>> it's 8:00. this is sky news breakfast. these are top stories this morning. this news comes in of another trusted tea in mariupol. it's going that thousands of residents have been forcibly deported to russia. ukraine's president says the city's blockade will go down in the history of war crimes. >> to do this, with a peaceful city, as the occupiers did, is a terror that will be remembered for centuries to come. >> the search among the wreckage for dozens of ukrainian soldiers, they are

two have been killed after russia's attack on a military base in mykolaiv. >> live in lviv this morning. reports emerge, an art school sheltering civilians has been bombed in this mariupol. i'll have the latest. >> and i'm mark stone on the polish border. we are still seeing so many people leaving, but surprisingly, some, including women and children, now deciding to go back home. >> and i'm outside a block of student flats, were 19 year old woman was found dead yesterday. police are searching for a 22 year old man in connection with the case. >> plus, the pressure grows for more health help for those in need when the chancellor makes his spring statement on wednesday. and the weather settled and sunny for most, but cloudier to the east, with a threat of showers. ♪ ♪ ♪

good morning. we start with breaking news this morning. it's been reported by the city council in mariupol that russian forces have bombed and art school, were 400 residents had taken refuge. it comes as the mayor of mariupol says thousands of residents of the battered city have been forcibly taken to russia. a practices compared to the second world war. -- said it's hard to believe that in the 21st century, people will be forcibly deported to another country. while sky can't independently verify the claims, russia has said it had sent convoys of buses to remove people from the city. meanwhile, in mykolaiv, the search continues for marines, missing after a rocket attack on their base. dozens are already feared dead. well speaking overnight, ukraine's president, volodymyr zelenskyy, said that this huge of mariupol will be remembered for years to come in what he's calling warcrimes. though -- >> [interpreter]

the blockade of mariupol, will go down in the history of responsibility for war crimes. to do this with a peaceful city, as the occupiers did, is a terror that will be remembered for centuries to come. and the more ukrainians talk about it to the world, the more we find support. the more russia uses terror against ukraine, the worst the consequences for it. [end of translation] >> that's bringing skies sally lockwood, who's in lviv force of this morning. good morning to you, sally. what do we know about the city council and this art school? >> yes, they're limited details at the moment, kimberly. this news just emerging. but of course, growing concern about the fate of civilians in this southern city of mariupol, which has been under siege know by the russian bombardment for more than two weeks. what we can tell you is that reports have emerged in the last hour that an art school has been bombed there. that was being used by around

400 residents, including women, children and the elderly, as a shelter. we understand that has been bombed overnight by russian offenses. there are no immediate reports of casualties, but of course, these are very early reports. we understand the building has been destroyed. of course, this comes after that horrific attack on a theater, housing more than 1000 civilians in the same city. for days on, rescuers are still unable to reach for so many of the people still trapped there. more than 1000 people still thought to be trapped there, for a fourth day, after that building was bombed. russia has denied that it was behind the attack. but of course, that building was photographed from the air. those satellite images widely shared, that showed the building was clearly marked as having children inside. and of course, growing concerns about the feet of them now, with street to street fighting happening in mariupol. and rescuers unable to reach

those civilians who have been trapped now for four days. one other thing to mention about that city, is the mayor has claimed that thousands of residents have been taken against their will, into russia in the last week. some have been forcibly removed from bunkers, taken into russia, to be processed. and then moved on to rather isolated remote locations. now, this hasn't yet been confirmed. we haven't had this verified ourselves. of course, is very hard for us by verify information be inside mariupol, because it has been under bombardment for more than two weeks out now. certainly, those are the claims made by the mayor of the city. that would be very useful to vladimir putin, if that were to be the case, to support his narrative. that these russian forces are so-called liberators, have gone into rescue the people of ukraine and bring them back to russian territory. >> that's the latest from

mariupol. just tell us a bit more about mykolaiv. because of course, that attack on the military base there, yesterday. >> yes, that's right. two rockets hit an army barracks and mykolaiv. another strategic, southern city on the black sea coast. with around a 200 ukrainian soldiers thought to be a slip inside the barracks at the time. reports that 50 bodies have been recovered so far. but that rescue operation for survivors continues. another deeply concerning attack on another strategic city in the south. but of course, we are hearing that russian forces are stalling in their ground defensive. and the m.o.d. has says that that will result in an increase in shelling of urban areas. and certainly, that is something people here are concerned about. one ukrainian woman here in lviv, yesterday saying to me,

we will get through this. but what we're worried about is what comes from the air. there was an air raid siren just a few hours ago. that's not unusual. they happen every day at the moment. and people continue to go about their daily lives now. the very used to that monday 25 of this war. that these arid cyrene's cool off. indeed, yesterday afternoon, a magician outside the station continued to play music, without barely flinching during one of those air raid sirens. certainly, an incredible sense of defiance and resilience here from the ukrainian people. but also, a sense of resignation, that this war is not going to end anytime soon. >> okay, sally, thank you so much. >> millions of refugees have been fleeing the fighting and heading to poland. but now, for some, the job to be back home is outdoing the considerable risk that they know they will face if the return. skies mark stone reports now from the polluted ukraine balloon -- border where he's been speaking

to people, including women and children, who are heading back into ukraine. >> the train station in this polish border town is where you'll find most of the refugees here. they arrive daily. and with them, such mixed emotions. the relief that safety brings, but uncertainty, to. and a longing for the homes they've. left. sonia is just a teenager, that has a role now beyond her years. the ticket is for a journey with her younger cousins, westward. they're from kharkiv, a city destroyed. >> -- >> story gives a hint of such relate-able judgments that families families are being forced to make. she explains the family decision had been that her

elderly mother would remain behind in kharkiv with all the family pets. sitting nearby, we meet anton and his wife. they're from sumy on ukraine's northern border wish of russia. -- >> their story is bittersweet. after days hiding in a basement, they are safe now. and they have a motivation to keep going. five grandchildren in germany. that their age, they know they may never return home yay. over a platform five, something we've not expected. a long line of ukrainians going the other way, back to ukraine, back home. this family arrived two weeks ago. now the draw to be home outweighs their considerable weight risk they know they will face.

i just want to go back home, this woman tells me. when your home, everything is better. nearby, we need valentino. you brought your mom and your baby here to safety? and now your will go back? >> yes. yes. >> a reena and her husband volodymyr went on holiday to asia before the invasion. now they're back with no hesitation. how are you feeling about going back? >> good. >> yeah? >> i'm glad. >> glad to be with your family again? >> yes. >> and you will stay there and your family will stay? >> yes, we will. stay >> because lots of people are leaving now. but you want to say? >> yes, we will stay. >> tell me why? >> because it's my country. >> so many stories, so many different emotions, and one war which drives many away and yet polls some back. >> well, let's speak to mark, who's still in poland this morning for us. good morning, mark. just extraordinary that even

given the destruction we're seeing, these people still want to go home. >> of course. the draw to go back to their home, in many cases, is now allowing the risk that they know they will face back there. a certainly surprised us. i would say though that many more people are leaving then going back. their motivations for going back are different. there are some who are young and fit, who brought their elderly and young relatives here, and are now heading back. there are some who just decide for whatever reason, that the really do want to be home. home is the most important place to be. i want to show you, there are so many little snapshots of lives being disrupted here. this family don't speak any english. so, i'll just explain what we discovered a few moments ago. we've got two sisters here, in the red and her sister here. their children, their respective children. the going in different

directions now. this little boy, i think is going to greece. to meet up with some of his family, with his mom. but then, his and and his cousin, you can see just here, are going in a different direction, to belarus. to be with their families. and it is just an example of so many hundreds of thousands of families, millions of families, who have been displaced by one man's decision to invade another country. lives ripped up, torn apart, pulled apart. it really is very, very, very sad indeed to. watch ver >> mark, thank you so much. here, police are looking for 22 yellow man, after a 19-year-old woman was found dead in a student accommodations in central london. let's bring in -- who's outside that flats in central london. good morning. what do we know? >> morning, kimberly. that's right. the 22 year old man is being looked for by the police.

police are saying that members of the public should not approach him, if they see him. they should call 999. he is believed to travel between london and cambridge. yesterday, police were called to this block of flats behind me, at around 5:10 am in the morning. to reports of a woman with serious neck injuries. emergency services tried to treat her, but she was pronounced dead at the scene. obviously, a cause a great deal of concern among students here. some of whom we spoke to, who woke up in the morning to police in their building, being told not to leave their rooms. overnight, more details emerged about that 19 year old student. we do not have a name yet. the police are saying that they believe she was a student sent at city university of london. who have buildings in and around this area. they also said that she may have known this 22-year-old man, and that they may have been in some form of relationship. and had been together that evening. the evening before she was discovered dead.

this is obviously a case which will raise concern among many people. it's been a year where we've had serious cases of violence against women and girls. it's just over a year since the killing of sarah everett. other cases like subpoena as well. obviously, that will raise fears and concerns. like i say, 22 year old man is being searched for in connection with this killing of a teenager here in the student flats in central london. >> okay, thank you so much. let's have a look at what's coming up and a half passing. political show. sophie rich is back. she's in west minister, standing back. what have you got for us, so? >> morning, kamala. the today, the focus is as always of course, on ukraine. with many guests talking about the bunk argument that we're seeing in some of those strategic cities. we're also going to be looking at the impact on the united kingdom, because next week, is

chancellor spring statesman. things are getting very difficult indeed for british families. because of the cost of living crisis. the cbs2 mates were going to be on average, 2500 pounds worse off. half of that because of ukraine, half of that because of inflation that's already built into the system. so, what is the chancellor going to do about it? what levers does he have to pull? in other words, what areas can we expect help with? and what extent are we going to have to effectively just handle the inflation rises and that pressure is going to have on family budgets themselves? so, lots to talk about. we'll also be talking to rachael reeves from labor, who's going to give us her take. they're really focusing on energy security. and we've all seen the rising cost of energy bills. that's when he said to get worse, as the sanctions with russia really start to rise. got to talk about the show. coming up at half past. a >> fantastic, stove. thanks a lot, seen about 15 minutes. over the last few weeks, sky news has brought you the stories of ordinary people here

in the uk doing whatever they can to help the people in ukraine. this morning, we're taking a hot okay faithless london which has close its doors allow its volunteers to create care packages which they will then deliver to refugees in person. leading the team, christina down bus. -- i hope i got your name. good morning, christina. she's life from prosperity kathy this morning. christina, thanks so. much so, how did you come about this idea of closing your doors and come up with these care packages? packages >> morning, kimberly. great to be here. indeed, just five weeks ago, this restaurant was operating as a restaurant. and as soon as the war broke out, the owners of the restaurant decided that they had to do something. to help the ukrainians in need and to -- i joined as soon as the war broke out. came here and started volunteering. today, we have delivered 30 trucks of humanitarian aid to ukraine.

and it's been phenomenal. we've had such a great community support. the community generosity has been immense. there's people coming in and out, every single day. we have over 150 volunteers rotating, in and out every single day. and i'm very, very privileged to be involved in this grassroots initiative. >> that's extraordinary. 30 trucks. the gist of that seems quite overwhelming. >> it's incredible. but we have contacts on the ground in ukraine. we have skills, experience and heaps of enthusiasm to keep going. and it has been tremendous. we sent two trucks on average, every single day. and we are continuing, and we will continue to keep going. for as long as it's required to help the people in ukraine. >> what kind of things do send across? and and it's all, i'm just assuming, donated it to you? >> yes, absolutely.

the community brings food, hygiene products, medication, first aid kits. we accept everything. and in particular, we currently need non perishable food. we continue to welcome donations from the community, and we work together with various partners in and around london and beyond, indeed, to get those goods as soon as possible to ukraine. speed is our top priority. >> so, how do you then get it across to ukraine? and is a actually going into ukraine? or does it say stay on the board and help those people who are fully? >> great question. we deliver our humanitarian aid directly to ukraine. i cannot disclose much more than that. but all of our goods go directly to ukraine via the connections that we have in ukraine. and we deliver our humanitarian aid to western ukraine, central ukraine. but unfortunately, due to security and safety reason, i

cannot disclose more. >> how many people are volunteering there with you? >> over 150 people are involved at the moment. probably, i haven't kept track of everybody who has come. it's huge. i'm incredibly grateful to everybody who has come forward. who has been involved and who has worked with us. every single day, from early morning too late in the evening, we have been inundated with the donations, and it's been such and huge effort. thanks to the community here that we have been able so many donations to ukraine. >> christina, we better leave you. it looks like you've got some packing to do with those boxes behind. you [laughs] christina, thanks a lot. >> thank you. >> still to come, we've got the sport. jacqui is here.

>> such a great thing, isn't it? >> so generous. i watched that and feel bad that you should be doing more yourself. it is a great day yesterday. if you are a france rugby fan, it is good for you. it's probably got a sore head this morning. in the six nations they want a. we'll show you how they wrapped things up at their first grand slam win in 12 years. also, details of that very nervy ending for england's women, as they keep their semi final hopes alive in the cricket world cup. and delight for rafael nadal, as he reaches another final, to remain on course for a fourth title at indian wells.

>> hello again. jacqui's here with the sports. jacqui? >> if your french and your french rugby fan, i would love to hear from you, if you got a sore head this morning. i'll tell you why after this.

>> sorry -- france is celebrating after winning the six nations. -- to land a first grand slam in 12 years. france led 18 six in the break. both a scored for the home's side in first half. england played pretty well. hit back in the second half, with a try from freddy stewart. france responded with a third try of the game for them. it is the first time in 12 years friends have won all five of their matches and completed the grand slam. chelsea are the first -- into the fa cup semifinals after the players put aside

uncertainty of the club's ownership. they won two nil at the riverside after first half goals. the other three quarterfinals are being played today. england's women's -- to beat new zealand at the cricket world cup. to keep alive their hopes of reaching the semifinals. england were cruising towards their target, that felled from 174 for six, to 196 for nine. before they hit the running run. fourth place india with two group games remaining. rafael nadal is through to the indian wells final after a hard hard-fought win over fellow spaniard carlos alker of. it went to three sets. it was the three-time champion, nadal, who took a crucial break. winning 64, 46, 63. over the 18 year old.

one nil nine -- and louis heldman flynn starts the bahrain grand prix in fifth place. he has struggled for the first race. tune in for that at 3:00. have a great sunday. >> let's have a quick look at the weather. the weather. >> more sunshine to come. -- it is going to be a chilly start to the day, but with widespread blue skies. this cloud over allen in southwest, as well as patrick clouds over eastern scotland. most places will however, be dry.

that's it from me this morning. have a great sunday. up next, sophie talks to the chancellor. and of course, throughout the day, more of the latest of the russian invasion of the ukraine. ♪ turns out everyone does sound better in the shower. and it turns out the general is a quality insurance company that's been saving people money for nearly 60 years. for a great low rate, and nearly 60 years of quality coverage, go with the general.

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>> hello and welcome to sophie rich on sunday. it's over three weeks since russia locks its illegal invasion of ukraine. and despite fierce resistance, things are increasingly desperate. 6.5 million people have been displaced, as the bombardment continues in key cities. today, we'll be finding out the latest from the front lines. and exploring whether there could be a diplomatic solution to the fighting. plus, we'll be looking at the impact here in the uk, as the chancellor puts the final touches to next week's spring statement. with rising inflation and economic sanctions against

russia, about to be felt here at home, too, one thing is certain. whatever richie sunak has up his sleeve, he will be able to fully mitigate the cost of living crisis. our first guest today is the chancellor, richie sunak. the least setting out his vision for the uk economy. -- we'll be here to give us labor state. and from ukraine, we'll be hearing from the country's deputy prime minister to set out what ukrainians are calling for. plus, we'll be hearing talking to the former chief of defense intelligence, air marshal phillip osborne, to give us a military perspective. ♪ ♪ ♪ no, it was due to just be a spring update, without major tax or spending changes. but with a situation in ukraine on top of an existing cost of living crisis, the chancellor may be forced into more action. with a strong energy bills,

fuel costs and a national insurance rice, that takes effect in a matter of days, things are about to get very difficult for millions of british families. glad to see, the chancellor richie sunak joins us now. thank you very much for being with us this morning. on i'm keen of course to talk to you about next week, very soon. but i just want to start off with ukraine. it does feel like there is just more relentless updates every day. today, the mayor of mariupol said thousands of residents have been forcibly taken to russia. i don't know if you know anything about whether that's true. but is there an update about the latest you're hearing from ukraine? >> i think like everyone, we're watching the scenes unfold on our tv screens. it's horrifying to watch. and we sit here and admiration for the bravery and sacrifice of the ukrainian people. i think everyone watching should feel really proud about the efforts that were playing as a country, to support ukraine at this moment. obviously, people are opening up their homes. most recently, to take in refugees. but we're also a leading country and providing humanitarian assistance to

ukraine. 400 million pounds. we were one of the first country to provide military assistance to them. and again we, have played a leading role in organizing the most severe economic sanctions. something that i and my team have also been working on. >> we'll talk about the sanctions. but just on the refugee scheme you mentioned, it was last week that michael gloved sat in the turn to me that today would be the day we start to see the first refugees arrived in london. do you know how many refugees have entered the country under that scheme? and are you planning on opening up your home or giving a room? >> so, in terms of the numbers, it's about 100,000 people. over hundred thousand people, i understand, have registered their interest. and those checks are going through now. there's checks on both sides, as michael probably explained. >> has anyone started come yet? i >> don't know if they started to come. in terms of these is that have been approved, but i understand it is about 25,000 have completed their applications. i think almost 10,000 have been granted already, though the exact moments of those people i don't. all of those numbers are ramping up all the time. as i said, it's wonderful that we see as a country can play a role, in lots of different

ways. >> you joining the skin yourself? >> no. i think everyone will be helping in the best way that they can. so, i'm full of admiration for those who can do that. me and my wife, will be helping other ways. >> okay. that's fine. so, president zelenskyy has told russia today, that is time to talk. how optimistic are you that we can see a diplomatic solution to the crisis? and the stress says she thinks it may be a smokescreen for russia to carry out further atrocities after regrouping. >> yes, selfishly i would refer to the foreign secretary on her judgment. it's encouraging that there are some signs of talks happening. that's obviously good. but you have to have some skepticism about it, given the track record of these things. i think the most important thing is any talk of settlement must be on ukraine's terms, obviously. and the best thing we can do is just maintain a significant pressure that we are bringing to bear on putin. but also providing support to the ukrainians in the meantime. that's the best thing that we can do. and the ukrainians will take the. lead >> and i think ukraine is

calling for other countries to effectively act as a security guarantors for any deal that a sign. because obviously, it does feel as if russia is demanding they not join nato, for example. so, they what security guarantees from other countries to protect them in the future. is that something that the uk would consider? >> i think is probably a bit too early to get into the details of what the shape of any agreement might look like. and again, the foreign secretary will be taking the lead on these issues. together with obviously, a prime minister. i think the right thing now is to continue to put maximum support on putin, both economically and the sanctions, diplomatically and also providing military and humanitarian aid to ukraine. that's what we need to do. they are displaying unbelievable bravery and sacrifice and, we need to be standing with them. that's what we're doing. and hopefully, putin putin will see sense. we want to see him fail in this venture in ukraine. the world has spoken almost unanimously, now, against a. and of course, we would love to see a peaceful settlement.

at the meantime, we need to keep up pressure. >> as you say, we have seen this unbelievable sacrifice from ukraine. i just want to play you a kick up of the prime minister. i'm sure you know what i'm going to play for you. it's a clip of the prime minister at yesterday's conservative supreme party conference. let's listen to what he said. >> it's the instinct of the people of this country, like the people of ukraine, to choose freedom every time. when the british people voted for brexit, in such large numbers, i don't believe they were remotely hostile to foreigners. just because they wanted to be free. to do things differently for this country. to be able to run itself. i'll give you another example. >> do you think there are parallels to be drawn between that democratic vote to leave the eu and and legal invasion of ukraine, where thousands of civilians have died? >> now, i don't think they're two situations are directly -- i mean, clearly or not directly

analogous. and i don't think the prime minister was saying that they were directly analogous either. >> he's not saying directly. but what he is saying, the people of this country, like the people of ukraine, choose freedom every time. and an example he gives's brexit. >> as i said, the situations are obviously not analogous. one is a democratic referendum in a country where thankfully, we're able to debate ideas in peace. >> and want to join in the eu? >> and of course, that should be there right. and that's part of the situation that putin finds -- well, for him, he doesn't like the idea at all. right? the idea of an expression of freedom. but i think they're not directly analogous situations. and i don't believe the prime minister was saying that they were either. >> he knew you would have used those words though would you? >> i don't think the prime minister did either -- >> we just listened to them. >> but people -- >> we played you exactly what the prime minister said. so, what we're not taking this out of context at all. >> look, people will make up their own minds. i certainly don't think those

two situations are directly analogous. and i don't think he does either. >> so, you agree with the prime minister that the people of this country, like the people of ukraine, choose freedom every time for such as thing as brexit? >> i don't think people in this country pasha prize their freedom. of course they do. there's lots of different ways they express. that weather through elections, referendums, another democratic means. right now, the people in ukraine are fighting for their freedom. >> it's pretty crass, isn't it, to draw those two things together? >> i think no one can doubt that the prime minister has taken a lead, globally, in standing up to put it. >> that's not the question i. as >> well -- i think, it's nothing cross about that. he's taken the lead internationally in assembling a coalition of countries to inflict maximum economic pain on putin. and he has galvanized opinion. and i think he deserves enormous credit for that. so, i don't think anyone could say -- >> so, you don't think -- he >> he's absolutely focused on making sure we can do anything we can everything we can to support ukraine. so, the fact that it's been acknowledged by the training leadership, actually --

you heard that when the president addressed parliament. but also, more generally, it's acknowledged the uk has played a leading role and the prime minister deserves credit. that but of course, east to situations are not analogous. and i'm not would say they. or >> whatever happens with the war, the world has changed. do we need to start to look at increasing defense spending? >> we had something called integrated review a little while ago, which was a comprehensive look at the threats facing our country. and set out a plan -- >> that was before -- ukraine >> will actually, if you look at that review, it said that russia was one of the biggest threats that the uk face. in that sense, credit to our defense and intelligence teams, who have the province to recognize. that is why we already have increase defense writings. >> just on that -- >> but hang on, can i just finish. this is important. but just a year britain ago, in the midst of coronavirus, for most departments, we provided long term funding settlements. the one department that we made an exception, because of the circumstances was the ministry of defense.

and they received a four-year settlement. an extra 24 billion pounds over the four-year period. that's the largest catch cash uplift enamel defunding, since the end of the cold war. and will ensure that we are not just meeting our nato 2% target. but we remain one of the latest defense spenders in nato. and we did that before. >> but once you take into account inflation, as a think tank has said, defense spending is actually going to be fully in real terms in 2024. you say that you've met your targets on the percentage white. but the 2019 conservative manifesto pledge to increase the defense budget above inflation everywhere. are you not going to stick to? that >> if you look at the forecast that was published with the higher inflation in their, what you see is the fence mending is increasing in real terms over this part. it's 24 billion pounds extra. and that was done before all of this, because we knew -- >> so no more the moneyed for defense spending? i >> think if you look at what we're doing across public spending, or spending a lot --

the focus has not got to move on -- and i'm sure we're going to get a lot of talk about the cost of living -- before we get into that conversation, i think the last time all state. we're talking about the last about the government spending is going up quite amount. an extra hundred 50 billion pounds. more being spent by government, on all sorts of things. >> it sounds like to me, no more -- >> i think what people want is we can get the spending on the money across the board. we know it to make sure that all that money are hard earned money, is spent really well. that is why -- >> so no more money for defense? >> we gave lots more money for defense. 24 billion pounds. >> okay. >> okay. >> now, of course, we talk about cost of living. the uk has understandably impose sanctions on russia, as others have as well. can you level with people on what's going to mean for us here in the united kingdom? ki >> know this is the number one thing people are concerned about. and people are working hard. they're struggling with a price of things going up. i get up. and spending more my time spoke

with focused on the. i want people to know they should be reassured that, look, i will stand by them in the same way i have done over the last couple of years. to try and make a difference where i can. but as you said, the actions and steps we are taking to sanction russia or not cost free for us here at home. i cannot pretend like it's going to be easy. that government can solve every challenge. although i come or that i can completely protect people against some of the difficult times ahead. but what can i said can say, where we can make a difference, of course we will. that's what we've done over the past few years. and most recently, you saw that with our announcement to help people with energy bills. and i'm billion pounds. 350 pounds of support to people. they'll get 150 pounds of that in april. so we can make a difference, of course we will. but i guess difficult. >> how high is the risk-averse echelon? >> you wouldn't expect me to speculate on that. what i would say to people is they should feel confident about the strength of our economy. people are -- last year we were the fastest great economy in the g7. if you look at our unemployment, we are now back to the levels

of unemployment that we saw before the crisis. very low levels. record numbers of people on payroll. record lows of job vacancies. the fundamentals of the economy are really good. because we've recovered well. because of actions we've taken. a look, the outlook is uncertain. as you said, because of what's happening in ukraine. >> to get a bit a sense of your spending priorities, i understand there is -- so much you can tell us a, head of next week. but fuel duty is an area where there's lots of speculation about. should people feel there is action that may be taken there? >> i know it's frustrating for you, people watching, obviously i can't comment on specific things. what i would say is i understand that. i have a real constituency. people are incredibly reliant on their cars. and this is one of the biggest bills people face, so watching a go up, we're all seeing. that when i -- get that. that's why we fuse in frozen the fuel duty. it's the 11th consecutive year or feel duty freezes. >> and of course, feel duty, energy, these are things people

of lower income spend a disproportionate amount of their income on. it's number tickle early hard when the bill school of. things are about to get worse of well. and april, benefits are going up just 3%. inflation we expect to be around 8%. can you at least see that you are going to be targeting, for your help, that you can give, people who are going to need the most? >> that's what we have done over the past couple of years. >> i'm asking -- forward. >> of course, i would say judge me by my actions or the last couple of years. you'll see in all the research that's public shows this that those on the lewis incomes have actually seen the greatest about a support. >> so there will be action, you think, targeted towards particularly those of low income? >> if you look at what we've already done -- a mention energy -- >> i acknowledge you want to talk about your record, but i'm just aware of time. >> well this is something about to come in. and they're lots of different ways that you can help people with energy bills. and you're gonna have rachel reeves on later. one thing that labour party said we should just cut the 80

on energy. that is the opposite of targeted and it would mean someone like you or me, who has a larger than average energy bill would get a larger discount. we're actually what we've done is provide 150 pounds, 80% of british households. that is obviously going to mean a lot more to someone on the lower income, as you said. it's much more targeted support and it will get there much quickly. so, if we're doing exactly have you have said. >> we've talked about how different things are going to get and that you can only mitigate so much of that. but of course, this is the time you are choosing to go ahead with tax rises in the form of national insurance. i think it's pretty fair to say that those are those are going to be going ahead. if you're not going to scrub it, should we be expecting to see some movement on the threshold at which people start paying these taxes? >> take a step back. why we're introducing it. it's because i care deeply about the nhs. and i know the country does as well. we were faced with a situation where millions of people are

going to be waiting years to get the treatment they wanted, as we recovered from coronavirus. >> but we didn't hat expect a windfall in the form -- of >> we didn't think that was acceptable for anybody. we want to address. the team at the nhs are prepared to work incredibly hard to work through that backlog. i wanted to make sure that they had the funding to they need in order to do that. yes why we're introducing this levy. people can be reassured every penny of it, unlike all other ten taxes, every penny goes to the thing they care most about. thanks to the actions of the health secretary, they can be assured as willie well spent. we're rooting out inefficiency, or for things, and announcing more ambitious targets on that today. doubling nhs officially. yes, ukraine has come along and made it more difficult. but it hasn't changed the underlying situation that we've got this monumental backlog that we want to work through. and this, although it's a difficult decision, i think a fair way to do it. is the responsible way to do. >> i just want to show you the

graph -- the following graph. this shows the uk tax changes under different chancellors. anything above the light is tax increases. and everything below the lion's tax reductions. red is labor, blue conservative. you can see you here at the end, richie sunak. so in two years, you've raised taxes the same about as quarter -- did in ten years. how is that desire for low tax economy going? >> what it is a choice all the other chancellors had pandemics today with. which one has had to introduce furlough. borrowing at higher levels than world war ii. that's the bit not on that chart. and that are on the right is a direct reflection of those things, which are i think, anyone would say pretty exceptional. or hopefully, pretty exceptional. no one had a pandemic to deal with except over a century ago. it's the biggest recession we experienced as a country ever.

350 years. that's not on the tour. either >> so is yours going to come. now >> i do think it will come down overtime. and we started on that. and i point people to my comments on the budget last october. i said yes, have we had to make some difficult decisions? we have. i believe those are the right decisions. they're responsible decisions for the country's economic security going forward. but those are done now. and my priority is to reduce peoples taxes. we started at the budget, and you talked about those on the loose incomes earlier. the first tax cut we put in place was on people in universal credit. they face a high tax rate when they're going back into work. we cut that significantly. it's a two billion pound tax cut for millions of people. it will mean single mother, for example, working full-time on the national living wage, will be 1200 pounds better off. so, that was a first tax cut. my priority overtime is to keep cutting peoples taxes. get that bar down. and that's where we're going to. ahead >> finally, will boris johnson lead the conservatives into the next election? >> yes.

>> thank you very. much richie sunak. chancellor they're talking us through the details. coming up in his spring statement. now, we are hoping to speak to the lieutenant chancellor, rachel reefs. i'll be honest with you, we don't quite have her yet. but will bring her to you just as soon as we can, to try and find out exactly what labor's position is. richie sunak was touching on that slightly in the interview. i believe we may have rachel reefs. thank you very much for being with us. we just heard from richie sunak who was saying -- i hope you can hear me rachel reeves. >> hello there. >> there you are. excellent. we just heard from richie sunak. the chancellor. effectively saying that things are going to get difficult and that he is not going to be able to help fully mitigate the cost of living crisis. what do you make of what he had to say? >> well, wednesday isn't an

stork moment for the chancellor. for him to show whether he really understands the challenges that people are facing at the moment. because as a constituency mp, i've got months or saying to me, i'm struggling to put food on the table. i'm now skipping meals, so that i can feed my children properly. i've got pensioners seem to me, i'm not turning that heating on, even though i need to. because i'm worried about how i'm going to pay the bills. for those people, and millions of others up and down the country, we need more than warm words from the chancellor. we need the chancellor to do the things that will relieve that pressure on the cost of living. like a windfall tax on the big profits being made by north sea oil and gas companies. channel that into lower prices for everybody else. and as for the increasing national insurance contributions, it's the wrong tax at the wrong time, that's going to take even more money out of the purses and wallets of working people. >> let's talk about the planned rights to national insurance. we just had the chancellor

defending, effectively saying he needs to sort out long term funding for the nhs and social clear care. and specifically what that tax is the same to do. it feels like i'm in some kind of parallel universe, where labor is arguing against a tax rise for the nhs. what's going on? >> originally, you'll remember sophie the chancellor and prime minister said that national insurance contribution rice was to fix the social care problem. but we now know there's gonna be no new money for social care in this parliament. then they said it was to reduce and h s waiting times. but there's no credible plan to do that in this parliament. and all the while, we know that the government are wasting billions of pounds out of taxpayers money, just in the last few days. we've heard shocking stories that 8.7 billion pounds over spent in ppe procurements, including ppe that could even be used by the nhs. and now the government are burning. taxpayers money literally going up in flames. so, you can't help wondering

whether this tax rises to pay for a black hole because of this government's waste of mismanagement. >> either way, if there is a black hole in the nhs, doesn't it need to be filled? for whatever reason it? is is>> in which case, why national insurance? because national insurance, the problem is that a tax charge by those that go to work every day. and those people who into ploy them. some of the richest people in our country, who earn an income through daylight and stocks and shares, or through a portfolio of -- they might pay a penny more in tax for the national insurance rice. that's not right. it's not right that ordinary working people should be footing the bill. and we're the only g7 economy that is increasing taxes at the moment -- >> what other taxes would you like to >> and people need every penny. >> what other taxes would you like to see. or do you think the tax burden

is so high? >> first of all, sophie, i think that this is the wrong tax at the wrong time. in the middle of a cost of living crisis, we shouldn't be increasing taxes. the chancellor keeps giving interviews and speeches saying he's a low tax chancellor. well, prove it on wednesday. reverse this national in for sure it's contribution rights and cut that on glass and electricity bills to help people across a lift in crisis. i know chancellors have to make difficult decisions. they have to count for every penny of taxpayer money. if you are going to increase taxes, you should ask people with broader shoulders to make bigger contributions. the chancellor is not doing this with the national insurance increase rise. that's why say it's the wrong tax at the wrong time. >> do you think richie sunak's should cut fuel duty? >> sorry, i didn't hear that question, so. he >> should richie sunak cut fuel duty? >> if the chancellor reduces feel duty, we will stand in his way. but even a five pound reduction

in fuel duty will only reduce filling up the car with petrol by two pounds. so, i don't think that really rises to the scale of the challenge that we face at the moment. which is why we're calling for a windfall tax on the big profits been made by north sea oil and gas companies right now. and channel that in with both a reduction in that from 5% to zero on gas and electricity bills. but also a big and expansion -- because we know it is families and pensioners, on lower, modest incomes, who are struggling most at the moment with the rising prices. so, that would be my priority. but any sensible measures to deal with the cost of living crisis, of course, labor would support those on wednesday. >> i just want to talk a bit about the windfall tax, because this is something that labor is talking about a lot. you clearly feel the public's went back up. but isn't there a real risk that this could discourage investment in the north sea, at a time when frankly, we do need

to focus our own domestic energy supply. because we're trying to cut ties with places like russia and our dependence on places like russia for oil and gas. >> when shell and bp announced their record profits earlier this year, at the same time, they announced a big increase in the dividend payments. and also, share buyback schemes. they did announce -- >> the stock future investments. >> but this is exactly the point, sophie. the big profits they're making at the moment, they're not channeling that into new investments. instead, they are using that money to further push up their share prices. we've also seen big bonuses for the executives at these companies. so, it's not clear to me that these profits are being channeled into investment. but instead, into further inflating their share prices. when i first said there should be windfall tax back in january, we thought it would raise about

1.2 billion pounds. the since then, oil and gas prices have increased substantially. and that surcharge, that windfall tax, would now bring in about 3.7 billion pounds. the chancellor says that money somehow is untouchable. but the fact is, chancellors have to make choices about who the tax and who disappear. and instead of carrying on down the path this chancellor is going on, he should look again at labor's proposals for a windfall tax, and use that to keep bills light for everybody else. that would be my priority as a chancellor. i'm deeply deposed disappointed it is it seem to be this chancellors priority. >> i just want to talk to be about a couple of things apart minister said yesterday but at the spring conference. we played the clip of him speaking to which you sunak earlier but he. said the people of this country, like the people of ukraine, choose freedom every time. i can give you a couple of free mistreatment examples. when the british people voted

for brexit in large numbers, i don't believe it is because they were hostile to foreigners. it's because they wanted to be free to do things differently for this country to be able to run itself. now, richie sunak defended the prime minister. he said that he was trying to make a comparison, not directly analogously said. and the prime minister wouldn't say that either. what's your take on what the prime minister said? >> it is utterly distasteful. and insulting to compare the fight for freedom and the aggression of the russian state, to the decision to leave the european union. it is insulting to the ukrainian people, who are fighting for their very freedom and very lives. and it's insulting to the british people as well. and if the prime minister didn't mean the analogy, he should have made it. and he should take back those words and apologize to the ukrainian people, and the british people for those cross remarks he made yesterday. >> richie sunak also made a

point that the uk has been really supporting ukraine. and presidents lewinsky has been very grateful for the support that the prime minister has given him. investing in speech, boris johnson said this about labor. do we want them in charge at this moment? do we want them running up a white flag? do you see them standing up to putin? what do you make of that? >> i'm not going to take any lessons from this prime minister about standing up to the russians. this was a prime minister, who on the eve of the invasion of ukraine, was winding and dining people who with close links to putin's waging. this is a prime minister who overruled the security service and giving -- to let the death cyber. so i'll take no lectures from this prime minister. he lacks serious in gravity for the moment. and i would ask the prime minister to apologize for his

words that are deeply insulting to the people of ukraine. and absolutely ridiculous at the labour party. >> rachel reeves, thank you very much for being on the program. rachel reeves, end of next week's spring statement. let's focus now on the situation in ukraine. there are reports that russian forces bump at an art school in mariupol where 400 people were sheltering. according to the mayor of mariupol, thousands of residents have battered city have been forcibly taken to russia. it is feel as if the news coming out of that country is just relentless at the moment. we'll speak now to one of those voices from ukraine. we're joined by the deputy prime minister. thank you so much for being on the program. we owe thank guest for coming on the show. but we are especially grateful to you. of course, we can see where you are in ukraine, for your security reasons. what can you tell us and our

viewers about the reality of what's happening on the ground? e ground >> indeed, i'm here in ukraine on a beautiful ukrainian land. unfortunately, many parts of ukraine are under fire. and nothing left from the beauty we are seeing three -- the situation is growing more and more severe. as i've been telling numerous times. more than 15 days of this resistance are the resistance of the ukrainian people, ukrainian nation. who faced severe attacks. basically, russia has committed nearly all possible war crimes, which humanity has seen over the second world war. the number of civilians victims is far more than observed from the armed forces of ukraine. it is absolutely essential that nobody's getting used to the war. we stand, we resist, and we will get stronger. regardless, any attempts of the russian federation, which has failed