today at 5, the chancellor unveils the biggest—spending budget for over 20 years, with massive injections of cash, to protect the economy, against the impact of coronavirus. in his first budget, rishi sunak said coronavirus would have a significant effect on the economy, but said he'd do whatever it takes, to protect business and jobs. the british people may be worried that they are not daunted. we will protect our country and our people. we will rise to this challenge. labour said that the task of boosting the economy was more difficult after a decade of austerity. having ruthlessly forced down the living standards and life chances of millions of our people for a decade,

the talk of leveling up is a cruel joke. other measures include a freeze on fuel duty, the abolition of the tampon—tax and spending on infrastructure. backin back in business, protecting our environment, building roads, building railways, building colleges, building houses, building oui’ colleges, building houses, building our union. and earlier today, the bank of england announced an emergency cut in interest rates, to give extra support for the economy. the world health organization says the coronavirus outbeak can now ‘be characterised as a pandemic‘ this is the first pandemic caused by the coronavirus and we have never before seen a pandemic that can be controlled at the same time. here the biggest daily rise yet in cases, with 83 more announced today, bringing the total to 456.

the health minister nadine dorries has revealed that she's tested positive for the virus. and in new york, the former hollywood producer harvey weinstein, is sentenced to 23 years in jail, for sexual assault and rape. it's 5 o'clock. we're live at westminster, on budget day, where the newly—appointed chancellor, rishi sunak, has unveiled the biggest—spending budget, in over 20 years, which includes a 12—billion pound package, to cushion the economy, against the impact of coronavirus on business — and on the lives of millions of workers. the number of coronovirus cases in the uk has risen to 456, up 83 in just 2a hours. delivering his first budget, the chancellor said he would abolish business rates for many

firms, extend sick pay, and boost nhs funding. the labour leaderjeremy corbyn said 10 years of cuts would make it harder to deal with coronavirus. earlier, the bank of england had announced an emergency cut in interest rates, to a quarter of one per cent. let's look in more detail at the main measures in the budget. to combat the hardship caused by the coronavirus outbreak, the chancellor announced a 5 billion pound emergency response fund, to support the nhs and other public services. statuatory sick pay will be paid to all those who choose to self—isolate, although unions have pointed out many workers aren't eligible for it. firms with fewer than 250 staff will be refunded for sick pay payments for two weeks. business rates are to be abolished for the next year for some small businesses in england. there will be a £500 milion pound hardship fund to help vulnerable people. and £1.1ibn is to be

invested in science to research the new virus. in other measures, more than £600 billion is set to be spent on roads, rail, broadband and housing, by the middle of 2025. £2.5bn will be made available to fix potholes and resurface roads over five years. there will be a one billion pound building safety fund, to remove dangerous cladding from high—rise buildings, following the grenfell fire. the national insurance threshold will increase from £8,632 to £9,500. fuel duty will remain frozen for another year. planned rises in beer, cider and wine duties are cancelled. 0n the environment, mr sunak pledged more money for flood defences. more rapid—charging hubs for electric cars. and a new plastics packaging tax, although some environmental groups say it doesn't go far enough. much more on those measures to come, but first this report from our political

correspondent nick eardley. the chancellor with his red box and budget deal. if a movie or site but farfrom familiar budget deal. if a movie or site but far from familiar circumstances. rishi sunak first budget a month after he was given the job comes with the economy facing a huge challenge as the country deals the coronavirus outbreak. he warned of description, workers are sick, businesses unable to access goods and consumer spending. a combination of those effects will have a significant impact on the uk economy. but it will be temporary. people will return to work. supply chains will return to normal, life will return to normal. for a period, it is going to be tough, but i am confident that our economic performance will recover. with a

significant package he is pledging that the nhs will get whatever resources it needs is whatever the cost and it will be sick pay for eve ryo ne cost and it will be sick pay for everyone who has to stay at home and for smaller businesses, the cost of sick pay will be covered by the government and will also be providing leave for business rates. iam announcing providing leave for business rates. i am announcing today in total, a £30 billion fiscal stimulus to support british people, britishjobs and british businesses through this moment. and of course, if further action is needed is the situation evolves, i hope the whole house knows that i will not hesitate to act. i believe that this represents one of the most comprehensive economic responses of any government anywhere in the world today. before the budget, they met with the bank of england and this morning, the

announced the package of sports, interest rates and cuts to 0.5% and billions of pounds freed up to help banks support. this will help keep firms in business and people injobs and they will prevent a temporary disruption from causing longer—lasting economic harm. disruption from causing longer-lasting economic harm. but today was that just about the response to coronavirus, spending is back and there were significant commitments on infrastructure. hundreds on broadband and housing, cash for the nhs from the education. the government says it is fulfilling its election promises. this isjust the start, over the next few days, will tackle the big issues head—on, from the infrastructure and further devolution this is the budget of a government that gets things done. 0pposition parties are not convinced. having ruthlessly forced down the living standards and life chances of millions of our people

for a decade, the top of leveling up isa for a decade, the top of leveling up is a crueljoke. since 2010 aside from health spending, the tories have cut public services by 21%. this budget comes nowhere near either to close or reverse that devastating legacy. the spending types are flowing again in westminster, the government determined to show that it is keeping election promises. the media challenge for now is that the country and the economy is ready for the impact of coronavirus. stephen barclay is chief secretary to the treasury. he's with me now.

it is huge in scale and people have been taken by surprise but the skill of this package today. what is the thinking. it should not be a surprise because it is what we promised that the election. he made this commitment to the nhs of it being the number one priority to invest in the nhs, but also to level up invest in the nhs, but also to level up around uk and the infrastructure and skills of people and that is what this budget does. mix commitment as we set out in the ma nifesto to commitment as we set out in the manifesto to make bed in our public services but also in our infrastructure and that is what the chancellor set out. and you can align that with manifesto, that is true, but you are dealing with a much bigger crisis with the coronavirus in this budget is bigger than that which is suggested that because of the problem. and you're right. there is a package to deal with covid-i9 him right. there is a package to deal with covid—i9 him and that is an issue we need to address. the key thing is that the treasury is acting ina thing is that the treasury is acting in a concerted way with the bank of

england, who made an announcement and this is the whole of government effort. and as we go to the challenge of dealing with coronavirus, we support our government services enter nhs and or local authorities who would do it the pressures will deal with the individuals who may have issues as a consequence of this and on saturday sick pay and enabling them to get there quicker, but also more businesses because many of the viewers watching your programme will be worried about pressure on supply if staff cannot come into work and pressure on demand if consumer cynical not to purchase this. but it is temporary and it is targeted to deal with the specific certainties that we face. in a moment to where this money is coming from but before that, just to point out where you are in terms of the ideology, is a party and the past are very proud of being fiscally responsible and fiscally disciplined. you are now wide open to the accusation that you

are assigning massive checks and that that discipline has disappeared for a subset for accusation? absolutely not. this links all three of the fiscal rules are set out in the general election. the fiscal rules and there are speculation as to whether those fiscal rules would be changed but this budget meets all the goals the manifesto because a key pa rt the goals the manifesto because a key part of the budget is a dedication to the nhs, infrastructure and the fiscal rules. we meet them and that is what it is a responsible budget we are investigating and addressing the particular challenges of coronavirus to those targeted places. is a look at the projections for borrowing the needs to take place to sustain this level of spending, that is where you can be open to the accusations that you are no longer as disciplined as you are no longer as disciplined as you once that you were. the blunt question is, is this all being

fuelled by debt? the big question is is that affordable? it will stimulate the economy in terms of growing the economy we get recognised by the independent. but the key is that we are doing this over long period to get growth that has been stalled for a long time they were drinking after ten years we have taken difficult decisions, we have taken difficult decisions, we have taken the deficit down from the irresponsible position we inherited from labour, 10% deficit now below 2% and that enables us to invest responsibly to the level across the country because of that decade of difficult decisions we took which allowed us to now have a decade of growth. but it is a level of borrowing that in an ideal world you do not want to be contemplating. the key is the debt is coming down through the period we are dealing with and it is also coming down to

the final year as well. that aside as affordable and insurance rates are at record low interest been uncertainty in recent years because of brexit that has impacted on business but it is right that we invest to economy moving and we level up as he promised to do, but also it is on the back of the difficult decisions that we took which now enable a decade of growth the rear door get in a sustainable way. meaning that the school rule but also bringing in the percentage of debt to gdp down over the department. on a practical note, this is when the elements of people have been remarking on this afternoon to do with the kind of help that you're wanting to offer people in the coronavirus scenario. the eligibility for help, either statutory sick pay, in some cases either because of levels of income or savings, or individual circumstances, people are not eligible for some the help that you are offering. what is your answer to that? there are different answers to

that, sick pay and what they offer for the members of staff and there are issues in terms of businesses in specific, people are able to claim on day one, making it easier to claim andi on day one, making it easier to claim and i have to go to your gp you can go one—on—one for example. issues of the self—employed who are impacted differently in the support in terms of their employment and support allowance, also support and terms of universal credit. but that best way of supporting people ski businesses viable and that is like a big part of the package that the chancellor announced was that targeted support for businesses because we have to help those businesses through the short—term through this temporary issue and thatis through this temporary issue and that is addressing that if they do need to self—isolate, they will be escorted to the process. thank you for joining escorted to the process. thank you forjoining us on bbc news.

the shadow chancellor john mcdonnell is in our westminster studio. thank you forjoining us. this is the biggest loosening of the fiscal rules according to our expert advice since 1992. is this is something that labour will be unhappy with? step—by—step, let us take the individual elements of that. in terms of tackling the coronavirus outbreak, we want to work on a cross party basis and no partisan in this, we are supporting the package put forward but there are elements of it where people are not getting support they need the that you raised which is zero—hour contracts workers, part—time workers, low—paid workers and that accessing the support of sick pay and then there is the issue with regards to many self—employed

they'll be forced on these universal credit routes which are extremely different and delays getting to them. and statutory sick pay is very low compared to the rest of europe and £94, although we will support the government on that, we say to them that there are lots of issues here that need to be addressed pretty quickly. the money to the nhs will support that and we have been calling for it, but our big issue now is social care and jeremy hunt raise that today as well. we've got to address the crisis that we have in social care because social care will be supporting the very people who are the most vulnerable to viruses, the elderly and also those who are physically disabled. so we will support the government on the package overall, we need them to address these serious issues about how its design. 0verall, it's spending in the long term, the issue

versus yes there is a bit of spending going on here and from what we have seen and other experts have commented. around 91 billion extra there are issues about where that is going and we are worried like the environmentalists are on the roads programme attempts to jeopardise our opportunities of tackling climate change in the real problem that a lot of this expenditure is quite late on in this government possibles administration. part of that is because there is a lack of revenue with day—to—day spending that has gone out of the last ten years because of austerity. the country has not been prepared either to tackle the coronavirus to the loss of hospital beds and also to ensure that they've got the staff and the workers that we need significantly skilled to tackle this huge sort of infrastructure expenditure. 0ur argument on the spending issue, i am

glad they have shifted never not gone far enough, but you've got to invest in social infrastructure as well and there's no real change on an austerity continues. on the practical points here, just of viewers, you've said that yes will back the government on this and that toa back the government on this and that to a certain point, but let's turn it around and say what are you going to be voting against in this package? what is labour against an terms of this package is being announced ? terms of this package is being announced? on the coronavirus issue, will not be voting against it, will be adding to it. hopefully will work ona be adding to it. hopefully will work on a cross party basis and we've got to co nfro nt on a cross party basis and we've got to confront this coronavirus issue and we have got to overcome it. and we will. it will be on the basis of working together in their whole gaps in the scheme that the government of got a look at now and will work with them and help them to overcome that

to make sure that everyone is supported and protected and in terms of planning for the future, we will support a lot of the infrastructure spend but as i said, a lot of it seems to be in announcements, it's a lot a bit of spend there we are concerned about the issue so much of invested in roads and not sufficient on public transport and so if we can try to get some amendment to that expenditure, that investment for the future, we feel that it would be wiser spent on public transport rather than roads development because that will impede our progress in terms of tackling climate change there be a range of issues like that. it will be adding to it and saying that actually come ona to it and saying that actually come on a whole range of things, there will be a taxation system and taken from the real issues in particular, failure to invest in collectors, failure to invest in collectors, failure overall it's a invest in our

day—to—day spending and make should we have the services we need. and after ten yea rs we have the services we need. and after ten years of harsh austerity, it's what we need. thank you very much. let's talk to our chief political correspondent vicki young, who's with me now. he promised all of this in our ma nifesto he promised all of this in our manifesto and investing in infrastructure and the rest of it. to the skill of this package surprise you? yes there was a conservative mps. surprise you? yes there was a conservative mp5. i was talking to them yesterday and they signed up for extra borrowing because that's what it is when it comes to investment infrastructure, broadband and all of that, but some of them said to me that if it comes to day—to—day spending, current spending, they did not think that should be borrowing to fund that kind of thing. they still believe that the purse strings should be held pretty tight. the could be

trouble ahead on all of this but they're going to get away with it for now because of the backdrop to all of this. coronavirus, the measures being ta ken all of this. coronavirus, the measures being taken there and listen to the chancellor, is pretty solid at the beginning there, we never anything like it for people know that something is coming in is going to be incredibly difficult to be sure to prepare people at the same time reassure them decedent looked, it is just going to be temporary. but there try to make sure is that the temporary impact does not become long—term and at the end of this we've got a lot of small businesses going out of business completely. appointed by the political landscape as we see it today and whether or not you think it is shifted adult, listening to john mcdonald saying that they want to support lots of parts of this package but there are pieces that they are unhappy with but lots of this extra investment reminds you of being pinned forward in the past,

what does it mean for the conservative in the labour in this debate? it is difficult for labour. the ground is being encroached upon given that the election campaign that the conservatives ran. they did talk about this a lot and there was a question of where the money goes and yes, they talk about leveling up but i'm not sure what that means to people at the moment, the money is coming where is going be spent. the building of roads, rail the rest of it, but will it be more than that for people? how long will it take and it is worth remembering that the forecast today, the growth forecast, they are already out of date there lots of people and we look at the gdp today, it is flatlined up to january we know that what is coming, it could be a recession is around the corner. to discuss the impact of the budget on employees and employers,

i'm joined by frances 0'grady, general secretary of the federation of small businesses and tania howe, owner of business in wakefield. thank you very much for talking to us. thank you very much for talking to us. as a businesswoman, but you think of the kind of business package that has come forward and how much difference would mean to you? well, i am a small business owner that i've only been trading for a year owner that i've only been trading fora yearand a owner that i've only been trading for a year and a half and it's my first business of this quite shocking and it has been an air of panic but hearing about the benefits, maybe i'll be able to claim especially for my staff has given me a little bit of reassurance and for the given me a little bit of reassurance and forthe high given me a little bit of reassurance and for the high street, we've been faced with a lot of problems recently and this is all we need. as long as there's not much panic, we should get through this. the since

today was businesses, big business and small business would be facing some pretty harsh challenges in the weeks and months to come. for you, you have been in business for not such a long time and you're still settling in, what are your needs right now when it comes to wood could be a pretty harsh economic impact going towards us. being on the high street and seen people on the high street and seen people on the street, we are going into self contamination and streets are going to be empty. we cannot afford for this to happen. i do not have an online presence so i've got no other means other than to follow the high street. we need the shops to stay open and as long as a windows we've been told to do, interest rates have been told to do, interest rates have been reduced and that could help because i cut up the spending in my mortgage payments, so i do not know,

ican mortgage payments, so i do not know, i can tell it's going to be tough times on how easy it's going to be. time will tell. but mac bear with us. time will tell. but mac bear with us. thank you for your contributions thank you for your robert chote is chairman of the office for budget responsibility. hejoins me now. briefing a bit of rain and noise as well. taking us by surprise these packages. given that it is billed as a package that is helping people, helping workers, helping small business at a very difficult period and with some pretty uncertain factors coming up towards us. what is your take? it is good that the government bowed to union pressure in terms of confirming sick pay for day one, but there's still too million workers who work less than £118 a week and will not qualify in their put in the position of deciding whether to go into work

when they're not well it should be at home. so there's no help from them in this package?” at home. so there's no help from them in this package? i would like to see the government change the rules of all workers are protected with sick pay and a decent rate from day one. but this has been a spin, spin, spin budget. but we need to do now is get around the table, unions, government and business so that we target that support where it is needed most, including, if necessary , needed most, including, if necessary, which subsidies will keep them open. what are your members sing today about the kind of package thatis sing today about the kind of package that is an offer? we have seen two things, first and foremost, the issue around what is likely to be quite a damaging coronavirus hitting small businesses and our employees, secondly we have also seen a journey on the investment of the government is prepared to make to support small businesses as well. your response,

do you share the concern that over 2 million people could get be vulnerable and allows them to pick up vulnerable and allows them to pick up on savings. first and foremost, the increase in the allowance will certainly benefit businesses and help them. on the issue around statutory sick pay, from day one, it is certainly the right thing to do and yes, it is great that we actually got one of our big branches to cover that. they can go into the long distance but it is a very welcome short—term addition. long distance but it is a very welcome short—term additionlj long distance but it is a very welcome short-term addition. i made the point about people who are still vulnerable and actually the most important, probably at this point is and i'm paraphrasing here that investment is being made in the economy in the economy can continue

to grow again because we have been through a very flat patch and that actually will feed through in terms ofjobs and the rest of it, do you buy that explanation? let us get real. we have got care homes and social care systems that rely on very low pay and very secure workers and this is a vulnerable group of people and a vulnerable group of workers. we've got to change the rules so that they are fair we have to address the fact that we have millions of self—employed people that rely on the benefits and they're expected to wait five weeks for they get a penny. we have to be able to have an emergency task group with business so we can start putting some of these roles right and also target some support where it is needed and it is currently in recession. just a word from you on

how you feel this evening as opposed to this morning, do you think small businesses are in a better place this evening? i think it is a stable place and what is unknown is how damaging the coronavirus is actually going to be the businesses and that is going to impact cash, the banks, hmrc they all need to be seizing that problem and some of the announcements today, whether or not it goes far enough remains to be seen. it goes far enough remains to be seen. thank you for waiting patiently, so your the end of this evening about the kind of challenges that you and businesses are going to be facing the next couple of months, are you more optimistic than you we re are you more optimistic than you were maybe this morning or not?” are you more optimistic than you were maybe this morning or not? i do feel more reassured knowing that yes, the sick pay situation and interest rates have a little bit of

reassurance. he was to going to come out of the dentist appointments, doctors appointments. this should still be some going through there, but we just about lawn and what we can. but there is reassurance. thank you very much for talking to us today. in the last hour, the head of the world health organization has said that the coronavirus outbreak can be characterised as a pandemic and that is the strongest statement yet that the un body has given about the global reach of this virus. in the past few minutes it has been revealed that the number of cases in italy, the worst hit country in europe, has risen by more than 2000 since yesterday to over 12,000 now and the number of deaths up over 200 to 827 so very sharp rises again today in the italian context. here

in the uk the number of people who have tested positive has risen to 456, 83 more than yesterday and that is the biggest increase in the uk has seen in a single day so the trend is very clear. 0ne has seen in a single day so the trend is very clear. one who has tested positive as the health minister nadine dorries who has put herself into isolation. in a moment we would be talking to professor of the chinese university of hong kong on the hong kong government enquiry into the sars outbreak from a few yea rs into the sars outbreak from a few years ago but first let's hear from the world health organization. this outbreak we have been watching around the clock and we are deeply concerned by the alarming levels of spread and severity and by the alarming levels of an action. —— inaction. we have therefore made the

assessment that covid—19 can be characterised as a pandemic. the world health organization upgrading its sense of the scale and seriousness of what is going on. we are joined seriousness of what is going on. we arejoined from oxford. thanks seriousness of what is going on. we are joined from oxford. thanks very much, iam are joined from oxford. thanks very much, i am just wondering today given what the world health 0rganization given what the world health organization is saying and the numbers reported from italy which are alarming yet again, what is your sense of the kind of response that is now required as a to maybe a few days ago to what is clearly a growing threat to? the responses now required of all countries to make sure they have the capacity to identify cases, to have a capacity to test, that they can isolate and that they have a health system that can respond to the needs of the population. we have seen in italy how the health service has been overwhelmed by the number of cases

and many of them, the measures taken in the uk, have been taken in the light that that could occur in the uk but hopefully will be contained. just because it has been declared a pandemic means you abandon all containment measures or that you do anything particularly different that your national situation demands, but it does mean that every country is now expected to get ready to have the infection because the world health organization has determined there is enough spread in communities happening at the same time that it needs to be a worldwide response. and of course the anxiety is in low income countries where the health systems are not robust and having this infection will be really detrimental to the health of the population. those points are clear

and i'm just wondering for a second can we focus particularly on the uk and the pressure on the nhs because i would like your view on that as well. this budget today was all about underlining the fact that resources a re about underlining the fact that resources are being made available, so is it really a question then if thatis so is it really a question then if that is a question of logistics and capacity and capability. it is not a question of whether it is properly resourced. it is good that the chancellor says basically do not worry about the money, get on and do thejob and worry about the money, get on and do the job and do what you need to do to treat and control the infection. 0ne to treat and control the infection. one of the constraining factors will be availability of health care staff and facilities. it will be the impact on other health conditions, particularly in the vulnerable group, the elderly. so a lot of logistics need to be put into place as we prepare to face what is likely

to be an increasing number of cases. very good to talk to you but i am afraid the clock is against us. thanks for sharing your expertise. good to talk to you. talking to us there from oxford. you can get all there from oxford. you can get all the latest developments in the coronavirus outbreak on the bbc website with loads of information and analysis for you there. it includes information about symptoms on how to reduce the risk of becoming infected with lots of advice for people with underlying health conditions. 0n the bbc news app you can access all the same sections with lots of daily reports on background advice as well so have a look at that. we willjust on background advice as well so have a look at that. we will just take on background advice as well so have a look at that. we willjust take a break before i introduce my next guests. they will be joining break before i introduce my next guests. they will bejoining me in just the second but we're just going to pause for a second and get today's sports news.

a premier league match has been postponed for the first time because of coronavirus. manchester city's game against arsenal tonight is off after it was confirmed that some arsenal players are self—isolating after coming into contact with the owner of greek club 0lympiakos. evangelos marinakis tested positive for the coronavirus — just days after his side played arsenal in the europa league two weeks ago. he met players from both sides — those from 0lympiakos have been tested with results coming back clear. fewer than five arsenal players and some staff members are in self isolation as a precaution — but their match against brighton on saturday is still set to go ahead as normal. marinakis also owns nottingham forest and attended their game against millwall last week in the championship — forest's players have been tested and given the all clear. wolverhampton wanderers had asked that their europa league match tomorrow at 0lympiakos be postponed but uefa says it will go ahead — albeit — behind closed doors. wolves have released a very strong statement saying that some things are more important than football and that it's an unnecessary risk to players, staff, supporters and the families of those travelling. getafe against inter milan in italy

and sevilla roma in spain have both been postponed because of travelling restrictions imposed by the spanish authorites. well, there will be a packed crowd at anfield tonight as the holders liverpool take on atletico madrid in the second leg of their champions league last 16 match. they need to overturn a 1—0 first leg deficit so manager jurgen klopp says he wants an exceptional performance from his players. he'll be without keeper alisson due to a hip injury, but captainjordan henderson returns to the squad after suffering a hamstring injury in the first game. klopp's anticpating one of the toughest games of their season so far. we have to produce a performance on the pitch which has to be exceptional in all departments because playing against a deep defending side is one thing but with the counterattacking threat on the other side it makes it more difficult.

staying with coronavirus, three team members preparing for the weekend's f1 season opener in australia are in self—isolation one person from the mclaren team and two from american team haas have been tested... and are keeping away from colleagues. the race is still set to go ahead with fans watching — despite the next grand prix in bahrain taking place behind closed doors and the chinese race being postponed. 6—1 shot politologue was the surprise winner of the day's feature race on day two of the cheltenham festival. the paul nicholls trained grey, ridden by harry skelton led from the outset of the queen mother champion chase with no one coming close. dynamite dollars with harry cobden on board was second. that's all the sport for now. you can find more on all those stories — and the very latest on the impact of coronavirus on sport — on the bbc sport website.

welcome back to westminster, the budget is delivered by rishi sunak and my word, it has created quite a few headlines and raised a few eyebrows with the scale of the package. lots of people offering the view that this is the biggest package in terms of spending and its scope and scale since possibly norman lamont back in the early 19905 but i have some guests now who can tell me whether that is true or not. we have the chair of the office for budget responsibility. we were talking yesterday and i will ask you both the same question, were you surprised by the outcome today because we discuss today what might because we discuss today what might be in this package and clearly some of it was very predictable in terms of it was very predictable in terms of the crisis we are facing in terms of the crisis we are facing in terms of health care, but the rest of it, was it bigger than you expected?” think on the investment infrastructure that was slightly bigger. the message was they were

going to spend 500 billion and it has come out at 640 billion, but as we we re has come out at 640 billion, but as we were saying yesterday, the issue is what are the details behind this capital spending? we didn't get very much of that because we need to wait for the spending review but also because coronavirus took up more than half of what the chancellor spent his time talking about because thatis spent his time talking about because that is the emergency, and the 30 billion he announced for that, that is the big boost to the economy now, but if true, it mayjust offset what think tanks like the 0ecd think could tip the uk into recession because coronavirus could cut growth by half so if it does boost gdp by 0.5%, then it could actuallyjust make the difference. just to help viewers understand the scale of what has been announced today, and you may have a view that we are overstating or understating and i am

interested in your view on that, and secondly when i asked the chief secretary directly earlier, where is it coming from, talked around the fa ct it coming from, talked around the fact that there is more borrowing in the system. so why don't you tell us exactly what is behind the figures announced ? exactly what is behind the figures announced? the money for the spending, some of it is coming from higher taxes, some from direct savings as a result of brexit, no longer paying money to brussels, but the vast proportion is coming from borrowing more. so you are adding about 1% of gdp to the budget deficit and that is about £125 billion more debt at the end of five years than in the absence of those changes. that is the package we have been looking at and the chancellor today announced more money specifically for coronavirus, 12 billion, so a lot of money but quite small relative to the package over the next five years as a whole. talking about the package and saying that it represents something bigger

than we have seen over the last 25 yea rs than we have seen over the last 25 years in one sense, is that true? does it represent it? it looks like the largest giveaway package since norman lamont's 1922 the largest giveaway package since norman lamont's1922 pre—election budget but what it is probably closest to as gordon brown's 2000 budget wenches when labour started turning on the spending taps having stuck to the plans inherited from the conservatives in 1997. the big strategicjudgments the conservatives in 1997. the big strategic judgments made today the conservatives in 1997. the big strategicjudgments made today are that it strategicjudgments made today are thatitis strategicjudgments made today are that it is ok to continue borrowing quite a lot year year out to build up quite a lot year year out to build up that debt because it is so cheap for governments to borrow and as long as that remains the case that looked sustainable over the medium term. if things turn sour when things look a lot more difficult. the politics are interesting just in terms of a conservative party which normally prides itself on fiscal discipline and rigour and all the rest of it and keeping the purse strings quite tight unless you are norman lamont 25 years ago before an

election, and labour, traditionally seen as a election, and labour, traditionally seen as a party which has invested more at times and gordon brown is right at the top of the list and labour terms. has the political landscape changed with the economic landscape changed with the economic landscape today? it has. slow growth has meant that over the last ten yea rs concerns has meant that over the last ten years concerns about debt and austerity, of the back of public spending, has been increasingly replaced by wise the economy growing so replaced by wise the economy growing so slowly, why are wages so slow? it's pointed out today that our productivity is 20% below that of germany and france in the united states so how do you get productivity up? you have to invest. that is where it has changed, and it helps that borrowing is so cheap. the bank of england had an emergency interest the rate down to 0.25%. so on this basis, it seems you need to invest to grow future returns and this could boost growth. the entire

political and economic landscape has changed and that makes it more conducive. 0nce changed and that makes it more conducive. once we get the details of the scale of the projects, whether they will really generate future returns, we will revisit this question as to whether or not this amount of spending is actually sustainable. final point, just in terms of growth and where we are with the unknown impact of coronavirus, how much uncertainty is there in the system today before this coronavirus started, people we re this coronavirus started, people were looking at patterns of growth and where the economy was growing and where the economy was growing and growth not being very promising in any case. how much more uncertainty is in the system today? there is more. we would be worrying about the impact of brexit in the long—term outlook of productivity growth of coronavirus hadn't come along. in terms of economic impact and impact on public finances, they hope has to be that coronavirus while severe will be a short—term

impact. it will hit the economy and public finances for a while but you look in three or four years' time and the underlying growth potential of the economy is unaffected, but it is still uncertain because of brexit and uncertainty and productivity growth so uncertainties have not gone away. we just have something more immediate to worry about in the meantime. thank you and we will see how it pans out after today but thank you for your thoughts. 0ur thanks to you. here at westminster, let's just change direction for a moment. we have talked a lot about the budget but there are other big stories happening around the world. let's think about what is happening in new york. the former hollywood producer, harvey weinstein, has been given a 23 yearjail sentence for rape and sexual assault. his lawyer, donna rotunno said the length of the sentence meanwhile the civil rights lawyer, gloria allred, who represents three of the victims, said she believes the 23—year sentence handed down is ‘fair and appropriate.‘ if you are a sexual predator around

you are confused, all you have to do is remember this. 20 plus three years. and part of the consideration in handing down a sentence by a court to a person convicted of felonies is to consider the deterrent effect. that was the prominent lawyer gloria all right speaking a short while ago. let‘s cross to new york where our correspondent nada tawfik is outside the court. just a sense of the impact of the sentence which we got from the lawyer herself, but other people have been talking today, and your sense that this legaljourney have been talking today, and your sense that this legal journey for harvey weinstein is still not over. yes, absolutely. the manhattan

district attorney echoed what gloria allred was saying, that this puts sexual predators on notice. social justice campaigners really believe this has pushed the needle forward in terms of how sexual assault cases will be tried. this capped off a stunning downfall for harvey weinstein from a celebrated hollywood producer who ruled the red carpet and literally held careers in his hands to a notorious sexual predator and now a convicted rapist who will be a prisoner of the state for 23 years. for the victims, a moment they never thought they would see. and they talked about how he had scarred them emotionally and irreparably and that now because he has been convicted other women will not be afraid to come forward and will no longer be victims. this is not the end of his legal troubles. he will have to defend himself against more allegations. thank you for the update in new york.

backin back in westminster plenty more to talk about. about coronavirus and the spread. earlier, nhs england said it was scaling up its capacity for testing people for the virus. this means 10,000 tests a day can be done — 8,000 more than the 1,500 being carried out currently. to talk more about this and the pressures on the different parts of the health service, notably family doctors and gps, i am joined by professor martin marshall. chair of the royal college of gps. thank you for talking to us, it is a busy day for you. pressure on the fa ct busy day for you. pressure on the fact that in this testing process and the way that people are trying to access health care, there is even more pressure on family doctors than before. how is that being dealt with? you are right, the pressure on general practice was significant before and this is much greater. it is being dealt with in the number of

different ways. so far, general practice has not had to do too much about covid—19 so there has been a lot of work reassuring patients when they have needed to come to see us, but a lot of patients have been encouraged to phone 111 rather than seeing their gp. that is about to change and we know that more covid—19 will be on the way. we know the diagnostic criteria is changing so we the diagnostic criteria is changing so we cannot use travel history any more so so we cannot use travel history any more so it means anyone in the community who presents with a cough or cold orflu—like community who presents with a cough or cold or flu—like systems community who presents with a cough or cold orflu—like systems might have covid—19 so we are in a different place. the only way they can do it is to cut down on some of the routine stuff we do in general practice. that was the next point, so practice. that was the next point, so what do you think will have to be dropped or delayed or set aside in order to cope with this? what can patients expect in terms of a change in approach and their local surgery

or that kind of thing? what advice would you give people? first of all the advice is the same as for the last several weeks, that if you think you might be at risk of having covid—19 do not go to your general practice. stay at home and call 111 and they will decide if you satisfy the criteria for the diagnosis and if that is the case they will send out someone to test you so stay away if you can but recognise that it is going to spread and general practice will be more involved, and what we need to see is that quite a lot of the administrative work that general practice does being cut down. there are general practice commitments and regulatory commitments and professional development commitments that in a place of crisis, we hope will be withdrawn from general practice. we are expecting an announcement sometime next week or so. announcement sometime next week or so. interesting to look on the bbc website and seeing people raising concerns and asking questions which are concerns and asking questions which a re pretty concerns and asking questions which are pretty symbolic, really, the

more general questions people have. if we move to a position where public gatherings and things are shut down, could we see surgeries closing their doors? and indeed, what happens if lots of gps happen to come into contact with people with covid—19 and are themselves affected ? with covid—19 and are themselves affected? what are the kind of preparations in place for that? that isa preparations in place for that? that is a strong possibility, as you say. if we are expecting 20% of the population to have covid—19 at the height of the crisis and a month or so, then you would expect 20% of gps are maybe more. that is a very real issue. 0ne are maybe more. that is a very real issue. one of the things we want to do is to do more tele— consulting which means you remove face—to—face contact and that will be very helpful. 0lder gps or recently retired gps are likely to be asked to come back, probably not to

provide face—to—face care given they can be high—risk but maybe provide telephone advice or online consulting. good to talk to us and just got in before the shouting started again but we heard you very clearly, thank you so much. 0ur thanks to professor martin marshall, chair of the royal college of gps, our thanks to chair of the royal college of gps, ourthanks to him. chair of the royal college of gps, our thanks to him. the budget today, a very familiar area for those who held the post before. a former chancellor is watching on with great interest. one person who should know about drawing up budgets is the former conservative mp ken clarke — he was chancellor of the exchequer from 1993 to 1997 under sirjohn major — and he‘s in our westminster studio. great to see you, thank you very much forjoining us. your sense of the scale of today‘s package, what did you make of it? i was impressed, for his first budget after four weeks in office he did the right things. there were odd things i would have done differently, not

much, and he did of course face an extraordinary situation. here he is new in office, the economy is stag na nt new in office, the economy is stagnant and manufacturing in recession, the global outlook very uncertain. brexit, and we don't know what will happen on trade wars and this budget firstly has to deal with the covid—19 crisis, and so the two bits of it, the first is how to minimise the damage of the peak when it comes and we don't know how bad it comes and we don't know how bad it will be and how quickly it will go away. and then, how to prepare for getting the economy back to growth and looking after it, doing all the uncertainties and beyond. so i was very impressed and i think you can be pleased with his first budget andl can be pleased with his first budget and i am glad he does not appear to have allowed himself to have been taken have allowed himself to have been ta ken over by have allowed himself to have been taken over by all these apparatchiks in downing street. i thought you might get that in! are you co mforta ble might get that in! are you comfortable as a former conservative chancellor with the level of borrowing that is required to

sustain these plans? yes, i am in the circumstances. it is no good comparing the previous budget because the circumstances then were totally different. you have to do a budget for now and for the next two or three years. i have already said the real problem now as we have a real crisis probably might not certainly coming in a month or two which will threaten a lot of businesses with cash flow crises, so i'm not certainly bank interest rate will make much of a difference. it is supply problem, and he is going to have to spend and it will not upset the bond markets, it won't upset the bond markets, it won't upset currency markets. in the present circumstances he obviously has to do it. then he will have another budget in the autumn where we can react, if we're lucky in the immediate crisis eases over the summer immediate crisis eases over the summer with the good weather, he can look at it all again, but the

general outlook going forward he can thank philip hammond for the fact he has got some firepower and no one is going to criticise him, i don't think, nobody will seriously criticise him for using that firepower in the present circumstances of a stagnant economy at imminent risk of failing. as ever, great to talk to you and thank you forjoining us today. kenneth clarke, the former conservative chancellor. he few minutes left. let‘s take stock after today‘s developments with katy balls, deputy political editor of the spectator, and geri scott, westminster correspondent at the yorkshire post. interesting to have your perspective also on all the thinking about levelling up as it is known today. let‘s have your take on the broad scope of the budget first?” let‘s have your take on the broad scope of the budget first? i think this is a new chapter in toryism in terms of the level of spending. it is described as the biggest listening of the public purse strings since 1992 and i think lots

of tory mps were smiling and grinning as rishi sunak and install these pledges but it is the autumn budget when we start to get these revenue raising measures because only a handful in that budget, or is it just only a handful in that budget, or is itjust high only a handful in that budget, or is it just high borrowing only a handful in that budget, or is itjust high borrowing for the foreseeable and hoping the economy improves? given that the growth forecasts are not too great it might be the former. the mood in the conservative benches if that‘s were the case? difficult decisions will a lwa ys the case? difficult decisions will always be there but there is a sense that if you‘re going to have money raising measures the first year of the government is quite a good time to do that because the problem is if you do anything unpopular to an era general election it starts to get even more difficult for mp5 because there is a sense that if you have to make these tough decisions this year will be a good time to do that. when you look at the impact in the uk and then suddenly the big regions of england that have been really one of the themes of this government so far, what do you make of it? it was all over the election, they spoke

about levelling up and really balancing that kind of north— south divide, so we have seen that come true with a west yorkshire devolution deal which will be massive for yorkshire. first mentioned by george osborne in 2014 is waiting for a long time. really, they are starting to get those measures under way to fulfil those promises they made. what has been the response? in your region, yorkshire, what has been the response today? local leaders are happy and they've been talking about it for a long time and fighting for it for a long time and fighting for it and it has been difficult along the way with disagreements between local leaders, who wants to be in and out, but they are celebrating because this is a massive amount of money, £1.1 billion over 30 years, and they will have control over transport and planning and it is a big deal and people are pleased. quick final thought on where this leaves the labour and conservative battle in the kind of terrain they are both occupying. has that moved today? i think it has. there are

points when if you close your eyes you could have believed it was a labour chancellor rather than a tory government in its tenth year so they have moved on to labour‘s territory toa have moved on to labour‘s territory to a degree. you heard jeremy corbyn‘s reply but the important reply will be in a couple of weeks‘ time when you have a new labour leader but it is hard for labour. thank you both very much indeed, good to see you both. can ijust say, a bit of colourful language off in the distance and i am sorry about that but not something i can control from here, iam that but not something i can control from here, i am afraid. that but not something i can control from here, iam afraid. we that but not something i can control from here, i am afraid. we are going tojoin george for the from here, i am afraid. we are going to join george for the bbc news at six with just to join george for the bbc news at six withjust more to join george for the bbc news at six with just more on the budget today, but in the meantime as it is getting dark here and there was a bit windy and rainy, let‘s talk to louise about the weather. it could certainly be a lot worse. not too bad across england and wales but a frequent rush of showers as you can see clearly on the rain radar and some turning wintering

over the next few hours and that is because it is going to get colder. in fact through the night tonight those showers will ease away and we see the temperature in scotland close to freezing. where we keep the showers in the far north—west we could have a wintry flavour first thing in first thing in the morning there could be some ice around. light snow anywhere above hundred metres in scotland. a few showers into northern ireland in north west england. for the rest of england and wales fewer showers around and a blustery afternoon and the temperature peaking between seven and 15 but the wind is still very much a feature in excess of 45 mph. maybe stronger across south—west scotla nd maybe stronger across south—west scotland and northern ireland. closest to this little weather front that wriggles away, the winds ease down thursday night into friday and friday in actual fact looks to be largely fine and quite a good deal of dry weather and forecast on friday. the temperature peaking between seven and 11.

tonight at 6:00: thejohnson government‘s first budget — £12 billion to tackle the coronavirus epidemic. but the chancellor didn‘t stop there — he called it a budget for a new era, promising a spending boost not seen for nearly 30 years. as the government ramps up the number of coronavirus testing labs — the chancellor said the nhs would not want for cash. whether it‘s millions of pounds or billions of pounds, whatever it needs, whatever it costs, we stand behind our nhs. from small businesses to b&bs, from sick pay to universal credit, there‘ll be help to weather the crisis.

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