09/05/2017 BBC News at Six

Theresa May defends her pledge to cap energy prices,

despite criticism from industry and opposition parties.

The Conservatives say 17 million households will be up

themselves on tariffs that are above that that they should be

paying, and that is why we are taking action.

The risk of a price cap like this, and where we've seen it before,

is that it damages confidence and it damages switching

We'll be asking if the Tory energy cap is any different to Labour's

Jeremy Corbyn says Brexit is settled, but when questioned

repeatedly, he refused to confirm Britain would definitely

If you're Prime Minister we will leave whatever happens?

I don't know any more than you do exactly what is going to happen

in the future on this, but I do know we are not approaching

An 11-year-old girl died after an accident

The British man suspected of carrying out beheadings in Syria -

he's convicted of being a member of IS.

Alexander Blackman gives his first TV interview -

the former marine was jailed for killing a wounded Taliban fighter.

A moment of madness, I think, is the best description I can give.

Not exactly the proudest moment of my life.

She's called the Queen of Latin - now Shirley Ballas is

Maria Sharapova is to be offered another wildcard

as she continues her comeback from a doping ban, this time

by the LTA to next month's event in Birmingham.

Good evening and welcome to the BBC News at Six.

The Prime Minister has said that under a Conservative government

there would be a cap on energy prices.

The election pledge has run into a barrage of criticism

from opposition parties and industry officials alike.

Theresa May said 17 million households would benefit

from the cap but Labour have accused her of copying their own

at the time, the Tories described it as Marxist.

Election pledges don't get closer to home, today's big offer -

a promise from Theresa May to cap your fuel bills,

the standard tariff paid by millions if they're judged too high.

But this Tory campaign is about her, her team, her way.

Policies like capping energy prices to support working families.

Some Tories, some ministers had doubted this meddling in the market,

but she's the boss and one report had said the big six energy firms

charged ?1.4 billion over the odds in a year.

I think in those circumstances it is right, as does everybody

sitting around the Cabinet table, for Government to take action

And later, to factory workers in Leeds, she admitted

she was running against classic Tory thinking.

Sometimes people say to me that doing something like that doesn't

sound very Conservative but actually my response to that is,

when it comes to looking at supporting working people,

what matters is not an ideology, what matters is doing

If we win that election, in 2015, the next Labour Government

will freeze gas and electricity prices until the start of 2017.

Ed Miliband promised a price freeze and Labour was also

The reaction today has been anything but the same.

Approval from Tory leaning papers compared to outrage when Labour

It's not a Tory policy, it's scandalous that they've

What we're saying is that they haven't provided any

detail and they've not gone far enough.

We have an energy system that's been rigged by the Big Six

Politics because it sounds great, but it's rubbish policy

because it'll actually lead to less investment and higher prices.

So it'll harm and damage the very people, those on low incomes,

Some ministers may have had their doubts, but as one Cabinet

member put it to me, Theresa May's ideology

She's out to show people who feel they're getting a raw deal that

So, sometimes she sounds right wing, on migration, on Brexit,

but on some pieces of policies, like this latest piece

of intervention, she leans to the centre.

Theresa May's after votes from every political direction.

She's campaigning as if the result is on a knife edge and she's

The energy industry has criticised the plans to cap prices,

arguing the move would stifle competition and hurt customers.

We've asked our business editor Simon Jack to look at the likely

Adam and Margaret from Eccles, near Manchester, have been

with the same energy supplier for 30 years.

And when their bill arrives every three months, they go

They could pay less if they shopped around.

It is just impossible to compare like with like because the tariffs

are so confusing, deliberately so, so people can't make

After two hours ploughing through I gave up and thought

better the devil I know, get a bill, go and pay it

The Conservative plan for a cap on energy bills,

like the old Labour plan before it, is aimed squarely at Adam

According to the regulator Ofgem, two thirds of all energy customers,

that is 17 million households, are on standard variable tariffs,

The competition authorities say, collectively, customers are paying

?1.4 billion more than they would be paying if they switch

The Conservatives say that means a saving of up

But this cap would not automatically move people

to the cheapest possible deal, it would just improve

And many of the cheapest deals might be withdrawn by energy companies

to make up for any money they lose to the cap.

In fact there is evidence that is already happening,

which is why most of the industry is not convinced some

of these numbers stack up, or that caps are the answer.

The market is actually changing in quite a dynamic fashion.

I think it is really important we don't damage that

We bring in some of these fantastic new entrants in the market,

who are bringing innovation and challenging the big players.

That's got to be right for consumers.

The big six energy companies don't like this proposal.

But some of those smaller suppliers are supported.

I think this is good news for energy customers.

It might be painful for energy companies that are in the business

of taking advantage of customers who don't understand

But, on the whole, for companies that believe in charging

a fair price for energy, this is probably good news.

Competition authorities looked to the energy market for two years

and ultimately decided that a cap wasn't a good idea.

But with 17 million Adam and Margarets out there,

feeling they are overpaying, price caps may be

unfamiliar territory, especially for a Conservative Party,

but it looks like comfortable political ground.

There is confusion tonight over Labour's policy on Brexit. And

Jeremy Corbyn said the question of Brexit was settled but speaking to

our political editor later, he repeatedly refused to say whether

Labour would definitely take Britain out of the European Union.

A showbiz introduction. Labour has had more drama in 18 months than

some parties do in a decade. But he is on the main stage now. Are you

ready for his lines? The economy is still rigged in favour of the rich

and powerful. When Labour wins, there will be a reckoning for those

who thought they could get away with asset stripping our industry,

crashing our economy and ripping off workers and consumers. A dramatic

call in front of his shiny new battle bus, but since he has been in

charge, Labour has gone backwards. We have four weeks to ruin their

party. We have four weeks to have a chance to take back. We must seize

that chance today and every day until June the 8th. He has brought

multitudes of new members, but what about the mainstream? You said

dramatically there would be a reckoning if you become Prime

Minister. A reckoning does not sound like they see people at the top

paying more, it sounds more radical. Higher taxes for business? It is a

reckoning in our society that big business should pay more in tax,

corporation tax should not be lowered as the Conservatives propose

to give away more than 60 billion in tax cuts. How much more? You will

have to wait until the manifesto. When you use language like promising

a reckoning and talking about people taking back their wealth, to some,

it sounds like the politics of envy. Not at all. I am saying that we all

benefit when we all do better. We are a rich country but unfortunately

the riches are not fairly spread around and the levels of inequality

are getting worse. We need to understand the anger that many

people feel in this country. 6 million earning less than the living

wage, 1 billion on zero-hours contracts. Many on short-term jobs

and working, in communities that have seen little investment in 30

years. Their anger is palpable and real. Are you angry? Yes I get angry

about poverty about injustice and inequality. Why do you believe you

can win a general election from the left because the evidence under your

leadership is the kind of things you have been saying, which can go down

like a storm in a room like this, but the evidence is the wider

electorate, the Labour Party has been going backwards. The evidence

is, ask people question on wages, housing, on education, ask people

the question on social care, ask them those questions, all of which

are framed in our policies and you fine people say, I agree with that.

That is what he wants to take on the road, with big promises to come.

Voters in Salford curious. I do not think he as an individual but where

he is coming from resonates with people in here and other parts of

the country. There are that many people in the Labour Party who hate

him, I would not say hey Tim, but do not get on with him, I do not think

there is a chance. It has been hard for Labour to settle on the position

on leaving the EU. The leader wants to draw a line. This election is not

about Brexit itself, that issue has been settled. The question now is

what sort of Brexit we want and what sort of country do we want written

to be after that. His aides are adamant that settled means settled

and a Labour government would leave but when I asked him several times,

the answer was not so clear. Does it mean if you are Prime Minister,

whatever the deal on the table, we will leave the EU? There was a clear

vote at the referendum a year ago but there is now the negotiations

that have begun. That is not my question, my question is if you are

Prime Minister, we will leave whatever is on the table at the end

of negotiations? We win the election, we will get a good deal

with Europe. Can you say we would definitely leave? If you will not,

there is a possibility things could change and we might end up

differently at our options. The danger of the approach of the

Conservatives in their megaphone diplomacy on Europe, our view is you

have to talk to them, negotiate and recognise there is a lot of common

interest, particularly in manufacturing. That is the process

we are following. For all the leaders in this merry dance, every

word and move matters. An 11-year-old girl thought to be from

Leicester has died after an incident at the Drayton Manor theme park in

the West Midlands. It is thought she fell into the water from one of the

rides. The air ambulance arriving after being called to one of the

country's biggest theme parks. It landed in the grounds of Drayton

Manor in Staffordshire following an incident around 2:20pm. Also on

site, other emergency services, responding to reports a child had

fallen from a water ride at the theme park. It has been confirmed an

11-year-old girl from the Leicester area died after being airlifted to

Birmingham Children's Hospital. She had been Drayton Manor on a school

trip will stop she was hurt after falling off the Splash Canyon. It is

hugely popular. Designed to make you feel you are travelling through fast

flowing rapids. Those in the park described the confusion over what

had happened. We were just leaving. We saw the ambulances come racing

past. At first nobody knew what was going on and I think there was a

panic as to why the police were there. As we got told, somebody had

fallen out of the Splash Canyon and into the water. I am not sure how

serious it was but many of the staff members were upset. The Splash

Canyon is described as a wild ride that is unpredictable and thrilling

and was opened in 1993. Each boat holds a maximum of six people and

those people need to be at least three feet tall. After the incident

the area around the Splash Canyon was closed off to the public,

although the part remained open. The Health and Safety Executive has been

informed and says it is making enquiries.

Our correspondent, Phil Mackie, is outside Drayton Manor now.

What more can you tell us? Well, Drayton Manor is really busy at this

time of year. It's incredibly popular with schools and it seems

this 11-year-old girl was on a school trip from the Leicestershire

area. She died, as you say, in hospital earlier on. We had a

statement, "Drayton Manor had been familiaried owned sense it opened.

The grandson of the founder. He said they were truly shocked and

devastated about what happened earlier on today. Great efforts were

made to save the girl, airlifted to Birmingham Children's Hospital.

Police said that officers are supporting the girl's family at this

difficult time and their thoughts are very much with their family and

friends foj following this tragic accident. George. Phil, thank you

very much. Theresa May defends her pledge

to cap energy prices despite criticism from industry

and opposition parties. Strictly lines up a new judge

to keep the dancers on their toes. Team Sky's Geraint Thomas moves

into second in the overall standings at the Giro d'Italia after finishing

third in today's fourth Another British rider,

Adam Yates, is third. The former Royal Marine,

who was jailed for killing a wounded Taliban fighter in Afghanistan,

has given his first broadcast interview since

being freed last month. Alexander Blackman -

who was also known as Marine A - said he still doesn't know why

he opened fire and called it He's been speaking to our

correspondent, Clinton Rogers. It's still a moment of madness,

I think, is the best Yeah, it's not exactly

the proudest moment of my life. In the last three years,

much has been has been said Today, his wife alongside him,

he was having his say on a decision, in the heat of battle,

that led to a murder charge. His actions, captured

on helmet camera. There you are, shuffle off this

mortal coin, you (BLEEP). If you look at that video,

it would seem plain to everyone that It's a five minute section

of an incident that took well over an hour and,

to be fair, you can put quite a few different spins on what's said and,

unless you were actually there, Obviously, I told my version

of events when I was at trial. Hindsight is a wonderful thing

and given, especially what's happened to us in our life,

if you could go back, If he had a time machine and could

go back and do things differently, Blackman's conviction

for murder led to protests. His wife, Claire, led the campaign

for his release, but her husband had offered her the chance to walk away

from their marriage. I said, if she didn't want to stick

around or wanted to part company at that point,

or at any point throughout the process, it would be something

I'd understand and I'd, sort of, wish her well

with the rest of her life. So you were, basically, offering her

the chance to walk away? I wouldn't have done

anything differently. I know sometimes people said to me,

you know, "How are you doing this? I don't really have an answer,

but it wasn't an option It's only 11 days since

he was released from prison, now they both say they need time

to readjust to life as a couple. In seven years of marriage,

they've been apart more A man arrested close to the Houses

of Parliament last month has been Khalid Mohammed Omar Ali,

who's 27 and from North London, is accused of preparing

acts of terrorism. He's also been charged with two

counts of possessing A 33-year-old British man,

suspected of being a member of a gang that kidnapped

and murdered Western hostages in Syria, has been

convicted of terrorism. A court in Turkey found the former

London Underground worker Aine Davis guilty of being a member

of so-called Islamic State. Our home affairs correspondent,

Daniel Sandford, was in court. Aine Davis posing with

a fighter in Syria. Today, he became the first

of the suspected Beatles - the infamous Islamic State gang

from Britain - to be sent to prison. At this Turkish court house,

three judges found him guilty guilty of being a member

of IS and sentenced him to As he was led from court,

flanked by prison guards, I asked for his reaction -

he just swore at me. He's the second alleged Beatle to be

taken out of action. His friend, Mohammed Emwazi,

Jihadi John, was killed in a drone strike two years ago after beheading

two British hostages Aine Davis was captured 18

months ago at this luxury seaside villa complex,

40 miles outside Istanbul. He had risked secretly crossing

the border from IS-controlled parts of Syria and travelling hundreds

of miles to meet up with fellow IS supporters here, but the Turkish

Intelligence Services were watching, they moved in, and at last one

of the suspected so-called Beatles, had been captured in this,

the most unlikely of locations. The well-known Spanish newspaper

journalist, Javier Espinosa, was one of the hostages held

and tortured by The Beatles in 2014. He was released before

the beheadings began, but today was hugely relieved that

Aine Davis was, finally, I think he should face justice,

whatever it is, it doesn't matter if it's in England or Turkey

or whatever, he should Aine Davis is suspected to be one

of the four branded The Beatles because of their English accents

by the captives they The most infamous was the killer,

Mohammed Emwazi, or Jihadi John. The others have been named by the US

State Department as Alexanda Kotey and El Shafee Elsheikh,

both alive and still in Syria. Javier Espinosa remembers how one

of The Beatles, nicknamed George, always talked about how much

he despised the West. I mean, it was a very common

phrase that he used. That hatred developed when all four

men were radicalised in West London. Davis, a small time drug dealer,

was once jailed for having an illegal gun, now he's serving

seven-and-a-half years in a Turkish prison for being

a member of Islamic State. BBC News has learned that the Health

and Safety Executive is to prosecute a Mental Health Trust over the death

of a teenager in Oxford. Connor Sparrowhawk, who was 18,

drowned in a bath at a residential Tonight, the Trust has apologised

again to his family. Scores of convictions,

including rapes and murders, could be called into question

after allegations that thousands of blood samples may

have been manipulated. The National Police Chief's Council

says forensic experts are identifying any live cases

which require retesting. The three-time Tour de France

winner, Chris Froome, says he was deliberately knocked

off his bike by a car The 31-year-old posted a photograph

online of his damaged bike, Team Sky, with whom he rides,

say they've reported It's the announcement

fans of the BBC show Strictly Come Dancing have been

waiting for - who will replace the former head judge, Len Goodman,

who's retired after 12 years As David Sillito reports,

Shirley Ballas brings some Latin Here in her dancing heyday and now,

the new head judge for Strictly and she comes with quite some

recommendation from When I fist saw her,

I was absolutely gobsmacked. One of my true favourite Latin women

dancers of all-time. And as we can see from their

dancing, Charles, Corky and Shirley, Definitely determined,

she's won everything on both sides Please welcome the fantastic

Shirley Ballas. And she's got deep connections

with the Strictly formula. Her son, Mark, is a veteran

of the American version of the show, so too Julianne and Derek Hough,

dancers that she mentored and all trained here,

at Italia Conti, in London. When it comes to dancing,

does she really know her stuff? More than her stuff,

she really does. She goes all around the world

coaching all the professionals. And when it comes to

judging, tough or tender? She's going to be tough,

more because she's a perfectionist. However, we're talking

about Strictly and the real test will be how the public judges

the new judge. Time for a look at the weather,

here's Tomasz Schafernaker. Hello. Hi. We have been basking in

the sunshine today. More great news on the way for tomorrow. More

sunshine as well. Look at this beautiful picture. It could almost

be California there with the dude on the surf board. This is from Wales,

from Gwynedd. Beautiful conditions. Not so sunnier closer to the North

Sea coasts. So many western areas enjoyed the sunshine in the east we

had the cloud. Look at this area of cloud, it's shrinking and shrinking.

That means we are in for a clear night, that promise as sunny day

tomorrow. For most of us. Tonight, with the clearing skies, it will be

nippy. In the cities it will be around six or seven degrees. In

rural spots maybe even just outside of town only a couple of degrees

above freezing. A chance for grass frost around fist thing tomorrow. It

will start off on a beautiful note across the UK. Notice there is a

difference across the north of Scotland. The far north, Auckney,

getting spots of rain and colder there seven, 18 for London, 17 for

Belfast. Stunning day. The wind will be light. It will feel warmer. The

sun remember is very strong. As strong as it is in July. Come

Thursday that is when we start to see a change. We were talking about

it yesterday. A low pressure will drift to southern areas. That means

increasing amounts of cloud and already on Thursday from morning

onwards there is a threat of rain Wen need the rain in so many parts

of the country, it's been so dry. The showers confined to the southern

areas on Thursday, further north still a beautiful afternoon on the

way. Friday actually we could get quite a bit of rain in a short space

of time. Downpours on the way with thunder and lightning. The thundery

showers on Friday will be hit-and-miss. Not everybody will get

them. What you will notice is the humidity is also going to rise.

Thank you #1re67. Thank you. That's all from the BBC News at Six,

so it's goodbye from me, and on BBC One we now join the BBC's

news teams where you are.