cope and deal anyone can have, to cope and deal with your— anyone can have, to cope and deal with your own mental well—being? my with your own mental well— being? strategies with your own mental well—being? m strategies are pretty with your own mental well—being? m1: strategies are pretty similar to yours, so there we go. i have a dog called nova, a three—year—old labrador. which i have to say, i wasn't keen to get put my two young girls and my wife conspired against me and she showed up a few years ago and she is very much the love of my life. so when i can go out for a walk with her, ifind life. so when i can go out for a walk with her, i find that very helpful. i would be happy to go for a walk with myself, but people think you are a bit funny if you do that. having the dog means i canjust go for a walk essentially by myself. i think fitness is a really good thing. i went for a run with the hardest geezer and he was talking about how fitness and being out and about how fitness and being out and about helps him cope with some of the challenges he has had to overcome. i think family is important. the most important thing

is ourfamily. my important. the most important thing is our family. my wife does enormous amount to support me. but our welfare system and i want to make sure everybody gets the support they need with mental health challenges. our society is more open about talking about mental health challenges in a way it wasn't ten years ago. they don't risk over medical housing one of the everyday challenges and anxieties of life that you described. when it comes to the welfare system, we have seen a massive increase since the pandemic and the number of people who are of working age, but they are not working age, but they are not working because they are deemed to be of ill health and it is driven by mental health claims. it is causing an enormous increase in the norm numbers, 800,000 people not working on welfare because of ill—health,

since the pandemic, just in the last few years. the bill is forecast, the bill for these benefits, pit alone is forecast to grow by 50% in the next four years. and we spent £70 billion, the bill for pip loan is set to grow by 50% in four years if we don't do something about it. we need to get people the support they need to get people the support they need because you know that work is good for you, it puts money in your bank but it gives you purpose, it gives you dignity and hope. we should be supporting people into work and making sure the welfare system is fair to all of you that are paying for it. i have set out some comprehensive reforms to do that. people will say i am cruel and heartless and don't care about people. nonsense, iwant heartless and don't care about people. nonsense, i want to get the help of people need and we need a welfare system supporting people into work because it is good for

them and that is the clear choice at them and that is the clear choice at the next election. yes? iretith the next election. yes? with regards- -- — the next election. yes? with regards... good _ the next election. yes? with regards... good morning, i the next election. yes? with regards... good morning, prime minister — regards... good morning, prime minister. ., regards... good morning, prime minister._ with i regards... good morning, prime - minister._ with regards minister. good morning. with regards to the pi - , minister. good morning. with regards to the pip. when _ minister. good morning. with regards to the pip, when will— minister. good morning. with regards to the pip, when will the _ minister. good morning. with regards to the pip, when will the reform - to the pip, when will the reform start? _ to the pip, when will the reform start? ~ ., ., ., , to the pip, when will the reform start? ., ., ., , , ., start? we have already started, we have started _ start? we have already started, we have started doing _ start? we have already started, we have started doing the _ start? we have already started, we have started doing the fit _ start? we have already started, we have started doing the fit notes, i start? we have already started, we | have started doing the fit notes, we did about 11 million last year. these difficult sick notes and then never change. the idea was, when people say i cannot wait, actually, doctors would be able to say, maybe you can do some work, not all or nothing. but we discovered that they haven't worked because 94% of those 10 million fit notes basically sign people off as completely unfit to do anything. we are trialling some new ways to do it and saying, it may be gps shouldn't be the best people to do that. they are busy. it is difficult for them with their patient relationship and hopefully you will have a close relationship

with your gp and sometimes it puts them in a difficult position. we have already started trialling that and we have started saying to people we can expect more of them. when i was chancellor, if you were on welfare, all you had to do was work something like nine hours a week. that was to get all of your benefits, that is all you had to do. i didn't think that was right. you are all working very hard and if people are capable of working, we change that. we have said you have got to be working at least half of a full—time job to keep got to be working at least half of a full—timejob to keep receiving got to be working at least half of a full—time job to keep receiving your benefits. actually, if after 12 months with all the support we have given you, you are capable of working, you are not accepting the job of the on offer that your work coach has found for you, you will not be able to keep receiving those benefits, because that is not fair. you have had support and a year, you are able to work and at some point if you are not taking the job, that is not fair, so we will stop it

after a year. that come in if i am re—elected and we have published a reform on pip to explain what we're looking at. how does pip treat mental health claims in particular? the system, as as you know and you have to be seen online, the system looks like it can be gamed. to many parts of it where people can provide information, it is hard for the assessor... you are nodding, you have seen the videos? it is putting more objectivity, providing evidence of a medical condition as opposed to just saying well, i can't do this, i can't do that and there you go, a check for thousands of pounds. one more left, who has got the last question? yes. i more left, who has got the last question? yes.— more left, who has got the last cuestion? yes. ., , ., , ., , question? yes. i have been a primary education teacher, _ question? yes. i have been a primary education teacher, i _ question? yes. i have been a primary education teacher, i want _ question? yes. i have been a primary education teacher, i want to - question? yes. i have been a primary education teacher, i want to know- education teacher, i want to know how you _ education teacher, i want to know how you will increase the budget in schools _ how you will increase the budget in schools and support staff? thank you for what you — schools and support staff? thank you for what you do. _ schools and support staff? thank you for what you do, what _ schools and support staff? thank you for what you do, what year _ schools and support staff? thank you for what you do, what year do - schools and support staff? thank you for what you do, what year do you i for what you do, what year do you teach? two ages six and seven. i

love talking about education because it is the most important thing i can do outside of the economy. to transform people's lives, provide them with an amazing education. people come from different backgrounds but to make sure people have a chance is to provide them with an incredible education. 50 with an incredible education. so thank you for that. i know it isn't easy to juggle... easy tojuggle... studio: we will leave the prime minister in ilkeston, the first of what will be many, many campaign rallies, answering questions from the public trying to convince them he is the man for the job. the public trying to convince them he is the man for thejob. his message is something we will get you to in this election campaign, stick with us, the plan is working on the economy is heading in the right direction dealing with immigration. as we said, it is a busy day and we will deal over the story. keir

starmer is at an election rally in kent. you can see the banners, they are with the simple word, upper case change, that will define the election campaign. stick with us, the campaign is working. labour are saying now is the time for change. my saying now is the time for change. my labour party candidate for chillingham. applause. i am delighted to say today that a general election has finally been called. cheering and applause. labour has got a plan to get britain's future back and in a constituency like this one that mean supporting local businesses in our town centres, places like

chillingham can thrive once again. it means investing in our nhs so that we can bring down waiting lists to ensure people can get doctor's appointments and it means more police on the streets so people feel safe again. this is a real opportunity for change, notjust in opportunity for change, not just in gillingham opportunity for change, notjust in gillingham and rainham, but across our country. so to kick off our campaign, pleasejoin me in giving a very warm welcome to the deputy leader of the labour party, welcome to gillingham fc, angela rayner. cheering and applause. thank you, thank you so much. i know you will_ thank you, thank you so much. i know you will be _ thank you, thank you so much. i know you will be such a fantastic voice here _ you will be such a fantastic voice here in_ you will be such a fantastic voice here in gillingham and rainham. it is brilliant — here in gillingham and rainham. it is brilliant to be here. good news for the _ is brilliant to be here. good news for the country to finally get a say on the _ for the country to finally get a say on the future of britain. because we need _ on the future of britain. because we need to— on the future of britain. because we need to turn— on the future of britain. because we need to turn the page. we have had 14 years _ need to turn the page. we have had 14 years of— need to turn the page. we have had 14 years of chaos and decline. excuses — 14 years of chaos and decline. excuses and people just feel their

area is— excuses and people just feel their area is not— excuses and people just feel their area is not getting the support they need _ area is not getting the support they need. whatever service people say, they find _ need. whatever service people say, they find it — need. whatever service people say, they find it is wading through treacle — they find it is wading through treacle. you cannot get a gp appointment, you cannot get treatment when you need it on the nhs to— treatment when you need it on the nhs to get back into work. you can't -et nhs to get back into work. you can't get home _ nhs to get back into work. you can't get home. homelessness in this country— get home. homelessness in this country has gone up significantly. people _ country has gone up significantly. people are absolutely fed up and they are — people are absolutely fed up and they are crying out for change. applause. and we are a changed labour party. we are _ and we are a changed labour party. we are here — and we are a changed labour party. we are here for the service of this country _ we are here for the service of this country. and i am absolutely proud of the _ country. and i am absolutely proud of the work — country. and i am absolutely proud of the work our leader, keir starmer, _ of the work our leader, keir starmer, has done since he has been elected. _ starmer, has done since he has been elected. to— starmer, has done since he has been elected, to show the public that politicians are not all the same and there _ politicians are not all the same and there is— politicians are not all the same and there is a _ politicians are not all the same and there is a choice at this general election — there is a choice at this general election i_ there is a choice at this general election. i am there is a choice at this general election. iam incredibly

there is a choice at this general election. i am incredibly proud to welcome — election. i am incredibly proud to welcome and to give the microphone over to _ welcome and to give the microphone over to our— welcome and to give the microphone over to our leader, keir starmer. cheering — over to our leader, keir starmer. cheering and applause. thank you. thank you for that amazing welcome. it is great to be here in gillingham. the last time under a labour government, gillingham was in the same league as manchester city, so that is a good place to start. but look at it, at long last the election has been called, the time has come and the waiting is over. and that means through the power of our democracy and the voters get to choose, the power of the votes. the power each and every one of you has to change

of country, our community and future for the better. so whether you are a family that has been battling the cost of living, dealing with anti—social behaviour, your business that has been struggling for years against the odds of the economy that is in chaos under this government, you have served your country in whatever way, the selection is for you. because you now have the power, the chance to end the chaos, to turn the chance to end the chaos, to turn the page and to rebuild britain. cheering and applause. and we have had 14 years of going round and round in circles, getting absolutely nowhere. chaos and division, feeding chaos and

division. and that has a cost. the human cost. in milton keynes i met william, a fireman. he has a simple dream, not an unreasonable dream, he wants to own his own home. he's got two extra jobs on top of being a fireman, but he still cannot afford it because the chaos and division of this government has robbed him of that dream. that is the price that he is playing. in hey hospital, brilliant children's hospital in liverpool, i went to the heart transplant ward. it was incredible! but more children aged between six and ten are admitted to alder hey hospital, this brilliant children's hospital to have their teeth taken out because they are rotten than for any other operation. that is unforgivable, they are paying a very heavy price for this government. when i was growing up, my dad was a

toolmaker and worked in a factory. my toolmaker and worked in a factory. my mum was a nurse. and they struggled, they struggled financially and they struggle particularly with my mum's hell. sometimes we couldn't pay the bills. but they had a comfort, a belief, confidence that the country would be better for their children. that things would be betterfor the next generation. and that's kept them going, it comforted them, as it did so many other people. but can we still say we've got that confidence in the future of our country after 14 years of this chaos and decline? i don't think so. for a government to leave after 14 years, leave our country with living standards worse than when they started is absolutely unforgivable. and what is their plan, rishi sunak�*s plan? £46 billion of unfunded tax cuts. they

haven't learned a thing. and if they get five more years, they will carry on in the same way, nothing will change. so a vote for the labour party is a vote to stop the chaos. but here is the good news, because you don't have to put up with this. you do not have to put up with this, the power of the vote means you can vote labour to turn the page. to make the change this country so desperately, desperately needs. change is hard, i changed to public service when i was running it. we have changed the labour party, to put it back in the service of working people. all we ask now, humbly is the opportunity to change our country and put it back in the service of working people. applause.

and with that change we can rebuild our country. take our country forward so that in five years, ten years we can say, this is a better country we have progressed for you, your family, country we have progressed for you, yourfamily, your country we have progressed for you, your family, your community. country we have progressed for you, yourfamily, your community. we set our missions for government, the driving sense of purpose that will take us through the difficulties, the difficult decisions to improve our country for everybody, wherever they live and where ever they come from. and we have set out our first steps, starting with a stable economy. and we have set them out in our card that we launched last week. a stable economy, fiscal rules to ensure that we can keep inflation and prices and mortgages low. tough rules, but for a reason. because if you lose control of the economy, it

is working people who paid the price. and liz truss lost control of the economy and working people paid and are paying the price. i went to wolverhampton a week after liz truss crash the economy with the mini budget. i met a family who had a child aged three and they plan to have a further child. they had had their plan, they found a new home where they could have their family, they got a provisional mortgage offer that they could afford. liz truss crash the economy, their mortgage offer went through the roof and they couldn't afford it. they had to cancel their home, stay where they were and take a much more profound decision, which is not to have a second child. and they will live with that decision for the rest of their lives. that is the price they are paying for the mess this government made of the economy. so

stable economy is the first. an nhs back on its feet with 40,000 appointments and operations each and every week under a labour government, to get that waiting list out. there isn't anybody watching or listening to this it isn't themselves on a waiting list or doesn't know someone on a waiting list. we set out our first step to take back control of our borders with a border security commands that can smash the gangs that are running the vile trade of putting people in small boats across the channel. and we will go on also to establish great british energy. owned by the taxpayer, making money for the taxpayer, making money for the taxpayer and keeping your bills low. we will deal with anti—social behaviour which blights the lives of so many people in the high streets and their communities. and don't tell me it is some sort of low level crime, it is not, it affects people absolutely materially. and we will

recruit 6500 new teachers for schools so every child has the education that they need and they deserve. cheering and applause. i was the first in my family and my generation to go to university. i know the power of knowledge. but in my constituency, somers town. we have children in somers town in a deprived area and they look out to see corporations moving in, google, the guardian. they look out but they cannot imagine themselves ever making the journey from their school to those jobs. making the journey from their school to thosejobs. it making the journey from their school to those jobs. it is a few hundred yards. i want every child, wherever they come from, whatever their background, to have and realise and think that success is for them. we

will fight for that every single day under a labour government to make sure that this country is fit for the future of our children. applause. so this election is about a choice. two different countries, two different futures, decline and chaos continuing under the tories or rebuilding our country under labour. the power of the vote is with you. if you want change then you have to vote for it. and if you vote labour, it is a vote to stop the chaos, it is about to turn the page and it is a vote to rebuild our country together. thank you very much! thank you. cheering and applause.

it isa it is a great crowd, isn't it? keir starmer speaking in gillingham, kent. we think he may take some questions, if he does we will go back there. underlining the campaign slogan we will hear about in the

weeks to come, the need for change. he said the prime minister had run out of ideas and a vote for labour would be a vote for change. let's go straight back there, he is about to take some questions. fin straight back there, he is about to take some questions.— take some questions. on the head-to-head, _ take some questions. on the head-to-head, the _ take some questions. on the head-to-head, the polls i take some questions. on the head-to-head, the polls are| take some questions. on the i head-to-head, the polls are much head—to—head, the polls are much tighter. _ head—to—head, the polls are much tighter. you — head—to—head, the polls are much tighter, you are less popular than tony— tighter, you are less popular than torry blair— tighter, you are less popular than tony blair was in 1997, have will you persuade people to believe in you? _ you persuade people to believe in ou? , . ., , you persuade people to believe in ou? , .., ., you? the selection is about a choice, you? the selection is about a choice. you — you? the selection is about a choice, you are _ you? the selection is about a choice, you are right, - you? the selection is about a choice, you are right, it i you? the selection is about a choice, you are right, it is i you? the selection is about a i choice, you are right, it is about a choice, you are right, it is about a choice of two different futures. if we have the conservatives back in, nothing will change. we have had 14 years now of failure, nobody is better off now than they were 14 years ago. labour and a vote for labour is a chance to end that chaos, to turn a page, to change for the better of the country, change the better of the country, change the nhs, change public services to make sure the economy is stable and

our communities are cared for and to move forward and rebuild our country. that is the choice. my accept not a single vote has been cast, i am accept not a single vote has been cast, lam humble accept not a single vote has been cast, i am humble about this and i know every vote has to be earned, but the power now under our democracy is with the voters to make that choice, with labour they can make the choice for change to rebuild the country and take the country forward. i am very confident in the argument we have to put to them. ., . , in the argument we have to put to them. ., ., , ., , ., them. you need a huge swing, are you seekin: them. you need a huge swing, are you seeking coalition _ them. you need a huge swing, are you seeking coalition deals? _ them. you need a huge swing, are you seeking coalition deals? we _ them. you need a huge swing, are you seeking coalition deals? we are i seeking coalition deals? we are auoin for seeking coalition deals? we are going for a _ seeking coalition deals? we are going for a labour— seeking coalition deals? we are going for a labour government, seeking coalition deals? we are. going for a labour government, i have changed the labour party to put it back in the service of working people. i am it back in the service of working people. lam humbly it back in the service of working people. i am humbly asking the country, humbly asking the voters to have their trust to change our country for the better. that is the argument, i am confident in that argument. we are ready for this general election, it is important for the country and we have the opportunity now to turn our backs,

turn the page on these awful i4 turn the page on these awful 14 years and glimpse of the better future that will be with a labour government. studio: we will leave keir starmer speaking in gillingham in kent. we will be all over this, the campaign and election rallies taking place in the weeks to come, we will keep you “p the weeks to come, we will keep you up with what is happening around the country. our teams of correspondence and reporters are there at all the major events. it has been a major busy morning as those campaigns kick off. alicia fitzgerald is with me, you were listening to that as i was. we have had the same refrain, labour saying it is all about change and the conservative saying stick with us, the plan is working. that will be the choice in this election, but there is a long way to go between now and july the 4th. a lot can change? it now and july the 4th. a lot can chance? ., . now and july the 4th. a lot can chanle? , , now and july the 4th. a lot can chanue? , , . ., change? it has become very clear what both of— change? it has become very clear what both of the _ change? it has become very clear what both of the leaders -

change? it has become very clear what both of the leaders want i change? it has become very clear what both of the leaders want to | what both of the leaders want to talk about. rishi sunak running with the news that inflation had fallen and quite drastically. it is thought the reason he chose to call the snap election a bit earlier than expected, was because there was a chance that could be the best news possible before january 2025, which is the last that he could have called the election. he has been keen to talk about things that someone would associate with traditional conservativism, defence, the economy, migration and all of these things that rishi sunak has stuck his to during his time at number ten. and keir starmer saying labour would be the most secure option. labour would be the most secure 0 tion. ., , ., , option. you will see in the top riaht of option. you will see in the top right of your _ option. you will see in the top right of your screen, - option. you will see in the top right of your screen, the i option. you will see in the top right of your screen, the post | right of your screen, the post office inquiry. we have been following that closely on bbc news.

i think one of the other outcomes of this, the right decision was looking at the contract and that might not have surfaced through deloitte. can we look at the terms of reference, an early— we look at the terms of reference, an early copy of the terms of reference _ an early copy of the terms of reference that was settled for second — reference that was settled for second site. if we just blow that up, please. he received this is a second — up, please. he received this is a second site _ up, please. he received this is a second site document and it is a proposal— second site document and it is a proposal to carry out an independent review— proposal to carry out an independent review of— proposal to carry out an independent review of past fraud and theft cases in order— review of past fraud and theft cases in order to — review of past fraud and theft cases in order to determine whether the facts _ in order to determine whether the facts support the business findings

on the _ facts support the business findings on the charges brought against individuals. and if we go to the detail— individuals. and if we go to the detail on— individuals. and if we go to the detail on page five, please. can you see that _ detail on page five, please. can you see that proposal is for a case review— see that proposal is for a case review and the case review will include — review and the case review will include the following tasks, said second — include the following tasks, said second sight. selecting a representative sample of cases. that have led _ representative sample of cases. that have led to _ representative sample of cases. that have led to prosecutions, court—appointed restitution. the sample — court—appointed restitution. the sample needs to cover cases where defendants claim they didn't take any cash, — defendants claim they didn't take any cash, where assertions have been made _ any cash, where assertions have been made the _ any cash, where assertions have been made the system, horizon, because the shortage, including old and new versions— the shortage, including old and new versions of— the shortage, including old and new versions of horizon, if possible and which _ versions of horizon, if possible and which have — versions of horizon, if possible and which have been taken up by mps. and then if— which have been taken up by mps. and then if you _ which have been taken up by mps. and then if you look at the second to

last bullet — then if you look at the second to last bullet point, the study and selective — last bullet point, the study and selective test, test the horizon system — selective test, test the horizon system in — selective test, test the horizon system in order to find any black hole. _ system in order to find any black hole, programme book that might have caused _ hole, programme book that might have caused mysterious shortages. what is described _ caused mysterious shortages. what is described there, selecting a representative sample of cases that lead to _ representative sample of cases that lead to prosecutions or court—appointed restitution is and then study— court—appointed restitution is and then study and selectively test the horizon _ then study and selectively test the horizon system in order to find books, — horizon system in order to find books, for— horizon system in order to find books, for shorthand, that may have caused _ books, for shorthand, that may have caused mysterious shortages was e>

period of time didn't come to a final conclusion, no.— period of time didn't come to a final conclusion, no. but it didn't, we're not— final conclusion, no. but it didn't, we're not talking _ final conclusion, no. but it didn't, we're not talking about _ final conclusion, no. but it didn't, we're not talking about the i we're not talking about the mediation scheme yet, that was a second _ mediation scheme yet, that was a second piece of work, essentially. we are _ second piece of work, essentially. we are talking about the events that to the _ we are talking about the events that to the interim report injuly 2013, that is— to the interim report injuly 2013, that is what this proposal is about. a representative sample of cases that led _ a representative sample of cases that led to prosecutions was not selected, — that led to prosecutions was not selected, was it? | that led to prosecutions was not selected, was it?— that led to prosecutions was not selected, was it? i don't recall the cases that — selected, was it? i don't recall the cases that were _ selected, was it? i don't recall the cases that were selected. - selected, was it? i don't recall the cases that were selected. looking | selected, was it? i don't recall the l cases that were selected. looking at this today, i don't recall the narrow focus on prosecution and courts are appointed restitution. my recollection is that we were looking at a broad sample of which some cases with criminal convictions. i thought it was broader than that, i don't recall it being that narrow. we will see how things got changed

by the _ we will see how things got changed by the post office in the events which — by the post office in the events which happened, over time. live from london, this is bbc news. campaigning for the general election on the 4th ofjuly is now under way. the party leaders start making their pitch to voters. rishi sunak says the conservatives are prepared to take bold action and make difficult decisions. 1 take bold action and make difficult decisions. ., ., , decisions. i want to build a briton, a country where — decisions. i want to build a briton, a country where you _ decisions. i want to build a briton, a country where you can _ decisions. i want to build a briton, a country where you can have i a country where you can have confidence, restore confidence and pride in our communities, in our society, in our nation. the labour leader promises _ society, in our nation. the labour leader promises to _ society, in our nation. the labour leader promises to stabilise i society, in our nation. the labour leader promises to stabilise the l leader promises to stabilise the

economy and put the nhs back on its feet. ., ., ., feet. you now have the power, the chance, feet. you now have the power, the chance. to — feet. you now have the power, the chance. to end _ feet. you now have the power, the chance, to end the _ feet. you now have the power, the chance, to end the chaos, - feet. you now have the power, the chance, to end the chaos, to i feet. you now have the power, the chance, to end the chaos, to turn i chance, to end the chaos, to turn the page — chance, to end the chaos, to turn the page and to rebuild britain. on the page and to rebuild britain. the first full the page and to rebuild britain. on the first full day of campaigning we are following leaders around the country and with rishi sunak as he tries to hit the ground running. meanwhile, nigel farage says he will not stand as a candidate for the reform party, but wants to focus on getting donald trump elected in the united states. also today, this is the scene live at the post office it inquiry in central london where former boss paula vennells is appearing for a second day. a very warm welcome, good morning to

you