13/01/2012 BBC News at Six

The Prime Minister hints that a re- think of plans to cut child benefit

for better off families. He acknowledges it may be unfair for

some. That is echoed by parents who find themselves just over the

threshold. As my husband earns just over �45,000, we are looking to

lose it all. Where as the friends we have earning �35,000 each, will

have double what we have and will get child benefit into the future.

Also, new fears for the eurozone tonight. France braces itself amid

reports its credit rating may be downgraded. A British student is to

be extradited to America for his website which helped people watch

films for free. The Grayrigg train crash in Cumbria, five years on

Network Rail is to be prosecuted. Behind the scenes of a major

exhibition by the man dubbed Britain's greatest livering artist.

On Sportsday, a boost for the Khan campaign after the WBA promises the

Bolton boxer a rematch, after his controversial defeat to Lamont

Good evening. Welcome to BBC News at Six. The Prime Minister has

hinted there may be a re-think of controversial plans to stop child

benefit for higher rate taxpayers. He acknowledged there is potential

unfairness to some families. George Osborne has insisted the principal

of axing the benefit for better off parents is rights.

Our UK affairs correspondent reports.

For generations, families have regarded child benefit as a right.

Money given to every parent to help raise every child. From next year

that is due to change and the plans have been controversial. A couple

with three children would lose �2,000, if one parent evens just a

few pounds over the �43 -- of the 40% tax threshold. Another couple,

where both earn just under that sum and enjoy a total income of just

over �80,000 would keep all the benefit. There are indications that

having walked the tightrope of balancing the needs for cuts with

the middle classes T coalition is looking at the plans again and

insisting they are not backing down. We have not set out how we will

implement it. The principal that it is not fair to ask someone who is

earning �20,000 or �25,000 to pay for someone on �80,000 to get child

benefit is one that is very important. But at this Manchester

play centre, details of the previous plans haven't gone done

well with many. Laura does not work. Her husband is the breed winner,

earning about �45,000 a year. They will lose all their child benefit.

She thinks that is deeply unfair. We are looking to lose it all,

whereas the friends earning �35,000-�40,000 each, who are

earning double what we have will keep on getting child benefit into

the future. It does not make any sense to me. Across the room are

Sarah and Ed. They both work earning a total of �50,000 between

them. They could keep their child benefit. They say they need it.

Anybody are taking it away from, if they rely on it, then I think it's

unfair to take it away. With concerns about what the

Government's new plans will be, Labour insist the coalition is

scrambling around to come up with alternatives. They should have

thought this through properly at the outset. Honestly to get this

late in the day without properly thinking through what exactly are

the tax rules going to be is beyond belief. I think they have to

quickly go back to the drawing board, come up with fresh proposals

and let us see what they will do. If the Government is trying to come

up with different proposals, it's a sign that MPs are well aware that

certain attempts to cut the deficit could scare off voters and leave

the opposition to paint them as anything but family-friendly.

Let's talk to our political correspondent, who is in Downing

Street. Ian, how likely is it there will be changes to these proposals

to cut child benefit? Well, the Prime Minister has been under

sustained political pressure from some of his backbenchers who think

taking away child benefit from higher rate taxpayers in one fell

swoop is a guaranteed vote-loser. The Prime Minister was using an

interview in a magazine, designed for an audience of MPs to signal he

understands their worries. The key question is, what will he do about

it? Don't expect there to be a big Government U-turn. High rate

taxpayers are likely to lose that entitlement to child benefit. What

the Prime Minister has been doing is asking the Treasury to look at

some of the problems of the margin, for example, is it fair people who

only just fall into the higher tax bracket lose 100% of their benefit?

He will look at the decision -- he will leave the decisions to the man

next door, to the Chancellor. I think what has happened tonight is

this, the Prime Minister has identified the big political

problem here. The country's financial problems may prevent him

from solving it. Thank you. The value of the euro

has fallen, with more bad news for the eurozone. France is braced for

the possibility that its credit rating may be downgraded by

Standard & Poor's. Fears over the European debt crisis have been

heightened with talks between Greece and the banks it owes money

to, breaking down. 2011 was a year to forget for the eurozone and the

health of the single currency. There were riots in Greece, as the

Government tried to impose deep spending cuts. There were tensions

over how to safeguard the euro. Now another blow to the French

President is looming. If France is downgraded, it will

raise the cost of borrowing that France has to pay to markets above

that of countries such as Germany. Well, let's talk to our Europe

editor who is in Paris. Gavin, is this downgrading of France's credit

rating likely to happen? If it does happen, how serious is it? Well,

Fiona, here in Paris, in Government circles tonight, there is clearly

the expectation that later today there will be the announcement of a

down-grade. If it happens it is a major blow for France and for

President Sarkozy, who is just about to begin his re-election

campaign. What will it mean? It will mean an increase in French

borrowing costs. What the French Government will say, America had a

down grade and the impact there has been fairly marginal. Perhaps, in

terms of the eurozone, it will be on the eurozone's main bail out

fund. This, if it happens, will weaken the fire power of that bail

out fund at a pretty critical moment. It is dependant on France's

AAA rating. During this week there have been signs of calm in the

markets in relation to the eurozone. Tonight, not only with an tis

paited down grade here in France, but -- anticipated downgrade here

in France, but it is true to say the eurozone crisis is back with us.

Let's talk more about that crisis with the talks between Greece and

the banks it owes money to breaking down. The talks have been postponed

at the moment. Is that likely to be resolved? Well, I think they have

gone into some big difficulties. What they are trying to do there in

Greece is for those investors to essentially force them to take

losses of up to 50%. What this will mean is that Greece's debt mountain

is reduced by 100 billion. This is seen as crucial to sorting out the

problems in Greece. It is also part of the package which Greece is

dependant on if it is to move beyond March without defaulting. If

they have run into big problems and I understand there are significant

problems there in the negotiations between the Greek Government and

the banks, I think that will have, arguably, as big, if not bigger an

impact on the eurozone than what will be happening, potentially,

here in France tonight. Thank you.

Apologies for a technical glitch in that report just now. A 23-year-old

university student is facing extradition to America on charges

of copy right infringement. Richard O'Dwyer from Derbyshire

allegedly earned thousands through his website which helped people

watch American shows for free. This report contains some flash

photography. Richard O'Dwyer's journey to London this morning was

an anxious one. In a few hours a British judge would decide whether

a website he created would lead to his extradition to the US. At the

moment we are banking on that the judge agrees that the site was

legal in the UK. If it is legal you cannot extradite someone.

website, TVShack, allowed people to free films and programmes for free.

The US Government closed it under copy right laws. Richard O'Dwyer's

lawyers said his website amounted to other links, like a Google page.

As such he had not broken the law. They said because the British

authorities had not brought charges against him there were no grounds

to extradite him to the United States, but the judge disagreed.

Richard O'Dwyer's mother condemned the decision and the extradition

treaty behind it. Very disappointed.

In fact, disgusted. I'd hoped from better -- for better from the judge.

Disappointed with this Government for signing us up to this treaty,

which has opened the floodgates to America to come and seize British

citizens without having stepped foot out of this country. That

extradition law needs fixing, fast. Critics say the extradition rules

favour American prosecutors. A review last year said they were

fair. Of 130 American requests between 2004 and 2011, Britain

refused seven. The US authorities agreed to all of Britain's 54

requests. I am sure the family are very

disappointed. Many, including myself certainly feel it should be

in operation, which would agree in appropriate cases, where the facts

take place, mainly in this country, for any trial to take place here.

This would have been one case where there would have been compelling

arguments for that to happen. Richard O'Dwyer has two weeks to

appeal. If convicted in the United States

he'll face up to ten years in prison.

Network Rail will be prosecuted for the crash at Grayrigg back in 2007.

One passenger died. 28 people were seriously injured when a Virgin

train careered off the line. Earlier investigations reveal the

derailment was caused by poorly maintained points.

The Grayrigg rail accident left the carriages of a Virgin Pendolino

train from London to Glasgow scattered across an embankment it

had been travelling at 90 miles per hour when it derailed. One

passenger was killed. More than 80 others were injured. Now Britain's

rail safety regulator is bringing charges against Network Rail. A

84-year-old Margaret Masson died in the crash. The lawyer representing

her daughter has welcomed today's development. It seems to me that

the prosecution of Network Rail, as an appropriate consequence, given

the evidence which came out at the inquest in Kendal last year.

has it taken five years to bring any charges? The rail regulator

said it had to wait until after the inquest into the death of Margaret

Masson. That finished late last year, concluding that the badly-

maintained set of points in this cutting here caused the crash.

Network Rail said it has not hidden from its responsibilities and it

accepted quickly that it was a fault that caused the accident.

Five years on the points have been removed from the track here. The

A bereaved father who called for calm at the height of the summer

riots has denied causing grievous bodily harm during an alleged road

range incident. Tariq Jahan made an emotional appeal for calm. The

charges relate to an alleged incident in the Handsworth area of

the city last July. The wife of Steven Rawlings, an Oxford

University lecturer says she believes his death was a tragic

accident. Dr Devinder Sivia was arrested on suspicion of murdering

Professor Rawlings, but has since been released on bail. It is the

world's top oil producer, a partner to Britain on counter-terrorism and

a big customer for British weapons, Saudi Arabia has welcomed David

Cameron on a visit to meet the Saudi king. It comes at a time of

rising tension in the region. David Cameron's first visit to

Riyadh as Prime Minister is not before time, say the Saudis. He's

been getting to know the king in his late 80s. On the table, talk of

strengthening a strategic partnership in trade, security and

counter-terrorism. Britain has probably the fifth biggest defence

industry in the world, so it's a natural place to look. Britain has

a long-standing security relationship with the Persian Gulf,

not just Saudi Arabia but other states in the area. So, it's a sort

of natural choice, Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia has long been a huge

customer for British arms exports. It is Britain's biggest trading

partner in the Middle East. The Saudis are once again on a spree.

Saudi Arabia feels it is surrounded by threats. In Egypt the Arab

Spring protest move has removed President Mubarak. Down in its

southern parter Yemen risks becoming a failed state. Saudi

Arabia's eastern province has seen violent clashes with Shi'ites. Iran

is now flexing its military muscle. The Saudis are expected of stoking

unrest in the Arab world. Last year, Saudi Arabia sent 1,000 troops into

neighbouring Bahrain to bolster the Government there as it put down

protests by Shi'ites. The troops have stayed. Domestic unrest in

Saudi Arabia has been confined to the Shi'ite minority. Another

protestor died last night. It is raising ethical concerns over human

We may see the sale of arms which could be used to put down unrest

within Saudi Arabia or other countries. Downing Street says

sales of arms and warplanes like these were not the focus of today's

talks. But if bilateral trade is to continue growing, while at the same

time Britain pushes for democratic reform, David Cameron will have to

navigate a delicate middle course. Our top story tonight:

Downing Street hints at a rethink of plans to cut child benefit for

better-off families. Coming up:

A world surrounded by junk - new concerns about the hardware lost in

space. Coming up on Sportsday at 6:30pm,

Arsene Wenger accuses the Premier League of selling its soul and its

The Royal Academy is preparing for a major exhibition of the landscape

work of the British artist David Hockney. It's a show that includes

enormous canvases, drawings and films displayed on banks of video

screens. And it's all inspired by the landscape to the East Yorkshire.

Our arts editor went to meet the man described as Britain's greatest

living artist, and heard his views on art, life and fly-tipping.

David Hockney's new exhibition is called A Bigger Picture, because

the pictures get bigger. There is one that is 10 metres wide. And the

artist wants us to step back and think about a bigger picture. The

majority of the exhibition is recent work, almost all of which is

of the same subject, the landscape of East Yorkshire. You have swapped

the sunny climes of LA for East Yorkshire. Why? Were, it was not

planned. I tell my friends in LA, and they said, when are you coming

back? I said, well, I am on location, as they say in Hollywood.

I began to realise there was a very good subject here. How much of

Hollywood Hills are in these paintings? Member, California has

marvellous light. That is why Hollywood is there. But East

Yorkshire can have a wonderful light. It is not quite as intense.

But there is more variety in it. you worry about things like wind

farms? Yes and no. There is beauty in everything, even a wind farm.

For instance, sometimes they dump rubbish. An old refrigerator.

Sometimes I look at it and think, how could they do it? And at other

times, I think, that looks rather good next to that tree. Rather

absurd. It is not that bad. One of the things you have to live with

nowadays is Monaco being -- the moniker of being Britain's greatest

living artist. It does not bother me. I live in a remote place. I

intend to stay in it. I am not very social. I am too deaf to be social.

Deafness played a part in all this as well. LA is not too bad. New

York is difficult. London, I find difficult. I love the quiet of East

Yorkshire. First, there was Constable, then Turner. Now David

Hockney is reinventing the way we look at the British landscape. Are

you pleased with what you have got here? It is not a bad effort.

Should it be easier for poorly performing teachers to be sacked?

The Government thinks it should, and it is bringing in new rules for

England from September. It is also looking at how it might stop

schools "recycling" bad teachers - that is, just passing them on from

one school to another. Improving the quality of teaching

is a key government aim, and helping heads to remove pork

teachers is central to their project. Amanda Phillips has dealt

with bad teaching in her school already. Here in east London, she

got one in six members of staff to leave, part of the challenge, she

says, is getting people to be realistic. Those people have

accepted that the profession is not the right place for them to be, and

have also had conversations that have been helpful to them in terms

of what might be a better organisation or type of area of

work for them. To tackle underperforming teachers, heads

will be allowed to speed up sacking, from around a year now to just a

term. Teachers will get more observation by heads, not just

three hours a year as now. And ministers are consulting on more

honest references to ensure that teachers do not get employed by

other schools. The Education Secretary Michael Gove cannot say

for certain how wide the problem is, although Ofsted said 3% of schools

it inspected last year had inadequate teaching. That is what

he wants rooted out. Ultimately, I would like to see underperforming

teachers raising their game. But if it is clear that a teacher is not

performing and children are being harmed as a result of not being in

a classroom with the best education, that teacher needs to be moved on.

This is an issue that polarises the teaching profession, with head

teachers welcoming the streamlined procedures, but teaching unions

nervous that they could be open to abuse. It is not the right way to

deal with people for teachers to be constantly worrying about their

performance. They want to be improving their performance. It

could be a bully's charter. sacking a poor teacher is being

made easier, it is still up to head teachers to carry it out. The

political will is there, but the question remains whether heads will

comply. A man who buried his fiancee alive

has been jailed for 20 years at Leeds Crown Court. Marcin Kasprzak

stunned Michelina Lewandowska with a Taser before placing her in a box

and burying her near their home in Huddersfield. She escaped by using

her engagement ring to cut herself free. Our correspondent was in

court. What did the judge had to say? The judge said Marcin Kasprzak

had become unhappy and was bored with his former fiancee and wanted

to start a new life with their three-year-old son. His way of

starting their new life was to stun her twice with a Taser, bound and

gagged her with tape, before placing her into a large cardboard

box. She was then driven to woodland near Huddersfield and

buried alive. Today the judge told him "the death you intended would

have been long and slow, a death that is mind-numbingly awful to

imagine". She said Michelina Lewandowska managed to escape by

using her engagement ring. She scratched away at the tape around

her ankles and arms before she found a small hole in the box and

began to tear it apart. Marcin Kasprzak will serve ten years in

prison, before being released on licence. Michelina Lewandowska has

said that she still suffers from nightmares about what happened to

her and that she hopes that one day, her former fiance will realise that

what he did was wrong. The boxer Amir Khan has been

granted a rematch with Lamont Peterson following Khan's

complaints that judges might have been improperly influenced in last

month's fight. The World Boxing Association said it ordered the

rematch due to "questionable decisions" by the referee and

"apparent intrusion into the scoring process" at ringside. A

date for the fight has yet to be announced.

It was supposed to be heading to Mars to take rock samples from one

of the planet's moons. But instead, the Russian spacecraft Phobos-Grunt

is expected to come crashing back to worth some time this weekend

following a serious malfunction. No one knows exactly when it will

return, or more importantly, where it will land. But its imminent re-

entry has focused attention on the increasing danger of space debris.

A swarm of pots circling the earth. Some of them are working satellites,

but 15,000 are all rockets and other junk. An orbiting rubbish

dump, created after half-a-century of space flight. Last November, a

Russian launch added yet another piece of debris. The mission was

meant to fly to Mars. It did get off the ground, but then something

went wrong and now the Russians believe their spacecraft will crash

back into the Indian Ocean. But no one can be sure. From experience,

it is almost impossible at this stage to predict where the object

will come down. We do not believe they have control over the

spacecraft. So what will happen to the strangely named Russian

spacecraft? It is orbiting every 90 minutes between 51 degrees north

and 51 degrees south, so it could land anywhere in between, most

likely in the ocean. But these don't just includes southern

England, below the M4 corridor. Most of the spacecraft will burn up

before it falls to earth, but some components matter more than others.

The tanks, filled with fuel for the long journey to Mars, should leak

and burn off long before they reach the surface. The moment a European

spacecraft blow up while falling to earth. Generally, there is little

risk to anyone on the ground. The bigger danger is space junk

damaging the satellites that we depend on. Anything even a small as

a cherry going at 17,500 miles an hour, which they are going round at

orbit, could be similar to the explosion of a hand grenade next to

a satellite. The Russian spacecraft was designed to land on Phobos, a

moon of Mars. There, it would create -- collect a sample and

bring it back. That would have been a triumph. Instead, the world is

Now the weather. Temperatures are falling sharply this weekend. They

have been dropping sharply for the last few days. Temperatures were in

double figures in the middle of the week, but that mild weather has

been replaced. It will be a fine weekend with lots of blue sky, but

at night, temperatures are tumbling. A cold night across England and

Wales. The white patches are mist and fog. Temperatures in towns and

cities will drop down to minus one. In rural spots, it could be as low

as minus 8. A bit more cloud at times across northern Scotland. But

for most, it will be a fine day on Saturday. The mist and fog may take

a few hours to clear away, but then there should be plenty of blue sky.

Just a bit of breeze blowing across parts of Devon and Cornwall.

Further east, the winds will be light, so the fog could be more

stubborn to clear away. If the fault does stick, areas like the

Vale of York may struggle. A fine day across Northern Ireland. A fine

day for much of Scotland. A bit cloudier in the far north.

Temperatures tumble again sharply on Saturday evening. If you are

heading out, be prepared for it to be pretty cold. Still that breeze

blowing across western parts of the country. That may bring more cloud

on Sunday and maybe a spot of rain in the Isles of Scilly. For most of