yesterday but as we head into the weekend we are going to once again have a touch of summer. all of the details later. it's tuesday 3rd of october. pressure is growing on the prime minister to clarify whether he will cancel the h52 rail link between birmingham and manchester. those pressing for the project to go ahead include the conservative mayor of the west midlands, andy street, as well as business and civic leaders in the north. downing street insists no final decision has been taken but the issue has dominated the party conference in manchester, from where our political correspondent iain watson sent this report. the prime minister wants to make progress in the opinion polls, but there's a danger his party conference gets derailed over the future of h52. downing street says no final decision has been taken on whether the project will reach manchester. when we caught up with the transport secretary, he took the same line. any clarity at all on hs2? you've heard what number ten said, no decision has been taken. but the uncertainty has given the high speed line supporters a renewed platform, including the conservative mayor of the west midlands. a once in a generation opportunity. you will indeed be damaging our international reputation as a place to invest. and who would have thought that the labour mayor of greater manchester would be something of a star turn at conservative fringe meetings? look at the place. the place is doing so well at the moment. we've just brought in a new public transport system ourselves. investors are flocking here. we're growing faster than the uk economy and you're going to pull the rug on us at this moment? please, prime minister, at least give us a conversation. give us a chance to influence your decision before you make it. the conservative party conference isn'tjust taking place in manchester. it's taking place in a disused railway station in manchester. perhaps not the ideal venue to announce the cancellation or curtailment of a high speed rail link to this very city. but the pressure is growing on rishi sunak to announce a decision. all i can say is there's been a sense of total chaos around today when it comes to hs2 policymaking. i've been to events, i've talked to politicians, i talk to stakeholders, railway industry players, journalists. no—one seems to know what's going on. some people say it's definitely scrapped. there'll be an announcement later in the week about scrapping hs2 phase two and replacing it with other schemes. and others say it's all speculation, nothing's going to happen. so we're obviously very concerned. but perhaps unsurprisingly, many voters here in manchester said they'd be disappointed if the project was axed. they spent so much money on it already and i just think to scrap it isjust ridiculous. the hsz thing i've never been fully for anyway, . if i'm honest, because it's like, what are you saving? _ like 20 minutes in the long run? i think it's disgraceful. the whole point of it was to join the north and the south. if your class birmingham as the north, then that's a bit if you class birmingham as the north, then that's a bit of a problem, right? last night the chancellor, jeremy hunt, said the conservatives would go into the next election telling voters they could make difficult decisions, but he didn't say they'd make them quickly. iain watson, bbc news, manchester. in a moment we'll speak to our chief political correspondent henry zeffman at the conservative party conference. first let's go to our reporter peter ruddick, at manchester piccadilly station. let's talk about passengers first. what are passengers saying about hs2 to manchester potentially being lost? ~ , ., to manchester potentially being lost? ~ g ., ., ., , ~' , lost? well, jon, from train strikes, dela s lost? well, jon, from train strikes, delays and — lost? well, jon, from train strikes, delays and cancellations, - lost? well, jon, from train strikes, l delays and cancellations, passengers are used to uncertainties that there is a bean and lack of surprise in recent days around these reports. —— there has been a certain lack of surprise. there are people who would welcome the scrapping of hs2, there are concerns about cost, delays, about the reported benefits of the scheme. it seems increasingly likely that the final destination of hs2 manchester piccadilly when now not happen. there are plenty of people who would welcome that happening. peter, thanks very much indeed. let's turn now to our chief political correspondent henry zeffman. downing street saying no official position has been made but lots of newspapers this morning seem to think that the cancellation of hs2 in the north is now simply a formality, what is really going on here? i formality, what is really going on here? ~' .. , here? ithink, sally, the conservatives _ here? ithink, sally, the conservatives lost - here? ithink, sally, the. conservatives lost control here? ithink, sally, the - conservatives lost control of their own conference yesterday. in the hole behind me you had jeremy hunt the chancellor is speaking, gillian keegan _ the chancellor is speaking, gillian keegan the education secretary, kemi badenoch _ keegan the education secretary, kemi badenoch the secretary, all big names— badenoch the secretary, all big names although anyone i bumped into only wanted to speak about hsz. it's not as_ only wanted to speak about hsz. it's not as if— only wanted to speak about hsz. it's not as if the — only wanted to speak about hsz. it's not as if the government didn't have a sense _ not as if the government didn't have a sense this — not as if the government didn't have a sense this was coming. for a few weeks _ a sense this was coming. for a few weeks we — a sense this was coming. for a few weeks we have been talking on this programme almost nonstop about rumours _ programme almost nonstop about rumours that hsz's leg from birmingham to manchester might be changed _ birmingham to manchester might be changed. we have not had clarity from _ changed. we have not had clarity from the — changed. we have not had clarity from the government, but it is increasingly clear that that leg from _ increasingly clear that that leg from birmingham to manchester is not --oin from birmingham to manchester is not going to _ from birmingham to manchester is not going to happen, or at the very least, — going to happen, or at the very least, it's— going to happen, or at the very least, it's going to be delayed. i actually— least, it's going to be delayed. i actually think the big question today— actually think the big question today is— actually think the big question today is not what's going to happen with that _ today is not what's going to happen with that leg, but what the government is going to offer instead to try— government is going to offer instead to try to— government is going to offer instead to try to assuage the fears of people — to try to assuage the fears of people that you heard about from the people _ people that you heard about from the people like andy burnham and andy street, _ people like andy burnham and andy street, a _ people like andy burnham and andy street, a conservative mayor in the west _ street, a conservative mayor in the west midlands, of what the government will offer instead. there's— government will offer instead. there's rumours that rishi sunak in his speech — there's rumours that rishi sunak in his speech tomorrow will confirmation on what we think is going _ confirmation on what we think is going to — confirmation on what we think is going to happen on hsz but using the money— going to happen on hsz but using the money they might again from scrapping that to link up the great powerhouse it is of the north. there are concerns — powerhouse it is of the north. there are concerns that you cannot get the east-west _ are concerns that you cannot get the east—west link without the infrastructure from hsz east—west link without the infrastructure from h52 and that will att— infrastructure from h52 and that will all work itself out in the next days and — will all work itself out in the next days and months, probably years if hsz is— days and months, probably years if hsz is anything to go by. it's briefly— hsz is anything to go by. it's briefly worth thinking about why rishi _ briefly worth thinking about why rishi sunak is making this decision. he knows— rishi sunak is making this decision. he knows it — rishi sunak is making this decision. he knows it is controversial but he wants _ he knows it is controversial but he wants to _ he knows it is controversial but he wants to be — he knows it is controversial but he wants to be seen as someone making tough _ wants to be seen as someone making tough decisions. perhaps the concern in downing _ tough decisions. perhaps the concern in downing street is that this type decision— in downing street is that this type decision has been so chaotically announced that people willjust remember that instead. announced that people will 'ust remember that insteadfi remember that instead. that's something _ remember that instead. that's something we _ remember that instead. that's something we might _ remember that instead. that's something we might be - remember that instead. that's| something we might be talking remember that instead. that's i something we might be talking to remember that instead. that's - something we might be talking to the prime minister about when we see him at 7:30am this morning. now more on the news from jon. a huge fireball lit up the sky over oxford last night after lightning struck gas containers at a food waste recycling plant. there were no reported casualties but roads in the area were closed as emergency crews worked through the night to control the fire. our reporter vincent mcaviney has the details. there's a fire. oh, my god. lightning just struck that. just after 7pm last night, a fireball lighting up the sky north of oxford. eyewitnesses for miles around stared on in disbelief. oh, my god. that is massive. we heard like a bang or something. and when i went to the balcony, i saw this huge fireball. and it went like that for almost a minute. yeah, it felt like it was like, like some sort of gas or something. like, i don't know, we were a bit scared. the explosion was caused when a lightning strike hit a biogas storage tank at the severn trent green power plant at cassington. six fire engines, a0 firefighters, police and at least four ambulances attended the scene. firefighters used a drone to help them battle the blaze. for a time, the nearby aao had to be closed between wolvercote and eynsham. several nearby villages reported power outages, too. the company, which recycles food waste into biogas, said it was now working with the emergency services to secure the site. in a statement, thames valley police advised people living nearby to stay home, shut windows and doors and keep away from the scene. but despite the force of the explosion, both police and the company said they believed nobody had been hurt. vincent mcavinney, bbc news. the fashion chain abercrombie and fitch says it's hired an outside law firm to investigate claims surrounding its former boss. a bbc investigation has uncovered allegations that mike jeffries exploited young adult men for sex at events he hosted in his new york homes and hotels around the world, including in london and paris. he has not responded to the claims. doctors will protest for better pay and conditions outside the conservative party conference in manchester this morning. the british medical association rally comes on the second day of a three—day strike by both junior doctors and consultants in england. a 17—year—old boy who's charged with murdering the schoolgirl elianne andam in south london last week is due to appear before the old bailey. elianne, who was 15, was fatally stabbed at a bus stop in croydon while making her way to school on wednesday morning. food prices have fallen, compared to the previous month, for the first time in more than two years. it means grocery inflation has dipped below io%. ben can tell us more. ben, let's be clear, the cost of food is still going up but the rate of increase is slowing down. it depends on what you compare it to. let me explain. fierce competition between supermarkets has led to the first monthly drop in food prices for more than two years. the important word there is monthly drop. that means on average, prices came down in september compared with august. not by much, downjust 0.1%, but it does represent a move in the right direction. the british retail consortium said prices of dairy goods, margarine, fish and vegetables which are often own—brand lines all fell in september compared with the month before. and it is an average so some things will not have fallen, some things may even have gone up in price. and importantly while the average price of food fell from one month to the next food prices are still significantly higher than a year ago. in september food prices were 9.9% higher than in september last year. and that's down from a rate of 11.5% in august. prices still rising compared with a year ago but not as quickly as they were. the flying scotsman is to undergo a full mechanical inspection after it was involved in a low—speed crash. the steam engine, which is celebrating its centenary year, collided with a train at aviemore railway station in the highlands on friday. two people were treated in hospital as a precaution and the rail accident investigation branch is looking into it. when the star wars droid c—3po was helping the rebel alliance stand up to the empire, there would have been a hefty price on his head. remember that? great days. well, now there is again because the costume head worn by the actor anthony daniels is up for auction next month, and its expected to fetch between £500,000 to £1 million. he really does have a price on his head! so do these. other items going under the hammer include forrest gump's running shoes and a bullwhip used by indiana jones in the temple of doom. movie memorabilia up for sale. that is a lot of money _ movie memorabilia up for sale. that is a lot of money as _ movie memorabilia up for sale. that is a lot of money as well. i - movie memorabilia up for sale. that is a lot of money as well. i can't - is a lot of money as well. i can't believe c _ is a lot of money as well. i can't believe c threepea, _ is a lot of money as well. i can't believe c threepea, only - is a lot of money as well. i can't believe c threepea, only his - is a lot of money as well. i can't. believe c threepea, only his head is a lot of money as well. i can't - believe c threepea, only his head is £1 million, what about the rest of him? —— i can't believe c—3po. carol is here with us in the studio, are we going to the beach? it is is here with us in the studio, are we going to the beach? it is going to turn much _ we going to the beach? it is going to turn much warmer— we going to the beach? it is going to turn much warmer as _ we going to the beach? it is going to turn much warmer as we - we going to the beach? it is going to turn much warmer as we head l we going to the beach? it is going i to turn much warmer as we head into the weekend. if you have put away your winter clothes, get a few of them out again! could be up to 26 in some parts of the country, big change. we have pressure conditions today compared with yesterday. a weather front has gone through and the pressure conditions have followed. today it is going to be showery, a mixture of bright spells, sunny spells and a few showers. that is how we start the day. bands of showers pushing eastwards, the heaviest and most frequent across the north and west of scotland and it will be noticeably breezy. coming from the west or the north west. temperatures today down a notch on yesterday, 12 today down a notch on yesterday, 12 to 16, the top in london at 19. this evening and overnight we hang on a few showers but we have got a ridge of high pressure building in from the south so it will be dry and full time, towards the west there will be a few showers and then we will start to see heavier rain moving in across northern ireland and parts of scotland. temperatures eight to 11, our overnight lows, not particularly cold. as we start tomorrow, we start with rain across parts of northern ireland and parts of scotland. the met office has a weather warning out for this. met office has a weather warning out forthis. in met office has a weather warning out for this. in the south one or two showers dotted around but a lot of dry weather, variable cloud and sunshine. temperatures 12 to 19 degrees, the breeze picking up. the breeze will change our weather as it comes up from the south in the next few days, temperatures will start to rise. once again, thank you. the second part of the covid inquiry starts taking evidence today meaning decisions made by borisjohnson and his government in the early days of the pandemic will come under intense scrutiny. whatsapp messages sent between the former prime minister and other senior officials are expected to form an important part of the evidence, as our health reporter jim reed explains. elliot daly gives the pass! march 2020, and england narrowly beat wales at twickenham. the prime minister was there that day as covid cases were rising. that weekend, italy announced a lockdown. the next week, though, the cheltenham festival was allowed to go ahead. the virus is deadly... a quarter of a million people attended. this one is my wife and i at twickenham. jeff was at both events and is sure he caught covid there. i come home, felt terrible. my temperature was going up and up. my wife was getting more worried. and so the sunday, she called an ambulance. a bbc wales crew filmed jeff in hospital. geoff in hospital. it's only literally this covid thing, which literally wiped my world. he accepts it was his own decision to go to both events, but says the government should have acted sooner. with the twickenham, yeah. we wanted to go, cheltenham, we wanted to go, but you know, if they'd have said no, which should have been the right decision, yeah, it would have been disruptive for a lot of people, but lives would have been saved. the second part of the covid inquiry will run until christmas and examine key decisions made during the pandemic, including whether lives could have been saved if lockdowns had been imposed earlier or differently, the effectiveness of social distancing, facemasks and other lockdown measures, and public confidence in the government, including the effect of any rule breaches by ministers and officials. these are the four walls, that was all i saw every day. james had to shield in his flat for 18 months through the pandemic. the medication he takes for arthritis weakens his immune system. i didn't see another human being the whole entire time, except for when i went to the hospital to get myjabs. and that was my first interaction with a human, was the nurse giving me myjab. he filmed these video diaries in 2020. my day to day life has changed so much. i used to be a really outgoing person. four million were told to shield like this. new research for the charity versus arthritis found for many, it had a huge impact on their physical and mental health. are there questions you would like answered? i mean, in terms of the shielding, i don't know, we were never like checked on at all. we were asked to do this massive thing, this mentally straining thing. they didn't check on our mental health or our physical health at all. in 2021, james was jabbed and shielding was lifted. that's fine, i didn't realise you did it! the government says the choices it made save lives and protected the nation. scrutinising all those decisions will take time, with the inquiry set to last for three more years. jim reed, bbc news. let's take a look at today's papers. "it's manc robbery" is the metro headline, with the paper focusing on the "fury" that greater manchester mayor andy burnham has expressed about the potential cancellation of hs2. the times reports on the pope backing the blessing of same—sex partnerships. the paper says he's given "cautious backing" to the blessing of gay unions for the first time, saying they should be decided on a case by case basis. head judge of strictly shirley ballas dominates the front page of the sun. the paper claims her online "troll terror" have left her "scared to leave her home". and the front page of the guardian features an image of actors elle fanning and helen mirren walking the runway for l'oreal during paris fashion week. 91 those outfits? definite —— do you fancy one of those outfits? definitely, i like both of those! here's an exciting discovery for star—gazers. jupiter—sized "planets" free—floating in space, unconnected to any star, have been spotted by the james webb space telescope. that is beautiful. it looks like an album cover, it looks real. very beautiful. new planets we didn't know about maybe?— beautiful. new planets we didn't know about maybe? beautiful. new planets we didn't know about ma be? ., , ., , know about maybe? have you seen the sto in the know about maybe? have you seen the story in the daily _ know about maybe? have you seen the story in the daily mail, _ know about maybe? have you seen the story in the daily mail, we _ know about maybe? have you seen the story in the daily mail, we have - story in the daily mail, we have reported in the past about some companies going to a four—day week, and staff feeling the benefits of that saying they like it, one tech company cold crystal, an intimate company cold crystal, an intimate company in london, went to a four—day week, the going down to five days. the boss says staff are stressed because they have to cram all of their work in the five days. they say it has backfired and they are going back. he sent an e—mail and i don't know which day he would have sent it! gay marriage has been legal in most of the uk for nearly ten years now and the rest of the world's most developed countries have similar provisions. apart from japan. same—sex unions are still banned there but the pressure for change is increasing. here's our tokyo correspondent shaimaa khalil. perfecting their pirouettes. in a country where lgbtq rights are still not fully recognised, this is not your average japanese couple. it was in a ballet class that keitaro and hideki met more than a year ago. they've been inseparable since then. keitaro came out in his late teens, but hideki still hides his sexuality from his family. he says he doesn't want to shock his 90—year—old mother. despite that, he was happy for us to film him with his partner. translation: | think that - discrimination is still very strong injapan, as is the environment in which i am surrounded. when you're walking around the city, it would be nice to see more same sex couples. well, i wish that more people would not have to live a double life. i think if there is recognition, it'll be easier. there'll be less judgments, prejudice. so i think people will feel safe to come out and be themselves. parliament has recently enacted a law to promote understanding of sexual minorities, despite fierce pushback from conservative lawmakers within the ruling party. it sparked a debate on local media, and the wording angered many activists who say that the legislation could be used against the lgbtq community. what we are concerned the most is the article number 12, which states that when the government and the local government schools and the companies implement necessary measures to expand understanding, they need to take into consideration of people's peace of mind, all people's peace of mind. this sentence, this article implies that lgbtq people are someone who make majority or who make other people really feel scared. one of the things i hear a lot from same sex couples here is that they feel invisible in the eyes of society and those in power. and that translates notjust in the legislation or lack thereof, but in their daily lives. for example, many of them can't get a joint mortgage to buy a house together, and if one partner dies, the other has no legal rights to any inheritance. they're simply not seen as a family. aki and hikari are new mothers, but only one of them, aki, who gave birth, has custody of their child. they feel uncomfortable showing their identity or using their real names. despite the support around them, many still don't know about the relationship. translation: i don't feel we're protected as a couple. _ when i gave birth, i wrote a will to appoint my partner as the legal guardian of our son in case i die during labour. and even that didn't guarantee her custody. it was parenthood that encouraged them to come out to their families and to think about marriage. they wanted their son to be able to explain his mothers' relationship, they tell me. the couple are now legally married in canada, but not in their home country. i'm wondering why you chose to live in a country where your union is not recognised. translation: partly because my family are in japan. _ also, if we live overseas, we would become minorities there, foreigners. here, we are supported by many people. we need to show that we exist. aki and hikari are hopeful that one day they'll be legally married injapan. for now, their wish is for their son to live in a society that accepts his family without prejudice. shaimaa khalil, bbc news, tokyo. you're watching breakfast. still to come on today's programme. the children's laureatejoseph coelho will be dropping in for a chat as he nears the end of his library marathon. he's visiting more than 200 of them across the uk. and he has got the membership card to prove it! and to celebratejoseph's achievement we'd love to hear your stories. tell us why your library is special to you. it might be the people who work in it, the location, or the memories that you've made there. you can send us a message on whatsapp — the number is on screen now — or you can get in touch by email and social media. libraries answer quite as they used to be when we were little! —— they are not quite as quiet! it to be when we were little! -- they are not quite as quiet!— are not quite as quiet! it sounds like it is quite _ are not quite as quiet! it sounds like it is quite a _ are not quite as quiet! it sounds like it is quite a noisy _ are not quite as quiet! it sounds like it is quite a noisy place - are not quite as quiet! it sounds like it is quite a noisy place to l like it is quite a noisy place to be. and people have been using them as warm hubs to escape the high energy bills. if you are on whatsapp, tell us your name and where you are contacting from because we will not know who you are unless you tell us. time now to get the news, travel and weather where you are. hello, i'm asad ahmad. as a murder investigation is launched in edmonton, into the 14th fatal teenage stabbing in london this year, the mayor of london has written to the home secretary, calling on the government to quickly bring in laws to ban zombie—style knives and machetes. sadiq khan says current proposals have been delayed, and the government should close loopholes which will allow for machete—style knives to be carried for "legitimate use." he also calls for more to be done to tackle the causes or knife crime, with more investment in positive opportunities for young people. we have approached the government for a response. there's been a sharp increase in the number of ultra low emission zone cameras that were vandalised in september. despite police saying they were cracking down on damage and thefts of cameras, the rate has increased to nearly ten incidents per day. a man has been arrested in bexley in connection with one incident. another two men were arrested elsewhere. transport for london say "camera vandalism will not stop ulez from operating london—wide." the boss ofjohn lewis — londoner dame sharon white — is to step down after five years, making her the shortest—serving chair in the partnership's near 100—year history. dame sharon, from leyton, has told thejohn lewis partnership board she will not seek a second term in 2025. the company reported a loss of over £200 million last year, forcing it to scrap the annual staff bonus. her predecessors have served between 13 and 26 years in office. before the travel, a reminder that there is a tube strike planned for tomorrow and friday, as part of a dispute overjob losses and conditions. members of the rmt union plan to walk out, which will cause major disruption. transport for london say most tube services will not run, but the elizabeth line, london overground, and the dlr should be running a nearly normal service. let's take a look at the tubes now. there's a good service on the tubes this morning, now onto the weather with gemma. good morning. it's a cloudy start to the day today, but that cloud will be breaking up, particularly as we go through the course of this afternoon. and there could be a few showers around as well. so this morning, it's starting off on a cloudy note. there could be a few showers moving through as we go through this morning. those could be locally heavy. but by the time we get to this afternoon, a lot of those showers will have moved away. there'll be a lot of dry, fine weather to come, and plenty of sunshine developing as well. it will be a breezy day, and feeling fresher than it was yesterday, with highs of 17 or 18 celsius. through the course of this evening and overnight, there's a lot of dry and clear weather too. those winds will ease a touch and it will be feeling a little bit cooler than it was last night, with lows of around 7 or 8 celsius. as we go through into wednesday, than it was last night, with lows of around 7 or 8 celsius. as we go through into wednesday, it does look like it's going to be a mostly dry day. there could be quite a bit of cloud around, though, particularly as we go through the course of the morning. and then by the time we get to this weekend, it does look like we're going to bring in some much warmer air. those temperatures are really going to pick up, and there'll be a lot of dry and fine weather to come, with plenty of sunshine. that's it from me for now. i'll be back with our next update in around half an hour's time. until then, goodbye. hello, this is breakfast withjon kay and sally nugent. doctors will protest outside the conservative party conference in manchester in around half an hour, as their industrial dispute over pay and conditions continues. the british medical association rally comes on the second day of a three—day strike by both junior doctors and consultants in england. dr vishal sharma is the chair of the bma consultants committee, and joins us now. tell us why you feel the need to go and do this today. we tell us why you feel the need to go and do this today.— and do this today. we have been lookin: and do this today. we have been looking for— and do this today. we have been looking for the _ and do this today. we have been looking for the government - and do this today. we have been looking for the government to i and do this today. we have been . looking for the government to come to the table and to sort out what we feel we need to get sorted so that people are paid properly and the nhs can start to recover properly, and they are not listening, so that is why we are here today. we will be joined by hundreds of other doctors and we hope to make a real demonstration that the government needs to listen.— demonstration that the government needs to listen. what are you asking for toda ? needs to listen. what are you asking for today? the _ needs to listen. what are you asking for today? the first _ needs to listen. what are you asking for today? the first thing _ needs to listen. what are you asking for today? the first thing is - needs to listen. what are you asking for today? the first thing is to - for today? the first thing is to talk, because _ for today? the first thing is to talk, because there _ for today? the first thing is to talk, because there has - for today? the first thing is to talk, because there has been | for today? the first thing is to i talk, because there has been no talks at all, we worked really hard prior to our ballot, there were talks then, but since then, we have actually had a brick wall and there have been no talks at all. you have written to be _ have been no talks at all. you have written to be prime _ have been no talks at all. you have written to be prime minister. - have been no talks at all. you have written to be prime minister. what| written to be prime minister. what is your message? pare written to be prime minister. what is your message?— written to be prime minister. what is your message? are messages that our daughter— is your message? are messages that our daughter is _ is your message? are messages that our daughter is always _ is your message? are messages that our daughter is always open. - is your message? are messages that our daughter is always open. we - is your message? are messages that our daughter is always open. we this to end. this is not good for anybody, for doctors, for patients, and it is not good for the government. —— our message is that our door is always open. i wrote to the prime minister yesterday and said that we will not call strikes forfour said that we will not call strikes for four weeks, said that we will not call strikes forfour weeks, we said that we will not call strikes for four weeks, we are said that we will not call strikes forfour weeks, we are happy said that we will not call strikes for four weeks, we are happy to involve acas to try to find a way to end this dispute, so it is up to them to come to the table. 50 end this dispute, so it is up to them to come to the table. so you sent that letter _ them to come to the table. so you sent that letter last _ them to come to the table. so you sent that letter last night? - sent that letter last night? probably too early to have a response. are you hopefully will get a positive response, but this might be the key to unlocking the deadlock? irate be the key to unlocking the deadlock?— be the key to unlocking the deadlock? ~ , , deadlock? we hope so, because there is no reason — deadlock? we hope so, because there is no reason why _ deadlock? we hope so, because there is no reason why the _ deadlock? we hope so, because there is no reason why the government - is no reason why the government should not, talk to us now. there are no strikes, we have been very reasonable throughout, and we need to find a way through this.— to find a way through this. so that is a fairly big _ to find a way through this. so that is a fairly big move _ to find a way through this. so that is a fairly big move for— to find a way through this. so that is a fairly big move for you, - to find a way through this. so that is a fairly big move for you, what l is a fairly big move for you, what do you expect the response might be? we are hopeful that they will take that offer, but as i say, it is very early, we will see what response we get. i early, we will see what response we net. ~ ., , ., early, we will see what response we tet_ ~' ., y., ., early, we will see what response we net. ~ ., ,, ., ., ., get. i know you will not negotiate on tv, get. i know you will not negotiate on tv, but _ get. i know you will not negotiate on tv, but does _ get. i know you will not negotiate on tv, but does that _ get. i know you will not negotiate on tv, but does that also - get. i know you will not negotiate on tv, but does that also a - on tv, but does that also a sign that you're prepared to midi climb down a bit from your demands for pay rises and backpay? fiur down a bit from your demands for pay rises and backpay?— down a bit from your demands for pay rises and backpay? our demands have not been high- — rises and backpay? our demands have not been high. we _ rises and backpay? our demands have not been high. we are _ rises and backpay? our demands have not been high. we are only _ not been high. we are only asking for pay restoration, that is the same pay that we will take some time ago. we know that has happened over ago. we know that has happened over a long period of time, so the thing we are really asking for is for the pay restoration. the reason it has faunas that pay has been interfered with overtime, so we want that to be reformed, for them to look back at what has happened to pay over the years, and actually for them to decide what a fair pay award is and what that will take to recover. the percentage _ what that will take to recover. the percentage increase as you have been asking for is way above the current rate of inflation. you are explaining that is because it is historic and trying to repair what you would say is the mistakes and the delays of the past, but it would be a huge thing for the government to admit to, they are never going to agree, are they? for to admit to, they are never going to agree. are they?— agree, are they? for this year, we are asking — agree, are they? for this year, we are asking for— agree, are they? for this year, we are asking for is _ agree, are they? for this year, we are asking for is an _ agree, are they? for this year, we are asking for is an above - agree, are they? for this year, we are asking for is an above inflation pay award. that is very similar to the amount of money given to doctors in scotland, for example, so it is all we are asking for for this year, but crucially we need that reform so that they can work out what the right level of pay for a doctor should be without limitations, and actually mapped out how that happens over time. we actually mapped out how that happens over time. ~ ~ ., ., actually mapped out how that happens overtime. ~ ~ ., ., , ., over time. we know that cases of the flu and covid — over time. we know that cases of the flu and covid are _ over time. we know that cases of the flu and covid are going _ over time. we know that cases of the flu and covid are going to _ over time. we know that cases of the flu and covid are going to rise - flu and covid are going to rise over winter. what do you say to people at home who are concerned about that and about whether there will be able to be treated? this and about whether there will be able to be treated?— to be treated? this is part of the roblem, to be treated? this is part of the problem. every _ to be treated? this is part of the problem, every single _ to be treated? this is part of the problem, every single winter, i to be treated? this is part of the | problem, every single winter, the nhs comes under huge pressure, because we do not have enough staff, the nhs is under resourced, that is a big part of why we are taking this action. we are seeing is that the years of underfunding in the nhs has led to the situation developing, thatis led to the situation developing, that is why doctors are burnt out, why doctors are leaving, and why have record waiting lists. that is where we have people waiting in corridors in a&e because there's not enough people, there's not enough capacity in the system.— capacity in the system. doctor vishal sharma _ capacity in the system. doctor vishal sharma of _ capacity in the system. doctor vishal sharma of the - capacity in the system. doctor vishal sharma of the bma, i capacity in the system. doctor. vishal sharma of the bma, thank capacity in the system. doctor- vishal sharma of the bma, thank you very much forjoining us.— at 7.30, we'll be speaking live to the prime minister about this issue, among others. john has the sport. good morning. lots of tributes for the manchester city great francis lee, known throughout his career as franny, who has died the age of 79. a huge figure in the club's history, his goals carried them to a first divison title, the fa and league cup, and the cup winners' cup. he also won the league with derby county, and played at the 1970 world cup with england. ben croucher has more. summerbee. lee! 6-1! a player woven into the fabric of football in the north—west, a striker whose goals tell you not the full story about a man who embodied the passion of manchester city. having moved to maine road from his boyhood side, bolton, for a then club record £60,000 in 1967, francis lee, or franny, quickly became an integral part of the team that won the division 1 title. more silverware would follow as his partnership with mike summerbee and colin bell transformed city's fortunes in the late �*60s and early �*70s. he amassed 148 goals in 330 games, was city's top scorer five years in a row, and scored ten times for england, as well as appearing at the 1970 world cup. lethal from the penalty spot, his combative, bullish style won many admirers, but also riled opposition players, leading to one of the most infamous incidents in english football with norman hunter. but it was his goals that will revere him most to fans. interesting. very interesting! look at his face! just look at his face! that goal against his old side helped derby county win the league in his first season with the club, and after retiring in 1976, lee became a successful businessman, though a spell as manchester city chairman in the �*90s was ultimately unsuccessful. his standing amongst city's greats will never be in question. they described him as a club legend in every sense. these are some of the tributes on social media. burnley manager and former city player vincent kompany said, "i had the honour of meeting him on more than a few occassions and will cherish these moments." another former city player paul dickov described lee as a "proper football man with a great sense of humour," saying lee was the main reason he signed for city. "rip mrchairman." former boxer and city fan ricky hatton said, "never did a man love our club more than this man. he was a blue through and through, a genuine manchester treasure." relief for chelsea and manager mauricio pochettino, who grabbed their first win in the league since august. despite all the money spent, the results just haven't come, but £89 million man mikhalo mudryk grabbed their first here, his first in a chelsea shirt. and then a minute later, armando broja doubled chelsea's lead. both players went off later, though, as chelsea's injury list mounts. we needed to feel the victory, i think, to feel also trust in the way that we are doing the things. but for sure, we'll be positive in the future. we are trying to, you know, to keep positive in every single aspect. billionaire sirjim ratcliffe's ineos group is considering whether to offer to buy a minority stake in manchester united. he's been involved in talks to buy the club ever since the current owners, the glazers, announced back in november they were considering a sale, but the process has since stalled. if ratcliffe was succesful in buying a minority stake, the move would allow the glazer family to retain a significant shareholding in united. now to that var controversey from liverpool's game on saturday. could this clear things up? the club have requested to the referees governing body for the audio conversations between the officials to be released. it's after var failed to overturn a wrong decision to disallow a luis diaz goalfor offside. the pgmol said it was down to significant human error. liverpool said that explanation was unacceptable, and want the conversations released between the officials to work out just how it happened. whether it will bring in clarity remains to be seen, but they think thatis remains to be seen, but they think that is one way of trying to resolve this situation. the us based andretti team are still holding out hope ofjoining formula 1. they are the only bid to be approved by the fia. but f1 bosses will have now have the final say and they are expected to reject andretti's bid with the teams said to be broadly against an 11th team. here's carol with the weather. hello. a bit mixed until we get to the weekend, because what is happening is we are going to have some rain, especially in the north and west, some showers around, the south largely dry. temperatures dipping a little bit at the moment, still above average, though, but what we have today is a fresh feel, fresher than yesterday, some showers around as well, and also quite blustery. so what is going on? well, we have the remnants of yesterday's weather front clearing away, that produced a lot of lightning, and we have a weak weather front heading south and also a lot of isobars in the charts, so a breezy day wherever you are. look at the amount of rain we saw from that weather front, now moving away into the north sea, and we are left with a platter showers, particularly but not exclusively in the north and also the west. the most frequent today will be in the north—east of scotland, as we can further south, you can see the direction they're heading, all pushing eastwards, but in between, areas of cloud, some bright spells and i did some sunny spells. then we start to see a ridge of high pressure moving on from the south, so it will dry up a touch and some southern areas through the course of the afternoon. but you will notice how blustery it is going to be, with temperatures 13 in the north to 19 as we push down towards the south. through this evening and overnight, we hang on to still a few showers, keeping things fairly dry in parts of southern england, but by the end of southern england, but by the end of the night, heavy rain coming across the north of northern ireland, and also parts of central and southern scotland, including argyll and bute. it will be a windy night, overnight lows ranging between eight and 11 celsius, some are not particularly cold. but as we head on into tomorrow, this weather front of quite slow it, some we will start to see rainfall totals mount up, particularly so across parts of scotland, where we could have in excess of two inches, and you can see why, the rain is almost stationary and are not quite, bind a lot of showers coming in, head of it across england and also wales, a lot of dry weather, remember high pressure coming established. more likely to see one or two showers in wales, for example, and a bit more cloud at times across the north of england. temperatures 12 in the north to 19 in the south, is a very similar to what they're looking at today, and again, a pretty windy day for most of us. as we move on into thursday, more rain comes and across northern ireland and also scotland, a few showers across parts of wales and northern england, more cloud building to the course of the day, come handy when strengthening out towards the west, again temperatures about 12 to 19 celsius. it is after that we start to notice the difference in the temperatures, weather fronts milling across the north and west bringing in some rain at times, high pressure still very much ensconced across southern areas, but you can see how the high pressure extends northwards to the weekend as well. we will take you very quickly on a quick quip through the temperatures in the next few days, so by the time we get to faber, 13 in the north, 19 in newcastle, 22 in london. on saturday, look at the difference, 20 in aberdeen, 22 inn at newcastle, 26 in aberdeen, 22 inn at newcastle, 26 in london, in london, and the last one, a little bit fresher but not by much in scotland and northern ireland, but sorting out 2a to 26 in the south. a quick blast of summer coming our way this weekend. we are ready for it, carol, thank you. the time is 6.41t. a breakthrough malaria vaccine has been recommended for use by the world health organization. it's the second vaccine to be developed, but this one is cheaper and can be produced on a mass scale, meaning it has the potential to save millions of young lives. africa is particularly affected, with 95% of global cases found on the continent, particularly the areas in red. there were an estimated 234 million cases in africa in 2021, and a reported 593,000 deaths, most of them children under five. so what impact could this new vaccine have? we'rejoined now by stockdale from oxford university and the institute behind this new medical success. thank you for joining us here on breakfast. how significant could this be? —— lisa stockdale. i'm sorry, we don't have sound on you there. i don't know whether it lisa, despite all her medical expertise and scientific genius, has merely left it muted. we have all done that. we will try to connect with lisa stockdale again in the next few minutes. i think she might be back, let's reconnect with oxford. good morning, lisa stockdale, thank you forjoining us. what is the potential significance of this new malaria vaccine? it is of this new malaria vaccine? it is enormous. _ of this new malaria vaccine? it is enormous. as — of this new malaria vaccine? it is enormous, as you _ of this new malaria vaccine? it is enormous, as you said _ of this new malaria vaccine? it 3 enormous, as you said this is the second malaria vaccine to be recommended by who, and given the huge capacity that manufacturers have to actually make this vaccine, the supply and demand issues should be eased with this second vaccine. so it can be made in huge quantities, and crucially really cheaply? quantities, and crucially really cheal ? , quantities, and crucially really cheal? , ., cheaply? exactly, in comparison to the earlier vaccine, _ cheaply? exactly, in comparison to the earlier vaccine, the _ cheaply? exactly, in comparison to the earlier vaccine, the capacity i the earlier vaccine, the capacity and the cost associated with it is much better. so we are really hopeful that this could have real impact on of the countries affected by malaria. impact on of the countries affected b malaria. ., . . by malaria. how much impact, in terms of numbers _ by malaria. how much impact, in terms of numbers of— by malaria. how much impact, in terms of numbers of potential i by malaria. how much impact, in i terms of numbers of potential lives saved? 50 terms of numbers of potential lives saved? ,, ., ., ., ., ., saved? so we have data to suggest that this vaccine _ saved? so we have data to suggest that this vaccine is _ saved? so we have data to suggest that this vaccine is 7596 _ that this vaccine is 75% efficacious, which would mean out of the half a million people who die every yearfrom malaria, there the half a million people who die every year from malaria, there would be 75% fewer deaths associated with that, if everybody got the vaccine. and if it was associated with other public health measures such as insecticide treated bed nets currently use. it insecticide treated bed nets currently use.— insecticide treated bed nets currently use. insecticide treated bed nets currentl use. , ., currently use. if everybody got the vaccine, currently use. if everybody got the vaccine. that _ currently use. if everybody got the vaccine, that is _ currently use. if everybody got the vaccine, that is the _ currently use. if everybody got the vaccine, that is the crucial- currently use. if everybody got the vaccine, that is the crucial thing i vaccine, that is the crucial thing now, how do you begin to roll out this medication? 50 now, how do you begin to roll out this medication?— now, how do you begin to roll out this medication? so rule out, comedy who have said _ this medication? so rule out, comedy who have said it _ this medication? so rule out, comedy who have said it would _ this medication? so rule out, comedy who have said it would be _ who have said it would be from mid-2024, who have said it would be from mid—2024, so not long to go —— roll—out, the who have said. what roll-out, the who have said. what kind of skill— roll-out, the who have said. what kind of skill would _ roll-out, the who have said. what kind of skill would that _ roll—out, the who have said. what kind of skill would that be? roll-out, the who have said. what kind of skill would that be? at i roll-out, the who have said. what kind of skill would that be? at the | kind of skill would that be? at the moment the _ kind of skill would that be? at the moment the manufacturing i kind of skill would that be? at the moment the manufacturing scale | kind of skill would that be? git tie: moment the manufacturing scale would be 100 million doses a year, and at the moment people would need three doses a month apart, and then later another dose, so we think we have capacity to deal with that. obviously malaria is something we do not think about hugely here in the uk, but i understand it is the same kind of science behind this new malaria vaccine that was behind the oxford covid jab that so many people did have. how connected are these two breakthroughs? thea;r did have. how connected are these two breakthroughs?— two breakthroughs? they actually work off quite _ two breakthroughs? they actually work off quite a _ two breakthroughs? they actually work off quite a different - two breakthroughs? they actually. work off quite a different platform. it is very similar to the covid vaccine in that we are showing the body an aspect of the pathogen that is not going to cause any disease, so for example, in covid, we used the spike protein in the vaccine. here, we are using a different part of the malaria parasite to show the body part of that pathogen before the person gets infected. {lila body part of that pathogen before the person gets infected. 0k, lisa stockdale from _ the person gets infected. 0k, lisa stockdale from oxford _ the person gets infected. 0k, lisa stockdale from oxford university, | stockdale from oxford university, thank you forjoining us here on bbc breakfast. the uk's biggest chain of motorway service stations says it has started recruiting marshals to break up rows between electric car drivers over limited charging points. ben's here to tell us more. ben, how big a problem is this? well, moto says it has marshals at 3 of its 49 service stations in exeter, rugby, and wetherby, and it fears "charge rage" will keep spreading if nothing is done to improve infrastructure around electric vehicle charging. those working within the industry say a lack of connections to the national power grid means not enough charging points can be installed to keep up with demand. so how many electric cars are there in the uk? as of the end of august 2023, there were around 850,000 fully electric cars on uk roads, and a further 530,000 plug—in hybrids. what about charging points? so far, there are around 25,000 locations in the uk offering just over a8,000 public ev charge points. but there can be a big difference in how many are available depending on where you live, something linda knows all too well. she's had problems powering up her vehicle. i went over to norfolk, and i went to three different chargers before i found one that worked, and as luck would have it, the engineer was there testing it, and he gave me a free top up because i couldn't connect to it at all. the government's target is to install 300,000 public charge points by 2030. but it's the job of local authorities to deliver that. councils can bid for more funding to increase the amount they can offer in their areas. the government says the number of public charge points has increased by 43% since last year, with the industry planning to install hundreds more charge points in the coming months, so hopefully less of a long wait for drivers at plug—in points. i was speaking to a colleague who has an electric charge, and i said, why do you notjust take a charger like you would for your phone? i was enlightened of that actually, that can take 12 hours, and these are super fast charging points, can take 12 hours, and these are superfast charging points, that can take 12 hours, and these are super fast charging points, that is why they need the access to them when you're on a long journey. it is a whole world, i do not have an electric car, but once you are in it, yes, i guess the whole protocol thing is to be decided, isn't it? thank you very much indeed. if you're a culture vulture, you'll know that art galleries can pop up in all sorts of places, from old telephone boxes to disused train carriages or even police stations. well, now there's one in a downstairs toilet in grimsby. it's called "the loovre," and simon spark went to admire its collection. from the outside, this is a building being restored on grimsby docks, and artspace called the great escape used to help people recover from drug and alcohol issues. but when you allow creative freedom, surprising things can happen, in this case in the toilet.— surprising things can happen, in this case in the toilet. welcome to the loovre- _ this case in the toilet. welcome to the loovre. yes, _ this case in the toilet. welcome to the loovre. yes, toilet _ this case in the toilet. welcome to the loovre. yes, toilet and - this case in the toilet. welcome to the loovre. yes, toilet and an i this case in the toilet. welcome to the loovre. yes, toilet and an art| the loovre. yes, toilet and an art sace in the loovre. yes, toilet and an art space in one _ the loovre. yes, toilet and an art space in one created _ the loovre. yes, toilet and an art space in one created by _ the loovre. yes, toilet and an art space in one created by a - the loovre. yes, toilet and an art space in one created by a plaster. we give everyone creative freedom here and john as a plaster came into the toilet and went, i have a vision, can i do something? and i said, as long as the toilet works and anything else, you can do what you like. so this is his exhibition, he has as children's artwork needed up he has as children's artwork needed up here, and this will be changed over quite regularly, i guess you can put sculptures in all kinds of things. this is an old piece of artwork, there was some damage on it, and an artist that some people might be familiar with has done has little bit on it there.— familiar with has done has little bit on it there. �* �*, ., ., bit on it there. and there's another thin. bit on it there. and there's another thing- when _ bit on it there. and there's another thing- when is— bit on it there. and there's another thing. when is a _ bit on it there. and there's another thing. when is a mirror— bit on it there. and there's another thing. when is a mirror not - bit on it there. and there's another thing. when is a mirror notjust i bit on it there. and there's another thing. when is a mirror notjust a l thing. when is a mirror notjust a mirror? you can see here what looks like quite a grandmother. john. mirror? you can see here what looks like quite a grandmother.— like quite a grandmother. john, can ou do the like quite a grandmother. john, can you do the honours, _ like quite a grandmother. john, can you do the honours, please? i like quite a grandmother. john, can you do the honours, please? you . like quite a grandmother. john, can i you do the honours, please? you can see it is a tunnel based on those in the great escape.— see it is a tunnel based on those in the great escape. some would say a toilet break— the great escape. some would say a toilet break is _ the great escape. some would say a toilet break is good _ the great escape. some would say a toilet break is good in _ the great escape. some would say a toilet break is good in itself, - the great escape. some would say a toilet break is good in itself, but i toilet break is good in itself, but this is a great one. i quite like that. it should have beenin i quite like that. it should have been in waterloo. where else can we put art galleries? lots of places. train stations, i don't know, you can put them anywhere. still to come on today's show — after wowing strictly viewers with that tina turner tribute, beverley knight will be rolling into the breakfast studio for a chat about her new album. she'll be on the sofa ataround 8.50. she set a new album is totally different from everything she has done before. at the end of that piece on strictly, she turned and said, that was really fun. and it was. she will enjoy being here this morning. if you have any questions for beverley knight, do get in touch and we will put those to her through the usual ways. also questions in the usual ways. also questions in the next half hour to be prime minister, rishi sunak will be joining us from the tory party conference in manchester, where he was hoping to be stamping his authority on his party and set the agenda for the next year ahead of a general election, but the whole thing as being dominated by hs2 and what his decision might be, whether he will scrap the northern section and also tax, they will contemplate tax cuts, some will put those questions to him this morning. let's see if this is anything specific about hs2, and who probably does not want to until tomorrow, let's wait and see, that is coming up this morning at 7.30. time now to get the news, travel, and weather where you are. hello, i'm asad ahmad. as a murder investigation is launched in edmonton into the 14th fatal teenage stabbing in london this year the mayor of london has written to the home secretary, calling on the government to quickly bring in laws to ban zombie—style knives and machetes. sadiq khan says current proposals have been delayed and the government should close loopholes which will allow for machete—style knives to be carried for legitimate use. he also calls for more to be done to tackle the causes or knife crime with more investment in positive opportunities for young people. we have approached the government for a response. there's been a sharp increase in the number of ultra low emission zone cameras that were vandalised in september. despite police saying they were cracking down on damage and thefts of cameras, the rate has increased to nearly ten incidents per day. a man has been arrested in bexley in connection with one incident, another two men were arrested elsewhere. transport for london say "camera vandalism will not stop ulez from operating london—wide". the boss ofjohn lewis, londoner dame sharon white, is to step down after five years, making her the shortest—serving chair in the partnership's near 100—year history. dame sharon from leyton has told thejohn lewis partnership board she will not seek a second term in 2025. the company reported a loss of over £200 million last year forcing it to scrap the annual staff bonus. her predecessors have served between 13 and 26 years in office. before the travel, a reminder that there is a tube strike planned for tomorrow and friday as part of a dispute overjob losses and conditions. members of the rmt union plan to walk out which will cause major disruption. transport for london says most tube services will not run but the elizabeth line, london overground and the dlr should be running a nearly normal service. let's take a look at the tubes now. london overground london overg round part london overground part suspended because of an incident in west london. now onto the weather with gemma. good morning. it's a cloudy start to the day today, but that cloud will be breaking up, particularly as we go through the course of this afternoon. and there could be a few showers around as well. so this morning, it's starting off on a cloudy note. there could be a few showers moving through as we go through this morning. those could be locally heavy. but by the time we get to this afternoon, a lot of those showers will have moved away. there'll be a lot of dry, fine weather to come, and plenty of sunshine developing as well. it will be a breezy day, and feeling fresher than it was yesterday, with highs of 17 or 18 celsius. through the course of this evening and overnight, there's a lot of dry and clear weather too. those winds will ease a touch and it will be feeling a little bit cooler than it was last night, with lows of around 7 or 8 celsius. as we go through into wednesday, than it was last night, with lows of around 7 or 8 celsius. as we go through into wednesday, it does look like it's going to be a mostly dry day. there could be quite a bit of cloud around, though, particularly as we go through the course of the morning. and then by the time we get to this weekend, it does look like we're going to bring in some much warmer air. those temperatures are really going to pick up, and there'll be a lot of dry and fine weather to come, with plenty of sunshine. good morning, welcome to breakfast withjon kay and sally nugent. our headlines today. pressure on rishi sunak over the future of the hs2 rail line north of birmingham as businesses call for certainty. amid warnings the issue is de—railing the conservative party conference, we'll be speaking to the prime minister live in half an hour. a lightning strike causes a huge explosion at a food waste recycling plant in oxfordshire. people living nearby are told to stay at home. average food prices have fallen from one month to the next for the first time in two years. dairy, fish and veg prices fell from august to september but groceries on average are still more expensive than a year ago keeping household budgets under pressure. tributes paid to one of manchester city's all time greats francis lee who enjoyed great success at the club in the late sixtes and early 70s who has died at the age of 79. we'll meet the workers heading to the antarctic for a season working in some of the remotest parts of the world. good morning. not going to be cold here this weekend, in fact it will be very warm for the time of year. today we are looking at a mixture of bright and sunny spells and some blustery showers, temperatures down just a touch on yesterday. all of the details later. it's tuesday 3rd of october. our main story. pressure is growing on the prime minister to clarify whether he will cancel the planned northern section of the hs2 railway. work on the london to birmingham leg is well under way but government ministers have refused to deny widespread reports that the birmingham to manchester link is being axed. the eastern line from birmingham to leeds was cancelled in 2021. downing street insists no final decision has been taken on the birmingham to manchester line but the issue has dominated the party conference, from where our political correspondent iain watson sent this report. the prime minister wants to make progress in the opinion polls, but there's a danger his party conference gets derailed over the future of hs2. downing street says no final decision has been taken on whether the project will reach manchester. when we caught up with the transport secretary, he took the same line. any clarity at all on hs2? you've heard what number ten said, no decision has been taken. but the uncertainty has given the high speed line supporters a renewed platform, including the conservative mayor of the west midlands. a once in a generation opportunity. you will indeed be damaging our international reputation as a place to invest. and who would have thought that the labour mayor of greater manchester would be something of a star turn at conservative fringe meetings? look at the place. the place is doing so well at the moment. we've just brought in a new public transport system ourselves. investors are flocking here. we're growing faster than the uk economy and you're going to pull the rug on us at this moment? please, prime minister, at least give us a conversation. give us a chance to influence your decision before you make it. the conservative party conference isn'tjust taking place in manchester. it's taking place in a disused railway station in manchester. perhaps not the ideal venue to announce the cancellation or curtailment of a high speed rail link to this very city. but the pressure is growing on rishi sunak to announce a decision. all i can say is there's been a sense of total chaos around today when it comes to hs2 policymaking. i've been to events, i've talked to politicians, i talk to stakeholders, railway industry players, journalists. no—one seems to know what's going on. some people say it's definitely scrapped. there'll be an announcement later in the week about scrapping hs2 phase two and replacing it with other schemes. and others say it's all speculation, nothing's going to happen. so we're obviously very concerned. perhaps unsurprisingly, many voters here in manchester said they'd be disappointed if the project was axed. they spent so much money on it already and i just think to scrap it isjust ridiculous. the h52 thing i've never been fully for anyway, i if i'm honest, because it's like, what are you saving? _ like 20 minutes in the long run? i think it's disgraceful. the whole point of it was to join the north and the south. if you class birmingham as the north, then that's a bit of a problem, right? last night the chancellor, jeremy hunt, said the conservatives would go into the next election telling voters they could make difficult decisions, but he didn't say they'd make them quickly. iain watson, bbc news, manchester. in a moment we'll speak to our chief political correspondent henry zeffman at the conservative party conference. first let's go to our reporter peter ruddick, at manchester piccadilly station. peter, enough of the politicians, what are the passengers have to say about the potential loss of hs2? from train strike to delays, cancellations, passengers here are fairly used to uncertainty these days so there has been in recent days so there has been in recent days a palpable sense of a lack of surprise around these reports. there are people you talk to who would welcome the cancellation of hs2, there are concerns about the cost, about delays to the project. and questions about the purported benefits of the scheme. it does now seem increasingly likely... peter havinu seem increasingly likely... peter havin: a seem increasingly likely... peter having a little — seem increasingly likely... peter having a little bit _ seem increasingly likely. .. peter having a little bit of— seem increasingly likely... peter having a little bit of unwanted i having a little bit of unwanted attention there! let's move on for a moment. we are going to go to our chief political correspondent. hope it is a little quieter where you are! downing street there is no decision taken on hs2, but some newspapers seem to think that cancellation is just a formality. what is really going on? i just a formality. what is really auoin on? ~ just a formality. what is really going on?— just a formality. what is really auoin on? ~ ., ., ., going on? i think we are almost into philosophical— going on? i think we are almost into philosophical questions _ going on? i think we are almost into philosophical questions about i going on? i think we are almost into philosophical questions about what l going on? i think we are almost into | philosophical questions about what a decision is and what a decision isn't. the conservative party basically lost control of its own conference yesterday. you had people likejeremy hunt, the chancellor, kemi badenoch the business secretary, gillian keegan the education secretary, speaking on the wall behind me but anybody i bumped into only wanted to talk about hs2. the government is adamant that no final decision has been made, but it is pretty clear via leaks and briefings, via what rishi sunak has taken to calling speculation, that that leg from birmingham to manchester is not going to happen. at the very least it's going to be delayed significantly beyond its already quite long timetable. there is also a bit of a question about the weather in london it will run to old oak common in west london or euston in central london. i think we might get an answer from rishi sunak shortly with his interview with you on what he will offer instead. there will be talk of connecting the great cities of the north from east to west, and the question now is whether that is enough to satisfy some of the complaints that you heard in the packagejust some of the complaints that you heard in the package just now. thank heard in the package 'ust now. thank ou ve heard in the package 'ust now. thank you very much. — heard in the package just now. thank you very much, henry. _ heard in the package just now. thank you very much, henry. i _ heard in the package just now. thank you very much, henry. i hope - heard in the package just now. thank you very much, henry. i hope we i heard in the package just now. thank you very much, henry. i hope we will get some kind of answer to those questions in the next half hour here on the programme when we took to the prime minister. but now more of the news withjon. a huge fireball lit up the sky over oxford last night after lightning struck gas containers at a food—waste recycling plant. there were no reported casualties but roads in the area were closed as emergency crews worked through the night to control the fire. our reporter vincent mcaviney has the details. there's a fire. oh, my god. lightning just struck that. just after 7pm last night, a fireball lighting up the sky north of oxford. eyewitnesses for miles around stared on in disbelief. oh, my god. that is flipping massive. we heard like a bang or something. and when i went to the balcony, i saw this huge fireball. and it went like that for almost a minute. yeah, it felt like it was like, like some sort of gas or something. like, i don't know, we were a bit scared. the explosion was caused when a lightning strike hit a biogas storage tank at the severn trent green power plant at cassington. six fire engines, a0 firefighters, police and at least four ambulances attended the scene. firefighters used a drone to help them battle the blaze. for a time, the nearby alt0 had to be closed between wolvercote and eynsham. several nearby villages also reported power outages, too. the company, which recycles food waste into biogas, said it was now working with the emergency services to secure the site. in a statement, thames valley police advised people living nearby to stay home, shut windows and doors and keep away from the scene. but despite the force of the explosion, both police and the company said they believed nobody had been hurt. vincent mcaviney, bbc news. the fashion chain abercrombie and fitch says it's hired an outside law firm to investigate claims surrounding its former boss. a bbc investigation has uncovered allegations that mike jeffries exploited young adult men for sex at events he hosted in his new york homes and hotels around the world, including in london and paris. he has not responded to the claims. doctors will protest for better pay and conditions outside the conservative party conference in manchester this morning on the second day of the strike byjunior doctors and consultants. the chair of the british medical association told breakfast earlier that he has written to the prime minister offering to enter negotiations, with acas facilitating these talks " if necessa ry". a 17—year—old boy who's charged with murdering the schoolgirl elianne andam in south london last week is due to appear before the old bailey. elianne, who was 15, was fatally stabbed at a bus—stop in croydon while making her way to school on wednesday morning. fierce competition between supermarkets has led to the first monthly drop in food prices for more than two years, an industry body has said. ben can tell us more. ben, what should we read into these figures? treat these figures with caution. fierce competition between supermarkets has led to the first monthly drop in food prices for more than two years. the important word there is monthly drop — that means on average, prices came down in september compared with august. not by much — down just 0.1% — but it does represent a move in the right direction. the british retail consortium said prices of dairy goods, margarine, fish and vegetables, which are often own—brand lines, all saw fell in september compared with the month before. and it is an average, so some things will not have fallen, some things may even have gone up in price. and importantly while the average price of food fell from one month to the next, food prices are still significantly higher than a year ago. in september food prices were 9.9% higher than in september last year. and that's down from a rate of 11.5% in august. prices still rising compared with a year ago but not as quickly as they were. the flying scotsman is to undergo a full mechanical inspection the steam engine which is celebrating its centenary year collided with a train at aviemore railway station in the highlands on friday. two people were treated in hospital as a precaution and the rail accident investigation branch is looking into it. when the star wars droid c—3po was helping the rebel alliance stand up to the empire, there would have been a hefty price on his head. well, now there is again! because the costume head worn by the actor anthony daniels is up for auction next month, and its expected to fetch between £500,000 and £1 million. other items going under the hammer include forrest gump's running shoes and a bullwhip used by indiana jones in the temple of doom. did i say forrest gump? he is very -- did i did i say forrest gump? he is very -- did i say _ did i say forrest gump? he is very -- did i say grump? _ did i say forrest gump? he is very -- did i say grump? people i did i say forrest gump? he is very -- did i say grump? people will i did i say forrest gump? he is veryl -- did i say grump? people will pay —— did i say grump? people will pay a lot of money for that. thea;r -- did i say grump? people will pay a lot of money for that.— a lot of money for that. they are all auoin a lot of money for that. they are all going for _ a lot of money for that. they are all going for auction, _ a lot of money for that. they are all going for auction, the - a lot of money for that. they are all going for auction, the c-3p0| all going for auction, the c—3po head, brilliant. is all going for auction, the c-3p0 head, brilliant.— head, brilliant. is that what you would choose? _ head, brilliant. is that what you would choose? not _ head, brilliant. is that what you would choose? not for- head, brilliant. is that what you would choose? not for half- head, brilliant. is that what you would choose? not for half a i head, brilliant. is that what you i would choose? not for half a million uuid! but would choose? not for half a million quid! ltut pretty _ would choose? not for half a million quid! but pretty special _ would choose? not for half a million quid! but pretty special bits - would choose? not for half a million quid! but pretty special bits of- quid! but pretty special bits of memorabilia. carol is talking about how it might be a warmer. yes, this weekend temperatures could be between 21 and 26. it is unusual, not record—breaking, a quick blast of summer but it will not last. todayit of summer but it will not last. today it will feel fresher than it did yesterday. a mixture of sunny spells, blustery showers, and at times we will see areas of cloud meaning it will be bright rather than sunny. we start this morning with the dregs of a weather front in the east, moving away, showers developing behind it. to the north and west, quite a few showers around at the moment and they will continue through the day. a scattering of showers in south—west england, murky to start the day in the south—east, as we come north we have got showers pushing eastward as well. not everywhere catching a shower. showers in ireland, frequently across the north and west of scotland. you will notice it is blustery wherever you are. high pressure will kill the showers in the south in the afternoon but we will have some in the western areas, 13 to 19 degrees temperatures north to south. this evening and overnight we will hang onto again some of these showers but by the end of the night, heavier rain will be coming in across the north of northern ireland, and parts of central and southern scotland. this is going to turn heavy. not a particularly cold night with overnight lows between eight and 10 degrees. as we go through tomorrow, we hang the rain across the north of northern ireland scotland. we are going to see a lot of rain in the next few days across the north and west of scotland, showers behind it but remaining dry as we push further south. school children across the uk will get a particularly memorable history lesson today when they hear from military veterans who experienced the first british testing of a nuclear weapon. the test took place exactly 71 years ago but campaigners say the ill effects of that blast, and those that followed, are still being felt today. tim muffett has the details. there was this inferno. like a boiling cauldron, the great fireball rose into the air. deep, deep black smoke all folding in on each other. that was frightening. describing the almost indescribable. the first thing you see is a flash. and you see the bones of your fingers. john foulkes didn'tjust witness nuclear test explosions carried out by the uk, he had to fly towards them. our mission was to take cloud samples from the mushroom at 18,000 feet. the samplesjohn and his colleagues collected were used to help develop and maintain the uk's nuclear deterrent. we did what we thought was the right thing for our country. even when we got there and we knew the dangers, we didn't shy away. more than 20,000 british personnel took part in nuclear tests in australia and the south pacific in the 1950s and �*60s. following the explosion... along with other test veterans, john wants young people to hear what happened first—hand. my hands blistered and my chest... so he's come to stjohn's catholic comprehensive school in gravesend as part of the remember together nuclear test veterans project. have you ever felt like you wanted to quit or stop what you were doing? frequently. i didn't want to be a coward. that's why i did it. how do you feel about the way you and other veterans have been treated? we were betrayed. that hidden enemy, that radiation, which we couldn't see or hear or touch, we weren't to know at that time but we were going to take that home with us and pass it on to our families. which many did much to the cost of their lives. so i'm fortunate, i'm a survivor, why i don't know. many veterans, including john, believed the tests ruined lives by causing cancers, fertility problems and birth defects. some veterans also believe that medical information has been withheld by the ministry of defence. last month, campaigners said they would relaunch a legal battle for compensation. the ministry of defence has repeatedly said that large studies have found no link between the tests and ill health and it insists no information is withheld from veterans. it says that any medical records taken before, during or after participation in the nuclear tests can be accessed on request. we were only about, say, five or six miles away from the atomic bomb. as part of the remember together project, short films have been made in which test veterans meet students. myjob was to pick up all the radioactive debris which was scattered around. why is it important to share your story now? for the youngsters to know all about it and everybody else that don't know about it. it means a lot to me. it gives a new shade of humanity to something where it's something you know exists, but unless you have someone in your own family who has been there, it's more, it's almostjust reading from a text book. it'sjust crazy what they experienced. | they didn't have much protective gear at all. | no—one in our generation really talks about that. and i think it's important for us to know. that little dot there was the aircraft i was in. today, schools across the uk will meet test veterans virtually. clydebank high school is getting a preview of what will happen. it was like somebody putting an island within inches of your plane. did you know what the nuclear test programme was about? i only had the vaguest of information. it's really shocking to hear all the things that happened. i was really surprised cos we don't really learn about it _ at all and i've never really heard about it before. _ thank you so much for listening. thank you. there was a genuine thirst for information. i found that rewarding. and if they can learn from the conditions we had to go through, it's been worthwhile. that was tim muffett reporting. that is a preview of what kids are going to be experiencing, a live lesson today, maybe you are watching today and you're going off and you will be given that history lesson this morning. we're joined now by alan owen, whose dad james took part in nuclear tests in the 1960s, while serving in the royal navy. alan is the founder of labrats, which represents people affected by the nuclear testing programme. good morning, thank you for coming in. what does it mean to you to have this moment to tell your story into classrooms across the country today? it's absolutely fantastic, to have this project that the children have interviewed the veterans, and the veterans' interviewed the veterans, and the vetera ns' stories interviewed the veterans, and the veterans' stories are getting into the classroom. it's been a hard task to get it to them. because it's not taught on the curriculum at present, and it needs to be... itjust needs to be their story, that's the key thing. it's listening to their voice, and their story. once you hear their story, you are gripped by their story and how it works. and what they went through. and that's the key thing for us, to get it in front of all of these schoolchildren is fantastic because they can go off and do their own research, and the teachers get involved and it's just brilliant, absolutely brilliant. what impact did those nuclear tests have on your family? my father was at operation dominic, which was a joint us uk test in 1962. he at operation dominic, which was a joint us uk test in 1962.— at operation dominic, which was a joint us uk test in 1962. he saw 22 --24 joint us uk test in 1962. he saw 22 -- 24 detonations _ joint us uk test in 1962. he saw 22 -- 24 detonations in _ joint us uk test in 1962. he saw 22 -- 24 detonations in 72 _ joint us uk test in 1962. he saw 22 -- 24 detonations in 72 days i joint us uk test in 1962. he saw 22 -- 24 detonations in 72 days on i —— 24 detonations in 72 days on christmas island in the pacific. he died aged 52 from a massive heart attack, my brother died aged 31 from attack, my brother died aged 31 from a massive heart attack. my sister was born blind in her left eye which we have no explanation. i thought i was the lucky one until last year, the 3rd of april i suffered a cardiac arrest. i was dying for eight minutes but luckily i am here to tell the story. it had a massive impact on ourfamily, it has been the thread throughout, my mother never recovered from my brother and father dying so long close together. it's just one story of thousands of stories. we continue to get awareness out there. our families are suffering and still suffering today. one of the things we have been working hard on is the legal case which we will talk about but there is a thread running through all of the nuclear test veterans and all of the nuclear test veterans and all of the nuclear test veterans and all of their families, all of the nuclear test veterans and all of theirfamilies, everyone all of their families, everyone tells all of theirfamilies, everyone tells the same story. so all of their families, everyone tells the same story.- all of their families, everyone tells the same story. so sorry about what ou tells the same story. so sorry about what you and _ tells the same story. so sorry about what you and your _ tells the same story. so sorry about what you and your family _ tells the same story. so sorry about what you and your family have i tells the same story. so sorry about what you and your family have gone j what you and your family have gone through and your own health scares, it's good to have you here with the us in the studio. you don't know for sure that the heart issues within your family and the other medical problems date back to the testing, do you? problems date back to the testing, do ou? .,. , problems date back to the testing, do ou? .. , ., problems date back to the testing, do ou? , ., . problems date back to the testing, do ou? ,y .,., do you? exactly that. we believe, there is a psychological— do you? exactly that. we believe, there is a psychological aspect i do you? exactly that. we believe, there is a psychological aspect as| there is a psychological aspect as well, we believe that it is. and unfortunately the ministry of defence will not release my father's medical records to me, even though i have got hypertrophic cardiomyopathy which is a genetic condition, i know they hold those records but they refused to give them to me. it could help my son who is 17 years old. there could be something in there or not, but not knowing, and their refusal to give them to us, causes this issue. to refusal to give them to us, causes this issue. ., , . ., refusal to give them to us, causes this issue-— this issue. to be clear you say if ou had this issue. to be clear you say if you had access _ this issue. to be clear you say if you had access to _ this issue. to be clear you say if you had access to your - this issue. to be clear you say if you had access to your dad's i this issue. to be clear you say if i you had access to your dad's blood records going back to the 60s when he was going to these tests, that could hold some kind of genetic information which could explain his fatal heart attack, your heart situation?— fatal heart attack, your heart situation? .,. , situation? exactly, it might, it miaht situation? exactly, it might, it might not- _ situation? exactly, it might, it might not. but _ situation? exactly, it might, it might not. but when - situation? exactly, it might, it might not. but when you i situation? exactly, it might, it might not. but when you are l situation? exactly, it might, it- might not. but when you are refused access to them, i asked for my mothers records from the nhs and they gave them to me straightaway at full, but there may be say, you don't meet the requirements to get medical records. —— but the navy say that we don't meet the requirements. we have got a fundraiser on our labrats website where you can see all about it, i'm not alone, there are a lot of veterans, john talked about it in the vt, access to their medical records is being denied. taste medical records is being denied. we have a response from military of defence, —— ministry of defence, i know you know what they are going to say. they say we are grateful to all people who participated in the testing programme. no information is withheld from veterans and any medical records before, during or after the participation tests are held in individual records in the government archives which can be accessed on request. i government archives which can be accessed on request.— accessed on request. i requested them, i accessed on request. i requested them. i was _ accessed on request. i requested them, i was denied _ accessed on request. i requested them, i was denied access i accessed on request. i requested them, i was denied access to i accessed on request. i requested i them, i was denied access to them. were you given an explanation? i were you given an explanation? i didn't meet the statutory requirements, even though i provided everything that would help me and my family and my son, potentially, with this condition, they still denied access to me. so this condition, they still denied access to me.— access to me. so it sounds like there is a _ access to me. so it sounds like there is a big _ access to me. so it sounds like there is a big difference - access to me. so it sounds like there is a big difference here i there is a big difference here between them and you and how this goes forward. i guess that explains why you are taking their legal action. in the meantime the government announced medals will be awarded to those who took part which means you will get a posthumous medal for your father.— means you will get a posthumous medal for your father. that's right, m self medal for your father. that's right, myself and — medal for your father. that's right, myself and my _ medal for your father. that's right, myself and my sister _ medal for your father. that's right, myself and my sister will _ medal for your father. that's right, myself and my sister will get i medal for your father. that's right, myself and my sister will get a i myself and my sister will get a medal for myself and my sister will get a medalfor him. and the medals have been distributed by the post, unfortunately we wanted a ceremony for the first cohort and we knew that we couldn't get it to the first 1700 that have applied, but we wanted a ceremony because we felt that it was a little bit disrespectfuljust that it was a little bit disrespectful just to get a that it was a little bit disrespectfuljust to get a medal pushed through the letterbox. they are getting them, it was a long fight, the daily mirror also had a campaign to get that, we met keir starmer and borisjohnson and andy burnham, and we had lots of support, steve rotherham and other people. borisjohnson, love him or hate him, got it over the line. he listened to us and that is the key thing. when you listen to these veterans, get in front of them and talk to them, what they went through, a lot of them were a national service so they were forced to go through it, it's so important and that's where the education piece is so good. veterans are starting to wear their medals now, and hopefully add remembrance, all of the veterans marching, 50 of them, will have their medals, which is great. them, will have their medals, which is areat. ., , y them, will have their medals, which is areat. .,, y y ., ., is great. hopefully you will have ours is great. hopefully you will have yours soon- _ is great. hopefully you will have yours soon. yes, _ is great. hopefully you will have yours soon. yes, hopefully i is great. hopefully you will have yours soon. yes, hopefully they| is great. hopefully you will have i yours soon. yes, hopefully they will come in the — yours soon. yes, hopefully they will come in the post. _ if you're a teacher and would like your school to take part in the remember together nuclear test veterans project, you can still sign up. details are on bbc breakfast�*s social media pages. time now to get the news, travel and weather where you are. hello, i'm asad ahmad. as a murder investigation is launched in edmonton, into the 14th fatal teenage stabbing in london this year, the mayor of london has written to the home secretary, calling on the government to quickly bring in laws to ban zombie—style knives and machetes. sadiq khan says current proposals have been delayed, and the government should close loopholes which will allow for machete—style knives to be carried for "legitimate use." he also calls for more to be done to tackle the causes or knife crime, with more investment in positive opportunities for young people. we have approached the government for a response. ——the causes of knife crime there's been a sharp increase in the number of ultra low emission zone cameras that were vandalised in september. despite police saying they were cracking down on damage and thefts of cameras, the rate has increased to nearly ten incidents per day. a man has been arrested in bexley in connection with one incident. another two men were arrested elsewhere. transport for london say "camera vandalism will not stop ulez from operating london—wide." the boss ofjohn lewis — londoner dame sharon white — is to step down after five years, making her the shortest—serving chair in the partnership's near 100—year history. dame sharon, from leyton, has told thejohn lewis partnership board she will not seek a second term in 2025. the company reported a loss of over £200 million last year, forcing it to scrap the annual staff bonus. her predecessors have served between 13 and 26 years in office. before the travel, a reminder that there is a tube strike planned for tomorrow and friday, as part of a dispute overjob losses and conditions. members of the rmt union plan to walk out, which will cause major disruption. transport for london say most tube services will not run, but the elizabeth line, london overground, and the dlr should be running a nearly normal service. let's take a look at the tubes now. there's a good service on the tubes this morning, apart from the overground, which is part suspended. now onto the weather with gemma. good morning. it's a cloudy start to the day today, but that cloud will be breaking up, particularly as we go through the course of this afternoon. and there could be a few showers around as well. so this morning, it's starting off on a cloudy note. there could be a few showers moving through as we go through this morning. those could be locally heavy. but by the time we get to this afternoon, a lot of those showers will have moved away. there'll be a lot of dry, fine weather to come, and plenty of sunshine developing as well. it will be a breezy day, and feeling fresher than it was yesterday, with highs of 17 or 18 celsius. through the course of this evening and overnight, there's a lot of dry and clear weather to come. those winds will ease a touch and it will be feeling a little bit cooler than it was last night, with lows of around 7 or 8 celsius. as we go through into wednesday, it does look like it's going to be a mostly dry day. there could be quite a bit of cloud around, though, particularly as we go through the course of the morning. and then by the time we get to this weekend, it does look like we're going to bring in some much warmer air. those temperatures are really going to pick up, and there'll be a lot of dry and fine weather to come, with plenty of sunshine. that's it from me for now. i'll be back with our next update in around half an hour's time. until then, goodbye. hello, this is breakfast withjon kay and sally nugent. our main story today is the ongoing uncertainty over the future of the birmingham to manchester leg of the hs2 railway line, as government ministers refuse to deny rumours it's being axed. one person who can end that uncertainty is the prime minister rishi sunak, who joins us now from his party conference in manchester. good morning, this is yourfirst live breakfast tv interview since becoming prime minister. you have made it to manchester. we'll hs2 do the same? ,., ., ., ., ., ., the same? good morning, sallow, good mornin: , the same? good morning, sallow, good morning. jon. — the same? good morning, sallow, good morning, jon, thank— the same? good morning, sallow, good morning, jon, thank you _ the same? good morning, sallow, good morning, jon, thank you for _ the same? good morning, sallow, good morning, jon, thank you for having i morning, jon, thank you for having me. it is great to be in manchester at our conference, i know there's a lot of speculation on hs2, i take a look at the facts, i take my time to get the decision right in the heart of the country, whatever it might be, that is what i will do with this as i do with everything else. as you saw that my recent decision on net zero, when i make it decision that i think is important, of course i explain that to everyone, explain why i am doing what i am doing, i thought was to direction there. if that happens and is necessary, of course that is what i will do. iltiui’hat course that is what i will do. what are people — course that is what i will do. what are people watching _ course that is what i will do. what are people watching this - course that is what i will do. what are people watching this programme really like is when politicians answer questions. i'm going to ask you a very specific question. yesterday the conservative mayor andy street said, you must not give up andy street said, you must not give up on hs2. have you given up? absolutely not. we have space on the ground on hs2, but it is not the only thing we are doing to help spread opportunity and level up around the country. on sunday we announce that we would back 55 towns across the country with £1 billion in long—term funding, putting local people in charge so they can focus on their priorities like better high streets, community, properties that they want to protect, and better security in their areas, that is again an example of a long—term decision we are taking. you have to remember that far more people live in towns than in cities, i wanted to correct that, make sure people have the funding to make sure they can make the change that they want to see. ., , make the change that they want to see, ., , ., . , make the change that they want to see. .,. ,,., ., see. people watching this programme reall like it see. people watching this programme really like it when _ see. people watching this programme really like it when politicians - really like it when politicians answer questions. what is the situation with hs2 coming all the way to manchester? i situation with hs2 coming all the way to manchester?— situation with hs2 coming all the way to manchester? i know you want to keep asking. _ way to manchester? i know you want to keep asking, another _ way to manchester? i know you want to keep asking, another slot - way to manchester? i know you want to keep asking, another slot of i to keep asking, another slot of speculation, but i am not going to be forced into a premature decision because it is good for somebody�*s tv programme. this is an enormous amount of people's money, taxpayers' money, everybody watching, billions of pounds, people expect me to take the time and go of it properly and make the red long—term decision for the country. i think that is what politicians should be doing and what the country wants to see, people who make the right long—term decision, do not chase the headliner and that is what i did with net zero, i took the time to look at the facts, see what was happening, and then either side of the approach in place was not right, it would cost lots of your viewers thousands of pounds to meet targets, i didn't think that approach is right, set out the change, and lots of questions on why, and i got a lot of chances and for that decision. it'll save viewers thousands of pounds. taste for that decision. it'll save viewers thousands of pounds. we are ve short viewers thousands of pounds. we are very short of — viewers thousands of pounds. we are very short of time, _ viewers thousands of pounds. we are very short of time, and _ viewers thousands of pounds. we are very short of time, and i _ viewers thousands of pounds. we are very short of time, and i know- viewers thousands of pounds. we are very short of time, and i know what l very short of time, and i know what you're trying to do, we are trying to talk about decision making. whatever decision you have made on hsz, whatever decision you have made on hs2, whatever day that is going to come, i am sure you know what is going to happen, but the conversation around that has dominated this party conference, it has been a huge distraction, whatever decision you're going to make, you have to admit handling of this decision has been poor —— the handling of this announcement. ida. handling of this announcement. no, i don't think that. — handling of this announcement. no, i don't think that. you _ handling of this announcement. no, i don't think that. you think _ handling of this announcement. no, i don't think that. you think it - handling of this announcement. no, i don't think that. you think it has i don't think that. you think it has one don't think that. you think it has gone well? _ don't think that. you think it has gone well? yeah, _ don't think that. you think it has gone well? yeah, i _ don't think that. you think it has gone well? yeah, i really - don't think that. you think it has gone well? yeah, i really do. i gone well? yeah, i really do. reall ? gone well? yeah, i really do. really? the _ gone well? yeah, i really do. really? the first _ gone well? yeah, i really do. really? the first day - gone well? yeah, i really do. really? the first day i - gone well? yeah, i really do. really? the first day i was i gone well? yeah, i really do. i really? the first day i was here, i announced _ really? the first day i was here, i announced a _ really? the first day i was here, i announced a new _ really? the first day i was here, i announced a new plan _ really? the first day i was here, i announced a new plan for - really? the first day i was here, i i announced a new plan for motorists, i want to end this war on motorists are no more blank at 20 mph zones, we have cut fuel duty last year, then we announced our £1 billion to back 55 towns across the country, more people live in towns, putting local people in charge of that money... i local people in charge of that money- - -_ local people in charge of that money... local people in charge of that mone... ., ., ., ., money... i really do not want to interrupted... _ money... i really do not want to interrupted... just _ money... i really do not want to interrupted... just today, - money... i really do not want to l interrupted... just today, because ou asked interrupted... just today, because you asked me _ interrupted... just today, because you asked me how _ interrupted... just today, because you asked me how the _ interrupted... just today, because you asked me how the conference| interrupted... just today, because l you asked me how the conference is going... i you asked me how the conference is auoin . .. �* you asked me how the conference is anoin... �* going... i didn't, i asked about the announcement. _ going... i didn't, i asked about the announcement. people _ going... i didn't, i asked about the announcement. people build - going... i didn't, i asked about the announcement. people build a - going... i didn't, i asked about the - announcement. people build a member that awful crime _ announcement. people build a member that awful crime and _ announcement. people build a member that awful crime and we _ announcement. people build a member that awful crime and we are _ announcement. people build a member that awful crime and we are going - announcement. people build a member that awful crime and we are going to i that awful crime and we are going to change that. we that awful crime and we are going to change that-— change that. we are going to talk about jane's _ change that. we are going to talk about jane's law _ change that. we are going to talk about jane's law in _ change that. we are going to talk about jane's law in just _ change that. we are going to talk about jane's law in just a - change that. we are going to talk. about jane's law in just a moment. aboutjane's law in just a moment. it is a vital announcement, we're going to talk to you about it in just a moment, but i want to tell you this, what andy burnham, the could be of greater manchester, said. talking about hs2, these things will have massive implications for people in the north for the rest of the century. people in the north have a significant impact on whether your party got into power at the last general election, how are you going to make people in the north trust you if that railway line it doesn't come to the north, and the great cities of the north, and the great cities of the north are then not linked? i am a northern — the north are then not linked? i am a northern mp. _ the north are then not linked? i am a northern mp, when _ the north are then not linked? i am a northern mp, when i _ the north are then not linked? i —n a northern mp, when i am lucky enough to go home from london, gets to go home to north yorkshire. as chancellor, i created three ports across the north which are now attracting billions of pounds of investment and jobs. i put the treasury, the most powerful part of government, in darlington, that is my commitment to the north. as justice sunday, we announced £1 billion of long—term funding including for dozens of towns across the north and the midlands. they are going to get £20 million each. local people will be put in control of that money, they will figure out how to best help their community, whether that is the high street or improving safety or storing civic buildings, that is an example of us backing people in the midlands and the north, and when it comes to families across the midlands and the north, i want to make sure i save them money, that is why it took a new change of approach on net zero. 0k, as you have explained, but prime minister, when you took over last year, you told us the end of chaos, you are going to be in control, it was all going to be calm and managed properly. but a lot of your mps feel you have lost control over hs2, you might want to talk about crime and justice today but all anybody of the conference was talking about is the fact you have not announced a decision on hs2, and they would say this is a distraction, even ms, of your own making. i this is a distraction, even ms, of your own making.— your own making. i can tell you because i _ your own making. i can tell you because i am — your own making. i can tell you because i am at _ your own making. i can tell you because i am at the _ your own making. i can tell you | because i am at the conference, talking to all my mps and everyone else, that is not what they're talking about. they are talking about an approach to net zero, which is suing their constituents thousands of pounds, an example of me making a long—term decision for the country, even when it is not easy and i'm getting criticism, but because i believe it is the right thing to do for families. they are talking about our backing of 55 towns across the country, to help them change the destination of what is happening around them. they're talking about what we are doing on a jade's law, these are the things you talk about, you talk about bringing calm, you're right, it was not easy when i got thisjob, but i'm pleased to have made progress since then, easing the burden on the cost of living, still the most important thing that families face... qm. living, still the most important thing that families face... ok, but strikes continue, _ thing that families face... ok, but strikes continue, don't _ thing that families face... ok, but strikes continue, don't they? - thing that families face... ok, but strikes continue, don't they? in i thing that families face... ok, but l strikes continue, don't they? in the nhs today, across england, and we have had the bma on our programme this morning so we have written to you last night, they want to sit down with your stop talking about how to unlock this industrial action. are you prepared to sit down with the bma? -- action. are you prepared to sit down with the bma? —— saying they have written to you. fii with the bma? -- saying they have written to you-— written to you. of course, but weeks after i became _ written to you. of course, but weeks after i became prime _ written to you. of course, but weeks after i became prime minister, - written to you. of course, but weeks afteri became prime minister, 1. after i became prime minister, i announced record funding for the nhs. i come from an nhs family, of course i care about it. when you have the bma on your programme, i hope you asked them, why is it that the government has fully accepted the government has fully accepted the recommendations of an independent body, not me, an independent body, not me, an independent body, not me, an independent body who said that doctors should get in them percent pay rise, more than nurses and hospital porters, more than anyone else in the public sector, and they refused? so why is it that that is ok for them whenever a nose in the public sector has accepted the recommendations of an independent body and got on with it, and defying the government has put record funding into the nhs? that is the question of. we has behaved entirely correctly, reasonably. icare question of. we has behaved entirely correctly, reasonably. i care about the nhs, so much so that i have built the first one is workforce plan so we now have more doctors, nurses. those who don't have enough. nobody has done that before. i didn't because i want anything the country. it didn't because i want anything the count . .~ , didn't because i want anything the count . ., ~ , ' didn't because i want anything the count. fl _,, ., . country. it takes 14 years to train a doctor, country. it takes 14 years to train a doctor. but _ country. it takes 14 years to train a doctor, but i'm _ country. it takes 14 years to train a doctor, but i'm putting - country. it takes 14 years to train a doctor, but i'm putting money| country. it takes 14 years to train l a doctor, but i'm putting money in it now so that our children will benefit from a stronger nhs. he also pledged to reduce waiting times, they continue to go up every month, don't they? for they continue to go up every month, don't the ? ., ., ., they continue to go up every month, don't they?— don't they? for of town here, but thank you — don't they? for of town here, but thank you for— don't they? for of town here, but thank you for your _ don't they? for of town here, but thank you for your time _ don't they? for of town here, but thank you for your time on - don't they? for of town here, but thank you for your time on bbc i don't they? for of town here, but i thank you for your time on bbc this morning. waiting times, when i first became famous there, things were not good enough in our nhs, but because of the money we have put in, we have put them right down on i was waiting times. we are making progress, i will keep at it, but at it, but it makes things harder with industrial action. we have that of a medical to the bma, and as i said, in 9% pay rise, more than anything else in the public sector, the question for them is why are they not coming to us? prime minister, thank you very much indeed. the speeds and despondent at the conference and try to unpack some of that. it sounds like they are not going to get any big decision on hs2 today, by the sounds of it, increasing speculation. maybe tomorrow, his big speeches tomorrow. this is set in the last party conference season for —— before the general election. nicky campbell is finding out how supporters of all the main westminster parties are feeling. this morning it's the turn of the conservatives. if you're a party member, a loyal voter or a lapsed voter, you can join the conversation, on bbc two, bbc news, 5 live and bbc sounds from 9.00. sport now, and today we're remembering manchester city great francis lee. yes, he was one of the original city superstars, helping the team to huge success in the late �*60s and �*70s. they won a league title, and an fa and league cup, thanks to his goals. he laterjoined derby county and play for england 27 times. ben croucher reflects on his career. summerbee. lee! 6-1! a player woven into the fabric of football in the north—west, a striker whose goals tell you not the full story about a man who embodied the passion of manchester city. having moved to maine road from his boyhood side, bolton, for a then club record £60,000 in 1967, francis lee, or franny, quickly became an integral part of the team that won the division 1 title a year later. more silverware would follow as his partnership with mike summerbee and colin bell transformed city's fortunes in the late �*60s and early �*70s. lee, to bell, to sumerbee! what a goal! he amassed 148 goals in 330 games, was city's top scorer five years in a row, and scored ten times for england, as well as appearing at the 1970 world cup. lethal from the penalty spot, his combative, bullish style won many admirers, but also riled opposition players, leading to one of the most infamous incidents in english football with norman hunter. but it was his goals that will revere him most to fans. interesting. very interesting! 0h! look at his face! just look at his face! that goal against his old side helped derby county win the league in his first season with the club, and after retiring in 1976, lee became a successful businessman. though a spell as manchester city chairman in the �*90s was ultimately unsuccessful, his standing amongst city's greats will never be in question. they described him as a club legend in every sense. talking of city stars, the now burnley manager and former city player vincent kompany is one of those. he said "i had the honour of meeting him on more than a few occassions and will cherish these moments." another former city player paul dickov described lee as a "proper football man with a great sense of humour," saying lee was the main reason he signed for city. "rip mrchairman." former boxer and city fan ricky hatton said, "never did a man love our club more than this man. he was a blue through and through, a genuine manchester treasure." there was a much—needed win for chelsea and their manager mauricio pochettino last night, their first in the league since august. despite the money spent, the results haven't come. mikhalo mudryk, signed for £89 million, grabbed theirfirst here, his first in a chelsea shirt. and then a minute later, armando broja doubled chelsea's lead. both players went off later, though, as chelsea's injury list mounts. billionaire sirjim ratcliffe's ineos group is considering whether to offer to buy a minority stake in manchester united. he's been involved in talks to buy the club ever since the current owners, the glazers, announced back in november they were considering a sale, but the process has since stalled. if ratcliffe was succesful in buying a minority stake, the move would allow the glazer family to retain a significant shareholding in united. and to mark newcastle united's first home game in the champions league for 20 years tomorrow night, there was an impressive drone show, before it came an equally impressive fly through the famous st james park stadium, which looks like something more akin to a compuetr game. but then the magpie, the club's mascot, and then the arrangement of the club's shirts, with names on the back, high above the stadium. ahead of the arrival of paris saint—germain there tomorrow night. incredible! that is all done with drones? yes. imaginatio if they win? —— imagine the show if they win. john, thank you very much. here's carol with a look at the weather. hello. turning much warmer than it has done, but today, it'll be a little bit fresher than yesterday, a as and also some plastic showers. we have the dregs of yesterday? what the front away, that just about 1400 lightning strikes, in big weather front and southwards, and also a breezy day in prospect. this is the thing thatjust breezy day in prospect. this is the thing that just thunderstorms breezy day in prospect. this is the thing thatjust thunderstorms can add a lot of showers now coming on across the north and also the west of the country. he a front for, taking the cloud and recognitions with it, a water is slots, but a fair few across the north and west, some of those heavy, and it'll be a day, noticeably so wherever you are. west or north—west, feeling a little cooler than yesterday. temperatures today, 13 and the north overnight, many of the showers will fade, high pressure starting to build in southern areas, but by the end of in heavy rain coming across northern parts of northern ireland, and also parts of northern ireland, and also parts of northern ireland, and also parts of scotland. this will be a feature of the weather for the next few days, see this rainfall total. overnight lows eight to about 12 celsius. heading on into tomorrow, ourfirst event goes celsius. heading on into tomorrow, our first event goes through, and have this next one, the sun will take its time and produce more rain in areas where we are going to see the rainfall injune because of today. so here we go, here's the event across us. that, in return to some showers, head of at some had a few showers, but it wasn't across england and wales, just 12 to about 19 celsius. then they carry on into thursday, more rain comes in across northern ireland and scotland, some showers across parts of west wales, a bit more profitable because of the day as well, high pressure still hanging on. temperatures very similar 12 to hanging on. temperatures very similar12 to 19 hanging on. temperatures very similar 12 to 19 celsius. after that, to rise. thread into the weekend, high pressure village sets itself. the elephants footing with the north and west, so that means at times on friday and saturday systems showers, but saturday looking dry for most of us. for 13, meeting in newcastle, 22 in london. his temperatures continue to rise, dragging herfamiliar temperatures continue to rise, dragging her familiar continent collapse on saturday 13 and robert, 22 in newcastle, 26 in london. the average north to south is normally about 14 to 16 this time of year. and on sunday, 13, 20 in newcastle, is 26 in london. by sunday, some showers will bejust is 26 in london. by sunday, some showers will be just coming across the north and west of the high pressure starts to ease a little bit further east, then into next week, it looks like initially it will still be quite in the south but we are looking at a shelving mix in the north and west. carol, thank you. those numbers are extraordinary at the weekend. do you ever have one of those days, where work's a slog, the commute's a nightmare, the housework is getting you down? and you think "forget this, i'm moving to the other side of the world to count penguins"? well, that's what our next guests will be doing, among other tasks, as they move to antarctica for five months. we are joined now by he intrepid quartet of bridie martin—west, jerome viard, laura bullesbach, and dale perrin. i'm still pinching himself a new hero that you are doing there? yeah, it is ridiculous. _ hero that you are doing there? yeah, it is ridiculous. it _ hero that you are doing there? yeah, it is ridiculous. it is! _ hero that you are doing there? yeah, it is ridiculous. it is! cannot - it is ridiculous. it is! cannot wait, it is ridiculous. it is! cannot wait. that _ it is ridiculous. it is! cannot wait, that it _ it is ridiculous. it is! cannot wait, that it will _ it is ridiculous. it is! cannot wait, that it will be - it is ridiculous. it is! cannot wait, that it will be out - it is ridiculous. it is! cannot wait, that it will be out of l it is ridiculous. it is! cannot wait, that it will be out of this world. ~ , wait, that it will be out of this world- why _ wait, that it will be out of this world.- why not? - wait, that it will be out of this world.- why not? we i wait, that it will be out of this| world.- why not? we are wait, that it will be out of this world. why? why not? we are going there with the _ world. why? why not? we are going there with the uk _ world. why? why not? we are going there with the uk antarctic heritage trust to work there for just under five months, doing of things. what they do is look after the heritage of the buildings there, can have only explorer, the science that was being done in antarctica, some kind of telling these stories and looking after the history of antarctica to protect it for future generations. children, let's pretend this is the application for thejob children, let's pretend this is the application for the job didn't antarctica. what qualifies you for a trip to the antarctic, children? i have some experience, i have worked in the _ have some experience, i have worked in the museum there and that is how i fell in _ in the museum there and that is how i fell in love — in the museum there and that is how i fell in love with the place, with antarctica — i fell in love with the place, with antarctica. the selection process was very— antarctica. the selection process was very intense, a lot of people applied _ was very intense, a lot of people applied for— was very intense, a lot of people applied for thatjob and was very intense, a lot of people applied for that job and then saw that we _ applied for that job and then saw that we have lots of tests, tests, communication skills, physical challenges, it was tough, actually. you came — challenges, it was tough, actually. you came through when you're a gardener? you came through when you're a cardener? , you came through when you're a gardener?— gardener? yes, in cambridge, a beautiful place. _ gardener? yes, in cambridge, a beautiful place. so _ gardener? yes, in cambridge, a beautiful place. so from - gardener? yes, in cambridge, a beautiful place. so from some l gardener? yes, in cambridge, a - beautiful place. so from some green to white _ beautiful place. so from some green to white. . beautiful place. so from some green to white. ,, ., , to white. sick of seeing something. full view, completely, _ to white. sick of seeing something. full view, completely, what - to white. sick of seeing something. full view, completely, what wantsl full view, completely, what wants to do this? i full view, completely, what wants to do this? . p, full view, completely, what wants to do this? . ., . ~ ., do this? i have a background in the museum and _ do this? i have a background in the museum and heritage _ do this? i have a background in the museum and heritage sector, - do this? i have a background in the museum and heritage sector, and i j museum and heritage sector, and i sought last year's tinkled down and i saw the whole application process and i was watching it from the office in london, and i thought it would be because he wasjob ever to have, so i thought i would just go for it in stride, and did not quite think it was going to happen, so i'm looking forward to it. that think it was going to happen, so i'm looking forward to it.— looking forward to it. that is the post office. _ looking forward to it. that is the post office, is _ looking forward to it. that is the post office, is that _ looking forward to it. that is the post office, is that right? - looking forward to it. that is the post office, is that right? yes, i j post office, is that right? yes, i will be toastmaster _ post office, is that right? yes, i will be toastmaster and - post office, is that right? yes, i l will be toastmaster and manager there, it will be a joint role for there, it will be a joint role for the first time there, you have to post office of the letters people send to their families from the end of the world and also the museum and heritage site. is it of the world and also the museum and heritage site-— heritage site. is it it has a post office? we _ heritage site. is it it has a post office? we get _ heritage site. is it it has a post office? we get a _ heritage site. is it it has a post office? we get a lot _ heritage site. is it it has a post office? we get a lot of - heritage site. is it it has a post office? we get a lot of that - heritage site. is it it has a post office? we get a lot of that is, | heritage site. is it it has a post i office? we get a lot of that is, it will be a busy — office? we get a lot of that is, it will be a busy season. _ office? we get a lot of that is, it will be a busy season. if- office? we get a lot of that is, it will be a busy season. if the - will be a busy season. if the application _ will be a busy season. if the application process - will be a busy season. if the application process was - will be a busy season. if the i application process was tough, will be a busy season. if the application process was tough, what is the training like?— is the training like? incredible. our first training _ is the training like? incredible. our first training programme i is the training like? incredible. i our first training programme was is the training like? incredible. - our first training programme was a weekend _ our first training programme was a weekend in — our first training programme was a weekend in the peak district which was and _ weekend in the peak district which was and getting to know each other, that was— was and getting to know each other, that was the first we all met. a couple — that was the first we all met. a couple of— that was the first we all met. a couple of exercises we did all together, went out for some nice walks, _ together, went out for some nice walks, got — together, went out for some nice walks, got a good background on the trust and _ walks, got a good background on the trust and the jobs will be doing, 'ust trust and the jobs will be doing, just recently we have spent two weeks — just recently we have spent two weeks in — just recently we have spent two weeks in cambridge for intense training, — weeks in cambridge for intense training, we have had remote first aid, crisis — training, we have had remote first aid, crisis management, and... tell us about the _ aid, crisis management, and... tell us about the conflict management. fantastic, we are so well—prepared, feeling _ fantastic, we are so well—prepared, feeling confident and ready to go now _ feeling confident and ready to go now. ., ., ., . ., , feeling confident and ready to go now. ., ., ., , , ., now. you are a carpenter, is that rirht? now. you are a carpenter, is that right? what _ now. you are a carpenter, is that right? what do — now. you are a carpenter, is that right? what do your _ now. you are a carpenter, is that right? what do your family - now. you are a carpenter, is that right? what do your family and i right? what do your family and friends think when you tell them, and the antarctic for five months? they have been credible. the work that idea, — they have been credible. the work that idea, that is conservation -based. — that idea, that is conservation -based. so— that idea, that is conservation —based, so ties into one, sol that idea, that is conservation —based, so ties into one, so i can be in— —based, so ties into one, so i can be inan— —based, so ties into one, so i can be in an amazing place if you have amazing _ be in an amazing place if you have amazing buildings and personal interest— amazing buildings and personal interest as well. tell amazing buildings and personal interest as well.— amazing buildings and personal interest as well. tell us about the work, interest as well. tell us about the work. then- _ interest as well. tell us about the work, then. why _ interest as well. tell us about the work, then. why is _ interest as well. tell us about the work, then. why is it _ interest as well. tell us about the work, then. why is it so - interest as well. tell us about the l work, then. why is it so important? it is so important to look back at those early explorers in antarctica, uk antarctic heritage trust wants to do so in order to protect it for the future, not only for those people who come and visit lucky enough to visit, but also those who cannot, so inspiring people in britain and all around the world to care about antarctica. around the world to care about antarctica-— antarctica. what about the environment _ antarctica. what about the environment mix - antarctica. what about the environment mix that - antarctica. what about the - environment mix that challenging? everything, it is so much, we cannot call 999 get into trouble, so that is why we have done in the first aid course. if there's a fire, we will not be able to call the fire brigade, so we have given a fire, we will not be able to call the fire brigade, so and hostile environment, but had all that training, so we are shown staying on with 1000 penguins, so they will have to us. what shown staying on with 1000 penguins, so they will have to us.— so they will have to us. what is not to love about _ so they will have to us. what is not to love about 1000 _ so they will have to us. what is not to love about 1000 paintings? - so they will have to us. what is not | to love about 1000 paintings? they are all a&e train. is moments as he prepared to go when you think this is a bit scary? i prepared to go when you think this is a bit scary?— prepared to go when you think this is a bit scary? i get moments and i cannot believe _ is a bit scary? i get moments and i cannot believe that _ is a bit scary? i get moments and i cannot believe that i'm _ is a bit scary? i get moments and i cannot believe that i'm going - is a bit scary? i get moments and i cannot believe that i'm going to i cannot believe that i'm going to do, it is quite surreal still, but i am not worried about much right now, i don't think. he also has and friends is quite unusual, never done that before, but i'm looking forward to going without. before, but i'm looking forward to going without-— going without. what are the communication _ going without. what are the communication is _ going without. what are the communication is like? - going without. what are the communication is like? you| going without. what are the i communication is like? you can going without. what are the - communication is like? you can send letters back from your post office, but do you have frozen internet in that kind of thing? we but do you have frozen internet in that kind of thing?— that kind of thing? we will have satellite phones, _ that kind of thing? we will have satellite phones, but _ that kind of thing? we will have satellite phones, but the - that kind of thing? we will have| satellite phones, but the signals are quite patchy, so see how it goes. we will be able to send e—mails to the operations team. he talked about a team bonding and how you will all get on, you will all be spending christmas together, have you thought about that yet, what you might do? who is going to cope? jerome already has his christmas jumper on. it jerome already has his christmas jumper on-_ jumper on. it will be the best christmas forever, _ jumper on. it will be the best christmas forever, a white i christmas forever, a white christmas for sure _ christmas forever, a white christmas for sure. everything is tinned or dried. _ for sure. everything is tinned or dried. so — for sure. everything is tinned or dried. so i — for sure. everything is tinned or dried, so i don't know what is in the stores. _ dried, so i don't know what is in the stores, but i am sure i can come up the stores, but i am sure i can come up with— the stores, but i am sure i can come up with something christmassy. party names, up with something christmassy. party games, crackers? _ up with something christmassy. party games, crackers? who _ up with something christmassy. party games, crackers? who will— up with something christmassy. party games, crackers? who will have - games, crackers? who will have names, games, crackers? who will have games, presents _ games, crackers? who will have games, presents for _ games, crackers? who will have games, presents for each - games, crackers? who will havej games, presents for each other. games, crackers? who will have i games, presents for each other. it! feels games, presents for each other. feels like games, presents for each other. it feels like you have bonded already. we will contact you in a few weeks' time. does it feel like a social experiment as well as a scientific one? . , , ._ experiment as well as a scientific one? . , , . , ., one? yeah, we will be staying on the scene running _ one? yeah, we will be staying on the scene running water _ one? yeah, we will be staying on the scene running water and _ one? yeah, we will be staying on the scene running water and flushing - scene running water and flushing toilets, so two point .8 watts. he will merge. thank you all so much for coming in. time now to get the news, travel, and weather where you are. hello, i'm asad ahmad. as a murder investigation is launched in edmonton into the 14th fatal teenage stabbing in london this year, the mayor of london has written to the home secretary calling on the government to quickly bring in laws to ban zombie—style knives and machetes. sadiq khan says current proposals have been delayed and the government should close loopholes which will allow for machete—style knives to be carried for legitimate use. opportunities for young people. we have approached the government and are awaiting a response. there's been a sharp increase in the number of ultra low emission zone cameras that were vandalised in september. despite police saying they were cracking down on damage and thefts of cameras, the rate has increased to nearly ten incidents per day. a man has been arrested in bexley in connection with one incident, another two men were arrested elsewhere. transport for london say "camera vandalism will not stop ulez from operating london—wide". let's take a look at the tubes now. london overground, no service between willesden junction and richmond due to a vehicle hitting a level crossing barrier. the weather, and although we thought today would be a dry day things have changed as there's a chance of light showers later. feeling a bit cooler than it has been with a top temperature of 19 celsius. that's it. i'm backjust before 8.30. good morning, welcome to breakfast withjon kay and sally nugent. our headlines today. as pressure mounts on the government over hs2, the prime minister speaking to breakfast in the past half hour refuses to confirm whether the section of line from birmingham to manchester will be scrapped. i'm to manchester will be scrapped. not going to be fo premature i'm not going to be forced into a premature decision because it's good for someone's tv programme. what i want to do is make the right decision for the country. a lightning strike causes a huge explosion at a food waste recycling plant in oxfordshire. people living nearby are told to stay at home. decisions made in the early of the pandemic will come under scrutiny, as the second part of the covid inquiry gets under way. rows breaking out at electric car charging points. as one motorway service company says it's taking on marshals to to deal with conflicts, we'll look at whether the network's struggling under the pressure. the state of the nation's libraries. children's laureatejoseph coehlo joins us at the end of a marathon tour of more than 200 across the uk. good morning. today essentially is a day of bright spells, sunny spells, and some blustery showers. feeling a bit fresher than it did yesterday but temperatures still above average for the time of year and climbing even higher this weekend. it's tuesday 3rd october. in the last half hour the prime minister rishi sunak has refused to commit to the planned northern section of the hs2 railway. work on the london to birmingham leg is well under way but government ministers have consistently declined to deny widespread reports that the birmingham to manchester link is being axed. the eastern line from birmingham to leeds was cancelled in 2021. spearing to breakfast, mr sunak insisted he has yet to make a final decision and he also rebuffed suggestions that the hs2 issue has overshadowed his party conference in manchester. overshadowed his party our chief political correspondent henry zeffman is also in manchester. he is at the party conference. i know you listened to what the prime minister had to say, what is mr sunak�*s strategy here in not ending this ongoing uncertainty? sunak's strategy here in not ending this ongoing uncertainty?— this ongoing uncertainty? sadly, toda in this ongoing uncertainty? sadly, today in the _ this ongoing uncertainty? sadly, today in the conservative party i today in the conservative party conference in a big hole behind meet their conservative activists will hear from the health secretary, justice secretary and home secretary and i'm sure that they will have interesting things to announce but all anybody wants to talk about here is hs2. as you said to the prime minister, it seems a little strange that when clearly a decision is in the thing, even if it hasn't quite yet been made, he will notjust tell us straight what exactly is going to happen. and you pressed him repeatedly on this programme to just give people a bit of clarity. repeatedly on this programme to 'ust give people a bit of clarityi give people a bit of clarity. people watchin: give people a bit of clarity. people watching this _ give people a bit of clarity. people watching this programme - give people a bit of clarity. people watching this programme really i give people a bit of clarity. people i watching this programme really like it when politicians answer questions. what is the situation with hsz questions. what is the situation with hs2 coming all the way to manchester? with h52 coming all the way to manchester?— with h52 coming all the way to manchester? , ~' ., ., manchester? sally, i know you want to keep asking. _ manchester? sally, i know you want to keep asking. l— manchester? sally, i know you want to keep asking, i know— manchester? sally, i know you want to keep asking, i know there's - manchester? sally, i know you want to keep asking, i know there's lots i to keep asking, i know there's lots of speculation. all i can say is i'm not going — of speculation. all i can say is i'm not going to — of speculation. all i can say is i'm not going to be forced into a premature decision because it's good for someone's tv programme. what i want to— for someone's tv programme. what i want to do— for someone's tv programme. what i want to do is— for someone's tv programme. what i want to do is make the right decision— want to do is make the right decision for the country. this is an enormous — decision for the country. this is an enormous amount of people's money, taxpayer— enormous amount of people's money, taxpayer money, everybody watching, billions _ taxpayer money, everybody watching, billions of _ taxpayer money, everybody watching, billions of pounds. we shouldn't be rushed _ billions of pounds. we shouldn't be rushed into — billions of pounds. we shouldn't be rushed into things like that. what people _ rushed into things like that. what people would expect from me is to take the _ people would expect from me is to take the time, to go over it properly— take the time, to go over it properly and make sure we make the film properly and make sure we make the right long—term decision for the country. — right long—term decision for the country, that's what i'm interested in doing _ country, that's what i'm interested in doing. that's what politicians should — in doing. that's what politicians should be — in doing. that's what politicians should be doing and that's what the country— should be doing and that's what the country wants to say. i should be doing and that's what the country wants to say.— country wants to say. i think the recise country wants to say. i think the precise way _ country wants to say. i think the precise way in — country wants to say. i think the precise way in which _ country wants to say. i think the precise way in which rishi - country wants to say. i think the precise way in which rishi sunak avoided answering your question is actually quite interesting. it tells us a little bit about why the government policy on hs2 clearly is changing. he kept talking about long—term decisions, about taking decisions that his predecessors, conservative predecessors, by the way, have not been willing to make. so when we do hear him finally make an announcement on hs2 probably in his speech tomorrow, i suspect we will hear rishi sunak saying, i know this might be controversial but i'm willing to take controversial decisions because in office i have discovered that too many controversial decisions have been ducked. that was also the theme of his announcement on net zero a few weeks ago which he kept returning to in his interview with you as well. the risk for rishi sunak is that while he wants to be remembered for not ducking controversial decisions, the chaos for the way in which he has made this decision, even if he insists the decision has not been made, is all we will remember about this conference and about his announcement on hs2. stand this conference and about his announcement on h52. and henry, of course, announcement on h52. and henry, of course. we — announcement on h52. and henry, of course. we have _ announcement on h52. and henry, of course, we have got _ announcement on h52. and henry, of course, we have got another- announcement on h52. and henry, of course, we have got another day - announcement on h52. and henry, of course, we have got another day and| course, we have got another day and a half to wait before the prime minister makes his speech. that a long time at the party conference. what has the mood be like in the last couple of days? it’s what has the mood be like in the last couple of days?— last couple of days? it's a bit mixed. last couple of days? it's a bit mixed- l _ last couple of days? it's a bit mixed. i think— last couple of days? it's a bit mixed. i think it _ last couple of days? it's a bit mixed. i think it has - last couple of days? it's a bit mixed. i think it has been i last couple of days? it's a bit mixed. i think it has been a i last couple of days? it's a bit i mixed. i think it has been a bit flatter than last year, but then again, last year the government was collapsing and then even for conservative mps, that's quite exciting because things are going on, things are happening all over the place, simmering stories are erupting to boiling point. this year rishi sunak is clearly determined to use this opportunity to turn things around and some mps are very much with him on that. others havejust stayed away. with him on that. others have 'ust stayed awayfi stayed away. great to talk to you, thank ou stayed away. great to talk to you, thank you very — stayed away. great to talk to you, thank you very much _ stayed away. great to talk to you, thank you very much indeed. - stayed away. great to talk to you, thank you very much indeed. jon i stayed away. great to talk to you, i thank you very much indeed. jon has more of the day's news. a huge fireball lit up the sky over oxford last night after lightning struck gas containers at a food—waste recycling plant. there were no reported casualties but roads in the area were closed as emergency crews worked through the night to control the fire. our reporter vincent mcaviney has the details. there's a fire. oh, my god. lightning just struck that. just after 7pm last night, a fireball lighting up the sky north of oxford. eyewitnesses for miles around stared on in disbelief. oh, my god. that is flipping massive. we heard like a bang or something. and when i went to the balcony, i saw this huge fireball. and it went like that for almost a minute. yeah, it felt like it was like, like some sort of gas or something. like, i don't know, we were a bit scared. the explosion was caused when a lightning strike hit a biogas storage tank at the severn trent green power plant at cassington. six fire engines, 40 firefighters, police and at least four ambulances attended the scene. firefighters used a drone to help them battle the blaze. for a time, the nearby a40 had to be closed between wolvercote and eynsham. several nearby villages also reported power outages, too. the company, which recycles food waste into biogas, said it was now working with the emergency services to secure the site. in a statement, thames valley police advised people living nearby to stay home, shut windows and doors and keep away from the scene. but despite the force of the explosion, both police and the company said they believed nobody had been hurt. vincent mcaviney, bbc news. let's speak now to our reporter sean coughlan who is just outside the processing facility where the blast happened. any sense yet about what might have caused this and what the damage might be? caused this and what the damage mitht be? ~ ~' ., caused this and what the damage mitht be? ~ ~ ., ., might be? well, we know it was a litthtnin might be? well, we know it was a lightning strike _ might be? well, we know it was a lightning strike on _ might be? well, we know it was a lightning strike on at _ might be? well, we know it was a lightning strike on at least - might be? well, we know it was a lightning strike on at least one i lightning strike on at least one unit, and as we understand it, that explosion then triggered damage to several others around it. we are here this morning and it is certainly much, then it would have been last night as you saw from the pictures when there was a viable outside these quiet fields in oxfordshire. —— there was a fireball above these quiet fields. fire services have been up on a cherry picker looking down on the damage, lorries have been going in and out of the site. the next thing will be for safety investigators to come and find out what happened, because as we are suggesting, lightning strikes causing so much damage, it is suggested. later in the day we will hear a bit more. at the moment it is damping down the remaining bits of steam and smoke that there and getting things back to normal. thank ou ve getting things back to normal. thank you very much _ getting things back to normal. thank you very much now, _ getting things back to normal. thank you very much now, sean. _ the fashion chain abercrombie and fitch says it's hired an outside law firm to investigate claims surrounding its former boss. a bbc investigation has uncovered allegations that mike jeffries exploited young adult men for sex at events he hosted in his new york homes and hotels around the world, including in london and paris. he has not responded to the claims. doctors will protest for better pay and conditions outside the conservative party conference in manchester this morning on the second day of the strike byjunior doctors and consultants. the chair of the british medical association told breakfast earlier that he has written to the prime minister offering to enter negotiations, with acas facilitating these talks " if necessa ry". a 17—year—old boy who's charged with murdering the schoolgirl elianne andam in south london last week is due to appear before the old bailey. elianne, who was 15, was fatally stabbed at a bus—stop in croydon while making her way to school on wednesday morning. fierce competition between supermarkets has led to the first monthly drop in food prices for more than two years, an industry body has said. ben can tell us more. any talk of a drop in food prices will be welcomed by many but to treat this news with caution. the important word there is monthly drop. that means on average, prices came down in september compared with august. not by much, downjust 0.1%, but it does represent a move in the right direction. the british retail consortium said prices of dairy goods, margarine, fish and vegetables which are often own—brand lines all fell in september compared with the month before. and it is an average so some things will not have fallen, some things may even have gone up in price. and importantly while the average price of food fell from one month to the next food prices are still significantly higher than a year ago. in september food prices were 9.9% higher than in september last year. and that's down from a rate of 11.5% in august. prices still rising compared with a year ago but not as quickly as they were. the flying scotsman is to undergo a full mechanical inspection after it was involved in a low—speed crash. the steam engine which is celebrating its centenary year collided with a train at aviemore railway station in the highlands on friday. two people were treated in hospital as a precaution when the star wars droid c—3po was helping the rebel alliance stand up to the empire, there would have been a hefty price on his head. well, now there is again! because the costume head worn by the actor anthony daniels is up for auction next month, and it's expected to fetch between £500,000 and £1 million. i think that is actually anthony daniels as well. other items going under the hammer include forrest gump's running shoes and a bullwhip used by indiana jones in the temple of doom. do you remember dorothy from the wizard of oz had those red sparkly shoes? i wizard of oz had those red sparkly shoes? ., wizard of oz had those red sparkly shoes?_ the - wizard of oz had those red sparklyi shoes?_ the prototype shoes? i loved them. the prototype version, before _ shoes? i loved them. the prototype version, before they _ shoes? i loved them. the prototype version, before they died _ shoes? i loved them. the prototype version, before they died than - shoes? i loved them. the prototype version, before they died than red, | version, before they died than red, carol has bought them, good morning! can we see them, the shoes? thea;r carol has bought them, good morning! can we see them, the shoes?- can we see them, the shoes? they are fantastic. click _ can we see them, the shoes? they are fantastic. click them _ can we see them, the shoes? they are fantastic. click them together - can we see them, the shoes? they are fantastic. click them together and - fantastic. click them together and it will take you back to london! i tell you what, they can be yours for £11 49! good morning, some of us started off some sunshine this morning but a lot of showers around. todayis morning but a lot of showers around. today is going to be fresher than it did yesterday. we have got lines of showers moving from the west to the east but the showers across the north and west of scotland will be with us on and off through the day and some will be heavy. the same for northern ireland, showers on and off, and north—west england. further south we are looking at drier conditions, high pressure through the morning as high pressure starts to build in. some of the showers will fade. if we take away from the focus is going to be a blustery day wherever you are, and there will be showers, sunny spells, you will not go far wrong. temperatures in the north 13, south 19, still above average for the time of year. roughly it is about 14 to 16 average at this time of year. temperatures overnight also above average for the time of year, hanging on to some showers for the first half of the night and then heavy rain comes into northern ireland and south scotland, and this will be a feature of the weather with the rainfall really totalling up. it will not be a cold night, so not a cold start to the day tomorrow, but we hang on to the rain. and to the north of the rain we are looking at some showers, to the south that there will be a few showers but with high pressure building in, equally there will be a fair bit of sunshine. temperature family similarto fair bit of sunshine. temperature family similar to today, 17 to 19. —— fairly similar. family similar to today, 17 to 19. -- fairly similar.— family similar to today, 17 to 19. -- fairly similar. you can wear your s-arkl -- fairly similar. you can wear your sparkly shoes _ -- fairly similar. you can wear your sparkly shoes for _ -- fairly similar. you can wear your sparkly shoes for a _ -- fairly similar. you can wear your sparkly shoes for a little _ -- fairly similar. you can wear your sparkly shoes for a little bit - sparkly shoes for a little bit longer! sparkly shoes for a little bit [on t er! ~ sparkly shoes for a little bit lonter! ~ ., sparkly shoes for a little bit lonter! . ., ., sparkly shoes for a little bit loner! . ., ., , longer! we are loving those, bonus contact there! _ children's laureatejoseph coelho will complete his "library marathon" this weekend. he's been touring them for the past four years and by the end of it he will have joined 213 libraries across the uk. the aim, to inspire children to read and sign up to their local library. i hope he isn't taking a book every single time he goes. i i hope he isn't taking a book every single time he goes.— i hope he isn't taking a book every single time he goes. i hope he isn't wearint single time he goes. i hope he isn't wearing shoes _ single time he goes. i hope he isn't wearing shoes like _ single time he goes. i hope he isn't wearing shoes like carol's! - single time he goes. i hope he isn't wearing shoes like carol's! well, i single time he goes. i hope he isn'tj wearing shoes like carol's! well, he can! take a look at this. sniffed it with an adorable chocolate chip nose. and he bit me! to hear him coming and saying how important libraries are, and the difference it made to him as a child, it makes us feel, maybe that's what we're doing to the next generation. maybe we have a future children's laureate coming. like my whisper is a language that only we speak. you can come whenever you want and you can borrow the books. i you can get books for free. we feel like the hub of the community, so it's a chance where they can come and read books. you don't have to pay to get in, you don't have to pay to borrow them, that means it's accessible to everybody. josephjoins us now with his impressive library card collection. yes! my goodness, all filed in a s-ecial yes! my goodness, all filed in a special book— yes! my goodness, all filed in a special book and _ yes! my goodness, all filed in a special book and everything. i yes! my goodness, all filed in a i special book and everything. yes, 205 library _ special book and everything. yes, 205 library cards, _ special book and everything. yes, 205 library cards, there _ special book and everything. yes 205 library cards, there will be 213 by the end of the week when i finish. , ., ., ,, by the end of the week when i finish. , ,, , ,., , finish. oh, my goodness! everybody can see it now- _ finish. oh, my goodness! everybody can see it now. you _ finish. oh, my goodness! everybody can see it now. you are _ finish. oh, my goodness! everybody can see it now. you are going - finish. oh, my goodness! everybody can see it now. you are going to i can see it now. you are going to need a bigger— can see it now. you are going to need a bigger wallet! _ can see it now. you are going to need a bigger wallet! why i can see it now. you are going to need a bigger wallet! why are i need a bigger wallet! why are libraries are _ need a bigger wallet! why are libraries are so _ need a bigger wallet! why are libraries are so important? i need a bigger wallet! why are i libraries are so important? they are hubs for communities. _ libraries are so important? they are hubs for communities. i _ libraries are so important? they are hubs for communities. i have - libraries are so important? they are hubs for communities. i have been i libraries are so important? they are l hubs for communities. i have been in libraries where they have got knitting and nattering groups and board game clubs, and why a book groups, books are hugely important parts of libraries but people also go to libraries do weigh their newborn babies and change the batteries in the hearing aids. they have a range of essential services. libraries are no longer the place where you go and there is a finger on lips be quiet, it's not like that now. ., ., ., , ~:: now. oh, and often in the last 60 libraries i have _ now. oh, and often in the last 60 libraries i have joined _ now. oh, and often in the last 60 libraries i have joined i _ now. oh, and often in the last 60 libraries i have joined i have i now. oh, and often in the last 60 libraries i have joined i have done libraries i havejoined i have done live events in schools and the public and the librarians say, you don't have to be quiet here. there is a perception that you go into a quiet and it is like shush, but it is a shush free zone.— quiet and it is like shush, but it is a shush free zone. there are not as many libraries _ is a shush free zone. there are not as many libraries as _ is a shush free zone. there are not as many libraries as it _ is a shush free zone. there are not as many libraries as it used - is a shush free zone. there are not as many libraries as it used to i is a shush free zone. there are not as many libraries as it used to be. | as many libraries as it used to be. yes, _ as many libraries as it used to be. yes. since — as many libraries as it used to be. yes, since 2010 800 libraries have closed. what has been wonderful about doing this marathon is a real opportunity to celebrate libraries, encourage more people tojoin opportunity to celebrate libraries, encourage more people to join their libraries if they are not a member. often i talk to young people and it's the first time to a library. especially the little one, they will point at the box and say, can i have some of those books? it is able to say —— great to be able to say, yes, you can get a card and take these book times, you see their eyes light up book times, you see their eyes light up and you realise how wonderful such a simple gift eight libraries. you have got 200 cards, one for everyone!— everyone! this whole 'ourney of ours everyone! this whole 'ourney of yours has * everyone! this whole 'ourney of yours has been i everyone! this whole 'ourney of yours has been years i everyone! this whole journey of yours has been years in - everyone! this whole journey of yours has been years in the i everyone! this whole journey of i yours has been years in the making, hasn't _ yours has been years in the making, hasn't it. _ yours has been years in the making, hasn't it. it's— yours has been years in the making, hasn't it, it's such a project. it! has, hasn't it, it's such a project. has, it hasn't it, it's such a project. it has, it started as a crazy idea in 2018. i remember nervouslyjoining birmingham central library saying, can i do this?! birmingham central library saying, can i do this? i was welcomed in, i joined the library and i started to joined the library and i started to join a library in every library authority including the channel islands, i have been tojersey, guernsey, going to the isle of man this week. i will see lots of emotions when it finishes this week but i will continue to go to libraries, as many authors and illustrators do, singing their praises. i illustrators do, singing their raises. ~' ., illustrators do, singing their raises. ~ ., ., �* ., illustrators do, singing their raises. ~ ., ., ., praises. i know you don't want to have favourite _ praises. i know you don't want to have favourite but _ praises. i know you don't want to have favourite but what - praises. i know you don't want to have favourite but what is - praises. i know you don't want to have favourite but what is your i have favourite but what is your favourite?— favourite? you will get me in trouble! the _ favourite? you will get me in trouble! the passion - favourite? you will get me in trouble! the passion of- favourite? you will get me in trouble! the passion of the i trouble! the passion of the librarians has rung out from all the libraries. i have been to some wonderful libraries, i went to one just outside blackpool in a converted one—bedroom flat. it was tiny but it had everything you would expect from a library, and issuing desk with a stamp on a computer that you could book out and the children's section. i was on a mobile library in peterborough which was in a big purple bus, and entering the library you feel like you're in building because it is wall to ceiling book shelves. i have been very lucky to go to small ibis and also big central library is. when you have done your tour, are there places you look at and do you think, the library is closed, that's a really important hub that the community is missing?- a really important hub that the community is missing? yeah, any library closure _ community is missing? yeah, any library closure is _ community is missing? yeah, any library closure is a _ community is missing? yeah, any library closure is a complete i community is missing? yeah, any library closure is a complete loss. and it's really sad thing. that's why i want to encourage as many people as possible to join libraries and borrow lots of books because i feel like that's the best way to protect them because they are hubs or communities. lots of people don't realise the wonderful you can get from libraries, you can borrow e—books and audiobooks are newspapers and magazines from your local library 24 hours a day. that's a wonderful resource. tell local library 24 hours a day. that's a wonderful resource.— local library 24 hours a day. that's a wonderful resource. tell us some secret things _ a wonderful resource. tell us some secret things you _ a wonderful resource. tell us some secret things you have _ a wonderful resource. tell us some secret things you have discovered i a wonderful resource. tell us some | secret things you have discovered in libraries, are the things that you didn't know, how books are stored, how they are used and borrowed by us? i how they are used and borrowed by us? ., , how they are used and borrowed by us? . , , . , ., us? i have been very lucky, in some libraries i have _ us? i have been very lucky, in some libraries i have been _ us? i have been very lucky, in some libraries i have been taken - us? i have been very lucky, in some libraries i have been taken into i us? i have been very lucky, in some libraries i have been taken into the l libraries i have been taken into the store rooms. some libraries have got stocks of books they are sharing with other libraries. some authorities you can return book to a different library and it will make it back. i went to library the day that had shelves that move and they are constantly rotating the stocks. and librarians always think about what their patrons want to read. i have been in libraries where there are dedicated why a sections, graphic novel sections and crime, crime is a big one as well. librarians really respond to the local people. 50 librarians really respond to the local people-— librarians really respond to the local people. librarians really respond to the local eole. ., ., local people. so what do people want to read right — local people. so what do people want to read right now, _ local people. so what do people want to read right now, what _ local people. so what do people want to read right now, what are _ local people. so what do people want to read right now, what are the i to read right now, what are the trends? ht to read right now, what are the trends? , , to read right now, what are the trends? a, , a, a, a, a, a, a, trends? it varies from area to area. i have certainly _ trends? it varies from area to area. i have certainly seen _ trends? it varies from area to area. i have certainly seen trend - trends? it varies from area to area. i have certainly seen trend in - trends? it varies from area to area. i have certainly seen trend in crime | i have certainly seen trend in crime fiction, and the children's section is bulging, and it's been lovely to see a lot more graphic novels and illustrated younger fiction becoming more popular. they are a great way to get young kids reading, especially those that are reluctant readers because you have got wonderful illustrations which can really help get them in.— really help get them in. that's something _ really help get them in. that's something you're _ really help get them in. that's something you're passionate l really help get them in. that's - something you're passionate about, you have got your children's laureate medal around your neck, proudly worn. we have been promoting children's literacy through 500 words which is here on the bbc, and you have got national poetry day you are involved in, what is your involvement in that? i are involved in, what is your involvement in that?- are involved in, what is your involvement in that? i have an ambassador— involvement in that? i have an ambassador for _ involvement in that? i have an ambassador for the _ involvement in that? i have an ambassador for the national i involvement in that? i have an - ambassador for the national poetry day, so i create resources, and unlearn there are loads of resources for poets like myself, reading —— online there are loads of resources for poets like myself, reading and producing poems, for teachers, and one of my big projects is to create a series of poetry prompts to get kids working to write poetry in accessible ways because i think we are all poets. accessible ways because i think we are all pom-— accessible ways because i think we are all meta-— are all poets. how do you do that, how'd are all poets. how do you do that, hovfd you — are all poets. how do you do that, how'd you get _ are all poets. how do you do that, how'd you get people _ are all poets. how do you do that, how'd you get people to _ are all poets. how do you do that, how'd you get people to write? . how'd you get people to write? removing some of the baggage by showing that poetry is final. there are simple ways of creating poems, you can do do with just one word, if you can do do with just one word, if you just have a long title. if you have a title like, the sad tale of a fly, and your one word can be, splat! i often start with examples like that, to get kids feeling comfortable and to realise that poetry is theirs, and that their words and voices are valid and important. words and voices are valid and important-— words and voices are valid and im ortant. ., , u, ,., important. poetry can sound quite sca , i important. poetry can sound quite scary, i remember _ important. poetry can sound quite scary, i remember at _ important. poetry can sound quite scary, i remember at school - important. poetry can sound quite scary, i remember at school being asked to write poems and i didn't know where to start. i asked to write poems and i didn't know where to start. i think often oet know where to start. i think often poetry has _ know where to start. i think often poetry has been _ know where to start. i think often poetry has been done _ know where to start. i think often poetry has been done to - know where to start. i think often poetry has been done to us. - know where to start. i think often | poetry has been done to us. don't get me wrong, i love analysing a good poem but it's not for everyone. if that's your own introduction into poetry, it can be off—putting. so when i go into schools, i'm about getting the kids to write first and honour and value their experiences. one little boy said to me, i'm not good at writing, not for me, and i asked him what he did over the weekend and he said, i played football, and i said, right about that. and his eyes lit up and he started writing a poem about playing the message about we are all poets is key. g0 the message about we are all poets iske. ., the message about we are all poets iske. is key. go back to your library tour, ithink— is key. go back to your library tour, i think you _ is key. go back to your library tour, i think you have - is key. go back to your library i tour, i think you have discovered some rather interesting bookmarks? in bristol there was an exhibit for things that had been found between the covers of books, but bacon rashes are apparently quite common. i have not come across one. you can imagine it at breakfast, you read a book, it's better than a fried egg! slightly better! i book, it's better than a fried egg! slightly better!— slightly better! i live in bristol, it wasn't me. _ slightly better! i live in bristol, it wasn't me. thank _ slightly better! i live in bristol, it wasn't me. thank you - slightly better! i live in bristol, it wasn't me. thank you for - slightly better! i live in bristol, - it wasn't me. thank you for coming in. joseh it wasn't me. thank you for coming in- joseph will _ it wasn't me. thank you for coming in. joseph will complete _ it wasn't me. thank you for coming in. joseph will complete his - in. joseph will complete his marathon on saturday with an event at the british library and there is national poetry day coming up on thursday. the second part of the covid inquiry starts taking evidence today — meaning decisions made by borisjohnson and his government in the early days of the pandemic will come under intense scrutiny. whatsapp messages sent between the former prime minister and other senior officials are expected to form an important part of the evidence, as our health reporter jim reed explains. elliot daly gives the pass! march 2020, and england narrowly beat wales at twickenham. the prime minister was there that day as covid cases were rising. that weekend, italy announced a lockdown. the next week, though, the cheltenham festival was allowed to go ahead. the virus is deadly... a quarter of a million people attended. this one is my wife and i at twickenham. geoff was at both events and is sure he caught covid there. i come home, felt terrible. my temperature was going up and up. my wife was getting more worried. and so the sunday, she called an ambulance. a bbc wales crew filmed geoff in hospital. it's only literally this covid thing, which literally wiped my world. he accepts it was his own decision to go to both events, but says the government should have acted sooner. with the twickenham, yeah. we wanted to go, cheltenham, we wanted to go, but you know, if they'd have said no, which should have been the right decision, yeah, it would have been disruptive for a lot of people, but lives would have been saved. the second part of the covid inquiry will run until christmas and examine key decisions made during the pandemic, including whether lives could have been saved if lockdowns had been imposed earlier or differently, the effectiveness of social distancing, facemasks and other lockdown measures, and public confidence in the government, including the effect of any rule breaches by ministers and officials. these are the four walls, that was all i saw every day. james had to shield in his flat for 18 months through the pandemic. the medication he takes for arthritis weakens his immune system. i didn't see another human being the whole entire time, except for when i went to the hospital to get myjabs. and that was my first interaction with a human, was the nurse giving me myjab. he filmed these video diaries in 2020. my day to day life has changed so much. i used to be a really outgoing person. four million were told to shield like this. new research for the charity versus arthritis found for many, it had a huge impact on their physical and mental health. are there questions you would like answered? i mean, in terms of the shielding, i don't know, we were never like checked on at all. we were asked to do this massive thing, this mentally straining thing. they didn't check on our mental health or our physical health at all. in 2021, james was jabbed and shielding was lifted. that's fine, i didn't realise you did it! the government says the choices it made saved lives and protected the nation. scrutinising all those decisions will take time, with the inquiry set to last for three more years. jim reed, bbc news. full coverage of that ongoing inquiry across bbc news. still to come on today's show. # left a good job in the city, working every night and day # and i never lost a minute of sleep. after wowing strictly viewers with that tina turner tribute, beverley knight will be rolling into the breakfast studio for a chat about her new album. she'll be on the sofa at around ten to nine. rolling out of bed to join us! time now to get the news, travel and weather where you are. hello, i'm asad ahmad. as a murder investigation is launched in edmonton, into the 14th fatal teenage stabbing in london this year, the mayor of london has written to the home secretary, calling on the government to quickly bring in laws to ban zombie—style knives and machetes. sadiq khan says current proposals have been delayed, and the government should close loopholes which will allow for machete—style knives to be carried for "legitimate use." he also calls for more to be done to tackle the causes of knife crime, with more investment in positive opportunities for young people. we have approached the government for a response. there's been a sharp increase in the number of ultra low emission zone cameras that were vandalised in september. despite police saying they were cracking down on damage and thefts of cameras, the rate has increased to nearly ten incidents per day. a man has been arrested in bexley in connection with one incident. another two men were arrested elsewhere. transport for london say "camera vandalism will not stop ulez from operating london—wide." the boss ofjohn lewis — londoner dame sharon white — is to step down after five years, making her the shortest—serving chair in the partnership's near 100—year history. dame sharon, from leyton, has told thejohn lewis partnership board she will not seek a second term in 2025. the company reported a loss of over £200 million last year, forcing it to scrap the annual staff bonus. her predecessors have served between 13 and 26 years in office. before the travel, a reminder that there is a tube strike planned for tomorrow and friday, as part of a dispute overjob losses and conditions. members of the rmt union plan to walk out, which will cause major disruption. transport for london say most tube services will not run, but the elizabeth line, london overground, and the dlr should be running a nearly normal service. let's take a look at the tubes now. there's a good service on the tubes this morning, problems on the overground having been resolved. now onto the weather with gemma. good morning. it's a cloudy start to the day today, but that cloud will be breaking up, particularly as we go through the course of this afternoon. and there could be a few showers around as well. so this morning, it's starting off on a cloudy note. there could be a few showers moving through as we go through this morning. those could be locally heavy. but by the time we get to this afternoon, a lot of those showers will have moved away. there'll be a lot of dry, fine weather to come, and plenty of sunshine developing as well. it will be a breezy day, and feeling fresher than it was yesterday, with highs of 17 or 18 celsius. through the course of this evening and overnight, there's a lot of dry and clear weather to come. those winds will ease a touch and it will be feeling a little bit cooler than it was last night, with lows of around 7 or 8 celsius. as we go through into wednesday, it does look like it's going to be a mostly dry day. there could be quite a bit of cloud around, though, particularly as we go through the course of the morning. and then by the time we get to this weekend, it does look like we're going to bring in some much warmer air. those temperatures are really going to pick up, and there'll be a lot of dry and fine weather to come, with plenty of sunshine. that's it from me for now. i'll be back with our next update in around half an hour's time. until then, goodbye. hello, this is breakfast withjon kay and sally nugent. you've heard of "road rage," but what about "charge rage"? that's when the drivers of electric cars argue over access to public charging points. it's already happening, and there are warnings that it's going to get worse. ben's here to tell us more. well, moto says it has marshals at 3 of its 49 service stations, in exeter, rugby, and wetherby, to deal with charge rage. it fears that it will keep spreading if nothing is done to improve infrastructure around electric vehicle charging. some in the industry say they can't install enough charging points to meet demand because there's a lack of connections to the national power grid. so how many electric cars are there in the uk? as of the end of august 2023, there were around 850,000 fully electric cars on uk roads. and a further 530,000 plug—in hybrids. what about charging points? so far, there are around a8,000 public ev charge points in 25,000 locations. but it can vary a lot depending where you live. the government's target is to install 300,000 public charge points by 2030. it's down to local authorities to deliver that. councils can bid for more funding to install more in their areas. the government says the number of public charge points has increased by 43% since last year, with the industry planning to install hundreds more charge points in the coming months. let's speak now to the motoring analyst amanda stretton in shrewsbury. do you think that is holding back some people from buying an electric car? ~ ., ., ., , some people from buying an electric car? .,. , car? without a doubt, consistently over the last _ car? without a doubt, consistently over the last five _ car? without a doubt, consistently over the last five or _ car? without a doubt, consistently over the last five or six _ car? without a doubt, consistently over the last five or six years, - over the last five or six years, data has shown that range anxiety is one of the highest factors in people's choices, so people feel they might not be able to charge in they might not be able to charge in the middle of the journeys, they might not be able to charge in the middle of thejourneys, it they might not be able to charge in the middle of the journeys, it will only make things worse. is the middle of the journeys, it will only make things worse.- only make things worse. is this a articular only make things worse. is this a particular problem _ only make things worse. is this a particular problem in _ only make things worse. is this a particular problem in the - only make things worse. is this a particular problem in the uk? - only make things worse. is this a l particular problem in the uk? how only make things worse. is this a - particular problem in the uk? how do we compare with countries across europe? we we compare with countries across euro e? ~ ., we compare with countries across euroe? ~ ., ., ., we compare with countries across euroe? . ., ., ., we compare with countries across euroe? ~ ., ., ., europe? we are not doing too bad, in terms of ev — europe? we are not doing too bad, in terms of ev sales _ europe? we are not doing too bad, in terms of ev sales we _ europe? we are not doing too bad, in terms of ev sales we are _ europe? we are not doing too bad, in terms of ev sales we are behind - terms of ev sales we are behind the scandinavian countries, who have always performed very well, and we are not doing too bad, and we are also not doing too bad in terms of that infrastructure roll—out either, we are consistently in the top ten, but i think the data you have just shown, those numbers, go to show we need more, and we need more very quickly. the government's target of 300,000 by 2030, which was when we expected the ban of internal combustion engines, that has now been pushed, we are still woefully off, and although there is a huge increase in public charging being rolled out, it is very glitchy, and as you say, it is very much concentrated in certain areas, because what the government has done is they have focused, they have put all their eggs in the basket of going down commercial enterprises, rather than actually putting in infrastructure through councils themselves.— infrastructure through councils themselves. , ., ., ., themselves. sorry, what do you mean b that? themselves. sorry, what do you mean by that? what — themselves. sorry, what do you mean by that? what i _ themselves. sorry, what do you mean by that? what i mean _ themselves. sorry, what do you mean by that? what i mean is _ themselves. sorry, what do you mean by that? what i mean is they - themselves. sorry, what do you mean by that? what i mean is they are - by that? what i mean is they are rel in: by that? what i mean is they are relying very _ by that? what i mean is they are relying very heavily _ by that? what i mean is they are relying very heavily on _ by that? what i mean is they are relying very heavily on the - relying very heavily on the commercial, and businesses, to actually put those charging ports, that infrastructure, in, ratherthan actually looking at the network of roads that we have of making sure it is evenly distributed across the country, because as a business owner, what i would be doing is looking at where the heaviest footfall is putting my charging station rather than looking at where the gaps in the charging infrastructure are and making sure that therefore the country is well served. 50 this is what we are seeing, density of charges in certain areas, and essentially a desert and others. so certain areas, and essentially a desert and others.— certain areas, and essentially a desert and others. so what is the solution, then? _ desert and others. so what is the solution, then? we _ desert and others. so what is the solution, then? we know- desert and others. so what is the solution, then? we know public i solution, then? we know public finances are under pressure, a lot of people want to do the right thing, but as you say, if it is a deterrent that they cannot complete a journey without factoring in an extra two or three hours to get to a charge point, to wait for it to become available, how do we solve this? it become available, how do we solve this? , ., , become available, how do we solve this? , . , ., this? it is a very tricky one. if i had a magic — this? it is a very tricky one. if i had a magic one, _ this? it is a very tricky one. if i had a magic one, i— this? it is a very tricky one. if i had a magic one, i would - this? it is a very tricky one. if i had a magic one, i would put. this? it is a very tricky one. if i | had a magic one, i would put in this? it is a very tricky one. if i - had a magic one, i would put in some sort of organisation who could centralise everything. we clearly need better infrastructure, and by that i'm in the energy being actually available where we need it. that requires a huge amount of investment, as you say, councils were able to bid for some grants in order to do that, but the amount of money that was available was woefully small. and really, it wasn't going to scratch the tip of the iceberg on that. so we need to be able to have much better connectivity in the places where we actually need connectors rather than where the most volume of traffic is. and i think this just needs to be brought in—house, and i think we need to have an organisation, a body that will actually look at the uk and the road infrastructure and decide where it needs to be, so we do not have this problem. i}!(. do not have this problem. 0k, thank ou ve do not have this problem. 0k, thank you very much. _ do not have this problem. 0k, thank you very much, amanda. _ the government says the number of public charge points has increased by 43% since last year, with the industry planning to install hundreds more charge points in the coming months, so hopefully less of a long wait for drivers at plug—in points. nowjohn is here with the sport news. good morning. lots of tributes to francis lee. vincent kompany says he will reflect on the momets shared together. a lot of city fans calling him one of the club's original stars. and you might remember the central part he played in this iconic piece of commentary. lee. interesting! very interesting! 0h! lee. interesting! very interesting! oh! look at his face! just look at his face! yes, that goal actually scored for derby county, the famous voice of barry davies there, where lee played aftre leaving city. he also played for england, earning 27 caps, scoring ten goals. champions league football returns tonight, and manchester united manager erik ten hag has confirmed winger antony will be available for their game with galatasaray, following a leave of absence to address allegations of domestic abuse. the 23—year—old has missed five games since being given leave on full pay by united to address the allegations, which have been made by three different women. antony will be in consideration. yesterday was his first time back in team training. we will have to make a decision, but he will be in consideration. arsenal play lens later too, and then tomorrow, newcastle are back in action, theirfirst home game in the champions league in 20 years. and to mark it, they've done this impressive fly through of the famous st james' park stadium. but the drone show that followed was even more impressive, creating the club's mascot in the skies above the stadium, shirts with the players' names on, all ahead of the visit of paris saint—germain tomorrow night. how cool does that work? looks incredible- _ how cool does that work? looks incredible. do _ how cool does that work? looks incredible. do you think - how cool does that work? looks incredible. do you think they - how cool does that work? looks| incredible. do you think they are trying to frighten them? it incredible. do you think they are trying to frighten them?- trying to frighten them? it could become a tactic— trying to frighten them? it could become a tactic for _ trying to frighten them? it could become a tactic for them. - trying to frighten them? it could - become a tactic for them. beautiful, isn't it? maybe _ become a tactic for them. beautiful, isn't it? maybe we _ become a tactic for them. beautiful, isn't it? maybe we should _ become a tactic for them. beautiful, isn't it? maybe we should do - become a tactic for them. beautiful, isn't it? maybe we should do that. isn't it? maybe we should do that here every _ isn't it? maybe we should do that here every morning. _ isn't it? maybe we should do that here every morning. nugent, - isn't it? maybe we should do that - here every morning. nugent, watson. who is going to pay for that, jon? carol has the weather. all this cloud has been reducing some rain, i will show you that in a minute, moving away, and two distinctive areas of cloud as well. these are all weather fronts. a lot of rain last night producing roughly 1400 of rain last night producing roughly moo lightning strikes. the whole lot is moving eastwards but the shower will continue to fall across the north and the west, but they will be fairly frequent as they go through the course of the day. so if you take away from this forecast, we are looking at bright spells in sunny intervals, and some blustery showers today, you won't go too far wrong. wherever you are, you will notice the blustery breeze, but high—pressure starting to building in the south. subtle because of the afternoon, we will lose some of the showers here. temperatures 13 to about 19 celsius north to south. but don't forget, if you are exposed to be westerly or north—westerly wind, it will feel cooler than those temperatures suggest. heading for the evening and overnight, there will still be some show�*s around, by the end of the night, we have some heavy rain coming in across northern parts of northern ireland, and also scotland. the rain here will be a feature for the next few days, and we will see rainfall amounts really total up, especially across parts of scotland. but it is not going to be a particularly cold night, overnight lows of eight to 11 celsius. we have two minor fronts crossing lows of eight to 11 celsius. we have two minorfronts crossing us, a fair bit of rain around, but in southern parts of the country, dryer, a bit more sunshine around, a few showers and some western errors, but the rain persistent across northern parts of northern ireland and also central and parts of southern scotland. behind that, we are looking at a mixture of bright spells of sunshine and showers, and again in winding do whatever you are, highs of 12 to 19 celsius. carrying on through the forecast through the week, more rain comes in across northern ireland and also scotland, some showers across wales and at times south—western would command a bit more cloud building ahead in the far south east, but once again high—pressure still firmly in charge, southern areas in south—eastern areas much more settled. temperatures 12 to 19 celsius. after that we start to see a change in the weather in terms of temperature, so this high—pressure ridge builds across us, and weather fronts north of the country, the north of the country prone to some rain at times, but temperature wise, a quick look, 13 to 22 celsius on friday. saturday, a bit higher, 22 to 26, and on sunday coming down a little bit in the far north, but still above average for the time of year, and still very warm for the time of year, 26 celsius. carroll, how unusual is this? not record—breaking, but quite unusual, the weather has been all over the place this year. carol, thank you very much. the time is 8.45. britain's first black train—guard has had a train named in his honour. asquith xavier came to london as part of the windrush generation. he was rejected from a job at euston because he was black, but he successfully fought for equal rights. aysha buksh has his remarkable story. the 19605 were for some an era of freedom and liberation. but on the railways and in the workplace, there was still discrimination and inequality. asquith xavier came to london from the caribbean island of dominica. he was hired by british rail and he worked his way up from being a porter to a guard. according to his family, he was a popular and hard—working man. he was never sick. i've only known him to be sick once throughout his working life. he's a very strict father. he was... ..just an ordinary man, really, just an ordinary dad. and whatever he did, he did it out of compassion because he cared about people. he would take me everywhere on the trains. i remember being a little girl, and he was always either holding my hand or carrying me to different train stations. and one thing i did notice, everybody was saying, "hi, asquith, hi, asquith!" you know, that's how popular he was. but i didn't understand that, ijust thought, "why is everybody calling my dad's name?" tony donohue was a young guard who was trained by asquith at marylebone station. he was very influential in teaching me the practical side of what i had learned from the rule book in terms of safety. for example, i vividly remember him saying "a guard's most important job is safety. looking after the passengers, that is a guard's most importantjob." i vividly remember that. then in 1966, during a railway restructuring, asquith applied for a guard's job at euston, but he was rejected. he discovered the station had a colour bar, a whites—only recruitment policy for public—facing roles such as ticket collectors and guards. asquith refused to bow down and campaigned for equal rights for all, a fight which went all the way to parliament, and eventually, the policy was overturned. this was how a british rail spokesperson at the time told the bbc. what about the future? will coloured men be promoted? they'll be treated on their merits, just like everyone else. the colour bar has ended now? ended, fully. asquith xavier continued to receive hate mail and death threats for some time, even needing a police escort to go to work at euston station. but his case contributed to the strengthening of the race relations act, making it illegal for anyone to be refused a job because of their ethnicity. and decades later, asquith xavier's contribution to black british history has finally been recognised. a train dedicated to him was unveiled at the very station which witnessed his struggles. how do you feel today? oh, i feel sentimental today. i feel sentimental. but i'm looking at the train with the name on it, and that gives me pleasure. amazing, emotional. i feel very proud, very proud, i'm going to pass this on to my grandchildren, you know, friends and family everywhere. i'mjust, like, so happy. i'm amazed that someone actually did the research and came up— with the original idea to name a train after my dad. - i mean, how special is that? the asquith xavier train will travel on the avanti west coast line between london and birmingham, liverpool and glasgow. his family hope future generations will learn about his legacy, notjust during black history month, but all year round. aysha buksh, bbc news. what a story. what a life and put a moment for that family. —— what a moment. when most of us have a big birthday, one with a zero on the end, we might throw a party or head to the pub, orjust lie in bed and cry, but beverley knight is marking her 50th with a uk tour. she's also just released a new album. before we speak to beverley, let's hear a couple of her classic hits, and her latest single. singing beverley joins us now. first of all, i loved watching you on strictly on saturday, because you really enjoyed it, i could tell. i did, i did not realise the camera was still on me going, that was fun. it was great. but was still on me going, that was fun. it was great-— it was great. but when you are en'o in: it was great. but when you are enjoying it. — it was great. but when you are enjoying it. we — it was great. but when you are enjoying it, we all— it was great. but when you are enjoying it, we all enjoy - it was great. but when you are enjoying it, we all enjoy it - it was great. but when you are l enjoying it, we all enjoy it more. exactly, and if something is written on my epitaph, not yet, that would be it. i am enjoying it, so i want you guys to enjoy it, too. that is the whole point of doing what i do. it is entertainment.— it is entertainment. absolutely, i am supposed _ it is entertainment. absolutely, i am supposed to _ it is entertainment. absolutely, i am supposed to be _ it is entertainment. absolutely, i am supposed to be a _ it is entertainment. absolutely, i am supposed to be a joy - it is entertainment. absolutely, i am supposed to be a joy get - it is entertainment. absolutely, i am supposed to be a joy get out| am supposed to be a joy get out unless i am joyful myself —— i cannot do that unless i am joyful myself. so i try to bring that energy. myself. so i try to bring that ener: . ., , , , energy. you must still be en'oying it because there is i energy. you must still be en'oying it because there is another_ energy. you must still be enjoying j it because there is another album. another album, yes, the fifth chapter. i could not be more proud and more pleased with the fact that people still want to hear more music from me. ithought people still want to hear more music from me. i thought i would sell my 50th year, so i called at the fifth chapter, and just brought that celebration and that feeling of having a second wind in my career and my life on to record. is having a second wind in my career and my life on to record.— and my life on to record. is that what it feels — and my life on to record. is that what it feels like, _ and my life on to record. is that what it feels like, a _ and my life on to record. is that what it feels like, a reboot? - and my life on to record. is that i what it feels like, a reboot? yeah, a reboot, what it feels like, a reboot? yeah, a reboot. l — what it feels like, a reboot? yeah, a reboot, i like _ what it feels like, a reboot? yeah, a reboot, i like that, _ what it feels like, a reboot? yeah, a reboot, i like that, that - what it feels like, a reboot? yeah, a reboot, i like that, that is - a reboot, i like that, that is exactly. you get to a stage in your life where you feel as though, ok, i have accomplished certain things, 0k, have accomplished certain things, ok, what next? and has almost like the universe goes, right, i am going to give you a shelf in this direction, just go with it and trust the process. and here we are with another album.— the process. and here we are with another album. interesting, what do ou mean another album. interesting, what do you mean by — another album. interesting, what do you mean by that? _ another album. interesting, what do you mean by that? do _ another album. interesting, what do you mean by that? do you _ another album. interesting, what do you mean by that? do you mean - another album. interesting, what do you mean by that? do you mean it l you mean by that? do you mean it just kind of came out you?- you mean by that? do you mean it just kind of came out you? yeah, as the bi 50 just kind of came out you? yeah, as the big 50 was _ just kind of came out you? yeah, as the big 50 was coming, _ just kind of came out you? yeah, as the big 50 was coming, i _ the big 50 was coming, ifound myself instead of thinking, oh, my god, i'm dreading this, i thought, this is a reason to celebrate, it is a privilege to be at this age. and to still have health and strength and everything, and i thought i am going to celebrate, and that means music. ., , , . going to celebrate, and that means music. . , , . . . �* music. has the music changed? are ou music. has the music changed? are you singing — music. has the music changed? are you singing about — music. has the music changed? are you singing about different - music. has the music changed? are you singing about different things . you singing about different things now? , ., , . ., now? the message does change, inevitably. _ now? the message does change, inevitably. you — now? the message does change, inevitably, you can... _ now? the message does change, inevitably, you can... song - now? the message does change, | inevitably, you can... song writers have the spotlight on this record, my voice kind of knits it all together, but i have been so busy, so i have had some writers come in and just help me craft. but there is and just help me craft. but there is a message of strength, empowerment, joy, a message of strength, empowerment, joy, celebration, standing by myself, and celebrating all things, you know, within immaturity. l myself, and celebrating all things, you know, within immaturity. i lose you know, within immaturity. i love the fact that _ you know, within immaturity. i love the fact that when _ you know, within immaturity. i love the fact that when you _ you know, within immaturity. i love the fact that when you decided - you know, within immaturity. i love the fact that when you decided to make album, you went, i am really busy, i have not necessarily good time to do all this myself, so you put the word out that he needed some writers to get in touch with you, and they did. writers to get in touch with you, and they did-— and they did. they did, and i'm eternally grateful, _ and they did. they did, and i'm eternally grateful, i _ and they did. they did, and i'm eternally grateful, i have - and they did. they did, and i'm eternally grateful, i have some j eternally grateful, i have some great talent, people like laura white, who famously was in the x factor, now is amazing songwriting career, she wrote a song with me. the legend that is diane warren wrote two songs for me, just glorious, and lots of other people, including an up—and—coming romanian writer who did the first two singles. it has been a joy to have some writers celebrated. we have our some writers celebrated. we have your single. _ some writers celebrated. we have your single. l _ some writers celebrated. we have your single, i think, _ some writers celebrated. we have your single, i think, and _ some writers celebrated. we have your single, i think, and we - some writers celebrated. we have your single, i think, and we can i your single, i think, and we can play it for everybody now. # rhythm is the life, just hear it calling...# you can tell how much you are enjoying this time in your life just watching the video. the enjoying this time in your life 'ust watching the videoi enjoying this time in your life 'ust watching the video. the thing with me was that _ watching the video. the thing with me was that particular _ watching the video. the thing with me was that particular video, - watching the video. the thing with me was that particular video, the l me was that particular video, the fact that it is al, there are lots of deep fake versions of me, i am dressed as a warrior walking through this psychedelic colourful world, but it is somebody of my generation using something which is so cutting—edge, so now, and it was put together by a fabulous young guy and my husband, and that is their vision, they got together and created this world for me, now i had to do was just a walk. 50 created this world for me, now i had to do wasjust a walk.— to do was 'ust a walk. so your husband to do wasjust a walk. so your husband is — to do wasjust a walk. so your husband is creating _ to do wasjust a walk. so your husband is creating a - to do wasjust a walk. so your| husband is creating a different version of you? i would be quite unnerved by that! what did he want to create? ~ . ., ~ to create? well, he created the ai world, to create? well, he created the ai world. and — to create? well, he created the ai world, and then _ to create? well, he created the ai world, and then the _ to create? well, he created the ai world, and then the rest - to create? well, he created the ai world, and then the rest is - to create? well, he created the ai world, and then the rest is very i world, and then the rest is very firmly me, very firmly me. you are not changing _ firmly me, very firmly me. you are not changing me. _ firmly me, very firmly me. you are not changing me. you _ firmly me, very firmly me. you are not changing me. you are - firmly me, very firmly me. you are not changing me. you are not i not changing me. you are not changing _ not changing me. you are not changing me! _ not changing me. you are not changing me! it _ not changing me. you are not changing me! it is _ not changing me. you are not changing me! it is thus i not changing me. you are not i changing me! it is thus different versions of you. bud changing me! it is thus different versions of you.— changing me! it is thus different versions of you. and in terms of the tour, that really _ versions of you. and in terms of the tour, that really will _ versions of you. and in terms of the tour, that really will be _ versions of you. and in terms of the tour, that really will be this - tour, that really will be this version of you. what will it be like for you to see fans, being back in touch? ~ ., ., . touch? we went through a pandemic that was really _ touch? we went through a pandemic that was really hard, _ touch? we went through a pandemic that was really hard, especially i that was really hard, especially that was really hard, especially that second lockdown, that was tough, and so to interact with fans again as me, not dressed up as a different character, butjust me as me, is probably the greatestjoy of it all. i am happiest when i am on stage, and to be able to have that two—way giving of energy and then everybody goes home happy, i cannot think of anything that gives greater joy think of anything that gives greater joy and fulfilment than that. it is joy and fulfilment than that. it is that “0 joy and fulfilment than that. it is that ioy give _ joy and fulfilment than that. it is that ioy give a — joy and fulfilment than that. it is that joy give a new— joy and fulfilment than that. it is that joy give a new again, joy and fulfilment than that. it is thatjoy give a new again, do joy and fulfilment than that. it is that joy give a new again, do you thatjoy give a new again, do you think a different kind ofjoy, different level of joy, think a different kind ofjoy, different level ofjoy, that you'd received back from the audience now, we maybe appreciate live events in a way that we kind of got used to, we took them for granted before the pandemic? it took them for granted before the andemic? , , .. pandemic? it is funny, i think we all did, pandemic? it is funny, i think we all did. going _ pandemic? it is funny, i think we all did. going to _ pandemic? it is funny, i think we all did, going to concerts - pandemic? it is funny, i think we all did, going to concerts or i pandemic? it is funny, i think we | all did, going to concerts or going to theatre, going to clubs or whatever, the night—time industry. when they stopped, and they stopped abruptly, all of us were sat at home thinking, that yearning to just go out and do things, and then we realised just how important those industries are, and notjust those that are front facing, what i do, but all the other industries that feed from that. you know, whether it be the people who will clean the venues, the security or costume designers or whatever, lighting operators, there is so much that just came to a halt, and now it is like we are celebrating them all and we appreciate all of them. do like we are celebrating them all and we appreciate all of them.— we appreciate all of them. do you feel like maybe _ we appreciate all of them. do you feel like maybe you _ we appreciate all of them. do you feel like maybe you have - we appreciate all of them. do you feel like maybe you have changed mentally slightly at that point, because we will have to appreciate things a little bit more now, and there's something about reaching a milestone birthday where you do have to be do we grateful?— to be do we grateful? yeah, so many --eole, to be do we grateful? yeah, so many people. wonderful — to be do we grateful? yeah, so many people, wonderful great _ to be do we grateful? yeah, so many people, wonderful great people, i to be do we grateful? yeah, so many| people, wonderful great people, they don't quite make it to this age group, and i think to myself, it is a privilege that i am still here and able to do what i do, do it to this level, and, you know, every day i have to remind myself, this is a privilege not a right, so have that gratitude in my spirit. every day, thatis gratitude in my spirit. every day, that is what i try and practice. performing, touring as you talking about different versions of yourself, but also acting, you have really embraced acting. that yourself, but also acting, you have really embraced acting.— really embraced acting. that has been a whole — really embraced acting. that has been a whole new— really embraced acting. that has been a whole new trip, - really embraced acting. that has been a whole new trip, which i really embraced acting. that has| been a whole new trip, which has been a whole new trip, which has been amazing. i acted as a child, but amateur, you know, back home standing on stage at wolverhampton grand theatre, i never thought that that the west end and beyond, and here i am ten years into the professionaljourney, and it has been wonderful. the theatre community has really embraced me, and again, something else i can add to my career. another version of me. how lovely to have you here. beverley�*s new album is called the fifth chapter. you're watching bbc breakfast. it's 8.59. good morning to you and thank you forjoining us this morning. whether you are listening or whether you are watching, and a special good morning to all conservatives. how are you feeling? this is the second of four special programmes that will run during the party conference season. a chance to see what the morale is like in the four largest parties and we want to hear from supporters and voters this morning. a chance for you to tell us how you are feeling. last week we spoke to the liberal democrats, still to come is the labour party and the snp. so, taking the tory temperature. plenty of heat, lots of stories. i've got a list. not least, hs2, rishi's sunak's pledges, the economy, immigration, small boats, nhs waiting lists, house turbulent times for the party, well behind in the polls. rishi sunak is fighting back. but 13 years in power, can they, can you, pull it back? if you are not a supporter, you can text us and we will read some of those out as well.