0:00:20 > 0:00:21Good afternoon.
0:00:21 > 0:00:28The Home Secretary Amber Rudd has insisted that differences
0:00:28 > 0:00:33-- says the UK will continue to seek a bespoke deal on leaving the
0:00:33 > 0:00:38European Union. And she has insisted that differences over Brexit policy
0:00:38 > 0:00:41between Cabinet ministers have been exaggerated.
0:00:41 > 0:00:44A Cabinet committee will meet this week to discuss the Government's
0:00:44 > 0:00:45approach to negotiations.
0:00:45 > 0:00:49Here's our political correspondent, Susana Mendonca.
0:00:49 > 0:00:53Watching the Dragons in action on a trade trip to China last week, the
0:00:53 > 0:00:56Prime Minister was all too aware that her backbenchers at home were
0:00:56 > 0:01:00fanning the flames of division over Brexit.
0:01:00 > 0:01:04Centauri Brexiteers have painted a picture of disunity on the
0:01:04 > 0:01:07Government's front bench over the direction Britain's negotiations
0:01:07 > 0:01:11with the EU should take, but now one leading Cabinet member has pushed
0:01:11 > 0:01:14back. I have a surprise that the
0:01:14 > 0:01:18Brexiteers, the committee that beats in order to make these decisions,
0:01:18 > 0:01:29meeting twice this week, as you
0:01:31 > 0:01:33rightly say, is more united than you think.
0:01:33 > 0:01:35We beat in the committee and also privately for discussions, I think
0:01:35 > 0:01:37we will arrive at something that suits us all.Assessments this week
0:01:37 > 0:01:40which had suggested the options for a post-Brexit trade deal with the EU
0:01:40 > 0:01:43would leave Britain where staff have been at the heart of an argument in
0:01:43 > 0:01:45the Conservative Party. Brexiteers have direct criticism at Chancellor
0:01:45 > 0:01:49Philip Hammond on the Treasury, with one accusing civil servants of
0:01:49 > 0:01:52fiddling the figures. The Home Secretary said all departments use
0:01:52 > 0:01:57forecasts to defend decision -- to make their decision making and she
0:01:57 > 0:02:03defended civil servants.They are important to us, we respect them and
0:02:03 > 0:02:06they are internationally admired. We need to continue to attract the best
0:02:06 > 0:02:10into the civil service. Amber Rudd said the Government
0:02:10 > 0:02:13wanted a bespoke trade deal with the EU and said it would probably
0:02:13 > 0:02:17involve some form of customs arrangements or partnership. This
0:02:17 > 0:02:23leading Brexiteers says it does not mean the customs union.Since the
0:02:23 > 0:02:27Lancaster house and the Florence speech, the premise has been clear
0:02:27 > 0:02:30we are leaving the customs union. There is a good reason for that. We
0:02:30 > 0:02:34would not have been able to negotiate free-trade deals with the
0:02:34 > 0:02:38likes of China or South America. The EU chief negotiator will come
0:02:38 > 0:02:42here tomorrow to start the next phase of Brexit negotiations.
0:02:42 > 0:02:45And Susana is with me now.
0:02:45 > 0:02:49An important week ahead for the Prime Minister on Brexit? The goal
0:02:49 > 0:02:54very much so. The chief negotiator for the EU, Michel Barnier,is
0:02:54 > 0:02:58coming to the EU to speak to Theresa May David Davies, who is negotiating
0:02:58 > 0:03:02on the part of Britain. It will be the first and they have met this
0:03:02 > 0:03:06year for those key negotiations. They will be talking about Britain's
0:03:06 > 0:03:11future relationship with the EU. Very important meetings. In addition
0:03:11 > 0:03:15there will be technical discussions during the week as well. Brexiteers
0:03:15 > 0:03:20will
0:03:20 > 0:03:23will want some answers, whether or not they will get them this week is
0:03:23 > 0:03:25unclear. In addition, there will be a Cabinet committee meeting this
0:03:25 > 0:03:27week to discuss the Government's approach. There have been lots of
0:03:27 > 0:03:31questions about whether or not the Cabinet is singing from the same
0:03:31 > 0:03:34hymn sheet, whether they have the same direction on what they want
0:03:34 > 0:03:38Brexit negotiations to look like, so people would be keen to see them
0:03:38 > 0:03:43speaking with one voice. Amber Rudd speaking about a united Cabinet,
0:03:43 > 0:03:47people will want to see whether that is really the case.Thank you.
0:03:47 > 0:03:49MPs have warned against cutting the number of Royal
0:03:49 > 0:03:50Marines to save money.
0:03:50 > 0:03:52Reports have suggested that the government has been
0:03:52 > 0:03:55considering axing up to 2000 Marines, as well as the Royal Navy's
0:03:55 > 0:03:57two amphibious assault ships, as part of a review.
0:03:57 > 0:04:01Daniela Relph has this report.
0:04:01 > 0:04:05It is a warning to government over the future of the Royal Marines.
0:04:05 > 0:04:08They are amongst Britain's elite fighting forces.
0:04:08 > 0:04:136,500 of them, versatile and quick to respond.
0:04:13 > 0:04:15They also provide up to half the personnel
0:04:15 > 0:04:18for the UK's special forces.
0:04:18 > 0:04:20The Defence Select Committee report says that further cuts
0:04:20 > 0:04:23to the Marines would damage their ability to be a high-readiness
0:04:23 > 0:04:26unit and warns plans to end the use of HMS Albion and HMS Bulwark,
0:04:26 > 0:04:29ships from which beach assaults are made, would be military
0:04:29 > 0:04:34illiterate at this time.
0:04:34 > 0:04:39Since 2010, our military has been cut by a third in its capability.
0:04:39 > 0:04:42If this new round of cuts come, it will have been cut by a half.
0:04:42 > 0:04:46Can you imagine if we had half the number of hospitals?
0:04:46 > 0:04:47Can you imagine the outcry?
0:04:47 > 0:04:49Spending on defence has fluctuated over decades,
0:04:49 > 0:04:54rising when British forces are involved in a live conflict.
0:04:54 > 0:04:59But since 2010, the figures show a consistent decrease.
0:04:59 > 0:05:03Defence is now more complex and sophisticated than ever before.
0:05:03 > 0:05:06A report by the International Institute for Strategic Studies
0:05:06 > 0:05:09suggests Britain spends more on defence than any other country
0:05:09 > 0:05:11in the European Union.
0:05:11 > 0:05:14But as well as traditional battles, there is now a technological fight
0:05:14 > 0:05:19that also needs money and resources.
0:05:19 > 0:05:22We need to define what our security needs to look like.
0:05:22 > 0:05:24Do we want to be global?
0:05:24 > 0:05:26Do we want to be outward looking?
0:05:26 > 0:05:28Post-Brexit, can we just shrink back to a little homeland
0:05:28 > 0:05:29and try to protect ourselves?
0:05:29 > 0:05:33Or do we walk on the front foot and try to deter people from taking
0:05:33 > 0:05:37a more offensive stance against us?
0:05:37 > 0:05:40The committee's report praises the Defence Secretary,
0:05:40 > 0:05:43Gavin Williamson, for taking control of the defence review,
0:05:43 > 0:05:46but again says he will not be able to prevent harsh cuts without extra
0:05:46 > 0:05:49funding from the Treasury.
0:05:49 > 0:05:53The Ministry of Defence says protecting the UK is its priority
0:05:53 > 0:05:59and stress the Royal Marines play a vital role in
0:05:59 > 0:06:00defending the country.
0:06:00 > 0:06:03Daniela Relph, BBC News.
0:06:03 > 0:06:06Sinn Fein has confirmed that one of its Stormont members removed
0:06:06 > 0:06:10a clamp from the front wheel of his car in Belfast.
0:06:10 > 0:06:13Video footage of Gerry Kelly taking the clamp off and driving away has
0:06:13 > 0:06:16been posted on social media.
0:06:16 > 0:06:19Live now to our correspondent, John Campbell in Belfast.
0:06:19 > 0:06:25John, what more can you tell us?
0:06:25 > 0:06:29Gerry Kelly is a former senior IRA man who has been a leading Sinn Fein
0:06:29 > 0:06:33politician for many years. He came out of his gym on Friday morning to
0:06:33 > 0:06:37find his car had been clamped. He was parked in a clearly marked
0:06:37 > 0:06:41restricted area. What happened next unfolded on these videos posted on
0:06:41 > 0:06:46social media. They show Mr Kerry on his knees next to the car, putting
0:06:46 > 0:06:49up the chain is attaching the clamp. Next to him on the ground were a
0:06:49 > 0:06:53pair of bolt cutters which he apparently used to cut through the
0:06:53 > 0:07:01chains.
0:07:01 > 0:07:05chains. He removed the clamp and the issue is in the hands of his
0:07:05 > 0:07:09solicitors. They criminal damage complaint has been made to the
0:07:09 > 0:07:12police and he faces criticism from political opponents, who say nobody
0:07:12 > 0:07:15should be above the law in these matters. One Unionist leader has
0:07:15 > 0:07:21said he should now consider his position as a public representative.
0:07:21 > 0:07:23Thank you, John Campbell.
0:07:23 > 0:07:27At least two people have been killed and 70 injured in a rail crash
0:07:27 > 0:07:28in the US state of South Carolina.
0:07:28 > 0:07:31A passenger train travelling between New York and Miami collided
0:07:31 > 0:07:33with a freight train and derailed.
0:07:33 > 0:07:35An elderly resident has died after an explosion
0:07:35 > 0:07:39and a fire at a care home at Stevenage in Hertfordshire.
0:07:39 > 0:07:42Six other people were taken to hospital - one is said to be
0:07:42 > 0:07:49in a critical condition.
0:07:49 > 0:07:52The incident occurred at Woodlands View car home.
0:07:52 > 0:07:55An investigation is under way into the cause of the explosion.
0:07:55 > 0:07:58The German Chancellor Angela Merkel is holding a final day of talks
0:07:58 > 0:08:00in an attempt to form a governing coalition with the opposition
0:08:00 > 0:08:08Social Democrats.
0:08:11 > 0:08:14Four months after the general election, Germany has a caretaker
0:08:14 > 0:08:17Government at the country remains in political limbo.
0:08:17 > 0:08:19Our correspondent Damien McGuiness is in Berlin.
0:08:19 > 0:08:21And, Damien, there's a great deal at stake
0:08:21 > 0:08:22for Angela Merkel in these talks?
0:08:22 > 0:08:28Absolutely. As you say, it has been four months since the election. She
0:08:28 > 0:08:33has already tried wants to form a Government with the Liberals and the
0:08:33 > 0:08:39Green Party. Those talks collapsed in November. Talks with the social
0:08:39 > 0:08:45Democrats are their only chance. If they failed, it would seriously
0:08:45 > 0:08:48undermine her credibility, the most likely outcome then would be another
0:08:48 > 0:08:52election. That would lead to a long period of instability in Germany and
0:08:52 > 0:08:57the potential of no new Government until the autumn. And also we might
0:08:57 > 0:09:00find ourselves in this position we are in now, with a potential
0:09:00 > 0:09:04Chancellor finding it hard to cobble together a coalition. There is a
0:09:04 > 0:09:09caretaker government here, no sense of crisis, the economy is going
0:09:09 > 0:09:12well. Things are ticking along nicely in the short term with the
0:09:12 > 0:09:19caretaker government, but it means there is no ability for the
0:09:19 > 0:09:21temporary government to take long-term decisions like reform,
0:09:21 > 0:09:23particularly when it comes to Europe. This is a problem for the
0:09:23 > 0:09:27whole EU. President Macron has waited for a long time to push
0:09:27 > 0:09:31through an ambitious period of reform. If a government is not in
0:09:31 > 0:09:34place, France cannot do that, Germany cannot support France, it
0:09:34 > 0:09:40could impact Brexit because it means a disunited and insert any Ruud
0:09:40 > 0:09:43Brood be less inclined or able to strike a good deal with Britain on
0:09:43 > 0:09:51Brexit. -- a disunited Europe may be less inclined to label.
0:09:51 > 0:09:54A joint North and South Korean women's ice hockey team has played
0:09:54 > 0:09:56in an international practise match ahead of the Winter Olympics
0:09:56 > 0:09:57which start on Friday.
0:09:57 > 0:10:00Despite being beaten 3-1 by Sweden, the crowd appeared delighted -
0:10:00 > 0:10:02although there was a small protest outside the arena against
0:10:02 > 0:10:04the fielding of a joint team.
0:10:04 > 0:10:07You can see more on all of today's stories on the BBC News Channel.
0:10:07 > 0:10:09The next news on BBC One is at 6:05pm.
0:10:09 > 0:10:12Bye for now.