Valving senior politicians from 7 party's political correspondent Susan sume reports this might be the thick of an election campaign but the attack united all 7 politicians in paying tribute to the bravery of the emergency services and expressing sympathy with the families of those who'd been killed and injured despite that somber background there was an intense debate too over the n.h.s. Spending plans immigration and brags that on that the conservatives Richie soon act insisted that Boris Johnson's deal met the u.k. Could finally move forward but the s.n.p. Leader Nicholas sturgeon and the Greens Caroline look has claimed the promise to get breaks it done was a cold and a law I arguing that in reality there be months of wrangling over a trade deal and maybe new deal are told at the end of it the prime minister of mulcher is coming under increasing pressure to resign following his involvement in the investigation into the death of a journalist 2 years ago the Labor party on the island has cancelled an event can't was due to speak out on Sunday he's been accused of protecting several colleagues as police investigate the car bomb attack that killed Daphne kind of on a Galatea in 2017. The energy supplier n power has announced a radical restructuring plan which could lead to the loss of 4 and a half 1000 jobs in the u.k. The firm's owner the German energy provider on said that it would be merging the 2 company's customer service operations and computer systems to reduce costs Ian said the u.k. Energy market was very tough and its earnings had been hit by the government's energy price cap Christina McInerney from the union Unison says it's dreadful news for empowers workers in certain areas like with their like Sunderland where this employer is one of the biggest employers in the area even though it's not going to happen immediately or probably thump and it will happen over the next 12 months it's a huge body blow for people. I mean a half weeks before Christmas they've already made a client out people have generally devastated by the Iraqi prime minister Abdul Mahdi has said that he'll offer his resignation to parliament the day after security forces killed more than 40 people protesting against his government in several cities the country's most influential Shia cleric Ayatollah Ali al Sistani had condemned the bloodshed and urged M.P.'s to reconsider their support for the prime minister nearly 400 protesters have been killed since the demonstrations began almost 2 months ago the former Conservative m.p. Harvey Proctor has said that he hopes the size of his financial settlement with the Metropolitan Police will deter officers from assuming the guilt of innocent suspects he'll receive a total of almost 900000 pounds in compensation and legal costs following Scotland Yard's disastrous investigation into false claims of a paedophile ring at Westminster Mr Proctor said he had not wanted to make a fortune from public funds but wanted enough money to put his innocence beyond doubt I think it should knock him out of the public purse it should come out of the pension poss of the Metropolitan Police officials and officers who got this matter so wrong it seems to be the police are the only organization that do not accept responsibility when they are negligent some O'Farrell has said that he will defend his 10000 meter title at next summer's Olympic Games in Tokyo the 4 time Olympic champion announced 2 years ago that he was quitting track events to concentrate on the marathon. Charles thank you you're listening to the world tonight with resi Iqbal for the 2nd time in the run up to an election there has been a terror attack in the capital once again on London Bridge 2 people have been killed and a number injured a police officer has shot and killed the man thought to be the perpetrator who was wearing a fake bomb video footage on social media showed the suspect being wrestled to the ground by passers by and large knife being extracted from him followed by police officers pulling members of the public clear and then firing 2 shots at the prone figure on the pavement Karen Bosch was on a bus 4 to 5 meters away from what happened on London Bridge it looked like there was a fight going on but there are people who are filling with each other and then you realize that with police and wrestling with 100 bearded man and then the guy was lying on the floor he then called his coach Mark which showed that he had thought that Anthony whether it's that bad or you know some pretty clear is that the police then really quickly moved back with the way the commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Cressida Dick paid tribute to those who had been caught up in the attack my heart goes out to their loved ones and to the 3 further injured victims. Who I understand are being treated in hospital and of course to everybody who has been affected by today's terrible and mindless events. Politics just as it was in 2017 has been affected tonight's b.b.c. Election debate was opened by Nick Robinson. Good evening once again tonight London and the country as a whole laughing to come to terms with a horrific terror attack 2 members of the public are now dead as is the man who attacked them others are injured some seriously now we will of course reflect on that tonight as well as covering the many other important issues confronting the country before we vote in less than 2 weeks time. Well 7 participants focused on those who were directly affected paid tribute to the police and those members of the public who ran towards danger rather than away from it to help the prime minister has cancelled all political events tomorrow to focus on London Bridge He's been speaking to reporters tonight we've received the heart breaking news tonight that 2 members of the public have lost their lives in this attack and obviously off it's a very much with them their families their loved ones and everybody affected by the attack and by frankly 1st of all to the emergency services the police for their bravery and their professionalism and I'm not going to be chairing the government's emergency Cobra committee and while it is too early to say exactly what happened we will make sure that the government gives the police and the security services all the support that they need there will be for reassurance purposes and in homes to police presence on the streets I have long argument that it is it a mistake to allow serious and violent criminals to come out of prison and it is very important that we get out of that habit and that we enforce the appropriate sentences for dangerous criminals especially for terrorists that I think the public want to see obviously we're not hearing it I know that you won't be personally campaigning tomorrow will the conceived his be campaigning more widely and how long might a suspension in campaigning allow Well I think it's very important that in a democracy we continue to get on with the democratic process and I think it's vital that we show respect to the victims to their families and certainly we would knowledged that and campaigning has been suspended and the opposition parties of also suspended campaigning in London but I think it's very important in a democracy that we are not bowed little intimidated by terrorism that we get on with the normal democratic processes and that's what we'll be doing. The prime minister speaking this evening well on the line now is the b.b.c. Security correspondent Frank Gardner Frank what if anything do we know about this man who was shot dead by police to this afternoon well details have started to emerge not through official sources but really from more from eyewitnesses and quotes he's been described as in his early thirty's tall bearded I mean there's of you who've seen young fortunate footage online will probably already gather that but he is somebody who was attending a criminal justice event that was taking place very close to London Bridge in the fishmongers hole and there are unconfirmed reports that he already had a criminal record and was known to police and I when I spoke to government officials in the immediate are after the events they were adamant that this was not an intelligence led operation that he wasn't being followed it wasn't like earlier instance where somebody is brought down by police because they're being watched I think that's perhaps the problem that he wasn't being watched so now the question is what is the motive of this person is not going to be able to answer any questions of course because he's he's dead he was shot dead at the at the scene he died at the scene of the attack but he had 2 knives very large knives which he was using with dreadful effect. He was chased out of there on to the bridge and that's where he was confronted overpowered before the police eventually shot him dead because they thought he had is who is almost certainly because he had what looked like a suicide device bomb device on his around his waist. Frank I wonder if I can ask what might seem like a pretty simple question why is it that people wear the fake suicide bombs because this isn't the 1st time we've seen this it's Norton there is a apparently here with the attack that took place in London Bridge 2 and a half years ago where those 3 men. They drove a van into pedestrians then got out and they were wearing fake suicide devices there are 2 reasons really one is to inspire further terror do to inflict further terror to you know when you see somebody whether what looks like wires coming out and what looks like a possible detonator It's absolutely terrifying but I think there is another reason as well that in the case of jihadist attacks and we still don't know exactly the motive for this one but for jihadist attacks they view these as what they call Arabic and. The martyrdom operation where you seek to to end your own life and they don't want to go to prison in most cases hardcore jihadists would rather go up in a ball of flames. Than be convicted and spend long years boring years in a prison so wearing a suicide vest guarantees that as soon as the police turn up on the scene they most likely to shoot them dead because they don't want to take the chance the police don't take the chance of the person going to press the trigger and blow up even more people. Frank Gardner security correspondent joining us live well in the run up to the general election of 2017 there were 3 terror attacks in the u.k. London Bridge as we've mentioned when 8 people died in the Manchester Arena bombing in which 22 people lost their lives but there was also an attack on Parliament with 4 people being killed on Westminster Bridge on that day March the 22nd the m.p. Tobias Elwood rushed to help despite being told by the police to stay back Mr Ellwood gave mouth to mouth resuscitation and c.p.r. To Police Officer Keith Palmer who later died of his injuries Mr Elwood is on the line now good evening Mr Elwood much of the talk this evening again is of heroic bystanders who rushed to help and the police having to push them off because there was this possibility that there was a real suicide vests that this suspect was wearing do you think that they should have done that I mean I I wonder just informed by your own experience of 2017 where the us thinking that tonight. Oh it will for 6 I joined others and the saying she was concerned about the welfare of those who are affected and for the South so let's go to those breathed it's a terrible evening but a huge praise to emergency services who within 5 minutes were on the sea unable to close this down but you touched on something really interesting which is a desire for individual members of the public who are there through no fault of their of the wrong time and wants to do the right thing and that sense of almost duty if you like of actually throwing caution to the wind and saying no you terrorists whatever you're doing you will not succeed we are going to stop you and I can't praise more those who choose to do do that it's not everybody will want to step forward 'd people react in different ways it's not a no go til you're right or wrong about this but to see this now happen to recognize that occasionally very tragically we have these attacks but British people individuals saying this isn't going to happen on the watch and I think we can be very proud of the reaction that happened in this tragedy and it is interesting isn't it that there has been a very wide scale knowledge study done on real life conflicts captured by c.c.t.v. Footage which shows that that everything goes against the idea of this kind of war con by society that people in office in different and in that context I just wonder about the issue of safety because there is real danger Hey when we see on that social media for one man walking away with an incredibly knowledge knife that was extracted from the south spade. Again it's a spin of the moment decision when these things happen but what we saw here is not just one or 2 individuals but a number of individuals of citizens simply deciding immediately they're going to actually corner this person down and then frankly emergency services arrived and concluded the events and it was key. Goes down instantaneously I think this is a very powerful message to any would be terrorists that you will not when you will be cornered you'll be captured you'll be arrested or you'll be shot as we saw that today you're not going to affect and change our way of life our values or even interfere with our elections and you must be thinking tonight some of your own intervention despite the police telling you to stay back. I try not to think about it I don't not done well to do it to deal with that that's my own personal decision that I need to do it done just come out of more praise for those you know who have what they've acted today we live in a very dangerous Well there's a NATO summit coming to Britain next week big questions about terrorism radicalization you just heard Frank Gardner talk about the jihad is this people who think they're going to be rewarded with a fast track to paradise seemingly because they can then blow other people up over 10 city or at least die in their act there is much work for us to do in recognizing radicalization online civil This is not going to go away since the attack that took place here it wasn't intelligence led there was this we'll see how much this person is on the radar to keep our country safe individuals just grabbing a knife or crude weapon that can be radicalized so easily there's much work for not just us but the international community to do to to recognize this ongoing threat just very briefly do you think that political campaigning should should pause for a little longer than just today and tomorrow it's absolutely right that the prime minister course called Cobra meeting spoke with the intelligence agencies the Mets parts and committees police and the counterterrorism units to understand and conclude that this was a lone individual and that you know the dangers been sorted and that will take time tomorrow too but absolutely on against anybody thinking that whatever acts can actually interfere with that democracy I'm pleased to learn as they from others that the bars and pubs and so forth around on the London Bridge and so forth and the area are absolutely full this evening so be it British life continues on it will not be thwarted by terrorist attacks and he said would Thanks for joining us. It was that was. After nearly 2 months of anti government demonstrations more than 350 people killed and thousands injured there was a moment for some celebration today in the Iraqi city of Basra protest as wave national flags as they marched and chanted in response to the news that the Prime Minister Abdullah Abdullah the said he would resign crucial to the Prime Minister's decision was the intervention of the leading Shia cleric in the country Ayatollah. The ayatollah is the most influential religious figure in the country where Shia Muslims are in the majority he condemned the use of deadly violence against peaceful anti-government protest as a day after the security forces had killed dozens of demonstrators the ayatollah spokesman Sufi appeared to urge parliament to consider changing the country's leadership for. The parliament from which this current government is drawn is asked to reconsider its choice in this regard and act according to Iraq's interests and preserve the blood of its children to prevent the country from slipping into violence and chaos and destruction. The protesters 1st took to the streets on October the 1st their concerns covered a range of issues from lack of jobs corruption poor public services but they have also been marked by a feeling of resentment and anger about the growing influence of Iran in the country yesterday was particularly deadly with 48 people killed in the cities of Baghdad Nasiriyah and Joffe where the Ukrainian consulate came under attack. So the prime minister has offered to stand down but protest as a saying that even his resignation. Wasn't enough. To do what they want to sell it then I was imagining it was clear we want to send a message that he is not the entire problem he is only part of the problem they would be delusional if they think that they can use the as a scapegoat and that people will withdraw from the streets. Well the prime minister's resignation will be presented to parliament on Sunday when there will be an emergency session to discuss the crisis I'm joined here in the world tonight studio by Laith Kubba who is a former advisor to Prime Minister Mahdi Les Cooper what do you think is he definitely going to go will Parliament accept this resignation I think it has already happened and meetings are taking place right now in Baghdad to work out the alternative and the fact that no Geoff spoke so clearly against him and he instantly instantly responded It's just fair to complain and I think we're we're moving on now the whole eyes are set to lose the future what you say the whole of the world is you know everyone's eyes are set to the future what will that future look like is there going to be a caretaker government will he have to head that can take a government or will there be another person it's not clear he had the constitution says that the president would assume that position for the next 15 days while parliament tried to make up its mind who to to have as a prime minister but certainly this is going to be a period of uncertainty because there is no decisive force there is no decisive political block there is no even decisive institution in the country there is something in the Constitution but the politics of it is really messy and not just the politics because so much of the politics is being defined by what's happening on the streets and it's quite clear that those protesters want to see the whole apparatus come down you know they're looking for entire profound change here aren't they I think the protesters have made it loud and clear at a very clear statement for they do not want the question is how to get there and how to get there it has to be done within the process within across. Situational process and it has to be done through navigating or dealing with real power holders there are this is mainly happening amongst the Shia as there are 2 major shift blocs both of them are armed one closer to Iran one is more independent but there are equality tribes that are there is the religious leadership in Niger there are the protesters in the street so to have to try to make sense out of all that and agree a process is not going to be easy. Do you think that it can happen without outside intervention I want to ask you about Iran in just a moment but it can Iraq deal with this Iraq could have dealt with it much much better if there was a less foreign intervention including it on the un is in Iraq I think it still held with high regard the under present day of met with the supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Sistani an old the commitment has been put there I think there has been a good proposal on a new electoral law the u.n. Has said it's going to help so Iraq would welcome to you and help but beyond that I don't think they would welcome any other intervention Well let's talk about the influence of Iran in Iraq that's clearly a major concern for the protesters do you think that that is the prevailing concern over and above the concerns about corruption the lack of jobs in the terrible public services I think the 2 are related in the eyes of the public those bad political groups or parties who are up to the ears and corruption are actually close to Iran and over the years Iran has used them to consolidate its influence Currently Iran needs economy because it's under sanctions so they have a vet. State and trust and they have relied on bad a partner is an Anarch So the backlash came primarily against Iran because of its bad association with those groups I think leaders in Iran now are reviewing this and have it to them it's a shock that in the 2 holy cities of fledge and Karbala their consulates get burned by Shia protesters themselves so there is a message loud and clear to the Iranians to review what they're doing in Iraq Laith Kubba former advisor to Prime Minister the soon to be former Prime Minister thanks for joining us here in the world tonight studio quick reminder if you'd like to listen back to any of this program all previous programs you can go to our website where you can also download the podcast pod cast the headline so far on the world tonight 2 people have been killed in what's being treated as a terrorist incident at London Bridge sources have told the b.b.c. The suspect who was shot dead by police was a former prisoner there are reports he was connected to Islamist terror groups prime minister of Malta is coming under increasing pressure to resign following his involvement in the investigation into the death of a journalist 2 years ago and the energy supply and power has announced a radical restructuring plan which could lead to the loss of 4 and a half 1000 jobs in the u.k. . Now as we mentioned earlier 7 senior figures from all the major political parties took part in a life b.b.c. Debate tonight less than 2 weeks before December the 12th after they had discussed today's terror attack they moved on to more robust discussions on topics including Bracks it the n.h.s. And immigration our political correspondent Nick Utley was watching with those Airlie exchanges on London Bridge where considerably more somber and contemplate if there were often used in these debates lots of discussion and a fair amount of consensus on responding to that attack but when it got on to the whiter campaign there was no huge gotcha moment or political jaw dropper but the good old fashioned knock about and some of the issues dominating this campaign so far 1st up was spending a question many have been asking can the parties really afford what they are promising voters tense exchanges on this between Labor and the conservatives Rishi said he was representing the Tories repeating a lot of the warnings we've had from the party about what Labor would do in power calling their plan reckless Labor's Rebecca long Bailey in turn accusing the Tories of what she called a fabricated lie in their sums on Labor's proposals just a quick fact check remember the Institute for Fiscal Studies said yesterday that neither labor nor the Tories were offering credible spending plans in their money face to another big dividing line you won't be surprised to hear was Bracks it a lot of focus tonight on whether Boris Johnson's big campaign slogan the one we see plastered everywhere get bricks done is realistic or not the argument of many was well that it is not that our years of talks ahead even if a deal is passed before the end of January as Mr Johnson is promising 1st here's the Lib Dem leader George Swinson he said that we're so far lol. I'm sorry I'm sorry to have to say this but we are so not far along with this pranks attorney you know the idea that Briggs is going to be down we're like in episode one of a 10 season box set and if you don't like what you've seen up to no you don't have to watch the rest there was a similar argument from Labour's Rebecca long Bailey it will lead to elongated trade talks Michael Bonnie a said it would take up to 3 years and not before you want us trade talks or trade talks with any other organizations or countries that will put potentially our n.h.s. On the table vs M.P.'s Nicola Sturgeon also described the idea of getting breaks it down as quote the biggest cause of this election and she asked the question the others of posed in recent days too will a new deal exit be back on the table at the end of next year if there is no trade deal agreed remember the Tory manifesto said explicitly that they want to extend the next part of talks on a future tree deal beyond the end of 2020 now the conservative approach on this is not to address the question directly instead to see we've got to deal before against the odds and we will get one again he has received we've been here before now was the only question Albert all said the prime minister didn't want a break the deal there said he couldn't get a break the deal it would be impossible but he did he did get a great new deal and he got it in 3 months he was always there and you and you were a volunteer now and you'll notice that he didn't directly answer the question of whether or not you will be back on the table what Boris Johnson has made it clear today the New Deal preparations will continue if he's back in power now the wasn't a great deal of tension between the Tories and the BRICs a party tonight an interesting element save a couple of references from the breaks the party's chairman Richard Tice to as he sees them flaws in Boris Johnson's deal but there was some disagreement between those parties opposed to Mr Johnson's plan. There was criticism of labor from the play coming leader Adam Price I knew him when I was at Westminster he spent more time with voting with me than he did with his own party back then he was a conviction politician who said what he believed clearly you know without fear or favor and yet on this central question it is a heart you know whether we like it or not of this election he won't even say where he stands that was of course Mr Price talking about the Labor leader Jeremy Corben in part due to the fact that played out targeting Labor seats in wheels there was also this from Carol in Lucas of the greens on the liberal democrat plan to revoke Article 50 in the unlikely situation the Lib Dems win a majority and when you're listening to this just remember these 2 parties are working together in many seats in England in Wales I do think that to go for a unilateral revocation is a slap in the face of 17400000 people who voted to leave so that's why I think it is important that they have you you know people do have their say in a Democratic president but more democracy can never be briefly so far there are cracks in the idea of a remain Alliance and perhaps more evidence that those in the leave site are more united in this election than those on the remains site there was a bit more consensus on the need to take action on the environment and there were lengthy exchanges on another issue which is dominated in the last few days the future of the National Health Service labor in the Conservatives again clashed on whether it would be on the table in a trade deal with America labor of course say yes Mr Sinak called that a conspiracy and there was this frosty exchange one of many between Scotland's 1st Minister the s.n.p. Or Nicolas start and the breaks of parties Richard Tice and the truth is that with a proper braces we can cut prices we can raise wages with a sensible immigration policy and that will grow the economy gas everybody exactly closer to I was just chuckling at Richard saying that it doesn't manifest so then the brakes. Party preferred but not spending commitments on the state of a party he used to say we got 350000000 a week extra for the n.h.s. If people like him the public don't trust Ok let's kind of merge and they'll be sharing a drink in the green room tonight I mean an election game changer there was an but again a good reminder of the issues at the heart of this campaign and the big choice the country faces on the 12th of December nakedly who with a comprehensive snapshot of tonight's election debate let's turn now to our panel who have also been watching the debate joining me in the studio here is Henry 7 political correspondent for The Times and Anne McElvoy seniors at The Economist joins us on the line good evening to you both Let's start with just reflecting on the kind of somber tone with which the debate started because of the terror attack in in London Henri's f m And that really did mark the beginning of it didn't it it did and all the candidates were pains to stress that their thoughts were elsewhere and that their sympathies were with the victims and their families and lots of them praised the passes by he would clearly intervened. But actually pretty quickly the candidates from there went into one of the key issues of the election so several of the candidates Rebecca Baillie for labor Nicholas Sturgeon's the s.n.p. Pivoted pretty quickly to talking about police numbers which is an echo of what happened in the general election campaign 2 years ago when there were terror attacks during that campaign. And. I just wondered whether you just reflect for us just briefly on on the the way in which they talked about the terror attack. Yes I think it was one of those moments when the parties had to recalibrate very quickly the feeling in them both Conservatives and Labor on this I think went largely for the Liberal Democrats and others that it wasn't exactly the time to have barnstorming conscient kind of politics and that sort of become the debate a bit it did catch fire later on particularly over the n.h.s. Possible trade talks and how much the n.h.s. Would be involved in what form but I think if you look at it from Rebecca Bailie point of view let me go often has a tougher time being consistent or being seen to be consistent on what its message is own security and in terms of can it be relied on to protect the nation's security and I thought she was very determined to play a steady hand or that there was a bit of a problem it was him that without the presence that we didn't have things going to lead to the people we wanted to hear from. Very unwelcome and saddening circumstances when there is a real threat on the streets of capital and that can happen elsewhere in the country is it very unlikely to be in the hands of recent. Rebecca Baillie So I think they went very sensibly to a script which would be hastily agreed by their party leadership So let's talk about one of the issues that you mentioned the n.h.s. I mean it's quite clear that in the context of all of the possibility of a u.s. U.k. Trade deal the the allegations that Labor is making about the n.h.s. Came up and there was quite a feisty exchange and we didn't do you think that this is still deeply worrying that the Tories are going to have to continue to rip up these allegations Absolutely and got it from pretty much every side this evening I say pretty much for the 1st time there's been enough force on the right in this debate with a conservative in one of these election debates with a conservative so Richard toys who was there for the Brecht party repeatedly to. It upon himself to tell Nicholas sturgeon in particular but other people there too that it was nonsense that the n.h.s. Was for sale which sort of allowed her she soon for the conservatives to float above the fray a little bit but absolutely conservative strategists will be worried by the extent to which not just this is clearly becoming a major theme of the election but which all the other parties clearly think they can make hay for and I actually thought that Caroline Lucas and Nicholas sturgeon were the most effective of mobilizing this issue perhaps more so than Rebecca long Bailey for labor and Joe Swinton for the Liberal Democrats which spoke to the fact that actually the representatives of some of those minor parties in particular those 2 a much resort of the most experienced politicians on the stage where is where is really soon not going back a long Bailey in particular are both very fresh and were perhaps an addition in for having the right to do so it will indeed they may well have been a cowboy d. Do you feel that despite the prime minister today and yesterday saying that the n.h.s. Is not for sale that this this document that Labor are all putting forward is going to dog the next 10 days or so of this campaign I think there's a tendency to spin on the document to to say that the n.h.s. This is the n.h.s. . Is not for sale and lots of parts of the n.h.s. Are all subject to competitive contracts anyway the difficulty for conservatives is if you have to keep repeating that something is not happening you know you're in a defensive position and it is hard to say before you start trade negotiations what the other side exactly is going to want to discuss on drug pricing so the best thing you can say is which I think is also largely true no matter who's in in power it is actually for the government of the day in Britain to decide how it wants $200.00 guidelines on how to handle what might come out of that with difficulty then isn't I think so it's not really going to struggling a bit when you said well no you can trust us on this because we. We don't want to sell off the n.h.s. And people went in and said we don't trust you on the n.h.s. So you've got a kind of negative figure of 8 from from which the government of the day can all to escape I think it's largely a sort of slammed up. Because it is not exactly like agents of Donald Trump want to come in and take control of many struggling British hospitals but nonetheless it is an area where the conservatives have found I think hard to have a consistent message that didn't end up being on the back foot in saying this is not the way our opponents say it is just very briefly Henry Ritchie Sue not fail to rule out a no deal breaks it when he was pressed as well yet another problem for the conservatives or at least a potential problem with the votes they're trying to hold in that tent from remain as he voted Conservative in 2017 but they clearly come they don't want to remove that plank of what they see as their negotiating leverage going forward and he's often political correspondent for The Times newspaper and voice senior editor at The Economist thanks both. We are approaching the end of an important day the end of an era perhaps as the president of the European Council Donald Tusk and the president of the European Commission John told you can leave their jobs we shall miss their pithy pronouncements on Breck's it which have enlivened many a European Council Brussels correspondent Kevin Connolly is also going to miss them after 5 eventful break City years it is Davidson year to Donald Tusk and of reducing and or of wa to the multi-lingual. Purveyors of the occasional moment of levity in the arid procedural deserts of e.u. Summit to. Let Mr Young who's cursed with a medical condition that often recreates the symptoms of drunkenness in the hours after lunch he was drinking hungry strongman Prime Minister Viktor Orban with a cheery cry of Hello dictator he could be more reflective she thought that I did criticise Service saying yes so that night the British position was such that the outgoing Commission president denying he'd meant to call to reason May's political style nebulous when he called did nebular in French for a man who slips effortlessly between 3 languages in news conferences it was odd to see things lost in translation Donald Tusk style was more considered he has a very professionally managed social media presence and is addicted to the rubber overengineered one liner here he is on break that which he continues to hope will somehow be reversed I've been wondering what that special place in hell looks like for those who promoted the exit without even a sketch of a plan how to carry it safely and here he is channeling John Lennon when reflecting on how Briggs it might be reversed imagine that the European Union was built on the dreams that seemed impossible to achieve so hollow. You may say I am a dreamer but I am a lot younger the bottom line is that too skinny younger We're not quite the comedy double act that newspaper headlines sometimes suggested but when you consider their replacements Ursula funda line of Germany in the Belgian show Michelle we may yet come to look back on their tenure as a golden age of color Kevin Connelly just on track closing Headline 2 people have been stabbed to death in what police are treating as a terrorist incident at London Bridge sources have told the b.b.c. That the suspect who was shot dead by police was a former prisoner who had been attending a criminal justice event in the area the Press Association is reporting that the man had connections with Islamist terror groups the b.b.c. Security correspondent is Golden Corral instead did start in fishmongers hall where there was a criminal justice research meeting taking place the person believed to be responsible is the b.b.c. Understands thought to be a former prisoner and I've been told there is a connection with that event in terms of what's happened many passes by intervene to apprehend the suspect to depart Tobias Ellwood who rushed to help in the 2017 Westminster Bridge terror attack praise them earlier on the world tonight it's not everybody will want to step forward 'd people react in different ways it's not no good or you're right or wrong about this but to see this now happen to recognize that occasionally very tragically we have these attacks but British people individuals saying this isn't going to happen on my watch and I think we can be very proud of the reaction that happened in this tragedy what we saw here is not just one or 2 individuals but a number of individuals of citizens simply deciding immediately they're going to actually corner this person down. Tobias Elwood that's the world tonight I'm Reza it bar for me and everyone on the program have a very good weekend studio directionless by Darren garrets the editor was John Rigby in just a moment Elena Braun reads the next installment of grandmothers spy Sally Vickers and that's followed at 11 o'clock by a good read if you don't fancy any of that when you can try a podcast it's. Only released podcast episode as a world of force flying around my brain scared of spiraling down the drain. Of our skin in the game so no matter what stories come up in the papers of all our trigger happy guns were for our state the pendants single mom I remember everything 1st time. Can't take you to the mall Wordstar. So on that if for no welcome to my podcast Have you heard Georgia support costs listen now will be. But how on Radio 4 we continue grandmothers Sally Vickers new novel about free women and the children they each helped to raise despite Nan having quarter in the act before branches partial for shoplifting hasn't abated the reader is Elena Braun . Although Blanche unweaned herself off excessive alcohol the shoplifting had persisted she was rather good at it she found you might she reflected even call it an accomplishment it was for Albert a mythical lover that you proud the stores for pickings designed to impress and all your nan was right over the weeks out but had become real she was in a department store when her phone rang displaying an unfamiliar number. Granny Kitty darling whose phone is this my friend face gave it to me and what do your parents think they don't know can you well you mean faith thought we'd come and find you plant was so Boyd up by the surprise meeting with Kitty and her friend that afterwards she decided to walk home after a while she was conscious of footsteps following her she slowed to allow whoever this was to overtake but instead a hand fell on her shoulder Pixie's me a man's voice said I think you have something in your bag madam he stared at her with hard grey eyes this was disturbing lunch felt she was going pale you took something from the stores the man said I saw you put it in your bag I could make you come with me to the police OTOH don't plant pleaded Please don't to our surprise the man relaxed his frown Normally I would I was going to nick you before then I saw you with those girls nice go I didn't want to shame you in front of them and now my shifts over lunch were sweating so copiously that she was sure the large wet patches she felt under her arms must be showing through her coat thank you honestly I don't know why I do it Greta mainly isn't it if we're being honest and Emma says suggested Mind you it takes 2 I couldn't myself be 2 for it I was too blunt said for it scared I mean of being caught not so as I noticed cool as a cucumber you were defense your cuppa he said and he said You look as if you could do with one and I'm parched. Side by side they walked in silence to an old fashioned tea room that it's a vide the area's upmarket improvements Blanche drank her tea glad to be saying little while he told to his name was Alan McLean and if he'd taken the job to fill in time after his wife died she was relieved when this ordeal by politeness seemed to be over and he asked for the bill her attempt to pay was swept aside call it an opportunity for us both to make a new start it's decided me I'm sending in my notice when I get home but what will you do then she asked guiltily feeling that she was to blame I'll think of something there's always the garden and there's the old people's home down there against the rise My wife used to go in there to chat to the old folks that still had it in them to string do words together this seemed to be an invitation How did she die the gray gold eyes became moon for cancer of the liver that was cruel because Julie never drank a drop but then nature is cruel Blanche thought of now and saying we're on our own in the end she didn't like to think of that it's horrid being on your own she said but I suppose we'll get over it he looked at her and shook his head No we'll get used to it we will get over it now and was again lying in the window casket she had made it snog so that with a pillow propped at one end she could lie with her feet against the other end to press out her spine she'd been observing her sage on his rock he sat for long hours on his plateau crosslegged and motionless apparently contemplating the distance the whole business of expecting anything is an illusion he seemed to be saying. Look at life squarely that ask nothing from it I agree Nan said but she did not utter the words aloud she wanted if he could hear her thoughts as it seemed she could hear his Don't ask he seemed to say don't ask and you might be told the buzzer on the door went suddenly making a start and quick a neck oh not the voice said and faded out Nan struggled out of her coffin rubbing her shoulder to chase away any mischievous gremlin that might have crept into the joint through the distorting crackle of the n.t. Phone she just made out. I'm not disturbing you to what do I owe the pleasure she asked as Blanche emerged from the left I'm sorry I am disturbing you you have already seen my eyes were coming now and made tea while Blanche paced about her sitting room sit down for heaven's sake Nan ordered you making me jump a blunt settled herself on the sofa I like your with the cushions coffin Nan said coming through I'm wearing it in sugar no you don't do you know thank you but if you aren't about to die I hope Hope's got nothing to do with it and said shortly I like to be prepared couldn't miss goodness has got more to do with either man said annoyance at the assault on her peace making her relentless The world's not a nice place in case you hadn't noticed Blanche felt crushed she'd come round to Nan's because Nan was the only person she could safely tell of her shoplifting escapade. She was aware that in doing this she risked causing annoyance but a need to convey not only the fact of having been detected but the exhilaration provoked by the outcome had overridden caution I was caught shoplifting today she announced rather sullenly if not to hope for reaction she was disappointed I said it was only a matter of time if I could spot you were trained I was bound to soon enough he said I was practiced Blant said Now absurdly annoyed. And decided to be nasty who say when he's at home I better go said she put down the mug of tea I'm sorry she began looking around rather wildly for a bag it's Ok and said more gently carry on tell me what happened I'm all ears over in reading Rose's mother was having another conversation with her husband that Mina has asked to take Rosie for a little holy day she wants to take those a 2 way Murtha over the summer what do you think. Right has been said his p.s.a. Had confronted him as he tried to slip out by the fire exit to the car park I don't see there's much harm in it do you his wife went on no right husband said he's P.A.'s eyes had that hard glittering look which from the 1st had provoked anxiety in him said I hear you're off to Glasgow she'd said with the intonation matching the glitter in her eyes when did you get that exciting news may Why not ask beside him Rose's mother suddenly more attractive for her lack of letter was saying and it would mean we could do a quick trip to task over and check out the property while she looks after Rose Yeah right. Her husband was calculating how he could get into the locked drawer in his p.s. Desk without being found out sounds to me as if you got lucky with your Allan McLane Nan said after she listened to Blodgett story Blanche consider this feeling the rare satisfaction of one whom the fates in their inscrutable calculations have decided for the moment to let off the hook I was wasn't I so now you're wondering how you're going to see him again Blanche blushed Oh no his wife died in these clearly still very cut up about all the more reasonably wanting a replacement Nancy jested men like being married better than women in the long run I can't see how you'd get in touch he didn't take my number so that's what's eating her Nan thought she's come around for advice he must have told you something about himself only that he lives in Cannes agreed Nan waited suspecting there was more oh and his wife used to visit an old folks' home than glance admitted they were then said find the overworks home they all know him through the wife but it was no embarrassed she hadn't herself recognised the direction in which Allan McLane that nudged her thoughts I did want to chase after him you do Nancy said or you wouldn't be here talking about him you're both lonely and missing your spouses and now with him knowing about your shoplifting you have a secret between you she knew there were few things more binding. How's your other fellow doing by the way Albert you mean yes him Nan said amused he don't want to give him up just because you found this Alan McLean chappie when it comes to the fellows the more the merrier as my grandmother used to say Nan didn't add that her grandmother had used this ploy to keep herself safely single for the whole of her widowed life blonds was cut from a very different cloth Blanche than some ised needed a man to give her definition this was not something Nan herself had felt any need for if anything it was she who had been the defining presence certainly this was the case with her husband Terence her mind dipped into the deep past and brought up a steady blackhead young man with eyes the color of the sea a mission he had not so much defined as brought her out they had brought each other out well Blunt said observing that her hostess had fallen into a reverie I should leave you in peace she made no move to go Nan's mind unthinkingly conjured Hey Michel out of the salt deep where his young body now long since beer after flash nay of his bones are coral made coral was what time made and what Shakespeare who was a past master playing the time made of a boy's lost father not lost a toll saved himself but Shakespeare of all people knew there was only so much time granted to one life span. Unleashed now her thoughts ran dangerously back to the far off day she had written to him mission saying she would not be coming back that holiday from Oxford to which she'd won that hard and scholarship she had to finals to revise for she had explained and needed to get a head down and work but at the last minute missing him badly she changed her mind arriving finally after the gruelling journey up to send dabs on that maddeningly Slowcoach it was to learn that hey missions is fishing mates had gone the previous night for a drunken swim that hey mission not returned it was fear drowned no time to be lost she said need acclaimed Blanche jump to have it I'm so sorry I should go she scrambled into her coat very good Nan said briskly off you go with Blanche dismissed she resumed her position in the casket lie back there will is moment lying here in our arms. We will hold you as the river. And grandmother's continues at the same time on Monday evening it was written and abridged by Sally Vickers and read by Ellen Abrahm the producer is Kirsty Williams This is b.b.c. Radio 4. B.b.c. News at 11 o'clock more details are starting to emerge about the man suspected of killing 2 people at London Bridge he was shot dead by police after being pinned down by passers by following the stabbings sources have told the b.b.c. That he was a former terrorist prisoner who had been released on my Since he had a connection to a criminal justice research meeting that was taking place at fishmongers hole nearby and reportedly had links to Islamist terror groups Boris Johnson said the approach to releasing dangerous inmates needed to change I have long argued that it is it a mistake to allow serious and violent criminals to come out of prison early and it is very important that we get out of that habit and that we enforce the appropriate sentences for dangerous criminals especially the terrorists the start of a b.b.c. Election debate focused on national security following the attack in London the parties also clashed over breaks it in the Life programme from Cardiff the s.n.p. Leader Nicholas Sturgeon said the electorate was being conned by modest Johnson's pledge that he could get Bracks it done she was accused by the Bracks it Party chairman Richard Thomas of disrespecting the result of the referendum. 3 people have been stabbed on a busy shopping street in the Netherlands the attack happened near the historic center of the Hague the incident is not currently being treated as 10 related to take to hunting for a man who's aged between 45 and 50 the ruling party in Malta has cancelled an event this weekend at which the Prime Minister Joseph Muscat was due to speak amid calls for his resignation Mr Muscat had been criticized for his handling of an investigation into the murder of a journalist in 2017 and not waste has apologized to its customers after its online banking and mobile app were hit by technical problems for more than 8 hours the bank said the issue had now been resolved b.b.c. News why would you want to be influenced things the boys are boys of the never heard about in this general election around a 3rd of those every Jubal to vote vote if I think in politicians is so large You've never going to bother voting because they just know because they're probably sure everything to getting and when. I don't do a thing I'm talking to the because you know there is no view from nowhere if you walk around London in a welter of love and confusion and self knowledge like Jake does of course there's no such thing as just an ordinary bent at night everything is made strange by the way we look at it I have to thoroughly Russell you have rescued R.'s Murdoch for me because a few years ago I think it was.