05/12/2013 BBC News at One

Large parts a powerful storm batters the UK as the environment agency

warns people to prepare for the worst tidal surge in years. A lorry

driver is killed in West Lothian as winds reach 100 mph. 100,000 homes

are without power. From Northumberland to Kent, thousands of

homes are being evacuated amid warnings that the most serious tidal

surge since 1953 could hit later today The government convenes COBRA

its emergency committee to discuss its response to the storm. The

Chancellor, George Osborne insists Britain's economic plan's working --

but says the government's job isn't finished. We need to secure the

economy for the long-term and the biggest risk from that comes to

those -- from those who would abandon the plan. In his autumn

statement the Chancellor warned of more difficult decisions ahead and

confirmed millions will have to work longer for a state pension. The

Royal Marine convicted of murdering an injured insurgent in Afghanistan

is named as Sergeant Alexander Blackman. Nigella Lawson tells a

court she'd rather be honest and ashamed about her past drug use

rather than bullied with lies. Here in Adelaide we have had an absorbing

start to the Ashes test match but England will be cursing themselves.

The latest round of high legal battle not to be forced to work on a

Sunday. Hounslow Council decide tonight whether to give Brentford

football club their new stadium. Good afternoon and welcome to the

BBC News at One. Thousands of people are being told to prepare to leave

their coastal homes after warnings that the biggest tidal surge for 60

years could hit tonight. Vicious winds have been battering much of

Scotland, Northern England and Wales, and Northern Ireland. A lorry

driver died in West Lothian when his vehicle was blown over in winds of

up to 100 miles an hour. Scotland's entire rail network has been shut

down and 100,000 homes have no power. In Essex, the entire seaside

village of Jaywick, near Clacton-On-Sea, is already being

evacuated. We'll have the latest from our correspondents around the

UK - but our first report is from our Scotland Correspondent, James

Cook. The storm swept in just before dawn with gusts of more than 100

mph. It could not have peaked at a worse moment, the height of the rush

hour, leaving motorways locks and thousands of people stranded. The

Forth Road Bridge was closed to all traffic except, it seems, for one

lone cyclist, taking his life in his hands. The highest recorded wind

speed was 91 mph. We risk assessed the situation and cleared the

traffic from the bridge and we thought it was too dangerous to

leave anyone on the bridge. It was dangerous elsewhere. This accident

claimed the life of a lorry driver. His vehicle had been blown onto

these two cars. There were similar scenes across the central belt as

the emergency services battled to free people from the wreckage. It is

still not clear how may people have been injured. The railways have been

hit as well. Glasgow Central Station was closed after debris hit the

roof. The entire network came to halt. I was in the room and the

window flew open, the alarm started going. I am sure it will be fine,

there are lots of delays. You cannot do anything about it, can you? At

the height of the storm, the power companies said 130,000 homes are

without electricity. 50,000 in the South of Scotland, 80,000 in the

North. Engineers are working to restore supplies. We have had a

thousand engineers and support staff across the area identifying the

faults and getting resources to the customers get their supplies back

on. Everywhere you look there is damage. You can see the real power

of the storm as it swept across Scotland. Forecasters say there is

more to come. Blizzards and flooding are to follow. Our correspondent is

there, what is the situation? It is an improving picture on the coast.

If you look out to sea, you can see the swell is getting back to normal.

After a day of disruption on the roads and rail, the focus is on

fears of flooding in the East of Scotland, and there is the warning

out for blizzards and snow in the north of Scotland. Thousands of

people are still without power. One person has already died in Scotland

and several others have been injured. The First Minister Alex

Salmond has praised the efforts of firefighters. They have already been

stretched responding to the helicopter crash in Glasgow. With

the fears of flooding and snow, there could be more to come. The

storm is moving further south. Thousands of people along England's

East coast are being told to leave their homes at the earliest

opportunity amid fears of the most serious tidal surge for 30 years.

The Environment Agency expects 3,000 properties to be flooded within the

next 24 hours. Our correspondent Ed Thomas reports from Redcar in

Cleveland. Sophie, we have had 60 mph winds, gales have whipped the

East Coast, but the attention is turning to the sea and what the

tidal surge will mean for the thousands of people, businesses and

homes along the East Coast. Get ready and hold on. In Redcar, 70 mph

winds battered the coast. Here, gale force winds closed the roads. A

struggle just to get to work. 70 and 80 mph winds have made the commute

unbearable for some. He just lost his balance. I tried to catch but it

was too. The Humber Bridge has been closed. This was the bridge in

Newcastle, another victim of the gales. On the railways,

cancellations and delays as services were reduced across the North of

England. Some are now predicting the worst tidal surge for 30 years with

East Anglia in the path. 3000 homes are at risk of coastal flooding and

forecasters say there could be damage. Later today we will see

something unusual. Low pressure will coincide with strong winds on its

back edge. That will combine with a storm surge on the North Sea and

produce a significant risk of damaging flooding around coastal

areas later today and overnight. This is what nobody wants to see

again. The storm of 1953 that battered the East Coast. 320 lives

were lost as BC reclaimed the land. 60 years on and no chances are being

taken. -- the sea reclaimed the land. I urge everybody watching this

to take notice of the environment agency announcements and

announcements from local government. Evacuations have commenced in

Norfolk and I would ask everybody to work closely and cooperate with

local authorities. This storm is leading pain and destruction in its

path. Thousands have been left without power in Northern Ireland,

and we are told the worst is yet to come. Yes, and the focus is now on

the East Coast. Places like Norfolk. Homes are being evacuated

in Essex and it is clear that it is going to be an extremely difficult

24 hours. We will bring you the latest from where that evacuation is

happening. And to keep up to date with the latest in your area - don't

forget you can tune into your local BBC Radio station on FM, digital

radio, and online. The Chancellor has promised a "recovery for all" as

he delivered his annual Autumn Statement. George Osborne said the

UK is growing faster than any other major economy thanks to his

policies, but the job of recovery is "not yet done". Borrowing is down

"significantly more than forecast" he said with the country set to be

back in the black by 2018/19. The Chancellor also announced that

growth forecasts for this year had more than doubled from 0.6% to 1.4%.

But he warned that younger generations will have to work

longer, as he confirmed that the state pension age would rise to 68

in the mid 2030s. Here's our political correspondent Chris Mason.

It might feel very much like winter but it still looks like autumn at

Westminster. The Treasury has been assembling this mini budget for

months. Today is an announcement time. Is there any Christmas cheer?

Few expected a Santa like giveaway from George Osborne and Danny

Alexander. Instead, a focus on where the economy is heading, having

driven through the gloom and back into growth. Mr Speaker, Britain's

economic plan is working. The job is not done. We need to secure the

economy for the long-term. The biggest risk to that comes from

those who would abandon the plan. The state pension will go up by ?2

95 a week from next April, that the pension age for younger people will

rise in the long-term. We think a fair principle is that people should

expect to spend a third of their adult life in retirement, based on

the latest life expectancy figures. The state pension age will be 60

eight -- 68. There is money to ensure all infants in England can

have a school dinner. This autumn Statement has found the resources to

fund the expansion of free school meals for all school children in

reception, year one, and year two. Every new spending plan will be paid

for by a cut somewhere else. There will be ?3 billion of cuts over the

next three years. There will be a cap on business rates in England and

Wales, 2% from April. The fuel duty rise has been cancelled and the car

tax disc system has been cancelled as well. George Osborne was able to

sound optimistic. Yes, there is a long way to go but his strategy has

been big dated -- vindicated. Labour have launched this poster to greet

George Osborne's speech. There is a cost of living crisis even if they

will not admit it in this House. After reading it in years of

flat-lining, the slowest recovery for over 100 years. This is from a

Chancellor and the Prime Minister who said they were in it together

and then gave a huge tax cuts to millionaires! The Chancellor will

wait to see what people make of it. Others will analyse the small print.

The Chancellor confirmed that he is bringing forward increases in the

state pension age. People now in their 40s will have to wait until

they are 68 to be eligible for a pension. Dan Johnson has been

getting reaction in Cockermouth in Cumbria. The days of a state pension

at 65 are no more. Each generation lives longer and most people will

need to work longer as well. Most people in their 40s will not get

their pension until they are 68. Most people who are leaving school

now will have to wait until they are 70. This will just provide a longer

term framework for the pension system to reflect better what is

happening with life expectancy which is really an overdue change that the

government is getting round to making. While experts say change is

inevitable, shops in this town are less convinced. Me and my husband

have a running joke. Other time we get there there will not be a

pension! The state pension age is already due to increased to 66 for

men and women by 2020, and it will rise to 67 x 2028, ringing forward

these further increases is an attempt to keep it in line with an

ever-growing life expectancy. The government said people should spend

on average no more than a third of their adult life in retirement.

These increases make sure we have a decent pension to deal with it.

Let's get more from our Chief Economics Correspondent, Hugh Pym.

Very different to budget eight months ago. Yes, Sophie,

significantly better. I'm sure George Osborne was looking forward

to today after the economy improved a lot over the summer. Back in

March, we talked about a triple dip recession but that never happened.

The double dip didn't happen after we looks back at the figures, so

let's look at what we learn today about the growth outlook. In March,

at the time of the budget, the forecast for growth this year was

0.6%. That has now been revised. The biggest upwards revision of forecast

like this in 40 years, 1.4%. That's in line with independent forecasts.

Higher growth means tax revenues coming in, so rowing falls. The

forecast demand for this year was borrowing of ?120 billion. That is

now going to be revised downwards, so they expect the out term for

borrowing will be more like ?111 billion this year. Over the next

four years, ?70 billion less than they expected in March. By 2018 -

19, it seems a long way away, but that's the direction of these

forecasts, the Chancellor will be balancing the books, the -- but that

doesn't mean you have cleared the debt and is a big challenge ahead on

that. Thank you very much. Norman Smith is at Westminster for us now.

Mixed messages today. The economy is increasing, but for the younger

generation, they will have to work longer for a pension. Almost unique

statement because those of us who have covered a number of these tend

to wait for the Chancellor to produce a last-minute magic puff of

smoke and a great headline wrapping giveaway announcement. This year,

there was none. It tells us two truths, I think. One, there really

is no money around that, two, such a ploy would have jarred with the

Chancellor's core message this year. We have come a long way but there's

a long way to go, and that, despite the fact we have growth up,

employment up, but the prospect of a surplus in the next Parliament, Mr

Osborne said growth was no longer enough. He was going to turn around

the economy and plan a had to continue. We learned that there were

to be further curbs on benefits for youngsters not in training and

education. Capping welfare. Not a little bit more as territory. We are

really talking about a long haul still to come -- austerity. Mr

Osborne said we wouldn't have paid off the deficit until 2018 - 19.

That means we're only halfway to implementing plan A. Norman Smith,

in Westminster, thank you very much. There's much more on the Autumn

Statement on our website. Including analysis from our Business Editor,

Robert Peston. Our top story this lunchtime. A powerful storm batters

large parts of the UK as the Environment Agency warns thousands

of people to prepare for the worst tidal surge in 60 years. England

fight back on day one of the second Ashes Test in Adelaide. On BBC

London, the Princess Royal opens the Greenwich Equestrian Centre

celebrating the Olympic legacy. And restoration work starts on Battersea

Power Station. The celebrity chef, Nigella Lawson

has been accused of using her court appearances as a vehicle to explain

herself to the world's media. Today she told the court she was not proud

of taking drugs, but would rather be honest and ashamed than bullied with

lies. Nigella Lawson has been giving evidence for a second day at the

trial of her two former personal assistants. They both deny fraud.

Sangita Myska reports from Isleworth Crown Court. To shouts of her name,

Nigella Lawson arrived for a second day of probing questions about her

personal life and allegations that she was a drug addict. She said in

court she felt the world media had put her on trial. In fact, Ms Lawson

as a witness in preceding it -- proceedings against her personal

assistance, Elisabetta Grillo and Francesca Grillo. They are accused

of dishonesty spending over half ?1 million on a company credit card.

The former PAs claim the spending was authorised as long as they did

not disclose Ms Lawson's and drug addiction. Addressing those claims,

Ms Lawson Sergei was not an habitual user and only used cocaine on two

occasions. Defence counsel then claimed Ms

Lawson was giving evidence at a damage limitation exercise. She said

in response: although it's incredibly simple to

make... Nigella Lawson has netted millions from her television cookery

programmes. When she married Charles Saatchi, a multi-million pound art

collector, they were often photographed in public. Then, in the

summer, paparazzi photos were published showing Mr Saatchi with

his hand around Ms Lawson's vote. The couple went through a bitter

divorce shortly after. Those who were both acquitted of the murder,

but not yet, pending appeals. They will sense sentencing tomorrow and

the military court. The Work and Pensions Secretary has admitted that

the government's flagship and events programme may not be completed on.

Iain Duncan Smith had hoped to implement the universal screen in

2017. He says that transferring some people onto the new benefit may take

some time. Our political correspondent reports. It is the

government scheme to merge six benefits into one and try to make

sure it pays to work, and its creator, Iain Duncan Smith, has long

insisted that the drop will be done to a deadline. The plan has always

been to deliver this in a four-year schedule to 2017. That plan has

changed. We may take a little longer on those who are already in the

system and have no work requirement on them. They are a voluble group.

The BBC have been told that 700,000 claimants could be transferred after

2017, perhaps a 10th of the number who claim universal credit. Iain

Duncan Smith says the big picture it has not changed. Universal credit

will be the benefit by 2016 and the remains of the majority of the stock

will be there by 2017. This programme is dogged by concerns over

its computers and the way it is managed, and was an obvious target

for Labour. No mention of the universal credit in the statement!

Iain Duncan Smith is in the shambles! He saw the funny side,

just. Don't expect them to see item I over how much this will cost or

how long it takes. A court has heard that the Sun's former editor Rebekah

Brooks agreed to pay a member of the armed forces ?4,000 for a picture of

Prince William in a bikini. The jury at the trial of Rebekah Brooks at

the Old Bailey was told that she sanctioned the payment for the

photograph, which was taken at a party at Sandhurst, but the image

was never published. England have fought back in Adelaide, after an

ominous start to the second Ashes Test in Australia. The first day

finished with the hosts on 273-5. It could actually have been a lot

better for Alastair Cook's men, who dropped three catches in the final

session. Joe Wilson reports from Adelaide.

Nobody can walk on water in Adelaide, not even Don Bradman

managed it so fortunately the new footbridge opened just in time for

the test. A reconstruction very much the theme here. Cricket Australia's

twitter feed greeted Monty Panesar's return to the team like

this. Choice of tone and image which left to official policy. That

policy. David Warner hit boundaries until he found Michael Carberry --

apology. 121 runs. Everyone predicted batting would be

straightforward. And so it was, or so it seemed. James Anderson is

blessed with extraordinary reactions. Watson gone in a flash.

England brought in and Stokes and played two spin bowlers. 155-3. And

now the real Monty Panesar stood up. That innocent joy back. Steve Smith,

the wicket. He still not a feeder -- fielder in the Anderson class.

Michael Clarke could've departed early, as well. Joe Root, the

fielder. Bailey was passed 50. Better late than never. The final

image of the day, hard to watch for England. Michael Carberry, one of

England's's Westfield is. 273-5 at the close. On the second day,

Australia will reach 400 and aspire for that. You know what they say

about catches winning matches. Thousands of people are being told

to prepare to leave their homes on England's's east coast after

warnings the biggest tidal surge could hit tonight. Ben is in great

Yarmouth for us. Tell us the situation. Here in great Yarmouth,

the river beside me over the quayside wall, it could surge around

10:30pm tonight, so people are already using these sandbags. Five

of them around town. Filling up sandbags, provided by the council in

readiness for that. This area, just south of great Yarmouth, is

identified as being at risk. People are being urged to stay with

relatives, stay with friends if they can tonight. And possibly for the

next 36 hours. And for those who have nowhere to go to, emergency

evacuation centres are being set up at local schools and other centres,

as well. People here getting ready for the worst for the Bay have seen

what happened elsewhere and they know it is coming their way. Thank

you very much indeed. Humberside Police declared a incident and say

North East Lincolnshire should prepare for flooding from 5pm this

afternoon. Our correspondent Judith Moritz is in Saltney in North Wales.

The situation is also quite bad. Yes, extremely high wind here. This

is the River Dee, which is unusually high. It hasn't topped its banks. We

are just into North Flintshire. Early on we were in Chester, which

is OK, but there are flood warnings across this stretch. People have

been checking the river levels. We thought it had reached the high

water mark about half an hour ago, but it does look over to us, as

though it is still rising. I have spoken to a headteacher locally, who

says that her school remains open budgies talking to a network of

other headteachers in the area to make sure it is appropriate and

children can get home from school safely. And, as for householders

here, they say they did have fair warning overnight but of course

warnings can overcome early enough. A lot of anxious people here making

sure the river contains itself within the banks. Elsewhere in the

North West, the Trafford Centre has closed for the M6 is our problems at

Blackpool prom. A few examples. The Northwest experiencing high wind all

over the place but here in North Wales, I can't give you an exact

measure, but it feels to me, very windy. It's been like this for the

last few hours, and you can see the water behind me racing along the

River Dee. For now, it's OK but I think it's fair to say there are

people who are still feeling anxious about what may happen here. Judith,

thanks very much. You can keep up to date on the BBC News Channel. Right

now, let's have a look at the weather.

The warning from the Met office is very much in force for the rest of

the afternoon. The amber warning. Severe gales will continue but the

very worst of the gusts have passed Scotland now and this is the warning

zone. Within this zone, impacts expected in the afternoon either

from the falling trees, the disruption to transport, and to give

you the idea of the guests we have seen, low-level towns, around 93

mph. Edinburgh itself, 82 mph, and in Glasgow, the station had to be

temporarily evacuated because of glass shattering. The weather, as I

say, slowly improving across Scotland in terms of the wind but

still some snow showers to come. Blizzard is not just across the

hills. 70 mph gusts. That, game, means structural damage in a number

of areas. More disruption and, unfortunately, travel misery in the

rush hour. Across the South, a bit of a breeze but that's not the end

of it for the there will be increasing wind across the South but

nowhere near as bad as the North. Look at the wind direction, which is

crucial in the next 24 hours. It almost flowing parallel to the

coastline and then we have the storms surging so what exactly is

that? An area of low pressure across the North Sea which means the water

rises and we also have the gales pushing in. It's funnelling in and

we have the waves, which could mean three metres in some places of extra

water toppling over the sea defences, so it's mostly East Anglia

the Environment Agency is worried about. There are severe flood

warnings out which means danger to life and property is imminent. The

weather for tonight, frosty conditions across Scotland and

eastern parts of the UK for the not quite so chilly. Tomorrow,

unfortunately, still bits and pieces after the storm in the north,

flooding possibly, of course, across the south-east, and East Anglia.

Then we will see a bit of rain, sleet and snow heading towards

north-western Britain. The Arctic a settling in across Scotland with

temperatures hovering at zero. As far as the weekend goes, the weather

settles down. High pressure here. It does look as though rain and wind

will sweep into parts of Scotland so, the moment, gale force winds we

are closely watching here at the weather centre.

Thank you very much. Now a reminder of our top story. A powerful storm

batters large parts of the UK as the Environment Agency warns thousands

of people to prepare for the worst tidal surge in 60 years. That's all