divisive issues in most divisive issues in british history sort out. the reality is that the brits comment have failed miserably for three years and now borisjohnson is miserably for three years and now boris johnson is pretending miserably for three years and now borisjohnson is pretending he is going to sort everything. he has a tiny majority in parliament. most of his competent potential ministers have either resigned or been sacked and humiliated. the eu has made it clear they do not want to the issue or negotiate anymore. that is a distinctly trump style feel to this government, it is maverick and unpredictable it feels. yet, mr johnson thinks this your power of his personality can change everything. the truth is, he is himself a very divisive figure and he has surrounded himself by politicians who are even more so. jeffrey you subscribe to?|j

jeffrey you subscribe to? i think it is fascinating to watch a master communicator after theresa may. and i think what is so fascinating in this week of extraordinary heatwave of climate change, we have this political climate change that parallels it. and really parallels and reflects what is happening across the atlantic in the next eight where we have this populist leader —— the united states. he is able to mobilise a particular sector with impassioned rhetoric. but the question is can he actually deliver? this is a man who is a creamy agile with words and it is to him but —— extremely agile. we have the eu in transit, these are notjust political matters. they are nationalistic matters and to assume that rational thought on the eu side oi’ that rational thought on the eu side or here will prevail, means that we are or here will prevail, means that we a re really or here will prevail, means that we are really driving down a road in the fog being told, yes, let's

follow, we promised we would get you there, we don't know if there is a cliff. there are so many assumptions about brexit and yet this hell or high water peterhead, damn the torpedoes approach, has no consideration of the consequences. none of us could predict what hard brexit would do. it is fair to say it might be ok but it may be catastrophic and yet we are being told that is where we're going. brian, before we follow—up with geoffrey's point, deal with the first week. what is your assessment? it is not often i agree with alex, it is like a breath of fresh in a very hot and humid westminster at the moment. as jeffrey very hot and humid westminster at the moment. asjeffrey says, he is a very good communicator. having said all that, he is still in campaign mode. and the campaign is over, and the delivery has to start now. boris johnson is very good at campaigning, he is not very good at details, he

would public admit that himself, he delegated a lot when he was mayor of london, and he will properly have to delegate even more now. the problem is that being prime minister is all about the detail, not least in brexit and the backstop and everything else that we can talk about later, but initially, i think it isa about later, but initially, i think it is a very good strategy to actually talk about the sort of things we have just seen in talking about in manchester, infrastructure, about in manchester, infrastructure, about all of the things, because people at large, the voters, are fed up people at large, the voters, are fed up listening to politicians arguing about brexit. we will do that more in the next minutes but alex can get you to deal with behind the atmospherics of the first week, what about the cabinet? because those are some serious charges laid by nabila, what is your response to the figures? the first thing i would say is that being prime minister is not all about details, it is about agenda setting and delegating. that is an important part of the role and thatis is an important part of the role and that is what he did as mayor of london and i think we welcome delegation to good ministers. the

second thing i think is remarkable as this is the most diverse british cabinet. two black people, two asian ministers. and i look at how those people are being treated. sometimes, huffington post said we should not let young people see these ministers because they are internalised whiteness means they are not really asian. that is how people are being treated... you talk about diverse, 64% of this cabinet went to fee—paying 64% of this cabinet went to fee— paying private 64% of this cabinet went to fee—paying private schools, in a country where 7% of the population, thatis country where 7% of the population, that is not a reflection of this country. i know we will never satisfy those who criticise our government, not that kind of diversity, those are the wrong kind of asian people or they do not count. answer that point alex, there isa count. answer that point alex, there is a question of socioeconomic diversity, classic gusset is a real

question and you have all these tony ends. if you satisfy one issue, the left will with two... i am not left, iamjust left will with two... i am not left, i am just bemused where democracy has such history in a country that the upper class continues to dominate. i went to a comprehensive because that is where my parents sent me and i am sick and tired of people in our country being blamed for where our parents sent us the school. it was not my choice when i went to school. and it wasn't my pa rents went to school. and it wasn't my parents either and it is a way of avoiding real issues. went back to the weight that cabinets debate on brexit, what it interested a lot of people was that brexiteers who had been disloyal to borisjohnson where out of the cabinet in some cases, and remainers who were loyal to borisjohnson where promoted. so believe in brexit was not the defining thing. and i think it is a good thing that he didn't see this

asa good thing that he didn't see this as a government only brexiteers. i think that would have been exclusionary. this is a government ina hurry exclusionary. this is a government in a hurry and this covenant wants to get things in quickly. and what was require those who had been formerly remain to sign up effectively to collective cabinet government was up effectively to collective cabinet government was up something which many of us may think has been missing for some time. in recent time two events. and to say that you are coming behind the belief that we're coming out on the 31st of october whether or not you campaign for remain in the past also think thatis for remain in the past also think that is good. the other thing i think about this cabinet appointment is that we finally got a sense of direction and dynamism within cabinet, in their domestic rules rather than just around brexit. apart from michael gove who were set on banning things in the environment, most of cabinet mr were stymied by a mix of authority on one hand and a focus on brexit on the other. now we're hammering home the of houses. we have proper attitudes and an attempt to build more

policing on our streets. for so long oui’ policing on our streets. for so long our environment has been so dominated by the brexit discussion that a domestic... at two if boris johnson says he wants to withdraw the agreement and he has two dozen setting days, he has not much time for doing anything else other than brexit. that is a different question and it has been indicated that parliament can set late and can sit on days it would normally set if required. so that is nearly longer than that. and bear in mind you can get things done in parliament if you have got a well too. and that is what i take comfort from. this is a government with a determination to an issue. i agree with alex that whatjohnson is doing is what an issue. i agree with alex that what johnson is doing is what the people of the country want. which is talking about things other than brexit. there is no question that everyone is fed up with the single topic that has dominated the last three years. and how brilliance to go three years. and how brilliance to 9° up

three years. and how brilliance to go up to manchester saturday morning to announce h53 connecting the north, which feels so disenfranchised and so angry at the amount of investment and introductory have seen in london. it is terrific here, if but it is a masterful stroke and it is responding to what the people want. but the problem in that agenda is that there is this clock ticking and it doesn't have long and there are so it doesn't have long and there are so many uncertainties. and the notion that we will see it reopen, maybe, but i don't see how. the irish border and the backstop, how does that get resolved? there are massive existential questions, that need answers in three months up nabila, you go next, do you see a nswe i’s nabila, you go next, do you see answers emerging from what we have heard? i must dwell on the credibility of this government. if i may. i want to focus on priti patel who personifies the freakish nature of this government. this is someone

who was far from popular x lobbyist for the alcohol and tobacco industry. she is apparently still a lobbyist, £1000 an hour. and potentially in clear breach of... she will have to stop doing that as home secretary. this is also somebody who was forced out of government because of, as international see two secretary because of underhand dealings with the israeli government, effectively 01’ the israeli government, effectively or offering humanitarian made... we don't have time to do the back story of priti patel, on the question of the brexit offer is made by the new payments, where do you think his new cabinet and he himself after taking us? what site do you see at this point? most of all, the new ministers and his government have this airof ministers and his government have this air of menace about them. just as priti patel does. and none of them have proven record of sorting out complicated policy problems and

thatis out complicated policy problems and that is a huge worry. and i think that is a huge worry. and i think that it that is a huge worry. and i think thatitis that is a huge worry. and i think that it is absolutely ludicrous to think that britain can actually break away from the trading bloc it is surrounded by, the only way this cream that can happen is if britain changes its actual geographical position which won't happen. and my own prediction is that mrjohnson will approach, strike a deal with nigel farage's brexit party for electoral support and nigel farage in return for full—blooded electoral support and nigel farage in return forfull—blooded brexit electoral support and nigel farage in return for full—blooded brexit as a character, and nigel farage being the politician will have no qualms whatsoever in pushing his own populist agenda. injoining whatsoever in pushing his own populist agenda. in joining forces. is that a possibility in your world? i don't recognise the characterisation of the people we're talking sajid javid, a bus drivers son, not asian enough for some people, has a long track record in

finance. i don't know what you find threatening a british about that. and like most of his cabinet ministers i said. i would think that isa ministers i said. i would think that is a good thing. as far as the signatory of brexit, i think i view things more positively thanjeffrey and nabila have set out. i look to the fact that angler merkel says the backstop can be overwritten. plainly the heads of national government are looking to do a deal in this closing time and you are right to point out that time is short. but sometimes, that time is short. but sometimes, thatis that time is short. but sometimes, that is when people make moves that mean negotiations, fan deals happen. sometimes it is pressure of time that means you get a result of negotiations and the other thing that means you get a result sometimes is if you change the people at the table, you change the negotiation. something that is true, sometimes it's not and that is what is scary about the next 90 days because you might be right alex. i

think all of us would be delighted to see whatever the outcome, a smooth transition to whatever and we move on and this country grows and flourishes. but sometimes, it is a big caveat. can i bring brian in on the backstop. ostensibly this is such a big issue. alex is suggesting it might not be as serious a problem. what you think?m it might not be as serious a problem. what you think? it is a huge bubble. and it's going to be a problem and i don't i understand what angela merkel says it can be overwritten. there is certainly room in the political declaration which is annexed to the withdrawal agreement wording changed slightly, but everybody from michel barnier to the irish germans and the french say that it the irish germans and the french say thatitis the irish germans and the french say that it is not going to be reopened. now the new premises... the new

prime minister's position is to go into the room saying i am not going to sit in that year, unless you drop the backstop. that is not a good opening negotiation position for the british government. it won't work. and talking about it on the other site has not been good either so we meet on the middle. no. the irish government, there was a lot of sabre rattling, the underlying relationship between ireland and britain is exceptional good, the irish government have welcomed julian smith as northern ireland secretary and so on. and there are sign up progress on getting somewhat up sign up progress on getting somewhat up and running. —— stormont. the devolved assembly that has not been sitting for 2017, two years and. however, on the issue of the backstop giving the border open and

everything else, —— keeping the border open. the irish have no room to move except to increase their no deal preparations which they are doing. we have for quite a long time been talking openly about what they have been doing on the east—west axis, dublin, they have in talking less about the north—south border because it is more politically sensitive but that work has been going on quite intensively. the problem with the whole thing is that the backstop cannot taking out or overwritten simply because it is the guarantee, and i know there have been other proposals that involve the provision whereby the backstop would be negotiated further down the line, the free trade agreement, but it has been made very clear by

barney brad, —— layover at. it has been made very clear by barney brad, -- layover at. are you saying that when it has to be abolished that that is merely a negotiating position because we have heard the irish government saying it isa heard the irish government saying it is a collision course. i imagine we will meet compromise and that is the art of negotiation and i think it is when most both both sides will come true. given that a whole of the withdrawal agreement passed down parliament except for the backstop because if we didn't have the backstop would you go through? it is the only thing the majority people in our insidiously. we can look at the withdrawal agreement and think if that is going to go through without backstop, if we put for ardent sake time—limit on the backstop, five or even ten years, you got a two year transition period and then add tenure period where eve ryo ne and then add tenure period where everyone says they don't want anyway, who knows where the economy will be in 12 years' time. that is more certainly then you get in

almost any trade. and yet you know better than i that that there are people in your party who wants like that, the so—called spartans, the two d oze n that, the so—called spartans, the two dozen who voted consistently against the withdrawal agreement for top who have to decide whether or not we want brexit. what is fascinating for me as someone who wasn't born here, is that this is the united kingdom of great britain. and northern ireland. does boris johnson, a man who clearly loves his own image, want to go on nsa as the man who —— in history as the man who forced the uk out of the eu and led to scotland leaving great britain, northern ireland being united with the republic, and great britain becoming little britain. i cannot imagine that is how he wants to be remembered. he has called it the awesome foursome. he has got to navigate something more than a hard

brexit off a cliff or that is a very real possibility. nabila. mack on theissue real possibility. nabila. mack on the issue of the backstop, priti patel has suggested that the threat of starvation as in the irish famine could actually help resolve the backstop problem. so this is the kind of far right, reactionary comments and low intellect sound bites we're getting from members of this new administration and i think it will be a very short lived one and a new general election will be called shortly. and i think it is the wider population actually means at general election in the interest of democracy. as a us broadcaster put it, 0.30% of the uk population voted for borisjohnson to become prime ministerand... voted for borisjohnson to become prime minister and... i will let brian first and then alex. on the backstop. this idea that started a few years ago where the british were

saying they need us more than we need them. was all about trade. the backstop is all about trade. the backstop is all about trade. the backstop is all about trade. the backstop is notjust about backstop is all about trade. the backstop is not just about a trading border. the reason the good friday agreement is important and therefore the backstop is important to guarantee that forces open, is also about identity. it is about identity of nationalists living in northern ireland which goes to your point exactly about the break—up of the uk, the good friday agreement gives nationalists living in northern ireland the opportunity to see i am comfortable living in this part of the uk. because i can't say i am irish, iam british, i can the uk. because i can't say i am irish, i am british, i can have either passport and that order will stay up. that is not necessarily about trade, it is simply about national identity. and that is something that is never mentioned or understood on the british side when it comes to the good friday agreement at the backstop. everyone

understands about the trucks and backing for four trade, but identity is equally important and for the irish the irish people and political parties is at the centre of this as well. of course there is an important element of identity but given our government, your government say they are not to put one up, who is, possibly the eu but otherwise nobody, and on nabila's idea that it is undemocratic, you seem not to think about parliamentary democracy the weight works in this country because we had an election that produced conservative parliament and then the party changed its leader. if you had an objection deciding the people borisjohnson would be leader. he must have been outraged by gordon brown the incoming leader of the labour party. i am making a point

that if the brexiteers are such great democrats and want people to ta ke great democrats and want people to take back control in britain, then an election a swift one, is a must. i don't think government can change its leader without having an election that is not how this government has worked on so why should it follow that nabila rule? it is not my roulette is the view that it will be a short lived government and therefore unsustainable. when you think this election is you're talking about will happen briefly? we are running out of time now. when you expect an election? by the end of the i think he has got a majority, he has depended on the dup for the majority. he could lose his majority in an election, he force, he call an election, stay tuned. watch this channel. after brexit, possibly by the end of the year but not before

brexit. tory party can't go to the polls before we go to the select lever eu full supplement we will leave on october 31 and then an election next year? i think so. leave on october 31 and then an election next year? i think solj think election next year? i think sol think borisjohnson election next year? i think sol think boris johnson knows election next year? i think sol think borisjohnson knows he is going to have to crash out because... and when to scott and lee? over goodness' sake, it doesn't. it would be northern ireland first. but it is going to fault the pieces if written crashes out of the eu. scotland is going to join the euro? this is ridiculous with optionally and on that question, we are going to have to leave it thank you all so much. quite an interesting discussion was had and we will have another one same place same time next week goodbye.

after an exceptional week with very high—temperatu re both by day and by night, things are looking a lot more unsettled this weekend, cooler, fresher conditions with outbreaks of rain. more clout and a weather front bringing someone to our shores, some quite heavy so much so that i the end of the this is the weather front associated with the heavy rain, travelling north south divide, some rain will be quite heavy across parts of scotland eastern england and into the south—east with flashes of thunder and lightning could be rolled out in places. the far

north—east dry with some sunny spells, feeling quite warm and not a bad day for parts of northern ireland and wales and the south—west of england. 22 or 23 degrees. enter the overnight period, the weather front continues to bring outbreaks of rain, to similar areas. pivoting round a little bit so we could start to see some rain pushing into the east of northern ireland, some of it will be quite heavy. the rest of the dry weather the fat north—east and far south—west, more comfortable for sleeping night but fairly humid across eastern areas. similar on sunday but that weather front will begin to thin, it will continue to push west so it could be quite wet for northern ireland through sunday in that rain running through northern england down into the south—east. again, the best of the brightness across the far north—east of the country and into the south—west but always with temperatures reaching the low 20s. still fairly cool under that cloud

of rain, 18 or 19 degrees. on monday, not a bad —looking day for many of us, the weather front slipping north, a legacy of cloud to parts of scotland and the far north of england and ireland, sumptuous year but much of england and wales not bad at all. good sunny skills around, like winds, strong sunshine, it will feel much warmer, temperatures ranging between 2a and 26 degrees but notice this area of low pressure will bring some sharers to the far south—west later in the day. it does look like this upcoming week looks pretty unsettled but there is a low pressure moving in off the atlantic to bring showers on long spells of rain. temperatures remaining a little above.

hello. this is bbc news with geeta guru—murthy. in the past hour, boris johnson has set out plans for a new high—speed rail route between manchester and leeds, which is expected to cutjourney times between the two cities to less than thirty minutes. during a speech in manchester, the prime minister said he was determined to boost prosperity in the north. let's have a listen. these are scenes from hong kong, where there have been problems with some pro—democracy protesters and police. those are some of these

scenes from earlier of tear gas being fired by police as protesters. let's see whether we can go back to the borisjohnson speech that we had in manchester in the last hour where he basically made a pledge to spend money on a new boosted train service between manchester and leeds. he said that was a priority for him. just before coming here, i met barry white at the pomona junction of the station. on the mitchell link, looking at a huge great stretch of newtown way which will link up to the malvern powerhouse rail. i wa nted the malvern powerhouse rail. i wanted to be the prime minister who does with more than powerhouse rail

what we did for crossrail in london. today, i'm going to deliver on my commitment with that pledge to fund the manchester to leeds route. mr meier, i note that is the bit you critically want but i want to stress it is up to local people what comes next. as far as i'm concerned, that is just the next. as far as i'm concerned, that isjust the beginning of next. as far as i'm concerned, that is just the beginning of our commitment and investment. we want to see this whole thing done and i have asked officials to accelerate their work on these plans so that we are ready to do a deal in autumn. feel free to applaud, if you were to... applause. that lease but it! that the spirit! it's the right thing to do, time we put some substance into the idea of malvern powerhouse rail, that is why

we are here this morning. we want to inject some pace into this so that we can unlock jobs inject some pace into this so that we can unlockjobs and boost growth. i know people cannot wait, they want to see change fast and now. it takes a while to bend, built a railway. they want services so that the 18—year—old just acting as an apprentice in rochdale now is that they can get into manchester by eight o'clock each morning, so that people can get out into manchester for a people can get out into manchester fora drink ora people can get out into manchester for a drink or a meal, boosting services. besting them within cities, not just between services. besting them within cities, notjust between cities, services that mean people don't have to drive, services that don'tjust give up at the end of the working day. with your help, i'm going to improve the local services people use every improve the local services people use every day. boris johnson speaking they are in manchester. some comment on the fact that he is

politically targeting leave voters in talents, trying to get their support as the four raj brexit party has gone up in the polls. that will boost his chances in any forthcoming election. the political angle on that speech, we will get more on that speech, we will get more on that in the coming hour. first of all, let's get some sport. england have named their squad for the ashes, and — as expected — there is a place forjofra archer. the fast—bowler only became eligible to play for england earlier this year but he forced his way into the one—day side and was a star as england won the world cup, so he gets the nod for the test side. ben stokes is re—instated as test vice—captain. he lost the role after that fight in bristol in 2017. so here is the squad in full. 1a names in all with the first ashes test getting under way

at edgbaston on thursday. you'll be able to listen to ball by ball coverage with the test match special team on 5 live sports extra from 10:25 on thursday morning, and via the bbc sport website too. his future has been one of the big stories of the summer, and it looks like gareth bale has found a way out of real madrid. he played for the spanish giants in a friendly against city rivals athletico last night, but is expected to join the chinese super league side, jiangsu suning. it's a move that will apparently see him, earn a million pounds a week. arsenal have reached an agreement, to sign ivory coast winger nicolas pepe, from lille — in a deal worthjust over 70 million pounds. the deal is still to be finalised — but the move is expected to be completed over the course of the weekend. arsenal will pay for the 24—year—old winger in a series of installments. pepe scored 22 goals for lille last season.