the conservatives say they want to update equality laws to define sex as someone s biological sex. they say current confusion over definitions cannot be allowed to continue, and updating the law would make biological sex a protected characteristic. that means it would be easier to create protected spaces for women and girls. labour say they wouldn t amend the law, and accuse the conservatives of stoking a culture war. here s alex forsyth. flanked by young footballers, the prime minister claimed today he was tackling an issue to improve the safety of women and girls. the conservatives want to change the equality act so sex would mean biological sex. they say that would make it clearer that single sex spaces, from public toilets to refuges, can be for biological women and girls only, not those born male, even they have legally changed their sex on their birth certificate. the equalities minister claims this is necessary because there has been confusion and legal challenges over
be allowed to persist. labour has been focused on defence with keir starmer reaffirming his commitment to the uk nuclear deterrent. he said protecting the nation would be the bedrock of a future labour government. the lib dems deputy daisy group has outlined the snp leaderjohn swinney has called for a respectful contest ahead of the scottish leader s first television debate of the campaign that gets under way tonight. here is our political correspondent. should only biologically female be able to use women s services? just people who are biologically female, also those who have change their legal sex on a birth certificate? conservatives say that women s services should be able to refuse any one of is biologically male without facing legal challenges. it is quite clear that the intentions in the law are being misinterpreted just because of changes, social changes, and what we are trying to do is reemphasise that sex, in the law, means biological sex. it always has done but th
to frontline politics and will run as a candidate in the general election for the reform uk party, which he will now also lead. he s to contest the seat of clacton in essex, his eighth attempt to become an mp, having previously said he wouldn t run in this election. but he s changed his mind because he said he didn t want to let millions of people down. he also predicted that labour would win the election, and that as a member of parliament, he could provide more of an opposition to sir keir starmer than the conservatives, whom he claims are incapable. lucy manning has all the details. mr farag, are you standing? we will find out in the mr farag, are you standing? we will find out in the moment, mr farag, are you standing? we will find out in the moment, won t - mr farag, are you standing? we will find out in the moment, won t we? | find out in the moment, won t we? why have you changed your mind? who says why have you changed your mind? who says i why have you ch
and in particular this one seems to be the perfect sentiment. it says he was a legend on the pitch and a hero off it. the centre in his name will stand testament to his life, defined by determination and by defiance. john maguire, bbc news, leeds. and you can watch a special bbc news documentary, there s only one rob burrow, tonight at 8.30 on bbc one. about half a million people have been left without their child benefit payment today after a processing issue at hm revenue and customs. hmrc has apologised and say those affected will receive the payments on wednesday morning. theo leggett is here. a processing problem, what s that? problem in the computer system at hmrc. about 1.6 million people were
officers have arrested two men wanted by the french authorities over the death a young girl who was attempting to cross the channel in a small boat. seven year old sara died after boarding the vessel on a beach in northern france, on 23 april. the boat continued on into uk waters and those on board were brought to shore. the pair, sudanese nationals aged 19 and 2a, were detained in london. they are wanted by the french authorities on suspicion of causing the death. hm revenue and customs has apologised after about half a million people went without their child benefit payment today. they now say those who didn t get there benefit will receive it on wednesday. about 30% of today s scheduled payments didn t go through. many parents took to social media to complain about the missing payments, with some saying its left them unable to buy food.