the city of birmingham has been targeted by city council for their mistakes.ey are the ones who for over the last ten years have been fighting for this equal pay award. years have been fighting for this equal pay award-— years have been fighting for this equal pay award. which goes way back. it equal pay award. which goes way back- it goes _ equal pay award. which goes way back. it goes way _ equal pay award. which goes way back. it goes way back, _ equal pay award. which goes way back. it goes way back, but - equal pay award. which goes way back. it goes way back, but they | back. it goes way back, but they have not managed _ back. it goes way back, but they have not managed the _ back. it goes way back, but they have not managed the finances. have not managed the finances effectively. for example, they have computer system that is very poor. you try to go on to your account, you are not given instructions of how to sort out your council tax. they have made poor investments, a poor way of spending money, and the citizens of birmingham have to pay for it. ., �

um, let me tell you what has gone too far as birmingham city council as well. absolute shambles . um, . what an absolute shambles. um, this local council is umahat actually breaks for anyone , um, actually breaks for anyone, um, that lives in that place because it's just an absolute farce. you know, by now the amount of debt they're in, they've had problems with equal pay lawsuits. they weren't paying people accurately. they've had a massive scandal in relation to an it project that has set them again into lots and lots of debt. they've been voting today on whether or not to raise council tax. they're by a massive 21. it will end up perhaps over two years. i can tell you now . right. they're not tell you now. right. they're not wanting to raise council tax by a bumper amount in order to increase the services or no, they want to move to things like fortnightly bin collections. they want to reduce funding on things like libraries. um, some of sen funding you name it, of the sen funding you name it, dimming streetlights and on and on it goes. i found this pretty d

that is massively significant for the people who live within the birmingham city council area. much more on this story when we have it. still to come here — a roller coaster ride for coin. and who fancies a sleepover in the hidden library of st. paul's cathedral? will not tell you all. around the world and across the uk. this is the world today on bbc news. ben is 18 and he applied for his test in november last year, but was given a date injuly this year. a weight of almost nine months. i'm waitin: weight of almost nine months. in waiting this whole time. i still got stuff to do, i got work in school. especially my mum as well, because she's a single mother. she's got to change her schedule around as an approved martin knows the impact. they are very nervous. _ martin knows the impact. they are very nervous. so — martin knows the impact. they are very nervous, so that _ martin knows the impact. they are very nervous, so that has - martin knows the impact. they are very nervous, so that has a - martin knows the impact. they are very nervous, so that has a direct. very nervous, s

underfunding of local government by central government and that was part of the problem that birmingham city counciling cuts. now the government did make extra funding available for councils in england at the start of this year, some £600 million. and we expect the chancellor, jeremy hunt, to tell councils in his word to cut back on what he calls wasteful spending on things like consultants or diversity schemes when he delivers his budget on wednesday. but we're not at this stage expecting a lot more money for councils to be forthcoming. so i expect you will see these warnings from the sector continue to grow. but in birmingham, talking to people in the city today, there's a lot of concern at the impact of these significant cuts right across the city. huge concern, thanks to alex for that, plenty more on that story on the bbc website, and of course tomorrow with it being the budget, we'll have a special panel here on the context, we will be focusing on that in the first hour the programme, we will see whether jeremy hunt goes beyond the £600 million he is providing from local councils. that's it fro

birmingham city _ to be related. we are keeping an eye on the birmingham city council - on the birmingham city council picture and i canral election coming and central government don't like to say we are going to put council tax, we are going to put council tax, we are going to put many up and you are going to put many up and you are going to put many up and you are going to have to pay for it? council taxes going — going to have to pay for it? council taxes going op _ going to have to pay for it? council taxes going up almost _ going to have to pay for it? council taxes going up almost everywhere | going to have to pay for it? council. taxes going up almost everywhere in the country. we are seeing councils approaching the government for support — approaching the government for support. it's not party political from _ support. it's not party political from a — support. it's not party political from a local government perspective. at what _ from a local government perspective. at what we _ from a local government perspective. at what we are seeing is a short term _ at what we are seeing is a short term is— at what we ar

the leader of birmingham city council has apologised to people living in the city after signing off onof cuts to local services — as well as a 21 per cent rise in council tax over the next two years. despite being the largest local authority in europe, birmingham has declared itself effectively bankrupt and needs to make 300—million pounds in savings. joanne writtle reports. a nurturing atmosphere at a music class in birmingham. but mums here are well aware they're bringing up babies in a city with an effectively bankrupt council. people face a 10% council tax rise this year and next year. that's double what many elsewhere in the country will get. it's far from ideal when you're on maternity leave and then facing huge childcare costs in a few months' time. but i'm more concerned about the vulnerable people that i work with normally. i think it's going to be disastrous for them when other sources of support are being cut for them. aislinn's a teacher, and she's looking to move out of birmingham with seven—month—old cecilia. i don't mind paying money into the council, but what worries me

the leader of birmingham city council has apologised unreservedly to people living in the city after t as well as a 21% rise in council tax over the next two years. some councillors on the labour—led authority have called the move devastating. birmingham, the largest local authority in europe, has declared itself effectively bankrupt and needs to make £300 million in savings. our political correspondent alex forsyth reports. at this food bank in small heath, they know all about need. run by a local mosque, they're packing food parcels ahead of ramadan. we get approximately 30 to a0 food bank users, families, every week. most of them are referrals from schools and from social workers, and they're having to choose between heating, gas, electricity and food for their families. this is an area with real deprivation. as well as the food bank, the mosque helps with homelessness, domestic violence and runs youth services — things they say will be under more strain as they try to pick up the slack left by birmingham council cuts. it's the youth that we're really concerned about because this i

the leader of birmingham city council has apologised to people living in the city after a series of cutsise in council tax over the next two years. birmingham, the largest local authority in europe, has declared itself effectively bankrupt and needs to make £300 million in savings. our political correspondent alex forsyth is there. at this food bank in small heath, they know all about need. run by a local mosque, they're packing food parcels ahead of ramadan. we get approximately 30 to a0 food bank users, families, every week. most of them are referrals from schools and from social workers, and they're having to choose between heating, gas, electricity and food for their families. this is an area with real deprivation. as well as the food bank, the mosque helps with homelessness, domestic violence and runs youth services — things they say will be under more strain as they try to pick up the slack left by birmingham council cuts. it's the youth that we're really concerned about because this is a generational thing. if our youth today aren't getting what they need, what impact is that goin

council, i delivered the annual chamberlain lecture at highbury hall. i spoke about how joseph chamberlain, a legendary figure in the city's history, the man who cleared birminghamw is to restore that reputation, by first returning the council to a sound financial footing, returning the council to a sound financialfooting, and returning the council to a sound financial footing, and then returning the council to a sound financialfooting, and then by acting to improve the lives and life chances of people in neighbourhoods right across birmingham. a failure to do so will mean we are unable to lead the city boss might response to the grand challenges facing a — tackling climate change, alleviating child poverty, building affordable homes, racing skills, attracting investment to bring in newjobs and opportunities for all citizens. it's clear we will not succeed simply by fixing what is broken. instead, we must transform this organisation, and that mission will be underpinned by three core objectives that will be enshrined in our new corporate plan. we will share power with our communities, get the basics right, and ensure that we are accountable and ensure that we ar

it's. 12:25 and birmingham city council will vote on its 2024 budget this afternoon. s not all. >> yes, the council that serves britain's second biggest city are having to make millions of pounds worth of cuts after they declared bankruptcy last year. >> but how will the cuts impact everyday life for the people of birmingham, and why are the cuts having to be made? our west midlands reporterjack having to be made? our west midlands reporter jack carson reports it's a budget that will change the lives of everyone in this city. >> after birmingham city council declared bankruptcy, it was clear that cuts were on their way and now this local authority has revealed where the hundreds of millions of pounds worth of funding will be taken away from . funding will be taken away from. £51.5 funding will be taken away from. £515 million, is set to be cut £51.5 million, is set to be cut from the children's young people and families budgets cuts , which and families budgets cuts, which have already been protested alongside the end of funding for all community centres . the all comm

and our other main story tonight, the leader of labour led birmingham city council has unreservedly apologisedt cutting set out today. the cost cutting plan includes taking more than £300 million away from public services across britain's biggest city, second biggest city after it effectively declared itself bankrupt last yeah declared itself bankrupt last year. councillorjohn declared itself bankrupt last year. councillor john cotton described the cuts as a result of a raging crisis in local government caused by the conservatives calling them cheerleaders for austerity. at the same time, birmingham city council is planning to raise council taxes by just less than 10% a year . suella council taxes by just less than 10% a year. suella braverman told gb news today she doesn't believe the former tory mp lee anderson is islamophobic . anderson is islamophobic. today's exclusive interview with the former home secretary comes after mr anderson claimed islamists had got control of the mayor of london. >> he is not racist, he is not islamophobic. he's calling out very poor performance by the mayor of

birmingham city council is to vote on a wave of cuts to local services and a 21% rise in its rate ofope declared itself effectively bankrupt last year and is now trying to make £300 million worth of savings. libraries, parks and cultural projects may be affected. the academy of medical royal colleges has given its backing to a plan to increase the number of health professionals known as physician associates in england. there are currently more than 3,000 of them in hospitals and gp surgeries. ministers hope to have 10,000 more over the next decade. you're live with bbc news. to the middle east and the israel—gaza war. israel has repeatedly said that the brutality against the victims of the hamas attacks on october 7th included sexual violence. now, a team of experts from the un has concluded there are "reasonable grounds" to believe that sexual violence occurred during the attacks, and there's convincing information that hostages taken by the group have been subjected to it. hamas has denied the allegations. pramila patten is the un special representative on sexual violence in confli

well the top story from the gb news room tonight is that the labour led birmingham city council has approvedhat's being described as double whammy of higher as a double whammy of higher taxes and fewer services. the plans include a 21% increase in council tax over two years , and council tax over two years, and £300 million of cuts to public services. speaking during today's meeting, the council leader , john cotton, leader, john cotton, unreservedly apologise to the city's residents for the budget but said it was a result of a raging crisis in local government. but birmingham's conservative leader said the cuts will mean streets are no longer cleaned . dumped waste is longer cleaned. dumped waste is not enforced and broken street lights are not repaired . well, lights are not repaired. well, the news from birmingham comes just hours before the chancellor unveils his

at the same time, birmingham city council is planning to raise council taxes by just less than 10% aar . suella council taxes by just less than 10% a year. suella braverman told gb news today she doesn't believe the former tory mp lee anderson is islamophobic . anderson is islamophobic. today's exclusive interview with the former home secretary comes after mr anderson claimed islamists had got control of the mayor of london. >> he is not racist, he is not islamophobic. he's calling out very poor performance by the mayor of london, who has completely failed to hold the met commissioner to account, and which is why we've seen emboldened islamism in the streets of london. we've seen an mp hounded out of office because of islamism . of islamism. >> downing street says the new customs partnership, led by britain and france , will make a britain and france, will make a difference to small boat crossings. number 10 says the joint works already delivering with more than 26,000 small boat crossing attempts across the engush crossing attempts across the english channel prevented last yeah engl

birmingham city council is to vote on a wave of cuts to local services and a 21% rise in its rate ofope declared itself effectively bankrupt last year and is now trying to make £300 million worth of savings. libraries, parks and cultural projects may be affected. councils will be told to reduce spending on consultants and diversity schemes when chancellorjeremy hunt delivers his budget tomorrow. council leaders have long been warning they are struggling to balance their books, amid financial pressures. the local government association said most councils spent little on things like diversity schemes. you're live with bbc news. a vulnerable girl being held in a young offenders institution in yorkshire was restrained and had her clothes removed by an all—male team of prison officers, twice. the details emerged in a highly critical report of wetherby young offenders institution, which houses some of the uk's most complex child offenders. the girl, aged between 15 and 18, was undressed to prevent her from using her clothes to self—harm. officials say female staff did not attend the incide

birmingham city council is to vote on a wave of cuts to local services and a 21% rise in its rate ofy in europe declared itself effectively bankrupt last year and is now trying to make £300 million worth of savings. libraries, parks and cultural projects may be affected. the academy of medical royal colleges has given its backing to a plan to increase the number of health professionals known as physician associates in england. there are currently more than 3000 of them in hospitals and gp surgeries. ministers hope to have 10,000 more over the next decade. they perform similar tasks to a doctor but don't have the same degree of medical training. you're live with bbc news. the french president emmanuel macron is due to arrive in prague today for a visit likely to be dominated by the war in ukraine. france has backed a czech initiative to buy up hundreds of thousands of artillery shells from outside the european union. earlier i spoke to our correspondent rob cameron in prague. he told me how this initiative came about. this initiative was unveiled by the czech president petr pavel, who

well the top story from the gb news room tonight is that the labour led birmingham city council has approved a wave of financial cuts in what's being described as double whammy of higher as a double whammy of higher taxes and fewer services. the plans include a 21% increase in council tax over two years , and council tax over two years, and £300 million of cuts to public services. speaking during today's meeting, the council leader , john cotton, leader, john cotton, unreservedly apologise to the city's residents for the budget but said it was a result of a raging crisis in local government. but birmingham's conservative leader said the cuts will mean streets are no longer cleaned . dumped waste is longer cleaned. dumped waste is not enforced and broken street lights are not repaired . well, lights are not repaired. well, the news from birmingham comes just hours before the chancellor unveils his budget tomorrow, with jeremy hunt expected to ask councils to cut wasteful spending on equality and diversity programmes. it's also being rumoured he could announce a £0.02 cut in the pound to natio

jason is an experienced youth worker employed by birmingham city council.using a different name to make public his concerns about cuts to youth services and the poor mental health of his colleagues. the council's deserted the youth service for the last ten years. this decision shows no value for a service that's done nothing wrong. the city council's decision to slash the budget for youth services by more than £2 million could see the closure of some of its 18 youth projects and centres. the plan is for birmingham youth services, the careers service and also the 1a to 19 team to be redesigned to save money. but critics argue it should not be about closing buildings. the city council told us an independent review will allow them to prioritise the most vulnerable young people. staff are being supported by their managers and they add that they're extremely grateful for their ongoing commitment. for more stories from across the uk, head to the bbc news website. you're live with bbc news. a bbc documentary has found egg freezing patients may have been misled by

birmingham city council is to vote on a wave of cuts to local services and a 21% rise in its rate ofity in europe declared itself effectively bankrupt last year and is now trying to make £300 million worth of savings. libraries, parks and cultural projects may be affected. the academy of medical royal colleges has given its backing to a plan to increase the number of health professionals known as physician associates in england. there are currently more than 3000 of them in hospitals and gp surgeries. ministers hope to have 10,000 more over the next decade. you're live with bbc news. at least 35 people died while dozens more were injured as freezing rain and unexpected snowfall hit remote areas of pakistan over the weekend. 22 children were among the fatalities, many of whom were crushed in landslides that buried their homes, disaster management authorities said. the extreme weather hit pakistan's northern and western regions, clogging roads and damaging hundreds of houses. with me is farhat javed from bbc urdu. take us through. this is caused by extreme weather and it has clearly ca

. >> birmingham city council. >> birmingham city council. >> goodness me. bankrupt council.ey can cut down. we want talk about why they're ways that they can cut down. we wathis talk about why they're ways that they can cut down. we wathis mess,about why they're ways that they can cut down. we wathis mess, don't why they're ways that they can cut down. we wathis mess, don't we? they're ways that they can cut down. we wathis mess, don't we? because in this mess, don't we? because it's a yes. go for it. >>— it's a yes. go for it. >> there have been, uh , a number >> there have been, uh, a number of lawsuits that have meant that at birmingham city council has had to pay out over £1 billion, over £1 billion for a city council in back payments and legal fees. why? because of provisions of the equality act and the equal pay act. that meant that , um, cleaners and meant that, um, cleaners and staff indoors were being paid differently than bin men. and refuse collectors outdoors . and refuse collectors outdoors. and the bin men were majority men. some of them were women. the cleaner

and our top story tonight from the gb news room is that the labour led birmingham city council has approveddevastating double whammy of tax cuts and fewer services . the cuts and fewer services. the plans include a 21% increase in council tax over the next two years, and a £300 million worth of cuts to public services. speaking during today's meeting, the council leader, john cotton, unreservedly apologised to the city's residents for the budget. but birmingham's conservative leader said the cuts will mean streets are no longer cleared and broken street lights aren't repaired and well, the news from birmingham comes just hours before the chancellor unveils his new budget with jeremy hunt expected to ask councils to cut their wasteful spending on equality and diversity programmes , as it's also being programmes, as it's also being rumoured he could announce a £0.02 in the pound cut to national insurance contributions. he's aiming to put the uk's economy and rishi sunaks popularity back on the road to recovery. we asked local residents in glasgow and in east yorkshire what they want to see in

if you live in birmingham then public services are going to be slashed after the council there went bust and first birmingham. could it be your town or cityear is the year the nation decides , as the year the nation decides, as the year the nation decides, as the parties gear up their campaigns for the next general election. >> who will be left standing when the british people make one of the biggest decisions of their lives? >> who will rise and who will fall? >> let's m- fall? >> let's out together. >> let's find out together. >> let's find out together. >> every moment, the highs , >> for every moment, the highs, the lows, the twists and turns . the lows, the twists and turns. >> we'll be with you for every step of this journey. >> in 2024. >> in 2024. >> gb news is britain's election . channel >> welcome back. it's 426. you're watching or listening to martin daubney on gb news now. after all the rumours are speculation, i've got some big news about the princess of wales. a little later this hour andifs wales. a little later this hour and it's a good news story, but before that , birmingham city before that, birmingham city councillors

citizens in birmingham have been targeted by birmingham have been targeted by birmingham city councilghting this equal pay award. which goes way back. it goes way - fighting this equal pay award. which goes way back. it goes way back. i fighting this equal pay award. which i goes way back. it goes way back. but the have goes way back. it goes way back. but they have not — goes way back. it goes way back. but they have not managed _ goes way back. it goes way back. but they have not managed finances i they have not managed finances effectively. they have a computer system that is very poor. you try to go on to your so—called brom account, you are not given instructions on how to sort out your council tax. they made poor investments, it's a poor way of investing and we asked the citizens of birmingham are having to pay for it. that's not fair at all. you think, how can they get away with it. there are other ways and means for them to be doing things other than hitting the arts and culture in our city. as you know, birmingham did a wonderful commonwealth games. we have great, historical

going to hand more power power local councils, but power to local councils, but isn't city council isn't birminghamst and what does it bust bankrupt and what does it hand more power mean if there's no investment ? no investment? >> so i the two troubles for me are the many local authorities don't use the powers they already have. and then second issue, which is again not a party political one because it's happened under governments of both stripes, is that we don't fund local government to do what they've got responsible for already. just consider already. so if you just consider their responsibility social their responsibility for social care increasingly care and the increasingly elderly on state elderly and dependent on state population that we have, if you just took social care , many more just took social care, many more councils will go bust on current, time lines because they can't afford care for the can't afford to care for the residents they've and residents that they've got and are have. so we've are going to have. so we've systematically underfunded local government. it's a very unfashi

they arguably look birmingham city council look at birmingham city council with equal claim, with thegovernment wants down. the can wants to kick this down. the can to the next government because it cost well, tory it will cost well, there's tory councils that have gone bankrupt as labour ones. as well as labour ones. >> which brings us on to >> yeah, which brings us on to actually council because actually council tax because households receiving the first £5,000 council tax bill next week, the levy is soared by 50% since the conservatives came to power in 2010. >> heinous isn't it? i think a lot of people will be thinking that they are not getting their value for money. i certainly think that we don't get our value for money and our local council, our bins get collected once every two weeks, there are potholes everywhere there. time and time again. there have been reports by organisations like the taxpayers alliance alliance that shows that wild inefficiencies of local government spending and they i think people it's not just because of this , but people because of this, but people i

last night, birmingham city council, the second—biggest in the country, signed off £300 million worthaire. it's not. it's happening _ levelling up, claire. it's not. it's happening to — levelling up, claire. it's not. it's happening to so _ levelling up, claire. it's not. it's happening to so many _ levelling up, claire. it's not. it's happening to so many local - happening to so many local authorities right across the country. it's really troubling, and similarly ijust country. it's really troubling, and similarly i just thought country. it's really troubling, and similarly ijust thought it country. it's really troubling, and similarly i just thought it was really absent in today's speech. i think we have to think differently about how we are funding local government and what we are funding. there obviously are particular problems, but there is a genuine underlying problem that is affecting all local authorities who basically haven't got the income we need to fund the services that people rightly expect. so in terms of longer term, rightly expect. so in terms of longerterm, i rightly

absolutely measure, as is birmingham city council, run by labour, and as is london, run by labour, and run by labour. so please, labour would tank the economy for the whole country. renee there's many good places on by labour as well. james and crystal palace james and crystal palace is noting that the safety of rwanda bill going through the house bill is going through the house of at least of lords today, or at least whether back the whether it comes back to the house commons house of commons again. >> we'll to if they >> we'll wait to see if they accept changes reverse >> we'll wait to see if they acce by changes reverse >> we'll wait to see if they acce by the nges reverse >> we'll wait to see if they acce by the nges recommons, that by by the house of commons, he . the pm said he's going he says. the pm said he's going to stop the boats. esther mcvey. what's he done ? what's he got to what's he done? what's he got to say of say about the number of crossings mean so crossings today? i mean 3000 so far this year. not working far this year. it's not working is and can rwanda work? is

council leader john cotton, unrwa , vividly apologised to the unrwa, vividly apologised to the city's residents , blaming tory city's residents, blaming tory austero , 80, birmingham'shough the cuts will mean streets aren't clean and broken, street lights aren't repaired and jeremy hunt is expected to ask councils to cut wasteful spending on equality and diversity programmes as he announces britain's budget tomorrow . it's being suggested tomorrow. it's being suggested he could announce a £0.02 in the pound cut to national insurance contributions. he's aiming to put the uk's economy and rishi sunak's popularity back on the road to recovery . that's despite road to recovery. that's despite the fiscal watchdog suggesting the fiscal watchdog suggesting the government's little scope for tax cuts . and, as you've for tax cuts. and, as you've been hearing, suella braverman has told gb news she doesn't believe the former tory mp lee anderson is islamophobic. today's exclusive interview with the former home secretary comes after mr anderson claimed islamists had got control of the london mayor. >> he is not racist, he is not islamophobic. he's calling out very poor performa

the leader of birmingham city council has apologised to people living in the city, after signing off over the next two years. despite being the largest local authority in europe, birmingham has declared itself effectively bankrupt and needs to make £300 million in savings. joanne writtle reports. a nurturing atmosphere at a music class in birmingham. but mums here are well aware they're bringing up babies in a city with an effectively bankrupt council. people face a 10% council tax rise this year and next year. that's double what many elsewhere in the country will get. it's far from ideal when you're on maternity leave and then facing huge childcare costs in a few months' time. but i'm more concerned about the vulnerable people that i work with normally. i think it's going to be disastrous for them when other sources of support are being cut for them. ashlyn's a teacher, and she's looking to move out of birmingham with seven—month—old cecilia. i don't mind paying money into the council, but what worries me is where that money is going. you know, if it's going into the community, into

just bailing out the council in response to budget , in response to the budget, leader of birmingham city councilnreservedly for both the significant spending restrictions and this year's substantial council tax increase. >> we have no alternative than to face these challenges head on, and we will do whatever is necessary to put the council back on a sound financial footing. with the cuts coming to services and the rising costs for residents. there's dark days ahead for the second city. jack carson gb news, birmingham . what carson gb news, birmingham. what a time to be alive. >> budget tomorrow isn't bad enough. you've got all sorts of woes at various councils. birmingham not alone, of course. woking, i think borough council also facing huge financial problems. if you're one of those places, let us know how you feel about those things . to about all of those things. to see not being see a graveyard not being maintained and, you know, see maintained and, you know, to see that social care for your loved ones might be in question, such a such a disappointment when you're spending so much of your ha

birmingham. just remind us of how the council got to this point. this is a big moment for the city council.r

we've seen what happened to council when to birmingham city council when they their obligations theyvely and then bankrupted themselves retrosthey vely and then bankrupted themselves retrosthey arey and then bankrupted themselves retrosthey are investing so if they are investing a little bit of money, making sure they're meeting equality standards is, is that. >> yeah. but there's a difference between the inclusive, inclusive vision and diversity, blah, blah, blah, blah, whatever. >> it's easy for us to lump it all in together. but aren't there some important points in there? >> but that was a glaringly obvious sexism equal pay act issue, wasn't it? nothing issue, wasn't it? that's nothing to this sort of like to do with this sort of like wasting money and the nhs do it as well. i mean, we pay all these people thousands, hundreds of of pounds every of thousands of pounds every year really year to tick boxes when really people of cancer . i people are dying of cancer. i mean, you know, i'm not getting the treatment they need mad , the treatment they need mad, what about faulty home wh

birmingham city councillors have approved a series of cuts to local services — and a 21 % rise in councilar two years. they need to make £300 million in savings. the largest local authority in europe has declared itself effectively bankrupt and needs to make some councillors on the labour—led authority described the financial measures as devastating. a lot of blame throwing around for who is at fault here. the conservatives say the labour administration for mistakes about equal pay. they visited the government has underfunded local government has underfunded local government for too long now. birmingham, the latest counsel to declare bankruptcy, but their winnings across the board about financial pressures in the sector. plenty more on that story on the bbc website. all the details for you. you are watching bbc news. it is a foregone conclusion that joe biden will sweep the board tonight in the democratic primaries. but the rematch in november, a different challege altogether. there were four polls out this weekend, all of them spelt bad news for the president. the new york times/siena co

they are on their knee, and you know, i saw birmingham council last week crying as she passed forward a motion, a labour councillor, cutting that city'snding, it is a tragedy, so let's call it out, it is nonsense, i am looking forward to having a new government.. i am sad it is labour, they have let us down but it has to be better than what we have got and even is ready for change. have got and even is ready for chance. ~ ., ., , , change. what does levelling up, really quickly- — change. what does levelling up, really quickly. how— change. what does levelling up, really quickly. how sad - change. what does levelling up, really quickly. how sad it - change. what does levelling up, really quickly. how sad it has i really quickly. how sad it has become fashionable - really quickly. how sad it has become fashionable for - really quickly. how sad it has i become fashionable for councils really quickly. how sad it has - become fashionable for councils to go bankrupt. become fashionable for councils to go bankrupt-_ go bankrupt. levelling up is about olitics go bankrupt. levelling up is about politics coming — go bankrupt. levelling up is a

some stories making news in the uk: birmingham city councillors have voted to approve drastic cuts to local services, and a 21% rise to councilared itself in effect bankrupt and needs to make £300 million in savings. cabinet minister michelle donelan has had to pay damages to an academic after wrongly suggesting the professor had publicly expressed sympathy for hamas. it's understood the costs paid to professor kate sang — which are undisclosed — have been covered by the taxpayer. junior doctors in northern ireland are set to begin strike action for the first time this morning. the walkout about pay will see them withdraw from hospitals and gp surgeries for 2a hours. a newly qualified doctor in northern ireland earns £26,000 pounds per year. in england, the starting rate is over £33,000. in scotland it's £32,000. more details on our website. you're live with bbc news. let's focus on the day ahead for the chancellor, jeremy hunt, who is expected to announce cuts to national insurance 2p in the pound in the budget. he's expected to say he can provide families with "permanent cuts in taxation", which he hopes voters will see as

birmingham city councillors have appraised a series of cuts to local services. a20 1% rise have appraised a series of cuts to local services. a201% rise in the councilhis savings. let's bring in our political correspondent, that is an extraordinary amount of money that ordinary council taxpayers are going to have to find over the next two years it took five hours to agree this budget, which is why the acknowledgement to affect the whole community, cuts to parks, leisure, council tax going up. a lot of blame during around who is at fault here. conservatives say the labour administration for mistakes about equal pay. labours say the government has underfunded local government has underfunded local government for too long. birmingham the latest counsel to declare bankruptcy, but there are warnings across the board about financial pressures in the sector. we will come back to that story later in the programme. thank you for now. welcome back. four polls out this weekend, all of them spelling bad news for president biden. the new york times/siena college poll had the president four points behind his likely republican opponent, donald trump, in a hypothet

city council bosses gathered , ordered for a party in new york, away from sad views of my native glasgow. in the twenty- third year, the largest district administration in europe, the millionaire city of birminghamgger the same thing: a hole in the budget, a hole in the pocket, and the town itself is a hole. the english outback is as wretched as the outbacks of the poorest countries in eastern europe, which are usually laughed at condescendingly in the tidy center of london. elizaveta gerson, boris halfin and polina timofeeva. television component tv, london. at one of the ski resorts in khakassia, vacationers had to carry out a rescue operation on their own, and got off there. some people were able to escape, one was left under the snowdrifts, eyewitnesses rushed to help: we’re working, beepers on the train, what’s stuck there? yes, beepers for the train, beepers are beacons that athletes put on just in case of avalanches, the outgoing signal is so strong that... it breaks through the thickness of the snow, if the sensor is switched to search mode, as eyewitnesses of the emergency did, the beepers will work like receiver and catch other people's signals. that’s actually the moment of salvation

council leader john cotton unreservedly apologised to the city's residents for the budget , city's residents for the budget, blaming tory austerity . blaming tory austerity. birmingham'sconservative leader said the cuts will mean streets are no longer cleared and broken street lights aren't repaired . street lights aren't repaired. gb news understands that the policing of a pro—palestinian protest in london this weekend will remain unchanged. officers will remain unchanged. officers will reportedly use existing pubuc will reportedly use existing public order and anti—terror laws after rishi sunak called on the police to crack down on extremist behaviour , and a extremist behaviour, and a government minister has paid damages to an academic after suggesting she supported hamas. but the cost covered by the taxpayer, the science secretary, michelle donelan, has now retracted her comments about professor kate tsang after a government investigation found the allegations were baseless . the allegations were baseless. the thousands of staff at greggs bakeries are to get more than £17 million in bonuses, as it's after the high street chain saw profits rise by 27% in the last y

council birmingham . birmingham. >> £2.9 billion in debt and it's bust. britain labour run council, £1.3 billion in debt, mismanaged and bust. slough bust again. nottingham citybiggest glorified labour local councillor running as mayor. >> sadiq khan he's bust tfl , >> sadiq khan he's bust tfl, many a times. so i think the people's council tax bills, speak for themselves and let's not forget that very famous, image , doing the rounds in the image, doing the rounds in the last local election, you know, same street, same row of houses on the wandsworth side of the conservative run council. >> the council tax was, what, £800 and the same street, same house on the other side . lambeth house on the other side. lambeth labour run council, £1,500. >> well, you see, that's the problem, isn't it? and i think people do have a lasting memory of the labour party spending lots money on, on councils, lots of money on, on councils, i'm just concerned because i know it looks like the labour party will win the election. i can't see the conservatives after the mess they're making of it. don't actually they it. i don't actually think they deserve it's not it's deserve to win. i

city is bankrupt. so much for a golden era. and should you have even brought the commonwealth games to birmingham, could they could the council reallybody argues that the positive pubuchy anybody argues that the positive publicity and the business generated was a bad thing. as i say, this is a matter of real concern for birmingham now, but we have to ask ourselves how many more councils are going to be in this position before the end of the year? and steve, can i ask you, are you going to be interviewing about this? >> does the council not take any responsibility? you know, michael gove said this week that , that it gone bust because , that it had gone bust because of woeful mismanagement and he said that the labour council had actually harmed the city. now, that's that's a pretty damning indictment. it's mismanagement, isn't it? it's not lack of funds. it's the funds you had , funds. it's the funds you had, have been mismanaged. >> , as i say, i don't think >> well, as i say, i don't think the councillors can escape total responsibility, but i defy anyone who's had £1 billion cut from their budget to manage things smoothly. i don't