the prime minister will be campaigning in the midlands as the conservatives announce a new tax scheme for pensioners. the shadow chancellor rachel reeves is also heading to the midlands, in what will be her first major speech of the campaign. we'll bring you live updates from these events with our correspondents on the ground across the uk. in an unusual move, over 120 business figures, including founders of wikipedia and iceland supermarket, have signed a letter endorsing labour's economic plan. and our other main story — israel carries out more strikes on rafah despite international condemnation of its bombing there on sunday night which killed dozens of displaced people. hello, i'm geeta guru—murthy. the conservatives have promised

to increase the personal tax allowance for pensioners if they win the general election. they say the proposal would be worth £275 a year to each pensioner by the end of the decade. under the plans, the state pension would always remain below the tax—free threshold. rishi sunak says the scheme shows the conservatives are on the side of pensioners — but labour have called it "desperate". rishi sunak will be out campaigning in the midlands today. let's get more on this with nick eardley. what do you love about it? how do you win over older voters? it's a question politicians ask themselves a lot. pensioners tend to get out and vote. so today, an offer from the conservatives, that the basic state pension will never be liable for income tax. the simple fact is that this tax change, this triple lock plus, will mean going forward that millions of pensioners, eight million pensioners, in fact, will be paying less tax than they would otherwise be paying.

and that is clearly a tax cut. pensions are covered by the triple lock. it means pensions go up by either prices, average pay or 2.5%, whichever is highest. currently, the tax free personal allowance is £12,570. the state pension is just over £11,500. but with tax thresholds expected to be frozen until at least 2028, increases to the pension would mean recipients start paying tax on it. the tories�* new plan, using the same formula as the triple lock, would mean the personal allowance would remain above the state pension. the government had told us that they were going to freeze tax thresholds rather than increase them in line with inflation. now we hear that pensioners are not only going to get an inflation increase in their allowance, they're going to get a triple locked increase that's more generous than inflation. so about half of the giveaway that the conservatives announced in this package is actuallyjust not doing that tax rise,

not doing the freeze that they previously told us about for the pensioner population. the other half is going further, being more generous than inflation indexing and will benefit pensioners and cut their taxes in the next parliament. the conservatives claim the policy would cost almost £2.5 billion a year by 2030 and they say they'd fund it by clamping down on tax avoidance. labour question whether the conservatives can afford it, but haven't said whether they'll match the policy. i've looked at their plans in terms of what they've announced overnight and it seems that the money that they are promising to pay for this is the same money that they were promising would introduce national service just a day ago. so i don't think it's credible, i don't think it's real and i think pensioners will completely see through this. there have been tax cuts recently for people in work. the tories hope they can now win over some pensioners by offering them more free tax income too. the economy absolutely key as politicians try and win your vote. let's speak to ione wells, who's travelling with the prime minister.

it's been a difficult start to the campaign, some might say, for the prime minister and the conservatives. we have got steve baker on holiday in greece this week. we have had one tory mp leaving and supporting reform. we have had questions overfunding, a leaked e—mail and that campaign launch in the rain. what is the prime minister doing today and how are they going to turn that around? today the prime minister is visiting staffordshire. some of the seats in this area will be seen as key if the conservatives have any chance of trying to hold on at this general election. a lot of the seats in this area were part of the so—called red wall which fell during the 2019 election. these are seats the conservatives will want to hold onto, but seats that labour want to win back. that's part of the reason for coming to this part of the uk. he will also be meeting with

pensioners later in the day. this is partly to sell this policy which has been announced today, essentially allowing that personal tax allowance for pensioners to also rise in line with whatever is highest out of inflation, rising wages or 2.5%, meaning the personal allowance will remain tax free for pensioners. 0ne remain tax free for pensioners. one of the criticisms he has been facing it that he has been campaigning on a lot of issues in a lot of places, which would have been seen as almost already in the bag for the toys. for example, yesterday he was campaigning in chesham and amersham, previously a safe conservative seat that was recently lost to the liberal democrats. now he is focusing his campaign at pensioners, again a demographic that has traditionally voted conservative, proportionally more so than younger voters. there is a question about why he may be playing a more defensive approach in this campaign

and needing to appeal to some of those voters that might previously not have been the ones the battles are going to be fought around. home are going to be fought around. lone wells, are going to be fought around. ione wells, thank— are going to be fought around. ione wells, thank you. _ the shadow chancellor rachel reeves will in be the region too, where she'll make her first major speech of the campaign. she's expected to promise to lead the most "pro—growth treasury in our country's history" if labour get elected. it comes as 121 business figures — including the wikipedia founder and boss of iceland — have signed a letter endorsing labour's economic plans. let's speak to iain watson, who's out on the road with labour. they have got this letter out which is on the front page of the times. how significant is that?— how significant is that? labour would certainly _ how significant is that? labour would certainly see _ how significant is that? labour would certainly see it - how significant is that? labour would certainly see it as - how significant is that? labour would certainly see it as very l would certainly see it as very significant. we havejust pulled up outside a manufacturing facility in the east midlands, which will be the

backdrop for rachel reeves�* speech. she wants to emphasise that labour other party of economic growth. there is a simple reason for that. that means that if there is economic growth, it can pay for some of the things labour would like to see without having to pledge tax rises. she is saying no rise in income tax, no rise in national insurance. so there will be the emphasis on growth. but what is also important for labour is that they can portray themselves as the party of business. in 2015, the conservatives were up against ed miliband and got the endorsement of 100 business leaders. this time, labour have got 120 current and former business leaders on their side. you mentioned the head of the iceland frozen food chain. he wanted to be a conservative mp at one point and now he is endorsing labour. his dad, who set the company up, endorsed the conservatives in 2015 and has now signed up with labour, so they will

see that as a coup. the conservatives are warning that while labour say they are pro—business, there are memento extending workers�* rights, they say, would put off business investment. they are talking about french—style labour laws, although i don�*t think the french economy is exactly a basket case. there are some opposition to what labour are doing from the left. the biggest trade union funder, the unite union, are sceptical about whether these workers�* rights go far enough. rachel reeves is going to claim she is pro—business and pro—worker, but they think she is not pro—worker enough. they are saying previous pledges are now being caveat it and some of those pro—worker policies and the extension of workers�* rights may end “p extension of workers�* rights may end up somewhere in the long grass. idin up somewhere in the long grass. iain watson, up somewhere in the long grass. iain watson. we — up somewhere in the long grass. iain watson, we will be back with you, but later. thank you very much.

in scotland, the snp are urging people to complete what is says is a "scottish national service" by voting against the conservatives. meanwhile, the liberal democrats leader ed davey is optimistic his party can overtake the scottish national party as the third largest party. we�*ll also hear from reform today — and nigel farage will be holding a news conference in south—east england later this morning. the former leader of the brexit party is the the honorary president of reform uk, and is expected to talk about how reform would stop the small boats. let�*s speak to our political correspondent nick eardley. nick, to catch up on these policy areas we are going to see today, it seems to be a focus from the tory and labour party on the economy. 0n the conservative promise with rishi sunak clearly chasing the pensioner vote with both the announcement on national service, which is popular with older voters, and clearly with

this policy, is this really shoring up this policy, is this really shoring up the tory core vote and trying to stop anyone peeling away to reform? it's stop anyone peeling away to reform? it�*s interesting, because it is a big battleground. labour have been targeting the pensioner vote for the past few weeks as well, trying to warn about what they see as some of the risks to pensions, although some of the claims they make are maybe slightly embellished. but yes, it is. the conservatives are trying to return to their roots, their core vote, to try and shore up support. it is saying to pensioners who have maybe been a bit frustrated that the tax cuts that the chancellor has lauded over the past few months, the national insurance cuts only apply to people in work. they didn�*t apply to people in work. they didn�*t apply to pensioners. such a day is an offering to pensioners to say, we have listened and we have something to put on the table for you. but it�*s worth remembering that the only reason that the state pension was

going to become applicable for income tax was because the point at which you pay different levels of tax, tax thresholds, were frozen by the conservatives and rishi sunak. they are not going to be unfrozen until 2028. so in some ways, what the conservatives are announcing todayis the conservatives are announcing today is undoing some of that to make sure that pensioners on the basic state pension aren�*t applicable for income tax. but yes, you are on the money there, there�*s something going on in the conservative party this week when they are targeting older voters who are more likely to turn out, and saying to them, we have ideas for you, be it on the state pension or on the idea for national service. and on the conservatives, we have seen criticism online from people like zac goldsmith. we have seen one tory mp standing down and supporting reform. we have seen steve baker saying he is going to carry on with

his holiday in greece this week, as it is half term for many people. how much confidence is there from the tory party machine, all the people they need to go knocking on doors for the prime minister right now? i for the prime minister right now? i don't think there is any doubt that don�*t think there is any doubt that there is a lot of nervousness within there is a lot of nervousness within the conservative party about how the election was called and how the campaign has unfolded so far. it has not been a seamless campaign for rishi sunak. there have been some awkward moments, some policies that have had to be parked until after the election, big ones like the rwanda scheme or rishi sunak�*s smoking ban. as you mentioned, there are some conservatives making it clear publicly that they are unhappy. we that cause nervousness in conservative hq? absolutely, the last thing you want at the start of an election campaign is for divisions to be on show. there was

always a theory that the conservative party, when it comes to an election, puts all its differences aside and gets on with fighting to hold onto power. i�*m not so sure we have seen much evidence of that so far, because there are a lot of conservatives doing, well, not that by criticising policy or personnel. but there are five and a half weeks to go. the prime minister is hoping that he can talk about policy. there is no doubt that the national service policy and to a lesser extent the pension policy today have grabbed the headlines a bit. when i chat to tory mps privately, some are happy that there seems to be a sense that there has been a lot of original thinking going on in conservative party hq. but remember the context of this election. rishi sunak called the election. rishi sunak called the election with a mountain to climb, with the tories miles behind in the polls with a lot of ground to make

up. the question some conservative mps will be asking themselves, or conservative candidates will be asking themselves this morning is, does the campaign so far suggest that rishi sunak is able to make up the ground he needs to make up? some are very nervous — the ground he needs to make up? some are very nervous about _ the ground he needs to make up? some are very nervous about that. nick eardley, thanks very much. let�*s speak to tom baldwin — former strategy and communications director for the labour party. good to speak to you again. the tories have come out with two new eye—catching policies within less than a week. isn�*t labour a bit behind the curve on that, don�*t they need to find policies that are going to appeal or at least be heard? i have been speaking to labour strategists in the last few days and they are happy with the six steps that keir starmer announced a couple of weeks ago. they are going down well on the doorstep with every section of the electorate. if you

step back from what is happening, it�*s interesting what is happening is that the tories are targeting their core vote, people who have traditionally voted conservative, the older demographic. today you have this other announcement from labour that 120 business leaders are backing the labour party. that is a suggestion that labour is on the move, notjust reaching out to its core vote, but also into traditional tory territory. when i worked for the labour party in 2015, we didn�*t get big business backing. people rightly or wrongly thought ed miliband was anti—business. for labour now to be getting 120 businesses signing this letter, that is the sign of things changing and labour reaching to tory territory, whereas the tories are just trying to stop the bleeding in their territory. to to stop the bleeding in their territo . ., , ., ., , territory. to understand how these thins territory. to understand how these things happen. _ territory. to understand how these things happen, how— territory. to understand how these things happen, how long _ territory. to understand how these things happen, how long has - territory. to understand how these things happen, how long has it - territory. to understand how these l things happen, how long has it taken the labour party to get all those

signatures? some might say ok, it�*s over 100 names, signatures? some might say ok, it�*s over100 names, but signatures? some might say ok, it�*s over 100 names, but that doesn�*t represent all sectors of the industry or the biggest names in the business and financial sector. it�*s business and financial sector. it's been a business and financial sector. it�*s been a pilgrimage. they have talked about the smoked salmon business offences. keir starmer and rachel reeves and other members of the shadow cabinet have been going out there after day, meeting business. that is notjust an attempt to woo them, but having that degree of contact with business has helped influence what labour thinks about policy. spending that amount of time with so many people from the private sector has given labour real expertise and food for thought, not just smoked salmon, but food for thought about how to tackle the economic problems of this country. so are we going to see new policy announced from rachel reeves today in the next hour? i announced from rachel reeves today in the next hour?— in the next hour? i don't think we will see a lot _

in the next hour? i don't think we will see a lot of _ in the next hour? i don't think we will see a lot of new— in the next hour? i don't think we will see a lot of new policy. - in the next hour? i don't think we will see a lot of new policy. i - will see a lot of new policy. i think it will be a statement about stability, which is the foundation of labour�*s economic message, that you can�*t invest in this country if you can�*t invest in this country if you have three prime ministers in five chancellors in one year. you have to have a sense of coherence and fiscal rules that are going to be stuck to and an economic plan and missions. that is the stability and framework in which people can invest. �* , ., ., ~ ,�* invest. and in terms of workers' ri . hts, invest. and in terms of workers' rights. there — invest. and in terms of workers' rights, there has _ invest. and in terms of workers' rights, there has been - invest. and in terms of workers' rights, there has been a - invest. and in terms of workers' rights, there has been a lot - invest. and in terms of workers' rights, there has been a lot of l rights, there has been a lot of wooing of business. we saw the strangulation from blair and brown —— we saw this triangulation from that. what about workers and what the unions are saying?— the unions are saying? there is a lot of talk — the unions are saying? there is a lot of talk about _ the unions are saying? there is a lot of talk about workers' - the unions are saying? there is a lot of talk about workers' rights | lot of talk about workers�* rights and policy. ithink lot of talk about workers�* rights and policy. i think it is going to happen, partly because it doesn�*t cost money and labour do not want to spend a lot of extra money. i think

it is very similar in a way to the policy that tony blair and gordon brown had in 1997 for a national minimum wage. i was a journalist at the time and i remember writing up all these press releases from the conservative party about how it was an existential crisis for the economy and millions ofjobs were going to be lost. no one talks about the minimum wage any more, it�*s not a matter of political dispute. the reason is that it didn�*t costjobs. a better paid workforce can be more productive. giving people rights at work, not having zero—hours contracts, that creates more productive workforce as well. i think that is the sort of thing that will disappear after the election is a point of controversy. find will disappear after the election is a point of controversy.— will disappear after the election is a point of controversy. and on the economy. — a point of controversy. and on the economy. when — a point of controversy. and on the economy, when you _ a point of controversy. and on the economy, when you listen - a point of controversy. and on the economy, when you listen to - a point of controversy. and on the i economy, when you listen to groups like the ifs and others, there are questions about the growth strategy and how any new government achieves that how quickly you raise enough money to then push back into public

services. do you think we are going to detail in the manifesto on that? i think there will be some new policy in the manifesto, but i don�*t think they are trying to tell it as earth—shattering new policy. it is very steady as it goes, incremental building on policy. there is a lot of cynicism within the labour party about these new tory announcements. both the national service pledge and the pensions pledge is being funded by cracking down on tax avoidance, £6 billion worth of tax avoidance. they have been in powerfor11l years, so why have they allowed so much tax avoidance? why didn�*t they do anything about it before? fine do anything about it before? one last one before _ do anything about it before? one last one before i _ do anything about it before? one last one before i let you go today. this letter from city figures backing labour is on the front of the times. how much has the labour party been willing murdoch, the times and sun, and will those papers

come out and back labour? the? come out and back labour? they miuht. come out and back labour? they might- the _ come out and back labour? they might. the sun _ come out and back labour? they might. the sun has _ come out and back labour? iie: might. the sun has backed come out and back labour? tie: might. the sun has backed every winner since 1979 and they don�*t want to lose that record. that said, there are some personal animosity to keir starmer, because he was director of public prosecutions when they did phone hacking and rebekah brooks was prosecuted. she was found to be innocent, but the prosecution took place. there is still a legacy of bitterness there within news uk towards keir starmer personally. the difference with him and tony blair is, he is not going to fly thousands of miles to an australian island, tony blair did in 1995, to bend his knee to rupert murdoch. he thinks that if labour is going to win and it is being sensible about economics, murdoch can make up his own mind. i think they will not be

hysterically raging against him at this election. if they come out with endorsement, i don�*t know, but what matters most to labour is that they are not doing the things they have donein are not doing the things they have done in previous elections, which is to say that if you vote labour, the world is going to end and we will live in an darkness. tam world is going to end and we will live in an darkness. tom baldwin, thanks for— live in an darkness. tom baldwin, thanks for your — live in an darkness. tom baldwin, thanks for your time. _ live in an darkness. tom baldwin, thanks for your time. we - live in an darkness. tom baldwin, thanks for your time. we will - live in an darkness. tom baldwin, thanks for your time. we will be l thanks for your time. we will be covering the election campaign across the day to day. you can get the latest updates on the bbc news website, where there is a life page. let�*s turn to the middle east. spain, ireland and norway are today formally recognising the state of palestine. the spanish prime minister, pedro sanchez, said the move was essential for achieving peace and from now on all efforts should focus on a two—state solution with israel and palestine existing side by side. the majority of un countries recognise palestine as a state, although few european nations do. the palestinian authority and hamas have welcomed the recognition. israel has withdrawn its ambassadors

in protest against the move. spanish prime minister pedro sanchez has been speaking before his cabinet meets to formally adopt a decree recognising palestinian statehood. let�*s listen to what he had to say. this is a historic decision that has a single goal — to contribute to achieving peace between the israelis and palestine. the recognition of the state of palestine is not only a matter of historicaljustice with the legitimate aspirations of the palestine people, but it is also an imperative need to achieve peace. it is the only way to realise the solution that we all recognise as the only possible one to achieve a future of peace, that of a palestine state that coexists alongside the state of israel in peace and security. israel has continued to bombard rafah in southern gaza, despite international condemnation over a strike that set off fires at a refugee camp.

medics say at least 45 people were killed and hundreds more were treated for severe burn, fractures and shrapnel wounds on sunday night. the un security council will convene for a closed—door emergency meeting on tuesday. the un secretary general antonio guterres has condemned the attack, saying the horror must stop. the israeli army says the airstrike killed two senior members of hamas at a compound nearby and has launched an investigation. appearing before the knesset, israeli prime minister benjamin netanyahu called it a "tragic mishap". 0ur north america correspondent peter bowes looks ahead to the un security council meeting. this closed—door emergency meeting of the security council, which has been called by algeria, will take place later today. and it reflects the growing international unease, the growing international outcry about the strike that happened in rafah on sunday.

a strike that occurred reallyjust hours after hamas launched its first missile attack on tel aviv in several months. we have heard in the last few hours from benjamin netanyahu, the israeli prime minister, saying that what happened was a tragic mishap, and that there would be a thorough investigation, but insisting that the war against hamas will continue. it is continuing with the backdrop of major international figures speaking out about what happened on sunday. we have heard from the un secretary—general antonio guterres, who said the situation in rafah was a horror that had to stop. he said that people, innocent civilians, displaced palestinians, had been killed. according to the hamas—run health ministry there, we understand that at least 45 people were killed. others were severely injured with burns, with fractures and shrapnel wounds.

we have also heard from a spokesperson at the white house saying that the images from sunday were heartbreaking, but that israel had a right to defend itself. also adding that, according to the spokesman, israel must take every precaution possible to protect civilians. pope francis is reported to have used a derogatory word to describe 9“ used a derogatory word to describe gay men in discussions about whether they should be admitted to the priesthood. during a closed door meeting with italian bishops at the vatican a week ago, the pope reportedly said there were already too many gay men in the theological schools, using an italian word which translates as an extremely offensive reference to homosexual behaviour. the vatican hasn�*t commented. to papua new guinea next. the government has nearly 8000 people are at risk from further landslides after a mountainous collapse in enga province on friday. hundreds of

people were buried in the landslip and conditions are getting worse. we have had pictures from the un development programme and they show the scale of what has happened in the scale of what has happened in the pacific island nation. the provinicial administrator said that the mountain you can see was still breaking up and the continuous movement of rock and debris was making it difficult for rescue teams to operate. locals are doing what they can and are having to use small spades and whatever they have to try and search through the rubble. rescuers say it is increasingly unlikely that victims will be found alive. the country�*s disaster agency says it fears about 2,000 people were buried when a mountain side collapsed last friday in the early hours of the morning. residents in the village in the remote enga region have been mourning those who have died. the un is sending health professionals to the area amid concerns about water safety and hazards caused by decaying bodies. australia is dispatching a team of technical experts to provide assistance.

this woman has been unable to find several members of herfamily. translation: i have 18 members of my family buried under the soil i'm standing — family buried under the soil i'm standing on and a lot more family members — standing on and a lot more family members in the village i cannot count — members in the village i cannot count and _ members in the village i cannot count. and the land owner here, but i cannot_ count. and the land owner here, but i cannot retrieve the bodies, so i am standing here helplessly. now it�*s time for a look at the weather with carol. hello again. we�*ve been watching a band of rain which has come in from the south—west and is continuing to journey north—eastwards through today. it�*s courtesy of this area of low pressure. it�*s this weather front here, and it�*s not moving particularly quickly. the rain in it�*s not particularly heavy either. but of course, it�*s falling on areas sensitive to more rain. so it will continue to journey north—eastwards, not getting into the north—east of scotland until later. and on the other side of it, for northern ireland, wales, the midlands down into the southeast

and the southwest, it will dry up. but having said that, there will still be some showers around, some of those could be heavy and thundery. the white circles represent the average wind strength, so as you can see, it�*s reallyjust going to be breezy today with highs ranging from 1a to about 18 degrees. so roughly where we would expect the temperature to be at the end of may. now, as we head on through the evening and overnight, the rain continues itsjourney, eventually clearing into the north sea. there�*ll be some clear skies following on behind. there�*ll be some showers, especially in the north and the west. and some of those could be heavy, especially across north—west england, temperatures ranging from 8 to 13 degrees north to south. so not a particularly cold night. so we start tomorrow really with a mixture of sunshine and showers. now, a lot of the showers will be across eastern areas through the course of the day. this is where there�*ll be the most frequent. you can also hear the odd rumble of thunder, but we will see some coming in on the northwesterly breeze in the west as well. tomorrow�*s temperatures, 1a to about 19 degrees, north to south.

so low pressure firmly in charge of our weather for the early part of this week. but it does move away and that allows high pressure to build in as we head towards the latter part of the week and also into the weekend, which will settle things down. but, of course, the air around an area of high pressure moves in a clockwise direction, so we�*ll be prone to a little bit more cloud at times on the north sea coast. but on thursday, we�*ve got rain sinking south down the east coast, followed by some sunny spells, bright spells and showers, some of those showers merging to give some heavier periods of rain and could be thundery in southern scotland and midlands and into the southeast. but beyond that, high pressure starts to build in. don�*t forget, we could see some low cloud, maybe the odd shower across the east coast at times, but generally speaking for most it will be drier and also that bit warmer. this is bbc news, the headlines...

rishi sunak is out campaigning in the midlands as the conservatives announce a new tax scheme for pensioners they�*re calling the "triple lock plus". meanwhile, the shadow chancellor rachel reeves is also heading to the midlands, in what will be her first major speech of the campaign. and our top story, israel carries out more strikes on rafah despite international condemnation of its bombing there on sunday night which killed dozens of displaced people. back to our special coverage of the uk general election. in the next few weeks we will hear a lot about red wall and the blue wall, crucial constituencies across the country. the conservatives made big gains in labour heartlands, labour is looking

to break through the blue wall as well. joining me now is the political reporter for bbc lancashire in burnley burnley, labour�*s number one target and one of many key targets for them in lancashire. and we can also speak to emily dalton who is the local democracy reporter for surrey live. esher & walton is one of several target seats in surrey, part of the so—called blue wall. good to speak to you, just let me go first to burnley. i grew up in those parts, it is conservative held at the moment but with a very winnable potential swing for labour. yes. the moment but with a very winnable potential swing for labour.— potential swing for labour. yes, a very winnable. — potential swing for labour. yes, a very winnable, small _ potential swing for labour. yes, a very winnable, small majority. - potential swing for labour. yes, a | very winnable, small majority. you know that these are traditional labour heartlands, when the conservatives won in burnley in 2019, it was the first time they had done so in over 100 years. if labour

want to signify notjust to the people here in burnley but the whole country, that they are back, they are a potential party of government, they really need to be winning in places like burnley. places where over the past five or ten years they have slowly lost support, there has been gains for the conservatives we saw in the general election in 2019 but also gains in the local council for the green party, the lib dems have shored up decent local support over the past ten years. if keir starmer wants to signify to the whole country that labour are a party of government, they need to be convincing people in places like burnley that they can win. just tell us where you _ burnley that they can win. just tell us where you are _ burnley that they can win. just tell us where you are standing. - burnley that they can win. just tell us where you are standing. i - burnley that they can win. just tell us where you are standing. i am i us where you are standing. i am standin: us where you are standing. i am standing outside _ us where you are standing. i am standing outside turf _ us where you are standing. i -h standing outside turf moor, the us where you are standing. i —n standing outside turf moor, the home of burnley football club. i�*m standing here in the morning where

the papers are talking about the cost of football going up, that is one of the big issues for people here across lancashire, notjust the cost of football but the cost of living. everything has gone up over the past two or three years, if labour want to shore up their vote here, if the conservatives want to try and hang on to seats like burnley, they need to convince people that they are going to put more money in people pockets. they are going to make all aspects of living affordable. as well as that, burnley, for a long time, was key to manufacturing, across the country and the world. at one time a third of all cotton goods were produced here in this part of lancashire, that declined but there are now a significant number of decent advanced manufacturing jobs in burnley and the surrounding areas. they are important to people here,

those opportunities, growing up somewhere like here, to know you can have a decent, skilled jobs, if any party wants to win here they have to convince people that not only is that going to continue but it will grow. those decentjobs will be there in ten or 20 years�* time for children and grandchildren. a big part of that is transport links, being able to connect to other parts of the big issues here is extending the motorway into yorkshire, extending the rain link into yorkshire as well. as well as interconnectivity, as well as jobs, the biggest issue for people across lancashire is the cost of living. you are making a bit homesick with those references, the best countryside is in that part of the world. let me cross to emily, where are you? i world. let me cross to emily, where are ou? ., ., ,

are you? i am at the racecourse, it is a big tourist _ are you? i am at the racecourse, it is a big tourist attraction _ are you? i am at the racecourse, it is a big tourist attraction here. - is a big tourist attraction here. the city— is a big tourist attraction here. the city mp is dominic raab, but he is standing down and the liberal democrats are targeting that seat. yes, monica harding, the liberal democrat— yes, monica harding, the liberal democrat candidate is standing, she narrowly _ democrat candidate is standing, she narrowly missed out last time, there was a _ narrowly missed out last time, there was a 3000 — narrowly missed out last time, there was a 3000 gap between her and dominit— was a 3000 gap between her and dominic raab. there was a big exit vote in_ dominic raab. there was a big exit vote in 2019, in terms of tactical voting. — vote in 2019, in terms of tactical voting. so— vote in 2019, in terms of tactical voting. so it _ vote in 2019, in terms of tactical voting, so it could have been more tactical_ voting, so it could have been more tactical voting for the lib dems because — tactical voting for the lib dems because dominic raab was a brexit here, _ because dominic raab was a brexit here, so— because dominic raab was a brexit here, so this time there is a new conservative candidate who is a conservative candidate who is a conservative councillor. normally that would put him at a disadvantage but i that would put him at a disadvantage but i think — that would put him at a disadvantage but i think... we will see how he performs— but i think... we will see how he performs on— but i think... we will see how he performs on the doorstep. | but i think... we will see how he performs on the doorstep. i don't know if you _ performs on the doorstep. i don't know if you had _ performs on the doorstep. i don't know if you had the _ performs on the doorstep. i don't know if you had the chance - performs on the doorstep. i don't know if you had the chance to - performs on the doorstep. i don't i know if you had the chance to speak to potential voters, what are the predictions there? is it likely the liberal democrats will take that

seat? , ., , liberal democrats will take that seat? , , ., liberal democrats will take that seat? ,, ., , ., seat? the polls show the liberal democrats _ seat? the polls show the liberal democrats are _ seat? the polls show the liberal democrats are currently - seat? the polls show the liberal democrats are currently in - seat? the polls show the liberal democrats are currently in the i seat? the polls show the liberal- democrats are currently in the lead, it is a _ democrats are currently in the lead, it is a good — democrats are currently in the lead, it is a good chance they might take it, it is a good chance they might take it. the _ it is a good chance they might take it, the polls you have to take with a pinch _ it, the polls you have to take with a pinch of— it, the polls you have to take with a pinch of salt so i think it depends— a pinch of salt so i think it depends on the run up to the election— depends on the run up to the election and any unexpected hurdles candidates might fall into. we election and any unexpected hurdles candidates might fall into.— candidates might fall into. we have five and a half _ candidates might fall into. we have five and a half weeks _ candidates might fall into. we have five and a half weeks of _ candidates might fall into. we have five and a half weeks of this - five and a half weeks of this campaign and anything can happen. thank you both very much indeed. more than 120 business founders, chief executives and former leaders have signed a letter endorsing the labour party ahead of the election — saying it is �*time for a change�*. names included in the letter — published in today�*s times newspaper — include tv chef tom kerridge, jd sports chairman andrew higginson and founder of iceland supermarkets malcolm walker. it comes as shadow chancellor rachel

reeves is set to deliver her first major speech of the election campaign later today. within the next hour. let�*s speak to one of the signatories of this letter — wikipedia founderjimmy wales. thank you for being with us. why did you sign it? i thank you for being with us. why did ou sin it? ., ., , thank you for being with us. why did you sign it?— you sign it? i am really impressed b the you sign it? i am really impressed by the first _ you sign it? i am really impressed by the first big — you sign it? i am really impressed by the first big pledge _ you sign it? i am really impressed by the first big pledge that - you sign it? i am really impressed by the first big pledge that is - by the first big pledge that is economic stability. we have been through this clown show of government for several years now, i think in order to get britain back on track, in order to fill the holes in the budget we need growth and government that is thoughtful about business. i think that keir starmer and rachel reeves are the right people for the job. you and rachel reeves are the right people for the job.— and rachel reeves are the right people for the job. people for the 'ob. you have spoken to them both, — people for the job. you have spoken to them both, what _ people for the job. you have spoken to them both, what specifically - people for the job. you have spokenj to them both, what specifically have they said to you that you find it reassuring? you didn�*t support jeremy corbyn. like reassuring? you didn't support jeremy corbyn— reassuring? you didn't support jerem corb n. ~' ., , , , ,, jeremy corbyn. like many business --eole jeremy corbyn. like many business eo - le the jeremy corbyn. like many business people the concern _ jeremy corbyn. like many business people the concern that _ jeremy corbyn. like many business people the concern that you - jeremy corbyn. like many business people the concern that you have i people the concern that you have about a labour government, that is quite old—fashioned, is it going to be an old—fashioned tax and spend mentality? do they believe in

business as a driver for growth and better wages for everyone? 0r business as a driver for growth and better wages for everyone? or do they think of it as a class war, we have to harm business to help other people? they have it right, we are in this together and we need healthy businesses and we need good relationships with europe, that has been one of the big problems for the uk economy. and they seem to be taking it very seriously that we have to get things back on track. they are ruling out opening the brexit debate, they categorically said they will not do that. is that disappointing, have you pushed them on that? it is disappointing, have you pushed them on that? , ., , disappointing, have you pushed them onthat? ,.,, , on that? it is a bit disappointing but we have _ on that? it is a bit disappointing but we have to _ on that? it is a bit disappointing but we have to understand - on that? it is a bit disappointing but we have to understand that l on that? it is a bit disappointing i but we have to understand that the political climate for that, we have just gone through this enormous thing, i think we can do a lot within the framework of not having an antagonistic relationship to europe, i would like to see us back in the european union, back in the single market, to the extent that will take time and at the very

minimum they have to start repairing the relationship with europe. [30 minimum they have to start repairing the relationship with europe.- the relationship with europe. do you think they are _ the relationship with europe. do you think they are being _ the relationship with europe. do you think they are being open _ the relationship with europe. do you think they are being open and - the relationship with europe. do you| think they are being open and honest with business leaders and the public when they are trying to square workers�* rights and being pro—business? workers' rights and being pro-business? workers' rights and being ro-business? , , ~ ., pro-business? definitely, i know them well enough, _ pro-business? definitely, i know them well enough, we _ pro-business? definitely, i know them well enough, we have - pro-business? definitely, i know them well enough, we have had| pro-business? definitely, i know- them well enough, we have had enough conversations, i know people working with them to know that this is real and they are thinking in the right ways. they aren�*t saying a few lip service things whilst secretly planning a communist revolution or something. i think we are on track. does it worry you that keir starmer has told chris mason that he would describe himself as a socialist? i am american, that term is not widely used except in a very old—fashioned way. i think he�*s going to say that but he seems to be a socialist who is not going to raise taxes. maybe that doesn�*t mean as much as it used

to. we will hear from rachel reeves in the next hour.— in the next hour. what do you and others who _ in the next hour. what do you and others who signed _ in the next hour. what do you and others who signed that _ in the next hour. what do you and others who signed that letter - in the next hour. what do you and| others who signed that letter want to hear? ~ ., ., ., ., , to hear? what we want to hear is what we have _ to hear? what we want to hear is what we have been _ to hear? what we want to hear is what we have been hearing - to hear? what we want to hear is what we have been hearing so i to hear? what we want to hear is | what we have been hearing so far, that labour understands that the best way to revitalise the economy the economy is to have strong business, to have workers�* rights. that we are all in this together and it isn�*t one group against another, let�*s just get the country working again. in against another, let'sjust get the country working again.— against another, let'sjust get the country working again. in terms of how difficult _ country working again. in terms of how difficult it _ country working again. in terms of how difficult it is _ country working again. in terms of how difficult it is to _ country working again. in terms of how difficult it is to get _ country working again. in terms of how difficult it is to get a - country working again. in terms of how difficult it is to get a letter . how difficult it is to get a letter out like this, some people might say it isjust over 100 out like this, some people might say it is just over 100 names, out like this, some people might say it isjust over 100 names, doesn�*t represent all aspects of business, doesn�*t represent the biggest companies. how where we are you or any business leader of signing up to any business leader of signing up to any political party? you don�*t have to do and it is potentially damaging

for your business to come out on one side of the other? this for your business to come out on one side of the other?— side of the other? this is the first time i side of the other? this is the first time i have _ side of the other? this is the first time i have done _ side of the other? this is the first time i have done anything - side of the other? this is the first time i have done anything like - side of the other? this is the first i time i have done anything like this, i usually reserve making comments on public matters to things related to the internet. but i live in the uk and it feels like it is an important time to get things right. and what i hearfrom our lot of people through the tech industry is strong support for labour and a lot of people, business leaders are constrained, the ceos, the founders are more free to say what they like. the idea that there is a small number is a tip of the iceberg. from our number is a tip of the iceberg. from your contacts _ number is a tip of the iceberg. from your contacts in _ number is a tip of the iceberg. from your contacts in california, - number is a tip of the iceberg. from your contacts in california, did expect the prime minister to head back there after the election? i have no idea, i'm not sure his track have no idea, i�*m not sure his track record of success here bodes well for a top job record of success here bodes well for a topjob in silicon record of success here bodes well for a top job in silicon valley. record of success here bodes well for a topjob in silicon valley. i

think there is a parliamentary report that has come out today on al with a number of people saying that the uk needs to really address the potential changes, there has been a lot of discussion on the potential upsides and downsides of ai, how much confidence do you have in the labour party that you are publicly backing that they are doing the work to prepare the economy and the country for those changes? i have talked to people _ country for those changes? i have talked to people in _ country for those changes? i have talked to people in the _ country for those changes? i have i talked to people in the labour party who are working on the issue, i think they have the right approach which is to say we have to take this seriously, it is bubbly one of the most fundamental technological changes that we have seen in a very long time. and we also can�*t go down the scaremongering rout and put our heads in the sand, we need to say what are the changes we need to make to the economy? this is mostly about re—education and retraining, helping people to leveraged this technology to make a more prosperous britain. i think they are taking that seriously, there are no easy

answers, but this is a time where we need thoughtful grown—ups in charge. founder of wikipedia, thank you very much for being with us today. there are many other signatories of that letter, we will be catching up with them later in the day. let�*s move on. president zelensky has arrived in belgium — where the government has committed to deliver 30 f—16 jets to kyiv by 2028. this comes as mr zelensky once again asked the outside world to come together to face russia — saying that his war aim is to kick russia out of ukraine, including crimea. russian forces have made some progress and we know that they have been making advances towards the eastern ukrianinan city of kharkiv in recent weeks. in the early hours of this morning, a series of explosions hit the russian—held ukrainian city of luhansk, reportedly targeting a military aviation school and a repair plant. 0ur international editor,

jeremy bowen, was at a diy centre in kharkiv over the weekend, which was hit by a russian air strike leaving 1a dead. this particular shopping complex, i think the death toll is now up to 18. they�*re still looking for missing people. and, you know, it�*s a strange atmosphere here in kharkiv because behind me, there�*s a busy road, people are going to work, but only about 30 kilometres from here. there�*s quite a major battle going on between ukrainian and russian forces in a border town, where i was in the area just a few days ago, i didn�*t go into the city. it�*s way too lethal for that, to be there. but you could see massive plumes of smoke coming from big fires. clearly, it�*s an inferno. and as well as that here in the city, this is the second biggest city in ukraine, it does feel pretty defenceless when it comes to various kinds

of russian missile attacks because they�*re so short of missile defences. and they what they have to do is make some difficult choices about what it is they protect. and you can read more from jeremy on our website — he�*s written an article on why he believes that ukraine is facing it�*s worst crisis since the war with russia began. you can find that on the bbc news website and app. travel businesses are spending tens of millions of pounds preparing for the european union�*s much—delayed new border control it system, the entry exit system, which is due to kick in this autumn. in a major change to travel arrangements, non—eu nationals including brits will have to register fingerprints and a photo, alongside having their passport checked. there have been repeated warnings that this initial registration process will cause delays for holidaymakers at the port of dover, eurostar�*s st pancras terminal and eurotunnel in folkestone, where french border police check passports

as people leave the uk. a teenage boy arrested in connection with a fatal stabbing on a beach in bournemouth has been released without charge. the 34—year—old victim, named locally as amie gray, died at the scene on friday night. 0ur correspondent duncan kennedy has more. the death of the 34—year—old woman has been traumatic for some people — including this group, who gathered on bournemouth beach. the woman has been named locally as amie gray. she was 3a and from poole. friends from the football team she coached said they were utterly devastated by her death. the incident has literally divided the beach here in two — from one side where thousands of people have been enjoying the sun, to the other side, deserted and sealed off by police as they investigate what happened on friday night. officers have been working along the beach in their efforts to gather evidence in what dorset police have described as a very sad incident.

dorset police say a 17—year—old boy who was arrested on suspicion of murder on saturday morning has now been released without charge. they say he�*s been eliminated from their inquiries. police have also released these cctv images of a male who they describe as a suspect. they�*ve asked the public to come forward with information. a 38—year—old woman who was stabbed in the same incident remains in hospital in a serious condition. duncan kennedy, bbc news, in bournemouth. next week millions of people across the world will pause to remember the 80th anniversary of d—day. 0njune 6th 1944, allied forces stormed the beaches of northern france in a bid to re—take occuped europe from the nazis. ahead of that anniversary, our reporterjohn maguire has been to meet two royal navy wrens who helped to plan the d—day landings. including christian lamb,

who created maps to be used by landing crafts. now, at the age of 103—years—old, she has been to see that land for the first time.. she spent countless hours scrutinising every inch of this coastline. but today, after 80 years, christian lamb is seeing it for herself for the very first time. it looks absolutely wonderful. so clear and so blue and it�*s so attractive. i don�*t suppose it looked like that then, really. one was very worried about it and expecting ghastly things to happen. must have been armour in sight of all kinds. christian is fast approaching her 104th birthday. but in191lll, as preparations for the allied invasion

of normandy ramped up, she was a young wren in the royal navy based in whitehall, creating maps to be used by landing craft. these are what i�*m supposed to have made? these are the maps you made. amazing. after seeing christian�*s story, ian beaumont was reminded of a map stored in his attic that his father, brian, had used on d—day. he sent it to us. a 19—year—old royal marine, brian was the coxswain of a landing craft. there�*s no way of telling which section of coastline christian worked on. this is sword beach, one of the british invasion sites. so at pegasus bridge memorial museum in normandy, we�*re showing her the map and she�*s never seen one before. this will have saved lives. i hope so. there will have been so many lives lost. but perhaps one or two saved.

i�*m sure more than that. and you think of how young they all were too. and all so brave, so desperately keen to win and make a real battle. and you were saying, especially as you had lived in france, at the beginning of the war, it was important to you to play a part in liberating france. and giving back france to the french. it was certainly during the war and we were visiting a submarine. joining christian on the trip is pat 0utram, also a former wren. as a german speaker, herjob was to eavesdrop on the enemy navy. i really wouldn't have wanted to miss that chapter in my life because i happened to know german and i could intercept

and listen to their messages, as one of my friends said, listen to what they intend to do and then stop them doing it. so i was lucky. although secrecy was their watchword and neither were aware of exactly when the invasion would begin, both believed what they were doing, the part they played, was absolutely vital to the war effort. my younger sister and i were really worried the war might finish before we started being really useful. but it didn't, it went on. you did your bit? we did. but we had, our father was a prisoner of war in the far east. so, you know, the great thing for our family was to get him back. and we did. wherever they go, pat and christian are feted by the french people they meet.

even among those several generations on from 1944. they�*ve been brought to normandy by volunteers from the taxi charity for military veterans. a busy schedule includes a visit to a school where they�*re given a rapturous reception by a history teacher dressed appropriately for the occasion. why did you go to war when you were so young? and to the delight of the children, their questions asked in english are answered in french. ma grand—mere a parlait tres bien francais. these are really unforgettable memories for them. this is something concrete and we are so lucky to be able to share these kind of moments. this is very different from learning history in a book or, i don�*t know, on screen. so they are always very, very touched and open hearted and something means a lot to them. that's a lovely surprise.

they came here both to visit the beaches and towns their top secret work had helped to liberate and to meet the people 80 years on whose freedom was secured and who are eternally grateful. john maguire, bbc news, normandy. we are bringing you special coverage in the next few weeks of the uk general election, this is our live page, rishi sunak heading to the midlands, they have announced a new tax pledge to appeal to pensioners calling it the triple lock plus, doubling down on their core vote strategy. in the next few minutes, we are expecting rachel reeves to make her first major speech, we are expecting rachel reeves to make herfirst major speech, on the day that labour have announced 150 business chiefs have backed labour

to win in a letter. in a move that they say is pretty unusual. we are also looking i had to the reform party with nigel farage holding a press conference, he has confirmed that he will not stand for parliament but he is still very much involved in leading that party. this is bbc news. hello again. we�*ve been watching a band of rain which has come in from the south—west and is continuing to journey north—eastwards through today. it�*s courtesy of this area of low pressure. it�*s this weather front here, and it�*s not moving particularly quickly. the rain in it�*s not particularly heavy either. but of course, it�*s falling on areas sensitive to more rain. so it will continue to journey north—eastwards, not getting into the north—east of scotland until later. and on the other side of it, for northern ireland, wales, the midlands down into the southeast and the southwest, it will dry up. but having said that, there will still be some showers around, some of those could be heavy and thundery. the white circles represent the average wind strength, so as you can see, it�*s reallyjust going to be breezy today with highs ranging from 1a to about 18 degrees.

so roughly where we would expect the temperature to be at the end of may. now, as we head on through the evening and overnight, the rain continues itsjourney, eventually clearing into the north sea. there�*ll be some clear skies following on behind. there�*ll be some showers, especially in the north and the west. and some of those could be heavy, especially across north—west england, temperatures ranging from 8 to 13 degrees north to south. so not a particularly cold night. so we start tomorrow really with a mixture of sunshine and showers. now, a lot of the showers will be across eastern areas through the course of the day. this is where there�*ll be the most frequent. you can also hear the odd rumble of thunder, but we will see some coming in on the northwesterly breeze in the west as well. tomorrow�*s temperatures, 1a to about 19 degrees, north to south. so low pressure firmly in charge of our weather for the early part of this week. but it does move away and that allows high pressure to build in as we head towards the latter part of the week and

also into the weekend, which will settle things down. but, of course, the air around an area of high pressure moves in a clockwise direction, so we�*ll be prone to a little bit more cloud at times on the north sea coast. but on thursday, we�*ve got rain sinking south down the east coast, followed by some sunny spells, bright spells and showers, some of those showers merging to give some heavier periods of rain and could be thundery in southern scotland and midlands and into the southeast. but beyond that, high pressure starts to build in. don�*t forget, we could see some low cloud, maybe the odd shower across the east coast at times, but generally speaking for most it will be drier and also that bit warmer.

live from london, this is bbc news. rishi sunak is out campaigning in the midlands as the conservatives 0ver over 120 0ver120 business leaders the founders— 0ver120 business leaders the founders of wikipedia and iceland have signed a letter endorsing laboureconomic plan. rishi sunak is out campaigning in the midlands as the conservatives announce a new tax scheme for pensioners they�*re calling the triple lock plus. and our other top story — israel carries out more strikes on rafah despite international condemnation of its bombing there on sunday night which killed dozens of displaced people. hello, i�*m geeta guru—murthy.

we are going to take you to the rachel reeves speech in the next few minutes, the shadow chancellor will be speaking shortly. first, let me take you to dover, where nadja farage of reform is starting a press conference. farage of reform is starting a press conference-— conference. general election campaign — conference. general election campaign has _ conference. general election campaign has got _ conference. general election campaign has got off- conference. general election campaign has got off to - conference. general election campaign has got off to the l conference. general election - campaign has got off to the dullest start i can remember in my life. two men with the appearance of middle managers vying to become our national leader. i do my best to listen to keir starmer when he is being interviewed and giving a speech and i find being interviewed and giving a speech and ifind myself being interviewed and giving a speech and i find myself zoning being interviewed and giving a speech and ifind myself zoning out halfway through. there is no energy, no optimism and there is no real substantive policy. as for the prime minister, i have to laugh. the word bold is the web they keep using. bold leadership. but when asked a question by anybody, he looks rather more like a frightened rabbit than somebody that is bold. i will be getting questions later, i know, about the fact that i decided not to

stand. i am of course very disappointed. i did have a six month plan which have had me fighting a seat and campaigning around the country. ifelt in seat and campaigning around the country. i felt in six weeks that i couldn�*t simply do both. but what i can talk about with some authority is this subject that has affected this harbour at dover and indeed most of our country over the last few years. it was pretty obvious to me early in 2020 that the trickle of small inflatable rib thingies that were coming across the english channel was something that would turn into a flood, but nobody was interested. nobody was talking about it. and so i came down to dover, i went out to sea repeatedly. i filmed the dinghies and i filmed the processing centre here in dover docks. i went to the midlands and elsewhere to film the hotel is that these people were being put into, and i said at the time that you might as well put a big sign on the

white cliffs of dover saying, everyone welcome, because we had stopped deporting people who arrived in our country illegally. it�*s quite a thought that in the last year of the labour government leading up to 2010, 40 5000 people who came to britain illegally had been deported. we had given up on that. so i said that that unless i thought something dramatic was done, there would be an invasion. now, of course, for using that word, i was called all the names under the sun. but 3800 boats later, 125,000 people later, you can use whatever word you want. i happen to think that invasion, frankly, was pretty appropriate. so i have campaigned hard on this issue throughout this four year period and i�*m going to say to you, i was ahead of the curve on this. i was right. and that is what i have done in my career. i am an issues campaigner

above all. so nobody was talking about it when i started, but you are all talking about it now. and it�*s worth bearing in mind the 86% of those that come are male and nearly all under the age of 40, most under the age of 30. unsurprisingly, it has led to a very big national debate. people see the unfairness of it. they say, how can it be that we are on social housing waiting lists for a year, perhaps two years, when these people that come illegally are put straight into our hotel is or if not that, private accommodation? how can it be that those that come have access to dental care when we can�*t get an nhs dentist? i think the fact that the hotels alone are costing over £7 million a day makes people pretty upset. those that have come into the country illegally are not very happy about it either, because

they have gone through costs, time and hopes to be in the country the right waste —— those who have come into the country legally. frankly, i think this is very dangerous. you only have to look at what has happened in sweden in cities like malmo to see that a large influx of young males coming from an entirely different culture, and certainly coming from a culture in which women are not even regarded as second class citizens, has had, frankly, disastrous social effects. but since the events of october the 7th and what has happened in gaza and increased radicalisation in the middle east, this is even more of a problem. you see these young men that come, and i have actually filmed this, i have filmed on the 12 mile line, people throwing their iphones into the sea, throwing their

passports into the sea, doing everything they can so that we can�*t track and identify them. but it�*s ok, because they get a new iphone within 24 hours of arrival. but i think this is a national security issue. if you think i am being over the top, let�*s have a think about our friend the top, let�*s have a think about ourfriend donald tusk, who i did battle within the european parliament many times, very much an eu luvvie, now the prime minister of poland. he has talked about the wave of, using his words, not mine, "aggressive young males" that are coming into poland having crossed the mediterranean, and he has said that this is now a matter of national security force of studio: nigel farage with his customary inflammatory language there at a reform uk press conference. he declined to stand for a seat, but we will have more on what he is saying. if you want to follow it more,

follow the qr code. we are now going to take you to an event with the shadow chancellor rachel reeves, who is due to be giving herfirst shadow chancellor rachel reeves, who is due to be giving her first major speech in the east midlands. this is being billed as an announcement on labour economic policy. we are still waiting for manifestos to come out, but labour have been consistent in following their five have been consistent in following theirfive main have been consistent in following their five main themes, have been consistent in following theirfive main themes, with have been consistent in following their five main themes, with six have been consistent in following theirfive main themes, with six new pledges outlined in the last couple of weeks. rachel reeves, who, if labour did come to power injuly, would of course be one of the most powerful women in the country and one of the most powerful figures in the country with a huge number of decisions to make on the economy, having been out of government for 14 years and facing a significant challenge on productivity and trying to secure economic growth. keir starmer has pledged no tax rises on

income tax in the last few days. that leaves questions about spending and how they are going to improve public services as they are pledging to and whether their sums add up. so a lot of questions for rachel reeves. there is going to be a lot of scrutiny of what she says. but labour have announced a letter with 121 business chiefs signing their support for the labour party. it�*s on the front page of the times today. and they say that is significant. it is of course unusual to get business leaders to pledge any sort of political support at all. normally, the conservatives get that kind of support more commonly. but criticism from some quarters on parts of the left of the party, saying, does that square with protecting workers�* rights? 0n the economic front, as well, there is focus from the conservatives, who are pledging a triple lock plus, with a rishi sunak also campaigning in the midland today. we will bring

you more of what he is doing as well. rachel reeves is not coming out as we expected, we thought she was coming imminently. we will go back to that as soon as we can. let�*s listen to more of nigel farage. let's listen to more of nigel faraae. ~ . let's listen to more of nigel faraae.~ . ,_ let's listen to more of nigel faraae.~ . ,.,,_ , let's listen to more of nigel faraae. . ., farage. which disapply is articles two and three — farage. which disapply is articles two and three of— farage. which disapply is articles two and three of the _ farage. which disapply is articles two and three of the human - farage. which disapply is articles i two and three of the human rights act 1998. two and three of the human rights act1998. he two and three of the human rights act 1998. he knows the international treaty goes above and beyond that. and planes not going to rwanda would see the failure of what he believes to be his flagship policy, and that is where the other r comes in. that is where the other r comes in. that is where the reform vote would have gone a lot higher. i believe that is the reason we have got this early general election. the conservative policy on rwanda does not work. we are, i�*m afraid, in a situation where our leaders do not have courage to do different. as for the labour policy, it is a joke. they haven�*t got a policy. they say, get tough on the criminal gangs. we have

been saying for decades in this country that we would get tough on the criminal drugs gangs. but has it made a difference to the supply of illegal substances? made a difference to the supply of illegalsubstances? far made a difference to the supply of illegal substances? far from made a difference to the supply of illegal substances? farfrom it, made a difference to the supply of illegal substances? far from it, in illegalsubstances? farfrom it, in fact, they are being consumed today by more people... we fact, they are being consumed today by more people- - -— by more people... we are going to leave the farage _ by more people... we are going to leave the farage press _ by more people... we are going to leave the farage press and - by more people... we are going to leave the farage press and take i by more people... we are going to. leave the farage press and take you to rachel reeves, the shadow chancellor, who is speaking at the labour party launch.— chancellor, who is speaking at the labour party launch. good morning. in five labour party launch. good morning. in five weeks' _ labour party launch. good morning. in five weeks' time, _ labour party launch. good morning. in five weeks' time, the _ labour party launch. good morning. in five weeks' time, the british - in five weeks�* time, the british people will go to the polls to make a profound choice about the future of our country. and where better to think about that future than here at rolls—royce in derby? away from the short—termism of politics, the pessimism of our present moment, here you have the very model of a great british business, a global brand synonymous with excellence that continues to this day to pioneer in new technology is critical to the challenges of a

changing world. from submarine technology is crucial to defence to the development of carbon—neutral aviation at the frontier of the climate transition. and a business partnering with home—grown and small medium enterprises throughout its supply chains, which has nurtured deep roots in this city going back more than a century. a business built on the foundations of a past in which we can take pride, with a vision of the future that we can invest our hope in. as shadow chancellor, one of the great privileges of this role has been to travel all around the country and meet entrepreneurs, innovators and business leaders across the uk. in the most challenging of economic times, they give me optimism. today i want to put forward a simple proposition, that this changed labour party is today the natural party of british business. and i

want to set out the central economic faultline in this election, the choice before the british people on the 4th ofjuly. five more years of chaos with the conservative party leaving working people worse off, or stability with a changed labour party. i can tell you exactly what rishi sunak wants you to think on polling day. he is already saying it, that the plan is working, don�*t change course now, that the chaos and instability wrought by liz truss was just a blip, and instability wrought by liz truss wasjust a blip, that and instability wrought by liz truss was just a blip, that the deep problems we face are down to global events. they are not his fault at all. don�*tjudge 14 years on 49 days, he will say. i want to take that head on, because while it is true that the crises we have faced are global in origin, our unique exposure to those crises, the reason

we are being hard hit than many comparable countries by the economic impact of covid and then by inflation and rising energy prices, can only be explained by the choices made by conservative governments here at home. and because while the prime minister wants this election to be about whether inflation is coming down this month, he omits to mention when it started to rise — on his watch as chancellor. even before the conservatives, in their clamour to cut taxes for those at the top, sent interest rates and mortgage costs spiralling. he omits to mention when it peaked too — on his watch as prime minister. and he omits to mention the families and the businesses dealing with the consequences of conservative economic mismanagement today. like the family i met in redcar, their

dad doing an apprenticeship, the mum working in a supermarket, who spend every evening talking about money because there is not enough to pay the bills. 0r because there is not enough to pay the bills. or the small business owner in milton keynes desperate to expand, but faced with a system of business rates that are stacked against her. 0rjust down the road from here, the workers, some of whom i met a few months ago, who are facing the uncertainty of the results when a government is unwilling to take a long—term strategic approach in partnership with business and trade unions, the only responsible approach to economic policy. the conservatives are insulting the intelligence of millions of people like these,. the deal with the consequences of their failure. but we won�*t let them get away with it, because the

conservatives deserve to be judged on their record of those 14 years. the general election in five weeks�* time is a chance for the british people to passjudgment time is a chance for the british people to pass judgment on 14 years of economic chaos and decline under the conservative party. 14 years that have seen taxes reach a 70 year high. national debt more than double, and the typical homeowner remortgaging this year paying £240 more a month after the disastrous mini—budget. wages flat on the public services on their knees, taxpayers being asked to pay more and more and yet getting less and less in return. five prime ministers, seven chancellors, 12 plans for growth, each delivering less than the last. to put it in perspective, if our economy had

grown at the average rate of 0ecd countries these last 14 years, our economy today would be £150 billion larger, worth £5,000 for every household, and providing £55 billion more investment for our public services. that is their record and they deserve to be judged on services. that is their record and they deserve to bejudged on it. the conservatives have failed on the economy. the plan isn�*t working. an rishi sunak�*s decision to call a snap general election is the clearest sign of that stop if he doesn�*t believe that his plan is working, why should you? and no matter how much they tell us that liz truss was nothing to do with them, their every action speaks otherwise. they haven�*t learnt their lessons. they are singing from the

same song book, with the prime minister? promises dissolving into thin air, what is his last throw of the dice? not to deliver on the promises he has made of the last two years, but instead to offer up £64 billion worth of unfunded tax cuts. they offered up just another one last night. and the conservatives cannot say how they are going to pay for them. what cuts will they make to public services? what other taxes will they increase? 0r to public services? what other taxes will they increase? or will they fund it through yet more government borrowing? and why should anyone believe them after, and i will say again, the tax burden has reached a 70 year under the conservatives? be in no doubt — the single biggest risk to our economy today is five more years conservative chaos and

decline. my ambitions for britain are so much greater than that. i don�*t think we need fantasy economics to look and hope for a better future. just look around us. but we do need change. we have change the labour party so that we might have a chance to change our country for the better, to offer a government that is pro—worker and pro—business, in the knowledge that each depends upon the success of the other. a party that understands business, that works with business. and not one of those politicians that thinks that the private sector is a dirty word or a necessary evil. i worked in the private sector. before entering politics, i worked in financial services in west yorkshire. i know what a successful business can do for places like those, and i know that economic

growth comes from the success of businesses, large, medium and small. indeed, there is no other way. i�*m not talking about the old trickle—down free—market dogma of the past, but instead a new spirit of partnership between governments and business, an approach fit for a more uncertain world. i know that there is no policy that i can announce, no plan that can be drawn up announce, no plan that can be drawn up in whitehall, that cannot be improved through engagement with business. and our manifesto will bear the imprint of that engagement. i want to lead the most progrowth, the most pro—business treasury that our country has ever seen, with a laser focus on delivering for working people. today, more than 120 senior business leaders have signed a letter expressing their support

for a labour government. across the world of business, labour is being recognised as a natural partner of business, the party of growth and the party of enterprise. a few years ago, you might not have expected to have heard these things from the labour party. think how far we have come under keir�*s leadership in four short years. if we can change this party to bring it back into the service of working people, if we can return it to the centre ground of politics, if we can bring business back to labour, then i know that we can bring business back to britain, to bring investment back to britain, to bring investment back to britain, to bring investment back to britain, to bring growth back to britain, to bring hope back to britain. because by bringing business back to britain, we can deliver a better future for working people. whatever

ideologues on the left or right say, it�*s not either/or. this party understands that business success is crucial to good jobs, and good work is crucialfor crucial to good jobs, and good work is crucial for successful businesses. it is by bringing businesses. it is by bringing business back to britain that we can create good jobs that pay a decent wage, bringing investment to build strong communities with driving high streets, to put more money in people�*s pockets and take pride in goods and services made here in britain, but exported around the world. our plans for growth are built in partnership with business, and mission led government prepared to take on the big challenges we face and ready to seize the opportunities of the future. and a government that will build all its plans for the future and the bedrock of economic stability. it is clearer

than ever that at this election, the choice is between tory chaos and labour stability, and stability is change. stability so that we never again see a repeat of the mini—budget and the damage it did to families. stability so that families and business can plan for the future. stability of direction, so we can bring together government, business and working people in common purpose to meet the great challenges of our time. that will be underpinned by robust fiscal rules, to get debt falling by the end of the parliament. i will never play fast and loose with the public finances, because when you do so, you put family finances at risk. we have started as we mean to go on. i

have started as we mean to go on. i have been very clear that every policy that we announce, every line in our manifesto, will be fully costed and fully funded. no ifs, no ands, no buts. that is the attitude i will take into the treasury, because taxpayers�* money should be spent with the same care with which people spend their own money. i remember when i was growing up, my mum would sit at the kitchen table, combing over the line by line her bank statements and receipts. we went badly off, but we didn�*t have money to spare. to my mum, every penny mattered. i understand the basic test for whoever is chancellor is to bring the attitude to our public finances. . and civility will

rest, as it always has done when britain has enjoyed economic success, unstrung institutions —— stability will rest on strong institutions. as an economist at the bank of england, i know that the stability that it brings and the independence from short—term politics matter to economic success and the battle against inflation. so labour will not play, i will not play, the tory game of undermining the treasury or the bank of england. and i will introduce a new fiscal lock so that any government making significant and permanent changes to tax and spending will be subject to a forecast from the independent 0ffice a forecast from the independent office for budget responsibility so that there is never a repeat of the mini—budget. stability must mean something else too and it is something else too and it is something i have heard from business time and again about how important this is. certainty in our tax

system, which is why we have committed to the publication of a road map covering the duration of the parliament within the first six months of a labour government. and it is why corporation tax will be capped at its current rate for the duration of the next parliament. that is the lowest rate among g7 economies, and should our competitiveness come under threat, we will act. stability will be the bedrock of everything that we do. but stability alone is not enough. it is one central part of what i call securonomics, a new approach that recognises that our age of insecurity requires new answers to new economic challenges. so stability must stand alongside a plan to fix our weak levels of investment. britain today is the only g7 country with investment

below 20% of gdp. i�*m not under the illusion that government can fix this alone. the lifeblood of a successful economy is business investment, so investment will be delivered through a new partnership between government and business, embodied in a new industrial strategy and in a new national wealth fund, with government investing to crowd in tens of billions of pounds of private investment, to create the jobs of the future, drive down bills and achieve energy independence for britain. and we will need reform too. no more ducking the difficult decisions. no more shrinking from vested interests. no more accepting that this is as good as it gets. we will reform our politics, pushing power out of westminster so our local and regional leaders can

deliverfor local and regional leaders can deliver for their areas. we will reform our school system to give working people the chance to succeed in a changing world of work. replacing the apprenticeship levy with a newjobs and growth levy. we will reform our planning system, taking head—on the biggest obstacle to growth and investment that we face, and get britain building again. we will deliver reform with security in work, with a new deal for working people. and we will forge a closer relationship with our nearest neighbours in the european union to ease the burden of bureaucracy and red tape on british businesses, including a new veterinary agreement, an agreement on touring visas and the mutual recognition of professional qualifications. stability, investment, reform. you are going to

hear those three words a lot from me, because they are the ingredients of a genuine plan for the future, an alternative to managed decline. the reason that i can say with confidence that this labour party is the natural party of british business. the choice at the next election is simple. five more years of the vicious cycle of chaos and decline which the conservatives have set in motion, or a changed labour party, putting stability first, in the service of working people. in the service of working people. in the fight on the economy, every day we will expose the damage that the conservatives have done and the further damage that they threatened to do, and we will set out labour�*s alternative. five missions for a decade of national renewal, and six

first steps to point the way to a better britain. cutting nhs waiting times with 40,000 new appointments every single week. launching a new border security command to smash the criminal gangs and to strengthen our borders. setting up great british energy, a new publicly owned clean power company, cracking down on anti—social behaviour, recruiting 6500 new teachers, all fully costed, or fully funded, and all those ambitions built on the bedrock of economic stability, the foundation stones for a decade of national renewal. to serve as chancellor of the exchequer would be the privilege of my life, not to luxuriate in status, not as a staging post in a career, but to serve. i know the

responsibility that will come with that. i embrace it. i know that it will not be easy. it will take hard work. it will require harder choices. i am work. it will require harder choices. iam ready work. it will require harder choices. i am ready for it. as i travel around the country, i see great potential wherever i go, in dynamic great british businesses, like this one. in labs and classrooms in our world leading universities, and in the talent and the effort of working people. it is time to unlock that potential, to turn the page on chaos and decline and start a new chapter for britain. labour is ready. thank you. applause

i will take a few questions from the media now. the first question is from the bbc.— media now. the first question is from the bbc. ., ~ from the bbc. thank you. do you, you don't seem — from the bbc. thank you. do you, you don't seem to — from the bbc. thank you. do you, you don't seem to want _ from the bbc. thank you. do you, you don't seem to want to _ from the bbc. thank you. do you, you don't seem to want to match - from the bbc. thank you. do you, you don't seem to want to match the - don't seem to want to match the conservative triple lock plus policy, — conservative triple lock plus policy. so _ conservative triple lock plus policy, so it is possible that pensioners under a labour government, on the basic state pension— government, on the basic state pension would have to pay tax, is that because you think it is a bad idea ali— that because you think it is a bad idea all you — that because you think it is a bad idea all you would like to do it and don't _ idea all you would like to do it and don't have — idea all you would like to do it and don't have the money, could there be an emergency budget if you win before — an emergency budget if you win before the summer?— an emergency budget if you win before the summer? thank you for that question. _ before the summer? thank you for that question, labour _ before the summer? thank you for that question, labour are - before the summer? thank you for. that question, labour are absolutely committed to the triple lock for pensioners, to give them that security that the basic state pension will continue to rise by whatever is greatest out of inflation, average earnings or 2.5%.

we give that commitment. today is just another desperate gimmick from the conservatives, even before today they had racked up £64 billion of unfunded tax cuts and last night they offered us another one. the only reason that pensioners are looking for the first time at paying income tax on their basic state pension is because the conservatives lost control of the economy, so inflation soaring and they have chosen to freeze the personal allowance, notjust in this parliament but going into the next parliament as well. i have been very clear, i want taxes to be lower, but i am not going to make any commitment where i can�*t say whether money is going to come from. on this one, the conservatives announced today the use of the money that yesterday they used to fund the national service, their numbers don�*t add up. and unlike the conservatives i will never play fast and loose with the public finances. i want taxes to be lower but i will

only announce those changes when we can afford to do so.— can afford to do so. thank you, “ust to ick u- can afford to do so. thank you, “ust to pick up on — can afford to do so. thank you, “ust to pick up on that, i can afford to do so. thank you, “ust to pick up on that, to i can afford to do so. thank you, “ust to pick up on that, to be i can afford to do so. thank you, “ust to pick up on that, to be clear, h can afford to do so. thank you, just to pick up on that, to be clear, are| to pick up on that, to be clear, are you saying — to pick up on that, to be clear, are you saying that those who rely on the state — you saying that those who rely on the state pension will pay income tax under— the state pension will pay income tax under a the state pension will pay income tax undera labour the state pension will pay income tax under a labour government? and can you _ tax under a labour government? and can you also — tax under a labour government? and can you also confirm that a labour government would stick to the freezers. — government would stick to the freezers, the thresholds and allowances to income tax for the next _ allowances to income tax for the next few — allowances to income tax for the next few years? | allowances to income tax for the next few years?— allowances to income tax for the next few years? i want taxes to be lower but unlike _ next few years? i want taxes to be lower but unlike the _ next few years? i want taxes to be l lower but unlike the conservatives i won�*t make unfunded commitments, the truth about unfunded commitments is that no one can have any confidence that no one can have any confidence that you can deliver on them. when liz truss made unfunded commitments around cutting taxes, what happened was that taxes didn�*t get cut, but what did happen is that mortgage rates and interest rates went

through the roof. no one should believe these unfunded commitments from the conservative party today. i want taxes to be lower, i want working people and pensioners to have more of their own money in their pockets. the truth is the only way you can deliver that is through growing the economy, that is why the policies i have set out, the vision i have set out is all about growing the economy so we can afford to sustainably cut taxes, including for pensioners and have money to invest in ourfront line public pensioners and have money to invest in our front line public services. we want taxes to come down but we can�*t announce those reductions in tax until we say where the money will come from. that is a crucial difference between labour and conservatives. rishi sunak is singing from the same song book as liz truss, making unfunded commitments, that is... i will never play fast and loose with the public finances because it is the finances of ordinary families and pensioners

who are most at risk and i will not take those risks. a question from sky news. take those risks. a question from 5 news. ., ., , ., , ., sky news. you are brandishing today the letter from _ sky news. you are brandishing today the letter from 120 _ sky news. you are brandishing today the letter from 120 business - the letter from 120 business figures, _ the letter from 120 business figures, several of those are no longer— figures, several of those are no longer in — figures, several of those are no longer in topjobs, there is no one from _ longer in topjobs, there is no one from the _ longer in topjobs, there is no one from the ftse 100, you have tried to secure _ from the ftse 100, you have tried to secure the _ from the ftse 100, you have tried to secure the backing of those people, why do— secure the backing of those people, why do you — secure the backing of those people, why do you think that is? | secure the backing of those people, why do you think that is? i am proud ofthe why do you think that is? i am proud of the backing _ why do you think that is? i am proud of the backing in _ why do you think that is? i am proud of the backing in that _ why do you think that is? i am proud of the backing in that letter - why do you think that is? i am proud of the backing in that letter from - of the backing in that letter from 120 business leaders from business is big, medium and small from a whole range of british industries. and to have some people find that letter including malcolm walker who in 2015 endorsed the conservative party, we are proud to have that backing from a whole range of uk business leaders across a whole range of centres. the next question is from channel 4.— is from channel 4. morning shadow chancellor. — is from channel 4. morning shadow chancellor, this _ is from channel 4. morning shadow chancellor, this morning _ is from channel 4. morning shadow chancellor, this morning you - is from channel 4. morning shadow chancellor, this morning you said i chancellor, this morning you said this changed labour party is the

natural— this changed labour party is the natural party for business in britain _ natural party for business in britain. but speaking to one major union _ britain. but speaking to one major union today, they asked, and told me there _ union today, they asked, and told me there is— union today, they asked, and told me there is already a party for business _ there is already a party for business it is called the conservative party, they want to know _ conservative party, they want to know who — conservative party, they want to know who is going to be the party for workers, know who is going to be the party forworkers, or don't know who is going to be the party for workers, or don't you believe that workers are as valuable any more _ that workers are as valuable any more to— that workers are as valuable any more to the labour party? labour are a pro-worker — more to the labour party? labour are a pro-worker and _ more to the labour party? labour are a pro-worker and pro-business - a pro—worker and pro—business party, recognising you can�*t be won without the other. you can�*t be pro—working people unless you are pro to businesses that create the prosperity to ensure good jobs are available across our country, and you can�*t be pro—business unless you are for helping working people fulfil their potential. i would say those are two sides of the same coin and it is because i am pro—working people and i want working people to be better off that i want to attract investment to britain, i want businesses to invest and create jobs here in britain and that is why i

have committed to being the progrowth chancellor to make this the most progrowth treasury our country has ever seen, because that is good for business and working people. our new deal for working people. our new deal for working people is a crucial part for our plan for growth, to offer security for working people and wages that can support a family. you can only support those things if the country is doing business, and those endorsements of those hundred and 20 businesses is great news for working people if labour get into office. the next question is from channel five. .,. , the next question is from channel five. .. , ., the next question is from channel five. , ., _, the next question is from channel five. , ., y., ., five. rachel reeves, are you a socialist and _ five. rachel reeves, are you a socialist and if _ five. rachel reeves, are you a socialist and if you _ five. rachel reeves, are you a socialist and if you are - five. rachel reeves, are you a socialist and if you are what i five. rachel reeves, are you a l socialist and if you are what you understand by that term? | socialist and if you are what you understand by that term? i have alwa s understand by that term? i have always called — understand by that term? i have always called myself _ understand by that term? i have always called myself a _ understand by that term? i have always called myself a social - always called myself a social democrat and what i mean by that is that i believe children from whatever background should get an equal start in life to the opportunities that our country offers. i believe in strong public

services to support people all through their lives, from the cradle to the grave, and i believe that work should always pay and offer security to people. that is how i would describe myself but instead of fixating on labels, look at what labour governments have done in the past for working people and look at the aspirations and vision that i have set out today and keir starmer set out yesterday. gb news. 50 have set out today and keir starmer set out yesterday. gb news.- set out yesterday. gb news. so you are not a socialist _ set out yesterday. gb news. so you are not a socialist are _ set out yesterday. gb news. so you are not a socialist are you _ set out yesterday. gb news. so you are not a socialist are you lax - are not a socialist are you lax about — are not a socialist are you lax about company bosses getting very rich? _ about company bosses getting very rich? l _ about company bosses getting very rich? ., ,, ,,, about company bosses getting very rich? ., ,, ,, , ., about company bosses getting very rich? ., ,, ,, , rich? i want businesses to be successful— rich? i want businesses to be successful and _ rich? i want businesses to be successful and that _ rich? i want businesses to be successful and that includes l rich? i want businesses to be - successful and that includes paying people at the top properly for the work they do. i am also committed to turn the minimum wage into a real living wage so that ordinary working people also benefit when an economy grows and is successful, that is why our new deal for working people will also give to working people the security that should come and the dignity that should come from working hard, but for two main people that doesn�*t exist today. the

next question is from the derby telegraph. brute next question is from the derby telegraph-_ next question is from the derby telehrah, . ., ., ., ., ., telegraph. we are hearing a lot of about change. _ telegraph. we are hearing a lot of about change, it _ telegraph. we are hearing a lot of about change, it is _ telegraph. we are hearing a lot of about change, it is a _ telegraph. we are hearing a lot of about change, it is a keyword - telegraph. we are hearing a lot of about change, it is a keyword in i telegraph. we are hearing a lot of| about change, it is a keyword in all of this _ about change, it is a keyword in all of this how— about change, it is a keyword in all of this. how quickly can you bring about— of this. how quickly can you bring about change? you coming to power potentially. — about change? you coming to power potentially, but what changes in business. — potentially, but what changes in business, immediately, what is your first thing? — business, immediately, what is your first thing? we asked earlier about an emergency budget is that the secret— an emergency budget is that the secret to — an emergency budget is that the secret to this and how are you going to change _ secret to this and how are you going to change things overnight? i will break that question _ to change things overnight? in ii. break that question into two parts, what we do for business and then how we will improve our public services. we have committed to a reform of the planning system to get britain building again. updating the national policy frameworks and the list of nationally significant infrastructure projects so we can get britain building again. both housing but also crucial energy, digital infrastructure that we need to make our country a success. we are also committed to that reform of

the apprenticeship levy to turn it into a growth and skills levy so businesses can have that confidence to invest in their workforce. but the most important change i can offer is to bring stability back to the economy. because it is the instability and the chaos that we have seen the last few years that have seen the last few years that have put businesses off investing in the uk. unless we can bring that stability back, we will chug along at the bottom in terms of growth and investment performance compared to our competitors. so the frisco net fiscal lock, the respect for economic institutions and the pro—business approach i would take as chancellor, working in partnership with business is how we would begin to turn the economy around. i�*m under no illusions as to the scale of the challenge after the last 14 years but i know that our country, our great businesses and our working people have a great potential and we need to unlock it. beyond that, we need to turn around

our public services, strong public services are also crucial for a successful economy. that is why we have committed to the 40,000 additional appointments every week in the nhs, by cracking down on tax avoidance and ensuring that non—dom is pay theirfair share of avoidance and ensuring that non—dom is pay their fair share of tax here in britain. and that is why we have said there will be vat and business rates on private schools so we can recruit an additional 6500 teachers, those are things that will be in the first budget and we will set out the date for that, but we want to get on and deliver the change that we are speaking about during the course of this campaign. thank you. next the daily mirror. this campaign. thank you. next the daily mirror-— daily mirror. there have been warninus daily mirror. there have been warnings that _ daily mirror. there have been warnings that the _ daily mirror. there have been warnings that the labour's i daily mirror. there have been i warnings that the labour's plans to scrap _ warnings that the labour's plans to scrap vat — warnings that the labour's plans to scrap vat exemptions for private school _ scrap vat exemptions for private school fees will increase pressure on struggling state schools, what would _ on struggling state schools, what would you say to critics of that plan _ would you say to critics of that plan and — would you say to critics of that plan and would you do an emergency budget— plan and would you do an emergency budget before the summer so you can -et budget before the summer so you can get on _ budget before the summer so you can get on with— budget before the summer so you can get on with a straightaway? thank

ou for get on with a straightaway? thank you for that _ get on with a straightaway? thank you for that question, _ get on with a straightaway? thank you for that question, the - you for that question, the independent institute for fiscal studies has done an analysis of labour�*s plans to put vat and business rates on private schools, they say that even after the behavioural effects, that this policy would raise £1.4 billion and we would use that money to recruit the 6500 teachers that state schools desperately need. i was one of the children who are under the last labour government went to a school and was taught in portakabin is, our library was turned into a classroom because they were more students than space and there were never enough textbooks to go around. so when this government says that children are happy to be taught in portacabin is, i tell gillian keegan that we weren�*t happy in the 80s and 90s and weren�*t happy in the 80s and 90s and we are not happy today for our children to be taught in portacabin is. i am ambitious that all of our children including the 93% in state schools, that is why this policy so

important to give every child a decent start in life, we start the first step in that by recruiting 6500 teachers to ensure our children are being taught by qualified teachers in a classroom, that is an important first step for an incoming labour government. the next question is from the daily mail. you labour government. the next question is from the daily mail.— is from the daily mail. you have already said _ is from the daily mail. you have already said you _ is from the daily mail. you have already said you won't - is from the daily mail. you have already said you won't make i is from the daily mail. you have i already said you won't make unfunded commitments on tax, but what is the first tax— commitments on tax, but what is the first tax cut _ commitments on tax, but what is the first tax cut you would make for workers — first tax cut you would make for workers if — first tax cut you would make for workers if you do achieve economic stability— workers if you do achieve economic stability in — workers if you do achieve economic stability in government? | workers if you do achieve economic stability in government?— stability in government? i would like working _ stability in government? i would like working people _ stability in government? i would like working people to _ stability in government? i would like working people to be - stability in government? i would like working people to be payingj like working people to be paying less income tax and national insurance, unlike the conservatives insurance, unlike the conservatives i am not going to make unfunded commitments because the road to ruin comes through unfunded commitments. i will never play fast and loose with the public finances because the people that pay the price for that are ordinary families and pensioners who have been at the sharp end of the cost of living crisis these last few years. when the conservatives come along, putting more baubles on a christmas tree, what you see there

is a repeat of the mistakes that liz truss made, it is dangerous, reckless and will result in higher taxes, higher mortgage costs and putting pensions in peril in the same way the conservatives have done in the last few years. finally from the guardian. i in the last few years. finally from the guardian.— the guardian. i don't think i have heard you _ the guardian. i don't think i have heard you say — the guardian. i don't think i have heard you say in _ the guardian. i don't think i have heard you say in answer - the guardian. i don't think i have heard you say in answer to i the guardian. i don't think i have heard you say in answer to any i the guardian. i don't think i have | heard you say in answer to any of the questions if you are planning a fiscal— the questions if you are planning a fiscal event — the questions if you are planning a fiscal event or budget before the summer~ — fiscal event or budget before the summer. it would be great to know if you are. _ summer. it would be great to know if you are. and — summer. it would be great to know if you are. and i— summer. it would be great to know if you are, and i also wondered you have _ you are, and i also wondered you have ruled — you are, and i also wondered you have ruled out rises to corporation tax and _ have ruled out rises to corporation tax and national insurance, income tax, tax and national insurance, income tax. given— tax and national insurance, income tax, given the state of public services _ tax, given the state of public services in this country, are you going _ services in this country, are you going to — services in this country, are you going to set out in more detail aside — going to set out in more detail aside from minor tampering with vat on private _ aside from minor tampering with vat on private schools, exactly how labour — on private schools, exactly how labour intends to fund the overhaul of public— labour intends to fund the overhaul of public services?— of public services? thank you for our of public services? thank you for your question. — of public services? thank you for your question, as _ of public services? thank you for your question, as you _ of public services? thank you for i your question, as you know, the obr your question, as you know, the 0br require ten weeks�* notice to provide an independent forecast ahead of a

budget and i have been really clear that i would not deliver a fiscal event without an 0br forecast. in terms of your question around taxes, there are no additional tax rises needed beyond the ones i have set out. we would extend the windfall tax on profits of energy companies and use that to endow a national wealth fund to invest in low carbon energy industries of the future, to preserve jobs and create newjobs as well as energy independence and lower energy bills. we have put vat and business rates on private schools to fund that investment, 6500 additional teachers in state schools, will crack down on tax avoidance and ensure non—dom is pay theirfair share of tax by including trusts in the way the conservatives haven�*t in their plans for non—dom taxation and would use that money to fund breakfast clubs in primary schools as well as our commitments to additional appointments in the nhs and the emergency dental

appointments as well. also we are committed to ensuring taxes on private equity bonuses are taxed appropriately, are the some of the tax changes that we will be bringing in and that is what is needed to fund the pledges that we have made. thank you for your questions and thank you for coming along today. applause rachel reeves, the shadow chancellor making herfirst major rachel reeves, the shadow chancellor making her first major speech of the campaign, an important question that she was answering just there about how labour would improve the public services given that they have ruled out rises to corporation tax, national insurance, income tax and repeating the line that they will not increase those taxes and not make any unfunded plans other than what they have already announced. she also talked about the history of the last 14 years, five prime ministers, seven chancellors, 12 plans for growth, as she said,

talking about a 0ecd report that said britain was less profitable, the productivity rates, the gdp rates were less than our competitors. that meant a real difference to everyone�*s household income. talking about their plans for growth. of course, stressing her caution and talking again about a mission led government and the line that stability is and is the key word that they are emphasising. we go to our correspondent who is following that event but i want to bring you some pictures from lake windermere where you can see ed davey on a paddle board, the leader of the liberal democrats, supporting tim farren in his seat. he is being gamely filmed falling into the water and climbing back. there is our reporter you can see her in the

background, she has done a chat with the liberal democrat leader. they have in the last few years been coming up with visual press moments. lots of stunts, you might say it is a good visual gimmick, you might say it is a bit frivolous, but it is certainly eye—catching and given their position in the polls, they are going out there with a message of wanting to challenge the conservatives in many seats, challenge them in the blue wall as they put it but they are in lake windermere at the moment with the liberal democrat leader, no doubt we will hearfrom them liberal democrat leader, no doubt we will hear from them and our reporter up will hear from them and our reporter up there in the coming moments. let�*s go back to the labour party eventin let�*s go back to the labour party event in derby at the rolls—royce factory, ian was following that, what stood out for you from that speech and the questions that she took afterwards? i speech and the questions that she took afterwards?— speech and the questions that she took afterwards? i think more from the questions _

took afterwards? i think more from the questions than _ took afterwards? i think more from the questions than from _ took afterwards? i think more from the questions than from the - took afterwards? i think more from | the questions than from the speech, the questions than from the speech, the speech was familiar, she was saying that labour can be trusted with the nation�*s finances, something that they are keen to get across to swing voters, people who perhaps voted conservative in the past and are considering voting labour this time. she said she wouldn�*t play fast and loose with the nations finances and she said that labour was a party both of business and workers. although during the course of that speech, i think we heard more about business than we did about the work force. she was pleased by the 120 business leaders and former business leaders that had endorsed her approach. we heard from one of them who introduced her, the questions were more interesting. currently the conservatives are issuing labour with a challenge, would they put pensioners out of tax altogether, would they raise the tax threshold is what is called the triple lock plus, rachel reeves was asked about

that directly, she didn�*t definitely say that labour wouldn�*t consider it but she did say it was a gimmick and she would never make unfunded spending commitments. effectively she was saying if she couldn�*t find the funds by the time labour published their manifesto, it is not going to happen. we now have another dividing line between the conservatives and labour in this campaign. the conservative�*s task is to make it as difficult as possible full rachel reeves to reach her commitment that every in that manifesto will be costed. they are coming up with new challenges the whole time. she was also asked incidentally if she was a socialist, interestingly, unlike keir starmer, yesterday she didn�*t say she was, she said she was a social democrat but she wasn�*t fixated to labels and previous labour governments had done a great dealfor workers. the previous labour governments had done a great deal for workers. the attack on her position from the conservatives is that she would bring in all these new labour laws and workers�* rights, the attack from some people funding labour party,

the trade unions, is that she is being too pro—business and not doing enough to extend worker�*s rights, to quote one of the big unions, she said that labour�*s workers policy has as many holes as a swiss cheese. it is a difficult line for rachel reeves to negotiate, making sure that the traditional funders and unions are happy but bringing in new endorsements from business which was a key message that rachel reeves was trying to get across today. she a key message that rachel reeves was trying to get across today.— trying to get across today. she was asked about _ trying to get across today. she was asked about private _ trying to get across today. she was asked about private schools, i trying to get across today. she was asked about private schools, it i trying to get across today. she was asked about private schools, it hasj asked about private schools, it has been something the telegraph newspaper has been covering a lot, i wonder if it is that given where the polls are perhaps trying to reach into tory heartlands, if that is still a wise position from the labour party. are they still comfortable with that move? there is a relatively small amounts of money that they raise on private schools but it is a dividing line,

potentially between labour and tory? it is a dividing line, it is one they are comfortable with, around 7% of schoolchildren go to fee—paying schools and rachel reeves was asked about that too. she sees it as important because labour have very few specific tax raising measures, she was saying this wouldn�*t raise a huge amount but enough to show that they are willing in terms of their approach to find the money as well as potentially have to make some cuts in spending elsewhere which she called difficult decisions when she was asked about that at the weekend, she said that she could put these funds into breakfast clubs and recruiting teachers for state schools. she talked about her own upbringing under a previous labour government which then put more money into public services in due course, she said she started out being taught in a portakabin, books were difficult to get a hold of and she

doesn�*t want to go back to those days, she is comfortable without dividing line, those traditional conservative supporters, maybe feel they will be hit hard by the vat increases. brute they will be hit hard by the vat increases-— they will be hit hard by the vat increases. ~ ., , , increases. we are “ust seeing the prime minister i increases. we are “ust seeing the prime minister in i increases. we are just seeing the prime minister in staffordshire, | increases. we are just seeing the | prime minister in staffordshire, he is due to be making a speech within the next hour, potentially in the half hour we will get over to that when it gets under way in staffordshire. just on the overall positioning, from what we have seen today with 121 business leaders signing this letter backing labour, but the conservatives coming out with this appeal to pensioners. 0nce that�*s that suggest to you? does it indicate the conservatives are having to shore up their call vote, their traditional vote, does it indicate that they are worried about seeds that they previously thought were safe? . .. , seeds that they previously thought were safe? , ~ , ., were safe? yes, i think they are worried, were safe? yes, i think they are worried. they — were safe? yes, i think they are worried, they are _ were safe? yes, i think they are worried, they are worried i were safe? yes, i think they are worried, they are worried about| worried, they are worried about leakage to the reform party, they

don�*t expect the reform party to win any seats but if some conservative support goes to them, in seats that the conservatives are defending, that makes it easier for labour to window seats. that is the message that the conservatives are sending to their supporters, there is no secret in that but they are concerned about that, and i�*m not sure if it is too soon to say that we are seeing a definite pattern emerging, but if you look at the opinion polls, they don�*t necessarily have a huge deal of hope and aspiration for the youth vote to come to them. at 18—year—olds were told that they may be some form of national service, even doubt if that is working on the committee 25 days a year, that sounds more popular if you are an older voter attracted to the reform party and effectively saying that the pensioners as opposed to the workforce as a whole, pensioners could be exempted from taxation on their state pension for

years to come. that is to appeal to voters who are likely to vote and are more likely to drift towards reform. i�*m not going to generalise from the specifics just yet, you can begin to see that support in places like the east midlands where both parties are campaigning today, these are crucial is seats for labour to win and crucial seats for the conservatives to defend. finally, i think rachel _ conservatives to defend. finally, i think rachel reeves _ conservatives to defend. finally, i think rachel reeves was - conservatives to defend. finally, i think rachel reeves was asked i conservatives to defend. finally, i i think rachel reeves was asked about the possibility of an emergency budget and she indicated that was unlikely because the 0br need a minimum of ten weeks and she wouldn�*t do an event like that without having an 0br report in advance. when you look at the overall messaging of rachel reeves today, she is going to come under huge pressure, isn�*t she over the next few weeks because the labour party are pledging growth which will fund public service improvement? yet that takes time and the question is everyone is asking is if you are not

going to put up taxes and you�*re not going to put up taxes and you�*re not going to put up taxes and you�*re not going to increase borrowing, where�*s the money going to come from whilst growth happens if it happens? yes. growth happens if it happens? yes, there will be _ growth happens if it happens? yes, there will be huge _ growth happens if it happens? isis there will be huge challenges, at there will be huge challenges, at the moment what is pencilled in is a real terms growth of 1% across government departments. there will have to be some re—prioritisation if a labour government takes power, there is no question of that but she strongly defended the office for budget responsibility and the bank of england, she distanced herself hugely from liz truss, pantomime villain in every labour speech you hearin villain in every labour speech you hear in this campaign. i would expect there to be a budget pretty quickly if labour take power because they have to put some tax raising measures into place as quickly as possible, so they can come into force at least in the next financial year, i don�*t think they will be waiting until next spring for the traditional budget to be delivered.

they will effectively be saying that they can raise taxes but how quickly they can raise taxes but how quickly the can they get economic growth and from that big injection of cash coming through from borrowing, that 28 billion for green projects, if you like in a junior version of what joe biden is doing the united states. that is now gone, they are not priming the economy in quite the same way and certainly what they are suggesting in terms of the expansion of skills and working with business, that could indeed promote growth but it wouldn�*t come quickly enough. i think we are more likely to see, the catchphrase if you want to hear it, switch spending, moving some existing public money around into the priorities that labour has, but the priorities that labour has, but the overall message they want to get across before polling day is that they will keep a tight grip on the nation�*s purse strings. they will keep a tight grip on the nation's purse strings.— nation's purse strings. switch spending. — nation's purse strings. switch spending. l — nation's purse strings. switch spending, iwill— nation's purse strings. switch spending, i will remember i nation's purse strings. switch i spending, i will remember that one. thank you very much, live in derby.

let me take you to scotland because we are watching douglas ross, the scottish conservative leader launching their campaign, and i think they are in perth today. which would be part of the snp first minister�*s seat, but the scottish conservatives facing quite a challenge up there. launching their campaign today. against the snp and labour party, let�*s have a quick listen. labour party, let's have a quick listen. , ., ,, ., listen. driving down nhs waiting times, all listen. driving down nhs waiting times. all of— listen. driving down nhs waiting times, all of these _ listen. driving down nhs waiting times, all of these things i listen. driving down nhs waiting times, all of these things are i listen. driving down nhs waiting | times, all of these things are key to the success of the... sir since 2001, the conservatives have seen a huge rise, so much how much do you think this is due to boundary changes? first of all... sorry there

were some — changes? first of all... sorry there were some problems _ changes? first of all... sorry there were some problems with - changes? first of all... sorry there were some problems with the i changes? first of all... sorry there l were some problems with the sound there, we have been trying to follow a number of movements of the party leaders, we sought nigel farage in doverin leaders, we sought nigel farage in dover in the last hour, in the last hour we have seen the liberal democrat leader on lake windermere, paddle boarding. we will get you some pictures an interview with him a little later. and we will also take you to rishi sunak who is due to be speaking in staffordshire within the next hour. we have been hearing from rachel reeves who has beenin hearing from rachel reeves who has been in the midlands. all the parties very much getting going with their campaigns now, we�*ll bring you more at the top of the hour.

live from london, this is bbc news. the shadow chancellor says the labour party is the "natural party of british business" in her first major election speech of the campaign. she promises stability and security. i want to lead the most pro—growth, the most pro—business treasury our country has ever seen, with a laser focus on delivering for working people. it comes as over 120 business figures, including founders of wikipedia and iceland supermarket, have signed a letter endorsing labour�*s economic plan. rishi sunak is in the midlands, as the conservatives announced a new tax scheme for pensions which they

are calling triple lock plus. sir ed davey takes to the campaign trail on like windermere. in dover, the honorary president of reform uk, nigel farage, has denounced the leadership styles of both the tory and labour leaders. also, our other main story today... is ready forces move deeper into rafah despite international condemnation of its bombing there on sunday night which killed dozens of displaced people. —— israeli forces. hello. the shadow chancellor has claimed the labour party is the "natural party of british business" while on a visit to rolls—royce in derby. rachel reeves has been making what labour says is her first major speech of the campaign. it comes as 121 business figures including the wikipedia founder and boss of iceland have signed a letter endorsing labour�*s economic plans.

ms reeves said the conservatives had mis—managed the economy over the last 14 years and that businesses now want to work with labour. across the world of business, labour is being recognised as the natural partner of business, the party of growth in the party of enterprise. a few years ago, you might not have expected to have heard these things from the labour party. think how far we have come under keir�*s leadership, in four we have come under keir�*s leadership, infourshort we have come under keir�*s leadership, in four short years. if we can change this party to bring it backin we can change this party to bring it back in the service of working people, if we can return it to the centre ground of politics, if we can bring business back to keir, then i know that we can bring business back to britain. bring investment back to britain, bring growth back to britain, bring growth back to britain, bring growth back to britain, bring hope back to britain. because by bringing business back to

britain, we can deliver a better future for working people. whatever ideologues on the left or the right to say, it is not either or. this labour party understands that business success is crucial to good jobs and good work is crucial for successful businesses. it is by bringing business back to britain that we can create good jobs that pay a decent wage, bring in investment to build strong communities with thriving high streets, put more money in people�*s pockets. and take pride in goods and services made here in britain but exported around the world. our plans for growth are built on partnership with business. a mission led government prepared to take on the big challenges that we face, and ready to seize the opportunities of the future. and a government that

will build all its plans for the future on the bedrock of economic civility. it is clearer than ever that if at this election the choice is between tory chaos and labour stability, and stability is change. rachel reeves, the shadow chancellor, with a major speech taking questions as well afterwards, as we go through the general election period, our teams here at bbc news are going to be working together to bring you all the information you need. we will be bringing you all of the press conferences, including our correspondent hannah miller, who has beenin correspondent hannah miller, who has been in cumbria, unlike windermere, in her wetsuit. we saw you i think paddle—boarding, very gamely, with ed davey. tell us what you managed to ask him! ., .,

to ask him! yeah, so, i would say it was perhaps — to ask him! yeah, so, i would say it was perhaps a _ to ask him! yeah, so, i would say it was perhaps a little _ to ask him! yeah, so, i would say it was perhaps a little bit _ to ask him! yeah, so, i would say it was perhaps a little bit frivolous i was perhaps a little bit frivolous in some — ways, he is here unlike windermere highlight— ways, he is here unlike windermere highlight his party's policies about sewage. _ highlight his party's policies about sewage, and it being illegally dumped into places, as happened here in windermere back in february. he says the _ in windermere back in february. he says the water companies should be paying _ says the water companies should be paying to _ says the water companies should be paying to improve the infrastructure of the _ paying to improve the infrastructure of the water system, he says there should _ of the water system, he says there should be — of the water system, he says there should be a — of the water system, he says there should be a sewage tax but also calling _ should be a sewage tax but also calling for— should be a sewage tax but also calling for local environmental groups— calling for local environmental groups to be able to sit on the water— groups to be able to sit on the water boards to make sure that places — water boards to make sure that places like this have some of local input _ places like this have some of local input and — places like this have some of local input and can remain clean. the party— input and can remain clean. the party has — input and can remain clean. the party has also got a lot of policies around _ party has also got a lot of policies around dentistry and they are talking — around dentistry and they are talking about responses as well to burglaries. but they are clearly coming —

burglaries. but they are clearly coming here in the lib dems fashion to get— coming here in the lib dems fashion to get a _ coming here in the lib dems fashion to get a good photo opportunity, and i can to get a good photo opportunity, and i can say— to get a good photo opportunity, and i can say that he fell in five times while _ i can say that he fell in five times while he — i can say that he fell in five times while he was out on the lake but very gamely giving it a go and doing a couple _ very gamely giving it a go and doing a couple of— very gamely giving it a go and doing a couple of interviews along the way _ a couple of interviews along the wa . . . a couple of interviews along the wa , ., , ., a couple of interviews along the wa. ., way. has he done paddle-boarding before and was _ way. has he done paddle-boarding before and was he _ way. has he done paddle-boarding before and was he worried - way. has he done paddle-boarding before and was he worried about i before and was he worried about falling into the water given what you say about the sewage dumps? he said he did not have a huge amount of experience in paddle—boarding. actually— of experience in paddle—boarding. actually i— of experience in paddle—boarding. actually i was quite surprised how many _ actually i was quite surprised how many times he was willing to full income _ many times he was willing to full income given the party's policies and worry— income given the party's policies and worry about the sewage being dumped. — and worry about the sewage being dumped, but the message is of course that they— dumped, but the message is of course that they want people to come to constituencies like this here in windermere where we are, it is currently— windermere where we are, it is currently a _ windermere where we are, it is currently a lib dems seat, it has been _ currently a lib dems seat, it has been since — currently a lib dems seat, it has been since 2005, and they want places— been since 2005, and they want places like this to be clean enough to be _ places like this to be clean enough to be able — places like this to be clean enough to be able to encourage people to coma. _ to be able to encourage people to come, tourists to come, to use paddle—boarding, tourist businesses, but he _ paddle—boarding, tourist businesses, but he was _ paddle—boarding, tourist businesses, but he was certainly willing to give

it a go. _ but he was certainly willing to give it a go. it — but he was certainly willing to give it a go, it was when he tried to stand — it a go, it was when he tried to stand up— it a go, it was when he tried to stand up that he got into difficulty. i have to say i was not quite _ difficulty. i have to say i was not quite brave _ difficulty. i have to say i was not quite brave enough to do that myself. — quite brave enough to do that myself, given that i was holding a bbc microphone, i didn't think it would _ bbc microphone, i didn't think it would be — bbc microphone, i didn't think it would be a — bbc microphone, i didn't think it would be a very good idea. you are much braver— would be a very good idea. you are much braver than _ would be a very good idea. you are much braver than me, _ would be a very good idea. you are much braver than me, well- would be a very good idea. you are much braver than me, well done! l would be a very good idea. you are i much braver than me, well done! and we will bring you those interviews and the pictures of tim farron and the lib dems leader in the next few minutes, as soon as we can turn them around. let�*s go live now to my colleague rajini who is in the newsroom for us to give us a full picture of what the bbc will be bringing you in the next few weeks. well, you can see there the entire newsroom, not far from where you are, in studio e. on any day it is really busy in here, but for a general election, it is even busier. if you look over there, you can see studio e in the distance, and if we take you across, you can see our radio teams are sitting there, that is the new channel, that is my

colleagues over there, there is my boss over there. and in the distance is the bulletins team, that is the six and ten, and the nerve centre, the newsdesk is right in the middle. we are up here one floor above because we are coming to see the work of the bbc verify team, which is really important during a general election campaign because it is the verify team who are going to be doing a lot of the fact checking, looking at this information and looking at this information and looking at this information and looking at social media posts as well and checking the verification of those as well. so, there is lots of those as well. so, there is lots of work that they are doing. this is where they all sit on this bank of desks. this is my colleague marianna spring who many of you will know. you are incredibly busy in this election campaign, you are always busy, but tell us about what you are going to be doing in particular with verify this time.— verify this time. yeah, always far too busy. — verify this time. yeah, always far too busy. and — verify this time. yeah, always far too busy, and this _ verify this time. yeah, always far too busy, and this election i - verify this time. yeah, always far too busy, and this election i will| too busy, and this election i will be spinning a lot of time looking at different_ be spinning a lot of time looking at different people's social media feeds, — different people's social media feeds, and i will be doing that by setting _ feeds, and i will be doing that by setting up— feeds, and i will be doing that by setting up my undercover voters, so as you _ setting up my undercover voters, so as you can_ setting up my undercover voters, so as you can see i have got a lot of

old iphones _ as you can see i have got a lot of old iphones here, old ones, not nuance~ — old iphones here, old ones, not nuance the _ old iphones here, old ones, not nuance. the uk undercover voters are 20 for _ nuance. the uk undercover voters are 20 for characters i have created based _ 20 for characters i have created based on — 20 for characters i have created based on data and research by the nationat— based on data and research by the national centre for research and they— national centre for research and they have — national centre for research and they have profiles across all of the main _ they have profiles across all of the main platforms, instagram, facebook, youtube, _ main platforms, instagram, facebook, youtube, x— main platforms, instagram, facebook, youtube, x and tiktok. and they cover— youtube, x and tiktok. and they cover eight— youtube, x and tiktok. and they cover eight constituencies, three characters— cover eight constituencies, three characters in each. i will be feeding _ characters in each. i will be feeding the algorithms, look at the kind of— feeding the algorithms, look at the kind of content they are being recommended, push, targeted with, if and how— recommended, push, targeted with, if and how they encounter hate, disinformation, polarisation, and the impact — disinformation, polarisation, and the impact that could have on the election — the impact that could have on the election. these people do not have any friends, — election. these people do not have any friends, sadly, they are set to private. _ any friends, sadly, they are set to private. but — any friends, sadly, they are set to private, but it is the only way reatty — private, but it is the only way really that we can interrogate the subjective social media world. you have done this _ subjective social media world. gm. have done this before with newsnight newscast in america. you are not revealing which constituencies and which characters that will happen later in the week, but it is important to give us a sense of the fake news that people are encountering online. totally, this

is not 'ust encountering online. totally, this is notjust about _ encountering online. totally, this is notjust about content - encountering online. totally, this is notjust about content coming l is not just about content coming from _ is not just about content coming from the parties themselves, adverts. _ from the parties themselves, adverts, some of the stuff people ntight— adverts, some of the stuff people might have started to see on their feeds, _ might have started to see on their feeds, it _ might have started to see on their feeds, it is — might have started to see on their feeds, it is also about the stuff coming — feeds, it is also about the stuff coming from political activists, supporters, or users where you think han- supporters, or users where you think hang on— supporters, or users where you think hang on a _ supporters, or users where you think hang on a second who is this? it is myiob _ hang on a second who is this? it is myiob to— hang on a second who is this? it is myjob to track down the source of those _ myjob to track down the source of those kinds — myjob to track down the source of those kinds of posts and videos to figure _ those kinds of posts and videos to figure out— those kinds of posts and videos to figure out what is going on and make sense _ figure out what is going on and make sense of— figure out what is going on and make sense of it _ figure out what is going on and make sense of it for everyone who is thinking, — sense of it for everyone who is thinking, this election on social media — thinking, this election on social media is— thinking, this election on social media is a _ thinking, this election on social media is a little chaotic. we can also see this — media is a little chaotic. we can also see this on _ media is a little chaotic. we can also see this on the _ media is a little chaotic. we can also see this on the new- media is a little chaotic. we can i also see this on the new channel, media is a little chaotic. we can - also see this on the new channel, we can hear it on newscast and there is plenty of content on the bbc website. ., . , plenty of content on the bbc website.- you - plenty of content on the bbc website.- you may . plenty of content on the bbc i website.- you may have plenty of content on the bbc - website.- you may have seen website. exactly. you may have seen this on the new _ website. exactly. you may have seen this on the new channel, _ website. exactly. you may have seen this on the new channel, the - website. exactly. you may have seen this on the new channel, the screens| this on the new channel, the screens that we often do explain is from, here they are. and you can see there, the main event there. there are lots of people working behind the scenes, going through a lot of data, going through a lot of policy statements, fact checking is key in a general election. i am going to take you over to this side of the team, this is ben chu, formerly of newsnight, you are policy and

analysis correspondent. yourjob is really important because it is not just fact checking, it is fact checking with context? that is why, we will look — checking with context? that is why, we will look at _ checking with context? that is why, we will look at all _ checking with context? that is why, we will look at all the _ checking with context? that is why, we will look at all the releases - checking with context? that is why, we will look at all the releases of. we will look at all the releases of all of the policy proposals from various parties and we will fact check them but we will also put them in context that people know what they need to know to make sense of they need to know to make sense of the claims from the various parties. on a normal working day you will come in and you will see what the political parties are saying and you will work out whether it is true, whether it is costed, and then you will come onto the screens and explain it to the news channel? that's right. i will often do it the night before and prepare it for the next day just to try and night before and prepare it for the next dayjust to try and get night before and prepare it for the next day just to try and get ahead so we know what is going on and we can give the best possible context. in true blue peterfashion, here is what you made earlier. got the screens ready. this is what you have been working on this morning. today it is the government policy announcement on pensions? yes, the trile lock announcement on pensions? yes, the triple lock plus- _ announcement on pensions? yes, the triple lock plus. this _ announcement on pensions? yes, the triple lock plus. this is _ announcement on pensions? yes, the triple lock plus. this is what _ announcement on pensions? yes, the triple lock plus. this is what we - triple lock plus. this is what we have been looking at today. this came from the government that this

is going to save pensioners hundreds of pounds a year as a tax cut. let's look at the truth of that. so, i think it is really important for this claim to look at the context of the personal allowance, this is the amount you can earn before you have to pay income tax. and you can see here that this is frozen in cash terms over the next two years, until 2027, at around £12,500. and this was frozen in cash terms byjeremy hunt and rishi sunak, and it is important to recognise that this is effectively a tax hike, because as people's wages and incomes go up over time, people's wages and incomes go up overtime, more people's wages and incomes go up over time, more people get dragged above this level and they pay more in income tax. the groups who was due to be hit by this effective tax rise was people receiving the state pension. you can see that highlighted in green here. and you can see the state pension rises by 2027, under current projections, to just above the personal allowance,

so that means some pensioners would start to pay income tax under current projections, and it goes up as time goes by. so, what the conservatives are proposing today is to increase the personal allowance for pensioners, rajini, to start at about £13,000, and rising increasingly every year above that, so what it means is that effectively, pensioners, if this plan was implemented, would not actually have to pay income tax because their personal allowance would be sufficiently high that they would be sufficiently high that they would not have to. but it is important to recognise, though, that effectively this is not really a tax cut, it is effectively not imposing a tax rise, which the government had planned. it is important to recognise that this new, higher personal allowance that is only for pensioners, everyone else will still be hit by this breeze in the personal allowance over the next few years. personal allowance over the next few ears. ., personal allowance over the next few ears. . ., personal allowance over the next few ears, ., ., ., " personal allowance over the next few ears. . ., .,~ , personal allowance over the next few ears. . ., , ., years. thanks for taking us through that. of course _ years. thanks for taking us through that. of course this _ years. thanks for taking us through that. of course this is _ years. thanks for taking us through that. of course this is politics - years. thanks for taking us through that. of course this is politics so i that. of course this is politics so every party has a different position, we have heard from the shadow chancellor rachel reeves this morning, what is her response to this policy?—

this policy? labour's response is that this is _ this policy? labour's response is that this is non-credible, - this policy? labour's response is that this is non-credible, they i that this is non—credible, they think it is a bit desperate, but importantly they have not said whether they would match it or not, whether they would match it or not, whether they would impose a new personal allowance for pensioners or not, so i guess we will find out in the coming few days whether they will be proud prepared to match that or not. the will be proud prepared to match that or not. ., ., i. ., ,, or not. the nature of your 'obs means that i or not. the nature of your 'obs means that this i or not. the nature of your 'obs means that this afternoon h or not. the nature of yourjobs means that this afternoon you | or not. the nature of yourjobs - means that this afternoon you could be looking at another policy altogether?— be looking at another policy altogether? very likely to be something — altogether? very likely to be something completely - altogether? very likely to be - something completely different. thank you, ben chu, the policy and analysis correspondent with the bbc very fighting. important to say that people will be appearing on the new channel but there is also plenty of content online. there are lots of experts appeared doing their work, we can take you to robert cuffe, who has been waiting patiently, our statistics correspondent with bbc news. everyone is interested in opinion polls, everyone has a different view on how much weight we should give them. tell us what you have been working on today and what you will be working on through the campaign to bring us context when it comes to polling? i

campaign to bring us context when it comes to polling?— comes to polling? i think our viewers will _ comes to polling? i think our viewers will be _ comes to polling? i think our viewers will be inundated - comes to polling? i think our| viewers will be inundated with polls. these are polls we have seen over the course of the last parliament, i love data but i look at this and i almost want to... too much to look at. thankfully we have got a team here in london and a team in birmingham as well who are crunching all of these figures to pull out the trends, to enable you to see what is really pull out the trends, to enable you to see what is really going pull out the trends, to enable you to see what is really going on. pull out the trends, to enable you to see what is really going on. you can see labour's big lead which has been steady for the last half of parliament and you can see how much it takes to shift public opinion. if you go back to early 2020 you can see the big lead for the tories around the start of lockdown, drifting down, coming up again, as the vaccine roll—out got under way, and then really labour starting to take over from the moment the partygate scandal first broke, with a big lead around the time of the mini budget, and then as rishi sunak took over, starting to get some of it back, but in recent months, even though labour has been holding steady, it looks like the tories are still slipping a little bit and you can probably see the reason why down here in the light blue. you can see the reform party, in the light blue,

just coming up now. so the conservatives are fighting both on the left and on the right. so that is really the whole last five years in one shot. is really the whole last five years in one shot-— is really the whole last five years in one shot. ~ . ., ,., ., , in one shot. what about the last few da s? of in one shot. what about the last few days? of course. — in one shot. what about the last few days? of course, since _ in one shot. what about the last few days? of course, since the - in one shot. what about the last few days? of course, since the election | days? of course, since the election has been called, _ days? of course, since the election has been called, we _ days? of course, since the election has been called, we have _ days? of course, since the election has been called, we have had - days? of course, since the election | has been called, we have had about six further polls. if you look at those, you might start to think, actually we are seeing a two—point bump up for actually we are seeing a two—point bump upforthe actually we are seeing a two—point bump up for the tories according to one poster, maybe a couple saying labour are up by three. but don't focus on the docks, really pay attention to the averages, because that will give you a clearer picture of what is going on. and if you do that, you can see really the changes, the average change we have seen for labour is within a rounding error of zero, the same for the other parties as well, not very different. other parties as well, not very different-— other parties as well, not very different. ., ., ., , different. so, reform have gone up microscopically. _ different. so, reform have gone up microscopically. i— different. so, reform have gone up microscopically. ithink— microscopically. i think microscopically - microscopically. i think microscopically is - microscopically. i think microscopically is the l microscopically. i think- microscopically is the right word. we would say that polls on average can be out by up to for percentage points. this one only goes up to two, we are talking twice the height of the screen. it

two, we are talking twice the height of the screen-— of the screen. it could really be a flat line, then? _ of the screen. it could really be a flat line, then? it— of the screen. it could really be a flat line, then? it could. - of the screen. it could really be a | flat line, then? it could. although we should say _ flat line, then? it could. although we should say they _ flat line, then? it could. although we should say they only _ flat line, then? it could. although we should say they only stopped i we should say they only stopped asking questions of people for these polls on saturday, so, very early in the campaign, probably too soon for all of the stories we will be covering to be reflected. thank you very much- — covering to be reflected. thank you very much- i _ covering to be reflected. thank you very much. i was _ covering to be reflected. thank you very much. i was on _ covering to be reflected. thank you very much. i was on the _ covering to be reflected. thank you very much. i was on the bus - covering to be reflected. thank you very much. i was on the bus on - very much. i was on the bus on saturday and i saw someone armed with a polling kit, she was working for a polling company going door—to—door to canvass opinion, it really is early days when it comes to this campaign. this flaw here also as well as verify, the weather team is over there, we saw carol kirkwood earlier, just to give you a sense of location, and now i can walk you back over here, there is a newsroom down there, and i am right behind you, geeta. thanks, rajini, to you and to all the team. much more of course in the coming days and weeks. we are also going to be hearing in the next few minutes we hope from rishi sunak, who is at an eventin hope from rishi sunak, who is at an event in staffordshire, in the second full week of the campaign.

the first full week but the second week of campaigning, and we have also been seeing ed davey, leader of the liberal democrats, on a paddle board, and in the water. apparently he fell in five times. he is there where the tim farron, the local mp up where the tim farron, the local mp up there. and they are campaigning partly on the cleanliness of the water, worried about sewage dumps, so it is particularly brave of him, you might think, to go for it this morning, and our reporter hannah has been interviewing him, also on a paddle—boarding, we will bring you those clips as soon as we can turn them around for you. but serious messages of course from the liberal democrats, and ar challenging a lot of conservatives seats and labour seats of course across the country. —— they are challenging we have also been hearing from other party leaders, from rachel reeves, the shadow chancellor, who has been giving herfirst campaign message,

emphasising security and stability. iain watson is me. you have been speaking to business leaders at the event as well, iain? == speaking to business leaders at the event as well, iain?— event as well, iain? -- iain watson is there. event as well, iain? -- iain watson is there- can _ event as well, iain? -- iain watson is there. can you _ event as well, iain? -- iain watson is there. can you hear _ event as well, iain? -- iain watson is there. can you hear me? - event as well, iain? -- iain watson is there. can you hear me? hello, | is there. can you hear me? hello, es, i is there. can you hear me? hello, yes. i can — is there. can you hear me? hello, yes. i can hear— is there. can you hear me? hello, yes, i can hear you _ is there. can you hear me? hello, yes, i can hear you now. - is there. can you hear me? hello, i yes, i can hear you now. apologies, we came to — yes, i can hear you now. apologies, we came to you _ yes, i can hear you now. apologies, we came to you a — yes, i can hear you now. apologies, we came to you a little _ yes, i can hear you now. apologies, we came to you a little bit - yes, i can hear you now. apologies, we came to you a little bit early. . we came to you a little bit early. yes, rachel reeves was joined by a range of business people watching her speech, she wanted to emphasise that labour is the party of business, so i thought it would be quite a good idea to talk to somebody who was listening to rachel reeves and who didn't sign that letter, which 120 business people did. could you just introduce yourself as double and tell us who yourself as double and tell us who you work for, what your business does? ,-. you work for, what your business does? , ., ., ., you work for, what your business does? ,., ., ., ., ., ., does? good morning, i am from a business called... _ does? good morning, i am from a business called... we _ does? good morning, i am from a business called. .. we work- business called... we work with businesses _ business called... we work with businesses across the united kingdom

and europe _ businesses across the united kingdom and europe in terms of helping them, we are _ and europe in terms of helping them, we are consultancy working with predominantly stem businesses and manufacturing businesses. and predominantly stem businesses and manufacturing businesses.- manufacturing businesses. and you obviously listen _ manufacturing businesses. and you obviously listen to _ manufacturing businesses. and you obviously listen to their _ manufacturing businesses. and you obviously listen to their concerns? l obviously listen to their concerns? yes. we also work with the east midlands — yes. we also work with the east midlands chamber, manufacturing networks — midlands chamber, manufacturing networks across derbyshire, nottinghamshire, leicestershire, and a lot of— nottinghamshire, leicestershire, and a lot of those businesses... i�*m a lot of those businesses... i'm afraid we _ a lot of those businesses... i'm afraid we will _ a lot of those businesses... in afraid we will have two come back to you later, i think the prime editor is now about to speak but i will be very keen to get your views on what labour are saying about business. thanks very much, let's take you to rishi sunak. thanks very much, let's take you to rishi sunak-— thanks very much, let's take you to rishi sunak. ., ., , ,., rishi sunak. fourth-largest exporter an here rishi sunak. fourth-largest exporter anywhere in — rishi sunak. fourth-largest exporter anywhere in the _ rishi sunak. fourth-largest exporter anywhere in the world, _ rishi sunak. fourth-largest exporter anywhere in the world, right? - rishi sunak. fourth-largest exporter anywhere in the world, right? that i anywhere in the world, right? that is thank to businesses like you so you should feel incredibly proud what taking advantage of brexit and pumping out stuff out across the world. so thank you for that, but also thank you jonathan, you are very lucky, there could be no more vocal, some would say gubbay, champion for stoke—on—trent in westminster than jonathan, champion for stoke—on—trent in westminster thanjonathan, he is absolutely superb. not only does he spend his entire time turning over

every cup, saucer and plate wherever you are to make sure it comes from stoke, he also champions your community. he has brought 500 good jobs here from the home office, 300 new police officers, made sure that we have invested tens of millions of pounds in levelling up, and especially, something i know that is very important to you, thanks to the town deal, we have got the kidsgrove the sports centre reopened after labour had closed it. so pleasejoin me in saying a massive thank you donovan for everything he does. applause right, look, i know the last few years have been tough, you know that, i know that, we had a pandemic, the impact it had, then a war in ukraine, the impact it had on inflation. but i hope you saw during that time that i had your back. whether it was a furlough scheme or the support we provided for energy bills, we as a country, with all your resilience, hard work and sacrifice, have got through it, you can see that now. inflation is down from 11% when i got this job down to

2%, back to normal now. wages have rising faster than prices for almost a year. the economy at the start of this year grew faster than france, germany, italy, even america. so, we really have turned a corner, and i hope you can see that the plan is working, and that we've restored economic stability. because that is what you get with me, that is what you get with the conservatives. we restored economic civility, we always will prioritise that. the question now, for all of you, for the country, is, who do you trust to build on that foundation and secure a future for you, your family and our country? and that is the choice at this election. do we build on that progress that we have all collectively made and go forward or do we go back to square one, with no plan and no certainty? the only certainty you are going to get with the labour party is that they are going to run out of money and put up your taxes. as clear as night follows day. we've crunched the numbers, actually the treasury, the

officials at the treasury, have crunched the numbers, totted up all the things they say they want to spend money on and all the things that they haven't found to pay for them and figured out what it is going to cost you and i can tell you is going to cost you £2000 each. £2000 for every working family in our country in higher taxes to pay for their long list of things. that is not going to bring financial security to you and your family. you all know, you read newspapers, you turn on the telly every day, whether we like it or not we are living in a more dangerous and uncertain time then we have in decades. iran, russia, north korea, china, working together in ways which threaten our values, our interests notjust abroad but here at home. states weaponising migration to threaten the integrity of our borders. in these uncertain times call for a bold plan. clear action, so that we can secure the future of our country. chart a course to a more secure future for all of you. and thatis secure future for all of you. and that is what you get without. take the topic of illegal migration, something i know is important to all

of you, something jonathan and i speak about a lot. it is fundamentally unfair that people jump fundamentally unfair that people jump the queue and come to our country illegally, it puts pressure on local services, hotels, country illegally, it puts pressure on localservices, hotels, puts people's lives at risk, it is simply not right. we have got a bold plan to deal with the boats. and when i first announced it, well, my predecessor, when i first got this job, people said this is not the right thing to do. now, across europe, the penny has dropped that our approach is the right approach. because unless people know that if they come here illegally they will not be able to stay, and we will be able to remove them, we will not be able to remove them, we will not be able to remove them, we will not be able to have a proper deterrent and stop them coming in the first place. now everyone else's realising that, one person doesn't, keir starmer, it is clear, he is going to let out all of the people that we have detained to go on those flights, he is going to go on those flights, he is going to cancel those flights and offer an amnesty to illegal migrants and all that will do is make us a soft touch

in your a magnet for thousands of illegal migrants from across europe or to come here, in any way you look at it, the labour party are any of us on any dimension that you care about. they will also want you to think that this election is over before it has even begun. you know what, i don't think this election is a foregone conclusion. i am going to fight very hard every single day to own your trust. and i also don't think the british people are taking it for granted. we are going to keep putting bold actions on the table that i think i going to transform this country for the better. you saw that over the last few days, our plan, a new version of national service, so young people can get the skills, opportunities that they need, that we can foster a culture of service in our country to make our society more cohesive, so that we can strengthen our country's resilience and security for the long—term. that is a bold plan. what is the contrast? keir starmer gave another half an hour speech yesterday, right? can any of you name a single new idea that came out

of that speech? a single bold thing thatis of that speech? a single bold thing that is going to change our country for the better? no. that is going to change our country forthe better? no. because that is going to change our country for the better? no. because he's taking the country for granted, assuming he can waltz into downing street without saying what he is going to do, without having the courage to tell you about his plans. and this is someone if he was happy to abandon every single promise he made to become labour leader once he got thejob, what made to become labour leader once he got the job, what makes you think that he won't do exactly the same thing if he ever became prime minister? if he can't stand for anything himself, how can he stand up anything himself, how can he stand up for all of you? in contrast, we are prepared to take hold action, we do have a clear plan, and that is how we are going to deliver a secure future for you and your families. i want to build a britain where we can have a renewed sense of confidence in ourselves, in our communities, pride in our country, a country where your hard work is rewarded, where your hard work is rewarded, where we continue to cut your taxes, a country where the opportunities that were there for the previous generation are going to be there for

the next generation, and a country where our defence and safety is assured. that is the secure future that i am working towards and with your support that is what i will deliver for all of you. thank you very much for having me. applause all right. ok. right, have we got some questions? who has got the first question. have we got a microphone anyone? oh, bass, right, 0k! microphone anyone? oh, bass, right, ok! haring off! laughter with a growing business, we have no problem to recruit good, hard—working people in stoke, and they are willing to learn. what hard-working people in stoke, and they are willing to learn.— they are willing to learn. what we do have is. _ they are willing to learn. what we do have is. we — they are willing to learn. what we do have is, we have _ they are willing to learn. what we do have is, we have a _ they are willing to learn. what we do have is, we have a skills - they are willing to learn. what we do have is, we have a skills gap, l they are willing to learn. what we i do have is, we have a skills gap, in particular with engineering and materials science. my question is, what will you do to the education system to ensure that we are getting this technical orientation to our education and fill those skills gaps for us? yeah. ithink

education and fill those skills gaps for us? yeah. i think education is the most powerful way that we have to transform people's lives. not only is it going to be great for your business if we get this right, and the economy, but for every young person who we can provide the best education for, it is the best way we can make sure that they have an incredible life. it is what happened to me, it is what my parents did, it is what i want to happen for every young kid in our country. and i really glad you brought up the topic of engineering because i have been going on for a while now about the need for our society to prioritise mass. because we are not going to be able to train people in the skills and thejobs of able to train people in the skills and the jobs of the future, particularly in things like materials science and engineering unless we have more maths. and we as a country have not prioritise mass in the way that we should have done. we are one of the few countries in the world where we say to our young people you don't have to study maths up people you don't have to study maths up to 18 and i want to change that. it does not mean everyone had to study maths a—level, just being more familiar with maths is a good thing for the country, good for individuals and it is going to be great to get you the young people that you need with the skills that they need. but we are not to be able

to do that unless we have fantastic teachers. jonathan knows a thing or two about that, as does his wife. so one thing that i have created is a new bursary, so, for teachers that are going to go and teach stern subjects like maths, they can now own £30,000 extra on top of their salary in a tax—free bursary for the first few years of their career. so that we can attract fantastic teachers to teach these stern subjects, notjust maths, teachers to teach these stern subjects, not just maths, but subjects, notjust maths, but crucially also, something else that jonathan aberdein have talked about, when we did these things in the past, peoplejust when we did these things in the past, people just focused when we did these things in the past, peoplejust focused on schools, i thought that is not right, we have got fantastic further education colleges across our country and we have made sure that those bursaries for the first time are available to teachers who are going to teach in those further education colleges as well. because if we really want an education system fit for the future not just for your business but for the young people, we need to prioritise technical education and further education colleges and that is exec and what we are doing.

the other thing that we are very passionate about is apprenticeships. i met a couple today and that is something that is also important to us. we are a party that believes in increasing the quality and quantity of ventures. not everyone has to go in to university and that is a clear choice in the selection. the labour party still clinging to this idea that the only way to succeed in life is to go to university. that is simply not right so we want to ensure that there is a high quality apprenticeship. this will half the number of appointed ships. if you think apprentices are a good thing and you want more of them, vote for us. if we think the only which is university rate for labour. inaudible you to dawn. you have come

prepared! i inaudible you to dawn. you have come reared! ., inaudible you to dawn. you have come --reared! . _, , prepared! i have come prepared! it won't turn to _ prepared! i have come prepared! it won't turn to the _ prepared! i have come prepared! it won't turn to the dawn _ prepared! i have come prepared! it won't turn to the dawn show - prepared! i have come prepared! it. won't turn to the dawn show though. national— won't turn to the dawn show though. national service, the reason i have lfought— national service, the reason i have bought it _ national service, the reason i have bought it up i have got two sons who are definitely benefited from this, but i wanted to know if that can be bonded _ but i wanted to know if that can be bonded -- — but i wanted to know if that can be bonded -- if— but i wanted to know if that can be bonded —— if that can be broadened to cover— bonded —— if that can be broadened to cover ex—convicts from prison 'ust to cover ex—convicts from prison just because i think that some would benefit _ just because i think that some would benefit from the structure and the guidance — benefit from the structure and the guidance of the rules of national service — guidance of the rules of national service. ., ., . , ., guidance of the rules of national service. ., ., ., , ., ., guidance of the rules of national service. ., ., ., ., service. how old are your two sons? i've not service. how old are your two sons? i've got one — service. how old are your two sons? i've got one who _ service. how old are your two sons? i've got one who is _ service. how old are your two sons? i've got one who is 21 _ service. how old are your two sons? i've got one who is 21 daily - service. how old are your two sons? i've got one who is 21 daily and - service. how old are your two sons? i've got one who is 21 daily and one | i've got one who is 21 daily and one he was _ i've got one who is 21 daily and one he was nearly 30. so

i've got one who is 21 daily and one he was nearly 30.— i've got one who is 21 daily and one he was nearly 30. so this would be a aood thin he was nearly 30. so this would be a good thing for _ he was nearly 30. so this would be a good thing for them. _ he was nearly 30. so this would be a good thing for them. definitely - good thing for them. definitely because without _ good thing for them. definitely because without sounding - good thing for them. definitely because without sounding the l because without sounding the respectful to them they are more lrrawny— respectful to them they are more brawny than brains.— respectful to them they are more brawny than brains. let's hope they are not watching! _ brawny than brains. let's hope they are not watching! just _ brawny than brains. let's hope they are not watching! just being - are not watching! just being truthful sorry! _ are not watching! just being truthful sorry! yes, - are not watching! just being truthful sorry! yes, they - are not watching! just being i truthful sorry! yes, they would are not watching! just being - truthful sorry! yes, they would have henefitedm — truthful sorry! yes, they would have benefited---— benefited... really nice to hear our benefited... really nice to hear your affection _ benefited... really nice to hear your affection so _ benefited... really nice to hear your affection so i _ benefited... really nice to hear your affection so i have - benefited... really nice to hear your affection so i have been i your affection so i have been talking to people across the country about this as we have made the announcement. i am about this as we have made the announcement. lam really about this as we have made the announcement. i am really excited about this i would tell them the mug you are little bits why. i have two children, they are 11 and 13. i'm talking to a lot of people actually said this item i have had thisjob about what can be said this item i have had thisjob about what can he do to really transform our country for the better. if i think about national service, for young people as you said, doing something that provides them with skills and opportunities

is going to be really transmission for their lives. all the things that you said, substructure, some rules, is a sense of belonging and identity. i think service gives you purpose and i think it would be really brilliant for young people to have this rite of passage that they go through with everything that it teaches them. it gives them out of trouble, i have talked to so many plans about what their kids are doing at the weekend. we see all of the stories. i think this will be wonderfulfor young the stories. i think this will be wonderful for young people, the stories. i think this will be wonderfulfor young people, but it would be great for our country. i think all of us have felt that our society could do with being more cohesive. remind us that we are all on the right side, bring us together, this would do that, it will culture that service. in a more certain time, it will make our country more safe. we have thousands and thousands of people in the future who have been trained... remember there's choice, people who

want you can do the military component it will be very selective and other people can do civic role, such a rescue, helping elderly people. this will all contribute to our country's resilience and security. it will become a rite of passage and an important part of who we are as a nation. people want to talk to me about it and they said it would you think? funnily enough, the question i get from people who say i don't think i want is do is my kids want to do this. people say my kids are a bit older, they go back and do it or as you said, can the extended two different groups who can benefit which is a really good sign that they can benefit from this. not all of you i'm sure will agree with this idea, but i i hope you will see that this idea is bold and it will be potentially transformational for our country. we are in a very important

town, this is not a time for half measures, we have built all the stability, we have got three this hard time. i want to deliver all overfor you a more hard time. i want to deliver all over for you a more secure future for our country. we can't do that unless we take hold action, a secure plan and this is an example of that. that is why am really excited of what it could be for our country. who's next? yes, sir. you have a question?— iamjust i am just wondering why can't we have _ i am just wondering why can't we have a _ i am just wondering why can't we have a bank holiday for england, st george's_ have a bank holiday for england, st george's day... fair have a bank holiday for england, st george's day- - -_ george's day... fair enough, i do aet george's day... fair enough, i do get asked — george's day... fair enough, i do get asked this — george's day... fair enough, i do get asked this a _ george's day... fair enough, i do get asked this a lot _ george's day... fair enough, i do get asked this a lot and _ george's day... fair enough, i do get asked this a lot and we - george's day... fair enough, i do get asked this a lot and we all- george's day... fair enough, i do. get asked this a lot and we all love to have days off, less the owners. but there are lots of other things

that come along with bank holidays and the impacts they have that we need to take into account. the thing you touch on though which is important, taking a moment to be proud of who we are and our country. that is important, whether we need a bank holiday or not is a separate thing, but we should never be ashamed of who we are and our identity. what we have seen over the last few months is that sadly there are forces trying to divide us, who are forces trying to divide us, who are trying to emphasise all our differences. i think that is sad, people i say you can't believe this are you we should be ashamed of this part of our history and i will pass. of course this country is not perfect, but i am enormously done what we have done notjust here but around the world, the values we have stood for. notjust on bank holidays, it should be every day. what it has —— look at what it has

done for me, a country that welcomed my family here. my grandparents here, a country that said if you integrate, we will provide opportunities here for you to succeed. and i am standing here talking to you now. i don't think my story would be possible in any other country in the world. i am enormously proud of what we have achieved, but i'm also excited about what we can do in the future and thatis what we can do in the future and that is why this election is so important. there is so much at stake and there are so many challenges and threats and i am the person you can deliver that secure future for you because i am prepared to do the big things, i've got a set of beliefs and values and convictions, i am prepared to stand... not chopping and changing, if you can't stand anything, that is what the other guy is about. i'm not saying you have to agree with everything i say, but i

will deliver a secure future for you and yourfamily will deliver a secure future for you and your family and will deliver a secure future for you and yourfamily and one will deliver a secure future for you and your family and one that you can be really proud of everything we are doing. have you got time for one more? , ., ., ~ , doing. have you got time for one more? , ., ., g ., ., , ., more? yes, go for it! my follows on from dawn's — more? yes, go for it! my follows on from dawn's really, _ more? yes, go for it! my follows on from dawn's really, with _ more? yes, go for it! my follows on from dawn's really, with the - from dawn's really, with the national— from dawn's really, with the national service _ from dawn's really, with the national service stuff, - from dawn's really, with the national service stuff, you . from dawn's really, with the i national service stuff, you have from dawn's really, with the - national service stuff, you have a plan _ national service stuff, you have a plan to— national service stuff, you have a plan to look— national service stuff, you have a plan to look after— national service stuff, you have a plan to look after people - national service stuff, you have a plan to look after people in - national service stuff, you have a plan to look after people in the l plan to look after people in the future — plan to look after people in the future when _ plan to look after people in the future when they— plan to look after people in the future when they have - plan to look after people in the future when they have left - plan to look after people in the future when they have left the i future when they have left the forces — future when they have left the forces with _ future when they have left the forces. with the _ future when they have left the forces. with the veterans, - future when they have left the forces. with the veterans, we| future when they have left the i forces. with the veterans, we are going _ forces. with the veterans, we are going to — forces. with the veterans, we are going to have _ forces. with the veterans, we are going to have a _ forces. with the veterans, we are going to have a look— forces. with the veterans, we are going to have a look to _ forces. with the veterans, we are going to have a look to morph... i forces. with the veterans, we are - going to have a look to morph... you have an going to have a look to morph... have any veterans in the room? oh you have where did you serve? inaudible thank you for your service. we took about some of the things about what it means to be british. i believe as well as you do for people who have worked it out and put in we need to make sure they have the dignity they deserve when they have finished. that have the dignity they deserve when they have finished.—

they have finished. that is why i have really _ they have finished. that is why i have really protected _ they have finished. that is why i have really protected benches i they have finished. that is why i l have really protected benches and their triple lots as you has seen our announcement today. we are going to raise the threshold, make sure that the pensioners get a tax cut and they will never pay tax on the state pension. those of you who are thinking about the future or thinking about the future or thinking about the future or thinking about your parents under the potential future labour government. pensioners will start paying tax, that will not happen under us. the other way to do that is to make sure that this is the best country in the world to be a veteran. that is something that i set out when i became prime minister. forthe set out when i became prime minister. for the first time we have got a minister in cabinet, we have got a minister in cabinet, we have got a minister in cabinet, we have got a writer is minister, for the first time, he sits around at the table. we are making sure that the writers get the health care they need, whether we have got up courage, fortitude. make sure they get help with thousand that they need, making sure that when they leave their services they get their help that they need. you are also

helping veterans get into fantastic jobs because you know good have —— you have so many skills and experience that most people do not have. we need to make sure that the best business decision not an active town sea, the best business decision town sea, the best business decision to make is to hire a veteran. that is what i believe —— not an act of charity, the best business decision to make is to hire a veteran. so, thank you for your service. i will not stop until this is unequivocally the best place in the world to be a veteran. we owe it to you after you leave. thanks very much for having me, i really appreciate your support thanks for your support forjohn anything and i'm going back to very badly painting some more plates! bye. rishi sunak, the prime minister there receivers and questions in

starfish sieve. —— receiving some questions in staffordshire. we'll be back to receive more details on that. pointing out that he is taking a bold action, the prime minister is saying that he has built stability, he is now coming forward with these further bold ideas, wanted to be more cohesive, talking about his new policy suggestion of national service after a question there from one of the people in the audience. talking about the skills gap and how the prime minister wants to fix that within the economy and talking about having to restore economic stability, saying that they would be a cost to labour's plans as a dilly the concept to see it at present. we will bring more. the labour —— the liberal democrats have also been outlining their plans, make sure that sewage seals —— sewage spills

are taken seriously. ed davey has been taking out his pad aboard our lake windermere. we are with our correspondent hannah miller to talk about the triple lock plus plan for pensioners. irate about the triple lock plus plan for pensioners— pensioners. we put in the triple lus pensioners. we put in the triple [us for pensioners. we put in the triple plus for pensioners _ pensioners. we put in the triple plus for pensioners and - pensioners. we put in the triple plus for pensioners and the - plus for pensioners and the conceptus break that promise in the parliament — conceptus break that promise in the parliament had just gone and it is rather— parliament had just gone and it is rather remarkable that they are trying _ rather remarkable that they are trying to — rather remarkable that they are trying to make out the assisted policy _ trying to make out the assisted policy when they were the ones who eat increased taxes on pensioners on the -- _ eat increased taxes on pensioners on the -- in _ eat increased taxes on pensioners on the -- in the — eat increased taxes on pensioners on the —— in the first place. it was the —— in the first place. it was the liberal— the —— in the first place. it was the liberal democrats who fought hard for _ the liberal democrats who fought hard for pensioners and to lower incomes — hard for pensioners and to lower incomes -- _ hard for pensioners and to lower incomes. —— and to lower taxes. i don't _ incomes. —— and to lower taxes. i don't think— incomes. —— and to lower taxes. i don't think that having raised taxes. — don't think that having raised taxes, just before elections they are going — taxes, just before elections they are going to do something different. would _ are going to do something different. would you vote in favour of

this. i would you vote in favour of this. ., , would you vote in favour of this. . , ., , ., , this. i am trying to stop the conservative _ this. i am trying to stop the conservative government . this. i am trying to stop the | conservative government be this. i am trying to stop the - conservative government be elected, the last— conservative government be elected, the last thing the country needs is tom _ the last thing the country needs is tom the — the last thing the country needs is tom the lib— the last thing the country needs is to... the lib dems not only are we are behind — to... the lib dems not only are we are behind a— to... the lib dems not only are we are behind a triple lock, we want to make _ are behind a triple lock, we want to make sure — are behind a triple lock, we want to make sure that the health service the patient to rely on is properly funded, — the patient to rely on is properly funded, there is a care system now, the care _ funded, there is a care system now, the care system is so undermined the desperately conservative so undermined the care system for pensioners that a lot of people feel betrayed _ pensioners that a lot of people feel betra ed. , �* ., ., betrayed. isn't it unfair for workin: betrayed. isn't it unfair for working people? - betrayed. isn't it unfair for working people? we - betrayed. isn't it unfair for working people? we think| betrayed. isn't it unfair for . working people? we think the betrayed. isn't it unfair for _ working people? we think the income tax allowance — working people? we think the income tax allowance should _ working people? we think the income tax allowance should be _ working people? we think the income tax allowance should be read - working people? we think the income tax allowance should be read for- tax allowance should be read for everybody, notjust for tax allowance should be read for everybody, not just for pensioners, we think— everybody, not just for pensioners, we think as — everybody, not just for pensioners, we think as we did in government, we delivered _ we think as we did in government, we delivered on— we think as we did in government, we delivered on it. the increase in tax allowance — delivered on it. the increase in tax allowance is — delivered on it. the increase in tax allowance is the first thing for people in work as well as for pensioners, it looks like the conservatives have gotten everyone in work _

in work. inaudible the conceptions in work. — inaudible the conceptions don't support that, we don't think this is a way to improve education across the board. want to get more money into our public, our state education. we have got more ambitious plans than the labour party to make sure that young people get the best start in life and i am really looking forward to campaigning on our manifesto policies to improve education for everybody. do you think keir starmer would make a good prime minister? i would make a good prime minister? i am here to talk about the liberal democrats — am here to talk about the liberal democrats and _ am here to talk about the liberal democrats and i— am here to talk about the liberal democrats and i am _ am here to talk about the liberal democrats and i am really - am here to talk about the liberal democrats and i am really proud | am here to talk about the liberal. democrats and i am really proud of our campaign _ democrats and i am really proud of our campaign lt— democrats and i am really proud of our campaign. [it is— democrats and i am really proud of our campaign-— our campaign. it is the nhs more gps, the thing — our campaign. it is the nhs more gps, the thing that _ our campaign. it is the nhs more gps, the thing that people - our campaign. it is the nhs more gps, the thing that people really| gps, the thing that people really care about. our approach to getting the economy back on track. we are here in— the economy back on track. we are here in the — the economy back on track. we are here in the lake district, the beautiful— here in the lake district, the beautiful lake will debate to campaign on the issue of sewage, it has been _ campaign on the issue of sewage, it has been the liberal democrats who have been— has been the liberal democrats who have been campaigning hard to clean up have been campaigning hard to clean up our— have been campaigning hard to clean up our rivers, our beaches and our legs _

up our rivers, our beaches and our legs lt _ up our rivers, our beaches and our legs it has — up our rivers, our beaches and our legs. it has been liberal democrats leading _ legs. it has been liberal democrats leading on— legs. it has been liberal democrats leading on that. i am focused on getting — leading on that. i am focused on getting more liberal democrats elected — getting more liberal democrats elected and preventing the conservatives getting elected. a conservatives getting elected. beginner get a yes or no on whether circuits done would be a good prime minister? i circuits done would be a good prime minister? ., circuits done would be a good prime minister? . ., , ., minister? i am more focus on the liberal democrats. _ minister? i am more focus on the liberal democrats. they - minister? i am more focus on the liberal democrats. they would i minister? i am more focus on the | liberal democrats. they would be minister? i am more focus on the i liberal democrats. they would be so many _ liberal democrats. they would be so many things across the country would be great _ many things across the country would be great local champions if they were _ be great local champions if they were elected... we have got the amazing — were elected... we have got the amazing tim farren across the country — amazing tim farren across the country who we have got so many sets, _ country who we have got so many sets, it _ country who we have got so many sets, it is — country who we have got so many sets, it is the liberal democrats are rating, — sets, it is the liberal democrats are rating, it is a palpable rate to break— are rating, it is a palpable rate to break the — are rating, it is a palpable rate to break the liberal democrats. once i did,~~~ _ break the liberal democrats. once i didw lt _ break the liberal democrats. once i didw it is— break the liberal democrats. once i didw lt isa— break the liberal democrats. once i did,... it is a serious message, it looks— did,... it is a serious message, it looks like — did,... it is a serious message, it looks like lake windermere are so precious. — looks like lake windermere are so precious, our environment is so

critical— precious, our environment is so critical to— precious, our environment is so critical to so _ precious, our environment is so critical to so many people notjust people _ critical to so many people notjust people who live there near those lakes _ people who live there near those lakes and — people who live there near those lakes and rivers. it is important for public— lakes and rivers. it is important for public health, it is a poor different— for public health, it is a poor different environments, it is important for the tourist economy. here _ important for the tourist economy. here in _ important for the tourist economy. here in the — important for the tourist economy. here in the lake district, they need to make _ here in the lake district, they need to make sure the water companies are properly— to make sure the water companies are properly held to account. it was not 'ust properly held to account. it was not just about _ properly held to account. it was not just about paddle boating today, it was about our policy on environment it is cats _ was about our policy on environment it is cats who — was about our policy on environment it is cats who are on the board of company— it is cats who are on the board of company they cannot get away of what they have _ company they cannot get away of what they have been getting away from. ed davey they have been getting away from. davey there, they have been getting away from. fr. davey there, the liberal democrats leader speaking at lake windermere. she did interview him while paddle boarding. he did fall in about five times, but a serious message for the mac from the liberal democrats. let me just show you some pictures from the conservative party, who launched a campaign here with the prime minister rishi sunak who has been in staffordshire. yesjust minister rishi sunak who has been in staffordshire. yes just answered

some questions from the audience. he is stressing a number of points in response to questions he was asked for example, from a business owner, about what they would do to address the engineering skills gap. rishi sunak talked about education which has the monkey has always said is important to him he rishi sunak has talked about education which he has always said is important to him. that is right he was meeting workers here, and the visages staffordshire, here, and the visages staffordshire, he has been talking to a couple of different workers. mainly they are kind of questions centred around national service. the big announcement that was made over the weekend, some talk here about the new announcement today on pensions.

he will now be he will now be going to meet some pensioners in staffordshire because this is the main announcement from the conservatives. this pledge to increase the threshold on which people start paying tax on their pension. so that when state pension goes up, in line with what it ever is higher is 2.5%, inflation will rise in wages. people start paying tax on their pensions which will also rise in line with that. rishi sunak said this is a way to protect pensioners, this has also attracted some criticism from opposition parties. from everybody else, there paying national service, those working, the tax will still be going up working, the tax will still be going up potentially if they are dragged into the higher tax threshold. he was also talking to everyone there and he said that labour pots plans will cross every working family

£2000 each has that's been sourced or checked by anyone there, including from the treasury. i think he referred to it from the analysis from if it is crunching the numbers. he is, i think, assuming things would be paid for their back tax rises which is the point he was in that speech just now. labour has also been talking about the economy today with rachel reeves saying they wouldn't be further tax rises above and the ones that labour has already announced, like taking away the vat exemption for private schools, increasing the windfall tax. he she also said they wouldn't be resident tax on personal taxes like personal income tax, i think that would be something that labour would dispute. the conservatives argue that labour pots and ice must would mean a tax rise. that is the argument that

rishi sunak was putting forward to work here today. i rishi sunak was putting forward to work here today.— rishi sunak was putting forward to work here today. i know we have got to let ou work here today. i know we have got to let you go. _ work here today. i know we have got to let you go. we _ work here today. i know we have got to let you go, we have _ work here today. i know we have got to let you go, we have got _ work here today. i know we have got to let you go, we have got to - work here today. i know we have got to let you go, we have got to go - to let you go, we have got to go backin to let you go, we have got to go back in the conservative party campaign. we have got all the journalist covering this party campaign. we will let her go and we will catch up later. campaigning right across the uk is under way, we have got scottish conservatives who have got scottish conservatives who have also been on the campaign trail. let us catch up with our political correspondent david lockhart. just because up—to—date lockha rt. just because up—to—date david lockhart. just because up—to—date david on what is going on in perth. the scottish conservatives have been launching _ the scottish conservatives have been launching their conservative campaign today in perth. we got a speech— campaign today in perth. we got a speech on— campaign today in perth. we got a speech on the party leader douglas ross what was interesting about this speech— ross what was interesting about this speech is— ross what was interesting about this speech is that it really highlighted the different narrative that can sometimes been happening in this general— sometimes been happening in this general election in scotland. the leader— general election in scotland. the leader of— general election in scotland. the leader of the scottish conservative is making — leader of the scottish conservative is making a 20 minute speech. not

one mention of the labour party, it was all— one mention of the labour party, it was all about the snp. that is because — was all about the snp. that is because realistically there is a limited — because realistically there is a limited amount of seats at the scottish— limited amount of seats at the scottish election. in all of theses, there _ scottish election. in all of theses, there was— scottish election. in all of theses, there was that they are defending and there — there was that they are defending and there was they could make a gain in, they— and there was they could make a gain in, they a _ and there was they could make a gain in, they a good gain on election days— in, they a good gain on election days it — in, they a good gain on election days it is — in, they a good gain on election days it is the snp. douglas was really— days it is the snp. douglas was really focusing on devolved issues, issues _ really focusing on devolved issues, issues that— really focusing on devolved issues, issues that the uk parliament doesn't — issues that the uk parliament doesn't legislate. the scottish government was the snp. talking a lot about _ government was the snp. talking a lot about education, the state of the race, — lot about education, the state of the race, those two overdue overbudget ferries. he is trying to appeal— overbudget ferries. he is trying to appeal to — overbudget ferries. he is trying to appeal to what some writers may feel about _ appeal to what some writers may feel about not _ appeal to what some writers may feel about not delivering on the day to day. about not delivering on the day to day it _ about not delivering on the day to day it is — about not delivering on the day to day it is -- — about not delivering on the day to day. it is —— what some voters may feel about — day. it is —— what some voters may feel about not delivering on the day to day _ feel about not delivering on the day to day it _ feel about not delivering on the day to day it is — feel about not delivering on the day to day. it is saying it is to do the lack— to day. it is saying it is to do the lack of— to day. it is saying it is to do the lack of funding, coming from

westminster ever binder that the different— westminster ever binder that the different narrative we can expect in this election. here, the conservatives and the labour party, not talking — conservatives and the labour party, not talking about each other on the same _ not talking about each other on the same scale — not talking about each other on the same scale that they do in other parts _ same scale that they do in other parts of— same scale that they do in other parts of the uk. here it is about trying _ parts of the uk. here it is about trying to— parts of the uk. here it is about trying to take essence of the snp who have — trying to take essence of the snp who have been so dominant in scotland — who have been so dominant in scotland literally. of course, going into this _ scotland literally. of course, going into this election they hold the bulk— into this election they hold the bulk of— into this election they hold the bulk of seats in parliament. he was vaulting _ bulk of seats in parliament. he was vaulting to — bulk of seats in parliament. he was vaulting to back his parliament in key seats~ — vaulting to back his parliament in key seats. he kept repeating that message — key seats. he kept repeating that message of key seats. realistically, they are _ message of key seats. realistically, they are released limited amount of seats _ they are released limited amount of seats. �* ., they are released limited amount of seats. . ., ., , ., seats. again, david against that background. — seats. again, david against that background, we _ seats. again, david against that background, we have _ seats. again, david against that background, we have got - seats. again, david against that background, we have got to - seats. again, david against that background, we have got to be | background, we have got to be incredibly careful, when we look at the numbers over the last year or two? what are the potential likely outcomes after the general elections for the change in the political power balance in scotland. ? the

sto of power balance in scotland. ? the story of those — power balance in scotland. ? the story of those polls just to apply the usual— story of those polls just to apply the usual caveats, polls are polls, the usual caveats, polls are polls, the only— the usual caveats, polls are polls, the only one that matters are the election— the only one that matters are the election day itself. polls give us a suggestion of a trend, it is important not to read too much into them _ important not to read too much into them the _ important not to read too much into them. the snp can see the polls are getting _ them. the snp can see the polls are getting better for labour and they have are — getting better for labour and they have are struggling in recent months _ have are struggling in recent months. john swinney has recently replaced _ months. john swinney has recently replaced hamza leader of the snp. he is hoping _ replaced hamza leader of the snp. he is hoping to come things down as leader— is hoping to come things down as leader of— is hoping to come things down as leader of his party and to turn that trend _ leader of his party and to turn that trend around. sadly, in recent months. — trend around. sadly, in recent months, what we have seen is that... it is months, what we have seen is that... it is important — months, what we have seen is that... it is important to stress that it depends— it is important to stress that it depends on where you go inserting patches _ depends on where you go inserting patches in — depends on where you go inserting patches in scotland where it becomes certain _ patches in scotland where it becomes certain electoral rights. in the north—east it is largely a often snp conservatives in the central belt in scotland _ conservatives in the central belt in scotland can largely be a ledger

versus— scotland can largely be a ledger versus conservative. a few patches in this _ versus conservative. a few patches in this country where it is the snp taken _ in this country where it is the snp taken on — in this country where it is the snp taken on the lib dems. the central belt is _ taken on the lib dems. the central belt is labour taken on smp actually lastly _ belt is labour taken on smp actually lastly the — belt is labour taken on smp actually lastly. the one common denominator because _ lastly. the one common denominator because of— lastly. the one common denominator because of their electoral dominance it is always _ because of their electoral dominance it is always the snp who people are trying _ it is always the snp who people are trying to— it is always the snp who people are trying to take on. ok, it is always the snp who people are trying to take on-— trying to take on. ok, thank you very much _ trying to take on. ok, thank you very much indeed. _ trying to take on. ok, thank you very much indeed. just - trying to take on. ok, thank you very much indeed. just to - trying to take on. ok, thank you i very much indeed. just to mention there is a powerjack on the website and of course a live page that is being constantly updated. there is a poll tracker on the website and of course a life page that is constantly being updated. this is constantly being updated. this is constantly being updated. this is constantly being reviewed on the website or on the bbc news app. we are covering the campaign is right across the day. now let me bring you some international news from the

middle east. norway, spain and ireland are today formally recognising the state of palestine. norway has hailed it as a special day as the recognition has taken effect. the spanish prime minister pedro sanchez says the occupied gaza strip and west bank will be recognised as the capital of the palestinian capital. he said it was essential for achieving peace and now all efforts should focus on heating ace two state solution in beating ace two state solution in israel and palestine existed —— on st state solution. let us listen to what he spanish families that pedro sanchez had to say a bit earlier. this is a historic decision that has a single _ this is a historic decision that has a single goal, to contribute to achieving _ a single goal, to contribute to achieving peace between israelis and

palestine _ achieving peace between israelis and palestine. it is not only the matter of historical— palestine. it is not only the matter of historicaljustice with legitimate aspirations of the palestinian people, but it is also an imperative need to achieve peace. it is an imperative need to achieve peace. it is the _ an imperative need to achieve peace. it is the only— an imperative need to achieve peace. it is the only way to realise the solution — it is the only way to realise the solution that we all recognise as the only— solution that we all recognise as the only possible one to achieve the future _ the only possible one to achieve the future of _ the only possible one to achieve the future of peace. they are one of the palestine _ future of peace. they are one of the palestine estate, alongside the state _ palestine estate, alongside the state of— palestine estate, alongside the state of israel in peace and security _ state of israel in peace and security-— state of israel in peace and security. state of israel in peace and securi . , ., ., security. israeli forces have moved dee-er security. israeli forces have moved deeper into — security. israeli forces have moved deeper into rougher _ security. israeli forces have moved deeper into rougher despite - deeper into rougher despite condemnation. several israeli towns have reached the centre of rafah medics say at least 45 people were killed and hundreds more was treated for severe burns, and shrapnel reads. the un security council had its emergency meeting today. they have condemned the attacks saying

the horror must stop. lets us catch up the horror must stop. lets us catch up and out of the weather. hello again we have been watching a band of break coming in from the south—west continue to journey north—east was today. it is this whether and it is not moving physically quickly. the rain is not moving particularly heavy either. it is in areas more sensitive to rain. it is moving more east with not moving to the north—east of scotland until later. it is now down into the south—east and south—west, it would dry up but having said that, it will still be some showers around. the average wind strength, it is really going to be breezy with highs ranging from 14 to 18 degrees. roughly, where we'd be expecting the temperature be at the end of may. as we head on into the evening and overnight, the rain continues its journey into the north sea, they

will be some clear skies behind, there will be some showers especially in the north and the west. some of those will be heavy especially across north—west england. temperatures ranging from eight to 10 degrees, not a particularly cold night. we start tomorrow with a mixture of sunshine and showers. now, a lot of the showers will be across eastern areas across the day. this will be the most frequent, we also see the odd rumble of thunder. lucy another easily whizz across the west as well. it will be about 18 to 19 degrees from north to south. low—pressure family across in charge of the weather. —— low—pressure family are in charge. of course, the air around family are in charge. of course, the airaround the area family are in charge. of course, the air around the area of high pressure moves in a clockwise direction so will be prone to a little what more crowds at times. it be followed by

some sunny shells, bright spells and showers. some showers imagine to some heavy appears of rain. beyond this, high pressure starts to build in, don't forget we can see some locales, may be some low cloud across the east coast at times. generally speaking, it will be dry and also a bit warmer.

education colleges and that is exec and what we are doing. live from london. this is bbc news. rishi sunak is in the midlands as the conservatives announce a new tax scheme for pensioners they're calling the triple lock plus. now, the only certainty you are going to get with the labour party is that they are going to run out of money and put up your taxes. as clear as night follows day. meanwhile, the shadow chancellor, labour's rachel reeves says her party is the "natural party of british business" in herfirst major speech of the campaign. i want to lead the most pro—growth, the most pro—business treasury that our country has ever seen. with a laser focus on delivering for working people. it comes as over 120 business figures including founders of wikipedia and iceland supermarket have signed a letter endorsing labour's economic plan.

making a splash — sir ed davey takes the campaign trail to windermere but things don't go quite to plan. in dover, the honorary president of reform uk, nigel farage, has denounced the leadership styles of both tory and labour leaders. and also our other main story — israeli forces move deeper into rafah despite international condemnation of its bombing there on sunday night which killed dozens of displaced people. welcome to bbc news. the prime minister has promised to increase the income tax personal allowance for pensioners if the conservatives win the general election. rishi sunak has visited a factory in stoke—on—trent as part of his campaign trail. under the plans, known as "triple lock plus", pensioners would see a tax cut of almost £300 a tax cut

of almost £300 a year by 2030. labour has described it as a "desperate move". rishi sunak also claimed that labour's plans would cost families around £2000 each. the labour's plans would cost families around £2000 each.— labour's plans would cost families around £2000 each. the question for ou all now around £2000 each. the question for you all now is — around £2000 each. the question for you all now is who _ around £2000 each. the question for you all now is who do _ around £2000 each. the question for you all now is who do you _ around £2000 each. the question for you all now is who do you trust - around £2000 each. the question for you all now is who do you trust to - you all now is who do you trust to build on that foundation and secure a future for you, your family and our country? and that is the choice at this election. do we build on that progress that we have all collectively made and go forward or do we go back to square one with no plan and no certainty? the only certainty you are going to get with the labour party is that they are going to run out of money and put up your taxes, as clear as night follows day. we've crunched the numbers, actually the treasury, the officials at the treasury, have crunched the numbers and totted up all the things they say they want to spend money on and all the things they have not found to pay for them, and i can tell you it is going to

cost you £2000 each. £2000 for every working family in our country in higher taxes to pay for their long list of things. that is not going to bring financial security to you and your family. let's speak to mike brewer, chief economist at the resolution foundation. just on that last line that we heard, the £2000 perfamily, i don't know whether you have had a chance to look at that and whether or not that rings true. what is your assessment at the moment, having just heard it?— just heard it? yeah, i'm afraid we have not looked _ just heard it? yeah, i'm afraid we have not looked yet, _ just heard it? yeah, i'm afraid we have not looked yet, we - just heard it? yeah, i'm afraid we have not looked yet, we would i just heard it? yeah, i'm afraid we. have not looked yet, we would like to wait and give both parties a chance to publish their manifestoes with the full costings and i think we have already heard both sides making pledges which the other side then turns into an uncosted pledge. the conservatives want to scrap national insurance, we are told, and of course labour has omissions to do things when resources allow, but we will wait until the manifestoes to have a look at their detailed workings. have a look at their detailed workings-— have a look at their detailed workings. have a look at their detailed workinus. ., , ., , ., workings. the conservatives have also announced _ workings. the conservatives have also announced today _ workings. the conservatives have also announced today that - workings. the conservatives have also announced today that they i workings. the conservatives have i also announced today that they want

to raise the tax—free pension allowance via this triple lock plus, can you just explain to us how that would work and what the effect would be? , ., . ., , , would work and what the effect would be? ,., , , be? yes, of course, the big context here is that — be? yes, of course, the big context here is that one _ be? yes, of course, the big context here is that one of _ be? yes, of course, the big context here is that one of the _ be? yes, of course, the big context here is that one of the main - be? yes, of course, the big context here is that one of the main tax i here is that one of the main tax policies introduced by rishi sunak when chancellor was to freeze the income tax personal allowance, and what the conservatives are pointing out is that during the next parliament, the value of the new state pension, the state pension that goes to the youngest pensioners, will actually exceed the personal allowance, and so, if they don't do anything about it, some pensioners will start paying tax on their own state pension. and i think their own state pension. and i think the conservatives are saying, it seems a little bit strange to give with one hand and take with the other, and so they are pledging to increase the personal allowance for all pensioners, in line with the same rate as the triple lock, which would mean that no pensioners would pay any tax on their state pension at all in the next parliament. in at all in the next parliament. in

terms of how many people would be affected, and what the effect would be to the wider income raising ability of the government, how do you assess it as a suggestion? meiji. you assess it as a suggestion? well, it is a little bit _ you assess it as a suggestion? well, it is a little bit sledgehammer i you assess it as a suggestion? in it is a little bit sledgehammer to crack a nut, so, there definitely will be an issue in the next parliament if we follow current government policies, that some pensioners, it will be the youngest pensioners, it will be the youngest pensioners, will pay tax on the state pension. but the conservative proposal is to give a higher tax allowance to all pensioners, regardless of there, and regardless of their income, and so there are about 8 million people over the state pension age who pay income tax and by the end of the parliament, this is worth about £270 a year to them in lower tax payments, about £2. for billion per year, so it is not a dramatic impact on tax revenues, but of course there are other things that the future government could spend £2.5 billion on to help older people. in

government could spend £2.5 billion on to help older people.— on to help older people. in terms of how the conservatives _ on to help older people. in terms of how the conservatives say - on to help older people. in terms of how the conservatives say that i on to help older people. in terms of how the conservatives say that they j how the conservatives say that they will fund that does it stand up to scrutiny? will fund that does it stand up to scrutin ? ~ , , ., , scrutiny? well, this is a little bit of lauue scrutiny? well, this is a little bit of plague on _ scrutiny? well, this is a little bit of plague on both _ scrutiny? well, this is a little bit of plague on both your - scrutiny? well, this is a little bit of plague on both your houses, l scrutiny? well, this is a little bit i of plague on both your houses, we have already heard that both parties they can raise more money by clamping down on tax avoidance or to activate. and they have not yet given precise details on how they will do that. this is what you would expect during an election campaign, most politicians claim they can find more money out of tax avoidance but whether they can do it in reality is a different question. we whether they can do it in reality is a different question.— a different question. we will have to leave it there, _ a different question. we will have to leave it there, mike _ a different question. we will have to leave it there, mike brewer- a different question. we will have i to leave it there, mike brewer from to leave it there, mike brewerfrom the resolution foundation, many thanks. the shadow chancellor has claimed that the labour party is the "natural party of british business" while on a visit to rolls—royce in derby. rachel reeves has been making what labour says is her first major speech of the campaign. it comes as 121 business figures

including the wikipedia founder and boss of iceland have signed a letter endorsing labour's economic plans. ms reeves said the conservatives had mismanaged the economy over the last 14 years and that businesses now want to work with labour. across the world of business, labour is being recognised as the natural partner of business. the party of growth and the party of enterprise. if you years ago, you might not have expected to have heard these things from the labour party. think how far we have come under keir�*s leadership in four short years. if we can change this party to bring it back into the service of working people, if we can return it to the centre ground of politics, if we can bring business back to labour, then i know that we can bring business back to britain, bring investment back to britain, bring investment back to britain, bring investment back to britain, bring growth back to britain, bring growth back to britain, bring growth back to britain, bring hope back to britain.

because by bringing business back to britain, we can deliver a better future for working people. whatever ideologues on the left or to say, it's not either or. this labour party understands that business success is crucial to good jobs and good work is crucial for successful businesses. it is by ringing businesses. it is by ringing business back to britain that we can create good jobs that pay a decent wage, bring in investment to build strong communities with thriving high streets, to put more money in people's pockets. and take pride in goodsam services made here in britain but exported our plans for growth are built on partnership with business. a mission led government prepared to take on the big

challenges that we face and ready to seize the opportunities of the future for and a government that will build all its plans for the future on the bedrock of economic sterility for it is clearer than ever that at this election, the choice is between tory chaos and labour stability, and stability is change. labour stability, and stability is chance. , ,, ., ., change. rachel reeves, the shadow chancellor, speaking _ change. rachel reeves, the shadow chancellor, speaking in _ change. rachel reeves, the shadow chancellor, speaking in the - change. rachel reeves, the shadow chancellor, speaking in the last i chancellor, speaking in the last couple of hours or so. we can speak now to one of the signatories of that letter. andy palmer is the former managing director of aston martin. hejoins us now. thank you very much forjoining us. why did you decide to sign this letter? ~ ., ., ~ letter? well, i took the view lookin: letter? well, i took the view looking through _ letter? well, i took the view looking through the - letter? well, i took the view looking through the lens i letter? well, i took the view looking through the lens of. looking through the lens of automotive, automotive has been my life, and imc in an existential threat to our ability to many

fracture and two engineer cars... and over the last five to ten years where we have really lacked certainty and stability around what the country wants to do with its automotive business, and the route of this is, the conservative party's reluctance to construct and publish an industrial strategy, and if you were in business, you wouldn't invest in that, and what i am seeing from the outside in, and i am in china at the moment, looking at their view of the united kingdom, is that without this industrial strategy, people aren't going to invest in the uk's automotive system. and so that is what i am looking for. we have basically a commitment from the labour party, an understanding from the labour party, that basically there needs to be a

strategy, that that needs to bring certainty and stability, and for that reason, and predominantly that reason alone, i am willing to support, because i love this industry and we need to see it survived. ~ , ., industry and we need to see it survived-— survived. when you say an existential _ survived. when you say an existential threat, - survived. when you say an existential threat, can i survived. when you say an existential threat, can you j survived. when you say an - existential threat, can you explain exactly what you mean by that? fit exactly what you mean by that? of course. we're going through a massive change in automotive, as we transition between the traditional internal combustion engine and the even, whether that be evs of cars or of buses. just think about the things that have changed over the last few years. first of all we have boris's buses, and then that was cancelled, more or less, then we had the 2030 introduction of evs, then that was moved to 2035, industry can't cope with that change, the development lead times on a card, are four orfive years, development lead times on a card, are four or five years, and development lead times on a card, are four orfive years, and if development lead times on a card, are four or five years, and if you keep chopping and changing, you lose the trust of the car industry. and

in the last few years, we have seen honda announcing leaving the country, we have seen the bankruptcy of a couple of companies and we only have a plan today to reach about half of our battery needs for evs in this country. if we do not satisfy that, the carmakers will move elsewhere. and if the carmakers move elsewhere, therefore the engineers will move with them, and therefore the universities will move with them, and that is why i call this transition to ev existential for the industry in the uk. is transition to ev existential for the industry in the uk.— industry in the uk. is brexit at all a factor in — industry in the uk. is brexit at all a factor in your— industry in the uk. is brexit at all a factor in your view, _ industry in the uk. is brexit at all a factor in your view, and - industry in the uk. is brexit at all a factor in your view, and what i a factor in your view, and what specifically do you expect and hope to see from the labour governed, if it comes in, a big if, of course, now that you have endorsed it? == now that you have endorsed it? -- labour government. what i am looking for specifically is that industrial strategy. first and foremost, do we want to make cars in this country?

and if we do, then what are we going to do to attract foreign investment and indigenous investment into our industry? that is the key. and it has to be a partnership between government and industry, not one or other unknown but both together. and this is the key. i have been pushing the conservative government for that for years now, and we haven't got it. and so, we need to change. if the conservative government isn't prepared to engage with industry to create those industrial strategies, and the labour party is, then i have to support the labour party. and at least give it a chance to prove that it can. ~ ., ., ., it can. we will have to leave it there, thank _ it can. we will have to leave it there, thank you _ it can. we will have to leave it there, thank you very - it can. we will have to leave it there, thank you very much i it can. we will have to leave it i there, thank you very much indeed forjoining us, after signing that letter. andy palmer, former md of aston martin, one of the signatories to that letter. if you want to get

even more detailed politics, bbc two of course is running politics live in a moment. we continue of course with our election coverage here, too. and to the liberal democrats. ed davey spoke to our correspondent hannah miller who asked about the triple plan. i hannah miller who asked about the trile lan. ., , ., , triple plan. i am trying to stop the conservative _ triple plan. i am trying to stop the conservative government - triple plan. i am trying to stop the conservative government being i conservative government being re—elected, the last thing pensioners need is another conservative government, the last thing the country needs. the liberal democrats have some really attractive policies for pensioners, not only are we behind the triple lock, as the ones who began it in the first place, we want to make sure the health service that pensioners rely on is properly funded, that there is a care system. the conservatives are so undermined the nhs and careful pensioners that i think there are lots of people who are retired who feel betrayed by the conservatives. isn’t are retired who feel betrayed by the conservatives.— conservatives. isn't this all a bit unfair on working _

conservatives. isn't this all a bit unfair on working people? i conservatives. isn't this all a bitj unfair on working people? well, rethink the _ unfair on working people? well, rethink the income _ unfair on working people? well, rethink the income tax - unfair on working people? well, rethink the income tax should i unfair on working people? vii rethink the income tax should be raised for everybody, notjust for pensioners. we think, as we did in government and we delivered on it, increasing the income tax allowance is the fairest thing to do for people in work as well as pensioners. and it looks like the conservatives have just forgotten everybody who is in work. itrrui’hat conservatives have just forgotten everybody who is in work. what is our view everybody who is in work. what is your view on _ everybody who is in work. what is your view on labour's _ everybody who is in work. what is your view on labour's to - everybody who is in work. what is| your view on labour's to introduce the tax on private school fees? the liberal the tax on private school fees? tue: liberal democrats do the tax on private school fees? tt9 liberal democrats do not the tax on private school fees? tt9: liberal democrats do not support that because we do not think it is the way to improve education across the way to improve education across the board. we want to get more money into our state education we are going to put forward lots of very ambitious plans, way more ambitious than the labour party, to make sure that young people get the best start in life, and i am really looking forward to campaigning on our manifesto policies to improve education for everybody. do you think keir starmer _ education for everybody. do you think keir starmer would - education for everybody. do you think keir starmer would make | education for everybody. do you | think keir starmer would make a education for everybody. do you i think keir starmer would make a good prime minister?— prime minister? listen, i am here to talk about the _ prime minister? listen, i am here to talk about the liberal _ prime minister? listen, i am here to talk about the liberal democrats, i talk about the liberal democrats, and i am really proud of our campaign, what we are campaigning

on, whether it is the nhs,