two decades, project over the next two decades, regardless of the shifting sands of westminster. we recognise it will require upfront investment. we must also ensure we have an approach towards water which reflects the nature of cambridge�*s. we will see more about uses of water supply in the new year because our vision for cambridge is going to exemplify what it means to fullback in love with the future. it is to set the standard for how we protect and preserve what makes a city special. i began by recalling how much we can learn from the victorians and their spirit of endeavour and ambition. their belief in progress and the restless quest to innovate. i believe we can not

just match but outdo that embrace of the future. my approach to the way we were much we find space to develop and grow in the nation is in tennyson �*s words, to strive, to seek, to find and it is in that spirit that i want us all this christmas to fall back in love with the future. thank you. that christmas to fall back in love with the future. thank you.— christmas to fall back in love with the future. thank you. that was the healthy and — the future. thank you. that was the healthy and levelling _ the future. thank you. that was the healthy and levelling up _ the future. thank you. that was the healthy and levelling up secretary i healthy and levelling up secretary michael gove —— housing. i think he will be taking questions, his plans for planning and housing across england. let'sjust check for planning and housing across england. let's just check to see if he is taking questions from the floor. bi; he is taking questions from the floor. �* , he is taking questions from the floor. j _, . , he is taking questions from the floor. j . , ., , floor. by telling councils that they can re'ect

floor. by telling councils that they can reject developments - floor. by telling councils that they can reject developments on - floor. by telling councils that they can reject developments on the i floor. by telling councils that they - can reject developments on the green belt, are _ can reject developments on the green belt, are you caving to pressure from _ belt, are you caving to pressure from within your own party rather than _ from within your own party rather than prioritising national housing needs? _ than prioritising national housing needs? and separately, michelle mone said that _ needs? and separately, michelle mone said that she contacted he personally went four months... why did you _ personally went four months... why did you not — personally went four months... why did you not correct the record once a month— did you not correct the record once a month she — did you not correct the record once a month she denied involvement in that deal? — a month she denied involvement in that deal? gn a month she denied involvement in that deal? , ., , , that deal? on the first, absolutely not. as i that deal? on the first, absolutely not- as i hepe _ that deal? on the first, absolutely not- as i hepe i — that deal? on the first, absolutely not. as i hope i laid _ that deal? on the first, absolutely not. as i hope i laid out _ that deal? on the first, absolutely not. as i hope i laid out in - that deal? on the first, absolutely not. as i hope i laid out in my - not. as i hope i laid out in my speech, there are perfectly reasonable reason to resist investment if it is unattractive, if it dramatically changes the character of the area. it is only right that local people should have the chance, through the planning system, to safeguard the environment and protect the character of the places in which they live. sensitive the adjustment, it has a ways been the adjustment, it has a ways been the case that the housing targets

that we have had has been a starting point. free a rare firm that today but what we also do is make clear that now, there is no excuse about having —— for not having a plan in place, no excuse for not making sure there is no housing, and we are providing the resources and tools for local authorities to deliver. as i mentioned, we have over the last seven years, delivered more homes in every year than labour ever did when they were in power so what we have todayis they were in power so what we have today is a plan that meets the concerns of people about supercharging of element across the whole country. with respect to baroness mone, there is a national crime agency inquiry going on. i have cooperated with that because i want to ensure that it reaches its conclusion quickly, and justice can be served and if there are further questions to ask, then i am more than happy to do so with the covid

inquiry. if i can turn now to sky. thank you. one of your predecessors, brandon— thank you. one of your predecessors, brandon lewis told sky that the conservatives risk losing a generation of voters by not loading enough _ generation of voters by not loading enough houses. do you agree? and since _ enough houses. do you agree? and since dropping targets, we have seen a number— since dropping targets, we have seen a number of— since dropping targets, we have seen a number of applications to housing fall significantly. haven't you simply — fall significantly. haven't you simply created a limitless charter? i agree _ simply created a limitless charter? i agree with brandon that we do need to build more. it's about the —— it is absolutely right thing to do to build more homes. the recent contractions and a number of planning applications have been put forward and it is important to recognise that the drop in approvals as a result of the number of applications being put forward, has been principally because of their broader economic headwinds at the

world is facing. higher inflation, higher interest rates, more expensive mortgages has meant that developers have put in fewer planning applications and as a result, the future .94 homes has been narrower than anyone would want. it is because we have been so successful in fighting inflation, because the prime minister and chancellor have brought it down, that interest rates can reach levels that interest rates can reach levels that will enable us to reach the targets that we want to reach. many of the thoughtful point that brandon has made and the other think tanks have made, have been incorporated into the approach that we have taken into the approach that we have taken in the speech that i outlined today. chris hope from db news next. thank ou. you chris hope from db news next. thank you you say — chris hope from db news next. thank you- you say you _ chris hope from db news next. thank you. you say you built _ chris hope from db news next. thank you. you say you built 230,000 - chris hope from db news next. thank you. you say you built 230,000 homes in the _ you. you say you built 230,000 homes in the past _ you. you say you built 230,000 homes in the past year. how many more

homes _ in the past year. how many more homes will— in the past year. how many more homes will be built now from your plans? _ i believe and i mentioned today that once we get back to a normal level of interest and mortgage rates, that these changes will ensure that we meet our 300,000 a year target. i am confident of that. when mortgage and interest rates are back to normal, as i think i've mentioned the past, i once wrote a book, and that means i once wrote a book, and that means i am very bad at making predictions. it is certainly a case that the mathematics are such that want to get interest rates back to normal level, that will increase the homes.

on migration, the steps that the prime minister and home secretary had announced the last fortnight, will deal comprehensively with the need to bring down both legal and illegal migration. the step that we have taken in order to ensure that the earnings threshold for skilled workers have gone up and steps that have a ready and taken, the deal with albania in the forthcoming legislation which has gone to the committee for rwanda. all of these together will help to reduce the number of migration. high levels of migration to place pressure on housing. migration to place pressure on housina. ., ~ i. migration to place pressure on housina. . ~ i. ., migration to place pressure on housina. . ~ ., , migration to place pressure on housina. ., ~' . , housing. thank you. i am sure you have heard — housing. thank you. i am sure you have heard national _ housing. thank you. i am sure you have heard national treasure - housing. thank you. i am sure you | have heard nationaltreasure make housing. thank you. i am sure you i have heard nationaltreasure make a have heard national treasure make a very plush— have heard national treasure make a very plush patient played. what is your position on assisted dying and do you _

your position on assisted dying and do you support to change the law and it would _ do you support to change the law and it would you — do you support to change the law and it would you encourage tory mps to vote on _ it would you encourage tory mps to vote on that?— it would you encourage tory mps to vote on that? there on the screen is the housing — vote on that? there on the screen is the housing and _ vote on that? there on the screen is the housing and levelling _ vote on that? there on the screen is the housing and levelling up - the housing and levelling up secretary michael gove. he has laid out his plans on how to tackle the shortage of housing in england, warning councils that if they drag their feet, warning councils that if they drag theirfeet, there warning councils that if they drag their feet, there will be consequences. also, laying out his new national planning policy framework, speaking about sensitive judgments and again, consequences of local councils. in petting a plan —— so short in petting a plan for housing in their areas. financing also mentioned and he spoke about publishing league tables, holding councils to account. he wants to see

the speed and the rationale if planning decisions are denied. let's talk this through further. i'm joined now by the managing director of deeley group, eleanor didi to get her reaction to that speech. hello. you are watching that, making your notes. coming away from what you have heard, what are you thinking? are you impressed? i am have heard, what are you thinking? are you impressed?— have heard, what are you thinking? are you impressed? i am pleased with the pressure — are you impressed? i am pleased with the pressure on _ are you impressed? i am pleased with the pressure on planning _ are you impressed? i am pleased with the pressure on planning and - are you impressed? i am pleased with the pressure on planning and a - are you impressed? i am pleased with the pressure on planning and a focus l the pressure on planning and a focus on cities but quite terrified at the lack of mention of affordable housing or the amount of knee there is housing in the country. no mention of the 3.7 million in overcrowded accommodation or the one in a hundred children that are homeless and how they are going to be provided for. i was quite interested and surprised to hear that effectively democracy is only belonging to those who have homes in

the local area, not those who actually need them. i had hoped for some more emphasis in terms of how smes could actually solve the crisis given that we are part of local communities and neighbourhoods are very much the biodiversity and the quality assessment that the government had put in place. it interesting that you have bought up different aspects of housing and areas that it touches. are you involved... you are part of the deeley group, specifically what type of developments, i wonder if you could describe what kind of developments as your company focus on? taste developments as your company focus on? ~ ., developments as your company focus on? . . . ,, . developments as your company focus on? . ., ,,~ on? we are an sme based in the midlands and — on? we are an sme based in the midlands and we _ on? we are an sme based in the midlands and we have _ on? we are an sme based in the midlands and we have been - on? we are an sme based in the - midlands and we have been delivering houses for the past 90 years. we tend to build relatively small scale developments, so very much a sustainable development. we normally have three sites, which currently

have three sites, which currently have 200 unit stuck in the planning process. we have no home theme built on site and we have had to completely change our business and focus on delivering care and extra care homes rather than affordable or market homes. my mac so why have you had to do that? what is the reason that your plans haven't been approved? the biggest issue hasn't been as goh said, the economics. it has been around the planning policy and that changed her those numbers being advisory. it is all very well putting pressure on planners to deliver but if only have liver live a healthy numbers, then you are not actually helping housing delivery. what you make of this idea that there will be consequences the councils who don't meet his new standards? i councils who don't meet his new standards?— standards? i like the principle of it. i'm a little —

standards? i like the principle of it. i'm a little fearful— standards? i like the principle of it. i'm a little fearful that - standards? i like the principle of it. i'm a little fearful that what l it. i'm a little fearful that what that will mean is that planning applications are actually just applications are actuallyjust refuse applications are actually just refuse more swiftly before councils have actually managed to do the groundwork and understand the biodiversity and the quality and the other elements of every planning application has to take place. it might mean more being refused and approved. he might mean more being refused and a- roved. . ,,~ might mean more being refused and auroved. . , . approved. he also spoke about, obviously you — approved. he also spoke about, obviously you are _ approved. he also spoke about, obviously you are based - approved. he also spoke about, obviously you are based in - approved. he also spoke about, obviously you are based in the l approved. he also spoke about, - obviously you are based in the west midlands, he addressed london specifically and cambridge as well. do you feel as if the changes and proposals that he has put forward will help region? trio. proposals that he has put forward will help region?— will help region? no. i'm afraid i don't think— will help region? no. i'm afraid i don't think they _ will help region? no. i'm afraid i don't think they will. _ will help region? no. i'm afraid i don't think they will. i _ will help region? no. i'm afraid i don't think they will. i think - will help region? no. i'm afraid i| don't think they will. i think there are some slight elements about brownfield which will be helpful but most of the the brownfield site, we have built on. people have been keen to develop unsustainable location for many years. i think it was very much a london centric approach and

didn't really address the issues of affordability that we have or the impact that it will have on local councils because homelessness will increase and therefore, that will put pressure on local councils to deliver temporary accommodation and provide funding for that.— provide funding for that. eleanor, we will leave _ provide funding for that. eleanor, we will leave it _ provide funding for that. eleanor, we will leave it there _ provide funding for that. eleanor, we will leave it there for - provide funding for that. eleanor, we will leave it there for now. - we will leave it there for now. thank you very much indeed. we are going to speak to our political correspondent the bbc look east, ben schofield who is based in schofield. obviously, cambridge was in michael gove's agenda. just remind us of what he said?— gove's agenda. just remind us of what he said? naming and shaming authorities that... _ what he said? naming and shaming authorities that... he _ what he said? naming and shaming authorities that... he described - what he said? naming and shaming j authorities that... he described two critical locations, london and the city i am in now, cambridge. and why is cambridge being highlighted? is because of its economic growth potential. said that nowhere is the

feature being shifted more than in cambridge. it has leadership in things like biosciences, life sciences, technology, it has huge expertise around the hospital and the biomedical campus and the south of the city. it could be a huge economic driver but mr gove said that its growth is being constrained, quite simply not enough lab space. what is a solution to that? today, has announced that they will be a nude of element corporation for the city. that —— new development corporation. that will be a huge project which will last the next two decades, it will have the money and resources required. have the money and resources reuuired. ~ ., ., have the money and resources reuuired. ., ., , ., required. what do local people and cambrid . e required. what do local people and cambridge make _ required. what do local people and cambridge make of _ required. what do local people and cambridge make of this _ required. what do local people and cambridge make of this further - required. what do local people and | cambridge make of this further new development?—

development? there are broadly s-ueakin development? there are broadly speaking two _ development? there are broadly speaking two camps. _ development? there are broadly speaking two camps. those - development? there are broadly speaking two camps. those who | development? there are broadly - speaking two camps. those who would like to see the city grow and rent prices are incredibly high here. if you compare the 2021 celsis the 2011 sentence, there are people queueing up sentence, there are people queueing up to buy homes here and there are business as you would like to expand in the city, to take advantage of that some of the talent that gathers around the city. however, there are also big issues. the city has been wrestling this year with whether or not to charge motorists for driving around the city did sell some congestion problems. there is the issue of water. he mentioned that in his speech. water scarcity is becoming an emerging problem here and that is because cambridge is a city that gets most of its water from an underground aquifer and that is a finite resource. you can't necessarily suck all the water out of that that you would want to pipe into new homes are new laboratory spaces. that would have impacts on

ecosystems and the environment agency has recently then opposing planning application for things like any hospital that is planned in the city and the thousands and thousands of homes. mr gove said he would make further announcements when it comes to water next year. a report last week said that decent region needed to make £15 billion of investment by 2050. there are proposals with things like any reservoir in the north of cambridge are but there is north of cambridge are but there is no necessary detail yet on how glad he that will be paid for. just u date he that will be paid for. just update our _ he that will be paid for. just update our viewers, - he that will be paid for. just update our viewers, he also said that any new homes are cambridge will be built in a sensitive way. ben schofield, thank you very much, speaking to us from cambridge. for more analysis on what was said a short time ago, i am joined now by the housing policy expert and journalist, jules birch. the main

takeaway from what mr gove had to say? i takeaway from what mr gove had to sa ? ~ ., , takeaway from what mr gove had to sa 2 ~ ., , ., , takeaway from what mr gove had to sa? ,, , takeaway from what mr gove had to sa? ,, say? i think it was really a web of contradictions, _ say? i think it was really a web of contradictions, what _ say? i think it was really a web of contradictions, what he _ say? i think it was really a web of contradictions, what he are - say? i think it was really a web of. contradictions, what he are saying. on the one hand, any system of providing homes that we need to make them affordable for our children relies on a combination. and we had a lot but beautiful homes and the right infrastructure, we had some sticks about forcing local councils to adopt a local plan. but what he didn't mention, of course, was the fact that he has turned his housing targets from previously mandatory into advisory targets and he has given councils in the south—east the big get out that they won't have to

approve development where it infringes the character of the local area where it infringes on the environment. that means councils on the outskirts of london and in the home counties, where homes are desperately needed, won't be built. there is an opinion out there that says that there is something of a misconception when it comes to the housing crisis. and you'd actually get more houses, or there is hesitation by developers, to convert properties and it all comes down to tax as well. so you don't necessarily have to build by new properties and new land. is that true? .. ., , properties and new land. is that true? ., , ., ., , ., true? there actually are lots of conversions — true? there actually are lots of conversions at _ true? there actually are lots of conversions at the _ true? there actually are lots of conversions at the moment. i true? there actually are lots of. conversions at the moment. the figures that he quoted, the 230,000 new homes that were built last year to include conversions, a significant number of conversions of redundant office blocks, for

example, into homes. it's notjust actual new homes. taste example, into homes. it's not 'ust actual new homesi example, into homes. it's not 'ust actual new homes. we will leave it there for now. _ actual new homes. we will leave it there for now. housing _ actual new homes. we will leave it there for now. housing policy - actual new homes. we will leave it i there for now. housing policy expert and journalist, thank you very much indeed. the northern ireland secretary chris heaton—harris has set a financial package more than £3.73 set a financial package more than 5.3 billion is available for the £3.3 billion is available for the return of the northern ireland executive. he said this was the final offer and that talks at restoring devolved government were over. earlierthis restoring devolved government were over. earlier this week, a pre—christmas deal to restore stormont was ruled out by the democratic unionist party. chris heaton—harris was speaking short time ago and this is what he had to say. yelling that over the last number of days, my team and i have a meeting that main parties in northern ireland to discuss how we can financially support a restored executive. ., , ~ can financially support a restored executive. . , ,, , , ., executive. last week, i presented a

siunificant executive. last week, i presented a significant package _ executive. last week, i presented a significant package which _ executive. last week, i presented a significant package which sets - executive. last week, i presented a significant package which sets the l significant package which sets the executive up for success. we asked the parties for their views and we have listened. following a lot of discussions over the weekend and over the last few days, this morning, i brought forward a new plan that reasonably and generously response of the party that concerns and provides northern ireland ministers whether offer a restored executive in excess of £3 billion. this package provides solution for many of the issues the parties have raised. the parties have asked for a new formula for deciding how much northern ireland received from the uk government. we have agreed to establish reflecting levels of need in northern ireland. that would see funding increased from 202425. the parties have asked for assistance

with public sector pay. this package includes £584 million to address this. the party —— parties that are so stabilised northern ireland's services. the parties have raised concerns about their existing debt. i have been clear that we will be prepared to take steps to address those concerns of the northern ireland executive if the northern ireland executive if the northern ireland executive if the northern ireland executive publishes and implements a plan to deliver sustainable finances and services. on top of that, the uk government has committed more than £30 million to immediately start tackling health waiting lists and indeed following the psni data breach, we have granted an initial reserve plane a £15 million which will not need to be repaid. and we have offered to

create an enhanced investment zone a northern ireland worth over £150 million. it is disappointing that there will not be any executive up and running to take up this offer and running to take up this offer and deliver it for the people of northern ireland before christmas. however, this package is on the table and will remain there available on day one of an incoming northern ireland executive to take up. this is a generous package. but like any government, an incoming executive will have to make decisions on its priorities going forward. that will need to include as part of this offer, increasing the revenue executive raises for its own powers. the uk government has also held x limit extensive talks

with the dup over the windsor framework over the last months. i would like to thank the dup and its leadership for the way they have engaged constructively in those talks. in particular, the government has sought to address the specific concerns raised by the dup prior to and during these negotiations. from our perspective, those talks have reached a conclusion. we stand ready to introduce a package of measures that have worked on together, share the dup reach a decision to proceed. i have always believed that northern ireland is best governed by locally elected and accountable amylase. they can ease the financial package and put in place the policy that will transform public services for the better of everyone across the whole of northern ireland. and there

is, great affinity for the parties to return to governing a behalf of the people who elected them. the financial package that is now before the parties would set northern ireland on a sustainable footing with a bright future ahead. so to end, these financial talks have concluded. and there is a financial package worth in excess of £3 billion on the table shed the executive be restored. from our perspective, the windsor framework talks on all issues of substance have concluded but we will always be happy to answer concerns and any questions on these. the uk government also stands ready to deliver on the outcomes of the windsor framework talks when the institutions are restored. it is now time for decisions to be made. and

time for decisions to be made. and that was the _ time for decisions to be made. and that was the northern ireland secretary chris heaton—harris that just laying out the uk's position when it comes to restoring the northern ireland executive, £3.3 billion available, he said. let us catch up with the weather. hello, again. the weather is going to remain fairly changeable all the way through the rest of this week and even into christmas day. we're looking at rain at times. it's also going to become very windy, especially so on thursday. and there's the chance of snow for some. a lot of that will be on the hills in the north. now, you can see the cooler blues today, but then we've got the milder yellows and ambers during the course of wednesday and thursday. but on thursday and friday, some colder air tries to push in from the north, but the milder air wins out from the south for many of us as we head in towards the weekend. but into this afternoon, we've got the dregs of this morning's rain continuing to pull away from the south and the east. a lot of dry weather behind,

a fair bit of sunshine, but all these showers coming in on the brisk winds across the north and the west. strongest winds will be in the north and west, but it will be picking up across the south western approaches and also the english channel. now, temperatures will go down following on behind that band of rain. and as we head on through the evening and overnight, there will be some clear skies for a time. we hang on to all these showers in the west, the winds are going to strengthen and then a weather front, a warm front, arrives. temperatures three in lerwick to about nine in plymouth. now that warm front is quite salient because this means the temperature is going to change through the course of tomorrow. so there is a front moving from the west to the east, taking the rain with it. behind it, there's a lot of cloud, low cloud mist, murk, dank conditions, especially in western areas and the hills and the coasts. out towards the south, something a bit drier. but the cloud building through the course of the day. and these are our temperatures widely11s and 12s. so, milderairfollowing on behind the warm front. but then it changes on thursday. this potent area of low pressure is crossing us. look at all those isobars. it's going to be windy

wherever you are. the strongest winds likely to be in the north of scotland, particularly shetland. here we could have gusts 70 or 80 miles an hour, but widely 50 to 60 miles an hour. so, a windy day. we've also got a plethora of showers. most of them will be of rain. in the highlands, it will be of sleet and snow in the hills. but that will come down to lower levels for a time. and you can see the colder air trying to filter further south, but the south itself hanging on to the milder conditions. looks like it's still going to be pretty windy, but not as on friday. and temperatures going down in the north. and the jury's still out for christmas day. there could be some snow, though, in the hills in the north.

regardless of the shifting sands of westminster. this is bbc news. we are awaiting

rishi sunak to appear before a liaison committee where he is going to face a number of questions covering a number of subjects. the conservative chair of the foreign affairs committee is going to be putting some of those questions to rishi sunak, alicia kearns, is her name. we understand some of the questions will address israel's military operation in gaza as well. and we are also going to be touching on as well as global affairs, economic issues as the pm's progress towards meeting his growth and debt objectives will also come under scrutiny and of course we've just had cop 28 in dubai and rishi sunak will be a question about that. i'm looking at one of the screens and i

believe introductions are about to start. my