Supporting hong kongs pro democracy protesters. Vue cinemas looks to resume screenings of blue story, days after it banned the film for allegedly sparking violence at some of its venues. Campaigners want the price of a bag for life to rise to 70 pence to cut the amount of plastic we use. And a special report from the black sea where major efforts are being made to stop it from being the dumping ground for agricultural and industrial waste. Good morning. Welcome to bbc newsroom live. Neither the conservatives nor labour are offering credible Spending Plans ahead of the election thats according to the institute for fiscal studies. The leading Economic Research group said that neither the convervatives or labour were being honest with voters. The institutes director said the conservatives were continuing to pretend that tax rises will never be needed to secure decent public services. Labour, he added, pretends that huge increases in spending can be financed byjust Big Companies and the rich. Ma nifestos manifestos are manifestos and governments do not tend to follow them with any precision. We know the conservatives over the last two electoral cycles have spent and borrowed a lot more than they said they would. I think that will happen again because they are suggesting no additional spending this time around, beyond what is already announced. Labour has got an enormous manifesto, vast spending and tax increases, which probably cannot be delivered within a single parliament but would provide a blueprint for change over a two or three period of parliament. Our economics editor faisal islam is here this is when the promises meet the forensic minds of economists. Some difficult questions. Yes, a plague on all your houses, in fiscal terms, from very different reasons. The main criticism of labour, as you have just heard, some of the spending on investment, that is on buildings, hospitals, roads and railways, its so big they will not be able to deliver it. What message are you sending to the public . It is highly likely that with the levels of tax, that will impact upon it, directly or indirectly, more than just the top 5 of earners, for example through the marriage tax allowa nce example through the marriage tax allowance being abolished and things like dividends and capital games, whilst accruing to better people, they will be outside of the top 5 . For the conservatives, though, no respite either. In particular on this issue of the dye in the ditch style commitment to leaving the negotiations after a week brexit for a free trade agreement. It is in the ma nifesto, a free trade agreement. It is in the manifesto, the idea that we might end up on World Trade Organisation times, and therefore tariffs, taxes on trade, by the end of next year. That is seen by these economists as being highly damaging to the economy. So potentially damaging, this is what is interesting. We know about labours borrowing, they have pitched that at about 3. 5 of the size of the economy. But they say conservatives are on course for half of that, as you might expect from the plans. If we left without a deal in terms of future trading arrangements next year, conservative deficit would be 4 . For the same order, potentially even higher. The conservatives have nothing to say about that. That is an extraordinary finding and illustrates there are other things going on in the ma nifestos other things going on in the manifestos and the big pledges on tax spendings. You have got to wonder whether voters factor in when you listen to the parties talk about Spending Plans are tax promises, whether the voters factor in those pledges are promises are quite ambitious, shall we call it . Really, the ifs is pointing out here a very different choice, a stark choice, between the two parties. Yes, certainly by uk standards, labours plans for spending and taxation havent really been seen before. Labours happy is to go with that. That is the offer they think the public wants. The conservatives spending and taxation plans are only a little bit bigger, but also implies, because of the austerity we have seen, it has been baked into plans. On areas outside of the nhs, 1496 plans. On areas outside of the nhs, 14 already cuts in spending have been baked in, lower than when we we re been baked in, lower than when we were in 2010, but already baked in. I think that is quite interesting, that difference, thats direct choice. We do also point out the start of state we are talking about, united kingdom, the bigger by historical standards, would put us in between the netherlands and germany in terms of european standards. Yes, historically a bigger state in terms of spending, but the average of where europe is generally. A significant difference between the two main parties. 0k, thank you very much. For more on this, and what it could mean for tactical voters, norman smith joins us live now from westminster. What are your thoughts on what the afs is saying . Is this going to become in the remaining couple of weeks of this campaign in one of the dominant issues that keeps cropping up dominant issues that keeps cropping up again . Well, i think undoubtably it will be able to both the main parties because they both crave the approval, if you like, for the ifs. They want to be given the thumbs up, to be told their tax and spending psalms all add up. There are no nasty surprises in them. Spending plans. The ifa set the opposite. The icing it is unwise for borisjohnson to be ruling out tax increases, because he may well have to put up tax. On the labour side saying labours pledged to ensure turning the top 5 to have to pay any more, thatis the top 5 to have to pay any more, that is not credible either if you wa nt to that is not credible either if you want to increase spending at the scale that labour does, quite a lot more people are going to have to pay more people are going to have to pay more in tax. Spending, likewise, saying they reckoned borisjohnson will spend a lot more than he is claiming. On the labour side, will spend a lot more than he is claiming. On the labourside, they just will not be, if you like, the resources to increase spending in the way that labour wants to do, to have shovel ready scheme is good to 90, have shovel ready scheme is good to go, because they want such a massive splurge in spending. I am struck by the way the afs has gone out the way to scold the two main parties over a number of very sensitive policy areas. On social care saying bluntly the tories are offering nothing beyond the uncosted aspiration one day in the future, perhaps, possibly, maybe, if ever, to ensure people do not have to sell their homes. And seeing labours proposal isa homes. And seeing labours proposal is a free personal care would not safeguard people from catastrophic cost because they would still have to pay for their accommodation, and therefore probably would have to sell their homes. Passion met pensioners, too, very good critical of the parties. And pensioners, too. Both parties are going to protect the triple lock on pension. And on the labour side bunging billions of pounds towards the women and saying the state pension age should not rise beyond 66. The afs has taken the view the pensioners are done pretty well and they are going to continue doing very well. They are pretty critical of both the main parties, notjust in the generality but in the specifics of some of their policy areas. Thank you very much, norman. The bbc understands that labour has agreed a new Electoral Campaign strategy in an effort to gain ground in the two weeks that remain before polling day. A major part of the plan is said to be a renewed effort to retain labour voters who support brexit. Members of the shadow cabinet who back leave are likely to be given a higher profile than those who support remain, whileJeremy Corbyn will be spending more time touring leave seats. Today hes in southampton. Our Political CorrespondentJonathan Blake is in southampton. First of all, with a nod to what we have been talking about. Do you think that is something Jeremy Corbyn might address today in southampton . I think he will certainly face questions on that verdict of labours manifesto and the programme for government, as he had been hearing the verdict as it is not credible, alongside the torys plans as well, for specific reasons about the scale and ambition of labours Public SectorInvestment Programme and its claim to only taxing only the 5 of the most well off in society. Jeremy corbyn will face questions about that today and the detail of exactly how his radical manifesto for government, as he has described it, will work. The focus Jeremy Corbyn want to keep todayis focus Jeremy Corbyn want to keep today is on the environment. You will be talking about labours plans to plant 2 billion trees by 20110, create ten new National Nature parks and he will describe the selection is the last chance to tackle the Climate Emergency. But we are going to see something of a shift from Jeremy Corbyn and labour in their campaign from now on towards polling day, just over two weeks away, because as you are suggesting there, there is an acceptance among some in there is an acceptance among some in the party that the campaign has not gone quite according to plan and been quite as effective as they would have hoped from the start. I think if you think that in the blizzard of big promises and big numbers that were in the labour ma nifesto, numbers that were in the labour manifesto, the detail has somehow been lost. With regard to brexit, we will see more of a focus now on the pa rtys plans to will see more of a focus now on the partys plans to negotiate a new deal and putting forward the benefits of that versus Boris Johnsons deal, particularly in the voting areas, where you will see members of the shadow cabinet and labourfigures members of the shadow cabinet and labour figures who are in favour of leaving the eu with a deal popping up leaving the eu with a deal popping up and putting forward labours policy on brexit a little bit better. That is relevant here in southampton, the majority of people voted to leave the European Union in the 2016 referendum and exactly the kind of area thatJeremy Corbyn ali labour party will have to win seats if they want to win a majority. Do you think this change of strategy was something that labour saw coming, given the position that they have taken on brexit with the promise of if they when, another vote, or is it a change of strategy that they have had to do on the fourth hoof, as it were . Well, go back to the manifesto launch and it was striking thatJeremy Corbyn said very little about the brexit policy. He mentioned it and talked about it with conviction, negotiating that new deal and putting that to the people and a further referendum. It really hasnt so far been a big focus of labours campaign. I think the shift in emphasis is a realisation that that was not necessarily the most effective strategy. Many voters, brexit is of course the key issue, if not the key issue in the Election Campaign and its such a divisive issue and one which many people will be making up their minds of how to vote. By putting it out there and being transparent, it doesnt labour no harm. Ub are talking about their domestic policies and the plan for brexit. Here we are. Thank you very much. And following nigel farage and the brexit party today, is franky mccamley who joins us live now from hull. It was interesting Dominic Cummings today said that despite that poll showing the conservatives winning a majority, he was warning conservatives not to be complacent and presumably in those seats where the brexit party is fighting, they are not holding back on trying to win those votes, are they . Absolutely not, nor, especially here in hull where they have for Brexit Party Members trying to steal seats here. A labour hold. We are in a golf centre in hull north at the moment. There is a buyer very close by. Nigel farage is very well known for going to get a pint with constituency members. Brexit is their main message here. This is how they are trying to win the votes. Here 67 of people voted brexit. They are really trying to get those labour leave voters. They have also got really strong criticisms of the whole Voting System itself. They say they want to scrap this in their contract with the people. They are not calling it a manifesto. They do not calling it a manifesto. They do not like that word. They are calling for this whole new Voting System abolishing the house of lords and really it is all about tactics with the brexit party, they want those labour leave votes. Nigel farage has said he is standing down every brexit member in tory held seats because of his fear of splitting the brexit lee fort. Here in the north east, there is this real strong leave desire to leave the eu. He is going to be going to wales, the east midlands and london. In this contract with the people, he can tell he is trying to get the labour votes. There are some similarities with the labour ma nifesto similarities with the labour manifesto when it comes to Cutting Corporation tax, cutting the cost of living, support for entrepreneurs and when it comes to the nhs, he says the nhs is not up for sale and it will remain publicly owned. What this really comes down to is the brexit party going to be able to cut through and get those votes and what will that mean for the other party to make parties . Thank you very much. The headlines on bbc news. The conservatives and labour are accused of not presenting credible Spending Plans by a leading Economic Research group. Tensions have escalated between china and the us after President Trump signed a bill supporting hong kongs pro democracy protesters. And, vue cinemas says it will resume screenings of blue story. Just days after it banned the film for allegedly sparking violence at some of its venues. And in sport. Liverpool and cheslea both slipped up in the Champions League with draws and have to wait until their final gropup games to qulaify for the knockout stages chelsea conceded a late equaliser away at valencia. They will have to beat lille in their last game to be sure of going through. Five british sides play in the Europa League today. The pressure is on the arsenal manager unai emery after a run of six games without a win, they need a draw against frankfurt to qualify for the knockout stage. Ollie pope is on standby to keep wicket for england in their second test against new zealand this evening. Jos buttler could miss out out with a back injury. England are one down in the two match series i have a update in the next 15 minutes. See you then. Thank you. See you very soon. Throughout this Election Campaign weve been reporting from some key battleground constituencies lets go to my colleague Martine Croxall who is in one for us today in one for us today martine. You might be able to guess from this incredible building that we are in. Throughout the campaign, we are looking closely at places where the election could be won and lost. We are visiting ten places throughout the uk. Today we are in cheltenham in gloucestershire. The seat has been held by the conservatives since 2015 and is bordered by two other constituencies, also belonging to the tories. The conservatives took cheltenham four years ago with a swing of 10 from the liberal democrats who held the seat for 23 yea rs. Democrats who held the seat for 23 years. The liberal democrats will be hoping to regain the seat this year. The conservatives have a majority with just over 2500. The conservatives have a majority withjust over 2500. Our correspondence has been looking at the key issues facing voters here. Housing could be a defining factor. Cheltenham an elegant regency spa town famed for its crescents and colonnades. But take a short drive from the centre and youll soon find the same housing issues as anywhere else. The cornerstone centre, here in the suburb of whaddon, many parents talk of high rents, cold homes and long waiting lists. Bailiffs were gonna to come to my door and. Kelly tells me she and her kids were kicked out of three places by private landlords before they finally got a council flat. So how stressful is that for you as a. . Yeah, really stressful, because we didnt know whether or not we was going to get a council property. Do you imagine yourself ever being able to buy somewhere of your own . Not at the moment, no, no. Its just too expensive. Maybe if i won the lottery rent caps, tenants rights, overcrowding, affordability, all big election themes here. Are they going to be providing enough schools for the children . Laura says its notjust about promising new homes, but building whole communities. So i will be looking at it for who i vote for, i want it to be kind of part of their bigger plan. I mean, for me, brexit is not the Biggest Issue, for me. I know its the Biggest Issue for the parties, but its not for me, personally. All the parties are making big headline grabbing promises on housing at this election, and its an issue that really matters to voters here in cheltenham, where the conservatives won last time with a majority of 2,500. Among the many policies on offer, the lib dems, who hope to win this seat, have pledged millions to insulate homes. The conservatives have promised to build 1 million new properties in the next five years. And labour plan a major expansion of council housing. What we do is when we fit the windows. Josh is a builder, but needs a deposit of £22,000 to buy a home of his own. How am i ever going to get anywhere . With im what im paying now, and trying to save £22,500, it takes its impossible. Is there any chance you could save that much . I mean, how long do you think it would take . Years, ye