today at six, as the cost of living crisis bites, the chancellor sets out his plans to help hard pressed families. delivering his spring statement, he warned we should all be prepared for "the economy to worsen, potentially significantly." but he told the commons new government tax cuts would help ease the burden for millions. a tax plan that cuts taxes on working families by over £330, cuts taxes on fuel by 5p a litre, cut taxes on business and, yes, for the first time in a long time, cuts income tax. inflation is at its highest level for 30 years, and rising. energy prices at record highs. people are worried sick.

there were bleak predictions and a tough backdrop. the chancellor can make his promises but our living standards are set for a fall. so what difference exactly will the chancellor's spring statement make for ordinary families? the taliban abruptly orders girls�* secondary schools in afghanistan to stay shut, on the day they were due to reopen. in ukraine, the city of mariupol, were devastated by russian shelling, were devastated by russian shelling, we talk to a survivor. and human rights and football. we talk to the england captain harry kane about the world cup in qatar. and coming up on the bbc news channel, ash barty is off to chase other dreams — the world number one and three time grand slam winner retires from tennis at the age of 25.

good evening and welcome to the bbc news at six. the chancellor, rishi sunak, has set out his plans to address the cost of living crisis, predicted to be the worst in decades. he told mps that fuel duty would be cut by 5p per litre, through to march next year. national insurance payments are set to rise from april 6th, but he said the threshold at which people will have to pay any contribution will be raised by £3,000 from july. that means you'll need to earn at least £12,570 a year before paying any income tax or national insurance. and mr sunak said he intends to cut the basic rate of income tax, the first reduction in 16 years, from 20% to i9%, by the end of the current parliament in 202a. but the chancellor also gave some eye—watering figures on inflation, or the rate at which prices go up.

today it hit 6.2% in the 12 months to february, but the chancellor says that is likely to hit an average 7.4% for the rest of the year. and he talked about the uk s growth forecast, which has also been revised down to 3.8%, with mr sunak blaming the conflict in ukraine. he conceded that overall, everyone should be "prepared for the economy and public finances to worsen, potentially significantly." this was backed up by the office for budget responsiblity, which provides independent economic forecasts to the government. the 0br says household disposable incomes are set for their biggest drop since records began. our first report this evening, is from our political editor, laura kuenssberg. peering ahead there is a threat all around. rising prices and falling standards of living that could push some families to the edge. is standards of living that could push some families to the edge. is there more ain some families to the edge. is there more pain to _ some families to the edge. is there more pain to come, _ some families to the edge. is there more pain to come, chancellor? . some families to the edge. is there l more pain to come, chancellor? rishi sunak is the — more pain to come, chancellor? rishi sunak is the man _ more pain to come, chancellor? rishi sunak is the man who _ more pain to come, chancellor? rishi sunak is the man who has to manage the economy to the other side. fire

the economy to the other side. are ou doinu the economy to the other side. fife: you doing enough the economy to the other side. fife you doing enough to help the economy to the other side. fie you doing enough to help people chancellor? x�*t�*et you doing enough to help people chancellor?— you doing enough to help people chancellor? , , , ., , chancellor? yet can every step to be certain when — chancellor? yet can every step to be certain when our— chancellor? yet can every step to be certain when our world _ chancellor? yet can every step to be certain when our world is _ chancellor? yet can every step to be certain when our world is anything i certain when our world is anything but? i certain when our world is anything but? ., u, certain when our world is anything but? ., ., . ., certain when our world is anything but? ., ., ., but? i now call the chancellor of the exchequer, _ but? i now call the chancellor of the exchequer, rishi _ but? i now call the chancellor of the exchequer, rishi sunak. - but? i now call the chancellor of i the exchequer, rishi sunak. in the next half hour, _ the exchequer, rishi sunak. in the next half hour, he _ the exchequer, rishi sunak. in the next half hour, he had the - the exchequer, rishi sunak. in the next half hour, he had the power. the exchequer, rishi sunak. in the| next half hour, he had the power to change what is in the country's pockets. change what is in the country's ockets. ., , ., ., change what is in the country's ockets. ., ., ~ ., pockets. the invasion of ukraine - resents pockets. the invasion of ukraine presents a _ pockets. the invasion of ukraine presents a risk _ pockets. the invasion of ukraine presents a risk to _ pockets. the invasion of ukraine presents a risk to our— pockets. the invasion of ukraine presents a risk to our recovery, | pockets. the invasion of ukraine i presents a risk to our recovery, as it does to countries around the world. the war�*s most significant impact domestically is on the cost of living. people should know that we will stand by them as we have throughout the last two years. standing by is not the same as supporting everyone's income, but help for drivers was first. i supporting everyone's income, but help for drivers was first.— help for drivers was first. i want to help peeple _ help for drivers was first. i want to help people now. _ help for drivers was first. i want to help people now. today - help for drivers was first. i want to help people now. today i - help for drivers was first. i want to help people now. today i cani to help people now. today i can announce, for only the second time in 20 years, fuel duty will be cut. not by one or even by two but by 5p per litre.

not by one or even by two but by 5p er litre. ~ _,, ., ., per litre. with the cost of fuel for our tank per litre. with the cost of fuel for your tank and _ per litre. with the cost of fuel for your tank and heating _ per litre. with the cost of fuel for your tank and heating your - per litre. with the cost of fuel for your tank and heating your home | your tank and heating your home spiralling, vat will disappear on ways of making your home energy efficient and there is an extra £500 million for those who struggle most to pay the bills. yet these were not drastic moves. the chancellor holding back because... we drastic moves. the chancellor holding back because... we should be --reared holding back because... we should be prepared for — holding back because... we should be prepared for the _ holding back because... we should be prepared for the economy _ holding back because... we should be prepared for the economy and - holding back because... we should be prepared for the economy and public i prepared for the economy and public finances to worsen, potentially significantly. finances to worsen, potentially significantly-— finances to worsen, potentially sianificantl . , ., , significantly. interest on debt will ti- £80 significantly. interest on debt will tip £80 billion, _ significantly. interest on debt will tip £80 billion, more _ significantly. interest on debt will tip £80 billion, more than - tip £80 billion, more than the government spends day—to—day on schools, courts prisons and borders put together. and although money is tight, rishi sunak about to undo some tax rises he has already put in place. some tax rises he has already put in lace. ., , g , some tax rises he has already put in lace. ., _ , , place. from this july, people will be able to _ place. from this july, people will be able to earn _ place. from this july, people will be able to earn £12,570 - place. from this july, people will be able to earn £12,570 a - place. from this july, people will be able to earn £12,570 a year i be able to earn £12,570 a year without paying a single penny of income tax or national insurance. and then, to more cheers on his own side, he promised a penny off income tax, but not now, in time for the

next election. still two years away. before the end of this parliament, in 2024, for the first time in 16 years, the basic rate of income tax will be cut, from 20 two 19p in the pound. might tax plan delivers the biggest net cut to personal taxes in over a quarter of a century and i commend it to this house! but over a quarter of a century and i commend it to this house! but is the world in the — commend it to this house! but is the world in the excitement _ commend it to this house! but is the world in the excitement among - world in the excitement among conservatives about hypothetical tax cuts, and the world out here, the economy promising only weak sunshine. families and firms are already struggling to make ends meet. ,, ., ., ., . ., ., meet. the shadow chancellor of the exche . uer. meet. the shadow chancellor of the exchequer- for _ meet. the shadow chancellor of the exchequer. for labour, _ meet. the shadow chancellor of the exchequer. for labour, the - meet. the shadow chancellor of the exchequer. for labour, the ups - meet. the shadow chancellor of the exchequer. for labour, the ups and| exchequer. for labour, the ups and downs of tax _ exchequer. for labour, the ups and downs of tax vows _ exchequer. for labour, the ups and downs of tax vows miss _ exchequer. for labour, the ups and downs of tax vows miss the point. l downs of tax vows miss the point. today was the day the chancellor could _ today was the day the chancellor could have put a windfall tax on oil and gas _

could have put a windfall tax on oil and gas producers to provide real help to _ and gas producers to provide real help to families. but he didn't. to date was — help to families. but he didn't. to date was the day the chancellor could _ date was the day the chancellor could have set out a proper plan to support _ could have set out a proper plan to support businesses and create good 'obs. support businesses and create good jobs but— support businesses and create good jobs. but he didn't. today was the day he _ jobs. but he didn't. today was the day he could have properly scrapped his national insurance hike. he didn't — his national insurance hike. he didn't. people are worried sick. for all his— didn't. people are worried sick. for all his words. — didn't. people are worried sick. for all his words, it is clear the chancellor does not understand the scale _ chancellor does not understand the scale of _ chancellor does not understand the scale of the challenge. he talks about _ scale of the challenge. he talks about providing security for working families _ about providing security for working families. but his choices are making the cost _ families. but his choices are making the cost of— families. but his choices are making the cost of living crisis worse, not hetten _ the cost of living crisis worse, not better. ., , ,.,, ., the cost of living crisis worse, not better. ., , ., , better. the opposition parties accusina better. the opposition parties accusing ministers _ better. the opposition parties accusing ministers of- better. the opposition parties accusing ministers of turning | better. the opposition parties - accusing ministers of turning their backs. ., . ., , ., accusing ministers of turning their backs. ., , ., ., backs. the chancellor is not done nearly enough — backs. the chancellor is not done nearly enough today _ backs. the chancellor is not done nearly enough today to _ backs. the chancellor is not done nearly enough today to help - backs. the chancellor is not done nearly enough today to help with | backs. the chancellor is not done i nearly enough today to help with the cost of living crisis. people receiving their energy bills just now, there's nothing additionalfor them today other than the heat now

pay later loan the chancellor already announced. the pay later loan the chancellor already announced. pay later loan the chancellor alread announced. ., ., , already announced. the total swindle from the chancellor, _ already announced. the total swindle from the chancellor, he _ already announced. the total swindle from the chancellor, he is _ already announced. the total swindle from the chancellor, he is giving - from the chancellor, he is giving with one — from the chancellor, he is giving with one hand and taking back with the other~ — with one hand and taking back with the other. people are struggling, they are — the other. people are struggling, they are drowning in higher heating bills, _ they are drowning in higher heating bills, motoring bills, food bills. they— bills, motoring bills, food bills. they needed a lifeboat and they did not get _ they needed a lifeboat and they did not get that from the chancellor. there _ not get that from the chancellor. there is — not get that from the chancellor. there is a — not get that from the chancellor. there is a climate shaped hole at the heart — there is a climate shaped hole at the heart of— there is a climate shaped hole at the heart of this _ there is a climate shaped hole at the heart of this statement. - there is a climate shaped hole at the heart of this statement. the i the heart of this statement. the chancellor— the heart of this statement. the chancellor did _ the heart of this statement. the chancellor did not— the heart of this statement. the chancellor did not even - the heart of this statement. the . chancellor did not even mentioned the word _ chancellor did not even mentioned the word climate _ chancellor did not even mentioned the word climate once _ chancellor did not even mentioned the word climate once and - chancellor did not even mentioned the word climate once and that - chancellor did not even mentioned the word climate once and that is i the word climate once and that is all the _ the word climate once and that is all the more _ the word climate once and that is all the more unforgivable - the word climate once and that is all the more unforgivable given l the word climate once and that is l all the more unforgivable given the solution _ all the more unforgivable given the solution to— all the more unforgivable given the solution to the _ all the more unforgivable given the solution to the climate _ all the more unforgivable given the solution to the climate crisis - all the more unforgivable given the solution to the climate crisis and i solution to the climate crisis and indeed _ solution to the climate crisis and indeed the — solution to the climate crisis and indeed the cost _ solution to the climate crisis and indeed the cost of _ solution to the climate crisis and indeed the cost of living - solution to the climate crisis and indeed the cost of living crisis i solution to the climate crisis and indeed the cost of living crisis is| indeed the cost of living crisis is the same. — indeed the cost of living crisis is the same, what _ indeed the cost of living crisis is the same, what we _ indeed the cost of living crisis is the same, what we need - indeed the cost of living crisis is the same, what we need to- indeed the cost of living crisis is the same, what we need to see| indeed the cost of living crisis is. the same, what we need to see is indeed the cost of living crisis is- the same, what we need to see is a mass _ the same, what we need to see is a mass home — the same, what we need to see is a mass home insulation _ the same, what we need to see is a mass home insulation programme. | the same, what we need to see is a i mass home insulation programme. his focus mass home insulation programme. hit}, focus for mass home insulation programme. focus for now it's at the pump, mass home insulation programme. i—iii: focus for now it's at the pump, and the promise and reality of some tax cuts... ., ., i. ., the promise and reality of some tax| cuts. . .— for rishi cuts... how are you doing? for rishi sunak, cuts. .. how are you doing? for rishi sunak. for— cuts... how are you doing? for rishi sunak. for the _ cuts... how are you doing? for rishi sunak, for the government, - cuts... how are you doing? for rishi sunak, for the government, the - sunak, for the government, the taxpayer cannot and should not pick up taxpayer cannot and should not pick up everyone's tab. laura kuenssberg, bbc news, westminster. despite the chancellor's concessions today on tax,

the office for budget responsibility says overrall taxes will hit their "highest level since the late 1940s" in coming years. for more analysis of the numbers in the spring statement, here's our economics editor, faisal islam. even before today's actual tax and spending decisions, the fate of the economy and of the finances of millions of households was repealed by rises in prices of fuel, food and electricity than pushing inflation to a new 30 year high. the grim news from the government's economic forecaster, that this will be with us for some time. since the 1990s, inflation has generally stayed below 4% but hit 6.2% in the figures today. in the last forecast, the 0br recognised any prices would push inflation up this year could now they say it will rise even higher for longer, tojust under they say it will rise even higher for longer, to just under 9%, they say it will rise even higher for longer, tojust under 9%, the highest level since the 1980s. the russian highest level since the 19805. tue russian invasion highest level since the 19805. tte russian invasion of highest level since the 19805. t"te ru55ian invasion of ukraine highest level since the 19805. tte ru55ian invasion of ukraine happened russian invasion of ukraine happened halfway through the forecast but we

did take energy prices the week after the invasion happened and roughly speaking, they have returned to both levels in the last few weeks. it does have a big impact on inflation, pushing it up to 8.7%, the highest level in 40 years, and a knock—on effect on growth. it had brought it down from 6% in the previous forecast to 3.8% in this forecast. , ., ., . ., forecast. the big announcement from the chancellor _ forecast. the big announcement from the chancellor was _ forecast. the big announcement from the chancellor was to _ forecast. the big announcement from the chancellor was to lower _ forecast. the big announcement from the chancellor was to lower two - the chancellor was to lower two taxes but since the start of this parliament, the government has announced tax rises worth nearly 4% of the site of the economy. for income tax, national insurance and corporations. the announcement today rolls back about 0.5% of that, leaving the overall level of taxes in the economy at levels not seen since the 1940s. this is all about scale, the half reversal of eight national insurance rise that is yet to hit, alongside the down payment on an income tax cut that will come in a couple of years will be material worth hundreds of pounds for tens of millions of households

eventually. but they are dwarfed by the existing tax rises already in train across the economy, and the incredible hit to living standards from rising prices, in particular energy. put all of that together and even despite the government support, millions of households this year will see real post—tax income is falling by 2%, the biggest amount in 66 years that these statistics have existed, but some will be hit harder. tt existed, but some will be hit harder. , ., �* ., existed, but some will be hit harder. �* ., ., harder. if you're not an income taxpayer. _ harder. if you're not an income taxpayer. not _ harder. if you're not an income taxpayer, not in _ harder. if you're not an income taxpayer, not in work - harder. if you're not an income taxpayer, not in work or - taxpayer, not in work or paying national insurance, there was literally nothing in there for you. benefits, universal credit, state pension, going up byjust 3.1% next month, inflation over the year is expected to average something like 7% and that is a big cut in the living standards on those on the very lowest incomes. find living standards on those on the very lowest incomes.— living standards on those on the very lowest incomes. and there are some very — very lowest incomes. and there are some very big _ very lowest incomes. and there are some very big question _ very lowest incomes. and there are some very big question is _ very lowest incomes. and there are some very big question is not - some very big question is not yet fully answered arising from inflation staying so high for so long. public sector workers

alongside pensioners and recipients of tax credits are likely to push hard for more public spending to ease their squeeze. faisal islam, bbc news. so, the chancellor has spoken, but what's been the puiblic reaction to his attempts to try to ease the cost of living crisis? 0ur political corresponent alex forsyth has been gauging the mood in tamworth, in staffordshire. hello! had a good day? good. the fords are a busy family. and for them, like many, it is the day—to—day routines that are becoming costly. after school there is football and dancing, family dinner. you take the car... and with fuel, food and energy bills all climbing, they are having to think about what they spend in a whole new way. thinking of ourfood bills each week, it has definitely increased, probably £20—30 over the last 12 months, and i am conscious, actually, we turn lights off and shut doors. fuel prices mean driving to after—school activities is more expensive so susie shares lifts

with other families, making today's cut in fuel duty welcome. but at daughter lottie's dance class, few are jumping for joy at the prospect of prices rising further. parents watching children dancing or playing cricket say things are already a stretch. it is the electric bills and the gas bill5. i'm very conscious about having the heating on. . well, our wages don't go up at the same rate so it is all coming out of our pockets. i think the government really needs to step up and start doing something about this now because it's not on. giving over 30 million workers a tax cut... l back at the fords, susie watched to see if the chancellor would bring much relief and for her, the changes to national insurance will help. working part—time, that is beneficial for myself. so, yes, it is a better outcome than we could have anticipated. and the income tax cut due in two years? i suppose it is a case

of sit and wait. the market town of tamworth is in the west midlands, which already has some of the most deprived areas in england. the measures announced by the chancellor today are meant to mitigate the financial pressure so many households are facing but with prices set to rise further, there are plenty here still worried about what is to come. the cost of living could well be a defining challenge for this government. for martin, it is already a struggle. he set up a courier company during covid and rocketing fuel prices have been crippling. we are paying an extra £20—40 a day per van so if we operate seven days a week, that is up to £600 a week. so will today's announcements help? i think that it is embarrassing that that is the best the british the british government can do, next week, the fuel pumps will probably go up by 5p so that it's swallowed up straight. that is the risk. as well as the impact

on families and firms, if costs keep climbing, there could be a political price to pay too. alex forsyth, bbc news, tamworth. let's speak to our political editor, laura kuenssberg, who's at westminster. if any components. chancellor try to show is that — if any components. chancellor try to show is that he _ if any components. chancellor try to show is that he is _ if any components. chancellor try to show is that he is what _ if any components. chancellor try to show is that he is what he _ if any components. chancellor try to show is that he is what he said - if any components. chancellor try to show is that he is what he said he i show is that he is what he said he aspires to be, a tax—cutting conservative at his heart, and tory mps were certainly tickled to hear their money man talking about giving money back to the public after two years of spending and borrowing. there might be many arriving on a garage forecourt is tonight, with the fuel duty cut having just come into place but there are two big buts with rishi sunak a's attempt to show himself in a positive light. first off, he has already raised taxes by much more that he plans now

to get back to people, and second, by focusing on that, i think he has left himself vulnerable to the charge that he hasn't done enough to give big slices of extra help to families and firms around the country who are already really struggling with making ends meet. that does not rule out the promise of more extra help in the autumn, when inflation keeps biting and biting, but as far as the treasury is concerned, that is a real risk here. and the debate over what he really has announced today, which will go on in earnest as we look at the particular details every dot that and cost to you, may well be swamped by a really tough reality of inflation running at such a high rate for some time. and there's more information on the chancellor's spring statement, and what it means for you, on the bbc website, just go to bbc.co.uk/politics. 0nto other news, and the taliban has

abruptly ordered girls�* secondary schools in afghanistan to remain closed, on the day they were due to reopen. many had been shut since last august, when the taliban retook control of the country. a spokesman says more time's needed to decide what uniforms female students should wear. our correspondent, secunder kermani, has more from kabul. dusting the desks. the morning began full of smiles and hope. for these students in the west of kabul, returning to school felt particularly poignant. last year, more than 90 were killed here in an attack by the local branch of the islamic state group. "we want to be successful so we can fulfil the dreams of our martyred classmates," says zikina. "that will be our revenge on those who were responsible." not long after they've arrived,

there's unexpected bad news. the girls that literallyjust sat down at their desks and their teacher got a whatsapp message from the local taliban in charge saying that, actually, teenage girls can't come back to class just yet. and the girls are just devastated. "we just want to learn and to serve our country," says fatima. "what is our sin?" she asks the taliban. "you're always talking about islam. "does islam say to harm women like this? "it doesn't. "i want to address the girls of afghanistan. "please don't give up fighting for your rights." the taliban's ministry of education pressed ahead with a ceremony marking the start of the new academic year, but seemed at a loss to explain what had gone wrong. "the central leadership has said, until a plan is developed "on the basis of sharia and afghan

culture, girls�* secondary schools "will remain closed," a spokesman told us. we were in a school in the west of kabul today. there were teenage girls in tears because they have been told that they have to go home again. who should they blame for this? "i work for the ministry of education," he says. "we made our preparations. "you need to ask someone representing the leadership." the students filed home, just an hour or so after having arrived. in private, taliban members admit hardline elements within the group still find the idea of female education controversial, even though schools are already segregated. that leaves these young women deeply worried for their future. secunder kermani, bbc news, kabul. our top story this evening. the chancellor sets out his plans to help families, but warns we should

be prepared for the economy to worsen, potentially significantly. and still to come the england captain harry kane says how they are prepare for the world cup. coming up in sportsday on the bbc news channel: no room for complacency says captain heather knight — as england�*s cricketers continue their quest for a world cup semi—final spot when they meet pakistan in new zealand overnight. now let�*s get the latest from ukraine and ben brown in lviv. good evening from lviv, in the west of ukraine. for the first time, there are signs that ukrainian forces are going on the offensive. the ukrainian government says its troops have retaken the town of mykolaiv, west of the capital kyiv. local authorities there say ukrainian flags are flying in the town once more.

volunteers and troops in the southern town of voznesensk destroyed a russian armoured convoy and pushed back russian forces. and in kherson, the first city to fall, ukrainian forces are trying to recapture territory. but the port city of mariupol is still under intense russian bombardement. president zelensky says around 100,000 civilians are now trapped there without food, water or power. 0ur correspondent wyre davies has been speaking to a survivor of the attack on the city�*s theatre, where hundreds of civilians including children had been taking shelter. maria walked for four days to escape mariupol. without money, a car orfamily, she has nothing. she�*s the first known survivor of the mariupol theatre attack to speak about what happened. translation: the theatre - was completely packed with people.

there was no space to lie down people were just sitting. it was clear that this was a shelter, people knew this. also that there was massive signs saying children that were made on both sides of the theatre. where were you at the exact time of the attack? we were getting our breakfast and by breakfast i mean we were getting some boiled water. someone brought me some pieces of fish, i think to feed the dogs. when they finished eating, i went outside to the water tank to get a bowl of water for them. this is when the shell landed. i saw that it landed just where i had been sitting. i was outside and survived only because there was some man nearby. he heard the shell falling, grabbed me by the collar, pinned me between the ground on the wall and covered me with his body. we were sprayed with broken glass and concrete. i was stunned, probably even concussed because i fell unconscious several times since.

when the dust settled a bit, i cleared my eyes i saw injured people around. i tried to make my way inside. the dogs were the family for me. they were everything i had left. i could not find a way to get inside to at least find out whether they were alive or dead. i sincerely hope they died instantly. maria says there were at least a thousand people inside the theatre. while russia denies targeting civilians, and said it was not responsible, what maria saw suggests otherwise. translation: i don't know how many people died, sorry. - there were some rooms in there, those were allocated for families with children. that part of the theatre is completely gone. partially deafened by the blast, her back in pain, maria now relies

on the kindness of friends. she worries for her grandmother in mariupol and mourns her dead pets. atjust 27, it is difficult to stay strong. wyre davies, bbc news, zaporizhzhia. let�*s speak to our chief international correspondent, lyse doucet, who�*s in the ukrainian capital kyiv. some evidence of successful ukrainian counterattacks, but what�*s the wider picture? what we mustn�*t forget that ukraine started the war as very much outgunned and outmanned on land, sea and air, by the more powerful russian military and the fact that a month into the invaccination, ukraine being confident to go on the attack is significant. in kyiv weeks

ago there was a sense of foreboding that it could be a matter of dayses before russian troops reached the city centre. today in a beautiful park near here, next to a statue of st michael, the mayor said they had taken back mykolaiv and most of the area where there has been intense fighting was back in ukrainian hands and sometimes the narrative matters as much as what happens on the ground. but russia has a lot of fire power and on queue for the first time today they seem to have used a grad multiple rocket launcher to cause extensive damage inside this city. cause extensive damage inside this ci . ., ~' , ., that�*s it from me and the team here in lviv, back to clive in the studio.

borisjohnson�*s confirmed the government is taking legal action against p&0 ferries, saying it looks like the firm did break the law by sacking 800 staff without notice. the prime minister told mps the company could face fines "running into millions of pounds," if it�*s found guilty. p&0 ferries has now apologised for the mass sackings. the firm�*s chief executive will appear before a joint committee of mps tomorrow. england captain harry kane says the team have discussed human rights issues in qatar ahead of the world cup there this year. he said the squad met to discuss qatar�*s human rights record. having reached a first ever euros final last year, england have high hopes for the world cup this winter, but preparations in qatar have also been dogged by concern over human rights in the country. for the first time this week, the squad met as a group to learn about the controversy, and today the captain told me they were ready to speak out. obviously it is sad to see but i

think the message that we want to get across, and obviously the reason we talked about it yesterday, is to try and understand it as much as possible, try to educate ourselves as much as possible. and yeah, like we have done with other things, it is to try and help in any way that we can and using our platform to try and do that. as well as alleged abuse of migrant workers and questions over the implementation of labour reforms in qatar, homosexuality is illegal and despite organisers�* assurances, there are concerns that some england fans may not feel safe attending. the thought of not having some of our fans there will be a real shame. i hope and we hope that qatar do everything possible to make sure everyone feels safe and comfortable. you and your team—mates have taken the knee of course. why is it so important, do you think, to use your platform to try and make a difference, and what kind of things might you do? anything we can do to help shine a light on things, or help try and stamp things

out, then i guess it is important that we do that. and to have ideas, whether that is just us as a nation, whether that is with the other countries as well, to all be as one and all stand together as one, which i think we�*ll send a real powerful message. some teams have protested about human rights in qatar. are there times when you look ahead and think, "i wish it was somewhere else?" it is going to be mixed emotions, really. i think the world cup being in qatar is definitely shining that light and it�*s important that we try and make as much change as possible, notjust for now but for the future as well. time for a look at the weather here�*s ben rich. thank you. the clear, blue skies today, temperatures up to around 20 degrees. but the same clear skies will allow temperatures to drop tonight. any showers that have popped up this afternoon will fade. it is largely clear tonight. 0ne

popped up this afternoon will fade. it is largely clear tonight. one or two fog patches and some cloud in western scotland and northern ireland. temperatures in cities close to freezing, below freezing in the countryside. so a touch of frost and fog patches tomorrow morning, especially in north—east england. some mist elsewhere. england and wales having a dry and sunny day. more cloud in scotland and northern ireland, but that should break to give sunshine and temperatures just a fraction down, but still 15 to 18 degrees. with light wind and stagnant air, one thing to bear in mind, high levels of air pollution, particularly in eastern england and we keep a similar set up into friday, with spells of sunshine for many. always a bit more cloud up to the north—west of the uk and some rain just skirting across the northern isles. more of a breeze to the south coast. temperatures again 14 to 19 degrees. still some spring

warmth. forthe 14 to 19 degrees. still some spring warmth. for the weekend, 14 to 19 degrees. still some spring warmth. forthe weekend, high pressure still in charge, some cloud around the high, there could be some fog patches around at types, but essentially it is fine, dry and sunny. into next week a big change, northerly winds will bring something colder and into next week a different feel to the weather. single digit temperatures by day and wintry showers for some. make the most of warmth while it lasts. back to our top story, the chancellor�*s spring statement, and our economics editor, faisal islam is with me. it was a tough gig, how much wiggle room did he have? let it was a tough gig, how much wiggle room did he have?— it was a tough gig, how much wiggle room did he have? let me give you a sense of scale _ room did he have? let me give you a sense of scale from _ room did he have? let me give you a sense of scale from some _ room did he have? let me give you a sense of scale from some of - room did he have? let me give you a sense of scale from some of the - room did he have? let me give you a sense of scale from some of the big. sense of scale from some of the big numbers, you have a government trying to change tax policy and you have for example the cut to fuel prices, just