08/10/2012 BBC News at Ten

Tonight at 10 o'clock: Hard choices ahead, say ministers, as they

struggle with the budget deficit. The Chancellor tells the

Conservative conference that more welfare savings must be made to

bring down the deficit. We need an effort from each and every one, one

nation working hard together. We are still all in this together.

Mobbed on arrival. Boris Johnson comes to the conference declaring

his loyalty to the party leadership. We will have the latest from

Birmingham on the economic challenge for the coalition. Also

tonight: In court, the man charged with the murder of five year-old

April Jones breaks down in tears. Returned to Aleppo. We have a

special report on the rebels' military supplies and continued

fighting. The atmosphere on the front line is incredibly tense and

almost eerily quiet. Every now and again you can hear the sound of

battle going on. The scars of this intense fighting of yes everywhere.

And the British Nobel winner who was once dismissed as a no-hoper.

Later we will have Sportsday on the BBC News Channel with the latest

reports, interviews and features The Government is facing more hard

choices this autumn as it tries to tackle the deficit. The Chancellor

confirmed plans for further cut in welfare spending of �10 billion

early in the next Parliament. George Osborne insisted that the

economy was healing but taking longer than hoped.

One thing was crystal clear at this Conservative conference today. The

Chancellor was not changing his view. When Margaret Thatcher in the

1980s, he was keen to convince his party that he would not buckle or

give up. We shall overcome. The at defiant rhetoric made necessary by

the fact the Government will not meet its own targets for borrowing.

On December 5th, he will publish the official deficit forecast,

showing that they are of course. There will be a new round of cuts

and tax rises to come in 2015. George Osborne tried to revive an

old promise today. We need an effort from each and every one. One

nation working hard together. We are still in this together. His it

is the claim that many question because of the Government's

decision to cut the taxes of the richest in the land. He knows that

but today he was not apologising. It is a completely phoney

perception of fairness that you stick with a tax rate you know

raises no money, that you know weakens the economy, just to say

that you are hitting the rich. promised the party there would be

no Lib Dem inspired tax on rich Sun Inn business clone it is too

hard to hire and fire. The new deal was offered. You and your employees

give new shares in the business. You replace the rights of unfair

dismissal and redundancy with new rights of ownership. Get shares and

become owners of the company that you work for. Owners and the taxman

and the company, all in it together. The Labour leader had not mentioned

the word deficit. Their reply was that from beginning to end the

Chancellor did not utter the word growth. In just a few weeks, George

Osborne will have to stand up in the Commons to say that he is

missing his borrowing targets, missing his deficit targets, and

maybe missing his debt target, too. His message here was that he was

sticking to the course. The speech summed up by a simple message, the

Chancellor, just like the lady, is not for turning.

Boris Johnson has declared his admiration for David Cameron and

insisted the Government is doing exactly what is needed to rebuild

the economy. The Mayor of London was addressing the meeting on the

fringes of the conference this evening, where he was given a

thunderous reception. James Landale has been assessing the attitude of

party workers. This report contains flash photography.

He is one of the most popular politicians in Britain. One of the

few known by his first name alone. As Boris got on the train for his

party conference today, there was only one question. Can the Joe

Keane chief also be the great white hope for the future of the Tories?

-- joker In Chief. Lisa -- he has got the media's attention but can

he get everybody else's? At the conference there is something

approaching a personality cult. Some are already fantasising about

which cabinet he could choose if he walks through the doors of Number

10 one-day. He is a winner, he is amusing, and he reaches the parts

of the Conservative Party that no one else, including the Prime

Minister, I am afraid, can reach. suspect everyone is in love with

him. Are you worried by the arrival of Boris Johnson today? Not up all,

I am delighted. He is a huge personality and one of the great

entertainers but a very intelligent guy. Undoubtedly ambitious, he is

not an MP with no power base in Parliament and not many years left

as London Mayor. You cannot do this for another three years. On a

certainly cannot walk around like this for another three years! There

was no attempt to hide from the cameras today. The Tories do not

just like Boris Johnson because he is funny but because he wins the

elections. Can this razzmatazz take him all the way to the leadership

of his party? Not in the short term. Very few Tories expect that. But

his sheer charisma and popularity win over San in Number 10. No

surprise that the Prime Minister came to listen, and tonight at

least Boris Johnson was in good mood and on good behaviour,

admiring David Cameron. He, George Osborne, the rest of the Government,

doing exactly what is needed for the rest of the country. Inside

they loved him but outside there were some doubts. Would you trust

him with his finger on the nuclear trigger? I would not because he is

unreliable compared to this gentleman. He is your Mayor. County

run the country? Don't be so stupid. Boris Johnson, a court jester today,

maybe something more tomorrow. What is your quality? The ability to get

through a huge scrum of journalists and out the other side! J Mrs

Mandela, BBC News. -- James Landale.

Stephanie, let's start with the Chancellor's speech. Did he change

our understanding of the nature of the economic change ahead? We did

not learn anything fundamentally new but that told us how little

room for manoeuvre he has got. This Chancellor has centred his strategy

around achieving two things, deficit-reduction and growth. He

cannot be completely confident of achieving either of those things

this year. The economy will almost certainly have shrunk in 2012 over

the course of the year. At the moment borrowing is running ahead

of last year. We also know that in the next few weeks, as Nick

Robinson was suggesting, the Office for Budget Responsibility will give

him a new forecast to help him prepare his Autumn Statement. They

are likely to show that not only is borrowing running ahead of the

forecast but that he has got a good chance of missing the crucial

target that he has got to have the total stock of debt, past borrowing,

falling as a national share of income in 2015. He will miss that

deadline if he does not announce more tax increases and spending

controls. Not just for the next election, one more will be coming,

but over the next two years. He did not say whether he will choose the

target or having more pain. But he indicated that he would not mind if

borrowing was higher if it was just because of a weak economy. Sir

Mervyn King has suggested that would be the right thing, to give

up on the target. That might give him some cover if he has to make

that decision but you can see why he would not want to dwell on it.

How do you read the political calculations behind the speech?

eight weeks' time, the Chancellor knows that he will either have bad

news to unveil or very bad news. I think he is trying to prepare for

that, in a sense. Unusually, he does not know the forecast, he does

not even know the first cut of what the forecast might be. What he is

telling us is that however bad the news, he is not going to cut

spending slower, as the Labour Party want him to do, but he is not

going to cut it faster as many Conservatives want him to do. He is

saying, steady as she goes. He might find 1 billion here or there

from current spending to reinvest in current spending that he hopes

will we boost growth. He is also telling us that he knows there is a

bit negotiation to be had and soon about further spending cuts and tax

rises for 2016. He is signalling that his key target his welfare.

The reason he is in a rush to do it is not primarily an economic but

political. He wants to make cuts that he can turn round to the

Labour Party and say, this is our choice, what would you do? Thank

you. A man has appeared in court in

Aberystwyth charged with the abduction and murder of five year-

old April Jones, who disappeared a week ago. Mark Bridger appeared

tearful as the charges were put to him. He was remanded in custody.

Police are continuing their search in the Machynlleth area.

As the police convoy arrived, the van carrying Mark Bridger to his

first court appearance met with the full anger of the crowd. Flanked by

two guards, the 46 year-old wept as he was asked to confirm his name,

age and address. Then he was asked if he understood the charges of

murder, child abduction and attempting to pervert the course of

justice. To reach, he answered yes. -- to reach one. After a hearing

that lasted just four minutes, Mark Bridger has been taken away to be

remanded in custody until his next appearance before a Crown Court on

Wednesday. Seven days after April's disappearance, the police have

refocused the search. They insist for now that there is no end date

to the operation. As long as we think there is something out there

to search and we are satisfied that we are making good use of the

resources, and they are valuable resources, then we will be doing

this for the family and we are determined to do what we can for

that family. There has also been a clear change in tack. Pure rescue

teams have more forensics. Signalling that this is also a

murder investigation. -- fewer rescue teams and more forensics.

Drivers were asked exactly where they were one week ago today. At

the same time, many in Machynlleth prepared lanterns to show that

their belief is not don't. We want to show everyone that week have got

hope. We want to show everyone that we care and we are supporting the

family. After a week which has exhausted many in the community, it

is still united by his refusal to BBC News has uncovered evidence

which seems to suggest that Syrian rebels are receiving military

supplies from the Gulf region. Three crates from an arms

manufacturer addressed to Saudi Arabia have been seen in a base

being used by rebel fighters in the city of Aleppo. Our correspondent

Ian Pannell and cameraman Darren Conway are among the few Western

journalists to have witnessed the start of the battle in Aleppo in

July. They have just returned to the city and sent this report.

Thousands of years of history have marched through the streets. An

ancient city that has been fought over many times before. Today,

Aleppo was at war again and the further you go into the old city,

so the sound and fury of battle grows. Those who stayed behind must

cheat death every day. A simple sign reads "do not cross, sniper to

your left". Eight people were killed here last week, he says,

The rebels have moved into the heart of the old city. A media

activist took us there. A World Heritage Site, where the scars of

battle run deep and the devastation is mounting. Aleppo is a city under

siege. EXPLOSION. The fighting is now street by street, house by

house. GUNFIRE. The fighters have been calling for owls would help

for many months. Now for the first time, a strong indication they will

get it -- calling for help. A Ukrainian weapons firm made the box

and its contents of. Board is in it is unclear but it suggests someone

in the Gulf is a leading Assad, and privately, ministers admit they get

help from neighbouring Saudi Arabia and Qatar. The atmosphere on the

frontline is incredibly tense and eerily quiet. Every now and again,

you can hear the sound of battle still going on and the scars of

this intense fighting obvious everywhere. Snipers have been

shooting into this position. There is an era that the rebels had been

using to try to get a sense of what is going on -- a mirror. The

government response: Massive firepower to try to crush the

rebellion. Iran is no need to sponsor the Government's side, too,

and so this has become a proxy war between Arab nations, Iran, and the

West. But it remains a vastly uneven battle, as the fighters try

to move unseen towards loyalist forces. Despite its overwhelming

strength, government forces have made few inroads. We were shown one

of their checkpoints, just 200 metres away. They may be fighting

for the future of Syria but both sides are also struggling over

small bits of turf. The empty streets are testament to the

thousands who have fled Aleppo. But some say they have no way to go,

that no where is Safe. Abu Stayf has lost his wife and six children.

All of them were killed when a rocket landed on his house.

TRANSLATION: To lift is to die. Men, animals, Assad is hounding us. You

will diet wherever you go. They say foreign aid is being provided, we

have seen nothing. Just let us die and get it over with. Aleppo has

become the defining battle in this brutal civil war. Neither side can

afford to lose but in truth, neither side is winning. What does

seem to be happening is the slow, painful death of Syria.

Coming up on tonight's programme: A valuable painting defaced at Tate

Modern, but the man responsible A British biologist who was once

told as schoolboy that there was no hope of him studying science has

been awarded this year's Nobel Prize for Medicine. Sir John Gurdon

and the Japanese scientist Shinya Yamanaka have both been recognised

for their pioneering work on stem cell research. The Nobel committee

said their research had revolutionised understanding of how

cells and organisms develop, as David Shukman explains.

50 years ago an investigation into cells reveal something completely

unexpected, that they all have the genes needed to make any type of

cell. The discovery opened the way to new treatments. Most scientists

thought this could never happen but a landmark experiment proved that a

cell from one part of the body could become a cell for another one.

Today, the scientist behind this work, John Gurdon, said basic

research like this brings benefits years later. May be almost 50 years

before the venue, the potential value, of that fairly basic

scientific work has come to life. The prize was shared with a

Japanese scientist, Shinya Yamanaka, who built on the work by finding a

way intending any cell into a stem cell. The Nobel committee said the

work of both men could revolutionise standstill treatment.

This involves taking a cell and adding a few genes, which turns it

into eight stem cell, which can then be grown into anything, like a

cell for the muscle to repair the heart. Early days but huge

potential. Today, at Sir John Gurdon's laboratory in Cambridge,

research continues. This is where he sits, his mind on higher things

perhaps. His colleagues are delighted. People have been

expecting it to happen for a long time but for it to happen while I

am here is phenomenal. It is very exciting for all of us. A lot of us

have felt this has been a long time coming for John because this has

been what he has been working on for decades. Ironically, the school

report said John did so badly in biology that any idea of a career

in silence -- science was ridiculous. I was bottom in biology

out of 250 people, and my teacher heard of talk of John Gurdon

wanting to be the scientist and I was told it was completely

ridiculous. So, an entire new science offering great hopes for

people starting with a boy no good at biology.

The president of Venezuela, Hugo Chavez, has been re-elected for a

fourth term. Thousands of supporters took to the streets near

the presidential palace to celebrate his victory. Mr Chavez,

who won 54% of the vote, said Venezuela would continue on its

socialist path. The BBC has promised a full

investigation into allegations that the late Jimmy Savile sexually

abused girls while working for the corporation. But George Entwistle,

the director general, said the questions would be addressed after

the police had finished their inquiries. Mr Entwistle apologised

to all the women involved, as David Sillito reports.

I will tell you what we will do, ladies and gentlemen, top groups,

Top Records! At that time, his image was that of the eccentric DJ

with a heart of gold. 40 years on, the BBC said sorry for what they

did not seek in the light of accusations of sexual abuse.

would like to apologise on behalf of the organisation...

director-general of the BBC told Radio 4's Today programme that the

corporation would carry out its own investigations at the right moment.

When the police have finished everything they have to do and when

they give the assurance that there is no danger of us compromising

their investigation, I will ensure that any outstanding question are

properly answered. Another question was why Newsnight did not broadcast

its report on the allegations last year. He said that when he was in

his old job as the head of BBC Television, he was told Newsnight

or investigating Jimmy Savile. The director of BBC News said it might

have had scheduling implications. George Entwistle insists no

pressure was applied to Newsnight, but in December, Newsnight dropped

the edition for editorial reasons. Then at the BBC issued a programme

affectionate be looking at Jimmy Savile. One former employee he said

there were rumours, but only rumours. People have reputations,

people speculate about other people's behaviour all the time.

You cannot act on every rumour that you hear. You need evidence. The

great sadness of this is that nobody felt able to complain, for

reasons are perfect the understand. It was only a week ago that

Scarborough were erecting a street sign in his honour for the money he

raised for charity. He was a local hero, now it is gone. Even his

charity is thinking of dropping his name. That reputation is in shreds.

The man who vandalised a painting by Mark Rothko at Tate Modern in

London has told the BBC he believes he may have increased its value.

Vladimir Umanets has been arrested in the past hour. As Will Gompertz

reports, the attack has renewed the debate about security at art

galleries. This is Mark Rothko's 1958 painting

Black On Maroon, a fine example of his sombre and thought for art. Now

defaced by Vladimir Umanets, who considers his actions to be neither

illegal or destructive. He thinks he has increased the value of the

work. In one sense, I am really happy. I really can have a good

laugh from it, you know, but from another side I am sad because

people still cannot see what it is all about and how beautiful it is.

There is a long history of interventions involving art works,

including Cornelia Parker wrapping rope around the Kiss. Most of them

a temporary or prints or they are done with permission, and so this

one wasn't, this was very difficult and quite a destructive act. It is

more akin to graffiti in my mind. The trouble facing places like the

Tate is that they have an unwritten contract with the public, that they

won't put undue security measures in front of the artwork as long as

the public do not tamper with the pieces. Incidences such as this

book that principle under pressure and make the gallery think twice

about being so open with their art. The late American artist who gave

the work to the Tate in 1969 is not alone in having a painting attacked.

Lastly at the National Gallery, the adoration of the calf was sprayed

with red paint. Such acts could lead to works of art been placed

behind glass, with alarmed ropes keeping people back. For now, that

is not the intention of the Tate. The focus been, to repair the

Rothko, which they should be able to do. There is a fantastic team

working at Tate who are really knowledgeable about Rothko in

particular. They have got to the Tate very quickly and I think there

is every hope it will be cleaned with that any problem. It is

difficult to clean but that it will be back to how it used to be.

Whatever reasons Vladimir Umanets might give to justify his actions,