02/05/2017 Victoria Derbyshire

Hello it's Tuesday, it's 9am, I'm Victoria Derbyshire,

Our top story today - this programme can reveal that 300

disabled people a day are appealing against cuts to their benefits -

to their benefits - and it's costing you ?1 million a week.

You know I put on a brace face but inside I'm shocked really.

I don't want to be a burden on society and take.

I didn't ask to be sick, I'm annoyed that I'm sick.

Our full exclusive story in the next few minutes.

Also on the programme - a terminally ill man who campaigned

on this programme against changes to widowed parent's allowance has died.

You're contemplating death and want to go with some dignity,

grace and peace of mind, not with financial anxiety,

feeling that the government has taken money from you that

Alan, which isn't his real name, wants his legacy to be overturning

We'll talk to campaigners before 10am.

And - found alive after 32 hours in the sea.

The extremely lucky surfer who was rescued off

Welcome to the programme, we're live until 11am.

Throughout the morning - the latest breaking news

and developing stories - and, as always, really

A little later we'll hear from Paula Radcliffe who says

European Athletics proposals which could lead to world records

The governing body wants to eliminate any doping doubts.

It means Radcliffe's marathon world record from 2003 would be

Do get in touch on all the stories we're talking about this morning -

use the hashtag #VictoriaLIVE and If you text, you will be charged

Labour is promising to put 10,000 more police on the streets

of England and Wales if it wins the election.

The party said it would fund the policy by reversing

Conservative plans for cuts to capital gains tax.

The Conservatives say the proposal is nonsensical as Labour has

committed those savings to fund other pledges.

Our political guru Norman Smith is at Westminster for us this morning.

Do the sums add up? That has a good question but what strikes me most

about today is we get a bit of a curveball from Jeremy Corbyn, change

of tack, because in the campaign so far he has stuck to pretty much

core, Corbyn campaign themes around opposing austerity, more cash for

the NHS, fighting back against benefit cuts, though sort of

traditional Jeremy Corbyn messages. Today he almost takes a leaf out of

the Tony Blair book and goes on crime, not something you have heard

Jeremy Corbyn talk much about, but pledging Labour would reverse some

of the cuts that they say have been implemented since 2010 with a 20%

cut in police budgets, something like 20,000 fewer police officers,

and instead they say they would recruit 10,000 more officers to be

paid for by reversing some of the changes to Capital Gains Tax. As you

suggest, there is a right old tussle on whether the sums add up. Diane

Abbott insisted they did this morning.

This morning I am saying specifically that we are committed

to spend, I think ?300 million, over the 2.7 billion that you get by

reversing the Capital Gains Tax cut. We are committing this morning to

spending it on 10,000 extremely needed policemen and women. So why

is Jeremy Corbyn campaigning on what would be natural Conservative

territory? I guess because he knows if he is to have any chance of

winning he can't just keep banging away on the Labour drum, you've got

to reach out a bit more. Interesting too where he is campaigning today.

We have seen Mr Corbyn so far in pretty traditional Labour areas.

Today he is down in the south of the country in what is not really a

Labour area, again trying to reach out. Because he takes the view that

actually the Tories should be vulnerable on crime because recorded

crime, that's what police officers jot down in their notebooks, has

actually gone up and certainly violent crime has gone up quite a

lot. So the view in team Corbyn is there is a vulnerability here but

more and order is traditionally a Tory policy. That said the Home

Secretary Amber Rudd this morning insisted the Tories have a good

story to tell on crime. The fact is that

crime has fallen by a third since 2010 and you are right there has

also been control over budgets and less police officers but we have

been investing in the police force in areas we believe they can make

good progress with other elements of crime. But the point is what really

matters here is the outcomes. We have seen crime falling while

budgets have been controlled, which is surely a successful outcome. One

of the funny thing is I said at the beginning, taking a leaf out of the

Tony Blair Handbook, the difference is that back in 1997 when we

remember tough on crime and tough on the causes of crime, crime was right

at the top of the election agenda then. Now when you look at the

polling done about the issues that matter to voters, crime is right

down at the bottom, only something like eight or 9% of voters rate it

as a really important issue. Top of the pile is of course Brexit

followed by the NHS. Thank you, Norman.

Joanna is in the BBC Newsroom with a summary

Senior EU sources have made a series of scathing comments

about the government's approach to Brexit negotiations,

raising the prospect they could fail to reach an agreement.

A German newspaper reported that talks got off to a bad

start when the Prime Minister met the President of the European

Theresa May has dismissed it as "Brussels gossip".

US President Donald Trump has said he would be "honoured" to meet

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, in the right circumstances.

Mr Trump made his comments amid continuing tensions surrounding

The White House later said such talks were unlikely in the near

future. This programme has learnt that more

than 300 people a day are going to court to attempt

to overturn decisions to reduce The government is replacing

Disability Living Allowance with Pip - or the personal independence

payment - which is based But around 250,000 people have lost

money as a result of the change and there has been a sharp rise

in legal challenges. We'll have more on that

in a few minutes' time. The parents of a critically

ill nine-month-old boy will lodge an appeal

today against a ruling Last month a High Court judge ruled

that doctors can withdraw life support from Charlie Gard,

who has a rare genetic condition, Specialists at Great Ormond Street

Hospital said Charlie has irreversible brain damage and should

be moved to palliative care. But his parents want

to take him to the US A surfer who went missing off

the Scottish coast has been rescued after more than 30 hours clinging

to his board. Matthew Bryce was reported missing

by his family when he didn't return from a surfing trip in Argyll

on Sunday afternoon. He was eventually picked up 13 miles

off the coast still conscious Dramatic footage has emerged

of a baby being pulled out of a car The pick-up truck with a father,

his baby son and toddler daughter inside overturned in water

near Myrtle Springs east of Dallas, Fellow motorists performed CPR

on the children at the scene, who were taken to hospital

and are said to be doing well. George Osborne starts his new job

as editor of the London newspaper The Evening Standard today

The former chancellor's appointment drew criticism from opposition MPs

who called on him to quit politics. Mr Osbourne stepped down

as Conservative MP for Tatton in Cheshire last month,

a seat which is due to be abolished He'll edit the paper

four days a week. New parents Cheryl and Liam

Payne have reportedly named their baby boy -

five weeks after his arrival. Some of this morning's newspapers

are reporting that the couple have They apparently spent a week

with the baby before Actresses Kate Winslet

and Alicia Silverstone also both A host of celebrities turned out

in their finest for what's been described as "the party

of the year" - the Met Gala. The annual charity ball is held

at New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art to raise money

for the museum's fashion department. It's an exclusive event,

with tickets costing tens Nader Torphichen's report contains

some flash photography. -- Nada Tawfik.

It is the hottest invite on New York's social calendar,

and the biggest night in fashion, that draws out only the stars.

Stepping onto the Met Gala red carpet is to enter a runway,

This year, the Met Costume Institute is honouring Japanese

designer Rei Kawakubo, who famously blurs the line

For Rei, there is no box, and she did that so early on.

When Rei started, you would never believe fashion

could be as influential and as powerful as music.

You know, a lot of people say, like, how do you wear that?

You don't wear those clothes, those clothes wear you.

Sleeves need not apply, and cotton candy hair

and face coverings are just a few of her signatures.

Katy Perry and Pharrell Williams along with his wife wore the

designer's pieces and Rihanna stood out from the crowd with this floral

look. Of course, if you are a Madonna you arrive in camouflage

with your own fashion statement. What statement are you making

tonight? That we have got to get our act together and start thinking

about peace on earth. The irony and stupidity of war. This red-carpet

has become one of the most judged. Social media was quick to play

fashion critic. The Met Ball is not

the place to play it safe. And that unspoken rule,

combined with this unconventional designer's inspiration,

has led to a night of unique looks. Nader Torphichen BBC News, at the

Met Gala. That's a summary of the latest BBC

News - more at 9.30am. This is to do with personal

independence payments. What many people unaffected don't realise

about these benefits is that the assessment is not about proving how

ill you are, it's a test to see if you can carry out some very basic

physical tasks. If you can then this is extrapolated into meaning you are

able to do a job. The fact a person can use a microwave, for example,

does not necessarily mean they are able to work, let alone that they

could feed themselves. It's that kind of thinking behind these tests

that is at fault. Kayla on Facebook says: my wife has a progressive,

relapsing, remitting MS. She's on the high rate of DLA, disability

living allowance, we have a wheelchair accessible vehicle but

the cloud of waiting for the envelope to drop through the door

saying we have to change to Pip is a constant worry. We have a film

coming up in the next few minutes where we reveal that 300 disabled

people a day are taking the Government to tribunal to try and

get the benefit changes overturned. If you have experience get in touch.

Use the hashtag Victoria LIVE and if you text, you will be charged

It is not Hugh! Sorry, it is Hugh! I do this all the time!

It seems that lots of athletics world records set before 2005

could be rewritten, and that could affect

We should put this into context because it sounds draconian, last

year's McLaren report uncovered widespread doping in the sport and

Russia as a result are currently banned from athletics. This is a

sport with a reputation severely tainted, so the question now is how

to try and fix it. For some desperate times call for these

desperate measures and European athletics have suggested all world

records that can't be verified by a series of very strict measures, will

simply be rewritten. Their President says they are meaningless if people

don't really believe them. It would have a huge impact, as you mention,

and some famous names who fall outside of those measures simply

because they happen before the IAAF stored blood and you're in samples.

Jonathan Edwards's launch of record, not beaten in nearly 22 years since

he recorded it in Gothenburg in 95, and also Paula Radcliffe's marathon

record. They would remain on an all-time list but not officially

recognised as world records. Radcliffe particularly upset saying,

I'm hurt and feel this damage is my reputation and dignity and the

governing bodies have once again failed clean athletes. She also

revealed this morning she asked the IAAF to store hope doping sample

from this day in 2003 in the London Marathon for as long as possible but

the cut-off point would be 2005 so if these proposals are adopted she

would lose that record. One of those people Victoria, who would feel

fairly maligned this morning. We hope to hear from her late in the

programme. And Mark Selby is establishing

himself as one of Yes, he is now a three-time champion

at the World Snooker in the crucible and he is in fact just the fourth

time in the modern era that a man has defended his title at the

Crucible beating John Higgins 18-15. It sounds tight but involved an

impressive comeback, he won nine out of ten frames at one point over the

last couple of days having been 10-4 down, the biggest comeback since

Dennis Taylor in the famous final with the re-spotted black in 85, in

so he is quite the battle, Mark Selby command as well as the trophy,

money, he remains world number one as well. He's been there for more

than two years and gains revenge for defeat to Higgins in the 2007 final.

Higgins thinks Selby, who he called his toughest opponent, Candela to

challenge Stephen Hendry's record of seven titles at the Crucible.

Despite all the attention there was a light-hearted moment in the 20th

frame that we are going to show you now where all of the frowns turned

to smiles in a couple of minutes, John Higgins attempting to get out

of a snooker. That was his first attempt at hitting the red. It

failed, in goes the cue ball from the Brown, this isn't the same

attempt, it is attempt number two. Look familiar? The same happened.

Perhaps the John Higgins, third time lucky.

LAUGHTER No, in it goes again. Eventually

after grinning his way through he gets a thumbs up from Mark Selby to

have a fourth attempt, sneaks through to clip the red on the way,

just as he'd been trying to do all along and went on to win the frame

too. Unfortunately for him, Victoria, he did go on to lose the

match. What are the odds on that? Thank

you, I like a light-hearted moment in a game of snooker.

This programme can reveal that more than 300 disabled people a day

are going to court to overturn a decision to reduce

or stop their benefits and it's costing taxpayers around

The Government is replacing what it calls the "outdated"

Disability Living Allowance with PIP or the personal independence payment

saying it's a better system based on individual needs.

But official figures show that around 250,000 people have lost

money in the switch from DLA and the number of tribunals for PIP

or the Personal Independence Payment has risen sharply in the last year.

Now we've seen leaked letters to judges suggesting

the number of cases will rise again this summer.

Our reporter Jim Reed has followed two people as they go

Well, I was scared. Why are they doing it?

I didn't see why I should have to go to court to prove that there's

The courts are extremely overrun. A lot of it's a waiting game.

This is what life can be like if your kidneys

Debbie Neal was diagnosed ten years ago.

She takes dozens of pills to manage the symptoms.

Then five times a day, she does this, empties out excess

fluid from a tube in her stomach and replaces it with

They say, you know, don't let it affect your life and live your life,

but you can only live your life to a point.

I can't even remember what it was like not ever doing it.

Debbie lives on her own and works part-time as a cleaner.

For years she's relied on DLA, would disability living

But that is slowly being replaced by a new benefit, the personal

When she was reassessed by a private company, all her payments

What was your reaction when you opened that letter?

I put on a brave face, but inside I'm just...

I don't want to be a burden on society and take.

We didn't ask to be sick. I'm annoyed that I'm sick.

That morning, Debbie is meeting Alex Powell,

from a local charity that helps people with their claims.

The Government says it is spending more than ever on disability

benefits and many have seen their incomes rise

since PIP was introduced, but more than a quarter of a million

people have lost out in the switch from DLA.

Some, like Debbie, thought they had that support for life.

This benefit doesn't stop because you're

We'll get it all sorted out once and for all.

Debbie has already asked for her case to be reviewed and lost.

Now she wants to go to tribunal in court, to ask a judge

That evening, Alex is looking over the paperwork at home.

We've only been going since January, and we're waiting for a lot

more paperwork to come through from different clients.

I think at the moment we have 150-200 clients that

are waiting to go to tribunal, but the courts are overrun.

The number taking the Government to court over PIP has risen

sharply, as more are moved onto the new benefit.

There are more than 1,500 tribunal cases every week.

Now, we've seen in leaked letter to all tribunals suggesting

the number is expected to rise further.

It suggests judges travel outside their normal court area,

How will you react if Debbie wins her case on Thursday?

I'm always a little nervous when I go in.

But I know Debbie well, I've spent a lot of time with her.

I know how she suffers, so I'd be more than happy

Yeah, I'll be extremely excited for her.

Two days later, and the morning of the tribunal.

Because, you know, I am ill and I've got...

I've got to believe it, even though I don't want to.

Do you worry what they're going to ask you or not really?

I don't know how I'm going to answer it.

The truth, of course, but whether they're going to try

Debbie, helped by her neighbour Roger, is getting ready to go

to the new Magistrates' Court in Kidderminster.

The Government says PIP is a more effective system,

based on individual need, and overall more people now receive

It serves a wide range of people, with a wider range

The statistics show that if you have a mental health

condition, you are better served under this benefit.

If you have PTSD, if you have dementia,

if you have a psychological disorder, if you have

That is the case, and it's important that people that.

Debbie's hearing will take about an hour in court number two,

in front of a judge, a doctor and a disability

My emotions are all over the place at the moment.

She is being represented by Alex, but she'll be questioned directly

and in detail by all three of the tribunal members.

We are not allowed to film inside the building itself.

It has taken a year, but Debbie has won her appeal.

Most of her payments will now be guaranteed for the next ten years.

I think the phrase you may be after...

That bit there, "The decision made by Secretary of State

You know, for people who are out there who are honest,

that deserve the help, then don't give up.

Two-thirds of people who take the Government to court

like this end up winning - higher for PIP than almost

The Government says overall just a fraction of cases

are overturned at appeal, but new figures seen by this

programme suggest PIP tribunals like this are costing the Government

It feels like going to court, even if it's not meant to be that...

The judges and others who sit on tribunals have to deal

They can be sacked if they speak to the media, so we agreed

As a tribunal member, we often have to start again

We often see people who get nothing at all in the first assessment,

then we end up giving them the maximum award possible and just

can't understand why they were awarded no points.

The people I worry about are those who don't appeal if they get

turned down for benefit, because I think appealing

You need to be fairly courageous, fairly upset, fairly angry

and have a great sense of injustice in order to get

For years he ran his own surfing business in Cornwall.

In 2002, a serious car accident left him in a coma

Whatever I could do before, I now either have to find a new way

of doing it or I just can't do it at all.

So not only have you got no mobility, you've got

Like Debbie, he thought he was guaranteed benefit payments

He uses a walker and his health is unlikely to improve.

My whole life has gone downhill. I couldn't work any more.

Then I got a letter through saying that everything was being changed

to PIP, and I was told not to worry, what ever I had an DLA would be

the same on PIP, but no, completely different.

Tony's own GP wrote three different letters on his behalf,

saying the assessment company had got it wrong, but it didn't make

Were you initially reluctant to go down that route?

I didn't see why I should have to go to court to prove that there's

The Government would say the amount we're paying in disability benefits

There's something seriously wrong with the system.

Admittedly, yeah, there are people out there that

are faking it, are lying, so yeah, I can understand

there having to be a way of weaning these people out.

If I was faking, why would my doctor write a medical note, backing me up?

If someone said to me, right, tomorrow you can have

all your health back and be exactly how you were before your accident,

but it means you lose everything you've got since the accident,

In an instant, I wouldn't even think twice.

So again, with help from a local group called Benefit Resolutions,

It took a year, but he won and all his payments

It's almost like them saying to me, "We don't believe there's

anything wrong with you, please come here and

And that's like, that's an insult in itself.

The fact you go and sit in the waiting room,

you feel like a criminal, you're then called through into

what feels like a court and you have to walk in front of a judge.

Why do I need to stand up in front of a judge and say

Because I've not broken the law, I've not done anything wrong that

I do not need to be stood in front of a judge,

and that annoyed me more than anything else.

The Government's own independent review has said that cases

like this are eroding trust in the whole system.

Ministers say PIP is still much better than the benefit it replaced.

For the moment, though, the number of those tribunals likely

Many comments from you. One viewer says, "I am one of those 300 a day.

Last Tuesday I went to plead with a panel connisting of a doctor, a

judge and a disability expert to reinstate the equivalent of PIP and

my lifetime high rate, mobility component. My mobility is the

difference between being housebound and independent. I lost. I lose my

mobility car in three weeks time and can't afford to buy a new one. I'm

in constant pain and barely able to walk two steps without it worsening,

yet deemed able to walk unaided for 20 to 50 meters. I take medications

and I'm still in pain. The expert questioned my ability to make a

meal. They could only judge me on how I was last October when I was

first assessed for PIP not the fact that things are worse and will

continue to be until I'm in a wheelchair. I feel like I'm not

believed even with all the medical evidence I have and it's wrong."

Christopher, "DLA to PIP is a shocking system. My wife had to

appeal due to lies misinterpretation and omissions in her original

assessment report. A stressful and upsetting experience." Trudy says,

"Having been through three PIP assessments it was the most soul

destroying experience. I was called a liar. How the Government allowed

this to carry on is beyond me." G texts, "I was told because I could

open a tin of cat food, I was fit for work." Linda says, "I have no

problem with disability benefits being paid to those who should

receive them, but the Government has a duty to protect public funds. The

blame lies on the shoulders of those who exaggerate their disabilities in

order to receive benefits." Thank you for those. There are more. Keep

them coming in. And after 10am, we'll be speaking

to a conservative MP who says A terminally ill man

who campaigned on this programme against changes to widowed parent's

allowance has died. We'll speak to fellow campaigners

trying to overturn government Sarah says, "Thank you for keeping

us updated on the sad debt of Alan. His is one of the stories from your

programme that will stick in my mind for a long time. RIP Alan.

Also coming up - we'll speak to three women who are calling

for a public inquiry after a breast surgeon operated on them

unnecessarily after exaggerating or inventing cancer risks

Here's Joanna in the BBC Newsroom with a summary of today's news.

Labour is promising to put 10,000 more police on the streets

of England and Wales if it wins the election.

The party said it would fund the policy by reversing Conservative

The Conservatives say the proposal is "nonsensical" as Labour has

committed those savings to fund other pledges.

Downing Street says it will not enter into "a briefing war"

with the European Commission over the Brexit talks.

It follows reports of wide differences of view

between Mrs May and the President of the European Commission,

Jean-Claude Juncker, at a dinner to discuss

Number Ten has strongly rejected reports suggesting EU officials

believed Mrs May was in a different galaxy.

US President Donald Trump has said he would be "honoured" to meet

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, in the right circumstances.

Mr Trump made his comments amid continuing tensions surrounding

The White House later said such talks were unlikely

This programme has learnt that more than 300 people a day

are going to court to attempt to overturn decisions to reduce

The Government is replacing Disability Living Allowance with Pip

- or the personal independence payment - which is based

Around 250,000 people have lost money as a result of the change

and there has been a sharp rise in legal challenges.

The parents of a critically ill nine-month-old boy

will lodge an appeal today against a ruling

Last month a High Court judge ruled that doctors can withdraw life

support from Charlie Gard, who has a rare genetic condition,

Specialists at Great Ormond Street Hospital said Charlie has

irreversible brain damage and should be moved to palliative care.

His parents want to take him to the US

We will speak to a human rights lawyer and former neonatal nurse

after 10am. A surfer who went missing off

the Scottish coast has been rescued after more than 30 hours clinging

to his board. Matthew Bryce was reported missing

by his family when he didn't return from a surfing trip in Argyll

on Sunday afternoon. He was eventually picked up 13 miles

off the coast still conscious Celebrities in weird and wonderful

fashion have walked the red carpet Dubbed the Oscars of the east coast,

the event this year honoured The annual charity ball is held

at New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art to raise money

for the museum's That's a summary of the latest BBC

News - more at 10:00am. Let me read this e-mail from

Christina. I'm going to court tomorrow for Pip for my 19-year-old

son who has autism who has had his reward stomach award reduced when he

was reassessed from DLA. The whole system is rigged as it's all about

saving money and need is irrelevant. The DWP don't care about my son and

his complex condition. This tweet from Karen: over three years I faced

appeals and won two tribunals. Please tell people to appeal, to

fight. The latest sports now with Hugh. Good morning again, Mark Selby

became World Snooker champion for the third time in his career, the

world number one coming from 10-4 down to beat John Higgins 18-15 at

the Crucible becoming only the fourth man in the modern era to

successfully defend a world title. Paula Radcliffe says her reputation

and dignity have been damaged by plans to scrap all athletics world

and European record set before 2005 including hers from the 2003 London

Marathon. The credibility of records has been examined of late following

the renovations of widespread doping in the sport.

One of the goals of the season from Emre Can boosts Liverpool's

chances of qualifying for the Champions League.

Quite an impressive effort from the German international. It was enough

to beat Watford 1-0. Liverpool are three points clear

in third having played a game more. And encouraging news for England

cricket fans ahead of next On his return from injury, Ben

Stokes hit his first T20 century. Helping his team win

in the Indian Premier League. They call him Big Ben out there.

Much more after 10am. There are calls this morning

for a public inquiry into how a breast surgeon was able to carry

out needless operations on hundreds Ian Paterson is due to be sentenced

in the next few weeks after being found guilty of 17

counts of wounding with intent, relating to nine women and one man

in the West Midlands. Up to 350 women are bringing

a High Court case for compensation for the operations which took place

in both NHS and private hospitals. The surgeon, who treated thousands

of patients during his career, exaggerated or invented cancer risks

and claimed payments for more Today we can speak to

three of those women. Paula Gelsthorpe who underwent two

needless lumpectomies. Debbie Douglas was one

of those women in court - she had an unnecessary

mastectomy and chemotherapy. and Victoria Weaver

who was told by Ian Paterson that she too had cancer

and a lump removed needlessly. You first discovered a lump in 2002,

it was removed by Ian Paterson, again a lump came back in 2009

and was removed. You found out they were

completely harmless? That's right. I was called back to

the hospital in 2012 to be informed that both of the lumpectomy is were

unsuccessful. How did you react? I was shocked, a little bit of me was

overjoyed because then I realised I hadn't had cancer but I was really

angry, very angry. I couldn't understand why, why are? And why did

it happen? Debra, you had a cancerous tumour and had a

mastectomy but didn't need one. That's right, I had a small tumour

less than two centimetres and didn't need one and was told it should have

been removed with a local incision and had no chemotherapy, just

radiotherapy. However, he immediately told me within 48-hour

Zoff giving me a needless operation, sorry, I haven't misled you, it's

not the lump that has got to come out, the whole breast has got to be

removed. He was very blase when he said you will go in with two breasts

and, with two breasts and a flat stomach. The surgery was very

traumatic. I woke up in a high dependency unit, my kids had to see

me like that. And obviously at the time it also affected my stomach

muscle because I had a tram flap procedure which entails the stomach

muscle being re-routed under the chest wall. I am essentially cut

from hip to hip, he removed all of my lymph nodes, cut under the arm

and I have scars under my breast where he operated on me needlessly.

Unbelievable. Yes. Astonishing. You are diagnosed by Ian Paterson and

had a lump removed in 2011 and found out you had no cancer, Victoria.

What was the impact on you? We were devastated as a family because it

doesn't just affect you, it affects your whole family, my parents were

affected, my husband, two small children both on the autistic

spectrum, seven and five, and I am panicking that I'm going to die

shortly, what do I do? I wonder if you were like Paula, when you are

told, it was fine. You had needless operations but didn't have cancer,

how did you react then? There is a slight bit of distrust because you

are not sure who is telling you the truth now. That doesn't go away,

even now I will have a dark thought that somebody has got it wrong. He

was a nice man and always really kind to me, and was he right? When

this all came out on Friday last week that he was guilty it kind of

makes you angry and sad, tearful. I've had a weird emotions. People

asking me, how are you? And I don't know, I really don't. Would you ever

have questioned him? Would it ever have occurred to you to question

what he said to you? No, his bedside manner was amazing, he was lovely,

he was always telling me that he would look out for me, that

everything would be OK as long as I kept coming back for my checks. But

I had got an aggressive form of cancer that would return. It was not

if but when. That is exactly what he said to me actually. He tried to

keep you in that loop. If you had it -- if stomach it was like he had a

sixth sense about you being vulnerable. I had a both parents who

died from cancer. I had boot insurance and Blippar insurance was

unlimited because I didn't have any preconditions from cancer so it was

essentially a licence to print money. -- BUPA. Do you think that is

what it was about? It was all about money? Absolutely. I do believe so.

I do think so. Like you said, he had a fantastic bedside manner. He used

to say, I am going to cure you, this is curable but you then have to go

and have a scan, have a check, and come and see me on a regular basis.

And every scan costs ?1500 which he can invoice the insurance company

for. He said you had to have chemotherapy, Deborah. That's right.

That is dealt with by an oncologist looking at the pathology report and

the pathology report details what is wrong with the tissue removed from

new. Surely an oncologist would read that and say, hang on a minute,

there is no... I don't get this. That is absolutely why I don't

believe it's just him. The oncologist, I mean I looked at

something called the Nottinghamshire index and it says if you have a

small tumour and a small tumour being less than two centimetres

which I had, there is no spread to the lymph nodes, then you don't need

chemo. It's all charted, and it is a look-up table, essentially. There is

no way I needed therapy. He didn't do the month, multidisciplinary team

meetings and if he did it was just to discuss it with a very close few

people that he worked with on a regular basis. The breast care nurse

should have been the patient advocate. She did not speak up once.

In fact it was like being sold something that you didn't need

basically. Because, I was told six weeks after having major surgery I

would be playing a round of golf. This surgery was horrific. I

couldn't straighten up, it affected my stomach muscles, and everybody

that I know who had this pedicure tram flap surgery which they don't

tend to do nowadays really struggled and you are never the same after

that. You all think they should be a public inquiry. Can I ask each of

you why. This needs to not happen ever again to anybody. There should

not be this amount of women who have had unnecessary surgeries because

one man had what seemed like a god complex. He loved the adulation that

I gave him. Because actually I only paid him once, I was transferred to

an NHS clinic so I didn't have insurance, we played cash -- paid

cash for the surgery. You paid cash even though you were on the NHS? No,

I went privately for the first treatment and then he transferred me

to the NHS. But the adulation you talk about. I've been there.

Absolutely. You cannot thank them enough, they have saved your life.

Absolutely and he had no qualms in telling me I had had my life saved

by him, and my father and my mother, they came with us and supported me

at all of my appointments. And saying I have saved your life. There

is no evidence Ian Paterson acted with anyone else, he is in court and

is the man who has been found guilty. Explain why you believe a

public inquiry is necessary. Because I don't think he's the only one. I

think there were people who knew about this about what he was doing

and they are hiding behind him now and there should be a public inquiry

as well as Ian Paterson. I saw several other doctors that

performed, I had a biopsy, ultrasound, mammogram. All of these

people were involved. It has gone into the thousands. Somebody must

have known what he was doing. Somebody else other than Patterson.

He absolutely knew what he was doing. In 1996 he almost killed

somebody at good Hope Hospital and was under a supervision order. He

left that hospital, didn't work his notice, when straight to Solihull

where he began operating under the NHS and in the private sector. He

was a money making machine for those people. They didn't want to know.

They covered up information. In 2003 a radiologist actually flagged up,

did an audit about the amount of patients that he was seeing that had

extra flesh, in other words this skin sparing mastectomy, and he was

listened to. And you look at the people who covered this up in the

executive. These people have retired on massive pensions now and earned

millions of pounds. We hear what you are saying but there is no evidence

of any cover-up. But I understand and I hear your calls for a public

inquiry. Thank you for coming on the programme. Debbie Douglas, Victoria

Weaver, and Paula -- Debbie Douglas, thank you for coming on.

Next this morning, 'Alan', the terminally ill father of two

who many of you will remember after he appeared on this

programme to campaign against changes to widowed parent's

He was 51 and passed away with his wife at his bedside.

Alan, which isn't his real name, had cancer which started

in his tonsils and spread to his lungs and chest.

This is him talking to us a month ago.

I made a calculation not long ago, regarding how much support would be

available to my wife to help raise our young children.

Under the current system, as you say, I calculated it

would have been a sum of over ?50,000.

Under the new system, it would reduce to ?6,000.

I was shocked that a system of benefits that has been in place,

as I understand, for 70 years, since 1946, although it's been

renamed, the essence of this support is that when somebody is widowed,

there's financial support available for young children up

The fact that that's been taken away, seems

I've said, in some ways, it wouldn't be a bad thing

if they lost me a couple of days early, because at least there'd be

Of course, even talking in those terms is very upsetting.

You're contemplating death, and you want to go out of this

world with some dignity, with some grace, with some

peace of mind, not full of financial anxiety,

feeling that the Government has just taken money away from you -

Well, since he appeared on our programme church

leaders, campaigners, charities and some politicians

joined forces to fight the changes to the money

Let's now talk to two of those people who are both

Lord Stuart Polak who was friends with "Alan" and his family.

Baroness Ros Altman is a former minister for the Department

Can you give us a little bit of an insight into what happened this

weekend? Yes, Alan passed away at 4 o'clock in the morning on Sunday and

in the Jewish tradition we will Bury somebody very quickly and he was

buried on the same day and what's going on now is that we have a thing

called shiver, a week where family and friends come to the home to give

some comfort to the mourners, to his wife, and family and that's going

on. It's private and yet, it's a community thing that people come

together and try to give comfort as much as one can at this period.

When we spoke to you a month ago, the time that we spoke to Alan you

came off air and you wrote to the Work and Pensions Secretary, Damian

Green two express your concerns about the reforms. Have you had a

response? Well, what I committed to doing on air was to getting a cross

party group of peers to ask the Government to think again on this

issue which is, of course, the role of the House of Lords very often.

Lord Polak was involved in that letterment the frontbench for the

Labour Party, the Lib Dems and the bishops as you say all of us have

written to the Work and Pensions Secretary as he was then asking him

if he would consider extending the payments for those bereaved families

with young children. Unfortunately the election has got in the way. We

don't know who the Secretary of State for Work and pensions will be.

But I think we are all determined to get the Government to re-think

stopping these payments just after 18 months which doesn't seem long

enough for parents and children to cope with the dreadful grief of

losing a loved one, a parent, in this awful way and what is the

welfare state for if it is not to help families in such dreadful

circumstances? It is worth reminding our audience as you say the reforms

mean new claimants, newly bereaved parents such as Alan's wife will

receive tax-free payments of ?9800 in total spread over 18 months. Had

Alan died as he pointed out before 6th April, his family would have

received a tax-free lump sum of ?2,000 followed by nearly ?6,000 a

year before tax for up to 20 years. So, quite a big difference. We have

a statement from Alan which he wanted us to read after his death.

It is as follows, "The Conservative Party manifesto for the June general

election contained a revised policy for widowed parents allowance either

to revert to the pre-6th April policy of up to 20 years support for

widows and young children up to the age of 20, or a compromise policy

suggested by Ros Altman of ten years support. Prince William indicated

his own bereavement lasted 20 years, that's further evidence of the need

for the welfare state to replace the current inadequate level of support

with something of much greater longevity." What do you say to that?

Well, I'm, this is such a difficult area and... Why is it a difficult

area? Because Government policy can't be made for individual cases.

They have to have a blanket thing. I'm campaigning on this issue

because it's a tiny part of the welfare budget itself and as I said

in the House of Lords after appearing on your programme when

Baroness Altman had a question and I followed up on the Thursday and

said, "On this issue, if you lose somebody, you can't fake it. It's

real. I understand sometimes things are not done in the right way and

welfare, cuts are needed to be made and people are perhaps cheating,

about if you have been bereaved you can't make it up." I'm keen to

continue to try and encourage the Government to look at this again in

the way that we described in the letter. We, just to let our audience

know, we have tried to find a Conservative MP, an elected member,

any Conservative MP, to come on to the programme to defend this policy.

We haven't been able to find anyone. Does that suggest this policy is

indefensible? No, I think timing, timing is just unfortunate. A month

ago, we tried. We found, we were unable to find anyone. This, I think

I said to you last time, this is a brand-new policy. It just started on

6th April and so these things take time to bed down. I was listening to

your previous stuff. Things take time to bed down and when things are

changing they do affect some individuals whereas the vast

majority hopefully are receiving the been fits and stuff that they do

need. I think it was a bit too early. I think we have the

opportunity now, there could be a new Secretary of State, there could

be new ministers, there could be, time, after the election, to do this

and I also... If the Conservatives win? If Labour win they have said

they will reverse this. Well, they may try, but it's all about finding

the money to do these things. Yes, of course, it is. It is about the,

no, it is about the decisions you take, of course, of course,

everything costs money. The same with 10,000 policemen. You can say

all sorts of things pre-election. They said they would pay that by

reversing Capital Gains Tax as you know. We will see. We have a

statement from Alan's wife as well which I'd like to read. She has

given us a statement. She says, "The Government have got this so very

badly wrong. Alan wanted to speak out for all those that will suffer

from this outrageous policy. Not just us, his words were intended to

inspire action over and above a political discussion. That's the

legacy wanted to leave to have overturned the wrong that has been

done to people." I mean, you know, the Government says this ant an

austerity measure, it is about updating a very old-fashioned system

which didn't reflect people's lives today. How do you respond to that? I

do agree that the old system needed to be simplified because it was very

difficult for people to deal with and understand, but simplification

doesn't itself mean that you need to do it in this particular way and I

think what I'd like to reassure Alan's fally is that there is a

really strong sense within the House of Lords, within the Tory membership

of the House of Lords as well as Labour and Lib Dem and the bishops

and across the House that we would like to ask the Government to think

again about whether this is the right way to address welfare. I am

supportive of the Government's position that we must not be

irresponsible with welfare payments and that in fact, encouraging people

to work is the best way to help them avoid poverty and deal with life.

However, there are instances where styles policy changes need to be

adjusted. We would very much like whoever the new Secretary of State

is after the election to have another look at this and as Lord

Polak said, the welfare state needs to help people and support people in

tiles of distress and needment that's what it is there for, but

also, needs to have the compassion to help peel who are not faking it,

who really have suffered a dreadful life experience and particularly

those with young children who as Prince Harry has explained and

Prince William, can take many, many years to be able to deal with the

grief of losing a parent. I think we have 18 months because

the payments will carry on for 18 months. So we have a little bit of

time to fulfil what Alan asked of the Government and asked of you and

me to try and put right. Thank you very much for your time.

I have these comments from you. This is from a viewer on Twitter, "Thank

you for sharing Alan's sad story today. Please send condolence to say

his wife and family." Stewart says, ""My thoughts are with Alan and his

family at this timement" Linda e-mailed scwsmt RIP Alan, I'm still

heartbroken by this story." Audrey says, "I send my con dough labses to

Alan's family. May he rest in peace. We'll have the latest

on the case of Charlie Gard, a critically ill nine-month-old boy,

his parents say they'll appeal against a ruling

that he should be allowed to die. Let's get the latest

weather from Carol. This is Fife in Scotland. In

Bridlington, a fair bit of cloud this morning. We will hang on to

that. Look at the difference. Some lovely blue skies and thank you to

our weather waffleders for the beautiful pictures. You can see

where we have got the cloud on the satellite picture. We have got cloud

in central areas, but for most of us, it is a dry start. There is a

fair bit of sun sheub around the however, as the breeze picks you, we

will more cloud coming in across Eastern England and Eastern Scotland

through the day with showery outbreaks coming from that. That

will transfer into central parts of the UK later on. So, west is best

once again in terms of sunshinement through the afternoon, south-west

England, a lot drier than it was yesterday and the same too for

Wales. A lot of sunshinement temperatures in Cardiff getting up

to 17 Celsius. Yesterday, Northern Ireland had its

warmest day of the year so far. Today, we might be just a degree or

so lower than the 20.1 Celsius that we hit yesterdayment for Scotland

too, we had the second warmest day of the year so far yesterday.

Temperatures down a notch. Eastern Scotland, Eastern England, more

cloud. Cumbria, Lancashire and Cheshire, you will have the

sunshine. Into East Anglia and Kent and heading towards the Midlands,

there will be more cloud through the afternoon producing showers which

will be hit and miss and in between we will see bright or sunny skies.

Through this evening and overnight the showers will transfer towards

western and eastern parts of Wales, down towards the south-west and

fade. Then we have got our next system coming in from bringing in

more rain and stronger breeze. Where we have had clear skies by day the

temperature will fall rapidly and it will be cold. So a cold start to the

day toll, but there will be a lot of sunshine around. However, in the

south-eastern quadrant of the country, more cloud the the rain

that we have overnight, turning more showery, but on this brisk breeze,

the cloud will drift further westwards. You can see it is just

the western fringes of Wales and south-west England that hang on to

the sunshine. Once again, it is Northern England, Scotland and

Northern Ireland that really see a dry and a sunny pleasant day. If

you're thinking of heading down to the seaside because there is going

to be quite pleasant in the north, you can see the temperatures that

will greet you if you're there. Cold in the sea. Also as the breeze moves

across the North Sea, it will bring in cooler air and cloud for the next

few days into eastern coastal counties.

Morning, it's Tuesday, just after 10am, I'm Victoria Derbyshire.

Our top story today - the number of disabled people

going to court to fight cuts to their benefit payments

Why do I need to stand up in judge and say what's wrong with me,

I've not broken law, I've not done anything wrong in need

to be in court for - calm down - I do not need to be in front

of a judge and that annoyed me more than anything else.

It's all costing the taxpayer ?1 million a week.

We'll talk to a man with Parkinson's who's been through the process.

An innocent couple accused of seriously injuring their baby

girl are due to be reunited with her in the next few days - nine

When she said it was all over it was best feeling in world,

A mountain lifted from our shoulders.

We were the first people to shake the judge's hand.

The full interview is coming after 10:30am this morning.

And it's known as "fashion's biggest night out", the evening

when celebrities don't have to play by the rules.

This year both elegance and extravagance were on display

Labour is promising to put 10,000 more police on the streets

of England and Wales if it wins the election.

The party said it would fund the policy by reversing Conservative

The Conservatives say the proposal is "nonsensical" as Labour has

committed those savings to fund other pledges.

Downing Street says it will not enter into "a briefing war"

with the European Commission over the Brexit talks.

It follows reports of wide differences of view

between Mrs May and the President of the European Commission,

Jean-Claude Juncker, at a dinner to discuss

Number Ten has strongly rejected reports suggesting EU officials

believed Mrs May is in a different galaxy.

US President Donald Trump has said he would be "honoured" to meet

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, in the right circumstances.

Mr Trump made his comments amid continuing tensions surrounding

The White House later said such talks were unlikely

This programme has learned that more than 300 people a day

are going to court to attempt to overturn decisions to reduce

The Government is replacing Disability Living Allowance with Pip

- or the personal independence payment - which is based

Aaround 250,000 people have lost money as a result of the change

and there has been a sharp rise in the number of legal challenges.

The parents of a critically ill nine-month-old boy

today against a ruling that he should be allowed to die.

Last month a High Court judge ruled that doctors can withdraw life

support from Charlie Gard, who has a rare genetic condition,

Specialists at Great Ormond Street Hospital said Charlie has

irreversible brain damage and should be moved to palliative care.

His parents want to take him to the US

We'll be speaking to a human rights lawyer and a former

A surfer who went missing off the Scottish coast has been rescued

after more than 30 hours clinging to his board.

Matthew Bryce was reported missing by his family when he didn't return

from a surfing trip in Argyll on Sunday afternoon.

He was eventually picked up 13 miles off the coast still conscious

Dramatic footage has emerged of a baby being pulled out of a car

The pick-up truck with a father, his baby son and toddler daughter

inside overturned in water near Myrtle Springs east of Dallas,

Fellow motorists performed CPR on the children at the scene,

who were taken to hospital and are said to be doing well.

Celebrities in weird and wonderful fashion have walked the red carpet

Dubbed the Oscars of the east coast, the event this year honoured

The annual charity ball is held at New York's Metropolitan Museum

of Art to raise money for the museum's

That's a summary of the latest BBC News - more at 10:30am.

Thank you, the latest sport now with Hugh.

Hello again. Paula Radcliffe says her reputation

and dignity have been damaged by proposals that would scrap

all athletics world and European The credibility of records has been

examined following revelations And plans to wipe the slate clean

would mean Radcliffe's marathon Triple jumper Jonathan Edwards

and hurdler Colin Jackson would all have their world

records re-written. With European Athletics insisting

they're "meaningless if people don't Mark Selby has joined

a rarefied elite in snooker. In winning the World

championship for a third time. He's also only the fourth

player in the modern era Only greats of the game like Hendry,

Davis and O'Sullivan And the world number one is becoming

something of a comeback king too. Selby had been trailing his opponent

in the final John Higgins winning nine out of ten frames

at one point to eventually triumph Very special. I mean, to get over

those two wins and be sitting at three world titles out there on my

own is unbelievable. To be one of only four players to defend it is

something I can only dream of. 18-15, it wasn't that much of a

comeback! Liverpool's chances of qualifying

for the Champions League have been boosted by one of the goals

of the season by Emre Can. The midfielder lit up a pretty

uninspiring game with this incredible overhead kick

at the end of the first half. We will see it again in Slo Mo,

glorious balance, fantastic strike. But Sebastian Prodl missed a chance

to snatch a point in stoppage time. Liverpool are three

points clear in third. Ben Stokes is in good form with the

Champions Trophy coming up next month. He hit the first T20 century

of his career for Pune supergiants in the IPL. He rescued after a

terrible start and took them to victory. All of after suffering from

cramp. And finally, two footballers

who appeared to forget which sport Watch as the ball travels

towards the halfway line. It happened in the Russian Premier

League yesterday between Tom Tomsk Afterwards both players only

received yellow cards. You shouldn't be sent off or doing

something amusing! A lot more later on and headlines at 10:30am.

What children! This morning we've revealed that

more than 300 disabled people a day go to to court to overturn

a decision to reduce or stop their benefits -

and it's costing taxpayers around The Government is replacing what it

calls the "outdated" Disability Living Allowance with Pip

or the personal independence payment saying it's a better system based

on individual needs. But official figures show that

around 250,000 people have lost money in the switch from DLA

and the number of tribunals for Pip

has risen sharply in the last year. Now, we've seen leaked letters

to judges suggesting the number of cases will

rise again this summer. We asked the Conservative Party of

Department for Work and Pensions for an interview but said no. We can

speak to a Conservative MP who sits on a committee of MPs which monitors

the Department for Work and Pensions. He voted in favour of the

move to personal independence payments.

Kayley Hignell, the head of policy at Citizens Advice who gave evidence

And to Jeffrey Sturt, a former civil servant who has

Parkinson's and has been through the tribunal process.

Good morning. How do you react to the fact we are reporting this

morning 300 disabled people a day are going to court to overturn

original decisions? Good morning. The important thing is we all want

to see the money go to those who need it most and if people in their

original application for Pip are not getting the right result it's

important there is a process where they can appeal, and in some cases

they are getting the money they deserve. I've gone through this in

quite a lot of detail with one of my constituents last Friday who was

applying for Pip and one of the things that comes out of this is the

importance of being able to gather all of the evidence for that

original application. A lot of the appeals are all about producing

evidence that wasn't produced originally. I think there is a real

emphasis on everyone from governments, CAVs, to make it clear

to people applying to make sure you've got your doctor's letter of

support, evidence from people who have known you for a long time and

seen your condition deteriorate and so on, get ready for the original

application. Sellers down to the individual claimants? That's the

reason, it's their responsibility that they in some cases are being

assessed as getting zero points, therefore their original benefit is

being reduced. The key is in any system trying to make sure money

goes to people who need it most, you've got to have a process for

analysing each individual situation, and therefore if people are applying

for it, the original emphasis and the way in which those who are

deciding will make their decisions is based on the evidence which is

given. You may not have seen our film earlier. We spoke to one man

whose Doctor wrote three times to the assessors. He had all the

evidence. Yes, well I can't comment obviously on any individual

situation but what I can tell you is in my constituency in Gloucester at

where there are people who are not getting the benefits they believe

they need and deserve, they come to me and then we help them make sure

that everything is in line for an appeal and give them the best chance

of winning that. Quite a lot of those appeals are winning, so that's

showing in a sense that the system is functioning. I think the other

point to bear in mind about the difference between Pip and DLA is

more than doubled the amount of people getting the top level of

benefits under the late are getting them now under Pip. Let me bring in

Jeffrey Sturt, a former civil servant who has parkinsonism you've

been through the tribunal process but when you are first assessed you

scored zero in every field. What was your reaction to that?

Astonishment. The process is demeaning and stressful, it's

time-consuming and fraud on so many levels -- flawed. The score of zero

I couldn't cope with the outcome because it was incredible having had

the disease, the condition, full four yes, that an assessor could do

that. Is that the system working as it should? Well, I'd have the

benefit of working in the civil service with various departments and

agencies for a number of years and their contract is and I've been able

to say from that experience that the system isn't working as it should,

and to be quite frank, without that insight and the assistance of

parkinsonism UK and the CAB, I would have forked away and I wonder how

many people are walking away -- Parkinson's UK. Do you know how many

people are choosing not to appeal because of the stress it involves?

That is like asking how many illegal immigrants are here? It is

impossible by definition. If there is anyone in that situation I would

urge them to contact their MPs. OK, we are stepping down to beat

candidates in a day's time but our casework teams are still very much

functioning and it's important that MPs like me and everyone else knows

if somebody is in a really difficult situation. It is also important they

go to the CAB, I would recommend, as early as possible when applying for

Pip so they get help in understanding what sort of evidence

they can produce to demonstrate the strongest case for their situation.

The Government's independent review into Pip published just over a month

ago said the fact that 65% of people are winning at a tribunal and

overturning original decisions is "Clearly eroding the trust of people

in the whole system". Would you agree? I think when there is an

issue, and it would be interesting if Jeffrey has any thoughts on it,

the challenge in many cases is that a lot of people who are in

conditions where they want to apply for Pip, are not necessarily best

able to answer a complicated application form in a relatively

short space of time, and probably would benefit from help doing so. I

think that is, if you like, and administrative and logistical issue

about the process which the DWP does have to tackle and I think they have

said they will be looking at this. OK. Jeffrey, how do you respond to

that? May I pick up on that, please? Please do.

My personal case, I was refused, my claim was refused with an on going

complaint that hasn't been resolved with regard to the assessment

process and the company that were providing that service. How can you

refuse a complaint when there is an outstanding, how can you refuse a

claim when there is an outstanding complaint? Evidence was provided

along the lines that have just been mentioned, but that was ignored. I

had doctors letters that were sent to DWP that were referred to, and

then they were ignored. The assessor went through with closed questions,

he didn't probe, he didn't evaluate or quantify and clarify. I

personally have the need to wear an alarmed watch to time my medication

throughout my day which I take every three-and-a-half hours. I mentioned

that to the assessor because that's an aid, permissible under the rules

for PIP, he ignored it. He didn't want to know anything about it. It

want recorded on my assessment form. The evidence on my assessment

fortunately form from the onset of my claim said that I had, they had

received a GP's factual statement. They hadn't received a GP's factual

statement. I mentioned it to the assessor, he deferred to the office,

I mentioned it the company, communicating with them was trying

to knock a brick wall down with a toffee hammer. Mr Graham, does that

sound like the system working as it does to use your phrase from

earlier? No, it doesn't. And clearly... And Jeff is not the only

one, you'd acknowledge that, yes? I'm sure he is not the only one and

where there are issues like that, it is incredibly important that MPs

take them up, the DWP is aware of it and whoever they are, they are

challenged about how they are going about their process. Is the form too

complicated as Richard Graham says A form for disability benefits can be

quite long because you are trying to cover a lot of different conditions

and support needs. So one form filling that out is a long and

complicated process for a lot of people and even myself and other

advisors across Citizens Advice spend many hours helping people with

the application forms with gathering the medical evidence that's been

mentioned and ensuring that they have got everything they can to get

through that assessment process and get it right first time. Richard

Graham, is the form deliberately complicated? No, of course, not, but

it is designed as the CAB mentioned, it is designed to deal with a wide

range of different conditions and that does make it quite hard and

complicated and I do think that's something that the DWP has got to

look at again and I think they have recognised that in the last session

with them in the Select Committee. There are various charities Mr

Graham who argue if you have a permanent degenerative condition,

such as Parkinson's for example, and you've already been assessed and

placed on the highest level of support, you should never face

reassessment again. Do you agree? I think Damian Green did make a

statement specifically on some of those issues where people had

clearly got a long-term degenerative disease and I think some of people

are not going through the assessment process. So yes, I would agree with

that... There are plenty who are with degenerative conditions? Sorry?

There are plenty who are still being reassessed with degenerative

conditions? Some conditions do degenerate, some stabilise and

occasionally some do get better. So it is a mixed situation... So which

permanent degenerative condition gets better? Victoria, I'm not going

to try and get into an argue the about specific conditions here. It

is not an argumentment you said some get better and I'm asking you which

get better? Let's get back also Is that because there isn't a permanent

degenerative condition that gets better? The key thing about PIP is

more people are getting the top lel and more of them are getting help

with mobility and more are getting help with their daily allowance than

used to be the case with the DLA, there are problems on it, but to try

and make the case that PIP is not working for a great deal of people,

I think, is over stressing it. I don't think anybody is making that

case. The number of appeals is rising. It is costing the taxpayer

more than ?1 million a week. Are you happy with that sth The costs of the

tribunals do you mean? Yes. Or the overall programme? The cost of the

tribunal? Clearly, everyone would love to see the cost of the

tribunals reduced but to have a Stel without try bums would be wrong and

it is important we have they will and it is important they do the work

they're doing. You can argue about whether the percentage of success

means too many of the original assessments are wrong, or whether it

means that actually the tribunals are doing their job in looking into

great deal more detail. Either way, it's important that the system works

as well as as it can and as I've said the Select Committee has

recommended some improsms to the DWP and they have said... Victoria,

Victoria... Jeffrey, go ahead? Sorry to interrupt, I apologise. It is not

a question of what's working, it is a question of the assessments

process is not working. The evidence I have for that from my own

experience is the fact that the tribunals are working. The

assessment process is DWP's responsibility, the tribums are the

Chancellor's. When I went to the tribunal they asked open questions,

they qualified and clarified and quantified the situation with

regards to the example I gave you for the wristwatch, they scored me

positively on that. So my question for everybody involved is why did

they not score positively on the wristwatch situation in my

assessment? The assessment process is flawed. It's not a question of

the tribunals so much, if the process was working properly they

wouldn't have to go to tribunal. Kayleigh, Richard Graham, points out

that under PIP more people are receiving the highest rate of

support, 26% compared to 15% under the DLA system, that's got to be a

good thing? We want people to get the support they need the what is

crucial is that the been fit is delivered in a way that gets that

right first time. So at Citizens Advice, it is our biggest enquiry.

Last year we saw 400,000 enquiries about PIP... How many? 400,000

enquiries in 2016. Some of that is because it is a new benefit that's

being rolled out. Peel are confused about thaflt some of it though when

we drill down into it, is because there are much needed improvements

in the system to make sure people get that assess the right first

time. Thank you. Richard Graham who sits on the committee of MPs which

monitors the Department of Work and Pensionsks and Jeffrey, thank you

very much for your time, former civil servant who has Parkinson's

and been true the tribunals service and Kayleigh from Citizens Advice. A

viewer says, "I am a serious brain injury victim. I scored 26 points.

All professional medical people say that my medical condition will never

get better or improve. About a month ago I had another assessment for

PIP, I scored zero points. No explanation has been given. Because

of this my PIP has been stopped and the disability payment of my ESA has

been stopped. It is not approximately ?80 per week I'm worse

off, it is ?143 I am worse off. I simply do not know what I am

supposed to do anymore." Sue says, "My son has just been

through a tribunal he was awarded zero points and then 27 points on

appeal. He was so stressed by having to wait for so long that his

machinal health got worse and he was a nervous wreck." -- mental health

got worse and he was a nervous wreck." The Government has no idea

what they are putting people through. He is suffering panic

attacks and becoming suicidal. Viv says, "I'm watching your

programme and I'm getting really angry. I'm having to go go for an

assessment. The offices in a pedestrian area. All that involves

is stress to plan to get there, to see if I can get there and to see if

I can get back. We've worked hard all our lives even with our

disabilities we try to get on, but not having the freedom to get out is

daunting to be trapped at home is unthinkable." So many of you getting

in touch to share your experience of appealing against your original

assessment decision. Our reporter Jim Reed has been following one

woman's story as she appealed against that decision.

Debbie Neal was diagnosed ten years ago with a rare kidney disease.

She takes dozens of pills to manage the symptoms.

Then five times a day, she does this, empties out excess

fluid from a tube in her stomach and replaces it with

You can only live your life to a point.

I can't even remember what it was like not ever doing it.

Debbie lives on her own and works part-time as a cleaner.

For years she's relied on DLA, or Disability Living Allowance,

But that is slowly being replaced by a new benefit,

the Personal Independence Payment, or Pip.

When she was reassessed by a private company, all her payments

I put on a brave face, but inside I'm just...

That morning, Debbie is meeting Alex Powell,

from a local charity that helps people with their claims.

The Government says it is spending more than ever on disability

benefits and many have seen their incomes rise

since PIP was introduced, but more than a quarter of a million

people have lost out in the switch from DLA.

This benefit doesn't stop because you're

We'll get it all sorted out once and for all.

Debbie has already asked for her case to be reviewed, and lost.

Now she wants to go to tribunal in court, to ask a judge

Because, you know, I am ill and I've got...

I've got to believe it, even though I don't want to.

Debbie's hearing will take about an hour in court number two,

in front of a judge, a doctor and a disability

My emotions are all over the place at the moment.

She is being represented by Alex, but she'll be questioned directly

and in detail by all three of the tribunal members.

It has taken a year, but Debbie has won her appeal.

Most of her payments will now be guaranteed for the next ten years.

That bit there, "The decision made by Secretary of State on the 4th

I was just been honest about how I feel, I couldn't

The Department of Work and Pensions told us that decisions are made

following all the evidence from the complainedant. We routinely review

our work to make sure we focus our resources on the viable ogses and

deliver support for the most vulnerable in society.

In their first TV interview we'll speak to the couple

who was wrongly accused of seriously injuring their baby girl.

They are due to be reunited with her in the next few days -

nine months after she was taken away.

News and sport in a couple of minutes - but first -

it was dresses galore at the Met Gala in New York.

Our entertainment reporter Sinead Garvan is here.

Who wore the most ridiculous outfit? Katie Perry we have to talk about

first. The reason she was in one of the more ridiculous ones, she was

co-hosting this event. She was covered in like a red veil. This is

the sort of outfit you could probably make yourself!

LAUGHTER She has headwear that has two

mirrors, but the close up shots of the mirrors will show the mirrors

hadn't been cleaned. They were mucky actually.

You would get finger prints on them trying to get them on. She had

witnessed written across her forehand. -- forehead. Rihanna never

fails to impress. She was wearing Comme des Garcons which this ball

was in honour of last night. She said in an interview it was quite

easy to put on, just a pair of shorts and then the top bit goes on

but the boots go all the way up to her Falla and they took an hour to

get on. She's one of the most beautiful women in the world wearing

something that looks like it was made in primary school -- the boots

go all the way up to her thigh. I don't know if the designer would be

happy to hear that. It is a bit more out there, it's not like your

average Premier, here is Pharrell Williams and his wife and she can't

get her hands out. How should she eat her dinner? That is horrific. He

is wearing a designer as well, Comme des Garcons, but a kind of casual

viewer of it. There is a lot of people saying Pharrell Williams's

wife, what did she look like? Madonna is in full Camogie, it looks

more army surplus store than perhaps high-end fashion. -- camouflage. We

don't know who designed it but she was hanging around with Jeremy Scott

who is a designer. That looks like a kids have gone down the shop and

stuck it together. Carol Dovi in, very interesting, this silver

haired. -- Cara Delevingne. She shaved her head for a new role she's

playing, A Year In The Life where she plays a dying kid. Everyone is

talking about the headpiece she has painted on to make it more

avant-garde, which is what the event is about. Serena Williams. She looks

beautiful. She really does command having a great time and everyone was

congratulating her. That is a Moore-Taylor outfit compared to what

we have seen before. You could see the lady in the background with big

cat. There are some more kind of plain addresses like JLo looking

very elegant there -- plain dresses. You want exciting things at the Met

Gala because you want to look at them in the paper the next day. Kim

Kardashian will not wear jewellery now because of the robbery so when

she is at big events she will not have jewellery on and she looked

very dressed down and playing for her which was interesting to see.

Did Pharrell Williams have something to say? He did indeed. Because the

night was all in tribute to this designer Rei Kawakubo. She founded

Comme des Garcons which is a Japanese high-end fashion company.

She is someone I don't think many of us have heard of. It's not like John

Paul Gautier and those sort of things. He talked about how other

designers are quite obsessed with her. I think we can hear him now.

Rei is your favourite designer's favourite designer.

I mean, like, her abstract way of thinking just continues

to influence so many brands, and four or five years later they'll

And think about it, it's so call it's a woman.

It's so warm and that's, like, a woman is the king of fashion.

And also it's Japanese, I love Japanese culture,

I love everything that Tokyo has given me personally, you know?

So, for me, it's Rei Kawakubo and Nigo.

That's it for me. What is interesting about the Met Ball is

nominally people know what it's about, they just see people in these

dresses and actually it's just the opening night of fashion exhibition

in New York. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, every year they will pay

tribute to one fashion house, or one designer, and for that year there

will be this amazing exhibition going on there. So this year it is

Rei, as you heard, Rei Kawakubo who is the founder of Comme des Garcons

command for the entire year her display will be in this entire

museum. Do they raise loads of money for charity as well? Yes, it's a

fundraiser and lots of fun but that's why the outfits tend to be a

bit more out there for this because they are trying to pay tribute to

that designer. Her catwalks are the type of catwalks that you look and

think, who would ever wear that? Who would ever wear that? They are the

craziest ones. Hence why Rihanna was wearing that which was from the

catwalk by Comme des Garcons. And probably cost ten grand, 20 grand,

50 grand? Probably more! I think there are a few diamonds in there as

well so probably even more. Thank you for joining us. We will have the

latest news and sport in the moment and the latest on the case of

Charlie Gard. A critically ill nine-month-old boy

- whose parents are reported to be lodging an appeal -

against a ruling that he should be In what is being described as a car

crash interview Labour's home affairs spokesman Diane Abott fails

to correctly say how much Labour's policy on more police officers will

cost. It is 10:35am. With the News here's Joanna

in the BBC Newsroom. Labour is promising to put 10,000

more police on the streets of England and Wales if it

wins the election. The party said it would fund

the policy by reversing Conservative The Conservatives say the proposal

is "nonsensical" as Labour has committed those savings to fund

other pledges. Downing Street says it will not

enter into "a briefing war" with the European Commission over

the Brexit talks. It follows reports of wide

differences of view between Mrs May and the President

of the European Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker,

at a dinner to discuss Number Ten has strongly rejected

reports suggesting EU officials believed Mrs May is in

a different galaxy. US President Donald Trump has said

he would be "honoured" to meet North Korean leader Kim Jong-un,

in the right circumstances. Mr Trump made his comments

amid continuing tensions surrounding The White House later said

such talks were unlikely That is a summary of the latest

news. Join me for newsroom live from 11am. Here is Hugh again with the

sport. Mark Selby has become the Snooker

World Champion for a third time. The world number one came back

from 10-4 down to beat John Higgins He becomes only the fourth man

in the modern era to successfully Paula Radcliffe says her reputation

and dignity have been damaged by plans to scrap all athletics

world and European records Which would mean her 2003 marathon

world record would be rewritten. The credibility of records has been

under scrutiny following revelations One of the goals of the season

from Emre Can boosts Liverpool's chances of qualifying

for the Champions League. This stunning strike was enough

to beat Watford last night. Liverpool are three points clear

in third having played a game more. And encouraging news for England

cricket fans ahead of next On his return from injury,

Ben Stokes hit his first T20 century helping his team win

in the Indian Premier League. The parents of a critically ill

nine-month-old boy say they'll appeal against a ruling

that he should be allowed to die. Charlie Gard is currently

receiving 24 hour care at Great Ormond Street Hospital

for a genetic condition so rare, he's believed to be only one of 16

people in the whole world He has an extremely rare

muscle wasting condition There's no known medical cure

for his condition and last month, the High Court ruled that Charlie

should die with dignity and have his His parents, Connie Yates

and Chris Gard, raised over ?1.3 million for their son to have

experimental treatment in the United States in a last

attempt to save him. Today is the deadline for them

to lodge their appeal Charlie Gard's life support can't be

turned off until then. We spoke to Connie Yates

and Chris Gard earlier this year and they told us why they won't stop

fighting for their son. The people that say he is in pain

don't spend all day and night with him.

And he's not on painkillers, so if they thought he was in pain,

You know, we are there all day, every day.

People who wrote the reports for court spent very

So if anyone knows him, obviously they're the experts

when it comes to the clinical side of things, but if

Do you think if we suspected he was in pain, we'd

If we were sitting there thinking he was in pain,

You know, he's our boy, we love him, and we're doing

I just wish we were trusted to know what's best for our son.

I think we've shown the dedication we've got.

We're not keeping him here just for our benefit, you know,

As I said, as we were talking about before,

he has fought to save, to stay here.

As I say, if we feel he's not in pain and suffering,

which we don't, because seriously, we would not be doing this,

We just want him to be given a chance, and if he's not

in pain and not suffering, as we feel he is, then

we will fight to the very end to get him the treatment

The parents of Charlie Gard who spoke to us last month.

Let's talk now to Anna Moore who is a human rights solicitor

and has represented families in similar cases.

Lizzie Tandy is a former neonatal nurse.

Good morning to you both. Anna, you have acted for family members in

cases similar to this one. What kind of factors can lead to a successful

appeal? To bring a successful appeal you would have to convince the

Appeal Court that the judge in the first instance had made a mistake

based on the facts or the law. It's quite a difficult thing to do. The

reason this case came to court in the first place was because the

prospect of another treatment in America which Charlie's parents

should do not think he should be given the opportunity to have. The

court heard evidence of the prospects of the successful

treatment and decided it was unlikely, balancing all of the

things it has to consider, felt that it would not be in Charlie's best

interests for him to have the treatment and said it would be in

his best interests to allow the trust to stop ventilating him.

Lyssio as -- Lizzie, as a former neonatal nurse, how did doctors

reach the decision to withdraw treatment from a child? Talk us

through the process. It is not a decision that is taken lightly by

any stretch. This is a decision that the paediatric consultants and

neonatal consultants will have considered over a relatively long

period of time as regards to how will the child is. The

multidisciplinary teams will then come together, have a big meeting,

discuss the best way forward, the best way for the child and for the

parents of the family, for them to be able to grieve and to get

closure. But, you know, it's not a decision that is taken lightly. You

have to look at every single possible outcome for this child,

whichever child, whether it's an extremely premature baby, or if it's

somebody like Charlie Gard, who is now eight or nine months old, and

they have to look at what the quality-of-life would be for that

child. So it's not a decision that would have been taken lightly. That

decision would have been discussed with the parents as well. Which is

where the disagreement has arisen in this case. Exactly. The parents

released a new photograph today which we can show you, with their

little boy in Great Ormond Street Hospital. Withdrawing ventilation is

the kind of case you come across. What kind of advice do you give to

families who might disagree with the opinion of their doctors? The first

thing I'll was safe to families is they should seek a second opinion,

because there would be no prospect of successfully challenging a

decision unless you have another doctor saying treatment should be

provided, or they should be some different cause of action has to the

one suggested. Excuse me, there is never more than one paediatric

consultant, there would always be another consultant on a case of