sunak was very much behind _ remember rishi sunak was very much behind the _ remember rishi sunak wasd, but our summer of fun— which we all enjoyed, but our summer of fun definitely contributed to where — of fun definitely contributed to where we are now, so i think it is like a _ where we are now, so i think it is like a bit — where we are now, so i think it is like a bit self— where we are now, so i think it is like a bit self destructive to keep opening — like a bit self destructive to keep opening things up a wee bit and then the cases— opening things up a wee bit and then the cases arise. we're almost there. we have _ the cases arise. we're almost there. we have the — the cases arise. we're almost there. we have the vaccines. things are going _ we have the vaccines. things are going really well with those. why blow it _ going really well with those. why blow it now? why not wait, do the due diligence in the in the economy can hopefully bloomington? go ahead. i was can hopefully bloomington? go ahead. iwas auoin can hopefully bloomington? go ahead. l was going to — can hopefully b

but rishi we've seen from this chancellor. rishi sunak we've seen from this chancellor. plan. i rishi sunak said that was not his lan. ., �* . ., , rishi sunak said that was not his ian. j , ., , plan. i don't recognise that. given the shock we _ plan. i don't recognise that. given the shock we have _ plan. i don't recognise that. given the shock we have had _ plan. i don't recognise that. given the shock we have had over- plan. i don't recognise that. given the shock we have had over the i plan. i don't recognise that. given i the shock we have had over the last year and the economic uncertainty we face, it would be brave for people to know exactly what was going to happen in three years.— to know exactly what was going to happen in three years. labour says the government _ happen in three years. labour says the government handling - happen in three years. labour says the government handling of- happen in three years. labour says the government handling of the i the government handling of the pandemic and the timing of lockdown contributed to having the severe —— this c

that is the challenge as rishi sunak has set| the challenge as rishi sunak has set it out himself. 0nee things he can do now or later on to redress that balance and bring down debt, tax rises is the only major one that he has at his disposal. a couple of things which have been talked about but speculatively, not confirmed by the treasury at all, arise in corporation tax and possibly the chancellor could freeze the income tax thresholds. so not actually putting up the rate of tax but it would mean more people pay the higher rate and brought into the income tax bracket as a whole overtime as their pay goes up. we'll have to wait and see what the chancellor says on wednesday about those tricky decisions and of course lots of conservative mps are lobbying him not to raise taxes now. in the aftermath of the pandemic many people say that is the last thing the economy needs. we've also been hearing — thing the economy needs. we've also been hearing from _ thing the economy needs. we've also been hearing from the _ thing the economy needs. we've also been hearing from the labour- thing the eco

it rishi sunak plots a raid on parcels and freelance workers.— rishi sunak plots a raid on parcels and feels very random. you _ and freelance workers. it feels very random. you pick — and freelance workers. it feels very random, you pick two _ and freelance workers. it feels very random, you pick two things - and freelance workers. it feels very random, you pick two things out. and freelance workers. it feels very random, you pick two things out of| random, you pick two things out of our long _ random, you pick two things out of our long list — random, you pick two things out of our long list of things to tax, focusing _ our long list of things to tax, focusing on parcels and self—employed people. it doesn't seem _ self—employed people. it doesn't seem terribly good politics to mean a couple _ seem terribly good politics to mean a couple of — seem terribly good politics to mean a couple of fronts. he has apparently decided against the windfall tax on the big internet delivery— windfall tax on the big internet delivery companies like amazon and instead _ delivery companies like amazon a

rishi sunak said that was _ have seen from the chancellor. rishi sunak said that was not his plan. going to happen in three years. labour says the government's handing of the pandemic and the timing of lockdowns contributed to this country and the downturn of any major economy and raising taxes now could choke off any recovery. rishi sunak is concerned about the enormous amount of borrowing and it is important for a conservative government to be seen to be acting responsibly. i government to be seen to be acting responsihly-— responsibly. i think certain financial— responsibly. i think certain financial spending - responsibly. i think certain financial spending needs i responsibly. i think certain | financial spending needs to responsibly. i think certain i financial spending needs to be prioritised to certain industries. more than raising taxes and paying it off? raise taxes to certain people. i know there is definitely some friends in some industries, consultancy, they are sitting at home raking it in. this consultancy, they are sitting at home raking it in.— consultancy, they ar

the sunday telegraph says rishi sunak plots a| telegraph says rishi sunak plots a tax rate on parcelsries when people have not been able to get out. but a lot of self—employed people also say, we've hardly been supported through all of this. . , , we've hardly been supported through all ofthis. . , , ., v we've hardly been supported through allofthis. . , , ., �*, ., all of this. precisely, that's what i mean about — all of this. precisely, that's what i mean about giving _ all of this. precisely, that's what i mean about giving with - all of this. precisely, that's what i mean about giving with one - all of this. precisely, that's what i i mean about giving with one hand and taking — i mean about giving with one hand and taking with the other and many, many— and taking with the other and many, many hairdressers for instance are self—employed, as our taxi drivers and delivery drivers, so the people who actually are going to benefit on one way— who actually are going to benefit on one way or— who actually are going to benefit on one way or their businesses might are going — one way or

now this story is saying that rishi sunak, the chancellor, fears advisers _ rishi sunak, the chancellorre moving the goal posts. particularly this concern, an ally of mr_ particularly this concern, an ally of mr sue — particularly this concern, an ally of mr sue neck is saying that as far as he's— of mr sue neck is saying that as far as he's concerned, the idea of the lock on— as he's concerned, the idea of the lock on was— as he's concerned, the idea of the lock on was to protect the nhs and stop the _ lock on was to protect the nhs and stop the rising numbers of people and nhs — stop the rising numbers of people and nhs beds. but according to allies— and nhs beds. but according to allies of— and nhs beds. but according to allies of mr at rishi sunak, it's about— allies of mr at rishi sunak, it's about keeping cases down and being covid-i9 _ about keeping cases down and being covid—19 free. according to rishi sunak. _ covid—19 free. according to rishi sunak, that's not the deal, that's moving _ sunak, that's not the deal, that's moving the — sunak, that's not the deal, that's moving th

briefly, is rishi sunak _ permanent spending. briefly, is rishi sunak winning _ permanent spending.efly, is rishi sunak winning arguments| permanent spending. briefly, is - rishi sunak winning arguments and governments these days? in fairness to him, governments these days? in fairness to him. he's — governments these days? in fairness to him, he's having _ governments these days? in fairness to him, he's having to _ governments these days? in fairness to him, he's having to be _ governments these days? in fairness to him, he's having to be very - governments these days? in fairness to him, he's having to be very noble | to him, he's having to be very noble on his_ to him, he's having to be very noble on his feet _ to him, he's having to be very noble on his feet because the picture keeps — on his feet because the picture keeps changing all the time. even now we _ keeps changing all the time. even now we don't know how quickly the economy— now we don't know how quickly the economy will unlock this spring and summer. _ economy will unlock this spring and summer, and even whether it w

i rishi sunak is right. it's got to be faced up te— rishi sunak is right.to. i think the difference between the _ faced up to. i think the difference between the financial _ faced up to. i think the difference between the financial crisis - faced up to. i think the difference between the financial crisis and l between the financial crisis and todayis between the financial crisis and today is not only are interest rates much lower than they were then, the critically, the bank of england has stepped up and is essentially underwriting about half of government borrowing, so it is just not true, and most commentators concede the stomach is that right, is that a good position for the bank of england to be in, to own half the government because my guilt? well, that's the decision if taken, we have seen that with other countries, i think the central bank has recognised that we were and in an unprecedented moment, and there was needed to be monetary policy coordinated with fiscal policy. the key thing is, at some point there will be tax rises, it is right that we sh

a warning nevertheless from rishi sunak. the dilemma is l from rishi sunak.y, look, covid—19 changed everything, we made changes that no one can expect this to keep in the changed circumstances. even if he had said that, the prime minister has said there is no return to austerity. that means rolling out big spending cuts? tax rises are the only few have the options left. if we can't cut the spending, it has got to be taxation at some point. yes, it does have to be. as you say. there are only a few ways in which the chancellor can raise money, he can either borrow it or put up taxes. he has clearly borrowed much money and is uncomfortable with that amount of debt. you will have to look at raising taxes at some point. he may not do it all in this budget, he almost certainly will not, but the longer he leaves it of course, the longer he leaves it of course, the closer we get to the next election for the 2024 calendar. and which conservative mp would want to answer on the doorstep for big tax rises in the to that? is a very tricky balancing act that he has to do.

the to hear from rishi sunak for an economy injection.— to hear from rishi sunak for an economy injectioneconomy injection. the daily mail are looking forward to _ economy injection. the daily mail are looking forward to what - economy injection. the daily mail are looking forward to what it - are looking forward to what it predicts will be a big economic fiscal stimulus. maybe even stretching to things like high street vouchers for shoppers to reducing levels of alcohol duty for hard—pressed pubs who've also obviously been closed. it's thinking along the right lines. it's been an incredibly, incredibly unprecedentedly tough time for the economy over the last 12 months, and it absolutely is in need of a fiscal stimulus. and i think that is definitely something we can expect to see. it's interesting because the daily mail are focusing very much on that side of things, the stimulus, whereas on the front of other papers, we got the debate that is playing out around tax. interestingly, the other papers have got the story that the chancellor �*s thinking about increasing corporation taxes. tha

briefly, is rishi sunak _ permanent spending. briefly, is rishi sunak winning _ permanent spending.

rishi sunak knows that, i_ government debt. rishi sunak knows that, ithink— government debt.this — that in some of the interviews that he did this morning. so all the way through— he did this morning. so all the way through this, people have been saying — through this, people have been saying that governments can borrow cheaply _ saying that governments can borrow cheaply. but they haven't been able to -- _ cheaply. but they haven't been able to -- have — cheaply. but they haven't been able to —— have been able to borrow cheaply, — to —— have been able to borrow cheaply, but in the last few weeks, notjust_ cheaply, but in the last few weeks, notjust for— cheaply, but in the last few weeks, notjust for the uk by cheaply, but in the last few weeks, not just for the uk by other governments too, the markets are starting _ governments too, the markets are starting to — governments too, the markets are starting to push the price of government debt back up again. and that“— government debt back up again. and that'ii cost _ government debt back up again. and that'll cost all of us. n

yes, he has, but let's not forget it was rishi _ he has, but let's not forget it was rishi sunak— het save the economy scheme, that led _ eat out save the economy scheme, that led to — eat out save the economy scheme, that led to a — eat out save the economy scheme, that led to a peak of infections. and this — that led to a peak of infections. and this is _ that led to a peak of infections. and this is what i mean. there is of course _ and this is what i mean. there is of course everybody wanting the economy released. _ course everybody wanting the economy released, but if it leads to more infections — released, but if it leads to more infections and more problems, then the economy itself will not be able to recover — the economy itself will not be able to recover. it's very, very important _ to recover. it's very, very important that things are done carefully— important that things are done carefully and notjust because, you know, _ carefully and notjust because, you know, that's what chancellors of the tory partv _ know, that's what chancellors of the tory party like to do which is

i think rishi sunak and others will try to _ i think rishi sunak and others will try to make the sameort of noises, but will they back it up with policy? _ but will they back it up with policy? we've got a budget coming up soon and _ policy? we've got a budget coming up soon and we _ policy? we've got a budget coming up soon and we will see then. i think this is— soon and we will see then. i think this is a _ soon and we will see then. i think this is a start. i don't think he's this is a start. idon't think he's really— this is a start. i don't think he's really done _ this is a start. i don't think he's really done enough yet to differentiate himself and to lay out a platform but this is a start of something. he will really need to follow-up— something. he will really need to follow—up strongly. something. he will really need to follow-up strongly.— follow-up strongly. interesting notes to enter _ follow-up strongly. interesting notes to enter a _ follow-up strongly. interesting notes to enter a paper - follow-up strongly. interesting notes to enter a paper review i follow-up strong

but a warning nevertheless from rishi sunak. jonathan blake.ave launched a campaign to reassure parents it's safe for children to return to the classroom. the back—to—school adverts will highlight extra measures, such as coronavirus testing and masks, being introduced ahead of schools reopening fully on march the 8th in england. 0ur correspondent, jon donnison, has the details. these are some of the reasons the government in england think it's important to get young people back to school. teachers unions, though, are urging caution. our view is that it is the right time to go back into school. we would have had a phased return because that is what we see in wales, in northern ireland and in scotland. we haven't really seen the evidence for why it is so different in england. 0n the other hand, this is all about managing risks. and the risks of children not being in school are very significant as well. so, yes, it is the right time. but let's be realistic and recognise that it must be done with a real sense of honesty and of caution. and the unio

addressing the challenges is perhaps the hardest of the challenges facing rishi sunak himself.t to address the balance and reduce the debt in the longer term, he needs to raise money and he can do that, if he doesn't want to borrow any more, through raising taxes, something conservative mps are keen for him not to do at this point, many of them at least. a couple of the possible measures which have been mooted is a potential rise in corporation tax, which companies pay on their profits. and also freezing the threshold rates for income tax, so not actually the rate of tax itself but the amount of money at which people have to earn before they start paying a certain level of income tax and that will raise a lot of money for the treasury. but all of that dismissed as speculation at this point. so we will have to wait to see what the chancellor says on wednesday. jonathan blake, our political correspondent. stay with us, i will be back with a full bulletin in just a few moments time. good afternoon. the chancellor rishi sunak says people should be reassured by his plans in this wee

rishi sunak being urged to been the rises.— rises.uld read, they don't disagree with each other. one | don't disagree with each other. one is saying don't cut taxes. and you have on the mail front page saying it's not cutting taxes. these are the measures, extending stamp duty down to 5% for three months more. the rest of it, i think you'd be hard—pressed to argue this is stimulus. i think this should be put it into the category instead of support. this is along the lines of business rates holidays. this is support while the pandemic is still going. stimulus is what you do when the pandemic gives the economy a massive ingestion. —— injection. joe biden is passing a 1.3 trillion stimulus package. to compare these moderate levels of government support, i don't think you can call that stimulus.— support, i don't think you can call that stimulus. we're talking about lookin: that stimulus. we're talking about looking ahead _ that stimulus. we're talking about looking ahead until— that stimulus. we're talking about looking ahead until hopef

rishi _ to ease the cladding crisis. this is good news. rishi sunak_ to ease the cladding crisis.. we have read too many stories about profit companies taking short cuts, deliberately turning a blind eye to possible problems up ahead and i think ultimately relying on the government to bail them out when things go wrong. i know people who can't sell their homes because they are bought in flats that turn out to be technically dangerous and i think it's great that £5 billion of that is enough is great but at the end of the day, i hope that covid will have taught this government and all of us that we need to hold the feet to the fire of those people who actually do wrong instead of constantly covering up wrong instead of constantly covering up for them and bailing them out. and it's that little thing we have just been talking about amazon and it is i was the little people who pay the taxes as well as supporting those companies by buying their products and then cushioning them by paying the tax that they should be playing and i think if we have learned nothing else we have learned that

so the group and the greatest of respect to rishi sunak_ and the greatest of respect to rishi sunak ofand the greatest of respect to rishi sunak of the treasury, the treasury should _ sunak of the treasury, the treasury should not— sunak of the treasury, the treasury should not be guiding this. it should — should not be guiding this. it should be the department of health and the _ should be the department of health and the scientific offices. let�*s and the scientific offices. let's talk about _ and the scientific offices. let's talk about the _ and the scientific offices. let's talk about the guardian - and the scientific offices. let's talk about the guardian front l and the scientific offices. let�*s talk about the guardian front page. really interesting. talking about the dangers to front—line staff and basically a study that found that coughing to my pretty unsurprising really coughing generates at least ten times more infectious aerosol particles then speaking or breathing. interesting point in this article was that health workers and general wars has doubled the infection rate o

but a warning nevertheless from rishi sunak. i warning nevertheless from rishi sunak. , , , sunak. sunak. i suppose the delivery is compounded, notwithstanding, | sunak. i suppose the delivery is - compounded, notwithstanding, covid has changed everything, so we made promises that no one can expect us to keep in the current circumstances, but even if he doesn't do that, the prime minister has had no return to austerity, if that means ruling out the big spending cuts, then tax rises are really all of the few options you've got left, really. 0nce really all of the few options you've got left, really. once you have borrowed, it has got to be taxation at some point and in some way. yes. at some point and in some way. yes, it does have — at some point and in some way. yes, it does have to _ at some point and in some way. yes, it does have to be. _ at some point and in some way. yes, it does have to be. as _ at some point and in some way. yes, it does have to be. as you _ at some point and in some way. yes it does have to be. as you say, there are only a couple of ways in which the chanc

sunak. i nevertheless from rishi sunak.nged everything, so that they made promises that nobody can expect them to keep in the circumstances, but the premise has no return to austerity. does that mean having ruled out big spending cuts? 0nce ruled out big spending cuts? once you borrow, the cut of spending, it has got to beat taxation at some point and in some way.— has got to beat taxation at some point and in some way. yes, it does have to be. — point and in some way. yes, it does have to be. as _ point and in some way. yes, it does have to be, as you _ point and in some way. yes, it does have to be, as you say, _ point and in some way. yes, it does have to be, as you say, there - point and in some way. yes, it does have to be, as you say, there are i have to be, as you say, there are only a couple of ways in which the chancellor can raise money, he can either borrow it all put taxes up. he has borrowed so much and he is clearly uncomfortable with that level of debt on the books, that he will have to look at raising taxes

in britain, the chancellor, rishi sunak, presents his budget next week.ssure from new conservative mps in the north, along with the labour party, for continued support through the pandemic and no tax rises. the hope is that economic growth and perhaps controlled inflation will do the trick. but what if it doesn't? could future low productivity, low investment or a rise in interest rates all pose dangerous risks, especially to jobs? simon, a big week ahead for the government — setting post—pandemic strategy and the first budget after brexit — what are you expecting? i think there are two main challenges. we are coming out of the worst slump in over 300 years, and we've moved from a protect and survive mode to a support mode and then a growth mode is what we need next. if there's one thing that is the most powerful weapon to bring down debt as a percentage of your economy it is growth. if you've got this debt to gdp relationship, one of the best ways to get that down is increase the denominator, gdp, keep that going. if you have that, then you can also keep

it wednesday with rishi sunak, also mentioned in the story.— wednesday with rishi sunak, also mentionede story. it 'ust says that in the budget h mentioned in the story. it 'ust says that in the budget coming- mentioned in the story. itjust says that in the budget coming up - mentioned in the story. itjust says that in the budget coming up on i that in the budget coming up on wednesday he is going to be talking about— wednesday he is going to be talking about the _ wednesday he is going to be talking about the economic benefits of the union _ about the economic benefits of the union and — about the economic benefits of the union and as he say i don't think it goes _ union and as he say i don't think it goes into— union and as he say i don't think it goes into more detail but it sounds like there's — goes into more detail but it sounds like there's going to be a sweetness in the _ like there's going to be a sweetness in the budget, clearly saving the union— in the budget, clearly saving the union is— in the budget, clearly saving the union is the next big political priority— union is the

the other problem you got to remember facing rishi sunak is he doesn't _ remember facing rishi sunakt comes to tax. the tory _ manoeuvre it when it comes to tax. the tory manifesto ruled that income tax rises _ the tory manifesto ruled that income tax rises so _ the tory manifesto ruled that income tax rises so he can't do that. we heard _ tax rises so he can't do that. we heard that — tax rises so he can't do that. we heard that there is going to be no vat rise — heard that there is going to be no vat rise. really can't at the moment contemplate a vat rise because the economy— contemplate a vat rise because the economy can't cope with it. again tory— economy can't cope with it. again tory mps — economy can't cope with it. again tory mps really don't like that. your— tory mps really don't like that. your left — tory mps really don't like that. your left like something like this or corporation tax rises which is the other— or corporation tax rises which is the other one being talked about. we seen something about up to 25%. i don't _ seen something about up to 25%. i don't think— seen

what rishi sunak appears to be talking about— rishi sunak appears to be talking about is— rishi sunakting with a double whammy of tax. one would be in online _ whammy of tax. one would be in online sales tax is not what seems like a _ online sales tax is not what seems like a good — online sales tax is not what seems like a good idea anyway regardless of the _ like a good idea anyway regardless of the pandemic. and then the windfall— of the pandemic. and then the windfall tax. and excessive profit tax on _ windfall tax. and excessive profit tax on what they've made during the whole _ tax on what they've made during the whole covid crisis. if they carry this out— whole covid crisis. if they carry this out this would be brilliant. we are talking — this out this would be brilliant. we are talking about billions of pounds _ are talking about billions of pounds. it would help to plugged the black hole _ pounds. it would help to plugged the black hole that's been created and take a _ black hole that's been created and take a hit— black hole that's been created and take a bit of the burden o

but rishi sunak said that was not his plan. i don't recognise that.he shock we have had over the last year and the economic uncertainty we face, it would be brave for people to know exactly what was going to happen in three years. labour says the government handling of the pandemic and the timing of lockdowns contributed to having the severe, this country having the most severe lockdown. rishi sunak says it is important for a conservative government to be seen to be acting responsibly after an enormous amount of borrowing. —— and says it's important for —— i definitely important for -- feel financial spending - needs to be prioritised for some industries. more than raising taxes and paying the debt? maybe you could raise taxes with certain people? i know there are definitely some friends in certain industries, like consultancy, and they are sitting at home raking it in. it's a big hit to small businesses across the entire uk. giving them support enough to start again and weaning them off so they don't crash, because at the end of the day, with brexit

— very low pay, it will link into rishi sunak's budget which i think it's the _ rishi sunak's budgetthings he will do to support them, i do not think it talks about regions so i do not think it talks about regions so i do _ do not think it talks about regions so i do not — do not think it talks about regions so i do not know that, but some people's— so i do not know that, but some people's savings have booms and the stock market has gone up, there has been _ stock market has gone up, there has been a _ stock market has gone up, there has been a real— stock market has gone up, there has been a real threat about people who had 0k_ been a real threat about people who had ok and you have not.— had ok and you have not. these fiuures had ok and you have not. these figures are _ had ok and you have not. these figures are coming _ had ok and you have not. these figures are coming from - had ok and you have not. these figures are coming from the - had ok and you have not. these - figures are coming from the national institute of economic and social research as part of a channel for dispatches

but a warning nevertheless from rishi sunak.twithstanding, covid has changed everything, so we made promises that no one can expect us to keep in the current circumstances, but even if he doesn't do that, the prime minister has had no return to austerity, if that means ruling out the big spending cuts, then tax rises are really all of the few options you've got left, really. once you have borrowed, it has got to be taxation at some point and in some way. yes, it does have to be. as you say, there are only a couple of ways in which the chancellor can raise money, he can borrow it or put up taxes, as you pointed out. he's borrowed so much, and he is clearly uncomfortable with that level of debt on the books that he will have to look at raising taxes at some point. he might not do it all in this budget, almost certainly wants, ——he might not do it all in this budget, almost certainly won't, but the longer he leaves it, of course, the closer we get to the next election in the calendar for 2024, and which conservative mp would want t

here in the uk — the chancellor rishi sunak says he's committed to supporting businesses and helpingowest incomes, saying the public should feel assured ahead of wednesday's budget. labour has urged the government to keep the furlough scheme for as long as health restrictions remain in place. there are plans for a £5 billion grant scheme, to help pubs, restaurants, shops, and other businesses in england to re—open safely. our business correspondent, katie prescott, reports. the first signs of spring and with them hope of new beginnings for businesses as lockdown eases but it has not been an easy ride. despite government support, salons like this one still have rents and overheads. we can't do takeaway haircuts, we can't go into people's homes. there is no way a hair salon or beauty salon can pivot or make any income during these lockdowns so when we are shut, we are losing money every day. to help reopen their doors, the government is offering new one—off grants to businesses that have been forced to close by covid, replacing the current monthly grant scheme. non—essential retailers

rishi sunak was strong by opening up too soon last time and felt that he made a mistake.s been one of the ones pushing for a quicker easing of blackout. but is it actually contradictory to anything he said before. he�*s had a pretty comprehensive position all the way through. once the vaccine has been rolled out, once a top priority groups have been protected then there�*s quite a lot of wiggle room for easing restrictions. i think it�*s quite interesting how that�*s happening in the space of a few months was up on the whole yes, i would say these cabinets splits are sort of closing up. both cabinets and actually parliament has rallied around the prime minister. the part, thejet fling rallied around the prime minister. the part, the jet fling at guardian. the part, the jet fling at guardian. the jab at home to start covid becoming disease of the poor. yes this is quite _ becoming disease of the poor. yes this is quite concern among quite a few scientists will stop and government officials that they take up government officials that they take up rate _ government officials

rishi sunak is clearly concerned about the enormous amount of borrowing, and saysit�*s important foring responsibly. i definitely feel certain that financial spending needs to be prioritised for cetain industries still. more than raising taxes and paying off the debt? maybe you could raise taxes with certain people? i know there are definitely some friends working in certain industries, like you know, consultancy, and they are sitting at home raking it in. it's been a dramatic hit to small businesses across the entire uk. so giving them support enough to start again and then slowly weaning them off so they don't crash, because at the end of the day, with brexit and the pandemic, it's really important to get the economy back on track, going upwards. mr sunak, it's reported, may also freeze income tax thresholds, so over time more people are likely to find themselves paying at the higher rate. however it is done, sooner or later, the debt will have to be addressed. more than 20 million people in the uk have now had their first coronavirus jab. the news came as public health england sai

uk chancellor rishi sunak. the uk _ of february 22. uk chancellor rishi sunak.andemic, the biggest drop ever recorded. we have asked you to share your experiences about how you have been affected economically. to read out a few of the tweets you have sent to me. lindsay burns says driving instructors have been hit hard, she says it's a postcode lottery to get extra financial help. this tweet from anita, who says her travel business has been impacted and she has lost 95% of her income. no income for 11 months and i am living on hand—outs and savings. i am in a forgotten and excluded uk group. forgotten limited company and excluded uk groups. andy says they are a supply teacher and they are not being furloughed because of a national insurance contribution. finances are rock bottom. feeling worthless. teachers are far from worthless, and they are doing a really good job. if you are a supply teacher you might not be being called in as much as you may have been. i don't know the situation. this is from another viewer, after nearly 11 months of zero government support

a year ago, rishi sunak delivered his very first budget as chancellor.e then, he's had to borrow £270 billion — a record. we're setting up a new coronavirus job retention scheme... for now, this national debt is relatively cheap to pay back, but if interest rates rise, that will change. today, the chancellor said that's why, in his coming budget, he wants to talk about "levelling with people about the public finances and our plans to address them." adding, "all of us conservative mps are elected by the british people because they trust us to run the economy responsibly." labour says the government's overseen the worst downturn of any major economy, despite all the cash it's spent. now is not the time to withdraw support for hard—hit firms and families. the chancellor is preparing new measures. so, i'm supposed to pour this milk into the yogurt? farabi, who still lives at home with his family, could benefit from a new scheme in the budget to help home—buyers with small deposits get a mortgage. ajunior doctor in london, farabi hasn't been able to afford hi

a year ago, rishi sunak delivered his very first budget as chancellor.ecord. we're setting up a new coronavirus job retention scheme. for now, this national debt is relatively cheap to pay back, but if interest rates rise, that will change. today, the chancellor said... ..adding... labour says the government's overseen the worst downturn of any major economy, despite all the cash it's spent. now is not the time to withdraw support for hard—hit firms and families. the chancellor is preparing new measures. so i'm supposed to pour this milk into the yogurt? farabi, who still lives at home with his family, could benefit from a new scheme in the budget to help home—buyers with small deposits get a mortgage. ajunior doctor in london, he hasn't been able to afford his own place. on an nhs salary, i'm on the higher end for a doctor, people who are carers, people who are nurses, physios, etc, if you don't help the rest of us on low incomes, then you are stuck in a sticky situation for the rest of your life. and the chancellor is facing pressure on all sides. ther

rishi sunak will be honest on spending as he warned against tax rises.keep businesses supported through this obviously, terrible time. keeping workers supported. this message that eventually this will have to come to an end and the money has got to be found from somewhere to claw it back. i think they are trying to put this picture out there just to warn people that although there will be a spending package i think he's getting about 30 billion just to keep covid support, to keep things go untiljune when obviously we are expecting all things going well for the restrictions to be lifted. there is this kind of flip side that there will be pain as well at some point to find the money. two significant interventions won from david counterman and one from philip hammond. we don't hearfrom david cameron very often these days. he tries to keep on the down low. but he's been speaking to cnn to say he thinks any tax rises at this point would bejust thinks any tax rises at this point would be just wrong. thinks any tax rises at this point would bejust wrong. he thi

eat out— rishi sunak make meals half price, eat out to — rishi sunak make meals half price, eat outo i infections start to pick up again. so i think— infections start to pick up again. so i think it's an interesting mix from _ so i think it's an interesting mix from the — so i think it's an interesting mix from the public on this. it seems as if people _ from the public on this. it seems as if people want to prioritise education which makes complete sense, _ education which makes complete sense, it's — education which makes complete sense, it's worth saying of course nearing _ sense, it's worth saying of course nearing 120,000 people dead and nearing120,000 people dead and that's— nearing 120,000 people dead and that's a _ nearing 120,000 people dead and that's a huge toll. a lot of people out there — that's a huge toll. a lot of people out there will have lost loved ones and will _ out there will have lost loved ones and will be — out there will have lost loved ones and will be understandably wary about _ and will be understandably wary about going back to soon stop by ethically— a

the treasury says rishi sunak will be honest about the overdraft — new taxes on business to help payto reassure on wednesday — big changes impossible perhaps until the hardships gone. laura kuenssberg, bbc news. the first minister of scotland, nicola sturgeon, has vehemently denied allegations that she broke the ministerial code in the scottish government's investigation of sexual harassment claims against her predecessor, alex salmond. nicola sturgeon called the claims a dangerous and deluded conspiracy theory. in bitter exchanges at first minister's questions, she said scotland's institutions should not be sacrificed "on the altar of the ego of one man". alex salmond is due to appear before the inquiry tomorrow to give evidence. our special correspondent allan little reports now on how a bitter political and personal feud could threaten the scottish national party's ambitions for independence. together their friendship and formidable political partnership brought scotland close to independence. now, their enmity threatens the project they devoted their political lives to. this was

in britain, the chancellor, rishi sunak, presents his budget next week.ax rises. the hope is that economic growth and perhaps controlled inflation will do the trick. but what if it doesn't? could future low productivity, low investment or a rise in interest rates all pose dangerous risks especialy to jobs. simon, a big week ahead for the government — setting post pandemic strategy and the first budget after brexit — what are you expecting? i think there are two main challenges. we are coming out of the worst slump in over 300

addressing the challenges is perhaps the hardest of the challenges facing rishi sunak himself.ress the balance and reduce the debt in the longer term, he needs to raise money. and he needs to do that, if he doesn't want to borrow any more, through raising taxes. some mps are keen for him not to do that at this point. some of the possible measures that have been mooted is a possible rise in corporation tax, which companies pay on their profits, and also freezing the threshold rates for income tax. so not actually the rate of tax itself but the amount of money at which people have to earn before they start paying a certain level of income tax and that would raise a lot of money for the treasury. but all of that dismissed as speculation at this point, so we will have to wait and see what the chancellor says wednesday. but they are very sensitive moves. now, he has, it has been reported in some quarters, said to mps that he would rather raise taxes in the short term now and then be able to, closer to the election in 2024, be able to cut them again. but that was something which the

the sunday telegraph says rishi sunak is planning new taxes on online deliveries and the self—employedder to start paying for the £300 billion cost of dealing with the coronavirus pandemic. the independent says the public would back new taxes on the wealthy and big businesses in order to pay back the cost of the coronavirus support. the sunday times leads with rishi sunak�*s plans to raise income tax by £6 billion as he looks to find a way to plug the black hole in the nation's finances. it also has a photo of the sunshine most of the uk experienced today. more lead—up to the budget in the sunday express, which says the chancellor is promising "light at the end of the tunnel" as he reveals his plans to revive britain's pubs, restaurants and high street shops. the mail on sunday leads with the news thatjust one vaccine shot reduces the risk of being hospitalised by covid—19 by more than 90%. and the mirror says "his spirit will live on" as it headlines a photo from captain sir tom moore's funeral earlier today. so, let's begin. let's start with the mail on sunday. exclusive, single jab

chancellor rishi sunak said the move was to give companies "breathing space to get back on their feet time to relax for many, but at one school in derby, the pupils are working hard today. the foundation trust there has been awarded £84,000 from the government to run a saturday school for those teenagers who have fallen behind at home. sian lloyd has been hearing from some of the pupils taking part. i come to saturday school, because i want to improve my maths and english, to be a social worker. hi, my name is vanessa, i'm year 11, and i came into school on saturday . to catch up with my english lessons. empty benches and deserted classrooms. the new familiar, in these times. but, at the bemrose school in derby, they are opening up during lockdown. 0n saturdays, small numbers are invited into schools to catch up on classes missed last year. you can see the students who do have maybe access to devices at home, and those that don't have access to devices. what we are trying to do is make sure that gap doesn't widen, and i think being able to support students in different ways, and for t

with just days to go before rishi sunak�*s budget, the former chancellor phillip hammond has said theg with the pandemic had been the financial equivalent of "fighting a war". next week's budget will take place against the backdrop of the biggest contraction of the economy on record. our political editor laura kuenssberg reports. a lonely welder where dozens should be — a firm eking out a shrunken workload to keep going. covid's cost our health, but our country's finances too. and it's personal. staff are just stressed, depressed. there's just a real malaise setting in. since this third lockdown's kicked in, our sales have dropped quite considerably. we're probably 35—40% down from where we should be right now. we're the sort of company where we share the pain, so everyone has had to have their hours dropped. in this one county, more than 100,000 people are being paid temporarily by the taxpayer on furlough. nearly 70,000 people are out of work — doors closed, boats tied up. and there's another reason for hard times here. this oyster farm was told again and again they'd still be able

the chancellor rishi sunak says people should be reassured by his plans in this week's budget.aid he would continue to support families and businesses hit by coronavirus, but wanted to level with people that more challenging times could lie ahead as we emerge from the pandemic. he also announced a £5 billion grant scheme, to help pubs, restaurants, shops, and other businesses in england to re—open. here's our political correspondentjonathan blake. closed for business and struggling to survive, but some comfort for companies hit hard by the pandemic as the government offers £5 billion worth of grants part, the chancellor says, of his promise to do whatever it takes to keep the economy going. and ahead of the budget a signal that he'll keep spending to offer that support for now. my priority is to keep supporting british families, businesses and people through this crisis. i said at the beginning i would do whatever it took to do exactly that and i remain committed to that. borrow, borrow, borrow? the right thing to do right now is to support the economy, but i also want to level

rishi sunak's budget is coming out next week. this is bloomberg. ♪ ♪ when you switch to xfinity mobile, you're choosing to get connected to the most reliable network nationwide, now with 5g included. discover how to save up to $300 a year with shared data starting at $15 a month, or get the lowest price for one line of unlimited. come into your local xfinity store to make the most of your mobile experience. you can shop the latest phones, bring your own device, or trade in for extra savings. stop in or book an appointment to shop safely with peace of mind at your local xfinity store. alix: live from new york, i am alix steel with guy johnson in london. this is the european close on bloomberg markets. the chief economist warning ok inflation could accelerate more than expected. he warned central bankers not to be too relaxed about rising prices. >> the greater risk at present, given the balance, is not of central-bank conservatism but instead of central-bank complacency, which allowed the inflationary cap -- cat out of the bag. al