09/09/2013 BBC News at One

Britain's economy is turning a corner. The Chancellor's upbeat

assessment after five years of financial trouble. George Osborne

said the government's economic although he stressed it was still

Thanks to the efforts, sacrifices of the British people, written is

turning a corner. -- Britain. If ever you wanted proof that this

government is out of touch with ever you wanted proof that this

people and on the side of the few, George Osborne has provided it is

today. The unions warn of industrial conditions. We will be assessing the

strength of the recovery. Also, conditions. We will be assessing the

crisis in Syria. After talks in London, the US calls on President

BBC bosses are due to appear before MPs in the row over severance pay

Closing speeches in the trial of the Coronation Street actor, Michael le

around freezing. One or two Celsius in the countryside. With all the II

Good afternoon. It is five years since the beginning of the financial

crisis, but today, the Chancellor said that the UK economy is finally

turning a corner. In a speech this morning, he said there were no

tentative signs of a balanced, recovery. But he stressed that it

was in the early stages and plenty complaints that any recovery is

was in the early stages and plenty will get the reaction from unions in

just the moment but first, Hugh will get the reaction from unions in

This was the Chancellor's bids to frame the economic and political

debate for the autumn season. His argument is that an upturn is now

definitely underway. A point he hammered home in a speech in the

city. The economic collapse was worse than we thought. Repairing it

will take longer than we hoped. worse than we thought. Repairing it

we held our nerve when many told us to abandon our plan. As a result,

sacrifices of the British people, Britain is turning a corner. In

sacrifices of the British people, dig at Labour, he said that those in

favour of a plan B had lost the argument. He said his budget cuts

had not had the damaging impact argument. He said his budget cuts

claimed. There has been a raft of positive economic indicators of

fastest service sector growth in August since December 2006. There

was 0.9% growth in the three months There may be positive indications on

economic growth, but the question now is how that feeds through to

confidence among consumers and now is how that feeds through to

Average wage rises in the economy now is how that feeds through to

is saying to the British people now is how that feeds through to

getting worse. But the standards are now is how that feeds through to

falling. How do consumers feel about the economy? We asked people in

Cardiff. Rent has gone up. People cannot afford mortgages. We are

constantly spending money on rent. Everyday essentials are getting

constantly spending money on rent. and more expensive. The shops seem

quite busy. That has to be a good thing. The housing market seems

quite busy. That has to be a good be picking up. The house is all

going up, but recovery? That is another matter. -- the houses are

going up. The Chancellor said his another matter. -- the houses are

going up. The Chancellor said his plan was the only sustainable way to

raise living standards. He knows the challenge is to persuade voters

raise living standards. He knows the they will feel things are getting

The maybe better news on the outlook for the economy but according to

union leaders, it has come at a price of cuts in pay, pensions and

working conditions. This morning, at the TUC conference, there have been

warnings of industrial action to Union raps arriving at the Straits

union Congress this morning deal Union raps arriving at the Straits

union Congress this morning deal with issues like jobs and deployment

representatives arriving at the trades union Congress. We have to

put an end to it. We have to end the he has declined by 7%. £30 a week.

-- he has declined. Frances O'Grady, he has declined by 7%. £30 a week.

in her first speech as leader, said that unions needed to shape the

policies of the parties, just as campaigning for a minimum wage. It

kind of policies, to transform the economy, improve working lives,

warm reception for Frances O'Grady, change the country for the better.

warm reception for Frances O'Grady, in a speech in which she set out her

Issues like zero hours contracts, where people have no guarantee of

the hours that they will work or how much they will learn. Labour says

the contracts need to be reformed. Caroline says that she has no idea

how much she will earn next month. You have no idea whether you will be

your life if you do not know what devastating. How can you get on

your life if you do not know what you are earning? Many firms argue

that these flexible contracts are needed to keep the economy going. It

has helped to keep unemployment lower than it would have been. It

has provided opportunities for young people and women returning to the

workplace. Most people on these independently surveyed say they

workplace. Most people on these get as many hours as they want. Many

are also concerned about plans to unions. In a speech tonight, Harriet

Harman will describe this as a dangerous moment and call for both

Picking up on some of those points with Norman Smith, there is this

pressure for Ed Miliband, in the middle of this row with the unions.

His economic strategy is now being And what we're seeing from his team

is an effort to rewrite plan the, into something that looks more like

plan C. -- Plan B. To say that it is not about the economic plan, but

about who bears the burden. In other words, to say that the economic

argument is not about raising the rate of growth it is about saying

who is best equipped to raise the standards of living. That is why Ed

Miliband has outlined his apostles to outlaw 0-hour contracts. -- his

speech to the TUC tomorrow. Some of the big unions are seemingly intent

going to stick by his reforms and losing the next election and taking

going to stick by his reforms and over all chemical weapons to the

international community within the next week. He was speaking in London

after a meeting with the Foreign Secretary. Later today, President

Obama will make a rear when time TV Secretary. Later today, President

address to the nation. -- rear prime buttressing support for US strikes

on Syria. William Hague welcomed the Secretary of State to London where

deep anxiety about another Iraq Secretary of State to London where

already led parliament to reject military action. John Kerry stressed

that a political solution, not a Washington's endgame. We are not

going to war. We will might have people at risk in that way. We will

be able to hold Bashar al-Assad countable without engaging in any

prolonged effort. In a very limited, very targeted, very short-term

effort that degrades his capacity to deliver chemical weapons. The Syrian

president has denied using chemical weapons. When he was asked if there

was anything that Mr Assad could do to prevent military action, John

Kerry had this suggestion. Turn to prevent military action, John

every single bit of his chemical community in the next week. Turn it

over, all of it. But he thought community in the next week. Turn it

just would not happen. Speaking community in the next week. Turn it

American television, resident Assad threatened reprisals on US bases in

the Middle East if no two strikes government necessarily, because

the Middle East if no two strikes government is not the only player.

different factions. Across the Matic divide, the Russian Foreign Minister

different factions. Across the Matic counterpart. Sergei Lavrov warned

conference as the Syrian Foreign that military strikes could wreck

conference as the Syrian Foreign believe that a political solution

latest battle ground in Syria, near believe that a political solution

latest battle ground in Syria, near affiliated groups. Each side is

devastation of homes and churches. Many of the terrified residents

devastation of homes and churches. this town appeared to have either

Jeremy Bowen is in Damascus. He joins us on the line. We know that

people in Syria watch these events joins us on the line. We know that

people in Syria watch these events political solution, is there a sense

dissipating? Not really. People political solution, is there a sense

conscious that they might be facing an American attack. Whether or not

they like President Assad. At the displaced, who have gathered at

they like President Assad. At the cathedral here. And I'd have been

speaking to the patriarch, the senior clergyman, who said that

speaking to the patriarch, the must not be bombing. He said that he

was prepared to go to Washington, DC to tell President Obama that it

was prepared to go to Washington, DC for bombing, because of alleged

chemical weapons use by the regime, it counts for nothing with these

people who have lost their homes in Ma'loula. They say that it might end

up benefiting the jihadist. They have taken over Ma'loula. I spoke to

people here who say that they saw the jihadist is cutting down on

crosses from the churches. They the jihadist is cutting down on

fled for their lives and they do not want the Americans to help out those

people by bombing President Assad's forces. Turning to James Robbins, in

central London. What should we read into the mood is? Are we seeing

central London. What should we read rollback from military action? I do

not think we are seeing that. Not from President Obama or John Kerry,

not think we are seeing that. Not speaking behind me in the Foreign

Office a couple of hours ago. It is amplifying what Emily Buchanan told

attack, but then the Secretary of important, to qualify it by saying

that he, President Assad, is not about to do it and it cannot be

that he, President Assad, is not done, obviously. The Secretary of

which he made clear that he did done, obviously. The Secretary of

think the Syrian regime was willing or able to meet. No, I do not think

President Obama is being deflected from his probable course of action.

The rest of what John Kerry said today was designed to swing the

members of Congress behind the today was designed to swing the

members of Congress behind the president. Turning to Washington,

Americans later. How are things looking? The momentum is hotting up.

President Obama will be giving interviews to six major TV networks

as tomorrow, we will see him giving an address to the nation. Trying to

as tomorrow, we will see him giving push this point and explain to the

American nation why he feels that the US should get involved in Syria.

Of course, Congress is very divided. Numbers of Congress will be coming

back from their summer break and starting a debate in Congress.

back from their summer break and members of Congress. Many people

here are still undecided as to what they want to do, whether they should

be going into Syria or the should be they want to do, whether they should

military intervention, or it is they want to do, whether they should

fact nothing to do with America they want to do, whether they should

we should be standing by. Son of the BBC's top executives are preparing

for a grilling by MPs today in the BBC's top executives are preparing

row over payoffs but bosses leaving Thompson over who knew and authorise

the payments and what they told Thompson over who knew and authorise

in a hearing in July. The BBC wanted to get down the bill for its top

executives quickly, it managed to get down the bill for its top

One individual walked away with to get down the bill for its top

afternoon will not be whether any of and who authorised those decisions.

afternoon will not be whether any of big payoffs. Lord Patten was asked

shouldn't the BBC trust have known more details about those deals. If

you recall in due course a previous director-general of the BBC, I will

be interested as you are in why director-general of the BBC, I will

director-general was Mark Thompson director-general of the BBC, I will

and he was off today to explain director-general of the BBC, I will

fundamentally misleading, a claim MPs why he thinks the evidence was

fundamentally misleading, a claim that means when they both get here,

Lord Patten will have to defend that means when they both get here,

BBC Trust's position. I hope we that means when they both get here,

have a reasonable exploration of what has gone wrong and the issues

without it getting into too much bitterness because that is bad for

the BBC. The BBC has decided to bitterness because that is bad for

bitterness and wrangling is exactly what many expect. With this pair

appearing to publicly contradict each other, and no one knowing what

reputations, alter the corporation itself. The questioning will be

detailed but if there are clear contradictions in the evidence,

question - has anyone misled MPs in looking for in Government and if

they spot it they will regard it as very serious indeed. The BBC News

Channel will have full coverage very serious indeed. The BBC News

those appearances before the Public Accounts Committee from around

The main story this lunchtime: Accounts Committee from around

Chancellor says Britain's economy is turning a corner but admits many

recovery. But he stressed that it Coming up, 15,000 men died on this

recovery. But he stressed that it be finding out why people from

Battle of Flodden. On BBC London, the snowboard instructor paralysed

mountain where his life changed the snowboard instructor paralysed

mountain where his life changed forever. Plus one man, his Art and

his dog, the homeless London street artist making his name across the

TSB was known in the '80s as "the bank that liked to say yes". It

disappeared from the high street 18 years ago after merging with Lloyds,

Britain's eighth biggest high street bank. More than 600 branches of

Lloyds TSB have been re-launched, with nearly five million people

having their accounts transferred to promises to focus on local customers

and businesses, as Emma Simpson It is a shiny new bank with an old

name. This morning TSB branches country. It is the first day being

customers have been transferred country. It is the first day being

this network. Here is the new boss different. Our customers have said

they want to know every penny they put in the bank is used only to

come to us for investment banking, for overseas speculation, we are

here to support the local economy. Banking was very different when

here to support the local economy. was last on our high streets 18

years ago. The question is Tom Willets comeback really lead to

years ago. The question is Tom competition? Customers will have to

wait and see if TSB offers better rates and products. Change can mean

two things but hopefully it will be improved. Having a branch locally is

sign is outside. Lloyds did not improved. Having a branch locally is

reporting problems with the website business to this new bank, it was

reporting problems with the website this morning, but the bank says

reporting problems with the website Closing speeches in the trial of the

Coronation Street star Michael Le Vell are being heard at Manchester

denies sexually assaulting and raping a young girl, who cannot

denies sexually assaulting and correspondent Judith Moritz is

outside the court. This morning correspondent Judith Moritz is

have heard from prosecution and defence. The prosecution talked

have heard from prosecution and the jury about the alleged victim in

this case, the girl who we cannot identify. She told the jury there

was no need for that girl to have lied. She said she came to give

evidence of her own choice. You lied. She said she came to give

ask yourself whether she was a wicked liar or if she was telling

ask yourself whether she was a nothing in her past that could tell

such a twisted lie and she would gain nothing from this unless it was

the truth. She ended by saying to the jury that they must mark her

courage with their conviction. The defence said these allegations are

ridiculous. This naive girl had defence said these allegations are

an inconsistent, incoherent and unbelievable account, he said. He

said there are still compelling witnesses who lie. The judge in

said there are still compelling case Michael Henshaw addressed the

jury and said that when the witness had been emotional, the jury must

planned HS2 high-speed rail link are according to a highly critical

report from MPs. The Public Accounts strategic case still hasn't been

McLoughlin, has insisted HS2 is essential for the long-term future

of Britain's railways. Our transport correspondent Richard Westcott

north-south train line to ferry correspondent Richard Westcott

could cost £50 billion and this latest attack says ministers have

failed to prove it is worth the money. As I have looked at the

detail of the project, I have moved from being a supporter to thinking

this is not the right place to put £50 billion worth of money. There

are growing number of voices who are sceptical about this project. I

think the Government needs to listen seriously, not lead this as a vanity

Committee says it has been plagued by spiralling costs and twinkling

benefits. It says ministers have failed to prove HS2 will benefit the

you can expect the fight back. The transport secretary says he doesn't

accept the report's core findings and the Government will release

another report later this week, arguing HS2 will generate billions

of pounds for different cities A British man and his fiancee have

drowned while on holiday in Italy. Police in Sicily believe 34-year-old

Andrew Sturgess died while trying to Andrew Sturgess died while trying to

save his 25-year-old fiancee from the sea off the island's south west

coast. The Foreign Office has said it is providing assistance to his

The soft drinks brands Lucozade it is providing assistance to his

Ribena, which are made at Coleford in Gloucestershire, are being sold

to the Japanese firm, Suntory. GlaxoSmithKline said it had agreed a

price of £1.35 billion and the Coleford will transfer to Suntory.

bloodiest battles in British history men. When the Scottish and English

armies met at the Battle of Flodden men. When the Scottish and English

in Branxton for us. This is where lost their king - James IV. Today,

in Branxton for us. This is where the battle of Flodden took place

in Branxton for us. This is where distance you can see some excavation

but today they stopped work as a mark of respect. Following the

footsteps of fallen soldiers, they came to remember. Their descendants

from both sides of the battle but together. So significant was the

battle of Flodden that many have made a long journey to be here.

Coming from South Africa, we are here and the history predates this

by a long way. Why was it such a bloody battle? Athe Scots lined

by a long way. Why was it such a on the hill, they came down very

steep, it was difficult for them, they were hampered by the body

Harlow at the bottom. They lost rendered useless, and hand-to-hand

fighting with the English who had a lethal weapon which cut them to

ribbons. Gradually their forces dwindled and the English surrounded

the King across here, and it was just a total massacre. That is why

centuries later the search for clues bones... Could this be where the

15,000 soldiers are buried? Would have to treat them with the utmost

respect if we come across them. have to treat them with the utmost

is very difficult to come to terms with, it is broadly comparable to

examples of the slaughter in the Western front in World War I and yet

there are no machine guns here and no barbed wire so there are moments

when you do struggle with it. Today is not about victory or defeat,

when you do struggle with it. Today thousands of men from both sides of

hours later today people will be All those men died in just three

hours later today people will be those who at Flodden. -- those who

hours later today people will be fell at Flodden. Time to take a

some sunshine coming through. That northern England. There has been

southern counties of England. Can see the shower clouds speckled

across the north of England, where widespread and turning heavy. To the

north of this main clump of showers, the weather is not looking too bad

in Scotland. Most areas will be bright with sunny spells after a

chilly start of the day and only Northern Ireland. Some of these

heavy showers are working across Yorkshire, and as the rain is still

affecting south-east England, this afternoon. Overnight, this area

affecting south-east England, this low pressure moves away into the

near continent, moving into Germany and it knocks another area of low

pressure out of Germany and into the North Sea. It will not be such a

cool night in many areas overnight, the breeze keeping things a few

Going into Tuesday, a bright and breezy day the many areas of the

pressure I mentioned will be taking up residence in the North Sea with

strengthening winds developing. up residence in the North Sea with

bringing outbreaks of rain. At just bringing outbreaks of rain. At just

12 Celsius, it will be a miserable kind of day. The rain could reach

the London area and the south-east later in the day. Away from that wet

weather, much of the British Isles the best sunshine across southern

again for Wednesday, we will see an area of whether moving up off the

again for Wednesday, we will see an Atlantic into Scotland and Northern

in the upper teens at best. That is weather news we have just developed

about that on the BBC website. weather news we have just developed

about that on the BBC website. economy is turning a corner and

about that on the BBC website. those calling for a plan B have

about that on the BBC website. the argument. That is all from us