of mounting a dangerous attack on free and fair elections by restricting voting rights. the republican national committee dismissed mr biden�*s remarks as dishonest. it said republicans were trying to make it easier to vote and harder to cheat. the deployment of hundreds of troops in south africa has failed to prevent a fifth day of violent unrest and looting. at least seventy— two people have been killed and about eight hundred have been arrested since protests erupted in response to the jailing of the former president, jacob zuma. the un world food programme says it needs to sharply increase the quantity of food aid it's delivering to ethiopia's tigray region, where months of fighting has led to widespread hunger. a spokesperson said a hundred trucks a day would be needed to reverse what he described as catastrophic conditions. now on bbc news... hardtalk.

welcome to hardtalk. across continents and cultures there is one common and corrosive political phenomenon. rising anger and alienation amongst voters who feel neglected and ignored by the system. and it's overlords. how to fix this disconnect, how to prevent the politics of hate and fear filling a void where trust used to be. well, my guest isjess phillips, a leading figure in britain's liberal party which has last four successive elections. does the public deserve better politicians?

jess phillips at westminster, welcome to hardtalk. thank you for havin: welcome to hardtalk. thank you for having me. _ welcome to hardtalk. thank you for having me. it's _ welcome to hardtalk. thank you for having me. it's a _ welcome to hardtalk. thank you for having me. it's a great - for having me. it's a great pleasure- _ for having me. it's a great pleasure- i _ for having me. it's a great pleasure. ijust _ for having me. it's a great pleasure. ijust referred i for having me. it's a great - pleasure. ijust referred there to feelings of anger, disillusionment, alienation. we see reported in polling evidence, notjust for britain but from right around the democratic world. i wonder if you experience and feel that from voters in your everyday life as an mp?— from voters in your everyday life as an mp? yes. absolutely. there is a _ life as an mp? yes. absolutely. there is a mixture _ life as an mp? yes. absolutely. there is a mixture of _ life as an mp? yes. absolutely. there is a mixture of both - there is a mixture of both anger and apathy. but both stem from the same thing. every single day there in my constituency and with national correspondence people say to me

well, what's the point, you are all of the same, you're all after the same thing, all after ordinary people. there's a sort of apathy that then breaches into very real aggression and angen into very real aggression and anger. at the moment i think we are in a more apathetic stage then we were possibly a year ago, two years ago when it definitely felt like aggression and anger on the streets outside the building where i work as well as outside the building where i work in birmingham. to building where i work in birmingham.— birmingham. to take responsibility - birmingham. to take responsibility for- birmingham. to take responsibility for the | responsibility for the disconnect lies on both sides? it's notjust disconnect lies on both sides? it's not just for the politicians, maybe we the public need to take a little bit of blame as well? absolutely, i think but politicians need to take the vast majority of the blame not even just for their actions to have led people to feel like that. easy to blame it on expected scandals, corruption that happened around the world from the idea that there's one

rules for them and one you could come up with evidence from every country in the world were politicians have behaved in a certain way. they are always the minority, politicians do really, really badly its expectations management with the public. and so the public expect something whether that's a perfect policy where nobody will die, or it's your politician, your local regional national politician can do has the actual power to do absolutely everything that you want. and that, politicians lean into that idea especially at election times. we will go out and offer things, stand in front of buildings wearing hard hats and hive is jackets acting like we built those buildings but we had absolutely nothing to do that. politicians do this, and it's almost diminutive year, you sort of have to do it. there is a certainly during electric ——

election time where showboating is desired by the public and politicians really lean into that. , , , , that. uses user interesting -hrase, that. uses user interesting phrase. you _ that. uses user interesting phrase, you have - that. uses user interesting phrase, you have to - that. uses user interesting phrase, you have to do - that. uses user interesting phrase, you have to do it, | that. uses user interesting i phrase, you have to do it, you don't have to do it. and sometimes the question is why you do it. he wrote a book, truth to power, several ways to call time on ps. and without being too explicit front of our viewers and listeners what ps means, i think we know. so much of what you are dealing within the system, the machinery of politics and governance, if you regard as ps and hate being part of that, why do you persist being a politician, you are now an mp?— are now an mp? think that fundamental _ are now an mp? think that fundamental of _ are now an mp? think that fundamental of the - are now an mp? think that fundamental of the palm l are now an mp? think that - fundamental of the palm entry democracy is the problem. i think the way it is practice and needs to have people in it with honesty and integrity, and the vast majority i have to say, this is by no means trying to say i'm any better than the vast majority, most politicians

do it out of a deep sense of hope for the future and a sense of integrity and honesty. certainly in the british system. the thing that we seek another thing that causes that aggression and apathy and disinterest and distrust in the system, that's got to be away. i got to believe there is a way in a liberal democracy of challenging that by both being better and honest about being honest in saying i did not build this building, just standing in front of it. it was to the people that demanded this local hospital was maintained step and it was you who did it and ijust was a vessel as a representative. it was not me, it was you and there needs to be much more of that. because people then will have an understanding of what it takes to actually win political battles and to make gains and be part of politics. it's not alljust

gains and be part of politics. it's not all just fanfare and big ticket policies or even war and peace. the grunt work, the actual reality of what happens in the building on city can now, almost nobody knows about. the reality of the job. i think that if we can open that up a little bit there's a sense that politics can be believed in again. and it's really important because what is the alternative?— alternative? yeah. i want to talk to about _ alternative? yeah. i want to talk to about one _ alternative? yeah. i want to talk to about one of- alternative? yeah. i want to talk to about one of your . alternative? yeah. i want to i talk to about one of your most and passionate interests and that of course is where your labour's lead spokesperson on fighting against pervasive domestic violence and trying to get better protection for women and girls across society and culture. you've been banging that drum for many years, before you were in an mp you are working in a women's tried to help women who were facing domestic abuse. for all of the work about you reckon you achieve more outside parliament than inside? it’s

achieve more outside parliament than inside?— than inside? it's a very good and peeple _ than inside? it's a very good and people question - than inside? it's a very good and people question to - than inside? it's a very good i and people question to answer, i have to say. because there's different layers. i was a local politician on my local counsel in birmingham which is the biggest counsel in europe. it's a huge area. as well as working at women public aid, and i have to say that my direct, one—to—one level with people and being an expert in the field whose voice could be heard by those local councils and being able to make the decisions as a local counsellor about where funding went in the local area, as well as being heard by government officials because i was an expert, i definitely had a more direct hand whilst not in politics of helping more directly. however, the platform that i have now which is notjust even in the united kingdom, to talk about theissue

united kingdom, to talk about the issue of domestic abuse has undoubtedly taken the undoubtedly ta ken the conversation undoubtedly taken the conversation further than i would have managed if i had just stayed working in a local uk women's aid.— just stayed working in a local uk women's aid. because you have that _ uk women's aid. because you have that platform _ uk women's aid. because you have that platform nationally| have that platform nationally and to a certain extent internationally it also comes the very heavy price and you have been frank and open about the degree to which you've been exposed to threats and intimidation. in one remarkable 24 intimidation. in one remarkable 2a hour period you received online over 600 threats of rape. at some point are you going to say to yourself, this is too dangerous?— going to say to yourself, this is too dangerous? never. never will i think— is too dangerous? never. never will i think it — is too dangerous? never. never will i think it is _ is too dangerous? never. never will i think it is too _ will i think it is too dangerous, and it's because somebody who's friend was killed in the street within a year of me being elected to parliament. killed for her political beliefs. and i am never going to think, i might think it's not worth it,

because i'm not achieving an outcome. the thing that would make me give up would be if i thought my voice could no longer be heard in the conversation about violence against women and girls that i was not achieving even marginal gains. but the reality is that you don't stop violence, abuse and aggression especially against women by allowing them to be silenced. if i stopped doing it the threat would not disappear in the world, there will still be a trade command will still be a trade command will still be with those same people will still exist and so you have to have a voice that can counter it and if your voices can be heard it's vital you keep using it. ithink voices can be heard it's vital you keep using it. i think i would die for myjob, i would never know and even others would answer the question yes i am, because i am not. i'm not willing to give my life myjob.

but the fact that i have to be asked that question makes it want to carry on going. because it should not be the case that young women democratically elected have to feel they have to choose for their life in theirjob. that is worth anything to keep on going in the face of that.— anything to keep on going in the face of that. took up the level of hate _ the face of that. took up the level of hate you've - level of hate you've experienced and right now certainly uk politics we see hate expressed in many different ways, particularly online towards politicians for all sorts of reasons which appear to be connected with cultural difference. and people's identities feeling threatened. and they come in response, threaten others. do you see what you go through as part of that? this phrase, the culture war that has become so prevalent, is that relevant to what you are experiencing? it’s

what you are experiencing? it's relevant to _ what you are experiencing? it's relevant to a _ what you are experiencing? it�*s relevant to a cover all term, and attach because of an identity as a woman. if i was a man saying the things that i do and say i would suffer less. so there is an element of that but there is an element of that but the idea that a culture war is a new thing or that identity politics is a new thing i think is for the birds. this has exist, i grew up in britain in the 1980s, and the asian kids in my class at school in birmingham, without question, were suffering vile and vicious politics against him because of their culture, because of a culture war. we just call it that and unfortunately it's not new particularly. i cannotjust blame the current populist leaders around the world for this. there's political gains

to be made in fear. people will use what is a culture war that undoubtedly has a different volume because of the nature of social media and the internet. that did not exist in my childhood. but they will use that for their benefit, but yesterday around this time in parliament, people keep saying, you know, i had a politician saying the culture where is the battle of britain, it is the greatest thing we face. i just think in a time where we have climate change and frankly that feather wants to try being a woman for a couple of weeks... it was a tory mp saint make no mistake this culture war is the issue of her age, the struggle of our generation, nothing matters were, this is the battle of britain. he was talking in the context of the huge furore of the post euro

2020 final, three players who happen to be black players for the england team missed their penalties and they then suffered the most horrendous, horrible, violent racist abuse online. and now there's a whole debate about whether boris johnson's government, which some of the members of which had said that taking the knee by footballers of the protest against racism was quote, gesture politics, whether they are part of the problem. should labour commissioner party to be engaging in this? should you be warriors in the culture war? i think there's a difference between engaging with the situation that's happening, these arguments and these rows are happening, but what we should never be doing is stoking it. the politicians will use a culture war, the idea that this is the worst thing that we have to face in our age isjust thing that we have to face in our age is just absolutely for the birds and could only ever

be said by somebody who has never faced any actual real challenge. i never faced any actual real challenge-— challenge. i suppose one question _ challenge. i suppose one question is _ challenge. i suppose one question is that - challenge. i suppose one question is that for - challenge. i suppose one question is that for the i challenge. i suppose one - question is that for the labour party as the organisation, where it stands on this, some people will say that gareth southgate, the england manager, and footballers like marcus rashford and others have been more effective at speaking out, delivering a message about how a diverse, united britain can be both patriotic and also open to all races, all skin colours more effective delivering a message than your leader keir starmer. �* , , i, �* , starmer. but why shouldn't they be? they are — starmer. but why shouldn't they be? they are citizens _ starmer. but why shouldn't they be? they are citizens of- starmer. but why shouldn't they be? they are citizens of the - be? they are citizens of the united kingdom with huge platforms who have the will and support of the public behind them. why shouldn't they be better at doing it? it's not necessarily even a criticism of keir starmer that these brilliant and intelligent and kind and decent man, who the british public, regardless of their politics, seem to follow,

they don't suffer from the same division necessarily that we politicians have created rightly or wrongly. i don't think there's anything wrong with the fact that these brilliant citizens are delivering this message. politics is not forjust people in shirts in westminster. it makes me happy that they are good at delivering those messages. do i think the labour party needs to be passionately and deeply of its principles on this and many things? absolutely.— this and many things? absolutel. �* i, , , i, absolutely. but many people do not think labour _ absolutely. but many people do not think labour exhibits - absolutely. but many people do not think labour exhibits that i not think labour exhibits that passion, that real deep, genuine engagement. as many, frankly, right now are asking what and who is the labour party for? do you have a very concise answer to that? i would an ue concise answer to that? i would argue that _ concise answer to that? i would argue that the _ concise answer to that? i would argue that the labour _ concise answer to that? i would argue that the labour party - concise answer to that? i would argue that the labour party is l argue that the labour party is for everybody will stop and think that politics in the last

decade, certainly in britain, it's funny when people make this criticism of the labour party because they did not make that particular criticism but the labour party certainly the people making it whenjeremy corbyn was the leader of the labour party, i don't think anyone ever accused him of not being tested —— passionate about his politics. the british public did not want him to be the leader of their country either. labour party has got to find a way that it can not isolate people but also speak very passionately and to be honest i don't think it's that complicated. the labour party is for progress. it's as simple as that. the conservative party is they are to conserve things the way they are the power structures, as they currently exist. the labour party has got to be about the fact that there's absolutely no way that my children commit members of parliament will progress past where i have achieved. almost everyone in my constituency, the idea that their child could

afford to buy a house in the way that they were able to in the 19905 is just, way that they were able to in the 19905 i5ju5t, there were not even expect it. people's expectations of progress have slipped very, very badly. expectations of progress have slipped very, very badly. in slipped very, very badly. in the past slipped very, very badly. in the past number of decades in politics. the past number of decades in olitics. ., i, , i, politics. your rates are so many interesting - politics. your rates are so many interesting points i politics. your rates are so - many interesting points there, just one specific point which is very relevant in the labour party about what you are forked we did not make any mention of working people of the working class, or any reference to class, or any reference to class whatsoever. is that a kind of language which was, let's face it, directly relevant let's face it, directly releva nt to let's face it, directly relevant to the formation of the labour party which is become entirely irrelevant? i think it's largely irrelevant to people i represent who would almost certainly by column writers be described as working class but if you were to ask them there probably would not have an answer. they would probably answer about the class of their parents really come from, there sort of tradition

and largely there would be working class because that would be the vast majority of the country. would be the vast ma'ority of the country-fl would be the vast ma'ority of the country. and would you as well. the country. and would you as well- this _ the country. and would you as well. this is... _ the country. and would you as well. this is... class _ the country. and would you as well. this is... class politics i well. this is... class politics is for the — well. this is... class politics is for the birds. _ well. this is... class politics is for the birds. do - well. this is... class politics is for the birds. do you - well. this is... class politics is for the birds. do you have no class _ is for the birds. do you have no class tomorrow - is for the birds. do you have no class tomorrow you - no class tomorrow you classless? what is your class? i suppose i'm very middle—class if i had to pick a class. i am, and a member of parliament. i live in a bot hou5e, it was my mum and dads te5t live in a bot hou5e, it was my mum and dads test of a person's class. but actually there's no reasonable te5t person's class. but actually there's no reasonable test of what it means to be working class. al5o then you are getting into the issue of the idea of an undercla55 which the vast majority of people for example who may be reliant on welfare, but benefits and which i have been myself, there's all sorts of different ways. but there's no agreed to system... but even in your. even your

5lightly complex answer look at the criticism, and you have from some people in the labour movement and i will quote you paul embree, a union activist, a firefighter and labour activist5, he says that people like you, even though you are extremely good at connecting with everybody, from all walks of life to make you in the end have a quote on quote from him, a metropolitan, liberal worldview. and that you are betraying the interests of traditional communities who voted labour in the past and we have seen, refu5ed voted labour in the past and we have seen, refused to vote labour in the last few years particularly those so called red wall constituencies in the north of england. i5 red wall constituencies in the north of england.— north of england. is funny, i went to the _ north of england. is funny, i went to the by-election - went to the by—election recently and during the 19 election, so many elections i forget which one would have merged into one. i went to lots of the red wall 5eat5 merged into one. i went to lots of the red wall seats and it's funny when people describe me as being the metropolitan elite because every single one of

them was considerably, what i would describe as more affluent than the seat i actually represent. there's this ridiculous rhetoric that gets spouted a5 ridiculous rhetoric that gets spouted as if these town5 ridiculous rhetoric that gets spouted as if these towns are all sort of depressed places where, you know, the people are taking part in some fort of class struggle. the vast majority of houses that i visited in a5hfield for example, a former mining area, were brand—new built homes. two cars in the drive. but were brand-new built homes. two cars in the drive.— cars in the drive. but they're not voting — cars in the drive. but they're not voting labour, _ cars in the drive. but they're not voting labour, many - cars in the drive. but they're not voting labour, many of. not voting labour, many of them. . �* , not voting labour, many of them. i, �*, i, , not voting labour, many of them. i, �*, i, , , them. that's actually true but i think them. that's actually true but i think the _ them. that's actually true but i think the idea _ them. that's actually true but i think the idea of _ them. that's actually true but i think the idea of nostalgia i i think the idea of nostalgia with the labour party has meant to stand for has not moved on in those people's mine5. to stand for has not moved on in those people's mines. the kind of people saying, metropolitan elite, but you know what, iju5t metropolitan elite, but you know what, i just did metropolitan elite, but you know what, iju5t did it myself, i'm a member of parliament, i'm undoubtedly part of an elite class of

people. i would part of an elite class of people. iwould not part of an elite class of people. i would not try to deny it. but the idea that there's anything wrong with being liberal and metropolitan, i live in a city, i'm not going to deny that, and i don't hate immigrants. but neither do those people in those red wall 5eat5, those people in those red wall seats, and we are making, i come from a feminist organisation, before i was a member of parliament i worked at a very successful entry activated feminist organisation in a red wall 5eat. all of the rhetoric 5aid in a red wall 5eat. all of the rhetoric said as if all people in this one place think like this and all people in this one place, the people in burnley think and want the same thing as the people in brighton. they want a decent start for their kids committee built up by kid5 committee built up by their houses and go on holiday once a year at want to have a decent life and decent old age. the idea that those things cannot be united by the labour party, not suggesting for a second that we are there yet but the idea that they could not be, that there's too many different views of people who some people work univer5itie5 some people work universities and living counsel houses, is just, i'm afraid it's the

ju5t, i'm afraid it's the rhetoric of division. trite just, i'm afraid it's the rhetoric of division. we talk passionate _ rhetoric of division. we talk passionate and _ rhetoric of division. we talk passionate and unfeeling i rhetoric of division. we talk i passionate and unfeeling your passion, and your belief that the labour party has a future. but look around you and look what happened to the socialist party in france, look what happened to the socialist party in greece. tho5e parties are effectively finished. could that happen to the labour party and i5 that happen to the labour party and is the only way to avoid it to get away from a sort of tribal notion that i'm labour through and through and always will be and start thinking about building a progressive coalition? , , about building a progressive coalition?— about building a progressive coalition? , , , , coalition? yes is probably the answer that _ coalition? yes is probably the answer that question. - coalition? yes is probably the answer that question. the - coalition? yes is probably the i answer that question. the idea, tribali5m and idea of i am labour, i always have bank of this bit of my constituency that are like that and you know, it's always nice on election day to go knocking doors in this places but i fundamentally don't like that. i don't like the idea. and it's funny and i'm a total hypocrite because obviously i was raised

to vote labour, i vote labour on the because my parents and grandparents day, and a come from a long tradition but i think it serves the people poorly. it serves the people poorly. it serves the people poorly in any area that is a safe seat for those votes to be 5afe seat for those votes to be taken for granted whether that's a conservative seat in the south of england that was sought recently, orfor sought recently, or for northern sought recently, orfor northern town5 labour 5eat5. sought recently, orfor northern town5 labour seats. i want the people to be demanding much more from their politicians.— much more from their toliticians. ., , i, i, politicians. could you imagine beint a politicians. could you imagine being a leading _ politicians. could you imagine being a leading voice - politicians. could you imagine being a leading voice in - politicians. could you imagine being a leading voice in a - being a leading voice in a different kind of left of centre political organisation? like something that moved beyond the labour party a5 like something that moved beyond the labour party as it is today? i beyond the labour party as it is toda ? , , i, i, is today? i guess i would want that to be _ is today? i guess i would want that to be to _ is today? i guess i would want that to be to be _ is today? i guess i would want that to be to be the _ is today? i guess i would want that to be to be the labour- that to be to be the labour party is, and whilst i think the element of the labour party's branding and the element of the tribal event, and they give us much stronger than people realise but that's

ultimately what i would want is a progressive politics that brings people together. and to be part of a movement thatjust put5 progress before anything else. puts progress before anything else. , , , , , i, i, else. jess phillips, we have to end there _ else. jess phillips, we have to end there and _ else. jess phillips, we have to end there and i _ else. jess phillips, we have to end there and i suspect - else. jess phillips, we have to end there and i suspect that i end there and i suspect that conversation will continue. thank you for being on hardtalk. hello there. summer weather is increasingly set to take hold over the next few days. it is looking largely dry. we'll see increasing amounts of sunshine and increasing temperatures as well, and it is all because of high pressure. currently, this area of high pressure is sitting to the southwest of us, but it is going to build towards the uk over the next

few days, hence the increasing amounts of sunshine and those higher temperatures as well. but actually, through wednesday, many 5pots will see a decent amount of sunshine. we will have quite a lot of cloud through the morning across some eastern parts of scotland and eastern england, tending to retreat towards the coast through the day, and also, more cloud into northern ireland and western scotland. and actually, as that cloud thickens up through the afternoon, it could even produce the odd spot of drizzle. but elsewhere, some good spell5 of sunshine. temperatures in the 5unnie5t 5pots up to m or 25 degrees. a bit breezy for northwestern areas and also for 5ome eastern coa5t5. now, as we head through wednesday night into thursday, we will see more cloud rolling down acro55 northern ireland and scotland, getting into northern england and wales by the end of the night. clear spell5 further south, a pretty mild night — 11—15 degrees in most places. into thursday, we are going to see more in the way of cloud pushing southwards down into england and wales. there'll be some spell5 of sunshine and certainly, 5ome brighter conditions developing for northern ireland and for scotland, and in the best of the sunshine, temperatures again getting up to around 2a or 25 degrees. and for friday, many 5pots can expect to see plenty

of blue sky and 5un5hine. a bit more cloud at this stage acro55 northwestern part5 of scotland, northern ireland, but certainly more cloud across the northern isles. the sunnier skies further south lifting tho5e temperatures up to 25—26, maybe at this stage, up to 27 degrees. and that sets us up for the weekend because our area of high pressure is going to become firmly established across the uk, bringing lots of dry weather, lots of sunshine. you can see frontal systems close to the far north perhaps giving a bit more cloud at times, but with our high pressure in place, we can expect some pretty warm weather through both saturday and sunday. so, let's look at some city forecasts. you can see acro55 shetland, it'll 5tay cloudy and a bit cooler, 15 or 16 degrees. but most other places, fine, dry, 5ome spell5 of sunshine and temperatures ea5ily up to 27, maybe 28 degrees.

this is bbc news, with the latest headlines for viewers in the uk and around the world. iam i am david iam david eades. president biden accu5e5 republican—controlled states of mounting a dangerous attack on voting rights in america. there is an unfolding a55ault taking place in america today in an attempt to suppress and subvert the right to vote in fair and free elections. heightened unrest in south africa — 72 people have died, amidst looting, protest and confrontations following the jailing of south africa's former president, jacob zuma. carlo5 ghosn'5 �*great escape' — the former boss of nissan

recount5 to the bbc his extraordinary flight from house