Transcripts For BBCNEWS BBC News 20170610

Wont be allowed to shape government policy. Labour urges the Prime Minister to make way for it to form a government. Some mps whod opposed Jeremy Corbyns leadership have urged colleagues to get behind him. Im reeta chakrabati. The other Headlines Police reveal the London Bridge terror attackers tried to hire a 7. 5 ton lorry, but their credit cards were declined. Petrol bombs and blow torches were found in the van they did use. Police say they had pink ceramic knives tied to their wrists. A Rescue Operation is underway in the mid atlantic involving the queen mary 2 cruise ship after the crew of a transatlantic yacht got into difficulty. And harry kane will be the new england captain as they take on scotland in the World Cup Qualifier at hampden park. Good afternoon from westminster. Theresa mays top two Downing Street aides have resigned in the wake of thursdays conservative election failure to get a Working Majority in the house of commons. Their departure comes after the bbc understands that conservative mps delivered an ultimatum to the Prime Minister to sack them by the end of the weekend or face a Leadership Challenge on monday. Nick timothy issued a Statement Saying he said he took responsibility for his part in the Election Campaign and went on to say the reason for the disappointing result was not the absence of support for theresa may and the conservatives but an unexpected surge in support for labour. He went on i want to encourage all conservatives to come through this difficult period, unite behind the Prime Minister, and focus on the need to heal the divisions in our country. Fiona hill has also put out a Statement Saying its been a pleasure to serve in government, and a pleasure to work with such an excellent Prime Minister. I have no doubt at all that theresa may will continue to serve and work hard as Prime Minister, and do it brilliantly. With a roundup of all todays developments, our political correspondent, eleanor garnier, reports. The two at the top theresa mays closest aides, both now gone. Nick timothy and fiona hill were blamed by some tories for much of what went wrong. Senior conservatives had warned it was then or mrs may. One former colleague claimed they created a toxic atmosphere in number ten. They are brilliant Street Fighters and terrible political leaders, because at the heart of government you need grey haired people who have been around the block to say, you cant do that. It was too tightly controlled, and what we saw through the manifesto, for example, it landed really badly on the doorstep and the mps didnt know even what would go in it. Mr timothy has accepted responsibility for his role in the election result, but with austerity and brexit, he said britain was a divided country and that the Prime Minister was the one political leader who understands this division and who has been working to address it. He said that the conservative Election Campaign, however, fail to get this into rezas positive plan across. Theresa mays positive plan. There was evidence that the two advisers had undue evidence, and some of the reports they woods to would suggest. Todays resignations will bring breathing space, but mrs may met to might not be out of danger. With this now former minister, despite losing his seat, remaining loyal to the Prime Minister. Should she stay on . Yes, and yes. The conservative party has the largest number of votes, the most mps, and we are the only party capable of forming a strong government to take us forming a strong government to take us through these brexit negotiations, and we need to get behind theresa may at a party. But the whole party needs to analyse the results and learn the lessons. While questions about theresa mays time here continue, she needs to act quickly to get a deal with the dup. The queen speech, and the in which the government will set out its agenda. Many conservative mps are clear they want more than the two aides gone. Theresa mays may not just have cost the tories their majority but also cost her her own career. Joining me now is our political correspondent, ben wright. He has been following the afternoons fast moving developments. The resignations was that inevitable . These were sacrifices that theresa may had to make just to calm things down, to reassure the tory party, who are delivered, i think, reassure the tory party, who are delivered, ithink, with reassure the tory party, who are delivered, i think, with herfor this election, for the result, to calm them down and buy her some time. She will face the 1922 Committee Of Backbench Mps next week and there have been calls over the weekend privately already to theresa mays team for these advisers to go, so mays team for these advisers to go, soi mays team for these advisers to go, so i think this had to be done. Add theresa may won this election, there was disquiet about the role they we re was disquiet about the role they were playing, the power that they had. Theresa may has so far run a very close, secretive number ten, and ministers find it hard to get through to the core team that run it. It is theresa may, nick timothy and fiona hill and it. It is theresa may, nick timothy and Fiona Hilland has it. It is theresa may, nick timothy and fiona hill and has been since she became Prime Minister. There would have been pressure to open the window is a bit on the way this government was running, regardless of the result. In the aftermath, they had to go. You think it is a sign of theresa mays weakness. She has been depended for years on these two advisers. They are exceptionally close. Nick timothy is the policy brain, and fiona hill is the attack dog, going out and telling mps and ministers what she really thinks of them. The three of them are entwined, and now they are gone, it leaves theresa may looking incredibly isolated. How much soul searching do you think there is 110w soul searching do you think there is now in the party about what went wrong . Labour did not win, the tories did, and i dont want to overstate that, but they are a long way back from where they thought they would be when the election was called, and therefore, in that sense, what went wrong . How what. Much was the manifesto, social care and so on, the problem, and how much was it taking their eye off the ball, underestimating Jeremy Corbyn . I think it will take months for people to work out what really happened earlier this week. In the immediate aftermath of not defeat but this result, tory mps were blaming the manifesto, saying it bombed. It was social care, the confusion over that and the absence Ofa Cap Confusion over that and the absence of a cap initially on how much costs would be, causing them difficulty on the doorstep, seeming to attack pensioner benefits such as winter fuel benefit, changing the triple lock guarantee for pensions to a double lock. I have been told several times a day by Senior Tories that there was hubris in the ma nifesto, that there was hubris in the manifesto, such a confident assumption that they would get a thumping majority that they could do this difficult, contentious stuff and lay it out in the manifesto, and there was clearly angered that that was done. As nick timothy says in his resignation statement, they underappreciated, i think, his resignation statement, they underappreciated, ithink, people getting fed up with austerity and stag na nt getting fed up with austerity and stagnant Living Standards and wages. They underestimated, i think, the appeal ofJeremy Corbyn, so there are appeal ofJeremy Corbyn, so there a re lots of appeal ofJeremy Corbyn, so there are lots of reasons in play, which he touches on in his resignation statement. A quick thought about the timetable ahead, because there are a lot of time pressures. Talks with the dup this week, the chief whip already in belfast, brexit talks, an awful lot going on and a lot of people to watch in the next ten days 01 so people to watch in the next ten days orso in people to watch in the next ten days or so in particular. Yes, this is happening at an extraordinary time. Theresa may has handed in our notice to the eu already, just over two months ago. The two year article 50 process has begun in two months have passed, with talks pencilled in in brussels for the 20th of this month, so brussels for the 20th of this month, so that is round the corner. It is one reason why theresa may is safe in thejob for one reason why theresa may is safe in the job for now, because those talks are to begin if they are going to conclude in the time available, and there is no other available Leader Hammering on the door of number ten saying, i will take the role on. That is why she is staying where she is for now. She clearly wa nts to where she is for now. She clearly wants to form a Minority Government with confidence and supply arrangements with the dup. We will see where we get to. In terms of nick timothy and fiona hill, it could be that now they have some of the priorities in terms of policy that the tories want to pursue in government and how they might change, they believe that the brexit plan laid out in the manifesto, some of those core elements might change. Possibly. There will be tory mps urging theresa may not to bend on her brexit strategy. It is extraordinarily complicated. Isnt it . Ben, thank you for now. Lets pick up on some of that, because the Prime Minister is preparing to hold discussions with the dup, the chief whip already being in belfast to begin negotiations, confirmed by Downing Street. I have been talking about all of that with Professor John tonge from the university of liverpool, and he gave some insight into what the dup may want from negotiations. There are no other allies for the conservative party, so allies for the conservative party, so if she does not get the support of the ten dup mps here in westminster, frankly, she wont get the queens speech through and we will be looking at the Nightmare Spectre Of Another election next few months. There has to be a confidence and supply arrangement reached with the dup. Because they are the only supplier, that must mean that the price tag will be higher. How high do you think the price tag will be . The dup want to reward their own community and Northern Ireland more generally with infrastructure projects, which is easy to do. The government can give more money to Northern Ireland. The on that, there are more controversial areas, because the dup want to continue their veto on same sex marriage, which the dup has blocked five times in Northern Ireland assembly debates. The assembly is currently semi suspended, but there is a return to devolution, the dup will wa nt to return to devolution, the dup will want to consolidate that. For social conservatives, there is the continuing issue of the actions of british soldiers in the troubles in Northern Ireland. Those are controversial areas in which the dup will want a say. We are running into the marching season in Northern Ireland, and the dup do not like the parades commission, who regulate parades. They may have something to say on that. Professorjohn tonge, from the university of liverpool. Scottish conservative leader Ruth Davidson has been welcoming her new mps this afternoon in stirling and dismissed reports that scots tories might break away from the main uk party. She tweeted that she fought a Leadership Campaign opposing the idea of a separate organisation in scotland. Our correspondent Catriona Renton is in stirling there was a new msp here today. There was a new msp here today. There was a new msp here today. There was actually a double election down in the borders, in which a new msp, down in the borders, in which a new msp, in which her new msp was elected. We are in the shadow of stirling castle, a place which uses history. It was here that Ruth Davidson chose to come to hold court with these new mps, and to tell us a bit about where she goes from that result the other night. As she described, it was a historic result. Recent history, not the history that we are in the shadow of fear. Since 1983, the conservatives had not had a result like this in scotland, so Ruth Davidson was delighted, and we put to have a number of the issues we have been talking about today. I asked how she would be able to govern, even with the support of the dup. Of course, that would be a slim majority. Ruth davidson was at pains to point out that the Prime Minister had won this election, and that she had won this election, and that she had the full support of the conservative party. Another issue that came to the fore yesterday evening was Ruth Davidsons concerns about the dup. The dup is against 93v about the dup. The dup is against gay marriage on religious grounds. Ruth davidson herself is engaged to be married to herfemale partner, so she picked up the phone to theresa may yesterday evening to ask her about this, saying there were things that mattered to her more than the party, one of those being lgbt rights and she said she was given a categoric assurance by the Prime Minister that there would be no rollback on those rights in great britain, and indeed that they would work to help Progress Rights in Northern Ireland. Lets hear a little bit more about what she had to say about her conversation with theresa may. I we are the party of equal marriage, having introduced it to the house of commons. We would use our influence to advance those rights in Northern Ireland, and those are assurances that i received. With these new numbers of conservative mps in scotland, it is thought that Ruth Davidson could have a bit of lambridge on the Prime Minister, and one of the issues that mattered to Ruth Davidson a lot was, of course, was not to leave the eu. The scottish conservatives campaigned firmly to remain, and since that vote to leave, Ruth Davidson has said that there should be the best possible access for the uk to the single market, so she believes that the result, with the conservatives not having an overall majority, of course, that they may be able to renegotiate how brexit looks, and she says she is looking at a more open brexit, meaning freedom of trade, freedom for other organisations, specifically talking about Fishing Issues and fisher mens groups. The whole landscape here in scotland is now very different. There are now 13 conservative members of parliament. We should bear in mind that there are ten members of the dup, so they do and probably will exert quite a lot of influence on theresa may when it comes to her Decision Making at Downing Street just now. It comes to her Decision Making at Downing Streetjust now. Ruth davidson saying she is delighted with the victory, and her mps will have strong voices for scots at westminster. Thank you, katrina. In terms of what has been happening at westminster, a fast moving afternoon, and we have reflected a lot in the last couple of hours on the resignations of nick timothy and fiona hill. I have been talking about all of this with the conservative commentator, tim montgomery, who is very well versed in what goes on within the conservative party, and i asked his opinion on all of these developments and his assessment, the resignation of these aides is hugely significant. They were almost like Alex Ferguson to manchester united. They were that important to the success of the project. Obviously, not just important to the success of the project. Obviously, notjust as many victories as Alex Ferguson achieved manchester united. I dont see how theresa may can function properly without them. They were almost our right and left arm, and she has made a huge sacrifice to try and continue as Prime Minister by allowing them forcing them to resign, were not really sure which. If you didnt see that interview, later on in the interview, tim was saying that his best guess was that there will be a leadership election this summer. That was his sense of what would ultimately happen here. But for now, all the focus is on the forthcoming talks, those with the dup then the queen s speech, then the brexit talks, which are due to begin imminently. We will keep you up to date with all the developments here at westminster. For now, i will hand you back to rita in the studio. Thereve been two further arrests in connection with the London Bridge terror attacks. In total, eight people are now in custody. Police investigating the murders say the three attackers had wanted to hire a lorry, but their card payment was declined. Our Home Affairs Correspondent Daniel Sandford reports. This was the weapon found still strapped to khuram butts body last saturday night. He and his fellow attackers used three identical 12 inch pink knives made of ceramic to murderfive people. Counter terrorism detectives want help on where the ernesto knives were bought. The men had already killed three other people on London Bridge with a van hired from b q. Throughout the carnage, heroic members of the public tried to stop them. We have stories of people who came out armed with chairs, other items were thrown, bottles, anything they could get their hands on, with a view to trying to prevent the attackers either coming into pubs and bars, but more importantly, to scare them off to try and stop other people being attacked. Afterwards in the van, police found 13 petrol bombs made with lighter fluid and cloth cut from tracksuit bottoms, as well as two blowtorches. The day had started with the ring Leader Khuram butt who was on police bail, trying to hire a 7. 5 tonne truck. He didnt have enough money so instead he hired the white van from b q in romford which the men picked up some time after 6 30pm. Then, leaving barking soon after 7 30, they set off for central london. At 9 58, they arrived at London Bridge, driving across it and back again before ploughing into pedestrians on their third pass. By the time they crashed the van at 10 07, theyd fatally wounded three people. They then used the knives to kill five more. At 10 16, they were shot dead by police. Detectives believe behind this green door in east ham was the mens safe house in a top floor bedsit rented by Rachid Redouane two months ago, detectives discovered items that had been used to make their petrol bombs and fake suicide vests, and an english language copy of a koran, left open at a page referencing martyrdom. Daniel sandford, bbc news, east ham. People in london are being urged to visit the capitals bars and restaurants a show of unity and resilience a week after the attacks. The British Red Cross has launched a Campaign Calling for people to come together. Our correspondent Sarah Campbell is at London Bridge in southwark for us now. Tell us more about this initiative. Im at the anchor pub here. To give you the geography, it is pretty busy here this afternoon, a beautiful afternoon in central london. The bridge you can see in the distance, thatis bridge you can see in the distance, that is London Bridge. It is a five minute walk from here. If you walk from London Bridge director this pub, you would be walking past borough market, which remains closed, and i think it will remain closed, and i think it will remain closed for the next few days or so, but earlier, we spoke to some american tourists who were saying that they havent been put off Visiting London by last weeks attack. I wont let terrorists dictate where i go and when. They wa nt dictate where i go and when. They want us to be fearful, and we shouldnt be. Things can happen all over the world, america, anywhere. We let them win if we dont go here. That is very much the sense here. You were talking about the fund that has been set up by the British Red Cross. Pubs like this one will be donating the cost of a drink towards the fun. Restaurants will be donating the cost of meals. The money donated will be given to Family Members of those caught up in the attack victims of the attack. A real sense of solidarity. We have got to make ladies, mandy and catherine you havent been put off coming to london because of this, have you . No. I was slightly nervous coming in situ. You do think about atrocities, and working borough market, it is completely cordoned off and it is eerie,. You are from out of town, in surrey any trepidation about coming into the capital . On thursday, we spoke about this, and we were like, there is no way we are not coming up to town. We meet up regularly, so no. We always meet up regularly, so no. We always meet in this area. And what is the feeling amongst people today . Do you think it is on peoples mines . Feeling amongst people today . Do you think it is on peoples minefim feeling amongst people today . Do you think it is on peoples mines . It is on peoples mines but it wont stop people coming out and enjoying london and getting on with their lives. It is not a deterrent. People are quite adamant. Have you heard about the fund, with pubs like this one donating money, and restaurants . Thats really good, exactly what they should be doing. It is really sad you are to make bridges away, looking at it. A week ago. Its sad, and people lost their lives there, and you cant help, because of the families and what they have to go through. You cant. You can turn round. On the train today, a lady was saying that a lot of the theatres, people are cancelling coming to london to see shows, and i think thats wrong. You cant do that. Im going to have to leave it there. Im so sorry. Thank you very much indeed. The views to make people here taking part in this initiative, raising money for those people caught up in last weeks attack. Lets go back to jane hill. We are reflecting a lot on the developments in the wake of the election, and particularly this afternoon the resignation of two of theresa mays key advisers, nick timothy and fiona hill. They have 110w timothy and fiona hill. They have now gone, resigned in light of that Hung Parliament verdict. Lets talk to one conservative mp who was re elected, james cleverly, who joins me from braintree. What are your thoughts, james cleverly, about the fact that nick timothy and Fiona Hill Have gone . Obviously, both nick and fiona played an important part in the electoral, in the Election Campaign, and they came under a fair bit of criticism about that. I think that it bit of criticism about that. I think thatitis bit of criticism about that. I think that it is obviously sad when you lose colleagues like this, even when they have chosen to go, but i think it was probably the right decision. I think it was a pragmatic choice, and also the honourable thing to do in light of the election result. Do you think that your Prime Minister will still be the Prime Minister by the end of the year, lets say . Yes, absolutely. I think all the reasons that theresa may had such a comprehensive victory in the leadership election just under a year ago are still very much true. She is an incredibly experienced and well regarded politician. She never claimed to be a big razzmatazz tv thai Prime Minister. Yes, but she called an election that she didnt need to call, which resulted in a reduced majority. Didnt even get a full majority and now has to talk to the dup. What that election resulted in is. The dup. What that election resulted inis. 12 the dup. What that election resulted in is. 12 and a half million. Sorry, 30 Million People who voted conservative, a significant increase. Ultimately, theresa may has also got a mandate to deliver brexit, a manifesto commitment to deliver brexit, which protects as from any messing about that might happen in the house of lords. And she has reset the timetable so that we dont give in to these negotiations knowing we have a General Election hanging like a Sort Of Da M Ocles General Election hanging like a sort of damocles within a few weeks or months of the resolution of those negotiations a sword of damocles. Now that you have had some time to reflect, why do you think that your party has fewer mps than it had before . As i discussed, we had a significant increase in both the number of people voting Conservative Andindeed number of people voting conservative and indeed our share of the vote. In any normal election, that would have been well into landslide territory, but what we have seen, of course, is a big surge of support for the labour party. We need to look at why that happened, we need to look at. We need to look at our offer to younger voters, how we communicate in the modern world of social media and digital media. So, all these things have to be mulled over, and i think it would be foolish of me to start speculating so soon as to what we could and should do differently. That will take time, but there are positives that we can take from the result, even though, obviously, the most important metric, the number of mps, wasa most important metric, the number of mps, was a disappointment. Was the social care issue one that came up for you out on the Doorstep Campaigning . It is something that nick timothy has mentioned in his resignation statement. Was that problematic for you to explain . Yes. I think that every candidate that you speak to will say that did come up that you speak to will say that did come up as an issue. That you speak to will say that did come up as an issue. There was a significant degree of confusion i think. The wording of the manifesto could have been tighter. I think the explanation of the manifesto could have been interpreted better