submission, as tiktok fights a ban in america. four members of britain's richest family have been sentenced to jail by a court in switzerland, for exploiting their domestic staff, who'd been brought overfrom india to work in their villa in geneva. during the trial, the prosecutor claimed the hindujas spent more on their pet dog than their servants. they say they'll appeal. a chief constable in the uk who lied about his military history, exaggerating his rank, length of service, and achievements has been dismissed for gross misconduct. nick adderley, of northamptonshire police, claimed he'd reached the rank of lieutenant and that he was a military negotiator in haiti in the 19805. the leader of reform uk, nigel farage, has claimed that the ukraine war had been "provoked" by europe and nato. mr farage told nick robinson in an edition of the panorama interviews that he'd previously said he admired vladimir putin as a "political operator" but "disliked him as a person". this is the nonsense, you know, you can pick any figure, - current or historical, . and say, you know, did they have good aspects? and if you said, "well, - they were very talented in one area," then suddenly you're the biggest supporter. - yeah, no, but you're right about that, mr farage. and i'm not making that point, of course, we could take anything you say out of context. i'm doing it for a different reason — you want to be prime minister, that's what you want to be. and this is — europe is at war. now when the war happened, the big war, when vladimir putin sent his troops across the border in �*22, you blamed the west, not him, you said... right. ..i'lljust read it to you, then you can react, that, on a tweet, "it was a consequence of eu and nato expansion." yes. is that a judgment you stand by? right, i'll tell you - what you don't know. i stood up in the european - parliament in 2014, and i said, and i quote, "there will be a war in ukraine". - why did i say that? it was obvious to me _ that the ever—eastward expansion of nato and the european union was giving this man a reason i to his russian people to say, i "they're coming for us again," and to go to war. but you were echoing him. i was — sorry? you were echoing him, that's what putin says. no, no, no, sorry, i'd been saying this actually since the 1990s. - that's a little portion from the interview, nick robinson with nigel farage earlier today. let's discuss it in a bit more detail with our panelists tonight, a reminder of who they are. joe twyman, from the polling company deltapoll, and melissa sigodo from the daily mirror. nick began showing nigel farage some of those polls that there's been a pump for reform uk, a bond that's quite significant as it puts them close to the reform have been the success story, not just _ reform have been the success story, notiust due — reform have been the success story, notjust due to reform have been the success story, not just due to the election campaign, but overthe not just due to the election campaign, but over the entire calendar— campaign, but over the entire calendar year, campaign, but over the entire calendaryear, if campaign, but over the entire calendar year, if you go back to the end of— calendar year, if you go back to the end of last — calendar year, if you go back to the end of last year, they were really on a _ end of last year, they were really on a low— end of last year, they were really on a low figure is comparatively, fluctuating around three, five, 6%, but since _ fluctuating around three, five, 6%, but since the campaign began, and particularly since nigel farage announced that he would be the new leader_ announced that he would be the new leader of— announced that he would be the new leader of the party, and that he was running _ leader of the party, and that he was running in _ leader of the party, and that he was running in clacton, they really has been _ running in clacton, they really has been momentum behind the party, and momentum _ been momentum behind the party, and momentum is so important, but, having _ momentum is so important, but, having said — momentum is so important, but, having said that, it really is putting _ having said that, it really is putting this in context. there has been _ putting this in context. there has been lots — putting this in context. there has been lots of talk not least from farage — been lots of talk not least from farage himself about reforming ahead of the _ farage himself about reforming ahead of the -- _ farage himself about reforming ahead of the —— conservatives. —— reform uk. of the —— conservatives. —— reform uk~ there — of the —— conservatives. —— reform uk. there have been 16 polls published, just in the last week, that have — published, just in the last week, that have fieldwork dates post nigel farage's _ that have fieldwork dates post nigel farage's announcement. nine of those show the _ farage's announcement. nine of those show the conservatives ahead, four of them _ show the conservatives ahead, four of them show a tie, and only three show— of them show a tie, and only three show reform head, only one of those shows _ show reform head, only one of those shows that _ show reform head, only one of those shows that being more than a by one point _ shows that being more than a by one point there — shows that being more than a by one point. there are questions around that _ point. there are questions around that if_ point. there are questions around that if you — point. there are questions around that. if you add all of that out, the average is that the conservatives are still three points ahead, _ conservatives are still three points ahead, so— conservatives are still three points ahead, so it is definitely moving in reform _ ahead, so it is definitely moving in reform uk's direction, but even in the share — reform uk's direction, but even in the share of the vote can be a lot ahead _ the share of the vote can be a lot ahead and — the share of the vote can be a lot ahead and to translate that the share _ ahead and to translate that the share of— ahead and to translate that the share of the vote to seat is quite a challenge — share of the vote to seat is quite a challen . e. share of the vote to seat is quite a challenue. ~ , ., challenge. 0k, melissa, in that interview. _ challenge. 0k, melissa, in that interview, there _ challenge. 0k, melissa, in that interview, there were - challenge. 0k, melissa, in that interview, there were some - challenge. 0k, melissa, in that- interview, there were some revealing moments, particularly when it nick robinson asked mr faraj about foreign policy, about his attitude towards vladimir putin. part of that, he said, was as if mr faraj sees himself as a credible leader of the opposition one day, perhaps even a prime minister, he needs to be able to answer those questions. what do you make of what his responses were? i do you make of what his responses were? ~ ., , ., , were? i think it was quite worrying and nick, obviously _ were? i think it was quite worrying and nick, obviously rightly - were? i think it was quite worrying j and nick, obviously rightly pointed out this issue of russia in the war thatis out this issue of russia in the war that is currently raging on, if he does become at the prime minister, what does that mean, because it seems like he is making excuses for why this what is happening and why vladimir putin has started the war. 50 that is quite concerning and i so that is quite concerning and i don't know what that would mean for britain, because as we have seen in the last two weeks, they have been cyber attacks carried out by russia, on the nhs, where people's data has been published, people's sensitive data has been published twice. so it is really scary to hear nigel farage, who would say such a thing. let mejust to farage, who would say such a thing. let me just to bring you this statement, both of you, we have heard from the home secretary responding to that claim it back the war in the uk, that isjust mr faraj echoing thatjustification war in the uk, that isjust mr faraj echoing that justification from war in the uk, that isjust mr faraj echoing thatjustification from mr putin for the vile invasion of ukraine. some of the things he has said in the past, even about the kingdom of almost come back to haunt him. , ., , ., ., him. there is a question about whether it _ him. there is a question about whether it will _ him. there is a question about whether it will actually - him. there is a question about| whether it will actually matter, whether— whether it will actually matter, whether it will actually matter, whether it will actually matter, whether it will have an impact. ultimately, his supporters are, essentially, supportive of him and his positions. so they will simply say his positions. so they will simply sav that— his positions. so they will simply say that nigel farage was speaking in advance of what actually happened and told _ in advance of what actually happened and told the truth. of course, that doesn't _ and told the truth. of course, that doesn't align with what most people in this— doesn't align with what most people in this country believe, either back then or— in this country believe, either back then or now. — in this country believe, either back then or now, but nonetheless for nigel— then or now, but nonetheless for nigel farage's the strongest supporters, i imagine this will either— supporters, i imagine this will either be _ supporters, i imagine this will either be essentially rejected, or simply— either be essentially rejected, or simply accepted as something that the mainstream media are otherwise ignorind _ the mainstream media are otherwise ignorind i_ the mainstream media are otherwise ignoring. i don't think there is much — ignoring. i don't think there is muchjustification for ignoring. i don't think there is much justification for believing that, _ much justification for believing that, but— much justification for believing that, but nonetheless i think that is what _ that, but nonetheless i think that is what will happen.— that, but nonetheless i think that is what will happen. another thing i thou . ht is what will happen. another thing i thought was — is what will happen. another thing i thought was interesting _ is what will happen. another thing i thought was interesting was - is what will happen. another thing i thought was interesting was nick'sl thought was interesting was nick's line of questioning when he asked nigel farage, is your intent to take over the right wing of british politics? if you look at some of the polls, the idea that reform uk could take some of the conservative party's core base voters this time around? i party's core base voters this time around? ~ . �* , party's core base voters this time around? ,, ., �* , ., party's core base voters this time around? ,, ., �*, ., , , , around? i think that's a very simple thin to around? i think that's a very simple thing to do — around? i think that's a very simple thing to do for— around? i think that's a very simple thing to do for nigel— around? i think that's a very simple thing to do for nigel farage - around? i think that's a very simple | thing to do for nigel farage because if you look at some of the policies the conservatives have had, the rwanda policy, stop the boats, those are the types of things that speak to nigel farage's manifesto if you will. and him mentioning immigration is a big part of that — that ties into what the conservatives would do. so it's an easy spot for him. thanks for discussing that interview with us, and if you're watching in the uk and you want to watch it, that's available on the bbc iplayer, and of course there's plenty more updates on that interview and analysis on the bbc news website. around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news. with less than two weeks to go until the general election, allegations that tory insiders were betting on the election, continues to dominate the campaign. today, rishi sunak refused to be drawn on further questions surrounding it, and promised again to "boot out" anyone found to have broken gambling laws. meanwhile, labour has accused mr sunak of a "total lack of leadership". this week the conservative party's director of campaigning tony lee, took a leave of absence from hisjob. it came after it emerged he is being looked into by the gambling commission over an alleged bet relating to the timing of the general election. mr lee is married to a conservative candidate, laura saunders, who is also being looked into by the betting industry regulator. there are multiple investigations that are currently happening. it's right that those investigations are allowed to proceed. they are independent, they are necessarily confidential, as you would appreciate. there's also a investigation, and these are potentially criminal matters and the police are conducting those — you'll be aware of that. and because of that, i hope you can appreciate there's not much more i can add. what i can tell you is, as i said, if anyone is found to have broken the rules, they should not only face the full consequences of the law — i will ensure they are booted out of the conservative party. 0ur panellists tonight — joe twyman, from the polling company, deltapoll — and melissa sigodo, from the daily mirror. let's stay away from too many of the specifics, butjoe, how do you think this particular conversation around these allegations could impact the polls? it these allegations could impact the olls? , ~ , these allegations could impact the olls? , ~' , ~' polls? it feels like every week, ou're polls? it feels like every week, you're just _ polls? it feels like every week, you're just imagining, - polls? it feels like every week, you're just imagining, what - polls? it feels like every week, j you're just imagining, what will polls? it feels like every week, - you're just imagining, what will the conservatives do this week to mess up conservatives do this week to mess up their— conservatives do this week to mess up their chances of closing the gap on labour? — up their chances of closing the gap on labour? and just when you think the stories— on labour? and just when you think the stories couldn't get any more bizarre. _ the stories couldn't get any more bizarre, along comes betting on the election— bizarre, along comes betting on the election date. and from what we are seeing, _ election date. and from what we are seeing, we _ election date. and from what we are seeing, we are not talking about huge. _ seeing, we are not talking about huge, life—changing amounts of money, — huge, life—changing amounts of money, the kind of multi—million pound _ money, the kind of multi—million pound corruption you hear about in other— pound corruption you hear about in other countries is simply not the case _ other countries is simply not the case here — other countries is simply not the case here. but that's not the point - it's _ case here. but that's not the point - it's about— case here. but that's not the point — it's about the narratives, the stories— — it's about the narratives, the stories we _ — it's about the narratives, the stories we tell ourselves and each other— stories we tell ourselves and each other about the parties that can be so important in determining how people _ so important in determining how people vote, and this simply reinforces the narratives around a party _ reinforces the narratives around a party that — reinforces the narratives around a party that doesn't play by the rules, — party that doesn't play by the rules, that isn't really operating particularly well, and that appears to be _ particularly well, and that appears to be almost without effective leadership. and those kinds of things— leadership. and those kinds of things can be really, really damaging — and even if that's not the case, — damaging — and even if that's not the case, even if this instance doesn't — the case, even if this instance doesn't change the pole, every minute, — doesn't change the pole, every minute, every hour, every day this is tatked _ minute, every hour, every day this is talked about, it means that conservatives are unable to talk about _ conservatives are unable to talk about the — conservatives are unable to talk about the kinds of things they want to get— about the kinds of things they want to get across as part of their campaign to actually change the bolts _ campaign to actually change the polls. and so it's yet another misstep— polls. and so it's yet another misstep by a conservative campaign that seems to be faltering at many steps _ that seems to be faltering at many steps along the way.— steps along the way. melissa, i'll brina ou steps along the way. melissa, i'll bring you in _ steps along the way. melissa, i'll bring you in on — steps along the way. melissa, i'll bring you in on this _ steps along the way. melissa, i'll bring you in on this as _ steps along the way. melissa, i'll bring you in on this as well. - steps along the way. melissa, i'll| bring you in on this as well. every general election i've covered, there is something that kind of goes off the script and dominates the campaign, meaning we aren't really talking about the issues that the parties want us to focus on. it seems like this is it for the selection, doesn't it?- seems like this is it for the selection, doesn't it? yes it does, and hearing _ selection, doesn't it? yes it does, and hearing rishi _ selection, doesn't it? yes it does, and hearing rishi sunak— selection, doesn't it? yes it does, and hearing rishi sunak speak - selection, doesn't it? yes it does, i and hearing rishi sunak speak about the investigation and taking action if anyone is found to be doing wrong, found to have gambled essentially, itjust reminds me of the lock and covid, and what came out of that — that the conservative party were essentially drinking in the faces of people who didn't even get an opportunity to say goodbye to their loved ones, you know, people following the rules and members of the conservative party weren't. borisjohnson and even rishi sunak were fined. so it'sjust borisjohnson and even rishi sunak were fined. so it's just another misstep — misstep is an understatement, they are essentially burying themselves the selection, it's almost like self sabotage at this point. ijust don't know how they get out of this. nobody will be focusing on what they are promising, everybody will just be focusing on what they are promising, everybody willjust be seeing another repetition of the same old story of essentially conservative corruption. story of essentially conservative commotion-— corruption. allegations of corrurotion. _ corruption. allegations of corruption, i'll _ corruption. allegations of corruption, i'lljust - corruption. allegations of corruption, i'lljust stress j corruption. allegations of - corruption, i'lljust stress that, it still being looked into. butjoe, you are asking at the end of that, how will they get out of this? joe, from a pollsters's perspective, if you are advising any of the parties what they would do in terms of trying to flip the script, what would it be?— trying to flip the script, what would it be? ,, ., i. _, would it be? essential you could look at elections _ would it be? essential you could look at elections and _ would it be? essential you could look at elections and very - would it be? essential you could - look at elections and very competent ways, _ look at elections and very competent ways, hundreds of thousands of data points, _ ways, hundreds of thousands of data points, or— ways, hundreds of thousands of data points, oryou ways, hundreds of thousands of data points, or you can loo