The Labour Run Council is struggling to pay off a huge bill for equal pay claims that dates back more than a decade. It has also had major issues with a new it system. Our Midlands Correspondent navteonhal is there. The first thing to say is that the city council here has not stopped functioning, it has a legal duty to provide Certain Services and they will continue, but this is a signal to government ofjust how dire the financial situation is here, and admission that the council here cannot pay its bills. The people i have spoken to around birmingham say they are worried about what the future may hold. But for those who have been watching the saga closely, in some ways today has felt inevitable. The pressure on this citys finances has been rising and rising, and europes biggest local authority is now in big trouble. The news that their council is, in effect, declaring itself bankrupt has left many People Living in birmingham shocked and angry. Oh my god, ive never heard of such a thin
For the coming uk election. Is it enough to change the political weather . Way to school in croydon last week. For a vigil. Hello. Rishi sunak delivered his most important speech as Prime Minister today, with the promise the country, would see the real him. A Leader Setting out what he believes, including being willing to take the toughest decisions. Well at the conservative party conference, he set out a number of key policies, on education and health. But the most controversial idea had been flagged for weeks, the scrapping of the High Speed Rail Line from birmingham to the north of england, and he made the announcement, in manchester. It was an ambitious project to link up the country, but costs spiralled and the plans were hacked back, with the eastern leg of hs2 scapped two years ago. Then today, came confirmation that the birmingham to Manchester Route would also die, along with the line to east midlands parkway. The big question, what would become of the money saved . The answer
With the north of england and the East Midlands. But costs spiralled and it was scaled back. The eastern leg of h52 was cancelled two years ago. Now birmingham to manchester has also been scrapped, as well as the line to East Midlands parkway. Well be getting reaction from all along the network tonight. Our transport correspondent katy austin is in birmingham, our north of england correspondent danny savage is in leeds, but first lets go to our Political Editor chris mason in manchester. Sophie, for at least three weeks the plug has been poised to be pulled on a big chunk of hs2. Today, it was yanked out. The Prime Minister acknowledged it was a controversial decision, but he insisted it was the right call, even though there are plenty, including in his own party, who think it is a huge mistake. And all of this on a day of big announcements from rishi sunak. Manchester this lunchtime, and the Prime Ministers warm up. Rishi and i are each other s best friends, and i couldnt being anywhe
Of them who arent happy. Arsenal crushed chelsea 5 0 to move clear in the premier League Title Race as it heads towards the thrilling conclusion. Baroness Floella Benjamin is honoured by bafta for her work supporting young people and pioneering diversity in childrens television. It will develop into a sunny dry day for many but more cloud in the east and the south west producing some showers and still a key northerly wind down the east coast. All the details later. Its wednesday the 24th of april. Our main story. More than 50 survivors of the migrant Boat Disaster in which five people died off the coast of france are recovering in england this morning, having declined to be rescued by french authorities. The incident took place just hours after parliament approved a bill to allow the uk to send some Asylum Seekers to rwanda. The government has said the new law will reduce illegal Channel Crossings but some migrants have said it wont deter them from trying. Graham satchell reports. The
Wealth, sometimes by billions of dollars, to get cheaper loans and insurance. He cancelled some of the licences which allow mr trumps businesses to operate in new york. Mr trump issued a Statement Denouncing Thejudge as deranged and the states Attorney General as corrupt. 0ur North America correspondent peter bowes reports another legal blow for the former president. In a civil lawsuit, he and his two sons, along with the trump organisation, have been accused of staggering levels of fraud. 0ne claim is that mr trump inflated the value of his properties hotels, golf clubs and Apartment Buildings and exaggerated the size of his luxury flat in trump tower. The case is due to go to trial next week, but the judge has already ruled on part of it, and determined that the former president repeatedly lied about his financial affairs. In a post on his Social Media Platform Truth social, donald trump called the judge deranged and said the claim he committed fraud was both ridiculous and untrue. I