joining me as nick eardley, doctor john roberts former president of the institute of structural engineers and fellow at the royal academy of engineers. also cavallaro, from loughborough university. we need to be clear from the start on the type of concrete were talking about. reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete is a lightweight material. let's get more on this with our guest. talk us through why this material would be used in schools if it has a life span that ends 30 or a0 years after it split up and what it looks like. ~ �* , u, after it split up and what it looks like. ~ 2 . , like. well, it's called concrete but i think the — like. well, it's called concrete but i think the most _ like. well, it's called concrete but i think the most important - like. well, it's called concrete but i think the most important thing l like. well, it's called concrete but| i think the most important thing to be aware of is that it isn't really like ordinary concrete as we know it, as engineers and the general public knows it. 0rdinary concrete weighs about two and a half times as much as water. this c

nick eardley has more. parliament is the engine room of british democracy.ecurity checks on pass holders, a parliamentary researcher is under investigation after being arrested under the official secrets act. it's claimed he is facing allegations that he spied for china. that has caused concern right up to the top of government. the prime minister, at the g20 in india, held talks with china's premier. i obviously can't comment on the specifics of an ongoing investigation, but with regard to my meeting with vice premier li, what i said very specifically is that i raised a range of different concerns we have and areas of disagreement, and in particular, my very strong concerns about any interference in our parliamentary democracy, which is obviously unacceptable. the man accused of working with china had access to a number of senior mps, like tom tugendhat. he is a cabinet minister, though it is thought their contact was before he became security minister. i think this committee would also. the researcher also knew alicia kearns, who chairs the foreign affairs

nick eardley, bbc news, westminster.inal day of his visit to the country monday. speaking to reporters, he defended us engagement in the pacific, against a background of rising chinese influence in the region. meryl kornfield from the washington post is in hanoi covering mr biden's visit and shejoins us now. president biden signing a strategic partnership with vietnam — what more can you tell us about this accord and its significance? we can see from the declaration signed in new guinea and the president biden's trip in vietnam, the similar playbook that we have seen in his administration so far and how he has tried to present himself in the indo—pacific is counterweight to china and when he met with officials in vietnam he stressed how the us would support them and be a partner to that in a way that they had seen china. this is something we have seen before from president biden. recently he met with his counterparts from japan and south korea and he feted the prime minister in a lavish dinner recently and met with the p

nick eardley, bbc news, westminster.the eve of the 50th anniversary of the military coup led by general pinochet. in santiago, police responded with tear gas and water cannon to protesters who threw stones and objects at them. the coup in 1973, which ended with the death of the socialist president, salvadorallende, remains hugely divisive. we can now speak to freelance journalist jane chambers, who joins us from the chilean capital santiago. thanks very much for your time. what is the latest and what has been the scale of these protests? well, it was a largely — scale of these protests? well, it was a largely peaceful _ scale of these protests? well, it was a largely peaceful protest, i was a largely peaceful protest, around 500 people marching to commemorate the 50th anniversary of this military coup. as you say, there were clashes unfortunately, and some damage was done to the presidential palace. they were very much in the minority, the people taking part in the clashes, but some arrests have been made. the left—wing

nick eardley, bbc news, westminster. just left vietnam and while he was there, he signed a new agreement between the us and vietnam. this report from the bbc�*s asia pacific correspondent laura bicker. from wartime foes to firm friends. the united states is drawing china's neighbour closer. washington wants to counter beijing's influence in asia without creating a new cold war. really, what this trip was about, it was less about containing china — i don't want to contain china. i just want to make sure we have a relationship with china that is on the up and up, squared away, everyone knows what it is all about. cheering. this new relationship excites vietnam's next generation. singing. even as they sing songs about appreciating what they have, it is clear they want more. this country's young and talented workforce has attracted foreign business here instead of china. a lot of, like, korean and then japanese technology companies are pumping money into vietnam to develop technology centres. and then there comes the us. i c

nick eardley, bbc news, westminster.d with escaping from wandworth prison. the 21—year—old former soldier was recaptured on saturday. the justice secretary, alex chalk, said a0 inmates have since been moved from the catagory b jail. that is out of an abundance of caution. the relevant security protocols were in place in the relevant security staff were in place. relevant security staff were in . lace. ,, ., ., place. so there were enough staff and _ place. so there were enough staff and they _ place. so there were enough staff and they followed - place. so there were enough staff and they followed all i place. so there were enough. staff and they followed all the rules? , , ,., rules? this is the point. the real question _ rules? this is the point. the real question is _ rules? this is the point. the real question is whether i real question is whether relevant protocols followed the extent that they should be was to mark looking at other stories making headlines now. at, stories making headlines now. a huge operation is

nick eardley, bbc news, rutherglen., has been released on bail pending further police inquiries. meanwhile people who loved the iconic tree have been coming to visit the scene close to hadrian's wall in northumberland. alison freeman is there for us now. alison. yeah, over the past couple of hours we've been watching forensics officers taking samples of bark and sawdust, taking measurements, taking photographs, as part of that police investigation. as far as that investigation. as far as that investigation goes we know a 16—year—old boy who was arrested yesterday had since been released on police bail and the police say it's an investigation in their infancy and they want anyone with any information to come forward. throughout the course of the morning we have watched plenty of people coming and going, standing, sitting in quiet contemplation. it really is a very sombre mood here. that's because many people are still in shock, in disbelief, that this could happen in a deliberate act to this very special tree. allison fr

parliamentary researcher had been arrested and accused of spying for china. 0ur political correspondent, nick eardleyis 30s was arrested in 0xfordshire, another in his 20s was arrested in edinburgh. this all happened actually in march this year, so it was a few months ago, it's onlyjust emerging now, but it is the latter man we are particularly interested in because speaking to various people who work in parliament, it is a parliamentary researcher, someone who has had contact with some pretty senior conservative mps actually, people like the chair of the foreign affairs select committee, alicia kearns, people like the security minister, tom tugendhat, although my understanding is that this contact was before mr tugendhat had that cabinet role of security minister, but it has raised three key concerns i think. one is about the level of scrutiny and vetting that goes on for parliamentary pass—holders. the other is the level of contact that some mps have with researchers who they perhaps do not know a great deal about, and the third, the big debate that i think is starting to reignite today is about th

live now to our political correspondent nick eardley. what might these changes look like? to say very closely as this might affect them. i’m to say very closely as this might affect them-— to say very closely as this might affect them. �* . . a, �* affect them. i'm afraid i can't give ou an affect them. i'm afraid i can't give you any concrete _ affect them. i'm afraid i can't give you any concrete guarantees - affect them. i'm afraid i can't give | you any concrete guarantees about what is going to happen just now because my understanding is that rishi sunak is looking over a pretty radical shake—up of the a—level system in england. we know that he wants more people to study maps in particular to the age of 18, and one of the options that is on the table is what you were just talking about, this idea of a british baccalaureate twitch, ratherthan this idea of a british baccalaureate twitch, rather than doing three or four a—levels as many young people do at the moment, they would do this baccalaureate qualification and it would include a broader range of subjects, includin

is considering a major shake up of the a level system in england. 0ur political correspondent nick eardleyi sunak looking at doing? the prime minister has promised he will try to answer some of what he thinks are the big questions facing the country, even if the answers are difficult and earlier this week we had delaying some of the timetables for green policies and next it could be education because as has been reported in various newspapers, the prime minister is considering a pretty radical shake—up of the a level system which would involve getting rid of them and replacing them with what has been called a british baccalaureate and it would only apply in england but the idea is that people would study more subjects than the three or four they do at a level including english and maths until the age of 18. the prime minister has said he would like more people to study maths for longer. these plans are not confirmed and we were told no firm decisions have been made but one minister who attends the covenant has told the bbc that he does think that the prime minister will introduce a change

prof cavalaro, prof cavalaro, dr roberts and nick eardley, thank you very much. i think that is completely and utterly wrong. - actually one of the first things | i did as chancellor in my first| spending review in 2020 l was to announce a new ten year school rebuilding - programme for 500 schools. ukraine's president zelensky is replacing the country's defence minister saying it's time for a new approach. we'll have the latest from the africa climate summit in kenya where we'll go live as the continent's leaders discuss how it can take climate action. hello, i'm rajini vaidyanathan. welcome to bbc news now, three hours of fast—moving news, interviews and reaction. the uk prime minister rishi sunak says it's "utterly wrong" to blame him for failing to tackle the issue of unsafe concrete in school buldings. a5 thousands of children return to classrooms today after the summer break — it's emerged that more than 100 schools in england and scotland will be closed or partially shut. it's over safety concerns about what is known as raac — a type of concrete known to be

our political correspondent nick eardley is in westminster, what is rishi sunak looking at doing?ishi sunak has promised to deliver answers to what he sees as some of the big, long—term questions the uk is facing. earlier this week we had the controversial announcements on net to zero. next, it could be education. because the prime minister, in downing street, are weighing up some pretty significant reforms of the a—level system in england, as it is at the moment. one of the options that is being considered by number 10 is replacing a—levels with a so—called british baccalaureate. it would involve people studying more subjects than the three four they do at a level at the moment, it would involve everybody who takes them studying english and maths to the age of 18. we know that rishi sunak is a very keen on more people studying maths until 18. i should point out that none of this is confirmed yet, it is being weighed up confirmed yet, it is being weighed up a number10. we confirmed yet, it is being weighed up a number 10. we told that no firm decisions have been made yet. but if i

they won�*t support any policies that lead to higher overall taxes. 0ur political correspondent, nick eardleyr. so what he�*s going to spend the next few days doing is using this conference as a bit of a launch pad to get really stuck into the politics that he�*s going to try and sell to the electorate in the general election next year. he�*s going to try and persuade us all that he�*s prepared to take difficult, long term decisions for the good of the country. he�*s going to try and persuade us all that he has a vision to get the economy back on track. but it�*s going to be easier said than done. and when you ask ministers about what some of that might look like, they�*re still tight lipped at the moment. there are still big questions to be answered. for example, here in manchester is supposed to be where the new high speed two rail line ends. ministers have been asked again today if that�*s going to happen. they�*ve stonewalled those questions. rishi sunak is facing calls from theresa may, his predecessor, borisjohnson, another predecessor, to go ahead with the project in full. then there�*

live now to westminster and our political correspondent nick eardley. a busy first day back and the focus will be on the crumbling concrete. this is a tough issue from the government, yes, there have been developments in the past few days as we have heard from ministers this morning, changes to the advice they were being given and had given in the past fortnight or so but there is a pretty crucial question at the heart of this which is was the government taking concerns about this concrete seriously enough? and what we found out this morning which i think will be really tricky for the government is that ministers were told some years ago that more money was needed to deal with some of these building defects. considerable increases in can in funding was needed, in fact the opposite happened and funding was reduced and rishi sunak was the chancellor at the time so undoubtedly prime minister will be asked whether he took these very seriously enough, whether one of the problem is that is now being faced is that there was not enough funding in the first plac

live now to westminster and our political correspondent nick eardley.e been developments in the past few days as we have heard from ministers this morning, changes to the advice they were being given and had given in the past fortnight or so but there is a pretty crucial question at the

minister, liz truss — have signed a pledge to their constituents. 0ur political correspondent nick eardleymanchester the conservatives can see is a bit of political momentum, he's going to try and persuade us all that he is making difficult decisions for the sake of the country and trying to get the economy back on track. but it is easier said than done and when you asked ministers what they might look like, they are still tight—lipped at the moment. there are still big questions be answered. for example, here in manchester is supposed to be where the new high speed 2, hs2 line ends. ministers have been asked again today that's going to happen. rishi sunak is facing calls from theresa may, borisjohnson, to go ahead with the product in full. then there's tax. former prime minister liz truss is saying that because of to student back anything that would lead to more tax rises. to be honest there probably aren't any tax rises planned but within the next few months but that's designed as a warning shot for the prime minister. the nearer to the mix this former conservative candidate or wannabe c

joining me as nick eardley, doctor john roberts former president of the institute of structural engineers reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete is a lightweight material. let's get more on this with our guest. talk us through why this material would be used in schools if it has a life span that ends 30 or 40 years after it split up and what it looks like. ~ �* , ..,

from there, nick eardley reports.s standing here, and all of the focus is on the battle between labour and the scottish national party. are labour reviving in races for westminster seats in scotland? the contest has come about after the former mp, who was elected on an snp ticket, acknowledged that she had broken the covid rules by getting a train from london to glasgow when she had covid, and when she knew she had covid. she has pleaded guilty to that but what has done for her politically is what is known as a recall petition, the first one in scotland, with folk here demanding a by—election. i was adhering to the covid rules. me and my partner couldn't see his dying grandmother, and they are out breaking rules. it's kind of like a slap in the face. to be honest, i'd be more than happy if margaret ferrier had stood again. in her circumstances, i would probably have done the same thing. i'd have wanted to bolt for home. if you've got the virus, stay in. don't go out. well, she should know better. than us, and she brok

they won't support any policies that lead to higher overall taxes. 0ur political correspondent nick eardley party back on the front foot? will hsz ever reach - manchester, prime minister? or are questions, many of them from his own mps, proving too much of a distraction? conferences are for leaders to set the political agenda, but they often find their mps want to do the same. hello. liz truss isn't going away. she's one of more than 30 mps putting pressure on the prime minister over tax. i think my constituents will understand that, with tax at a 75—year high, that they shouldn't go any higher. what is really required is for the government to create growth in the economy. you don't do that by increasing taxes. you can't tax yourself rich. you can't even spend yourself rich. there are former prime ministers also chipping in on hs2. borisjohnson and theresa may both say it needs to reach manchester, even though many think that will be cancelled by rishi sunak. there's been a lot of speculation in the media. you want me to, but you wouldn't expect me to comment on media speculation. we are ge

live now to our political correspondent, nick eardley, who's in manchester.e 30 mps speaking about taxes while rishi sunak and members of his cabinet are really trying to focus on road policies. they are trying to focus on policies they say form a relentless attack on motorists. why do you think mr sunak and his cabinet picked this issue? do they think that's the issue voters are carrying about a head of the conservative party conference? its conservative party conference? it; really interesting because conferences are all about trying to set the political agenda, the prime minister will arrive in the next few minutes and hoping over the next few daysin minutes and hoping over the next few days in manchester the conservatives can see is a bit of political momentum, can try and make up some of the ground in the polls. and the answers the question is they do think policies for sticking up on motorists, the war on motorists, they think they will be popular with voters. but rishi sunak will also spend a few days trying to set himself up as a prime minister who is

nick eardley, bbc news, rutherglen.ing rivalries in a - excitement! ten sport's great sporting rivalries in a great i sporting rivalries in a great setting for rivalry, rome, of the colosseum, etc, no lions involved this time but have the passion of the lion this time! it}! this time but have the passion of the lion this time!— the lion this time! of this is the r der the lion this time! of this is the ryder cup. _ the lion this time! of this is the ryder cup. the _ the lion this time! of this is the ryder cup, the us _ the lion this time! of this is the ryder cup, the us against - the lion this time! of this is the i ryder cup, the us against europe. indeed. and we also have fleetwood mac! because it's a team sport, unusualfor mac! because it's a team sport, unusual for golf, mac! because it's a team sport, unusualfor golf, there mac! because it's a team sport, unusual for golf, there are mac! because it's a team sport, unusualfor golf, there are playing in teams of two and you have tommy fleetwood and rory mcilroy. i5

our political correspondent nick eardley can tell us about what is happening in mid bedfordshire? going _ by—election in mid bedfordshire is going to _ by—election in mid bedfordshire is going to be in mid october. i do not have an _ going to be in mid october. i do not have an exact date yet because it hasn't _ have an exact date yet because it hasn't actually been finally confirmed. but i put my money on the 12th of— confirmed. but i put my money on the 12th of october, or the 19th. there have _ 12th of october, or the 19th. there have been— 12th of october, or the 19th. there have been a — 12th of october, or the 19th. there have been a big row about whether the government would start the formal— the government would start the formal process in parliament which leads— formal process in parliament which leads to _ formal process in parliament which leads to a — formal process in parliament which leads to a by—election. i've just found _ leads to a by—election. i've just found out— leads to a by—election. i've just found out they are going to do that today— found out they are goi

before i come to you, nick, there one important question —— nick eardley.ybody a happy back- pensions triple lock? and i wish everybody a happy back british | everybody a happy back british farming today? i have one of the most agricultural constituencies in the country. in relation to the triple lock, we've seen over the last day the secretary of state for work and pensions saying there is a process for it. i am not permitted to pre—empt it. it was a conservative government who introduced the triple lock. we have lifted 200,000... we introduced the triple lock. we have lifted 200,000. . ._ lifted 200,000... we heard rishi sunak say that, _ lifted 200,000... we heard rishi sunak say that, but _ lifted 200,000... we heard rishi sunak say that, but i _ lifted 200,000... we heard rishi sunak say that, but i need i lifted 200,000... we heard rishi sunak say that, but i need you i lifted 200,000... we heard rishi sunak say that, but i need you to | sunak say that, but i need you to say are you committed or not to maintaining the triple lock, and thatis maintaini

and of course nick eardley, the bbc�*s political correspondents. e it here. what have we learnt from this list?— we learnt from this list? it is a loni , we learnt from this list? it is a long. 147 _ we learnt from this list? it is a long. 147 in — we learnt from this list? it is a long, 147 in total. _ we learnt from this list? it is a long, 147 in total. 19 _ we learnt from this list? it is a long, 147 in total. 19 schools i we learnt from this list? it is a . long, 147 in total. 19 schools have had to delay the start of their terms because of this issue. i think we found four schools or colleges that have had to switch completely to remote learning because of raac. you are absolutely right, that was a tough session for rishi sunak. he did not want to be talking about this. the reason it is tough, we have sat here a lot on wednesday afternoons and talked about problems for the prime minister, quite often problems from previous administrations, i suppose there is administrations, i suppose there is a bit of that with this. but the problem the prime