we have the treasury coming north, we have an economic campus coming north, and i want to get those opportunities for people here so they have got sustainable jobs for them and their children going forward. big names have been visiting, a sign of what is at stake. were recent tory wins on labour turf a one—off or permanent shift? does labour leadership have what it takes to win back support? voters here have the power to make waves. and some at this swimming group, a lockdown lifeline, are not afraid of a sea change. i'm what you would call a classic labour voter, really, but this election, i just cannot bring myself to vote labour. i voted labour, brexit, conservative. but i'm voting conservative this time. i would like to see an mp having the leverage in the houses of parliament to really do something transformational in the town. nothing is clear, though. support is far from settled. usually labour.

probably still labour. i actually disapprove of keir starmer's leadership, but i will vote for the labour candidate because i actually think this town is shamefully going to fall to the conservatives. i don't want to be part of that defeat. last time voters here went to the polls at the general election, the national picture was very different. it was before the pandemic, when brexit was still a huge issue in this leave—supporting town. then the brexit party won a big chunk of the vote. and what happens to that now will be crucial. he hopes to claim some — reform uk are the brexit party reborn, with an anti—lockdown, pro—small business stance. it is tragically unfair in this country how the two—party system monopolises everything, and there needs to be more voices coming through from other parties in parliament. we're offering a real alternative. in total, 16 candidates are vying for votes. among them, greens, lib dems,

and a host of independents in a contest that could test political ties, prompt party soul searching and send ripples far from here. alex forsyth, bbc news, hartlepool. that by—election along with other elections, local and national, that by—election along with other elections, localand national, on the 6th of may. you can find the full list of candidates in the hartlepool parliamentary by—election on our website, bbc.co.uk. that's it. now on bbc one, time for the news where you are. have a very good night. hello, and welcome to our look ahead to what the papers will be bringing us tomorrow. with me are the political commentator and the former conservative party head of communications, giles kenningham,

and the political writer and academic maya goodfellow. great to see you both. let's have a look at some of the pages we already have, we are going to start with the metro. it says nearly £4 billion of taxpayers�* money may have been corruptly given out by the government to companies during the ppe crisis at the start of the coronavirus pandemic. the express says full audiences for entertainment venues in england will be given the green light on the 21st ofjune, after a test event at the world snooker championship in sheffield produced no positive covid tests. the mail warning that tens of thousands of families will have to continue to face strict funeral rules before restrictions are eased at the end ofjune. according to the financial times, the italian prime minister, mario draghi, is to announce a recovery package worth more than £200 billion to help the country's economy recover from the pandemic.

there's the ft. the sun says it's time for you to book your summer holidays abroad, as europe will open its door to britons following the success of the uk's vaccination programme. and the mirror carries a message from the queen on her 95th birthday, where she thanked people for their heartfelt messages following the death of the duke of edinburgh, which left her family "deeply touched". some of the front pages that we have already in and as always, very good of both of you to join us on this wednesday evening, and a lot to get through. we are going to start with the metro and, maya, let's start with you. the headline, basically the metro is quoting a report from an organisation, called transparency international uk, a bit of a play on words in the headline. i'm going to not go there, i would let you

explain it, and a serious report when it comes to what this organisation is alleging. what this re ort is organisation is alleging. what this report is saying — organisation is alleging. what this report is saying is _ organisation is alleging. what this report is saying is that _ organisation is alleging. what this report is saying is that it - organisation is alleging. what this report is saying is that it could - report is saying is that it could be, over £3] billion of taxpayers money that, in the words of the metro report, may have been corruptly given out by the government to companies during the ppe crisis, right at the start of the pandemic. well over a year ago. including to those companies that might have close ties with conservative and peace. what this report is saying is at least 73 contract last year, one in five of those, merited further investigation for potential criminalisty, so i suppose this is really highlighting something that maybe needs to be looked into further, in terms of who is given contracts and how, and i think it really does... it is in a way wrapped up in some of the other issues we have seen in the past few weeks, thinking aboutjames dyson

and the prime minster�*s text messages, whether we are thinking but greensill, whether we are thinking about other ministers in their decision—making who they know, who is still being given some of the big contracts in relation to pandemic and i think part of this as well is actually about, as well as thinking about potential corruption, which is really serious, it is also thinking about wider... another reason why i think there does need to be a really big thorough inquiry into the handling of the government's response to the pandemic, looking at things like outsourcing of a white was certain companies that had zero experience of doing things like test and trace, who than boston in a major way, were given these major contracts, so i think this is a serious thing, requires looking into, but also goes into conversation with having. giles, let's bring you into this as well. as meyer was touching upon, we got the concerns over lobbying —— as

maya was. the report also raising concerns over so—called what it describes as a vip priority lane set “p describes as a vip priority lane set up by describes as a vip priority lane set up by the government to fast—track various bids. what is your take on this initially?— this initially? transparency international _ this initially? transparency international is _ this initially? transparency international is a _ this initially? transparency international is a very - this initially? transparency - international is a very respected body _ international is a very respected body i— international is a very respected body. i think we need to put a little — body. i think we need to put a little context around it. this is an unprecedented situation, the government had to fast—track stuff, so the _ government had to fast—track stuff, so the normal due diligence may not have all_ so the normal due diligence may not have all happened. there wasn't a normal_ have all happened. there wasn't a normal procurement process because, quite friendly, they did not have the luxury— quite friendly, they did not have the luxury of time, there was not open _ the luxury of time, there was not open competition, there were some firms— open competition, there were some firms who _ open competition, there were some firms who were awarded contracts who don't have _ firms who were awarded contracts who don't have previous experience, and clearly, _ don't have previous experience, and clearly, i— don't have previous experience, and clearly, i agree with maya with this, _ clearly, i agree with maya with this, there needs to be inquiry done

into the _ this, there needs to be inquiry done into the government's response to covid, _ into the government's response to covid, but — into the government's response to covid, but now is not the time for something — covid, but now is not the time for something to be questions asked, there _ something to be questions asked, there needs to be full sort of force of transparency and accountability, but also _ of transparency and accountability, but also there must be some allowance for the context of what was going on, and everything was moving _ was going on, and everything was moving at— was going on, and everything was moving at breakneck speed. and of course _ moving at breakneck speed. and of course in _ moving at breakneck speed. and of course in those situations, sometimes, and we don't know the full story, — sometimes, and we don't know the full story, potentially mistakes are made _ full story, potentially mistakes are made i_ full story, potentially mistakes are made. i think there needs to be some allowance _ made. i think there needs to be some allowance for that. must made. i think there needs to be some allowance for that.— allowance for that. must look at the guardian. allowance for that. must look at the guardian- it — allowance for that. must look at the guardian. it leads _ allowance for that. must look at the guardian. it leads on _ allowance for that. must look at the guardian. it leads on some - allowance for that. must look at the guardian. it leads on some of - allowance for that. must look at the guardian. it leads on some of the l guardian. it leads on some of the aspects of a specially maya touched upon, talking about lobbying, boris johnson insisting he has done nothing to apologise for after those texts emerged from sirjames dyson. the guardian is pinpointing actually the use of text by business leaders and politicians, something that happens quite a lot, talk us through

this, maya. happens quite a lot, talk us through this, ma a. , ., , , ., ., this, maya. yes, what this guardian sto is this, maya. yes, what this guardian story is saying _ this, maya. yes, what this guardian story is saying is — this, maya. yes, what this guardian story is saying is that _ this, maya. yes, what this guardian story is saying is that orest - story is saying is that orest johnson and his others are regularly texting by business leaders and politicians, and the ministerial code actually only requires meetings and not text messages to be disclosed, so there is a concern around government by whatsapp, as this guardian article says, and that text messaging is not really sustainable. and i suppose there's a number of different things here to touch upon. one is i think it is never really good that people with money have access to government decision—making just because they have the prime initial�*s number. i think the principal of that is not good —— the prime minister's number. the other part of it, that giles touched upon, the sort of defence from ministers, from the prime minister, that it is necessary. some of these ways of fumigation and the speed with which things were moving a year ago when necessary to get

things like ventilation sorted, and it is obviously understand what needs to be a necessary response and government to the seriousness of the pandemic, but actually think that that does really should focus on thinking about what inquiry should do, which is not only looking at mistakes that were made or decisions that were made by really looking at why the uk was not as prepared as it could have been for the pandemic, because actually if we had been better prepared, if width looks back and look at some of those... there was evidence showing we were not well prepared, but that was known. i do think this kind of defence would not really stand up because, technically, it would not have to happen, but i also think this comes around, really, a growing sort of worry, concern and scandal around these relationships between ministers and people in positions of power, people with a lot of money, whether we are think about these ppe contracts, whether we are thinking about greensill and david cameron and rishi sunak, and one thing i would say isjust and rishi sunak, and one thing i would say is just because somethings are the bounds of the law and are

permissible, that doesn't mean is the right weight that think should be conducted, does not mean that things are fine as they are. it can be a sign of how cruelly and unfairly parts of our legal system and our economy are structured, so i think it is notjust about saying whether something is legal or not but trying to advocate change so things are done in the fairest way possible. things are done in the fairest way ossible. a . ~ things are done in the fairest way ossible. 1, . ~ ., , , possible. back to giles, then, giles, possible. back to giles, then, giles. putting _ possible. back to giles, then, giles, putting you _ possible. back to giles, then, giles, putting you on - possible. back to giles, then, giles, putting you on the - possible. back to giles, then, giles, putting you on the spot possible. back to giles, then, l giles, putting you on the spot if it, is a former conservative party head of communications, as maya was touching upon and as the guardian was touching upon any comes to these texts, these regular texts, big business leaders, it is all ok when it comes to the ministerial code because only meetings these to be disclosed, not text, but this whole concept of access — what would you be advising had you still been head of comes with the conservative party? and do you have alarm bells? were you ever concerned with the amount of business, top business

leaders having access to politicians in power? leaders having access to politicians in ower? �* , , leaders having access to politicians in ower? �*, , . ., ., in power? let's be clear here, one ofthe in power? let's be clear here, one of the main _ in power? let's be clear here, one of the main accusations _ in power? let's be clear here, one of the main accusations thrown . in power? let's be clear here, one of the main accusations thrown at| of the main accusations thrown at government as they are out of touch, they dont— government as they are out of touch, they don't speak to people, so it is quite _ they don't speak to people, so it is quite right— they don't speak to people, so it is quite right they speak to a range of stake _ quite right they speak to a range of stake holders. there is no issues with lobbying. it is how it is done and the _ with lobbying. it is how it is done and the transparency for some in relation — and the transparency for some in relation to— and the transparency for some in relation to this story, let's be clear. — relation to this story, let's be clear. i— relation to this story, let's be clear, i would relation to this story, let's be clear, iwould not —— i would want a print industry move _ —— i would want a print industry move at— —— i would want a print industry move at breakneck speed to get ventilators when there is a national emergency— ventilators when there is a national emergency post of the guardian is a left—leaning paper with an agenda here _ left—leaning paper with an agenda here. lobbying is fine boyd is important as there is the full force of transparency and accountability, it is important we speak to stake holders— it is important we speak to stake holders all the time. on this particular— holders all the time. on this particular story, i have no issue with— particular story, i have no issue with it — particular story, i have no issue with it i— particular story, i have no issue with it. i noticed labour flip flop on the _ with it. i noticed labour flip flop on the story today for you had lucy powell— on the story today for you had lucy powell who — on the story today for you had lucy powell who did not actually put up

any opposition to it and then keir starrner, — any opposition to it and then keir starmer, of course, it is shameless opportunism, this is next available may leader 13 points behind in the polls _ may leader 13 points behind in the polls. let's be clear, nothing came out of— polls. let's be clear, nothing came out of the — polls. let's be clear, nothing came out of the text anyway —— this is a labour— out of the text anyway —— this is a labour leader. what does he do with that information? provided he has it onto officials, there is transparency, there is a paper trail, — transparency, there is a paper trail, is— transparency, there is a paper trail, is fine.— transparency, there is a paper trail, is fine. that is ok. i think it is something _ trail, is fine. that is ok. i think it is something we _ trail, is fine. that is ok. i think it is something we could - trail, is fine. that is ok. i think| it is something we could discuss trail, is fine. that is ok. i think - it is something we could discuss for the rest of the paper review, but we have to move on. let's look at the front page of the financial times and, maya, of course we had the verdict in the trial of derek chauvin last night, the guilty verdict of murdering george floyd in may last year. the papers talk about the trial lifting hopes for us reform, we've been hearing about the us justice reform, we've been hearing about the usjustice department reform, we've been hearing about the us justice department saying able investigate the minneapolis police force. what is your assessment of what the next steps are going

forward when it comes to this? the first dictate — forward when it comes to this? the first dictate is _ —— thing to say is just how incredibly moving watching the response from protesters, but also think about george floyd's family wanted and needed in this situation, and i think recognising that is really important, that this is the outcome of campaigners, of black lives matter, of this protest was held last year, and i think the context of this is also really important. a context where rollover 7000 people have been told by the police in the us between 2013 and 2019 and only .2% of cases have resulted in convictions and... some with zero charges as all, so i think we have to recognise that context, but one of the things i have seen a lot of, people have been part of the resistance, part of the protest movement and being part of advocate for change in america for decades,

what they have been saying is, justice would have been george floyd having not been killed in the first place. darnella frazier, the 17—year—old who filmed his death, that never should have happened, she not have had to do that. campaigners and people who have been advocating for change for so long saying, reform is not enough, what we need to be looking at is thinking about, or what people in the us need to be thinking about, is what it would be to defund the police, what it would mean to make sure that instead of investing in things like policing, which with the outcomes we see is really about investing in housing, health care, jobs, so you're investing in the things that mean that harm doesn't happen in the first place as opposed to always being in this preventative situation or being in the situation of continuously pouring so much money into the police and having the outcomes we have seen for decades now and soy ticket is listening that people know what they're talking about, which is the people on the

ground doing this work for a real long time.