and also reports on the growing political clamour for a windfall energy tax. the telegraph carries comments from the former brexit minister lord frost, calling on borisjohnson to rip up the northern ireland protocol. however, the ice as the house of lords may try to block government moves to scrap protocol. —— the i. the guardian reports that a delegation of american politicians to discuss us concerns over what the future of the protocol mean for the good friday agreement. thousands of civil servants are set to lose their jobs to save money for tax cuts. that's according to the daily now. the prime minister who tells the paper that the civil service has become swollen. the sun has an exclusive, journalistic campaigner who recorded her efforts to battle bowel cancer in a bbc podcast this week announced that her treatment was no longer effective and that she was in hospice. she is to be made

again. let's get cracking. thank you very much for coming on. we are going to start the issue of the northern narrator —— northern ireland protocol, what's really interesting is across the front pages tomorrow that we have three quite different strands, quite different takes on it. we will start with the guardian, their headline, us team flies in a neat fear is over the northern ireland dl. rachel, kick us off, what are they picking out here? is kick us off, what are they picking out here? , ., ., ., , .,, ,, out here? is extraordinary, as you sa , it's out here? is extraordinary, as you say. it's been _ out here? is extraordinary, as you say, it's been covered _ out here? is extraordinary, as you say, it's been covered in - out here? is extraordinary, as you say, it's been covered in such - say, it's been covered in such different ways and the different papers, the guardian is flashing on the american angle, which is the special envoy of americans who are going to swoop in and save the day, possibly, remind rick and and the importance of the good friday agreement and peace in northern ireland. i don't think anyone has forgotten that they feel that they

make the case really loudly, we will definitely remember it. it's being led by the head of the congressional ways and means committee as someone who has had a passionate interest in this apparently throughout this entire career, so that is good, the quote he gave and i written it down, the best way forward is a pragmatic one that requires cooperation and leadership. i'm not sure anyone can disagree but that, but the idea that the eu and the ukjust disagree but that, but the idea that the eu and the uk just weren't that interested in finding a pragmatic way forward and that somehow if they just think about cooperating really hard, they can sort this issue out is, i think, hard, they can sort this issue out is, ithink, a bit of hard, they can sort this issue out is, i think, a bit of a fantasy, given that the issue is where do you put your border, that's not something that you can magic away with talk of cooperation and leadership, but i think it's striking that the americans are taking this so seriously, even with talk of appointing their own envoy

specifically to northern ireland to try to figure this out. it specifically to northern ireland to try to figure this out.— try to figure this out. it seems uuite a try to figure this out. it seems quite a big _ try to figure this out. it seems quite a big development, - try to figure this out. it seems - quite a big development, doesn't? i will tell you what i'm going to do, i'm going to do something horrible to you here, i apologise that i didn't warn you, but because we talked about the detail in that new angle of the guardian there, but just so we're all on the same page, could you just give us a quick definition of what this protocol is in simple terms so we all know what we are talking about? it’s in simple terms so we all know what we are talking about?— we are talking about? it's the agreement. _ we are talking about? it's the agreement, isn't _ we are talking about? it's the agreement, isn't it? - agreement, isn't it? northern ireland— agreement, isn't it? northern ireland remains part of the eu common— ireland remains part of the eu common markets and the checks that are done, _ common markets and the checks that are done, the border checks that are done _ are done, the border checks that are done or— are done, the border checks that are done or done — are done, the border checks that are done or done between northern ireland — done or done between northern ireland and the rest of the united kingdom, — ireland and the rest of the united kingdom, and then the irish sea and effect, _ kingdom, and then the irish sea and effect, ratherthan kingdom, and then the irish sea and effect, rather than on the northern ireland _ effect, rather than on the northern ireland republic of ireland border. that's_ ireland republic of ireland border. that's the — ireland republic of ireland border. that's the essence of the issue, and as rachel_ that's the essence of the issue, and as racheljust sat there, the question— as racheljust sat there, the question therefore is where the checks— question therefore is where the checks are happening, but it's always— checks are happening, but it's always been contentious about it is that the _ always been contentious about it is that the northern irish, the dp, i should _ that the northern irish, the dp, i should say, _ that the northern irish, the dp, i should say, they in particular have always _ should say, they in particular have always been against that because

they see — always been against that because they see that creates a border between — they see that creates a border between northern ireland and the rest of— between northern ireland and the rest of the united kingdom, which may —— which they are very resistant to. may —— which they are very resistant t0~ thats— may —— which they are very resistant t0~ that's the — may —— which they are very resistant to. that's the crux of the matter and that's— to. that's the crux of the matter and that's what's the tension now. of course, but the government is driving _ of course, but the government is driving at — of course, but the government is driving at is — of course, but the government is driving at is exactly that, that is the problem. they are too many checks _ the problem. they are too many checks in— the problem. they are too many checks in effect going to happen or happening between internally within the united kingdom, and of course, the united kingdom, and of course, the bigger— the united kingdom, and of course, the bigger issue on top of that now is that— the bigger issue on top of that now is that because of the power sharing agreement— is that because of the power sharing agreement is breaking down because of the, _ agreement is breaking down because of the, dop refusing to cooperate, the protocol isn't workable because it is ending, it is leading to the basics — it is ending, it is leading to the basics of— it is ending, it is leading to the basics of the stability of northern ireiahd~ _ basics of the stability of northern ireiahd~ |— basics of the stability of northern ireland. ., �* ~ ., ., , , ireland. i don't know i am slightly disappointed _ ireland. i don't know i am slightly disappointed in _ ireland. i don't know i am slightly disappointed in saying _ ireland. i don't know i am slightly disappointed in saying this, - ireland. i don't know i am slightly disappointed in saying this, but . disappointed in saying this, but that was absolutely brilliant. well done. thank you for talking to us. that was a proper exam question. that was a proper exam question. that was a proper exam question. that was fabulous. i will let you have some fun now. we will do the front page of the i. it's a fascinating different angle on exactly what you were describing there. the headline is lords try to

delay trusts from tearing up brexit pact. —— or two. what is it talking about here? pact. -- or two. what is it talking about here?— pact. -- or two. what is it talking about here? the challenge is, as i understand _ about here? the challenge is, as i understand it, _ about here? the challenge is, as i understand it, again, _ about here? the challenge is, as i understand it, again, this - about here? the challenge is, as i understand it, again, this is - understand it, again, this is interesting, it's a fantastically complex— interesting, it's a fantastically complex subject of course, and one that i_ complex subject of course, and one that i think— complex subject of course, and one that i think the papers in general where _ that i think the papers in general where desperate not to cover for that reason, but clearly it's very important — that reason, but clearly it's very important at the issue is, under article — important at the issue is, under article 16 — important at the issue is, under article 16 of that treaty agreed that the — article 16 of that treaty agreed that the eu, you can suspend these arrangements if they are causing serious _ arrangements if they are causing serious difficulties. that's one option— serious difficulties. that's one option from and that doesn't really require _ option from and that doesn't really require legislation. he can do that as part _ require legislation. he can do that as part of— require legislation. he can do that as part of the agreement, but there is also _ as part of the agreement, but there is also a _ as part of the agreement, but there is also a suggestion, at least, that the government is going to do something far more dramatic and introduce — something far more dramatic and introduce legislation to in effect scrap _ introduce legislation to in effect scrap the — introduce legislation to in effect scrap the particle altogether or to override _ scrap the particle altogether or to override this in a much more significant _ override this in a much more significant way. that's what the i is talking about there. if that happens. _ is talking about there. if that happens, then legislation as we all know— happens, then legislation as we all know doesn'tjust come

happens, then legislation as we all know doesn't just come into, happens, then legislation as we all know doesn'tjust come into, doesn't 'ust know doesn'tjust come into, doesn't just come _ know doesn'tjust come into, doesn't just come in— know doesn'tjust come into, doesn't just come in and get passed within a few days, _ just come in and get passed within a few days, one very rarely any it usually — few days, one very rarely any it usually takes a long time, and of course _ usually takes a long time, and of course what they are saying there is the house _ course what they are saying there is the house of lords, commit legislation were to come in to do this would — legislation were to come in to do this would basically come as they do with quite _ this would basically come as they do with quite a lot of legislation, pick— with quite a lot of legislation, pick holes in it, find ways to delay it and _ pick holes in it, find ways to delay it and so— pick holes in it, find ways to delay it and so on — pick holes in it, find ways to delay it and so on. it will be a protracted process which can actually _ protracted process which can actually it might explain to the government hands, that the government hands, that the government wouldn't mind that because, — government wouldn't mind that because, of course, from a negotiating point of view, you put your cards— negotiating point of view, you put your cards on the table, play hardball, _ your cards on the table, play hardball, so to speak, but don't look— hardball, so to speak, but don't look like — hardball, so to speak, but don't look like you're playing hardball, but don't — look like you're playing hardball, but don't actually play the final ball _ but don't actually play the final ball it's — but don't actually play the final ball. it's legislation. then come up to the _ ball. it's legislation. then come up to the head — ball. it's legislation. then come up to the head of the opposition, so to speak— to the head of the opposition, so to speak and _ to the head of the opposition, so to speak and then they get the ground. that's the _ speak and then they get the ground. that's the theory can at least. that's— that's the theory can at least. that's interesting. what do you make of that, rachel? i that's interesting. what do you make of that, rachel?— of that, rachel? i think the whole thin , the of that, rachel? i think the whole thing, the whole _ of that, rachel? i think the whole thing, the whole northern - of that, rachel? i think the whole thing, the whole northern eitheri of that, rachel? i think the whole i thing, the whole northern either -- thing, the whole northern either —— northern ireland protocol commits touching it, so the uk leaves the eu, normally you would expect

therefore that the whole of the uk would be outside of whatever eu institution that it is leaving. you have the problem of the good friday agreement of the island of ireland and there being no hard border on that island, so you've got various opportunities which we will discuss at length, and i remember the heady days of therese in a's government and we were discussing this and how we would fix it, so do you the irish sea, which is sort of where we are at the moment. do you have a cross between the republic of ireland and northern ireland, why you cannot do that because of the good friday agreement. the whole of the uk and the republic of ireland and the republic of ireland, despite being eu member, somehow has to have a border with the rest of the eu. well, that's not going to work for stoppard is the uk as a whole despite having left the eu remain in the single market and the customs union, which i think is what some people were pushing for. it was very clear that the brexit series were not going to go down that road. so you are in this weird system where none of the border options where,

yet you have to have one somewhere. the fudge was this idea that northern ireland would be this special, sort of in the eu because it's on the island of ireland, sort of not in the eu because it's part of the united kingdom, and i think that the hope, particularly on the brighter side, that the hope, particularly on the brighterside, is that the hope, particularly on the brighter side, is that there would be more flexibility from the eu because the eu is known for having some very hard tough redlines, and then behind the scenes being a bit more flexible and sorting it out when it has to. that hasn't really been the case. and now we are in a situation where we just had local elections in stormont assembly elections, sinn fein, the separatists, the irish nationalist party, it's the largest party in stormont. and in orderfor that power—sharing agreement to work, it's a crucial part of the northern ireland peace process, the dp have to join them in government. ireland peace process, the dp have tojoin them in government. they ireland peace process, the dp have to join them in government. they are not going to do that while this issueis not going to do that while this issue is resolved. so you are left

at the huge amount of instability, and i'm not sure that necessarily eu leaders get how volatile it is and how volatile it's going to get, and they are in the right in the sense that we all knew this before we voted for brexit, somebody should've thought of this before all of that happened, but the situation we are in now, there is a potentialfor a huge amount of instability, potentially even violence, so eu come if you are capable of being a little bit flexible, and i would be a really good time.— a really good time. right, let's look at the _ a really good time. right, let's look at the front _ a really good time. right, let's look at the front page - a really good time. right, let's look at the front page of - a really good time. right, let's i look at the front page of the daily telegraph, we are going to finish this, but ijust want telegraph, we are going to finish this, but i just want to telegraph, we are going to finish this, but ijust want to point telegraph, we are going to finish this, but i just want to point to adjust before we move on, the headline there is frost, pm must brave it out over protocol. tough approach of ukraine should be used to end the deal of former minister says from her brexit minister, of course, sing effectively the government has no option other than to act unilaterally. that is his take and that take of of the daily telegraph there, but we are going to leave another northern ireland protocol, and let's go to the still on the front page of the daily

telegraph, a separate story, covid, and the headline isjust under the picture on the front page of the daily telegraph covid effect on people will be in inquiry spotlight. martin, talk us through this. this is dane heather, _ martin, talk us through this. this is dane heather, the high court judge _ is dane heather, the high court judge who is going to head the inquiry— judge who is going to head the inquiry into what happened in the covid _ inquiry into what happened in the covid pandemic and how it was handled — covid pandemic and how it was handled and so on, she has said, and ithink— handled and so on, she has said, and i think the _ handled and so on, she has said, and i think the government has agreed that it _ i think the government has agreed that it should include the impact on children, which wasn't part of the original— children, which wasn't part of the original terms and conditions. there was a _ original terms and conditions. there was a bit _ original terms and conditions. there was a bit of— original terms and conditions. there was a bit of an outcry about that in suggesting — was a bit of an outcry about that in suggesting that obviously it should be taken _ suggesting that obviously it should be taken into consideration because of obvious— be taken into consideration because of obvious things like the impact on schools. _ of obvious things like the impact on schools, mental health of children, educational progress, all those types _ educational progress, all those types of— educational progress, all those types of things, and so that is going — types of things, and so that is going to — types of things, and so that is going to be included in the official inquiry— going to be included in the official inquiry into what happened and how the pandemic was handled. i think that's— the pandemic was handled. i think that's right, clearly, because as we

have _ that's right, clearly, because as we have talked — that's right, clearly, because as we have talked about many times, it clearly _ have talked about many times, it clearly wasn'tjust a have talked about many times, it clearly wasn't just a medical challenge, it had all sorts of other societal _ challenge, it had all sorts of other societal impacts, and children are always— societal impacts, and children are always a — societal impacts, and children are always a big part of our society and always a big part of our society and a big _ always a big part of our society and a big impact on their lives, which we don't — a big impact on their lives, which we don't know the long—term impact of fact, _ we don't know the long—term impact of fact, frankly. we don't know the long-term impact of fact. frankly-— of fact, frankly. inquiry do to beain of fact, frankly. inquiry do to begin with — of fact, frankly. inquiry do to begin with public _ of fact, frankly. inquiry do to begin with public hearings i of fact, frankly. inquiry do to l begin with public hearings and of fact, frankly. inquiry do to - begin with public hearings and 2023, of course. we will see how that develops. we are going to move now to the front page of the daily mail. rachel can talk us through this, he had lain. 91,000 civil servicejobs will be asked, it says. what are the details here?— details here? well, this is a cost-cutting _ details here? well, this is a cost-cutting measure, - details here? well, this is a - cost-cutting measure, essentially, cost—cutting measure, essentially, going back to the levels of civil servants since 2016. it's part of a wider messaging campaign, i think from this government about basically going to war but the civil service. there is another story on the telegraph at the ballot civil

servants requesting to be able to work internationally. we know that civil servants working from home tonight seems like you cannot go a single day without having jacob rees smog or is someone on the front page is saying that the civil servants, what are they actually doing? and now we are getting back in the numbers of them. i guess the question is obviously government efficiency, great. obviously something went particularly at a time when we've got a cost crunch, which is what we have. there is quite a few things that the government is trying to do at the moment, leveling up, fix social care, fill the nhs backlog, small, minor policy things like that and you actually do need skilled and experienced people in order to enact those policies. experienced people in order to enact those policies-— those policies. what do you make of it? just those policies. what do you make of it? just quickly. _ those policies. what do you make of it? just quickly, martin, _ those policies. what do you make of it? just quickly, martin, every - it? just quickly, martin, every party, every government says it will attack waste and be more efficient. it's something we see every election especially. it

it's something we see every election eseciall . ,., , ~ it's something we see every election eseciall . , ,, ., it's something we see every election eseciall . , ~ ., it's something we see every election eseciall. , ~ ., ., especially. it sounds like a load of rubbish to me, _ especially. it sounds like a load of rubbish to me, to _ especially. it sounds like a load of rubbish to me, to be _ especially. it sounds like a load of rubbish to me, to be frank, - especially. it sounds like a load of rubbish to me, to be frank, only l especially. it sounds like a load of| rubbish to me, to be frank, only in a sense that — rubbish to me, to be frank, only in a sense that this bill is a way to address the cost of living crisis by having _ address the cost of living crisis by having tax — address the cost of living crisis by having tax cuts and so on, clearly, if there _ having tax cuts and so on, clearly, if there were — having tax cuts and so on, clearly, if there were to be job cuts, then they don't— if there were to be job cuts, then they don't happen overnight and they don't tend _ they don't happen overnight and they don't tend to make very quick savings. _ don't tend to make very quick savings. i_ don't tend to make very quick savings, i don't think. so the savings, idon't think. so the idea they— savings, i don't think. so the idea they are _ savings, i don't think. so the idea they are going to help in the immediate term is, i don't, i think a immediate term is, idon't, i think a delusion— immediate term is, i don't, i think a delusion into fantasy. also, frankly, — a delusion into fantasy. also, frankly, it's some very good civil servants— frankly, it's some very good civil servants to _ frankly, it's some very good civil servants to do a good job committee think that _ servants to do a good job committee think that are to be set, commission to? it's_ think that are to be set, commission to? it's an _ think that are to be set, commission to? it's an easy hit, but is actually— to? it's an easy hit, but is actually necessarily the right track at? i'rn _ actually necessarily the right track at? i'm not— actually necessarily the right track at? i'm not sure if it absolutely is. ~ at? i'm not sure if it absolutely is. . , at? i'm not sure if it absolutely is. ~ , at? i'm not sure if it absolutely is. we will stay with you because 'ust a is. we will stay with you because just a quick _ is. we will stay with you because just a quick answer, _ is. we will stay with you because just a quick answer, the - is. we will stay with you because just a quick answer, the front - is. we will stay with you because l just a quick answer, the front page of the sun, it's a story that has been getting a lot of attention over the last couple of days and rightly so. she is dane beds is the headline. you want to explain what that means? it’s headline. you want to explain what that means?— that means? it's out of the ordinary. — that means? it's out of the ordinary, recognition - that means? it's out of the ordinary, recognition and l that means? it's out of the i

ordinary, recognition and that it hasn't _ ordinary, recognition and that it hasn't come in a conventional timeline, _ hasn't come in a conventional timeline, dane beds as she is now being _ timeline, dane beds as she is now being known, who's been talking about— being known, who's been talking about her— being known, who's been talking about her at bowel cancer and revealed — about her at bowel cancer and revealed that she is, unfortunately, on a ball. _ revealed that she is, unfortunately, on a ball, she will not be able to survive. — on a ball, she will not be able to survive, she's in her final stages leading — survive, she's in her final stages leading in— survive, she's in her final stages leading in hospice and has given these _ leading in hospice and has given these very— leading in hospice and has given these very powerful and moving accounts — these very powerful and moving accounts of her existence in that situation — accounts of her existence in that situation and she is getting this recognition clearly because her time, _ recognition clearly because her time, unfortunately for her, has limited. — time, unfortunately for her, has limited, and it cannot wait to be given— limited, and it cannot wait to be given at— limited, and it cannot wait to be given at another time when she may not be _ given at another time when she may not be here — given at another time when she may not be here-— not be here. extraordinary watching her social media _ not be here. extraordinary watching her social media and _ not be here. extraordinary watching her social media and the _ not be here. extraordinary watching her social media and the podcast, l her social media and the podcast, having extraordinary insight into notjust her, of course, so many people are going there, and the fundraising in such a short space of time has been incredible on the front page of the sun, they have at

£3.6 million since monday, and she said herself that she would've been really ecstatic had she got a couple hundred thousand pounds because that could of done certain bits of research and treatment that she was really interested in, and now it is “p really interested in, and now it is up to a £3.6 million, which isjust incredible. ok, moving on now to the front page of the financial times. a couple of interesting different stories on their front pages. we are to the one at the bottom, which is bp's pledge to plough profits back into the uk, fails to quell calls for windfall tax. rachel, talk us through this windfall tax. that's us on the front _ through this windfall tax. that's us on the front page _ through this windfall tax. that's us on the front page of _ through this windfall tax. that's us on the front page of the _ through this windfall tax. that's us| on the front page of the telegraph, rishi sunak needs to hold firm against a windfall tax. he will be hearing a lot about this in the next couple of weeks. essentially, the cost of living crisis, the price of energy has massively spiked. households are really, really suffering, the poorest and most vulnerable households are suffering

a huge amount. by