they don't end up in nhs hospitals. they don't end up in nhs hospitals-_ they don't end up in nhs hositals. �* m h , hospitals. and you describe this report _ hospitals. and you describe this report that _ hospitals. and you describe this report that has - hospitals. and you describe this report that has been, l hospitals. and you describe l this report that has been, the focus of a three—year inquiry by cross—party commission. it really doesn't pull its punches. it pulls no punches at all when it talks about the uk as the literal sick man of europe? as the literal sick man of eur0pe?_ as the literal sick man of euro e? . �* , , europe? yes. and interestingly, the chair of _ europe? yes. and interestingly, the chair of this _ europe? yes. and interestingly, the chair of this commission - europe? yes. and interestingly, the chair of this commission is l the chair of this commission is lord _ the chair of this commission is lord darzi. _ the chair of this commission is lord darzi, who published a report— lord darzi, who published a report last week. it said that the nhs _ report last week. it said that the nhs in england was in a critical_ the nhs in england was in a critical condition and indeed wes— critical condition and indeed wes streeting talked about it being — wes streeting talked about it being bankrupt. unless reform is delivered. the health crisis as an economic crisis, because people like the lord and in that think—tank have crunched the numbers and they are arguing that there was something like 900,000 more workers out of work due to long—term

ill—health than would have been expected, had pre—pandemic trends continued. they argue that economically, that is a loss of billions of pounds in tax revenue, apart from the impact it has in terms of demand on the nhs, and we all know how great that demand is, because waiting lists are up to something like 7.5 million people. we have heard about the £22 billion black hole it describes, hotly contested by the previous government. how does the new government aim to does the new government aim to do those reforms, to carry out all that essential maintenance on the nhs, given the economic situation? we on the nhs, given the economic situation? ~ . on the nhs, given the economic situation?— situation? we are getting lots of mood music _ situation? we are getting lots of mood music rather - situation? we are getting lots of mood music rather than - of mood music rather than details. i think we will get a lot more detail early next year in that ten year plan. i think that will have a lot in it. in terms of finance, the government has been very clear,

no more extra funding. keir starmer there is no extra funding for the nhs until there are reforms. very much a reform or die message. we are getting a budget at the end of next month, previous budgets have given billions more to the nhs. but the report suggests that has not been matched by an increase in productivity within the nhs. how labourjoin up that circle, i think we are only going to find out in the next few months. but very clear the message, reform or diet, at no extra funding until reform happens. no extra funding until reform ha ens. ~ . . happens. while we have been speaking. _ happens. while we have been speaking, there _ happens. while we have been speaking, there is _ happens. while we have been speaking, there is a _ speaking, there is a non—health—related development to talk about. i will ask you about it, but we just learned that train drivers have voted overwhelmingly to accept a multi—year pay deal thatis accept a multi—year pay deal that is ending a two—year dispute at 16 train companies,

according to the aslef union. we heard about the end of strikes and the pay deal that junior doctors reached last week. give us a sense of how significant this is. it week. give us a sense of how significant this is.— significant this is. it is significant, _ significant this is. it is significant, there - significant this is. it is significant, there willl significant this is. it is l significant, there will be significant this is. it is - significant, there will be a lot of relief in government circles, because there was a lot of political flak directed at the government. that initially it came in, helped solve thejunior doctor dispute, also solve the junior doctor dispute, also there was a solve thejunior doctor dispute, also there was a rail dispute, also there was a rail dispute involving another union that was solved, and the government was vulnerable politically, accused of throwing money at its mates in the unions at the expense of pensioners and other tight budget cuts that are coming. this will mean that as the government sees it, this is the key to productivity, getting britain moving again. their defence of extra funding is that the cost of inaction, the cost of strikes has an impact

on the economy and stops britain growing as well. you mention what _ britain growing as well. you mention what a _ britain growing as well. you mention what a relief- britain growing as well. you mention what a relief it - britain growing as well. you mention what a relief it will be to government that train drivers have voted to accept that multi—year pay deal. it will be such a relief also to people who have been trying to commute through that whole period. commute through that whole eriod. �* , period. absolutely. there has been a long-running - period. absolutely. there has been a long-running dispute l period. absolutely. there has. been a long-running dispute on been a long—running dispute on several lines, it has been very hard to plan your travel. of course, the government has long—term plans to bring the railways into public control as contracts with the franchise firms expire. so there will be a gradual shift in how the railways are run. in terms of the news today, commuters and leisure travellers will be heaving a big sigh of relief as well. �* . ., well. and we will hear more reaction _ well. and we will hear more reaction to _ well. and we will hear more reaction to that. _ reaction to that. thank you very much for shifting effortlessly and

seamlessly from health to transport. the post office boss, nick reed, is to step down from the role next year. he previously announced his intention to temporarily step back from the role to give his entire attention to the next stage of the horizon it inquiry. our business correspondence told us more about his time leading the post office. he called it and it ordinarily challenging time at the post office and it is impossible to disagree with that. he took overin disagree with that. he took over in 2019, just as the post office was in the process of losing the litigation. not only did he have that to deal with, and the subsequent inquiry which has dominated the headlines and has been going on for years previously, he also had to deal with the business situation of the post office, which was also extremely challenging. it was a business losing money and seeing its

revenue streams disappearing as services shifted to online. not only did he have those things to deal with, he had a couple of unforced errors on his tenure in the business. first of all, at the end of last year, there was this row about a bonus paid to him and other senior post office executives for completing the inquiry when it hadn't been completed. the post office said there was a way of justifying post office said there was a way ofjustifying that, but nonetheless he pay that back. earlier this year, he was in a row with the chairman, who said that he had twice asked to increase his pay. this was an obviously had look at a time when many of the postmasters who had been victims of the scandal was struggling to get the compensation they were entitled to. the latest figures released this morning show prices in august were 2.2% higher compared to the same time last year. that is the same rate as it was in july. year. that is the same rate as it was injuly. airfares rose

sharply, but that was offset by a full in the cost of petrol, hotels and eating out. this tells us how prices for the goods and services that we typically spend our money on have gone up compared with a year ago. have gone up compared with a yearago. on have gone up compared with a year ago. on average. have gone up compared with a yearago. on average. it have gone up compared with a year ago. on average. it shows that, in august, inflation was at 2.2%, which is the same rate of price increase as it was in july. it is an average, so some things will have gone up more sharply, such as airfares, particularly short—haul flights, while other things will have fallen in price, notably petrol and diesel prices, compared with a year ago. across—the—board, generally speaking, prices are still rising, although nowhere near the rate at which they were rising a couple of years ago. that is partly because the bank of england raised interest rates, which made borrowing more expensive, the idea being that it reduces demand and slows down the rate of price rises. the bank's target is to

get inflation to 2%. that was achieved injune, which then led to the bank to cut interest rates in august by 0.25%. the fact that inflation is now slightly above 2% means the bank may not be in quite such a hurry to cut interest rates further. you may think 2.2% is not that high above the target, but when you drill down into the detail, you can find that core inflation, which excludes volatile elements such as food and energy and fuel prices and services inflation, which measures price rises in the services sector, which is the biggest part of the economy, core inflation in services rose in august. the bank will be looking at that as it weighs up what to do next. the committee meets and announces their decision for interest rates tomorrow, which is when we will

find out what those interest rates will be doing, and that affects the cost of our mortgages, loans, borrowing, a decision taken in the city of london that will affect households across the uk. let's return to events in the middle east. earlier, we were watching that news conference between the us secretary of state and the egyptian foreign minister. this is another visit by the us secretary of state to egypt to try to secure some kind of peace deal in the israel — hamas conflict. one line to bring you regarding the extraordinary events in lebanon yesterday, the exploding pagers, that many have accused israel of carrying out. israel has made no comment, has not claimed responsibility. but the us secretary of state has denied that the us had any knowledge or involvement in those lebanese pager blasts

which affected nearly 3000 people, some 2700 people, who have those pagers which exploded, causing many casualties. the us, a main ally of israel, but anthony blinken said us had no knowledge of the attacks. the uranium ambassador to beirut was among nearly 3000 people injured in the attack, which killed 12 people, including an eight—year—old girl and a boy of 11. the iranians backed has bella has vowed to retaliate, but there are calls for restraint. jordan has accused israel of pushing reaching towards the abyss.

the bbc has been speaking to one doctor. here is what he had to say. i can say it has been a nightmare. it has probably been the worst day of my life as a physician. i believe the number of casualties and the type of damage that has been done is humongous. unfortunately, we were not able to save a lot of eyes. more than 60% or 70% of the patients ended up with eviscerating or removing at least one of their eyes. we are talking about a young population, patients in their 205, and unfortunately the damage is not limited only to the eyes. some of them have intracranial damage, damage to their brain, facial damage, whether to the nose, mouth, ears. unfortunately, most of them, they lost at least one of their hands. definitely, it is long and painful, because first,

at least if we could save one of the eyes, this is already an achievement. unfortunately, like i said, some of the patients, we had to remove both eyes. it kills me. as i said previously, in my past 25 years of practice, i have never removed as many eyes as i did yesterday. a little earlier, the lebanese minister public health gave the update on the number of victims. translation: , ., translation: the number of victims as _ translation: the number of victims as of— translation: the number of victims as of today _ translation: the number of victims as of today is - translation: the number of victims as of today is 12, - translation: the number of victims as of today is 12, two i victims as of today is 12, two children among the dead, and 80 rod goal and an 11—year—old boy. several health care workers also lost their lives. i repeat, the death toll is now at 12. -- i repeat, the death toll is now at 12. —— an eight—year—old girl. after we were able to look at the numbers again, the number of injured people has increased, but these numbers are not entirely precise. the

reason for this is that some injured people were registered more than once as they were transferred from one hospital to another, so the number of injured people is between 2750 and 2800. in due course, we will identify each person and verify it further. there are so many developments in this story all the time. we have a life page online, it has the latest developments, plenty of analysis from our correspondence on all beano at this stage on the pager explosions. that extraordinary story that has taken everybody by surprise. that is available on the bbc website as well as the news app. we have been listening to the new secretary of state for health and social care, ways street in, outlining plans for the future of the nhs following a three—year inquiry by a cross—party commission on the

state of health care and health in britain. let's go over to our health editor who is also listening in. can you give is a brief summary of all that he laid out at least today there's so much to talk about with health at the moment. we so much to talk about with health at the moment. we had a flur of health at the moment. we had a flurry of different _ health at the moment. we had a flurry of different last _ health at the moment. we had a flurry of different last week. - flurry of different last week. an eminent surgeon was brought in to do a review of the nhs in england, a former health minister and now an independent peen minister and now an independent peer. he came up with a bleak, damning report. he said the nhs was in critical condition, that a lot of work was needed. the prime minister said that the report had emphasised the scale of the challenge and they would be a ten year plan. today, a chance to hear from wes streeting, the health and social care secretary. he picked up where lord darzi left off, saying that the scale of

the challenge would be very big, there were no quick fixes, it wouldn't be dealt with overnight, and that some of the findings about the tens of thousands of children waiting very long time periods in a&e units, thousands of people waiting for mental health support, he said they were shocking figures and shocking conclusions. in terms of the direction of travel, he made an interesting point about how the left of the debate was saying, you need to get on and improve public health, but we don't want to much reform involving the private sector, while the right of the debate was saying, we want reform of the nhs but we want reform of the nhs but we don't want to many public health interventions. by that, health interventions. by that, he met possibly taxes on unhealthy foods. he stuck very much to his position that he wants pragmatic solutions and, as he said, he wants to move the nhs away from sniffing us

towards the private—sector. that is clearly part of his agenda, using the private—sector to treat nhs patients. he also said the nhs was rewarded for effort and trying very hard, but there needed to be a movement towards getting better outcomes. that will be a really key challenge for this government in the months ahead as they draw up their ten year plan. have we heard much from them two today? there was a lot about it in the report about notjust hospitals and waiting list and treatments, but the measures needed to stop people needing that treatment in the first place. he needing that treatment in the first place-— needing that treatment in the first place. he said prevention of ill-health — first place. he said prevention of ill- health is _ first place. he said prevention of ill-health is important. - first place. he said prevention of ill-health is important. it . of ill—health is important. it was made clear at the end of last week that the labour government would press on with changes already announced by the conservatives to cut advertising over unhealthy foods before the watershed, 9pm, so that nobody could see

that sort of advertising, measures to cut back that sort of advertising, measures to cutback on the sale of unhealthy foods in supermarkets and big retailers. that immediately generated criticisms about the nanny state from some quarters, saying this is an intervention to far. i have he has made it clear that prevention measures will be an important part of it. he said that if we don't do measures, he wasn't specific about what they would be. if we don't do measures to make the country healthy, the nhs could be bankrupted and overwhelmed bankru pted and overwhelmed because bankrupted and overwhelmed because of this year scale of the number of patients. thank ou ve the number of patients. thank you very much- _ you very much. it is been branded on

conservative and on british. speaking to the bbc�*s animal rajan, he said the plan was odious. it is about interview in which he was also very open about what he thinks has gone wrong for his party. let's listen in. i must start by asking why you have agreed to do this one. it is a rather unusual question. i will give this answer. one, it was a lengthy interview and i do think a large number of the short interviews i see produce sound bite answers. they don't inform the public. secondly, that i properly shouldn't say this, it is six to five years since ijoined the conservative party. i was, since ijoined the conservative party. iwas, and, and since ijoined the conservative party. i was, and, and always will be a conservative. but in recent months, a little longer than a few months, there has not been a great deal i can say that i wish to see in favour of

what the previous government doing. i thought it better to stay off the air. with the election is behind us, the party and i can return to speaking out.— party and i can return to s-ueakin out. , , speaking out. did your party, the conservatives, _ speaking out. did your party, the conservatives, deserve i speaking out. did your party, | the conservatives, deserve to lose? i the conservatives, deserve to lose? .. . the conservatives, deserve to lose? ~' , . lose? i think there is a time when democracy _ lose? i think there is a time when democracy needs - lose? i think there is a time when democracy needs a i lose? i think there is a time - when democracy needs a change of government. i can see that in 1997. we had been in government for 18 years and it was perfectly true to say that we were tired and we were running out of fresh ideas. we were running out of fresh people to make ministers and reinject the government with vigour. the same thing applies, although it was only 1a years on this occasion. although it was only 14 years on this occasion.— although it was only 14 years on this occasion. are you glad to see the _ on this occasion. are you glad to see the back— on this occasion. are you glad to see the back of— on this occasion. are you glad to see the back of the - on this occasion. are you glad j to see the back of the rwanda scheme? ~ , , ., scheme? absolutely. it was un-conservative, _ scheme? absolutely. it was un-conservative, and - scheme? absolutely. it was i un-conservative, and british, un—conservative, and british, unchristian, and unconscionable. i really thought it was not the way to

treat people. we used to transport people, nearly 300 years ago, from their country, felons who had at least had a trial and were guilty of something, even though the trial had been cursory. i don't think transportation is a policy suitable for the 2ist—century. policy suitable for the 21st-century.- policy suitable for the 21st-century. policy suitable for the 21st-centu .~ . �* 21st-century. what has brexit done for your— 21st-century. what has brexit done for your party? - 21st-century. what has brexit done for your party? it - 21st-century. what has brexit done for your party? it is - 21st-century. what has brexit done for your party? it is the | done for your party? it is the most divisive _ done for your party? it is the most divisive thing _ done for your party? it is the most divisive thing that - done for your party? it is the most divisive thing that has. most divisive thing that has happened in our party in my lifetime. it is less important, what it has done to our party, than what it is done to our country. than what it is done to our country-— than what it is done to our count . ~ . ~ country. what you think it has done? i don't _ country. what you think it has done? i don't think— country. what you think it has done? i don't think it - country. what you think it has done? i don't think it has - country. what you think it has | done? i don't think it has done an hinu done? i don't think it has done anything good. _ done? i don't think it has done anything good. if _ done? i don't think it has done anything good, if like - done? i don't think it has done anything good, if like me - anything good, if like me reflect on it for a moment. it has made our country weaker, poorer, and that is emphatically not in the interests of our country. the world saw us as a member of the european union, it was a megaphone to magnify our power

in the world. we megaphone to magnify our power in the world-— in the world. we are isolated. did it have — in the world. we are isolated. did it have to _ in the world. we are isolated. did it have to be _ in the world. we are isolated. did it have to be thus? - in the world. we are isolated. did it have to be thus? if - did it have to be thus? if brexit had been delivered in a different way, could it have full the commerce of those who advocated it, that it would make us richer and more free? it has done the reverse, hasn't it? what has happened to the benefits of rights that we heard about?— benefits of rights that we heard about? n, , , ., , heard about? maybe they are yet to come. heard about? maybe they are yet to come- i _ heard about? maybe they are yet to come. i don't _ heard about? maybe they are yet to come. i don't recall— heard about? maybe they are yet to come. i don't recall people - to come. i don't recall people sa ina, to come. i don't recall people saying. in _ to come. i don't recall people saying. in ten _ to come. i don't recall people saying, in ten or _ to come. i don't recall people saying, in ten or 15 _ to come. i don't recall people saying, in ten or 15 years, - saying, in ten or 15 years, maybe 20, we will have some benefits of brexit. it was going to be milk and honey straight away and it wasn't, and brexit was sold to the nation on the basis of things that haven't happened and couldn't have happened. there was a great degree of misapplication of reality, if i can put it in that delicate way. can put it in that delicate wa . . can put it in that delicate wa. . ~ way. do you mean like scratching _ way. do you mean like scratching like - way. do you mean like scratching like that - way. do you mean like scratching like that is l way. do you mean like - scratching like that is another way of putting it. let's turn to the new world order. how do you see britain's standing in the world compare to 20 years

ago? it the world compare to 20 years auo? . the world compare to 20 years aio? , , , ., the world compare to 20 years aro? , , , . . , ago? it is less than it was, and that — ago? it is less than it was, and that is _ ago? it is less than it was, and that is not _ ago? it is less than it was, and that is not because - ago? it is less than it was, and that is not because we ago? it is less than it was, - and that is not because we have particularly failed, it is because of the way the world has changed. america looks as though it may not be the america that would pay any price, bearany america that would pay any price, bear any burden to protect the success of human right. china has been marching into the world in a phenomenal way. into the world in a phenomenal wa . ~ . . into the world in a phenomenal wa . . ., , into the world in a phenomenal wa . ~ . , , , way. what is your biggest re . ret way. what is your biggest regret from _ way. what is your biggest regret from your - way. what is your biggest regret from your time - way. what is your biggest regret from your time in i way. what is your biggest - regret from your time in power? wasn't long enough. haifa regret from your time in power? wasn't long enough.— wasn't long enough. how would ou like wasn't long enough. how would you like to _ wasn't long enough. how would you like to be — wasn't long enough. how would you like to be remembered? - you like to be remembered? fondly. you like to be remembered? fondl . ~ . ., . you like to be remembered? fondl .~ . ., . fondly. what do you fear most? autocracy _ fondly. what do you fear most? autocracy and — fondly. what do you fear most? autocracy and dictatorship, - autocracy and dictatorship, which is what it merges into. what would you still like to achieve? i what would you still like to achieve? .. what would you still like to achieve? ~ ., what would you still like to achieve? ~' ., ~' achieve? i think i would like to live long _ achieve? i think i would like to live long enough - achieve? i think i would like to live long enough to - achieve? i think i would like to live long enough to see l achieve? i think i would like i to live long enough to see my country at ease with itself.

sirjohn major, thank you very much for your time.— sirjohn major, thank you very much for your time. thank you. sirjohn major. _ much for your time. thank you. sirjohn major, who _ much for your time. thank you. sirjohn major, who is - much for your time. thank you. sirjohn major, who is now - much for your time. thank you. sirjohn major, who is now 81, i sirjohn major, who is now 81, talking to our correspondence. the princess of wales has carried out her first work meeting since her chemotherapy treatment began earlier this year. the meeting, related to her work on families and early childhood, was held at windsor castle. it is another sign of the recovery that is referred to as a return to light work. it allowed us to reflect and be grateful for the civil things in life. her return to public life is being carefully managed. last week's release of the family video, narrated by the princess, a sign that things were becoming more positive. i'm looking forward to being back at work. and undertaking a

few more public engagements in the coming months and when i can. . , ,�* , , the coming months and when i can. . , can. the princess's first work meetin: can. the princess's first work meeting was _ can. the princess's first work meeting was held _ can. the princess's first work meeting was held at - can. the princess's first work meeting was held at windsorj meeting was held at windsor castle yesterday afternoon. view details of been released, but it was related to her families and early childhood projects. early years has been a focus of much of the princess's public work in recent years, but kensington palace says she won't be returning to full—time royal duties for now, and instead they are planning a light schedule for her. on the balcony for trooping the colour injune, one ofjust two official engagements for the princess in the past nine months. she has described this year as incredibly tough for her and herfamily. year as incredibly tough for herand herfamily. it is year as incredibly tough for her and herfamily. it is hoped she mayjoin the royalfamily again for engagements around remembrance sunday and in the run—up to christmas. a wildlife charity is declaring a national butterfly emergency

after its annual count recorded the lowest numbers in its 14 year history. butterfly conservation says the wet weather is partly to blame, but long—term trends are also causing concern. our environment correspondence has more. over the summer, thousands of people went out to record the number and type of butterflies they saw during a 15—minute period. and the results confirmed what many have suspected — there seemed to be fewer insects this year. a third of butterfly species had their worst year on record, including the common blue — which was not seen in some places at all. and while the wet weather's partly to blame, scientists say the long—term trend towards fewer butterflies is a sign that nature's in trouble. declines in butterflies means declines in pretty much everything. and, ok, this year might be particularly bad because of the weather, but over the long term, even when the weather is good, these species aren't able to do

as well as they might be able to because we've not got the habitat available for them. butterflies have been hit by a host of pressures, including climate change, habitat loss, and the use of pesticides. butterfly conservation is calling for a total ban of pesticides known to harm butterflies and bees. neonicotinoids were banned in the uk several years ago, but exceptions have been made for emergency use on crops. and while the government says it intends to change this policy, it's not yet laid out a timeline for when that's going to happen. let's turn to the weather. good afternoon. there's a lot more blue sky and september sunshine to come in the forecast. while it is warm across the board, with temperatures above the seasonal average, it is particularly warm in northern scotland and

across northern ireland. these are some of the high—temperature is recorded yesterday, 25 celsius in aberdeenshire. the average for the time of yearjust 17 degrees. we are respecting something similar this afternoon. a lot of sunshine, as you can see on the map. on the north sea facing coast, it will be cooler with a keen north—easterly wind. these will be the day's hi, so mid—205 perhaps for northern scotland and may be south—east england as well. high pressure remains in charge for the next you days, it starts to move away. quite breezy overnight, and more low cloud blowing from the north sea, with moisture in the air, so a murky start to the day for eastern facing coast. into the clearest skies, they could be more fog developing tomorrow morning and a range of

temperatures as well, mildest was the south, 13 or 14 celsius here. a lot of low cloud round, some mist and fog into tomorrow morning, and that will slowly burn back to these eastern facing coast, but towards the north sea facing coast, some of that cloud could linger on for some of the day. the best of the sunshine towards the west on thursday. we could still get to 2526 celsius across parts of south—east england, 2324 for north—west scotland. there is a small chance for a shower or two on thursday, but more for friday as we draw in more unstable air in the south. still some cloud conditions for north sea coast. generally still drive further north in the sunshine, and it will continue towards the west. all change over the weekend, low pressure moves on from the south and it will turn really quite unstable, so more

showers, particular in southern areas, on saturday and again on sunday, but drierfurther sunday, but drier further north. sunday, but drierfurther north. goodbye.

today at one — 12 people have died and nearly 3,000 injured in a synchronised explosion of pagers used by hezbollah fighters. lebanon says two children are among the dead, as multiple reports suggest israel was behind the attack. we'll be live in beirut and jerusalem. also on the programme... train drivers with the union aslef vote to accept a government pay deal and put an end to two years of strike action. conservationists declare an emergency, as butterfly numbers fall to their lowest on record. full military honours for two british servicemen killed in the struggle to liberate the netherlands in the second world war.