Transcripts For BBCNEWS BBC 20240611

katherine, i'm rishi. ..as rishi sunak prepares to set out his party's plans for another five years in government. on the eve of his manifesto launch last night, the prime minister hinted at tax cuts to come. we will have a manifesto that builds on all the things that you've just gone through that we've already announced in this campaign — that, yes, does continue to cut people's taxes, because i believe in a country where people's hard work is rewarded. after cutting national insurance last autumn — and in the spring — the manifesto will promise to cut it by a further two pence for employees. it will also pledge that the state pension will not be taxed, and make permanent an existing cut to stamp duty for first—time buyers, as well as promising that parents will only have to start paying back child benefit when their household income reaches £120,000. the manifesto will also contain pledges to raise defence spending, reform the welfare system, and double down on plans to send asylum—seekers to rwanda. labour say it all amounts to a desperate wish list from what they call a desperate prime minister. after 14 years of the tories, the money is not there. so no matter what promise rishi sunak makes in his manifesto in the coming days, he's not able to deliver on any of them because he cannot explain where the money is coming from. the prime minister will be hoping today is a day to win notjust attention — but votes, as well — as he tries to turn his party's fortunes around after a rocky few days. hannah miller, bbc news. 0ur political correspondent terry farley is on the road with the tory campaign. where will you be ending up campaign. where will you be ending up today and where are the tories hoping to end up after they launched their manifesto campaign? we hoping to end up after they launched their manifesto campaign?— hoping to end up after they launched their manifesto campaign? we are on our wa to their manifesto campaign? we are on our way to silverstone _ their manifesto campaign? we are on our way to silverstone race _ their manifesto campaign? we are on our way to silverstone race circuit, i our way to silverstone race circuit, the home of the british grand prix, where the conservatives will launch their manifesto later, so cue all kinds of puns about pile—ups at turn one or dramatic overtakes, dispensing on your perspective. the 2p qatar national insurance is perhaps the headline figure at the moment from what we expect from the conservatives' manifesto. —— the 2p cut. labourwill conservatives' manifesto. —— the 2p cut. labour will not pledge to match that because they say the money is not bad. more broadly labour described the conservatives' manifesto as the longest panicked... (inaudible) . we will be getting costings when we get them and so we can explain how the conservatives think they can beat those pledges. as well as the 2p cut to national insurance we expect measures on housing, cuts to caps for when landlords sell their properties to tenants and a new version of the help to buy scheme, part of the conservatives' of the parts to younger voters hoping to get on the housing ladder, but one of the key questions is how these measures add up. we have heard a whole range of policies from the conservatives over the last few weeks, national insurance for young people, the triple lock plus to make sure pensioners do not pay tax. (inaudible) , new apprenticeships. the conservatives launching new policies and measures in a bid to try to grab attention but today it's one of their last set piece opportunities, i suppose, to grab the attention and persuade voters that they have the best plan over the future of the country. best plan over the future of the count . . , ., ~ ,, , best plan over the future of the count . . , ., , . country. harry, thank you very much. lookin: country. harry, thank you very much. looking forward _ country. harry, thank you very much. looking forward to _ country. harry, thank you very much. looking forward to cian _ country. harry, thank you very much. looking forward to cian harries - looking forward to cian harries zooming around the race at silverstone very shortly. let's talk to you about what labour has said, unsurprisingly labour has been critical of the conservative plan. the party will unveil its manifesto later in the week. let's speak live to our political correspondent ione wells on the labour bus, talk as to what labour had said about the conservative plans? == what labour had said about the conservative plans?— conservative plans? -- talk us through- _ conservative plans? -- talk us through- the _ conservative plans? -- talk us through. the main _ conservative plans? -- talk us through. the main response . conservative plans? -- talk us i through. the main response from labour in response to the conservative plans is in the words of labour shadow ministers, they feel it is another liz truss plan of promises, they argue some of the tories' plans are underfunded and this is a wish list that will not be achievable in practice. they particularly criticised plans to cut taxes like national insurance further and while labour has said they will not be looking to raise personal taxes like income tax, national insurance or vat, they have also said they will not be able to catch them and that would not be affordable at this time, so that is the response to some of the trails we have seen of the conservative manifesto but as we discussed, the labour manifesto will be revealed later this week. in the meantime their focus is on children's health in particular and children's dentistry with an announcement that they would have 100,000 new dental appointments for children, supervised tooth—brushing in schools and a ban on high caffeinated energy drinks. those are the main policies that labour are talking about today. ione wells on the labour bus, thank you. it is a big day for manifestos, a big week for manifestos. we know a little bit about what could be included in the tory manifesto. nick eardley has a round—up of proposals and how they might be paid for. good morning. yes, the manifestos are a big deal. they become the policy bible for whoever is in government. today we get the conservative offering, and we already know a few of the policies that they are pledging. tax cuts, we'll get the details later. introducing a form of national service. tax breaks for first time home—buyers, raising the tax—free pension allowance and allowing higher earners to keep more child benefit payments. there will be more, i'm sure, in the document today. but all of this costs money. so where is it coming from and do the plans add up? well, we already know some of the areas where the conservatives think they can find more cash to fund their policies. firstly, this — collecting more of the tax people already owe. the idea is simple. that you fund the tax office better and it's able to crack down on tax avoidance. the conservatives think this can raise about £6 billion a year. labour actually have a similar policy. they think it will raise about £5 billion extra. but will it work? well, some of the experts we asked said the figures were uncertain. and as you can see here, another group, the tax policy associates, say it is credible but with a big caveat, and that's that the policy would need to be targeted. so not easy to get to that six billion figure, but not impossible. the bigger pledge the conservatives have is this — reducing welfare spending by £12 billion a year. we asked the conservatives for the numbers and they were adamant that this is possible. but we also spoke to experts who aren't so sure. this is what the institute for fiscal studies said. "it looks difficult in the extreme." another group of experts, the resolution foundation, said it looks extremely challenging to deliver. so there is already some scepticism about the figures. and by the way, if any of this rings bells, if it sounds familiar, have a look at this. "we found annual savings of 12 billion from welfare, five billion from tackling tax evasion." that's not from today. that's from this man, george osborne, in 2015. and a good chunk of that 12 billion pledge, about a third of the welfare goal, was never collected, according to the government's spending watchdog. so that's worth bearing in mind today. the conservatives have also set themselves some rules which will make it harder to raise money. they are saying no to all of this — raises in income tax, vat, national insurance. add in some of the other rules that they've put in place and that leaves some economists warning we may see a spending squeeze, whether it's labour or the conservatives who are in power after the general election. we'll get the full conservative manifesto later this morning. we'll be flicking through it all, looking at the policies, looking at the numbers, and there'll be a lot more across the bbc throughout the day. there will indeed. everyone knows how important a good manifestos, especially candidates who need to be across then to pass on the message. let's speak to a political strategist and former conservative special adviser in the welsh office during david cameron's coalition administration. what makes a good manifesto? ., ., ., ., , manifesto? preparation, and that is one of the things _ manifesto? preparation, and that is one of the things that _ manifesto? preparation, and that is one of the things that worries - manifesto? preparation, and that is one of the things that worries me i one of the things that worries me most about this election and it is a similar concern we had as a result of the 2017 election, because they would snap elections not a lot of work had gone in over the course of many months to try to put together policies that were completely bullet—proof and to bring everybody with you. we have already had some policies announced over the last couple of weeks where we have had very serious doubts raised by the very serious doubts raised by the very people who are meant to go and champion these policies on behalf of the senior team of the conservative party. i worry we will have a similar problem when the document is launched today. what similar problem when the document is launched today-— launched today. what is your biggest wor ? the launched today. what is your biggest worry? the biggest _ launched today. what is your biggest worry? the biggest worry _ launched today. what is your biggest worry? the biggest worry is - launched today. what is your biggest worry? the biggest worry is that, - worry? the biggest worry is that, that we will _ worry? the biggest worry is that, that we will have _ worry? the biggest worry is that, that we will have a _ worry? the biggest worry is that, that we will have a huge - worry? the biggest worry is that, that we will have a huge team . worry? the biggest worry is that, that we will have a huge team of| that we will have a huge team of people, all of whom come on television or go to their local hustings or papers and say, well, i don't feel quite comfortable about what we said in that chapter and i am not sure about what that little bit means. the more people you have given that the more stories you have saying the prime minister has not got a team with him, this is a document written in isolation, a conservative party whip and heal about splits, every one of those creates a problem so disunity resulting from a document not wholly accepted or championed by every person who needs to do it becomes a very difficult communications problem in the short term. that very difficult communications problem in the short term. at the moment there _ problem in the short term. at the moment there must _ problem in the short term. at the moment there must be _ problem in the short term. at the moment there must be pressure l problem in the short term. at the l moment there must be pressure on rishi sunakfrom different moment there must be pressure on rishi sunak from different elements, how popular do you think his team is among tory candidates and tory teams up among tory candidates and tory teams up and down the country given the news over the last week?- up and down the country given the news over the last week? there are lots of people _ news over the last week? there are lots of people who _ news over the last week? there are lots of people who work _ news over the last week? there are lots of people who work for - news over the last week? there are lots of people who work for rishi i lots of people who work for rishi sunak who i like very much and lots of whom who i do not particularly right. i think i am average for many people who work day today in politics and know the people involved. that is usually the case within the conservative party, whoever the leader has working for them will have people like to buy one team, disliked by another and a whole group that go into the other category. but i think we have a problem where having rushed into this decision without bringing his cabinet with him and remembering he went to the king before he went to his cabinet, it means the team immediately around him who made that decision come in for criticism in a way they ought invariably would not because they are viewed as part of the unit which basically pulled the team into a decision they probably did not —— in way be ordinarily would not be. we have a problem with the legitimacy of the people he has around him and lots of the policies that have come out such as national service is one that landed very badly with huge chunks of people on the one hand because it was believed it was not really deliverable that it was not really deliverable that it would have the impact wanted, and on the other hand in many respects if you're going to do national service, it does not go far enough to have a huge chunk of the population only doing 25 days of volunteering a year. they pleased nobody with what they put out and if it is the same group of people putting out this manifesto, and i will reiterate, a full manifesto without a great deal of time to put it together in front of the 2015 campaign, we had about 18 to 2a months of policy commissions within the senior leadership, the wales 0ffice the senior leadership, the wales office was obviously sitting on the home affairs commission, and the reason we did that was to try to dilate ourselves away from a coalition government where we had to dilate our own policies to work with the lib dems, which had a huge running over about 18 or 2a months. they have not had a chance to do this before this election and the results will be able struggle to get everybody on board very quickly with a document that has had little bits and pieces leaked from its perch could have some surprises that may not work well with lots of the parliamentary party. you not work well with lots of the parliamentary party.- parliamentary party. you are informally — parliamentary party. you are informally -- _ parliamentary party. you are informally -- former - parliamentary party. you are informally -- former tory i parliamentary party. you are - informally -- former tory special informally —— former tory special adviser in the cameron government, if you were advising mr sunak now, would you advise him to do some of the things he has done in the last week or so, like leaving the d—day commemorations early? ida. week or so, like leaving the d-day commemorations early?— week or so, like leaving the d-day commemorations early? no, ithink that was a really _ commemorations early? no, ithink that was a really silly _ commemorations early? no, ithink that was a really silly decision. - commemorations early? no, ithink that was a really silly decision. i - that was a really silly decision. i have been trying... this is what all former advisers do when they leave, they do post match analysis in their own heads even when nobody is listening. what could have gone into that decision? it seems so boneheaded. i have a former colleague who now works in paris and i sent them a message saying you know someone in the french foreign ministry, can you ask how much was rishi sunak actually invited to? was he getting the full bite in treatment or was he offered one thing only and he decided because the uk was not being treated equally to the us it was not worth engaging with the french programme? —— what he getting the full biden treatment? that might have given credibility to the decision, that the french were having a one corner, one corner, one photograph and it was not worth hanging around, but everything indicates this was just a really boneheaded decision. 0ther decisions had been made in this campaign that probably would not have worked particularly well, particularly if you had people from the default departments sitting in the room. i do not think anybody from the northern ireland office thinks that your major campaign announcement as the conservative and unionist party is to have national service in a document, that is very complicated to try to get over the line in northern ireland. there is a lot that you as a former adviser probably would not have done but thatis probably would not have done but that is the case for absolutely every announcement all the time, you never break the habit of being an armchair general and at some point you have to try to trust the people in the room. the problem my party has at the moment is that i have been several mistakes, several failures ofjudgment and lots of people are struggling to trust the people are struggling to trust the people in the room at the moment. lauren, it has been really fascinating to talk to you, thank you for taking the time to speak to us. ., �* . ., | you for taking the time to speak to us-_ i would - you for taking the time to speak to us._ i would like l you for taking the time to speak to | us._ i would like to us. you're welcome. i would like to show ou us. you're welcome. i would like to show you a — us. you're welcome. i would like to show you a bbc— us. you're welcome. i would like to show you a bbc poll— us. you're welcome. i would like to show you a bbc poll tracker, - us. you're welcome. i would like to show you a bbc poll tracker, these | show you a bbc poll tracker, these lines represent the trends of how people say they intend to vote. the main difference since the start of the election campaign is a change for reform uk, they are averaging just over 13%. if you think about that, that upward move has come at the expense of the conservatives who are at their lowest level on the poll tracker since october 2022. if you look closely overall, labour have cut their commanding position, their lead over the conservatives has increased ever so slightly. the lib dems, greens, snp and plaid cymru are maintaining a steady level of support. you can get a closer look about poll tracker on our website. —— at that poll tracker. let's speak to our chief political correspondent henry zeffman. he is at silverstone race track, i had so many puns in my head but i do not want to be sad and spilled them all out, so i will leave the punch again. interesting reading, the tories hope that today will bring them closer to pole position? bier? them closer to pole position? very nood, them closer to pole position? very good. hoping _ them closer to pole position? - good, hoping perhaps it will rev up their campaign or they can turn a corner quickly. i have been thinking of these four hours! it is always a big moment when a political party launches a manifesto during a general election campaign because it is a moment to stop and say here is what they stand for, here is what they are offering the country if they are offering the country if they win another term in office, but clearly this is a particularly big moment for rishi sunak, you do not need me to tell you he has not had a very good few days on the campaign, as you discuss with your previous gas, so he will hope this can be a research moment where he can draw a line under the baton say here are the dividing line is he wants to carve between the conservatives and labour and this is the choice he wants the voting public to consider. that is key, we are the party of lowering your tax and the labour party are not, but how believable is that given the employee national insurance has already been cut and with this clutch potentially it will be halved, how much of an impact at such already had anyway and will it impact at all people's minds? you are 'ust impact at all people's minds? you are just looking _ impact at all people's minds? ym. are just looking at the polls and the conservatives over the last year have cut national insurance by 2% twice, they now propose to do so a third time if they win the general election, but over the course of the two previous offers, they are now in practice, actual tax cuts that have happened, the conservatives have not seen to shift the dial in the polls though there are some conservative candidates i spoke to last night who were a bit nonplussed after it was clear this was to be offered again, having seen the last two national insurance cuts not to move the dial politically. 0n the other hand rishi sunak will hope there is a clear difference he can offer between him and the labour party by saying he would cut national insurance by a further two p. labour will make the point that under rishi sunak at the conservatives the tax burden has risen to unprecedented levels, but the conservatives, as rishi sunak said in his interview with nick robinson for panorama, would say this as a result of the unprecedented times, covid and the aftermath of vladimir putin's invasion of ukraine.— aftermath of vladimir putin's invasion of ukraine. let's talk a bit about the _ invasion of ukraine. let's talk a bit about the labour— invasion of ukraine. let's talk a bit about the labour party, - invasion of ukraine. let's talk a i bit about the labour party, today they are focusing very much on children's dental health, children's dentistry but also for the energy drinks for under 16. tell me what labour are talking about, because the manifesto does not come out until thursday?— untilthursday? no, but they are still making _ untilthursday? no, but they are still making announcements - untilthursday? no, but they are still making announcements as l until thursday? no, but they are i still making announcements as they prepare for thursday. labour is focusing on children's dentistry, these are policies they have mostly announced before like supervised tooth—brushing which was quite controversial when they first announced it but they are standing behind that, they say the crucial thing to remember is 452 nine—year—olds in england, tooth decay is the biggest cause of hospitalisation, i think that is shocking to many, and labour say thatis shocking to many, and labour say that is why they need more nhs dentistry appointments for children in england and supervised tooth—brushing, but the new thing we have not heard before is a ban on the sale of caffeinated energy drinks to children. in practice i think most supermarkets stop selling these two at the 16few ago but corner shops still sell by mountain a video ijust watch before coming live with you the celebrity chef jamie oliver has just endorsed labour's plan, they will be very happy with that. the conservatives say the statistics on children's dental care had been improving since 2021 and the reason they were so bad in the first place was a post covid backlog. it in the first place was a post covid backlor. , , ., backlog. it will be interesting to see how they — backlog. it will be interesting to see how they will _ backlog. it will be interesting to see how they will police - backlog. it will be interesting to i see how they will police supervising brushing teeth in schools. i saw wes streeting from labour doing the rounds this morning one point he told the bbc that labour could not match the tory pledge on employee national insurance, in his words the shadow health secretary said the money simply is not there. interesting.— money simply is not there. interestina. , . ., ., , interesting. yes, and alongside conservative _ interesting. yes, and alongside conservative manifesto - interesting. yes, and alongside conservative manifesto we i interesting. yes, and alongside conservative manifesto we will| interesting. yes, and alongside i conservative manifesto we will get a costings document and we will see how they propose to fund that and their other policies, because they have spent a fair amount in this campaign in terms of pledges, some of which require government expenditure, some of which they say they would fund by cracking down on tax avoidance which is how labour has said they would fund many policies. the conservatives used to say that money could not be found but now they say they can't, that is a notable shift, but alongside the manifesto we will get a costings document and rigorously scrutinise it, both of us at bbc verify, i am sure, and from there we will be able to say how the conservatives hope to fund notjust this tax cut but any other policies we might not expect which rishi sunak might amount later. �* , ., which rishi sunak might amount later. �* ., ., ~ ., later. always good to talk to you, en'o the later. always good to talk to you, enjoy the racing _ later. always good to talk to you, enjoy the racing later, _ later. always good to talk to you, enjoy the racing later, not - later. always good to talk to you, enjoy the racing later, not the i later. always good to talk to you, | enjoy the racing later, not the real racing but the political. henry zeffman at silverstone. the pressure on public services is a key election issue — and to understand the challenges authorities are facing, we've been looking at the town of telford. today, we're focusing on social care, as demand for support has soared in recent years, particularly from people under the age of 65. here's our social affairs correspondent michael buchanan. club 17 is a group for people with disabilities and support needs to meet and mingle. or maybe something more. you'vejust got engaged! yes, i have. so when are you going to get married? er, i don't know yet. how did you propose to her? i got down on one knee. did you? yeah. fantastic. and she said yes. yeah, she did. the room is full of the hopes and fears of any young people — though, in their cases, the struggles can be greater. well, i had to leave the town that i was born and grew up in because there was no supported accommodation provision. abby has a condition that causes herjoints to dislocate, leaving her in pain. after a battle, she now has the care she needs. i spent two years in emergency accommodation, in a shared homeless shelter, because there was disagreements over what care and support i actually needed. so we really had to fight the council to get my care package put in place. in another room, the parents of some of the young people who are struggling to be heard. we just want them to live fulfilled lives. we don't want to be a burden on anybody, but we want them to be treated with equity. and the problem is, our options are so limited. a constant problem is the lack of supported accommodation. elsa's son is due to finish college next month. i didn't want him to have to come home where he's going to be set back in his development. er... but that's probably what's going to happen because at the moment i still don't have any ideas of where he could move to. when you have a wheelchair and you have mobility issues, you can't, obviously, get up the stairs in a house, so it would need to be accessible. i know a couple of young people that have had to go to south wales because they haven't got the housing or the support staff, which is — for them parents and that young person that's lived in telford all their lives, having to go all the way there at the weekend is actually a tragedy. around 70% of the council budget in telford is spent on social care. demand for support from people under the age of 65 increased by close to 300% in the five years to 2022—23 — the latest figures. it's far greater than the increase for england as a whole — delivered in part, say the council, by the area's attractiveness. because of some of the really positive services in certain things like special educational needs services, people are attracted to coming in, which means that there's another pressure of people, younger people coming in with high complex needs. but people will need to move into adult social care at some point to maintain their independence going forward. adding to the pressures is poor lifestyle. care homes say they're seeing people needing support in their 50s due to problems linked to smoking and alcoholism. most of the residents, however, are still the elderly — though the care they are having to provide is changing, and more expensive. people in residential services probably look more like the old nursing threshold used to be, and that people in nursing homes mirror much more of a hospice situation — people tend to come in now at the latter part of their life, so for end—of—life care, or where they have extremely advanced complex nursing and dementia needs. telford — like britain — is both growing and ageing. it's a combination that is increasingly stretching public finances — particularly social care. michael buchanan, bbc news, telford. no time for the weather with carol kirkwood. hello again. if you have an allergy to grass pollen, it's worth mentioning that today the levels are high across wales and also southern england, moderate for northern ireland and the rest of england, and low across scotland. what's happening today with the weather is we still have this northerly flow still accentuating the cool feel that we've had in the last few days. but a ridge of high pressure building in from the west will mean that a lot of the showers that we've started with in the west will tend to fade through the day. but, at the same time, the clouds going to spread out he and a lot of the showers will be across central and eastern areas. again, there will be a little bit of sunshine here and there, but there'll be more cloud than sunshine into the afternoon for many. temperatures, 10 to 17 degrees. feeling cool, especially if you're exposed to that breeze. now, through this evening and overnight, a lot of the showers will fade, but we still have a fair bit of cloud around producing a few showers in eastern england. clearer skies in the west means here it's going to be cool. and in sheltered parts of scotland and wales temperatures could actually fall as low as two or three degrees. that's getting quite close to frost levels. tomorrow then we start off with the cloud across central and eastern areas, producing a few showers. 0ut towards the west, with that ridge of high pressure, there'll be fewer showers and quite a lot of dry weather and some decent spells of sunshine. temperatures very similar to what we're looking at today, 10 to about 17 degrees north to south. but as we move on into thursday, we start off in a dry and a bright note, but the clouds going to build in from the west through the course of the day, heralding the arrival of this band of rain, which will be heavy in places, accompanied by strong winds through the irish sea, gusting around 40 miles an hour. windy in the coastline adjacent to it as well. temperatures 12 to 18 degrees. so the wind subtly changing direction, hence this slight increase in temperatures. but then as we carry on through friday and into the weekend, low pressure arrives back on our shores from the atlantic. so things do remain fairly unsettled. in the north of the country, we're looking at showers, some of those merging to give some longer spells of rain. some brightness or some sunny spells in between with highs up to 17 degrees. and a similar story further south. again, showers or longer spells of rain and turning breezy in the south, particularly on sunday. this is bbc news. the headlines... the conservatives promise to cut a further 2p from national insurance — as they prepare to launch their manifesto. labour calls it an expensive panic attack, and pledges to improve children's access to dentists. also, the un security council votes in favour of a us plan for a full and complete ceasefire in gaza. and apple unveils plans to bring ai and apple unveils plans to bring al to its devices as a teams up with chatgpt. for the past few weeks, and for the duration of the election campaign, we've been keeping an eye on key constituences across the uk. we've been keeping an eye on key this morning, we're looking at two key battleground seats where the fiercest campaigning has been taking place. in surrey, it's the chancellor, jeremy hunt's seat of godalming and ash. and in west yorkshire, we are looking at a key seat for the labour party — bradford west. joining me now from godalming is bbc radio surrey�*s jack fiehn, and from bradford, is bbc look north's aisha iqbal. lets start off talking to you, jack, because this is a key seat, jeremy hunt, it is a big challenge for the chancellor to keep his seat. talk me through what is happening. it is chancellor to keep his seat. talk me through what is happening.- through what is happening. it is an interestin: through what is happening. it is an interesting one, _ through what is happening. it is an interesting one, this _ through what is happening. it is an interesting one, this is _ through what is happening. it is an interesting one, this is a _ through what is happening. it is an. interesting one, this is a brand-new interesting one, this is a brand—new constituency in surrey. what has happened is due to boundary changes we now have 12 constituencies rather than 11. the old south—west surrey seat, where jeremy than 11. the old south—west surrey seat, wherejeremy hunt was standing before, it has become two new seats and one of those is godalming and ash. it's interesting, because he was given the chance to stand in either of those two new seats, but he has decided to stand here, partly because he has local links to this area. he went to school at charterhouse. he chose to stand here. but it is proving to be something of a fight. the liberal democrats have done very well in recent years on a local election level. the local council, the lib dems have done well in seats which correspond with this area. he will be up against the leader of waverley borough council, the liberal democrat leader. by all accounts, we don't know exactly because it is a brand—new seat, it is difficult to tell how the constituencies will play out, but this does look as though this will be an incredibly closely fought contest and it will be quite hard for the chancellor, whether he will keep his seat or not, we will find out in a few weeks. ~ ., not, we will find out in a few weeks. . . ., ., 4' not, we will find out in a few weeks. ~ ., ., , ., weeks. we are looking at the slate ofthe weeks. we are looking at the slate of the different _ weeks. we are looking at the slate of the different candidates - weeks. we are looking at the slate of the different candidates right i of the different candidates right now. let's talk about what the big concerns are in the area, what are people saying they want to change? i have been here in godalming over the last couple of days, and people have mentioned issues like traffic, immigration has come up. there is a big issue of housing. that comes up wherever you go in surrey, the issue of the way we build new homes, can you build affordable homes? this is a particularly beautiful part of surrey, the old south—west surrey constituency, lots of green belt and protected countryside, so that attention over where you build new homes is particularly acute yeah. that will be one of the dilemmas and the fights going forward into the selection. also, water supplies, people may have seen that story about people in the bramley area, also part of this constituency, being told not to drink the water because it was not clean. thames water and others have been looking at that. but that will also be a big issue as well.— at that. but that will also be a big issue as well. 0k, jack, thanks for that. issue as well. 0k, jack, thanks for that- let's — issue as well. 0k, jack, thanks for that. let's cross _ issue as well. 0k, jack, thanks for that. let's cross and _ issue as well. 0k, jack, thanks for that. let's cross and speak - issue as well. 0k, jack, thanks for that. let's cross and speak to i i let's cross and speak speak to aisha. it is seen as a key battleground, bradford, for pro—gaza candidates and independence. talk is true that battleground. i candidates and independence. talk is true that battleground.— true that battleground. i would say that is the overwhelming _ true that battleground. i would say that is the overwhelming issue i true that battleground. i would say that is the overwhelming issue in l that is the overwhelming issue in bradford west. it was previously held by naz shah. it is unpredictable, back in 2012, george galloway came in and swept to power on a ticket of what he called the bradford spring. international politics, global politics, it has always played a part, to some extent, in the political landscape. it's an area that has deep pockets of poverty. it is one of the highest rates of child poverty, for example. 0n the doorstop, out and about talking to people, very much gaza has been on people's minds. 58% of people here are from a muslim background and it is an issue they feel deeply and passionately about, the plight of palestinian people. they tell me they will vote for the party that very much is for a ceasefire. labour has suffered in local elections. in may, about nine new independent candidates came in, purely on a ticket of a pro ceasefire stance, and a backlash against the labour party's earlier stance on this. naz shah, the mp at the time, she was one of the shadow cabinet and she resigned from the shadow cabinet over that issue. she is facing several challenges from independents, among them a young lad who is only 19 years old, who came on as a councillor, was a councillor, and now wants to be an mp. he really galvanise the youth vote yeah. bradford is one of the youngest cities in europe, the youngest cities in europe, the youngest in the uk. a lot of the youngest in the uk. a lot of the young people i was speaking to are telling me that gaza is going to be a big factor in where they vote. i5 a big factor in where they vote. is there anything else other than gaza? what local factors are people thinking about, is there anything people are thinking about when they are voting other than what is happening in gaza?- are voting other than what is happening in gaza? are voting other than what is hauenina in gaza? , happening in gaza? child poverty, as isa . happening in gaza? child poverty, as i say- bradford _ happening in gaza? child poverty, as i say. bradford west _ happening in gaza? child poverty, as i say. bradford west especially i happening in gaza? child poverty, as i say. bradford west especially as i i say. bradford west especially as one of the poorest and most economically deprived constituencies in the country. the child poverty rates are more than double that across the country. you mentioned earlier about access to dentists. children's dental health, again, one of the worst in the country. for most people here, the cost of living crisis is a big factor. you know, quality of life. that is what they want to see, the promises they want to see from all parties. it's interesting, we haven't had many bird visits from big hitters yet. we know the manifestos are being launched this week. i'm getting a sense on the doorstep and on the ground that it is quite a deliberately muted campaign, from labour especially, because it is almost a sense of people wanting to vote for the person, rather than the party, and they are almost being left to their own devices to shore up left to their own devices to shore up the vote, to some extent. as i say, cost of living is the big issue. but in this particular election, i would say that gaza, for a large, large proportion of the people here in bradford west, it is going to be an overriding factor. really good to talk to you. and thank you also to jack. thanks to both of you for giving interesting insight into what the key issues are for those areas. here are the candidates who have been selected to battle it out in the constituency of... which one is this? is this godalming or bradford west? let's look at this. it takes quite a while for these things to load. this is bradford west. these are the candidates that have been chosen for that area. as always, you can get a closer look on the bbc website. around two million british ex—pats are eligible to vote in the general election onjuly fourth, after the rules were changed. in the past, any uk citizen who'd lived abroad for more than 15 years was not allowed to participate — but that's now been scrapped. 0ur europe correspondent nick beake has this report. singing. proud tradition echoes through the hills of andalusia. it was here flamenco first stormed onto the stage more than 200 years ago. a land of distinctive rhythm, and hues of a landscape just made for postcards. and it's long enchanted british visitors, so taken by it all they decided to stay. jill retired to spain in 1998, but once she'd been here 15 years, she lost the right to vote in uk general elections. the recent law change means she can vote once again next month. i'm very pleased to have some sort of stake in what goes on in the uk again, albeitjust one vote. and having been very frustrated and actually distressed not to have had a vote when the brexit referendum happened, i'm very pleased that things have changed now. and number one from this round is this one. intro plays: africa by toto. at the weekly quiz at chema's bar, the vast majority of participants are british. 10% of the population of mijas municipality are from the uk. at the end of the day, i'm british through and through. so therefore i do really like to see what's going on at home. my son lives there, my mother, my family are all in the uk, so it is nice to know what's happening there and it's nice to be able to participate, possibly, to have our opinions. i used to be a teacher and i'm very keen on seeing that teachers' rights are protected, and the conditions in schools, and also the welfare in the national health. i mean, one day i may go back. and of course, hospitals are very important. there are about 9,000 brits living in mijas. many have been here for 15 years or more. they now will be able to cast their ballot at the uk general election. but some expats say, even though they have this right, they won't be voting. a good lot of grapes this year, they're very small at the moment. bill anderson, a retired lecturer, has been in spain 22 years, and says he feels much more invested here. election in the uk, july 4th. will you be voting in that? no, i won't be voting in it, because i've kind of left the uk behind. spain, mijas, is my home now. i don't even know if i feel i have the right to try to influence what's happening in the uk when i don't live there any more, and i don't pay taxes there any more. all eligible british expats have until the 18th ofjune to register to vote so that, from afar, they can help shape the british political landscape. nick beake, bbc news, on the costa del sol. the us ambassador to the united nations says the un security council has voted for peace by backing a ceasefire plan for gaza. hamas has welcomed the un vote, but has yet to give a formal response. 14 of the 15 security council members voted in favour of the us—drafted resolution. russia abstained. the proposal sets out conditions for a "full and complete ceasefire", the release of hostages held by hamas, the return of dead hostages' remains and the exchange of palestinian prisoners. us ambassador to the un linda thomas—greenfield says the resolution shows the international community is united. colleagues, today, this council sent a clear message to hamas — accept the ceasefire deal on the table. israel has already agreed to this deal and the fighting could stop today if hamas would do the same. i repeat, the fighting could stop today. the vote came as america's top diplomat — secretary of state antony blinken is visiting the middle east. it's the 8th time he's been to the region since the october 7th attacks. mr blinken is fiercely advocating for the ceasefire deal proposed by president biden ten days ago. he met the egyptian president abdel fattah al—sisi on monday and is due to take part in a gaza aid conference in jordan today. he hasjust made he has just made these comments. he hasjust made these comments. for he has 'ust made these comments. for me, he hasjust made these comments. for me, all of he hasjust made these comments. fr?" me, all of the hostages, especially our eight american families who have loved ones in gaza, we are determined to bring them home. the proposal that president biden put forward is the best way to do that. as i said, just yesterday, you have had country after country make that clear, in supporting the proposal. yesterday, the united nations security council, in effect speaking for the entire international community, made it as clear as it possibly could that this is what the world is looking for. 14 votes for, zero votes against. something quite rare after the security council these days. i think that speaks volumes, too. everyone's vote is in, except for one vote, that is hamas. and that is what we wait for. his tour and meetings with israeli and arab leaders continues, and we will be covering that of bbc news. after months of speculation, apple has revealed its plans for artificial intelligence in a move that chief executive tim cook has called the "next big step". the tech gaint is to boost its siri voice assistant and operating systems with 0penai's chatgpt, as it seeks to catch up in the ai race. it's part of a new personalised thing called apple intelligence. here's our north america business correspondent erin delmore. the hottest abbreviation in tech these days is easily ai. now apple is taking shot at redefining artificial intelligence into apple intelligence. the company unveiled a series of a! related announcements at its worldwide developers concerts on monday. chief among them, a partnership with the artificial intelligence juggernaut 0penai. that'll allow apple to integrate start up's cutting—edge chatbot chatgpt into its devices including a superpowered siri. apple's signature voice assistant will be available with chatgpt features for free later this year. other new additions include a! generated images and emojis, and help with proofreading and tone adjustment. these announcement are apple's big stand at integrating ai features that have captured users' attention and companies' big bucks. wall streeet has spent the year rewarding firms that are not only jumped up but led the ai bandwagon, like nvidia that makes the chips that power a! applications. last week it overtook apple itself to become the second most valuable company in the world by market value capitalisation. microsoft, which has its own long—standing partnership with 0penai, remains the most valuable. president zelensky is at the latest international donors omitting to help rebuild ukraine. it is the third of what is known as the recovery conference, but it is the first time it has been held in a eu member state. first time it has been held in a eu memberstate. i first time it has been held in a eu member state. i think we can go live and have a look at president zelensky speaking. we will not listen in, but let me tell you what this is about. it is in berlin, companies, organisations, government officials, they will all be talking about one thing, ukrainian ongoing reconstruction needs, focusing on energy infrastructure. there have already been some tensions ahead of the meeting. a senior ukrainian official overseeing the effort has announced his resignation. that is president zelensky, talking to delegates. the parents of a student who went missing after a night out 100 days ago have launched a formal complete bear complaint against police. they say they have lost all faith in evan and somerset police. the four say they are determined to do whatever they can. it is hell. it's, you know, daily it's a challenge to get up and get through the day. another morning without jack. we have to somehow keep going and find the strength to... to get to the bottom of this. it's now 100 days since the bristol student went out to a party and didn't come home. despite frantic efforts to find him, there's no trace, and jack's parents and older brother ben now say they've lost all faith in those tasked with investigating his disappearance. i wouldn't want anyone on earth to be faced with what we've dealt with in the last hundred days, because it is horrific. and to think that the people that you possibly would depend on the most in the world have totally let us down... you're saying that the police have made it worse. that's what i feel. jack's family say they believe mistakes were made early on in the search for their son. they say cctv footage of jack was originally missed by the police and only spotted whenjack�*s mum, catherine, asked to view the footage for herself. to have footage of my son in their possession the day after he was missing, and for someone not to see that is...is just ludicrous. jack had gone to school in bristol, before studying and graduating from exeter university. he'd come back to bristol to continue his studies. the night he went missing, he'd been at a house party with friends from his course. he'd left in the early hours of the morning. data shows that his phone was still in use many hours later, but despite repeated requests by his family to try and find out more, they say the police have drawn a blank. we've been told for weeks and weeks that there is the possibility of the national crime agency to help and provide their resources. but despite asking this for weeks now, there still has been no progress in doing so, for whatever reason. the family was also shocked to find out recently that an error meant jack hadn't been added to a national missing person's register until he'd been gone for two months. the family say that that, on top of everything else, was the final straw, and has resulted in them submitting this four—page formal complaint to the police. but they say despite handing this in nearly two weeks ago, they've still had no response. charlie hedges is a former police officer and missing—persons expert who is now helping the 0'sullivan family. and i'm disappointed that- an organisation that has been part of my life for most of my life — the police service — and i've i always been so pro—police, and for the first time i feel| it was important to support the family in taking - forward a formal complaint against the police - because of the failures i within this organisation. and that is a huge step for me. in a statement, avon and somerset police say the family's complaint has been recorded, and will now be thoroughly assessed by a trained investigator. they say detectives have carried out an extensive investigation over the past 100 days, but that, sadly, they haven't been able to find jack. they say they fully recognise the distress this has had onjack�*s family, and our thoughts remain very much with them. forjack�*s family, though, the anguish about where he is and what's happened to him goes on. the errors that have cast so much doubt in our mind onto what was done, when it was done, and whether it continues to be done...has caused us untold damage. you know, we... we have to live with the fact jack's not here, but to find... you know, to have in the back of your mind that the people who could be looking for him haven't done it properly is just devastating. laura jones, bbc news, in bristol. i want to take you back to germany, where president zelensky is talking to the ukraine recovery conference, which is to organise the ongoing construction needs of ukraine. we have translation now. translation: i asked to ensure that this should become a practically orientated conference. contracts, agreements should be the outcome that are to give us an impulse in the field of economic recovery and development. the interests of both sides, germany and ukraine, and i am confident this will be the outcome of this conference. at the legal level, the elemental level but also of the musical level. we have many agreements and contracts that have been drafted and are ready for signature. many partners from all over the world will leave this conference with many new contracts and agreements in their pockets for military equipment, weapons, energy, renovating, recovery, refurbishment, for the reconstruction of energy protection, the initiative in the social sphere, protection, the initiative in the socialsphere, in protection, the initiative in the social sphere, in the field of education, construction, housing, medical technology. education, construction, housing, medicaltechnology. i education, construction, housing, medical technology. i would like to highlight once again that the support that the companies have shown to the economy in ukraine, and as the chancellorjust pointed out, this is something that provides us with a strength to continue to live our lives in a time of war, and to give us this idea that we can't live a life in diversity. —— we can live a life in diversity. —— we can live a life in diversity. —— we can live a life in diversity. i am absolutely certain that ukraine will implement its national recovery plan. it will be a european recovery. it is not going to be possible without germany's input. global german strength. and i would like to thank you for your support, thank you for inviting me here, i address these words to all our partners, thank you for your support for the people in my country. also for the peoples of your countries. you have taken ukrainians in with open arms, and that has been so important. that is what unites us and we are honest, we are open, we are united and very, very brave. long live ukraine! there ou have very brave. long live ukraine! there you have the — very brave. long live ukraine! there you have the end _ very brave. long live ukraine! there you have the end of— very brave. long live ukraine! there you have the end of president i you have the end of president zelensky�*s speech to the ukraine recovery conference, shaking the hand of olaf scholz, the german chancellor. he talked about companies supporting ukraine about moving forward, this is all about reconstruction, this conference. it is being held in germany and it is all about trying to get focus on infrastructure and the energy needs of ukraine. president zelensky giving his inaugural speech. ursula von der leyen is getting up to talk now. are we going to stay with this or move on? we will move on, we will leave ursula von der leyen to address that. we will dip in and out of that conference throughout the day on bbc news, i am sure. over the last 20 years, then rob hazel dormice has declined by as much as 70% across the uk. it's hoped a new project — which sees them re—released into their natural habit — could help to restore the population. is it habit for habitat? it is habit on the autocue. i'm a ron burgundy! these woods are home to bedfordshire's last hazel dormice. and arriving from london zoo are five more pairs to try and strengthen the population. as a species, dormice are an animal that actually lives in the tree and shrub canopy when they're active, they hibernate on the ground over winter and they kind of need diverse woodlands, like the one we stand in now. this is a species in population and range decline. the hedgerow connectivity is perhaps not there that once was. and also climate change does seem to have an impact on them — on their breeding success and their hibernal success, as well. the dormice have had to have a full health check, and spend eight weeks in quarantine so that they don't carry diseases to the existing population. well, the dormice have arrived on theirjourney from london to these bedfordshire woods — probably a bit tired, having a little sleep in these nest boxes. and i'm not going to tell you, in fact, where we are in bedfordshire, because obviously the wildlife charity has taken great care to ensure that these guys get to live here undisturbed. what we've got here is a woodland with all the right habitat conditions for dormice. they like young woodland with a good understory and lots of scrub in them if they're older woodlands that provide flowers, fruit and insects. the population's doing extremely well within the wood, but it's also doing extremely well around the perimeter and outside of the wood. and that's a really good thing to see because that's the only way that we're going to repopulate the countryside with nature. well, this little guy has passed his health checks. ian's holding him because you need a special licence to handle dormice. he's just coming up to a year old and was bred in captivity, and he's about to get a taste of his new life. this is known as a soft release. so the hard release, what you do is pretty much we take dormice out and just kind of let them go, actually, and you wouldn't really know what happened to them. but this is a soft release. so what we do is we have these large cages we put up in the woodland. dormice are put into that and that will happen later today. we continue to provide food for the next two months, but obviously the aim is to slowly reduce that so they'll eat a more natural diet. and do you want to hear a dormouse snoring? gentle squeaking. thought so. gentle squeaking. i meant to say habitat, but habit was written on the autocue, which just shows you that ijust read what is written in front of me. we have a couple of minutes left before the end of the show and i wanted to bring you up to date with what is happening in the election. a huge day for the conservative party, they are launching their election manifesto later, with a promise to cut a further 2p from national insurance. let's take you to the live page. rishi sunak said another tory government would let people keep more of their money. labour called the national insurance plan the most expensive panic attack in history. labourwill the most expensive panic attack in history. labour will be launching their manifesto on thursday. today, they talked about plans to cut dentist waiting lists for children and restrict fizzy energy drinks for under 16. the liberal democrats are promoting a rural gp fund, they say they want to make it easier for people to find a gp appointment in rural areas. the election launch is live at 11.30 today. live from london, this is bbc news. the conservatives part —— promised to cut a further 2p from national insurance as they prepare to launch their election manifesto. i am here at silverstone where rishi sunak hopes the full details will help his campaign turn a corner. labour says the plans are desperate as the party pledges to improve children's access to dentists. america's top diplomat urges hamas to accept an israeli backed ceasefire proposal after the un security council approves the plan to end the war in gaza. and apple teams up with chatgpt to bring ai apple teams up with chatgpt to bring al to its devices with what it calls apple intelligence. i maryam moshiri, a very warm welcome. the conservatives launching the election manifesto later with a plan to cut a further 2p from national insurance. prime minister rishi sunak said another tory government which allow you to keep more of the money you earn. you can see the manifesto launch live on bbc news at around 11:30am. labour unveiled a manifesto later this week and have called the national insurance plan the most expensive panic attack in history. labour will launch plans to cut dentists' waiting lists for children. meanwhile, the lib dems who launched a manifesto yesterday will promote a new rural gp fund. let's start with the conservative manifesto launch and the promise to cut a further 2p from employee national insurance. here is hannah miller. hoping for a warm welcome... katherine, i'm rishi. ..as rishi sunak prepares to set out his party's plans for another five years in government. on the eve of his manifesto launch last night, the prime minister hinted at tax cuts to come. we will have a manifesto that builds on all the things that you've just gone through that we've already announced in this campaign — that, yes, does continue to cut people's taxes, because i believe in a country where people's hard work is rewarded. after cutting national insurance last autumn — and in the spring — the manifesto will promise to cut it by a further two pence for employees. it will also pledge that the state pension will not be taxed, and make permanent an existing cut to stamp duty for first—time buyers, as well as promising that parents will only have to start paying back child benefit when their household income reaches £120,000. the manifesto will also contain pledges to raise defence spending, reform the welfare system, and double down on plans to send asylum—seekers to rwanda. labour say it all amounts to a desperate wish list from what they call a desperate prime minister. after 14 years of the tories, the money is not there. so no matter what promise rishi sunak makes in his manifesto in the coming days, he's not able to deliver on any of them because he cannot explain where the money is coming from. the prime minister will be hoping today is a day to win notjust attention — but votes, as well — as he tries to turn his party's fortunes around after a rocky few days. hannah miller, bbc news. let's speak to our chief political correspondent henry zeffman at silverstone racetrack. you are inside now, i think? just silverstone racetrack. you are inside now, i think? just inside the warmth and _ inside now, i think? just inside the warmth and you — inside now, i think? just inside the warmth and you can _ inside now, i think? just inside the warmth and you can probably i inside now, i think? just inside the warmth and you can probably hear| warmth and you can probably hear around me some of the preparations getting ready for rishi sunak�*s launch. getting ready for rishi sunak's launch. , , , ., launch. they will be preparing for what is happening _ launch. they will be preparing for what is happening in _ launch. they will be preparing for what is happening in around i launch. they will be preparing for what is happening in around onel launch. they will be preparing for. what is happening in around one and to help others. the conservatives are planning a further 2p cut on employee national insurance but we have been here before with cuts on employee national insurance from the tories. has it made a major difference before and do they really think people will focus on it this time? ., ., ., ,._ ., time? you are right to say we have been here before, _ time? you are right to say we have been here before, it— time? you are right to say we have been here before, it is— been here before, it is extraordinary how repetitive this now is. the conservatives have cut the employee late —— rates by 2p twice in the last year and are now saying if they would win the general election they will give it a third time. overthe election they will give it a third time. over the sweep of that period of national insurance tax cuts that would take the main employee rate from 2p to 6p, how is it, so that is quite significant. that you are right to ask whether that appeared so far to have shifted perceptions of the party. the answer, crudely, is no. chancellorjeremy hunt gave an interview to the mail on sunday couple of weeks ago pointing out that two previous national insurance cuts did not seem to have moved the dial politically. rishi sunak has clearly decided he thinks a third one will help, the labour party will make the argument that this all comes in the context of a five year term for the conservative party where taxes have boomed, the tax burden is at the highest rate it has ever been and so the challenge politically for rishi sunak is to be able to carve that dividing line that he clearly wants to carve between the conservatives and labour, make the argument possibly that the conservatives are a tax—cutting party, without people could —— pushing back and saying that on their watch taxes have gone up. that on their watch taxes have gone u . _ . ., ., , , that on their watch taxes have gone up. economists and people at the bbc have spoken — up. economists and people at the bbc have spoken to _ up. economists and people at the bbc have spoken to and _ up. economists and people at the bbc have spoken to and including - up. economists and people at the bbc have spoken to and including the iff l have spoken to and including the iff have spoken to and including the iff have talked about the fact that what we see here are tax cuts being offset by the freezing of income tax threshold, so many people are still paying more in tax from average earnings despite the cut in national insurance so far?— insurance so far? that's right, and those thresholds _ insurance so far? that's right, and those thresholds will _ insurance so far? that's right, and those thresholds will remain i insurance so far? that's right, and | those thresholds will remain frozen until 2028, whichever party wins the general election, because the labour party has committed to that too. in effect that is fiscal drag, it means every tax year more and more people are dried via inflation into higher tax bands and end up paying more tax. you mention the institute for fiscal studies under the economic experts like that, the other thing they can say about the conservatives' plans and also the labour there is a conspiracy of silence, because whatever economic expert says it is unless economic growth booms in this country in a way that, frankly, few people are forecasting it will, you will really have to have either spending cuts or tax rises if the uk state is to continue doing the sort of thing is that both parties and i think most voters are expected to continue doing. voters are expected to continue doinu. ., ., voters are expected to continue doinu. ., ~' ., ., ., doing. talk me through what to exect doing. talk me through what to expect from — doing. talk me through what to expect from rishi _ doing. talk me through what to expect from rishi sunak. i doing. talk me through what to expect from rishi sunak. he i doing. talk me through what to | expect from rishi sunak. he has doing. talk me through what to i expect from rishi sunak. he has not had the best campaign so far, he really needs to make a good impression notjust for voters but also conservative candidates and members up and down the country? that's right, conservative candidates seeking real action have been pretty serious for the last few daysin been pretty serious for the last few days in the aftermath of what rishi sunak himself acknowledges what a massive mistake, to leave the d—day commemorations in normandy early. they are furious because they think that articulates a criticism already thereabout rishi sunak, but he perhaps did not quite understand the priorities particularly of conservative voters, and you can express by rival parties both to their right and left in the aftermath of that, but today is an opportunity for rishi sunak and will hope to draw a line under that with a document that will be 75 or so pages long, full of plans for the conservatives if they win the general election and say this is his policy perspectives and try to shift onto that and away from what undeniably has been a torrid few days for the conservative party generally and rishi sunak specifically.— generally and rishi sunak secificall . �*, ., ~ ., specifically. let's talk about labour, their _ specifically. let's talk about labour, their manifesto i specifically. let's talk aboutj labour, their manifesto was specifically. let's talk about i labour, their manifesto was out specifically. let's talk about - labour, their manifesto was out on thursday but today we are getting a feel of some of the elements we will see in eight, children's health and dentistry very much in focus. talk us through those plans? dentistry has been a _ us through those plans? dentistry has been a focus _ us through those plans? dentistry has been a focus for _ us through those plans? dentistry has been a focus for labour i us through those plans? dentistry has been a focus for labour for i us through those plans? dentistry i has been a focus for labour for some time and they reiterate that today, reiterating their policy of supervised tooth—brushing in schools, they also say plans to introduce more evening and weekend appointments in nhs dentistry practices will mean many more children able to get dental care, they say four children in england between the ages of five and nine, tooth decay is the biggest cause of hospitalisation and they say this is what this is designed to address. the conservatives hit back by saying nhs dentistry for children is getting much better and has been since 2021 when it got, they acknowledge, very hard for children to get dental appointments but they say that was a result of the covid backlog and the crisis in the health service as a result. they say they would ban the sale of highly caffeinated energy drinks, the labour party, to children under the age of 16. i think most supermarkets stopped selling those drinks to children a few years back but corner shops etc did not and labour say that it's a really important policy which has been endorsed in the last hour or so by the celebrity chef jamie oliver, which labour are very happy with. jamie oliver, which labour are very happy with-— happy with. you are at silverstone, famed as the _ happy with. you are at silverstone, famed as the home _ happy with. you are at silverstone, famed as the home of— happy with. you are at silverstone, famed as the home of the - happy with. you are at silverstone, famed as the home of the british i famed as the home of the british grand prix, why would the tories church that is given all the plans we will come out with today which will drive people insane? —— why would the tories choose that? i think that is exactly why they chose it, rev up the campaign, turn a cornerfast, campaign pit stop... i don't know very much about formula 1. i don't know very much about formula 1. ., , ., don't know very much about formula 1. i had you don't have the petrolhead, _ 1. i had you don't have the petrolhead, is _ 1. i had you don't have the petrolhead, is that - 1. i had you don't have the petrolhead, is that not i 1. i had you don't have the j petrolhead, is that not the 1. i had you don't have the - petrolhead, is that not the case?! i'm afraid not, i would petrolhead, is that not the case?! i'm afraid not, iwould be petrolhead, is that not the case?! i'm afraid not, i would be happy to take a spin and what of the because if they were likely. == take a spin and what of the because if they were likely.— if they were likely. -- i had you down as a petrolhead. - if they were likely. -- i had you down as a petrolhead. i - if they were likely. -- i had you down as a petrolhead. i am i if they were likely. -- i had you i down as a petrolhead. i am probably not the best — down as a petrolhead. i am probably not the best person _ down as a petrolhead. i am probably not the best person to _ down as a petrolhead. i am probably not the best person to get _ down as a petrolhead. i am probably not the best person to get behind i not the best person to get behind the wheel. , ' ., ., . the wheel. henry zeffman, our chief olitical the wheel. henry zeffman, our chief political correspondent, _ the wheel. henry zeffman, our chief political correspondent, at _ political correspondent, at silverstone. in about an hour and 20 minutes the manifesto launch will take place and we will carry it live on bbc news. everybody knows how important a good manifesto is, especially for candidates up and down the country who need to be fully across in order to pass on key messages to voters. earlier i spoke to lauren mcevatt, a political strategist and former conservative adviser in the welsh office during the david cameron administration coalition. she was very interesting. that is the one thing that worries me the most, it was a similar concern that we had as a result of the 2017 election, because they were snap elections not a lot of work had gone on over many months to try to put together the policies that were completely bullet—proof and to bring everybody with you. we have already had several policies announced over the last couple of weeks where we had some very serious doubts raised by the very people meant to champion these policies on behalf of the senior team of the conservative party, and i worry we will have a similar problem when the document is launched today. what similar problem when the document is launched today-— launched today. what is the biggest wor for launched today. what is the biggest worry for you? _ launched today. what is the biggest worry for you? that _ launched today. what is the biggest worry for you? that we _ launched today. what is the biggest worry for you? that we will - launched today. what is the biggest worry for you? that we will have i launched today. what is the biggest worry for you? that we will have a l worry for you? that we will have a hue worry for you? that we will have a huge team — worry for you? that we will have a huge team of— worry for you? that we will have a huge team of people _ worry for you? that we will have a huge team of people all _ worry for you? that we will have a huge team of people all of - worry for you? that we will have a huge team of people all of whom l worry for you? that we will have a i huge team of people all of whom come on television or go to the local hustings or papers and say, well, i don't feel quite comfortable about what we said in that chapter and i am not sure what that little bit means. the more people you have doing that, the more stories you have saying the prime minister has not got a team with him, the document has been written in isolation, the conservative party has an helical splits —— has an helical splits. has an helical splits —— has an helicalsplits. it has an helical splits —— has an helical splits. it is resulting from a document not fully accepted and championed by every person who needs to do it, it becomes very difficult communications problem in the short term. ., , , communications problem in the short term. . , , , ,, ., term. that must be pressure for rishi sunak _ term. that must be pressure for rishi sunak from _ term. that must be pressure for- rishi sunak from different elements, how popular do you think it's rishi sunak from different elements, how popular do you think its team is among tory candidates and teams up is among tory candidates and teams up and down the country, even the news we have had last week? there are lots of people _ news we have had last week? there are lots of people who _ news we have had last week? there are lots of people who work - news we have had last week? there are lots of people who work for i are lots of people who work for rishi sunak ooh i like very much, there are others i do not rate particularly and i am probably an average for lots of people who work day to in politics who know the people involved. that is usually the case within the conservative party, usually the leader will have people like to buy one team and disliked by another and a whole group of others who fall into the other category. having rushed into this decision without bringing his cabinet with him, remembering he went to the king before his cabinet, it means the team immediately around him who made that decision come in for criticism in a way they ordinarily would not do because they are viewed as part of the unit that basically pulled the team into a decision that the team probably did not want, and if thatis team probably did not want, and if that is the same team then we have a problem of legitimacy of the people he has around him. that problem of legitimacy of the people he has around him.— problem of legitimacy of the people he has around him. that was lauren mcevatt speaking — he has around him. that was lauren mcevatt speaking to _ he has around him. that was lauren mcevatt speaking to me _ he has around him. that was lauren mcevatt speaking to me a _ he has around him. that was lauren mcevatt speaking to me a little i mcevatt speaking to me a little earlier. we know a little about what could be included in the conservative manifesto already, here is bbc verify�*s nick eardley with a round trip of what we know so far and how it might be paid for. —— with a round—up of. yes, the manifestos are a big deal. they become the policy bible for whoever is in government. today we get the conservative offering, and we already know a few of the policies that they are pledging. tax cuts, we'll get the details later. introducing a form of national service. tax breaks for first time home—buyers, raising the tax—free pension allowance and allowing higher earners to keep more child benefit payments. there will be more, i'm sure, in the document today. but all of this costs money. so where is it coming from and do the plans add up? well, we already know some of the areas where the conservatives think they can find more cash to fund their policies. firstly, this — collecting more of the tax people already owe. the idea is simple. that you fund the tax office better and it's able to crack down on tax avoidance. the conservatives think this can raise about £6 billion a year. labour actually have a similar policy. they think it will raise about £5 billion extra. but will it work? well, some of the experts we asked said the figures were uncertain. and as you can see here, another group, the tax policy associates, say it is credible but with a big caveat, and that's that the policy would need to be targeted. so not easy to get to that six billion figure, but not impossible. the bigger pledge the conservatives have is this — reducing welfare spending by £12 billion a year. we asked the conservatives for the numbers and they were adamant that this is possible. but we also spoke to experts who aren't so sure. this is what the institute for fiscal studies said. "it looks difficult in the extreme." another group of experts, the resolution foundation, said it looks extremely challenging to deliver. so there is already some scepticism about the figures. and by the way, if any of this rings bells, if it sounds familiar, have a look at this. "we found annual savings of 12 billion from welfare, five billion from tackling tax evasion." that's not from today. that's from this man, george osborne, in 2015. and a good chunk of that 12 billion pledge, about a third of the welfare goal, was never collected, according to the government's spending watchdog. so that's worth bearing in mind today. the conservatives have also set themselves some rules which will make it harder to raise money. they are saying no to all of this — raises in income tax, vat, national insurance. add in some of the other rules that they've put in place and that leaves some economists warning we may see a spending squeeze, whether it's labour or the conservatives who are in power after the general election. we'll get the full conservative manifesto later this morning. we'll be flicking through it all, looking at the policies, looking at the numbers, and there'll be a lot more across the bbc throughout the day. it will indeed. thanks so much, nick eardley and the verify teen who always work out, never any harder than during an election, i am sure. labour has called the conservatives —— an insurance plan the biggest panic attack in history. the party will unveil its manifesto later this week that it is working on its plans to cut dentistry waiting lists for children. ione wells is on the vaper campaign bus and i spoke to her earlier. ., , 4, earlier. labour say they feel like it is, in the _ earlier. labour say they feel like it is, in the words _ earlier. labour say they feel like it is, in the words of— earlier. labour say they feel like it is, in the words of labour- earlier. labour say they feel like i it is, in the words of labour shadow ministers, another liz truss conservative plan of promises. they argue some of the tory plans are unfunded and this is a wish list that will not be achievable in practice. they have criticised plans to cut national insurance further. labour had said that they will not be looking to raise taxes but cutting that would not be affordable at this time. this is a response to some of the trails we have seen of the conservative manifesto, but the labour manifesto will be revealed later this week. in the meantime they're focuses on children's health in particular and children's dentistry with an announcement that they would have 100,000 new dental appointments for children, supervise tooth—brushing in schools and a ban on highly caffeinated energy drinks, those are the major policies labour is talking about today.— is talking about today. plenty more on what is happening _ is talking about today. plenty more on what is happening in _ is talking about today. plenty more on what is happening in the - is talking about today. plenty more | on what is happening in the election on what is happening in the election on the bbc website, but let's take a notice of the other day's news, and to the middle east. america's top diplomat antony blinken osler, the eighth time he has been to the region since the october the 7th attacks on israel. he is fiercely advocating for the ceasefire deal proposed by president biden ten days ago. he met with relatives of the trade in hostages in tel aviv this morning and later will meet opposition leaders including benny gantz, who resigned from over the weekend. on monday he met with israeli prime minister benjamin netanyahu and this is what he said in the last few hours. for me, all of the hostages, but especially our eight american families who have loved ones in gaza, we are determined to bring them home. the proposal that president biden put forward is the best way to do that. and i think, as i said just yesterday, you've had country after country make that clear, and supporting the proposal, and then yesterday the united nations security council, in effect speaking for the entire international community, made it as clear as it possibly could be that this is what the world is looking for. 14 votes for, no votes against. something quite rare at the security council these days. and i think that speaks volumes too. so everyone's vote is in except for one vote, and that's hamas, and that's what we wait for. let's speak to our middle east correspondent yolande knell, who's injerusalem. antony blinken has his work cut out for him. he is meeting the israeli government representatives and that the arab nations. what does he have to get done to push this through the line? he to get done to push this through the line? , ., , ., , line? he definitely has an uphill stru: ale line? he definitely has an uphill struggle in _ line? he definitely has an uphill struggle in this _ line? he definitely has an uphill struggle in this region. - line? he definitely has an uphill struggle in this region. its i line? he definitely has an uphill struggle in this region. its mainj struggle in this region. its main aim is trying to bring israel and hamas closer to this deal, which has an increasing amount of international support. the 3—phase deal was laid by president biden back on may the 31st, very much the text of the un security council resolution is based on this deal. mr blinken, as he was getting ready to leave israel for georgian, said the hamas statement put out by political leaders outside of gaza mostly based injoe leaders outside of gaza mostly based in joe hart, leaders outside of gaza mostly based injoe hart, that that leaders outside of gaza mostly based in joe hart, that that was a leaders outside of gaza mostly based injoe hart, that that was a hopeful sign because they welcome the un security council vote and said they were ready to work with the mediators to try to achieve a negotiated settlement. —— mostly based in doha. they said it would be “p based in doha. they said it would be up to washington to make sure israel abides by the part of the plan which is the second phase which would work towards a permanent end to the war in gaza and is also a complete withdrawal of israeli troops. mr blinken said virtually a lot depended still on the words that came from the hamas leaders in gaza or rather he referred to them as being under the ground in gaza and what he made —— they made of all of this. what he made -- they made of all of this. ., ., what he made -- they made of all of this. . ~ ., ., ., , this. talk me through where hamas stand on all— this. talk me through where hamas stand on all of— this. talk me through where hamas stand on all of this. _ this. talk me through where hamas stand on all of this. the _ this. talk me through where hamas stand on all of this. the big - stand on all of this. the big stickin: stand on all of this. the big sticking point _ stand on all of this. the big sticking point remains i stand on all of this. the big sticking point remains that l stand on all of this. the big - sticking point remains that hamas really want to guarantees from mediators from the us in particular that if it signs up to 80 of it will notjust be the first phase, a six week a truce which would see this big increase in age going into gaza, it would see many of the remaining hostages, but hamas still holds —— many of the remaining hostages that hamas still holds being released and it would see palestinian prisoners released from israeli jails. hamas wants guarantees that if negotiation continues it will work its way into phase two. this is part of the plan which hamas feels would allow its political survival. which hamas feels would allow its politicalsurvival. it which hamas feels would allow its political survival. it wants a full withdrawal of israeli troops from the gaza strip, it wants to be able to declare a full end to this war and remain intact. the issue here is even though this is presented as an israeli plan the israeli representative to the un after the un security council vote was clear and mr blinken has heard it again from israeli leaders on this trip, but israel retains its right to continue fighting in gaza, to dismantle hamas's military capabilities. its war goal is to defeat hamas and to bring back the hostages. yolande knell, thank you. breaking news and the disgraced paedophile pop star gary glitter has been ordered by a high courtjudge in the last few minutes to pay over £500,000 in damages to one of the women he abused. if you just remember the gary glitter story, his real name is paul gadd, he is a convicted paedophile. he was jailed for this for 16 years, he was released early but then put back in prison after breaching the terms of his release. he is still currently in prison. he is currently being ordered by a high courtjudge to pay over £500,000 in damages to a woman that he abused. if you remember there was a documentary released a few months ago about gary glitter which caused a lot of consternation among many of his victims, but the disgraced pop star has been ordered to pay this to one of the many women that he abused. more on that as and when we get it on bbc news. after months of speculation, apple has revealed its plans for artificial intelligence in a move its chief executive tim cook has called the next big step. the tech gaint is to boost its siri voice assistant and operating systems with 0penai's chatgpt, as it seeks to catch up in the ai race. it's part of a new personalised called "apple intelligence". here's our north america business correspondent erin delmore. the hottest abbreviation in tech these days is easily ai. now apple is taking shot at redefining artificial intelligence into apple intelligence. the company unveiled a series of ai related announcements at its worldwide developers conference on monday. chief among them, a partnership with the artificial intelligence juggernaut 0penai. that'll allow apple to integrate start up�*s cutting—edge chatbot chatgpt into its devices including a superpowered siri. apple's signature voice assistant will be available with chatgpt features for free later this year. other new additions include ai generated images and emojis, and help with proofreading and tone adjustment. these announcement are apple's big stand at integrating ai features that have captured users' attention and companies' big bucks. wall streeet has spent the year rewarding firms that are not only jumped up but led the ai bandwagon, like nvidia which makes the chips that power ai applications. last week it overtook apple itself to become the second most valuable company in the world by market value capitalisation. microsoft, which has its own long—standing partnership with 0penai, remains the most valuable. now it's time for a look at the weather with carol kirkwood. hello again. if you have an allergy to grass pollen, it's worth mentioning that today the levels are high across wales and also southern england, moderate for northern ireland and the rest of england, and low across scotland. what's happening today with the weather is we still have this northerly flow still accentuating the cool feel that we've had in the last few days. but a ridge of high pressure building in from the west will mean that a lot of the showers that we've started with in the west will tend to fade through the day. but, at the same time, the clouds going to spread out and a lot of the showers will be across central and eastern areas. again, there will be a little bit of sunshine here and there, but there'll be more cloud than sunshine into the afternoon for many. temperatures, 10 to 17 degrees. feeling cool, especially if you're exposed to that breeze. now, through this evening and overnight, a lot of the showers will fade, but we still have a fair bit of cloud around producing a few showers in eastern england. clearer skies in the west means here it's going to be cool. and in sheltered parts of scotland and wales temperatures could actually fall as low as two or three degrees. that's getting quite close to frost levels. tomorrow then we start off with the cloud across central and eastern areas, producing a few showers. 0ut towards the west, with that ridge of high pressure, there'll be fewer showers and quite a lot of dry weather and some decent spells of sunshine. temperatures very similar to what we're looking at today, 10 to about 17 degrees north to south. but as we move on into thursday, we start off on a dry and a bright note, but the clouds going to build in from the west through the course of the day, heralding the arrival of this band of rain, which will be heavy in places, accompanied by strong winds through the irish sea, gusting around a0 miles an hour. windy in the coastline adjacent to it as well. temperatures 12 to 18 degrees. so the wind subtly changing direction, hence this slight increase in temperatures. but then as we carry on through friday and into the weekend, low pressure arrives back on our shores from the atlantic. so things do remain fairly unsettled. in the north of the country, we're looking at showers, some of those merging to give some longer spells of rain. some brightness or some sunny spells in between with highs up to 17 degrees. and a similar story further south. again, showers or longer spells of rain and turning breezy in the south, particularly on sunday. rural areas. the election launch is live at 11.30 today. this is bbc news, the headlines... the conservatives promised to cut a further 2p from national insurance as they gear up to launch their manifesto in about an hour. labour calls the plans and expensive panic attack as the party pledges to improve children's access to dentists. america's top diplomat urges hamas to accept an israeli backed ceasefire proposal after the un security council approves the plan to end the war in gaza. for the past few weeks, and for the duration of the election campaign, we've been keeping an eye on key constituences across the uk. this morning, we're looking at two key battleground seats where the fiercest campaigning has been taking place. in surrey, it's the chancellor, jeremy hunt's seat of godalming and ash. and in west yorkshire, we are looking at a key seat for the labour party — bradford west. the party has been holding at sea for the better part of 50 years but it is now under threat by independents. i5 it is now under threat by independents.— it is now under threat by inde endents. , . , it is now under threat by inde endents. , ., , ., independents. is an interesting one, this is a brand-new _ independents. is an interesting one, this is a brand-new constituency - this is a brand—new constituency here in surrey. what has happened is due to boundary changes we now have 12 constituencies rather than 11. the old south—west surrey seat, where jeremy the old south—west surrey seat, wherejeremy hunt the old south—west surrey seat, where jeremy hunt was the old south—west surrey seat, wherejeremy hunt was standing before, has become two new seats and one of those is godalming and ash. it is interesting, because he was given the chance to stand in either of those two seats, one being farnham and the other being godalming and ash. he has decided to stand here. that's partly because he has local links to the area, he went to school in charterhouse and he chose to stand here. it is proving to be something of a fight. the liberal democrats have done very well in recent years on a local election level. waverley borough council, the local council, they have done well in seats that correspond with the area. he will go up correspond with the area. he will go up against the liberal democrat leader of the waverley borough council. by all accounts, leader of the waverley borough council. by allaccounts, it leader of the waverley borough council. by all accounts, it is difficult to tell how the constituencies will play out. but this looks like it will be an incredibly closely fought contest and it will be hard to know if the chancellor will keep his seat or not. ~ ., ., ., ~' chancellor will keep his seat or not. ~ ., ., , ., ., not. we are looking at the slate of different candidates. _ not. we are looking at the slate of different candidates. what - not. we are looking at the slate of different candidates. what are - different candidates. what are people saying they want to change in the area? i people saying they want to change in the area? . , the area? i have been here in godalming — the area? i have been here in godalming over _ the area? i have been here in godalming over the _ the area? i have been here in godalming over the last - the area? i have been here in i godalming over the last couple the area? i have been here in - godalming over the last couple of days and the issues that people have mentioned have been trafficked, immigration has come up, there is a big issue of housing, that comes up wherever you go in surrey. the issue about where you build new homes, can you build affordable homes? this is a particularly beautiful part of surrey, the old south—west surrey constituency, lots of green belt and protected countryside, and so that tension over where you build new homes is particularly acute here. that is going to be one of the dilemmas and the fights going forward into this election. also, water supplies, forward into this election. also, watersupplies, people forward into this election. also, water supplies, people may have seen the story about people in the bramley area, also part of this constituency, being told not to drink the water because it was not clean. thames water and others have been looking at that. that will also been looking at that. that will also be a big issue as well.— be a big issue as well. aisha, we are talking _ be a big issue as well. aisha, we are talking about _ be a big issue as well. aisha, we are talking about a _ be a big issue as well. aisha, we are talking about a part - be a big issue as well. aisha, we are talking about a part of - be a big issue as well. aisha, we are talking about a part of the i are talking about a part of the country where independence to independents are the biggest challenge, bradford is seen as a battleground for pro—gaza parties and independents. yes. battleground for pro-gaza parties and independents. yes, absolutely. i would say that _ and independents. yes, absolutely. i would say that is _ and independents. yes, absolutely. i would say that is the _ and independents. yes, absolutely. i would say that is the overriding - would say that is the overriding issue in bradford west. that is a seat previously held by naz shah. it's a seat that is unpredictable as well. back in 2012, george galloway came in and swept to power on a ticket on what he called the bradford spring. international politics, global politics, it has always played a part, to some extent, in the political landscape year. it's an area with deep pockets of poverty, one of the highest rates of poverty, one of the highest rates of child poverty. 0n the doorstep, out and about talking to people, gaza has been on people's mines. 58% of people here are of a muslim background, and it is an issue they feel deeply and passionately about, the plight of the palestinian people, they tell me that they will vote for the party that are very much is for a ceasefire. labour has suffered in the local elections. nine independent candidates came in on a pro—ceasefire stance, and a backlash against the labour party's earlier stance on this. naz shah, the mp at the time, she was one of the mp at the time, she was one of the shadow cabinet and she resigned from the shadow cabinet over that issue. she is again facing several challenges from independent tos, a young lad he was only 19 years old who came in as a counsellor and now wants to be an mp, and he really galvanise the youth vote here. bradford is one of the younger cities in europe, and the youngest in the uk, and a lot of the young people i have been speaking to are telling me that gaza is going to be a big factor in way they vote. what a big factor in way they vote. what are the local _ a big factor in way they vote. what are the local factors _ a big factor in way they vote. what are the local factors that _ a big factor in way they vote. what are the local factors that people are the local factors that people are thinking about, or are people thinking about anything other than what is happening in gaza? ichild what is happening in gaza? child ove , what is happening in gaza? child poverty, bradford _ what is happening in gaza? child poverty, bradford west - what is happening in gaza? ci ic poverty, bradford west is one what is happening in gaza? (in if. poverty, bradford west is one of the poorest and most economically deprived constituencies in the country. the child poverty rates are more than double that across the country. you mentioned earlier about access to dentists, children's dental health, again, one of the worst in the country. for most people here, the cost of living crisis is a big factor. quality of life, that is what they want to say, those are the promises they want to see from all parties. it's interesting, we haven't had many bigger visits from big hitters yet. we know the manifestos are being launched this week. i'm getting a sense on the doorstep and on the ground that it is quite a deliberately muted campaign from labour especially, because it is almost a sense of people wanting to vote for the person, rather than the party, they are almost being left to their own devices to shore up the vote, to some extent. as i say, cost of living is the big issue. on this particular election, i would say that gaza, for a large proportion of the people here in bradford west, is going to be an overriding factor. here is a full list of the candidates that have been cited to battle it out. you heard aisha in bradford west, these lists can always be found on the bbc news website. lets ta ke lets take you to berlin in germany, i want to tell you about the ukraine recovery conference, where volodymyr zelensky is attending. they are talking about reconstructing ukraine. there is lord cameron. my prime ukraine. there is lord cameron. ii prime minister will be ukraine. there is lord cameron. ii1 prime minister will be announcing the next stage of this at the g7 at the next stage of this at the g7 at the weekend. sometimes prime ministers take the announcement of the foreign secretary, i know that, because i used to do it. we will be making a generous contribution to reconstruction. and the £3 billion, the ii reconstruction. and the £3 billion, the 4 billion euros that we will be investing in defence for ukraine, thatis investing in defence for ukraine, that is this year, next year and every year in the future for as long as it takes until putin is defeated. that is the approach we have to take, making sure this money is not just this year and next year, it is how long it takes, whatever it takes. the battle for the future, the reconstruction of ukraine, is come in many ways, it is the thing putin most dreads. he knows a successful ukraine, a reform ukraine, a financially successful ukraine, a financially successful ukraine, all of those things it can be, is the greatest possible defeat. and i would make this last point, we are here with a lot of numbers being thrown about money, will it be 60 billion we raised in london, 15 billion we raised in london, 15 billion that the uk has spent, you are going to be a lot of numbers. i will tell you one thing, the numbers we are talking about will be nothing compared to the numbers we would have to invest if ukraine is not successful. in defence alone, during the cold war, we were investing 5%, never mind 2% or 2.5%. what you spend now, we will save later and we will see a successful ukraine as a result. ., ., ., ,, will see a successful ukraine as a result. ., ., . ~ ., result. david cameron, talking to the conference, _ result. david cameron, talking to the conference, speaking - result. david cameron, talking to the conference, speaking about | the conference, speaking about ukraine, about the money that has been pledged from the uk to ukraine. as i mentioned earlier, this conference very much is focused on getting the reconstruction plan for ukraine not up and running as such, because it has been up and running for a while, butjust to underline where ukraine's needs are most acute, and i think this year the conference will very much he conference will very much be focusing on energy infrastructure. i will leave the panel discussion there, i think, will leave the panel discussion there, ithink, in berlin will leave the panel discussion there, i think, in berlin and bring you back to the uk. i think we can bring a little bit more on the conservative party manifesto, due to come out very shortly. let's go live to harry farley, who i believe is at silverstone. what are we expecting? i think there are some arrivals happening somewhere else. rishi sunak is arriving. we have not got those pictures quite yet. the announcement is imminent? that's riht. announcement is imminent? that's right- rishi — announcement is imminent? that's right. rishi sunak _ announcement is imminent? that's right. rishi sunak has _ announcement is imminent? that's right. rishi sunak has arrived - announcement is imminent? that's right. rishi sunak has arrived at - right. rishi sunak has arrived at silverstone, the home of the british grand prix in the last few minutes. it's a big moment for him. he is looking to turn a new chapter from a difficult past few days, obviously the criticism of his decision to leave the d—day commemorations earlier, hoping to draw a line under that as he launches the conservative manifesto today. the headline which we have been talking about all morning is the pledge to cut another 2p from national insurance and traditions. that would be the third time the conservatives have done that. they did it in the autumn, and in the spring. neither of the previous 2p cuts made a difference in the gap in the polls between them and labour. rishi sunak making a big gamble, third time lucky, i suppose. that would happen only if the conservatives were re—elected, the conservatives were re—elected, the conservatives are saying that would mean that they have halved the national insurance contributions from 12p, down to six p. labour say there is no money for that, they say that the money simply isn't there, so they would not match that commitment. more broadly, the labour party are saying that the conservatives, go costings for the policies they are going to announce don't add up, and we will have a full costings document from the conservatives, we will be adding up the sums and asking questions about whether the conservatives' pledges we have heard so much about, if they do add up. as well as the 2p cut to national insurance that we are expecting, the conservatives announced national service for young people, triple lock plus, so the state pension is never taxed, 100,000 new apprenticeships, a thousand new police officers and a whole host of policies as rishi sunak desperately tries to grab the attention of voters and rustle a bit of momentum behind his campaign. you have been on a conservative battle bus all the way to silverstone, and you have been on it at other times in the campaign. what is the feeling amongst conservatives today? are they feeling positive about today and about how this is going to go down with not only voters but also the key conservative candidates up and down the country who, over the last week or so, have been worried about how things have gone for the tories. ., , about how things have gone for the tories. . , . ., , �* tories. that is certainly true, i've been speaking — tories. that is certainly true, i've been speaking to _ tories. that is certainly true, i've been speaking to a _ tories. that is certainly true, i've been speaking to a number- tories. that is certainly true, i've been speaking to a number of. been speaking to a number of different conservative candidates who have been concerned to say the least that how the campaign has been going. one said that conservative candidates who at the campaign were asking the prime minister to come and host a campaign visit in their constituency, in their patch, now begging him not to come, which perhaps gives you an illustration of the mood in some of the conservative camps. today is a big day for them, they are hoping to put an end to that, they are hoping to draw a line under the difficult start of the campaign they have had, the difficult few weeks they have had, and i think in terms of how conservatives are feeling, we will ask that question when we have the full details of the manifesto. we know some conservatives wanted to see a cut in inheritance tax, we are not expecting that in the manifesto, there will be some disappointment there. others on the right of the party wanted to see firmer wording on leaving the european convention on leaving the european convention on human rights. we are not expect enough. we can expect some discontent, so much disagreement from some of the party. whether that amounts to anything more concrete, public expressions of dissatisfaction, we don't know. we will bring you that if we get that. with any party manifesto, it is always a bringing together of the different wings of the party, inevitably, there will be some discontent. but we will certainly bring you that if we hear anything public from conservative candidates disappointed with what we are going to be hearing in about 45 minutes. i don't want to put you on the spot, but why have they chosen silverstone, all the places to launch the manifesto? what are they telling us without telling us? there are so many _ telling us without telling us? there are so many puns _ telling us without telling us? there are so many puns you _ telling us without telling us? there are so many puns you can - telling us without telling us? there are so many puns you can make . telling us without telling us? ii77 are so many puns you can make about silverstone, we have heard mel stride, the work and pensions secretary talking about being revved up secretary talking about being revved up and ready to go. perhaps those on the labour side talking about a car crash as an alternative. man; the labour side talking about a car crash as an alternative.— crash as an alternative. may be chaniin crash as an alternative. may be changing the — crash as an alternative. may be changing the tyres? _ crash as an alternative. may be changing the tyres? a - crash as an alternative. may be changing the tyres? a pit - crash as an alternative. may be | changing the tyres? a pit stop? crash as an alternative. may be - changing the tyres? a pit stop? pole position? we could go on and on, but i don't want to lose viewers. you could io i don't want to lose viewers. you could go on _ i don't want to lose viewers. you could go on and _ i don't want to lose viewers. you could go on and on. _ i don't want to lose viewers. you could go on and on. trust - i don't want to lose viewers. you could go on and on. trust me, i l i don't want to lose viewers. you - could go on and on. trust me, i can, my husband — could go on and on. trust me, i can, my husband will— could go on and on. trust me, i can, my husband will tell _ could go on and on. trust me, i can, my husband will tell me. _ could go on and on. trust me, i can, my husband will tell me. harry - my husband will tell me. harry farley will be across all of the analysis throughout the morning. as i mentioned earlier, the manifesto launch happening at 11.30. it is now coming up to 10.45. around two million british ex—pats are eligible to vote in the general election onjuly fourth, after the rules were changed. in the past, any uk citizen who'd lived abroad for more than 15 years was not allowed to participate — but that's now been scrapped. our europe correspondent nick beake has this report. singing. proud tradition echoes through the hills of andalusia. it was here flamenco first stormed onto the stage more than 200 years ago. a [and of distinctive rhythm, and hues of a landscape just made for postcards. and it's long enchanted british visitors, so taken by it all they decided to stay. jill retired to spain in 1998, but once she'd been here 15 years, she lost the right to vote in uk general elections. the recent law change means she can vote once again next month. i'm very pleased to have some sort of stake in what goes on in the uk again, albeitjust one vote. and having been very frustrated and actually distressed not to have had a vote when the brexit referendum happened, i'm very pleased that things have changed now. and number one from this round is this one. intro plays: africa by toto. at the weekly quiz at chema's bar, the vast majority of participants are british. 10% of the population of mijas municipality are from the uk. at the end of the day, i'm british through and through. so therefore i do really like to see what's going on at home. my son lives there, my mother, my family are all in the uk, so it is nice to know what's happening there and it's nice to be able to participate, possibly, to have our opinions. i used to be a teacher and i'm very keen on seeing that teachers' rights are protected, and the conditions in schools, and also the welfare in the national health. i mean, one day i may go back. and of course, hospitals are very important. there are about 9,000 brits living in mijas. many have been here for 15 years or more. they now will be able to cast their ballot at the uk general election. but some expats say, even though they have this right, they won't be voting. a good lot of grapes this year, they're very small at the moment. bill anderson, a retired lecturer, has been in spain 22 years, and says he feels much more invested here. election in the uk, july 4th. will you be voting in that? no, i won't be voting in it, because i've kind of left the uk behind. spain, mijas, is my home now. i don't even know if i feel i have the right to try to influence what's happening in the uk when i don't live there any more, and i don't pay taxes there any more. all eligible british expats have until the 18th ofjune to register to vote so that, from afar, they can help shape the british political landscape. nick beake, bbc news, on the costa del sol. the pressure on public services is a key election issue — and to understand the challenges authorities are facing, we've been looking at the town of telford in shropshire. today, we're focusing on social care, as demand for support has soared in recent years, particularly from people under the age of 65. here's our social affairs correspondent michael buchanan. club 17 is a group for people with disabilities and support needs to meet and mingle. or maybe something more. you'vejust got engaged! yes, i have. so when are you going to get married? er, i don't know yet. how did you propose to her? i got down on one knee. did you? yeah. fantastic. and she said yes. yeah, she did. the room is full of the hopes and fears of any young people — though, in their cases, the struggles can be greater. well, i had to leave the town that i was born and grew up in because there was no supported accommodation provision. abby has a condition that causes herjoints to dislocate, leaving her in pain. after a battle, she now has the care she needs. i spent two years in emergency accommodation, in a shared homeless shelter, because there was disagreements over what care and support i actually needed. so we really had to fight the council to get my care package put in place. in another room, the parents of some of the young people who are struggling to be heard. we just want them to live fulfilled lives. we don't want to be a burden on anybody, but we want them to be treated with equity. and the problem is, our options are so limited. a constant problem is the lack of supported accommodation. elsa's son is due to finish college next month. i didn't want him to have to come home where he's going to be set back in his development. er... but that's probably what's going to happen because at the moment i still don't have any ideas of where he could move to. when you have a wheelchair and you have mobility issues, you can't, obviously, get up the stairs in a house, so it would need to be accessible. i know a couple of young people that have had to go to south wales because they haven't got the housing or the support staff, which is — for them parents and that young person that's lived in telford all their lives, having to go all the way there at the weekend is actually a tragedy. around 70% of the council budget in telford is spent on social care. demand for support from people under the age of 65 increased by close to 300% in the five years to 2022—�*23 — the latest figures. it's far greater than the increase for england as a whole — delivered in part, say the council, by the area's attractiveness. because of some of the really positive services in certain things like special educational needs services, people are attracted to coming in, which means that there's another pressure of people, younger people coming in with high complex needs. but people will need to move into adult social care at some point to maintain their independence going forward. adding to the pressures is poor lifestyle. care homes say they're seeing people needing support in their 50s due to problems linked to smoking and alcoholism. most of the residents, however, are still the elderly — though the care they are having to provide is changing, and more expensive. people in residential services probably look more like the old nursing threshold used to be, and that people in nursing homes mirror much more of a hospice situation — people tend to come in now at the latter part of their life, so for end—of—life care, or where they have extremely advanced complex nursing and dementia needs. telford — like britain — is both growing and ageing. it's a combination that is increasingly stretching public finances — particularly social care. michael buchanan, bbc news, telford. paedophile former pop star gary glitter has been ordered to payjust over £500,000 in damages to one of the women he abused. let's cross alive and speak to our correspondent in the newsroom with more on this story. what is the latest? this news is 'ust story. what is the latest? this news isiust coming _ story. what is the latest? this news isiust coming in _ story. what is the latest? this news isjust coming in now. _ story. what is the latest? this news isjust coming in now. i— story. what is the latest? this news isjust coming in now. i will- story. what is the latest? this news isjust coming in now. i will reduce i isjust coming in now. i will reduce some of the information that has come in. what we do know is that gary glitter, he was very famous in the 70s and 805, he gary glitter, he was very famous in the 705 and 805, he had a huge pop career and a huge fall from grace. he is in prison. he has now been ordered to pay more than £500,000 in damages to one of his victims, who has now sued him at the high court. this woman, who is anonymous because of these kinds of cases where we would not be even her details, her name, she has said that she basically has lost a huge amount of money in her life through the trauma that she has been through, and she has not been able to work, for example, that is why this money been awarded to her. thejudge said example, that is why this money been awarded to her. the judge said that the woman was entitled to those damages because she said that, in thejudge was words, damages because she said that, in the judge was words, there is damages because she said that, in thejudge was words, there is no doubt the claimant was subject to sexual abuse of the most serious kind by the defendant when she was only 12 years old, and that it had a very significant adverse effect on the rest of her life. she said the 6—figure sum includes £381,000 in lost earnings, and £7,800 for future therapy and treatment. the hearing is expected today to consider interest on those damages and legal costs. but this isjust interest on those damages and legal costs. but this is just another scandal for a costs. but this is just another scandalfor a man costs. but this is just another scandal for a man who costs. but this is just another scandalfor a man who had a costs. but this is just another scandal for a man who had a fall from grace that was spectacular. gary glitter, who has been ordered to pay money by a judge. they're known for their big eyes, and for being famously sleepy. but over the last 20 years, the number of hazel dormice has declined by as much as 70% across the uk. it's hoped a new project — which sees them re—released into their natural habitat could help to restore the population. nicola haseler has more. these woods are home to bedfordshire's last hazel dormice. and arriving from london zoo are five more pairs to try and strengthen the population. as a species, dormice are an animal that actually lives in the tree and shrub canopy when they're active, they hibernate on the ground over winter and they kind of need diverse woodlands, like the one we stand in now. this is a species in population and range decline. the hedgerow connectivity is perhaps not there that once was. and also climate change does seem to have an impact on them — on their breeding success and their hibernal success, as well. the dormice have had to have a full health check, and spend eight weeks in quarantine so that they don't carry diseases to the existing population. well, the dormice have arrived on theirjourney from london to these bedfordshire woods — probably a bit tired, having a little sleep in these nest boxes. and i'm not going to tell you, in fact, where we are in bedfordshire, because obviously the wildlife charity has taken great care to ensure that these guys get to live here undisturbed. what we've got here is a woodland with all the right habitat conditions for dormice. they like young woodland with a good understory and lots of scrub in them if they're older woodlands that provide flowers, fruit and insects. the population's doing extremely well within the wood, but it's also doing extremely well around the perimeter and outside of the wood. and that's a really good thing to see because that's the only way that we're going to repopulate the countryside with nature. well, this little guy has passed his health checks. ian's holding him because you need a special licence to handle dormice. he's just coming up to a year old and was bred in captivity, and he's about to get a taste of his new life. this is known as a soft release. so the hard release, what you do is pretty much we take dormice out and just kind of let them go, actually, and you wouldn't really know what happened to them. but this is a soft release. so what we do is we have these large cages we put up in the woodland. dormice are put into that and that will happen later today. we continue to provide food for the next two months, but obviously the aim is to slowly reduce that so they'll eat a more natural diet. and do you want to hear a dormouse snoring? gentle squeaking. thought so. gentle squeaking. is that cute? i can't really tell. rather a dormouse than a snake. they gave me the shivers. now it's time for a look at the weather with carol kirkwood. hello again. if you have an allergy to grass pollen, it's worth mentioning that today the levels are high across wales and also southern england, moderate for northern ireland and the rest of england, and low across scotland. what's happening today with the weather is we still have this northerly flow still accentuating the cool feel that we've had in the last few days. but a ridge of high pressure building in from the west will mean that a lot of the showers that we've started with in the west will tend to fade through the day. but, at the same time, the clouds going to spread out and a lot of the showers will be across central and eastern areas. again, there will be a little bit of sunshine here and there, but there'll be more cloud than sunshine into the afternoon for many. temperatures, 10 to 17 degrees. feeling cool, especially if you're exposed to that breeze. now, through this evening and overnight, a lot of the showers will fade, but we still have a fair bit of cloud around producing a few showers in eastern england. clearer skies in the west means here it's going to be cool. and in sheltered parts of scotland and wales temperatures could actually fall as low as two or three degrees. that's getting quite close to frost levels. tomorrow then we start off with the cloud across central and eastern areas, producing a few showers. out towards the west, with that ridge of high pressure, there'll be fewer showers and quite a lot of dry weather and some decent spells of sunshine. temperatures very similar to what we're looking at today, 10 to about 17 degrees north to south. but as we move on into thursday, we start off on a dry and a bright note, but the clouds going to build in from the west through the course of the day, heralding the arrival of this band of rain, which will be heavy in places, accompanied by strong winds through the irish sea, gusting around 40 miles an hour. windy in the coastline adjacent to it as well. temperatures 12 to 18 degrees. so the wind subtly changing direction, hence this slight increase in temperatures. but then as we carry on through friday and into the weekend, low pressure arrives back on our shores from the atlantic. so things do remain fairly unsettled. in the north of the country, we're looking at showers, some of those merging to give some longer spells of rain. some brightness or some sunny spells in between with highs up to 17 degrees. and a similar story further south. again, showers or longer spells of rain and turning breezy in the south, particularly on sunday. live from london, this is bbc news. the conservatives promise a further cut to national insurance as they prepare to launch their election manifesto. we will bring the announcement do you live this hour. i am at silverstone racetrack as rishi sunak sets out the details of his plans to win your vote. labour says the plans are desperate as the party pledges to improve children's access to dentists. in other news, america's top diplomat urges hamas to accept an israeli back ceasefire proposal after the un security council approves the plan to end the war in gaza. convicted paedophile and former pop star gary glitter is ordered to pay over £500,000 in damages to one of his victims of sexual abuse. and scientists discover that just victims of sexual abuse. and scientists discover thatjust like us, elephants call each other by name. hello, everyone. welcome to bbc news. the conservatives are launching their election manifesto in a round about 30 minutes' time with a promise to cut a further 2p from national insurance. this was the scene in northamptonshire a few minutes ago when mr sunak arrived for the manifesto launch. as you can see there, he has beenjoined by his wife. they stepped out of their car and headed straight for photographs with party members all holding their campaign placards. we know that a cut of 2p in national insurance will be a key part of that launch. the expected move will be part of the tories' long stated ambition to abolish the contributions entirely, which labour has branded an unfunded spending pledge. let's cross live now to our political correspondent harry farley, who has been on the road with the tory campaign, and now you are in a very different kind of road at silverstone. yes, that's right. the conservatives have chosen silverstone racetrack, the home of the british grand prix, to launch their manifesto, and we are expecting it in the next 30 minutes to get the details of their plans as they seek to win the vote of people watching at home, and then what we are expecting as you say is the headline, the 2p cut to national insurance, the third time they have taken 2p off national insurance. they did it in the autumn, they did it in the spring, and as the chancellorjeremy hunt acknowledged chancellor jeremy hunt acknowledged a chancellorjeremy hunt acknowledged a few weeks ago, neither of those two previous cuts narrowed the gap in the polls between them and labour, so rishi sunak hoping third time lucky as he announces plans to take another 2p off national insurance if the conservatives win the election, because labour have said they wouldn't match it, they wouldn't meet that commitment, because, they say, the money simply isn't there, and that is essentially the criticism that labour have of this conservative manifesto. they say that a number of the plans the conservatives will set out are uncosted, unfunded, they say the money left for a conservative sums doesn't add up. we will get a full costings plan, taking you through those numbers and figures, when we have that document in about half an hour. so we will be able to take you through how the conservatives have added up their figures. through how the conservatives have added up theirfigures. as through how the conservatives have added up their figures. as well as that of peak at national insurance, we are also expecting a number of measures around housing and house—building, and mel stride, the work and pensions secretary, saying this morning there would be a target for building new houses, expecting a tax cut for landlords who sell their properties to existing tenants, and we are also expecting a number of measures around housing and house—building, and mel stride, the work and pensions secretary, saying this morning there would be a target for building new houses, expecting a tax cut for landlords who sell their properties to existing tenants, and we're also expecting a so a number of measures, and we are bringing you they're more, plus all the details of how the conservatives add up their figures, of how the conservatives add up theirfigures, in about of how the conservatives add up their figures, in about half an hour. parri, talk me through what isn't expected to be in the manifesto. we have a few details about what we are definitely going to hear about, but what isn't going to be in the manifesto this time around? we are not exoecting _ manifesto this time around? we are not exoecting any — manifesto this time around? we are not expecting any cuts _ manifesto this time around? we are not expecting any cuts to _ not expecting any cuts to inheritance tax, which is something that some conservatives particularly on the right of the party had been wanting to see, and we are also not expecting again on the right someone wanting to see tougher language around the european convention on human rights, possibly even a referendum on whether to leave the uc hr. we are not expecting that either. so some on the right of the conservative party might be a touch disappointed about that, but as always with party manifestos they are trying to bring together the coalition that makes up the conservative party, and what the conservatives are trying to do, ever since day one of this campaign, is to come out of the traps quickly with a number of big headline policy announcements. we have had a few of them which we will hear repeated today, the national service for young people, 8000 more police officers, making permanent the higher threshold for first—time buyers having to pay stamp duty, for example. and i suppose it is all part of the wider conservative strategy are trying to grab attention and shift the narrative, because at the moment, as we've seen, there is a large gap in the polls between them and labour, and this really is the last set piece event that the conservatives have to try and narrow that gap. and conservatives have to try and narrow that ia i. �* ., conservatives have to try and narrow thatiai.�* ., ,, conservatives have to try and narrow thatiai.�* ., ~'., that gap. and over the past week or so, it has that gap. and over the past week or so. it has been _ that gap. and over the past week or so, it has been a _ that gap. and over the past week or so, it has been a tough _ that gap. and over the past week or so, it has been a tough time, - that gap. and over the past week or so, it has been a tough time, hasn't it, for rishi sunak, so in many ways, he needs this, not only to reconnect with potential voters but also with conservative candidates up and down the country who may up until now be a little bit upset about the way the campaign has been dealt with so far.— dealt with so far. yes, that's ri i ht. dealt with so far. yes, that's right- rishi _ dealt with so far. yes, that's right. rishi sunak _ dealt with so far. yes, that's right. rishi sunak hoping - dealt with so far. yes, that's| right. rishi sunak hoping that dealt with so far. yes, that's - right. rishi sunak hoping that today firmly draws a line under what has been a difficult few days for him. we heard from him yesterday asking for forgiveness from people for his decision to leave the d—day commemorations early in france last week. he apologised last week and then asked for that forgiveness yesterday, and he will hope along with as you say the conservative candidates who have publicly and privately express their concern, their disappointment, and even in some cases their anger at that decision and what they acknowledge was an avoidable mistake by their leader. as you said, we will be hoping that today draws a line under all of that, that shift the narrative on and gives them an opportunity to lay out their plans to sell their vision to voters at home. ~ ., , ., home. we are sure that the prime minister will _ home. we are sure that the prime minister will be _ home. we are sure that the prime minister will be hoping _ home. we are sure that the prime minister will be hoping that - home. we are sure that the prime minister will be hoping that being | minister will be hoping that being at silverstone might allow him to move closer to pole position after it looked like it was a difficult week last week. i know that is a terrible pun. week last week. i know that is a terrible pun-— week last week. i know that is a terrible iun. . �*, , , terrible pun. that's right, the puns we have been _ terrible pun. that's right, the puns we have been talking _ terrible pun. that's right, the puns we have been talking about - terrible pun. that's right, the puns we have been talking about here . terrible pun. that's right, the punsj we have been talking about here in the press room, they are writing themselves. a possible car crash at turn one, pole position, going round and round, the list is endless, and i'm sure you can expect the headline writers to be having great fun with this choice of location.— this choice of location. exactly, and that's _ this choice of location. exactly, and that's part _ this choice of location. exactly, and that's part of _ this choice of location. exactly, and that's part of what - this choice of location. exactly, and that's part of what it's - this choice of location. exactly, and that's part of what it's all. and that's part of what it's all about. good to talk to you, harry. we will come back to a little later in the programme. let'sjust we will come back to a little later in the programme. let's just take you to the podium. it is not the podium you would expect in the home of british formula 1, it is just a single podium there, no second and third place today. there is only one place, and that is rishi sunak's position when he sets out manifesto for the conservative party in a round about 20 minutes. we will of course be taking that life. and i think we can also now move away from what the conservatives are doing and speak a little bit about labour, because they have very much today focused on not only talking about criticism of the conservative plans on employee national insurance, but also talking about what their priorities are, and today they have mapped out what they think should happen in terms of dentistry for children. that's a big theme of their manifesto, and we've been speaking with, or hearing from, sir keir starmer, the labour leader. have a listen to what he had to say. the money is not there for the tories' desperation, and what they're producing is a recipe for five more years of chaos. and i think that's why it is so important that we see this election is a choice, because we can't go on like this. we need to turn the page, rebuild. start with labour. we have got six first steps that are ready to go onjuly the 5th, get on with thejob and roll our to go onjuly the 5th, get on with the job and roll our sleeves up, so thatis the job and roll our sleeves up, so that is the job for the country. so that is the 'ob for the country. so 'ust a that is the job for the country. so just a follow up on that, they say that you will be putting up taxes, not cutting them. is that correct? no tax cuts from you? we not cutting them. is that correct? no tax cuts from you?— not cutting them. is that correct? no tax cuts from you? we have been absolutely clear _ no tax cuts from you? we have been absolutely clear that _ no tax cuts from you? we have been absolutely clear that all _ no tax cuts from you? we have been absolutely clear that all our - no tax cuts from you? we have been absolutely clear that all our plans - absolutely clear that all our plans are fully costed, fully funded. we will not be increasing income tax, national insurance or vat, so no tax increases for working people. none of our plans require tax rises. this is coming from the party that has put tax at the highest level for 70 years, and they are building this jeremy corbyn style manifesto where anything you want to can go in it, none of it is costed. it is a recipe for more of the same, and that's why this choice of turning our back on this, turn the page and rebuild, so important. we have six first steps and we are ready to go onjuly the 5th. 50 and we are ready to go on july the 5th. , ,, ,, ., 5th. so there is sir keir starmer, and his response _ 5th. so there is sir keir starmer, and his response to _ 5th. so there is sir keir starmer, and his response to today's - 5th. so there is sir keir starmer, l and his response to today's plans. we will have the manifesto launch in about 20 minutes live here on bbc but let's talk about how important a good manifesto is. it is really important, notjust for members and voters, but also for conservative candidates up and down the country who need to be fully across manifestos in order to pass on those key messages to potential voters. earlier i had an interesting conversation with lauren mckevitt, a political strategist and former conservative special adviser during the david cameron coalition. i started by asking her what makes a good manifesto.— good manifesto. preparation. and that's the one _ good manifesto. preparation. and that's the one thing _ good manifesto. preparation. and that's the one thing that - good manifesto. preparation. and that's the one thing that worries l good manifesto. preparation. and l that's the one thing that worries me the most about this election. because they would snap elections not a lot of work had gone in over the course of many months to try to put together policies that were completely bullet—proof and to bring everybody with you. we have already had some policies announced over the last couple of weeks where we have had very serious doubts raised by the very people who are meant to go and champion these policies on behalf of the senior team of the conservative party. i worry we will have a similar problem when the document is launched today. what is your biggest worry? the biggest worry is that, that we will have a huge team of people, all of whom come on television or go to their local hustings or papers and say, well, i don't feel quite comfortable about what we said in that chapter and i am not sure about what that little bit means. the more people you have doing that, the more stories you have saying the prime minister has not got a team with him, this got a team with him, this is a document written in isolation, a conservative party with splits, every one of those creates a problem so disunity resulting from a document not wholly accepted or championed by every person who needs to do it becomes a very difficult communications problem in the short term. at the moment there must be pressure on rishi sunak from different elements, how popular do you think his team is among tory candidates and tory teams up and down the country given the news over the last week? there are lots of people who work for rishi sunak who i like very much and lots of whom who i do not particularly rate. i think i am average for many people who work day today in politics and know the people involved. that is usually the case within the conservative party, whoever the leader has working for them will have people liked by one team, disliked by another and a whole group that go into the other category. but i think we have a problem where having rushed into this decision without bringing his cabinet with him and remembering he went to the king before he went to his cabinet, it means the team immediately around him who made that decision come in for criticism in a way they ordinarily would not because they are viewed as part of the unit which basically pulled the team into a decision they probably did not want. if that is the same team writing the manifesto, we have a problem with the legitimacy of the people he has around him. and lots of the policies that have come out such as national service is one that landed very badly with huge chunks of people on the one hand because it was believed it was not really deliverable that it would have the impact wanted, and on the other hand in many respects if you're going to do national service, it does not go far enough to have a huge chunk of the population only doing 25 days of volunteering a year. so they pleased nobody with what they put out, and if it is the same group of people putting out this manifesto, and i will reiterate, a full manifesto without a great deal of time to put it together in front of the 2015 campaign, we had about 18 to 24 months of policy commissions within the senior leadership, the wales office was obviously sitting on the home affairs commission, and the reason we did that was to try to dilate ourselves away from a coalition government where we had to dilute our own policies to work with the lib dems, which had a huge running over about 18 or 24 months. they have not had a chance to do this before this election and the results will be able struggle to get everybody on board very quickly with a document that has had little bits and pieces leaked from it but could have some surprises that may not work well with lots of the parliamentary party. you are a former tory special adviser in the cameron government. if you were advising mr sunak now, would you advise him to do some of the things he has done in the last week or so, like leaving the d—day commemorations early? no, i think that was a really silly decision. i have been trying... this is what all former advisers do when they leave, they do post match analysis in their own heads even when nobody is listening. "what can have gone into that decision?" it seems so boneheaded. i have a former colleague who now works in paris and i sent them a message saying you know someone in the french foreign ministry, can you ask how much was rishi sunak actually invited to? was he getting the full biden treatment, or was he offered one thing only and he decided because the uk was not being treated equally to the us it was not worth engaging with the french programme? that might have given credibility to the decision, that the french were having us in one corner of one photograph and it was not worth hanging around, but everything indicates this was just a really boneheaded decision. other decisions had been made in this campaign that probably would not have worked particularly well, particularly if you had people from the default departments sitting in the room. i do not think anybody from the northern ireland office thinks that your major campaign announcement as the conservative and unionist party is to have national service in a document, that is very complicated to try to get over the line in northern ireland. there is a lot that you as a former adviser probably would not have done but that is the case for absolutely every announcement all the time, you never break the habit of being an armchair general and at some point you have to try to trust the people in the room. the problem my party has at the moment is that i have been several mistakes, several failures ofjudgment and lots of people are struggling to trust the people in the room at the moment. that is former tory adviser laurent mcevatt talking to me earlier. so, we know a little bit about what could be included in the conservatives' manifesto. here's bbc verify�*s nick eardley with a round—up of the proposals — and how they might be paid for. good morning. yes, the manifestos are a big deal. they become the policy bible for whoever is in government. today we get the conservative offering, and we already know a few of the policies that they are pledging. tax cuts, we'll get the details later. introducing a form of national service. tax breaks for first time home—buyers, raising the tax—free pension allowance and allowing higher earners to keep more child benefit payments. there will be more, i'm sure, in the document today. but all of this costs money. so where is it coming from and do the plans add up? well, we already know some of the areas where the conservatives think they can find more cash to fund their policies. firstly, this — collecting more of the tax people already owe. the idea is simple. that you fund the tax office better and it's able to crack down on tax avoidance. the conservatives think this can raise about £6 billion a year. labour actually have a similar policy. they think it will raise about £5 billion extra. but will it work? well, some of the experts we asked said the figures were uncertain. and as you can see here, another group, the tax policy associates, say it is credible but with a big caveat, and that's that the policy would need to be targeted. so not easy to get to that six billion figure, but not impossible. the bigger pledge the conservatives have is this — reducing welfare spending by £12 billion a year. we asked the conservatives for the numbers and they were adamant that this is possible. but we also spoke to experts who aren't so sure. this is what the institute for fiscal studies said. "it looks difficult in the extreme." another group of experts, the resolution foundation, said it looks extremely challenging to deliver. so there is already some scepticism about the figures. and by the way, if any of this rings bells, if it sounds familiar, have a look at this. "we found annual savings of 12 billion from welfare, five billion from tackling tax evasion." that's not from today. that's from this man, george osborne, in 2015. and a good chunk of that 12 billion pledge, about a third of the welfare goal, was never collected, according to the government's spending watchdog. so that's worth bearing in mind today. the conservatives have also set themselves some rules which will make it harder to raise money. they are saying no to all of this — raises in income tax, vat, national insurance. add in some of the other rules that they've put in place and that leaves some economists warning we may see a spending squeeze, whether it's labour or the conservatives who are in power after the general election. we'll get the full conservative manifesto later this morning. we'll be flicking through it all, looking at the policies, looking at the numbers, and there'll be a lot more across the bbc throughout the day. there will be, yes, and a good thing about the bbc is that we have bbc verify, we have the likes of nick and ben who will be crunching those numbers for you as and when they are announced, and we will bring you analysis of course from all of our top correspondents from all different side of the story. economics, culture, health, everyone. let'sjust economics, culture, health, everyone. let's just take you very briefly to the podium. it's the podium at silverstone race course, but not the kind of podium you would expect to see. there is no champagne being cracked open all over people, this is all about politics, and rishi sunak is expected to get up in about ten minutes to talk about the tory manifesto. in the meantime, we have had some feedback, if you like, some analysis from the labour party earlier. we brought you keir starmer speaking a moment to go about his criticism of the tory plans. he called the conservatives' national insurance planned the most expensive panic attack in history, and the labour party will unveil its own manifesto later this week. today it will focus on cuts to dentist waiting lists. our political correspondent, lone wells, spoke to us earlier from the labour campaign bus. the main criticism that has come out of labour in response to the conservative plans is that they feel like it is, in the words of labour shadow ministers, another sort of liz truss plan of promises. they argue that some of the tories' plans are unfunded and this is a sort of wish list that won't be achievable in practice and they have particularly criticised plans to cut taxes like national insurance further while labour have said that they will not be looking to raise personal taxes like income tax, national insurance or vat, they also said they won't be looking to cut them, that wouldn't be affordable at this time. so i think that is certainly the kind of response to some of the trails we have seen from the conservative manifesto. but as we discussed, labour's manifesto will be later this week. in the meantime, though, today they're focuses on children's health in particular, in particular children's dentistry with the announcement that they would have 100,000 new dental appointments for children, supervised tooth—brushing in schools and also a ban on high caffeinated energy drinks as well, those are the major policies labour are talking about today. let's bring you some other news before we go back to the conservative manifesto launch. starting in the middle east. america's top diplomat antony blinken says if the latest peace plan for gaza fails it will be because of the leader of hamas in gaza. in tel aviv he met relatives of israeli hostages, saying the ceasefire proposal�*s fate was in the hands of "one guy hiding ten storeys underground", a reference to yahya sinwar. there's been no formal response from hamas, but it has welcomed informally the un security council's decision to back the american ceasefire plan, and an official from the group has said it's ready to negotiate. mr blinken has also met the israeli prime minister, benjamin netanyahu, and said he had reaffaimed his acceptance of the plan. here's what mr blinken has said in the past few hours. for me, all of the hostages, but especially our eight american families who have loved ones in gaza, we are determined to bring them home. the proposal that president biden put forward is the best way to do that. and i think, as i said just yesterday, you've had country after country make that clear, and supporting the proposal, and then yesterday the united nations security council, in effect speaking for the entire international community, made it as clear as it possibly could be that this is what the world is looking for. 14 votes for, no votes against. something quite rare at the security council these days. and i think that speaks volumes too. so everyone's vote is in except for one vote, and that's hamas, and that's what we wait for. earlier, our middle east correspondent, yolande knell told us about the challenge blinken has ahead of him. he definitely has an uphill struggle in this region. its main aim is trying to bring israel and hamas closer to this deal, which has an increasing amount of international support. the three—phase deal was laid by president biden back on may the 315t, very much the text of the un security council resolution is based on this deal. mr blinken, as he was getting ready to leave israel for georgian, said the hamas statement put out by political leaders outside of gaza mostly based in doha, that that was a hopeful sign because they welcome the un security council vote and said they were ready to work with the mediators to try to achieve a negotiated settlement. they said it would be up to washington to make sure israel abides by the part of the plan which is the second phase which would work towards a permanent end to the war in gaza and is also a complete withdrawal of israeli troops. mr blinken said virtually a lot depended still on the words that came from the hamas leaders in gaza or rather he referred to them as being under the ground in gaza and what they made of all of this. talk me through where hamas stand on all of this. the big sticking point remains that hamas really want to guarantees from mediators from the us in particular that if it signs up to 80 of it will not just be the first phase, a six week a truce which would see this big increase in age going into gaza, it would see many of the remaining hostages, that hamas still holds being released and it would see palestinian prisoners released from israeli jails. hamas wants guarantees that if negotiation continues it will work its way into phase two. this is part of the plan which hamas feels would allow its political survival. it wants a full withdrawal of israeli troops from the gaza strip, it wants to be able to declare a full end to this war and remain intact. the issue here is even though this is presented as an israeli plan the israeli representative to the un after the un security council vote was clear and mr blinken has heard it again from israeli leaders on this trip, but israel retains its right to continue fighting in gaza, to dismantle hamas's military capabilities. its war goal is to defeat hamas and to bring back the hostages. yolande knell in jerusalem. after months of speculation, apple has revealed its plans for artificial intelligence in a move its chief executive tim cook has called the next big step. the tech gaint is to boost its siri voice assistant and operating systems with openai's chatgpt, as it seeks to catch up in the ai race. it's part of a new personalised called "apple intelligence". here's our north america business correspondent erin delmore. the hottest abbreviation in tech these days is easily ai. now apple is taking shot at redefining artificial intelligence into apple intelligence. the company unveiled a series of ai related announcements at its worldwide developers conference on monday. chief among them, a partnership with the artificial intelligence juggernaut openai. that'll allow apple to integrate start up's cutting—edge chatbot chatgpt into its devices including a superpowered siri. apple's signature voice assistant will be available with chatgpt features for free later this year. other new additions include ai generated images and emojis, and help with proofreading and tone adjustment. these announcement are apple's big stand at integrating ai features that have captured users' attention and companies' big bucks. wall streeet has spent the year rewarding firms that are not only jumped up but led the ai bandwagon, like nvidia which makes the chips that power ai applications. last week it overtook apple itself to become the second most valuable company in the world by market value capitalisation. microsoft, which has its own long—standing partnership with openai, remains the most valuable. let's ta ke let's take you straight back to the world of uk politics. the podium you are seeing is the one where very shortly we are expecting prime minister rishi sunak to stand behind and to unveil the conservative party's 2024 election manifesto. this is a huge opportunity for rishi sunak to set forward to voters, candidates, tory members up and down the country what his plans, beliefs and wishes are if the conservative party win another term in office. we can cross live now and speak to our political correspondent harry farley who has been on the road with a conservative campaign and is now there at silverstone. the key messages, i think, from the conservatives, from what i can glean is we are the party that will not raise taxes, in fact we are going to cut your taxes, and we are not like labour in that sense. they are marking the line between the two main parties. marking the line between the two main parties-— main parties. exactly, and i think what we can _ main parties. exactly, and i think what we can expect _ main parties. exactly, and i think what we can expect from - main parties. exactly, and i think what we can expect from rishi i main parties. exactly, and i think- what we can expect from rishi sunak injust a couple what we can expect from rishi sunak in just a couple of minutes when he gets up on that podium is an effort to paint himself as the air to margaret thatcher, as seen by many as their tax cutting hero, and you can expect rishi sunak to channel her legacy and to say that he will make further tax cuts. and the headline that we are expecting is another 2p off national insurance. that is now the third time the conservatives have taken 2p of national insurance contributions. they did it in the they did it in the spring and now they are pledging to do it if they are re—elected after the general election. those two previous attempts did not close the gap in the polls between them in labour, a fact thatjeremy hunt, the chancellor, acknowledged in an interview with the mail on sunday just a few weeks ago. and so the conservatives are hoping that rishi sunak is hoping it is third time lucky as he pledges to take another 2p off if they get elected. and it is an f, because labour have said they would not match that pledge. they say the money is not there, and we have heard from sir keir starmer in the last few minutes, labour leader, painting and if his words the conservative manifesto as in the style ofjeremy corbyn, of massive spending pledges, tax cuts, without, he says, the costings and the funding to go with it, which is an interesting comparison given that at the last election keir starmer was supporting a jeremy corbyn manifesto. but i suppose it gives you an insight into the strategy from labour, which is to paint themselves as the party of sound money and the conservatives as irresponsible. we should say of course that we will get the full costings document as well as the full manifesto, we will be able to take you through all those figures to explain how the conservatives have added up their sums in the next few minutes, but other than that 2p cut, we are also expecting measures on house—building, tax cuts for landlords who sell their properties to tenants, a new version of the help to buy scheme to try and help those saving for a deposit and other house—building measures, so a number of policies as the conservatives have their last chance to seize the attention, the last set piece event where they have to set out their plans and the details of how they would achieve them to voters watching at home. you can see the crowd of reporters and i think also cabinet ministers and i think also cabinet ministers and mp5 there, you see people waiting for rishi sunak. it is clear to anyone watching this, is it not, rishi sunak needs to find a way to turn the election campaign, the last few days haven't been the easiest after the d—day celebrations? ida. after the d-day celebrations? no, that is quite _ after the d—day celebrations? iifr, that is quite right, yesterday we heard from rishi sunak asking voters for their forgiveness for that four decision to leave the d—day commemorations early, international event and the d—day commemorations. asking forforgiveness, event and the d—day commemorations. asking for forgiveness, last week he apologised, the conservatives are helping rishi sunak this manifesto launch draws a line under that whole episode. draws a line under that whole episode. drizzle line under the difficult few days they have had, there has been a lot of speculation in some of the press about leadership candidates in the conservative party, all those characters, names, people like penny mordaunt for example lining up alongside rishi sunak to launch their manifesto. which will be the pledge, their ambition to try and win voters. this general election, never mind what happens after it and it will be interesting to see all the cabinet members and ministers lining up alongside rishi sunak, some of whom have been critical privately and publicly about the decision to leave the d—day commemorations early. i suppose the conservative party hoping to put on a show of unity i suppose after the difficult few days.— difficult few days. difficult as well isn't it _ difficult few days. difficult as well isn't it for _ difficult few days. difficult as well isn't it for the _ difficult few days. difficult as - well isn't it for the conservatives to talk about the changes they are going to make given they are the party in powerfor the going to make given they are the party in power for the last 14 years, that makes language at least even trickier, right? it years, that makes language at least even trickier, right?— even trickier, right? it does and in many ways — even trickier, right? it does and in many ways rishi — even trickier, right? it does and in many ways rishi sunak _ even trickier, right? it does and in many ways rishi sunak is - even trickier, right? it does and in many ways rishi sunak is standing even trickier, right? it does and in i many ways rishi sunak is standing on the legacy notjust of his era of prime minister but that of his predecessors. the conservatives have beenin predecessors. the conservatives have been in powerfor14 years, david cameron, theresa may, borisjohnson, liz truss, where is the public look at the record of 14 years and scrutinised the whole of that period, rishi sunak is trying to i suppose say look at what i have done the last two years while he has been a church. you're right i think that is a challenge for the prime minister, standing notjust on his own record but on the record of his predecessors as well. some of whom he has quite vocally disagreed with, particularly with liz truss for example. that is one of the challenges he faces and i think what we will be hearing from him today as i said is an attempt notjust to draw a line of the past few days but under previous conservative prime ministers, he will look to paint himself as the heir to margaret thatcher, as a tax—cutting prime minister. but there are questions around that because we have seen the overall tax burden, those thresholds at which people start to pay different levels of income tax be frozen, so as inflation rises more people are dragged into those different tax brackets so the overall tax burden has gone up under the conservatives, particularly in the conservatives, particularly in the last few years since the pandemic and rishi sunak will look to say, we had to do that but now looking to the future we will cut your taxes and the two pans of national insurance the headline we are expecting. national insurance the headline we are exoecting-_ are expecting. harry, we are still waitini are expecting. harry, we are still waiting for— are expecting. harry, we are still waiting for the _ are expecting. harry, we are still waiting for the podium. - are expecting. harry, we are still waiting for the podium. we i are expecting. harry, we are still waiting for the podium. we are l waiting for the podium. we are waiting for the podium. we are waiting for the podium. we are waiting for two speakers before the prime minister. we know copies will be handed out to the media of the manifesto and the full costings before it starts. i think we can leave harry momentarily. stay with us on the sidelines for a few moments, harry, we will keep the podium pictures up for you as well to keep a close eye on what is happening at silverstone. ways to get one of the key issues for the selection and that is of course public services. to understand the challenges authorities are facing the bbc have been looking at the town of telford in shropshire, today we are focusing on social care is the man for support has soared in recent years, particularly from those under the age of 65. he was social affairs correspondent michael buchanan. club 17 is a group for people with disabilities and support needs to meet and mingle. or maybe something more. you've just got engaged! yes, i have. so when are you going to get married? er, i don't know yet. how did you propose to her? i got down on one knee. did you? yeah. fantastic. and she said yes. yeah, she did. the room is full of the hopes and fears of any young people — though, in their cases, the struggles can be greater. well, i had to leave the town that i was born and grew up in because there was no supported accommodation provision. abby has a condition that causes herjoints to dislocate, leaving her in pain. after a battle, she now has the care she needs. i spent two years in emergency accommodation, in a shared homeless shelter, because there was disagreements over what care and support i actually needed. so we really had to fight the council to get my care package put in place. in another room, the parents of some of the young people who are struggling to be heard. we just want them to live fulfilled lives. we don't want to be a burden on anybody, but we want them to be treated with equity. and the problem is, our options are so limited. a constant problem is the lack of supported accommodation. elsa's son is due to finish college next month. i didn't want him to have to come home where he's going to be set back in his development. er... but that's probably what's going to happen because at the moment i still don't have any ideas of where he could move to. when you have a wheelchair and you have mobility issues, you can't, obviously, get up the stairs in a house, so it would need to be accessible. i know a couple of young people that have had to go to south wales because they haven't got the housing or the support staff, which is — for them parents and that young person that's lived in telford all their lives, having to go all the way there at the weekend is actually a tragedy. around 70% of the council budget in telford is spent on social care. demand for support from people under the age of 65 increased by close to 300% in the five years to 2022—�*23 — the latest figures. it's far greater than the increase for england as a whole — delivered in part, say the council, by the area's attractiveness. because of some of the really positive services in certain things like special educational needs services, people are attracted to coming in, which means that there's another pressure of people, younger people coming in with high complex needs. but people will need to move into adult social care at some point to maintain their independence going forward. adding to the pressures is poor lifestyle. care homes say they're seeing people needing support in their 505 due to problems linked to smoking and alcoholism. most of the residents, however, are still the elderly — though the care they are having to provide is changing, and more expensive. people in residential services probably look more like the old nursing threshold used to be, and that people in nursing homes mirror much more of a hospice situation — people tend to come in now at the latter part of their life, so for end—of—life care, or where they have extremely advanced complex nursing and dementia needs. telford — like britain — is both growing and ageing. it's a combination that is increasingly stretching public finances — particularly social care. michael buchanan, bbc news, telford. the manifesto has been handed to everyone and harry farley has his copy. waive it to the left and the right. i copy. waive it to the left and the ri i ht. ., copy. waive it to the left and the ri i ht. . ., ., copy. waive it to the left and the riiht. . ., ., right. i have the initial hard copy version of _ right. i have the initial hard copy version of the _ right. i have the initial hard copy version of the conservative i version of the conservative manifesto. in the last couple of minutes, hearing the report from michael buchanan, i've had a flick forward, rishi sunak repeating a number of messages we have heard throughout the campaign, he has, the economy is turning the corner, a plan and it will stick to that plan. we will see the reiteration of some of the messages we have heard throughout the campaign on national service for young people, policing, more apprenticeships as well as those new measures we had from this morning about the 2p for the cut... how many pages, harry? 76 pages long, along manifesto compared to what is expected from labour. as well as the manifesto, the costings, the key thing to have the conservatives have added up the sums and i suppose to look at their answer. the conservative sums don't add up, laboursay. we answer. the conservative sums don't add up, labour say. we will be comparing the manifesto tojeremy corbyn double manifesto... we will go through it to look at how the sums add up when we have a chance to go through it. but i think from this early flick through we can expect rishi sunak to reiterate about cutting taxes, control migration, his argument i suppose it has been a difficult few years but the conservatives have managed to make the economy turned a corner and he is urging voters to stick with that plan rather than in his words go back to square one with labour. iithihen back to square one with labour. when ou are a back to square one with labour. when you are a journalist _ back to square one with labour. when you are a journalist that _ back to square one with labour. when you are a journalist that one _ back to square one with labour. when you are a journalist that one of these things, you get the manifesto a couple of minutes before the speech starts, what do you concentrate on, the speech or the manifesto?— manifesto? personally i will concentrate _ manifesto? personally i will concentrate first _ manifesto? personally i will concentrate first on - manifesto? personally i will concentrate first on the i manifesto? personally i will- concentrate first on the speech, we have a team of other correspondence and journalists back in london will go through the detail of the manifesto and of the costing is well they analyse that, bring you all the facts and figures and says i suppose whether those things add up. we have a whole team of correspondence doing that, bbc verify as well, we'll do that, bbc verify as well, we'll do that as rishi sunak makes a speech. most of us here will listen to the initial two speakers who will then introduced the primary step. that is the education _ introduced the primary step. that is the education secretary. _ introduced the primary step. that is the education secretary. i— introduced the primary step. that is the education secretary. i grew i introduced the primary step. that is the education secretary. i grew up i the education secretary. i grew up in hayton. — the education secretary. i grew up in hayton. the _ the education secretary. i grew up in hayton, the constituency - the education secretary. i grew up in hayton, the constituency of- in hayton, the constituency of harold — in hayton, the constituency of harold wilson, in a die labour family — harold wilson, in a die labour family. 92% of the children i grew up family. 92% of the children i grew up with_ family. 92% of the children i grew up with failed to get gcses or all levels _ up with failed to get gcses or all levels as— up with failed to get gcses or all levels as they were that provide opportunities they needed to thrive in life _ opportunities they needed to thrive in life and _ opportunities they needed to thrive in life and it did not need to be this way. — in life and it did not need to be this way. i— in life and it did not need to be this way, i knew my classmates were as talented _ this way, i knew my classmates were as talented as anyone else i had met in life _ as talented as anyone else i had met in life by— as talented as anyone else i had met in life by the geography meant they were left— in life by the geography meant they were left behind. i was lucky, leaving — were left behind. i was lucky, leaving at _ were left behind. i was lucky, leaving at 16 to do it apprenticeship, leading to a dream career— apprenticeship, leading to a dream career in _ apprenticeship, leading to a dream career in international business and i believe _ career in international business and i believe the bold action we have taken _ i believe the bold action we have taken since 2010 has helped to ensure — taken since 2010 has helped to ensure that everyone can get the knowledge and the skills they need to fulfil— knowledge and the skills they need to fulfil their dreams. we have had a clear— to fulfil their dreams. we have had a clear plan, originally set out by michaet— a clear plan, originally set out by michael and built upon since and that has— michael and built upon since and that has led to 90% of schools being .ood that has led to 90% of schools being good or— that has led to 90% of schools being good or outstanding. our children being _ good or outstanding. our children being the — good or outstanding. our children being the best readers in the western— being the best readers in the western world and 11 for maths. and with over— western world and 11 for maths. and with over 5.8 million apprenticeships delivered since 2010, _ apprenticeships delivered since 2010, you can now become a doctor, a lawyer. _ 2010, you can now become a doctor, a lawyeri an _ 2010, you can now become a doctor, a lawyer, an accountant or even a secretary — lawyer, an accountant or even a secretary of state with an apprenticeship. applause at the prime minister's bold action to and _ at the prime minister's bold action to and poor— at the prime minister's bold action to and poor quality degrees, expand apprenticeships further and bringing apprenticeships further and bringing a new— apprenticeships further and bringing a new standard will help deliver our central— a new standard will help deliver our central goal in education, giving young _ central goal in education, giving young people the best chance in life. young people the best chance in life every— young people the best chance in life. every one of my cabinet colleagues can stand here right now and tell— colleagues can stand here right now and tell a _ colleagues can stand here right now and tella similar colleagues can stand here right now and tell a similar story of transformation in their own areas. that is— transformation in their own areas. that is because it is what conservatives do. we take a problem, put conservatives do. we take a problem, but a _ conservatives do. we take a problem, but a plan _ conservatives do. we take a problem, but a plan in _ conservatives do. we take a problem, put a plan in place and we fix it. whether— put a plan in place and we fix it. whether it — put a plan in place and we fix it. whether it is creating 4 million 'obs whether it is creating 4 million jobs since _ whether it is creating 4 million jobs since 2010, increasing pensions or cutting _ jobs since 2010, increasing pensions or cutting taxes, we have invested in britain's — or cutting taxes, we have invested in britain's future. before we hear from _ in britain's future. before we hear from rishi — in britain's future. before we hear from rishi sunak about how we build a secure _ from rishi sunak about how we build a secure future for you and your family— a secure future for you and your family and — a secure future for you and your family and our united kingdom, we are lucky— family and our united kingdom, we are lucky to — family and our united kingdom, we are lucky to be joined by one of our greatest _ are lucky to be joined by one of our greatest local leaders, whose determination and drive has rejuvenated teesside after decades of being _ rejuvenated teesside after decades of being overlooked by labour. please — of being overlooked by labour. please give your warmest welcome to ben houchen. applause that is very kind of everyone, thank you. _ that is very kind of everyone, thank you. you _ that is very kind of everyone, thank you. you are — that is very kind of everyone, thank you, you are not here to clap me, hopefully— you, you are not here to clap me, hopefully you will cop the main event _ hopefully you will cop the main event shortly, i am here because hopefully you will cop the main event shortly, lam here because i wanted _ event shortly, iam here because i wanted to— event shortly, lam here because i wanted to tell you a little bit about — wanted to tell you a little bit about our prime minister. i have known _ about our prime minister. i have known rishi sunak since he was first elected _ known rishi sunak since he was first elected as— known rishi sunak since he was first elected as mp many years ago now and he still— elected as mp many years ago now and he still has _ elected as mp many years ago now and he still has the same energy, verve, passion _ he still has the same energy, verve, passion that — he still has the same energy, verve, passion that he had when he was first elected as a backbench mp and it is incredible to see the journey he has _ it is incredible to see the journey he has been on, being able to transfer— he has been on, being able to transfer that to our great country, being _ transfer that to our great country, being able — transfer that to our great country, being able to deliver for the people across— being able to deliver for the people across the — being able to deliver for the people across the united kingdom. when he became _ across the united kingdom. when he became prime minister and as chesteri — became prime minister and as chester, we saw the fantastic work supporting — chester, we saw the fantastic work supporting people right across the country— supporting people right across the country during the biggest economic shock— country during the biggest economic shock due _ country during the biggest economic shock due to the covid is a second world _ shock due to the covid is a second world war~ — shock due to the covid is a second world war. he cares about every person _ world war. he cares about every person across our great nation, he put in _ person across our great nation, he put in further support, support for businesses, leading the country through— businesses, leading the country through the most difficult time for generations. that could not have been _ generations. that could not have been done — generations. that could not have been done in my opinion by anybody elsei _ been done in my opinion by anybody else that _ been done in my opinion by anybody else, that took command of detail, hard work. — else, that took command of detail, hard work. i— else, that took command of detail, hard work, i absolutely thank him for all— hard work, i absolutely thank him for all the — hard work, i absolutely thank him for all the work he did to support people _ for all the work he did to support people in— for all the work he did to support people in my area across teesside, darlington — people in my area across teesside, darlington and hartlepool. applause but what i have also seen as a man who drives — but what i have also seen as a man who drives for more as well, he knows — who drives for more as well, he knows we — who drives for more as well, he knows we have been through difficult times _ knows we have been through difficult times, knows there is a lot more to do and _ times, knows there is a lot more to do and no _ times, knows there is a lot more to do and no better place i seen that apply— do and no better place i seen that apply than— do and no better place i seen that apply than in the tees valley. when i was _ apply than in the tees valley. when i was first— apply than in the tees valley. when i was first elected in 2017 teesside, darlington and hartlepool workplace is never mentioned in the media. _ workplace is never mentioned in the media, never mentioned in parliament and that— media, never mentioned in parliament and that was— media, never mentioned in parliament and that was because we had wall—to—wall labour councils, both of labour — wall—to—wall labour councils, both of labour mps and they turned up every— of labour mps and they turned up every now— of labour mps and they turned up every now and again when they wanted their picture _ every now and again when they wanted their picture taken because they had no real— their picture taken because they had no real care — their picture taken because they had no real care for the local area, because — no real care for the local area, because they took it for granted, labout— because they took it for granted, labour since the war left, right and centre _ labour since the war left, right and centre and — labour since the war left, right and centre and they got complacent and thankfully we were able to build a message — thankfully we were able to build a message, build a positive vision for our region— message, build a positive vision for our region at a key part of that whole — our region at a key part of that whole vision for being able to deliver— whole vision for being able to deliver it _ whole vision for being able to deliver it was the prime minister. the plans— deliver it was the prime minister. the plans we delivered over the last seven _ the plans we delivered over the last seven years — the plans we delivered over the last seven years have helped to start to transform — seven years have helped to start to transform my region whether that be from reaping the benefits of brexit by setting up free ports in the uk, something — by setting up free ports in the uk, something they couldn't have been done inside the eu, teesside has benefited — done inside the eu, teesside has benefited greatly by having the first and — benefited greatly by having the first and largest free port in the uk and — first and largest free port in the uk and we have secured contracts for more _ uk and we have secured contracts for more than _ uk and we have secured contracts for more than £6 billion of private investment, 9000 contracted jobs and that is— investment, 9000 contracted jobs and that is going to generate tens of millions— that is going to generate tens of millions of pounds per year in business _ millions of pounds per year in business rates back to our local councils — business rates back to our local councils to _ business rates back to our local councils to be able to fund vital local— councils to be able to fund vital local services. applause something that would not have been delivered _ something that would not have been delivered under the labour party in particular. — delivered under the labour party in particular, under keir starmer, who tried to _ particular, under keir starmer, who tried to ignore the will of the people _ tried to ignore the will of the people. that is what a rishi sunak conservative government delivers. , when _ conservative government delivers. , when the _ conservative government delivers. , when the steelworks closed in 2017, 3200 _ when the steelworks closed in 2017, 3200 people were out of work. something that shook our local community, cause devastation to families— community, cause devastation to families right across our region and now as _ families right across our region and now as we — families right across our region and now as we fast forward but the plans i have _ now as we fast forward but the plans i have put— now as we fast forward but the plans i have put in— now as we fast forward but the plans i have put in place working with rishi _ i have put in place working with rishi sunak, we have been able to secure _ rishi sunak, we have been able to secure jobs, rishi sunak, we have been able to securejobs, bring back rishi sunak, we have been able to secure jobs, bring back steel—making to teessidei — secure jobs, bring back steel—making to teesside, something built on and found _ to teesside, something built on and found it _ to teesside, something built on and found it on — to teesside, something built on and found it on for the last 200 years, doing _ found it on for the last 200 years, doing it _ found it on for the last 200 years, doing it in — found it on for the last 200 years, doing it in an environmentally friendly— doing it in an environmentally friendly way, electric bus technology, a vital industry kept because — technology, a vital industry kept because of the support from central government delivering on our plan locally _ government delivering on our plan locally -- — government delivering on our plan locally. —— electric blast furnace technology. and this is a conservative government that cares about manufacturing, the regions. free ports. _ manufacturing, the regions. free ports. not— manufacturing, the regions. free ports, notjust in teesside but across— ports, notjust in teesside but across the _ ports, notjust in teesside but across the country, are located at the bottom — across the country, are located at the bottom quarter percent of local authority— the bottom quarter percent of local authority areas when it comes to levels _ authority areas when it comes to levels of— authority areas when it comes to levels of deprivation and poverty, that is— levels of deprivation and poverty, that is free—market policy delivering for all four corners of our country, delivering real levelling _ our country, delivering real levelling up. it does not stop there when _ levelling up. it does not stop there when it— levelling up. it does not stop there when it comes to rishi's interventions and he said, he helped us establish a treasury campus, the darlington _ us establish a treasury campus, the darlington economic campus. something i can guarantee you would not have _ something i can guarantee you would not have happened if it wasn't for rishi _ not have happened if it wasn't for rishi fighting with the civil service _ rishi fighting with the civil service, wanted to go to manchester, wanted _ service, wanted to go to manchester, wanted to— service, wanted to go to manchester, wanted to stay in london, they said if they— wanted to stay in london, they said if they had — wanted to stay in london, they said if they had to go to anywhere they would _ if they had to go to anywhere they would go — if they had to go to anywhere they would go to manchester but between rishi and _ would go to manchester but between rishi and i_ would go to manchester but between rishi and i we fought hard to create 2000 _ rishi and i we fought hard to create 2000 jobs — rishi and i we fought hard to create 2000 jobs by 2027, good quality well—paid civil 2000 jobs by 2027, good quality well— paid civil service 2000 jobs by 2027, good quality well—paid civil service jobs in the heart _ well—paid civil service jobs in the heart of— well—paid civil service jobs in the heart of teesside that were not there _ heart of teesside that were not there before, we are recruiting local— there before, we are recruiting local people, more than 80% of the 'obs local people, more than 80% of the jobs are _ local people, more than 80% of the jobs are locally recruited, a new voice _ jobs are locally recruited, a new voice ignored for decades by a previous— voice ignored for decades by a previous labour government. applause again, what was the alternative, whither— again, what was the alternative, whither of— again, what was the alternative, whither of the opposition said creating — whither of the opposition said creating all these jobs in darlington, giving the region a voice — darlington, giving the region a voice wasn't levelling up it was levelling — voice wasn't levelling up it was levelling down, it was giving up, that is— levelling down, it was giving up, that is what you will get with a labour— that is what you will get with a labour government, no aspiration, no positivity. _ labour government, no aspiration, no positivity. no — labour government, no aspiration, no positivity, no plan for our future, none _ positivity, no plan for our future, none whatsoever. what is even more important _ none whatsoever. what is even more important when you contrast the clear _ important when you contrast the clear plan — important when you contrast the clear plan rishi will deliver to this country and has in places like minei _ this country and has in places like mine you — this country and has in places like mine, you have a labour party with no plan _ mine, you have a labour party with no plan it— mine, you have a labour party with no plan. it says it will not borrow morei _ no plan. it says it will not borrow more. not — no plan. it says it will not borrow more, not cut public services yet it wants _ more, not cut public services yet it wants to _ more, not cut public services yet it wants to borrow more than £38 billion— wants to borrow more than £38 billion over the next four years. it will not _ billion over the next four years. it will not tell— billion over the next four years. it will not tell you what taxes they will not tell you what taxes they will raise. — will not tell you what taxes they will raise, said that last week that d-day_ will raise, said that last week that d-day -- — will raise, said that last week that d-day -- tv— will raise, said that last week that d—day —— tv debate, we will raise somei _ d—day —— tv debate, we will raise some. taking _ d—day —— tv debate, we will raise some, taking the great british public— some, taking the great british public forjumps, gliding through the election, pretending as if everything will be fine, we will do some _ everything will be fine, we will do some stuff, we will not tell you what _ some stuff, we will not tell you what it — some stuff, we will not tell you what it is _ some stuff, we will not tell you what it is, you will have to wait and find — what it is, you will have to wait and find out which taxes will be raised — and find out which taxes will be raised when you are like me. that is no way— raised when you are like me. that is no way for— raised when you are like me. that is no way for someone who wants to become _ no way for someone who wants to become prime minister to form a government. applause and so you will be hearing very shortly — and so you will be hearing very shortly from the prime minister, you have to _ shortly from the prime minister, you have to fight this premise to delivers. _ have to fight this premise to delivers, he delivered four people during _ delivers, he delivered four people during the — delivers, he delivered four people during the covid crisis, during the cost of— during the covid crisis, during the cost of living crisis over the last few years — cost of living crisis over the last few years in relation to helping manage — few years in relation to helping manage people's energy bills and delivered for places like teesside. this manifesto is an extension of that. _ this manifesto is an extension of that. a _ this manifesto is an extension of that, a further manifestation of how the conservative government led by rishi sunak will transform i continued to improve the lives of people _ continued to improve the lives of people across our great nation for the next _ people across our great nation for the next parliament. this is a man who when— the next parliament. this is a man who when he puts a plan together, he .oes who when he puts a plan together, he goes into— who when he puts a plan together, he goes into the detail, he delivers it, goes into the detail, he delivers it. he _ goes into the detail, he delivers it, he makes sure he delivers it, does _ it, he makes sure he delivers it, does not — it, he makes sure he delivers it, does not stop half way, this is a man— does not stop half way, this is a man who — does not stop half way, this is a man who works out, cares, i have never _ man who works out, cares, i have never seen — man who works out, cares, i have never seen anybody as attentive and this is— never seen anybody as attentive and this is the _ never seen anybody as attentive and this is the man who can deliver because — this is the man who can deliver because the alternative just doesn't bear thinking about. so, because the alternative just doesn't bearthinking about. so, please, back— bearthinking about. so, please, back our— bearthinking about. so, please, back our prime minister, make sure we return— back our prime minister, make sure we return a — back our prime minister, make sure we return a conservative government because — we return a conservative government because the _ we return a conservative government because the alternative will be absolutely armageddon. raised taxes, 'obs absolutely armageddon. raised taxes, jobs lost. _ absolutely armageddon. raised taxes, jobs lost. a _ absolutely armageddon. raised taxes, jobs lost, a catastrophic future for our country — jobs lost, a catastrophic future for our country. before it introduced the prime — our country. before it introduced the prime minister there is going to be a short— the prime minister there is going to be a short video, thank you. clear plan, bold action... studio: there we have _ clear plan, bold action... studio: there we have the _ clear plan, bold action... studio: there we have the introduction i clear plan, bold action... studio: l there we have the introduction into rishi sunak there, we are waiting for him to take the stage, not too much longer. the whole emphasis of today really, as you heard there as well, is to make the conservatives into the party of tax cuts and lower taxes and the main pledge we are going to be expecting from rishi sunak is of course that promised to cut a further 2p in every national insurance as they launch their manifesto, election manifesto. the education secretary earlier give a warm up speech, talking about the bold action in her words we have taken since 2010, praising michael gove from 2010 to 2014, gillian keegan. forthe gove from 2010 to 2014, gillian keegan. for the next 20 or so minutes, very much the tory party focusing on moving forwards. the prime minister saying the government will help working people in his words keep all the money you earn. here is rishi sunak, let's listen. applause thank you. well, good morning, everyone, great to be with you all and here at silverstone, nowhere better in fact to mark the fact our economy has truly turned a corner. we are a month away from the grand prix here and we can be confident about even more british success, seven of the world's ten reading formula 1 teams are based here, more grand prix cars made in this country than anywhere else and the uk has won more titles than any other nation so formula 1 is a great example of all our strengths coming together, technological know—how, innovative, advanced manufacturing capabilities and the skill of the workforce, 25,000 engineers and apprentices involved in this industry. formula 1 isn't the only thing they do here at silverstone. as nice as it would be for brad pitt to turn up at our manifesto launch, he is currently filming just outside with a brilliant british crew, one of the many uk—based is taking place thanks to our support and tax cuts for the creative sector. from the northern studios in hartlepool to pinewood to the coming krome studios in sunderland, britain is truly now the creative capital of europe. applause so just sojust thinking so just thinking about that, the fact that we can leave the world in such competitive fields —— lead the world should make as part of our country, optimistic about our future because we brits can outcompete the best in the world. applause and what we conservatives want is more british success stories, and thatis more british success stories, and that is what our manifesto will deliver. the last three years have been some of the toughest our country has faced in decades. we were hit by covid and then the spike in energy prices following vladimir putin's invasion of ukraine but economic stability returning, inflation to normal, real wages have been rising for almost a year now and the economy growing healthily again. so the question now is, who is best to turn that foundation into a secure future for you, your family and our country? this manifesto is our clear plan for the united kingdom. it is about the bold actions we will take to deliver that secure future. we conservatives know that security is essential for success. and that is why we are raising defence investment to 2.5% of gdp by 2030 to deal with the increasingly uncertain world that we live in. this is the biggest sustained increase in the defence budget since the end of the cold war and one that keir starmer will not match. labourwould and one that keir starmer will not match. labour would rather keep civil servants and its bloated pandemic level rather than give our armed forces the equipment they need. when there is a war in europe, turmoil in the middle east, china flexing its muscles in the south china sea, we are in a world of increasing threats and must show our enemies that this country with our allies will stand strong. this axis of authoritarian states, russia, north korea, and so on, must know that their attempts to destabilise our world will not succeed. now is the time for bold action, not an uncertain keir starmer as our prime minister. applause now, our increase in defence investment will not only fire up our industrial base, creating good jobs here at home from barrow to lossiemouth, but allow us to stand up lossiemouth, but allow us to stand up for our interests, deter our enemies and defend our values. only we conservatives without iron resolve can be trusted to keep britain safe. we need border security too, the confidence that it is your government that decides who comes to our country and not criminal gangs. applause and that is why if you vote conservative on july the 4th, and that is why if you vote conservative onjuly the 4th, the flights removing illegal migrants will depart injuly, establishing will depart in july, establishing the will depart injuly, establishing the deterrent that will stop the boats, because people will know that if they try to come here illegally, they won't get to stay, then they will stop coming. and if we are forced to choose between our security and the jurisdiction of a foreign court, including the echr, we will always choose our nation's security. but labour have no answer to this question. as we saw the other week, keir starmer simply can't tell you what he would do with people who come here illegally, because he doesn't believe it is a problem. with brexit, we took control of our borders, but migration has been too high in recent years, and we have a clear plan to reduce it. last year we announced changes which mean 300,000 people who were previously eligible to come here now can't, and we will introduce a migration cap that means parliament, your elected representatives, will vote on how many people should be able to come here every year. our plan is clear. we will halve migration, as we have halved inflation, and then reduce it every single year. now, we don'tjust need military and border security. as putin's invasion of ukraine has shown, we need energy security too. it is only by having reliable, home—grown sources of energy that we can deny dictators the ability to send our bills soaring. so in our approach to energy policy, we will put security and yourfamily energy policy, we will put security and your family finances ahead of unaffordable eco zealotry. we don't believe in creating a state controlled energy company that will create more cost. as penny put it on friday, there is only one thing that the gb in keir starmer�*s policy of gb energy stands for, and that is giant bills. applause our plan is to produce new gas powered stations, troubling offshore wind capacity and have a small fleet of nuclear reactors. this will give us greater energy independence and security from the aggressive actions of dictators. and let mejust reiterate that. with our plan, we will produce enough electricity to both meet our domestic needs and export to our neighbours. look at that, a clear conservative plan, not only generating security but also prosperity for our country. applause and we conservatives also have a plan to give you financial security. we will enable working people to keep more of the money that you own, because you have earned it and have the right to choose what you spend it on. now, keir starmertakes the right to choose what you spend it on. now, keir starmer takes a very different view. he says he is a socialist, and we all know what socialists do. they take more of your money because they think it belongs to them. now, i know labour have been taking inspiration from one brad pitt's most famous films. the first rule of labour tax rises is that you don't talk about tax rises. but we know that the policies labour have already announced will require them to increase taxes on working households by £2094. my friends, families cannot afford that, and it is ourjob to make sure that, and it is ourjob to make sure that that doesn't happen. applause now, i had to take difficult decisions because of covid, but now we are cutting taxes for workers, for parents and pensioners. and we are the party of margaret thatcher and nigel lawson, a party unlike labour that believes in sound money. so today's plans, and you would expect nothing less from jeremy and me, are fully funded. we will pay for permanent reductions in taxation by controlling the unsustainable rise in working age welfare that has taken off since the pandemic. in this party, we believe that it is morally right that those who can work do work, and that hard work is rewarded with people being able to keep more of their own money, so we will ensure that we will have a lower welfare so that we can deliver lower welfare so that we can deliver lower taxes. applause and us conservatives, we believe that hard work shouldn't be taxed twice. that's unfair. that's why jeremy has been cutting national insurance contributions. only workers are forced to pay those. our national insurance tax cuts are already worth £900 to the average worker, and we will keep cutting taxes in the coming years, meaning that by 2027, we will have halved national insurance to 6%. that is a tax cut worth £1300 to the average worker. making more progress towards our long—term ambition to abolish the double taxation on work when it is economically responsible to do so. i also want to say something about the self—employed, because they are the risk—takers. the people who graft hard to make a living, who get our economy growing. they embody the most conservative of values, the desire to build something, to create wealth and opportunity. but setting up wealth and opportunity. but setting up on your own means you don't have the same security that those on payroll do, so it must be worth taking that risk. we need to make it worth taking that risk, and that means that there taxes must be cut. so in the next parliament, we will scrap entirely the main rate of self—employed national insurance. applause a tax abolished and enterprise encouraged. we want to encourage more people to become entrepreneurs, to set up their own businesses, to try and make something of it, so we will abolish that tax for millions of our hardest workers and create a new culture of enterprise in our country. we conservatives want a britain where setting up a business is as natural as taking a job, so we will do more for the self—employed so that they can do more for britain. applause security also means the security of knowing that you will have dignity in retirement. so we will also cut tax for pensioners with the new triple lock plus, ensuring that the state pension is never dragged into income tax. labour, by contrast, would introduce a retirement tax, meaning that for those who rely entirely on the new state pension, they would be caught by income tax for the first time in our country's history, and we know labour�*s record. from the 75p state pension increase to gordon brown's £118 billion tax raid on private pensions, it is clear. your pension simply isn't safe with the labour party. applause and we conservatives want to spread opportunity across the whole of our united kingdom. we don't want you to leave the place that you call home to succeed. ultimately, that is a test of levelling up. so we will give our young people the skills and opportunities they need to succeed in today's world. we won't cling to outdated ideas such as the belief that the only route to success is through university. so we will curb funding to rip off degrees and use it to fund 100,000 new high quality apprenticeships. applause we will build on the success of our education reform by introducing the advance to british standard which will enable our young people to receive a broader education and break down the split between technical and academic education that has so held our country back. we will invest in a new form of national service to give our young people the chance to enjoy new experiences, learn new skills, and feel a sense of community, belonging and national purpose. national service will help us build a more unified, more cohesive society so that we can be secure in the knowledge that we are all on the same side. and we conservatives also want to create a society in which everyone has a chance to own. in the last five years, we have delivered 1 million new homes. the next parliament, we will go even further, delivering 1.6 million new homes by speeding up planning on brownfield land in inner cities and by scrapping defective eu laws. applause and we will go further, because we conservatives believe in tax cuts. so, for young families, for the first time buyers purchasing a home up first time buyers purchasing a home up to £425,000, we will abolish stamp duty entirely. and that's not all we will do. we will also introduce a new form of help to buy, a new help to buy scheme to get a young generation onto the property ladder. all part of our plan to build an ownership society, where more and more people have the security and pride that comes from owning your own home. from mcmillan to thatcher to today, it is we conservatives who are the party of the property owning democracy in this country. applause in fact, we want to make life easier for people at every stage of their lives, so we will also give working parents 30 hours of free childcare a week from when their child is nine months to when they start school. we will make... studio: it is time now to say goodbye to our viewers on bbc two. we continue coverage on bbc news. we continue coverage on bbc news. we will ensure that any family that earns less than £120,000 a year will receive it. that tax cut is worth on average £1500 to 700,000 families, showing once again it is the conservatives that are the party of the family, and we will always champion them. applause and we want all families to have the peace of mind of knowing that the nhs will be there for you if you fall sick, so we will increase nhs funding in real terms every year and to train and recruit more doctors and nurses every year. we will make the nhs work better for investing in new technologies. you should know that if your kids have an ear ache or a sore throat or chest infection, you can get quick and rapid treatment without having to take time off work, and so we will expand our fantastic time off work, and so we will expand ourfantastic pharmacy time off work, and so we will expand our fantastic pharmacy first programme. but parents should also feel that it is safe for their children to walk home at night, so we will recruit 8000 new police officers, one for every neighbourhood, and cut anti—social behaviour through intensive hotspot policing, and we will protect women and girls by guaranteeing single six spaces through an amendment to the equality act to make it

Related Keywords

Bbc News ,Conservatives ,Election Manifesto ,Promise ,Pence ,Hello ,Maryam Moshiri ,Two ,Labour Manifesto ,Rishi Sunak ,Money ,National Insurance ,More ,Let S Talk Aboutj Labour ,Manifesto Launch ,Tory Goverment ,Who ,30 ,11 ,Plans ,Plan ,Insurance ,Dentistry ,Children ,Panic Attack ,Liberal Democrats ,Focus On Health And Social Care ,Hannah Miller ,Welcome ,Conservative Manifesto Launch ,Rural Gp Fund ,Manifesto ,Tax Cuts ,Government ,Rishi ,Eve ,Katherine ,Five ,People ,Country ,Things ,Taxes ,Work ,Yes ,Parents ,State Pension ,Cut ,Employees ,Buyers ,Stamp Duty ,Pledges ,Child ,Defence Spending ,Household Income ,Welfare System ,Asylum Seekers ,Rwanda ,120000 ,20000 ,Wish List ,Amounts ,Matter ,14 ,Attention ,Notjust ,Many ,Votes ,Fortunes ,Campaign ,Manifesto Campaign ,Road ,Correspondent Terry Farley ,0ur ,0 ,Way ,Home ,Puns ,Grand Prix ,Race Circuit ,Kinds ,British ,Iowa ,Headline Figure ,2p Qatar National Insurance ,Perspective ,2p Cut ,Overtakes ,Dispensing ,One ,2 ,Labourwill Conservatives ,Panicked ,Costings ,Inaudible ,Housing ,Cuts ,Help ,Landlords ,Properties ,Version ,Scheme ,Tenants ,Caps ,Policies ,Part ,Voters ,Parts ,Measures ,Questions ,Housing Ladder ,Orange ,Tax ,Pensioners ,Triple Lock ,New Apprenticeships ,Bid ,Set Piece Opportunities ,Harry ,Count ,Race ,Cian Country ,Lookin ,Let S Talk ,Cian Harries ,To Cian Harries Zooming ,Correspondent ,Ione Wells ,Labour Bus ,Labour ,Response ,Words ,Conservative Plans ,Labour Shadow Ministers ,Promises ,Truss ,Us ,Practice ,Has ,Some ,Income Tax ,Vat ,Trails ,Schools ,Announcement ,Tooth Brushing ,Focus ,Appointments ,Children S Health ,100000 ,Energy Drinks ,Big Week ,Ban ,Big Day ,Manifestos ,Proposals ,Round Up ,Tory Manifesto ,Nick Eardley ,Deal ,Few ,Details ,Form ,Offering ,Home Buyers ,Time ,National Service ,Tax Breaks ,Policy Bible ,Document ,Wall ,Costs Money ,Earners ,Pension Allowance ,Child Benefit Payments ,Areas ,Tax Office ,Idea ,Cash ,Policy ,Experts ,Figures ,Tax Avoidance ,5 Billion ,6 Billion ,Resolution Foundation ,Figure ,Caveat ,Six Billion ,Numbers ,Pledge ,Welfare Spending ,2 Billion ,12 Billion ,Extreme ,Aren T So Sure ,Institute For Fiscal Studies ,Look ,George Osborne ,Welfare ,Scepticism ,Savings ,Rings Bells ,Tax Evasion ,Five Billion ,Chunk ,Mind ,Third ,Bearing ,Spending Watchdog ,Welfare Goal ,2015 ,Place ,Rules ,Add ,July 4th ,Economists ,Power ,Spending Squeeze ,Flicking ,Lot ,Everyone ,Candidates ,Message ,Strategist ,Preparation ,Result ,Special Adviser ,Concern ,David Cameron ,Welsh Office ,Coalition Administration ,Election ,Elections ,Course ,Everybody ,2017 ,Team ,Couple ,Doubts ,Behalf ,Problem ,Worry ,Biggest ,Say ,Wor ,Hustings ,Television ,Papers ,Stories ,Chapter ,Splits ,Disunity ,Written In Isolation ,Person ,Pressure ,Term ,Communications Problem ,Elements ,Rishi Sunakfrom ,Lots ,Teams ,News ,Whom ,Leader ,Case ,Politics ,Decision ,Cabinet ,Another ,King ,Category ,Criticism ,Unit ,Service ,Legitimacy ,Chunks ,Hand ,Impact ,Population ,Respects ,25 ,Nobody ,Group ,Front ,Reason ,Leadership ,Policy Commissions ,Home Affairs Commission ,Wales 0ffice ,18 ,Struggle ,Chance ,Coalition Government ,Results ,Running ,Party ,Pieces ,Perch ,Bits ,Party ,D Day ,Story ,Tory Special Informally ,Ida ,Commemorations ,Advisers ,Ithink ,Listening ,Heads ,Analysis ,I That ,Colleague ,Someone ,Bite ,French ,Foreign Ministry ,Treatment ,Paris ,Thing ,Biden Treatment ,Programme ,Credibility ,Corner ,Decisions ,Everything ,Photograph ,0ther ,Room ,Anybody ,Campaign Announcement ,Northern Ireland Office ,Departments ,Line ,Adviser ,Northern Ireland ,Mistakes ,Point ,Failures ,Habit ,Thatis ,Armchair General ,Ofjudgment ,Lauren ,Election Campaign ,Difference ,Poll Tracker ,Lines ,Change ,Start ,Poll ,Reform Uk ,Trends ,Level ,Move ,Expense ,13 ,2022 ,October 2022 ,Support ,Lead ,Position ,Greens ,Snp ,Plaid Cymru ,Henry Zeffman ,Website ,Head ,Race Track ,Pole Position ,Punch ,Reading ,Bier ,Very Nood ,Thinking ,Four ,Office ,Voting ,Dividing Line ,Choice ,Public ,Gas ,Research ,Baton ,Labour Party ,Employee ,Clutch ,Minds ,Polls ,Ust Impact ,Ym ,Dial ,Offers ,Bit ,P Labour ,Levels ,Interview ,Times ,Tax Burden ,Panorama ,Nick Robinson ,Covid ,Ai ,Health ,Invasion ,Aftermath ,Ukraine ,Vladimir Putin ,Announcements ,Untilthursday ,16 ,Apple Intelligence ,Southern England ,Tooth Decay ,452 ,Nine ,Hospitalisation ,Cause ,Nhs ,Ijust ,Supermarkets ,Sale ,Mountain A ,Video ,Corner Shops ,Jamie Oliver ,Dental Care ,Statistics ,2021 ,Backlog ,It ,Wes Streeting ,Covid Backlor ,Brushing Teeth ,Conservative ,Shadow Health Secretary ,Tory Pledge On Employee National Insurance ,Interestina ,Terms ,Amount ,Government Expenditure ,Shift ,Both ,Tax Cut ,Racing ,Services ,Silverstone ,Election Issue ,En O ,Town ,Social Care ,Age ,Challenges ,Michael Buchanan ,Demand ,Authorities ,Club ,Telford ,Facing ,65 ,17 ,Something ,Disabilities ,You Vejust ,Her ,Struggles ,Cases ,Hopes ,Knee ,Fears ,Care ,Abby ,Condition ,Battle ,Accommodation Provision ,Spain ,Herjoints To Dislocate ,Council ,Care Package Put ,Emergency Accommodation ,Disagreements ,Homeless Shelter ,Lives ,Burden ,Equity ,Son ,Development ,Accommodation ,College ,Black ,Options ,Elsa ,Ideas ,Wheelchair ,Mobility Issues ,House ,Stairs ,Haven T ,Them ,Tragedy ,South Wales ,Support Staff ,Increase ,Council Budget ,70 ,300 ,23 ,Bramley Area ,Special Educational Needs Services ,Attractiveness ,Independence ,Needs ,Pressures ,Adult ,Most ,Lifestyle ,Changing ,Residents ,Smoking ,Alcoholism ,Care Homes ,50 ,Life ,Nursing ,Nursing Homes ,Threshold ,Situation ,End Of Life Care ,Dementia ,Ageing ,Combination ,Finances ,Weather ,Rest ,Allergy ,Wales ,Scotland ,Hello Again ,Carol Kirkwood ,Showers ,West ,Clouds ,Feel ,Building ,Ridge Of High Pressure ,Flow ,Temperatures ,Sunshine ,Evening ,Afternoon ,Breeze ,Feeling Cool ,10 ,Low ,Eastern England ,Three ,Cloud ,0ut ,Spells ,South ,Note ,Bridge ,Rain ,Places ,Winds ,Band ,Wind ,Arrival ,Coastline ,Irish Sea ,12 ,40 ,Weekend ,North ,Direction ,Shores ,Atlantic ,Highs ,Brightness ,Sunday ,2p ,Headlines ,Dentists ,Un Security Council ,Access ,Gaza ,Ceasefire ,Apple ,Devices ,Chatbot Chatgpt ,Favour ,Duration ,Seat ,Chancellor ,Key Seat ,Battleground Seats ,West Surrey ,Godalming ,Constituences ,Eye ,Morning ,Campaigning ,Jeremy Hunt ,West Yorkshire ,Bradford West ,Jack Fiehn ,Bbc Radio ,Jack Hadn T ,Challenge ,Bbc Look North ,Aisha Iqbal ,Constituency ,Constituencies ,Interestin ,In Surrey ,Old South ,Boundary ,Seats ,Either ,Wherejeremy Hunt ,Fight ,Links ,Charterhouse ,Waverley Borough Council ,Accounts ,Contest ,Talk ,Slate ,Let ,Concerns ,4 ,Issue ,Issues ,Immigration ,Traffic ,Homes ,Countryside ,Green Belt ,Water Supplies ,Fights ,Dilemmas ,Selection ,Others ,Water ,Thames Water ,0k ,Thanks ,To Ii Let S Cross ,Speak Issue ,Speak ,Let S Cross ,Battleground ,Sl ,Battleground ,Global Politics ,Naz Shah ,Ticket ,George Galloway ,International Politics ,Bradford Spring ,2012 ,Child Poverty ,Landscape ,Extent ,Doorstop ,Pockets ,Poverty ,Rates ,Example ,58 ,Background ,Plight ,Muslim ,Stance ,Backlash ,May ,Lad ,Shadow Cabinet ,Independents ,19 ,Councillor ,Cities ,Youth Vote ,Youngest ,0ur Europe ,Factor ,Anything ,Factors ,Child Poverty Rates ,Double ,Hauenina ,Lisa ,Parties ,Crisis ,Quality Of Life ,Worst ,The Cost Of Living ,Sense ,Ground ,We Haven T ,Doorstep ,Hitters ,Bird ,Vote ,Cost Of Living ,Proportion ,Large ,Insight ,Citizen ,Fourth ,Ex Pats ,Onjuly ,Two Million ,15 ,Stage ,Report ,Tradition ,Singing ,Chills ,Nick Beake ,Andalusia ,Land ,Visitors ,Postcards ,Hues ,Rhythm ,200 ,Jill Retired ,General Elections ,Law Change ,1998 ,Sort ,Albeitjust One Vote ,Sagain ,Stake ,Brexit ,Participants ,Number ,Referendum ,Majority ,Quiz ,Bar ,Mijas Municipality ,Africa ,Intro Plays ,Toto ,Chema ,Family ,What S Going On ,Mother ,Conditions ,Rights ,Opinions ,Teachers ,Teacher ,Hospitals ,Brits Living ,9000 ,Expats ,Right ,General Election ,Ballot ,Bill Anderson ,Grapes ,22 ,Pay ,Political Landscape ,Afar ,18th Ofjune ,Ambassador ,Costa Del Sol ,Proposal ,Hamas ,Members ,Resolution ,Ceasefire Plan ,United Nations ,Response ,Peace ,Russia ,Release ,Hostages ,Ceasefire Deal ,Community ,Palestinian Prisoners ,Colleagues ,Return ,Remains ,Exchange ,Linda Thomas Greenfield ,Fighting ,Same ,Israel ,Table ,Antony Blinken ,Diplomat Secretary Of State ,President ,Region ,Abdel Fattah Al Sisi On Monday ,Attacks ,8th Time ,Middle East ,Gaza Aid Conference ,October 7th ,Egyptian ,Jordan ,8 ,7 ,Ten ,Comments ,Families ,He Hasjust ,Dust ,Loved Ones ,Fr ,Eight ,Biden ,Effect ,Yesterday ,Clear ,World ,Volumes ,Zero ,Leaders ,Tour ,Meetings ,Tech Gaint ,Artificial Intelligence ,Voice Assistant ,Tim Cook ,Speculation ,Operating Systems ,Next Big Step ,0penai ,Erin Delmore ,Abbreviation ,Partnership ,Company ,Developers ,Chief ,Series ,Juggernaut 0penai ,Superpowered Siri ,Edge ,Proofreading ,Features ,Additions ,Big Stand At Integrating Ai ,Images ,Adjustment ,Tone ,Users ,Emojis ,Companies ,Firms ,Applications ,Power A ,Ai Bandwagon ,Wall Streeet ,Big Bucks ,Nvidia ,Microsoft ,Valuable ,Market Value Capitalisation ,Zelensky S ,Donors ,Member State ,Recovery Conference ,Memberstate ,Zelensky Speaking ,Eu ,Berlin ,Reconstruction ,Government Officials ,Tensions ,Organisations ,Energy Infrastructure ,Meeting ,Student ,Official ,Resignation ,Effort ,Delegates ,100 ,Police ,Complaint ,Faith ,Somerset ,Evan ,Strength ,Jack ,Brother Ben ,Bristol ,Trace ,Didn T Come Home ,Bottom ,Efforts ,Disappearance ,Anyone ,Earth ,Catherine ,Search ,Footage Of Jack ,Spotted Whenjack ,Footage ,Possession ,Is ,House Party ,Studies ,School ,Friends ,Exeter University ,Phone ,Requests ,Data ,Crime Agency ,Progress ,Possibility ,Resources ,Blank ,Register ,Straw ,Top ,Terror ,Everything Else ,Persons ,Organisation ,Police Service ,Police Officer ,Charlie Hedges ,Step ,Statement ,Detectives ,Investigator ,Investigation ,Avon And Somerset ,Thoughts ,Forjack ,Onjack ,Anguish ,Distress ,Cast ,Errors ,Damage ,Doubt ,Done ,Him Haven T ,Fact Jack ,Back ,Germany ,Laura Jones ,Translation ,Construction Needs ,Ukraine Recovery Conference ,Conference ,Agreements ,Contracts ,Outcome ,Recovery ,Interests ,Field ,Sides ,Impulse ,Partners ,All Over The World ,Signature ,Energy ,Initiative ,Protection ,Sphere ,Socialsphere ,Military Equipment ,Refurbishment ,Weapons ,Energy Protection ,Renovating ,Construction ,Chancellorjust ,Education ,Medical Technology ,Economy ,War ,Diversity ,Recovery Plan ,Input ,Peoples ,Countries ,Ukrainians ,Arms ,The End ,Olaf Scholz ,Speech ,Forward ,Ursula Von Der Leyen ,Infrastructure ,Rob Hazel Dormice ,20 ,Autocue ,Habitat ,It Habit ,Ron Burgundy ,Dormice ,Species ,Animal ,Woods ,Last Hazel Dormice ,Pairs ,Tree ,Bedfordshire ,London Zoo ,Climate Change ,Woodlands ,Hedgerow Connectivity ,Shrub ,Canopy ,Success ,Have ,Quarantine ,Health Check ,London ,Diseases ,Theirjourney ,Fact ,Guys ,Wildlife Charity ,Sleep ,Nest Boxes ,Woodland ,Habitat Conditions ,Understory ,Young Woodland ,Fruit ,Insects ,Scrub ,Flowers ,Wood ,Perimeter ,Guy ,Ian ,Health Checks ,Nature ,Gold ,Taste ,Captivity ,Licence ,Cages ,Aim ,Thought ,Diet ,Dormouse Snoring ,Gentle Squeaking ,Food ,Show ,End ,Page ,Labourwill ,Dentist Waiting Lists ,Fizzy ,Election Launch ,Gp Appointment ,11 30 ,Diplomat ,30am ,Waiting Lists ,2p From Employee National Insurance ,Silverstone Racetrack ,Rishi Sunak S ,Warmth ,Racetrack ,Preparations ,Rishi Sunak S Launch ,2p To 6p ,Employee Rate ,Perceptions ,Sweep ,6 ,Answer ,Chancellorjeremy Hunt ,Mail On Sunday ,Rishi Sunak Term ,Argument ,Context ,Rate ,Iff ,Cup ,Iff L ,Thresholds ,Income Tax Threshold ,Earnings ,Freezing ,Drag ,2028 ,Tax Bands ,Inflation ,Conspiracy Of Silence ,Growth ,Estate ,It Will ,Exect Doing ,Impression ,Daysin ,Action ,Mistake ,Thereabout ,Opportunity ,Priorities ,Rival ,75 ,Policy Perspectives ,Let S Talk About Labour ,Sunak Specifically Generally ,Rishi Sunak Secificall ,Nhs Dentistry Practices ,Wages ,Health Service ,Corner Shops Etc ,Drinks ,Tories Church ,Formula 1 ,Cornerfast ,Rev ,Campaign Pit Stop ,Petrolhead ,Because ,Spin ,Don T ,Iwould Be Petrolhead ,J Petrolhead ,1 ,Wheel ,The Wheel ,Chief Olitical The Wheel ,Messages ,Order ,Lauren Mcevatt ,Coalition ,Hue Worry ,Team Worry ,Al Worry ,Isolation ,Helicalsplits ,Work News ,Ooh ,Average ,Little ,Him Problem ,Speaking ,About ,Teen ,Work Out ,Dentistry Waiting Lists ,Vaper Campaign Bus ,Liz Truss Conservative ,Cutting ,Antony Blinken Osler ,Talking ,Notice ,Relatives ,Trade ,Tel Aviv ,October The 7th ,Opposition Leaders ,Benjamin Netanyahu ,Benny Gantz ,Yolande Knell ,Injerusalem ,Nations ,Representatives ,Uphill Stru ,Mainj ,Text ,31st ,Un Security Council Resolution ,31 ,May The 31st ,3 ,Injoe Hart ,Joe Hart ,Georgian ,Injoe ,Mediators ,Sign ,Settlement ,Phase ,Withdrawal ,Troops ,Doha ,Washington To Make Sure Israel Abides ,Stand ,The ,Hamas Stand On All This ,Sticking Point ,Big Stand ,Guarantees ,Truce ,Big Stickin ,Six ,80 ,Jails ,Negotiation ,Survival ,Politicalsurvival ,Which Hamas ,Mr ,Representative ,Trip ,Breaking News ,War Goal ,Capabilities ,Gary Glitter ,Courtjudge ,Damages ,Name ,Women ,Gary Glitter Story ,Disgraced Paedophile ,00000 ,500000 ,Paedophile ,Prison ,4 Billion ,3 Billion ,4 Billion Euros ,60 Billion ,15 Billion ,5 ,02 5 ,A Thousand ,45 ,10 45 ,805 ,705 ,800 ,381000 ,7800 ,81000 ,8000 ,July The 5th ,24 ,315 ,2024 ,505 ,76 ,92 ,2010 ,90 ,5 8 Million ,4 Million ,Seven ,3200 ,2027 ,2000 ,38 Billion ,8 Billion ,2014 ,25000 ,2030 ,July The 4th ,300000 ,2094 ,094 ,900 ,00 ,1300 ,118 Billion ,18 Billion ,1 Million ,1 6 Million ,425000 ,500 ,1500 ,700000 ,