it hasn't got going yet, i do think from today, we have robertjenrick and... trying to beat each other here in the studio. i do think by the end of today there will be much more focus on the different candidates and what they're some very different interesting things like eddie ebay do not has been saying this morning, for good orfor bad. i think once they get into the next few areas, the contest between the four of them that they will get more attention. it four of them that they will get more attention.— more attention. it is a funny thin , more attention. it is a funny thing. it _ more attention. it is a funny thing. it is _ more attention. it is a funny thing, it is not _ more attention. it is a funny thing, it is not that - more attention. it is a funny thing, it is not that bitter. i thing, it is not that bitter. in your— thing, it is not that bitter. in your programme you got them to try— in your programme you got them to try to— in your programme you got them to try to talk about the ways in which _ to try to talk about the ways in which they disagreed but, really. — in which they disagreed but, really. it— in which they disagreed but, really, it is disagreements in emphasis. you think of conservative leaders, they became _ conservative leaders, they became incredibly... some

became incredibly. .. some previous— became incredibly... some previous labour campaigns have been _ previous labour campaigns have been pretty personal as well. i don't _ been pretty personal as well. i don't think we are there yet. i think— don't think we are there yet. i think some of the candidates, not all— think some of the candidates, not all of— think some of the candidates, not all of them, are a bit frustrated. this week is basically a hustling bonanza. they— basically a hustling bonanza. they are _ basically a hustling bonanza. they are all speaking one after anothen — they are all speaking one after another. there still aren't really _ another. there still aren't really those gloves off moments when _ really those gloves off moments when you — really those gloves off moments when you will have them standing on stage together, competing to do each other down in front— competing to do each other down in front of— competing to do each other down in front of the conservative party _ in front of the conservative pa . ~ .., in front of the conservative pa . ~ . , party. we can all remember rishi sunak _ party. we can all remember rishi sunak telling - party. we can all remember rishi sunak telling liz - party. we can all remember rishi sunak telling liz truss| rishi sunak telling liz truss she was making a mistake with her go for growth plan in the leaders debate. no, you will be pushing interest rates to 7% or whatever. he predicted it. rishi sunak has been silent from debate for the last three months. i said to laura yesterday, you can't move for a headline from tony blair. what did kemi badenoch say today that made headlines? her really eye-catching — that made headlines? her really eye-catching statement, - that made headlines? her really eye-catching statement, i - eye—catching statement, i think, this morning i expect will provoke a lot of debate.

she is essentially saying that the uk should take a dim view from excepting people from cultures that she describes as being less valid than our own. a country that many people see as something that is multicultural, somewhere we should respect all cultures. clearly she knows, lots of our viewers will know, that people are going to find that controversial. what you mean by that? who do you mean? she talked about cultures where women were not seen as equals and she even talks about somebody, people on the election trail already living in this country, when she knocked on the door, someone says you are going to have to talk to my husband. she used that as an example as a culture that as an example as a culture thatis that as an example as a culture that is less valid than a western culture. she thinks people coming to this country should have that. this kind of territory is traditionally very tricky and sensitive. for politicians. i think she

absolute believes that. i also think from a political point of view there is a calculation here that this is the kind of thing her campaign believes many conservative members would like to hear and find interesting and provocative. i think there is a bit of an element as well that her campaign, ithink element as well that her campaign, i think they know they haven't been making the running, even though she started out as the favourite, and they think, we have to get on to the territory of emigration where robertjen rex has been running so far. i think you are totally right. robert _ think you are totally right. robertjenrick's has basically robert jenrick's has basically made — robertjenrick's has basically made the running since the... after— made the running since the... after the _ made the running since the... after the programme when he appeared on your programme. gaming — appeared on your programme. gaming out the inevitable leadership contest. i think people _ leadership contest. i think people in the know saw that he was a _ people in the know saw that he was a strong candidate but they didnt— was a strong candidate but they didn't expect him to dominate. but he — didn't expect him to dominate. but he really has. the last 2.5 months — but he really has. the last 2.5 months. he has been the one who has an— months. he has been the one who has an argument, he has therefore been able to make the

running — therefore been able to make the running in — therefore been able to make the running in the leadership contest. kemi badenoch who would — contest. kemi badenoch who would have been seen as the favourite _ would have been seen as the favourite in earlyjuly, has lost — favourite in earlyjuly, has lost that— favourite in earlyjuly, has lost that momentum. she has also _ lost that momentum. she has also got — lost that momentum. she has also got fewer mps supporting her than — also got fewer mps supporting her than robertjenrick. that her than robert jenrick. that is the — her than robertjenrick. that is the funny thing with this. they're _ is the funny thing with this. they're playing to tory party and the _ they're playing to tory party and the members this week but actually— and the members this week but actually the next two rounds of voting — actually the next two rounds of voting are _ actually the next two rounds of voting are going to be conservative mps. kemi badenoch, have you today, is trying — badenoch, have you today, is trying to— badenoch, have you today, is trying to appeal to conservative members, but in the first— conservative members, but in the first instance she is trying _ the first instance she is trying to show conservative mps that if— trying to show conservative mps that if they put her through to that if they put her through to that final— that if they put her through to that final stage, she is the one — that final stage, she is the one that _ that final stage, she is the one that can beat robert jenrick~ _ one that can beat robert jenrick. it is actually quite a complicated dynamic. we jenrick. it is actually quite a complicated dynamic. we had penny morden, _ complicated dynamic. we had penny morden, former - complicated dynamic. we had penny morden, former chair l complicated dynamic. we had | penny morden, former chair of the party, a loss of form is knocking around the party these days. penny morden tried, who is going to take on a roll of rebuilding the party around the company, she was being very regally diplomatic and didn't want to say anything rude about

any of the candidates, let alone the two sitting next to her here in the studio this morning. butjake berry didn't give personal criticism. he said very clearly, he warned them against becoming a campaign group on immigration. i don't know if you would agree, i think there are a lot of tory mps who will have listened to kemi badenoch this morning and sought, saying some cultures are less valid than others? i am cultures are less valid than others? iam not cultures are less valid than others? i am not sure about that. i'm not sure about the territory that leads us towards as a party. these are difficult issues, they are sensitive issues, they are sensitive issues, and i know newcastle as well have their own views. let us know. some mps will have heard that and thought, i am not sure about going down the path into that kind of debate. there will be others, of course, that savings —— she says things that other people do not say. i want to tell you some of the reactions. they have been strong. an e—mail from james sang, laura, most people i know would absolutely

support our view on our country and integration. a different e—mail says, what a and integration. a different e—mailsays, whata pair of nasty individuals they are. i hope neither of them get further in the race. that is the response of a different view, andy, to the focus on immigration from both of the candidates with us this morning. i candidates with us this morning-— candidates with us this morninu. ., ., ., ., ,, morning. i would hazard a guess that the second _ morning. i would hazard a guess that the second contributor - that the second contributor there — that the second contributor there is— that the second contributor there is not a conservative party— there is not a conservative party member. and probably is not a _ party member. and probably is not a potential conservative party — not a potential conservative party supporter. that is with the attention with his leadership campaigns. a view in 4.5 leadership campaigns. a view in 45 years — leadership campaigns. a view in 4.5 years' time to being a member— 4.5 years' time to being a memberof the 4.5 years' time to being a member of the party. they wrestled — member of the party. they wrestled with _ member of the party. they wrestled with how - member of the party. they wrestled with how to - member of the party. they wrestled with how to deall member of the party. tie: wrestled with how to deal with the right... we were talking about ukip and the brexit referendum. now they have got to be form and they have got the question of immigration. william hague, has said for a long time that the member shouldn't be the one that pick the leader. there should be a

rule change. every time it goes to the leaders, they will pick lives trust. it to the leaders, they will pick lives trust.— lives trust. it is worth remembering - lives trust. it is worth remembering that. lives trust. it is worth - remembering that william lives trust. it is worth _ remembering that william hague was the _ remembering that william hague was the person who introduced that rule — was the person who introduced that rule change. it is clearly his political... this is now his— his political... this is now his view _ his political... this is now his view. you might do as i say, — his view. you might do as i say, not _ his view. you might do as i say. not as— his view. you might do as i say, not as i do! exactly. a lot of— say, not as i do! exactly. a lot of people who agree with william _ lot of people who agree with william hague that they should have the sole right to pick their— have the sole right to pick their leader. 53 of them are willing _ their leader. 53 of them are willing to _ their leader. 53 of them are willing to so publicly. —— far fewer — willing to so publicly. —— far fewer of _ willing to so publicly. —— far fewer of them are willing to do so publicly. i would be fascinated by what the ship looks — fascinated by what the ship looks like. and also the slice of conservative members who are willing _ of conservative members who are willing to — of conservative members who are willing to come to the conference. clearly, this is... we are — conference. clearly, this is... we are not— conference. clearly, this is... we are not in an era of mass membership in the way that it was years— membership in the way that it was years ago. we are also not in an— was years ago. we are also not in an era — was years ago. we are also not in an era of— was years ago. we are also not in an era of political party nrenrset_ in an era of political party memset at the levels they were when _ memset at the levels they were when william hague first canrem _ when william hague first came- - -_ when william hague first came... a. ., ., came... as a viewer and a listener. _ came... as a viewer and a listener. l _ came... as a viewer and a listener, i am _ came. .. as a viewer and a

listener, i am not- came... as a viewer and a listener, i am not there. l came... as a viewer and a i listener, i am not there. you will probably be going up there. the voters havejust delivered such a massive punishment meeting to the conservative party, there is even a leader's speech. rishi sunak showing up like he is just delivering a one speech... laura, told me. it is incorrigible for me that there is no conservative leader's speech. a reminder of how quickly we are living from tardis time to the election. also, you spoke to conservatives may be a month a-o conservatives may be a month ago who— conservatives may be a month ago who said, bit worried about these _ ago who said, bit worried about these leadership elections. timetable is a bit. it is a bit odd — timetable is a bit. it is a bit odd to _ timetable is a bit. it is a bit odd to choose your leader three days _ odd to choose your leader three days after— odd to choose your leader three days after the budget. three days— days after the budget. three days after the budget. three days after a leader has a chance _ days after a leader has a chance notjust in parliament but on — chance notjust in parliament but on bbc one. bit odd that they— but on bbc one. bit odd that they are _ but on bbc one. bit odd that they are choosing the leader 'ust they are choosing the leader just days before the presidential election. i think now— presidential election. i think now that _ presidential election. i think now that labour had enjoyed a few weeks of political difficulty, serious political difficulty, serious political difficulty, since keir starmer became _ difficulty, since keir starmer became prime and so you have

even _ became prime and so you have even more _ became prime and so you have even more conservative mps saving — even more conservative mps saying that they have really messed _ saying that they have really messed up here by not having their— messed up here by not having their new— messed up here by not having their new leader in place. can you imagine given what has happened with the labour party and government, if the new conservative leader were announcing themselves to the public— announcing themselves to the public on _ announcing themselves to the public on wednesday, rather than — public on wednesday, rather than taking part in yet another hustings— than taking part in yet another hustings a month before finally we know— hustings a month before finally we know who they are. it would have been _ we know who they are. it would have been a _ we know who they are. it would have been a gift _ we know who they are. it would have been a gift wrapped - we know who they are. it would have been a gift wrapped up - have been a gift wrapped up with a beautiful velvet bow and deliver to them on a golden platter. an incredible opportunity. as you say, they are still talking to themselves. they want to put themselves. they want to put them through their paces, doing dozen events, speaking endlessly at meetings and on the platforms, the idea that there are lots of tory mps that haven't worked out which one is their favourite yet is something new? we talked about it yesterday, there is huge potential for one of them to do a cameron and had a massive

victory or a massive disaster this week. they could propel themselves freshly to the front of the pack or have a complete shocker and write themselves out. we will see what happens in the next few days. we out. we will see what happens in the next few days.— in the next few days. we will move to _ in the next few days. we will move to what _ in the next few days. we will move to what henry - in the next few days. we will move to what henryjust - move to what henryjust mentioned, troubles for labour. many of their own making. a bit like when rishi sunak calls the general election in may. it has pretty much —— in the rain will stop it has pretty much rained on keir starmer politically. rosie duffield, the semi detached labour mp has now become completely detached. she spoke to laura, forgive me for new cast spraining. she said awful things in her letter about awfulthings in her letter about keir starmer.- awfulthings in her letter about keir starmer. you can absolutely _ about keir starmer. you can absolutely avoid _ about keir starmer. you can absolutely avoid his - about keir starmer. you can absolutely avoid his own - absolutely avoid his own clothes, we all can. i have seenjournalist clothes, we all can. i have seen journalist asking him and he hasn't answered, he hasn't actually explained. he doesn't have separate meetings with backbench mps. we are watching the telly at the same as

everyone else. i haven't seen anything that explains why that is ok and then to see us cutting the money to people who will earn a fraction of what we do. ijust... it is massive hypocrisy. i cannot be a part of that. . hypocrisy. i cannot be a part of that. ,, . . , of that. stinging criticism from rosie _ of that. stinging criticism from rosie duffield - of that. stinging criticism from rosie duffield for i of that. stinging criticism l from rosie duffield for keir starmer. i think your right to say starmer. ! think your right to say that— starmer. i think your right to say that she was a semi detached labour mp to begin with — detached labour mp to begin with. one of the competing factors— with. one of the competing factors here is that it simultaneously, incredibly surprising, and not surprisingly at all. not spicy at all— surprisingly at all. not spicy at all because she has been in open — at all because she has been in open dispute with the labour party. — open dispute with the labour party, especially on women's rights, — party, especially on women's rights, but on other things on the organisation and policy for years — the organisation and policy for years. under successive leaders. _ years. under successive leaders, she didn't like robin and she — leaders, she didn't like robin and she didn't like starmer. on the other— and she didn't like starmer. on the other hand, to do this within— the other hand, to do this within three months of a general— within three months of a general election victory, and for all—

general election victory, and for all the reason she said in her— for all the reason she said in her resignation letter. this is really— her resignation letter. this is really quite something. she will have gone, suppose keir starmer— will have gone, suppose keir starmer because the next general— starmer because the next general election about five years— general election about five years on from the last one. that— years on from the last one. that means three months as a labour— that means three months as a labour mp under whose banner she was— labour mp under whose banner she was elected. four years and nine _ she was elected. four years and nine months most likely as an independent mp. really unusual. we have — independent mp. really unusual. we have seen mps become independents before, deflect to other— independents before, deflect to other parties, some parties —— it has— other parties, some parties —— it has been— other parties, some parties —— it has been said that rosie duffield mightjoin the duffield might join the conservatives duffield mightjoin the conservatives but she is not going — conservatives but she is not going to, _ conservatives but she is not going to, apparently. might i think— going to, apparently. might i think the two things that are actually— think the two things that are actually really significant from _ actually really significant from it, we should absolutely rightly— from it, we should absolutely rightly say this, she is not somebody who has ever been a fan of— somebody who has ever been a fan of keir— somebody who has ever been a fan of keir starmer. they have been _ fan of keir starmer. they have been fighting about things for a long — been fighting about things for a long time. been fighting about things for a long time-— a long time. however, what i think will— a long time. however, what i think will hurt _ a long time. however, what i think will hurt is _ a long time. however, what i think will hurt is how - a long time. however, what i think will hurt is how she - think will hurt is how she describes that many backbenchers feel that somehow the leadership is not in touch

with them, they don't communicate with them, there is a highhandedness about how they operate. she said the activists and mps are being exploited and laughed out. by the leadership. over this... laughed out. by the leadership. overthis... she laughed out. by the leadership. over this... she talked about greed being more important than making a difference. i think it is important because she says, according to her, this is a widespread view across the back benches. that spells trouble ahead. it is also an absolute gift for opposition politicians to throw back at keir starmer. look, even one of your own quit over what you have been up to. i still think the government has a problem with the perception they have created around these donations that have emerged in the last few weeks. the second problem i think, that will really stick with a lot of people, what she says about the culture around keir starmer. henry, you have barbie had it as well. for ages in labour circles, people have talked privately about the lads around keir starmer, the lads

being in charge and a group, an image, created that is quite arrogant. arrogant men. all quite pleased with themselves and all really a bit too ruthless. maybe a little bit too clever by half. rosie duffield has said on the records that she thinks keir starmer has a woman problem and that the lads are in charge. i'm not saying that is true or not, but for somebody to say that on the record. that is something that is really going to cut three. the lads are in charge, i think that is the phrase that will cut through to women and members of the public. and a lot of people in the labour party for top i don't know if you would agree with that. i thought, oh, don't know if you would agree with that. ithought, oh, that is something that might set. i absolutely agree. the lads dispute, actually isn't one just— dispute, actually isn't one just between labour backbenchers and membership. we have people working in the government who will say to privately, the lads working

around _ privately, the lads working around the prime minister. even in downing — around the prime minister. even in downing street there are people _ in downing street there are people who don't like what they see as — people who don't like what they see as the lads around keir starmer _ see as the lads around keir starmer. that gets into all the stuff _ starmer. that gets into all the stuff we — starmer. that gets into all the stuff we were discussing last week— stuff we were discussing last week about sue gray, self—evidently not a lad. some of the — self—evidently not a lad. some of the people she might have brought— of the people she might have brought in to replace some of the lads _ brought in to replace some of the lads. can i pick up on something that pat mcfadden, senior— something that pat mcfadden, senior minister, some people call him — senior minister, some people call him the deputy prime minister in this government. something he said to response to interview by laura. not too old to — to interview by laura. not too old to be _ to interview by laura. not too old to be a _ to interview by laura. not too old to be a lad, 59 years old. ithink— old to be a lad, 59 years old. i think being a lad is a state of mind, i don't think it is to do with what year you were born. i do with what year you were born. ., ~ born. iagree. ithink there probably — born. i agree. ithink there probably is— born. i agree. i think there probably is an _ born. iagree. ithink there probably is an upper - born. i agree. i think there probably is an upper age . born. i agree. i think there i probably is an upper age limit but i — probably is an upper age limit but i don't think 59 is it. anyway, _ but i don't think 59 is it. anyway.— but i don't think 59 is it. an a, ., anyway, not anyway. make your oints anyway, not anyway. make your points and — anyway, not anyway. make your points and come _ anyway, not anyway. make your points and come back _ anyway, not anyway. make your points and come back to - anyway, not anyway. make your points and come back to it. - anyway, not anyway. make your points and come back to it. pat| points and come back to it. pat mcfadden's — points and come back to it. pat mcfadden's point is that he ism — mcfadden's point is that he ism he _ mcfadden's point is that he is... he said something quite

significant _ is... he said something quite significant to laura. he talked about— significant to laura. he talked about changing the rules on the declaration of hospitality. bear _ declaration of hospitality. bear with me, this is a bit intricate _ bear with me, this is a bit intricate. if you a government minister. _ intricate. if you a government minister, you can essentially choose — minister, you can essentially choose whether to hospitality you receive on the mv's register _ you receive on the mv's register. that means it gets put in — register. that means it gets put in the public domain within a couple — put in the public domain within a couple of weeks. or a ministerial register, which means— ministerial register, which means it _ ministerial register, which means it gets published on a dark— means it gets published on a dark recess of doctor of uk. pat mcfadden said today, the first time, that this government is going to reform those — government is going to reform those rules so that ministers have — those rules so that ministers have to — those rules so that ministers have to declare them on the parliamentary register as well. he was— parliamentary register as well. he was essentially a claiming that under the conservative government, a change introduced by david — government, a change introduced by david cameron, you have a shadow— by david cameron, you have a shadow minister and minister and only— shadow minister and minister and only the shadow ministers would — and only the shadow ministers would be — and only the shadow ministers would be declared. i know that sounds — would be declared. i know that sounds technical, whether it makes — sounds technical, whether it makes a _ sounds technical, whether it makes a difference i don't know. _ makes a difference i don't know, but i do know that people in government see this as their attempt — in government see this as their attempt to finally acknowledge something has to change here.

that— something has to change here. that they— something has to change here. that they didn't take this freebie _ that they didn't take this freebie seriously enough to start— freebie seriously enough to start off— freebie seriously enough to start off with. this is them trying _ start off with. this is them trying to— start off with. this is them trying to tempt draw a line under— trying to tempt draw a line under it— trying to tempt draw a line under it with a promise of a reform _ under it with a promise of a reform and move on. see if they actually— reform and move on. see if they actually care. yet my absolutely. that will be the new — absolutely. that will be the new story out of pat mcfadden's interview— new story out of pat mcfadden's interview today. we have been talking — interview today. we have been talking about lads... i can see talking about lads... ! can see articles— talking about lads... i can see articles about lads now. but you are _ articles about lads now. but you are right. that is the news story— you are right. that is the news story from _ you are right. that is the news story from him. after more than a week, — story from him. after more than a week, well over one week with embarrassing revelations about donations in the past. the government _ donations in the past. the government is _ donations in the past. the government is finally - donations in the past. tue: government is finally moving donations in the past. ti9: government is finally moving to say, we will change the rules. we should tell you, this rule change wouldn't make a blind bit of difference to the tens of thousands of pounds that they expected and spent on their wardrobes. they expected and spent on theirwardrobes. but they expected and spent on their wardrobes. but it is acknowledgement that something went wrong. pat mcfadden also said there has been a school. that is the first time someone as senior as that has said,

things have gone a bit wrong. this is a substantive point things have gone a bit wrong. this is a substantive point about free gate. the chancellor about free gate. the chancellor rachel reeves herself listed rachel reeves herself listed clothes as support and then clothes as support and then change the categorisation from change the categorisation from support to clothes. so she is support to clothes. so she is the woman who has got to do the the woman who has got to do the budget and she did write down, budget and she did write down, and her people approved, that and her people approved, that clothes were support. it clothes were support. it doesn't matter if labour doesn't matter if labour changes the rules, there is a changes the rules, there is a smell and you cannot... the lid smell and you cannot... the lid has come off. the voters don't has come off. the voters don't like it. it like it. it has come off. the voters don't like it. , ,:, .,. has come off. the voters don't like it. , ,:, .,. like it. it is so acute the keir starmer. _ like it. it is so acute the keir starmer. _ like it. it is so acute the keir starmer. over - like it. it is so acute the keir starmer. over the l like it. it is so acute the i like it. it is so acute the keir starmer. over i like it. it is so acute the keir starmer. over the l like it. it is so acute the i keir starmer. over the last like it. it is so acute the - keir starmer. over the last few years, his whole thing has keir starmer. over the last like it. it is so acute the - keir starmer. over the last few years, his whole thing has been, i am not been, i am not years, his whole thing has been, iam not like years, his whole thing has been, i am not like them. years, his whole thing has been, iam not like years, his whole thing has been, i am not like them. years, his whole thing has been, iam not like them. lo and behold, iam not years, his whole thing has been, iam not like them. lo and behold, iam not been, iam not like them. lo and behold, i am not saying it been, iam not like them. lo and behold, i am not saying it is the director prevalent, in is the director prevalent, in terms of taking three things, terms of taking three things, it is for many voters, we know it is for many voters, we know this because we hearfrom this because we hearfrom it is for many voters, we know this because we hear from them, there is an echo of what went it is for many voters, we know this because we hear from them, there is an echo of what went before. sunlight i think that before. sunlight i think that

is right. when you wrong. is right. when you have a government that was elected on a time for a change platform, defending itself for three months on the basis that it is behaving in the same way as its predecessors behaved that behaving in the same way as its predecessors behave- predecessors behaved that is a government — predecessors behaved that is a government with _ predecessors behaved that is a government with a _ predecessors behaved that is a government with a problem. i l government with a problem. i think— government with a problem. i think pat— government with a problem. i think pat mcfadden anti—labour government are probably right that they are going to be able to move — that they are going to be able to move on in the short time from — to move on in the short time from this _ to move on in the short time from this. but i think that sheen— from this. but i think that sheen wiped off keir starmer so early— sheen wiped off keir starmer so early in — sheen wiped off keir starmer so early in his premiership, it is very— early in his premiership, it is very hard _ early in his premiership, it is very hard to get that back. mixing _ very hard to get that back. mixing my metaphors here... i think— mixing my metaphors here... i think that _ mixing my metaphors here... i think that means there's less goodwill— think that means there's less goodwill when, as rachel reeves and keir— goodwill when, as rachel reeves and keir starmer keep telling us, more _ and keir starmer keep telling us, more tough choices are going — us, more tough choices are going to _ us, more tough choices are going to have to be made. they will do — going to have to be made. they will do so — going to have to be made. they will do so with a much depleted reservoir — will do so with a much depleted reservoir. :, :, will do so with a much depleted reservoir. . . ., , will do so with a much depleted reservoir. . . ., reservoir. laura has said, and ou reservoir. laura has said, and you have _ reservoir. laura has said, and you have said, _ reservoir. laura has said, and you have said, this _ reservoir. laura has said, and you have said, this is - reservoir. laura has said, and you have said, this is a i

reservoir. laura has said, and you have said, this is a prime| you have said, this is a prime minister that could find he is defined by foreign policy, much sooner than he thought he was going to be. we on radio four has been delving into the history of the middle east and we spoke to a man in whose career there have been ten misses, ten crises crossroads. this time keir starmer went to the un, made a speech, as did, funnily enough, the americans, saying a ceasefire, diplomacy... we now know that the israeli pregnancy benjamin netenyahu... america and netenyahu. .. america and britain netenyahu... america and britain have been completely ignored by an israeli prime minister. did you address this today, laura? minister. did you address this today. laura?— minister. did you address this today, laura? yes we had tom fletcher, _ today, laura? yes we had tom fletcher, the _ today, laura? yes we had tom fletcher, the former _ today, laura? yes we had tom l fletcher, the former ambassador to lebanon from the uk. he worked for more than one prime minister in the uk. we asked him to explain why this was such a big and dangerous moment and also to tell us a bit

about... who was assassinated in the israeli strike. when he was working in lebanon, he could have been taken out. we met he could have taken out anytime he wanted. he took out many his opponents. soft power. he controlled _ many his opponents. soft power. he controlled the _ many his opponents. soft power. he controlled the social-

express slightest bit of... to express concern _ slightest bit of... to express concern going forward about escalation but they made clear that they were pleased that he was dead. they said it was some measure — was dead. they said it was some measure of— was dead. they said it was some measure ofjustice for his many victims — measure ofjustice for his many victims a — measure ofjustice for his many victims. a small measure. i think— victims. a small measure. i think it _ victims. a small measure. i think it will be very interesting if keir starmer is willing — interesting if keir starmer is willing to say the same. that said. — willing to say the same. that said. you _ willing to say the same. that said, you mentioned paddy, your guest, _ said, you mentioned paddy, your guest, who— said, you mentioned paddy, your guest, who spoke of a dozen... i guest, who spoke of a dozen... i would — guest, who spoke of a dozen... i would generally ask all of us, — i would generally ask all of us, how— i would generally ask all of us, how many of those has a uk prime _ us, how many of those has a uk prime minister being relevant? i'm prime minister being relevant? l'm sure — prime minister being relevant? i'm sure the various uk prime ministers _ i'm sure the various uk prime ministers in those dozen configurations said staff, but it is the _ configurations said staff, but it is the challenge for keir starmer. he is expected to commentate and get brits out safely — commentate and get brits out safely if — commentate and get brits out safely if need be. that is a very— safely if need be. that is a very core _ safely if need be. that is a very core role. but is he actually _ very core role. but is he actually influential in 2024? it actually influential in 2024? it is — actually influential in 2024? it is interesting to think about _ it is interesting to think about. as you get sucked into doing — about. as you get sucked into doing more foreign policy. what will people in the uk be feeling as a result? it is. in

this situation as _ feeling as a result? it is. in this situation as well. i feeling as a result? it is. in this situation as well. we i this situation as well. we in the last few days, they thought they were may be onto something with this notion of a 21 days ceasefire. in the end, netenyahu didn't listen at all and authorised this strike. they were hopeful, thought they were going to get some i, the uk, the french will stop and in the end, israel says, we are going to do what we are going to do. and we would recommend, if you missed it, we had a long chat with frank gardner yesterday. he fills us in on what is going on here. it is an interesting question. i ministers in this country very rarely get brownie points for doing... even though it can take up lots of time, energy and effort for them in the inbox of all the other things they have to do.— inbox of all the other things they have to do. and in west london has _ they have to do. and in west london has written, - they have to do. and in west london has written, hello, i they have to do. and in west i london has written, hello, can the world dealt with another flashpoint opening up? what would happen to the west and

america's ability to maintain border? could this be the beginning... ? isay, there is a great interview that laura did. global order is changing. there is a new alliance in the world, we are not predicting an oral global conflict but we have heard that the pieces on the are aligning in a different way than they were three, years ago. way than they were three, years a . o. :, way than they were three, years a i o, ., , way than they were three, years am, ., , : , ago. that is right. andy, you said it much _ ago. that is right. andy, you said it much more _ ago. that is right. andy, you| said it much more eloquently than me, it may all be connected. all these conflicts we have seen in isolation. do ou we have seen in isolation. do you have _ we have seen in isolation. do you have anything to add? shall we move to the end? promising to come back to the lads issue at some point.— to come back to the lads issue at some point. are you allowed? you are based _ at some point. are you allowed? you are based lads, _ at some point. are you allowed? you are based lads, obviously. i you are based lads, obviously. i rule it out. unless you meet yourfriends i rule it out. unless you meet your friends from school and

then you are 60, you can probably call yourself a lad. you cannot really be a lads nudging 70, can you? you might where you have a lad? i have done some large —ish things in the company of friends. abs, done some large -ish things in the company of friends.- the company of friends. a lad is a thing _ the company of friends. a lad is a thing you _ the company of friends. a lad is a thing you can _ the company of friends. a lad is a thing you can opt - the company of friends. a lad is a thing you can opt in i the company of friends. a lad is a thing you can opt in and i is a thing you can opt in and out— is a thing you can opt in and out of? _ is a thing you can opt in and out of? what might i say so. there — out of? what might i say so. there is— out of? what might i say so. there is memories that you think. — there is memories that you think. did _ there is memories that you think, did that actually happened?— think, did that actually hauened? ., ., happened? are you a lad, henry? i 'ust happened? are you a lad, henry? ijust cancelled _ happened? are you a lad, henry? i just cancelled taking _ happened? are you a lad, henry? i just cancelled taking part - happened? are you a lad, henry? i just cancelled taking part in i ijust cancelled taking part in a stag — ijust cancelled taking part in a stag party to cover the tory leadership results. let's say that — leadership results. let's say that. :, ~ leadership results. let's say that. . ,, , :, leadership results. let's say that. :, ~' , :, , leadership results. let's say that. . ,, , . leadership results. let's say that. :, ~ , : :, that. thank you very much to makin: that. thank you very much to making it _ that. thank you very much to making it to _ that. thank you very much to making it to the _ that. thank you very much to making it to the end. - that. thank you very much to making it to the end. please | making it to the end. please get in touch with us, all the and goodbye. get in touch with us, all the and goodbye-— get in touch with us, all the i and goodbye._ goodbye. hello. although most of us have stayed dry this weekend, low pressure is sweeping

in as we speak. that will hang around for the first few days of this upcoming week. monday and tuesday looking wet and windy and rather cool, but mid—week high pressure will build in and that will settle things down and we will see increasing amounts of sunshine, but the nights will be cool with mist and fog returning. up until tuesday, england and where is will have heavy and persistent rain, falling on saturated ground and so the risk of further localised flooding in places. worth staying tuned to the forecast over the next few days. this area of low pressure is the culprit, which will become slow moving as it pushes across england and wales during the course of the night, and the rain will be heavy and persistent accompanied by strong, gusty winds, up to 60mph around some channel coasts and in towards south wales. a dry night across northern areas but turning windy. single figures for northern and western scotland, and double fingers further south, dragging on milder air. into monday, this low pressure system will grind to a halt across the uk. it will bump against against

the area of high pressure. a wet and windy start for large parts of england and wales with rain becoming more confined to parts of east anglia, northern and eastern england, north midlands and north wales. anywhere in this zone could see localised flooding so stay tuned to the forecast. the north stays dry and cloudy and on the cold side, but further south it will brighten up with south wales and southern england turning a bit warmer, up to 17 or 18 celsius with one or two showers. the rain continues across central, northern and eastern parts of england as we head through monday night. still raining across eastern england and east anglia by the time we reach tuesday morning. temperatures again mild in the south and cooler further north. the area of low pressure takes its time to pull away east so it will still affect eastern england on tuesday with strong winds and outbreaks of rain, physically

with strong winds and outbreaks of rain, partuclarly towards east anglia and the far south—east. high pressure is building and further north and west, and the wind will be like to hear. increasing sunshine, so it will feel warm at 16 or 17 celsius in the warmest spot. still feeling quite warm further east with strong winds and rain. high pressure builds in to end the new week. good spells of sunshine and mist and fog overnight.

live from beirut. this is bbc news. hezbollah says its leader hassan nasrallah's body has been recovered. the israeli army says "more than 20" hezbollah members were killed alongside him as buildings were destroyed. lebanon's prime minister appeals for a diplomatic solution, warning more than

i million people could be displaced by the surge in violence. this is the scene live in beirut, good evening from beirut. i'm anna foster. tensions have remained high in lebanon today. you can probably hear the loud sound of an israel drone above the lebanese capital. israel has launched a large—scale operation. it's being reported that the body of the hezbollah leader, hassan nasrallah, has been recovered from the site of an israeli air strike in beirut. these pictures we believe show

the aftermath of the strike in which nasrullah was killed.