transport secretary heidi alexander says rail privatisation was three decades of failure. this is to improve reliability and clamp down on the delays, the cancellation, the waste and the inefficiency that we've seen over the last 30 years. we've had private train operating companies running train services in this country over the last few decades, and it clearly hasn't worked. the system is broken and we desperately need to fix it. and so, as a first step on the journey to establishing a sort of more integrated and unified railway where we can get to grips with the day—to—day planning and make sure that we're making decisions that make sense, both for the train service and for the track and the infrastructure, we need to bring these train operating companies into public ownership. and so we, you know, we're going to turn the page really on the last 30 years of failure. heidi alexander there. around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news. this is bbc news. and out the us. now to the us. pete hegseth, donald trump's pick for defense secretary, has spent a second day o

heidi alexander is speaking to bbc breakfast.ukraine, where we believe one person, at least one person has been killed following a russian missile attack on kyiv. we are just keeping an eye on that on bbc news. any more updates on that situation in ukraine we will bring that to you. here in the uk, some people in hampshire will be waking up to running waterfor the first time since wednesday, as engineers have been working through the night to fix an ongoing issue. our reporter, jon cuthilljoins us from a leisure centre in eastleigh where people have been collecting bottled water. how are they getting on there? what a difference a day makes. we have got the water, we have a lorry loads of water here in eastleigh. we have a whole team of people in orange who have been standing by to load, but there is just a single car at there is just a single car at the moment. yesterday the cars were queueing around the block but we found out from southern water that as of 2am, all 58,000 customers who had been affected over the last 72 hours we

. - we've got a new secretary of state, heidi alexander. j is keir starmer a hypocrite because he gaveeaker a job in his cabinet? having said that two years ago. no, he's not. are there still questions, joe, do you think over this? there are there are detailed questions about, as pat mcfadden have touched on, what keir starmer knew and when, because, as we understand it, louise haigh did warn keir starmer when first appointed to the shadow cabinet about this conviction, but she didn't put it in the form when she entered the cabinet for the propriety and ethics team. however, number ten will be hoping the fact that she's gone means that even the little bits of information are seeping out in various news organisations over the last couple of days, that's not really going to have any huge impact. and the view, i think both inside parts of government and among louise haigh's allies, is that her days were always numbered. she certainly felt, i'm told, a bit of a misfit in the cabinet, that keir starmer didn't want to expend much political capital on her. and equally, there are people within

heidi alexander there.and's finance secretary, shona robison, has pledged to put tackling child poverty at the heart of her plans when she unveils her draft budget this afternoon. she is under pressure to set out wide ranging reforms to address what are seen as deep—seated problems in areas such as health and education. here's our scotland correspondent lorna gordon. 0n budget day, everyone wants a slice of the pie. the scottish government had around £60 billion to spend last year. today we find out what money is going in and how it's being shared. for this new business in renfrewshire, help with costs as they grow is top of the menu. if you were talking to a government minister now, a scottish government minister, what are the concerns and what are the priorities? i'd like them to focus their attention on the the business rates. you know, it depends on the square footage of a business. if it was a smaller shop, then we would get some relief on those rates. but for example, in a year like £20,000 a year, so

the transport secretary heidi alexander is now seeking views from the industry about how to deliver the has declared the highest level of emergency due to pressures, including lengthy hospital handover times and an increase in respiratory viruses. the status means staff leave could be cancelled and all available staff might be called into work. christmas orders have been further delayed for some morrisons customers. it comes more than 24 hours after the supermarket had what it called "systems issues" causing deliveries to be cancelled and discounts not applied. morrisons has apologised and says deliveries are back to normal but it has yet to reveal the cause of the problem. you're live with bbc news. denmark says it will increase its defence spending on greenland by at least $1.5 billion. the promise came just hours after america's president—elect, donald trump, repeated his desire for the us to purchase the territory. denmark's defence minister said that the timing of the funding announcement was just the "irony of fate". greenland's prime minister had responded by saying that his coun

the transport secretary heidi alexander is now seeking views from the industry about how to deliver theervice has declared the highest level of emergency due to pressures including lengthy hospital handover times and an increase in respiratory viruses. the status means healthcare leave could be cancelled and all available staff might be called into work. the government says the service is still able to treat patients in a critical condition. some morrisons customers encountered further delays with their christmas orders more than 2a hours after after the supermarket experienced what it called "systems issues" on monday, which saw deliveries cancelled and discounts not applied. morrisons has apologised and says deliveries are back to normal. you're live with bbc news. armed men in haiti have opened fire at medical staff, police officers and journalists during a media conference to announce the reopening of the country's biggest public hospital. at least two journalists and a police officer were killed and many others injured. journalists were waiting for the arrival of the health ministe

the transport secretary heidi alexander is now seeking views from the industry about how to deliver thehe ambulance service has declared the highest level of emergency due to pressures, including lengthy hospital handover times and an increase in respiratory viruses. the status means staff leave could be cancelled and all available staff might be called in to work. christmas orders have been further delayed for some morrisons customers. it comes more than 24 hours after the supermarket had what it called "systems issues," causing deliveries to be cancelled and discounts not applied. morrisons has apologised and says deliveries are back to normal but it has yet to reveal the cause of the problem. you're live with bbc news. as 2024 draws to a close, bangladesh's political landscape remains charged with tension, heavily shaped by the legal battles surrounding interim leader, and nobel laureate dr muhammad yunus. there have been intense opposition protests, government crackdowns and widespread calls for faster electoral reforms. now, just days before the end of the year, bangladesh has form

you saw that with heidi , heidi alexander that with heidi, heidi alexander this week.t is, i think labouris this week. but it is, i think labour is going to find it really difficult to win a second term. >> fascinating. well, listen, earlier , gb news spoke to the earlier, gb news spoke to the chancellor of the duchy of lancaster, pat mcfadden, about how labour are doing in power so far . take a how labour are doing in power so far. take a listen. >> it's been an absolutely disastrous start to the labour administration, hasn't it? >> not

transport secretary heidi alexander thinks so. 50. >> so. >> it's imperative that this new labour governmenttakes action to fix this. that is why we are investing an additional £500 million into local council highways budgets next year. >> the great christmas getaway it's expected to be the busiest travel day of the year today, as 4 million people plan to spend christmas overseas. >> millions of drivers getting away today. but travel bosses fear there could be chaos on the rails and the roads. >> the countdown is on for pensioners to apply for pension credit, so you can receive this year's winter fuel payment. the deaduneis year's winter fuel payment. the deadline is tomorrow. we'll tell you how. >> and as christmas sales come early in some major outlets, we're asking is it better to do your shopping online or on the high street? we will debate that. >> elsewhere, top doctors claim that 70th may be the new 60. that's as older people in england have never been in such good health. what are your top tips to keep you feeling young? >> are christmas shopping? you know, like i said, i haven't act

transport secretary heidi alexander says it's important local communities get the best results. >> itl be releasing 75% of this funding next year to start off with, and we withhold 25% to ensure that councils are reporting back to us on how they are using that money, because we know that some roads at the moment are like obstacle courses, aren't they? you've got huge craters in them. and so what we need to make sure is that those really big safety problems are being tackled first and foremost. but we want councils as well to think strategically about how they use this money in the best way, because it's really important that we get good value for money. >> in other news, the department for health and social care are announcing a package of gp reforms to slash red tape, they say, and bring back the family doctor. the government is consulting with the british medical association on measures including the largest boost to gp funding in years, and reducing outdated targets to free up time. measures also include additional investment and greater flexibility to employ doctors. as the health

transport secretary heidi alexander said the increase should be enough to fix around 7 million potholes it will be releasing 75% of this funding next year to start off with, and we withhold 25% to ensure that councils are reporting back to us on how they are using that money, because we know that some roads at the moment are like obstacle courses, aren't they? >> you've got huge craters in them. and so what we need to make sure is that those really big safety problems are being tackled first and foremost. but we want councils as well to think strategically about how they use this money in the best way, because it's really important that we get good value for money. >> the met office and the rac are warning travellers to prepare for disruptive weather and extremely busy roads as the christmas holidays begin. yellow warnings for high winds have been issued, and parts of the uk could see gusts of up to 85 miles an hour. millions of travellers have now started their festive journeys, with motoring agencies warning of very heavy congestion on main roads. today in particular has been branded

transport secretary heidi alexander said the increase should be enough to fix around 7 million potholes> we will be releasing 75% of this funding next year to start off with, and we withhold 25% to ensure that councils are reporting back to us on how they are using that money, because we know that some roads at the moment are like obstacle courses, aren't they? you've got huge craters in them. and so what we need to make sure is that those really big safety problems are being tackled first and foremost. but we want councils as well to think strategically about how they use this money in the best way, because it's really important that we get good value for money. >> the department for health and social care has announced a package of gps to help bring back the family doctor. the government is consulting with the british medical association on measures including the largest boost to gp funding in years, and reducing outdated targets to free up time. measures also include greater flexibility to employ doctors, as a health secretary vows to reform general practice. health and social care m

transport secretary heidi alexander promises clarity for the auto industry, updating targets for zerossion vehicle sales and threatening £15,000 fines for manufacturers if they miss their quotas. but car makers, including ford, warn that demand isn't keeping up and say bold government incentives are urgently needed. in brighton, police are searching for two men after the rape of a 19 year old man in the city. the victim was approached near a restaurant early on the 21st of december before being attacked. he later managed to find help from a passer—by and is being supported by specialist officers. detectives are now asking anyone who may have seen anything take place or recognises the men in two pictures released to get in touch. in the united states, there has been christmas eve chaos earlier for half a million passengers as a technical glitch grounded all american airlines flights. the federal aviation authority issued a nationwide ground stop for the airline's 6000 daily flights. they have now resumed with passengers reporting they are starting to board, but delays are expected to r

ironically, it's his deputy, sadiq khan's deputy, when she was for transport, heidi alexander, who'secome the transport secretary in keir starmers cabinet. and it looks unlikely now given where things are headed, that actually sadiq khan is going to make it all the way to the very top of government. and so keir starmer has just turned around and said, well, here you are, have have a reward. and i think given what keir starmer said previously, where he said he didn't want to hand out gongs for cronies. i think there's a little bit of hypocrisy, but that always happens, isn't it? i mean, it's he did promise. he did promise to be different though. >> yeah. but crazy to promise to be different when no one ever is. >> yes. and that's that's that's the accusation. it's an accusation that's been, you know, levelled with freebie gate in the over the course of the summer when of course, he attacked the conservatives, keir starmer as you know he was dubbed mr rules by lisa nandy. he's now culture secretary for following, you know going by the guy, you know going by the rules. and he says well

transport secretary heidi alexander says it marks the end of 30 years of privatisation and aims to fix system that she says has failed its users. the move follows the passenger railway services act, which cleared the way for those sweeping changes to britain's railways. labour 1518

transport secretary heidi alexander says it marks the end of 30 years of privatisation and aims to fix system that's failed its users . system that's failed its users. thousands of protesters are flooding the streets of the south korean capital seoul, demanding president yoon suk yeol steps down after his shocking declaration of martial law. the president claimed the measure was needed to defend against north korean communist forces. however, afterjust two forces. however, after just two hours, he withdrew the order after mps stormed the national assembly and overturned the decision. he's now facing calls to stand down immediately or face impeachment . the country's face impeachment. the country's defence minister has seemed to be driving . the crackdown has be driving. the crackdown has also reportedly been offered to resign . and finally, crystal resign. and finally, crystal palace captain mark gay will face no action from the fa despite wearing a religious message on his armband for the second time after being warned for displaying i love jesus on saturday. gay he wore jesus loves y

the paper leads on an interview with the new transport secretary, heidi alexander, saying that she's. renationalised. i might do that. she half past seven. renationalised. i might do that-— half past seven. renationalised. i might do that. she will be with us at half seven. _ and the metro features a photo of the princess of wales, reporting on her taking "another big step" towards returning to full public duties following her cancer treatment. the photo was taken during a state visit from the emir of qatar yesterday. i don't know if you are watching yesterday but we had the great richard curtis on, the writer of all of those fabulous films and he has a new christmas film out and it is set where he lives in suffolk and its about this beautiful community, it is animated and everybody looks after each other and lo and behold in the mirror today, the suffolk town of woodbridge is the happiest place in britain according to this survey stop boutiques, coffee shops, pubs, great restaurants all in walking distance of each other is fantastic and the people who live there have a fantastic tim