25/09/2013 BBC News at Six

The Labour leader stands by his proposal for a freeze on energy

prices as over £1 billion is wiped off the value of two of the biggest

energy companies. There are warnings the lights could go out or prices

actually rise, but Ed Miliband is defiant. We will have scare stories

from the energy companies. I am not going to tolerate that.

We'll be looking at whether Mr Miliband has picked a fight with the

energy companies he can win. Also tonight: Dramatic images of the

moment of rescue for a mother and her children in the Kenyan shopping

mall siege. Firefighters in England and Wales

walk out on strike this afternoon in a dispute about pensions.

But he missed on purpose - snooker player Stephen Lee is banned for 12

years for match fixing. Coming up in Sportsday, action from

the streets of Florence, but it is only silver. Bradley Wiggins.

Good evening and welcome to the BBC News at Six. The Labour leader is

standing firm on his promise to freeze gas and electricity prices

for 20 months if Labour wins the next election, insisting it's not an

attack on business. Ed Miliband's plans, set out in his conference

speech yesterday, saw over £1 billion wiped off the value of two

of the biggest utility companies. His speech has led to a storm of

protest from the energy suppliers, with some warning of a threat to the

country's energy security as well as possible power cuts. Here's our

political editor Nick Robinson. Will Ed Miliband's write new idea

cut bills, or will it, as the energy companies claim, risk the lights

going out across Britain? His promise, their warning. It is a

high-stakes battle. We will have scare stories from the energy

companies, like we did from the bank. The Conservative Party will

support them, but I'm standing up for the British people. Both sides

agree the company doesn't use enough power. Both agree new power stations

are needed. But the companies say a price freeze would cut their

investments and could lead to power cuts.

You call them scare stories, but how would anybody choose to invest when

there are four years of guaranteed uncertainty and billions of pounds

coming off their balance sheets? As soon as we get into government,

there will be a great degree of certainty because there will be a

price freeze at the beginning of 2017, and we will reform the

market. One of the country's biggest investment isn't reassured.

We'll energy prices be lower or higher than they are now if you

become Prime Minister and if you can freeze them? If we freeze the

prices, we will be keeping them at the level that we inherit at the

general election. So you don't know whether they will behind all lower

than now. It depends on what happens to the energy market. The conference

ended as it always does with a rendition of the Red Flag. Many

businessmen are worried about the party's new direction, including the

man who was Trade Minister under Gordon Brown. My concern is that in

an effort to appeal to tribal socialism, he has put at risk

millions of jobs. He has put a sign up over the country, don't invest

here, because they are going to change the rules. I put to Ed

Miliband the list of things he has now said he wants the government to

force companies to do. Price now said he wants the government to

controls, land sieges, a tax on businesses that want to take their

own decisions in their own way without being told by government

what to do. Small business tax cuts, stopping a race to the bottom in

skills so we build up a skilled workforce, dealing with some of the

problems of housing. This is good for business and good for Britain,

what we are talking about. You said to a man on the street that you

would bring back socialism. It says on our party line, what does that

mean today? It means an economy that works for all working people and not

just the few at the top. It means markets that work in the public

interest and responsibility all the way up in society, including the big

energy societies. I think I am standing by the British people

stand. A country that works for them, not just a few people at the

top. Ed Miliband believes this conference has illuminated what he

and his party really stand for. It has also sparked off a fierce debate

that only one side can win. So the energy companies have raised

the threat of power shortages and possible blackouts, but how likely

is it that the lights would go out? And what could Labour's proposal

mean for our gas and electricity bills? John Moylan has been finding

out. On the face of it, the 20-month

price freeze sounds like good news for energy customers. Labour

estimates it will save a typical household £120. But it could also

cost the industry around £4.5 billion pounds. Today companies and

city bigwigs lined up to criticise the move. British Gas, the UK's

biggest energy supplier, warned of dire conseqences if it couldn't

react to rising global prices. If we have no ability to control what we

do in the retail prices, it would mean we are selling products at a

loss, and that would threaten energy security in the UK. When firms talk

about energy security, they mean will the lights go out? The energy

regulator has warned about possible blackouts ahead as polluting power

plants are shut down. They will need to be replaced, and the government

warned that Labour's move would threaten that. But consumer groups

insist that the market does need to change. Often the energy companies

can overstep the mark in warnings about the lights going out, but they

are right that we do need to have a coherent energy policy which makes

investment in essential infrastructure possible, and that

means returning a profit to the energy companies. So what has been

happening to our energy costs? According to the government, our gas

prices are the lowest out of 15 of the main EU countries, and our

electricity prices are amongst the cheapest as well. But prices have

risen faster than elsewhere in Europe. Gas prices have risen 39%,

and electricity 17.5% since 2007. And consumers face more bad news,

with reports that a round of price rises may be just weeks away. But

there were still mixed views here in Salford. If you are going to make a

saving, if it is going to be beneficial, me being a family man,

saving, if it is going to be every bit helps. He is trying to

make promises identity key can keep. And I don't think the energy

companies will stand for it. And as a price cap the best way to help? In

parts of Europe, energy prices are controlled by governments, but there

is doubt whether Labour's price freeze would work here. Capping was

always used in the past when electricity was not believe business

-- was a monopoly business, but it electricity was not believe business

is not possible to have a free market and also capped prices. The

is not possible to have a free two are incompatible. The only cases

that still do it all under pressure to phase it out.

The Government says it's shaking up the market, bringing in simpler,

clearer tariffs to help consumers find the best deal. But whatever the

arguments, energy prices are well and truely back in the spotlight,

and they are likely to be a key battle ground in the run-up to the

next election. John, thanks. Let's talk our

political editor Nick Robinson, who is in Brighton. It is not often a

party makes such a big impact with a policy statement when it is not even

in power. How successful has this been for Ed Miliband? You are right.

Opposition parties usually find that people can't remember what they

stand for, and don't take seriously the proposition of them getting into

government. Ed Miliband will be delighted at the idea that his idea

is dominating news, and it is seen so possible that he might implement

it if he becomes Prime Minister, it is even moving the price of the

shares of energy companies. He has paid a price for that, which is some

of those who rather like Labour during the Tony Blair years getting

rather nervous about the sounds they hear of the new direction of the

Labour Party. I remember this, though, that those around the

Chancellor of the Exchequer used to say that of all the economic news in

recent months, news about cuts or interest rate or unemployment, the

one that had the greatest impact on ordinary people was their memories

of days when the energy price went up, sometimes by 20% on a single

day. I think what we are now seeing is that the Conservatives may wish

to say this plan won't work and it isn't right or it'll fall apart, but

privately they will be thinking, what on earth can we now do?

Nick Robinson in Brighton, thank you.

New pictures have emerged of dramatic rescues from the shopping

mall siege in Kenya as the country begins three days of mourning for

the victims of the terrorist attack. 67 people are known to have died,

but dozens more are still missing. Kenyan troops are now working their

way through the wreckage looking for more bodies. From Nairobi, Andrew

Harding reports. Startling new footage from the first

day of the attack. Lying in the centre, a plainclothes policeman. On

the left, a mother and her two children. But they are only playing

dead. They are too scared to move. The policeman calls -- crawls over

and persuades the traumatised family to run while they still can. Today,

Nairobi's Westgate mall remains sealed off. Soldiers have finished

checking for booby traps, allowing forensic experts in to try to

identify the bodies left. Among the things that are going on now

fingerprinting, ballistic examinations. We expect that the

exercise will not take less than seven days. There is still confusion

and uncertainty, fuelled by Somali's militant Al-Shabab. They

claim today that more than 100 civilians had hired. More footage of

the attack has now emerged. civilians had hired. More footage of

Civilians being rescued, six Britons are known to have died. We are here

and working very closely with the Kenyan authorities.

The mood is pensive. We have not been able to get answers. This is a

global problem. It is up to everybody to remain vigilant. There

are still fundamental questions to be answered. What is the final death

toll. What happened to all the hostages. Why did it take so long to

end this siege? In the meantime another funeral this afternoon. This

for a boy and his grandmother. As Kenya mourns, the investigations

move slowly forward. Firefighters in England and Wales

walked out for four hours this afternoon in a dispute about

pensions. The Fire Brigades Union says government changes could mean

firefighters lose thousands of pounds, if they retire before the

age of 60. But ministers say the offer is one of the most generous in

the public sector. Mike Sergeant is in Eastleigh for us now. Mike, is

this going to be the first of more strikes? Firefighters are back on

duty and ready to respond to emergencies. Government sources put

the figure as low as 8000. They certainly can't agree on the

figures, and after today's strike, the figures don't seem to be any

closer together on the issues. For the first time in over a decade,

firefighters have walked out in unison. Members say they are angry

that some members will have to work until 60s get their full pension,

and they think they would be fit enough to carry on that long. They

have not listened to the arguments about age. 60 is too old to do some

of the duties. For people to compare our jobs to others I think is

unfair, and it is unfair that the government are trying to do that.

So what deal of firefighters being offered? Someone earning £29,000 who

retires at 60 will get £19,000 per year. But if he or she retires at

55, that will be cut to £13,000. But ministers say it is a very good

offer. Less than half of the firefighters in the country voted

for strike action, and we have a very good offer on the table, very

fair and not just of the taxpayers but to firefighters.

The last time firefighters went on strike, the Army provided cover with

the old-fashioned Green Goddesses. But they have been decommissioned.

This time they are making greater use of volunteer and part time

firefighters. We have tested are contingency plans which have worked

well. We are satisfied that we can maintain the service and sustain

these plans for some considerable time. As firefighters returned to

work this afternoon there was relief that they did not have to break

their stoppage to respond to a major incident. But the union is giving no

guarantees that further strikes can be avoided. So plans for covering a

strike have been tested. The union will meet tomorrow to consider the

next steps in this dispute and whether firefighters have the

appetite for another walk-out. Our top story this evening. The

Labour leader stands by his proposal for a freeze on energy prices as the

biggest energy companies see their share prices fall. And still to

come. 90-years-old this week - the changing face of the Radio Times.

In sports day, more league cup ties tonight, the pick of them at Old

Trafford with the possible return of Luis Suarez as Liverpool face

Manchester United. The way we work has changed

substantially in the last 40 years, with the number of men in employment

dropping, while more women are getting jobs. But a report by the

National Office of Statistics shows women still remain largely in lower

paid sectors. Back in 1971, 53% of women were in work. Four decades on,

that has risen to 67%. In the same period the male workforce has

dropped, with 92% in employment in 1971. Now that figure stands at just

76%. Emma Simpson has more. They didn't quite get to run the bank

back in the 70s, but it was the decade when large numbers of women

started entering the world of work. There are now in record numbers of

women at work, although the employment rate has slowed. What has

changed significantly over the last two decades is the fact that we are

now waiting longer before we have children, and more of us are still

working once we have them, including the founder of this business. She

says a lot has changed since she had her first son nearly 20 years ago.

When I had him it was still normal for a woman to consider their career

over or at least is bound when they had their first baby. We had strong

gender stereotyping. The collapse of manufacturing back in the 1980s is

one big reason why male employment has fallen, as women found jobs in

the growing service sector. There is still a gap in pay today between the

sexes at the top. In the under 20s women make up almost half of the top

earners. But by their late 40s it is just over a quarter. Much of this

can be explained by women choosing to bring up children, changing the

way they work. I think we will get more equality in the workplace when

it comes completely normal for a man to request flexible working

patterns. I think we need to focus on that in policies rather than just

making it an issue just about women. The world of work is continuing to

change. Who knows where it will be in another 40 years.

More than 300 people been killed by a powerful earthquake that struck

southwestern Pakistan yesterday. Entire villages were flattened by

the quake which struck in the remote area of Awaran, making it difficult

for doctors and aid workers to care for the survivors. James Robbins

reports. guarantees that further strikes can

be guarantees that further strikes can

brand-new island just off the coast. People flocked to see it. The island

will put the road, perhaps within months. Officials are appealing for

more medicines and food. Local hospitals have been overwhelmed and

the scale of the disaster is still emerging.

The jury in the trial of a mother accused of starving her

four-year-old son to death have for the first time heard from her.

Amanda Hutton denies manslaughter. The body of her son, Hamzah Khan,

was found in a cot in her bedroom, almost two years after he died. Ed

Thomas has been in court in Bradford. What did Amanda Hutton

have to say? She told officers that Hamzah Khan had had problems from

breath. She was asked by police, why did you not seek help? She said she

had a fear of hospitals. She said on the day he died she prevented her

eldest son from calling for an ambulance. She told officers, I

panicked, and as each day passed it became harder to do anything about

it. 21 months later a detective found the body of Hamzah Khan in a

cot. He explained how he felt at that time. He said he removed layers

of clothing and blankets before he saw the remains of the

four-year-old. He said he was so shocked that his right hand began to

shake uncontrollably. Amanda Hutton this and to the evidence with her

head in her hands. She denies one count of manslaughter.

The former world number five snooker player Stephen Lee has been banned

for 12 years for match fixing. He was found guilty earlier this month

of seven charges, including fixing a match at the 2009 World

Championships. Lee, who's 38 and from Wiltshire, says he's devastated

by what is effectively a life ban - and is totally innocent. Our chief

sport correspondent Dan Roan reports.

If Stephen Lee! He was one of the biggest stars in Abu Ghraib but

today the career of Stephen Lee lies in tatters. This was the world

championship in 2009, just one of seven matches of the world number

five fixed. At the time it seemed seven matches of the world number

that the player was just having a bad day. But now we

area of Awaran, making it difficult for

This exhibition celebrates museums covers of the past. Broadcasting

change the way people live their lives. Radio Times reflect that and

changed with the times. In the 1960s Doctor Who appeared on the cover and

so did pop stars. In 1991 it began Doctor Who appeared on the cover and

to carry details of other channels. Newspapers and rival magazines began

to win the right to publish BBC schedules. Sometimes literally it

has been part of the fabric of the BBC. When broadcasting house was

built a copy was buried underneath the foundation stone. But Radio

Times is not even owned by the BBC the foundation stone. But Radio

any more. These days there is a Radio Times website. The editors

said the magazine has a great future, known as much for its

listings as it trustworthy previews. Radio Times listeners actually watch

less television than the average viewer because we tell them where

the good stuff is. If you are a busy person you need to come to Radio

Times. Radio Times is still the most profitable magazine in the UK. The

souvenir edition will sell just 800,000 copies, less than a 10th of

what it would once have gained. Now we take a look at the weather

forecast. We have seen some heavy rain today.

And we have cloud coming down from the north. So the sunshine has been

limited. It could turn foggy for some time. Across southern areas,

there is some misty weather and still some showers. It will be

another warm and humid night. And then it will be cold enough for

perhaps some grass frost. So across Scotland and the North East of

England tomorrow, temperatures in single figures. A different story

across Northern Ireland. Much milder there, quite damp and cloudy.

Sunshine developing into East Anglia. But to begin the day much of

the Midlands and the south-east quite cloudy. Some rain to come in

areas. Sunnier skies tomorrow will be across the eastern side of the

UK. Further west and into Wales and Northern Ireland, much more clout

UK. Further west and into Wales and and limited sunshine. Temperatures

not bad and in the sunshine it will feel quite pleasant. More sunshine

to come on Friday. A bit of rain in the North West. Some showers in the

South West. But warming up in the sunshine. Looking ahead to the

weekend, some patchy rain for northern parts of Scotland. Heavy

showers in the South. But for showers in the South. But for

central areas, a decent weekend. And that is all, it is goodbye Premy

and