Todays budget might have left you with a bit more money in your pocket but some of the Public Services you rely on will face big Spending Cuts. So is it a vote winner . Mr chancellor of the exchequer. Cheering it was the last Spring Budget before the next election. Tonight well interrogate Whyjeremy Hunt made the announcements he did. And interrrogate one of his treasury ministers. Overall, the tax burden is going up. Correct . The tax burden is still too high, overall. Absolutely. And its going up . Well also talk to labours Campaign Chief. Well talk live to representatives of business and Public Sector workers and our Politics Panel is here to help us decode it all and tell us when we might be going to the polls. Todays was a budget that was as much about what comes next as about what comes now. Theres another 2p cut in National Insurance that will kick in soon but theres also the growing realisation that whoever wins the next election, they will face a daunting choice either oversee
two weeks since nicola bulley disappeared whilst walking her dog in lancashire. now the police are extending their search downstream. and 10,000 tickets to a concert to mark the king s coronation in may are on offer via a ballot. the uk saw no economic growth in the final three months of last year according to the latest official statistics released this morning. it means the country narrowly avoided what s defined as a recession two consecutive quarters when the economy shrinks. the government says it shows the uk was more resilient than expected, after the bank of england had warned of a long period of stagnation. but the economy did shrink by 0.5% in december, and business leaders warn that firms are still struggling. the chancellor, jeremy hunt, says there is reason for optimism. well, the fact that we have avoided a recession, in fact we were the fastest growing major country last year, shows there is underlying resilience in the uk economy. but we are not out of the w
In the president ial race, despite controversy about employing Family Members. After a record 59 test matches as england captain, Alistair Cook steps down, but says he will carry on as an england player. And a royal salute in Central London, to mark 65 years of the queens reign. Its five oclock. Our main story is that research by bbc news has found that the number of patients on Hospital Wards in england has been at levels considered unsafe in nine out of ten nhs trusts this winter. The pressure on beds has meant that many patients have been at a higher risk of infection or have experienced delays in treatment. Nhs providers, which represents hospitals, said that what it called the extraordinary pressure on beds was no way to run a safe and Effective Health care system. Similar Bed Occupancy Data is not available for scotland, wales and Northern Ireland this winter. Our Health Correspondent jane dreaper has more details. It has been a very difficult winter at Yeovil Hospital in somerse
upbeat picture. it in the g7. he is painting a very upbeat picture. upbeat picture. if the situation wasn t so upbeat picture. if the situation wasn t so dire, upbeat picture. if the situation wasn t so dire, i upbeat picture. if the situation wasn t so dire, i would - upbeat picture. if the situation wasn t so dire, i would be - upbeat picture. if the situation - wasn t so dire, i would be laughing at his attempts to mask the reality of the situation. the reality of the situation is that my constituents cannot afford to buy basic food items like eggs, milk, bread, because of the situation we are in. the reality of the situation is that we have just narrowly missed being in a recession. and that is the technical phrase of being in a recession. the reality of the situation is that we have had stagnant growth for the last six months last year of the economy. we are the smallest economy, the only economy that hasn t recovered post covid in any of the countries in the g7. whyjeremy
you were formerly working in the treasury. do you think it is time, given the black hole in the treasury figures, do you think it is time to close the loophole? i figures, do you think it is time to close the loophole? figures, do you think it is time to close the loophole? i think so. and i am sure close the loophole? i think so. and i am sure that close the loophole? i think so. and i am sure that is close the loophole? i think so. and i am sure that is why close the loophole? i think so. and i am sure that is why jeremy - close the loophole? i think so. and i am sure that is why jeremy hunt | i am sure that is whyjeremy hunt has got i am sure that is whyjeremy hunt has got his i am sure that is whyjeremy hunt has got his treasury i am sure that is whyjeremy hunt has got his treasury officials - has got his treasury officials now looking has got his treasury officials now looking at has got his treasury officials now looking at this. has got his treasury officials no