prime minister rishi sunak. well, prime minister thank you for being here tonight and joining us for our first gb news people's forum of 2024. now at the start of an election year, we're here in the north east. it's a key battle ground as the conservatives try to keep the seats they won in the red wall back in 2019. green now following promotion on gb news and social media, tonight's people forum audience were chosen in dependently by survation , a third party polling survation, a third party polling and market research agency . and market research agency. everyone here is either undecided on who they vote for in a general election or open minded to changing their vote. now gb news does not know the questions that are going to be asked tonight and most importantly, neither does the prime minister so, prime minister, over to you for your opening remarks. >> perfect. thank you stephen. well, good evening everyone. lovely to be here in newton aycliffe with you all. and thank

you gb news for hosting this you to gb news for hosting this first kind, event . first of its kind, kind event. now out and about now i've been out and about across the country for the past couple of months, talking to people their people everywhere about their priorities and what we're doing to them. and tonight to deliver on them. and tonight i want to do the same thing with all of you. now now, i know things haven't been easy over the past couple of years. we had covid and the impact that had on pubuc covid and the impact that had on public services , the backlogs public services, the backlogs we're seeing and just as we were recovering from that, a war in ukraine that drove up all of yours and everyone else's energy bills. but but even though we're not out of the woods yet, at the start of this year, i believe that we have made progress and that we have made progress and that we're heading in the right direction now. at the beginning of last year, you may have seen that i set out five priorities. your priorities that i wanted to focus on and they were to halve inflation, grow the economy, reduce debt, cut waiting lists and stop the boats. now, of course , there's more work to do course, there's more work to do on all of them, but we are

making progress. on all of them, but we are making progress . inflation on all of them, but we are making progress. inflation has been more than halved from 11% when i got this job, to around 4. now the economy's outperformed expectations. debt is on track to fall and because of all of that, we've been able to start cutting taxes as the number of illegal migrants crossing the channel is down by a third. last year. crossing the channel is down by a third. last year . and although a third. last year. and although of course, there are challenges in the nhs, we've eliminated the longest waits. people waiting two years or a year and a half, and that is progress. but as i said, there's more to do and that's what the election this yearis that's what the election this year is about. that's the choice . do we stick with this plan? our plan that is starting to deliver the change that you all want, and the country deserves, or do we go back to square one with keir starmer and the labour party? now we've just seen in the last week , sukh the absolute the last week, sukh the absolute chaos over the £28 billion decarbonisation policy , that decarbonisation policy, that labour simply don't have a plan.

and if you don't have a plan, you can't deliver any change. in contrast, what i want to do is give all of you the peace of mind that comes from knowing that your children can look forward to a brighter future and that all of us can have a renewed sense of pride in our country . that's what i know you country. that's what i know you want. and if we stick to the plan that is starting to deliver change, that's what i know that i can deliver for all of you. but this is about your questions and what's on your mind. so, stephen, over to you. >> yeah. let's get things going. thank you, prime minister now the rules here are very simple. if you are asking questions tonight , then you've tonight, then once you've stepped microphone , stepped up to the microphone, please name. and if you please say your name. and if you want to, where you're from and what do. so let's have the what you do. so let's have the first question. >> good evening, prime minister my >> good evening, prime minister my name is david from darlington . my question is very simple . . my question is very simple. since the 2019 election, when

the conservative party won an 80 seat majority, do you believe that the conservative party have delivered anything of real substance and value since then ? substance and value since then? >> perfect. david well, great to hear from you. i was in darlington earlier today working out of the campus that i set up there when i was chancellor, which is a great example, actually, of levelling and actually, of levelling up. and you're we you're asking, what have we delivered over the past few years? you know, you don't have to further than to look much further than teesside, actually, to see what we're delivering people . we're delivering for people. now. that is an area that had been neglected the labour been neglected by the labour party decades. and you party for decades. and if you look at what's happened over the last years, got a last few years, we've got a great conservative mayor ben great conservative mayor in ben houchen fantastic houchen who's doing a fantastic job. taken advantage of job. we've taken advantage of brexit to create a brand new freeport in teesside. and what's a freeport ? it's something that a freeport? it's something that we properly inside we couldn't properly do inside the outside of we couldn't properly do inside thewe've outside of we couldn't properly do inside thewe've created outside of we couldn't properly do inside thewe've created them. tside of we couldn't properly do inside thewe've created them. it de of it, we've created them. it attracts businesses with tax incentives and businesses are investing in teesside, creating jobs in the industries of the future . i put the treasury future. i put the treasury campus in darlington. just think about that for a second. in

darlington, right. forget about not being in london. thought about putting in the north. it's not in one of the big northern cities, not in manchester, leeds or newcastle. it's in darlington because it's places like darlington getting darlington that are now getting the a conservative the focus from a conservative government. you can see it in the infrastructure improvements that are happening. darlington station , the high station being upgraded, the high streets and town centres and stockton and thornaby not so far from here. spennymoor, all of these places getting record amounts of investment . blythe amounts of investment. blythe new railway line. so look those are the changes that are happening. that is the plan. thatis happening. that is the plan. that is working. and what is it about? it's about spreading opportunity because that's what i care about. it's about making sure that wherever you live in our country, you grow up and our country, you can grow up and know that your dreams be know that your dreams can be realised. you have to move know that your dreams can be realisfrom )u have to move know that your dreams can be realisfrom your have to move know that your dreams can be realisfrom your home. e to move know that your dreams can be realisfrom your home. and move know that your dreams can be realisfrom your home. and irove know that your dreams can be realisfrom your home. and i was away from your home. and i was speaking to young people today at that darlington campus who were me about that all were telling me about that all from the north east, up from newcastle, from york, from

durham , from teesside, from durham, from teesside, from nonh durham, from teesside, from north yorkshire , all of them north yorkshire, all of them working at the heart of government in darlington . all of government in darlington. all of them said to me, this is incredible. i never thought i'd be able to do this. i didn't want to move down to london. that's what this conservative government has done for young people as well people across the north, as well as improvements, which people across the north, as well as sure nprovements, which people across the north, as well as sure that vements, which people across the north, as well as sure that people ;, which people across the north, as well as sure that people can1ich people across the north, as well as sure that people can have makes sure that people can have pride place that they pride in the place that they call and pride does come call home and pride does come down to simple things like making high streets making sure your high streets clean is safe, making sure clean and is safe, making sure the your area the transport in your area works, we can youth works, that we can build youth clubs. what that clubs. that's what all that levelling is doing levelling up money is doing across east. and across the north east. and actually today it's just funny. you had the first question. actually today it's just funny. you ind the first question. actually today it's just funny. you in darlingtonquestion. actually today it's just funny. you in darlington inastion. actually today it's just funny. you in darlington in that1. actually today it's just funny. you in darlington in that office was in darlington in that office today. it happening today. you can see it happening around that is the change around you. that is the change that you feel. talk to that you can feel. talk to anyone in teesside and they will tell you. and that's what i want to delivering. and if i can to keep delivering. and if i can win election , i can make win another election, i can make sure that keep delivering sure that we can keep delivering that you have that change. all of you can have the peace of mind that your kids can that brighter future. can have that brighter future. we sense we can have a renewed sense of pride country. and that's pride in our country. and that's what i'm fighting for.

>> okay, prime minister thank you much indeed. okay let's you very much indeed. okay let's see who's got our next question. >> good evening, prime minister. i'm from london, and i'm i'm alex from london, and i'm a student. as you know, the nhs is a key priority to most voters . a key priority to most voters. and you said recently that you didn't make progress as didn't make as much progress as you to last year. how you wanted to last year. but how can you convince us today that this year we're going to see some real, meaningful change in the nhs and we'll see waiting lists for thank you . so look , lists for thank you. so look, why should you trust me on the nhs? >> well, first and foremost, i come from an nhs family, but my dad was a gp, my mum was a pharmacist. i actually grew up working in my mum's pharmacy , working in my mum's pharmacy, delivering medicines to people who couldn't come in. that was my world. that was my parent's world. those were their patients, that was our community. saw first hand community. and i saw first hand the incredible impact that primary health care in particular has on people's lives, the dependency that they have on it. so it's really important to me that we support our nhs gps. now, i don't need

to tell you the damage that covid has done to so many things in our country, but particularly it's caused backlogs in the nhs. right? and whoever was prime minister, was standing right? and whoever was prime miniztonight was standing right? and whoever was prime miniztonight , was standing right? and whoever was prime miniztonight , there as standing right? and whoever was prime miniztonight , there would|ding right? and whoever was prime miniztonight , there would beig here tonight, there would be backlogs because of here tonight, there would be backlhappened. because of here tonight, there would be backlhappened. you because of here tonight, there would be backlhappened. you all:ause of here tonight, there would be backlhappened. you all know of here tonight, there would be backlhappened. you all know that what happened. you all know that your fair minded people, right? but what we doing about it? but what are we doing about it? well, we're well, first of all, we're putting in record amounts of money. money than the money. so more money than the nhs has ever had. and some of you might say, well, you reasonably might say, well, hang should stop hang on, maybe we should stop focusing the money focusing so much on the money we're in and actually we're putting in and actually focus as so focus on the reform as well. so we're doing more doctors we're doing that to more doctors and nurses because no one and more nurses because no one has ever trained enough doctors and nurses for the long terme. but i've done that. now, look, we're the best in the world. i probably will not be around in the 14 years that it takes to train the consultant that we're now starting to invest in, but it's the right long terme thing to do for our country, which is why i've done it massive why i've done it so massive expansion in the number of doctors nurses. we're doctors and nurses. we're training ever, training here first ever, long time plan in time workforce plan so that in the future we're less reliant on

people from people having to come from abroad . and we're doing lots of abroad. and we're doing lots of new things . right. i could bore new things. right. i could bore you death with all the you to death with all the innovations surgical innovations elective surgical hubs, community diagnostic centres so you don't have to go to the big hospital to get your elective surgery your or elective surgery or your mri or ct scan. all of these things speed things up . discharge hubs speed things up. discharge hubs in , connecting up in hospitals, connecting up social care with the hospital so people can get home back to their communities quickly. speeds up times in a&e and ambulances . use of the ambulances. use of the independent sector. so all of you now if you and your families get referred by your gp for elective treatment , you can go elective treatment, you can go on your app or talk to your gp and choose where to have your treatment and that choice giving you the power to choose where you the power to choose where you want to go. speed things up improves competition and quality and that's also helping. but look, we haven't made enough progress in spite of all those things i've told you about, which is a lot. the nhs is doing more than it's ever done before. we haven't made enough of a dent

in the waiting list. we've in the waiting list. now we've practically the practically eliminated the number of people waiting the longest two years, one and a half years. overall the half years. but overall the waiting list has largely risen over the year. the good over the past year. the good news is , though, we saw that it news is, though, we saw that it started to fall because we didn't have strikes for a period at the last year, and at the end of last year, and that has been a real challenge. and i'll just be honest with you about november, about that. but in november, first we had first month, where we had absolute no strikes in the nhs, do you know what the waiting list by? 100,000. biggest list fell by? 100,000. biggest one month fall in the waiting list in well over a decade outside of covid. so that gives me the confidence that our plans can work and will work. and the industrial action is something we to work through, and we need to work through, and we're continue to have we're going to continue to have those conversations with the doctors, we can doctors, and i'm sure we can talk that later. but if we talk about that later. but if we stick the plan, i'm confident stick to the plan, i'm confident that we can bring down. we've that we can bring it down. we've got a sense that was got a sense that that was possible end of last year possible at the end of last year without and because without strikes, and because of all things i've told all those things that i've told you i know that it will you about, i know that it will just get better over time. if we

can get the strikes behind us. >> prime minister, thank >> okay. prime minister, thank you. talking long terms plans, though, it, though, is difficult, isn't it, in this? doesn't in all of this? it doesn't bring you results, is you immediate results, which is often for politicians. often a problem for politicians. we do to in the long we do need to think in the long terme. okay let's have our next question, please. hi rishi, it's keith edinburgh . keith from edinburgh. >> my question is about social care . social care is chronically care. social care is chronically underfunded and government has abdicated responsibility to local government, effectively making it a postcode lottery for many. do you agree that it needs radical reform and if so, what? >> so social care is something thatis >> so social care is something that is a particular challenge for councils. and you're right. if you talk to most local council leaders, they'll talk to you about the challenges in social care. i think you all know we've got ageing know we've got an ageing population pressure know we've got an ageing popand on pressure know we've got an ageing popand that's pressure know we've got an ageing popand that's why pressure know we've got an ageing popand that's why justassure know we've got an ageing popand that's why just the re on. and that's why just the other announced an other week, we announced an extra £600 million for local government across the country, and it will mean that on average, this coming financial yean average, this coming financial year, councils will have about 7.5% more money to invest in local services like social care

than they did last year. so that gives you a sense of the scale and of that extra money that we've put in the bulk of it is ring fenced specifically for social care , because that's social care, because that's where the challenge is . now. where the challenge is. now. i don't have an overnight fix to the challenges in social care. of course, i don't . but i do of course, i don't. but i do know that if we improve, how social care works with hospitals , as i was talking about, it will make a difference because that's where there isn't enough join up. and that's why we're , join up. and that's why we're, as i said, working hard and it won't happen overnight because the nhs is a big system and social care obviously is spread across the country. lots of individual local authorities, but by bit we're joining but bit by bit we're joining those things up closer together. and how i think we will and that's how i think we will bnng and that's how i think we will bring real improvements to bear, because of course it's important, right? i believe in a country where you work hard, country where if you work hard, all you have all your life, you should have dignity in retirement and social care is part of that contract. we have with our grandparents and those who have come before

us. so it's important that we get it right. i can't promise you it's going to fix overnight, but i can tell you we've just put a lot of extra cash in to help councils with some of that pressure going into next year. >> okay. minister, thank >> okay. prime minister, thank you. of you be you. i know a lot of you be wanting get in touch with us wanting to get in touch with us about that one. it's such a difficult which faced difficult issue which has faced so many governments. but do we ever get answer where ever seem to get an answer where we see any we can really see any significant difference within a short at least let us short timescale, at least let us know what you about that know what you think about that one. our next one. let's have our next question, please. >> good evening, prime minister. my >> good evening, prime minister. my linda and from my name is linda and i'm from middleton teesdale, and i'm middleton in teesdale, and i'm retired. why are retired. my question is, why are you adamant about rwanda when you so adamant about rwanda when pubuc you so adamant about rwanda when public documentation shows it isn't working and that it's not going to work? so can you be open and honest with everybody today and tell us what the next steps are ? steps are? >> yeah. well, linda , great >> yeah. well, linda, great question. right. i'm sure this is on all of your minds. so i might take a few extra minutes if that's all right. to stephen, kind of get into this properly. like why why did i say stopping

the boats was one of my five priorities, right? is because i think illegal migration often is profoundly unfair, right? i actually think our country is based on a sense of fairness, right? we are a people that we wait our turn. we put in our fair share. we play by the rules right ? and illegal migration right? and illegal migration actually breaks that sense of fairness . it erodes a sense of fairness. it erodes a sense of trust in our system. um, and i also think as a matter of compassion, it's the right thing to do because there are very vulnerable people who are being exploited by criminal gangs. and tragically, them losing tragically, some of them losing their and that isn't, their lives and that isn't, i think, something that any of us can countenance carrying on. and then lastly, of course, there's then lastly, of course, there's the pressure public services. the pressure on public services. many your communities many of you in your communities would local hotel would have seen your local hotel like and like many others, like mine, and like many others, taken over to house illegal migrants. it's costing all of you and everyone watching something like 7 or £8 million a day. right? and that is not something that is sustainable. so for all those reasons, linda

and everyone else, i think stopping the boats has got to be a national priority. it's certainly one priorities certainly one of my priorities now . i certainly one of my priorities now. i said right at the beginning of my opening remarks, the we've in place are the plans we've put in place are working. we're making progress. illegal migration is a good example that. last year , for example of that. last year, for the first time since the small boats thing became a phenomenon , boats thing became a phenomenon, the numbers were down. they weren't down by little , they weren't down by little, they weren't down by little, they were down by over a third. meanwhile in the rest of europe, they were up by quite a lot. right. that didn't happen by accident. it happened because we worked really hard on lots of different things to start getting the numbers down. you may have heard about the new deal with albania, which means that when people illegally migrate from albania to here, because of the deal that i struck with albania, we're able to return them. we returned something like 5000 last year. what do you know ? they stopped what do you know? they stopped coming . what do you know? they stopped coming. numbers were what do you know? they stopped coming . numbers were down by 90. coming. numbers were down by 90. we've increased our cooperation with the french joint patrols on the beaches, sharing

intelligence, placing barriers and some of the rivers that lead up to the beaches in france. that's helped make sure that the interception rates remain strong. we started fighting crime upstream in europe before people get anywhere close to the channel people get anywhere close to the channel, we pass laws that allow us to arrest people connected with this awful trade . and in with this awful trade. and in the last 15, 18 months, we've arrested almost a thousand people. we're starting to sentence them to hundreds of years in jail. sentence them to hundreds of years in jail . we've done years in jail. we've done thousands of illegal enforcement raids . again, all of those raids. again, all of those things are helping us to get the numbers down, which is why they're down by a third. the plan is working. but to answer linda's question in order to fully solve this problem , we fully solve this problem, we need a deterrent . we need to be need a deterrent. we need to be able to say pretty simply and unequivocally that if you come to our country illegally , you to our country illegally, you won't get to stay . we want to be won't get to stay. we want to be able to remove you either to your home country, if it's safe , your home country, if it's safe, like we've done with albania and

for everyone else, we need an alternative. and that's what rwanda about . so yes, we've rwanda is about. so yes, we've made progress down by a third. but in order to fully solve this problem, we need a deterrent . problem, we need a deterrent. that's what rwanda is all about. and that is why i'm absolutely committed to getting bill committed to getting this bill through and getting through parliament. and getting this scheme up and running. and without that, we won't be able this scheme up and running. and wi'fully that, we won't be able this scheme up and running. and wi'fully solve we won't be able this scheme up and running. and wi'fully solve thisvon't be able this scheme up and running. and wi'fully solve this problem. ble this scheme up and running. and wi'fully solve this problem. and this scheme up and running. and vili'iii'ik' solve this problem. and this scheme up and running. and vithink you ve this problem. and this scheme up and running. and vithink you allhis problem. and this scheme up and running. and vithink you allhis prmezm. and this scheme up and running. and vithink you allhis prme to. and this scheme up and running. and vithink you allhis prme to solve i think you all want me to solve this the country this problem. the country certainly i to certainly does. and i want to deliver for all of you. >> prime minister i'm not meant to interject with any to really interject with any questions, i've got say, questions, but i've got to say, a lot people will be a lot of people will be wondering, how you this wondering, how do you get this through parliament? is through parliament? this is a big problem. >> yeah, well. well, it's actually less one sense, less a question for me. and it's a question for me. and it's a question for me. and it's a question for keir starmer. and the labour party. right. we are committed to getting it through parliament. unfortunately we parliament. but unfortunately we don't have a majority in the house lords, as you and house of lords, as you know, and everyone now as we everyone else right now as we speak , is lining up to do deals speak, is lining up to do deals in the house of lords to block us right. we've already seen that in the commons. they will keep in the lords.

keep doing that in the lords. but i will going. i am but i will keep going. i am absolutely committed. i've fought very for fought very hard for this legislation. toughest legislation. it's the toughest legislation. it's the toughest legislation that anyone's seen. it will sure we can it will make sure that we can implement and operationalise this scheme and get flights off, get deterrent working . and get that deterrent working. and that's what i'm going to do . and that's what i'm going to do. and the question really is why is everyone up to try everyone else lining up to try and stop me? because i don't think that's right. i don't think that's right. i don't think what the country think that's what the country wants. we can't stop boats wants. we can't stop the boats unless scheme up and unless we get this scheme up and running . running. >> prime minister. thank you. that's from that's the last question from me, everybody. promise you. me, everybody. i promise you. because. not because. because this is not about about you. so about me. it's about you. so let's our next question , please. >> hi, rishi sunak. i've got so much to say, but such little time. >> my name is john wyatt, and i'm one of the covid vaccine injured in this country. i want you to look into my eyes. rishi sunak. i kind of want you to look at the pain, the trauma and the regret i have in my eyes. we have been left with no help at all. not only am i in here, this

vaccine and there is another man over there whose life's been ruined by that covid 19 vaccine. i know people who have lost legs, amputee nations. i know people with heart conditions like myself. rishi sunak why ? like myself. rishi sunak why? why have i had to set up a support group in scotland to look after the people that have been affected by that covid 19 vaccine? why are the people who are in charge who told us all to do the right thing , have left us do the right thing, have left us all to rot and left me and the thousands in the tens of thousands in the tens of thousands in the tens of thousands in this country to rot 7 thousands in this country to rot ? rishi sunak look me in the eye when are you going to start to do the right thing? the vaccine damage payment scheme is not fit for purpose in scotland right now. according to the yellow card system, there are over 30,000 people that have had an adverse reaction to that vaccine . okay, deaths. >> john, thank you very much indeed for your question, for you to start doing the right thing. >> mr rishi sunak and the us, you, you've you've made a really

strong point, john. >> prime ministerjohn, i'm very sorry to hear about your personal circumstance . personal circumstance. >> and you said someone over here also seems to have suffered by the similar by similar thing. now, obviously , i don't know now, obviously, i don't know about the individual situation in that you're in and while silenced, well, i don't social media and everything we are silenced . silenced. >> we are the most silenced people in this country. >> silence in the press. because my story in the press. okay, let's go to the government for comment. and they made the take all out. comment. and they made the take all forgive out. comment. and they made the take all forgive me,|t. comment. and they made the take all forgive me, forgive me. both >> forgive me, forgive me. both and happy . and i'm happy. >> no, no. no one. okay john. no one. no one is saying no one's saying. yeah, okay. >> apology. >> apology. >> my wife. >> my wife. >> successful career. and sir, you raised some very valid points. i'm sure i've got to say is though we haven't got you on microphone . and as you know, microphone. and as you know, we've to get through this. we've got to get through this. i'm we can can raise i'm sure we can we can raise your points with the prime minister a later date. but in minister at a later date. but in the prime minister, minister at a later date. but in the have prime minister, minister at a later date. but in the have no prime minister, minister at a later date. but in the have no coverne minister, minister at a later date. but in the have no cover the viinister, minister at a later date. but in the have no cover the issues., you have no cover the issues. >> very to. so there >> i'm very happy to. so there is a vaccine compensation scheme

that's in as you alluded that's in place as you alluded to the nhs. obviously, to in the nhs. obviously, everyone we will to in the nhs. obviously, everythrough we will to in the nhs. obviously, everythrough their we will to in the nhs. obviously, everythrough their cases. will to in the nhs. obviously, everythrough their cases. it's. work through their cases. it's difficult for me to comment on anyone's case. i'm anyone's individual case. i'm sure appreciate that . i'm sure you'll appreciate that. i'm very to go and look at the very happy to go and look at the cases, i'm you'll get cases, and i'm sure you'll get them team here. i mean, them to the team here. i mean, i'm very and shocked to i'm very saddened and shocked to hear you've been silenced hear that you've been silenced by thatis hear that you've been silenced by that is surprising by anybody. that is surprising to do get your to me. so please do get your details to stephen in the team and i will happily take that away. you should be away. of course, you should be able to speak about your experience. what's to experience. what's happened to you. we have you. and as i said, we have a compensation in place for compensation scheme in place for that. sure that that. and i'll make sure that we're through that. we're working through that. obviously, you'll obviously, i think you'll appreciate hard for to appreciate it's hard for me to comment your specific comment on your specific circumstances not knowing circumstances just not knowing them. and things them. and those things are forgive we haven't got forgive me, sir, we haven't got a on you. a microphone on you. >> our view is listeners >> so our view is and listeners will be to, i think, look, will be able to, i think, look, the thing say is, you the last thing i'd say is, you know, we went through a pandemic like everyone else at the points when the vaccine. when it came to the vaccine. >> decisions always >> those decisions were always taken on the basis of medical advice from medical experts advice from our medical experts to tell us as politicians who are obviously not doctors, about

how best to roll out the vaccine, what was in the public health interest, the priority order, how that should be done, who eligible. that was who should be eligible. that was something the doctors something that the doctors recommended on and that's something that followed. now something that we followed. now obviously, if there are individual circumstances which haven't worked out, then that's why have the compensation why we have the compensation scheme i'll make scheme in place. and i'll make sure we follow your sure that we follow up on your cases. okay. >> prime minister, you. >> prime minister, thank you. and you do give and gents, both of you do give us your details. we will get that prime minister and that to the prime minister and as said, he will, i'm sure. as he said, he will, i'm sure. look for you. the look at that for you. in the meantime, let's move on to another question, sir. good evening, minister. evening, prime minister. >> jack. i'm 28. i'm >> my name is jack. i'm 28. i'm from york. my question is, the reform surging the reform party are surging in the polls, hitting a note with polls, the hitting a note with many disillusioned conservative voters are you voters like myself. what are you going to to convince going to do to convince traditional conservative traditional conservative tradition voters traditional conservative traditheir voters traditional conservative traditheir vote voters traditional conservative traditheir vote is voters traditional conservative traditheir vote is still voters traditional conservative traditheir vote is still better that their vote is still better off with you ? off with you? >> yeah, in one sense. in one sense, i can completely appreciate your frustration . appreciate your frustration. right. and that's because it's

been a tough couple of years, right? when we go through the things that we've been through as a country, as i said, energy bills more than doubling again, starting to come down. the economic strain that that's put on all your family budgets, the impact of covid on backlogs , nhs impact of covid on backlogs, nhs waiting like waiting for appointments like all things, real all of those things, are real things that will cause you and everyone else enormous amount everyone else an enormous amount of frustration. i can completely understand but i think understand that, but i think fundamentally what want and fundamentally what you want and what want are the same , right? what i want are the same, right? what talked about at the what i talked about at the beginning things i'm beginning, the things that i'm focussed on, right. the values that are important to me. i think are things that we probably share. and all of you who probably say who clapped, i'd probably say the same thing. i think actually we want the same things for our country. share same country. we share the same values, whether that's on control, spending, control, doubling spending, cutting to ease the cutting your taxes to ease the cost living, making sure that cost of living, making sure that we have strong borders and we tackle illegal migration. right. these are things that we have in common. are all things common. these are all things that and what i'd say that we want. and what i'd say to you and everyone else is the

next is next election is a straightforward at the straightforward choice. at the end either keir starmer end of it, either keir starmer or i am going to be prime minister right. and a vote for anyone who is not a conservative candidate is simply a vote to put keir starmer into number 10. so the question for you and everyone else who clapped, i completely appreciate your frustration is who do you want to see in government after the next election? who you think next election? who do you think it's more likely to deliver on the things that care about? the things that you care about? right. talked about those right. you talked about those traditional conservative things, right? spending , right? controlling, spending, cutting economy, cutting taxes, a strong economy, bringing mortgage rates and inflation borrowing down inflation and borrowing down strong . police on the strong borders. police on the streets . right. all those things streets. right. all those things that you care about who's more likely to deliver them because it's not keir starmer it's certainly not keir starmer right now. that's the pink. that's the thing. and that's the choice right? a vote for anyone who is not us as a vote for him. right. we've just seen over the last i mean, last few days, you've seen what's happened, right? keir starmer been right? keir starmer has been running around for the last year trying tell everybody, okay, trying to tell everybody, okay, the labour party's changed right

. what just happened . well look what just happened in rochdale . a candidate saying in rochdale. a candidate saying the most vile, awful conspiracy theories, anti—semitic nick and what happened? he stood by him, sent cabinet ministers to support him right up till as apparently literally five minutes before i walked on tonight, under enormous media pressure, has decided to change his mind. that's not principled , his mind. that's not principled, right? not principled at all. so no, the labour party hasn't changed. it's not changed. it's a con , right? and that's what a con, right? and that's what you have to remember. a vote for anyone who's not me, who's not your conservative candidate is a vote to put him with his values and his party in power. you saw it last week. what that would mean for the economy. we can't tell you how he's going to pay for £28 billion. decarbonising policy, means taxes policy, which means higher taxes for everyone else stood for you and everyone else stood by person in rochdale until by this person in rochdale until the pressure got too much. the media pressure got too much. like that's the values he's doing everything right doing everything he can right now to frustrate the passage of

our rwanda bill in the house of lords. do you want of that? lords. do you want any of that? no, i don't think you do. right and i'm going to keep delivering for you. you and want the same for you. you and i want the same things. and that's how we're going to get because i'm going to get them, because i'm going to get them, because i'm going win the next election. going to win the next election. >> minister, you . >> prime minister, thank you. well, that's a that's that's the big argument, isn't it? that is the big argument. you'll be able to have your say on that. of course, as always on gb news. let's have our next question, please. >> my name is john from darlington. i'm retired and i'm worried about the local council finances that are in such a parlous state. so why not review the council tax system so that a bandin the council tax system so that a band in darlington, no longer has to pay the same council tax as the, uh band in london when a house in darlington might be 150. okay and the same house in

london would be 1.5 million. right >> so council tax , local >> so council tax, local government funding, i mean, a little bit what we touched on before , right. council tax and before, right. council tax and local government funding are all mixed together. so in all your local areas, the money that your council is going to spend is a mix of what they raise locally and they get centrally and what they get centrally from government . now, ultimately, government. now, ultimately, those decisions are those individual decisions are for your local councils, right ? for your local councils, right? they set their council tax levels . and that's not something levels. and that's not something that we do centrally at government. we do is say , government. what we do is say, look, there's a limit to what we think . they put look, there's a limit to what we think. they put up your think. they should put up your council without asking you council taxes without asking you in a referendum . right. so in a referendum. right. so that's involvement in that's our involvement in the council tax system. but ultimately your local ultimately it's your local councillors who are going to set those taxes . and you those council taxes. and you know what say you know what i'd say to you a couple things. first all, couple of things. first of all, just reiterating what i said previously. we've provided an extra million for local extra £600 million for local councils means year councils, which means this year they'll have about 7.5. as i

said, more to invest in local services than they did last yeah services than they did last year. now, of course, that will vary by council, but on average and last year they had something like 9% more to invest in local services than the year before. right. so that's been the last two years worth of increases in funding for local services. now i know there's never enough money. people always more. money. people always want more. but make up your but you guys can make up your own about whether own minds about whether you think that seems reasonable, given all the priorities given all the other priorities that we also have. we've talked about for example, about the nhs, for example, particularly call particularly being the big call on public services, and we haven't got into the cost of living and tax, i'm sure we living and tax, but i'm sure we will and, you know, that's will soon. and, you know, that's one want to do is keep one thing i want to do is keep all your taxes coming down. so that's balance we that's the balance that we strike. ultimately think strike. and ultimately i think it's you elect your it's right that you elect your own councillors. they set council tax. and the simple thing look, if you thing i'd say is, look, if you want lower tax it want lower council tax when it comes the local elections in comes to the local elections in may, conservatives because may, vote conservatives because that's in local government. >> okay. prime minister, thank you. going you. it's going to be interesting tax brought interesting if tax is brought up. i no idea, i've to up. i have no idea, i've got to say. but perhaps tax is going to

be a question that that arises. let's see from our next questioner, white. let's see from our next quei'm ner, white. let's see from our next quei'm aer, white. let's see from our next quei'm a barristernhite. let's see from our next quei'm a barrister from. >> i'm a barrister from somerset. why should lgbt people vote . conservative vote. conservative >> well, robin , thank you for >> well, robin, thank you for the question. now, if you look at our record over the past few years, it's one that i hope you and everyone else is proud of. it was a conservative government under one of my predecessors who made sure that we had same sex marriage and more recently, we're making sure that all our pubuc we're making sure that all our public services work better, that we've made changes in the nhs for provision of health care services for same sex couples . services for same sex couples. and that gives hopefully you and everyone else a sense that this is a country whose values are reflected in our party and in government, and that is that it's a compassionate, tolerant place and we want to make sure that people, whatever their background , respected and background, are respected and treated with dignity. that's the kind of country that i believe in and it's not just about lgbt, it's about absolutely everything. right? quite frankly

, this is a place which has always been welcoming, tolerant and inclusive. who we are and inclusive. that's who we are as a country. and i think that's what we will always will be. and i'll always sure that i'll always make sure that that's case while i'm prime that's the case while i'm prime minister that's the case while i'm prime ministe forgive me slightly, but >> but forgive me slightly, but i some the issue may be i think some of the issue may be less about the lgbt and more about prime minister more about the t. prime minister more about the t. prime minister more about the t. prime minister more about the trans issue. >> well, on that issue, look, >> well, on on that issue, look, my view on that relatively my view on that is relatively straightforward. look, first of all, right, for people who are going through that , particularly going through that, particularly children. right? we have to be really sensitive about it . we really sensitive about it. we should be understanding. we should be understanding. we should be understanding. we should be tolerant and compassionate, as i said, because who we are as a because that's who we are as a people, and people, respecting everyone. and their differences. but i also think on that issue that particularly when it comes to questions around women's safety, women's health, that biological sex is important. and i don't think that should be a controversial thing to say. i think that is a relatively common sense view that i think is held by the vast majority of

people. and unfortunately, this debate over the past few years has become incredibly charged and polarised. but i really don't think anything i just said, quite frankly, should be controversial. are we respectful and people and their and tolerant of people and their differences? particularly differences? it's particularly when through when they're going through things yes, when they're going through thicourse yes, when they're going through thicourse we yes, when they're going through thicourse we are. yes, when they're going through thicourse we are. do yes, when they're going through thicourse we are. do we yes, when they're going through thicourse we are. do we think of course we are. do we think biological sex is important when we're about women's we're thinking about women's safety, health? yes, safety, women's health? yes, of course. most people course. i think most people would think that is important. and i'd particular i think and i'd in particular i think these are important these things are important when we're children , we're considering our children, which we've recently which is why we've recently published for schools published guidance for schools about to with these about how to deal with these issues classrooms. issues in our classrooms. teachers unions ask the government to do that , and government to do that, and you'll see what i've said reflected in that guidance, but also making it clear that parents should be involved when these issues arise at school and concern children . it's of course concern children. it's of course right that parents should be involved and those things, and we be particularly we should be particularly sensitive these issues we should be particularly sensitite these issues we should be particularly sensitit comes these issues we should be particularly sensitit comes to iese issues we should be particularly sensitit comes to children. s we should be particularly sensitit comes to children. okay . when it comes to children. okay. >> prime minister, thank you.

robin. thank you for the question, sir. over to you. >> good evening, prime minister >> good evening, prime minister >> good evening, prime minister >> good evening. what a jacket. look at that. how kind of you. >> name is john slater, and, >> my name is john slater, and, um , i'm in performing arts are um, i'm in performing arts are only for the last 50 years. am i? question, um, concerns devolution. i live in bridlington , which, as you bridlington, which, as you probably know, is part of the east riding of yorkshire and shortly we are to be combined with hull to become a new devolved area. now in previous developments , if that's the developments, if that's the correct word, there have been provision and proposals with regard to spending on culture and the arts . as far as we're and the arts. as far as we're aware , for our devolution in aware, for our devolution in hull and east riding of yorkshire , there is no proposal yorkshire, there is no proposal for spending on culture and the arts . why is that right? arts. why is that right? >> well, it sounds like a great shame and losing out on your talent, john. right so look, i don't know is the simple answer.

so i will go away and take a look at that. i'll say two quick broad points. um one is you have the most wonderful priory, don't you, or church or you, the priory or church or cathedral? i've done any questions there? years and questions from there? years and years really lovely. years ago it was really lovely. um, lucky you for living um, so lucky you for living there. say couple of there. i'd say a couple of things. is devolution. you things. one is devolution. you touched on. we haven't touched on think that's a on it tonight. i think that's a good thing. we've done a lot of it. good thing. we've done a lot of h. does good thing. we've done a lot of it. does that mean? it it. what does that mean? it means you in charge means putting you more in charge of things are happening of the things that are happening in sure that in your area, making sure that we devolve powers and funding and to and responsibility to politicians that are more local to talked the first to you. i talked for the first question. it david from question. was it david from darlington we talked about darlington when we talked about ben houchen, who's the mayor here you can here in teesside? you can see the change that the incredible change that he's brought street in the brought here. andy street in the west again doing an west midlands again doing an incredible we think that's incredible job. we think that's a good for the country. so a good thing for the country. so we've a decent amount we've done a decent amount of that, the that, particularly here in the north. but then secondly, culture look i, i think the cultural sector in our country is something that we should be enormously enormously enormously proud of, enormously proud of. right. and for a couple of reasons, you know, one is it obviously is very

important in all our communities . and i remember as a kid performing quite probably not brilliantly in a christmas carol at my local theatre in southampton and it was an incredible experience. that was and we'll all have fond memories of that. so it's an important part of our social fabric. it's also part of soft power, also part of our soft power, right? it's we project right? it's how we project ourselves the world ourselves across the world through our creative industries. the film , productions, the film, tv productions, everything that you know. but the thing that people probably don't appreciate about that sector is the economic contribution it makes to our economy . it is contribution it makes to our economy. it is a contribution it makes to our economy . it is a powerhouse economy. it is a powerhouse industry for us. it employs millions of people all across the country and, you know, we're here in the north east, actually , the north—east is one of the areas which is booming when it comes to film production. i went to hartlepool not so long ago, where we're making one of our levelling up investments in an enormous studio facility there, and they literally can't grow fast enough. we just need to help them train more more help them train more and more young apprentices get into young apprentices to get into the i think it's

the industry. so i think it's fantastic industry. i cared about that in the about it so much that in the pandemic now, you know, it's probably where of you got probably where most of you got to where i popped up on to know me, where i popped up on your screens talking about your tv screens talking about this thing called furlough, which one knew it was at which no one knew what it was at the but the other thing we the time. but the other thing we did pandemic that i'm did in the pandemic that i'm proud called the proud of is something called the cultural fund, because cultural recovery fund, because i if we didn't do i knew that if we didn't do anything all our incredible, precious theatres, whether that's or that's in bridlington or anywhere else, the georgian theatre in richmond , where i am theatre in richmond, where i am in north yorkshire, all these places will be lost a year without any business. we'd lose all these wonderful venues that are so important to our communities . so we actually put communities. so we actually put together a fund which which supported them all and as a result of that, we've protected thousands across the country, probably in every one of probably in every single one of your communities , in your local your communities, in your local areas, there be something areas, there will be something like theatre, maybe like a small theatre, maybe a comedy store, something like that, that will have been supported cultural supported by this cultural recovery fund we could recovery fund so that we could keep all of them together. so we emerged on the side. they

emerged on the other side. they were to entertain us and were there to entertain us and ennch were there to entertain us and enrich our lives all over again, which is what they're doing. so look, i think it's look, i'm with you. i think it's really important. will go really important. and i will go and that out for your and check that out for your devolution that's all devolution deal, if that's all right. fine and that right. good. fine and that really is a great jacket. >> thank you. prime minister i mean, i'm glad this hasn't turned into a pantomime tonight. that's all i'm saying. um, next question please . question please. >> hi, i'm josh , i'm a student >> hi, i'm josh, i'm a student from shrewsbury and i'm 19. the uk is estimated to be short of over a million homes, but despite this, your party have scrapped the housebuilding target and you've scrapped michael gove's proposed planning reforms that would have liberalised the building of houses. you say you have a plan, rishi, do you have a plan to fix the supply crisis in british housing? >> yeah. so first of all, you said you're 19. josh is that right? right. so look, i want you. i'm assuming you don't own your own home at the moment, right? want you to experience right? i want you to experience what i experienced and what

probably of us, look probably most of us, if i look around room, have around the room, have experienced at point, and experienced at one point, and that getting the keys your that is getting the keys to your first right? mean, it's first home, right? i mean, it's an special feeling. an incredibly special feeling. those of us who experienced it remember it, right? start in remember it, right? we start in a and hopefully build up a flat and hopefully build up over family over time. create a family there, life there. it's there, build a life there. it's a magical , there, build a life there. it's a magical, wonderful thing. and when think about the type of when i think about the type of country that i want to build as prime minister it's one where aspiration ambition are aspiration and ambition are celebrated and aspiration is about owning your own home. right? so look, i think it's really important that we make sure that you and everyone of your generation can do that. now look, to be honest, look, i'm going to be honest, i don't look, i'm going to be honest, i dont an look, i'm going to be honest, i don't an overnight fix. don't have an overnight fix. it's become trickier, particularly the south—east particularly in the south—east right. and varies by by right. and it varies by by region. actually, funnily enough, again, was talking to enough, again, i was talking to some in office in some people in the office in darlington today they had darlington today and they had just bought their first home and they in their late 20s. they were in their late 20s. right. and yeah, so it does vary where you are . um, but can where you are. um, but what can we do? we need to build we do? well, we need to build more homes and that's what we're doing. in this parliament we doing. so in this parliament we talked about a million homes.

you are going to deliver you said we are going to deliver a homes in this a million homes in this parliament. we said we were going to deliver a million parliament. we said we were going t(thisiver a million parliament. we said we were going t(this parliament,n parliament. we said we were going t(this parliament, we are homes. this parliament, we are on deliver million on track to deliver a million homes this parliament. so homes in this parliament. so yes, the plan is working right. we're making easier to yes, the plan is working right. we'on making easier to yes, the plan is working right. we'on the making easier to yes, the plan is working right. we'on the housing easier to yes, the plan is working right. we'on the housing ladder.�* to yes, the plan is working right. we'on the housing ladder. so get on the housing ladder. so stamp duty, you know , when stamp duty, you know, when you're to buy that first you're trying to buy that first home. that duty was a real home. that stamp duty was a real problem. but now we've cut stamp duty first time buyers. duty for first time buyers. it's really know but really won't know this, but something like of first time something like 85% of first time buyers now don't pay any buyers right now don't pay any stamp duty when they buy their first home. so it saves them thousands pounds. that's a thousands of pounds. that's a tax that we introduced and tax cut that we introduced and most recently, though, we wanted to go further. there are these old eu called nutrient old eu rules called nutrient neutrality. i won't get into the details of it. these legacy rules from the eu, they're defective. they don't actually do anything to help the environment, but they are blocking 100,000 homes from being very quickly delivered across the country . now, we were across the country. now, we were going to pass a law to change that and to protect the environment, and that would have

very quickly unlocked 100,000 homes for you and people of your generation. what does the labour party in house of lords? party do in the house of lords? they it . right. and party do in the house of lords? they it. right. and this they blocked it. right. and this is what i talk about when i talk about keir starmer. i say doesn't have a plan, doesn't have principle. this is guy have principle. this is a guy who's saying, yes, we've who's saying, oh yes, we've changed. want to build homes. changed. we want to build homes. all the rest of it. but there was an opportunity. we put a law down in the house of lords to change this defective eu law that we've inherited, and that's blocking 100,000 homes. what blocking 100,000 homes. and what do they blocked it do they do? they blocked it right. know we've right. so look, do i know we've got more do? course we do. got more to do? of course we do. because is too hard. and i'd because it is too hard. and i'd love it to be easier. right. but we are making progress. we are building and we will building the homes and we will keep actually we'll keep going. and actually we'll be more be making some more announcements about that this week. you may have seen week. and you may have seen a little bit that over the little bit about that over the weekend michael making it weekend from michael making it easier certain easier to build in certain places need to do places where we do need to do homes. do that in a way that homes. but do that in a way that bnngs homes. but do that in a way that brings everyone with us. but there was an opportunity for keir do the right keir starmer to do the right thing make easier for you thing and make it easier for you and generation have and your generation to have

those 100,000 he said those 100,000 homes. and he said no. going keep no. so we're going to keep them and because want you to and go, because i want you to feel what i feel and what many of us did, because it's a very special thing. that's the special thing. and that's the kind country we want, where kind of country we want, where you and your friends can own that home. >> so it certainly is a very special thing. i know think special thing. i know i think most probably feel very most of us probably feel very lucky we we own lucky now when we know we own our homes. it a it is a our own homes. it is a it is a really important thing. okay? we talk whole different talk about a whole different range of subjects that we're covering tonight, which is really important because it's about what matters to you. and to our audience who to our audience here. who representative of the nation, we should point out, okay, let's have question, sir. have our next question, sir. >> minister. my >> evening, prime minister. my name come name is naresh. i've come up from question why from london. my question is, why aren't you making the uk more self—sufficient in power rather than exorbitant prices to than paying exorbitant prices to other countries e.g. france ? other countries e.g. france? >> right. uh, naresh. thanks for the question. excellent question . so so i agree with you , right? . so so i agree with you, right? we need to be more energy secure, right? i agree with you

so much that actually created an entire government department for it. so for the first ever time, we now have a department for energy security , right? so it's energy security, right? so it's not just the department for net zero and climate change, it's the department for energy security and net zero. because i think you're right. security and net zero. because i think you're right . and the war think you're right. and the war in ukraine just highlighted why we to improve our energy we need to improve our energy security. so look, we are doing that right. we're building new nuclear for the first time in a long time, not just the big gigawatt power stations, but we're looking at small modular reactors as well. we're investing in renewables right now , orsted is building one of now, orsted is building one of the world's biggest offshore wind farms off the east coast. we've already got not just the world's biggest offshore wind farm, but the second, the third and the fourth so we are and the fourth two. so we are doing home grown renewables doing more home grown renewables . nuclear. but .we're doing nuclear. but crucially we're couple crucially, we're doing a couple of things too. these of other things too. and these are bit controversial. are a bit more controversial. right think in to order right i think that in to order have energy security, we need to focus on the energy we have here at home. and that means the

nonh at home. and that means the north sea oil and gas right now, even the independent committee for climate change say that we will some and in will need some oil and gas in 2050. right so the question is, well, where would you rather get that are better off that from? are we better off getting at home? good getting it here at home? good for economy, for jobs, for the economy, good for jobs, good for energy security? are we better importing from better off importing it from halfway around the world with three times carbon emissions three times the carbon emissions 7 three times the carbon emissions ? me, that's pretty ? and to me, that's pretty straightforward , right? that's ? and to me, that's pretty strai we've ivard , right? that's ? and to me, that's pretty strai we've said , right? that's ? and to me, that's pretty strai we've said wejht? that's ? and to me, that's pretty strai we've said we willthat's ? and to me, that's pretty strai we've said we will keep; why we've said we will keep issuing licences the north issuing licences in the north sea . right. energy here sea. right. use our energy here at home, build our energy security . that's the right thing security. that's the right thing to do for the country. it's a right long terme thing for our national interests. what a keir starmer in the labour party do. what expect them to do? what do you expect them to do? virtue signalling and they opposed it. right. that's not going our energy going to help our energy security also not going security and it's also not going to bills. right. to help cut your bills. right. because other because that's the other thing i want to do is make sure that as we transition on to this more secure, greener future, which we all right the end of the all want right at the end of the day, all have kids, we have day, we all have kids, we have grandkids. leave grandkids. we want to leave them the environment better

the environment in a better state found it. but we state than we found it. but we need to do that in a pragmatic way, right? there far way, right? and there are far too many people who view that project as something ideological . race to net zero, . they want to race to net zero, right ? regardless of the cost on right? regardless of the cost on you. and your families. i don't think at all. think that is right at all. right. we have decarbonised faster country in the faster than any country in the world, but you might have seen just only major just last week only major economy to have halved carbon emissions. who's that? well, that would be the uk, right? i'm not going to take any lectures from so i changed from anyone else. so i changed course in autumn . you may course in autumn. you may remember i made a speech . i got remember i made a speech. i got a lot of criticism for it . a lot of criticism for it. people came at me, but i said, no, this is the right thing to do. we've done more than anyone else. we're to do more else. we're going to do more than else. so we can do than anyone else. so we can do this a proportionate, this in a more proportionate, pragmatic to pragmatic way. that's going to save you and your families. five, ten, £15,000. that was the plans i inherited, forcing plans that i inherited, forcing you out things, replace you to rip out things, replace things before that was necessary. said , no, we're not necessary. i said, no, we're not going do of those things, going to do any of those things, right? because i want to save you of pounds. you those thousands of pounds.

we're get zero. we're going to get to net zero. we're going to get to net zero. we're going to get to net zero. we're going do it in we're going to do it in a proportionate way. and the proportionate way. and at the same we're going to build same time, we're going to build our energy security. our domestic energy security. thatis our domestic energy security. that is a common sense approach to and i think it's to this issue, and i think it's one i hope the vast one that i hope the vast majority you in this room and majority of you in this room and everyone absolutely everyone else, absolutely supports, right supports, because it's the right one country. okay one for our country. okay >> prime prime minister, thank you. naresh, i think you struck a note with the audience there. thanks very much indeed. who's got our next question for us tonight, prime minister >> my name's daniel. i'm assistant head of an independent school on teesside. independent schools in regions such as the nonh schools in regions such as the north east are not the eatons of this world. and one of labour's few remaining policies is to charge vat on independent school fees. now many of our families are middle income families that make lifestyle compromises to be able to invest in their children's education any rise in fees would be very difficult for them to manage , meaning their them to manage, meaning their children would likely end up

back in a swamped state sector . back in a swamped state sector. and what are your plans for education, and why are you not doing more to call out a policy that is, at best, ideological grandstanding, but at worst, fiscally responsible and playing politics the education of politics with the education of young people? oh very well, said daniel . daniel. >> we'll put you in front of a tv camera. i solved that problem. um, yeah. so what? what are we doing on education? i got into politics partly because of education. right? i think education. right? i think education is the most powerful thing that you can do to transform people's lives. i often say that there isn't a silver bullet in my job in pubuc silver bullet in my job in public policy. but the closer thing, although we have to a silver bullet , thing, although we have to a silver bullet, is thing, although we have to a silver bullet , is education. if silver bullet, is education. if we can create a world class education system in this country , that is the best way to transform young people's lives. and we are making progress. when i say the plan is working by god, is it working in education? thanks reforms that have thanks to the reforms that have

happened under the conservative governments over the past few years , now, when came in years, now, when we came in office in 2010, we were plummeting down the league table. standards were slipping because of our reforms . all of because of our reforms. all of thatis because of our reforms. all of that is reversed . we are just that is reversed. we are just marching up those international league tables. that's how well our kids are doing at school, outperforming s&p run scotland schools, labour run schools in wales. right. because of our reforms, our kids here now are the best readers in the western world. thanks to the phonics reforms that you'll be familiar with in your school . right. we with in your school. right. we changed how we teach our kids. we focussed on rigour and standards in the classroom, giving parents more information and of that has and choice. all of that has worked. the other thing that we focussed on and we'll keep focusing on, is skills. because i don't believe in this idea that everyone has to go to university to fulfil all their dreams. i don't think that's right . i really that there right. i really think that there are multiple routes for young people to achieve success and fulfil their aspirations, fulfil all their aspirations,

which invested which is why we've invested hugely apprenticeship ships, hugely in apprenticeship ships, right? not just improving the quality them, not just quality of them, not just spreading them out. so they're available almost job, available in almost every job, but just changing how they but also just changing how they are perceived. it really bugged me in a classroom and me that in a classroom and you'll be familiar with this, right? had a bunch of kids right? you had a bunch of kids who going to who were going off to university, they all university, and they would all focus system that i focus on the ucas system that i did. right. everyone will be obsessed with their ucas forms and everything and if you and everything else. and if you weren't university, and everything else. and if you weren't bit university, and everything else. and if you weren't bit a university, and everything else. and if you weren't bit a second ty, you felt a bit like a second class citizen because you weren't and i don't weren't doing that. and i don't think that's right. so for the first time, this past year, we've put apprenticeships on the ucas to start to show ucas system to start to show people look, hang on, there isn't one that's better than the other. here and you know, if i am fortunate enough get your am fortunate enough to get your support to have another turm, the big reforms i want to do in education, them out in the education, i set them out in the autumn . i want make sure that autumn. i want to make sure that our education is our post 16 education is reformed. so it raises the standards . so we reformed. so it raises the standards. so we make sure all our young people have a basic foundation maths and english. foundation in maths and english. it means that we will bring

together the best of technical and academic education. so there isn't this artificial divide in the classroom into a high quality qualification. we'll make sure that people spend more time in the classroom to get us in line with our international peers so the next bit of peers. so that's the next bit of reform. i think we do in the reform. i think we can do in the education system, particularly focussed and that focussed on skills. and that technical side, sure it technical side, making sure it has the resources and the parity of esteem it needs. because if we can get this right, it i we can get this right, it as i say, we will do the most wonderful thing for our young people. and thank you to you and all your colleagues you all your colleagues for what you do , because it's incredible. do, because it's incredible. you're changing lives you're changing people's lives every just want to you're changing people's lives every supporting just want to you're changing people's lives every supporting you want to you're changing people's lives every supporting you because that keep supporting you because that is we're going to make this is how we're going to make this an country that an incredible country that spreads opportunity far and wide. incredibly wide. and it's an incredibly conservative to do. it's conservative thing to do. it's how i was raised and it's what i want to do for everyone else. and actually, you talked about the thing at the the private school thing at the beginning, on beginning, so i might touch on that for a second. but the people about people you're talking about are people you're talking about are people like my parents, right. my parents came without my parents came here without a huge amount with my

grandparents. but they grandparents. right. but they worked hard give their worked really hard to give their kids better life. and for kids a better life. and for them, they thought education was them, they thought education was the best way to do that. they put everything into making sure my brother and sister and i had a great education. and look, we got help along the way with scholarships and things as well. but what was important but that was what was important to them. what aspiration to them. that's what aspiration means you know, i get means to me. you know, i get attacked keir starmer because attacked by keir starmer because of i went to school and of where i went to school and i said to him once, actually, i said, you're really said, you're not really attacking you're attacking attacking me, you're attacking my you're attacking my parents and you're attacking everybody. them. works everybody. like them. that works hard to aspire for a better life for them. and their family. i think that's wrong. i don't think that's wrong. i don't think british that's think it's british and that's not type country that i'm not the type of country that i'm going build . not the type of country that i'm going build. prime minister going to build. prime minister thank you . thank you. >> we've still yet to touch on that tax question . i don't know that tax question. i don't know if it's coming up next, sir. >> it isn't. >> it isn't. >> uh , good evening, prime >> uh, good evening, prime minister. i'm colin from north yorkshire, retired . given the

yorkshire, retired. given the number of conservative mps not standing at the next general election and the number of factions within the party, there appears to be a lack of leadership at the head of the party. what are your plans to bnng party. what are your plans to bring the factions together to build team and to stop voter build a team and to stop voter defections to reform and other parties? yeah. >> from? >> whereabouts are you from? >> whereabouts are you from? >> north yorkshire. >> colin north yorkshire. >> colin north yorkshire. >> whereabouts north yorkshire? >> oh, right. >> malton. oh, right. >> malton. oh, right. >> right. fine. i'm not >> okay. right. fine. so i'm not a million miles from in northallerton. >> quite here. >> not quite here. >> not quite here. >> yeah. uh, so, look, i think actually all conservative mps do have a unity of purpose and that is that we want a conservative government returned at the next election . and it brings us back election. and it brings us back to a simple choice right at that election, there is a choice between me and keir starmer as prime minister, between the conservatives and labour conservatives and the labour party whatever the party and whatever the differences within our party. and of course there are going to be differences, of course we're going to debate things. that's what democracy that's what what democracy is. that's what parliament there for. but we parliament is there for. but we are purpose

are united in our purpose of wanting country for wanting to deliver a country for you, where your children can look forward to a brighter future, where you have that peace of mind , where we can have peace of mind, where we can have a renewed sense of pride in your country. those are that country. those are things that unite all of us and actually, as we come into focussed election we come into a focussed election yeah we come into a focussed election year, know that that's what my year, i know that that's what my colleagues all believe. and i think they will focus their think that they will focus their attention on keir starmer in the opposition, that's what opposition, because that's what this is about, right? it's not about small minute about the small minute differences between us on issues . you know, there's a lot of coverage about the conversations and debates we were having on the illegal migration bill right. there may be some right. okay there may be some differences of opinion about how best to implement the rwanda scheme. right those differences are an inch. but the real difference is the difference between us and the labour party. that difference is a mile right. and that's the choice for all of you everyone else. right? you and everyone else. right? that's choice at the that's the choice at the election , right? on issue election, right? on that issue in particular. but on every other and actually other issue. and i actually think colleagues think, you know, my colleagues are that purpose of

are united in that purpose of wanting conservative wanting to see a conservative government next government returned at the next election believe election because they believe that right thing for our that is the right thing for our country. and i'm confident that we hard to deliver we will fight hard to deliver that. >> e- e minister, thank >> okay. prime minister, thank you. let's have our next question . question. >> i'm julie , a pharmacy >> hi, i'm julie, a pharmacy technician . technician. >> oh, could you, julie, forgive me? could you just edge a little bit closer to the mic? i know, so i'm a pharmacy technician. >> i've worked within the nhs for 25 years and i'm currently working in mental health hospital conditions. now are hardest are the hardest that i've ever seen within the nhs . i've ever seen within the nhs. um, but without thinking about the staff, the people working within it, i want to focus on the patients themselves. how do you plan to improve conditions for the patients and put money towards resources to treat the patients and stop wasting money unnecessarily ? unnecessarily? >> yeah, well, julie, i'm going to give you one specific example and thank you for what you do

specifically because as i said, my mum was a pharmacist, so i know exactly what you did. and i spent probably most of my childhood doing what you're doing doing a kind of doing now or doing a kind of kids it. when i was kids version of it. when i was working and the one thing i'm going tell you about that going to tell you about that makes life easier for all of you and for patients concerns. pharmacy it the pharmacy and we announced it the other you may or may not other week. you may or may not have seen but i think it's have seen it, but i think it's going be brilliant. and that going to be brilliant. and that is of the most common is for seven of the most common ailments we all have. ailments that we all have. things sore throats, ear things like sore throats, ear infections, sinusitis. now, right now you don't have to go and see your gp for those things . you can go and see your pharmacist . . you can go and see your pharmacist. so julie and her colleagues and you can get the medicines you need direct from your pharmacist without having to make a gp appointment with the hassle that that is the time you have to take work you might have to take off work or your kids. if you have young kids, out of school. kids, take them out of school. all things away all those things done away with all you can go and see all of that. you can go and see your pharmacist for those seven common now that is common things. now that is something going make something that's going to make a major difference to patients, to

families, of you and families, to all of you and everyone country. everyone else in our country. it's us doing it's an example of us doing something reforming something practical, reforming to just improve quality of health care, improve the speed of health care. and i said, based in my experience of working in a pharmacy , and many working in a pharmacy, and many of you will know your pharmacist , you'll know the difference . , you'll know the difference. they make in their communities. that's certainly what my mum did growing up. it was inspiring to me. i saw it firsthand and our pharmacist today are so well trained. they're able all trained. they're able to do all of you. pharmacies have of this for you. pharmacies have consultation rooms you may have seen, so that change seen, so that is that change that we've worked hard on and now just implemented in the past few weeks means that think now just implemented in the past few save (s means that think now just implemented in the past fewsave allneans that think now just implemented in the past fewsave all ofins that think now just implemented in the past fewsave all of you.iat think now just implemented in the past few save all of you. hopefully i'll save all of you. hopefully the when you next get ill the time when you next get ill with one of those seven things, you just go straight your you just go straight to your pharmacy, medicines you pharmacy, get the medicines you need, you'll need, and hopefully you'll remember julie and all remember this. and julie and all her colleagues are going to have all this work which all this extra work to do, which is because it means we're is great because it means we're also supporting pharmacy is great because it means we're also statiorting pharmacy is great because it means we're also slat the ng pharmacy is great because it means we're also slat the same pharmacy is great because it means we're also slat the same phariand sector at the same time. and thatis an sector at the same time. and that is an example of us that is just an example of us practically improving health care in this country. look, is

that solve all our that going to solve all our problems? of course it's not. that going to solve all our protit'sis? of course it's not. that going to solve all our protit'sisegoodourse it's not. that going to solve all our protit'sisegood practical not. but it's a good practical example that will example of something that will make your lives a bit make all your lives a bit eafien make all your lives a bit easier. empowering patients. and that's doing. that's what we should be doing. >> thank you much >> julie, thank you very much indeed. >> julie, thank you very much indeed . now, right. look >> julie, thank you very much indeed . now, right . look solely indeed. now, right. look solely worried by this . worried by this. >> what on earth is this fear in your eyes, prime minister? >> i just thought it might not. >> i just thought it might not. >> conservative party raffle. so >> conservative party raffle. so >> no, just thought because >> no, i just thought because we've to get we've got so much to get through, we're going to delve your in here. we've got your hand in here. we've got some questions. questions some questions. more questions guys. just you guys. um, and if you just you can't read them first. get your hand. >> well, you know what, actually. so i'm very happy to do i don't know much time >> i don't know how much time we've left. i am genuinely we've got left. i am genuinely surprised had any surprised we've not had any questions about the economy, the cost right. so i'm cost of living right. so i'm just genuinely puzzled cost of living right. so i'm justallnuinely puzzled cost of living right. so i'm justallnuinel'here zled cost of living right. so i'm justallnuinel'here wej cost of living right. so i'm justallnuinel'here we go. so >> all right, here we go. so that would be the first time i've ever one of these. i've ever done one of these. well, hasn't come well well, that hasn't come up. well come on, i can't imagine all of you are really happy about the tax and want tax you're paying and don't want to well, i mean, to complain. well, so i mean, no, no one got an economy cost of living tax, right?

>> here we now we've got >> here we go. now now we've got some gently are some people. right. gently are you getting out your payslip all right. you've your first right. you've got your first i tell i tell you what. tell you what, i tell you what. >> let let me grab this. oh, >> let me let me grab this. oh, here we go. this is what we call working hop, sir. right. working on the hop, sir. right. well i want my name in it. >> sorry . my name well i want my name in it. >> sorry. my name is well i want my name in it. >> sorry . my name is john. john >> sorry. my name is john. john from glasgow. i as an from glasgow. i work as an aircraft engineer , and i'm also aircraft engineer, and i'm also aircraft engineer, and i'm also a company director. question a company director. my question is with the high tax rates in scotland and the inferior services compared to what you have in england, and education, health care , what would your . health care, what would your. plan be to make scotland vote for the conservatives and make them more valuable? >> right. well did everyone hear john's question right? no. so actually john's question was about the difference in tax rates between scotland and england and not being very happy with that. we've got good reason not to be very happy about them . not to be very happy about them. right. because they're higher. right? . so if you right? they're higher. so if you earn a bit more than £28,000 you pay earn a bit more than £28,000 you pay higher tax in scotland .

pay higher tax in scotland. right? and that's because of the budget that the snp government just put in place recently. and if you earn a lot more than £28,000, you'll be a lot more tax. right. but they try and say, oh, this is just for high earners. it's not anyone earning just over £28,000 is paying higher tax in scotland. right? for the exact figures at the top of my head. but something 28,000 something. now why that? something. um now why is that? is to cut is because we're starting to cut taxes right ? for all of taxes now, right? for all of you. and this is something i really wanted to deliver. and lots probably got lots of you probably got frustrated i hadn't frustrated with me that i hadn't done a year ago, and all the done it a year ago, and all the rest of it. but i said to you then, look, this is something i want do. course i want to want to do. of course i want to do it right. i believe so deeply. be that hard work should be rewarded. type of be rewarded. that's the type of country i want to build, country that i want to build, right? you guys so hard. right? you guys work so hard. everyone works want everyone works hard. i want hard work means work to be rewarded. that means i want to cut your taxes so you can keep more of your hard earned money. but when i got this was running this job, inflation was running at and like margaret at 11. and just like margaret thatcher lawson many thatcher and nigel lawson many years i knew that the

years before me, i knew that the right to do our right thing to do for our country was get country economically was to get inflation down control inflation down first, control spending and borrowing, get inflation down, and then we could start responsibly cutting taxes . and we were able to taxes. and we were able to deliver that in the budget at the end of last year. it kicked in. in all of your january pay in. in all of yourjanuary pay slips. so for everyone in work that is not small , that tax cut is not small, right? the national insurance rate has been cut from 12% to 10. so for someone earning an average salary, about £35,000, that tax cut is worth £450 this yeah that tax cut is worth £450 this year. and it kicked in in january . now year. and it kicked in in january. now you might say yes about time. what next? i can appreciate that. right. and i've said, look, when it's responsive to do so of course we want to keep cutting your taxes because thatis keep cutting your taxes because that is important to me because it's, as i said, about rewarding hard work, but it's got to be done as part of a plan. and because we've got a plan and because we've got a plan and because that plan, as i said right at the beginning, is starting and you can starting to work. and you can see if we with it, then

see it if we stick with it, then there are better times ahead, right? because we've got plan there are better times ahead, righ'weiecause we've got plan there are better times ahead, righ'we stucke we've got plan there are better times ahead, righ'we stuck to ve've got plan there are better times ahead, righ'we stuck to it./e got plan there are better times ahead, righ'we stuck to it. inflation)lan there are better times ahead, righ'we stuck to it. inflation isn and we stuck to it. inflation is down from to 4, right. wages down from 11 to 4, right. wages have rising for have now been rising for steadily for the last six months, above prices. mortgage rates to come down rates are starting to come down right. we're controlled welfare. and so we're in a position where because the economic conditions have improved, we can start cutting your taxes. now that's the type of party we are. that's the type of party we are. that's the type of government will the type of government we will be. contrast very be. and the contrast is very clear. can it in clear. you can see it in scotland with snp. you can scotland with the snp. you can see it in wales with the labour party. many of you will be small business people, many people watching be small watching will be small businesses. or businesses. if you own a pub or restaurant cafe, we've cut restaurant at a cafe, we've cut your business rates by 75. this year to support our high streets , businesses and , support those businesses and the labour, government and the jobs labour, government and wales hasn't done that right. those are all paying more those pubs are all paying more and starmer can't tell you and keir starmer can't tell you how going to pay for his how he's going to pay for his £28 billion green decarbonisation policy. what does that mean? that means higher taxes and that go right back to where i said at the beginning, stick with the plan. the plan is working. can see

the plan is working. you can see that economy. can see that on the economy. you can see it taxes. the it in lower taxes. the alternative going back to alternative is going back to square one with the labour party. can't you what he's party. can't tell you what he's going differently. going to do differently. he doesn't a plan. and that doesn't have a plan. and that means won't get the change means we won't get the change that our country deserves. that's that i want to that's the change that i want to deliver for all of you. prime minister, thank you very much indeed. >> right. okay. we're gonna get into the box. >> i, i made that box as well. >> i, i made that box as well. >> i, i made that box as well. >> i have, you know, it's a shame it hasn't been used well, thank you, prime minister, very much indeed forjoining us for much indeed for joining us for the news people's forum the first gb news people's forum of this election year. and thank you, of course, to our studio audience part. thank audience for taking part. thank you very much indeed. now you very, very much indeed. now we are hoping that labour we are hoping that the labour leader, keir starmer , will leader, sir keir starmer, will accept invitation to take accept our invitation to take part in one of these people's forums. let's hope he does . um, forums. let's hope he does. um, but for now, let's take you back to london from the glorious nonh to london from the glorious north east to patrick christys . north east to patrick christys. >> well, welcome to this very special edition of patrick