Street and his labour rival, richard parker. Votes rechecked, a recount in coventry and this result in the last hour or so. The number of votes recorded for each. Weve waited all day for this moment. Its happening now. The result. And i do hereby declare that richard parker. Cheering this is the most important thing i will ever do. This week, people here voted for the person and the party. | they recognise that a labour mayor can make a positive. Difference in this region. So where do i go . A winner and a loser and the finest of margins. Mr street, commiserations. What do you put your loss down to . Very straightforward, chris, isnt it . We didnt persuade enough people across the West Midlands of our record and our plans for the future to give them confidence to go and vote on thursday. Ive always said it was my campaign and we didnt get over the line. Bluntly, is rishi sunak to blame . No, this was my campaign. Idid it. The famous words. I did it my way, and it was always going to be
Freedom is elusive. The Reuters Institute for the study Ofjournalism Talks of democratic backsliding in some parts of the world, and The Economist calculates that more than 39 of the worlds population lives under authoritarian rule. Well, across this edition of the media show, were going to discuss how states are now major sources of disinformation, how technology is changing the threats to freedom of speech, and how major Media Organisations such as the bbc see their role in responding to this. Its a lot to get through, and were going to start by understanding how restrictions on the press affect the information that people are able to access. And well begin with the situation in three countries that have a long history of muzzling the media russia, china and iran. And with us, weve got three experts from bbc monitoring. It, as the name suggests, monitors Media Activity Around The World. Kia atri follows the iranian media and, kia, just describe first a regular. A normal person, if yo
to return from normandy, and miss a ceremony with other world leaders on omaha beach. the foreign secretary david cameron took his place instead. our political correspondent hannah miller has the latest. a hannah miller has the latest. line up of world lead right a line up of world leaders, the right to left, president biden, german chancellor olaf scholz, french president emmanuel macron and british foreign secretary david cameron. they were at an event to commemorate those who fought to prevent preserve our freedom and value is 80 years ago. rishi sunak had attended the event earlier in the day but then flew home and did an election interview with itv. today he was forced to admit he should have stayed. today he was forced to admit he should have stayed. over the past few da s should have stayed. over the past few days they should have stayed. over the past few days they are should have stayed. over the past few days they are participated - should have stayed. over
the desk where mishal husain, who will have the job of trying to keep everyone under control, will be trying to moderate the debate, make sure that the audience get to ask their questions and get real answers. the parties, of course, will be looking to get their messages across and also to get those moments that really work on social media. but the most important people tonight are you, the audience at home, the audience here in the radio theatre, as the parties try to get their messages across to you and look at what you take away from the whole evening. you can watch all of the build up to tonight s debate the 90 minute debate starts at 7.30 on bbc one and iplayer, and there will be full live coverage on the bbc news website, too. labour is reportedly directing its activists to help campaign in areas that it won by significant margins in 2019. these are seats with large muslim populations, that may be disaffected with the party s position on the war in gaza. our religion editor aleem
back to you. the next election debate of this year s campaign is happening tonight on bbc one. representatives from seven political parties will be questioned on their plans and policies, including by voters in the studio audience. our political correspondent hannah miller has been to see how the set is coming together, and what we can expect to hear. we ve just come inside the radio theatre here at broadcasting house, a hive of activity ahead of tonight s debate. there have been people choking sound, checking camera angles, making sure that you can see and hear everything that all the representatives from the seven parties have to say. this is the stage that they will be taking to, as they try to win your votes. there will be nigel farage, representing reform uk, he of course pitching himself as a bit of an alternative for disillusioned conservative party voters. the other party, really, trying to pitch themselves