for gay footballers. there was a long period in my life where it brought me sadness, and it took me to a dark place. it was over six years of pain, and i'm so happy and excited to put that to rest today. today is so positive, it's my freedom day, and i have never been as happy in my entire life. such an announcement is rare in men's professional sport. the former aston villa midfielder thomas hitzlsperger only felt comfortable coming out publicly after retiring, while it is 31 years sincejustin fashanu became the first and only top—flight english footballer to come out as gay whilst still playing. we're in 2021, it's a different time to what it was before, it's more accepting. i hope that one day someone can follow my lead and come out too. and it's just normal, it becomes normal, you know? playing football, it doesn't matter who you are. everyone�*s welcome. for those footballers who feel that being open about their sexuality might negatively impact their career, cavallo wants to show it doesn't have to be that way. katie gornall, bbc news. that's it. newsnight is starting now over on bbc two with more budget analysis and reaction. now on bbc one, time for the news where you are. have a very good night. england emperors will be parts of across eastern budget day is not over yet. hello, and welcome to our look ahead to what the papers will be bringing us tomorrow. with me are polly mackenzie, chief executive of the think tank demos, and tom newton dunn, who's chief political commentator at times radio. there's only one story in town. the yorkshire post says the region has got a £200 million share from the government's levelling up funds from the budget. big spenders sue neck takes tax burden back to the 19505, the headline of the eye, it also criticises groups charging air duty for uk flights. after limiting his budget help to deal with a winter co5t—of—living cri5i5. we will look at the financial time5 co5t—of—living cri5i5. we will look at the financial times to begin. 0n the front page there of the chancellor holding the budget. chief executive of demo5, your overall thoughts? executive of demos, your overall thou . hts? , executive of demos, your overall thou~hts? , ., ., ., thoughts? there is a quote from the ft sa in: thoughts? there is a quote from the ft saying it — thoughts? there is a quote from the ft saying it sounded _ thoughts? there is a quote from the ft saying it sounded like _ thoughts? there is a quote from the ft saying it sounded like gordon - ft saying it sounded like gordon brown— and that was the exact thing i heard after hearing rishi sunak posting about a little billion here, sooner or later you're talking about real money. he was so enthusiastic and positive about spending, then he got to the last couple minutes and went, "0h got to the last couple minutes and went, "oh by the way, i planted cut taxes later because it's the moral thing to do." but the tone of it was using this had headroom in his own fiscal rules, but the growth is up a bit more than anticipated and because unemployment is so much lower than anticipated, there's a bit more space for him to spend money. and that uncertainty between which conservative government we have — thejohnson spending or david cameron fiscal austerity party, absolutely rishi sunak gave 99% of the speech to thejohnson big spenders, and only 1% to the debt at the end that maybe we will cut back the end that maybe we will cut back the state. it’s the end that maybe we will cut back the state. �* , . ,. ., ., the state. it's fascinating, tom newton done. _ the state. it's fascinating, tom newton done, because - the state. it's fascinating, tom newton done, because robert| the state. it's fascinating, tom - newton done, because robert grimsley in the ft on the piece that's gone around social media tonight, has made the same point that this was johnsonian in the middle and rishi sunak at the end. do you buy it in the end? it’s sunak at the end. do you buy it in the end? �* , ., sunak at the end. do you buy it in the end? �*, ., ., ,, the end? it's hard to dispute an hinu the end? it's hard to dispute anything you _ the end? it's hard to dispute anything you both _ the end? it's hard to dispute anything you both have - the end? it's hard to dispute anything you both have said. the end? it's hard to dispute - anything you both have said. rishi sunak_ anything you both have said. rishi sunak declared yesterday that it was his moral— sunak declared yesterday that it was his moral mission to the strength the stadium cut so it feelsjust a tiny— the stadium cut so it feelsjust a tiny bit— the stadium cut so it feelsjust a tiny bit schizophrenic, this budget _ a tiny bit schizophrenic, this budget. in fact without underplaying or underplaying the obvious analogy, it's a budget written by two people - largeiy— it's a budget written by two people — largely the owner of number ten, not ii, _ — largely the owner of number ten, not ii, who— — largely the owner of number ten, not 11, who managed to get his own squeak at _ not 11, who managed to get his own squeak at the end that this isn't his own — squeak at the end that this isn't his own handiwork, he just happen to -et his own handiwork, he just happen to get along with his boss. debate will ra-e get along with his boss. debate will rage over_ get along with his boss. debate will rage over what choice he had over this, _ rage over what choice he had over this, not— rage over what choice he had over this, notjust because borisjohnson hasicaiiy— this, notjust because borisjohnson basically wrote all this, the big spender— basically wrote all this, the big spender and big borrower, basically wrote all this, the big spenderand big borrower, there's lots of— spenderand big borrower, there's lots of borrowing going on as well as spending and tax rises. rishi sunak— as spending and tax rises. rishi sunak said _ as spending and tax rises. rishi sunak said public funding is a mess because _ sunak said public funding is a mess because of— sunak said public funding is a mess because of covid, torri say you could _ because of covid, torri say you could have _ because of covid, torri say you could have used that money to cut taxes. _ could have used that money to cut taxes. you — could have used that money to cut taxes, you just didn't —— tories. will_ taxes, you just didn't —— tories. will have — taxes, you just didn't —— tories. will have a _ taxes, you just didn't —— tories. will have a second story from the ft, breaking tradition on the papers, "rishi sunak plays party politics with a cut in the price of bubbly." 0ne politics with a cut in the price of bubbly." one thing iforgot politics with a cut in the price of bubbly." one thing i forgot to do todayis bubbly." one thing i forgot to do today is check what he was drinking as he delivered the speech. i think tenant, kenneth clark usually had a glass of whiskey, i imagine rishi sunak had something cooler. cutting the price for champagne and beer, raising it to the poor and madeira casilla i think he talked in advance about having a sprite and a twix, so maybe tom can tell us if they went ahead. we in the uk have had a long irrational and _ ahead. we in the uk have had a long irrational and largely _ ahead. we in the uk have had a long irrational and largely confusing - ahead. we in the uk have had a long irrational and largely confusing tax . irrational and largely confusing tax system for alcohol whereby cider, you system for alcohol whereby cider, y°u pay system for alcohol whereby cider, you pay very low duties per alcohol unit, but certain ones you pay very high duties per unit of alcohol. and because of the freedom of brexit, one of the rare upsides of brexit, rishi sunak has been able to come up with quite a cumbrian sieve can stomach form of alcohol duties — which is enabling him to do this, saying the biggest cut the fruit cider in a generation. but i don't know what fruit cider is because i thought cider was made of fruit. but obvious that are missing something. and big changes to be your duty and sparkling wine in particular — that's because we can create a more coherent, more british system for alcohol taxation. i think it is welcome, the eu rules are very lovely and confusing, meaning you can't have a system which basically taxes alcohol on about the same amount per unit. given that it's alcohol that causes both the fun and public health harm, it makes sense to have that more rational system — though that is potentially being texas will be going up for certain kinds of spirits and whiskeys, and the spirit associations are not looking very happy this evening. still on the drink, moving to the metro... ~ .,, ., , still on the drink, moving to the metr0---_ it - still on the drink, moving to the i metro. . ._ it shows metro... metaphorically. it shows the chancellor _ metro... metaphorically. it shows the chancellor and _ metro... metaphorically. it shows the chancellor and prime - metro... metaphorically. it showsj the chancellor and prime minister with different expressions there on the front page of the metro, pouring points in southeast london. is it good to have the alcohol duty system cleared up? it good to have the alcohol duty system cleared u? ,., _ , cleared up? it probably is, the duties have — cleared up? it probably is, the duties have been _ cleared up? it probably is, the duties have been a _ cleared up? it probably is, the duties have been a mess - cleared up? it probably is, the duties have been a mess for. cleared up? it probably is, the duties have been a mess for a| cleared up? it probably is, the - duties have been a mess for a long time, _ duties have been a mess for a long time, if— duties have been a mess for a long time, ifihey— duties have been a mess for a long time, if they streamline purely, the forward _ time, if they streamline purely, the forward being all over the shop. it was george osborne a few years ago who struck— was george osborne a few years ago who struck upon this business of alcohoi— who struck upon this business of alcohol duties and lowering them 'ust alcohol duties and lowering them just a _ alcohol duties and lowering them just a tiny— alcohol duties and lowering them just a tiny bit to give a completely disproportionate loan of coverage to what everybody likes to talk about, your favourite temple, whether it be spirits, _ your favourite temple, whether it be spirits, wines and beer. he said if you cut _ spirits, wines and beer. he said if you cut it— spirits, wines and beer. he said if you cut it by— spirits, wines and beer. he said if you cut it byjust one pee, you'll -et you cut it byjust one pee, you'll get huge — you cut it byjust one pee, you'll get huge amounts of coverage. —— 1p. interestingly— get huge amounts of coverage. —— 1p. interestingly we spoke about four beers. _ interestingly we spoke about four beers, this is more johnsonian than nigel— beers, this is more johnsonian than nigel lawson in rishi sunak bursting out of— nigel lawson in rishi sunak bursting out of this_ nigel lawson in rishi sunak bursting out of thisjohnsonian nigel lawson in rishi sunak bursting out of this johnsonian budget for five seconds. it's a good tax reform. _ five seconds. it's a good tax reform, it's sensible and it will be a fairly— reform, it's sensible and it will be a fairly popular. but i wasjust ahout— a fairly popular. but i wasjust about the _ a fairly popular. but i wasjust about the only reform it did. business rates didn't get very far on that, — business rates didn't get very far on that, as — business rates didn't get very far on that, as for other things he couid've — on that, as for other things he could've reformed. it's guaranteed to get— could've reformed. it's guaranteed to get your— could've reformed. it's guaranteed to get your headlines, unless you drink_ to get your headlines, unless you drink poor— to get your headlines, unless you drink poor —— port. there is a user—friendly list of pretty much anything — user—friendly list of pretty much anything you could largely ever want _ anything you could largely ever want. everyone is a winner unless you drink — want. everyone is a winner unless you drink- - -_ want. everyone is a winner unless you drink... unless you drink port. rishi sunak _ you drink... unless you drink port. rishi sunak takes _ you drink... unless you drink port. rishi sunak takes taxes _ you drink... unless you drink port. rishi sunak takes taxes back - you drink... unless you drink port. rishi sunak takes taxes back to . rishi sunak takes taxes back to 19505. this is a point i want to pick up in the front page there when we have a look down — i think it's the penultimate group, green groups criticise cuts with the uk summit in glasgow only days away. cheaper to fly in the uk? this glasgow only days away. cheaper to fly in the uk?— fly in the uk? this was not a green buduet, fly in the uk? this was not a green budget. tom _ fly in the uk? this was not a green budget, tom was _ fly in the uk? this was not a green budget, tom was mentioning - budget, tom was mentioning the freeze in fuel duty, and then this quite surprising substantial cut to air passenger duty is quite popular with conservative backbenchers because it helps to support regional airports, lots of whom happen to have newly elected conservative mp5. the problem is that it makes it easier and cheaperfor the problem is that it makes it easier and cheaper for people to travel by air, which is most polluting — and he made an odd boast, saying the thing is domestic flights admit only a small proportion of emissions. it's the long, international ones. but it's also much harder to travel by train by australia than it is to newcastle by australia than it is to newcastle by train. so it's not pointing in the right direction in the run—up to a cop 26 in glasgow, that absolutely essential international summit that we are essentially turning away from difficult decisions for the sake of cost of living, obviously motivated by a good instinct from the chancellor, but nevertheless if we can't go into that summit saying the uk will take some of the political pain of the more difficult decisions about sticking to our climate targets, how on earth will be explain to other government leaders to do the same? i did explain to other government leaders to do the same?— to do the same? i did want to take the train from _ to do the same? i did want to take the train from waterloo _ to do the same? i did want to take the train from waterloo to - to do the same? i did want to take the train from waterloo to beijing, and it did take 11 days. so it's not necessarily a usually user —— necessarily a usually user —— necessarily a usually user —— necessarily a user—friendly option. so will we be drinking cheaper champagne, as a labour shadow chancellor suggested? blip champagne, as a labour shadow chancellor suggested?— chancellor suggested? 85p off a ol . chancellor suggested? 85p off a ol - of chancellor suggested? 85p off a polyp of press _ chancellor suggested? 85p off a polyp of press echo. _ chancellor suggested? 85p off a polyp of press echo. the - chancellor suggested? 85p off a polyp of press echo. the one i chancellor suggested? 85p off a i polyp of press echo. the one thing he did _ polyp of press echo. the one thing he did do— polyp of press echo. the one thing he did do was increase the duty on long-haul— he did do was increase the duty on long—haul flights, just to make that small— long—haul flights, just to make that small caveat —— press secco. so if you are _ small caveat —— press secco. so if you are reminded to take a plane to china rather— you are reminded to take a plane to china rather than a train, you'd probably— china rather than a train, you'd probably have to pay a little bit more _ probably have to pay a little bit more in — probably have to pay a little bit more in tax on that. but it was devoid — more in tax on that. but it was devoid of— more in tax on that. but it was devoid of greenery. i suppose this was a _ devoid of greenery. i suppose this was a budget designed for domestic audiences— was a budget designed for domestic audiences rather than international. they probably weren't listening to much _ they probably weren't listening to much because it might be a case of do as— much because it might be a case of do as i_ much because it might be a case of do as i say, — much because it might be a case of do as i say, not as a do with this budget — do as i say, not as a do with this budaet. �* , do as i say, not as a do with this budaet. �*, ., , ., ., budget. let's look at the guardian, which now falls _ budget. let's look at the guardian, which now falls into _ budget. let's look at the guardian, which now falls into the _ budget. let's look at the guardian, which now falls into the rule - budget. let's look at the guardian, which now falls into the rule of - budget. let's look at the guardian, which now falls into the rule of if . which now falls into the rule of if there's any cuts to anything involving with alcohol, it goes on the front page. look at the guardian's frontpage! rishi sunak in that brewery toasting his budget, which included the cut in tax on draught beer. but looking at the details, pauly, there's plenty of changes, to universal credit, people will be able to keep more money. will it be eaten by inflation? there were some — will it be eaten by inflation? there were some welcome _ will it be eaten by inflation? there were some welcome changes, - will it be eaten by inflation? ties were some welcome changes, you mentioned universal credit, big changes there— we know rishi sunak refused to bend on that £20 a lift up refused to bend on that £20 a lift up —— uplift to universal credit. he's given people 500 extra pounds you can earn if you're on benefits without having any of that tapered away and changing the universal credit take from 63% down to 55% — really dramatic, but it does still mean that the bottom 20% will be the resolution foundation of model, £216 worse off. as we know energy bills are still rising, the institute for fiscal studies are forecasting that essentially wages will be stagnant in real terms for 20 years post the financial crisis. the idea that any of this really gives anybody a boost to their disposable income, a boost to their disposable income, a boost to their disposable income, a boost to their way of life is still a long way off. to their way of life is still a long wa off. ., ., , ., way off. from what i understand, the labour leader — way off. from what i understand, the labour leader was _ way off. from what i understand, the labour leader was meant _ way off. from what i understand, the labour leader was meant to _ way off. from what i understand, the labour leader was meant to be - way off. from what i understand, the labour leader was meant to be at - way off. from what i understand, the labour leader was meant to be at the | labour leader was meant to be at the dispatch box, but he was diagnosed with covid in the morning. there are no particular stories about labour on the front pages, but what do you make of the opposition's response to the budget? it make of the opposition's response to the budaet? ., , ., ., , ., ., . the budget? it was a fairly dramatic mornin: the budget? it was a fairly dramatic morning before _ the budget? it was a fairly dramatic morning before sunak— the budget? it was a fairly dramatic morning before sunak even - the budget? it was a fairly dramatic morning before sunak even stood i the budget? it was a fairly dramatic l morning before sunak even stood up, we had _ morning before sunak even stood up, we had this— morning before sunak even stood up, we had this declaration that the leader— we had this declaration that the leader of— we had this declaration that the leader of the opposition had >> kevinz. he posted a picture of hirnself— >> kevinz. he posted a picture of himself with rachel reeves on twitter. — himself with rachel reeves on twitter, then tested positive. fairly— twitter, then tested positive. fairly high drama. rachel reeves stood _ fairly high drama. rachel reeves stood in — fairly high drama. rachel reeves stood in to— fairly high drama. rachel reeves stood in to do someone else's speech, — stood in to do someone else's speech, and the plaudits were pretty positive- _ speech, and the plaudits were pretty positive— she was fairly positive. she had —