And a further £14,000 was spent on private medical bills. He strongly disputes the claims, according to the times. The Conservative Party was made aware of the allegations three months ago. It says its investigating. 0ur Political Correspondent nick eardley reports the honesty needs to start now. The lack of clarity needs to stop. This was mark menzies last week in a local campaign video. When this was filmed, he was still a conservative mp. But last night he was suspended from the party. It came after allegations in a newspaper that he used funds from donors to pay thousands to so called bad people who had apparently locked him in a flat. The bbc has checked details of some of the allegations printed in the times this morning that mr menzies called a 78 year old local activist in the middle of the night, asking for money. It is claimed he said he was being detained against his will, that he needed money as a matter of life or death. The £6,500 was provided by a local activist, the money was then reimbursed from donations to the local party. In his fylde constituency this afternoon, no sign of mr menzies. At the address given for the local party offices, there was no response. But he did tell the times, i strongly dispute the allegations put to me. I fully complied with all the rules for declaration. There is anger, though, among some tory activists that more wasnt done to address the case after the allegations were first raised in january. I understand that cchq have been aware of it for a while, and have been investigating. I think some new information has come to light, subsequently. There are obviously a lot of Unanswered Questions in relation to these allegations. Not least why it seems the Conservative Party took so long to act, and whether they have reported this to the police, who it seems to me should be involved in this. Its not the first time mr menzies has faced controversy. Ten years ago, he quit as a ministerial aide after allegations he paid a male Escort Allegations he denied. He was also reportedly quizzed a few years later by police over claims he got a dog drunk. Again, those allegations were strongly denied. Mr menzies said he had been cleared by police. After the latest allegations, some local voters were less than impressed. Iii local voters were less than impressed local voters were less than imressed. ,. Impressed. If you are in a Public Osition impressed. If you are in a public position like impressed. If you are in a public position like that, impressed. If you are in a public position like that, then impressed. If you are in a public position like that, then honesty| impressed. If you are in a public position like that, then honesty and high standards and ethics should be something you take seriously. This is a messy story something you take seriously. This is a messy story of something you take seriously. This is a messy story of allegations about the local mp here. But it has wider implications about the reputation of politicians, too. Police in scotland say they have re arrested Peter Murrell the former Scottish National party chief executive and husband of ex First MinisterNicola Sturgeon. Lets go live to lorna gordon whos in glasgow. Yes, this news broke within the last hour, with Police Scotland stating that Peter Murrell, the husband of the former First MinisterNicola Sturgeon was taken into custody at 9. 30 this morning and was questioned by detectives. He was previously arrested in april last year in connection with the Ongoing Investigation into the funding and finances of the snp. He was later released without charge. His arrest at that time was the first of three arrests as part of Operation Branch form, Police Scotlands Major Investigation into the snp finances. That investigation was launched almost three years ago, after the Police Received complaints about how more than six of donations given to the party for a fresh Independence Campaign had been used. Injune last year, Nicola Sturgeon, scotlands longest serving First Minister, was arrested and questioned as a suspect for more than seven hours as part of the investigation. She was released without charge. The snps former treasurer Colin Beattie was also arrested and interviewed by police before being released pending further investigation. He was released without charge. But this evening, the news that Peter Murrell has been rearrested and is being questioned, police can question him for 12 hours. Questioned, police can question him fori2 hem for12 hours. Lorna gordon, thank ou. The Scottish Government has confirmed its abandoning a Flagship Target of reducing Greenhouse Gas emission by 75 by 2030. It is also scrapping annual Climate Targets, but insists the final goal of reaching net zero by 2045 will remain. It blamed uk government cuts and Backtracking On Climate Measures for the move. 0ur Scotland Editor james cook reports. For five years, the Scottish Government has trumpeted its tough targets to tackle Climate Change. We have, targets to tackle Climate Change. Have, as a country, de carbonised faster than any t20 nation. Have, as a country, de carbonised faster than any t20 nation. When do we wanted. Faster than any t20 nation. When do we wanted, now . Faster than any t20 nation. When do we wanted, now . Campaigners faster than any t20 nation. When do we wanted, now . Campaigners kept| faster than any t20 nation. When do i we wanted, now . Campaigners kept up the pressure we wanted, now . Campaigners kept up the pressure for we wanted, now . Campaigners kept up the pressure for action we wanted, now . Campaigners kept up the pressure for action to we wanted, now . Campaigners kept up the pressure for action to save we wanted, now . Campaigners kept up the pressure for action to save the the pressure for action to save the planet. Now the minister in charge of ditching a promise to cut emissions by 75 by 2030. I understand the disappointment, i am disappointed myself. My team have worked exceptionally hard not to make the change we are making today. But lets not overplay what is being done here. This is a minor legislative amendment, restating our 2045 goal, but recasting the trajectory in line with what our independent advisers and the committee on Climate Change advise is achievable. fit, committee on Climate Change advise is achievable is achievable. A minor change . Nonsense. Is achievable. A minor change . Nonsense. Say is achievable. A minor change . Nonsense, say the is achievable. A minor change . Nonsense, say the opposition. | nonsense, say the opposition. Transport, housing, agriculture, all devolved, transport, housing, agriculture, all devolved, this announcement is an absolute devolved, this announcement is an absolute humiliation for the snp. But even absolute humiliation for the snp. But even more humiliating for the greens, but even more humiliating for the greens, who have ditched environmentalism for nationalism. Thursday environmentalism for nationalism. Thursday the 18th of april 2024 Will Io Thursday the 18th of april 2024 will go down Thursday The 18th Of April 2024 will go down as Thursday The 18th Of April 2024 will go down as the Thursday The 18th Of April 2024 will go down as the day Thursday The 18th Of April 2024 will go down as the day that Thursday The 18th Of April 2024 will go down as the day that scotland. Go down as the day that scotland officially go down as the day that scotland officially went go down as the day that scotland officially went from go down as the day that scotland officially went from being go down as the day that scotland officially went from Being A Go Down as the day that scotland j officially went from being a world leader officially went from being a world leader in officially went from being a world leader in climate officially went from being a world leader in Climate Targets officially went from being a world leader in Climate Targets to officially went from being a world leader in Climate Targets to a officially went from being a world l leader in Climate Targets to a world leader leader in Climate Targets to a world leader in leader in Climate Targets to a world leader in scrapping leader in Climate Targets to a world leader in Scrapping Targets. Leader in Climate Targets to a world leader in Scrapping Targets. The leader in Scrapping Targets. The sn ps leader in Scrapping Targets. Snps partners in the scottish leader in Scrapping Targets snps partners in the Scottish Green Party dont sound too happy, but they are not leaving government. I am deeply disappointed and angry that those kind of transformational green policies have not been in place for ten, 15, 20 years that would have been necessary to make that 2030 target possible. The only rational response to those decades of inaction is to accelerate the action we are taking, that is what we have announced today. I5 action we are taking, that is what we have announced today. Is less than three we have announced today. Is less than three years we have announced today. Is less than three years since we have announced today. Is less than three years since politiciansl than three years since politicians from around the world gathered at a summit here on the clyde to promise action to tackle Climate Change. Since then, the snp, the greens and politicians in other parts of the country and the world have found that delivering those promises is much harder than making them. The Scottish Government made yet more promises today about accelerating measures to go green. The pressure to deliver now is immense. Scotlands only gender Identity Clinic for under 18s has put a hold on prescribing Puberty Blockers to children. The decision by the Sandyford Clinic In Glasgow follows the Landmark Cass Review of Gender Services for under 18s in england and wales, which said young people had been let down by a lack of research. An inhouse lawyer at the post office admitted to a bunker style mentality within the organisation as the Horizon It Scandal developed. Giving evidence at the inquiry today Rodric Williams said he wasnt aware of a cover up but said he could see why someone could see it like that. Emma simpson has more. Subpostmasters whose lives were ruined theyve come to see a lawyer who worked for a decade behind the scenes as the alleged cover up was well under way. I swear by almighty god. Roderick williams is still employed by the post office and he wasnt enjoying being in the spotlight today. Im missing your question. Im sorry, im being thick. Im struggling with these questions a little bit. Can i understand what you mean by strategy . I havent got my dictionary with me at the moment, mrwilliams. He admitted bantering about subpostmasters with colleagues in internal emails. If they arent happy with horizon, they can leave the network, he wrote. When a sub postmaster raised concerns, mr williams said, generally, my view is this guy is a bluffer. As for bbc media requests about the growing scandal, he called them puerile and getting ridiculous. How key documents are disclosed has been a big theme in this inquiry. He was sent this email by an external solicitor about how to deal with a Defence Request for post Office Investigation guidelines. She proposes suppressing them for as long as possible. Theres no record of how he replied. This email should have had a prompt response from you to the effect of you cant possibly do that. Thats right, isnt it . Thats what i thought when i looked at this. It is quite possible, and i offer this in no way as an excuse, because thats what would have been desirable. Roderick williams is still on the payroll at the post office, dealing with compensation. He should be removed from anything to do with the victims. He should have no part to play in any of the schemes, any of the remuneration. Roderick williams is continuing his evidence tomorrow. Emma simpson, bbc news at the post office inquiry. Prince william has returned to official public duties for the First Time Since his wife, princess catherine, revealed her Cancer Diagnosis nearly four weeks ago. How choked up is this going to be . A bit smaller . Youre trying your best. He showed off his culinary skills at a food charity in surrey, helping out in the kitchens and loading meals into delivery vans. 0ne Charity Volunteer handed him get well cards for kate and king charles. An inquest has found the 48 people who died in dublins stardust nightclub fire, in 1981, were unlawfully killed. After the verdicts were read, Family Members of the victims walked to the Garden Of Remembrance to honour their loved ones. The inquests began in april last year and heard evidence from 373 people. It was the longest running inquest in irelands history. Police have broken up an alleged International Cybercrime gang that provided scammers with the technology needed to trick people into paying them online using fake Text Messages. Almost 40 people were arrested worldwide. Around 70,000 people in the uk are among those thought to have been tricked by them. Our home affairs correspondent, tom symonds, reports. Its 5am in south london the end of a two year investigation. Police this was one of a series of co ordinated raids targeting cybercrime in 17 countries, masterminded from the uk. One man was arrested here, and 23 others around the country. And this all began about two years ago when Security Experts for the Banking Industry spotted on the dark web criminals offering other criminals a service a way to make money using phishing, with a ph. Labhost, freely available on the internet, provided technology and training to other criminals so they could carry out phishing, attacks sending fraudulent Text Messages to trick 70,000 people into handing over personal information. These crimes as a service, or fraud as a service, are allowing people into this criminal marketplace, who dont have necessarily Technical Skills but they can get these crime as a Service Capabilities off the shelf they can buy it online. As the arrests were taking place, including at luton and manchester airports, police were also contacting 25,000 victims of the scammers. The victims in this case have been aged between about 25 and 45, predominantly. Pretty young, then . Yeah. Digital natives. Well, its people who live their lives online, that perhaps do their banking online, that shop online, theyre more likely to fall victim to this. People like alex, an accountant for tech firms who works online, scammed in february by criminals who targeted her business account. They sent you a text message . Yes. They then called you . Yes. They then got you to install an app . Yes. And then they scammed you . Correct. They made me believe i was protecting the funds in my bank from fraudsters. And how much did you lose . 53,000. £53,000 . Yes. They gloated. They said, how does it feel to have your money taken from you . How does it feel to have your money spent in Louis Vuitton dubai . Welcome to your labhost wrapped your recap of all the data we have about you. As for labhost Police Seized so much data that they could send each criminal a tailored video, making clear how much they know about whats been going on, to break their trust in this sort of service. And yesterday, labhost was closed down. Tom symonds, bbc news, south london. Our top story this evening. Tory mp mark menzies is suspended from the conservative Parliamentary Party amid accusations he misused campaign funds. He denies it. And coming up, hes hoping to make a splash at the Paris 0lympics we catch up with diver tom daley ahead of his fifth games. Coming up on bbc news eight counties chosen, while those left out voiced their disappointment. Womens professional cricket has a plan for the future with the first of three eventual tiers of the game announced today by the ecb. At dubai airport one of the busiest in the world there is still major disruption after hundreds of flights were cancelled or delayed. A year and a half� s worth of rain fell in a single day on the United Arab Emirates and in neighbouring 0man, which is unprepared for such Weather Events. Climate Scientists SayGlobal Warming is leading to more extreme Weather Events around the world. Frances read reports. 0utside on the tarmac yesterday, the worlds Busiest International hub is submerged. Today, flights have resumed, but inside they are desperately trying to clear the backlog at dubais main airport. The total cancellations up to now have been about 700 flights over the last few days and, of course, because dubai is a haven for very large aircraft, that means many thousands of passengers are still seeking to complete theirjourney. And, for those who call this their home, also under water, making their own rescues. The Water Leveljust kept rising. It was coming out of our drainage, basically, so we are guessing there is some kind of blockage, which the authorities are clearing out, helping us to do it. A few hundred kilometres south, in oman, the floods have also been unforgiving. Earlier this week, this was the only way to safety. And 1400 people have had to seek shelter. These waters have claimed the lives of both adults and children. The sheer amount of water causing alarm. Although we can say in broad terms that Climate Change is increasing extreme rainfall and will continue to do so until we reach net zero, for a particular event, like the dubai floods, it takes really quite Detailed Analysis to try and quantify exactly. So much of this region was unprepared for the sheer amount of rain. So many now having to deal with the consequences. Frances read, bbc news. A man who spent 17 years in jail for a rape he didnt commit has been offered an unreserved apology. The criminal cases review Commission Chairwoman said she was deeply sorry for failing andrew malkinson. But mr malkinson said the apology was too little, too late. 0ur correspondent, graham satchwell, joins me with more. It is an extraordinary case, isnt it . ,. ,. , it . The government described it as an atrocious it . The government described it as an atrocious miscarriage it . The government described it as an atrocious miscarriage of it . The government described it as an atrocious miscarriage ofjustice. Mr malkinson was found guilty of rape in 2004 and i was meant at incidents. In 2007 new dna evidence came to light linking the crime to another man, so mr makinson applied to the review commission, the body which investigates miscarriages of justice, and they turned it down twice, and it wasnt until last year that mr malkinson was acquitted. Todayis that mr malkinson was acquitted. Today is a Significant Development because its the first time the commission has held up its hands and said, we got this terribly wrong and they have issued this unreserved apology. Whats interesting is the commission hasnt published its report because there is a bigger Public Inquiry due to start next year and the commission does what its findings today, which may be critical of the police, to influence the inquiry yet to come. Tonight, mr malkinson said the apology is too little, too late. He says the delay in apologising added to his mental turmoil as he fights for accountability for what was done to him. New figures show more people are waiting longer for healthcare in wales than ever before. Nhs data released by the Welsh Government shows longer waits in a e, more people on Waiting Lists and fewer Cancer Patients starting treatment within the two month target. There were more than 591,000 patients on treatment Waiting Lists in wales in february, the highest number recorded. The Coventry Building Society has agreed to buy the Co Operative Bank for £780 million. The deal would eventually see the private equity owned lender return to mutual ownership. The agreement needs the backing of members and the regulator, and would create a merged group, with assets worth £89 billion. Its two weeks until the local elections in england and wales for councillors and police and crime commissioners. Voters will also be electing ten metropolitan mayors. The conservatives andy street has been mayor of the West Midlands which stretches from wolverhampton to coventry since 2017. This will be the third time hes standing but polls suggest hes well behind labour. 0ur political editor, chris mason, reports. The way england as governed is changing. New or newish political power lines, directly elected regional mayors and more of them with real consequences. Yeah, so the role of mayors in england has really been growing over the last decade. And thats whats so exciting about these upcoming elections. You know, these are increasingly powerful figures. Theyve got powers over policy areas such as transport and schools, local economy, local environment. Visiting a Building Site in walsall, the conservative mayor of the West Midlands, talking up his own record, rather than his party affiliation. Actually call it brand andy. Its that first name piece. And thats the pitch. Its who is going to lead this region. We are not choosing a party to run the region, we are choosing an individual. You are up against it, arent you, this time . Given where the National Opinion polls are. Are you fearful of losing . No. What we do know is that elections here are always very, very close. But what we also know is that mayoral are very different to national elections. I think the electorate here has come to understand that this is a job about choosing one person to leave the region. Among his rivals, the liberal democrats, reform uk, the greens and an independent. And at a cafe down the road, tea with labours richard parker, served with an expectation, for many, that he is going to win. Mr parkers big idea is bringing the buses here under his control. There are stories of people being unable to get to the doctors, to the high street, to college, or to places where the jobs are. I dont think we can rebuild this region unless we overhaul the transport system. Birmingham city council, labour run, is a shambles, isnt it . Council tax is through the ceiling and services are being cut. Why would the rest of the region want a labour mayor . So, lets be clear, birmingham has had many issues and mistakes have been made. But we cant avoid the fact that the government have taken £1 billion out of the budgets of the city council, and that has done a lot of damage. From the contest here to the wider landscape. North yorkshire and the East Midlands are electing mayors for the first time in a fortnight. Elsewhere, its still fairly new. What you think should happen next with mayors, and what would you say to the person who says, itsjust yet more politicians . In many places, mayors are only being elected for the second or third time. So its a relatively new kind of governance we are seeing. I think there is quite a strong case, both from an economic and social Point Of View, but also from a fairness and democratic Point Of View for evening of that and completing the map of english devolution. That will be a call for whoever governs after the general election. Firstly it is local, mayoral and police and crime commissioner elections in england and wales, a fortnight today. Chris mason, bbc news, in walsall. And here we have a list of all six mayoral candidates for the West Midlands, in alphabetical order. You can find more details about them, and the candidates for other mayoral elections, on our website, bbc. Co. Uk news. Team gb hasjust unveiled its new kit for the Paris 0lympics today. Among those showing it off is the diver tom daley, who will be competing in his fifth 0lympics this summer. His first was in 2008 in beijing, when he wasjust 14. And he is hoping to bring home yet more medals. Nesta mcgregor has been talking to him. To list tom daley� s achievements, theyd probably stack as high as the ten metre board hes Famed Forjumping from. Commonwealth, european, world and at tokyo 2020 olympic champion. Incredibly, this summer hes heading to his fifth games. But putting on the team gb uniform never gets old. But its got like this soft bit at the bottomm as well as the tracksuit material. So its, like, smart, yet comfy and casual, which is nice. His diving cv Starts Atjust aged seven and. A three time winner of young Sports Personality of the year, hes now 29 and may be the ideal teammate for a gb squad brimming with talent the likes of Noah Williams and Andrea Spendolini sirieix. Being part of team gb is something that is so special. It is something that every single athlete works so hard for. Previous 0lympics, i kind of used to torture myself through the whole experience. Because you want to do well so badly that you put everything on the line. And i think thats the difference this time round, ive not been diving for two years. So i think, for me, its all excitement right now. Famously, to keep calm during competitions, knitting is the olympic champion� s go to. And, while covid prevented his family being in tokyo, they will be in the french capital, including eldest son robbie. Hes five now. So he can swim, hejumps in. And hes very much set in his ways of how he thinks he should dive. And it tends to look a little bit like like this. But, you know, who knows if he enjoys it and he wants to do it, great. How much longer have you got left . For me, really, having come back so close to the olympics, all of this is a bonus. I think thats what makes it exciting. I always think its hard to say, like put an end day on something. Because, i dont know, ill see how this games goes and then just well see where we go from there. Whatever the results in paris, its likely tom daley will be making a splash. Oh, yes, thats brilliant yes, yes, thats it . The littler, the bigger the medal chances. Nesta mcgregor, bbc news. A keen horse rider, who was left paralysed after a car accident, has now qualified for the british indoor Carriage Driving Championships. Faye ohara will become the only person in a wheelchair to compete in the event tomorrow. Natalie pirks has been to meet her. I felt my life was over, and ive wanted to die a few times. And since hes come along, hes just give me everything back. This is a story of perseverance, passion, and a very special bond. You just want food, dont you . From the age of five, horses were faye 0haras life. But a car accident at 15 years old changed everything. We hit head on with another car. I severed my spinal cord and i was critical for about six weeks. I was in a coma for three and they were calling my family up all the time to say, this is it. Were turning machines off. Eight months i was in hospital, altogether. Now paralysed from the chest down, with only the use of her left arm, for seven years after her accident, she shunned anything to do with horses. But then majestic came along a horse she trained from a foal. Go on, back. Ive created this bond. Ive actually educated a horse from a chair. This is brilliant. How can i do more . And thats what i wanted, to drive him and do everything else. And he changed my life. Majestic by name, majestic by nature. But whilst hes undeniably beautiful and cheeky, faye feels hes not best suited to indoor carriage driving. For that, she needs frankie. With the help of her friend nat and a specially adapted carriage, faye is hoisted into her seat. All the adaptations have enabled frankie and faye to qualify for this weekends National IndoorCarriage Driving Championships as the only wheelchair user. I never thought when i had my accident that id ever do anything with my life again. To go out and qualify for Something Like this, itjust gives me a whole new sense of freedom. Go, go, go, go, go im just happy again. She wants people to know theres always hope. Itjust took a unique friendship for her to see it. Did he save you, do you think . Yeah, ido. And if anything ever happened to him, itd just break my heart, because i look at him and think, you gave me my life back. You literally give me me back. Natalie perks, bbc news, halifax. Time for a look at the weather. Its Question Time tonight. Tonight on Question Time, im joined by the lives of two Party Offering a clear alternative on the left and the right. We are in buxton in derbyshire, live on iplayer at 8pm and on bbc after the ten oclock news. Now its the weather. Its been very wet of late. We have been talking about april showers and a lot of heavy rain around at the met office has said provisionally some spots have seen their wettest april on record. There is still a whole lot more in april, another 11 days, but will there be more rain . Yes and no. It wont be completely dry or feeling very warm at times, it is looking drier as this area of High Pressure starts to build in from the west, the third time weve seen that since the second week of january. Still some more rain overnight tonight, claiming southwards, so showers following behind. A blustery north westerly wind, a lot milder than last night, instead of a widespread frost. We are looking at lows between five and nine to start tomorrow. Tomorrow, sunshine and showers, but a slow start aiming sunshine and showers, but a slow startaiming into sunshine and showers, but a slow start aiming into the wild, rather cloudy. More sunshine further north and the focus of the showers gradually tracks further south, but a brisk northerly wind, lightening a little into the afternoon and many of us will enter the day with sunshine, but a of us will enter the day with sunshine, buta range of us will enter the day with sunshine, but a range of temperatures tomorrow, just eight celsius in aberdeenshire and perhaps 15 in the far south west of england. That pattern continues over the weekend. West is best in terms of sunshine and warmth. Parts of Northern Ireland and Western Scotland could get a 16 or 17 whereas for north sea facing coasts, lucky to get anything past eight or ninth of a cold north sea and a chilly north easterly wind. High pressure centred over us but some really cold air from top its going to be cloudy and drizzly for north sea facing coasts on saturday for the always chasing some cloud but west is best in terms sunshine. We are looking at highs of 15 or 16 on saturday, and a woman feel perhaps on sunday. Thanks. And thats bbc news at six. You can keep up with all the latest developments on the bbc website. Now its time to join our colleagues for the news where you are. Goodbye