influence on the does have an influence on the way people think about their finances. on wednesday, we had a similar decision from the federal reserve bankin decision from the federal reserve bank in the united states, so we are expecting that announcement to just come in a moment. we will be sharing it with viewers. this is the announcement now that is coming from the bank of england. the interest rate decision has been held at 5.25%. this is breaking news coming in from the bank of england, that the interest rate has been held at 5.25%. in its turn to our chief economic correspondent. what is your reaction? ihla economic correspondent. what is your reaction? , , ., economic correspondent. what is your reaction? , , , , reaction? no surprise. no surprise. i'm “ust reaction? no surprise. no surprise. i'm just reading _ reaction? no surprise. no surprise. i'm just reading through _ reaction? no surprise. no surprise. i'm just reading through the - reaction? no surprise. no surprise. i'm just reading through the actual| i'm just reading through the actual note and we were talking about what happens to interest rate next. no

change for the moment. this is interesting — to members of the interest—rate panel preferred to increase interest rates again and asked more than many people were expecting. one person prefer to reduce them right now. what does that mean? there is more fine print to go through, hundreds of pages but what they seem to be saying here is that almost there is some uncertainty about whether inflation is falling fast enough or far enough. at the moment, the bank of england are saying and i will read at the end of the statement, "it remains prepared to adjust interest rates by economic data to return inflation to the 2% target sustainably. it will continue to monitor closely indications of persistent inflationary pressures. on that basis, the committee will keep under review for how long bank rates should maintain." what does that mean in english? it means the bank of england is still uneasy about some of those inflationary

pressures that remain of the economy. what does it mean for future interest—rate movement? it is a step away from the previous language is used which had suggested that up until the end of last year that up until the end of last year that perhaps the next move could be “p that perhaps the next move could be up still. but they seem to be backing away from that but they are not explicitly saying we are thinking about cutting interest rates what we have seen their as the voting pattern of the members might cause some of these analysts in the market, some who are excitable, to say the first cut of interest rates could be later in the summer rather than earlier. but there is a lot to go through in this detail and the important thing, if you are a borrower out there, is not likely to be much change for the moment for what we are seeing because the bank rate movements but hang on because it does look like the next move could be down at some point this year and at that point there may be a bit of relief in store.— a bit of relief in store. thank you very much _ a bit of relief in store. thank you very much for— a bit of relief in store. thank you very much for bringing _ a bit of relief in store. thank you very much for bringing the - a bit of relief in store. thank you very much for bringing the stat l very much for bringing the stat breaking news and explaining the statement there from the bank of

england. we can go back to danny from ajay bell. the interest rate held as expected but as our correspondent mentioned, to members of the policy committee saying that they would prefer interest rates or rates to increase. tiara they would prefer interest rates or rates to increase.— they would prefer interest rates or rates to increase. two members this time in those — rates to increase. two members this time in those three _ rates to increase. two members this time in those three members - rates to increase. two members this time in those three members last i time in those three members last time in those three members last time but there has been clearly some movement and interesting that one member of the monetary policy committee voted to bring interest rates down. it's clear that there is a lot of uncertainty about the path of the global economy at the moment, not least because the situation in the red sea and of course it is an election year as well so a lot of people are looking at potentially the budget this time around having some kind of growth measures. will there be any kind of tax cuts? and another thing which a lot of people are watching very closely is the impact on the increase of the

national living wage. a lot of company bosses have warned that that could potentially also see them forced to raise gusts. in terms of where we are, it's very much maintaining the status quo in exactly the same way that we have seen the federal reserve in the usa do and the european central bank as well. central bank has had a really difficult fine line to walk at the moment. they don't want to stall the economy to add to issues which are pushing economies in towards recession, but also, they don't want to overheat things, taking away these measures to quickly which could allow inflation, which is still at li%, double the bank was a 2% target, to become really sticky and embedded in the economy. we have seen that inflation in the service sector did go up last time around and that is something which i think we'll have impacted the decision of those two members to vote to increase further.—

those two members to vote to increase further. and, dani, what would be the _ increase further. and, dani, what would be the reaction _ increase further. and, dani, what would be the reaction from - increase further. and, dani, what would be the reaction from other| would be the reaction from other financial analysts like yourself? we heard from our correspondence say that many would expect interest rates to start coming down later in the summer and not before. we were lookin: at the summer and not before. we were looking at market _ the summer and not before. we were looking at market expectation - the summer and not before. we were looking at market expectation before| looking at market expectation before we got that decision. very much now having looked about 50% thinking that the first cut might come as soon as may but 50% of thinking that it will be june before soon as may but 50% of thinking that it will bejune before we get the first cut. we are still looking at potentially seeing interest rates fall by as much as i% by december. i have to stress, this is market expectation. they do not have a crystal ball, they are looking at the numbers and as to how they feel but of course these numbers... they have a knock on to what banks are prepared to lend us money at. in terms of whether you have a mortgage

is coming to an end, if over the coming course of the loan that you are taking out, whether two or five or ten years, if banks think that rates will continue to come down, will fall the way the markets expect them to, later this year, then that should keep the pressure on lenders to keep offering more and more competitive mortgages to all of us. thank you very much, that is dani hewson, head of financial analysis. we are nowjoined by the bbc economics editor, faisal islam, who was at the bank of england. it’s economics editor, faisal islam, who was at the bank of england.- was at the bank of england. it's an interestin: was at the bank of england. it's an interesting decision _ was at the bank of england. it's an interesting decision in _ was at the bank of england. it's an interesting decision in the - was at the bank of england. it's an interesting decision in the sense . interesting decision in the sense that rates have been kept on hold at five and a quarter percent but we have had the first three—way split of this kind since the financial

crisis of 2008 and that's to say you have had members of the 9—member committee to vote where rates should be going in different directions. something the majority is found should be held on to found the true god but one felt that there should be a cut in interest rates. thus the first single vote on this committee for a cut since 2008, surrey, since the pandemic in 2020. and it goes to show that they are definitely turning the tank around. the monetary policy minutes changed the language for the first time, taking away the idea they were worried about inflation and they might even raise. i don't think many people believe that a new been hearing from the market commentator saying that they didn't believe they were coded but now they have said, fair enough, we are now in cutting mode but i think there is still a considerable

disagreement over when those first cuts should happen. one member of the committee, an independent member, said that should happen today but i think the general consensus of the bank is that they should wait a few months and this is going to be a presentation to make it tricky because elsewhere, the forecasts for the bank of england were showing that inflation is going to fall more sharply than the expected, back down to its target of 2% in the next couple of months as energy prices come down. at the bank of england's governor is stressing that essentially that depp is an artificial consequence of domestic energy bills coming down, but then inflation will go back up again. what he wants to see is inflation fall to target and crucially to quote him to stay there. this seems to be building up the idea for the public that inflation will fall to target and we will see headlines about that in april and may they may not choose to cutjust

about that in april and may they may not choose to cut just yet. about that in april and may they may not choose to cutjust yet. cuts will be coming at some point i would say this year but we may not see them as quickly as many expect and many are lobbying for that so it may be a few months yet. and that reflects the fact that they are still a bit worried about wage settlements that the people by serbian businesses decide that wages are going to go up by over 5% which is higher than normal and all those types of concerns but a split in the bank and's thinking on what way to go and what happens, this is what happens when you get these turning points for the next move at some points for the next move at some point will be a cut. it points for the next move at some point will be a cut.— point will be a cut. it will be a cut and i _ point will be a cut. it will be a cut and i will— point will be a cut. it will be a cut and i will be _ point will be a cut. it will be a cut and i will be good - point will be a cut. it will be a cut and i will be good news i point will be a cut. it will be a | cut and i will be good news for viewers watching today and people in the country and i guess politicians will also be watching today's decision and perhaps the following decisions from the bank of england. this is an election year. you are right and that's a very interesting dynamic. what you're going to see

over the next two or three months is some politicians, probably not the government, some members of the public and businesses saying why are we not cutting now? and there was a vote for a cut, one out of nine, not clearly a majority. but the chancellor and the prime minister in downing street would love for the bank to decide that a sufficient turning point had been reached and that rates could be cut sustainably. obviously there is an impact on the market and we are seeing mortgage rates come down in the first few weeks of this year, but i think one of the points being made and is repeatedly being made is that the last thing a big impact of the existing rate rises, that still hasn't been found fully across the economy. nearly two and a half million mortgages are going to be repriced by the end of this year and i have been to some extent commissioned from the rise in interest rates and they will see the full effect. across the economy, about two thirds of the impact of rate rise has settled across the

economy and are squeezed businesses and squeezed households. i think it also worth saying that if you look into the plumbing of this new forecast, which they do four times per year, you also see that if they were to keep interest rates where they are at five and a quarter percent, the message they're sending is the economy would move from very slowly growing and barely growing and a bit of more growth than expected about no .i% of a quarter which is low, but it would move if interest rates were kept for the next year or so that would move into recession. as another indication that rates are on the way down, but not may be as soon as people might expect given that inflation is set to fall rapidly in the next couple of months. a subtle message, a turning point of sought but the speed of the turn might be slower than many expect.— speed of the turn might be slower than many expect. thank you very much, that _ than many expect. thank you very much, that our— than many expect. thank you very much, that our economics - than many expect. thank you very much, that our economics editor, | much, that our economics editor, faisal islam with reaction to that

decision by the bank of england to hold interest rates at 5.25%. less turned back to dani hewson. dani, your thoughts now are what you have had it chanced to absorb a statement from the bank. i had it chanced to absorb a statement from the bank-— from the bank. i think it has been interesting _ from the bank. i think it has been interesting and _ from the bank. i think it has been interesting and as _ from the bank. i think it has been interesting and as faisal- from the bank. i think it has been interesting and as faisal islam i from the bank. i think it has been. interesting and as faisal islam said its a turning point and the fact that we did have one member of the monetary policy committee voting for a cut does really cement expectation that with rates, the next movement will be downwards. there had still been... if it had gone up considerably again, there have been thought that perhaps we would have further interest increases but it certainly looks according to everything that the bank of england are saying today that unless we see are saying today that unless we see a serious blip in terms of

inflation, that the next movement in terms of rates will be down. that's very much good news for all those people that have extract mortgages, to an end. dani, thank you very much that analysis. were going to say goodbye now to our viewers on bbc two. �* , ., , ., two. and “ust to remind viewers that there will two. and just to remind viewers that there will be — two. and just to remind viewers that there will be a _ two. and just to remind viewers that there will be a bank— two. and just to remind viewers that there will be a bank of— two. and just to remind viewers that there will be a bank of england i there will be a bank of england press conference later which you can watch here on bbc news and on our website. a major manhunt is under way for a man who attacked a family in south london. this is the scene in south london. this is the scene in clapham in lambeth after police arrived on wednesday evening. the 31—year—old mother and her daughters were aged eight and three are still in hospital. the mother and young girls injuries are described as potentially life changing. four

passers—by came to the aid of the family, three were women who were treated in hospitalfor minor family, three were women who were treated in hospital for minor burns and have now been discharged. five officers who responded the attack were also treated and have left hospital. the police said the attacker crashed into a stationary vehicle while trying to drive away from the scene and then ran off on foot. in the past hour, so mark rowley, the metropolitan police commissioner has been speaking about the attack on bbc radio london and he said they believe the suspect was known to the victims.— known to the victims. today's story is terrifying- _ known to the victims. today's story is terrifying. corrosive _ known to the victims. today's story is terrifying. corrosive substance, l is terrifying. corrosive substance, arguments with a number of people. i'm not asking for detail but give me your own view about that incident because it's terrifying. it’s because it's terrifying. it's understanding _ because it's terrifying. it's understanding is frightening. fortunately, attacks using acid and

chemicals — fortunately, attacks using acid and chemicals are exceedingly rare. we did have _ chemicals are exceedingly rare. we did have a — chemicals are exceedingly rare. we did have a spate of them to three years— did have a spate of them to three years ago— did have a spate of them to three years ago but is not something we have seen— years ago but is not something we have seen much of it all recently which _ have seen much of it all recently which i'm — have seen much of it all recently which i'm pleased to say. this is a ghastly— which i'm pleased to say. this is a ghastly attack and i think the first thing _ ghastly attack and i think the first thing to— ghastly attack and i think the first thing to say is we have a live manhunt, _ thing to say is we have a live manhunt, the suspected offender was known _ manhunt, the suspected offender was known to— manhunt, the suspected offender was known to the victims and we have a bil known to the victims and we have a big team _ known to the victims and we have a big team of— known to the victims and we have a big team of officers. the local officers — big team of officers. the local officers who dealt with it assisted by specialist crime colleagues and we are _ by specialist crime colleagues and we are hunting for him as we speak. the second — we are hunting for him as we speak. the second thing to call out is the victim, _ the second thing to call out is the victim, the — the second thing to call out is the victim, the woman of the two young daughters _ victim, the woman of the two young daughters and a son horrific thing to happen — daughters and a son horrific thing to happen and they are staying still in hospital— to happen and they are staying still in hospital and they have some substantial burns but i don't know for certain— substantial burns but i don't know for certain so we wish them well because — for certain so we wish them well because that's an horrific attack and in _ because that's an horrific attack and in 30 — because that's an horrific attack and in 30 to call it the bravery of members — and in 30 to call it the bravery of members of the public and my officers — members of the public and my officers i_ members of the public and my officers. i think for members of the public— officers. i think for members of the public and — officers. i think for members of the public and involved, three women and a and _ public and involved, three women and a and three _ public and involved, three women and a and three of them had hospital

treatment and have been discharged and i had _ treatment and have been discharged and i had four or five officers who -ot and i had four or five officers who got involved as well and it would hospital— got involved as well and it would hospital and get checked out for their— hospital and get checked out for their contact with the chemical. difficult, — their contact with the chemical. difficult, difficult moments. london police _ difficult, difficult moments. london police and _ difficult, difficult moments. london police and community have come together— police and community have come together to try and rescue the situation _ together to try and rescue the situation and i now wish the woman and her_ situation and i now wish the woman and her daughters well and we are going _ and her daughters well and we are going to _ and her daughters well and we are going to hunt down this offender. a bit of going to hunt down this offender. bit of confusion with a number of people impacted. can you confirm a number? it was nine originally but it seems to be going up.— number? it was nine originally but it seems to be going up. there were, in terms of — it seems to be going up. there were, in terms of the _ it seems to be going up. there were, in terms of the attack _ it seems to be going up. there were, in terms of the attack itself, - it seems to be going up. there were, in terms of the attack itself, there i in terms of the attack itself, there is a woman— in terms of the attack itself, there is a woman and two young daughters who are _ is a woman and two young daughters who are victims of the attack. i believe — who are victims of the attack. i believe there are four members of the public— believe there are four members of the public involved, three who went to hospital— the public involved, three who went to hospital for treatment, one who -ot to hospital for treatment, one who got help— to hospital for treatment, one who got help from the ambulance at the scene _ got help from the ambulance at the scene and _ got help from the ambulance at the scene and five police officers who went _ scene and five police officers who went to _ scene and five police officers who went to hospital to get checked out. none _ went to hospital to get checked out. none of— went to hospital to get checked out. none of them have had to stay in hospital— none of them have had to stay in hospital so— none of them have had to stay in hospital so i'm not assuming any of those _ hospital so i'm not assuming any of those are _ hospital so i'm not assuming any of those are serious but as i say, the mother— those are serious but as i say, the mother and — those are serious but as i say, the mother and her two young daughters

are in_ mother and her two young daughters are in hospital i think those of the injuries— are in hospital i think those of the injuries we — are in hospital i think those of the injuries we should focus on. how are our injuries we should focus on. how are your officers — injuries we should focus on. how are your officers doing? _ injuries we should focus on. how are your officers doing? i _ injuries we should focus on. how are your officers doing? i have _ injuries we should focus on. how are your officers doing? i have another. your officers doing? i have another chance to speak— your officers doing? i have another chance to speak to _ your officers doing? i have another chance to speak to them _ your officers doing? i have another chance to speak to them are i your officers doing? i have another| chance to speak to them are senior colleagues — chance to speak to them are senior colleagues have and i think they're 0k and _ colleagues have and i think they're 0k and i_ colleagues have and i think they're ok and i look forward to contributing writer but it's a frightening thing to deal with. normally when officers deal with danger— normally when officers deal with danger you can usually see it as a knife _ danger you can usually see it as a knife or— danger you can usually see it as a knife or weapon, something which is a chemical— knife or weapon, something which is a chemical and you are trying to help— a chemical and you are trying to help people and are in contact with the chemical is difficult and frightening but for members of the public— frightening but for members of the public i _ frightening but for members of the public i think they are all very brave — public i think they are all very brave. in— public i think they are all very brave. , ., , ., ., brave. in terms of eight, you are uuite brave. in terms of eight, you are quite confident _ brave. in terms of eight, you are quite confident this _ brave. in terms of eight, you are quite confident this is _ brave. in terms of eight, you are| quite confident this is something, the two people were known to each other and that the rest of london or certainly the people i have heard from today, shouldn't be fearful at all. , ~ ., ., all. everything we know the moment oints to all. everything we know the moment points to this — all. everything we know the moment points to this being _ all. everything we know the moment points to this being two _ all. everything we know the moment points to this being two people i all. everything we know the moment points to this being two people who | points to this being two people who know each— points to this being two people who know each other. it's not random in the sense — know each other. it's not random in the sense. communities should not be fearful— the sense. communities should not be fearful on _ the sense. communities should not be fearful on the basis that this is a random — fearful on the basis that this is a random attack, that's not what it looks _ random attack, that's not what it looks like — random attack, that's not what it looks like at the moment but of course — looks like at the moment but of course is — looks like at the moment but of course is ghastly and draws attention and we need to hunt this

person— attention and we need to hunt this person down. attention and we need to hunt this person down-— person down. that was sir mark rowley speaking _ person down. that was sir mark rowley speaking to _ person down. that was sir mark rowley speaking to eddie i person down. that was sir mark| rowley speaking to eddie nestor person down. that was sir mark i rowley speaking to eddie nestor on bbc radio london. we'll go live now to correspond on charlie rose at the scene in south london. charlie, tell us the latest you have there. itrefoil. us the latest you have there. well, some of the _ us the latest you have there. well, some of the details _ us the latest you have there. well, some of the details in _ us the latest you have there. well, some of the details in this - us the latest you have there. -ii some of the details in this incident are fairly horrific and distressing. what we know is that yesterday evening, a woman and her two young daughters were attacked on this road with what was described at the time as a corrosive substance. the police and emergency services were called earlier this morning and police have confirmed some key details. they say the suspect attacked the family with an alkaline substance. he then tried to escape in a car the car hit another car and then he tried to flee on foot. he escaped on foot

towards clapham common short distance away. he also, the police confirmed a few more details, they say the ages of the family, the mother is 31, the two young children are eight and three, the youngest daughter, the three—year—old and her mother have sustained what could be life changing injuries and he says in the police say that the mother and the daughter are known to each other. yesterday evening, a number of people came to the aid of the mother and her two young daughters. members of the public, police officers, they sustained minor injuries and were taken to hospital and they have now been treated. police have described it as a targeted attack and they describe the individual is dangerous and they say they urgently need to find him and they have launched a manhunt but

this happened last night in a very busy area, at a busy time just adjacent to one of london's busiest park so they are hopeful people would have seen something and there will be cctv and people can come forward with information and so on. because they haven't released a description of the suspect yet. all we have so far from journalists here in the ground, i have been speaking to neighbours and wonder to have described the suspect fleeing on foot down this road towards the park is wearing black clothing. one neighbour tried to pursue him on foot but the neighbour was wearing slippers and didn't get very far. as we have been hearing this morning, the commissioner of the metropolitan police, sir mark rowley, has been talking to bbc radio london. he described the attack is frightening and ghastly, he said instance of this nature are extremely rare. he wanted to point out that the public

should not be worried because this is not a random attack on the police have described it as a targeted attack but they want to underline and highlight the fact that there is and highlight the fact that there is a live manhunt under way and the investigation, the police investigation, the police investigation in italy's early stages. investigation in italy's early stares. ., ~ investigation in italy's early stares. ., ., investigation in italy's early stares. ., . ., stages. thank you, charlie. life for us in south — stages. thank you, charlie. life for us in south london. _ stages. thank you, charlie. life for us in south london. labour's- stages. thank you, charlie. life for i us in south london. labour's shadow chancellor, rachel reeves, has been speaking about how the party plans to bring stability to the british economy. in a speech to company bosses, she defended her decision to allow unlimited bonuses for bankers saying stronger rules are in place to stop risky behaviour. she said there would be no rise in the current 25% rate of corporation tax during the first term of a labour government. let's have a listen to some of what rachel reeves has been saying i labour's business

conference a short while ago. we have conference a short while ago. - have heard loud and clear the demand for clarity and certainty from business. so the next labour government will maintain full expensing and the annual investment allowance and within its first six months, a labour government will publish... we will set out our plans and business tax over the duration of the parliament, but i want to go further. there have been 26 changes to our corporation tax arrangements in this parliament alone. we cannot go on like this. we reject calls from those in the right wing of the conservative party to cut corporation tax. our current rate is the lowest in the g7 and we believe that a 25% rate strikes the correct balance between the needs of our public finances and the demands of a competitive global economy. the next

labour government will make the pro—business choice and the progrowth choice. we will cap the headline rate of corporation tax at its current rate of 25% for the duration of the next parliament. and should our competitiveness come under threat, should our competitiveness come underthreat, if should our competitiveness come under threat, if necessary, we will act. that means the business can plan today, investment projects with the confidence of knowing that their returns will be taxed at a certain writer for the rest of this decade. earlier i spoke to a political correspondent, ian watson, head of the interest rate announcement and he told us more about what rachel reeves had to say. i he told us more about what rachel reeves had to say.— reeves had to say. i think rachel reeves had to say. i think rachel reeves key _ reeves had to say. i think rachel reeves key message _ reeves had to say. i think rachel reeves key message was - reeves had to say. i think rachel reeves key message was that i reeves had to say. i think rachel i reeves key message was that labour is now the party of business in her view and that this is a territory that has been contested and the conservatives is meeting small businesses as the same time that rachel reeves is talking to these big businesses at what is an

oversubscribed business event. she has pledged that labour would govern as a pro—business party and has echoes of new labour and she talked about stability. but there seems to be a lack of stability when it comes to one of their flagship policies. if you remember, in 2021, rachel reeves was going to be the first evergreen chancellor and suggested she would spend £28 billion per year on green projects. since then that pledge has been watered down and will happen perhaps in the second part of the labour government, it's going to incorporate money of the government has put aside for green projects and above all is good be subject to labour's fiscal rules that the party says it can spend or borrow. but interestingly, she was asked whether she was sticking to that £28 billion pledged today immediately after the speech we heard. she didn't mention the £28 billion figure at all but simply

stressed that this would be subject, the whole green prosperity plan, would be subject to a labour's fiscal rules. those rules would allow borrowing to invest but they also suggest that debt should fall within a five year time period. it sounded as though she was backing away from the pledge this now called an ambition to some extent and she also mentioned one or two fiscal events as she called it, one is a budget before an election is called and that tended to suggest that we might get a definitive answer on whether labour is going to keep this policy are not after the march budget but has certainly been under attack from the conservatives. talking of the conservatives, they also are trying to manage expectations because the chancellor, jeremy hunt, has been talking about the political thinking at the political thinking podcast and he tended to suggest that given the state of public finances, that perhaps similar tax cuts on the scale of what we saw in the last

autumn statement, the reduction in national insurance that came in last month, that tax cuts similar in scale may well be off the agenda. brute scale may well be off the agenda. we don't know the final numbers yet because — don't know the final numbers yet because there is this iterative process— because there is this iterative process that happens. but it doesn't look to— process that happens. but it doesn't look to me _ process that happens. but it doesn't look to me like we will have the same _ look to me like we will have the same scope for cutting taxes in the spring _ same scope for cutting taxes in the spring budget. the same that we had in the _ spring budget. the same that we had in the autumn statement and so i need _ in the autumn statement and so i need to— in the autumn statement and so i need to set people public expectations about the scale of what i'm doing _ expectations about the scale of what i'm doing because people need to know— i'm doing because people need to know that — i'm doing because people need to know that when a conservative government cuts taxes, we will do so in a responsible and sensible way but we _ in a responsible and sensible way but we also want to be clear that the direction of travel we want to id the direction of travel we want to go in _ the direction of travel we want to go in is _ the direction of travel we want to go in is to— the direction of travel we want to go in is to lighten the tax burden and thus— go in is to lighten the tax burden and thus notjust go in is to lighten the tax burden and thus not just about go in is to lighten the tax burden and thus notjust about putting money— and thus notjust about putting money in — and thus notjust about putting money in people's pockets but i do think— money in people's pockets but i do think you _ money in people's pockets but i do think you should put as much people as you _ think you should put as much people as you can— think you should put as much people as you can in— think you should put as much people as you can in people's pockets, that's— as you can in people's pockets, that's a — as you can in people's pockets, that's a conservative view, but in the end — that's a conservative view, but in the end that is how we will grow the

economy— the end that is how we will grow the economy if— the end that is how we will grow the economy if we are, we know the right tax cuts _ economy if we are, we know the right tax cuts help — economy if we are, we know the right tax cuts help boost our growth. jeremy— tax cuts help boost our growth. jeremy hunt managing expectation and the public expectations and expectations of his own party but that can be uncomfortable for him because the conservatives are trailing rather dramatically in the polls 2015 and 19 points behind labour and many of rishi sunak public mps are keen to get policies that could attract voters back to the party from drifting away and that includes a big demand for tax cuts and these tend to be something of a damp squib, then that will increase pressure on the prime minister has already under criticism from some in his own ranks. the bbc's ian — from some in his own ranks. the bbc's ian watson. _ from some in his own ranks. the bbc's ian watson. let's take you out of the house of commons where mps are debating legislation to implement a deal aimed at restoring power sharing in northern ireland. let's have a listen. we have a shared determination dish strengthen

our union... shared determination dish strengthen ourunion... i shared determination dish strengthen our union... i got that bit. {as shared determination dish strengthen our union. .. i got that bit.— our union... i got that bit. go on. there was — our union... i got that bit. go on. there was a _ our union... i got that bit. go on. there was a memorial _ our union... i got that bit. go on. there was a memorial service i our union... i got that bit. go on. there was a memorial service on| there was a memorial service on tuesday— there was a memorial service on tuesday for— there was a memorial service on tuesday for somebody who i think never— tuesday for somebody who i think never gets— tuesday for somebody who i think never gets enough credit for their role in _ never gets enough credit for their role in the — never gets enough credit for their role in the peace process. peter brooke — role in the peace process. peter brooke once said that britain had no strategic— brooke once said that britain had no strategic in — brooke once said that britain had no strategic in northern ireland and that was— strategic in northern ireland and that was later repeated in the downing _ that was later repeated in the downing street declaration. reading a command paper it would seem to me that this _ a command paper it would seem to me that this government has moved from the position and i think undermines the position and i think undermines the good _ the position and i think undermines the good friday agreement. it seems they have _ the good friday agreement. it seems they have moved away from the principle — they have moved away from the principle of rigorous impartiality. does _ principle of rigorous impartiality. does the — principle of rigorous impartiality. does the secretary of state agree with peter brooks assertion in the downing _ with peter brooks assertion in the downing street declaration? or is he moving _ downing street declaration? or is he moving to _ downing street declaration? or is he moving to a — downing street declaration? or is he moving to a different place? | moving to a different place? disagree moving to a different place? i disagree with with what the honourable gentleman said of the end of his intervention and i completely agree with what sir peter brooks said at the time and our commitment

to the belfast good friday agreement in all of its different ways. and i wanted to say that our determination to strengthen the union and the right honourable gentleman for lagan valley has powerfully argued the strong and effective devolution, delivering a thriving northern ireland within our united kingdom is the surest way to ensure this united kingdom remains united in the time ahead. in taking the steps that he has taken, let me say he is delivering far more for the future of northern ireland in the union than any of his detractors. i will give way. does have an influence on the way people think about their finances. could he outline a list or summary of what those who are against the right honourable member's deal have actually achieved in the months of campaigning? i

actually achieved in the months of campaigning?— actually achieved in the months of camaiuanin? ., ., ., , campaigning? i would love to be able to outline anything. _ campaigning? i would love to be able to outline anything. i _ campaigning? i would love to be able to outline anything. i have _ campaigning? i would love to be able to outline anything. i have a - campaigning? i would love to be able to outline anything. i have a piece i to outline anything. i have a piece of paper... oh, it is blank. nothing, absolutely zero. i'm afraid the postage stamp is too big to write on the back of. the is so much that the right honourable gentleman has achieved in this deal in safeguarding the union and his detractors have not come up with anything. and the changes he secured in these regulations the other instrument before this house and we will consider shortly will further enhance those protections. the regulations and any presumption that there is any form of automatic and unchecked dynamic alignment with european goods. section seven a, the so—called pipeline of eu law is now expressly subject to the operation

of vital