we can listen to what brandon lewis said earlier on the marr show. i'm absolutely focused at the moment on the local elections on the 2nd may. they'll be over on thursday. there are a few important days between now and thursday for 8500 councillors. we have 96.5% of the country having conservative representation. labour have only managed 77... they will be over within days. other parties have launched their european election manifestos already. as the government, our first priority is to not to have to fight the european elections. i think we should be looking to do everything we can to respect that 2016 referendum. if and when we are at the point where we know we are definitely fighting those european elections then we will take some decisions. the conservative party chairman brandon lewis there talking to mishal husain on the andrew marr show. he mentioned those local elections in england and northern ireland in four days' time, on thursday. how is that shaping up with brexit in the background? more than 8000 seats up for grabs. these are local ele

we can listen to what brandon lewis said earlier on the andrew marr show. i'm absolutely focused at the moment on the local elections on the 2nd may. they'll be over on thursday. there are a few important days between now and thursday for 8500 councillors. we have 96.5% of the country having conservative representation. labour have only managed 77... they will be over within days. other parties have launched their european election manifestos already. as the government, our first priority is to not to have to fight the european elections. i think we should be looking to do everything we can to respect that 2016 referendum. if and when we are at the point where we know we are definitely fighting those european elections then we will take some decisions. conservative party chairman brandon lewis talking on the andrew marr show. he mentioned those local elections in england and northern ireland in four days' time, on thursday for sub how is that shaping up thursday for sub how is that shaping up with brexit in the background? more than 8000 seats up for grabs.

chair of the party brandon lewis has still said thatis party brandon lewis has still said that is their hope today, still their intention, but there will be a lot of scepticism as to whether that is realistic given we are nowjust a few weeks away from those european parliamentary elections will stop brandon lewis was speaking on the andrew marr programme this morning. i'm absolutely focused on the local elections. there are a few important days between now and thursday for 8500 councillors. we have 96% of the country having conservative representation. other parties have launched their european campaigns already. our first priority is a party is not to have to fight the european elections. i think we should do everything we can to respect that 2016 referendum. if and when we are at the point we know we are definitely fighting european elections then we will take action. we will be hearing from other political parties throughout the day on those european elections. you can read more on the bbc website. in terms of those current brexit talks between labour and the conservatives, what's yo

conservative party chairman brandon lewis says he still hopes the uk won't have to take part in next months european elections. in sport, manchester city can go top of the premier league once again with a win at burnley, it is currently goalless at turf moor. earlier, arsenal lost 3—0 at leicester. elsewhere, lyon leads chelsea women 3—2 on aggregate in a champions league semifinal. earlier, arsenal clinched the women's title with a 4—0 win at brighton. valtteri bottas has won formula 0ne's for the grand prix of the season in azerbaijan, finishing clear of mercedes team—mate lewis hamilton in yet another 1—2 for the team, and he now leads the championship from hamilton by a single point. more from bbc sport in the next hour. spain is holding its third general election in four years. the election was called by the socialist prime minister, pedro sanchez, in february after catalan separatists joined right—wing parties in rejecting his government's budget. for the first time since the end of the franco era in 1975, a far—right party, vox, is among the main contenders. tim

the chairman of the conservative party, brandon lewis, says he still hopes the uk won't have to take part in the european elections next month. mr lewis said he wanted to see the brexit withdrawal agreement approved by parliament in the next few weeks. a little earlier, our political correspondent jessica parker explained more. their plan, as you explained there, trying to get a deal ratified before may 22nd to avoid taking part in european parliamentary elections, it's something they know might be quite unpopular among some members and voters, three years after the uk voted to leave the european union. that's the plan, but is it realistic? there is a lot of scepticism in westminster as to whether it's possible. why? cross—party talks between the labour party and conservatives have been going on for some time without a real breakthrough. not much evidence to suggest theresa may's original set of proposals, her withdrawal agreement and plans for the future, could suddenly garner a majority in parliament. a new link between obesity and mental health problems in children as young as s

conservative party chairman, brandon lewis, says he still hopes the uk won't have to take part in next months european elections. security fears in sri lanka has lead to church services being cancelled — a week after easter suicide bombings by islamist militants killed more than 250 people. now on the bbc news channel — it's time for click. this week: setting the record straight, lunar cities, and flying elephants. possession of illegal drugs comes with consequences. and until recently, americans caught carrying marijuana could have earned a conviction. but now, recreational use of the drug has been decriminalised in some states, and those previously convicted can ask for their records to be expunged. the problem is, it has been a slow, lengthy and expensive process, forcing less wealthy individuals to have to live with their criminal records. but now, an artificially intelligent algorithm is helping those who want to wipe the slate clean. dave lee has been investigating. antony turner co—owns a tiny cafe just outside the city of los angeles. it's a remarkable turnaround for a ma

conservative party chairman, brandon lewis, says he still hopes the uk won't have to take part in next months european elections. security fears in sri lanka has lead to church services being cancelled — a week after easter suicide bombings by islamist militants killed more than 250 people. he has run quicker than anyone else here before, including himself. eluid kipchoge has won the london marathon for a fourth time. the kenyan won in the second fastest time ever. britain's sir mo farah finished fifth. now on bbc news, the best of the week's exclusive interviews and reports from the victoria derbyshire programme. this week we're in the bbc‘s media cafe in central london. cheering. we are asking is that the norm for young women and men to get cosmetic procedures. in an online poll of 1000 women aged between 18 and 30 carried out by deltapoll, almost half of those questioned said having a cosmetic procedure is now a lot like having your hair cut. the government is planning a campaign warning of the dangers of botched procedures. in an online poll of 1000 women aged between 18 and 30

brandon lewis said he wanted to see the prime minister's brexit withdrawal agreement approved by parliament in the next few weeks, so that the uk can avoid electing meps on 23 may. 0ur political correspondent jessica parker has more. will the uk soon be sending meps to take their seats here at the european parliament? many now suspect that it's inevitable, with the polling date just weeks away. but the conservatives are saying they're still aiming to avoid it. as a government, ourfirst priority is to not have to fight the european elections. i think we should be looking to do everything we can to respect that 2016 referendum. what of a cross—party deal? walking time and again into talks with the government, labour insist they're no bar to progress. the discussions so far have been productive. we have gone into a lot of detail. there seems to be a willingness on both sides to move towards some form of consensus. but as yet, we haven't seen the government move on any of their red lines. there are those who aren't fussed about finding a brexit deal. their focus, instead, stopping brexit alto

brandon lewis said he wanted to see the prime minister's brexit withdrawal agreement approved by parliament in the next few weeks, so that the uk can avoid electing meps on 23 may. 0ur political correspondent, jessica parker, has more. will the uk soon be sending meps to sit here at the european parliament? many now suspect it is inevitable and with the polling date just weeks away the conservatives are saying they are still aiming to avoid it. isa they are still aiming to avoid it. is a government our first priority is to not have to fight the european elections. we should do everything we can in respect of the 2016 referendum. what of a cross-party deal? walking time and again into talks with the government, labour say they are no bar to progress. the discussions have been productive. we've gone into a lot of detail. there seems to be a lot of willingness on both sides to move toward some sort of consensus. as yet we haven't seen the government to move on any of their redline. there are those, who are not fussed about finding a deal, theirfocus instead is stopping brexit altogether. but t

brandon lewis said he wanted to see the prime minister's brexit withdrawal agreement approved by mps in the next few weeks, so that the uk can avoid electing meps on 23 may. 0ur political correspondent, jessica parker, has more. will the uk soon be sending meps to sit here at the european parliament? many now suspect it is inevitable and with the polling date just weeks away the conservatives are saying they are still aiming to avoid it. as a government our first priority is to not have to fight the european elections. we should do everything we can to respect the 2016 referendum. what of a cross—party deal? walking time and again into talks with the government, labour say they are no bar to progress. the discussions have been productive. we've gone into a lot of detail. there seems to be a lot of willingness on both sides to move toward some sort of consensus. as yet we haven't seen the government move on any of their redline. there are those who are not fussed about finding a deal, theirfocus instead is stopping brexit altogether. but the lib dems have been left frustrated in the

lewis. security fears in sri lanka sees church services cancelled, a week after more than 250 people were killed in the easter sunday bombings.

lewis. security fears in sri lanka sees church services cancelled a week after more than 250 people were killed in the

lewis. security fears in sri lanka sees church services cancelled —

we saw brandon lewis, the tory party chairman, leaving downing street. let's get that theresa may statement from the last 20 minutes. i have come from chairing seven hours of cabinet meetings to find a way out of the impasse, one that can deliver the brexit the british people voted for and also to move on and bring the divided country back together. i know some are so fed up with delay and arguments that they would like to leave with no deal next week. i've always been clear that we could make a success of no deal in the long—term, but leaving with a deal is the best solution. so we will need a further extension of article 50, one that is as short as possible, and which ends when we pass a deal. and we need to be clear what such an extension is for. to ensure that we leave in a timely and orderly way. this debate, this division, cannot drag on for much longer. it is putting members of parliament and everyone else under immense pressure, and it is doing damage to our politics. despite the best efforts of mps, the process that the house of commons has tr

i will be speaking to brandon lewis, the chairman of the conservative party. to andrew gwen and to the deputy leader of the liberal democrats jo and to the deputy leader of the liberal democratsjo swinson. —— andrew gwynne. staying with politics now, and there are just four days to go until the local elections in england and northern ireland. the conservatives hold the majority of seats up for grabs on thursday, but how will delays over theresa may's brexit deal affect the party's chances this time? let's speak to the conservative mp paul scully. tories to lose over 1000 seats? voters staying at home in protest over brexit. how do you respond to that? even without this backdrop we have at the moment, these are very difficult elections. it's going to bea difficult elections. it's going to be a challenge for us, naturally, but what i am going to be encouraging people to do is make sure they are voting for the local track record, local services, sure they are voting for the local track record, localservices, is like just been collections, waste collections, p