25/05/2014 BBC Weekend News

A day of political reckoning across Europe, and the last UK-wide test of

opinion before the next general election.

Confidence from UKIP as the final votes are counted in the European

elections. Quietly confident, but I don't count

my chickens until they are hatched. In France, exit polls suggest

victory for the far right National Front party.

Tonight, a political earthquake. It looks as if the far right National

Front will top the polls in the European elections. Also, the Pope

makes a surprise visit to the controversial barrier separating

Bethlehem from Jerusalem as he makes a plea for peace.

And dramatic scenes at the Monaco Grand Prix as a driver crashes out

of the famous race. Good evening. The leaders of the

Britain's political parties are tonight awaiting anxiously the

results of elections to the European Parliament, the first nationwide

test of electoral opinion for four years. All sides are expecting UKIP

to do well, following their strong performance in Thursday's local

elections. A total of 73 MEPs will be elected

from nine regions in England, as well as Wales, Scotland and Northern

Ireland. Across Europe as a whole, 751 MEPs

will be elected to the European Parliament.

We'll get the latest from our Europe editor, Gavin Hewitt in a moment,

but first here is our Deputy Political Editor, James Landale.

And they're off. Across the country, thousands of votes have been counted

in the last national ballot of public opinion before the general

election. And all eyes are on this man,

arriving in Southampton tonight for once without fanfare or drink, to

hear his result. REPORTER: Confident, Nigel? Quietly

confident, but I don't count my chickens until they are hatched. All

sides expect him and UKIP to do well. Even before all the results

are in, recriminations in other parties have begun.

After setbacks in the local elections that could be repeated

tonight, some Lib Dems have called for their leader Nick Clegg to stand

down. Not all his MPs are rushing to his defence.

Because I have an open mind on the issue, as in I'm not of the view he

must stay, I'm willing to go on this programme and say I haven't made my

mind up. One former leader made up his mind about Mr Clegg. He's a man

of courage, of integrity, of decency, he's one of the I think,

the best Prime Minister Britain hasn't got, that hasn't got through

to the electorate yet. After their losses to UKIP, the

Tories are already promising to get tougher on immigration, cutting the

time EU migrants can claim benefits. Today, the Home Secretary admitted

it was getting hard tore meet what she now calls her target of cutting

net migration. Pf We still have the aim of thousands.

It has become more difficult, you are right. Net migration is too

high. That's why I want to continue working to bring it down.

Ed Miliband's party made gains at the local elections, but if Labour

does badly tonight, he could face fresh questions about his

leadership, after a campaign where he got on the wrong side of some

interviews and yes, a bacon sandwich. Be- deputy begged to

differ. The idea of easy predictions on the basis of the past is for the

birds. What we do know is the facts. The facts are, we are moving

forward, Ed Miliband is in touch with people's concerns and we are

putting forward the policies. So these votes being counted tonight

count. They could change the face of

British politics. James Landale is in the studio with

me now. What is the latest, results coming through? We have some results

from some regions in England. In the North East, Labour came top with

36%, but crucially, UKIP second on 29%, a huge advance for them,

gaining their first MEPs there. Also, UKIP doing incredibly well in

the east of England. They have just won three MPs, Conservatives there,

and one for Labour. A strong showing already from UKIP tonight. What is

at stake? Oh, a huge amount. If you think about it, Nigel Farage has

promised an earthquake in British politics and tonight we'll find out

if the earth moved for him. If UKIP comes first, it would be the first

time any party, other than the Conservatives or Labour, have won a

national election since 1910. It's that extraordinary. If Labour come

second, as many predict, what does that say about their chances of

potentially forming a Government next year? If the Conservatives come

third, as many predict, what does that say about them? They haven't

lost a European election for two decades, what impression and

pressure will that mean for David Cameron and of course the Liberal

Democrats, what happens if one of the most pro-European parties in

British politics ends up potentially with no representation, as is

possible, in the Strasbourg Parliament? If they even potentially

come behind the green. The consequences for this are absolutely

huge. Thank you.

The polls have now closed in the 28 countries voting in the European

elections. The exit polls are showing far right and Euro-sceptic

parties set to make sweeping gains. In France, those polls suggest the

anti-immigration, National Front party, is expected to win a majority

for the first time in. Greece, the far left, who oppose austerity

measures, are predicted to have taken the lead.

Our Europe editor, Gavin Hewitt, is in Paris for us tonight.

It tellious something when the Prime Minister of France comes out and

says there has been a political earthquake. That was his reaction to

the predicted victory of the far right National Front party in the

European elections, coming on a night of significant gains for

Euro-sceptic and antiestablishment parties across Europe. My report

contains some flash photography. It wasn't so long ago that the

National Front, the far right party of Marine Le Pen was regarded as

longing to the fringe of French politics. Tonight, the leader of the

anti-immigration Euro-sceptic party pushed her way to the podium,

predicted to have won a national election.

She will have over 20 seats in the European Parliament and promises to

fight Brussels from the inside. The French people, he said, don't

want to be led from the outside, they don't want to submit

themselveses to laws they have not voted for, oh to obey EU

commissioners that haven't been elected. I asked her whether she had

a message for Nigel Farage of UKIP. TRANSLATION: In the coming week,

we'll be in contact with Nigel Farage. Even if we don't form one

group, we'll be able to create a United Front against a European

Union that bullies our people. In Germany, Chancellor Merkel's

party topped the poll. A new Euro-sceptic party did get over 6%

of the vote, but Germany remains overwhelmingly pro-the EU.

There was a potential upset in Greece. The epicentre of the

eurozone crisis's, the leader of the radical left party that opposes

austerity in the bail outs seems set to win. It's too early to know how

many seats the antiestablishment Euro-sceptic parties will win. In

places they did less well than expected. But they could double

their seats in the Parliament. Turnout is one of the major issues

of this campaign. Five years ago, it had fallen to 43%, this time

significant funds have been spent trying to engage European citizens

with the elections to the European Parliament.

The screens exst estimate a turnout of 43. 1%, a fraction up on four

years ago, and if confirmed, that will be celebrated in Brussels. It

would mean for the first time in over 30 years, turnout for the

European elections has actually increased.

Even though the Euro-sceptic and antiestablishment parties have done

well, they are unlikely to get more than a quart irof the seats in the

European Parliament. Power will very much remain with the traditional

parties which, of course, are usually in favour of closer

integration and in any event, some of these Euro-sceptic parties will

probably struggle to get on with each other. What this result is

partly, is a protest vote against a low growth and high unemployment

economy. It also does reflect some disillusionment with the workings of

Brussels. Here is the big question - how will Europe's leaders now react

to what, for many of them, will be a very disturbing result.

Thank you very much. There's a special European election

results programme presented by David Dimbleby which you can catch from 11

o'clock tonight on BBC One. Other news now and Pope Francis, who

is on a tour of the Holy Land, has invited the Palestinian President

and Israeli President, to visit the Vatican to pray for peace.

He said the Israeli Palestinian conflict was increasingly

unacceptable. This report from our Middle East

editor, Jeremy Bowen, contains flash photography.

Pope Francis touched his forehead on the wall that separates Bethlehem

from Jerusalem to show his concern of the failure to bring peace to the

Holy Land. This is a hope who understands the power of symbols.

Israel says the separation barrier is to keep its people safe,

Palestinians say Israel is grabbing land they want for estate.

Later, I asked the Pope why he stopped. He said the answer will

have to wait until the trip back to Rome.

At an open-air mass in Manger Square, opposite the church marking

the birthplace of Jesus, many Palestinians believed Pope Francis

has been signalling support for their point of view.

The Pope said this tour was going to be about religion, but it's clear he

wasn't just talking about ritual. Francis has made a big intervention

into politics and diplomacy. Backed, he believes, by his moral and

spiritual authority. He had an embrace for the

Palestinian President, Mahmoud Abbas, and an invitation to meet

him, and Israel's President, at his home in Rome. Secular leaders have

run out of ideas and will about Middle East peace.

But the leader of 1.2 billion Catholics seems to have plenty of

both. The Palestinians are seeing

everything the Pope has said and dene here in the context of one very

important part for them of their strategy, and that's to try to get

their arguments about statehood, the way they want it, into the

mainstream of the international debate as part of the accepted

wisdom. The fact especially that the Pope

stopped at the wall to pray makes this for the Palestinians a much

better than expected visit. A Jordanian military helicopter took

Pope Francis to Tel Aviv for the Israeli leg of his tour.

He was greeted by President Shimon Peres, who like his counterpart, has

accepted the Pope's invitation. At the airport, Pope Francis renewed

his predecessor's call for Israel to live in peace and security alongside

a sovereign, independent Palestine. Jerusalem was the next stop, where

Christians even rate the domed holy church as the site where Jesus was

crucified. Appropriate Francis was there to

pray with Orthodox Christians. His Middle East peace initiative is a

gamble, but he looks to be a man who believes his office has power that

should be used. A manhunt is still under way

following yesterday's attack at a Jewish museum in Brussels. A fourth

person who was critically injured is reported to have died. CCTV footage

has been released showing the gunman entering the building before pulling

out an automatic rifle and opening fire, security's been stepped up at

Jewish related sites across Belgium. Thousands of students have gathered

for a candle-lit vigil at the University of California, to

remember the six people killed by the British-born student, Elliot

Rodger. The 22-year-old stabbed three house mates and shot three

other people in Santa Barbara. Elliot Rodger's father, who is a

film maker, was later found dead in his car. This is the moment Elliot

Rodger Elliot Rodger opened fire. Watch again the fridge door on the

left as the bullet strikes over the girl's head. This is where one of

his six victims was killed. I don't know what you don't see in me. I'm

the perfect guy. Yet you throw yourselves at all these obnoxious

men. In this chilling video posted online hours before the attack, he

said what he was going to do and why.

His rejection by women was the apparent motive.

It all has to come to this. Tomorrow, is the day of retribution.

The first three people to die were stabbed to death at his apartment

before the shooting spree began. He had clashed with his flat mates in

the past. Elliot Rodger's father is a British

film maker, shown with the killer's half brother. The family had warned

police of his mental Harrogate hatefulness. They believed he wasn't

a threat, but he was planning his day of retribution meticulously. At

the wheel of his crashed BMW, he carried out the final act, six

people were left dead. He targeted female students and people saw him

spray the street with bullets. I saw him shooting. He hit a kid on a

bike, a guy flew across the bike and then drove further down to the

corner of the street. He started shooting. People left candles to

remember those killed. The shooting has traumatised this beach-side

college town and again, raised questions over America's gun laws.

Aren't we tired of this? Isn't this just... I mean, how can this go on?

What are we thinking? It's just unbelievable to me that we

have to do this all over again. It's a question people here in Santa

Barbara are asking, as they reflect on another mass killing in America

where angry young men have easy access to guns.

President Obama has made a surprise visit to troops in Afghanistan. He

met military leaders at Bagram airfield outside Kabul and announced

he was close to a decision about the number of American troops who'll

remain in Afghanistan beyond 2014. Exit polls suggest the pro-western

billionaire, Pedro Porochenko has won the Ukraine election. He said

he'll travel to the east of the country to end the war and chaos but

he wouldn't negotiate with pro-Russian separatists until they

put down their weapons. This report contains flash

photography. Pet row Poroc He nko on his way to

what appears to have been a decisive win in the first round.

REPORTER: An important day? Absolutely. One of the most

important in Ukrainian history. Ukraine's unlikely saviour is a

billionaire who made his money in chocolate. He now has to rescue a

nation on the verge of bankruptcy and facing armed pro-Russian

separatists in the east. Most Ukrainians are hoping this is

the day that a new leader will take the helm of a country that for too

much of the last six months has seemed Rudderless.

In Kiev, people queued for hours in the heat to vote in large numbers.

Everybody understanding that this could be a crucial moment.

It's really important. This election, the most important in the

Ukrainian history I think. But in Donetsk in the east,

separatists in balaclavas opposed to the election were smashing up ballot

boxes. The gunmen who fired a defiant

volley in the city centre there today managed to prevent most

polling stations opening. Though the BBC filmed some brave

people who defied the armed men and cast their votes.

In Kiev's main square, we found these two sisters who we last saw in

Crimea before it was annexed by Russia.

They'd come all the way by train, determined to take part in the poll.

Pf TRANSLATION: It's because we are

citizens of Ukraine and presidential elections are important, especially

these elections. In the cathedral, they were praying

tonight, as the man likely to be declared President tomorrow promised

a new start. Fresh elections for Parliament and an opportunity to

move on from the violence of the last six months.

Time for the big sports news of the day and over to Katie Gornall at the

BBC Sports centre. Good evening. Good evening. Thank you.

Nico Rosberg's overtaken his team-mate, Lewis Hamilton, at the

top of the frown drivers Championship after winning the

Monaco Grand Prix. Hamilton finished second ahead of Ricciardo of Red

Bull. Nick Parrott watched the action. The Monaco Grand Prix is

hugely all about gla now, but this year it became a grudge match

between rivals Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg. The Briton was unhappy

about the controversy way his team-mate took poll position and

after winning the last four races found himself in tun familiar

position of playing second fit from the the start.

Perez was also having a bad weekend, crashing out on the first lap, and

mechanical problems ending Vettel's hundredth race for Red Bull. Sutil's

crash brought out the safety care and Hadham ill tonne claiming his

team miss add chance to get him ahead of Rosberg. And he suffered

more problems as he tried to catch the German. Can't see out of my left

eye. Lost sight of his team-mate and was fighting to keep Ricciardo at

bay. Leaving Rosberg to win for the second year in a row.

Rosberg coming through to win the Monaco Grand Prix!

He's retaken the lead of the driver's Championship from Hamilton

who seems to have lost some of his fizz.

Four days after he called off his engagement to tennis player,

Caroline Wozniaki, Rory McIlroy's won his first golf title of the

year, coming seven shots down to win the flagship event at the Northern

Irish tour at Wentworth. He finished one shot ahead of Shane Lowry.

England's cricketers have suffered a defeat in the second one-day

international against Sri Lanka at Chester-le-Street, beaten by 157

runs as Sri Lanka levelled the series 1-1.

England's winter of discontent left them with lit toll be chirpy about,

yet this sum you are has marked a new start with some new faces. There

was too much of the old England in the field, allowing Sri Lanka to get

into their stride quickly until Dilshan's Dexterry did some damage,

he top scored with 88. For the tourists, they were held

most by mishaps, catch after catch drop bid England and a target of

2157 should have been much lower. - 257. That figure nigh-on impossible

after seven overs as England had already lost four wickets and 29 for

4 soon bishop 73 for 8, as England complete completely collapsed --

soon became. More things to note for Peter Moorings, England all out for

99. This may be a new start, but it's

not a very good one. Football now, and Rotherham have

been promoted for the second year in a row after beating Leyton Orient in

the League One play-off final at Wembley. There was heartbreak for

Hibernian who've been relegated after losing to Hamilton Academical.

They came back from 2-0 down from the first leg to win on personal it

is and they'll now replace Hibs in the top flight.

Quite a match. That's all the sport from me.

Thank you very much. And that is it. David Dimbleby has

full coverage on BBC One of the European election results after the

news where you