Transcripts For BBCNEWS The 20240703

Major test of Public Opinion before a General Election later this year. Theres little good news for Prime Minister rishi sunak. At a by election in Blackpool South, his party suffered its Third Largest swing to the Opposition Labour Party since the second world war. At a local council level, the results are no better. The conservatives have lost half of the seats announced so far. Experts say they could be on track to lose a staggering 500 councillors, one of the worst performances at the polls in four decades. Heres our Political Editor chris mason. Cheering. Northallerton in North Yorkshire this afternoon. The Prime Minister lives a few miles away, and look whos turned up to rub his nose in it. York and North Yorkshire, the wider county so often rock solid conservative, has elected a labour mayor. Weve had really good results across the country all day long, but this is a very, very special moment, david, to become the mayor here. And thank you to the team for all the fantastic work that they have done. Because through the villages and the towns of North Yorkshire, people have voted for change. There have been smiles and red rosettes all over the place, taking the council in the Military Town in aldershot in hampshire. Labour did the same in hartlepool in the north east of england. And on the south coast in ada in west sussex, where theyve never won before. But five independent candidate standing on a pro gaza Platform Cost Labour Control in oldham in Greater Manchester as evidence labours stance on gaza has had an impact, particularly in places with a significant muslim population. Earlier, keir starmer was in blackpool to celebrate winning a westminster seat there. Winning wasnt surprising, the scale of labours victory was. Music. The mood music for the Prime Minister pretty dire, then. Rishi sunak was in Catterick Garrison in North Yorkshire. Obviously its disappointing to lose good, hard working conservative councillors, and im grateful to them for all their service in local government keeping council tax low and delivering services for local people. But weve still got lots of results to come. One of their few islands of optimism in a sea of gloom, the tees valley. The Conservative Ben Houchen wearing victory, but not a tory rosette. He won by a million miles last time. It was much closer this time, and he had this message for the Prime Minister. The people that im hearing that may not be thinking about voting conservative or are currently thinking whether they want to vote conservative at the next general i election, they want more progress. We need to give them the excuse to vote for us, and we havent quite given them that excuse yet. And in classic marginal harlow in essex, the conservatives managed to cling on, just. The Liberal Democrats delight in the less than subtle photo opportunity. Here they are in winchester in hampshire. Lets make this conservative government history cheering. Theyre suggesting here the conservatives are soon to be as dead as, yes, the dinosaurs and point to gains theyre making at the tories expense. In so many parts of the country, itll be conservative mps worried about Liberal Democrats. Across the south east, the blue wall, the south west, in many other parts of the country where we are the challenges to the conservatives, people know that if we want to get rid of this awful conservative government and make them history, they should vote liberal democrat. Reform uk, the successor to the brexit party, gives some conservatives the collie wobbles. They came within a whisker of beating the tories in the blackpool by election. Whats rapidly becoming clear is basically as more people hear about reform, were becoming the real opposition to the labour party in the north, in the midlands, in wales. Were on the way up, and its quite clear that the tories are on the way down. And the green party is volunteering a bow. This is hastings in east sussex. The trend of the greens steady rise in local politics continues. A fantastic set of results for the green party. The fifth local election in a row i where we scored a Record Number of green councillors being elected, winning seats in all corners of the country from labour. And from the conservatives, in rural and urban areas alike. The Democratic Process comes with certain rituals colour, stamina and sleep deprivation. And winners clutching babies. There are yet more results to come tomorrow. Chris mason, bbc news. Lets speak now to our westminster correspondent harry farley. What does the results that we have seen so far, what are they tell us about any potential General Election coming up . I about any potential General Election cominu u . ~. , about any potential General Election cominu u . ~. , coming up . I think with a telus is the results coming up . I think with a telus is the results are coming up . I think with a telus is the results are going coming up . I think with a telus is the results are going to coming up . I think with a telus is the results are going to be coming up . I think with a telus is the results are going to be pretty| the results are going to be pretty dire for the conservatives, if you extrapolate out from these results certainly. It was not a good night for the conservatives, and if we take that forward to a General Election it does not look very positive for them. Member when rishi sunak when he became premonition or his immediate challenge was to stabilise the economy and bring some certainty and call him back to government. Many did that in many ways. His second challenge is to revitalise the conservative party fortunes. They were far behind the polls when he took over. And from the results that we have seen tonight, they are still very far behind in the polls. What it tells us about a General Election is not good for the conservatives, huge swings from them to labour across the board. We heard about Blackpool South and that by election for the Monitoring Constituency there. A massive sling of 26 from the conservatives to labour from there. The question for labour is habit than enough notjust to become the Largest Party in westminster but to gain a majority . That recall would be a huge task. They currently. The conservatives have currently a majority of somewhere in the 50s. In 2019, the conservatives had a majority of more than 80. It would be a mammoth task for labour to overturn that and i become only the Largest Party but again the majority in the question for them is they have had a good night and they have done well, but the projected share of the vote if we take the results that we have had in its template then out across the country, we estimate that lara would win 34 of the vote. That is good but we are not quite clear if its good enough for a majority. Not quite clear if its good enough for a majority for a maority. 0k, interesting, thanks for a majority. 0k, interesting, thanks very for a majority. 0k, interesting, thanks very much for a majority. 0k, interesting, thanks very much indeed. Lets speak to joe twyman, co founder and director of the Public Opinion consultancy deltapoll. Good to talk to you, thanks for joining us. Good night for liver my . Is good as they wouldve wanted it to be, do you think . I is good as they wouldve wanted it to be, do you think . To be, do you think . I would say it was definitely to be, do you think . I would say it was definitely good to be, do you think . I would say it was definitely good for to be, do you think . I would say it was definitely good for labour to be, do you think . I would say it was definitely good for labour but | was definitely good for labour but perhaps was definitely good for labour but perhaps not as good as the most positive perhaps not as good as the most positive support is full of hope for. Similarly for the conservatives, it is clearly a very bad conservatives, it is clearly a very had set conservatives, it is clearly a very had set of conservatives, it is clearly a very bad set of results but not as bad as it perhaps bad set of results but not as bad as it perhaps could have been. Now we still do it perhaps could have been. Now we still do have some votes to still be counted. Still do have some votes to still be counted, but i think that if rishi sunak counted, but i think that if Rishi Sunak For counted, but i think that if Rishi Sunak For instance were to preside over a sunak for instance were to preside over a victory for andy street in the west over a victory for andy street in the West Midlands mayor election and the West Midlands mayor election and the perhaps in london susan hall get within the perhaps in london susan hall get within may the perhaps in london susan hall get within may be Single Digits of the mayor within may be Single Digits of the mayor there, they will probably be seen as mayor there, they will probably be seen as as mayor there, they will probably be seen as as good as they couldve expected seen as as good as they couldve expected under circumstances. Yes, they might expected under circumstances. Yes, they might lose 500 council seats, but given they might lose 500 council seats, but given their position in the polls but given their position in the polls nationally and notjust in the most polls nationally and notjust in the most recent ones but really over the last couple most recent ones but really over the last couple of years, i think thats probably last couple of years, i think thats probably the best that they can hope for. ~. , probably the best that they can hope for. , , probably the best that they can hope for. , for. What is this tell us about timinas for. What is this tell us about timings for for. What is this tell us about timings for a for. What is this tell us about Timings For A General for. What is this tell us about i timings for a General Election . For. What is this tell us about timings for a General Election . With the premise to be sitting at home and look at these results and pour over them and think i will have a General Election sooner or wait as long as i can . Aha, General Election sooner or wait as long as i can . Long as i can . A really interesting ruestion, long as i can . A really interesting question. And long as i can . A really interesting question, and we long as i can . A really interesting question, and we dont long as i can . A really interesting question, and we dont really long as i can . A really interesting l question, and we dont really know the answer~ question, and we dont really know the answer. It could be for instance that the the answer. It could be for instance that the backbench discord among the conservatives gets so strong that rishi conservatives gets so strong that rishi sunak believes he is not going to he rishi sunak believes he is not going to be able rishi sunak believes he is not going to be able to make it until the autumn to be able to make it until the autumn and that he has to call an election autumn and that he has to call an election now. 0r possibly face of the Vote Election now. 0r possibly face of the vote of No Confidence which could the vote of No Confidence which could damage the conservative party even further. I think thats not the most even further. I think thats not the most likely even further. I think thats not the most likely option but nor do i think most likely option but nor do i think we most likely option but nor do i think we can rule it out. Instead i think think we can rule it out. Instead i think the think we can rule it out. Instead i think the conservatives will be thinking think the conservatives will be thinking we have to hold a General Election thinking we have to hold a General Election at thinking we have to hold a General Election at some point between now and january of next year, and so what and january of next year, and so what is and january of next year, and so what is the and january of next year, and so what is the least worst time to hold that given what is the least worst time to hold that given our position in the polls and the that given our position in the polls and the direction in which those polls and the direction in which those polls are and the direction in which those polls are moving . So that points to my mind polls are moving . So that points to my mind to polls are moving . So that points to my mind to a late november or perhaps my mind to a late november or perhaps early december or perhaps even january of next year. Tell perhaps early december or perhaps even january of next year. Perhaps early december or perhaps even january of next year. Tell me a bit about the even january of next year. Tell me a bit about the election even january of next year. Tell me a bit about the election in even january of next year. Tell me a bit about the election in london bit about the election in london for mayor as those walks this at the results not coming out until saturday or tomorrow evening. Why is london so keep the conservatives and labour . ,. , , labour . London firstly has historically labour . London firstly has historically been labour . London firstly has historically been a labour . London firstly has historically been a labour| labour . London firstly has i historically been a labour city labour . London firstly has historically been a labour city but in recent historically been a labour city but in recent elections has become increasingly popular among Labour Voters increasingly popular among Labour Voters. Thats important because there voters. Thats important because there are voters. Thats important because there are large numbers of mps up forgrahs there are large numbers of mps up forgrabs and indeed there are large numbers of mps up for grabs and indeed it may be the case that for grabs and indeed it may be the case that those few remaining conservative mps in the capital will look at conservative mps in the capital will look at the conservative mps in the capital will look at the london result for mayor and say look at the london result for mayor and say actually maybe my seat could be at and say actually maybe my seat could he at risk and say actually maybe my seat could be at risk. Alternatively, if susan hall, be at risk. Alternatively, if susan hail, the be at risk. Alternatively, if susan hall, the conservative candidate, over performance, we might see conservatives within the capital huoved conservatives within the capital buoyed by the success and think actually buoyed by the success and think actually maybe i have a chance. So ultimately actually maybe i have a chance. So ultimately its a big story, and local ultimately its a big story, and local elections are made up of a range local elections are made up of a range of local elections are made up of a range of small stories but also the bil range of small stories but also the big overall range of small stories but also the big overall story. And the mayor of london big overall story. And the mayor of london is big overall story. And the mayor of london is always one of those individual london is always one of those individual stories that attract a lot of individual stories that attract a lot of attention and provides a lot of momentum for the wedding party. 0k, of momentum for the wedding party. 0k. Good of momentum for the wedding party. 0k, good to talk to you as always, thank you very much indeed. If you want to read more about the election results, go to the bbc website with a full result of all the results from wherever you are. And also of course looking ahead to what the results mean for both the labour party and the conservative party and all other parties involved in the elections as well. Lets turn now to the israel gaza conflict, because turkey says it will halt trade with israel until a permanent ceasefire and humanitarian aid have been secured for gaza. Trade between the two countries was worth around 7 billion last year. Heres the turkish president on that decision. Translation the whole i of the west works for israel. They all work for israel, in particular the united states. By mobilising all these resources, unfortunately the poor, impoverished, destitute people of palestine were condemned to death in the face of these israeli bombs. We could no longer stand it, and we took our steps. Israels foreign minister, israel katz, said the move breaks International Trade agreements and accused president erdogan of behaving like a dictator. So how do turkeys imports and exports compare with israels other top trade partners . The biggest by far is the united states, atjust over 26 billion. Next is china, at ia. 6 billion overall. Germany and israel did more than 8. 5 billion of trade last year, while india and israels Trade Wasjust over 7 billion. Here is Frank Gardner injerusalem on what is real� s response has been. The media in israel did not really report the media in israel did not really report on the media in israel did not really report on and then a few hours ago a statement report on and then a few hours ago a statement from the foreign minister, from his statement from the foreign minister, from his office, announcing a series of measures from his office, announcing a series of measures in retaliation for this. I of measures in retaliation for this. I mean of measures in retaliation for this. I mean they of measures in retaliation for this. I mean they are clearly stunned by in the i mean they are clearly stunned by in the government here. So they are going in the government here. So they are going to in the government here. So they are going to retaliate by in a number of ways, going to retaliate by in a number of ways, of going to retaliate by in a number of ways, of appealing to economic forms to sanction ways, of appealing to economic forms to sanction turkey for breaking what they say to sanction turkey for breaking what they say its trade agreements. They are going they say its trade agreements. They are going to they say its trade agreements. They are going to optionally look for alternative suppliers to replace turkish alternative suppliers to replace turkish supplies and i should just say that turkish supplies and i should just say that of turkish supplies and i should just say that of the roughly 7 billion of bilateral trade each year, 76 of that is of bilateral trade each year, 76 of that is turkish exports. So its probably that is turkish exports. So its probably going to hurt turkey more than israei~ probably going to hurt turkey more than israel. But the one area where ithink than israel. But the one area where i think turkey will be really annoved i think turkey will be really annoyed about this is that the israeli annoyed about this is that the Israeli Foreign Ministers Office has said Israeli Foreign Ministers Office has said they will look to basically interfere has said they will look to basically interfere with turkeys economic relations interfere with turkeys economic relations with the Palestinian Authority in gaza. They are going to try and authority in gaza. They are going to try and impede those links to basically try and impede those links to basically hurt turkey back for this. Lets speak to piotr zalewski, whos the Turkey Correspondent for the economist, and hejoins me from istanbul. Good to talk to you, thanks for joining us. What is the reaction in turkey . Obviously the president there has very key demands in pulling out of of these deals. Does he expect those to mass to be met . Surely not. I he expect those to mass to be met . Surel not. , he expect those to mass to be met . Surel not. ~ ,. ,. , surely not. I think this was not made for surely not. I think this was not made for domestic surely not. I think this was not i made for domestic consumption. Surely not. I think this was not made for domestic consumption. I think the made for domestic consumption. I think the context made for domestic consumption. I think the context of made for domestic consumption. I think the context of their made for domestic consumption. I think the context of their as made for domestic consumption. I think the context of their as the i think the context of their as the president think the context of their as the president has think the context of their as the president has been think the context of their as the president has been under think the context of their as the president has been under quite| think the context of their as the president has been under quite some pressure president has been under quite some pressure domestically president has been under quite some pressure domestically to president has been under quite some pressure domestically to suspend pressure domestically to suspend trade pressure domestically to suspend trade with pressure domestically to suspend trade with israel. Pressure domestically to suspend trade with israel. Remarkably pressure domestically to suspend l trade with israel. Remarkably given that this trade with israel. Remarkably given that this is trade with israel. Remarkably given that this is a trade with israel. Remarkably given that this is a leader trade with israel. Remarkably given that this is a leader who trade with israel. Remarkably given that this is a leader who has trade with israel. Remarkably given that this is a leader who has like i that this is a leader who has like in the that this is a leader who has like in the conduct that this is a leader who has like in the conduct of that this is a leader who has like in the conduct of israels that this is a leader who has like in the conduct of israels war that this is a leader who has like in the conduct of israels war in. In the conduct of israels war in gaza in the conduct of israels War In Gaza To in the conduct of israels War In Gaza To Genocide in the conduct of israels War In Gaza To Genocide and in the conduct of israels War In Gaza To Genocide and accuses i Gaza To Genocide and accuses benjamin Gaza To Genocide and accuses Benjamin Netanyahu Gaza To Genocide and accuses Benjamin Netanyahu of, Gaza To Genocide and accuses. Benjamin netanyahu of, called Gaza To Genocide and accuses Benjamin Netanyahu of, called him a butcher Benjamin Netanyahu of, called him a butcher of Benjamin Netanyahu of, called him a butcher of gaza, Benjamin Netanyahu of, called him a butcher of gaza, everyone Benjamin Netanyahu of, called him a butcher of gaza, everyone has Benjamin Netanyahu of, called him a butcher of gaza, everyone has beenl butcher of gaza, everyone has been accused butcher of gaza, everyone has been accused by butcher of gaza, everyone has been accused by some butcher of gaza, everyone has been accused by some in butcher of gaza, everyone has been accused by some in his butcher of gaza, everyone has been accused by some in his own butcher of gaza, everyone has been accused by some in his own camp. Butcher of gaza, everyone has been| accused by some in his own camp of being accused by some in his own camp of being soft accused by some in his own camp of being soft on accused by some in his own camp of being soft on israel. Accused by some in his own camp of being soft on israel. And accused by some in his own camp of being soft on israel. And i being soft on israel. And i think that perception being soft on israel. And i think that perception to being soft on israel. And i think that perception to some being soft on israel. And i think that perception to some extent| that perception to some extent explains that perception to some extent explains his that perception to some extent explains his partys that perception to some extent explains his partys rather explains his partys rather disappointing explains his partys rather disappointing showing explains his partys rather disappointing showing in. Explains his partys rather disappointing showing in local elections disappointing showing in local elections here disappointing showing in local elections here on disappointing showing in local elections here on march disappointing showing in local elections here on march 31. L disappointing showing in local elections here on march 31. Recall that a elections here on march 31. Recall that a hard line elections here on march 31. Recall that a hard line islamist elections here on march 31. Recall that a hard line Islamist Party that a hard line Islamist Party which that a hard line Islamist Party which had that a hard line Islamist Party which had been that a hard line Islamist Party which had been calling that a hard line Islamist Party which had been calling on that a hard line Islamist Party which had been calling on the| which had been calling on the government which had been calling on the government to which had been calling on the government to cut which had been calling on the government to cut trade which had been calling on the government to Cut Trade Withj which had been calling on the government to cut trade with israel received government to cut trade with israel received 6 government to cut trade with israel received 6 of government to cut trade with israel received 6 of the government to cut trade with israel received 6 of the vote, government to cut trade with israel received 6 of the vote, a received 6 of the vote, a significant received 6 of the vote, a significant blow received 6 of the vote, a significant blow to received 6 of the vote, a i significant blow to erdogan. Received 6 of the vote, a significant blow to erdogan. This received 696 of the vote, a significant blow to erdogan. This is in our significant blow to erdogan. This is in your view significant blow to erdogan. This is in your view more significant blow to erdogan. This is in your view more of significant blow to erdogan. This is in your view more of an significant blow to erdogan. This is in your view more of an internal i in your view more of an internal political move rather than a Foreign Policy move. What kind of an impact is this going to have on the turkish economy . Is this going to have on the turkish econom . ~. , is this going to have on the turkish econom . ~. , i. Is this going to have on the turkish econom . Economy . Well, as your correspondent mentioned. This economy . Well, as your correspondent mentioned, this is economy . Well, as your correspondent mentioned, this is going economy . Well, as your correspondent mentioned, this is going to economy . Well, as your correspondent mentioned, this is going to hurt mentioned, this is going to hurt turkish mentioned, this is going to hurt turkish exporters mentioned, this is going to hurt turkish exporters more mentioned, this is going to hurt turkish exporters more than mentioned, this is going to hurt turkish exporters more than israel. About turkish exporters more than israel. About or turkish exporters more than israel. About or more turkish exporters more than israel. About or more than turkish exporters more than israel. About or more than 5 turkish exporters more than israel. About or more than 5 billion turkish exporters more than israel. About or more than 5 billion of turkish exporters more than israel. About or more than 5 billion of thel about or more than 5 billion of the 7 billion about or more than 5 billion of the 7 billion in about or more than 5 billion of the 7 billion in trade about or more than 5 billion of the 7 billion in trade was about or more than 5 billion of the 7 billion in trade was turkish 7 billion in trade was turkish exports 7 billion in trade was turkish exports. They. 7 billion in trade was turkish exports. They, too, 7 billion in trade was turkish exports. They, too, are 7 billion in trade was turkish exports. They, too, are scrambling for ways exports. They, too, are scrambling for ways to exports. They, too, are scrambling for ways to try exports. They, too, are scrambling for ways to try to exports. They, too, are scrambling for ways to try to re route exports. They, too, are scrambling for ways to try to re route those i for ways to try to re route those exports for ways to try to re route those exports to for ways to try to re route those exports to israel. For ways to try to re route those exports to israel. Now for ways to try to re route those exports to israel. Now one for ways to try to re route those exports to israel. Now one has i for ways to try to re route those l exports to israel. Now one has to realise exports to israel. Now one has to realise that exports to israel. Now one has to realise that todaydecision exports to israel. Now one has to realise that todaydecision does i exports to israel. Now one has to. Realise that todaydecision does not wipe out realise that todaydecision does not wipe out trade realise that todaydecision does not wipe out trade between realise that todaydecision does not wipe out trade between turkey realise that todaydecision does notj wipe out trade between turkey and israei~ wipe out trade between turkey and israei~ israel wipe out trade between turkey and israel. Israel on wipe out trade between turkey and israel. Israel on the wipe out trade between turkey and israel. Israel on the one wipe out trade between turkey and israel. Israel on the one hand israel. Israel on the one hand is scrambling israel. Israel on the one hand is scrambling to israel. Israel on the one hand is scrambling to find israel. Israel on the one hand is scrambling to find alternatives, | israel. Israel on the one hand is. Scrambling to find alternatives, to products scrambling to find alternatives, to products that scrambling to find alternatives, to products that it scrambling to find alternatives, to products that it imports scrambling to find alternatives, to products that it imports or scrambling to find alternatives, to products that it imports or has products that it imports or has imported products that it imports or has imported from products that it imports or has imported from turkey. Products that it imports or has imported from turkey. All products that it imports or has imported from turkey. All the | products that it imports or has imported from turkey. All the other hand, imported from turkey. All the other hand. Turkish imported from turkey. All the other hand, Turkish Companies imported from turkey. All the other hand, Turkish Companies are imported from turkey. All the other. Hand, Turkish Companies are probably scrambling hand, Turkish Companies are probably scrambling right hand, Turkish Companies are probably scrambling right out hand, Turkish Companies are probably scrambling right out to hand, Turkish Companies are probably scrambling right out to try hand, Turkish Companies are probably scrambling right out to try to scrambling right out to try to reroute scrambling right out to try to re route trade scrambling right out to try to re route trade via scrambling right out to try to re route trade via Countriesl Scrambling right out to try to i re route trade via countries like jordan, re route trade via countries like jordan, Egypt Re Route Trade via countries like jordan, egypt and re route trade via countries like jordan, egypt and perhaps jordan, egypt and perhaps azerbaijan jordan, egypt and perhaps azerbaijan jordan, egypt and perhaps azerbaijan. Jordan, egypt and perhaps azerbaian. ,. ,. , azerbaian. Good to talk to you, thank azerbaijan. Good to talk to you, thank you azerbaijan. Good to talk to you, thank you very azerbaijan. Good to talk to you, thank you very much azerbaijan. Good to talk to you, thank you very much indeed azerbaijan. Good to talk to you, thank you very much indeed for| thank you very much indeed for joining us. Protests over the war in gaza are continuing around the world with thousands of students joining demonstrations at universities. Weve seen pro palestinian activists and counterprotesters on campuses across america, with Police Moving in to make arrests and break up the marches. The protests arent just in the us, though. Theyve spread to universities across europe, and this is the prestigious Sciences Po University in paris. Today, police removed Student Activists who had occupied the buildings in protest at israels actions in gaza. Lets hear from one of the students involved in the protest. Translation its unacceptable that europes leading university, and the worlds second largest, in Political Science cannot take a stand under International Law on the Current Situation in gaza. And were still waiting. Our basic request was to cut the links with israeli universities that are more or less complicit. The uk has announced new sanctions against some Israeli Settlers for attacks in the occupied west bank. Its the second such round of sanctions imposed since february, and it follows similar moves by the eu and us. The foreign secretary, lord cameron, called on israel to clamp down on those responsible for what he called egregious violence against palestinian civilians, saying extremist settlers were undermining security and threatening peace prospects. He also said the uk would not hesitate to take further action if needed. Still to come on The World Today. The United Nations warns of the fallout in the sudan civil war. And a post Office Lawyer accused of lying at a trial of a pregnant sub postmistress. Around the world and across the uk, this is The World Today on bbc news. Now to sudan as fighting and arbitrary killings intensify. A Senior Un Official has warned the situation in sudan will have ramifications well beyond the Horn Of Africa unless more is done to halt the civil war between the army and the Rapid Support forces. Theres been increased fighting around the city of al fashir in north darfur in recent weeks. Lets remind ourselves about how the conflict has impacted the country. A year after fighting between the Sudanese Armed forces and the Rapid Support forces began, more than 15,500 people have been killed, 25 million are in need of humantiarian aid and around 9 Million People are displaced. Here are two aid workers on the humanitarian situation on the ground in south sudan, where thousands of sudanese refugees have fled. I see people coming from sudan because of the war. They need peace, they need shelter, they need water, sanitation, hygiene. I see a number of kids just playing around. They have not gone to school yet, and they are fear with war. And they want to move a better place from here. As you can see, this is where they live around here. And the Living Condition is terrible. They dont have shelter, they dont have food, the water is still a problem here. The chief of unicef� s darfur field office, antony spalton, says he is extremely alarmed by the deteriorating humanitarian situation. The biggest concern is access. If we can get supplies into darfur either from the east from port sudan or from here where i am in chad, we can then get the supplies to the children, to the mothers that need them. For example, we know that there are 243,000 children with severe acute malnutrition. If we can get therapeutic food. To the mothers, to the children, we can save those lives. Negotiations are taking i place at various levels at the international level, at the regional level, and of course in port sudan, here on the ground in chad, | we negotiate at the local level. But for now, were not able to make an impression. We had nine months last year where we enjoyed reasonable access, but since february, the doors have. Been closed and we really dont have access for those vital supplies. A former lawyer for the post office has been accused at the inquiry into the horizon it scandal of telling a big fat lie about not knowing that there was a bug in the horizon it software. Jarnail singh was directly involved in prosecuting a Pregnant Subpostmistress back in 2010. The bug was not disclosed at the trial of seema misra, who was wrongly convicted of theft and false accounting. Mr singh denies the allegations made against him. Emma simpson sent this report. Mr singh, are you going to tell the truth today . The questions are mounting for the former post Office Senior lawyerjarnail singh, beginning with this one. You were covering it up in 2013 and in 2015, werent you . No, i wasnt covering it up. You were covering up your own guilty knowledge. No, i wasnt. He helped prepare the case against seema misra. She was sent to prison in 2010 eight weeks pregnant. She blamed horizon for her losses. But shortly before her trial came this report Written By Fujitsu engineer garethjenkins about a bug affecting branch accounts and how he could use Remote Access to fix it. And then heres a note about the meeting that followed warning about the potential impact upon ongoing legal cases. The inquiry saw how it was all forwarded in this e mail to jarnail singh, the header showing it printed minutes later. I dont recall seeing it, dont recall printing it. This was saved in your drive, wasnt it . I dont even know what youre talking about. I dont know how to do. These things worked. You dont know how to save a document . No. This was just three days before seemas trial. The material was never disclosed. It couldve stopped her Wrongful Conviction and many others that followed. All of this, if i received it, if i read it, is a big fat lie, isnt it . No, its not. And you know it, mr singh. I didnt come here to lie. Im at an age where ive come to assist the inquiry. He said he didnt know about the bug for anotherfew years. A hard watch for seema and her husband here today. Did you believe him . No. They didnt care they were sending |an innocent person to the prison. | all they were ever concerned about, the horizon name to be saved. Butjarnail singh did say this. I admit mistakes were made. And im ever so sorry that mrs misra suffered, and i am ever so embarrassed to be here a bruising day for a lawyer who says he cant remember many of the details. Emma simpson, bbc news, at the post office inquiry. The king is making his third appearance in four days, attending the horse show a Firm Favourite of his mother. He is watching some of the evening events. He returned a public facing duties on tuesday. Im backin public facing duties on tuesday. Im back in a few minutes. Stay with us. Hello there, good afternoon. Well, it was the warmest day of the year so far across all four nations yesterday. Temperatures rose into the low 20s in celsius. Here they are, and we are set to keep the warmth today across Western Scotland and northern ireland, although not quite so much sunshine here. But across england and wales, its a lot cooler, a drop in temperature of around ten degrees celsius across parts of east anglia, where theres plenty of cloud and some more outbreaks of rain. So really quite wet and cloudy for much of england and wales this afternoon. Watch out for some thunderstorms, too, from yorkshire and lincolnshire, just pushing northwards and westwards through the afternoon. Some sunny spells developing across the south coast of england, but the best of the sunshine again will be for scotland, particularly the north and the west, where once again we could see 20 to even maybe 23 degrees celsius. Now, as we had through of this evening and overnight, that Weather Front continues to lift its way further northwards, taking the cloud and the rain with it. Therell be a lot of mist and murk into tomorrow morning, particularly for north sea facing coasts. Its a lot chillier further south for southern england and south wales. Clear skies, some radiation fog forming. Temperatures back to mid single figures, but much milder of course further north underneath all that cloud, that continues again to push its way northwards through the day tomorrow. So a bit of a north south split going on on saturday. Still some breaks in the cloud across North Western areas of scotland, but the best of the sunshine tomorrow will tend to be across southern england and south wales, too, and that will really help to lift the temperatures, 16 17 degrees, back up to the seasonal average, but watch out for some afternoon showers. Now on sunday, important not to take the graphics too literally at this stage, but at the moment we think this area of low pressure is going to wind its way in from the south and the west, so there will be some showers here. More showers developing further north as well, but in the sunny spells, and there will be some, it will feel pleasantly warm as it does at this time of year. And its another day of sunny spells and some showers again on bank holiday monday. The focus for the showers probably towards the south of england at least through the morning. More showers developing across Northern England and scotland as we head through the afternoon, but again do keep checking the forecast because the detail is likely to change. Heres the Temperature Outlook for our capital cities, then, as we head through the weekend and into the start of next week. Temperatures around average, warm in the sunshine, but there will be some wet weather at times. Bye bye. This is The World Today from bbc news, the headlines. Cheering a big day for the uks political parties, as labour wins big and the conservatives suffer heavy losses in key local elections across england and wales. While labour loses control of oldham amid a backlash over the gaza war. Police in canada make arrests over the killing of an indian sikh separatist leader. And coming up. We speak to the 73 year old drummer whos gone viral online. She talks to us live. Lets get more now on the local elections across england and wales. Labour lost control of oldham council, in Greater Manchester, the Prime Minister rishi sunak acknowledged it was a disappointed set of results, they didnt lose control of oldham Greater Manchester control of old ham Greater Manchester after losing control of oldham Greater Manchester after losing seats to independence, after losing seats to independence, a reporter in oldham, kevin fitzpatrick, told us whether the israel gaza war had an impact on votes in the area which has a muslim population