that with our correspondent ben thompson. the bank of england has held interest rates. let's take a lesson is explain a decision. we interest rates. let's take a lesson is explain a decision.— is explain a decision. we are workin: is explain a decision. we are working to — is explain a decision. we are working to bring _ is explain a decision. we are working to bring inflation - is explain a decision. we are i working to bring inflation back toward the 2% target. inflation is now full and just above 3%. we expected to be close to the target in the coming months. that is encouraging. we are not yet at a point where we can cut bank rates. we all consider the forthcoming data releases as part of our assessment for how long the bank rate should be maintained at its current level to be sure that insatiable for all the way back to 30% target and stay there. —— inflation will fall. let me start with the outlook. we have had relatively few uk data supplies since our previous march policy report in february. economic growth

was weaker than we expected in the fourth quarter of last year but we think the first quarter of this year has been a bit stronger, which will lead the level of economic activity broadly when we thought it would be. 12 months consumer price inflation fell from 4% in december to 3.2% in march, its lowest rate since december 2021. march, its lowest rate since december2021. 0.i% march, its lowest rate since december 2021. 0.1% higher than we expected in february. the decline was spread across food, core goods and services. energy prices have also continued to contribute negatively to the headline inflation rate. as a lower 0fgem cap on household energy prices come into effect in april, we expect headline inflation to drop further to a level very close to target in the next few months. but we then expected to edge up months. but we then expected to edge

up a again. this absence of data surprises is an indication that we are now getting back to more normal times, at least compared to the highly unusual period we have been living through web a global pandemic and a major you're in europe —— war. so far, economies have adjusted to stand those risks. global supply chains have held up energy prices have moderated. charge to provide one illustration of how the outlook has become more predictable, at least in the near term. it shows the evolution of our six month inflation predictions and compares it with the out terms in the data, the blue line. forsome out terms in the data, the blue line. for some time now, inflation outcomes have begun coming close to the near term projections. telling

to indications of deflation resistance, the picture is very much the same force top service price inflation and wage growth have both been a bit higher than we expected in february. but it certainly gives us pause for thought. there were all squeeze beat them ups and downs in the data. —— there will always be ups and downs. in summary, on the data of late, there have been relatively few surprises. little more strength on inflation persistence than expected but well within the normal margins of variance. more data will help us to extract the signal from the noise and help us to judge whether or not be we are on track to bring inflation down to the target. more data will help us assess if we are sufficiently confident in the process. before our next meeting in june, we will have two full sets of

data for inflation activity and the labour market and that will help us to making thatjudgment afresh. but in saying that, let me be clear. a change in bank rate injune as neva ruled out or... i will turned the key focus judgments. ruled out or... i will turned the key focusjudgments. in ruled out or... i will turned the key focus judgments. in our current assessment of the middle term outlook, the policy has been guided by three key focus judgments. these judgments on the risks around them are described in detail in the report that we have published today. the first keyjudgment is the gdp growth is expected to pick up during the forecast period, following modest weakness last year. the second is that demand will gradually fall short of supply, leading to a margin of economic slack. the third is that a second round effects in domestic price and wages will take longer to unwind in domestic price wages will take longer to unwind and needed to emerge. so i will briefly comment on each of these three key judgments. first on growth. we thing

at the start of monetary policy will weigh less on economic growth in the next three years. we also expect economic growth to be supported by an increase in the population and buy some pick—up in productivity. fiscal policy will have some effect as well. and the continued unwind of global shocks energy and imported goods prices will boost real incomes. second on demand and supply. we think that the current balance between them will gradually turn into excess supply. despite picking up during the forecast period, demand growth is expected to remain weak evidence supply growth,. this also means that we expect unemployment to rise somewhat over the next couple of years but by less than we had been expecting previously. third, on wages and prices. we think that headline consumer price inflation will edge up consumer price inflation will edge up again in the second half of this year. the negative contributions of

energy prices will fade, while domestic inflation pressures are likely to persist for longer. that illustrates why we monitor indicators into may stick —— in domestic pressures closely. first, we nowjudge that a greater proportion of the effect of past increases in import prices has a ready passed through to consumer prices. this is not least because the rise import prices was associated with acute shortages of money product. what this means is that the pass right on inflation is easier to explain and that external pressures are likely to be somewhat weak over the first half of the forecast period. second, it is now the mpc�*s best collected judgment that the second round effects on domestic prices and wages war so slightly faster than we had previously assumed. the remains

considerable uncertainty around this, mpc members do hold a range of views around it. let me make one of the station. second round effects on wages and prices emerge at part in response to falling real incomes as households and businesses understandably sought to resist an erosion of their real income and profits. but real incomes are now growing again. as the chart that is now up shows, aggregate real income growth is about as strong now as at any point in the decade. that is good news in itself and higher income should also help such second and inflationary pressures to ease. this takes me to the medium term outlook for inflation. charge for shows the mpc likely... and this projection, projection increases

from the 2% target to the second quarter this year to around 2.5% by the turn of the year. before falling back to 1.9% in two years' time and toi.6% back to 1.9% in two years' time and to1.6% in back to 1.9% in two years' time and to 1.6% in three years. this projection reflects our view that we are making very good progress in returning inflation to the 2% target, that the restrictive monetary policy is stance is working. the projections suggest that inflation could fall below the inflation target towards the end of the forecast period. let me turn to monetary policy. but the progress we have made, to make sure that inflation stays around the 2% target, inflation will never be too high or too low, it is likely that we will need to cut bank rates over the coming quarters. and make monetary policy somewhat less restrictive over the forecast period. policy more so than currently priced into market rights.

this will be consistent in ensuring that inflation does not fall noticeably below target. that judgment is one for the future. it really depends on how the data evolves and how that evolution affects our assessment but the rest from inflation persistence are receding. we have no preconceptions about how far is and how far we might cut bank rates. instead, we will continue to look carefully to evidence that the outlook for inflation is consistent with the 2% target, given the decisions we have ready made. we will reach a decision on the appropriate level on bank rates based on the evidence at each meeting. finally, it is ben's last mpc press conference today. his last meeting will be injune. today is his 40th press conference. his 52nd monetary policy report, and his

127th mpc meeting. these are impressive numbers. the numbers only tell us more part of the story. you have been an excellent colleague and we will miss you greatly and i will descend by noting that the fact that jurgen klopp has decided to step downjust as your term jurgen klopp has decided to step down just as your term expires is, jurgen klopp has decided to step downjust as your term expires is, i am told, entirely coincidental. with that. dave, ben and i will be happy to take your questions and ben will be happy to reminisce, as you wish. lets start with sound. the be happy to reminisce, as you wish. lets start with sound.— lets start with sound. the new lanauuae lets start with sound. the new language that _ lets start with sound. the new language that you _ lets start with sound. the new language that you put - lets start with sound. the new language that you put in - lets start with sound. the new language that you put in the i lets start with sound. the new - language that you put in the minutes of the _ language that you put in the minutes of the record — language that you put in the minutes of the record of— language that you put in the minutes of the record of the _ language that you put in the minutes of the record of the minutes - of the record of the minutes underlines _ of the record of the minutes underlines the _ of the record of the minutes underlines the importance l of the record of the minutesl underlines the importance of of the record of the minutes - underlines the importance of the upcoming — underlines the importance of the upcoming data _ underlines the importance of the upcoming data releases. - underlines the importance of the upcoming data releases. would. underlines the importance of the i upcoming data releases. would you feel comfortable _ upcoming data releases. would you feel comfortable advocating - upcoming data releases. would you feel comfortable advocating as - upcoming data releases. would you| feel comfortable advocating as soon as the _ feel comfortable advocating as soon as the next— feel comfortable advocating as soon as the next meeting _ feel comfortable advocating as soon as the next meeting if— feel comfortable advocating as soon

as the next meeting if the _ feel comfortable advocating as soon as the next meeting if the data - feel comfortable advocating as soon as the next meeting if the data outl as the next meeting if the data out turns— as the next meeting if the data out turns are _ as the next meeting if the data out turns are in — as the next meeting if the data out turns are in line _ as the next meeting if the data out turns are in line with _ as the next meeting if the data out turns are in line with forecasts - as the next meeting if the data out turns are in line with forecasts and| turns are in line with forecasts and a question— turns are in line with forecasts and a question also— turns are in line with forecasts and a question also for— turns are in line with forecasts and a question also for dave, - turns are in line with forecasts and a question also for dave, could - turns are in line with forecasts andl a question also for dave, could you talk a _ a question also for dave, could you talk a hit _ a question also for dave, could you talk a bit about _ a question also for dave, could you talk a bit about how _ a question also for dave, could you talk a bit about how you _ a question also for dave, could you talk a bit about how you decided i talk a bit about how you decided that the — talk a bit about how you decided that the immediate _ talk a bit about how you decided that the immediate cut - talk a bit about how you decided that the immediate cut was - that the immediate cut was necessary? _ that the immediate cut was necessary? you _ that the immediate cut was necessary? you are - that the immediate cut was i necessary? you are effectively taking — necessary? you are effectively taking the _ necessary? you are effectively taking the judgment— necessary? you are effectively taking the judgment by- necessary? you are effectively taking the judgment by the - necessary? you are effectively. taking the judgment by the bank necessary? you are effectively- taking the judgment by the bank is inflicting _ taking the judgment by the bank is inflicting unnecessary— taking the judgment by the bank is inflicting unnecessary damage - taking the judgment by the bank is inflicting unnecessary damage on i taking the judgment by the bank is. inflicting unnecessary damage on the economy— inflicting unnecessary damage on the economy by— inflicting unnecessary damage on the economy by keeping _ inflicting unnecessary damage on the economy by keeping rates _ inflicting unnecessary damage on the economy by keeping rates at - inflicting unnecessary damage on the economy by keeping rates at the - economy by keeping rates at the current— economy by keeping rates at the current level. _ economy by keeping rates at the current level. thank— economy by keeping rates at the current level. thank you. - economy by keeping rates at the current level. thank you. i- economy by keeping rates at the current level. thank you. i chose my words, as current level. thank you. i chose my words. as you _ current level. thank you. i chose my words. as you can — current level. thank you. i chose my words, as you can imagine, - current level. thank you. i chose my words, as you can imagine, quite . words, as you can imagine, quite carefully and saying that it is not ruled out. a thing come exactly as we forecast and what follows from that, the point i would make is that we added a sentence to their monetary policy statement in the last paragraph are not what says is that we will consider the releases that we will consider the releases that are coming up and i will stress this point, how they inform the assessments and the risks to inflation persistence and whether ourjudgment that those inflation persistence and whether our judgment that those risks inflation persistence and whether ourjudgment that those risks are receding, that is the language we

use, and receding slightly faster than we had assumed. suddenly speaking for myself, the data, we will take the data, even if the data is in line with what he forecast, we will have to approach a broader judgment. and how'd we put that into the context in the view we have taken today? i want to be clear. june is not a fait accompli but each meeting is a new decision, we are genuinely evidence—based but you have to put that evidence into context and that is what we will do. i think it is worth stressing, i am here _ i think it is worth stressing, i am here today— i think it is worth stressing, i am here today along with andrew and ben to answer— here today along with andrew and ben to answer questions about the mpc decision, _ to answer questions about the mpc decision, the forecast, wider

developments in financial markets. andrew_ developments in financial markets. andrew hasjust developments in financial markets. andrew has just emphasised that there _ andrew has just emphasised that there is— andrew has just emphasised that there is a — andrew has just emphasised that there is a range of views on the risks— there is a range of views on the risks around inflation persistence and the _ risks around inflation persistence and the degree to which those have receded~ _ and the degree to which those have receded. that was central to my vote _ receded. that was central to my vote but — receded. that was central to my vote but i — receded. that was central to my vote. but i will have an opportunity to say— vote. but i will have an opportunity to say more — vote. but i will have an opportunity to say more about the underpinnings of my— to say more about the underpinnings of my vote _ to say more about the underpinnings of my vote in the next few weeks. i've of my vote in the next few weeks. we got— of my vote in the next few weeks. i've got speeches coming up so for now, _ i've got speeches coming up so for now. i_ i've got speeches coming up so for now. i am — i've got speeches coming up so for now, i am afraid rather than sort of pick up _ now, i am afraid rather than sort of pick up on — now, i am afraid rather than sort of pick up on the language you use, sam, _ pick up on the language you use, sam. i_ pick up on the language you use, sam. iwiii— pick up on the language you use, sam, i willjust flag the position and power 22 at the moment, that gives— and power 22 at the moment, that gives you — and power 22 at the moment, that gives you a — and power 22 at the moment, that gives you a summary for now. are you frustrated by — gives you a summary for now. are you frustrated by how _ gives you a summary for now. are you frustrated by how the _ gives you a summary for now. are you frustrated by how the market - frustrated by how the market interpretation _ frustrated by how the market interpretation of _ frustrated by how the market interpretation of why - frustrated by how the market interpretation of why rates i frustrated by how the market. interpretation of why rates are going — interpretation of why rates are going has— interpretation of why rates are going has been— interpretation of why rates are going has been led _ interpretation of why rates are going has been led by- interpretation of why rates are going has been led by what. interpretation of why rates are going has been led by what isi going has been led by what is happening _ going has been led by what is happening in— going has been led by what is happening in the _ going has been led by what is happening in the us, - going has been led by what isj

happening in the us, thinking going has been led by what is. happening in the us, thinking of inflation — happening in the us, thinking of inflation there, _ happening in the us, thinking of inflation there, some _ happening in the us, thinking of inflation there, some words - happening in the us, thinking ofl inflation there, some words from your colleagues _ inflation there, some words from your colleagues. he _ inflation there, some words from your colleagues. he said - inflation there, some words from . your colleagues. he said something in your— your colleagues. he said something in your opening _ your colleagues. he said something in your opening statement, - your colleagues. he said something in your opening statement, that - your colleagues. he said something| in your opening statement, that you might— in your opening statement, that you might cut _ in your opening statement, that you might cut more _ in your opening statement, that you might cut more quickly— in your opening statement, that you might cut more quickly than - in your opening statement, that you might cut more quickly than is - might cut more quickly than is assumed _ might cut more quickly than is assumed can— might cut more quickly than is assumed. can you _ might cut more quickly than is assumed. can you clarify- might cut more quickly than is assumed. can you clarify whatj might cut more quickly than is - assumed. can you clarify what you are saying — assumed. can you clarify what you are saying that? _ assumed. can you clarify what you are saying that? i— assumed. can you clarify what you are saying that?— are saying that? i think, the point i was are saying that? i think, the point i was making. _ are saying that? i think, the point i was making, you _ are saying that? i think, the point i was making, you can _ are saying that? i think, the point i was making, you can obviously l are saying that? i think, the point i i was making, you can obviously see that our forecast and that 1.6%. the point i was making, if the world wants to pan out exactly as we expected to, obviously, it never does because things happen. but let's say are dead, then i think obviously, we would face the question, that suggest the path of monetary policy would be less restrictive than the path here which is conditional. it is forecast on the market curve and that is the point i am making. i think at that point, you have to address that

question because he would have inflation ending up below target. to come to your first question, which frames the context for it. it is true that when our staff do those sort of analysis and the decompositions of market movements, market movements of late have been nominated by movements in the us markets, coming over to other markets, coming over to other markets including our own. in washington, when i was making remarks about three weeks ago, to my mind, the inflation dynamics of the uk are different to the us. the us is facing a different situation, it has got stronger demand. therefore i think it is important to make that distinction. i think we have seen some response in markets of late where there have been some movements, some decoupling but there is a question that we have to keep posing because we certainly do

observe, inflation dynamics you look different. by, observe, inflation dynamics you look different. �* , ., ., different. a question about the forthcoming — different. a question about the forthcoming data. _ different. a question about the forthcoming data. and - different. a question about the forthcoming data. and your. different. a question about the - forthcoming data. and your tolerance forthcoming data. and your tolerance for volatility — forthcoming data. and your tolerance for volatility if— forthcoming data. and your tolerance for volatility. if data _ forthcoming data. and your tolerance for volatility. if data is _ forthcoming data. and your tolerance for volatility. if data is not _ for volatility. if data is not coming _ for volatility. if data is not coming in _ for volatility. if data is not coming in exactly - for volatility. if data is not coming in exactly in - for volatility. if data is not coming in exactly in your. for volatility. if data is not - coming in exactly in your line, i am more— coming in exactly in your line, i am more inclined — coming in exactly in your line, i am more inclined to— coming in exactly in your line, i am more inclined to see _ coming in exactly in your line, i am more inclined to see these - coming in exactly in your line, i am more inclined to see these as - coming in exactly in your line, i am i more inclined to see these as bumps in the _ more inclined to see these as bumps in the road _ more inclined to see these as bumps in the road rather— more inclined to see these as bumps in the road rather than _ more inclined to see these as bumps in the road rather than telling - more inclined to see these as bumps in the road rather than telling you i in the road rather than telling you something — in the road rather than telling you something else _ in the road rather than telling you something else about _ in the road rather than telling you something else about what - in the road rather than telling you something else about what is - something else about what is happening _ something else about what is happening in— something else about what is happening in the _ something else about what is happening in the economy? i something else about what is . happening in the economy? for example. — happening in the economy? for example. the _ happening in the economy? for example, the fed _ happening in the economy? for example, the fed has- happening in the economy? for example, the fed has rolled . happening in the economy? for. example, the fed has rolled back from _ example, the fed has rolled back from its _ example, the fed has rolled back from its idea _ example, the fed has rolled back from its idea of— example, the fed has rolled back from its idea of bumps— example, the fed has rolled back from its idea of bumps in- example, the fed has rolled back from its idea of bumps in the - example, the fed has rolled back. from its idea of bumps in the road. given— from its idea of bumps in the road. given your— from its idea of bumps in the road. given your frustration, _ from its idea of bumps in the road. given your frustration, your- given your frustration, your continued _ given your frustration, your continued frustration- given your frustration, your continued frustration with l given your frustration, your. continued frustration with what given your frustration, your- continued frustration with what is happening — continued frustration with what is happening with _ continued frustration with what is happening with the _ continued frustration with what is happening with the lsn - continued frustration with what is happening with the lsn buddy. continued frustration with what is . happening with the lsn buddy matt lns latest— happening with the lsn buddy matt lns latest market _ happening with the lsn buddy matt lns latest market figures. - happening with the lsn buddy matt lns latest market figures. it- happening with the lsn buddy matt lns latest market figures. it is - happening with the lsn buddy matt lns latest market figures. [it is a i lns latest market figures. it is a aood lns latest market figures. it is a good question- _ lns latest market figures. it is a good question. there _ lns latest market figures. it is a good question. there is - lns latest market figures. it is a good question. there is also - lns latest market figures. it is a good question. there is also two ways data volatility. you wait to

get some ups and downs. what we spend a lot of time doing in our meetings is trying to extract the underlying signal from the noise. meetings is trying to extract the underlying signalfrom the noise. we get a lot of other inputs, including our agents, who give us their own new assessment. and we will do that because if i had to predict something, i would say when we get to the next meeting we will find is some data are in line of what we thought and some are a bit at odds of what we thought and then we have testify and then we have test i am work—out if there is a particular story that explains that. i will give you an example at the moment, which is quite a good one, actually. 0ne which is quite a good one, actually. one of the things, that i look at closely is the past three costs into prices. if you let at the last pmi survey, that came out a week or so

ago, you saw a stronger picture to input prices than for output prices input prices than for output prices in the producer sector. i think that is a very interesting potential bit of data because what it chimes with as discussions i certainly have running around the country, which is, particularly look at something like the national living wage, we can observe what it is, the question is, as it's being passed through? that pmi data but tend to suggest it possibly isn't, attends to go with stories i had the country of company saying they are less likely to pass things through at the moment. that is the things we have to always do. on the 0ns, we have included a box 0n the 0ns, we have included a box in the npr, we cannot look at the labour market. we are looking at

quantities. we can't not look at it. on the other hand, i will give you 0n the other hand, i will give you one example. it's very hard at the moment to know when the participation has gone up or down and that is challenging. you participation has gone up or down and that is challenging.— and that is challenging. you have been listening _ and that is challenging. you have been listening to _ and that is challenging. you have been listening to andrew - and that is challenging. you have been listening to andrew bailey, | been listening to andrew bailey, explain their decision to hold interest rates at 5.2 —— 525%. he said that they do believe that they are getting back to more normal times, compared to the more global shocks we have seen in recent years, he mention the pandemic and the war in ukraine. he also said that energy prices have moderated but he said not enough not to get the point by the bank england could decide to cut that rate. he said that before their

next meeting injune, a change to rates is not ruled out nor are given. the words he used were a little bit more eloquent than mine, he said not a fait accompli. he put this one to the context of the bank of england has a 2% target when it comes to inflation. inflation, which measures price rises over a period. right now, we are at a current 16 year high for inflation, which is held at 5.25%, which is at a 16 year high. ijust want held at 5.25%, which is at a 16 year high. i just want to quickly held at 5.25%, which is at a 16 year high. ijust want to quickly explain why all of this matters to you and thatis why all of this matters to you and that is because interest rates affect mortgage, credit card and saving rates for millions of people across the uk. there is more courage of this in our live page. if you are in the uk, we do have a qr code where you can get more analysis,

more details and a round—up of everything andrew bailey has been saying and will continue to say. let's look at some of the days of unease. in the last few minutes, more than 30 major criminals have beenjailed more than 30 major criminals have been jailed after £1 million worth of cocaine was stolen from a violent organised crime group. the crime bosses wanted to murder the meant they fought irresponsible. the have tracked their encrypted phone app and could see what they were planning. thousands of messages reveal how the trafficking huge quantities of drugs run uk from its merseyside base. bruno munro reports. three masked men outside a house in liverpool. for this pertaining to deliver a parcel. four minutes later, they escape with the heightened firms cocaine. two men in the house had been attacked with a

machete and an axe. what the house had been attacked with a machete and an axe.— machete and an axe. what in'uries have ou machete and an axe. what in'uries have you get? i machete and an axe. what in'uries have you got? are * machete and an axe. what in'uries have you got? are you * machete and an axe. what in'uries have you got? are you willh machete and an axe. what injuries have you got? are you will right i have you got? are you will right there? why make a trail of blood leads to a manhole cover where the cocaine was hidden. have you upset anyone lately? any information is better than nothing. trio anyone lately? any information is better than nothing.— anyone lately? any information is better than nothing. no one from the firm talks. better than nothing. no one from the firm talks- ltut _ better than nothing. no one from the firm talks. but this _ better than nothing. no one from the firm talks. but this time, _ better than nothing. no one from the firm talks. but this time, the - firm talks. but this time, the police have a secret weapon. the encrypted system the criminals used has been cracked. the cactus can see the messages they are sending each other. the grip they are talking about is the stolen cocaine. 30 kilos are gone. that is £1 million worth. it kilos are gone. that is £1 million worth. . . . kilos are gone. that is £1 million worth. , . ., ., kilos are gone. that is £1 million worth. ,. ., ., , worth. it is clear from the messages i have worth. it is clear from the messages l have seen — worth. it is clear from the messages i have seen that _ worth. it is clear from the messages i have seen that this _ worth. it is clear from the messages i have seen that this is _ worth. it is clear from the messages i have seen that this is a _ worth. it is clear from the messages i have seen that this is a very - i have seen that this is a very effective criminal business, industrial scale trafficking of

drugs, across the uk and internationally. and also leading to severe violence. this is in the upper tiers of organised crime in the uk. , .,, the uk. crime boss thinks he has identified some _ the uk. crime boss thinks he has identified some of _ the uk. crime boss thinks he has identified some of the _ the uk. crime boss thinks he has identified some of the cocaine i identified some of the cocaine robbers and he wants revenge. he is that he met his enforcer asks how many he wants killed. he replies, four dead men walking. timer;r many he wants killed. he replies, four dead men walking.— four dead men walking. they do business with _ four dead men walking. they do business with violence. - four dead men walking. they do business with violence. it - four dead men walking. they do business with violence. it is - four dead men walking. they do business with violence. it is a i business with violence. it is a world where a bullet in the head is literally another way of doing business. it is a world where there are no laws other then essentially what you could call the laws of the jungle. what you could call the laws of the “uncle. , ., , , ., jungle. they were arrested before the could jungle. they were arrested before they could carry — jungle. they were arrested before they could carry out _ jungle. they were arrested before they could carry out their - jungle. they were arrested before they could carry out their threats. j they could carry out their threats. 0ne they could carry out their threats. one has been jailed they could carry out their threats. one has beenjailed for 28 they could carry out their threats. one has been jailed for 28 years for drug trafficking and blackmail. the

other 2a years and six months. in total, more than 30 serious criminals linked to the cocaine heist have been convicted. they have been sentenced to over 350 years. uk viewers can see more on that story on panorama's the crime bosses who terrorised a city on bbc iplayer this evening. the second semi—final of the eurovision song contest is taking place tonight amidst a big increase in security. officers from denmark and norway have been drafted in to help sweden police the event. 0rganisers are expecting protests both against and in support of israel's participation in the event — at a time when many are critical of its actions in the conflict in gaza. david sillito reports. malmo, eurovision 2024 and the fans are here in force, but there's also a very visible police presence. it's a bit of a mixed vibe because obviously it's

a high security presence. you're aware that there's sometimes more police than people in sequins. and with israel taking to the stage tonight, organisers are being extra vigilant. booing this was the reaction to eden golan's rehearsalfrom parts of the eurovision audience. there's also been pressure on performers to boycott the event and police are expecting protests. we're expecting some demonstrations, of course, and voicing of opinions and the right to demonstrate is highly protected in the swedish constitution. so it's been a part of our planning work since the beginning. but on stage all efforts are being made to keep the event free of politics. ireland's bambie thug was told to remove some body writing with the word ceasefire and outside the venue, there's not quite the same atmosphere of previous years.

there's definitely a wariness this year. last year in liverpool, you'd see performers out and about amongst the crowds mingling, not this year. they're staying indoors as much as possible. and when they do go into the arena, it's under police escort. there is still plenty of the eurovision spirit, that open celebratory mix of daft, moving and joyful. but for an event that tries to avoid politics, this is a testing moment. david sillito, bbc news, malmo. hello there. another fine and warm and sunny day to come for most of us. again, we did start off with a little bit of mist and fog, that's mostly cleared away during the morning period. and into the afternoon, it looks fine for many. however, we still have that weather front affecting northern scotland, so stays rather cloudy here. further spots of rain at times. you can see that front, very slow to clear northwards. eventually it will do. it will be drier, brighter, warmer across northern scotland into tomorrow.

but essentially for most of the country, it's going to be dry for the rest of the afternoon. a little bit of cloud at times affecting north sea coasts, particularly eastern and northeast england. the thickest of the cloud, though, northern scotland. a few spots of rain there, particularly for the outer hebrides and into the northern isles. and temperatures here low to mid—teens. elsewhere, it's going to be warm — pretty widely, into the low twenties. now, as we head into this evening and overnight, it stays dry for many. still some spots of rain across northern scotland as that weather front continues to move northwards. we'll see some mist and fog developing once again, some low cloud and murk affecting north sea coasts. temperatures range from 9 to 11 or 12 degrees. so then into friday, we eventually lose that weather front. it pushes northwards, the rain slowest to clear from the northern isles. but even here, it'll be drier during the course of friday afternoon. so a brighter, drier, warmer day for northern scotland. elsewhere, plenty of sunshine around, a bit of cloud tending to build in towards the midlands, eastern england and maybe some low cloud and mist

into east anglia later in the day. 0therwise, most places dry and sunny. maybe a touch warmer too — 23, 2a degrees will be the high, but even the low 20s there across central southern scotland. now, into the weekend, saturday promises to be another fine day. plenty of sunshine around. could see some grey, misty weather for east anglia and the southeast for a while. there's a chance of a few heavy, maybe thundery showers developing later in the day for northern england and southern scotland, mainly over the high ground. but most places will be dry. another very warm daytime, maybe humidity a little bit higher, low to mid twenties. so all change as we head into sunday, although most places having a fine day on sunday. weather fronts, low pressure start to move in later on sunday and into monday next week, we're dominated by low pressure, so it's back to being unsettled. could be very warm, quite humid across the south of the country on sunday, up to 26 degrees, but increasing chance of showers, much more unsettled into monday.

today at 1:00: the bank of england keeps interest rates on hold, for the sixth time in a row. the base rate is staying at 5.25% — we'll ask when it might come down. about 1,700 people across the uk are living with undiagnosed hepatitis c, after receiving contaminated blood transfusions decades ago. as russia remembers those who died in world war ii, president putin says the country is living through a difficult time. a man on a mission — we're meet the first person with a physical disability to train as an astronaut recorder plays note yay!

and find out how a little girl born deaf can now hear unaided. and coming up on bbc news, unai emery�*s aston villa must overcome a two—goal deficit away at olympiakos tonight, to advance to a first european final since 1982. good afternoon, welcome to the bbc�*s news at one. in the last hour, the bank of england has announced that its base interest rate is being kept on hold for the sixth consecutive time. the bank's monetary policy committee decided to leave it at 5.25%, with a hint though that cuts may be on the way soon. as our chief economics correspondent dharshini david reports. while some of these households are seeing the cost of living crunch

ease as incomes rise,