0:00:06 > 0:00:08Tonight at Ten.
0:00:08 > 0:00:10The bosses of Carillion accused of being 'asleep at the wheel'
0:00:10 > 0:00:15as the company headed towards collapse.
0:00:15 > 0:00:18The construction giant - which employed 40,000 worldwide -
0:00:18 > 0:00:20went into liquidation last month with huge debts and a massive
0:00:20 > 0:00:22pension deficit.
0:00:22 > 0:00:24The former executives appeared before a parliamentary committee
0:00:24 > 0:00:26where they were reprimanded for refusing to hand
0:00:26 > 0:00:34back their bonuses.
0:00:35 > 0:00:39Large numbers of people will not get paid for their contracts and other
0:00:39 > 0:00:46people have lost their jobs. And you are still all right. All of you.
0:00:46 > 0:00:48Aren't you?
0:00:48 > 0:00:50And the collapse of Carillion means the new hospital
0:00:50 > 0:00:52in Liverpool is unlikely to be completed this year.
0:00:52 > 0:00:56Also tonight.
0:00:56 > 0:00:58Stock markets have experienced further volatility -
0:00:58 > 0:01:06after dramatic moves in global share prices in the past 24 hours.
0:01:06 > 0:01:08Reports in South Africa that President Zuma -
0:01:08 > 0:01:11who's been accused of corruption - is now preparing to stand down.
0:01:11 > 0:01:13How some of England's most deprived areas suffer some
0:01:13 > 0:01:18of the biggest cuts in spending on children's services.
0:01:18 > 0:01:21Hundreds of women gather at Westminster to celebrate
0:01:21 > 0:01:24the events of a century ago - when millions were given
0:01:24 > 0:01:27the right to vote.
0:01:27 > 0:01:29And the world's most powerful rocket has been launched tonight
0:01:29 > 0:01:32from Kennedy Space Center - experts say it could
0:01:32 > 0:01:36transform space exploration.
0:01:36 > 0:01:38Coming up on Sportsday on BBC News.
0:01:38 > 0:01:40Could Swansea's Carlos Carvalhal guide his side past Notts County in
0:01:40 > 0:01:43tonight's fourth round replay to set up a tie against his former club
0:01:43 > 0:01:51Sheffield Wednesday?
0:02:07 > 0:02:08Good evening.
0:02:08 > 0:02:10For the first time former executives of Carillion
0:02:10 > 0:02:12have spoken publicly about the collapse of
0:02:12 > 0:02:14the construction firm - which went into liquidation last
0:02:14 > 0:02:19month with debts of one and a half billion pounds.
0:02:19 > 0:02:23The senior figures appeared before a parliamentary committee -
0:02:23 > 0:02:25which accused them of being 'delusional' - and of falling
0:02:25 > 0:02:26'asleep at the wheel'.
0:02:26 > 0:02:28The former executives rejected suggestions that they should
0:02:28 > 0:02:29hand back their bonuses.
0:02:29 > 0:02:31Carillion was responsible for building and maintaining
0:02:31 > 0:02:36schools, hospitals and prisons and employed more than 40,000
0:02:36 > 0:02:42people worldwide, as our business editor Simon Jack reports.
0:02:42 > 0:02:45Summoned to Westminster,
0:02:45 > 0:02:47Carillion's top brass.
0:02:47 > 0:02:49Philip Green was chairman of the board when the company collapsed.
0:02:49 > 0:02:54And he started with an apology.
0:02:54 > 0:02:57I would say I'm deeply sorry for the impact that the collapse
0:02:57 > 0:03:00of the company had on employees, pensioners, customers,
0:03:00 > 0:03:02suppliers and all stakeholders.
0:03:02 > 0:03:05So what went wrong?
0:03:05 > 0:03:08Zafar Khan was finance director.
0:03:08 > 0:03:11He said hundreds of millions was owed by Middle East customers,
0:03:11 > 0:03:16projects hit trouble, and then new business dried up.
0:03:16 > 0:03:18We had some contracts that we have preferred bidders for,
0:03:18 > 0:03:21but they continued to drift out to the right because of the Brexit
0:03:21 > 0:03:24related uncertainty.
0:03:24 > 0:03:27And that was amplified by the general elections.
0:03:27 > 0:03:32So the board knew that the company was in trouble in May of last year.
0:03:32 > 0:03:35Keith Cochrane eventually stepped in as CEO and was a senior director
0:03:35 > 0:03:40when the board approved a £50 million dividend in June.
0:03:40 > 0:03:44If we had suspended dividend and not paid that 50 million payment
0:03:44 > 0:03:47that was made in 2017, would that have made a difference?
0:03:47 > 0:03:51Possibly.
0:03:51 > 0:03:54I don't think given all the moving parts, I don't think you could say
0:03:54 > 0:03:57definitively it would have changed the outlook.
0:03:57 > 0:04:00Here in King's Cross there are a few old signs still up.
0:04:00 > 0:04:03Carillion has been replaced on this project.
0:04:03 > 0:04:07Today we saw a mixture of regret, of shock and a bit of anger at how
0:04:07 > 0:04:12a company passed fit in its own annual statement last
0:04:12 > 0:04:14March suffered a crippling profit warning four months
0:04:14 > 0:04:16later and six months after that, was liquidated.
0:04:16 > 0:04:19One thing everyone agrees on is the company had far too much
0:04:19 > 0:04:22debt, so when nasty surprises came along the company was in no fit
0:04:22 > 0:04:23state to withstand them.
0:04:23 > 0:04:25Other projects are facing major delays.
0:04:25 > 0:04:32The Royal Liverpool Hospital was originally due to open this month.
0:04:32 > 0:04:34Structural problems, cost overruns and now sub
0:04:34 > 0:04:36contractor financial hardship means that this hospital
0:04:36 > 0:04:44may not be ready for patients before the end of next year.
0:04:45 > 0:04:46Were the bosses rewarded for these failures?
0:04:46 > 0:04:48Former chief executive Richard Howson was paid
0:04:48 > 0:04:50£1.5 million in salary, perks and bonuses in 2016.
0:04:50 > 0:04:53Do you feel comfortable with the level of bonus you received
0:04:53 > 0:04:57in the year before the company that you ran collapsed?
0:04:57 > 0:05:05Yes, I do, for the attributes that I earned it for.
0:05:09 > 0:05:12Half of that bonus is deferred and half of it was paid in cash.
0:05:12 > 0:05:15There will be heated moments to come in this postmortem.
0:05:15 > 0:05:16And there will be awkward ones.
0:05:16 > 0:05:19Large numbers of people are not going to get paid
0:05:19 > 0:05:20for their contracts.
0:05:20 > 0:05:21Other people have lost their jobs.
0:05:21 > 0:05:23And you are still all right.
0:05:23 > 0:05:24All of you.
0:05:24 > 0:05:25Aren't you?
0:05:25 > 0:05:32Simon Jack, BBC News.
0:05:32 > 0:05:35Stock markets in Asia, Europe and the United States have
0:05:35 > 0:05:37seen further volatility after dramatic falls in global share
0:05:37 > 0:05:40prices yesterday and overnight.
0:05:40 > 0:05:42Investors have been concerned about the prospect of interest
0:05:42 > 0:05:45rates rising in the US more quickly than expected,
0:05:45 > 0:05:47which would push up the cost of borrowing
0:05:47 > 0:05:49for companies and consumers.
0:05:49 > 0:05:52Our economics editor Kamal Ahmed looks at the latest activity
0:05:52 > 0:05:57and examines the importance of what's happening.
0:05:57 > 0:05:59The opening bell in New York today.
0:05:59 > 0:06:01Optimistic as ever.
0:06:01 > 0:06:03It is America.
0:06:03 > 0:06:09But on trading floors around the world, Frankfurt, Tokyo,
0:06:09 > 0:06:12London, worry as stock markets suffered their third day of falls.
0:06:12 > 0:06:15After the calm, the record highs, this is the correction.
0:06:15 > 0:06:18We still see this as a correction, not as a profound change
0:06:18 > 0:06:21in the fundamentals which would mean that potentially we are entering
0:06:21 > 0:06:23a more difficult environment.
0:06:23 > 0:06:27But nevertheless we have to understand that we are at a juncture
0:06:27 > 0:06:30in the global economy and in markets that might imply that the way
0:06:30 > 0:06:33forward is a lot more difficult and trickier than it was.
0:06:33 > 0:06:38The dramatic falls follow a remarkable upward run.
0:06:38 > 0:06:41The major American market, the Dow, and in the UK, the FTSE 100,
0:06:41 > 0:06:45have been rising for a decade before the sell-off began.
0:06:45 > 0:06:51Over the last three days the Dow has fallen by 4.9%.
0:06:51 > 0:06:54And the FTSE 100 has also fallen, by 4.7%.
0:06:54 > 0:06:56This has been an era of money printing.
0:06:56 > 0:06:59Central banks that have kept interest rates at record lows
0:06:59 > 0:07:02and pumped in trillions of pounds of economic stimulus.
0:07:02 > 0:07:06The fear in the markets now is that inflation is returning
0:07:06 > 0:07:08because of strong global growth, interest rates will rise,
0:07:08 > 0:07:14and the stimulus taps will be turned off.
0:07:14 > 0:07:16Events in the City, events on Wall Street,
0:07:16 > 0:07:18can seem a long way away from the high street.
0:07:18 > 0:07:20But the health of the stock markets does matter.
0:07:20 > 0:07:23It matters of course if you own shares, it matters
0:07:23 > 0:07:25if you have a pension fund.
0:07:25 > 0:07:28Often invested in stock markets.
0:07:28 > 0:07:30It matters if you have savings, often invested in stock markets.
0:07:30 > 0:07:33When stock markets go down, the negative effects can be felt
0:07:33 > 0:07:37by many millions of people.
0:07:37 > 0:07:40America led the rise and has been leading the dip.
0:07:40 > 0:07:43And that is a bit tricky for this man.
0:07:43 > 0:07:48The stock market has smashed one record after another.
0:07:48 > 0:07:50We have hit, I guess, close to 60 records.
0:07:50 > 0:07:54Our stock market has reached an all-time high today.
0:07:54 > 0:07:58Will the president have to eat a little humble pie?
0:07:58 > 0:08:00The stock market is up significantly, over 30%
0:08:00 > 0:08:04since President Trump was elected.
0:08:04 > 0:08:06We're monitoring the stock markets, they are functioning very well,
0:08:06 > 0:08:09and we continue to believe in the long-term impact
0:08:09 > 0:08:13of the stock market.
0:08:13 > 0:08:15This is not yet a market crisis.
0:08:15 > 0:08:17The economic fundamentals are strong, particularly
0:08:17 > 0:08:20in Trump's America.
0:08:20 > 0:08:22The US market staged a recovery today, and not many believe
0:08:22 > 0:08:24a full crash is imminent.
0:08:24 > 0:08:27But sentiment, emotion,
0:08:27 > 0:08:30drives markets as much as facts and sentiment is hard to predict.
0:08:30 > 0:08:33Kamal Ahmed, BBC News.
0:08:33 > 0:08:41We can talk to our correspondent Yogita Limaye in New York.
0:08:42 > 0:08:51Is there any sign of this volatility going away?I was on the floor of
0:08:51 > 0:08:54the New York stock exchange today when the opening bell rang and after
0:08:54 > 0:08:59that the Dow Jones industrial average plunged by 500 points. Now
0:08:59 > 0:09:04it is up more than 500 points at close sell a massive swing, more
0:09:04 > 0:09:08than 1000 points today. So the market seems to change direction
0:09:08 > 0:09:12about bit but the volatility has not gone away. I spoke to traders on the
0:09:12 > 0:09:18floor of the stock market today and they expect markets will remain
0:09:18 > 0:09:26choppy at least until the end of the week. That potentially could have a
0:09:26 > 0:09:29effect on markets around the world and they will be watching what is
0:09:29 > 0:09:33happening here. Of course it has been a good day compared yesterday,
0:09:33 > 0:09:36and that is evidence of what analysts had been saying, there is
0:09:36 > 0:09:38nothing to panic about just yet.The fundamentals of the US economy
0:09:38 > 0:09:41remains strong. Thank you very much.
0:09:41 > 0:09:44Within the past couple of hours it's been reported in South Africa
0:09:44 > 0:09:48that President Zuma is preparing to stand down - as soon as a list
0:09:48 > 0:09:50of conditions has been finalised.
0:09:50 > 0:09:53He held a meeting earlier with Cyril Ramaphosa
0:09:53 > 0:10:00deputy president and leader of the ruling party the ANC.
0:10:00 > 0:10:02Mr Zuma has been accused of being unfit to govern,
0:10:02 > 0:10:04following a wave of corruption allegations.
0:10:04 > 0:10:09Our Africa editor Fergal Keane is in Cape Town.
0:10:09 > 0:10:16What is your reading of these events today?It has been an extraordinary
0:10:16 > 0:10:20day. First the postponement for the first time in the history of the
0:10:20 > 0:10:24Democratic South Africa of a state of the nation address by President.
0:10:24 > 0:10:30That's because his own party the African National Congress threatened
0:10:30 > 0:10:34to recall him from the presidency vote called an emergency meeting of
0:10:34 > 0:10:38the National executive committee. We know tonight Jacob Zuma has met with
0:10:38 > 0:10:42his would-be political nemesis the new leader of the ANC, Cyril
0:10:42 > 0:10:51Ramaphosa in what has been described Prodl and constructive talks. I take
0:10:51 > 0:10:55that to be ANC speak for a deal being in the making. We're told
0:10:55 > 0:10:58there are a set of preconditions that Jacob Zuma wants to see filled
0:10:58 > 0:11:01before he would step down. That is where it gets tricky, the thing that
0:11:01 > 0:11:03has bothered him the most is the possibility of facing trial on
0:11:03 > 0:11:08corruption charges. It is not within the gift of the ANC or of Cyril
0:11:08 > 0:11:13Ramaphosa to granting immunity. So what could they be talking about,
0:11:13 > 0:11:17possibly financial support in his legal battles and continuing support
0:11:17 > 0:11:28for him when he leaves the
0:11:32 > 0:11:34presidency. It may simply be the case that Jacob Zuma has realised
0:11:34 > 0:11:38that he has lost the support of his party, his people and is now trying
0:11:38 > 0:11:40to negotiate as dignified and exit as he possibly can. We will know
0:11:40 > 0:11:40very soon.
0:11:40 > 0:11:42The extent of the spending cuts in England
0:11:42 > 0:11:44affecting council services for vulnerable children and families
0:11:44 > 0:11:46has been highlighted in research seen by the BBC.
0:11:46 > 0:11:48Overall spending on children's services has fallen by 16
0:11:48 > 0:11:50per cent since 2010 and local authorities with
0:11:50 > 0:11:53the highest levels of deprivation have seen cuts of nearly
0:11:53 > 0:11:5630 per cent.
0:11:56 > 0:11:58Ministers insist that extra money has been made available to councils.
0:11:58 > 0:12:05Our social affairs correspondent Alison Holt has the story.
0:12:05 > 0:12:08In a cramped room in one of Birmingham's most deprived areas,
0:12:08 > 0:12:11volunteers run a cook and eat session for local families.
0:12:11 > 0:12:14Many face money or other worries.
0:12:14 > 0:12:17Here mums find counselling, childcare and friends.
0:12:17 > 0:12:20They've asked not to be identified.
0:12:20 > 0:12:23That help is vital for mental health and, obviously,
0:12:23 > 0:12:26having the mothers emotionally stable helps the children, and happy
0:12:26 > 0:12:31parents, is happy children.
0:12:31 > 0:12:34But today's research shows as council spending on children's
0:12:34 > 0:12:35services has been cut, it's become increasingly hard
0:12:35 > 0:12:43to get early intervention and family support like this.
0:12:44 > 0:12:46A charity runs this place, they said neglect cases
0:12:46 > 0:12:47are increasing massively.
0:12:47 > 0:12:51What we see is where that early help could have happened and their mum
0:12:51 > 0:12:54was able to get on her feet, and keep those children and then
0:12:54 > 0:12:56go on to actually be a very effective parent.
0:12:56 > 0:13:00We're now seeing that that is just left and left until a crisis emerges
0:13:00 > 0:13:02and then you're at the very top end of crisis, that involves
0:13:02 > 0:13:06removal of children.
0:13:06 > 0:13:08And this mother, who now looks after a relative's children
0:13:08 > 0:13:11who would otherwise be in care, told me she believes the family
0:13:11 > 0:13:13didn't get enough early support.
0:13:13 > 0:13:16It would have made a lot of difference.
0:13:16 > 0:13:24It maybe would have helped probably keep the family together and not
0:13:24 > 0:13:26have it broken up the way that it is.
0:13:26 > 0:13:29In Birmingham there are some of the most deprived
0:13:29 > 0:13:31areas in the country and, according to today's research,
0:13:31 > 0:13:33it's councils which are dealing with high levels of poverty
0:13:33 > 0:13:36and of need which have seen some of the greatest cuts to their
0:13:36 > 0:13:38children's services budgets.
0:13:38 > 0:13:42At the same time, the demands keep increasing.
0:13:42 > 0:13:45Councils in England say 10 years ago they started 200 child protection
0:13:45 > 0:13:47investigations each day.
0:13:47 > 0:13:51Now, they begin 500 a day.
0:13:51 > 0:13:54This new research shows vital child protection in children in care
0:13:54 > 0:13:57services have been largely shielded from cuts, but in the most
0:13:57 > 0:13:59deprived areas there's been a 54% fall in spending
0:13:59 > 0:14:06on helping families early.
0:14:06 > 0:14:10So this is the room that was used for stay and play.
0:14:10 > 0:14:11That has meant the closure of children's centres,
0:14:11 > 0:14:13like this one in Birmingham.
0:14:13 > 0:14:15Here they say they've lost staff who really knew
0:14:15 > 0:14:18what was going on locally.
0:14:18 > 0:14:21The same issues are still there.
0:14:21 > 0:14:24The community, as all communities in super deprived areas,
0:14:24 > 0:14:28still need that support.
0:14:28 > 0:14:30But councils maintain the squeeze on their funding from government
0:14:30 > 0:14:33leaves them with no choice.
0:14:33 > 0:14:40Many councils now face a tipping point where they know they're having
0:14:40 > 0:14:43to take away the services that keep people out of the most expensive
0:14:43 > 0:14:44child protection services.
0:14:44 > 0:14:47However, they've simply got no choice because they've got to keep
0:14:47 > 0:14:49funding the child protection work and everything else therefore has
0:14:49 > 0:14:52to go in order to pay for it.
0:14:52 > 0:14:54The Children's Minister declined to do an interview,
0:14:54 > 0:14:57but the Education Department says extra money has been made
0:14:57 > 0:14:59available to councils.
0:14:59 > 0:15:02It adds, "We want every child, no matter where they live,
0:15:02 > 0:15:03to receive high-quality care and support."
0:15:03 > 0:15:06But with no letup in demand for children's services,
0:15:06 > 0:15:07the arguments over funding will get tougher.
0:15:07 > 0:15:15Alison Holt, BBC News, Birmingham.
0:15:16 > 0:15:22A brief look at some of the day's other news stories.
0:15:22 > 0:15:25A man has been jailed for a minimum of 26 years for murdering his former
0:15:25 > 0:15:29girlfriend in a car park in Kent.
0:15:29 > 0:15:31The judge told Joshua Stimpson he had committed a "cruel,
0:15:31 > 0:15:32calculated and wicked act."
0:15:32 > 0:15:35Stimpson stalked Molly McLaren before stabbing her over
0:15:35 > 0:15:3970 times last June.
0:15:39 > 0:15:47Rescuers in Taiwan are searching for people trapped in a 10-storey
0:15:49 > 0:15:52hotel after a strong earthquake in the east of the island.
0:15:52 > 0:15:54The building has been left tilting perilously
0:15:54 > 0:15:55and there've been aftershocks.
0:15:55 > 0:15:57Two people have been killed and nearly 200 injured.
0:15:57 > 0:16:00A man who alleged he was the victim of a child abuse ring involving high
0:16:00 > 0:16:02profile individuals is himself facing multiple charges
0:16:02 > 0:16:06relating to the possession of indecent images of children.
0:16:06 > 0:16:10Allegations of paedophilia and homicide made by the man
0:16:10 > 0:16:13known as "Nick" triggered the Metropolitan Police
0:16:13 > 0:16:14investigation known as Operation Midland.
0:16:14 > 0:16:16Our home affairs correspondent, Daniel Sandford,
0:16:16 > 0:16:19is at Scotland Yard.
0:16:19 > 0:16:26Tell us what we can say tonight then, Daniel?Well, Huw, the man is
0:16:26 > 0:16:29called Nick for legal reasons. He made a series of extraordinary
0:16:29 > 0:16:33allegations that he had been both sexually abused and tortured by
0:16:33 > 0:16:36senior politicians and senior members of the armed forces in the
0:16:36 > 0:16:411970s and 1980s and that even witnessed other boys being murdered.
0:16:41 > 0:16:45Scotland Yard detectives set up what became known as Operation Midland to
0:16:45 > 0:16:48investigate Nick's allegations, allegations that they controversial
0:16:48 > 0:16:55described as both "credible and true." Detectives raided Field
0:16:55 > 0:17:00Marshal Lord Bramel's home, Lord Britain and Harvey Proctor before
0:17:00 > 0:17:04dropping the whole investigation, clearing the men completely,
0:17:04 > 0:17:07apologising and paying compensation to some of those who had been
0:17:07 > 0:17:12accused in the investigation costing £2.5 million. We can now reveal that
0:17:12 > 0:17:17Nick, the man who made all thoses allegations was him him is charged
0:17:17 > 0:17:20last year with several offences of possession of images of child sexual
0:17:20 > 0:17:24abuse and that some of those offences are alleged to have taken
0:17:24 > 0:17:28place during the same period that he was talking to Operation Midland
0:17:28 > 0:17:32detectives. As we've previously reported, he's also being
0:17:32 > 0:17:35investigated for perverting the course of justice and there's a
0:17:35 > 0:17:38filed with the Crown Prosecution Service who are trying to decide
0:17:38 > 0:17:42whether he should be charged in relation to that. Huw.Daniel,
0:17:42 > 0:17:46thanks very much for the update there at Scotland Yard. Daniel
0:17:46 > 0:17:50Sandford, our Home Affairs Correspondent.
0:17:52 > 0:17:55Theresa May has called for more women to enter politics in a speech
0:17:55 > 0:17:57in Parliament this evening to mark the centenary of women's suffrage.
0:17:57 > 0:18:00Addressing an audience of female parliamentarians
0:18:00 > 0:18:01and equality campaigners, she said the suffragettes
0:18:01 > 0:18:03deserved greater recognition for their struggle 100 years ago.
0:18:03 > 0:18:10Our political correspondent, Vicki Young, was at tonight's event.
0:18:10 > 0:18:15The oldest part of the Palace of Westminster, tonight reserved
0:18:15 > 0:18:18for hundreds of female parliamentarians, past and present.
0:18:18 > 0:18:22Theresa May said this was the living legacy of the suffrage movement.
0:18:22 > 0:18:25Every one of us is here today because the of the heroic,
0:18:25 > 0:18:30tireless struggle of those who came before us.
0:18:30 > 0:18:33Women who led a campaign, not just for themselves or their families,
0:18:33 > 0:18:39but for generations as yet unborn.
0:18:39 > 0:18:42Disrupting Parliament was a key tactic for suffragettes,
0:18:42 > 0:18:43some invaded the Commons chamber, others chained
0:18:43 > 0:18:44themselves to statues.
0:18:44 > 0:18:47ARCHIVE:We have waited too long for political justice,
0:18:47 > 0:18:50we refuse to wait any longer.
0:18:50 > 0:18:54Over time, the protests became more aggressive.
0:18:54 > 0:18:58So they would come in here, wait to see their MPs and then
0:18:58 > 0:19:01they would jump on the seats and shout, "Votes for women.
0:19:01 > 0:19:04We are not slaves."
0:19:04 > 0:19:07It got so bad, at the end of 1906/1907, on Valentine's Day
0:19:07 > 0:19:10in 1907, they decided they would ban women from Central Lobby.
0:19:10 > 0:19:12So it's particularly nice that we're standing here today.
0:19:12 > 0:19:17And finally, after years of struggle, the Edwardian radicals
0:19:17 > 0:19:21radicals got their way, and here it is, the Act
0:19:21 > 0:19:24of Parliament that extended the right to vote to all men over 21
0:19:24 > 0:19:26and to women for the first time.
0:19:26 > 0:19:29The 6th February 1918, one of the most significant mile
0:19:29 > 0:19:31stones in British democratic history, and a date that
0:19:31 > 0:19:35changed this place forever.
0:19:35 > 0:19:38Nancy Astor was the first woman to take her seat in the Commons.
0:19:38 > 0:19:41A few others joined her in coming electionles, but progress was slow.
0:19:41 > 0:19:43The rise of Margaret Thatcher meant Britain got its first female
0:19:43 > 0:19:46Prime Minister in 1979, but she promoted just one other
0:19:46 > 0:19:50woman to her Cabinet.
0:19:50 > 0:19:53It wasn't until 1997 that the face of Parliament really changed,
0:19:53 > 0:19:58when 101 women joined Tony Blair after his landslide victory.
0:19:58 > 0:20:01And tonight was an opportunity to reflect on the contribution made
0:20:01 > 0:20:05by women in public life.
0:20:05 > 0:20:12I'm amazed at how much was achieved since the 1960s and '70s
0:20:12 > 0:20:14where everything was changed in terms of women's belief
0:20:14 > 0:20:16in themselves as equal, their role in the family,
0:20:16 > 0:20:19their role in the world of work and their belief that they should
0:20:19 > 0:20:21share decision making in Parliament.
0:20:21 > 0:20:24I think it's incredibly important to have women's voices in public
0:20:24 > 0:20:27life because then you have women's lives taking seriously
0:20:27 > 0:20:30by governments who are trying to influence the shape of policy.
0:20:30 > 0:20:33Power in our society is still hoarded in the hands
0:20:33 > 0:20:35of men, particularly rich, white men, whether that's
0:20:35 > 0:20:38in business, in politics or in the media, from the gender pay
0:20:38 > 0:20:40gap, to pregnancy discrimination, to sexual harassment.
0:20:40 > 0:20:43There's so many issues still to address.
0:20:43 > 0:20:46So 100 years on, women here are proud of their achievements,
0:20:46 > 0:20:48but few think their work is done.
0:20:48 > 0:20:53Vicki Young, BBC News, Westminster.
0:20:53 > 0:20:56An urgent review has been ordered into the way doctors in England
0:20:56 > 0:20:59are treated by the legal system when they make serious mistakes.
0:20:59 > 0:21:02The Health Secretary, Jeremy Hunt, made the announcement
0:21:02 > 0:21:05following the case of a doctor found guilty of manslaughter after one
0:21:05 > 0:21:09of her patients died at Leicester Royal Infirmary.
0:21:09 > 0:21:15Dr Hadiza Bawa-Garba was also struck off the medical register.
0:21:15 > 0:21:18Hundreds of doctors signed a letter of protest about the way she'd been
0:21:18 > 0:21:21treated, as our health editor, Hugh Pym, reports.
0:21:21 > 0:21:28A six-year-old boy, Jack Adcock, died as a result of a catalogue
0:21:28 > 0:21:31of errors at a Leicester hospital.
0:21:31 > 0:21:33A serious infection was not diagnosed.
0:21:33 > 0:21:35A doctor, Hadiza Bawa-Garba, was convicted of gross negligence
0:21:35 > 0:21:37manslaughter and later barred from practising.
0:21:37 > 0:21:40A nurse at the hospital was also convicted and struck off.
0:21:40 > 0:21:43Colleagues say Dr Bawa-Garba was working under intense
0:21:43 > 0:21:47pressure and low staffing was partly to blame.
0:21:47 > 0:21:51The decision to stop her working, so ending her career
0:21:51 > 0:21:54as a doctor, generated anger across the profession.
0:21:54 > 0:21:57Today, the Government announced a review of how doctors' mistakes
0:21:57 > 0:21:58should be handled.
0:21:58 > 0:22:01It is fair to say that the recent Dr Bawa-Garba case has
0:22:01 > 0:22:08caused huge concern.
0:22:08 > 0:22:13So today, I can announce that I've asked Professor Sir Norman Williams,
0:22:13 > 0:22:15the former president of the Royal College of Surgeons,
0:22:15 > 0:22:17my senior clinical advisor, to conduct a rapid review
0:22:17 > 0:22:19into the application of gross negligence
0:22:19 > 0:22:20manslaughter in healthcare.
0:22:20 > 0:22:22A crowdfunding campaign has now raised more than £300,000
0:22:22 > 0:22:24to try to fight to clear Dr Bawa-Garba's name.
0:22:24 > 0:22:26Doctors say it's important staff feel able to admit
0:22:26 > 0:22:31to mistakes and learn from them without fear of punishment.
0:22:31 > 0:22:38On any day in healthcare things can go wrong and it's only by fixing
0:22:38 > 0:22:41the systems that actually you can make patients and all of the staff
0:22:41 > 0:22:44who work in there safer because you need to consider both
0:22:44 > 0:22:47when it comes to actually making patients safer.
0:22:47 > 0:22:49Jack's family say the legal decisions should
0:22:49 > 0:22:51simply be respected.
0:22:51 > 0:22:54It's awful and it's wrong.
0:22:54 > 0:22:56You know, I've lost my little boy in all this.
0:22:56 > 0:22:58I don't need this.
0:22:58 > 0:23:01All I've tried to do is fight for justice for my little boy.
0:23:01 > 0:23:02We've got it.
0:23:02 > 0:23:04She needs to basically take the punishment that she's got,
0:23:04 > 0:23:07just like the nurse, and just get on with it.
0:23:07 > 0:23:15Doctors said Jack's death was tragic and they had every sympathy
0:23:15 > 0:23:18for his family and their aim was to ensure lessons were learned
0:23:18 > 0:23:19to keep future patients safe.
0:23:19 > 0:23:20Hugh Pym, BBC News.
0:23:20 > 0:23:24The EU could cut off the UK's access to parts of the single market
0:23:24 > 0:23:26during the transition period after Brexit if there
0:23:26 > 0:23:27was a disagreement that could not be settled
0:23:27 > 0:23:32by the European Court of Justice.
0:23:32 > 0:23:34That proposal is included in a draft document being circulated
0:23:34 > 0:23:35by the EU's Brexit negotiators.
0:23:35 > 0:23:39Our Europe correspondent, Adam Fleming, is in Strasbourg.
0:23:39 > 0:23:45Adam, what do you make of this document?Evening, Huw, basically
0:23:45 > 0:23:49what the EU is saying if the UK breaks the rules during this two
0:23:49 > 0:23:53year transition period after Brexit day, then it risks losing access to
0:23:53 > 0:23:57certain elements of the single market. Now to some people that will
0:23:57 > 0:24:03seem quite threat. Ing. To others, on the EU side, it's a sensible
0:24:03 > 0:24:08backup plan and the thing they insist on in all their agreements
0:24:08 > 0:24:11from other countries they have done deals with in the past. This
0:24:11 > 0:24:15document in which this suggestion was contained in a footnote was
0:24:15 > 0:24:19circulated among the 27 remaining EU countries. It's the first time we've
0:24:19 > 0:24:23seen drafts draft language wording that could end up in the final
0:24:23 > 0:24:27Brexit treaty at the end of this whole process. British sources
0:24:27 > 0:24:30tonight saying it's a first draft and it doesn't reflect the
0:24:30 > 0:24:35negotiations which are happening in Brussels this week.Adam, once
0:24:35 > 0:24:41again, thanks very much. Adam Fleming there for us in Strasbourg.
0:24:41 > 0:24:43Families of the victims of the Hyde Park bombing,
0:24:43 > 0:24:47carried out by the IRA in 1982, have been awarded legal aid to bring
0:24:47 > 0:24:49a civil action against a suspect, the convicted IRA bomber John
0:24:49 > 0:24:53Downey.
0:24:53 > 0:24:55His trial collapsed after it was revealed that he'd
0:24:55 > 0:24:57previously been given an assurance by British officials
0:24:57 > 0:24:59that he would not be prosecuted.
0:24:59 > 0:25:00Our correspondent, Daniela Relph, has the story.
0:25:00 > 0:25:05It was a terror attack from another time, the 20th July 1982.
0:25:05 > 0:25:09An IRA car bomb detonated near Hyde Park, then another device
0:25:09 > 0:25:17exploded under a bandstand nearby.
0:25:19 > 0:25:21Amongst those killed were four soldiers from
0:25:21 > 0:25:22the Household Cavalry, Squadron Quartermaster
0:25:22 > 0:25:24Corporal Roy Bright, Lieutenant Anthony Daly,
0:25:24 > 0:25:27Lance Corporal Jeffrey Young, and Trooper Simon Tipper.
0:25:27 > 0:25:29He was then just 19 years old.
0:25:29 > 0:25:35For his family, this has been a long and continuing fight for justice.
0:25:35 > 0:25:39I can sleep easy again.
0:25:39 > 0:25:41My brother can rest easy where he is now,
0:25:41 > 0:25:42and that's all I ask.
0:25:42 > 0:25:44I don't ask any more.
0:25:44 > 0:25:46I don't want nothing from this whatsoever.
0:25:46 > 0:25:51All I want is the truth.
0:25:51 > 0:25:53John Downey was the prime suspect.
0:25:53 > 0:25:56Convicted of IRA membership in the 1970s, he was charged
0:25:56 > 0:26:00with the bombing in 2014.
0:26:00 > 0:26:03He always denied any involvement, but his case collapsed.
0:26:03 > 0:26:06As part of the Good Friday Agreement, John Downey had been sent
0:26:06 > 0:26:08an on-the-run letter, it gave him an assurance
0:26:08 > 0:26:12that he would not face trial.
0:26:12 > 0:26:15The scheme was heavily criticised.
0:26:15 > 0:26:17Tony Blair, whose Government implemented on-the-run letters,
0:26:17 > 0:26:18fiercely defended them.
0:26:18 > 0:26:21Without having done that, we would not have a Northern Ireland
0:26:21 > 0:26:24peace process in place today.
0:26:24 > 0:26:27Being able to pay for a civil action is a major breakthrough
0:26:27 > 0:26:31for the families of those who lost their lives here.
0:26:31 > 0:26:36There is a long legal road ahead, but now, they have hope.
0:26:36 > 0:26:42Seven horses were also killed in the Hyde Park bombing,
0:26:42 > 0:26:45one that survived was Sefton.
0:26:45 > 0:26:47In the aftermath of the horrific attack, the horse's recovery
0:26:47 > 0:26:51captured the public's attention.
0:26:51 > 0:26:54The Hyde Park Campaign For Justice now has renewed vigour,
0:26:54 > 0:26:57even though the impact and pain of events decades ago still lingers.
0:26:57 > 0:27:05Daniela Relph, BBC News, Hyde Park.
0:27:07 > 0:27:09In Iran, dozens of people have been arrested for protesting
0:27:09 > 0:27:12against a law that makes it complulsory for women
0:27:12 > 0:27:14to wear the hijab.
0:27:14 > 0:27:17In the past month, increasing numbers of women have been posting
0:27:17 > 0:27:25images of themselves on social media without their headscarves.
0:27:29 > 0:27:32Iran's religious leaders have called for "strict action" in the courts,
0:27:32 > 0:27:33but the country's president, Hassan Rouhani, has said
0:27:33 > 0:27:36that the voices of protesters need to be listened to.
0:27:36 > 0:27:38This report is by BBC Persian's Rana Rahimpour.
0:27:38 > 0:27:42It was a simple act of defiance.
0:27:42 > 0:27:44The woman stands against a law that forces all women in Iran
0:27:44 > 0:27:46to wear a headscarf.
0:27:46 > 0:27:47She was swiftly arrested.
0:27:47 > 0:27:49Two days after her release from prison, more women took
0:27:49 > 0:27:54exactly the same stand.
0:27:54 > 0:27:58Men, religious women, even the elderly.
0:27:58 > 0:28:04They don't want to be told what to do, how to behave,
0:28:04 > 0:28:08so they're not fighting against a piece of cloth,
0:28:08 > 0:28:09they're fighting for their dignity.
0:28:09 > 0:28:11They are fighting because they want to be free.
0:28:11 > 0:28:14This is the 21st century and they don't want any religion
0:28:14 > 0:28:19interference in their personal life.
0:28:19 > 0:28:21A spokesperson for Iran's conservative judiciary accused some
0:28:21 > 0:28:24of them of being under the influence of drugs or the West.
0:28:24 > 0:28:27But not everybody agrees.
0:28:27 > 0:28:29An opinion poll released by the president shows that
0:28:29 > 0:28:34half of Iranians oppose the compulsory hijab.
0:28:34 > 0:28:36And the president himself appears to be more sympathetic
0:28:36 > 0:28:41with the demands for change.
0:28:41 > 0:28:44TRANSLATION:The government should take the opinion
0:28:44 > 0:28:48of our youth into account.
0:28:48 > 0:28:50There are conflicting views about social freedom among Iran's
0:28:50 > 0:28:58political establishment.
0:28:59 > 0:29:01At the very top, Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
0:29:01 > 0:29:03He's deeply conservative and is appointed for life.
0:29:03 > 0:29:08Also in the conservative camp, the powerful judiciary,
0:29:08 > 0:29:11but pushing for more reform is the president, Hassan Rouhani.
0:29:11 > 0:29:16He is often backed up by sections of the parliament.
0:29:16 > 0:29:18They have democratic legitimacy, but in truth it's the conservatives
0:29:18 > 0:29:20who hold the real power.
0:29:20 > 0:29:26And because of that power, this human rights lawyer doesn't
0:29:26 > 0:29:29think that change is imminent.
0:29:29 > 0:29:35I don't think the government is ready to reform,
0:29:35 > 0:29:38particularly in our hijab rules, but I think it will
0:29:38 > 0:29:42eventually have to.
0:29:42 > 0:29:45Iran has already been rocked by a wave of protests this year.
0:29:45 > 0:29:47Thousands marched across the country, angry at
0:29:47 > 0:29:52poverty and corruption.
0:29:52 > 0:29:55And while these protests against the compulsory
0:29:55 > 0:29:57hijab might seem simple, they strike at the very heart
0:29:57 > 0:30:01of the Islamic Republic.
0:30:01 > 0:30:03It's not just an issue of female modesty, it's
0:30:03 > 0:30:04about political control.
0:30:04 > 0:30:09Rana Rahimpour, BBC News.
0:30:09 > 0:30:14The world's most powerful rocket has been launched into space
0:30:14 > 0:30:15from Cape Canaveral, in Florida.
0:30:15 > 0:30:17The Falcon Heavy launcher is made by SpaceX,
0:30:17 > 0:30:20the company owned by the American entrepreneur, Elon Musk.
0:30:20 > 0:30:24It will carry a dummy cargo for its maiden voyage.
0:30:24 > 0:30:26Our science correspondent, Victoria Gill, reports.
0:30:26 > 0:30:29Five, four, three, two, one...
0:30:29 > 0:30:35A countdown to a critical moment.
0:30:35 > 0:30:41The world's most powerful rocket ignited all 27 of its engines
0:30:41 > 0:30:45at once, and lifted off from Kennedy Space Centre at 8:45 UK time.
0:30:45 > 0:30:48Less than ten minutes later, in a carefully choreographed aerial
0:30:48 > 0:30:52dance, its boosters separated and headed back towards Earth.
0:30:52 > 0:30:55Two landed simultaneously at the Kennedy Space Centre,
0:30:55 > 0:30:58while the third headed for a drone ship in the middle
0:30:58 > 0:31:01of the Atlantic Ocean.
0:31:01 > 0:31:04And apart from its power, it's this recycling of the rocket,
0:31:04 > 0:31:07slashing the cost of a launch, that makes this a breakthrough
0:31:07 > 0:31:10in the business of space travel.
0:31:10 > 0:31:15SpaceX's ambitions have previously produced some high-profile failures.
0:31:15 > 0:31:21This Falcon 9 rocket exploded on the launch
0:31:21 > 0:31:24pad in 2016, destroying a $260 million satellite.
0:31:24 > 0:31:31But this test makes Falcon Heavy the most capable
0:31:31 > 0:31:36rocket since Saturn 5, the vehicle that Nasa used to take
0:31:36 > 0:31:38the first astronauts to the moon, almost half a century ago.
0:31:38 > 0:31:41Now the US space agency, already one of SpaceX's customers,
0:31:41 > 0:31:42will watch this test closely.
0:31:42 > 0:31:44This could be a candidate for launching more advanced robots
0:31:44 > 0:31:47and ultimately humans on missions to Mars.
0:31:47 > 0:31:52What ever the showman of commercial space travel,
0:31:52 > 0:31:54Elon Musk let loose his own Tesla Roadster into space,
0:31:54 > 0:31:57complete with a space suited mannequin in the driving seat
0:31:57 > 0:32:00and David Bowie on a loop on the radio.
0:32:00 > 0:32:04As the drama of this launch is celebrated back on Earth,
0:32:04 > 0:32:07Mr Musk says his car could be on a journey around the sun
0:32:07 > 0:32:08for up to a billion years.
0:32:08 > 0:32:10Victoria Gill, BBC News.
0:32:10 > 0:32:12That's it from us.
0:32:12 > 0:32:15In a moment, here on BBC One, we'll have the news where you are,
0:32:15 > 0:32:18but we leave you tonight with some words and images to mark
0:32:18 > 0:32:19the centenary of women's suffrage.
0:32:19 > 0:32:25Good night.
0:32:25 > 0:32:29They percent feared in spite of all danger and discouragement because
0:32:29 > 0:32:33they knew their cause was right. They were ordinary women from very,
0:32:33 > 0:32:36very ordinary backgrounds who did extraordinary things because they
0:32:36 > 0:32:39felt it was only right that they should have the chance to vote for
0:32:39 > 0:32:43their government and have a say in the policies of our nation. We stand
0:32:43 > 0:32:47on their shoulders, but actually we also know we've got a huge challenge
0:32:47 > 0:32:49ahead to make sure that we get equality for our