Outgoing Lib Dem leader Tim Farron has revealed he decided to quit several weeks before the general election but did not announce his decision publicly.

Mr Farron said he had put the decision "to bed" about two weeks into the campaign, and denied deceiving voters by continuing to fight the election.
"I absolutely threw everything at it," he said.
He announced his departure six days after polling day, saying he was "torn" between the leadership and his faith.
The Liberal Democrats increased their tally of seats from nine to 12 at last month's general election, but their vote share fell from 7.9% to 7.4%.
In an interview with BBC Radio 5 live's Emma Barnett, Mr Farron said that under his leadership, the party had "left intensive care and is back relevant".
"My job was to save the party," he said.
"The Liberal Democrats still exist and we're moving forward."
Mr Farron faced repeated questions about his views on gay sex during the campaign, and when he announced his resignation, said he had found it impossible to be a committed Christian and lead a "progressive liberal party".
Asked about his decision to quit, he said he had not wanted to "become the story".
"I made the decision about two weeks into the election campaign," he said.
"I thought there isn't a way forward out of this without me either compromising or just causing damage to the party in the long run."
He said he had told himself to "put that into a drawer, don't talk to anybody else about it, get on and do as good a job as you can during the election".
Mr Farron said this had "not in the slightest" deceived voters, adding that "in every election there is a reasonable chance that leaders will step down".
"I just thought 'I am here to do a job,'" he said.
A leadership contest is under way to replace Mr Farron - and with a week to go before nominations close, just one candidate, former Business Secretary Sir Vince Cable, has come forward.
Mr Farron - who criticised Theresa May's unopposed "coronation" as Tory leader - said Sir Vince had already been subject to "plenty of scrutiny".
"If there's only one candidate, then that's how it is," he added.


Scotland Women remained on course for qualification to the Euro 2017 finals but were made to sweat in the Minsk sunshine by a dogged Belarus.

Jo Love's back-post header after 15 minutes was all Anna Signeul's side could muster despite dominating for most of the 90 minutes.
It was enough to put the Scots three points clear at the top of Group 1.
But favourites Iceland will return to the top on goal difference should they defeat Macedonia later.
More to follow.
Belarus: Voskobovich, Beshten, Linnik, Shcherbachenia, Znaidenova, Urazaeva, Kozyupa, Slesarchik, Duben, Karachun, Avkhimovich. Subs: Kovalchuk, Novikova, Kunitskaya, Pilipenko, Markushevskaya, Shuppo, Dranovskaya.
Scotland: Fay, Dieke, Love, Lauder, Little, Weir, Evans, J. Ross, Corsie, Beattie, Smith. Subs: Lynn, Ness, L. Ross, Crichton, C. Murray, Cuthbert, J. Murray.


The boss of the Chinese internet firm Alibaba, Jack Ma, has told US businesses that it needs more American products for China.

In a speech in New York, he said his company wanted to help small US businesses sell their wares in China.
Alibaba already accounts for 80% of all Chinese online consumer shopping and is looking to expand abroad.
Mr Ma said he eventually wanted 40% of sales to come from outside China, rather than the current 2%.
He was at pains to explain that Alibaba, which he founded in 1999, differed to Amazon because it didn't buy and sell stock, it provided a platform for small businesses to sell their products.
Alibaba listed on the New York Stock Exchange last year, raising $25bn, in the largest initial public offering in history.
"China has been very focused on exporting," Mr Ma said, "it should focus on importing. China should learn to buy."
Questioned on how he planned to deal with counterfeits, for which the company has been criticised and is currently being sued by Gucci, he replied he was "at war against criminals" and was working closely with the government to stamp it out.
"We're getting somewhere," he said.
The flamboyant Mr Ma, who once dressed up in leather and a Mohican wig and sang Elton John's Can you Feel the Love Tonight? to employees, said he had learned a lot about corporate values and missions in the US - from companies such as GE and Walmart.
But the 51-year old could not resist a dig about doing business in the US, mentioning a board meeting in which it was "like lawyers making a decision. No-one makes the final call".


A lone fisherman survived by treading water for six hours after falling into the sea while fishing for marlin off Western Australia.

Ross Chapman was bringing a large fish into his five-metre boat when his GoPro camera slipped.
He fell overboard while trying to rescue it, according to local news site WAtoday.
Mr Chapman had hooked the marlin about 30 nautical miles (55km) off the remote North West Cape on Tuesday.
Earlier reports suggesting that he was pulled into the water by the fish were later denied.
Another fisherman spotted the man's empty boat travelling at speed and alerted authorities.
The angler, believed to be in his 20s, was plucked from the water after several boats joined the search.
Rescuers said the man was incredibly lucky to survive after being found in "the middle of nowhere".
"The boating community that was out there did a very good job at rallying around and getting a search under way as fast as possible," Rusty Ellis, commander of the Exmouth Volunteers Marine Rescue Group, told the BBC.
"I think everybody is extremely relieved that he was found at all. It could have quite easily been a disastrous situation."
The fisherman, originally from New Zealand, was treated at Exmouth Hospital for hypothermia and shock.
Marlin are among the largest fish in the world, and the females - which are bigger - can weigh over 900kg (140 stone). Their average size is between 91 to 181kg (14 to 28 stone). They can grow to up to 4.2m (14ft) in length.
A friend and fellow angler, Jeni Gates, said Mr Chapman had snared a sizeable fish when the accident occurred.
"He just caught a marlin which was about 250 kilos, he estimated," she told Australia's ABC News.
"He tagged the fish, he released it, and he had his GoPro camera sitting on the transom on the back of the boat.
"Basically as he went in from releasing the fish, he knocked [the camera] over I think and it went into the water, and he went to grab it but he accidently fell in.
"And of course the boat was in gear and it kept going, and he just couldn't keep up with it."
Why are drownings spiking in Australia?
Man 'fishing' in floods delights Australia
Six found safe after record Australia rain
Rescuer Mr Ellis said the incident was a reminder about the dangers of fishing alone.
In the heat of an Australian summer, serious dehydration is a risk for anyone forced to spend hours without drinking water, he said.
"People in the past have survived up to 36 hours - but their body mass and things were substantially different. If he hadn't been found when he was, that would have meant him spending the night in the water... and the scenarios aren't anything to be cheerful about.
"There's jelly fish, sharks, orcas - he was a long, long way out to sea."
CORRECTION: An earlier version of this story wrongly said that the fisherman was pulled into the sea by a marlin.


"You are dealing with something that is practically uncontrollable - children's imagination."

That's the critique of Richard Hammond, chair of the star-studded judging panel which had the task of picking the winners of this year's BBC Radio 2 500 Words competition.
The contest challenges children to write an entire story in just 500 words and this year there were a record 118,632 entries, with judges having to choose a top three in two age categories: nines and under and 10-13.
The 50 shortlisted children were invited to the Hay Festival for the live unveiling of the victors, with the gold winners receiving a stack of books the same height as DJ Chris Evans - 6ft 2ins (1.88m).
The wide-ranging topics tackled by the six winners range from minotaurs to World War One, with feelings and thoughts of loss and mourning a major theme.
Winners
13 and under
Nine and under
The competition is the baby of DJ Chris Evans, who launched it four years ago and has seen it grow into an institution.
"I think that things that are contemplated and take longer to do are fighting against the soundbite mentality of the world," said Evans on the importance of the competition.
"We've got to keep pushing the door open just to keep the balance level. It's not as if this is going to make more people write than ever before but at least it may maintain a certain level of people writing and reading."
The judging panel features a host of award-winning children's authors including the children's laureate Malorie Blackman; Frank Cottrell Boyce - who was also co-writer of the 2012 Olympic opening ceremony; author and actor Charlie Higson; and Horrid Henry creator Francesca Simon.
Higson, who has been involved in the competition for three years, said: "We are always being told that children don't like reading or writing or anything to do with school and are idiots and I saw that there was this huge response and I thought I'd love to be involved in that."
Higson, who has written a number of books based on the young James Bond as well as the Enemy series of children's novels, has worked with many children through 500 Words and education programmes.
Of the types of children who get involved in 500 Words, he said: "They are all different, some of them say 'my teacher or mum mentioned this thing and I thought I'd have a go but I don't usually write', others say 'I write all the time'.
"The kids are as varied as the stories are. That's what I like about this - no two stories are the same and no two kids are the same."
A team of 3,500 book-loving teachers and librarians helped read every story, whittling them down for the second round. The Scottish Book Trust then had the unenviable task of sifting these down to a final 50 in both categories.
It was then down to the judging panel to choose their favourites and give a "passionate promotion" of their favourites in a locked down room.
"One or two of them instantly jump out, and that's great," said Higson "It's either got a good idea or its really well written.
"One or two of them you have to come back to. Here, the judges come in with all their favourites and we get to read out some some out loud and that really helps you to see things that you might have missed.
"Inevitably, because they are only 500 words, there's the feeling they are like a joke - short, punchy. They've got to put across a point quickly and strongly. Some of the other ones don't have that initial hit you round the head impact."
The mood in the judging room was often heated, and many of the decisions were far from unanimous.
There were disagreements over what constituted funny or original - with splits down the middle having to be decided by Hammond in his role as head judge.
He admitted it could be intimidating to chair a prize with a panel of esteemed authors.
"Yes it could be terrifying, overwhelming and daunting but I prefer to take it as an opportunity to spend a day with some really amazing minds," he said.
"And this is as close as you'll get to an unedited, unfettered mind of a child, which is great."
Some of the biggest discussions between the team was what should triumph - originality or good writing, and should the stories necessarily be inspiring to other children.
According to Evans, who doesn't take part in the judging, innovation is all-important. The judges were in agreement that, this year, there was a problem with derivative ideas.
The feeling was that the older writers wrote for their teachers or the judges, while the younger ones wrote for themselves.
"Originality, originality, originality - I think that is key," said Evans.
"It's so evident that the nines and under are always more original than the 10s and over, and when do you start worrying about what people think of you? When you get older."
The Oxford University Press analyses the 50 million words contained in the stories to discover general and emerging themes.
Its "Children's Word of the Year" was minion, thanks to the yellow creatures in last year's hit animation Despicable Me 2.
Emmet from The Lego Movie and references to the video game Minecraft also featured heavily in the statistical analysis.
Vineeta Gupta, head of Children's Dictionaries at Oxford University Press, said: "It is fascinating to see that children's vocabulary has been enriched by games and blockbuster films. Who would have thought five years ago that children would be writing about minions, portals, and ocelots?
"These are not everyday words, yet children have understood their meanings, adopted them, and are using them in their own new and creative contexts. Watching movies or playing narrative games is having a positive effect on children's writing."
The publishing industry is having a hard time, with the advent of discount marketplaces such as Amazon and the e-book revolution. But Charlie Higson holds out hope for the future.
"Like all book markets it's struggling," he said, "but children's fiction is probably the one that's been hit less hard by the changes in publishing.
"I certainly think we are in something of a golden age of children's writing. There are so many good books but possibly that's a problem. When I was growing up, there weren't many kids books around.
"Now, particularly since JK Rowling, a lot of writers no longer think 'oh, children's books that's not very respectable. I should write for adults'."
But Higson also understands that books are fighting a battle for attention.
"There are a lot of great books for kids but there are also a lot of other things for children.
"When I was young there was like an hour of kids TV a day, there were no DVDs or computer games or laptops so it was easier for books to find a place, and the thing about all these things children have today they are brilliant, they are fantastic fun.
"I play a huge amount of computer games - so it's just a question of helping kids find the time to do all that and to find the time to fit in a bit of reading too."


An orphaned pine martin is being cared for after taking refuge through a cat flap, helping himself to food and settling down for a nap.

Anne Paterson, from Gartness in Stirling, watched as the surprise visitor snuck in from the garden and made himself at home.
The little pine martin, who has been named Edan, has been moved the Scottish SPCA rescue centre in Fishcross.
He has joined two others who should all be released back into the wild soon.
Ms Paterson said: "I had spotted the pine marten in the garden a few times but I didn't think anything of it.
"Then one day my daughter and I watched him go into the house through the cat flap.
"Our cats weren't around at the time and he started munching away on their food before curling up in one of their beds. I'm glad to hear Edan is doing well after being rescued."
It is hoped Edan and his new companions, Ailpen and Cailen, can be set free in the next four to six weeks.


Sussex Police is to "apologise" for distress caused to the niece of Bishop George Bell by a media release about alleged abuse by the cleric.

It follows a complaint by journalist Peter Hitchens about the revelations.
The force said it was apologising to Barbara Whitley because police did not contact any living relatives of the bishop to let them know an inquiry was to be made public by the Church.
It said it was not apologising for the investigation or the statement itself.
In a letter to Mr Hitchens, Det Supt Jeremy Graves, head of the force's professional standards department, said the force would apologise to Ms Whitley.
"The distress caused to Barbara Whitley is of course regrettable and I know that Katie Perkin [head of corporate communications] plans to personally write a letter of apology to her," he wrote.
He continued: "With hindsight the matter could have been managed more sensitively but it was complicated by the fact that the release was generated by the diocese with whom we should have been working more closely."
He said the issue of the impact of media statements on people connected with suspects was difficult to manage.
But he said: "I am satisfied there was no intention to confuse or cause distress."
Carey criticised over abuse-claim bishop
The battle for a bishop's reputation
In October, the force issued a statement that said there had been an allegation of serious sexual abuse by the late Bishop Bell in Chichester in the late 1940s and early 1950s.
It said police investigated the circumstances, with the full co-operation of the victim and diocese, but further action was not possible because Bishop Bell had died 57 years earlier.
The statement went on to say: "The information obtained from our enquiries would have justified, had he still been alive, Bishop Bell's arrest and interview under caution, on suspicion of sexual offences."
The Diocese of Chichester has not yet commented to the BBC.


AC Milan legend Clarence Seedorf says football will not kick out the racists by players walking off the pitch.

His comments come after midfielder Kevin-Prince Boateng led his Milan team off in the 25th minute of a friendly at Pro Patria on Thursday after being racially abused by fans.
Seedorf said: "I don't see it as such a positive thing because [it] empowers more and more of this behaviour."
We are just empowering that little group with their behaviour to make this mess
Patrick Vieira and Rio Ferdinand were among those to back Boateng.
Speaking on Twitter, World Cup-winner Vieira said: "It was brave of Kevin-Prince Boateng to do what he did and it was the right thing. We need to stand up and stand together. Well done."
Manchester United and England defender Rio Ferdinand tweeted: "Fair play to him. Well done #UefaStandUp"
Manchester City skipper Vincent Kompany tweeted:  "Act of racism against Boateng during Milan's friendly. How about becoming extremely intolerant towards racist idiots? They need to be told."
But Seedorf, 36, who now plays for Botafogo in Brazil, would have preferred Ghana international Boateng to employ a different approach against those chanting abuse.
"They should just be identified and kicked out of the stadium," he said. "Leave the 90% that were enjoying the match and finish the game."
Seedorf added: "If Boateng was able to identify the whole corner, you just kick the whole corner out, That is how I think it should be handled.
"Walking away? Yes, you send a signal. But this has happened more than once and I don't think it really changes all that much.  We are just empowering that little group with their behaviour to make this mess."
Seedorf played for Milan from 2002 to 2012 and won the Champions League with the side in 2003 and 2007.


A former social worker struck off for her failings, including over murdered toddler Liam Fee, believes she has been made a "scapegoat".

Lesley Bate told the BBC she had made mistakes by not properly following up concerns about injuries found on Liam.
But, she said she went off sick a year before Liam's murder and his case was not passed to another social worker, so others should also be held accountable.
Fife Council said it would not discuss the circumstances of ex-staff members.
The council's social work department comes under the spotlight in a BBC documentary, Fife's Child Killings: The Untold Story, which examines three child deaths in Fife within a four-month period, in 2014.
Three-year-old Mikaeel Kular died at the hands of his mother in January that year, Liam Fee was murdered by his mother and her partner in March 2014 and two-year-old Madison Horn was killed by her mother's boyfriend the following month.
The documentary features an interview with Liam Fee's social worker, speaking publicly for the first time.
Ms Bate was part of the child protection team in Glenrothes.
She said she was struggling to cope with her workload and job pressures early in 2013, when she was dealing with Liam's case.
Her department had received calls in January and February 2013 from Liam's childminder, Heather Farmer, raising concerns about the toddler's injuries.
Ms Bate told the BBC she was effectively having a breakdown at the time and admitted she failed to properly follow-up these leads.
"I know I made mistakes," she said.
"I was falling apart. I shouldn't have been at work. I was just losing control."
The social worker went off sick in April 2013 and said her bosses went on a "fishing expedition" to find gaps in her record-keeping.
She was told in September that year she could face disciplinary action over her work on Liam's case and a number of others.
She said: "It seems that while I was off sick, no-one had picked Liam's case up and yet they could see that I hadn't done any work with it.
"In the September, Liam still had six months to live at that stage."
Lesley Bate's disciplinary hearing at Fife Council found the mistakes she had made were not serious enough for her to lose her job.
She said: "It was clear when I eventually went back to work that I couldn't cope.
"I was still quite damaged from the breakdown and effectively I had another breakdown within two months of joining another team.
"I ultimately lost my job two months after that, due to ill health."
The trial of Rachel and Nyomi Fee, Liam's mother and her partner, who were convicted of his murder last year, heard childminder Ms Farmer was not the only person to raise concerns with social services about Liam.
Nursery manager Kimberly Trail told the trial she phoned the department in June 2013, to raise concerns about Liam's injuries and the fact he seemed afraid to go home with his mother.
And a woman who lived near Liam's home also phoned the child protection team in September, after seeing the toddler lying unresponsive in his buggy with a blanket over his head.
Ms Bate said: "There were opportunities that must have been missed."
She added: "I'm very sad, obviously, that Liam Fee died. For any child to die in those circumstances is horrible.
"And to have had any part in that, it's a horrible feeling. But I don't think the blame lies with me. I don't think the blame lies entirely with social work.
"At the end of the day, the parents killed that child. Someone should have been visiting them, taking over from where I left off."
Ms Bate was later struck off the social work register by the regulator, the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC).
She was found guilty of misconduct and the SSSC upheld 12 charges against her involving Liam and 14 other children.
The panel found that in some cases her failings amounted to neglect.
As well as barring Ms Bate from social care work, the SSSC said "systemic failures" at Fife Council were partly to blame for the "pattern of misconduct that developed".
The committee described other social workers, including Ms Bate's boss in the council's child protection team, Karen Pedder, as "defensive" and "evasive" when they gave evidence to the hearing.
They were said to be "less reliable than might reasonably have been expected".
Ms Bate said it was unfair that no-one else from Fife Council had faced disciplinary action over failings in Liam's case.
She said: "They seem to have made much of my involvement with Liam, albeit that it was a year before he died.
"All the blame seems to have been placed on me and nobody else has been held accountable.
"It was easy to scapegoat me because I'd left - saves blaming somebody that's still there doing a job."
Fife Council chief executive Steve Grimmond said: "As a responsible employer, we would never discuss the individual circumstances of any current or former employees.
"Every effort is made to support staff in their jobs and the council works hard to help those who are experiencing difficulties.
"This case does not reflect the high standard of professionalism which we expect and receive from our social work staff.
"A link has been made with this worker and the death of Liam Fee through the media - not by the council.
"While there was some brief contact with Liam, we can confirm that this worker was not involved with Liam in the period leading up to his death."
Manager of the Scottish Association of Social Work, Trisha Hall, believed there had been "significant improvements" following the three child deaths in 2014.
She told BBC Radio Scotland's Good Morning Scotland programme: "I have spoken to some of our members in Fife who commented only yesterday to me that they feel they are working now in a better environment then maybe had been the case before.
"We did some work with a group of Fife workers very recently in partnership with the University of Edinburgh in a project called 'Re-visiting Child Protection'.
"The reality is the majority of social workers work with quite a large caseload still, they're under great demand and there is not much time for reflective practice - it is a public health issue as quite a number of people, far more senior than me, have commented on in the past."


The leader of the English Democrats warned about an "anti-English conspiracy" between Labour and the SNP as he launched the party's general election campaign.

Speaking near Traitor's Gate, at the Tower of London, Robin Tilbrook said a deal between the two parties would be "against the English".
He also criticised UKIP for not being interested in English nationalism.
The party is fielding 35 candidates at the general election.
In the past it has campaigned for an English Parliament but now says it wants to see a fully independent England, as well as withdrawal from the EU.
The party chose the Hung, Drawn and Quartered Pub, near the Tower of London, to launch its campaign, saying it would send a "message from history for those that might want to conspire against English interests", said Mr Tilbrook.
"We say that the prospect of a Labour/SNP government, perhaps backed up by Plaid Cymru - and there has been some talks, we gather, with Sinn Fein... will be an anti-English conspiracy of a government and therefore we can start to talk about treason," he said.
The SNP has said it is prepared to work with Labour - perhaps as part of a "progressive alliance" with Plaid - to keep the Conservatives out of government, although Labour has ruled out a formal coalition and has described links with Sinn Fein as "absolute rubbish".
Plans to film an interview with Mr Tilbrook at Traitor's Gate had to be abandoned after officials from the Tower put a stop to it.
But the party, which claims to be the only one offering a "voice to the English" at the general election, was able to unveil a defector from UKIP.
Graham Moore said he had been due to stand for Nigel Farage's party at the general election but jumped ship at the start of the year because UKIP "have no interest in England whatsoever".
He is now standing for the English nationalist party in Erith and Thamesmead, east London.
The English Democrats are fielding fewer candidates than they did at the 2010 general election but are concentrating on areas where they have support, including a full slate in South Yorkshire.
They are also standing in the border town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, the most northerly constituency in England, and Monmouth, in Wales, where they are campaigning for a local referendum on whether the area should become part of England again.
Mr Tilbrook said the party was "consolidating our position as the English nationalist party", and wanted to be ready to capitalise if UKIP's progress came to a "juddering halt" at the election, offering a home to "those people in UKIP who are basically English nationalists".
The party is also campaigning against Labour, Conservative and Lib Dem plans to give more self-government to the English regions, arguing that it would a "shame" to sacrifice England's unity for a "last gasp attempt to save the Union".


Alastair Cook's battling 82 held England together on a rain-affected first day of the third Test against South Africa at The Oval.

Media playback is not supported on this device
The former captain guided the home side to 171-4 in the 59 overs that were possible.
He withstood some excellent South Africa bowling, particularly from Vernon Philander, who took 2-17.
England gave Test debuts to three players, with Tom Westley making 25 and Dawid Malan one.
Pace bowler Toby Roland-Jones is included in a bowling attack that is without left-arm spinner Liam Dawson, who was omitted to make way for an extra batsman.
Rain arrived before lunch, during tea and finally, just after 18:00 BST.
The four-match series is level at 1-1.
Media playback is not supported on this device
Following a heavy defeat in the second Test at Trent Bridge, England's batsmen came in for some fierce criticism for a cavalier approach that is often not suited to the longest form of the game.
Here, they all looked to apply themselves, with Cook giving a perfect demonstration of the judgement, grit and patience that has made him England's all-time leading run-scorer.
The left-hander only played the ball when necessary, often leaving on length, scoring with tickles off the pads and pushes square on the off side.
He added 52 with Essex team-mate Westley, 49 with captain Joe Root and an unbeaten 51 with Ben Stokes, who remains on 21.
With the match evenly poised, England will look to the former skipper to push on to a 31st Test century and well beyond on Friday.
Media playback is not supported on this device
What made Cook's knock all the more impressive was the examination provided by the South Africa pace attack on a green-tinged pitch that offered just enough assistance.
Philander managed only four overs in the morning session because of a stomach upset, but still had Keaton Jennings caught at third slip for nought.
The opener has now made three ducks in nine Test innings.
Morne Morkel tormented Root after lunch, but it was Philander who struck, a wonderful delivery matched by the one-handed catch of diving wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock.
However, it was Kagiso Rabada who produced the moment of the day, a searing inswinging yorker that bowled Malan off his pads.
Right-hander Westley, given an opportunity at number three after Gary Ballance broke a finger, was at the crease in only the fourth over and looked at home in Test cricket.
Strong off the pads, he followed Cook's example to leave well outside off stump.
He fell after lunch, loosely driving at Chris Morris to be caught at third slip.
Middlesex's Malan, a left-hander, endured a more difficult day, taking 15 deliveries to get off the mark.
But he was in no way to blame for his dismissal, with Rabada's toe-crushing pace virtually unplayable.
Media playback is not supported on this device
Ex-England captain Michael Vaughan on TMS: "Malan got an 88mph yorker, which is always difficult, but I do think he gets a bit shut off.
"That front foot can just be opened a little bit to get in a better alignment because clearly he is going to get that ball again in the second innings.
"I can't see Jennings opening in Australia this winter but I saw him in Mumbai and thought he could play.
"Clearly he is low in confidence and I don't see him walking out at Brisbane but you never say never. The second innings is clearly going to be very big for him."
Media playback is not supported on this device
England debutant Tom Westley, speaking to the BBC: "It was the proudest moment of my life when I got my cap this morning and it was exciting to bat but equally frustrating to get out after making a start. It's been mixed emotions in that respect.
"I was looking forward to batting full stop, but it did help ease the nerves to be batting with Alastair who I know well from Essex.
"I didn't feel miles out of my depth which is pleasing and I take confidence from. I'm looking forward to having another bat and also when we bowl because there is something in the wicket."


It has been described as the greatest comeback, a moment in sailing history when Oracle Team USA fought back from the brink to beat Team New Zealand by 44 seconds in a winner-takes-all finale.

Media playback is not supported on this device
The Americans had been trailing 8-1. Their challengers were on match point. The turnaround was dramatic. It was unexpected. And it happened once Britain's greatest sailor, Sir Ben Ainslie, came onboard.
But what role did the four-time Olympic gold medallist play in Oracle's gripping 9-8 triumph in San Francisco and how influential was the Briton?
John Derbyshire, racing manager and performance director of the Royal Yachting Association, and Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, the first man to perform a single-handed non-stop circumnavigation of the globe, explain how the 36-year-old helped Oracle to a remarkable victory.
The America's Cup is said to be like a game of chess and Ainslie was the Garry Kasparov of the Oracle team, the grandmaster charged with planning the crowning moves.
"The tactician is one of the three key roles on these bigger boats," Derbyshire tells BBC Sport.
"Ainslie determines how to respond to another team's move. For example, if one boat turns away from the wind, he will have to decide when to do the same.
"The tactician is responsible for the boat-on-boat manoeuvres and it's quite a leadership role.
"He has to think about what the opposition might do and will need the strategist to inform him where the wind is coming from and ensure the helmsman is able to steer as fast as possible, and the rest of the crew need to know what is going on, too."
Oracle had lost eight of their first 11 races. Larry Ellison's men were under attack on home waters and, in Ainslie's words, had a "mountain to climb". But, then, the team gambled.
In a last throw of the dice, Oracle drafted in Ainslie to replace John Kostecki, a San Francisco native, and although the Briton's impact was not immediate - Oracle lost their first two races with the greatest Olympic sailor calling the shots - he soon helped reduce the deficit and, 10 victories later, it was checkmate to Ainslie.
"The Americans were beaten until Ben joined the boat," says Sir Knox-Johnston.
"Ben may be risking his life if he visits New Zealand, but there's no question it was Ben's arrival which changed the chemistry completely."
It certainly seems Ainslie has an alchemist's touch, combining superbly with skipper James Spithill and strategist Tom Slingsby.
"He clearly has something that makes a difference and it's that intangible chemistry which seemed to improve the performance of the boat," says Derbyshire.
"Ben seemed to make every call correctly and it all added up to a fantastic team performance."
If the competition's tactics can resemble a game of chess, then the sheer volume of personnel required to ensure the team's sailors are well-equipped on the water draws comparisons with Formula 1.
Oracle had a 203-strong team, each member with a specific task, each with a part to play in the hi-tech multi-million pound programme.
Media playback is not supported on this device
"There will be the specialists like the meteorologists, the sail makers," reveals Derbyshire. "There are designers and engineers who are from the sailing world but with perhaps aeronautical background, because they're using solid wing masts rather than soft sails which we've previously seen.
"There's also a large shore team that rigs the boat because getting these masts in and out of the boat requires a crane. Everything is duplicated, pretty much like Formula 1.
"On the boat each team is slightly different, but a boat is usually split into two halves. There's the afterguard which includes the helmsman who steers, a strategist and the tactician.
"On the other side, people will have a variety of roles, from hoisting and lowering the sails to generating hydraulic power to power the movement of the sails on the wings."
Ainslie is the first Briton in 110 years to be on board a winning America's Cup boat and the decorated sailor has now set his sights on winning a competition which was first staged off the Isle of Wight in 1851 with a British team.
Wealthy businessman Sir Keith Mills was the last Briton to attempt to bring the Auld Mug back to these islands, establishing Team Origin in 2010 but he pulled the plug a year later once he learnt of Oracle's plans to use catamarans for the 34th Cup.
Ainslie says Britain has the talent, while both Derbyshire and Knox-Johnston believe the Olympian has the charisma to help fulfil his ambition.
"We could probably produce three or four teams because we're so strong in sailing," says Knox-Johnston.
"It's just a question of getting behind Ben because if anyone can, he can."
Anyone hoping to form an America's Cup team needs cash, oodles of it - about $100m (£62.5m) if Oracle are to be the guide.
A large crew, the world's best sailors and high-performance catamarans do not come cheaply, just ask the man bankrolling Oracle, the software billionaire Ellison.
So desperate were New Zealand to take the prestigious trophy to the Antipodes, the country's government splashed out about $30m (£19m) in subsidies in the hope the next contest would be held on their shores.
But is it realistic to think a British team could raise such funds?
"If you can show people that it's good for them and the country, it would be possible," says Knox-Johnston.
"It won't be easy but with someone like Ben leading it, we've got a chance."
Derbyshire is equally as optimistic. "It's more realistic now given that the economic climate is slowly improving," he says.
"One of the appeals of the America's Cup is that it's big boys with boy toys. It's rich men putting a lot of their finances behind it.
"Their finances, combined with the potential economic benefits to a local area or country, will generate funding. Perhaps we're getting closer to that than we've been for some time."


A man has been charged with rape after a woman was attacked in a park in Manchester.

The 25-year-old woman was attacked as she walked on a footpath in Wythenshawe Park at about 04:00 BST on 5 July. Extra police patrols were carried out in the aftermath.
Daniel McBurney, 30, from Sale, has been charged with rape and robbery, Greater Manchester Police said.
He will appear before Manchester and Salford Magistrates' Court later.


A judge has called for more investment and new court services in Wales to break the cycle of families having multiple children taken into care.

In one case, 11 children had to be removed for their own safety from one mother over 15 years, BBC Wales found.
Judge Nicholas Crichton said Wales should now adopt Family Drug and Alcohol Courts he helped establish in England to break the care cycle.
The Welsh Government said it is examining the issue.
"If you have a system that is routinely removing the fourth, the fifth, the sixth child - and often it's many more than that - then it's a failed system," argued Judge Crichton.
"Because you are in effect condoning the birth of more children who are inevitably going into care, and the emotional cost to those families and those children is immense, and the financial cost to the taxpayer is immense, and you just have to try something different."
Following a BBC Freedom of Information request to Welsh councils, it emerged several authorities had been forced to act to safeguard children felt to be at risk in the same family.
Sixteen of the 22 authorities responded, including:
Judge Crichton said the model of English Family Drug and Alcohol Courts (FDAC) was saving £2.30 for every £1 spent over a five year period, by giving parents a chance to change their ways and stop children being taken into care.
"If we had an earthquake in Wales, the government would immediately come up with millions of pounds - let's say £20m - to help the survivors and the people who suffer as a result of the earthquake," said Judge Crichton.
"The increase in the numbers of care proceedings over the last 10 years and the last 12 months are an earthquake around the corner.
"If they were to invest £10m or £20m in rolling out these approaches, that is money they will get back because we've proved that, and that's what I intend to be saying to ministers very shortly."
Responding to the judge's views, the Welsh Government said it was monitoring the rise in the number of applications to take children into care.
"We are looking at this issue and working with partners to develop a national approach to help reduce the numbers of children entering the care system," said officials.
"Our Integrated Family Support Service (IFSS) provides preventative, targeted crisis interventions to support families, including those affected by drug and alcohol issues, before children become at risk of being taken into care.
"IFSS works with parents to improve their parenting capacity and capabilities, build on their strengths and empower family members to effect long term positive behavioural change."
Alison - not her real name - was in an abusive relationship with a former partner, who took drugs.
Four of her children had been removed and social services had been involved early on in her first child's life, following an accident.
At the time, she said she did not appreciate the impact the abusive relationship had on her children.
"I didn't realise some of the stuff they were seeing until my oldest one took counselling after he'd been removed," said Alison.
"He saw my ex-partner punch me once. He heard all the shouting and screaming."
Since Alison has been working with Action for Children she has turned her life around, has married and gone on to have a child with her new partner - planned for two years with the support of her women's worker.
She said she felt like a different person.
"I feel like I've changed a lot for the sake of the kids. I just feel like I don't run in the same circle of friends anymore. I don't have same influences really."
She now hopes that her other children will be able to come and live with her in the future.
Catriona Houston is the Women's Worker on an Action for Children charity project underway in Carmarthenshire.
She told BBC Wales that about 60% of the women she works with have been in care and a similar amount have been sexually abused in childhood.
"They've grown up with low self-esteem and alcohol is their favourite drug of choice as a means of blocking out pain. They get into relationships with domestic violence, so often they're focused on survival and not on the care of their children."
The impact on a woman of having a child or children removed into care leaves the mother feeling  "horrendous grief", said the charity worker.
"The social workers are there for the children and when the children are removed, who is there to support the mother? The mother has needs and that's why she's not parenting properly."
What are the Family Drug and Alcohol Courts?
Set-up in 2015, they bring together court services, social services, substance misuse and expert agencies to help resolve issues around why a parent might be at risk of their children being taken into care.
It takes a problem solving and therapeutic approach and can improve outcomes for children by helping parents change the lifestyle that puts their children at risk of harm.
A team of experts - such as psychiatrists, drug and alcohol workers and domestic abuse workers - support parents and produce an intervention plan for them.
They return to court every two weeks in front of the same judge and without the presence of lawyers to discuss their progress.
It gives parents the opportunity to make changes to their lives and if they succeed, they are able to keep their children in their own care. If they cannot or do not make the changes, the children can be removed into the care of the local authority.
According to Judge Nicholas Crichton this approach has had a success rate of just under 50%.
Currently, Wales does not have access to the FDAC system.


Sergio Romero hopes fellow goalkeeper David De Gea stays at Manchester United beyond this transfer window.

De Gea, 24, has one year left on his deal and the Spain international has been linked with a move to Real Madrid.
United boss Louis van Gaal has picked Romero, 28, ahead of De Gea for the first three games of this season, saying the latter is lacking "focus".
"I hope De Gea stays here. He's a good team-mate who always works hard," said the Argentina international.
"It surely is a difficult situation for him but when one is a great professional like he is, and one has a good head like his, you keep training to get better day by day because he could play on a weekend.
"It happened to me last year in Sampdoria. I was not playing but I was working as if I was going to play."
Romero joined United this summer on a free transfer after leaving the Italian club.
He has conceded only one goal in his three games so far - in the 3-1 Champions League play-off first-leg win over Club Brugge - and says he enjoys training alongside De Gea and another "fantastic" Spanish goalkeeper, 33-year-old Victor Valdes.
"One has won everything and the other has his career ahead of him to continue to win things," Romero added.
"For me it's a privilege and it makes me happy to work with those two."


A man accused of grabbing a nine-year-old girl has appeared in court charged with actual bodily harm and attempted kidnap.

The girl was with her sisters in Ashton Keynes, Wiltshire, on Saturday when she was grabbed and dragged on her knees.
Alexander Victor Benfield, 24, of Lawrence Road, Cirencester, was arrested on Monday.
He was remanded in custody by magistrates to appear at Swindon Crown Court on 11 August.
Gloucestershire Police said the girl managed to break free before running home and alerting her parents, who called police.
The force has urged parents to remain vigilant and to remind their children about the danger of talking to strangers.


Most 12-year-olds are worrying about their maths homework and trying to fit in with other kids their age, but Henry Patterson does this as well as running a successful online business.

Henry, from Bedford, started his business, Not Before Tea, when he was nine. He began by selling sweets, but soon turned to homeware products based on the characters from a book he wrote called The Adventures of Sherb and Pip.
His entrepreneurial streak comes from his mum Rebecca. "I had a dog-walking business at eight years old and was forever setting up ventures," she says.
Her early business drive has clearly rubbed off on her son. "At the age of five we were in a garden centre and he saw manure for sale. Our neighbour wanted to get rid of their horse manure and Henry asked if he could bag it up and sell it, just like the garden centre did," Rebecca recalls.
"I always remember him saying, 'We will sell two bags for the price of their one bag.' His attention to detail at five was impressive!"
But if you think his success so young is because of pushy parenting, his mum would be quick to correct you. She believes his business ventures actually helped save his childhood.
"Henry spent his entire early years in trouble at school as he didn't conform, he was frustrated because he saw things differently and was rarely invited to parties or play dates," she says.
"I spent my life being called in to school and asked how they could get through to Henry. The stammer then arrived and we pulled him out of his school for a term and home-educated him."
Henry says that his stammer was the result of "worrying too much about school work and rugby lessons", and it still comes back when he gets nervous.
But his periodic speech impediment certainly hasn't held him back. In fact, he sees public speaking as his forte and was brave enough to talk in front of the likes of top brands such as Facebook, Google and Ted Baker at the O2 Retail Week conference recently.
"I went on with no notes and spoke for 10 minutes. I had so many amazing comments afterwards and it was a brilliant feeling," he says.
Although, like most 12-year-olds, it's still the little things that excite him. "I stayed in a very smart hotel too, so it really was a trip to remember," he adds.
Henry's success is plain to see. In the past year he has been given business advice by entrepreneur Sir Richard Branson, spoken at the Retail Business awards and also revealed a turnover of Â£65,000. A tremendous feat for most business owners, and more so for Henry, who hasn't even reached his teens yet.
When asked about how the business is going it's hard to remember he is only 12. "We're doing well in the new baby sector so I think this will be our main focus for 2016," he says.
His online business sells around 80 products, which are also available to buy at various other retailers, and he's even expanding into Italy.
Despite all of Henry's triumphs, his mum does her best to keep him grounded and schoolwork is a priority.
"We work closely with his school, who are very supportive. He will take his work with him to events and he'll do it on the train or after a presentation. The deal is that he can only keep moving forward with the business if he's up-to-date with his schoolwork," Rebecca says.
But surely so much success so young could be hard on a 12-year-old? Thankfully Rebecca believes that Henry has taken it well. "He's very modest. He'll never mention the business unless asked and people are always shocked at how humble he is."
But there's one thing that his mum can't protect him from and that's the online trolls. "He has had it all thrown at him from his weight to his hair. I try to protect him from this as much as possible and, most of the time, I'm the one who gets upset."
Henry applies the same pragmatism to the online unpleasantness he has experienced as he does to his business success. "People can be so hurtful and they don't even know me. But I've learnt to deal with it and it doesn't bother me any more."
So what does the future hold for this 12-year-old entrepreneur?
Ideally he would love to see his book developed into an animation, but he also has his sights set on bigger things. "I would love to fly the British flag in the US," he says. "I think they would love to read about a little mouse from England."


A man has been found guilty of murder after a man was stabbed to death at a flat in Bournemouth on New Year's Day.

Andrejs Trofimovics, 25, was found stabbed at a flat in Cleveland Road, in the Springbourne area of the town.
Vladislav Pomozov, 45, of Holdenhurst Road, Bournemouth, was found guilty of murder and of wounding with intent.
He was remanded in custody and is due at Winchester Crown Court for sentencing on 6 July.
Mr Trofimovics, from Riga in Latvia, died from a single stab wound, a post-mortem test concluded.
Dorset Police said Latvian national Pomozov was the partner of Mr Trofimovics' mother.
The stabbing followed a "minor confrontation" between Mr Trofimovics and Pomozov at a New Year's party, which was held at Mr Trofimovics' father's flat, police added.
Pomozov was found not guilty of the attempted murder of Mr Trofimovics' father Jevgenijs who sustained non-life threatening injuries.
Following the conviction, Det Sgt Mark Jenkins described Mr Trofimovics' death as "tragic and avoidable".


Incidents of hate crime aimed at the UK's Polish community increased after the summer's EU referendum and as a result, some Poles are considering leaving the country.

Joanna Kalinowska believes that the decision to leave the EU was a turning point - when anti-Polish sentiment became increasingly vocalised and continuing to live in the UK became a much less attractive prospect.
"When I first came to England, I thought it would be a big chance for me to have a better life, to learn new skills, to be among nice people," she says. "But after more than seven years of being here, I've said 'that's enough, I don't have to be here any more'."
Joanna lives in Poole and says at times she has been made to feel like a second-class citizen and has even been confronted by a stranger on the street.
"I was talking to my daughter [in Polish], we were joking and laughing. A man passed and said 'if you are in England you have to talk in English... otherwise you go back to your country'," she tells the BBC's Victoria Derbyshire programme.
"I said to that guy, 'I am talking with my child, so I will talk to my child in my language. And this is also my country, and I have equal rights here'."
The man, she says, answered in reply: "You don't have any rights here any more."
"That was my experience after Brexit," she says.
Joanna lost her job in a food processing factory four months ago and is now considering moving abroad.
"I don't see any future for me here, especially after what happened after Brexit," Joanna says.
According to the latest figures, published in August, there are 2.23 million EU nationals working in the UK - an increase of 238,000 on the same period in 2015. An estimated 850,000 Poles live in the UK.
Joanna is keen to challenge the view, held by some, that EU nationals come to the UK to access welfare payments.
"[Polish people] were prepared to come here, work hard and be normal members of society," she says. "We are very easy to integrate and we are very pleased to integrate with Brits. But Brits don't want to integrate with us.
"They think we are invaders, that we want to take something from them.
"No," she says emphatically, "we don't want to take, we want to give."
The Victoria Derbyshire programme is broadcast on weekdays between 09:00 and 11:00 on BBC Two and the BBC News Channel.
It is a sentiment shared by Magda, a 35-year-old charity worker who has lived in Royal Tunbridge Wells since moving to the UK six years ago.
She says she has been saddened by the rise in anti-Polish abuse since the Brexit vote.
In the days following the result there were reports of racist graffiti being daubed on the Polish and Social Cultural Association in London and cards with the words "Leave the EU, no more Polish vermin" being posted through the letterboxes of Polish families and distributed outside primary schools in Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire.
Anecdotal reports of such abuse also appeared widely on social media.
Magda believes the reason Poles are vulnerable to such resentment is the number of them living in the UK.
"The quantity has made us so visible. I don't think there is any difference between Poles or Italians or Spanish people who come here.
"There are so many different nations and skin colours [in the UK] and I've never read so many bad stories about them as about Poles. It's impossible that we Poles are so bad and everybody else is awesome and great. We all are people and you can't put all the blame on one nation."
Like Joanna, Magda is also reconsidering her future in the UK.
"Do we see ourselves here - especially raising children?" she says. "Do we want them to be raised in a country where they will be considered as somebody unwanted?"
According to Polish deputy prime minister Mateusz Morawiecki, others are likely to feel the same way. He has previously predicted that hundreds of thousands of Poles living in Britain would leave after Brexit.
Pawel has already done so, having returned to Warsaw, Poland's capital, two months ago.
The 29-year-old had been living in Bath for two years, working in two jobs - the main one as a cleaner in a hotel, which he says people from the UK were unwilling to do.
"There were some English people working in the hotel, but they would only stay for two weeks or a month maximum - it was enough for them, they quit," he explains, saying the majority of his colleagues were also Polish.
Pawel describes the Brexit vote as the main reason for his return.
"The general mood changed after the referendum," he says. "Until then it was calm, there were no problems. Then [after the result] it felt like Polish people were no longer welcome.
"People were teasing Polish workers... saying they took English people's jobs. But everyone knew that the English people wouldn't do the jobs that the Polish people were doing. So in fact no-one was stealing the jobs.
"But we were still being blamed, that's how it was."
Pawel now has an office job in Wroclaw, but would not rule out returning to the UK one day, saying he misses the friends he left behind.
"Never say never," he explains.


The agriculture minister has said agencies are working together to help those affected by flooding.

Heavy rainfall has left some roads impassable and fields saturated.
Water levels at Lough Neagh are at a 30-year-high after recent heavy rain, causing damage to businesses on its shores.
Michelle O'Neill took part in an urgent meeting with the environment and regional development ministers to discuss the response to the flooding.
A total of £1.3m is available to Northern Ireland, the spin-off from a Westminster flood fund.
But first the executive must agree that it will be spent on flood relief and then departments must then make a pitch for the cash. So far neither has happened.
"We had some discussions around priorities in going forward, how can we use the £1.3m to actually make a difference to people's lives," Mrs O'Neill said.
"We all have different ideas as ministers, we'll have that further discussion next week at an executive meeting where we can actually take decisions on we can make the most effect out of the £1.3m."
She added: "As rivers minister, I intend to seek resources to use to improve our flood protections where necessary.
"Also, next week I will announce details of a new grant scheme to help people protect their homes from flooding."
Flood-hit businesses on the shores of Lough Neagh have been questioning if enough was done to prevent rising waters brought on by winter storms.
Council chiefs and representatives of NI Water, Transport NI and the Rivers Agency also attended Thursday's meeting in Cookstown, County Tyrone.
Regional Development Minister Michelle McIlveen said the meeting was positive and useful.
"My key priority is to identify any immediate remedial works that need to be carried out on roads which have been flooded to ensure they are opened as quickly as possible," she said.
"As well as carrying out emergency repairs, I will be seeking to identify longer-term measures to address any issues with the roads infrastructure."
Environment Minister Mark H Durkan said: "Working with and through councils, I have already ensured that practical and financial help is delivered to those most in need as early as possible.
"We have a £1,000 grant available to assist homeowners in ensuring their homes are habitable as quickly as possible.
"Today's meeting though provided the platform to share ideas and plan for the longer term."
At Oxford Island on Lough Neagh's southern tip in County Armagh, several business properties have been badly damaged by floods.
The lough's level is controlled by floodgates at Toomebridge in County Antrim, which the Rivers Agency has said have been fully opened since early November.
But "repeated winter storms" have put pressure on the lough and its outlets, the Rivers Agency has said.
The Northern Ireland Independent Retail Trade Association has called for the Department of Finance should provide immediate rates relief to businesses affected by floods.
In the Republic of Ireland, a compensation scheme is opening for farmers who have suffered fodder losses due to flooding in many parts of the country.
Flooding problems in Northern Ireland can be reported by contacting the Floodline on 0300 2000 100.


Leave has won the EU referendum campaign in Wales - and across the UK - with all Welsh council areas declared.

854,572 (52.5%) voters in Wales chose to leave the EU, compared with 772,347 (47.5%) supporting Remain.
Welsh Conservative leader and Leave supporter Andrew RT Davies said Welsh politics had changed forever but Labour's Lord Hain said there would be "tragic" consequences.
David Cameron announced he would step down as prime minister by October.
First Minister Carwyn Jones has said he fears jobs will be lost in Wales following the vote outcome and called for party and public unity in Wales.
Get the results in full.
In a statement in Downing Street he said he would attempt to "steady the ship" between now and then.
"We must now prepare for a negotiation with the European Union - this will need to involve the full engagement of the Scottish, Welsh and Northern Ireland governments to ensure that the interests of all parts of our United Kingdom are protected and advanced," Mr Cameron said.
The vast bulk of Wales' council areas, many of them Labour-supporting, voted for Leave with a majority in 17 backing Brexit.
Only five areas - Gwynedd, Cardiff, Ceredigion, the Vale of Glamorgan and Monmouthshire - voted for Remain.
Turnout was high at 71.7% for Wales.
The UK picture
EU referendum live: Wales votes Leave reaction
Wales results and overnight reaction
Results in full
Local results
Neil Hamilton, UKIP's assembly group leader, said: "I am absolutely delighted and I have to admit even a little surprised myself, as I hardly dared believe we could achieve this."
UKIP Wales leader Nathan Gill told BBC Radio's Good Morning Wales: "It is wonderful, we [all UK MEPs] will be given our P45s now.
"It is the 74 MEPs not the British people who are going to lose their jobs."
He said he was not surprised Wales voted to leave and said he had been predicting the outcome for a long time.
"Everywhere we have been for two to three years, our support has been galvanising," he said.
"People have been telling us they are fed up of the EU, saying it wasn't democratic, saying 'we want our freedom back' and that is what they are going to get."
Andrew RT Davies said: "It is clear that the fault lines of Welsh politics have now changed forever, and I am extremely proud to have been involved in this campaign."
He told Good Morning Wales that Wales will receive more investment outside the European Union.
He added: "I stood by my convictions [backing a leave vote] and stood by my beliefs. We have a great future ahead of us as we are a great trading nation."
As Leave campaigners celebrated their historic victory, leading figures from the Remain side lined up to warn of "very serious" and "dangerous" consequences from the decision.
Lord Hain said: "It is a tragic result for Wales which will have serious consequences for us."
Speaking to BBC Radio's Good Morning Wales, he said: "What leave voters will find is that they will be pleased in the short-term but in the long-term, the consequences are very serious.  Those that voted leave are the ones that benefit most from EU funding."
He said the EU had become "the whipping boy", with "immigration becoming a toxic issue, even in areas where there has been no immigration".
With the potential for Scotland to call another independence referendum, he said: "We could have moved out of one union and lost another in the UK."
He said serious questions must be asked about whether the Welsh Government's planned M4 relief road and South Wales Metro project would now happen.
Simon Thomas, a Plaid Cymru AM whose party supported Remain, told BBC Wales he was extremely disappointed.
"I think its an absolute disaster from the point of view of building the Welsh economy over the next five to ten years," he said.
"This is very dangerous and disturbing territory that we're entering into."
His fellow Plaid AM Rhun ap Iorwerth called the Leave vote a "hammer blow to Wales economically" warning "the poorest will pay the price".
"We have woken up in a deep pit that we have dug ourselves with spades provided by a fear-driven campaign," he said.
Mark Williams, Welsh Liberal Democrat leader, said he was deeply disappointed, adding: "Now is not the time for more government infighting at the expense of the people of Wales."
Labour AM and ex-MEP Baroness Morgan said: "That crash in the market you hear is also the crashing of your pensions. This will impact on everyone."
Work and Pensions Secretary and former Welsh Secretary Stephen Crabb said he was "not surprised" by the results in Wales and voters had not trusted the messages from the Remain campaign.
He said voters said they were "sorry we don't believe what the Labour party and the government are saying about the benefits of the European Union".
First Minister Carwyn Jones is due to give a press conference at 09:15 BST.
Political commentator Daran Hill said: "Wales' decision to Leave comes down to a failure of Labour and the Labour-inclined Stronger In campaign to connect with, motivate and mobilise their voters.
"The Welsh voters have done what they haven't done since 1979 - they have rejected the establishment."
Live coverage of the results and reaction continues on BBC One Wales, on BBC Radio Wales and Radio Cymru.
We have seen a very surprising pattern. We have seen working class Labour voters go fairly solidly "Vote Leave", far more strongly than we were expecting.
Leave won Bridgend - which is First Minister Carwyn Jones' territory - and they won Rhondda Cynon Taff, which is Leanne Wood's home territory.
So maybe it is not the individual politicians we should be looking at - it is actually a question of income and social class more than political affiliation or political leadership.
Are we looking at a situation where people who felt they have had nothing to lose voted to leave, whereas people who feel they have something to lose - Labour or Conservative - decided to vote remain?
It seems to me that there is an income and class distribution question far more than there is a political one.
David Cameron and George Osborne's big scare campaign did not work and there were issues over the timing of the referendum.
Because of the assembly election campaign, you only saw Carwyn Jones and Leanne Wood together three days before the vote took place.
That was far too late to turn their popularity into persuading people to vote to Remain.


A bag carrying NZ$1m ($665,000; Â£425,000) has disappeared while being moved from a Cathay Pacific plane at Hong Kong International Airport.

The bag was one of 13, holding a total of NZ$10m, being sent to the Bank of China in Hong Kong from New Zealand, Chinese media say.
Police are treating the case as theft, they add.
Surveillance footage reportedly shows three unsecured bags falling from a trailer as it turns a corner.
When staff realised the bags were missing 10 minutes later, they are said to have returned to the scene but could only recover two of them.
A statement by the airline said: "Cathay Pacific transported a valuable cargo shipment last Friday night to Hong Kong.
"Upon arrival, it was transferred to the cargo terminal where part of the shipment was found missing. As the case is under police investigation, we are unable to provide further details."
G4S International Logistics, that was transporting the money to the Bank of China, said the money was safe until it entered the controlled airside section of the airport - a section to which their staff have no access.
The money was insured, the company said.


Paris St-Germain were crowned French champions with eight games left as Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored four in a 9-0 demolition of bottom side Troyes.

PSG clinched the title with two months of the season to spare.
Edinson Cavani, Javier Pastore and Adrien Rabiot put them 3-0 up inside 19 minutes before Ibrahimovic struck three within 10 minutes in the second half.
Matthieu Saunier scored an own goal and Cavani made it 8-0 before Ibrahimovic added his fourth.
Laurent Blanc's men clinched their fourth successive Ligue 1 title in style with the biggest away win in the history of the competition.
They did it with just one defeat in 30 games after they were beaten 2-1 by Lyon in February, and the latest win took their goal difference to +62 with just 15 league goals conceded.
They have won 24 of their 30 games with Ibrahimovic scoring 31 goals in 25 appearances to add to Cavani's 16 in 27.
Defeat left Troyes, who had Lossemy Karaboue sent off in the 64th minute, eight points adrift of second-from-bottom Toulouse with a goal difference of -47.


Royal Mail has banned deliveries to a street in Wiltshire after the regular postman was bitten repeatedly by fleas.

Deliveries to 13 properties in Queen's Crescent, Chippenham, were suspended after the postman received "nasty and painful bites on his arms and legs".
Residents have now been told they will have to collect their post from Royal Mail's delivery office in Bumpers Way.
A Royal Mail spokeswoman apologised to customers affected but said the "health and safety of our people is paramount".
The properties affected by the ban include private homes and bungalows owned by GreenSquare Housing Association.
But Val Bodden, a Royal Mail spokeswoman, said it was in the "surrounding grass and pathway" that the postman used to access the properties where he experienced the flea infestation.
"We are keen to resume deliveries as soon as possible and have already contacted the local environmental health department," she said.
"They have visited the area and have been treating the affected site."
Terri Yewkins, from GreenSquare, said treatment had been carried out on a property and a second would be carried out if required.
"It is unusual for us to become involved in cases like this as our tenancy agreements state that tenants are responsible for dealing with pest infestations," he said.
"However, in this instance, we have been dealing with the issue and working to eradicate the problem."


News organisations need to become "more inventive" to arrest a decline in traditional revenue sources, an international survey has warned.

Researchers at Oxford University found that digital subscriptions and online advertising were failing to compensate for the collapse in newspaper sales.
Fully 75% of Britons said they would never consider paying for online news.
Respondents also expressed frustration with so-called "sponsored content" being disguised as news.
The fourth annual Reuters Institute's Digital News Report, which is backed by Google, Ofcom and the BBC, surveyed the news consumption habits of almost 24,000 people across 12 countries, including the UK, US, Australia, Japan and Brazil.
Almost half of those questioned said they accessed news on a smartphone - a significant increase on last year's study - but revealed they were loyal to just one or two news sources on the device.
Additionally, many consumers in the US and UK admitted to using ad-blocking software, eroding many media companies' main source of online revenue.
Ad-blocking, which is installed by default on some browsers, is "reaching epidemic proportions", according to Nic Newman, a research associate at the Reuters Institute.
Publishers were dealt a further blow recently when Apple announced that its latest mobile browser would also come with such a feature.
At the same time, revenue from display ads that do make it through to the reader has continued to fall, particularly for so-called "banner ads" that feature across the top or down the sides of a web page.
Selling ads on smartphones has proven even more challenging, due to the limited amount of screen space.
"The move to mobile is reducing the amount of money news companies can make," says Mr Newman. "The advertising dollars haven't moved across in sufficient amounts yet."
"Unless you've got a massive brand or have a niche, its hard to get people to pay for news," he adds.
The report also highlights how the huge increase in the use of social media sites as a "gateway" for news is affecting traditional brands.
The number of readers heading directly to specific news websites is falling, while in some countries up to 48% of people access news content via Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, WhatsApp and other services.
News organisations are also facing increased pressure from technology and social media companies to publish content directly on their platforms - with The New York Times, the BBC, National Geographic and others recently joining Facebook's Instant Articles scheme.
However, there are some rays of sunshine for the news industry.
The consumption of online video is rapidly increasing - by as much as 10% in Spain - which is welcome news for companies. Video advertising fetches higher premiums - for the moment at least.
The report also showed substantial growth in sponsored or "branded" content - essentially articles paid for by advertisers, but presented in a similar way to news stories.
About a third of respondents said they felt disappointed or deceived after realising they had read a sponsored article.
"Our research documents that most people like news and use news, but they don't want to pay for it, don't want to see advertising around it, and don't want to see it mixed up with sponsored content," says Rasmus Kleis Nielsen, the Reuters Institute's director of research.
"This means sustainable business models remain elusive even for those who succeed in building an audience."


Ireland's environmental protection agency has approved the first trial of a genetically modified potato crop.

Scientists say the plants have been designed to improve resistance to blight.
They argue that the type of genetic modification used is akin to conventional breeding.
But the decision has been severely criticised by campaigners who say that there will be "grave ramifications" for the country.
Late blight is sometimes said to be the most dangerous potato disease in the world. It can rapidly turn the vegetable into an inedible mush.
In recent years, more aggressive strains of blight have become prevalent, resulting in a chemical arms race as farmers and growers seek to kill the fungus with ever more powerful sprays.
The financial cost in a country like Ireland is estimated to be 15 million euros each year.
Since 2010, the European Union has been trialling genetically modified potato plants at a number of locations in the UK, Belgium and the Netherlands.
Now Ireland has given the go-ahead for a two-hectare trial site that will see how the GM potatoes cope with less anti-fungal spray than conventional varieties.
John Spink is head of crop research at Teagasc, the Irish food development authority that has applied for the licence.
"We need to do this trial in Ireland because our environment is different from other parts of the EU," Mr Spink told BBC News.
"It's not about commercialising GM potatoes. We're looking at impacts on the environment and on the pathogen itself."
But campaigners believe that the trial is risking Ireland's reputation as a green, clean food-producing island.
The Organic Trust in Dublin says that this approval has "grave ramifications for Irish food and farming". The Trust' s Gavin Lynch says that this will be the first GM trial since 1996 when a previous attempt at growing GM sugar beets was discontinued.
"Ireland's status as a GM-free country is being risked here," Mr Lynch told BBC News.
"It's only a two-hectare trial, but that's like saying you're only a little bit pregnant, there are no grey areas with GM."
Scientists at Teagasc say that the trial will use what is known as cisgenic technology to modify the potatoes. They argue that the technology is more similar to conventional breeding than to the more widespread "transgenic modification", which incorporates genes from an entirely different species.
In the case of the potatoes that will be trialled,  they contain a resistance gene taken from
          Solanum venturii, a wild south American relative of the potato.
"You could achieve the same results by conventional breeding," said Mr Spink, "but it might take 15-20 years  - this way we can do it in weeks.
"And it allows us to target the genes we want; conventional methods would bring in other genes that you don't want or need."
But anti-GM campaigners in Ireland are not convinced that the cisgenic technique is benign.
"It is portrayed as 'GM-lite' - but in reality cisgenic is a nonsense," said Mr Lynch.
"It is just there to make GM more palatable to the general public. The fact that it comes from a related plant doesn't make it any different. The real danger is the process."
This view is echoed by Stella Coffey, a campaigner who runs a blog called
          GM Moratorium
, describing herself as a grandmother and biotech sceptic.
"They haven't researched other options - it's absolutely preposterous to use such a risky tech as your first line of action. It's one of the biggest cons that has been perpetrated by regulatory science in a long time."
The trial is set to run for four years. Consent has been granted subject a number of conditions and reporting requirements.


A County Antrim woman who had two pregnancies terminated has ended her legal challenge against Northern Ireland's Department of Health.

She had sought a judicial review over the alleged failure to issue new guidance on abortion to medical professionals in Northern Ireland
She claimed the delay compounded the trauma of losing her babies.
But on Friday, her lawyers said her goal had been reached as guidelines have now been published.
Northern Ireland's abortion law differs from the rest of the UK and access to termination is more restricted.
Abortion is only permitted in Northern Ireland if a woman's life is at risk or there is a permanent or serious risk to her mental or physical health.
The woman who took the case wished to remain anonymous. In 2013, she had to travel to a clinic in England to terminate twins with fatal foetal abnormalities.
Staff at a Belfast hospital believed they were unable to carry out the abortion due to uncertainty around the law, according to papers in the case.
Last year, she discovered that a second pregnancy was non-viable. On that occasion, however, she was able to have an abortion at another hospital in Belfast.
Consultants decided that continuing with the pregnancy could have serious consequences for her mental health.
In her challenge, she claimed there was a legitimate expectation that the guidelines would be published in final form.
But on Friday, her barrister indicated that the publication of the guidance meant she had secured the relief sought.
Her lawyers are now pursuing the costs of her challenge.
The long-awaited guidelines are aimed at providing clarification for medical staff on when a termination is legal.
The lack of clarity on the issue has been a sticking point for decades, and clinicians have expressed fear that they could face prosecution for carrying out abortions, based on their interpretation of a permanent or serious risk to woman's mental or physical health.
The publication of the latest set of abortion guidelines follows years of talks between the Department of Health, the Department of Justice and senior clinicians.
It also comes after a series of legal challenges against the current law and a high-profile but unsuccessful campaign to legalise abortion in cases of fatal foetal abnormality.


Saracens captain Brad Barritt has been banned for three weeks after admitting to a dangerous tackle on Exeter lock Geoff Parling on Saturday.

Richard Barrington, sent off for his part in the incident, was cleared of dangerous charging by a Rugby Football Union disciplinary panel.
Prop Barrington, 27, is now free to play again immediately, while Barritt, 30, is suspended until 31 January.
An RFU statement said Barritt's ban was in line with new high-tackle laws.
Centre Barritt had initially tackled Parling high and Barrington followed up with a shoulder into the head of the 33-year-old England international, who was carried off on a stretcher.
Under the new interpretation of the high-tackle rules, which came into effect on 3 January, Barrington was sent off by referee Ian Tempest.
However, the panel at Tuesday's hearing in London judged Parling was already unconscious from Barritt's tackle and fell into the contact with Barrington.
"The incident arose out of the specific dynamic of Mr Parling falling unconscious into what would have otherwise been a legitimate contact by Mr Barrington," the RFU statement added.
"In line with the new sanctions a mid-range entry of six weeks was imposed on Mr Barritt reduced to three weeks in light of mitigation including his guilty plea."
Barritt will now miss Saracens' Champions Cup games at Scarlets on Sunday and at home to Toulon on 21 January.
He is also banned for the Anglo-Welsh Cup visit to Scarlets on 27 January, although Sarries tend to rest a number of first-team players in the competition.


UK and US citizens should be confident their intelligence agencies operate within the law, the foreign secretary has said after talks in Washington with his US counterpart John Kerry.

William Hague was speaking amid claims about listening post GCHQ's reported links to the US monitoring programme.
UK-US intelligence sharing is based on a "framework of law", he added.
Ex-CIA worker Edward Snowden has claimed US agencies gathered and shared phone and web data with its allies.
The secret Prism programme is reported to give the US National Security Agency (NSA) and the FBI easy access to the systems of nine of the world's top internet companies, including Google, Facebook, Microsoft, Apple, Yahoo and Skype. All deny giving the US government direct access to their servers.
And earlier this week, Mr Hague told Parliament that allegations that GCHQ circumvented the law to gain information on UK citizens were "baseless".
US and UK say Syria deaths must end
Speaking after his talks with US Secretary of State Mr Kerry, the foreign secretary said the revelations about Prism had "not been the focus" of the talks.
"The intelligence sharing relationship between the UK and the US is unique in the world, it's the strongest in the world and it contributes massively to the national security of both countries," he added.
"I think that's something the citizens of both our countries should have confidence in, in particular that that relationship is based on a framework of law in both countries, a law that is vigorously upheld."
He said: "It's a relationship we must never endanger because it has saved many lives over recent decades in countering terrorism and in contributing to the security of all our citizens."
Mr Kerry pointed out that the system had been repeatedly approved by US Congress.
He added: "I think the Secretary and I both understand the very delicate but vital balance between privacy and the protection of people in our country."
Mr Hague previously had refused to confirm or deny claims GCHQ has had access to Prism since June 2010.


A teenager has been seriously injured during an "unprovoked" attack on an Edinburgh street.

The 18-year-old victim was walking with another man on Niddrie House Park when they were attacked at about 04:00 on Saturday.
He was taken to the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, where he remains in a serious condition.
It is understood he was stabbed in the attack. Police are treating the incident as attempted murder.
Detectives from Edinburgh CID are appealing for information.
Det Insp Roddy Hardy said: "There will be a visible police presence over the course of this weekend as we seek information from local residents and to provide a reassuring presence.
"I urge anyone who witnessed suspicious activity in the area of Niddrie House Park in the early hours of Saturday, 18 June, to come forward."


The NFL says it is continuing to investigate the New England Patriots amid claims 11 balls were deflated in a win that sent them to the Super Bowl.

"We're still awaiting findings," said Troy Vincent, an executive with American football's governing body.
The Patriots beat Indianapolis 45-7 in driving rain and flat balls are said to be easier to catch in wet conditions.
If they are found to have deflated balls intentionally, punishments could include losing a draft pick.
It is unlikely the Patriots will lose their place in Super Bowl XLIX.
They are due to face the Seattle Seahawks in Arizona on 1 February.
Eleven of New England's' 12 allotted game footballs were under-inflated by two pounds per square inch of air, according to ESPN.


An improvement notice is set to be served on the fire-hit Broadford Works site in Aberdeen.

Firefighters were called out to a major blaze at the former textile mill last weekend. There have been several fires in recent years.
A site inspection will be carried out and the planning development management committee has agreed the way forward for pursuing the serving of notices.
Convener Ramsay Milne said: "We have concerns about health and safety."
He said there were also concerns about the "deterioration of the buildings on the site" and planning issues.
Mr Milne added: "We would like to see the site made as safe as possible."
There have been calls this week for owner Ian Suttie to progress development plans for the site more quickly, or even gift it to the city to allow development to go ahead.
Mr Suttie has been unavailable for comment.


UKIP has "failed dismally" in the local election in Tandridge, according to the Lib Dems on the district council.

Gordon Keymer, Conservative leader of the council, said UKIP had failed to make an impact.
The Conservatives comfortably held on to power in most of the councils to hold elections.
As well as Tandridge, the party also held Elmbridge, Runnymede, Reigate and Banstead and Woking, but Mole Valley stayed under no overall control.
Kelvin MacKenzie, the former editor of The Sun, narrowly failed to win a seat on Elmbridge Borough Council, where he stood as an independent in the St George's Hill ward in Weybridge.
UKIP did win a seat on Reigate and Banstead council and another in Mole Valley.
Helena Windsor, a UKIP councillor on the county council, said her party was making "serious progress".
She said UKIP had come second in 10 out of 14 seats in Tandridge.
"We were very close in Godstone," she said.
Simon Charles Morrow, a Lib Dem councillor who kept his seat, said: "We haven't lost any seats. My majority went up from 74 to 222.
"UKIP have dismally failed."
Runnymede was held by the Conservatives, who have 35 of the 42 seats on the council.
The Conservatives held Reigate and Banstead, with 37 seats. The Residents Association followed, with seven seats.
UKIP won the Horley Central seat from the Tories, the party's first gain in the county.
The Conservatives gained two seats to win 19 in Mole Valley, and the Liberal Democrats lost three seats, ending with 14. But that was not enough to give the Tories overall control.
UKIP won a first seat on the authority.
Woking also stayed under Conservative control.
The Tories gained two seats to win 23, and the Lib Dems lost three seats, ending with 11 councillors.
Labour won its first seat in years, and an independent candidate won one seat.
The South East region has also voted for 10 MEPs in the European election, with the results being announced late on Sunday.


Worcestershire batted themselves to a good position on day two against Glamorgan in Cardiff.

Their 196-run first-innings lead came mainly thanks to Tom Kohler-Cadmore (102) and Ed Barnard (59).
Further contributions down the order allowed the visitors to reach 403 all out for five batting bonus points.
Glamorgan started well with Jacques Rudolph and Nick Selman putting on 74 for the first wicket, but they ended 141-3 at the close, 55 runs behind.
Worcestershire claimed three wickets for 34 runs to reduce Glamorgan to 108-3, but Colin Ingram (41 not out) and Aneurin Donald saw out the rest of the day.
Glamorgan bowler Michael Hogan told BBC Wales Sport: "It seemed to go through different stages at different times. It was a little trickier at times and then got easier as ball got softer. The boys toiled hard but it could have been a bit better.
"It was good to see Lukas Carey doing well. He has done a lot of work in pre-season and he has worked really hard on his fitness and his technique, so it is good to see him being given a chance and taking it with both hands.
"I'm fitter after a winter off, probably lacked a bit of bowling conditioning. I've had a few weeks off with injury so probably I got bit tired towards the end.
"We thought with the sun out after about 35 or 40 overs it got a bit easier, but they have got a good attack so we will have to absorb a bit of pressure. I think the boys can do the job and if the boys can build a good total we can hopefully bowl them out."


Concerns are growing for a 14-year-old girl who has been missing from her west London home for more than 48 hours.

Alice Gross, who has health concerns, was last seen at about 13:00 BST on Thursday when she left home in Hanwell.
Officers said they were "growing increasingly concerned" as to the whereabouts of the Brentside High School student.
Alice is described as being 5ft 2in tall, slim, with shoulder length light brown hair.
When she was last seen, she was wearing dark blue jeans, a dark green lacy cardigan and denim blue Van's shoes.  She may also be wearing tartan-framed spectacles.
Her family have put out appeals on Facebook and Twitter.
In one Facebook message, the teenager's sister Nina Gross wrote: "The police have requested to hold off any non-police searches, as they are actively searching certain areas this morning, until further notice.
"But please continue to raise awareness with posts and posters."
Officers are conducting searches and house-to-house inquiries in the Hanwell area.


Three babies have been saved from a life-threatening condition by using 3D printed windpipe splints to help them breathe, a pilot study reveals.

The patients suffer from a rare illness that means their windpipes can collapse and prevent air getting in.
The device was rapidly customised for each individual. And unlike most 3D implants, it was made of material that changed shape as the children grew.
The research appears in Science Translational Medicine.
Due to the small number of children involved in the study it does not prove it will work in every case.
But it does show the splints could be a promising option for a condition that has no cure, researchers from CS Mott Children's Hospital at the University of Michigan say.
One in 2,000 children have tracheobronchomalacia - a weakening and collapse of the windpipe (trachea) that would normally allow air to travel to the lungs.
Those with the most severe form have a poor chance of surviving. But if they can get to the the age of three, their windpipes have often strengthened enough to allow them to breathe well.
Kaiba Gionfriddo had the procedure when he was just three months old. He was in a critical condition, needing intensive care because his body was not getting the oxygen it needed.
So doctors sought emergency approval to use the device as a a last resort.
Lead researcher Dr Glenn Green described it as a ground-breaking case.
Kaiba is now "an active, healthy three-year old in preschool with a bright future", researchers said.
Almost three years later the splint shows signs of melting away as planned. And doctors say his windpipe appears strong enough for him to breathe without its support.
April Gionfriddo, Kaiba's mum, said: "The first time he was hospitalised, doctors told us he may not make it out.
"It was scary knowing he was the first child to ever have this procedure, but it was our only choice and it saved his life."
The team have now carried out the surgery on two other children.
Both are doing well and are back at home, though one continues to need a machine to help his breathing, because of problems the splint could not address.
Dr Patrick Finlay, of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, described it as an advanced piece of engineering.
He said: "The problem represents some formidable difficulties.
"You have to construct something that can cope with growth and coughing and sneezing.
"And they seem to have done this - it is very exciting."
He said the splint could be thought of as similar to a section of vacuum cleaner pipe that had been split in the middle.
It is customised to match the exact anatomy of each patient and made of a bio-absorbable material.
Doctors sew it in place on the outside of the windpipe as an incomplete ring.
The aim is for it to provide support without constricting growth.
Prof Paolo De Coppi of Great Ormond Street Hospital described this as a very attractive way of doing the procedure.
He said: "Other options can include internally placed stents - but these can cause bleeding and other complications.
"It is very encouraging news to see at three years that it appears safe and effective in this child."
US researchers have filed a patent on the device and are now embarking on a larger trial.


The US should be as much a target for protests against the violence in Syria as Russia, a spokesman for Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has suggested.

He told journalists that a number of foreign powers, including the UK, were involved in the brutal conflict and Russia should not be singled out.
While condemning Russian "atrocities", he said civilians had also been killed by the US-led coalition's bombings.
One Labour MP said the comments were "unworthy of the party".
The row came as Russia reacted angrily to Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson's call for protests outside its UK embassy.
In a Commons debate on Tuesday, Mr Johnson said the evidence pointed to Russia being behind a fatal attack on an aid convoy in Aleppo and called for the International Criminal Court to investigate this and other possible war crimes.
He questioned why the Stop The War coalition - of which Mr Corbyn is a long-time supporter - and other anti-war groups were not making their feelings known outside the Russian embassy in London, saying Russia risked becoming an international pariah if it continued with its military campaign in support of President Assad.
Responding to Mr Johnson's comments, a Labour spokesman said talks aimed at securing a lasting ceasefire and political settlement in Syria were preferable to demonstrations.
Asked whether Mr Corbyn backed demonstrations against Russia, he added: "Obviously, people are entitled and at complete liberty to demonstrate outside not only the Russian embassy, but all the other embassies of those intervening powers.
"People are free to protest outside the intervening powers' embassies and there are a number of them - not just the US and Russia.
"There are multiple foreign interventions in the Syrian civil war and we've emphasised that there needs to be an end to that and those powers need to be part of a negotiated settlement, which is the only way to stop the conflict."
Asked whether he was suggesting a moral equivalence between US and UK actions against so-called Islamic State and Moscow's support for the Assad regime, the spokesman said he was not "in the business of allocating blame".
But he added: "The focus on Russian atrocities or Syrian army atrocities - which is absolutely correct - sometimes diverts attention from other atrocities that are taking place.
"Independent assessments are that there have been very large-scale civilian casualties as a result of the US-led coalition bombing.
"There are several cases of large numbers of civilian deaths in single attacks, and there hasn't been so much attention on those atrocities or those casualties."
Mr Corbyn, he added, had opposed Russian intervention in the five-year conflict from the start - as he had the UK's extension of bombing raids from Iraq to Syria last year.
"The intervention of foreign powers in the conflict has no doubt escalated and fuelled it throughout," he added.
Downing Street dismissed any comparison between Russian bombing and UK military operations in Syria, saying its strategy was based on minimising civilian casualties.
"We are working towards peace, towards finding a solution and towards alleviating the humanitarian suffering of the Syrian people," a No 10 spokeswoman said.
"I think very clearly by the fact we were sponsoring a UN Security Council resolution that calls for the end of the bombardment of the people of Aleppo and Russia vetoed that resolution, that's quite a contrast in positions."
Labour MP John Woodcock, a long-term critic of Mr Corbyn, rejected suggestions that the US was as culpable as Russia for attacks on Syrian civilians and the virtual destruction of Aleppo, once the country's largest city.
"This absurdity seems like a deliberate provocation, unworthy of our leader and our party," he said.
And Brendan Cox, whose wife, Labour MP Jo Cox, was co-chair of the Parliamentary Friends of Syria before she was killed in June, said the comment was "absolutely disgraceful".