a new oxford-cambridge corridor, redeveloping old trafford, and supporting a runway at heathrow. we are supporting innovation and going further and faster to boost growth. mr. speaker, this morning i had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others. i shall have further such meetings later today. >> mr. speaker, this pension increase by 470 pounds, and over the course of this parliament, 1900 pounds, benefiting millions of pensioners. does the prime minister agree that means testing the state pension would do severe harm, and will you confirm that this government will always protect the state pension and the triple log? p.m. starmer: let me be absolutely clear, mr. speaker. there will be no means testing of the state pension under this labor government. we are committed both to the triple block and the principle that people should receive pension based on the contribution, regardless of their wealth. his right to say 12 million pensioners receiving 470 pound increase in april. when people like the opposition say they want means testing, that means a cuts. the difference is, th

she will detail plans to invest in the oxford—cambridge arc — that's an area spanning the two top universitys, home to many high—tech firms and university—driven tech initiatives. now chair of beyondnetzero — voiced his support for a targeted approach well, i strongly welcome the idea of getting the uk and actually has a proper outcome over so i think that the work we do in life sciences clearly has a place there. i don't think... a million flowers bloom. an extended interview with lord browne there will feature on talking business here on bbc news. this could be a real moment for the chancellor. teamgb spirit, teamuk spirit that we want to see across the economy moving. and i think, because of that, some of the bold moves should be celebrated. and so one of the things that we are looking for is, as you say, taking some of those big decisions for a while — for complex reasons, perhaps — reiterating the growth 0k. heathrow runway. that's just an example. you said that's been sitting on the government's these are good... is important to say. to grow the economy, there are lots of ways you can

she also said she is a series of is backing a series of projects, including the oxford—cambridge growthter eerrieert the feet e�*elemert , ~ ~ manchester united's eeffieeft the feet e�*elemm�*t 7 ~ ~ manchester united's old of manchester united's old trafford football ground, and a long third runway for heathrow airport. i long third runway for heathrow airort. u. long third runway for heathrow airort. .., _, long third runway for heathrow airort. .., ., " "this 7 this government supports a ru nway runway at heathrow. inviting j inviting pi’oposals inviting proposals to be isffnoifing proposals to be forward the " tilitiién’ " w ” ' " "iiilitiién’tfake' w ” ' forward a full through the airport national policy and our clear expectation is that any associated surface funding. climate objectives. we have already received proposals for new sizeable new developments. let's speak to our political correspondent helen catt. i lost count of the number times the chancellor said economic growth, why is that so economic growth, why isthet se to her how will how to achieve today's nonsense how to ac

infrastructure between critical infrastructure between oxford — critical infrastructure between oxford and cambridgeuras, cities who“ - m— gpgbetter collaboration between cities from the university the cities from'th'e bin' s'. but the cities frorn'the univets'ity _ m- the cities from'the university but also from an 7:— 7: perspective. it i perspective. it allows industry perspective. it allows both _ industry perspective. it allows both scale in a sustainable way offerin- new offerin - new public by offering new public transport routes for people who are working and the companies -_ are working and the companies -m_ are working and the companies come out of these cities that come out of these cities and _ and - that come out of these cities and and them and universities and give them that hazy— and universities and give them that hazy transport connection. i think— that hazy transport connection. i think- a _ that hazy transport connection. i think a really .ame chan-er in terms ;:7—=——+—$ i thinking about how this - of thinking about how this region if you region can operate. if you couple _ regio

looking at reviving plans to support what it calls the region and of the oxford, arc, home to oxford, cambridget governments, companies investing in new technology? . c i, 7. investng in newstechnotogy? is investingin newstechnotogy? is exactly the right thing the government to be announcer did not m then announcer did notbavetoo more in terms 77307115}; 777d7o7lla7r7s7 777hl>we7véi 7k7i7n7d 7 kind of infrastructure any kind of infrastructure development along the corridor very welcome by is very welcome by industry thatis is very welcome by industry that is inclusive of technology but also ——’ that area. it is very and technology rich from an 7 7from7an77inte7lle7ctua7l 77 area from an intellectual perspective. but one has to perspective; but one has to what the investments say, what are the investments the government is to the government is willing to make and other to make and what other policies to and the best attract and keep the best talent from talent that graduates from keeping = -:7 inthe uk 7 in the uk rather 77 in the uk rather than 77777 77 77to7bui7ld to build companies elsewhere

with the announcement of a new runway at heathrow airport and growth corridor between oxford and cambridge. to boost the economy. claiming it could now be a national security risk. has just given a major speech on her plans to grow the country's economy. let's get straight to the main points. moving onto gdp, the chancellor says the government has changed course on public investment, spending 2.6% of gdp on average growth corridor could add £78bn to the size of the economy by 2035. our business correspondent theo leggettjoins us from heathrow now. the deadline for proposals to get a new runway at heathrow is this summer. he had been this for 20 years, significant is 20 years, how significant is this 2, and jobs? this for uk exports and jobs? it is a statement ; " intent bdt it is unlikely ' " intent bdt it is unlikely to of intentrbutit isunlikely to rewards for some time, it a colossal project 7 a colossal project expected cost e. :: "":::' ire??? 27—2424 ’ * ........,. "' *" cost somewhere e. 5: "":::' ire??? ;——;-�*~;4 7 * ~~~~fl ... 7'— cost somewhere in to cost somewhere in the origina

in between expansion, in art between and cambridge which oxford and cambridge which they say could be for europe. investments the investments around the united football and elsewhere in the %—'——’ ,-,,,,, 7 —— f ~~— w 7——7 f aeleloef eeaeie5eeeieeee eealleofthiseiese e e eeaeleleof this ieseaboeute e e e eeaeleleof this ieseaboeutewhaetee government says is trying the government says is'tryihg shift the way things are to shift the way things are done and on lock plans and = -: that have not been projects thot'herve not been on before. projects thet'heve hot loeeh on before. trying to taken on before. trying to the approach that way. i change the approach that way. i what they are finding is think what they are finding is even on their own amongst even on their own side amongst labour mps there is e eee eabout what that nervousness about what that means, particularly for the uk's environmental commitments. the london mayor has come out and said he continues to oppose and said he continues to oppose a third at heathrow. a third runway at heathrow. they said in the introduction the probl

controversial third runway at heathrow airport and making europe's silicon valley by developing the oxford cambridge corridor. ahead of the speech, the government unveiled planning reforms as well, including streamlining national policies and easier approval for developers to help achieve their goal of building 1.5 million new homes over the next five years. i'm very pleased to introduce helen gordon, the ceo of granger. helen, very good morning. thanks for joining us today. first and foremost, perhaps just explain to us what will be the impact on your business from the this latest announcement from the uk government in terms of planning reform? >> well, the government. >> have a great. >> ambition, which is to build. >> 1.5 million more. >> homes in. >> the uk. and granger has this great. ambition to build. >> many tens of thousands of rental homes in. >> the uk. and the. thing that we. >> were particularly excited about is that for. >> our customers, a good place to live. >> is where. >> near transport modes and actually the chancellor is. actually now putting the emphasis on development around go

she also set out plans for more tech development — with investments around oxford and cambridge. electionsummer. forward by the summer. this will ensure that the project is value for money and our clear the labour mayor of london, sadiq khan, said he was against a third runway at heathrow. lam i am still opposed to third runway i am still opposed to at i am still opposed to third runway at heathrow airport on three main grounds — at heathrow airport on three main grounds. the impact this have grounds. the impact this will have on the _ grounds. the impact this will have on the noise pollution, this is the on the noise pollution, this’i—s - in on the noise pollution, thisfis—the -w_ on the noise pollution, thisis the in europe, people affected biggest in europe, people affected by biggest in europe, people affected tty two _ biggest in europe, people affected by two runways is more those by two runways is more than those affected _ by two runways is more than those affected by paris, madrid, munich, frankfurt— affected by paris, madrid, munich, frankfurt put frankie rt amsterdam. out tegst

10,000 people it was a code breaking factory, the code breakers, seniors, were mostly from oxford and cambridge. theyof were poets and stuff like that, they could work with code. and the interesting thing is that none of them built their first computer. alan therrin didn't either, heil was a post office engineer. and all of the at the park said it would never work, he said i know it will work. hemented to use vacuum tubes, they were considered unreliable. so first thing, it turned up in the back of a post office truck, they unloaded it. and put it in facility, it worked. and that man, and his team did has much as anyone to within the war in the end. they were providing -- breaking codes for all of the allies, and germans never knew it quite extraordinary. two interesting thins about that, one ian fleming, worked in naval intelligence, they wanted to try to catch a inic ma -- machine they couldan take to the park, h ing or -- organized a mission. people thought it was a decoy so someone could try to get the encryption machine, he left a description of the type of person he wanted to do this, thi

breaking factory, basically and the code breakers, the senior ones were mostly drawn from oxford and cambridgeey were mathematicians, poets, stuff like that, people that could work with code and the interesting thing is that none of them built this first computer colossus. and if you've seen the movies or the legend, you think that adam built the first computer, it wasn't. it was a brilliant post office engineer at the post office, used to have research in those days in north london and all the at bletchley park said it wouldn't work, and he wanted to use vacuum tubes, were thought to be unreliable. but knew if you left them switched on, they were reliable. and the first thing it turned up in the back of a post office truck and they unloaded it and put it into the facility and it worked. and that man, tommy flowers, his man is, and his team, did as much as anyone to win the war in the end because they were providing-- they were breaking codes for all of the allies and the germans never knew they were doing it so it was quite extraordinary. two interesting things about that, one, ian fleming, t

and the code breakers, the senior ones were mostly drawn from oxford and cambridge. they were mathematicians of poets, classes and stuff like that. people could work with code and interesting thing is that none of them built this first computer colossus and alan turing didn't either. if you've seen any of the movies or the legends, you probably think, as i had that that alan turing built, this first computer, he didn't it was a post office engineer, a brilliant post office engineer at the post office. the post office used to have a research its own research division in those in north london and. all the boffins at at bletchley park. this will never work. he it will work. i know it'll work. he wanted use vacuum tubes which were considered to be unreliable, but he'd built telephone exchanges, so he knew that actually if you left them switched on then they were extremely reliable. so the first anyone at bletchley park knew about this was when it turned up in the of a post office truck and unloaded it and put it into the and it worked and that man tommy flowers his name

_ a good thing is, the oxford to cambridge arc, _ a good thing is, the oxford to cambridge the - a good thing is, the oxford to. cambridge arc, that is the right place _ cambridge arc, that is the right place we — cambridge arc, that is the right place we should _ cambridge arc, that is the right place we should be _ cambridge arc, that is the right place we should be focusing, . place we should be focusing, expanding _ place we should be focusing, exoanding the _ place we should be focusing, expanding the airports. - place we should be focusing, expanding the airports. the i place we should be focusing, - expanding the airports. the problem is, it will— expanding the airports. the problem is, it will take — expanding the airports. the problem is, it will take a _ expanding the airports. the problem is, it will take a very— expanding the airports. the problem is, it will take a very long _ expanding the airports. the problem is, it will take a very long time. - is, it will take a very long time. these _ is, it will take a very long time. these things _ is, it will take a ver

will depend on �* planning depend on their planning reforms. terms of the oxford vcambridge that 7 vcambridge that could to cambridgeink, that could be that could get be something that could get going today, �* announced today, �*announced our next steps to deliver plan for eeee eeeee ee eee'eef eee eeee eef �* oxford, eeee eeeee ee eee'eee eee eeee eee �*oxford, cambridge del change, new oxford, cambridge del old trafford runway at we old trafford runway at heathrow. we are the runways are arguing the runways for investment, supporting invention further e further to e further to boeost growth. are going further to boost growth. �*speaker, this morning i had with e colleagues meetings with ministerial colleagues and others in addition my duties and others in addition to my duties in this house, i sure have further such a meeting �*today. mr such a meeting later today. mr seaker, such a meeting later today. m speaker, april the state speaker, this april the state pension will increase by and pensign. will. increase by £4?!) eee �* the pensien. will. increase by £4?!) er!!! �* the course pensien will. increase by £4?!

shadow chief secretary says the oxford cambridge idea is flawed and he is against it.lition of builders. they're the coalition of blockers. >> kemi badenoch. >> kemi badenoch. >> mr speaker, he forgets his own chancellor blocked an airport in her constituency. they are hypocrites. mr speaker, let's talk about this employment bill. part one of the bill means a new employee could start a job in the morning and take their employer to a tribunal in the morning and take their afternoon. it is no wonder that this bill has been called an adventure playground for lawyers. this bill is terrible for business, but it is great employment for lawyers. i know the prime minister loves the legal profession, but he needs to stop being a lawyer and start being a leader. this is this is another measure in the bill that fails his growth test. will he show some leadership and drop it? >> yes, sir. »- >> yes, sir. >> mr speaker, i understand she likes straight talking. she is talking absolute nonsense. she knows that anybody who understands anything about the bill or any employment law will

improving transport links between oxford and cambridge. theideais between oxford and cambridge.e idea is to boost life sciences and ai businesses, and the number of flights at heathrow, though, could rise to nearly 2000 per day. the announcement, alongside confirmation of the expansion of other london airports, is likely to be met with fierce opposition, including from within her own party. writing in the times today, sir keir starmer has pledged to cut through what he calls the thickets of red tape to clear the way for growth, and has compared his government's drive for growth to margaret thatcher's deregulation of the financial sector in the 1980s. meanwhile, the government is facing a growing cyber security threat, according to the public spending watchdog. the national audit office says the uk has a shortage of cyber skills and a dependence on old it systems, making us more vulnerable to attacks. earlier this week, china's new ai software deepseek triggered a plunge in us tech stocks as a direct competition to openai's chatgpt. the report has found more than 50% of cybersecu

further detail plans for the area we are for plans for the area we are in today. 0xford cambridge in today. oxford apart, prospects. only offer huge potential for our na' miles apart, these acts. only offer huge potential for our na' miles apart, these cities inly 66 miles apart, these cities are home to two of the best universities in the and universities in the world, and the area is hub globally the area is a hub for globally renowned science and technology firms. this area has the to be europe's potential to be europe's silicon to make that a silicon valley. to make that a reality, we a systematic to businesses approach to attract businesses to come and to grow here. iii!!— hours to travel between half hours to travel between oxford and cambridge by train. there is no way to commute —= rail7from places directly by rail from places and cambridge, there is a lack has; 7 7 7 7 has; 7 an” of affordable housing right region. in other across the region. in other the demand is there, but words, the demand is there, but there are �*too constraints on supply—side constraints on growth here. we are econ

is her growth plan or the other growth plan was we're going to build a train line between oxford and cambridgewill rival silicon valley. and everybody held their sides laughing. this was. >> perfectly let. >> perfectly let. >> lloyd comeback. >> lloyd comeback. >> that is that is on the silicon valley thing. i think thatis silicon valley thing. i think that is untrue. i mean, i was with nigel the other after the nigel farage, after the announcement, and he admitted that the silicon valley between oxford and cambridge is actually a good idea. it is a good idea because we are the world leader or the european leader, at least in thinking and developing or the european leader,

. >> last government and then being restored under different names like the oxford cambridge corridor. but, you know, look, rachel reeves and the prime minister are. clearly desperate for growth. and i do think that this might see a softening of net zero plans now, which can only. >> be a good thing. >> be a good thing. >> well, isn't it notable that in prime minister's questions, ed miliband wasn't there on the green benches at rachel reeves speech? ed miliband wasn't there in the audience? where is the net zero secretary? >> maybe he's poorly. >> maybe he's poorly. >> maybe he's eaten a bacon sandwich somewhere, doesn't want to be seen. >> what could it what could it be about the day that an extra runway gets announced at heathrow? that means that the net zero secretary has gone awol. >> it's going to be very difficult for him to stomach this. because he is now seen as a zealot for net zero policies. and even if you support net zero in principle, ed miliband's pathway to getting there is being increasingly discredited, isn't it, as unaffordable, risking our prosperity? >> so yeah. >

as well as the new runway at heathrow there are plans to better connect oxford and cambridge, turningm into europe's silicon valley, and the old trafford area on the lookout to make us feel better off. the chancellor was at a health care equipment oxford wwokfordthisi w 7 oxford this morning. these are near oxford this morning. these are the magnets used in hospital mri the "reg-wt: ueee inheeuitet “dj the government the "reg-$95 uses! nhe5plte' “dj the government says scanners. the government says economic growth is its generating economiegrowth isrits mission. generating economiegrewth isrits mission. the thing is, mm- isn't - or very little. the there isn't any, or very little. the situation - us _ there isn't any, or very little. the situation - us to - there isn't any, or very little. the situation - us to do - there isn't any, or very little. tie situation us to do more. there isn't any, or very little. tte situation us to do more. and situation demands us to do more. and today i will go further and faster situation demands us to do more. and to kick—starting thher and faster si

tech development — which are likely to include a so—called silicon valley of europe between oxford and cambridge since labour's landslide general election victory last summer. live to heathrow and our business correspondent, theo leggett. much excitement no doubt at but it is heathrow but it is fair to say have been here before, isn't we have been here before, isn't it? �* . ., m story time and time again over the gast this the past 20 years. but this time it does that rachel is going gizfe is going gise the =e -: 7 f7irm backing government's firm backing towards a third runway at = -: heathrow and the opposition also favour it which means'it sh'eutd at least momentum. but which means'it should at least momentum. but the getsememementbm; but the is is getsemememehtbm; but the is is something getsemememehtbm; but the is is is something getsemememehtbm; but the is going is something getsemememehtbm; but the is going to is something getsemememehtbm; but the is going to take nething getsemememehtbm; but the is going to take time. 1g is7 a planning is a planning process = -:7: — -7 77 = _77: has to b

create a european silicon valley valley by developing a so—called growth corridor between oxford and cambridgebut the chancellor acknowledged the plans to grow the economy will not come without a fight. sir keir starmer was challenged over the government's plans for growth at prime minister's questions. tory leader kemi badenoch mainly focused on the employment rights bill, repeatedly asking if it would be dropped because it fails his tests for delivering growth. she also accused the keir of misleading the house. >> it is business that creates growth. our economy is built by entrepreneurs, risk takers and the hard graft of working people. they know that you can't tax your way to growth, you can't borrow your way to growth, you can't legislate your way to growth. other countries are serious about freeing business from red tape. president trump is doing it in america. argentina is taking a chainsaw to regulations. even the eu is not going as far as this left wing government. this bill will put us at the bottom of the pack, added to the jobs tax, the family business tax. it's no wonder wealth cre

create a european silicon valley valley by developing a so—called growth corridor between oxford and cambridget the chancellor acknowledged the plans to grow the economy will not come without a fight. sir keir starmer was challenged over the government's plans for growth at prime minister's questions. tory leader kemi badenoch mainly focused on the employment rights bill, repeatedly asking if it would be dropped because it fails his tests for delivering growth. she also accused the keir of misleading the house. >> it is business that creates growth. our economy is built by entrepreneurs, risk takers and the hard graft of working people. they know that you can't tax your way to growth, you can't borrow your way to growth, you can't legislate your way to growth. other countries are serious about freeing business from red tape. president trump is doing it in america. argentina is taking a chainsaw to regulations. even the eu is not going as far as this left wing government. this bill will put us at the bottom of the pack, added to the jobs tax, the family business tax. it's no wonder wealth creat

plans to create a european silicon valley by developing a so—called growth corridor between oxford and cambridget the chancellor acknowledged the plans to grow the economy will not come without a fight. >> i have always been clear that a third runway at heathrow would unlock further growth, boost investments, increase exports and make the uk more open and more connected. and now the case is stronger than ever. so i can confirm today that this government supports a third runway at heathrow and is inviting proposals to be brought forward by the summer. >> now, sir keir starmer was challenged over the government's plans for growth at prime minister's questions this morning. kemi badenoch mainly focused on the employment rights bill, repeatedly asking if it would be dropped because it fails his test for delivering economic growth. the prime minister, in a reference to liz truss, warned miss badenoch that she would become the next lettuce, claiming the conservatives left the economy in a mess. she accused sir keir of being anti—growth and of misleading the house. >> last week he misled. last week he

plans to create a european silicon valley by developing a so—called growth corridor between oxford and cambridgebut the chancellor acknowledged the plans to grow the economy will not come without a fight. >> i have always been clear that a third runway at heathrow would unlock further growth, boost investments, increase exports and make the uk more open and more connected. and now the case is stronger than ever. so i can confirm today that this government supports a third runway at heathrow and is inviting proposals to be brought forward by the summer. >> however, deputy leader of the liberal democrats, daisy cooper, says the government are undermining growth. >> the government has got a blinkered approach to europe, which is holding back british businesses and undermining growth at the moment. if the government was serious about turbocharging growth in the economy, they would start with a commitment to renegotiate our trading deal with the eu this year and make sure that a bespoke customs union that works for british business is right at its heart. >> sir keir starmer was challenged over the go

plans to create a european silicon valley by developing a so—called growth corridor between oxford and cambridget the chancellor acknowledged the plans to grow the economy will not come without a fight. sir keir starmer was challenged over the government's plans for growth at prime minister's questions this morning. tory leader kemi badenoch mainly focused on the employment rights bill, repeatedly asking if it would be dropped because it fails his test for delivering growth. she also accused the care of misleading the house. >> it is business that creates growth. our economy is built by entrepreneurs, risk takers and the hard graft of working people. they know that you can't tax your way to growth, you can't borrow your way to growth, you can't legislate your way to growth. other countries are serious about freeing business from red tape. president trump is doing it in america. argentina is taking a chainsaw to regulations. even the eu is not going as far as this left wing government. this bill will put us at the bottom of the pack, added to the jobs tax, the family business tax. it's no wonder

cross—party places, we will use whatever means we can to challenge steam from the global brands of oxford and cambridgers are the ideas. these cities are home to two of the best universities science and technology. and stop worrying about bats and newts, she said. building stuff will be easier. her political opponents said... ——ducks the fundamental question, which is what is this on this watch and it ramped up the taxes it said it wouldn't and going for expansion will add very little in terms of national growth which will be sometime —— and the east. when will we see planes in the sky and what happens if it doesn't work? all around the world. to build a more secure and resilient economy and these investments, and cracking on with them and that is why it is different this time. for millions of pensioners. and more arguments beckon on plans they have set out today. it the promise the election it was the promise in the election that this would be their number one focus. what's happened is growth is it's happened is grpwth is it's helping flatlined. it's helping elsewhere as well but having that :’* 2 the

. >> the cambridge oxford kind of rail link etc.f those things are good and they need to be agreed and i'm broadly in favour of them be agreed and i