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at the general election. there had been uncertainty about her political future after she was readmitted by the party yesterday. ms abbott — who was the uk's first black woman mp — was suspended by labour last year after suggesting thatjewish, irish and traveller people did not face racism "all their lives." she later apologised. the breaking news about diane abbott was just put to labour's shadow health secretary wes streeting on bbc breakfast. here's what he had to say. well, you are right, lam hearing this for the first time. i am glad that yesterday the suspension of diane abbott was lifted and the whip was restored. what she said that led to her suspension was wrong, and when keir starmer said he would restore discipline and standards in the labour party, he really meant it. i think it is also important to acknowledge that diane abbott herself apologised and accepted she had done wrong and that apology has clearly been accepted. i am not up to speed with the latest decisions around diane abbott. my understanding was that the national executive committee has not yet taken decisions on approving candidates across the country so i am hearing this for the first time. that was where is this treating reacting itjust a little while ago. joining me now is daily mirrorjournalist, melissa sigodo. reaction coming and that she will not be allowed to stand, what is your reaction considering this is coming back off an investigation? it's an absolute travesty that diana saying she is not allowed to stand in the next general election. according to keir starmer, the investigation finished, it was still investigation finished, it was still in process and then find out from newsnight that actually, it finished five months ago. it is interesting to see that the information we have been told isn't necessarily accurate, and i think that a lot of people are wondering what exactly is going on. as for diane abbott, newsnight revealed that she was angry and depressed and worn out. this process has been going on since last april, so a really shocking here the after standing in parliament so long and constituents in her area so loyal to her, so really travesty to come to this. i really travesty to come to this. i know one of the today programme on bbc, and she said she wanted the opportunity to decide whether to stand again. that opportunity has been denied, and apologised making the comments. no specific response from labour now. what are you imagining is the thinking behind this decision? i imagining is the thinking behind this decision?— imagining is the thinking behind this decision? i can't imagine the thinkin: this decision? i can't imagine the thinking behind _ this decision? i can't imagine the thinking behind it. _ this decision? i can't imagine the thinking behind it. diane - this decision? i can't imagine the thinking behind it. diane is - this decision? i can't imagine the thinking behind it. diane is lovedi thinking behind it. diane is loved by her constituents. that doesn't make much sense from my point of view, but also, i think that the treatment of diane is appalling. when we saw what happened to her and how she studied 46 times and was interred, and even afterwards, she said she approached keir starmer and asked to restore the web. it didn't happen then, and apparently, that was when the investigation had concluded. the treatment of her, again, you see the way she's been neglected, being ignored, and are not being given the opportunity to stand in her constituency after all these years of service. she is a trailblazer. she was the first black female mp, and to be treated in such a way is absolutely appalling. it’s a way is absolutely appalling. it's appalling. talk to me about how diane abbott changed politics after 40 years of an mp. a number of firsts on her record. how has she changed the political landscape? i changed the political landscape? i think she's given a lot of young people hope, a lot of young black females help. they can get into her position, they can aim high and get into politics. they can have an opinion i can see things through. i think she is given a lot of useless and hope that they can do that, but now to see that come crashing down because keir starmer sees fit not to let her stand, it's a blow i would say, and it's a slap in the face not only to diane but to black people watching, to young black youths watching, to young black youths watching this. we watching, to young black youths watching this.— watching, to young black youths watchin: this. ~ ~' ., ., ., watching this. we know that labour is currently selecting _ watching this. we know that labour is currently selecting the _ watching this. we know that labour is currently selecting the remaining i is currently selecting the remaining candidates, a labour majority there in hackney north. what will seek that seat to look like without diane abbott? ., �* , , ., abbott? that'll be interesting to see. abbott? that'll be interesting to see- today _ abbott? that'll be interesting to see. today raleigh _ abbott? that'll be interesting to see. today raleigh is _ abbott? that'll be interesting to see. today raleigh is taking - abbott? that'll be interesting to i see. today raleigh is taking place outside hackney town hall. people are demanding for diane to be allowed to stand, and said if she doesn't stand, they will not vote. it's interesting, because that is a direct correlation that we receive it. if people do not vote for whoever labour but is there, that is the result of diane not being given the result of diane not being given the opportunity to run. we the result of diane not being given the opportunity to run.— the opportunity to run. we know jerem the opportunity to run. we know jeremy corby" — the opportunity to run. we know jeremy corbyn will _ the opportunity to run. we know jeremy corbyn will lay _ the opportunity to run. we know jeremy corbyn will lay out - the opportunity to run. we know jeremy corbyn will lay out his i jeremy corbyn will lay out his campaign, he is standing as an independence in islington north. that'll happen later today. just remind us of the connection between jeremy corbyn and diane abbott. the? jeremy corbyn and diane abbott. they are jeremy corbyn and diane abbott. tie: are long—standing friends. jeremy corbyn and diane abbott. tie1: are long—standing friends. they jeremy corbyn and diane abbott. ti3:1 are long—standing friends. they have been through this together, and really support each other. i think it's quite lovely to see. i would love to see more support for diane with other mp5, such as david lambie and all the other mps who have been through this journey with her, just to show their support, really. and do exactly whatjeremy corbyn is doing. at the end of the day, it's all about that solidarity to show that this is a respected person, this is someone who's done so much for everybody and she paved the way for everybody and she paved the way for those black female mps as well, to be in the position they are in, and i think a lot of support out whatjeremy corbyn is doing will be really appreciated. what what jeremy corbyn is doing will be really appreciated.— really appreciated. what will be diane abbott's _ really appreciated. what will be diane abbott's legacy, - really appreciated. what will be diane abbott's legacy, do - really appreciated. what will be diane abbott's legacy, do you l really appreciated. what will be - diane abbott's legacy, do you think? i think she has shown that she is stronger than anyone could have expected. i think what she is been through from frank hester in this process that the labour party said they were investigating, they have had to take so long and anybody else would have given up. itjust goes to show what a tough, political veteran she is and what a fighter she is. i think that will be her legacy. this is not over yet, and we will see more of diane, but i believe that she is a tough one to crack, and hasn't cracked yes.— she is a tough one to crack, and hasn't cracked yes. those protests, eo - le hasn't cracked yes. those protests, peeple arriving _ hasn't cracked yes. those protests, people arriving at _ hasn't cracked yes. those protests, people arriving at the _ hasn't cracked yes. those protests, people arriving at the town - hasn't cracked yes. those protests, people arriving at the town hall- hasn't cracked yes. those protests, people arriving at the town hall to l people arriving at the town hall to have their voices heard a little later. i went to how this will go down at labour headquarters. we've heard about a potential of their thinking, but if there is a setback, he is out on the campaign trail today? t he is out on the campaign trail toda ? ~ , ., , he is out on the campaign trail toda ? ~ i. , ., ., he is out on the campaign trail toda ? ~ , ., ., today? i think you 'ust have to look at what people — today? i think you just have to look at what people are _ today? i think you just have to look at what people are saying. - today? i think you just have to look at what people are saying. even - at what people are saying. even people have left comments and do my social media saying they will not be voting labour because this has really stung people. people are taking it personally because, like i said, this is the first black female mp. we know what she has been through, and to see it end like this, i think people are personally hurt. we are taking this on personally. it'll be interesting to see what keir starmer has to say, but i don't know if anyone will be listening at at this point any more. it's worth saying as well, we are just getting response to that announcements, and criticism saying they have taken a total lack of judgment against labour mp diane abbott. there is a potential backlash labour may face over the potential decision to bar her from standing. there will be questions to the labour party, and if that any responses, we'll bring it to you on bbc news. labour is promising to hit a key waiting time target in the nhs in england if it wins the general election. the target of 18 weeks for pay since —— patients... our correspondent leila nathoo is travelling with labour and joins me now. i want to stock without health promise and significant promise that labour putting and centre their campaign?— labour putting and centre their camaiun? ., �* campaign? good morning, ben. greetinas campaign? good morning, ben. greetings from _ campaign? good morning, ben. greetings from the _ campaign? good morning, ben. greetings from the m _ campaign? good morning, ben. greetings from the m 40. - campaign? good morning, ben. greetings from the m 40. this i campaign? good morning, ben. | greetings from the m 40. this is campaign? good morning, ben. - greetings from the m 40. this is one of the day that political parties like to earmark for certain themes. labour have chosen today to try and talk about the nhs. it is clearly one of the days that labour will be butting up against another sorry they don't want to focus on. there is a target in the west midlands today of trying to get the nhs waiting lists down. this target has been existing to get treatment done in 18 weeks, which hasn't been done since 2016. currently, 43% of people on waiting lists in nhs england are still waiting. they are hoping to clear that by the end of next parliament. they say they are also going to use spare capacity in the private sector, get private sector providing some of those appointments. they clearly see the nhs as the key assets for them in this election. you're going to hear much more from the shadow secretary, went straight in, throughout this campaign. they have been talking on the nhs and promise they can do more. they want to pledge £1.3 million to close the loopholes are non—dharmic tax status, that is people who are resident outside the uk. ' i? people who are resident outside the uk. ~ :: ., , ., , uk. the m 40 got the better of us, it seems. these _ uk. the m 40 got the better of us, it seems. these things _ uk. the m 40 got the better of us, it seems. these things happen, . it seems. these things happen, travelling around the country. in some cases, a magical mystery to us. correspondence will travel with candidates. let's get more on this with our chief political correspondent henry zeffman. a firm established lying to you, henry, and a lot to talk about at this stage. i want to start without diane abbott news this morning. i know you have been writing on the page upon bbc website, but there is questions to labour about the handling of this cookie is cut first and foremost, what are my mistresses.— and foremost, what are my mistresses. ~ , ., , , ., mistresses. then abbott has been an mp for 40 years- _ mistresses. then abbott has been an mp for 40 years. she _ mistresses. then abbott has been an mp for 40 years. she was _ mistresses. then abbott has been an mp for 40 years. she was the - mistresses. then abbott has been an mp for 40 years. she was the first. mp for 40 years. she was the first black woman mp, elected first in the 19705. she was a trailblazer, according to many. labour went to the country, telling the public that if they won, they would make diane abbott home secretary for sub now, it seems that in this general election, she is not going to be allowed to be a labour candidate. how long political career has seen to come to a close. this has frustrated labour mps to come to a close. this has frustrated labour mp5 for some time, especially with the handling of the case. she wrote a letter to the observer saying jewish people, irish people and travel are people did not experience racism in the same way as other groups. many mps would be happy that she would be barred from being a labour candidate again, but what they are not happy about come across ideological divides in the labour party, as a way in this case has dragged on for more than half a year, and the way it has been handled. a lot of labour mps, and people who are not natural allies of diane abbott think she has not been afforded the dignity she deserves because of her trailblazer status, and also the abuse she suffered online over the recent years. that is one of the important elements of this. the most important elements, diane abbott, a long—standing, big labourface of the diane abbott, a long—standing, big labour face of the party, will not be a candidate at the general election. ., , ., , , ., election. one of the questions you have been posing, _ election. one of the questions you have been posing, whether - election. one of the questions you have been posing, whether an - election. one of the questions you - have been posing, whether an apology would be sufficient, when her time will be coming to an end anyway. this is about clearing for a new generation of politicians ahead of this general election. i guess it depends on who you talk to in the party about which side of the debate they stand on? that party about which side of the debate they stand on?— they stand on? that is exactly riuht. they stand on? that is exactly right- there — they stand on? that is exactly right. there is _ they stand on? that is exactly right. there is a _ they stand on? that is exactly right. there is a generational| they stand on? that is exactly - right. there is a generational thing here, but also, of course diane abbott has always been firmly on the left of the labour party, the socialist campaign group. they have had their moment and jeremy corbynleadership. they were in the shadow cabinet, and the story of sir keir starmer�*s leadership has been him squeezing out those people. diane abbott has been marginalised because the labour party has moved towards the centre, for want of a better phrase. kim sam has put that the front of his election campaign. that one word slogan, change, is used. keir starmersent that one word slogan, change, is used. keir starmer sent to the public, not that he only offers change from the conservative party, but also wants them to know he has changed the labour party, and this is, i think they would happily say, a clear sign of that. that said, there is also, on the right centre of the labour party, those not on the left like fine art prints, a lot of respect and admiration for her, because of her historical role in the labour party, and because of her boundary breaking role in the labour party and party politics in general. that said, is there a danger that this overshadows what labour actually want to talk about today? is discussing it earlier with leila, they want to start their nhs treatment within 18 weeks, that will happen within five years. as a danger that we're all talking about diane abbott are not what they are actually launching today? i diane abbott are not what they are actually launching today?— actually launching today? i think it is bi aer actually launching today? i think it is bigger news _ actually launching today? i think it is bigger news than _ actually launching today? i think it is bigger news than what - actually launching today? i think it is bigger news than what labour. actually launching today? i think it i is bigger news than what labour has been launching today. we will talk about the announcement too, but it's about the announcement too, but it's a reminder that general election campaigns, which ever campaign you are, can be carefully plotted and graded. for labour, they will have had their campaign lined up day one, day two, day three months, if not years. of course, they won was not a day they were expecting, the announcement a week ago today by rishi sunak was a surprise to them. this grid has to account to the fact that things can happen that blow them off course. that said, a decision on diane abbott's future has had to be taken for some time. i think people would say, hang on a second, it's been talked about today because labour didn't make a decision earlier in that long, more than a yeartime, decision earlier in that long, more than a year time, which is suspended from the parliamentary labour party, but no clarity as to her political future. , ., , ., ., but no clarity as to her political future. , ., i. ., future. given what you have say about the _ future. given what you have say about the meticulous _ future. given what you have say about the meticulous timings i future. given what you have say about the meticulous timings in j future. given what you have say - about the meticulous timings in the planning that goes into things like this, how much of an own goal is this? this has caught them, when they were trying to plan what this first campaign would look like, they now how to deal with this, headline they don't want.— they don't want. let's see, i think generally. — they don't want. let's see, i think generally. and — they don't want. let's see, i think generally, and not— they don't want. let's see, i think generally, and not a _ they don't want. let's see, i think generally, and not a thing - they don't want. let's see, i think generally, and not a thing a - generally, and not a thing a politicaljournalist generally, and not a thing a political journalist at shea generally, and not a thing a politicaljournalist at shea and perhaps am agonist against myself here, but to rightly get into every little thing that happens in a general election campaign. of course, lots of general members of the public with busy lives will take more impressionistic sense of what happens over time. this will be a big story, perhaps the bigger story today, but tomorrow there will be something else. however, there has definitely been some failings, as i think even allies of keir starmer would say is, of labour's handling of this. there is this came to a head late last night and this morning is because of leaked briefing to the media that she would be bad, and turned out to be bang on the many. that wasn't, i think, deliberate effort from the labour party to thrust that story to the centre. it has appended whatever labour is my plan worked, even though this announcement would have to come eventually.— to come eventually. henry, always aood to to come eventually. henry, always good to talk _ to come eventually. henry, always good to talk to. _ to come eventually. henry, always good to talk to. thank _ to come eventually. henry, always good to talk to. thank you - to come eventually. henry, always good to talk to. thank you for - to come eventually. henry, always good to talk to. thank you for your analysis. we'll be back to you later if there is any specific response from labour hq if there is any response about diane abbott. the board of royal mail has agreed to a 5.6 billion takeover bid from czech billionaire daniel kretinsky. the deal will still need final sign off by the government and no decision is expected to be made before the election. here's our business editor simonjack. founded in the time of henry viii, royal mail still carries the monarch's insignia. it was split off from the post office and privatised over a decade ago, allowing anyone to buy shares. czech billionaire daniel kretinsky has already snapped up 27% of them, and royal mail's owners are recommending other shareholders accept his offer to buy the rest. but unions, the current government, and opposition politicians want assurances which include retaining the name and brand, its uk headquarters, paying taxes in the uk, and no compulsory redundancies. this offer is expected to accept those, but unions are still uneasy. look, we feel it's a failure of privatisation. it's almost 12 years since royal mail were privatised and, you know, it's been mismanaged for years. and now it looks like we're going to be owned by a foreign equity company, which we're really concerned with because quality is down, morale is down. and whilst there's been some assurances, we've been told, we are really concerned what the future holds for royal mail, a great british public service. daniel kretinsky made his fortune in the energy industry, but has, in recent years, diversified his interests into retail and logistics — he owns 10% of sainsbury�*s and 25% of west ham football club. a final decision by shareholders and the government is not expected before the election. simon jack, bbc news. let's return to the election. we have heard what labour is talking about today, but what about the conservatives? the conservatives say they would close university courses offering what rishi sunak has described as �*rip—off degrees' in england, and instead fund up to 100,000 extra apprenticeships a year. labour described the plans as laughable. the liberal democrats said the "shockingly low" pay for many apprenticeships was a sign of a broken system. let's get more from our education editor, branwen jeffreys. just talk to me about the significance of this announcement. 100,000 extra apprenticeships sounds like a lot, but already, criticism they don't pay enough people can't get them? they don't pay enough people can't etthem? . , ,, they don't pay enough people can't etthem? . , , get them? apprenticeships are very valuable route _ get them? apprenticeships are very valuable route for— get them? apprenticeships are very valuable route for some _ get them? apprenticeships are very valuable route for some people, - get them? apprenticeships are very valuable route for some people, of| valuable route for some people, of course, but some do have high dropout rate as well. the pay, the starting pay particular for young people is low. the conservatives say they would provide a better route, potentially, into work, into a sustainable future for young people. the low value courses, by that they mean university courses with extremely high dropout rates where students don't necessarily go on to get a well—paid graduate job. students don't necessarily go on to get a well—paid graduatejob. they don't say how many of those they believe there are, but they do say they want to give the regulator powers to close those courses down and instead to put the money that would have gone to tuition fees towards funding apprenticeships, 100,000 by the next parliament, an extra 100,000 a year.— extra 100,000 a year. there are financial implications _ extra 100,000 a year. there are financial implications of - extra 100,000 a year. there are financial implications of this. - extra 100,000 a year. there are financial implications of this. i'm just looking at the numbers provided by the conservatives, but the reason they want to do it is because one in five graduates would have been bettered off if they haven't gone to university. one in three graduates are in a job that don't require a degree in the first place, and as you say, £1 of every £4 and that is borrowed by students is never paid back. to the financial indications of this could be significant? the numbers of— of this could be significant? ti3: numbers of students of this could be significant? ti3 numbers of students they are talking about and not necessarily huge. they are not talking about diverting 20% of students away from university. and there are two things that is really worth holding in mind. one is the choice lies with the young people themselves. from 16—19 —year—olds, thinking about where they want to go, they choose whether they want to go, they choose whether they go to university or whether they go to university or whether they go to university or whether they go into an apprenticeship. in england, there is no limit on the number of places, the number of students that any individual university can admit. even if some courses that were deemed to be low value, closed, it is completely possible the university sector would offer as many places, simply by expanding more successful courses and admitting students onto those. when it comes to apprenticeships, the government can offer funding, but these are co—created with employers. employers have to be willing to create, to have the capacity to create the extra apprenticeships. these are levers that any potential future governments can pull, but will be hard to guarantee the effect. you talk about the _ hard to guarantee the effect. you talk about the leathers, because the currently the offer is that students can sanction courses if they fall below certain standards. whether conservatives are proposing here, correct me if not, is a new law to close down if they aren't of quality. close down if they aren't of auali . , , quality. they will strengthen the owers quality. they will strengthen the powers that _ quality. they will strengthen the powers that office _ quality. they will strengthen the powers that office for _ quality. they will strengthen the powers that office for students i quality. they will strengthen the - powers that office for students have along them to close courses. many people i've spoken to have said the office for students can effectively, almost do that. they can issue quite hefty fines if they wanted to to university offering low value courses and restrict what they can do. so far, in other cases they have looked at, they have merely suggested improvement plans. when the office of student consulted on what a low value course should look like, and where they would set the barfor like, and where they would set the bar for intervening, like, and where they would set the barfor intervening, their like, and where they would set the bar for intervening, their own estimates in 2022 was that around 2% of students would be affected in the current criteria, and those in the same criteria that conservative party is causing this morning. {30 same criteria that conservative party is causing this morning. go to seak this party is causing this morning. go to speak this morning, _ party is causing this morning. go to speak this morning, thank - party is causing this morning. go to speak this morning, thank you - party is causing this morning. go to speak this morning, thank you very much. this proposal is being made by the conservatives. let's show you where the prime minister has been this morning. this is him arriving in cornwall. he is expected to spend the day in cornwall, he came down on the day in cornwall, he came down on the overnight sleeper train from london to announce those plans that we were just discussing there, plans that he call rip—off university degrees. he said the many can be and should be diverted to more apprenticeships. he said the conservatives would create 100,000 more apprenticeships a year if he is re—elected. these are not life, this was earlier today on his visit to cornwall and devon. we will check in with other leaders as they continue their campaigning around the remember, just a week since that general election was called by the prime minister. there are five weeks to go, so brace yourself. there is much more ahead. we have spoken about the conservatives, and the labour party wants to meet the waiting time target within five years. at the moment, it hasn't actually been hit since 2016. with me is our health correspondent, nick triggle. whenever nhs are such a key issue in this election, but any questions about how they will deliver this? the labour party said the first steps it would take if it wins power is to start tackling that backlog. it currently stands at 7.5 million, more than 3 million more than before the pandemic. it if it were to start tackling this, it would create thousands more operations and appointments a week. it would use the private sector more, and get the nhs to do more in the evenings and weekends. it points to hospitals that have been doing this, and an effective way to get through the waiting list. so it says it wants to spread that out across the nhs, but the key thing that hasn't been set out, and not by any party for that matter, it'sjust how out, and not by any party for that matter, it's just how much they were spent on the nhs. labour are pointing to the blair years where they made huge strides in reducing waiting times, but the budget rose between six and 7% on average a year above inflation. there will be nothing like that are available for the nhs in the next parliament, and that means if any government prioritise a waiting list, it will mean being able to do less in other areas. , ., , ., , areas. there will be two questions, where the money _ areas. there will be two questions, where the money will _ areas. there will be two questions, where the money will come - areas. there will be two questions, where the money will come from, i areas. there will be two questions, i where the money will come from, she said, no real commitment on to the funding of this. and that common questions at times like this, about spending more money on the nhs are also trying to reform how it works. as it fair to say this is a bit of both? ., , ., , ., ,., both? there are questions about productivity- _ both? there are questions about productivity- if — both? there are questions about productivity. if you _ both? there are questions about productivity. if you look - both? there are questions about productivity. if you look at - both? there are questions about productivity. if you look at the i productivity. if you look at the number of treatments and operations the nhs is doing, it's hardly changed in the last four or five years, yet the amount of money being pumped in, the number of staff being employed by the nhs is both gone up. there will be questions, and labour party have set up bit of detail about trying to publish tables about better performing, and get the leaders in best performing trusts with hospitals that are struggling the most. there is a need to improve productivity there, and i think that would be an issue of debate during this election. fin would be an issue of debate during this election.— this election. on that issue of productivity. _ this election. on that issue of productivity, that _ this election. on that issue of productivity, that includes - productivity, that includes technology to, and i know that means investing in more scanners. the process is to speed up the process of patients coming through, but that comes at a great cost? the numbers of scanners — comes at a great cost? the numbers of scanners the _ comes at a great cost? the numbers of scanners the nhs _ comes at a great cost? the numbers of scanners the nhs has _ comes at a great cost? the numbers of scanners the nhs has per- comes at a great cost? the numbers of scanners the nhs has per head i comes at a great cost? the numbers of scanners the nhs has per head of| of scanners the nhs has per head of the population is much lower than other european countries like france and germany. they are talking about doubling the number of ct and mri scanners, and if they can do that, that'll be very important. people waiting for this test and scan results, and if we can increase the capacity there, that could help hospitals treat patients more quickly. hospitals treat patients more ruickl . . , hospitals treat patients more . uickl . ., , ., ., hospitals treat patients more uickl . ., , ., hospitals treat patients more ruickl. ., , ., ., hospitals treat patients more ruickl. ., ., quickly. really good to have you with this, that _ quickly. really good to have you with this, that was _ quickly. really good to have you with this, that was our - quickly. really good to have you with this, that was our health i with this, that was our health correspondent. great for your analysis what are from what labour is concerned. just returning to our top story. we've been telling you diane abbott, the labour of the... these are latest images we are getting from her this morning. still no response from the labour party but lots of questions for keir starmer as he is out on the campaign trail today. worth saying that diane abbott not appearing to say very much to reporters as she leaves home but the former shadow home secretary, remember, was suspended in april 2023 after she said that jewish, irish and travel are people don't face racism all of their lives. not saying very much at all this morning but we will stay right across that story for further developments on what happens next. it is also crucial of course that labour are still finalising the candidate list for candidates who will potentially stand in her seat. she has been barred from standing for labour at the general election. let's bring you up—to—date with some of the other main stories we are following. general election campaigning is and there are a number of key seats watch. one of those is great grimsby and cleethorpes, a traditionally labour seat which had one of the largest leave votes in the country. labour lost the seat to the conservatives — thought to be because of brexit - in 2019. another is plymouth moor view, a rare tory—labour contest in a rural region where the liberal democrats are traditionally the tories' main opponents. labour beat the conservatives in the recent local elections. joining me now is our political reporter, sarah sanderson, covering east yorkshire and lincolnshire, and martyn oates, political editor for bbc south west, from tamar bridge. good morning to you both. they lot to talk about here. sarah, let me start with you and talk to me about why this seat is so important. it is really one to watch, isn't it? good mornin: really one to watch, isn't it? good morning from _ really one to watch, isn't it? good morning from cleethorpes - really one to watch, isn't it? good morning from cleethorpes in - morning from cleethorpes in north—east lincolnshire. it certainly is one to watch. this is a very popular tourist spot, as you can see but i think the media will be descending here onjuly the 4th. you know, this constituency was one of its own, cleethorpes but following the boundary changes, it has been merged with the neighbouring town of great grimsby. this constituency will now be known as great grimsby and cleethorpes. it is a new constituency. as you said, backin is a new constituency. as you said, back in 2019, this is why it is one to watch, it was taken from the labour party, the first time it was taken from them since world war ii, by the conservatives. that conservative mp who took the seat, lia nici, she is standing again, seeking the election. the labour mp who was ousted from her seat back in 2019, melanie onn, she is also standing for labour again as their parliamentary candidate. there will be a bit of a battle between labour and the conservatives. but it is not just a two horse race in north—east lincolnshire. yesterday, a local conservative councillor, oliver freestone, decided to defect to reform. he announced that he will be standing for reform as their parliamentary candidate. there is all that going on. we don't know the names of any of the other confirmed parliamentary candidates as yet. just to stay as well, the local council, the conservatives lost control of north east lincolnshire council in the local elections in may. it will be really interesting here in north east lincolnshire, in this seat of great grimsby and cleethorpes, as to where people place their votes. what they will be hoping for is that the elected mp will make greater grimsby a better place and also put cleethorpes on the map when it comes to local funding for coastal towns. stat; the map when it comes to local funding for coastal towns. stay with us. i want funding for coastal towns. stay with us- i want to _ funding for coastal towns. stay with us. i want to talk _ funding for coastal towns. stay with us. i want to talk about _ funding for coastal towns. stay with us. i want to talk about some - funding for coastal towns. stay with us. i want to talk about some of. funding for coastal towns. stay with | us. i want to talk about some of the issues that will affect people in just effect. martyn oates is the bbc political editor for the south—west. this is just one of a handful of labour targets in the south—west, where you are, explain the lay of the land for us?— the land for us? literally the lay ofthe the land for us? literally the lay of the land. _ the land for us? literally the lay of the land. i — the land for us? literally the lay of the land, i am _ the land for us? literally the lay of the land, i am in _ the land for us? literally the lay of the land, i am in plymouth, i the land for us? literally the layl of the land, i am in plymouth, as you say, right on the edge by the river tay ma, the border between devon and cornwall. cornel is behind me, just a little to my left begins the big rural expanse of devon. an area traditionally very much a battle between the lib dems and the tories. here in plymouth, very different, traditionally a straight fight between the tories and labour. this seat of plymouth moor view, held since 2015 by veterans minister johnny mercer, as you say, one of a tiny number of target seats for labour. what is it targeting —— the targeting based on? it has had a labour mp before, plymouth generally has had an even mix of conservative and labour mps and labour have held the neighbouring seat since 2017. you mentioned that labour holds the city council in plymouth, they not only hold it, in the local elections a few weeks ago, the conservatives were virtually obliterated. 57 seats on plymouth city council and the conservatives hold just seven. the caveat, and this applies across the country, and especially in the south—west, this used to be home to a lot of true marginal seats across the region and here in plymouth, the conservatives have a majority as of 2019 of more than 12,000. those kind of majorities are replicated across the region. it is a mountain to climb for labour. brute the region. it is a mountain to climb for labour.— the region. it is a mountain to climb for labour. we can never say it enou:h climb for labour. we can never say it enough that _ climb for labour. we can never say it enough that local— climb for labour. we can never say it enough that local elections - climb for labour. we can never say it enough that local elections and i it enough that local elections and the general election can be very different beasts, can't they? but talk to me about the key issues. what are people really animated about ahead of the election? weill. what are people really animated about ahead of the election? well, i mean, about ahead of the election? well, i mean. plymouth — about ahead of the election? well, i mean, plymouth is _ about ahead of the election? well, i mean, plymouth is extremely - mean, plymouth is extremely deprived. people across the rural region dislike the chocolate box reputation the south—west gets. but this is a highly urban area. if people hear of plymouth, they think of the navy, it is home to the biggest naval base in western europe, the base and the associated dockyard, doing a lot of valuable maintenance work on naval vessels, still important to the economy but nothing like the presents they were. there are ongoing problems, struggling really with the legacy of the shrinking and decline of those institutions. when we look at issues like the cost of living primarily, people in plymouth and in this plymouth moor view constituency will be right at the front line of that kind of thing.— be right at the front line of that kind of thin. ., .., , kind of thing. sara, when it comes to where you _ kind of thing. sara, when it comes to where you are, _ kind of thing. sara, when it comes to where you are, you _ kind of thing. sara, when it comes to where you are, you touched - kind of thing. sara, when it comes to where you are, you touched on| to where you are, you touched on some of those issues being about levelling up and funding for coastal communities and rural communities, levelling up money has been spent where you are but we know that takes time and is it fair to say people there have not felt the impact of there have not felt the impact of the money yet?— the money yet? that is right, of course, the money yet? that is right, of course. some — the money yet? that is right, of course, some of— the money yet? that is right, of course, some of the _ the money yet? that is right, of course, some of the national. the money yet? that is right, of. course, some of the national issues will resonate here with people in north east lincolnshire, things like the nhs and a&e waiting times, access to gp and dental appointments, crime and anti—social behaviour but you are absolutely right, a lot of money has been allocated to the area in terms of levelling up funding. many people here, they don't really feel as though they are seeing the benefits. yes, it takes time but they really want to see examples of how it is making this place better to live. when you talk aboutjobs, the seafood sector, they are huge employers in north east lincolnshire, the renewables sector is growing but there are quite a few younger people who choose to leave the area to seek betterjob opportunities. so there are many people here who perhaps want to see more investment, more businesses coming into the area, to make it a more booming place. when you talk about actually levelling up, the local council is trying to do that in another way as well. only last week, they launched a campaign called find your space in north east lincolnshire which highlights the benefits of living in north—east lincolnshire, like cheaper housing, cheaper rent, living near the lincolnshire wolds, having this beautiful coastline on your doorstep and they are hoping that will encourage entrepreneurs and business people to move to the area, to create jobs, people to move to the area, to createjobs, that people to move to the area, to create jobs, that kind people to move to the area, to createjobs, that kind of people to move to the area, to create jobs, that kind of thing. whether it will keep any of the younger people and encourage them to stay, who knows? but i think the main thing here, when that mp is elected for a great grimsby and cleethorpes, this new constituency, what people will really want to see the mp do is to turn the tide for these two local, coastal towns here in north east lincolnshire, to make both grimsby and cleethorpes and even better place to live. you both grimsby and cleethorpes and even better place to live.- even better place to live. you are riaht, even better place to live. you are right. and — even better place to live. you are right. and the _ even better place to live. you are right, and the boundary - even better place to live. you are right, and the boundary changesl even better place to live. you are l right, and the boundary changes do change things somewhat. you were listening to that, and i wonder what parallels there are, on the face of it, quite different communities, very different parts of the country but are there connections? are the same issues prevalent where you are, too? particularly when it comes to jobs and keeping young people in the local area, and also, the impact of that levelling up money, whether it is being felt anywhere in the region where you are, down in plymouth? th where you are, down in plymouth? ti terms of levelling up, i can very confidently say the benefits won't have been felt yet because plymouth's just had an award, one of a number of places in the south—west which apply three times to the fund. they finally got the money. i would say, actually, there is a lot in common between the two places, although they are a long way apart. there are particular problems which have been diagnosed by a number of reports, experienced by coastal communities, because they tend to be... i mean, the south—west considers itself to be, it is obviously geographically peripheral but it tends to feel peripheral in terms of the interest of government as well. but of course, coastal areas are peripheral because on one side, you simply have got the sea. i think there are a lot of similarities between these areas. as i say, plymouth is a very unusual place here in the south—west. somebody once described it to me as a northern industrial city which has been plonked on the south coast of devon. . , been plonked on the south coast of devon. ., , ., ., been plonked on the south coast of devon. ., , ., ., ,, ., devon. really good to talk to you both, devon. really good to talk to you both. thank _ devon. really good to talk to you both, thank you _ devon. really good to talk to you both, thank you to _ devon. really good to talk to you both, thank you to martin - devon. really good to talk to you both, thank you to martin and i devon. really good to talk to you - both, thank you to martin and sarah, fascinating to get a snapshot of what is happening around the country because there are so many similarities but as we talked about, a lot of differences on a very local level ahead of the general election. it is worth pointing out... here are the candidates who have been selected so far for some of the bigger parties to fight in the constituency of great grimsby and cleethorpes. the bbc will have a full list of candidates once nominations close. here are the candidates who have been selected so far for some of the bigger parties to fight in the constituency of plymouth moor view. the bbc will have a full list of candidates once nominations close. remember, the 4th ofjune, full pm, is the deadline for that. —— for pm. also much more coverage of the election campaign from now until the 4th ofjuly. you can watch it on bbc news or on the bbc iplayer. you can find the election 2024 live page on the website and do check it out, right across the country, our teams out on the campaign trail. let's step away from the general election for a moment and take you to the us. jurors in the criminal trial of donald trump will begin their deliberations later after lawyers for the prosecution and defence wrapped up their closing arguments yesterday. they did so at length with the court sitting for more than three hours longer than scheduled. prosecutors say that mr trump engaged in a fraud against the american people. his lawyers said the case was based on lies. john sudworth has the details. with the end of the trial now in sight, donald trump repeated his claim that the whole things a political sham. make no mistake about it — i'm here because of crooked joe biden. while inside the court with his family watching on, his defence lawyers rested their case. their closing arguments were focused on mr trump's former lawyer and fixer, michael cohen. just before the 2016 election, he paid stormy daniels to silence her allegation that she had had sex with mr trump. but mr cohen's claim his boss knew the payment was made to influence the election was a lie, the defence said. and while mr trump's son continued the attack on the steps of the court... and he's actually lied to that veryjury, and yet he's the only person of relevance that this entire case... ..the prosecution, in their closing arguments, agreed mr cohen was dishonest. that's precisely the point, they told the jury — he lied on behalf of, and in the pay of, donald trump. and as if the political circus couldn't get any bigger, there was an unexpected cameo appearance with a warning about mrtrump. we don't want to wake up after the election saying, "what, again? my god, what the hell have we done?" well, the world's media has been here from the start, but there's no doubt these press pens are now filling up in anticipation of a moment in history — the first verdict in the first criminal trial of a former president, with uncertain political consequences, whichever way it goes. all that's left is for the judge to instruct the jury, then 12 ordinary new yorkers will decide his fate. john sudworth, bbc news, new york. let's return to the election because we talked about the policies being proposed from the conservatives and the labour party. let's talk about the labour party. let's talk about the liberal democrats. the lib dem battle bus is taking sir ed davey to wales to launch the party's election campaign there. alongside welsh lib dem leader jane dodds, he will set out a rescue plan forfarmers including £1 billion in extra funding. let's speak to the liberal democrat mp and their cabinet office spokesperson, christine jardine. thank you forjoining us. talk to me about this increase in the agricultural budget. you have put a number rent, £1 billion, what will you spend it on?— number rent, £1 billion, what will you spend it on? what we want to do is reverse the — you spend it on? what we want to do is reverse the neglect _ you spend it on? what we want to do is reverse the neglect on _ you spend it on? what we want to do is reverse the neglect on british - is reverse the neglect on british farming, that british farmers have felt under this conservative government. theirs is a legacy of failure. what ed davey is going to be doing is setting out a rescue plan, that £1 billion you mentioned will be for the agricultural budget, renegotiating some of the botched overseas trade deals have not been good for agricultural sector. and addressing the worker shortages that they are feeling throughout the sector across the united kingdom. this is yet another area where we feel that the conservatives have let wales specifically and farming particularly down. ok. wales specifically and farming particularly down.— wales specifically and farming particularly down. ok, it all sounds treat in particularly down. ok, it all sounds great in theory _ particularly down. ok, it all sounds great in theory but _ particularly down. ok, it all sounds great in theory but how— particularly down. ok, it all sounds great in theory but how will- particularly down. ok, it all sounds great in theory but how will it - great in theory but how will it work? how do you solve the labour shortage and renegotiate the trade deals and the agricultural bills, and you say that they don't work, what is wrong with them? itiruihat and you say that they don't work, what is wrong with them? what we need to do. — what is wrong with them? what we need to do. we _ what is wrong with them? what we need to do, we have _ what is wrong with them? what we need to do, we have the _ what is wrong with them? what we need to do, we have the example, | what is wrong with them? what we i need to do, we have the example, the farming sector was very unhappy with the deal with australia. what we need to do is look at how we can improve that situation. we need to encourage people to come across. the farming step —— sector in scotland for example, there is a lot of seasonal work and since the conservatives's immigration policy, such a disaster, we have not been able to encourage people to come over. we need more seasonal visas, more ability for people to come and help us through difficult spells in agriculture. that is what the industry is crying out for. they have been completely neglected and they are not the only ones. in this election, we are looking at how the nhs has been left to crumble, hospitals are crumbling, schools are crumbling, people working in the nhs, the medical professionals are working under immense pressure because of the waiting lists that this government has allowed to develop through neglect again. and a lack ofjust paying attention and taking the british public in all areas for granted.— taking the british public in all areas for granted. there's lots of issues for — areas for granted. there's lots of issues for us _ areas for granted. there's lots of issues for us to _ areas for granted. there's lots of issues for us to talk _ areas for granted. there's lots of issues for us to talk about - areas for granted. there's lots of issues for us to talk about what i | issues for us to talk about what i want to focus on the deal for farmers who are proposing. i still don't really have any detail from you about how it would work because we know that labour shortages are a problem in so many sectors right now. farming is one, hospitality is another, skilled labour and engineering and manufacturing, also another issue. how do you solve it? this is about changing overseas visa rules, isn't it? this is about changing overseas visa rules. isn't it?— rules, isn't it? what we need, you are right. — rules, isn't it? what we need, you are right. is _ rules, isn't it? what we need, you are right, is for _ rules, isn't it? what we need, you are right, is for farmers _ rules, isn't it? what we need, you are right, is for farmers and - rules, isn't it? what we need, you are right, is for farmers and the i are right, is for farmers and the industry, food processes in general, to be able to recruit the workers they need to secure food supply and scrapping arbitrary salary visa thresholds would be a start because they are unrealistic for these industries, which really need seasonal workers, they need on visas to come into the country. according to come into the country. according to the nfu, a shortage of workers caused £60 million worth of fruit and veg to go to waste in the first half of 2022. they say that they need an extra 70,000 workers where the government's seasonal workers visa offers only 25,000 places so these are the areas where we need it done and then you look at the fishing industry, where fishing boats have got to buy —— got to apply for a visa, the system does not work for the food processing industry and the agricultural industry, and they really need it so we have to fix it so that they have what they need to supply us with the food, keep prices down. can you imagine, £60 million worth of food going to waste in this country, when people are hungry and can't afford it? that is criminal. just people are hungry and can't afford it? that is criminal.— it? that is criminal. just while we are talking _ it? that is criminal. just while we are talking on _ it? that is criminal. just while we are talking on the _ it? that is criminal. just while we are talking on the other- it? that is criminal. just while we are talking on the other side - it? that is criminal. just while we are talking on the other side of. it? that is criminal. just while we i are talking on the other side of the screen we are looking at your leader, ed davey, in wales, launching the campaign with the usual placards behind it. we will continue that conversation but we will leave the image on the screen. i want to come to that proposal as well about renegotiating the overseas trade deals. actually, if brexit has told us anything, it is that renegotiating a trade deal is really, really difficult. the deal is that the uk has been able to strike so far with countries around the world are relatively small, if you look at the total output of the country. how would you make that simpler? how do you get a deal over the line when every country is vying for a good trade deal to protect their own domestic industry? you know, it their own domestic industry? you know. it is _ their own domestic industry? you know. it is so _ their own domestic industry? gm, know, it is so tempting to say, we knew that this was going to be the impact of brexit. i don't think it is good enough for anyone in politics to say, well, brexit makes it difficult. we have to make sure that we improve the situation. yes, we would want to see the australian trade deal reopened because we need to make sure that british standards are not undercut and that farmers, not just are not undercut and that farmers, notjust in australia, food producers across the world, if we are doing a deal with them, they need to meet climate change commitments and they need to meet standards that we have in this country. a trade deal with anybody is damaging for this country if it undercuts our farmers is damaging for this country if it undercuts ourfarmers or undercuts our farmers or agricultural sector and undercuts ourfarmers or agricultural sector and food processing. we would want to introduce legislation to make sure that those british standards of environmental protection and animal welfare are built into the trade deals and that parliament has the powers to negotiate mandate and give final approval of trade deals. let's face it, the failure to do that deal is down to the government. they have not negotiated good deals and they have been happy to accept bad deal to cover up basically, their mistake with brexit. it is not good enough either. this government has failed to negotiate decent deals for british industry and for the british public, and that is what we need to change. public, and that is what we need to chance. �* ., i. ., public, and that is what we need to chante, �* ., y., ., ., public, and that is what we need to chance. �* ., i. ., ., ., public, and that is what we need to chance. �* ., ., ., ., ., change. before you go, i want to ask ou about change. before you go, i want to ask you about the _ change. before you go, i want to ask you about the main _ change. before you go, i want to ask you about the main story _ change. before you go, i want to ask you about the main story we - change. before you go, i want to ask you about the main story we are - you about the main story we are following today, news of diane abbott, telling the bbc she has been barred from standing for labour at the general election, what do you make of that?— make of that? that is an internal issue for the _ make of that? that is an internal issue for the labour _ make of that? that is an internal issue for the labour party, - make of that? that is an internal issue for the labour party, that i make of that? that is an internal| issue for the labour party, that is something for them to deal with. i don't know the details of their disciplinary procedures or their internal procedures on this specific case. i don't know. it is an internal issue for them. what i would say is that what we are focusing on is our candidate and making sure that we have the best possible candidates in those areas where we can beat the conservatives, and labour, and the snp, and ensure and labour, and the snp, and ensure a change in government in this country, so that we get those better trade deals, we get an improvement in what we are providing for the nhs and by the nhs, and standards in our education are improved and most of all, we tackle the crisis that we have in the economy.— all, we tackle the crisis that we have in the economy. thank you for “oininu have in the economy. thank you for joining us- — let's turn to the promises being made by labour this morning. they say if elected the party will meet a key waiting time target for nhs treatment in england, and they have said they will do that within five years. this is all about the 18 week target that covers those waiting for appointments, procedures and operations. that target has not been met since 2016. let's speak to our guest from the nuffield trust. thank you forjoining us. the nhs will be such a key issue in this election, labour have put it front and centre today and said they will tackle waiting lists. it is one thing to say they will do it but the question is how. do we know about how they intend to bring down these waiting times? ~ , ., ., ., . ., times? well, they have announced an initiative, backed _ times? well, they have announced an initiative, backed by _ times? well, they have announced an initiative, backed by over— times? well, they have announced an initiative, backed by over £1 _ initiative, backed by over £1 billion in funding, to pay extra for doctors, nurses and others to do evening and weekend shifts to try to add some extra treatment on top of what the nhs already does. that is all well and good and obviously, it is a viable way to get more work out by simply paying people extra for working beyond their usual hours. on its own, it is probably not enough money fully to close the gap without also returning to general increases in the nhs funding budget which we have heard less about. at least they have heard less about. at least they have got some other ideas for big increases in productivity. t have got some other ideas for big increases in productivity.- have got some other ideas for big increases in productivity. i want to come onto — increases in productivity. i want to come onto each _ increases in productivity. i want to come onto each of— increases in productivity. i want to come onto each of those - increases in productivity. i want to come onto each of those issues i increases in productivity. i want to come onto each of those issues in| increases in productivity. i want to i come onto each of those issues in a second. one of the things is using the private sector more. straightaway, that will concern some people. but there's also a question about whether the private sector has the capacity to be able to pick up this work. t the capacity to be able to pick up this work. ~' , ., this work. i think the private sector probably _ this work. i think the private sector probably at _ this work. i think the private sector probably at least - this work. i think the private | sector probably at least does this work. i think the private - sector probably at least does have more capacity than it is offering. again, even more concretely, that will come down to money, though. i think the nhs has been increasing its use of the private sector really a lot in recent years. there is certainly no sign that there is a lack of willingness to use the private sector. the limit is simply that it has hit the limits of its budget again and again. it can't afford to buy mulcaire from the private sector while still finding its own trusts, gps and so on. —— to buy more care from the private sector. there is probably more work to get from the private sector although not a transformative amount but it will come down to whether there is additional money to cover that. ., , ., ,., , ., , there is additional money to cover that. ., , , ., that. one of the proposals also talks about _ that. one of the proposals also talks about spending _ that. one of the proposals also talks about spending more - that. one of the proposals also i talks about spending more money on scanners, having enough scanners and technical equipment to diagnose people and treat them as necessary. once again, though, that comes down to funding, doesn't it? t once again, though, that comes down to funding, doesn't it?— to funding, doesn't it? i think that is a aood to funding, doesn't it? i think that is a good idea. — to funding, doesn't it? i think that is a good idea, to _ to funding, doesn't it? i think that is a good idea, to be _ to funding, doesn't it? i think that is a good idea, to be honest. i to funding, doesn't it? i think that is a good idea, to be honest. the | is a good idea, to be honest. the nhs has had a bad record of spending on long—term things like it which many people have experienced, the sometimes dubious standards of that, like scanners and even buildings. labour have i think identified at least £100 million, £200 million to put behind this so that is one that i think it's probably a good choice. it should help to improve productivity over the long term. but of course, that won't have an immediate effect.— of course, that won't have an immediate effect. and that neatly nets us to immediate effect. and that neatly gets us to the _ immediate effect. and that neatly gets us to the issue _ immediate effect. and that neatly gets us to the issue of— gets us to the issue of productivity, though, new technology that may be able to help people be a bit more productive when they are at work in the hours that they are working without asking them to work any more, the technology should in theory make that productivity better but that is a problem and has been a problem for the nhs for a long time. that is right and i think the nhs has become more productive over time, orat least, it did before has become more productive over time, or at least, it did before the pandemic but something changed during the pandemic that seems to have reduced how much care it can produce even with more staff and more money than it had before. its current plan is to improve productivity by about 2% per year, and a new plan this summer. that in itself is actually quite an ambitious target, the british economy as a whole, if it improve productivity at 2% we would be considerably wealthier as a country. there is a difficult question about, potentially, reaching that level would be quite impressive in its own right. i don't think we can simply assume that there are more efficiencies to be squeezed out, just by telling the nhs to be more productive, which we have been trying pretty much for 15 years with limited results. haifa trying pretty much for 15 years with limited results.— limited results. how long does it take for all— limited results. how long does it take for all of _ limited results. how long does it take for all of this _ limited results. how long does it take for all of this to _ limited results. how long does it take for all of this to happen, i limited results. how long does itj take for all of this to happen, for people to notice the difference? we were talking about earlier about things like levelling up funding getting to rural coastal communities and our reporters out there said yes, the money is coming and it takes time to filter through. when might people feel the benefit of the reforms that are being proposed by the labour party? th reforms that are being proposed by the labour party?— the labour party? in so far as labour's _ the labour party? in so far as labour's may _ the labour party? in so far as labour's may proposal - the labour party? in so far as labour's may proposal is i the labour party? in so far as labour's may proposal is a i labour's may proposal is a relatively limited scheme to pay for extra evening and weekend working, there's no reason why that couldn't start quite quickly, i think. people who receive those appointments will notice them. i think the wider question is, what they will do with the budget beyond that and whether there will be enough of a general funding increase next year so that the nhs can generally keep up with the nhs can generally keep up with the rate of patients being referred by their gp a bit more. the existence of the private sector again does mean that at least there is some room to step things up relatively quickly. improving productivity and efficiency will take time. productivity and efficiency will take time-— productivity and efficiency will take time. ., , ., take time. really good to get your anal sis take time. really good to get your analysis on — take time. really good to get your analysis on that. _ take time. really good to get your analysis on that. thank— take time. really good to get your analysis on that. thank you - take time. really good to get your analysis on that. thank you for i analysis on that. thank you for joining us. just a reminder that it might feel like we are chopping and changing and moving all over the place this morning here on bbc news, because we are because there is a lot going on, the leaders are travelling around the leaders are travelling around the country campaigning. we will bring you all of the moments that you need to know right here but also worth saying on the bbc live page right now, all of the latest lines. if you are away from the tv or not around, you can check that out on the website or on the bbc news app. you can see it is just updated with another issue we haven't got round to yet, but the snp saying they will put pressure on labour over the proposal to nationalise the railways, another key issue as we go into this general election. all of the latest lines coming into us at the latest lines coming into us at the bbc, updated throughout the day on the bbc news website and app. if you want any more, do check that out. i will be back with the headlines for you in a few moments. now it's time for a look at the weather with carol kirkwood. hello again. it's another day of sunshine and scattered showers but some of the showers will be heavy and thundery. the other thing worth noting about today is the pollen levels. moderate or high across southern england and wales. and grass pollen, of course, is on the rise at the moment. now, low pressure is still driving our weather. the centre is now in the north sea, but we do have a weather front dangling across the north of scotland, and this is where we'll see some particularly heavy, thundery showers as we go through the course of the afternoon. slow moving, a risk of disruption for northern ireland, england and wales. it's that mixture of sunshine and showers, but some of the showers along the east coast of england could well prove to be heavy and thundery as well. but they'll be faster moving than the ones in scotland. temperatures 14—20 degrees. 20 degrees in the sunshine will feel quite pleasant. now through this evening and overnight, showery rain across scotland pushes south into northern england. the showers in the south mostly tend to fade, but there'll be further showers coming in on the wind across northern ireland and into wales and eventually into the south west. temperatures overnight falling away between about 8—11 degrees. so that's how we start the day tomorrow. the showery rain pushing across england and fizzling. but we do have a weather front wrapped around the centre of low pressure in the north sea, bringing cloud in and at times showery rain across the eastern coast. but for the rest of the uk, it's another day of bright spells, sunshine and also some showers, and quite a brisk northwesterly wind coming in to the west, as well as of course the northerly wind along the north sea coastline. but as we head from thursday into friday and the end of the week, things change because high pressure really starts to establish itself across the uk. now that means the weather will be settled, but it doesn't mean we're looking at wall—to—wall blue skies. so during the course of friday, there will be some patchy cloud around. we'll still have that cloud coming in from the north sea, bringing some rain at times across the east anglia and into kent. and there'll be the odd shower from the cloud across north west scotland, maybe into northern ireland as well. temperatures 14 to about 19 degrees north to south. then as we head on into the weekend, will high pressure still very much with us and at times we will have areas of cloud. at times we could see the odd shower, but with lighter winds and higher temperatures, it will feel quite pleasant. live from london. this is bbc news. diane abbott tells the bbc she's been barred by labour from standing for the party at the general election — after nearly 40 years as an mp. she was suspended last year for making offensive comments which she apologised for. when keir starmer said he would respond to discipline and standards in the labour party, he really meant it. , ,, ., ~ in the labour party, he really meant it. , ,, ,, , in the labour party, he really meant it. rishi sunak spends the day in cornwall, discussing _ it. rishi sunak spends the day in cornwall, discussing his- cornwall, discussing his apprenticeship policy, which he calls republic university degrees. crunch time for royal mail this morning it says it's accepted a takeover bid from a czech billionaire. hello. welcome to bbc news. i'm ben thompson. the veteran mp diane abbott, has confirmed to the bbc that she has been barred by labour from standing as their candidate at the general election. there had been uncertainty about her political future after she was readmitted by the party yesterday. ms abbott — who was the uk's first black female mp — was suspended by labour last year after suggesting thatjewish, irish and traveller people did not face racism "all their lives." she later apologised. we have been seeking further comments from diane abbott, reported as to various questions in public. will you be standing independently? what have labour and said to you? will you be standing as an independent?— will you be standing as an indeendent? . , independent? lisa post jeremy corb n? independent? lisa post jeremy corbyn? to _ independent? lisa post jeremy corbyn? to support _ independent? lisa post jeremy corbyn? to support keir - independent? lisa post jeremy i corbyn? to support keir starmer? that breaking _ corbyn? to support keir starmer? that breaking news _ corbyn? to support keir starmer? that breaking news was _ corbyn? to support keir starmer? that breaking news was put i corbyn? to support keir starmer? that breaking news was put to i corbyn? to support keir starmer? i that breaking news was put to health secretary webb street and on bbc breakfast. here's what he had to say. well, you are right, i am hearing this for the first time. i am glad that yesterday the suspension of diane abbott was lifted and the whip was restored. what she said that led to her suspension was wrong, and when keir starmer said he would restore discipline and standards in the labour party, he really meant it. i think it is also important to acknowledge that diane abbott herself apologised and accepted she had done wrong and that apology has clearly been accepted. i am not up to speed with the latest decisions around diane abbott. my understanding was that the national executive committee has not yet taken decisions on approving candidates across the country so i am hearing this for the first time. i heard from daily mirrorjournalist — melissa sigodo — who gave her reaction. it's an absolute travesty that dianne said that she's not allowed to stand in the next general election. according to keir starmer. the investigation finished, well, it was still in process. and then we found out from newsnight that actually it finished five months ago. so it's really interesting to see that the information we've been told isn't necessarily accurate. and i think that a lot of people will be looking at keir starmer and wondering what exactly is going on. but as for diane abbott, newsnight revealed that she was angry and depressed and worn out, and this process has been going since last april. so really, really shocking to hear that. she says she won't be able to stand now after being a serving member of parliament for so long. and i know that constituents in her area are so loyal to her. so it's really a travesty that it's come to this. yes. and i know one of her friends has been speaking on the today programme on the bbc this morning saying actually what she would have wanted would be the opportunity to decide whether to stand again and that opportunity has been denied offer. she's also said she apologised for making those comments. no specific response from labour right now, but what do you imagine? i can't imagine what the thinking is behind it because diane, as i said, she is loved by her constituents. so politically that doesn't really make much sense from my point of view. but also, i think that the treatment of diane is really appalling. when we saw what happened to her with the frank hester situation and how she stood up 46 times and wasn't heard, and even afterwards she said that she approached keir starmer and asked him, you know, can you restore the whip? and that didn't happen then. and apparently that was when the investigation had concluded. so the treatment of her, again, you just see the way that she is being neglected, the way she's being ignored, and now not even being given the opportunity to stand in her constituency after all these years of service. you know, she's a trailblazer. she was the first black female mp. and to be treated in such a way is absolutely appalling. it's appalling. she is from the daily mirror, and away from the dianette abbott story, labour is promising to hit a key waiting time target for nhs treatment in england by the end of the next parliament, if it wins the next general election. the target of 18 weeks for patients waiting for appointments, procedures and operations hasn't been met since 2016. this is one of those days that political parties like to earmark a specific theme. labour are trying to earmark the nhs today. what they want to talk about in the west midlands this morning is their target of trying to get nhs waiting lists down, as you say, there's been this target, labour are promising to eliminate that backlog completely. currently, 43% on nhs waiting lists in england are waiting. they said they're going to clear the backlog by the end of the next parliament. how are they going to do that? they go to ask nhs to work weekends and evenings provide 40,000 more appointments each week. they say they are also going to use spare capacity in the private sector, to get the private sector to provide some of those appointments. that is labour. the conservatives say they would close university courses offering what rishi sunak has described as �*rip—off degrees' in england, and instead fund up to 100,000 extra apprenticeships a year. labour described the plans as laughable. the liberal democrats said the "shockingly low" pay for many apprenticeships was a sign of a broken system. let's speak to ione wells who is with the conservatives on the election campaign bus. education is front and centre for the conservatives today. what are they telling you about how this will work in practice? telling you about how this will work in ractice? ., , in practice? that is right. the remise in practice? that is right. the premise that _ in practice? that is right. the premise that has _ in practice? that is right. the premise that hasjust - in practice? that is right. the premise that hasjust been i in practice? that is right. the i premise that hasjust been speaking premise that has just been speaking about this on his visited today. he has been in cornwall, devon, meeting apprentices this morning and all part of this big announcement is that they have today, essentially saying they want to, instead of finding what they describe as rip—off degrees, degrees not leading to high performance to students in universities, they would divert them anyway and fend 100,000 new apprenticeships. at the moment, that announcement is thin on some detail about how this will work in practice, which specific degrees will get the call end of these plans come and what might be funded instead. the oppositions have criticised this plan, saying attendance in general has fallen under their watch, and this is a bold plan on the premise the's would to transform opportunities for younger people. he says all of this on a visit to the south west england, after catching the sleeper train to cornwall last night and it's interesting, in a way, because this is yet another visit to the prime minister has been doing to an area of england that is a safe conservative area, traditionally. all the seats around cornwall, devon for example a pretty safe conservative seat on the whole, so it does suggest that at the moment, his campaign has been defensive in its focus, visiting seeds that historically the conservatives wouldn't be campaigning that hadn't. which perhaps is a defensive approach this time around. t’m approach this time around. i'm lookin: approach this time around. i'm looking at _ approach this time around. i'm looking at the detail but have this proposal might work. they say this will be about a new law that will allow independent regulators to go and completely close what they described as the poorest performing university courses. i suppose that is the question about what you define are poorly performing one. there are many students in jobs that don't actually require a degree, but it wouldn't affect that many students on that many courses, with it? ., ., ., , ., , it? no, and that is what this regulator — it? no, and that is what this regulator would _ it? no, and that is what this regulator would work - it? no, and that is what this regulator would work out. i it? no, and that is what this i regulator would work out. work it? no, and that is what this - regulator would work out. work out what degree isn't doing well and had to measure that. is it purely financial gains afterwards, there is other factors that might come into force as well as part of that decision making? these are questions that are a bit loose at the moment is to define what would count as not performing well, but certainly this is a part of a wider narrative, i think, that the conservatives are putting out that they want to take, and they would, both action in their campaign. what is interesting at the moment, we have seen a succession now of big announcements from the conservatives, labour on the other hand have been quite saving big announcements of when their manifesto launch happens. this is the third big policy announcements we've had now which they're using as a strategy to dominate the debate narrative. we seen policies on the nhs, nationalservice, pensions and now education. the nhs, national service, pensions and now education-— nhs, national service, pensions and now education. the challenge and for the politicians — now education. the challenge and for the politicians and _ now education. the challenge and for the politicians and particularly - now education. the challenge and for the politicians and particularly for- the politicians and particularly for those leaders right now, of all the parties, is making these policies into something coherent. were only a week since rishi sunak or the election, and are getting an idea of what a vote for a certain party would mean if they got into downing street, but i suppose the danger is that it ends up being a different policy that might not be coherent, they have to streamline it, don't they? they have to streamline it, don't the ? , ,, ., ,, they have to streamline it, don't the ? , ,, ,, they have to streamline it, don't the? , ,, , , ., they? rishi sunak is trying to stitch together, _ they? rishi sunak is trying to stitch together, what - they? rishi sunak is trying to stitch together, what is i they? rishi sunak is trying to i stitch together, what is essentially someone who is prepared to make bold decisions, big decisions even if they're not popular with some people. he was to take the action that he believes is necessary to transform the country. as i say, whether that is freezing the tax thresholds for pensioners, introducing national service for 18—year—olds, or this announcement today about scrapping certain degrees and replacing them with apprenticeships. these are sort of big decisions that he be prepared to take as prime minister. i suppose the challenge for him, and a criticism i've heard from the conservative party is that he chose to call a selection before he had actually been able to prove that some of these big policy ideas had delivered so for example, the plan to send asylum seekers to rwanda also sat smoking. ideas of his but once he had actually been able to demonstrate and resulting supper i think that is what making some conservative mps and politicians a bit nervous, because the timing of the election, they can spread to evidence it is worked. the premises making the case that people need to chose sssttt and a vote for him would allow the six to take place. that is sort of the narrative that he is trying to argue in this campaign. labour, though, feel that there is a sort of incoherence. there is a lot of big spending pledges, calling them desperate hashed approaches to come up with ideas. i think the challenge for the conservatives from that criticism from opposition is that they're pointing to the ideas, and seeing if you believe these, why haven't you done it over the last 14 years? tax avoidance, they argue, could save a few million pounds. brute avoidance, they argue, could save a few million pounds.— few million pounds. we know politicians — few million pounds. we know politicians love _ few million pounds. we know politicians love the _ few million pounds. we know politicians love the photo i few million pounds. we know politicians love the photo op, few million pounds. we know- politicians love the photo op, they go energy conscious people, meet businesses, do they get a chance to vote to real voters and the stops? t vote to real voters and the stops? i would say it is pretty vote to real voters and the stops? t would say it is pretty choreographed on the whole in these visits. it's not something all parties do. essentially, we got on these whistle—stop tours of the country on the sparse, the prime minister will usually be travelling separately, although last night, we were all on the sleeper train to cornwall with the sleeper train to cornwall with the prime minister as well. we got off the train, met some staff, had bacon sandwiches with the prime minister and he is usually a should have to speak to, for example, business or an apprentice, however it is that he has been set up to going to be too, but generally speaking, and these big price visits there isn't that much interaction, it hasn't been so fine a campaign, interaction with much random people on the street. it tends to be businesses or other organisations that we might be visiting. i think that we might be visiting. i think thatis that we might be visiting. i think that is one thing that politicians get nervous of, because anyone who has watched political satire programmes for example, might be familiar with this in that most politicians fear, which is being encountering a difficult moment with a member of the public. i think generally speaking, other parties at the moment are keeping their visit pretty controlled on the whole, but when it comes to knocking on doors, that day—to—day campaign they will need to do, they will at some point be confronted with ordinary people, voters who are they are vying for. good luck, we will check in with you soon. enjoy the rest of your day down there in cornwall. we've talked about labour, the conservatives, let's not talking about the liberal democrats. the lib dem battle bus is taking sir ed davey to wales to launch the party's election campaign there. alongside welsh lib dem leader jane dodds, he will set out a rescue plan forfarmers including £1 billion in extra funding. let's speak to hannah miller who's with the liberal democrats today. hannah, it sounds a glut of many, but what are the lib dems are saying but what are the lib dems are saying but where that many will be spent, especially when it comes to agriculture?— especially when it comes to auriculture? , ., , ., agriculture? liberal democrats's ara ument agriculture? liberal democrats's argument is _ agriculture? liberal democrats's argument is that _ agriculture? liberal democrats's argument is that the _ agriculture? liberal democrats's. argument is that the conservative party have let farmers down. they say that there needs to be more backing for farmers than this billion pounds would help. they're talking about the trade deals that have been down, particularly the one with australia which they say australia ought to be bound by greater climate change commitments in terms of the trade that they do on food and things there. i think here in this constituency in brecon, radnor and cwm tawe, as it is called, a potential vote winnerfor them. it's a big issue around here and there is the liberal democrats are campaigning. they have quite a few target seat in the west country, with the prime minister is today. he is not talking about farming as such today, but farming is a key part of the economy there, and an area of the economy there, and an area of the liberal democrats are also targeting. it's talking about an issue that they think will really appeal to devotees.— appealto devotees. hannah, i questioned — appealto devotees. hannah, i questioned this _ appealto devotees. hannah, i questioned this earlier, - appealto devotees. hannah, i questioned this earlier, they i appealto devotees. hannah, i- questioned this earlier, they throw a load of policies that is, this is what we will do when you vote for us. the trick for them is trying to make this look like a cohesive strategy. i know we will get manifesto launches, and laid out in a bit more detail, but at the moment it feels they're targeting the key areas saying yes, it's this, this and less. how do they streamline that message some are like that in mid wales? t that message some are like that in mid wales?— mid wales? i think that an interesting _ mid wales? i think that an interesting point. - mid wales? i think that an interesting point. at i mid wales? i think that an interesting point. at the l mid wales? i think that an i interesting point. at the moment what your sync with the liberal democrats is, it yes, they are announcing policies but it's better to look at this and the themes they're wanting to talk about. yesterday was sewage, they made a notice on dentists, talk about burglaries, and today the agriculture stop those of the areas they want to be seen to have a message and to be seen talking about. i had just spoken to ed davey this morning, asking him about a few different issues. it's striking, at the moment, some of his answers are, wait until the manifesto. to a certain extent, we are in a bit of a holding pattern until we get this manifestos i can actually look at the details of things. for example, the details of things. for example, the liberal democrats are saying £1 billion for agriculture today, that is a choice. these things for all parties are a choice. if you spend extra billion pound on agriculture, you can't spend it elsewhere. we are seeing the themes, the that in of getting into the details of exactly what their policy plans look like and what they are not part torrid sizing by privatising, say, agriculture, is something we will have to wait for. the liberal democrats, the tone of their campaign it's very much to take the battle to the conservative party this time, to really pick out a few key seats where they think they can when, where they were second last time, where they think they can get mps and pitch themselves of the opposition to the conservatives. we are seeing a lot less language from them attacking the labour party, who are in power here in wales. and i think in that sense, we are seeing them take the fight to the conservatives rather than the labour party, and a lot of opposition going on at the moment. talk party, and a lot of opposition going on at the moment.— party, and a lot of opposition going on at the moment. talk to me about the hoto on at the moment. talk to me about the photo ops- _ on at the moment. talk to me about the photo ops. this _ on at the moment. talk to me about the photo ops. this is _ on at the moment. talk to me about the photo ops. this is the _ on at the moment. talk to me about the photo ops. this is the week i the photo ops. this is the week where they are all out on the road, shaking hands, meeting people, learning different bits of how to do things in factories. ed davey yesterday, of course, on the paddle board. we pour over these things, because we are following a campaign for the next six weeks. is this just about getting a photo on the front page of getting a headline on a website? who are these tailored to? ultimately, the battle in any general election for any political leader is to get name recognition. it's very easy for me as a political correspondent to stand here and talk about ed davey and various different key players throughout an election, but ultimately, people aren't paying attention to politics and any photo that gets photo recognition, name recognition for a party or a leader can be seen as a good thing. liberal democrats were pleased with how their paddle boarding went yesterday, ed davey falling into windermere, arguably deliberately at times, as he tried to stand up. but it got them the pictures and people being talked about in the way they wanted. there are people talking in a cafe round the corner from wanted. there are people talking in a cafe round the cornerfrom her earlier, and they heard about the panel boarding exercise, and that matters to the liberal democrats, as it does to all political campaigns. today, i don't know if you've been able to see the pictures yes, if we haven't got for you yet, i'm sure we'll be showing them later. ed davey arrived at dennis hill where we are, it's quite steep, and a bicycle, tickets feet off the pedals and a wacky moment. fortunately, the brakes worked and didn't crash into a big crowd of campaigners waiting for him there, but again, trying to seek any moment to capture some attention i get a bit of a time where otherwise would be quite dry and people might ignore him a bit more. we and people might ignore him a bit more. ~ ., more. we might need some of those moments again _ more. we might need some of those moments again over _ more. we might need some of those moments again over the _ more. we might need some of those moments again over the next - more. we might need some of those moments again over the next five i moments again over the next five weeks. gets those pictures on the telly when it came back into us here at the bbc newsroom. expect plenty of those moments from the leaders of the parties ahead ofjuly. we talked about the plans for conservatives, labour and the doubt liberal democrats. now the leader of the scottish national party wants to see the railways in england fully nationalised if labour win the election. john swinney is calling for the party to follow the snp's lead. scottish rail was brought into public ownership again a few years ago. they asked him what the difference was between what labour said they would do versus what the snp wants. the said they would do versus what the snp wants. ., ,., ., , said they would do versus what the snp wants-— snp wants. the labour party said romised snp wants. the labour party said promised many — snp wants. the labour party said promised many things _ snp wants. the labour party said promised many things in - snp wants. the labour party said promised many things in the i snp wants. the labour party said | promised many things in the cape stammer. they promised to abolish tuition fees, and want to do that. it promised to abolish benefit caps, and want to do that. they promised to keep the cap on banker's bonuses, and want to do that. i think it's important that where we can, continue to put pressure on the labour party to do the right thing. of course, in scotland, as you outlined we have today nationalised our railway, and have excellent levels of punctuality. where in a position where we can scrap peak—time phase during the cost of living crisis to ease the financial burden upon commuters. but it's more than the stock. it's more about network rail as well. many of the problems we face with punctuality with the train to stems from the fact that the lines going on at connected to westminster which needs to be nationalised too. there connected to westminster which needs to be nationalised too.— to be nationalised too. there are a number of — to be nationalised too. there are a number of key _ to be nationalised too. there are a number of key seats _ to be nationalised too. there are a number of key seats to _ to be nationalised too. there are a number of key seats to watch. i to be nationalised too. there are a | number of key seats to watch. one to be nationalised too. there are a i number of key seats to watch. one is great frenzy and cleethorpes. labour lost that seat in 2019 largely due to brexit. another is plymouth moor view, a labour area where the liberal democrats at the opponents. labour recently beat the conservatives in the local elections. elliott spoke to our political correspondents, and also to martin oates, political editor in bc south—west. sarah started telling us why the seating cleethorpes is so important. us why the seating cleethorpes is so im ortant. , , ., us why the seating cleethorpes is so imortant. , , ., , ., us why the seating cleethorpes is so imortant. , ,., ., ., , important. this is a popular tourist sot as important. this is a popular tourist spot as you — important. this is a popular tourist spot as you can — important. this is a popular tourist spot as you can see, _ important. this is a popular tourist spot as you can see, but _ important. this is a popular tourist spot as you can see, but the i important. this is a popular tourist | spot as you can see, but the media will be descending here on thejuly c4. this constituency was one of its own, cleethorpes, but following the band reshapes gear changes, it is nowjoined with to grimsby, now known as great grimsey and cleethorpes, new constituency. i just said, back in 2019, this is why it wants to watch, it was taken from the labour party and the first time it was taken from them since world war ii by the conservatives. that conservative mps that took the seat, leah nietzsche, she is standing again. she is seeking real action. the labour mp who was ousted from her seat back in 2019 is also standing for labour again as their parliamentary candidate. there will be a bit of a battle between labour and the conservatives there. it's notjust and the conservatives there. it's not just a two and the conservatives there. it's notjust a two horse race here in north east lincolnshire. yesterday, a local conservative councillor, oliver friesen, decided to defect to reform uk. he announced that he would be standing for reform as their parliamentary candidates. all of that is going on. we don't know the names of any of the other confirmed patrick candidates yet, but the local council conservatives lost control in the local elections in may, so it will be interesting here in north east lincolnshire, in the seat of great grimsby and cleethorpes, as to where people will place their votes. people are hoping the elected mp will make a greater grimsby a better place, and also put cleethorpes on the map when it comes to local funding for coastal towns. sarah, stay with us. i want to talk about some of the issues there. let's bring in martin oates. this is just where you are. just a handful of labour targets.— of labour targets. yes, the lay of the land. of labour targets. yes, the lay of the land- and _ of labour targets. yes, the lay of the land. and in _ of labour targets. yes, the lay of the land. and in plymouth - of labour targets. yes, the lay of the land. and in plymouth as i of labour targets. yes, the lay of the land. and in plymouth as you say. _ the land. and in plymouth as you say. but — the land. and in plymouth as you say. but i'm _ the land. and in plymouth as you say, but i'm right by the river tay mark_ say, but i'm right by the river tay mark of— say, but i'm right by the river tay mark of the — say, but i'm right by the river tay mark of the border between devon and cornwaib _ mark of the border between devon and cornwall. connell behind me, just a little behind me is the role devon. traditionally, very much a battle between — traditionally, very much a battle between the lib dems and the tories. here in _ between the lib dems and the tories. here in plymouth, very different. it's here in plymouth, very different. it's a _ here in plymouth, very different. it's a straight fight between the conservatives and labour. the seat of plymouth moor view, held since 2015. _ of plymouth moor view, held since 2015. is _ of plymouth moor view, held since 2015. is one — of plymouth moor view, held since 2015, is one of a tiny number of target _ 2015, is one of a tiny number of target seats for labour. what is that targeting based on? had labour mp before, it has an even mix of labour— mp before, it has an even mix of labourand— mp before, it has an even mix of labour and conservative mps. just on the river— labour and conservative mps. just on the river since 2017, they've had seat _ the river since 2017, they've had seat they— the river since 2017, they've had seat. they not only hold it in the local_ seat. they not only hold it in the local elections a few years ago, 57 seats_ local elections a few years ago, 57 seats on— local elections a few years ago, 57 seats on plymouth city council seats. — seats on plymouth city council seats, conservatives hold only seven — seats, conservatives hold only seven hit _ seats, conservatives hold only seven. hit the south—west, this used to be _ seven. hit the south—west, this used to be home _ seven. hit the south—west, this used to be home to a lot of true marginal seats _ to be home to a lot of true marginal seats. across the region and here in plymouth _ seats. across the region and here in plymouth. cities have a majority of more _ plymouth. cities have a majority of more than — plymouth. cities have a majority of more than 12,000 since 2019. they are replicated across the region. a mountain— are replicated across the region. a mountain to — are replicated across the region. a mountain to climb for labour. the similarities _ mountain to climb for labour. the similarities and _ mountain to climb for labour. tt3 similarities and the differences there. two different stories across different coastlines of the uk. reminder, here are the candidates elected so far for reminder, here are the candidates elected so farfor some reminder, here are the candidates elected so far for some of the bigger parties to fight that syria was telling us about. the bbc will have a full list of candidates once nominations close. here are the candidates who have been selected so far for some of the bigger parties to fight in the constituency of plymouth moor view. the bbc will have a full list of candidates once nominations close. you're watching the seniors, and with sing, you can keep up—to—date evenif with sing, you can keep up—to—date even if you are away from the television. the bbc news website and 3pp television. the bbc news website and app will have constantly updated feeds on the life pages there, critically related to the general election, and of course all the other stories. the board of royal mail has agreed to a £3.6 billion takeover bid, from czech billionaire, daniel kretinsky. the deal will still need final sign off by the government and no decision is expected to be made before the election. here's our business editor, simonjack. founded in the time of henry viii, royal mail still carries the monarch's insignia. it was split off from the post office and privatised over a decade ago, allowing anyone to buy shares. czech billionaire daniel kretinsky has already snapped up 27% of them, and royal mail's owners are recommending other shareholders accept his offer to buy the rest. but unions, the current government, and opposition politicians want assurances which include retaining the name and brand, its uk headquarters, paying taxes in the uk, and no compulsory redundancies. this offer is expected to accept those, but unions are still uneasy. look, we feel it's a failure of privatisation. it's almost 12 years since royal mail were privatised and, you know, it's been mismanaged for years. and now it looks like we're going to be owned by a foreign equity company, which we're really concerned with because quality is down, morale is down. and whilst there's been some assurances, we've been told, we are really concerned what the future holds for royal mail, a great british public service. daniel kretinsky made his fortune in the energy industry, but has, in recent years, diversified his interests into retail and logistics — he owns 10% of sainsbury�*s and 25% of west ham football club. a final decision by shareholders and the government is not expected before the election. simon jack, bbc news. this is bbc news, the headlines. what have they were said to you? diane _ what have they were said to you? diane abbott _ what have they were said to you? diane abbott tells _ what have they were said to you? diane abbott tells the _ what have they were said to you? diane abbott tells the bbc - what have they were said to you? diane abbott tells the bbc she i what have they were said to you? | diane abbott tells the bbc she has been barred by labourforce diane abbott tells the bbc she has been barred by labour force landing from the —— from standing for the party and the general election. after nearly 40 years as an mp, she was suspended last year for making offensive comments that she has apologised for. offensive comments that she has apologised for-— offensive comments that she has apologised for. when keir starmer said he would _ apologised for. when keir starmer said he would restore _ apologised for. when keir starmer said he would restore discipline i apologised for. when keir starmerl said he would restore discipline and standards in the labour party, he really meant it.— really meant it. party leaders are out campaigning. _ really meant it. party leaders are out campaigning, rishi _ really meant it. party leaders are out campaigning, rishi sunak- really meant it. party leaders are out campaigning, rishi sunak is i out campaigning, rishi sunak is spending the day in cornwall, discussing with voters his apprenticeship policy to replace what he calls a rip degrees. as we have just heard, the what he calls a rip degrees. as we havejust heard, the royal mail says it has accepted a £5 billion takeover bid from a czech billionaire. lots of policy announcements from the main parties today and let's bring you the details. more now on the conservatives saying they would close university courses offering what rishi sunak has described as "rip—off degrees" in england, and instead fund up to 100,000 extra apprenticeships a year. i've been discussing this with our education editor, branwen jeffreys. apprenticeships are a very valuable route for some people, of course, but some do have quite high dropout rates as well, and the starting pay, particularly for young people, is low. however, the conservatives say that they provide a better route potentially into work, into a sustainable future for young people, than low value courses. by that, they mean university courses with extremely high dropout rates, where students don't necessarily go on to get a well—paid graduate job. students don't necessarily go on to get a well—paid graduatejob. they don't say how many of those they believe there are but they do say that they want to give the regulator powers to close those courses down and instead, put the money that would have gone into tuition fees towards funding apprenticeships, 100,000 by the end of the next parliament, an extra 100,000 per year. parliament, an extra 100,000 per ear. ., ., . ., year. there are financial implications, _ year. there are financial implications, aren't i year. there are financial i implications, aren't there? i year. there are financial - implications, aren't there? i am looking at the numbers provided by the conservatives but they say the reason they want to do it is that one in five graduates would have been better off if they hadn't gone to university, they say one in three graduates are injobs to university, they say one in three graduates are in jobs that do not require a degree in the first place and they say that as a result, £1 of every £4 borrowed by students is never paid back. the financial implications of the change could be significant. the implications of the change could be siunificant. , , ., , , significant. the numbers of students the are significant. the numbers of students they are talking _ significant. the numbers of students they are talking about _ significant. the numbers of students they are talking about are _ significant. the numbers of students they are talking about are not - they are talking about are not necessarily huge. they are not talking about diverting 20% of students away from university, and there are two things this is really worth holding in mind. —— they are talking about diverting. one is that the choice lies with young people themselves. all 16—19 —year—olds thinking about where they want to 90. thinking about where they want to go, they choose whether they go to university or whether they go into an apprenticeship. in england, there is no limit on the number of places, the number of students, that any individual university can admit. so evenif individual university can admit. so even if some courses that were deemed to be low value closed, it is completely possible that the university sector would offer as many places, simply by expanding more successful courses and admitting students onto those. when you come to apprenticeships, the government can offer funding but of course, these are co—created with employers. employers have to be willing to create, to have the capacity to create the extra apprenticeships. these are levers that any potential future government can pull. but it is very hard for them to guarantee what the effect would actually date. you them to guarantee what the effect would actually date.— them to guarantee what the effect would actually date. you talk about the levers because _ would actually date. you talk about the levers because it _ would actually date. you talk about the levers because it has _ would actually date. you talk about the levers because it has been i the levers because it has been pointed out as well that at the moment in england, the office for students can already investigate and sanction universities about the quality of their courses if they fall below certain set standards. what the conservatives are proposing here, i think i am right in saying but correct me if not, is that they will introduce a new law which will allow a regulator to go and close down the courses if they were not deemed to be quality. the?t down the courses if they were not deemed to be quality.— deemed to be quality. they are sa in: deemed to be quality. they are saying they _ deemed to be quality. they are saying they will _ deemed to be quality. they are saying they will strengthen i deemed to be quality. they are saying they will strengthen the | saying they will strengthen the powers that the office for students has, which is the regulatorfor universities in england, allowing them to close courses. many people i have spoken to have said the office for students can effectively almost do that. they can issue quite hefty fines if they want to, to a university offering low value courses, and restrict what they can do. so far, in all the cases that they have looked at, they have mainly suggested improvement plans. when the office for students consulted on what a low value course should look like, and where they would set the bar for intervening, their own estimate in 2022 was that around 2% of students would be affected on the current criteria. those are the same criteria that the conservative party is quoting this morning. two lines of breaking news to bring you at this point in the morning. confirmation that we have been waiting for, the news that rishi sunak and keir starmer, the leaders of the conservative and labour parties, will go head to head in a televised debate. it will be at 9pm uk time on the 4th ofjune, next tuesday. there was a lot of staycation about whether they leaders would go head—to—head or whether it would involve the leaders of the other main parties but confirmation of the first of what might be a number of debates, this is rishi sunak and keir starmer, which will go head to head on itv at 9pm next tuesday. a date for your diary. the 4th ofjune. if that is what you want to watch, 90, blockbuster time, on itv. another line we have got coming to us relates to events on the singapore airlines flight that you remember we reported about, the turbulence that cause significant injuries and one death on board the plane last week. we have got the initial details from the investigation that has been carried out by singapore airlines and they say it was likely because, as was speculated, by the train dropping by 178 feet, 54 metres. —— by the plane dropping by 178 feet. they say it was a rapid change in gravitational force as a result of air movement. so turbulence was to blame. what is interesting about what we have heard is about how the pilots on board the plane try to deal with it. they say that the pilots manually controlled the aircraft for 21 seconds, they had to take over from the autopilot that was trying to correct the change in altitude. they tried to stabilise the plane for 21 seconds manually. the pilots took action to control an increase in airspeed, they called for people to fasten their seat belt sign, but then there was the rapid change in gravitational force, was the rapid change in gravitationalforce, their was the rapid change in gravitational force, their words, that likely because people who were not belted up to become airborne before another change then caused them to fall back down. so more detail about what really happened on that flight that caused the death of one man and injuries for so many others, the plane travelling from london to singapore which was diverted of course to bangkok. this was 70 minutes after the turbulence event, the pilots were able to carry out a normal, controlled descent and bring the plane back down to 31,000 feet. those are the results of the first investigation into what exactly happened during the turbulence on the singapore airlines flight, and the response from the pilots on board. if we have further details, we will bring them to you. let's return to the election right now. we have been talking about the policies announced by the leaders of the main parties this morning. labour say they will cut key waiting time targets for the nhs treatment in england and wales within five years, if they win the election. this relates to a target, the 18 week target, covering people waiting for appointments, procedures and operations. it is worth saying that target has not been met since 2016. with more on what to expect, nick triggle has the details. the with more on what to expect, nick triggle has the details.— triggle has the details. the labour pa said triggle has the details. the labour party said one _ triggle has the details. the labour party said one of— triggle has the details. the labour party said one of the _ triggle has the details. the labour party said one of the first - triggle has the details. the labour party said one of the first steps i triggle has the details. the labour party said one of the first steps itl party said one of the first steps it will take if it wins power is to start tackling the backlog. it currently stands at 7.5 million, more than 3 million more than before the pandemic. it says, to start tackling this, it will create an extra 40,000 appointments and operations a week and it will do this through using the private sector more, and also, getting the nhs to do more in the evenings and weekends. it points to hospitals that have started doing this and it is a very effective way of getting through the waiting lists. it says it wants to spread that out across the nhs but the key thing that has not been set out, it has not been set out by any other parties, for that matter, is how much they will spend the nhs. labour are pointing to the blair years, when they made huge strides in reducing rating —— are waiting times. but the budget rose between 6—7% on average per year above inflation. most experts agree there will be nothing like that available for the nhs in the next parliament. that means that if any government prioritises waiting lists, it will mean being able to do less in other areas. ttick lists, it will mean being able to do less in other areas.— less in other areas. nick triggle, our health _ less in other areas. nick triggle, our health correspondent, i less in other areas. nick triggle, our health correspondent, with l less in other areas. nick triggle, l our health correspondent, with the details about that proposal. i also spoke to the policy analyst and head of public affairs at the nuffield trust. , ., ., ., . ., trust. they have announced that initiative backed _ trust. they have announced that initiative backed by _ trust. they have announced that initiative backed by over- trust. they have announced that initiative backed by over £1 - trust. they have announced that. initiative backed by over £1 billion initiative backed by over £1 billion in funding to pay extra for doctors, nurses and others to do evening and weekend shifts, to try to add some extra treatment on top of what the nhs are ready does. that is all well and good and obviously, it is a viable way to get more work out, by simply paying people extra for working beyond their usual hours. on its own, it is probably not enough money fully to close the gap without also returning to general increases in the nhs funding budget, which we have heard less about. at least, unless they have got some other ideas for big increases in productivity. i ideas for big increases in productivity.— ideas for big increases in productivity. ideas for big increases in roductivi . ., ., ., productivity. i want to come in to each of those _ productivity. i want to come in to each of those issues _ productivity. i want to come in to each of those issues and - productivity. i want to come in to each of those issues and a - productivity. i want to come in to i each of those issues and a second. one of the things is using the private sector more. straightaway that will concern some people. but there is also a question about whether the private sector has capacity to be able to pick up the work. i capacity to be able to pick up the work. ~' , ., , . ., ., work. i think the private sector at least probably — work. i think the private sector at least probably does _ work. i think the private sector at least probably does have - work. i think the private sector at least probably does have more i least probably does have more capacity than it is offering. again, even more concretely, that will come down to money, though. i think the nhs has been increasing its use of the private sector really a lot in recent years. there is certainly no sign there is a lack of willingness to use the private sector. the limit is simply that it has hit the limits of its budget again and again. it cannot afford to buy mulcaire from the private sector while still finding its own trusts, gps and so on. —— to buy care from the private sector. there is probably some work to give the private sector although not a transformative amount but it will come down to whether or not there is additional money to cover it. .,, ., there is additional money to cover it. ., ., there is additional money to cover it. those are the labour plans on the nhs and _ it. those are the labour plans on the nhs and waiting _ it. those are the labour plans on the nhs and waiting times - it. those are the labour plans on the nhs and waiting times for i the nhs and waiting times for treatment and appointments. let's talk some more about what the conservatives are proposing, they are focusing on education. rishi sunak says he wants to close university courses that the conservatives described as rip—off degrees. he says the money will be channelled into funding 100,000 extra apprenticeships every year. so the conservative leader is down in cornwall and he has been speaking to reporters, there. let's listen. wonderful to be in cornwall this morning, having come on the overnight sleeper. i have been having a great time meeting apprentices who are incredibly excited about their future. that is why a future conservative government will take the bold action of closing down underperforming university degrees that are letting young people down and instead using that money to fund 100,000 that is the best way to secure a future for our young people. flan best way to secure a future for our young maple-— best way to secure a future for our young people. can you identify any underperforming _ young people. can you identify any underperforming degree _ young people. can you identify any underperforming degree to - young people. can you identify any underperforming degree to us, - young people. can you identify any| underperforming degree to us, they want and what is wrong with university for so many young people? university is great and it makes a fantastic option for many people but it is not the only option. i am not someone who believes you have to go to university and all the apprentices i have been talking to this morning are proof of that, describing it as the best decision they ever made. what we know is that there are university degrees that are letting people down. independent studies say that around one in five people who are on degrees would have been financially better off not doing them. about one in three graduates are on non—graduate jobs. so actually, we are better or providing those young people with the opportunity of high quality apprenticeships. the regulator will be given the powers to look at underperforming degrees, looking at the progression rates, the dropout rates, the earnings of people on those degrees and instead, we will use that money to fund 100,000 new apprenticeships and that is an example of the bold action i am prepared to take because that is how we will deliver a secure future for everyone across the country and in contrast, the labour party are still clinging to the notion that everyone has to go to university and they want to half the number of apprenticeships and that is not the right way forward. we apprenticeships and that is not the right way forward.— right way forward. we are in cornwall _ right way forward. we are in cornwall on _ right way forward. we are in cornwall on the _ right way forward. we are in cornwall on the election - right way forward. we are in | cornwall on the election trail, right way forward. we are in - cornwall on the election trail, in another conservative seat. why are you visiting seats that you hold? are you worried you might lose them at the election? you have spent a lot of money the last few days. the polls are not really shifting. what is left in the can for you? i polls are not really shifting. what is left in the can for you?- is left in the can for you? i don't take a single — is left in the can for you? i don't take a single vote _ is left in the can for you? i don't take a single vote for— is left in the can for you? i don't take a single vote for granted i is left in the can for you? i don't . take a single vote for granted which is why i'm travelling to every part of the country. i have been in scotland, wales, northern ireland, leicestershire, staffordshire, today in cornwall and devon and i'm talking to people about the choice at this election. we live in uncertain times and only the conservatives have a plan to take bold action, like introducing a modern form of national service, like introducing the new triple lock plus to provide a tax cut for pensioners, like today's announcement of closing underperforming university degrees and using the money to fund high quality apprenticeships. those are all bold actions that will deliver a secure future for everyone in the country. that is the choice at this election because the labour party have got no ideas and no plan and thatis have got no ideas and no plan and that is increasingly clear with every day that goes on. turning to labour every day that goes on. turning to labour ghosh. _ every day that goes on. turning to labour ghosh, should _ every day that goes on. turning to labour ghosh, should diane - every day that goes on. turning to | labour ghosh, should diane abbott stand as a candidate at the general election on the lith ofjuly? that stand as a candidate at the general election on the 4th ofjuly?- election on the 4th ofjuly? that is a ruestion election on the 4th ofjuly? that is a question for— election on the 4th ofjuly? that is a question for the _ election on the 4th ofjuly? that is a question for the labour- election on the 4th ofjuly? that is a question for the labour party, i a question for the labour party, i've not been following this whole thing very closely but what i seem to have picked up is that the labour party have been telling everybody the investigation into diane abbott is ongoing. it now appears that it concluded months ago. really, i guess it is a question for them to clear up what happened when and be transparent with people about it. angela rayner has been cleared. was that a waste of police time? the olice that a waste of police time? the police are _ that a waste of police time? ire: police are independent of government. it is for them to decide who and what they investigate and my understanding is they have passed on a file to hmrc, the tax authorities which again, are independent of government and when it comes to angela rayner, what people should know is that if labour are elected into power, angela rayner is somebody who voted against our nuclear deterrent at a time when the world is more dangerous than it has been at any point since the end of the cold war and she is committed to introducing french style union laws back into our country and all that will do is costjobs and damage our economic recovery. that is the choice at this election. do we build on the progress we have made with the economy, inflation down, the economy growing, wages rising? or do we go back to square one with labour? it is the same labour party, union laws that will costjobs and damage the recovery and putting up your taxes, that is what angela rayner represent.— your taxes, that is what angela rayner represent. quickly, you got the sleeper— rayner represent. quickly, you got the sleeper train _ rayner represent. quickly, you got the sleeper train here, _ rayner represent. quickly, you got the sleeper train here, not - rayner represent. quickly, you got the sleeper train here, not each i the sleeper train here, not each other which you have been criticised for, why the train? the other which you have been criticised for, why the train?— for, why the train? the train was ureat, i for, why the train? the train was great, i thoroughly _ for, why the train? the train was great, i thoroughly enjoyed - for, why the train? the train was great, i thoroughly enjoyed it, i for, why the train? the train was i great, ithoroughly enjoyed it, i've been taking lots of pictures and videos to send back to my kids and saying we will be back as a family at some point. i'm excited to be out and about in cornwall and heading up to devon later today. it has already been a good start, talking to young apprentices about their futures. they are excited about the journey they are on. i want to make sure more people have the opportunity they have and that is why we are going to close down underperforming degrees that are letting young people down, use that money to fund 100,000 more high quality apprenticeships. it is another example of the bold action we are prepared to take, working for our plan to deliver a secure future for everyone in our country, and in contrast, wejust everyone in our country, and in contrast, we just don't hear any new ideas, any plan from the labour party. the choice at this election is increasingly clear. the party. the choice at this election is increasingly clear.— is increasingly clear. the prime minister speaking _ is increasingly clear. the prime minister speaking in _ is increasingly clear. the prime minister speaking in cornwall. | is increasingly clear. the prime i minister speaking in cornwall. bbc news has learned that criminals are selling guides on social media on how to carry out the crime of sextortion, showing how to pose as young women online, trick a victim into sending sexually explicit material and then back them. last month the national crime agency issued in the letter schools around the uk on cases involving children. on the beach, drinking cognac, living it up. olamide shanu, accused of making £2 million through sextortion. part of a gang tricking victims into sending nude images of themselves online and then blackmailing them. yesterday, in court in london, facing extradition to the us. investigators say olamide shanu was involved in the sextortion of hundreds of victims, part of a new wave of gangs based mainly in nigeria. their aim — terrify their targets, often children, and make them pay. he was shell—shocked and he was literally physically shaking. there are scores of different gangs targeting children, children like lucy's 14—year—old son. and hejust came up to me and said, "mummy, i've had this message." and he just looked terrified, worried. and i said, "what, what is it?" and he showed me his phone. it was a text message, basically saying, "don't shut us down. if you don't send us money in 2a hours, we'll send a picture to all your contacts." lucy closed her son's account, turned off the phone and never heard from the gang again. her son's fine, she's furious. we know that some teenagers tragically have ended their own lives because of this. if he hadn't been at home that morning and i hadn't been in the kitchen and he hadn't talked to me, i don't know how he would have carried on the rest of that day. you know, i don't know how it would have played out for him. a film made to warn young people in the us, where cases have surged. experts warn boys are most at risk. nigerian criminals calling themselves yahoo boys target schools, sports teams, social clubs. internet scammers over these past two years have found out that they can get very rich very quickly by scamming an untapped market, and that's teenagers. $0 adults have been targeted by romance scams, sextortion, for many years. and these scammers now are specifically targeting kids as that potential market. i will be giving you guys how you can start blackmailing. i it's become a global industry. look at these. diy guides, sextortion manuals, openly for sale online. every friday, you get a payment. he boasts that his victims have to pay him again and again. this is why i blackmail. this one takes pride in threatening people. i'm going to post it all over the internet. we decide to call one, see if he'll pick up, challenge him. hello? yeah, hello, can you hear me? yeah, i can hear you. i'm a journalist from the bbc. 0k. you're a criminal and you're exploiting children. you're extorting them and blackmailing them. what have you got to say for yourself? i'm really sorry about that. and i can actually assure that that won't continue. - well, he says he won't continue, but i don't believe a word of that. he's completely untraceable. and there are hundreds, maybe thousands of men just like him carrying out sextortion. lucy is speaking up about her child now to protect other people's. if every teenager in england knew this was a possibility, hopefully very few would become prey. angus crawford, bbc news. lawyers for the prosecution and defence have wrapped up their closing arguments in the fraud trial of the former us president, donald trump. they did so at length, with the court sitting more than three hours longer than scheduled. prosecutors say he engaged in a fraud against the american people. mr trump's lawyers said the case was based on lies. john sudworth reports. with the end of the trial now in sight, donald trump repeated his claim that the whole things a political sham. make no mistake about it — i'm here because of crooked joe biden. while inside the court with his family watching on, his defence lawyers rested their case. their closing arguments were focused on mr trump's former lawyer and fixer, michael cohen. just before the 2016 election, he paid stormy daniels to silence her allegation that she had had sex with mr trump. but mr cohen's claim his boss knew the payment was made to influence the election was a lie, the defence said. and while mr trump's son continued the attack on the steps of the court... and he's actually lied to that veryjury, and yet he's the only person of relevance that this entire case... ..the prosecution, in their closing arguments, agreed mr cohen was dishonest. that's precisely the point, they told the jury — he lied on behalf of, and in the pay of, donald trump. and as if the political circus couldn't get any bigger, there was an unexpected cameo appearance with a warning about mrtrump. we don't want to wake up after the election saying, "what, again? my god, what the hell have we done?" well, the world's media has been here from the start, but there's no doubt these press pens are now filling up in anticipation of a moment in history — the first verdict in the first criminal trial of a former president, with uncertain political consequences, whichever way it goes. all that's left is for the judge to instruct the jury, then 12 ordinary new yorkers will decide his fate. john sudworth, bbc news, new york. now i want to introduce you to paul, who loves nothing more than mowing his lawn and tending to his flowers. but when he went blind, he feared he would never be able to see his garden again. thanks to a pioneering cornea transplant, paul is one of a handful of patients to have his eyesight pastorally restored. alex dunlop has been to meet him. for 64 years, paul took his sight for granted. then, after ulcers built up on his eyes, he lost all vision. he's been blind for more than a year. until now. just one month after a new type of corneal transplant, paul can safely mow his lawn, pick out the flowers... one, two, three, four. ..and their colours. every day has been absolutely beautiful to me. what were your emotions when you were able to start seeing again? crying, crying, so elating. it is so unreal. i can see yourself sitting in a chair. i can see my lilies over there, the roses over there. this is the cornea, the dome shaped window at the front of the eye. corneal transplants are nothing new, but the one on paul's left eye, carried out by chrishan gunasekera at the norfolk and norwich hospital, is pioneering. this is the donor cornea here, is it? that's correct. that white ring is the donor cornea. and these are individual stitches that are holding the top layer of the cornea in place. we separate the cornea into two layers, like slicing through a victoria sponge. we have a top layer and a bottom layer and we only remove 25% of the cells from the bottom layer. and what does that mean, that there's less chance of rejection? that's correct, there's less chance of rejection. and the graft survival is 95% in five years. ok, yeah, that's fine. for iii long months, maggie was not just paul's wife, but his carer. now, though, they can finally share the household chores. it will be nice. it's getting there, we'll get there, we know that. - it's just fantastic. you won't think so when you see your bank account. - yeah, that's, that's a drawback. when you're blind, you can't see your bank account. and if she knows the details, i can tell you, it took a battering! that's good, that's fitting nicely. back at the norfolk and norwich hospital, paul checks in with the man he now calls his friend. in time, chrishan will carry out the same operation on his right eye. he's just one of a handful of surgeons qualified to do it. how new is this procedure? it was first described and performed in 2005 in italy. however, it hasn't really, due to the technicality of the procedure, had widespread adoption despite having incredible outcomes. paul, for one, won't disagree with that. i can't thank that man chrish enough. thank you. live every day as if it's your last because you never know what's around the corner. alex dunlop, bbc news. i want to see his reaction when he did for his bank balance after so long! great story. back with the headline shortly. now it's time for a look at the weather with carol kirkwood. hello again. it's another day of sunshine and scattered showers but some of the showers will be heavy and thundery. the other thing worth noting about today is the pollen levels. moderate or high across southern england and wales. and grass pollen, of course, is on the rise at the moment. now, low pressure is still driving our weather. the centre is now in the north sea, but we do have a weather front dangling across the north of scotland and this is where we'll see some particularly heavy, thundery showers as we go through the course of the afternoon, slow moving, a risk of disruption. for northern ireland, england and wales, it's that mixture of sunshine and showers, but some of the showers along the east coast of england could well prove to be heavy and thundery as well. but they'll be faster moving than the ones in scotland. temperatures 14—20 degrees, 20 degrees in the sunshine will feel quite pleasant now through this evening. and overnight, showery rain across scotland pushes south into northern england. the showers in the south mostly tend to fade, but there'll be further showers coming in on the wind across northern ireland and into wales and eventually into the south west. temperatures overnight falling away between about 8—11 degrees. so that's how we start the day tomorrow. the showery rain pushing across england and fizzling. but we do have a weather front wrapped around the centre of low pressure in the north sea, bringing cloud and at times showery rain across the eastern coast. but for the rest of the uk, it's another day of bright spells, sunshine and also some showers, and quite a brisk northwesterly wind coming in to the west, as well as of course the northerly wind along the north sea coastline. but as we head from thursday into friday and the end of the week, things change because high pressure really starts to establish itself across the uk. now that means the weather will be settled, but it doesn't mean we're looking at wall—to—wall blue skies. so during the course of friday, there will be some patchy cloud around. we'll still have that cloud coming in from the north sea, bringing some rain at times across the east anglia and into kent. and there'll be the odd shower from the cloud across north west scotland, maybe into northern ireland as well. temperatures 1a to about 19 degrees north to south. then as we head on into the weekend, high pressure still very much with us. at times, we will have areas of cloud. at times, we could see the odd shower, but with lighter winds and higher temperatures, it will feel quite pleasant. live from london. this is bbc news. diane abbott was suspended last year for making offensive comments. itirel’heh for making offensive comments. when keir starmer — for making offensive comments. when keir starmer said _ for making offensive comments. when keir starmer said he _ for making offensive comments. when keir starmer said he would _ for making offensive comments. “mug“! keir starmer said he would restore discipline and standards in the labour party, he really meant it. with party leaders out — he really meant it. with party leaders out campaigning, - he really meant it. with party. leaders out campaigning, rishi he really meant it. with party - leaders out campaigning, rishi sunak spent a day in cornwall discussing with photos his apprenticeship policy to replace what he called rip off university degrees. royal mail says it is accepted a multi—billion pound takeover bid from czech billionaire. welcome to bbc news. diane abbott who became the first black woman to be elected to parliament nearly a0 years ago has told the bbc she has been barred by labourfrom years ago has told the bbc she has been barred by labour from standing for the party. there had been some uncertainty about her political future after she was readmitted by the party yesterday. diane abbott was suspended by labour last year after suggesting thatjewish, irish after suggesting that jewish, irish and after suggesting thatjewish, irish and people did face racism although the. she later apologised. we have been seeking further comment from diane abbott. reporters asked various questions. will! diane abbott. reporters asked various questions.— various questions. will you be standinu various questions. will you be standing as — various questions. will you be standing as an _ various questions. will you be standing as an independent? | various questions. will you be - standing as an independent? what of labour said to — standing as an independent? what of labour said to you? _ standing as an independent? what of labour said to you? will _ standing as an independent? what of labour said to you? will you - standing as an independent? what of labour said to you? will you be - labour said to you? will you be standing — labour said to you? will you be standing as an independent? do you su ort standing as an independent? do you supportjeremy _ standing as an independent? do you support jeremy corbyn? _ standing as an independent? do you support jeremy corbyn? what - standing as an independent? do you support jeremy corbyn? what if - standing as an independent? do you| support jeremy corbyn? what if your messa . e to support jeremy corbyn? what if your message to keir _ support jeremy corbyn? what if your message to keir starmer? _ support jeremy corbyn? what if your message to keir starmer? not - support jeremy corbyn? what if your message to keir starmer? not much reaction there _ message to keir starmer? not much reaction there from _ message to keir starmer? not much reaction there from diane _ message to keir starmer? not much reaction there from diane abbott. i message to keir starmer? not much | reaction there from diane abbott. we spoke a little earlier to labour�*s shadow health secretary. he was on bbc breakfast. i shadow health secretary. he was on bbc breakfast-— bbc breakfast. i am hearing this for the first time. — bbc breakfast. i am hearing this for the first time. look, _ bbc breakfast. i am hearing this for the first time. look, i— bbc breakfast. i am hearing this for the first time. look, i am _ bbc breakfast. i am hearing this for the first time. look, i am glad - bbc breakfast. i am hearing this for the first time. look, i am glad that| the first time. look, i am glad that yesterday the suspension of diane abbott was lifted and the wait was restored. what she said that led to her suspension was wrong and when keir starmer said he would restore discipline and standards in the labour party, he really meant it. i think it is also important to acknowledge that diane abbott herself apologised and accepted she had done wrong and that apology had clearly been accepted. i am not up to speed with the latest decision. i am hearing this for the first time. the shadow health secretary west eating. from the daily mirror, she gave me her reaction. it is eating. from the daily mirror, she gave me her reaction.— gave me her reaction. it is an absolute _ gave me her reaction. it is an absolute travesty _ gave me her reaction. it is an absolute travesty that - gave me her reaction. it is an absolute travesty that diane l gave me her reaction. it is an l absolute travesty that diane to gave me her reaction. it is an - absolute travesty that diane to say she is _ absolute travesty that diane to say she is not — absolute travesty that diane to say she is not allowed to stand in the next _ she is not allowed to stand in the next general election. according to keir starmer the investigation finished. _ keir starmer the investigation finished, well, it was still in process— finished, well, it was still in process then we found out from newsnight that actually it finished five months ago so it is really interesting to see that information we have _ interesting to see that information we have been told is it necessarily accurate _ we have been told is it necessarily accurate and i think that a lot of people — accurate and i think that a lot of people have been looking at keir starmer— people have been looking at keir starmer and wondering what exactly is going _ starmer and wondering what exactly is going on— starmer and wondering what exactly is going on but as for diane abbott, newsnight — is going on but as for diane abbott, newsnight revealed she was angry and depressed _ newsnight revealed she was angry and depressed and worn out and this process— depressed and worn out and this process has been going since last april. _ process has been going since last april. so— process has been going since last april, so really shocking to hear that _ april, so really shocking to hear that this— april, so really shocking to hear that. this she won't be able to stand — that. this she won't be able to stand out— that. this she won't be able to stand out after being a serving menaber— stand out after being a serving member of parliament for so long and i know— member of parliament for so long and i know her_ member of parliament for so long and i know her constituents, it is really— i know her constituents, it is really it— i know her constituents, it is really it is— i know her constituents, it is really it is a travesty it has come to this — really it is a travesty it has come to this. ., , ., to this. one of her friends have been speaking _ to this. one of her friends have been speaking on _ to this. one of her friends have been speaking on the - to this. one of her friends have been speaking on the today - to this. one of her friends have - been speaking on the today programme on the bbc this morning say what she would have wanted is the opportunity to decide whether to stand again. that opportunity has been denied of her. she also apologised for making the comments. no specific response from labour right now. what do you imagine is the thinking behind this decision? i imagine is the thinking behind this decision? .., �* imagine is the thinking behind this decision? .. �* ., ., decision? i can't imagine what the thinkint is decision? i can't imagine what the thinking is behind _ decision? i can't imagine what the thinking is behind it _ decision? i can't imagine what the thinking is behind it because - decision? i can't imagine what the i thinking is behind it because diane, she is loved by your constituents so politically that doesn't make much sense but also i think the treatment of diane is really appalling. when we saw what happened to her, how she stood up a6 times and wasn't heard, even after which she said she approached keir starmer, can you restore the whip? and that didn't happen then and apparently that was when the investigation had concluded. so the treatment of her, again, you see the way she is being neglected and ignored and now not even been given the opportunity to stand in her constituency after all these years of service, she is a trailblazer, the first black female mp and to be treated in such a way is absolutely appalling. it is mp and to be treated in such a way is absolutely appalling.— is absolutely appalling. it is been announced _ is absolutely appalling. it is been announced this _ is absolutely appalling. it is been announced this morning - is absolutely appalling. it is been announced this morning that - is absolutely appalling. it is been | announced this morning that rishi sunak and so keir starmer will go head—to—head in the first of the televised leaders debate next week. itv confirms that the prime minister and labour leader will take part in and labour leader will take part in an hour—long programme on the ath of june. next tuesday. it will take place at nine o'clock in front of a studio audience. the conservatives say they would close university courses, offering what rishi sunak has described rip—off degrees and front up 200,000 extra apprenticeships every year. labour says the plans are laughable, the liberal democrats said the shockingly play for many apprenticeships it assigns the system is broken —— low pay. the prime minister spoke about the plans in cornwall. ~ ., ., , in cornwall. wonderfulto be in cornwall and _ in cornwall. wonderfulto be in cornwall and i _ in cornwall. wonderfulto be in cornwall and i have _ in cornwall. wonderfulto be in cornwall and i have been - in cornwall. wonderful to be in | cornwall and i have been having in cornwall. wonderful to be in i cornwall and i have been having a great time meeting apprentices who are incredibly excited about their future and that is why a future conservative government will take the bold action of closing down underperforming university degrees that are letting our young people down and instead using that money to fund 100,000 new high—quality apprenticeships. that is the best way to transform people's lives and spread opportunity, the best way to deliver a secure future for our people. deliver a secure future for our --eole. , ., deliver a secure future for our --eole. , . ., people. identify and under par two underperforming _ people. identify and under par two underperforming degree. - people. identify and under par two l underperforming degree. university is treat and underperforming degree. university is great and it _ underperforming degree. university is great and it makes _ underperforming degree. university is great and it makes a _ underperforming degree. university is great and it makes a fantastic- is great and it makes a fantastic option for many people but it is not the only option, i'm not someone who believes you have to go to university and all the apprentices are proof of that, describing it as are proof of that, describing it as a best decision they ever made. what we do know there are university degrees that are letting people down, independent study say that around one in five people who are on degrees would have been financially better off not doing them, about one in three graduates are un—non— graduatejobs so in three graduates are un—non— graduate jobs so actually we are better off providing those in people with the opportunity of a high quality apprenticeships, the regulator will be given the powers to look at underperforming degrees, looking at the progression rate, the dropout rate, the earnings are people in those degrees and instead we will use that money to fund 100,000 new apprenticeships and that it is an example of the bold action i am prepared to take the cut at his how to deliver a secure future for everyone across the country and the labour party still clinging to the notion that everyone has to go to university and they want to have the number of apprenticeships and that is not the right way forward. the lan is not the right way forward. the plan there _ is not the right way forward. the plan there from _ is not the right way forward. the plan there from the conservatives and the prime minister on education, particularly focus on university degrees and apprenticeships. labour is promising to hit a key waiting time target for nhs treatment in england. by the end of the next parliament, if labour win the general election. this is a target of 18 weeks for patients who were waiting for an appointment for a procedure or operation and that target hasn't been met since 2016. our correspondent is travelling with labour. she isjoining us now from couegein labour. she isjoining us now from college in the west midlands. what are they saying about how this plan would work? this are they saying about how this plan would work?— are they saying about how this plan would work? , ., ., ., ' would work? this we have got off the bus travelling — would work? this we have got off the bus travelling with _ would work? this we have got off the bus travelling with the _ would work? this we have got off the bus travelling with the labour - bus travelling with the labour campaign, pitched up in west midlands where we are expecting to hear from midlands where we are expecting to hearfrom both keir starmer and wes streeting the shadow health secretary in the next 15 minutes or so. labourwant secretary in the next 15 minutes or so. labour want to talk about the nhs today. this is clearly one of those days where what labour wants to talk about in a general election campaign on a given day comes up against some think they would rather not focus on and clearly there will be many questions about the situation with a long serving labour mp diane abbott. what labour want to talk about today, they have come here to the west midlands to discuss it that the plan for the nhs waiting lists. we have had a lot from labour in recent months over their commitments to recruit new staff, the plan to get a0,000 more appointments for example a week by using the private sector, by asking the nhs to work on weekends and evenings but what we are expecting to hear is a new promise, more detail about the idea they want to clear the backlog within the next parliament so the idea of meeting the target may currently exist to get almost everybody, 92%, people treated within18 weeks, currently the waiting list running up more than 7 million treatments, a3% of those people on waiting list are currently waiting more than 18 weeks, labourare currently waiting more than 18 weeks, labour are committing to eliminate that by the end of next parliament through using more evening and weekends to carry out treatments in the nhs and by asking for new equipment to speed up diagnosis and treatment. labour said it will cost more than £1 billion, they have earmarked the money from clamping down on tax avoidance, they are clamping down on some loopholes concerning non—dom, people outside of the uk for tax purposes, they think that will be enough to see a real difference. the tories say this is cut—and—paste politics. the lib dems accuse the tories are running down the nhs during their time in charge but clearly the nhs is a huge battleground issue in the election and something labour very much want to talk about, they think they are on the front foot when it comes to the conservatives's track record but there will be some disappointment in labour today that this big announcement is being somewhat overshadowed by discussion about diane abbott. overshadowed by discussion about diane abbott-— overshadowed by discussion about diane abbott. yes, and 'ust a word on that, diane abbott. yes, and 'ust a word on that. we — diane abbott. yes, and 'ust a word on that, we played h diane abbott. yes, and 'ust a word on that, we played the h diane abbott. yes, and just a word on that, we played the clip - diane abbott. yes, and just a word on that, we played the clip earlier, diane abbott making no comment to reporters as she was seen this morning, just a brief word from wes streeting talking to bbc breakfast this morning, no official response from labour hq. this this morning, no official response from labour hq.— from labour hq. this now, it is tuite a from labour hq. this now, it is quite a confusing _ from labour hq. this now, it is quite a confusing picture - from labour hq. this now, it is quite a confusing picture as - from labour hq. this now, it is quite a confusing picture as to l from labour hq. this now, it is - quite a confusing picture as to what is the latest on the situation of diane abbott but i think this speaks to the problem for labour about this story all along. this has been rumbling on for a year or so now in terms of her suspension in the party. we understand yesterday she finally did receive their weight back, readmitted to the parliamentary labour party at this time during an election campaign, a messy time for everybody, but it has been an outstanding issue hanging over labour since she wrote that letter to the newspaper in which he was accused of being anti—semitic, talking aboutjewish, irish and travelling people not facing racism all their lives but may have experienced prejudice. she did apologise for that and there was an investigation into what she said. that investigation was running into months and it was now it has come to light that the investigation into her was completed back in december. that does seem to contradict some recent comments we have heard from the labour leader that the investigation was ongoing, whenever he has been asked about that in recent months, that was a position he took. it is an investigation that is being carried out by their party machinery and you might see the labour national executive council, the relevant body involved in this. but this is coming to a head because of candidate elections whether the diane abbott could stand to be the labour candidate in a london ct is represented for more than 30 years. she is being talked about, a pioneering mp, the first black woman mp in parliament so huge track record. there's been discussion about her future for a long time now and i think there is frustration across the labour party that has been allowed to fester for so long, especially now with the revelation that the investigation into her was completed back in december. she had thought of giving a bit of a confusing picture this morning, telling the bbc she has been barred from standing as a candidate but now seeming to suggest in a recent tweet that actually this is just her hearing reports that she has been bad. there is a crunch decision to be made by labour's national executive committee on the ath of june, a few days away now, they will decide final candidate selection but it certainly seems a confusing picture and allegations from certainly some of diane abbot�*s i light she has been humiliated during this process and one that is not befitting of her standing in the labour party. istate befitting of her standing in the labour party-— labour party. we will be back with ou later labour party. we will be back with you later but _ labour party. we will be back with you later but for _ labour party. we will be back with you later but for now— labour party. we will be back with you later but for now thanks. - you later but for now thanks. breaking news, this will have implications for those candidate that are out on the campaign trail, junior doctors in england will go on strike between during the 27th and july strike between during the 27th and july the 2nd, coming to us from our health editor who says that the talks began two weeks ago, mediation talks, they appear to have broken down. the british medical association in dispute with the government overjunior doctor pay for more than a year. let's talk to hugh our health editor. what can you tell us because am i right in saying those doctors have a mandate to keep struggling until —— are striking until september? struggling until -- are striking until september?— struggling until -- are striking until september? that is right, i think there _ until september? that is right, i think there was _ until september? that is right, i think there was a _ until september? that is right, i think there was a hope - until september? that is right, i think there was a hope a - until september? that is right, i think there was a hope a couple | until september? that is right, i. think there was a hope a couple of weeks ago that the agreement by the british medical association and the government and the doctor's unions are going to mediation talks with an independent arbitrator suggested that progress could be made. that appears to be far from the case and what the bma is saying in the statement that they put out a short time ago is a man the election was called last week, they failed that really there was no further mileage because they felt the government didn't have further authority to make spending commitments and the dispute over pay would not be resolved, therefore they have called this walk—out. this is a dispute in england, a walk—out from 7am on during the 27th at 7am onjuly the 2nd. two days before the polling day so it will be particularly interesting politically with the nhs which a major issue in this campaign and it will be particularly interesting for whoever forms the next government. this will be high in the in tray. remember that bma had called for a 35% pay rise in england forjunior doctors, phased england for junior doctors, phased in england forjunior doctors, phased in over a couple of years. the government made an award last year and then topped it up to give an average of about 9% and really there doesn't seem to have been any progress really on trying to reach a compromise there. so this will affect patients once again, it will affect patients once again, it will affect hospitals, it is thought if you look at all industrial action in england coming right back to the end of 2022 involving nurses, doctors, ambulance staff and others, more than a00,000 treatments, operations and so on did not happen that otherwise would have happened. we now have waiting lists as a major issue but the bma has always argued the waiting list when a problem before industrial action started. yes, and you are right to highlight that timing as well, placing a real dilemma for whoever forms the next government, the conservatives in the job they will be criticised for their handling of the nhs and the handling of this dispute, but the same time labour has not committed to pay that 35% increase bma is asking for. to pay that 35% increase bma is askint for. . . to pay that 3596 increase bma is askint for. . . asking for. that is right, in fact wes streeting _ asking for. that is right, in fact wes streeting the _ asking for. that is right, in fact wes streeting the health - wes streeting the health spokesperson said specifically in an interview earlier today that 35% was not reasonable, but he hoped for constructive talks if labour from the next government and he gave the impression he was hoping something could be negotiated. clearly the conservative government will be played by the bma for taking it this far. the first writer in march last year. this dispute is still rumbling on, but with the government down to a minimum now because of the rules about campaigning and politicians being out on the road, it is highly unlikely anything will happen before this strike and before polling day. so for whoever is in downing street afterjuly the ath, this will be an issue which is certainly far from resolved and will need tackling. here, thanks very much. keep us updated. we have been discussing some of the policies and proposals being announced by the party leader this morning as they continue, marking a week since the election was called. still a long way to go. the liberal democrat battle bus it in wales today. sir ed davey is launching the party election campaign alongside the welsh lib dems leaderjane dodds who has been setting out a plan to rescue farmers, including £1 billion in extra funding. our political correspondent is travelling with the liberal democrats. she is in mid wales. . . liberal democrats. she is in mid wales. , ., , ., wales. the liberal democrats? argument _ wales. the liberal democrats? argument is — wales. the liberal democrats? argument is that _ wales. the liberal democrats? argument is that they - wales. the liberal democrats? argument is that they sate - wales. the liberal democrats? argument is that they sate the | argument is that they sate the conservative party have let farmers down. they say there needs to be more backing for farmers and this billion pounds would help. they are talking about renegotiating some of their trade deals that have been done, particularly they are picked out the trade deal with australia which they say australia ought to be bound by greater climate change commitments in terms of the trade that they do on food and things there. i think here in this constituency, the new area as it will be cold, they think farming is a potential vote winner for them, will be cold, they think farming is a potential vote winnerfor them, it is a big issue around here and in lots of the areas where the liberal democrats are campaigning. they also have quite a number of target seats in the west country where the prime minister is today, where rishi sunak is. you are hearing, he is not necessarily talking about farming today, but farming is a key part of the economy there and it is an area that the liberal democrats are also targeting. so it is talking about an issue that they think really appeals to their voters. i issue that they think really appeals to their voters.— to their voters. i asked this question — to their voters. i asked this question about _ to their voters. i asked this question about the - to their voters. i asked this question about the danger| to their voters. i asked this i question about the danger for politicians in this first week, they throw a load of policies at a time, this is what we will do if you vote for us. the trick for them is trying to locate —— to make it look like a cohesive strategy. i know there will lay it out in more detail, but at the moment it has a feel of targeting their key areas and saying, yes, it is this, this and this to get us into number ten. how do they streamline this message? i think that it's quite an interesting point. at the moment what you are seeing with the liberal democrats is more, yes, they are announcing policies but it is almost better to look at it as, what are the themes they are wanting to talk about? yesterday it was sewage. they made announcements on dentists, talking about burglaries, crime, agriculture. those are the kind of area that they want to be seen to have a message and to be seen to be talking about. i'vejust have a message and to be seen to be talking about. i've just spoken to ed davey this morning, asking him about a few different issues and it is striking, at the moment some of his answers are, wait until the manifesto. we are in a holding pattern until they get their manifestos and we can look at the details because the liberal democrat saying £1 billion agriculture today, thatis saying £1 billion agriculture today, that is a choice. these things for all parties are a try. if you spend an extra billion pounds in agriculture you can't necessarily spend elsewhere. so we are seeing themes, priorities but in terms of getting into the kind of details of exactly what their policy plans look like and what they are not prioritising by prioritising say agriculture is something we have to wait for and for the liberal democrats i think that tone of their campaign is very much to take their battle to the conservative party this time to really take out a few key seats where they think they can when, where they were second last time, where they think they can get mps and pinch themselves as their opposition to the conservatives stop we are seeing a lot less of the language from them attacking the labour party. this language from them attacking the labour party-— language from them attacking the labour party. this hannah miller in mid wales- — labour party. this hannah miller in mid wales. the _ labour party. this hannah miller in mid wales. the leader— labour party. this hannah miller in mid wales. the leader of _ labour party. this hannah miller in mid wales. the leader of the - mid wales. the leader of the scottish national party said he wants to see railways in fully nationalised. if labour win the election. john swinney is calling for the party to follow the snp boss mike leigh. that was after scotrail was brought into public ownership two years ago. they asked him what the difference was between what labour have said they will do versus what the snp actually want. the labour what the snp actually want. the labour party _ what the snp actually want. t“i2 labour party and promised many things under keir starmer�*s leadership, to abolish tuition fees and they will not do that. they have promised to abolish benefit caps and they will not do that. they promised to keep the cap on bankers bonuses and i'm not going to do that. i think it is important that where we can we continue to put pressure on the labour party to do the right thing because in scotland, as you outline, we have indeed nationalised our rail rolling stock and we have excellent levels of punctuality and have been able to get ourselves into position where we have been able to scrap peak—time fares during this cost of living crisis to ease the financial burden upon commuters. but it is more than just the rolling stock, it is also about network rail as well. many of the problems we face without actuality about train stems from the fact that the railways themselves, the line to run on our reserved matter to westminster and we need that to in public ownership. i want to bring you up—to—date with some of the other main stories we are following for you. the board of royal mail has agreed to a £3.6 billion takeover bid from czech billionaire. the deal will still need final sign off by the government and no decision is expected to be made before the election. it was privatised a decade ago allowing anyone to buy shares. the czech billionaire has already snapped up 27% of them and royal mail's owners are recommending other shareholders accept his offer to buy the rest. but unions, the current government and opposition politicians want assurances, which include retaining the name and brand, its uk headquarters, paying taxes in the uk and no compulsory redundancies. this offer is expected to accept those but unions are still uneasy. istate to accept those but unions are still uneas . ~ , ., ., ., uneasy. we feel it is a failure of privatisation. _ uneasy. we feel it is a failure of privatisation. it _ uneasy. we feel it is a failure of privatisation. it is _ uneasy. we feel it is a failure of privatisation. it is almost - uneasy. we feel it is a failure of privatisation. it is almost 12 - uneasy. we feel it is a failure of i privatisation. it is almost 12 years since _ privatisation. it is almost 12 years since royal— privatisation. it is almost 12 years since royal mail were privatised and it has— since royal mail were privatised and it has been— since royal mail were privatised and it has been mismanaged for years and now it _ it has been mismanaged for years and now it looks— it has been mismanaged for years and now it looks like we are going to be owned _ now it looks like we are going to be owned by— now it looks like we are going to be owned by a — now it looks like we are going to be owned by a foreign equity company which _ owned by a foreign equity company which we _ owned by a foreign equity company which we are really concerned with because _ which we are really concerned with because quality is down, and morale is down _ because quality is down, and morale is down and — because quality is down, and morale is down and whilst there is been assurances we have been told, we are really _ assurances we have been told, we are really concerned what the future holds _ really concerned what the future holds for — really concerned what the future holds for royal mail, a great british— holds for royal mail, a great british public service. the billionaire _ british public service. the billionaire made - british public service. the billionaire made his - british public service. t“i2 billionaire made his fortune in the energy industry but diverted right into retail and logistics. two diversify. a final decision by shareholders and the government is not except —— expected. this is turning out to be a beautiful day for millions of south africans to go to the polls. there are nine provinces across this country, 23,000 polling stations and these are crucial elections for this country because there is a prospect of the first time that the anc that has dominated politics in south africa since the dawn of democracy backin africa since the dawn of democracy back in 199a, there is a prospect it could lose its majority in government. it is also historic here for south africa because it is 30 years since the first democratic elections back in 199a and we have come to soweto. this was at the heart of the anti—apartheid struggle, not too far from here heart of the anti—apartheid struggle, not too farfrom here is the former home of nelson mandela and just down the road is the former home of the late archbishop desmond tutu. this is also an historic day for one vote arejoining tutu. this is also an historic day for one vote are joining us here. you are 22 years old. this is the first time you are voting here. how was it for you? this first time you are voting here. how was it for you?— was it for you? this well, for me there is no _ was it for you? this well, for me there is no specific— was it for you? this well, for me there is no specific feeling - was it for you? this well, for me there is no specific feeling it - there is no specific feeling it evoked _ there is no specific feeling it evoked exceptjust there is no specific feeling it evoked except just having there is no specific feeling it evoked exceptjust having the chance to vote _ evoked exceptjust having the chance to vote for _ evoked exceptjust having the chance to vote for the first time but it ignited — to vote for the first time but it ignited a — to vote for the first time but it ignited a sense of interest generally into the political arena. not that— generally into the political arena. not that i— generally into the political arena. not that i didn't have it before, but it— not that i didn't have it before, but it became worse since i had the first time _ but it became worse since i had the first time chance of voting. sol think— first time chance of voting. sol think generally that is however been feeling, _ think generally that is however been feeling, no — think generally that is however been feeling, no specific feeling, just mixed _ feeling, no specific feeling, just mixed emotions. i was concerned about— mixed emotions. i was concerned about what— mixed emotions. i was concerned about what lies ahead from this specific— about what lies ahead from this specific election. find about what lies ahead from this specific election.— about what lies ahead from this specific election. and the average a . e specific election. and the average ace of specific election. and the average age of south _ specific election. and the average age of south african _ specific election. and the average age of south african is _ specific election. and the average age of south african is 28 - age of south african is 28 years old. this could be a key voting bloc in these elections. some of the conversations we have been hearing as we speak to south africans in the country but also on media platforms is a fact that some photos just don't want to come and vote. they are fed up with politicians. is that the sentiment you are hearing amongst friends? for the sentiment you are hearing amongst friends?— the sentiment you are hearing amongst friends? for around the eo - le amongst friends? for around the people my _ amongst friends? for around the people my age — amongst friends? for around the people my age and _ amongst friends? for around the people my age and specifically i amongst friends? for around the | people my age and specifically my friends, _ people my age and specifically my friends, that has not been the case because _ friends, that has not been the case because most of them are politically conscious, _ because most of them are politically conscious, their real problem is coming — conscious, their real problem is coming into these elections they have _ coming into these elections they have an — coming into these elections they have an idea of what to expect, what the politics— have an idea of what to expect, what the politics have been thus far from the politics have been thus far from the 30 _ the politics have been thus far from the 30 years at some of us were not alive in— the 30 years at some of us were not alive in coming into no. so they are notjust— alive in coming into no. so they are notjust coming up with historical credentials into these elections but they are _ credentials into these elections but they are coming as people that know what it— they are coming as people that know what it is— they are coming as people that know what it is they want, what it is they— what it is they want, what it is they intend on achieving beyond the selections— they intend on achieving beyond the selections and also they have hope, hope for— selections and also they have hope, hope for the coming political space of south _ hope for the coming political space of south africa and that is why most of south africa and that is why most of them _ of south africa and that is why most of them are — of south africa and that is why most of them are gone out to vote today. thank _ of them are gone out to vote today. thank you _ of them are gone out to vote today. thank you very much.— thank you very much. speaking to voters in south _ thank you very much. speaking to voters in south africa. _ thank you very much. speaking to voters in south africa. more - voters in south africa. more coverage at that election continues there. let's take you to the latest from the war in israel. the israeli military is continuing its offensive in southern gaza, despite calls for the operation to be halted to prevent the killing of more civilians. algeria has said it would draft a united nations resolution calling for an end to the killing. the us has vetoed previous resolutions and says it still considers the israeli campaign in rafah to fall short of what it deems "a major ground operation". but it said the killings on tuesday of 21 more people in a displaced persons camp were heartbreaking. israel has denied firing at the area. get the latest. witnesses have been saying to both of those tanks have been in the heart of the city close to the roundabout need to keep landmark mosque there. there have been advances of israeli troops along the gata egypt border where yesterday they took control of the highest hill, strategically important location —— gata border. although the israeli merger is not commenting directly, it has been making serious advancesin directly, it has been making serious advances in the city although at this stage of the us is saying it considers it to be a limited offensive, not a full—scale ground offensive, not a full—scale ground offensive in washington's view. in jerusalem with the very latest. i want to take you to the west midlands. the keir starmer meeting medical staff there. he is also with shadow health secretary wes streeting. let's take a listen. this relates to their plans for the nhs and waiting times and ounces morning. and waiting times and ounces mornint. . ~ and waiting times and ounces mornint. ., ~ i. and waiting times and ounces mornint. . ~ i. ., and waiting times and ounces mornint. . ~' ., ., and waiting times and ounces mornint. . ., ., ., morning. thank you for what you are ttoin on morning. thank you for what you are going on to — morning. thank you for what you are going on to do. _ morning. thank you for what you are going on to do, what _ morning. thank you for what you are going on to do, what you _ morning. thank you for what you are going on to do, what you are - going on to do, what you are training to go because that is so important for our country, for the health of our country but it means a huge amount to me to wait politically in terms of our ambitions for an incoming labour government, if we are privileged enough to come into serve but is also heart—warming for me because as you make no, my mum was a nurse. she stood effectively in your shoes many years ago, training for her part in the nhs. my sister equally was a nurse in the nhs, my wife currently works in the nhs in a big london hospital and her mum with a local gp, so the nhs runs through our family like dna. so it is a really proud moment to stand here with you. we are going to do a q and a eliminate. you are here training for your role in the nhs and i'm happy to take any question about health, but equally you are standing here as people entitled and who will vote for the next government is so i want you to feel free to ask any question you to feel free to ask any question you like on anything you like and we will try to just you like on anything you like and we will try tojust go you like on anything you like and we will try to just go around the room, get as many people in as possible. if we see your hand and we can get here, we will ask you a question but don't feel it has to be about health, it could be about anything you want to ask, equally, you could just tell us something you think it's important that you want us to think about. one of the things wes and i do is after events like this is to think through what people are said they were so take your opportunity because there is going to be an election obviously five weeks on thursday and i am not going to give a great lecture about is not what you came here for but there is a choice, it is going to be a clear choice at this selection between carrying on with what we have had for the last ia years, which to my mind is chaos and division, and failure, and i include the nhs in that and it breaks my heart, frankly, as a party that set up the nhs with so many of my family members having contributed to the nhs to leave the nhs in a worse state than when you found it, for me, it is —— unforgivable politics, whatever political party, that should never happen we will absolutely take this challenge up if we are coming into power but it is a choice between carrying on with five more years of this or saying, we have had enough of the chaos and division, as a country we want to turn the page and we want to start thejob of rebuilding our turn the page and we want to start the job of rebuilding our country, which of course is centrally focused on our economy and under our health as a nation, which is where, if we do come into power, we hope to be working with you on this. if anything i will say about the sort of— if anything i will say about the sort of government we want to be is a government of service. | sort of government we want to be is a government of service.— a government of service. i think too many politicians _ a government of service. i think too many politicians this _ a government of service. i think too many politicians this year _ a government of service. i think too many politicians this year have - a government of service. i think too | many politicians this year have come self entitled, a bit g familiar with the sound of their own ways. they have forgotten that politics is a formal public service. it is what you are training for, to serve people, to serve communities, to serve country. that is why we want your questions and ideas. this isn't a quite of offer. we want to ask any question, if we are going to be a government of service, then it is you and other communities that we are here to serve. therefore, this is not a kind offer, you are entitled to ask us directly on the spot, anything that you want ord to tell us your view. so, spot, anything that you want ord to tell us yourview. so, on spot, anything that you want ord to tell us your view. so, on that, we will try and get three as many as you can. if our answers get too long stick your hand up. we will get to as many as possible and i would try to remember that we have got people all around us. so, to remember that we have got people allaround us. so, we to remember that we have got people all around us. so, we have got one to stand and we got to where the next hand is. inaudible your third year, is it the years in total. inaudible your third year, is it the years in total-— years in total. yes... due to tuali years in total. yes... due to qualify in — years in total. yes... due to qualify in the _ years in total. yes... due to qualify in the next _ years in total. yes... due to qualify in the next month i years in total. yes... due to qualify in the next month or| years in total. yes... due to - qualify in the next month or so. but firstly. _ qualify in the next month or so. but firstly. i— qualify in the next month or so. but firstly, i would just like to thank you for— firstly, i would just like to thank you for being here, normally a students — you for being here, normally a students we are overlooked. it is our privilege _ students we are overlooked. it is our privilege to _ students we are overlooked. it 3 our privilege to be. students we are overlooked. it is our privilege to be. within - students we are overlooked. it is our privilege to be. within the i our privilege to be. within the mountain _ our privilege to be. within the mountain presto _ our privilege to be. within the mountain presto it _ our privilege to be. within the mountain presto it states, - mountain presto it states, the labour— mountain presto it states, the labour manifesto it states to reduce hospitat— labour manifesto it states to reduce hospital time. yes labour manifesto it states to reduce hospital time-— hospital time. yes i can, i will say their headlines _ hospital time. yes i can, i will say their headlines and _ hospital time. yes i can, i will say their headlines and west - hospital time. yes i can, i will say their headlines and west is - hospital time. yes i can, i will say their headlines and west is doing | hospital time. yes i can, i will say| their headlines and west is doing a lot of work and will be responsible for dealing with it. the problem you will know about is dealing with 8 million on the waiting list. which is shocking, it has never been that high. set you on the hospital, it is bearing down on the staff because every day there are concerned about the fact that they can't get on with the fact that they can't get on with the dayjob because the backlog is so long. one of the first things that we do, not the only thing that we do for the nhs, which is to have a0,000 extra appointments in operation —— and operations every week. that means using operating theatres every weekend. that means a0,000, we will get rid of the non—dom status completely. i think that if you live here, you should be paying your tax here. so it we will get rid of that. that a0,000 each and every week, amounts to 2 million and every week, amounts to 2 million a year, so it is a big chunk out of the waiting list, we will be working with nhs staff. we are not going to do it to the staff, we are already talking to the staff, they of the have to be paid and paid properly for doing it. there is a version going on of this already, in saint thomas, one of our london's hospitals. lee's hospital that we went to doing the same thing. leeds hospital, we are doing the same thing. we got the waiting list down to the lowest level and the satisfaction in the nhs to their highest level ever. the fact —— the fact that their satisfaction at the nhs is the lowest level ever is shocking. the government has put the nhs in a position that the people that you will be serving and caring for have the lower satisfaction rates that they have ever had. you will be leading on this west. itttut’hat will be leading on this west. what is amazint will be leading on this west. what is amazing at _ will be leading on this west. what is amazing at what _ will be leading on this west. what is amazing at what they _ will be leading on this west. what is amazing at what they did at guy's and st— is amazing at what they did at guy's and st thomas is that they manage to do in a _ and st thomas is that they manage to do in a single day the same amount of procedures they normally would be doin- of procedures they normally would be doing across a week. so we know that this works _ doing across a week. so we know that this works and one of the great things— this works and one of the great things in— this works and one of the great things in my experience in go around one of— things in my experience in go around one of dilley mccall of the —— a lot of the _ one of dilley mccall of the —— a lot of the hospitals around the country is that— of the hospitals around the country is that people who are banned out and stressed out and feeling that mole _ and stressed out and feeling that mole injury —— moral injury. what we saw in _ mole injury —— moral injury. what we saw in leeds— mole injury —— moral injury. what we saw in leeds was a real professional pride _ saw in leeds was a real professional pride because these were services designed — pride because these were services designed by professional collisions. alongside —— designed by professional connections. we have .ot professional connections. we have got to _ professional connections. we have got 1.6 million people who are waiting — got 1.6 million people who are waiting with anxiety for a diagnostic and scans and that gives us the _ diagnostic and scans and that gives us the confidence to be able to say to you _ us the confidence to be able to say to you and — us the confidence to be able to say to you and to the country that by the end — to you and to the country that by the end of— to you and to the country that by the end of the country first —— by the end of the country first —— by the end — the end of the country first —— by the end of— the end of the country first —— by the end of the country first —— by the end of the first of the labour government, no one would be having to walt— government, no one would be having to wait to _ government, no one would be having to wait to the extent they are today — to wait to the extent they are toda . ~ ., , ., to wait to the extent they are toda . ~ ., today. would you say -- you said that st thomas _ today. would you say -- you said that st thomas hospital- today. would you say -- you said that st thomas hospital have - today. would you say -- you said i that st thomas hospital have done today. would you say -- you said - that st thomas hospital have done in one day— that st thomas hospital have done in one day what— that st thomas hospital have done in one day what they— that st thomas hospital have done in one day what they usually _ that st thomas hospital have done in one day what they usually do - that st thomas hospital have done in one day what they usually do in - that st thomas hospital have done in one day what they usually do in a - one day what they usually do in a working _ one day what they usually do in a working week _ one day what they usually do in a working week two _ one day what they usually do in a working week two the _ one day what they usually do in a working week two the good - one day what they usually do in a working week two the good thing j one day what they usually do in a i working week two the good thing is that no— working week two the good thing is that no one — working week two the good thing is that no one is — working week two the good thing is that no one is going _ working week two the good thing is that no one is going to _ working week two the good thing is that no one is going to be - working week two the good thing is that no one is going to be forced i working week two the good thing is that no one is going to be forced toj that no one is going to be forced to do the _ that no one is going to be forced to do the shift — that no one is going to be forced to do the shift. thie— that no one is going to be forced to do the shift-— do the shift. we recognise the tressure do the shift. we recognise the pressure on — do the shift. we recognise the pressure on peoples _ do the shift. we recognise the i pressure on peoples workloads. do the shift. we recognise the - pressure on peoples workloads. we need to— pressure on peoples workloads. we need to recognise what is going in peoples _ need to recognise what is going in peoples lives outside work as well, politically— peoples lives outside work as well, politically in terms of caring responsibilities, flexible working. what _ responsibilities, flexible working. what i _ responsibilities, flexible working. what i have been surprised by is that people have been coming forward to do these _ that people have been coming forward to do these shifts. also because, they can — to do these shifts. also because, they can see the results for their patience — they can see the results for their patience and this is not locums is aunt _ patience and this is not locums is aunt agency —— these aren't agency workers. — aunt agency —— these aren't agency workers. to _ aunt agency —— these aren't agency workers. to be able to work in an improving — workers. to be able to work in an improving nhs, would you so much for staff retention. the improving nhs, would you so much for staff retention.— staff retention. the team in saint thomas and _ staff retention. the team in saint thomas and leeds, _ staff retention. the team in saint thomas and leeds, they - staff retention. the team in saint thomas and leeds, they were i thomas and leeds, they were organising themselves and they have done it, they were volunteering to done it, they were volunteering to do the extra time because they could see the effect it was having on their patients. what we would do is that we will take the hospitals that are doing it and use those teams to go to other areas and say this is how we did it so, this is the most effective way to do it. thank you for that, where should be going out for that, where should be going out for a question? inaudible i am a mum of four but i have only got to living with me. i am struggling, barely making ends meeti _ am struggling, barely making ends meet, can't work because i am out on placement _ meet, can't work because i am out on placement. what would your team are the labour— placement. what would your team are the labour party due to actually help that — the labour party due to actually help that because there isn't any actual— help that because there isn't any actual help that at the moment? one ofthe actual help that at the moment? ©“i2 of the problems is actual help that at the moment? i2 of the problems is that actual help that at the moment? ©“i2 of the problems is that universal credit when it was cold out was not rolled out in a good way so there has been a lots of problems in terms of how it works but also how it interacts with other benefits and support. we need to make sure that sort of thing is joined up so that one does not work against the other. we will be looking at universal credit to make it better for you. what do you think would make the most difference from your own point of view, you have two children at home? ~ . of view, you have two children at home? ~ , , ., ., home? when i first started doing it ears ato, home? when i first started doing it years ago. it _ home? when i first started doing it years ago. it was — home? when i first started doing it years ago, it was a _ home? when i first started doing it years ago, it was a better- home? when i first started doing it years ago, it was a better read, - years ago, it was a better read, there _ years ago, it was a better read, there were _ years ago, it was a better read, there were no student loans. in fact _ there were no student loans. in fact, student loans where lots are better— fact, student loans where lots are better off — fact, student loans where lots are better off when they looked at by series. _ better off when they looked at by series, now we are struggling to do a job— series, now we are struggling to do a job for— series, now we are struggling to do a job for the — series, now we are struggling to do a job for the country. this series, now we are struggling to do a job for the country.— a job for the country. this is one ofthe a job for the country. this is one of the first... — a job for the country. this is one of the first. .. my _ a job for the country. this is one of the first... my frustration - a job for the country. this is one i of the first... my frustration about things— of the first... my frustration about things like — of the first... my frustration about things like scrapping _ of the first... my frustration about things like scrapping the - of the first... my frustration about things like scrapping the nhs- things like scrapping the nhs bursary— things like scrapping the nhs bursary is _ things like scrapping the nhs bursary is that _ things like scrapping the nhs bursary is that it _ things like scrapping the nhs bursary is that it is _ things like scrapping the nhs bursary is that it is so - things like scrapping the nhs bursary is that it is so much i things like scrapping the nhs- bursary is that it is so much easier to scrap— bursary is that it is so much easier to scrap things _ bursary is that it is so much easier to scrap things then _ bursary is that it is so much easier to scrap things then it _ bursary is that it is so much easier to scrap things then it is _ bursary is that it is so much easier to scrap things then it is to - to scrap things then it is to replace _ to scrap things then it is to replace them. _ to scrap things then it is to replace them. i— to scrap things then it is to replace them. i want - to scrap things then it is to replace them. i want to. to scrap things then it is to replace them. i want to do| to scrap things then it is to - replace them. i want to do more for people _ replace them. i want to do more for people like — replace them. i want to do more for people like you. _ replace them. i want to do more for people like you, particularly- people like you, particularly nursing _ people like you, particularly nursing admin— people like you, particularly nursing admin free - people like you, particularly nursing admin free —— - people like you, particularly. nursing admin free —— nursing people like you, particularly- nursing admin free —— nursing and midwifery — nursing admin free —— nursing and midwifery 0n _ nursing admin free —— nursing and midwifery. on that, _ nursing admin free —— nursing and midwifery. on that, i— nursing admin free —— nursing and midwifery. on that, i am - nursing admin free —— nursing and midwifery. on that, i am going. nursing admin free —— nursing and midwifery. on that, i am going to| midwifery. on that, i am going to have _ midwifery. on that, i am going to have to _ midwifery. on that, i am going to have to ask— midwifery. on that, i am going to have to ask you _ midwifery. on that, i am going to have to ask you to _ midwifery. on that, i am going to have to ask you to bear— midwifery. on that, i am going to have to ask you to bear with - midwifery. on that, i am going to have to ask you to bear with us i midwifery. on that, i am going to. have to ask you to bear with us one of the _ have to ask you to bear with us one of the things — have to ask you to bear with us one of the things i— have to ask you to bear with us one of the things i am _ have to ask you to bear with us one of the things i am trying _ have to ask you to bear with us one of the things i am trying to - have to ask you to bear with us one of the things i am trying to do - have to ask you to bear with us one of the things i am trying to do is i of the things i am trying to do is to rebuild — of the things i am trying to do is to rebuild trust _ of the things i am trying to do is to rebuild trust with _ of the things i am trying to do is to rebuild trust with politics - of the things i am trying to do is to rebuild trust with politics and | to rebuild trust with politics and politicians _ to rebuild trust with politics and politicians. we _ to rebuild trust with politics and politicians. we are _ to rebuild trust with politics and politicians. we are not - to rebuild trust with politics and politicians. we are not doing. politicians. we are not doing anything _ politicians. we are not doing anything unless— politicians. we are not doing anything unless we - politicians. we are not doing anything unless we can - politicians. we are not doing anything unless we can be i politicians. we are not doing - anything unless we can be 100% sure that he _ anything unless we can be 100% sure that he promises— anything unless we can be 100% sure that he promises we _ anything unless we can be 100% sure that he promises we make _ anything unless we can be 100% sure that he promises we make our- that he promises we make our promises _ that he promises we make our promises we _ that he promises we make our promises we can— that he promises we make our promises we can keep. - that he promises we make our promises we can keep. we - that he promises we make our| promises we can keep. we will that he promises we make our. promises we can keep. we will of course _ promises we can keep. we will of course try— promises we can keep. we will of course try and _ promises we can keep. we will of course try and overdeliver- promises we can keep. we will of course try and overdeliver but. promises we can keep. we will of course try and overdeliver but i. course try and overdeliver but i would — course try and overdeliver but i would rather— course try and overdeliver but i would rather under— course try and overdeliver but i would rather under promise - course try and overdeliver but ii would rather under promise and overdeliver _ would rather under promise and overdeliver rather— would rather under promise and overdeliver rather than - would rather under promise and overdeliver rather than make i overdeliver rather than make promises _ overdeliver rather than make promises now— overdeliver rather than make promises now and _ overdeliver rather than make promises now and come - overdeliver rather than make| promises now and come back overdeliver rather than make i promises now and come back in overdeliver rather than make - promises now and come back in four or five _ promises now and come back in four or five years' — promises now and come back in four or five years' time _ promises now and come back in four or five years' time and _ promises now and come back in four or five years' time and apologise. i or five years' time and apologise. can you — or five years' time and apologise. can you i— or five years' time and apologise. canyoum iwill— or five years' time and apologise. can you... i will come _ or five years' time and apologise. can you... i will come to - or five years' time and apologise. can you... i will come to this - or five years' time and apologise. i can you... i will come to this tired then i will come to that side. for paramedics. _ then i will come to that side. for paramedics. it — then i will come to that side. for paramedics, it is heading towards a three _ paramedics, it is heading towards a three years — paramedics, it is heading towards a three years which is when our training — three years which is when our training is— three years which is when our training is sol three years which is when our training is so i wasjust wondering how you _ training is so i wasjust wondering how you plan on retaining health professionals in the nhs. | how you plan on retaining health professionals in the nhs.- how you plan on retaining health professionals in the nhs. i think by now it is really _ professionals in the nhs. i think by now it is really important _ professionals in the nhs. i think by now it is really important in - professionals in the nhs. i think by now it is really important in the - now it is really important in the nhs, what has happened is, sadly where my wife works is that there was a huge amount of pressure on the nhs during covert. soon as the came out of the covid, there was a huge problem with the backlog. i think there was a huge 18 week waiting list it has not been hit since 2016. we need to lift the workforce up. there is a lot we can do is to have the strength and dignity with the workforce. if i was you and i worked for the nhs and i had the prime minister are simply blaming the nhs rather than taking responsibility as a prime minister, it would go a long way because we can't sort of clap our care and our key workers during the pandemic and say it is not my fault it is the nhs staff. that is really disrespectful. we need to make the waiting has come down, it is very difficult to feel uplifted in your job is very difficult to feel uplifted in yourjob because you know the waiting list is getting bigger and bigger. because it takes time, it is worrying, so... we will try and make sure those staff are retained. just one more thing, we haven't had the next generation of staff of the nhs, in quickly enough so we need that, there are plans in place for the next generation of staff to be next... you will be part of that. one of the problem with the nhs, of course it takes time to train people, so polishes and say that we won't do that,. i want to put you in a position if we are privileged enough to form a government where you not only feel really proud of what you are doing but where we drive up their satisfaction levels because the public are so appreciative of the nhs for the government to have taken it to this place where the satisfaction levels are so long is really, really shocking. did you want to say something?— shocking. did you want to say something? shocking. did you want to say somethint? ., , ., , , something? politically for you guys who are paramedics, _ something? politically for you guys who are paramedics, i— something? politically for you guys who are paramedics, i think- something? politically for you guys | who are paramedics, i think making sure that _ who are paramedics, i think making sure that you — who are paramedics, i think making sure that you are _ who are paramedics, i think making sure that you are not _ who are paramedics, i think making sure that you are not spending - who are paramedics, i think making sure that you are not spending youri sure that you are not spending your entire _ sure that you are not spending your entire shifts— sure that you are not spending your entire shifts at _ sure that you are not spending your entire shifts at the _ sure that you are not spending your entire shifts at the back _ sure that you are not spending your entire shifts at the back of - sure that you are not spending your entire shifts at the back of the - entire shifts at the back of the ambulance _ entire shifts at the back of the ambulance with— entire shifts at the back of the ambulance with your- entire shifts at the back of the ambulance with your patientsl entire shifts at the back of the - ambulance with your patients waiting for a hand _ ambulance with your patients waiting for a hand over~ _ ambulance with your patients waiting for a hand over. there _ ambulance with your patients waiting for a hand over. there are _ ambulance with your patients waiting for a hand over. there are things - ambulance with your patients waiting for a hand over. there are things to. for a hand over. there are things to reform _ for a hand over. there are things to reform the — for a hand over. there are things to reform the handover— for a hand over. there are things to reform the handover process - for a hand over. there are things to reform the handover process with l for a hand over. there are things to. reform the handover process with the hospitat _ reform the handover process with the hospitat that— reform the handover process with the hospital. that involves _ reform the handover process with the hospital. that involves any... - reform the handover process with the hospital. that involves any... it- hospital. that involves any... it will be — hospital. that involves any... it will be better— hospital. that involves any... it will be better for— hospital. that involves any... it will be better for them - hospital. that involves any... it will be better for them because hospital. that involves any... it- will be better for them because you can see _ will be better for them because you can see a _ will be better for them because you can see a gp— will be better for them because you can see a gp when— will be better for them because you can see a gp when you _ will be better for them because you can see a gp when you need - will be better for them because you can see a gp when you need one, l will be better for them because youi can see a gp when you need one, it will be _ can see a gp when you need one, it will be better— can see a gp when you need one, it will be better for— can see a gp when you need one, it will be better for the _ can see a gp when you need one, it will be better for the taxpayer - will be better for the taxpayer because — will be better for the taxpayer because a _ will be better for the taxpayer because a gp _ will be better for the taxpayer because a gp appointment - will be better for the taxpayerl because a gp appointment was will be better for the taxpayer - because a gp appointment was about 40 pounds _ because a gp appointment was about 40 pounds for— because a gp appointment was about 40 pounds for the _ because a gp appointment was about 40 pounds for the nhs _ because a gp appointment was about 40 pounds for the nhs to _ because a gp appointment was about 40 pounds for the nhs to provide. it| 40 pounds for the nhs to provide. it is 40 pounds for the nhs to provide. it is the _ ao pounds for the nhs to provide. it is the worst— ao pounds for the nhs to provide. it is the worst of— ao pounds for the nhs to provide. it is the worst of all— 40 pounds for the nhs to provide. it is the worst of all oils _ 40 pounds for the nhs to provide. it is the worst of all oils where - is the worst of all oils where patients— is the worst of all oils where patients get _ is the worst of all oils where patients get a _ is the worst of all oils where patients get a bad _ is the worst of all oils where patients get a bad service, i is the worst of all oils where| patients get a bad service, if is the worst of all oils where - patients get a bad service, if you have _ patients get a bad service, if you have a _ patients get a bad service, if you have a bit _ patients get a bad service, if you have a bit we _ patients get a bad service, if you have a bit... we are _ patients get a bad service, if you have a bit... we are not- patients get a bad service, if you| have a bit... we are not spending patients get a bad service, if you - have a bit... we are not spending as much _ have a bit... we are not spending as much money— have a bit... we are not spending as much money with— have a bit... we are not spending as much money with the _ have a bit... we are not spending as much money with the nhs _ have a bit... we are not spending as much money with the nhs as - have a bit... we are not spending as much money with the nhs as it - have a bit... we are not spending as i much money with the nhs as it should be able _ much money with the nhs as it should be able to _ much money with the nhs as it should be able to. they're _ much money with the nhs as it should be able to. they're trying _ much money with the nhs as it should be able to. they're trying to _ much money with the nhs as it should be able to. they're trying to get - be able to. they're trying to get the balance _ be able to. they're trying to get the balance right _ be able to. they're trying to get the balance right between - the balance right between investments _ the balance right between investments in _ the balance right between investments in the - the balance right between investments in the nhs i the balance right betweeni investments in the nhs but the balance right between - investments in the nhs but also perform — investments in the nhs but also perform it _ investments in the nhs but also perform it the _ investments in the nhs but also perform it. the final— investments in the nhs but also perform it. the final appeal- investments in the nhs but also perform it. the final appeal thati investments in the nhs but alsol perform it. the final appeal that i will make — perform it. the final appeal that i will make to _ perform it. the final appeal that i will make to students, _ perform it. the final appeal that i will make to students, which - will make to students, which recently _ will make to students, which recently zero _ will make to students, which recently zero an _ will make to students, which recently zero an initiative - will make to students, which i recently zero an initiative called .et recently zero an initiative called get rid — recently zero an initiative called get rid of— recently zero an initiative called get rid of stupid _ recently zero an initiative called get rid of stupid stuff. - recently zero an initiative called get rid of stupid stuff. this- recently zero an initiative called get rid of stupid stuff. this is. get rid of stupid stuff. this is where — get rid of stupid stuff. this is where front— get rid of stupid stuff. this is where front line _ get rid of stupid stuff. this is where front line staff- get rid of stupid stuff. this is where front line staff that . get rid of stupid stuff. this is. where front line staff that work get rid of stupid stuff. this is- where front line staff that work in the nhs — where front line staff that work in the nhs can— where front line staff that work in the nhs can tell— where front line staff that work in the nhs can tell us _ where front line staff that work in the nhs can tell us things - where front line staff that work in the nhs can tell us things that i where front line staff that work in| the nhs can tell us things that you encounter— the nhs can tell us things that you encounter in — the nhs can tell us things that you encounter in our— the nhs can tell us things that you encounter in our everyday - the nhs can tell us things that you encounter in our everyday life - the nhs can tell us things that you encounter in our everyday life —— l encounter in our everyday life —— make _ encounter in our everyday life —— make in — encounter in our everyday life —— make in your _ encounter in our everyday life —— make in your everyday _ encounter in our everyday life —— make in your everyday life, - encounter in our everyday life —— make in your everyday life, thisl encounter in our everyday life —— i make in your everyday life, this is not going — make in your everyday life, this is not going to — make in your everyday life, this is not going to help— make in your everyday life, this is not going to help nhs, _ make in your everyday life, this is not going to help nhs, this - make in your everyday life, this is not going to help nhs, this is - make in your everyday life, this is not going to help nhs, this is not| not going to help nhs, this is not going _ not going to help nhs, this is not going to — not going to help nhs, this is not going to help— not going to help nhs, this is not going to help our— not going to help nhs, this is not going to help our patients. - not going to help nhs, this is not going to help our patients. you i not going to help nhs, this is not i going to help our patients. you tell us, and _ going to help our patients. you tell us, and we — going to help our patients. you tell us, and we will— going to help our patients. you tell us, and we will do _ going to help our patients. you tell us, and we will do our— going to help our patients. you tell us, and we will do our best- going to help our patients. you tell us, and we will do our best to - going to help our patients. you tell| us, and we will do our best to solve this _ us, and we will do our best to solve this because— us, and we will do our best to solve this. because we _ us, and we will do our best to solve this. because we will— us, and we will do our best to solve this. because we will learn - us, and we will do our best to solve this. because we will learn form - this. because we will learn form you. _ this. because we will learn form you. to — this. because we will learn form you. to ensure _ this. because we will learn form you, to ensure that _ this. because we will learn form you, to ensure that you - this. because we will learn form you, to ensure that you are - this. because we will learn form - you, to ensure that you are working effectively — you, to ensure that you are working effectively to — you, to ensure that you are working effectively to your _ you, to ensure that you are working effectively to your patients - you, to ensure that you are working effectively to your patients get - you, to ensure that you are working effectively to your patients get the i effectively to your patients get the best possible _ effectively to your patients get the best possible care. _ effectively to your patients get the best possible care. because - effectively to your patients get the best possible care. because you i effectively to your patients get the i best possible care. because you are the ones _ best possible care. because you are the ones seen — best possible care. because you are the ones seen it— best possible care. because you are the ones seen it on— best possible care. because you are the ones seen it on the _ best possible care. because you are the ones seen it on the front - best possible care. because you are the ones seen it on the front line. l the ones seen it on the front line. just another — the ones seen it on the front line. just another thing _ the ones seen it on the front line. just another thing about - the ones seen it on the front line. i just another thing about paramedics, we have got a very good paramedic friend. he told me a thing where he was a sitting on then abbas which was a sitting on then abbas which was very bad, not been able to discharge a patient that he has got. he can hit a 999 call way he cannot respond because he has got a patient. the reason he is doing this is because he is in the ambulance going to where the problem is but he was sitting listening to the call. another one in stafford, a paramedic, a woman was saying to me was that the paramedics was waiting for the 99 calls —— 999 calls to come now, the nan and ankles are waiting for the paramedics to come. which was heartbreaking. —— the 999 calls are waiting for the paramedics to come. ~ , , ., calls are waiting for the paramedics tocome.~ , , ., j calls are waiting for the paramedics tocome. j ,, to come. why should the lgbt plus community rate _ to come. why should the lgbt plus community rate for _ to come. why should the lgbt plus community rate for labour? - to come. why should the lgbt plus community rate for labour? i - to come. why should the lgbt plus community rate for labour? i think| community rate for labour? i think we can improve — community rate for labour? i think we can improve health _ community rate for labour? i think we can improve health for- community rate for labour? i think we can improve health for trans i we can improve health for trans people. — we can improve health for trans people, physically— we can improve health for trans people, physically for— we can improve health for trans people, physically for —— - we can improve health for trans people, physically for —— they l we can improve health for trans. people, physically for —— they are not receiving _ people, physically for —— they are not receiving the _ people, physically for —— they are not receiving the holistic - people, physically for —— they are not receiving the holistic care - people, physically for —— they are| not receiving the holistic care that they need — not receiving the holistic care that they need and _ not receiving the holistic care that they need and as _ not receiving the holistic care that they need and as a _ not receiving the holistic care that they need and as a result - not receiving the holistic care that they need and as a result we - not receiving the holistic care that they need and as a result we are i they need and as a result we are seeing _ they need and as a result we are seeing people. _ they need and as a result we are seeing people, especially- they need and as a result we are seeing people, especially when. they need and as a result we are i seeing people, especially when you look at _ seeing people, especially when you look at the — seeing people, especially when you look at the numbers _ seeing people, especially when you look at the numbers of— seeing people, especially when you look at the numbers of mental- seeing people, especially when you look at the numbers of mental ill i look at the numbers of mental ill self-harm, — look at the numbers of mental ill self—harm, attempted _ look at the numbers of mental ill self—harm, attempted suicide, ii self—harm, attempted suicide, i think— self—harm, attempted suicide, i think effective _ self—harm, attempted suicide, i think effective treatment - self—harm, attempted suicide, i think effective treatment in - self—harm, attempted suicide, i think effective treatment in thisi think effective treatment in this area can — think effective treatment in this area can be _ think effective treatment in this area can be the _ think effective treatment in this area can be the difference - think effective treatment in this . area can be the difference between not just _ area can be the difference between notjust treatment, _ area can be the difference between not just treatment, but _ area can be the difference between| not just treatment, but life—saving. i can— not just treatment, but life—saving. i can understand _ not just treatment, but life—saving. i can understand that— not just treatment, but life—saving. i can understand that there - not just treatment, but life—saving. i can understand that there is - not just treatment, but life—saving. i can understand that there is a - i can understand that there is a problem — i can understand that there is a problem within— i can understand that there is a problem within the _ i can understand that there is a problem within the lgbt - i can understand that there is a problem within the lgbt and i i can understand that there is a i problem within the lgbt and trans community~~ _ problem within the lgbt and trans community... this— problem within the lgbt and trans community... this has— problem within the lgbt and trans community... this has been- problem within the lgbt and trans community... this has been part i problem within the lgbt and transi community... this has been part of u-ly community... this has been part of ugly political— community... this has been part of ugly political conversation - community... this has been part of ugly political conversation that - community... this has been part of ugly political conversation that has| ugly political conversation that has made _ ugly political conversation that has made trans — ugly political conversation that has made trans people _ ugly political conversation that has made trans people feel— ugly political conversation that has made trans people feel unsafe. . ugly political conversation that has. made trans people feel unsafe. this is made trans people feel unsafe. this is our— made trans people feel unsafe. this is our fault — made trans people feel unsafe. this is our fault to — made trans people feel unsafe. this is our fault to fix _ made trans people feel unsafe. this is our fault to fix this _ made trans people feel unsafe. this is our fault to fix this thing - made trans people feel unsafe. this is our fault to fix this thing is, - is our fault to fix this thing is, the toxic— is our fault to fix this thing is, the toxic political— is our fault to fix this thing is, the toxic political culture - is our fault to fix this thing is, the toxic political culture but. is our fault to fix this thing is, . the toxic political culture but also to make — the toxic political culture but also to make sure _ the toxic political culture but also to make sure that _ the toxic political culture but also to make sure that young - the toxic political culture but also to make sure that young people i the toxic political culture but also i to make sure that young people get access _ to make sure that young people get access to _ to make sure that young people get access to high—quality, _ to make sure that young people get access to high—quality, while - access to high—quality, while evidence _ access to high—quality, while evidence care _ access to high—quality, while evidence care and _ access to high—quality, while evidence care and care - access to high—quality, while evidence care and care and l access to high—quality, while i evidence care and care and that access to high—quality, while - evidence care and care and that when they reach— evidence care and care and that when they reach the — evidence care and care and that when they reach the end _ evidence care and care and that when they reach the end of _ evidence care and care and that when they reach the end of the _ evidence care and care and that when they reach the end of the childhood i they reach the end of the childhood and adolescence _ they reach the end of the childhood and adolescence service, _ they reach the end of the childhood and adolescence service, they- they reach the end of the childhood and adolescence service, they are i and adolescence service, they are not pushed — and adolescence service, they are not pushed off— and adolescence service, they are not pushed off a _ and adolescence service, they are not pushed off a cliff _ and adolescence service, they are not pushed off a cliff to _ and adolescence service, they are not pushed off a cliff to the - and adolescence service, they are not pushed off a cliff to the adultl not pushed off a cliff to the adult service _ not pushed off a cliff to the adult service and — not pushed off a cliff to the adult service and suddenly _ not pushed off a cliff to the adult service and suddenly feel- not pushed off a cliff to the adult service and suddenly feel that i service and suddenly feel that support— service and suddenly feel that support has— service and suddenly feel that support has disappeared. - service and suddenly feel that support has disappeared. if. service and suddenly feel that i support has disappeared. if we service and suddenly feel that - support has disappeared. if we get this right, — support has disappeared. if we get this right, if— support has disappeared. if we get this right, if we _ support has disappeared. if we get this right, if we implement- support has disappeared. if we get this right, if we implement that i this right, if we implement that review, — this right, if we implement that review, and _ this right, if we implement that review, and the _ this right, if we implement that review, and the way— this right, if we implement that review, and the way that - this right, if we implement thati review, and the way that hillary cass _ review, and the way that hillary cass has — review, and the way that hillary cass has intended, _ review, and the way that hillary cass has intended, it _ review, and the way that hillary cass has intended, it can- review, and the way that hillary cass has intended, it can be - review, and the way that hillary - cass has intended, it can be amazing for trans _ cass has intended, it can be amazing for trans people _ cass has intended, it can be amazing for trans people. it _ cass has intended, it can be amazing for trans people. it is _ cass has intended, it can be amazing for trans people. it is our— cass has intended, it can be amazing for trans people. it is ourjob- cass has intended, it can be amazing for trans people. it is ourjob to - for trans people. it is ourjob to fix for trans people. it is ourjob to fix those — for trans people. it is ourjob to fix those issues. _ for trans people. it is ourjob to fix those issues. i— for trans people. it is our 'ob to fix those issues.�* fix those issues. i think it is a wider piece. _ fix those issues. i think it is a wider piece, in _ fix those issues. i think it is a wider piece, in my _ fix those issues. i think it is a wider piece, in my very - fix those issues. i think it is a | wider piece, in my very strong fix those issues. i think it is a - wider piece, in my very strong view over the last ten years or more, politics has become much too divided and toxic. you have had a government he was trying to find the differences and to divide people, instead of a government that tries to bring people together and to respect across differences. i think thatis respect across differences. i think that is a really important to change that is a really important to change that we have to bring about because the politics of division, instead of saying what do him and me share, instead of saying how are we different. you then strip away something that is really important about community and the country that we are. let's go to their side. do you want to get the because we have a camera running and you be heard? thanks for the opportunity. i want to find _ thanks for the opportunity. i want to find out— thanks for the opportunity. i want to find out what _ thanks for the opportunity. i want to find out what your _ thanks for the opportunity. i want to find out what your governmentj to find out what your government will be _ to find out what your government will be doing _ to find out what your government will be doing to _ to find out what your government will be doing to support _ to find out what your government will be doing to support general. will be doing to support general lasses _ will be doing to support general lasses when _ will be doing to support general lasses when they— will be doing to support general lasses when they come - will be doing to support general lasses when they come out - will be doing to support general lasses when they come out of. will be doing to support general- lasses when they come out of school because _ lasses when they come out of school because they — lasses when they come out of school because they already _ lasses when they come out of school because they already would - lasses when they come out of school because they already would have - because they already would have accumulated _ because they already would have accumulated debt _ because they already would have accumulated debt ahead - because they already would have accumulated debt ahead of - because they already would have accumulated debt ahead of them because they already would have - accumulated debt ahead of them and i would _ accumulated debt ahead of them and i would also _ accumulated debt ahead of them and i would also like — accumulated debt ahead of them and i would also like to _ accumulated debt ahead of them and i would also like to find _ accumulated debt ahead of them and i would also like to find out _ accumulated debt ahead of them and i would also like to find out what - would also like to find out what your— would also like to find out what your government _ would also like to find out what your government will _ would also like to find out what your government will be - would also like to find out what your government will be doingi would also like to find out what l your government will be doing to support— your government will be doing to support and — your government will be doing to support and as _ your government will be doing to support and as abroad _ your government will be doing to support and as abroad to - your government will be doing to support and as abroad to seek. your government will be doing to - support and as abroad to seek winner pastures— support and as abroad to seek winner pastures because _ support and as abroad to seek winner pastures because they're _ support and as abroad to seek winner pastures because they're not - support and as abroad to seek winner pastures because they're not being i pastures because they're not being supported — pastures because they're not being supported in— pastures because they're not being supported in this _ pastures because they're not being supported in this country? - pastures because they're not being supported in this country? —— - pastures because they're not being supported in this country? —— to. supported in this country? —— to seek— supported in this country? —— to seek greener— supported in this country? —— to seek greener pastures - supported in this country? —— to seek greener pastures because i supported in this country? —— to- seek greener pastures because they are not— seek greener pastures because they are not being — seek greener pastures because they are not being supported _ seek greener pastures because they are not being supported in- seek greener pastures because they are not being supported in this - are not being supported in this country? — are not being supported in this country? hie _ are not being supported in this count ? ~ ., , ., are not being supported in this count 7~ ., , country? we want people to stay here in our nhs and _ country? we want people to stay here in our nhs and feel— country? we want people to stay here in our nhs and feel properly - in our nhs and feel properly supported and properly valued. that is what we want to do. it goes back to the question of retention of staff, because the burnout of the number of people leaving is a very big problem. that is central to what we need to do. i agree and i am worried about notjust the retention challenge we have received national strikes in the nhs for the first time in history. hat strikes in the nhs for the first time in history.— strikes in the nhs for the first time in history. not 'ust that they will cut on another_ time in history. notjust that they will cut on another day _ time in history. notjust that they will cut on another day of- time in history. notjust that they will cut on another day of strike i will cut on another day of strike action— will cut on another day of strike action but— will cut on another day of strike action but they _ will cut on another day of strike action but they will _ will cut on another day of strike action but they will cut - will cut on another day of strike i action but they will cut altogether and we _ action but they will cut altogether and we cannot— action but they will cut altogether and we cannot afford _ action but they will cut altogether and we cannot afford to _ action but they will cut altogether and we cannot afford to lose - action but they will cut altogether and we cannot afford to lose you. | action but they will cut altogether. and we cannot afford to lose you. we can work— and we cannot afford to lose you. we can work constructively— and we cannot afford to lose you. we can work constructively with - and we cannot afford to lose you. we can work constructively with you, - can work constructively with you, the workforce _ can work constructively with you, the workforce to _ can work constructively with you, the workforce to do _ can work constructively with you, the workforce to do at _ can work constructively with you, the workforce to do at some - can work constructively with you, i the workforce to do at some much can work constructively with you, - the workforce to do at some much as we can— the workforce to do at some much as we can as _ the workforce to do at some much as we can as fast — the workforce to do at some much as we can as fast as— the workforce to do at some much as we can as fast as we _ the workforce to do at some much as we can as fast as we can _ the workforce to do at some much as we can as fast as we can for - the workforce to do at some much as we can as fast as we can for the - we can as fast as we can for the things— we can as fast as we can for the things that _ we can as fast as we can for the things that really _ we can as fast as we can for the things that really matter- we can as fast as we can for the things that really matter too. it| we can as fast as we can for the l things that really matter too. it is going _ things that really matter too. it is going to _ things that really matter too. it is going to take _ things that really matter too. it is going to take time _ things that really matter too. it is going to take time and _ things that really matter too. it is going to take time and i- things that really matter too. it is going to take time and i were - things that really matter too. it is i going to take time and i were asking people _ going to take time and i were asking people to _ going to take time and i were asking people to judge _ going to take time and i were asking people tqudge us— going to take time and i were asking people tojudge us on— going to take time and i were asking people tojudge us on our— going to take time and i were asking people tojudge us on our record - going to take time and i were asking people tojudge us on our record asi people tojudge us on our record as welt _ people tojudge us on our record as welt we _ people tojudge us on our record as welt we came _ people tojudge us on our record as well. we came in _ people tojudge us on our record as well. we came in 1997, _ people tojudge us on our record as well. we came in 1997, the - people tojudge us on our record as| well. we came in 1997, the pledges were really— well. we came in 1997, the pledges were really small. _ well. we came in 1997, the pledges were really small. we _ well. we came in 1997, the pledges were really small. we promise - well. we came in 1997, the pledges were really small. we promise to. well. we came in 1997, the pledges. were really small. we promise to cut nhs waiting — were really small. we promise to cut nhs waiting lists _ were really small. we promise to cut nhs waiting lists by _ were really small. we promise to cut nhs waiting lists by sacking - were really small. we promise to cut nhs waiting lists by sacking some i nhs waiting lists by sacking some nhs waiting lists by sacking some nhs managers _ nhs waiting lists by sacking some nhs managers. we _ nhs waiting lists by sacking some nhs managers. we have - nhs waiting lists by sacking some nhs managers. we have gotten l nhs waiting lists by sacking some . nhs managers. we have gotten even further— nhs managers. we have gotten even further in — nhs managers. we have gotten even further in terms _ nhs managers. we have gotten even further in terms of— nhs managers. we have gotten even further in terms of what _ nhs managers. we have gotten even further in terms of what we _ nhs managers. we have gotten even further in terms of what we are - further in terms of what we are pledging — further in terms of what we are pledging to _ further in terms of what we are pledging to do _ further in terms of what we are pledging to do but _ further in terms of what we are pledging to do but we - further in terms of what we are pledging to do but we are - further in terms of what we are| pledging to do but we are angst about— pledging to do but we are angst about this — pledging to do but we are angst about this question _ pledging to do but we are angst about this question of— pledging to do but we are angst about this question of pay- pledging to do but we are angst about this question of pay and i pledging to do but we are angst i about this question of pay and can you do— about this question of pay and can you do pay— about this question of pay and can you do pay restoration. _ about this question of pay and can you do pay restoration. we - about this question of pay and can you do pay restoration. we are - about this question of pay and can| you do pay restoration. we are not going _ you do pay restoration. we are not going to _ you do pay restoration. we are not going to make _ you do pay restoration. we are not going to make promises— you do pay restoration. we are not going to make promises and - you do pay restoration. we are not going to make promises and as - you do pay restoration. we are not going to make promises and as we you do pay restoration. we are not- going to make promises and as we are 100% _ going to make promises and as we are 100% sure _ going to make promises and as we are 100% sure we — going to make promises and as we are 100% sure we are _ going to make promises and as we are 100% sure we are going _ going to make promises and as we are 100% sure we are going to _ going to make promises and as we are 100% sure we are going to keep- going to make promises and as we are| 100% sure we are going to keep them. the last— 100% sure we are going to keep them. the last labour— 100% sure we are going to keep them. the last labour government _ 100% sure we are going to keep them. the last labour government did - the last labour government did deliver— the last labour government did deliver pay— the last labour government did deliver pay restoration, - the last labour government did deliver pay restoration, we - the last labour government did deliver pay restoration, we did i the last labour government did i deliver pay restoration, we did get a waiting _ deliver pay restoration, we did get a waiting list— deliver pay restoration, we did get a waiting list down _ deliver pay restoration, we did get a waiting list down to _ deliver pay restoration, we did get a waiting list down to the - deliver pay restoration, we did get a waiting list down to the lowest . a waiting list down to the lowest ever and — a waiting list down to the lowest ever and we _ a waiting list down to the lowest ever and we got— a waiting list down to the lowest ever and we got patient- a waiting list down to the lowest. ever and we got patient satisfaction to their— ever and we got patient satisfaction to their lowest _ ever and we got patient satisfaction to their lowest ever— ever and we got patient satisfaction to their lowest ever so _ ever and we got patient satisfaction to their lowest ever so we - ever and we got patient satisfaction to their lowest ever so we have - ever and we got patient satisfaction to their lowest ever so we have a i to their lowest ever so we have a strong _ to their lowest ever so we have a strong record~ _ to their lowest ever so we have a strong record. under— to their lowest ever so we have a strong record. underthis- to their lowest ever so we have a - strong record. under this background of cynicism, — strong record. under this background of cynicism, can _ strong record. under this background of cynicism, can it _ strong record. under this background of cynicism, can it happen, _ strong record. under this background of cynicism, can it happen, can- strong record. under this background of cynicism, can it happen, can we i of cynicism, can it happen, can we make _ of cynicism, can it happen, can we make change? _ of cynicism, can it happen, can we make change? we _ of cynicism, can it happen, can we make change? we have _ of cynicism, can it happen, can we make change? we have got - of cynicism, can it happen, can we make change? we have got the i of cynicism, can it happen, can we . make change? we have got the best record _ make change? we have got the best record of— make change? we have got the best record of the — make change? we have got the best record of the nhs, _ make change? we have got the best record of the nhs, because - make change? we have got the best record of the nhs, because we - make change? we have got the best record of the nhs, because we the i record of the nhs, because we the people _ record of the nhs, because we the people in— record of the nhs, because we the people in this _ record of the nhs, because we the people in this room, _ record of the nhs, because we the people in this room, i— record of the nhs, because we the people in this room, i am - record of the nhs, because we the people in this room, i am looking i record of the nhs, because we the i people in this room, i am looking at you now. _ people in this room, i am looking at you now. not — people in this room, i am looking at you now. notjust— people in this room, i am looking at you now, not just the _ people in this room, i am looking at you now, notjust the politicians - you now, notjust the politicians here, _ you now, notjust the politicians here, they— you now, notjust the politicians here, they can— you now, notjust the politicians here, they can be _ you now, notjust the politicians here, they can be part - you now, notjust the politicians here, they can be part of- you now, notjust the politicians here, they can be part of the . here, they can be part of the generation, _ here, they can be part of the generation, where _ here, they can be part of the generation, where the - here, they can be part of the| generation, where the wagon here, they can be part of the - generation, where the wagon for the nhs or— generation, where the wagon for the nhs or serving — generation, where the wagon for the nhs or serving the _ generation, where the wagon for the nhs or serving the government. - generation, where the wagon for the nhs or serving the government. we| nhs or serving the government. we can be _ nhs or serving the government. we can be that — nhs or serving the government. we can be that the _ nhs or serving the government. we can be that the generation- nhs or serving the government. we can be that the generation to - nhs or serving the government. we can be that the generation to say i nhs or serving the government. we| can be that the generation to say we .ot can be that the generation to say we got the _ can be that the generation to say we got the nhs — can be that the generation to say we got the nhs from _ can be that the generation to say we got the nhs from the _ can be that the generation to say we got the nhs from the worst - can be that the generation to say we got the nhs from the worst date - got the nhs from the worst date ever~ _ got the nhs from the worst date ever~ to— got the nhs from the worst date ever~ to -- _ got the nhs from the worst date ever. to —— from _ got the nhs from the worst date ever. to —— from the _ got the nhs from the worst date ever. to —— from the worst - got the nhs from the worst date ever. to —— from the worst date | got the nhs from the worst date - ever. to —— from the worst date ever to a realty— ever. to —— from the worst date ever to a really good _ ever. to —— from the worst date ever to a really good one. _ ever. to —— from the worst date ever to a really good one. we _ ever. to -- from the worst date ever to a really good one.— to a really good one. we want you to 'oin the to a really good one. we want you to join the workforce _ to a really good one. we want you to join the workforce in _ to a really good one. we want you to join the workforce in five _ to a really good one. we want you to join the workforce in five years' - join the workforce in five years' time, so that you can say we are the generation of incoming staff at the time where the nhs is back on the rise, is back able to cope where people are feeling much better about the nhs. that will be a feeling of incredible pride for you and it is for us, to create the conditions in which that can happen. is there anything on your mind that i can be thinking about on my way home? i thinking about on my way home? i thinking about on my way home? i think for the students, by the time they come — think for the students, by the time they come out— think for the students, by the time they come out of— think for the students, by the time they come out of school, - think for the students, by the time they come out of school, they - think for the students, by the time they come out of school, they arei they come out of school, they are already— they come out of school, they are already in — they come out of school, they are already in debt. _ they come out of school, they are already in debt. if— they come out of school, they are already in debt. if a _ they come out of school, they are already in debt. if a student- already in debt. if a student decides _ already in debt. if a student decides to— already in debt. if a student decides to work— already in debt. if a student decides to work for- already in debt. if a student decides to work for the - already in debt. if a student decides to work for the nhs already in debt. if a student. decides to work for the nhs for already in debt. if a student- decides to work for the nhs for five years. _ decides to work for the nhs for five years. or— decides to work for the nhs for five years. orthat— decides to work for the nhs for five years. or that it _ decides to work for the nhs for five years, or that it has _ decides to work for the nhs for five years, or that it has to— decides to work for the nhs for five years, or that it has to be _ decides to work for the nhs for five years, or that it has to be gone. - decides to work for the nhs for five years, or that it has to be gone. so| years, or that it has to be gone. so it is a years, or that it has to be gone. it is a debt issue. thank you. years, or that it has to be gone.“ it is a debt issue. thank you. let's go to their side... let's go here. thank you. for me my understanding is that— thank you. for me my understanding is that the _ thank you. for me my understanding is that the government always rolls out fans _ is that the government always rolls out fans towards health service innovations, but then these things are treing — innovations, but then these things are being debated in the parliament from a _ are being debated in the parliament from a political perspective so my question— from a political perspective so my question is— from a political perspective so my question is how is your party intending _ question is how is your party intending to involve students and health _ intending to involve students and health care professionals in those debates— health care professionals in those debates so that's when you are rotting — debates so that's when you are rolling out fans, they are particularly for things we need in patient _ particularly for things we need in patient safety and in our safety as well? _ patient safety and in our safety as well? . . . patient safety and in our safety as well? . , . ., , patient safety and in our safety as well? . , . . , well? that is a really good question- _ well? that is a really good question. firstly, - well? that is a really good question. firstly, we - well? that is a really good question. firstly, we do i well? that is a really good i question. firstly, we do want well? that is a really good - question. firstly, we do want to roll out more technology. radiologists are working with more ai can pick up cancer so much more quickly and more accurately than working on their own, so there is a huge benefit to it. our ambition is not simply to get the nhs are back on its feet. which it is, but is also to make sure the nhs is fit for its future. we look back on the last 75 years when labour founded the nhs, every year, we have a celebration of the nhs, that is good. but ourjob is to effectively the same that was done after the second world war, to ensure that the nhs is fit for the next 70 years not just celebrate the last years. used to run the crown prosecution, i had seven thousand staff... what are you to do is i went to every office and i would have the first session of the day which would be with junior staff annotated them without any managers there, —— i would ask them, without any managers there are... taste without any managers there are... we are just going to step away there from keir starmer he was talking there with medical students and some nhs workers. talking with them to cut nhs waiting times. also worth saying, we are due to hear from the prime minister, rishi sunak, he is expected to answer questions, there are a little later we will bring that to you just as soon as that gets under way. we will have had those coming to you mother shortly. letters have a look at the weather where you are. hello again. it is another day of sunshine and scattered showers. another thing worth noting about today is the pollen levels. moderate and high across southern england and wales. pilot levels is on the rise at the moment. we do have a weather front dangling across the north of scotland this is where we will see particularly heavy thunder and showers over the course of the afternoon. slow moving, risk of destruction. in england and wales, a risk of sunshine and showers. it could prove to be heavy and thundering as well but you'll be faster moving than the ones in scotland. temperatures i7 faster moving than the ones in scotland. temperatures 17 to 20 degrees. it will feel quite pleasant. shall we went across scotland, it wishes south into northern england. showers in the south mostly tender fade. northern england. showers in the south mostly tenderfade. it northern england. showers in the south mostly tender fade. it moved from northern ireland... and produce between eight and ii from northern ireland... and produce between eight and 11 degrees. that is how we stuck to the day tomorrow, their showery rain pushing across england and fizzling. we do have a weather front wrapped around a low pressure in the north seen in —— in the north sea. 0n pressure in the north seen in —— in the north sea. on thursday, it is another day of sunshine, bright spells and some showers. with a brisk north—easterly winds along the north of the coastline. as we had into the end of the week, things change because high pressure really starts to establish itself across the uk. that means things will settle, but it doesn't mean we'll be looking at blue skies. 0n settle, but it doesn't mean we'll be looking at blue skies. on friday, they will be some patchy cloud around, there will be some front from the north seen bringing in cloud sometimes. there will be the odd shower from north—west scotland, may be interisland as well. temperatures ia to about 19 degrees north to south. then we head into the weekend, at times, we will have areas of cloud, at times we will see the odd shower, but with lighter winds and higher temperatures, it will feel quite pleasant. they will walk out for five days in the run—up to the general election. dan and tells the bbc the general... said keir starmer and rishi sunak will go head—to—head in the first televised debates. temperatures in india's capital delhi will pass 50 celsius, they have hit a new national record high. south africa's president cast his ballot in the general election. the anc could lose its majority for the first time in 30 years. breaking youth that junior doctors in breaking youth thatjunior doctors in england are to stage strikes in the run—up to the general election. talks had recently reopened with a view to ending their long—running dispute over pay but those talks appeared to have broken down. it will be the 11th walk—out byjunior doctors after their first strike in march 2023. the later strike will take place over five days, starting on the 27th ofjune. 0ur health editor how to detail. i on the 27th ofjune. our health editor how to detail.— on the 27th ofjune. our health editor how to detail. i think there was a hone _ editor how to detail. i think there was a hone a _ editor how to detail. i think there was a hope a couple _ editor how to detail. i think there was a hope a couple of _ editor how to detail. i think there was a hope a couple of weeks - editor how to detail. i think there | was a hope a couple of weeks ago that the agreement by the british medical association, the doctor's union and the government to go into mediation talks with an independent arbitrator suggested that progress could be made. now that appears to be farfrom the could be made. now that appears to be far from the case and what the bma as saying in the statement that they put outjust a short time ago is the minute the election was called last week, they felt that really there was no further mileage because they felt the government didn't have any further authority to make spending commitments and the dispute over pay would not be resolved, therefore they have called this walk—out. this is a dispute in england, walk—out from 7am on during the 27th two 7am onjuly the 2nd, which is two days before polling day. so it is going to be particularly interesting politically with the nhs such a major issue in this campaign and it will be particularly interesting for whoever forms the government, this will be high in the intro. there bma i called for 35% pay rise in england forjunior doctors, phased in over a couple of years. the government made an award last year and then topped it up to give an average of about 9% and really there doesn't seem to have been any progress really on trying to reach a compromise. so this will affect patients once again, hospitals, it is thought if you look at all industrial action in england going right back to the end of 2022 involving nurses, doctors, ambulance staff and others, more than a00,000 treatments, operations and others did not happen that would otherwise have happened and now have waiting lists as a major issue but there bma has always argued the waiting list where a problem before industrial action started. you waiting list where a problem before industrial action started.— industrial action started. you are ri . ht to industrial action started. you are right to highlight _ industrial action started. you are right to highlight that _ industrial action started. you are right to highlight that timing, - right to highlight that timing, posing a real dilemma for whoever forms the next government, the conservatives in the job will be criticised for their handling of the nhs and their handling of this dispute but at the same time labour has not committed to pay that 35% increase in the bma is asking for. that is right, wes streeting labour's health spokesperson said earlier today that 35% was not reasonable but he hoped for constructive talks if labour form the next government and he gave the impression he was hoping something could be negotiated. clearly now the conservative government will be blamed by their bma by taking it this far. the first strikes were in march last year. the dispute is still rumbling on, but with government down to a minimum now because of the rules about campaigning and politicians being out on the road, it is highly unlikely anything will happen before the strike and before polling day so for whoever is in downing street afterjuly the ath, this will be an issue which is certainly far from resolved and will need tackling. fiur resolved and will need tackling. our health resolved and will need tackling. 0ur health editor. the politicians are out in the campaign trail today. the conservatives think they were close university courses that offer what rishi sunak is described as a rip—off degrees in england. instead he promises to fund hundred thousand extra apprenticeships a year. labour has described the plan is laughable. the liberal democrats said the shocking low pay for many apprenticeships was assigned the system was broken. the prime minister has been speaking about the planned during a campaign visit to cornwall. ~ ., ., , cornwall. wonderfulto be in cornwall. wonderfulto be in cornwall this _ cornwall. wonderfulto be in cornwall this morning - cornwall. wonderfulto be in. cornwall this morning having, cornwall. wonderfulto be in - cornwall this morning having, the overnight sleeper and i have been having a great time meeting apprentices. they are incredibly excited about their future and that is by a future conservative government will take bold action of closing down underperforming university degrees that are leading our young people down and instead using that money to fund 100,000 new high quality apprenticeships, that is the best way to transform people's lives and spread opportunity, the best way to deliver a secure future for our young people. a secure future for our young --eole. . ,, a secure future for our young --eole. . , . , people. can you identify any underperforming _ people. can you identify any underperforming degrees? l people. can you identify any - underperforming degrees? name people. can you identify any _ underperforming degrees? name one. and what— underperforming degrees? name one. and what is— underperforming degrees? name one. and what is wrong with university for young — and what is wrong with university for young people? and what is wrong with university for young petiole?— for young people? university is ureat and for young people? university is great and it— for young people? university is great and it makes _ for young people? university is great and it makes a _ for young people? university is great and it makes a fantastic. great and it makes a fantastic option for many people but it is not the only option. i met someone who believes you have to go to university and although apprenticeships —— apprentices are proof of that and describe it as a best decision they have ever made. what we do know is there are university degrees letting people down, independent study say around one in five people on degrees would have been financially better off not doing them, about one in three graduates are on non—graduate jobs. 50 we are better off providing those so we are better off providing those in people with the opportunity of a high—quality apprenticeship. the regulator will be given the powers to look at underperforming degrees, looking at the progression rates, the dropout rate, the earnings are people in those degrees and instead we will use that money to fund 100,000 new apprenticeships and that is an example of the bold action i'm prepared to take because that is how we would deliver a secure future for everyone across our country and in contrast to labour party are still clinging to the notion that everyone has to go to university and they want to have the number of apprenticeships and that is not the right way forward. rishi apprenticeships and that is not the right way forward.— right way forward. rishi sunak s-ueakin right way forward. rishi sunak speaking in — right way forward. rishi sunak speaking in cornwall— right way forward. rishi sunak speaking in cornwall earlier. l right way forward. rishi sunak . speaking in cornwall earlier. let's talk to michael a conservative mp. he is in dorset. i want to start with that breaking news this hour, junior doctors in england will strike in the run—up to that election. during the 27th tojuly the 2nd. the timing couldn't be worse, could it? it the 2nd. the timing couldn't be worse, could it?— worse, could it? it is very disappointing _ worse, could it? it is very disappointing news. - worse, could it? it is very disappointing news. i- worse, could it? it is very l disappointing news. i heard worse, could it? it is very - disappointing news. i heard arejust as the news was breaking just now. it feels to me to be very political this move, constructive talks had been held but frankly this is what you will get more of if labour get in because we have passed some tough laws when it comes to strikes and frankly they are going to be unravelled if keir starmer and labour get in. we will see more of this and the timing in the run—up to the general election is not coincidental in my view, it feels political. coincidental in my view, it feels olitical. . , political. there have been ten rounds of— political. there have been ten rounds of strike _ political. there have been ten rounds of strike action - political. there have been ten rounds of strike action since l political. there have been ten - rounds of strike action since march. how would it get worse under a labour government?— how would it get worse under a labour government? because of the action we have _ labour government? because of the action we have taken _ labour government? because of the action we have taken in _ labour government? because of the action we have taken in terms - labour government? because of the action we have taken in terms of - labour government? because of the j action we have taken in terms of the legislation that we have passed, tightening down on these trade union laws because labour frankly, tightening down on these trade union laws because labourfrankly, as they always do, will give into their union paymasters and this feels very political, right in the run—up to a general election campaign, as you say when ministers and mp5 are out on the campaign trail and you had the prime ministerfrom cornwall, talking to you from your constituency here in dorset, and the timing of it feels very political indeed. �* ~ �* timing of it feels very political indeed. �* ~�* ,,, timing of it feels very political indeed. �* ~ , ., indeed. the bma says it came to the table, it indeed. the bma says it came to the table. it has — indeed. the bma says it came to the table, it has been _ indeed. the bma says it came to the table, it has been in _ indeed. the bma says it came to the table, it has been in these _ table, it has been in these negotiations and these mediation talks. it says it is not stage any strike since february. rather than saying it is politically motivated, does it not speak to their frustration with not getting a resolution that works for everyone? i am... i am disappointed with the news, but with the run—up to the general election, a mere five weeks ago, that is what it feels like, thatis ago, that is what it feels like, that is a sense of it to me, political. you challenge me and what labour would do but frankly with the nhs we already know because the nhs in wales has seen longer waiting lists, waiting list growing and we already know what we would get with the labour party, should they succeed. . . , succeed. the labour party were la in: succeed. the labour party were laying out _ succeed. the labour party were laying out their _ succeed. the labour party were laying out their plans _ succeed. the labour party were laying out their plans this - succeed. the labour party were i laying out their plans this morning for a waiting this, they want to... they say they will do that in the first parliament if they are elected. they say that would reverse some of the underfunding and some of their frankly some of the underfunding and some of theirfrankly chaos that some of the underfunding and some of their frankly chaos that has been caused to the nhs under 13 years of the conservatives. thea;r caused to the nhs under 13 years of the conservatives.— caused to the nhs under 13 years of the conservatives. they have had the chance to do — the conservatives. they have had the chance to do this _ the conservatives. they have had the chance to do this in _ the conservatives. they have had the chance to do this in wales _ the conservatives. they have had the chance to do this in wales already, i chance to do this in wales already, where they already run... 0n chance to do this in wales already, where they already run... on that point, the labour had been running the nhs in wales and we have seen waiting list to the exact opposite, they have gone up, but since september of last year 2023 waiting list for them by 200,000, that is the fastest drop that we have seen in the last ten years. so frankly we need to contrast and compare the record with labour run wales nhs and our record with that waiting lists falling. our record with that waiting lists fallina. . . . our record with that waiting lists fallin. . , . our record with that waiting lists fallin.. ., , ., .,, ., falling. that is a contrast. one of the things _ falling. that is a contrast. one of the things i _ falling. that is a contrast. one of the things i want _ falling. that is a contrast. one of the things i want to _ falling. that is a contrast. one of the things i want to ask - falling. that is a contrast. one of the things i want to ask you, - falling. that is a contrast. one of| the things i want to ask you, here we are, one week into the election campaign and all the leaders are travelling around the country laying out their plans might be. we are not at manifesto stage, we just getting at manifesto stage, we just getting a sense of what the policies will look like. i wonder what voters would trust rishi sunak and the conservatives because there was a lot promised in the last election, not much of it has been delivered, there are some key policies for rishi sunak, i'm thinking about the smoking ban, it relates to health, he wants to phase out anyone been able to buy tobacco products over the coming years, that wasn't pushed through. parliament ran out of time to get that legacy policy through. why. to get that legacy policy through. why, having promised, was it delivered? i why, having promised, was it delivered?— why, having promised, was it delivered? ,, . , . ., , delivered? i think that is a really aood delivered? i think that is a really good example — delivered? i think that is a really good example of— delivered? i think that is a really good example of the _ delivered? i think that is a really good example of the bold - delivered? i think that is a really good example of the bold and i good example of the bold and ambitious measures that the prime minister has taken, is taking... ambitious, but he didn't get it through parliament any chose to the election when needed. we could have given himself more time to get it through. this given himself more time to get it throu~h. a ,, given himself more time to get it throu~h. a i. given himself more time to get it throu~h. a . . . , through. as you said, parliamentary timetable was _ through. as you said, parliamentary timetable was as _ through. as you said, parliamentary timetable was as it _ through. as you said, parliamentary timetable was as it was, _ through. as you said, parliamentary timetable was as it was, we - through. as you said, parliamentaryj timetable was as it was, we couldn't get it through the wash up phase as it was last week but is a bold and ambitious measure, we have failed —— heard other bold measures, the triple lock plus and the apprenticeships you have just had the prime ministerjust now, 100,000 more apprentices each year during the course of the next parliament. these are the bold and ambitious measures you will hear from the prime minister and an energised prime minister and an energised prime minister. you are right, the election was called a week ago today, i was sure, there was a real energy from the prime minister as he delivered his campaign launch. we have already seen exciting measures and i think we can contrast that with the labour party. we still don't know what we would get with keir starmer. we still don't know where they are in some of these key policy. contrast that with a bold measures you've already seen announced and i think the apprenticeships isjust announced and i think the apprenticeships is just another one of those. apprenticeships is 'ust another one of those. ., , ., apprenticeships is 'ust another one ofthose. ., ,, , of those. forgive me, you keep callin: of those. forgive me, you keep calling them — of those. forgive me, you keep calling them bold _ of those. forgive me, you keep calling them bold and - of those. forgive me, you keep| calling them bold and ambitious of those. forgive me, you keep- calling them bold and ambitious but what is a point of launching these so—called bold and ambitious plans if you can get them through parliament why would anyone trust that a vote for the conservatives get things done?— that a vote for the conservatives get things done? because we are in an election — get things done? because we are in an election period. _ get things done? because we are in an election period. this _ get things done? because we are in an election period. this is _ get things done? because we are in an election period. this is what - an election period. this is what happens when you poke forward can be a bring forward your ideas, everyone is been talking about national service of the last a8 hours, the pensioners, the triple lock plus, a better deal for our pensioners, that is what happens. it is leading the conversation and that is what you want from a leader, that is what you get from the prime minister rishi sunak, that is what we have seen and you will get moderate if you vote for the conservatives in the ath of july. d0 for the conservatives in the ath of jul . , ., for the conservatives in the ath of jul. , . . for the conservatives in the ath of jul. . �* july. do you understand what i'm caettin july. do you understand what i'm getting at? _ july. do you understand what i'm getting at? you _ july. do you understand what i'm getting at? you are _ july. do you understand what i'm getting at? you are asking - july. do you understand what i'm| getting at? you are asking voters july. do you understand what i'm i getting at? you are asking voters to put your trust in rishi sunak again at this election injuly and yet he has made promises in the past, real headline promises, thinks he wants to deliver and he has not been able to deliver and he has not been able to deliver and he has not been able to deliver them. why would this time be any different? i to deliver them. why would this time be any different?— be any different? i can give you one clear example. _ be any different? i can give you one clear example, the _ be any different? i can give you one clear example, the top _ be any different? i can give you one clear example, the top key - be any different? i can give you one | clear example, the top key measure that the prime minister stood on was having inflation, it was over 11%, 11.1% when the prime minister took office and it is now back down to normal levels are just over 2%. that is a key pledge at the prime minister stood on the steps of downing street and an ounce, he delivered it and over delivered, under promise and over delivered like all good leaders and now we have an inflation rate and a half, 2.3% back down to normal levels. 50 you are right to ask about trust, the prime minister himself said you have to look at my record and i think inflation and the economy is one good example of the prime minister notjust delivering but under promising and over delivering. are you saying the government can claim all the credit for inflation falling? because people will have long memories, they will remember when you blamed all of that inflation on external factors, the war in ukraine, global energy prices, the general cost of living crisis, you said it was external factors. ., . , �* ., factors. the government hasn't done an hint to factors. the government hasn't done anything to have _ factors. the government hasn't done anything to have inflation? _ factors. the government hasn't done anything to have inflation? i - factors. the government hasn't done anything to have inflation? i think. anything to have inflation? i think that is absolutely _ anything to have inflation? i think that is absolutely wrong. - anything to have inflation? i think that is absolutely wrong. when i anything to have inflation? i think. that is absolutely wrong. when the prime minister said that people challenge whether it would be possible. in terms of spending, in terms of borrowing, they were challenging discussions in relation to wages, for example. we didn't introduce inflation busting wage rises. .,, introduce inflation busting wage rises. . , �* rises. those are things you didn't do. no, rises. those are things you didn't do- no. these — rises. those are things you didn't do. no, these measures - rises. those are things you didn't do. no, these measures helped i rises. those are things you didn't i do. no, these measures helped and that is why the _ do. no, these measures helped and that is why the prime _ do. no, these measures helped and that is why the prime minister - do. no, these measures helped and that is why the prime minister can l that is why the prime minister can rightly say when he stood on the steps of downing street, i promise to have inflation, he under promise, over delivered. you quite rightly challenge the prime minister on his record. there is one clear example of the prime minister delivering for the british people. you of the prime minister delivering for the british people.— the british people. you pick that one exhibit. _ the british people. you pick that one exhibit. let's _ the british people. you pick that one exhibit. let's look— the british people. you pick that one exhibit. let's look at - the british people. you pick that one exhibit. let's look at the - the british people. you pick that i one exhibit. let's look at the other five pledges at the prime minister made to the country. we should grow the economy, yes, growing but only in a quarter. he is turning the corner there! in a quarter. he is turning the cornerthere! how long in a quarter. he is turning the corner there! how long do we have to wait? other economies around the world are faring much better, if you look at other developed economies, in the us it is growing much more quickly and the uk grew quickly at the start of the year but if we look at longer term forecasts, the growth is nowhere near the same. that is one of them. making sure a national debt is falling.— debt is falling. look at france, germany. _ debt is falling. look at france, germany. japan. _ debt is falling. look at france, germany, japan, outstripping l germany, japan, outstripping expectations. this is really good economic news we had and then inflation falling at the same time. i don't you can dismiss that. this is the economy turning the corner, there is really good evidence for that. a ~ . . there is really good evidence for that. a, ,, , . ., there is really good evidence for that. , . ., . ., . that. make sure that our national debt is falling _ that. make sure that our national debt is falling so _ that. make sure that our national debt is falling so we _ that. make sure that our national debt is falling so we could - that. make sure that our national debt is falling so we could secure the future of public services. at you met that one? trio. the future of public services. at you met that one?— the future of public services. at you met that one? no, there have been challenges _ you met that one? no, there have been challenges in _ you met that one? no, there have been challenges in relation - you met that one? no, there have been challenges in relation to - you met that one? no, there have | been challenges in relation to that. we have had covid and the cost of that and people did understand when there are things like the fellow scheme which were rightly introduced by the prime minister when he was chancellor, it was absolutely right that money was spent on people certainly hear understand that you have to pay that back as well. so that it have to pay that back as well. so thatitis have to pay that back as well. so that it is a third one. the fourth one, nhs waiting list, i talk to you about that in relation to a waiting list falling since september 2022. the fifth one, the one i'm personally responsible for in terms of stopping the boats, we are not there yet. we are not there yet but with the rwanda bill passed, with the planes lined up, frankly they will only take off if you vote for the conservatives. keir starmer and labour have said they will scrap this team. this is a deterrent. we need this to be a place in order to stop the boat and that is why

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