Transcripts For BBCNEWS BBC News At One 20240713

Grenfell tower fire. Some of harry dunns family arrive in america, hoping to launch civil proceedings against Anne Sacoolas and the us government. Thanks to an online campaign, englands rugby twins will be reunited in japan for this weekends big game. For us, being there as a family, its about supporting him. Its obviously a massive occasion. Us being there to support him, its absolutely an Incredible Opportunity for everyone involved. And in the sport on bbc news. Bring. It. On. Thats the rallying call from England Forward Billy Vunipola ahead of their Rugby World Cup final against south africa on saturday. Good afternoon and welcome to the bbc news at one live from westminster. So it looks as though a pre christmas election is now on after labour Leaderjeremy Corbyn said he would back borisjohnsons call to go to the polls in december. The Prime Minister will make a fresh attempt to get backing here in parliament any time now, but it seems more than likely that he will get his early christmas present. Unlike his attempt yesterday, today he just needs a simple majority to get his wish. Exactly when we go to the polls is still up for debate. The government wants december 12th, but the snp and liberal democrats want it on the ninth. But number ten sources have told the bbc they would accept december 11th to get opposition parties onboard and they have agreed to put brexit legislation on hold for now. Our Political Correspondent chris mason reports. Roll up, roll rollup, rollup, roll up, roll up, its election time. Labour have opposed a general election until now. Their support means an election in december will happen. We are ready for an election, we are going to go out there with a very strong message of how we transform our society, to end inequality and injustice and deal with a devastating poverty so many people face. We always said we wa nted people face. We always said we wanted an election, we do want an election, but we wanted no deal to be taken off the table and weve now had confirmation from all 28 eu Member States that no deal is off the table, so we are going to go out there with the Biggest Campaign this party is ever mounted. The conservatives have been saying for weeks that this place needs a clear out. That the current set of mps are blocking brexit. And now they will get their wish to try to change who sits here, but predicting the results of elections is frankly a mugs game. Nonetheless, the tories are happy. Lets get on the general election. Weve had three votes on it. Labour voted against having a general election three times, lets make sure you get a general election, get on with it straightaway. Parliament is rotten, parliament is broken, it is standing in the will of the british people to deliver brexit. We need to go to the people and let them have the choice. Thats what weve been asking to do. So here we go again. In 2014, there was the Scottish Independence referendum. 2015, general election, 2016, the Eu Referendum and a new Prime Minister, 2017, another general election. 2018, brexit negotiations, and this year, 2019, two mr brexit deadlines, a new Prime Minister, and now another general election. The Scottish National party say they will wait until a commons debate this afternoon before setting out their view on an election in december. The lib dems say. Our preference was to have a general election early in the week of the 9th of december. We will look carefully at this bill. We may put down an amendment on the day. Looking to may be the turn for the 11th, our preference would have been the ninth. But some labour mps will oppose a general election. They say the priority should be another Eu Referendum. As a matter of principle, a general election, the secret is in the name, general election, its everything but governing the country. You shouldnt have one, its not a democratically legitimate way to resolve brexit, so far better to do that via a referendum. But those opposing an election here now looks certain to be in election here now looks certain to beina election here now looks certain to be in a minority. This afternoon, mps will debate the specifics, not least the day in december we will go to the polls. After weeks of uncertainty, there is now some clarity. Its election time again. Chris mason, bbc news at westminster. Norman smith is with me. And they are. At last. Borisjohnson has had three goes and today it would seem certain we are heading towards an election because the main parties are now backing it. So short ofan parties are now backing it. So short of an earthquake nsw one, a winter election is on. It threatens to be an absolutely seismic election because for all the main parties it carries huge risks forjeremy corbyn. He goes into it no money party are deeply wary of the polls, which dont look good but also uncertain about whether they should be backing an election or whether they should hang tough, leave Boris Johnson almost helpless in downing street and keep pressing for another election. The lib dems and the snp, tensions in their ranks too. One lib dems mp heidi alan this lunchtime says she is standing down because she doesnt want to fight this election. But the biggest risk is surely for Boris Johnson because election. But the biggest risk is surely for borisjohnson because we have been here before. Theresa may tried exactly the same trick with a election and ended up crawling back into the downing street stripped of her majority. But for borisjohnson, there is a particular risk. He goes into the selection as the man who failed to deliver on do or die, his core pledge when he stood for the leadership, he has not met, and he does not know whether the electorate will punish him for that, but for all of us, it is going to be a humongous election because it probably will shape whether brexit happens, or whether we do had towards another referendum. Norman, thank you very much. 0ur reality check correspondent chris morris looks now at what this means for britain leaving the eu. Only one things really been confirmed for sure so far this week and thats that the uk isnt leaving the eu on october 31st. So whats the path to brexit now . Or the path to stopping it . Well, route number one, have an election and hope it produces a majority for someone, which gives a bit more clarity. The government tried to call an election yesterday via the fixed term parliaments act, but it needed a two thirds majority in the house of commons. And as we know, it didnt get one. So its next option is to change the law with this new one line bill, which only needs a simple majority of mps to support holding an election in december. And it would mean the government wouldnt reintroduce its brexit legislation before that election. If there was an election on any date in december, well, what then . If the conservatives won and got themselves a working majority, theyd then have the numbers to push their version of brexit through on or before january 31st. But any other result . A labour victory, perhaps, or a Hung Parliament where there was no majority for leave . Then we could be looking at a further brexit delay, maybe a referendum to put the question back to the people, or if the liberal democrats got their way, revoking article 50 and stopping brexit altogether. There is another way forward, though. What if theres no election this year because parliament wont vote for one . The government initially said it would then put the whole brexit bill on the back burner. But that may not be sustainable. So there could then be a new programme motion, a new timetable for scrutinising that brexit legislation in more detail. It wouldnt be entirely in the governments control. Thered be amendments calling for things like a commitment to negotiate a new Customs Union with the eu in the future or holding another referendum on the deal before brexit happens. If the bill became law, well, brexit could still happen by january 31st, the end of the new extension period, but it may not be quite the brexit the government had in mind. If the bill didnt pass, if no majority could be found to support it, well, again, the eu would have to decide whether to agree yet another extension, and then maybe wed finally be heading for a general election in the spring. In other words, no simple answers. So much for those promises that leaving the eu would be the easiest thing in the world. So do voters really want another election . Phil mackie is in birmingham finding out what people think there. Yes, simon, birmingham voted narrowly to leave when the referendum happened in 2016 but at general elections in 2017, nearly all of its constituencies returned labour mps. However, because some of those constituencies voted significantly to leave, they will be nervous about places like northfield and even yardley, that they might lose in the general election, so is this an election which would be entirely about brexit . Would it even resolve matters . Thats what ive been asking people in the city this morning. I think the general election will be entirely about brexit. As far as im concerned, it is, yes. Whatever happens, we will end up at the Hung Parliament again basically, so possibly we will get virtually nowhere. For you, will be on brexit lines . Would you vote for the party who supports your idea . Yes. Could anything sway the other way . Highly unlikely. It is a general election a good thing politically at the moment . general election a good thing politically at the moment . I think politically at the moment . I think politically at the moment, everything is obviously a mess and it has been for a couple of years. I think the country just it has been for a couple of years. I think the countryjust once a bit of stability now. Im not sure whether an election can give that. Do you think a general election in december, is going to be a good thing . I guess it is, because then we will know where people stand now that we are more informed about brexit and what could possibly happen. Brexit is a different issue. If it happens or not, my main point of concern is how we take the country forward. I was remain but i would like to back boris. I think is doing a good job. Do you think having the election in december is a goodidea . Having the election in december is a good idea . Yes. Why . Labour wont get out because its too cold. I thinkjeremy corbyn looks a bit frightened. Do you think the election will sort brexit out . You tell me i hope so. Yes. So no brand from bristol here, simon. No brenda from birmingham, im afraid. No shock at the announcement there will be an election. Probably shocked theyve managed to agree at least some kind of data. Phil, thank you very much in birmingham. Ill be back from westminster at the end of the bulletin but for now, back to you in the studio. Simon, thank you. Now todays other main stories. The london fire brigade has been condemned for systemic failures in its response to the Grenfell Tower fire. The bbc has seen the conclusions of an inquiry into the tragedy that claimed 72 lives which says fewer people would have died if the building had been evacuated sooner. The full report will be published tomorrow. Sarah corker reports. The Grenfell Inquiry was set up to get to the truth about what happened, how a small kitchen fire turned into one of britains worst modern disasters. This report sharply criticises the london fire brigade. It concludes with an earlier decision was made to evacuate instead of telling families to stay put inside, its likely more lives would have been saved. While the report praised the courage of firefighters on the night, it found there were serious deficiencies in command and control, inadequate training, problems dealing with 999 calls, basic information on the building was missing, and the Communication System didnt work properly. This is the first emergency call of the night. Residents were told to stay put for nearly two hours. My uncle lived on the top floor of the tower and he called the Fire Services on a number of occasions that night. He was calm, collected, because he was told to stay where he was. They knew where he was and they we re was. They knew where he was and they were coming to get him. And then, eventually, the smoke came into his flat. And he died. You know, they didnt do enough, i feel. Tower blocks are designed to stop fires spreading but the report ruled the cladding on the outside of this building failed to with regulations. The head of the london fire brigade was also personally criticised for her evidence at the enquiry, described as insensitive. Her evidence at the enquiry, described as insensitivelj her evidence at the enquiry, described as insensitive. I wouldnt change anything we did on the night. But speaking earlier this month, she said lessons had been learned and she now accepts the stay put policy failed that night. So if i was able to know about the building, what i know now, clearly wed have to do. We didnt know that about the building. No building should ever have behaved like that. It let the people of grand fall down. The ground full families want at this level of criticism and scrutiny and there has, though, been some frustration that no decision on bringing criminal charges will be made until the enquiry is complete. The second phase of it are set to start next year and will look at the refurbishment of the building in 2016 and the materials used. Justice for grenfell. Families are been waiting more than two years for a nswe is. Waiting more than two years for answers. The london fire brigade said it would be inappropriate to comment before the report is officially released tomorrow. The sister of harry dunn, the teenager killed in a motorbike accident involving the wife of a us diplomat, arrived in new york last night. The dunn family hope to launch civil proceedings against Anne Sacoolas and the us government. 0ur correspondent Duncan Kennedy is in new york. What more are the family saying . What more are the family saying . What module they hope to do . What more . The dunn family are not giving up more . The dunn family are not giving up the fight on both sides of the atla ntic up the fight on both sides of the atlantic for what they call just as for harry. Harrys sister lanacolin arrived with her husband harry is sister lana arrived with her husband colin in the early hours of the morning. The family is to take legal action in the united states. They will sue Anne Sacoolas, the driver in the collision with harry in august, for damages. They are launching a petition against the us government, they want the government to come clear about what it says are flaws in its policy of diplomatic immunity. Those proceedings will be live in the coming days, they have appointed a web lawyers in philadelphia to act on behalf of the family on the side of the atlantic. Secondly, the family are here to keep up the profile of the harry dunn story. Ten days, to mix ago, harrys parent shelley and tim were here. Ten days, two weeks ago. They did a lot of present that the president. Lana and colin are here to try to get on tv shows, to do the same thing, to keep up the profile. The maintainers to get Anne Sacoolas to come back to the uk and, in their words, face justice. To come back to the uk and, in their words, facejustice. The main aim is to get. Thank you, Duncan Kennedy in new york. The inquiry into the contaminated blood scandal of the 1970s and 80s has been hearing more evidence from some of the people who were infected. 0ur Health Correspondent Sophie Hutchinson has been listening to the testimony of malcolm slater, who is a haemophiliac and was given infected blood products. He says he received mysterious home visits from medical researchers dressed in protective clothing, wanting to take blood samples. Some of the tens of thousands of nhs patients infected with hiv and hepatitis after being treated with bad blood in the 70s and 80s. Hepatitis after being treated with bad blood in the 705 and 805. swear by almighty god is that the evidence that i shall givejudge michael today the inquiry into the treatment disaster heard from malcolm slater, a moderate haemophilia, and his wife, violet. She described how after he was treated with infected blood products, medical researchers and protective clothing started playing their mysterious home visits. He proceeded to open the bag, take out what i would call 5cene proceeded to open the bag, take out what i would call scene of crime outfit5 what i would call scene of crime outfits and put them on. I remember thinking, this is crazy, you know . They have come to talk to us about research which would help haemophiliac5, what is going on . I wa5 haemophiliac5, what is going on . I was shocked when haemophiliacs, what is going on . I was shocked when they asked for my blood. I was not that winning to give it to them. Unknown to the couple, malcolm had been infected with hepatitis c with the blood Factor Factor with hepatitis c with the blood factorfactor eight, with hepatitis c with the blood Factor Factor eight, created by using blood from prisoners in the us. Some batches were also contaminated with the then recently discovered hiv infection. Violet describes reading about it in a newspaper headline. describes reading about it in a newspaper headline. I recall my legs shaking, feeling physically sick and weak at reading that, and my immediate thought was, thats what the guys are testing us for, the people in the protective clothing are testing us to see if weve got whatever this is. You describe it as a terrible day, you thought, weve got it, they must think we have eight . And i thought. We talked about it and i thought, i wonder if we all have it, if the baby has got it. Would itjust be one of us . Would malcolm die and i would be left . The inquiry is coming through hundreds of thousands of documents and will eventually medical experts and will eventually medical experts and former politicians to give evidence about how much they knew at the time of treatment about these dangerous blood products and the catastrophic impact they would have on so many catastrophic impact they would have on so many lives. Sophie hutchinson, bbc news. The time is1 20pm. Our top story this lunchtime a pre christmas vote looks to be on, as labour say they will back Boris Johnsons fourth attempt to get a general election. Mps are preparing to debate that. Coming up prince harry meets the uk team for next yea rs Invictus Games. He tells everyone taking part to enjoy every moment and look after each other. Coming up on bbc news. After injury lay offs, ellen white and georgia stanway will train with the england squad ahead of their internationals against germany and Czech Republic next month. Firefighters are now tackling more than a dozen wildfires in california. The latest blaze is affecting thousands of people in los angeles, where people have been forced to leave their homes. Much of the land in the state is bone dry, and winds of up to 80 mph are predicted in the mountains around la. From southern california, sophie long reports. This is the latest blaze that quickly became a terrifying inferno, sweeping through hundreds of acres in just a few hours. Firefighters battling the getty fire in los angeles now have a short window of favourable conditions to try to contain it. Daylight means they can spray retardant from the air to slow the burn and stop the fires reducing more multi million homes to smouldering debris. Hours ago, this was someones home. It bears little resemblance now to what the People Living here left behind. In the early hours of the morning the fire, propelled by strong winds, swept up the hill. People living on the other side of the canyon were lucky, but you can see just how narrow their escape was. Some whove lived here for more than 50 years have never seen it so bad. Well, when i saw that sky completely red, just massive red sky, and a lot of smoke, i was concerned. Thats why i went right up to the fire line, to where the start of it was. Murray stayed last night but now hes preparing to leave. The wind is due to pick up again, increasing the risk of more fires and the rapid growth of those already burning. Meanwhile, thousands of firefighters continue to try to contain the kincade fire in sonoma county. Its been burning for a week and has swept through over 70,000 acres of californias wine country. Sophie long, bbc news, los angeles. Two british tourists have been seriously injured in a shark attack in australia. The pair were snorkelling off the whitsunday islands in queensland when they were attacked, as jon donnison reports. Shark attacks in australia are relatively rare. But, for those who get in the water, that threat is always there. The latest victims have been named locally as 28 year old Alistair Raddon from southampton on the left, and 22 year old danny maggs from plymouth. The two british backpackers had been visiting the whitsunday islands in queensland. Theyd been snorkelling off a tour boat when the attack happened. They were airlifted to hospital after receiving initial treatment on the boat. One of the male patients was attacked first and the shark is believed to return and come back and attack the second patient. Both patients were loaded onto the vessel they were out on on the day cruise. There were believed to be two International Paramedics on board that vessel, who have instigated first aid treatment. Paramedics say mr raddon had his foot bitten off, mr maggs sustained leg injuries but Authorities Say they are both lucky to be alive. I cant praise the Emergency Personnel enough. They had done a fantasticjob. The water police secured the site. The ambos went to work on the people involved in the incident straightaway. Shark nets are now used by some australian states, including queensland, to try and reduce such attacks. Drones are also used to monitor the seas and warn people if sharks are in the area. There hasnt been a fatal attack in australia for more than a year but today, a reminder, however unlikely, the risk hasnt gone away. Jon donnison, bbc news. Team uk for next years Invictus Games has been announced at an event hosted by prince harry, who helped create the games. About 500 Wounded Armed Services Personnel and veterans from 19 nations will take part in the tournament next year. 0ur royal correspondentjonny dymond was at this mornings launch event. Something very, very close to prince harrys hart, of course . Very close to his heart, he came here this morning, he has been pretty public about his troubles recently but there was no sign of that today, practically bounced up to say hello to the 65 or so men and women who make up the uk invictus team, and whilst he was their having his photo is taken, he was joshing and choking with them, they were roaring with laughter at points. He was glad to be here, and why not . This was the project he thought of when he was making a journey back from serving in afghanistan back to london. He had injured servicemen on the plane, he realised he wanted to do something that would make a difference to the men and women who had served and are serving, who are wounded, injured or sick. The fifth Invictus Games will take place at the hay, the 65 men and women he met here will go to the hague in may next year. Today was the first step, i suppose, on theirjourney. They we re i suppose, on theirjourney. They were selected out of 350 people who competed in july, were selected out of 350 people who competed injuly, they will train for the next few months ready for the competition in the hague. Not the competition in the hague. Not the biggest sporting event in the world, that one of the ones with the most weight. Thank you, jonny dymond. Lets stay with sport. As England Rugby fans scramble for tickets to japan to watch the final against south africa this weekend, one mans motive for being there is perhaps stronger than many. Ben curry is the twin of England Forward tom, and he also plays professional rugby for toms club side sale. But, asjoe wilson reports, getting permission from his boss to skip work took some effort. There have always been two currys from birth. Ben and tom learned to play rugby together, both became professionals with sale sharks, basically play in the same position and, as they reveal to the bbc, can only really be separated by the different way they brush their hair. I think thats kind of stuck now. Its not intentional, itsjust. I think this looks better and he thinks that looks better, but i dont agree. Tom currys performances have been crucial for england in the Rugby World Cup. With his twin in the final, get ben to japan was the online campaign. His club agreed to release him, the flight was booked and brother tom in japan was getting the tickets. He doesnt know it yet, but hes bought mine. Hes paid for mine. No, were good with that in terms of family members. For us being there as a family, its about supporting him. Its obviously a massive occasion and for us being there to support him, its an absolutely Incredible Opportunity for everybody involved. Ben currys played for england at Age Group Level with his brother. They still live together. Tom will return with the world cup, but he will find two new residents in the family home tough rugby players need pet cats. Tom will hopefully return with the world cup. Rosa and lily, so from our perspective thats lily on the left and thats rosa on the right. So whos looking after the cats while youre away . So one of our housemates is going to. I spoke to him this morning, hes going to look after them. Well, planning is everything, as eddie jones knows. A lot on his mind this week as he prepares england to play south africa on saturday in the ultimate match. But at least theres just one curry in his squad those that have coached the twins together do admit they cant actually tell them apart. Joe wilson, bbc news. Time for a look at the weather. Heres darren bett. Looking sunny for lots of people . Similar weather to yesterday, most parts of the uk enjoying some sunshine for the rest of the day, dry in many areas. Further south across the uk, skies look different. Not only do we have more cloud but it is quite windy in the south west of england. Whilst many places are dry we have over 50 flood warnings on rivers in england and the seven has a fever flood warnings, particularly when the kidderminster area. Rain is mainly affecting the far south west of england, some showers further north, the main band will not move very far, there will be showers into eastern scotland down the eastern side of england, lots of places will be dry, many of us lots of places will be dry, many of us enjoying sunshine and temperatures of 9012 degrees. We have the rain in the south west, still quite windy for a time this evening. Further north, fewer showers and clearer skies, where we keep the cloud in the south, temperatures will be higher. Further north, the frost is more likely across Northern England and into scotland, like last night. Here we will have light winds, mist and found patches to clear away as well. We are close to the centre of the High Pressure which is dominating the weather at the moment, we are being squeezed by these weather fronts in the south west and they will bring the rain