decisions are tough decisions. po - ular _ decisions are tough decisions. popular decisions l _ decisions are tough - decisions. popular decisions aren't tough, they are easy. the files of hundreds of patients treated at great ormond street childrens hospital are being reviewed over alledged negligence by a surgeon. and — fireworks light up the night sky — bringing the paralympics — and paris' summer of sport — to a close. hello i'm kasia madera. mps will vote later this week, on the government's controversial plans to cut winter fuel payments to millions of pensioners, in england and wales. sir keir starmer, in his first major interview since becoming prime minister, has told the bbc he's prepared for the government to be unpopular, if that's the price to be paid, for an improved economy, as

our political correspondent hannah miller reports. we're going to have to take the tough decisions and take them early. things will get worse before they get better. so we've had to take tough decisions to stabilise the economy... it's already a familiar refrain — keir starmer saying he's going to make choices that seem uncomfortable in order to change the country. top of the list of difficult decisions, targeting the winter fuel payment at only the poorest pensioners. that is not easy, and no prime minister wants to take a decision like this, but the winter fuel payments are now to be targeted, they were untargeted before, and i think everybody thought that wasn't a particularly good system. this year, around 10 million pensioners in england and wales will no longer receive the allowance of up to £300, which the treasury suggests will save around 1.4 billion. but at their conference in brighton, some union leaders are calling for the government to change course.

to do this on the winter fuel allowance is a totally wrong choice. you should not be picking the pockets of pensioners at all, you should be leaving the winter fuel allowance exactly where it is and focus looking for the money where there are much, much more wealthier people. meanwhile, keir starmer delivered another gloomy message, this time on the state of the nhs, with a report claiming it is broken due to be published on thursday. my conclusion is the only way out of this now is reform. i think only a labour government can reform the nhs, and therefore we will use his diagnosis as the platform for the reform that we now need to carry out in relation to the nhs. after the riots that dominated his first few weeks as prime minister, keir starmer admitted being worried about the rise of the far right, but he found

positives in the response. i don't think we're a racist country. i think we're a country of decent people, tolerant people. the real britain was the people who came the day after. —— in southport, it was incredible, people came out with their trowels, with their brooms, they cleaned up, they rebuilt. they're the real face of britain. but with some of his decisions causing unease among some of his own mps, keir starmer may find there is a winter of discomfort ahead. earlier i spoke tojill rutter, senior fellow at the institute for government and former official in the treasury about the potential rebellion the prime minister faces on the issue of the winter fuel payment. of course, with keir starmer�*s very big majority, the government can easily survive 50 abstentions, even 50 rebellions, 50 votes against. i think it's very unlikely that people will abstain to make their displeasure known. we have to get used to that change in parliamentary arithmetic because under the conservatives before hand, rebellion of that size would have actually meant

they lost the vote. so what is, if you say a rebellion, what does that mean? because of course, we had seven labour mps they had their whips suspended back in the summer, back in july when they voted for an snp amendment on the two child benefit. does sir keir starmer have to repeat that? does he have to be tough if he gets a rebellion? i don't know this, obviously, it's up to the government and its whips to decide what they want to do. i don't think we're like to see 50 people with the whips suspended. it was quite interesting back in the summer that the government differentiated between people who voted against, voted with one of the opposition parties against an amendment to the kings' speech, which is a really flagship thing setting up the government's agenda. but quite a few people were absent, didn't vote, didn't take any action against them.

so i think it would be interesting if the government actually faces some votes against this measure, will it then move in a similar way to the way it moved against those seven back in the summer. i don't know if we're like to see mass suspension there, but it's very interesting that the government clearly has decided that it really wants to stick with this and make this an early test and actually say to labour mps, you may not like this so there will be other things coming down the line that you're going to find very difficult. you're going to have to defend unpopular decisions with the people who voted for you, we're going to make you do that and we really holding with this. that seems to me the position both keir starmer and rachel reeves are adopting. just briefly if you would come up another big moment in this week is the report into the nhs and it's already we've had snippets of it, is not looking great. sir keir starmer very much blaming the state of the nhs on the previous government.

how long can he use that line for? i think he can probably use it for quite some time, whether people go on believing it is a different matter because i think people will be expecting pretty soon that a labour government will make good on its promises, those first steps on the nhs, more apartments, reduce waiting lists, i don't think people will way for. great ormond street children's hospital in london, says is urgently reviewing the cases of more than 700 patients, after allegations concerning the possible negligence of a former doctor. yaserjabaar worked as a consultant orthopaedic surgeon at the specialist centre, from 2017 to 2022. the hospital says its taking the matter "incredibly seriously". 0ur health editor hugh pym, is at great ormond street, with more details. as you say, more than 700 cases at this world—famous children's hospital are now being looked at. of those, 39 have been formally reviewed. more than half have seen harm to a child. they are all linked to this

consultant orthopaedic surgeon, yaserjabbar, who no longer works here at great ormond street, and no longer has a licence to practice in the uk. we understand he is now practising in dubai and he is due to speak at an international conference there next week. we've tried to get in touch with him but he hasn't responded. in 2022 the trust called on the royal college of surgeons to review its paediatric orthopaedic service and in the college's report to the trust, according to the sunday times which has seen it, a case involving leg straightening and leg lengthening was said to be unsuitable. the lawyer for some of the families involved have said there are cases of muscle and nerve damage and in one case the amputation of a lower limb. the response from great ormond street is that they take very seriously the need to listen to patients and hear what has happened.

they say they've been in contact with the patients and their families. the review will carry on for 18 months but the trust says they are extending their sincere apologies. thank you very much. it's likely to take 18 months to complete the review. elizabeth maliakal, from the soliticitors representing seven of the children, wants it done as quickly as possible. there sheer volume of number of cases a trust have to review it will take time to check that review. what we would urge the trust to do is try to take that review soon as possible. we do know from representing clients that her children is sometimes the injuries don't manifest until they are much over two older. and the families and clients, the patients want to know firstly have base suffered harm from the treatment they already received or alternatively with a likely to suffer in the future. if that is the

case they may wish to seek treatment, it's very important for them to know that. so the student of trust conclude that the better. we know they have asked five independent surgeons to review the care for that we know it's a very niche area of medicine and the surgeons will be limited. we would urge them to widen the scope so more surgeons involved did not review so it can be taken in as short as period of time as possible. let's take a look at the stories making headlines in the papers tomorrow — and many of them are leading with labour's plans to cut the winter fuel payment. the daily mail reads: �*labour said cutting 0ap winterfuel cash could kill 4,000' — claiming those estimates came from the party itself, when it was in opposition. the daily express has the plan dubbed a �*cruel and planned betrayal�* quoting veteran conservative mp andrew rosindell.

bringing a bit of hope to the story is i for the plans under consideration for a cheaper energy bills for households. it�*s described as a social tariff to energy bills similar to mobile phones forfew cuts are mentioned on the daily telegraph their main headline is nhs in decline for the first time in 50 years. pointing to the report later this week for the headlining metro, day of truth overt mental health call is the start of the land inquiry tomorrow which will investigate the deaths of around 2000 mental health patients in essex. finally, the guardian, like many of the other papers looking at the winter fuel cut but also including a fabulous photograph of the closing ceremony of the paralympic games. you are up to date with the papers. now to the middle east, wherejordan has launched an investigation into the shooting dead of three israeli security guards by a jordanian lorry driver at a border crossing with the occupied west bank.

the attacker was shot dead by israeli security forces. the incident happened at the king hussein—allenby bridge crossing, which israel has now closed, along with its other two land border crossings withjordan. the victims were three civilian security guards. israel�*s prime minister said it was a "hard day" and sent his condolences to the victims�* families. jordan and israel signed a peace treaty in 1994 and have close security and economic ties. but diplomatic relations have been strained. and hundreds ofjordanians have taken to the streets of amman, hailing the attacker as a hero, who�*d avenged the death of thousands of palestinians killed in the war in gaza. 0ur correspondent mike thomson reports from jerusalem. the day started with a deluge of 50 rockets fired into northern israel by lebanon�*s hezbollah.

then, maherjazi, a 39—year—old jordanian truck driver, is said to have left his lorry at the allenby bridge border crossing before opening fire on civilian border staff, killing three before being shot himself. israel�*s prime minister had this to say. translation: in recent days, - loathsome terrorists have murdered six of our hostages in cold blood and three israeli police officers. the killers do not distinguish between us, they want to murder us all. the gunman�*s motives are unclear, though israel�*s actions in gaza are widely criticised injordan, which is home to many palestinian refugees. mr netanyahu also called for unity, but that�*s something that is going to be hard to achieve in this deeply divided country. although many agree with his repeated insistence that defeating hamas is the best way to get the hostages back from gaza, these people aren�*t among them.

late on saturday, an estimated three quarters of a million protesters poured onto the streets of israel, demanding that their government agrees a ceasefire and hostage release deal. but with no such agreement yet in sight, the unrest here looks likely to continue. mike thomson, bbc news, jerusalem. thousands of palestinian refugees who left gaza remain trapped in the occupied west bank. 4,400 palestinian workers and patients are stranded in need of support. now a 4.5 million dollar agreement has been reached with the aid agencies, the qatar red crescent and the un amara al rifai is unrwa�*s director of external communications. she told me how these workers ended up in the occupied west bank since israel imposed a blockade

on gaza in 2007, the movement for people in gaza in and out of gaza has been extremely restricted, except for those who manage to obtain permits from israel to go and work in israel so they can work in the it hubs, they can work in restaurants, they can repair cars, they can have manyjobs. and it was estimated that around 18,000, a bit over 18,000 gazans, people from gaza worked in israel before the 7th of october, and about a few hundreds were seeking medical treatment outside of the gaza strip. now, these are the ones that were stranded when the war in gaza started and all crossings closed. of these gazans, israel expelled onto the west bank around 4000, or a bit more than 4000 gazans who neither are working in israel any more, nor can they return to theirfamilies in gaza. they�*re literally stranded

in the west bank. so while they�*re effectively, as you describe it, stranded in the occupied west bank. what does that mean for them? what kind of conditions do they find themselves in? do they have somewhere to live, even? extremely anxious. not only are they separated from their family when this devastating war is happening and they can watch live on tv, the destruction of their own neighbourhoods and the death of their own friends and family, but also for those that were expelled from israel and no longer have the possibility to work there. they�*ve also lost their income, so they�*re very uncertain. they�*re very anxious. some of them may have found a place to stay with friends, maybe, or with family, but in general, they are just as uncertain as every other gazan waiting for this war to end and be

reunited with those they love, their families, if those have survived. hollywood actor — and anti—knife crime campaigner idris elba — willjoin prime minister sir keir starmer at downing street tomorrow morning, to announce a new push to tackle knife crime. together with victims�* families and advocacy groups, they will launch a coalition aimed at stopping young people from being lured into gangs. the coalition will seek to understand the root causes of the problem by consulting experts. and also facilitate a knife crime summit, bringing together tech companies, police, sport and health services. as children worldwide settle back into school, one charity�*s highlighting the plight of nearly 20,000 ukrainian children who�*ve been forcibly deported to russia. posters with the message �*back to school — but not for them�* can be seen in major cities across europe. mariam lambert is the co—founder of the orphans feeding campaign and has worked

to find and return these children to ukraine. we�*ve been working for almost a year on the critical issue of children in ukraine. all the children of worldwide celebrating the return to school, we realised that unfortunately people tend to forget that thousands of ukrainian children being separated from their families and also deported and forcibly transferred to russia, belarus or occupied territories. this was a very important message to highlight this critical issue. can very important message to highlight this critical issue.— this critical issue. can you help us to understand _ this critical issue. can you help us to understand why _ this critical issue. can you help us to understand why these - this critical issue. can you help us i to understand why these children are being forcibly deported to russia? there are different reasons why those children are being deported. deportation happens all the time in occupied territories when russian occupying a new city in ukraine. they are being deported in order to

raise the effective of ukrainian coverage to a race history, race anything related to ukraine. they are being trained to become russian for different reasons. one of the reasons which is absolutely dramatic as they are being trained to become the next military generation in russia. some of them are being deported in order to be adopted by russian families. and orders are being —— others are being held in detention center. being -- others are being held in detention center.— being -- others are being held in detention center. develop a little bit more on _ detention center. develop a little bit more on what _ detention center. develop a little bit more on what happens - detention center. develop a little bit more on what happens to - detention center. develop a little. bit more on what happens to them once they are in russia. the? bit more on what happens to them once they are in russia.— once they are in russia. they are not all in russia, _ once they are in russia. they are not all in russia, it _ once they are in russia. they are not all in russia, it is _ once they are in russia. they are not all in russia, it is important. not all in russia, it is important to highlight that some of them have been transferred to occupied territories, some in russia. when they are in russia those children, their passports are being changed and they are given a russian

passport. sometimes their identity, the birth certificates have been changed and names have been changed without a worst—case week they have also evidence that the fingerprints are being burned in order to really not be able to trace them back. that�*s the first step russian art using different methodology in order to deport them. it�*s actually organised crime, which comes from teachers, doctors, officials in russia organising all the series to russia. world engineered donald shepard was among the troops who fought their way onto juno among the troops who fought their way ontojuno beach on the morning ofjune the 6th 1940 for. he later advanced from and eventually on to nazi germany.

where he helped liberate bergen—belsen concentration camp. interviewed in 2019. he said he recognised the importance of d—day — but also recalled the "tragic waste of lives" among many of his fellow young soldiers. the paralympics have drawn to a close with a lavish closing ceremony in paris. china topped the medal table with great britain second. nicky schiller is in the newsroom with more. so the paris paralympics are over. 11 days of competition ended with a spectacular closing ceremony in the stade de france, celebrating the over 4000 athletes who took part in 22 different sports. although some of them having to wear ponchos thanks to the french weather, there was also a celebration of parisian nightlife with 24 different artists from the electronic music scene performing. but in the end the night was really for the athletes. amongst the medals on the final day of competition, the netherlands beat the united states to retain their title in the women�*s wheelchair basketball. folashade 0luwafunmilayo of nigeria won gold in the women�*s over 86kg

powerlifting with a world record, and the final gold medal went to iran. ahmad ahmadzadeh took gold in the men�*s over 107kg powerlifting. and this is how the final medal table ended. china streets ahead of anyone else on 220 medals. of those, 94 were gold. great britain was second with 49 golds and the united states came in third. now the host, france, they came eighth, their best performance in 20 years. and the french sports minister not only hailed the sporting achievement, but also highlighted the impact the games had had on french society. translation: quality of the experience in i public transport, etc. means that now when people with disabilities get into a taxi or a restaurant, the perception and the welcome of each person will no longer be the same. so that�*s the paralympic revolution

we�*re talking about. as we say, great britain came second in the medals table, and king charles posted this message on social media congratulating the paralympic athletes of great britain, northern ireland and indeed the commonwealth. he said your example has succeeded in inspiring, encouraging and lifting the hearts of all. great britain�*s charlotte henshaw was amongst those to win gold on the final day in the para canoeing. i mean, it means everything. it�*s what i dreamed about when i was a kid, and i got to wear somebody�*s gold medal when i was ten years old, and i thought i�*d like to win one of those one day. and, you know, obviously achieved that dream in tokyo. but to win the double here is just beyond what i could have imagined. it�*s what i hoped for in those light, dark mornings in the winter. but to have it come to fruition is is very special, and i�*m just very grateful to everybody that�*s helped me get to this point. the paralympics flag has now been handed over to los angeles, who will host the next summer games in 2028.

oui’ our disability correspondent nikki fox looks at how successful the games may have been and where the paralympic movement might be heading. it paralympic movement might be headina. , ., ., paralympic movement might be headin. , ., ., ., , paralympic movement might be headin. ., ., , heading. it is amazing, paris has been so hospitable. _ heading. it is amazing, paris has been so hospitable. they're - heading. it is amazing, paris has . been so hospitable. they're exciting here. it's wonderful. _ been so hospitable. they're exciting here. it's wonderful. with _ been so hospitable. they're exciting here. it's wonderful. with close - been so hospitable. they're exciting here. it's wonderful. with close to l here. it's wonderful. with close to two and half _ here. it's wonderful. with close to two and half million _ here. it's wonderful. with close to two and half million tickets - here. it's wonderful. with close to two and half million tickets sold . two and half million tickets sold for these excited fans around the world the paralympics are delivered. the atmosphere is amazing the crowds unreal for that would have the atmosphere is amazing the crowds unrealfor that would have in the atmosphere is amazing the crowds unreal for that would have in every match for the head of the closing ceremony i met up with paralympic crates and broadcasters for the working here has been phenomenal. i don�*t think it�*s been quite so easy for disabled spectators it�*s been quite hard. what you say? a lot of steps. awful, awful platform lift, inaccessible platforms. just the challenge of sitting with friends and family. challenge of sitting with friends and family-— challenge of sitting with friends andfamil. ,,, ., ., , and family. access is not the only nut to crack- _ and family. access is not the only nut to crack. it's _ and family. access is not the only nut to crack. it's about _ and family. access is not the only nut to crack. it's about visibility. l nut to crack. it's about visibility. it shouldn't _ nut to crack. it's about visibility. it shouldn't just _ nut to crack. it's about visibility. it shouldn'tjust be _ nut to crack. it's about visibility. it shouldn'tjust be the - it shouldn'tjust be the

paralympics. it should be once every four years _ paralympics. it should be once every four years. unfortunately, yes we will see _ four years. unfortunately, yes we will see those gold—medal moments but will they filter down to the next generation of young people that want to— next generation of young people that want to take that?— want to take that? really pivotable moment for — want to take that? really pivotable moment for the _ want to take that? really pivotable moment for the pivotal _ want to take that? really pivotable moment for the pivotal question i want to take that? really pivotable moment for the pivotal question to j moment for the pivotal question to answerfor the future moment for the pivotal question to answer for the future forts, what happened to between games. in four ears' time happened to between games. in four years' time the _ happened to between games. in four years' time the games _ happened to between games. in four years' time the games will— happened to between games. in four years' time the games will be - happened to between games. in four years' time the games will be in - happened to between games. in four years' time the games will be in the l years�* time the games will be in the united states, home to gold—medal winning archerfor that united states, home to gold—medal winning archer for that he�*s confident the popularity of the paralympic movement and the athletes is on the up. you paralympic movement and the athletes isontheu. ., _, paralympic movement and the athletes is on the u. ., _, .,, paralympic movement and the athletes isontheu. ., _, , is on the up. you start to see these performances by — is on the up. you start to see these performances by athletes _ is on the up. you start to see these performances by athletes that - is on the up. you start to see these performances by athletes that rival| performances by athletes that rival able—bodied athletes. and that�*s important for the world to see acknowledge and understand, they are doing it with a disability. what? is almost superhuman. that�*s what�*s going to grow everything. ianthem almost superhuman. that's what's going to grow everything.- going to grow everything. when i last met nicholas _ going to grow everything. when i last met nicholas he _ going to grow everything. when i last met nicholas he told - going to grow everything. when i last met nicholas he told me -

going to grow everything. when i last met nicholas he told me he l last met nicholas he told me he hoped these games would bring change for disabled people living in france. how do you think the games have gone? it�*s france. how do you think the games have gone?— have gone? it's been a great success- _ have gone? it's been a great success. but _ have gone? it's been a great success. but in _ have gone? it's been a great success. but in france - have gone? it's been a great success. but in france we're| have gone? it's been a great i success. but in france we're all success. but in france we�*re all hoping and praying for for the paralympics, it�*s not good to stop on the 8th of september. we expected to carry on afterwards. the oscar—winning actress kate winless told the bbc that women should after being told anna movies after sit up straighter to hide her barley rose. speaking of our kids big kate winslet said it was herjob to be like a character, fashion model turn acclaimed world war ii photographer. it was so used to perhaps not necessarily seeing that and enjoying it. the instinct, weirdly, is to see it and criticise it

or comment on it in some way. and people were saying, god, how wonderful. you know, she�*s saying that she doesn�*t care about her body. i was, you know, talking about the character. it�*s the character that i�*m playing. but of course i don�*t care. but it was through the conversation about playing lee. and i think my point is that as women, you know, we so need to be having that conversation and just celebrating, just being a real shape and being soft and maybe having a few extra roles. laura, life is too short. do you know i don�*t want to look back and go, why did i worry about that thing? and so guess what? i don�*t worry any more, i don�*t care, i�*m just going to live my life. i�*m going to enjoy it. get on with it. you got one. go around, make the most of it. king charles has attended a service on the second anniversary of the death of his mother queen elizabeth. the late queen was a regular worshiper at the church, queen camilla was at the king side as they attended the service which also

marks two years since his succession to the throne. the music world is bidding farewell to a legend. the base guitarist herbie flowers. if not a name you�*ll recognise you�*ll recognise some of the rifts that he composed because they are considered some of the most celebrated of all time. at? some of the most celebrated of all time. ., . ., ., some of the most celebrated of all time. ., _, ., ., ., ., ##hey # # hey kids rock and roll, rock on, my soul. at? # # hey kids rock and roll, rock on, m soul. ., ., , , # # hey kids rock and roll, rock on, my soul-— #i my soul. # # we love to buggy. # remembering _ my soul. # # we love to buggy. # remembering herbie _ my soul. # # we love to buggy. # remembering herbie flowers. i my soul. # # we love to buggy. # i remembering herbie flowers. that is it for me. remembering herbie flowers. that is it for me- time _ remembering herbie flowers. that is it for me. time to _ remembering herbie flowers. that is it for me. time to take _ remembering herbie flowers. that is it for me. time to take a _ remembering herbie flowers. that is it for me. time to take a look- at the weather.

low pressure and early warmth in september have brought flooding rains to some this weekend. a month�*s worth of rain fell in parts of the west midlands on the slow moving weather front on sunday, which is only slowly easing its way eastwards through the remainder of the night. so the heaviest rain does ease. the thunderstorms ease away as well, but there�*ll be misty low cloud and hill fog with this weather system in the east. further west the skies start to clear and it will be chillier for scotland and northern ireland in particular. and in fact in these areas it was chillier on sunday as well. still warm and muggy in the south and still with a lot of murky weather, first thing on monday, quite grey, quite damp on that weather front initially, but compared with sunday for wales, for north west england, for the south—west of england, it�*s much drier picture eastern scotland as well. but the rain does roll back in to the west of scotland, northern ireland later and this cloud, murky low cloud, could just hang on in east anglia and the south east for much of the day, where we see the sunshine 17 or 18. but that�*s considerably down.

and as we saw on sunday, temperatures are lower anyway in the north now and then that rain rushes eastwards as we go through monday night. on a developing area of low pressure actually got a sting in its tail. i think by the time we get to tuesday. a fresher night in the south, despite quite a bit of cloud and quite a bit of breeze as well, we�*lljust notice it won�*t feel as close. but this weather system will slowly meander its way southwards. and then behind it, we open the doors to this northwesterly air flow. hence, it will feel chilly midweek and the northwesterly wind is a chilly direction at any time of year. so we will notice that particularly tuesday and wednesday when the winds are strongest, lots of showers around. strong winds as well. notjust by day, but by night. by the end of the night, the end of the week. the end of the week rather, we could have a touch of grass frost in the north, but that�*s the end of the week. however, from midweek onwards, the showers coming in thick and fast as scotland could be a little bit wintry over the top of the munros, this rain just dragging its heels in the south. but a windier day for all of us. gales possibly in the

north and the east. and it�*s here where the rain hangs around, and it could give some significant rainfall across the likes of 0rkney and shetland as well, through tuesday and into wednesday. so although we�*ll see 12 to 18, i think those, those temperatures tempered by the strength of the wind temperatures tempered by the strength of the wind particularly so on wednesday, does look as if southern areas may see a ridge of high pressure building towards the end of the week, but we will firm up on the details as the time goes on. more online. straight after this programme. welcome to hardtalk, from lake como in northern italy. i�*m stephen sackur.