Transcripts For BBCNEWS BBC News 20240714

Attacked pro democracy activists last weekend. Gareth bale looks set to leave real madrid to join chinese club jiangsu suning, reportedly earning the player 31 millon a week. The player £1 millon a week. The Prime Minister is about to announce plans for a new high speed rail link between manchester and leeds as part of what he describes as efforts to rebalance power, growth and productivity across the uk. Borisjohnson will also promise to improve what he calls the unglamorous local services which people use every day. The plan has been welcomed by business groups but labour says it doesnt go far enough. Our correspondent tom barton is here. As we wait for that speech to begin within the next ten minutes, we think, tell us a bit more about what borisjohnson is think, tell us a bit more about what Boris Johnson is promising think, tell us a bit more about what borisjohnson is promising because we have of course her the conservative government under George Osborne going on about the Northern Powerhouse rail and promising to invest and actually it has not delivered. And in fact George Osborne has today been tweeting about this saying that after what he called three wasted years as far as his plan for the northern, you may rememberfive years his plan for the northern, you may remember five years ago he started talking about this idea of the northern. These plans for better rail links in the north, hss, linking liverpool to hull, manchester and leeds, have pretty much been on ice. The theresa may government stymied by brexit, unable to do anything beyond that. George osborne seen today he is delighted that it appears that the Boris Johnson government is planning to resuscitate those plans, bring them back from certainly stasis, if not necessarily the grave. And alongside that, borisjohnson, necessarily the grave. And alongside that, Boris Johnson, like necessarily the grave. And alongside that, borisjohnson, like you say, talking about these unglamorous but very Important Services within towns and cities stop bus links, metal services, and getting those actual good standard as well. Recognising that in london, though services are incredibly good, outside of the capital, they are often dilapidated and unreliable, very expensive for people to use, very unattractive for many people. Todays speech is really about, partly, announcing this funding, but also frankly politically, it is about Boris Johnson signalling to people in the north of england that he is concerned about them. He wants to vote. We had labour, Jeremy Corbyn was in liverpool yesterday, making similar points. Saying that not only would the be focused on the north, but that they would go much further than the conservatives. Basing whitehall departments in the north of england. So both parties really focused upon trying to persuade voters in the north of england they clearly see this as a key battle ground, that they are out for them. North has politically been seen as important because of the brexit party in the lever voting areas. Both main parties worried about losing support. Let see a bit about what andy burnham said, the mayor of manchester. The best thing about this visit today and indeed Jeremy Corbyns visit yesterday is that it confirms the north of england is higher up the political agenda now than ever before. To be honest, not before time because people here have waited a long time for that. It is clear that the campaign by northern newspapers to power up the north has rattled a few cages in westminster. I get the feeling now that whenever the general election comes, the two main parties will be trying to outdo each other on what they can do for the north and it is myjob to get a bidding war going. He was pointing out that london transport is much more heavily subsidised by governments and the north has had until now. Whether anyone should believe these promises and whether the government can afford them if there was an old deal brexit. Do we know if that would be possible . And no deal brexit. Certainly borisjohnson possible . And no deal brexit. Certainly Boris Johnson is proceeding on the basis that this is something he could afford to do. I suspect it comes with a hefty price tag if you look at the price of crossrail which borisjohnsons augment this morning, were expected him to talk about it a little bit. Something which was, happened, the work started under Boris Johnsons leadership as mayor of london, he argues that that is evidence that he is able to deliver these big projects, but crossrail, a hugely expensive tens of billions of pounds project. Going over budget as we get to the end, if you look at hs2, another massively expensive project, you are talking about tens of millions of pounds. The government is likely to have to borrow that. If it is no deal brexit, there is questions about whether the economy can sustain that level of borrowing for investment. The counterargument to that is, if no deal brexit happens, Boris Johnson says to that is, if no deal brexit happens, borisjohnson says he can keep about £33 billion which would still be owed to the eu if we left on. Which the government has promised they will payback which they all the eu, see the eu. See the eu in the case of a deal, those £33 billion are no longer order. The reason for that figure is the difference between the figures is the time that has elapsed between the time that has elapsed between the 31st of march, march excuse me, and october. But he says that money would be available and could be spent on propping up the economy. Line a very controversial claim amongst many of course on this whole debate. Lets look at what might happen in the event of a no deal brexit. Because donald trump has been talking. He says the uk and United States are working on what he called a very substantial post brexit trade deal. Boris and i just spoke. I congratulated him and hes all set to go. Hes gonna be i think hell be do a greatjob. Were working already on a trade agreement. And i think it will be a very substantial trade agreement. You know, we can do with the uk we can do three to four times we were actually impeded by their relationship with the European Union. We were very much impeded on trade. Again, the question of whether there can bea again, the question of whether there can be a meaningful us uk trade deal given Donald Trumps America First policy and how long that would likely take is not clear, is it . Donald trump was talking yesterday after the First Official phone call between him and borisjohnson. The american president and the british Prime Minister. He is an enthusiast for borisjohnson, Prime Minister. He is an enthusiast for Boris Johnson, just Prime Minister. He is an enthusiast for borisjohnson, just after the leadership election he dubbed him a british trump. He said that is what people over here were calling him. His ambassador to the uk has said that the relationship between the two men would be sensational and that phone call is really the sort of building that relationship. Between these two men now as national leaders. They have spoken in the past, borisjohnson has been critical of donald trump in the past. But borisjohnson will hope that this is the start of a strong working relationship because that trade deal that donald trump was talking about is one of the big promises from brexit supporters of what, how we could benefit outside the eu. There are questions though. Negotiations have not started yet. We are already hearing controversies about the access of American Companies to the nhs, questions over the quality and ethics of American Meat which we might have to accept in britain as part of any trade deal. Now there are lots of positive noises after last nights phone call. Speech or interview from donald trump, the readout from downing street saying that negotiations would start as soon as possible after brexit has happened. But these trade deals arent, in the end, about the relationships, no matter how good, between international leaders. They are about difficult Technical Details and those are the things which will ta ke and those are the things which will take time to resolve, and that time could well be longer than either man remains leader of their respective countries. Thank you tom and were keeping an eye on manchester where we are expecting borisjohnson to that speech on transport in the next few minutes. Leaving the eu without a deal is a threat to the science sector, according to the head of the uks biggest charitable funder of scientific research. In a letter to borisjohnson, the chair of the wellcome trust, baroness Eliza Manningham buller, says immigration policy needs to be more welcoming to attract top scientists. Downing street officials told the bbc the pm is committed to supporting the uks science sector. Katy austin has more. Yasmin is a scientist from germany, researching sex chromosomes at the Francis Crick institute in london. Shes not sure whether to stay in the uk, though, because the country is leaving the eu. My feeling is that over the next ten, 20 years, if brexit actually happens, especially if it happens without a deal which it seems likely now, that uk science is on the decline with regards to funding opportunities, positions that are available, attractiveness of living here. You could see this place is a symbol of britains status as a science superpower. Europes largest Biomedical Research facility under one roof, with 1200 researchers working here from across the globe. The director here warns continued success relies on collaboration that he says is incompatible with a no deal brexit and notjust because millions of pounds in funding would be at risk. Its our reputation, its being able to attract people, its making them feel comfortable here. All of this is injeopardy if were turning our back on europe and saying, we dont really care about you. And what it will mean is, we have to follow the rules and regulations that we had no role or impact on in setting up ourselves. So in fact, we lose power, we lose power, lose freedom rather than gain it. Now britains biggest science charity has written to the Prime Minister, praising his vision science sector but describing no deal as a threat. We are already a science superpower. But there are some clouds on the horizon, which if we dont banish them, could erode that position. What we are anxious about is that the science that is done here goes on being excellent. And to do that, it requires both more investment and support from the government, it also requires an immigration policy that welcomes to this country the best researchers in the world and their families. Borisjohnson has insisted he would prefer leaving the eu with a deal, but that the uk must plan for a no deal scenario. Katie austin, bbc news. Riot police in hong kong have fired tear gas at protesters who defied a police ban to march through the town of yeun long, where pro democracy activists were beaten up by underworld gangs. This is the moment gas was fired into the crowds. The demonstrators are demanding an inquiry into the attacks last sunday, accusing police of collusion, a claim the force denies. Our china correspondent Stephen Mcdonnel explained why this latest flare up was always likely to happen. The situation has escalated very quickly here. Riot police, i have moved a bit away from them because projectiles are being thrown by protesters towards them. Notice they have their gas masks already on, i have their gas masks already on, i have not seen that before, and that means they are serious, they are going to try and clear this protest very soon. I will swing around to give you a look at the other side. These are the black clad pro democracy protesters. I suppose you could say it is the more ha rd core you could say it is the more hardcore element of the protest movement. We have got their umbrellas to repel to your gas and pepper spray when it comes through. And some people in their ranks have been throwing bricks and things. Something has just been throwing bricks and things. Something hasjust come been throwing bricks and things. Something has just come through again, we have seen tear gas fired, police have had a sign saying, warning about more tear gas. And thatis warning about more tear gas. And that is a situation as it is right now. I have been very close to the cluster of houses where those triad gang members live or at least some of them, those responsible for the attack last week, and protesters have been taunting those triads, calling out towards their houses where the triad gang members live. Then we have had the police moved in. Im not sure if you can see on the other side but right on the other side of the streets, protesters have forced back the right police. They have had to retreat, they are throwing metal poles and other projectiles at the police. And they happen pushed back but i think it cant be long until become in here, come in hard with these. Boris johnson is now speaking live in manchester. Thank you for joining me here in manchester, in the heart of the worlds First Industrial city. A city whose confidence and his extraordinary future we can see in the changing fabric of the urban landscape around us. The mighty towers of the square, last weeks Extraordinary International festival in manchester. We can see it in the hospital whose Cancer Treatment is now being written, the future of Cancer Treatment now being written at the vast new building with new therapies saving lives of people around the world for generations to come. This is not, and never has been, a city for negativity or navel gazing. Indeed, when the university of manchester said they we Re University of manchester said they were planning to extract a single atom thick layer of crystal lights from bulk graphite, giving us the, i think i have got that right, giving us think i have got that right, giving us the superlight super strong wonder that is graphene, i imagine there were people who had no idea what difference it could make to their lies and i imagine people in this audience frankly have no idea. But we stand today on the cusp of the graphene age. With applications in everything from de icing of aircraft wings to life saving medicine. And the story of those installed at this science and Industry Museum and it is one of those countless tales of mancunian pioneers. Time and again when the cynics Say Something can be done, mancunians find a way to get on and do it. And the centre of manchester, like the centre of london, is a wonder of the world. Just a few miles away from here, the story is very different. Towns with famous names, proud histories, fine civic buildings, where unfortunately the stereotypical story is over the last few decades of long term decline. Endemic health problems, generational unemployment, and the story has been, for young people going up there, of hopelessness or the hope that one day, they will get out and never come back. And insofar as that story is true, and im afraid it is something is, the Crucial Point is it not it is not the fault of the places or the people growing up there. They have not failed, it is we, us, the politicians who have failed. Our politics has failed them. And time again, they have voted for change. But for too long, politicians have failed to deliver what is needed. And our planet now in this new government that i lead is to unite our government and to level up and i wa nt to our government and to level up and i want to explain now what i mean by that. And i am absolutely not here to tell you, mr mayor, and others, that london has all the answers or that london has all the answers or that everywhere should be like london or indeed like manchester each place in our country has a unique heritage, unique character and a unique future. And indeed i recognise that when people voted to leave European Union did not leave to leave brussels but to leave london and all concentrations of power in remote centres. So i am not here to say that manchester or london are the templates for other places. But i do believe there are lessons to be learned from the success of cities like these. Because i remember london in the 19705 because i remember london in the 1970s when it was stuck in post war gloom. Between 1951 and 1981, the london of. Population declined, it went down by 20 , it was so miserable. And yet i would you would agree that over the last two years the capital has been transformed. I often see the greatest city on earth with the possible exception of manchester with the largest concentration of tech companies, artists, financial services, top class restaurants and all the rest of it. And you can see we can all see the same thing happening out here in this incredible city. So i wa nt to here in this incredible city. So i want to set out what i think are the ingredients for the success of the uk and the places we call home, whether it is our cities or our towns, our coastal communities or rural areas. There are four things i think we need to get right. And first of all it is basically the ability. The streets need to be safe. The need to be enough Affordable Homes and jobs that pay good wages, the need to be Great Services, supporting families and helping the most vulnerable. Second thing, connections. That means of course great broadband everywhere, transport, because inspiration, innovation, cross fertilisation, between people. Literally or figuratively, cannot take place u nless figuratively, cannot take place unless people can bump into each other, compete collaborate, invent and innovate. So we need literally spiritually, to unite britain. And that means boosting growth and bringing our regions together. But the third thing places and is culture. And manchester absolutely, people love the arts, the entertainment year, football, music, heritage that make it such a lively wonderful place to live and work. And we need to help places everywhere to strengthen their cultural and creative infrastructure. The gathering places that give community its life. And finally, the fourth thing, places need power and a sense of responsibility and accountability. And taking back control doesntjust apply to westminster regaining sovereignty, from the eu, it means our cities and counties and towns becoming more self governing. It means people taking most possibility for their own communities. And london and manchester have boomed partly because they have had mayors. Some better than others i would say. But all, i make no comment, but all with the power, the vital power, to speak for cities, to but all with the power, the vital power, to speakfor cities, to bang Heads Together and to get things done. There are lessons from london manchester. Livability, connectivity culture and power. And the first condition of livability is making the streets safer. And with recorded crime up in the north west, 42 , i think you would agree its time we got that down we will. And yesterday i met 20 officers in birmingham who we re i met 20 officers in birmingham who were graduating after 15 weeks training and they willjoin our brave policemen and women who will be putting their lives on the line for our safety. But you want more of these policeman and women on the streets and so delightful so that is why i committed to another 20,000 over the next three years and their recruitment will begin in earnest in the next few weeks. And a new National Policing board, chaired by aerodynamic home secretary will hold the police to account for meeting this target. We will also give the police greater ability use stop and search in order to drive a reduction in the Violent Crime that plagues our communities. But there is no point in arresting charging and convicting criminals if we do not give them the sentences they deserve. In fact the number of offenders with more than 50 previous convictions who were convicted but spared jail rose from 1299 into thousand and seven, to 3196 in 2019 so we need to restore public faith ina work so we need to restore public faith in a work criminaljustice system by ensuring that people who repeatedly commit crimes are punished properly. And that means that those guilty of the most serious and violent and Sexual Offences are required to serve a custodial sentence that reflects the severity of the offence. And it is only by making the streets safer that you can create the neighbourhoods where people want to live. And one of the biggest divides in a country is between those who cant afford their own home, and those who cannot. And this is a long term problem which all governments have failed to fix under the previous labour comment, falling to levels not seen since lighting 20s so we will review everything, including planning and regular to, stamp duty, Housing Service as well as the efficacy of existing government initiatives and we will emphasise the need for beauty. To build Beautiful Homes that people actually want to live in. And being sensitive to local concerns. And then of course if youre going to create great neighbourhoods, safe streets, allow people to own their own homes, you need great Public Services to make that possible. And that is why i have committed to delivering the funding promised to the nhs by the previous government in june funding promised to the nhs by the previous government injune 2018 and to ensure this money goes affronting services as soon as possible. This will include urgent funding, for 20 hospitals, upgrades and Winter Readiness and proposals drastically to reduce waiting times for gp appointments. The nhs represents a sacred promise between the state and its citizens. A promise that says we will protect and support one another, when we are at our purest and most vulnerable. Poorest. And the same should go for every other Great Service of well being, particularly social care. Many people who have worked hard all their lives have had to struggle with the financial burden of care in the final year. And they are being forced to sell their own homes. And the british people cannot understand why the Health Service is able to provide the same care to everyone regardless of income, and yet the social care system cripples those with savings. And for too long i think politicians have kicked this can down the road. I want you to know that that can kicking stops now. So i have promised to find a long Term Solution to social care once and for all. And that is what we will do. With a clear plan that will give every other person the dignity and security deserve. And at the same time, we will give every child the world class education they deserve which is why we will increase the minimum level of people funding in primary and secondary schools and return Education Funding to previous levels by the end of this parliament. And we cannot afford any longer the chronic underfunding of our brilliant colleges which do so much to support young peoples skills and our economy. We have a World Class University sector, i think this is got the biggest concentration of Higher Education anywhere in europe, right here in this city, why should we not aspire to the same status for our further education institutions was not and to allow people to express their talent. And of course, if youre going to allow people to express their talents properly, then you need proper connectivity. And i get this absolutely Crucial Point. If you are someone with a bright idea, running a fantastic business, and you cannot get to the Internet Connection you need, and spending an eternity stealing at the pizza wheel of doom, on your screen, staring, you wont be able to get your idea off the ground and you wont fail to grow your business or find customers and you can have all the talent in the world but if you are young kid growing up in a town with intermittent transport and cant get to the places where the jobs are, you will not have the opportunities that you deserve. But when people are able to meet each other and compete with each other, challenge each other, spark off each other around the water cooler or elsewhere, that is where you get the exposure or the flash of creativity and innovation. And that is what were going to make happen, notjust here, but across the country. First, were going to invest in fibre roll out and indeed, we havejust completed the build of a large fibre cable between manchester and alongside the Trans Pennine railway route, this interconnects the manchester and leeds exchanges and strengthens the internet infrastructure for the Northern Powerhouse rail and i am delighted to see my friend jake setting in the cabinet expressing this governments commitment to the northern. And just before i met game here i met barry white, where . Looking at a huge great stretch of new tramway which will link up to the Northern Powerhouse rail and i want to be the Prime Minister who does with Northern Powerhouse rail what we did for crossrail in london. And today, iam going for crossrail in london. And today, i am going to deliver on my commitment to that vision, with a pledge to fund the leeds to Manchester Ritz and i know that is the bit, mr mayor, that you particularly want. Route. But it will be up to local people who decide what comes next and as far im concerned that is what comes next, that is just the beginning im concerned that is what comes next, that isjust the beginning of our commitment. We want to see this whole thing done and i had asked officials with accelerating work on these plans so that we are ready to doa these plans so that we are ready to do a deal in the autumn. And feel free to upload if you. Applaud. Thats the spirit thats the spirit, it is the right thing to do. And it is time we got this whole thing moving, it is tiny put some real substance into the idea of Northern Powerhouse rail, that is why were this morning. We want to inject some pace into this so but i know that people cant white and they want to see change fast and now. It takes a while to build a railway. They want reliable every day is heresy. So that the 18 year old in rochdalejust acting as an apprentice now that they can get into manchester each morning. So that people can get out and about in the evening for a drink or a meal boosting local businesses and growth. Services within cities, not just between cities. Services that means people dont have to drive. Services that dont just means people dont have to drive. Services that dontjust give up at the end of the working day. With your help, im going to improve the local services that people use every day and i wanted to start now with improvements that can happen in the short term. That means buses, i know a lot about buses, believe me. I love buses. I helped to invent a new type of bus, a very beautiful one. I will begin, as a matter of urgency, the transformation of local bus services, starting here today in manchester. I will work with the mire with his plans to develop your mac divot Liberty London style style of bass in the area. In the bus services act, i want a higher frequency, low emission and zero emission buses. More bus priority corridor is, a network that is easier to understand and use. I want partnerships between networks and a public body which coordinates them. In london, bus passengerjourneys have risen by 97 in a 25 years. In other metropolitan areas where they dont, by the ship has fallen by 34 in the same period. I think we can see the first results here in manchester within a few months. I wa nt manchester within a few months. I want the same for any other part of the country where local leaders want to do it. Good boss connections, good transport connectivity is also vital for so many of the town is that we were left behind. This may come as a surprise to some but not everybody wants to live in one of our great cities. Towns and coastal communities, i dont feel they are benefiting from the growth that we have seen elsewhere in the uk economy. I reject the musical is ideal that everybody should have it as their ambition to get on their bikes and moved to the city. Our post industrial towns have a proud, great heritage but an even greater feature. Their best years lie ahead of them. We are going to put proper money into the places that need it. We will start by ensuring there is investment from Central Government by bringing forward plans on the uk shared prosperity fund, and we will have grave deals as well for scotland, wales and northern ireland. Growth deals. We will have a £3. 6 billion towns fund, supporting an initial £100, so that they will get to the end of times but improved Broadband Connectivity that they need. Supporting an initial £100. The institutions that bring communities together, libraries, committee centres, that to bring communities a new energy and life. And even more radical shift that winter make now to deliver on this, i have seen myself the changes that you can bring about in towns, cities and regions went local people have more of a say over their own destinies. I dont think when the people of the uk voted to ta ke when the people of the uk voted to take back control, they did so in orderfor that take back control, they did so in order for that control to be halted in westminster hoard out in westminster. So we are going to give greater power to Council Leaders and communities. We are going to level up communities. We are going to level up the powers of mayors so that local people can benefit from the powers that we have seen in london here in manchester. We are going to give morsi to housing, Public Services, and should infrastructure that will benefit the areas and drive local growth. We will see to it that every part of the country sees the benefits of the potentially massive opportunity that will come from brexit. Over the last three yea rs, from brexit. Over the last three yea rs , we from brexit. Over the last three yea rs, we have from brexit. Over the last three years, we have treated brexit like an impending weather event. I campaigned for it because i believed it could change the direction of the uk and make us the best country in the world to live. We should remind ourselves that leaving the eu is a massive economic opportunity, and to do things that we have not been allowed to do for decades, to rid ourselves of bureaucratic red tape, to create jobs, to untangle the creativity and innovation for which britain is famous. We do not need to wait now to start preparing to seize the benefits of that project, so we will begin right away to create the three points which will generate thousands of jobs and three points which will generate thousands ofjobs and revitalise some of the poorest parts of our country. We will start working right away to change the tax rules to provide extra incentive to invest in capital research. We will double down on our investment in r and d, we will accelerate talks on trade deals and prepare an economic package to boost britain as the number one destination in europe for overseas development. At the same time, we will unite and level up across our county with infrastructure, better education and with technology. In doing so, we will make our whole nation, notjust an all right ok, average kind of place to live. Because i dont think it sounds hyperbolic to say this but the greatest place on earth, the greatest place to live, to raise your kids, to send your kids in school, to start a business, to invest, to have a life. Where better than manchester . We are better that the science and Industry Museum to sit out our vision for doing so . Here today we can look back at 70s progress, invention ideas and breakthroughs. One behind me. That came out of manchester and the north and the uk and shape the world that we now today. Ijust and the uk and shape the world that we now today. I just want you to imagine what it would be like if we we re imagine what it would be like if we were to reconvene this session now in the 30 or 50 years hence, what treasures this museum might hold then. Im certain it would be displays celebrating the dawn not of the railways, but the dawn of a new age of electric vehicles. Notjust ca rs age of electric vehicles. Notjust cars or bicycles, but electric planes. Thats happening already. Made possible with Battery Technology being developed now in the uk. We will see to abuse and dioramas commemorating the men and women who used new gene therapy to cure the incurable. Here in manchester, the home of the worlds first passenger railway, with steve nsons first passenger railway, with stevensons rocket just first passenger railway, with stevensons rocketjust behind me, we should remember that there were people back then. When was it . 1829, thank you, lady archer. There we re 1829, thank you, lady archer. There were people in 1829 you thought about the whole project should be abandoned as a danger to Public Health because the speeds proposed would be intolerable for the human body. There were adapters and sceptics and naysayers that make doubters, they were there in abundance in 1829. So i imagine in this wonderful museum, there will be tributes recording the breakthroughs of bioscience here in manchester and elsewhere that allowed the uk to leave the world in producing genetically modified crops, blight resista nt genetically modified crops, blight resistant potatoes, that will feed the world. But also a memorial to the world. But also a memorial to the sceptics and doubters, complete with bioengineered edible paper, with bioengineered edible paper, with which they were forced to eat their words. I dont blame them, by their words. I dont blame them, by the way, but the evidence is behind us. That is stevensons rocket, we are now sending rockets into space. We will expand our Space Programme as well. I do not doubt the doubters and sceptics, it is a natural human characteristic but time and again, they have been proved wrong. I think they have been proved wrong. I think they will be proved wrong again. With better education and infrastructure, with an emphasis on new technology then this really can bea new technology then this really can be a new golden age for the uk. Time and again, manchester has shown the uk that anything is possible. This time and again, this extraordinary country has actually delivered the same message to the world. That is what we are going to do once more. Thank you very much for coming. Applause. I have a very strict agenda and now im going to go to barry white, who is kind enough to speak this morning. Prime minister, thank you very much for the commitment to the leeds and manchester line, which is one of seven lines in Northern Powerhouse rail that the transformation that network that the leaders of the north have unanimously backed and approved. We are delighted to hear of the commitment to leeds, manchester. But what we are asking government for that commitment the whole network, several lines of which can be built at one time, so we want to have liverpool, sheffield, caple, and newcastle all getting the benefits as well. Well, there you go. Youre absolutely right, barry, in your aspiration and we support that. I said is morning likely the commitment that we made to the Leeds Manchester section is just the beginning. We will back it all the way, we want to. But we will work with local leaders to make sure that their priorities are fully satisfied as we proceed. This is a fantastic thing that we want to progress as fast as possible. All go to henry from the Northern Powerhouse partnership. My question was about but i thought. You talked about places that might not have done as well in the past few decades and thatis well in the past few decades and that is one of the cities that could benefit from the line going through the city centre. How do you think cities like bradford will benefit in terms of homes and jobs from the scheme. The point in building the railway isnt so that people can ride the trains but so that they can get the opportunities eventually. Ride the trains but so that they can get the opportunities eventuallylj believe get the opportunities eventually. believe so passionately in mass transit because it is the best way to allow people on modest incomes to get to opportunities, wherever they are. In london, the intensification of opportunity was supermassive from the middle of the 19th century onwards because they came up with the idea of putting trains in towns. Then there was the development of the bus routes in the past couple of decades which has really turbo charge the london economy. In the interim, before we get to the full Northern Powerhouse, that is why i put so much emphasis on buses, i really think they could be transformative. I i really think they could be tra nsformative. I think i really think they could be transformative. I think it was peter hendry, my former colleague at transport for london, whos to say there was no travel problem that couldnt be solved by a single decker bus. It may sound banal but its true, there are fantastic things you can do by improving the bus network. In the short term, bradford will benefit from more than powerhouse rail but buses is the way forward in the short term as well. Lets go to sam from sky news. Prime minister, youre claiming you can deliver a revelation today by the sounds of it. On wednesday, you spent billions on education, yesterday billions on the police, today billions and billions. With not much money in the treasury are not much money in the treasury are not much money in the treasury are not much majority in parliament, how on earth will you do love it on your promises . You often attack a pessimist, isnt that really an attack on the free speech you claim to support . Serious point first. Actually, the plans we are announcing i think have been pretty reasonable. Everybody knows that as fiscal headroom for the education spending, i do not think anybody wa nts to spending, i do not think anybody wants to see. Police spending is widely supported and applauded. Yes, we wa nt widely supported and applauded. Yes, we want to go ahead with more than powerhouse rail. I think the return on investment for this country will be colossal. If you want to drive economic growth, create for business, the platform that gives them the certainty to invest, then you need fantastic infrastructure thatis you need fantastic infrastructure that is the way to do it. When london put in crossrail and tube upgrades ten years ago, we did it in the knowledge that it would add massively to the gdp of the whole country, not just london. Massively to the gdp of the whole country, notjust london. I believe with absolute conviction this is the right thing to do now for the whole of the more than powerhouse, that is why we will proceed because it makes sound economic sense. I said its a natural human instinct to be anxious and sceptical, just as people were in 1829 about the terrifying velocities by that machine behind me. I think they were wrong. Overall, someone unfortunately paid the price, but overall, the current secretary of the board of trade will not get run over, he will do a brilliantjob. Overall, not get run over, he will do a brilliant job. Overall, the not get run over, he will do a brilliantjob. Overall, the fears we re brilliantjob. Overall, the fears were unfounded and technological optimism was seen to be justified, and it will be justified in the future. I now weigh in town to try to crush dissent or scepticism in any kind. Surely the reason people are sceptical or pessimistic about politicians and their promises is because many of the people sitting here have had warm words about the Northern Powerhouse for five years, and have had no Real Progress whatsoever. You talk about fiscal headroom, lots of people think that should be there for a no deal brexit. Will you have the money for that and all of other pledges . The a nswer to that and all of other pledges . The answer to that is yes. You are right to raise the question, i think people have started to wonder if they are going to see some real delivery for the Northern Powerhouse. The reason im here and wearing this badge is because i really do want to help deliver, i wa nt to really do want to help deliver, i want to help local people deliver it. I think its a fantastic idea and project and its time has come. On the risk of a no deal brexit, well, we just have to get ready for it. I do not think that is where we will end up but as i have told my european friends, we are going to prepare reactively for that eventuality in at the high confidence that this is an amazing country and we will get through it if we need to. Prime minister, on that last point, if it comes to 8 can you name one single economic benefit to the north of england of a no deal brexit . Benefit to the north of england of a Nodeal Brexit . In the end, the ability to do things differently, to have three ports, to regulate, to turbo charge the sign sector, to raise your investment allowances so that businesses can write off more of the r andy against their tax these are fantastic things and we should get on with it. My friends, i do not want a no deal brexit, that is not where we are aiming. But we have to face the fact that, at the moment, we are being told that the deal is fixed and cannot be changed. I doubt that. With confidence and friendship to our european partners, we are going to continue with the discussions and we are going to get ready to come out on the terms that are necessary. I think, actually, the people of this country would rather get on with it and come out on october 31. Your predecessor also had the idea of going to northern towns and cities and campaigning to perhaps win in support of people who voted leave, perhaps people who traditionally voted for the labour party. And at the end, she did not win their support on mass. Im just wondering why you think you will succeed where she failed . Obviously, i have to get bricks over the line on october 31, i may have mentioned before. The conservative party wants to unite the country and delivered for everybody in this country. But as our programme and i will be zooming around across all corners of the