15/06/2011 BBC News at Six

Tonight, the biggest drop in the jobless total for more than ten

years, but some parts of the UK are still struggling. Thousands of

cancer patients could lose some of their benefits under the

Government's welfare changes. The run on Northern Rock and the moment

we knew Britain was in fapbl trouble. Now the bank is to be

auctioned off. -- financial trouble. Now the bank is to be auctioned off.

Joss Stone at the centre of a murder plot. Police arrest two men

with swords outside her Devon home. Later in the hour, I'll be here

with Sportsday, including William's woe at Eastbourne. Serena is

knocked out in the second round. A day of public sector strikes

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 138 seconds

followed by an autumn of workplace 30th June may only be the start.

Some unions are talking of sustained and co-ordinated

industrial action in the autumn. Laura Kuenssberg is in Westminster.

Laura, as you heard, the unions are talking about even more action.

This is quite a challenge to the Government. It certainly is. The

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 138 seconds

warning coming from some union Unemployment fell by 88,000 during

the three months ending in April. That left just over 2.4 million

people out of work. That's the lowest in two years. And employment,

those in work, was up by 80,000 over the same period. New jobs are

being created right here in Tredeger in South Wales. British

Gas is training engineers to install smart metres and other

green technology. It's even built a street of dummy houses to practice

on. Some will be offered permanent jobs with the company. Clinton dix

who has been unemployed for a year is hoping fob one of them. Couldn't

get an interview. I found it hard to get my face seen and foot in the

door. It's a new lease of life. Unemployment in this area is well

above the national average. Job creation is patchy and there's

fierce competition for any positions which do come up. This

lady has been helped by job search advisers. She has hunted for

vacancies on-line but no luck after 12 months. To not even get a

response now is so depressing. It makes you feel that you are on the

heap. I know I'm not, because I've got a brain and the experience.

Over the last year there have been cutbacks to public sector

employment. There was a drop of more than 140,000, but the private

sector has more than made up for that, by adding more than 500,000

to its total of people in work. the time being, it looks as though

the private sector is making up for job losses in the public sector.

However, the job losses in the public sector are likely to

accelerate in the coming months, at a time when the economy overall is

likely to weaken. The narrower jobless measure, those claiming

jobseeker's allowance was up in May and that's a reminder that the job

market is some way from where it should be. Later in the programme

we'll be exploring how people in one of the UK's blackspots are

coping with tough times. David Cameron and Ed Miliband have

clashed in the Commons over welfare support for cancer victims. At

Prime Minister's questions, the Labour leader said benefit changes

being debated by MPs could see 7,000 cancer patients losing up to

�94 a week in financial support. David Cameron said Mr Miliband's

protests were a smoke screen to hide Labour's reluctance to back

well fair we form. -- reform. It's a highly sensitive issue. If

someone's recovering from illness, how soon should they return to

work? The Government has made it clear that big savings will have to

be made. Today, the Labour leader picked a fight over welfare reform

with cancer patients his focus. He said thousands could lose almost

�100 a week. I'm amazed that the Prime Minister doesn't know about

these arguments. Why doesn't he know? The House of Commons is

voting on this Bill tonight. He should know about these. I ask him

again, will he now admit that 7,000 cancer patients are losing up to

�94 a week? The changes mean those who have been assessed and able to

look for work will have a year to find a job before their sick pay is

stopped for means tests. Labour wants that increased to two years.

The whole point about the reforms is that there are proper, medical

tests so we support those who cannot work as a generous and

tolerant and compassionate country should, but we make sure that those

who can work have to go out to work. Some cancer charities say although

patients may have finished treatment, it's impossible to put a

time limit on full recovery and the plans go too far. We know cancer

patients are already disadvantaged. Some people have lost 50% of their

income and incur extra costs because of their illness. They

haven't asked to be in this position. At the heart of this is a

much wider issue an an argument over cancer patients, as it's about

how quickly to cut benefits for those deemed fit to work but who

don't have a job. David Cameron accused Ed Miliband of deliberately

constructing a skrobg screen to vote against the changes -- smoke

screen to vote against the changes. Thousands of Northern Rock

customers queuing to get their money out was the start of the

financial crisis in this country. The Chancellor will announce that

the bank will be sold back to the private sector, raising as much as

�1 billion. Robert Peston is at Mansion House, where the Chancellor

will be speaking. I mentioned that �1 billion figure. Is the taxpayer

going to get his money back? If the Treasury gets that, but on the

basis of the business being sold there would be a loss, because

they've injected something like 1.4 billion in to the slimmed-down

Northern Rock that is being offered for sale. The important point is

that some �40 billion of Northern Rock's older mortgages and loans it

provides to people in the past, they remain in the public sector

and they are generating profits for taxpayers. So, at the time that all

the mortgages are repaid in a few years' time, chances are that we

will have made a profit, but it's going to take a good few years. For

the Chancellor, however, the importance of this privatisation is

the signal that it sends, that conditions in the city and the

financial services industry may be returning to normal. Remember, that

for most people, it was the collapse of Northern Rock that told

them that the economy was in a catastrophic mess. The fact that it

is realistic to now privatise the business that most people equate

with the crisis, it's a big moment, but not yet back to normal, but

maybe we're on the route to something that looks a bit more

like economic and financial normality. Thank you. Britain's

biggest care home provider, Southern Cross, will troo to end

the uncertainty about the future of its homes as meetings continue

tonight with landlords and representatives of the Government.

The company, can cares for more than 30,000 elderly people in 752

homes, is facing a financial crisis. It's understood that up to 500 of

the homes could be taken away from the company and run under new

management. Secondary schools in England are to be set more

ambitious targets for exam result. The Education Secretary says at

least half of pupils in every school should secure five good GCSE

passes to enable Britain to compete with growing Asian economies.

Thousands of people in Greece are taking part in a series of protests

against new austerity measures. Demonstrators threw stones at the

police, who responded by firing tear gas into the crowd. Greece was

bailed out by the EU and there are fears that if the government there

fails to keep it's side of the bargain the rest of Europe could

face a multi-billion-pound bill. This report contains flash

photography. The fighting that took place outside Parliament was the

most serious violence scene on -- seen on the streets of Athens for

over a year and evidence, if it was needed, that the public can't take

any more. The indignant movement, which has been holding peaceful

demonstrations, stood back as the rye rotters did their work. Nearly

three weeks of protests by the movement have had the desired

effect. Acovereding to the Government, the Prime Minister has

offered to step down, on the condition that the new Government

sticks to the rules laid down. George Papaconstantinou had

promised he had the strength to save Greece, but it appears he was

forced to tell the President he had lost the support of a rebellious

element of his Socialist Party. Grease's economy is in a parl lust

position. The debt is �300 billion. It's supposed to be receiving �95

billion as part of a bail-out package, but the political chaos

has put the handouts in doubt. not about me any more, it's about

our children and I don't see a bright future. The demonstrators

may have won a victory against the government today, but whether it

benefits them in the long run Our top story tonight:

Thousands of civil servants vote to join teachers in a walk out on June

30th in a protest over pensions. Coming up:

More controversy over Olympics tickets as the Government insists

members of the Gaddafi family will And later on BBC News, we will have

more on George Osborne's speech to the city this evening and what it

means the banks and customers. And the jobless figure shows its

biggest drop since the summer of Two men have been arrested close to

the Devon home of the singer Joss Stone. They're being questioned on

suspicion of conspiring to rob and murder. A senior police source

confirmed they were found with swords, forensic-style overalls and

a body bag. Our correspondent Jon Yet, despite all her success over

the last few years, Joss Stone has always described herself as a home

bird. But the gates of that large property remain firmly shut tonight,

there are police officers patrolling the village and

journalists as well, all asking exactly what happened.

# Fell in love for the boy. She has been described as a young Dwight

British Aretha Franklin, Joss Stone shot to fame as a teenager and

recording deals have made her a multi-millionaire. But despite the

jet-set lifestyle, she still lives in the tiny Devon hamlet where she

grew up. It was in these narrow lanes that police arrested two men

after neighbours reported a suspicious-looking car. It is

understood officers also recovered swords, ropes and a body bag. At

the gates of her detached property, I met some of the singer's old

friends. How I am outraged, I went to school with her and I live

locally and to hear something like that is shocking. Especially around

here. A lot has changed since Joss Stone used to seeing him in school

plays and village halls. Here she is performing in Devon for just as

she was hitting the big time. One of the 24-year-old's last public

appearances was at the Royal Wedding. She is understood to be a

good friend of Prince William. In a statement this afternoon, she

thanked fans for their concern, but insisted she was fined and getting

on with things as normal. Normal for her these days means recording

hit music. Here she is in Nashville making her latest album. But this

evening, at the quiet place she has always called home, new security

measures while the police asked the star's neighbours what they might

have seen. It is not clear whether Joss Stone

was definitely here at the time of these arrests. The men concerned

being held at a police station in Exeter, no charges as far as we

know. When Libyans watch their state TV,

they're told over and over again that there's complete support for

Colonel Gaddafi. But the BBC has managed to interview members of the

Libyan underground opposition in Tripoli. They describe their acts

of resistance and their willingness to die for the anti-Gaddafi cause.

Our correspondent Wyre Davies sent Inner-city penetrated by fear and

suspicion, this is the only way to find out what many Libyans are

really thinking. We have given our government minders the slip, but it

is still a nervous journey to a safe house in a Tripoli suburb. The

four young activists by meat have suffered at the regime's hands in

one way or another. Friends have been killed, they are tired of the

corruption and nepotism and say pressure is mounting on Colonel

Gaddafi to go. For their own safety, their words are spoken by actors.

It is a fight and we will fight, but not with empty hands. It is

crazy to go out facing people with guns and we know what intentions

they have. Do you think in the end Gaddafi will have to go? I think he

is finished already, he is damaging the country as much as he can, but

he is finished. He is finished. the early days of the surprising,

anti-government protests in Tripoli were brutally crushed. But people

are beginning to find their voices again. At this reason funeral in

the capital, a rebel flag is raised in open defiance. On this video,

which is impossible to verify, government soldiers stand over

dying rebels after recent fighting in the capital. You dogs, they say,

this is revenge. Gaddafi's opponents know that Tripoli is

still a dangerous place. I think it is going to be bloody because he is

not going to give up easily. think we will see more violence?

Definitely. Definitely. How does that make you feel? I am a little

scared, but I am we leap -- willing to sacrifice my life of this.

are willing to die? Yes, without hesitation. This is how the regime

portrays things, fanatical they may be, but many faces at Gaddafi

rallies are by now familiar and are fewer in number. 10 weeks a dash of

NATO bombing have not it ousted the colonel, but from what we have seen,

his fortress capital is solid no While today's fall in the number of

people out of work provides some good news for the economy, high

inflation and low wage rises are creating a real squeeze for many

households. One city that's felt the downturn more than most is Hull,

where unemployment is among the highest in the country. In the

first of three special reports on tough times in UK, Richard Bilton

reports on how people are coping after one of Hull's biggest

This is caravan country, in east Yorkshire they build them up and

holiday in them. Jess and Julie are at the coast for a week. Come in

June and it is quiet and cheap. But dad is not here. The family

business went bust and he has to work. He has to miss his own summer

holiday. His company went into liquidation so we have struggled to

try to make ends meet and build another company. You don't know

whether your job is safe. Three years ago, this is Shaun Whittles

on the day his security disappeared. He made caravans. But the company

shut down. To work here, and know that many people... To upset.

is him today working at a garden centre. He never got back into the

caravan industry, just a series of temporary jobs. This one ends next

week. It is the third time it has happened to me in the year. It is

just heart-wrenching because I have to start looking for another job

again and it is very hard to get a job. But it is not all bad.

Hundreds of jobs were lost in the caravan industry, but some have

returned. This is a new company in an old factory. Workers who came

back from the dole. It is hard when you're in a situation when you are

going for a job and there are maybe 50 blokes going for one job.

the people in the factory today came back to a different working

world. The average wage in here now is about 20% lower than it was

before the caravan industry went into meltdown. Workers and

management now take nothing for granted. A everybody now needs

security. There used to be promotion, where am I going to go,

now it is a case of will I be able to pay the bills. You have to tell

them to come on board and do a good job and between us, hopefully, we

will have a secure future. industry survived here and at other

sites. But it is a different working life for the City's caravan

makers. And tomorrow Richard will be

looking at the issue of child poverty and how charities are

helping families struggling to make ends meet.

Downing Street has insisted that no members of the Libyan government

will be allowed into Britain to watch the Olympics. Libya's

National Olympic Committee, headed by Colonel Gaddafi's son Muhammad,

is due to be allocated hundreds of tickets. David Cameron's spokesman

said an EU travel ban would prevent members of the Libyan regime from

attending. But with thousands of UK citizens left empty handed,

questions are being asked about whether countries like Zimbabwe and

Burma should get tickets. Our sports correspondent James Pearce

The Libyan team at the start of the Beijing Olympics. As things stand,

they will be able to compete again in London. The IOC has always tried

to keep sport separate from politics. In every country there is

no proper development of sport without the development of the

state and the government. But at the same time, we respect Felipe

request the government to take actions in favour of sport and not

utilising sport for their own purpose. It is a delicate balance.

At the weekend Gaddafi was filmed playing chess at the headquarters

of the Libyan Olympic Committee, which is headed by one of his sons.

On 27th July next year during the opening ceremony, the eyes of the

world will be on the stadium, but will the leaders of the world all

be invited? When it comes to Libya, the government here is adamant they

will not. Let's be clear about this, Gaddafi, his sons and his immediate

entourage are all subject to EU banning orders and can't enter the

EU and most deservedly London. are entitled to tickets next year?

There are 8.8 million in total. 75% of them will go to the British

public. 12% end up with the National Olympic Committees of

competing countries, including Libya. 8% are bought by the

sponsors and broadcasters. 5% for hospitality and other uses. It is

nothing new for the Olympics to face political issues. Duncan

Goodhew's gold in 1980 was that against boycotted by the Americans.

We had been through all sorts of different issues where politics had

tried to knows their way into sport. Definitely we found out in sport,

it is best to keep out of them as far as possible. Even in Beijing,

politics and China's show of strength work at the heart of the

Games. There are bound to be more international political issues on

international political issues on the road to London 2012. Off John

is here with the weather now. It is on the slide. Some showers on

the way it, some of us have got some heavy showers right now. A

whole clutch of nasty storms across northern England. Crossing Leeds at

the moment. Elsewhere there will be a scattering of showers this

evening. Tonight we will see another area of blue, another spot

of rain pushing up across south- west England and across southern

areas as we go through towards dawn. In the Midlands as well. Clearer

skies in the north and west. Quite cool, temperatures staying well up

further south. It could be a wet start in the south and the Midlands,

making its way towards East Anglia and the south-east. And then the

sun comes out and then we will see a whole packet of showers

developing in the afternoon. These showers will be hit and miss in

nature. I think we can pick out some detail. Along the south coast

we might not do too badly. But inland there will be widespread

showers. Ascot will be affected, and the Test match. North-west

England and Cumbria not doing too badly. Parts of Scotland seeing

heavy and thundery downpours. When the showers come, temperatures will

fall quickly. The winds are quite light, but when the showers come

along, it could turn a little bit windy. A scattering of showers

across Wales and south-west England. 16 degrees in Plymouth is not great

for the time of year. And then things turned very rough indeed on

Friday. Some heavy rain splashing up through south-western areas

initially. Some uncertainty how quickly that will progress, but by

the end of the day most of us will have seen some rain and fairly

have seen some rain and fairly lively winds.

That looked awful! A reminder of the top news.