29/06/2017 BBC News at Six

Tonight at Six, a retired judge will lead the inquiry

into what happened at Grenfell Tower.

Sir Martin Moore-Bick met local residents today -

and he's told them what he's been asked to look at.

I've been asked to undertake this inquiry on the basis that it

would be pretty well limited to the problems surrounding

the start of the fire and its rapid development.

But those who still live in the shadow of the disaster

want him to go further - why were their warnings ignored?

Whether he will get to the bottom of who was responsible for causing

the fire in the first place is a different matter,

and that's the one that's really concerning residents at present.

We'll be asking if this judge is the right person for the inquiry.

On the day of the vote on the Queen's speech,

a surprise decision on abortion for women in Northern Ireland.

Australian police charge Cardinal George Pell

with historical sex crimes - the highest ranking clergyman

Britain's air campaign against so-called Islamic State -

Ploughing a new furrow - the Herefordshire farmer

who turned his fields into an art gallery.

And coming up in Sportsday on BBC News, concerns grow over the fitness

of Andy Murray ahead of his Wimbledon title defence,

as the world number one pulls out of an exhibition match tomorrow.

Good evening and welcome to the BBC News at Six.

It's only a few hours since Theresa May named the judge

who will chair the Grenfell Tower inquiry, and

already Sir Martin Moore-Bick is facing questions

about whether his brief is wide-ranging enough.

Sir Martin promised "a vigorous inquiry" into what caused the fire,

and how it spread so quickly, with such fatal consequences.

But many local residents, some of whom met the judge this

afternoon, say they want to know who should be held

Our Home Affairs Correspondent, Tom Symonds, reports.

Away from the debate about the number of deaths and the risk from

cladding, dozens of families are morning. Relatives of Tony Disson

led him to rest today, close to the tower. And this is the man facing

the task of explaining their deaths. Facing the cameras for the first

time. I had never seen anything like that building, which is now

completely gutted so you can see through it in many places. I am

absolutely determined that this enquiry will be open and full, and

will cover all the ground so that we reach conclusions that are reliable

and can prevent anything like this happening again. He spent several

hours listening to the views of survivors and local people. But

already he and they appear to have different views. He may certainly

get to the bottom of what caused the fire to spread so quickly. Whether

he will get to the bottom of who is responsible for causing the fire in

the first place is a different matter, and that is the one

concerning residents. We want a wider enquiry, one that will include

the issues that were raised before. So basically, the attitudes towards

people. We want to make sure that people would be listened to, that

our voices will not be ignored. That is the priority. There is a feeling

around the tower that he should examine whether warnings about fire

safety were ignored because the community had no voice. Whether my

enquiry is the right way in which to achieve that, I am more doubtful.

And I will give that some thought and in due course make a

recommendation. But there may be other ways in which that desire for

investigation can be satisfied. So you may not be able to give them the

wide enquiry they appear to be looking for a? Maybe not. People are

desperate for answers here. The Prime Minister would like an interim

report within months. Today the judge said that could include

details of how the fire started, why it spread so fast and the response.

But he said even that could take a up to a year. After all, the remit

of the enquiry still has to be decided by the government. The cause

of the fire will clearly be a court topic. But the Prime Minister has

also talked about examining the wider issue of fire block safety,

and the pressure for a deeper look at political and social causes is

unlikely to go away. The chairman, Sir Martin Moore-Bick, was born in

Wales and went to Christ Church College Cambridge before becoming a

barrister. He was appointed to the High Court in 95 -- 1995, and to the

Court of appeal in 2005. They are commonly rejected a family's the

dilettantes to prevent Westminster Council from moving them out of

London. The Supreme Court overruled. He was labelled a controversial

choice for the Grenfell Tower enquiry. And he knows that revealing

the truth about Britain's worst fire in modern history will be a

difficult and sensitive task, carried out in the full glare of

public attention. It could take in years.

As you were suggesting in your report, there are already tensions

about what this enquiry should do? Are little, yes. He is well regarded

in the legal profession as somebody who is very competent and a fast

worker, importantly. He seems to be somebody who comes from a technical

background. He has worked on shipping cases and disasters at sea.

But many people in that area feel the roots of the fire lie in the way

society deals with our regards people who live in social housing.

There is a clear mismatch. They also want the guilty names. And he would

say, and I think it is the case, that is the role of the police

investigation that is ongoing, and the public enquiry has to take

second place to that. But I think what all of this demonstrates is

that if he doesn't keep the residents and the victims onside,

really behind the enquiry, then it could run into trouble. The

long-running enquiry into child sexual abuse shows that is a risk.

Thank you. Women from Northern Ireland will no

longer have to pay for abortions The decision - which was revealed

hours before this afternoon's crucial vote on the Queen's Speech -

is being seen as a sign of the government's weakness

without a House of Commons majority. There had been fears that a number

of Tory MPs would vote As Laura Kuennsberg reports,

today's is the first significant parliamentary test for Theresa May

since the election. What she wants you to see. The Prime

Minister on the red carpets of Europe. Everyone in a good mood,

heard German colleague says. But at home, hard work. To avoid being

humbled by the House of Commons, with MPs threatening defeat... The

Chancellor of the Exchequer. Ministers had to make a last-minute

promise that women from Northern Ireland to go to England for

abortions won't have to pay. The government intends to intervene to

fund abortions in England for women arriving here from Northern Ireland.

It is welcome the comedy is now saying it will correct this

injustice. However, he will know the devil will be in the detail.

Ministers had to do that billion pounds deal with the DUP to get

their numbers, to fury, even on their own side. I can barely put

into words my anger at the deal my party has done with the DUP. We

didn't need to do it. What is grubby about money being put into the

infrastructure of Northern Ireland? Money going into the health service

of Northern Ireland? Money going into education? What is grubby about

that? The Prime Minister returned this afternoon to help pass the vote

to improve her government's programme. Stripped of its most

controversial measures. In the back... Are you hanging on,

Prime Minister? And then at the front face the opposition's main

complaints. It can be ensured that people have enough to live on. If

can't maintain our public services. That is a government that doesn't

deserve to remain in office. I do not see how the nations of the UK

can cope with the drastic economic hit that will come as a result. Is

there a determination to stand up to the most powerful here the answer is

no, no, no. The Chancellor seemed to enjoy the case for the defence.

Taking the hard decisions that will set Britain on course to seize the

prizes and achieve a brighter global future. The eyes to the right, 323.

The nose to the left, 309. Yet with no overall majority, and less

authority, even as ministers winter night...

The ayes have it. They know with every vote, Parliament can show its

power. Theresa May got her winter night,

but my goodness, we saw her ministers will have to back down,

they will have to compromise to survive. If the Queens speech had

fallen, this fragile government would have been at risk of

collapsing. But they know they are through tonight. That doesn't mean

they are safe at all in the coming months.

And we can get more reaction now to that decision that women

from Northern Ireland will not have to pay to get abortions

Let's speak to our Northern Ireland Health Correspondent,

Marie Louise Connolly, who's in Belfast.

This isn't going to go down very well in parts of Northern Ireland.

It will be quite controversial, wanted? That is right. This decision

is as significant as it is controversial. Abortion laws in

Northern Ireland are extremely restrictive. A woman can only have

an abortion ever life is seen to be at risk or is seen to be in

permanent or a serious risk of physical or mental health. The

decision means for the 750 women who travel from Northern Ireland to

England each year, the procedure will be paid for, a sum that can

range anywhere between ?400 and ?2000. While many people have

welcomed the move, many others have criticised it. In fact, condemned

it. They say today is a black day for some unborn children. And of

course, all of this happened within hours of Belfast's Court of Appeal

ruling that it should be Northern Ireland's executive who should be

deciding on any future legislation, an executive hanging by a thread.

And considering what is happening not too far away from me in

Stormont, none of this should come as any surprise in the latest twist

and turns in political life in Northern Ireland.

The latest deadline for a deal to be reached for power sharing to be

restored to Northern Ireland has passed without any agreement.

Downing Street says talks between Sinn Fein

and the Democratic Unionists will continue until Monday.

If there's no agreement by then, there could be a return to direct

Our Ireland Correspondent, Chris Buckler, reports

on why it's proving so difficult to reach an agreement.

Stormont is a symbol and the home of government in Northern Ireland. But

since January, there has been no body home. Hours, weeks and months

have passed without ministers or an assembly. Today was Deadline Day.

For a clerk billed as the final chance for a return to power

sharing. But the hour passed without fanfare. And most importantly,

without a deal. I believe that a resolution can be found. And I am

urging the parties to continue focusing all of their efforts on

achieving this. Four days, the parties have been locked in

negotiations inside Stormont Castle. But it is clear that the Democratic

Unionists haven't forgiven Sinn Fein for walking out of their coalition

government earlier this year. If anybody thinks they are going to

collapse Stormont, get all of their demands and go back in there, they

may think again. That is not how we do business. Power-sharing Stormont

collapsed during a financial row over a botched energy schemes set up

while Arlene Foster was Energy Minister. Sinn Fein said they

wouldn't go back into government on less this is Foster stepped aside as

First Minister while a public enquiry took place. And they have

been calling for the introduction of same-sex marriage in Northern

Ireland, which the DUP has blocked in the past. But a key sticking

point is Sinn Fein's demand for legislation which would give

official status to the Irish Language Act we want these

institutions back up and running again but it has to be on the basis

of equality and respect. And institutions which command public

confidence. The DUP secured ?1 billion for Northern Ireland as part

of their deal to support the Tories at Westminster. But with the future

of the government hanging in the balance, nobody is sure if there

will be Stormont ministers to spend that cash, to the clear frustration

of people at this funfair. They need to put their differences aside and

move forward for the country as a whole and spend that money wisely on

NHS, public services and education. I think it is a bit of a joke. If

they start putting -- they need to put things aside and look at the

bigger picture. Even though the deadline has passed, the talks

haven't come to a crashing halt. After the weekend, the Westminster

government will have to make decisions about what to do in

Northern Ireland. Chris Buckler, BBC News, Belfast.

One of the Pope's closest advisors, Cardinal George Pell,

has been charged with historical sexual offences against children.

At a press conference this morning, the Cardinal

insisted he was innocent, and said he looked forward

James Reynolds in in Rome for us this evening.

This morning in St Peter's Square, the Cardinals of the Catholic church

turned out for a celebration led by Pope Francis.

What these men do, how they behave, directly affects

This morning, one of their number was missing.

Cardinal George Pell appeared in a Vatican pressroom

to respond to the allegations made in Australia.

The whole idea of sexual abuse is abhorrent to me.

For more than 40 years, George Pell worked as a priest

and then an archbishop in his own country.

During the 1970s, he worked in his hometown of Ballarat.

The police have been investigating this era.

Cardinal Pell is facing multiple charges in respect

And there are multiple complainants relating to those charges.

This isn't the first time the Cardinal has had to answer

In February of last year, George Pell testified via video link

to an Australian Royal Commission on child abuse.

Australian victims flew in to watch his testimony.

Other abuse survivors say the Pope himself must now take wider steps.

He is very good at sound bites and saying the right

But for me, and I know for many other survivors and victims,

it's not about sound bites and public relations,

And on action, the Church is still dismally slow and way

behind the curve in terms of what they should be doing to deal

with the crisis that exists within that institution.

Pope Francis has called George Pell dedicated and honest.

Now a court in Australia must decide if that is so.

A retired judge will lead the inquiry into what happened

at Grenfell Tower, but there are concerns it won't be

And still to come... Who calls the shots?

Questions over Rupert Murdoch's influence in Britain.

Coming up in Sportsday on BBC News...

Warren Gatland says he has made some tough calls as he picks

Johnny Sexton and Owen Farrell together for the first time for the

Lions ahead of their must-win second test with New Zealand on Saturday.

It's now three years since the so-called Islamic State

proclaimed the establishment of a caliphate, a world power

governed in accordance with Islamic law

and centred in Iraq's second city of Mosul.

British warplanes, as part of the US-led coalition,

have been hitting the militants there since last year.

RAF jets and drones have hit over 700 targets in support

Now, for the first time, crews have been talking

to the BBC about the challenges they're facing in avoiding

Our Defence Correspondent Jonathan Beale reports.

The RAF prepares for another bombing mission against the group

They have been stepping up their attacks on Mosul.

in the city that was once its stronghold.

What you're looking at is a densely-packed

urban area with buildings of varying heights throughout.

For the first time, the RAF has allowed their crews

They want to show the care they are taking to protect civilian life.

The priority now is to make sure our missile hits that

Dave - not his real name - operates a Reaper remotely piloted drone.

He shows me video of one targeting an IS or Daesh mortar position,

Can you honestly say to me that you can guarantee you won't cause

What we can demonstrate through rigour and these videos

is we do absolutely everything within our power.

The RAF has been carrying out these bombing missions

against IS for coming up to three years now, and in that time

they've carried out more than 1,000 air strikes,

dropping more than 3,000 bombs and missiles.

And yet they say they've seen no evidence so far that

they've been responsible for any civilian casualties.

It's almost implausible to suggest that you haven't caused civilian

What I can say right now is the evidence that we have

But we are only human activity and we are not perfect,

and even with our best efforts, I cannot hand on heart say that

that would not happen, but we are doing our level best.

There's still the question whether bombs and missiles can

Especially when some have linked this kind of military intervention

to the recent terrorist attacks in the UK.

We have an opponent who just hates us and everything we stand for

and all of our values, and we have to deal with that

and we have to defeat them militarily and that's why

The battle for Mosul might be near its end, but the war is not.

Raqqa is already in their sights and they will be flying these

Jonathan Beale, BBC News, RAF Akrotiri.

The proposed merger of Sky and Rupert Murdoch's

to be referred to the competition watchdog.

The decision by the culture secretary Karren Bradley

is a blow to the media mogul's hopes of having the ?11 billion deal

waved through without further scrutiny.

Mr Murdoch already owns 39% of the satellite broadcaster.

Our Media Editor Amol Rajan is here with me.

What does this mean for Rupert Murdoch's considerable media

interests? Today is mixed feelings for the Murdochs, on the one hand

they will be relieved they have been deemed fit and proper by Ofcom to

own a broadcasting licence but there seems to be lingering worries

despite assurances about excessive power and control being in the hands

of one family. Rupert Murdoch is not as powerful as he used to be in

Britain, his newspaper circulation is in decline, they didn't get the

result they wanted in this election, and powerhouses like Amazon, Netflix

and Facebook means there's competition for the likes of Sky.

Rupert Murdoch is a divisive character so this is over to the

authority which will take months to look at the bid which means for the

time being Fox is stuck in the grass.

The family of the last person to die from injuries sustained

in the Hillsborough disaster have told the BBC they're

hugely disappointed that his death has been excluded

from the newly-announced manslaughter prosecution.

Tony Bland's life support was removed four years after the 1989

His father has been speaking exclusively

The chanting has always been of justice for the 96. That number so

much a part of Hillsborough, but now one stands apart. Tony Bland died

four years after the disaster. Severely brain-damaged, his life

support was withdrawn after his family fought for that right. I

wouldn't wish it on anyone really, it's awful. Tony's father Allan

still remembers how painful it was. Does it feel to you like Tony died

then or at Hillsborough? Hillsborough. It might sound cynical

but we were left to pick up the pieces. Given that, how do you feel

about the decision not to include him in the manslaughter case? Really

upset actually. Yes, really... Just couldn't believe it. Tony's death

four years after Hillsborough comes too late in law for him to be

included in the charges. You get the feeling I wouldn't say left out of

it but then this legal thing came along and split us up. You still

feel part of the 96? Yes. We were delighted for the families. They

fully deserved it. Do you think you will watch with interest the

unfolding prosecution? Without doubt, we will be there for the

families. You will continue to support them? Yes, definitely. Allan

takes comfort from the inquest's verdict that all 96 were unlawfully

killed. He says that is justice for his son. We miss him.

Everyone has a secret ambition, whether it's writing a book,

learning a musical instrument or taking up a sport.

But a retired farmer from Herefordshire has

Stephen Dale has transformed his cowsheds into an international art

His family have worked this land for generations.

But Stephen Dale had a different dream.

Because I'm a farmer, why shouldn't I like art?

At the age of 73, Stephen has sold almost all his land

Turning his sheds into a free public gallery, harvesting work

What is it about art that you love so much?

Shapes basically, simplicity of it and how they use materials.

The more you study it, the more you can get out of it.

All of this started in the 1970s when Stephen was in London

Critically ill, he walked out of Barts Hospital and by chance

ended up in the Tate - his first time in a gallery.

They are probably the most expensive bricks in the world...

The controversial work known as Bricks was on display,

The shades of grey is getting increased

He's now spent ?70,000 buying a similar work by Carl Andre

It sounds to me like seeing those bricks 40 years ago

Why should art be in London, Manchester, Liverpool,

Stephen hopes his gallery will grow to be like

Many farmers diversify, but few do it like this.

Time for a look at the weather with Jay Wynne.

Lucky for you in the south-eastern corner of England, the skies

clearing to allow sunshine through this afternoon but that certainly

wasn't the case for everyone. Many places were great and quite a few

saw rain as well. It has also been windy and on the cool side and it

stays that way for the north and the west of the UK overnight tonight.

Largely dry in the south-eastern corner but a lot of cloud in the

north. It is a wet and windy start in Wales and the south-west of

England. That rain becomes more light and patchy as the day goes on.

Should begin to dry up in Northern Ireland and western Scotland as the

main area of rain shifts further south. In the brighter interludes,

23 degrees. Not so bad in London but another cool day in Aberdeenshire.

Our main area of rain is on the way out Friday evening, it will cross

the south-eastern corner but as we start the weekend we get this ridge

of high pressure and that should settle things down for the most

part. For most of England and Wales this weekend, it looks like it will

be drier and brighter than it has been recently. It is not a dry

weekend completely because in Scotland and Northern Ireland there

will be a spell of wind and rain moving west to east. Sunny spells,

patchy cloud, 23 degrees in London and temperatures around 17 in

Aberdeen. On Sunday it is similar to Saturday with rain in the north and

west, largely dry the further south and east you happen to be.