hello, good morning, it's 10 o'clock, i'm victoria derbyshire. we have come to the isle of sheppey in kent. this area has poverty and unemployment above the national average and we have lots of people who live here who have come to the chicken shop today to tell us what is on their mind in this general election. my name is christine, what concerns me is the number of chippies that are here. they are not enough to meet the needs of the people living here. i'm concerned

about the nhs. this will be buying my first time voting. i am worried about the lack ofjob and opportunities. when you mean lack of democracy, what do you mean? the parties are ignoring our democratic... we are joined by three candidates. we're also joined by three of the candidates — including the conservative who's been mp here for nearly ten years and says he loves his constituency but says he can't promise that he can "dramatically improve people's lives" here. meanwhile, the labour party is today promising to "put bad landlords out of business" if it wins the election and cap rent rises for private tenants. for too long, and certainly over the last decade, the government has allowed lower rogue landlords to flourish and so it is time to meet the market for renters and that requires

the government to act. also today, a second national cinema chain, showcase, has joined vue in stopping all showings of the film, blue story, after seven police officers were hurt in a fight at a cinema in birmingham where the film was being show. hello. before we start talking to our voters, here's the news. a lorry driver accused over the deaths of 39 migrants has appeared in court. some breaking news. a lorry driver accused over the deaths of 39 migrants has

pleaded guilty to conspiring to commit unlawful immigration and acquiring criminal property. 25—year—old maurice robinson has appeared at the old bailey today. a group of people were found dead in a refrigerated trailer in grays in essex last month. the victims have been identified as vietnamese nationals with the youngest being two boys aged 15. more than a million students are facing disruption as university lecturers and support staff begin an eight—day strike over pay, pensions and working conditions. lectures are being cancelled at 60 universities — that's almost half of the uk's institutions of higher education. universities say they'll do everything they can to minimise the impact. pro—democracy parties in hong kong have made huge gains in local elections, with voter turnout the highest in the territory's history. the local councils have limited powers, but the result is being seen as a clear verdict on the way the authorities have handled months of anti—government protests. hong kong's chief executive, carrie lam, says she respects the results and will listen to the views of the public "with an open mind". a second cinema chain has stopped showing the british gangster film blue story, after seven police officers were injured during a brawl at a leisure complex in birmingham. west midlands police described the violence that broke out on saturday evening

as some of the worst their officers had seen. showcase has followed vue cinemas in pulling the film. blue story‘s director, rapman, has insisted it was a tale of love, not violence. labour has announced plans to improve conditions for tenants in privately—owned accommodation. the party says if it wins next month's general election, it will introduce rent controls and require landlords to carry out an annual property check. the residential landlords association says the measures would lead to its members pulling out of the sector — driving up rents and increasing homelessness. and more breaking news — the taxi—hailing firm uber has been stripped of its licence in london. in the last few minutes, there's been a ruling that uber london limited found to be not fit and proper to hold a private hire operator licence. the company had been on probation since last year when transport

for london raised concerns about its approach to carrying out background checks on drivers and handling reports of serious crimes. days of heavy rain have caused widespread flooding across south—eastern france and northern italy. hundreds of homes were damaged in the french cote d'azur, and a landslide caused a motorway bridge to collapse in italy. rich preston reports. across the french riviera, the rains have kept on coming. people have had to abandon their cars and their homes, towns have been cut off after rivers broke their banks. several people have been reported missing across the region. here in the seaside town, boats moored out at seaside town, boats moored out at sea dragged onto the street by the water. 100 kilometres away over the border in italy, the extent of the damage is fast. in the province

here, the water has been unforgiving. this viaduct washed away by a landslide. there were no reports of any injuries. and in venice, the city underwater is once again underwater. —— on the water. in st mark's square, venetians and terrorists wading through the tides. business owners doing what they can to protect their property. this has been the worst month for high tides in venice since records began. pumps co nsta ntly in venice since records began. pumps constantly on the go with no sign of them being switched off any time $0011. that is a summary of the news, back to tony in sheerness. hello. we're in sheerness, the main town on the isle of sheppey, which is an island off

the north coast of kent, connected to the mainland via a bridge. sheppey is about 11 miles by nail files. —— the island measures about 11 miles by 9 miles and around 40,000 people live here. its name comes from "sheep island". one of the lowest voter turnout is in the last election. amanda williams and richard smith ran a micro pub. it is obviously as it says, as you would expect, it is one room, a 1—room pub and it is called the flying sheep. this is amanda and this is richard. thank you for having us here. explain why this is called the flying sheep.

the short brothers had a base here. we have got bits and pieces around the place. winston churchill had flying lessons here, the wright brothers were here in the early stages. flying sheep work for us. you have got a pub in yourfront room? yes. we don't actually live above, we have got a house up the road. but we have lived here for 20 years, we have had a business for 20 years. it was a hair and beauty salon, and you converted, why? i was not enjoying it any more. this is something i have wanted to do, it meant we can work together, so we made the change. what kind of political conversations go on in your pub? lots of brexit or lack of.

mainly people complain that it has not happened. seriously let down by them? is that how you would feel let down by them? yes. people come in and see why has it not happen. the vote rs and see why has it not happen. the voters happened, why are we the stagnated place we are n. looking foolish to the rest of the world. geographically you are only 38 miles 01’ so geographically you are only 38 miles or so from the centre of the capital, 38 miles from westminster. does it feel like you are much more away from that? much more. we have forgotten at the edge. you are on the edge of britain? westminster is the edge of britain? westminster is the centre of it all, sarry and other parts of kent. in the big cities and we are really on the edge of nowhere. we don't seem to be

interested in as —— they do not seem to be. do you feel forgotten? interested in as —— they do not seem to be. do you feelforgotten? we do not get the flag —— funding. you would not know that we had a proper seafront, there is nothing in time to advertise whereas other places they always advertise what they have got, we do not. do you think that is down to a local politician to sort that or who is in government? both. if they want to promote tourism then they should be working together. what are the other issues, you mentioned tourism, lack of investment, what are the other issues that are important for both of you in this election? mine is, getting brexit sorted. we are in limbo. the last year, every business i know has suffered. it has been suppressed. from the top big business are holding back on

investing because nobody knows what will happen. it has led to everything being held back.|j will happen. it has led to everything being held back. i feel the same, a lot of businesses have suffered because of this. a lot of drivers are saying they are coming here saying they are having to deal with businesses paying for storage. they do not know what is going on, it is causing businesses a lot of money. -- right costing. you'll love it here, don't you? you are right. tell us what you love about it? it here, don't you? you are right. tell us what you love about mm has got a fantastic community. we may be short of funding, but our community spirit is fantastic. we'll raise a lot of money for charity on this island and it has a strong community feel. that is important. when you think there is only one secondary school and that requires improvement, there is no post

office, no a&e. the docks were shot. the post —— like steel shot. but still you feel like... -- shot. -- shut. what time do you serve your first drink is two for pm. what is your most popular tipple? we are in the good beer guide. the beer is good and other things. thank you very much richard and amanda. appreciate you starting off our programme here today and giving us a brilliant introduction to what it is like here and why you love it. thank you very much. before we head to the chicken shop and meet more people there. i met

some people who live on victoria street, just down the road from here on the high street to have a chat with them yesterday. so first, i'm going to introduce you to michael lockhurst. he's born in sheerness 71 years ago, has lived all his life here, and he's been housebound for the last 1a months. hi, michael. how do? how are you? all right, thank you. nice to see you. and you, my dear. yeah, you've not been able to get about because of problems with both of your legs. so tell us what your life's been like? oh, it's terrible. ijust have to lie there. you feel like you're

in prison, you know. and then you don't get too much help. really. is that what it feels like? yeah. the carers their selves, for my ulcers, are very good. it's a good service with them. but like other things, like i need, you do little exercises, but that's not what i want. i want to get out of bed and i want to... ..i want to walk. so with this general election coming up, is it the nhs that's on your mind, or other stuff? no, no, it's getting out of europe. is it? leaving? leaving. the nhs is a lovely thing. you know, we're the envy of the world and that's why they all want to come here. so what do you think about the fact that we're still in, having voted three years ago? disgusted with it. it's terrible. we want out. i'm fed up with people in other countries telling this country what to do. and we're meant to be great — great britain — and we want control of our own borders and get back to being governed by our people, even though they're not much cop.

traditionally, you voted labour most of your life, haven't you? most of my life, yeah, was labour. and so this time, who are you going to go for? it'll have to be boris. at least he's tried for us, hasn't he? you know what i mean? i think he would do it. do you believe all these promises that we're getting from politicians? no. no, no. they promise you the earth, then once they're in, they're in. then you don't get nothing done. in terms of borisjohnson promising to leave on january 31st, do you believe that promise? oh, yeah. yeah. yeah, he will, he will do that. then he'll be famous. michael, thank you so much. you've got your postal vote ready, haven't you? you'll be sending that off. yeah. no, iain‘t... it comes on the 29th. 0h, right, 0k. well, thank you for having us in your home. really nice to meet you. take care. look after yourself.

so a little bit further down victoria street, we're going to meet andy holbrook and john cham. interesting, because andy moved here four years ago from maidstone. and john, who was born and brought up here, he wants to move off the island in order to get a betterjob. hi! tell us why you moved here? eh, basically, i moved here because i know a lot of people on the island, and the house prices were just so much better than maidstone, where i was living at the time. i really like it. i find people really friendly. it's a really nice place to live, yeah. john, you've lived here all your life? yes, i have, that's right. but you're thinking you're going to have to move off the island in order to to progress? yes, because the lack of opportunities.

if you want a really good job, it's very difficult to find here on the island. so you have to really go to the mainland for a better opportunity and for a better future for young people, unfortunately. geographically, we're not that far from westminster. but i wonder, andy, do you think the isle of sheppey is a priority for politicians? no, i don't. i think it's regarded as a bit of a backwater that they can't really be bothered with. why? well, you just get the feeling that, you know, it's all fine to build loads and loads of houses, but the roads are woefully inadequate. what issues are on your mind in this election? well, local issues. i'm really worried about the crime, because there's quite a lot of drug dealing going on locally. there's county lines drug dealing that extends to here in sheerness. and a lot of young people carrying knives. for me it's quite concerning. also, there's the failing school systems. john, you're a lib demmer, you're a remainer. you would like to stay in the european union.

this is an island where 60% voted to leave. do you feel a bit isolated? yes, i feel very isolated. but then again, i don't really mind, because the future of the country, in my opinion, really hinges on what happens with brexit. i just think that brexit will break up the union. in terms of this election, i know, andy, you're weighing up labour and the conservatives, aren't you? why? right, wellthe main thing that does concern me, it does really look like we're going to go out with one foot in and one foot out. in terms of brexit? yeah, in terms of brexit, and no say at the table, which i think that's definitely how the conservatives are going to take it. so that concerns me. but then on the other hand, a lot of things like jeremy corbyn said about re—nationalising like the water companies, things like that, which i'm all for. so at the moment, i really, i really haven't got my head around which one i'm going to go for. thank you both.

thank you for inviting me into your home. cheers, john. thank you. thanks very much, andy. nice to meet you. cheers. let's get more on that broking —— on that breaking story. a man from northern ireland who is charged with the manslaughter of 39 vietnamese people who died in a lorry has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to assist illegal immigration. our home affairs correspondent daniel sandford is at the old bailey this was a short hearing at the old bailey in london. morris robinson was only asked to plead one way or another to the 43 charges that he faces. 0ne another to the 43 charges that he faces. one that he pleaded guilty to was conspiring to assist illegal immigration, that is conspiring with others to assist illegal immigration and the other was essentially a

money—laundering charge to do with acquiring criminal property, namely cash. the other 41 charges that he faces including 39 charges of manslaughter, he was not asked to enter a plea to. this is clearly a complex case with a long way to go. another man, christopher kennedy from ireland is appearing before magistrates this morning. there is a content as —— and tested extradition in northern ireland. no trial date was set at this stage but mr morrison was told he would be back in court on december the 13th having pleaded guilty to having assisted illegal immigration. thank you. daniel sanford reporting from the 0ld daniel sanford reporting from the old bailey this morning. welcome to our programme. welcome back to sheppey‘z peri peri chicken shop. we're going to talk to some

candidates now — and lots of voters. we have already heard from amanda and richard who say they feel that this part of the world is at the edge of britain. we're going to talk to some candidates now — and lots of voters. what does the selection mean to you and accountable organisation. how disappointed i knew that this country has not left the eu? very. we have two parties that do not understand the word of democracy. they don't understand. we will put them ina they don't understand. we will put them in a moment. i have never been so them in a moment. i have never been so worried about the nhs as i am now. i say that because after nine years or so

now. i say that because after nine years or so of put it mildly a lack of commitment to the nhs, sadly there is an election campaign where we are getting these amazing promises. in 2015jeremy hunt said we would have another 5000, we have 1200 less. i gather today there is a promise of 50,000 new nurses. well they treated them badly, they have had a pay cut a 15% in that time. they have had the privilege of parking and paying for that at their place of work. they have all said billions of extra spending for them. do you believe them? not really. but some of the outrageous things, 15 million more gp appointments, 40 hospitals, these are lies in my opinion. contrasts greatly with what we should have happened. what is on your mind? what i am worried about

is the developments. we have local housing developments, lack of infrastructure. we do not have enough skills, young people have nothing to do. and that will increase anti—social behaviour. nothing to do. and that will increase anti—social behaviourlj was increase anti—social behaviour.” was going to bring in texas. he said there was a lack of things for young people today. hello, texas. 18. your first election. are you excited? yes. still very undecided. you are still unregistered. after this programme will you register? yes. it is difficult for young people to get into work in this area because there is an overpopulation. i think it is ha rd to is an overpopulation. i think it is hard to get a job in this area without travelling elsewhere to get apprenticeship schemes or other opportunities you want. you think you would have to move off the island to move on and to progress

yes. do you want to stay here? i like the island, it is a good place to live. i would like to have more opportunities for young people here. tell me about you. i am a postgraduate journalism student and my concern is the parties promises to invest in mental health services. what, has it been mentioned, have you heard manifesto promises about mental health? i have heard a few things and manifestos, particularly the conservatives, labour, liberal democrats and they are all promising the same thing but i do not know if ican the same thing but i do not know if i can believe it. generally, have their manifesto promises filter down to you? paul, you mention various promises from conservatives. 0ur people hearing manifesto promises? yes. introduce yourself. iam people hearing manifesto promises? yes. introduce yourself. i am a recent graduate. 25. i do not know,

politics is not being pushed out as much as it is. lots of false promises, ukip, the money thrown to the nhs, where has that gone? i am saying, how can i see all that money being pumped into the nhs... they would say we have not left the eu yet. i cannot see it being fulfilled, there are no steps being taken fulfilled, there are no steps being ta ken towards fulfilled, there are no steps being taken towards that. i am fran. i strongly believe this election is vitally important because with homeless listeners, the poverty, the food banks, education, the lack of money in schools and the nhs, if something isn't done now, where are we going to be? where are we going to end up? are we going back to the workhouse? i remember after the

war... you don't believe that do you? i believe things are pretty dire. the tories have been in for nine years with austerity and a lot of this poverty and a lot of the issues are down to them, absolutely. for transparency, i am going to say you're a member of the labour party. the brexit party here and the conservative party as well. paul, i think you wanted to respond to fran? why did we have to bring austerity end because a left—wing government did not know how to run the economy. i think it was the banks that started it and it started in america. that is not the case, absolutely not. the cutbacks in benefits to disabled people, i don't rememberany of this benefits to disabled people, i don't remember any of this as a child growing up after the war. i did not

see growing up after the war. i did not see people sleeping in doorways, i did not see food banks. i gave to food banks, i am did not see food banks. i gave to food banks, lam happy to did not see food banks. i gave to food banks, i am happy to do that but we should not be doing that in the 215t century. but we should not be doing that in the 21st century. i agree with you because i have lived here for 19 yea rs now because i have lived here for 19 years now and when i moved from london i did not see anything like food banks. but where i work now in sittingbourne, we have to provide food for people and i am forever going into supermarkets to collect food to give to people. and the problem is that some of the people who come to collect the feed —— like food, they are working. they are working so hard, they cannot feed their children or families.” working so hard, they cannot feed their children or families. i think 40% of people on benefits are in work. that is the problem. i am the local youth worker. work. that is the problem. i am the localyouth worker. how work. that is the problem. i am the local youth worker. how many youth centres on this island? there is only one full—time youth centre which i am running. because we

bought it off the local authority when they coast is down six years ago. 760 youth centres have been closed in this country, we have knife crime at a level we have never seenin knife crime at a level we have never seen in our lifetime. i want to know are these new parties, the party is coming along, have they got a manifesto saying they will reinstate the youth service and get these young people off the streets and give them a chance of a safe and good education and in the evening good education and in the evening good activities? let's pass the microphone to karen. introduce yourself. hello, iam karen todd microphone to karen. introduce yourself. hello, i am karen todd and i live locally. my concern is to get the country out of brexit or get brexit done. and to go back to what we first started, the common market. soi we first started, the common market. so i want to get all our controls back, all our laws back, all the regulations back. that is the main

thing as far as i am concerned. that is why ijoined the brexit party. there is not a brexit party candidate standing here. because nigel farage did them down. how do you feel about that i believe that what he has done is for the good of the country, i understand what he has done. i have recently in the last few days, had a flyer through the door. he is the conservative candidate. his policies on the back are virtually what we believe in. you have got housing going up in this area that is unsustainable, we have got roads that at bursting point. there is no more land to build any more roads. and as i say, it is at bursting point. and something needs to be done to calm down the building of houses in this area. there are no doctors being built, no schools being built, there is one secondary school on the isle

of sheppey. so if the children don't wa nt to of sheppey. so if the children don't want to go to that school, they have to go over to the mainland... to a school of their choice. i am going to bring in kerry. introduce yourself. i am a family support worker. and a member of the conservative party. i work for a homeless charity in the area. what is on your mind in this election! what worries me is the mental health side of things with adults and children and the pressures that we have on our local schools, the primary and secondary school. because the staff are just inundated with concerns and they need support. with these children because family... families on this island are in poverty. what does this election mean to you? we have got to wa ke election mean to you? we have got to wake up and help these families. we

need with high rents, i am seeing families that are struggling to pay their top families that are struggling to pay theirtop ups on families that are struggling to pay their top ups on the reds and they are saying to me, what do i do, do i pay my rent or feed my children? seriously. weakly i am filling out application forms to get grants for funding to help these families, to get them help with activities for their children so they can go and in ivy their children so they can go and in joy themselves, there is isolation because of what they are going through. who do you think is the party that can help those families that you describe is to conservative party. cani can i interrupt? your interest in mental health, 12% of mental health beds are provided by the private sector, in places like bristol 95% provided by the private sector, two thirds of which are american companies. can i cut in? i am brendan, a local resident. talking

about mental health services, how can you say that we are receiving support in the mental health services yet we are waiting a very long time to access this service and yet... long time to access this service and yet lack of funding. lack of funding may be, they are putting this money in other places where it should be going and yet, people are suffering day in and out.” should be going and yet, people are suffering day in and out. i couldn't agree more, couldn't agree more. suffering day in and out. i couldn't agree more, couldn't agree morem needs to stop, i have suffered from mental health issues this year, i found it very hard, i have tried accessing services, i have had over accessing services, i have had over a six—month waiting list, how is this acceptable? we are in the most under doctored area in the country, 12% of vacancies, people waiting for gp appointments because the average gp appointments because the average gp is doing thejob of two gps. gp appointments because the average gp is doing the job of two gps. let me put some facts to the audience

across the country if i may, and then i will move over and talk to then i will move over and talk to the prospective parliamentary candidates. the borough where the isle of sheppey sets has one doctor for every 3342 patients. that is the worst ratio in the country. double what it should be. obviously it means it takes agents and it can ta ke means it takes agents and it can take ages to get an appointment so if you want to share the microphones around, i will move over, and talk to the three of the parliamentary candidates in this area. good morning. let me introduce you. many people in the shop, have you ever done an interview in a chicken shop? this is a first. and a first for me. i have canvassed in a chicken shop at never been interviewed. gordon henderson, conservative candidate, the mp since 2010. labour candidate clive johnston, the mp since 2010. labour candidate clivejohnston, liberal democrat benji martin. is thej important?

might deputy group leader is ben a martin. and the] stands for? jonathan. welcome to you. the list we will show the audience around the country. thanks very much for being pa rt country. thanks very much for being part of the audience in the programme today. one of the really big issues, there are a number, the number of gps, the lack of gps considering the population. and you have been the mp here since 2010. why haven't you done more to boost that number? i've raised the issue only recently in parliament. is added? i can't go out and drag gps to the area. we have huge problems, the lack of gps, it's notjust gps, all of the concerns you've heard are

at the lack of professionals, we have in the area. it's very difficult to attract notjust gps but police, teachers, prison officers, the whole gamut. and one officers, the whole gamut. and one of the reasons for that is take gps, for a start, they take ten years to train. any gp you want to date would have had to start their training in 2009. sure, but you been in since 2010. i'm not disputing that. we are, asa 2010. i'm not disputing that. we are, as a government opening a new medical school in kent, canterbury, due to open next year. that will only mean doctors will be available ten yea rs only mean doctors will be available ten years after that to be gps. so for people here, the one doctor for every 3342 patients, that ratio is going to continue. it is. and what we need is help from the government to enable us to attract gps to the

area because one the problems we face in kent and particularly my area, we are so close to london. because doctors are doing their training in london, they settled down and then it's difficult to get them. in addition, there is london weighting allowance, they can earn six or £7,000 more, what i want to see is london weighting allowance extended into kent. that will make it easierfor us to extended into kent. that will make it easier for us to attract people. clive, the labour candidate, how would you attract more gps to work on this island? it's clear gordon 's nine years of being ineffectual, it's almost as if we are surprised by this crisis and be seen it coming for a by this crisis and be seen it coming fora numberof by this crisis and be seen it coming for a number of years. by this crisis and be seen it coming fora number of years. when by this crisis and be seen it coming for a number of years. when gordon says he can't attract doctors and now, the investment should have gone ina long now, the investment should have gone in a long time ago to avoid the crisis and there are some real things that we can do. he's quite right to mention the new medical school, that increase the flow. of doctors. but we also need to think

about things like the working conditions of doctors, doctors who are underthe conditions of doctors, doctors who are under the sorts of pressures that we've been hearing about. what would labour do? we are committed to increasing the number of doctors. would labour do? we are committed to increasing the number of doctorsm doesn't mean you will get them here for the reason this gentleman has described. i'm moving on to that, the local medical school will involve doctors being trained locally and hopefully stay hopefully stay. we will encourage them to stay. how? please come up when you stay, gps? moving on, to show how attractive this area is for people to stay and bring up their families. ok, let's imagine i am a newly trained gp, i realise there is a shortage on this island. up the road in london i can earn six or seven grams poor, what are you going to say to me to persuade me to stay? we are working on the workload and the quality of life, work life balance over a period of time. if we

form a government in december we have not been in power for nine years, we will be able to bring those changes but we will also be able to emphasise both were gps and other professionals, and for other people, how attractive this area is to live and bring up a family. before i bring in ben, paul, you are a retired gp, did you work your? but on the mainland? on this island? on the mainland, sorry. i don't get that argument, all the gps are in london, there is a bigger crisis of gp vacancies in london, 12% across the board. to say they are all in london, that's rubbish. you said they are all ...i london, that's rubbish. you said they are all i said it's difficult for us to attract them because of there are big vacancies in london as well. before i bring vacancies in london as well. before ibring in vacancies in london as well. before i bring in mr martin from the liberal democrats let me read m essa g es liberal democrats let me read messages from people listening and watching around the country, frank says the sense of isolation in sheerness is palpable. but exit

isn't going to change that. maybe we will come back to that. mimi says just tuned into your programme. there is no a&e, on secondary school underperforming, and there has been a labour voter on the programme all his life, he says he'll have to vote for boris. what? that was the interview we recorded with michael yesterday. j says the isle of sheppey in tunis gets stick but this is an excellent discussion on your programme, katarina says i hope you're not showing simply the purr and rundown parts of the area because there are some very lovely areas. rob says i'm a pensioner, keeping my free bus pass, tv licence, not having to sell my home to pay for care, having no tax increases and leaving the eu before they let in six new applicant countries means borisjohnson gets my vote and tony says we have a five year extra parliamentary election cycle how can the tories promised

things that are ten years away? ben martin, what with the lib dems do about the lack of gps? first and foremost about the lack of gps? first and fore m ost we about the lack of gps? first and foremost we have to tackle where the problem has come from, tax introduced on the pension contributions of gps which means they lose out on cash when they start working more hours so many gps have reduced the number of hours they are working and others have decided to take early retirement. we we re decided to take early retirement. we were doing urgent review into that straightaway, put a penny in the pound on income tax to fund nhs and mental health services, locally, we are looking at key worker accommodation so when the new medical school is opened in canterbury we can partner with gp surgeries to offer placements when you gps. you tend to find when you offer placements people stay where they have had their placement for quite awhile. it's going to take time, is an urgent need now from what people here are saying.” agree. you look across this part of kent. there is a problem. in getting the gps in. let's be honest,

wherever you are in the country, it's going to take time. there's no point in giving wonderful, magic fairy tale about delivering extra gp tomorrow morning when it's going to ta ke tomorrow morning when it's going to take time to train them. hang on, paul, if you don't mind, i'd like you to share the microphone, i appreciate you have particular expertise as a retired gp but gordon, the conservatives are promising they are going to recruit 50,000 more nurses. except that's not true. because that includes persuading 18 and a half thousand existing nurses to remain in the profession so do you acknowledge the 50,000 headline is dishonest?“ profession so do you acknowledge the 50,000 headline is dishonest? if you are looking for somebody to blindly support his party are coming to the wrong person, i've always in the nine and half years i've been a memberof nine and half years i've been a member of parliament have always put my own community first and concentrated on local issues rather than national. sol concentrated on local issues rather

than national. so i don't know all the facts about that, what i do know what i do support as they are going to reintroduce the bursary for nurses which should not have been scrapped in the first place. that will help. that was a mistake by the conservative government? what are the mistakes that they made? i'm not going to go into all the mistakes i believe they made, as far as i'm concerned ... it's believe they made, as far as i'm concerned it's good to have honesty. there are things perhaps we could have done better. like what? like we shouldn't have increased the retirement age of our prison officers, i've got three prisons here on sheppey, a lot of prison officers, the largest population of prisoners and the whole country here. they are currently having to work until they are 68 or as a police officer and a firefighter can retire at 60. we shouldn't have done that and we should be doing something about that and that's what i'm determined to try and achieve. i'm determined to try and achieve. i'm interested you haven't mentioned poverty, it's come up a number of times, almost half the children in

this area, i will say that again, almost half the children in this area are living in poverty. what do you think about that as the local conservative mp? this hasn'tjust happened over the last nine years, there are deep—rooted reasons. there are deep—rooted reasons why we have deprivation in certain areas of this constituency including in sheerness and goes back 50 years. it's been under labour administrations and conservative administrations, there are deep—rooted, it goes back to when they close the dockyard here on sheppey many years ago. that was in the 50s. and it has never improved, what we are trying i can't personally do anything about it. why not? on personally do anything about it. why not? 0na personally do anything about it. why not? on a personal basis, there is little but what i can do and what i am doing you are the conservative mp for nine years your government, your party has been in government, your party has been in government for nine years.” government, your party has been in government for nine years. i can't personally do anything about it,

what i am doing invite are we voting for you? but i am doing is working with other people, for instance, i working with other people, for instance, lam working with other people, for instance, i am currently working with swale borough council to try and identify, iactually with swale borough council to try and identify, i actually undertaken exercise earlier this year to try to identify the people in my area not just statistics, this is about people, and i'm trying to identify, we identified them, we contacted them and we tried to help resolve them and we tried to help resolve the problems but i can only do a little bit so i am working with the council to try and identify who they are so we can council to try and identify who they are so we can help. apparently someone are so we can help. apparently someone has their phone on so whoever has their phone on, i don't know if it's you mrjohnson, it is on silent. no no, it's fine. can i say something? it's important you

are saying you need to work more with local authorities to find out who these poor people are. we all know who they are. i run a charity and are not supposed to say that but iam here and are not supposed to say that but i am here lobbying. we've been saying who these poor people are. when you establish the big society it was left for us, local people, to start taking up what the government and the different parties should do but you know, bridging the gaps in services. children's services, we are running community leisure services for young people. the gentleman behind me talked about the cou nty gentleman behind me talked about the county line crimes. it's left for us, without money, i am county line crimes. it's left for us, without money, iam running charities, running activities to educate young people about getting into gangs and being groomed for drugs and all of that. but you are

saying you are still looking to talk to people when the problem isjust out there for everybody to see. what would you pick just out there for everybody to see. what would you pickjust one local people to talk to? why not look at all of the services, everyone doing something with their own money go on, gordon you respond. you are right, christine, isaid go on, gordon you respond. you are right, christine, i said i was working with swale borough council, that doesn't mean i don't want to work with other people are more than happy to work with and identify who these people are and get them help. i wonder if you agree with the home secretary that the government should not be blamed for poverty and local councils and schools which rely on the government the bulk of the funding should also shoulder responsibility? i think everyone has to shoulder responsibility, the government, local government, charity organisations, we all have a responsibility to try and do what we

can to help those who need help. just so unclear, do you think your government has responsibility for fa ct government has responsibility for fact that almost half the children in this area are living in poverty? it has some of the responsibility because it's obviously not giving them the support and help that they need. ok, let me bring in clive johnson. labour says it's to spend an extra £83 billion a year which is an extra £83 billion a year which is an enormous sum of money, sum of money that the institute for fiscal studies says is colossal and not credible. what would happen to the ala sheppey, how much money would come here, what would it be spent on? the tories did not invent poverty but for gordon to deny that it's massively increased since 2010 is frankly amazing. —— the isle of sheppey. 40% increase in food bank, massive increase in poverty. what would labour do? large numbers of people working, the 83 million

pounds looks like a lot of money 83 billion. sorry, but it indicates the importance of the job that we are facing so what would labour do? the economy locally is very important, we had missed opportunities during gordon ‘s time with the closure of the steel mill. what would you do? the wind turbine fabrication. i did everything i could to keep the steelworks open, i was marching with steelworkers, where were you, where were you? what we re where were you, where were you? what were you where were you, where were you? what were you when they lost their pensions? i was marching. there are plenty of opportunities that have been missed and labours green new deal represents 320 it happened undera labour deal represents 320 it happened under a labour government. 320,000 don't talk to me about the steelworks. 1 million greenjobs which are appropriate for the sort

of area. how many newjobs are you claiming labour would create.” can't put a figure on that at this stage. you know, that's impossible to do. it's difficult to know what thatis to do. it's difficult to know what that is going to look like as the yea rs go that is going to look like as the years go by but areas like sheppey that have been left behind by this government are areas that we need to be arguing for the separately to make sure there is investment and employment. why is labour scrapping the married couples allowance? there's a number of reasons, a number of tax changes. tell us. i'm afraid, are not going to be able to tell you. i don't know. you don't know? it's discriminatory to couples who are married. that's a member of the labour party, voter telling the prospective parliamentary candidate for the labour clive johnson prospective parliamentary candidate for the labour clivejohnson white the married couples allowance is

being scrapped. so when labour says the only people that will be affected by tax rises at the top 5% of earners can you acknowledge that's not true? people who are 80000 and above, that's the top 95%, ...the 80000 and above, that's the top 95%, the top 5%. but people who benefit from the married couples allowa nce benefit from the married couples allowance aren't necessarily high earners, it's normal people as well. indeed. but there are tax changes at the lower end that will protect incomes for people, there will be no tax rises for the vast majority of people. the tax rises on the top 5% and the changes to corporation tax and the changes to corporation tax and the changes to corporation tax and the windfall tax all the changes i know, i'm simply asking you to acknowledge when labour claims only 596 acknowledge when labour claims only 5% of top earners will be affected by tax increases i'm asking you to acknowledge that's not true because the married couples allowance is

being scrapped and therefore is going to hit people ‘s pockets. being scrapped and therefore is going to hit people '5 pocketsm will, it's £400 a year, there will be other protections for lower paid what sort of protections? the increase in tax allowances will offset those. ben martin, why are you standing here in 65% of people voted to leave the eu and as a liberal democrat you want to remain if you get a majority or you at least wa nt if you get a majority or you at least want a second so—called peoples will come a second referendum? 6596 voted leave doesn't mean the other 35% don't deserve representation and the ability to vote for someone who represents their views stop don't you think you need to carry out the result of the first referendum before offering a second? it was an advisory referendum based on lies, a big bus that said 350 million a week for the

nhs which they were told straightaway was alive. and yet, people on the doorsteps were talking about that when they were voting. who wants to respond to that, karen have you a microphone? do you want to talk to them? right, since the referendum was called, yes, 0k, to talk to them? right, since the referendum was called, yes, ok, the nhs was the main topic that boris pushed forward, but since then, we found out a hell of a lot of what is going on in the eu regarding the rules and regulations and the control they have over this country. what do you think about the fact the uk are still in the eu? i think we should have come out on the 31st of march when we were supposed to, then brea ks march when we were supposed to, then breaks apart it wouldn't be in existence. his responsibility is it, the fact that we are in? parliament generally. —— the brexit party. a lot of people put up barriers and voted against policies and put in

rules and regulations and laws just to stop brexit and i cannot understand why. i understand there needs to be some kind of deal for us to carry on trading with the eu but what i do not agree with is the way that they just had what i do not agree with is the way that theyjust had taken control of laws and regulations. who wants to comment on that? grab a microphone. i tell you what, paul, i think you and karen are similar in views. i want, i think, and karen are similar in views. i want, ithink, go and karen are similar in views. i want, i think, go on, and karen are similar in views. i want, ithink, go on, go and karen are similar in views. i want, i think, go on, go ahead and karen are similar in views. i want, ithink, go on, go ahead paul. it comes to the basics, £350 million on the side of a bus, what is democracy and why don't the lib dems understand it, simple as that. democracy did not end on the 23rd of june 2016, we still have a democratic right, it's the will of the people. you have decided to run

roughshod, decided we are not doing that, how is it emma craddick, the lib dems lied about their own name. that is an opinion. and from my point of view, the liberal democrats, from day one said br pro—european. if you decided to go and buy a car from a second hand salesman. but i'm using an analogy. if you are going to a second—hand car salesman and you decided i don't wa nt car salesman and you decided i don't want to buy the car you are not going to negotiate the deal to buy the car, are you? the liberal democrats are clear, we don't want to fulfil brexit. we want to negotiate. but we bought the car, we had the vote. would you like a third referendum? this had the vote. would you like a third referendum ? this would had the vote. would you like a third referendum? this would be a third referendum. a fourth, fifth? we will see. remember, democracy did not end in 2016. libby reads read the messages, this time next week we will be in east lothian, remained voting area. in this text says i am

a voter in scotland, i'm ashamed to say i have never heard of the isle of sheppey before today. is that something you hear? most people think we are in scotland. really, my goodness? a quick google this text says and i think it's fair to say the price has a huge amount of potential, shame to hear its struggling in places. and another viewer says i am an a&e doctor in the north west of england, the island not having nand is ridiculous. another viewer says i went to my gp yesterday, nobody in my waiting room might gp was there, although, the waiting room was empty but i've still got wait two weeks to see him. let me ask you clive, how isjeremy see him. let me ask you clive, how is jeremy corbyn see him. let me ask you clive, how isjeremy corbyn ‘s neutral position going down with voters since he announced it on friday night, he is not going to take any position should the labour party win, should you managed to negotiate a new deal and come to a second referendum?

it's not that he is taking no position, he's taking the position of being an honest broker. or as some people say taking no position. saint the country is divided, we've seen saint the country is divided, we've seen what happened when the prime minister took a view the first time round that didn't end well with david cameron i'm asking you how the nature of you is going around with people you talk to here?” think people understand the importance ofjeremy think people understand the importance of jeremy corbyn think people understand the importance ofjeremy corbyn in the position of prime minister taking an honest broker view during the course of that election, that referendum campaign in orderto of that election, that referendum campaign in order to implement whatever the decision is and to be able to unite the country afterwards. much of what we heard todayis afterwards. much of what we heard today is about the divisive nature of how the country has been over the last few years. it will be very important for us to bring the country together. and the neutral position, the honest broker position i think is fundamental to that. does

the neutral position, the honest broker position does it work for you briefly, a couple of minutes left. fran, it works for you? yes, it's the only way in the end to bring both sides together. paul will you pass the microphone to someone else? brendan? it doesn't, ithink pass the microphone to someone else? brendan? it doesn't, i think we've got to make the stand, if we have an election now we get a parliament and government in, do we have another election if we don't like them, it's democracy, isn't it? brendan? if i'm honest with you, politics has a very boring, you are being very childish, every time something needs to happen jeremy corbyn stepping in, spitting his dummy out, we can't do this, we can't do that. kerry? go on. does it work of the neutral position? you would rise above it? yes, we've got to move forward, make a stand, make a judgment, do the right thing and move forward for the people. before

the end of the programme, past the microphone, you came here from syria and you want to say how much you love it here. i had been living here for a year love it here. i had been living here fora yearand love it here. i had been living here for a year and ten months. do you love it? i do, i enjoy here, i came to hear because you know, my country is in dangerand to hear because you know, my country is in danger and terrible, yes, i would like to thank the uk government for bringing us to hear and saving us. thank you. thank you all very much for being on the programme. we appreciate your time. thank you and see you soon. hello. we have lots of cloud across the uk at the moment, some outbreaks of rain, rather wet start to the working week and we continue to see some rain into this afternoon. that's the scene this morning in dorset. lots of great skies, you can see it's quite a messy picture

across the uk, bans of showers tracking north and east across many parts, probably worth keeping your umbrella handy during the rest of the day. roger skies in the south—west of england, the far north of scotland, mild day, temperatures for many of us getting into double figures, 13 celsius across southern areas. through tonight we continue with this band of rain moving north and east before the next more significant band of rain moves in across the south—west later in the night with strengthening winds. mild night with strengthening winds. mild night to come, temperatures not falling very far but throughout tuesday, gusty day especially across the south—west, we see fairly strong winds and with that, some heavy rain moving north and east roots. goodbye for now.

you're watching bbc newsroom live — it's11am and these are the main stories this morning: a lorry driver, who is accused over the deaths of 39 migrants in essex, has admitted plotting to assist illegal immigration. the taxi—hailing app, uber, has been refused a new licence to operate in london. the firm says it will appeal against the decision. staff at almost half of the uk's universities begin an eight—day strike over pay, pensions and working conditions, affecting as many as a million students. i have paid so much money and to basically have one week of my course written off? it's like i want that money back. labour are vowing to tackle ‘dodgy landlords' and cap rents if they win the election, with plans to improve conditions