ok, iain watson. — currently on strike. ok, iain watson, thank _ currently on strike.er, he has warned commuters they must be prepared to stay the course in the face of what he called the unnecessary aggravation caused by rail strikes. thatjust in from the prime minister. let me read out a couple more of your comments on this. someone says, i will be supporting the rmt union and will walk down to my local train station to show my support. this from isaac who says, it is a season of strikes in the nice, sunny weather, how convenient. isaac says societal change is needed rather than tooth and nail mini fights. i guess the workers on strike might not see this as a mini fight, it certainly is the biggest rail strike in several decades. but really good to get your comments coming in. keep them coming into me. how is this affecting you today? are you working from home? do you support the strike or not? you can do that on twitter, use the hashtag bbc your questions. let�*s stay with the theme of public support is like for the strike so indeed perhaps people are not supporting

iain watson, thank _ embarrassing for labour.itor simonjack is here. simon, we have soaring inflation, and it's notjust the railway workers who are looking for pay rises to keep up with rising prices? iam i am looking down the list of the different types of professions which are waiting for their pay review. school teachers, police, nhs, all of these people are waiting to see what they will be offered. teachers already saying if we don't get an inflation matching pay rise, which is currently at 9%, heading to 11%, they will ballot their members for action. this dispute is an acid test and is being watched by lots of other bodies. these battle lines are being drawn which shows this summer of dispute could just be getting started. what about workers in the private sector? they are getting more money than the people in the public sector on average. a couple of companies have come out and given people one—off payments. last week it was lloyd's giving 59,000 workers a one—off £1000 payment. rolls—royce said they would give their workf

iain watson, bbc news, west yorkshire.ld by—election, which takes place on thursday 23 june, visit the bbc website. with under a month to go until england hosts the women's euros, the duke of cambridge, who is also president of the football association, has been meeting the england team at st george's park. the squad for the tournament will be announced later this afternoon. our sports correspondent jane dougall is there. how important is this tournament for the women's game? the home euros is a huge opportunity for england and going into the tournament they are probably one of the favourites and then there's home advantage because the benefits of knowing you are inspiring the next generation of young female footballers. already the opening match for england at el trafford are sold out. prince william arrived an hour ago and has been talking to the players and watched a closed training session and was presented with shirts for his young children with shirts for his young children with their names emblazoned on the back and

iain watson, thank ou.ail strikes at bbc.co.uk/news. there's more trouble in store for air travellers. easyjet has announced it's cutting more flights up to the end of september, blaming staff shortages. and heathrow airport says it has asked airlines to take 10% of flights out of their schedules today due to problems with baggage at the airport. 0ur correspondent matt graveling has more. so, matt, different issues at play but more misery for travellers? for an bod but more misery for travellers? if?" anybody trying to get away this summer, it is turning into a nightmare. the aviation industry is still trying to recover from all of the job losses suffered during the pandemic, it hasn't quite recruited enough staff to deal with the increase passenger numbers. easyjet were hit by this and they announced today that they are going to be returning to a pre—pandemic level of 90% capacity, rather than the 97% that we were told. they said that this was a result of staff shortages, but that the majority of passenger

iain watson, bbc news, wakefield.n. it is the only hiah part in the campaign. it is the only high school. _ part in the campaign. it is the only high school, 11-16 _ part in the campaign. it is the only high school, 11-16 in _ part in the campaign. it is the only high school, 11-16 in the _ part in the campaign. it is the only high school, 11-16 in the town. - part in the campaign. it is the only high school, 11-16 in the town. we | high school, 11—16 in the town. we are the largest town in the constituency and it is the largest civic institution in the constituency and 12 years ago it was at the top of the list to be rebuilt. it is in disrepair and it is a flood plain. the environment agency state is a risk to life and they say not only is it a risk to they say not only is it a risk to the children by the emergency services as well. so we have been campaigning to get central government to give us the £40 million to rebuild the school. and it is not that they have to create new legislation or have an argument with the

let's speak to iain watson from westminster.'s the point we've reached? ,. ., , reached? boris johnson is certainly din . in reached? boris johnson is certainly din .'n. in. four of his mps didn't back him. it's a similar line by the cabinet ministers who have been out and about today. liz truss said she wanted to draw a line of thought what is interesting is both of them have emphasised tax cuts as a potential way of uniting the different wings of the party if it was possible to bring forward some of the tax cuts promised. so far, all we've had were hints and winks, but if borisjohnson wants to get to the front foot, that is one way he can do it. we will also certainly see policy announcements on a range of issues. but nonetheless, two crucial by—elections, one of the traditional conservative seats, one snatched from labour. if both of those are lost, critics are expected to become more vocal. what they don't have is a mechanism for removing a prime minister who digs in, and he has a cabinet where it's unlikely at this stage th

well, our political correspondent iain watson is there. iain...iving crisis and the fact that four out of ten of borisjohnson�*s own in these who want him to go, it is not surprisingly profound this fertile political territory here in wakefield but the scale of their victory is what the party insider's want to emphasise. their majority is twice that to when they held the seat back in 2017, for example, and much bigger than they had anticipated at the start of this campaign. that, therefore, gives them hope that they can now win back some more of these leave—voting seats come the next general election but the question is whether a track —— people are transferring allegiance temporarily or if there is a switch back to labour. i had beenin is a switch back to labour. i had been in the market town of ossett andindeed been in the market town of ossett and indeed asking the labour leader himself about the potential significance of his victory. labour has routed _ significance of his victory. labour has routed the _ significance of his victory. labour ha

iain watson is in wakefield for us this morning.o nick eardley in tiverton. good morning. so, we have had this result, this terrible result of the conservatives, now we have seen conservatives, now we have seen conservative party chairman 0liver dowden residing. —— resigning. yes. dowden residing. -- resigning. yes, aood dowden residing. -- resigning. yes, good morning. _ dowden residing. -- resigning. yes, good morning, naga. _ dowden residing. —— resigning. 1a: good morning, naga. this should dowden residing. —— resigning. 12: good morning, naga. this should be a safe tory seat, it has been conservative by a century, they won by 24,000 votes just three years ago. last night's result is a really, really crucial blow for the party. it's the biggest by—election majority wiped out ever in uk politics. and the lib dems won it in the end pretty comfortable eat by around 6000 votes. it isn't isolated either. it's the third time in just over a year that the third —— lib dems have overturned big tory majorities in what should be tory heart

nick eardley is in honiton tonight and iain watson is in wakefield.ight? wakefield back, what is the mood toniaht? . v g , wakefield back, what is the mood toniaht? . �*, g , ., tonight? that's right. just for context, wakefield _ tonight? that's right. just for context, wakefield has - tonight? that's right. just for context, wakefield has been| tonight? that's right. just for - context, wakefield has been labour since 1932 apart from in 2019 when the red wall of lever voting labour seats crumble to the conservatives. for keir starmer it's a test as to whether he can win back that lost support. for borisjohnson it is a signal whether he has persuaded people to change their political views permanently or whether he got the vote on getting brexit done. the conservatives are insisting it will be closer but against a backdrop of a cost of living crisis and the previous conservative mp here is now in prison, the scale of any labour victory will be absolutely crucial. can they get at least the 50% of the vote share are cheaper last time they held this seat

that was iain watson reporting.t it's been slightly weird because of the jubilee weekend. it feels it's been slightly weird because of thejubilee weekend. it feels like everything 's been convinced into the final couple of weeks. not just for people reporting, but the 15 candidates in this by—election. anywhere you go here, you see the posters in the placards. it's going to be really interesting to see how those candidates do on the doorstep, but also, the leader 's' visits. we had keir starmer on monday, and we are may be expecting borisjohnson. we're waiting to see how seriously the leaders will take the campaign. this seat famously was won by the conservatives in 2019. for something building his majority —— boris johnson. building his ma'ority -- boris johnson. _ . ., , johnson. the by-election is happening _ johnson. the by-election is happening for _ johnson. the by-election is happening for a _ johnson. the by-election is happening for a very i johnson. the by-election is. happening for a very particular reaso

let's talk to our political correspondent iain watson.ig week, it will affect a lot of people. how likely will government get involved in talks? they are maintaining it is for the employer come on the rail companies are network rail to negotiate with the unions. there will be talks and an attempt to try and see the dispute. labour is a saying effectively people cannot get around the table if the government has taken a table away. they mean that they are saying rail companies are constrained in the amount of extra cash they can offer in the way of pay to rail workers. the government says this can be sorted out and they are also saying it is crazy they would want to see this kind of strike action go ahead of themselves. but i don't think they are going to get directly involved in this dispute. we are seeing in westminster political slagging match going on with the government saying labour isn't condemning the strike and labour saying the government isn't doing enough. i expect that ding—dong battle to go on for some time. that will not nece

let us speak to our political correspondent iain watson, the prime minister is going to meet his mpss i am an roven say? he will tell his mps i am an proven election _ say? he will tell his mps i am an proven election win _ say? he will tell his mps i am an proven election win earthquake i say? he will tell his mps i am an i proven election win earthquake he will say— proven election win earthquake he will say he — proven election win earthquake he will say he got the political decision right. 0ne say it will be like watching itv three, you will .et like watching itv three, you will get the — like watching itv three, you will get the old favourites but no new content — get the old favourites but no new content 0 — get the old favourites but no new content. 0 how many of his minister also content. 0 how many of his minister atsojoin _ content. 0 how many of his minister atsojoin the — content. 0 how many of his minister alsojoin the backbench content. 0 how many of his minister also join the backbench critics and vote against him. now, one former cabinet _ vote against him. now, one f

joining me now is our political correspondent, iain watson.is reached. is there any hope at this stage of a deal being reached? t there any hope at this stage of a deal being reached?— there any hope at this stage of a deal being reached? i think there is ve little deal being reached? i think there is very little hone. — deal being reached? i think there is very little hope, to _ deal being reached? i think there is very little hope, to be _ deal being reached? i think there is very little hope, to be perfectly - very little hope, to be perfectly frank, because and that is not me saying it, it is the government itself, earlier today on the bbc the treasury minister simon clark said he wanted a good outcome to the talks that will take place today but he warned people that industrial action was likely and he wasn't giving out false hope. i think it is a measure ofjust how far apart the various sides are in this dispute. it is interesting, they can't even agree who wishes to talk to whom. for example, labourand agree who wishes to talk to whom. f

joining me now is our political correspondent iain watson. so, correspondent iain watson. ., , �* ,, success? it doesn't sound like it, joanna, certainly _ success? it doesn't sound like it, joanna, certainly not _ success? it doesn't sound like it, joanna, certainly not listening i success? it doesn't sound like it, joanna, certainly not listening to| joanna, certainly not listening to government minister this morning, simon clark on the bbc said of because he hoped very good outcome but equally he was warning us that industrial action is likely and that he wouldn't send out a signal of false hope, and i think, well, one way of highlighting this problem is as a disagreement over who should be talking to whom, never mind the substance of what should potentially be agreed. the rmt rail union said it wanted to talk to the transport secretary grant shapps and rishi sunak and the government say, no, you must only talk to the train operating companies and to network rail, the legal the employers in this dispute, and simon clark made it very clear that even if the government wer

iain watson with all the analysis.w its - yes, yes. business? how its business? — yes, yes. business? how its business? slow— yes, yes. business? how its business? slow the - yes, yes. business? how its| business? slow the moment. yes, yes. business? how its - business? slow the moment. we have got a bus strike going on which hasn't held things, obviously the cost of living, the war, the cost of fuel, so it is a stop footfall out on the street so there is that uncertainty again, which we had in the previous year. so uncertainty again, which we had in the previous year.— uncertainty again, which we had in the previous year. so when you look at the bills coming _ the previous year. so when you look at the bills coming in, _ the previous year. so when you look at the bills coming in, what - the previous year. so when you look at the bills coming in, what do - the previous year. so when you look at the bills coming in, what do you i at the bills coming in, what do you think? i at the bills coming in, what do you think? . �

earlier i spoke to our political correspondent iain watson who gave us all the latest reaction to thehey want an increase closer to inflation in pay, perhaps around 7%, so there is a gap they are yet to be bridged but what labour and the unions are calling for is for the government is to negotiations saying it is up to the employers to sort all this out and that they have signed in the past year with these train operating companies that make train operating companies, to make it clear that if there is industrial action in any direction will come from the secretary of state for said transport and companies will have to consult him and if they make any changes to employment conditions, they need a written approval of the secretary of state so while the government may not be at the table, they are not far away, just lurking in the next room if you like. they say union should be more involved than the government say, look, we cannot be involved in the detail of all this. they are simply urging the unions to accept what they would call modernisation of the railways given that we have had f

our political correspondent iain watson is in wakefield this morning.you're doing what you like, i think it's immoral. are you usually a labour voter? not always, no. keir starmer was on his second visit to wakefield this week, and his campaigners say they aren't just trying to win back lost support, they're trying to gain new voters too. a week on thursday. are we going to do it? yeah. now, john isn't exactly new, but he tells me he's changing the political habits of a lifetime, because of the current prime minister. he's the sort of the centrepiece of everything that has deteriorated. i mean, i was a great believer, and still am, for that matter, margaret thatcher. that's not to say he's exactly gung ho about the opposition leader. keir starmer, i don't think he's powerful enough. i think he's a gentleman. i hope he gets better. party leaders aside, voters are telling us they're concerned, unsurprisingly, about the cost of living, about local bus services, and about a national rail strike. but at this by election, there are other issues at play. the p

i�*m joined now by our political correspondent iain watson.essed there is no pay freeze any longer on there is no pay freeze any longer on the railways or in the public services. it�*s clear he does not want to see an inflation busting increase because he thinks that would drive inflation up further so when he talks in the past about high skilled, high wage economy, the high wage bit of that is on hold for now. he�*s not saying either that there is a complete government led on exactly how much anybody in the rail industry should be given and network rail, who are party to this dispute, have suggested more money might be available should the rmt union except what they called modernisation but certainly more automation, fewer booking office staff. to some extent, yes, there is an uncompromising attack on the unions but it doesn�*t mean to say the dispute cannot be solved and this question of staying the course suggests it will not be solved very likely this week, we may well get a full week of disruption including strikes on saturday. the full w

0ur political correspondent, iain watson, joins us now from westminster. point— clearly, from the prime minister was my point of— clearly, from the prime minister was my point of view he will get the support— my point of view he will get the support overwhelmingly of his own mps and _ support overwhelmingly of his own mps and his own cabinet. he is talking — mps and his own cabinet. he is talking about the unions driving commuters off the railways. therefore, threatening their own 'obs therefore, threatening their own jobs in _ therefore, threatening their own jobs in the — therefore, threatening their own jobs in the future. that is very much — jobs in the future. that is very much the _ jobs in the future. that is very much the view from the conservative party _ much the view from the conservative party in _ much the view from the conservative party. in terms of the negotiations though. _ party. in terms of the negotiations though, that wouldn't necessarily help with — though, that wouldn't necessarily help with the unions. it creates further— help with t