at the moment grant shapps _ of drivers. nigel? at the moment grant shapps is — of drivers. nigel?oment grant shapps is trying _ of drivers. nigel? at the moment grant shapps is trying to - of drivers. nigel? at the moment grant shapps is trying to put - of drivers. nigel? at the moment grant shapps is trying to put a . grant shapps is trying to put a sticking — grant shapps is trying to put a sticking plaster over this by training _ sticking plaster over this by training 4000 british truckers over the next _ training 4000 british truckers over the next 12— training 4000 british truckers over the next 12 weeks in time for christmas and fast tracking visas for 5000 — christmas and fast tracking visas for 5000 from abroad. but it is only a sticking _ for 5000 from abroad. but it is only a sticking plaster. what the supermarkets are saying is you actually — supermarkets are saying is you actually need 15,000 drivers now to make _ actually need 15,000 drivers now to make things work so come on the basis _ make things work so come on the basis of— make things work so come on the basis o

i think for grant shapps— about that, too. i think for grant shapps to — about that, too. be blaming the hgv drivers, let's face it, he needs them — drivers, let's face it, he needs them on — drivers, let's face it, he needs them on the road and filling fuel stations— them on the road and filling fuel stations up, it is a bit rich and it is a _ stations up, it is a bit rich and it is a bit — stations up, it is a bit rich and it is a bit low _ stations up, it is a bit rich and it is a bit low. we stations up, it is a bit rich and it is a bit lova— stations up, it is a bit rich and it is a bit low. ~ ., ., ., is a bit low. we are going to turn 2 the front page _ is a bit low. we are going to turn 2 the front page of _ is a bit low. we are going to turn 2 the front page of the _ is a bit low. we are going to turn 2 the front page of the daily - is a bit low. we are going to turn 2 the front page of the daily mirror. | the front page of the daily mirror. 0ne the front page of the daily mirror. one of the lines on the front pages of grant shops bagging retired workers to return

-ii they have all the data in front of them, i know that grant shapps will be looking at the data carefullyiduals to return from the continent, if they're granted visa system then all well and good but i don't think that's going to happen overnight stop as i said. i think we may need to look at other alternatives. we do need a longer plan, we do need to recognise that we need a horizon plan and look ahead as to where is russia going. we are living up to christmas, there are other pressures on hgvs drivers as well so the government needs to come together and put forward a consolidated approach everyone can agree with. consolidated approach everyone can aaree with. ~ ., ., , agree with. what about the number, 5000, when — agree with. what about the number, 5000, when the — agree with. what about the number, 5000, when the shortage _ agree with. what about the number, 5000, when the shortage is - agree with. what about the number, l 5000, when the shortage is 100,000. why do you think the government has come up with 5000? is it enough? like i said, if you have enough fuel at refineries but you

i hope so and grant shapps's article _ on the cusp. i hope so and grant shapps's article in the _ on the cusp. i hope so and grant shapps's article in the mail - on the cusp. i hope so and grant i shapps's article in the mail seems to he _ shapps's article in the mail seems to be him — shapps's article in the mail seems to be him living in cloud cuckoo iand~ _ to be him living in cloud cuckoo iand~ he — to be him living in cloud cuckoo land. he says that you can be paid 70 grand, — land. he says that you can be paid 70 grand, but that is out of touch with reality — 70 grand, but that is out of touch with reality. we are hearing about truck— with reality. we are hearing about truck drivers being paid £10 an hour and having — truck drivers being paid £10 an hour and having to live in the most on sanitary— and having to live in the most on sanitary conditions five nights a week_ sanitary conditions five nights a week in— sanitary conditions five nights a week in somewhere with no toilet facilities — week in somewhere with no toilet facili

and you have grant shapps coming out and saying it is the lorry drivers fault that the road... finger at people also the problem is, there isjust a finger at people also the problem is, there is just a fundamental lack of trust here which the mirror, i think, zeros in on, and that people fear, we've been talking about the lorry driver crisis for weeks on and now, the cbi... my inbox almost every two, three days has a cpi press release, urging action, saying we need to do more than just a temporary visa scheme, we need to add lori drivers to the list of occupations, skilled occupations where you can get into britain to work, but nothing has been done about this and this is the net result. it is a crisis — that word is overused — it is a crisis, and we are told it could go on for several days yet. it will only stop when everyone's tanks are full, but the knock on when it comes to the emergency services getting fuel and also going around, is it scary. and also going around, is it scary. and a somebody who had my life rescued by the air ambulance, there is only a couple of helicopt

one of the things that grant shapps _ at why that is.apps has _ at why that is. one of the things that grant shapps has done - at why that is. one of the things that grant shapps has done to i at why that is. one of the things. that grant shapps has done to try and help improve the situation is to extend the hours that lorry drivers can drive for. what you think about that? , , can drive for. what you think about that? , y a, a, that? very, very bad idea and within the industry — that? very, very bad idea and within the industry we _ that? very, very bad idea and within the industry we resist _ that? very, very bad idea and within the industry we resist that _ that? very, very bad idea and within the industry we resist that a - that? very, very bad idea and within the industry we resist that a great i the industry we resist that a great deal. if you want to come and have a look at my twitter you can see the average working day of the uk lorry driver. we work up to 15 hours driving for potentially ten of those, extending the hours on an a

the transport secretary, grant shapps. the family of a woman who | shapps. that of her partner, by her 9—year—old daughter in february 2013. herfamily have fought for more than 8 years to get to the truth behind her death. they've been speaking exclusively to our midlands correspondent, sian lloyd. our world just ended that day, just absolutely heartbreaking. i just thank god that we've still got her daughter. suzanne van hagen was a much loved sister, daughter and mother. she died aged 34. her body was found along with that of her partner by her nine—year—old daughter. sometimes i can think that suzanne is still here, but she's... you know, she's somewhere else. and i think to think like that is easier, you know, to cope with it. because we do miss her. prior to suzanne's death in 2013, allegations of domestic violence by her partner, john worton, against her, had been reported to west midlands police. after suzanne's death, a postmortem examination revealed marks on her neck and traces of drugs in her system. west midlands police issued an inaccurate press

- is this announcement from grant shapps music to your is? yes, it is. es, it is. it is great news, _ shapps music to your is? yes, it is. it is great news, it _ shapps music to your is? yes, it is. it is great news, it allows _ shapps music to your is? yes, it is. it is great news, it allows us - shapps music to your is? yes, it is. it is great news, it allows us to - it is great news, it allows us to have a last push for the remnants of this summer and i think that is going to be great news for families, as your correspondent mentioned, over the half term holidays and in october, lots of interest in that we have seen lots of interest on the website, we have seen bookings spiked on that so that is really good news. ithink spiked on that so that is really good news. i think the whole concept of simplifying and making travel cheaper is going to really lift people's spirits and make them a much more confident the holidays the book for next year will actually be holidays that will be happening. so in the industry, we welcome that. but of course, the big july

refers just are not there. which grant shapps refers 'ust are not there. ~ ., , ., ~' which grant shappsers 'ust are not there. ~ ., i. ,, , not there. what you think can be done to encourage _ not there. what you think can be done to encourage more - not there. what you think can be done to encourage more local i not there. what you think can be - done to encourage more local workers to take on the role of plug this gap, but what can be done in the long run? a lot of people will be thinking, this title is over until christmas potentially, but what about beyond then? —— this hides us over. it about beyond then? -- this hides us over. , ., about beyond then? -- this hides us over. , . , . ., over. it needs a structural solution- _ over. it needs a structural solution. we _ over. it needs a structural solution. we need - over. it needs a structural solution. we need a - over. it needs a structural solution. we need a long | over. it needs a structural - solution. we need a long remap over. it needs a structural _ solution. we need a long remap large number, in excess of 3,000,000 workers,

after four days of cues and closures at petrol stations, grant shapps signals the worst might be over. there are now the first very tentative signs of stabilisation in the forecourt storage, which will not be reflected in the queues as yet, but it is the first time we have seen more petrol in the petrol stations itself. all the rules have gone out the window at the moment, i think. so... people are desperate. we will be looking at the plan to bring in 150 armoured drivers and examine the government strategy. also this lunchtime. a36 —year—old man appeared in court charged with the murder of sabina nessa. south—eastern is stripped of its franchise after £35,000,000 of historical payments were not paid to the department for transport. the former member of the 1966 world cup winning england team roger hunt has died aged 83.1643 winning england team roger hunt has died aged 81— died aged 83. we “ust did not get two ears died aged 83. we “ust did not get two years yet. — died aged 83. we just did not get two years yet. bond _ died aged 83. we just did not get two years yet. bond is _ died

i want to put to you what grant shapps _ to work together.s said - to work together. i want to put to | you what grant shapps said earlier today, this is a long—standing issue and the industry itself needs to take some issue to tackle it and not wait for the government.— wait for the government. logistics are run on — wait for the government. logistics are run on relatively _ wait for the government. logistics are run on relatively tight - wait for the government. logistics are run on relatively tight marginsi are run on relatively tight margins and can be run especially with inflated wages to start finding 4000 £5,000 courses. the government could offer the younger and i get told every day from younger people wanting to join, every day from younger people wanting tojoin, funding and loans. there are elements of this job that's a very hard and very strenuous and we have a situation where there is an enormous shortage. i see lots of people who want to join cannot afford it so there has to be a conversation or otherwise we will put plasters ove

it is as grant shapps said, simpler and cheaper way to travel.— cheaper way to travel.your response ability - cheaper way to travel. it is not your response ability becausel cheaper way to travel. it is not | your response ability because it cheaper way to travel. it is not i your response ability because it is that the government too has changed the rules, but what do you say to those who suggest we are not going to be able to pick up variants now because people don't have to do the pcr when they get back? the because people don't have to do the pcr when they get back?— because people don't have to do the pcr when they get back? the pcr at the moment — pcr when they get back? the pcr at the moment is _ pcr when they get back? the pcr at the moment is still— pcr when they get back? the pcr at the moment is still in _ pcr when they get back? the pcr at the moment is still in place, - pcr when they get back? the pcr at the moment is still in place, we i pcr when they get back? the pcr at the moment is still in place, we are| the moment is still in place, we are not quite

grant shapps today try to put the sticking plaster over this by giving 5000 from overseas and trainingther 4000 here. he hasn't got one before christmas, he has to get more trains in the next 12 weeks and thinks he can do it but it doesn't actually solve the long—term problem of the shortage of drivers. what the government is doing is sending letters out to a million who hold hgv licences. if so many people are trained hgv drivers who have left the industry there must be something wrong with the industry. a pay rise and better working conditions seems the best way to get him back. gel. -- jo phillips- _ the best way to get him back. gel. -- jo phillips- is — the best way to get him back. gel. —— jo phillips. is going to say, oh, yes, _ —— jo phillips. is going to say, oh, yes, i_ —— jo phillips. is going to say, oh, yes, i will— —— jo phillips. is going to say, oh, yes, i will do— —— jo phillips. is going to say, oh, yes, i will do thatjob. it is long hours. — yes, i will do thatjob. it is long hours. you _ yes, i will do thatjob. it is long hours, you are away from home a lot. the con

and the hgv driver shortage, some signs there are specific uk problems, grant shapps said brexit washe uk shortage, so you haveissues factor in the uk shortage, so you have issues there, and it is that the pound, often a barometer of the economic prospects of the uk, at its biggest fall against the dollar and a sharp fall against the euro, which makes people feel they are specific problems, and so bottom line, some signs of improvement, but too early to call the end of the crisis.- to call the end of the crisis. simon jack, to call the end of the crisis. simon jack. thanks _ to call the end of the crisis. simon jack. thanks for— to call the end of the crisis. simon jack, thanks forjoining _ to call the end of the crisis. simon jack, thanks forjoining us. - the labour leader sir keir starmer says winning a general election is ultimately more important than party unity. speaking during labour's conference in brighton where some members have openly criticised the direction of his leadership sir keir said labour was a broad church there would always be disagreements but he wanted a sharp

the uk transport secretary grant shapps has been speaking to the bbc�*s andrew marr.is not short of fuel and urge the public not to panic buy. we have got a massive package of different alleviations in place. there is plenty of fuel, there are six refineries and 47 storage centres and we are not short of fuel as you rightly described. it is just about the panic buying, which is preventing it from being available and sometimes immediately as you want it. we are seeing these queues which don't need to be there. so this package which deals with the short—term with things like visas and calling in the army to help process more dvsa, that is licensing itself, to get that through. and then in the longer term which is big reform of the sector that is required because there has been a systemic shortage of drivers across the whole of the economy, made much, much worse by coronavirus across the world. are you going to bring in army drivers? well, we will do whatever is required. the army at the moment is going to make sure that we are testing hgv drivers and that is where the b

the transport secretary grant shapps insists there is no shortage of fuel and has urged drivers to fill when they need to. as well as a temporary scheme forforeign drivers, tonight the government has suspended competition law to allow the industry to share information and target areas where fuel is low. it is also considering using the army for deliveries. katy austin reports. this is one of the forecourts which were forced to close today, the result of motorists panic buying fuel. a mental health nurse told us she struggled to get to work. because of panic buying, there was nothing left. i live 14 miles away from work. work then had to call me a taxi to bring me in, which is costing the nhs money. a group which speaks for more than 5,000 independent fuel retailers said the impact had been severe. there is a large number — more than half — which have already run dry, and those others are running dry quite quickly. the first limited supply issues were down to a lack of tanker drivers, that's highlighted a wider lorry driver shortage — a long—standing problem that's got worse. the governm

the uk transport secretary grant shapps has been speaking to the bbc�*s andrew marr, saying the uk is and has urged public not to panic buy. irate not short of fuel and has urged public not to panic buy. we have got a massive package _ public not to panic buy. we have got a massive package of _ public not to panic buy. we have got a massive package of alleviation - public not to panic buy. we have got a massive package of alleviation is l a massive package of alleviation is in place. there's plenty of fuel, i have checked with the six refineries and 47 storage centres we have in this country and we are not short of fuel, as you rightly described. it isjust fuel, as you rightly described. it is just about the panic buying that is just about the panic buying that is preventing it being available sometimes immediately as he wanted, and we are seeing these cues which do not need to be there. this package which deals with the short—term, with things like visas, the culling in of the army to help process more dv sa, the licensing itself, to help get that through, and then in the longer term

i have to smile when grant shapps says they are moving heaven and earth.rt off with a lack of respect and i think we - those issues are. you start off with a lack of respect and i think we can all do something by saying thank you to all of the drivers that deliver everything that we use in our homes, our work. just that little bit of saying thank you, showing respect from us goes a long way. of course, pay is a really important element of this. for many years, and when a tory minister acknowledges that drivers have been underpaid, we know it is something serious, and unite carried out a survey this week that identifies a majority of the public agreed with us that drivers need a pay increase. so we need employers not to be offering signing on bonuses, retention bonuses, we need proper rates of pay and we need changes in the industry to give drivers better work life balance, better facilities to take rest and using basic facilities like toilets. there are a whole raft of issues of the government can get stuck into but they are just tinkering around the edges

to be fair, i heard grant shapps and he— is? to be fair, i heard grant shapps and he said— is?d he is absolutely right. what is absolutely —— actually happening is people are panicking. you will— happening is people are panicking. you will remember this, right back at the _ you will remember this, right back at the beginning of covid, the mass rush to _ at the beginning of covid, the mass rush to supermarkets and stacking up with toilet _ rush to supermarkets and stacking up with toilet rolls and things. people do have _ with toilet rolls and things. people do have a — with toilet rolls and things. people do have a habit of panicking when they hear— do have a habit of panicking when they hear this word shortage. i don't _ they hear this word shortage. i don't know what the answer to it is, frankly, _ don't know what the answer to it is, frankly, because whether it was a conservative, labour or lib dem government in power it wouldn't make much _ government in power it wouldn't make much difference. we need to reassure peopie _ much difference. we need to reassure peopie that _ m

grant shapps said he wouldn't rule out changing visa rules to allow more foreign drivers to work in britaing the army to help, although he said using the military "probably" wasn't the solution. the road haulage association says there's an urgent need to grant temporary visas to attract more hgv drivers from abroad. it's estimated that the uk is short of about 100,000 hgv drivers, with gaps made worse by both the pandemic and brexit. ministers are stressing there's no need for motorists, or shoppers, to start panic—buying. theo leggett reports. petrol stations with no petrol, or diesel. yet another consequence of the national shortage of lorry drivers. the fuel giant bp supply is about 1,200 outlets across the country. some have had to close temporarily, while others have run out of one or more types of fuel. rival supplier esso says it's also experienced problems at a small number of sites it operates in partnership with tesco. the problem isn't a lack of fuel. there is plenty available at the country's refineries. but there simply aren't enough tanker drivers to take it petrol stations. i

uk transport secretary grant shapps said, "we are starting to see panic buying moderate with more gradesel available at more petrol stations," as the government continues to stress the uk has strong supplies of fuel. the doctors�* union, the british medical association, has called for health care staff to be given priority at petrol stations, warning essential services could be hit if they can't get to work. the uk is estimated to be short of more than 100,000 lorry drivers, causing problems for a range of industries, including food suppliers and supermarkets in recent months. this report from emma simpson. we're all wondering how long it can go on for. that is what every driver wants to know after another day of queues, shortages and panic—buying. last night, the government put army tanker drivers on standby, ready to be deployed if necessary. and it also extended adr driving licences, removing the need to do a refresher course to help keep drivers on the roads. in a statement, the fuel industry says... they and the government are urging people just to buy fuel as they normally would. t

will sort it out, he is trying _ grant shapps will sort it out, he is trying to— grant shapps will sort down and hope it— trying to keep his head down and hope it will blow over, but this is a moment— hope it will blow over, but this is a moment for leadership. we needed to get— a moment for leadership. we needed to get a _ a moment for leadership. we needed to get a grip, so speak to the royal college _ to get a grip, so speak to the royal college of— to get a grip, so speak to the royal college of nurses and to unison, because — college of nurses and to unison, because i— college of nurses and to unison, because i can help bring them together. if he can't reach out to then _ together. if he can't reach out to then we — together. if he can't reach out to them. we have got to act in the national— them. we have got to act in the national interest and he has also -ot national interest and he has also got nry— national interest and he has also got my phone number and he can ring me, got my phone number and he can ring rne. lrut— got my phone number and he can ring me. but he _ got my phone

you heard grant shapps, l shortage of hgv drivers? that is i right.retary, saying there they are not ruling anything out or in. just like last night sources on the home office were telling us that this idea of a new visa for hgv drivers coming from the continent was not under consideration. now it is understood that the home secretary priti patel has softened her opinion on that particular measure. we are not expecting any kind of imminent announcement, but it does seem that is something that is certainly being considered at top levels. this meeting has been going on this afternoon involving senior ministers and officials from the home office and the department for transport to try to fundamentally get more lorries onto the road, but evenif get more lorries onto the road, but even if they were to relax those post—brexit immigration rules there is no guarantee this would solve the problem very quickly because no one really knows quite how many lorry drivers they are on the continent waiting to come to immediately work here in the uk. mil waiting to com

the transport secretary grant shapps are staying, quite kwarteng, the business and energy secretary,econfirmed now. we have seen that quite a few of the big changes already out of the way. just trying to check with you that george eustice are still at defra, he is, he is still the environment secretary. a lot of posting in post. the big one has to be dominic raab. by the big one has to be dominic raab. by all accounts, he is upset at the way his role has been portrayed in relation to the withdrawal from afghanistan. summersuggesting relation to the withdrawal from afghanistan. summer suggesting that is probably the reason why he has been a boot, the situation over there. but by all accounts, he was initially offered the deputy prime minister's job? initially offered the deputy prime minister'sjob? ida. initially offered the deputy prime minister'sjob?_ minister's “ob? no, a bit of intriguing — minister's job? no, a bit of intriguing gossip, - minister's job? no, a bit of intriguing gossip, when - minister's job? no, a bit of- intriguing gossip, when reshuffles happen, what the prime

transport secretary grant shapps said, "we are starting to see panic buying moderate with more gradesble at more petrol stations," as the government continues to stress the uk has strong supplies of fuel. the doctors�* union, the british medical association, has called for health care staff to be given priority at petrol stations, warning essential services could be hit if they can't get to work. the uk is estimated to be short of more than 100,000 lorry drivers, causing problems for a range of industries, including food suppliers and supermarkets in recent months. this report from emma simpson. we are all wondering how long it can go on. it we are all wondering how long it can no on. , ., we are all wondering how long it can io on, , ., , we are all wondering how long it can no on. , . , ., , go on. it is what every driver wants to know after _ go on. it is what every driver wants to know after another _ go on. it is what every driver wants to know after another day - go on. it is what every driver wants to know after another day of - go on. it is what every driver wants l to know af

grant shapps _ next steps? that meeting is still ongoing. grant shapps said - next steps?t appears the home secretary has softened his stance on that one. we are not expecting any kind of imminent announcement on this. it would be something of a climb—down for the government to do that. some political opponents already starting to pile in, the scottish first minister nicola sturgeon singh the prime minister should have listened to voices during the eu referendum who are telling him that ending free movement and cutting in immigration would lead to a critic —— critical labour shortages. and the cbi has said in the past hour that it wants a much more urgent and active approach to be taken by the government. ml approach to be taken by the government.— approach to be taken by the rovernment. �* , government. all the while, these talks are ongoing _ government. all the while, these talks are ongoing and _ government. all the while, these talks are ongoing and the - government. all the while, these i talks are ongoing and the timescale is key because the longer it goes on withou

the local mp here in welwyn and hatfield is grant shapps, who�*s the transport secretary.e waiting for the deliveries and don�*t agree with their mp. he says there�*s no shortage of fuel? there might not be a shortage of fuel, but it�*s not getting hello, you are watching bbc news. the headlines... a court in new york has found the american singer r kelly guilty of six trafficking and racketeering in connection with the abuse of underage girls, boys and women. the social democrat party says they have a clear mandate to govern after results from they election put it narrowly ahead. the leader says he plans to build a coalition with the greens and the free democrats. angela merkel see they have refused to concede defeat. 0fficials angela merkel see they have refused to concede defeat. officials in the uk are considering drastic measures as the country is headed by a fuel crisis, which has seen some petrol stations run dry. the government has announced it issuing temporary visas, bringing 500a and truck drivers. those are the headlines.

north east this morning at the high court after a seniorjudge agreed with the transport secretary grant shapps5 plus others elsewhere against climate change are endring live, these aren't new powers for the police but the court order means that anybody from the group insulate britain who goes back out on to the m25 its verge, underpass, bridges, tunnels orwhere verge, underpass, bridges, tunnels or where ever, and causes a disruption and blocks traffic will be, potentially be in contouchily of court, they will be hauled before the court and could be be imprisoned. this order is in force until next spring, but the group itself insulate britain, who have been staging these motorway sit ins and stopping the traffic for hours on end, a little while ago they told me they haven't received this injunction and they are determined to continue their protest, saying they want to see meaningful action from the government. whether we will see any of them back on the motorway, given they must be pretty aware the order exist, given the press reporting this morning remains to be seen, the police officers say

one of the things that grant shapps has done to try to help improve the situation is to extend the hoursdea and within the industry we resist that a great deal. if you want to come and look at my twitter you can see the average working day of a lorry driver in the uk. we already work up to 15 hours, driving for potentially ten of those, extending the hours an already exhausted workforce. we have been working much harder the past two years on the back of the pandemic, so it's a very, very bad idea for road safety to talk about extending the hours. we work hard enough and that's too easy for the government to do that. too easy. i'm just wondering, i mean listening to you and your reasons for leaving, might it actually backfire in making thejob less appealing? yes, and i'm a positive person, i do not want to put people off doing this job, ijust want to bring you the truth about what is involved in doing it. because the attrition rate is very high. you might see the salary appealing, come and do the licence, get into the job and then six months, a year down the line, you decide you have to g

the secretary of state for transport, grant shapps, never seems to mention that the dvla, under direct hgv applications which are as yet unprocessed. now, had the dvla been working efficiently and properly, they have had strikes there, they have had pandemic issues, they have had work—to—rule, i think, but they have not been working properly and so we could have started to have far more applications for hgvjobs coming through this year and the government is letting us believe, so that is a major fault of the government. the government — major fault of the government. the government would say that actually, the hgv driver shortage is a long—standing issue that has arisen out of whole range of issues that applies to elsewhere in europe as well. but coming on to what they are now doing about it with these temporary visas, how much of a difference will that make to the situation? this difference will that make to the situation? �* , , ., difference will that make to the situation? ~ , difference will that make to the situation? a . situation? as you said earlier, there are _ situation? as

the transport secretary grant shapps has said he is ruling nothing out and tackling the problem, allowing is tony higgins,... oh, i'm so sorry. forgive me. tony, i am sorry, you are there, apologies, we had a few technical issues. you can hear me? i few technical issues. you can hear me? .., few technical issues. you can hear me? . . . , ., , few technical issues. you can hear me? ., , ., , thanks me? i can hear you very well. thanks so much for— me? i can hear you very well. thanks so much for being _ me? i can hear you very well. thanks so much for being with _ me? i can hear you very well. thanks so much for being with us _ me? i can hear you very well. thanks so much for being with us this - so much for being with us this evening. from where you sit, what is the problem that is causing the shortage? is it simply a shortage people want to be drivers all shortage of test places were a combination of factors? by, combination of factors? combination, actually. there's been a driver shortage a number of years and in recent years we have at brexit, so 40,000 eu drivers go back to europe. al

the transport secretary grant shapps said there are enough people in the workforce, but there needs tom salary lower but that has an implication, if you don't attract enough people across society into driving lorries. 99% of body drivers are men, you want to get more women, we know facilities need to be better and the pay is to be better. 1.6 million people are coming off a furlough in september, some people will be attracted perhaps by a new profession so we have the people and we need to have the system to allow people to get those tests in addition to already increased capacity by 15%, today's extra 50,000 tests should go along way to doing that. the home secretary priti patel has confirmed that dame cressida dick will continue to lead the metropolitan police service until 202a. a number of her high—profile critics had sent an open letter to the prime minister calling for her contract not to be extended. helena wilkinson has more the contract was going to be extended, we knew that already from this week. we were just waiting for that confirmation, but also waiting to see whether tha

the transport secretary grant shapps has said he is "ruling nothing out" in tackling the problem — vowingnd earth" to address the shortage. earlier this evening i spoke to the managing director and its and logistics and construction training company based in reality helps to get married drivers train. he said this shortage was down to a combination of factors. the government has told people not to panic by but that did not stop the driver is lining up a petrol station today including bromley, evesham and sheffield. this today including bromley, evesham and sheffield. , , , ., sheffield. this is the third petrol station that _ sheffield. this is the third petrol station that we _ sheffield. this is the third petrol station that we have _ sheffield. this is the third petrol station that we have seen - sheffield. this is the third petrol station that we have seen line i station that we have seen line zapped. we have to get gas, we are not panic buying. the zapped. we have to get gas, we are not panic buying-— not panic buying. the boss of another in — not panic buying. the boss of another in

the transport secretary grant shapps announce the move in the commons this afternoon. find announce thehe commons this afternoon.— this afternoon. and i'm delighted that as the _ this afternoon. and i'm delighted that as the prime _ this afternoon. and i'm delighted that as the prime minister - this afternoon. and i'm delighted that as the prime minister has i that as the prime minister has arrived in the united states of america, they have agreed and i can confirm for the house today, announced to the house today, indeed, that vaccinated brits will be able to travel into the us from early november reciprocating the policy that we introduced this summer, and this is a testament to the hard work and progress made by the hard work and progress made by the expert working group, set up at the expert working group, set up at the g7, to restart transatlantic travel. the flagship route of international aviation. let's get more details from our transport correspondent caroline davies. caroline, tell us what it means for people who want to go from the uk to america. {iii people who want to go fr

the transport secretary grant shapps has been responding to an urgent question in the house of commonshe delivery of vital medical supplies. we've already seen the number of people wanting to do the hgv drivers test literally fall off a cliff. with over 9000 being completed in 2019. that was before brexit and it was well before covid. industry has been warned of this crisis for years but the secretary of state has been asleep at the wheel. and just months ago one of his own ministers accused the road haulage industry a crying wolf over shortages despite the evidence that the crisis was getting bigger and bigger and was grinding our economy to a halt. mr shapps said it wasn'tjust a problem affecting the uk. this is a global problem. the chief executive of eastern europe's largest hauliers says it is a global driving shortage across europe, not an isolated problem in one country. he points out that shortages are in romania, poland, germany and many other countries. but it's notjust europe, as europe actually it's a global problem. the striving situation is about as bad as it's ever been

that the driver and vehicle licensing agency in swansea, which is under the direct supervision of grant shappsstrike, they are working from home, relatively unsupervised, and the performance of the dvla, in this sense, one of the government agencies, has been woeful if that is true. , agencies, has been woeful if that is true, , ., agencies, has been woeful if that is true. , ., , agencies, has been woeful if that is true, , ., , l, agencies, has been woeful if that is true. , ., , , true. sorry to interrupt you, but that is a figure _ true. sorry to interrupt you, but that is a figure we _ true. sorry to interrupt you, but that is a figure we have - true. sorry to interrupt you, but that is a figure we have heard . true. sorry to interrupt you, but i that is a figure we have heard that about previously. the thing is, even if people get through those tests, i don't know how quickly they can get through them, spoke to someone yesterday, who said there is a 12 week waiting list for someone to pass a test but does passing that test to be can automatically drive a fuel tanker?— fuel tanker? no, th

the transport secretary grant shapps has tweeted in the last hour.fy international travel later today in order to reduce costs, take advantage of higher levels of vaccination and keep us all safe. it is indication from government so far that changes are afoot and the industry really want to see a lot of these changes.— industry really want to see a lot of these changes. let's look at some of these changes. let's look at some of these changes _ these changes. let's look at some of these changes in _ these changes. let's look at some of these changes in a _ these changes. let's look at some of these changes in a bit _ these changes. let's look at some of these changes in a bit more - these changes. let's look at some of these changes in a bit more detail. l these changes in a bit more detail. best of all the traffic light system. and i right at the moment 62 countries on the red list? could that be reduced? we countries on the red list? could that be reduced?— countries on the red list? could that be reduced? we are expecting that be reduced? we are ex

the transport secretary, grant shapps, says an injunction has been granted by a judge, meaning that similarort from the uk prisons watchdog has identified a series of failings in the case of an 18 year old inmate who lost her baby after giving birth alone in her cell. the prisons and probation ombudsman found staff at bronzefield's women's prison —— who were responsible for her care —— were unclear about the estimated due date, and were not aware she could give birth imminently. as the woman went into labour, she pressed her cell bell for help but no one responded. the report says she appeared to be regarded as �*difficult�* rather than vulnerable. an earthquake has struck the australian state of victoria, damaging buildings in melbourne and causing tremors hundreds of kilometres away. geologists say the quake is the largest in south east australia since the 1800s. shaimaa khalil reports from sydney. melbourne residents in shock assessing the damage after a magnitude six earthquake hit the state of victoria. the north—eastern town of mansfield was the epicentre, but the tremors were felt st

i wonder if grant shapps has ever been to swansea? have is, when will this be sorted, what is the timeframe for things getting back to normal? that ve much things getting back to normal? trust very much depends on the motorists. if they start buying in their normal quantities, £20, 20 litres, to fill up quantities, £20, 20 litres, to fill up every week, we could see by the end of this week some return to normality. it won't be perfect, but some return. but if they keep buying and buying a tanker load full, there is no chance. with 36,000,000 vehicles on the road, and two billion of storage, that is far more than the industry can cope with. thank you very much for your time, elizabeth dejong, and by medicine. —— brian maddison. he elizabeth dejong, and by medicine. -- brian maddison.— -- brian maddison. he said by the end of the — -- brian maddison. he said by the end of the week. _ -- brian maddison. he said by the end of the week. thank _ -- brian maddison. he said by the end of the week. thank you - -- brian maddison. he said by the

grant shapps wrote in one of the papers yesterday talking about truckers as the lifeblood of this countrys a highly skilled job. i recognised. he described it as a highly skilled job.— highly skilled 'ob. i think it is not highly skilled job. i think it is not recognised _ highly skilled job. i think it is not recognised enough. - highly skilled job. i think it is l not recognised enough. people highly skilled job. i think it is - not recognised enough. people don't recognise just what we have to put up recognise just what we have to put up with. they think that you look at the window, it is easy, it is not. times like today where you will be out and it is throwing it down and you have got to sit for the next 12 hours are getting in and out, get wet again, get dry. just hours are getting in and out, get wet again, get dry.— hours are getting in and out, get wet again, get dry. just a thought, sor to wet again, get dry. just a thought, sorry to interrupt _ wet again, get dry. just a thought, sorry to interrupt you, _ wet again, get dry. just a thought, sorry to interrupt you, but - wet aga

this morning here at the high court, after a seniorjudge agreed with the transport secretary, grant shapps but this civil court order basically means that anybody from the group insulate britain who goes back out onto the m25, its verges, underpasses, bridges, tunnels or wherever, and causes a disruption and blocks the traffic, will effectively, potentially be in contempt of court. they will be hauled before the court and could potentially be imprisoned. this order is in force until next spring subject to a hearing next month to review it but the group itself, insulate britain, who have been staging these motorway sit—ins, and stopping the traffic for hours on end, a little while ago they told me they hadn't actually received this injunction and they are determined to continue their protest, saying they want to see meaningful action from the government. whether we will actually see any of them back on the motorway, given they must be pretty aware the order exists, given the press reporting this morning, remains to be seen but the government said it needs to act on this. police officers, me

we're joined now by the transport secretary grant shapps. good morning. iwonder good morning.ourts to be served to car drivers and truck drivers, the problem remains. what is your analysis of the shortage, not necessarily the closures of the forecourts that are closed, what about the shortage? you described closed, what about the shortage? tm. described that accurately, there is plenty of petrol, it needs to get distributed, like all the other goods and services we buy in the supermarket as well, it needs to be got to the location. in terms of the shortage, we know that there are a lot of drivers who wants to take their hgv, there lorry tests. but their hgv, there lorry tests. but the centre were closed over the coronavirus and about 40,000 could not take their tests over that period of time. we are doing is moving heaven and earth, i have already introduced legislation which has helped to double the number of available testing slots from pre—pandemic levels so we are getting those drivers tested and through and they are joining the marketplace and they are doing so on signifi