15/09/2014 BBC News at Six

Tonight at Six I'm in Glasgow on the final few days

of campaigning before the referendum on Scottish independence.

Competing visions from Alex Salmond and David Cameron who's

on his last scheduled visit before voters go to the polls.

There's no going back from this. No re-run.

This country with its enormous natural and human resources can

build a more prosperous economy and also has that dimension

And with many yet to make up their minds- I've been speaking to

students here at Glasgow University who've yet to decide.

More than 30 countries pledge to unite to fight Islamic State -

Britain says it's still not clear what role it will play.

Mobile retailer Phones 4U goes into administration -

Two British tourists are murdered in a popular beach resort in Thailand.

And how do you land on a comet travelling 34,000 miles per hour?

The spacecraft hoping to make history by doing just that.

A lucky escape for a delivery driver - now energy bosses face questions

And abused at work - the thousands of frontline staff

Good Evening and welcome to the BBC News at Six.

There are now just three days to go before Scotland votes

The question on Thursday is a simple one - should

Both the First Minister and the Prime Minister were

Alex Salmond was focusing on the economy at a meeting with

While David Cameron was in Aberdeen - his message is Thursday's vote is

Will Scotland prosper? It took 35 years to build a this wholesale

business in Glasgow but the boss says times have been tough recently

and independence would herald a boom. In independence we would be

better off. We had more natural resources than anywhere in Europe in

Scotland. We would be much better off as a country and I want to leave

a legacy behind for the next generation to come so they will

prosper. Earlier today, other business leaders joined Alex Salmond

at Edinburgh airport. The message that not all firms are worried of

the yes vote. We are demonstrating with some of the more serious

business people in Scotland, businesses creating tens of

thousands of jobs that there are groups who say there is an

opportunity from an independent Scotland. The battle for business is

in full swing as both sides try to persuade voters that vision for the

economy is the strongest. This evening, the Prime Minister arrived

in Aberdeen to hammer home his message, warning independence would

mean the end of writ -ish pensions, passports and the pound. Making a

plea to Scottish voters about the consequences of voting yes. It would

be the end of a country that launched enlightenment, abolished

slavery, defeated fascism. The end of a country that people around the

world respect and admire. The end of the country that we call home. And,

in the shipyards on the Clyde, where the British Empire was launched,

many workers are worried. Scottish it loading has been sustained by

Royal Navy orders and these staff fear for their jobs in Scotland says

yes. We have a plan of what will happen in the no vote. We have

revitalise ship Golding. In the wake of the yes vote, we will be staring

into the abyss. Very soon, all will be calm. It will all be over and the

people of Scotland will quietly make their choice.

Ever since the agreement two years ago that set Thursday's referendum

in place both sides have been laying out competing visions of Scotland,

presenting their arguments on key areas such as the economy, national

Our Correspondent, Lorna Gordon, has been looking at some

of the most important issues dividing the Yes and No campaigns.

Scotland, a nation of over 5 million people. From the Borders to the

Highlands and Islands, its urban conurbations and the hills. A land

mass covering nearly a third of the UK, its people on the verge of a

momentous decision. Under devolution and the Scottish parliament was

given control in areas of health, education, policing, criminal

Justice and others. Holyrood has no powers to legislate on defence,

foreign affairs, wider economic and fiscal policy, welfare including

Social Security and broadcasting. What would independence mean? The

power to make more decisions within Scotland on a host of areas where it

does not have control. In practice, how much power that would entail

would depend on both the negotiations over independence, the

settlement reached with the UK and also some regulations and rules of

play at the European Union level also. What are the main issues?

There is the economy and two different narratives have emerged

over what could happen should Scotland voted for independence. The

No campaign and business leaders warned banks may relocate their

headquarters and prices might rise if people vote for independence. The

Yes campaign and other business people say it is scaremongering and

an independent Scotland would be one of the wealthiest countries in the

world. Then there is the currency. Supporters of independence says

Scotland would use the pound. The three prounion Westminster parties

say a currency union would not happen. And there is dispute over

the oil of how much is left and what it is worth in taxes. The yes

campaigners say they want a fairer society and a narrowing of the gap

between rich and poor. Those campaigning for a no vote, social

justice is better received as part of the union to guarantee pensions.

Then of course there is national identity. What sort of country

people here want Scotland to beat. Do Scots want to be in charge of

their own destiny as an independent nation? Should all decisions be made

in Edinburgh, or can the identity flourish as part of the union? In

three days Scotland faces a big decision. Once in a generation

opportunity say those campaigning for independence, but one that is

irreversible who say those who want the union to continue.

With just three days to go polls still suggest there are around half

A poll of polls collated by the website What Scotland Thinks

based on six recent polls suggests that of those who expressed

a view 51% are against independence with 49% in favour.

This afternoon I spoke to some students here at Glasgow University

who have yet to decide which way they'll vote.

Freshers week at the University of Glasgow. A noisy welcome or the you

students arriving for the start of their new lives in the week Scotland

decides its future. This ancient university, founded in the 15th

century is home to more than 17,000 undergraduates, most of them from

Scotland, but many from other parts of the UK. Yes or no, it has been

debated for months, but some are still struggling to decide. Like

Scott Dallas from grad -- Glasgow, a third year student. Over the next

few days, I want somebody to come out and say, this is what we will

do. No one has come out and said, OK, this is the plan and this is

what will happen. Lyle Stuart, like all Scottish students who live here

has his fees paid for by the Scottish Government and is looking

for long-term guarantees for generations to come. Education is

the most important thing but country to be sustainable in the long term.

I would need confirmation tuition fees will be paid for more than the

foreseeable future. Kate is from Manchester but she lives here so can

vote. She has listened to both sides and must choose. People are running

around screaming from the rooftops. I need to think about it in what I

would like for the future of Scotland. Whether they will get the

answers they want in the days left is unsure, but talk of the

referendum is on everybody's lips. In a moment I'll be speaking to

our Scotland Political Editor, Brian Taylor, but first Nick

Robinson is in Aberdeen for us. The Prime Minister has been speaking

in the last half an hour, what will people take away with what he has

said? The closer we get, the more you can detect watch each side in

this referendum fears are there week points. With his last appearance

here in front of hand-picked party supporters, he left Aberdeen and

Scotland, the Prime Minister made a plea not to tear up what he calls

the family of nations. But he said, it is not about me, if you want

change you can still get it if you vote no. He knows the change many

want is from him, from his government, from his party.

Therefore it has fallen to Gordon Brown in a speech in Edinburgh this

evening that he wants to guarantee Scots will get fairness and funding

for the health service, get a say in the future constitution of the UK

even if they vote no. It all allows Alex Salmond to say, non-abyss is

guaranteed, you'll only get real change if you vote for independence

and make decisions in Scotland. It is the only way you will get a

government you voted for and not a Conservative government in

Westminster. But Alex Salmond showed his weakness, having an event about

the economy, promising lots of opportunity in independence, but

revealing a fear those economic warnings are filtering through. The

closer we get to polling day, you can actually smell their anxiety.

Brian Taylor, a lot of passionate debate on both sides, are people

still listening to the arguments? Very much, I have never seen a

populace so engaged as the people of Scotland are in this debate. There

is a sense of an endgame and the messages are being repackaged on

both sides. But there is a velocity still to this debate as sides put

forward their messages. We heard from Nick Robinson talking about the

Gordon Brown offer, a way of entrenching he believes, the powers

of the Scottish parliament in a revised UK. The response of those

who are supporters of independence say it cannot be guaranteed and will

be stuck in the treacle Westminster politics in the event of a no vote.

But sides of putting forward a pitch in the prospect of the advantage of

independence and the risks as they see it from the other side of

maintaining and going with the third option. We had the student earlier

who said he wanted somebody to set out what will happen. But it will

not happen. There will be these two computing offers and people will

have to make up their minds, even if they do it at relaxed seconds as

they go into Mark their ballot paper.

That's it from Glasgow but don't forget there's plenty

of analysis and latest developments on the BBC News website.

Now, it's back to Fiona in the studio.

Let's look at today's other top story and

foreign ministers from more than 30 countries have been meeting in Paris

to discuss building support for an international coalition against

The UK foreign secretary, Philip Hammond, said

a decision hadn't yet been taken about how the UK will contribute but

He also confirmed that British forces are unable to try to rescue

the former cab driver, Alan Henning, whom IS are threatening to kill

as it's not known where he's being held.

Our security correspondent Frank Gardner reports.

This report contains blast photography.

David Haines, murdered. James Foley, murdered. Stephen SOT cloth,

murdered. The recent beheading of these three Western hostages in

Syria has helped galvanise world leaders against action. They arrived

today from 30 countries Paris conference aimed at confronting all

aspects of Islamic state. But the Foreign Secretary is aware the life

of this British hostage, Alan Helling, hangs in the balance. We

have to do what we can to protect the individual in question. -- Alan

Henning. We cannot be deterred from our objective from crushing ISIS and

the ideology it is trying to impose on the region. The challenge of

those countries lining up against Islamic state is considerable. The

shaded parts of the map show the areas it now controls, over 6

million people are believed to be living under IS's rule. Its strategy

has so far been lightening land grabs and then to consolidate its

power. The Iraqi government feels the one most threatened.

John Kerry has been racing around the Middle East forging an alliance.

The strategy involves not just Iraq and Syria, but the neighbouring Arab

states. They see IS as a threat to them as much as it is to the west.

They will be hosting bases for air strikes and possibly joining in

themselves and training Syrian rebels. Importantly, Arab

governments are waging an ideological campaign to try to

undermine IS and choke off their supply of funds and recruits. So how

will Islamic State react? They have been hurt by the air strikes, but do

they have a hidden plan? IS is trying to provoke the west into

taking further action, especially with boots on the ground and they

want to draw western involvement to bog them down. Caught up in this is

a kind hearted taxi driver from Salford. Alan henning was kidnapped

and Islamic State have threatened to behead him.

With just three days to go before the Scottish referendum, Alex

Salmond and David Cameron present rival visions of Scotland's future.

How to land a spacecraft on a comet over 250 million miles from earth.

Promising to revolutionise care for heart patients in the capital -

we're at Bart?s as it opens one of the biggest cardiac centres

And forget a life in the country - why apparently London is becoming

5,500 jobs are at risk after the mobile phone retailer

720 stores across the UK were closed today.

The firm was plunged into crisis after two network operators -

EE and Vodafone - decided not to extend existing deals.

What is happening have you been told anything?

Arriving at work to shut up shop - that's what Phones 4U staff found

themselves doing this morning after their firm decided it

A worrying time for them and for customers,

despite the fact that contracts with phone networks should be honoured.

This woman ordered the latest iPhone on Friday.

They have taken the money from my account

and they have not put it back in yet.

I have had no e-mail or anything to let me know what's going on.

So at the moment, I don't know where I stand.

The firm blames the phone networks for its collapse

after one by one they ended their deals with the chain.

It had bitter words for Vodaphone in particular,

saying its behaviour has been designed to inflict maximum damage.

But they put the blame on the phone retailer's debt problems.

The Phones 4U collapse could see over 5,000 jobs go and leave

The company reported profits of ?105 million last year.

But crucially the owners, BC Partners had effectively

mortgaged the business, running up ?505 million in debt.

The competition to sell these is getting more intense and

the profit margins for the mobile phone networks are getting slimmer.

They have all got their own shops on the high street, so they're not that

keen to share any profits they do make with the likes of Phones 4U.

The company's founder sold the business for ?1.5 billion in 2006

One major business figure said we will miss its presence

There will be lack of competition if Phones 4U disappears.

The internet has caused the demise of many high street retailers

Staff at the firm's Staffordshire headquarters left with

Now the administrators say they will try to find a buyer, but in the

meantime the stores will remain closed.

Politicians in Northern Ireland have been paying tribute to Ian Paisley,

whose funeral has been taken place in County Down. Sinn Fein's Martin

McGuinness and the DUP's Peter Robinson were among those who signed

the book of condolence at Stormont. A specialist cancer doctor has

admitted sexually assaulting sick children in his care - some

of whom were as young as eight. A court heard how Dr Myles Bradbury,

who worked in a specialist unit at Addenbrooke's Hospital,

carried out examinations on young cancer sufferers purely

for his own sexual gratification. Dr Myles Bradbury arrived at court

to plead guilty to abusing the trust of those he was supposed to care

for. Admitting committing sexual offences on boys as young as 11.

Some with leukaemia. Three-year-old Declan yeoman was treated for 14

months by Myles Bradbury before he died. There is no suggestion he was

abused, but his mother says she is devastated by what has emerged. It

made me feel physically ill. Obviously, you think was your child

involved. Could you have noticed anything? Was there something you

missed? In court Myles Bradbury pleaded guilty to 25 offences. The

judge requested a full psychiatric report to understand how this

pattern of behaviour developed. Dr Myles Bradbury was a blood cancer

specialist at Addenbrookes Hospital. Today the trust apologised to the

victims and their families. . I would like to say to the patients

and family how sory we are and to reassure them they can continue to

rely on the children's services here at Cambridge University hospitals.

Brad had little to say when he was released on bail. He will be

sentenced at a later date. Two British tourists have been

found murdered in Thailand. The bodies of a 24-year-old man

from Jersey and a 23-year-old woman from Norfolk were found

on a beach on the island of Koh Tao From the Thai capital Bangkok,

Jonathan Head reports. A tropical beach and now a crime

scene. Police reinforcement s were rushed to the island to help

investigate what appears to be a brutal double murder. The bodies of

two young British tourists were found here this morning. At first

islanders tried to block people from leaving in the hope of finding the

perpetrator. But the police say they're looking to question a

tourist they believe left this morning. The two victims have been

identified. David Miller was 24 and Hannah Witheridge. The island is in

the gulf of Thailand and is popular with divers. It has a reputation of

being a quiet island. The British Embassy said it was seeking

information from the local authorities and that staff stand

ready to help friends and family. Violent crime here is relatively

uncommon in Thailand. But 13 British nationals have been murdered here

since 2009. The Foreign Office issued warnings about attacks on

holiday makers on beach resorts. The Thai authorities will put a lot of

effort into solving the case to reassure people the resorts are safe

and for the people who come here it is. But such incidents are a

reminder that there is a occasionally danger out there on

Thailand's beaches. Ten years ago the Rosetta spacecraft

was launched from a site in French Guiana - its mission to

explore a faraway comet described by In two months' time, a probe from

the Rosetta will attempt to make That's no easy task - it's

travelling at 34,000 miles an hour. Scientists today have been

explaining how they're going A strange barren world seen

in greater detail than before. But we are now closing to seeing

if that is true. The European Space Agency has mapped

this comet and picked Marked here as J,

with another site as back up. No one knows

if this is going to be possible. But the extraordinary feat

of touching down on a comet, first dreamed up 20 years ago,

is now within sight. This mission is now

at a critical phase. Not only flying alongside the comet,

but now planning to send a lander on to it as well -

an incredible challenge. So let's take a closer look at

the biggest danger - the surface. It's totally unknownment some parts

of it are extremely rough, It may turn out to be soft

like quick sand. And the plan is for the Rosetta

space craft, which is orbiting the comet, to release

a lander robot known as Philae. The hope is this will descend

and touch down on just the right Now to survive, the tiny craft will

need to get just enough sup light to charge up its solar panels, but too

much sun and it will overheat. If all goes well, scientists will

get the first chance to work out Whether they really did bring

the building blocks The landing site is thought

to be the safest there is. But it still is fraught with risk

and scientists say that after a ten year journey there is

now a rush to get ready. We have only just seen up close for

the last two weeks images of where we are going to land and had to make

the calculations so quickly. So this is the most difficult thing that

space scientists have ever tried to do. This animation makes it look

easy. It is meant to happen in November. If it works, we will get

the first pictures from the surface of one of the strangest objects in

the solar system and maybe learn something about our own origins as

well. Now the weather. For some of us a taste of late summer today.

Others more a taste of late autumn. If you were stuck under the cloud in

Scotland, only 14 degrees in the east. But in the south 22 degrees.

Some heavy showers through the Midlands an northern England. Some

rain later in the Northern Isles. But a lot of cloud tonight. Quite a

warm night. 13 degrees. But a lot of low cloud that means mist and fog.

So a grey start to tomorrow. It will take a long time for that mist, fog

and low cloud to lift. But we get some sunshine and it warms up and

more sunshine in the afternoon that will trigger some showers. We will

get a warmer day in Scotland. Away from the east coast. Some heavy rain

in Shetland and Orkney. Some showers in the west of Scotland and some in

Northern Ireland. For England and Wales, many places warmer than today

around 21. There will be a few showers. Any in the south could be

he heavy. But a lot of places will be dry. For Wednesday, we start off

grey and misty and this time it is more low cloud. The best sunshine in

western and the later southern areas. Eastern Scotland and

north-east England could stay grey all day with some showers. But a

warm day where you get the sunshine. Up to 24 or 25 degrees. This week

different to last week, we have some showers around. We will see sunshine

after some grey and misty mornings and it is a warming trend across the

south. That's all from the BBC News at Six,

so it's goodbye from me and on