Transcripts For BBCNEWS BBC News At Six 20170510 : compareme

Its the sport hes always been passionate about we hearfrom Prince Phillip one week after announcing hes stepping down from public life. And coming up in the sport on bbc news hes the most expensive footballer in the world, but paul pogbas record transfer to Manchester United is now the subject of a fifa inquiry. Good evening and welcome to the bbcs news at 6pm. Washington is awash with rumour and speculation tonight, after president Donald Trumps Shock Dismissal of james comey the director of the fbi. In the president s words, mr comey was not doing a good job. Theres been widespread criticism of the move political opponents have raised the suspicion that mr comeys dismissal was linked to his investigation into allegations that members of the trump Election Team colluded with moscow during last years president ial election. Heres our north america editor, jon sopel. This is a fox news alert. Fbi Directorjames Comey this is a fox news alert. Fbi director james comey has this is a fox news alert. Fbi Directorjames Comey has been fired by the president of the United States. The term Breaking News is bandied about with abandon but last night it was justified. At fbi offices in the first they knew their director had been fired was when it flashed up on their tv screens. And james comey, was in los angeles addressing staff, knew nothing about it either until then had handed him a note. The letter sent by President Trump was brutal. You are hereby terminated and removed from office, effective immediately. At least they left in the government jet to fly back to the east coast. A private citizen, a turbulent career cut short. And today the president was unrepentant. Why did you fire Director Comey . Because he wasnt doing a good job, simply wasnt doing a good job, simply wasnt doing a good job. James comey the six foot eight foot tall director confirmed in march that the drug macro campaign was under investigation for its links to russia during the election. The fbi, as part of our counterintelligence mission, is investigating the russian governments efforts to interfere in the 2016 president ial election. The president has railed consistently that its fake news and there has been no improper contact. Last night he fired the man heading the inquiry. Its caused furia dismay among some republicans, and all democrats. If there was ever a time when circumstances warranted a special prosecutor, it is right now. But the white house is seeking to persuade people that the decision to fire comey had nothing to do with russia or the fbi investigation. He is looking for a fresh start at the fbi. I think the president did as he has done in many other cases, took decisive action. He provided strong leadership and to act on the recommendation of the attorney general. The white house is less with confidence stems from james comeys investigation into Hillary Clintons use of a private E Mail Server clintons use of a private E Mail Server when she was secretary of state. I made a mistake using a private e mail. State. I made a mistake using a private email. He decided last july thered be no prosecution, just a rap on the knuckles. Republicans we re rap on the knuckles. Republicans were furious. Then, stunningly, he reopened his inquiry 11 days before polling. It took scots the Director Comey to make the move that he made. It comey to make the move that he made. It took guts. But if its all about the way the fbi conducted the Hillary Clinton investigation, why sack him now . Why this intervention . Why not do it when donald trump first came to office . And how do you reconcile it with the praise heaped upon james comey . Whatever, reconcile it with the praise heaped Uponjames Comey . Whatever, its left the fbi feeling very sore about the way their director has been treated. And into the washington Maelstrom Who should arrive today for his first visit to see the Trump Administration than sergey lavrov, the Russian Foreign minister, in jokey mood. He then went to meet donald trump at the white house, but curiously, for the camera loving president , the press was kept away. This feels like house of cards on steroids. And jon is in washington now. Can you remember any president in the past behaving anything like this . Well, the only other director of the fbi to be fired, that happened some 20 odd years ago when bill clinton fired his director of the fbi. I think the real parallel you want to go back to his 1973, embattled richard nixon, the president , facing the watergate investigation, and he tried to fire the chief prosecutor. That eventually a year later ended up in Richard Nixons resignation as president. But there is something very interesting in Donald Trumps Resignation Letter in which he fired james comey. He said i greatly appreciate you informing on three separate occasions im not under investigation. James comey has never said that publicly. You are left to wonder if that was part of the reason why donald trump made clear his displeasure and fired him. One other thing, this has come about at a time when there is a Fever Pitch Atmosphere in washington and donald trump has done nothing to dissipate that. Jon, thank you. Education has taken centre stage in the Election Campaign today with labour and the Liberal Democrats revealing their policies. Both parties are pledging billions more for the sector. Labour says schools and further education colleges in england would benefit under plans for what it calls a National Education service. The Liberal Democrats say under their plans spending per pupil will be protected. 0ur Education Editor Bra Nwen Jeffreys reports. Were going to take lots of measurements of how long it takes for the sound to get to us. Measuring the Speed Of Sound in cambridge. Today a lesson in politics as well as science, news travelling from money for education. Ata travelling from money for education. At a college in leeds it was about lifelong learning. Labour promising to invest in adult training, but most of all, in schools, paid for by a rise in Corporation Tax. We have a problem in britain, we have not invested enough in manufacturing industry, in infrastructure, in the skilled workers, engineers, scientists and teachers of tomorrow. We are determined to turn that around. So what could be the impact ofa around. So what could be the impact of a rise in Corporation Tax . It will reduce investment by companies in the uk, and in the long run it wont raise as much as it might the short run, as Champ Companies change their behaviour, reduce investment or move abroad. Labour responds that extra money for schools each year reaching 4. 8 by 2022, a 10 increase on current spending. 1. 5 billion extra for adult skills training, and no school losing out. A promise matched by the lib dems. The party also says it would spend 5. 8 billion extra on schools over the next four yea rs, extra on schools over the next four years, and more for poorer pupils. 660 million forfurther years, and more for poorer pupils. 660 million for further education. The lib dems suggested they would also raise taxes on businesses. Two thirds of schools it now turns out though, are trying to lay off at least one teacher, losing at least one teaching post in the next two months. Under that kind of pressure, there needs to be a fully costed responds to build a future for all of our children so we can have a decent education and be competent in that. Schools in cambridge are among the lowest funded in england. All the lowest funded in england. All the secondary teachers here wrote a pa rent the secondary teachers here wrote a parent with a warning. We said there will be fewer teachers and fewer Teaching Assistants and fewer resources in classrooms, whether Thatis Resources in classrooms, whether that is exercise books, laptops. Few opportunities for children to go on trips or sporting fixtures. We have said across the board there will be an impactand said across the board there will be an impact and reductions. This school is one of thousands across england who have been writing to pa rents, england who have been writing to parents, spelling out the difficult Financial Decisions that lie ahead. That has galvanised parents to lobby mps of all parties. It is that grassroots mps of all parties. It is that grass roots pressure mps of all parties. It is that grassroots pressure which has really pushed School Budgets under the election agenda. The cost in schools are rising faster than budget, but today the conservatives defended their record. First of all School Funding is at record levels. Weve also within that, were putting Record Number of funding into early education, protected the school pupil premium, worth £2. 5 billion. But what matters in education is actually, its not just but what matters in education is actually, its notjust about the funding, its about the results you see and the education you are providing for the children. 0k, what have you got . Labour and lib dems are also promising extra funding across the uk, but no detail today another big issue labour as yet to confirm it would scrap University Tuition fees. And the lib dems on how they will handle the toxic issue for them. Branwen jeffreys, bbc news. No conservative politicians or officials will face charges for breaches of expenses rules during the 2015 general election. It follows allegations that the party had under estimated the amount it spent in local constituencies. The Crown Prosecution Service said it had examined files from 14 Police Forces in england, but had not found enough evidence to justify further action. Our home affairs correspondent, tom symonds, reports. Im on the bus. Im on the bus. On the bus. The last general election, conservative activists to the country by battle bus, staying in a string of hotels as they campaign for local candidates. Party officials declared the cost of this as National Election expenses not local. And political rivals said the law had been broken. But today, prosecutors decided there was no case to answer. After full and lengthy investigation the legal authorities have confirmed what we believed all along, and what we said all along, which was that the expenses, that local spending was properly reported, was properly declared and that the candidates had done nothing wrong. Prosecutors said today that under the relevant law it must be proved that a suspect, thats the local official putting in the declaration, knew the return was inaccurate and acted dishonestly in signing the declaration. But in this case, the local officials said theyd been told what to do by the National Party which received a Record Penalty fine from the Electoral Commission. Gregg kinsell and his partner louise were also on the bus supporting a string of conservative candidates. But they went to the police about how the campaign was run. Their response to todays news. I think this is absolutely disgusting, its a cover up on a huge level, and i think that the Electoral Commission are involved in this and i think the cps and the government. I think its all to deflect attention from what really goes on behind the scenes. Other parties have also been fined for the way theyve filed election expenses. This time the Justice System has concluded theres evidence of inaccuracies, but not of a deliberate attempt to deceive. But thats not it, because there is still a Police Investigation into one official going on in london and prosecutors are examining files of 2000 lived in Campaign Spending in south thanet in eastern kent, the candidate then, as now, craig mackinlay. Tomorrow is the last day on which he could be replaced on the ballot, but you wont hear about any prosecution by then. So the conservatives are going to have to push ahead with him as their candidate. No doubt holding their breath thank you. Police have named an eleven Year Old Girl who died yesterday while on a school trip to Drayton Manor theme park in staffordshire. Evha jannath, from leicester, fell out of a boat on the Splash Canyon Ride. In a statement, her family said their world had been torn apart. Phil mackie reports. Evha jannath had come to the park on a school trip. The Emergency Services arrived quickly, staff and paramedics tried to save her, but she was pronounced dead after being airlifted to hospital. Today, investigators are examining the Splash Canyon Ride and trying to work out how she fell into the water. There is a height restriction, which means that Young Children who are between three and three and a half feet tall have to be accompanied by an adult. Although people arent strapped in, they are told to remain seated. This was Patrick Treacyjust after he fell in the water on the same ride four years ago when he was ten. Parents really should be aware of what, of how safe their children are going to be when they go on these rights. These rides. They look pretty calm, but theyre actually quite dangerous. And when children arent accompanied, i think seat belts should be in place. Evhas school shut today; staff and pupils have been offered counselling. She was a lovely, sweet natured girl, and she was loved by everyone at the school. As a school and as a community, we are trying to make sense of this terrible tragedy. Our thoughts and our prayers are with evhas family at this most difficult time. Evhas family has issued a statement saying their world has been torn apart. They described her as a beautiful little girl, who was full of love and always smiling. They say that words cannot describe their pain and loss. The park was empty today Drayton Manor decided to close as a mark of respect. Phil mackie, bbc news, staffordshire. The time has just gone 6 15pm. The top story this evening. Political shock waves as the us president fires the director of the fbi. Donald trump said james comey was not doing a good job. And still to come pogbas record breaking transfer to man u is now the subject of a fifa investigation. But how much did his agent earn from the deal . Coming up in Sportsday On Bbc News have england drawn another Group Of Death for the 2019 Rugby World Cup . Well eddiejones says facing both france and argentina at the tournament injapan will be exciting. Theres growing concern about the number of children in the uk being prescribed medication to combat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Adhd, as its known, includes symptoms of anxiety, intolerance and an inability to regulate emotions. A new study has found an increase in prescriptions in the uk of almost 57 between 2005 2012. The Research Also found large rises in prescribing across europe and the United States. But some parents and doctors worry that drugs are being offered as a quick fix and that long term issues behind adhd arent being effectively addressed. 0ur correspondent, sian lloyd reports. Well, my friends, they know i have adhd and they know i take medication. But i dont think they really know fully how it is to be like this. 13 year old dylan piper was diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, which is a Mental Health condition, when he was six. He struggles to concentrate and that can lead to him being disruptive. His mood swings are controlled by medication, so he can continue to go to school. But his family are concerned about whether taking drugs is the best solution to changing his behaviour in the long term. If i was able to do or give him anything else, i would in a heartbeat, and not have him on medication. However, right now, we dont have any other option. The use of medication for children like dylan is the focus of a new international study. The United States has the highest prescription levels, but the report shows that the uk is catching up. The rate here has increased by almost 57 over a seven year period. This report tells us that more children and young people are being prescribed medication for adhd. And suggests that some may be taking the drugs for longer periods of time. But it doesnt tell us exactly why more drugs