we've seen tribal fights happening over these sorts of issues in the past, so, we're really concerned about that. limestone and debris is still falling. the terrain is difficult and heavy rainfall isn't helping. aruna iyengar, bbc news. now let's turn to the united states. after nearly five weeks, closing arguments in donald trump's hush money case will begin shortly. the former us president faces 3a charges for allegedly falsifying business records to cover up payments made to adult film star stormy daniels ahead of the 2016 election. he has denied all of the allegations. if found guilty, mr trump would become the first former us president with a criminal conviction, and the first major party candidate to run for the white house as a felon. our north america correspondent nada tawfik reminds us about the key

moments of this trial. reams of evidence, weeks of testimony, and a decision that will reverberate across the world. here's what the jury will consider as they try to reach a verdict on the former president. we heard directly from stormy daniels, the adult film star who received the hush—money payment at the centre of the case. she gave salacious testimony that prosecutors use to try to show why of the 2016 election, even as he denied their sexual encounter. the prosecution also called a colourful cast of supporting witnesses to corroborate the core of their case, that donald trump falsified business records to hide his illegal efforts to influence the presidential campaign. there was the moustachioed tabloid publisher david pecker,

who detailed how he would catch and kill negative stories about trump to help him win the white house. also on the stand was trump's tearful ex—aide hope hicks, who said her former boss was worried another sex scandal could hurt him with voters and that he was concerned about how his wife would react to the stormy daniels story. but the star witness for the prosecution was none other than michael cohen, trump's former fixer—turned—foe. to prove trump knew about the falsified documents, the prosecution relied on cohen's testimony about two key meetings with trump. in the first days before trump's inauguration, cohen said trump approved a plan to label the hush—money payment as legal services on business documents. they showed evidence of handwritten notes from trump's cfo that detailed

the math for cohen's reimbursement for the payment to stormy daniels. the second meeting was in the oval office, where cohen said trump again discussed the reimbursement, telling him cheques would be coming his way. the defence worked hard to discredit cohen. they landed a big hit when cohen admitted under cross—examination to stealing from the trump organization. they aim to shatter cohen's image as someone who did anything to protect trump, and instead made him look like a vengeful opportunist, trying to profit off of his former boss. so did trump try to cover up election fraud by disguising the hush—money payment? 12 regular new yorkers will decide if that's been proven beyond a reasonable doubt. lots more as you can imagine on our website. here in 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. our correspondent duncan kennedy has more. the death of a 34—year—old woman has been traumatic for some people, including this group you gathered on bournemouth beach. the woman has been named locally as amy grey, she was 3a and from paul. —— then woman has been named as amie grey and she was from poole. 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. offices have been working along the beach in their efforts to gather evidence on 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 has been eliminated from their —— their inquiries. police have also released cctv images of a male, who they described as a suspect. they have asked the public to come forward with information. 38—year—old woman who has been in the incident remains in hospital with injuries. india's food safety regulator has banned the unauthorised sale of breast milk in the country after claims that there were companies involved in the business. the bbc�*s arunoday mukharji has more on what more the regulator said and why they needed to crack down. well, this has been a concern for a while, and several complaints have also been filed, suggesting that there are some companies in the country which are involved in the practice of selling breast milk. triggered by a lot of these

complaints, india's top food regulator has essentially come out with a directive saying that the unauthorised commercialisation of breast milk is an offence, and any company which is found to violate this order will invite punitive action. now, we've seen various reports that there are these milk banks which are involved in the sale of breast milk, but they're operating as nonprofit organisations. they are getting milk from lactating mothers and this milk then is sold at a profit. surprisingly, a lot of these companies have also managed to get licences from the relevant authorities, saying that they are involved in the business of dairy products. but later on, during investigations, it has been found that these dairy products consist of powdered breast milk. so the food regulator essentially has issued a directive saying that tighter control needs to be maintained, and no licences should be given out to any company which is involved in such practices. we are going to return now to the

general election here in the uk. in the first full week of campaigning. you are going to hear a lot about wars, about the and blue was, these are some of the most crucial constituencies across the country. in 2019, the services it made big gains in the labour heartlands, the so—called red war, now that labour is hoping to window seat and win back those blue wool as well. our correspondent has beenin wool as well. our correspondent has been in reporterfor bbc lancashire and our local reporter for... been in reporterfor bbc lancashire and our local reporterfor... a very winnable small majority, these are traditional labour heartland, when the 70s when here in burnley in 2019 it was the first time they had done so in over a hundred years. if labour want to see the mac signified not just labour want to see the mac signified notjust a people here barely, but to the whole country that they are

back that they are a potential party of government. they really need to be winning in places like burnley. places where over the past five, ten years, they slowly lost support. they have been gained for the conservative resort in the general election 2019. they have been also gains here in the local election, the green party, the lib den have showed up decent local support over the past ten years. sir kay soon —— max keir starmer wants to garner local support, max keir starmer wants to garner localsupport, he max keir starmer wants to garner local support, he needs to convince places like burnley is so he can win. sojust places like burnley is so he can win. so just tell us where he places like burnley is so he can win. sojust tell us where he is places like burnley is so he can win. so just tell us where he is you are standing. ,? we are talking we

are standing. ,? we are talking we are outside the benny stadium, where people have been talking about the cost of football going up. it is not just the cost of football going up, it is a cost of living. everything has gone up over the past two years. the conservatives want to try and hang on to seats like burnley, they really need to convince people that they are going to put more money in people's pockets. they're going to make all aspects of living possible. as well as that, burnley for a long time with key to manufacturing right across the country, but also across the world. one town, a third of all cotton goods in the world were produced in this part of lancashire. that is declined, but there are a significant amount of decent advanced manufacturing jobs in burnley and the surrounding areas. they are really important to people here. those opportunities are growing up in somewhere like burnley to know that you can have a decent skilled job.

to know that you can have a decent skilledjob. if to know that you can have a decent skilled job. if anybody wants to win votes here, they need to know that not only is that going to continue, they will continue to cut growth, those jobs will be here they will continue to cut growth, thosejobs will be here in they will continue to cut growth, those jobs will be here in ten, they will continue to cut growth, thosejobs will be here in ten, 20 years. for people's children and grandchildren. a big part of that now is been able to different parts of their country, a big issue it is extending the m 65 motor into yorkshire as well as the rail link into yorkshire. as well as interconnectivity, as well as jobs, the biggest issue here and right across lancashire, is the cost of living. you're making me a bit homesick. thank you very much a mac. little cross over to emily. tell us where you are. i little cross over to emily. tell us where you are-— little cross over to emily. tell us where you are. i am on sunday in racecourse. _ where you are. i am on sunday in racecourse. in — where you are. i am on sunday in racecourse, in autumn, _ where you are. i am on sunday in racecourse, in autumn, it- where you are. i am on sunday in racecourse, in autumn, it is- where you are. i am on sunday in racecourse, in autumn, it is a - where you are. i am on sunday in | racecourse, in autumn, it is a very bil racecourse, in autumn, it is a very big tourist— racecourse, in autumn, it is a very big tourist attraction here. the mp

is dominic rob _ big tourist attraction here. the mp is dominic rob but _ big tourist attraction here. the mp is dominic rob but he _ big tourist attraction here. the mp is dominic rob but he is _ big tourist attraction here. the mp is dominic rob but he is standing l is dominic rob but he is standing down. ~ ., u, is dominic rob but he is standing down. a, u, ., , ., down. monica harding, the liberal democrat candidate _ down. monica harding, the liberal democrat candidate standing - down. monica harding, the liberal. democrat candidate standing again. she narrowly missed last time. there was a _ she narrowly missed last time. there was a free _ she narrowly missed last time. there was a free dowsing gap between her and dominic rob. in 2019, there was and dominic rob. in 2019, there was a bi- and dominic rob. in 2019, there was a big city— and dominic rob. in 2019, there was a big city right back in terms of tactical— a big city right back in terms of tactical ratings so it couldn't be more _ tactical ratings so it couldn't be more classical rating —— there was a bil more classical rating —— there was a big vote _ more classical rating —— there was a big vote hack— more classical rating —— there was a big vote back in 2019 in terms of tactical_ big vote back in 2019 in terms of tactical rating. —— voting. this could — tactical rating. —— voting. this could he — tactical rating. —— voting. this could he a _ tactical rating. —— voting. this could be a disadvantage, but we will see how— could be a disadvantage, but we will see how he — could be a disadvantage, but we will see how he performs in the doorstep. have you _ see how he performs in the doorstep. have you got the chance to speak to potential voters yet, but what are the predictions there? is it likely that the liberal democrats would take it? ., , ., ., that the liberal democrats would take it? ., ., , ., take it? pro show that liberal democrats — take it? pro show that liberal democrats are _ take it? pro show that liberal democrats are currently - take it? pro show that liberal democrats are currently in i take it? pro show that liberall democrats are currently in the take it? pro show that liberal- democrats are currently in the lead,

so it is— democrats are currently in the lead, so it is a _ democrats are currently in the lead, so it is a 50%— democrats are currently in the lead, so it is a 50% chance that a mac lake _ so it is a 50% chance that a mac take it — so it is a 50% chance that a mac take it the _ so it is a 50% chance that a mac take it. the post, you have take it with a _ take it. the post, you have take it with a pinch— take it. the post, you have take it with a pinch salt, so it depends with— with a pinch salt, so it depends with the — with a pinch salt, so it depends with the run—up to the election and any unexpected hurdles. much with the run-up to the election and any unexpected hurdles. much more election news _ any unexpected hurdles. much more election news with _ any unexpected hurdles. much more election news with matthews - any unexpected hurdles. much more election news with matthews in - any unexpected hurdles. much more election news with matthews in the l election news with matthews in the moment but right now it is time for the way that —— for the weather. they will be some heavy and thundering samples in parts of the uk. we also see some drier gaps between some showers as spells of sunshine. in the satellite picture, using this type of card here. it is moving north and east was. we will continue to see some wet weather in north—east england and up to scotland. behind that, at the sky is bright and, will see some sharp showers. temperatures will generally be between 17 and 18 degrees. freeze

evening and night, this rebrand lingers for sometime in the north—east of scotland, some further showers elsewhere, by the end of the night most places will be dry with some clear spells not quite as chilly as it was last night in many places. in tomorrow, we will see some spells of sunshine, some showers from the word go. some showers from the word go. some showers breaking out quite widely, some could be heavy, some could be thundery. the heaviest downpours is likely to be across northern and eastern parts of scotland down to the north—eastern parts of england. the showers could dump a lot of rain in the short space of time, with localised surface water flooding, some poor travelling conditions, may be some hail mixing in. but in some sunny spots tomorrow, a little bit warmer, highs of 19 and 20 degrees. this unsettled weather has been bought by low pressure, that area of low pressure tends movies with by thursday. it allows for a brisk

north and north westerly wind, so it is going to fill out a bit cool on wednesday. some showers, the most towards the south—east of england with an odd rumble of thunder. temperatures between 15 and 18 degrees. as we head towards the weekend, sizeable change, high pressure will be building from the west which means more in the way of dry weather. often, loud areas of jack —— large areas of cloud. air is getting pretty warm, parts of scotland getting well up into the 20s. scotland getting well up into the 205. a bit scotland getting well up into the 20s. a bit more cloud feeling a bit cooler.

live from london, this is bbc news. they're calling it "triple lock plus." the conservative pledge to raise the tax—free allowance for pensioners, if they win the election. labour's dismissed the plan, and say they're the party of business, pledging not to increase corporation tax. we'll be live on the campaign trail — across the uk — bringing you the latest from the parties and the analysis of what's been promised. our other main headlines — israel carries out some of its most intense bombing of southern gaza, with tanks reaching the centre of rafah. and closing arguments are set for today in donald trump's hush money trial. we'll be live in new york.

rishi sunak is promising to increase the �*tax—free allowance' for pensioners — if the conservatives win the general election. he says the policy would mean people who retire are £95 better off from the beginning of the next financial year. in a moment, we'll be on the campaign trail with labour and the reform party. but first, harry farley reports on the new conservative pledge, and the reaction to it. the prime minister at a pottery factory in stoke—on—trent, painting his offer for pensioners. under current government plans, the tax threshold are frozen, so as the state pension rises under what is known as the triple lock, more pensioners would be dragged into paying tax. now the prime minister is promising the tax—free allowance will increase for pensioners, but not everyone else. for people who work hard

all their lives and put in, then we need to make sure that they have the dignity they deserve when they have finished, and that is why i've really protected pensions and the triple lock, and you have seen our announcement today, the triple lock plus, where we will raise the threshold and make sure pensioners get a tax cut and they will never pay tax on the state pension. labour's shadow chancellor is touting the backing of business leaders today, the result of her years long charm offensive, but like other opposition parties, dismissing the conservatives' policy. 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. of course, we want to see investment in people's pockets and making sure that pensioners are seeing a benefit to any economic improvement

in the situation that the country faces, but we are seeing the consequences of 1a and a half years of austerity that both labour and the tories are committed to continuing. it's rather remarkable - they are trying to make out this is some great policy- when they were the ones who increased taxes on pensioners in the first place by not _ raising the allowance. | it was the lib dems who fought hard| to increase the income tax allowance to help pensioners and people on low incomes. _ the lib dems leader not alone in pointing out this idea reverses a previous conservative policy. the politics, as ever, a question of balancing priorities as the election campaign hits week two, the parties all hoping they are the ones to make a splash. harry farley, bbc news, westminster. with me is our business editor — simonjack. you were listening to rachel reeves

earlier in the day, give me your analysis in terms of what you heard. they have been on immediate charm offensive to its business in the last couple of years and their main pitch has been they can provide the stability that businesses enjoy, and they say that stability in itself is changed, in a period where we have had five prime ministers, seven chancellors and the taxes have yo—yo to quite a bit. they have pledged to keep corporation tax where it is, at 25% over the next parliament, and if we have any big permanent policy changes, we will get the ob art to have a look at it and cost it. contrast it with the mini budget we saw, this was rachel reeves talking today. saw, this was rachel reeves talking toda . ,, ,. , saw, this was rachel reeves talking toda. ,, ,. , ., saw, this was rachel reeves talking toda. ,, ,. , today. she described labour as the -a of today. she described labour as the party of business. _ today. she described labour as the party of business, parking - today. she described labour as the party of business, parking labour's tanks on the conservatives' loans. what has rishi sunak been saying? labour has endorsed its position,

the conservatives describe it as a damp squib pointing out they were not any senior business leaders on it. most of those ftse companies do not come out in election in this way. they have pointed out that some big business leaders have been wary of some of labour's other business proposals, which are enhanced workers' rights, a thing like banning zero—hours contracts, cracking down on fire and rehire, giving full employment rights on day one. some of those pledges have been watered down to the dismay of some of the people in the union movement and that is an interesting observation. they have got to try and what this line between the new friends in the boardroom and old friends in the boardroom and old friends in the unions and the factory floor.— friends in the unions and the facto floor. ., ~ , ., , . let's speak to the political commentator and former adviser to borisjohnson, jo tanner. welcome to the programme. a quick headline thought in terms of how you

think this campaign is actually going. think this campaign is actually anoin. ~ think this campaign is actually aoian. ~ , think this campaign is actually aaoin _ . , ., , think this campaign is actually aoain.~ , ., ., going. well, it is a bit of a roller-coaster. _ going. well, it is a bit of a roller-coaster. we - going. well, it is a bit of a roller-coaster. we are - going. well, it is a bit of a . roller-coaster. we are seeing going. well, it is a bit of a - roller-coaster. we are seeing things roller—coaster. we are seeing things emerging, which it feels that certainly some parties seem slightly more organised than others. it is a case of strapping ourselves in for the next few weeks, we are going to have lots of announcements and picking apart of those. you mentioned _ picking apart of those. you mentioned in _ picking apart of those. you mentioned in terms - picking apart of those. you mentioned in terms of- picking apart of those. you mentioned in terms of the tories, some of the announcements, we had a national service announcement today, we got the triple lock class, also rishi sunak is asking for a weekly debate. is that good campaign strategy or do you think it is what labour are saying, signs of desperation and making things up as you go along? i desperation and making things up as you go along?— you go along? i think the national service policy _ you go along? i think the national service policy certainly _ you go along? i think the national service policy certainly felt - you go along? i think the national service policy certainly felt like i service policy certainly felt like it was a pitch to get a certain type of voter interested, but actually the detail has been very much lacking. it is how this thing would be enforced, it is something that

straightaway everyone was looking at and seeing, it didn't feel like there was a clearly thought through backdrop to it, and a challenge there is the fact that we have got a party, a conservative party saying it has got a plan, and when the wheels fall off a little bit with the policy announcement, it is not great. the debate stuff is classic, every election somebody will go quickly and say let's have a debate, let's do them in any format. in reality there is a lot of negotiation that goes on behind the scenes to make those things happen. they are watching each other closely and seeing what is coming forward. they are looking to see if one party has a better backdrop than the other and storing up their next event, thinking about what is going to make it bigger and better, and get the headlines. if you look outside of those two major parties you have the likes of ed davey who has tried a balancing act. i used to work with one very prominent politician that

liked to change the course of his photo ops, borisjohnson, and found that was a good way to get coverage. for one of the smaller parties, a good way to get noticed. do for one of the smaller parties, a good way to get noticed.- good way to get noticed. do you think any of _ good way to get noticed. do you think any of the _ good way to get noticed. do you think any of the leaders - good way to get noticed. do you think any of the leaders are - good way to get noticed. do you i think any of the leaders are natural campaigners? i do think any of the leaders are natural campaigners?— think any of the leaders are natural cam-aainers? ., ., ~ ~ ., campaigners? i do not think we know et. ithink campaigners? i do not think we know yet- i think the _ campaigners? i do not think we know yet. i think the challenge _ campaigners? i do not think we know yet. i think the challenge really i campaigners? i do not think we know yet. i think the challenge really is i yet. i think the challenge really is we haven't seen rishi sunak campaign beyond his own side, so we don't know what he can do and how he can appeal across the board. keir starmer is certainly trying and has clearly honed that campaign message. and ed davey loves a stunt, he has done them after every by—election and does them well. but there are big questions to ask about how you pay for stuff to make things happen and what your vision is. the lib dems, that is often where they can be lacking because they don't have that ready for government sense about them. they are often seen as slightly more gimmicky for some, but actually they could end up having an

important role to play, depending on how the electorate vote. they could end up switching to lib dems in certain seats.— end up switching to lib dems in certain seats. , ., , ., certain seats. interesting what you are sa ina certain seats. interesting what you are saying about — certain seats. interesting what you are saying about keir— certain seats. interesting what you are saying about keir starmer- are saying about keir starmer because i was reading to what the political commentator at dan hodgins was tweeting out, he said you can see the two campaigns happening. the tories trying to grab attention with contentious policies, labour are quite happy to let them make the running. and adding today for the first time he thought perhaps the safety first campaign that labour might be tempted to run, perhaps thatis might be tempted to run, perhaps that is all that was needed, they thought there would come a time when they have to give more about some of they have to give more about some of the things in the driving forces behind keir starmer. perhaps that doesn't need to happen. it is behind keir starmer. perhaps that doesn't need to happen. it is always a danaer, doesn't need to happen. it is always a danger. there _ doesn't need to happen. it is always a danger, there is _ doesn't need to happen. it is always a danger, there is a _ doesn't need to happen. it is always a danger, there is a tight _ doesn't need to happen. it is always a danger, there is a tight rope i doesn't need to happen. it is always a danger, there is a tight rope that l a danger, there is a tight rope that is what the politicians about how much of the person did they show, but in reality what labour are

sticking with this we are not going to beat them. there has been 1a years of this and we get the sense you don't like it, the polls suggest you don't like it, the polls suggest you don't like it, the polls suggest you don't like it, so why don't you give us a try? why don't you vote for change? we are seeing more and more about keir starmer, they have certainly put some work in. but he also feels it is more important to talk to the country about what he can do than talk about who he is, and i think dan hodges is probably right. there is a sense, the ming vase everyone talked about, they are carrying this very carefully. rachel reeves has talked about stability. it does not sound that appealing, but we can all remember it wasn't very stable not that long ago. so actually something that makes us feel it is not a risky vote to make, you can thewhite labour are pitching for that territory. —— you can see

why labour are pitching. you for that territory. -- you can see why labour are pitching. you can see a variety of — why labour are pitching. you can see a variety of gaffes — why labour are pitching. you can see a variety of gaffes in _ why labour are pitching. you can see a variety of gaffes in terms _ why labour are pitching. you can see a variety of gaffes in terms of - why labour are pitching. you can see a variety of gaffes in terms of the i a variety of gaffes in terms of the comms teams. it a variety of gaffes in terms of the comms teams-— a variety of gaffes in terms of the comms teams. , ., _ , ., ., comms teams. it is easy when you are sittina in comms teams. it is easy when you are sitting in the — comms teams. it is easy when you are sitting in the room _ comms teams. it is easy when you are sitting in the room are _ comms teams. it is easy when you are sitting in the room are not _ comms teams. it is easy when you are sitting in the room are not out - comms teams. it is easy when you are sitting in the room are not out on i sitting in the room are not out on the road to criticise. i would be loath to do that. i do think it is very easy when you get started, you hear all this stuff about what to watch out for, exit signs and goodness knows what. in reality, you are running to keep up with yourselves and you are trying to think outside of the box, constantly, to keep things interesting. it is a tough gig. i think they have all got to be careful, not only about language, about how they talk about the major issues. they have got to try and stay on message, and those photo ops do matter, preparing their candidates as best as they can is a really importantjob.— really important 'ob. thanks for now, really important 'ob. thanks for now. perhaps _ really important job. thanks for now, perhaps we _ really important job. thanks for now, perhaps we will _ really important job. thanks for now, perhaps we will talk i really important job. thanks for now, perhaps we will talk in i really important job. thanks for| now, perhaps we will talk in the coming weeks.

the honorary president of the reform party — nigel farage — says he was right to warn years ago about small boats crossing the channel. he's also been defending his use of the word "invasion." he was speaking at a launch event for reform's candidate in doverfor the election — where he also pushed back against the conservative argument that a vote for reform is a vote for labour. lucy manning is in dover. this was a general election campaign with a man who is not even standing at the general election. he denied he was a chicken for not standing as an mp, said he was more of a realist. but he did take a potshot at both the tories and labour on that point of taking votes away from the tories, he said in his view the election was set, that labour was going to win it, so he thought a vote for labour or the conservatives was a wasted vote. he told people vote for what you believe in. the talk here today was about illegal immigration and his claims that both parties have failed to deal with it. he stood behind a sign saying rishi sunak will not stop the boats, his

view is that france has to do more, that the government has to do more. he said it was like d—day in slow motion, in reverse with all the boats coming in, was how he put it colourfully. he said it was an invasion as he has claimed it was before. he talked about the need to put royal marines out there to try and stop the boats if the french will not do that. he is not standing at the selection, but determined to have an impact on it. liberal democrats leader ed davey was campaigning in lake windemere today — he spoke to our correspondent hannah miller, who started by asking for his thoughts on the conservative's triple lock plus plan for pensioners. iam i am trying to stop the conservative government being elected, the last thing pensioners need is another dose of conservative government, the last thing the country needs. we have attracted policies for

pensioners, we began the triple lock 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 there. the conservative so undermined the nhs care for pensioners, that i think there are lots of people who have retired to feel betrayed by the conservatives. isn't this all a bit unfair on working people? irate isn't this all a bit unfair on working people?— isn't this all a bit unfair on working people? isn't this all a bit unfair on workina a-eole? ~ ~ .., 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 present i working people? we think the income tax allowance should be present for i tax allowance should be present for everybody, notjust for pensioners. we think as we did in government, delivered on it, increasing the income tax allowance is the fairest thing to do for people in work as well as pensioners. looks like the conservatives have forgotten everybody who is in work. what conservatives have 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 _ everybody who is in work. what is your view on labour plasma i everybody who is in work. what is your view on labour plasma plan | everybody who is in work. what is | your view on labour plasma plan to introduce tax on private school fees? ~ ., �* introduce tax on private school fees? .,�* , introduce tax on private school fees? . ., �* , ., introduce tax on private school fees? , ., ,, fees? we don't support that, because we don't think— fees? we don't support that, because we don't think it _ fees? we don't support that, because we don't think it is _ fees? we don't support that, because we don't think it is the _ fees? we don't support that, because we don't think it is the way _ fees? we don't support that, because we don't think it is the way to - we don't think it is the way to improve education across the board. we want to get more money in a public and state education, we are going to put forwards lots of

ambitious plans, way more ambitious than the labour party to make sure that young people get the best start in life and i am looking forward to campaigning on our manifesto policies to improve education for everybody. do policies to improve education for everybody-— policies to improve education for eve bod . ~ ,, ., everybody. do you think keir starmer would make — everybody. do you think keir starmer would make a — everybody. do you think keir starmer would make a good _ everybody. do you think keir starmer would make a good prime _ everybody. do you think keir starmer would make a good prime minister? l everybody. do you think keir starmerj would make a good prime minister? i am here to talk about the liberal democrats and i am proud of our campaign, we are campaigning on the nhs and gps and dentists, things people care about. our approach to getting the economy back on track and our campaign on the environment, we are here in the lake district, beautiful lake windermere to campaign on the issue of sewage. it has been the liberal democrats who have been campaigning hard to clean up have been campaigning hard to clean up our rivers and beaches and lakes and we are leading on that, i am focused on getting more liberal democrat selected. can focused on getting more liberal democrat selected.— focused on getting more liberal democrat selected. can we get a yes or no other — democrat selected. can we get a yes or no other keir _ democrat selected. can we get a yes or no other keir would _ democrat selected. can we get a yes or no other keir would make - democrat selected. can we get a yes or no other keir would make a i democrat selected. can we get a yes or no other keir would make a goodl or no other keir would make a good prime minister? i

or no other keir would make a good prime minister?— or no other keir would make a good prime minister? i am focused on the liberal democrats _ prime minister? i am focused on the liberal democrats campaign. - prime minister? i am focused on the liberal democrats campaign. i i prime minister? i am focused on the liberal democrats campaign. i think| liberal democrats campaign. i think people want to know about our campaign and what we are going to do. we have got fantastic cabinets of admit brilliant local champions, there are so many seats across the country. if you want to vote beat the conservatives, only a vote for the conservatives, only a vote for the liberal democrats can do that. we have seen that in the south of england, the west country, here in cumbria, across the country there are so many seats where it is the liberal democrat vote that is a powerful vote to defeat the conservatives. did powerful vote to defeat the conservatives.— powerful vote to defeat the conservatives. , , ., conservatives. did you full in the water? one-sided, _ conservatives. did you full in the water? one-sided, it _ conservatives. did you full in the water? one-sided, it is - conservatives. did you full in the water? one-sided, it is fun i conservatives. did you full in the water? one-sided, it is fun but. water? one-sided, it is fun but there is a _ water? one-sided, it is fun but there is a serious _ water? one-sided, it is fun but there is a serious message. i water? one-sided, it is fun but. there is a serious message. lakes like lake windermere are so precious and our environment at the country is so critical to many people, not just those people who live in outbreaks and visit them, it is important for the tourist economy. here in the lake district they need to make sure the water companies are

properly held to account. ed to make sure the water companies are properly held to account.— properly held to account. ed davey talkina a properly held to account. ed davey talking a little _ properly held to account. ed davey talking a little earlier. _ properly held to account. ed davey talking a little earlier. we - properly held to account. ed davey talking a little earlier. we will- properly held to account. ed davey talking a little earlier. we will be l talking a little earlier. we will be covering the election campaign across the day, we will get all the latest updates on the bbc news website. there is also a life page running with the latest video and the latest analysis from all of our political teams across the country. before we move on, let me bring you an update that is coming from the vatican because pope francis, the vatican has said did not intend to use homophobic language and has apologised for anyone who has been offended. the story that took francis made behind the scenes. the vatican making it clear that pope francis apologises and goes on to say the pope has repeatedly said that the catholic church is open to all. that is the latest update coming to us from the vatican. let's turn to the middle east now. israel's forces have

reportedly reached the centre of rafah in southern gaza, as it carries out its most intense bombardment of the city, since the war began. gaza's hamas—run health ministry says across the strip, 46 people have been killed in the past 2a hours. international condemnation is growing over an israeli air strike on sunday, which led to a devastating fire in a camp for displaced palestinians, killing 45 people, including women and children. the un security council is due to hold an emergency meeting to discuss the strike. meanwhile, ireland, spain and norway have formally recognised the state of palestine. here's the irish parliament marking the recognition by flying the palestinian flag. yolande knell has more from jerusalem. all packed up. but many don't know where to go. as israeli forces have pushed further into gaza's southernmost city, palestinians aren't waiting for evacuation orders to leave.

"we woke up at 5.30 from the shelling and rockets," ahmed says on his way to collect children and elderly relatives. "we don't have tents or anything." yesterday, children picked through the burnt—out remains of a tent camp in rafah where dozens had been killed by a huge blaze. explosion. an israeli strike started the fire overnight. israel said it was targeting two hamas commanders with precise bombs. translation: despite our best efforts not to harm _ the non—involved, unfortunately a tragic mishap happened last night. we are investigating the case. but that hasn't quelled the international condemnation caused by israel's deadly action. spain was the first of three european countries which are today recognising a palestinian state diplomatically, despite an angry reaction from israel. this is a historic decision

that has a single goal, to contribute to achieving peace between israelis and palestinians. more than seven months into the bloodiest ever gaza war, israel continues to face down international opposition. it says it is determined to root out hamas fighters and rescue hostages it believes are being held in rafah. but once again, that leaves many palestinians desperately searching for safety. yolande knell, bbc news, jerusalem. sam rose is director of planning at unwra. he's been explaining about the impact of the intensification of bombardment in rafah. military operations, as your correspondent said, are pushing further west into the district of the city. that includes an intensive camp that was hit a couple of nights ago, it also includes a large unwra

logistics base and the unwra health centre. studio: donald trump speaking as he goes on to quote. it is donald trump speaking as he goes on to auote. , ., , . ., to quote. it is the worst confection that anybody _ to quote. it is the worst confection that anybody has _ to quote. it is the worst confection that anybody has seen, _ to quote. it is the worst confection that anybody has seen, nobody i to quote. it is the worst confection | that anybody has seen, nobody has ever seen— that anybody has seen, nobody has ever seen anything like it. it cannot— ever seen anything like it. it cannot be _ ever seen anything like it. it cannot be the prospect of an impropriety. it is a shame, the wall street— impropriety. it is a shame, the wall streetjournal impropriety. it is a shame, the wall street journal editorial said the evidence — street journal editorial said the evidence shows why the judges should never have _ evidence shows why the judges should never have been run after 20 days in court _ never have been run after 20 days in court and _ never have been run after 20 days in court and a _ never have been run after 20 days in court and a trial transcript, the missing — court and a trial transcript, the missing piece is still the missing piece _ missing piece is still the missing piece. there is no crime. the wall street— piece. there is no crime. the wall streetjournal. a classic piece. there is no crime. the wall street journal. a classic closing pitch _ street journal. a classic closing pitch hy— street journal. a classic closing pitch by the lawyers... if any three legged _ pitch by the lawyers... if any three legged stool is missing in any like its missing, they still absolutely collapses. he made a cursory review of the _ collapses. he made a cursory review of the evidence and it shows this

case _ of the evidence and it shows this case does — of the evidence and it shows this case does not have a leg to stand on. case does not have a leg to stand on this — case does not have a leg to stand on this is — case does not have a leg to stand on this is a _ case does not have a leg to stand on. this is a case without a leg to stand _ on. this is a case without a leg to stand on — on. this is a case without a leg to stand on. this isjonathan gerald. the case — stand on. this isjonathan gerald. the case against trump should end in a very— the case against trump should end in a very strong — the case against trump should end in a very strong not guilty. not guilty~ — a very strong not guilty. not guilty~ i_ a very strong not guilty. not guilty. i don't know these people, but guilty. idon't know these people, but they— guilty. i don't know these people, but they are great legal scholars. a defendant — but they are great legal scholars. a defendant is —— every defendant has a fundamental right to be informed of the _ a fundamental right to be informed of the nature of the cause of the accusation _ of the nature of the cause of the accusation. neverabide by of the nature of the cause of the accusation. never abide by the constitutional guarantee, even worse let him _ constitutional guarantee, even worse let him get— constitutional guarantee, even worse let him get away with it. he should have done — let him get away with it. he should have done it seven years ago, they should _ have done it seven years ago, they should have — have done it seven years ago, they should have put this case seven years _ should have put this case seven years ago. _ should have put this case seven years ago, not in the middle of a presidential election. we are leading — presidential election. we are leading by a lot. they brought it right— leading by a lot. they brought it right in— leading by a lot. they brought it right in the middle of the election, hopefully_ right in the middle of the election, hopefully it doesn't work out for them _ hopefully it doesn't work out for them the — hopefully it doesn't work out for them. the same way they allowed the local court— them. the same way they allowed the local court to be misused, to enforce — local court to be misused, to enforce federal law of which he has no authority. they have a federal

law which — no authority. they have a federal law which they are using but there is no _ law which they are using but there is no authority. and under the federal— is no authority. and under the federal law i did nothing wrong. bradley— federal law i did nothing wrong. bradley smith, they expect they wouldn't — bradley smith, they expect they wouldn't allow me to use, the number one in— wouldn't allow me to use, the number one in the _ wouldn't allow me to use, the number one in the country, commissioner bradley— one in the country, commissioner bradley smith, destiny would have established that trump did not wilfully— established that trump did not wilfully violate the federal election campaign act because it is not campaign expenditures. like many companies, _ not campaign expenditures. like many companies, literally on an hourly basis, _ companies, literally on an hourly basis, trump did not have a legal duty with — basis, trump did not have a legal duty with respect to them. he could not have _ duty with respect to them. he could not have intentionally floated the known _ not have intentionally floated the known legal duty, in other words he is innocent — known legal duty, in other words he is innocent. a former president running — is innocent. a former president running against four presidents, represents the greatest effort to

interfere — represents the greatest effort to interfere and steal an election, donald — interfere and steal an election, donald trump did nothing wrong. this is everybody saying it. except we have _ is everybody saying it. except we have a _ is everybody saying it. except we have a judge who is corrupt. ajudge who is— have a judge who is corrupt. ajudge who is conflicted. i am under a gag order— who is conflicted. i am under a gag order which— who is conflicted. i am under a gag order which is another unconstitutional thing. have you ever heard of a president, a leading candidate _ ever heard of a president, a leading candidate and i have a gag order. it is a first _ candidate and i have a gag order. it is a first no — candidate and i have a gag order. it is a first. no president has ever not been — is a first. no president has ever not been allowed to speak. read all the stories— not been allowed to speak. read all the stories in the new york post, everybody — the stories in the new york post, everybody says this is crazy, this is not _ everybody says this is crazy, this is not a — everybody says this is crazy, this is not a trial— everybody says this is crazy, this is not a trial that should happen. this is— is not a trial that should happen. this is a — is not a trial that should happen. this is a dark day in america, we have _ this is a dark day in america, we have had — this is a dark day in america, we have had a — this is a dark day in america, we have had a rigged court case that should _ have had a rigged court case that should not— have had a rigged court case that should not have been brought. it should _ should not have been brought. it should have been brought in another jurisdiction — should have been brought in another jurisdiction, we asked for that and the judge — jurisdiction, we asked for that and the judge never allows us anything. to end. _

the judge never allows us anything. to end. we — the judge never allows us anything. to end, we have an election next month, _ to end, we have an election next month, everything is perfect, it was fine, _ month, everything is perfect, it was fine, and _ month, everything is perfect, it was fine, and we — month, everything is perfect, it was fine, and we have a lot of other people. — fine, and we have a lot of other people. 40 _ fine, and we have a lot of other people, 40 people who would say the exact same _ people, 40 people who would say the exact same thing as these people said _ exact same thing as these people said this— exact same thing as these people said. this is a very dangerous day for america _ said. this is a very dangerous day for america. thank you.— said. this is a very dangerous day for america. thank you. donald trump concludina for america. thank you. donald trump concluding with _ for america. thank you. donald trump concluding with this _ for america. thank you. donald trump concluding with this dangerous - for america. thank you. donald trump concluding with this dangerous day, i concluding with this dangerous day, an important day for america, he heads into court so the jury will be sent out very shortly after hearing closing arguments. donald trump heading in, railing against the gag order, weeding out a couple of press articles coming to his own conclusion about his innocence, but thatis conclusion about his innocence, but that is what the jury will consider. today comes after nearly five weeks, we will get closing arguments in that hush money case. the former us

president facing 34 charges for allegedly falsifying business records to cover up payments made to the adult film star stormy daniels ahead of the 2016 election. he has denied all of those allegations. if found guilty, donald trump will become the first former us president with a criminal conviction and a first major party candidate to run for the white house as a convicted felon. a north american correspondent reminds us about the key moments of this trial. reams of evidence, weeks of testimony, and a decision that will reverberate across the world. here's what the jury will consider as they try to reach a verdict on the former president. we heard directly from stormy daniels — the adult film star who received the hush—money payment at the centre of the case. she gave salacious testimony that prosecutors use to try to show why trump would want to buy her silence ahead of the 2016 election — even

as he denied their sexual encounter. the prosecution also called a colourful cast of supporting witnesses to corroborate the core of their case — that donald trump falsified business records to hide his illegal efforts to influence the presidential campaign. there was the moustachioed tabloid publisher david pecker, who detailed how he would catch and kill negative stories about trump to help him win the white house. also on the stand was trump's tearful ex—aide hope hicks, who said her former boss was worried another sex scandal could hurt him with voters, and that he was concerned about how his wife would react to the stormy daniels story. but the star witness for the prosecution was none other than michael cohen — trump's former fixer—turned—foe. to prove trump knew

about the falsified documents, the prosecution relied on cohen's testimony about two key meetings with trump. in the first days before trump's inauguration, cohen said trump approved a plan to label the hush—money payment as legal services on business documents. they showed evidence of handwritten notes from trump's cfo that detailed the math for cohen's reimbursement for the payment to stormy daniels. the second meeting was in the oval office, where cohen said trump again discussed the reimbursement — telling him cheques would be coming his way. the defence worked hard to discredit cohen. they landed a big hit when cohen admitted under cross—examination to stealing from the trump organization. they aim to shatter cohen's image as someone who did anything to protect trump, and instead made him look like a vengeful opportunist trying to profit off of his former boss. so did trump try to cover up

election fraud by disguising the hush—money payment? 12 regular new yorkers will decide if that's been proven beyond a reasonable doubt. we have just seen donald trump enter the court. we are expecting the jury to hear closing arguments before they are sent out, so more from new york life on the programme in the next little while. people are once again on the streets of georgia, as the governing party prepares to overturn a presidential veto and pass its controversial foreign agents law. the bill requires non—governmental organisations and independent media that get more than 20% of their funding from foreign donors to register as organisations "bearing the interests of a foreign power". they'd be monitored by georgia's justice ministry and could be forced our south caucasus correspondent rayhan demytrie is in tblisi

the latest developments. outside the parliament, quite a lot of protesters, they are in the park behind us. they are making a lot of noise. we had to move slightly away. a lot of people are watching their phones and live broadcasts of what is happening inside parliament. inside parliament it is expected at any time now the governing georgian dream party, which has enough votes to override the present�*s veto of this controversial law on the transparency of foreign funding. we have seen more than six weeks of protests against this legislation, but despite these protests, sorry we have got an ambulance coming in. despite this protest are numerous calls from georgia's partners, from

nato to withdraw the bill, the government is pushing ahead and their argument is this bill is needed to ensure transparency and to know which foreign powers are having an influence to domestic politics here in georgia. 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. our international editor, jeremy bowen, was at a diy centre in kharkiv over the weekend, which was hit by a russian air strike leaving 14 dead.

that's particular shopping complex, the death toll is up to 18, they are still looking for missing people. it is a strange atmosphere here because behind me, there is a busy road, people going to work, but only 30 kilometres from here there is a major battle going on between ukrainian and russian forces in a border town. ukrainian and russian forces in a bordertown. i ukrainian and russian forces in a border town. i was in the area just a few days ago, i didn't go into the city, it is way too gleeful for that to be there, but you can see massive plumes of smoke coming from big fires, clearly it's an inferno. as well as start, here in the city, the second—biggest city in ukraine, it does feel pretty defenceless it comes to various kinds of russian

missile attacks because they are so short of missile defences and what they have to do is make some difficult choices about what it is they protect. just a latest from vladimir putin, reports that he said the west provoked russia's latest offensive, ignoring them not to allow ukraine to hit the russian region. he says an interesting thing because he says strikes on russian territory by weapons supplied by the west to ukraine are only possible with the help of specialist from western countries, and he adds it could lead to serious consequences. you will be aware of that growing debate about whether west had weapons sent to ukraine will be allowed to be fired at targets inside russia. there is certainly movement in terms of the west's position on it, and as it

moves possession, clearly that is gaining the attention of vladimir putin and him saying there that it could lead to serious consequences. that is the latest from moscow. welcome if you're just that is the latest from moscow. welcome if you'rejustjoining us on bbc news. let's turn to the main headlines. they are calling a triple lock plus, the concept is pledged to raise allowance for pensioners if they win the general election. labour has dismissed the plan and say they are the party of business, pledging not to increase corporation tax. our overhead lines, israel carries out some of its most intense bombing of southern gaza with tanks reaching the centre. and closing arguments are set for today in donald trump's hush money trial.

let's return to the general election as we go through it. our teams at bbc news will be working together to bring you all the information you need. my colleague is in the newsroom for us and she is in the verify unit, which will be critical through these coming weeks. i’m verify unit, which will be critical through these coming weeks. i'm not far from where _ through these coming weeks. i'm not far from where you, _ through these coming weeks. i'm not far from where you, i _ through these coming weeks. i'm not far from where you, i am _ through these coming weeks. i'm not far from where you, i am on - through these coming weeks. i'm not far from where you, i am on the i farfrom where you, i am on the mezzanine, you can see the newsroom below me on mezzanine, you can see the newsroom below me on the mezzanine, you can see the newsroom below me on the camera mezzanine, you can see the newsroom below me on the camera we mezzanine, you can see the newsroom below me on the camera we are showing you. that is studio e, the camera is moving there. that is the radio team there, my colleagues at the deuce channel. in the centre, thatis the deuce channel. in the centre, that is where the news desk is, and the bulletin teams are. they are working hard and now the general election has been called. we are up because we will show you more about the teams working at bbc verify. if

you follow me around, any day of the week, we are busy but it is fact checking, making sure we can uncover the truth when it comes to disinformation.— the truth when it comes to disinformation. ~ , ., disinformation. also, verify social media videos _ disinformation. also, verify social media videos and _ disinformation. also, verify social media videos and other _ disinformation. also, verify social media videos and other claims. i disinformation. also, verify social i media videos and other claims. let's take you to screens where we showed data and bring some of the number crunching to life. here are some of the desks where our teams are working, people don't appear on camera but do hard work behind—the—scenes. someone who does appear on camera is ben. you are policy and analysis correspondent. yourjob during the election is about fact checking, poly -- election is about fact checking, poly —— policy statements. there's quite a lot to get through. tell us

what you have been working on. me’ee what you have been working on. we've had this bia what you have been working on. we've had this big announcement _ what you have been working on. we've had this big announcement on - what you have been working on. we've had this big announcement on what the conservatives are calling a triple — the conservatives are calling a triple lock plus, the idea they will take pensioners out of the risk of paying _ take pensioners out of the risk of paying income tax. ben take pensioners out of the risk of paying income tax.— take pensioners out of the risk of paying income tax. ben does all his work year. — paying income tax. ben does all his work year. but _ paying income tax. ben does all his work year, but it _ paying income tax. ben does all his work year, but it comes _ paying income tax. ben does all his work year, but it comes alive i paying income tax. ben does all his work year, but it comes alive on i paying income tax. ben does all his| work year, but it comes alive on the screen in true blue peter style, one he made earlier. just simplified this chart. this is a pledge by the conservative party to try and ease the tax burden on pensioners. take us thranh the tax burden on pensioners. take us through what _ the tax burden on pensioners. take us through what it _ the tax burden on pensioners. take us through what it means. they are saying _ us through what it means. they are saying this — us through what it means. they are saying this move will save pensioners hundreds of pounds. we need to— pensioners hundreds of pounds. we need to put— pensioners hundreds of pounds. we need to put it into context. this is the propria — need to put it into context. this is the propria context, the personal allowance, — the propria context, the personal allowance, the amount people can earn money beyond which they pay income _ earn money beyond which they pay income tax — earn money beyond which they pay income tax. if they are below it, they— income tax. if they are below it, they don't _ income tax. if they are below it, they don't. it will be frozen in cash — they don't. it will be frozen in cash terms at around £12,005 until

2027, _ cash terms at around £12,005 until 2027, a _ cash terms at around £12,005 until 2027, a result of a decision rishi sunak— 2027, a result of a decision rishi sunak and — 2027, a result of a decision rishi sunakandjeremy hunt 2027, a result of a decision rishi sunak and jeremy hunt have made in recent— sunak and jeremy hunt have made in recent years. this is effectively a tax rise _ recent years. this is effectively a tax rise because as people's wagers naturally— tax rise because as people's wagers naturally go up over time, more of them, _ naturally go up over time, more of them, more — naturally go up over time, more of them, more of their income will be dragged _ them, more of their income will be dragged into this area so they will pay more — dragged into this area so they will pay more tax. that is the status guo~ _ pay more tax. that is the status guo~ let's — pay more tax. that is the status quo. let's talk about the state pension — quo. let's talk about the state pension, because this is important. the green — pension, because this is important. the green line is the state pension, 'ust the green line is the state pension, just under— the green line is the state pension, just under 12,000, the green line is the state pension, just under12,000, and by the green line is the state pension, just under 12,000, and by 2027 it is projected _ just under 12,000, and by 2027 it is projected to — just under 12,000, and by 2027 it is projected to be rising above the personal— projected to be rising above the personal allowance, meaning some pensioners— personal allowance, meaning some pensioners who previously weren't paying _ pensioners who previously weren't paying income tax would start paying it. a paying income tax would start paying it a lot _ paying income tax would start paying it a lot of _ paying income tax would start paying it. a lot of pensioners have higher incomes. — it. a lot of pensioners have higher incomes, but if you exist on the state _ incomes, but if you exist on the state pension there is a risk that you will— state pension there is a risk that you will pay income tax where you wouldn't _ you will pay income tax where you wouldn't have previously. what the conservatives are proposing is to create _ conservatives are proposing is to create a — conservatives are proposing is to create a new exclusive personal allowance — create a new exclusive personal allowance for pensioners, the red

line, _ allowance for pensioners, the red line. about — allowance for pensioners, the red line, about £13,000, rising over the period _ line, about £13,000, rising over the period that— line, about £13,000, rising over the period. that would stop there is pensioners having the risk of paying — pensioners having the risk of paying. 50 pensioners having the risk of -a ina. ., pensioners having the risk of .a in.. ., ,., pensioners having the risk of -a ina. ., ., pensioners having the risk of -a in._ ., ,., ., . pensioners having the risk of .a in._ ., ,., ., . this paying. so that is a tax cut? this is the argument. _ paying. so that is a tax cut? this is the argument. you _ paying. so that is a tax cut? this is the argument. you could i paying. so that is a tax cut? this| is the argument. you could argue paying. so that is a tax cut? this i is the argument. you could argue it is the argument. you could argue it is a tax _ is the argument. you could argue it is a tax code, — is the argument. you could argue it is a tax code, but you could say it is a tax code, but you could say it is meditating pensioners out of the risk of— is meditating pensioners out of the risk of having a tax hike, currently projected — risk of having a tax hike, currently projected it— risk of having a tax hike, currently projected. it is important to say it is only— projected. it is important to say it is only a _ projected. it is important to say it is only a proposal for pensioners. everybody— is only a proposal for pensioners. everybody else airing, they would still be _ everybody else airing, they would still be hit, we presume, by this flat personal allowance in cash terms~ — flat personal allowance in cash terms. only for pensioners, not everyone — terms. only for pensioners, not everyone else. they still have the tax hike — everyone else. they still have the tax hike. ~ ., ., everyone else. they still have the tax hike. . ., ., ., ., , tax hike. what have the labour party said or any other— tax hike. what have the labour party said or any other parties? _ tax hike. what have the labour party said or any other parties? labour- said or any other parties? labour have called _ said or any other parties? labour have called a _ said or any other parties? labour have called a desperate - said or any other parties? labour have called a desperate but i said or any other parties? labour have called a desperate but they| have called a desperate but they haven't — have called a desperate but they haven't said they would match it. they— haven't said they would match it. they are — haven't said they would match it. they are matching the triple lock but having said they would match the triple lock _ but having said they would match the triple lock plus, so we wait and see

if they— triple lock plus, so we wait and see if they will — triple lock plus, so we wait and see if they will. the triple lock plus, so we wait and see if they will-— if they will. the nature of ben's 'ob if they will. the nature of ben's job means _ if they will. the nature of ben's job means whatever _ if they will. the nature of ben's job means whatever a - if they will. the nature of ben's job means whatever a politician says, he might be back and that checking it. it is a dynamic role and there's plenty more from ben. there's loads of experts who work on verify. another one is our statistics correspondent. a lot of people will be watching opinion polls closely. you are one of them. not everyone takes too much weight in them, but we do watch them. this is a graph you prepared, it looks like a load of dots. it’s is a graph you prepared, it looks like a load of dots.— like a load of dots. it's a bit too much information, _ like a load of dots. it's a bit too much information, all— like a load of dots. it's a bit too much information, all the i like a load of dots. it's a bit too much information, all the polls| much information, all the polls since _ much information, all the polls since the — much information, all the polls since the last election in 2019. thankfully, you don't need to look at it _ thankfully, you don't need to look at it the — thankfully, you don't need to look at it. the bbc are crunching it down to pull— at it. the bbc are crunching it down to pull out — at it. the bbc are crunching it down to pull out what the big trends are, the averages driving the polls. you can see _ the averages driving the polls. you can see the — the averages driving the polls. you can see the big trends over the last parliament. — can see the big trends over the last parliament, the big rises and falls

at lockdown, the vaccine bounce, labour— at lockdown, the vaccine bounce, labour taking over, the at lockdown, the vaccine bounce, labourtaking over, the mini at lockdown, the vaccine bounce, labour taking over, the mini budget. the tories _ labour taking over, the mini budget. the tories still sliding down even though— the tories still sliding down even though labour are the tories still sliding down even though labourare in the tories still sliding down even though labour are in the mid—40s. let's _ though labour are in the mid—40s. let's get _ though labour are in the mid—40s. let's get closer in. even though labour— let's get closer in. even though labour study, you can see why down herea _ labour study, you can see why down here, reform coming up. of course, viewers _ here, reform coming up. of course, viewers can— here, reform coming up. of course, viewers can play with this data on the website. we viewers can play with this data on the website-— the website. we have all the information _ the website. we have all the information for _ the website. we have all the information for people. i the website. we have all the | information for people. what the website. we have all the i information for people. what about since the election was called? we've had six polls — since the election was called? we've had six polls since _ since the election was called? we've had six polls since then, _ since the election was called? we've had six polls since then, and - since the election was called? we've had six polls since then, and the i had six polls since then, and the individual— had six polls since then, and the individual numbers are bare. this is for each _ individual numbers are bare. this is for each party. some pollsters are given— for each party. some pollsters are given labour a for each party. some pollsters are given laboura bump, some are for each party. some pollsters are given labour a bump, some are saying tories _ given labour a bump, some are saying tories are _ given labour a bump, some are saying tories are or— given labour a bump, some are saying tories are or by two. reform are up, some _ tories are or by two. reform are up, some say _ tories are or by two. reform are up, some sa . ., tories are or by two. reform are up, some say-— some say. you get bounced around.

bikini thing. — some say. you get bounced around. bikini thing. to _ some say. you get bounced around. bikini thing, to keep _ some say. you get bounced around. bikini thing, to keep it _ some say. you get bounced around. bikini thing, to keep it simple, i some say. you get bounced around. bikini thing, to keep it simple, is i bikini thing, to keep it simple, is you will see some showing the parties have dropped, by marginal amounts. , , , ., amounts. even cupid simpler than that, don't — amounts. even cupid simpler than that, don't worry _ amounts. even cupid simpler than that, don't worry about _ amounts. even cupid simpler than that, don't worry about the - that, don't worry about the individual polls —— even keep it simple — individual polls —— even keep it simple. not very much change. really, — simple. not very much change. really, you get bounced around too much _ really, you get bounced around too much if _ really, you get bounced around too much if you — really, you get bounced around too much if you focus on the details. zoom _ much if you focus on the details. zoom out, — much if you focus on the details. zoom out, take at the big average trend _ zoom out, take at the big average trend lines~ — zoom out, take at the big average trend lines. since they only finish collected — trend lines. since they only finish collected the data on saturday, probably— collected the data on saturday, probably too early for the election campaign — probably too early for the election campaign to have had much of an effect _ campaign to have had much of an effect on — campaign to have had much of an effect on those in.— campaign to have had much of an effect on those in. from what you have shown. _ effect on those in. from what you have shown, it _ effect on those in. from what you have shown, it still— effect on those in. from what you have shown, it still suggests i effect on those in. from what you i have shown, it still suggests labour is for out. ., ., ., :: is for out. four ahead, the 20 point aa . | is for out. four ahead, the 20 point gap l showed _ is for out. four ahead, the 20 point gap l showed you. _ is for out. four ahead, the 20 point gap i showed you, it _ is for out. four ahead, the 20 point gap i showed you, it hasn't - is for out. four ahead, the 20 point l gap i showed you, it hasn't changed. no change _ gap i showed you, it hasn't changed. no change since the end of last week. we have many weeks left, so who knows how it would go. that is

robert, who looks at these statistics for us. you can tell it is election season because i was on a bus on the weekend and someone had a bus on the weekend and someone had a clipboard going out to get an opinion poll. we are in the thick of it and it is early days. i will complete this journey by taking as back around the newsroom. the weather team sit there, we saw carroll walk pass. i am just pointing, that is where you are, and hopefully the camera will take us back to you. the hopefully the camera will take us back to you-— back to you. the magic of television. _ back to you. the magic of television. the _ back to you. the magic of television. the upcoming| back to you. the magic of - television. the upcoming election will pose challenges for scotland, specifically the battle the snp faces against labour. our political correspondent explains how the two parties have begun their campaigns. the scottish conservatives... they

were campaigning today setting out their stall for what they want to see. they are confident of winning in perth even though it has been an snp area since 2001. keen to point out the failures of the snp and encourage voters to go to the polls. the message was if you don't, you could end up with an snp candidate. the conservative party have always wanted to go here, they could do quite well in scotland. they have pockets of popularity in the north and the borders and they are confident of getting the seats. of course, they have laboured to deal with, labourare course, they have laboured to deal with, labour are doing well in the central belt and could overcome the snp in the country. that is where the main fight is, between the snp and labour. glasgow is an area the labour party are keen to win. they have previously seen a surge in the

last ten years, did very well in glasgow and they are hoping it will be where they can pick up more votes. they are doing well in the central belt, particularly in glasgow. with the boundary changes, won the seat in glasgow up for grabs, so it'll be interesting to see how it plays out. the latest from scotland. _ see how it plays out. the latest from scotland. we _ see how it plays out. the latest from scotland. we are - see how it plays out. the latest. from scotland. we are expecting see how it plays out. the latest - from scotland. we are expecting more campaign stops. let me point you to the website because we are covering every single aspect of this election campaign. you can get all the latest updates, the analysis, the various updates. just bear on our live page, there is a lipase running and it is available on the bbc news app as well —— live page. more details have emerged of the preparations at major channel crosses for a new eu border it system, due to be launched in october and means non—eu nationals

will have to be registered by metric information search as a fingerprint. tens of millions of pounds are being spent on the changes and at eurostar and the ferry ports, but there are fears of possible delays. here is katie austin. dover, europe's busiest ferry port. since brexit, brits have had to have their passports stamped as they travel through, and there's more change to come. this autumn, a new eu it system is due to go live at the border. it'll replace passport stamping. it'll also mean people have to register their fingerprints, have a photo taken, and answer some questions about their journey. and at places like dover, the registration process will have to be done here, at the port. people queuing for ferries will be handed an ipad to collect the extra information. dover has already suffered from long queues at peak periods. the time it will take to register has prompted concerns of longer waits. so right now, it takes

somewhere between 45 seconds and a minute and a half, typically, for a car to go through border controls. so a first—time traveller who has to register their details should anticipate that it will take a couple of minutes to register those details on the system. so then it depends on how many people are in the car, what nationalities are in the car as well, and so it will take a bit longer. the port is spending about £10 million preparing, trying to make things go smoothly. coach—loads of passengers will be processed in a separate area. there's also a plan to reclaim land from the sea by next summer, to create more space. coach companies like this one in cornwall worry about bottlenecks getting worse. we find that a lot of our customers have already had a fairly lengthy journey before they even get to dover. we've also got to think about drivers' hours and the cost on drivers' hours. it's not only dover that's affected. eurotunnel is putting £70 million

towards new lanes for cars, and machines like this to take people's details. at eurostar�*s london st pancras terminal, space is tight. to try to avoid long queues, it will install 49 new ees kiosks. it's expanding into other areas of the station, like this, to fit in them in. behind me, you have where our passengers arrive normally for check—in today. and unfortunately, ees brings an additional step, where we have kiosks, and those kiosks will be positioned just around the corner. also a huge amount of people there to guide our passengers. eurostar insists its preparations will mean people don't need to turn up any earlier before a train. for the first six months, the eu is expected to allow ees checks to be reduced if queues get really bad. still, travel businesses have nerves about what's on the horizon. katy austin, bbc news. a teenage boy arrested in connection with a fatal stabbing on a beach has

been released without charge. the 34—year—old victim named as amy gray died at the scene on friday. allah correspond at has more. the death of a woman has been traumatic for some people, including this group who gathered on bournemouth beach. the woman has been named locally as amy gray, 34 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. the government in papua new guinea is warning nearly 8,000 people are at risk from further landslides, after a mountainside collapsed in enga province on friday. hundreds of people were buried in the landslip and conditions are getting worse. these pictures are from the united nations development programme. the provinicial administrator says continued movement of rock and debris is making it difficult for rescue teams to operate. rescuers say it is increasingly unlikely that victims will be found alive, as local people are joined by support and aid teams from around the world to try to help.

locals scrabble in the scar on their land as they try to find relatives buried beneath the landslide. they're using their hands and whatever tools they can. but the un says around 2,000 people were buried alive here in the mountainous enga province, around 600 kilometres north—west of the capital, port moresby. it's particularly complex not only because of the extent of the initial landslide, but because the terrain is still moving. so my colleagues, my team who were actually on the ground at the site yesterday told me you could actually feel the ground and see the ground moving very slowly around them. the authorities are trying to evacuate nearly 8,000 people from two districts. some are refusing to leave, hoping to find relatives. translation: l have 18 - of my family members buried under the debris and soil that i'm standing on and a lot more family members in the village i cannot count. i am the landowner here, but i cannot retrieve the bodies, so i'm standing here helplessly. australia, new zealand, the us and china have offered aid,

but it's tricky getting it in. the landslide cut off the only road to the outside world. people need shelter, food and medical aid. the question is going to be now where are they going to live? and it's very difficult for people in png to relocate. this creates a lot of challenges around control and use of land. we've seen tribal fights happen in anger over these sorts of issues in the past, so we're really concerned about that. limestone and debris is still falling. the terrain is difficult and heavy rainfall isn't helping. aruna iyengar, bbc news. the bbc has found that child labour has been used in the supply chains, of companies creating some of the world's most luxurious perfumes. during the 2023 jasmine picking season, egyptian children, some as young as 5, were working in dangerous conditions throughout the night, often earning as little as a dollar a day.

heba bitar has that story. it's three in the morning and heba is waking her children to pickjasmine. it's hard work that must be done at night in order to catch this delicate flower�*s fragrance. the mosquitos and pesticides are overpowering. translation: i only have one head lamp and my children won't be i able to see in the dark. the strong smell from the jasmine gives me a chest allergy. some of my children have skin allergies and they keep scratching their skin. after a night's work, heba takes what she has gathered to a collection point. about a third of what she will earn will go to the owner of the jasmine field. it is not enough to live on, so she needs her children to work at her side. she's not alone.

during the 2023 jasmine harvest season, the bbc filmed on farms in four different locations in the al gharbia region, the centre of egypt's jasmine trade, and witnessed children, some as young as five, working in the jasmine fields that were supplying l'oreal�*s lancome, and estee lauder�*s hair and beauty through factories in egypt. both l'oreal and estee lauder have signed a letter of commitment to the united nations pledging to abide by the guidelines, promoting safe working practices and eliminating child labour. we took our evidence to professor tomoya obokata, the united nations special rapporteur on contemporary forms of slavery. looking at this footage, they are not actually doing things that they had promised to do. there is no safety consideration, and their mental and physical well—being are affected as a result of that.

all of these are quite clear indicators of hazardous work which may constitute the worst form of child labour. we put ourfindings to l'oreal and estee lauder. l'oreal told us, whenever an issue arises, l'oreal works proactively to identify the underlying causes and the way to resolve the issue. despite our strong commitments and actions, we know in certain parts of the world where l'oreal suppliers operate, there are risks to our commitments being upheld. we never request fragrance houses go lower than the market price for ingredients at the expense of farmers. estee lauder said, we believe the rights of all children should be protected and have contacted our suppliers to investigate this very serious matter.

ijust want i just want to bring you ijust want to bring you the latest from the middle east, and idf news conference going on at the moment, and some interesting lines, lines bound to be controversial because saying the bombs use in the strike on sunday were the smallest air munitions, ourammunition alone munitions, our ammunition alone couldn't munitions, ourammunition alone couldn't have ignited the fire of the size we saw. he goes on to say they are investigating the possibility the weapon stored in the nearby compound caught fire. there's been international condemnation after those israeli strikes that have killed so many people. that explanation will undoubtedly be controversial with the israelis saying there munitions could not have ignited the fires that we saw. we will keep on eye on that news

conference, bring you any questions. those are the top lines coming out so far. we will catch up all the election news, but after the weather. good afternoon, rain features in the forecast for the next few days, in fact there will be some heavy and thundery downpours across parts of the uk, but that is not the whole story, we will also see some drier gaps we will also see some drier gaps between the showers and some spells of sunshine. on the satellite between can see this stripe of cloud which has been bringing outbreaks of rain northwards and eastwards and we will continue to see some wet weather for the rest of the day across parts of eastern and northern england up into scotland and behind that, as the skies brighten, we will see some sharp showers and thunderstorms across parts of northern ireland, southern scotland, northern and eastern parts of england. temperatures generally between 15—17, 18 degrees, in the brighter spots, and then this evening and tonight, the rain band lingers for a time in the north—east of scotland, still some further showers

elsewhere, by the end of the night most places will have some clear spells, not quite as chilly as it was last night in many places. tomorrow, we will see some spells of sunshine, but some showers from the word go, those showers breaking out quite widely, some could be heavy, some could be thundery but i think the heaviest downpours are likely to be across northern and eastern parts of scotland down into perhaps north—eastern parts of england. these showers could dump a lot of rain in a short space of time which could give some localised surface water flooding and poor travelling conditions, lightning, maybe even some hail mixed in. but in the sunny spots tomorrow perhaps feeling a bit warmer than today, highs of 19—20. this unsettled weather has of course been brought by low pressure, that area of low pressure tends to move eastwards by thursday, allowing for quite a brisk north or north—westerly wind so it will feel quite cool on thursday, still some showers, the heaviest ones likely to be towards the south and south—east of england, again

with the occasional rumble of thunder, generally between 15—18. heading towards the weekend, high pressure building from the west, meaning more dry weather, often there will be some quite large areas of cloud floating around that high pressure but equally with some sunshine, some places getting pretty warm, parts of scotland up into the 20s, further to the south and east, a bit more cloud and feeling a bit cooler.

live from london, this is bbc news. they're calling it "triple lock plus." the conservative pledge to raise the tax—free allowance for pensioners, if they win the election. labour's dismissed the plan, and say they're the party of business, pledging not to increase corporation tax. the lib dems leader ed devi spent the day paddle boarding in windermere. we'll be live on the campaign trail — across the uk — bringing you the latest from the parties and the analysis of what's been promised. our other main headlines — israel carries out some of its most intensive bombing of southern gaza, with tanks reaching the centre of rafah. and thejury donald and the jury donald trump's hush money trial he was argument from both the defence and prosecution as the criminal case comes to a head —— hears arguments. welcome to bbc

news. rishi sunak is promising to increase the 'tax—free allowance' for pensioners — if the conservatives win the general election. he says the policy would mean people who retire are £95 better off from the beginning of the next financial year. in a moment, we'll be on the campaign trail with labour and the reform party. but first, harry farley reports on the new conservative pledge, and the reaction to it. the prime minister at a pottery factory in stoke—on—trent, painting his offer for pensioners. under current government plans, the tax threshold are frozen, so as the state pension rises under what is known as the triple lock, more pensioners would be dragged into paying tax. now the prime minister is promising the tax—free allowance will increase for pensioners, but not everyone else. for people who work hard

all their lives and put in, then we need to make sure that they have the dignity they deserve when they have finished, and that is why i've really protected pensions and the triple lock, and you have seen our announcement today, the triple lock plus, where we will raise the threshold and make sure pensioners get a tax cut and they will never pay tax on the state pension. labour's shadow chancellor is touting the backing of business leaders today, the result of her years long charm offensive, but like other opposition parties, dismissing the conservatives' policy. 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. of course, we want to see investment in people's pockets and making sure

that pensioners are seeing a benefit to any economic improvement in the situation that the country faces, but we are seeing the consequences of 14 and a half years of austerity that both labour and the tories are committed to continuing. it's rather remarkable - they are trying to make out this is some great policy- when they were the ones who increased taxes on pensioners in the first place by not _ raising the allowance. | it was the lib dems who fought hard| to increase the income tax allowance to help pensioners and people on low incomes. _ the lib dems leader not alone in pointing out this idea reverses a previous conservative policy. but politics, as ever, a question of balancing priorities as the election campaign hits week two, the parties all hoping they are the ones to make a splash. harry farley, bbc news, westminster. in scotland the conservatives have

taken aim at the s&p. douglas ross is urging voters in key seats to back his party to beat the snp. let's speak to the snp mp and the party's reader at westminster at stephen flynn. welcome to the programme. let me start by asking you about what rishi sunak has been saying about triple lock plus. if that's something you could support or rule out? i that's something you could support or rule out?— or rule out? i think there words will rina or rule out? i think there words will ring hollow— or rule out? i think there words will ring hollow in _ or rule out? i think there words will ring hollow in the _ or rule out? i think there words will ring hollow in the ears i or rule out? i think there words will ring hollow in the ears of. will ring hollow in the ears of people right across scotland who have been watching on as the economy has collapsed beneath them. mortgages have skyrocketed, energy bills have skyrocketed and food prices have skyrocketed. for those pensioners who have had to bear the brunt of that, they will be looking on wondering why the prime minister is not focused on prioritising economic growth for the next generation, making sure we had delivery of investment in zero, where we don't have greater levels of movement and why they are not

trying to align ourselves with the single market. when it comes to westminster, it is only the snp who makes those arguments and it is the snp who put scotland first in that regard. is the snp who put scotland first in that reaard. v is the snp who put scotland first in that regard-— that regard. let's talk about what the scottish _ that regard. let's talk about what the scottish conservative - that regard. let's talk about what the scottish conservative leader i that regard. let's talk about what i the scottish conservative leader was saying today. he said a loss at the general election could put an end to the snp's plans for independence. is he right about that? if you have a setback comes six weeks' time, does that really and talk of independence? i that really and talk of independence? that really and talk of inde rendence? ~ ., that really and talk of inde rendence? ~' ., ., independence? i think the leader of the conservative _ independence? i think the leader of the conservative party _ independence? i think the leader of the conservative party in _ independence? i think the leader of the conservative party in scotland l the conservative party in scotland has chosen to not break a habit of a lifetime, and once again the reality is the people of scotland want to have a say over their own future and should vote for the scottish national party. no politician should be going into a democratic election telling half of the electorate in scotland that their views do not matter and they can be put back in a box. this election isn'tjust about independence. it is also about the vision we have fought scotland,

making sure we have scotland put first in westminster. we see economic growth, reject westminster�*s austerity agenda. the £18 billion worth of cuts that are coming down the line, which the iss refer to as the conspiracy of silence between the conservatives and the labour party. we look at the net zero future and the opportunities that are out there. the labour party watch away from investment, the conservative party don't want to even say the words net zero. meanwhile across europe and the united states that is where the focus is and that is where our focus should be because that is how you grow your economy and fund public services. it grow your economy and fund public services. , , , .. , services. it is interesting because the tories are _ services. it is interesting because the tories are aiming _ services. it is interesting because the tories are aiming their i services. it is interesting because the tories are aiming their fire i services. it is interesting because the tories are aiming their fire on the tories are aiming their fire on the snp as the incumbent government in scotland, your record on health, education, on transport, the everyday matters. that is a weak flank for you, isn't it? it is

everyday matters. that is a weak flank for you, isn't it?— flank for you, isn't it? it is not, when it comes _ flank for you, isn't it? it is not, when it comes to _ flank for you, isn't it? it is not, when it comes to education i flank for you, isn't it? it is not, when it comes to education at. flank for you, isn't it? it is not, i when it comes to education at 9596 of when it comes to education at 95% of scottish young people got deposited destinations, college, work, apprenticeships or university, if you are a young person in scotland you are a young person in scotland you do not pay a single pound in university tuition fees. when it comes to the nhs we don't have doctor strikes, we have the best paid nurses in all of the uk, and of course we have the best performing nhs by most metrics. when it comes to transport the snp have delivered the queensferry crossing, the aberdeen west peripheral route, they have improved the gorgeous railway, which is due to open soon. the reality is when we come to a domestic record, we can talk about that but this is a westminster election and putting scotland first in westminster because the uk parties would love nothing more than for us not to be there. i was listening — for us not to be there. i was listening very _ for us not to be there. i was listening very closely i for us not to be there. i was listening very closely in i for us not to be there. i was l listening very closely in terms for us not to be there. i was - listening very closely in terms of some of the campaigning, i was listening tojohn swinney when he did his election launch last week.

the trouble for the snp in scotland you are fighting to france, you are fighting with the conservatives, you are fighting labour, you are the incumbent and then when you look at recent polling, and all the caveats apply, you have got some convincing to do, haven't you? fit apply, you have got some convincing to do, haven't you?— apply, you have got some convincing to do, haven't you? of course we do, and every party _ to do, haven't you? of course we do, and every party has _ to do, haven't you? of course we do, and every party has a _ to do, haven't you? of course we do, and every party has a lot _ to do, haven't you? of course we do, and every party has a lot of— and every party has a lot of convincing to do in the run—up to the election. convincing to do in the run-up to the election-— convincing to do in the run-up to the election. , , , , ., the election. just the way they have sle -t in the election. just the way they have slept in the — the election. just the way they have slept in the recent _ the election. just the way they have slept in the recent months. - the election. just the way they have slept in the recent months. the - slept in the recent months. the reali is slept in the recent months. the reality is there _ slept in the recent months. the reality is there is _ slept in the recent months. tue: reality is there is only slept in the recent months. tte: reality is there is only one slept in the recent months. the: reality is there is only one port that matters and that will be on the 4th that matters and that will be on the lith ofjuly. we will be taking forward a message to the people of scotland which is very clear, if you want scotland to cosmic interests put first at westminster, but with the scottish national party. it is what we do and when it comes to the economy, we will focus on how we grow the economy, investing it to zero, argue for greater levels of freedom of movement, argued for access to the single market for businesses to grow. when it comes to public services we want to see investment in our nhs and we reject any notion of privatisation of the nhs. when it comes to child poverty,

it is the game changing child poverty rule in scotland. if people want scotland to be put first and once scottish voices to be heard and once scottish voices to be heard a messenger, they should vote for the scottish national party and i'm confident on the lith ofjuly they will do that. aha, confident on the 4th ofjuly they will do that.— will do that. a final question, unrelated _ will do that. a final question, unrelated to _ will do that. a final question, unrelated to what _ will do that. a final question, unrelated to what we - will do that. a final question, unrelated to what we have i will do that. a final question, i unrelated to what we have been talking about, the snp wrote a letter to both neighbours and conservatives today are urging both to immediately recognise palestine as a state. why do you think the uk needs to do that now to join spain, norway, ireland and not to do as the current policy is, to make this part of a more extended wider process, to get to a two state solution? the israeli get to a two state solution? the: israeli government get to a two state solution? tt9 israeli government continues get to a two state solution? tt9: israeli government continues to collectively punish the palestinian people for the actions of a terrorist group, they have denied

them food, water, medicine and electricity. and just the other day they decided to bomb rafah killing tens of innocent civilians. i heard david cameron, distressing and keir starmer say they should stop. that is not good enough, what they should be doing is recognising a palestinian statehood, dragging israeli officials into their you end this now or we will impose sanctions and brick of the diplomatic support we continue to provide you at the united nations. the soft words from rishi sunak, keir starmerand united nations. the soft words from rishi sunak, keir starmer and david cameron is not good enough. it is a betrayal of the people in gaza who are being bombarded day in and day out for something which they did not do. when will they finally wake up to the seriousness of the situation and use the uk's voice to make clear that this has two and an end now? of course the snp led the push on this and will continue to do so because

it is the right thing to do so and i believe the people of scotland back us in that regard.— us in that regard. good to have you on the programme, _ us in that regard. good to have you on the programme, thank - us in that regard. good to have you on the programme, thank you - us in that regard. good to have you on the programme, thank you for. us in that regard. good to have you i on the programme, thank you for your time. let's return to what we were hurling earlier in the day. the shadow chancellor says labour is the natural party for british business and she wants to reach the most pro—business treasury the country has ever seen. she has been speaking after dozens of business leaders signed a letter endorsing their economic plans. i've been speaking to our business editor — simonjack. their main pitch has been they can provide the stability that businesses so enjoy and they say that stability is in itself changed, in a period where we have had five prime ministers, seven chancellors and business taxes have valued quite and business taxes have valued quite a bit. they are saying we pledge to keep corporation tax where it is a 25% over the next parliament, and if we have any big permanent policy

changes we will get the independent lbr, the office for budget responsibility, to have a look at and cost eight. contrasting that with the rather chaotic mini budget we saw. this was rachel reeves talking to businesses principally today at rolls—royce in derby. she today at rolls-royce in derby. she described today at rolls—royce in derby. she described labour as the party of business, very much parking labour�*s tanks on the conservative lawns. what has rishi sunak and ellos been saying? what has rishi sunak and ellos been sa inc ? , , ., . , what has rishi sunak and ellos been sa inc? , , ., . , , what has rishi sunak and ellos been saina? . , saying? they produce this list of hundred and _ saying? they produce this list of hundred and 20 _ saying? they produce this list of hundred and 20 business - saying? they produce this list of| hundred and 20 business leaders saying they endorsed the labour position. conservatives describe it as a damp squib pointing out they were not very many senior business leaders on it, most of those that seek 100 big companies do not come out in an election in this way. and it pointed to the fact that sambas big business leaders have been wary of some of labour plus much other big business proposals, like enhanced workers' rights, than zero—hour contracts, cracking down on fire and rehire, giving full employment rights on day one. some

of those pledges have been watered down to the dismay of some people in the union movement. that is a really interesting observation. we have to try and walk this line between the new friends in the boardroom and old friends in the unions and factory floor. :, :, , friends in the unions and factory floor. ., ,, ., ., floor. that was simon jack, a business _ floor. that was simon jack, a business editor _ floor. that was simon jack, a business editor on _ floor. that was simon jack, a business editor on what - floor. that was simon jack, a i business editor on what rachel reeves and labour have been seen through the course of today. let's return to what the conservatives have said. their big idea, they're offering today, the triple lock plus for pensioners. let's speak to caryl emerson, deputy director of the institute for fiscal studies. welcome. before we talk about costs and the rest of it, both conservative and labour have always supported the triple lock. explain for viewers what this triple lock plus actually is. the for viewers what this triple lock plus actually is.— plus actually is. the triple lock for the state _ plus actually is. the triple lock for the state pension - plus actually is. the triple lock for the state pension says - plus actually is. the triple lock for the state pension says thatj plus actually is. the triple lock - for the state pension says that each year the state pension will grow by 2.5 or inflation or earnings, so the triple lock plus which the

conservatives are proposing for the next parliament would say that not only with the state pension, but that amount, but the point at which pensioners start to pay income tax, the personal allowance for pensioners full also grow by the triple lock. that is not growing each year by the hire of inflation earnings or 2.5%.— each year by the hire of inflation earnings or 2.5%. what would be the cost of today's _ earnings or 2.5%. what would be the cost of today's pledge? _ earnings or 2.5%. what would be the cost of today's pledge? you - earnings or 2.5%. what would be the cost of today's pledge? you have - earnings or 2.5%. what would be the cost of today's pledge? you have to | cost of today's pledge? you have to remember current _ cost of today's pledge? you have to remember current government - cost of today's pledge? you have to i remember current government policy is to freeze the personal allowance, not even to increase it in line with inflation. relative to that benchmark, the triple lock indexation for the pension tax allowance would cost something like two and a half billion pounds a year by the end of a full parliament. i think it is important to remember that half of that cost, half of that giveaway is really about telling pensioners why we will not do the tax rise we told you about before. that is not doing a tax rise. that is half of the cost. the other half is half of the cost. the other half is more like a genuine giveaway, doing more than inflation, doing the

greater of the three components of the triple lock. half of it feels like genuine giveaway, half of it is just saying the tax rise we were planning to do, we will no longer do. , :, , :, , , planning to do, we will no longer do. ., _ ., ., do. this obviously would only apply to pensioners. _ do. this obviously would only apply to pensioners, in _ do. this obviously would only apply to pensioners, in terms _ do. this obviously would only apply to pensioners, in terms of - do. this obviously would only apply to pensioners, in terms of the - do. this obviously would only apply to pensioners, in terms of the rise| to pensioners, in terms of the rise to pensioners, in terms of the rise to the personal allowance but does not include working people. that has already sparked quite a lot of conversation and questions about whether there is some sort of generational fairness whether there is some sort of generationalfairness here. what are your thoughts on that? 1tide generational fairness here. what are your thoughts on that?— your thoughts on that? we have had an enhanced — your thoughts on that? we have had an enhanced pensioner— your thoughts on that? we have had an enhanced pensioner tax - your thoughts on that? we have had| an enhanced pensioner tax allowance before, and i think it is quite striking that between 2010 and 2015 george osborne, when he was chancellor, says that outs of the increase the personal allowance for everybody but didn't increase it for pensioners, so essentially he levelled up and there is a simpler income tax system with one threshold for all. what exhibitors want to do now is moving the opposite direction and return to a world of having a higher allowance for pensioners, which you can do but it is striking that it

which you can do but it is striking thatitis which you can do but it is striking that it is the opposite direction to what they had between 2010 and 2015. that is one of a number of tax areas where we have seen this in policy direction. aha, where we have seen this in policy direction. : :, where we have seen this in policy direction. : ., ., , direction. a final thought, in terms ofthe direction. a final thought, in terms of the numbers _ direction. a final thought, in terms of the numbers affected, _ direction. a final thought, in terms of the numbers affected, that - direction. a final thought, in terms of the numbers affected, that we l direction. a final thought, in terms l of the numbers affected, that we are actually talking about? 1tide of the numbers affected, that we are actually talking about?— actually talking about? we think that about 7/2-million _ actually talking about? we think. that about 7/2-million pensioners that about 7/2—million pensioners will gain. about two thirds of pensioners in total. the remainder do not have incomes high enough to pay “ do not have incomes high enough to pay —— seven and a half million. about two thirds would pay less tax as a direct result of this policy. thank you for coming on the programme. let's get back to campaigning. just in the last few minutes of the foreign secretary david cameron has been out campaigning in greater manchester, he has been speaking about a whole range of subjects on the campaign trail. let's have a listen. 1tud’hat range of subjects on the campaign trail. let's have a listen.— trail. let's have a listen. what i did was put _ trail. let's have a listen. what i did was put in _ trail. let's have a listen. what i did was put in place _ trail. let's have a listen. what i did was put in place the - trail. let's have a listen. what i did was put in place the triple l did was put in place the triple lock, which has seen real increases for pensioners, real gains because the pension always went up by either inflation or the wages or 2.5%. what

we are acting now is the triple lock plus. we are saying if you have a pension which is rising, it is never going to be subject to tax. if you the clear choice has opened up between doing right by the pensioners under conservatives or having the retirement tax under labour, because labour said they are not going to match a pledge to make sure the basic state pension does not get taxed. itide sure the basic state pension does not get taxed-— sure the basic state pension does not get taxed. sure the basic state pension does not aet taxed. ~ . , ., ., , not get taxed. we have seen what has ha--ened not get taxed. we have seen what has happened in — not get taxed. we have seen what has happened in rafah _ not get taxed. we have seen what has happened in rafah overnight, - not get taxed. we have seen what has happened in rafah overnight, what - not get taxed. we have seen what has happened in rafah overnight, what is| happened in rafah overnight, what is the reaction to the icc arrest warrant to the prime minister benjamin netanyahu as well as the hamas officials?— hamas officials? what happened overniaht hamas officials? what happened overnight is _ hamas officials? what happened overnight is very _ hamas officials? what happened overnight is very concerning - hamas officials? what happened overnight is very concerning and | overnight is very concerning and worrying so we are asking for that to be investigated rapidly, and the israelis have already said it was a tragic mistake but we want to see that properly investigated. what i want to see is a stop in the fighting, we want a pause which has been offered by the israelis, a hostage deal to campbelle which would let business out of israeli jails. what we need is to get the

hostages out, get the aid in and have a stop in the fighting which we can turn into a permanent sustainable ceasefire. ~ . . , :, sustainable ceasefire. what are your views on course _ sustainable ceasefire. what are your views on course to _ sustainable ceasefire. what are your views on course to recognise - sustainable ceasefire. what are your| views on course to recognise houston as a state? keir starmer says he respects the court plus like independence and the rule of law. [30 independence and the rule of law. d9 you? of course, i want to see a two state solution of a secure israel next to a secure democratic palestine, and recognition will come but it should not come at the start of this process. it doesn't have to wait until right to the end, but should be part of bringing about a two state solution. fight! should be part of bringing about a two state solution.— should be part of bringing about a two state solution. and finally, are ou two state solution. and finally, are you disappointed — two state solution. and finally, are you disappointed that _ two state solution. and finally, are you disappointed that some - two state solution. and finally, are you disappointed that some tory . two state solution. and finally, are i you disappointed that some tory mps have criticised rishi sunak�*s announcement? have criticised rishi sunak's announcement?— have criticised rishi sunak's announcement? , ,, ., ., announcement? rishi sunak is made a decision with — announcement? rishi sunak is made a decision with national _ announcement? rishi sunak is made a decision with national service - decision with national service pledge, ifully support decision with national service pledge, i fully support it. decision with national service pledge, ifully support it. in many ways it has fired up as election campaign. people can see a choice, you have got rishi sunak with a clear plan capable of making bold decisions to secure our future and you have got keir starmer with

absolutely no plan at all, and i heard him say the other day endlessly that he wants change, but when someone asked him what change do you want? he said change for stability. change for stability is like sunshine from being cold or rain to stay dry, it does make any sense at all. rishi sunak has got a plan, it is delivery, inflation down 2%, the economy growing. 800 jobs created for every day the government has been in office. it is a dangerous and difficult world out there, what we need is a prime minister who understands that security and prosperity go together. that is what we want with rishi sunak and we should stick with him. i think when you come up with new plans you create a debate, but what you can see in this election is the conservatives with a very clear plan, prepared to announce bold policies. today talking about how we're going to keep the basic pension out of tax. yesterday talking about the importance of national service. these are both exciting clear plans from a prime

minister who has got energy and vision to deliverfor the minister who has got energy and vision to deliver for the future. keir starmer are putting all of these things has no plan, he isjust sitting there, hoping and praying that people will labour without actually asking what they are going to do or what they are for. when you ask him about the change you want to bring about, he cannot give you a clear answer. we have got a plan, these bold announcements which are very exciting and will bring the country together.— very exciting and will bring the country together. rishi sunak and could expect _ country together. rishi sunak and could expect criticism _ country together. rishi sunak and could expect criticism for - country together. rishi sunak and could expect criticism for his - country together. rishi sunak and could expect criticism for his new| could expect criticism for his new bold ideas? could expect criticism for his new loold ideas?— bold ideas? no, he should keep cominu bold ideas? no, he should keep coming up _ bold ideas? no, he should keep coming up with _ bold ideas? no, he should keep coming up with the _ bold ideas? no, he should keep coming up with the old - bold ideas? no, he should keep coming up with the old plans i bold ideas? no, he should keep| coming up with the old plans and ideas. referendums are not —— actions are not a referendum on the government. they are a choice. keep an exciting time for national service to bring the country together under the conservatives, no plans under keir starmer. a proven leader who has got inflation down, got the economy going after the twin shocks of covid and the ukraine work

with rishi sunak, no experience apart from supporting jeremy corbyn and all the madness of the last four years from keir starmer. it is a very exciting election campaign. i know, as ever, people spend most of the time talking about the opinion polls but there is only one that matters and that is going to be on july matters and that is going to be on july the lith and i am confident that a clear plan, able to prime minister and exciting announcements being made, we have every opportunity. that was david cameron speaking in the last few minutes. the only present of the reform party nigel farage said he was right to warrant years ago about small boats crossing the channel. he's also been defending his use of the word "invasion." he was speaking at a launch event for reform's candidate in doverfor the election — where he also pushed back against the conservative argument that a vote for reform is a vote for labour. lucy manning is in dover. this was a general election campaign

with a man who is not even standing at the general election. he denied he was a chicken for not standing as an mp, said he was more of a realist. but he did take a potshot at both the tories and labour on that point of taking votes away from the tories, he said in his view the election was set, that labour was going to win it, so he thought a vote for labour or the conservatives was a wasted vote. he told people vote for what you believe in. the talk here today was about illegal immigration and his claims that both parties have failed to deal with it. he stood behind a sign saying rishi will not stop the boats, his view is that france has to do more, that the government has to do more. he said it was like d—day in slow motion, in reverse, with all the boats coming in, was how he put it colourfully. he said it was an invasion, as he has claimed it was before. he talked about the need to put royal marines out there to try and stop the boats if the french will not do that. he is not standing at this election, but determined to have an impact on it.

liberal democrats leader ed davey was campaigning in lake windemere today. he spoke to our correspondent hannah miller, who started by asking for his thoughts on the conservative's "triple lock plus" plan for pensioners. i am trying to stop the conservative government being elected, the last thing pensioners need is another dose of conservative government, the last thing the country needs. we have attractive policies for pensioners, we began the triple lock 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 there. the conservatives so undermined the nhs and care for pensioners, that i think there are lots of people who have retired who feel betrayed by the conservatives. isn't this all a bit unfair on working people? we think the income tax allowance should be risen for everybody, notjust for pensioners.

we think, as we did in government, we delivered on it, increasing the income tax allowance is the fairest thing to do for people in work as well as pensioners. looks like the conservatives have forgotten everybody who is in work. what is your view on labour�*s plan to introduce a back levy on private school fees? we don't support that, because we don't think it is the way to improve education across the board. we want to get more money into public and state education, we are going to put forwards lots of ambitious plans, way more ambitious than the labour party, to make sure that young people get the best start in life and i am 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 am here to talk about the liberal democrats and i am proud of ourcampaign, we are campaigning on the nhs, more gps and dentists, things people care about. our approach to getting the economy back on track

and our campaign on the environment, we are here in the lake district, beautiful lake windermere to campaign on the issue of sewage. it has been the liberal democrats who have been campaigning hard to clean up our rivers and beaches and lakes and we are leading on that, i am focused on getting more liberal democrat mps elected. can we get a yes or no on whether keir would make a good prime minister? i am focused on the liberal democrats campaign. i think people want to know about our campaign and what we are going to do. we have got fantastic candidates who would make brilliant local champions, there are so many seats across the country. if you want to beat the conservatives, only a vote for the liberal democrats can do that. we have seen that in the south of england, the west country, here in cumbria, across the country there are so many seats where it is the liberal democrat vote that is a powerful vote to defeat the

conservatives. did you fall in the lake on purpose? one sided, the rest ijust kept falling in. —— once i did. it is fun but there is a serious message. lakes like lake windermere are so precious and our environment and the country is so critical to many people, not just those people who live and visit them, it is important for the tourist economy. here in the lake district they need to make sure the water companies are properly held to account. ed davey talking a little earlier. keir starmer is about to start a question and answer session with workers. we will bring you that, and rishi sunak is at the latest stop in his campaign trail in the east midlands. we will bring his thoughts in a moment or two. you will not miss anything if you head to the website, we are covering election campaigns right across the day, every day of this six weeks. you can

get all the latest updates. head to the bbc news website, there is a life pager running with all of the latest developments. —— live page running. let's turn to some of the other important stories of the day. after nearly five weeks, closing arguments are beginning in donald trump's hush money trial. the former us president faces 3a charges over allegedly falsifying business records to cover up payments made to the adult film star stormy daniels ahead of the 2016 election. he has denied all of the allegations. if found guilty, mr trump would become the first former us president with a criminal conviction, and the first major party candidate to run for the white house as a felon. let's speak to our correspondent in new york nada tawfik. we saw donald trump go in and yet again he was really dismissive of the case, but it is pretty much

crunch time, isn't it? absolutely, this is the — crunch time, isn't it? absolutely, this is the final _ crunch time, isn't it? absolutely, this is the final chance _ crunch time, isn't it? absolutely, this is the final chance for - crunch time, isn't it? absolutely, this is the final chance for the i this is the final chance for the defence to make their case to the jury defence to make their case to the jury before they get handed donald trump's fate. that could happen soon as tomorrow because after today plus my closing arguments, the judge will instruct thejury on my closing arguments, the judge will instruct the jury on the case law thatis instruct the jury on the case law that is central to all of this. so far we have had to donald trump's defence lawyer going first. he started by saying donald trump is innocent and the prosecution had not proven their case beyond a reasonable doubt. remember, for them it is all about sowing doubt in just at least one juror�*s it is all about sowing doubt in just at least onejuror�*s mind because it just onejuror does at least onejuror�*s mind because it just one juror does not agree that donald trump is guilty or not guilty, this will result in a hung jury. todd blanche is making the case that donald trump was in the white house at the time that these

documents were allegedly falsified, that he was busy running the country and had no part in it. his lawyer also saying that if they were involved in some large conspiracy, why would they have had his two sons donjunior and eric trump signing off on the vouchers for these checks to reimburse michael cohen? they have also said that cohen himself as a convicted felon, he was imprisoned in part for lying to congress and therefore as the prosecution's star witness, it is unbelievable, in their view, this case is built around him and that he cannot be trusted. that has been what the defence has been leaning on throughout all of this. they essentially say it is michael cohen's word against donald trump's and that michael cohen has proven he has stolen from donald trump, he has omitted to that, he has a personal stick in this case, and he is light when it is in his best interest to

do so based on the pass. this hinges on whether the jury believes donald trump intended to cover up election fraud and directed those documents to be falsified in business records. when we get to that moment, i know it it's stating the obvious, but a colossal amount at stake? absolutely. the donald trump has certainly being battling numerous legal troubles. this case is the one thatis legal troubles. this case is the one that is getting to take place ahead of the election, and it may be the only one that comes before the election. therefore, when voters go to the polls in november, if donald trump is found guilty, he will be a convicted felon. whether that causes a few independent voters to pause for a second and think that perhaps they can't vote for someone who is

convicted of a crime, that is the key question, especially when the race to the white house is so tight. i think it is also important to say what a large majority of americans the outcome of the case won't make a difference. so many have made up their minds already about donald trump's guilt or innocence. the majority of democrats believing he's guilty, the majority of republicans innocent. in that sense, it will change a lot, but as for as the dynamics of the race, that will be remaining to be seen.— dynamics of the race, that will be remaining to be seen. thank you, and we will talk — remaining to be seen. thank you, and we will talk through _ remaining to be seen. thank you, and we will talk through the _ remaining to be seen. thank you, and we will talk through the course - remaining to be seen. thank you, and we will talk through the course of- we will talk through the course of today again. you are watching bbc news. it isjust today again. you are watching bbc news. it is just pass through 30, so let's turn to the main headlines. they're calling it triple lock plus — the conservative pledge to raise the tax—free allowance for pensioners — if they win the election.

labour has dismissed the plan — and say — they're the party of business, pledging not to increase, corporation tax. lib dem leader sir ed davey spent the day paddle boarding in windermere — we'll be in the campaign trail and live across the uk — bringing you the latest from the parties — and the analysis of what's been promised. israel says it is investigating whether the killings of dozens of palestinian civilians was caused by weapons in storage catching fire. meanwhile, israeli tanks advance into the heart of rafah — despite worldwide condemnation of the events over the weekend. closing arguments heard in donald trump's hush money trial. let's turn to the middle east. israeli tanks have reportedly reached rafah. the hamas run health ministry say dozens of people have been killed in the last 24—hour is. international condemnation continues

to grow over an air strike on sunday, which led to a devastating fire for displaced palestinians, killing at least 45 people, including women and children. in the last half an hour we've heard from the spokesman for the idf. haste last half an hour we've heard from the spokesman for the idf. have a listen. on sunday _ the spokesman for the idf. have a listen. on sunday night, _ the spokesman for the idf. have a listen. on sunday night, we i listen. on sunday night, we eliminated senior hamas terrorists in a targeted strike on a compound used by hamas in rafah. it was based on precise intelligence that indicated these terrorists who were responsible for orchestrating and executing terror attacks against israelis were meeting inside the specific structure we targeted. these terrorists were responsible for the death of israelis and they were actively commanding operations that could have killed even more. their deaths save lives. sadly, following the strike, due to an

unforeseen circumstance, a fire ignited tragically taking the lives of gods and civilians nearby. he also denied the military was solely responsible for the fire. {jut solely responsible for the fire. our new nation — solely responsible for the fire. qt" new nation alone could not have ignited a fire of this size. our munition alone could not have ignited a fire of this size. our investigation seeks to determine what may have caused such a large fire to ignite. we are looking into all possibilities, including the option that weapons stored in a compound next to our target which we did not know of may have ignited as a result of the strike. let’s did not know of may have ignited as a result of the strike.— a result of the strike. let's go straiaht a result of the strike. let's go straight to — a result of the strike. let's go straight to our _ a result of the strike. let's go straight to our middle - a result of the strike. let's go straight to our middle east i straight to our middle east correspondent, live injerusalem. correspondent, live in jerusalem. that correspondent, live injerusalem. that last clip we were playing, it is bound to be hugely controversial.

exactly, and i think this is the key message, the israeli authorities are under a lot of pressure to try to explain what happened on sunday when this air strike led to that a massive fire that resulted in the killing of at least 45 palestinians who were in this tense for displaced residents in rafah in southern gaza. what he had to say was one of the possibilities investigated by the authorities is that weapons being stored in a place near the site targeted, those weapons exploded following the attack, that explosion triggered the massive fire. there was no evidence to support the claim. he said pictures have been analysed by israeli military, appearing to show secondary

explosions which he said could indicate the possibility weapons were the source of this massive fire, not the israeli air strike that happened on sunday. he said the type of ammunition, the type of explosives that were used in this attack did not have the power to trigger a fire of that scale. again, there has been a lot of condemnation with world leaders, with human rights organisations calling for a ceasefire in gaza following the attack. this is one of the first times we've heard from a senior israeli authority trying to explain what happened on sunday, this deadly attack in rafah. itrul’hat what happened on sunday, this deadly attack in rafah.— attack in rafah. what we heard is bound to be _ attack in rafah. what we heard is bound to be hugely _ attack in rafah. what we heard is bound to be hugely contested i attack in rafah. what we heard is| bound to be hugely contested and attack in rafah. what we heard is i bound to be hugely contested and i suppose will add fuel to those people who want some sort of

independent investigation rather than the israelis carrying out it, although israel will point to the fact this is a zone where there is active combat. in terms of the final phrase of active combat, reports of israeli tanks right there in the centre of rafah. tell me what more you can tell us about that.- you can tell us about that. exactly. this military _ you can tell us about that. exactly. this military operation _ you can tell us about that. exactly. this military operation continues, l this military operation continues, reporters morning suggesting tanks have arrived in a central part of rafah. and that suggests this part of the city is now under some kind of the city is now under some kind of control by the israeli authority. despite the attack that happened on sunday, despite the calls for a ceasefire, despite what is happening today with european countries declaring direct omission of a palestinian state, the israeli military continues with its

operation in rafah. we heard from prime minister benjamin netanyahu: what happened on sunday a tragic mishap, but again he dismissed those calls for a ceasefire, saying the war continues. he said this operation will continue until hamas is defeated and hostages that remain in captivity returned to israel. the un will discuss _ in captivity returned to israel. the un will discuss the events on sunday in the next few hours, and i'm sure more pressure on benjamin netanyahu. the reuters news agency is reporting that an egyptian security delegation is trying to reactivate the talks to reach a truce in gaza, the release of hostages in coordination with the us and qatar. where is israel in it, do they have a delegation present? yes, there have been reports suggesting that the israeli government has given members of this

negotiating team a mandate to resume these talks, to try to reach a deal that could guarantee the release of hostages who remain in captivity in gaza. the reality is, those talks have collapsed. the indications are that hamas is unwilling to engage in any carried of negotiation until the deal does not include a permanent to the fighting in gaza. but have been those reports suggesting the israeli authorities may be interested in resuming the negotiations. prime minister netanyahu is under pressure here in israel from the families of the hostages who say time is running out to save the lives of those who remain in captivity in gaza. live in jerusalem, hugo, thank you.

people are once again on the streets of georgia, as the governing party prepares to push through its controversial foreign influence law which critics say is a way of crushing dissent. if the bill is approved, it would override a presidential veto. the bill requires non—governmental organisations and independent media that get more than 20% of their funding from foreign donors to register as "bearing the interests of a foreign power". our south caucasus correspondent rayhan demytrie is in tbilisi and sent this update. outside the parliament quite a lot of protesters, they are in the park behind us, and they are making quite a lot of noise so we had to move slightly away. a lot of people are watching their phones, lock calmac live broadcast inside parliament, and it is expected the georgian dream party which has enough votes to override the veto on this controversial law on the transparency of foreign funding. we have seen more than six weeks of protests, continuous protest against

the legislation, but despite these protests... sorry, we have some ambulances coming in. despite numerous calls from georgia's western partners, from the united states, from nato, to withdraw the bill, the government is pushing ahead. their argument is this law is very much needed to ensure transparency and to know which foreign powers are having an influence in domestic politics in georgia. 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. our 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. straight to breaking news, and we are hearing greater manchester police are not expected to take any further action in relation to the deputy labour leader angela rayner. we are expecting confirmation, but thatis we are expecting confirmation, but that is coming from our political correspondent hannah miller. i will repeat the line because that important breaking news that angela rayner, labour's deputy leader, greater manchester police not expected to take any further action

in relation to their investigation. the background to all of this has been around the sale of council house and that of course decades ago. the conservative party piling pressure on labour's deputy leader, but the police looking into the various allegations that have been going through it. she has consistently said she had done nothing wrong and repeated that line over the last few weeks and months. but there has been growing focus on the deputy leader, so this news right at the start of the election campaign, that will be welcome news for the labour party. the police had a look at this, they were then asked to look at it again, went through the various bits of information and any new information that had been

supplied. but that key line there that i read out, it's worth repeating, that it is on the screen, no further action will be taken on the angela rayner investigation. that apparently coming from greater manchester police. that is important breaking news. we will return to that here in the next little while. we hope to speak to our political correspondent at westminster, but that news will be welcome news for labour's deputy leader that the investigation looks like it is coming to a close with no further action being taken. i'm just seeing how len hasjust action being taken. i'm just seeing how len has just taken a seat, so she is putting her microphone on. in the next few seconds we will talk to her because this is really bubbling around for months. it has put a lot of scrutiny on angela rayner and her labour colleagues. we have watched

over recent weeks and months just about every shadow cabinet minister thatis about every shadow cabinet minister that is interviewed, always ask about this investigation. it appears to have come to a conclusion. helen was getting ready, she is ready, so let's get more from our westminster studios. as i was saying, considerable relief for labour's jeopardy leader and the party given what was at stake. itide jeopardy leader and the party given what was at stake.— what was at stake. we are still waitin: what was at stake. we are still waiting for _ what was at stake. we are still waiting for official _ what was at stake. we are stillj waiting for official confirmation that this is the decision, but we understand greater manchester police is not expected to take further action in relation to the depot did leader and arena. they had been looking to see if any offences had been committed —— angela rayner. it was about a home she owned in stockport in vicarage road, and whether or not it had been her main home. she was registered there to vote and the have been questioned whether or not she owes capital

gains tax when she sold it in 2015. she said she had taken tax advice on it and have been told no offence had been taken. it had come about after it was published in a book by the former conservative deputy party chairman lord ashcroft. it was taken up chairman lord ashcroft. it was taken up by a conservative mp and the police had been looking into it to see whether any offences had been committed. and we understand they are not intending to take any further action. are not intending to take any furtheraction. t’m are not intending to take any further action.— are not intending to take any further action. �* , ., further action. i'm 'ust looking at some of the h further action. i'm just looking at some of the background, - further action. i'm just looking at some of the background, and i further action. i'm just looking at| some of the background, and keir starmer has been asked many times about it, and when the investigation was announced he said he welcomed it because it will allow a line to be drawn in relation to it. that is apparently where we have got to. he said he was confident angela rayner hadn't broken the rules. i'm right in thinking she had committed, she said she would resign if there were

any offences, any breach of the law found. t any offences, any breach of the law found. ~ ., �* , any offences, any breach of the law found. ~ . �*, , , , found. i think that's the case, yes, and she had _ found. i think that's the case, yes, and she had been _ found. i think that's the case, yes, and she had been adamant - found. i think that's the case, yes, and she had been adamant there i found. i think that's the case, yes, i and she had been adamant there were no offences that had been committed. keir starmer has said he was confident she hadn't committed any offences, so that has pretty been the labour party's stands throughout. if it is confirmed that police won't take any further action, that will draw a line for them, come as a very welcome move and welcome as a very welcome point in this election campaign because for them it will draw a line under it in the hopes it won't become an issue raised again throughout this election campaign, over the next six weeks. . : , , election campaign, over the next six weeks. . . , , ., ~ weeks. helen at westminster, thank ou ve weeks. helen at westminster, thank you very much _ weeks. helen at westminster, thank you very much because _ weeks. helen at westminster, thank you very much because we _ weeks. helen at westminster, thank you very much because we wait i weeks. helen at westminster, thank you very much because we wait for. you very much because we wait for that official confirmation but there it is on the screen, apparently the decision has been made. we wait to hear that official announcement from

greater manchester police, but we think no further action on that angela rayner investigation. we will have more reaction to that breaking story on the programme in the next little while. now, let's get back to the election campaign because as we go through this six weeks of election campaigning, our teams at bbc news will be working together to bring you all the information you need. at the heart will be bbc verify where we take a look at the exact facts and actually put to the test what those parties are actually promising. my colleague has been on a tour of the newsroom to show you how we are working behind—the—scenes at bbc news. t’m how we are working behind-the-scenes at bbc news-— at bbc news. i'm not far from where ou are, at bbc news. i'm not far from where you are. on — at bbc news. i'm not far from where you are. on the _ at bbc news. i'm not far from where you are, on the mezzanine _ at bbc news. i'm not far from where you are, on the mezzanine but- at bbc news. i'm not far from where you are, on the mezzanine but you i you are, on the mezzanine but you can see the newsroom below me on the camera we are showing you. that is

studio e, the camera is moving. that is the radio team, my colleagues at the bbc news channel. in the centre, thatis the bbc news channel. in the centre, that is where the news is. over the back of the six and ten and one o'clock teams, and everybody working hard now the general election has been called. we are up on this floor because we will show you more about the teams at bbc verify which has come into its own. if you follow me round. of course, any day of the week, verify are busy but it is now about fact shaken campaign statements, making sure we uncover the truth about disinformation. and verifying social media videos and other claims. let's take you to the main hub. these are the screens where we show you data and bring some of the number crunching to live. here some of the banks of desk where all our teams are working, a

lot of people don't appear on camera but do hard work behind—the—scenes. someone who appears on camera is ben, policy and analysis correspondent. yourjob during the election is about fact checking policy statements, claims by politicians and political parties and costing them, working out if they add up not. there's a lot to get through. what have you been working on, because we've had one announcement?— announcement? we've had a big announcement _ announcement? we've had a big announcement on _ announcement? we've had a big announcement on the _ announcement? we've had a big announcement on the triple i announcement? we've had a big announcement on the triple lockj announcement on the triple lock blows, _ announcement on the triple lock blows, which is the idea they will take pensioners out of the risk of paying _ take pensioners out of the risk of paying income tax.— take pensioners out of the risk of paying income tax. then city, does his work, paying income tax. then city, does his work. but _ paying income tax. then city, does his work, but it _ paying income tax. then city, does his work, but it comes _ paying income tax. then city, does his work, but it comes to - paying income tax. then city, does his work, but it comes to live i paying income tax. then city, does his work, but it comes to live on i his work, but it comes to live on the screen in true blue peter style. this is the chart, so simplified. this is the chart, so simplified. this is the chart, so simplified. this is a pledge by the conservative party to try and ease the tax burden on pensioners. party to try and ease the tax burden on pensioners— on pensioners. what does it mean? the are on pensioners. what does it mean?

they are saying _ on pensioners. what does it mean? they are saying this _ on pensioners. what does it mean? they are saying this move, - on pensioners. what does it mean? they are saying this move, triple i they are saying this move, triple lock plus. — they are saying this move, triple lock plus, we'll save pensioners hundreds— lock plus, we'll save pensioners hundreds of pounds by the end of the parliament _ hundreds of pounds by the end of the parliament. we need to put it into context. _ parliament. we need to put it into context, this is the personal allowance you are seeing. the amount ofjewish_ allowance you are seeing. the amount ofjewish people can earn money beyond _ ofjewish people can earn money beyond which they start paying income — beyond which they start paying income tax —— the amounts people can earn _ income tax —— the amounts people can earn £12500 — income tax —— the amounts people can earn. £12,500 until 2027, income tax —— the amounts people can earn. £12,500 unti12027, a income tax —— the amounts people can earn. £12,500 until 2027, a decision by rishi _ earn. £12,500 until 2027, a decision by rishi sunak and jeremy hunt. this is effectively a tax rise because as people's— is effectively a tax rise because as people's wagers naturally go up over time, _ people's wagers naturally go up over time, more — people's wagers naturally go up over time, more of them would get, more of their— time, more of them would get, more of their income will drag into this area _ of their income will drag into this area that— of their income will drag into this area. that is the status quo. let's talk about— area. that is the status quo. let's talk about what the state pension is praiected _ talk about what the state pension is projected to do. this is important. the green — projected to do. this is important. the green line is the pension, under 12,000. _ the green line is the pension, under 12,000. and — the green line is the pension, under 12,000, and by 2027 it is projected

to be _ 12,000, and by 2027 it is projected to be rising — 12,000, and by 2027 it is projected to be rising above the personal allowance, meaning some pensioners who previously weren't paying income tax would _ who previously weren't paying income tax would start paying it. a lot of pensioners — tax would start paying it. a lot of pensioners have higher incomes, but if you _ pensioners have higher incomes, but if you exist _ pensioners have higher incomes, but if you exist purely on the state pension— if you exist purely on the state pension but is a risk that you will start— pension but is a risk that you will start to _ pension but is a risk that you will start to pay— pension but is a risk that you will start to pay income tax where you wouldn't — start to pay income tax where you wouldn't have previously. what the conservatives are proposing is to create _ conservatives are proposing is to create a — conservatives are proposing is to create a new exclusive personal allowance — create a new exclusive personal allowance for pensioners, about £13,000. — allowance for pensioners, about £13,000, rising overthe period. that— £13,000, rising overthe period. that would — £13,000, rising overthe period. that would stop there is pensioners having _ that would stop there is pensioners having the — that would stop there is pensioners having the risk of paying it. that is a tax cut? _ having the risk of paying it. that is a tax cut? this _ having the risk of paying it. that is a tax cut? this is _ having the risk of paying it. that is a tax cut? this is the - having the risk of paying it. that i is a tax cut? this is the argument. you could — is a tax cut? this is the argument. you could argue _ is a tax cut? this is the argument. you could argue it _ is a tax cut? this is the argument. you could argue it is _ is a tax cut? this is the argument. you could argue it is a _ is a tax cut? this is the argument. you could argue it is a tax - is a tax cut? this is the argument. you could argue it is a tax cut, i is a tax cut? this is the argument. j you could argue it is a tax cut, but you could — you could argue it is a tax cut, but you could argue it is taking pensioners out of the risk of having a tax _ pensioners out of the risk of having a tax hike, — pensioners out of the risk of having a tax hike, currently what was projected _ a tax hike, currently what was projected. it is important to say it is only— projected. it is important to say it is only a _ projected. it is important to say it is only a proposal for pensioners, so everyone — is only a proposal for pensioners, so everyone else, they would still be hit. _

so everyone else, they would still be hit. we — so everyone else, they would still be hit, we presume, by this flat personal— be hit, we presume, by this flat personal allowance in cash terms. only for— personal allowance in cash terms. only for pensioners, not everyone else, _ only for pensioners, not everyone else, they— only for pensioners, not everyone else, they still have the tax hike. what _ else, they still have the tax hike. what have — else, they still have the tax hike. what have the labour party said, or any other party?— what have the labour party said, or any other party? labour have said it is non-credible _ any other party? labour have said it is non-credible and _ any other party? labour have said it is non-credible and desperate i any other party? labour have said it is non-credible and desperate but i is non—credible and desperate but they haven't said they would match it. they haven't said they would match it they— they haven't said they would match it they are — they haven't said they would match it. they are matching the triple lock but — it. they are matching the triple lock but they haven't said they would — lock but they haven't said they would match the triple lock plus, so we wait _ would match the triple lock plus, so we wait and — would match the triple lock plus, so we wait and see if they do. the nature of— we wait and see if they do. the nature of the _ we wait and see if they do. the nature of the job _ we wait and see if they do. tt9 nature of the job means whatever a politician might say, we might be back year and fact checking. we don't know, but it's a dynamic role and there's more from him on the bbc news website as well. there's loads of experts who work year, and another one is roberts, our statistics correspondent. a lot of people will be watching opinion polls, you are one of them. not everyone takes too much weight on them, but we watch them. this is a

graph you prepared earlier, it looks like a load of dots. tt graph you prepared earlier, it looks like a load of dots. ht is graph you prepared earlier, it looks like a load of dots.— like a load of dots. it is too much information. _ like a load of dots. it is too much information. it _ like a load of dots. it is too much information. it is _ like a load of dots. it is too much information. it is all— like a load of dots. it is too much information. it is all the - like a load of dots. it is too much information. it is all the polls i information. it is all the polls since — information. it is all the polls since 2019. thankfully you don't need _ since 2019. thankfully you don't need to— since 2019. thankfully you don't need to look at it. the bbc are cringing — need to look at it. the bbc are cringing all the town to pull out what _ cringing all the town to pull out what the — cringing all the town to pull out what the big trends are, the average is driving _ what the big trends are, the average is driving the polls. you can see the big — is driving the polls. you can see the big trends, the big rises and falls since — the big trends, the big rises and falls since lockdown, vaccine bounds. _ falls since lockdown, vaccine bounds, labourtaking falls since lockdown, vaccine bounds, labour taking over at partygate, the mini budget. the tories _ partygate, the mini budget. the tories are — partygate, the mini budget. the tories are still sliding down even though— tories are still sliding down even though labour are tories are still sliding down even though labourare in tories are still sliding down even though labour are in the mid—40s. let's _ though labour are in the mid—40s. let's get _ though labour are in the mid—40s. let's get closer in. even though labour— let's get closer in. even though labour are _ let's get closer in. even though labour are steady, you can see why, down _ labour are steady, you can see why, down here, — labour are steady, you can see why, down here, reform coming up causing more _ down here, reform coming up causing more problems to the tories. those are the _ more problems to the tories. those are the trends, and viewers can play with the _ are the trends, and viewers can play with the data on the website where we have _ with the data on the website where we have all the information for

people — we have all the information for --eole. ~ . we have all the information for neale, . ., ., we have all the information for --eole.~ . . , . people. what about since the election was _ people. what about since the election was called? - people. what about since the election was called? we've . people. what about since the i election was called? we've had six olls, and election was called? we've had six polls. and you _ election was called? we've had six polls. and you can _ election was called? we've had six polls, and you can see _ election was called? we've had six polls, and you can see the - polls, and you can see the individual numbers. this is each party, _ individual numbers. this is each party. and — individual numbers. this is each party, and we are seeing some pollsters— party, and we are seeing some pollsters are given labour a one point _ pollsters are given labour a one point bump, opinion polls say the tories _ point bump, opinion polls say the tories are — point bump, opinion polls say the tories are up by two. reform are up as welt _ tories are up by two. reform are up as welt you — tories are up by two. reform are up as well. you can get bounced around as well. you can get bounced around a lot _ as well. you can get bounced around a lot. ~ , , as well. you can get bounced around a lot. ~' , , ., ~ , a lot. the key thing is, to keep it simle, a lot. the key thing is, to keep it simple. you _ a lot. the key thing is, to keep it simple. you will— a lot. the key thing is, to keep it simple, you will see _ a lot. the key thing is, to keep it simple, you will see some i a lot. the key thing is, to keep it i simple, you will see some showing the parties have dropped, some saying they've stayed the same and some they've gone up, and by marginal amounts. some they've gone up, and by marginalamounts. t some they've gone up, and by marginal amounts.— some they've gone up, and by marginal amounts. i would say keep it even simpler, _ marginal amounts. i would say keep it even simpler, don't _ marginal amounts. i would say keep it even simpler, don't worry - marginal amounts. i would say keep it even simpler, don't worry about i it even simpler, don't worry about the individual polls, look at the average — the individual polls, look at the average overall of what has happened to labour~ _ average overall of what has happened to labour. not very much. not very much _ to labour. not very much. not very much for— to labour. not very much. not very much for the — to labour. not very much. not very much for the other parties. you get bounce _ much for the other parties. you get bounce around too much if you focus on the _ bounce around too much if you focus on the data — bounce around too much if you focus on the data. zoom out and look at the average — on the data. zoom out and look at the average trend lines, which will

tell the _ the average trend lines, which will tell the what is going on. since they— tell the what is going on. since they only— tell the what is going on. since they only finish collected the data on saturday, probably too early to see nruch— on saturday, probably too early to see much of an effect on people. at see much of an effect on people. at the see much of an effect on people. the moment, see much of an effect on people. git the moment, the polls still suggest labour is for out.— labour is for out. four ahead, the 20 oint labour is for out. four ahead, the 20 point gap _ labour is for out. four ahead, the 20 point gap hasn't _ labour is for out. four ahead, the 20 point gap hasn't changed. i labour is for out. four ahead, the 20 point gap hasn't changed. no | 20 point gap hasn't changed. no change _ 20 point gap hasn't changed. no change since last week. we 20 point gap hasn't changed. no change since last week. we have many weeks left, change since last week. we have many weeks left. so — change since last week. we have many weeks left, so who _ change since last week. we have many weeks left, so who knows _ change since last week. we have many weeks left, so who knows how - change since last week. we have many weeks left, so who knows how it i change since last week. we have many weeks left, so who knows how it will. weeks left, so who knows how it will go? that is roberts, who looks at the stats for us. you can tell it a selection season because someone on a bus had a clipboard saying they were going out to do the canvassing of opinion polls. we are in the thick of it, and it is early days. i will complete this journey by taking us back around the newsroom. also on the floor, the weather team are here, we saw carol kirkwood. i am pointing, that is where you are, and

hopefully the camera will take us back to you. hopefully the camera will take us back to you-— hopefully the camera will take us backto ou. . , ., back to you. that was my colleague over at the — back to you. that was my colleague over at the verify _ back to you. that was my colleague over at the verify herb. _ back to you. that was my colleague over at the verify herb. let - back to you. that was my colleague over at the verify herb. let me i back to you. that was my colleague over at the verify herb. let me go i over at the verify herb. let me go back to the breaking news because we have had the full statement from greater manchester police, confirming what we told you a short while ago. their statement says following allegations about angela rayner, greater manchester police have completed a thorough, carefully considered and proportionate investigation. we have concluded no further police action will be taken. it was of course in relation to the sale of a council house decades ago, angela rayner had always insisted there was no breach of any law. greater manchester police investigating, looking at it and coming to the same conclusion. that investigation has now closed. we will have more from westminster on the breaking story on the programme in the next little while. just a reminder, you can get the very

latest on the campaign trail, head to the bbc website, all the latest development. the live page running, latest video and analysis, and reaction. there is the breaking news we brought you, angela rayner to face no further police investigation. that is on the bbc website and the bbc news app. i have backin website and the bbc news app. i have back injust a moment website and the bbc news app. i have back in just a moment or two.

live from london, this is bbc news. greater manchester police say they will not take any further action in relation to labour�*s deputy leader angela rayner after investigating her tax affairs and claims she had broken electoral law. they're calling it triple lock plus — the conservative pledge to raise the tax—free allowance for pensioners — if they win the election. labour has dismissed the plan and say they're the party of business, pledging not to increase corporation tax. lib dem leader sir ed davey spent the day paddle boarding in windermere — we'll be in the campaign trail and live across the uk. our other main headlines — israel carries out some of its most intense bombing of southern gaza — with tanks reaching the centre of rafah.

straight to that breaking news here on bbc news because in the last few minutes greater manchester police have said they will not take any further action in relation to the deputy labour leader angela rayner. the investigation was related to a property she owned in stockport. she was facing allegations of breaking electoral law relating to information about her living arrangements. in a statement greater manchester police said following the allegations, it has completed a thorough carefully considered and proportionate investigation and concluded that no further police action will be taken. let's go straight to our political correspondent, she is at westminster. we will come to reaction any moment, let's take this in stages. tell our of us and remind them what the basic allegation investigation was all about. there were a few _ investigation was all about. there were a few allegations _ investigation was all about. there were a few allegations and i investigation was all about. tt99 were a few allegations and related to where angela rayner was living

between 2007 and 2015. she owned a house in one part of stockport called vicarage road but she was also married for part of that time and her husband owned a house in another road which was where she also lives. there had been allegations raised about her living arrangements, which originated in a book published by the former conservative party deputy party chairman lord ashcroft, taken up by james derek to greater manchester police. the concerns were the allegations were about where she was registered to vote. that is what we talk about when we talk about an electoral defence, she was registered at vicarage road. there was questions about when she saw that property in 2015, whether she should have paid capital gains tax because her husband still owned the other house. angela rayner has consistently said throughout this that she had taken tax advice and

she had been advised no offence had been committed, sir keir starmer has stood by her throughout this as well, and now we have got greater manchester police saying no further police action will be taken. t manchester police saying no further police action will be taken.- police action will be taken. i know this only broke _ police action will be taken. i know this only broke a _ police action will be taken. i know this only broke a few _ police action will be taken. i know this only broke a few minutes i police action will be taken. i know| this only broke a few minutes ago, but has there been any sort of political reaction from any of the parties? political reaction from any of the arties? ., , 9 political reaction from any of the arties? :, , ~ 9. political reaction from any of the arties? ., , 9 ., political reaction from any of the arties? ., , : ., parties? not yet. we have asked miss ra ner for parties? not yet. we have asked miss rayner for comments _ parties? not yet. we have asked miss rayner for comments on _ parties? not yet. we have asked miss rayner for comments on this. - parties? not yet. we have asked miss rayner for comments on this. what i parties? not yet. we have asked miss rayner for comments on this. what is j rayner for comments on this. what is interesting is you read some of the statement at the greater manchester police, it concluded no further police action will be taken. they do say matters involving council tax and personal tax do not fall in jurisdiction of policing and greater manchester police has passed information about its investigation to stockport council, and to hmrc. so what could be interesting about this is whether this draws the line under desk, that labour will have been hoping that no police investigation would draw, we will be

asking hmrc and stockport council what their position on this is not whether they intend to investigate and what they say it will ultimately decide whether or not this really draws a line under this issue, which labour will have been hoping to and miss rayner would have been hoping to win this election campaign. fin to win this election campaign. on our to win this election campaign. on your concluding thought, helpful for labour given when this has fallen, given this could have a long awaited throughout a lot of the campaign, six weeks because the conservatives have returned to it again and again, and every time i made the point earlier, every time a shadow cabinet spokesman persson was interviewed they were asked about this. any sense, if this is the end of this, it will be useful in terms of the timeline for the labour party. tt well, and the fact the police are now definitively said they will be now definitively said they will be no police investigation is really helpful, coming at this stage to labour, at this stage in a campaign so early on because it does neutralise some of that attack and neutralises the line that angela

rayner herself has said she would stand down if she was found to have committed any criminal offences. that is clearly not the case here, but as i said, it depends what response you get from the council and from the tax authorities, as to whether it has a complete line drawn under it or whether the conservatives will think there is a bit of mileage in this yet. if there is more reaction, we will return to you. is more reaction, we will return to ou. . ~' is more reaction, we will return to ou. . ~ , ., is more reaction, we will return to ou. ., ~' i., ., is more reaction, we will return to ou. . ~ i. ., ., is more reaction, we will return to you. thank you for that update. let's aet you. thank you for that update. let's get back _ you. thank you for that update. let's get back to _ you. thank you for that update. let's get back to the _ you. thank you for that update. let's get back to the campaign | you. thank you for that update. i let's get back to the campaign trail because rishi sunak is promising to increase the tax allowance for pensioners if conservatives win the general election. he says, the policy would mean people who retire, are 95 pounds better off — from the beginning of the next financial year. in a moment, we'll be on the campaign trail with labour and the reform party. but first, harry farley, reports on the new conservative pledge, and the reaction to it. the prime minister at a pottery factory in stoke—on—trent, painting his offerfor pensioners. under current government

plans, the tax thresholds are frozen, so as the state pension rises under what is known as the triple lock, more pensioners would be dragged into paying tax. now the prime minister is promising the tax—free allowance will increase for pensioners, but not everyone else. for people who work hard all their lives and put in, then we need to make sure that they have the dignity they deserve when they have finished, and that is why i've really protected pensions and the triple lock, and you have seen our announcement today, the triple lock plus, where we will raise the threshold and make sure pensioners get a tax cut and they will never pay tax on the state pension. labour's shadow chancellor is touting the backing of business leaders today, the result of her years long charm offensive, but like other opposition parties, dismissing the conservatives' policy. today isjust 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. of course, we want to see investment in people's pockets and making sure that pensioners are seeing a benefit to any economic improvement in the situation that the country faces, but we are seeing the consequences of 1a and a half years of austerity that both labour and the tories are committed to continuing. it's rather remarkable _ they are trying to make out this is some great policy- when they were the ones who increased taxes on _ pensioners in the first place by not raising the allowance. _ it was the lib dems - who fought hard to increase the income tax allowance to help pensioners and people on low i incomes. the liberal democrat leader not alone in pointing out this idea reverses a previous

conservative policy. but politics, as ever, a question of balancing priorities as the election campaign hits week two, the parties all hoping they are the ones to make a splash. harry farley, bbc news, westminster. let's get back to the latest campaign stop. speaking just a short time ago at a bulls club in leicestershire the prime minister was asked about his party's newly announced scheme to increase the income tax threshold for pensioners. what i believe is you were hard on your life, you should have dignity in retirement. that is why we have protected the triple lock which is going up by nine capacity for pensioners, but today what we have announced as the... class, we will increase a personal allowance for pensioners delivering a tax cut weather and £100 to millions of pensioners, demonstrating our commitment to them and sure we secure a secure future for them. and in contrast the labour party opposes the policy which means pensioners will be paying tax under any future

labour government, and that is the clear choice on offer at the selection. stick with us on a plan thatis selection. stick with us on a plan that is working, but economic plan is allowing us notjust to cut taxes by everyone in work by £90 but the triple lock and deliver a new tax cut for millions of pensioners. that was the prime _ cut for millions of pensioners. that was the prime minister in the last little while. we have been getting analysis on this government proposal. this government proposal. i spoke a short time ago to the the is a treat for fiscal studies kyle emerson asked him what the likely cost of this policy would be —— the director for the institute for fiscal studies. tt director for the institute for fiscal studies.— director for the institute for fiscal studies. , ., ., , fiscal studies. it is to oppose it, not increase _ fiscal studies. it is to oppose it, not increase it _ fiscal studies. it is to oppose it, not increase it in _ fiscal studies. it is to oppose it, not increase it in line _ fiscal studies. it is to oppose it, not increase it in line with i not increase it in line with inflation. relative to that, the triple lock would go something like two and a half billion pounds a year by the end of the full parliament. it is important to remember half of that cost, have of that giveaway is really about telling pensioners we will not do the tax rise that we told you about before, so that is

not doing a tax rise. that is half of the cost, and the other is a genuine giveaway, doing more than inflation, that is doing the greater of the three components of the triple lock. half that there is a genuine giveaway, half of it is just saying the tax rise we were planning to do, we will no longer do. this obviously _ to do, we will no longer do. this obviously would _ to do, we will no longer do. this obviously would only apply to pensioners, in terms of the rights to the personal allowance, that doesn't include working people. that has already sparked quite a lot of conversation and questions about whether there is some sort of generational fairness whether there is some sort of generationalfairness here. what are your thoughts on that? itate generational fairness here. what are your thoughts on that?— your thoughts on that? we have had an enhanced — your thoughts on that? we have had an enhanced pension _ your thoughts on that? we have had an enhanced pension tax _ your thoughts on that? we have had an enhanced pension tax allowance l an enhanced pension tax allowance before. i think it is quite striking between 2010 and 2015 george osborne when he was chancellor faced that outcome is that he increase the personal allowance for everybody but didn't increase it for pensioners, so essentially he levelled up and we moved to a simpler income tax system with one threshold for all. what conservatives know what to do is

move in the opposite direction and return to the rows of having it higher allowance of pensions, which you can do but it is very striking it is the opposite direction to what they had between 2010 and 2015, and thatis they had between 2010 and 2015, and that is one of a number of tax areas where we have seen this change in policy direction. th where we have seen this change in policy direction-— policy direction. in terms of the numbers affected _ policy direction. in terms of the numbers affected that - policy direction. in terms of the numbers affected that we i policy direction. in terms of the numbers affected that we are i numbers affected that we are actually talking about? itate numbers affected that we are actually talking about? we think that about seven _ actually talking about? we think that about seven and _ actually talking about? we think that about seven and a - actually talking about? we think that about seven and a half- actually talking about? we think. that about seven and a half million pensioners will gain, about two thirds of pensioners in total. the remainder do not have income is high enough to pay income tax and therefore cannot benefit. it is about two thirds of pensioners who would pay less income tax is a direct result of this policy. let's turn to labour. _ direct result of this policy. let's turn to labour. the _ direct result of this policy. let's turn to labour. the shadow- turn to labour. the shadow chancellor says labour is the natural party for british business and she wants to lead the most pro—business treasury the country has ever seen. she has been speaking at the royals rice plant in derby after dozens of business leaders

signed a letter endorsing their economic plans —— rolls—royce plant. our business editor was speaking to rachel reeves and gave us his analysis. rachel reeves and gave us his anal sis. . , . ., , rachel reeves and gave us his anal sis. . , . .,, , analysis. their main pitch has been the can analysis. their main pitch has been they can provide — analysis. their main pitch has been they can provide the _ analysis. their main pitch has been they can provide the stability i analysis. their main pitch has been they can provide the stability that l they can provide the stability that businesses enjoy. and they say that stability is in itself changed, in a period where we have had five prime ministers, seven chancellors and business taxes have yo—yoed quite a bit. they are saying we pledge to keep corporation tax where it is at 25% over the next parliament, and if we have any big permanent policy changes we will get the independent obr, the office for budget responsibility, to have a look at and cost it. contrasting that with the rather chaotic mini budget we saw. this was rachel reeves talking to businesses principally today at rolls—royce in derby. she described labour as the party of business, very much parking labour's tanks on the conservative lawns. what has rishi sunak

and others been saying? they produced this list of 120 business leaders saying they endorsed the labour position. conservatives describe it as a damp squib pointing out there were not very many senior business leaders on it, most of those ftse 100 big companies do not come out in an election in this way. and it pointed to the fact that other big business leaders have been wary of some of labour's other big business proposals, like enhanced workers' rights, zero—hour contracts, cracking down on fire and rehire, giving full employment rights on day one. some of those pledges have been watered down to the dismay of some people in the union movement. that is a really interesting observation. they have to try and walk this line between the new friends in the boardroom and old friends in the unions and factory floor. the honorary president of the reform party — nigel farage — says he was right to warn years ago about small boats crossing the channel.

he's also been defending his use of the word "invasion." he was speaking at a launch event for reform's candidate in dover for the election, where he also pushed back against the conservative argument that a vote for reform is a vote for labour. lucy manning is in dover. this was a general election campaign with a man who is not standing at the general election. he denied he was a chicken for not standing as an mp, said he was more of a realist. but he took a pot shot at both the tories and labour, and on that point of taking votes away from the tories, he said, in his view, the election was set in may would win it, so he thought a vortex for labour or conservatives was a wasted vote and help people to vote for what they in. the talk was about illegal immigration and his claims that both parties have failed to deal with it. he did behind a sign saying rishi sunak will not stop the boats. mr farage�*s view is that france has to do more, that the

government has to do more. he said it was like dj in slow motion in reverse with all those boats coming in, it was while he particularfleet —— d—day. he talked about the need to put royal marines into stop the boats of the french will not do that. he is not standing at the election but determined to have an impact on it. liberal democrats leader ed davey was campaigning in lake windemere today. he spoke to our correspondent hannah miller, who started by asking for his thoughts on the conservative�*s triple lock plus" plan for pensioners. i am trying to stop the conservative government being elected, the last thing pensioners need is another dose of conservative government, the last thing the country needs. we have attractive policies for pensioners, we began the triple lock 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 there. the conservatives so undermined the nhs and care for pensioners, that i think there are lots of people who have retired who feel betrayed by the conservatives. isn't this all a bit unfair on working people? we think the income tax allowance should be risen for everybody, notjust for pensioners. we think, as we did in government, we delivered on it, increasing the income tax allowance is the fairest thing to do for people in work as well as pensioners. looks like the conservatives have forgotten everybody who is in work. what is your view on labour's plan to introduce a 20% back levy on private school fees? we don't support that, because we don't think it is the way to improve education across the board. we want to get more money into public and state education, we are going to put forwards lots of ambitious plans, way more ambitious than the labour party, to make sure that young people get the best start in life and i am 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 am here to talk about the liberal democrats and i am proud of ourcampaign, we are campaigning on the nhs, more gps and dentists, things people care about. our approach to getting the economy back on track and our campaign on the environment, we are here in the lake district, beautiful lake windermere to campaign on the issue of sewage. it has been the liberal democrats who have been campaigning hard to clean up our rivers and beaches and lakes and we are leading on that, i am focused on getting more liberal democrat mps elected. can we get a yes or no on whether keir would make a good prime minister? i am focused on the liberal democrats campaign. i think people want to know about our campaign and what we are going to do. we have got fantastic candidates who would make brilliant local champions,

there are so many seats across the country. if you want to beat the conservatives, only a vote for the liberal democrats can do that. we have seen that in the south of england, the west country, here in cumbria, across the country there are so many seats where it is the liberal democrat vote that is a powerful vote to defeat the conservatives. did you fall in the lake on purpose? once i did, the rest ijust kept falling in. it is fun but there is a serious message. lakes like lake windermere are so precious and our environment and the wonderful country is so critical to many people, not just those people who live and visit them, it is important for the tourist economy. here in the lake district they need to make sure the water companies are properly held to account. a rather wet ed davey talking to the

bbc. let me talk to the big news, the first official response from the labour party after that news about the police concluding their investigations around and let me know. the labour party spokesman saying police have now completed their investigation into claims made by the conservative party deputy chairman and have concluded that no further action will be taken. angela cooperated fully with the police investigation throughout. angela has always been clear she was not liable for capital gains tax on sale of the home she owned before. she was properly registered to vote and paid the appropriate council tax. she took extra tax and legal advice, which confirms this. this draws a line under the matter. that is the response to the news we heard from greater manchester police, that there will be no further action after the investigation into angela rayner. that news just in from

labour. we are back to the campaign trail in the next little while. let's turn to some of the important other stories. let's turn to some of the important otherstories. it's let's turn to some of the important other stories. it's really tanks have reportedly reached the centre of rafah as it carries out its most intensive bombardment of the city since the war began. the health ministry said across the gaza strip 46 people have been killed in the last 24—hour is. international condemnation is going over an infant israeli air strike on sunday which led to a devastating fire in a camp for displaced palestinians killing 45 people, including women and children. in the last hour we have heard from the spokesperson for the israeli defence forces. fin heard from the spokesperson for the israeli defence forces.— israeli defence forces. on sunday niuht israeli defence forces. on sunday ni . ht we israeli defence forces. on sunday night we eliminated _ israeli defence forces. on sunday night we eliminated senior- israeli defence forces. on sunday| night we eliminated senior hamas terrorists in a targeted strike on a camp and used by them in rafah. the strike was based on site

intelligence that indicated these terrorists who were responsible for orchestrating and executing terror attacks against israelis were meeting is the specific structure of the targeted. these terrorists were responsible for the deaths of israelis and they were actively demanding operations that could have killed even more. their deaths saved lives. sadly, following the strike, due to an unforeseen circumstance, a fire ignited tragically taking the lives of gals and civilians nearby. —— guising civilians. he lives of gals and civilians nearby. -- guising civilians.— lives of gals and civilians nearby. -- guising civilians. he denied the israeli ministry _ -- guising civilians. he denied the israeli ministry was _ -- guising civilians. he denied the israeli ministry was solely - israeli ministry was solely responsible for the fire on sunday. our munition alone cannot have ignited a fire of the sides. i will repeat it, it could not have ignited a fire of this size. our investigation seeks to determine what may have caused such a large

fire to ignite. we are looking into all including the option that weapons stored in a compound next to our target, which we did not know of, may have ignited as a result of the strike. i of, may have ignited as a result of the strike. . , of, may have ignited as a result of the strike-— the strike. i have been getting reaction to _ the strike. i have been getting reaction to what _ the strike. i have been getting reaction to what we _ the strike. i have been getting reaction to what we heard - the strike. i have been getting reaction to what we heard in i the strike. i have been getting i reaction to what we heard in that news briefing. i've been talking to a middle east correspondent about how controversial that last clip actually was. how controversial that last clip actually was-— how controversial that last clip actually was. exactly, this is the key message. — actually was. exactly, this is the key message, the _ actually was. exactly, this is the key message, the israeli - actually was. exactly, this is the - key message, the israeli authorities are under a lot of pressure to try and explain what happened on sunday when these air strike led to the massive fire that resulted in the killing of at least 45 palestinians who were in this tent, camp for displaced residents in rafah in southern gaza. what he had to say it

was one of the possibilities being investigated by the israeli authorities is that weapons being stored any place near the site that was targeted, those weapons exploded, following the attack, and that explosion triggered the massive fire. there was no evidence to support this claim. he said pictures have been analysed by the israeli ministry which appeared to show secondary explosions following the attack, which he said could indicate the possibility that weapons were the possibility that weapons were the source of this massive fire and not the israeli air strike that happens. he said the type of ammunition, the type of explosives that were used in this attack did not have the power to trigger a fire of that scale. not have the power to trigger a fire of that scale-— of that scale. let's get straight back to the _ of that scale. let's get straight back to the campaign - of that scale. let's get straight back to the campaign trail- of that scale. let's get straight back to the campaign trail to l back to the campaign trail to hertfordshire because sir keir starmer isjust about

hertfordshire because sir keir starmer is just about to take a question and answer session with workers alongside the shadow chancellor rachel reeves. aha, workers alongside the shadow chancellor rachel reeves. a really bi . chancellor rachel reeves. a really big moment _ chancellor rachel reeves. a really big moment for— chancellor rachel reeves. a really big moment for our _ chancellor rachel reeves. a really big moment for our country - chancellor rachel reeves. a really i big moment for our country because all of the parrot from us politicians to you, you are the ones who will decide the future for your community, you are the ones who will decide the future for your country. your choice really matters that date, and the choice is pretty straightforward. we have had iii years now of this government, and there has been a lot of chaos, a lot of division, and lots of things do not work as well now as they did iii years ago. in my book of politics, if you leave your country western where you found it, you shouldn't be given another five years, and the country should have the chance to say sorry let's stop that chaos and turn the page and that's rebuilt and country with a labour government. that is the basic choice that is out

there, one of the essential thing is we are saying and rachel made a big speech about it this morning as the economy has to be the first priority, growing the economy and making sure that living standards everywhere grow up. that is to secure jobs, everywhere grow up. that is to securejobs, the everywhere grow up. that is to secure jobs, the sort ofjobs we have got, anyjobs that come into the brilliant work you are doing here, and we want to hear about that work as well because we are very committed to what you are seeing and it is a real partnership between government and business, it is your chance to exercise your choice. the other difference will be if there is an incoming labour government, we will return politics to service because politicians should serve the country, we have had far too much self entitlement in the last few years, so it will be a government of service, and that means what you think should happen matters, which

is why we will throw it open for a question and answer. we have got some questions, anybody who has got a question or comment, we're not going to filter this pick out given individuals, anyone who wants to say something we want to hear from you and will stay for as long as possible to do that. any question on any topic, or if you just want to say i have got a question and what matters to me is this, or why do you consider that, matters to me is this, or why do you considerthat, is matters to me is this, or why do you consider that, is perfectly all right with us because if we are here to serve you, it is not a... it is your right to give us your views. i want you to exercise that right. have we got a question? airbus ublic have we got a question? airbus public safety — have we got a question? airbus public safety and _ have we got a question? airbus public safety and security. - have we got a question? airbus public safety and security. i - have we got a question? airbus| public safety and security. i have been _ public safety and security. i have been with — public safety and security. i have been with airbus for two years, and i have _ been with airbus for two years, and i have to _ been with airbus for two years, and i have to say— been with airbus for two years, and i have to say i have never voted laboun — i have to say i have never voted labour. ., , .,

i have to say i have never voted labour. . , . ., , labour. that is all right, that is allowed. but _ labour. that is all right, that is allowed. but i _ labour. that is all right, that is allowed. but i have _ labour. that is all right, that is allowed. but i have a _ labour. that is all right, that is allowed. but i have a long - labour. that is all right, that is allowed. but i have a long time labour. that is all right, that is - allowed. but i have a long time been allowed. but i have a long time been a bi fan allowed. but i have a long time been a big fan of— allowed. but i have a long time been a big fan of meg _ allowed. but i have a long time been a big fan of meg hillier, _ allowed. but i have a long time been a big fan of meg hillier, the - allowed. but i have a long time been a big fan of meg hillier, the chair- a big fan of meg hillier, the chair of the _ a big fan of meg hillier, the chair of the public accounts committee. i thought— of the public accounts committee. i thought she was dubbed the race to find by— thought she was dubbed the race to find by the — thought she was dubbed the race to find by the new statesman. prior to joining _ find by the new statesman. prior to joining the — find by the new statesman. prior to joining the airbus family, spent five years— joining the airbus family, spent five years inside home office which was an— five years inside home office which was an interesting experience on the emergency— was an interesting experience on the emergency services network programme. which i think has been failing _ programme. which i think has been failing to _ programme. which i think has been failing to deliver it for almost as lon- failing to deliver it for almost as long as — failing to deliver it for almost as long as this government. my question. _ long as this government. my question, given hopefully there is little scope for tax rises, fingers crossed, — little scope for tax rises, fingers crossed, which you make it a priority— crossed, which you make it a priority in— crossed, which you make it a priority in government to take a good _ priority in government to take a good hard — priority in government to take a good hard look at many of the government programmes which are failing _ government programmes which are failing to _ government programmes which are failing to give value for public money, — failing to give value for public money, given the amount of waste there _ money, given the amount of waste there is? _ money, given the amount of waste there is? i— money, given the amount of waste there is? , ., ., ., ., there is? i will start of that and rachel and _ there is? i will start of that and rachel and i — there is? i will start of that and

rachel and i will— there is? i will start of that and rachel and i will do _ there is? i will start of that and rachel and i will do a _ there is? i will start of that and rachel and i will do a double i there is? i will start of that and i rachel and i will do a double act. on your point about tax rises, there have been far too many tax rises over recent years, the current prime minister rishi sunak has raised taxes more than any other politician, either as chancellor or as prime minister. we have always said consistently that putting more burden on working people is not the way forward, particularly in a cost of living crisis because in addition to those tax rises, which you have all had to bear the energy bills have gone up and food bills have gone up, everything has gone up. that is not the way forward. what we do need to do is grow the economy and we have been flatlining on the economy now the best part of ia years, which is not good enough because it impacts on people's lights. on your specific question on procurement, i think we can do a lot better on procurement and i will give you two or three examples of that. that is too much waste, it is

too slow, and we do not always get value for money. that is something that rachel will go down on, try get out of money and rachel in a hurry, because rachel understands that taxpayers money is taxpayers money and therefore you should look after it carefully as you would look after your own money, with your own finances. you do not waste money on things that are not value for money. nobody does that, and it shouldn't be any different, which is the approach rachel takes. procurement in particular there is a positive side because if you take defence, which is the first priority of any government, then defence procurement, which at the moment is not considered to be part of economic growth, and it should be, and i think we could take a quicker, better more strategic approach when it comes to procurement in defence. over to you, rachel because value for money is one of your bugbears quite rightly.

taxes are now at a 70 year high, and at the _ taxes are now at a 70 year high, and at the same — taxes are now at a 70 year high, and at the same time public services are on the _ at the same time public services are on the knees, people paying more and getting _ on the knees, people paying more and getting less and less in return. we need _ getting less and less in return. we need to— getting less and less in return. we need to crack down, we have medical men not _ need to crack down, we have medical men not to— need to crack down, we have medical men not to increase national insurance _ men not to increase national insurance or income tax. we wanted to be _ insurance or income tax. we wanted to be lower— insurance or income tax. we wanted to be lower but i won't make commitments without being able to say whether money comes from. it is important _ say whether money comes from. it is important we have the tough fiscal rules— important we have the tough fiscal rules that — important we have the tough fiscal rules that we won't make commitments that on— rules that we won't make commitments that on fully _ rules that we won't make commitments that on fully funded. it means we've -ot that on fully funded. it means we've got to— that on fully funded. it means we've got to get— that on fully funded. it means we've got to get a — that on fully funded. it means we've got to get a grip on public spending and crack— got to get a grip on public spending and crack down on waste. one of the things— and crack down on waste. one of the things that _ and crack down on waste. one of the things that has angered me most is the billions and billions of pounds handed _ the billions and billions of pounds handed out during the pandemic to companies — handed out during the pandemic to companies that didn't deliver on the contracts _ companies that didn't deliver on the contracts i— companies that didn't deliver on the contracts. i don't know about what happens _ contracts. i don't know about what happens at — contracts. i don't know about what happens at airbus, but i bet when you sign— happens at airbus, but i bet when you sign a — happens at airbus, but i bet when you sign a contract, if you don't -et you sign a contract, if you don't get what — you sign a contract, if you don't get what you put in it, you do

everything in your power to get your money— everything in your power to get your money back. that is what the government should be doing on contracts— government should be doing on contracts which didn't emerge. we would _ contracts which didn't emerge. we would set — contracts which didn't emerge. we would set up a covid corruption commission to get every penny back on the _ commission to get every penny back on the contracts that didn't deliver. _ on the contracts that didn't deliver, because it belongs in the public— deliver, because it belongs in the public services, not the people who didn't— public services, not the people who didn't deliver. on procurement, we need _ didn't deliver. on procurement, we need value — didn't deliver. on procurement, we need value for money. people spending _ need value for money. people spending more on tax, getting less in spending more on tax, getting less in return, _ spending more on tax, getting less in return, so— spending more on tax, getting less in return, so we need to look from the bottom — in return, so we need to look from the bottom on everything we spend money— the bottom on everything we spend money on _ the bottom on everything we spend money on and treat public money with respect _ money on and treat public money with respect again and get value for money — respect again and get value for mone . ~ ., , ., respect again and get value for mone. i, respect again and get value for mone. money. another question, yes, young lad there. money. another question, yes, young lady there- if— money. another question, yes, young lady there- if we _ money. another question, yes, young lady there. if we aren't _ money. another question, yes, young lady there. if we aren't going - money. another question, yes, young lady there. if we aren't going to - lady there. if we aren't going to part of the room and you feel you are being ignored, please shout out. my are being ignored, please shout out. my name is emma, i been working here for five _ my name is emma, i been working here for five years _ my name is emma, i been working here for five years. what _ my name is emma, i been working here for five years. what are _ my name is emma, i been working here for five years. what are your _ for five years. what are your thoughts _ for five years. what are your thoughts on _ for five years. what are your thoughts on rishi _ for five years. what are your thoughts on rishi sunak's i for five years. what are your . thoughts on rishi sunak's plan for five years. what are your - thoughts on rishi sunak's plan to strip thoughts on rishi sunak's plan to strip gps— thoughts on rishi sunak's plan to strip gps of— thoughts on rishi sunak's plan to strip gps of their— thoughts on rishi sunak's plan to strip gps of their power- thoughts on rishi sunak's plan to strip gps of their power to- thoughts on rishi sunak's plan to strip gps of their power to sign. strip gps of their power to sign people — strip gps of their power to sign people off— strip gps of their power to sign people off work, _

strip gps of their power to sign people off work, labelled - strip gps of their power to sign people off work, labelled as i people off work, labelled as unhelpful— people off work, labelled as unhelpful and _ people off work, labelled as unhelpful and damaging - people off work, labelled as unhelpful and damaging byl people off work, labelled as - unhelpful and damaging by disabled charities? _ unhelpful and damaging by disabled charities? , ,, .,~ , , charities? rishi sunak is putting out a lot of ideas _ charities? rishi sunak is putting out a lot of ideas now _ charities? rishi sunak is putting out a lot of ideas now which - charities? rishi sunak is putting out a lot of ideas now which are| out a lot of ideas now which are pretty desperate stuff. almost everyday he rummages around in the sort of toy box of possible ideas and flings one on the table. yesterday we had national service for teenagers, teenage dad's army, which is apparently his suggestion for the way forward. today we've had something on pensions but no funding, which goes back to rachel's point about making sure everything you say is fully costed and fully funded. on the question of bypassing gps, i think is going down the wrong track. there are many people, i would acknowledge, who are not in work who want to be back in work, in fairness to them, but they don't feel supported back into work. i

think they should be supported. sometimes because of physical health or mental health, they aren't confident they can go back into the workplace. very many good employers, i've seen this in practice, running schemes to help people come back to work so they can actually contribute, which is what they want to do, and help build our economy. i think there are positive, sensible, grown—up things we can do to help. what we've got to get away from, and you will see a lot in this election, desperate ideas from the tories. after 14 years they are rummaging around for anything to fling on the table to get attention. national service for teenagers is just so badly thought through. the first question is bound to be, how will you enforce it? what happens if someone says no question they couldn't given answer. if you haven't even thought question one, you haven't thought it through.

where else should we go? i can 'ust about see where else should we go? i can 'ust about you. fl where else should we go? i can 'ust about see you. my i where else should we go? i can 'ust about see you. my name is i where else should we go? i can just about see you. my name is william. j where else should we go? i can justl about see you. my name is william. i am a _ about see you. my name is william. i am a graduate — about see you. my name is william. i am a graduate engineer— about see you. my name is william. i am a graduate engineer at— about see you. my name is william. i am a graduate engineer at airbus, ii am a graduate engineer at airbus, i work— am a graduate engineer at airbus, i work on _ am a graduate engineer at airbus, i work on spacecraft. _ am a graduate engineer at airbus, i work on spacecraft. currently- work on spacecraft. currently working — work on spacecraft. currently working on _ work on spacecraft. currently working on lunar— work on spacecraft. currently working on lunar mission- work on spacecraft. currently- working on lunar mission planning. fantastic — working on lunar mission planning. fantastic it — working on lunar mission planning. fantastic it is _ working on lunar mission planning. fantastic. it is fantastic. _ working on lunar mission planning. fantastic. it is fantastic. thank- fantastic. it is fantastic. thank you for letting us come here. this is really uplifting to come here and see what you are doing, some of the most incredible engineering and design and build in the world. and to be able to come and see it is brilliant. you can't do it through everything. it brilliant. you can't do it through everything-— everything. it is very exciting. based on _ everything. it is very exciting. based on my _ everything. it is very exciting. based on my experiences - everything. it is very exciting. based on my experiences as l everything. it is very exciting. | based on my experiences as an engineer— based on my experiences as an engineer i've _ based on my experiences as an engineer i've noticed _ based on my experiences as an engineer i've noticed my- based on my experiences as an engineer i've noticed my peers| based on my experiences as an l engineer i've noticed my peers in countries — engineer i've noticed my peers in countries as _ engineer i've noticed my peers in countries as doha _ engineer i've noticed my peers in countries as doha like _ engineer i've noticed my peers in countries as doha like the - engineer i've noticed my peers in countries as doha like the us- engineer i've noticed my peers in l countries as doha like the us enjoy higher— countries as doha like the us enjoy higher salaries. _ countries as doha like the us enjoy higher salaries. given— countries as doha like the us enjoy higher salaries. given existing - higher salaries. given existing efforts, — higher salaries. given existing efforts, what— higher salaries. given existing efforts, what steps _ higher salaries. given existing efforts, what steps would - higher salaries. given existing efforts, what steps would a i higher salaries. given existing - efforts, what steps would a labour government — efforts, what steps would a labour government take _ efforts, what steps would a labour government take to _ efforts, what steps would a labour government take to increase - government take to increase investment— government take to increase investment in— government take to increase investment in uk— government take to increase j investment in uk aerospace, government take to increase - investment in uk aerospace, improved recognition _ investment in uk aerospace, improved recognition for —

investment in uk aerospace, improved recognition for engineers _ recognition for engineers internationally— recognition for engineers internationally and - recognition for engineers l internationally and ensure recognition for engineers - internationally and ensure our pay and opportunities _ internationally and ensure our pay and opportunities are _ internationally and ensure our pay and opportunities are competitivej internationally and ensure our pay. and opportunities are competitive on and opportunities are competitive on a global— and opportunities are competitive on a global scale? — and opportunities are competitive on a global scale? i— and opportunities are competitive on a global scale?— a global scale? i will say a few words and _ a global scale? i will say a few words and then _ a global scale? i will say a few words and then passed - a global scale? i will say a few words and then passed to - a global scale? i will say a few i words and then passed to rachel because she made a speech this morning all about investment. my strong view is that there is investment to be made here in space projects, in defence projects, in the work you are doing. i strongly believe it and we've had lots of discussions with those who want to invest in uk. when we asked them why are they investing at the moment, the answer they most often give is because it is too chaotic, there's too much chopping and changing. the idea of five prime ministers in the last government, six chancellors... seven. seven chancellors. it is politically funny and you might think, you are leader of the opposition, it is great if the government is all over the place with four budgets, four chancellors was not that is great because the

government is chaotic. but it is really bad for the country, really bad for investment because guess what, people who are serious about investment not going to put it into an environment where they don't think things are calm and stable. that is why the number one thing on investment is providing the environment, the stable economy we need with a clear vision for the future at a plant we stick to. if you say you are going to support the sector, you've got to do it notjust for six months or 12 months and change your mind, or change the timelines, you got to stick with it for the long—term. i think government plays an important role in this. final thing, government plays an important role in this. finalthing, and government plays an important role in this. final thing, and then to rachel. it is about partnership, people know if there is a partnership between airbus and the government, they know whether that is working. is the government pulling its weight, does it understand what you're doing and are we fully behind it question mark out

in the world people watch it and see it, and in other countries they observe it. we want to build a partnership year. rachel gave a speech this morning, so i will pass over to her on some of the details of thank you for that question. the number one _ of thank you for that question. the number one commitment i gave in the speech— number one commitment i gave in the speech today was to bring stability to the _ speech today was to bring stability to the economy. stability is what families— to the economy. stability is what families need, but also crucially it is families need, but also crucially it is what _ families need, but also crucially it is what businesses need to make iong-term — is what businesses need to make long—term investment. we now have the lowest _ long—term investment. we now have the lowest investment as a share of gdp than _ the lowest investment as a share of gdp than any other country in the g7. gdp than any other country in the g7~ one _ gdp than any other country in the g7~ one of— gdp than any other country in the g7. one of the reasons why, our wages _ g7. one of the reasons why, our wages haven't kept up with countries, because we haven't invested — countries, because we haven't invested enough. the state of the public _ invested enough. the state of the public finances means it is not public— public finances means it is not public investment. if i become chancellor, i won't have that luxury — chancellor, i won't have that luxury it _ chancellor, i won't have that luxury. it will be about what government can do to h in private sector— government can do to h in private sector investment. stability has got to come _ sector investment. stability has got to come first but we need to have a

modern _ to come first but we need to have a modern strategy, in partnership with business _ modern strategy, in partnership with business. sectors like defence and space _ business. sectors like defence and space as _ business. sectors like defence and space as well as pharmaceutical and zero carbon— space as well as pharmaceutical and zero carbon technologies, they are some _ zero carbon technologies, they are some of— zero carbon technologies, they are some of the areas where there is huge _ some of the areas where there is huge potential in the uk because of our industrial heritage, our geography and great universities and the skills— geography and great universities and the skills we already have. we would want to _ the skills we already have. we would want to focus with a laser focus on the sectors — want to focus with a laser focus on the sectors where we have a comparative advantage but where there _ comparative advantage but where there is— comparative advantage but where there is competition and where we think— there is competition and where we think there — there is competition and where we think there is growth potential. this is— think there is growth potential. this is definitely one of those sectors — this is definitely one of those sectors. stability, a plan for investment, modern industrial strategy— investment, modern industrial strategy and reform of the apprenticeship levy so it works better— apprenticeship levy so it works better for business and better for young _ better for business and better for young people and people who want to retrain _ young people and people who want to retrain and _ young people and people who want to retrain and get the skills to succeed _ retrain and get the skills to succeed in the world of work. it's gotta _ succeed in the world of work. it's gotta be — succeed in the world of work. it's gotta be more of a partnership approach _ gotta be more of a partnership approach. the last few years it has felt government and business have been pulling in different directions. i said in my speech today—

directions. i said in my speech today that _ directions. i said in my speech today that if i'm chancellor, it will be — today that if i'm chancellor, it will be the most progrowth treasury the country — will be the most progrowth treasury the country has ever said, because unless— the country has ever said, because unless we — the country has ever said, because unless we can grow the economy, we can't boost _ unless we can grow the economy, we can't boost wages, improved living standards— can't boost wages, improved living standards and we have failed. being pro—business is ensuring we can lift wages. _ pro—business is ensuring we can lift wages. and — pro—business is ensuring we can lift wages, and the cost of living crisis and give _ wages, and the cost of living crisis and give our— wages, and the cost of living crisis and give our country its future back — and give our country its future back. ., , ., , ., back. the government needs to be a chamion back. the government needs to be a champion of— back. the government needs to be a champion of what _ back. the government needs to be a champion of what we _ back. the government needs to be a champion of what we do. _ back. the government needs to be a champion of what we do. what - back. the government needs to be a champion of what we do. what you | back. the government needs to be a. champion of what we do. what you do here is fantastic, we need to be out there as ambassadors across the world, winning the trade into the country and rolling up our sleeves and doing it. we have a lot to be really proud of, we are good at stuff in this country, but you need a government out there advocating for it. where should we go next? i am hazel, project manager here for 27 years _ am hazel, project manager here for 27 years. following _ am hazel, project manager here for 27 years. following on _ am hazel, project manager here for 27 years. following on from - am hazel, project manager here for 27 years. following on from the - 27 years. following on from the question. — 27 years. following on from the question. i'm _ 27 years. following on from the question, i'm passionate- 27 years. following on from the| question, i'm passionate outside

27 years. following on from the - question, i'm passionate outside of engineering — question, i'm passionate outside of engineering about— question, i'm passionate outside of engineering about education. - engineering about education. inspiring _ engineering about education. inspiring our— engineering about education. inspiring our next— engineering about education. | inspiring our next generation. engineering about education. i inspiring our next generation. in engineering about education. - inspiring our next generation. in my spare _ inspiring our next generation. in my spare time — inspiring our next generation. in my spare time i'm — inspiring our next generation. in my spare time i'm in— inspiring our next generation. in my spare time i'm in school— inspiring our next generation. in my spare time i'm in school governor, i spare time i'm in school governor, sam _ spare time i'm in school governor, sam interestedm _ spare time i'm in school governor, sam interested... primary- spare time i'm in school governor, sam interested... primary or- sam interested... primary or secondary? _ sam interested... primary or secondary? both. _ sam interested... primary or secondary? both. i'm- sam interested... primary or. secondary? both. i'm interested sam interested... primary or- secondary? both. i'm interested in your next— secondary? both. i'm interested in your next steps _ secondary? both. i'm interested in your next steps for— secondary? both. i'm interested in your next steps for academies, - secondary? both. i'm interested in| your next steps for academies, free schools— your next steps for academies, free schools and — your next steps for academies, free schools and multi—academy- your next steps for academies, free schools and multi—academy trusts. i schools and multi—academy trusts. thank— schools and multi—academy trusts. thank you — schools and multi—academy trusts. thank you for— schools and multi—academy trusts. thank you for raising _ schools and multi—academy trusts. thank you for raising of _ schools and multi—academy trusts. thank you for raising of that. - schools and multi—academy trusts. thank you for raising of that. as i thank you for raising of that. as the father of a boy doing his gcses, i've got a lot of focus on education. we need to do basics when it comes to education and then we need to do some changes. basics are making sure we have the right teachers in secondary schools. one of the things i'm most frustrated about is we have a prime minister who keeps going on about maths until 18, but we haven't got enough mass to just for our 18, but we haven't got enough mass tojust for our children 18, but we haven't got enough mass to just for our children up to age 16. it's not good enough —— enough maths teachers. if you are missing a good maths teacher at 16, that is

notjust good maths teacher at 16, that is not just something good maths teacher at 16, that is notjust something which went good maths teacher at 16, that is not just something which went wrong for a year or two, for that child thatis for a year or two, for that child that is the whole education affected for the rest of their lives. we all know, your gcses matterfor for the rest of their lives. we all know, your gcses matter for what for the rest of their lives. we all know, your gcses matterfor what you want to do next. it's a stepping stone. we have to fill the gap, 6500 more state secondary school teachers, and so we will invest in that by getting the tax break for private schools and putting it into that space. that's just the patching up, making sure we have the basics in place. more broadly, i think we should be looking again at education and making sure the skills we are teaching other skills people need for the jobs they are actually going into, and the lives they are going to lead. also that we teach our young people confidence. what i'm keen on is what i call confidence

beacon, which is teaching young people to be able to hold their arguments, to be able to be confident in what they say. think of all the interviews you've done to get various jobs, all the interviews you've done to get variousjobs, all all the interviews you've done to get various jobs, all the way you work in teams here. you need to be confident in your ideas, communicate with other people. these are skills that matter in the job. we need to do that as well. the other thing is we need to make sure our technical colleges where we've got skills operate better because at the moment, many companies, i would operate better because at the moment, many companies, iwould be interested in your views, say the skills we need, we can't actually get anywhere near here at the moment. that is a strategic failure that we need to address. there's a lot to do in that space. what do you want me to think about on the train when i'm going home in terms of what else we should do on schools? you

are a governor of a primary and secondary. i are a governor of a primary and secondary-— are a governor of a primary and seconda . . , ~ .. secondary. i def many think teacher retention is — secondary. i def many think teacher retention is very _ secondary. i def many think teacher retention is very important. - secondary. i def many think teacher retention is very important. i've - retention is very important. i've -ot retention is very important. i've got a _ retention is very important. i've got a daughter. _ retention is very important. i've got a daughter, lacking - retention is very important. i'vel got a daughter, lacking teachers retention is very important. i've i got a daughter, lacking teachers is a problem — got a daughter, lacking teachers is a problem i— got a daughter, lacking teachers is a problem. i think— got a daughter, lacking teachers is a problem. i think it— got a daughter, lacking teachers is a problem. i think it is— got a daughter, lacking teachers is a problem. i think it is about - a problem. i think it is about having — a problem. i think it is about having the _ a problem. i think it is about having the joint— a problem. i think it is about having the joint of— a problem. i think it is about having the joint of you - a problem. i think it is about having the joint of you are i a problem. i think it is about - having the joint of you are thinking about— having the joint of you are thinking about the — having the joint of you are thinking about the country, _ having the joint of you are thinking about the country, where - having the joint of you are thinking about the country, where do- having the joint of you are thinking about the country, where do we i having the joint of you are thinking. about the country, where do we want to go. _ about the country, where do we want to go. having — about the country, where do we want to go, having engineers, _ about the country, where do we want to go, having engineers, having - about the country, where do we want to go, having engineers, having the i to go, having engineers, having the skills— to go, having engineers, having the skills year— to go, having engineers, having the skills year and — to go, having engineers, having the skills year and how _ to go, having engineers, having the skills year and how we _ to go, having engineers, having the skills year and how we feed - to go, having engineers, having the skills year and how we feed it - to go, having engineers, having the skills year and how we feed it into i skills year and how we feed it into schools _ skills year and how we feed it into schools. �* ., . , ., schools. and we need to celebrate technical skills _ schools. and we need to celebrate technical skills as _ schools. and we need to celebrate technical skills as well, _ schools. and we need to celebrate technical skills as well, the - schools. and we need to celebrate technical skills as well, the sort i technical skills as well, the sort of skills many of you have here. my dad was an engineer, he worked in a factory, toolmaker, and he fell technical skills were undervalued. i have carried that all my life because i think he's right. if you look at the technical skills, they are incredibly clever, incredibly demanding and challenging. and i want young people to value that and to want to do it. i hope all of you are getting into your local schools

because i think if local children came in here to see what you do, many of them would say i want a job like that. that's a very good thing. that's go somewhere else, shall request rock i know there's one at the front, i will go to the back. have we got a roving microphone anywhere? can someone? thank you, apprentice, well done.— apprentice, well done. hello. assistant _ apprentice, well done. hello. assistant engineer _ apprentice, well done. hello. assistant engineer at - apprentice, well done. hello. assistant engineer at airbus. | apprentice, well done. hello. - assistant engineer at airbus. your name again? _ assistant engineer at airbus. your name again? bob. _ assistant engineer at airbus. your name again? bob. my— assistant engineer at airbus. your name again? bob. my question i assistant engineer at airbus. your name again? bob. my question is| name again? bob. my question is freedom of— name again? bob. my question is freedom of movement _ name again? bob. my question is freedom of movement for - name again? bob. my question is freedom of movement for goodsl name again? bob. my question is i freedom of movement for goods and people _ freedom of movement for goods and penale we — freedom of movement for goods and penale. we rely— freedom of movement for goods and penale. we rely on _ freedom of movement for goods and people. we rely on transnational i people. we rely on transnational work_ people. we rely on transnational work in. — people. we rely on transnational work in, whether— people. we rely on transnational work in, whether sending - people. we rely on transnational work in, whether sending people people. we rely on transnational i work in, whether sending people to meetings, — work in, whether sending people to meetings, engineers _ work in, whether sending people to meetings, engineers to _ work in, whether sending people to meetings, engineers to work- work in, whether sending people to meetings, engineers to work on i meetings, engineers to work on spacecraft — meetings, engineers to work on spacecraft in _ meetings, engineers to work on spacecraft in tesla, _ meetings, engineers to work on spacecraft in tesla, and - meetings, engineers to work on spacecraft in tesla, and five i meetings, engineers to work on l spacecraft in tesla, and five years ago. _ spacecraft in tesla, and five years ago. this— spacecraft in tesla, and five years ago. this was— spacecraft in tesla, and five years ago, this was easy, _ spacecraft in tesla, and five years ago, this was easy, we _ spacecraft in tesla, and five years ago, this was easy, we could - spacecraft in tesla, and five years| ago, this was easy, we could send people _ ago, this was easy, we could send people easy— ago, this was easy, we could send people easy but _ ago, this was easy, we could send people easy but now— ago, this was easy, we could send people easy but now we _ ago, this was easy, we could send people easy but now we can't i ago, this was easy, we could send people easy but now we can't getl people easy but now we can't get people _

people easy but now we can't get people out — people easy but now we can't get people out easily— people easy but now we can't get people out easily and _ people easy but now we can't get people out easily and transfer- people out easily and transfer goods — people out easily and transfer goods will— people out easily and transfer goods. will the _ people out easily and transfer goods. will the next - people out easily and transfer goods. will the next labour. goods. will the next labour government— goods. will the next labour government look— goods. will the next labour government look at - goods. will the next labourl government look at freedom goods. will the next labour- government look at freedom of movemenl— government look at freedom of movement with _ government look at freedom of movement with europe - government look at freedom of movement with europe at - government look at freedom of movement with europe at all? i government look at freedom of i movement with europe at all? let government look at freedom of movement with europe at all? let me address the problem _ movement with europe at all? let me address the problem and _ movement with europe at all? let me address the problem and answer- movement with europe at all? let me address the problem and answer it. i address the problem and answer it. we had freedom of movement when we were a member of the eu. we haven't got it any more and we aren't going back. there is no case for saying we go back into the eu. we had the referendum back in 2016. we got an outcome. i want to address your question because i've been to airbus many times, not here, but other places. i know, they explained to me in the particular thing of the team going to toulouse to deal with the wings and going for as long as it is necessary to do the work, which is the pattern i suspect is here. that is in freedom of movement, it's not about people living in other country. it's about a workforce year going to do a particularjob and

returning. we need to improve it. that is why i do think that we can get a better deal with the eu than the one we've got. we've got a botched job because borisjohnson wanted to get it over the line, didn't do the detail, and we have a deal which doesn't work as well as it should. we've got to take it on, closer relationship. notjust in trade, but also in defence, i think there is huge scope for closer work on security. and education, by the way, we could do close to work on. i've always strongly advocated if you have a team of engineers, going to work in another country as part of the project and coming back, of course we got to make it as easy as possible. it does not make any sense on any level to make that more difficult than it already is. sorry, rachel. beyond _ difficult than it already is. sorry, rachel. beyond the _ difficult than it already is. sorry, rachel. beyond the challenges l difficult than it already is. sorry, i rachel. beyond the challenges use

have spoken about, there's number of areas _ have spoken about, there's number of areas we _ have spoken about, there's number of areas we want to have improved trading — areas we want to have improved trading relationships. for example, we would _ trading relationships. for example, we would look to secure a veterinary agreement— we would look to secure a veterinary agreement to speed up the flow of food and _ agreement to speed up the flow of food and drink goods between us and the rest _ food and drink goods between us and the rest of— food and drink goods between us and the rest of europe. that would help other— the rest of europe. that would help other tradable goods as well because it would _ other tradable goods as well because it would reduce the backlog is at the borders. we have a great cultural— the borders. we have a great cultural industry here, but for touring — cultural industry here, but for touring artists the bureaucracy of touring _ touring artists the bureaucracy of touring europe is prohibitive and bureaucratic and cumbersome. we would _ bureaucratic and cumbersome. we would look— bureaucratic and cumbersome. we would look to secure those rights for artists — would look to secure those rights for artists as well as the mutual recognition of professional qualifications. we represent more than 80%— qualifications. we represent more than 80% of what we do, although there _ than 80% of what we do, although there was— than 80% of what we do, although there was nothing for services in there was nothing for services in the brexit— there was nothing for services in the brexit deal. those are some of the brexit deal. those are some of the areas _ the brexit deal. those are some of the areas we would forge closer relationships. more wildly we want to work— relationships. more wildly we want to work closely with our neighbours and see _ to work closely with our neighbours and see them asjust that, partners,

and see them asjust that, partners, and build _ and see them asjust that, partners, and build close relationships, which is in all— and build close relationships, which is in all of— and build close relationships, which is in all of our interests, here and europe. _ is in all of our interests, here and europe, and— is in all of our interests, here and europe, and our national interest. and research, really important. you been waiting for so long, i'm sorry. i will come here and then look more widely. mr; i will come here and then look more widel . y ., i will come here and then look more widel . g . , i will come here and then look more widel. g . , ., ., ~ ., widely. my name is sarah, i work for the department _ widely. my name is sarah, i work for the department which _ widely. my name is sarah, i work for the department which test _ widely. my name is sarah, i work for| the department which test proportion systems _ the department which test proportion systems we — the department which test proportion systems. we fly — the department which test proportion systems. we fly to _ the department which test proportion systems. we fly to america, - the department which test proportion systems. we fly to america, south i systems. we fly to america, south america _ systems. we fly to america, south america we — systems. we fly to america, south america. we used _ systems. we fly to america, south america. we used to— systems. we fly to america, south america. we used to do— systems. we fly to america, south america. we used to do ukraine, i systems. we fly to america, south i america. we used to do ukraine, but russia _ america. we used to do ukraine, but russia happened _ america. we used to do ukraine, but russia happened. talking _ america. we used to do ukraine, but russia happened. talking about- america. we used to do ukraine, but russia happened. talking about nedl russia happened. talking about ned zero, _ russia happened. talking about ned zero. i_ russia happened. talking about ned zero. ithink— russia happened. talking about ned zero, i think the _ russia happened. talking about ned zero, i think the problem _ russia happened. talking about ned zero, ithink the problem myself- russia happened. talking about nedj zero, i think the problem myself and others _ zero, i think the problem myself and others have — zero, i think the problem myself and others have is— zero, i think the problem myself and others have is we _ zero, i think the problem myself and others have is we are _ zero, i think the problem myself and others have is we are putting - zero, i think the problem myself and others have is we are putting the i others have is we are putting the cart before — others have is we are putting the cart before the _ others have is we are putting the cart before the horse. _ others have is we are putting the cart before the horse. it - others have is we are putting the cart before the horse. it all- others have is we are putting the cart before the horse. it all welll cart before the horse. it all well and good — cart before the horse. it all well and good talking _ cart before the horse. it all well and good talking about - cart before the horse. it all welll and good talking about electrical cars: _ and good talking about electrical cars. lrut— and good talking about electrical cars. but we _ and good talking about electrical cars, but we can't _ and good talking about electrical cars, but we can't take - and good talking about electrical cars, but we can't take electric. cars, but we can't take electric houses — cars, but we can't take electric houses or— cars, but we can't take electric houses or cars _ cars, but we can't take electric houses or cars. it _ cars, but we can't take electric houses or cars. it won't - cars, but we can't take electric houses or cars. it won't work. i cars, but we can't take electric. houses or cars. it won't work. the solar— houses or cars. it won't work. the solar panels —

houses or cars. it won't work. the solar panels we _ houses or cars. it won't work. the solar panels we have _ houses or cars. it won't work. the solar panels we have are - solar panels we have are insufficient. _ solar panels we have are insufficient. no - solar panels we have are insufficient. no one i solar panels we have are insufficient. no one is i solar panels we have are i insufficient. no one is looking solar panels we have are - insufficient. no one is looking at nuclear, — insufficient. no one is looking at nuclear, even— insufficient. no one is looking at nuclear, even though _ insufficient. no one is looking at nuclear, even though it - insufficient. no one is looking at nuclear, even though it is- insufficient. no one is looking at nuclear, even though it is the i insufficient. no one is looking at i nuclear, even though it is the best pound _ nuclear, even though it is the best pound for— nuclear, even though it is the best pound for pound _ nuclear, even though it is the best pound for pound in _ nuclear, even though it is the best pound for pound in terms - nuclear, even though it is the best pound for pound in terms of - nuclear, even though it is the bestl pound for pound in terms of power. what _ pound for pound in terms of power. what is _ pound for pound in terms of power. what is a _ pound for pound in terms of power. what is a strategy _ pound for pound in terms of power. what is a strategy going _ pound for pound in terms of power. what is a strategy going forward, i what is a strategy going forward, because — what is a strategy going forward, because if— what is a strategy going forward, because if you _ what is a strategy going forward, because if you are _ what is a strategy going forward, because if you are forcing - what is a strategy going forward, because if you are forcing no i what is a strategy going forward, i because if you are forcing no more petrol— because if you are forcing no more petrol cars. — because if you are forcing no more petrol cars. you _ because if you are forcing no more petrol cars, you need _ because if you are forcing no more petrol cars, you need to _ because if you are forcing no more petrol cars, you need to address i because if you are forcing no more i petrol cars, you need to address the fundamental— petrol cars, you need to address the fundamental structure _ petrol cars, you need to address the fundamental structure isn't - petrol cars, you need to address the fundamental structure isn't there i petrol cars, you need to address the fundamental structure isn't there to| fundamental structure isn't there to allow— fundamental structure isn't there to allow it— fundamental structure isn't there to allow it to _ fundamental structure isn't there to allow it to happen. _ fundamental structure isn't there to allow it to happen. failure - fundamental structure isn't there to allow it to happen. failure pool- allow it to happen. failure pool industry— allow it to happen. failure pool industry will— allow it to happen. failure pool industry will fail— allow it to happen. failure pool industry will fail because - allow it to happen. failure pooli industry will fail because people won't _ industry will fail because people won't be — industry will fail because people won't be able _ industry will fail because people won't be able to _ industry will fail because people won't be able to get to work. i industry will fail because people | won't be able to get to work. we need _ won't be able to get to work. we need to— won't be able to get to work. we need to address _ won't be able to get to work. we need to address the _ won't be able to get to work. we need to address the issues - won't be able to get to work. wel need to address the issues before looking _ need to address the issues before looking at— need to address the issues before looking at the _ need to address the issues before looking at the other _ need to address the issues before looking at the other stuff. - need to address the issues before looking at the other stuff. we i need to address the issues before looking at the other stuff. we are | looking at the other stuff. we are addressing — looking at the other stuff. we are addressing all _ looking at the other stuff. we are addressing all that— looking at the other stuff. we are addressing all that stuff- looking at the other stuff. we are addressing all that stuff and - looking at the other stuff. we are addressing all that stuff and not i addressing all that stuff and not the foundations. _ addressing all that stuff and not the foundations.— the foundations. thank you for raising that. _ the foundations. thank you for raising that. i— the foundations. thank you for raising that. i hope _ the foundations. thank you for raising that. i hope everybody| the foundations. thank you for i raising that. i hope everybody here the question. we have got to make the question. we have got to make the transition to renewables. we have to do it, we have a duty to net zero. more importantly, or equally importantly, renewables, whether hydrogen, nuclear is part of the plan, whether it is onshore offshore

wind, floating offshore wind is incredible. there is a race on in the world for the next generation of jobs in renewables. that race, european countries are out of the race, us is the one and rishi sunak is of the changing room. but that means if you think about the next generation that come after you, it is theirjobs we are talking about, the securejobs of is theirjobs we are talking about, the secure jobs of the future. i am convinced we can do it. if you take offshore floating wind, they are amazing pieces of kit, amazing pieces of manufacturing and engineering, we are good at that, really good at it and should be doing it here. i went up to glasgow, there is a wind farm just outside, on the hills, 300 wind turbines. they are static, ground—based. it was incredible, they were going to

create enough energy for the whole of glasgow and the surrounding region, but two things struck me. we didn't have a battery big enough to hold the energy, so they were stopped on sundays from creating energy. that's a lack of planning. secondly, i said to the ceo of scottishpower, how many of these turbines were made in the uk? the answer, non—. that is what we've got to change. as for the charging points, the grid has to be fixed, that's got to be fixed. it's a big problem because it is taken far too long. if you want to build a wind farm it takes two years, two years. it will take you 13 years under this government to get any power, because five years is lost in planning and six or seven we have the grid crawling. we've got to take the tough decisions. planning rules have tough decisions. planning rules have to change, the grid has to change and at pace. what we can't do, i

feel that strongly, is pushed the date back because with electric vehicles, if all you do is say there is a problem with charging and therefore we pushed the date bar, all you do is not fixed the problem. you need to have a target for when it happens. if you talk to the manufacturers of electric vehicles they want a hard edged date because they want a hard edged date because they are making the transition, changing their production lines and want to know with certainty what date they are working to. the government shifted by five years. it didn't help those making cars because they try to work out their market based on the date they were given. the government said it is too difficult, put it back five years, and suddenly all their stones were thrown into disarray. we've got to rise to the challenge, i generally believe it is the biggest opportunity we have for the next generation ofjobs. we've got to take it because these are high

skilled, valuable, securejobs of the future. and it gives, in the case of energy, energy security so putin can't put his boot on our throat. and lower bills, renewables are cheaper than fossil fuels. i don't underestimate the challenge which is charging points are all over the show. rachel knows because she drives an electric car.— she drives an electric car. that's me say two _ she drives an electric car. that's me say two things _ she drives an electric car. that's me say two things we _ she drives an electric car. that's me say two things we would i she drives an electric car. that's me say two things we would do | she drives an electric car. that's| me say two things we would do if she drives an electric car. that's i me say two things we would do if we win the _ me say two things we would do if we win the next— me say two things we would do if we win the next election. we would create _ win the next election. we would create energy which is publicly owned, — create energy which is publicly owned, to invest in the production of new— owned, to invest in the production of new energy. floating offshore wind, _ of new energy. floating offshore wind, onshore wind as well. so we will have _ wind, onshore wind as well. so we will have a — wind, onshore wind as well. so we will have a stake in it and can get a return— will have a stake in it and can get a return on— will have a stake in it and can get a return on the investment. the second — a return on the investment. the second is— a return on the investment. the second is a _ a return on the investment. the second is a national wealth fund. we are one _ second is a national wealth fund. we are one of— second is a national wealth fund. we are one of the few countries that doesn't — are one of the few countries that doesn't have a national wealth fund. we would _ doesn't have a national wealth fund. we would endow that with money from

extending _ we would endow that with money from extending the windfall tax on the bil extending the windfall tax on the big profit— extending the windfall tax on the big profit energy companies are making — big profit energy companies are making. that national wealth fund would _ making. that national wealth fund would invest alongside business. we have committed to getting £3 for every _ have committed to getting £3 for every £1— have committed to getting £3 for every £1 of taxpayers money, investing — every £1 of taxpayers money, investing in factories for electric vehicles, — investing in factories for electric vehicles, making our ports ready for renewable _ vehicles, making our ports ready for renewable energy, green hydrogen, the carbon— renewable energy, green hydrogen, the carbon capture. there are good 'obs the carbon capture. there are good jobs we _ the carbon capture. there are good jobs we can— the carbon capture. there are good jobs we can bring to britain. we have _ jobs we can bring to britain. we have the — jobs we can bring to britain. we have the industrial heritage, geography and skills, make and is a great _ geography and skills, make and is a great place — geography and skills, make and is a great place to do the investment. 0ther— great place to do the investment. other countries are getting ahead. the national wealth funds is about making _ the national wealth funds is about making what sarah says, the barriers, _ making what sarah says, the barriers, unlocking them and make sure we _ barriers, unlocking them and make sure we get— barriers, unlocking them and make sure we get the jobs, the lower bills and — sure we get the jobs, the lower bills and energy independence we need _ bills and energy independence we need. ., ., , need. one more example, when i went to aberdeen — need. one more example, when i went to aberdeen to — need. one more example, when i went to aberdeen to talk— need. one more example, when i went to aberdeen to talk about _ need. one more example, when i went to aberdeen to talk about the - to aberdeen to talk about the transition, they are planning to use

the pipework they have been using for bringing oil and gas in four carbon capture, to put the carbon back into the places the oil and gas was taken out from. they are years ahead of other countries because they have the workforce and structure. i think we can get ahead. that's take another question, behind me, because i'm conscious we've had our backs to do. do you want to come forward? ., �* forward? the gentleman here. i've been in the — forward? the gentleman here. i've been in the company _ forward? the gentleman here. i've been in the company for _ forward? the gentleman here. i've been in the company for five i forward? the gentleman here. i've| been in the company for five years, i'm been in the company for five years, i'm a— been in the company for five years, i'm a spacecraft— been in the company for five years, i'm a spacecraft engineer. - been in the company for five years, i'm a spacecraft engineer. my- i'm a spacecraft engineer. my question— i'm a spacecraft engineer. my question is— i'm a spacecraft engineer. my question is about _ i'm a spacecraft engineer. my question is about the - i'm a spacecraft engineer. my question is about the junior. question is about the junior doctors _ question is about the junior doctors. what— question is about the junior doctors. what is— question is about the junior doctors. what is your- question is about the junior. doctors. what is your strategy question is about the junior- doctors. what is your strategy about that? _ doctors. what is your strategy about that? 0n— doctors. what is your strategy about that? ., ., , that? on the 'unior doctors, we need to, and the — that? on thejunior doctors, we need to, and the government _ that? on thejunior doctors, we need to, and the government should i that? on thejunior doctors, we need to, and the government should have | to, and the government should have resolved the dispute long ago, they've been setting it out for i don't know how long. we had a situation where the government and

the union had been arguing about who gets in the room first to solve it. we can't have any more of it. we would get in the room and negotiate, but also do the necessary work to take the nhs forward. i'm conscious i'm turning my back on almost everybody else. let's take one other. the lady here. there is a microphone floating around. thank ou. m microphone floating around. thank yom my name _ microphone floating around. thank yom my name is — microphone floating around. thank you. my name is avi _ microphone floating around. thank you. my name is avi and _ microphone floating around. thank you. my name is avi and i'm i microphone floating around. thank you. my name is avi and i'm a i you. my name is avi and i'm a student— you. my name is avi and i'm a student working _ you. my name is avi and i'm a student working with - you. my name is avi and i'm a student working with airbus i you. my name is avi and i'm a i student working with airbus during my year— student working with airbus during my year in— student working with airbus during my year in industry. _ student working with airbus during my year in industry. brilliant. - student working with airbus during my year in industry. brilliant. it's. my year in industry. brilliant. it's been _ my year in industry. brilliant. it's been amazing _ my year in industry. brilliant. it's beenamazing '— my year in industry. brilliant. it's been amazing. i have _ my year in industry. brilliant. it's been amazing. i have a _ my year in industry. brilliant. it's been amazing. i have a big - my year in industry. brilliant. it's. been amazing. i have a big passion for stem _ been amazing. i have a big passion for stem and — been amazing. i have a big passion for stem and iron— been amazing. i have a big passion for stem and iron visually - been amazing. i have a big passionl for stem and iron visually impaired. one of— for stem and iron visually impaired. one of the — for stem and iron visually impaired. one of the biggest _ for stem and iron visually impaired. one of the biggest problems - for stem and iron visually impaired. one of the biggest problems i've i one of the biggest problems i've faced _ one of the biggest problems i've faced aside — one of the biggest problems i've faced aside from _ one of the biggest problems i've faced aside from access - one of the biggest problems i've faced aside from access to - one of the biggest problems i've i faced aside from access to education has been _ faced aside from access to education has been applying _ faced aside from access to education has been applying for— faced aside from access to education has been applying forjobs _ faced aside from access to education has been applying forjobs because l has been applying forjobs because i'm has been applying forjobs because i'm finding — has been applying forjobs because i'm finding people— has been applying forjobs because i'm finding people either— has been applying forjobs because i'm finding people either don't- i'm finding people either don't believe — i'm finding people either don't believe i'm _ i'm finding people either don't believe i'm capable _ i'm finding people either don't believe i'm capable of- i'm finding people either don't believe i'm capable of the i i'm finding people either don't believe i'm capable of the jobi i'm finding people either don't. believe i'm capable of the job or i'm finding people either don't- believe i'm capable of the job or on giving _ believe i'm capable of the job or on giving me _ believe i'm capable of the job or on giving me access _ believe i'm capable of the job or on giving me access to _ believe i'm capable of the job or on giving me access to the _ believe i'm capable of the job or on i giving me access to the assessments needed _ giving me access to the assessments needed for— giving me access to the assessments needed for the — giving me access to the assessments needed for the job. _ giving me access to the assessments needed for the job. you _ giving me access to the assessments needed for the job. you have - giving me access to the assessments needed for the job. you have spokeni needed for the job. you have spoken before _ needed for the job. you have spoken before about — needed for the job. you have spoken before about trying _ needed for the job. you have spoken before about trying to _ needed for the job. you have spoken before about trying to encourage -

before about trying to encourage more _ before about trying to encourage more people _ before about trying to encourage more people with _ before about trying to encourage more people with disabilities - before about trying to encourage| more people with disabilities into jobs, _ more people with disabilities into jobs. but — more people with disabilities into jobs. but as— more people with disabilities into jobs. but as i'm _ more people with disabilities into jobs, but as i'm finding, - more people with disabilities into jobs, but as i'm finding, the - jobs, but as i'm finding, the biggest _ jobs, but as i'm finding, the biggest problems— jobs, but as i'm finding, the biggest problems have - jobs, but as i'm finding, the| biggest problems have been jobs, but as i'm finding, the - biggest problems have been people not betieving — biggest problems have been people not betieving i— biggest problems have been people not believing i can— biggest problems have been people not believing i can or— biggest problems have been people not believing i can or not _ biggest problems have been people not believing i can or not giving - biggest problems have been people not believing i can or not giving me| not believing i can or not giving me access— not believing i can or not giving me access to _ not believing i can or not giving me access to the — not believing i can or not giving me access to the required _ not believing i can or not giving me| access to the required assignments. how do _ access to the required assignments. how do you — access to the required assignments. how do you propose _ access to the required assignments. how do you propose to _ access to the required assignments. how do you propose to overcome i access to the required assignments. i how do you propose to overcome this? thank— how do you propose to overcome this? thank you _ how do you propose to overcome this? thank you for— how do you propose to overcome this? thank you for raising _ how do you propose to overcome this? thank you for raising it _ how do you propose to overcome this? thank you for raising it because - thank you for raising it because it's an important point. i do think a government that understands that and are supported is an important part of the equation. it goes back to the early question about gps etc. a government that understands how we make sure we get the best talent out of everybody and make sure it is fully used and supportive of it, making a massive difference to how everybody behaves and the attitudes. i think there are things we can do to bring out the brilliant skills. and also why on earth wouldn't we want to? you are doing a year here, a fantastic use of your talent. you may come back year, who knows? and

be part of one of the great teams. that is very good for airbus, very good for our economy, very good for you and very good for this community. the benefits outweigh the out of date attitude i think is some way there. it’s out of date attitude i think is some wa there. �* , ., out of date attitude i think is some wa there. �*, . . . out of date attitude i think is some wa there. . way there. it's a fantastic story. there is an _ way there. it's a fantastic story. there is an access _ way there. it's a fantastic story. there is an access to _ way there. it's a fantastic story. there is an access to work - way there. it's a fantastic story. i there is an access to work scheme which _ there is an access to work scheme which is _ there is an access to work scheme which is supposed to help you, but there _ which is supposed to help you, but there are _ which is supposed to help you, but there are loads of people who want to work— there are loads of people who want to work but for whatever reason they aren't _ to work but for whatever reason they aren't given — to work but for whatever reason they aren't given the support. the sopport— aren't given the support. the support for access to work has been curt, _ support for access to work has been curt, meaning people who have talent on contributing in the workplace. there's— on contributing in the workplace. there's something like 20% of people a-ed there's something like 20% of people aged 16 _ there's something like 20% of people aged 16 to— there's something like 20% of people aged 16 to 65 not in the workforce, higher— aged 16 to 65 not in the workforce, higher than— aged 16 to 65 not in the workforce, higher than before the pandemic. we need to— higher than before the pandemic. we need to get everybody who can work back into _ need to get everybody who can work back into work and give them the support— back into work and give them the support and tools to do the job. i'm

sure you _ support and tools to do the job. i'm sure you will — support and tools to do the job. i'm sure you will do incredibly well. we will sure you will do incredibly well. will come sure you will do incredibly well. - will come away from that at airbus in hertfordshire. a whole range of questions keir starmer invited the audience right at the start, talking about encouraging foreign investment, the basics around teaching, talking about stability, that's a lot of questions directed to rachel reid, who gave the speech about the economy earlier today. if you want to continue watching that, it is on the website. we will come away before we return to the main headlines of today's election campaign.

live from london, this is bbc news. greater manchester police say they will not take any further action in relation to labour's deputy leader, angela rayner, after investigating her tax affairs and claims that she had broken electoral law. on the campaign trial, they're calling it triple—lock plus — the conservative pledge to raise, the tax—free allowance for pensioners — if they win the election. labour has dismissed the plan and say they're the party of business, pledging not to increase, corporation tax. our other meain headlines — israel carries out some of its most we will here with lone desk here from lone wells and hannah miller as we are live on the campaign trail. our other meain headlines — israel carries out some of its most intense bombing of southern gaza, with tanks reaching the centre of rafah. and closing arguments are set for today in donald trump's hush—money trial.

we will be live in new york. hello, i'm matthew amroliwala. the deputy labour leader, angela rayner, will face no further action following a police investigation into her living arrangements. the police investigation was triggered after a conservative party chairman. a greater manchester police spokesman said... let's speak to our political correspondent helen catt. she's there at westminster for us. let's take this in stages, just

remind our viewers what the original complaint and investigation was all about. ., , ., complaint and investigation was all about. . , . . about. there was a complaint made relatin: to about. there was a complaint made relating to angela _ about. there was a complaint made relating to angela rayner's - about. there was a complaint made relating to angela rayner's living i relating to angela rayner's living arrangements back when she was married, and whether she had broken any laws or rules in so much as she took that related to those. now the complaint originally surfaced after some accusations were made in a book by the former conservative deputy party chairman at lord ashworth, they were taken up by a current conservative party chairman, james daly, and put the greater manchester police — and it was to do with the fact that angela rayner owned the house of her own, her husband owned a different house — she sold the house she owned in 2015, she was still married at the time, she admits she had spent time at her husband's house, and there were questions raised about whether there was capital gains tax due that she had not paid. there were also questions about whether or not she

had been registered correctly to vote. 50 those are the sorts of questions being looked at, greater manchester police have looked at whether and offences had been committed, and this afternoon they've come out and said following their carefully considered and proportionate investigation, they concluded that no further police action will be taken. now their statement also went on to say that matters involving council tax and personal tax do not fall into the jurisdiction of police, and they've passed those to the stockport council and hmrc. we've been in talk with stockport council who say they'll be taking no further action. a labour source has told us hmrc will also be taking no further action — we are also trying to get that confirmed as well. so at the moment, it looks like any action against angela rayner will not be taken, and that's the end of the matter. ., ., taken, and that's the end of the matter. . . . , ., matter. have we had any reaction from her or— matter. have we had any reaction from her or the _ matter. have we had any reaction from her or the labour _ matter. have we had any reaction from her or the labour party? - matter. have we had any reaction from her or the labour party? we had a labour party — from her or the labour party? we had a labour party spokesperson - from her or the labour party? we had a labour party spokesperson who - from her or the labour party? we had a labour party spokesperson who said now that the police have completed

their investigation to the can claims and concluded no further action will be taken, they say angela rayner has complied fully within this kitchen throughout and she had already been clear she wasn't liable for capital gains tax on the sale of the home she owned — they beat clear was that before she was an mp and have been properly registered to vote, and had paid the appropriate council tax. they say this draws a line under the matter. helen, thanks very much. rishi sunak is promising to increase the "tax—free allowance" for pensioners — if the conservatives win the general election. he says the policy would mean people who retire, are £95 better off from the beginning of the next financial year. in a moment, we'll be on the campaign trail with labour and the reform party. but first, harry farley reports on the new conservative pledge and the reaction to it. the prime minister at a pottery factory in stoke—on—trent, painting his offer for pensioners.

under current government plans, the tax threshold are frozen, so as the state pension rises under what is known as the triple lock, more pensioners would be dragged into paying tax. now the prime minister is promising the tax—free allowance will increase for pensioners, but not everyone else. for people who work hard all their lives and put in, then we need to make sure that they have the dignity they deserve when they have finished, and that is why i've really protected pensions and the triple lock, and you have seen our announcement today, the triple lock plus, where we will raise the threshold and make sure pensioners get a tax cut and they will never pay tax on the state pension. labour's shadow chancellor is touting the backing of business leaders today, the result of her years long charm offensive, but like other opposition parties, dismissing the conservatives' policy. 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. of course, we want to see investment in people's pockets and making sure that pensioners are seeing a benefit to any economic improvement in the situation that the country faces, but we are seeing the consequences of ia—and—a—half years of austerity that both labour and the tories are committed to continuing. it's rather remarkable - they are trying to make out this is some great policy- when they were the ones who increased taxes on pensioners in the first place by not _ raising the allowance. | it was the lib dems who fought hard| to increase the income tax allowance to help pensioners and people on low incomes. _ the lib dems leader not alone in pointing out this idea reverses a previous conservative policy.

but politics, as ever, a question of balancing priorities as the election campaign hits week two, the parties all hoping they are the ones to make a splash. harry farley, bbc news, westminster. let's speak to lone wells, who's travelling with the prime minister. so 50 another day, another new policy that the conservatives have floated? that's right, and rishi sunak was promoting the policy earlier today, he's been out on the campaign trail — he was in leicestershire at a bulls club, where he spoke to some of the members of that club about the policy today. i asked him on that visit whether or not he had given up on younger voters in particular, because one of the criticisms that's been raised of this particular policy is that, while he gives an effective tax cut

to pensioners, many millions of other people, workers will potentially be dragged into paying more tax because of those tax thresholds being frozen. now he said the aim of this policy was to reward those who had worked hard all of their lives and to secure them a better future. their lives and to secure them a betterfuture. he also their lives and to secure them a better future. he also said that he felt that this was something that people understood, this freezing of tax thresholds — because i asked him, whether by calling this change for pensioners a tax cut, he was effectively admitting the conservative policy to freeze tax thresholds was a tax rise. in response to that, he said that many people in his view would understand that it had been a difficult time, what with covid and the war in ukraine, and there were difficult decisions to be made — but he argued now some of these plans had come into force, things are getting better economically, and it was time to start thinking about more tax cuts. and as i say, he was promoting that out on a visit today following

a visit earlier this morning to stoke—on—trent, which will be quite a key area for conservatives in this election. there were some seats there that were newly gained by the conservatives in the last election, and certainly ones they'll be hoping to hold onto — though they are now becoming prime targets for labour, but also reform uk, campaigning quite heavily in the area as well. in terms of the costs, what is the prime minister saying about the potential cost of this triple—lock plus? because i saw it earlier the labour party almost turning the tables in terms of what we expect, saying they'd been totting up the numbers, talked about the billions of unfunded tax cuts pledges — what are they saying about how much this would actually cost?— would actually cost? they're estimating _ would actually cost? they're estimating it _ would actually cost? they're estimating it would - would actually cost? they're estimating it would actuallyl would actually cost? they're - estimating it would actually cost in the ballpark of about £2.5 billion, which they say will be funded as part of a wider £6 billion saving that they argue could be made by cracking down on tax avoidance. now again, that is something opposition

parties have criticised, saying that if tax avoidance would raise that much money, why has this not been something that's been done already? but certainly that's the conservative argument for this — given they've already announced the 2.5 billion or so on this policy, some money being spent on that national service policy they announced over the weekend, there's still some further spending announcements to over this campaign, especially when those manifestos are launched, when we get details... in their campaign. ads, launched, when we get details... in their campaign-— their campaign. a quick final thou~ht, their campaign. a quick final thought, after— their campaign. a quick final thought, after the _ their campaign. a quick final thought, after the opening l their campaign. a quick final. thought, after the opening days their campaign. a quick final - thought, after the opening days of this campaign, they must be eagle lied about gaps and photo opportunities that they are laying on for the prime minister — give us a sense of what it's like to be there on the campaign trail with that now in mind? —— eagle lied some

people i think they are certainly hyper focused on avoiding any sort of photo op hyper focused on avoiding any sort of hoto .,, g , ~ hyper focused on avoiding any sort of hoto .,, g , ,, . hyper focused on avoiding any sort ofhoto , ,, . . , of photo op gaffes like we had early on in the campaign, _ of photo op gaffes like we had early on in the campaign, what _ of photo op gaffes like we had early on in the campaign, what with himl on in the campaign, what with him being pictured at the titanic in belfast, an exit sign on the plane, these are all heavily picked up on particularly on social media and i can tell people here are keen to avoid further gaps like that, even earlier on when speaking to one of the workers in a factory in stoke—on—trent, i noticed that one of the workers had a can of monster energy drink next to him, which was swiftly removed by a beady—eyed member of the team, so they are perhaps keen to avoid any further suggestions or potential for ponds from any objects surrounding the prime minister on these visits. iane prime minister on these visits. lone wells, thanks _ prime minister on these visits. lone wells, thanks very _ prime minister on these visits. ione wells, thanks very much. let's speak to our political correspondent hannah miller. i hope the line will be stable enough, but ed davey — the point of it was about water quality but provided quite the photo opportunity

earlier? , . , earlier? fingers crossed we can still talk to _ earlier? fingers crossed we can still talk to you _ earlier? fingers crossed we can still talk to you throughout - earlier? fingers crossed we can | still talk to you throughout this. we are — still talk to you throughout this. we are travelling through quite rural— we are travelling through quite rural countryside on our way to wates— rural countryside on our way to wales now— rural countryside on our way to wales now for a campaign visit tonrorrow~ _ wales now for a campaign visit tomorrow. earlier today, wales now for a campaign visit tomorrow. earliertoday, ed davey was in— tomorrow. earliertoday, ed davey was in windermere in the lake district — was in windermere in the lake district - — was in windermere in the lake district — very happy to get out and about— district — very happy to get out and about on— district — very happy to get out and about on a — district — very happy to get out and about on a paddleboard, as you say, a realty— about on a paddleboard, as you say, a really good photo opportunity. it's a really good photo opportunity. it's been — a really good photo opportunity. it's been picked up in the team are quite _ it's been picked up in the team are quite pleased with how that's gone down, _ quite pleased with how that's gone down, to— quite pleased with how that's gone down, to get their leader out there and get _ down, to get their leader out there and get people talking about the liberat— and get people talking about the liberal democrats, being a good sport. _ liberal democrats, being a good sport. you — liberal democrats, being a good sport, you might say, in this sense. but there _ sport, you might say, in this sense. but there is— sport, you might say, in this sense. but there is a — sport, you might say, in this sense. but there is a serious message behind — but there is a serious message behind it- _ but there is a serious message behind it— they're wanting to campaign on the issue of sewage being _ campaign on the issue of sewage being illegally dumped into rivers and lakes across the uk by water companies — they say they want tougher— companies — they say they want tougher regulation on that, they want _ tougher regulation on that, they want criminal sanctions, they want a sewage _ want criminal sanctions, they want a sewage tax. — want criminal sanctions, they want a sewage tax, they also want to put

local people on the board of water companies so that they can really hold them — companies so that they can really hold them to account for their environmental targets. hold them to account for their environmentaltargets. so hold them to account for their environmental targets. so a serious liberat— environmental targets. so a serious liberal democrat policy clinch they are that _ liberal democrat policy clinch they are that they think really speaks to voters _ are that they think really speaks to voters in _ are that they think really speaks to voters in the areas that they are trying to— voters in the areas that they are trying to target — it's clearly an issue _ trying to target — it's clearly an issue that's been picked up in recent— issue that's been picked up in recent months and years more and more _ recent months and years more and more as— recent months and years more and more as more people have noticed the water— more as more people have noticed the water quality in their area changing. and alongside that, they've — changing. and alongside that, they've also been talking about berkeley response to guaranty, the idea that _ berkeley response to guaranty, the idea that if you are burgled, there should _ idea that if you are burgled, there should be — idea that if you are burgled, there should be a legal requirement essentially for the police to turn up essentially for the police to turn up at _ essentially for the police to turn up at your— essentially for the police to turn up at your house and look into that - they— up at your house and look into that - they say— up at your house and look into that — they say that isn't happening in enough _ — they say that isn't happening in enough cases —— burglary response. out on _ enough cases —— burglary response. out on the — enough cases —— burglary response. out on the campaign trail heading down _ 0ut on the campaign trail heading down to— out on the campaign trail heading down to the lake district, to wales, with more _ down to the lake district, to wales, with more planned in the coming days _ with more planned in the coming da s. , , ., with more planned in the coming da 5. , , . . with more planned in the coming da s. , , . . .,

with more planned in the coming das. , . ., . days. this is a much more targeted cam aiun, days. this is a much more targeted campaign. this— days. this is a much more targeted campaign, this selection, - days. this is a much more targeted campaign, this selection, then - days. this is a much more targeted campaign, this selection, then last| campaign, this selection, then last for the liberal democrats? definitely, they've identified the seats... definitely, they've identified the seats. . . , definitely, they've identified the seats... , . ., definitely, they've identified the seats... , .. ., seats... they can win. you might remember _ seats... they can win. you might remember in _ seats... they can win. you might remember in 2019, _ seats... they can win. you might remember in 2019, it _ seats... they can win. you might remember in 2019, it seems - seats... they can win. you might remember in 2019, it seems a i seats... they can win. you might l remember in 2019, it seems a very lon- remember in 2019, it seems a very tong time— remember in 2019, it seems a very long time ago now, there was this suggestion at one stage that the suggestion atone stage that the liberat— suggestion at one stage that the liberal democrat leader might have seen herself then as the next prime minister _ seen herself then as the next prime minister in— seen herself then as the next prime minister. in terms of the electoral maths _ minister. in terms of the electoral maths in — minister. in terms of the electoral maths in the way the system works in the uk, _ maths in the way the system works in the uk, that— maths in the way the system works in the uk, that was never going to be the uk, that was never going to be the case~~~ — the uk, that was never going to be the case- - -— the case... apologies, i thought we not awa the case... apologies, i thought we got away with _ the case... apologies, i thought we got away with it _ the case... apologies, i thought we got away with it but _ the case... apologies, i thought we got away with it but the _ the case... apologies, i thought we got away with it but the line - the case... apologies, i thought we got away with it but the line just - got away with it but the line just losing their day hannah miller with the liberal democrats. thanks to her and lone wells with the prime minister pots and conservatives. earlier in the day, rachel reeves said labour is a natural party for british business and wants to lead

the most pro—business treasury the uk has seen. after a dozen... i've been speaking to simonjack, he was listening to rachel reeves and gave me his analysis. their main pitch has been that they can provide the stability that businesses so enjoy — and they say that stability is, in itself, change, contrasting it with the period when we've had five prime ministers, seven chancellors and business taxes, for example, have yo—yo'ed up quite a bit. so the stability, they are saying, is we pledge to keep corporation tax where it is, 25%, over the next parliament — and if we have any big permanent policy changes, we will get the obr, the office for budget responsibility, to have a look at and cost it — contrasting that with the rather chaotic mini budget we saw. this was rachel reeves talking to businesses principally today at rolls—royce, in derby. she described labour as the party of business, very much parking labour's tanks on the conservatives's lawn — so what has rishi sunak and the others been saying?

well, labour produced this list of 120 business leaders who said they endorsed the labour position. the conservatives described as a damp squib, pointing out that there weren't very many senior business leaders on it — most of those ftse100, if you like, the big companies don't come out in an election in this way — and they pointed out that some big business leaders have been wary of some of labour's other business proposals, which are, for example, enhanced workers' rights, a thing like banning zero—hour contracts, cracking down on fire and rehire, giving full employment rights on day one. now i have to say that some of those pledges have been watered down to the dismay of some of the people in that union movement — i think that's a really interesting observation, they've got to try and walk this line between their new friends in the boardroom and their old friends in the unions and factory floor. that was simon jack, that was simonjack, we will have more on the campaign trail. keir

starmer is currently being interviewed, we'll play you some of that interview after the q&a session we were watching at airbus. all of our campaign coverage in the six week campaign, head to the bbc website, the life page giving you the update on the angela rayner story we were dealing with at the top of the hour. all the develop it's on the campaign there on the website and the bbc news app. israeli tanks have reportedly reached the centre of rafah, as it carries out its most intense bombardment of the city since the war began. gaza's hamas—run health ministry says across the strip, dozens of people have been killed in the past 2a hours. international condemnation continues to grow over an israeli air strike on sunday, which led to a devastating fire in a camp for displaced palestinians — killing 45 people — including women and children.

well, in the last hour—and—a—half, we have heard from daniel hagari — spokesman for the israel defense forces. on sunday night, we eliminated senior hamas terrorists - in a targeted strike on a compound used by hamas, in rafah. - the strike was based on precise intelligence that indicated - that these terrorists, | who were responsible for orchestrating and executing |terror attacks against israelis, | were meeting inside the specific structure we targeted. - these terrorists were responsible for the deaths of israelis, - and they were actively commanding operations that could _ have killed even more. their deaths saved lives. sadly, following the strike due to unforeseen circumstances, i a fire ignited, tragically taking - the lives of gazan civilians nearby.

he also denied the israeli military was solely responsible for the fire. our ammunition alone could not have ignited a fire of this size. _ i want to repeat it — _ our ammunition unknown could not have ignited a fire of this size. —— ourammunition —— our ammunition alone. our investigation seeks to determine what may have caused such - a large fire to ignite. we are looking into all— possibilities, including the option that weapons stored in a compound next to our target — _ which we did not know of — i may have ignited as a result of the strike. that's already led to a furious response from some palestinian spokespeople. earlier, we werejoined by our middle east correspondent hugo bachega, who told us how

controversial that last clip was. the israeli authorities are under a lot of pressure to try to explain what happened on sunday when this air strike led to that massive fire that resulted in the killing of at least 45 palestinians who were in this tent camp for displaced residents in rafah, in southern gaza. so what daniel hagari had to say was that one of the possibilities being investigated by the israeli authorities is that weapons being stored in a place near the site that was targeted — those weapons exploded following the attack, and that explosion triggered the massive fire. there was no evidence to support this claim. he said that pictures that have been analysed by the israeli military appear to show secondary explosions following the attack, which he said could indicate the possibilities that weapons were,

you know, the source of this massive fire, and not the israeli air strike that happened on sunday. he said that the type of ammunition, the type of explosives that were there were used in this attack did not have the power to trigger a fire of that scale. again, there has been a lot of condemnation with world leaders, with human rights organisations calling for a cease—fire in gaza following the attack. and this is, i think, one of the first times that we've heard from a senior israeli authority trying to explain what happened on sunday, this deadly attack that happened in rafah. what we just heard is bound to be hugely contested, and i suppose will add fuel to all of those people who want some sort of independent investigation, rather than the israelis actually carrying out the investigation. although israel will obviously point to the fact that this is a zone

where there is active combat. and, in terms of that final phrase of active combat reports, hugo. of israeli tanks right there in the centre of rafah. tell me what more you can tell us about that. exactly, and this israeli military operation in rafah continues, and reports this morning suggesting that tanks have arrived in a central part of rafah. and that suggests that, you know, this part of the city is now under some kind of control by the israeli authorities. so, despite the attack that happened on sunday, despite these calls for a ceasefire, despite what's happening today with european countries declaring the recognition of a palestinian state, the israeli military continues with its operation in rafah. yesterday, we heard from prime minister benjamin netanyahu

calling what happened on sunday as a "tragic mishap" — but again, he dismissed those calls for a ceasefire, for a pause in the fighting in gaza, saying that the war continues. and again, he says that this operation is going to continue until hamas is defeated and the hostages that remain in captivity in gaza return to israel. well, the un going to discuss the events of sunday in the next few hours. i'm sure more pressure on benjamin netanyahu. a final word, because the reuters news agency is reporting in the last 5—10 minutes that an egyptian security delegation is trying to reactivate the talks to reach a truce in gaza, the release of hostages, in coordination with qatar and the united states. where is israel in all of this? do they even have a delegation present? yeah, there have been reports in recent days suggesting that the israeli government has given, you know, members of this negotiating team a mandate to resume these talks,

to try to reach a deal that could guarantee the release of hostages who remain in captivity in gaza. but the reality is that those talks have collapsed and the indications are that hamas is unwilling to engage in any kind of negotiation if a deal does not include a permanent end to the fighting in gaza. so there have been those reports suggesting that the israeli authorities may be interested in resuming those negotiations. of course, prime minister netanyahu is under a lot of pressure here in israel from the families of the hostages, who say that time is running out to save the lives of those who remain in captivity in gaza. hugo bachega. david cameron has called for a swift investigation into those israeli air strikes on rafah. i think that what happened in rafah overnight really did look very,

very concerning, very worrying, and so we are asking for that to be investigated rapidly. the israelis have already said it was a tragic mistake, but we want to see that properly investigated. look, what i want to see is a stop in the fighting. we want a pause, which has been offered by the israelis, a hostage deal to hamas that would let the prisoners out of israeli jails, and have that policy. —— and have that pause. what we need is to get the hostages out, to get to aid in, and have that stop in the fighting, which we can then turn into a permanent, sustainable cease—fire. that's what i want to see happen. in the last few minutes out of washington, the reuters news agency is reporting the us military has suspended aid deliveries to the gaza strip by sea after bad weather damage to the temporary pier that they built and set up. so that's being reported, the us military expected to make the announcement a little later today. nbc news saying in their reports that they've cited

a un official and also a us official, and an israeli official in terms of that top line, the us military will suspend a deliveries to the gaza strip by sea after bad weather damaged that temporary peer. so that's the latest coming into us. after nearly five weeks, closing arguments in donald trump's hush—money case will begin shortly. the former us president faces 3a charges for allegedly falsifying business records to cover up payments made to adult film star stormy daniels ahead of the 2016 election. he has denied all of the allegations. if found guilty, mr trump would become the first former us president with a criminal conviction, and the first major party candidate to run for the white house as a convicted felon. our north america corrspondent nada tawfik reminds us about the key nada tawfik brought us the latest from the trial, as the defence made their closing statement. this is the final chance for the defence to make their case to the jury before they get handed

donald trump's fate. that could happen as soon as tomorrow, matthew, because after today's closing arguments, the judge will instruct the jury on the case law that is central to all of this. now, we've so far had donald trump's defence lawyer going first. he started by saying that donald trump is innocent, and that the prosecution had not proven their case beyond a reasonable doubt. remember, for them, it is all about sowing doubt in just at least onejuror�*s mind — because ifjust onejuror does not agree that donald trump is guilty or not guilty, this will result in a hung jury. and todd blanche is essentially making the case that donald trump was in the white house at the time that these documents were allegedly falsified, that he was busy running the country and had no part in it. his lawyer also saying that if they were involved in some large conspiracy,

why would they have had his two sons, donjrand eric trump, signing off on the vouchers for these cheques to reimburse michael cohen? they also have said that cohen himself is a convicted felon. he was imprisoned in part for lying to congress, and therefore, as the prosecution's star witness, it's unbelievable, in their view, that this case is built around him, that he cannot be trusted. and that has really been what the defence has been leaning on throughout all of this, matthew. they essentially say it is michael cohen's word against donald trump's, and that michael cohen proven that he has stolen from donald trump, he has admitted to that, that he has a personal stake in this case, and that he has lied when it's in his best interest to do so, based on the past. so this really does now hinge, matthew, on whether the jury believes that donald trump intended to cover up election fraud

and directed those documents to be falsified in business records. our correspondent in new york, nada tawfik. pope francis has apologised for using a derogatory word to describe gay men in discussions about whether they should be admitted to the priesthood. a warning here that there will be some offensive language coming up. 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 that translates to the offensive term "faggot". the pope's spokesperson, matteo bruni, has now spoken to press in the vatican and said...

the pope did not mean to offend anyone or speak in homophobic terms, and he apologises to anyone who was hurt by the use of a word, as related by others." that the latest from the vatican's spokesperson. for more, here's our religion editor aleem maqbool. he said that last line. he apologises to anyone who is hurt by the use of a word as related by others. so he didn't quite say, "i said it and i'm sorry that i shouldn't have used that language. " but this all happened in a place where it wasn't caught on tape. it wasn't caught on camera. it was at the italian conference of bishops. and gradually over the past week since that meeting, we've had various reports come out. people have leaked what went on and now lots of news agencies with quoting numerous sources say this did happen.

even those defending the pope say he might not have quite understood the severity, the level of offence of the term he was using. but then people say, well, 0k, he's not a native italian speaker, but he was brought up by italian immigrants in an italian speaking home in argentina. so that doesn't really wash. but whether he used that word or not, whether he knew what that word meant, and i think it's likely that he probably did. it is the sentiment also that he was expressing. he was asked a question at this conference about whether gay men should be allowed into seminaries, whether they should be allowed to to become priests, ultimately. and his answer was "no, because there's too much of this already in the church." and i think even that in just the sentiment, even if he didn't quite know the severity of the word, is bad enough for a lot of people. welcome, if you are justjoining welcome, if you arejustjoining us

here on bbc news. the time hasjust gone to 530. let's turn to our main headlines here today. greater manchester police say the labour deputy leader angela rayner will face no further police action in relation to police claims that she was registered at living at one address when she sold another property without paying capital gains tax. 0n the campaign trail herself they are calling it a triple locked plus conservatives pledge to raise the tax free allowance for pensioners if they win the general election. labour has dismissed plans saying they are the party of business saying they will not increase corporation tax. let's return to our top story. saying they will take no further action against a pita leader angela rayner, greater manchester police, following a question she paid the correct tax when she sold her flat

nearly ten years ago. let's go to ian watson who has been at that labour event we were watching in hertfordshire. welcome to the programme. i will come to some of the q&a that we were watching a short while ago in a moment, but you were talking to keir starmer, has he referenced at that story about his deputy that we were just bringing?— just bringing? absolutely. keir starmer, unsurprisingly, - just bringing? absolutely. keir starmer, unsurprisingly, is- just bringing? absolutely. keir- starmer, unsurprisingly, is pleased that greater manchester police are taking no further action against his deputy, angela rayner. he actually said that she has been completely cleared by police, she will be out campaigning with the labour party, it is an important moment, notjust for the labour party but for the country and also that he did not bet that angela rayner had done anything wrong. he said it is a matterfor the conservatives now to reflect on whether they should have used police resource in this way. conservative mp james daly who resource in this way. conservative mpjames daly who had complained

about angela rayner asking questions whether she was at the right address for electoral registration purposes. the police made it clear that it did not look into questions of whether she had paid capital gains tax on the sale of her former counsel house, that was a matter for revenue and customs. she has been absolutely clear, although some sources are suggesting to us, that they are not going to take further action, hmrc did not officially comment on any individual cases and they will not be issuing a statement, unlike the police. at stockport council had been looking into questions over council tax issued a statement and they are taking no further action. so labour here certainly believe that this is drawn a line under the story which has gone on for quite time. angela rayner saying she had cooperated and spoken to the police and are pleased that it is now behind him. ishould point out and are pleased that it is now behind him. i should point out there are still questions by another mp on are still questions by another mp on a different matter that is diane abbott, bbc news site has reported that an investigation into her had

concluded some months ago, but she still has not been restored to the parliamentary labour party which means she stand as a candidate. labour has to endorse all of its candidates byjune the 4th, if she is not endorsed by then, than somebody else will be selected in her place. so ask keir starmer about thatis her place. so ask keir starmer about that is what he said, it is a matter for the labour national executive committee but my understanding of the rules is actually, it is the disciplinary over that he and the chief whip could take a decision of whether she comes back into the labour party or not. we still don't know what they are going to do between now and june the 4th. let’s between now and june the 4th. let's turn to the day _ between now and june the 4th. let's turn to the day as _ between now and june the 4th. let's turn to the day as a _ between now and june the 4th. let's turn to the day as a whole. it is interesting to see the labour party campaigned so hard on the economy, stability, the sorts of things that rachel reeves was saying about the way that she once the party to be perceived. it is virtually the sorts of things we are so used to hearing from the conservative party, is it

not? ., �* , from the conservative party, is it not? . �* , , , ., not? that's right. it is designed of course to win _ not? that's right. it is designed of course to win over— not? that's right. it is designed of course to win over business - not? that's right. it is designed of course to win over business and i course to win over business and wavering conservative voters. if you look at the kind of seats labour has been campaigning on, we and steven edge, this is 100 tony blair but since 2010 has been conservative held. i was out yesterday and labour had won control of the local counsel there in its history. usually a conservative territory. what both keir starmer and rachel reeves has been stressing over the past 48 hours is that the party has changed dramatically since 2019 underjeremy corbyn's leadership and as if to try and underline that, rachel reeves was delighted to receive the endorsements from around 120 current and former business leaders today, although the conservative say, none of the chief executives of the very top companies were represented on that list. again, for those wavering voters, she wants to say, she is going to keep a very tight grip on the nation's purse strings and will not spend more than the country can't afford and meet a pledge, so

let's hold them to this, a pledge that every single policy in the forthcoming macro to manifest it would be fully costed. to be fair, the conservatives are trying to make that difficult task, they have the idea of taking the state pension out of tax and challenging labour to say whether to go along with that, labour say it is on costed at the moment and they are not saying up to itjust moment and they are not saying up to it just yet. moment and they are not saying up to itjust yet. labour could be facing a multi billion pound bill to deal with the infected blood scandal so there will be challenges for rachel reeves to see if she can stick to that promise to have a fully costed manifesto. ., ~ that promise to have a fully costed manifesto. . ,, , ., that promise to have a fully costed manifesto. ., ~' , ., ~ manifesto. thank you. we will continue with _ manifesto. thank you. we will continue with everything - manifesto. thank you. we will continue with everything that l manifesto. thank you. we will. continue with everything that we have seen from the campaign trail here on the programme in a moment or two. but let's pausejust for here on the programme in a moment or two. but let's pause just for a few moments and catch up with the sports headlines of the day. we will start with athletics and

world athletic champion will headline a 72 strong great britain and northern ireland team for the upcoming european athletics championships in rome as preparations continue ahead of the olympics. 800 metre silver medallist ran the fastest time of the year over the distance at the diamond league meeting. world 800m silver medallist keeley hodgkinson, who ran the fastest time of the year over the distance at the diamond league meeting in eugene, is also included in the team having received a wildcard for the event. hodgkinson will be joined by fellow world medalists matthew hudson—smith and zharnel hughes. world 1500m championjosh kerr is a notable absentee for the european championships. the scot has guaranteed that britian will win a medal in the event at the olympics. his biggest threat is likely to be norwgianjakob ingebritsen whom kerr beat at the worlds last year and in eugene on saturday. it's a rivalry he says is good for the sport. when two guys are going at it trying to be the best in the world and you have a competition that comes up every four years, it is, you will

annoy each other a bit and that is just the art of running these days, some people get annoyed if you say you want to go out and win, but it is my personality to tell people what i want to do and try and do it. i think it brings more value to the fans and to the sport and get more eyeballs on it. so i've been a lot more vocal recently and that has been annoying some people. kieran mckenna is expected to sign a new deal to remain as ipswich town manager having been on chelsea's shortlist of names to replace mauricio pochettino. mckenna guided ipswich to the premier league in a run that has seen them achieve to back to back promotions from the 3rd tier up to the top flight. ipswich were mid—table in league one when the northern irishman left his job as manchester united assistant first—team coach to take the helm at portman road in december 2021. everton are interested in signing midfielder midfielder kalvin phillips on a season—long loan deal from manchester city. phillipsjoined the premier league champions from leeds for £45 million

in 2022 but struggled to make an impression spending the second half of last season on—loan at west ham. borussia dortmund continue their preparations for that season defining champions league clash with 14—time winners real madrid at wembley on saturday. the bundesliga side are returning to the scene of their 2013 champions league final defeat, while jadon sancho is returning to the city of his birth for his final match before his loan from manchester united comes to an end. saturday's final will see dortmund reunited withjude bellingham who left the club for real madrid last summer after three seasons at the club. it will be nice to meet him because he is a good guy, very great guy, but on the pitch, you know... you thinkjust about winning, for our club and team. i am very happy for

jude that he plays a great season. england get under way against pakistan in their 3rd t20 match in cardiff in just over an hour or so. england's women's gear up for the third leg of the three—match odi series against pakistan. england secured a victory in the first match, while the second was abandoned due to torrential rain but despite leading the series, bowler kate cross says they�* re still searching for improved performances. how we played in darby was probably not how we would like to play the game. i think a little bit untidy with the ball and probably not our best in the fields and equally probably did not put as much pressure on the pakistani bowlers as we would have liked so all of those classes that we want to improve on. we know on our best day we can beat any team we saw that in the ashes last year with australia, we were able to put them under pressure in key moments. just enough time to say two brits in action on tuesday at the french open if and when the weather stops playing such a leading role.

british number one katie boulter is set to face paula badosa if the rain holds off, while dan evans is taking on holger rune. you can go to our website. thank you very much. as promised let's return to the campaign trail. before we do let me bring you the first reaction from angela rayner. responding to what we heard from greater manchester police in the last hour, hour and to have. angela rayner releasing a statement saying, i welcome the conclusion of the police investigation and confirmation that no further action will be taken. we have seen the conservative party use this playbook before, purporting political opponents to the police during election campaigns to distract from their dire record. she says, the public who have had enough of these desperate tactics from a tory government with nothing else to say after 14 years of failure. and grateful for all of those who stood by and supported me and my family, my focus now is squarely on securing the change britain needs and the

election of a labour government. so that, the first response from angela rayner, the labour deputy leader, given greater manchester police say they have concluded their investigation with no further action. let's speak life to lucy fisher, the whitehall editor of the financial times. welcome here to the programme. a quick word in terms of those developments regarding angela rayner. very clearly, now drawn under this story.— rayner. very clearly, now drawn under this story. that's right and it will be a _ under this story. that's right and it will be a relief _ under this story. that's right and it will be a relief to _ under this story. that's right and it will be a relief to her, - under this story. that's right and it will be a relief to her, of - it will be a relief to her, of course she had vowed to step down if she was found to have committed any offence and it will be a relief to keir starmer and all of his top team because of these scores of headlines that have been written on these allegations, it has been a big story and in particular by parts of the right—leaning media. now it is good news for her, that she can draw a

line under it and concentrate on the six week campaign that lies ahead. let's get back to the campaign. in terms of what you have heard today, first from rishi sunak around to this triple lock plus and the labour preposition on the economy. your thoughts on both of these things? i thoughts on both of these things? i think it is interesting with rishi sunak making this triple lock plus pledge is very much appealing to those who vote conservative anyway, coming off the heels of his valve for national service is very much tells us that the conservatives are pursuing a core vote strategy trying to make sure they consolidate the quarter is, the demographics of the usually rely on, of the electorate rather than perhaps reaching out to swing voters or to middle—aged or younger demographics that they would needin younger demographics that they would need in order to pick up strong

number of seats. that is perhaps to be expected when there are about 20 points behind labour in the polls. in particular, are facing a threat from reform uk which is outflanking them on the right and trying to appeal to some of the older more traditional and patriotic voters who they need to keep on board in order to ensure they don't lose huge swathes of seats in this election. moving across to look at labour on the campaign trail, interesting from rachel reeves, a boost from labour that they have had a number, 120 odd executives backing the party, but as he pointed out in your package, not huge names. i think, he pointed out in your package, not huge names. ithink, i he pointed out in your package, not huge names. i think, i suspect, we will suspect conservatives will mount a counsellor faxes drawing up their own business back curse but it is important for labour to show that they have gained credibility from some parts of industry after the jeremy corbyn era.— some parts of industry after the jeremy corbyn era. what have you made of the _ jeremy corbyn era. what have you made of the first _ jeremy corbyn era. what have you made of the first five _ jeremy corbyn era. what have you made of the first five or _ jeremy corbyn era. what have you made of the first five or six days l made of the first five or six days

of the campaign, as a whole, the interactions of the political leaders with the public. we see a lot of campaign events, but what is your reading of how it is going, are the leaders being insulated from the public or is there enough interaction that you see? taste public or is there enough interaction that you see? we have not seen much — interaction that you see? we have not seen much yet, _ interaction that you see? we have not seen much yet, but _ interaction that you see? we have not seen much yet, but i - interaction that you see? we have not seen much yet, but i think- interaction that you see? we have | not seen much yet, but i think that is to be expected in the first week of this short campaign, what you would normally see is leaders trying to define their selves, their politics, make sure that the electorate knows who they are as a person and that is certainly what keir starmer as leader of the opposition has had to do, and more of the point of his speech yesterday was about telling people about his background. and of course trying to hammer home their core messages, you have heard labour talk about how they have changed the party and therefore, they think they can successfully change the country. they are talking about the change

from what they described as tory chaos to a period of stability, if keir starmer enters downing street. rishi sunak has of course had a little bit more interaction with the public, but that has not necessarily been terribly successful. in particular, that awkward moment when he was talking to workers in a brewery about the football in wales when of course, wills has not qualified for the euros. so you can see why campaign advisers orders will be keen to try and insulate their leaders from gaps in awkward moments like that the content to backfire. ,., ., ., moments like that the content to backfire. ., . ,, ., . backfire. good to talk to you and thank ou backfire. good to talk to you and thank you for— backfire. good to talk to you and thank you forjoining _ backfire. good to talk to you and thank you forjoining us - backfire. good to talk to you and thank you forjoining us on - backfire. good to talk to you and thank you forjoining us on the l thank you forjoining us on the programme. life from westminster there. let's return to the breaking story concerning angela rayner. i just rent out her first public comment after that investigation has concluded with no further action from greater manchester police let's get more reaction to that. listening to the tax lawyer dan edell, a labour party member incidents on the party positing national constitutional committee. i'll come

to the programme. your reaction to that development over the last hour or so? that development over the last hour orso? hi. that development over the last hour or so? �* , ., , , , , or so? hi. it's not very surprising because the _ or so? hi. it's not very surprising because the police _ or so? hi. it's not very surprising because the police not _ or so? hi. it's not very surprising because the police not to - because the police not to investigate tax. whether a tax matter is incredibly serious or minor it is not thejob of matter is incredibly serious or minor it is not the job of police will stop hmrc are the tax authority. shill will stop hmrc are the tax authority-— will stop hmrc are the tax authori . �* ., , authority. all the while, over these last few weeks. — authority. all the while, over these last few weeks, few _ authority. all the while, over these last few weeks, few months - authority. all the while, over these last few weeks, few months as - authority. all the while, over these last few weeks, few months as this question has hung over angela rayner, have you thought it was the wrong body investigating, that what you are saying?— wrong body investigating, that what you are saying? there's always been a question. — you are saying? there's always been a question. did _ you are saying? there's always been a question, did angela _ you are saying? there's always been a question, did angela rayner - you are saying? there's always been a question, did angela rayner pay i a question, did angela rayner pay the right amount of tax or not. she said she did, but she is not explained why. it is possible she never owed any capital gains tax it is, possible she vote of 23 and half don't know she's provided an explanation. as to whether she committed a criminal offence is very different and it seems implausible that she did. in different and it seems implausible that she did-—

different and it seems implausible that she did. , ., ~ . that she did. in terms of hmrc which ou that she did. in terms of hmrc which you referenced. _ that she did. in terms of hmrc which you referenced, we _ that she did. in terms of hmrc which you referenced, we have _ that she did. in terms of hmrc which you referenced, we have heard - you referenced, we have heard obviously contact, but in terms of expecting a statement, ian watson was making the point that invariably in situations like this, there will be no official statement from them. is that when you are expecting a spell? is that when you are expecting a sell? ~ .. is that when you are expecting a sell? ~ ., ,., is that when you are expecting a sell? ~ ., , ., , , is that when you are expecting a sell? ~ ., _, . spell? hmrc are bound by strict rules of confidentiality - spell? hmrc are bound by strict rules of confidentiality and - spell? hmrc are bound by strict i rules of confidentiality and whether the basket or tone or whether they clear her or don't, they will say nothing unless there was an actual prosecution which i think is unlikely which that would mean she had to intentionally and dishonestly failed to pay tax back in 2015. lots of people get the tax wrong, nadeem zahawi famously did so carelessly but there was never any evidence he did so deliberately so he did not commit criminal tax evasion. similarly much smaller amounts, there is no reason to take angel prange or even if she got the tax wrong so deliberately. so the whole idea there was a potential criminal offence here was rather daft, i don't think any tax professional

ever thought there was anything in it. ~ ., ever thought there was anything in it. ~ . , ever thought there was anything in it. . ., , ., ~ it. we will leave it there but thank ou for it. we will leave it there but thank you for giving _ it. we will leave it there but thank you for giving us _ it. we will leave it there but thank you for giving us that _ it. we will leave it there but thank you for giving us that shock - you for giving us that shock reaction to that news as it has come into us. throughout this general election., our teams here at bbc news have been together to bring you all of the latest information that you need. my colleague has this verify unit which will be crucial over the next weeks as all of the parties will make promises and as we dissect them and get to the real root of what they are promising. so let's hear the latest from the team. i'm not far from where you are. i'm on the mezzanine, but i think you can see the newsroom below me on the trundle camera that we're showing you now. that's studio e, if you look over there, the camera'sjust moving in that direction. and that is the radio team there. as my colleagues at the bbc news channel over there, in the centre,

that's where the news desk is. and just in the back over there are the six and ten and the one news team. so the bulletin teams and everybody, of course, working very hard now that that general election has been called. now we're up here on this floor because we're going to show you a bit more about the team's work at bbc verify, which has really come into its own in this election campaign. if you just follow me round now, of course, any day of the week, verify are busy. but of course, now it's all about fact checking campaign statements, making sure that we uncover the truth when it comes to disinformation, and also verifying social media videos and other claims and policy. but let's take you to the main verify hub. you'll be familiar with this. these are the screens where we show a lot of data and bring some of the number crunching to life. and here are some of the banks of desks where all our teams are working. a lot of people don't appear on camera, but do a lot of hard work behind the scenes. someone who does appear on camera, though, is ben chu. hello, ben.

hello, formerly of bbc newsnight. now you are a policy and analysis correspondent with bbc verify. now, ben, yourjob during the election is about fact checking policy statements, claims by politicians and political parties, and also costing them, working out whether these things add up or not. so there's quite a lot to get through. tell us what you've been working on today because we've already had one announcement. yeah, well, we've had this big announcement on what the conservatives are calling a triple lock plus, which is the idea that they'll take pensioners out of the risk of paying income tax. 0k. so ben sits here, does all his work, but of course it all comes to life on the screen in true blue peter style. here's one he made earlier. that's right. so here's the chart. so just to sort of simplify it, first of all, this is a pledge by the conservative party to try and ease the tax burden on pensioners. take us through what it actually means. well, so they're saying that this move, this triple lock plus will save pensioners hundreds of pounds a year by the end of the parliament. so we need to put that in a bit of context though and this is the appropriate context. this is the personal allowance you're seeing here. this is the amount up

to which people can earn money beyond which they start paying income tax. so if they're below this, they don't. and what you can see here is that it has been it will be frozen in cash terms at around 12,500 pounds until 2027. this is a result of a decision that rishi sunak and jeremy hunt have made in recent years. it's important to recognise, this is effectively a tax rise because as people's wages and incomes naturally go up over time, more of them will get more of their income will be dragged into this area, so they'll start paying more tax. so that's the status quo. that's right. well, let's first of all, talk about what the state pension is projected to do, because this is really important. the green line is the state pension. you can see where it is at the moment, just under 12,000. and by 2027, it's projected by the office of budget responsibility to be rising above the personal allowance. so that means some pensioners who previously weren't paying income tax would start paying it. a lot of pensioners have incomes which are higher than this, but if you just exist purely on the state

pension, there is a risk under current projections that you start to pay income tax where you wouldn't have previously. but so what the conservatives are proposing today is to create a new exclusive personal allowance for pensioners, which would be seen here in the red line, about £13,000, and that would be rising over the period and that would stop those pensioners, as you can see here, having the risk. so this would be well, this is the argument you could argue that this is a tax cut for pensioners. you could also argue it's merely taking pensioners out of the risk of having a tax hike, which was currently what was projected really important as well, rajini. this is only a proposal for pensioners, so everyone else who's earning they would still be hit, we presume by this flat personal allowance in cash terms. so only for pensioners, not for everyone else. they would still have this effective tax hike. and then what have the labour party had to say

about this or any other parties? well, labour have said that this is non—credible, they've called it desperate, but importantly they haven't said that they would match it. they are matching the triple lock, but they haven't said that they will match what the conservatives are calling this triple lock plus. so we'll wait to see over the coming days if they do or not. 0k. thank you. and the nature of ben's job means that whatever a politician might say this afternoon, we might be back here and he might be fact checking and costing that. we just don't know, of course. but it's a very dynamic role. and there's plenty more from ben on the bbc news website as well. of course, as well as on the bbc news channel. well, there's loads of experts who work on verify. another one who appears on camera quite a bit is robert cuffe, our statistics correspondent. robert, a lot of people will be watching opinion polls very closely. you, of course, one of them. not everyone takes too much weight in polls given recent years, but we do watch them. this is a graph that you have also prepared earlier. it looks like a load of dots to me. so take us through this. it's a bit too much information, isn't it? it's all the polls we've seen since the last election at the end of 2019.

and thankfully, you don't need to be looking at this. the bbc were crunching all this down to pull out what the big trends are, what the averages driving the polls. and you can see there the big trends over the last parliament, the kind of the big rises and falls at the start of lockdown, the vaccine bounce, labour taking over around the time of partygate, the mini budget and really the tories still sliding down even though labour are kind of in the mid—forties. and get a bit closer in. it gets interesting. i think you can see even though labour are steady and the tories are coming down and you can see one of the reasons why down here in that light blue you can see reform coming up on the outside, causing more problems for the tories to the left and to the right. so those are the trends since the last election. and of course, viewers can play with these data for themselves on bbc.co.uk/polltracker where we've got all the information there for people to take a look. what about since the election was called? what polls have we had since then? we've had about six

polls since then. and you can see the individual numbers here. so this is each party for each pollster. and we're saying you could see like some pollsters are giving labour a one point bump. 0pinium say the tories are up by two since the election was called. yougov say that reform are up by two points as well since then. and you could get bounced around a lot by these ups and downs. i mean the key thing about this thing, just to keep it simple because again, it looks like lots of dots is that you will see some showing that the parties have dropped, some saying that they've stayed the same and some saying that they've gone up and by very marginal amounts plus to minus two. so i would say even keep it even simpler than that. don't worry about the individual polls. look at the average look at the average over all these polls of what's happened to labour. not very much. what's changed for the tories? not very much. the same with reform. the lib, dems greens. really, you get bounced around too much if you focus on the details, zoom out, take a look at those big average trend lines and that'll tell you what's really going on. and of course, since they only finished collecting these data

on saturday, probably too early for the election campaign to have had much of an effect on people's voting intentions. but at the moment, from what you've shown, polls still suggest that labour is far out. far, farahead. that 20 point gap that we showed you a couple of seconds ago, that hasn't really changed. no change really since at the end of last week. 0k. we have many weeks left in this election. so who knows how it's going to go. but thank you for the moment. so that's robert cuffe, who looks at all the stats for, our statistics correspondent. now, you can tell it's election season because i was on a bus at the weekend and somebody had already was on a clipboard saying that they were going out to start doing the canvassing for an opinion poll company. so we really are in the thick of it. and as robert says, it's very much early days. well, i'm just going to complete this journey by taking us back around the newsroom, also on this floor, i should say, the weather team sit over there. we saw carol kirkwood earlier walk past. so i'm just pointing i don't know if you can see me. if i look, that's where that's where you are. and hopefully the camera will take us back to you. i'm too small for me to see me

continuous coverage of the election campaign, all of the latest video that the story currently on, angela rayner after that news from greater manchester police. at the latest updates from the campaign trail, video, the latest comments, analysis from all of our bbc news teens. you had to our website for up—to—date coverage of this as we head towards the end of week one of this election campaign, also the bbc news apps available to you as well. that's it for me. hopefully i will see you at the same time tomorrow to go through tomorrow's i election campaign trail. next up, the six o'clock news. bye for now.

at six, israeli tanks reach the heart of rafah in southern gaza for the first time. on the move again — palestinians flee the city in southern gaza where hundreds of thousands have been sheltering since the start of the war. tonight, fresh reports of people being hit by air strikes as they were fleeing the city. also tonight, the economy takes centre stage on the campaign trail. the conservatives focus on pensions. labour says they're the party of business. and the lib dem leader makes a splash with the first full week of campaigning now under way. greater manchester police say no further action will be taken against labour's deputy leader, angela rayner, following allegations that she broke electoral law. the pope apologises for using insulting language when speaking about gay men. and on the beaches of normandy, this 103—year—old woman tells us

about her vital role in the d—day landings ahead of