this was a rigged, disgraceful trial. the real verdict is going to be on the 5th of november by the people, and they know what happened here and everybody knows what happened here. the general election campaign continues, with labour leader sir keir starmer set to launch his energy plan in scotland, but the snp and conservatives say it will costjobs. the conservatives say they will crack down on fly—tipping and anti—social tenants in england and wales if they win the election. labour has called the announcement "more empty words". thousands of nhs bowel cancer patient in england will soon have access to a bespoke vaccine as part of a trial. hello, i'm geeta guru—murthy.

donald trump has been found guilty on all counts in his hush money trial in new york. on all counts in his hush he called the verdict a disgrace, and claimed it was rigged against him. president biden said it showed that no one is above the law. this makes donald trump the first former us president to be convicted of criminal charges and the first major party candidate to run for office as a convicted felon. mr trump was found guilty of falsifying business records to conceal a sex scandal involving the former porn star, stormy daniels. mr trump's conviction has prompted an outpouring of anger from his most ardent supporters. many have taken to social media with incendiary calls for riots and retribution. the trial officially began on april 15th after a lengthy jury selection process. then, over the course of more than six weeks, testimony from donald trump's former business partners, including long—time lawyer michael cohen, and his accuser stormy daniels, were heard.

12 new yorkjurors deliberated for two days to reach the verdict, in which they found him guilty on all 3a felony charges. mr trump will return to the manhattan court room onjuly the 11th to be sentenced. with the latest from new york, our north america —— the prime minister speaking in the last few minutes, rishi sunak, was asked about the verdict against president trump. you was asked about the verdict against president trump.— president trump. you would not exect president trump. you would not meet me _ president trump. you would not meet me to — president trump. you would not expect me to comment - president trump. you would not expect me to comment on - president trump. you would not i expect me to comment on another country's domestic politics or judicial process. i am focused squarely on the election here at home, talking to people across the country about the choice at our election. we are the party that is offering a clear plan, prepared to take bold action in order to deliver a secure future for everyone and thatis a secure future for everyone and that is my focus.— that is my focus. let's get the latest from — that is my focus. let's get the latest from new _ that is my focus. let's get the latest from new york - that is my focus. let's get the latest from new york now - that is my focus. let's get the | latest from new york now with that is my focus. let's get the - latest from new york now with john latest from new york now with john sudworth. in a nearby park, his opponents celebrated. trump is guilty! while inside the court, the former president was walking into history...

..as the first ever to be convicted of a crime. this was a disgrace, this was a rigged trial by a conflicted judge who was corrupt. it's a rigged trial, a disgrace. but it was a jury who convicted him on the evidence. 3a counts of falsifying business records to disguise hush money payments to the porn star stormy daniels, for the purpose, prosecutors said, of keeping her claim that they'd had sex from the american public, just ahead of the 2016 election. the verdict brought only gloom to mr trump's supporters who were left repeating those claims of political persecution. and they are afraid of a much more popular opponent because they know it will defeat them. this was a decision made by 12 ordinary new yorkers, your fellow citizens. there is nothing political

about that, is there? i'm not going to say that the jury was tainted, but who knows? who knows? so despite the sense of despondency amongst the trump supporters, it's all pretty good—natured here, although, as you can see, there is a pretty large police presence, just in case. the bigger question, though, is what the reaction is going to be longer term, with america now in uncharted territory. you know, you can't even see the back, there's so many people here. what effect will it have on his election chances? will it put those crucial undecided voters off, or draw others to him? and what about the impact of his attacks on america's institutions, already intensifying in the wake of the verdict? the man who brought the case insisted the result was a sign the justice system is working. while this defendant may be unlike any other

in american history, we arrived at this trial and ultimately today, at this verdict, in the same manner as every other case that comes through the court room doors. by following the facts, and the law, and doing so without fear or favour. millions will agree with him, and millions won't. sentencing will be in earlyjuly. mr trump is unlikely, legal experts say, to go to jail, but either way, one half of a divided country now has a convicted criminal as its candidate. john sudworth, bbc news, new york. follow the story live on the bbc news website and app. the live page has analysis and reporting from our teams in washington and new york. you can replay the moment donald trump was found guilty on all counts in that historic criminal trial. now to the general

election campaign. sir keir starmer has taken the labour party's election campaign to scotland today, where he will be speaking to voters alongside the leader of scottish labour, anas sarwar. the conservatives unveil tougher punishments on fly—tippers in an attempt to crack down on anti—social behaviour. the prime minister rishi sunak will be in greater manchester later this afternoon. the green party will be kicking off campaigning with a visit to a "bank hub" in harleston. co—leader of the party adrian ramsay will be visiting the new waveney valley constituency today, to see how the town is using its "bank hub" now that there are no longer any bank branches in the area. the liberal democrats are committing to the expansion of free school meals for children across the country, if elected. sir ed davey made the announcement during a visit to a school while campaigning in harpenden, and he'll continue his party's campaign in south west london. the conservatives are making an election promise to crack down on fly—tipping and anti—social

tenants in england and wales. their plans would see dumpers of illegal rubbish get points on their driving licences, and badly behaved tenants would get three strikes before being kicked out of social housing. the party said it was part of plans to improve people's quality of life and boost community cohesion. labour called the announcement "more empty words", while the lib dems said fines for fly—tipping had been so low under the tories that the party had, in effect, "legalised littering". let's speak to mel stride, who has served as the secretary of state for work and pensions since october 2022. thank you forjoining us. i will come onto your policy announcement that you are making today. can i first of all ask you about these historic events in the us? we have heard rishi sunak and yourself actually speaking to bbc radio today, saying you understandably... british ministers don't want to comment too much about what goes on

in us politics but given the us is such a key ally for the uk, if donald trump wins in november, would it affect uk and us relations in your view?— it affect uk and us relations in our view? ~ h, �* ., your view? well, i can't get into hypotheticals- — your view? well, i can't get into hypotheticals. the _ your view? well, i can't get into hypotheticals. the prime - your view? well, i can't get into i hypotheticals. the prime minister, your view? well, i can't get into - hypotheticals. the prime minister, i heard your clip just a moment ago, made it really clear. it is really important, that as a uk government minister and a cabinet minister, it is not for me to start opining on the internal ins and outs of united states presidential elections, albeit that these are extraordinary times. it will of course ultimately be for the american people to take those decisions on the 5th of november, without advice from the uk government in any form. but november, without advice from the uk government in any form.— government in any form. but given the very close _ government in any form. but given the very close cooperation - government in any form. but given the very close cooperation that - government in any form. but given the very close cooperation that uk| the very close cooperation that uk and us have for example on ukraine and us have for example on ukraine and military and intelligence matters, these are really key areas for the security of our country, if

any prime minister able to trust someone who has been convicted of a crime? ., ., ~' someone who has been convicted of a crime? ., ., ~ ., someone who has been convicted of a crime? ., ., 4' ., .., , someone who has been convicted of a crime? ., _, , .,, someone who has been convicted of a crime? ., , ., ., crime? look, our country has had a very strong — crime? look, our country has had a very strong bond — crime? look, our country has had a very strong bond with _ crime? look, our country has had a very strong bond with the - crime? look, our country has had a very strong bond with the united i very strong bond with the united states for many decades, and we have faced all sorts of challenges, shoulder to shoulder, is very important united allies. i have no doubt that is what we will be looking to do going forward, whatever scenarios may be presented. but i think on the specific case of the results or otherwise of donald trump's bid to be president of the united states, it is really not for me to cast any comments on that at all. that is a matter for the american people.— all. that is a matter for the american people. thank you for answering _ american people. thank you for answering those _ american people. thank you for answering those questions. - american people. thank you forj answering those questions. just american people. thank you for i answering those questions. just to move on to your announcement today, anti—social behaviour, we know, is a concern for the public. what are your proposals if you do win this election? 50 your proposals if you do win this election? ., ., ., , , election? so we have already been caettin election? so we have already been getting really _ election? so we have already been getting really tough _ election? so we have already been getting really tough on _ election? so we have already been getting really tough on this - election? so we have already been getting really tough on this as - election? so we have already been getting really tough on this as an l getting really tough on this as an area. i noticed that one of the other parties has said, there are no

real fines come other parties has said, there are no realfines come here. in fact, we other party that in the last year fixed penalty notices for this thoroughly appalling practice of flytipping. we increased it to up to £1000. it is a criminal offence, of course. you can actually go to prison as a consequence of doing this. we have introduced in the past arrangements whereby vehicles can be basically taken off limits to people who are engaged in this kind of activity. but we want to go further. what we are announcing today is that if we are back in government after the general election, then we will be applying a system whereby people can get points on their driving licences if they are found guilty of these kind of offences. i think that is really important because of course, almost all these offences use a vehicle of some kind. in many cases, getting additional points on your licence will mean losing your licence altogether. there is one final thing we are doing which is, we don't think it is right that

those sites that are advertising waste removal services and taking money for that should continue to do business with dodgy companies that are engaged in this kind of practice. so we will also look at it i think that as well. the practice. so we will also look at it i think that as well.— i think that as well. the labour party says _ i think that as well. the labour party says that _ i think that as well. the labour party says that the _ i think that as well. the labour party says that the cut - i think that as well. the labour party says that the cut in - party says that the cut in neighbourhood policing, they say the tories have cut 10,000 neighbourhood police and pcsos in the last eight years, is part of the problem. louise casey, in her report on the met, said austerity was also partly to blame for the problems in this area. i5 to blame for the problems in this area. , ., to blame for the problems in this area. , . ., ., to blame for the problems in this area. , ., ., ., ., area. is what we are doing on olicin: area. is what we are doing on policing is — area. is what we are doing on policing is we _ area. is what we are doing on policing is we have _ area. is what we are doing on policing is we have recruited l area. is what we are doing on i policing is we have recruited an additional 20,000 police officers and that is something that has met our commitment in full. we are very clear that in fact, under our anti—social behaviour plan, where we have had ten hotspots where we have had intensive policing to try to drive down in those difficult areas

anti—social behaviour, it has been very successful. so up in blackpool, for example, there has been a 36% reduction in anti—social behaviour in the hotspot up there. we have seen very good games in newcastle —— newcastle—under—lyme and stoke—on—trent, about a 20% reduction in anti—social behaviour. we focus on the areas that matter and that can have an effect. what we are also announcing is that we will be rolling out those ten pilots right across the country to get those benefits right across the nation. ~ ., ., those benefits right across the nation. ~ . ., ., nation. we are at the end of the first full week _ nation. we are at the end of the first full week of _ nation. we are at the end of the first full week of campaigning i nation. we are at the end of the first full week of campaigning in j first full week of campaigning in this election campaign, just under five weeks to go before people get the chance to vote. yesterday, we had marc logan, the third conservative to leave the party and say that they were going to join the labour party, after natalie elphicke and... you are still very much behind in the polls, most of the polls that we have seen. does that

suggest that your campaign is not being hugely successful at the moment? i being hugely successful at the moment? ., �* , ., ., moment? i don't believe so at all. we are the — moment? i don't believe so at all. we are the party _ moment? i don't believe so at all. we are the party that _ moment? i don't believe so at all. we are the party that is _ moment? i don't believe so at all. we are the party that is coming i we are the party that is coming forward, as we havejust we are the party that is coming forward, as we have just discussed and we made an announcement about taking pensioners out of tax, going forward, for example, with the triple lock plus, the national service proposal, we are the party thatis service proposal, we are the party that is coming forward with the bold, clear plan for the future of our country. of course, we do that on the back of the success that we have had it economically in getting us through covid and high inflation. we have got inflation down to normal levels, real wages rising for each of the last ten months. we have got the fastest—growing economy in the last the joint fastest in the g7. that is all stuff that is a good story that we can build on and that we can move forward in a positive way for the british people. labour, ljy way for the british people. labour, by contrast, has really got no plan, nothing really to say about how they would be doing the right things by the country and we have seen... you

mentioned mark logan but you could mentioned mark logan but you could mention diane abbott, with angela rayner stepping forward and telling keir starmer what to do and to let her stand. anas sarwar, the labour leader in scotland, also telling keir starmer what to do. keir starmer had a report on all of this backin starmer had a report on all of this back in december and has had plenty of time to work out what to do but rather typically, of time to work out what to do but rathertypically, is of time to work out what to do but rather typically, is ending up looking rather weak and pushed around by other members within his own team. irate around by other members within his own team. ~ u, around by other members within his own team. ~ ., ., own team. we can all trade statistics. _ own team. we can all trade statistics, of _ own team. we can all trade statistics, of course, - own team. we can all trade statistics, of course, but i own team. we can all trade | statistics, of course, but the economy, we know, is a really key area on which people vote in elections. you know, some of the data from the 0ecd for example shows that the uk performed worse for living standards for example in the last few months of 2023 compared with 2019, in the 0ecd countries. we know that growth us predictions and the record is better than the uk. the economic record of the conservatives is going to be a key factor and some critics might say

that you have had at least three self—imposed problems, austerity, brexit and the liz truss budget, and thatis brexit and the liz truss budget, and that is what is going to affect your vote. 50 that is what is going to affect your vote, ,, ., ., that is what is going to affect your vote. ., _,, ., vote. so on the cost of living, i think this _ vote. so on the cost of living, i think this is — vote. so on the cost of living, i think this is a _ vote. so on the cost of living, i think this is a really _ vote. so on the cost of living, i think this is a really important | think this is a really important area, what we have done is we have got the economy growing at their fastest rate in the g7, in each of the last ten months, we have seen real wages increasing as we have brought inflation down. what we are also doing to help people is cutting taxes. we have made our announcement about cutting taxes for pensioners going forward. the labour party have rejected that. they say —— we will see under labour millions of pensioners paying income tax. we've got national insurance by a third which benefits 29 million working people. the average earner gains a tax cut of £900 per year. we put up the national living wage by 10% or thereabouts this april, and by a similar amount this time last year.

these are all things that are positive in terms of improving living standards. but if we are to keep that progress going. we simply cannot risk it with a labour party that does not have a plan and will take us right back to square one. the front page of the financial times today echoes something that the ifs, a respected independent think tank, has been warding off, that it think tank, has been warding off, thatitis think tank, has been warding off, that it is difficult to see how either your plans or labour's plans at up to a programme of increased spending on public services because you are not pledging to raise any further taxes, any growth is questionable and it could take time. the ft says that voters are braced for tax increases despite assurances from labour and the conservatives. are you being honest with the public about the choices and the challenges that you face if re—elected? yes. that you face if re-elected? yes, absolutely- _ that you face if re-elected? yes, absolutely. all _ that you face if re-elected? yes, absolutely. all of _ that you face if re-elected? yes, absolutely. all of our _ that you face if re—elected? is: absolutely. all of our spending proposals are fully costed. the labour party, and this is an

official treasury analysis are not my analysis, an official treasury analysis has £38.5 billion net of unfunded spending commitments. that is a colossal amount of money. you have to ask how it's going to be paid for. the only way they can do that, frankly, is through raising taxes. they have ruled out raising income tax and national insurance, under pressure from our press department, they finally did a u—turn and ruled out raising vat. they have ruled out raising the headline rate of corporation tax. those are the four biggest tax raisers in the system. so you have got to ask the question, where are they going to go? my suspicion, i'm afraid, is that they will go for workplace pensions, something that gordon brown did, totally unannounced, as we approached the 1997 election, a huge, £118 billion tax raid on pensioners that affected millions of people. it left us with the fourth highest level of

pensioner poverty under labour, compared to our record with the trouble, where 220,000 fewer pensioners are in poverty since 2010. ., ., 4' pensioners are in poverty since 2010. ., pensioners are in poverty since 2010. a, , a, , pensioners are in poverty since 2010. a, , , 2010. looking at your strategy this wa , ou 2010. looking at your strategy this way. you are _ 2010. looking at your strategy this way, you are offering _ 2010. looking at your strategy this way, you are offering some - 2010. looking at your strategy this way, you are offering some help i 2010. looking at your strategy this j way, you are offering some help to pensioners. does that suggest, along with your suggestion of national service, which i think has been quite popular in some parts of the population, again, probably more with older voters, are you now on a core vote strategy, trying to shore up core vote strategy, trying to shore up the vote even in what might previously have been seen as fairly safe seats, giving you are so far behind in the polls? ida. safe seats, giving you are so far behind in the polls?— safe seats, giving you are so far behind in the polls? no, not at all. the tax cuts _ behind in the polls? no, not at all. the tax cuts that _ behind in the polls? no, not at all. the tax cuts that i _ behind in the polls? no, not at all. the tax cuts that i have _ behind in the polls? no, not at all. the tax cuts that i have just - the tax cuts that i have just referred to, national insurance is down by a third, a tax cut for 29 million hard—working people, of course, it includes a lot of younger workers. the national living wage increases, way above inflation this year and last year, about 10% in both cases, disproportionately helping those who are younger.

apprenticeships, we have made a big, bold policy announcement about 100,000 additional quality apprenticeships per year by the end of the next parliament. and of course, look at what we have done with education. we have improved educational outcomes enormously since we came into government, going right up those international tables for science and maths and english. we have got the best readers in the western world is now due to the educational reforms that we brought in. there's a lot there for younger people. and all of that is going to be put at risk if we go for frankly a party that at the moment is just trying to carry that ming vase, that lead in the polls that they have got at the moment, across the slippery floor without saying much for fear of dropping it, hoping tojust floor without saying much for fear of dropping it, hoping to just drift into number10. i of dropping it, hoping to just drift into number 10. i don't think that is good enough and i think we need to hear much, much more from the labour party about how they are going to fund that £38.5 billion of unfunded spending. just

going to fund that £38.5 billion of unfunded spending.— going to fund that £38.5 billion of unfunded spending. just finally, are ou iioin unfunded spending. just finally, are you going to — unfunded spending. just finally, are you going to manage _ unfunded spending. just finally, are you going to manage to _ unfunded spending. just finally, are you going to manage to fill- unfunded spending. just finally, are you going to manage to fill all- unfunded spending. just finally, are you going to manage to fill all the l you going to manage to fill all the candidates, all of the vacant seats that you have got by the end of nominations? you know, some reports from your activists and supporters are a bit downcast. {iii from your activists and supporters are a bit downcast.— are a bit downcast. of course we will and every — are a bit downcast. of course we will and every election _ are a bit downcast. of course we will and every election in - are a bit downcast. of course we will and every election in recent| will and every election in recent history, of course, there has always been a conservative candidate on the ballot paper, i think with the exception of northern ireland which has slightly different politics. absolutely and we have until the seventh of next month when nominations closed. but absolutely, there will be hard—working, quality conservative candidates, taking nothing at all for granted in this election. we simply focus on our positive programme for the future of our country, and fighting for everything of it. mei our country, and fighting for everything of it.— our country, and fighting for everything of it. mel stride, very iood to everything of it. mel stride, very good to speak — everything of it. mel stride, very good to speak to _ everything of it. mel stride, very good to speak to you. _ everything of it. mel stride, very good to speak to you. thank- everything of it. mel stride, very good to speak to you. thank you everything of it. mel stride, very. good to speak to you. thank you for joining us. we know you are all extremely busy at the moment but very grateful for your time. let's

catch up with the campaigns and what they are doing. 0ur political correspondent jess parker is on the road with the conservatives today. you are heading to the north—west. where are you going and what is the plan today? where are you going and what is the lan toda ? , ., where are you going and what is the lan toda ? ,., ., ., ., plan today? good morning from somewhere _ plan today? good morning from somewhere on _ plan today? good morning from somewhere on the _ plan today? good morning from somewhere on the m40. - plan today? good morning from somewhere on the m40. i - plan today? good morning from somewhere on the m40. ijust i plan today? good morning from - somewhere on the m40. ijust double checked on my map and i think we are just south of bicester. we are heading up to the north—west of england where the prime minister will be campaigning later today. yesterday, of course, we saw him in buckinghamshire, where he was touring a cherry picker factory. we will wait to see where he is later today and the photo opportunities that may present for rishi sunak. as you have been extensively reflecting, the kind of policy announcements we have had today from the conservatives include cracking down on anti—social behaviour, always something i think that politicians think voters want to hear about because it is something

about communities. and flytipping as well. of course, one of the problems the conservatives frequently have when they make policy announcement at the moment on issues like cracking down on flytipping is that opposition parties quickly hit back and say, well, hang on, you have beenin and say, well, hang on, you have been in powerfor14 years, and say, well, hang on, you have been in powerfor 14 years, why haven't you sorted this out already? i was just looking at the gov.uk website statistics on flytipping is because this would apply in england. last year, i am reading from the government website, local authorities in england dealt with 1.08 million flytipping incidents, down 1%, it has to be said from the year before, but a number that opposition parties are saying is still woefully high. but i think it is the kind of issue, the kind of topic that the conservatives clearly think will again maybe catch people's attention because it tends to be one of those local issues that people really care about. in

to be one of those local issues that people really care about.— people really care about. in terms ofthe people really care about. in terms of the sense _ people really care about. in terms of the sense amongst _ people really care about. in terms of the sense amongst the - people really care about. in terms i of the sense amongst the campaign team, coming to the end of the first week on the road, the conservatives are still very much behind in the polls, but they have announced some eye—catching policies. what is your sense of the mood in the team around the prime minister at the moment? i the prime ministerat the moment? i think in a campaign, you get a lot of ups and downs. yesterday was a classic example of that. so in the morning, we woke up and really dominating the news and dominating the headlines was the row in the labour party about diane abbott, the veteran mp, britton's first black female mp, and her place in the labour party after she said she had been banned from standing and labour were saying, no, that is not the case, the process is still ongoing. when rishi sunak turned up to the factory in buckinghamshire, where we saw him, he looked pretty relaxed, as he gave a talk, a stump speech, to the factory workers. but then a

couple of things happen. first, question number one from one of the factory workers was about those downing street parties that a lot of people in the uk will remember. what this man said is that his mother had died during the pandemic, very sadly, and he had not been able to be with her, and given what had happened with the downing street parties, how could he trust the conservatives again? a bit of an awkward moment for rishi sunak. he offered his sympathies to the man and explained that he had gone to one meeting early, of course, during this whole kind of saga that arose during the pandemic, and caused real upsetin during the pandemic, and caused real upset in the country. so that was a difficult moment for the prime minister. and then of course, later on, we had the news that a retiring former conservative mp, mark logan, was now going to be backing the labour party. 24 hours earlier, he had been a conservative mp, and he

said the country would be better off with the labour party. i have to say, we were at another event with a promise when that happened, trying to get close to him. i went up to him as he was shaking hands with various activists and conservative supporters to try to see what he made of that but we did not get a response from the prime minister. but itjust response from the prime minister. but it just shows response from the prime minister. but itjust shows you that the mood of the campaign can turn quite quickly, based on all the events that are going on.— that are going on. finally, very iuickl , that are going on. finally, very quickly. are — that are going on. finally, very quickly. are you _ that are going on. finally, very quickly, are you travelling - that are going on. finally, very quickly, are you travelling with j that are going on. finally, very i quickly, are you travelling with the prime minister and his team or are theyin prime minister and his team or are they in separate vehicles or separate modes of transport? then;r separate modes of transport? they are absolutely _ separate modes of transport? they are absolutely on _ separate modes of transport? they are absolutely on a _ separate modes of transport? tue: are absolutely on a separate separate modes of transport? tte: are absolutely on a separate mode separate modes of transport? "tt21 are absolutely on a separate mode of transport. details of which i can't really give. but we are on a bus with other names of the media, full trans radzi, maybe you can get a look at the wider view. if you look down, we are with fellow broadcasters and newspaper hacks as well. we had up on this bus with otherjournalists well. we had up on this bus with other journalists and well. we had up on this bus with otherjournalists and then we go and meet the prime minister where he is campaigning on the day. that is how

descending to work, at least the last couple of days while i have been on the bus stop— last couple of days while i have been on the bus stop good to know. thank ou been on the bus stop good to know. thank you for— been on the bus stop good to know. thank you forjoining _ been on the bus stop good to know. thank you forjoining us. _ been on the bus stop good to know. thank you forjoining us. no - been on the bus stop good to know. thank you forjoining us. no doubt l thank you forjoining us. no doubt we will speak again later. let's speak to our chief political correspondent henry zeffman. at the end of this first week of campaigning, we have got another full day of events to follow. can i just start with the labour party? they are still sending out quite conflicting messages, aren't they, on the future of diane abbott. peter kyle this morning spoke about her legacy as a great member of the labour party in the past but they are trying to make the party fit for the future. angela rayner giving quite a different message yesterday. the labour party is a sprawling, almost federal organisation, with all sorts of people with separate power bases. keir starmer, obviously, is the elected leader. he has just been saying repeatedly for several days now that diane abbott

has not been barred from being a labour candidate. note the tense, that does not mean she won't be but he is insisting that he has not been and praises her as a trailblazer, that seems to be the word that everyone is using for britain's first ever black female mp. angela rayner yesterday, first ever black female mp. angela rayneryesterday, keir first ever black female mp. angela rayner yesterday, keir starmer�*s deputy but separately elected, with her own mandate, she yesterday gave a very different position. she said that she saw no reason why diane abbott should not be allowed to be a labour candidate. i think a lot of people thought there was more than a whiff of a challenge to the labour leader there. and then this morning on bbc breakfast, anas sarwar, the separately elected leader of the scottish labour party, with his own mandate, went almost but not quite up mandate, went almost but not quite up to angela rayner�*s position because he said he agreed with angela rayner that diane abbott was a trailblazer and that he wanted labour's national executive to take into account diane abbott's pioneering history, when they make the decision on tuesday over whether she should be a labour candidate. he

wouldn't quite say what his own view was. i mean, this is in danger of just... in fact, was. i mean, this is in danger of just... infact, i was. i mean, this is in danger of just... in fact, i think it already is quite publicly chaotic for the labour party. i think one of the questions is whether keir starmer or the labour campaign take the decision that they need to come to a decision, sooner rather than later, rather than letting this rumble all the way until the formal meeting of the way until the formal meeting of the national executive on tuesday. just explain how the nec works and what is keir starmer�*s roll in it? the nec is labour's ruling body. it is made up of all sorts of different representatives, again with their own separate mandates. you have representatives from the trade unions, representatives of ordinary labour party members, representatives of affiliated socialist societies. you have got representatives of keir starmer and his shadow cabinet. you have got representatives of the parliamentary labour party. i could go on. it is a large body. in practice, the nec is

not going to make a decision that shocks keir starmer or the labour campaign. in practice, at the moment, although this has not always been the case, the nec has a majority who are firm allies of keir starmer and his team. majority who are firm allies of keir starmerand his team. so majority who are firm allies of keir starmer and his team. so i think it is likely, although not certain to be the case that ultimately, whatever verdict the nec reaches will be the verdict that has been deliberated on i decided in advance of the meeting behind closed doors. it is worth noting that labour finished their candidate selections and they announced almost all of the remaining vacancies last night. several members of labour's nec, including the chairman, actually, were given seats. so the nec membership is sort of part of this story around labour selection more broadly as well as the selection or otherwise of diane abbott specifically. t5 otherwise of diane abbott specifically.— otherwise of diane abbott secificall. , ,, , ., i specifically. is it likely to affect labour's chances _ specifically. is it likely to affect labour's chances in _ specifically. is it likely to affect labour's chances in the - specifically. is it likely to affect labour's chances in the final. specifically. is it likely to affect i labour's chances in the final vote? is it too early to say if parts of

the left of the party do decide to peel off, we are already hearing, you know, this drift in support, aren't we? t you know, this drift in support, aren't we?— you know, this drift in support, aren't we? i think it is too early to sa . aren't we? i think it is too early to say- a _ aren't we? i think it is too early to say. a couple _ aren't we? i think it is too early to say. a couple of— aren't we? i think it is too early to say. a couple of things. - aren't we? i think it is too early i to say. a couple of things. firstly, there has been won, at least as far as i have seen, opinion poll of the public on what they think of whether labour would be right to not adopt diane abbott as a candidate, and more members of the public thought labour would be right not to have diane abbott as a candidate than thought they would be wrong. so we need to think about that in this conversation. i think the largest number was don't know, though. clearly, there's a lot of opinions to be formed or contested over there. i think in general terms, because even before diane abbott, this has been an issue for the labour party for some months now, perhaps even years, the question of whether keir starmer, in trying to win over people who voted conservative at the last general

election, risks alienating some of those who voted labour at the last general election, driving them towards the green party or independence or not voting at all. —— the green party or independents. the view of keir starmer�*s allies and the labour leadership is that they can afford to lose, i am sure they can afford to lose, i am sure they want to win every vote but they can afford to lose some of those voters to the left because they believe that in doing so, and in demonstrating that the labour party has changed, as keir starmer likes to put it, that they are going to win even more votes from the other side as it were. you know, it also can't be said often enough that the crude electoral arithmetic of the first past the post voting system that we have in the uk is that generally, although definitely not totally but generally, those voters who are most frustrated with the labour party from a left—wing perspective are in seats where the labour party has votes to burn, a massive majority, as is indeed the case in diane abbott's constituency

of hackney north and stoke newington. the electoral arithmetic for the labour party means that they are desperate to win votes in marginal seats that voted conservative last time, even if that comes of the risk of alienating some votes in long—standing labour seats where they already have crushing majority. where they already have crushing ma'ori . i, ., i, ma'ority. 0k, we will have to leave it majority. 0k, we will have to leave it there. thank _ majority. 0k, we will have to leave it there. thank you _ majority. 0k, we will have to leave it there. thank you for _ majority. 0k, we will have to leave it there. thank you forjoining i majority. 0k, we will have to leave it there. thank you forjoining us. i let's speak to our political correspondent, leila nathoo, who is in the west of scotland. we were just talking about the diane abbott question with henry zeffman. labour are trying to focus on their green energy announcement today? yeah, i have been travelling with sir keir starmer and his team for the last couple of days and every day, there have been questions about diane abbott when they have been keen to focus on their policy announcement of the day. yesterday they were launching their campaign in wales, a crucial battleground for

them. today, they have turned up in them. today, they have turned up in the west of scotland to talk about labour's campaign here. we will be hearing from sir keir starmer, his deputy, angela rayner, obviously pertinent to have them together given the comments yesterday from angela rayner going further on the issue of whether diane abbott should be allowed to stand. but keir starmer and anas sarwar, the leader of scottish labour, are here to talk about labour's first steps in scotland on the plan for a labour government in scotland, should they win in the election. we had from labour all along that the path to victory has to go through scotland. there are only down to two mps here compared with the dominance they once had in scotland. they will be keen to pick up seats from the snp in this election, so scotland is a key part of the country for sir keir starmer. we have already seen him once in this first week of the campaign in scotland, but here is his main campaign launched today. the crucial issue they are focusing

on is one where there is a massive dividing line between the parties on theissue dividing line between the parties on the issue of clean energy. sir keir starmer is here to launch great british energy. it's a not a new promise, but it is the idea of setting up a new publicly owned energy company to invest in renewable energy and create jobs. labour's view is that there needs to be a transition away from fossil fuels. they are mindful of the impact that the energy shot had on our bills because of our reliance on imported oil and gas. they are saying we need to invest in renewable energy and we need a publicly owned energy company to do that. 0bviously, scotland is the centre of oil and gas. a lot of criticism from the snp and tories for labour's promise not to issue new oil and gas licenses. the snp and tories say this will cost thousands ofjobs and deter investment. labour would say for

their part that they need oil and gas to be part of the mix in decades to come, but they do need to phase it out and they want britain to be on the front foot when it comes to this transition to renewable energy. so it's an interesting policy battleground. there will be those who think labour have scaled back their environmental ambition too far. that was that £28 billion a year of investment promise from labour that went back many years. they have had to scale the bike, they said because of the economic climate, there is that money to borrow —— they have had to scale that back. so they are going to borrow more to fund this new energy company. so there is a clear policy focus here for the labour campaign, but we expect to hear from sir keir starmer on stage with angela rayner in the west of scotland in about half an hour. i'm sure those questions about diane abbott on the discrepancy in the position of keir starmer and his deputy on her issue,

but there are a few days to go until that result, when labour's nec, the national executive committee, makes its final decision.— its final decision. anas sarwar was s-ieakin its final decision. anas sarwar was speaking earlier. _ its final decision. anas sarwar was speaking earlier. is _ its final decision. anas sarwar was speaking earlier. is it _ its final decision. anas sarwar was speaking earlier. is it clear- speaking earlier. is it clear whether he is backing starmer or angela rayner, or is he staying neutral in this? they are all saying to wait for the nec decision formally. to wait for the nec decision formally-— to wait for the nec decision formall . �*, ., i, formally. it's worth saying that there have _ formally. it's worth saying that there have been _ formally. it's worth saying that there have been tributes i formally. it's worth saying that there have been tributes to i formally. it's worth saying that i there have been tributes to diana but across the party. trailblazer seems to be the choice whether everyone is using to describe her, which is true, given her record as the first black woman to enter parliament. keir starmer yesterday said, when we asked him about it, she has paved the way for countless others to enter politics and public life. so clear admiration for her across the party. angela rayner�*s point of view yesterday, which was a deliberate intervention, speaking to

a number of different media outlets, to say that she didn't think there was any reason why diane abbott shouldn't stand if she wanted to. that is not what we are hearing from keir starmer. anas sarwar this morning said he agreed with angela rayner, but was not specific about which part of angela rayner�*s comments he agreed with. there is a factual position in that there hasn't been a final position. that is what keir starmer wants to stick to. but in theory, there is this limbo period where the candidates haven't been finalised. so at this point, he can say that. he hasn't endorsed her, though. he hasn't said that he thinks she should be able to stand if she wants to. he talks generally yesterday about wanting the highest possible quality of candidates to stand in the labour party. but if you think about it, labour candidates are the future of the labour pulmonary party. all i have heard from sir keir starmer is

that the labour party has changed his city is unrecognisable from the party that fought the last election. so if you're thinking about the future of the labour party, where better to start in terms of their candidates? we know there have been many candidates are loyal to sir keir starmer and his vision for the labour party. they have been selected in quick succession. so it is a visible manifestation of what keir starmer is trying to convey to people, that the labour party has changed. i think diane abbott is a special case in terms of her standing within the labour party and the wider labour movement. but more broadly, he is prepared to take on this accusation quite directly that he is somehow purging the left from the labour party through this candidate selection. with the exception of diane abbott, which has proved to be a tricky case for him, he is prepared to take that on. ihmd he is prepared to take that on. and at the end of— he is prepared to take that on. and at the end of the first week of campaigning, you guys are spending a lot of time travelling with the

teams. what is your sense of the labour party mood? 0bviously, they didn't know the date of the election, so they have had to spring into action. the conservatives had some advantage in that sense, but labour were preparing for a may date. do they seem organised on the ground? they are ahead in the polls, but they have had a tricky few days. in the sense of the operation, it does seem pretty organised, as if there had been a plan that was laying dormant and then when the date was declared, it activated and hundreds of people have snapped into action. if you watch the set and take—down of a campaign event, the sheer number of people involved is pretty stunning in terms of people clearing everyone out, security, people dismantling stages and lighting. it's a huge number of people that go into every campaign event from within the party and

externally. they are quite smoothly moving from one event to the other. there have been a couple of picture opportunities in between. but of course, they are also responding to events. they are here with the diane abbott situation developing in london while they have been on the road. so there is a sense that at most of the events we have been to, they are speaking to labour members and supporters. there was an event in worcester where there were medical students, in worcester where there were medicalstudents, ordinary in worcester where there were medical students, ordinary members of the public. keir starmer didn't get in hugely challenging questions from the audience. but the campaign can be unpredictable. asjess was saying, things can come and disrupt the plan of the day. that hasn't happened in the last couple of days for labour in terms of on the ground. there was a very small protest yesterday, just a dozen or so protesters at an event in south wales who tried to speak to sir keir starmer and shattered ceasefire now

in terms of labour's position on gaza. —— they shouted, ceasefire now. that could have been an issue in terms of how the issue might play out at campaign events. apart from that, quite limited protests. he didn't engage with that group of people and it didn't derail any event. it happened on his way out. but labour will be pleased so far in terms of how that issue hasn't really exploded in the way it might have on the campaign trail. leila nathoo, thank _ have on the campaign trail. leila nathoo, thank you. _ have on the campaign trail. leila nathoo, thank you. we - have on the campaign trail. leila nathoo, thank you. we are i have on the campaign trail. leila nathoo, thank you. we are just seeing pictures ofjohn swinney, first minister of the snp, who is in glasgow, also campaigning today. glasgow, also campaigning today. glasgow lean heavily towards labour in the past but 2015, changed in the snp's favour and you can see the first minister, relatively new in post but a veteran of scottish politics. we will be covering his

campaign and any speech that he makes, because scotland is a key battleground that will affect the numbers in westminster. labour have been put back in recent years by the snp, but they are gaining ground according to the polls. the snp are keen to maintain their older position. the conservatives also had their campaign launch in scotland earlier this week. our correspondent lorna gordon is following the events. we will get to her as soon as we can. she is in glasgow too. we have been following all the campaign events across all the parties. democrats on the greens are all out and about at the end of this first week. —— the liberal democrats and

the greens are out and about. we will also be looking at our live page on the website for those updates on what all the party leaders are doing. you are looking at pictures from glasgow withjohn at pictures from glasgow with john swinney. they have criticised the labour announcement on green energy. so the focus is on scotland today for labour too. john swinney�*s party are saying the green energy plan will costjobs. labour of course are saying that they have to go ahead with a green energy push. we are waiting forjohn swinney to make an address and we will be bringing that to you live. we can bring you a report from nick eardley now on the labour party plan for green energy.

that is part of their main pledges. keir starmer is going to launch the great british energy details. the idea is that it is going to invest in clean power and drive down energy bills. are they right with those plans? nick eardley from bbc verify has been having a closer look at the labour plan. good morning from bbc verify. we're going to look at a lot of the claims the parties are making, see what stacks up, see what doesn't, and help you make your decision. so, this morning, let's talk a bit about what the general election means for your energy bills. labour is talking today about this — great british energy, a publicly owned power company they want to set up. and they are claiming today that this will mean lower energy bills. they also say that, under the conservatives,

prices would be higher. but are they right and where's the evidence? let's start with some context. we've all experienced the cost of living going up and energy bills were a huge part of it. this is what happened in the past couple of years. big increases in the cost of gas, and that meant big increases in bills. the government did subsidise some energy bills. and, as you can see here, the cost of gas has come down a lot recently. but what happens next? well, labour say their plan will bring bills down. they want to build more renewable energy and, because renewable power is cheaper, they say it will save people money. this — that's the figure they've put on it, £300 per year. but that figure requires a big switch to renewables. i asked labour how they arrived at this figure and here's what they pointed to — a study that says you would need 98% of electricity from clean sources. that is a big increase.

it would cost money for infrastructure. and this is important. it will take a few years. you're not going to see that happen right away if labour win power. there's also this claim in labour's press release today. they say that conservative plans will cost families money because, at the moment, the uk imports a lot of gas and that means rising international gas prices have more of an impact. and as you can see here, they've said there's the threat of a £900 annual energy price spike under the conservatives. but we think that this, down there, unlikely. labour's assuming that prices go up in the same way they did during the cost of living squeeze, that there's another massive shock in the energy market like when russia invaded ukraine. that is very uncertain indeed. the recent price rises have not been normal. the conservatives, by the way, also have a pledge to get more green energy, too. and, if that happened, it would mean

less reliance on gas imports and could also reduce prices. so, bills could go down if his plan works. but some of the figures are uncertain, particularly when it comes to what labour say would happen if the conservatives stayed in power. nick eardley on the labour plan for green energy, which they are focusing on in scotland. also in glasgow, the snp are campaigning. glasgow has lean heavily towards labour, but that changed in the snp's favour after 2015. lorna gordon is in glasgow. tell us what the snp plan is today? the snp are out campaigning in glasgow today. the new leader of the party, john swinney, scotland's

first minister, is making a big push on economic policies to the end of this first full week of campaigning. keir starmer is about 30 miles down the road in greenock, but it's a considerably bigger distance, the snp would say, in terms of where the two parties sit economically. the snp sit to the left of labour and they say they would like whoever forms the next government to hold an emergency budget. they say both labour and the conservatives are parties of austerity. i heard john swinney talking to the owner and staff of this shop in the south side of glasgow, talking about the cost of glasgow, talking about the cost of living, the cost of running a business. he is going to make a big speech in less than an hour, pushing the snp's policies in this area and saying the snp are the only party who can deliver for scotland and make sure the scottish priorities are protected. this is an snp seat

in glasgow south. they will be hoping to hold onto it at the next general election. they won it in 2015, which of course was that big election when the electoral map of scotland turned yellow. prior to that, it was a labour seat. labour will be hoping to win back seats like this, but they would have to have a very good night to win this one. but of course, labour are feeling confident about increasing the number of seats they have in scotland because they say their path to downing street lies through scotland. but the snp are campaigning hard in seats like this and other seats they hold across scotland today. find and other seats they hold across scotland today.— scotland today. and is there any evidence to _ scotland today. and is there any evidence to look _ scotland today. and is there any evidence to look at _ scotland today. and is there any evidence to look at on _ scotland today. and is there any evidence to look at on what i scotland today. and is there any | evidence to look at on what basis people are making those political choices? 0bviously, people are making those political choices? obviously, the snp has been through a turbulent time. is that going to affect support? are people

voting more with a uk—wide view, looking at keir starmer�*s position as potential prime minister? what are the deciding factors? tt’s as potential prime minister? what are the deciding factors? tt’s a are the deciding factors? it's a com - lex are the deciding factors? it's a complex and _ are the deciding factors? it's a complex and interesting i are the deciding factors? tt�*s 2 complex and interesting electoral map in scotland. as you say, john swinney is a new leader for the party. they have had a challenging time. his predecessor humza yousaf was in position forjust over a year. they had this ongoing investigation into the party's funding. they have had some missteps politically and of course, just this week, michael matheson, the former health secretary in scotland, was suspended from the party. john swinney has said this is not the start to the general election he had hoped for. in an ideal world, the snp would have liked a few moments to ease in the new leader and try

and reset some of their policies. but they are having to deal with the situation of the surprise announcement of an early general election. the polling would suggest there are four or five points between the snp and labour, but remember that the conservatives will be hoping to make inroads into the north—east and the liberal democrats have been feeling chippy in scotland as well. but the snp is the biggest party in scotland. labour has doubled the number of seats it started without the last election with one seat, now up to two. they are hoping to increase that substantially. the polling would suggest that is a real possibility. but the snp is fighting back hard. here in scotland, the constitutional divide, those who want the union to continue and those who want to see scotland become independent, is more or less evenly divided. but there

might be different issues at play in the general election this time round, with voters weighing up whether that is the more important issue for them or whether it's about keeping the conservatives in power or trying to kick them out of office. so slightly different nuances, the polling would suggest, to how people are trying to decide how to vote this time around in that vote in just over a how to vote this time around in that vote injust over a month? how to vote this time around in that vote in just over a month?— vote in 'ust over a month? time. lorna vote in just over a month? time. lorna gordon, _ vote in just over a month? time. lorna gordon, thanks. _ vote in just over a month? time. lorna gordon, thanks. we i vote in just over a month? time. lorna gordon, thanks. we will i vote in just over a month? time. | lorna gordon, thanks. we will go back to that event for more on the snp launch and their campaign. let's move on to other stories. thousands of cancer patients across england will be invited to take part in trials of a new treatment using personalised vaccines. the scheme, known as the cancer vaccine launch pad, will match nhs patients with suitable studies

across the country. 0ur medical editor fergus walsh has the story. elliot was diagnosed with bowel cancer last year and has already had surgery and chemotherapy. but tests show he still has fragments of cancerous dna in his blood, putting him at increased risk of his cancer coming back. so he signed up to a trial at birmingham's queen elizabeth hospital of a new type of treatment, a cancer vaccine. i feel excited, you know? i did a bit of research about the treatment trial itself. and if it's successful, then it's a medical breakthrough. the time of reckoning! and this is the key moment when elliot receives his vaccine, tailor—made in germany by pharma company biontech to fight his cancer.

he'll get up to 15 doses during the trial. so how does it work? elliot's personalised vaccine uses the same mrna technology as found in current covid jabs. a sample of elliot's tumour was analysed, and proteins unique to his cancer were identified. the mrna vaccine instructs his cells to produce these rogue proteins. the hope is this will stimulate elliot's immune system to recognise and kill any remaining traces of cancer. how are you? elliot is the first patient in the uk to get the bowel cancer vaccine. he's had only mild side effects but will be carefully monitored like more than 200 other participants in the international trial. i think it's really exciting. i think this is sort of a new era. the science behind this makes sense, this is one thing about this. my hope is that this will become standard of care.

itjust makes sense that we can have something that can actually help in addition to help patients reduce their risk of cancer recurrence. there is huge anticipation about the potential of personalised vaccines to treat cancer, but it all depends on the outcome of trials like elliot's, with thousands more nhs patients across england expected to be recruited to similar studies targeting lung, breast and other tumour types. fergus walsh, bbc news. let's speak to our medical editor, fergus walsh. how long does it take for these trials to report? at how long does it take for these trials to report?— how long does it take for these trials to report? at least a couple of ears, trials to report? at least a couple of years, because _ trials to report? at least a couple of years, because you _ trials to report? at least a couple of years, because you have i trials to report? at least a couple of years, because you have to i of years, because you have to compare the outcomes of patients like elliott with other participants with what you have called standard

of care. the other patients will already have had surgery and other treatment and this is about trying to mop up any remaining cancer cells in patients who have these fragments of cancerous dna circulating in the bloodstream. cancer is very good at hiding away, often for many years, and then coming back. so the use of these personalised vaccines could, if the trials are successful, proved to be a way of allowing more cures for cancer. to be a way of allowing more cures for cancer-— for cancer. and it does affect all es of for cancer. and it does affect all types of cancer _ for cancer. and it does affect all types of cancer potentially? i for cancer. and it does affect all i types of cancer potentially? mostly solid tumours. _ types of cancer potentially? mostly solid tumours. there _ types of cancer potentially? mostly solid tumours. there have - types of cancer potentially? mostly solid tumours. there have been i solid tumours. there have been successful, more advanced trials in melanoma, the most deadly form of skin cancer. there are also trials starting in head and neck cancer,

lung. but there are a lot of trials planned in other tumour types in the coming years. we obviously think of vaccines as being there to prevent disease. and mrna vaccines, as they are called, really came of age during covid. you can create these bespoke vaccines, taking individual signatures from a patient�*s tumour, and create these vaccines quickly. so it's this mrna technology where the excitement is there that you could, in years to come, have a production line where these individualised treatments can be used to help patients. but it's not going to be fast in terms of when we get the results. and it will inevitably be expensive. fergus, you re ort on inevitably be expensive. fergus, you report on many _ inevitably be expensive. fergus, you report on many landmark— inevitably be expensive. fergus, you report on many landmark amazing i report on many landmark amazing medical experiments, trials,

breakthroughs. when you look at this one, how important is it? this breakthroughs. when you look at this one, how important is it?— one, how important is it? this is potentially _ one, how important is it? this is potentially the _ one, how important is it? this is potentially the most _ one, how important is it? this is potentially the most exciting i potentially the most exciting development in cancer for many years. and it's rolling on from immunotherapy, which in itself has been one of the great advances in cancer treatment in recent years. the potential here, the buzz around cancer treatment vaccines is absolutely huge. but we have to keep our feet on the ground. we have had one set of good results from melanoma trial which was looking at the moderna product, moderna and biontech the two big players in this area. and the science, as the doctor said on that piece, makes sense. it's logical that this should work, but we have got to look at side...

0h, we havejust lost your sound, fergus. so sorry! we lost the end of fergus' answer, sorry about that, we got most of it. fergus walsh, a medical editor, saying this is an exciting breakthrough. if you want to read more, there is a piece that he has written, along with the symptoms of bowel cancer, because everyone is alleged to be alert to all cancer symptoms without being too alarmist. we are back with a further look at the election campaigns for the parties and an update on the donald trump trial that we heard about overnight from the us. i'm geeta guru—murthy, we are back soon. this is bbc news. live from london. this is bbc news. guilty — donald trump is convicted on all counts of falsifying business records

in a historic criminal trial. this was a rigged, disgraceful trial. the real verdict is going to be on the 5th of november by the people, and they know what happened here and everybody knows what happened here. the snp leaderjohn swinney is campaiging in glasgow, where he's set to make a speech shortly, calling the next uk government to commit to an emergency budget following the election. the general election campaign continues, with labour leader sir keir starmer set to launch his energy plan in scotland, but the snp and conservatives say it will costjobs. keir starmer is also due to make a speech in scotland later this hour. we will bring you everything live as it happens. thousands of nhs bowel cancer patients in england will soon have access to a bespoke vaccine as part of a trial.

hello i'm geeta guru—murthy. donald trump has been found guilty on all counts in his hush money trial in new york. he called the verdict a disgrace and claimed it was rigged against him. president biden said it showed that no one is above the law. this makes donald trump the first former us president to be convicted of criminal charges and the first major party candidate to run for office as a convicted felon. mr trump was found guilty of falsifying business records to conceal a sex scandal involving the former porn star, stormy daniels. mr trump's conviction has prompted an outpouring of anger from his most ardent supporters. many have taken to social media with incendiary calls for riots and retribution. the trial officially began on april the 15th after a lengthy jury selection process. then, over the course of more than six weeks, testimony from donald trump's former business partners, including long—time lawyer,

michael cohen, and his accuser stormy daniels, were heard. 12 new yorkjurors deliberated for two days to reach the verdict in which they found him guilty on all 34 felony charges. mr trump will return to the manhattan court room onjuly the 11th to be sentenced. with the latest from new york, our north america correspondentjohn sudworth. in a nearby park, his opponents celebrated. trump is guilty! while inside the court, the former president was walking into history... ..as the first ever to be convicted of a crime. this was a disgrace, this was a rigged trial by a conflicted judge who was corrupt. it's a rigged trial, a disgrace. but it was a jury who convicted him on the evidence. 34 counts of falsifying business records to disguise hush money

payments to the porn star stormy daniels, for the purpose, prosecutors said, of keeping her claim that they'd had sex from the american public, just ahead of the 2016 election. the verdict brought only gloom to mr trump's supporters who were left repeating those claims of political persecution. and they are afraid of a much more popular opponent that they know will defeat them. this was a decision made by 12 ordinary new yorkers, your fellow citizens. there is nothing political about that, is there? i'm not going to say that the jury was tainted, but who knows? who knows? so despite the sense of despondency amongst the trump supporters, it's all pretty good—natured here, although, as you can see, there is a pretty large police presence, just in case. the bigger question, though, is what the reaction is going to be longer term, with america now in

uncharted territory. you know, you can't even see the back, there's so many people here. what effect will it have on his election chances? will it put those crucial undecided voters off, or draw others to him? and what about the impact of his attacks on america's institutions, already intensifying in the wake of the verdict? the man who brought the case insisted the result was a sign the justice system is working. while this defendant may be unlike any other in american history, we arrived at this trial, and ultimately, today, at this verdict, in the same manner as every other case that comes through the court room doors — by following the facts, and the law, and doing so without fear or favour. millions will agree with him, and millions won't. sentencing will be in earlyjuly.

mr trump is unlikely, legal experts say, to go to jail, but either way, one half of a divided country now has a convicted criminal as its candidate. john sudworth, bbc news, new york. 0ur correspondent nada tawfik has been following the trial. she spoke to kayla epstien about what happened inside the court room. it was almost like the air turned to stone when they started reading out those guilty verdicts one by one. and as each guilty verdict rolled over him, donald trump was completely motionless at the defence table. i was sitting behind him and while i couldn't see his face, his body language was some of the stillest i have ever seen it. he didn't move, he didn't gesture. he just sat there as they said guilty, guilty, guilty, 34 times. i mean, thesejurors sat through five weeks of testimony. prosecutors left nothing to chance.

ultimately, it took them 11 hours to come to this decision, a decision that they knew would have a historic impact, notjust on holding donald trump accountable, but on a presidential election that is under way. looking at thejury, did you get a sense that they were overwhelmed by that moment? the jury actually looked quite serious, and they did look very sombre. but they didn't look overwhelmed to me. throughout the entire trial, they have looked like people who knew the weight of the job that they had to do, but also were focused on their task. and when the foreman was called upon to read out each guilty verdict, he did so in a clear, loud voice and never appeared to my ears to waver. and when the judge asked them to all go one by one and say what they believed, they all said guilty again, some not as loudly, but all in a clear voice. i think it has struck all of us how donald trump publicly has slammed

this judge as conflicted. butjudge merchan has such a mild manner in the court. when the verdict was read, what advice did he give to jurors when they had completed their civic duty? justice merchan has been a real figure of authority in respect of the jury. he speaks to them kindly and makes sure that this doesn't disrupt their lives any more than it has to. and when they were done delivering their verdict, he thanked them. he said he had watched as they deliberated. he had watched how much care they put into it, and it was very much a moment for the judge as well. he seemed proud of thejury for taking on this enormous burden and doing their work as the law said they had to. a taste of what happened last night when those verdicts came in. follow the story live on the bbc news website and app — the live page has analysis and reporting from our teams

in washington and new york. you can also replay the moment donald trump was found guilty on all counts in that historic criminal trial. we are expecting to potentially hear from donald trump later today. that is this afternoon, uk time. we will bring you all of that life of course as and when it happens. now to the general election campaign. we are still following this is a priority today and for the next few weeks. the parties are crisscrossing the nations and regions. there are a number of seats to watch, of course. 0ne number of seats to watch, of course. one of those is stoke central which is a traditional redwall seat which turned blue in 2019. —— a traditional red wall. we will speak

to a reporter in stoke in a moment. but let's show you some of the live events we are watching. there is a labour party event in scotland and we are expecting to hear from keir starmer. here are some of the introductory speeches ahead of the labour leader speaking but we're also going to be hearing from john swinney, the snp leader, who is also due to be speaking within the next hour. the snp calling for a budget from whoever wins, and the labour campaign launching their green energy details which are of course based in scotland. let's try to go back to stoke now, and our reporter, anna whitaker, the political reporter for staffordshire, anna whitaker, the political reporterfor staffordshire, is there. we are doing a number of seat profiles every day through this campaign. tell us about stoke because i associate pizza express with it. t because i associate pizza express with it. ., , ., ., with it. i have never been to that one myself— with it. i have never been to that one myself but _ with it. i have never been to that one myself but i _ with it. i have never been to that one myself but i am _ with it. i have never been to that one myself but i am here - with it. i have never been to that one myself but i am here in i with it. i have never been to that l one myself but i am here in stoke, next to the arnold bennett statue,

the world—renowned author, and people in stoke are wondering what the story will tell hear any general election on the 4th ofjuly. stoke is a interesting constituency, and a key election battleground for all of the parties for the next general election. it is a former red wall area. all three seats were taken by the tories in 2019, a victorious moment for them because never before had the conservatives held all three seats in stoke—on—trent. many voters lent their vote to borisjohnson in 2019. it is all to play for this time around whether they will place their vote again with the tories or whether they trust a party to take the country forward. here in stoke—on—trent central, the conservative mp elected in 2019 became an mp with a small majority of a few hundred votes. she is standing down at the next election so hair replacement is a local gp who is standing in her place for the

tories. she would have faced a tough battle to remain in her seat, given the small majority she had in 2019. labour's gareth snell will be hoping to take his seat back. he was the mp in stoke—on—trent from 2017—2019, in stoke—on—trent central. a candidate for the green party, independent and reform uk as well so all to play for and an interesting picture in stoke. 0f and an interesting picture in stoke. of course, people will i am sure have visited the pottery manufacturers, there, that is also a key part of the stoke story historically. is there any local polling or evidence at the moment about what the key issues are going to be that people will decide their votes on? , . ., , , votes on? there is, clearly pottery is a hue votes on? there is, clearly pottery is a huge part _ votes on? there is, clearly pottery is a huge part of— votes on? there is, clearly pottery is a huge part of stoke-on-trent'sj is a huge part of stoke—on—trent�*s is a huge part of stoke—on—trent�*s is free. rishi sunak, the prime minister, was in stoke—on—trentjust this week, visiting a local pottery

firm. he was talking to people there about the future and the way that energy will be used to support the potteries if he is re—elected. speaking to people over the last few months, there is a real sense of apathy here in stoke going forward to the next election. a lot of the things i'm hearing from the street are that people are either planning not to vote at all, to avoid election coverage entirely, and they are just fed up election coverage entirely, and they arejust fed up of election coverage entirely, and they are just fed up of the infighting between the parties. that is a thing that i am hearing again and again on the street. another issue which comes up a lot is immigration and the nhs. i think people in stoke will be looking at how the main parties are planning to tackle illegal immigration and those nhs waiting lists going forward. locally, though, people are concerned about the use of a synthetic drug called monkey dust which is blighting the streets of stoke and hanley, where i am stuck now, as well as the sheer number of

empty buildings we have got in stoke and anti—social behaviour is another issue which comes up time and again. the prime minister rishi sunak as i said was here in stoke earlier this week. i am sure all the major parties will visit over the next few weeks as we head towards the general election. for weeks as we head towards the general election. ., . , ., weeks as we head towards the general election. ., ., , ., ., weeks as we head towards the general election. ., ., i. ., �* election. for anyone who can't quite remember. — election. for anyone who can't quite remember, tell— election. for anyone who can't quite remember, tell us _ election. for anyone who can't quite remember, tell us the _ election. for anyone who can't quite remember, tell us the story - election. for anyone who can't quite remember, tell us the story about l remember, tell us the story about stoke and pizza express. yes. remember, tell us the story about stoke and pizza express.— stoke and pizza express. yes, i can't actually — stoke and pizza express. yes, i can't actually think _ stoke and pizza express. yes, i can't actually think of _ stoke and pizza express. yes, i can't actually think of it - stoke and pizza express. yes, i j can't actually think of it myself! it was tristram hunt, wondering whether there was a pizza express in stoke but one certainly appeared, and of course, other pizza restaurants and many other restaurants and many other restaurants are available in all of our cities. we are looking at pictures of the city and it is going to be a really interesting part of the world to watch when those votes come in. for now, thank you. all the candidates who have been selected to

fight for the constituency of stoke central will be listed once the nominations close next week. you can catch up with the names that are currently listed in front of you. any more before nominations close will be added. we are following the labour and snp campaigns in the next hour because we are waiting to hear from keir starmer, the labour leader, in scotland, and john swinney is in glasgow, both leaders are due to be making a speech in the next few moments. the labour leader sir keir starmer will launch his party's energy plans at an event in scotland. labour is pledging to set up a publicly—owned company, great british energy, which it says will invest in clean power and drive down energy bills. but the snp and conservatives say labour's plans will cost tens of thousands of jobs. labour says its plans would deliver lower energy bills. but are they right? nick eardley from bbc verify has been taking a look. good morning from bbc verify. we're going to look at a lot of the claims the parties are making, see what stacks up,

see what doesn't, and help you make your decision. so, this morning, let's talk a bit about what the general election means for your energy bills. labour is talking today about this — great british energy, a publicly owned power company they want to set up. and they are claiming today that this will mean lower energy bills. they also say that, under the conservatives, prices would be higher. but are they right and where's the evidence? let's start with some context. we've all experienced the cost of living going up and energy bills were a huge part of it. this is what happened in the past couple of years. big increases in the cost of gas, and that meant big increases in bills. the government did subsidise some energy bills. and, as you can see here, the cost of gas has come down a lot recently. but what happens next? well, labour say their plan will bring bills down. they want to build more renewable energy and, because renewable power is cheaper, they say it will save people money. this — that's the figure they've put

on it, £300 per year. but that figure requires a big switch to renewables. i asked labour how they arrived at this figure and here's what they pointed to — a study that says you would need 98% of electricity from clean sources. that is a big increase. it would cost money for infrastructure. and this is important. it will take a few years. you're not going to see that happen right away if labour win power. there's also this claim in labour's press release today. they say that conservative plans will cost families money because, at the moment, the uk imports a lot of gas and that means rising international gas prices have more of an impact. and as you can see here, they've said there's the threat of a £900 annual energy price spike under the conservatives. but we think that this, down there, unlikely. labour's assuming that prices go up

in the same way they did during the cost of living squeeze, that there's another massive shock in the energy market like when russia invaded ukraine. that is very uncertain indeed. the recent price rises have not been normal. the conservatives, by the way, also have a pledge to get more green energy, too. and, if that happened, it would mean less reliance on gas imports and could also reduce prices. so, bills could go down if his plan works. but some of the figures are uncertain, particularly when it comes to what labour say would happen if the conservatives stayed in power. we are keeping across all the live events for you at the moment, it is quite busy today and a bit unpredictable, as you can see. jess parkitis unpredictable, as you can see. jess park it is on the road with the conservatives who are today heading to the north of england. you are

very good at travelling backwards without feeling travel sick and speaking to us, very impressed with all of the correspondents out on the road this week and it's only week one of the campaign. where are you heading? what are the conservatives highlighting today? good heading? what are the conservatives highlighting today?— highlighting today? good morning. yes, we highlighting today? good morning. yes. we are _ highlighting today? good morning. yes, we are just _ highlighting today? good morning. yes, we are just on _ highlighting today? good morning. yes, we are just on the _ highlighting today? good morning. yes, we are just on the road i highlighting today? good morning. l yes, we are just on the road heading up yes, we are just on the road heading up to the north—west, as you say. i like to check my maps as we go so i believe we are just on the outskirts of birmingham, going around birmingham, as we continue our journey up to the north—west where we are expecting to see the prime minister on a farm. that might make for some nice photo opportunity for rishi sunak. what we have been hearing from the conservatives today is a crackdown on anti—social behaviour and flytipping in england. i have been told that is where the policies will apply. what they are saying is that people caught flytipping could get points on their driving licence as a form of punishment for people who commit

that offence. 0n anti—social behaviour, they are talking about a new law to evict a repeat offenders from social housing after they have been three verified incidents of anti—social behaviour. look, i think that the conservative party will see thoseissues that the conservative party will see those issues as ones that will resonate with a lot of voters and communities that feel blighted by anti—social behaviour and flytipping. 0ne anti—social behaviour and flytipping. one of the obstacles they conservatives come up against whenever they are enacting policies at the moment is that it is quite easy for other parties to say, well, hang on, you have been in powerfor 14 years, why haven't you sorted it out already? when we were talking earlier, particularly on flytipping, for example, looking at the government website statistics, there were just over 1 government website statistics, there were just over1 million government website statistics, there were just over 1 million flytipping incidents last year in england, down 1% but opposition parties are basically saying that is a bit of a woeful record on that particular issue. but that is the issue they are going for today and i presume, although you never know, what the prime minister will want to be

talking about later. find prime minister will want to be talking about later. and obviously, we have had _ talking about later. and obviously, we have had three _ talking about later. and obviously, we have had three conservative i we have had three conservative candidates leaving the conservative party, including one yesterday, talking to the bbc and switching their support to the labour party. how significant is that at this point in the campaign? look, i think when news — point in the campaign? look, i think when news like _ point in the campaign? look, i think when news like that _ point in the campaign? look, i think when news like that breaks, - point in the campaign? look, i think when news like that breaks, it i point in the campaign? look, i think when news like that breaks, it is - when news like that breaks, it is always a blow for the conservative party and for rishi sunak. what you had yesterday come in a bbc exclusive interview, was a man who had 2a hours before been a conservative mp and now obviously, we are in the election period, he was no longer an mp, he was stepping down anyway, mark logan but he will say not only was he going to support labour... what the conservatives have been saying in reaction is trying to downplay it, not make much of a big deal of it, saying of

course that they don't agree with mark logan's perspective. we did try yesterday to talk to rishi sunak after the news broke. just to explain, we were chatting a bit about this earlier, how all of this works, i am on a bus with lots of other media, and we go to the spots, as we travel along the motorway, to where the prime minister will be, so he is not actually on the bus with us. we don't have constant access to him and at the team. but yesterday, when he was at an event in buckinghamshire after the news about mark logan broke, i got pretty close to him as he was shaking hands with supporters and voters at an arts centre, to ask him what his reaction was and he did not really give one. again, we tried as he left the venue but he did not really give us a response to what had happened. maybe we will get an opportunity to speak to him later today. of course, that is not the kind of news that the conservatives will want in the first week of the campaign stop at the line is slightly coming and going but we are going to carry on if we can. i but we are going to carry on if we can. ., y ., but we are going to carry on if we can. ., , ., ., ~

but we are going to carry on if we can. ., .«r can. i wondered when your take as we reach the end — can. i wondered when your take as we reach the end of— can. i wondered when your take as we reach the end of the _ can. i wondered when your take as we reach the end of the first _ can. i wondered when your take as we reach the end of the first week- can. i wondered when your take as we reach the end of the first week of - reach the end of the first week of being out of the row properly with the teams, the polls, have they shifted with the campaigns? the conservatives have come up with some quite eye—catching policies and they have had some attention on them. yes, they have come up with eye—catching policies. it was really interesting yesterday, when there was a q&a session in a factory, a cherry pickerfactory, was a q&a session in a factory, a cherry picker factory, where the prime minister did his speech and then took questions from the floor, and two of those were on this national service plan, so this idea that 18—year—olds would eitherjoin the military for a year or do some kind of volunteer work over the course of 12 months on weekends. it seems to have captured people's imagination. it was brought up twice. people seem quite curious to understand the policy more and discuss its implications for young people, may for their children, who will be coming up to that age over

the next few years. but whilst the conservatives might have announced this big policy blitz, as you say, there has been other stuff on pensions and apprenticeships and today on flytipping, have not yet seen the suggestion and of course we always have to be cautious about the polls, we haven't yet seen a suggestion of any big shift. that may be disheartening for the conservative party. i am sure what they would say, though, in response, is that it is early days and they are going to keep working for people's votes and more campaign pledges will be coming. but as you sort of allude to, no major shifts as we head towards the end of the first week. ~ . , , ., as we head towards the end of the first week. ~ . , i. , , first week. what is your sense, lookin: first week. what is your sense, looking at _ first week. what is your sense, looking at the _ first week. what is your sense, looking at the prime _ first week. what is your sense, looking at the prime minister. first week. what is your sense, i looking at the prime minister and their team, looking at the prime minister and theirteam, in looking at the prime minister and their team, in terms of organisation and energy levels? when you look at all of the political leaders, it is all of the political leaders, it is a very full on diary, isn't it? it is quite a full diary! when you look at the timetable for these visits,

you know, they are really packed very tightly, to the minute, almost, in terms of what the prime minister will be doing and who he will be meeting. of course, he is trying to get around as much of the country as possible, certainly to the areas where he thinks that maybe they conservatives can defend seats or pick up votes as well. these things are very tightly planned. in terms of the mood of the conservative candidates, as we were discussing a bit earlier, these things can shift almost hourly. yesterday was a good example of that. in the morning, the headlines were dominated by the labour party row about diane abbott and whether she would be allowed to stand as a candidate. the prime minister looked pretty relaxed as he arrived at the factory in buckinghamshire. but then he had a tricky question about partygate, if people remember the downing street parties, and then the news about mark logan broke as well and

suddenly, there is a bit of a shift in momentum. these things are very capable. when people say it is a long campaign, they really mean it. things don'tjust change daily but by our sometimes in terms of the mood of the campaign and the question surrounding it and the questions that we are journalist duff that we as journalists try to pitch to the prime minister or any of the other party leaders. that can change quite a lot over the course of a day. it change quite a lot over the course ofa da . , change quite a lot over the course of a da . , , , of a day. it is very interesting watchin: of a day. it is very interesting watching it — of a day. it is very interesting watching it all. _ of a day. it is very interesting watching it all. for _ of a day. it is very interesting watching it all. for now, - of a day. it is very interesting | watching it all. for now, thank of a day. it is very interesting - watching it all. for now, thank you very much. yes parker is on the conservative campaign trail. let's cross to glasgow where we're expecting to see the snp leader speak. lorna gordon is following the campaign for us. just explain where you are and what we are expecting to hear from john swinney. i you are and what we are expecting to hearfrom john swinney. i am you are and what we are expecting to hear from john swinney.— hear from john swinney. i am in barrow field _ hear from john swinney. i am in barrow field community - hear from john swinney. i am in barrow field community centre | hear from john swinney. i am in i barrow field community centre in hear from john swinney. i am in - barrow field community centre in the east end of glasgow, a few miles down the road from wherejohn swinney was earlier this morning. he was at a shop in the glasgow south

constituency, talking with people about the challenges they are facing with the cost of living issues. that is really the focus of his campaigning today, the economy, what the snp would call austerity. they argue that labour and the conservatives are cut from the same cloth. they are positioning themselves to the left of labour when it comes to the economy. he has just arrived, actually, we are expecting him in the room shortly, to make a speech on that issue. you can see some snp campaigners and activists behind me, so expect a big cheer when he walks into the room. the snp of course are calling for an emergency budget, whoever becomes the next party of government at westminster. they are arguing against austerity measures. they want to boost funding for the nhs and they want the government, the uk government to invest in economic growth. of course, john swinney is

newly into the job. he growth. of course, john swinney is newly into thejob. he is having growth. of course, john swinney is newly into the job. he is having to juggle newly into the job. he is having to juggle his responsibilities as first minister with campaigning. glasgow is an important city for the snp. they need to hold onto their seats here in the election. labour is feeling pretty bullish, actually. they will be targeting a lot of seats in the city and right across the central belt because there are a lot of marginal seats here in scotland. some of them are two way marginals between the snp and labour, some of them three—way and in other seats, the snp will be facing challenges from the conservatives and lib dems but there are a lot of seats where there are only a few hundred or few thousand votes splitting the party is in first and second place. this is an election where we may see some change. but the snp are fighting hard and fighting hard when it comes to the economy. in a few moments time, very shortly, we expectjohn swinney to take the stage behind me

and make a big speech on the snp's position on the economy. find and make a big speech on the snp's position on the economy. and again, i know it is — position on the economy. and again, i know it is difficult _ position on the economy. and again, i know it is difficult always _ position on the economy. and again, i know it is difficult always to - i know it is difficult always to have the precise answer on this but what does the political evidence or polling information we have tell us about how scottish voters might choose who to support? is it going to be linked to the usual questions of cost of living, the economy, people's personal financial position? is it to do with the very turbulent times the snp has had? you know, the conservative party's national record in london, the change in the labour party leadership? there have been a lot of factors that play potentially that could influence everybody�*s vote. it could influence everybody's vote. it is a really interesting situation here in scotland. remember things like education and health are devolved to the parliament, the government in edinburgh. but inevitably, they influence how people vote. the snp would argue that the policies in london, that are decided by the uk government,

have consequences up here, through the barnet consequential is. they would say that it is very important to factor in, whoever becomes the next prime minister, into what the eventual budget is for the government here in scotland and that money of course is spent in those devolved areas like education and health. the polls would suggest there is only four or five points health. the polls would suggest there is only four orfive points in it between labour and the snp across scotland. but it does not reflect exactly in terms of the seats. the polling trickles down in such a way that there are an awful lot of seats in play in this general election here in scotland. remember, in 2015, the map in scotland turned bright yellow, the snp had a big suite of seats and they are still by far the dominant party north of the border but they have a fight on their hands

in this general election. labour campaigning hard. they are feeling very bullish. they are saying that their path to downing street lies through scotland. keir starmer is on his second visit this week alone. he has been on the airwaves this morning, as have seniorfigures in the snp. but the snp i think sees the snp. but the snp i think sees the economy as a big area to campaign on. they are trying to pull the attention away from the areas where the liberal democrats, labour and the conservatives want to campaign. they are saying that the first week of campaigning here in scotland has been overshadowed by some of the political difficulties the snp has been facing recently, of course, the investigation into their funding and finances, and the fact that the former health secretary michael matheson, was suspended from the scottish parliament for a record amount of time for claiming erroneously £11,000 in his expenses, a bill for data roaming charges

while he was abroad which he initially said was for constituency business but it later turned out his children had been watching football using his ipad as a hotspot while the family were in morocco. he paid back the money but he has been suspended from the parliament and from his position for a record amount of time and docked over 50 days green salary which is roughly equivalent to that £11,000 bill —— 50 days' salary. john swinney has admitted it is not the start to campaigning that he would have liked but he is out here this morning, a couple of visits here in glasgow, pushing the snp agenda for the day which is this big focus on cost of living issues and the economy, and the argument that the snp, he would say, is the party best situated, best positioned to protect voters in scotland's interests in the general election.

we can see people getting ready to hear from john swinney. we are also seeing pictures of a big labour party event on our feeds. we have ed miliband speaking at the moment. we have seen angela rayner. we have got keir starmer coming up. labour have a sizeable team, which presumably reflects the amount of effort they were put into this huge fight for votes in scotland. the fact that nicola sturgeon, of course, hugely prominent, dominating figure in scotland, is no longer in office. humza yousaf has gone too. it's a fascinating picture, and i wonder in terms of the names, the publicity around these huge figures, how much of that is a factor in swaying people and getting their attention now? it’s

people and getting their attention now? �* , , . , ., now? it's interesting that these two seeches now? it's interesting that these two speeches by — now? it's interesting that these two speeches by the _ now? it's interesting that these two speeches by the leader _ now? it's interesting that these two speeches by the leader of _ now? it's interesting that these two speeches by the leader of the - now? it's interesting that these two speeches by the leader of the snp i now? it's interesting that these two | speeches by the leader of the snp in scotland and the leader of labour, who is about 30 miles down the road in greenock, the speeches are taking place pretty much at the same time. they are focusing on different economic issues, the snp focusing on what they call austerity. they are arguing that this is an election where they want to see real change delivered. they want more funding for the nhs, the reversal of tory austerity cuts, and they are calling for meaningful investment and economic growth, including green energy, which is the focus of keir starmer�*s speech down the road in greenock. the timing is interesting. it reflects the fact that there is this big battle not exclusively between the snp and labour, there are other seats where the other parties feel they could make

inroads, but primarily, it does demonstrate that this is an area of the uk which labour see as being important to win if they want to enter downing street and become the next government. as you say, nicola sturgeon, the former first minister, has said she will campaign from time to time. john swinney will be iugghng to time. john swinney will be juggling hisjob as first to time. john swinney will be juggling his job as first minister and campaigning as well. kate forbes has been out on the radio this morning. she is the new deputy first minister, a big figure in the snp and for some divisive figure, but she is being positioned front and centre of the campaign. but this is a campaign where it will be issue —based. some people will be

influenced by their position on unionist versus scotland becoming an independent country, those constitutional policies. but the polling suggests the country is still more or less evenly divided when it comes to the constitution. but this is perhaps an election, the polling would suggest, where other issues might come into play. the snp would say cost of living issues, others might be thinking about who they want to see in downing street and who will best deliver those going forward. it's interesting when you talk to voters, what is playing on their minds. we are still four or five weeks away from going to the polls, but remember that this will be at the start of the school holidays here in scotland. there will be plenty of people going away early in the school holidays, perhaps abroad, so they will be

applying for postal votes. so perhaps there will be people in scotland who are having to make up their mind earlier than elsewhere in their mind earlier than elsewhere in the country. their mind earlier than elsewhere in the country-— the country. that is why the parties are presumably _ the country. that is why the parties are presumably getting _ the country. that is why the parties are presumably getting their- are presumably getting their campaigns out as fast as possible. it was interesting that yesterday the plaid unknown macro campaigns were also held at the same time in the morning. —— the plaid and labour campaigns were held at the same time. before we leave you, lorna, can you tell us who is gathered there? is it all snp supporters, are we going to hear questions from them orfrom we going to hear questions from them or from journalists? goad we going to hear questions from them or from journalists?— or from “ournalists? good question. i'm or from journalists? good question. i'm auoin or from journalists? good question. i'm going to — or from journalists? good question. i'm going to be _ or from journalists? good question. i'm going to be honest _ or from journalists? good question. i'm going to be honest and - or from journalists? good question. i'm going to be honest and say - or from journalists? good question. i'm going to be honest and say i - i'm going to be honest and say i don't know. i have rushed from one event to the other. i don't think there are members of the public here, these all look like activist supporters. inevitably, there will be questions from reporters at the end. whether it is welljohn swinney

is that immediately after making the speech or whether there is a break, there will be a big speech here, with lots of supporters. no members of the public, it is tightly controlled, as are many party events across the political spectrum. the campaign trail is these days tend to be heavily controlled. they want to make sure their mood music is correct and that their messaging for the day gets across. there is nothing unique for the snp to have an event like this that is quite controlled, where it isjust an event like this that is quite controlled, where it is just members of the party. looking around, i can see quite a few members of the media here. there are some familiar faces that i recognise on the platform, people who you see out knocking on doors in glasgow, an important city for the snp, six seats at play here. slightly fewer seats across

scotland, used to be 59, but boundary changes mean there are 57 in this general election. glasgow is shrinking from seven to six. but familiarfaces among shrinking from seven to six. but familiar faces among these snp supporters on the stage and familiar faces among the media. john swinney will be taking questions.— will be taking questions. lorna, thanks. will be taking questions. lorna, thanks- less — will be taking questions. lorna, thanks. less cross _ will be taking questions. lorna, thanks. less cross to _ will be taking questions. lorna, thanks. less cross to keir - will be taking questions. lorna, i thanks. less cross to keir starmer in scotland. what a story. that is a story that should be told across scotland, inspiring so many young people. and not only the story, but for you to walk up onto the stage and deliver it in front of all these people their and cameras. applause. that. that is what inspiration is about. and with our plans for infrastructure, we have a lot of work coming your way as well. thank

you to all the speakers. anas, thank you to all the speakers. anas, thank you for yourfriendship you to all the speakers. anas, thank you for your friendship and leadership in scotland, along with jackie and ian, because together, we have transformed and changed the labour party and put it back in the service of working people. thank you, anas. it's great to be back here in scotland. it's sunny! it's great to be back in scotland. it is sunny! and i seem to be here every week, thatis and i seem to be here every week, that is notjust because of the tandoori salmon in glasgow, which is getting quite a reputation, but it is fantastic to be here and to be with all of you to launch these first steps. look, the wait is over. we have waited a long time. a chance for an election, a chance to change.

so if yourfamily for an election, a chance to change. so if your family that have been struggling with the cost of living day after day, week after week, month after month, if you are a business that has been struggling now for a number of years against the odds, if you're in service to your country or your community, then this election is for you, because by the power of our democracy, the beauty, if you like, of our democracy, the power shifts to you. your chance, your vote, your chance to vote for change, for yourself, your future, to vote for change, for yourself, yourfuture, your to vote for change, for yourself, your future, your community and for scotland. and i say this — make sure you use your vote, your voice. and i say this — make sure you use yourvote, yourvoice. not and i say this — make sure you use your vote, your voice. not to send a message. the snp say they want you to vote to send a message. to send a message, to sit on the opposition

benches, protesting. idon't message, to sit on the opposition benches, protesting. i don't want you to vote to send a message was that i want you to vote to send a government. applause. applause. a labour government with scotland at its heart. so this is the chance for change, to end the chaos and division, to turn the page and to rebuild scotland and rebuild britain. because we have to stop the chaos. in westminster, we have had 14 chaos. in westminster, we have had 1a years now of chaos and division. in scotland, 17 years of spinning round in circles, going round and round in circles, going round and round getting nowhere. it's in westminster, five prime ministers in a row. here in scotland, three first

ministers in three years. that is failure, that is not delivering, thatis failure, that is not delivering, that is not good for scotland. and there is a human cost. there is always a human cost of chaos and division and spinning around, getting nowhere. anas and i went to a community centre not far from here. we were at an event. we finished the event, and then i was doing a short piece to camera using an autocue. so i went to the edge of the centre, set it up and did my piece to camera. there was a seven—year—old girl there. she had been with us during the event. she was very smart, huge personality, quite incredible. and as i was doing my piece to camera, i saw her come over and watch what i was doing, really intrigued. what is this? there is a camera rolling and some

words. so when i finished, i said to her, do you want to have a go and see what it's like? in the words she said to me will stick with me forever. she said, i don't read, me. i carried those words all the way home with me. that went right through me, because that is the cost that she is paying for the failure here in scotland under the snp. and they are not going to change. the tories won't change in westminster. the snp won't change here. it will be more chaos, more division, more sleaze, while scandal, and they will feel more entitled if they get more at this election. so we have to stop the chaos. we have to draw a line. but here is the good news. you don't have to put up with it any more. you can choose change.

but don't take anything for granted. if you want change, you have to choose change and vote for change. make sure that we boot the tories out and end the chaos. because change is on the ballot on the lith ofjuly. make no mistake, there are two futures, two paths that we could take. down one path, the future is more chaos, more division, more of the same. down the other path, hope and unity, a chance to take scotland forward, to take britain forward. anas and i, jackie, ian, angela, ed, the whole party has changed the labour party to put it back in the

service of working people. and what we ask now at this election humbly is the opportunity to change scotland and to change britain and put them back in the service of working people. now, i know that in the past, some people here in scotland who wanted the tories out didn't vote labour because they didn't vote labour because they didn't think that we could win. but we have changed labour. we now have that opportunity, and you have to vote for it. because there is no change without scotland. there is no labour without scotland, and i believe that the solidarity of working people is notjust our identity, it is our argument, the

single greatest force, probably the only force that can bring our four nations together. that's why scotland is at the heart of our mission. anas and i have worked side by side to deliver across scotland. we have huge ambition for scotland. but like all ambition, huge ambition for scotland. but like allambition, it huge ambition for scotland. but like all ambition, it has to start with first steps, first steps that we have set out this morning. as you would expect, ruthlessly well—prepared, fully costed, fully funded and ready to go. step one, economic stability, the foundation of growth, the only way to keep taxes, inflation and mortgage as low. because if we learned one thing from recent years...

low. because if we learned one thing from recent years. . .— low. because if we learned one thing from recent years... studio: we are 'ust auoin from recent years... studio: we are just going to _ from recent years... studio: we are just going to come — from recent years... studio: we are just going to come out _ from recent years... studio: we are just going to come out of— from recent years... studio: we are just going to come out of the - from recent years... studio: we are just going to come out of the keir- just going to come out of the keir starmer event as he urges people to vote if they want change. we are going to take you to the other event, the snp leaderjohn swinney at their event. they have inflicted brexit on us, which has reduced the number of people who are here able to participate in our economy and made it more difficult for trading opportunities for businesses. it's made it more difficult for young people in this city to be able to move around europe and to find new opportunities and for people from europe to come to this city, as they have contributed so magnificently over the period of free movement. and we have had the cost of living crisis that has inflicted such hardship in these communities who had to wrestle with the additional challenges of hyperinflation inflicted on us by tory economic mistakes. they have had to wrestle

with the implications of rising prices for food and energy as a consequence of westminster mismanagement. so forall these mismanagement. so for all these reasons, mismanagement. so forall these reasons, austerity, brexit, the cost of living crisis, for these reasons, the tory government deserves to be removed from office and the best way to do that is to vote snp to remove the tory mps in scotland, all six of them, at this election. but as we look forward, we have got to look at what the alternative looks like stock that is where i think people in scotland are likely to disappointed by the labour party thatis disappointed by the labour party that is likely to come into office. because if we look at those issues of austerity, brexit and the cost of living, all the reasons why the tories should be removed from office, what is it that the labour party offers? 0n austerity, the labour party has made it clear that there will be no increases in income

tax, no increases in corporation tax, no increases in corporation tax, no increases in corporation tax, no increases in national insurance, no increases in vat. they have signed up to the tight fiscal limits of the tories. they have signed up to tight borrowing. that is austerity on steroids in the labour party. on brexit, the labour party is united with the tories. no free movement for the young people of the city of glasgow or across scotland to move around europe and to find their opportunities. that door has been closed by the conservatives and shut firmly by the labour party. on the cost of living, keir starmer is in scotland today setting out his argument for agb energy company, although i understand from his broadcast interviews this morning that he is not sure it's going to be a company. so there are a lot of questions to be asked there. but it looks like

keir starmer�*s proposals on gb energy will not be reducing household energy bills anytime soon, but it will be reducing employment in the oil and gas sectors in the of scotland, and that will be a body blow to the scottish economy. so i think there is every likelihood on austerity, brexit and the cost of living, the issues that are the reasons why the tories should be removed from office, the labour party is going to disappoint the people of scotland. so my challenge to keir starmer today, as he is in scotland, is, will he commit to data and emergency budget swift after labour coming to office, if the election goes their way, that brings to a grinding halt the austerity that has damaged our public services and commit to invest in the national health service and in education? that's what keir starmer needs to do, because if he signs up to the continuation of the tories�* spending

plans, that will be spending cuts, according to the institute for fiscal studies, of £18 billion in public spending in our health service and education. so my call to keir starmer today is, commit today in scotland to an emergency budget that will end austerity and bring investment in our schools and the national health service. that's what we need from keir starmer today. people also need to know about the snp alternative. and the snp alternative in this election is strong and firmly founded in our values as a party and firmly founded in my leadership of the scottish national party. we are committed to eradicating child poverty. by the actions of your snp government, we are keeping 100,000 children out of

poverty in scotland as a consequence of the scottish child payment. that is action to protect children in our society. we are committed to the transition to net—zero. and on our record alone, we have transformed new renewable energies: from a position when we came to office when 20% of scotland's gross electricity consumption was coming from renewable energy, and that is now the equivalent of 113%. that is us delivering the journey to net—zero, boosting employment on our way stop thirdly, we are committed to stimulating economic growth. growth per head in scotland has risen faster since the snp came to power thanit faster since the snp came to power than it has in the rest of the uk. in addition, we are the most attractive place for foreign direct investment of any part of the uk other than london and the south—east. we bring investment into this country and on renewables

alone, in my first week as first minister, we announced the investment in inverness. we announced the investment in the plant ringing hundreds of new green jobs to the north of scotland and we want to replicate that around the country. but fundamentally, we believe in economic growth so we can invest in the national health service and in our schools. we are about investing in the quality of life of people in our country. we have also taken the tough decisions to do that. i am proud to lead a government that has taken her decisions on tax. we have asked those on higher earnings to contribute more to public funds that we can invest in our schools and in the national health service. if we hadn't done that, scotland would have £1.5 billion less to spend on our schools and hospitals if we

hadn't taken the tough decisions on tax. these are the right choices to make, in line with the values of people in scotland. at this election, there are some stark choices. there is a wide consensus of opinion. we have got to get rid of opinion. we have got to get rid of the tories. but at this election, we have to be careful about what replaces them. because in that choice, people will have to decide whether they want mps like my colleagues here, he will campaign against the right clause and the two child limit, or labour mps who are happy to lift the cap on bankers' bonuses. these are my colleagues who will rail against austerity and are less keir starmer today commits himself to an emergency budget that will end austerity and submit scotland to more years of tory

austerity of the order that has done such damage to our schools and hospitals. so the choice for people in scotland is between snp mps who will take scotland's interests write to the heart of the house of commons and fight to protect the interests of the people of scotland, to always put the interests of the people of scotland first, or labour mps who will be taking their orders from a london based prime minister who is committed to tory austerity. that's the choice in scotland today. there is also a bigger choice. there is a choice about whether it is best that decisions for scotland are made in scotland, because on so many different issues where the snp government has used the powers of the scottish parliament to create a better future, the scottish parliament to create a betterfuture, a the scottish parliament to create a better future, a fairer future, the scottish parliament to create a betterfuture, a fairerfuture, a future of better opportunities for

people in scotland, we have demonstrated that decisions made in scotland are decisions for scotland. that's the choice that people in this election have. do they want snp mps who are committed to making sure decisions that are made in scotland are for scotland, snp mps who will protect the interests of the people of scotland and put those interests first in the house of commons? that is the opportunity of voting snp in this election and that's why i encourage people to do so on the lith ofjuly. thank you very much. studio: john swinney there, speaking at that snp event where the speech spelling out their priorities and calling on an emergency budget. mr

swinney, the reality is that rishi sunak— swinney, the reality is that rishi sunak or— swinney, the reality is that rishi sunak or sir keir starmer are going to be— sunak or sir keir starmer are going to be the_ sunak or sir keir starmer are going to be the next prime minister of the uk. to be the next prime minister of the uk ls _ to be the next prime minister of the uk ls keir— to be the next prime minister of the uk. is keir starmera man to be the next prime minister of the uk. is keir starmer a man you can do business _ uk. is keir starmer a man you can do business with — uk. is keir starmer a man you can do business with for the good of the people _ business with for the good of the pepple of— business with for the good of the people of scotland? | business with for the good of the people of scotland? i am business with for the good of the people of scotland?— business with for the good of the people of scotland? i am very happy as first minister— people of scotland? i am very happy as first minister of— people of scotland? i am very happy as first minister of scotland - people of scotland? i am very happy as first minister of scotland and - as first minister of scotland and leader of the scottish national party to work cooperatively with a uk prime minister. you have got to have somebody to reciprocate that with you. so i'm committing myself to do that today. i have spoken on the telephone to rishi sunak and i'm happy to talk to keir starmer about his priorities. i am very happy to cooperate, but it's got to be on the basis that it delivers for the people of scotland. so i make it crystal clear today that the austerity that we have had inflicted on us by the conservatives, which it sounds like to me, rachel reeves and keir starmer are going to continue,

has to come to an end. that's the message i will be pressing to keir starmer. ., ., message i will be pressing to keir starmer. . . . ., ,, starmer. hannah carmichael from stv news. first minister, _ starmer. hannah carmichael from stv news. first minister, what _ starmer. hannah carmichael from stv news. first minister, what is - starmer. hannah carmichael from stv news. first minister, what is your - news. first minister, what is your reaction _ news. first minister, what is your reaction to— news. first minister, what is your reaction to the idea that labour can bring _ reaction to the idea that labour can bring in _ reaction to the idea that labour can bring in a _ reaction to the idea that labour can bring in a publicly owned energy company, — bring in a publicly owned energy company, given that you had similar plans? _ company, given that you had similar lans? ., , company, given that you had similar lans? . , ., . ., plans? having listened to what has been said this _ plans? having listened to what has been said this morning, _ plans? having listened to what has been said this morning, i _ plans? having listened to what has been said this morning, i don't - plans? having listened to what has l been said this morning, i don't have a lot of certainty about what this proposal involves. keir starmer said on the radio this morning that it wasn't going to be an energy company, it was going to be an investment vehicle. well, we have lots of them already. in my first week as first minister, we delivered investments in renewable energy in scotland, as i mentioned earlier. so i am all for energy investment. but i am all for energy investment. but i do put out a cautionary word that a lot of what i hear of labour's energy plans will result in

significant loss of employment in the north—east of scotland in the oil and gas sector, and i don't want to be part of that.— to be part of that. great britain from the press _ to be part of that. great britain from the press association. - to be part of that. great britain i from the press association. when to be part of that. great britain - from the press association. when you were elected, you tried to come in with a _ were elected, you tried to come in with a consensual approach and within— with a consensual approach and within weeks, we had a general election— within weeks, we had a general election campaign called and effectively, all the parties are now having _ effectively, all the parties are now having a _ effectively, all the parties are now having a pop at each other. after this, _ having a pop at each other. after this, we — having a pop at each other. after this, we are _ having a pop at each other. after this, we are effectively going to go into probably campaigning for 2026. is that _ into probably campaigning for 2026. is that consensual approach dead? no. is that consensual approach dead? no 0k. _ is that consensual approach dead? no 0k. we — is that consensual approach dead? no. 0k, we have got an election campaign and the temperature goes up a bit. it would be impossible for the temperature not to go up in an election campaign. but if you look at how i am handling my interaction with other parties in parliament, you will see that i am trying to reach out to others to find common ground. but there are choices to be made here. but i absolutely make it

clear that my style as first minister will be to try to bring people together. i am a unifying figure on my party. i'm a unifying figure on my party. i'm a unifying figure in the country and that's why i want to proceed with my time as first minister. and you canjudge whether i am careful on the campaign trail to act in that fashion. of course there are choices. that's what politics is about. choices can be exercised with courtesy. and that's what people will get from me. you have said you are worried about the impact _ you have said you are worried about the impact on from liber's plan. do you not— the impact on from liber's plan. do you not think it would reduce dependence on people like putin, do

you see _ dependence on people like putin, do you see that as outweighing any of your other— you see that as outweighing any of your other concerns? i am you see that as outweighing any of your other concerns?— your other concerns? i am all for makin: your other concerns? i am all for making progress _ your other concerns? i am all for making progress on _ your other concerns? i am all for making progress on energy - your other concerns? i am all for- making progress on energy security. when i set out those statistics, the fact that we have gone from essentially generating 20% of our net electricity consumption from renewables, to the equivalent of 113% over the course of the use of which the snp has been in office, 17 years, that is a formidable contribution to energy security. scotland's contribution to renewable energy is not over yet. we have enormous potential, that is why big investments have happened in the north of scotland and offshore renewables and other technologies, which have huge potential in terms of export for hydrogen and all sorts of export for hydrogen and all sorts of other energy sources. i am all for doing that. i am all for having a supportive energy climate that enables us to achieve all of those objectives, and that will be the heart of the economic and industrial strategy of the snp government.

douglas ross this morning has said that he _ douglas ross this morning has said that he plans to write to you to ask white _ that he plans to write to you to ask white michael matheson has not been sacked _ white michael matheson has not been sacked. can you give as your response _ sacked. can you give as your response to that? parliament has taken its decisions _ response to that? parliament has taken its decisions about - response to that? parliament has taken its decisions about michael| taken its decisions about michael matheson. i made clear at first ministers questions yesterday that i accept the conclusions of parliament and that is clear the matter should end. both times sir keir starmer has been in scotland _ both times sir keir starmer has been in scotland he has been pushing a line that _ in scotland he has been pushing a line that a — in scotland he has been pushing a line that a vote for the snp is simply— line that a vote for the snp is simply to— line that a vote for the snp is simply to send a message that your party— simply to send a message that your party is _ simply to send a message that your party is effectively a protest party. — party is effectively a protest party, whereas he wants to establish a government. party, whereas he wants to establish a government-— a government. what would your resonse a government. what would your response be _ a government. what would your response be to _ a government. what would your response be to him? _ a government. what would your response be to him? we - a government. what would your response be to him? we have . a government. what would your| response be to him? we have to a government. what would your- response be to him? we have to make response he to him? we have to make sure that we have snp mps in the house of commons to guarantee that the interests of scotland are protected. that is what our mps have done. they have work to do in every

respect in their contribution in the house of commons. as i look at the agenda of the labour government i am really worried that the labour government, in order to establish its financial credibility, or whatever they are doing, are simply going to sign up to prolonged austerity. but as first minister of scotland responsible for enhancing our health and education services in scotland, which are my absolute priority, i cannot do that effectively if my budget is being constantly undermined and eroded by its spending cuts from london. the institute for fiscal studies analysis is sobering. they say that £18 billion will have to be taken out of expenditure on schools and hospitals if their fiscal targets of the tory government have got to be met. if you starmer is signing up to that, that is him signing up to £18

billion of spending cuts, and i want snp mps billion of spending cuts, and i want snp mps in there to make sure that that does not happen, and that we have an end to austerity. it was said yesterday that michael matheson scandal was a political bubble _ matheson scandal was a political bubble issue that the public should forget _ bubble issue that the public should forget about, do you agree? what has ha--ened forget about, do you agree? what has ha ened is forget about, do you agree? what has happened is that _ forget about, do you agree? what has happened is that parliament _ forget about, do you agree? what has happened is that parliament has - happened is that parliament has decided the issues in relation to michael matheson, i have accepted them, and that i think catch is where we have reached on that particular issue. we are now very much focused on what lies ahead for scotland in the selection, that is what will be my focus in the weeks to come. labour have selected for a safe seat in the _ labour have selected for a safe seat in the north— labour have selected for a safe seat in the north of england a man who once _ in the north of england a man who once called — in the north of england a man who once called the un anti—semitic, do you have _ once called the un anti—semitic, do you have any reaction to that?

there — you have any reaction to that? there is— you have any reaction to that? there is a _ you have any reaction to that? there is a number of comments that this gentleman has made. let usjust say, leaves a lot to be desired. i think he was in favour of, was he in favour of sending immigrants and badgers in the north of scotland because nobody cares about the north of scotland? that is hardly an indication of somebody who has got a great predisposition to listen to the concerns of the people of scotland. i think people should tread with great care about this particular individual. that is as done with questions. thank you very much for coming in. i think we want some more photographs. john swinney they're speaking at his campaign launch. we can also see keir starmer, also in scotland. but john swinney saying there is a choice to be made, of course, with this election, although he said that he will continue as first minister and will campaign in his trademark stance, he says, are trying to bring people together, and he will treat

others with courtesy on this campaign that is unfolding in the next few weeks. he said that the labour party, he felt, was going to be bringing in austerity on steroids, because they are sticking to the tight fiscal limits and borrowing limits set out by the conservatives. he also said, because of brexit, that the scottish youth were not now free to travel across europe, and his challenge to keir starmer, if he was to become prime minister, was to have an emergency budget committing to investment in nhs funding and education funding, and saying that the labour plaid would involve spending cuts of £18 billion, according to the iss. let us go to lorna gordon who was at that event. what were the key lines from that news conference, from that speech from john swinney eschenbach

ucjohn swinneyjust now posing for photographs for their waiting photographers. a lot is in the image. that speech there, snp supporters behind him, and he was flanked by his mps here in the city of glasgow. those he hopes will be re—elected comejuly. big economic push in that speech as you said. he was talking about how the cost of living crisis, had inflicted hardship on people. he was referencing back to this community in the east end of glasgow, saying that they have suffered, paid the price of what he called conservative mistakes caused by inflation. he said that they conservatives deserve to be removed from government and that the best way for this to happen was to vote snp. he is trying to position his party to the left of labour as well though. he said that

people in scotland, he argued are likely to be disappointed by the labour party, that labour and the conservatives are cut in effect from the same cloth, and that they have made clear that they will be imposing tight fiscal limits are similar to those of the tories. attached on brexit. he touched on the cost of living. he touched on gb energy, which is what keir starmer is talking about in his visit here to scotland today. so a big push from the snp today on the economy. that message that they want to see their mps here in glasgow, in the six glasgow seats, re—elected, of course they want their mps re—elected right across scotland, but a lot of marginal seats. there will be interesting fights going forward. he took a few questions after his off—the—cuff speech which lasted five or ten minutes, he took questions from that waiting media, he was asked about michael matheson,

who was member of his party health secretary, who has been suspended from the scottish parliament. he brushed those aside seeing decision of the parliament has been made clear, and moved on. he also made clear, and moved on. he also made clear, the reality is he is going to have to do business with rishi sunak or keir starmer, whoever becomes the next prime minister. that was emphatic that as leader of the snp he would of course say that his argument was that if people in scotland want a party to stand up for their interests, they should vote snp. he was pushing the idea that, got to get rid of the tories, but got to be careful about what replaces them. and part of the snp message in the last few days and weeks has been that they assume that keir starmer will win and therefore they are urging people in scotland to assume that the can vote against conservatives in london but still have snp representation in scotland.

that is a strategic decision, a strategic message by them. that is what a lot of voters here in scotland will be weighing up. they have a choice in effect or two people, two parties, to run the next uk government, who is best place for that? who is best placed in terms of where they vote in scotland to influence the decisions that are made at westminster? it is a tricky balancing act for voters. john swinneyjust balancing act for voters. john swinney just leaving balancing act for voters. john swinneyjust leaving the room just now. interesting that there were a few members of the local community here as well, about a dozen gathered at the back of the room. john swinney spoke to them. i spoke to one local resident. they were chatting about local issues. inevitably in general elections and thoseit inevitably in general elections and those it comes down to hyper local issues. they were talking about a bit of wasteland here in this community in the east end of glasgow

which is in the shadow of celtic park. he said he found john swinney a pleasant man. he said that he was an snp supporter, he said he was conflicted about who he would vote for in this next general election because he had been looking at the snp as a party in turmoil, but he decided to givejohn swinney a chance. of coursejohn swinney is just a few weeks into the job. he will be hoping a lot of scottish voters take the same position as that individual i spoke to, because he has been frank that as a party he has to unite, and a country he has to unite as well, butjohn swinney argues strongly that he is a unifying figure for his party, but that this is a general election campaign, he would rather have not had to fight so soon, and the suspension of michael matheson is not an issue he would have liked to have seen in the campaign. he is arguing that snp is best placed to

represent scotland and that, as the snp would see it, there is no difference between the policies on the economy of labour and the conservatives going forward. thank you. we arejust going thank you. we are just going to take it over to keir starmer and anas sarwar who are in scotland also. their message very much is to say if you want a new government in westminster you need to get out and vote for the labour party. let us listen to what they are saying. the competition has worked well in our parliament, we have had a number of by—elections that we have a very much enjoyed. you said today you want to get working — you said today you want to get working on great british energy within— working on great british energy within months, can you be more specific— within months, can you be more specific and say to voters if it

will be — specific and say to voters if it will be fully up and running within a year~ _ will be fully up and running within a year~ and — will be fully up and running within a year. and diane abbott, will she .et a year. and diane abbott, will she get a _ a year. and diane abbott, will she get a decision on her candidate today? — get a decision on her candidate today? gn get a decision on her candidate toda ? . �* , today? on gb energy we will get auoin on today? on gb energy we will get going on the _ today? on gb energy we will get going on the straightaway - today? on gb energy we will get going on the straightaway and i today? on gb energy we will get| going on the straightaway and set today? on gb energy we will get i going on the straightaway and set it up. we have got advance plans to do so. without being complacent, i know that we have to be ready to hit the ground running, prepared for government. we will pick that up, run with it from day one. we will certainly, after the first year be in position to show the real difference it is capable of making, thatis difference it is capable of making, that is why our plans are not going to be begun on day one of government, they are already begun. 0n diane abbott there is not much i can add, no decision has been taken to bar her nec will take a decision. we got the logo for a great british energy. _ we got the logo for a great british energy, the website, but we still do not know— energy, the website, but we still do not know where it is going to be.

why are — not know where it is going to be. why are you not telling us where it will be? _ why are you not telling us where it will be? is— why are you not telling us where it will be? is it because there are no votes _ will be? is it because there are no votes for— will be? is it because there are no votes for you to win in the north—east in the selection, you are holding _ north—east in the selection, you are holding off— north—east in the selection, you are holding off till next year? it will _ holding off till next year? it will be in scotland. that is for sure. that decision is taken. the website is up and running, which is really important. i have been to scotland many times in the last couple of years. almost everywhere i go in scotland i get questions to say, why should it be based here? but no decision has been made. but the energy sector is very important to scotland. centred in aberdeen. that makes a powerful case. but we haven't decided. we will make a decision about it that it will definitely be here in scotland. that is a major, i think it is a down payment, i hope, on the way that we will work together with scotland. because one of the damaging things

of the last few years has been the conflicts between the westminster government... we are going to pull away from keir starmer�*s event in scotland. just to let you know, he is taking questions, he was asked about their conviction of donald trump in the us last night. he said it is an unprecedented situation, but a labour government would work with whoever is elected. us president told reporters that special relationship with uk would transcend. he said, respect the courts decision in relation to the chubb case. there is sentencing still to go, possible appeals, but we respect the court processes, and “p we respect the court processes, and up to the american people who they elect as president, and he would work with whoever is elected. 0f work with whoever is elected. of course, if they win an election. let us get a bit more now on the labour green energy plan. let us speak to professor of energy policy and economics at oxford university from 2012—2020, he was

independent chair of the natural capital committee providing advice to the government on sustainable use of natural capital. thank you for waiting to speak to us. can you just explain whether you support this labour plan and how would it work? like all electioneering, the story to be told is one of all gain and no pain. the reality of the long—term nature of energy is that reality is somewhat different. what we are being offered, and the conservatives similarly in this game, as we are being offered a world in which we are going to fast track decarbonisation of electricity, we are going to finish the job decarbonisation of electricity, we are going to finish thejob in decarbonisation of electricity, we are going to finish the job in five years, in my view, pretty much impossible. we are going to have huge investment programme. by the

way, your bills are going to go down as well. when something sounds too good to be true, and it almost always is in these kind of election discussions, it probably is. the reality is, although bills may come down a bit although bills may come down a hit this year, to carry the programme forward that needs to be done for net zero is a huge cost, and it is simply not true that we are all going to benefit from cheap energy any time soon. great british energy, it is another institution in what is now an extremely crowded space. but the telling thing about great british energy, for all the noise of the website etc, it's budget is absolutely tiny, and what is more, it depends on the oil price staying up, because it will be paid for by windfall taxes from north sea oil production. and of course oil prices can go down as well as up. no

expiration as to what happens to its funding if the windfall tax turned out not to deliver this relatively small 6 billion or so going forward. how long do you think it could take to get to a net zero economy? the difference for — to get to a net zero economy? the difference for a _ to get to a net zero economy? he difference for a net to get to a net zero economy? tie: difference for a net zero economy and net zero electricity, which is the target for 2030, and this announcement for labour is all about electricity, we are aiming for net zero for the economy by 2050, 25 years away. but the idea that we can get to completely decarbonising the electricity system, and that means either getting rid of the gas, which is about the most important generator of power, within five years, or completely switch to carbon storage for that gas in that period isjust carbon storage for that gas in that period is just not plausible. the conservatives are committed to 2035 for that. again,

conservatives are committed to 2035 forthat. again, ithink conservatives are committed to 2035 for that. again, i think that is a very long ask. we need a new transmission system in order to bring all these renewables onto the system. low density, intermittent, geographically dispersed, etc. and we haven't really started on that job yet. these things take time. if you try and put the accelerator and rushed to the deadline, you are probably going to make it even more expensive than it otherwise would have been. labour have cut the budget for their green priorities. do you think that is why is? do you think as a nation, looking at the pledges of spending, enough on this agenda to achieve change quickly enough? labour did have a coherent framework, even if the target is, in my view, not achievable. that

involves spending a lot of money. that's was the 28 billion. that is a serious sum of money. if you start spending that per annum you might get somewhere near. but once you decide we are going to do it all, not change your objectives, but somehow we don't have the money, then you get to this lack of credibility in the programme. that is dangerous, because to date, apart from this very sharp targets which i am sure that after the election if labour win they will see, we have looked at the books it is worse than we thought, we meant to do this, but we thought, we meant to do this, but we cannot achieve what we have said we cannot achieve what we have said we are going to do. i am sure that is what will happen. but apart from that, there is a fantastic degree of consensus across the two political parties, once you strip the rhetoric away. that is really important, because investors build energy

assets for decades of life. they have to live with alternative governments into the future. it matters enormously that basically both of the main parties are on the same piece of paper. and we were in that position. i understand why in elections rhetoric has to be noisy and try to create clear blue water or clear red water between the two parties, but reality is they are not actually that far apart, neither of them have a credible programme which explains to us, the consumers, and as, the voters, that we have to do this, this is very important, but we are going to have to pay for it. it is a bit like promising tax cuts or promising expenditure without tax rises etc. i think the electorate know that this kind of too good to be true, is too good to be true, and then we have to sort out within the offer is available to us whether it makes much difference.

professor at oxford university, thank you for your time today. much appreciated. thank you for hanging on for so long to speak to us. thank you very much. we are now going to take it to bbc radio 5 live, nicky campbell has been having his daily phone in. you have been asking what people are voting? yes, this morning we had a lively and energised debate about great british energy, what you havejust been talking about, hearing from our expert. the great thing about talking to the public every day on a specific topic as the experts come to us, and they are all over the place. we have people working in the sector, in the north—east of scotland, working in renewable sector, and that is why i get up in the morning, it has been fascinating. i think people are really engaged in this election. we are getting a huge call numbers every day. just this week we have

been discussing votes for 16—year—olds, that national service plan. my goodness me, that was a busy one, it was absolutely rammed. strong feelings, shall we say, on both sides. also, this week we have had diane abbott, the alleged purging of the left, that was fascinating also. we did a great conversation on tax. the great thing about phone—ins is, you know you get the vox pops on the news, and it is kind of, edited, carefully presented. this was completely unvarnished. sometimes it is on the edge, you don't quite know what people are going to say. it has been great. it is so important to here as well, notjust people talking to experts in hearing from experts, but people actually talking to each other, debating with each other. i have been on five live since 1997. there has been a few general

elections. ijust love there has been a few general elections. i just love the opportunity every day to hear what people have got to say about the issues, and to each other. it is fascinating to hear it. fascinating to hear all the views. 0ut fascinating to hear all the views. out of those subject to topic this week, and we havejust got out of those subject to topic this week, and we have just got going, ten days into the election campaign so far, which has prompted the most calls? ., ., ., , . so far, which has prompted the most calls? . ., . , . calls? national service was interesting. _ calls? national service was interesting. there - calls? national service was interesting. there was i calls? national service was interesting. there was one | calls? national service was - interesting. there was one woman calls? national service was _ interesting. there was one woman and her 13 daughter was incredibly articulate, and they were in raged, they called in, i managed to speak to both of them. the idea of whether it should be compulsory, if there should be any sanction for parents as well, it was a very interesting debate. the other fascinating thing about doing phone—ins is that in a senseit about doing phone—ins is that in a sense it takes people out of their own bubbles as well. much talk of people being in their own echo chambers. it takes people out of

them as well. the number of times i hear people saying, people stop me in the street, on social media, saying, i cannot believe people actually think that. i will say, get out more. 0r stay any more, and listen to the five live phone in. i suppose we should not be in our cars, we should be walking everywhere, talking about the environment today, but it is a brilliant listen. thank you. and we will keep listening to you when we are not here. thank you so much forjoining us, and good luck, and let us know which issues are catching the attention of the public. thank you. let us move on to something a bit different. there was a huge story last night from the us. donald trump has been found guilty of all counts office has money trial in new york. president biden said it showed that

no one is above the law. this makes donald trump the first former us president to be convicted of criminal charges and the first major party candidate to run for office as a convicted felon. mr trump was found guilty of falsifying business records to conceal a sex scandal involving the former porn star, stormy daniels. mr trump's conviction has prompted an outpouring of anger from his most ardent supporters. many have taken to social media with incendiary calls for riots and retribution. the trial officially began on april the 15th after a lengthy jury selection process. then, over the course of more than six weeks, testimony from donald trump's former business partners, including long—time lawyer, michael cohen, and his accuser stormy daniels, were heard. 12 new yorkjurors deliberated for two days to reach the verdict in which they found him guilty on all 3a felony charges. mr trump will return to the manhattan court room onjuly the 11th to be sentenced. with the latest from new york, our north america correspondentjohn sudworth. in a nearby park, his opponents celebrated. trump is guilty!

while inside the court, the former president was walking into history... ..as the first ever to be convicted of a crime. this was a disgrace, this was a rigged trial by a conflicted judge who was corrupt. it's a rigged trial, a disgrace. but it was a jury who convicted him on the evidence. 3a counts of falsifying business records to disguise hush money payments to the porn star stormy daniels, for the purpose, prosecutors said, of keeping her claim that they'd had sex from the american public, just ahead of the 2016 election. the verdict brought only gloom to mr trump's supporters who were left repeating those claims of political persecution. and they are afraid of a much more popular opponent that they know will defeat them.

this was a decision made by 12 ordinary new yorkers, your fellow citizens. there is nothing political about that, is there? i'm not going to say that the jury was tainted, but who knows? who knows? so despite the sense of despondency amongst the trump supporters, it's all pretty good—natured here, although, as you can see, there is a pretty large police presence, just in case. the bigger question, though, is what the reaction is going to be longer term, with america now in uncharted territory. you know, you can't even see the back, there's so many people here. what effect will it have on his election chances? will it put those crucial undecided voters off, or draw others to him? and what about the impact of his attacks on america's institutions, already intensifying in the wake of the verdict? the man who brought the case insisted the result was a sign

the justice system is working. while this defendant may be unlike any other in american history, we arrived at this trial, and ultimately, today, at this verdict, in the same manner as every other case that comes through the court room doors — by following the facts, and the law, and doing so without fear or favour. millions will agree with him, and millions won't. sentencing will be in earlyjuly. mr trump is unlikely, legal experts say, to go to jail, but either way, one half of a divided country now has a convicted criminal as its candidate. john sudworth, bbc news, new york. the bbc has been following the trial from inside the court room. 0ur north america correspondent nada tawfik spoke to reporter kayla epstien about what happened after the verdict was read out. it was almost like the air turned

to stone when they started reading out those guilty verdicts one by one. and as each guilty verdict rolled over him, donald trump was completely motionless at the defence table. i was sitting behind him and while i couldn't see his face, his body language was some of the stillest i have ever seen it. he didn't move, he didn't gesture. he just sat there as they said guilty, guilty, guilty, 3a times. i mean, thesejurors sat through five weeks of testimony. prosecutors left nothing to chance. ultimately, it took them 11 hours to come to this decision, a decision that they knew would have a historic impact, notjust on holding donald trump accountable, but on a presidential election that is under way. looking at thejury, did you get a sense that they were overwhelmed by that moment? the jury actually looked quite serious, and they did look very sombre. but they didn't look overwhelmed to me. throughout the entire trial,

they have looked like people who knew the weight of the job that they had to do, but also were focused on their task. and when the foreman was called upon to read out each guilty verdict, he did so in a clear, loud voice and never appeared to my ears to waver. and when the judge asked them to all go one by one and say what they believed, they all said guilty again, some not as loudly, but all in a clear voice. i think it has struck all of us how donald trump publicly has slammed this judge as conflicted. butjudge merchan has such a mild manner in the court. when the verdict was read, what advice did he give to jurors when they had completed their civic duty? justice merchan has been a real figure of authority in respect of the jury. he speaks to them kindly and makes sure that this doesn't disrupt their lives any more than it has to. and when they were done delivering their verdict, he thanked them.

he said he had watched as they deliberated. he had watched how much care they put into it, and it was very much a moment for thejudge as well. he seemed proud of the jury for taking on this enormous burden and doing their work as the law said they had to. the latest on inside the donald trump story. follow the story live on the bbc news website and app — the live page has analysis and reporting from our teams in washington and new york. you can also replay the moment donald trump was found guilty — on all counts — in that historic criminal trial. as soon as we get fresh reaction we will be bringing it to you and we are expecting to hear from donald trump later today. turning to ukraine, we have had fresh lines reported by news agencies in the

last half—hour, russia is saying they exchanged 75 captured service men with ukraine, and being reported the kremlin says us weapons are already being used to target russia, you will remember there was some movement on that overnight. president zelensky is in sweden meeting leaders from the nordic countries, he says his top priority is to secure more air defences and weapons for ukraine. nato foreign ministers are meeting in prague and are expected to agree another aid package for ukraine and will discuss the washington announcement it is allowing ukraine to use us weapons. ukrainian officials in kharkiv said russian shelling of an apartment had killed three people and wounded 16. the kremlin said on friday it was

aware of attempts by ukraine to strike targets on russian territory with weapons provided by the united states. this is the secretary general of nato. we need to remember this is a war of aggression. _ we need to remember this is a war of aggression, russia has attacked another— aggression, russia has attacked another country, violated international law, and ukraine has the right— international law, and ukraine has the right for self defence and that includes _ the right for self defence and that includes the right to strike legitimate military targets inside russia — legitimate military targets inside russia. let me add, this is even more _ russia. let me add, this is even more urgent as we see russia has opened _ more urgent as we see russia has opened a — more urgent as we see russia has opened a new front, attacking again from the _ opened a new front, attacking again from the north into the kharkiv region. — from the north into the kharkiv region, and the front line is more or less _ region, and the front line is more or less the — region, and the front line is more or less the same. they are hitting ukraine _ or less the same. they are hitting ukraine with missiles, with artillery— ukraine with missiles, with artillery based inside russia. of course — artillery based inside russia. of course ukraine must be able to hit back and _ course ukraine must be able to hit back and defend themselves, this is

part of— back and defend themselves, this is part of the _ back and defend themselves, this is part of the right of self—defence. 0ur correspondent in ukraine has reaction from kyiv. abs, our correspondent in ukraine has reaction from kyiv.— reaction from kyiv. a hugely significant — reaction from kyiv. a hugely significant step _ reaction from kyiv. a hugely significant step by _ reaction from kyiv. a hugely significant step by the i reaction from kyiv. a hugely significant step by the us i reaction from kyiv. a hugelyl significant step by the us and president biden, something president zelensky has been pushing on, as have other countries in europe. president biden had until now stood firm saying us weapons should only be used to strike russian targets inside ukraine or the russian occupied parts and it should not be used to strike into russia. the reason for this is president biden has been fearfulfor reason for this is president biden has been fearful for escalating this conflict, worried russia might perceive ukraine using western weapons into russia as an attack on russia by the us or nato. clearly the situation on the battlefield over the last month has changed, we have seen russian troops go into the kharkiv region, take villages, and

russians are using russian territory to launch attacks into kharkiv which are devastating. president zelensky has said his troops have had to watch these attacks and with nothing they can do until the missiles and bombs enter ukrainian territory. he said troops are fighting with one hand behind their back. as you say, the us has issued strict rules on what ukraine can do with the us weapons. only to strike over the border in this kharkiv region where they are being attacked from. but not on other areas of the front and crucially not long—range us missiles striking deep into the heart of russian territory. ukrainians have been using their own drones to strike critical infrastructure in russia like power stations and oil refineries, this they cannot do with us weapons. but it should help defend against glide bombs which

have caused devastation in ukraine, bombs launched from russian planes in russian territory into ukrainian territory. ukraine has more ability to defend against these. another piece of news, on yemen. tension in the middle east is very much ongoing. the yemeni houthi say they have launched an attack on us aircraft, the us aircraft carrier eisenhower in response to strikes, saying the us— uk strikes overnight have targeted sanaa. three provinces. we will get more as it comes in. clearly an instant

overnight involving us aircraft carrier eisenhower. let us bring you back here to the uk election campaign. all the parties are out and about. the liberal democrats have damian grammaticas on their bus. we are on the lib dem bus, we heard sir ed davey this week, in all sorts of locations. now more traditional territory. we are on the m1 heading south of london into the leafy showers. education, free school meals is what sir ed davey wants to talk about today. the liberal democrats will highlight an ambition really to provide free school meals

they save for all primary school children in england. there is a timeline on that. the first phase which is more concrete is they want to extend the provision of free school meals to 900,000 more children they say who are currently missing out in english primary schools. the detail is at the minute they have a cut—off for those meals, you have to be on universal credit, an income of less than £7,400. they want to increase that to a joint family income of £20,000 or less. that would extend it. no time frame set for exactly when this would happen. the funding for it they say would come from a tax on share buy—backs from big companies. again not entirely clear how that would work out. they are costing this at

around £500 million a year. it is clearly, this is a long—standing liberal democrat policy, but hoping to outflank labour and the conservatives. labour do have a policy in wales bringing in free school meals by this year to primary school meals by this year to primary school children, and in london, sadiq khan the london mayor has extended that. but it is a patchwork from labour. the liberal democrats today saying this is something distinctive and we will get more detail on how it will work a bit later. thank you very much. the liberal democrat campaign. several leading black figures have signed an open letter inclination of the labour mp diane abbott. labouring in —— labelling it a disgrace, as an attempt to

deliberately humiliate her with the months long delay in reinstating her to the party. speaking on bbc breakfast, the leader of the scottish labour party implied she should be allowed to stand at the election. i agree with angela and would add the comments, the article diane abbott _ the comments, the article diane abbott wrote which were not acceptable, which led to a disciplinary investigation which now has concluded and she has had the whip restored, she has apologised. we have _ whip restored, she has apologised. we have had the disciplinary process _ we have had the disciplinary process. it is now for the nec to do the endorsement of candidates and i hope you _ the endorsement of candidates and i hope you will recognise diane abbott is a trailblazer. this is a decision for the _ is a trailblazer. this is a decision for the nec_ is a trailblazer. this is a decision for the nec around candidates in england — england. anas sarwar, leader of

england. — anas sarwar, leader of labour in scotland. the signatories on that letter include sir lenny henry, actor david harewood and my next guest who joins me now. thank you for waiting, sorry to keep you. we are trying to cover all the live events going on. good to speak to you. i have this letter. tell us what your thoughts are on the treatment of diane abbott. it has been absolutely diabolical, it is clear keir starmer has been running what is an intentional calculated strategy to dehumanise, disrespect, disgrace and humiliate diane abbott. she is notjust a first black female mp, she is the most racially abused mp in the

entire british parliamentary history. it beggars belief the labour party which —— have become over many years a nest of vipers where systemic racism is consistently put out against her and black, brown mps as well as muslim people. what should be a safe place is not a safe place. what we are seeing here with how long it took for the labour party to investigate what should really not have taken over a year, it is clear the intention from day one was to oust her, exclude her. keir starmer continually lied about an ongoing process which we now know ended in december and they have onlyjust restored the whip, leaving little room to manoeuvre. now there is the question whether she should be allowed to stand, that should not be

for them to decide but her constituents. because she has been with dedicated service for decades now, she is the face and representation of her constituents. keir starmer does not have the right to take that away. she was of course a key ally of jeremy corbyn who led the labour party to one of its worst defeats. there were huge questions about how part of the labour party was run with all the issues of anti—semitism at that time. sir keir starmer today has said the decision has not been made, it will be made by the nec committee next week which he sits on. but he said he wants the highest quality candidates on the pitch for the task ahead. the labour party if it is going to stand a chance of going into government clearly needs mps their trust will be good assets in government. with all due respect i would like to

point out keir starmer was also a staunch supporter ofjeremy corbyn. staunch supporter of jeremy corbyn. to staunch supporter ofjeremy corbyn. to align diane abbott with one of the worst election results of the labour party but not to do the same with keir starmer, that is double standards. let is remind ourselves keir starmer cannot be trusted. he is a pledge breaking, double—crossing political prostitute, who went from bending his knees to black lives matter, to that —— and he has steadfastly ignored racism, islamophobia, and prioritised anti—semitism. this is the opposition leader who gives backhanded compliments to diane abbott, while systematically within

his party trying to oust her. can ijust his party trying to oust her. can i just say, his party trying to oust her. can ijust say, that language, some people feel it is quite strong. keir starmer and his team i am sure would push back against that.— push back against that. everybody knows everything _ push back against that. everybody knows everything i _ push back against that. everybody knows everything i am _ push back against that. everybody knows everything i am saying i push back against that. everybody knows everything i am saying is i knows everything i am saying is backed up with evidence, objectively and accurately factual. the point about dan abbott, keir starmer is saying he wants high quality candidates. what is he saying? is he questioning her ability? questioning her decades of service? for example, one question — her decades of service? for example, one question has _ her decades of service? for example, one question has been, _ her decades of service? for example, one question has been, maybe i her decades of service? for example, one question has been, maybe we i her decades of service? for example, | one question has been, maybe we will find out the details next week if there is a decision, for example whether abbott in the last few days liked a tweet byjeremy corbyn's partner supporting him standing as an independent candidate. the rules

for any labour party candidate is you cannot support people in other parties. the labour party going forward, keir starmer would argue he has had to change the labour party in huge ways to take it from a huge jeremy corbyn defeat to where it is now 20 points ahead. they want people they can trust as they said, the highest quality candidates on the highest quality candidates on the pitch. bud the highest quality candidates on the itch. �* ., the highest quality candidates on the itch. . ,, . the pitch. and i say with all due resect the pitch. and i say with all due respect no _ the pitch. and i say with all due respect no party _ the pitch. and i say with all due respect no party has _ the pitch. and i say with all due respect no party has a - the pitch. and i say with all due respect no party has a right i the pitch. and i say with all due respect no party has a right to i respect no party has a right to basically govern how mps who are also human beings have relationships with people in and outside the party. that makes no sense. diane abbott is being treated unfairly and very differently from her other parliamentarians, particularly white mp colleagues. to say they are creating a standard in which they say diane abbott has fallen short but allow other people like neil

coyle, barry sherman to walk through the system, tells you there is a hypocrisy here that keir starmer is the engineer of.— the engineer of. there has been a difficult history _ the engineer of. there has been a difficult history under— the engineer of. there has been a difficult history under the - the engineer of. there has been a difficult history under the jeremy | difficult history under thejeremy corbyn era of labour party membership, with disciplinary is. keir starmer if he is going to lead a party into government presumably does not want those issues coming into the parliamentary labour party afterjuly and therefore they have to vet all their candidates and we will see the results of the decision next week. if diane abbott is not allowed to stand, do you think it will affect support for the labour party in a big way among the black community, not that you can pigeonhole one group of people in the population? let me double back about keir starmer wanting to have a certain

standard. he has created chaos with the labour party. he has not made it better. he has made it worse. the report shows on keir starmer there is a hierarchy of expressions of hate and keir starmer literally led the dehumanisation of live expenses of black, brown and muslin people within his party and by extension to those in the country. keir starmer is not doing anything to improve the labour party. is not doing anything to improve the labour party-— is not doing anything to improve the labour party. there are many brown, black, labour party. there are many brown, black. other — labour party. there are many brown, black, other candidates _ labour party. there are many brown, black, other candidates who - labour party. there are many brown, black, other candidates who are i black, other candidates who are members of the keir starmer team. one can't make blanket assertions. there is no blanket assertion unless you are saying that report is a blanket assertion showing there is a hierarchy of expressions of hate. to your question about the black

community, the reality here is there is a significant lack of trust in keir starmer and his labour party and the straw breaking the camel's back but these are double red lines that keir starmer is showing he has no respect for the british black community. it is going to be for each black individual voter to determine how they wish to vote. i can tell you i personally do not expect anything of integrity, of discipline, of inclusivity from keir starmer because he has demonstrated that it starmer because he has demonstrated thatitis starmer because he has demonstrated that it is not who he is as a leader. he has demonstrated it over palestine, over diane abbott. he keeps making all of this outcome expressions, actions which shows those marginalised groups are not important to him. anti—semitism is

the only expression of hate he is driven to address, his only focus is on zionist voters. ok. driven to address, his only focus is on zionist voters.— on zionist voters. ok. very strong arguments — on zionist voters. ok. very strong arguments there. _ on zionist voters. ok. very strong arguments there. people - on zionist voters. ok. very strong arguments there. people will- on zionist voters. ok. very strong | arguments there. people will have other views and the keir starmer team will say there was a big problem about anti—semitism they had to sort out. to make the party electable. to sort out. to make the party electable— to sort out. to make the party electable. ~ . . , . . electable. what about islamophobia? wh are we electable. what about islamophobia? why are we only _ electable. what about islamophobia? why are we only hearing _ electable. what about islamophobia? why are we only hearing about i why are we only hearing about anti—semitism? that is an important expression of hate that must be addressed but it must be treated equally with islamophobia. they all intersect and coexist, there are three distinct expressions of hate and keir starmer by ignoring theirs is saying to people like me we do not matter. i is saying to people like me we do not matter-— not matter. i am 'ust putting the likely response i

not matter. i am just putting the likely response from _ not matter. i am just putting the likely response from keir - not matter. i am just putting the i likely response from keir starmer's team that they want the highest quality candidates and this decision has not yet been made, a decision for the nec which keir starmer doesn't sit on. clearly very strong feelings on many sides. if anyone on the labour party wants to respond, they are welcome here on the bbc news channel. to our guest, thank you very much indeed. thousands of cancer patients will be invited to take part in trials of a new treatment using personalised vaccines. the scheme will match nhs patients with studies across the country. fergus walsh has the story. elliot was diagnosed with bowel cancer last year and has already had surgery and chemotherapy. but tests show he still has fragments of cancerous dna

in his blood, putting him at increased risk of his cancer coming back. so he signed up to a trial at birmingham's queen elizabeth hospital of a new type of treatment, a cancer vaccine. i feel excited, you know? i did a bit of research about the treatment trial itself. and if it's successful, then it's a medical breakthrough. the time of reckoning! and this is the key moment when elliot receives his vaccine, tailor—made in germany by pharma company biontech to fight his cancer. he'll get up to 15 doses during the trial. so how does it work? elliot's personalised vaccine uses the same mrna technology as found in current covid jabs. a sample of elliot's tumour was analysed, and proteins unique to his cancer were identified.

the mrna vaccine instructs his cells to produce these rogue proteins. the hope is this will stimulate elliot's immune system to recognise and kill any remaining traces of cancer. how are you? elliot is the first patient in the uk to get the bowel cancer vaccine. he's had only mild side effects but will be carefully monitored like more than 200 other participants in the international trial. i think it's really exciting. i think this is sort of a new era. the science behind this makes sense, this is one thing about this. my hope is that this will become standard of care. itjust makes sense that we can have something that can actually help in addition to help patients reduce their risk of cancer recurrence. there is huge anticipation about the potential of personalised vaccines to treat cancer, but it all depends on the outcome

of trials like elliot's, with thousands more nhs patients across england expected to be recruited to similar studies targeting lung, breast and other tumour types. fergus walsh, bbc news. that is have a pause and catch up with the weather. a fine start to the day. further east it has been much cloudier with outbreaks of rain, a different scene here in lincolnshire at the moment. we will continue with outbreaks of rain in eastern areas because we have this weather front here brushing the east coast bringing cloud and rain. for most of us this high pressure keeping things settled, dry with sunshine through today. that sunshine most prevalent

towards northern and western isles, one or two showers will be isolated. in the far east we will see a brisk wind, clouds and rain some heavy in the afternoon of east anglia and the south east of england. keeping temperatures on the cool side, 16 degrees. furtherwest, up to temperatures on the cool side, 16 degrees. further west, up to 20 in glasgow and cardiff. tonight that area of rain will clear away from the south—east. for most of us a dry and fairly clear night into the weekend. overnight temperatures down to eight degrees. saturday, the start of meteorological summer, for many, there will be dry weather across most areas of the uk. there will be some cloud but it will break up will be some cloud but it will break up to give most of us some warm spells. this is the pressure chart. this big area of high pressure but over the top there is cloud moving

in, especially towards northern and western areas, so not completely sanni over the weekend. some cloud towards southern scotland and northern england, the odd shower. for most of us it will be a dry day. some brisk northerly winds down the north sea. higher temperatures will be towards the west, up to 21 into sunday, the areas of cloud will shift around. in scotland and northern ireland, pretty cloudy. certainly for england and wales. largely settled but turning showery by the middle of next week.

live from london. this is bbc news.

donald trump has been found guilty on all counts in his hush money trial in new york. what we ask hambly is the opportunity to change scotland and to change britain and put them back in the service of working people. snp leaderjohn swinney delivered his speech to voters today with this message for labour. my message for labour. my challenge to keir starmer today as he is in scotland is, will he commit, today, to an emergency budget, very swiftly after labour come into office, if the election goes their way? thousands of nhs bowel cancer patients in england will soon have access to a bespoke vaccine as part of a trial.

we begin with a major story out of the united states. donald trump's lawyers say they will try to appeal against his 34 criminal convictions for falsifying against his 34 criminal convictions forfalsifying business records. he will be sentenced injuly, days before he is expected to be named as the republican candidate for this year's presidential election. mr trump says the real verdict against him will be made by voters in november. this makes donald trump the first former us president to be convicted of criminal charges, and the first major party candidate to run for office as a convicted felon. mr trump is my conviction has punted an outpouring of anger from mr trump is my conviction has punted an outpouring of angerfrom his most ardent supporters. many have taken to social media within century calls for rights and retribution. with the latest, john sudworth. in a nearby park, his opponents celebrated.

trump is guilty! while inside the court, the former president was walking into history... ..as the first ever to be convicted of a crime. this was a disgrace, this was a rigged trial by a conflicted judge who was corrupt. it's a rigged trial, a disgrace. but it was a jury who convicted him on the evidence. 34 counts of falsifying business records to disguise hush money payments to the porn star stormy daniels, for the purpose, prosecutors said, of keeping her claim that they'd had sex from the american public, just ahead of the 2016 election. the verdict brought only gloom to mr trump's supporters who were left repeating those claims of political persecution. and they are afraid of a much more popular opponent that they know will defeat them. this was a decision made by 12 ordinary new yorkers, your fellow citizens. there is nothing political

about that, is there? i'm not going to say that the jury was tainted, but who knows? who knows? so despite the sense of despondency amongst the trump supporters, it's all pretty good—natured here, although, as you can see, there is a pretty large police presence, just in case. the bigger question, though, is what the reaction is going to be longer term, with america now in uncharted territory. you know, you can't even see the back, there's so many people here. what effect will it have on his election chances? will it put those crucial undecided voters off, or draw others to him? and what about the impact of his attacks on america's institutions, already intensifying in the wake of the verdict? the man who brought the case insisted the result was a sign the justice system is working. while this defendant

may be unlike any other in american history, we arrived at this trial, and ultimately, today, at this verdict, in the same manner as every other case that comes through the court room doors — by following the facts, and the law, and doing so without fear or favour. millions will agree with him, and millions won't. sentencing will be in earlyjuly. mr trump is unlikely, legal experts say, to go to jail, but either way, one half of a divided country now has a convicted criminal as its candidate. john sudworth, bbc news, new york. you can follow the story on the bbc live pages, and you can replay the moment that donald trump was found guilty on all counts in that

historic criminal trial. we are expecting to hear from historic criminal trial. we are expecting to hearfrom donald historic criminal trial. we are expecting to hear from donald trump later today. we will bring you that as it happens, and find out about any plans to appeal that conviction, once we learn more details. let us recap what is happening in the general election campaign here. scottish first minister and leader of snp, john swinney, has been campaigning in glasgow. he called on the next commit investments to commit to an emergency budget immediately following the election. he listed what he said our labour�*s economic similarities with the tories. that is what people in scotland are likely to be disappointed by the labour party that is likely to come into office. because if we just look at those issues of austerity, brexit, and the cost of living, all the reasons why the tories should be removed from office, what is it that the labour party offers? on austerity, the labour party has made it clear that there will be no

increases in income tax, no increases in income tax, no increases in income tax, no increases in corporation tax, no increases in corporation tax, no increases in corporation tax, no increases in national insurance and that no increases in vat. they have signed up to the tight fiscal limits of the tories, they have signed up to tight borrowing. that is austerity on steroids. from the labour party. on brexit, labour party is united with the tories on brexit. no free movement for that young people of the city of glasgow or across scotland to move around europe and to find their opportunities. that door has been closed by the conservatives, and shut firmly by the labour party. john swinney they are, leader of the snp. sir keir starmer has taken the labour party election campaign to scotland also. he has been speaking to voters alongside the leader of scottish labour, anas sarwar, also made a speech to campaigners telling them scotland has a waiting a long time for a general election. he repeated his call to voters to help

stop the chaos in westminster and scotland. in westminster we have had 14 years of chaos and division. in scotland, 17 years of spinning round in circles, going round and round in circles, going round and round in circles, getting nowhere. in westminster, five prime ministers in a row. here in scotland, three first ministers in three years. that is failure. that is not delivering. that is not good for scotland. and there is a cost. there is a human cost. there is always a human cost of chaos and division and spinning round getting nowhere. the conservatives are unveiling tougher punishments on a flight uppers in a bid to cut down on anti—social behaviour. prime minister rishi sunak will be in the north west of england this afternoon. the green party is kicking off campaigning with a visit to a bank hub in harleston, co—leader is

visiting the constituency to see how the town is using its bank hub now that there are no longer any bank branches in the area. the liberal democrats are committing to the expansion of free school meals for children across the country if elected. sir ed davey made the announcement during a visit to a school whilst campaigning in harpenden, and he will continue his party campaign in south—west london. i am joined now by our political correspondent who is in the west of scotland travelling with the labour party, following their campaign today. they had a huge number of shadow cabinet members. it was a big eventin shadow cabinet members. it was a big event in scotland, a big push for votes there. yes, a familiar format to these events that we have seen in the last few days. a similar format that we saw yesterday in wales, a number of introductions from shadow cabinet members, candidates, and new labour supporters, some business people here as well. before we got to hear from anas sarwar and keir starmer.

this is a crucial battleground for labour. interesting to hear the arguments that keir starmer wants to make to try to win support here in scotland. you played in your clip there, talking about some of the accusations, he is making against the snp administration here. he attempted to draw parallels between the snp government in scotland and the snp government in scotland and the government in westminster. talking about standards in public life, for example. a merry—go—round of leaders. trying to make the case that labour is the answer on both fronts. and making that similar argument again about the prize, in his eyes, of a labour government is working more constructively with scotland, having scottish mps, he hopes more scottish mps, to make scotland's case in westminster. labour down seats here. they are hoping for something of a comeback here. keir starmervery hoping for something of a comeback here. keir starmer very clear that there is no labour without scotland, no change in the country, without

scotland. a huge battleground with the labour —— for the labour party here. keir starmer keen to talk about energy. oil and gas industry very central here in scotland. he wanted to make the case for clean energy and the transition to renewable energy that he thinks is coming, in his words, he accused rishi sunak of sticking his head in the sand. he wanted to say, it is up to us to get a head of this transition, make sure that we have jobs in britain to actually, the jobs in britain to actually, the jobs of the future, as he put it. and he is talking about his energy company, great british energy, publicly owned energy company that he faces key to this, an investment vehicle, as sir keir starmer has put it. this is an interesting policy battleground because there is a clear dividing line between the parties on this. labour promising to stop issuing any new oil and gas licenses, although they say they

will not revoke existing ones. snp and tory party accusing labour party potentially sacrificing thousands of jobs, and warning that labour's plans could deter investment in oil and gas industry, which labour admits would have to be in the next four decades to come. interesting debate here on energy. labour very keen to stress they have the backing of a number of businesses. they say oil and gas sector has to be brought on board. they are also pointing to the fact they have endorsement from the fact they have endorsement from the government former chief scientific adviser, sir patrick vallance for green transition by 2030. environment and green policy is at the heart of the differences between the parties at this general election. labour have their critics on the environmental side, saying that they have rolled back together can play on what they promised earlier. they had promised £28 billion per year investment in green

energy. that has been scaled back significantly, they say, because of the financial climate. labour very keen to focus on that policy today, but also inevitably being asked questions about things that are going on here on the ground. references to the status of diane abbott, the labour mp, long serving left—wing labour mp, whether she is going to be allowed to stand as a candidate. we have got days to go before the selections are finalised back labour's national executive committee. keir starmer again repeating what we have heard from him in the last few days on the campaign trail. no decision has been made, and she is not barred from standing. very briefly, on diane abbott, i just spoke to somebody who has been part of a letter campaign written to the guardian, very unhappy at the treatment of diane abbott. art the starmer team worried about that? quite interesting that angela rayner, keir starmer's deputy, was

in the audience, sitting on the front row, and anas sarwar, scottish labour leader has also been asked about diane abbott this morning. keir starmer and angela rayner having slightly different responses in previous days. angela rayner saying yesterday that she did not see any reason why diane abbott should not stand stop there was a bit of a chuckle between them when keir starmer was asked about this difference opposition. keir starmer sticking very much to his position that no decisions have been taken. thank you. much more of course on bbc website and the latest analysis from all of ourjournalists covering all the campaigns. that is all from me for now. for now, we are going tojoin that is all from me for now. for now, we are going to join the team at politics live for more on the uk general election.

it's friday, it's 12.15 and we're live in westminster. this was a disgrace,

this was a rigged trial by a conflicted judge who was corrupt. donald trump becomes the first former or serving president to be convicted of a crime. andrew neiljoins us live from new york to digest what it all means. also today... back on the campaign trail, but keir starmer is still facing accusations he's trying to oust left—wing candidates. this former labour mp speaks to us exclusively about his suspension by the party following a complaint. what has happened is i've been a sacrificial lamb. it is one system if you are very at the top or in the clique and another system if you are not. and we hearfrom the snp as scotland's first minister campaigns in glasgow. joining us today. conservative cabinet minister mel stride. labour's meg hillier. political consultant and former conservative adviserjo tanner. and bloomberg's ailbhe rea. this is politics live election 2024.