this is bbc news — these are the latest headlines in the uk and around the world. i'm geeta guru—murthy. former uk prime minister, borisjohnson tells the bbc how he was threatened by vladimir putin before the russian invasion of ukraine. the us secretary of state — antony blinken — is due to arrive injerusalem — after weeks of worsening violence between israelis and palestinians. a £1 billion plan to improve nhs care in england — including thousands more hospital beds and hundreds of new ambulances — is being set out by ministers. downing street defends the prime minister's decision to sack conservative party chairman, nadhim zahawi — but labour say rishi sunak must �*come clean�* about what he knew and when. last—ditch talks will be held between the education secretary

and teachers�* unions today to avoid wednesday's planned strike in england and wales. and images captured by drone cameras to help monitor deer populations in england. hello and welcome if you're watching in the uk or around the world. the former british prime minster, borisjohnson, has revealed to the bbc that he felt personally threatened by vladimir putin in the run—up to the invasion of ukraine last year. mrjohnson said that during a telephone conversation — and after a visit to kyiv — the russian president said it would only take a minute to hurt him with a missile. the claim comes in a new bbc documentary about mr putin's leadership. here's our diplomatic correspondent, james landale. kyiv, last february — a city on the brink of war. borisjohnson arrives in a show of support for a president,

who is yet to replace his suit and tie with army fatigues. alongside other countries, we are also preparing a package of sanctions and other measures. the prime minister publicly urges russia not to invade, prompting an astonishing reaction from president putin. i get back from kyiv and, the following day, i've got putin on the blower again. and this is a very long call and a most extraordinary call. he was being very, very familiar. mrjohnson told him invading ukraine would mean more nato forces on his border. he said, "boris, you say that ukraine is not going tojoin nato any time soon." he said it in english — "any time soon." "what is any time soon?" and i said, "well, it's not going to join nato for the foreseeable future." and then this. you know, he threatened me at one point and said, you know, "boris,

i don't want to hurt you, but with a missile, it would only take a minute" — or something like that, you know. you know, jolly. but i think from the very relaxed tone that he was taking — the sort of air of detachment that he seemed to have, he was just playing along with my attempts to get him to negotiate. the following week, the defence secretary flew to moscow to meet russian military chiefs, where, he says, they lied to him about their plans for ukraine. i remember saying to minister shoigu that they will fight. and he said, "my mother's ukrainian — you know, they won't." he also said he had no intention of invading. i think that would be "vranyo" in the russian language. vranyo, i think is a sort of demonstration of bullying or strength, which is

"i'm going to lie to you. you know, i'm lying. i know you know i'm lying and i'm still going to lie to you." it was the fairly chilling but direct lie of what they were not going to do that, i think, to me, confirmed they were going to do it. and he was right. within days, the invasion began, as russia unleashed a barrage of missiles on targets across ukraine and its tanks and troops stormed across the border. james landale, bbc news. just to let you know the kremlin has dismissed those claims, asked by the bbc to comment on the allegations from mrjohnson, they have said it is not true, moreover it is a deliberate falsehood and you need to ask mrjohnson why he lied, or it was noted deliberate lie, that he

didn't understand what mr putin was saying to him. that is the line from the kremlin on this. elsewhere — ukraine's presidency has called the international olympic committee a �*promoter of war�*. it comes after presidency zelensky said that allowing russia to compete at the 2024 olympics in paris would amount to showing that "terror is somehow acceptable". let's speak now to our ukraine correspondent, james waterhouse. what exactly is kyiv saying? that line has clearlyjust... sorry, james, the line froze. start again, sorry. james, the line froze. start again, sor . ., ., , james, the line froze. start again, sor. ., ., sorry. no worries coming back. often when president _ sorry. no worries coming back. often when president zelensky _ sorry. no worries coming back. often when president zelensky gives - sorry. no worries coming back. often when president zelensky gives his . when president zelensky gives his evening addresses the topics do vary, and he gave a round—up of the military activity, and then towards the end he really stuck the boot into the international olympic committee, accusing it of promoting war, as you say. he said he would

write a letter to president macron of france urging him to ban russian and belarusian athletes from the upcoming games in 202a. at the moment the ioc is allowing them to compete under a neutral status, in that they can't represent their countries but they will be able to compete for medals. what the ioc saysis compete for medals. what the ioc says is that someone should not be punished for the passport that they hold. but president zelensky is seeing this as a complete, incomplete separation to what is happening on the battlefield, with russia's sustained invasion of his country, the moment they are taking territory right across the front line. and he is in no doubt that russia will use the olympic games further its propaganda message. this is once again ukraine trying to engage on the world political stage to try and keep a light shone on what is happening inside its

borders. so whether we will see a ban, i don't think that's likely, but president zelensky was even drawing parallels to the 1936 games in berlin under nazi germany. so he is certainly looking to apply pressure on his overnight address, which i think is symptomatic of the continued frustrations of his troops wear a cross in front line spanning hundreds of miles it is russia which is slowly claiming more territory, as ukrainian forces, despite their pledges of continued support from the west, are finding themselves outgunned at this moment in time. fin outgunned at this moment in time. on the olympics question, might some nations, not perhaps the european ones, but further afield, think zielinski is overstepping the mark here because the olympics obviously has members taking part who are not democracies. there might be many valid criticisms of a number of global governments. i valid criticisms of a number of global governments.— valid criticisms of a number of global governments. i think you are riaht, i global governments. i think you are right. i think _ global governments. i think you are right, i think this _ global governments. i think you are right, i think this is _

global governments. i think you are right, i think this is a _ global governments. i think you are right, i think this is a delicate - right, i think this is a delicate balancing act which president zelensky has to get right for his war effort. if we are talking about african nations including south africa, if we are looking at china, these are countries that have taken a neutral status. certainly on the african continent, we have seen russia's foreign minister sergei lavrov take part in a huge diplomatic tour to try and improve economic ties. so russia's invasion of ukraine is not viewed in the same way as in the west. historically the olympics is seen as something that trumps all politics, all global events and geopolitical tensions. so this is a risk. but i think what this is a risk. but i think what this also reflects is kyiv�*s a lack of fear now, because they have long beenin of fear now, because they have long been in backs against the wall mode, they have long been experiencing this all—out invasion, and they bang the drum every day for continued western support. so i think even taking aim at the ioc come in the

eyes of president zelensky, isn't that much of a big deal now, because this is a country, ukraine, continuing to fight for its very survival. , . , ~ ., ., survival. james, i know you will not have necessarily _ survival. james, i know you will not have necessarily had _ survival. james, i know you will not have necessarily had time - survival. james, i know you will not have necessarily had time to - survival. james, i know you will not have necessarily had time to see i survival. james, i know you will not l have necessarily had time to see the detail on this but we heard claims in a documentary from borisjohnson about vladimir putin threatening him and the kremlin has denied that. how much of a figure within ukraine is the former prime minister? how much are people there following the source of stories, if at all, or are they far more concerned with their own immediate future? i they far more concerned with their own immediate future?— they far more concerned with their own immediate future? i think they are keeping — own immediate future? i think they are keeping an _ own immediate future? i think they are keeping an eye _ own immediate future? i think they are keeping an eye on _ own immediate future? i think they are keeping an eye on it. _ own immediate future? i think they are keeping an eye on it. i - own immediate future? i think they are keeping an eye on it. ithink- own immediate future? i think they are keeping an eye on it. i think we i are keeping an eye on it. i think we are keeping an eye on it. i think we are approaching an interesting time in terms of the scrutiny, in terms of the examinations of what happened in those days and weeks before february 2a last year. you have seen a bit of insight there in terms of what allegedly vladimir putin threatened borisjohnson with, and in ukraine president zelensky chose

not to act on western warnings that russia was planning to invade. at the time he said it will cause unnecessary economic damage, he said panicking would play into russia's hands, and there are question marks over whether he could have better defended mainland ukraine from the russian advance that came through crimea early on where they have gone on to invade and occupy a swathes of territory. so i think we might be entering a political period of scrutiny. people are starting to look at those days and weeks in the build—up, and it is interesting, and it matters to people because whatever path this war takes, the inevitable questions ukrainians will ask will be around could we have done more to prevent this in the first place internally, as well as could our lives have given us more as well? it does matter to people, you're right, but they are dealing with very immediate pressing

problems as well.— with very immediate pressing roblems as well. , . ., ., , problems as well. james waterhouse in k iv, problems as well. james waterhouse in kyiv. thank — problems as well. james waterhouse in kyiv, thank you. _ problems as well. james waterhouse in kyiv, thank you. the _ problems as well. james waterhouse in kyiv, thank you. the prime - in kyiv, thank you. the prime minister is in county down, the government has announced a big spending plan. we cannot bring you any audio from that at the moment, i'm afraid, but we are hoping to come back when journalists are allowed to ask questions later. the prime minister facing lots of political questions about nadhim zahawi and what sunak knew about mr zahawi's tax affairs and the situation with the tax authorities in the uk, another big political scandal breaking over the weekend here. us secretary of state antony blinken will be injuries and later to discuss how to de—escalate tensions between israelis and palestinians. on thursday, nine palestinians were killed during an israeli military raid in the west bank, and seven people were killed in eastjerusalem outside a synagogue on friday. mr blinken said the immediate priority was to restore calm. the israeli prime minister, benjamin netanyahu, was a firm ally of donald trump — his relations

with the biden administration have been strained by his support for the expansion of israeli settlements in occupied territory. mr netanyahu's government has warned of tough action against the families of palestinians who carry out attacks against israelis. our correspondent anna foster explained more about the influence anthony blinken has on all of this. well, the state department have taken the step of actually setting that out as one of the aims of this visit, these calls for de—escalation. it was planned a couple of weeks ago. so it was planned before those two deadly events of the last week that you talked about there. but i think they will give extra levels of expectation to this visit. we're just we'rejust going to we're just going to come out of that and listen to the prime minister who is talking in the north—east of the country in county durham, let's listen in. to country in county durham, let's listen in. ., ., ., . listen in. to grow the to reduce debt, to reduce _ listen in. to grow the to reduce debt, to reduce waiting - listen in. to grow the to reduce debt, to reduce waiting lists . listen in. to grow the to reduce | debt, to reduce waiting lists and stop the boats. this morning i was at north—east hospital with amanda

who runs the nhs, and other colleagues, to launch our plan to cut waiting times in urgent and emergency care, something that we have been working on for a little bit. now, idon't have been working on for a little bit. now, i don't need to tell all of you about some of the challenges that we are all experiencing in our emergency department at the moment. there is a lot of reasons for that, we're still recovering from the impact of covid, i think we have had the worst flu season, amanda will correct me, in about a decade, so it has been pretty tough for everyone and we still have far too many people in hospitals who we would much prefer, they would prefer, to be back in the community is being looked after. but look, we are not alone in facing these challenges, we can see similar things in wales and scotland and even internationally in canada, italy and germany. they are all grappling with similar challenges. but we still need to do something it. that's why last year when the chancellor stood up and announced what is called the autumn

statement we had to make some difficult decisions. i think you all remember what happened and we had to do some things to get out debt borrowing under control. in spite of all that we privatise the nhs and social care with billions of pounds of extra funding because i know it is your priority and it is my priority and the government's priority and the government's priority too. the question is, and what you want to ask me, it's how you will spend that money to make the difference because we need to improve this. today's plan does that, i believe, there are five specific things we are doing. the first is more capacity. that means 5000 more beds, 800 more ambulances, 100 more mental health ambulances to put more capacity to the system and the second thing is to increase the workforce making sure we have more doctors and more nurses and more types of all professional, and many of you i have met this morning will be here and help us deliver on that, and we want to support you to work as flexibly as possible when you get there. the third thing was discharged. i mention we have 111,000 people in hospitals at the moment

who ought to be either back home or in their communities, that is causing some of the challenges that we are seen in our hospitals at the moment. so we have a plan to speed discharge with particular money and some initiatives to help there. the fourth thing is having more people cared for outside of hospital. i think most people don't need to be in hospital and don't want to be in hospital and there are some great examples where we can treat people with respiratory conditions, in virtual wards, with respiratory conditions, in virtualwards, or with respiratory conditions, in virtual wards, or indeed new frailty and falls services keeping people out of hospital so we will do far more of those. and lastly we will improve 111 and put different types of people into the 111 service and so people can get the help they need on the phone and hopefully end up not needing to go to a&e in the first place. those are the five points of the plan. all of that is going to have an enormous amount of support to help those trusts that need extra help. i was with kath and her team this morning at north tees. north tees is an example of

somewhere that is doing brilliantly thanks to the incredible joined up working between all the different people at north tees. they have really figured out how to attack this problem and make an enormous difference to so many people's lives. what we need to make sure as we spread that kind of best practice out and about across the country, and that's what amanda and i am the health secretary were talking to the team in north tees about this morning. that in a nutshell is the plan, more beds, more ambulances, more staff, better social care, and if we can deliver on it, then i think we will seek in fact, i know we will see, the largest and fastest ever improvement in emergency waiting times in the nhs's history. that is the ambition of our plan we have set out today, and partly because of all the time i've spent with brilliant people like kath and her team this morning, all of you who are training, i feel really confident that we can deliver it. because ultimately it is because all of you and the hard work and

ingenuity you bring to yourjob stay ingenuity you bring to yourjob stay in and day out that we are going to fix this problem and improve things for patients and make an enormous difference to people up—and—down the country. so thank you for your help in making that a reality and thank you for being here today, and with that i'd be delighted to answer any and all of your questions on all things nhs, or anything else, teesside, oranything things nhs, or anything else, teesside, or anything —— else at all that you might like. who wants to go first? yes? i that you might like. who wants to go first? yes? . ., , that you might like. who wants to go first? yes? . . , , ., first? yes? i am a student nurse at teesside university _ first? yes? i am a student nurse at teesside university and _ first? yes? i am a student nurse at teesside university and i'm - first? yes? i am a student nurse at teesside university and i'm basedl first? yes? i am a student nurse at. teesside university and i'm based at north_ teesside university and i'm based at north tees _ teesside university and i'm based at north tees hospital. as a student it can be _ north tees hospital. as a student it can be quite difficult. i'm a mature student _ can be quite difficult. i'm a mature student. the reality is i have to work_ student. the reality is i have to work alongside my studies, which is fine, _ work alongside my studies, which is fine, but _ work alongside my studies, which is fine, but when we are replacement -ets fine, but when we are replacement gets quite — fine, but when we are replacement gets quite difficult. i know as a student— gets quite difficult. i know as a student i'm very grateful for the nhs bursary that you introduced, the £5,000, _ nhs bursary that you introduced, the £5,000, really grateful, but while on placement really difficult. do you ever — on placement really difficult. do you ever envisage any change to the

funding _ you ever envisage any change to the funding question, like nurses and allied _ funding question, like nurses and allied health professionals, where it might _ allied health professionals, where it might help us when on placement because _ it might help us when on placement because a _ it might help us when on placement because a whiff we are doing 37.5 hours _ because a whiff we are doing 37.5 hours when — because a whiff we are doing 37.5 hours when we are on placement it is really— hours when we are on placement it is really hard _ hours when we are on placement it is really hard to — hours when we are on placement it is really hard to work alongside that. the bursary is brilliant, but do you think_ the bursary is brilliant, but do you think there — the bursary is brilliant, but do you think there might ever be a change to funding, — think there might ever be a change to funding, ora think there might ever be a change to funding, or a little bit extra money— to funding, or a little bit extra money for— to funding, or a little bit extra money for studentsjust to funding, or a little bit extra money for students just to keep retention? there are people in my cohort— retention? there are people in my cohort that — retention? there are people in my cohort that have dropped out, just financially — cohort that have dropped out, just financially it can be difficult. lynn, — financially it can be difficult. lynn, thank you, it was great to see you guys early on, thank you for what you are doing. you are absolutely right. we recognise the challenges that were there for many of you who are trying to juggle work and be on your course and making everything work alongside, that's why we reintroduced that bursary which, as you said, thank you for acknowledging it, because that's £5,000 a year of nurses' bursary. it was something the rcn, your union, was something the rcn, your union, was keen for us to do a couple of years ago, and we prioritised it.

and i'm sure we'll get onto other things to do with pay as well later on. that is something that, it costs a lot of money, but i thought it was the right thing to do to help. alongside that, you asked about other things, there are maintenance grants available, from memory, but we are always looking to make sure that the support we have in place helps. with the extra funding we are putting in to the nhs, shortly we are going to publish a workforce plan which is something that many of you and your colleagues have asked forfor you and your colleagues have asked for for ages, you and your colleagues have asked forfor ages, we are going to finally do that. and as we publish that workforce plan, we know we need this many nurses, this may doctors, this many nurses, this may doctors, this mini paramedic�*s etc, figuring out whether we have all the bits in place to make sure we end up with that number of people —— this mini paramedic�*s. in making sure that support is in place to get all fantastic nurses we need. other thing is we need training once you qualify, is one of the other things that we did, which again, many of you nodding, because a lot of what you nodding, because a lot of what

you all said to us, that's great, we do our course here, then we go and work and we would like some support with continuous development and we have now put in place a cpd budget for all of you when you graduate and start work, you get access to about £1000 from memory, the cpd budget so that you can continue learning more and doing more, that's actually how we are going to solve some of these problems because if you think of what all of you can do now compared to what nurses could do 20 years ago, it is dramatically. if we can do more of that it will help us have a more effective nhs and make sure you have a really fulfilling careers as well. perfect. wright, who is next? yes, sir? i as well. perfect. wright, who is next? yes, sir?— next? yes, sir? i am a local community _ next? yes, sir? i am a local community pharmacist. - next? yes, sir? i am a local community pharmacist. i i next? yes, sir? i am a local- community pharmacist. i would like to know. _ community pharmacist. i would like to know. are — community pharmacist. i would like to know, are you aware, prime minister. — to know, are you aware, prime minister, the perilous financial state _ minister, the perilous financial state that community pharmacy services — state that community pharmacy services are in at the moment in england — services are in at the moment in england and wales? there are a lot of community pharmacies who are

really— of community pharmacies who are really struggling from a 30% cut in really struggling from a 30% cut in real terms— really struggling from a 30% cut in real terms funding over the last seven— real terms funding over the last seven years. and now we are at the brink— seven years. and now we are at the brink of— seven years. and now we are at the brink of closure and it will not be lon- brink of closure and it will not be long before you see some pharmacies ctosing~ _ long before you see some pharmacies ctosing~ can— long before you see some pharmacies closing. can you please urgently inject _ closing. can you please urgently inject some funding into the community pharmacy service? and the second _ community pharmacy service? and the second question would be, have you considered _ second question would be, have you considered a national pharmacy first scheme _ considered a national pharmacy first scheme to— considered a national pharmacy first scheme to ease pressure on the nhs in a85 _ scheme to ease pressure on the nhs in a85 and _ scheme to ease pressure on the nhs in a&e and gp surgeries where patients— in a&e and gp surgeries where patients can come to a pharmacy first and — patients can come to a pharmacy first and be — patients can come to a pharmacy first and be triage in that way, that— first and be triage in that way, that would do a lot to help the nhs service _ that would do a lot to help the nhs service |_ that would do a lot to help the nhs service. ., , ., , that would do a lot to help the nhs service. . , ., , ., , service. i am biased on this because. — service. i am biased on this because. as _ service. i am biased on this because, as some - service. i am biased on this because, as some of- service. i am biased on this because, as some of you i service. i am biased on this l because, as some of you may service. i am biased on this - because, as some of you may know, and amanda is lacking, my mum was a community pharmacist and she owned her own pharmacy and i grew up working on it most of my childhood so i'm a big fan of pharmacies and my dad was a gp so i saw both sides of it and your two questions go really well together. how do we make sure that local pharmacies are sustainable into the future? it is

figuring out what more can community pharmacies do? and in the same way i talked about nurses, if i think about all the things a pharmacy does today compared to when i worked in my mum's pharmacy that has evolved and changed, and to your point i think there is more we can do, and it was one of the things that amanda and i and the team have been discussing, seeing how we can move towards a pharmacy first model. we saw that during covid with vaccinations and bit by bit there are more services that can be put into pharmacies, or pharmacists, by about 2025—26, will have the ability to prescribe. that's the area many pharmacists have said to us, hang on, whether it is for utis, or other things or more minor ailments, would it be possible for pharmacies to do more? that's something we are actively looking at, what it means for regulation, we have to get antibiotic safety right because if our chief medical officers were here they would say, actually, we do a very good job in this country of

making sure people do not develop immunity to antibiotics and they want to make sure that remains the case and that's what they would say if they were here. but also things like blood dummett blood pressure checks, that's something we could do in pharmacies. if we could get that right, there are so much undiagnosed high blood pressure which then leads to people needing ambulance call—outs, for all the paramedics here, if we have pharmacies doing more blood pressure checks, for example, getting people to treatment they need earlier, stopping the ambulance call out. so there are lots of opportunity there and that's one of the things we are in the process of looking at. in the same way today we have published a pretty comprehensive plan on tackling urgent and emergency care, we are going to do something very similar for primary care as well. last year we published a plan on electives which is in process and working, so we are getting the backlog down on elective surgery and today the focus is on emergency care and then the next step will be on primary care so we will talk a bit more about pharmacies and pharmacists. i was have to be careful as i said,

biased, i have to check my natural profile on those things. who has another question? yes? iii. profile on those things. who has another question? yes?- profile on those things. who has another question? yes? hi, i'm a learnin: another question? yes? hi, i'm a learning disability _ another question? yes? hi, i'm a learning disability nurse - another question? yes? hi, i'm a learning disability nurse by - learning disability nurse by background and also a lecturer here at teesside. so, there are approximately 1.5 million people with learning disabilities in the whole — with learning disabilities in the whole of— with learning disabilities in the whole of the uk and only 17,000 of us nurses— whole of the uk and only 17,000 of us nurses in— whole of the uk and only 17,000 of us nurses in the whole of the uk. so 'ust us nurses in the whole of the uk. so just wondering what ideas you have full funding for learning disability services, — full funding for learning disability services, or learning disability nurse — services, or learning disability nurse education?— services, or learning disability nurse education? ., ,, ., ., nurse education? thank you for what ou do. nurse education? thank you for what you d0- it's — nurse education? thank you for what you do. it's incredibly _ nurse education? thank you for what you do. it's incredibly important. - nurse education? thank you for what you do. it's incredibly important. i. you do. it's incredibly important. i see in my own constituency, relatively recently i was talking to someone who does the same thing that you do and it makes such a difference to people, so thank you for that and thank you for helping to train the next generation that is going to come through. so, one of the things we are in the process of publishing, we are going to have a new piece of legislation that changes all the guidance about how

we treat people with learning disabilities and is one of the things we have learned more about over the years, and the way our current guidance on regulation is set up is probably not as it should be and lots of your colleagues are helping us get that right to make sure that the treatment is in place for people at the right stage to identify things early enough and then put the support around people that they need. if you look at the prevalence of it has gone up quickly, particularly at a young age and i think all of us want to make sure, particularly for our young people, that we are getting them the support they need in schools to grapple with some of these things and have fulfilling lives. so actually that will come out later this year. but standby on that, as well as the extra money that is going on, that we need to make sure gets down to what you are grappling with on the ground, we need to make sure we get the overall approach with policy right in a way that in the past wasn't done properly. that

will be the new act we will put forward to fix that. all right, is next? yes? mr; forward to fix that. all right, is next? yes?— next? yes? my background is education _ next? yes? my background is education so _ next? yes? my background is education so i _ next? yes? my background is education so i run _ next? yes? my background is education so i run a _ next? yes? my background is education so i run a large - next? yes? my background is - education so i run a large academy trust _ education so i run a large academy trust but _ education so i run a large academy trust but i'm — education so i run a large academy trust but i'm not going to ask you about— trust but i'm not going to ask you about that — trust but i'm not going to ask you about that this morning because i think— about that this morning because i think we — about that this morning because i think we are surrounded by healthy people _ think we are surrounded by healthy people. the two things i want to ask you, people. the two things i want to ask you. you _ people. the two things i want to ask you, you have been to north tees hospitat— you, you have been to north tees hospital and it is in desperate need of a rebuild, hospital and it is in desperate need ofa rebuild, so i'd hospital and it is in desperate need of a rebuild, so i'd quite like to ask the — of a rebuild, so i'd quite like to ask the question, what are your plans— ask the question, what are your plans for— ask the question, what are your plans for rebuilding some of the hospitals — plans for rebuilding some of the hospitals that really are desperate? and tots _ hospitals that really are desperate? and lots of money is lost because they are _ and lots of money is lost because they are actually spending it on repairs — they are actually spending it on repairs and maintenance, whereas if they had _ repairs and maintenance, whereas if they had new buildings that would make _ they had new buildings that would make a _ they had new buildings that would make a difference. and the second question— make a difference. and the second question i— make a difference. and the second question i want to ask, because it is in _ question i want to ask, because it is in the _ question i want to ask, because it is in the elephant in the room, when are you _ is in the elephant in the room, when are you going to pay nurses properly?— are you going to pay nurses ”roerl ? , ., ., ., are you going to pay nurses --roerl ? , ., . ., ., properly? great that we do both of those together. _ properly? great that we do both of those together. on _

properly? great that we do both of those together. on the _ properly? great that we do both of those together. on the hospital. those together. on the hospital maintenance side, the nhs capital budget at the moment is the largest it has ever been, and that goes into a mix of different things. it goes into research and development, which is important, it goes into upgrades, so lots of hospitals that need upgrades are currently in the process, i think 100 are being upgraded as we speak, and that can be smaller scale interventions. there is a very large programme of new builds and rebuilds, part of the 40 new builds and rebuilds, part of the a0 hospital programme, and we are putting more kids into all the hospitals. so community diagnostic centres, mri scanners, those types of things, building elective surgical hubs, all those things will help us get the backlog down. so with that big capital budget we have got, those are the different elements of it and we are trying to get the balance right between all those things. but that overall pie is the biggest it has ever been going into that area. it links to your second question, and i'm glad your second question, and i'm glad you asked about it, because it would be odd if we managed to get through

this session without talking about it. many of you here will be thinking about it, many of you will be members of the union. let me explain where we are and what we are doing. first of all, part of the reason i'm here today, have enormous gratitude for all of you who are doing an incrediblejob of gratitude for all of you who are doing an incredible job of working hard at the moment in the nhs, particularly this winter which has been really challenging for the reason i talked about, that's come back down on the back of two years because of covid which has been really challenging, so believe me, i know, and as i talked about, i grew up know, and as i talked about, i grew up in an nhs family and i know how important health care is the difference it makes and that's why we prioritised it last year and one of the difficult things. what does that mean for pay? nothing would give me more pleasure than to wave a magic wand and have everyone come all of you are paid lots more, of course, who wouldn't want to be able to do that? of course i'd love to be able to do that. what we did do is there is an independent process that goes through this and provides a

recommendation to the government. it actually wasn't our decision, and independent process takes evidence from the unions, from the government, from others, it says within the appropriate pay level, pay increase, is x, they said roughly 5%, we said fine, we will accept that and that is what we have put in place for last year. so why not more, is your question. and that's a completely fair question. i guess i'd say a couple of things. we have had a handful of different questions about lots of different things. you asked about hospital upgrades, we asked about community pharmacy, we asked about training for new nurses and what support we can give them, people with learning disabilities, people with learning disabilities, people with learning disabilities, children, that gives you a sense of all the things that we have to try and balance and that's myjob, it's not an easyjob. and that's what we have to do fundamentally. i can tell you, hand on heart, there more money going into the nhs and social care than there ever has been before. i can

tell you that when we had to make some really difficult decisions last year we went out of our way to protect the nhs and social care and give it even more, that meant difficult things elsewhere, which i've got some criticism for. so i can tell you that, overall the payet is as big as it has ever been, and in the circumstances it was prioritised. but within that pie we have got to figure out what is the right balance between pay and between all these other things that we have to do. that's not an easy thing to get right. as you said, we need an upgraded hospital, more mri scanners, more support for new nurses. that's the balance that we get right, it is a question about what is affordable in that pie. i don't want to put any of your taxes up, that's what it comes down to. i doubt any of you would thank me if i came here and said, great work, put up came here and said, great work, put up all your taxes, i don't want to do that because it's tough enough at home as it is at the moment of you with your bills and everything else. figuring out how to pay for these

things as part of myjob and i think where we are with taxes at the moment, we can't put them up any more and we need to be getting them down. that's what constrains me on one end. the other thing is inflation. what is the number one challenge all of you have day to day at home, every time you open a bill it is not, my gosh, what is going on? right, every sighel bill, every single week, this been like that for a while. the most important thing that i need to do for all of you, notjust that i need to do for all of you, not just everyone working that i need to do for all of you, notjust everyone working in the nhs, notjust our nurses, but everyone in our country, the most important thing is to halve inflation. the thing that will make the biggest difference to all of your lives and everyone else's lives is by the end of this year, if bills are not going up at the rate they have been over the past year, because that's the thing that is eating into all of your quality—of—life, all of your standard of living, that's the thing that says, great, can't go on holiday this year, i can't buy these presents, or i can't go out for this meal or do any of these things because inflation is going up and i

have to get a grip on that for all of you, it's the most important thing and if we don't do that we won't be able to afford anything in the future because inflation is one of these things, this is a very young audience, so you won't remember, when this goes badly wrong, as it did in the past, in the 19705, wrong, as it did in the past, in the 1970s, as i said, everyone here is too young to remember that, but if this goes wrong and if we are still talking about high inflation in a year's time, it is going to be awful for all of you. we won't be able to afford to invest any more in anything, and we won't be able to spend money on anything any more because inflation willjust be going up because inflation willjust be going up and up and up and an important part of us getting a grip on inflation and halving it is making sure that the government is responsible with its borrowing because if that gets out of control it makes it worse. and it's about making sure that hey settlements are reasonable and fair. when we have periods of high inflation, what happened in the past is everyone said, ok, inflation was at 15%, we should all get paid 15% and then you have a kind of vicious cycle which

you never recoverfrom. have a kind of vicious cycle which you never recover from. so have a kind of vicious cycle which you never recoverfrom. so it would be the wrong thing to do. of course it would make my life easier to say, sure, great, let'sjust go ahead. it would be a bad thing for all of you if that meant that inflation was running really high in a year's time and we hadn't got a grip of it, and i don't want to do that for you. even though it makes my life a bit more difficult today, i really think it's the right thing for all of you and everyone else if we just get through this. but look, i hearyou. i hear all of you, i've talked to your unions, the health secretary talks to your unions, who want to find a way through this and i know things are tough and i know what an incrediblejob you do, so rest assured that we are trying our hardest to find a way through. sorry for the long answer. who is next? yes! ~ , ., , for the long answer. who is next? yes! g . ,�* ., for the long answer. who is next? yes! g . , ~ ., ., ., for the long answer. who is next? yes! g . m .. . . yes! my name is anna and i am a rima yes! my name is anna and i am a primary care _ yes! my name is anna and i am a primary care pharmacist, - yes! my name is anna and i am a primary care pharmacist, do - yes! my name is anna and i am a primary care pharmacist, do you| yes! my name is anna and i am a - primary care pharmacist, do you have any plans— primary care pharmacist, do you have any plans to _ primary care pharmacist, do you have any plans to tackle _ primary care pharmacist, do you have

any plans to tackle disease _ any plans to tackle disease prevention. _ any plans to tackle disease prevention, for— any plans to tackle disease prevention, for example i any plans to tackle disease i prevention, for example hard any plans to tackle disease _ prevention, for example hard disease and diabetes — prevention, for example hard disease and diabetes who _ prevention, for example hard disease and diabetes who will— prevention, for example hard disease and diabetes who will keep _ prevention, for example hard disease and diabetes who will keep people i and diabetes who will keep people out of— and diabetes who will keep people out of hospital— and diabetes who will keep people out of hospital and _ and diabetes who will keep people out of hospital and ease _ and diabetes who will keep people out of hospital and ease pressures on emergency _ out of hospital and ease pressures on emergency care? _ out of hospital and ease pressures on emergency care?— on emergency care? excellent, a little bit what — on emergency care? excellent, a little bit what | _ on emergency care? excellent, a little bit what i was _ on emergency care? excellent, a little bit what i was talking i on emergency care? excellent, a little bit what i was talking about before, blood pressure checks, is there other testing we can do in advance which prevents conditions? i was just upstairs with one of your colleagues who are sitting right next to you with this extraordinary invention. you guys are basically, i do not know if i am betraying any commercial secrets, what you have done here, what your collective team has created is a brand—new you're in —based test for something that at the moment requires over £1000 of quite invasive testing to be done in a hospital and you figured out, hang on, we can do it with a simple like a covid test, like at home and it costs 1000 times less and that means many more people can get the test done and we can figure out we have got this particular condition

earlier and get them the medicine they need to stop it getting worse and that is an amazing example of what is possible but that is possible because of all of you, amazing researchers, iam proud possible because of all of you, amazing researchers, i am proud to say supported by the government with a big grant, undertake nhs capital budget is funding research and development which does not sound exciting but it is that money which has gone into this building to support that particular team who have developed this new test which they have worked on with all of you who are practitioners to make sure it works. that will now save tonnes of people's lives and save us money over time. and prevent bad things happening. you guys right here are an amazing microcosm of what is possible to do and that is why it is working and i am really excited about the team. seen that grow. it's about the team. seen that grow. it's a small example of what we need to do more of but absolutely part of the answer, absolutely. there was another gentle man over here, i

think. , ., ., ., think. yes. tim thomson, dean of health and — think. yes. tim thomson, dean of health and life _ think. yes. tim thomson, dean of health and life sciences. _ think. yes. tim thomson, dean of health and life sciences. there i think. yes. tim thomson, dean of| health and life sciences. there was a report— health and life sciences. there was a report from — health and life sciences. there was a report from a _ health and life sciences. there was a report from a policy _ health and life sciences. there was a report from a policy exchange i health and life sciences. there was a report from a policy exchange a i a report from a policy exchange a few weeks — a report from a policy exchange a few weeks ago— a report from a policy exchange a few weeks ago advocating - a report from a policy exchange a few weeks ago advocating for- few weeks ago advocating for increasing _ few weeks ago advocating for increasing medical— few weeks ago advocating for increasing medical places i few weeks ago advocating for increasing medical places at. few weeks ago advocating for- increasing medical places at medical schools— increasing medical places at medical schools focused _ increasing medical places at medical schools focused on _ increasing medical places at medical schools focused on the _ increasing medical places at medical schools focused on the community l increasing medical places at medical. schools focused on the community and i schools focused on the community and i wondered _ schools focused on the community and i wondered if— schools focused on the community and i wondered if any— schools focused on the community and i wondered if any of— schools focused on the community and i wondered if any of that _ schools focused on the community and i wondered if any of that mixed - schools focused on the community and i wondered if any of that mixed into i i wondered if any of that mixed into your thinking — i wondered if any of that mixed into your thinking about _ i wondered if any of that mixed into your thinking about workforce - your thinking about workforce planning? _ your thinking about workforce ”lannin ? ., your thinking about workforce ”lannin? ., . , , your thinking about workforce lannint? . , , your thinking about workforce ”lannin? ., , , ., planning? that will absolutely be a art of it planning? that will absolutely be a part of it on _ planning? that will absolutely be a part of it on the — planning? that will absolutely be a part of it on the nhs _ planning? that will absolutely be a part of it on the nhs has _ planning? that will absolutely be a part of it on the nhs has never i planning? that will absolutely be a| part of it on the nhs has never had this long workforce plan and it needed to. so we've got a plan to sort out the future and that is what the plan will do, looking at the different types of... how many people we need and training them now and the problem is if you decide today we need more enisa test, it turns out you cannot magic one of them up overnight, for example so thatis them up overnight, for example so that is why we need a long—term approach and part of that is working backwards to what we're doing in training schools. the other thing thatis training schools. the other thing that is important is about the

different types of role, i was talking to some of you earlier and you guys will go out and do these amazing jobs and help us solve this problem. but it's making sure we have all the different types of people in all the different types of things that we need and in primary care, it's what pharmacists can do that gps are currently doing but what our pharmacy technicians doing today should be doing that pharmacists could do for all of you? the emergency medical technicians, the new types of real and what nurses are doing, you know because you are in the... nurses are doing, you know because you are in the. . ._ you are in the... addis rishi sunak, the uk prime _ you are in the... addis rishi sunak, the uk prime minister, _ you are in the... addis rishi sunak, the uk prime minister, taking i you are in the... addis rishi sunak, the uk prime minister, taking partl the uk prime minister, taking part in an event that has been organised, not organised by the bbc, i should stress. have professionals asking about the shortage of staff. and rishi sunak saying they will publish a workforce plan on shortages of labour which is affecting many parts

of the economy. it is coming up to the three—year anniversary of brexit, and that has been a factor, the immigration question and you will have seen the small boats slogan, stop the boats, behind the prime minister who is speaking in the north—east, that is seen to be a factor in that area, being a brexit stronghold. the prime minister facing questions on the uk including having to sack his chairman, that aims to how they overtax irregularities and questions and we will go back to that us soon as journalists are asking the prime minister some questions. at least 28 people have been killed and more than 150 injured in an explosion at a mosque in the pakistani city of peshawar. the blast happened when the mosque in the north—west of the country

was packed with worshippers, with local media saying it came during afternoon prayers. the explosion destroyed a section of the mosque and officials say people are buried under the rubble. dozens of people are being taken to hospitals. the cause of blast is not clear, but some reports say it was a suicide bomb. schools across england and wales are set to face closures and disruption in the first of a series of strikes by teachers over pay on wednesday. of those who votes, more than nine in ten members of the largest teaching union, the national education union, called for the action. teachers are also expected to walk out for further dates in february and march. for most working parents strike action will mean taking a day off, working from home, or seeking alternative childcare. fiona lamdin has been talking to families about their plans. we want 10%! these are becoming all too familiar scenes in scotland, where they're already in the middle of a 16—day wave of rolling teacher strikes. and, on wednesday, it's expected over 100,000 teachers in england and wales will strike

in a pay dispute. at this bristol parkrun, families are still working out the logistics. wednesday, currently, is unsure, but one of us will need to take half a day's pay to look after this one. our eldest daughter is allowed to go into school, but adeline needs to stay at home with us. how will you feel about being at home for the day? i'm really happy because if there's no school, you canjust lie in bed. i'm a teacher and i've got two children in primary school, i who we don't yet know whether their teachers j are going to be striking. but i am going to be striking. so we think that maybe his teacher is staying in school— and his teacher isn't. so i think i'll be marching i with the younger one here.

it's good that it's open, so we can do more learning, but it would also be nice to have a day off, as well. you might be marching with your mum. what will that be like? boring. would you rather be at school? probably. i have to go to work. i'm a gp. but my husband can work from home, so fortunately, he'll be working to look after the children. it'll probably be a bit more fun at school because my dad's working. the decision to close or not will be made by each school. this head has decided it's only safe to open for vulnerable pupils or those with an education, health and care plan. so for headteachers up and down the country, it's a challenge as to whether we open the doors of the school to students or whether we have to close down certain year groups or, indeed, the whole school. as heads, we don't know which members of staff will be striking and indeed which ones will come to school and which ones won't. and, obviously, logistically,

that's extremely challenging. the department for education says these strikes are highly damaging to children's education and is urging schools to try and stay open for key year groups facing exams. 15—year—old nancy is taking her gcses in four months, but, despite this, she'll have no lessons on wednesday. obviously, i'm in year 11 now, so it is quite a big problem because lessons from now until summer actually count and they go towards our final grade, some of them. so it's quite important that we're in school. and we've missed a lot of school due to covid already. we have to weigh up the short term disruption of these strikes with what's going to be the longer—term disruption being caused by funding cuts and the recruitment and retention crisis. for many pupils and their families, it will be a four—day week with more disruption coming later. fiona lamdin, bbc news.

the iranian defence ministry says it has foiled an "unsuccessful" drone attack on a military ammunition facility in central isfahan. according to state media, three drones were involved, but there were no casualties and only minor damage to the building. so far, no—one has claimed responsibility. the bbc�*s azadeh moshiri has this report. a blast in the dead of night. iran insists its defences foiled the drone attack. translation: an operation carried l out by three drones in the area of| one of the ministry of defence's workshops in isfahan was unsuccessful. this operation had no casualties and only inflicted minor damage to the workshop roof. iran's state broadcaster showcased the ammunitions facility. it showed the damage to the building's roof and what it claimed was the debris from drones it destroyed. their report said it's now back to business in the factory. the bbc has not been able to verify the extent of the damage.

translation: this cowardly act by the enemies _ of iran try to make the islamic republic insecure. such actions will not impact our experts' determination to progress in our peaceful nuclear work. the pentagon denies it's responsible and fingers are being pointed towards israel. iran has seen a number of attacks on key military infrastructure in recent years. it blamed israel for many of them. that includes an attack on a key nuclear facility in natanz nearly two years ago. the attack comes as concerns mount around tehran's relationship with the kremlin, including sending russia kamikaze drones. and given ongoing protests at home, the attack hit the islamic republic at a time when it's trying to project strength and inspire fear. azadeh moshiri, bbc news.

going back to a story we were telling you about before we went to the prime minister is address. the us secretary of state, antony blinken, will be injerusalem later, to discuss how to de—escalate tensions between israelis and palestinians. on thursday, nine palestinians were killed during an israeli military raid in the west bank, and seven people were killed in eastjerusalem outside a synagogue on friday. mr blinken said the immediate priority was to restore calm. the israeli prime minister, benjamin netanyahu, was a firm ally of donald trump; his relations with the biden administration have been strained by his support for the expansion of israeli settlements in occupied territory. mr netanyahu's government has warned of tough action against the families of palestinians who carry out attacks against israelis. our correspondent anna foster explained more about the influence anthony blinken has on all of this. the state department has taken the step of setting that out as one of

the aims of the visit, calling for de—escalation. it was planned a couple of weeks ago, before the deadly events at the last week that you talked about but i think they will give extra levels of expectation to this visit. he will be expected to try and produce some sort of calming influence, he's also going to talk about the preservation of the two state solution as a potential future into the conflict between israel and the palestinians but the new right—wing government in israel has a very different vision of what a future israel would not like and they do not support the idea of a two state solution, that is the declared position of america so there will be a lot of discussion on that, particularly to try and calm the way things have been for more than a year now, tension is gradually rising. he is meeting today benjamin netanyahu, tomorrow with the palestinian president massimo de and it will be interesting how much of that happens

behind closed doors and how much we find out about the detail and the tone of the discussions with public statements that i made afterwards. we can now go back to the uk prime minister rishi sunak in county durham and he is talking to health professionals in a debate they have organised. let's listen in further. that's exactly what people do to make sure we deliver it. last one. and then i will take some questions quickly from the media.— and then i will take some questions quickly from the media. thank you. i am a reconstructive _ quickly from the media. thank you. i am a reconstructive plastic— quickly from the media. thank you. i am a reconstructive plastic surgeon i am a reconstructive plastic surgeon at south _ am a reconstructive plastic surgeon at south tees. _ am a reconstructive plastic surgeon at south tees, i'm _ am a reconstructive plastic surgeon at south tees, i'm proud _ am a reconstructive plastic surgeon at south tees, i'm proud of- am a reconstructive plastic surgeon at south tees, i'm proud of our- at south tees, i'm proud of our surgical— at south tees, i'm proud of our surgical services, _ at south tees, i'm proud of our surgical services, with - at south tees, i'm proud of our- surgical services, with collaborated before _ surgical services, with collaborated before the — surgical services, with collaborated before the pandemic _ surgical services, with collaborated before the pandemic and _ surgical services, with collaborated before the pandemic and hearing i surgical services, with collaborated | before the pandemic and hearing to brin- before the pandemic and hearing to bring on _ before the pandemic and hearing to bring on waiting _ before the pandemic and hearing to bring on waiting lists _ before the pandemic and hearing to bring on waiting lists down. - before the pandemic and hearing to bring on waiting lists down. one i before the pandemic and hearing to bring on waiting lists down. one ofl bring on waiting lists down. one of the ways— bring on waiting lists down. one of the ways we — bring on waiting lists down. one of the ways we achieved _ bring on waiting lists down. one of the ways we achieved that - bring on waiting lists down. one of the ways we achieved that was i bring on waiting lists down. one of. the ways we achieved that was rather thanjust_ the ways we achieved that was rather than just looking _ the ways we achieved that was rather than just looking at _ the ways we achieved that was rather than just looking at the _ the ways we achieved that was rather than just looking at the numbers i the ways we achieved that was rather thanjust looking at the numbers of. than just looking at the numbers of patients— than just looking at the numbers of patients in— than just looking at the numbers of patients in the _ than just looking at the numbers of patients in the waiting _ than just looking at the numbers of patients in the waiting list - than just looking at the numbers of patients in the waiting list we'd i patients in the waiting list we'd looked — patients in the waiting list we'd looked at — patients in the waiting list we'd looked at the _ patients in the waiting list we'd looked at the hours _ patients in the waiting list we'd looked at the hours of - patients in the waiting list we'd l looked at the hours of operating, patients in the waiting list we'd i looked at the hours of operating, as a better— looked at the hours of operating, as a better more — looked at the hours of operating, as a better more accurate _ looked at the hours of operating, as a better more accurate measure i looked at the hours of operating, as a better more accurate measure of. a better more accurate measure of how we _ a better more accurate measure of how we should _ a better more accurate measure of how we should distribute - a better more accurate measure of| how we should distribute resources so the _

how we should distribute resources so the ~i _ how we should distribute resources so the ~i was — how we should distribute resources so the .1 was whether— how we should distribute resources so the .1 was whether was - how we should distribute resources. so the .1 was whether was something we could _ so the .1 was whether was something we could rute — so the .1 was whether was something we could rule out— so the .1 was whether was something we could rule out full— so the .1 was whether was something we could rule out full resource - we could rule out full resource allocation _ we could rule out full resource allocation generally— we could rule out full resource allocation generally and - we could rule out full resource allocation generally and the i we could rule out full resource i allocation generally and the second point was _ allocation generally and the second point was excellent _ allocation generally and the second point was excellent points - allocation generally and the second point was excellent points about i point was excellent points about increasing — point was excellent points about increasing the _ point was excellent points about increasing the workforce - point was excellent points about increasing the workforce in i point was excellent points about increasing the workforce in waysj point was excellent points about i increasing the workforce in ways we can begin _ increasing the workforce in ways we can begin more _ increasing the workforce in ways we can begin more resources _ increasing the workforce in ways we can begin more resources but - increasing the workforce in ways we can begin more resources but what| can begin more resources but what measures— can begin more resources but what measures we — can begin more resources but what measures we will— can begin more resources but what measures we will in _ can begin more resources but what measures we will in place - can begin more resources but what measures we will in place urgently| measures we will in place urgently and medium — measures we will in place urgently and medium and _ measures we will in place urgently and medium and longer— measures we will in place urgently and medium and longer term i measures we will in place urgently and medium and longer term to i measures we will in place urgently i and medium and longer term to retain expertise _ and medium and longer term to retain expertise at _ and medium and longer term to retain expertise at middle _ and medium and longer term to retain expertise at middle and _ and medium and longer term to retain expertise at middle and late _ and medium and longer term to retain expertise at middle and late career. expertise at middle and late career stage _ expertise at middle and late career stage across — expertise at middle and late career stage across nursing, _ expertise at middle and late careerl stage across nursing, management, surgery, — stage across nursing, management, surgery, medicine _ stage across nursing, management, surgery, medicine, and— stage across nursing, management, surgery, medicine, and ascetics- surgery, medicine, and ascetics because — surgery, medicine, and ascetics because we _ surgery, medicine, and ascetics because we are _ surgery, medicine, and ascetics because we are haemorrhagingl because we are haemorrhaging expertise — because we are haemorrhaging expertise in _ because we are haemorrhaging expertise in the _ because we are haemorrhaging expertise in the workforce. i because we are haemorrhaging expertise in the workforce. thank ou. on expertise in the workforce. thank you- on your— expertise in the workforce. thank you. on your second _ expertise in the workforce. thank you. on your second question, i expertise in the workforce. thank i you. on your second question, part of that across the board, making sure that yourjob are fulfilling, and that people feel they actually enjoy what they are doing and they are recognised for the incredible job they do. it is a part of that, i talked to some of the paramedics and ambulance crews and talk to them about what is on their mind, it's notjust pay. of course it is not and you all know that and you are nodding, it is about the intensity with which they are working, the feeling that they cannot do well for

their patients because they are stuck with handover delays so if we get this discharge thing right and we can release hospital capacity, that will help a&e department, that has nothing to do with the ambulance and paramedics but theirjob will become better and more fulfilling and they will feel better because we did those things over there. nothing to do with their pay but if we reduce hospital bed occupancy, low improves, we do some of the other things in a&e and suddenly they are able to show up, do what they want to do and get back out helping people without delay, and they will feel much better about their day—to—dayjobs feel much better about their day—to—day jobs and feel much better about their day—to—dayjobs and lives so part of this will help with that, i think. your other question, remind me... yes, really interesting. part of our elective recovery plan is exactly that and you guys have done a great job and i know that because you are part of my trust and we did a really good job and we had separate sites

during covid and we kept going with lots of stuff especially on cancer so thank you to you and your colleagues because the results were impressive and it has made a difference to my constituents. part of that is actually having more data and technology around management of your backlog in its entirety. it's clearly as a good thing to do and as i said before, clearly as a good thing to do and as isaid before, it clearly as a good thing to do and as i said before, it sounds obvious, we should use technology to help us analyse waiting lists and organise ourselves in the most optimal way but that doesn't actually happen everywhere. and that is part of our job, to spread best practice. there's a couple of different systems, the foundry is another some different systems that do a good job of exactly what you say, chelsea and westminster is another trust which used it which made almost a third reduction in their backlog just by organising for them, it was cleaning

through the list, organising their theatre and the nurses who have to work in theatre, optimising your theatre list on a day—to—day basis, i can see all of you nodding, managing the cancellations, it's so important. again, technology can help us do that and your point on the metrics i will take away with amanda. great! even better. brilliant. that is great. that doesn't have to go through complicated procurement process so x0 complicated procurement process so xo will solve the problem for us but it's a straightforward thing! a load of what i'm talking about probably sounds slightly boring and operational but that is what it takes. we need to make sure we support all of you so that you can be as amazing as you want to be in serving your patience and getting the xl right about who is doing what and when is an important part of that. thank you for raising that.

very good news. ok. some media questions. very good news. ok. some media cuestions. �* , questions. beth rigby. prime minister, questions. beth rigby. prime minister. i— questions. beth rigby. prime minister, i have _ questions. beth rigby. prime minister, i have a _ questions. beth rigby. prime minister, i have a couple i questions. beth rigby. prime minister, i have a couple of. minister, i have a couple of questions _ minister, i have a couple of questions— minister, i have a couple of cuestions. , . ,, , questions. try and keep them quick. let me crack — questions. try and keep them quick. let me crack on. _ questions. try and keep them quick. let me crack on. ambulance - questions. try and keep them quick. | let me crack on. ambulance average wait times— let me crack on. ambulance average wait times for— let me crack on. ambulance average wait times for heart _ let me crack on. ambulance average wait times for heart attack— let me crack on. ambulance average wait times for heart attack and - wait times for heart attack and strokes — wait times for heart attack and strokes in _ wait times for heart attack and strokes in december— wait times for heart attack and strokes in december about i wait times for heart attack and strokes in december about 90| strokes in december about 90 minutes, _ strokes in december about 90 minutes, the _ strokes in december about 90 minutes, the nhs— strokes in december about 90 minutes, the nhs standard i strokes in december about 90 minutes, the nhs standard isl strokes in december about 90 l minutes, the nhs standard is 18 minutes— minutes, the nhs standard is 18 minutes to — minutes, the nhs standard is 18 minutes to give _ minutes, the nhs standard is 18 minutes to give people - minutes, the nhs standard is 18 minutes to give people the i minutes, the nhs standard is 18 minutes to give people the best| minutes to give people the best chance — minutes to give people the best chance of— minutes to give people the best chance of survival, _ minutes to give people the best chance of survival, it's - minutes to give people the best chance of survival, it's not- minutes to give people the bestl chance of survival, it's not about convenience, _ chance of survival, it's not about convenience, it's _ chance of survival, it's not about convenience, it's about - chance of survival, it's not about convenience, it's about whetherl convenience, it's about whether people — convenience, it's about whether people live _ convenience, it's about whether people live or— convenience, it's about whether people live or die _ convenience, it's about whether people live or die but _ convenience, it's about whether people live or die but to- convenience, it's about whether people live or die but to date i convenience, it's about whether. people live or die but to date you are not— people live or die but to date you are not even— people live or die but to date you are not even recommitting - people live or die but to date you are not even recommitting to i people live or die but to date you are not even recommitting to get back to _ are not even recommitting to get back to that— are not even recommitting to get back to that target _ are not even recommitting to get back to that target at _ are not even recommitting to get back to that target at all. - are not even recommitting to get back to that target at all. my i are not even recommitting to get. back to that target at all. my point to you _ back to that target at all. my point to you is _ back to that target at all. my point to you is people _ back to that target at all. my point to you is people watching - back to that target at all. my point to you is people watching this - back to that target at all. my point to you is people watching this willi to you is people watching this will think_ to you is people watching this will think that — to you is people watching this will think that is — to you is people watching this will think that is not _ to you is people watching this will think that is not good _ to you is people watching this will think that is not good enough - to you is people watching this will think that is not good enough and to you is people watching this will. think that is not good enough and do you accept— think that is not good enough and do you accept its — think that is not good enough and do you accept its going _ think that is not good enough and do you accept it's going to _ think that is not good enough and do you accept it's going to take - think that is not good enough and do you accept it's going to take years i you accept it's going to take years to fix— you accept it's going to take years to fix the — you accept it's going to take years to fix the nhs _ you accept it's going to take years to fix the nhs. and _ you accept it's going to take years to fix the nhs. and if— you accept it's going to take years to fix the nhs. and if i— you accept it's going to take years to fix the nhs. and if i may, - you accept it's going to take years to fix the nhs. and if i may, a - to fix the nhs. and if i may, a question— to fix the nhs. and if i may, a question on— to fix the nhs. and if i may, a question on nadhim _ to fix the nhs. and if i may, a question on nadhim zahawi, l to fix the nhs. and if i may, a i question on nadhim zahawi, this to fix the nhs. and if i may, a - question on nadhim zahawi, this week will mark— question on nadhim zahawi, this week will mark 100 — question on nadhim zahawi, this week will mark 100 days _ question on nadhim zahawi, this week will mark 100 days of _ question on nadhim zahawi, this week will mark 100 days of your— will mark 100 days of your premiership, _ will mark 100 days of your premiership, you - will mark 100 days of your premiership, you are - will mark 100 days of your. premiership, you are talking will mark 100 days of your- premiership, you are talking about the nhs _ premiership, you are talking about the nhs but — premiership, you are talking about the nhs but your— premiership, you are talking about the nhs but your tenure _ premiership, you are talking about the nhs but your tenure in- premiership, you are talking about| the nhs but your tenure in number ten the nhs but your tenure in number teh has— the nhs but your tenure in number teh has tteeh— the nhs but your tenure in number ten has been more _ the nhs but your tenure in number ten has been more characterised . ten has been more characterised about— ten has been more characterised about sleaze _ ten has been more characterised about sleaze than _ ten has been more characterised about sleaze than sound - ten has been more characterised - about sleaze than sound government. are you _ about sleaze than sound government. are you frustrated _ about sleaze than sound government. are you frustrated or— about sleaze than sound government. are you frustrated or furious - about sleaze than sound government. are you frustrated or furious even - are you frustrated or furious even about _ are you frustrated or furious even about nadhim _ are you frustrated or furious even about nadhim zahawi _ are you frustrated or furious even about nadhim zahawi 's _ are you frustrated or furious even

about nadhim zahawi 's conduct i are you frustrated or furious even i about nadhim zahawi 's conduct and the damage — about nadhim zahawi 's conduct and the damage it — about nadhim zahawi 's conduct and the damage it has _ about nadhim zahawi 's conduct and the damage it has done _ about nadhim zahawi 's conduct and the damage it has done to— about nadhim zahawi 's conduct and the damage it has done to you - the damage it has done to you personally— the damage it has done to you personally and _ the damage it has done to you personally and your— the damage it has done to you i personally and your government? thank you — personally and your government? thahkyou 0h— personally and your government? thank you. on the _ personally and your government? thank you. on the second - personally and your government? thank you. on the second one, i personally and your government? i thank you. on the second one, what personally and your government? - thank you. on the second one, what i have done is follow a process which is the right process, integrity is really important to me, all of you guys want to see government is run properly, run with integrity and there is accountability when people do not behave in the way that they shed or something does not go right and that is what we have done. we have an independent advisor, it is not me who is doing it and what i asked when all this question started to coming about nadhim zahawi, i asked the independent adviser to get to the bottom of that and provide me with facts and on the basis of those, which he did relatively quickly over last week i was able to make a quick decision that it was no longer appropriate for nadhim zahawi to continue in government and that is why he is no longer there. that is why he is no longer there. that is what i have done, it relates to things were before the time i was prime minister but what you can hold me accountable for its what i did

about it as soon as i knew about the situation was a point someone independent to look at it, got the advice and acted pretty decisively to move on because that is what i think all of you do so for me and from government. what i am focused on is the other part of your question, ambulance waiting times, thatis question, ambulance waiting times, that is what i am doing and it is not good enough, what happened in december was not great. it was not great for any of you working in the nhs orfor patients. great for any of you working in the nhs or for patients. what i say as there were a range of reasons why it was bad, from november to december we had a seven times increase in the number of people ending up in hospital with influenza, probably the worst season for flu in a decade. in the nhs. 50 tough for all of you and many other people and that was something chris whitty, during the pandemic he flight would happen. rightly. when you have found a couple of years of everyone either in lockdown or being very careful, natural immunity that a population

balance sub two influenza goes down and he was always clear, it was always a case, i can see all of you nodding, a case of when that happened, it was likely influence would be tricky and that is what happened and we are not alone, it is the same in scotland and wales and lots of other countries around the world and in terms of the plan today, what they say is we will get back to any minutes over the course of years here and we will get back to pre—pandemic levels thereafter. i would say that this ambitious, the reason being the scale of improvement from where we are, you have to start from where we are, the scale of improvement i talked about in my opening remarks will represent the largest and fastest improvement in nhs waiting times for emergency care on record. if we can pull this off, that is what people do, you guys will help us so i think it is ambitious and i also think it has been rightly welcomed by lots of people come up lots of your colleagues helped us come up with a

plan that we put in place, it's really important me, talk to all of you. really important me, talk to all of ou. ~ really important me, talk to all of ou. . , really important me, talk to all of ou.~ _ really important me, talk to all of ou. _ ., really important me, talk to all of ou.~ _ ., . really important me, talk to all of ou. _ .,. ., really important me, talk to all of ou. _ ., ., you. we say goodbye to all of our viewers on _ you. we say goodbye to all of our viewers on bbc _ you. we say goodbye to all of our viewers on bbc world. _ you. we say goodbye to all of our viewers on bbc world. this - you. we say goodbye to all of our viewers on bbc world. this is - you. we say goodbye to all of our| viewers on bbc world. this is bbc news. viewers in the uk, please stay with us. tote news. viewers in the uk, please stay with us. ~ ., news. viewers in the uk, please stay with us. ~ . ., , . with us. we have got the plan in lace, with us. we have got the plan in place. the _ with us. we have got the plan in place, the money _ with us. we have got the plan in place, the money in _ with us. we have got the plan in place, the money in place, - with us. we have got the plan in place, the money in place, we l with us. we have got the plan in - place, the money in place, we need to work with all of you to deliver it. i really need to try and get around some others. what we have set us we will work towards pre—pandemic levels after next year but the humour now, what we need to get to as 30 minutes over this year. i think you will also see, it's too early to tell because the numbers will come out in a month, the things we are doing, you will see made a difference injanuary. i think you will see a difference injanuary numbers because some of the things we did on discharge to make people out of hospitals has already started having an impact, when the numbers, forjanuary you will see things are

improving. forjanuary you will see things are imrovinu. .,, forjanuary you will see things are imrovinu. ~ , improving. robert. prime minister, aood to improving. robert. prime minister, good to see — improving. robert. prime minister, good to see you- — improving. robert. prime minister, good to see you. boris _ improving. robert. prime minister, good to see you. boris johnson, . improving. robert. prime minister,| good to see you. boris johnson, sue good to see you. borisjohnson, sue webber— good to see you. borisjohnson, sue webber oppermann, _ good to see you. borisjohnson, sue webberoppermann, nadhim- good to see you. borisjohnson, sue. webber oppermann, nadhim zahawi, matt hancock, — webber oppermann, nadhim zahawi, matt hancock, why— webber oppermann, nadhim zahawi, matt hancock, why are _ webber oppermann, nadhim zahawi, matt hancock, why are so— webber oppermann, nadhim zahawi, matt hancock, why are so many- webber oppermann, nadhim zahawi, i matt hancock, why are so many people at the _ matt hancock, why are so many people at the top _ matt hancock, why are so many people at the top of _ matt hancock, why are so many people at the top of your— matt hancock, why are so many people at the top of your party— matt hancock, why are so many people at the top of your party finding - matt hancock, why are so many people at the top of your party finding it - at the top of your party finding it difficult — at the top of your party finding it difficult to — at the top of your party finding it difficult to follow _ at the top of your party finding it difficult to follow the _ at the top of your party finding it difficult to follow the rules - at the top of your party finding it| difficult to follow the rules under pai mei. — difficult to follow the rules under pai mei. oh — difficult to follow the rules under pai mei, on nhs— difficult to follow the rules under pai mei, on nhs crisis, - difficult to follow the rules under pai mei, on nhs crisis, haven't. difficult to follow the rules under . pai mei, on nhs crisis, haven't you put the _ pai mei, on nhs crisis, haven't you put the cart — pai mei, on nhs crisis, haven't you put the cart before _ pai mei, on nhs crisis, haven't you put the cart before the _ pai mei, on nhs crisis, haven't you put the cart before the horse? - pai mei, on nhs crisis, haven't you put the cart before the horse? wel put the cart before the horse? we are seeing — put the cart before the horse? we are seeing demoralised _ put the cart before the horse? we are seeing demoralised nurses. i are seeing demoralised nurses. demoratised _ are seeing demoralised nurses. demoralised ambulance - are seeing demoralised nurses. i demoralised ambulance workers, paramedics _ demoralised ambulance workers, paramedics. doctors. _ demoralised ambulance workers, paramedics. doctors. at - demoralised ambulance workers, paramedics. doctors. at least - demoralised ambulance workers, l paramedics. doctors. at least part of what _ paramedics. doctors. at least part of what you — paramedics. doctors. at least part of what you have _ paramedics. doctors. at least part of what you have got _ paramedics. doctors. at least part of what you have got to _ paramedics. doctors. at least part of what you have got to do - paramedics. doctors. at least part of what you have got to do to - of what you have got to do to restore — of what you have got to do to restore morale _ of what you have got to do to restore morale is _ of what you have got to do to restore morale is sought- of what you have got to do to restore morale is sought this| of what you have got to do to - restore morale is sought this pay issue _ restore morale is sought this pay issue so — restore morale is sought this pay issue so when _ restore morale is sought this pay issue. so when and _ restore morale is sought this pay issue. so when and how- restore morale is sought this pay issue. so when and how are - restore morale is sought this pay issue. so when and how are youl restore morale is sought this pay- issue. so when and how are you going to do— issue. so when and how are you going to do that? _ issue. so when and how are you going to do that? on — issue. so when and how are you going to do that? , , ., to do that? on the first question, i talked about _ to do that? on the first question, i talked about that _ to do that? on the first question, i talked about that before, - to do that? on the first question, i talked about that before, on - to do that? on the first question, i talked about that before, on the i talked about that before, on the second question, what we talked about, the ladies question at the beginning, you heard the long answer that i gave on that. and that's what we're doing. at the beginning of

this year, the government also re—invited all union leaders, whether it is the rcn for some of you on the others to come and talk to the secretaries of state and have dialogue and we need to need to talk to people to find a way through this, that is what is happening and rest assured that is what is happening. it is not easy for all the i outlined, those other things we will work through but i am confident we can find a way through and we will keep talking and we are already starting to talk about pay for this year, that is happening and we will keep at it until we find a resolution on all of the sand in the meantime, we are getting with doing all of this that we have spent a good amount of time today talking about that will support you and the nhs and make a difference to people some of the brothel stands at the same time. natasha.— some of the brothel stands at the same time. natasha. honestly, did not answer— same time. natasha. honestly, did not answer the _ same time. natasha. honestly, did not answer the question. _ same time. natasha. honestly, did not answer the question. robert, l same time. natasha. honestly, did l not answer the question. robert, the thins not answer the question. robert, the thin . s that not answer the question. robert, the things that happen — not answer the question. robert, the things that happen before _ not answer the question. robert, the things that happen before i _ not answer the question. robert, the things that happen before i was - things that happen before i was prime minister i cannot do anything about but when you can hold me to account for other things that i did

on my watch and when it came to nadhim zahawi, i asked the independent adviser to look on it, he gave me advice straightaway, i acted on a straightaway and i will take whatever steps are necessary to restore integrity back into politics and you can have confidence that the process works. and you can have confidence that the process works-— process works. natasha. thank you. you said on — process works. natasha. thank you. you said on the _ process works. natasha. thank you. you said on the steps _ process works. natasha. thank you. you said on the steps of— process works. natasha. thank you. you said on the steps of downing i you said on the steps of downing street— you said on the steps of downing street and — you said on the steps of downing street and you _ you said on the steps of downing street and you also _ you said on the steps of downing street and you also just - you said on the steps of downing i street and you also just mentioned know— street and you also just mentioned know about — street and you also just mentioned know about integrity, _ street and you also just mentioned know about integrity, it _ street and you also just mentioned know about integrity, it is- street and you also just mentioned know about integrity, it is a - street and you also just mentioned know about integrity, it is a way. know about integrity, it is a way that matters _ know about integrity, it is a way that matters to _ know about integrity, it is a way that matters to you, _ know about integrity, it is a way that matters to you, but - know about integrity, it is a way that matters to you, but you'vel know about integrity, it is a way- that matters to you, but you've lost a couple _ that matters to you, but you've lost a couple of — that matters to you, but you've lost a couple of cabinet _ that matters to you, but you've lost a couple of cabinet ministers, - that matters to you, but you've lost a couple of cabinet ministers, you i a couple of cabinet ministers, you might— a couple of cabinet ministers, you might lose — a couple of cabinet ministers, you might lose a — a couple of cabinet ministers, you might lose a third, _ a couple of cabinet ministers, you might lose a third, is— a couple of cabinet ministers, you might lose a third, is that - a couple of cabinet ministers, you might lose a third, is that we - a couple of cabinet ministers, you might lose a third, is that we arei might lose a third, is that we are still important _ might lose a third, is that we are still important to _ might lose a third, is that we are still important to you, _ might lose a third, is that we are still important to you, as - might lose a third, is that we are still important to you, as that. still important to you, as that would — still important to you, as that would still— still important to you, as that would still integral— still important to you, as that would still integral to - still important to you, as that would still integral to your. would still integral to your government— would still integral to your government and _ would still integral to your government and we - would still integral to your government and we had i would still integral to your - government and we had some very brilliant _ government and we had some very brilliant reports _ government and we had some very brilliant reports last _ government and we had some very brilliant reports last night- government and we had some very brilliant reports last night into - brilliant reports last night into britain's — brilliant reports last night into britain's defence _ brilliant reports last night into britain's defence and - brilliant reports last night into britain's defence and we - brilliant reports last night into britain's defence and we have| brilliant reports last night into - britain's defence and we have seen the effects— britain's defence and we have seen the effects of— britain's defence and we have seen the effects of russia _ britain's defence and we have seen the effects of russia coming - britain's defence and we have seen the effects of russia coming from i the effects of russia coming from some _ the effects of russia coming from some of— the effects of russia coming from some of the — the effects of russia coming from some of the front _ the effects of russia coming from some of the front pages. - the effects of russia coming from some of the front pages. if- the effects of russia coming from some of the front pages. if the i some of the front pages. if the integrated _ some of the front pages. if the integrated review— some of the front pages. if the integrated review calls - some of the front pages. if the integrated review calls for - some of the front pages. if the l integrated review calls for more defence — integrated review calls for more defence spending _ integrated review calls for more defence spending for— integrated review calls for more defence spending for our- integrated review calls for more j defence spending for our armed forces, — defence spending for our armed forces, which— defence spending for our armed forces, which you _ defence spending for our armed forces, which you like _ defence spending for our armed forces, which you like to - defence spending for our armed. forces, which you like to promise today— forces, which you like to promise today to — forces, which you like to promise today to give _ forces, which you like to promise today to give it _ forces, which you like to promise today to give it to _ forces, which you like to promise today to give it to them? - forces, which you like to promise today to give it to them?- forces, which you like to promise today to give it to them? thank you. when it comes _ today to give it to them? thank you. when it comes to _ today to give it to them? thank you. when it comes to the _ today to give it to them? thank you. when it comes to the armed - today to give it to them? thank you. when it comes to the armed forcesl when it comes to the armed forces and defence, it's something we should be really proud of, what our country has done to support ukraine

and stand up to russian aggression. and that is something we have let the world then and we will continue to do so. one of the announcements i madejust a couple to do so. one of the announcements i made just a couple of weeks ago was that we as a country will provide heavy tanks to ukraine and you may have seen that, they are called to challenger tanks. have seen that, they are called to challengertanks. over have seen that, they are called to challenger tanks. over the first major country to say that. what that has led to with the conversations i've had with partners around the world us other countries like germany and america and others saying they will do the same thing. again, we have let everyone and that is important because it will provide the support that ukraine needs to hopefully make more progress against russia over the early part of this year and it's a really key ask for president zelensky to all of us to give that support to him so i'm really pleased we've been able to do that. also i think that is part of keeping you safe, fundamentally. this is happening in one sense far

away but our security is indivisible, russian aggression impacts us as we saw on our own country that many years ago. standing up to aggression everywhere is good for all of our security and thatis is good for all of our security and that is why what we're doing is ultimately in all our interest and we will continue to do that and i am confident we can make progress this year. when i was chancellor be increased armed forces monday by a record amount. because we recognise the world has changed and was becoming less safe and that needed extra resourcing so that has gone in and we need to make sure that those on all the right things but that is what we are doing. friday saw yet another tragic death of a teenager due to knife crime in the north—east, and we have seen the impact _ the north—east, and we have seen the impact that— the north—east, and we have seen the impact that has had on the health services _ impact that has had on the health services in — impact that has had on the health services in the north—east. what message — services in the north—east. what message do you have to be grieving

families— message do you have to be grieving families who are asking for answers and want _ families who are asking for answers and want more protection? 0r families who are asking for answers and want more protection? or my heart _ and want more protection? or my heart goes — and want more protection? or my heart goes out to them, it is tragic~ — heart goes out to them, it is tragic~ i_ heart goes out to them, it is tragic. i have two young kids and i can't _ tragic. i have two young kids and i can't imagine one of my kids, or any young _ can't imagine one of my kids, or any young person — can't imagine one of my kids, or any young person losing their life in that way — young person losing their life in that way. it is awful. what can we do to _ that way. it is awful. what can we do to stop — that way. it is awful. what can we do to stop that happening in the future? — do to stop that happening in the future? it — do to stop that happening in the future? it is a combination of things. — future? it is a combination of things. it _ future? it is a combination of things, it is about putting more police _ things, it is about putting more police officers on the street and that is— police officers on the street and that is a — police officers on the street and that is a bit mental putting 20,000 more _ that is a bit mental putting 20,000 more police officers of the country. i more police officers of the country. i haven't _ more police officers of the country. i haven't got the numbers for cleveland police but there will be more _ cleveland police but there will be more police officers on the streets in the _ more police officers on the streets in the north—east as a result of that— in the north—east as a result of that investment. we are already three _ that investment. we are already three quarters of the way through so that will— three quarters of the way through so that will help. it is also about giving — that will help. it is also about giving the police the powers they need. _ giving the police the powers they need. so — giving the police the powers they need, so when it comes to knife crimei _ need, so when it comes to knife crime, stop— need, so when it comes to knife crime, stop and search is an important _ crime, stop and search is an important tool that the police have in order— important tool that the police have in order to — important tool that the police have in order to prevent knife crime from happening — in order to prevent knife crime from happening. we as a government change the rules— happening. we as a government change the rules around that to make it easier— the rules around that to make it easier for— the rules around that to make it easier for the police do you stop and search _ easier for the police do you stop and search. that will make a difference going forward. you'll make _ difference going forward. you'll make the — difference going forward. you'll make the last thing that is really

important to me, i have two young girls. _ important to me, i have two young girls. and — important to me, i have two young girls. and in— important to me, i have two young girls, and in particularwe need important to me, i have two young girls, and in particular we need to do a _ girls, and in particular we need to do a better— girls, and in particular we need to do a betterjob of tackling violence against _ do a betterjob of tackling violence against women and girls. for do a betterjob of tackling violence against women and girls.— do a betterjob of tackling violence against women and girls. for far too lona to against women and girls. for far too long to many _ against women and girls. for far too long to many women _ against women and girls. for far too long to many women and _ against women and girls. for far too long to many women and girls - against women and girls. for far too long to many women and girls have | long to many women and girls have not felt safe as they need to be and deserve to be. we have got to do a betterjob of deserve to be. we have got to do a better job of that. deserve to be. we have got to do a betterjob of that. that is stop and search will help, i'm just improving things like street lighting, cctv, making it feel safer when you walk around. that is really important. we have changed the way we approach rach and sexual violence and domestic abuse. all the things we didn't tackle properly in the past. we are in the process of improving and that is important. you should absolutely hold me to account for that. i want all of you to be able to walk around and feel safe. when things go right and justice happens, it happens quickly. we are making progress and things are moving in the right direction, but the tragedy you talked about shows us we have

got work to do and we will keep at it. thank you for your time, it has been a great pleasure. that it. thank you for your time, it has been a great pleasure.— it. thank you for your time, it has been a great pleasure. that was the prime minister _ been a great pleasure. that was the prime minister rishi _ been a great pleasure. that was the prime minister rishi sunak, - prime minister rishi sunak, addressing some members of the nhs in county durham. this is a 0&a in county durham. this is a q&a session he hasjust been holding as part of a visit to county durham. just give you a flavour of what he has been saying, the nhs has never had this long term workforce plan, and it needs to. this is part of an announcement he has been making. it needs a work for pacts plan that will include making health worker's job is fulfilling. he went on to say that we need to have a long—term approach, and part of that is working backwards to what we are doing in training schools, notjust about numbers, it is about who is

doing what, and i'm doing it as effectively as possible and doing it in a way that is fulfilling them. that is just a flavour of what the prime minister, rishi sunak, had to say as part of his trip to county durham. he was also questioned on the latest developments regarding nadhim zahawi, who was effectively sacked over the weekend. let's get more on this, to hear what he had to say. our chief correspondent, nick eardleyjohns me now. take us through how we handle those questions. the take us through how we handle those cuestions. . ., questions. the crux of the answer was that he _ questions. the crux of the answer was that he acted _ questions. the crux of the answer was that he acted when _ questions. the crux of the answer was that he acted when he - questions. the crux of the answer was that he acted when he got - questions. the crux of the answer| was that he acted when he got the report back yesterday from his ethics adviser. and more broadly about some of the issues which have been asked about the government and some of the accusations against various ministers, like the deputy

prime minister, dominic rob, and the former minister, gavin williamson, the home secretary, suella braverman. the answer was that you can't hold me responsible for what came before, i am just trying to deal with what comes up while i am prime minister. this is what the prime minister. this is what the prime minister. this is what the prime minister said when he was asked about the sacking of nadhim zahawi. ~ . ., asked about the sacking of nadhim zahawi. ~ . . ., , ., ., . zahawi. what i have done is follow a rocess, zahawi. what i have done is follow a process. which _ zahawi. what i have done is follow a process, which is _ zahawi. what i have done is follow a process, which is the _ zahawi. what i have done is follow a process, which is the right _ zahawi. what i have done is follow a process, which is the right process. | process, which is the right process. integrity— process, which is the right process. integrity is — process, which is the right process. integrity is important. you want to see that _ integrity is important. you want to see that government is run properly and with— see that government is run properly and with integrity and that there is accountability when people don't behave _ accountability when people don't behave in— accountability when people don't behave in the way they should or something doesn't go right. and that is what _ something doesn't go right. and that is what we _ something doesn't go right. and that is what we have done. we have an independent adviser, that is what the government has. it is not me who is doing _ the government has. it is not me who is doing it. _ the government has. it is not me who is doing it, and when these all these — is doing it, and when these all these questions started coming to li-ht these questions started coming to light i_ these questions started coming to light i asked the independent adviser— light i asked the independent adviser to get to the bottom of it and to— adviser to get to the bottom of it and to provide me with the facts. 0n the basis _ and to provide me with the facts. 0n the basis of— and to provide me with the facts. 0n the basis of the facts, which he did relatively— the basis of the facts, which he did relatively quickly, i was able to make _ relatively quickly, i was able to make a — relatively quickly, i was able to make a very quick decision that it was no _ make a very quick decision that it was no longer appropriate for nadhim

zahawi _ was no longer appropriate for nadhim zahawi to _ was no longer appropriate for nadhim zahawi to continue in government and that is— zahawi to continue in government and that is why— zahawi to continue in government and that is why he is no longer there. that— that is why he is no longer there. that is— that is why he is no longer there. that is what— that is why he is no longer there. that is what i have done, it relates to things _ that is what i have done, it relates to things that happened well before i was prime minister so i can't change — i was prime minister so i can't change the past. you can hold me accountable for is what i did about it as soon — accountable for is what i did about it as soon as i knew about the situation _ it as soon as i knew about the situation and i appointed somebody independent, got the advice, and acted _ independent, got the advice, and acted pretty decisively to move on, because _ acted pretty decisively to move on, because i_ acted pretty decisively to move on, because i think that is what all of you deserve from me and from government. it you deserve from me and from government-— you deserve from me and from government. you deserve from me and from covernment. , ., ., government. it is worth pointing out that, although _ government. it is worth pointing out that, although rishi _ government. it is worth pointing out that, although rishi sunak- government. it is worth pointing out that, although rishi sunak said - government. it is worth pointing out that, although rishi sunak said this | that, although rishi sunak said this happened before he was prime minister, some of the questions that had been asked had been about his decision to appoint various ministers to his cabinet, and with nadhim zahawi, the question that was being asked was, did mr sue quick enough. could he have acted last week when it emerged that mr zahawi had plucked a penalty as part of his tax dispute with hmrc. i am not really sure we got much further with rishi sunak�*s explanation. you heard his rationale. he said that when he

got the report back he took swift action and acted properly and went through a process. and when he got that report back nadhim zahawi was gone. opposition parties are asking a bit more about when rishi sunak found out about nadhim zahawi's tax affairs, whether swifter action could have been taken, and i think there is still some pressure on nadhim zahawi in terms of his future in parliament. the liberal democrats are questioning whether he can remain an mp. as things stand, he intends to do that. he seems to be quite frustrated from the accounts we have heard from allies about how this process has played out. the prime minister's argument is that he waited for the advice from the independent adviser, and when he got it he acted quickly. like matt thank you for that. the kremlin has dismissed as a "lie" accusations from boris johnson that russian president vladimir putin

personally threatened him with a missile attack in the run—up to russia's invasion of ukraine. mrjohnson said that, during a telephone call, the russian president told him that it would "only take a minute" to hurt him with a missile. he made the revelation in a new bbc documentary series about mr putin's leadership. here's our diplomatic correspondent james landale. kyiv, last february — a city on the brink of war. borisjohnson arrives in a show of support for a president, who is yet to replace his suit and tie with army fatigues. alongside other countries, we are also preparing a package of sanctions and other measures. the prime minister publicly urges russia not to invade, prompting an astonishing reaction from president putin. i get back from kyiv and, the following day, i've got putin on the blower again.

and this is a very long call and a most extraordinary call. he was being very, very familiar. mrjohnson told him invading ukraine would mean more nato forces on his border. he said, "boris, you say that ukraine is not going tojoin nato any time soon." he said it in english — "any time soon." "what is any time soon?" and i said, "well, it's not going to join nato for the foreseeable future." and then this. you know, he threatened me at one point and said, you know, "boris, i don't want to hurt you, but with a missile, it would only take a minute" — or something like that, you know. you know, jolly. but i think from the very relaxed tone that he was taking — the sort of air of detachment that he seemed to have, he was just playing along with my attempts to get him to negotiate.

the following week, the defence secretary flew to moscow to meet russian military chiefs, where, he says, they lied to him about their plans for ukraine. i remember saying to minister shoigu that they will fight. and he said, "my mother's ukrainian — you know, they won't." he also said he had no intention of invading. i think that would be "vranyo" in the russian language. vranyo, i think is a sort of demonstration of bullying or strength, which is "i'm going to lie to you. you know, i'm lying. i know you know i'm lying and i'm still going to lie to you." it was the fairly chilling but direct lie of what they were not going to do that, i think, to me, confirmed they were going to do it. and he was right. within days, the invasion began, as russia unleashed a barrage of missiles on targets across ukraine and its tanks and troops stormed across the border. james landale, bbc news.

ukraine's presidency has called the international olympic committee a "promoter of war". it comes after president zelensky said that allowing russia to compete at the 2024 olympics in paris would amount to showing that "terror is somehow acceptable". our ukraine correspondent james waterhouse told us more. it is really mincing his words, and president zelensky, in his overnight address, said he has written to his present micron, urging him to ban russia and russian athletes. the international olympic committee has said it will allow those competitors to compete neutrally, in that they won't be able to, they won't be allowed to represent their country, but for president zelensky and his

administration, that does not go far enough. he accuses the ruc of turning a blind eye to what is happening on ukraine's vast battlefield. there was shelling of her son, there was continued intense fighting in the east. he is saying that it fighting in the east. he is saying thatitis fighting in the east. he is saying that it is basically giving russia a platform to justify its actions inside his country. even drew parallels to the berlin games of 1936, which were staged under the nazi rule of germany. there is no real mincing of words coming out of ukraine. what the international olympic committee is saying is that people shouldn't be punished just because of the passports they hold. they should be allowed to compete. so it really is an emotive sticking point for ukraine, because they see it as a complete discrepancy between the aims of the olympic games and the aims of the olympic games and the loss of life that the crane is

experiencing on a daly basis. schools across england and wales are set to face closures and disruption in the first of a series of strikes by teachers over pay on wednesday. of those who votes, more than nine in ten members of the largest teaching union, the national education union, called for the action. teachers are also expected to walk out for further dates in february and march. for most working parents, that will mean taking a day off, working from home or seeking alternative childcare. fiona lamdin has been talking to families about their plans. we want 10%! these are becoming all too familiar scenes in scotland, where they're already in the middle of a 16—day wave of rolling teacher strikes. and, on wednesday, it's expected over 100,000 teachers in england and wales will strike in a pay dispute. at this bristol parkrun, families

are still working out the logistics. wednesday, currently, is unsure, but one of us will need to take half a day's pay to look after this one. our eldest daughter is allowed to go into school, but adeline needs to stay at home with us. how will you feel about being at home for the day? i'm really happy because if there's no school, you canjust lie in bed. i'm a teacher and i've got two children in primary school, i who we don't yet know whether their teachers j are going to be striking. but i am going to be striking. so we think that maybe his teacher is staying in school— and his teacher isn't. so i think i'll be marching i with the younger one here. it's good that it's open, so we can do more learning, but it would also be nice to have a day off, as well. you might be marching with your mum. what will that be like? boring. would you rather be at school?

probably. i have to go to work. i'm a gp. but my husband can work from home, so fortunately, he'll be working to look after the children. it'll probably be a bit more fun at school because my dad's working. the decision to close or not will be made by each school. this head has decided it's only safe to open for vulnerable pupils or those with an education, health and care plan. so for headteachers up and down the country, it's a challenge as to whether we open the doors of the school to students or whether we have to close down certain year groups or, indeed, the whole school. as heads, we don't know which members of staff will be striking and indeed which ones will come to school and which ones won't. and, obviously, logistically, that's extremely challenging. the department for education says these strikes are highly damaging to children's education and is urging schools to try and stay open for key year

groups facing exams. is—year—old nancy is taking her gcses in four months, but, despite this, she'll have no lessons on wednesday. obviously, i'm in year 11 now, so it is quite a big problem because lessons from now until summer actually count and they go towards our final grade, some of them. so it's quite important that we're in school. and we've missed a lot of school due to covid already. we have to weigh up the short term disruption of these strikes with what's going to be the longer—term disruption being caused by funding cuts and the recruitment and retention crisis. for many pupils and their families, it will be a four—day week with more disruption coming later. fiona lamdin, bbc news. let's talk more about this with employment solicitor at birkett long solicitors, rianna billington. thank you forjoining us on bbc news. we heard there from head

teachers, teachers and parents. thinking about the parents, what do they have in terms of options when having to take time off?— they have in terms of options when having to take time off? there is no leual riaht having to take time off? there is no legal right for _ having to take time off? there is no legal right for parents _ having to take time off? there is no legal right for parents to _ having to take time off? there is no legal right for parents to have - having to take time off? there is no legal right for parents to have a - legal right for parents to have a day off, if their children's school is striking. it will be a discussion for parents to have with their employers about what circumstances can be put into place if they can't arrange childcare, if their children's school is striking. some options for parents to consider are taking holiday, parents would need to make the request as normal and if an employer is willing to accept them to take a day off, that would be a paid day off. if holiday is not an option, or if, for example, the employer doesn't have holiday left,

they could ask to take an unpaid day with their employer. that would be “p with their employer. that would be up to the employer to accept, and it might be that the employer says you could take the day off unpaid, but then you would be required to make then you would be required to make the time up. if that is not an option, another option is asking whether the employer didn't like the employee could work from home. it might be that there is already a flexible working policy in place, and the employee would ask to move there working from a strike day. another alternative, there working from a strike day. anotheralternative, if there working from a strike day. another alternative, if none of thoseis another alternative, if none of those is viable, as a statutory right, which is time off for dependents right, which is time off for dependent�*s leave. this lever is generally unpaid unless an employer has a polity live policy of paying for the leaf. there is a grey area around this leave as to whether it would cover planned strike action. this leave is designed to cover emergency situations. however if a

parent has arranged childcare for a strike day, but that full 53, that will likely fall within the remit of the leaf, and as soon as a parent is aware they will need to take that leave, they should make arrangements with their employer. you leave, they should make arrangements with their employer.— with their employer. you have listed a number of options. _ with their employer. you have listed a number of options. have - with their employer. you have listed a number of options. have you - with their employer. you have listed | a number of options. have you come across any cases where parents have been penalised because of strike action, and having to work from home or make childcare arrangements? or our employees generally quite flexible about this?— flexible about this? generally employers — flexible about this? generally employers are _ flexible about this? generally employers are being - flexible about this? generally employers are being quite - flexible about this? generally - employers are being quite flexible, and i think, from an employee relations perspective, employers are recognising that it is important to allow their employers flexibility. because this is a stressful situation for them, and i would imagine that if employees are making that request, employers will be accommodating because of the current

market conditions. also a word of advice for employers, if they are going to be penalising their employees for requesting time off, particularly time off for dependent leave, or if they are disciplining employees for taking that time off, or indeed dismissing them, they could face an employment tribunal claim, so it would be wise to consider those requests carefully. thank you for that. jd sports says some 10 million customers may have been affected by a cyber attack on its systems. the incident relates to online orders placed between november 2018 and october 2020 at the group's brands, including millets, blacks and scotts, as well asjd sports itself. information that may have been accessed includes names, billing and email addresses, phone numbers and the final four digits from payment cards.

let's speak to our business correspondent emma simpson. alarms were two alarm bells will be ringing, take is what has happened here. jd ringing, take is what has happened here. , ,, . here. jd sports but at the announcement _ here. jd sports but at the announcement this - here. jd sports but at the i announcement this morning here. jd sports but at the - announcement this morning that, here. jd sports but at the _ announcement this morning that, as you say, some 10 million customers may have been affected by a cyber attack on its business. we understand that it became aware of malicious activity in the last few days. somehow unauthorised access to part of its systems which relate to online orders placed between november 2018 and october 2020. not at all of the groups' brands, but it includes the big ones, jd sports, millets,... the they may have accessed a lot of personal

information, billing and e—mail addresses, phone numbers, and the finalfour addresses, phone numbers, and the final four digits addresses, phone numbers, and the finalfour digits from addresses, phone numbers, and the final four digits from payment cards. not the whole payment card details themselves, and jd sports are saying there is no reason to think that password accounts had been accessed. they have now apologised to customers and are advising them to watch out for potential e—mail scams, calls and texts. it is also investigating the incident and engaging with all the relevant authorities, including the information commissioners office. they say only limited information was held on the database, but this is key information, isn't it? to give any advice to their customers as to what to do? it is give any advice to their customers as to what to do?— as to what to do? it is a lot of personal. _ as to what to do? it is a lot of personal, sensitive _ as to what to do? it is a lot of i personal, sensitive information. crucially they say that not the full payment card details. they are saying that it is a priority to get in touch with customers and just to put them on the alert to be vigilant, to look out for any

potential scam e—mails or calls or texts and so on, as it also tries to get to the bottom of what has happened. get to the bottom of what has happened-— get to the bottom of what has hauened. ., ~' , . happened. thank you very much. you're watching _ happened. thank you very much. you're watching bbc— happened. thank you very much. you're watching bbc news. - more than 30 people have been killed in an explosion at a mosque in the pakistani city of peshawar. the blast happened when the mosque was packed with worshippers and more than 150 people were injured. a section of the building was destroyed and officials say people are buried under the rubble. several others are being taken to local hospitals. the cause of the explosion is unclear. our pakistan correspondent caroline davies sent this update a short while ago. what we know about this blast so far is that it happened inside a mosque inside a police compound in the city of peshawar. according to a police official

that spoken to the bbc, that spoke to the bbc, the blast and the force of the blast collapsed half of a wall inside the mosque. a video that's been circulated on local media and social media and has been verified by the bbc shows the inside of the mosque after the blast. half of the wall has caved into the mosque. there is rubble and debris on the floor and you can see people clambering over that in order to try to get out. now, lady reading hospital in peshawar has declared an emergency. they are calling for blood donations to try to help. they have told the bbc that they are still receiving the injured and they have also received people who have died, as well. a government minister speaking earlier has said that they know that the majority of people that have been injured and died in this blast are police and he has suggested that they were potentially the target of this explosion. a ballot for strikes by firefighters and control room staff closes later.

if members of the fire brigades union vote for action, the uk will see its first nationwide fire service strike over pay since 2003. members rejected a 5% pay offer last november. a woman from manchester's told the bbc how she was the victim of modern slavery — but after contacting the police several times between 2009 and 2015, they did nothing to help. she is using the anonymous name tina to share her stoy. she says her husband beat her up and forced her into prostitution, the abuse going on for eight years. we are now going to play a voice clip from tina, who is using a false name, which contains distressing content. for yea rs for years i had to do was i was told or i would get beaten. it was days,

weeks, is months, years that it went on for. i reported it to greater manchester police and they didn't do anything. i was suicidal when i went to them but they still didn't do anything. to them but they still didn't do an hint. . ., . to them but they still didn't do an hint. . . ,, ., anything. that was tina speaking to her there, anything. that was tina speaking to her there. not _ anything. that was tina speaking to her there, not her _ anything. that was tina speaking to her there, not her true _ anything. that was tina speaking to her there, not her true name. - that was tina speaking to her there, not her true name. let's talk now with paul mcanulty, programme director at hope forjustice. the uk—based charity helps victims and survivors of human trafficking and modern—day slavery and is headquartered in manchester. thank you forjoining us this morning full. what do you make of tina's case? is it an anomaly or is this something that is going on quite frequently in the public aren't aware of it? the prevalence of slavery globally _ aren't aware of it? the prevalence of slavery globally and _ aren't aware of it? the prevalence of slavery globally and the - aren't aware of it? the prevalence of slavery globally and the uk - aren't aware of it? the prevalence of slavery globally and the uk is i of slavery globally and the uk is more significant than people realise. sadly tina's experience of trying to gain support and access

support and not receiving a satisfactory response is all too common. the response in the uk remains patchy. a lot of survivors talk of being coerced into maintaining a distrust of authority and it is always sad when that distrust is amplified by a poor response. distrust is amplified by a poor response-— distrust is amplified by a poor resonse. ~ , , . , , response. why is there a distrust? why aren't — response. why is there a distrust? why aren't victims _ response. why is there a distrust? why aren't victims believed? - response. why is there a distrust? why aren't victims believed? that| response. why is there a distrust? i why aren't victims believed? that is what we have _ why aren't victims believed? that is what we have to _ why aren't victims believed? that is what we have to understand, - why aren't victims believed? that is what we have to understand, it - why aren't victims believed? that is what we have to understand, it is i what we have to understand, it is our only duty as first responders. with any form of coercive console control we have to appreciate the fact that they have been overcoming significant barriers to make that report in the first place. in the first instance we should make sure they feel believe and any allegation should be investigated fully. in the uk currently we are living in an

increasingly aggressive immigration climate where modern slavery is being used by the government and survivors are being vilified as being untruthful in the rhetoric around that is that they are using the story of being survivor of slavery in order to avoid prosecution or deportation for the offences they may have been forced to commit. sadly currently the environment in the uk is an aggressive one towards survivors of slavery. aggressive one towards survivors of slave . . , ., , aggressive one towards survivors of slave . . , ,, ., aggressive one towards survivors of slave . ., , ~' ., ., slavery. can you let us know how much training — slavery. can you let us know how much training police _ slavery. can you let us know how much training police officers - slavery. can you let us know how| much training police officers have in the modern day slavery, in terms of the questions to ask, how to engage a victim and how to draw that story, and how to protect them? sadly law enforcement is stretched, as we all are, having to do more with less, so we know that resources and capacity is a limiting factor. they receive training but it is patchy, some have received incredible training, other police

forces... it is down to individual forces... it is down to individual forces acts to what training they receive and they have to be experts in multiple areas. there are elements of best practice and some fantastic responses, but we do know that that responses patchy. we ourselves provide training for law enforcement. we try to train them to be more trauma informed, to understand the impact complex trauma can have on a person's ability to recall certain events, but also how they engage with that and how they are likely to provide. first and foremost we need to put the needs of the survivor ahead of the criminal justice outcome and i don't think we have that balance right yet. we

should wear putting more on survivors. in should wear putting more on survivors-— should wear putting more on survivors. . ., , survivors. in terms of prosecutions, how many modern _ survivors. in terms of prosecutions, how many modern slavery - survivors. in terms of prosecutions, how many modern slavery cases - survivors. in terms of prosecutions, j how many modern slavery cases are successfully prosecuted? currently in the uk the conversion rate is poon in the uk the conversion rate is poor. around 11,000 cases, maybe 2% successful conversions. the percentages around one or 2% in uk currently. percentages around one or 296 in uk currentl . , . ., ., . currently. there is a lot of victim blamin: currently. there is a lot of victim blaming narrative _ currently. there is a lot of victim blaming narrative that _ currently. there is a lot of victim blaming narrative that follows i currently. there is a lot of victim i blaming narrative that follows that. we have found it in cases where, if the survivor receives independent advocacy or socio— legal support from a support worker, usually from a charity or ngo, that person's why the holistic needs are being met and they are in a much better place to support prosecution, so by not making it our priority, we achieve greater criminal justice making it our priority, we achieve greater criminaljustice outcomes. there is evidence of best practice but we need to put the needs of

survivors first.— but we need to put the needs of survivors first. one to 296, that is shocking- — survivors first. one to 296, that is shocking. thank _ survivors first. one to 296, that is shocking. thank you _ sport now and a full round—up from the bbc sport centre. good morning. we start with golf, in the last hour rory mcilroy produced a brilliant putt on the final hole to secure victory over his rival patrick reed at the dubai desert classic. no love lost between the two of them. the american is part of the rebel liv golf tour which mcilroy has repeatedly spoken out against. reed call the northern irishman an "immature little child" while in response mcilroy stated he was "not living in reality." it all added to the drama on the final day of the rain—affected event. now mcilroy began the day with a three—short advantage but reed climbed the leaderboard. they were level heading into the 18th and mcilroy needed this to win. he made it, describing the win as "emotional." to football and leeds united

are understood to be closing in on their third signing of the january transfer window withjuventus midfielder weston mckennie due to arrive at the club today. it is anticipated mckennie will sign a loan deal but that could turn into a permanent transfer. the usa international had attracted interest from elsewhere in the premier league but has opted for the elland road club, where fellow countrymen tyler adams and brenden aaronson already play. brighton have rejected a second bid from arsenal for midfielder moises caicedo and told the gunners he is not for sale. the ecuador international has told brighton he wants to leave the club and in turn caicedo has been instructed to remain away from training until the transfer window closes on tuesday night. arsenal as well as chelsea had offers for caicedo turned down last week. the latest offer from mikael aretea's side is thought to be in the region of £70 million, but brightont remain adamant wrexham are flying high in the national league, and into the fa cup fifth round draw after a dramatic match

at the racecourse ground finished 3—3 against championship side sheffield united. hollywood actor and club co—owner ryan reynolds talking up their prospects of one—day reaching the top flight. and ten years' time, the plan is now and has always been premier league. i can't really put a day on that but if it is theoretically possible to go from that pit division to the premier league, why wouldn't we? no one has ever done anything great in this world thinking, you know what, let's go halfway? we believe we can do that. we believe we can expand this incredible stadium, the oldest international stadium on earth. it could support international matches, premier league team, and that is the goal. there's not quite as much optimism around liverpool right now. "nowhere near good enough" was the assessment from defender andy robertson after they went out

of the fa cup. it was kaoru mitoma who got the winning goal in stoppage time for brighton that sent the holders liverpool out at the fourth round stage. it was this time last year they were chasing an unprecendented quadruple of trophies. they do remain in the champions league, but are ninth in the premier league and their best chance of a trophy this season has potentially gone. former all black player campbelljohnstone has publicly come out as gay on new zealand television, in what is a first for the national rugby team. the 43—year—old prop, who played three test in 2005, had already told his family and close friends before coming out on the tvnz network's one news channel. it's been hailed as a momentous moment for new zealand's rainbow community. he says "living a double life was hard" and he hopes speaking out will help change perceptions." within myself i was never really comfortable with the whole concept.

my comfortable with the whole concept. my dream was to be an all—black. what did you have in your mind about what an all—black was? what did you have in your mind about what an all-black was?— what an all-black was? manly, stron: , what an all-black was? manly, strong, possibly _ what an all-black was? manly, strong, possibly had _ what an all-black was? manly, strong, possibly had a - what an all-black was? manly, strong, possibly had a wife, i what an all-black was? manly, i strong, possibly had a wife, kids. what an all-black was? manly, - strong, possibly had a wife, kids. i pushed that side of me down deeper and deeper and it slowly starts to affect you. it's hard living a double life or living a lie. that's all the sport for now. the parents of a young woman in the uk who died after taking a highly toxic chemical compound sold illegally in diet pills are to meet government ministers ahead of it being reclassified as a poison. campaigners say that tablets containing dnp have been responsible for the deaths of at least 32 vulnerable adults. rhaya barton reports.

bethany shipsey was just 21 when she ingested the dnp that would kill her. she had been raped and had a history of overdose. but no—one in the hospital in february 2017 was prepared for the effects of dnp. there's no antidote, and her father has campaigned for greater awareness ever since. the body heats up to an extent where they're like... literally like an athlete running an olympics, where eventually, unfortunately, they go into cardiac arrest. their body can't withstand it anymore. so that's no reason to thank the ministerfor what should have already been prevented happening in the first place. bought over the internet as a slimming aid, there were no controls other than the food standards agency treating it as not fit for human consumption. mr shipsey�*s campaign took him to confront the man

who sold her the dnp from ukraine. who is this? you sold her the dnp that killed her. i watched her die in hospital in four hours. i'm really sorry if i could do anything. if i could, at that moment, if i knew. firing. but as well as a poison, dnp is also an explosive — a highly dangerous substance that should have been on the statute book. the government will now class it as a poison. look at the green eyes. absolutely amazing. totally natural. but for mr shipsey, after 32 deaths, it's not enough. what we'd actually like to see now, immediately, is a ban on dnp. we're aware that other countries, for example, australia and russia, have applied bans for any uses — based on the number of deaths in the uk, which is quite ironic. unfortunately, the uk has

the highest number of deaths. bethany�*s legacy means that from next year only a pharmacist can sell dnp and only to someone with an explosives licence in the hope that no more young people will lose their lives. rhaya barton, bbc news. let's speak now to edward emond, deputy director of services for the charity beat eating disorders. thank you forjoining us this morning atwood. you deal with this very closely with this issue. how bigger problem is it? iterate very closely with this issue. how bigger problem is it?— very closely with this issue. how bigger problem is it? we know there are a lot of people _ bigger problem is it? we know there are a lot of people across _ bigger problem is it? we know there are a lot of people across the - bigger problem is it? we know there are a lot of people across the uk - are a lot of people across the uk that struggle with eating disorders at any one time, one or 2 million people. we know that it's a challenge that people face in terms of there being a lot of pressure from society, a lot of pressure to have the body ideals we see as

perfection. a lot of people are struggling to cope with her feelings attached to their eating disorder so can be very desperate in terms of the lengths they go to to reach those ideals.— the lengths they go to to reach those ideals. ., . _ , ., those ideals. how easy is it to get our those ideals. how easy is it to get your hands _ those ideals. how easy is it to get your hands on _ those ideals. how easy is it to get your hands on these _ those ideals. how easy is it to get your hands on these pills? - those ideals. how easy is it to get your hands on these pills? we - those ideals. how easy is it to get l your hands on these pills? we know with unregulated _ your hands on these pills? we know with unregulated markets _ your hands on these pills? we know with unregulated markets it - your hands on these pills? we know with unregulated markets it is - your hands on these pills? we know with unregulated markets it is very l with unregulated markets it is very difficult to track down exactly where people are sourcing them, but it sadly can be too easy. having access to these via online platforms and adverts on social media that we are saying, it is very easy for people to be pushed down a rabbit hole that is very dangerous. the issue of social _ hole that is very dangerous. the issue of social media is one we are hearing time and time again, not just with eating disorders. if you know that you have an eating disorder or live with someone who

has an eating disorder, you are concerned for someone with an eating disorder, how do you manage social media, what would your advice be? it is a tricky balance because we live in an online world and it is only moving more in that way so it is hard to know the right solutions, but have honest conversations with that person and trying to reach a mutual agreement as to how they can use social media and come up with clear plans on how you can use things like the blocking features that most platforms have to try to remove some of the harmful content that can be push their way, but then also knowing about how much young people can be online, removing phones from bedrooms and so on at night time can be helpful. itruihat phones from bedrooms and so on at night time can be helpful.— night time can be helpful. what can be done officially _ night time can be helpful. what can be done officially or— night time can be helpful. what can be done officially or what _ night time can be helpful. what can

be done officially or what would - night time can be helpful. what can j be done officially or what would you like to see to happen in order to protect people in this position? the ste -s protect people in this position? tie: steps being taken protect people in this position? ti9 steps being taken in protect people in this position? ti9: steps being taken in banning protect people in this position? ti9 steps being taken in banning these substances is a good first step. what we want to see is looking at the wider system and how we can make sure that people don't reach these depths. not reaching the point where they are taking very dangerous steps to do something to reduce their weight. having early support available, to seek treatment for disordered eating before it reaches that point where it is vital. and also saying the training for the doctors and pharmacists, as well. there are a lot of substances that are being used that are used regularly in medicine that are being abused as well, so moving to help pharmacists in particular spot the signs of somebody who might be misusing using over—the—counter

medication for example is also really important, because there are harmful mixed—use effect as well. edward, how do you break the cycle? how long does it take to help someone recover from an eating disorder? :, , .. someone recover from an eating disorder? :, , , disorder? the “ourney can be quite secific disorder? the “ourney can be quite s - ecific to disorder? the 'ourney can be quite specific to the— disorder? the journey can be quite specific to the individual, - disorder? the journey can be quite specific to the individual, so - disorder? the journey can be quite specific to the individual, so with l specific to the individual, so with effective and timely treatment people can recover quite quickly, but it can also be for some people are process and the journey of maintaining that recovery. our advice is always to not delay seeking system —— seeking support. there is help out there. while there is pressure on the nhs people can get to the —— can get the support they need. our helpline is open every day of the year to help people and guide them through recovery. when we talk slimming pills and

going to the pharmacist and looking out for the signs, it is notjust the slimming pill, is it, there are things like laxatives that people can use and they can also be dangerous?— can use and they can also be danerous? ., ., , ., dangerous? laxatives are something that can be used _ dangerous? laxatives are something that can be used at _ dangerous? laxatives are something that can be used at the _ dangerous? laxatives are something that can be used at the important. that can be used at the important thing to know about laxatives is that it doesn't have a difference in terms of people's weights and overuse of those can have lethal consequences, as well. if you want to get more information on the subject or know someone who has the thing disorder, head to the bbc action line and there will be lots of information on there, and also organisations who are working with eating disorder solutions. the address to go to is ppc doc or .uk

forwards action line. it was billed as "the coolest club you never want to be a part of" and "a candid guide to all the highs and lows of cancer". now after five years of laughter, tears and honesty, the podcast you, me and the big c will soon be taking a break. they are broadcasting a special one—off episode, filmed in front of a live audience. tim muffett was there. we are three friends, we are also bloggers, we all have one thing in common — we all have or we have had cancer. rachael bland, lauren mahon and dame deborahjames. the original presenters of you, me and the big c. launched in 2018, it was funny... i'm not going to look at you. i'm going to... a crying poo is not what we need right now. laughter. it was heartbreaking. all the way home, i was just saying to freddie, i'm so sorry, i'm so sorry.

0h. don't, because you're going to make me... i sorry. it's the first thing that made me cry and the whole 12 episodes. now a very special episode. see you, m and the big c, we are going live to a studio audience. and we are very excited. cheering. dame deborahjames died last year. rachael bland died in 2018. her husband, steve, then became one of the presenters. hello, everyone. hello, everyone, good evening. welcome to you, me and the big c live! it feels like kind of the essence of the podcast. it was never reallyjust meant to be in a studio talking to a microphone. it's bringing people here who, i imagine most of them are quite experienced, or have something to do with cancer. and, you know, sharing the podcast with them. i'm the fifth person in my family to develop breast cancer. why did you want to share it publicly? i thought i could wait until the surgery is over and i hopefully make it

through and i'm feeling stronger and feeling ok to talk about it, but that could be months. i've listened from virtually- the first episode and they have totally altered the perception of cancer _ i do encourage everyone to get a colonoscopy if you have been scheduled for one. don't be scared of them because they are quite funny, at the same time. you talk about shining light in the dark. i really felt an affinity, - particularly with rachael bland, because i had exactly the same type as breast cancer as her. _ and it gave me hope. you need to know where you are so that you can get on and do the things that you need to do. unfortunately c is in our life, everyone's life, at some point. and so, yeah, it resonates massively. he is now officially in remission. cheering. you, me and the big c has made people laugh, it's made people cry, but, most importantly, it has been informative. both the nhs and the institute of cancer research say it's given

a major boost to the number of people checking potential cancer symptoms early. last year, honorary doctorate degrees were awarded to lauren and steve for the impact the podcast has had. a posthumous degree was awarded to dame deborahjames, whose sister sarah and brother ben were at the live show. i think the spontaneity of her is how i remember her. and just her laugh. # when you touch me like this..#. she just had this vision of wanting to give more people more time through doing something good and using her platform to raise as much money, as much engagement, as much awareness and she could, really. it must make you feel immensely proud? yes. tinged with sadness, obviously, deborah not being here any more, but the legacy she's left behind. this is what deborah wanted. lauren and steve are now stepping away from the podcast.

it has been a massive privilege. you have been like our therapy group, our best mates, our support group, our everything. so it's been... oh, it is going to get all teary now, isn't it? it's like a very organic end for us to step back because we've both got... i've not had cancer for five years. steve has moved on with his life, remarried. yeah, hopefully, we have done a good job in changing the way people talk about cancer. by talking, listening and sharing, the impact of this podcast has been profound. with me are the hosts of you me and the big c, lauren mohan and steve bland. morning to you both. lauren, i will

start off with you. what was it like filming that episode? it start off with you. what was it like filming that episode?— filming that episode? it was so secial. filming that episode? it was so special- we — filming that episode? it was so special. we really, _ filming that episode? it was so special. we really, really - filming that episode? it was so | special. we really, really would have loved the girls to have been there. it is something that we talked about before the pandemic kicked off. wanted to get amongst our community because the bond is so any kind of lift experience you can share with others, sorry, this is raymond, by the way! that bond you create, we are the coolest club you never want to be a part of. once you're in, you get it. we spent five years talking into a microphone is hoping to reach the right people. to step onto the stage and play with the people who have been on that journey with us, it has been very special. journey with us, it has been very secial. ,, .. ~ journey with us, it has been very secial. ,, ~ : . . special. steve, rachel mr bean at the forefront _ special. steve, rachel mr bean at the forefront of _ special. steve, rachel mr bean at the forefront of your _ special. steve, rachel mr bean at the forefront of your mind. - special. steve, rachel mr bean at the forefront of your mind. yes, l special. steve, rachel mr bean at| the forefront of your mind. yes, it was a really _ the forefront of your mind. yes, it was a really emotional— the forefront of your mind. yes, it was a really emotional evening, i was a really emotional evening, actually — was a really emotional evening,

actually it _ was a really emotional evening, actually. it was the first we had a chance _ actually. it was the first we had a chance to — actually. it was the first we had a chance to really talk to the people who have — chance to really talk to the people who have supported us so much for five years _ who have supported us so much for five years and rachel and deborah were very — five years and rachel and deborah were very much part of the evening. just an— were very much part of the evening. just an amazing chance for us to say thank— just an amazing chance for us to say thank you _ just an amazing chance for us to say thank you to — just an amazing chance for us to say thank you to the people who have supported us, because we feel like we have _ supported us, because we feel like we have done a good job, but it has been _ we have done a good job, but it has been a _ we have done a good job, but it has been a massive therapy group for us, hundreds— been a massive therapy group for us, hundreds of— been a massive therapy group for us, hundreds of thousands of people are being _ hundreds of thousands of people are being part _ hundreds of thousands of people are being part of this group and it was a good _ being part of this group and it was a good chance for us to say if we have _ a good chance for us to say if we have helped you even a fraction as much _ have helped you even a fraction as much as— have helped you even a fraction as much as you — have helped you even a fraction as much as you have helped us through the difficult moments of the last few years, we have done a decent 'ob. :, few years, we have done a decent 'ob. ., ., , few years, we have done a decent 'ob. :, . , , few years, we have done a decent 'ob. :, ., , i. like few years, we have done a decentj job— like i job. how has it helped you? like i said, it job. how has it helped you? like i said. it has _ job. how has it helped you? like i said, it has literally _ job. how has it helped you? like i said, it has literally been - job. how has it helped you? like i said, it has literally been a - said, it has literally been a therapy— said, it has literally been a therapy group. rachel died 4.5 years a-o, therapy group. rachel died 4.5 years ago, deborah died lastjune. in between — ago, deborah died lastjune. in between we have had very difficult moments — between we have had very difficult moments. people have been friends of ours, moments. people have been friends of ours. friends— moments. people have been friends of ours, friends of the podcast have died as— ours, friends of the podcast have died as well. the support you get

from _ died as well. the support you get from that— died as well. the support you get from that shared experience, the people _ from that shared experience, the people who get involved in the podcast, — people who get involved in the podcast, it has been incredible. genuinely, it has felt like a massive _ genuinely, it has felt like a massive therapy group. people who have supported us for the last five years. _ have supported us for the last five years. it _ have supported us for the last five years, it has been incredible. lauren, — years, it has been incredible. lauren, there are many people who will say, please, please don't stop, don't go away. cancer touches everybody around the world. what would your message be to them? i mean, we are stepping back, but we are by no means going anywhere. both steve and i will be doing loads with cancer advocacy, as we always have done. it is ingrained in us now. i think it is the chance for the podcast to continue but with people who are going through it now. i am a big believer of lighting the way for others and i think we have done a phenomenaljob of showing that cancer can be talked about in a way

thatis cancer can be talked about in a way that is much more palatable and easy and conversational. we would like to get people on board not to take over the mantle and to continue this important conversation that kind of bm it now, someone who is a little bn it now, someone who is a little bit more relevant, i guess. is bn it now, someone who is a little bit more relevant, i guess. is there an hint bit more relevant, i guess. is there anything in — bit more relevant, i guess. is there anything in particular— bit more relevant, i guess. is there anything in particular that - bit more relevant, i guess. is there anything in particular that really i anything in particular that really surprised you in doing this podcast? maybe the age groups to achieve engaged with? was it more men that came on board? what surprised you the most. , , , , ., the most. firstly, it is “ust that an one the most. firstly, it is “ust that anoney would i the most. firstly, it is “ust that anyone would want h the most. firstly, it is “ust that anyone would want to h the most. firstly, it isjust that anyone would want to listen i the most. firstly, it isjust that anyone would want to listen to | the most. firstly, it isjust that- anyone would want to listen to your podcast about cancer, to be honest! it wasn't openly received will be started. it was difficult to get people to be on board with that. we hope that it would support people in terms of those within the community. what has surprised me is the ripple effect and the messages are from

people whose friends or family have cancer and it is given them more insights. patient— doctor relationships have improved because they have an understanding of how people might feel. that has been a wonderful surprise. people might feel. that has been a wonderfulsurprise. i people might feel. that has been a wonderful surprise.— wonderful surprise. i was going to say something _ wonderful surprise. i was going to say something similar. _ wonderful surprise. i was going to say something similar. i _ wonderful surprise. i was going to say something similar. i would i wonderful surprise. i was going to l say something similar. i would only add that— say something similar. i would only add that i_ say something similar. i would only add that i don't think we ever thought— add that i don't think we ever thought of one per second it would have to _ thought of one per second it would have to reach that it is sad. we have _ have to reach that it is sad. we have had — have to reach that it is sad. we have had so _ have to reach that it is sad. we have had so many messages from people _ have had so many messages from people working in cancer, cancer nurses— people working in cancer, cancer nurses and — people working in cancer, cancer nurses and that sort of thing, who have _ nurses and that sort of thing, who have said — nurses and that sort of thing, who have said it— nurses and that sort of thing, who have said it has changed the way they talk— have said it has changed the way they talk to their patients, or the way they— they talk to their patients, or the way they approach theirjob. we had one lady— way they approach theirjob. we had one lady as — way they approach theirjob. we had one lady as well who sent us in a picture _ one lady as well who sent us in a picture of— one lady as well who sent us in a picture of her treatment plan and it was on _ picture of her treatment plan and it was on the — picture of her treatment plan and it was on the treatment plan to listen to you, _ was on the treatment plan to listen to you, me — was on the treatment plan to listen to you, me and the big c, so it was

even _ to you, me and the big c, so it was even prescribed! that kind of thing is a range — even prescribed! that kind of thing is a range of the impact that we never— is a range of the impact that we never thought would be possible. lauren _ never thought would be possible. lauren mahon and steve grant, thank you so much for sharing your story with us this morning on bbc news. thank you. you can listen to that special episode of you, me and the big c and all the previous episodes on bbc sounds. it is also on the bbc news channel at 8:30pm tonight. please do contact the bbc action line if you have any questions. a new report has shown that employers are significantly less open to hiring older workers. only

four out of ten employers said they would be open to hiring people aged between 50 and 64. joining me now is a retired business manager who is going to take us through some of the issues that we reached there —— that we raise there. what did you make of that? i think it is very short—sighted. you have a group of people who have a lot of expertise, a lot of people who have lots of experience and to disregard that work proved to me seems absolutely ridiculous. itruth? disregard that work proved to me seems absolutely ridiculous. why do ou think seems absolutely ridiculous. why do you think they _ seems absolutely ridiculous. why do you think they do — seems absolutely ridiculous. why do you think they do it, _ seems absolutely ridiculous. why do you think they do it, is _ seems absolutely ridiculous. why do you think they do it, is it _ seems absolutely ridiculous. why do you think they do it, is it because i you think they do it, is it because they are cheaper? in you think they do it, is it because they are cheaper?— you think they do it, is it because they are cheaper? in some instances they are cheaper? in some instances they probably _ they are cheaper? in some instances they probably are. _ they are cheaper? in some instances they probably are. that _ they are cheaper? in some instances they probably are. that is _ they are cheaper? in some instances they probably are. that is not - they probably are. that is not always the case, but in some instances they probably are. there is and also an issue perhaps that says a younger person fresh in the

workplace probably doesn't have as many views held by someone of an older age. many views held by someone of an olderage. i many views held by someone of an older age. i think it is probably a raft of issues, really.— older age. i think it is probably a raft of issues, really. what would somebody like — raft of issues, really. what would somebody like gee, _ raft of issues, really. what would somebody like gee, somebody i raft of issues, really. what would i somebody like gee, somebody over raft of issues, really. what would - somebody like gee, somebody over 50, bring to the workplace? in somebody like gee, somebody over 50, bring to the workplace?— bring to the workplace? in this day and ate bring to the workplace? in this day and ace of bring to the workplace? in this day and age of social— bring to the workplace? in this day and age of social media, _ bring to the workplace? in this day and age of social media, with - bring to the workplace? in this day i and age of social media, with people not being afraid to error their views, those views are important because, at the end of the day, if you have... if you reach the age of 50 you have had a pretty good run and you're certainly able, i think, as i used to try to do, is the

mantle people. that is not to say to tell them what to do, but if they need a bit of advice, if they need a bit of help along the way, then you are there for them because the chances are you have been there, seen it and done it in the past. i seen it and done it in the past. i know you are looking to go back to work and i wish you luck with that. unfortunately, we have run out of time here for now. thank you very much indeed and good luck in your —— good luck in yourjob hunting. hello again. we started today on a windy note with quite a lot of showers. but through the day,

what you'll find is the winds will continue to ease and many of the showers will fade, leaving us with a largely dry day with a fair bit of sunshine. but through the day, more cloud developing in some western areas, heralding the arrival of this front, which is coming our way. later, temperatures 4 to 10 degrees. some of those will be wintry on the tops of the hills and mountains, and the wind will strengthen. in fact, by tomorrow morning, we could well be looking at gales across the north and west, and later severe gales. that will blow a lot of showers from the west to the east. still wintry in the tops of the hills. further south, the winds won't be as strong and there'll be more dry conditions with some sunshine.

this is bbc news. the headlines: downing street defends the prime minister's decision to sack conservative party chairman, nadhim zahawi — but labour say rishi sunak must �*come clean' about what he knew and when. at least 30 people have been killed and 150 others injured in a blast in the pakistani city of peshawar a £1 billion plan to improve nhs care in england — including thousands more hospital beds and hundreds of new ambulances — is being set out by ministers. former uk prime minister, borisjohnson tells the bbc how he was threatened by vladimir putin, before the russian

invasion of ukraine. but the kremlin have dismissed mrjohnson's accusations as a "lie". a man has been rescued from a police car he had stolen, seconds before it was hit by an oncoming train in the us state of georgia. prime minister rishi sunak says he "acted pretty decisively" when the former conservative party chairman was found to have broken the ministerial code. speaking to the media in county durham, rishi sunak says he took a "very quick decision" that it was "no longer appropriate" for zahawi to serve in government. the pm has been facing further criticism of his handling

of allegations about zahawi's tax affairs, with labour saying there are still "serious questions" to be answered. are chief political correspondent has more. or the crux of the answer to the nadhim zahawi answer is that he acted when he got the report back yesterday from his ethics adviser. and more broadly about some of the issues which have been asked about the government and some of the accusations against various ministers, like the deputy prime minister and the former minister, gavin williamson, suella braverman. the answer was that, you can't hold me responsible for what happened before me, i am trying to do with what comes up when prime minister. this is what he said when he was asked about the sacking. iorloihozit this is what he said when he was asked about the sacking.- this is what he said when he was asked about the sacking. what i have done is follow — asked about the sacking. what i have done is follow a _ asked about the sacking. what i have done is follow a process, _ asked about the sacking. what i have done is follow a process, which -

asked about the sacking. what i have done is follow a process, which is - done is follow a process, which is the right process. integrity is important, you want to see that government is run properly and with integrity and that there is accountability when people don't behave in the way they should or when something doesn't go right, and thatis when something doesn't go right, and that is what we have done. we have an independent adviser, it is not me who is doing it, and when all these questions started coming to light about nadhim zahawi, i asked the independent adviser to get to the bottom of it and provide me with the facts. on the basis of the facts, which he did relatively quickly last week, i was able to make a quick decision and it was no longer appropriate for nadhim zahawi to continue in government, and that is why he is no longer there. that is what i have done, it relates to things that happened before i was prime minister so i can't change what happened in the past. you can hold me accountable for what i did about it, and as soon as i knew about it, and as soon as i knew about the situation i appointed someone who looked at it and. it is

someone who looked at it and. it is worth pointing _ someone who looked at it and. it is worth pointing out that, although rishi sunak said this happened before he was prime minister, some of the questions that had been asked have been about his decision to appoint various ministers to his cabinet, and with nadhim zahawi, the question that was being asked was, did rishi sunak act quickly enoughwhy could he have acted last week when it emerged that mr zahawi had paid a penalty as part of his tax dispute with hmrc. i am not really sure we got much further with rishi sunak�*s explanation on that. but you have heard his rationale. he is saying that when he got the report back he stuck swift action and acted properly, and went through and acted properly, and went through a process. and that when he got that report back, nadhim zahawi was gone. opposition parties are asking a bit more about when mr sunak found out about the tax affairs, whether swifter action could have been taken, and i think there is still some pressure on nadhim zahawi in terms of his future in parliament.

the liberal democrats are questioning whether he can an mp. as things stand he intends to do that, he seems to be quite frustrated from the accounts we have heard from allies about how this process is played out. the prime minister's argument is that he waited for advice, the advice from the independent adviser, and when he got it, he acted quickly. that was nick eardley. at least 30 people have been killed in an explosion at a mosque in the pakistani city of peshawar. the blast, in the north—west of the country, happened at around 1.30pm in the afternoon when the mosque was packed with worshippers. more than 150 people were injured. a section of the building was destroyed and officials say people are buried under the rubble. several others are being taken to local hospitals. the cause of the explosion is unclear. a peshawar police chief has said they cannot rule out the possibility of a suicide bombing.

our pakistan correspondent, caroline davies, sent this update a short while ago what we know about this blast so far is that it happened inside a mosque inside a police compound in the city of peshawar. according to a police official that spoke to the bbc, the blast and the force of the blast collapsed half of a wall inside the mosque. a video that's been circulated on local media and social media and has been verified by the bbc shows the inside of the mosque after the blast. half of the wall has caved into the mosque. there is rubble and debris on the floor and you can see people clambering over that in order to try to get out. now, lady reading hospital in peshawar has declared an emergency. they are calling for blood donations to try to help. they have told the bbc that they are still receiving the injured and they have also received people who have died, as well. a government minister speaking earlier has said that they know that the majority of people that

have been injured and died in this blast are police and he has suggested that they were potentially the target of this explosion. meanwhile, the government has announced details of a £1 billion investment to tackle emergency care delays in the national health service. the government is pledging 5,000 new beds, increasing capacity by 5%. there will also be a 10% boost in ambulances, with 800 new vehicles on the road. prime minister rishi sunak calls it an ambitious and credible plan, but warns the plan to cut delays "will take time". meanwhile, labour have accused the government of "watering down" key standards and say the plans aren't enough to tackle the pressures the nhs is facing. our health correspondent jim reed has more. ambulance staff are waiting with their patients to come to the emergency department cubicles, which are currently full.

record waits in a&e. trolleys lining up in packed corridors, queues of ambulances stuck outside busy hospitals with their patients. doctors say this winter has been the worst in a generation. today sees a new plan to try to tackle some of these problems. by next winter, there should be 5,000 more permanent hospital beds in england — an increase of around 5%. 800 new ambulances will be purchased — around half of those to replace older vehicles. and there will be a new push to get people who are well enough out of hospital more quickly. our plan is based on three things. it's based on increasing capacity in hospital and ambulance services, increasing capacity in the community so people can be looked after in their own home. ensuring patients, who are medically fit to go home, aren't kept in a hospital for any longer than they need to be, and crucially,

making sure we're growing the workforce to support that. hello, sir. how are you? one idea is to expand virtual wards, where patients are monitored remotely at home rather than in hospital. just lean backwards for me. more physio and rehab work could also be carried out in the community to free up bed space. the money to pay for all this will come out of funds already promised last autumn. but labour said waiting time targets were being watered down as part of the plan and groups representing nurses and nhs trusts said they had worries about the staff needed to make it work. this announcement is rolling out some tried and tested ideas and expanding them, so they can have greater impact. so virtual wards, hospital at home, all of these initiatives are very important. integrated care, for example. but what we do need to be clear about is that you can't simply roll out these services without adequate workforce available, and that's our main concern.

this plan only applies to england, though some of the same ideas are being tried in scotland, wales and northern ireland. doctors say swift action is needed now to avoid a repeat of scenes like this next winter. jim reed, bbc news. the prime minister set out his plan in county durham this morning. more beds, more ambulances, more staff, better social care, and if we can deliver on it, if we can deliver on it, then i think we'll see, in fact i know we will see, the largest and fastest ever improvement in emergency waiting times in the nhs's history. that is the ambition of our plan that we have set out today. that was rishi sunak speaking earlier. that was rishi sunak speaking earlier. the kremlin has dismissed as a "lie" accusations from boris johnson that russian president vladimir putin personally threatened him with a missile attack in the run up

to russia's invasion of ukraine. mrjohnson said that, during a telephone call, the russian president told him that it would "only take a minute" to hurt him with a missile. he made the revelation in a new bbc documentary series about mr putin's leadership. here's our diplomatic correspondent james landale. kyiv, last february — a city on the brink of war. borisjohnson arrives in a show of support for a president, who is yet to replace his suit and tie with army fatigues. alongside other countries, we are also preparing a package of sanctions and other measures. the prime minister publicly urges russia not to invade, prompting an astonishing reaction from president putin. i get back from kyiv and, the following day, i've got putin on the blower again. and this is a very long call and a most extraordinary call. he was being very, very familiar.

mrjohnson told him invading ukraine would mean more nato forces on his border. he said, "boris, you say that ukraine is not going tojoin nato any time soon." he said it in english — "any time soon." "what is any time soon?" and i said, "well, it's not going to join nato for the foreseeable future." and then this. you know, he threatened me at one point and said, you know, "boris, i don't want to hurt you, but with a missile, it would only take a minute" — or something like that, you know. you know, jolly. but i think from the very relaxed tone that he was taking — the sort of air of detachment that he seemed to have, he was just playing along with my attempts to get him to negotiate. the following week, the defence secretary flew to moscow

to meet russian military chiefs, where, he says, they lied to him about their plans for ukraine. i remember saying to minister shoigu that they will fight. and he said, "my mother's ukrainian — you know, they won't." he also said he had no intention of invading. i think that would be "vranyo" in the russian language. vranyo, i think is a sort of demonstration of bullying or strength, which is "i'm going to lie to you. you know, i'm lying. i know you know i'm lying and i'm still going to lie to you." it was the fairly chilling but direct lie of what they were not going to do that, i think, to me, confirmed they were going to do it. and he was right. within days, the invasion began, as russia unleashed a barrage of missiles on targets across ukraine and its tanks and troops stormed across the border. james landale, bbc news.

a ballot for strikes by firefighters and control room staff closes later. if members of the fire brigades union vote for action, the uk will see its first nationwide fire service strike over pay since 2003. good afternoon. we start with golf and rory mcilroy, who produced a brilliant putt on the final hole to secure a dramatic victory over his rival patrick reed at the dubai desert classic. no love lost between the two of them. the american is part of the rebel liv golf tour which mcilroy has repeatedly spoken out against. reed called the northern irishman an "immature little child", while in response mcilroy stated

he was "not living in reality." now the northern irishman began the day with a three—shot advantage, but reed climbed the leaderboard and they were level heading into the 18th. mcilroy called it "one of the toughest rounds" of his career and "showed a lot of mental strength" to secure a one shot victory. a very quick dynamic player, there

is play off both sides. the best is yet to come from him. he can add something different for us. former all black player campbelljohnstone has publicly come out as gay on new zealand television, in what is a first for the national rugby team. the 43—year—old prop, who played three tests in 2005, had already told his family and close friends before coming out on the tvnz network's one news channel. it's been hailed as a "momentous moment for new zealand's rainbow community". he says "living a double life was hard" and he hopes speaking out will help change perceptions." within myself i was never really comfortable with the whole concept. my dream was to be an all black. what did you have in your mind about what an all black was? manly. strong. possibly had a wife, kids. i pushed that side of me down deeper

and deeper and it slowly starts to affect you. it's hard living a double life or living a lie. that is all the sport for now. for now, back to you. schools across england and wales are set to face closures and disruption in the first of a series of strikes by teachers over pay on wednesday. of those who votes, more than nine in ten members of the largest teaching union, the national education union, called for the action. teachers are also expected to walk out for further dates in february and march. for most working parents, that will mean taking a day off, working from home or seeking alternative childcare. fiona lamdin has been talking to families about their plans. we want 10%! these are becoming all too familiar scenes in scotland, where they're already in the middle

of a 16—day wave of rolling teacher strikes. and, on wednesday, it's expected over 100,000 teachers in england and wales will strike in a pay dispute. at this bristol parkrun, families are still working out the logistics. wednesday, currently, is unsure, but one of us will need to take half a day's pay to look after this one. our eldest daughter is allowed to go into school, but adeline needs to stay at home with us. how will you feel about being at home for the day? i'm really happy because if there's no school, you canjust lie in bed. i'm a teacher and i've got two children in primary school, i who we don't yet know whether their teachers j are going to be striking. but i am going to be striking. so we think that maybe his teacher is staying in school— and his teacher isn't. so i think i'll be marching i

with the younger one here. it's good that it's open, so we can do more learning, but it would also be nice to have a day off, as well. you might be marching with your mum. what will that be like? boring. would you rather be at school? probably. i have to go to work. i'm a gp. but my husband can work from home, so fortunately, he'll be working to look after the children. it'll probably be a bit more fun at school because my dad's working. the decision to close or not will be made by each school. this head has decided it's only safe to open for vulnerable pupils or those with an education, health and care plan. so for headteachers up and down the country, it's a challenge as to whether we open the doors of the school to students or whether we have to close down certain year groups or, indeed, the whole school. as heads, we don't know

which members of staff will be striking and indeed which ones will come to school and which ones won't. and, obviously, logistically, that's extremely challenging. the department for education says these strikes are highly damaging to children's education and is urging schools to try and stay open for key year groups facing exams. 15—year—old nancy is taking her gcses in four months, but, despite this, she'll have no lessons on wednesday. obviously, i'm in year 11 now, so it is quite a big problem because lessons from now until summer actually count and they go towards our final grade, some of them. so it's quite important that we're in school. and we've missed a lot of school due to covid already. we have to weigh up the short term disruption of these strikes with what's going to be the longer—term disruption being caused by funding cuts and the recruitment and retention crisis. for many pupils and their families, it will be a four—day week with more disruption coming later. fiona lamdin, bbc news.

neil renton, the headteacher at harrogate grammar school, joins me now for more on this and the impact of strikes on schools. good morning to you. come wednesday, what is happening at your school? that what is happening at your school? git my school, which is a really large secondary heads pensive school of 2000 children, we made the decision last week, due to the numbers of staff in the union which is half of our staff, which is 115 teachers, so we made the decision to be open for year 11, the gcse year group, and year 11, the gcse year group, and year13, and year 11, the gcse year group, and year 13, and vulnerable children as well. the other children, what we have been able to do is, make sure that the teachers who are in school, will deliver lessons remotely and look after children in that way. our senior staff have written resources for lessons for the teachers who are striking. it is a hybrid model but

there will be disruption on the day. are the children, for whom the teachers are not present, going to be penalised in terms of attendance? there will be no penalty in terms of their attendance. there will be no penalty in terms of theirattendance. i there will be no penalty in terms of their attendance. i think the impact is of, obviously, it is much better to have children in the building, to be teaching them directly. we missed them during the pandemic and there was so much disruption, so honestly the impact is there for their learning, but as a head teacher you are trying to mitigate that by the provision that you can provide on that day, whilst also weighing up what is safe, how many children can i get through the building and look after, with the number of staff that i do know are going to be in the building on that day. the i do know are going to be in the building on that day. the reason i ask, building on that day. the reason i ask. there _ building on that day. the reason i ask, there had _ building on that day. the reason i ask, there had been _ building on that day. the reason i ask, there had been reports - building on that day. the reason i ask, there had been reports of i ask, there had been reports of children having penalty marks against their attendance because the teacher wasn't there. i wanted to clarify that in terms of striking teachers. what you make of the

teachers, your members of staff, who are striking? it is teachers, your members of staff, who are striking?— are striking? it is a really difficult question, - are striking? it is a really difficult question, that i are striking? it is a really - difficult question, that question, because as a head teacher, it is a head and a heart issue. in your head you want to make sure the school is open. it is a difficult decision to close a school for the snow, you want the children to be learning. in your heart you can see the issues that teachers face, and i think it is wrapped up with many different things. there is the pay, recruitment, retention issues that teachers are facing. a good example, we had an english position last year and we had one applicant. this is a great school and a great context, and there are just not the teachers out there. yesterday in the times educational supplement there were 14,000 teaching jobs available and it really is a worry for the profession if the education of today is the economy for tomorrow, that we don't have enough qualified teachers in front of our children. it is a

really difficult one. as a head teacher, head tells you to get children, hart says that doesn't need to be some work for the long term of the profession and for the education of children in our society. education of children in our socie . :, , . , society. could you summarise, in terms of pay. _ society. could you summarise, in terms of pay, recruitment - society. could you summarise, in terms of pay, recruitment and i terms of pay, recruitment and retention, what is the biggest issue for teachers?— retention, what is the biggest issue for teachers? what i see is teachers leavin: the for teachers? what i see is teachers leaving the profession, _ for teachers? what i see is teachers leaving the profession, experiencedj leaving the profession, experienced teachers leaving the profession, pressures of work load in a job that, like manyjobs, is highly demanding, and high expectations in a regime of ofsted. i think there is a regime of ofsted. i think there is a range of factors at play that are making what is an enjoyable and rewarding job, very challenging, and that, for me, if we don't address that, for me, if we don't address that as a society, we are stripped drawing up a much longer—term problem for us as an and how we look

at after the future generations of society. at after the future generations of socie . ~ :, i. :, at after the future generations of socie . ~ :, :, society. would you ever 'oin your teachers on i society. would you ever 'oin your teachers on the h society. would you ever 'oin your teachers on the striped _ society. would you everjoin your teachers on the striped line? - society. would you everjoin your teachers on the striped line? my| teachers on the striped line? my union teachers on the striped line? to“! union have not teachers on the striped line? lc’ii1: union have not done that at this stage. i want to make sure that the union i am in has that close relationship with government, but i would say, if this continues, and we are not able to work with government and ministers to create an education for the future, as an educator, i would want to take steps to make sure that we build a much brighter education for our young people. thank you very much, head teacher for harrogate grammar school. a woman from manchester's told the bbc how she was the victim of modern slavery, but after contacting the police several times between 2009 and 2015, they did nothing to help. she is using the anonymous name tina to share her stoy. she says her husband beat her up

and forced her into prostitution, the abuse going on for eight years. we're going to play a clip now from tina, who is using a false name, and a warning that it does contain distressing content. for yea rs for years i had to do as i was told. it was days, weeks, months. i reported it to greater manchester police and they didn't do anything. i was suicidal when i went to them but they still didn't do anything. let's talk now with lauren saunders, head of policy and research at the anti—slavery charity unseen. lauren works closely with survivors and is joining us from their head office in bristol. thank you forjoining us on bbc news this afternoon. unseen, what does

that tell us of this issue of modern day slavery?— day slavery? modern slavery as a crime is very _ day slavery? modern slavery as a crime is very unseen. _ day slavery? modern slavery as a crime is very unseen. it - day slavery? modern slavery as a crime is very unseen. it is - day slavery? modern slavery as a crime is very unseen. it is hidden in places you might not consider, in private homes, in situations within your street. private homes, in situations within yourstreet. it private homes, in situations within your street. it could be right next door to you and, because it is such a hidden crime, it is very difficult to see it happening. halter a hidden crime, it is very difficult to see it happening.— a hidden crime, it is very difficult to see it happening. how to go about tacklin: it? to see it happening. how to go about tackling it? we _ to see it happening. how to go about tackling it? we support _ to see it happening. how to go about tackling it? we support survivors - tackling it? we support survivors who are coming _ tackling it? we support survivors who are coming forward. - tackling it? we support survivors who are coming forward. we - tackling it? we support survivors| who are coming forward. we have tackling it? we support survivors i who are coming forward. we have a national modern slavery helpline which is available 24 hours a day. anybody who is in a potential situation that could be harmful is able to contact that number. it is also available to police forces and professionals who may come across potential victims and men's of the public who are concerned i might have seen something that they consider not quite right. they are able to call this helpline and ask questions of our advisors and feedback what they are seeing to be able to understand if that might be modern slavery. we work with police

forces try to improve the support that survivors and pulling potential victims are receiving, but that can often be quite difficult. we are working with police who are investigating crimes, and sometimes modern slavery victims can be forced to commit a crime. a person might be forced to sell sex, but they also might be forced to sell drugs or work in cannabis farms, or things like that, which are in themselves crimes, so it is very difficult for them to come forward to speak to the police, because they may be concerned about the things they have been forced to do against their will, and therefore they are concerned they might be arrested or penalised for that. share concerned they might be arrested or penalised for that.— penalised for that. are police forces open _ penalised for that. are police forces open to _ penalised for that. are police forces open to contacting - penalised for that. are police j forces open to contacting you penalised for that. are police - forces open to contacting you and seeking out your expertise? what experience have you had with them? police forces often contact our helpline and ask for advice. we also work with them behind the scenes to try to ensure they are working in a

trauma informed way, so they are supporting any potential victim that comes forward to them, not accusing them of a crime, but giving them support and care to be able to extract the information. however there are always challenges with that. we may be experiencing unconscious bias, if an individual themselves might not believe that individual, that may have an impact on the investigation process that takes place. it is really important that we use a culture of belief when people come forward and talk about their experiences, that we really believe them and support them. hogs believe them and support them. how [one does believe them and support them. how long does it — believe them and support them. how long does it take for that to happen? there is also this idea of a type, this cultural bias, the stereotyping, even. just given as example of somebody you have worked with and the challenges you faced. one individual that springs to mind is a person, she was from the uk, she was forced to sell drugs in a county line situation. she presented

with very challenging behaviour, so she would quite often shout, swear, sometimes it show physical aggression when she was confronted, and this was because she had suffered years and years of abuse. she had been taught to defend herself when she felt scared or alone. when a police officer came and asked her what she was going through, her reaction was fear, because she has been manipulated and lied to for so many years, and physically abused, sexually abused, and when confronted with the police was very fearful, and therefore the police were able to spot immediately because of the way she presented. however over time, with relevant care and support, that behaviour changed. care and support, that behaviour chanted. :, g care and support, that behaviour chanted. . ,, i. , care and support, that behaviour chanted. :, g , . care and support, that behaviour chanted. :, g , : . changed. thank you very much, head of noli changed. thank you very much, head of policy and — changed. thank you very much, head of policy and research _ changed. thank you very much, head of policy and research at _ changed. thank you very much, head of policy and research at the - of policy and research at the organisation unseen. we were talking about this woman from manchester, the case that was being

investigated. she accused the police of not doing enough to help her. she used an anonymous name when she spoke to us. greater manchester police said because of the present invistigation it would be inappropriate to comment on this case. it said the force is "committed to delivering outstanding service which cares for victims and keeps them safe and significant progress has been made against this since tina's contact with the force between 2009 and 2015". now it's time for a look at the weather. hello, carol. hello, carol. hello, again. we started today on a windy note with quite a lot of

showers. but through the day, what you'll find is the winds will continue to ease and many of the showers will fade, leaving us with a largely dry day with a fair bit of sunshine. but through the day, more cloud developing in some western areas, heralding the arrival of this front, which is coming our way. later, temperatures 4 to 10 degrees. now through this evening and overnight, the rain does come in from the west. it moves across scotland and northern ireland. some of this will be heavy and it continues to push into parts of england and also wales as a weaker feature. a lot of showers coming in behind it. some of those will be wintry on the tops of the hills and mountains, and the wind will strengthen. in fact, by tomorrow morning, we could well be looking at gales across the north and west, and later severe gales. that will blow a lot of showers from the west to the east. still wintry in the tops of the hills. hello. this is bbc news with lukwesa burak. the headlines:

the prime minister insists he acted decisively in sacking conservative party chairman, nadhim zahawi, but labour say rishi sunak must "come clean" about what he knew and when. at least 30 people have been killed and 150 others injured in a blast in the pakistani city of peshawar. a £1 billion plan to improve nhs care in england, including thousands more hospital beds and hundreds of new ambulances, is being set out by ministers. the kremlin has dismissed as a "lie" a claim by borisjohnson that he was threatened by vladimir putin, before the russian invasion of ukraine. a man has been rescued from a police car he had stolen seconds before it was hit by an oncoming train in the us state of georgia the parents of a young woman in the uk who died after taking a highly toxic chemical compound

sold illegally in diet pills are to meet government ministers ahead of it being reclassified as a poison. campaigners say that tablets containing dnp have been responsible the parents of a young woman in the uk who died after taking campaigners say that tablets containing dnp have been responsible for the deaths of at least 32 vulnerable adults. rhaya barton reports. bethany shipsey was just 21 when she ingested the dnp that would kill her. she had been raped and had a history of overdose. but no—one in the hospital in february 2017 was prepared for the effects of dnp. there's no antidote, and her father has campaigned for greater awareness ever since. the body heats up to an extent where they're like... literally like an athlete running an olympics, where eventually, unfortunately, they go into cardiac arrest. their body can't withstand it anymore. so that's no reason to thank

the ministerfor what should have already been prevented happening in the first place. bought over the internet as a slimming aid, there were no controls other than the food standards agency treating it as not fit for human consumption. mr shipsey�*s campaign took him to confront the man, who sold her the dnp from ukraine. who is this? you sold her the dnp that killed her. i watched her die in hospital in four hours. i'm really sorry if i could do anything. if i could, at that moment, if i knew. firing. but as well as a poison, dnp is also an explosive — a highly dangerous substance that should have been on the statute book. the government will now class it as a poison. look at the green eyes. absolutely amazing. totally natural. but for mr shipsey, after 32

deaths, it's not enough. what we'd actually like to see now, immediately, is a ban on dnp. we're aware that other countries, for example, australia and russia, have applied bans for any uses — based on the number of deaths in the uk, which is quite ironic. unfortunately, the uk has the highest number of deaths. bethany�*s legacy means that from next year only a pharmacist can sell dnp and only to someone with an explosives licence in the hope that no more young people will lose their lives. rhaya barton, bbc news. joining me now is a registered dietician specialising on eating disorders. thank you forjoining us. could you tell us a little bit more

about dnp. have you come across it in your work?— in your work? there has definitely been a rise _ in your work? there has definitely been a rise in _ in your work? there has definitely been a rise in young _ in your work? there has definitely been a rise in young people - in your work? there has definitely| been a rise in young people taking it. i understand you can buy it in this country, but people have been buying it from abroad and it is very dangerous. buying it from abroad and it is very dancerous. ~ : buying it from abroad and it is very dancerous. ~ . , buying it from abroad and it is very dangerous-— buying it from abroad and it is very dancerous. : , :, :, , :, dangerous. what is the psychology of neo . le, dangerous. what is the psychology of n-eole, we dangerous. what is the psychology of people. we all— dangerous. what is the psychology of people, we all want _ dangerous. what is the psychology of people, we all want the _ dangerous. what is the psychology of people, we all want the quick, - dangerous. what is the psychology of people, we all want the quick, easy i people, we all want the quick, easy routes, the less effort put into something the better, but can you take us through the psychology of these magic solutions thinking that a pill can fix everything? you these magic solutions thinking that a pill can fix everything?— a pill can fix everything? you are entirely right- — a pill can fix everything? you are entirely right. everybody - a pill can fix everything? you are entirely right. everybody wants l a pill can fix everything? you are i entirely right. everybody wants the quick solution and we are sold this idea that we need to be slim in order to be beautiful. thin is beautiful is the wording that is used. we have social media, celebrities and all kind of messaging around this telling us that this is what we need to do in order to be successful. when people aren't getting instant results through healthy eating and moving

their bodies more, they chanted his quick fixes such as diet pills and all kinds of things. those can be very, very dangerous and can bleed someone through a cycle of disordered eating and into an eating disorder. :, :, , disordered eating and into an eating disorder. :, :, , , disorder. how does it start? many n-eole at disorder. how does it start? many people at the _ disorder. how does it start? many people at the beginning _ disorder. how does it start? many people at the beginning of - disorder. how does it start? many people at the beginning of the - disorder. how does it start? many | people at the beginning of the year say they are going to lose weight, look after their health. is it the losing weight that is the wrong approach, are we using the wrong language? should we be reframing its? : , . . . its? absolutely. language and culture is really _ its? absolutely. language and culture is really important - its? absolutely. language and| culture is really important here its? absolutely. language and - culture is really important here and so is talking about how we need to —— instead of talking about how we need to lose weight and be thinner, shouldn't we talk about being healthier? we should be talking about adding more into our diets like fruit and vegetables, rather than being restrictive and cutting out whole food groups. we know that

people who tend to go on diets don't stick to them. these diets don't tend to work long term, but building these long—term practices such as eating healthily into our diets and into the way we live our life do to work. :, , : , into the way we live our life do to work. :, , . , . . work. how secret is an eating disorder? _ work. how secret is an eating disorder? when _ work. how secret is an eating disorder? when you - work. how secret is an eating disorder? when you work- work. how secret is an eating | disorder? when you work with work. how secret is an eating - disorder? when you work with clients or with patients, what did they tell you about eating disorders? it is very hidden, isn't it? it you about eating disorders? it is very hidden, isn't it?— very hidden, isn't it? it is. it can be full of— very hidden, isn't it? it is. it can be full of shame _ very hidden, isn't it? it is. it can be full of shame and _ very hidden, isn't it? it is. it can be full of shame and guilt - very hidden, isn't it? it is. it can be full of shame and guilt and i be full of shame and guilt and despair. people feel very worthless. sometimes while an eating disorder can seem on the outside like a very bad thing it is actually bringing those people some sense of a cure for loneliness, perhaps, or making them feel like they are accepted in some way. whilst there are obviously bad things about eating disorders, for people who are trapped in their place at that time there was also

some element of it bringing something good, which is why it is something good, which is why it is so hard to change the behaviours without the right support. he is sufferin: without the right support. he is suffering the — without the right support. he is suffering the worst _ without the right support. he is suffering the worst from - without the right support. he is suffering the worst from this, is a particular gender is, age groups? we have heard about the link to social media, as well.— media, as well. definitely social media, as well. definitely social media is causing _ media, as well. definitely social media is causing a _ media, as well. definitely social media is causing a big _ media, as well. definitely social media is causing a big impact i media, as well. definitely social. media is causing a big impact and media, as well. definitely social - media is causing a big impact and we are saying that more in the younger generation. whilst it can seem that eating disorders are on the rise in the younger generation, a state across the board in all genders and all ages. across the board in all genders and allages. i across the board in all genders and all ages. i definitely have a rise of ladies in their mid—405 up to 52 are saying they are struggling more, so i don't think we can say it is just one type of person that is suffering here.— just one type of person that is suffering here. just one type of person that is sufferin: here. , a , :, suffering here. very quickly, on the sub'ects of suffering here. very quickly, on the subjects of the _ suffering here. very quickly, on the subjects of the magic _ suffering here. very quickly, on the subjects of the magic pill, - suffering here. very quickly, on the| subjects of the magic pill, slimming

pills, laxatives, what is your message to people who are using those at the moment?— message to people who are using those at the moment? please, please, lease sto- those at the moment? please, please, please stop using _ those at the moment? please, please, please stop using them. _ those at the moment? please, please, please stop using them. don't - those at the moment? please, please, please stop using them. don't take - please stop using them. don't take them. they will not work for you long term. instead, find someone that you can work with who will support you to find a way for you to feel good about yourself, to help your mental health and find a long—term road to looking after your health. long-term road to looking after your health. : g long-term road to looking after your health. : ~' , :, , long-term road to looking after your health. . ,, i. , . if you or someone you know has been affected by an eating disorder, if you would like some help, you can get in touch with a number of organisations on the bbc�*s acts in line website page. a group of mp5 is calling for a compensation scheme for nhs

staff who are unable to work because they are living with long covid. a panorama investigation has found that some are now starting to lose theirjobs, while others are dropping onto half pay. i've been working with the panorama team on this for months and the first thing i think to look at is the scale of the problem. it's really hard when you're talking about this is staff who have long covid and it's hard to get an assessment of that. so we've tried to come up with some figures. we estimate that around 90,000 healthcare workers across the uk are living with long covid, and that's all the extremes of it. so that could be people who are managing to work pretty well but are just really tired, people who are doing reduced hours on phased returns or people who haven't been to work for months 01’ even years. so we tried to get that number. it's difficult. nhs england doesn't record how many staff are off with long covid. they say it's a really new condition, it's got so many symptoms we just classify it by symptoms. similar sort of story in wales. northern ireland and scotland do,

though, and for them it's 0.6% and 0.3% of their head count. so we're talking tiny percentages here, but when you scale that up across 1.7 million people, we estimate that if those rates held true across the uk, you'd be looking at somewhere between 5,000 and 10,000 nhs staff off sick with long covid. why are we talking about this right now though is because of sick pay rules. so if you remember at the beginning of the pandemic, sick pay rules were changed across the uk for most nhs staff. essentially, it meant that if they got sick with covid and eventually long covid, they would be paid in full. that came to a sort of staggered end across the uk last summer, but there was a buffer zone for a lot of people and that buffer, the transition period, is coming to an end. so we've been speaking on the programme to people who are off sick with long covid and their pay is, for example, one of them is going to go down to half next month. she's going to lose, she says, £1,000 a month. so we've been speaking to a lot of people in this position

and we also had a questionnaire. we sent a survey out. now, this was on groups for people who have long covid, health workers. so it's not a survey. it's very muchjust a questionnaire to get a flavour of what people are saying. but the same themes came through over and again. the language is words like "abandoned", "let down", "sacrifice". you know, some of them would say that individual trusts were doing everything they could to help them, but there is that real sense that they have fought and they are being left behind now. and i guess the particular issue with with those nhs staff is that they were exposed, they were vulnerable before people knew about the risk, before vaccines and therefore if their health and therefore their salaries taking a hit, that makes them feel very, well... i mean, obviously it's very hard to know when exactly somebody got infected. so we couldn't possibly prove that and wouldn't say we could. but a lot of the people we have spoken to would say, i was there,

i was treating coronavirus patients, i got covid, now i've got long covid and some of them have been left with disabilities, really serious conditions that they just don't feel that they can go back to work. some of them are really trying to go back to work. they're doing things like we have a doctor in the film. she's in her early forties and has a mobility scooter now and she's managing to work with that. other people are just at home, really not managing to do anything. a former teacher, whom bbc presenter nicky campbell says he witnessed molesting a classmate at an edinburgh school has been charged with one count of indecent assault and one count of indecent act with a minor in cape town. the teacher, who can't be named for legal reasons, attended a sexual offences office with his lawyer this morning. the 83—year—old has admitted abusing young boys whilst teaching

in scotland in the 60's and 1970's, according to previous court documents seen by the bbc, but he claims he didn't molest students when he returned to south africa to teach at a prestigious boys school in cape town. nicky campbell previously said he could not have revealed the scale of abuse at his private school while his parents were still alive. ukraine's presidency has called the international olympic committee a "promoter of war". it comes after presidency zelensky said that allowing russia to compete at the 2024 olympics in paris would amount to showing that "terror is somehow acceptable". our ukraine correspondent james waterhouse told us more. mr podolyak isn't really mincing his words and president zelensky in his overnight address has said he has written a letter to president macron of france ahead of the 2024 olympic games, urging him to ban russian and belarusian athletes. now, the international olympic

committee has said it will allow those competitors to compete neutrally, in that they won't be able to be allowed to represent their country, but for president zelensky and his administration that does not go far enough. he accuses the ioc of turning a blind eye to what is happening on ukraine's vast battlefield, where there was shelling of kherson overnight, where there was continued intense fighting in the east. click he is saying it's basically giving russia a platform to justify its actions inside his country. he even drew parallels to the berlin games of 1936, which were staged under the nazi rule of germany. so there's no real mincing of words coming out of ukraine. what the international olympic committee is saying is that people shouldn't be punished just because of the passports they hold, they should be allowed to compete. so it really is an emotive sticking

point for ukraine because they see it as a as a complete discrepancy between the aims of the olympic games and the loss of life that ukraine is experiencing on a daily basis. police in the us state of georgia have rescued a man from an overturned patrol car seconds before it was hit by an oncoming train. police in the us state of georgia have rescued a man say the man had stolen a police vehicle during a traffic stop, leading police on a high—speed chase where he subsequently lost control of the car, which overturned on the train tracks. radio: radio, the train struck the patrol car, i it has struck the patrol car. i believe that they may have just got the guy out in time. radio: someonejust

got in my patrol car! | radio: whoever got it is driving at a high rate of speed - with the lights on eastbound. we have eyes on it. coming up to the connector eastbound. he is coming up to university. 41, standby. 41. 41 hard on the train tracks. he is going to roll over. 41 , rollover. train! get up! train! move! radio: radio, train. struck the patrol car. good job, officers. got everybody safe. they just saved that man's life for sure. you've probably heard of counting

sheep to help you fall asleep, but how would you go about counting the wild deer that roam around ten square miles of dense woodland? the answer is a high—tech drone camera. that's what they're using in ashdown forest in east sussex, where the deer population needs to be closely monitored to keep the roads safe. yvette austin went to find out more. surveying the ashdown forest from the air. this winter's cold, clear days perfect for spotting the wildlife that inhabit the ten square miles of woods and heathland. ecologists are here to build up a detailed picture of deer populations. so we're using this drone today. it's equipped with a thermal imaging sensor on the camera there. it has three cameras on the device. it's a wide—angle, thermal—imaging and a super zoom lens. the weather conditions today only allowed a short demonstration. but the deer nearby were easily seen nonetheless. so that's a group of

primarily female deer. and the thermal signature, we can see there's 21 in this group. oh, yeah. the rest is in the corner there. the survey is all part of the forest's deer management programme. numbers of fallow deer are species not native to the uk need to be kept in check. fallow deer tend to have... they're a herd species. we do see — tend to see a lot more of them from numbers ranging from 20 to even 100 deer in one herd. you can imagine them going through a wood block, not being pressured and staying there. they're just going to completely change the biodiversity. managing their numbers also helps prevent scenes like this — the result of a deer collision. luckily, the driver of this car made a full recovery. for some years now, road accidents involving deer have been recorded in the south east and,

as time has passed, a picture has built up of where most happen. of course it does rely on the collisions being reported, but the data suggests the ashdown forest and area around tunbridge wells are hotspots. accidents in the forest have decreased in recent years since deer numbers have been managed. this winter's survey results will give staff more accurate information for future culls. so as we're flying the drone, and we will keep the deer, we then put it onto the mapping system. we record the species, the age class, if we can tell from the imagery and the sex of the deer. and then it creates this distribution and density map of the deer across the forest. the ultimate aim — a healthy forest with healthy animals. yvette austin, bbc news. the rubik cube isn'tjust a game at a competitive sport. hundreds of

fans of the puzzle have descended on glasgow this weekend for a competition racing against the clock and each other in speed time trials. the cube has experienced something of a renaissance recently. let's speak to ben stokes, he won this weekend. it was the three by three blindfolded and three by three multiple cubes blindfolded. the rubik cube is hard enough, but blindfolded as well! congratulations! blindfolded as well! contratulations! . ,, , :, , congratulations! thank you. yes, blindfolded _ congratulations! thank you. yes, blindfolded is _ congratulations! thank you. yes, blindfolded is definitely - congratulations! thank you. yes, blindfolded is definitely my - congratulations! thank you. yes, | blindfolded is definitely my thing. i'm very much a blindfolded... mani; i'm very much a blindfolded... many n-eole i'm very much a blindfolded... many people would _ i'm very much a blindfolded... many people would say. — i'm very much a blindfolded... many people would say, is _ i'm very much a blindfolded... many people would say, is it _ i'm very much a blindfolded... many people would say, is it really - i'm very much a blindfolded... many people would say, is it really is sports? take us through that. yes. sports? take us through that. yes, there is a big _ sports? take us through that. yes, there is a big debate. _ sports? take us through that. yes, there is a big debate. i _ sports? take us through that. 193 there is a big debate. i like to call it esports, putney not being very athletic bias is me! it is a

sport, it is competitive and a lot of training goes into it. that is what i would call it.— of training goes into it. that is what i would call it. what happens next? this is _ what i would call it. what happens next? this is in _ what i would call it. what happens next? this is in glasgow. - what i would call it. what happens next? this is in glasgow. was - what i would call it. what happens next? this is in glasgow. was thisj next? this is in glasgow. was this an international event?— an international event? there are neo . le an international event? there are people from _ an international event? there are people from all— an international event? there are people from all around _ an international event? there are people from all around the - an international event? there are | people from all around the world, there are competitors from asia, all around the world. the person who won the competition was from poland. we get people travelling around, especially because it was quite a big competition with a lot of events. a lot of people come from all around the globe and complete. why did you become so involved in the rubik cube?! why did you become so involved in the rubik cube? i remember it from when i was young!— when i was young! yeah, one day i went to an — when i was young! yeah, one day i went to an arcade _ when i was young! yeah, one day i went to an arcade and _ when i was young! yeah, one day i went to an arcade and i _ when i was young! yeah, one day i went to an arcade and i won - when i was young! yeah, one day i went to an arcade and i won every| went to an arcade and i won every rubik cube as a prize and a prize and i took it home and out of sheer boredom i looked it up on the

internet, give it a go and it is a lot more addictive than you would think it would be, that is just like me. t think it would be, that is “ust like me. :, , :, think it would be, that is “ust like me. :, . me. i wonder if you could give it a to now me. i wonder if you could give it a go now and _ me. i wonder if you could give it a go now and to _ me. i wonder if you could give it a go now and to show _ me. i wonder if you could give it a go now and to show us _ me. i wonder if you could give it a go now and to show us how- me. i wonder if you could give it a go now and to show us how fast i me. i wonder if you could give it a i go now and to show us how fast you are and why you are the champion? you don't have to be blindfolded! 0k! you don't have to be blindfolded! ok! here we go. can you see this? 0k. wow, congratulations! ithink wow, congratulations! i think we had somebody in the galleryjust tell us, what was it, around six seconds? to win the competition? yes, the average was .5 .3 seconds to win the competition. average was .5 .3 seconds to win the competition-— average was .5 .3 seconds to win the competition. huge congratulations to ou and competition. huge congratulations to you and good — competition. huge congratulations to you and good luck — competition. huge congratulations to

you and good luck with _ competition. huge congratulations to you and good luck with whatever - competition. huge congratulations to you and good luck with whatever you | you and good luck with whatever you will do with that next. i'm impressed. i never ever completed that, and that was some 20 or 30 years ago, without giving away my age! thank you! we will have the national news at one o'clock. to get us there, it is time for the weather. much of this week will be fine and settled because of high pressure, but there is a chance of some stormy weather across scotland, particularly the northern half of scotland for a time. today, we are under the influence of this high pressure. mostly fine and settled. this is the low pressure system that will bring the wetter, windier spell across the north of the uk as we head into tuesday and wednesday. for the rest of this afternoon, many places will stay fine and settled. plenty of sunshine around. temperatures in double figures in the south of the uk, closer to the

seasonal norm further north. clouds will be building across scotland and northern ireland this evening and as we move through the night this band of rain will sink across the country, lying in several parts of the uk by dawn. ahead of it, dry with clear spells. further north and west behind the weather front it will be less cold but windy with frequent showers. a weather front will work its way southward through tuesday. this area of low pressure starts to exert its course across the north of the country. the wind will pick up across scotland and northern ireland with gales developing later. there will be sunny spells and plenty of showers running in of that strong westerly wind. a bit of winteriness over the high ground across scotland. for much of england and wales, once really is that early bands of cloud and rain it will be bright with sunshine and temperatures into double figures. for tuesday night, some concerns, strong winds that will affect particularly the northern half of scotland, we could see gusts of 80 miles an hour for

and into the northern isles. you can see the squeeze on those isobars is that low pressure system moves into the norwegian sea early on wednesday. a very windy start for the north of the uk, but the winds will ease down through wednesday. variable cloud, some sunshine, temperatures into double figures and the wind is not a feature to the site. —— ease down further north on thursday and friday. this area of high pressure will start to exert its presence across the uk again. generally speaking, for the end of the week and into the weekend it will be largely settled thanks to high pressure.

today at one: the nhs in england is to get thousands of extra hospital beds and hundreds of ambulances in a bid to tackle delays in emergency care. but there are questions about who will staff the extra resources — with one in ten posts in the nhs unfilled. we have 100,000 vacancies in the nhs, more than 150,000 vacancies in social care, so staffing really becomes the absolutely critical constraint about whether some of the ambitions and improvements in today's plan will be able to be delivered. we'll be looking at what today's announcement means for patients. also on the programme... rishi sunak defends his handling of allegations about nadhim zahawi's tax affairs, saying he "acted pretty decisively" in sacking him. what i've done is follow a process, which is the right process. integrity is really important to me.