taking astronauts to the space station, if boeing's freight goes well. ., , ., ., well. having competition with two roviders well. having competition with two providers providing _ well. having competition with two providers providing nasa - well. having competition with two providers providing nasa with - well. having competition with two providers providing nasa with a i well. having competition with two i providers providing nasa with a way to and from the space station should bring down costs which is important for nasa and other space agencies like the european and the uk. because we are spending taxpayer's money on these flights to get our astronauts to the space station and we want to get best value for money. but regular missions to the space station will depend on there being no further serious technical issues. with so much at stake, it will be a big win for boeing. it is time now to digest the day's election campaigning. obviously we will do the political fallout from tuesday night's first televised political debate, but before we do that, give me the planes, trains and automobiles behind the scenes. you are all in salford like every political journalist minus me. i was here in my living room. journalist minus me. i was here in my living room-— journalist minus me. i was here in my living room. you were missed. it was a slow — my living room. you were missed. it was a slow trickle _ my living room. you were missed. it was a slow trickle of _ my living room. you were missed. it was a slow trickle of people - my living room. you were missed. it was a slow trickle of people rocking | was a slow trickle of people rocking up was a slow trickle of people rocking up in different parts of salford at different times all having got very strange to get there, i bumped into chris in salford in the reception of a hotel. very late at night. what on earth are you doing here? we didn't expect a pass to cross. the worst bit was getting back from salford this morning. the bit was getting back from salford this morning-— this morning. the train is on the west coast _ this morning. the train is on the west coast main _ this morning. the train is on the west coast main line _ this morning. the train is on the west coast main line but - this morning. the train is on the l west coast main line but between manchester and london, some people took about_ manchester and london, some people took about five hours, it is normally— took about five hours, it is normally about two hours. | took about five hours, it is normally about two hours. i happily not on the normally about two hours. i happily got on the one _ normally about two hours. i happily got on the one train _ normally about two hours. i happily got on the one train running - normally about two hours. i happily got on the one train running on - got on the one train running on time, no delays. just luck. we would have been in — time, no delays. just luck. we would have been in our— time, no delays. just luck. we would have been in our election _ time, no delays. just luck. we would have been in our election than, - have been in our election than, which _ have been in our election than, which we — have been in our election than, which we are trundling around the country _ which we are trundling around the count . a, ,., .,, which we are trundling around the country-_ it i country. the mason mobile. it doesnt country. the mason mobile. it doesn't have _ country. the mason mobile. it doesn't have any _ country. the mason mobile. it doesn't have any windows - country. the mason mobile. it doesn't have any windows in l country. the mason mobile. it l doesn't have any windows in the hack _ doesn't have any windows in the back it — doesn't have any windows in the back it is — doesn't have any windows in the back. it is lo—fi and low—tech compared _ back. it is lo—fi and low—tech compared with angela rayner's bus. that was— compared with angela rayner's bus. that was the reference. not any windows — that was the reference. not any windows in— that was the reference. not any windows in the back. i can work away without _ windows in the back. i can work away without getting distracted. that windows in the back. i can work away without getting distracted.— without getting distracted. that is the traffic and _ without getting distracted. that is the traffic and travel, _ without getting distracted. that is the traffic and travel, on - without getting distracted. that is the traffic and travel, on with - without getting distracted. that is the traffic and travel, on with the | the traffic and travel, on with the news. it is adam in the studio. and chris on a rare trip _ it is adam in the studio. and chris on a rare trip to _ it is adam in the studio. and chris on a rare trip to the _ it is adam in the studio. and chris on a rare trip to the capital. - it is adam in the studio. and chris on a rare trip to the capital. and l on a rare trip to the capital. and it is alex also _ on a rare trip to the capital. and it is alex also in _ on a rare trip to the capital. and it is alex also in the _ on a rare trip to the capital. jifuc it is alex also in the studio. on a rare trip to the capital. and it is alex also in the studio. the | it is alex also in the studio. the election debate _ it is alex also in the studio. the election debate that happened in salford on tuesday night between rishi sunak and keir starmer, i thought... well, itook rishi sunak and keir starmer, i thought... well, i took my lead from the new gulf poll which came out soon afterwards saying that amongst the people they had sampled 51% of people said that rishi sunak had one, a0 1% people said that rishi sunak had one, a0 i% thought keir starmer had done best. but we got some opinion polls from other companies flipping it around the other way.— it around the other way. there are two things — it around the other way. there are two things you _ it around the other way. there are two things you can _ it around the other way. there are two things you can take _ it around the other way. there are two things you can take from - it around the other way. there are| two things you can take from that, the first thing we frequently say is you have to treat every opinion poll with a pinch of salt. only a patent counts. the second thing is the broad conclusion that no one really one, there wasn't a standout winner. there wasn't a knockout blow. therefore, it leaves the question of how much this changes the direction of the campaign. there were important things in it that have been developed. the important things in it that have been developed.— important things in it that have been develo ed. ., ., been developed. the one thing that intriaued been developed. the one thing that intrigued me _ been developed. the one thing that intrigued me about _ been developed. the one thing that intrigued me about the _ been developed. the one thing that intrigued me about the polls, - been developed. the one thing that intrigued me about the polls, and l intrigued me about the polls, and the one _ intrigued me about the polls, and the one that came out this morning, the one that came out this morning, the gap _ the one that came out this morning, the gap they suggested between the relative _ the gap they suggested between the relative performance of the two of them _ relative performance of the two of them was — relative performance of the two of them was wider in keir starmer's favoured — them was wider in keir starmer's favoured than the very small gap in wishes _ favoured than the very small gap in wishes an— favoured than the very small gap in wishes an act does not favour in the yougov— wishes an act does not favour in the yougov pott — wishes an act does not favour in the yougov poll. the thing i find myself pondering, — yougov poll. the thing i find myself pondering, ended a doubling of the answer. _ pondering, ended a doubling of the answer. is — pondering, ended a doubling of the answer, is if you look at all three of those — answer, is if you look at all three of those tools and assert all the caveats — of those tools and assert all the caveats that alex does, i found myself — caveats that alex does, i found myself thinking whatever the gap is between _ myself thinking whatever the gap is between them, and let's look at those _ between them, and let's look at those ones where keir starmer has an apparent _ those ones where keir starmer has an apparent need, that gap seemed narrower— apparent need, that gap seemed narrower than some of the wider opinion— narrower than some of the wider opinion polls suggest, as the gap in popularity— opinion polls suggest, as the gap in popularity between conservatives and lahour~ _ popularity between conservatives and lahour~ we _ popularity between conservatives and labour. we are comparing apples and pears, _ labour. we are comparing apples and pears, because a party political opinion— pears, because a party political opinion pollster is a greater spread of options — opinion pollster is a greater spread of options. just because you are watching — of options. just because you are watching the telly included one man one, doesn't mean it was sufficient to alter— one, doesn't mean it was sufficient to alter how— one, doesn't mean it was sufficient to alter how you might vote. just to throw— to alter how you might vote. just to throw that — to alter how you might vote. just to throw that into the mix. but i think you are _ throw that into the mix. but i think you are right. it is always hard. what _ you are right. it is always hard. what is — you are right. it is always hard. what is victory? but i think given where _ what is victory? but i think given where rishi sunak was, psychologically and with his own party, _ psychologically and with his own party, he — psychologically and with his own party, he came out looking like he had plenty— party, he came out looking like he had plenty of fight in him. that matters, — had plenty of fight in him. that matters, even if only for a morale on his— matters, even if only for a morale on his site — matters, even if only for a morale on his site anything else. the more relevant question _ on his site anything else. the more relevant question in _ on his site anything else. the more relevant question in the _ on his site anything else. the more relevant question in the debates i on his site anything else. the more relevant question in the debates to | relevant question in the debates to come, is not who won but did anyone really lose? is the jeopardy in danger of huge mistake greater than the narrow edge of victory in this campaign? that actually might end up going on to have more consequence. and that whole thing of rishi sunak drawing equal orjust going ahead of keir starmer in one full might feel like a massive victory to some conservatives because in the other polls, they are so far behind labour, so a draw is winning. even if we are looking at other polls which say something completely different. i have learnt over the years that my predictive skills are not very good. amongst friends in the pub, i have predicted something and they have ended up being wrong. that is why i don't make predictions any more apart from last night. i didn't even stick to my script. you have a script? _ didn't even stick to my script. you have a script? my _ didn't even stick to my script. you have a script? my mental - didn't even stick to my script. you have a script? my mental script! l didn't even stick to my script. you i have a script? my mental script! but what's that? — have a script? my mental script! but what's that? chris _ have a script? my mental script! but what's that? chris has _ have a script? my mental script! but what's that? chris has a _ have a script? my mental script! but what's that? chris has a notepad - have a script? my mental script! but what's that? chris has a notepad in i what's that? chris has a notepad in front of him. as soon as labour are going to put up your taxes by £2000, i said that is going to be a big deal. i wasn't sure in what direction the deal would go, whether it would be disastrous for labour this because people would be like what i they not telling us? or it would backfire on the person making the claim. it has gone in both directions. the claim. it has gone in both directions-— the claim. it has gone in both directions. , ,, .,~ , . ., directions. rishi sunak may be claim loads and loads _ directions. rishi sunak may be claim loads and loads of _ directions. rishi sunak may be claim loads and loads of times _ directions. rishi sunak may be claim loads and loads of times on - directions. rishi sunak may be claim loads and loads of times on the - loads and loads of times on the programme, as we were reflecting last time _ programme, as we were reflecting last time it — programme, as we were reflecting last time it took quite a while for keir starmer to knock it down and say it _ keir starmer to knock it down and say it was— keir starmer to knock it down and say it was false. then this morning a cabinet _ say it was false. then this morning a cabinet minister was doing what is known _ a cabinet minister was doing what is known as— a cabinet minister was doing what is known as the morning round, popping up known as the morning round, popping up on _ known as the morning round, popping up on various — known as the morning round, popping up on various media outlets and she is a cabinet — up on various media outlets and she is a cabinet minister but also every close _ is a cabinet minister but also every close ally— is a cabinet minister but also every close ally of — is a cabinet minister but also every close ally of rishi sunak. they worked — close ally of rishi sunak. they worked together at the treasury when he was _ worked together at the treasury when he was a _ worked together at the treasury when he was a minister and she was a special— he was a minister and she was a special adviser. and she made the same _ special adviser. and she made the same point, without much caveat in said this _ same point, without much caveat in said this number had come about via independent treasury analysis. some elements— independent treasury analysis. some elements of that number had come about— elements of that number had come about by— elements of that number had come about by political appointees, conservative advisers, asking the treasury — conservative advisers, asking the treasury civil servants to do some number— treasury civil servants to do some number crunching based on their own political— number crunching based on their own political assumptions about elements of lahours— political assumptions about elements of labour's spending. midway through this round, _ of labour's spending. midway through this round, that clear coutinho was doing. _ this round, that clear coutinho was doing, labour published a letter that they— doing, labour published a letter that they got a couple of days ago from _ that they got a couple of days ago from the — that they got a couple of days ago from the most senior civil servant in the _ from the most senior civil servant in the treasury in response to a letter— in the treasury in response to a letter that— in the treasury in response to a letter that labour had written to him, _ letter that labour had written to him. in — letter that labour had written to him, in which this civil servant said _ him, in which this civil servant said not— him, in which this civil servant said not all— him, in which this civil servant said not all of what the conservatives are claiming in this number, — conservatives are claiming in this number, this £2000 additional tax claim _ number, this £2000 additional tax claim number did come from the numbers— claim number did come from the numbers that we crunched, and we have _ numbers that we crunched, and we have made — numbers that we crunched, and we have made that clear to ministers, that they— have made that clear to ministers, that they should not be claiming otherwise. claire coutinho explicitly referred to the... and then— explicitly referred to the... and then there _ explicitly referred to the... and then there is appears this letter published by him, published by labour, — published by him, published by labour, i'm picking one element, and there _ labour, i'm picking one element, and there is— labour, i'm picking one element, and there is a _ labour, i'm picking one element, and there is a few— labour, i'm picking one element, and there is a few we can pick away at, around _ there is a few we can pick away at, around the — there is a few we can pick away at, around the misleading nature of that conservative claim.— conservative claim. there are so much we can _ conservative claim. there are so much we can discuss _ conservative claim. there are so much we can discuss about - conservative claim. there are so much we can discuss about this, | conservative claim. there are so - much we can discuss about this, and let's break it down into chunks. let's talk about the 2010 figure. my issue with it as someone who can spot accuracy as statistics is it is a meaningless number on its own terms because it is assuming every household pays the same amount of tax, and any changes would be applied equally to every single household, so from a basic arithmetic point of view, it is not accurate to the world. even if you have no issue with any of the mathematics, it is times to buy for because it is talking about over a four—year period. because it is talking about over a four-year period.— because it is talking about over a four-year period. most people, to the extent — four-year period. most people, to the extent to _ four-year period. most people, to the extent to which _ four-year period. most people, to the extent to which we _ four-year period. most people, to the extent to which we think- four-year period. most people, to| the extent to which we think about tax bills, _ the extent to which we think about tax bills, are likely to think of them — tax bills, are likely to think of them on _ tax bills, are likely to think of them on an annual basis. gr tax bills, are likely to think of them on an annual basis. or even monthl . them on an annual basis. or even monthly- and _ them on an annual basis. or even monthly. and then _ them on an annual basis. or even monthly. and then there - them on an annual basis. or even monthly. and then there is - them on an annual basis. or even monthly. and then there is the i them on an annual basis. or even i monthly. and then there is the issue about the role _ monthly. and then there is the issue about the role of— monthly. and then there is the issue about the role of the _ monthly. and then there is the issue about the role of the treasury, i about the role of the treasury, secondly — about the role of the treasury, secondly making clear the fact that the treasury does the numbers and there _ the treasury does the numbers and there is— the treasury does the numbers and there is a _ the treasury does the numbers and there is a convention here, in previous— there is a convention here, in previous governments of various colours — previous governments of various colours have done it. they run the numbers _ colours have done it. they run the numbers based on the assumptions handed _ numbers based on the assumptions handed to _ numbers based on the assumptions handed to them by the political advisers — handed to them by the political advisers. there is an element in the document— advisers. there is an element in the document which refers to what is labour's — document which refers to what is labour's green prosperity plan, as they call— labour's green prosperity pl