25/05/2016 BBC News at Six

A blanket ban on the drugs comes into effect at midnight.

It will become a crime to produce, distribute or supply the drugs,

which cause more than 100 deaths a year.

I think he strongly believed because they were legal,

And I think that is what lots of people believe

and they think it's just something you can take when you go to a party

But will the ban simply drive the trade underground?

A top economic group says quitting the EU could mean two extra years

of austerity - Leave campaigners say its propaganda.

French police clear protesters as the fuel crisis deepens -

the government orders the use of national reserves.

The changing face of Marks and Spencer over the years -

the new boss says the company has neglected "Mrs M".

And coming up Sportsday later in the hour on BBC News.

It's not getting any easier for Andy Murray in Paris as he comes

through another five set match at the French Open.

Good evening and welcome to the BBC News at Six.

From midnight tonight it will be against the law to make or supply

so called "legal highs" - these are chemical substances that

mimic the effect of illegal drugs like cannabis and cocaine.

Hundreds of thousands of people have been buying them online

That will stop because the government says

But as Angus Crawford reports - not everyone is convinced

It is legal now, but banned at midnight.

This is the packing station where we take the raw chemicals.

This firm supplies legal highs which mimic the effects of cocaine.

Today, it's a thriving small business.

Tomorrow, an illegal supplier of dangerous drugs.

We get up to a turnover of about half a million.

It is something that started off in the third bedroom.

The man behind the business doesn't want to be identified.

He now plans to take it abroad and thinks the ban will do

I think it will just drive up deaths, just straightaway

by making them illegal, people are then going back

Crime rates are going to go up as prices of illegal

drugs are going to be a lot higher than ?15,

?20 a gram, you're going to be paying ?50, ?70 a gram.

Users out of control in a city centre.

One reason the government is banning what it calls an abhorrent trade.

Those who supply these drugs are not there to pick up the pieces.

Paramedics in Birmingham can get four call-outs a day.

Recently Cameron McVitie had to help a man who was having severe fits.

We entered the property to find the gentleman unconscious,

not in cardiac arrest actually, round his toilet.

All of a sudden he made a rapid recovery, jumped up,

Putting holes through his doors by kicking them.

Legal highs were linked to more than 100 deaths last year.

Including that of Brodie Harrison Meritt, who was just 28.

His mother said he took the drug with a friend

He died in the early hours of the morning on the Friday,

His body had just shut down completely.

I think he strongly believed that because they were legal,

And I think this is what lots of people believe.

And they think it is just something you take when you go to a party,

just get a little bit of a buzz off it, and it's not going to harm you.

Hundreds of thousands of young people regularly use

The question is, now they are no longer for sale in shops

like these on the high street, will the trade die out,

The reason these powders are so risky is that you don't

know how much to take, you don't know how potent it is,

you don't know how long before you get high.

Experts on drug policy believe the new law may have mixed results.

I think that is going to lead to a reduction in use,

particularly by young people, and I think that is going to be

But the group who are already using these drugs, who are the most

vulnerable and marginalised, the law will make no

They will remain vulnerable, there will be people stockpiling

and selling to that group, but the people selling won't be

It will be street dealers and criminal networks.

Suppliers are already shutting down, but will the ban solve

the problem or simply push it out of sight?

With me now is our special Correspondent Lucy Manning.

Just last week you were reported on what these drugs can do. We saw the

effect that they had in prison, causing more finance and health

problems, emergency services being called out on average every 20

minutes and that had an impact on ambulances in the community. Because

people outside could just buy them in shops it meant they could make

profits in prison. This has been a problem across towns and cities for

some time. It is in Rochdale just today warned about the consequences

of legal highs when nine men had to receive either hospital or ambulance

treatment after taking them a one man, his heart actually stop. The

question is will it work, what it will do is take them out of the

shops and that will drive prices up so it makes it harder to buy them.

But drug dealers could step in, police warned it could migrate to

what is called the dark web, that is hard to trace. And also Ireland had

a ban in 2010 but dads have since then gone up and ministers said it

is possibly not this silver bullet. But for those who think the drugs

are illegal and therefore said, that will now change. -- are illegal and

therefore safe. We've already had years of austerity

- now a leading economic research group says we could face an extra

two years of it if Britain votes The Institute of Fiscal Studies says

any financial gains from quitting would be wiped out

by slower economic growth. But Leave campaigners

say the IFS is biased Here's our Economics

Editor, Kamal Ahmed. Vital public services

could face further cuts, benefits could go the same way,

taxes could rise, austerity could be That was the gloomy outlook

published today by one of the UK's most respected economic

organisations, the IFS - its judgment on what could happen

if there is a vote to leave If the Government wanted to get

to budget-balance in 2019, as it says it does, that

would require another ?5 billion of public spending cuts,

?5 billion of Social Security cuts So what does the IFS suggest

could be the impact of Brexit? First there would be

a gain of ?8 billion, that's the amount of money the IFS

says that Government pays to the EU as part

of our membership deal, but the IFS says the possible

economic downturn following Brexit That economic downturn

could mean our national income or GDP being up to 3.5%

smaller by 2020. That would mean less tax income

for the government, which the IFS says could lead

to a public finance black hole of between

20- ?40 billion. The result, well it could be more

cuts, higher taxes or If the government

sticks to its plan to Unsurprisingly, the Prime Minister

welcomed the analysis of the IFS. The Institute for Fiscal Studies

is the gold standard in Independent, impartial economic forecasting and

commentary on our country. It is accepted by every

political party. Vote Leave claims its flying

the flag for Britain and the economy I think people are

getting a bit sick and tired of this overwhelming stuff

of how the economy is going to end in tears if we leave

the European Union. The truth is, of course,

economic forecasts are only going to spit out on the assumptions that

you put in and depending on the assumptions you put in,

you can get absolutely doomed Ukip's Nigel Farage argues leaving

the EU would be the great escape, and the IFS

might be a bit biased. Another taxpayer funded

and EU funded organisation, using our

money to tell us what we should That allegation is hotly

denied by the IFS and the economic expert took to social media

to defend the organisation. The BBC's Reality Check team has

been examining the claims - from both sides of the referendum

debate - you can find full analysis The new boss of Marks and Spencer

says he wants to put the high street giant's 'loyal' army of older female

shoppers back at the heart Steve Rowe - who took over as chief

executive last month - calls the women Mrs M and he says

they've been a bit neglected. Shares in the company

dipped today as he warned Twiggy in the '60s,

flares in the '70s. This business has been losing

shoppers for more than four years. She can be a working mother, she can

be just about to approach retirement. But it is she

appreciates the good things in life, she is looking for great garments

that fit and flatter. Would Mrs M wear something like this? This is

going to be really good for Mrs M It is of a good cut, really of the

moment. We love, cherish and celebrate Mrs M and I commit to

making sure we are listing to her, the thing to what she wants and

making sure that we deliver that. The white garments, the right price

at the right time. Here are some of the customers that he wants to win

back. They made this video in 2014, singing a song of frustration.

# It is our M They feel just as strongly today. They seem to have

lost their way in what they are producing for the older woman. I do

not think of myself as old as I like fashion. I never find anything for

me. I end up with what I feel is more boring and safe. Steve Rowe,

who worked his way up from the shop floor, is now taking a new approach,

less high-fashion, or wearable styles and at better prices. And he

is listening. Let's see what these customers have got to say. Where is

the direction coming from, I think it is confusing for ladies to find

what we are looking for. We want to be loyal M customers. This lady is

typical of Mrs M You can hear she cares passionately about the brand,

she wants us to do well and we have been letting her down. Is he on the

right track with Mrs M? I think it simplifies the issue, what we're

looking at now is a ?1 billion retail industry and everyone wants a

slice of it. A woman can buy anything from any high street in the

world thanks to online. The turnaround is going to dent profits

but the new boss believes it is the right thing to do to secure the

long-term success of Marks Spencer 's.

France has begun using its fuel reserves to bolster supplies

to petrol stations starting to run dry after nation-wide strikes.

Industrial action and blockades over controversial employment reforms

are disrupting operations at fuel depots and six of the country's

This begins to look like it is getting serious. I think it is

starting to. France has begun to tap into its emergency oil reserves to

try to keep the pumps running. They're having tough time keeping up

with the increase in demand. The transport minister told French

television this morning he thought 40% of the petrol stations around

the Paris region were struggling to stay open. And everyday those

strikes and protests are spreading, to the railways, the nuclear power

plants, and ports where the oil imports come in. The country has

three months or more of oil reserves but with disruption like this

growing, the European Championships starting in two weeks' time, the

political pressures begin to bite well before that. Thank you.

Calling time on legal highs - a blanket ban on drugs that mimic

the effects of cocaine and cannabis comes into effect at midnight.

The hidden history of the luxury liner -

the Queen Mary brought thousands to safety in the Second World War.

Coming up in Sportsday on BBC News at 6.30 we will have the latest

from Roland Garros, as the last British woman at the French Open -

Heather Watson - goes out in the second round.

Have you made up your mind about which way you're going to vote

Recent polling suggests as many as a quarter of us may

not have decided yet - and both sides are campaigning hard

Our Home Editor, Mark Easton, has been on the trail

of the undecideds in Worcestershire and joins us now.

Have you worked out what will sway these people? Facts, facts, that is

what they say. Let me give you a couple of facts. King John, he of

the Magna Carta is buried here behind me. Across the street, the

scene of a parliamentarian victory in the Civil War, which is why the

tourist brochures like to describe Worcestershire as the home of

British democracy. When it comes to the referendum, this is a country

deeply divided. All its MPs are conservative but they can't agree on

which way to vote so I've been exploring what I call the agony of

the undecideds. The village of Broadway epitomises

what JB Priestley called Conservative, with large "C"

and small, it is an ancient place with a polished patina

of self-assurance and conviction. But when it comes to the EU

referendum, resident Tories like Peter Redding find

themselves undecided. His daily newspaper and his party,

of course, seem equally unclear. Outside the Broadway Hotel I met

Peter and his wife Joan, among the 20% of Conservative voters

who say they still haven't made There are people on either side

of the Yes and the No Yet suddenly there are antagonistic

views and who do you believe, I think my default position

is probably to go out. But my head tells me perhaps

I should stay in. But I want to see the argument

persuade me to stay in. As Peter said, it's almost a head

and heart situation. You know, I'm British,

I'm proud of being British, I can give you an example,

if I go to our largest Tesco's here, there are two long aisles

full of Polish food. I believe that countries will always

evolve, but at the moment Why can't we have some economists do

a for and against It is a refrain you hear

over and over again. They want the arguments

clearly set out. And that is probably why politicians

are reporting large numbers turning up at village and Town Hall meetings

and referendum debates, far more In the Cap and Gown in central

Worcester, the saloon bar is packed There are supporters from both

camps, and the undecideds here too. I think what is difficult is dealing

with all the nonsense. And all the facts, "facts",

that are coming out on both sides, and I find I can believe

any of them. I'm open-minded to change

if I get a sensible argument and so far, I have not seen

a logical, sensible argument. No, none of us have voted yet,

we still can all be swayed in either I think we are definitely better

where we are, in the EU. We from the Get Out campaign did not

wish to go into the single market. Normally in politics,

people stick to well But the EU debate has left many

feeling they're lost in the jungle. In favour of the motion,

that being in the EU On the night, Remain

narrowly won the debate. I've seen a lot of talking heads

and I'd like to look at raw data. People say one thing,

people say another thing, and you never know who's telling

the truth or who is right. Voters are having to

do their own homework. Consider the arguments,

test the claims. Whatever the result,

the process has at least been The Italian navy says it has rescued

500 migrants after their vessel It is the latest example

of the dangers faced by migrants Thousands have ended up

in a camp in Calais. One of them - a 16-year-old

unaccompanied minor who fled Syria through Turkey earlier this year -

has described his experiences in pictures which the BBC

has animated. That was one boy's story,

told in his own words, of the journey he took

across Europe, to get A brief look at some of the day's

other other news stories. A bus carrying school children had

a lucky escape when a bridge in Worcestershire collapsed

in front of them. The bus driver was taking pupils

home as he crossed Eastham Bridge, and saw the road give way

ahead of him. He managed to back up moments

before it crumbled. The amount of alcohol drunk

in Scotland is rising again Sales in 2015 were 20% higher

in Scotland than they were The news has re-ignited the debate

about whether a minimum price for alcohol should be introduced -

that legislation is still held up It was once the byword for luxurious

Transatlantic travel in the 30s... This week marks the the 80th

anniversary of the maiden Now a museum and hotel

in California, researchers have since discovered

a rather different past. It's emerged that thousands of Jews

fleeing Germany and Austria used Duncan Kennedy is in Southampton

with more on this remarkable story. Duncan.

This is the exact spot here in Southampton where that maiden voyage

began exactly 80 years ago this week. This quayside was packed with

people who came to give her a sent off, but nobody knew then and it has

only just become clear now that this luxury liner would go on to help

save the lives of thousands of Jewish people from the Nazis.

First for speed and the last word in luxury.

The Queen Mary transformed transatlantic sailing.

But her maiden voyage coincided with the rise of the Nazis.

And a scramble among Jews to get out.

We were hit all the time by these gangsters, I call them.

For many Jews like Ludwig Katzenstein,

the Queen Mary would become their unexpected saviour.

He fled Germany in 1938 with his two older brothers.

In a perilous journey with their parents,

they were arrested by the Gestapo and then had

to telegraph the Queen Mary to ask the captain to wait.

I don't have the words in the dictionary to praise him.

That this man was so good and waited for us those six hours,

a crucial point, that is why I'm able to sit here and make this film.

That captain was Robert Irving from Dumfriesshire.

Who broke every rule to save Ludwig's family.

Today Captain Irving's relatives say he was a man of compassion.

It was clearly a personal decision, you know.

He would not have been instructed to do that.

And it shows a lot of, in my view, considerable humanity.

New research now shows thousands of Jews were saved

They included Robert Tannenbaum, seen here during his actual escape,

One life abandoned, but safety ahead.

This is me with my sunglasses, clearly the weather

And to this day, Robert remains grateful.

The bottom line is the Queen Mary saved me and my mum

The Queen Mary left Southampton for the last time in 1967

and was brought here to Long Beach, California, to become

Her role in helping Jews escape the Nazis lost in history.

But now on this, the 80th anniversary of her maiden voyage,

this remarkable story can finally be told.

These are some of the generations of Jews given life

after their families made it out on the Queen Mary.

They survived, whilst millions more did not escape,

A sinkhole near one of the world's most famous bridges,

the Ponte Vecchio in Florence, has swallowed up several cars along

This seven metre-deep hole opened up in the early hours of this morning,

causing two neighbouring apartment buildings to be evacuated.

Firefighters have blamed a rotting mains water pipe.

What a difference a day makes. Today most of us have had great, cloudy

skies like this and it has been cold as well. It wasn't all doom and

gloom, there were some blue skies and sunshine. This is where we had

some of the highest temperatures around 17 degrees, but under the

cloud it struggled at around ten or so. Some outbreaks of rain, mostly

across northern England. It will be heavy for a while in the north-east

of England. That rain continues into the night, spilling into southern

Scotland and Northern Ireland. It will be accompanied by lots of low

cloud so some hill fog is likely. Breaks in the north-west and toward

the south coast and it will be quite chilly, but these areas seeing some

sunshine. A better day than today, this sunshine will spill northwards

into Wales, the Midlands. Across northern England, Northern Ireland

and southern Scotland it will stay cloudy damp. The northern Scotland,

some sunshine and shelter from the wind. 16 degrees or so. Cooler in

Northern Ireland, southern Scotland not as warm as today in Glasgow.

Some spots of rain still into the afternoon for Northern England,

along with a lot of cloud. Warmer than today, 20-21 likely. A lot of

showers around the Mcorridor. On Friday some cloud for eastern

Scotland and some rain in central and southern Scotland. Most of the

rain further south with some heavy on Andre showers developing in Wales

and the south-west. A warmer day for many of us, temperatures 20-21 at

best. Into the weekend, holiday weekend, some sunshine. We will get

some sunshine that there will be showers, heavy and Bunbury in the

south and a cooler wind picking up by Bank Holiday Monday. Thank you.