clipping _ spells and some showers. some when clipping the _ spells and some showers. some when clipping the coast of kent and also sussex _ clipping the coast of kent and also sussex. ~ ., ., , ., . sussex. more details later. when, she sa s. the wet weather's leading to an influx of slugs in our gardens. we'll be finding out how to deal with the slimy pests. it's tuesday 18th june. our main story. millions of eligible people are being urged to register to vote in order to have their say in the general election, ahead of the deadline at midnight tonight. previous voters who have moved address, changed their nationality, or their name will also need to re—register. it comes as parties return to the campaign trail today, with just over two weeks left until polling day. 0ur political correspondent ben wright has the latest. labour's campaign is captured in one word and so far it is a pitch keeping sir keir starmer�*s party miles ahead in the opinion polls. yesterday, the labour leader pledged to change football governance rules to prevent any super league—style breakaways by english clubs. today, the party is highlighting plans to create 350 new banking hubs in britain's towns — a move the party claims would bring cash to high streets and help to keep pubs and other shops open. rishi sunak warned voters yesterday not to give labour a blank cheque on polling day. the prime minister knows the situation looks bleak for the tories but said he believes he can win. his tactic is to relentlessly criticise and question labour's tax plans. council tax is the latest focus and the tories say labour should rule out scrapping referenda on council tax hikes — an attack labour described as hysterical and desperate. 3, 2, 1... while the two main parties slug it out, the liberal democrat leader ed davey seems to be having far more fun than his rivals. today, the party is again focusing on cleaning up dirty water, with a pledge to recruit 100 new water—quality inspectors, as part of a plan to clamp down on sewage—dumping water companies. as a campaign quickens towards polling day onjuly 4th, campaigners are encouraging people to register to vote. one of our biggest slogans is, if you don't do politics, politics will do you. and by that we really do mean, do we want other people to make decisions about our lives when we are the experts in our own lived experience? politics can often feel too far fetched, too out there, too high a level when in reality, we are experts of our own lived experience. nearly 2 million applications to vote have been made since the election was called and if you are not already registered to vote, you have until midnight tonight to ensure you can cast a ballot. ben wright, bbc news, westminster. 0ur chief political correspondent henry zeffmanjoins us now from westminster. morning to you. henry, millions still not on the electoral register. not long to actually get to the point where they can put their cross in the box. ., , point where they can put their cross in the box. ., ._ , .,, point where they can put their cross inthe box. ., , . ., . in the box. today is the last chance for those people. _ in the box. today is the last chance for those people. the _ in the box. today is the last chance for those people. the deadline - in the box. today is the last chance for those people. the deadline is l for those people. the deadline is midnight tonight to register to vote. the postal votes the deadline is tomorrow and proxy vote is next week. for most people, registering to vote takes less than five minutes. you go on to the government website and then you have a permission to participate in the general election. 96% of pensioners are already on the electoral register. with 18 to 24—year—olds, it is 66%. poorer people and ethnic minorities are far less likely to be registered to vote. as we have been discussing every morning, this is a crucial and fascinating general election. if you want a sense of how things are going for the conservatives, the incumbent party, who have been in powerfor14 years, look at the warning by rishi sunak that keir starmer could entrench his power for years. that keir starmer could entrench his powerfor years. that that keir starmer could entrench his power for years. that is that keir starmer could entrench his powerfor years. that is not that keir starmer could entrench his power for years. that is not the warning of a confident leader. i was messaging a conservative candidate in a very safe constituency yesterday and asked how it was going. they replied with a photo of a crashing red wave. that opinion might change. if you want to change it or keep it that way, you have to register to vote. we'll be speaking to the green party's co—leader adrian ramsay at 8.30am. now the rest of this morning's news with jon. now the rest of this morning's news withjon. a fairly significant trip by the russian president today. we will be getting an update and little later. first, steelworkers belonging to the unite union have begun industrial action in protest at tata steel's plans to cut almost 3,000 jobs. our business correspondent huw thomas joins us now from port talbot. how significant is this action today? how significant is this action toda ? , , , , ., today? this is the first industrial action in the _ today? this is the first industrial action in the steel _ today? this is the first industrial action in the steel industry - today? this is the first industrial action in the steel industry in . today? this is the first industriali action in the steel industry in 40 action in the steel industry in a0 years. it has been taken by members of the unite union and they are working to rule and staging an overtime ban here in port talbot and near newport. the steelworkers i have spoken to are defiant and determined to try to change the mind of tata steel. they want to close both bonuses and overtime build a new electric arc furnace, a greener way to make steel. whether it's shutting it means 2000 job losses in quick succession, the bulk happening in port talbot. unite says there is another way, there could be a longer transition towards that time when there could be a greener way to make steel here. the company says there is an immediate and financial imperative to get this done. they are losing £1 million a day in port talbot. they say they are investing in the future of steel—making with the green commitment. it called up the green commitment. it called up the ballot process of unite. they feel it is unlawful although they have not challenged in the courts. there are lots of other workers and other unions who are still in discussion with tata steel. the company wants unite to get back around the negotiating table. russia's president putin has praised north korea for "firmly supporting" the war in ukraine, as he prepares to visit pyongyang for the first time in 2a years. the us says it's concerned about the deepening relationship between the two countries, and has accused north korea of shipping weapons to russia, a claim denied by moscow and pyongyang. our correspondent shaimaa khalil is in seoul this morning. shaimaa, what is the significance of the visit? it isa it is a significant visit. it has been described by ukraine as the world's loneliest romance. expect to hear that phrase a few times today and tomorrow. they have weakening economies and an isolated world standing. they know they need each other and each leader knows the other and each leader knows the other has something they need. north korea needs everything from fuel to food and foreign currency and space technology, especially after it failed to launch its second spy satellite into orbit last month. russia wants munition and weaponry that north korea can provide. we understand by the united states it has provided this for the war in ukraine. significant because it is the first time in more than two decades vladimir putin has made that trip to north korea. tv stations were running archived footage of a much longer vladimir putin received by kimjong—un�*s much longer vladimir putin received by kim jong—un�*s dad. much longer vladimir putin received by kimjong—un�*s dad. he much longer vladimir putin received by kim jong—un�*s dad. he wants to solidify that relationship, especially that his country as well is increasingly isolated on the world stage. those two leaders want to project to the world, especially for the united states, they have each other to rely on. here, the actor sir ian mckellen has been taken to hospital after falling from the stage during a performance in london last night. the 85—year—old had been in a fight scene at the noel coward theatre when he lost his footing and fell, leading to the cancellation of the show. a spokesperson said he was expected to make a speedy recovery. demonstrators in israel have clashed with police in protest over the government's handling of the war in gaza. thousands took to the streets demanding new elections and the release of the remaining hostages taken by hamas. it comes after the prime minister, benjamin netanyahu dissolved his six—member war cabinet, following the departure of two key figures. there's a warning children across the uk could experience "lifelong consequences" due to long delays for hospital treatment. it comes after a bbc investigation found more than 20,000 youngsters waited over a year to be admitted for procedures including surgery, with a record number of families paying for private treatment. the post office inquiry continues today with two directors from the forensic accountancy firm credited with helping to expose the scandal, set to give evidence. andy verity is there for us. we can check in with him. andy, what can we expect today? this could be an explosive day for evidence at the post office inquiry. the two people giving evidence today are ron warmington and ian henderson. if you remember the itv drama that went out at the beginning of the year that caused such a big public fuss... that included a character called bob rutherford, representing a firm of forensic accountants, who is an amalgam of these people. hired in 2012 by the post office after pressure from mps in parliament to look into claims that sub—postmasters had been wrongly prosecuted. they went through the post office files, looked at the system and spoke to people. they told the post office something it didn't want to hear that there were bugs in the horizon it system and concerns they might have affected the shortfalls for which sub—postmasters were prosecuted. they delivered an interim report injuly 2013. we have listened to the inquiry which said when they were told that the board of the post office was alarmed and the chair of the post office, alice perkins, wanted to get rid of second sight. they recorded the calls. we have been hearing some of the tapes from those recorded calls. we may hear more today and learn stuff we did not know before about the post office and a scandal. millions of americans are bracing themselves for an early summer heatwave, which forecasters say could be the longest in decades. the hottest temperatures are expected to affect much of the midwest and northeastern states for up to a week. the national weather service says record temperatures of up to a0 degrees celsius are likely in many areas. concerns that extreme heat will make it impossible to hold the olympics during the summer months have been raised by leading athletes and climate scientists. it comes as a new report outlines some of the threats posed to competitors at this years paris games, including heat stress, —— to competitors at this year's paris games, including heat stress, sleep disruption and even the possibility of fatalities. that is fairly extreme weather. feels we have been having some extreme weather of our own. i was at the trooping the colour on saturday. four seasons and about four minutes. for the flypast matt minutes later, brilliant blue sunshine for the red arrows, which looked fantastic. it was quite erratic, shall we say? good morning. we are getting a bit of summer weather, more than we have been used to. this scene was taken earlier in twickenham. we are starting off on a fairly cloudy note, which will give way to sunny spells and a few showers. some will be heavy and thundery as we go through the day. the northern half of the country, daddy cloudy with showers. the second half we had rain at the moment across the channel islands. this morning looks like it will clip sussex and kent. then we ran into some clearer skies and sunshine. where we have the cloud, there are also a few showers. the northerly wind coming in across the north of scotland accentuating the chillier feel here. north of scotland accentuating the chillierfeel here. through north of scotland accentuating the chillier feel here. through the day more cloud will bubble up. some showers across parts of scotland and northern england into the north midlands and east anglia. those will be heavy and potentially thundery as well. the wrangle clearer away from the south—east and temperatures up to 21 celsius. —— the rain will clear away. to 21 celsius. —— the rain will clearaway. in to 21 celsius. —— the rain will clear away. in the sunshine, 21 will feel quite pleasant. good weather for royal ascot, which starts today. another weather front coming across the far north—west of scotland introducing more cloud. the cool night in the north. in sheltered glands, temperatures could fall away to two all three degrees. for the next couple of days, for most it will be dry. variable amounts of cloud and sunny spells. we could see weather fronts coming in across the north west and the south is bringing rain at times on thursday. thank you ve much rain at times on thursday. thank you very much indeed. _ rain at times on thursday. thank you very much indeed. we _ rain at times on thursday. thank you very much indeed. we will _ rain at times on thursday. thank you very much indeed. we will be - rain at times on thursday. thank you very much indeed. we will be asking | very much indeed. we will be asking you about the is a bit later. i cannot wait! what _ you about the is a bit later. i cannot wait! what is - you about the is a bit later. i cannot wait! what is the - you about the is a bit later. i | cannot wait! what is the slug forecast? — cannot wait! what is the slug forecast? thank _ cannot wait! what is the slug forecast? thank you. - let's take a look at today's papers. tuesday's papers largely focus on the election campaign. the daily telegraph reveals that former prime minister borisjohnson is signing letters to red wall voters in a bid to counter reform uk and labour. the guardian looks in detail at yesterday's manifesto launch by reform uk. 0r contract as they call it. the party's leader nigel farage is accused of offering a manifesto that doesn't add up, according to economists. in other news, the metro leads on a story about a patient who stopped an alleged bomber targeting a hospital. the paper says nathan newby talked the man out of detonating an explosive device at st james's hospital in leeds last year. "willkommen england" reads the front page of the daily mirror, as it reports german police have told fans to have a great time at the euros, but have also warned troublemakers to stay away. as pa rt of as part of that we have reported you cannot buy full strength alcohol at the stadium is the only low strength alcohol. there is a story in the times this morning that one particular bar in the centre of gelsenkirchen, which is where england fans were on sunday night, has done quite well. apparently they have sold more beer in one afternoon, on sunday afternoon, than they normally sell in two months. that is amazing! thousands of pints. they started at nine o'clock in the morning. it is the piazza bar in the centre of the german city. the manager can probably retire by the end of the euros. we need a taylor swift story, it is the law! apparently in advance of the wembley stadium shows what she has ordered a5 large chicken donna kebabs... apparently. when she was in edinburgh she gave a mega order from greggs. which is? she isjust maxing out her loyalty points what she is here. i thought you were going to say a crate of champagne or something. she is done the people. —— down with the people. there's a warning increasing numbers of children could suffer as councils in england forecast an almost £1 billion shortfall in funding for special needs education this year. as leading political parties outline their plans to do more to help support the sector ahead of the election, our education editor branwenjeffreys has been to meet some of those affected. it's one of the biggest education challenges, barely getting a mention in this election. it's a broken system that is breaking families and councils. i can only see that this is going to cause more issues, or more children, that potentially are not having their needs met in mainstream school. they're taking away - what we already don't have. we need to be given more access to provisions for our children - with additional needs, not less. look how green it is. it's really green. this is 11—year—old isla at a pet shop. isla is autistic and struggling to attend school. to get her needs met, mum sarah said she had no option but a legal process. it's really hard and overwhelming. that's the only way i can describe it. the amount of paperwork, the amount of chasing, the amount ofjust advocating for, or searching for, what your child needs. it shouldn't be down to the families. sarah challenged over the education, health and care plan for isla. a council legally has to meet the needs in these plans. in england, almost 600,000 children and young people have one. last year, there was a 26% increase in new plans starting. three, two, one! 0h! the head teacher at this bristol primary says they're seeing more children with extra need. and councils are under pressure, funding not keeping up with spending. bristol is one of 38 areas told by the government to cut this deficit, put into what's called a safety valve agreement. i can only see that this is going to cause more issues, or more children, that potentially are not having their needs met in mainstream school, and therefore, may not be accessing education at all. is this, nationwide, potentially a form of rationing? i can't see how it could be seen as potentially anything else. the send budget hole is large. 113 of 153 councils responded to the bbc about their spending, forecasting a £926 million deficit this financial year. that's the gap between funding and what they'll spend. and if you look at how this is adding up, an estimated £3.2 billion deficit has accumulated since 2019 across england. the worst gap between funding and spending, we found, was in cheshire east. it's not in a safety valve plan, so not getting extra cash. like all councils, the send deficits are being held off the balance of accounts under a government deal that runs out in two years' time. at that point, the scale of the financial problem will be visible. it means that in 2026 we have a huge problem. it's a bit like, we've put the money on a credit card and that credit card has to be paid back in two years' time. how much interest are you paying on that at the moment? the amount that's already in that negative reserve for cheshire east council is about £80 million. so we'll be paying between £3 million and £6 million in interest in the current year. charities are worried about the children's legal rights to support. gathering information from councils trying to cut deficits, concerned it means fewer children will get a legally binding plan. the law is really clear - about what disabled children and young people are entitled to. and these safety valve - agreements seem