henry zeffman, our chief olitical longer. henry zeffman, our chief political reporter _ longer.rter in _ longer. henry zeffman, our chief| political reporter in westminster, thank you for bringing this up—to—date. we do have much more on the ongoing story there, including many more questions are answered about what raac is in the first place. you can go to the bbc news website and go to our live page. just before we go, we have an update on the talks between russia's vladimir putin and turki's president ada whan. you can see him there. we are hearing vladimir putin says russia is ready to revive that grain deal if demands are met. turkey's president erdogan expressed optimism earlier that a new agreement could be reached with russia, allowing ships safe passage through the black sea. it comes after that deal was scrapped about six weeks ago. more on that with matthew coming up here on that with matthew coming up here on bbc news. hello there. it is set to turn even warmer this week, increasing humidity as well so starting to feel more uncomfortable particularly at night. but muc

henry zeffman. _ be now. -- should not be charities. who are thought to have been trafficked, have been rescued from the back of a lorry in france after the bbc helped track them down and then alerted the police. a short video clip sent to a bbc journalist showed the women — four vietnamese and two iraqis — trapped inside the vehicle struggling to breathe. the bbc contacted the police, who stopped the truck and arrested the lorry driver. our top story this afternoon... the bbc has uncovered more than 150 instances of police officers in england and wales misusing their body—worn cameras. and how artificial intelligence is training the brain surgeons of tomorrow. coming up on bbc news, another english rugby club in financial trouble — championship title holders jersey reds announce they have ceased trading and warn liquidation appears to be inevitable. the actor sir michael gambon has died peacefully in hospital at the age of 82. sir michael, who won four tv baftas, worked across tv, film, radio and theatre in a career spanning five decad

live now to our offices in westminster, where we�*re joined by our political correspondent henry zeffman as wrong with this particular convention? suella braverman is in washing today, and she is basically arguing for a narrower definition of what a refugee is, who can be classed as a refugee. her issue is not necessarily with the convention itself, although she is going to argue that the world has changed a lot since 1951 in the aftermath of the second world war, when the convention was written. her main issues with how the convention has been interpreted over the decades since 1951 by the courts, basically. and she will argue that they have moved from protecting people who are fleeing persecution to protecting people who might be at risk of discrimination, and she believes that simply incorporates far more people under the potential definition of refugees then she believes it should be.- definition of refugees then she believes it should be. right. but it remains the _ believes it should be. right. but it remains the case, _ believes it should be. right. but it remains the case, though

we can speak to henry zeffman, our chief political correspondent. henry, good morning.is the news then? well, ben wallace has now formally resigned as defence secretary. he announced last month that he would be going at the next reshuffle. that is happening now. we don't have confirmation yet on who the new defence secretary is going to be, but grant shapps, who's currently the energy secretary, hasjust gone into 10 downing street. one of the main purposes of a news channel is to bring breaking news to audiences immediately. but among the changes made earlier this year to the bbc�*s 24—hour television news offering was the introduction of that nicky campbell show to the domestic stream of the channel between nine and ”am every weekday morning. following on from breakfast on the channel. some viewers were concerned that that meant five hours without a dedicated newsroom service and that that might affect the speed with which news stories could be reported. so that's the background to this phone message we received on thursday morning. at 8:23 this morning, gb news broke

our chief political correspondent henry zeffman is at westminster. the government _ now with all of this, henry? today, the government is _ now with all of this, henry? today, the government is adamant - now with all of this, henry? today, the government is adamant that i now with all of this, henry? today, j the government is adamant that no decision has yet been made. but what rishi sunak is coming under a lot of pressure from all quarters to do is announce at the very least to some sort of direction of travel. you have had luminaries from conservative governments past, boris johnson, george osborne, michael heseltine, even allies of david cameron, urging rishi sunak not to cancel that bloke from birmingham to manchester. this morning the mayor of greater manchester andy burnham who is a labour politician said that if the government doesn't go ahead with the existing plan it would leave the north with victorian infrastructure for the rest of the century. earliertoday infrastructure for the rest of the century. earlier today rishi sunak was asked, y

we havejust political correspondent, henry zeffman. was in scrawled with a 30 year shelf life, the department for education is run by civil servants and they should have timetable to maintenance on school buildings, and it should have been done on time. regardless of the party in power at the time. that is chris. thank you, sir. and this, this is part of a pattern of this government. cut costs in the short term and end up paying a big in the long term. and yet we can find billions for hs2 to chop ten minutes of a trip to birmingham. ijust read them out. and this one, surely responsibility for school sets with a local authority? why are they not been questioned over this issue on the upkeep of schools in areas? and this, james from stockport, it seems to me that government has known about this for a while but is now having to pay through the nose to get it fixed. i wonder who will be getting the contracts to fix this issue, and if this doesn't and in more kickbacks for ministers and their mates. that is cynicism. i can't take it. henry

for more, here�*s our political correspondent, henry zeffman.e�*s basically arguing for a narrower definition of what a refugee is who can be classed as a refugee. her issue is not necessarily with the convention itself, although she is going to argue that the world has changed a lot since 1951, in the aftermath of the second world war when the convention was written. her main issue is with how the convention has been interpreted over the decades since 1951 by the courts, basically. and she will argue that they�*ve moved from protecting people who are fleeing persecution to protecting people who might be at risk of discrimination. and she believes that simply incorporates far more people under the potential definition of refugees than she believes should be. right. but it remains the case, though, that many people are fleeing their country simply because it�*s economically dysfunctional. so it doesn�*t change whatever the definition is. doesn�*t really change the underlying problem much, does it? well, perhaps that�*s right. i mean, i think i th

a vast increase in the number of people defined as refugees. 0ur chief political correspondent henry zeffmanina in a couple of hours, suella braverman is going to be giving that speech in washington, dc. but it really goes to the heart of a debate thatis really goes to the heart of a debate that is happening here in westminster as well as around the world, which is that question of who should or should not be counted as a refugee. the international rules governing that were set in 1951. that is called the un refugee convention. and while suella braverman will say that that was an excellent achievement by the world, six years as it was after the second world war in 1951, she will say the world has simply changed too much and there should be new rules. she will specifically question how the un refugee convention gets applied. she will say it simply was not intended to cover cases where people who are gay or who are women might fear discrimination where they are, but not necessarily be experiencing persecution. before the speech has been made, she is already coming under intense criticism, some

i asked our chief political correspondent henry zeffman what sort of reaction her speech was likely tougee convention. essentially the definition of who does or does not qualify as a refugee, which has been in place since 1951. now, obviously, 1951, that was written in the aftermath of the second world war. initially, it was about displaced people in europe, although now many countries all over the world are signed up to this convention. so there's that international debate that suella braverman and the government are clearly eager to start, but there's also, i think, going to be a ferocious domestic debate. because, of course, the issue of illegal immigration, of asylum seekers, of small boats crossing the channel is a big issue in the uk. you already have the labour party accusing her of grandstanding abroad because you can't fix what they call the chaos at home. and i think that's one direction this debate is going to move in. five people have appeared in a london court accused of spying for russia. all five are bulgarian nationals, two of them living together in london, one not pic

live now to our chief political correspondent, henry zeffman. lots of twists and turns on this. latest statement, comments from the schools minister there, what more have you heard from the government. i understand the cabinet has been meeting today? that’s has been meeting today? that's riaht, this has been meeting today? that's right, this was _ has been meeting today? that's right, this was just _ has been meeting today? that's right, this was just the - has been meeting today? that's right, this was just the usual - right, this was just the usual weekly cabinet meeting, but the first since mps come back from their break and crucially it was the first since this raac issue, the potentially dangerous concrete and public buildings, i think it is fair to say it has engulfed the government. it is the only thing that people in westminster are talking about. the levels of concern are rocketing in government and we know that rishi sunak talk to his cabinet ministers today about what the government is doing to address it. as you mentioned, there is a bit of a dispute over actions tak

government's response to the crisis has been "world leading". 0ur chief political correspondent, henry zeffman what the schools minister has been saying. what nick gibb has been doing today is basically defending rishi sunak and that is because yesterday the prime minister was dragged to the heart of this issue. we had a former head of the department for education, where nick gibb is now a minister, claiming that when rishi sunak was chancellor, he cut funding for rebuilding schools, the kinds of schools that might now be those affected by this dangerous concrete. what nick gibbs said was, no, that's not right, rishi sunak kept school rebuilding at broadly the level it always has been under the conservative government. now, the issue with that is that nick gibb did confirm that, nevertheless, the department for education had asked for more money from rishi sunak, and he, or at least the treasury under his command, had said no. so while he's defending rishi sunak, he did basically confirm one of the big political issues here, which is that we are being told that education officials said to anot

henry zeffman, thank ou.s it will no longer supply arms to its war—torn neighbour once existing contracts are met because of an argument about grain. russia blocked many export routes of ukrainian grain after their invasion last year. this led to the grain flooding the market in central europe and the eu banning imports there in order to protect its own suppliers. last week that import ban was lifted, but poland, along with slovakia and hungary, kept it going. yesterday president zelensky criticised the move at the un, sparking this reaction now from the polish government. 0ur correspondent sarah rainsford is in warsaw for us. what is it about, and how damaging is all of this, sarah?— is all of this, sarah? well, i think as ou is all of this, sarah? well, i think as you were _ is all of this, sarah? well, i think as you were saying _ is all of this, sarah? well, i think as you were saying there, - is all of this, sarah? well, i think as you were saying there, jane, l is all of this, sarah? well, i think i as

the impact on affected schools could last our chief political correspondent henry zeffman last much longercommons clash in the last hour, how damaging is this for the government and the prime minister? if i the government and the prime minister? ., , ., ., ~ ., ., minister? if i told you a week ago the first prime _ minister? if i told you a week ago the first prime minister's - minister? if i told you a week ago l the first prime minister's questions after the summer break would be taken up with questions about concrete, i think you would have been pretty surprise. in the event it was completely unsurprising that keir starmer used all of his time on the issue. i was in the house of commons and i can tell you the roar of approvalfrom commons and i can tell you the roar of approval from conservative mps as rishi sunak fended of approval from conservative mps as rishi sunakfended off keir starmer�*s attacks on the issue was quite loud. but there are dangers for the prime minister. firstly, he finds himself spending time answering questions, notjust about previous conservative governments, wh

editorjustin rowlatt who's with me, but first to our chief political correspondent at westminster, henry zeffmanis speech from the prime minister in just a few hours' time.— just a few hours' time. that's ri . ht. just a few hours' time. that's right- rishi — just a few hours' time. that's right. rishi sunak _ just a few hours' time. that's right. rishi sunak has - just a few hours' time. that's right. rishi sunak has said i right. rishi sunak has said successive governments have not been honest with the public about the true trade—offs involved in getting to the net zero target by 2050 and we will find out at liz30pm this afternoon what exactly he means when he says he wants a better, more proportionate approach. but what i think before then is coming into much sharperfocus is think before then is coming into much sharper focus is a dividing line between the conservative party and the labour party on how to hit net zero. the political risk for rishi sunak is in that in seeking the dividing line is also exposed a divide in the conservative party and we've seen that in the conservative ranks, the

labour party have condemned the proposed changes by the government and our political correspondent henry zeffman reporting that the party are set to commit to reinstating the 2030 ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel cars. the shadow chief secretary to the treasury darrenjones was speaking to the bbc this morning. most importantly, this is more risk for the british economy and british business. these targets are important so that british businesses know how to invest in their workforce and their factories. the government has been signing off hundreds of millions of pounds of taxpayer subsidy to help businesses get ready for these long haul changes and now rishi sunak is u turning via leaks and midnight statements from the bunker of downing street. that is not how you run a country. let's now speak damian grammaticas, our political correspondent. this policy or pushback on policy has not even been announced and there has been a huge reaction? i think what you're seeing is a scrabbling on all sides because as you say, these are clicks that came out through the bbc yesterday of what the governm

live now to our offices in westminster where we're joined by our chief political correpsondent henry zeffmane, isn't it? about asylum rules. a particularly what she has been saying about those fearing what she calls discrimination for being gay or be on the women should not qualify for protection. you make your absolutely right it is going to spark a debate and i think the debate that wants to have is an international debate. a debate about the un refugee convention, sent to the un refugee convention, sent to the definition of who does or does not qualify as a refugee which has beenin not qualify as a refugee which has been in place since 1951.— been in place since 1951. now, obviously. _ been in place since 1951. now, obviously, 1951, _ been in place since 1951. now, obviously, 1951, that - been in place since 1951. now, obviously, 1951, that was - been in place since 1951. now, i obviously, 1951, that was written been in place since 1951. now, - obviously, 1951, that was written in the aftermath of the second world war. initially, it was about displaced people in europe they are now many c

live now to our chief political correspondent, henry zeffman.e of this? why wouldn't the prime minister answered a question? that was 'ust minister answered a question? that was just one — minister answered a question? that wasjust one of _ minister answered a question? that wasjust one of the _ minister answered a question? t'isgt wasjust one of the interviews but was just one of the interviews but in a lot of the interviews rishi sunak was asked similar questions about hs2, specifically the leg from birmingham to manchester, and he gave similar answers. he didn't answer. he talked about prioritising road travel, transport links, within the north, rather than to the north. he talked about fixing potholes being very important to do with how people go about travelling on a day—to—day basis. what do i take from that? what has been clear for a few days if not a few weeks, there is serious consideration being given in government to potentially scrapping that leg. if not scrapping it, perhaps delaying it, perhaps doing northern thou hast rail, connec

our chief political correspondent henry zeffman has more details. s come to light now? , ., . ., ., ., now? they have come to light in a new documentary _ now? they have come to light in a new documentary by _ now? they have come to light in a new documentary by laura - now? they have come to light in a - new documentary by laura kuenssberg, the second episode is on bbc two tonight and on iplayer today. i think we knew that relations between borisjohnson and civil servants, boris johnson and civil servants, senior borisjohnson and civil servants, senior bits of whitehall, had been pretty bad. ifor one had no idea that they were this bad. because when you talk about getting the queen involved, when you talk about getting the monarchy involved in something which is notjust political but about internal political but about internal political relations within downing street, that is very unusual and thatis street, that is very unusual and that is very serious. what people have told laura kuenssberg in this documentary is that when boris johnson returned f

let's get the latest on this now from our chief political correspondent henry zeffman. he prime minister will change some of those key green policies but that could prove highly controversial even for some in his own party. it controversial even for some in his own party-— own party. it absolutely could. i think there _ own party. it absolutely could. i think there are _ own party. it absolutely could. i think there are three _ own party. it absolutely could. i think there are three things - own party. it absolutely could. i | think there are three things that are fascinating here. there is the substance, there is the rhetoric that rishi sunak is going to use in this speech, and there is the political impact. let's take them in ten will stop on the substance. what we think rishi sunak is considering is a very big deal. firstly, this ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel cars, which has been government policy for a few years, but would come into fales in 2030. if that is delayed —— come into force. if it is delayed until 2035 it would affect businesses and consumers. s

let's speak now to our chief political correspondent, henry zeffman. hreat. from birmingham to manchester is underthreat. let's from birmingham to manchester is under threat. let's not lose sight of what a big deal that would be. this was basically the conservative government's flagship levelling up policy before we even had heard the term levelling up. that is why we have had the ghost of conservative governments past warning rishi sunak not to scrap the branch from birmingham to manchester. this morning we have had had michael heseltine, who served under margaret thatcher and john major, we have had david cameron, borisjohnson and george osborne, who was david cameron's chancellor. i think there is a very important reason why the government may have to give some clarity on that branch from birmingham to manchester in the coming days. they say no decision has been made. people inside say this is part of discussions around the autumn statement, which doesn't come until november. i will tell you what comes before then. on sunday conservative activists ar

let's speak to our chief political correspondent henry zeffman. you tell us? offices here at new _ what more can you tell us? offices here at new scotland _ what more can you tell us? offices here at new scotland yard - what more can you tell us? offices here at new scotland yard have - what more can you tell us? offices| here at new scotland yard have not named russell brand but have said a woman has come forward with an accusation of sexual assault back in 2003 in soho in central london. specialist officers are now supporting her and that comes after the revelations at the weekend, and the revelations at the weekend, and the met saying that anyone who has any allegations at any period similar to those in the programme should come forward and i have to say once again that russell brand denies all the allegations that have been made, but the met have said they are also in contact with the sunday times, the times and the channel 4 dispatches team, to make sure the women featured in it know they can come forward and speak to them at any point. this

we can speak now to our chief political correspondent, henry zeffman, who is in westminster. henry. are we expecting any significant changes to labour�*s front bench? i significant changes to labour's front bench?— significant changes to labour's front bench? ~ ., ., , , front bench? i know that we shuttles are one of those _ front bench? i know that we shuttles are one of those things _ front bench? i know that we shuttles are one of those things that - front bench? i know that we shuttles are one of those things that happens in westminster where those of us here get very excited but it's a bit hard to understand why or even if they matter. this one i think really matters. fora they matter. this one i think really matters. for a few different reasons. this is one significant change we are expecting, angela rayner, keir starmer�*s deputy, will get a newjob. rayner, keir starmer�*s deputy, will geta newjob. she rayner, keir starmer�*s deputy, will get a newjob. she will remain his deputy, she was elected to that, but we expect she will be giving a new government to shadow, is

said their proposals would help create 100,000 homes by 2030. 0ur chief political correspondent henry zeffmanhand there is an obvious need for more houses to be built in the uk and in england, but on the other hand we have this massive issue of polluted waterways. how can the balance be struck? weill. how can the balance be struck? well, that's the key — how can the balance be struck? well, that's the key question. _ how can the balance be struck? well, that's the key question. and - how can the balance be struck? -ii that's the key question. and really, this issue, this defeat in the house of lords last night, gets to two of the key questions which i think are going to shape the general election we are expecting next year. there is a question of, can the government, can any government, find a way to build more houses and build them in the places where people want to live? there is also the question of how the government can keep britain's water clean. those two issues came together in the house of lords last night. it was on something called nutrient neutrality, a very fancy way of saying th

our chief political correspondent henry zeffman is in westminster.what it is and why it is so valuable? and why are we back in now, potentially? so, horizon is a vast cross european research grant programme. it is up to £80 billion of funding for scientists. before brexit british scientists. before brexit british scientists used to get a lot of those grants. intensifying particularly in recent months we have had research institution after research institution in the uk saying that because of brexit, because the uk had left this programme, theyjust can't get access to the same level of funding. what's interesting is that actually in the original brexit agreement that the uk and the eu signed, the uk was going to stay part of this programme. but itjust became collateral in that long running row which we heard lots about, about northern ireland's pro brexit trading arrangements. that all changed in february of this year, when rishi sunak and ursula von der leyen, president of the european commission, agreed on the windsor framework, designed to solve th

our chief political correspondent, henry zeffman, joins us now. o you. that press conference, i think, morning to you. that press conference, ithink, was morning to you. that press conference, i think, was almost brought forward. he was forced to make very clear all the rumours that had been going around. is he watering down the net zero climate promises? the watering down the net zero climate romises? , , , .., . watering down the net zero climate romises? , ,, .., . .,, promises? the press conference was brou:ht promises? the press conference was brought forward. _ promises? the press conference was brought forward, thanks _ promises? the press conference was brought forward, thanks to _ promises? the press conference was brought forward, thanks to a - promises? the press conference was brought forward, thanks to a leak . promises? the press conference wasi brought forward, thanks to a leak we had at the bbc have almost everything he said in a press conference. what rishi sunak was very keen to get across yesterday, the overarching legal commitme

our chief political correspondent henry zeffman is in westminster. labour will be using this issue to put more pressure on the prime minister. that is exactly right. i think what this reporting from bbc verify shows is that there is at least in the example of some schools, at least 13 schools, potentially a link between the government's decision right back in 2010 when the conservatives defeated labour and came to power to scrap this building schools for the future programme which would have meant refurbishment of the development of some sort of every school in england. there is some connection between that decision potentially and between this crisis which is engulfing so many schools now. when keir starmer stands up at prime minister's questions later today in the house of commons whether there is since mps came back for the summer, i would be very surprised if he does not mention this. the thing that labour want to do here politically is take an issue which is so frustrating and concerning for teachers, for families, for parents, all sorts of peop

let's get the latest now from our chief political correspondent henry zeffman. oing to start arriving _ ministers are going to start arriving soon behind me for this we can pass _ arriving soon behind me for this we can pass nry— arriving soon behind me for this we can pass my cabinet meeting. and i don't _ can pass my cabinet meeting. and i don't think— can pass my cabinet meeting. and i don't think there are many people who will— don't think there are many people who will be sitting around that table — who will be sitting around that table who won't be concerned this is going _ table who won't be concerned this is going to _ table who won't be concerned this is going to end up on their plates as well, _ going to end up on their plates as well, because we know this is a big problem _ well, because we know this is a big problem in — well, because we know this is a big problem in schools and the government is going to publish the list of— government is going to publish the list of schools affected later this week _ list of schools affected later this week. but i d

our chief political correspondent henry zeffman is in westminster. licy for a long time that they want private schools to face in vat on their school fees, and they say they would use that money to fund teachers in the state sector. that's very controversial policy with some people, private schools where it would force some of them to close, it would force parents into the state sector and ultimately it would be a bad thing in the long run. all of that remains the case. but when labour talked about that policy in the past, what they said was that they were going to achieve those tax changes by ending charitable status for private schools. now they say that that was shorthand for not ending charitable status for private schools, slightly funny shorthand. but there you go. what's interesting here is this the labour party preparing for government. there are lots of pledges that they have made in the past which are now going to have to make contact with the plausible reality that labour could win the next general election and i suspect this is how this po

said the uk would have been better off under her brexit deal. 0ur chief political correspondent henry zeffmanis this interview going to go down within the conservative party? this interview going to go down within the conservative party?— the conservative party? this is a fairly significant _ the conservative party? this is a fairly significant intervention - the conservative party? this is a fairly significant intervention at i fairly significant intervention at an interesting time. there is still broad support for the goal of net zero carbon emissions in the conservative party, in the government, but there is more disagreement on how to get there and he should shoulder the burden of getting there. not a lot of people will remember but it was actually theresa may, who was a prime minister who signed into law the legal commitment for the uk to reach net zero carbon emissions by 2050. she is quite passionate about it and thatis she is quite passionate about it and that is one thing that came across in her interview. if we poke our... you know, shake our fingers at people and say, "you can neve

we can speak to henry zeffman, our chief political correspondent. henry, good morning.een 9 and 11am every weekday morning. following on from breakfast on the channel, some viewers were concerned that that meant five hours without a dedicated newsroom service, and that that might affect the speed with which news stories could be reported. so that's the background to this phone message we received on thursday morning. at 8:23 this morning, gb news broke the fact that the defence secretary had resigned. at 8:24 sky news broke the same story. i watched with interest as to when the bbc would break the story. it's now 9:11 and you've just broken it. why on earth would anyone turn to the bbc for the latest news? you put breaking news all over your screen for the most meaningless of reasons. and yet, when something breaking news, like breaking news happens, you'rejust way behind. so why did bbc television report ben wallace's resignation 45 minutes after two other news channels? bbc news gave us this reason. now we on newswatch are not the only ones who have had something of a