Transcripts For BBCNEWS BBC News At Five 20170113

Good evening, its 5pm, the main stories. Severe Flood Warnings are in place along much of englands east coast, with thousands of homes at risk, as snow and strong winds continue to hit the uk. The risk of high tides and storm surges has led to the warnings which mean there is a danger to life. This is the Environment Agency map and as you can see, there are dozens of locations at risk. Down the east coast and down towards the south east. Evacuations are under Way Injaywick in essex, and Great Yarmouth in norfolk. In total there are 17 severe Flood Warnings in place across england and wales. There are also 90 warnings where flooding is expected and immediate action is required. And 64 alerts where flooding is possible and individuals should be prepared for rising water levels. Ben brown is in Great Yarmouth. People here in Great Yarmouth busy as you can see behind me, collecting sandbags. The sand and bags provided by the council. People have to come here with spades, fill up sandbags and take them to defend their homes. Around 5000 homes in the Great Yarmouth area are being evacuated. We have seen troops from the army going house to house, door to door, giving people leaflets telling them they should leave their homes because at high tide to nice just after 9pm here could bring that storm surge which could bring sea water is flooding in here. A lot of people, though, are reluctant to leave their homes. They think that it might be all right so they would rather stay with their houses and protect their houses if they can. A lot of people have been moving carpets, furniture and pets upstairs, though, in case the worst does happen. Thats the picture here in Great Yarmouth but right up and down the east coast of england people are making preparations for the worst. Danny savage is at skegness. What is the picture there . Berardo two tides the authorities have been worried about today and tonight. The first tide came along the coast from north to south this morning, didnt cause too many problems but was of concern but was ok in the end. The second one just seemed to be causing more problems this afternoon. I will have a bit more about that in a moment but this is how preparations have been going on along this coastline today. Along the east coast of england, the floodgates on sea defences have been slammed shut. The hours of darkness were used for preparation. Seaside Business Owners cleared out all they could, in anticipation of trouble. Full moon, high tides, strong winds, the wind in the right direction coming down the north sea, rather than blowing off the land or onto the land. So, there will be a significant rise in the water, but whether it will be enough to top the defences depends on mother nature, i suppose. Soldiers were drafted in to lincolnshire to help with the operation. About 100 of them were briefed at the local police station. They were then sent door to door, warning residents that a storm surge was possible. Sorry to disturb you. We are here to warn you about the storm and the flood. Is it reassuring or alarming to have the army knock on the door . Its reassuring that they are looking after us, but also a bit alarming, youre thinking, is the house going to be flooded or something . But i think we are fairly safe, anyway. High tide in lincolnshire was early this morning. It passed without event, despite concerns. But there are worries about other parts of the east coast later today. The issue with the storm surge is, it is about the high winds, coinciding with what would be high tides anyway. If you get that, you get really, really high levels. That can be very changeable through the day. We are forecasting it as closely as we can. But its really important that people stay alert, because some of these high tides will happen very late through tonight. By lunchtime, east anglia was where the most severe warnings were in force. In Great Yarmouth, sandbags were being filled, ahead of tonights high tide. Further south in essex, a Reception Centre has been opened after a decision was made to evacuate people from their homes injaywick, mistley and west mersea. Have a look at individual situations, take some steps around planning and preparation. That could be bringing additional clothes, or looking at your medication. And really listen to what we are saying, which is try and use the facilities down here in the Education Centre injaywick, or make plans to stay with friends and relatives. People are being urged not to be complacent about the situation through tonight and into tomorrow. The fact it really is how bad it will be in east anglia could be indicated by just how will be in east anglia could be indicated byjust how bad it has been further north as the tide rises this afternoon. We have already had high tide in north east england. Look at the pictures from this harbour with huge waves bashing the harbour with huge waves bashing the harbour wall and the lighthouse. Experienced photographers who often use that is appointed to take pictures said they have never seen waves that big in all the years they have been taking pictures there. Thats an indication of how big the surge is coming down the north sea at the moment. There has been damage at the moment. There has been damage at scarborough and whitby this afternoon where the sea has come over the sea defences and affected seafront businesses there today and caused some minor damage. That is now coming south. In skegness they expect it to come up to this Flood Barrier here and that will move down the coast towards east anglia where the coast towards east anglia where the most severe Flood Warnings are in place. It does look as though it is going to be an exceptionally high tide this evening which could cause some problems, hence those evacuations taking place, hence those preparations underway for the south from here. Studio thank you very much. Preparations underway in Great Yarmouth, people getting sandbags together. Lets talk, if we can, to a resident, veronica, isnt it . You have been collecting sandbags, how worried are you that the floodwaters will come in . Very worried because i am living ina in . Very worried because i am living in a flood area, it is obviously a big concern but youvejust in a flood area, it is obviously a big concern but youve just got to do what youve got to do and hope for the best and take precautions. How many sandbags do you think you need for your property . We have about 20 at the moment because im getting for my neighbour because he is at home with her little ones. Lots of homes are being evacuated. Will you leave your property . Why not . I can do more in my house than ican if not . I can do more in my house than icanifi not . I can do more in my house than i can if i leave, i have animals so i cannot leave them. You want to stay and protect it . Yes. How bad is it . Some people say it is not that bad, we get warnings and it is not that bad. I have lived in a flood area for 18 years and so far it hasnt happened but youve just got to prepare as best you can. Good luck to you and i will let you collect more sandbags. Veronica, one of the residents here, as she was telling us, preparing for the worst just in case. Apart from the Flood Warnings we have right up and down the east coast of england, there has been bad weather right across the United Kingdom today, snow and ice and high winds causing a lot of travel chaos around the country and also some School Closures too, as helena lee reports. Heavy snow in some parts of the Scottish Borders meant driving conditions were difficult. Up to seven inches of snow fell in parts of scotland overnight. In newcastle, on the a19, traffic came to a standstill, with thick snow on the road. For others, it was even worse. Impossible conditions led to cars being abandoned. In the village of battle in east sussex, icy roads meant Emergency Services were dealing with cars which had come off the road. In canterbury, Icy Pavements Made The School Run this morning a challenge. Across parts of the country, dozens of schools were shut because of the bad weather. For those who didnt have to travel, the snow brought much excitement to younger people, and left many parts of the country enjoying some beautiful scenes. Helena lee, bbc news. 0n the east coast of england in Great Yarmouth and elsewhere, people are bracing themselves this evening to see what high tide does bring, making preparations, the army and police as we have been seeing, evacuating homes. They are worried, telling people they do need to move to shelters and evacuation shelters in case the worst happens. People here certainly hoping that they will be able to stay in their homes and things through the night will pass quietly and those floodwaters wont come surging in. Back to you, gavin. We obviously hope so but we will checkin we obviously hope so but we will check in throughout the evening to see how things develop. Nearly half the hospitals in england declared a major alert in the first week of this year. Nhs figures released today reveal that 66 of the 152 Hospital Trusts raised the alarm, as large numbers of patients experienced trolley waits and delays in a e. Eight of the trusts declaring a major alert reported the highest level of alarm meaning Patient Safety was at risk. 0ur Health Correspondent Dominic Hughes reports. Another busy day for the Health Service, where the pressure of winter is unrelenting. Earlier this week, leicester Royal Infirmary was one of more than 60 hospitals in england to declare a major alert as the strain on services grew. And new validated data leaked to the bbc exposes how the Health Service is struggling to cope. One in five patients admitted as an emergency last week experienced a delay of at least four hours for a bed. Nearly one in four patients waited over four hours to be seen in a e. In some place its reached nearly half. On some days last week more than a quarter of ambulances arriving at a e units waited longer than 30 minutes to hand over their patients, twice as long as they should. These latest figures are further evidence, if any more evidence was needed, of the immense strain the entire nhs in england is facing this winter. Those strains are felt most acutely in accident emergency departments, which are the front doors to most hospitals. The pressure is being felt right throughout the Health Service. A e is the canary in the coal mine here for the Health Service. People arriving at a e because they cant see a gp. Theyre arriving at a e because theyre poorly, but could have been kept well if only they could have got access sooner. Theyre stuck in the hospital because of problems in Community Services and in social care. They cant get them out quickly. Just as they have across the nhs, staff at Northwick Park hospital in North West London have been working flat out. There have been moments in the last two weeks, like the whole country has had, where its been frightening for the members of staff, for the nurses, doctors, for the Ambulance Crews who are bringing patients in. There have been moments where its been very sticky. But we have managed as best we can. Everybodys worked incredibly hard. Its not just england. The latest available figures from wales and Northern Ireland show a e departments there are also struggling to treat patients within four hours. In scotland, the picture over christmas week was better. But every part of the nhs is finding this winter to be one of the toughest in recent memory. Dominic hughes, bbc news. Some of the other stories making bbc news at 5pm. A teenager has appeared in crown court in leeds accused of murdering seven year old katie rough in york. The 15 year old who cant be named for legal reasons was remanded into secure youth accommodation. A woman who alleges she was indecently assaulted by tv presenter rolf harris when she was 12 years old, has told his trial how he had put his hand up her skirt after she asked for an autograph. Mr harris denies seven charges of Indecent Assault and one of sexual assault. Sky has withdrawn a Comedy Programme about michaeljackson, after criticism from the late singers family. His daughter paris has said the episode of urban myths which used the white actor, joseph fiennes, to play jackson was insulting. Lord snowdon, the former husband of Princess Margaret, has died aged 86. The photographer, born Anthony Armstrong jones, died peacefully at his home. With me is our royal correspondent nicholas witchell. He had a very colourful life, didnt he . Yes, the first, to marry into the royal family for several centuries, tangled certainly in terms of his own relationships, and his death, of course, is a reminder of his first wedding and the chequered history of Princess Margaret, the queens younger sister who he married in 1960. She, having had to renounce the great love of her life, Group Captain Peter Townsend and the querrey to the royalfamily, townsend and the querrey to the royal family, because he townsend and the querrey to the royalfamily, because he was divorced. She then met Anthony Armstrong jones, who was this slightly bohemian figure in the 19505, slightly bohemian figure in the 1950s, a society photographer, and they were married at Westminster Abbey in a huge televised event in 1960. And, of course, everybody hoped that this would be a happy marriage. They presented an image of some glamour and a degree of informality for the British Royal family in what were then the swinging 60s, they travelled widely to the United States and elsewhere and they were hugely popular. She was a very glamorous figure. We perhaps forget that about Princess Margaret and he was the consort, and informal in the sense that he continued his work as a photographer, not just as continued his work as a photographer, notjust as a Celebrity Photographer taking society snaps. He also did some pretty gritty work, documentary photography. Here they are returning to Buckingham Palace after their wedding at Westminster Abbey. Sadly, of course, for them although they had two children in the 1960s, by the late 1960s this image that we see on their wedding day had turned into a very unhappy marriage. They we re into a very unhappy marriage. They were both having affairs with other people and they separated. That separation was announced by lord snowdon in 1976. He went on to marry again and to continue that rather tangled life to which you alluded. But he maintained his passion for photography. We shouldnt forget also that he was a talented designer. The design to be cats might birdhouse, the aviary at london zoo. Birdhouse. He was also very committed to campaigning for disabled people. He contracted polio as a child, a young man of 16, and he was very committed to that. It was photography that was his principal love. We can see some of the images he took, here is david bowie. From all aspects of the photographic business, celebrity in the form of a figure such as david bowie, two members of the family into which he married. Here is the queen whom he photographed on many occasions. Although, clearly the relationship with the queens younger sister had founded, he maintained good relations with the royalfamily maintained good relations with the royal family and was always enormously respectful of them and to them and remain, not a close figure to the royal family, them and remain, not a close figure to the royalfamily, but i think them and remain, not a close figure to the royal family, but i think a figure for whom they had considerable affection. Nick, we will leave it there, lord snowdon who has died. This is bbc news at five the headlines there are Flood Warnings along the east coast of england as a tidal surge and Strong Winds Force people from their homes. Lord snowdon, the photographer and former husband of Princess Margaret, has died at the age 86. Nhs figures show nearly half of hospitals in england declared a major alert in the first week of the year. And in Sportjohanna Konta wins the syd ney and in Sportjohanna Konta wins the Sydney International tournament, her second tour title, while dan evans makes it to his first tour final beating Andrey Kuznetsov in three sets in sydney. Morgen schneiderlin will be available to make his everton debut against Manchester City on sunday after Ronald Koeman confirms his new £20 million signing is in his squad. Englands graeme storm hits a bogey free second round to leave the south africa open golf, his 63 puts him two ahead of the field and three head of rory mcllroy who had a four and a round of 68 injohannesburg. I will have more on those stories just after 5 30pm. Four under. The labour politician Tristram Hunt is to stand down as mp for stoke on Trent Central. The former Shadow Education Secretary is to become the director of the v a museum in london. His resignation will trigger the second by election of the year following jamie reeds resignation late last year. 0ur Political Correspondent Carole Walker is In Westminster for us. Labour mps labourmps on labour mps on all wings of the party have said that Tristram Hunts decision to leave is a blow to the party, the loss of a well known figure, charismatic, engaging, and i think it is also being seen of eight sign of the dissolution felt among labour mps who do not shareJeremy Corbyns vision of where the labour party should be going and leaves the party having to fight what will be a tricky by election. In his Resignation Letter Tristram Hunt says that he doesnt want to rock the boat and in an interview with his local Radio Station on his local bbc station, he says he is not abandoning the labour party altogether. I have always been labour and i will a lwa ys i have always been labour and i will always be labour, its my tribe. I will never move away from that. I have had differences with the leadership in the past. But that wasnt the spur, the spur was the Incredible Opportunity of the job. Tristram hunt in the Resignation Letter was restrained in his language but in the past he has been scathing in his criticism ofJeremy Corbyns leadership. He resigned from the Shadow Cabinet when mr corbyn became Labour Leader and after the Eu Referendum in the summer he said Jeremy Corbyn had failed to insert labour values into the whole Eu Referendum debate and that Labour Voters needed a new Labour Leader. Now, his departure means that there is going to be a by election in that stoke central seat. This is a working class seat, unemployment higher than in many parts of the country, and ukip are certainly going to be challenging very hard. They say mccain second at the last election and it could be difficult for labour to hold onto that. Today the Labour LeaderJeremy Corbyn the resignation represented a challenge to his leadership of the party. Not at all. Tristram hunt called me this morning and told me he was honoured to be offered the position as director of the Victoria Albert Museum and we chatted about that and about the work they are doing and how he plans to expand the museum and maintain free entry to it. He is sad about resigning from parliament. He has written me quite a long letter describing his work on Education Policy and the improvements that have been achieved in Stoke On Trent during the time he has been the mp. So he is sad to be leaving parliament. He is taking on the victoria albertjob and i wish him well. The last thing i wrote in the letter was i look forward to visiting the v a with you as director and having a look around. Are you secretly pleased with his departure because it means one less mp who has been highly critical of you . No, mp who has been highly critical of you . No, i dont want to lose mps but he has taken the position as director of the v a, good luck to him and we will have a by election. Are you confident of winning stoke central . Yes, it has been a labour seat for a long time, we have a strong message to put out, we are opposed to austerity, we want to see investment in the inner city communities, we want to see the renaissance of Stoke On Trent and we look forward to the campaign. Between deselection fears and Boundary Changes will you use more lose more mps . Boundary changes will you use more lose more mps . I do not expect more mps to resign and we will face any by elections to dump them in most parliaments there are some by elections and if they come they come. We have a message there, we are determined to change the direction of this country, to challenge the inequality this government promotes come the tax brea ks government promotes come the tax breaks they give to corporations and super rich, while at the same time destroying local Government Services all over the country. Some people think you are losing control of your party. Do you take responsibility for that . I havent lost control of the party, the party isnt out of control. We are a large party with a growing membership and we have a vibrant Policy Making Process , have a vibrant Policy Making Process, a party that is active, and on the 21st we will be out on high streets, town centres, city centres all over the Country Campaigning on issues of our national Health Service and of course social care and the shortages of Mental Health provision all over the country. We are determined to protect the vital principle of our national Health Service. Jeremy corbyn expressing confidence that labour can hold onto that seat which is about to be vacated by Tristram Hunt. We know this is a seat which voted very strongly in favour of leaving the european union. We know that ukip will be fighting hard on the issue of immigration. And at a time when labours poll ratings are pretty dire, this along with the other by election do represent a big test forJeremy Corbyns leadership. Ca role forJeremy Corbyns leadership. Carole walker In Westminster, thank you. Refugees and migrants are dying in europes sudden cold snap and the United Nations Refugee Agency is urging governments to do more. The unhcr said several migrants had died from cold and exhaustion in bulgaria and it called on greece to move migrants from poor conditions on islands to better facilities on the mainland. 0ur correspondent Sian Grzeszcyk reports. Desperate to get out of the bitterly cold waters, these are just some of the 800 migrants and refugees that were rescued from the Mediterranean Sea yesterday. The italian coastguard helped them out of the six rubber boats they were trying to cross in. Freezing temperatures in europe over the last week have caused the un to call on governments to do more to help migrants. In greece, the situation was so bad that this ship was sent to lesbos at the request of the greek Prime Minister to house migrants, Amidst Health warnings that condition at the main camp had become inhumane. Hundreds of others in lesbos are being transferred to hotels. I am afraid but i dont know where i go. Im afraid. At the European Parliament in brussels, a warning about how prepared the eu is for a further increase in numbers. We are making a call for europe to prepare for possible new influxes. It may not happen, but we need to be prepared. We are very concerned in a number of situations, europe does not seem to have a plan a or plan b. Conditions are also tough at this migrant camp in serbia. More than 1000 men from afghanistan and pakistan are relying on one meal a day from volunteers, and having to wash outside in the cold conditions. Concern is growing that more migrants will die, trying to survive these harsh conditions. Sian grzeszcyk, bbc news. Turkey and greece have clashed over the future of cyprus today despite the un insisting there had been progress in talks in geneva over reunifying the island. The turkish president said his country must continue to underwrite the security of the island. But the Greek Foreign minister said turkish troops could not remain. 0ur diplomatic correspondent, James Landale has given his assessment of the talks so far. The key question has always been, how will they guarantee the security of each others communities . Under a settle m e nt of each others communities . Under a settlement when the island is unified. They all remember the Intercommunal Violence that took place that was so bloody in the 19605 place that was so bloody in the 1960s and 70s and it is on that issue that president erdogans comments today have been so robust. It depends on the future of the 30,000 Odd Turkish Troops in the north of the island and president erdogan of turkey said it was out of the question for these troops to be withdrawn. He said, we will be in cyprus for ever. The question hanging over this is, is this president erdogan pulling the plug on these negotiations . He has the ability to do that because turkey is ability to do that because turkey is a key player in these talks. 0r ability to do that because turkey is a key player in these talks. Or is he merely talking tough for a domestic audience . Still part playing the role as a president should during a negotiation like this. This was the point put to the United Nations Special Envoy who has been dealing with these negotiations and facilitating them, and he said, the stakes for this issue are too important for it to fail now. Studio James Landale. There were emotional scenes during a ceremony at the white house last night, as president obama surprised his Vice President with the countrys highest civilian honour. Mr obama said he was awarding the president ial Medal Of Freedom Tojoe Biden for his faith in his fellow americans and for a lifetime of service he described him as a lion of american history. Mr biden said the honour was a complete surprise. Applause. The best Vice President america has ever had, mrjoe biden applause. This also gives the internet one last chance to talk about our bromance laughter. The president and Vice President of the United States. This is bbc news at 5pm. Coming up. We will be talking to the bestselling author Frederick Forsyth about us and uk Relations With Moscow and the dark art of spying. And we will review the Hollywood Hit Musical la la land in the film review with mark kermode. Now lets look at the weather. We will continue to keep an eye on the storm surge down the east coast of england and the height tied. Weather wise further wintry showers to come, snow showers across northern scotland, some western coastal areas and some working well inland. This will be an issue and there are warnings in force from the met office, slippery surfaces with temperatures close to or below freezing quite widely and where you have snow on the ground it could be below 0 degrees. Many with a bright and crisp day tomorrow but showers running down the east coast, the strongest winds will continue to ease down. The showers across Northern Ireland, parts of england and wales will turn back into rain and wales will turn back into rain and something milder starts to push in from the atlantic, seven or 8 degrees, despite sunshine further east another chilly one. Different day on sunday, cloud, and a wet day, sliding down across the country, a fairly raw day in eastern areas, temperatures slow to rise, three or 4 degrees in some spots. Further west it will turn milder, reaching double figures. This is bbc news. The headlines there are Flood Warnings along the east coast of england, as a tidal surge and Strong Winds Force people from their homes. Lord snowdon, the photographer and former husband of Princess Margaret, has died at the age of 86. Almost half of hospitals in england declared a major alert in the first week of the year, as the Health Service comes under increasing pressure. The labour mp for stoke on Trent Central Tristram Hunt is resigning from parliament his departure triggers a by election. Now lets get the sports. Good afternoon top johanna good Afternoon Topjohanna Konta has won her title in the second tournament she has played this year. She claimed the Sydney International. She broke her polish opponent in the third game of the first set and hit 18 winners to five. She dominated the worlds number three with stunning returns and powerful hitting and convincingly won the second set to ta ke convincingly won the second set to take the title just three days before the start of the australian open. I was very pleased with the level i was able to produce today. It can always be a bit tricky. For both of us to play a great match was great for us and great for the pan fans and the people watching. I am happy with the progression i was able to make throughout the week and i felt that each mac i played, i got that much better. I knew going into the match that it couldnt be anything short of a great level from me ifi anything short of a great level from me if i was going to have a chance andi me if i was going to have a chance and i was happy that i did. Dan and i was happy that i did. Da n eva ns and i was happy that i did. Dan evans is through to his first atp tour final. This was also at the Syd Ney Atp Tour final. This was also at the Sydney International. He will be in the final tomorrow. Everton manager Bonnell Conan says his new signing will go through to the match on sunday. The player played under conan. |j the match on sunday. The player played under conan. I worked with him for one season in southampton. He has really got in a Midfield Player what i like. He has different qualities, he can play as a Midfield Player, he can play more offensive, asa player, he can play more offensive, as a Midfield Player. He is clever in that lane game, heres a he is aggressive, he brings qualities to everton and that is why we signed him. The bbc will show three life aims including the East Midlands Derby as pa rt including the East Midlands Derby as part of its coverage for the fourth round of the fa cup. That kicks off at eight oclock on friday night. All the matches will be on bbc one. Rugby Football League has agreed at deal that will see a new Club Set Up In Bradford for the start of the season. The old Bradford Bulls were liquidated earlier this month after a spell in Administration Following yea rs of a spell in Administration Following years of financial problems. The Winning Consortium was wonderful it is. Sale sharks up being investigated following an injury in last saturdays defeat to harlequins. He appeared to be concussed but remained on the match but the rest on the pitch for the rest of the match. Storm has hit nine birdies on his way to a bogey free round of 63. The world number two rory mcilroy is three shots off the pace after complaining of a bad back today. He ended rather fittingly with back to back bogeys. Keep up with the sport on our website. Tune into sportsday for a lot more. Join olly foster at 6 30pm. Christopher steele, the former mi6 agent who wrote the reports into Donald Trumps alleged activities in russia has gone into hiding. The President Elect has accused his political opponents both democrats and republicans of putting together a dossier of what he calls totally made up claims linking him to russia. Moscow has dismissed the allegations as pulp fiction. Well, one person who knows about fact and fiction is the author Frederick Forsyth famed for his spy novels but who also worked for mi6 for 20 years. We can speak to him now from buckinghamshire. The to talk to you. You couldnt make this up, i suppose. You could make this up, i suppose. You could make it up as a novel, but what did you take of russian intelligence now, using the same techniques that the kgb used for many years . Presumably, they still do it . Let me get this out of the way it can. If it isa get this out of the way it can. If it is a question of do they have the immorality to mount the situation aimed at destroying the character of the foreign politician . The answer is yes, in a heartbeat. In fact, they do targeted assassinations, as they do targeted assassinations, as they did of mr litvinenko in a british hospital. They might do it, there is no question of that. Why i doubt this is because i cant see why they would want to mount what was apparently some kind of all g in oscar white hotel five years ago to entrap a man who back then wasnt very important, and, so, Iwould Entrap A Man who back then wasnt very important, and, so, i would say it strikes me as odd. The other thing that strikes me as odd is that mrtrump thing that strikes me as odd is that mr trump would have to be a congenital idiot to attend, let alone participate in this in a russian hotel. He would have to know that any residential suite of any major hotel, especially in moscow, likely to be inhabited by foreign dignitaries, is bugged. Why would he be so foolish . In terms of the rich ish role of the alleged british role, theyre quite a Lot Companies quite legitimately doing some kind of business, intelligence, or other kind of intelligence set up by people who have the kind of akram you had many years ago . Is that a normal thing . We quite good at that . Yes, we are. There is a limited number of enterprises to which he can put his particular expertise. People tend towards towards companies with bodyguards, Asset Protection is, that sort of thing. A former agent might well think, i will go into Industrial Espionage or to throw some kind of Fact Finding Agency which can be hired to accomplish a chance task. This particular agency seems to be have been engaged by another agency in the us who seems to have been engaged by a multimillionaire who does not like donald trump and he was apparently looking for the dirt on the character of the president of the in about a weeks time. How they got these allegations together, i dont know. How Christopher Steele got in touch with his friends, he wasnt in moscow when mr trump was in moscow, so he has tried to Coal Allegations from his contacts in moscow, but they are so far just allegations. I havent had seen a shred of what might be called workable evidence. There is not a ya rd of workable evidence. There is not a yard of footage of anyone in a muscovite hotel all any kind of conversational intercepts that might have taken place. If you really want to have a trouble free life, dont miss behave in oscar white hotel, you will be on camera. Very good at bias. Can we take one step back from those allegations to how mr trump has handled the Intelligence Agencies in the United States, in other words, picking a bit of a fight with them. How odd is that, given that he appears to be quite close to mr putin, he wants better relations, how do you assess all about . Well, i mean, he has responded thought way he responds to everything, whether flat out counterattack which is called the media by surprise, they expected a bit of grovelling, maybe, or salt of civilised language. He just bit of grovelling, maybe, or salt of civilised language. Hejust came straight back when he comes back at everything, it is all wrong, it is a liar, you are a liar, he didnt quite use the f word but it was close. As to his main charge that this is fake news, pending some kind of proof, not even a shred of evidence, i dont see why we have to believe, just because the allegations have been made, that it must be true. I dont see why moscow would have motive. He has never been an enemy of moscow. He wasnt threatening moscow. Back then, five yea rs threatening moscow. Back then, five years ago, he wasnt big enough, really, to be a person you would wa nt to really, to be a person you would want to blackmail into subservience, or cooperate with you, or destroyed because he was your sworn m a. He was neither of those things. Sworn enemy. You wouldnt go to all the trouble of mounting a honey trap with tarts and cameras. If they had done that, why didnt they approach him and say, look, youve got this terrible stuff on you, it will destroy you in the eyes of your fellow americans, why dont you work for us . And i havent done that either. Lets get more now on the news that labours former education spokesman, Tristram Hunt, is resigning as mp for stoke on Trent Central, to become the director of the victoria and Albert Museum in london. Mr hunt is a strong critic of the Labour Leader, Jeremy Corbyn, but he says hes not trying to rock the boat. Joining me now from westminster is former labour Director Of Communications to tony blair, alastair campbell. He says he is not going to rock the boat, he has a good job, obviously, will he be a big loss in the party . Some people a0 could be a future leader. I think it is a big loss. Some people a0 could be a future leader. Ithink it is a big loss. I think tristram is one of those politicians who has real breadth and depth and it is a big loss to the labour party, and a big loss to parliament. I think that politicians, in the end, they are the same as everybody else, they are human beings and opportunities come along and maybe one comes along that new thing will never come again. Tristrams that life is as a historian, and in many ways, i would save hisjob is made for him. I think he will do it in really well. There is no denying it is a big loss to the labour party. I was drunk by looking on twitter the rear action by some people i was struck by looking on twitter at the reaction of some people. People calling him a disloyal plotter, we want socialist mps, a snob, traitor, that kind of stuff. However good hisjob is and so on, it goes right to the heart of divisions in the party. You can pay way too much attention to a relatively small number of people who are on twitter the whole time, even though one of them might be the President Elect of the moment. I do think parts of the labour party rf raid think parts of the labour party rf raid are afraid and do look on, every time i look at the labour party struggles that we are having to connect with the country, we have people saying, why cant you say everything is wonderful, winning to get behind the leader and everything will be fine. But im afraid that is the case. I think these people should think about what they are saying. The reality is that to win power in britain, you need to be a credible alternative government. It is not just about the leader, credible alternative government. It is notjust about the leader, you need people right across the Parliamentary Labour Party and more than that, that can give the public a sense of what labour could be in government. And tristram, whether people like him or not, whether they think is posh or not, whether they think is posh or not, whether they think tristram is a funny name or not all the other stuff i have been reading, he is a very about by who has a lot of right ideas and can make a big contribution to politics. So, ido make a big contribution to politics. So, i do think it is sad, i understand the reasons why he is taking thisjob, understand the reasons why he is taking this job, i understand the reasons why he is taking thisjob, i do think it is sad andi taking thisjob, i do think it is sad and i think the people who are mouthing off on twitter are not doing themselves any good either. The labour party cannot win if we become a sex that believes that all you have to do is say the words socialism become a sect that believes all the have to do is say the word socialism. Thank you. This is bbc news. The headlines. There are Flood Warnings along the east coast of england as a tidal surge and Strong Winds Force people from their homes. Lord snowdon, the photographer and former husband of Princess Margaret, has died at the age 86. Nhs figures show nearly half of hospitals in england declared now on bbc years, lets look ahead at sportsday at 6 30pm. The Premier League is back on sportsday tonight. That a Smackdown Bolasie will look at the games with me Coming Up Bolasie will look at the games with me coming up over bolasie will look at the games with me coming up over the weekend. Yannick bolassie. The match at anfield a couple of months ago wasnt the best, lets hope for some goals. There are fascinating xj is down at the bottom of the table back to see plenty of movement. The tennis is hotting up in australia with the first major of the year just a few days away. Johanna konta had a good win in sydney overnight and that all the melbourne has been made. We will show you who