Finances were in a dire state. Hang on. There was this 22 Billion black hole. We spend 1200 Billion billion black hole. We spend i200 billion pounds every year in this 22 Billion so called black hole, a mere accounting device. In this whole debate, what the Labour Government are trying to do was to make the political point that the Conservative Party ran the country into the ground and therefore weve got to punish therefore weve got to punish the pensioners. It is absolute and complete rubbish. And what those we represent cant understand, these people who worked hard all their lives, have done their bit for the country, their total package is perhaps 13 or £14,000 a year. What they cant understand is that this so called saving of public money is actually going to go to Train Drivers who own £70,000 a year. Theyjust dont understand it. So for god sake, lets have a serious debate. Lets try to unite on this issue and lets not keep taking away benefits from people just above the Pension
Of the build up to tonights crucial president ial debate in philadelphia, but were going top start this hour with the first real test of authority for the new uk government. This is the scene in the House Of Commons where mps are about to Vote are voting on the plan to scrap Winter Fuel payments for millions of Pensioners. Its been hugely controversial. It means that more than Nine Million Pensioners will no longer be eligible for up to 300 pounds this winter. Lets go stright to westminster and our deputy political editor, Vicky Young. Westminster and our deputy good westminster and our deputy afternoon. Just set Th Scene good afternoon. Just set the scene for hours. Mps have started that Vote and there is No Doubt it is going to be an awkward afternoon for the government but it is worth emphasising that this new Labour Government has a huge majority so there is no chance of them losing their state which means that this change will go ahead but, as you say, it has proved pretty controv
Wealthy, at that level, so concerned about that. Rachel maskell is with me now. She is a Labour Mp. Why did you abstain and why did you not back the measure . I abstain and why did you not back the measure . Abstain and why did you not back the measure . I could not Su Ort back the measure . I could not support a back the measure . I could not support a measure back the measure . I could not support a measure which i cannot have this on my conscience. I have to look my constituents in the eye as i have constituents in the eye as i have over constituents in the eye as i have over the last few weeks, and they have over the last few weeks, and they have been pleading with and they have been pleading with me and they have been pleading with me to do something to protect with me to do something to protect them, and i will continue to do this, that is why continue to do this, that is why i continue to do this, that is why i have abstain, to maintain the whip why i have abstain, to maintain t
Breaking news from here in the uk. Opposition mps in parliament have failed to block Government Plans to cut Winter Fuel payments for millions of pensioners. A total of 348 mp5 backed the government, with 228 supporting the opposition motion. It means the government won the vote with a majority of 120. As a result, an estimAted 10 Million pensioners wont get the payments to help with their winter heAting. Lets speak to our deputy political editor, Vicki Young whos inside parliament in central lobby for us. In terms of the Reaction Youve had so far, and a breakdown of the numbers, is it any clearer who voted against or abstained here . No, it isnt quite the short answer. Here . No, it isnt quite the short answer. We know one mp did vote against. Short answer. We know one mp did vote against. We short answer. We know one mp did vote against. We think short answer. We know one mp did vote against. We think thAt| did vote against. We think thAt is the only labour mp. WhAt you cant tell fro
Yesterday. Ill have all the detaIls. Its saturday, 7 september. Our maIn story the PrIme MInIster, SIr KeIr Starmer, Is makIng hIs fIrst offIcIal vIsIt to Ireland today. Hell be In dublIn for talks wIth hIs opposIte number, SImon HarrIs. Theyll dIscuss topIcs IncludIng commerce across the IrIsh Sea And Theyll attend a NatIons League Football match between Ireland and england. Our Ireland Correspondent ChrIs Page reports. At the fIrst meetIng, SIr KeIr Starmer and SImon HarrIs were pIctured havIng a plate. The photo symbolIsed a better relatIonshIp between the two countrIes after some years of straIn. Today, Balgo To watch england take on Ireland In the uefa NatIons League, but beyond Impact on whIch wIll dIsrupt the dIplomacy. In recent weeks he has had trIps to germany and france. BrItIsh PrIme MInIster To MInIster to go to dublIn was borIsjohnson, fIve years ago. RelatIons had cooled sIgnIfIcantly. BrexIt was the major factor. The border wIth Northern Ireland was the uks only frontIe