Babies, at a hospital in chester. Nhs waiting times in england are at their longest in 12 years nearly 140,000 people have waited more than a year for a routine procedure. A major new study shows black people are twice as likely to catch coronoavirus than white people. And something to look forward to a Long Bank Holiday weekend to mark the queens Platinum Jubilee in 2022. And coming up on bbc news, scotlands men are aiming to reach their first major final since 1998, whilst Northern Ireland also play for a place at next summers euros. Hello, good afternoon and welcome to the bbc news at one. The uk economy came out of recession, with record growth between july and september, but still remains below where it was before the pandemic began. The chancellor rishi sunak says there is cause for cautious optimism but he added its going to be a difficult winter, and Analysts Expect the economy to shrink again because of the impact of new coronavirus restrictions. After bad figures earlier in the year, growth was up by 15. 5 in the three months to september a result of the lifting of restrictions, and the eat 0ut to help 0ut scheme. However, the news wasnt enough to reverse the damage caused by coronavirus and the lockdown the economy is still more than 8 smaller than when the virus first hit. 0ur economics correspondent andy verity reports. Todays figures refer back to what now seems a bygone era, july to september. With lockdown over, restrictions lifted and half price fry ups at taxpayers expense, Economic Activity rose by a record 15. 5 . At this exeter pub, business was up by 30 in august, though it slowed down in september, and now once again its a bit dead. Eat out to help 0ut was absolutely fantastic for us. We were turning away so many people, and we were very busy. Our trade was around 25 up on the Previous Year in august, so we felt that this money that we make in august will probably be used to get us through the hard winter ahead. But in some parts of the economy, there was no summer bounce back. Just as the economy shrank by record amounts when restrictions were imposed, so it grew by record amounts when those restrictions were lifted in the summer. This 3d Printing Company makes models for exhibition, and was growing before the pandemic struck. It reallyjust sort of took the feet away from us. How do i reduce my costs . How do i avoid spending any money . How do i get through with little or no income . As a limited company owner, gavin was among up to 2. 9 Million People excluded from most government support. Hes tried to adapt by shifting from physical models to computer aided design, but its a long haul. Well, ive had some success there, but itll take a long time to build that up from a very low base, and itll be a year or two before that fills in all the activity that we were previously doing. Just as the economy shrank by record amounts when restrictions were imposed in the spring, so it grew by record amounts when those restrictions were lifted, but at the end of september it was still a tenth smaller than it was at the end of 2019, and the bank of englands predicting that in the Fourth Quarter it will shrink again. What the figures today show is that the economy was recovering over the summer but, yes, that recovery was slowing down coming into the autumn and it is likely that has continued asa and it is likely that has continued as a result of the Health Restrictions we have necessarily had to put in place to suppress the spread of the virus. But there is mass testing being rolled out, good news on the vaccine in recent days, is reasons to be optimistic. Almost twice as large as germany, or italy, or france, the downturn. Our country is experiencing the worst downturn in the g7. We have a long way to go and of course we are back in lockdown again now, so i would agree with the chancellor on this. Unfortunately, we are likely to see a very severe impact from that feeding into the last quarter of this years figures. Like my recovery needs businesses to invest in Business Investment is still down from a fifth from its precovid level. Vaccination will do more to change that than any government policy but for most of us that still months away months away. Andy verity, bbc news. 0ur economics editior faisal islam is here. Trying to follow this, its hard to find a balance between optimism and nervousness. Clearly welcome the technical recession is over, clearly welcome we have had a record quarter of growth over the summer, but history happens very quickly in this crisis, and that is in the kind of rear view mirror now. Now most people accept the economy is contracting by a small amount compared with the previous lockdown and there are clouds on the economy in terms of the uncertainty over a trading relationship with europe, but there is also a big ray of sunshine which is the prospect of a functioning vaccine. That should help people, you know, big businesses, try to invest for next year, thinking, 0k, there is a prospect of the economy recovering. So far what we have is a catch up recovery from lights going back on in the economy, but not a full blown recovery. Thank you very much for now, faisal islam. Just to tell you, at five oclock this evening there will be a downing street briefing, headed by the business secretary alok sharma. You can watch that live on the bbc news channel. Senior ministers are insisting they remain focused on coronavirus and other key issues amid infighting at downing street. One of borisjohnsons key aides, lee cain, resigned as director of Communications Last night after disagreements about his possible promotion. Labour and several conservative backbenchers have expressed dismay at the events at the heart of government. 0ur Political Correspondent chris mason reports. He resigned last night, but lee cain still turned up for work this morning, albeit heading into downing street via the back door. Yes, i know, a person youve probably never heard of loses a job you didnt know heard of loses a job you didnt know he had, but Office Politics in the most Political Office in the land matters, because it shapes how we are governed. The Prime Minister has are governed. The Prime Minister has a strong team around him and all of us, whether its his advisers or the cabinet, are focused on the big task, which as you say is tackling the pandemic, helping to shepherd the pandemic, helping to shepherd the country through this very challenging period, helping to preserve peoplesjobs in an economic downturn, and ensuring all the other things people care about are not neglected at the same time. It is those colossal issues that the government is dealing with that helps explain why this row about advisers at westminster matters. Those around a Prime Minister matter hugely. Those who had his ear and those who dont, and they are crucial in shaping a governments priorities, style and communication. Lee cain, like fellow adviser dominic cummings, here on the left, isa dominic cummings, here on the left, is a veteran of the leave campaign in the eu referendum. You will remember mr cummings about his trip to County Durham during the first lockdown, and that following row. The truth is he couldnt believe his eyes at what happened last night. Mr cain being offered thejob of chief of staff, then not offered it, leading him to pack it in. What happened in between, we understand, is carrie symons, the Prime Ministers fiancee, intervened, suggesting it would be a mistake. She is to be the conservative pa rtys she is to be the conservative partys director of communications and is very plugged in to what mps think. Lee cain was also upset at the appointment of the Prime Ministers spokesperson. Are getting in somebody with what is known as big boy pants on, because it Prime Minister, particularly one facing the difficulties mrjohnson is facing, need heavyweight help. The difficulties mrjohnson is facing, need heavyweight helpli think that the country looks on with astonishment, really, that on the day that the uk reaches 50,000 deaths from the coronavirus pandemic with less than 50 days to go until we leave the European Union, that downing street is focusing on internal battles. Lee cain is now working out his notice. The Prime Minister is working out how to manage his office and his government. Chris mason, westminster, bbc news. 0ur Political Correspondent leila nathoo is in downing street. This is really about more than just one resignation, isnt it, leila . Absolutely. The office we are talking about is 10 downing street, the heart of government, where decisions are made that govern all of our lives, and the person leaving is one of the Prime Ministers most trusted close aides, who has been at his side long before he ended up in downing street, so that would be destabilising for any Prime Minister to lose one of his inner circle, especially because his department has exposed power struggles, clashes and tensions at the very heart of government. They are clearly those who think that because of lee cains history with a vote leave campaign, pa rt of history with a vote leave campaign, part of a small team of those from that campaign brought in to number ten, along with dominic cummings, that this will shift at herald a shift in the balance of power here, and lots of talk about potential resignations following. We havent seen any resignations following. We havent seen any of those yet but not clear how that will play out down the line. Certainly there will be people urging the Prime Minister to use this as a chance to reset his team and his approach. Those critics of the operation in number ten so far who have not like the way of working and have criticised the communication strategy during the pandemic, how the governments messaging has been handled in terms of u turns, leaks, and there will clearly be those who want the Prime Minister to use this as an opportunity, but i think we have some way to go before we see how this will all play out. But ultimately it will appear to some that in the middle of a pandemic when brexit negotiations are coming toa when brexit negotiations are coming to a head, there has been disarray behind the scenes at number ten. Leila, for now, thank you. Leila nathoo. With talks continuing between the uk and the European Union today, irelands Prime Minister has warned borisjohnson of the dangers of failing to reach a post brexit trade deal. In an interview with the bbc, Micheal Martin warned that not reaching agreement would be very damaging to the uk and irish economies. Europe does want a deal and is anxious we get it because its the sensible thing to do. I mean, we all represent people, weve all had a very significant shock to our Economic System because of covid 19. The last thing we need now, across all of our respective economies, is a second major shock. Nhs waiting times in england are at their longest for 12 years. Figures show that in september, nearly 140,000 people had been waiting more than a year for a routine procedure. Health Officials Say cutting the number of coronavirus cases is crucial for tackling the backlog. 0ur Health CorrespondentAnna Collinson reports. Stephanie was diagnosed with a rare form of skin cancer injuly, after finding a suspicious mall. The 43 year old pharmacist was told she should have surgery in four weeks, but it took nearly three months. Waiting for my operation to come round finding a suspicious mole. Idid round finding a suspicious mole. I did feel alone, i felt scared. Depression. Anxiety. Just not knowing, and not having any contact with anyone, and having to phone the hospital to chase up times, timescales for appointments for these operations. Its hard. Stephanie fears the delay has made her condition worse. She will find out if her cancer had spread further inafew out if her cancer had spread further in a few weeks, and says without her familys support she wouldnt be able to cope. I work for the nhs myself, so i understand the pressure the nhs is under with covid, and how it has been dealt with, but if it wasnt for those i feel i would totally be on my own. Coronavirus has consumed the health service. The latest figures for september show the number of patients waiting for more than a year for routine operations is the highest its been since 2008. Nhs england say nearly 140,000 people waited more than 12 months. In total, there are now more than 4. 3 million on the waiting list. If you want nhs to look after the patients we see overwinter list. If you want nhs to look after the patients we see over winter when we are at our most stretch, if you wa nt we are at our most stretch, if you want us to deal with Covid Patients coming in, and recover those backlogs, the bit you can control is the number of Covid Patients. You cant stop people having heart attacks, strokes, slipping over on the ice. Cancer services are now back to pre pandemic levels but there is still a significant backlog. These latest figures also dont take the pressures of the second wave into account, of cancellations of argent were already happening. Anoushka found a cyst on her breast in june. Happening. Anoushka found a cyst on her breast injune. She sought medical advice but was repeatedly told it was benign. As a last resort she went to her local a e where she was diagnosed with breast cancer. She went to her local a e where she was diagnosed with breast cancerlj feel very angry i was diagnosed earlier. Seek treatment, dont be deterred. Yes, covid is a factor, but there is a lot more going on out there. Anna collinson, bbc news. A study of 18 Million People in the uk and the United States suggests black people are twice as likely to catch coronavirus as white people. 0ur Health Correspondent katharine da costa has the details. They are stark figures, katharine, and differences for different members of different ethnic groups . Yes, evidence that ethnic minorities a greater risk of covid 19. At nottingham university, researchers looked at 42 studies in the us and eight in the uk and evidence that, as you said, black people were twice as you said, black people were twice as likely as being affected as white people, and from asian backgrounds 1. 5times people, and from asian backgrounds 1. 5 times more likely and more likely to need intensive care. But there was little evidence the risks we re there was little evidence the risks were being driven by genetics. Instead, risk factors could include being more likely to be a key worker, so unable to work from home, more likely to live in urban areas where rates of transmission are higher, and more likely to live in larger, multi generational homes. The Research Suggests that racism and structural discrimination may also lead to worse outcomes and they say their findings also lead to worse outcomes and they say theirfindings are also lead to worse outcomes and they say their findings are of Urgent Public Health importance, and raise the questions about how a vaccine should be prioritised within at risk groups. You may remember last month as government adviser suggested racism didnt explain increased risk to people from ethnic minorities and that ethnicity should not be used to identify people as being at risk. Doctor ali said the focus should be on underlying factors, things like housing and jobs, and he said that would help more people overall. All right, thank you, katharine da costa. Lockdown restrictions in Northern Ireland are due to end at midnight but its not clear what happens next. The Stormont Executive is in political deadlock about whether hospitality and other Small Businesses should be allowed to reopen tomorrow. 0ur ireland correspondent emma vardy is at stormont. Very difficult position, if you are, for example, trying to run a business, emma . Yeah, absolutely huge criticism levelled at the executive over the last few days from the business sector saying, just give us an answer. What they say is even if you did decide now we cant just bring back say is even if you did decide now we cantjust bring back staff say is even if you did decide now we cant just bring back staff at the top of a hat, we need a date in the future to actually plan for. Discussions here at stormont have dragged on over the last few days, into their fourth day now, with the five Party Coalition he had not yet able to reach an agreement. There was a plan for a two week extension to the restrictions on the table. That was vetoed by the dup. A plan for a one week extension also vetoed by the dup. There is a veto mechanism that allows them to do that. The tension you have going on his concern from sinn fein and other parties that the levels of infection havent subsided enough yet. 800 new cases of coronavirus here in Northern Ireland yesterday. The dup, meanwhile, were very reluctant to go back into lockdown restrictions on the first place. They were always very clear it had to be and they are now really digging and saying businesses cannot take any more. They say there are so many unseen costs to keeping the restrictions going even longer and we havejust heard the strike lately slightly extraordinary situation now of a number of prominent businesses and hotels in Northern Ireland saying without a decision we are going to do our own thing and open tomorrow anyway. Politics has its worst, as one Business Group put it today. Emma vardy, thank you. A nurse has appeared in court via video link charged with murdering eight babies at a hospital in cheshire. 30 year old lucy letby is also charged with ten counts of attempted murder. 0ur correspondentjudith moritz is at warrington magistrates court. Tell us more about the hearing, judith. It was a short hearing, 12 minutes, before a districtjust, Nicola Sanders and lucy letby was on a video link away from here, spoke to confirm her name, her date of birth and her address, only those things. She was not asked to enter any pleas and the charges which she faces were read out to her and to the court. She is accused of the murder of as you say, eight babies, of five boys, whose names were read out, kennelling bennett, joseph johnson, barney g, Joseph Gelder and eli gelder, and of three girls, elsie mcdowell, daisy parkin and maddie freed full stop she is also accused of the attempted murder of maddie freed and off another nine babies whose identities we cant report. They are protected by a court order. As i say, she didnt enter any please. All we can tell you at this stage its these alleged murders and attempted murders are said to have happened betweenjune 2015 and june 2016 at the countess of chester hospital, where lucy letby was a nurse in the neonatal unit. She was remanded in custody and she was told she will next appear at court tomorrow. That will be at Chester Crown court, tomorrow afternoon. Judith moritz, thank you. Its1 20pm. Our top story this lunchtime. The uk economy grew by a record amount over the summer but it still smaller than before the coronavirus pandemic. Still to come, the equalities watchdog finds no unlawful acts of pay discrimination against women at the bbc but equal pay campaigners have criticised the report. Coming up on bbc news seven months later than planned the masters is under way, with tiger woods looking to defend his title at augusta. Celebrations have been in short supply this year, but we can now look forward to a four day Bank Holiday Weekend to mark the queens 70 years on the throne. We do have to wait until 2022 for the Platinum Jubilee, but ministers are promising a spectacular, once in a generation show injune that year, and Buckingham Palace says it wants as many people as possible tojoin in. Heres our royal correspondent nicholas witchell. No british monarch has celebrated a Platinum Jubilee before. By the time the country marks the queens 70 years on the throne in 2022, shell be 96. Nonetheless, the government says this milestone will be marked by what it calls. An Extensive Programme of Public Events that will mix traditional pageantry with cutting edge technological displays. The celebrations will climax over an extra Long Bank Holiday weekend from thursday the 2nd ofjune to sunday the 5th ofjune inclusive. Events are at an early stage of planning, but theyre likely to echo some of the features of previousjubilees. The queen marked the 25th anniversary of her accession with her silverjubilee back in 1977. 50 years on the throne was celebrated by the goldenjubilee in 2002, when she undertook a lengthy series of visits to different parts of the country. Most recently, in 2012, she marked 60 years on the throne with her Diamond Jubilee which was also celebrated across a long weekend. There was a pageant on the thames which was handicapped by the weather and, after a service of thanksgiving at st pauls cathedral, an appearance on the palace balcony in front of large crowds. Whatever may be in store to mark her 70 years on the throne, itll be an opportunity for the country to show its appreciation for a monarch who continues to break records. Nicholas witchell, bbc news. Us president Electjoe Biden has picked one of his long standing advisers to be the white house chief of staff, when he takes office in january. Ron klain has worked Withjoe Biden since he became a senator in the 1980s. The appointment is another part of the transition plan despite president trumps continuing refusal to concede last weeks election. The number of teenage murder suspects reached a five year high last year, according to Research Carried out by the bbc. Data from half of the uks Police Forces also shows a sharp rise in the number of teenage victims of murder and manslaughter. You may find some of the footage in this report from tom symonds distressing. Armed police, show your hands show your hands police move in on a violent drug gang in kent. Listen to me going through the conservatory. In london, officers chase two murder suspects. We tracked the first 100 killings of 2019 to create a picture of who the killers were. Nearly all were male. But shockingly, over a quarter were teenagers. Louai ali was just 16. He boxed for england juniors. He had a bright future, but he couldnt contain his violence to the ring. Ali bought a knife off the internet and murdered a College Student in birmingham, in front of a crowd. It was all over within a minute. Another stabbing by another 16 year old days later, also in birmingham. Adam muhammad was walking with fellow student hazrat umar. Shortly afterwards he turned on hazrat, leaving him for dead. And his family, including his uncle, a former senior prosecutor, are devastated. Hazrat was one of these people who warmed the room when he walked in. He was cheerful, joyful, adored by his own family and extended family. My familys grief is repeated, as your has survey found, dozens and dozens of times over every year. The governments planning higher sentences for teenage killers. His view . Punish them, yes, try and deter other people, but also at the back of the judges mind must be the view that this person can still make a contribution to society once they are finally released. 0ur100 killings project has highlighted the factors which lead to murder drugs, alcohol, domestic violence, and young People Living violent lives. Tom symonds, bbc news. The foreign secretary dominic raab has accused china of breaking its legal promises about hong kong, after four politicians were expelled from the territorys assembly. All 15 pro democracy legislators announced their resignation yesterday, in solidarity with their colleagues, who beijing have deemed a threat to national security. The Chinese Government said that if the resignations were aimed at encouraging radical resistance, the attempt would fail. An investigation into equal pay at the bbc has found no unlawful acts of pay discrimination against women. The equality and Human Rights Commission opened an inquiry last year after complaints about large differences between the salaries of male and female presenters. But the watchdog has made a number of recommendations, including a call for the bbc to improve transparency. David sillito reports. When the bbc was forced to publish the salaries of its highest paid stars, there was fury at the gap between many male and female presenters and correspondents. There were protests demanding equal pay. The bbc admitted there was a problem and a number of women were given a pay increase. But an independent investigation says it has found no unlawful discrimination. However, it says there were issues with system. I do understand the feelings of the bbc women and i think its important to remember that these are people who suffered considerably. We are talking about delays of two years in one case, more in others. Feelings of anger and humiliation and distress and insomnia. And i think this goes to the really important findings that weve made in terms of inadequate Record Keeping and Inadequate Communications and transparency in terms of Decision Making was made. Campaigners remain sceptical. The presenter samira ahmed won a pay tribunal and the fawcett society, which fights for equal pay, has doubts about the equality commissions investigation. I think the fact they reached that conclusion really is based on what i can say to be quite a limited investigation. I think ten in depth cases isnt really enough. I know it was very challenging for the commission, i know its very resource intensive work, and undoubtedly, that has played a major factor in how they have approached it. The bbc has welcomed todays report and accepts there was a problem, and that it also needs to improve both transparency and trust with women in the corporation. David sillito, bbc news. The government has given the go ahead for a controversial new tunnel alongside stonehenge. More than 30 years after one was first proposed. The transport secretary has approved plans for the a303 near the World Heritage site macro in wiltshire. Duncan kennedy reports. Its one of the busiest roads next to one of greatest monuments. For decades, the debate has raged over what to do with the a303 alongside this World Heritage site. Now, the government has ruled that the a303 is to be buried into a tunnel, creating a traffic free landscape. The decision has been welcomed by English Heritage, who say it will transform stonehenge. As guardians of the stones, English Heritage welcomed the news the a303 tunnel is now approved and will be implemented. It makes good on a decades long ambition to remove this noisy and polluting road from this very important prehistoric landscape. Its only when you get here on the ground that you realise just how close the stones are to the a303. Its just a just how close the stones are to the a303. Itsjust a matter of just how close the stones are to the a303. Its just a matter of about 150 or 200 yards, and this is a road that attracts between 30000 and 50,000 carsa that attracts between 30000 and 50,000 cars a day. But some campaigners have fought for years to stop a tunnel, saying it will damage the wider archaeological heritage of this unique setting. Landscape to each side of the tunnel will be gouged out into deep cuttings with dual carriageways in the huge tunnel entrances, masses of concrete, major road interchanges to each side of the World Heritage site. This is devastation on a major scale. They have been memory promises before to put the a303 into a tunnel but is this the moment stones and vehicles really pa rt com pa ny . This the moment stones and vehicles really part company . Duncan kennedy, bbc news, at stonehenge. That takes us bbc news, at stonehenge. That takes us to the weather prospects, lets get the latest from chris fawkes. Make the best of the sunshine when it comes along because the next few days are wet and windy. We saw some sunshine