colletta smith, bbc news, in warrington.re for economics and business research. welcome and thanks forjoining me. people in this country have been calling for a windfall tax on energy firms making record profits for weeks. we were told by the chancellor last week that there was no magic answer to the cost of living crisis. now he appears to have one. why's he announcing this today? i think the scale of the challenger does need to be considered and it's an issue households are facing tremendous pressure on the cost of living and the chancellor is in a position now where he does need to act and he does need to find large sums of money, 10— £15 billion, and if correctly designed, it could be one of the things that could help finding the money. fik the things that could help finding the money. ok but the --eole in finding the money. ok but the people in the _ finding the money. ok but the people in the report _ finding the money. ok but the people in the report that - finding the money. ok but the people in the report that we . p

colletta smith, bbc news, in south manchester.ase against coleen rooney. while giving evidence, vardy conceded that she told her agent to look at coleen rooney's private instagram account. colin paterson reports. coleen rooney arriving at court with her husband, the former england footballer wayne rooney. but it was rebekah vardy, the wife of leicester city's jamie vardy, who was in the witness box all day. in court, coleen rooney's eyes did not move from rebekah vardy the whole time she was answering questions about allegedly leaking stories to the sun newspaper. in one example, rebekah vardy told someone that riyad mahrez had not turned up to training for the second day in a row, and when her agent suggested selling the story, rebekah vardy replied, let's do it. the court heard that rebekah vardy�*s agent, caroline watt, seen here on the left, was repeatedly asked by her client to leak stories to the sun, something rebekah vardy denies, although she did concede that on one occasion she specifically directed her agent to get info

0ur consumer affairs correspondent colletta smith reports.ing is like a tenner more sometimes per week, itjust gets so much more expensive. bread, i mean, that's gone up. i think the bread that i have has gone up about 50p. kiera is 19 and lives in greater manchester on her student loan and wages from her part—timejob. but it's not easy. before the student loan in april, i had £17 in my bank left. nothing, no savings, no nothing. when it comes to affording shopping at the moment, how are you making ends meet? i shop less, so i shop every two weeks now. i try and get a big batch of chicken and then i freeze it all so it doesn't go out of date, and then i will make sure that i split them up and make meals, maybe make, like, a batch meal. i saw people doing this... and kira has another trick too. this is what these are, budget binders. budgeting her cash carefully to make sure she has enough to live and to save. in castleford, saving is becoming increasingly hard. cheryl and her husband both work full—time but with their energy bills bouncing up

our consumer affairs correspondent, colletta smith, reports.time of year, a lot of people will be stocking up. a lot of meat items, a lot of dates, you know. abid has run a chain of supermarkets in leeds for decades. are you all right? service with a smile with no extra charge, eh? and he knows his customers inside out. this year's been a very different and a very difficult year for people, especially in the month of ramadan. so, over the last few weeks through ramadan, have people been spending less? people have been spending less, yes. they're very, very cautious. i mean, a person would normally come in and buy a box of tomatoes. they will only buy a few. spending is not as much as it was previous years, you know, in the month of ramadan. if this is normally your busiest time of year, are you worried about the future? definitely worried about the future, yes, because the eid festival is really inviting families together, really spending a lot on your family and your children. i would say this year, they won't be buying bulk, but everybody is

colletta smith at manchester airort. as pressure on global energy supplies shows no sign of easing. european union leaders have now agreed a plan to block up to 90% of oil imports from russia, part of a new package of sanctions to punish the kremlin for the invasion of ukraine. our business editor, simonjack, has this report. on this forecourt in essex, drivers are getting used to bad news. there was more today, as petrol prices hit a new record. i'm putting down 50 quid 80 a week. it's only five miles a day, which is ridiculous. just try not to use it as much. be selling it soon. when i first got it a couple of years ago, it cost me 35 to fill up, and now it's 60, so it has gone up a lot. so many different things - in my business it's affecting, so, yeah, it's difficult, really difficult. - for the first time ever, petrol hit £1.73 a litre. diesel, at £1.82, is hovering near its own recent record. that means the price of filling an average petrol tank is nearly £100 — a milestone that diesel hit yesterday. behind these

colletta smith, bbc news, in handforth. our political editor, chris mason, is in watford.overnment out of the political challenges it faces? i think even the most mildly sceptical soul might have wondered if there was a bit of cheap politicking going on with the government coming along with this big announcement from the state just a day after all those awkward headlines about partying within government during the covid restrictions. what can we say about that? we can say that yes, there were some tactics going on but this was a big intervention and one the government was keen to do anyway. mr sunak pointed out to me, insisting that categorically this had not been rushed in orderfor it that categorically this had not been rushed in order for it to that categorically this had not been rushed in orderfor it to happen that categorically this had not been rushed in order for it to happen to shift the headlines on. and whether it was politicking or not, it is an expensive intervention, a big intervention, a big increase in tax and a very big increase in spending. some conservat

colletta smith, bbc news.k leslie, i'm joined byjack leslie, senior economist at the resolution foundation, a think tank focusing on people on low incomes. good to see you. what do you make of these figures? were they inevitable given the post—covert situation and the war in ukraine? the post-covert situation and the war in ukraine?— war in ukraine? they aren't a surprise. _ war in ukraine? they aren't a surprise. we _ war in ukraine? they aren't a surprise, we knew— war in ukraine? they aren't a surprise, we knew that - war in ukraine? they aren't a i surprise, we knew that inflation war in ukraine? they aren't a - surprise, we knew that inflation was rising with the really rapid increase in energy prices around the world but it is still shocking, how fast prices have risen. 9% inflation, the highest in a0 years. it's hard to overstate how big the economic crisis is at the moment. you are seeing a big difference in the impact these figures are having, depending on your income, aren't you? yes, average inflati

colletta smith, bbc news, in warrington.nnies to pounds, a financial literacy platform to help people manage their money. thank you forjoining us. i want to get your reaction first of all to this announcement that we are expecting within the next couple of hours about more help for people with their fuel bills. to what extent is that going to make a dent in these soaring energy bills that people are experiencing? i in these soaring energy bills that people are experiencing?- in these soaring energy bills that people are experiencing? i think it will definitely _ people are experiencing? i think it will definitely have _ people are experiencing? i think it will definitely have an _ people are experiencing? i think it will definitely have an impact. - will definitely have an impact. there are people who are really struggling, as we had from that clip, who are really feeling the pinch in pockets, although we have had the move from a lot of people working from home or who have been working, there are still a number of people who

colletta smith, bbc news, in south manchester.diplomatic correspondent james landale while on his trip to sweden. he was asked what the government actually intended to do to help people struggling with rising bills. we've already done a huge amount, and we're putting billions and billions into helping people with the cost of their energy. but we have to be realistic. there will be continuing pressure, so we will continue to do as much as we can. but i want to stress that the answer to the problem is notjust to help people with their bills, it's also — which is what we're doing — to make sure we fix the underlying issues. here in sweden, they've got loads of hydro, loads of nuclear. we failed 20 years ago, 30 years ago to invest in nuclear in the way that we should've done. we now want to work with sweden to put in more wind power. we need to be getting the supply rapidly that will help us bring down the cost in the medium, perhaps even then the short term, for people in our country. that means a huge amount of work to fix the unde

colletta smith, bbc news, in handforth.ition first proposed it injanuary. this was the prime minister in february. what they would do is clobber the oil and gas companies right now... clamour. yes, they would. with a tax that would deter investment in gas just when this country needs gas, mr speaker, as we transition to green fuel. it would be totally ridiculous and it would raise prices for consumers. since then the situation has worsened with russia's invasion of ukraine adding to the problems in the energy market. but opposition from mrjohnson and his ministers continued — right up until recent days. here's the business secretary, on tuesday. do you support a windfall tax? i've been very clear about a windfall tax. i don't think it supports investment.�*s necessarily the right thing, but, as i always say, that's up to the chancellor. he sees the economy across the piece. he is responsible for fiscal policy, and he's instinctively against windfall taxes, but if he feels that these extraordinary times require extraordinary

colletta smith, bbc news, in warrington.a senior economist at thejoseph rowntree foundation, a charity that funds research into social policy. thank you forjoining us. a number of other countries, spain, italy, france, for example, have introduced windfall taxes on energy companies to help people with the cost of living crisis. how effective is this is a strategy? 50 living crisis. how effective is this is a strategy?— is a strategy? 50 it is a really aood is a strategy? 50 it is a really good question _ is a strategy? so it is a really good question and _ is a strategy? so it is a really good question and a - is a strategy? so it is a really good question and a windfall| is a strategy? so it is a really i good question and a windfall tax is a strategy? so it is a really - good question and a windfall tax is a very good option on the table at the moment. there are quite a lot of different pros and cons and to be honest there are strong arguments in both camps around the possible risk of it deterring investment and how diffic

with the soaring price of food, energy and other key goods. 0ur consumer affairs correspondent colletta smithhe government could do to help them. rising prices are the talk of the town, from food banks... three boys. to workplaces _ town, from food banks... three boys. to workplaces. mark _ town, from food banks... three boys. to workplaces. mark and _ town, from food banks... three boys. to workplaces. mark and emma - town, from food banks... three boys. to workplaces. mark and emma both | to workplaces. mark and emma both work full—time but with three boys at home, energy doesn't come cheap. the one thing that would help me more would be some help with energy bills. if the government could assist with that it would be great. his wish has come true. the chancellorjust his wish has come true. the chancellor just gifted his wish has come true. the chancellorjust gifted him and every other house hold £400 off gas and electricity bills. it will help but with another price rise in october, he still has to find an extra £1000 or more. ~ �* ., , ., or more. we've got the smart metre in the living _

our consumer affairs correspondent colletta smith reports from leeds. of meat items, dates that make he has run a chain of supermarkets in leeds for decades. service with a smile for no extra charge. with a smile for no extra charge-— with a smile for no extra charge. he knows is that customers _ charge. he knows is that customers inside - charge. he knows is that customers inside out. i charge. he knows is that i customers inside out. this charge. he knows is that - customers inside out. this year has been very _ customers inside out. this year has been very difficult - customers inside out. this year has been very difficult for- has been very difficult for people, especially in the month of ramadan. people, especially in the month of ramadan-— of ramadan. have people been sendin: of ramadan. have people been spending less _ of ramadan. have people been spending less this _ of ramadan. have people been spending less this year? - of ramadan. have people been| spending less this year? people have been _ spending less this year? people have been spending

bbc�*s consumer affairs correspondent colletta smith has more on the impact rising prices is having only lives. shopping is like ten or more a week, more expensive, shopping is like ten or more a week, more expensive, bread shopping is like ten or more a week, more expensive, bread has gone up, the bread i have gone up gone up, the bread i have gone up 50p. gone up, the bread i have gone u- 50. , gone up, the bread i have gone u . 50 . _ , ., ., gone up, the bread i have gone u. 50, , ., ., , gone up, the bread i have gone u--50. , ., ., gone up, the bread i have gone up 50p. this woman is 19 and lives in greater— up 50p. this woman is 19 and lives in greater manchester i up 50p. this woman is 19 and | lives in greater manchester on student loan and wages from a part—timejob but it student loan and wages from a part—time job but it is not easy. part-time 'ob but it is not eas. �* ., , easy. before the student loan i had £17 in _ easy. before the student loan i had £17 in my _ easy. before the student loan i had £17 in my bank, _ easy. before the student loan i had £17 in my bank, nothi

colletta smith, bbc news.worby, her partner charlie skudder they have three children, alice, oliver and edward. ican i can only see one of them at the moment. introduce me to that little bo . , , ., , , moment. introduce me to that little bo. , , ., , , ., , moment. introduce me to that little bo. ,, ., boy. this is ed, or this is tatty as we like to _ boy. this is ed, or this is tatty as we like to call— boy. this is ed, or this is tatty as we like to call him. _ boy. this is ed, or this is tatty as we like to call him. he _ boy. this is ed, or this is tatty as we like to call him. he was - boy. this is ed, or this is tatty as we like to call him. he was one | we like to call him. he was one yesterday. we like to call him. he was one yesterday-— we like to call him. he was one esterda . . , _ , ., , yesterday. happy birthday to teddy! thank ou yesterday. happy birthday to teddy! thank you very _ yesterday. happy birthday to teddy! thank you very much _ yesterday. happy birthday to teddy! thank you very much f

colletta smith reports.o much more expensive. bread, i mean, that's gone up. i think the bread that i have has gone up about 50p. kira is 19 and lives in greater manchester on her student loan and wages from her part—timejob. but it's not easy. before the student loan in april, i had £17 in my bank left. nothing, no savings, no nothing. when it comes to affording shopping at the moment, how are you making ends meet? i shop less, so i shop every two weeks now. i try and get a big batch of chicken and then i freeze it all so it doesn't go out of date, and then i will make sure that i split them up and make meals, maybe make, like, a batch meal. i saw people doing this... and kira has another trick too. this is what these are, budget binders. budgeting her cash carefully to make sure she has enough to live and to save. in castleford, saving is becoming increasingly hard. cheryl and her husband both work full—time, but with their energy bills bouncing up and up, the plan to buy their own family home is feeling m

let's get more from colletta smith, who's at manchester airport.oss the uk. passenger demand — right across the uk. passenger demand has picked up and recruitment 'ust demand has picked up and recruitment just hasn't— demand has picked up and recruitment just hasn't kept pace. this bank holiday— just hasn't kept pace. this bank holiday weekend was always going to be a crunch _ holiday weekend was always going to be a crunch point. the extra long weekend — be a crunch point. the extra long weekend hitting at the same moment. so many— weekend hitting at the same moment. so many companies say theyjust can't _ so many companies say theyjust can't get — so many companies say theyjust can't get enough people in place, they can't— can't get enough people in place, they can't get enough people cleared through— they can't get enough people cleared through the extra airport security that's— through the extra airport security that's needed here. but airlines and airports _ that's needed here. but airlines and airports very much hoping to have this fixed — air

colletta smith, bbc news in warrington.sures announced today will need to be really significant if they're to help. we'll get more details later this morning. 0k, thank you very much, ben. borisjohnson has resisted more calls to resign, after a damning report on government lockdown parties was released. an investigation by the senior civil servant sue gray concluded many of the events across whitehall and downing street "should not have been allowed to happen". we'rejoined from downing street by our chief political correspondent adam fleming. good morning to you. we all know what the prime minister wants to do, he wants to move on, talk about other things, which are clearly very important. specifically energy costs stop where does what happened yesterday now sit?— stop where does what happened yesterday now sit? stop where does what happened esterda now sit? _, ., ., yesterday now sit? good morning. the weird thing about _ yesterday now sit? good morning. the weird thing about the _ yesterday now sit? good morning. the weir

help is not necessarily getting to those who need it most. 0ur consumer affairs correspondent — colletta smith morning, chris pays his council tax in weekly instalments, and hasn't heard how he can get his energy rebate yet. i've lost out on things before because i don't do online. so many people don't have the computer skills, you know, to do that — go on the computer and apply to all those, you know, information they need to send them. many struggle with that. would you be worried if a letter arrived just from the council? yeah, i'd be paranoid and i'd be all stressed, where i burst out crying. i'll go to my neighbour in tears because of it. so it's... it's really hard with people with learning needs. most councils say they've now started making the one—off payments to households who they already have direct debit details for, and then they'll work out how to pay everybody else. this is a big government promise, but the money is being dished out through local councils and that's why it's taking so long. each council has had to work out a new process for how to actually get the money to us. i

our consumer affairs correspondent colletta smith has been talking to people in handforth in cheshire00 for everyone. it was overwhelming friday _ doubled to £400 for everyone. it was overwhelming friday such _ doubled to £400 for everyone. it was overwhelming friday such as - overwhelming friday such as listening to the announcement. i don't know howl listening to the announcement. i don't know how i was going to cope in the winter because some help at last. want to have to struggle that much. i could make a £10 probably a year ago last a good seven days whereas now it's probably averaging between make 40 days and you are down to a couple of pounds and this is in the summer.— is in the summer. raymond is in a different position. _ is in the summer. raymond is in a different position. he _ is in the summer. raymond is in a different position. he is _ is in the summer. raymond is in a different position. he is not i is in the summer. raymond is in a different position. he is not on i different position. he is not on benefits but like every household he will get the £400 grant in octobe

colletta smith is our consumer affairs correspondent.in this data. has become. exactly. there is i nothing surprising in this data. for most of us who are doing our shopping regularly and seeing those prices go up and up and up. i suppose the biggest surprise is that some of those items have fallen because many of us have not fully in that —— most of us have not been feeling that. the 0ns, the office of national statistics, do the inflation figures every month, they take a general basket of goods, they look at food prices within that, they also include energy, and various other big spends that we have as households, but when it comes to that particular food basket of goods, there was real criticism of goods, there was real criticism of them by the food poverty campaignerjack munro that actually they didn't take into account that so many people are just buying the budget and, so the supermarket own brands, the very basic and, across a lot of supermarkets and shops, and that the 0ns basket was actually looking at much more expensive items,

colletta smith, bbc news, middleton in rochdale. now it's time for a look at the weather.ch wetter in northern ireland and parts of that rain going into wales as well. but before that, it is a warm day, quite widely from the eastern side of wales and across england, the low 20s but up to 26 in south east england and the highest temperature recorded so far this year. rain and sundry downpours pushing east over all parts this evening and most places will see some rain before the end of the day and temperatures for many holding up into double figures tomorrow. early showers clearing the way for north west scotland and most great places having a fine wednesday before rain heads into northern ireland and heavy showers pushing back across the southern areas at the day. hello, this is bbc news. the headlines: foreign secretary confirms the uk will introduce legislation to override parts of the northern ireland post—brexit trade deal, within weeks. more evidence that wages are failing to keep pace with the cost of living, earnings are down 1.2% from last year when adjusted for inf

with the soaring price of food, energy and other key goods. 0ur consumer affairs correspondent colletta smithand his wife emma work full—time but with three boys at home _ work full—time but with three boys at home energy doesn't come cheap. the one _ at home energy doesn't come cheap. the one thing that would help me most i think would be some help with the energy bills. if the government could assist me with that then that would be great.— could assist me with that then that would be great. mark's wishes come true. the chancellor _ would be great. mark's wishes come true. the chancellorjust _ would be great. mark's wishes come true. the chancellorjust gifted i would be great. mark's wishes come true. the chancellorjust gifted himl true. the chancellorjust gifted him and every other household 400 of gas and every other household 400 of gas and electricity bills. it will help but with another price rise in october he needs to find another 0ctober he needs to find another £1000 or more. we october he needs to find another £1000 or more.— october he needs to find another £1000 or more. we got t

help is not necessarily getting to those who need it most. 0ur consumer affairs correspondent colletta smithuse i don't do online. so many people don't have the computer skills, you know, to do that — go on the computer and apply to all those, you know, information they need to send them. many struggle with that. would you be worried if a letter arrived just from the council? yeah, i'd be paranoid and i'd be all stressed, where i burst out crying. i'll go to my neighbour in tears because of it. so it's... it's really hard with people with learning needs. most councils say they've now started making the one—off payments to households who they already have direct debit details for, and then they'll work out how to pay everybody else. this is a big government promise, but the money is being dished out through local councils and that's why it's taking so long. each council has had to work out a new process for how to actually get the money to us. i don't blame local authorities, as it was something that was foisted upon them without any warning. the people i feel most sorry for are those who des

our consumer affairs correspondent, colletta smith, reports.ocking up. a lot of meat items, a lot of dates, you know. abid has run a chain of supermarkets in leeds for decades. are you all right? service with a smile with no extra charge, eh? and he knows his customers inside out. this year's been a very different and a very difficult year for people, especially in the month of ramadan. so over the last few weeks through ramadan, have people been spending less? people have been spending less, yes. they're very, very cautious. i mean, a person would normally come in and buy a box of tomatoes. they will only buy a few. spending is not as much as it was previous years, you know, in the month of ramadan. if this is normally your busiest time of year, are you worried about the future? definitely worried about the future, yes, because the eid festival is really inviting families together, really spending a lot on your family and your children. i would say this year they won't be buying bulk, but everybody is feeling that pinch. so you have to get it,