Were infected with hiv or hepatitis c after being given contaminated blood between the early 19705 and early 19905. 3,000 people have already died, while others are still living with the ongoing impacts of infection. biv 0ur Correspondent 0ur correspondent, Rajini Vaidyanathan has been following the story and joins us live from the Methodist Central Hall in westminster, where the Report Findings were released. The conclusions of this report are devastating in so many different areas. ,. ,. , areas. They really are. One of the overriding areas. They really are. One of the overriding feeling areas. They really are. One of the overriding feeling is areas. They really are. One of the overriding feeling is has areas. They really are. One of the overriding feeling is has been areas. They really are. One of the overriding feeling is has been a i overriding feeling is has been a sense of vindication. People here who have said for years they have tried to raise concerns and raised the alarm about what was happening. About the fact that so many people were still being treated using this product that had infected blood or were receiving Blood Transfusions were receiving Blood Transfusions were contracting hiv and hepatitis c but still these treatments continued and they felt ignored until today. And anyway what we heard in this report and when we saw sir Brian Langstaff on stage was to many families comforting and we saw sir Brian Langstaff get a rousing standing ovation. Its not what you normally see a Public Inquiry is. It was a real sense of empathy that he understood but also a sense that he promised to take action. He said he was going to hold the government to account. He said that if there was an apology from the Prime Minister that it would have to have meaning. It couldnt be hollow. He also called wholesale changes in the Civil Service and indeed in the way that people are treated in the nhs and the way patients are seen. He also called for people to go to their gp and raised the alarm if they have ever had a bread blood transfusion. So it really was a day of emotion and a day of reckoning as well. Lets begin with this report from sophie hutchison. Some of the tens of thousands of people infected with hiv and hepatitis c in the 19705, � 805 and early � 905 by contaminated blood. Today, the final report into the scandal described the scale of what happened as horrifying and said lives, dreams, friendships, families and finances were destroyed by it. Well, i think the scale speaks for itself. If you have over 30,000 People Who Go Into Hospital and come out with infections which were life shattering, that in itself is huge, and the suffering for them and for others is huge. The inquiry has spent four years taking evidence from more than 5,000 witnesses and examined 100,000 documents. Its concluded this was a disaster not an accident, that those in authority, doctors, Blood Services and governments did not put Patient Safety first and that patients were knowingly exposed to unacceptable risks of infection. Andy evans has haemophilia, a bleeding disorder. He is one of 30,000 people infected by the treatment he received. By the time he was five years old he had hiv and hepatitis c, and at 13 he had developed full blown aids. My mum took me out for a drive one day in the countryside when i was 13. She pulled up, i thought this was really weird, but then she turned to me with tears in her eyes and she said, ive got something to tell you. Do you know what hiv is . Andy has run a Campaign Group for victims for almost 20 years, and today he gave his reaction to the report. As amazing as this report is, i just cant help feeling that there are so many that we have lost along the way that really ought to be here to see this as well. The report says children were betrayed by being used in medical trials without their knowledge or informed consent. It says patients were not informed of the risks of their treatment, including the risks posed by Blood Transfusions. This was nurse Cathy Osborne 25 years ago with her husband neil cox, a young doctor. Neil had explained before they were married that hed been infected with Hepatitis C Following a blood transfusion. He died just two years into their marriage. Cathy came to the inquiry today. She said you can carry grief forever. People are still dying now, it was wrong. I want an apology, i think, for what happened, recognition of what happened. And not just an apology for apologys sake, an apology that takes into consideration all that weve been through, myself, neils family, his friends, his mother, at 92, has missed out a whole 22 years without her son. And its about time someone stood up and was accountable for that. The report says the damage caused by the contaminated blood was compounded by the reaction of the nhs and the medical profession and by successive governments who used inaccurate, misleading and defensive lines, telling people they had received the best treatment. This is a day of unparalleled importance for these families. This report shines an unflinching light on the catalogue of failings that they have faced. An apology is expected later today from government, but this is notjust a look back at the past. The inquiry says that apology must be accompanied by action. Last night, people infected and families held a vigil in westminster. Todays report has urged the government to bring in full compensation for them without further delay. A statement from ministers is expected in the coming days. Sophie hutchinson, bbc news. A statement from the Prime Minister is expected in the coming hours. Rishi sunak is expected to apologise on behalf of the government. Of course this goes beyond Party Politics because this scandal has happened across a number of different administrations and different administrations and different governments. To discuss this in more detail i am joined by the lawyer, des collins will represent thousands of people affected by this. Thank you for joining us. It has been quite an emotional day, first of all to see so many people who have been personally impacted going to read that report and see them share when they saw the findings, its a day of relief. Is that how you feel . Clearly i do feel it is a day of reiief clearly i do feel it is a day of relief but clearly i do feel it is a day of relief but i cant imagine that can be compared with how the victims feei~ be compared with how the victims feei~ i be compared with how the victims feei~ i have be compared with how the victims feel. I have been involved in the scandal feel. I have been involved in the scandal for feel. I have been involved in the scandal for seven or eight years. I am a scandal for seven or eight years. I am a professional. They have been involved am a professional. They have been involved in am a professional. They have been involved in it as mothers and fathers involved in it as mothers and fathers and sons and daughters for 40 or fathers and sons and daughters for 40 or 50 fathers and sons and daughters for 40 or 50 years. They are people like you and 40 or 50 years. They are people like you and i 40 or 50 years. They are people like you and i are 40 or 50 years. They are people like you and i are going about our ordinary you and i are going about our ordinary lives and to be faced with this dominating yourself the 40 or 50 years this dominating yourself the 40 or 50 years is this dominating yourself the 40 or 50 years is unthinkable. I can understand why they cheered sue bryant understand why they cheered sue bryant when he made a speech today. What was bryant when he made a speech today. What was so bryant when he made a speech today. What was so remarkable about that moment in the room where everyone was cheering and the people i have spoken to today say its a sense of vindication. They felt they were not heard for years and years. The victims always heard for years and years. The victims always felt heard for years and years. The victims always felt they havent been victims always felt they havent been heard and a lot of the victims have been heard and a lot of the victims have ireen been heard and a lot of the victims have been trying to push this forward have been trying to push this forward since the 1980s and through into this forward since the 1980s and through into this century and no one ever tistens into this century and no one ever listens to into this century and no one ever listens to them. Very occasionally there listens to them. Very occasionally there might be full storm and nobody had listened. It was only when theresa had listened. It was only when theresa may announced this inquiry in 2017 theresa may announced this inquiry in 2017 that theresa may announced this inquiry in 2017 that things had become more clear and in 2017 that things had become more clear and at in 2017 that things had become more clear and at that point about a year later we clear and at that point about a year later we had the appointment of sir brian later we had the appointment of sir Brian Langstaff as chair of the inquiry Brian Langstaff as chair of the inquiry. It Brian Langstaff as chair of the inquiry. It has all taken a long time inquiry. It has all taken a long time and inquiry. It has all taken a long time and always with the belief that this may time and always with the belief that this may be another false dawn, we may not this may be another false dawn, we may not get it over the line because we have may not get it over the line because we have not may not get it over the line because we have not got it over the line before we have not got it over the line before. And even talking to a number of victims before. And even talking to a number of victims over the weekend they coutdnt of victims over the weekend they couldnt really believe that today would couldnt really believe that today would happen. It had not happened before would happen. It had not happened before. They really had to see it with their before. They really had to see it with their own eyes and it was only then when with their own eyes and it was only then when sir Brian Langstaff stood on the then when sir Brian Langstaff stood on the podium and said what he had to say on the podium and said what he had to say that on the podium and said what he had to say that they believed they had finally to say that they believed they had finally got it over the line. Sir brian finally got it over the line. 5 Brian Langstaff said finally got it over the line. 5} Brian Langstaff said his finally got it over the line. 5 Brian Langstaff said his work is not finished. He wants the government now to report back in a year. He is talking about committees to look at some of this and about wholesale reform of the Civil Service. For some of this and about wholesale reform of the Civil Service. Reform of the Civil Service. For a number of reform of the Civil Service. For a number of reasons reform of the Civil Service. For a number of reasons that reform of the Civil Service. For a number of reasons that has reform of the Civil Service. For a number of reasons that has to l reform of the Civil Service. For a l number of reasons that has to be done number of reasons that has to be done and number of reasons that has to be done and primarily the reason sir brian done and primarily the reason sir Brian Langstaff has taken that approach is because he made an interim approach is because he made an interim recommendation this time last year~ interim recommendation this time last year. The government did nothing last year. The government did nothing about it. He dragged rishi sunak nothing about it. He dragged rishi sunak back before the inquiry in july last sunak back before the inquiry in july last year and said what are you doing . July last year and said what are you doing . Stillthere july last year and said what are you doing . Still there was nothing done. Ithink doing . Still there was nothing done. I think that doing . Still there was nothing done. I think that gave him concern that if he i think that gave him concern that if he closed the inquiry now as he would if he closed the inquiry now as he would have if he closed the inquiry now as he would have been expected to come out that that would have been expected to come out that that will find Everything Else was falling on deaf ears and Nothing Happened was falling on deaf ears and Nothing Happened. So quite sensibly he has been determined to carry on with this inquiry been determined to carry on with this inquiry until such time as he can see this inquiry until such time as he can see the this inquiry until such time as he can see the recommendations are carried can see the recommendations are carried out can see the recommendations are carried out and reforms are put right carried out and reforms are put riuht. � ,. , carried out and reforms are put riuht. � ,. , carried out and reforms are put rirht, � ,. ,. ,. , carried out and reforms are put riuht. � ,. ,. , right. Briefly, as a lawyer, do you think any of right. Briefly, as a lawyer, do you think any of the right. Briefly, as a lawyer, do you think any of the families right. Briefly, as a lawyer, do you think any of the families have right. Briefly, as a lawyer, do you think any of the families have anyj think any of the families have any legal grounds now to take any cases forward . ,. , legal grounds now to take any cases forward . ,. ,. , forward . They have a number of rounds forward . They have a number of grounds to forward . They have a number of grounds to take forward . They have a number of grounds to take cases forward . They have a number of grounds to take cases forward. I forward . They have a number of grounds to take cases forward. They are already grounds to take cases forward. They are already largely involved in a group are already largely involved in a group action which was put on ice back group action which was put on ice back in group action which was put on ice back in 2017 when the inquiry was announced back in 2017 when the inquiry was announced. Putting it bluntly, if the Compensation Framework is not put in the Compensation Framework is not put in place quickly and properly and effectively they will have no doubt and effectively they will have no doubt in and effectively they will have no doubt in their own mind that they will drag doubt in their own mind that they will drag that case back and secure damages will drag that case back and secure damages from the government on that basis damages from the government on that basis. , ~ ,. , damages from the government on that basis. , ~ ,. ,. Damages from the government on that basis. ~ ,. ,. , basis. Thank you very much for oininu basis. Thank you very much for joining us basis. Thank you very much for joining us. The basis. Thank you very much for joining us. The subject basis. Thank you very much for joining us. The subject of joining us. The subject of compensation has been widely discussed because as we heard there there was an interim recommendation last year from there was an interim recommendation last yearfrom sir there was an interim recommendation last year from sir Brian Langstaff for compensation to be paid and Rishi Sunak In Return before the inquiry said he was waiting for the final report before he made any further payments out before his government made any further payments. That caused a lot of frustration amongst some of the families here. Many say money wont bring the relatives back but it can say make a difference and it would be a strong signal that the wrong that happened over decades could be in some way righted. I think that is all about what today has been about, about the search for truth, justice and accountability. Lam iamjoined i am joined now by dena peacock was a survivor the scandal. Teii i am joined now by dena peacock was a survivor the scandal. A survivor the scandal. Tell us your reaction to a survivor the scandal. Tell us your reaction to the a survivor the scandal. Tell us your reaction to the report. A survivor the scandal. Tell us your reaction to the report. I a survivor the scandal. Tell us your reaction to the report. I think a survivor the scandal. Tell us your reaction to the report. I think sir. Reaction to the report. I think sir Brian Langstaff reaction to the report. I think sir Brian Langstaff did reaction to the report. I think sir Brian Langstaff did us reaction to the report. I think sir Brian Langstaff did us proud. Reaction to the report. I think sir Brian Langstaff did us proud. He| reaction to the report. I think sir Brian Langstaff did us proud. He has totally Brian Langstaff did us proud. He has totally researched it fully and basically he has confirmed what we have been basically he has confirmed what we have been saying for all these years have been saying for all these years. Hopefully it will easily battle years. Hopefully it will easily battle a years. Hopefully it will easily battle a bit more. I think the government now needs to stop Playing Games government now needs to stop Playing Games a government now needs to stop Playing Games. A year ago it was recommended for compensation. Two people die a week for compensation. Two people die a week so for compensation. Two people die a week so they need to pull their finger week so they need to pull their finger out week so they need to pull their finger out now and not wait any longer~ finger out now and not wait any longer~ |f finger out now and not wait any loner. ,. , finger out now and not wait any loner. , u, finger out now and not wait any loner. , ,. I. Longer. If you could share your ersonal longer. If you could share your personal story longer. If you could share your personal story with longer. If you could share your personal story with our longer. If you could share your. Personal story with our viewers. Longer. If you could share your i personal story with our viewers. I was affected in 1980 and 1982 after childbirth. I was given Blood Transfusions. I only found out in 2011 transfusions. I only found out in 2017~ that transfusions. I only found out in 2017. That was through battles throughout the years saying i am very tired throughout the years saying i am very tired and exhausted and spending time in bed. My children didnt spending time in bed. My children didnt have a mother sometimes. Find didnt have a mother sometimes. And that was didnt have a mother sometimes. That was with didnt have a mother sometimes. fific that was with hepatitis. Yes, hepatitis c. 50 quite an emotional day. Do you feel some sort of closure or sense ofjustice you have read that report . The closure or sense of ustice you have read that report . Read that report . The report comes Firms Everything read that report . The report comes Firms Everything weve read that report . The report comes Firms Everything weve said. Read that report . The report comes Firms Everything weve said. What l Firms Everything weve said. What will give Firms Everything weve said. What will give me solace is for the government to own up, it was not ust government to own up, it was not just this government to own up, it was not just this government, it was other governments. Letsjust give us our lives governments. Letsjust give us our lives now governments. Letsjust give us our lives now and stop us seeing Friends Dying lives now and stop us Seeing Friends Dying I lives now and stop us seeing Friends Dying. I have met people and they have died dying. I have met people and they have died. I want to enjoy what time ive have died. I want to enjoy what time we got have died. I want to enjoy what time we got left have died. I want to enjoy what time ive got left with my children and stop using ive got left with my children and stop using the energy i have to battle stop using the energy i have to battle and fight. And its notjust this, battle and fight. And its notjust this, its battle and fight. And its notjust this, its going to the doctors and having this, its going to the doctors and having to this, its going to the doctors and having to explain yourself because it is not having to explain yourself because it is not well known about. If you did say it is not well known about. If you did say to it is not well known about. If you did say to somebody you got hepatitis c they look at you is if you are hepatitis c they look at you is if you are dirty. And i wasnt. At the end of you are dirty. And i wasnt. At the end of the you are dirty. And i wasnt. At the end of the day the government chose to dish end of the day the government chose to dish out end of the day the government chose to dish out dirty blood to people and that to dish out dirty blood to people and that is unacceptable. We are not expendable, we are human. We and that is unacceptable. We are not expendable, we are human. Expendable, we are human. We are exectin expendable, we are human. We are exoecting the expendable, we are human. We are expecting the prime expendable, we are human. We are expecting the Prime Minister expendable, we are human. We are expecting the Prime Minister to expendable, we are human. We are expecting the Prime Minister to sayj expecting the Prime Minister to say sorry in the house of commons, what else would you like to say . I saint else would you like to say . I saw rishi sunak else would you like to say . I saw Rishi Sunak Last else would you like to say . I saw Rishi Sunak Last year else would you like to say . I saw Rishi Sunak Last year when else would you like to say . I saw Rishi Sunak Last year when he. Else would you like to say . I saw Rishi Sunak Last year when he gave evidence Rishi Sunak Last year when he gave evidence and he said sorry and he was going evidence and he said sorry and he was going to do everything he possibly was going to do everything he possibly could. Working at pace was the phrase possibly could. Working at pace was the phrase used and since then we have found the phrase used and since then we have found out that working at pace was not have found out that working at pace was not happening. So basically be truthful was not happening. So basically be truthful and follow through with what truthful and follow through with what he truthful and follow through with what he promises and lets end the suffering what he promises and lets end the suffering of the people. Suffering of the people. Thank you ve much suffering of the people. Thank you very much for suffering of the people. Thank you very much forjoining suffering of the people. Thank you very much forjoining us suffering of the people. Thank you very much forjoining us on suffering of the people. Thank you very much forjoining us on bbc i very much forjoining us on bbc news. I know it has been an emotional day but we wish you all the very best. As i was just saying, of my shoulder you can see people leaving the methodist hall as that Reflection Service for the victims and those who are still struggling with various conditions as a consequence of this Infected Blood Scandal are remembered. At the end of the day we can talk about the politics and cover ups and all these things this comes down to Human Stories and ive heard dozens of them today. But there are thousands of them, thousands of families were living with this every single day. Lets not forget that. Living with this every single day. Lets not forget that. Thank you for that. We lets not forget that. Thank you for that we are lets not forget that. Thank you for that. We are expecting lets not forget that. Thank you for that. We are expecting to lets not forget that. Thank you for that. We are expecting to hear lets not forget that. Thank you for| that. We are expecting to hear from the Prime Minister within the next hour and as soon as rishi sunak is at the dispatch box we will carry that life. Also coming up on todays programme we will turn to the other important stories of the day including the International Criminal Court Prosecutor is seeking the arrest of israel plasma Prime Minister and the leaders of the mass saying they are wanted for war crimes. And also as iran mourns the death of president Ebrahim Raisi, he had his Foreign Minister were killed in a Helicopter Crash yesterday. Around the world and across the uk, you are watching bbc news. You are live with bbc news. Now to a Major Development from the International Criminal court with the prosecutor saying his office is seeking Arrest Warrants for the israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the Defence Minister yoav gallant on charges of war crimes and Crimes Against Humanity In Gaza tx gfx he alleges there is evidence to suggest starvation has been used as a method of war� against civilians. The prosecutor has also applied for Arrest Warrants for three leaders of hamas, for war crimes and crimes against humanity in connection with the october the seventh attacks in israel. He said, the decisions were the outcome of an independent and impartial investigation. Iccjudges will now decide whether to grant the warrants. Lets take a listen to what the prosecutor had to say. I can also confirm today that i have reasonable grounds to believe, on the basis of evidence collected and examined by my office, that israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Minister Of Defence Yoav Gallant Bear Criminal Responsibility for the following International Crimes committed on the territory of the state of palestine from at least the 8th of october 2023. The crimes include, starvation of civilians as a method of warfare. Wilfully causing great suffering, serious injury, to body or health or cruel treatment. Wilful killing or murder. And intentionally directing attacks against a civilian population. Weve had a furious reaction from israel and the mass and in the last few minutes uk premises spokesman said the icc warrants will not help achieve a pose of the fighting. Earlier, i spoke to our Diplomatic Correspondent james landale, who gave this analysis. Essentially what the court is saying is that all of those who have been named today pay Criminal Responsibility for a series of activities. 50 in terms of Benjamin Netanyahu and the Israeli Defence minister, some of them include allegations of starvation of civilians as a tool of war, directing attacks against civilians, wilful killings of civilians. And on the hamas side, the hamas leaders are accused explicitly of taking hostages, murder, rate, torture, cruel treatment of people and also the word extermination. So the indictments are incredibly explicit indictments are incredibly explicit in terms of the actual accusations that have been levelled. In in terms of the actual accusations that have been levelled. In terms of the actual accusations that have been levelled. In terms of an arrest that have been levelled. In terms of any Arrest Warrants that have been levelled. In terms of any Arrest Warrants if that have been levelled. In terms of any Arrest Warrants if and that have been levelled. In terms of any Arrest Warrants if and when that have been levelled. In terms of| any Arrest Warrants if and when they come, how does this actually work given that both sides presumably will not cooperate . What given that both sides presumably will not cooperate . Given that both sides presumably will not cooperate . What will happen now is the lcc will not cooperate . What will happen now is the Iccjudges Will not cooperate . What will happen now is the iccjudges now will not cooperate . What will happen now is the iccjudges now have will not cooperate . What will happen now is the iccjudges now have to now is the iccjudges now have to decide whether these allegations made it an actual issuance of an Arrest Warrant. Sometimes that can take a long time. When the former sudanese leader had an Arrest Warrant given against him it took seven months for thejudges warrant given against him it took seven months for the judges to make that decision. In terms of President Putin a couple of years ago when he was accused of war crimes in the war in ukraine the decision of the gap between the prosecutor saying there should be an Arrest Warrant and the Arrest Warrant being issued was just four weeks. 50 these things can move fast depending on how fast the judges wants to move. Iran has delcared five days of mourning following the death of the countrys president Ebrahim Raisi in a Helicopter Crash. President raisi died along with the Iranian Foreign minister when their helicopter came down near the border with azerbaijan on sunday. Their bodies have now been recovered from the crash site. Its thought another seven people were on the helicopter, which came down in thick fog and rain. The search in a mountainous area in North Western iran near tabriz was hampered by bad weather. 0ur reporter Courtney Bembridge has more from the bbc verify hub. Iranians Authorities Say the crash which killed eight people happens around 1 30pm in the afternoon on sunday. We have been taking a closer look at videos and images to try to get a sense of what may have happened. This is an image of the crash site released by an iranian news outlet on social media and from it an analyst at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute came up with the location. Using Satellite Imagery we were able to confirm his findings. As you can see its a mountainous area with a distinctive pattern of trees. The crash site is on a Mountainside Run Two Kilometres South West of the village in north west iran. Its very close to the Iranian Azerbaijani Border where the Iranian Azerbaijani Border where the president and Foreign Minister and others were visiting earlier in the day. Iranians state media are reporting that the helicopter involved was a bell 212 and they said the helicopter could carry six passengers and two crew. This is a picture of the same model being used by the British Military and these helicopters are made by an American Company and they were first developed for the Canadian Military in the 19605. We know that the helicopter in this crash was travelling in a convoy and it was making its way to the iranian city of tabriz. Iranian officials have said it lost come location with the convoy around 1 30pm and there was no distress call. We have looked at Flight Tracking websites and filtered to helicopters and as you can see they were no Helicopter Flight Paths in the area before the crash took place. That suggests it had it publicly available track is turned off. While we dont know the cause of the crash yet there has been a lot of talk about weather conditions. Videos and images like this released by irans state media show search teams working in foggy conditions. We also checked Weather Forecasts for the area before the accident and mention heavy rainfall and partial cloud cover and when we spoke to bbc weather presenter simon king he told us that in mountainous areas fog can materialise very quickly and that if you have any form of cloud thats going to be fog in the mountains. Investigators will be looking at the weather and other factors as they try to understand what went wrong. The factors as they try to understand what went wrong. Factors as they try to understand what went wrong. The Business News is next. The clouds will continue to grow in some areas and we are expecting showers if they have informed already where you are. Here is the satellite picture. The cloudy skies have been across central and northern parts of the uk so far. This is the afternoon, temperatures into the low 205 in england. Showers could break out across the south west of england, wales and more especially in Western Parts of northern ireland. Local downpours with thunder and lightning. Not looking bad across the Scottish Highlands and to the east of scotland. Fine weather for most of us this evening but later in the night an easterly breeze will dragon some cloud in the parts of east anglia and lincolnshire and also the midlands. They could be some heavy showers for a time but they will be localised. For many its a clear and dry night. Quite chilly in the morning. The forecast for tuesday, overall a lot more cloud expected tomorrow and a greater chance of showers particularly across Western Parts of the uk. And again thunderstorms on the cards in northern ireland. Temperatures highest had towards the west. For the second half of the week, low pressure is expected to sweep in and out of the east, quite a substantial area of low pressure with a widespread area of rain. That means steady rain for many parts of the country eventually at least later on wednesday. The heaviest of the rain will fall across the northern half of the uk. Further south the rain is likely to be in the form of showers. It will be cooler, temperatures typically in the mid to high teens and you will notice that northerly breeze. This is the Rainfall Accumulation for later in the week. Notice the dark blues, but in parts of Northern Scotland we could see as much as 100 millimetres of rain and that could cause problems. Lets have a look at the summary and the rest of the week. Plenty of rain symbols so a chance of encountering some rain most days this week. Thats it from me. Lower Interest Rates on the horizon the Bank Of England gives a strong hint of a cut this summer. The ai race heats up microsoft prepares to unveil its latest ai products, hot off the heels of 0penai and google last week. And from wind powered ferries to Electric Hydrofoil boats how the Orkney Islands are pioneering green sea transport. Welcome to business today. Im sally bundock. We start in the uk where the Bank Of England has given its strongest hint yet that Interest Rates could be cut this summer. Ben broadbent, the number two at the central bank said earlier today in a speech that a rate cut at sometime over the summer was possible. His comments come as markets get ready for the latest Inflation Figures out on wednesday that are expected to show a sharp drop in inflation. Lets discuss this with yael selfin Chief Economist at kpmg in the uk. Yael, nice to see you. So, what do you make then of mr broadbent� s comments . You make then of mr broadbents comments . You make then of mr broadbents comments . ~ ~ , comments . Well, i think they were encouraging comments . Well, i think they were encouraging to comments . Well, i think they were encouraging to some comments . Well, i think they were encouraging to some degree comments . Well, i think they were l encouraging to some degree because ultimately, we are expecting