nick eardley at westminster, thank you | disaster. nick eardley at. thank you for that. najum iqbalfrom the international committee of the red cross. he joins us live from geneva. that news of some kind of scheme to help people flee afghanistan. that has got to be some good news? thank ou ve has got to be some good news? thank you very much- — has got to be some good news? thank you very much. certainly _ has got to be some good news? thank you very much. certainly there - has got to be some good news? thank you very much. certainly there is - has got to be some good news? thank you very much. certainly there is an anxiety— you very much. certainly there is an anxiety as— you very much. certainly there is an anxiety as to — you very much. certainly there is an anxiety as to women and girls in afghanistan. when it comes to the icrc, _ afghanistan. when it comes to the icrc. we _ afghanistan. when it comes to the icrc, we have received the message from the _ icrc, we have received the message from the taliban in the past, as weti— from the taliban in th

rank you very much, nick eardley at _ well.of the way covid spread in uk hospitals has shown how doctors struggled to contain the disease in the early stages of the pandemic. 0verall, more than a tenth of people in hospital with coronavirus caught the virus while they were there. researchers analysed data from more than 300 hospitals. scientists say levels of hospital—acquired infections are now much lower. here's naomi grimley. falling ill with covid while in hospital with something else was one of the most worrying features of the first wave of the pandemic. howard crozier was 81, and admitted to hospital in sunderland in march last year with regular pneumonia. he was moved around the hospital and put onto an elderly care ward. his daughter is sure that's where he caught covid and later died. the hospital told me they had admitted a patient with suspected covid on to the elderly care ward. 0n the 25th of march, when i was told i needed to be there because dad was on end of life, i was told he tested positive for covid. there

nick eardley, bbc news. now on bbc news — click.ing aeroplanes... ..the passenger pods hurtling people through tunnels... yes! yeah! woo! ..and fancy a flying car? coventry was once the heart of british automotive manufacturing, dubbed britain's motor city. but it's moved with the times. now hosting the institute for future transport and cities at coventry university, playing an important part in the future of autonomous, sustainable and connected transport. and in a city where the first ever british car was manufactured, research has moved to the next evolution of the automobile — the autonomous vehicle. for a few years now, we've been told that driverless cars are just around the corner. and on this programme, we've taken a few for a spin. but before they can truly become a reality, we need to know that we can trust them just as much, if not more, than a human driver. and if this driverless world comes about, it will be transformative — not just for the drivers, but also for the cities, so we may need to rethink some of the basics

nick eardley, bbc news. now on bbc news, our world.on: the coronavirus is the biggest threat this - country has faced for decades. if too many people become seriously unwell at one time, the nhs will be unable to handle it. from this evening, i must give the british people are very simple instruction — you must stay at home. 0h, hello. hello! hi. hello! hi! hi. hiya. hello, hi. sound, um...brain's not working. couldn't work for two weeks. welcome to oxford gardens. i wake up in the morning, see the blue sky, sun out, and i think wow, what a beautiful day. and it doesn't take me long. i look out the window, open up my blinds and i see people walking with their masks, then it hits me. it doesn't feel real. but you know it's real because you've got the letters in your hand telling you you must stay at home. well, i've been here 25 years. we've got a range of people. people who are obviously quite wealthy. there are quite a lot of people renting, privately, and also social housing. and it's a wonderful mix. you cannot tell by walking down

nick eardley, bbc news.picion of murder, following the death of a five—year—old in bridgend. the body of the child was found in the ogmore river in the early hours of yesterday morning. police say they're not looking for anyone else in relation to this incident. britain says it's "highly likely" iran carried out an attack on an oil tanker off the coast of oman in which two people on board died. one of the victims was british. the tanker, the mv mercer street, operated by an israeli—owned firm, was attacked on thursday. thousands of people have fled their homes in southern turkey, where wildfires continue to burn. at least six people have died and hundreds have been injured. parts of the tourist city of bodrum, including several hotels, have been evacuated. angus crawford has the latest.. clouds of smoke and flame behind them... ..the sea their only escape. locals and holiday—makers queued for boats to take them away from parts of the holiday resort of bodrum in the south—west of turkey. wildfires which start

nick eardley, bbc news.e were 24,1170 new coronavirus cases, in the latest 24—hour period, a slight fall on the previous day. that means on average there were 26,793 new infections a day, in the last seven days. 65 deaths were recorded in the latest 2a hours, that's an average of 75 deaths a day in the past week. and, the most recent figures show just under 6,000 people, are in hospital, with covid—19. thousands of people have been forced to leave their homes in southern turkey, as huge wildfires continue to burn. at least 6 people have died and hundreds have been injured. parts of the tourist city of bodrum, have had to be evacuated. with more, here's angus crawford. clouds of smoke and flame behind them... ..the sea their only escape. locals and holiday—makers queued for boats to take them away from parts of the holiday resort of bodrum, in the south—west of turkey. wildfires, which started five days ago, burned their way through hillsides towards the city. in less than a week, more than 100 forest fires h

nick eardley, bbc news. coronavirus cases, in the latest 24—hour period, a slight fall on the previous day. that means on average there were 26,793 new infections a day, in the last seven days. 65 deaths were recorded in the latest 2a hours, that's an average of 75 deaths a day in the past week. and, the most recent figures show just under 6,000 people are in hospital with covid—19. from today, businesses are having to pay more of their workers' wages, as the government continues to wind down it's furlough scheme. but there are fears the increased costs could see some firms struggling to survive. the furlough programme, in place since april last year, will finish at the end of next month. here's our business correspondent, katy austin. it has been credited with preventing unemployment rising sharply. now, we are in the final two months of the job retention scheme. the economy has been reopening but nearly 2 million people were still on furlough at the end ofjune. this reception ruby, who is 65 has been on fu

here's our political correspondent, nick eardley. this is our bamboo set...bamboo and hemp. sustainable items which he hopes are part of the answer to reducing plastic consumption. what do you think about the idea of banning plastic cutlery? yeah, i will vote for anybody who will ban it. i think plastic is everywhere. look, we cannot get rid of plastic completely, but there are definitely certain areas where we can improve. this is the problem — plastic in oceans around the world, deadly for a number of species. campaigners have been urging the government to act. the reality is that, you know, we are really facing an environmental crisis. our oceans are full of plastic and they're killing marine life and they're damaging our ecosystem. banning these items is going to contribute to stopping plastic pollution. we need the government to go much, much, much further. we're facing a plastics crisis and we need to turn off the tap. and this is what ministers want to ban — single—use plastic cutlery and plates. it's all part of a strategy from the government to try a

nick eardley, bbc news.ttract more lorry drivers from the european union to help fill gaps in the uk's food supply chain. the morrisons supermarket boss has told the bbc that heavy goods vehicle drivers should be eligible for skilled worker visas, allowing them to operate in the uk. our business editor, simonjack, has more details. at this convenience store in the outskirts of coventry, it's hard to know where the next gap in the shelves will appear. 0wner paul showed me his latest delivery notice. dozens of items are missing. lemonade, water, eggs, bread, and we didn't find out until today. to serve his local customers, he's having to scramble. we haven't got milk on the shelf one day, we haven't got bread on the shelf the second day. that customer comes back on the third day and we haven't got it again, will that customer rely on us the next day? probably not, but that's a major impact on the business because then we have tojump in a van, we have to call local suppliers and we have to go and source that pr

nick eardley, bbc news.matic double for a golden couple in the velodrome. andy swiss's report contains some flashing images. meet british sport's new golden couple — neil and lora fachie, husband and wife, and gold medallists within 20 minutes of each other. first, neil and tandem pilot matt rotherham took the time trial in a new world record, before lora and her pilot corrine hall produced a display of pursuit perfection. what a story, what a ride! a case of same surname, same outcome. for the couple, who are both visually impaired, a remarkable feat. she told me she was crying, and i had to admit that i was too. but, yeah, i mean, we sort of planned for this, but you never really expect it to all come together like that. and the gold rush continued. jaco van gass, jody cundy and kadeena cox in the mixed team sprint. they were trailing china, but somehow cundy turned it round. can he claw it back? oh, yes, he can! oh, it's unbelievable! it's been some games for britain's track cyclists. they've won six gold

nick eardley, bbc news. now on bbc news, the travel show. on a coast—to—coast track across the south of the usa exploring the places that have grown up along the sunset limited train loan. myjourney started in the unique port city of new orleans, and continued across from louisiana to texas, and one of america's most distinctive national parks. this is the rio grande day. welcome to the border! this week, welcome to the border! this week. as — welcome to the border! this week. as i — welcome to the border! this week, as i continue - welcome to the border! this week, as i continue my- welcome to the border! this week, as i continue myjourney along the rail route, but off the beaten track, ifind out how close we came to the end of the world. how close we came to the end of the world-— the world. three, two, one, release- _ the world. three, two, one, release. you _ the world. three, two, one, release. you and _ the world. three, two, one, release. you and i _ the world. three, two, one, release. you and i have - the world. three, two, one, rel

our political correspondent nick eardley joins me — first of all. details do we know about the promised new resettlement scheme for afghan refugees? that was promised by dominic raab, wasn't a? . r' that was promised by dominic raab, wasn't a? . w , , wasn't a? that skiing is being introduced — wasn't a? that skiing is being introduced by _ wasn't a? that skiing is being introduced by the _ wasn't a? that skiing is being introduced by the uk - wasn't a? that skiing is being - introduced by the uk government to allow up to 20,000 afghan refugees to come to the uk and reset all over the next few years. 5000 in the first year, the rest expected to come after that. now, first year, the rest expected to come afterthat. now, ministers first year, the rest expected to come after that. now, ministers here say it will focus on what they are calling the most at risk in particular women and girls. it is different from the scheme which had already been announced for afghans who worked with uk forces over the past 20 years and their families. expect about 5000 p

nick eardley, bbc news. now it's time for a look at the weather. bank holiday, we need good news. good news would be me not working, that would be lovely. instead, it is a good bank holiday weekend of whether, unfortunately for those of us working but warm sunshine around today. patchy cloud around, the threat of those receding in the next few hours. sunshine for much of scotland and northern ireland with the cloud draped around coastal areas and in the central belt of scotland highest temperatures, 24. 20 and 21 more like it in england and wales, better than yesterday where we had cloud. not much cloud tonight for the southern half of the uk. cloud moving from the north means it won't be as cold in scotland and northern ireland and northern england as it was bocelli further south with the clear skies and early sunshine. more cloud across the northern half of the uk compared with today, pretty cloudy in eastern scotland and north—east england. spots of drizzle with cloud bubbling up but decent spells of sunshine and top temperature going to be 20 or 21. hello, this is bbc news. th

our political correspondent nick eardley is at westminster. him, as are the questions, nick. it is indeed. dominic _ are the questions, nick. it is indeed. dominic raab - are the questions, nick. it 3 indeed. dominic raab was on holiday last week when the taliban were making some pretty rapid advances throughout afghanistan, and last friday officials at the foreign office urged him to call his counterpart in afghanistan to try and speed up the process of getting some interpreters who had worked with the uk out of the country. we knew yesterday that mr raab didn't make that call. he said he had delegated it to a junior minister, but this morning we find out through the daily mail that the call wasn't made at all. the reason the foreign office says is that there was a rapidly changing situation in the country and they just simply wasn't enough time to set up that call. we have also heard ministers on the airwaves this morning saying that evenif airwaves this morning saying that even if that call had been made it might not have made that much of a

further details of a bespoke resettlement scheme for afghan refugees. 0ur political correspondent nick eardleyined what we know so far, about how it will work. up to 20,000 afghan refugees to come to the uk and resettle over the next few years — 5000 in the first year, the rest expected to come after that. and ministers here say it will focus on what they're calling the most at risk, in particular, women and girls. it is different from the scheme which had already been announced, which was for afghans who worked with uk forces over the past 20 years and their families. we expect about 5000 people to settle in the uk under that scheme, but this is 20,000 people separate from that. we don't have details about how it's going to be funded just yet, but we do know that the government plans to work with local councils and devolved governments to figure out the best places for refugees to be housed over the next few years. but the message from government tonight is that they believe this scheme, which is modelled on the one which was used during the syrian war, and ultimately saw 20,000 people settle

further details of its own resettlement scheme for afghan refugees. 0ur political correspondent nick eardleyabout how it will work and the scale of the government's ambition. up to 20,000 afghan refugees to come to the uk and resettle over the next few years — 5000 in the first year, the rest expected to come after that. and ministers here say it will focus on what they're calling the most at risk, in particular, women and girls. it is different from the scheme which had already been announced, which was for afghans who worked with uk forces over the past 20 years and their families. we expect about 5000 people to settle in the uk under that scheme, but this is 20,000 people separate from that. we don't have details about how it's going to be funded just yet, but we do know that the government plans to work with local councils and devolved governments to figure out the best places for refugees to be housed over the next few years. but the message from government tonight is that they believe this scheme, which is modelled on the one which was used during the syrian war, and ultimately saw 20,

nick eardley, bbc news, westminster.al correspondent chris mason is in westminster this morning. mps will debate today and we expect to hear from the mps will debate today and we expect to hearfrom the prime minister a statement about what they plan to do. , ., ., ., ., statement about what they plan to do. _, ., ., ., , statement about what they plan to do. , ., ., , ., do. good morning. two things to look out for. do. good morning. two things to look out for- the — do. good morning. two things to look out for. the specifics, _ do. good morning. two things to look out for. the specifics, what _ do. good morning. two things to look out for. the specifics, what is - do. good morning. two things to look out for. the specifics, what is the - out for. the specifics, what is the uk doing to help people who want to get out of afghanistan? the second, the big question about how we ended up the big question about how we ended up here, why the uk was caught short if you like, and the rest of the international community in terms o

our political correspondent nick eardley is in westminster.to the defence secretary. yes, a matter of hours, not weeks, to get people out of the country he said this morning. the operation from uk forces has been speeding up significantly in recent days. there are more than 6600 people who have been evacuated by the uk in the last ten days or so. but there are still thousands left and that is the main reason that borisjohnson is making this plea to president biden to move back his deadline of the end of the month to remove us troops. we have heard from ministers in the uk this morning that they are pretty clear that without that us back—up, without the boots on the ground and the infrastructure they have built up the infrastructure they have built up around kabul airport, there is no prospect of the uk staying. so there is not much the prime minister can do now apart from hope that president biden agrees to that request and that the taliban in some way allow that to happen, despite the warnings that they have been making this morning that ther

.�* here's our political correspondent, nick eardley.he and borisjohnson were married in may in that fairly small and secret ceremony at westminster cathedral. now they're expecting their second child in downing street around christmas time. it is pretty rare for prime ministers to have children while they're in office — i think there's only been four in the last 150 years or so, so it is quite a rare thing. but in this post that carriejohnson has put up on her instagram page, she's also revealed that she had a miscarriage at the start of this year. i just want to read you a particular point of it which she's put up, saying "i feel incredibly blessed to be pregnant again, "but i've also felt like a bag of nerves. "fertility issues can be really hard for many people, "particularly when on platforms like instagram it can look like "everything is only ever going well." she goes on to say, "i found it a real comfort to hear from people "who'd also experienced loss, so i hope that in some very small way "sharing this might help others too." s

interpreters out of the country was not made by him or by a junior minister. 0ur political correspondent nick eardleyn a conference call with g7 ministers. the government says it is doing everything it can to get british citizens and eligible afghans out of the country. last week dominic raab was on holiday and now he's under pressure for failing to make a call to afghanistan's foreign minister to try and speed up the evacuation of interpreters who worked with the uk. yesterday the foreign office said the call had been delegated to a junior minister. today, the government confirmed it hadn't happened at all. i today, the government confirmed it hadn't happened at all.— hadn't happened at all. i don't think any one _ hadn't happened at all. i don't think any one phone _ hadn't happened at all. i don't think any one phone call- hadn't happened at all. i don't think any one phone call at - hadn't happened at all. i don't| think any one phone call at the hadn't happened at all. i don't - think any one phone call at the back end of last week would have changed the speed at which the afghan government fell

further details of a bespoke resettlement scheme for afghan refugees. 0ur uk political correspondent nick eardleyxplained what we know so far, about how it will work. up up to 20,000 afghan refugees to come to the _ up to 20,000 afghan refugees to come to the uk_ up to 20,000 afghan refugees to come to the uk and resettle over the next few years _ to the uk and resettle over the next few years. 5000 in the first year, the rest _ few years. 5000 in the first year, the rest expected to come after that _ the rest expected to come after that. ministers here say it will focus — that. ministers here say it will focus on — that. ministers here say it will focus on what they're calling the most _ focus on what they're calling the most at — focus on what they're calling the most at risk in particular, women and girls — most at risk in particular, women and girls it— most at risk in particular, women and girls. it is different from the scheme — and girls. it is different from the scheme which had already been announced, which was for afghans who worked _ announced, which was for afghans who worked with— an

apologies for the crackle on the line. 0ur political correspondent nick eardley is in westminster. governments have signed this off, as david suggests, the focus is here because of the big conference in november? absolutely, the prime minister _ conference in november? absolutely, the prime minister saying _ conference in november? absolutely, the prime minister saying today - conference in november? absolutely, the prime minister saying today that l the prime minister saying today that this report makes sobering reading and make sure the action in the next decade is going to be pivotal. there is a lot of pressure on the government here to help deliver that action. when the conference starting glasgow cop26, there will be a lot of pressure to come up with tangible targets to help reduce the global temperature. we have heard today from ministers involved in that process that 70% of the world economy is now covered by net zero targets. they want it to be higher, in particular they are pointing to 620 in particular they are pointing to g20 countries and saying to them, you need to com

nick eardley reports.emic. that is due to come to an end in october. for people like anthony, losing £80 a month could have a significant impact. i anthony, losing £80 a month could have a significant impact.— have a significant impact. i have to -a the have a significant impact. i have to pay the bills _ have a significant impact. i have to pay the bills and — have a significant impact. i have to pay the bills and once _ have a significant impact. i have to pay the bills and once i _ have a significant impact. i have to pay the bills and once i do - have a significant impact. i have to pay the bills and once i do that, i l pay the bills and once i do that, i will be left with about £60 for the month. that has to do me for a month of shopping. trio month. that has to do me for a month of showing-— of shopping. no chance. charities warn he is — of shopping. no chance. charities warn he is not _ of shopping. no chance. charities warn he is not the _ of shopping. no chance. charities warn he is not the only _

parties have criticised the government for not going far enough, as our political correspondent nick eardley. arriving in the uk last night, british citizens and their afghan allies, some of those who have now fled kabul after the taliban takeover. back in afghanistan, many more are desperate to leave. these images from monday show how far some are prepared to go to flee. the government is announcing today that up to 20,000 refugees will be allowed to settle in the uk in the coming years — 5000 of them within 12 months. the scheme will be similar to the ones set up during the syrian war. but with the taliban now in control of afghanistan, the government admits there will be a challenge to get people out. waheed is an nhs doctor who came to the uk as a refugee from afghanistan. when people arrive in the uk, they just want to be treated as human beings. they are like you and me — they want shelter, they want the basic living necessities. they want safety, their human right, but also they all need compassion, a fair assessment of their asylum and then to be given the same opportunities that i r

nick eardley, bbc news, westminster.st week has been found seriously hurt on a canal boat. detectives believe the injuries suffered by lee peacock, who's 49, were self—inflicted. he's in a critical condition in hospital. the nhs has temporarily stopped some blood testing in england for certain conditions, like pre—diabetes and allergies, due to shortages of collection tubes. doctors are being urged to stagger regular blood tests if it's clinically safe. becton dickinson, the medical device company which makes vials for the nhs, has warned of serious supply chain issues across the uk. nhs trusts in england have been told to prepare for the possible extension of the coronavirus vaccination programme to 12—to—15 year olds next month. currently jabs are only offered to children if they have certain health conditions or live with a vulnerable adult. thejoint committee on vaccination and immunisation is weighing up the arguments for the move. the department of health says no final decision has been made. there's been a signifi

nick eardley, bbc news, westminster.introduce the £20 uplift, and it has been a godsend to an awful lot of people. i think it did show that universal credit worked surprisingly well during the pandemic. the feedback that i'm now receiving from a lot of constituents, from a lot of organisations who support those constituents, is that the removal of this £20 is going to place a lot of families, a lot of people, present them with real challenges. not only are those people who are not in it were, a lot of whom are actually a long way away from the workplace, but it is also working families as well who rely on this. i think what well who rely on this. i think what we have seen over the last few months is that with inflation, food prices going up, oil and energy and energy cost going up. i really do fear that if we cut this money now, it is going to place a lot of people with some serious challenges in the winter months.— winter months. labour have also criticised the _ winter months. labour have also criticised the cuts. _ wi

our political correspondent, nick eardley, reports.rday afternoon, on a conference call with g7 ministers. the government says it is doing everything it can to get british citizens and eligible afghans out of the country. but last week dominic raab was on holiday and now he's under pressure for failing to make a call to afghanistan's foreign minister to try and speed up the evacuation of interpreters who worked with the uk. yesterday the foreign office said the call had been delegated to a junior minister. today, the government confirmed it hadn't happened at all. i don't think any one phone call at the back end of last week would have changed the speed at which the afghan government fell nor the speed at which we were able to get the air brige up and running. the foreign secretary said he was prioritisin the situation here at kabul airport and getting as many people out as quickly as possible. he confirmed he asked someone else to make the call. but afghans who have settled in the uk are worried about how long there is to get others o

our political correspondent nick eardley, gave me his view of the government's reasoning.the prospect of staying a few days into september but the context for this is that the uk has got about 6,600 people out over the last ten days and we think there are still at least 4,000 left who are eligible to come to the uk and potentially now thousands more because of the changing criteria which uk ministers announced last week. the truth is, there isn't much that uk ministers think they can do without the backing of the us. we know the us has several thousand troops on the ground at the airport and we know they are largely responsible for the infrastructure at kabul airport so the view of the government in london is that without those boots on the ground from the us and without that infrastructure that the americans have put in place, then the uk cannot stay, so time really is running out to get those final people on airlift out of afghanistan in the coming days. we are keeping a close eye on everything surrounding afghanistan, of course, the attempt to get people out and we will

nick eardley, thank _ them a way of getting out._ president biden has declared a major disaster as hurricane ida continues to batter the us state of louisiana, bringing catastrophic storm surges, flash flooding and 150 mph winds. federal aid is now available to supplement recovery efforts after more than one million people have lost power and one person has been killed. ida's weakened to a category 0ne, but still continues to cause widespread damage. nada tawfik sent this report from new orleans. this is the destructive power of ida. oh, my gosh! easily lifting the roof clear of this hospital in cut—off louisiana. these coastal areas have been the hardest hit so far. besides ferocious winds, there have been tidal surges as high as 16 feet and flash flooding. this fire station in delacroix, louisiana, posted footage before and after the storm as water rushed in. 0fficials warn some of the most affected parts may be uninhabitable for weeks. in comparison, much of new orleans is protected by the levees and flood walls of a newly built

nick eardley, bbc news, westminster. and leeds festivals this weekend in an effort to increase take—up in young adults. pop—up clinics will be open at both events, but health officials said people under the influence of alcohol or drugs will not be given a jab. it's after two other festivals were linked to a surge in cases in recent weeks. nhs trusts in england have been told to prepare for the possible extension of the coronavirus vaccination programme to i2—to—15—year—olds next month. currentlyjabs are only offered to children if they have certain health conditions or live with a vulnerable adult. thejoint committee on vaccination and immunisation is weighing up the arguments for the move. the department of health says no final decision has been made. the nhs has temporarily stopped some blood testing in england for certain conditions, like pre—diabetes and allergies, due to shortages of collection tubes. doctors are being urged to stagger regular blood tests if it's clinically safe. becton dickinson, the medical devic

the airport which claimed more than 170 lives. more than 170 lives. 0ur political correspondent nick eardleyernment is doing to get remaining evacuees out of kabul. the government this morning, when asked, would not put a number on how many people who were eligible to come to the uk had been left in afghanistan, who had not managed to get out as part of that air left. last week ministers were talking about it being up to 1000. labour think it is far more. the question, as you say, is what happens now? we had the taliban say to various foreign governments yesterday, around 90 of them releasing a letter, saying they had been given assurances by the taliban that safe passage for either foreign nationals are people with the right documentation from afghanistan would be allowed safe passage out of the country. the question is how the international community can enforce that? at what leverage the uk and its allies have to make sure that that promises caps and we heard from the uk government minister this morning that he was sceptical that the promise would be met. have a listen. it the promise wou

we're joined now from westminster by our political correspondent nick eardley. ere's growing pressure on the foreign secretary, dominic raab, over this call. yesterday we heard this call, that was supposed to be made to dominic raab�*s counterpart in the afghan government before it collapsed was delegated to a junior minister, and it was about getting interpreters who worked with the uk out of the country, giving the deteriorating situation. yesterday we were told it had been delegated to a junior minister. today, it has emerged with a report from the daily mail that it was not made at all. the call did not happen. the government said that is because the situation meant the afghan government collapsed and there was not any time to make it. we heard ministers defend dominic raab yesterday. saying it would not have made much of a difference because the situation had got so bad, so quickly. but it raises the question about whether the uk government could have done more, whether dominic raab could have been more engaged in the process and whether if he had made the c

let's get more from our political correspondent nick eardley.uction, the prime minister expected to ask president biden to delay withdrawing the last american forces from afghanistan. a number of factors at play in all of this decision—making. what level of influence do you think borisjohnson can bring to bear all of this? it is a really good _ can bring to bear all of this? it 3 a really good question, and to be honest we don't know the answer because we have seen over the last couple of weeks in the uk quite a lot of frustration from government ministers and from mps about the way that president biden went about the withdrawal of american troops from afghanistan. the hope the uk government has now is that in that g7 meeting tomorrow it can put some pressure on president biden to extend the deadline by which he wants to remove us troops. he wants them out by the 31st of august, although when we heard from him last night he did hint that that was not an absolute deadline. he was prepared to discuss potentially moving that back. the reason this m

our political correspondent nick eardley is at westminster.d in his labour's charge, and it seems to have widened in terms of that gap- to have widened in terms of that gap. once the government response to that? the gap. once the government response to that? ., ., ., that? the government would argue that? the government would argue that this is a _ that? the government would argue that this is a unique _ that? the government would argue that this is a unique year _ that? the government would argue that this is a unique year and - that? the government would argue that this is a unique year and these results can really be compared to this years because of the unique sacrifices we have seen over the last 18 months, and the difference in the systems used. i've got to say i think ministers will face a bit in the systems used. i've got to say i think ministers will face a bit of pressure on this issue of the gap. as you say when you look at primary schools versus state schools, when you look at free school meals and children who don't, there does se

let's get some more detail from our political correspondent, nick eardley.adline is fast approaching. we the deadline is fast approaching. - know that the us has for sometime said it wants to get final troops out of the country by the end of the month. the uk has not put a date on it yet. we heard ministers over the last few days saying they want to get as many people out, british citizens and eligible afghans, over as long as necessary. but the truth is that ministers in london know they cannot really do that without us infrastructure and without the us troops who are there and without some of the setup they have produced over the last couple of weeks. there are going to be some pretty important talks tomorrow with the g7 leaders. borisjohnson will be among those saying to the us presidentjoe biden lets stay as long, potentially, we need to get as many out as possible. you heard joe biden there not saying either way, saying he wants to get it done by the end of the month but not quite definitively ruling out an extension so it will be interesting to see wha

nick eardley is our political correspondent at westminster.lly defence secretary and foreign secretary as well as other senior officials. we may see it later about the outcome of that meeting and any immediate steps the government decides to take on the face of the worsening situation you have been hearing about in afghanistan and those decisions will come in the face of increasing pressure but only from opposition parties here at westminster but also many conservative mps as well who are very unhappy at the way things have unfolded. you have the chairs of the defence and foreign affairs committees in parliament respectively criticising what is happening and also the labour party suggesting parliament may need to be recalled if the government does not step up and set out its response and also the lib dems as welljoining calls for parliament to be recalled to debate what is happening. as for what the government may do, the options are limited, we have heard the defence secretary then wallace resigned as the government is to the taliban taking h

nick eardley speaking there. news. we heard they arejust a forjoining us on bbc news. we heard they are just a selection of some of they are just a selection of some of the questions that have been put to the questions that have been put to the government. what are your top priorities regarding the situation in afghanistan?— priorities regarding the situation in afuhanistan? ~ . .. , in afghanistan? well, dominic raab does need to _ in afghanistan? well, dominic raab does need to resign _ in afghanistan? well, dominic raab does need to resign because - in afghanistan? well, dominic raab does need to resign because we - in afghanistan? well, dominic raab i does need to resign because we need a foreign secretary who is actually able to take control of this situation to the greatest extent possible, to be completely focused on the task at hand and not having to spend all his time fending off very serious and damaging questions about his ability to do the job. so he has to resign immediately. if he doesn't, borisjohn

nick eardley, bbc news., the eu implemented this law early injuly and we're still talking about consultation, so we are still lagging way behind and camino, consultations often breed other consultations and delays, as we've seen in the deposit return scheme, so we just need to really speed this along and the government really needs to take responsibility that. you want to just explain this was a little bit because people might be slightly confused by your location because you are in a station, clearly, which is partly why you got so confused in the first place but then there is a presentation there which is all about the campaign.— presentation there which is all about the campaign. yes, so i am based here _ about the campaign. yes, so i am based here in _ about the campaign. yes, so i am based here in margate _ about the campaign. yes, so i am based here in margate and - about the campaign. yes, so i am based here in margate and here i about the campaign. yes, so i am | based here in margate and here in mar

our political correspondent nick eardley is at westminster.well drilling over this. on the one hand you have the government seeing this as a unique year and a unique set of circumstances and the most important thing was to get children able to be in a position where they can progress with their education but that issue of the attainment gap particularly brooklyn children who get free school meals and those who don't is something the labour party is raising concerns about. a5 don't is something the labour party is raising concerns about. as you heard there in the peace and more this morning, keir starmer has been raising questions about that saying it's basically a failure of government policy and who gave the education secretary a tapping inequality. there are a couple of things to bear in mind when you hear that criticism. one is that there has been a bit of an increase in the gap across the uk including in labour or lead whales. labour is not completely off the hook in that sense. there are also some in government who would say to you if you

let�*s talk to our political correspondent nick eardley. it. i suppose - you would expect, boris johnson has you would expect, borisjohnson has been saying that sobering reading and it is clear that the next decade is going to be pivotal if the world is going to address climate change. also saying it as a wake—up call for the world to act now. a lot of the uk government focus is on that conference in glasgow at the end of october, the cop 26 conference when countries from around the world will come up with some binding new targets. the uk is trying to provide some examples of what can be done. we have heard a lot in the last few months about the net zero target, to be carbon neutral in the uk by 2050, there are various goals along the way, including in 1a years time, 78% of emissions being removed from the uk. there are some really big targets, and there are some big changes to the way that many of us are going to live our lives if the uk is going to meet those targets. to choose two, there are plans to get rid of new gas boilers in the uk

our political correspondent, nick eardley, says it's difficult to assess how much influence borisjohnson�*s policy making. we have seen over the last couple of weeks in the uk quite a lot of frustration both from government ministers and from mps about the way president biden went about the withdrawal of american troops from afghanistan. the hope is that the meeting tomorrow can of pressure to president biden to extend the deadline by which he wants to remove us troops by 31st of august. when we heard from him last night he did hint that that was not an absolute deadline. he was prepared to discuss potentially moving that back. the reason this matters so much is because ministers in london are pretty clear that they can't do this without the us backing, both the number of troops at kabul airport and the infrastructure in place around the airport. without that there uk seems to think itjust can't operate these evacuations in the same weight that it is at the moment. we have been hearing this morning from armed forces minister in the ukjames heappey about what he thinks that pressure is li

let's get the latest now from our political correspondent, nick eardley. good morning to you.got the confirmation last night - is being left in. good morning. we| got the confirmation last night that around 600 paratroopers are going to afghanistan to help those british citizens who are still there. it was last friday the foreign office said any brits who were left should get out. we think there are still about a000 there. we have seen a evacuation take place over the next he weeks. there will be an ambassador who stays in afghanistan but they had moved down to the embassy enable bn what is being called a secure location. there is genuine worry in the uk government about what they see as a rapidly deteriorating situation in afghanistan. there are questions being asked about the decision to remove troops last month and a situation that left afghanistan in. we are seeing some criticism from tory mps. a couple of them last night, the chairs of the influential and foreign select committee talked about the speed that troops were taken out and how that left afghan forces with the fu

nick eardley reports. the number of people on universal credit has double during the pandemic.ities warn he's not the only one and that many people could end up in debt. 5.9 million people are currently on universal credit. our calculations suggest that of those, 2.3 million people are going to be pushed into the red as a consequence of this. it is coming at a really difficult time for people, where energy prices are soaring, the furlough scheme is coming to an end. similar arguments are being made to the treasury. opposition parties support keeping the extra money and a growing number of prominent conservatives agree. today the prime minister was warned removing the uplift could undermine his levelling up programme. with food prices going up - with energy prices and electricity costs going up, i really do fear that if we cut this money now, j it is going to place an awful lot of people with some serious i challenges in the winter months. many of those on universal credit are in work but the prime minister says his focus is on better paid jobs. my strong preference is for peopl