Tomorrow will be the last time the chancellor brandishes the budget red box outside number 11 before the election. Will there be any surprises inside . It is the eve of what is probably the governments last set piece before a general election, and speculation over tax cuts surroundsjeremy hunts budget. I asked rishi sunak ally, the former minister liam fox, whther it was time to unfreeze Tax Thresholds. Well, if i had my choice and if i were the chancellor, tomorrow that is what i would be doing. Well be asking labours Shadow Minister For Industry and decarbonisation whether a Labour Government would change the fiscal rules in order to cut taxes . Also tonight. It looks like its going to be a pretty Super Tuesday for donald trump, so can anyone or anything stop him in his tracks on the way to the republican nomination . Music the latest production at the birmingham rep. After Birmingham Council cuts its Culture Budget to zero, is austerity for the arts coming to a town near you . Well bejoined by birmingham reps artisitic director, sean foley, and the outgoing director of the young vic in london, kwame kwei armah. Good evening. The atmosphere around tomorrows budget could be changing. Theres been a feeling of caution since last month when the Office For Budget Responsibility downgraded the economic forecast. In the light of that, would the chancellor really be prudent to cut taxes . Well, tonight theres a sense that something might be shifting. Nick and ben are both here. Nick whacks is expected tomorrow . Well, kirsty we have a Prime Minister and chancellor who would like to do a big bold Tax Cutting Move before the general election, up there with nigel lawson, something thatis there with nigel lawson, something that is visible from space but they are constrained. They are constrained by the fiscal headroom, how much money is there down at the back of the sofa, not enough. So there was an authoritative report in there was an authoritative report in the times this morning suggesting we would see 2 pence off National Insurance, that would be repeating what they did in the oopl. That would be worth £450 a what they did in the 00pl. That would be worth £450 a year. That is £900 a year. The feeling that is not that big bold move. We know there will be more in the budget, we dont know what it is, so let us not pretend. But there is talk maybe there be a temporary cut in vat. Its a regressive tax, if you pull it back that is a progressive move or will we find the National Insurance cut will be mixed in with maybe some Income Tax Cut, if you take one pence off, that is 5 billion, one pence off income tax, thatis billion, one pence off income tax, that is 7 billion, more expensive but you get a bigger bang for your political bucks. This but you get a bigger bang for your political bucks. Political bucks. This is not necessarily political bucks. This is not necessarily the political bucks. This is not necessarily the last political bucks. This is not necessarily the last fiscal| political bucks. This is not necessarily the last fiscal event, it is the last budget but there can be other shenanigans. Let it is the last budget but there can be other shenanigans. It is the last budget but there can be other shenanigans. Let us wait and see. It be other shenanigans. Let us wait and see. It is be other shenanigans. Let us wait and see, it is interesting be other shenanigans. Let us wait and see, it is interesting about i and see, it is interesting about that confer martian, that steer about that confer martian, that steer about what we expect about National Insurance about what we expect about National Insurance because there was a view maybe insurance because there was a view maybe they insurance because there was a view maybe they have leaned towards National Maybe they have leaned towards National Insurance, cuts rather than income National Insurance, cuts rather than income tax National Insurance, cuts rather than Income Tax Cuts on the grounds that cuttings Income Tax Cuts on the grounds that cuttings National Insurance is less inflationary than cutting income tax, inflationary than cutting income tax. That inflationary than cutting income tax, that was circulating today but speaking tax, that was circulating today but speaking to the treasury i get the impression that is not their view and i impression that is not their view and i have impression that is not their view and i have had a steer that they think and i have had a steer that they think neither is necessarily inflationary in the current environment, because it will help the labour environment, because it will help the Labour Market which is the big constraini the Labour Market which is the big constraint on our ability to grow wiihoui constraint on our ability to grow without inflation, that is interesting for that reason, that may be interesting for that reason, that may be they are keeping income tax on the may be they are keeping income tax on the back may be they are keeping income tax on the back bunker, maybe we will see it on the back bunker, maybe we will see it tomorrow but maybe we will see it tomorrow but maybe we will see it see it tomorrow but maybe we will see it as see it tomorrow but maybe we will see it as you referenced later in the year. See it as you referenced later in the year. As see it as you referenced later in the year, as something we know that rishi sunak the year, as something we know that rishi sunak has wanted to do, if they rishi sunak has wanted to do, if they dont rishi sunak has wanted to do, if they dont think it is inflationary, that is they dont think it is inflationary, that is possible a green light for that, that is possible a green light for that, in that is possible a green light for that, in terms of whether it is inflationary, economists think it may be inflationary, economists think it may be but what concerns them is not the inflationary impact it is the impact the inflationary impact it is the impact of the inflationary impact it is the impact of those pencilled in cuts on Public Impact of those pencilled in cuts on Public Services which as we have mentioned Public Services which as we have mentioned many times dont think are oin mentioned many times dont think are going to mentioned many times dont think are going to be mentioned many times dont think are going to be that credible. There mentioned many times dont think are going to be that credible. Going to be that credible. There is a sense of heightened going to be that credible. There is a sense of heightened excitementi a sense of heightened excitement about what might happen tomorrow what have you been hearing . It is interesting what have you been hearing . It 3 interesting what ben is saying, that is possibility that the treasury dont think that an Income Tax Cut would be inflationary because that had been the fear and there is the general view among conservative mps that you get into that territory they be happier, it is interesting they be happier, it is interesting the mood is gloomy, i was speaking to a member of the government on the right, they are saying it will be a dreadful event tomorrow, it will be an un conservative budget. I spoke to another member of the cabinet who is on the right and this they is a no, that cut in National Insurance, that they said could float their boat but interestingly, talking to people on the centre left. These are jeremy hunt ice allies they are saying really now is not the time to be cutting taxes, voters are showing in polls they care about public service, i spoke to somebody close to jeremy service, i spoke to somebody close tojeremy hunt and they said they believed the chancellor is behaving like bat fink, that is a famous 19605 like bat fink, that is a famous 1960s bat Superhero Cartoon From The 60s and his famous saying was, he would say my wings are like sheeted of steel and what this person is saying, is that the chancellor is putting that shield of steel round the Prime Minister with those tax cut, to protect him from the tory right, who want him to go much further on that, and are potentially on the march against him. The chancellors actions tomorrow will be underpinned by the new forecasts from the Office For Budget Responsibility, an organisation that a growing number of conservative mps and commentators argue has become an obstacle to growing the economy. But is that fair . Ahead of this budget theres been swelling frustration in some parts of the Conservative Party towards the Office For Budget Responsibility, for supposedly deciding how much money is available to the chancellor. Some commentators have suggested Thatjeremy Hunt has become a supplicant to the 0br, and its them who are actually governing the country. The conservative mp simon clarke has claimed we have a situation where a group of forecasters determine whats possible. So is this true . Will it effectively be the 0brs budget tomorrow, not his . In a word, no. The 0br was set up by the former tory chancellor George Osborne in 2010 to provide official economic and Public Finance forecasts. Previously, such forecasting had been done from within the treasury and there were concerns about the independence of those forecasts from politicians. The 0br was established in law to do the job entirely independently. The 0br was also tasked with judging whether the government was on course to hit its fiscal rules. And those rules are chosen by chancellors and not the 0br. And jeremy hunts chosen rule is for debt to be protected by the 0br to decline as a share of the economy in five years time. This is the projection from last years autumn statement. Note that debt actually rises over all the preceding four years. This very small decline between 2027 and 2028 of around £13 billion is the target being met. So when journalists and politicians talk about fiscal headroom with the money supposedly available for tax cuts, this is what theyre talking about, something very slender in the scheme of things and inherently uncertain, too. But isnt the 0br, which is chaired by richard hughes, shown here, constantly changing its mind about how much headroom the chancellor has from week to week . Thats what Media Briefings have suggested, and jeremy hunt himself complained in an interview at the weekend at the abs. Forecasts have gone against us, but this is rather misleading because we know from publicly available information that the 0br sent its final underlying economy forecast to the treasury on the 5th Of February and its final Public Finance forecast on the 14th of february. The 0br hasnt updated its underlying assumptions since then. What will have changed, though, is the chancellors muted proposals on tax and spending, which the 0br has to cost. Its these plans that will have affected the amount of projected headroom mr hunt has against his fiscal rules in five years time, not the obvious views of the underlying economy or Public Finances. Public finance experts agree that basing decisions on tax cuts today on relatively small changes in forecasts for the economy and Public Finances in five years time really doesnt make much sense. But be in no doubt, its the chancellor who is making policy on that basis, not the 0br. Earlier i spoke to liam fox, conservative mp and former International Trade secretary. I started by asking him if he feels the 0br is shackling the chancellor. It should be one of the things that the chancellor takes into account. But we know that Economic Forecasting is a lot harder than weather forecasting, it seems. It has proved to be so. The numbers have been way out over the years. I think we need to focus on the Bigger Picture here. When we came to office in 2010, the government deficit was 11 of gdp. That was reduced right down to 1. 8 until we hit covid, and then we hit ukraine inflation, its still half of what it was that we inherited from labour. So thats one thing, looking at the Big Macro Picture is really important in understanding the direction of travel. By that measure, then not only is the 0br, some would say a hindrance to what the chancellor can do, the chancellors own fiscal rules are a hindrance . Well, no. All these things are tools that the chancellor uses to help determine what his economic decisions are. But they become Something Like the gold standard, dont they . Well, you know, as mrs thatcher once said, advisers advise, ministers decide. And yet all we hear about is the 0br and fiscal rules. You know, the fiscal rules say, as defined most recently byjeremy hunt, that debt should decline, has to decline as a share of the economy in the five year period. But it was up last year. Well, its a sensible rule to follow, but as we know, you can tell whether your approach is a sensible one by what the markets do. We are a country that still has to borrow money because we are still spending more than we make. Are we maintaining the confidence of the markets . Is our currency maintaining its value . Of course its been up in recent times and weve seen much greater confidence in the markets, more Foreign Direct Investment coming back into the uk. I think were in a very stable period, but i think that theres all the more reason, if you think about it the other way round, not to disturb that, not to take any decisions that may in any ways make the markets feel uncomfortable. The electorate faces the heaviest tax burden since world war two, and surely that is a pretty poor show. Youve been in powerfor 14 years. Well, and had we not had to spend over 400 billion on the pandemic, had we not spent 70. 8 billion on the Heating Bills following ukraine, think of what we could have done in reducing taxes. Except when you have taken that tax burden down, it hasnt given you a bounce in the polls. So there was a cut of two Percentage Points in National Insurance in november, that hasnt paid you any political dividend whatsoever. Well, i dont believe that cutting taxes is there as a political tool. Oh, it is. Its there to make sure that the economy improves. And you mentioned a word there that i would take issue with, which is growth, because i think that we should be talking much more about Wealth Creation in the economy and notjust growth. For example, there are perverse incentives if youre following that 0ecd terminology of growth. For example, if you bring a million migrants into the country and they all spend money in the shops, that would count as increased Economic Activity and growth, but the gdp per capita would go down. So i think we do have to start thinking more about, from a conservative perspective, how do we have our terminology more aligned to the creation of wealth in the economy . The Financial Times today says it would not be prudent to have cuts in personal taxes in the budget tomorrow. Well, again, thats a wider judgment, isnt it . I think that what we need is to create a stimulus towards Wealth Creation. So should there be a cut in National Insurance rather than in income tax tomorrow . Well, i dont think it makes that much difference in terms of peoples pockets. So should there be a cut . If we can afford to have a cut, we should have a cut, because the tax burden is too high. But we have to look at it against a range of other indicators. Isnt it time to unfreeze the Tax Thresholds . Because, you know, workers are getting to higher levels earlier. You know, there is no reason not to unfreeze. Well, if i had my choice and if i were the chancellor tomorrow, thats what i would be doing. I think that we said to people, because of the pressures of the pandemic, because the government was having to spend and borrow more money, we had to take more money in as taxes. I think no that weve recovered from that, i think the logical thing would be to say to people, thank you very much, youve taken that pressure as part of a national effort, and say thank you and get those thresholds readjusted. 0n the question of what may happen in terms of tailored cuts, there may be a cut to non dom status. I mean, that would certainly, maybe, shoot labours fox, being the word, but that would only raise you, and it sounds like ridiculous to say it, but it would only raise you 2 billion. Its, again, its notjust a question of the amount of money youre getting, pros and cons for each of these, its the impact that will have on investors, on the impression of Britain Being Open For Business abroad. So all of these, every single one of the things youve said to me has a pro and con to it. But the chancellors got to look at the overall picture and see whats the best bang for his buck. Well, lets just take that 2 billion in a tailored cut to non dom status. It is smoke and mirrors because actually the problems with hs2, what its taken in terms of overspend and in terms of what its taken to can part of the way, is 2 billion. So suddenly you dont have any more money to play with. Youre catching up. The question that ill be looking to see tomorrow answered is fiscal headroom and how much the reduction in inflation has given the government extra room. As you know, when inflation was 10 , that was about 108 billion we were having to spend on Debt Interest just servicing the countrys debt. 0bviously, that has fallen a lot. It fell when it was 5 . That was a considerable reduction. If the banks Inflation Forecast is correct, thats again a much bigger reduction. And well see what the predictions are for fiscal headroom on that. A sobering thought, surely, for you is that the most recent Opinion Polls have you at the lowest level for more than 40 years, 20 , according to ipsos yesterday. Thats not some of the polls. Thats one of the polls. More recent polls have been having us a bit higher than that. But yes, theyre not great polls. Are you clutching at straws here . No, but im just trying to get accurate. So isnt it time for an election . Isnt it time to let the electorate decide on your record . I think its time for us to take the next step in the measures that have seen our deficit reduced, that are now seeing our economy beginning to produce more wealth again. And then at the due point. Take your chances with an early poll . At the due point, we will allow people to look at our full record. Liam fox, thank you very much. Labours sarahjones, the Shadow Minister For Industry and decarbonisation, is here. Good evening. You heard what nick and ben had to say, with a Labour Government be happy with cuts in National Insurance and income tax tomorrow . National insurance and income tax tomorrow . ,. ,. , tomorrow . Whatever the chancellor chooses to do tomorrow . Whatever the chancellor chooses to do tomorrow tomorrow . Whatever the chancellor chooses to do tomorrow i tomorrow . Whatever the chancellor chooses to do tomorrow i do tomorrow . Whatever the chancellor chooses to do tomorrow i do not. Chooses to do tomorrow i do not think it will go in any way to compensate for the damage that we have seen in the past 14 years. 14 years of low wages and debt rising and taxes rising and whatever he will do is not going to make a difference compared to the Overall Record that weve seen from this government. We do not know yet what he is going to do but what we have heard is lots of speculation and what we have heard is a sense that i think most people will pick up that what theyre doing is trying to gain what theyre doing is trying to gain what will help them attack the labour party or what will help them win some votes or what will help them appease their own backbenchers rather than what is best for the country and what is going to grow the economy. Country and what is going to grow the economy country and what is going to grow the econom. ,. , ,. , the economy. Growth in the economy we will come the economy. Growth in the economy we will come to, the economy. Growth in the economy we will come to, liam the economy. Growth in the economy we will come to, liam fox the economy. Growth in the economy we will come to, liam fox had we will come to, liam fox had something to say about that butjust to get the principle right, would you oppose a cut in National Insurance or income tax tomorrow, would you oppose that . We insurance or income tax tomorrow, would you oppose that . Insurance or income tax tomorrow, would you oppose that . We will have to see what he would you oppose that . We will have to see what he says would you oppose that . We will have to see what he says tomorrow. Would you oppose that . We will have to see what he says tomorrow. The l to see what he says tomorrow. The principle of do we want people to pay lower taxes because they are paying the highest taxes they have for decades, of course we do but we are not going to speculate on what he might do. What the labour party has said so far about tax is that we want a fairer tax system, we know people are paying too much but we set out to some tax policies that we have got around whether it is vat on private schools or the windfall tax on oil and Gas Companies or non dom status, we have set out some principles. Status, we have set out some principles status, we have set out some principles. Status, we have set out some rinciles. ,. ,. ,. , principles. You heard liam fox say if he was chancellor principles. You heard liam fox say if he was chancellor he principles. You heard liam fox say if he was chancellor he would if he was chancellor he would unfreeze Tax Thresholds because that is hurting a lot of medium paid workers. Would you do that . Clearly eole are workers. Would you do that . Clearly people are paying workers. Would you do that . Clearly people are paying higher workers. Would you do that . Clearly people are paying higher taxes workers. Would you do that . First Labour Government and that has gone. It first Labour Government and that has one. ,. First Labour Government and that has ione,. ,. , first Labour Government and that has one. ,. ,. , gone. It is a World Beating Programme gone. It is a World Beating Programme of gone. It is a world beating| programme of investment. Gone. It is a World Beating Programme of investment. £75 programme of investment. £7. 3 billion on the National Wealth fund. £6. 6 billion on the warm homes plan, £2. 5 billion on our Great British jobs bonus, Great British energy which is going to be this amazing resource amounting to an absolute step change in investment. And what it will amount to is jobs in step change in investment. And what it will amount to isjobs in places like south wales or humberside, all the places across the country that we are going to talk to in the labour party to say how can we bring jobs to your area. Jobs to your area. Lets talk about Rachel Reeves jobs to your area. Lets talk about Rachel Reeves at jobs to your area. Lets talk about Rachel Reeves at the jobs to your area. Lets talk about Rachel Reeves at the party Rachel Reeves at the Party Conference and yes the vat on private schools but the question of using non dom status and money to fund doctors and nurses and midwives. Ifjeremy hunt moves on that tomorrow to fund tax cuts the money will not be there for you to do what you want to the Health Service or will it . Taste do what you want to the Health Service or will it . Do what you want to the Health Service or will it . We do not know what is Going Service or will it . We do not know what is going to service or will it . We do not know what is going to do, service or will it . We do not know what is going to do, he service or will it . We do not know what is going to do, he may service or will it . We do not know what is going to do, he may well. Service or will it . We do not know i what is going to do, he may well be sitting thinking this is a very clever ruse and lets try to pull a fast one on the labour party by introducing this policy. I think what the public will see is a massive u turn, we have been calling for this policy since i think 2015 and he could have done a lot of things with that money since then. People will see the tories after 14 years are just out of ideas and following labour party and we are winning the argument and they are following our policies. We will see what happens and look at our policies. We are still committed. You are committed to growth in the economy and we are a nation of small to medium sized businesses. With the labour party up the threshold for vat payments on turnover from £85,000 because Small Businesses say it is too expensive to grow a company. It is too expensive to grow a company it is too expensive to grow a coman. ~ ,. , company. We will see what comes tomorrow and company. We will see what comes tomorrow and set company. We will see what comes tomorrow and set out company. We will see what comes tomorrow and set out our company. We will see what comes tomorrow and set out our policy. Company. We will see what comes| tomorrow and set out our policy on tax before the election, i cannot be clearer than that. But Small Businesses of course say to us that they are struggling and we want to set out a package of measures to help them. I spent a lot of time sparking, speaking to businesses and industry in this country and they all want stability, they want to plan an industrial strategy and reform that will get Grid Connections working and that is what the labour party is promising the next election. Fundamentally different to that last 14 years of slow growth and low wages. Iloathiiie slow growth and low wages. While leadin slow growth and low wages. While leading economists slow growth and low wages. While leading economists are slow growth and low wages. While leading economists are concerned about restraints on the chancellor, the fiscal rules he imposed on himself and then would a Labour Government eight the fiscal rules of the tory party or make a change . We have the tory party or make a change . Have been clear about our fiscal rules and Rachel Reeves is well known for talking about them so only borrowing to invest and making sure you have debt falling at the end of the five years so we will be clear about that. The five years so we will be clear about that about that. The same as the conservatives. About that. The same as the i conservatives. Fundamentally different to conservatives. Fundamentally different to the conservatives. Fundamentally| different to the conservatives, conservatives. Fundamentally different to the conservatives, were not looking to be a Government Led by gimmick and pushed by its own backbenchers left, right and centre. We will have a clear plan and emission driven government that knows what it wants to achieve so fundamentally different. At the starting point has to be fiscal responsibility and i think the public are mistrusting generally of politicians, it is a difficult climate in terms of are we telling the truth or can we be trusted so fiscal responsibility has got to be at the heart otherwise nothing else will work. , will work. Yesterday we were in doncaster will work. Yesterday we were in doncaster and will work. Yesterday we were in doncaster and people will work. Yesterday we were in doncaster and people are will work. Yesterday we were in doncaster and people are really struggling and we talked about the cut in the green Prosperity Plan and the possibility that the conservatives will use non dom status money. So where would you find the resources to make a measurable difference to Living Standards quickly, well before the end of a first term Labour Government . End of a first term Labour Government . End of a first term Labour Covernment . ~. ,. ,. , government . We have set out how we would do that, government . We have set out how we would do that, first government . We have set out how we would do that, first reform government . We have set out how we would do that, first reform things would do that, first reform things like the Planning System so we can start building, 1. 5 million homeless. We need to change the infrastructure so businesses can grow. If we have Renewable Clean Energy by 2030 then bills will come down. When we go to peoples homes and make sure they have insulation that will bring down their bills. We have a raft of policies that will make People Better off and that is what the Labour Government is offering to people not 14 years of decline and more of the same. Thank ou. Now, Science SecretaryMichelle Donelan has apologised and paid via the taxpayer an undisclosed sum in damages to two academics after she accused them of Sharing Extremist Views including one who she accused of supporting hamas. In november last year, donelan published a letter to the uk Research Institute a leading scientific body urging it to cut links with the academics. After libel action was launched by the academics, the Science Secretary has retracted her statements. Nicks back with the story. What has developed . What has developed . As you say pretty externally, we have a cabinet minister, of state deleting a tweet and apologising and paying a sum of money after that tweet falsely accusing academics of promoting Extremist Ideologies and expressing sympathy or support for hamas and that academic is professor kate sang. This dates back to november and a row over the appointment of academics to a device to a group of you say, of uk research and innovation. Back in november we reported what Michelle Donelan took exception to, it was tweets by professor kate sang who linked to an article in the guardian newspaper. The professor described the actions of the Home Secretary as disturbing. The second tweet was a post that she referred to doctor kamna patel. It made reference to genocide and apartheid. And in her letter Michelle Donelan said Academic Freedom is sacrosanct but then said public bodies cannot be seen to take political positions let alone promote extremist ideology. As we reported the tweets she highlighted had been highlighted in a report the day before by the policy Exchange Think Tank close to the Conservative Party and that talked about how academics a shown support for radical anti israel views and talked of Politicised Views but Michelle Donelan went much further, accusing kate sang of expressing sympathy or support for hamas and that clearly was over the line and seen as libellous by The Law Firm Representing Kate sang and they have got that apology and the deletion of the tweet. A strong response from labour with a shadow digital secretary talking about the pursuit of a childish Phantom Menace leading a second estate in court and distracting herfrom exploiting the huge potential of tech and science for social and economic good. Taste for social and economic good. We still do not know the amount of money paid from taxpayers but we will soon. In the us, Super Tuesday has built a reputation of being the superlative day that can make or break the president ial hopeful� s chances of being either the democrat of republican wholl take their bid all the way to the november preisdential vote. The incumbent, in this case, jo biden, is unlikely to have a challenger, but if someone is going to put the brakes on donald trump, this might be the clutch of caucuses and primaries where they would show up. And this is essentially nikki haleys roll of the dice. Heresjoe pike. Has so much attention been paid to contest with so little jeopardy . Tonight, the 45th president is likely to get yet closer to becoming the 47th. We are a nation that is begging venezuela and others for oil. Please, please, please help us, joe biden says. Yet we have more liquid gold under our feet than any other country anywhere in the world. Whilst the sometimes unsteady 46th continues his all but uncontested run to win his partys nomination. We must be clear democracy is on the ballot. Your freedom is on the ballot. How different from four years ago, when, after a rough start in the primaries, Super Tuesday heralded a biden breakthrough against rivals Bernie Sanders and elizabeth warren. Its called Super Tuesday because so many registered republicans and democrats are today voting for their choice of president ial candidate, in 15 states from east coast to west. Yet one recent poll suggests that donald trump has a significant advantage overjoe biden when it comes to a whole host of policy areas. From crime, where this poll suggests he has a 21 percentage point lead, to the economy, where that lead is 22 Percentage Points. 0n the issue of whether a candidate has the physical and mental ability to carry out the role of president , that lead is 23 Percentage Points, even though there is, of course, only four years between the two candidates ages. And finally, on the issue of securing the border, immigration, donald trump has a 25 percentage point lead over the current president. The most important question of all, who do you want to be in the white house . On that, this poll suggests trump leads biden 48 points to 43. A lot of voters in United States dont want either one to be president. So they are trying to figure out which one to vote for, who, in their mind, is the lesser of two evils. But trump had a fairly consistent lead in recent months, and four years ago, Whenjoe Biden was running against trump, he had a consistent lead. So its not a good sign for biden. When 70 of americans say they dont want donald trump orjoe biden, yes, im going to keep on fighting. Nikki haley is trumps last challenger standing. Although if he manages a clean sweep of all 15 states tonight, it could finish her campaign off. The thing to look for is if there are any outliers. If there are any states in republican primaries that nikki haley does win. And if she can show that, even in a state or two, it might give her enough added life to keep going for a while. In the case ofjoe biden, its a matter of, you know, are there any states that might have a protest vote against him . Primaries are usually won by candidates who can persuade their partys base. The next challenge for these two winning a president ial election. That requires a bigger, broader coalition of tens of millions of voters. But whose personality and policies could swing it . Now an update on a Story Newsnight covered several years ago. In 2015 and 2016, newsnight followed the story of the badreddin family, who were Syrian Refugees settling in the uk. During 2016, their son 0mar was tried for Sexual Assault and found not guilty. Last week, 0mar Badreddin and his brother mohammed were jailed having been found guilty of multiple rapes committed in 2018 and 2019. This has been reported by the bbc. In any situation, the bbc can only report on the facts as they stand at the time, which is what we did in 2016. The badreddins subsequent crimes are appalling, and we express our sincere sympathies to their victim. Today Birmingham Council, the largest local authority in europe, signed off a wave of cuts in Services Ahead of a 21 rise in council tax over two years, including adult social care,and childrens services. The arts will have its entire funding cut. The council has effectively ended its Culture Budget in the face of bankrptcy. And nearly one in five Council Leaders in england have said they were likely to declare bankruptcy in the next 15 months. So has austerity for public funded arts neverfara away, become closer again. Heres from a clip from the current production at the birmingham repertory theatre, which will lose 100 of its local Authority Funding over the next two years. Get up on the floor, hit me with your bhangra bhangra, bhangra, Bhangra Gotjoy in your soul light it up, lose control drop the beat on the dhol, banging it. Im nowjoined by sean foley, the Artistic Director of birminghams repertory theatre and kwame kwei armah, the outgoing Artistic Director for the young vic. Good evening to both of you. Obviously, Council Money makes 0bviously, Council Money makes up awe smaller proportion than it did for example a decade ago of your funding, and i suppose in these times of difficulty for councils, it is inevitable that whatever the arts budget is it will face squeeze. I think you are right, and we are not here to do any Special Pleading on behalf 06 the arts but it is kind of, you know the mood music around the arts, within birmingham particularly, you know, a lot of councils are going to go through this, one in five are going bust, and its not financially Mission Critical that part of our budget now, because it become whittle down over the last 12, 13 years. More . Now, because it become whittle down over the last 12, 13 years. Over the last 12, 13 years. Now it is down 158,000. Over the last 12, 13 years. Now it is down 158,000. Million, sorry. Over the last 12, 13 years. Now it | is down 158,000. Million, sorry. I mean that would have been good. Put on some plays for that. Yeah, so it has gone down from over 1. 3 million to to years nothing, so, thatis 1. 3 million to to years nothing, so, that is and if you think our arts council grant, which has stayed the same throughout that time, is 1. , roughly 1. 9 million, that theatre has now got in real terms, about 30 of the Public Investment it used to have. ~. Of the Public Investment it used to have. ~. ,. ,. , of the Public Investment it used to have. ~. ,. ,. , of the Public Investment it used to have. ,. ,. , of the Public Investment it used to have. ,. ,. ,. , have. What does that say about what ou can do have. What does that say about what you can do for have. What does that say about what you can do for the have. What does that say about what you can do for the community . Have. What does that say about what you can do for the community . It you can do for the community . It means you can inevitably do less, thatis, means you can inevitably do less, that is, you knowf means you can inevitably do less, that is, you know f you have less money, where ever it comes from, you can do less, and places like birmingham repertory theatre, we have put on plays, big show his, i am doing The World Premier Stage Adaptation Of Withnail and i. But, theatres like the rep have become part of the community in larger ways, we have a huge educational outreach, unit, i guess, that works in dozens of schools throughout the city. In dozens of schools throughout the ci. � in dozens of schools throughout the ci. R. ,. , in dozens of schools throughout the ci. ,. , in dozens of schools throughout the ci. �. , city. And also we understand that birmingham. City. And also we understand that birmingham, you city. And also we understand that birmingham, you know, city. And also we understand that birmingham, you know, 25 city. And also we understand that birmingham, you know, 25 out. City. And also we understand that birmingham, you know, 25 out ofj city. And also we understand that i birmingham, you know, 25 out of 36 libraries face the possibility of closure, which in itself is, you know it is part of the culture of the community. So these are really straightened times kwame and is it a different story in a way the young vic . Because in the young vic you have the outreach and so forth you have the outreach and so forth you have your multiplicity of funding but you are likely, arent you to have richer benefactors. Yes, but the idea we have richer benefactors. Yes, but the idea we have have richer benefactors. Yes, but the idea we have to have richer benefactors. Yes, but the idea we have to rely have richer benefactors. Yes, but the idea we have to rely on have richer benefactors. Yes, but i the idea we have to rely on usstyle the idea we have to rely on us style philanthropy at this point is crazy. Its philanthropy at this point is crazy. Its a philanthropy at this point is crazy. Its a brilliant brilliant. It philanthropy at this point is crazy. Its a brilliant brilliant. Its a brilliant brilliant. It may be the way its a brilliant brilliant. It may be the way forward its a brilliant brilliant. It may be the way forward when i its a brilliant brilliant. It may l be the way forward when councils have so strapped . It be the way forward when councils have so strapped . Be the way forward when councils have so strapped . It shouldnt have to be, that have so strapped . It shouldnt have to be, that is have so strapped . It shouldnt have to be, that is the have so strapped . It shouldnt have to be, that is the big have so strapped . It shouldnt have to be, that is the big question, i to be, that is the big question, culture to be, that is the big question, culture is embedded in whoa with are, it culture is embedded in whoa with are, it is culture is embedded in whoa with are, it is part of our usp, part of what are, it is part of our usp, part of what we are, it is part of our usp, part of what we walk the world with in terms of privilege, it brings in so much money, of privilege, it brings in so much money, that i think, often with do false money, that i think, often with do false binaries and we go guess what, councils false binaries and we go guess what, councils are false binaries and we go guess what, councils are in trouble or social Services Councils are in trouble or social services are councils are in trouble or social services are under resource so let us take services are under resource so let us take the services are under resource so let us take the money from the about, i dont us take the money from the about, i dont think us take the money from the about, i dont think we need do that, we need toe have dont think we need do that, we need toe have a dont think we need do that, we need toe have a big idea about how to sustainably fund our arts. 30 toe have a big idea about how to sustainably fund our arts. So what is that big idea . Sustainably fund our arts. So what is that big idea . I sustainably fund our arts. So what is that big idea . I dont sustainably fund our arts. So what is that big idea . I dont know. It is that big idea . I dont know. It is the 13 is that big idea . I dont know. It is the 1. 3 billion. Is that big idea . I dont know. It is the 1. 3 billion. What is that big idea . I dont know. It is the 1. 3 billion. What i is that big idea . I dont know. It is the 1. 3 billion. What i will i is that big idea . I dont know. It is the 1. 3 billion. What i will say| is the 1. 3 billion. What i will say is the 1. 3 billion. What i will say is as sean is the 1. 3 billion. What i will say is as sean said is the 1. 3 billion. What i will say is as sean said we is the 1. 3 billion. What i will say is as sean said we have is the 1. 3 billion. What i will say is as sean said we have had i is the 1. 3 billion. What i will say l is as sean said we have had stand still funding for 13 year, nearly all off still funding for 13 year, nearly all off the structural deficits that many all off the structural deficits that many of all off the structural deficits that many of us face are literally linked to the many of us face are literally linked to the money that we have not got. We have to the money that we have not got. We have gone through The Cost Of Living we have gone through The Cost Of Living crisis, the Mental Health crisis. Living crisis, the Mental Health crisis. We living crisis, the Mental Health crisis, we have gone through covid, if i crisis, we have gone through covid, if i budget crisis, we have gone through covid, if i budget in crisis, we have gone through covid, if I Budget In September it has gone up if I Budget In September it has gone up 32 if I Budget In September it has gone up 32 by if I Budget In September it has gone up 32 by the time i get to the first of up 32 by the time i get to the first of march, this easy are, this is unsustainable first of march, this easy are, this is unsustainabl first of march, this easy are, this is unsustainable does it mean that ou will is unsustainable does it mean that you will have is unsustainable does it mean that you will have to, is unsustainable does it mean that you will have to, you is unsustainable does it mean that you will have to, you are is unsustainable does it mean that you will have to, you are leaving i you will have to, you are leaving obviously, the young vicious, but theatre also have to tailor the young vic, tailor productions and also their ambition. But young vic, tailor productions and also their ambition. Young vic, tailor productions and also their ambition. But we already do that, right . We also their ambition. But we already do that, right . We have been i do that, right . We have been doing that do that, right . We have been doing that. ,. , do that, right . We have been doing that. � ,. , do that, right . We have been doing that. ,. ,. , that. Are you also, is there another wa of that. Are you also, is there another way of doing that. Are you also, is there another way of doing this . That. Are you also, is there another way of doing this . Will that. Are you also, is there another way of doing this . Will people i that. Are you also, is there another way of doing this . Will people have tojoin way of doing this . Will people have to join forces across cities . I think that is crucial, i think, i am a great advocate for the funded part of the Theatre Industry Working A Lot more with the commercial side which is 80 of our, the commercial theatre and, i think what people dont maybe realise is it is a whole ecology, so if you take out the funded sector, that is like the rnd part of our industry, that is where you know, other industries will not go hey, let us get rid of the r d part, that is where the new ideas come from, the talent, the new people come from, that is why it is important, because it is an industry thatis important, because it is an industry that is also incredibly successful for the uk. But that is also incredibly successful for the uk that is also incredibly successful for the uk. �. , for the uk. But you find of course durin for the uk. But you find of course during covid for the uk. But you find of course during covid there for the uk. But you find of course during covid there was for the uk. But you find of course during covid there was money. I during covid there was money. That is the brilliant during covid there was money. That is the brilliant thing. But during covid there was money. That is the brilliant thing. But it during covid there was money. That is the brilliant thing. But it was i is the brilliant thing. But it was sun sustainable. Is the brilliant thing. But it was sun sustainable. We is the brilliant thing. But it was sun sustainable. We know i is the brilliant thing. But it was sun sustainable. We know the l is the brilliant thing. But it was i sun sustainable. We know the Culture Recovery Fund sun sustainable. We know the Culture Recovery Fund was sun sustainable. We know the Culture Recovery Fund was a sun sustainable. We know the Culture Recovery Fund was a big sun sustainable. We know the Culture Recovery Fund was a big idea sun sustainable. We know the Culture Recovery Fund was a big idea that i Recovery Fund was a big idea that was done Recovery Fund was a big idea that was done well, it sustained us throughout covid. The question now, as we throughout covid. The question now, as we think throughout covid. The question now, as we think about the ecology, if you take as we think about the ecology, if you take away the local councils and a bit you take away the local councils and a hit 06 you take away the local councils and a bit 06 philanthropy and your arts council, a bit 06 philanthropy and your arts council, then it all begins to tumble, council, then it all begins to tumble, that is not to say that we are not tumble, that is not to say that we are not making wine out of water, we are. Are not making wine out of water, we are but are not making wine out of water, we are but we are not making wine out of water, we are. But we need a really big idea, to make are. But we need a really big idea, to make sure that actually we dont have to to make sure that actually we dont have to rely to make sure that actually we dont have to rely on the commercial sector, have to rely on the commercial sector, that we dont have to retym sector, that we dont have to rel , � sector, that we dont have to rel. N. , sector, that we dont have to rel. N sector, that we dont have to rel. ,� rely. Isnt it, also, maybe you dont rely. Isnt it, also, maybe you dontthink rely. Isnt it, also, maybe you dont think it rely. Isnt it, also, maybe you dont think it is rely. Isnt it, also, maybe you dont think it is healthy rely. Isnt it, also, maybe you dont think it is healthy to i rely. Isnt it, also, maybe you dont think it is healthy to rely i rely. Isnt it, also, maybe you. Dont think it is healthy to rely to a certain extent on the commercial sector but isnt that the reality. I have worked in america as you know for eight have worked in america as you know for eight years and i woke up every morning for eight years and i woke up every morning having to raise my full budget morning having to raise my full budget via philanthropy, but that was in budget via philanthropy, but that was in america with a different relationship to it. We have no not find ourselves bought into how. I find ourselves bought into how. Would say find ourselves bought into how. I would say some of the commercial enterprises are quite artistically adventurous. Enterprises are quite artistically adventurous. ~ ,. , , adventurous. Absolutely, that is why i think ou adventurous. Absolutely, that is why i think you know, adventurous. Absolutely, that is why i think you know, think adventurous. Absolutely, that is why i think you know, think there adventurous. Absolutely, that is why i think you know, think there has i