Has hinted she will award Public Sector workers above Inflation Pay increases. Its understood independent Pay Review bodies have recommended rises of 5. 5 for teachers and nhs workers. Inflation is currently 2 . Shes been speaking on sunday with laura kuenssberg. Lets listen in. So, chancellor, have you got used to being called that . Well, actually, Keir Starmer used the word, he said the other day, and this afternoon, the chancellor. , and i thought, 0h, whats he done now . And then. And then i remembered it was me. So i am getting used to it. But, yes, i do have to pinch myself occasionally. Last time i was on this programme was eight weeks ago and it was the first weekend of the Election Campaign, and i think you said to me in that interview, in a few weeks time, you might be chancellor, and that is exactly what i am. And i feel very proud and privileged to be in this position, especially as the first female Chancellor Of The Exchequer that this country has ever had. You have very,
President zelensky of ukraine, europes wartime leader. Hes been in the uk for a meeting of the european political community, an informal club of 40 plus countries that came together after russias full Scale Invasion of ukraine in 2022. He also visited Downing Street and addressed a special meeting of the cabinet. And on your behalf, i had the opportunity to meet him, and here is our conversation. Mr president , thank you for talking to bbc news. Could you possibly have imagined when russia mounted its full Scale Invasion two and a half years ago that here we would be, with war still going on . Translation to be honest, noone predicted as far backl as in 2014 that the occupation of The Crimea and the occupation of a part of our donbas would happen. Later, there was a frozen Conflict Minsk agreements. After that, for sure, nobody expected a full Scale Invasion, a full Scale Invasion with people killed, mass tortures, mass burials, executions and a large number of hostages, such atrocitie
And some nhs workers. The rate of inflation is currently 2 . Ms reeves told sunday with laura kuenssberg, she would announce her decision on public pay by the end of this month. Our political correspondent, leila nathoo, has the story. Millions of Public Sector workers are waiting to learn what their Pay Rises will be this year. Independent Pay Review bodies make recommendations to the government of what percentage should be awarded. Its understood that ministers have been advised to raise the salaries of teachers and nhs workers by 5. 5 , a rate that is above current inflation. Its now up to the new chancellor, Rachel Reeves, to decide if this is affordable when money is tight. And this morning, a hint of her thinking. I really value public service workers in our schools, in our hospitals, in our police as well. At the moment, we are looking at those Pay Review body recommendations and doing the analysis, and we will work with Public Sector workers on that. But we also know that there
We start in afghanistan, where fierce fighting has been raging in several provincial capitals. The Afghan Army is fighting back in crowded neighbourhoods, and all this putting more and more civilians in danger. Herat in the west of the country is one of two provincial capitals being targetted by the militants theres been similar being targetted by the militants. Theres been similar intense fighting in Laskar Gar in the south, with large parts of that city under the talibans control. Local people say dead bodies are lying in the streets. We have exclusive pictures from Herat Inside One of the cities being besieged by the taliban. This footage is from the Photo Journalist Masood husseini, one of the few journalists still inside herat. These pictures were filmed in the last 48 hours. He and other media who are there have been told to evacuate as soon as they can. As the fighting escalates fears are growing of a massive humanitarian crisis. Lets talk to ryan crocker, former us ambassador T
MIllIons of voters In england, scotland and wales are preparIng to head to the Polls Tomorrow for the bIggest set of electIons In nearly 50 years. Many have been postponed from last year, due to the pandemIc. On the fInal day of campaIgnIng, lets take a look at whats at stake. In england, 4,650 CouncIl Seats are beIng contested across 143 local authorItIes. 13 dIrectly elected mayors are beIng sought, IncludIng In the capItal, where 25 seats are also up for grabs In the london assembly. Elsewhere, all eyes wIll be on hartlepool, where theres also a parlIamentary By ElectIon to choose a new mp for the town. MeanwhIle, voters In scotland wIll elect 129 members of the ScottIsh ParlIament. 60 members of the senedd wIll be elected by voters In wales. People there wIll also have the chance to select new polIce and crIme commIssIoners. A total of 39 wIll be elected across england and wales. ClIve myrIe Is at holyrood for us thIs mornIng. I thInk there are goIng to be some fascInatIng storIes