Transcripts For BBCNEWS BBC News At One 20170502

For 30 hours before being rescued at sea is recovering in hospital in belfast. The family of guy hedger, who was shot by intruders at his home in dorset, have paid tribute to him athletes like Paula Radcliffe could lose their World Records under proposals to rewrite the record books in an effort to improve credibility over doping. Ode to a nightingale. How singers are trying to save the endangered songbird. Coming up in the sport on bbc news, World Snooker champion mark selby admits he is at the peak of his powers as he becomes only the fourth modern player to retain his title at the crucible. Good afternoon and welcome to the bbc news at one. The labour leader, Jeremy Corbyn, has defended his Shadow Home Secretary after she appeared confused over the cost of the partys plans to put an 10,000 extra Police Officers on the streets. Mr corbyn insisted he wasnt embarrassed in the slightest by Diane Abbotts difficulties with the numbers for what is one of his flagship election policies. The gaffe has overshadowed the launch of labours Policing Policy for england and wales. 0ur Political Correspondent leila nathoo reports. Antisocial behaviour. On the beat this morning in southamptonJeremy Corbyn promising money for 10,000 more Police Officers in england and wales. Labour wants to put police on the streets embedded in local communities. Do we continue Cutting Police numbers or do we put police back on the streets . Do we support pcsos or continue to see them reduced . The party says it would reverse cuts to Capital Gains tax to fund the policy but in an interview this morning the Shadow Home Secretary, diane abbott, struggled to explain how much it would cost. We believe it will be about £300,000. £300,000. We believe it will be about £300,000. £300,000. Sorry for 10,000 Police Officers, what are you paying them . No, i mean. Sorry. How much will they cost . They will cost. They will it will cost. Um. About. About £80 million. Despite the awkward stumble, Jeremy Corbyn defended his close colleague. We have corrected the figure and it will be absolutely clear now, today and in the manifesto. I will be absolutely clear now, today and in the manifesto. Lam not embarrassed in the slightest. But Diane Abbotts number trouble had already been pounced on. She later tried to play down her morning performance. I do know my figures. As you will know, i did seven interviews that morning and that was the 7th that i misspoke. But i do know my figures. The conservatives in Coalition Cut funding for Police Forces and the number of officers is down almost 20,000 since 2010. Budget were then protected in 2015 in real terms, although not all forces felt the reprieve. At the same time, crime has generally fallen although violent offences are thought to be up. The truth is we have reduced the number of policemen on the street from 2010. Because the police have been spending that money wisely, and because we have worked with them on reform, theres been a reduction in crime of nearly a third since 2010. We believe you can protect funding and also reduce crime. This is not the first time that a politician has floundered when grilled about the detail of a proposal and it certainly wont be the last. But labour has been putting policy at the centre of its Election Campaign so far and after seven Election Campaign so far and after seve n years Election Campaign so far and after seven years out of power the party needs to convince voters of its credibility to get back into government. 0ur assistant Political Editor norman smith is in westminster. A little confusion clearly there over the numbers, how much of a problem is it for labour . On one level you can say it was a car crash interview, it was a horror story but it was Diane Abbotts many interviews of the morning, she lost her way. The trouble is this is an election. In an election everything matters and everything gets magnified. It matters at the level because it puts labours big Policy Launch on recruiting more Police Officers, it matters because it reignites questions over how labour is going to pay for some of its policies, when the Shadow Home Secretary doesnt seem clear on how shes going to pay for more Police Officers. It matters too because of who diane abbott is, she is notjust another labour back benchish, she is the Shadow Home Secretary who hopes to be in charge of our police and Security Services in about six weeks time, more than that, she is a key ally ofJeremy Corbyn. Some of this rebounds against him too. And inevitably it will raise questions in peoples minds about competence, credibility, seriousness, attention to detail, diligence, all those sort of things. You know, the reason it matters more than anything, i think, is in an election, most people probably dont follow every twist and turn, every Policy Announcement and turn, every Policy Announcement and every statement, there are one 01 and every statement, there are one or two moment that is catch their attention, and i suspect this gaffe ridden interview could be one of those moments. Thank you. Downing street says the government is approaching the brexit talks in a constructive manner and with huge amounts of goodwill. It follows reports over the weekend of rising tensions following a dinner with Commission President jean claude juncker. Tim farron the Liberal Democrat leader warned the difference of opinion was a taste of things to come. We see the discussions in the media over the last day or so over theresa may and junkers discussions, the he said, she said. Can ijust say that is the shape of things to come. The shape of things to come where we will not be sure what is going on, where a deal will be stitched up between bureaucrats and eurocrats, by our politicians and their politicians. And that deal will be stitched up in the 215t century equivalent of smoke filled rooms over the next 18 months and it will be imposed on the people of lewes, it will be imposed on the people of britain and they will have no say unless you vote Liberal Democrat. The Prime Minister is campaigning in the South West Of England this afternoon and is currently in mevagissey in cornwall. 0ur chief Political Correspondent vicki young is there. Why there in particular . Well, this was the place at the last general election where theresa may herself says the results here where the conservatives really pushed back and destroyed the Liberal Democrats, when they were really in control in their heartlands here, they say that made a difference between a coalition of Opposition Mps and also then a strong conservative government. Shes hoping the same thing will happen this time around. Whats intriguing is how those brexit ideas, how thats going to go down in places like this, a place which voted to leave the european union, andi which voted to leave the european union, and i have spoken to people here that sum up the difference. 0ne woman saying we need theresa may, shes strong and and she will stand up to these people in the eu, we wa nt stand up to these people in the eu, we want to get what we voted for. Another woman speaking to the Prime Minister earlier here said brexit isnt the only issue, there are more very important things, more important things like the health service, like food banks. That is really how the brexit story is being played out here. The Liberal Democrats are hoping for a revival. But a strong ukip vote here, for example, the conservatives are confident they can get ukip voters over to them and keep those seats here in the south west. Over to them and keep those seats here in the southwest. Thank you. The green party say they will offer voters the chance of a second referendum, with an option to remain in the eu. The partys election manifesto will include a pledge for a Ratification Referendum to be held after the eu has agreed the terms of brexit, if the majority of the electorate are unhappy with the terms of the final deal. And you can find out more about todays election pledges and the latest on the campaign on our website. A surfer who survived for more than 30 hours clinging to his board in the irish sea has been described as extremely lucky by the belfast coastguard who saved him. 22 year old Matthew Bryce was reported missing when he failed to return from a trip off the argyll coast on sunday. He was eventually spotted by a helicopter 13 miles off shore. 0ur correspondent Chris Buckler is on the antrim coast. Yeah, the weather was good throughout the Bank Holiday Weekend but make no mistake the water behind me is cold and its dangerous. Matthew bryce left a beach near campbelltown before Lunchtime On Sunday but he wasnt found until last night and that was after a major rescue operation, needed because of the sheer amount of water that needed to be searched before he was finally spotted by that coastguard helicopter. After more than a day drifting in the water, Matthew Bryce was found by the coastguard, a0 miles from land. He was still beside the surfboard he left the argyll coast by on the Sunday Morning and when he was rescued on the monday evening he was closer to Northern Ireland than scotland. Waters around the uk at this time of year are near enough at their coldest. If you go in the water this time of year, just on the beach, how long you would want to spend on it, then if you think about 32 hours in these conditions then it would extremely debilitating. Search and rescue teams from both sides of the irish sea worked together in an effort to find Matthew Bryce who is from glasgow but is now being treated in hospital in belfast. The waves in the water make both the scottish and Northern Irish coasts a popular destination for surfers. The coastguard say that matthew was lucky but he was also prepared, wearing a wet suit that may well have saved his life. He was also able to stay close to his surfboard. When he was plucked from the sea, he was hypothermic but conscious, rescued just as evening was approaching. And in the coastguards own words, extremely lucky to have been found. Matthew bryce is expected to make a full recovery. He is exhausted and is receiving treatment at the Ulster Hospital and has asked for privacy at this time. However, he has within the last half an hour released a statement, he said, i am so grateful iam now statement, he said, i am so grateful i am now receiving treatment in hospital, i cant thank those who rescued and cared for me enough. They are all heroes. Chris, thank you. A cardiff man who used James Bond Style cufflinks which had hidden Usb Memory Sticks in them containing extremist data has been jailed for eight years. 34 year old samata ullah pleaded guilty to five offences including membership of so called islamic state. The police said ullah had created a one stop shop for terrorists from his bedroom and stored information useful to terrorists data in his cufflinks. The government says it will not appeal against a ruling forcing it to publish plans to tackle air pollution. Earlier, the high court rejected plans by ministers to wait until after the general election to unveil its clean air plan. The government said it would now meet the courts deadline of publishing the policy by may 9th. The family of a man who was shot dead in his home by intruders in the early hours of Sunday Morning have paid tribute to him saying they are devastated. Dorset police are searching for at least two people following the death of guy hedger, a marketing executive. They say it was a targeted attack. The men, who Wore Baraclavas stole Jewellery Including Designer watches before fleeing the house near ringwood. Duncan kennedy reports. The centre of the Police Operation remains the house where guy hedger was shot. Detectives say he was killed on Sunday Morning after at least two intruders entered his home. Its believed that a number of designer watches were ta ken home. Its believed that a number of designer watches were taken during the raid. Mrhedger was 61 and a director of an education trust. In a Statement Today his family said guy was a caring and compassionate partner, son, brother and uncle who lived life to its full and enriched the lives of all those who knew him. It said, we are devastated that guys life has been cut short in this way. Guy will be sorely missed but he will live in our hearts forever. Those tributes have been shared by mrhedgers Work Colleagues who say he helped transform the lives of thousands of children through his educational work. Police say that his partner who is believed to have witnessed the shooting, has been left deeply affected by what happened. And is now a key witness in their investigation. This is an area of dorset where home prices run into the millions. And the shooting is still leaving many here unsettled. Well, its obviously very distressing. We live in an area where you never think anything like this is going to happen. So, its distressing from that Point Of View but the police have also been very good. Theyve got a large presence in the area so we feel very safe. Well, were pleased that obviously, you know, theres so much of the Police Involvement around us and supporting us all. Its a really quiet area and nobody normally expects anything, everyone has high security around here. You wouldnt expect anything to happen around here. Police say they think the raid was planned in advance and are working to find out why guy hedgers home was targeted with such tragic consequences. A viscount has pleaded not guilty to sending a racially aggravated message to the businesswoman and Brexit Campaigner gina miller. Rhodri philipps, the 11th viscount st davids, is accused of writing a threatening message on facebookjust days after gina miller won a Landmark High Court challenge against the government over article 50 last year. Our Legal Affairs correspondent, clive coleman, is at westminster magistrates court. Tell us what happened. This morning the man who appeared in the dock was asked by the court clerk if his name was rhodri st davids. Three charges we re was rhodri st davids. Three charges were put to him. They were charges under the communications act. It was put to him he had sent messages in the form of facebook postings which we re the form of facebook postings which were menacing in character and racially aggravating. The first of the messages, it was alleged, referred to gina miller, the businesswoman you mentioned, sent just days after she won the initial ruling in the high court, she challenged the government, saying they did not have the right lawfully to trigger article 50 without going to trigger article 50 without going to parliament for a vote because parliament was sovereign. That case went to the Supreme Court and she w011. Went to the Supreme Court and she won. The other two charges relate to Facebook Messages made earlier in september of last year and concerned other individuals. The charges were put and he pleaded not guilty to all three. A date for the trial was fixed and it will be on the 10th of july. He was then released from court on conditional bail, two conditions, one that he does not contact gina miller directly or indirectly and that he does not publish on any Social Media Platform whatsoever until the trial date of the 10th ofjuly. Whatsoever until the trial date of the 10th of july. Back whatsoever until the trial date of the 10th ofjuly. Back to you. Thank you. Our top story. Labour launches its key Election Policy on policing, promising thousands of new officers on the street but theres embarrassment as the Shadow Home Secretary gets confused over the figures. And still to come. George osborne begins his first day as editor of the london Evening Standard. In sport, Paula Radcliffe and other world record holders are Collateral Damage as a Task Force Recommends wiping them from before 2005 in the wake of the doping scandal. In its heyday in the 1980s, the brent field in the north sea produced more than half a Million Barrels of oil a day enough to provide energy for around half the homes in the uk. But production was stopped there six years ago and now the platform is being dismantled. And its quite a task because its not only britains oldest, but its also its biggest oil platform. Enviromental groups are concerned about how much of it will be left behind, asjohn maguire reports. A decade in the planning, butjust seconds in the execution, as the top side, as it is known, is lifted off brent delta and onto the Worlds Largest construction ship. The Pioneering Spirit was designed and built exactly for mammoth tasks such as this. 380 metres long and 124 metres wide across two hulls, it is the size of an 0lympics Worth of Sports Pitches and double decker buses. These platforms were not designed to be lifted from the underside, so we have had to spend at least two seasons preparing the platforms to be lifted. About 200 tonnes of steel were welded to the underside and under deck of the platforms to enable this lift to take place. It is difficult to imagine the scale of this project, but consider this that crane is one of the largest Harbour Cranes in the world. It can liftjust over 200 tonnes. What has taken place over the last couple of days out in the north sea, 300 miles north of here, is a lift of around 211,000 tonnes, more than 100 times the weight that that massive crane is capable of lifting. The Brent Oilfield, more than 100 miles north east of the shetlands, has been producing oil since the 1970s. During its peak, half a Million Barrels a day. Now the oilfield is coming to the end of its Economic Life and these monoliths are being decommissioned. It is a process that will be worth at least £40 billion in the years ahead, but it is not without challenges. Shell, which operates the oilfield, says it learnt lessons from the furore surrounding the scrapping of the brent spar Storage Facility in the 1990s. But there are concerns that deltas three concrete legs will remain in place. Campaigners accuse shell of putting profit before the environment. To fully comply with the international law, shell has to prove that leaving the legs of this enormous oil rig behind wont cause environmental damage. And to date, they simply have not done that. Shell says it welcomes the comments and will work with all interested parties. The topside is now on its way to hartlepool where a Salvage Company awaits. And the coming years will see hundreds more platforms being decommissioned. The first of these giants from the once so vital Brent Oilfield is now being brought ashore to end its life. John maguire, bbc news, hartlepool. One of the worlds Biggest Energy companies, bp, has reported a profit of £1. 1 billion for the First Quarter of the year. It comes after two yea rs of heavy losses. The improved Financial Performance was because of cost saving measures and the higher oil price. If the former chancellor George 0sborne has begun his newjob as editor of the london Evening Standard. He has promised that under his editorship, the paper will inform and entertain. 0ur Media Editor reports. George 0sbornes new working hours mean he will probably wake up at 5am each day, but this morning, he looked eager to get his feet under the table. It is very exciting to be starting in the newjob and it is a really important time in our country where people are going to want the straight facts, the informed analysis, so they can make the really Big Decisions about this countrys future. The Evening Standard is going to provide that and its going to entertain along the way. Now ive got to get in there. Weve got a paper to get off stone. Keen to show familiarity with newspaper jargon, 0sborne will have been relieved that at least his pass worked. But outside the Standards Offices in kensington, central london, were a few uninvited guests. Londons cab drivers say the former chancellor was too close to uber, the private hire firm, allegations that he denies. When George Osborne turned up for work this morning, he would have had the same priorities as any new Newspaper Editor get to know staff, talk about his editorial vision but its clear that his time as editor is going to be dogged by some controversy. Staff are relieved he is stepping down as an mp, but there is still concern about his work for blackrock and it is clear that londons cab drivers intend to disrupt his editorship. The £650,000 a year that George Osborne earns for four days a month at blackrock, the worlds biggest asset manager, leaves him exposed to accusations of a conflict of interest. With limited resources and a Business Model under pressure, 0sborne will need to turn the standards finances around. For a former chancellor who practised austerity and is no stranger to controversy, this newjob has eerie echoes of his last one. Amol rajan, bbc news. The german chancellor, Angela Merkel, is in russia for a meeting with Vladimir Putin later today. Its the first time they have held talks for two years. Relations between the two countries have worsened since russias Annexation Of Crimea in ukraine in 2014. Crimea and the war in syria are expected to be high on the agenda. 0ur moscow correspondent, steve rosenberg, joins me now. Theyre meeting in sochi at president putins summer residence. How difficult could this meeting prove to be . I think it is going to be quite difficult. The talks are going on right now. We believe they are talking about the conflict in ukraine, the war in syria, some of the key issues which have driven a wedge between russia and the west and this meeting is important because Angela Merkel is the most powerful leader in europe and Vladimir Putin is the all powerful russian president. To find solutions to these issues, it could be high level meetings like this but find one. Can they find a common language today . It will be difficult. Despite the fact Angela Merkel speaks fluent russian and she grew up in east germany, Vladimir Putin speaks fluent german from his days as a kgb officer in east germany, they have very different world views. Angela merkel is seen as someone who was a staunch defender of western liberal chrissy, western institutions, Civil Society and the eu. Vladimir putin is an authoritarian leader who seems determined to undermine western the broad democracy and institutions. At at least they are talking and both believe it is important to keep the dialogue going. Thank you. Paula radcliffe has reacted angrily to the rewriting of records. It is part of a bid to address concerns over doping. It would mean that in future World Records with only stand if Test Sa M Ples were World Records with only stand if test samples were stored for ten yea rs test samples were stored for ten years but those standards were not in place when Paula Radcliffe set her marathon record. She says it means m ea ns clea n mea ns clea n athletes means clean athletes are being penalised. The crowd anticipating Something Special once again from Jonathan Edwards of great britain. August, 1995, and forJonathan Edwards, a leap into history. August, 1995, and forJonathan Edwards, a leap into historym august, 1995, and forJonathan Edwards, a leap into history. It is a tough act to follow but he has done it again i dont believe it it remains the triple jump world record to this day but for how much longer . Under new proposals, all World Records set before 2005 would be erased, including Paula Radcliffes Marathon Mark from 2003, because the drug testing back then did not match todays standards. The planning is to restore faith in athletics but those set to lose their records despite doing nothing wrong are unimpressed. Very disappointed, obviously. This is a broad, sweeping solution which they arejust broad, sweeping solution which they are just trying to push broad, sweeping solution which they arejust trying to push in broad, sweeping solution which they are just trying to push in which yet again sees clean athletes suffering for the actions of cheats. European athletics believes record should now only stand if the Athlete Samples are stored for retesting and that has only happened since 2005. Some records have stood since the 1980s sanchez these. They never failed Drugs Sanchez these. They never failed d rugs tests sanchez these. They never failed drugs tests but no one has ever come close to them. Some believe it is time to rewrite the History Books after the recent russian scandal. Clea n after the recent russian scandal. Clean athletes like Paula Radcliffe and Jonathan Edwards. It is about convincing the public that what they are watching is real. The imf will consider the idea in august. Lord coe says he likes it. But it will prove hugely contentious. World famous prove hugely contentious. World famous old world prove hugely contentious. World famous old World Records like the four minute mile still be recognised . The four minute mile still be recognised . It seems the four minute mile still be recognised . It seems the sports rich history could soon be history itself. Nightingales theyre britains most celebrated songbird. But theyre under the threat of extinction. In the past 25 years, their numbers have declined by 62 . To highlight their plight, a Nightingale Festival is being held in the woodlands of Southern England during which singers will try to duet with the songbirds, as our arts correspondent, david sillito, explains. We are here in green farm in kent. We are gathered in anticipation of being led into the forest at dark to go and listen to the nightingales sing. Sam lee, the man who is tonight taking us into the woods, notjust to listen to nightingales, but also to sing with them, in a cold, damp, dark thicket. And this nocturnal concert is one of many taking place across the country, an attempt to reconnect us with what used to be the sound of spring. It is amazing. The nightingale is unparalleled in its virtuosity and the vocal range. And it is in sharp decline . It is dying out . Nightingales have declined 62 in the last 25 years. Of course, the idea of Playing Music with the nightingale is not new. Beatrice harrisons live duets on the bbc were in the 1920s a sensation. But 90 years on, i was worried. The woods sounded very quiet. Actually, as we get closer, you will start to hear the song growing and growing, getting louder and louder. Oh, please let it be true this is. Without nightingales. If you cup your ears to focus your hearing. Bird song. They are so loud, arent they . I didnt really believe you. We are several metres away. It does not feel odd, middle of the night, sitting in a forest . No, not at all. It seems quite natural and quite perfect. The nightingale. I think it is important to remember that once upon a time this would have been the soundtrack to our spring around every fire, around every homestead. We would have just gone out and listened to the nightingales. So, that little, damp thicket, an oasis of song. David sillito, bbc news, ashford, in kent. Time for a look at the weather. Not very warm but very dry . No significant prolonged rainfall in the Weather Forecast for this week. Looking at Rainfall Totals for april, we have not quite got all the fa cts april, we have not quite got all the facts and figures yet for the month, but it is looking like it has been an extremely dry month with many places seeing Rainfall Totals well below the average. So much