campaign here in the uk. all parties out again this weekend vying for support. rishi sunak has pledged to give 30 towns across the uk £20 million each if the conservatives are re—elected. he says the money would go towards the long—term regeneration of the areas, under the government's levelling up scheme. a topic labour leader kier starmer hasn't been able to escape is dianne abbott. there's been a lot of controversy over the terms of the re—admittance of the veteran labour mp into the party. keir starmer has been tackling that issue as well this morning, denying that his party is blocking left—wing candidates. 0n diane abbott — you said last week you weren't going to get involved in her case. you said the days when the leader rolls up his sleeves and gets involved are well and truly over, that's what corbyn did and ended badly. you said it was a matter for the nec on candidate selection and you avoided having a view becausejeremy corbyn expressed a view and that leads to a very slippery slope. now, yesterday you gave your view. she said you said she was free to stand. so what's changed 7 is a leader now allowed to intervene in these processes? well, i dealt with that issue yesterday. today is about taking our argument to the country and getting people back to work. there are millions of people who aren't in work, who are on benefits who desperately want the dignity and respect of being back to work. we're putting our plan on the table to reform thejobcentres so that they can actually be places that support people back into work, to making sure that we've got a plan for economic inactivity and a guarantee for youth. now, as i go across the country, we're now a week and a half into the campaign, everywhere people are asking me, "how are you going to make the economy work? how are you going to make sure we are all better off that our living standards go up?" today, we put our plan on the table for getting people back to work — opportunity britain. wasn't that decision really made because you hadn't anticipated the scale of the backlash that you would face if she was banned from her constituents, from her community, and even from some of your front bench who was here today? look, i dealt with this yesterday. one of myjobs in this election is to be out and about across the country, just like ange is, with this bus 5000 miles, talking to people, asking them, "what's the most important thing for you?" and they say to me, they say to me repeatedly, it's about the cost of living, it's about living standards. i've met so many people who want to be back in work, but they don't feel supported back into work. and that's why our plan to get people back into work is so important to them. they want to hear what we're going to do withjobcentres and how they're going to be supportive of people back into work. they want to know, "what are you going to do employment or training?" what are we going to do with them? they want to know about the guarantee that we're putting on the table. and this election is a choice election. and i think it's really important for me to stay focused on that choice, which is more of the chaos and decline under the tories or moving our country forward with labour. that's the argument. i'll take that out there and we'll take it on the bus, ange will take it on the bus every single day because it's so important that we get the chance in this election to turn the page. so let's talk about voters. faiza shaheen said you're tossing her community aside. lord willie, the co—founder of operation black vote, said the labour party has a lot of work to do to build trust within the black community. leading black figures wrote a letter saying the process with diane abbott indicates a determination to humiliate her. and coming from a community where discrimination is a daily reality, we know unfairness when we see it. can you understand why black voters are perhaps thinking twice about voting for labour? and if they are, what's your message to black and brown voters today? let me give my message to voters, because i think this is very, very, very, very important, which is if you want change, the power is with you because the vote is with you, you have to vote for change. we have changed this labour party and put it back in the service of working people. what we are asking now, humbly asking, is the opportunity to change our country and put it back in the service of working people. and that requires both setting out our ambition to change the country, but also the first steps, the down payment, if you like — stabilising the economy and making sure we can deal with our waiting lists, getting people back into work, setting up great british energy to keep bills down. they are the first steps to the change this country desperately needs. so my message to the voters is if you want change — and i do think so many people are yearning for change — you have to vote for it. new labour party leader sir keir starmer speaking a little earlier on today as the labour party lunching there battle bus —— the labour party leader. we also heard from rishi sunak at the launch of their battle bus. we have more coverage across the day of the parties and their moves. a full page on our website dedicated as well and lots of background and a poll tracker. let's move onto another story. pharmacists say there's growing evidence of a crisis in the supply of medications in the uk, with an increasing use of emergency measures to prescribe alternatives when a drug isn't available. 0ur health correspondent, dominic hughes, reports. pharmacists say the supply of medicines is complicated. it's an international business that can be affected by changes in global demand, prices, and exchange rates, as well as manufacturing problems and the supply chain. and the availability of some drugs has been problematic. the evidence — the use of serious shortage protocols, issued by the department of health and social care and applied across the uk. they allow community pharmacists to supply alternative drugs if there's a shortage of a particular medicine. the national pharmacy association says they've been issued 50 times in the past two years, but in the two years before that, just 15 were issued. a whole range of medicines have been affected — including forangina, epilepsy, adhd, and cystic fibrosis. university student amber lives with cystic fibrosis and is struggling to get medication that helps her digest food. without it, i basically can't eat. also, to try and get the medicine i'm having to drive around for hours and hours to different pharmacies taking these scripts. finishing second year is like carnage for... really stressful for, like, a normal student, but a student that can't eat properly — like, can't find the medicine that keeps me alive — that stress is just unimaginable! pharmacists say they are increasingly having to turn patients away. unfortunately, because of the issues that we're currently facing with medicine shortages, we are having to turn patients away. and we see first hand the stress that it causes for a lot of patients — particularly those who have been on these medicines for a long time, or they're seeking the medicines for their children. and it's heartbreaking for us as health care professionals, as pharmacists, to have to send patients away, or to have to tell them that they're going to have to wait longer to get the medicines. the uk is not the only country in the world experiencing problems with drug supplies — it's a global issue. but the npa says it wants all the main parties in the election to commit to tackling the shortages. dominic hughes, bbc news. let's refocus on the uk election. the scottish first minister has taken his election campaign to the north—east of scotland, insisting his party can "remove the remaining rump of tory mps" both there and in other parts of the country. snp leaderjohn swinney is expected to urge people to take part in a "scottish national service" by using the general election to vote tory mps out of office. let's speak to our reporter ben philip in aberdeen. just talk us through what we can expect today. just talk us through what we can meet today-— expect today. that is right. john swinne , expect today. that is right. john swinney, scotland's _ expect today. that is right. john swinney, scotland's first - expect today. that is right. john i swinney, scotland's first minister is campaigning here in north—east scotland today, a key battleground for the snp and conservatives. it is very much a divided political make up very much a divided political make up and the snp very much see themselves as the challengers in this area for the three conservative seats that are here. there are six conservative seats in scotland, three here in the north—east. here in aberdeen south, it is currently an snp constituency held by snp westminster leader stephen flynn, and mr swinney earlier, a short time ago, visited a cafe here, which is well known for dolphin watching. as you may be able to see, there is also evidence in the harbour behind me of the city's oil and gas industry, a very important issue for voters in this area. but mr swinney�*s message today is that his party is best placed to remove conservative mps from power in scotland. and as we have been hearing today from the conservative party, this expansion of the levelling up funding, some 30 towns across the uk set to receive £20 million if the conservatives are elected back into government, mr swinney said the snp has already invested significantly in communities across scotland, including on a major road project, the aberdeen bypass, which was completed in 2018. we spoke to mr swinney a short time ago, and he said he is here to talk about the damage done by what he has described as the triple whammy of austerity, brexit and cost of living which he says has been caused by damage done by westminster. 0n the oil and gas situation, and at the industry's future, he said he is keen to work with the industry to reach and net zero, but the same eyes message today very much that it is here in the north—east to remove conservative mps in power —— the snp's message today. i conservative mps in power -- the snp's message today.— conservative mps in power -- the snp's message today. i believe we can -la a snp's message today. i believe we can play a little _ snp's message today. i believe we can play a little bit _ snp's message today. i believe we can play a little bit of— snp's message today. i believe we can play a little bit of what - snp's message today. i believe we can play a little bit of what john . can play a little bit of whatjohn swinney said a little earlier on. let's hear from the man swinney said a little earlier on. let's hearfrom the man himself. i have been talking during this election— i have been talking during this election campaign about the damage that has_ election campaign about the damage that has been done to scotland by the triple — that has been done to scotland by the triple whammy of austerity, brexit— the triple whammy of austerity, brexit and the cost of living crisis. — brexit and the cost of living crisis, and all of these are a product _ crisis, and all of these are a product of— crisis, and all of these are a product of westminster decision—making. the answer to that, of course, _ decision—making. the answer to that, of course, in— decision—making. the answer to that, of course, in scotland is to make sure _ of course, in scotland is to make sure that — of course, in scotland is to make sure that decisions are made in scotland — sure that decisions are made in scotland for scotland. and that is at the _ scotland for scotland. and that is at the heart of the snp election campaign because we cannot allow scotland _ campaign because we cannot allow scotland to be damaged in the way we've _ scotland to be damaged in the way we've been damaged by the continuation of austerity and brexit and the _ continuation of austerity and brexit and the cost of living crisis, all of which — and the cost of living crisis, all of which are a product of westminster. so the snp leaderjohn swinney speaking a little bit earlier there. i am sure he wants the focus to remain on policies and going forward, but scottish police have confirmed that they are assessing a new complaint over the former health secretary michael matheson�*s ipad data roaming bill. it is after viewers may recall he racked up an £11,000 there well overseas and just explain the background to this and whetherjohn swinney has commented on this today. it is whetherjohn swinney has commented on this today-— on this today. it is another day of the campaign _ on this today. it is another day of the campaign trail— on this today. it is another day of the campaign trail for— on this today. it is another day of the campaign trail for the - on this today. it is another day of the campaign trail for the snp i on this today. it is another day of. the campaign trail for the snp where they are having to speak about this ipad data roaming bill. it has been something which has been rumbling on for some time now. it relates to former health secretary michael matheson, who racked up an £11,000 data bill for his parliamentary ipad whilst he was on a family holiday to morocco in late 2022. these charges were initially fitted by the taxpayer, but mr mathieson later admitted his children had been using the ipad to watch football. he has since repaid the money in full, apologised and resigned as the health secretary. last night, it emerged that police scotland has received a second complaint in connection with this situation. at this stage, the nature of the complaint has not been made clear, but we do know that officers are reviewing that complaint, they are making an assessment to it, and it was just making an assessment to it, and it wasjust earlier this making an assessment to it, and it was just earlier this week that michael martinson was suspended from parliament for 27 days over this and to forfeit 5a days pay —— michael matheson. it is a punishment he has accepted. i asked john swinney about this situation today, and he said it was a matter for police scotland and it would be inappropriate to comment further. this is very much an issue for the snp. virtually every day this campaign so far has been forced to answer questions about this and it is an issue that is not going away. it is an issue that is not going awa . . ~' it is an issue that is not going awa . . ~ , ., y it is an issue that is not going awa. ., , . it is an issue that is not going awa. .,g , .., away. thank you very much and brinuain away. thank you very much and bringing your — away. thank you very much and bringing your interview- away. thank you very much and bringing your interview with - away. thank you very much and | bringing your interview with john bringing your interview withjohn swinney to us as well. then fill up there in aberdeen with the scottish national party. more on the website. so many of the parties campaigning today and lots more detail and analysis on our website. a 20—year—old man has appeared in court charged with the murder of amie gray and the attempted murder of a second woman on bournemouth seafront. nasen saadi, from croydon, only spoke to confirm his name, and address during the short hearing at poole magistrates' court. his case was sent to winchester crown court for a hearing to be held onjune the 4th and he was remanded in custody until then. earlier this year, strict rules came into force across britain about the ownership of american xl bully dogs following a number of attacks. however, since the laws were introduced, there have been several more incidents — some fatal — involving the animals. 0ur reporterjayne mccubbin has been looking at the issue. in the space ofjust over a week, a five—year—old boy was treated for head injuries after being attacked in hull. firearms officers are called to a street in caerphilly after a 15—year—old is attacked, and a woman in her 50s is killed in london. scared, you know, the fact that this has happened in our neighbourhood to a lady that obviously was very kind and loving. the fact that that's happened with her own dogs is scary, it's very scary. dog barks behind those injuries and this death is a dog just like this, an xl bully. ian langley, ian price, 17—month—old bella—rae birch, ten—year—old jack lis and grandmother esther martin, they all died in the jaws of an xl bully. and their deaths led to a ban right across great britain. that means it is illegal to sell or pass on the breed, but owners can still keep their pets if they were registered before a national deadline. the dogs behind this latest fatality in london were registered. that meant they had to be muzzled when outdoors, but not at home. the new laws mean prosecutions are taking place for attacks like this in birmingham, but attacks are still happening. i'm stacey, and what's your name? elouise. elouise was just four when she was mauled by a dog, a staffy cross, which is not a band breed. yeah, she went to a play date at a friend's house after school. and she ended up with a couple of lacerations to her face. i have seen, obviously, a lot of media coverage in regards to the xl bullies. but i think any dog can turn. this is why many charities, including the rspca, say breed—specific bands do not work. when dogs attack, they say, the problem is responsible owners, not dangerous breeds. elouise still has to cross the street when she sees a dog, but this week celebrated an important milestone in her recovery. little miss glamour uk 2024 — and this is you, you've just won this, haven't you? what did the judges say about you? they say you are very confident and beautiful. yeah. you've been through a lot, haven't you? you have, haven't you? but you're getting there. congratulations on your award, elouise. say thank you. thank you. congratulations. researchers say a simple saliva test is proving more effective at identifying men at high risk of prostate cancer than standard blood tests. cancer research organisations say it promises to "turn the tide" on the early diagnosis and treatment of the disease. next week marks the 80th anniversary of the d—day landings — and ahead of the date we've been telling the stories of some of those involved. 0ur reporterjohn maguire has been to normandy to meet three french women who were young children at the time of liberation. for the people of northern france, years of nazi occupation came to an end with d—day and its aftermath. civilians paid a heavy price in lives and property destroyed as the allies drove the german forces south. the fighting was often brutal. those alive today were mostly children in 1944. paulette, jacqueline and antoinette are among those locals depicted in scenes from the longest yarn knitting project. they remember the american parachutists landing near their village. translation: well, my parents realised it was d-day, _ but they were expecting the british, but not the americans. i can still remember my parents. they couldn't believe it. yes, my parents were happy when they saw the americans arrive and the germans flee. antoinette still has her communion dress made from one of the white parachutes the airborne forces left behind. this is paulette on the left with the white bow in her hair. the photograph has been recreated in one of the knitted panels. she tells me what it was like for a young girl from rural france to meet americans for the first time. they crossed the line. they came across the field and they were in front of our yard. they asked us about things we didn't know and they gave us chewing gum and stuff, but we didn't want any. chocolat? yes, and chewing gum. we didn't want any becau