this is bbc news. i'm lukwesa burak. the headlines at seven... the chancellor, kwasi kwarteng has defended his tax cuts aimed at boosting economic growth, saying they're fair for all — but they're receiving a mixed reaction from the public. i think it probably will help, yes, to a degree, but depends i don't know. we'll see. they are basically saying that if you are very wealthy, the labour leader, sir keir starmer arrives in liverpool, ahead of his party conference, telling crowds he'll set out the dividing lines between labour and the new tory government. this conference is our chance to set out the alternative, to make our case — an economy that works for working people, growth for everyone, wherever they are, a fairer, greenerfuture. let's do it!

thanks so much. violent anti—government protests continue in iran. police have arrested more than 700 people. at least 35 people have been killed. world powers condemn the self—styled referendums being held in parts of ukraine on whether tojoin russia. hello and welcome to bbc news. a leading think tank — the resolution foundation — has said that middle—income earners stand to lose the most money from the tax policies announced yesterday by the government — with the very richest benefitting most. but the government insists the tax

cuts are fair to all — and will get the economy growing. our business correspondent, marc ashdown, reports. a bit more money for everyone will get businesses investing and people spending — that's the government's aim — but at this market in buckinghamshire there's scepticism about who will benefit most from these tax cuts. well, the higher end will be a lot better off, but the lower end, what is it, a penny? it's nothing. considering the cost of living and inflation and the bills. it will take six months to kick in, really, won't it? and see if it does help. just hopefully it does. according to the thinktank the resolution foundation the top 5% of earners will overall be about £2,500 better off, while the lowest 5% will be about £9 worse off, but the middle fifth of earners, labelled by some as the "squeezed middle," will be about £780 worse off. this was a budget where the distributional impact was very clearly the biggest gains goes to those who have the highest incomes. it's a growth or bust

kind of strategy, which is certainly different to what we have seen before. a lot of what was announced yesterday was simply reversing planned tax rises, personal and corporate, and ministers insist these plans will grow the economy for everyone. we're not into the politics of envy where we deliberately penalise people who've been working hard. we want to cut taxes for everybody. and the danger, by the way, if you have tax rates that are too high, for either companies or individuals, you drive them away. for either companies orfor individuals, you drive them away. the previous chancellor froze the basic rate at which everyone starts paying tax, which, with inflation so high, is currently leaving everyone worse off. treasury insiders confirm that might now be looked at as part of a wider review of all taxes. a full budget could be on the cards before the year is out. the chancellor might not be done with tax cuts just yet. marc ashdown, bbc news. let's get some more reaction to yesterday's announcements. caroline abrahams, is the charity director of age uk —

an organisation that supports older people across the country. thank you forjoining us on bbc news. first, your thoughts as to what was announced. we news. first, your thoughts as to what was announced.— news. first, your thoughts as to what was announced. we were rather u set, to what was announced. we were rather upset. to be — what was announced. we were rather upset, to be honest, _ what was announced. we were rather upset, to be honest, and _ what was announced. we were rather upset, to be honest, and the - what was announced. we were rather upset, to be honest, and the reason| upset, to be honest, and the reason for that is the government could have chosen to direct more support to pensioners who have got the lowest income, people who are dependent on means tested benefits, but they ignored them, they didn't do that. unfortunately, that means we've got months now to get through the winter for these older people. while the prices are still going up. the current has said it introduced the triple lock and that will mean a significant rise in the state pension but not until april so our worry is that older people are going to be left, if they are on very low incomes, really struggling over the coldest months and that is a huge source of worry to us because we

know in that situation there will be lots and lots of older people who will chew simply to turn the heating off and put themselves at risk. you said there were _ off and put themselves at risk. you said there were moves that the government made but didn't. i wondered if you could just elaborate what they were? wondered if you could 'ust elaborate what they were?_ what they were? actually, for everybody — what they were? actually, for everybody who _ what they were? actually, for everybody who is _ what they were? actually, for everybody who is on - what they were? actually, for everybody who is on means i what they were? actually, for - everybody who is on means tested benefit in our society, whether old they are, actually, those benefits weren't raised. they went up something like 3% this year which really isn't enough when you think about the huge rise in prices so it is people who are dependent on that sort of the vote, whether they are older people receiving something called pension credit, or indeed younger people with children or disabled people, all those people, actually, who are dependent on that means tested support to just pop their income up so it keeps them out of poverty didn't get anything out of poverty didn't get anything out of that fiscal statement and i can't say how disappointed and worried we have about it in.— have about it in. pension credit and winter fuel—

have about it in. pension credit and winter fuel allowance, _ have about it in. pension credit and winter fuel allowance, i _ have about it in. pension credit and winter fuel allowance, i think - have about it in. pension credit and winter fuel allowance, i think you i winter fuel allowance, i think you touched on that but if you could just expand that for us? how far does that go to help? the government has heled does that go to help? the government has helped older _ does that go to help? the government has helped older people _ does that go to help? the government has helped older people and _ does that go to help? the government has helped older people and we - does that go to help? the government has helped older people and we are i has helped older people and we are very grateful for that but the difficulty is that their help has been overwhelmed by the extent of the price rises and there is a sort of gap in time now about between now really in april when the state pension goes up and over that period isjust the worst pension goes up and over that period is just the worst period because of course that is when we will get our worst weather, when older people will need to keep the heating on the most, and there wasn't anything to help older people on the very low incomes bridge that gap so we're going to have to see what we can do to help as age uk. we are going to be incredibly busy. we are going to call on the support of the public, i'm sure, to time plug the gap and of course we have heard that there will be another fiscal statement later in the air but probably not until december in what is going to happen to lowered so mac older people in the lowest incomes in the meantime? we know that this well in excess of a million older people who

are both in fuel poverty and also on the lowest incomes and it is that group who we are really worried about and also to mention, too, there are other older people who haven't actually got as much out of the government's generous announcement so far as we would like. people, for example, who were off grid which means they don't have gas and electricity for the heating, they use oil, and actually those prices continue to go up and those people are still waiting for the help they need.— people are still waiting for the hel the need. a, ., ' ., help they need. more than 1 million --eole, help they need. more than 1 million people. you — help they need. more than 1 million people. you said. — help they need. more than 1 million people, you said, in _ help they need. more than1 million people, you said, in fuel— help they need. more than 1 million people, you said, in fuel poverty. l help they need. more than 1 million people, you said, in fuel poverty. i | people, you said, in fuel poverty. i wondered if you could just tell us how you help those in what help there is for them. fine how you help those in what help there is for them.— how you help those in what help there is for them. one of the things we do the most _ there is for them. one of the things we do the most of _ there is for them. one of the things we do the most of into _ there is for them. one of the things we do the most of into age - there is for them. one of the things we do the most of into age uk - there is for them. one of the things we do the most of into age uk is . we do the most of into age uk is encourage and support older people to claim that means tested benefit pension credit because although the government has chosen not to raise as much as we would like it is a really important benefit for those on very low income. it can't usually take them above the poverty line. transformational that anybody who is in later life and really struggling

to make ends meet and of people don't know about it. something like one in three of all the older people who are entitled to that benefit never change it doe might claim it so loss of what we do is encourage older people to get in touch with us nationally and locally and we will help them fill in the form and it doesn't cost anything to apply and you got nothing to lose and if you're somebody watching this now who is an older person, and a low income, pasture pension age, actually it is worth a go, dippers and the claim and certainly very happy to help you —— you are pass, pass your pension age. -- you are pass, pass your pension are. . ~' -- you are pass, pass your pension are. . ~ , ., -- you are pass, pass your pension are. . ~ ,, ., -- you are pass, pass your pension are. . ~ ., -- you are pass, pass your pension are. ., ., ., age. thank you for coming on the programme _ age. thank you for coming on the programme to — age. thank you for coming on the programme to talk— age. thank you for coming on the programme to talk to _ age. thank you for coming on the programme to talk to us. - the labour leader, sir keir starmer, has arrived in liverpool ahead of the start of the party's annual conference. he's condemned the package of tax cuts unveiled yesterday, by the chancellor — calling them "tory casino economics" which — he says — are gambling with the finances of every family in the country. the government insists its package

of measures, including scrapping the top rate of income tax, will help kick—start economic growth. here's our political correspondent, iain watson. labour has been out of power for more than a decade but they now believe their political fortunes could be turning around. just as their party conference gets under way, liz truss has made the political dividing lines with the opposition far more stark. applause arriving in liverpool, the labour leader believes this will work to his advantage. and after 12 long years of tory failure, didn't they just show their true colours yesterday? crowd: yes! and you're in vision. and earlier, the party's deputy leader argued that yesterday's tax—cutting, not so mini budget, had now given labour an opportunity to set out a distinct vision on the economy. the conservatives have failed to grow our economy over 12 years and now we're seeing that there is a last—ditch casino attempt at going for the risky strategy byjust helping those at the top. i don't believe that will give us the growth and investment we need

for the future or will help those that are working hard today. over loudspeaker: my city, my people, my heart. - my city, my people, my heart. but not everything in the wider labour movement is harmonious. keir starmer has told his senior mps to stay away from picket lines but not far from his conference a strike has flared up to see is a more ambitious economic policy from him and perhaps, as far as workers are concerned. and therefore, today is the time they are struggling, today is the time they're on the picket lines, today is the time that they want labour to put their arm around them.

this is a crucial conference for us on the left... and left—wing delegates are pushing for a motion to be debated that would support mps joining picket lines and which would call for pay rises to be at or above inflation. but keir starmer will be keen to show that his party has emerged from the political storms of thejeremy corbyn era, and that the clear blue water in british politics is now between government and opposition. iain watson, bbc news, liverpool. 0ur political correspondent, damian grammaticas is in liverpool. we heard their angela rayner saying this is going to be an opportunity for labour to lay out a distinct vision for their plans for the country. any hint as to what that would look like?— country. any hint as to what that would look like? yes, we know that the are would look like? yes, we know that they are going _ would look like? yes, we know that they are going to — would look like? yes, we know that they are going to focus _ would look like? yes, we know that they are going to focus on - would look like? yes, we know that they are going to focus on and - would look like? yes, we know that they are going to focus on and even before yesterday's budget which to all intents and purposes pretty much was that, they are going to focus on what they call a fairer, greener

future and i think in many ways they will feel that this has even sharpened up the focus on that in that they believe there are issues of fairness they can attack the government on for what was announced yesterday, the distribution of those tax cuts were the vast majority of the benefits accrue to the very richest, people earning over £150,000, over £1 million, getting many benefits from it or large tax reductions, those on the lowest incomes getting much smaller ones. the government will say that is because if you are on a higher income you pay more tax but labour saying the fairness of this is what they will focus on and the issue about who should be really footing the bill here so looking at things like that top rate of tax, that 45% rate, that is something that the government has said it will be scrapping and should not be happening. equally, not going ahead with corporation tax on the biggest companies, the rise that was going

to come through, tax and the biggest companies. labouragain to come through, tax and the biggest companies. labour again saying those sorts of firms, the biggest firm should be forcing some of the bill, and particularly the big energy companies should be forcing more of the bill in the energy crisis. aligned with that, they certainly say they should be more focus on, in an energy crisis, energy measures that would sort of future proof the economy so rowing renewables, insulating homes, that sort of thing that the focus should be there rather than subsidising or using situations at the minute which will be what they say the oil and gas companies continuing to make big profits, so labour pushing on that sort of thing and then thinking that that budget yesterday gives them an opportunity. mil that budget yesterday gives them an o- ortuni . �* , ., that budget yesterday gives them an ouortuni . �* , ., opportunity. all is not welcome 2, in the labour— opportunity. all is not welcome 2, in the labour camp _ opportunity. all is not welcome 2, in the labour camp of _ opportunity. all is not welcome 2, in the labour camp of ardent - in the labour camp of ardent supporters when we look at unions? yes, well there is considerable disquiet. 0bviously, yes, well there is considerable disquiet. obviously, the unions and their members feeling under huge

pressure in the cost—of—living crisis but looking to the labour leadership for more support. just a short time ago i was at an event that has already been happening here although the delegates arriving in the main conference really gets going tomorrow and some fringe events and this was an event from those on the left of the labour party and some very angry voices there so some mps, others from big unions, who were saying that the labour party, the clue, they are saying, is in the name, is the party there to support those from the working classes and they were saying that mps should be allowed to be on strike, out on picket lines, supporting strikes. so keir starmer, she were hearing, was saying that the top mps in the party should not there so playful, call for that and thatis there so playful, call for that and that is something you'll be trying to push in the conference to be debated to say that their leadership should allow that. that is one issue. another issue is going to be

of course there is again some of them on the left calling for in the current climate nationalisation of energy companies, water companies, rail companies. they will try and push some of those ideas. we will discover tomorrow what will be formally on the conference agenda to be debated. that is to be decided by the conference and that will be clarified tomorrow but it is worth saying, too, ithink clarified tomorrow but it is worth saying, too, i think there is not really a sense that sir keir starmer�*s leadership is under any threat and in many ways he is enjoying at the minute what have been opinion poll leads suggested by opinion polls in different months —— recent months and, of course, any prime minister who has just brought in this rash of tax policy changes which labour believes gives a clear opportunity that can distinguish itself a new government. qm. opportunity that can distinguish itself a new government. ok, damian grammaticas. — itself a new government. ok, damian grammaticas, thank— itself a new government. ok, damian grammaticas, thank you _ itself a new government. ok, damian grammaticas, thank you much - itself a new government. ok, damian grammaticas, thank you much from l grammaticas, thank you much from that update.

and both the labour leader and the chancellor will be on sunday with laura kuenessberg tomorrow morning at 9 o'clock. the headlines on bbc news... the chancellor kwasi kwarteng has defended his tax cuts aimed at boosting economic growth, saying they're fair for all, but they've been receiving mixed reactions from the public. meanwhile, the labour leader sir keir starmer has arrived in liverpool ahead of his party conference, telling crowds he'll set out the dividing lines between labour and the new tory government. violent anti—government protests continue in iran. police have arrested more than 700 people at least 35 people have been killed. we are going to stay with that story as reports suggest that authorities have regained control of large parts of the town in western iran from anti—government demonstrators.

reports suggest that authorities have regained control of large parts of a town in western iran from anti—government demonstrators. the protesters had briefly seized large parts of the city of 0shnaviyeh, which lies close to the border with iraq. footage appeared to show protesters in control of the town. police say about 740 people have been arrested nationwide, including 60 women, after protests were sparked by the death in custody of a woman who'd allegedly broken dress rules. i'm nowjoined by our correspondentjiyar gol. thank you very much forjoining us in the studio here. information is very difficult to get out of iran and have it verified. internet access has been disrupted. what more can you tell us from what we've said? , ., , , . , can you tell us from what we've said? ,., _ can you tell us from what we've said? obviously, the city of... was the city in — said? obviously, the city of... was the city in the _ said? obviously, the city of... was the city in the first _ said? obviously, the city of... was the city in the first day _ said? obviously, the city of... was the city in the first day at - said? obviously, the city of... was the city in the first day at the - the city in the first day at the three tests and three young people died there and i could hear them actually shouting freedom, we will take revenge for those matters and you have nowhere to go and last night, actually, we managed to get

in touch with some people because close to the iraqi border is sometimes a signal they can take it out so we talk to some people and they were telling as many of the officials left the city took their families out of the city, they went to the place where there was a military of revelation guard barracks but at this point in time we know in the morning the protesters somehow went back and they come out at night so they have been doing house house. they have arrested 70 people. it is notjust in that city, in multiple different cities in iran as i'm talking to you today as we are hearing numbers of people are out in the street in some neighbourhoods, some of the cities. the police cannot even go because they are attacking them with stones so the protests are continuing so many places since we talked. hagar many places since we talked. how these places _

many places since we talked. how these places comparing to those in 2009 and looked at the crack down on the government?— the government? there's a saying in the government? there's a saying in the middle east, — the government? there's a saying in the middle east, if— the government? there's a saying in the middle east, if women _ the government? there's a saying in the middle east, if women lead, - the government? there's a saying in| the middle east, if women lead, men don't retreat. when you see so many women going out there, standing up to revolutionary generals, removing their head scarves, something that is punishable, and we see semi people there but by internet outage judging from past experience the feeling so many people have the government might deal with this protest heavy handedly, in mind, you know, to use force which we have seen the footage they are using live ammunition and directly aiming at protesters with weapons. just thinkina protesters with weapons. just thinking of — protesters with weapons. just thinking of the _ protesters with weapons. just thinking of the context and background to what we are seeing on the streets in iran now. generally what is the state of the economy entered the country? is a much deeper malaise going on? for

entered the country? is a much deeper malaise going on? for so many ears the deeper malaise going on? for so many years the imposing _ deeper malaise going on? for so many years the imposing the _ deeper malaise going on? for so many years the imposing the strict _ years the imposing the strict islamic rules on women and controlling them in their neat women, well educated, seat of the humiliation. 0n women, well educated, seat of the humiliation. on top of it, corruption, economic situation in iran, sanctioning inflation and unemployment and so many elements had to hand and people believe the government day after day lying to them and they don't care about their future. the current situation of the economy and that is why so many people who have been educated in the system have nothing to lose and are out there in the street.— out there in the street. thank you very much- _ reports from ukraine say armed soldiers have been going door to door in occupied parts of the country to collect votes for self—styled "referendums" onjoining russia. russian state media says door—to—door voting is necessary for security reasons. (tx these are the four areas where voting is being held. they include occupied parts of luhansk and donetsk in the east, and zaporizhzhia and kherson, in the south — and cover around 15

15% of ukraine's territory. the so—called referendums have been widely condemned. the us presidentjoe biden described them as a sham and a false pretext to try to illegally annex parts of ukraine. 0ur ukraine correspondentjames waterhouse reports from kyiv. music plays on loudspeakers. russia's version of their so—called referendums. a free and fair democratic process where ukrainians in kherson decide whether they want to join russia. but, on the same spot today, in the city centre, it's deserted. ukrainian officials have posted footage like this. loud knocking. apparently ballots being taken door—to—door, with the support of armed men. on this unverified cctv clip, a man

is asked what apartment he's from. "i don't live here." "are you sure?" "yes," he says. he carries on down without looking over his shoulder. we've spoken to several people under russian occupation. outgoing dialling tone. hello. hi. including natalia — not her real name. nice to hear you, too. a producer has voiced her words. what are your friends and family thinking about this? do they want to go and vote? translation: all of my friends are against the referendum, - because we are sure that the referendum will be rigged. we don't understand why we should answer the question that is written on the ballots. we don't want to be part of russia. driven by losses on the battlefield and growing criticisms back home, the kremlin wants to legitimise its presence in ukraine, while threatening an escalation

if ukraine keeps pushing back. this isn't about democracy. it's a move straight out of the russian playbook. the result will be what russia needs it to be. and ukraine is calling on the world to see right through it. james waterhouse, bbc news, in kyiv. russia's decision to mobilise hundreds of thousands of extra troops has led to big queues of people trying to leave the country. this is the border between georgia and russia where a 10—kilometre queue has been building, with people waiting up to 20 hours to cross. 0ur correspondent in tblisi, reyhan demytrie, has more. long queues have been reported on the russian side of the border crossing between russia and georgia, somewhere between eight kilometres, and they are reports that this

congestion reaches all the way to the nearest town of vladikavkaz. people can cross this border crossing only by cars, they are not allowed to cross it by foot. some people have managed to cross on bicycles and scooters but the vast majority of people are struck there and it is not moving at all. i have beenin and it is not moving at all. i have been in touch with one person who has told me he has been in the queue for over 26 hours and he said that the vehicles are moving just a few metres every hour so he's kind of prepared, he says he is only three kilometres away from the border and he doesn't know how long it will take him to cross it. he says that the situation on the border is really chaotic. there are no food facilities, there are no toilets, and people are really desperate to leave. georgia remains one of the few remaining options for russians

of fighting age who are trying to escape this mobilisation. boarders with kazakhstan and mongolia are still open but we know that the baltic countries, they have closed the borderfor baltic countries, they have closed the border for most russians and also there were reports today that finland will do the same soon. reyhan demytrie reporting. russia's foreign minister, sergei lavrov, has criticised western nations for their "grotesque" fear of russia, saying that such states were seeking to "destroy" his country. addressing the united nations general assembly, earlier this evening, mr lavrov was highly as "russophobia" in the west. translation: but washington decides to turn the entire _ translation: but washington decides to turn the entire world _ translation: but washington decides to turn the entire world into _ translation: but washington decides to turn the entire world into its - to turn the entire world into its own back yards and the way of doing this is through unlawful unilateral sanctions which have been for many years used in violation of the

charter and used as a tool of political blackmail. this cynicism here is obvious because these restrictions hit civilians. let's get more on this from our correspondent nada tawfik. what more did he say and what reaction did he have? he what more did he say and what reaction did he have?— what more did he say and what reaction did he have? he was really t in: to reaction did he have? he was really trying to turn _ reaction did he have? he was really trying to turn the _ reaction did he have? he was really trying to turn the west's _ reaction did he have? he was really trying to turn the west's argument | trying to turn the west's argument around to those seated at the un general assembly. we know western nations have said that the war in ukraine really undermines the current world order created after world war ii, the very principles that you can't invade your neighbour and take land by force, territorial integrity, sovereignty. what we heard here from the foreign minister of russia was that he accused the west of trying to destroy his country and factual it in his narrative was that the west, nato had been encroaching on russia's borders, threatening their security, that they had tried to negotiate for

years over eastern ukraine to the minsk agreement but he accused ukraine in the west of not being open to negotiations and instead saying that the west was acting, the united states in particular, a self—proclaimed masters of the world who are acting unilaterally through sanctions, using them as blackmail and trying to create the entire world as its own back yards so this was a very extreme attack on the west here by the russian foreign minister but again repeating the lies that we have heard in the past justifying what they deem their special military operation ukraine. any more reaction to the self—styled referendum is currently taking place? referendum is currently taking lace? , ,, , ., ., ., place? yes, sergey lavrov did make a comment on — place? yes, sergey lavrov did make a comment on those _ place? yes, sergey lavrov did make a comment on those referendums. - place? yes, sergey lavrov did make a comment on those referendums. he l comment on those referendums. he accused the west of hysteria. he said that they were throwing a fit about this referendum referendums but again reiterated a... not

bothered by the international community... compounds stirk i maria saying the people there are ethnic russians who want be part of russia —— compared it to crimea. certainly there is increasing concern about these referendums on the un secretary—general himself and his comments to the one security council talking about how this would be a violation of international law. thank you very much. the first picture of the new ledger stone marking the queen's final resting place in windsor has been released by buckingham palace. it's engraved in memory of the queen, her parents and her late husband, the duke of edinburgh. it sits in the floor of the george 6th memorial chapel where she was buried on monday. now it's time for a look at the weather with matt.

hello, matt. love picture behind you. hello, matt. love picture behind ou. �* ., , ., you. blog this evening to some as well. it is going _ you. blog this evening to some as well. it is going to _ you. blog this evening to some as well. it is going to turn _ you. blog this evening to some as well. it is going to turn quite - well. it is going to turn quite chilly quickly though but before we get there if you are about to head out in the next hour particularly across some parts of central and southern england and wales we have got patches of showers at the moment just working the way southwards in the final for scotland most places dry and practically ended his tonight when the show is on land will fade away, one or two towards east anglia, the channel islands and fire north west of scotland was in the clear skies most of us will expense quite a chilly night to come, 4 degrees even as far south as 0xfordshire put some parts of northern england, scotland especially could see a touch of frost in rural areas to start tomorrow morning so that a but a lovely bright sunny one for the vast majority. just one or two shows in east anglia to begin with, show is an channel islands to faber will some of scotland and channel islands decreasing for the day than a short lived band of heavy rain through

0rkney, shetland, also to skegness in the western isles. a cooler day tomorrow, temperatures 14—17, wins even colder and ill pick up to gale force later. all. see you soon. hello, this is bbc news. the headlines. the chancellor kwasi kwarteng has defended his tax cuts aimed at boosting economic growth, saying they're fair for all, but it's receiving a mixed reaction from the public. the labour leader sir keir starmer arrives in liverpool ahead of his party conference, telling crowds he'll set out the dividing lines between labour and the new tory government. violent anti—government protests continue in iran. police have arrested more than 700 people at least 35 people have been killed. world powers condemn the self—styled referendums being held in parts of ukraine on whether to join russia.