Officials say the las vegas government planned to flee the scene of the attack. Stephen paddock may also have had help planning a massacre in which 58 people were killed. The british author Kazuo Ishiguro is awarded the nobel prize for literature. He told the bbc he was flattered to win. Its a magnificent honour because. Mainly because it means that im in the footsteps of you know, the greatest authors. Good afternoon and welcome to bbc news. Wiltshire police say they have enough evidence to have questioned the former Prime MinisterSir Edward Heath about allegations of historical child abuse made by seven people. Had he still been alive. The force says it would have interviewed sir edward under caution about a claim he raped an 11 year old boy. And also claims, including rape and indecent assault, made by six others. But their investigation has been severely criticised. Helena lee is that Wiltshire Police headquarters in swindon with the very latest. This has been a Major Investigation for Wiltshire Police, it has cost £1. 5 million and has been carried out over the past couple of years. Looking into, as you say, allegations of sexual abuse concerning the former Prime Minister, Sir Edward Heath. In a news c0 nfe re nce minister, Sir Edward Heath. In a News Conference earlier today here at Wiltshire Police station, we heard from the chief constable, Michael Veale, who said he was confident and are satisfied they had compelling reasons to look into these allegations, which he says are serious ones. It has come as you say, attracted a lot of criticism, as Richard Galpin reports. Sir edward heath, conservative Prime Minister in the early 1970s, is remembered for much, including taking the country into what would become the european union. Also whilst Prime Minister, he famously skippered one of the yachts which won the admirals cup. But since his death 12 years ago, allegations of child sex abuse have come to the fore. Today, Wiltshire Police announced that allegations made by seven people would have led to the former Prime Minister being questioned if he was still alive. The offences where he would have been interviewed under caution are one allegation of rape of a male under 16. Three allegations of indecent assault on a male under 16. Four allegations of indecent assault on a male under 14. And two allegations of indecent assault on a male over 16. It is clearly inappropriate to speculate what his response would have been to the allegations put to him, and no inference of guilt should be drawn by the decision to interview him. But the Police Investigation, launched two years ago outside mr heaths house, has been bitterly criticised by those who knew him. It seems to have begun with a conclusion it wanted to reach, and so it has behaved in a way that would enable that to happen. So i dont think it begun with the police saying, lets see what we find. It began with the police saying, this is what we want to find, and we will do our damnedest to make sure we get that. There were allegations that the former Prime Minister abused dozens of other people, but the police dismissed these. Some because of undermining evidence, others because the police believed the claims were false. The former director of Public Prosecutions ken mcdonald believes the whole investigation was an exercise by the police to cover their backs at the expense of a dead man. Shame on them, he wrote. There are calls now for an independent judicial inquiry to try to determine whether or not mr heath was involved in child abuse. But with the former Prime Minister long dead, the truth may never be known. Supporters of Sir Edward Heath say that because hes not here, of course, he cannot answer to those allegations. They say this is simply going to leave a dark stain on the reputation of a man who cannot defend himself. What, if anything, what, ifanything, happens what, if anything, happens next . The Crown Prosecution Service cant comment on the strength of any evidence. They cant advise on any prosecution because edward heath is no longer alive. We know today the independent inquiry into the child sex abuse has requested a copy of the report from Wiltshire Police and what they say is that they will consider it as part of its westminster investigation. It says it will investigate whether there was any knowledge within westminster institutions and, if so what action to be taken. There were calls for a judge led inquiry into the investigation by police here in wiltshire. But the chief constable here, Michael Veale, earliersaid he didnt think it was appropriate. And we will be speaking to a Sir Edward Heaths biographer, michael mcmanus, later this hour. Spains Constitutional Court has suspended a session of the Catalan Parliament scheduled for monday. Local leaders were expected to declare catalonias unilateral independence from spain at the meeting. The ruling followed a legal challenge by the catalan socialist party, which opposes secession, according to local media. Our europe correspondent Damian Grammaticas is in barcelona for us. There been so many twists in this story, this is the latest. The court really upping the ante. One of the questions is, how will they enforce this . Youre absolutely right. Certainly upping a new step in this confrontation. A very clear legal ruling, it appears, confrontation. A very clear legal ruling, itappears, coming confrontation. A very clear legal ruling, it appears, coming from the Constitutional Court in spain. Its just come through in the last 45 minutes, were waiting for details. It seems clear what theyve said is that the monday session of the local parliament here in catalonia is banned. And cannot go ahead. This is interesting. Its a challenge that has been brought by the local socialist party here in catalonia. Its not a challenge brought by the Central Government in madrid, its a separate thing. But it has the effect of preventing that parliamentary meeting going ahead. That is the meeting at which the cata la n that is the meeting at which the catalan regional leaders are pushing for this independence declaration, they said they wanted to formally notify the parliament of the results of the referendum, which triggers the possibility for them to make that unilateral declaration. The possibility for them to make that unilateral declarationlj suppose that unilateral declaration. suppose the fear is of violence, more violence. We saw that heavy handed Police Crackdown during the referendum. If the police were sent into maybe barricade the parliament or something that could bring about further violence. This is the unknown in the whole equation. What we had already in this saga was the Constitutional Court ruling that the referendum was in constitutional and illegal, but the local authority that held back a nyway the local authority that held back anyway in defiance of the Constitutional Court last weekend. The question is, will play again defied the Constitutional Court and sick to hold the meeting on monday . The Spanish Government in madrid has been very clear, it says at every step the local authorities here have been acting outside the law. Threatening the unity of spain by holding that referendum. And whether they seek to take the next step and defied a court again, well see. If they do, how would the government respond . Would they do, how would the government respond . Would it they do, how would the government respond . Would it seek to prevent that meeting from happening, as we saw them seek to prevent the referendum from happening. The Constitutional Court, we understand, has been quite clear. Saying if the authorities here go ahead and try to hold their parliamentary meeting, there will be legal consequences for there will be legal consequences for the leaders here in catalonia. It could, i think, the leaders here in catalonia. It could, ithink, increase the leaders here in catalonia. It could, i think, increase the temperature quite significantly in this stand off. Temperature quite significantly in this standoff. Thanks for being with us, Damian Grammaticas, in barcelona. Senior conservatives have urged the party to keep a cool head and focus on the threat from labour, despite swirling rumours about the future of theresa may as Prime Minister. Its thought that a group of mps is discussing whether to ask her to stand down, rather than mounting a direct challenge. Members of the cabinet have pledged their support for mrs may, but one former minister has warned that many inside the tory party are very concerned. Leila nathoo reports and her report does contain some flashing images. This wasnt how it was supposed to go. The chaotic course of a speech meant to bolster her position has left theresa may exposed and vulnerable. This morning, though, senior cabinet ministers have rallied to defend her. What did you think of mrs mays speech . Very brave, very good speech. What did you think of mrs mays speech . Very brave, very good speech. The Prime Minister will continue in her role to do an excellentjob. What did you think of mrs mays speech . Very brave, very good speech. The Prime Minister will continue in her role to do an excellentjob. Does she still have yourfull support . She has my full support. What did you think of mrs mays speech . Very brave, very good speech. What did you think of mrs mays speech . Factors beyond her control a cold, prank, a crumbling set all conspired to present a leader struggling. She pushed on to the end, winning support from the crowd. But her performance raised questions again about how long she can carry on. In public, most people are being pretty loyal. I think in private people are very concerned. I think therell be quite a few people who will now be pretty firmly of the view that she should resign. The Tory Party Conference was a great opportunity to reboot in public, most people are being pretty loyal. I think in private people are very concerned. I think therell be quite a few people who will now be pretty firmly of the view that she should resign. The Tory Party Conference was a great opportunity to reboot in public, most people are being pretty loyal. I think in private people are very concerned. I think therell be quite a few people who will now be pretty firmly of the view that she should resign. Westminster can be a fickle place, where political careers can quickly rise and fall. Ever since the election and the loss of her parliamentary majority, there has been talk among tory mps about theresa mays future. Now a group of her critics are considering a renewed push to persuade her to go. But what remains unclear is whether a Critical Mass of backbenchers will materialise to try to force her out. Foreign secretary, is the Prime Minister going to resign . If she does go, who takes her place . Hes been touted as a potential successor, but he has plenty of opponents, too. Talk of leadership does nothing but shift the momentum towards labour, and nobody wants a general election, and nobody wants us to be distracted from the real challenge, which is showing we have a vision for this country for the 21st century. Thats what theresa may wanted to set out in her speech. Away from destabilising talk about the fragility of her position, for now she will be hoping to recover, regroup, and get on with herjob. Our Political CorrespondentJonathan Blake is at westminster and is following the story for us. Is she an any more danger than she was before the speech . The position has been precarious ever since the result of the snap general election she called of her own volition earlier this year and saw her majority in the house of commons wiped out. The fact remains that there are several reasons why conservative mps have not moved since then to try to get rid of theresa may as leader of their party. Nobody wants a general election in the party because they fearjeremy corbyn could end up at number ten downing st. Brexit negotiations are ongoing and they dont want to destabilise those. There is no obvious successor. The question now is whether what happened yesterday through no fault of theresa mays, those unfortunate sequence of events that led the speech to be such a disaster, a persistent cough, prankster getting on the stage with a p 45, the set collapsing behind her, whether it provides a catalyst and impetus for a minority of conservative mps who are talking about whether this is the time to approach to say its time for you to go whether that means they close ranks and go for a. There is no sense that will happen any time soon. In fact, several backbench conservative mps have been firing off tweets this afternoon supporting the Prime Minister, saying plotters be warned, a challenge is nonsense. Its destined to fail. Ed vaizey was speaking to the bbc earlier on today and theres quite a few people are now off the mind she should resign. In private he said people are very concerned. Charles walker the vice chairman of the conservative backbench 1922 vice chairman of the conservative backbench1922 committee was sounding bullish saying the Prime Minister deserves some credit. Here isa minister deserves some credit. Here is a woman who stood on stage for an hour with an appalling cold. Who did brilliantly well given all the circumstances she had to contend with. I think she comes out of it heroic to be honest. Strengthened. I dont buy into this media narrative that somehow you always have to be pitch perfect. Youre allowed to be ill occasionally. She was ill, she was ill because shes been working so was ill because shes been working so hard on behalf of this country since she became Prime Minister, shes been working really hard. An opportunity to reassert her authority and reclaim the political agenda. Everything that went wrong with the speech yesterday meant it didnt happen. For now shes still in place. Jonathan blake, Political Correspondent. The latest bbc news headlines. Police a former Prime MinisterSir Edward Heath would have been questioned over seven allegations of indecent assault and rape if he was still alive. A downing street source insists resignation isnt an issue for theresa may as ministers rally round her following the for theresa may as ministers rally round herfollowing the mishaps for theresa may as ministers rally round her following the mishaps she experienced during her Conference Speech yesterday. Police say the las vegas gunmen Stephen Paddock had planned to escape from the scene of the shooting. And in Sport England international zak hardaker has been dropped by castleford tigers for the Super League Grand final on saturday following a breach of club rules. A big night for three of the home nations, england, Northern Ireland and scotland, all in world cup qualifying action later, hoping to guarantee their place in russia next year. Could the Champions League final return to the uk . The uk could bid to host the event in 2023, according to confidential uk sport documents obtained by the bbc. Ill be back with more on all those stories at half past three. Police in las vegas say that Stephen Paddock who shot dead 58 people on sunday may have been planning to escape instead of killing himself. Theyve not elaborated on whats led them to that conclusion, but have suggested he had been living a secret life and had spent years building up his arsenal of weapons. His girlfriend Marilou Danley is being questioned by the fbi but has said she had no idea what he was planning. Laura bicker reports from las vegas. Police believe Stephen Paddock had help getting hold of his arsenal of weapons. He legally bought some of his 47 guns here at a shop just outside las vegas. He owned dozens of semiautomatic weapons, which he modified to turn into machine guns. Officers are also trying to work out how he moved all of his guns unnoticed into a hotel room on the 32nd floor. From here, he waited until the concert ground was full of thousands of people. And then he started firing. Gunfire and screams. What we know is Stephen Paddock is a man who spent decades acquiring weapons and ammo and living a secret life, much of which will never be fully understood. Stephen paddocks girlfriend, Marilou Danley, has been ques