we�*re expecting a statement at holyrood where support for pensioners in scotland on winter fuel couldel payments and end its universality after the uk chancellor rachel reeves announced in august that winter fuel payments would be means tested and only go to pensioners on certain benefits. last week northern ireland announced pensioners affected by cuts to winter fuel support are to get a one off £100 payment from stormont. scotland�*s social justice secretary, shirley anne somerville is expected to announce plans to bring in a new devolved benefit to replace the winter fuel payment. let�*s head straight to scotland. we are expecting proceedings to get under way, let�*s listen out. get under way, let's listen out. ~ u, get under way, let's listen out. ~ _, , out. we will continue with this item of business _ out. we will continue with this item of business but - out. we will continue with this item of business but your- item of business but your comments are on the record. i will now pass to the cabinet secretary. will now pass to the cabinet secretary-— will now pass to the cabinet s

local authority in scotland owing to the austerity inflicted on us by the scottish national party in holyroodrojects such as the ripple face closure. now that my right honorable friend the secretary of state for scotland has secured the biggest block grant for scotland in the history of the scottish parliament, will the deputy prime minister work with me to ensure that the scottish government use it to end austerity for my constituents? >> i absolutely agree with my honorable friend, who is entirely right to raise the subject of the impact of the snp's irresponsible management of scotland's finances and the austerity that it is inflicting on his constituents. our budget rejected a return to austerity. we delivered the largest real-terms funding settlement for scotland since devolution, and the result of the budget is clear, the snp has the powers, it has the money, and it has no more excuses. >> last week i was contacted by a constituent whose husband has stage 4 bowel cancer. he had a routine scan in june but did not receive the results until early november, and unfortunately during that per

legislation has already been put through, in that it has, legislation is already on the books, in holyroodate about whether or not it's actually within the powers of the scottish parliament to pass this law. but, you know, the law that's been put forward by kim leadbeater, you know, is not a kind of outrider. this is something that's happened in lots of places, but i don't think it's certain at all that it is going to pass when it actually comes to a vote. and up until the vote, we will definitely continue to share your messages and your views to try and include the public in the conversation. so do keep them coming in. so if you haven't heard your view represented in what i've read out, you will do this week. and also, after the vote on friday, we're having a special edition of newscast. and the other story, really, of the week is the use of long—range missiles by ukraine into russia, supplied by the united states, the uk and possibly france. so, you're right, it's been a huge story this week, also including putin striking back with an intercontinental ballistic missile for the first time

local authority in scotland owing to the austerity inflicted on us by the scottish national party in holyroodans that great projects such as the ripple face closure. now that my right honorable friend the secretary of state for scotland has secured the biggest block grant for scotland in the history of the scottish parliament, will the deputy prime minister work with me to ensure that the scottish government use it to end austerity for my constituents? >> i absolutely agree with my honorable friend, who is entirely right to raise the subject of the impact of the snp's irresponsible management of scotland's finances and the austerity that it is inflicting on his constituents. our budget rejected a return to austerity. we delivered the largest real-terms funding settlement for scotland since devolution, and the result of the budget is clear, the snp has the powers, it has the money, and it has no more excuses. >> last week i was contacted by a constituent whose husband has stage 4 bowel cancer. he had a routine scan in june but did not receive the results until early november, and unfortunately

government's changes to inheritance tax rules and scottish farmers are today rallying for funding at holyrood. this morning we'll be there and bbc day of action staff are being urged. can you believe this? to wear palestinian colours and a headscarf to show solidarity with palestine? organised by the tuc. is this creating a hostile environment for jews? you bet it is. and the disgraced late businessman mohamed al fayed's alleged youngest victim was just 13 years old. as police identify more than 100 women who he may have raped and abused . and find have raped and abused. and find out why the name of this birmingham pub, the sly old fox, has upset the animal rights group peta. we'd to love know if you've got any views and guesses, do let us know . old and guesses, do let us know. old and cold, the winter fuel payment means 100,000 extra pensioners could be in poverty. we're going to be in leeds heading to a community hub for some warmth. paul coleman is having to choose between eating and heating . between eating and heating. >> we very rarely have the heating on. i sit in a nightgown and a bi

but beyond that, we never really challenged to win seats at holyrood. you'll see, i mean, last week , last see, i mean, last week, last thursday there were three council by elections in glasgow. glasgow are second weakest part of scotland in the general election . and there we were election. and there we were polling, you know, 13%, 12.5%, 18% in those local council by elections. and i think that one of the things that will change radically over the course of the next few years is the scales are beginning to fall from the eyes of businesses and of the public that we are living through an industrial massacre. luton this week just being the latest example, this this religious obsession with chasing net zero targets is giving consumers the most expensive electricity pnces most expensive electricity prices in europe. it's giving our industries the most expensive electricity prices in the world. and miliband's mad plans , which only really follow plans, which only really follow on from theresa may and boris johnson, i mean, remarkable. yesterday at the despa

government, whether that's in parliament, whether that's in the senate, in london, in scotland, in the holyrood at the same time as the senate in 2026, and in local councils right up and down the country next year, we're looking to get a stronger voice as possible, because there are people out there that need their voice to be heard. we are offering something different from all the main parties. the conservatives have really let britain down. we know that from how they behaved in government, and we're seeing that now, how they're behaving in opposition, they're behaving in opposition, they're not providing the real challenge, the real opposition to labour. that's what reform is doing and that's what we're looking to capitalise on. >> alex, thank you very much for joining us here on gb news. i'm sure we'll hear from you later, guys. the main speeches will kick off in about an hour , as kick off in about an hour, as i said, and nigel farage will be speaking to members in at about 5:00. so much to happen still here later on today, and we'll be speaking to you later throughout the show. >> all righ