thank you, jonathan ashworth there, labour shadow cabinet member.but if you want to keep up—to—date with all of those details coming from westminster, do have a look at our website and our politics team have been updating that for you. stay with us. hello there. weather across the uk has certainly been testing our patience in recent weeks, but there are indications of something a little quieter as we head towards the weekend. but until then, most of the countryside looking like this, fairly waterlogged, a lot of flooding out there at the moment. there are hundreds of flood warnings in effect across the country. and, in fact, we may well add to those across southern england overnight tonight as there's yet more rain to come. it's this base cliff swirl of cloud that's moving in from the southwest. it will bring a brief spell of heavy rain once again and strengthening winds. ahead of it, spilling in quite a lot of cloud across much of wales and the midlands. the best of any brighter skies through northern england, northern ireland and western scotland.

crackers jonathan ashworth. you are in the shadow cabinet.e is a labour government. there's a few questions that have come in from our viewers on the same theme. so i'm going to start from leigh with leigh from wirral. why why has he just spent ten minutes in pmqs having a slagging off competition with the leader of the opposition, when neither have discussed anything which benefits the country and people of the uk? does this paint politics and politicians in a good light? >> i mean, i totally get why leigh on the wirral watches politicians arguing amongst themselves every week here when there'll be so many things impacting leigh's life , i impacting leigh's life, i suspect. i suspect leigh is probably worrying about the increase in the mortgage because of the tories wrecking the economy is families across the wirral and elsewhere. we're worrying about the fact that they're playing around £1,200 more average in tax. if leigh more on average in tax. if leigh goes to asda or tesco's later today, you'll see that the pnces today, you'll see that

jonathan ashworth, good morning to ou. , :, :, :, jonathan ashworth, good morning to ou. :, thank jonathanfor joining us- — you. good morning. thank you for joining us- we _ you. good morning. thank you for joining us. we have _ you. good morning. thank you for joining us. we have got— you. good morning. thank you for joining us. we have got national. joining us. we have got national insurance being cut for millions of workers, are you in favour of this? well, we did not oppose the tax cuts, indeed when rishi sunak put up a national insurance we can paint that and pointed out it was a punishing tax rise —— campaigned against that. the simple truth today is working people across the country this morning are already hurting from the mortgage increases thanks to the decisions taken by the conservatives. working people are also going to be worse off on average by around £1200 under the conservatives thanks to their 25 tory tax rises. and although rishi sunak and conservative editions claim that this is one of the biggest tax cuts in history, when you look at the small print, you quickly work o

well, in >> jonathan ashworth.more strong winds and warned of more strong winds and wet weather across the north overnight and into tomorrow . the overnight and into tomorrow. the 10th named storm of the season, storm jocelyn , has been sweeping storm jocelyn, has been sweeping the uk, bringing winds of up to 80 miles an hour. it's left thousands without power, floods are affecting parts of yorkshire and train lines in scotland are closed, with no trains running at all tonight. until tomorrow. that means rush hour services are also expected to be out of action in scotland . in action in scotland. in international news, the houthis have vowed to retaliate after the royal air force used precision guided bombs to strike multiple rebel targets overnight . it comes as the uk faces the risk of prices surging in shops and fears of global inflation due to disruptions to shipping through the red sea. rishi sunak says the government will use the most effective means to cut off the houthis resources and stop their attacks on

rishi sunak of leaving families £1,200 worse off. >> let's talk to shadow paymaster general jonathan ashworthis all about then ? this all about then? >> good morning. well, what we're pointing out today is the simple truth that working people across the country that your viewers this morning are not only worse off because many of them are paying more on their mortgage as a consequence of reckless decisions by the conservatives but also that working people are paying a higher tax burden, that households are, on average £1,200 worse off thanks to the 25 tory tax rises under this conservative government >> and the point that we are making is that whatever rishi sunak and other tory mps may tell you in the next 24 to 48 hours about tax changes , the hours about tax changes, the reality is people are worse off an electrician or a plumber on an electrician or a plumber on an average salary, £660 worse off a nurse , £660 worse off. are off a nurse, £660 worse off. are you better off under the conservatives no you're not, is the reality . the reality. >> you're not going to be better off under the la

shadow cabinet minister jonathan ashworth tonight it ashworth said tonight it developments are more proofpeople want a government focussed on their issues, their problems from the cost of living crisis with their mortgages going up that the tories have created to fixing the problems in the nhs, which the tories have delivered after 14 years. >> but instead we get these ongoing fights, squabbles, a divide government unable to grip the issues facing the country . i the issues facing the country. i think it's clear that after 14 years it's time for change and we need a party focussed on the people's priorities, and that would be the labour party. >> jonathan ashworth now severe winter weather is causing causing major travel disruption tonight as storm josslyn hits the uk with the met office warning the worst is yet to come. flights have been cancelled , trains suspended and cancelled, trains suspended and drivers are being warned to postpone any travel. the strongest winds of up to 80 mile an hour are expected through the rush hour tomorrow morning, before your storm. jocelyn eases . off the

mr ashworth , jonathan ashworth. mr ashworth, thank you very much for joining us this afternoon.fice scandal. it is such a huge scandal. we've interviewed a victim very emotionally this morning. um, what do you have to say about it ? >> 7- >> oh, i 7— >> oh, i mean, 7 >> oh, i mean, absolutely. i watched the itv series over christmas . like watched the itv series over christmas. like many watched the itv series over christmas . like many people christmas. like many people across the country did, and many of your viewers would have done. it was both heartbreaking . i it was both heartbreaking. i mean, i was in tears when that, uh, gentleman took his life , but uh, gentleman took his life, but it also made my blood boil . it also made my blood boil. absolutely made my blood boil . absolutely made my blood boil. watching it now, i was aware of this scandal as an mp . uh, but this scandal as an mp. uh, but the way in which it was brought to life in that series was a reminder of how outrageous these people have been treated and how they deserve justice. so let's hope and we're going t

shadow cabinet minister jonathan ashworth tonight it ashworth said tonight it developments are more proof of tory failure. the british people want a government focussed on their issues, their problems from the cost of living crisis with their mortgages going up that the tories have created to fixing the problems in the nhs, which the tories have delivered after 14 years. >> but instead we get these ongoing fights, squabbles, a divide government unable to grip the issues facing the country . i the issues facing the country. i think it's clear that after 14 years it's time for change and we need a party focussed on the people's priorities, and that would be the labour party. >> jonathan ashworth now severe winter weather is causing causing major travel disruption tonight as storm josslyn hits the uk with the met office warning the worst is yet to come. flights have been cancelled , trains suspended and cancelled, trains suspended and drivers are being warned to postpone any travel. the strongest winds of up to 80 mile an hour are expected through the rush hour tomorrow morning, before your

jonathan, thank you very much for joining ashworth. for joining us on the show. now christopher hope, our political editor , asked sir keir political editor, asked sir keir starmer , your leader earlier starmer, your leader earlier about this £28 billion annual pledge green investment plan , pledge green investment plan, george, he asked whether this is coming from taxes or whether it will come for borrowing. sir keir starmer said it will come from borrowing subject to fiscal rules. now i read that green campaigners are increasingly concerned that keir starmer is simply backtracking on this £28 billion pledge and this money won't be going to what he initially said it would . well initially said it would. well well, let's be absolutely clear . well, let's be absolutely clear. >> our fiscal rules are what govern our approach to the pubuc govern our approach to the public finance is because you'll remember , of course, and your remember, of course, and your viewers will be feeling it in their pockets. >> what happens when a government pla

general, jonathan ashworth.uld cut universal credit in fact. i mean, government it. mean, the government did cut it. they £20 universal they took £20 off universal credit didn't uplift it credit and they didn't uplift it in line with inflation. uh last yeah in line with inflation. uh last year. so they've already cut it anyway. uh and it's a very low level of benefit and a lot of people, if people think that it's a life of riley, they're claiming the jobseeker's allowance of universal credit, then it's it. it really isn't. but what you need to do is you've got to give people proper support, uh, in the employment system as well. >> um, so sophia warringah agrees with that. she says, don't cut universal credit. and there is henry bolton, um, who basically says, yes, cut it. and uh, what where would you cut it? henry well , i uh, what where would you cut it? henry well, i don't mean just sort of simply cut it because like many things, it's quite complicated. >> and there are many people who who are on benefits, whe

you'll have heard jonathan ashworth there heard to jonathan ashworth there and was.ing to recruit iceland , recruit the boss of iceland, richard walker, who's appeared on program many he on this program many times. he he left the conservative party in the autumn last year, refused to say where he was going politically, but he's now come out and done a big interview saying that thinks saying that he really thinks the future labour party . future is with the labour party. how a blow is this for how much of a blow is this for the conservatives, and how much of starmer ? of a boost to sir keir starmer? >> well, it's a big boost for keir starmer. he's a significant person in the world of retail . person in the world of retail. he's often out on the tv and radio talking about retail issues. he's plugged into the kind of market iceland mums, if you describe that way , which you describe it that way, which labour appeal to? um, labour want to appeal to? um, the tories, i think, have priced in the defection of richard walker to labour for about six months because he had been

from his political opponents as we touched on suggesting he is squatting in downing street. jonathan ashworth leader ed davey says rishi sunak has bottled it. hard to get away from these accusations given that as most suggest this mightjust be about him getting two years in downing street. yeah, i think that's right. you cannot delay an election without being scared of the election, can you? that's the reason that the accusations are being made by it rishi sunak puffing up on this is because as to the merit of being true. he is running from the voters. in the thing about politics is once you start running from the voters, it's hard to know when to stop. when will the news get better because effectively rishi sunak is betting that things will get better? but why would they? we know for a symbol that by next september, nhs waiting list are going to go over 8 million. they were 7.2 million went rishi sunak said they were going to cut the waiting list and we know the summer is lovely to be a summer, a season when the boats start coming in and real numbers again. so it will be stopping the boats.

let's have a look at labour mp jonathan ashworth asking a sensible question in the house of commons.n alex burghart, the parliamentary secretary for the cabinet office, replying hold on to your hats . hats. >> government lost 9 billion to duff, unusable ppe . the prime duff, unusable ppe. the prime minister then chancellor, signed off £7 billion worth of dodgy covid loans. even today , the covid loans. even today, the government is losing 10 billion to tax fraud, 6 billion to universal credit fraud , billions universal credit fraud, billions and billions more across the pubuc and billions more across the public sector as a whole is not the truth that families are paying the truth that families are paying £1,200 more on average in tax , because this government tax, because this government simply cannot be trusted with taxpayers money. yeah, yeah. >> and i, i really struggle with this, this line of questioning when, you know , people, people when, you know, people, people on the other side of the house have very, very short memories. this was the worst civil, absolutely worst pandemic

. >> jonathan ashworth now severe winter weather is causing causing major travel disruption tonight as storm josslyn hits the uk with the met office warning the worst is yet to come. flights have been cancelled , trains suspended and cancelled, trains suspended and drivers are being warned to postpone any travel. the strongest winds of up to 80 mile an hour are expected through the rush hour tomorrow morning, before your storm. jocelyn eases . off the measles outbreak has been described as deeply troubling by labour saying there should be more action to kerb the spread of the disease. the shadow health minister, karen smith, said today red tape needs to be cut to give health visitors more powers to vaccinate children. that's as cases grow in the west midlands and parts of london and the world health organisation issued fresh warnings today following a surge across europe . a study by surge across europe. a study by oxford university suggests disinformation is to blame , with disinformation is to blame, with i disinformation is to blame, with 1 in 5 people in the uk saying they think va

guests, starting with the government minister, edward agar and the shadow paymaster general, jonathan ashworthncerning government about doing this because it's such a significant step. i think the view is that this is a very exceptional circumstance and has been going on a very long time and that is why this action is justified. very long time and that is why this action isjustified. i think it is worth saying there are dozens, hundreds of mps who have been campaigning on this for a long time. it's not true westminster did not know about this, and there was a public inquiry but it's all been too slow and it has left so many people with their lives ruined and it does just go to show that when the eyes of the country are focused on an issue how quickly the wheels of government can move. tote issue how quickly the wheels of government can move.- issue how quickly the wheels of government can move. we will discuss that later in — government can move. we will discuss that later in the _ government can move. we will discuss that later in the programme. _ government can move. we will discuss that lat

on that by—election yet, but he now says he won't support the tories shadow paymaster general jonathan ashworthat people have had enough of the conservatives will be fighting very hard to win the trust of the people of wellingborough in kingswood, but it is staggering that we have these two by elections. >> one because a conservative mp has resigned and has had enough of rishi sunak , and another of rishi sunak, and another because of his disgraced behaviour . because of his disgraced behaviour. and i think it indicates that this really is a government which people want to turn the page on. >> after 14 years of failure, after 14 years where people in wellingborough and kingswood and across the country are paying more in tax . more in tax. >> rishi sunak says he wants all subpostmasters to receive their compensation payments by the summer. number 10 has confirmed that at least £1 billion has been set aside to pay out compensation to victims of the post office horizon scandal . post office horizon scandal. stephen bradshaw. a post office investigation manager at the time is giving evidence at the

. >> and shadow paymaster general john jonathan ashworth insists that the legislation will never passunak's leadership. this is the third piece of legislation the government have brought forward to try and deal with this problem, and rishi sunak keeps saying the boats and saying he'll stop the boats and every time he says that he fails and exposed to being and he's exposed to being completely weak, he's got his own deputy chair, chair , one of own deputy chair, chair, one of them, one of your tv presenters, of actually him , of course, actually defying him, and he's doing anything and he's not doing anything about completely weak. about it completely weak. >> going to grip this >> he's never going to grip this problem this country's problem or this country's never going problem. going to grip this problem. when we have weak we while we have such a weak prime bosses of the prime minister the bosses of the post office and fujitsu will be question ed later by mps. >> it includes wronged subpostmaster alan bates, whose story inspired the hit tv show mr bates versus the post office. mps on

jonathan ashworth.not the mps or even the ministers ones. us even the ministers ones. send us your tell us your questions. please tell us who you are and where you're from. we'll put your questions to straight the to our panel straight after the pm down. vaiews@gbnews.com pm sits down. vaiews@gbnews.com >> pmqs live is all about you. >> pmqs live is all about you. >> that's right. but before we get to the chamber, andrew griffith , quickly to you. last griffith, quickly to you. last night were you surprised by simon clarke's call for the pm to resign? well look, disappointed that we're even talking about that. >> you know, we've got a clear plan. that plan is delivering . plan. that plan is delivering. we've people are starting to benefit. from tax benefit. to bev's point from tax cuts in their wages at the end of this month, inflation is down. >> that's what we should be talking about. >> have a and of course >> we have a plan. and of course keir starmer, who simon also calls a danger, doesn't calls ou

. >> and shadow paymaster general jonathan ashworth insists that the legislation will never pass thelation will never pass the commons under rishi sunaks leadership . leadership. >> this is the third piece of legislation. the government have brought forward to try and deal with this problem, and rishi sunak stop sunak keeps saying he'll stop the and every time he says the boats and every time he says that fails and he's exposed that he fails and he's exposed to completely weak , he's to being completely weak, he's got own deputy chair, got his own deputy chair, chairman , of one of chairman, one of them, one of your presenters, of course, your tv presenters, of course, actually defying him. and he's not doing anything about it. completely weak. he's never going grip this problem or going to grip this problem or this country is never going to grip problem we, while grip this problem when we, while we have a weak prime we have such a weak prime minister further signs minister there are further signs that the jobs market is cooling as wage growth slows, new figures from the office for n

shadow payment paymaster general jonathan ashworth says that people have had enough of the conservativesis staggering that we have these two by elections, one because a conservative mp has resigned and has had enough of rishi sunak and another because of his disgraced behaviour. >> and i think it indicates that this really is a government which people want to turn the page on. >> after 14 years of failure, after 14 years where people in wellingborough and kingswood and across the country are paying more in tax, as rishi sunak says he wants all supposed masters to receive their compensation payments by the summer. >> number 10 has confirmed that at least £1 billion has now been set to aside pay out compensation to victims of the post office horizon scandal, while stephen bradshaw, a post office investigation manager at the time, is giving evidence at the time, is giving evidence at the inquiry today, he's been defending comments made in 2012 when he said he had absolute confidence in the horizon it system and was never told of any software faults . meanwhile, software faults. meanwhile, d