Lives in service of all who took pa rt lives in service of all who took part in the operations in iraq and afghanistan. And the queen unveils a memorial dedicated to those who served in conflicts in iraq, afghanistan, and in the gulf war. And the queen unveils a memorial dedicated to those who served and coming up in the sport on bbc news. England and scotland name their teams for saturdays calcutta cup match in the six nations, with Billy Vunipola on the bench for eddiejones side at twickenham. Good afternoon and welcome to the bbc news at one. The chancellor Philip Hammond has defended his plan to raise National Insurance contributions for the Self Employed, saying the Government Faces new challenges. Mr hammond is facing criticism of the Budget Announcement for apparently going against a 2015 manifesto pledge on tax rises. The change, due to come in next year, will mean 1. 6 million Self Employed people paying on average £240 more every year. Labour has accused the government of breaking its promise. Heres our Political Correspondent eleanor garnier. Learning to solve Technical Problems Ata Learning to solve technical problems at a college in dudley in the West Midlands this morning, and after yesterdays budget, the chancellor is the one looking for answers after criticism over his plans to hike up National Insurance. I think the decision we have made is a fair decision. To ask Self Employed people to pay just decision. To ask Self Employed people to payjust a little more contribution for the services they receive. This is not in any way an attack on business, hugely supportive of business, i want people to have choices about the way they work, but i want them to make those choices on the basis of whats right, not on the basis of what Tax Advantages they bring. But this is the row he woke up to. Accusations the row he woke up to. Accusations the tories had broken a manifesto promise made by mr cameron back in 2015. If you elect me as your Prime Minister there will be no increase in vat, no increase in National Insurance, no increase in income tax. And there is criticism from some conservative mps. My leave ipod through peoples doors who voted for me said we will not put up vat, income tax and National Insurance contributions and it didnt say only class one or anything else, it didnt say that. Thats what people believed in an i dont think we should break that promise. The government says the policy will make the system fairer. The new changes plus others already planned mean 2. 6 Million People will gain around £115 a year. At1. 6 Million People will gain around £115 a year. At 1. 6 million will have to pay more, on average £2110 a year. Labour is hoping tory rebels will help them oppose the plans. And represent the constituency with a large number of Self Employed and id tell you, at the moment, they are on the edge because the dip in consumer spending, whats happening in the economy at the moment. This is not a time to be penalising them. We wa nt is not a time to be penalising them. We want a fair system so let the planet so those Self Employed are treated fairly, but also lets end this exploitation. But others are clear the change will make things fairer. The world of work is changing, 45 of the increase in employment in the last few years has been done by Self Employment and hes realised more people are Self Employed, the less taxi is getting in because the Self Employed pay significantly less and hes right to adjust that. The treasury say Philip Hammond is privately bullish about the changes. But they do admit privately the initial explanation of the measures may have fallen short. The government insists its plans are fair. But Philip Hammond said no chancellor can rule out future tax changes. Adding that the golden rule. The independent economics think tank, the institute of fiscal studies, has been looking through the chancellors budget and has been giving its initial analysis of it to our economics correspondent andy verity whos in central london. What do they say . As well as analysing the National Insurance changes weve talked about, theyve also looked about earnings, and thats a very concerning picture because they have identified official recognition that we are not 110w official recognition that we are not now going to get back all the Economic Growth that we lost after the financial crash. Here is what pauljohnson said to me. The financial crash. Here is what pauljohnson said to me. What really struck me was that we have got confirmation that we are in the middle of the worst decade for Earnings Growth in more than 100 years and yet the Office For Budget Responsibility things the economy is above trend, in other words doing better than it can continue to do into the future, so all of that growth we have lost over the last few years, were not going to get back again. We are still getting used to this idea. The Autumn Statement in 2016. But actually, normally after recession you do expect a recovery, you expect to get back that productive capacity. The fa ct we back that productive capacity. The fact we are now not going to get it back and with it the pay rises which would have gone with it, means this isa would have gone with it, means this is a decade without precedent in modern times. The worst pay rises in a decade for more than a century. 0k, a decade for more than a century. Ok, andy, thank you. Our assistant Political Editor norman smith is in westminster. Norman, the iss with a gloomy assessment of pay rises and this row going on with National Insurance contributions. How much pressure does this mean Philip Hammond is now under . He is under huge humongous pressure to climb down because for many conservative mps there is tax rise goes against everything they believe it is to be a conservative, involving in the first place putting up involving in the first place putting up taxes on peoples basic income, something which is anathema to many tories, but more than that, they view it as an attack on their people, people who go out on their own, take a risk, start a business, grow a company, and, own, take a risk, start a business, growa company, and, yes, own, take a risk, start a business, grow a company, and, yes, they do accept it is a breach of their party s election manifesto. And the difficulty for Philip Hammond is there is going to have to be a vote on this, they will have to be legislation to bring about these tax rises. This morning the treasury we re rises. This morning the treasury were not running up the white flag and say mr hammond is bullish and are confident they can make a better job of selling the policies for the basing your argument is about fairness will gain traction. My senseis fairness will gain traction. My sense is at the end of the day, mr hammond may yet be saved by brexit and the reason for that is real tory mps, do they want to inflict more hardship and difficulty on the government when they are already having to navigate the fraud to reign of brexit . So we may not get a climb down. It could be a review and, significantly, Downing Street this morning repeatedly not ruling out a review of the tax rises. Norman, many thanks. The Health Secretaryjeremy hunt has said it is essential that a e departments in england hit their target for waiting times now that extra money has been put into social care, as announced in yesterdays budget. If we are leaving people too long in a e departments, if were not getting the flow right through hospitals, it is bad for patient safety, and thats why its absolutely essential that we do get back to the 95 target. This one is critical for patient safety, and thats why, yesterday, you saw the chancellor announcing a £2 billion short term package for social care. Well, 95 of patients should be dealt with in four hours, but the latest figures forjanuary show a new record low, with only 85 of people being seen in that time. Our Health Correspondent nick triggle is here. The Health Secretary wants to get back to this 95 target, how . Clearly its a big ask, but he is hoping the investment announced in the budget for social care will have a knock on impact for hospitals for the best winter one of the big problems we have seen is the large numbers of patients who finished their treatment but have been unable to be discharged from hospital because care is not available in the community. If councils are in charge of social care and are able to provide more help in the home tasks whitewashing and dressing, more care home faces, those delays in theory should reduce and the nhs has issued guidance this morning saying that they hope the investment will free up they hope the investment will free up between 2000 3000 bed to reduce the delays by a half and expectation 110w the delays by a half and expectation now is the nhs Will Hit Target By March Next year but Hospital Bosses i have spoken to have said that if unrealistic. 0k, nick, thank you. John lewis has cut its staff bonus to 6 this year, the lowest level since the 19505. John lewis has cut its staff bonus to 6 this year, the lowest level since the 19505. Despite rising profits, the partnership, which also owns waitrose, is warning of an increasingly uncertain market. It comes Afterjohn Lewis announced it was cutting hundreds ofjobs injanuary. Our Business Correspondent emma simpson reports. Three, two, one. These were the good old days, a stonking double digit reward. John lewis is owned by its staff, and they cherish their annual bonus. This year, a different story, just 6 , the lowest for 63 years, despite reporting healthy pre tax profits. The reason weve done that is because it gives us more firepower to accelerate our plans for the future. It basically means we can maintain our investment this year and absorb the cost of change, even if the market gets tougher in the year ahead, and thats very important to the long term success of the business. The reason weve done that is because it gives a revolution in Shopping Habits is under way. Nearly half of alljohn lewiss sales are now online, but they still have to pay the costs of all the stores. How to make money and give the customers what they want its something all retailers are trying to figure out. Now matter how good a retailer you are, you are not immune to the challenges that all retailers face now. Costs are rising in the supply chain because of the weak pound. You also have higher costs for staff because wages are rising, and then, of course, theres Business Rates on top of that. And then you have to invest heavily in the business to keep yourself competitive. But as the Spring Season gets under way, what the chairman of this business is worried about is the impact of the falling pound, and how that could affect prices and profits. The main uncertainty in the market this year is what happens with inflation. I said injanuary that it was the dog that hadnt barked, and i think what we can now see is, or hear, is the sort of low rumble of a bit of a growl. And will consumers start to rein back as a result . John lewis is preparing itself for a tough year ahead. Before they were sent between 1945 and 1974 britain accelerated the migration of poor children, in particular to australia. The idea to reduce the impact on british social services, and bring what was called good white stock to the commonwealth. This man in a suit, he came to see me, and he says, your mothers dead, you know, so howd you like to go to australia . The sun shines everyday. The story of Margaret Humphreys fight for the migrants was made into a feature film in 2011. She was particularly horrified about the way it stripped them of their identities, and their families. It is a chilling fact of the scandal that many were told they were orphans when that wasnt true. That was in my view i think the greatest betrayal of all, because it took so much hope from them. The inquiry has heard seven days of evidence, from migrants in their later years, remembering their lives. Deprived of good education, love and support. Even their shoes were taken away. Once in australia i walked with no shoes, and dare i say it, i no underwear and believe me you need to do that walk to know how it feels to be nobody. When your feet hurt and they bleed, and nobody, but nobody, to go home to that night. The British Government has apologised for what happened, but this inquiry is looking at the legacy it has left, and former Child Migrants have told me they want more compensation to ease the impact it is still having so late in their lives. Tom symonds, bbc news, at the child abuse inquiry. The time is a quarter past one. Our top story this lunchtime the chancellor, Philip Hammond, defends raising National Insurance on the Self Employed, saying there are new spending challenges that have to be faced. And coming up was this the greatest comeback in sporting history . Well have all the reaction to that amazing barcelona fightback against Paris St Germain. Coming up in sport at 1. 30 Arsene Wenger says the opinion of arsenal fans will influence his decision over whether to remain in charge next season, but he says he hasnt made up his mind yet, or told the players his plan. The queen has unveiled a memorial honouring the British Military personnel and civilians who served in afghanistan and iraq since 1990. The deployments to three wars over a 24 year period were the longest and most intense since world war two. In total, 682 British Service Men And Women lost their lives. Members of the public donated more than £1 million to fund the monument. Robert hall is there. Yes, rita, many of the invited guests, about 2000 of them, queueing up guests, about 2000 of them, queueing up to have their pictures taken by the new memorial. Twin pillars of stone linked by a bronze medallion, which captures the beauty and service of all those who took part in operations in iraq and afghanistan over that very long period. This is a day that many people have waited for a very long time. There have been many accounts of individual sacrifice during the longest continuous period of Combat Operations since the second world war, but todays ceremonies had at their Heart Stories that werent told, stories of the duty and service shown by thousands, in and out of uniform. Mark stone likened his wife donna had travelled from cornwall. Mark rebuilt his life after losing a leg to a roadside bomb. He was here to remember all of those who serve. It symbolises the ha rd those who serve. It symbolises the hard work that the British Forces have done in the gulf region, in iraq and afghanistan. Everyone has their own unique take on the war and what happened, but it is nice to share with people that been through similar situations to myself. We meet in the presence of god to commemorate and give thanks for all those civilians and members of the military who have served on operations in the gulf region, iraq and afghanistan. The operations being commemorated today divided Public Opinion as to their merit. No one ever doubted the dedication of every man and every woman who travelled to that troubled region. Tony odonnell lost her husband gary in afghanistan. Region. Tony odonnell lost her husband gary in afghanistanm region. Tony odonnell lost her husband gary in afghanistan. It is definitely not just about widows. I am happy to be here and i have seen some of the other widows, so there area some of the other widows, so there are a few of us here. It is a pity we couldnt all come, but this is about everybody, notjust those who died. This unveiling might not have been possible without the generosity of the public. The queen was the first to inspect a structure which ca ptu res first to inspect a structure which captures the complexity of the events spanning a quarter of a century. The memorial itself is left, and in a way, there is an unfinished site, which is a nod to the fact that we live in an ongoing situation in both of those countries. One day, this sergeant and his wife will pass on their iraq experiences to their son, alfie, not on his best behaviour this morning. Now, he and generations to come will have a permanent reminder of a chapter in our history that remains unfinished business. I wanted to show you some of the detail on the reverse side of the medallion, this idea then with charities, government agencies. You can see a water pump in the top right. Young girls at school, and supplies being delivered. From people we are speaking to, the signs are that they are well pleased with all this work. Robert, many thanks. Theresa may is in brussels this lunchtime to attend whats expected to be herfinal eu summit before triggering the uks departure from the european union. But on the agenda is whether to extend the term of donald tusk as president of the european council. Our Political Correspondent ben wright is there. Are they talking about brexit at all, and if not, why not . Rita, eu leaders are arriving here for their summit now, and even though brexit is one of the Biggest Challenges facing the eu, the issue is not on the formal agenda at all, and it is not expected to be talked about in the margins of these meetings. It will not be chewed on over dinner tonight. The reason is that the eu is emphatic that there can be no negotiations of any sort until the uk has formally asked to leave the eu, triggered article 50 of the lisbon treaty. Until that happens, until that notification is given, there can be no talks, so it is quite a bizarre situation, that it is the big issue here, but it will not be talked about. Theresa may has insisted for many months that she will trigger that, beginning brexit, by the end of march, a couple of weeks. Despite the need for parliamentary approval, number ten insist that timetable remains in place. In the meantime, the eu continues to discuss other things, including the future of the union, and that is a discussion that theresa may will not be at tomorrow. She is leaving tonight. The other thing you mention, the re elections of donald tusk, the president of the european council, a big job, of donald tusk, the president of the european council, a bigjob, his election was thought to be a formality, but poland seems to be agitating for a vote, saying that donald tusk, they think, is meddling in politics. They dont think he should be in thejob. We will see this afternoon if they succeed in causing a rumpus over this and getting a vote. My hunch is, he will be re elected for another two and a half year term. Ben, many thanks. A man who allegedly posed online Asjustin Bieber to solicit explicit images from children has been charged with more than 900 sex offences by australian police. Gordon chalmers a 42 Year Old University law lecturer faces charges dating back a decade, including rape. 20 of the 157 victims are thought to have been british. Our correspondent anisa kadri reports. An idol to millions, justin bieber, the pop star with an adoring young fan base across the globe. But now, a 42 year old Law Professor in brisbane is accused of sexually abusing children by pretending to be the canadian star. Gordon Douglas Chalmers allegedly used social media to win the trust of bieber fans, including up to 20 in the uk, and got them to send him explicit images. He was already facing charges of grooming children, but after police went through his computer, more than 900 new charges have been added. They include three of rape, five of indecent treatment of children, and hundreds of making Child Exploitation material. Justin bieber is touring australia, and some of his teenage fans, like priscilla hadad, say they can understand why young people may be tempted to speak with a fake celebrity online. Sometimes, maybe their excitement might get them like, oh, wow, this is so amazing. Im going to go with it and im going to keep talking. Queensland police say the arrest was made after tip offs from the us and german authorities, and they are warning parents to protect their Children Online and know what theyre up to. Its my rules, its my house and theres a lot out there. And for me, i really, really want to be on top of it. Chalmers is due in court next month. Anisa kadri, bbc news. A United Nations report is to call for an independent investigation into the potential Health Impact of the uks largest open cast coal mine. Residents living near the Ffos Y Fran Site in south wales have led a Long Campaign against air and Noise Pollution. The mines operator, miller argent, says the company has a proud record of mining responsibly. Our Wales Environment correspondent Stefan Messenger reports. Its taken over his living room, and he says, its taken over his life. Campaigning against the giant coalmine on his doorstep. So, this is the back of your car, basically, Covered In Dust . Yes, you think, well, you know, thats going in my mouth, like, thats going up my nose. We are stinking in pollution here. Outside, theres more coal dust on his windowsills. Terry evans claims its being blown from just beyond this ridge, 37 metres from his front door. From the air, you can see why cut into the side of the valley, east of the town of merthyr tydfil, this is the uks largest opencast mine, ffos y fran, the size of some 400 football pitches. Since 2007, a private companys been digging here, turning Old Industrial land back to open moorland as they go. Thats why it was allowed to happen so close to peoples houses. The community were told that Modern Mining Methods would protect them from pollution, but ten years on, some here say theyve been betrayed. All of us were well aware of peoples concerns and real problems of washing being dirty, of kids being disturbed because they couldnt get to sleep at night. Since then, the mine has got a bit deeper, the Noise Pollution has got less, but nobody believes that the Air Pollution has got any less. For more than a decade, there have been protests and petitions, attempted legalaction, complaints to the local council, the welsh and uk governments. Now, bbc news has learned that the United Nations is set to make a surprising intervention. A report by its Special Rapporteur on the human rights of communities at risk of pollution will call for an independent investigation into claims this mine could be harming local peoples health. He had met local campaigners as part of an official visit to the uk injanuary. I came across a number of pressing issues, but this was definitely at the top of the list. I heard allegations of very high rates of childhood asthma, Cancer Clusters among the community. Ididnt hearany evidence of a strong intervention by the government to investigate. Merthyr tydfil council said its findings were based on unsubstantiated claims by the community. The mines operator, miller argent, said hed been taken in by fake news, accusing him of being biased and a disgrace to his office. The Welsh Government said it was supporting local authorities to monitor Air Pollution. The uk government will respond after mr tuncaks official report has been published in september. Stefan messenger, bbc news. The british artist sir Howard Hodgkin has died, aged 84. He was widely regarded as a central figure in Contemporary Art for over half a century and served as a trustee of the tate and National Gallery during his long career. Our arts editor joins us. Sum up his importance for us. Joins us. Sum up his importance for us. I think he was a vital component in modern and Contemporary Art in the second part of the 20th century, not just from a the second part of the 20th century, notjust from a british Point Of View but from a global one. He bought together the inventions of matisse and degas with the innovations of the abstract expressionist in america. He brought colour, form and expression into these beautiful paintings, normally ona these beautiful paintings, normally on a wood panel, highly colourful. He always said that for him, a painting was a way of remembering something. He never made any sketches and painted directly onto the panel. He took ages in doing it, but when he eventually produced a result, they were always very moving. You could sense the emotion he was trying to present to you, whether that was anger or sadness, but always this sense of deep empathy, and those paintings, for me, are some of the most beautiful paintings created in britain in the second half of the 20th century. Many thanks. Now, was this the greatest comeback in Football History . Barcelona produced a stunning victory in the Champions League to knock out Paris St Germain to reach the quarter finals. They secured a 6 1win on the night to overturn a 4 0 deficit, scoring two goals in injury time. Our Sports Correspondent olly foster reports. Theres extraordinary about barcelona reaching the quarterfinals of the Champions League, but last nights celebrations were the biggest giveaway that something extraordinary had happened at the nou. When substitute roberto scooped the ball past the Paris St Germain keeper, their sixth on the night with seconds to spare, there was delirium. A comeback to rival any other in the history of european football. It was a joyous riot on the ramblas. The supporters never saw this coming. They needed at least four goals last night. There was a debatable messi penalty early in the secondary half the second half. This strike silence them. Barcelona needed at least three. The odds lengthened, the clock was ticking. Neymar curled a beauty, but there were only two minutes left. Neymar was no less from the spot. Had no nerves from the spot. That is the coach tom luis enrique, who had joked before the game that they could score six. Translation joked before the game that they could score six. Translatiosz joked before the game that they could score six. Translation it was a difficult night to describe with words. It had a spectacular ending in the nou camp. The ability of Sport To Amaze has been proved many times. It was true of ian bothams ashes in the 805, rory mcilroy winning five years ago. Barcelona won no trophy last night, just a match and a place in the record book5, match and a place in the record books, but dont tell them thats not worth shouting about. Lets ta ke lets take a look at the weather
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