Of recommendations, they say they cant met the deadline for pay parity in the womens and mens game. Good evening and welcome to bbc news at six. The metropolitan police have launched an investigation into allegations of Sexual Offences following the recent claims against Russell Brand. They are already looking into a possible offence back in 2003, these new claims are also historic. Brand has denied all the allegations against him which include rape and Sexual Assault. Our media editor Katie Razzall is here. This has just this hasjust broken in the this has just broken in the last half an hour or this has just broken in the last halfan hour orso, this has just broken in the last half an hour or so, what can you tell us . It half an hour or so, what can you tell us . ,. , a, tell us . It is a significant development. Tell us . It is a significant development. Up tell us . It is a significant development. Up until. Tell us . It is a significant development. Up until a| tell us . It is a significant development. Up until a few hours ago, the metropolitan police had been saying they had been assessing one report of an alleged Sexual Assault in soho in 2003. Now they have confirmed they have launched an investigation into Sexual Offences. They do not name Russell Brand but they make it clearly follows an investigation by channel 4 dispatches and the sunday times. The have been a number of Sexual Offences in london and elsewhere in the rest of the country, all of them non recent. The women have been offered special support and police are encourage anyone who may have been a victim of a sexual offence no matter how long ago, to contact them. Russell brand vehemently denies the allegations against him, but clearly what has happened today has turned into. It shows it is a complex and sensitive Police Investigation and given there are a number of allegations made, it is likely this is going to take some time for the police to investigate. Russell brand has been talking on mine again this evening . Russell brand has been talking on mine again this evening . He has been a aearin mine again this evening . He has been appearing on mine again this evening . He has been appearing on the mine again this evening . He has been appearing on the platform mine again this evening . He has been appearing on the platform rumble. I appearing on the platform rumble. He as people to talk about the state the legacy medias war on free speech, i think that is you and i and particularly how it has affected him this week. He did seem a bit more nervous, breathless imports, critical of the Mainstream Media throughout and in a pre recorded segment he talks about the events of the last few weeks, in particular the last few weeks, in particular the collusion between big tech in government and a concerted effort by legacy media at the state to silent independent voices. He said it was difficult for me to be objective given what has happened this week, but this is what we try to do. As that was going out, there were 72,000 people watching. Katie russell, thank 72,000 people watching. Katie russell, thank you. Shes been sentenced to life for murdering seven babies and attempting to kill six others. Now the former nurse lucy letby will face a retrial for the Attempted Murder of a baby girl. The jury at the trial which ended last month had failed to reach a verdict on that charge. A provisional date for her retrial has been set forjune next year. 0ur Correspondent Danny Savage was at court today. Shes serving a whole life term for murdering seven babies and attempting to kill six others. Lucy letby will now face a retrial on one charge the jury convicted her couldnt decide on. Did she attempt to kill a girl referred to in court as baby k . She was being treated at the countess of Chester Hospital in february 2016. Letby appeared via video link today from her prison. She spoke only to confirm her name and that she could see and hear proceedings. Her barrister told the court she maintained her innocence on all charges. Lucy letby will face a retrial here in manchester next summer. The jury in her trial also couldnt decide on five other charges of Attempted Murder on these wards. Shes not facing a retrial on those allegations. That has left some families upset. Its disappointing that the cps are not going to move forward with a retrial on five of the charges. I think that we need to start looking now about the other avenues available to those families. Its really important that we find answers for these families as to what happened to their children. The Crown Prosecution Service says. These decisions on whether to seek retrial is on the remaining counts of Attempted Murder were extremely complex and difficult. Before reaching our conclusions, we listened carefully to the views of the families affected, police and prosecution counsel. Lucy letby was cleared of two charges of Attempted Murder and has lodged an appeal against her convictions. But she is set to face a jury again. As things stand, that will be here in these buildings at Manchester Crown court injune next year. That retrial expected to last between two and three weeks. Separately, she has lodged an appeal against all her convictions at the court of appeal. Fiona. Danny at manchester court, thank you. The Nhs In England has passed a grim milestone with more than a million Hospital Appointments cancelled because of the long running strikes. They began in december last year and last week saw the first ever strike byJunior Doctors and consultants at the same time. Our Health CorrespondentSophie Hutchinson is here. This is a number no one wanted to reach. Absolutely. This is a big moment for the Nhs In England. It underlines how disruptive and risky this Industrial Action has been between, this dispute between nhs staff and the government. It started ten months ago with the nurses strike. That was eventually resolved early in the summer and now it has been followed by 22 days of Industrial Action by doctors. We can see from the figures it is when doctors strike that the biggest impact is on patients. Many patients we have spoken to have had multiple cancellations of their treatments and procedures. Behind that, more Thani Million cancelled than i million cancelled Thani Million cancelled appointments, appointments that were never even scheduled because of the threat of Industrial Action. Many thousands of people will not have had the appointments they were expecting to have. Hospital chiefs and other nhs leaders have appealed to both sides, the government and nhs staff to come together and resolve this. There is no end in sight, the two sides have not spoken in 100 days and there is further Industrial Action next week when Junior Doctors and consultants come back togetherfor a Junior Doctors and consultants come back together for a coordinated action for three days. Back together for a coordinated action for three days. Sophie, thank ou. The army has been stood down from supporting the metropolitan police after enough Firearms Officers returned to work. Hundreds had stepped back from their duties after one of their colleagues was charged with murder following the shooting of chris kaba in south london last year. Soldiers were put on standby and officers from other forces were drafted in to help. Tom symonds has the latest. Westminster today, no shortage of armed police. The met now says it has the numbers to cover the demands it might face with some help from other forces. It might face with some help from otherforces. But over it might face with some help from other forces. But over the last week, the bbc has been told that up to 300 officers may have reconsidered whether they should carry a gun. A direct result of the Fatal Shooting of 24 year old chris kaba and the decision to charge the Police Officer who pulled the trigger, with murder. I cannot understand why trigger, with murder. I cannot understand why that can trigger, with murder. I cannot understand why that can me l trigger, with murder. I cannot understand why that can me an arm wrapped around that person and say, you are innocent until proven guilty. We will support you and your family throughout this process and let Justice Family throughout this process and letjustice prevail. But at least they have shown support. At the moment they back off straightaway, they dont want to talk to the officers, they dont want to be seen with them. ,. ,. ,. , with them. These armed police and training were with them. These armed police and training were among those training were among those refusing to carry weapons. At the weekend, the met had to ask the military to be on standby, but now says that is no longer needed. Counterterrorism specialist Firearms Officers of the most highly trained of the met� s armed units, but a large number decided to hand in their ticket. There were concerns among specialist Firearms Officers who carry out planned raids on criminals. And authorised Firearms Officers who often are seen Guarding Buildings in london. They know they are legally and personally responsible for firing and carrying a gun. They have to show they have used force that is reasonable and proportionate. Either in self defence or to protect others. Such was the concern that Scotland Yard asked the government to review the way Police Shootings are investigated. Are investigated. When they are usina are investigated. When they are using these are investigated. When they are using these lethal are investigated. When they are using these lethal powers are investigated. When they are using these lethal powers it are investigated. When they are using these lethal powers it is l using these lethal powers it is important they do so with confidence and with legal clarity. That is why the Home Secretary has asked the department to review the guidance that we have that governs all of this, to ensure it commands the confidence of Police Officers and the wider public. The wider public. But an inquiry into the culture the wider public. But an inquiry into the culture of the wider public. But an inquiry into the culture of the the wider public. But an inquiry into the culture of the met the wider public. But an inquiry i into the culture of the met carried out by Baroness Casey raised concerns about attitudes in the types of police teams which carry weapons. Types of police teams which carry wea ons. , types of police teams which carry wea ons. ,. ,. , weapons. She singled out armed officers and weapons. She singled out armed officers and the weapons. She singled out armed officers and the elite weapons. She singled out armed officers and the elite squads weapons. She singled out armed officers and the elite squads of l weapons. She singled out armed | officers and the elite squads of m weapons. She singled out armed i officers and the elite squads of m 0 19, as they are called as having an attitude that they were somehow above the law and they should be given special dispensation. They should be part of the task of the met police to tackle that. 5 should be part of the task of the met police to tackle that. As the olice met police to tackle that. As the Police Officer met police to tackle that. As the Police Officer who met police to tackle that. As the Police Officer who shot met police to tackle that. As the Police Officer who shot chris i met police to tackle that. As the | Police Officer who shot chris kaba in the street awaits trial, Firearms Officers will wait for the view into the Legal Process they might face should they pull the trigger. For some, their consent to bear arms is in the balance. Tom symonds, bbc news. Our home and Legal Affairs correspondent Dominic Casciani the met are now conducting a review, what will it look at . There are lots of issues. One of the issuesis there are lots of issues. One of the issues is the cultural issue, the time it takes to investigate officers. There have been complaints from officers how the way it can take years for the Police Watchdog to reach a decision in relation to disciplinary action. But at the heart of this is a rumbling debate over the different interpretations of the law. If an officer is charged with murder, they can go to court and say, in the moment i opened fire, i honestly believed i was facing a threat to life and my only choice was to shoot to protect myself or my fellow officers. In that context, criminal law will find somebody innocent. That has been established in other cases. The big question for other action, disciplinary action or an investigation by the Police Watchdog, the test is notjust whether they honestly believe they had to open fire, but whether or not it was a reasonable course of action in the circumstances. A lot of officers are furious that in one particular case the Supreme Court upheld the test that they had to act reasonably as well as with an honest belief. They want that reverse, they want it universally applied because that will give them better protection and an insurance that people who are not in their situation try to make split second life or death decisions, are not going to Second Guess A very, very difficult situation. That is what they were after. But that will take legislation through parliament and whether or not the government has got time is another dominic, thank you. The Prime Minister has refused to confirm or deny speculation that he plans to scrap part of hs2 and today said only that he remains committed to spreading opportunity across the country. Theres a growing outcry following reports that the most northern part of the high speed route may be about to be axed, including from the former chancellor george osborne. 0ur Transport correspondent katy austin has more. The Hs2 Construction Journey is under way, but whats the destination . It was designed to create more space on the rail network and shorten Journey Times between major cities. This manchester based office and lab space rental Company Thinks it would be a big boost for businesses. Theyre concerned by the new doubt hanging over the scheme. We dont plan our business on one or two year cycles. We think five, ten, 15 years ahead. And its really important to know what the big pieces of the jigsaw look like so that you can make your individual investments. Almost 30,000 people are already working on the hs2 programme. The first stretch between 0ld 0ak Common In West London and birmingham is being built now, with at least £22. 5 billion already spent. 2. 3 billion has already gone towards the other sections on things like buying land. The latest official Cost Estimate for the whole thing, excluding the eastern leg, was £71 billion, but thats in 2019 prices. Inflation will have pushed up the price tag. The chancellor and the Prime Ministers refusal to confirm hs2 would be completed as planned has prompted both calls for clarity from businesses and warnings from senior conservatives, including two former Prime Ministers. Today, rishi sunak was asked how any decision to cut the leg to manchester would square with levelling up. This kind of speculation that people are making is not right. I mean, weve got spades in the ground. Were getting on and delivering. But across the north, what were also doing is connecting up all the towns and cities in the north east to west. Thats a really important part of how we will create jobs, drive growth across the region. The Greater Manchester mayor said he had considered the idea of a new line east to west being built first. We could rephase it so that hsz is built after. But the point is we need new north south rail lines and we need new east west rail lines. London has never been forced to choose. A new station at London Euston is also reportedly in the balance. Without it, 0ld 0ak Common would remain hs2s southern end. Well, it would leave the h52 core routes, the expensive bit, the bit thats gone through pe