Enough times. Weve heard them enough times, they werent true then and they arent true now. The majority of economists have always agreed that there was another approach the government could have taken, rather than austerity, and we always argued, and we were right, that austerity was a political choice, not an economic necessity. As recently as march, the Party Opposite ploughed on, saying there was no alternative. To look at them how was no alternative. To look at them now suddenly proclaiming an end to austerity after 125,000 excess deaths as a result, after 100 billion taken out of the economy, after the worst decade for wage growth since the 19th century, just because there may be what . An election round the corner. And after all that, after all that, to deliver what is a pathetic sum to spending departments who are on their knees at the moment. Itsjust adding insult to injury. A government not just callous and uncaring, but hypocritical as well. This isnt a government, its a rack
Now on bbc news, wednesday in parliament. Hello there, and welcome to wednesday in parliament, where theresa may bows out to applause at the end of her last pmqs. And that duty, to serve my constituents, will remain my greatest motivation. Applause. But there are reservations about her successor. Outgoing american president s get to pardon anybody they want. If she could, would she pardon her successor for sabotaging her premiership . Also on this programme, urgent action after an extraordinary decline in safety at Feltham Young 0ffenders institution. And ahead of borisjohnsons giant reshuffle, the business secretary is told he wont be forgotten. And he shouldnt worry, because there will always be a parking space in my heart for him. But first, theresa may has resigned as Prime Minister, handing over thejob to the newly elected conservative leader, borisjohnson. Theresa may made a final appearance outside number ten, alongside her husband philip. She said to serve as Prime Minister was
As councils step up visits to the elderly and doctors warn of the risk of heatstroke. Meanwhile, rail passengers are told to stay at home, with the risk of rail tracks buckling. Sarah is at our Weather Centre. It is officially the highest temperature in july on it is officially the highest temperature injuly on record but there is a chance today we could beat the all Time Temperature record which is set at 38. 5 celsius. The heat is rising and so is the humidity, it is not going to cool down ina humidity, it is not going to cool down in a hurry. I will bring you all the details in about half an hour. Englands cricketers are slowly repairing some of the damage from yesterdays collapsed. They have a rather Unlikely Hero to thank so have a rather Unlikely Hero to thank so far. More later in the hour. Hello everyone, this is afternoon live, im simon mccoy. The temperature here at westminster has soared in recent days both outside and inside the houses of parliament where earlier Boris John
Country . A bit of cloud around but its brightening up through the afternoon. Weve had a fair amount of cloud and drizzly rain across south east england and east anglia, this is the recent view of botany bay and kent. As the cloud and rain clear away from the east for most of us clear away from the east for most of us its a Kellie Bright story. Sunny spells, a few showers on the cards. Most of the showers in the north west. This is the recent satellite and radar, it shows a peppering of showers for Northern Ireland and scotland, cloud in the southeast with a frock few spots of drizzle but over the next couple of hours the cloud clears away from the east and then its a north south split. For the bulk of england and wales things are dry with a lot of sunshine, 21 24d, fair weather cloud, not wall to wall blue skies. One or two showers for anglesey, cumbria, the isle of man, but its Northern Ireland and scotland that will see the bulk of the showers through the afternoon, some fairly heav
He drinks tea all day, apparently lots and lots of tea and leaves the bag in. Oh, wow. So its industrial strength. Keir starmer apparently drinks coffee and then maybe a bit of tea later on in the day. Isnt a snacker, though. Apparently no sweet tooth, just the occasional bag of crisps. So what did they eat in the height of it all . In the middle of the day . I mean, obviously, these people eat something, maybe anything they can get. I mean, keir starmer admitted recently, actually, even though hes a vegetarian, hed had a box of chicken at some point at the end of a long day. Well, whatever theyre eating, we were wrong on this cast, this podcast, but the date i was told to go long, you had various dates, you had a close race. You were the closest. Well, thats kind of you to say. I mean, about a month ago. Thats right. I did think or we reported that there was a possibility that they would call and go this summer. But after the local election results, which were very bad for the tories,