Transcripts For BBCNEWS BBC News 20170224

Of the city for the first time, to face strong resistance from so called Islamic State. And on newsnight, theresa may an unelected leader with a major constitutional negotiation to deliver, and a small majority in house, wins the day and sails forth. In the light of labours meltdown in copeland, is the party lead byJeremy Corbyn far from an effective opposition . Good evening and welcome to bbc news. Theresa may has said winning the copeland by election was an astounding victory for the conservatives. Its the first time a party in government has taken a seat in a by election for 35 years. Labour had held copeland since 1935, but the conservatives overturned a labour majority of more than 2,500. The labour Leaderjeremy Corbyn described the defeat as Very Disappointing but he said he wouldnt be standing down. In a second by election in stoke on trent central, labour did see off a challenge from the ukip leader paul nuttall, but with a reduced majority. Our deputy political editor, john pienaar, sent this report. His report does contain some flash photography. Sometimes Party Leaders seem to grow a little after a win. Theresa mays Victory Appearance here today told you shed use the tories win in copeland to claim she could reach people and parts of Britain No Tory Leader has won over since margaret thatcher. This truly is a government that is working for everyone and for every part of the country. As for the idea the tories could win too big, that Good Government needs good opposition, try telling them that or her. Does britain need a strong opposition to hold you to account over brexit . Well, the opposition will do what they will do. What im concerned about is what the government does, what the conservative government does. We are working for a country that truly does work for everyone, notjust the privileged few. I think thats the message that people here in copeland have heard. Did you think that copeland would vote tory in this way . No. I mean, we could dream of it. Ive been a councillorfor 20 something years and we dreamt one day it would and its. Nothing like this has ever happened. The conservative party candidate, 13,748. Cheering and applause. It was a big win. The first win in a by election by any government over its opposition in 35 years, and in a place thats been labour since 1935. Its been very clear, talking to people throughout this campaign, thatJeremy Corbyn does not represent them. And this is Tory Territory now. Labour folk dont like it and some feel they know a reason why. Copeland depends on sellafield, Jeremy Corbyn has opposed nuclear power. The nuclear probably had quite a lot to do with it, the nuclear, becauseJeremy Corbyn said he didnt want it. So maybe he did do a u turn on that, but who knows. The men have done no good when theyve been prime ministers, so maybe a woman changes everything. I dont think theres any hope. No hope for labour underJeremy Corbyn . I dont think so. And i mean, i have to back him, because i am a labour man myself. Im a member of the labour party. But youre telling me its hopeless . I think it is. Hes not strong enough. Stoke had been a safe seat for labour, butJeremy Corbyn turned up keen to celebrate holding out against ukip. Its a message about the economy, its a message aboutjobs, its a message about this country. But, above all, it was a message that Hope Triumphs over fear. What about copeland, mr corbyn . Hed already been dogged by that defeat all day. Our Party Mentorship is in good heart, its very large, very strong and well be out again tomorrow, and every other day, campaigning to get the message across of socialjustice in britain. Yet beating ukip in stoke was a big relief to labour. Are you going to resign, paul . And a painful blow to ukip and its defeated candidate and leader. This seat was what . Number 72 on our hit list. Theres a a lot more that will happen, a lot more to come from us. Were not going anywhere, im not going anywhere, so therefore, you know, we move on and our time will our time will come. Paul nuttall may not be on his way out as leader, but his campaign wobbled, then failed. And the questions being raised, when ukip lost nigel farage, did it lose its way . Thank you so much those are beautiful just now theresa may looks the biggest winner, ruling her party against weakened and divided opponents with an assurance thats almost regal. And truly well done indeed. And ill see you on monday. Ill see you on monday. But back to business means back to brexit and theres nothing easy about that. John pienaar, bbc news, copeland. A woman who died after being hit by debris in Wolverhampton City Centre during yesterdays storm has been named. Tahnie martin was 29 and from stafford. Storm doris brought winds of nearly 100 mph, causing power cuts and travel disruption. The police in malaysia say the substance used to kill the half brother of the north korean leader, at a Kuala Lumpur Airport, is one of the worlds deadliest nerve agents. The Authorities Say tests on the body of kim jong nam revealed traces of vx, classified by the un as a weapon of mass destruction. From kuala lumpur, our correspondent Rupert Wingfield hayes reports. Kimjong nam. Last week at Kuala Lumpur Airport someone chose to attack kim jong nam in full view of at least half a dozen cctv cameras. It was a very deliberate and very public act of violence. Today, we learned what killed him. And its even more shocking. Ive already confirmed it its the xv, the vx nerve agent, which is a chemical weapon. Kim jong nam was walking across this busy Departures Hall last week when he was attacked at this spot. Now we know what was used to kill him vx, one of the most deadly nerve agents ever invented. Just a tiny drop, a hundredth of a gram, would have been enough to kill him. Vx is also banned under international convention, yet someone decided to use it here, in the midst of this international airport. Vx is colourless and odourless, with the feel of engine oil. Symptoms include coughing, shortness of breath, vomiting and muscle convulsions. South korea says the north started producing chemical weapons in the 1980s and has up to 5000 tons of stocks. North koreas young dictator kim jong un already has Nuclear Weapons. Some think he is now sending a chilling new message, by killing his older brother with the worlds deadliest nerve agent. They have shown that they want to be part of the Weapons Of Mass Destruction Club and that they should be taken seriously. And if we do nothing, then were going to be in a very difficult position. This is probably far more dangerous than the Nuclear Weapons programme that has been much vaunted in the public over the last 12 months. The more we learn, the more bizarre this story becomes. This is one of the alleged assassins taking part in a vietnamese tv talent show. This is her facebook page. Nothing about her suggests she could be a killer. About the only thing we know for sure is that kimjong nam must have died in excruciating pain, his body convulsed, his lungs gasping for air. Rupert wingfield hayes, bbc news, in kuala lumpur. Back here, kenneth noye, whos serving a Life Sentence for murdering a man in a road rage attack, has won a high Court Challenge against a decision by the Ministry Ofjustice to refuse to move him to an open prison. Noye, who is 69, stabbed Stephen Cameron to death in 1996 on the m25 in kent. Hed argued that it was unfair and irrational not to allow him to go to a jail with lower security. A man has beenjailed for six years for killing an innocent bystander in an unprovoked attack. Trevor timon, whos 31, admitted the manslaughter of Oliver Dearlove In Blackheath in South East London last august, but was cleared of murder. The judge said the senseless attack had caused Untold Misery for mr dearloves family. Iraqi troops have entered Western Mosulfor the first time in their offensive to drive out so called Islamic State from the countrys second city. West mosul is the last is stronghold in iraq. Theyre surrounded, along with an estimated three quarters of a million civilians. However, Government Forces today met fierce resistance, as they fought their way into the city from the airport. 0ur correspondent Quentin Somerville and cameraman nick millard were the first journalists to head in to the western district. Theyve sent this report. The so called Islamic State breached. The very first iraqi Government Forces roll into west mosul, and into a firefight. Is were waiting, and well defended. Iraqi forces are encountering heavy resistance as they move into west mosul. It has taken them less than a week to get this far, but this is a victory two years in the making after the humiliation of the Islamic State sweep across iraq. That was an outgoing rocket there. For these men, they realise that beyond here, beyond this neighbourhood, they are likely facing the battle of their lives. The assault started in now practised fashion, armoured columns moving fast across open ground. These iraqi officers plotted the route