live from washington, this is bbc news. the growing field of hopefuls vying for the republican nomination — with two launches in one week. who will be the biggest challenge to the leader in the polls, former president donald trump? and where do the candidates stand on foreign policy issues, like the war in ukraine? it has been a headline—grabbing week in the increasingly crowded race for the republican presidential nomination,

with two more hopefuls officially launching their bids. the florida governor ron desantis and senator tim scott. mr scott has represented south carolina in the chamber since 2013, promising to revive america's "culture of greatness." at a launch event in his hometown of north charleston on monday, mr scott used his personal story as an embodiment of the american dream. this was shortly followed by ron desantis�* long—expected entry into the race and, while he trails donald trump in the polls, he is widely seen as his main rival. but his launch made headlines for other reasons. he chose to announce on a twitter livestream, which was hit by technical glitches. let's listen to how they both announced their candidacy. iam running i am running for president of the united states to lead our great american conduct. look, we know our country is going on the wrong direction. we see it with our eyes, and we feel it in our bones. our southern border has collapsed. drugs are pouring into the country. our

cities are being hollowed out by a spike in crime. the federal government is making it harderfor the average federal government is making it harder for the average family to make ends meet and to attain and maintain a middle lifestyle, and our president, well, he lacks vigor, flounders in the face of our nation plasma challenges, and he takes his cues from the woke mob. i choose freedom and hope, and opportunity! will you choose it with me? _ opportunity! will you choose it with me? �* �* ,, opportunity! will you choose it with me?_ wan- opportunity! will you choose it with me?_ will you | with me? applause. will you 'oin me with me? applause. will you join me as _ with me? applause. will you join me as messengers - with me? applause. will you join me as messengers of - with me? applause. will you i join me as messengers of hope? as visionaries? to believe that the strength of our ideas and change — the strength of our ideas and change our nation again. i wilt — change our nation again. i wilt let's_ change our nation again. i will. let's go!— change our nation again. i will. let's go! 0k, we have those two _ will. let's go! 0k, we have those two voices _ will. let's go! 0k, we have those two voices there. - meanwhile, other candidates who have previously announced they are vying for the republican nomination include larry elder, a talk radio host and 2021 california gubernatorial candidate, asa hutchinson, former governor

of arkansas, vivek ramaswamy, a tech entrepreneur and political commentator, and corey stapleton, former montana secretary of state. as well as former south carolina governor and united nations ambassador nikki haley and of course former president donald trump — who, as we mentioned earlier, leads in the polls. let's take a look at how those candidates are faring with voters. this poll, released earlier this week by cnn, shows donald trump with a big lead — 53% of conservative voters prefer him as their top choice. governor desantis currently in second place with 26%. then come former south carolina governor nikki haley and current south carolina senator tim scott, trailing in the single digits at 6% percent and 2%. just a note — this poll was conducted before ron desantis and tim scott had officially declared. with me now is terry sullivan, a republican strategist and former campaign manager for marco rubio's 2016 presidential campaign. i'm joined here in the studio

by rina shah, a former senior congressional staffer and republican strategist. good evening to you both, great to have you. rina, we saw those polling numbers, what we think about whether candidates stand right now? about whether candidates stand riaht now? ., ., about whether candidates stand ri . ht now? ., ., ., right now? right now we are at the oint right now? right now we are at the point where _ right now? right now we are at the point where is _ right now? right now we are at the point where is very - right now? right now we are at the point where is very early. l the point where is very early. we know how far away we are from election day 2024, the general election, but primary seasonis general election, but primary season is really upon us. these guys are alljumping in. and notjust guys. we have nikki haley, who was the first official to declare against trumpet. so what we are seeing now is what i call the revenge of the moderates, people who think they are more palatable than donald trump and want to try their hand at this. asa hutchinson was somebody very critical of trump, now you are seeing senator tim scott, who was also critical of trump at times but also looked like he was with him in the senate. 0ne was with him in the senate. one thing that stands out to me about tim scott, which has been

made of his announcement and how it was far better than florida governor ron desantis', is that he has a challenge. everybody in this gop primary has a challenge of ringing in new voters under the republican banner. we have heard so much made of this, in teachers to class, the pandit class, about how there is this all—important independent voter investment states to get, that is going to be the key demographic for victory, when it comes to election day 2024. the tim scott brings evangelicals with him, much like former vice president mike pence, who hasn't declared, but is expected to. i don't see a real path to victory for tim scott. sure, his announcement is great and he represents a fresh voice in the party, he is very much a social conservative, but i do think that ron desantis is the guy to beat when it comes out of everybody in the park. terry, do you agree with that assessment, that ron desantis is the guy to beat, with everybody coming out of the

pack? everybody coming out of the -ack? �* ,�* , everybody coming out of the ack? �* , �* , ., ., pack? inaudible very good osition pack? inaudible very good position compared - pack? inaudible very good position compared to - pack? inaudible very good position compared to a - pack? inaudible very good position compared to a lot l pack? inaudible very good | position compared to a lot of the rest _ position compared to a lot of the rest of the field. but at the rest of the field. but at the same time, look, eight years— the same time, look, eight years ago at this point jeb bush _ years ago at this point jeb bush was, in the polling, guaranteed to be the next nominee of the republican party _ nominee of the republican party. between today and when we actually had a nominee in the party, _ we actually had a nominee in the party, the other folks who lead _ the party, the other folks who lead in — the party, the other folks who lead in the national polling with— lead in the national polling with ben carson, scott walker, who actually didn't even make it to _ who actually didn't even make it to ior, _ who actually didn't even make it to ior, marco rubio, ted cruz — it to ior, marco rubio, ted cruz -- _ it to ior, marco rubio, ted cruz. —— make it to iowa. so i think ruling _ cruz. —— make it to iowa. so i think ruling people in or out as candidates, at this point in time, — as candidates, at this point in time, nobody would rule donald trump _ time, nobody would rule donald trump out — time, nobody would rule donald trump out as a candidate, and frankly— trump out as a candidate, and frankly didn't for quite some time — frankly didn't for quite some time until he was the actual nominee _ time until he was the actual nominee. so i think it is premature to rule anybody in and out, _ premature to rule anybody in and out, and there is a lot of good — and out, and there is a lot of good candidates for cycle, 2016 has actually turned into much more — has actually turned into much more of— has actually turned into much more of a _ has actually turned into much more of a traditional cycle, we've — more of a traditional cycle, we've got governors, current governors, former and current senators — governors, former and current senators running. you have a

good — senators running. you have a good crop _ senators running. you have a good crop of candidates. we will see _ good crop of candidates. we will see. i think it will matter— will see. i think it will matter a lot more than they get on the — matter a lot more than they get on the debate stage. a matter a lot more than they get on the debate stage.— on the debate stage. a really interesting — on the debate stage. a really interesting point, _ on the debate stage. a really interesting point, terry. - on the debate stage. a really interesting point, terry. to l interesting point, terry. to follow interesting point, terry. t0 follow up interesting point, terry. to follow up on ron desantis, what did you make of his announcement on twitter this week, and how all that played out. ~ , ., out. well, he is not running for the murder _ out. well, he is not running for the murder of _ out. well, he is not running for the murder of twitter'sl out. well, he is not running. for the murder of twitter's it departments in chief, but i think— departments in chief, but i think he _ departments in chief, but i think he did a really good job of what — think he did a really good job of what we needed to do, reaching out to conservatives, because — reaching out to conservatives, because republicans, if they want — because republicans, if they want to— because republicans, if they want to take back the white house, _ want to take back the white house, need to reach out to swing — house, need to reach out to swing state voters. if they are going — swing state voters. if they are going to — swing state voters. if they are going to be the nominee, they need _ going to be the nominee, they need to— going to be the nominee, they need to reach out to caucus colours _ need to reach out to caucus colours into the primary in new hampshire and south carolina, and those _ hampshire and south carolina, and those people they are going to reach— and those people they are going to reach by being on fox news, by being — to reach by being on fox news, by being on glenn beck, lots of conservative talk radio, so i think— conservative talk radio, so i think he _ conservative talk radio, so i think he was really targeting the audience that matters, the audience — the audience that matters, the audience that is going to vote for hint. — audience that is going to vote for him, and twitter is part of that, — for him, and twitter is part of that, from _ for him, and twitter is part of that, from the elon musk angle.

it that, from the elon musk angle. it was _ that, from the elon musk angle. it was clunky, but he has got such— it was clunky, but he has got such an _ it was clunky, but he has got such an adversarial relationship with the press, i think— relationship with the press, i think it — relationship with the press, i think it was always going to be picked — think it was always going to be picked apart one way or the other~ _ picked apart one way or the other~ i_ picked apart one way or the other. i think that he just got out, _ other. i think that he just got out, hopped in, and is ready to lo, out, hopped in, and is ready to do. he — out, hopped in, and is ready to do. he has _ out, hopped in, and is ready to go, he has set the early stage, which — go, he has set the early stage, which is — go, he has set the early stage, which is smart.— which is smart. rina, how do ou which is smart. rina, how do you contrast _ which is smart. rina, how do you contrast that _ which is smart. rina, how do you contrast that with - which is smart. rina, how do you contrast that with what l you contrast that with what we have seen from the former president, to have at town hall, cnn, and having another town hall on fox? the hall, cnn, and having another town hall on fox?— hall, cnn, and having another town hall on fox? the cnn town hall actually _ town hall on fox? the cnn town hall actually made _ town hall on fox? the cnn town hall actually made trump - town hall on fox? the cnn town hall actually made trump look . hall actually made trump look quite good. there were two places i put in particular that he appealed to voters who didn't vote republican in 2020, when i wanted to, perhaps, but they were fed up with trump, they were fed up with trump, they crossed over to vote for biden or they stayed home. the appeals two places at the town hall for trump, appeals two places at the town hall fortrump, it appeals two places at the town hall for trump, it was the economy, when he talked about prices on the shelf, and said, remember my administration? i wouldn't do this to you, i wouldn't do this to you, i would bring prices down. then he talked about abortion. that

was not a good answer for he talked about abortion. that was not a good answerfor a gop primary voter, but the general election, again the answer, in that he pivoted away from talking about a federal band. so i think if trump gets out there again and shows his vigor and strength, it is good for him, but he comes with a whole lot of problems. so i think people will take an honest look at dissenters, he is 33 years younger than trump. —— desantis. that is a big deal, 44 years of age for ron desantis. i have heard lots made from people saying, could this be a mitt romney and paul ryan situation, where desantis and supposed trump is not running mate? i don't think so. i think the two men really don't like each other anymore. 0ne don't like each other anymore. one thing we ought to look at is that trump seems to call names when he is really scared. his super pac has spent lots of money attacking only desantis. at the end of the day you have to look at this for what it is. desantis is in the underdog position. so he has only up to

go from here.— go from here. really interesting - go from here. really interesting points. i go from here. really i interesting points. we go from here. really - interesting points. we are going to come back to you in just a little bit, lots more to talk about, but first, let's take a look at the latest stuff here in washington, dc. negotiatiors are still scrambling to close a deal on raising the federal debt limit. there is still no deal in place, but as many lawmakers leave for a holiday weekend, there have been some encouraging signs, including from presidentjoe biden. with regards to the debt limit, things are looking good, i'm very optimistic. i hope we will have some clear evidence tonight, before the clock strikes 12, that we have a deal. but it is very close and i am optimistic.— deal. but it is very close and i am optimistic. those words from the _ i am optimistic. those words from the president _ i am optimistic. those words from the president a - i am optimistic. those words from the president a little i from the president a little earlier this evening. live now to congressman mike waltz, republican congressman from florida. president biden confident about a deal and says we should know tonight.

cbs news has reported that the agreement would raise the debt limit for two years and cap federal spending at the same level as 2023. would you vote for that agreement? well, i will have to actually see the legislative text, and i think it is worth reminding everybody that house republicans have passed a bill that does raise the debt ceiling, and does limit spending, save the taxpayer money and put measures in place to actually grow our economy, so we have had a deal on the table for three months. it is a shame president biden, just now, just a week ago, even named negotiators and we were at the edge of a crisis. so we will see what the actual beale says, then we will make a decision on how we are going to vote, but i did already vote to raise the debt ceiling with those other measures in place.

yes, you voted alongside your republican colleagues. 0ne yes, you voted alongside your republican colleagues. one more question, are you confident speaker about kevin mccarthy can get your republican colleagues on board with any agreement that includes some compromises? you already said not all republicans and democrats will be happy with the end agreement. welcome you already see _ the end agreement. welcome you already see folks _ the end agreement. welcome you already see folks on _ the end agreement. welcome you already see folks on both - the end agreement. welcome you already see folks on both sides i already see folks on both sides of the aisle, whether it is work requirements, or demands that we go to just where we were, just one year ago, fiscal year 2022 levels of spending, not 23, so we will see. i mean, this is really being tightly held right now as they try to finalise a deal. i want to see the actual legislative text, and again, we have seen this before, where we have rhetoric, we have discussion, but the devil is in the details on what we actually put into text and put into law. that is what many of us will want to see before we make a decision on how we are going to vote. congressmen,

i want to move _ are going to vote. congressmen, i want to move to _ are going to vote. congressmen, i want to move to foreign - i want to move to foreign policy, you serve on the house armed services committee and the house foreign affairs committee. russia continued its bombardment of ukraine. this is a medical clinic in the central city of dnipro, on fire after it was hit by a missile. at least two people died. president zelensky described the attack as "another crime against humanity" and said russia had "chosen the path of evil of its own will." other cities, including kharkiv and the capital, kyiv, were also targeted. congressman, we are seeing these russian attacks, as we said, on this hospital in dnipro but also across the country. until now we have seen ukrainian air defences been fairly successful at knocking down his muscles and drone attacks, but how long do you think they can continue to do so? . ., think they can continue to do so? . . ., , think they can continue to do so? .. ., , ., so? one can only wonder, if they had _ so? one can only wonder, if they had those _ so? one can only wonder, if they had those patriot - so? one can only wonder, if i they had those patriot systems one year ago, or even before the war, as they were asking for them. the war, as they were asking forthem. i the war, as they were asking for them. i was in kyiv the month before the war started, and the biden administration

then was saying that stingers were too provocative, harpoon and ante ship muscles were too escalatory. it was really very much an appeasement approach, and we seemed to finally get to the right answer, in giving the ukrainians what they need, whether they are f—16s, or javelin �*s, about a year and thousands of casualties, sadly, and tragically too late. but at the end of the day this is now going to be how we sustain this, who pays for it, and i do think you are going to see calls from myself and others really asking europe to step up. the united states has provided double the amount of military assistance, despite our economy being about the same as the eu. and frankly, thatis same as the eu. and frankly, that is unacceptable. when we have seven out of 30 nato countries meeting their 2% obligation, fortunately the

united kingdom and the united states obviously are two of those, but only seven out of 30, with a major land warrant a doorstep? 30, with a ma'or land warrant a doorstep?— 30, with a ma'or land warrant a doorstep? there are you saying that europe _ doorstep? there are you saying that europe is _ doorstep? there are you saying that europe is going _ doorstep? there are you saying that europe is going to - doorstep? there are you saying that europe is going to have i doorstep? there are you saying that europe is going to have to | that europe is going to have to step up in place of the us? i step up in place of the us? i think europe step up in place of the us?! think europe at a minimum is going to have to step up as a true partner, a dollarfor euro type approach. you are going to see other demands that when it comes to reconstruction and bearing the brunt of that loss, evaluate in partners— and look, friends and allies can also have tough conversations and hold each other accountable to our promises. remember, the 2% promise was made nearly ten years ago by every nato country in nearly 30 of seven have lived up to it. and sharing the

burden, particularly as here in the united states having these conversations about our own out—of—control debt and government spending. congressmen... crosstalk. it is congressmen... crosstalk. it is a fair question _ congressmen... crosstalk. it is a fair question to _ congressmen... crosstalk. !t 3 a fair question to ask our allies that at least match us in terms of what we are providing. in terms of what we are ”rovidin. ., ,, in terms of what we are ”rovidin. ., , , ., providing. congressmen, iwant to ask you _ providing. congressmen, iwant to ask you about _ providing. congressmen, iwant to ask you about what - providing. congressmen, iwant to ask you about what we i providing. congressmen, iwant to ask you about what we have l to ask you about what we have been discussing up until now which is the race to the nomination. you endorsed on trump. he was asked about ukraine and he said he would end the conflict in 24 hours. do you think that is possible? well, i think the president would drive hard towards some type of negotiated settlement. i would advise that a settlement right now for putin is only a soft pause. we need to push hard to help zelensky actually win. he is very and i

think rightly concerned, what does victory look like, who is going to pay for this over the long—term, is there a true threshold with which putin would use a tactical nuke and other type of weapons of mass destruction? these are concerns we all should be asking and i don't think our strategy should be as it currently is articulated, as long as it takes. i mean, that isjust kind of an open—ended i think part to an endless war so i think these are right and correct questions in terms of what does success look like and how long are we going to bear the collective costs?— the collective costs? great to talk to you- _ let's return to our panel terry sullivan and rina shah. let's get your take which is

foreign—policy. we know they have been some diverging lines on support for ukraine. how big of a royalty think this is going to play in this race? is going to play in this race? !3 already playing somewhat of a role but we are going to see it play a bigger role. because of his line of questioning from republicans to the white house — when you going to be stronger against putin? when you going to get the courage to do that is what republicans say to biden. but one thing that all republicans talk about daily is why are we slow walking our support for ukraine in that giving the military equipment you need. these are tremendous questions and the spending, the money, the blank check that is always talking about washington, issuing a blank check to ukraine. i'm a

pro—democracy voter meaning it is important to me. i understand what is at stake when we're talking about the russian invasion to ukraine and why it is so important for us to have ukraine's back and fight for sovereignty alongside it but in the minds of your everyday republican voters, especially in some of our most rural areas, especially in some of our most ruralareas, is especially in some of our most rural areas, is that money that is millions per day is being sent overseas. what about us right here at home? here are a lot of far right republicans do that line of questioning and the drumbeat is going to get notjust steadier but heavier. it -- notjust steadier but heavier. it —— terry, we have seen governor descending say is a territorial dispute and not a vital territorial interest for the us. just imagine what the former president said in that scene but nikki haley and tim scott come down differently. where do you see the ukraine war factoring where do you see the ukraine warfactoring into where do you see the ukraine war factoring into this where do you see the ukraine warfactoring into this race? ! war factoring into this race? ! think it is less about where they are out on the issue and more how they look as a leader.

they look like a strong leader, regardless of the actual what their position on the issue and thatis their position on the issue and that is going to matter a lot more. foreign—policy, and i was spending what most presidents spend, the majority of their time on. it is when voters care the least about when they go to the least about when they go to the ballot box especially in primary. so i think it is not a huge vote mover. for these candidates. 0ther huge vote mover. for these candidates. other than the leadership characteristics. if you look strong on the issue and you have command of it, trump looks like he was to capitulate so i think that could be a reckless —— weakness for him. it has been a weakness that he looks like he is a little bit subservient to putin in the past so i think this is a dangerous spot for him politically speaking simile because he looks weak when talking about russia because she a point in the cnn town hall, he quickly went in and said he would bring it to an end in 24—hour hours. well, i'm

assuming that is by trying to force some sort of settlement that poodlejudgement force some sort of settlement that poodle judgement putin will be amicable with. and just a quick follow—up, governor desantis, do you think republicans trust him and follow policy? he republicans trust him and follow policy?— republicans trust him and follow oli ? , ., ., follow policy? he is governor. i think follow policy? he is governor. i think he _ follow policy? he is governor. i think he gave _ follow policy? he is governor. i think he gave a _ follow policy? he is governor. i think he gave a bungled i follow policy? he is governor. i think he gave a bungled on | follow policy? he is governor. j i think he gave a bungled on a sheet — i think he gave a bungled on a sheet about calling it a territorial dispute. it was part _ territorial dispute. it was part of _ territorial dispute. it was part of a _ territorial dispute. it was part of a longer answer but you know. — part of a longer answer but you know. he — part of a longer answer but you know, he needs to show to voters _ know, he needs to show to voters where he is out on the issues — voters where he is out on the issues and _ voters where he is out on the issues and can he lead on it and — issues and can he lead on it and he _ issues and can he lead on it and he hasn't had that, it is a bit of— and he hasn't had that, it is a bit of a — and he hasn't had that, it is a bit of a crash course for him now, — bit of a crash course for him now, being governor, instead of being _ now, being governor, instead of being a — now, being governor, instead of being a senator or a former president. i being a senator or a former president-— being a senator or a former resident. . j , ,., president. i hear terry's point about trump _ president. i hear terry's point about trump seeming - president. i hear terry's point about trump seeming he i president. i hear terry's point about trump seeming he is i president. i hear terry's point i about trump seeming he is weak on putin and russia and perhaps there is some ties there but what i'm hearing from republican voters is essentially that putin waited until trump was out of office

to invade ukraine. you hear from these traditional republican voters that they felt safe under trump, they felt safe under trump, they felt that trump was keeping our enemies and defeat. that is the one thing that i continued to here to this day since 2016, that people support trump. it is true that the maga faction is true that the maga faction is waning and has gotten much smaller as a faction. we had the empirical evidence these past midterms that they are not the demographic that have this power in the —— it is the after trump �*s, people that voted for him at 20 feet —— 2016 and pinch their nose and did it again at 2020 or didn't. these people are willing to take the risk on a state executive like dissenters looked really strong during the covert shutdowns. he was really seem to lead followed —— covid shutdowns. lead florida. it is going to be economy, looking strong in the economy, looking strong in the economy, looking strong in the economy, looking like you are standing up in the american business owner and also in

addition to those kitchen table issues i do think abortion will be on the ballot and i think thatis be on the ballot and i think that is tricky for ron desantis. ! that is tricky for ron desantis.— that is tricky for ron desantis. ., , ., ., ., desantis. i was going to ask both of you _ desantis. i was going to ask both of you about _ desantis. i was going to ask both of you about that i desantis. i was going to ask i both of you about that starting with you, rina. again there are big differences between these candidates on where they stand on abortion. !! candidates on where they stand on abortion-— on abortion. if you asked me today can — on abortion. if you asked me today can trump _ on abortion. if you asked me today can trump when i on abortion. if you asked me today can trump when a i on abortion. if you asked me i today can trump when a general election i would say absolutely not. it is not come out entirely and always say i am the most conservative, i'm going to be the most pro— life in my second term but what you get from ron desantis is the complete opposite of trump. you get a governor who signed a six—week ban in the dark of night, who didn't want any coverage of that is so desantis is walking this very conservative walk and also let's not forget what he has donein let's not forget what he has done in education and diversity studies in florida— he is taken at hard right turn but he has always been more right of trump but when we come to abortion the republican party needs to wise up about the fact that the average american woman who is pushing a stroller in the suburbs doesn't like and doesn't jive with today's

republican party entirely. she is likely anti—abortion for herself but proto— —— pro—choice for other women. terry, do you agree with rina? there there is a republican nomination and then there is a general election. i agree with both of those but in order to be the nominee, you have to win the nomination and republican primary voters are overwhelmingly pro—life and strongly pro—life and so desantis is much stronger on that issue when it comes to your republican primary voters and that is going to benefit him in iowa, new hampshire, south carolina and getting that nomination. trump has been consistently all over the map on that issue four years and the cnn town hall, refused to take a position one way or another and i think that will hurt him in these primaries. we can worry about the general but at this moment, it is all about his denomination first. we only

have a little time less so if i could ask you to be fast. starting with you, terry. which of these candidates which is right now in the race do you expect to see on a ticket with donald trump? s nikki haley seems to be attacking dissenters anytime she gets so she is auditioning to be trump's running mate. do you agree, reenah? is trump's running mate. do you agree, reenah?— agree, reenah? is going to be all about the _ agree, reenah? is going to be all about the money. - agree, reenah? is going to be all about the money. he i agree, reenah? is going to be all about the money. he runs| all about the money. he runs out of money first out of the field of candidates aside from trump and i think that will determine the running mate. who is looking strong on fundraising? desantis raised a little bit over 8 millionjust after announcing four. nikki haley i believe closed with the first quarter with something like 4 million so i could be wrong on that checkmate but it is about the money at the end of the day. these are fast moving figures and it is a fast moving figures and it is a fast moving primary already. really

interesting _ moving primary already. really interesting conversation i moving primary already. really interesting conversation with l interesting conversation with you both, terry sullivan and rina shah. thank you. that is a show this hour. stay with us and we were back at the top with next hour. stay with us. hello. friday was another fine and dry day for the vast majority, with high pressure dominating our weather picture. there was lots of sunshine around. just a little bit of this fell with a cloud popping up for a time, like here in chorley, lancashire. it was across the other side of the hills that we had today's highest temperature. bainbridge in north yorkshire, popping up to 23 degrees celsius friday afternoon. that's seven degrees above the may average. so pleasant in the sun. and you can see on the satellite picture just how sunny it was just a little bit of cloud across northern england, a bit for northern ireland, a bit for northern scotland. but looking out in the

atlantic, we've got a weather front that's set to bring some much thicker cloud in over the next few hours. so, cloudy over across north western areas of the uk, an odd spit of rain by dawn. otherwise, it's dry with clear skies and temperatures about 6 to eight degrees celsius. if you're heading outside first thing in the morning, saturday morning, yes, you might need a layer or two will be a little on the cool side. saturday's forecast then, high pressure staying put for most of us. but this week, weather fronts working into that area of high pressure. and so for scotland, we see the cloud thicken a little bit of light, patchy rain, followed by sunshine and showers. in the afternoon. it will turn cooler temperatures about 11 to 13 across the far north of scotland. for northern ireland, england and wales, plenty of dry weather and sunshine and it's going to feel warm, high teens to low 20s widely, but peaking at around 23 across the spine of the country through parts of northern england, the midlands and central southern england. southern and eastern scotland should be pleasant enough, as well. still holding on to a bit of sunshine here on sunday. high pressure is still with us, but it's probably going to be a little bit more in the way of cloud developing for a time. i think sunny spells, though, coming through that. temperatures just easing down for scotland,

northern ireland, northern england. so, mid—to—high teens here, the warmest weather towards the south west where we could see around 23 degrees again. but wherever the may sunshine comes out, i think it's going to feel 0k. and it's a similar picture really for bank holiday monday itself. a bit more of a wind blowing for east anglia and south east england. that could make it feel a little on the cool side first thing in the morning. but once we've got that sunshine coming through again, it should feel 0k and temperatures are going to start to rise in scotland. 21 in glasgow could be one of the warmest places in the country, but turning a bit cooler down the eastern side of england. beyond that, deeper into next week, it's sunny and it's set to get warmerfor some temperatures could reach the mid twenties. bye for now.

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