media waiting for both men to arrive here. It has just started raining so they have had to take the podium is in. They brought one out in the last couple of minutes or so. We are waiting for them to come out before the two men go back inside the building to have discussions. We have already heard from leo varadkar, who is not hopeful of any kind of breakthrough at the meeting he would borisjohnson. In fact, he said something along the lines of, this meeting is going to allow them both to get to know each other a little better. To see if there is any Common Ground. He very much, from lee over radtkes side is saying he is not the man to negotiate with, borisjohnson has to negotiate with, borisjohnson has to negotiate with, borisjohnson has to negotiate with the European Union but today is not about negotiations, it is about discussions. No surprise what they will be talking about when they arrive here later on, the backstop they arrive here later on, the ba cksto p of they arrive here later on, the backstop of course. That issue, as norman was saying, about what to do with the border between Northern Ireland and ireland once the uk leaves the European Union. Both men agree there should not be physical checks at the border, but what they cannot agree on, borisjohnson and the European Union, is how to get around that. We know borisjohnson has said he wants the backstop taken out of the Withdrawal Agreement. I dont think there are very high hopes at this meeting, but important, nonetheless, given the backstop and the issue of ireland is so backstop and the issue of ireland is so important and has caused such a headache in these brexit negotiations. One Fascinating Development would be if we saw from the british Prime Minister, at the same ruthlessness and heads not to get the kind of attitude he showed towards his own party colleagues, if he showed that towards the dup and said, we are going to temporarily place the border in the irish sea and treat the island of ireland as one unit, that might be a way of springing out of his troubles, at least as far as brussels is concerned, if not with the dup . Yes, the dup would be hugely unhappy with that scenario. They have already spoken out against that idea that has been floated around. I think really the pressure is on Boris Johnson to come up with an alternative at the question everyone is asking, including leo varadkar, who he will be meeting this morning, is what is your alternative to the backstop . He doesnt want the backstop . He doesnt want the backstop in the Withdrawal Agreement, but there is a feeling amongst those in the eu that he actually hasnt come up with the details. We may hearfrom him before he goes in. They are in fact going to be giving a short statement, taking a couple of questions from the media. Whether he will give us an insight into exactly what his alternative is to the backstop, we will have to wait and see. They havent arrived yet, we were expecting them to come here at 9am. Discussions here, not negotiations, according to leo varadkar, but still according to leo varadkar, but still a very important meeting between the two men. Thank you very much, we will be back to you when they have something to say. I can now talk to adam fleming whos in brussels. How are they reading it . Reading it rather than acting it, they want to let it play out in the uk and only get involved in something concrete happens. There has not been a lot of comments from eu leaders despite the odd comment over the weekend about what is happening in the uk, other than set at the eu position and keep the options open. In terms of this stuff about whether Boris Johnson sends two letters or not, they will wait and see how many letters turn up wait and see how many letters turn up and act on the one that is the legal request from the uk that is an extension to the Brexit Process, if it ever comes. What eu officials keep hammering it is, parliament telling a Prime Minister to ask for an extension and instructing them to accept the extension if one is offered is not the same as the Legal Process that will take place here in brussels. The treaty says for an extension to the Brexit Process in article 50 to be live and legal, all the 27 other countries and the departing country need to agree to it. It is the agreement to the extension from brussels at the European Council by the leaders that matters. Not necessarily what the uk Domestic Legislation says. How do you read that . There were suggestions last week that the rebel alliance, as it is so cold, had a back channel to brussels and had sorted out if they got this through westminster they would get the extension, but that we have heard these kind of slightly grumbling noises from paris over the weekend, suggesting the french might actually say no, you actually need reason for an extension and we dont want this, like a an extension and we dont want this, likea grumpy an extension and we dont want this, like a grumpy teenager shouting and banging doors in the house anymore . The eus catchphrase about this is a week, the eu will not be the ones responsible for a no deal brexit. That basically means, if the uk asks foran that basically means, if the uk asks for an extension they are going to have to say yes, because then the blame for a no deal brexit, as the eu shifts it is shifted to them. Until the catchphrase changes, might bea sign until the catchphrase changes, might be a sign they are getting sceptical about offering and agreeing to an extension. Bearing in mind, we have been through this two times. All the discussions on the eu side in the build up to the first extension, agreed in march and the second offer ofan agreed in march and the second offer of an agreement which was done a few weeks later in april. There was loads of stuff from the eu side about having a really good reason for this but when it came to the decision, the reason and the rationale for the extension, that became much less important and all the discussion in brussels was about what is the best length and the discussion about the duration of the extension, that would create the most opportunities for the deal to get through westminster. The other discussion was about what conditions would be attached to that extension and in that case, it was how do you create a situation that guarantees the uk takes part in the European Parliament elections if they are still a member when there elections we re still a member when there elections were due to take place. The reason for the extension and the worthwhile niss of the extension as an intellectual concept, we are much further down the list of things they we re further down the list of things they were discussing. As soon as you start hearing eu leaders saying, maybe it is time to rip the plaster off and may be a no deal could be a better outcome than staggering on through the process. That is when you know there is real scepticism about an extension. I think it is just a bit of grumbling about the concept at the moment. Adam, thank you for being our elephant memory on where all these negotiations have been. We will come back to later in the day. Now lets take another look at dublin. We are expecting Boris Johnson and his irish counterpart to come out on the steps. We will expect a few words shortly and of course, this is such a critical moment. The question of the backstop is so vital. Although everyone keeps saying, this is a brussels negotiating decision, not a dublin negotiating decision, not a dublin negotiating decision, not a dublin negotiating decision, everyone knows, to some extent, clearing whatever happens in terms of alternative arrangements, if such arrangements could be found, claiming that through dublin would bea claiming that through dublin would be a crucial position in getting an approval through brussels. So an important meeting in dublin this morning and we will see if there are any strategic surprises from Boris Johnson to get some momentum behind his talk of positive progress towards a deal. And his powers of persuasion of course, he talked about extensively last week. So that coming, we believe in about ten minutes. We will go back to dublin then. Well be answering your questions on all things brexit and what could happen next in a bbc ask this. At 12 30 well be speaking to Maddy Thimont jack from the institute for government think tank. The Contact Details are on your screen now. Do please let us know your questions. These are incredibly informative, i listen into them to try to brief myself on where on earth this is going next. These moments are really, really helpful. The headlines on bbc news. Boris johnson is meeting the irish Prime Minister, leo varadkar, in dublin today, ahead of another critical week for brexit. Mps are to vote again today on holding a snap general election with the Prime Minister looking set to face a second defeat. Travel disruption for hundreds of thousands of British Airways passengers, as pilots go on strike. Its the biggest walk out, in bas history. Good morning. Winsport, rafael natal wins us open. He beat Daniil Medvedev in a five set thriller to win his 19th grand slam title, his fourth in new york. Australia have retained the ashes. Victory at old trafford yesterday made it 2 1 in the series and the fifth and final test starts on thursday at the oval. Pippa is celebrating herfirst major title in 14 years. Her victory came at burley by just title in 14 years. Her victory came at burley byjust a tenth of a penalty point. More support in about 20 minutes and i will see you then. The biggest strike action in the history of British Airways got under way this morning, causing disruption for tens of thousands of passengers. The airline has told customers not to turn up to airports, as pilots begin a two day walk out over pay and conditions. The firm up to £40 million a day. Lets go to heathrow now and speak to our correspondent simonjones. Is the strike being observed by all the ba pilots . The vast majority of pilots, according to the union and the war of words between the two sides has been continuing this morning. Management at British Airways have said this is a cynical strike organised by the union. The union has accused management of being fat cats. I was at terminal five earlier this morning. It should be bustling at this time of day, but it was practically empty. More staff and passengers, so it was practically empty. More staff and passengers, so this strike is having a big effect. Look at some of the numbers, 800 flights cancelled, a similar number tomorrow so over the two days, 1600 flights have been grounded. What is the dispute over . It is all about pay. The unions have rejected a pay increase put forward of 11. 5 over three years. They say they want a bigger share of the companys they want a bigger share of the compa nys profits they want a bigger share of the companys profits in the future. It is thought the strike action could cost ba £40 million each day it is on. But despite the concerns and the disruption to passengers, ba has apologised. The company is insisting the pay of 80 pilots is fair. British airways was losing a lot of money. It actually, nearly 4000 people lost theirjobs and yes, everyone at British Airways took pay cuts and sacrifices, notjust pilots. The company recognises that and this is why this 11. 5 deal, way above inflation with an extra 1 for 2019, has unfortunately been rejected and we believe it is very, very generous deal. The union has also apologised to passengers. They say their dispute is not with travellers, but with management. Lets get more on this from simon calder, the travel expert. This really is better, two sides as divided as ever . Even more divided than ever actually. I have been covering disputes with British Airways over the last 25 years or so andl airways over the last 25 years or so and i have never seen anything nearly so damaging as this and i have never seen the two sides digging in so much. The gap between them isnt actually very far but British Airways have stripped the pilots who have gone on strike of their travel concessions. Some of their travel concessions. Some of the agreements are going to be torn up. The union meanwhile, say they wa nt up. The union meanwhile, say they want to talk but they are getting angry at bas refusal to negotiate. In the middle of that you have the angry union, the angry airline and a couple of hundred thousand angry passengers who are not where they wa nt passengers who are not where they want to be. The only people gaining from this are bas rivals, particularly easyjet and Virgin Atlantic and all the airlines today, half the number of flights as usual and no queues to take off, no queues to land, quite a good day to travel as long as you to land, quite a good day to travel as long as you are to land, quite a good day to travel as long as you are not on British Airways. How bad is this for the reputation because ba have had problems in the past with their Computer Systems and now this . Problems in the past with their Computer Systems and now thi57m will not do them any good, you say £40 million a day, i would add another £20 million in terms of costs, but it is the quantifying damage to their reputation and bookings. The union has said remember, we have a strike mandate untiljanuary. Remember, we have a strike mandate until january. That means remember, we have a strike mandate untiljanuary. That means anybody with a ba booking for christmas and new year might be thinking it is worrying and people who are hoping to book possibly will not block with ba. So it is doing a lot of damage. And meanwhile another strike planned for the 27th of september. Normally ina for the 27th of september. Normally in a dispute like this i would expect both sides to cool off and may be that strike will be suspended but i think the cancellation notices will go out in the next day or two from British Airways to the 100,000 or so people booked to travel on that day. Given both sides are so entrenched in their views, what solve this . Eventually they will reach a compromise, possibly with the conciliation service, acas. But it is reducing the value of the British Airways brand and upsetting a lot of prospective and actual customers and it is destroying value in the company. A very difficult time for everybody especially the passengers. It was a bit like a ghost town in terminal five . Never seen it like that. One woman had flown in from a 17 hour nonstop flight flown in from a 17 hour nonstop flight from perth in Western Australia and she had been away and had not heard about the strike and she was trying to get her ba flight to dublin. She went to the desk to try and get booked onto aer lingus. All the other people, in the restaurants and retailers, they are having a miserable day. Simon, providing travel expertise for passengers, doing your bit, but hundreds and thousands of passengers affected over these couple of days and the warning is, there could be more strike action to follow at the end of the month. Simon, thank you. 125 firefighters have been tackling a fire which engulfed a four storey block of flats in london overnight. Fire crews were called to Worcester Park in south west london in the early hours of this morning. The London Ambulance service said no injuries had been reported. Earlier the london fire brigade gave this update crews were faced with a well developed and intense fire which resulted in the incident being quickly escalated for Additional Fire engines. Currently, london fire brigade have got 20 fire engines and 120 firefighters on scene dealing with the fire. There are also surrounding fire crews from surrey fire and rescue service who are supporting london fire brigade at this incident. The cause of the fire is currently under investigation and london fire brigade received 29 calls to this incident. One resident told the bbc he was just happy to get out of the building with his family. Woke up to the sound of some crackling, went to my back door, opened the curtains, saw the flames and got myself and my family out. That was about 1 30am i suppose. Im just thankful we got the family out, all of us out, everyone is safe. Whatevers in there welljust have to get back somehow, some way but as long as were safe, i suppose. A Murder Investigation has been launched after a man was shot dead in North West London on sunday night. The victim, who is believed to be in his 20s, was found with a gunshot wound in kentish town. He was pronounced dead shortly after midnight. Formal identification has not yet been made. The head of a Us Aid Agency has likened the devastation inflicted on the bahamas by Hurricane Dorian to that of a nuclear bomb. A huge relief operation is underway to provide emergency shelter, medicine, food and water. At least 43 people have been confirmed dead, but that figure is expected to rise significantly, as Gareth Barlow reports. This is the devastation wrought by Hurricane Dorian. The mud, a shantytown built over decades it took the storm just hours to rip it to shreds. Across the archipelago, 70,000 people are said to be in urgent need of food and water, the basics of life, a week after dorian hit. There are parts of abaco and the bahamas that dont show a great deal of damage and then there of clusters and communities that were devastated. Almost as though Nuclear Bombs were dropped on them. Aboard this caribbean cruise ship, they are making sandwiches as fast as they can. All part of a massive effort to get supplies to those who bore the brunt of the storm. In some areas, virtually every building has been damaged, if not destroyed. Others are scrambling to escape as conditions deteriorate. Some have already been evacuated to the capital nassau, leaving behind an island without water or electricity and the stench of death is filling the air. Hundreds and possibly thousands of still missing. Dorian brought the sea to the land and the land to the sea. Its nearly two day rampage, the first hurricane people here can remember. Having weakened since then, dorian has now reached canada, bringing heavy rain to nova scotia. From there it is due to head out to sea to the relief of those unlucky enough to have found themselves caught up in its destructive path. Gareth barlow, bbc news. For the 14th week in a row, pro democracy protestors have taken to the streets of hong kong. Yesterday, thousands marched near the us consulate in the city, in an appeal to the us for help. They want the us congress to pass legislation that would penalize officials in Mainland China and hong kong who supress freedoms in the chinese territory. China has consistently warned other countries not to interfere. I know i promised you borisjohnson and leo varadkar were about to appear on the steps in dublin, we havent got them yet but lets take a look at the pictures where we expect them to say a few words. Huge speculation about what possibly could be done in terms of alternative arrangements to the backstop, that is of course such a difficulty for many of those in the Prime Ministers party, holding up his attempts to get a deal. That is just of course one of the many events taking place in relation to brexit and the political crisis this morning, or late in the day because we have the vote on snap election. The second because there was one last week. Opposition party said on friday they to vote against and that means the Prime Minister is unlikely to get the two thirds majority he needs to get that piece of brief legislation through to order a snap election. Of course, in the commons we have royal assent for the bill from hilary benn to force the Prime Minister to go and get an extension from brussels, if he hasnt got a deal by october the 19th. He said he will not do that, he would rather die ina will not do that, he would rather die in a ditch. Much discussion of whether he will follow the legislation, abide by it orfind a way around it. All of those questions in play this morning and we will come back to dublin as soon as we see them there. In a moment the weather, but first, lets hear from victoria on what she has got coming up at10am. Last week she was thrown away from out of the conservative party. In her first interview since then, margotjames her first interview since then, margot james says given the current state of the conservative party she doesnt want to be allowed back in. Actor, director at the centre of a storm when he was accused of passing himself off as a black man to gain a traineeship scheme aimed to get more ba any people into the theatre. Both his parents are white. This is his mum and his dad. Join us live at 10am on bbc news and online. Now time for the weather. Good morning. Not the ideal weather to start the week. Its rather cool, rather wet and it is a case of spot the dry areas. Just a bit here and there towards the south and south east and drying up across parts of Northern Ireland where we will continue to see sunshine develop more widely. Elsewhere, grey and gloomy outbreaks of rain, heavy at times, particularly in wales, South West England and in the channel islands, where they could be rumbles of thunder. Blustery conditions in Northern Ireland, wales and cornwall, temperatures well down on where we should be for this time of year. 12 to 16 degrees at the very best. Tonight, the heavy rain from the south gradually pushes away, turns dry across parts of scotland. Most will be dry through the night, the other patch of light rain or drizzle. A bit misty into the morning and cool, but tomorrow we should be brighter and warmerfor many. All the details coming up in half an hour. Hello, this is bbc news. The headlines. Boris johnson is meeting the irish Prime Minister, leo varadkar, in dublin today, ahead of another critical week for brexit. In westminster, mps are to vote again today on holding a snap general election with the Prime Minister looking set to face a second defeat. Travel disruption for hundreds of thousands of British Airways passengers, as pilots go on strike its the biggest walkout, in bas history. More than 120 firefighters have been tackling a major blaze at a block of flats in south west london. Residents say theyre relieved they got out alive. Im just thankful we got the family out, all of us out everyones safe. Whatevers in there welljust have to get back somehow, some way, but as long as were safe, i suppose. Time now for the morning briefing, where we bring you up to speed on the stories people are watching, reading and sharing. Its one of our most read stories online today all eyes are on parliament as the brexit uncertainty continues and the possibility of a general election looms large. Today borisjohnson will hold talks with the irish Taoiseach Leo Varadkar in dublin. They will of course be discussing the backstop, designed as an insurance policy to stop a hard border on the island of ireland. The British Government wants the backstop scrapped, because it would effectively keep the uk in the european customs regime and tie Northern Ireland to the rules of the eus Single Market. But ireland maintains the backstop, which comes into force if the uk does not agree a trade deal with the eu, is the only way to avoid checkpoints. The irish finance Minster Paschal Donohoe spoke to Martha Kearney on the today programme she asked him was asked what ireland would do in the event of a no deal brexit. What we have said and we said this before the summer is if we were to be in the situation of a no deal brexit, it would have really significant consequences for the flow of trade across the United Kingdom and ireland, and we would have to put in place and we would put in place, the kind of arrangement that would be needed to ensure that we would stay inside the Single Market. But all of those kind of arrangements would have very big consequences for trade on our island, and because of those consequences would further create repercussions for Northern Ireland and for the stability of Northern Ireland. And the one thing both governments are absolutely aligned on is the value of what we have collectively achieved in the north and our shared commitment to maintain it. Let me put one scenario to you, which we are hearing about now, and this is about borisjohnson being obliged under the rebel bill about to become law to write to the eu asking for an extension. What we are hearing is he might write that letter but say, actually, i dont want an extension, in the hope that the eu will actually turn him down. Well, look, we are moving into the realm then of what may or may not happen in british politics, and you will excuse me, given the day that Prime Minister johnson is coming to dublin, and given that today the house of commons will make some significant votes, that i wont comment on what may or may not. Ok, i take your point that thats hypothetical, but what about the french position . Because theyve made it pretty clear that, whats the point of granting another extension . Because we willjust end up being in the same position in three months time. The french minister for Foreign Affairs has stated what has been a long running view of the European Union, which is that if a further extension is to be issued, it must be to create a space for something to actually happen. There would be concern that if further extensions were to happen it would lead to the kind of endless a continuation of where we are, but im pretty sure any concerns regarding the endless continuation of this kind of debate within the United Kingdom are well understood within the house of commons and the British Government. But would the Irish Government support an extension . I think it would be reasonable to say that, from our point of view, we would be in favour of an extension that would create the space to hopefully conclude where we are and avoid the kind of issues that weve discussed within this interview. But it is a matter that needs full agreement across the European Council. The view from dublin there. But what are people outside the so called political bubble wanting to see next . John maguire has been in plymouth to find out. Just come inside to the harbour restaurant, where we are sheltered from the rain. We have assembled some auspicious guest, a professor from the university of plymouth, and a brother and sister, labour voter and conservative voter, a leaver and remainer. The absolute valhalla for broadcasting. Tell us about plymouth politically. What would we expect to see in plymouth in the next few weeks . Which way will the seats go, do we think . Well, plymouth has two very marginal seats and they often change hands. There was a poll done by the local newspaper about one year ago which suggested a lot of people now wish they had voted remain, and the other interesting thing is the student vote a lot of students will be badly affected by brexit and they will pick up the tab in terms of lost opportunities and rescuing the situation. And also, of course, plymouth has got lots of manufacturing firms on the outskirts, on trading estates, very dependent on the european market. They were set up here to actually get into the european market, so plymouth is likely to take a big hit, irrespective of whether there is a deal or no deal. Alex, labour voter, remainer. What do the next couple of months look like to you . Optimistic, pessimistic what do you think . Well, i think anyone who says they know what is going to happen is a fool, really. Parliament, the law comes into effect of no deal being taken off the table, but the opposition have come together to say they wont allow a general election because we know that boris is already trying to find a way around the law. So we will be heading towards a general, but god only knows when. We have to get through october first. A week is a long time in politics we say that over and over again. Jason, a conservative and leave voter. We are going to go over to dublin. There Prime Ministers have arrived. A handshake on the steps. Just seeing if we can get any sound on this. I will shut up for a minute. Thats disappointing, and i cannot lip read. But it all looked friendly and they go in for their talks and we will see if we can join helena and they go in for their talks and we will see if we canjoin helena in the hope that she might have heard what was happening there. Our reporter on the ground. There go the podiums, or here come the podiums, rather they arejust coming in from the rain, the podiums, rather they arejust coming infrom the rain, i the podiums, rather they arejust coming in from the rain, i think. The podiums, rather they arejust coming infrom the rain, ithink. We we re coming infrom the rain, ithink. We were hearing from our reporter at the scene there this morning that it has been drizzling on and off. Hence you see the plastic on there. But getting ready for a statement, so. We will come back to dublin as soon as they emerge at those microphones. Now, this is one of our most watched stories online. The pop starjesy nelson is calling for tougher consequences for online trolls. The little mix singer revealed in a bbc documentary that she tried to take her own life because of the cruel comments. Shes been speaking to our entertainment correspondent chi chi izundu. The winner of the x factor 2011 is. It should have been a moment ofjoy. Little mix. But, after the cameras had stopped rolling and the celebrations should have started, jesy nelson was reading messages online. There were so many messages, nasty ones. But the one that was at the top was from, like, a random man. And yeah, he was just saying how disgusting i am, and that i dont deserve to be in a girl band, and that i deserved to die. How do you feel when you post on instagram . Jesy says she still gets abuse on social media, but four years ago, the comments affected her so much she started missing work, fell into a depression, and attempted suicide. Now, when i look back on it, i cant believe i even did that. But when youre in that state of mind, you just you dont think about, like, what youre going to leave behind, or the people youre going to have an effect on. You just want to take that pain away. Thats all you care about. The documentary also highlights how her attempt affected the other band members. Because every Single Person should have been held accountable for making her feel like that. But bullying doesnt happen just to those in the public eye. One in five 12 15 year olds had experienced some kind of online bullying, and according to one charity, a joint Multi Agency Response is what is needed to combat it. Sorry to break out, we are going back to dublin because they are emerging at the microphone. That taoiseach followed by the premise that then they will be time for questions. Good morning, everyone, members of the press, ladies and gentlemen, Prime Minister. First of all, i really want to very sincerely welcome you to ireland and i look forward to our conversation this morning. I think we can both agree that we have much to discuss. First of all, allow me to say that we respect the democratic and sovereign decision of the british people to leave the European Union. We meet this morning at a point where it is a stated intention of the British Government to leave the eu on the sist government to leave the eu on the 315t of october with or without ideal. However, in my view, the story of brexit wont end if the uk ends the eu on the 315t of october or even the 315t ofjanuary. There is no such thing as a clean break or itjust getting it done. Rather, we willjust move on to a new phase. If there is no deal, it will cause severe disruption for british and irish people alike. Not so much on the continent. Whatever happens we will have to get back to the negotiating table quite quickly. And when we do, the first items on the agenda will be citizens rights, the financial settlement and the irish border. All issues which we have resolved in the Withdrawal Agreement with your predecessor, an agreement made in good faith by 28 governments. But if there is a deal, andl governments. But if there is a deal, and i think it is possible, we will enter talks on a future Relationship Agreement between the eu and the uk. It will be very tough, we will have to deal with issues like tariffs, fishing rights, product standards, state aid, and it will then have to be ratified by 31 parliaments. Prime minister, negotiating fdas with the uk and us and securing ratification in less than three years, i think will be a Herculean Task for you. But we do want to be your friend and your ally, you are a athena in doing so. And i think the manner in which you leave the eu will determine whether that is possible. I am ready to listen to any constructive ways in which we can achieve our agreed goals and resolve the current impasse, but what we cannot do and will not do, and i know you understand this, is agree to the replacement of a legal guarantee with the promise. Our businesses need long term certainty and the people of this island, north and south, need to know their livelihoods, security and sense of identity will not be put at risk as a consequence of identity will not be put at risk as a consequence of brexit. So the sta kes a consequence of brexit. So the stakes are high avoiding return to hide hardboard on this island and protecting our place are the priorities of the British Government in all circumstances are. We must protect the peace and also the economy of ireland. That is why for us economy of ireland. That is why for us the backstop is a critical component of the Withdrawal Agreement unless and until alternatives i found. We are open to alternatives i found. We are open to alternatives but they must be realistic ones, legally binding and workable, and we havent received such proposals to day. I know we have spoken twice by phone already andl have spoken twice by phone already and i know we have very much a shared desire to see the Northern Ireland institution restored and the secretary of state are working closely on that. The good friday agreement is the best example if ever we needed it to shout that all foes can come together to deal with the most contactable problems and as co guarantors of that agreement i look forward to exploring with you out working with the Northern Ireland parties we can restore power sharing and devolution. I am confident we will be able to find some Common Ground today and in doing so im determined to defend the piece, the all ireland economy. I know you are an admirer of the great Winston Churchill, as am i, and you have written elegantly about him in yourcareer. And you have written elegantly about him in your career. In the middle of the second world war, Winston Churchill and the army chief of staff, lord allan brookes, made a long and perilous journey across the ocean by plane. They reach the coast of ireland shortly after 4am and the description of their first sight of ireland is unexpectedly poetic for a normally reserved military man. Id like to finish by sharing that with you. Beautiful moon shining on a sea of cloud, and out of the darkness, dark patches loomed up on the horizon, which turned out to be the horizon, which turned out to be the north coast of mayo. We soon struck the coast, only visible by moonlight. The pm was as thrilled as i was. I fear that this debt when you fluent this morning into a very cloud it dublin was not quite as spectacular or thrilling, but you cant nonetheless at a Crucial Point in our history and the relationship between our two countries. We may sometimes differ, but we are bonded by our shared past and our shared kinship andl by our shared past and our shared kinship and i think we have a shared dream, two, one of peace, freedom and prosperity. I look forward to our discussions today and invite you to make your remarks. Thank you very much, taoiseach, it is wonderful to be here in dublin and i thank you very much for the very warm welcome you have given us insight of the slightly chilly weather which i congratulate the media on braving, as you will eye this morning. You andi as you will eye this morning. You and ifirst as you will eye this morning. You and i first met a few years ago when we jointly officiated at the Saint Patricks day parade, procession, in Trafalgar Square in london. It was a pretty joyous occasion Trafalgar Square in london. It was a prettyjoyous occasion and of course we then celebrated the contribution of the Irish Community to london and there in the vast crowds was of course the living embodiment of one of the densest and most intricate and most vital relationships in the world between any two countries. And together, leo, we both recognised that our pupils are the beneficiaries of the efforts of our predecessors. Politicians and others who put aside differences and who found compromises and who took our countries though its Forward Together in circumstances far tougher than now, and the results for both the uk and ireland are immense, notjust a peaceful and open border, but an Economic Partnership by which we in the uk eat 50 of all the cheese and beef produced in ireland, which is a lot. And the very captain of the world cup winning English Cricket Team was born in this city. So i believe our job now is to take that relationship forward and to build on it. We have auk forward and to build on it. We have a uk ireland summit in november, i look forward to that. And of course in all the ways in which the uk and ireland Work Together around the world, with shared values and shared interest. But, as you rightly say, taoiseach, before november, there right two tasks, political tasks, that we simply have to do. And we must restore the government in stormont in Northern Ireland, and i promise to work with you on our shared objective there. And of course we must get brexit done, because the uk must come out on october 31, by october 31, because the uk must come out on october31, by october31, or else because the uk must come out on october 31, by october 31, or else i fear that permanent damage will be donein fear that permanent damage will be done in the uk to trust in our democratic system. I know that brexit is not, to be perfectly frank, a problem, a conundrum that ireland wished for. And i think there are certainly questions that we need to resolve. There are three basic questions that we have to a nswer basic questions that we have to answer for the sake of our collective peace of mind. Can we ensure that we continue to have unchecked movement at the border of goods and people and indeed cattle . I think the answer is yes stop as someone who went to the border several times before the good friday agreement, and it shuddered to see watchtowers on uk soil, i can say now, as i have said many times before, the uk will never, ever institute checks at the border. And i hope ourfriends in the eu would say the same. Can we uphold the belfast good friday agreement in all its particulars . Again, i say the a nswer its particulars . Again, i say the answer is yes. And our commitment in the uk to the Peace Process is unsha keable. The uk to the Peace Process is unshakeable. Can we protect the economic unity of the island of ireland and the games that ireland has won through its memory of the eu Single Market . And again, i think the answer is yes. And i think we can achieve these things while allowing the uk to withdraw whole and entire from the eu. I acknowledge the complexities involved and the symbolism and the sensitivities evoked by the very concept of a border. But strip away the politics, and at the core of each problem you find practical issues that can be resolved with sufficient energy and spirit of compromise. Indeed, the current treaty must logically envisage that the problems can be solved, or the present protocol would never have been called a backstop. So i have one message that i want to land with you today. That is that i want to find a deal. I want to get a deal. Like you, ive looked carefully at no deal. I have assessed its consequences, both for our country and yours. And yes, of course we could do it, the uk could certainly get through it, but be in no doubt, that outcome would be a failure of statecraft of which we would all be responsible. And so, for the sake of business, other farmers and for millions of ordinary people who are now counting on us to use our imagination and creativity to get this done, i want you to know i would overwhelmingly prefer to find an agreement. Our governments have spent three years masticating this problem and so i think it is now time to honour the achievements of our predecessors, who tackled the fire worse problems, by cracking this one ourselves. I wont say we can do it all today, but i do believe that a deal can be done by october at the 18th, so lets do it together. Thank you very much. Thank you. Now we have an opportunity for questions starting with ite. Prime minister, taoiseach, ifi questions starting with ite. Prime minister, taoiseach, if i could put my question to you first, Prime Minister. You said that you travelled to the border before the good friday agreement. Am i correct in suggesting that you have not been there since you were foreign secretary and did your role as Prime Minister . And when i we going to see the details of the compromise offer you are prepared to make in order to solve this problem between next door neighbours . Taoiseach, a question in relation to the future of Northern Ireland. It is said that direct rule may be imposed in Northern Ireland if there is no deal. What would be the stance of the Irish Government in that situation, in keeping with