Transcripts For BBCNEWS BBC News 20240908

Of ireland, after tensions over brexit, but Sir Keir Starmer is in dublin, saying the moment is right for a meaningful reset in relations. Hes been holding talks with his opposite number simon harris. Our Ireland Correspondent Sara Girvin reports. After years of strained relations, this was the moment Sir Keir Starmer was given A Hundred Thousand welcomes to dublin. There were smiles and handshakes as he and his irish counterpart were presented with football jerseys. This will be proudly worn in North London before too long. Both leaders said this was an opportunity to renew and deepen the friendship between britain and ireland. I know as two new leaders of our respective countries, we both said we wish to really place British Irish Relations on a new path, and i really appreciate the time that youve given to that since taking office. Its really important to me and to my government, and i think it is the moment for reset, and its when we put meaning behind those words. International matters took Centre Stage following a roundtable business discussion. We have to be clear in the face of russian aggression, we have to stand together to coordinate, stand with our allies and give ukraine all of the support that it needs for as long as it needs. Photo opportunities are one thing, but the taoiseach and Prime Minister will need to decide what a reset in their relationship actually looks like. Symbolism is important here, but moving forward theyll need to deliver substance over style. There have already been announcements a yearly summit between the two countries addressing trade, security, justice and climate. Both governments are keen to send the message that when it comes to the relationship between britain and ireland, this is a new ball game. Sarah girvin, Bbc News in dublin. David henig has been working to map out the Post Brexit Future of Uk Trade policy in his work at the thinktank, the European Centre for international political economy. He told us while the optics are good, there is still a lot of work to be done. Its always a good start for leaders of countries to talk to Each Other, to promise to work together. It gets a lot harder when they actually have to put that into some kind of detail. One of the subjects that wasnt mentioned was Northern Ireland, where there is clearly a large shared interest between the uk and ireland. Various issues like energy, issues with the implementation of the Northern Ireland protocol, the windsor framework, and the wider Uk Eu relations and deepening that. Good optics, good start, lots more to do. Youre working out the post brexit relationship, the Uk Trade policy. What do they need to focus on, how do they take it forward . As you say, still quite a lot of sticking points. A huge agenda for the uks relations with the Eu And Member states such as ireland. For example, trade in goods to reduce the barriers, for example a Food And Drink agreement. The trade in services to allow people to move more easily for work. Discussions around mobility of touring artists, which is something the uk wants, youth mobility, something the eu wants. Shared challenges in terms of energy and climate change. That affects ireland particularly. There is a shared Energy Market across the island of ireland. Security was mentioned there, thats one of the earliest discussions thats ongoing about a Security Pact between the uk and the eu. Were told a lot of this Wont Start in real anger, the negotiations, until december orjanuary. Thats because the eus forming a new commission and they are not all yet in place to start this. Its on details like that which will put into practice the warm words were seeing from the leaders now. Meanwhile, in his first major interview since becoming Prime Minister, Keir Starmer has told the bbc that the previous government Broke The Nhs in ways which were unforgivable. Speaking exclusively to sunday with laura kuenssberg, he said a review of the Health Service to be published in the coming week finds the conservatives changes to the nhs were hopelessly misconceived, and austerity in the coalition years, followed by the pandemic, had left the nhs in a perilous awful position. Everybody watching this who has used the nhs or relatives who have, know its broken. They know its broken. Its unforgivable, the state of our nhs. The last government Broke The Nhs. Ourjob now through Lord Darzi is to properly understand how that came about and bring about the reforms, starting with the first steps, 40,000 extra appointments. But we have to do the hard yards of reform. I think its only a Labour Government that can do the reform that our nhs needs, and we will start on that journey. 0ur political Correspondent Leila Nathoo told me more about labours Core Mission to fix the nhs after years of conservative reforms. Remember, this is one of labours Core Missions, trying to fix the nhs, in their words, getting it back on its feet. You can understand why Sir Keir Starmer wants to deploy what we have become familiar with from the government since they took charge blaming the conservative party for the state of the nhs. This is blaming successive conservative governments, hes talking about reforms going back to the Coalition Government in 2010, Big Structural reforms led by the then Health Secretary andrew lansley. Hes mentioning this review, that was commissioned within days of Labour Taking Charge by the former labour mp Lord Darzi. An independent review into the whole state of the nhs, talking about access to Health Care services, the performance of the nhs, and the quality of Health Care any inequalities in terms of those three aspects. So this will provide the context for a big, longer Term Look at the nhs. Part of what it is calling fixing the foundations. So a really central part of what the Labour Government is trying to do. In addition to their first steps, the short term fixes of their policy, thousands of new appointments, evenings and weekend appointments. You can see why Keir Starmer is trying to present this very bleak picture of the state of the nhs, it chimes with Everything Weve heard about various other parts of the public sector. Prisons, for example. Blaming the conservatives. The tories are trying to defend their record. The last tory government, the shadow Health Secretary Victoria Atkins, having talked about the tories putting more doctors and nurses into the nhs and accusing them of politicising childrens health. This is because we had some early findings from the report by Lord Darzi, which are going to be released on thursday. But early indications of the things he is talking about, for example falling vaccination rates among children, growing rates of prescriptions for adhd medications. A rise in Hospital Admissions for children and young people with eating disorders. He is presenting this big picture to the government on thursday, and the Health Secretary Wes Streeting will take it away and that will inform a longer ten year plan. Given Sir Keir Starmer was adamant and scathing about the conservatives and the state that in his words they have left the nhs, as you mentioned the tories� shadow Health Secretary Victoria Atkins has hit back. Yeah, they are defending their record. Victoria atkins was the Health Secretary in the previous government, defending the tories� record about the Work Force and improvements in the nhs that they made in their view, and accusing Keir Starmer of politicising childrens health. On a different story, but still on politics, we had the damning report into the Grenfell Tower fire. Today, in the Morning Papers i believe we are getting Michael Gove, the former housing secretary, speaking. What has he said . Obviously a huge range of actors over a number of years criticised in that report from the grenfell inquiry. In tomorrows Times'>Sunday Times, Michael Gove, the former housing secretary, writes his response. Many players in this, over time. He talks about this and he starts in this piece in the Times'>Sunday Times with an apology to those who lost their lives in the fire, the families, relatives, campaigners and survivors, saying they were let down by successive governments including those in which he played a part. He talks about the efforts that he tried to go through, in his view, to take action against some of the companies who the inquiry had accused of systematic dishonesty. Some of the companies that made and sold the cladding which was around Grenfell Tower. He talks about his time as housing secretary, trying to go after them and persuade other countries too. He talks about restricting imports of some of their products and he said he ran up against bureaucracy. This is Michael Gove for the first time giving his response to his part in the Governments Response to the Grenfell Tower fire, which of course played out over many years. And viewers in the uk can watch the full interview with the prime Minister Tomorrow at 9am on bbc one, the News Channel and the bbc iplayer. The us Secretary Of State Anthony Blinken will travel to london On Monday for a two Day Visit during which he will meet foreign secretary David Lammy. The us State Department says mr blinken will open a so called us uk strategic dialogue with me is our News Reporter david waddell. What can we expect . Washington sa 5 what can we expect . Washington sa s it is what can we expect . Washington says it is about what can we expect . Washington says it is about reaffirming says it is about reaffirming the special relationship, a phrase we have heard many Times before. Especially important to Uk Government, first used by Winston Churchill in the aftermath of the second world war. The us understands this is an important phrase for the british government, so it has chosen to use it. The kind of issues we expect them to discuss, its been brief, but the Indo Pacific issues in particular, the conflict issues with china in the south china sea, the Orchestra Security Partnership between australia, the uk and the us, that will come up. The aukus security partnership. I should say on friday, yesterday, the White House announced Sir Keir Starmer would travel to the us for a bilateral meeting with president biden, the second in their respective terms of office, this coming friday. Arguably building those relationships, with Biden And Antony blinken here, but i guess David Lammy and the Uk Government have to think about what potentially could happen in november, say with a trump possible administrations. What is that kind of relationship like . ,. ,. , like . This election could go either way. Like . This election could go either way, just like . This election could go either way, just two like . This election could go| either way, just two months away, and just four months away from a change of administration, whether a Harris Administration or a trump administration. David lammy is an outspoken mp. As a backbencher he said trump is a Woman Hating neo nazi synthesising sociopath. Inaudible. How will he manage the relationship with the us having said those things . He relationship with the us having said those things . Said those things . He has laid back a little, said those things . He has laid back a little, he said those things . He has laid back a little, he has said those things . He has laid back a little, he has noted back a little, he has noted many people at the time said sharp things about the president at the time. But he also said he would be prepared to work with any administration, trump, biden or harris. What is more interesting is what he has to say about trumps Vice President ial pick, jd vance. We understand David Lammy� s team has been working to get to know jd Vances Team for some time. David lammy said aboutjd vance, were both from poor backgrounds, both suffered Addiction Issues in ourfamily, both christians, he said they have found common ground and they have met and have a relationship they could work with. The Uk Relationship with the us important, for the leaders, and the foreign secretary and us Secretary Of State to be able to work with Each Other. State to be able to work with Each Other. A rare event took Place Today in london when richard moore, the head of mi6, and Cia Director William Burns have appeared in public together for the first time at public event. Mr burns, who has been central to efforts to reach a ceasefire in the middle east, said the us was working with other mediators to refine the existing framework for a deal. Also discussed, ukraines seizure of the russian territory in kursk, which was described as a significant tactical achievement. Lets have a listen. Its absolutely critical that we do sustain our support to ukraine. And its really difficult. Its hard. And particularly in eastern ukraine, this is attritional warfare where there is a huge amount of suffering on both sides. And putin is pushing forward in a sort of attritional pyrrhic Campaign Of Taking Village by village as he goes forward. When he takes those, theres nothing left. And thats why i used, deliberately used the term pyrrhic. There is nothing left because everything is utterly destroyed. But that is the Kremlin Way of war. Thats what they did in grozny. Its what they did in aleppo. And its what theyre now doing here. So it is tough, but its also important to remember that our ukrainian friends have an absolute will to fight. And its important to remember how this started. It started in this phase with putin mounting a War Of Aggression in february 2022, and two and a half years later, that failed. It continues to fail. Ukrainians will continue to fight. We will continue to help them to fight. We have to all remember, despite the work that to be done, this is ultimately a question of political will. And this gets to your question whether or not leaders on both sides are prepared to recognise that enough is enough, and that the time has come, finally, to make some hard choices and some difficult compromises. I hope, i hope profoundly, that both of those leaders are going to make that decision because, as i said, theres an enormous amount at stake here. Daniel lomas is an Assistant Professor at the school of politics and international relations at the university of nottingham. He told me about the significance of that first public meeting between the Top Uk and us spy chiefs. Its important to see a joint front between the two Top Uk and us spy chiefs. The message they are giving off is one that is fact based, we do face in the west an existential threat from countries like china, obviously with russia and the invasion of ukraine, and i think it was an uncompromising message. Parts of the message they were delivering, quite pessimistic in some sense. For those in the west who believe putin is suddenly going to collapse, the essential message from both was that no significant cracks have emerged within the kremlin itself. This was a tough, uncompromising picture they were painting, essentially talking about power and the situation at the moment, the West And Security situation we face. Its a bleak picture they do offer. When it comes to russia, they said they had been warning ukraine ahead of that full Scale Invasion in february 2022. The kind of workings they are now doing in order to warn the rest of the population, is it alarming . Are we to take this as beneficial for the international community, for lay People Like Us to hear this . What we are seeing is, yes, this is a significant moment. Its the first time the head of mi6 and the cia have spoken in person in a public setting. Its part of a broader package of briefings by Senior Western intelligence officials on the situation both in ukraine and the Security Situation more broadly. Its part of a broader picture. In terms of the messaging, and why they are doing it, when were looking for example at polling in the uk and the us, it could be argued that senior officials are seen as more trusted, lets say, to deliver some of these key lines than some of the politicians out there. So this message and the people delivering the message is one of fact based, intelligence led, shaped by the Information Western intelligence agencies themselves are collecting. This is a continuation, really. You mentioned ukraine. This is really a continuation of that process that was happening before the invasion, where we were classifying and releasing small bits of intelligence in a public setting. Both in part as reassurance that, yes, the west is doing something about the threat posed by russia, china and other states out there. But also again to act as a warning that we need to be vigilant within the west. These statements are being made at the time when support for the ukraine war remains relatively high in the west, but in terms of the news cycle, it is slipping off the front pages here. Trying to bolster this image that ukraine is fighting russia and its a story that needs to continue to be in the headlines. In Papua New Guinea, his holiness the pope is holding a mass in Port Moresby, as part of an ambitious I2 Mass in Port Moresby, as part of an ambitious 12 Day Trip to four countries. He arrived on friday, after a trip to indonesia. He will be there until monday. He met earlier on today with impoverished children and young people with disabilities at a school in Papua New Guinea before gathering with Church Representatives from pacific island nations. He is calling for the better treatment of workers in Papua New Guinea, a nation of around 600 islands in the south western pacific, where there are concerns it has become a major target of international companies for its gas, gold and various other reserves. The pope now using a Wheelchair Due to knee and back pain, on what is being described as an Ambitious I2 described as an ambitious 12 Day Trip to four countries. He is holding a mass live in Port Moresby in Papua New Guinea. Thereve been tense scenes in glasgow as two separate demonstrations took place. 0ne promoted by the far right attracted hundreds to a rally against immigration. They were outnumbered by another rally held under the banner stand up to racism which attracted at least 2,000 people. Officers kept the two sides apart. Police say there were two arrests. Spanish police looking for a british man in a mountainous area of majorca, where a british woman was found dead earlier this week, say they have found a body. Both are believed to have been swept away in a flash flood. Police say they had been hiking on a trail which leads through a small canyon to the sea when a Storm Hit the island. Tens of thousands of left wing protesters have demonstrated in paris and other french towns and cities against the appointment of Michel Barnier as the countrys new Prime Minister. President macron gave him the post on thursday, ending two months of deadlock following inconclusive parliamentary elections. You Mr Barnier spent Saturday Afternoon visiting a Childrens Hospital in paris. He was asked about protests. Translation i dont want to | waste time with controversies. I hear words like power grab, that is not the spirit were after here. The spirit is to bring together as many mps as possible for a government of action, with a project and with a spirit of cooperation. Its not about a power grab, and well see that those mps who express their views and give us their confidence will be a very important part of an assembly that is very divided. But i repeat, i do not want to get into controversy. Lets look at whats making the front pages of sundays newspapers. The mirror is leading with an exclusive Oasis In talks to take their tour global, flagging the us, Mexico And Argentina as potential destinations. The Times'>Sunday Times headlines on an investigation into a Rogue Surgeon working at a major Childrens Hospital. Plus Alan Bates getting married on sir Richard Branson� s private island. And here, a report on the state of the Health Care system in the uk. Inaudible. High earners preparing to flee the country as Chancellor Rachel reeves fails to rule out tax rises for the rich. The sunday people, calls for the Union Boss to use Wealth Levies to fund cuts to Winter Fuel payments. And in the Times'>Sunday Times, the Winter Fuel payment in its own way, warning of a revolt against Keir Starmer, in what labour sources have described as shameful. Oasis are working hard to convince their fans to not Look Back In Anger after the disappointment caused by dynamic Ticket Pricing for their Reunion Tour last weekend. The band has confirmed they will send out invites for a private ballot for their final Wembley Stadium dates overnight. The Gallagher Brothers said the eligible fans would be ones that signed into a Ticketmaster Account on saturday, august 31st, when tickets first went on sale. It comes after the band extended their live 25 Date Tour to include two more london shows on September 27th and 28th. Weve received a very happy update on Sir Alan bates, the former Sub Postmaster who successfully campaigned forjustice in the Post Office Horizon scandal. Hes married his partner susan sercombe. Now if that wasnt lovely enough already, guess where they had the wedding . Sir Richard Branson� s private island. The Virgin Tycoon invited the couple to the island after reportedly reading a comment Sir Alan made in an interview with the Times'>Sunday Times if Richard Branson is reading this, Id Love a holiday. Well, ask and you shall receive. Last month, the 70 year old and the new Lady Bates took to the British Virgin Islands where none other than sir Richard Officiated the ceremony. It comes after a massive year for Sir Alan, who fought to clear the names of hundreds of subpostmasters wrongly accused of theft and false accounting. Congratulations to the happy couple. Summer may be over, but festival season isnt. The bbc is staging its Radio 2 In The Park over the weekend in preston. It kicked off last night and will see live music performances from some of the worlds most loved pop stars. Headline acts will feature the likes of sting, the sugababes and the Pet Shop boys. My colleague Lola Schroer caught up with sugababes, who gave her an exclusive interview. We have been treated to amazing music. The day started with travis taking to the stage and the crowd filled up to around 30,000 people who saw the likes of shaznay lewis, craig david, Pixie Lott and sting take to the stage. We also got to speak to some artists like shaznay and some radio 2 djs, and we also got an exclusive. I sat down with the sugababes and asked them how much they have enjoyed the summer of performing at festivals like Radio 2 In The Park. Guys, that performance was incredible, how did it feel to be in preston performing to that many people . It was amazing, we had so much fun. It is our last show of this summer. It was a bit sad. But we had a lot of fun. You had an amazing summer, Selling Out Crowds everywhere from glastonbury to preston, whats next . We have a few more shows in europe, which is what we are looking forward to. Working in australia. Lots of studio time to finish off bits we really love. The new record. Hopefully, soon. Talking about the new record, i heard you say on stage you were talking about uk garage, can we expect any of that in the new record or is it a new direction . We feel our music is without genre, and we touch on a lot of things which we are influenced by and it is all a bit top secret. We definitely touch on it, though. It is something we have all grown up with and it will always be in our roots, the influence, i guess. Keisha, you said you have been performing all known Each Other since you were 11 or 12. How does it feel, are you proud of where you have got in the crowd you are selling out, how does it feel to be together now . It feels so good because we are enjoying ourselves. Its different when you are a bit older, you can take it all in. It feels really good because it hasnt happened overnight, weve been working on where we are today for the last 12 years. So its amazing to get the love we have and support from our fans. To be honest, itsjust really lovely to work with two lovely ladies i have known all my life. To be honest, probably they are the longest friends ive had. Each others oldest friends. And we genuinely love. Working with Each Other. We make sure that we make the most out of every day i no matter where we are, get out and see everywhere. And we want to enjoy what we do. We are just taking it all in and making the most of it. Thank you so much forjoining us. This week on the media show, we speak this week on the media show, we speak to this week on the media show, we speak to the this week on the media show, we speak to the journalist this week on the media show, we speak to the journalist from speak to the journalist from the Times speak to the journalist from the Times who speak to the journalist from | the Times who accompanied ukrainian the Times who accompanied ukrainian soldiers the Times who accompanied ukrainian soldiers as the Times who accompanied ukrainian soldiers as they i ukrainian soldiers as they crossed ukrainian soldiers as they crossed the ukrainian soldiers as they crossed the border ukrainian soldiers as they crossed the border into i ukrainian soldiers as they crossed the border into russia. And the crossed the border into russia. And the korean crossed the border into russia. And the korean tv crossed the border into russia. And the korean tv industry, i and the korean tv industry, from Squid Game to the masked singer, some of the most popular Tv Formats and shows in recent years come from south korea, we will find out why. Lets start with ukraines offensive into the russian region of kursk. This happened towards the beginning of august, and when it did, it was a surprise to many observers. And, of course, this has military objectives, but as well as that, it provides an opportunity for ukraine to change the narrative around the war. Catherine philp is world Affairs Editor at the Times. Shes reported from War Zones for decades, and recently accompanied ukrainian forces across the border into kursk. So, i was coming into ukraine for. Ive been coming on and off since before the invasion, and this was a long scheduled Visit Itjust so happened that it came at a time when ukrainian forces had crossed the border into russia. So, obviously, my immediate question was, can we go . Can we get there . Setting it up with the ukrainians was not the hard bit. Actually, it was convincing my editors and, you know, layers of management back at the Times that this was a safe thing to do, or that we could mitigate the risks involved in it. Because they werent just about the danger there. They were also these legal risks about. The legal consequences of illegally crossing into russia, which is how the russian government have perceived the trip. But you obviously persuaded them, cos you went. Just to explain, then, who you did speak to and what the terms were. I suppose the question is, whether you were changing names to protect russians, because getting people,