to frontline politics and will run as a candidate in the general election for the reform uk party, which he will now also lead. he's to contest the seat of clacton in essex, his eighth attempt to become an mp, having previously said he wouldn't run in this election. but he's changed his mind because he said he didn't want to "let millions of people down." he also predicted that labour would win the election, and that as a member of parliament, he could provide more of an opposition to sir keir starmer than the conservatives, whom he claims are "incapable." lucy manning has all the details. mr farag, are you standing? we will find out in the _ mr farag, are you standing? we will find out in the moment, _ mr farag, are you standing? we will find out in the moment, won't - mr farag, are you standing? we will find out in the moment, won't we? | find out in the moment, won't we? why have you changed your mind? who says — why have you changed your mind? who says i — why have you changed your mind? who says i have? _ who says i have? you said ten days ago you are not going _ you said ten days ago you are not going to _ you said ten days ago you are not going to stand. _ you said ten days ago you are not going to stand, so why _ you said ten days ago you are not going to stand, so why the - you said ten days ago you are not . going to stand, so why the change? do you _ going to stand, so why the change? do you ever— going to stand, so why the change? do you ever change _ going to stand, so why the change? do you ever change your— going to stand, so why the change? do you ever change your mind - going to stand, so why the change? | do you ever change your mind about anything ever? he said he wouldn't, but now he will. a major u—turn, a change of heart thrust nigel farage into the heart thrust nigel farage into the heart of the general election campaign. i can't let down those millions of people. i simply can't do it! it would be wrong. so i have decided... i've changed my mind. it's allowed, you know! it's not always a sign of weakness. it could potentially be a sign of strength. so i am going to stand in this election. margaret thatcher famously said she wasn't _ margaret thatcher famously said she wasn't for _ margaret thatcher famously said she wasn't for turning. you are obviously— wasn't for turning. you are obviously for turning. why the massive — obviously for turning. why the massive u—turn all of a sudden? this_ massive u—turn all of a sudden? this is— massive u—turn all of a sudden? this is the — massive u—turn all of a sudden? this is the old thing about hearts and heads, isn't it? i rationally thought this was too difficult. i have change my mind because i can't let down millions of people who would feel let down by me unless i was at the front and lead this charge over the course of the next five and a half years. a reform uk source says mr farag loves the theatre of it all and says he put himself centre stage at this election, but the worry for the conservatives is that he will divert votes away from them. mr farage, who had been named a chicken for not running, was also named the new reform uk leader. when the election was called, he had said it was too soon and he was also too busy with us politics. six weeks in such a short period of time to find a parliamentary constituency and promote the cause around the country, and i think rishi sunak has wrong—footed an awful lot of people, myself included. nigel paul farage. included. niel paul faraae. .,, nigel paul farage. he has tried seven times — nigel paul farage. he has tried seven times before _ nigel paul farage. he has tried seven times before to - nigel paul farage. he has tried seven times before to be - nigel paul farage. he has tried seven times before to be an . nigel paul farage. he has tried i seven times before to be an mp, nigel paul farage. he has tried - seven times before to be an mp, so will it be eighth time lucky in clacton in essex? the seaside town, big brexit voters, and previously had a new kip mp. today's announcement making waves. no, i wouldn't want him running the country, but it is funny, some of the things he says and does. it is like a good old british style, really. but no, i wouldn't want him running the country. you really. but no, i wouldn't want him running the country.— running the country. you know, i think if he ran _ running the country. you know, i think if he ran for _ running the country. you know, i think if he ran for clacton, - running the country. you know, i think if he ran for clacton, he - think if he ran for clacton, he will win it _ win it. i- win it. i think he's win it. — i think he's marvellous. i win ii. — i think he's marvellous. i think he's _ i think he's marvellous. i think he's a — i think he's marvellous. i think he's a perfect _ i think he's marvellous. i think he's a perfect gentleman. - i think he's marvellous. i thinki he's a perfect gentleman. he is i think he's marvellous. i think- he's a perfect gentleman. he is very well educated — he's a perfect gentleman. he is very well educated. and _ he's a perfect gentleman. he is very well educated. and i— he's a perfect gentleman. he is very well educated. and i think— he's a perfect gentleman. he is very well educated. and i think he's - he's a perfect gentleman. he is very well educated. and i think he's veryl well educated. and i think he's very good _ well educated. and i think he's very good for— well educated. and i think he's very good for the — well educated. and i think he's very good for the job _ good for the job. the _ good for the job. | the conservatives good for the job. - the conservatives say, as good for the job. _ the conservatives say, as he good for the ion. — the conservatives say, as he won't be prime minister, it is a wasted vote, a blank check for labour. but nigel farage says he will surprise everyone again. lucy manning, bbc news. we got a bit of a flavour there of what some of the people of clacton think of nigel farage campaigning in the area. laura foster is in the seaside town for us now. what have you been hearing? if i had to describe the reaction of people here, in one word, it would be surprised. as news began to ping around people's phones, there were some cries of, you must bejoking! but there was also some nodding and smiling. everyone we have spoken to today seemed to know who nigel farage is, but they had a lot of different opinions on him and on reform uk, but this is an area where that party could perform very well. in the brexit referendum, it had one of the highest percentages of leave voters in the country. nigel farage will officially launch his candidacy here tomorrow at midday, but he is by no means the only person competing to be mp in clacton. indeed. thank you for that, laura foster, by the seaside in clacton. here is a list of candidates we know about so far standing in the clacton constituency. bbc news website will have a complete list once they are all confirmed. the labour leader sir keir starmer says if he becomes prime minister, he would be prepared to use nuclear weapons to defend the uk. at campaign event in bury, he said his party would increase at a campaign event in bury, he said his party would increase defence spending and update the country's nuclear arsenal. both the tories and labour are keen to make national security a prominent issue in this election, as chris mason reports. the fusilier museum in bury in greater manchester is a shrine to military service. today, the man who wants to be prime minister wants to convince you the country would be safe in his hands. look at those around him. they have each served in the forces. they are now labour candidates. national security is the most important issue of our times. something which, of course, is always true. and which for us, if we are privileged to serve our country, will become our solemn responsibility. and labour is promising to keep the uk's nuclear weapons if it winds. keir starmer, you could be prime minister next month. if circumstances necessitated it, would you authorise the firing of nuclear weapons, yes or no? it's a vital part of our defence, and of course, that means we have to be prepared to use it. how things have changed. i can't imagine being invited to a place like this for a speech by his predecessorjeremy corbyn. i want to be here because of my beiief— i want to be here because of my belief in— i want to be here because of my belief in a — i want to be here because of my belief in a nuclear free future! here — belief in a nuclear free future! here addressing a campaign for nuclear disarmament rally in 2016. in that same year, half a dozen members of the current shadow cabinet voted against renewing the uk's nuclear weapons. has the labour leopard really changed its spots on defence? i lead this party. i have changed this party. if we are privileged to come in to serve, i will be the prime minister of the united kingdom. and i have got my whole shadow cabinet behind me. one of those opponents eight years ago, labour's now deputy leader, but she backs the current policy, but chose to mention something today her boss did not. globally, we should be looking at disarmament of nuclear weapons, but that has— disarmament of nuclear weapons, but that has to _ disarmament of nuclear weapons, but that has to be done in combination with other— that has to be done in combination with other countries. the _ with other countries. the scottish national party are opposed to nuclear weapons. the liberal democrats criticised conservative cuts to the army, and the tories are having a go at labour. you have got keir starmer promising everything on defence, 2.5%, when conditions allow. i would love to do everything when conditions allow, it's just, everything when conditions allow, it'sjust, you can't believe everything when conditions allow, it's just, you can't believe a word this guy says. let's talk about money. you have talked about labour spending 2.5% of national income on defence, but not put a timeframe on it. isn't it meaningless without a time frame? we must increase defence spending to deal with— we must increase defence spending to deal with the increasing threats we face _ deal with the increasing threats we face. �* , , face. but by when? we will _ face. but by when? we will undertake i face. but by when? | we will undertake a face. but by when? - we will undertake a defence face. but by when? _ we will undertake a defence review withih_ we will undertake a defence review within the _ we will undertake a defence review within the first year. we will look at the _ within the first year. we will look at the threats we face, the capabilities we need, and we will set the _ capabilities we need, and we will set the plan to hit 2.5% as part of that review — that review. labour look and sound very that review. — labour look and sound very different on defence than they did. the question for you is, how that might change your view of them or not. chris mason, bbc news, in bury. the conservatives say they want to update equality laws to define sex as someone's biological sex. they say current confusion over definitions cannot be allowed to continue, and updating the law would make biological sex a protected characteristic. that means it would be easier to create protected spaces for women and girls. labour say they wouldn't amend the law, and accuse the conservatives of stoking a culture war. here's alex forsyth. flanked by young footballers, the prime minister claimed today he was tackling an issue to improve the safety of women and girls. the conservatives want to change the equality act so sex would mean biological sex. they say that would make it clearer that single sex spaces, from public toilets to refuges, can be for biological women and girls only, not those born male, even they have legally changed their sex on their birth certificate. the equalities minister claims this is necessary because there has been confusion and legal challenges over the issue. we have, you know, rapists being put in women's prisons and that being said to be legal. we can'tjust leave this and say, "oh, well, you know, we'lljust put out some more guidance." we've put out the guidance, it's not working, people going to court, endless tribunals. we need to settle this once and for all. labour point out there is already provision for single sex spaces. they would issue more guidance, but claim the tories are just trying to divert attention. we've seen, whether it's through this or national service, i think an attempt by the conservatives to generate some debates which are not about the economy, or the nhs, or law and order and criminaljustice to move away from those issues where the conservatives have an appalling record. even the lib dems, no stranger to political stunts of their own, called this a distraction to stoke a culture war. where a public service needs to have further guidance, we are happy to issue that guidance, but let's not pick apart legislation that reflects the hard—fought and hard—won protections given to women, to trans women, and to all sorts of people from protected characteristics. the conservatives have been accused of trying to stoke tensions, not least in other political parties. they say it's a point of principle. this is a complex and sensitive area that can involve balancing the rights of those involved, and it's already been proven this issue is not easy to navigate. tensions were brought to the fore when the scottish government tried to change the law to make it easier for people to change their legal sex, only to be blocked by uk ministers. now the tories say decisions on this issue should be taken in westminster — not something welcomed by the snp. it's just another example of undermining the powers of the scottish parliament. now, obviously i don't want to see that, because i believe we should have a parliament with the full range of powers to tackle all of the issues that affect the people of scotland. so, a policy change that's needed, or an issue being used as a political football? another point of contention in this campaign. alex forsyth, bbc news. let's hearfrom chris again, who's in salford. chris, did the big campaign news come from one of the two men most likely to be prime minister after the election today, or did it come from someone who is a rather long shot? in pure news terms, i think it came from nigel farage. there was a familiar pattern, clive, to the beginning of the day. you had the fireworks from the conservatives of an announcement that made news, that alex was just bringing us the details of there. then you have the attempt from labour of a reassuring comfort blanket. but then, enter nigel farage, a master of political theatre. just a week ago, he told me he would not stand as a candidate at the election. he was giving every impression that his ga was over the atlantic towards the presidential election that would election in the autumn. —— his gaze. here we are, a week later, grabbing the attention, and by seizing the leadership of reform uk, has not only created another news moment, it also gives him a platform and a profile on this campaign that being merely an horrific president would not have afforded him. he has made a career of grabbing attention, nigel farage, and is managing to do it again. —— and is managing to do it again. —— and ona and is managing to do it again. —— and on a horrific president. as you say, he is likely to be, and his party is likely to be a bit part player in terms of winning seats, probably, but my goodness, their capacity to scare the conservatives is absolutely polls, as if rishi sunak did not have enough to worry about already! thanks for that, chris mason in salford. work to build the rob burrow centre for motor neurone disease in leeds has begun, a day after the death of the former rugby league player. rob had a stellar 17—year career that included winning eight super league grand finals, three world club challenges and two challenge cups. the 41—year—old had lived with mnd since 2019, and spent recent years raising awareness of the disease. here'sjohn maguire. two, one... cheering and applause. it's the moment that rob burrow was determined would go ahead today without delay. a spade went into the ground for the first time to create the motor neurone disease centre in leeds that will bear his name. along with rob's family was his former team—mate kevin sinfield. between them, they've raised almost £15 million. some of that money will help to build this centre. it will be rob's legacy. i wish he could have seen the outpouring of love. i think we all lose special people, but it's very, very rare you lose someone who is so special to so many different people. rob's family say this new facility meant the world to him, and despite this being such a difficult day, it's a very proud moment. it's just amazing to be here today for rob. he'll be flying the flag, and we'll beat the drum, and we will keep doing it, raising money, and we will get a cure. not just the care centre - but a breakthrough for people with mnd so it's not the hell on earth that it's been. - rob played a part in designing the centre purpose—built and a one—stop shop for patients and theirfamilies. well, in the hours since rob's death, the tributes have built and built here at headingley. he played for the leeds rhinos 400 times during his career and won absolutely everything there was to win. lots of shirts, flowers, scarves, and in particular this one seems to be the perfect sentiment. it says he was a legend on the pitch and a hero off it. the centre in his name will stand testament to his life, defined by determination and by defiance. john maguire, bbc news, leeds. and you can watch a special bbc news documentary, there's only one rob burrow, tonight at 8.30 on bbc one. about half a million people have been left without their child benefit payment today after a processing issue at hm revenue and customs. hmrc has apologised and say those affected will receive the payments on wednesday morning. theo leggett is here. a processing problem, what's that? problem in the computer system at hmrc. about 1.6 million people were due to get their payments today, the majority did, but because the groups of payments are so large, they go out in batches. we are told that three out of ten batches did not work properly, which meant people were left without their money. for people on lower incomes in particular, that can be a big problem. it is notjust not getting the money, it is not knowing when they would get it either. among those people was susan macdonald, it disabled mother of two from dundee. her husband works in construction, and she told me that the family relies on this money to pay for essentials such as food and electricity. we need, we rely on that money every week. it's £42 that you get for two kids, and that is a lot of money to people like myself. and i can't imagine what... other people must be feeling the exact same way. it's so frustrating. well, hmrc has now apologised, as you mentioned earlier. people will receive their payments, we are told, on wednesday morning. hmrc says that anyone who has incurred a direct financial loss because of not getting their payments, for example if they have been fined by the bank for a missed direct debit or something like that, they can apply for redress, but they have to apply for redress, but they have to apply for it online. meanwhile, hmrc says the problem has been fixed and anyone due to get payments tomorrow will get their money.— the time is 6.18. our top story this evening... nigel farage has announced he's the new leader of the reform party and will stand as a candidate in the election. coming up: we report from russia on put