but scottishpower warned that if the chancellor wants industry help to head off a winter crisis, he needs to act soon. simon jack, bbc news. before we go, a tale of birthday generosity designed to cheer people up after the events of the past few years. paul heaton, who formed the band the housemartins in hull in the 1980s, decided his 60th birthday was a good moment to do something different. so he put money behind the bar at 60 pubs, so that regulars could have a drink on him, as our correspondent danny savage reports. he sang about happy hour — now he's creating one for real. # it's happy houragain... # paul heaton today put £1000 behind the bar of 60 pubs to mark his 60th birthday. it's been really, really good,

it's been really busy, and it's really good for the community. one of them was the whalebone in hull. it a privilege to be one of the pubs in hull, never mind the country, to be able to represent paul heaton, and give out the drinks that he's bought. the gratitude was clear. it'sjust, like, just a lovely thing to do, isn't it? happy birthday, paul, cheers! it's almost like an. alternative jubilee, where people canjust take a day, i spend it together and have a drink, get to know each other. sharing all this money with everybody, it's a great community spirit, really, to give everyone, after the covid pandemic as well. he's a good lad, is paul, he's an old school socialist, and it's wonderful that he remembers people like us, on a day like today, after two years of absolute penury, can't afford a pint, and so god bless him and thank you very much for this cider, going down well! fortunately, we got here before the money ran out, so cheers, paul. he says he's done this to say thank

you to people who bought his records and shown support to him over the years. cheers, paul! happy birthday, paul! # they could never be blue... # and in 60 pubs across the uk and ireland tomorrow, they could be feeling it. as paul heaton sang, old red eyes might be back. danny savage, bbc news, hull. 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 annabel denham,

who's director of communications at the iea — the institute of econonomic affairs — and the broadcaster, john stapleton. we will say hello to both and just a moment. at first, let's take a look at the front pages, mostly dominated by two large stories. the financial times, which leads on the news that labour leader, sir keir starmer, says he will quit if he's fined by durham police for breaking lockdown rules. the metro carries the same story on its front page — but also has a picture of the queen, who won't be attending the state opening of parliament, with prince charles taking her place. the daily telegraph leads on the queen's absence, and says the move could be seen as a significant shift in prince charles' responsibilities as heir to the throne. the sun says it's the first time the monarch will miss the state opening in 59 years. the i dedicates its front page to sir keir starmer�*s statement, and says the labour leader is gambling his career on being cleared from wrongdoing. the guardian says it has evidence compiled by the labour party that shows the curry and beers that are under investigation were part

of the working day — meaning it they were permitted under covid rules at the time. but the daily mail accuses sir keir of putting pressure on the police by promising to resign if fined, as any decision to do so could effectively kill off opposition to the government. let's get started straightaway, two big stories as mentioned. good evening, thanks forjoining along. let's start with the ft — we could've picked any picture the micro paper because of the stories on the front, but let's go with the headline there of the ft, "starmer challengesjohnson on integrity headline there of the ft, "starmer challenges johnson on integrity with bout to quit annabel, can you kick us off? �* ., , ., bout to quit annabel, can you kick usoff? us off? i'm astounded the story still has legs, _ us off? i'm astounded the story still has legs, that _ us off? i'm astounded the story still has legs, that it's - us off? i'm astounded the story| still has legs, that it's resonated with the electorate to the degree

that it has, potentially hitting keir starmer in the local elections last week. and we still talking about it now. of course this is beer curry gate, the fact that there was this campaigning event around the time of the by election, and sir keir starmer and his team were eating curry and drinking beer, and there are all sorts of questions i have been thrown up that led to durham police reopening the investigation. but the main develop and we are seeing today is keir starmer and angela rayner saying they will resign if they are issued with fines — and that would indeed put borisjohnson in a very tight spot, and this could be the making of keir starmer. 0n the other hand, it could be a kamikaze operation in which his political career is left in tatters. but borisjohnson may find his own position untenable. so

we will just find his own position untenable. so we willjust have to see how things unfold in the next few days. i must say i personally oscillate between out outrage over partygate and beer gate while the rest of us were abiding by the rules, we've heard all sorts of stories of loved ones being separated whilst they passing away. but i wonder if we are slowly losing perspective here, the idea that senior politicians should have to resign if they accidentally broke covid rules years ago, creating no spread risk and doing nothing more than eating curry or cake. i'm currently undecided.— currently undecided. that's fascinating, _ currently undecided. that's fascinating, i'm _ currently undecided. that's fascinating, i'm sure - currently undecided. that's fascinating, i'm sure many| currently undecided. that's - fascinating, i'm sure many people watching now will have a great deal of sympathy with that position, because i've certainly been speaking to people who feel very similar. many are oscillating. and what we will see, which is quite interesting

on the front pages, which often happens when there is 1—2 big stories, you really get to see the angles and lines in the different pictures that are pulled out and presented. john, let's go to the front page of the guardian, just read their headline there. "starmer�*s gamble: leader pledges to quit if he is find over beer gate dash through." what you think of the guardian? ,,, ., ~ ., dash through." what you think of the guardian? ., ~ ., ~ ., , �*, guardian? speaking on annabelle's oint, i guardian? speaking on annabelle's point. i fully _ guardian? speaking on annabelle's point, i fully understand _ guardian? speaking on annabelle's point, i fully understand that, - point, i fully understand that, compared to the war in ukraine and the cost _ compared to the war in ukraine and the cost of— compared to the war in ukraine and the cost of living crisis, it may seem — the cost of living crisis, it may seem very trivial. but i speak as someone — seem very trivial. but i speak as someone who buried his wife just a few days _ someone who buried his wife just a few days before in downing street, and i _ few days before in downing street, and i must — few days before in downing street, and i must tell you after that funeral. _ and i must tell you after that funeral. i_ and i must tell you after that funeral, i can even —— couldn't even meet _ funeral, i can even —— couldn't even meet my— funeral, i can even —— couldn't even meet my family in the back garden for a drink — meet my family in the back garden for a drink. millions of people suffered — for a drink. millions of people suffered other fates dust similar

fates. _ suffered other fates dust similar fates. so— suffered other fates dust similar fates, so that's why some will feel very strongly about this. the guardian_ very strongly about this. the guardian says this was allowable under— guardian says this was allowable under regulation, saying business meetings — under regulation, saying business meetings were admissible where reasonable. in my opinion, i have to say that— reasonable. in my opinion, i have to say that if— reasonable. in my opinion, i have to say that if all — reasonable. in my opinion, i have to say that if all this is true, if all keir— say that if all this is true, if all keir starmer did was have a beer and curry— keir starmer did was have a beer and curry with— keir starmer did was have a beer and curry with colleagues at the end of a working — curry with colleagues at the end of a working day — in my opinion, it pales— a working day — in my opinion, it pales in— a working day — in my opinion, it pales in comparison to what was going _ pales in comparison to what was going on— pales in comparison to what was going on in— pales in comparison to what was going on in downing street, where we have the _ going on in downing street, where we have the prime minister hosting bring _ have the prime minister hosting bring your own booze parties, 60 events— bring your own booze parties, 60 events altogether which could be described as a party. we knew they .ave described as a party. we knew they gave misleading statements, if not downright lies. i think there is a cause _ downright lies. i think there is a cause of— downright lies. i think there is a cause of concern here, because it comes— cause of concern here, because it comes down— cause of concern here, because it comes down to what keir starmer was talking _ comes down to what keir starmer was talking about today, whether we trust _ talking about today, whether we trust our —

talking about today, whether we trust our politicians are not. what he's done — trust our politicians are not. what he's done is — trust our politicians are not. what he's done is put his reputation on the line — he's done is put his reputation on the line it's_ he's done is put his reputation on the line. it's a huge gamble on his part because they may take a very different _ part because they may take a very different view. they faced this situation — different view. they faced this situation once before with dominic cummings, but they decided at that time they— cummings, but they decided at that time they could not issue a fixed penalty— time they could not issue a fixed penalty notice at the time. john, i'll come back _ penalty notice at the time. john, i'll come back to _ penalty notice at the time. john, i'll come back to you, _ penalty notice at the time. john, i'll come back to you, i - penalty notice at the time. john, i'll come back to you, i just - penalty notice at the time. john, i'll come back to you, i just wantj i'll come back to you, i just want to bring up one of the points you made. this idea of equivalence — certainly people in the labour party have been trying to explain that there isn't a direct equivalence here, that there's a big difference between the two sets of events, beer gate and partygate. what do you make of that? ., , , , ., , of that? undoubtedly there is a big difference between _ of that? undoubtedly there is a big difference between beergate - of that? undoubtedly there is a big difference between beergate and l of that? undoubtedly there is a big l difference between beergate and the culture of drinking that dominated downing street over the course of various lockdowns, the byob parties in the garden at number ten, the

suitcases full of wine that number ten staff had been out to fill. i don't think people would view that is the same as keir starmer having a curry and beer with colleagues during campaigning. but of course, those aren't the two things that we are really comparing. but we are comparing is cake gate, for which borisjohnson and rishi sunak were to beergate. and those two in my eyes are more similar. certainly when it comes to the chancellor of the exchequer, the fact that he turned up early to a meeting and was presented with some cake, and has subsequently been issued a fine does seem rather unfair at least from where i'm sitting. but of course, keir starmer was the one who made a realfuss keir starmer was the one who made a real fuss about keir starmer was the one who made a realfuss about this, keir starmer was the one who made a real fuss about this, who insisted that boris johnson real fuss about this, who insisted that borisjohnson resigned once he was issued with that penalty notice. i think that's the reason why his situation is untenable. i don't think anybody is trying to suggest

that what was going on with wine and cheese parties and all these breaches of the rules that they themselves had set throughout the lockdown is really the same as what we are talking about now with keir starmer. but i think he's really staked his reputation on being a very principled leader of the opposition, of having a meticulous attention to detail. we've heard him again today saying the british public deserves politicians who think the rules apply to them. i think the rules apply to them. i think it is quite admirable that he's doing this, and we'lljust see whether that gamble pays off. john. whether that gamble pays off. john, we will move _ whether that gamble pays off. john, we will move onto _ whether that gamble pays off. john, we will move onto the _ whether that gamble pays off. john, we will move onto the second big story of the day in a moment, but there's a couple details firstly in the guardian, saying there's evidence to show that the labour party team there beyond iam into the night the night that he was pictured drinking that beer, suggesting that

it was part of the workday — this would be the dossier the labour party will be presenting. do you think that makes a significant difference here? i think that makes a significant difference here?— think that makes a significant difference here? i do, and i heard something — difference here? i do, and i heard something which _ difference here? i do, and i heard something which changed - difference here? i do, and i heard something which changed my - difference here? i do, and i heard . something which changed my opinion on this— something which changed my opinion on this as _ something which changed my opinion on this as well, listening to emily thornberry— on this as well, listening to emily thornberry on your channel earlier on today — thornberry on your channel earlier on today. she was referring back to this document that the mail on sunday— this document that the mail on sunday came out with — they've been comparing _ sunday came out with — they've been comparing on this to 12—13 days, which _ comparing on this to 12—13 days, which they've every right to do, it's something they consider to be very important. they came up with this document showing this is a planned — this document showing this is a planned event, there is a timetable for this— planned event, there is a timetable for this event, having dinner at a certain— for this event, having dinner at a certain time, lasting for one hour and 20 _ certain time, lasting for one hour and 20 minutes, then it would be closed _ and 20 minutes, then it would be closed. emily thornberry was pointing _ closed. emily thornberry was pointing out that every politician -ets pointing out that every politician gets a _ pointing out that every politician gets a fault that i could document like this— gets a fault that i could document like this so everyone knows where everyone — like this so everyone knows where everyone is — like this so everyone knows where everyone is and what they're doing, which _ everyone is and what they're doing, which makes absolute sense. she also made _ which makes absolute sense. she also made the _ which makes absolute sense. she also made the point that although some

are saying — made the point that although some are saying there's no evidence that sir keir— are saying there's no evidence that sir keir starmer worked after close after finishing his curry and beer, every— after finishing his curry and beer, every politician in those circumstances on the road works when they go— circumstances on the road works when they go back— circumstances on the road works when they go back to their hotel, they sit down — they go back to their hotel, they sit down and go through what they've -ot sit down and go through what they've got to— sit down and go through what they've got to do— sit down and go through what they've got to do the next day, they have to carry— got to do the next day, they have to carry on— got to do the next day, they have to carry on with — got to do the next day, they have to carry on with work, look after their speech, _ carry on with work, look after their speech, check it for the next day, and consider what they're doing and check— and consider what they're doing and check on _ and consider what they're doing and check on information. in that sense, according _ check on information. in that sense, according to — check on information. in that sense, according to her and the guardian, there _ according to her and the guardian, there is— according to her and the guardian, there is evidence that this was truly— there is evidence that this was truly a — there is evidence that this was truly a working event. the police took _ truly a working event. the police took the — truly a working event. the police took the same view, which remains to be seen _ took the same view, which remains to be seen. �* , , took the same view, which remains to be seen. �*, , ., ,., be seen. let's 'ust do this on cuickl , be seen. let's 'ust do this on quickly. the _ be seen. let'sjust do this on quickly, the front _ be seen. let'sjust do this on quickly, the front page - be seen. let'sjust do this on quickly, the front page of. be seen. let'sjust do this on| quickly, the front page of the be seen. let'sjust do this on - quickly, the front page of the daily mail thatjohn mentioned there, again talking about different papers pulling out different lines. their headline is, "starmer accused of piling pressure on police" by giving this position. can you explain to us? , . ., this position. can you explain to us? , .. ., this position. can you explain to us? they called it a cynical ploy - i think us? they called it a cynical ploy - i think they _ us? they called it a cynical ploy - i think they are _ us? they called it a cynical ploy - i think they are trying _ us? they called it a cynical ploy -

i think they are trying to - us? they called it a cynical ploy - i think they are trying to suggest | i think they are trying to suggest that starmer is applying pressure on the police as a political ploy. this is on the cover of the daily mail, these are accusations that the leader of the opposition has put deeply inappropriate pressure on beergate police. 0bviously he said, now that he's come out and said he will resign if the durham constabulary fine him over these lockdown beers and curry, and opponents are suggesting, according to the daily mail, that this is put detectives in a rather difficult position, knowing that the decisions they take could have very serious ramifications for british politics, the stability of british politics. the decision they make could determine the future of keir starmer�*s career. i'd like to think the durham constabulary are capable of making objective decisions were

they not having to consider these factors. it sounds to me like they were right to reopen the investigation, and we'lljust have to see what conclusions they draw. thank you both very much for that, we move on our second big story, and this is the queen's announcement this is the queen's announcement this evening that the queen won't be there as she normally is for the state opening of parliament — a significant moment, she doesn't normally miss these. ill health is the grounds. john, what do you make of this announcement just this evening? of this announcement 'ust this evenin: ? �* , of this announcement 'ust this evenin: ? v . . of this announcement 'ust this evenin: ? �*, ., ., ., of this announcement 'ust this evenin. ? �* , ., ., ., ., evening? it's a matter of great re . ret evening? it's a matter of great regret for _ evening? it's a matter of great regret for the _ evening? it's a matter of great regret for the queen, - evening? it's a matter of great regret for the queen, and - evening? it's a matter of great regret for the queen, and for i evening? it's a matter of great i regret for the queen, and for the whole _ regret for the queen, and for the whole country. it's only a third time _ whole country. it's only a third time she's— whole country. it's only a third time she's ever missed the state opening — time she's ever missed the state opening of parliament, and on two previous— opening of parliament, and on two previous occasions, she was pregnant each time _ previous occasions, she was pregnant each time. that's why she didn't turn _ each time. that's why she didn't turn out — each time. that's why she didn't turn out. prince charles will now read _ turn out. prince charles will now read the — turn out. prince charles will now read the queen speech and prince william _ read the queen speech and prince william will be there, as well,

apparently they have a constitutional right to do so.