simon stephens talking to hugh pym. let's talk to jonathan ashworth at westminster.provide the range of nhs services? no, what we are seeing is quite appalling. it will mean many elderly people waiting in discomfort, waiting in pain for hip replacements, knee replacements, ca ta ra ct replacements, knee replacements, cataract operations. operations of that order. it is a direct consequence of the financial squeeze being imposed on the nhs by this conservative government. i have no criticism of nhs bosses like simon stephens, they are faced with huge dilemmas. but dying have huge amount of criticism of the government. if they give the nhs is the money it needs, and if they have not broken that promise on nhs funding, we wouldn't be in this situation. where wouldn't be in this situation. where would labour find the wouldn't be in this situation. where would labourfind the money wouldn't be in this situation. where would labour find the money from? being in government is a matter of choices. it has given away tax cuts for the rich, inheritance tax cuts, iam saying, for

simon stephens. doesn't boil down to money?t does and when asked about the money simon stephens does not want to answer the question. he said with the money i have got this is what we can do. we can doa have got this is what we can do. we can do a lot but things like waiting lists will have to expand. he got into an argument with the government by suggesting he did not have the money he asked for so he has consciously decided not to set to play to ask for more funding but to say this is what i can do with the money you offered and leave others to make the case for more funding perhaps. in the last few minutes a letter has been formally sent to downing street requesting an independence referendum for scotland. in it, she reiterates her call for a vote within the next two years. the prime minister has already said it won't happen before brexit is complete. our scotland correspondent james shaw is in edinburgh. tell us more about this letter. in her letter the first minister nicola sturgeon says there is no rational reason why the

later this week. —— nhs england, simon stephens.ent is expected to back nicola sturgeon‘s call for a second independence referendum, in a vote this afternoon. the vote had been due to take place at holyrood last wednesday, but was postponed because of the attack at westminster. the snp leader wants a referendum by the spring of 2019, but theresa may has rejected that timetable. the northern ireland secretary, james brokenshire, is to make a statement to mps today, on the continuing political stalemate at stormont. the democratic unionists and sinn fein have failed to strike a deal to resume power—sharing. let's talk to our northern ireland correspondent, chris page. is there likely to be any change today7 is there likely to be any change today? good morning. yes, while the northern ireland secretary ski—doo set out the ideas for what he calls the next apps to parliament. the political crisis in northern ireland, the worse than a decade, as deepened over the last 3a hours. yesterday was the deadline for the restoration of the devolve

the move will form part of a major strategy announcement by the head of nhs england, simon stephens,r attacker khalid masood has said she is "saddened and shocked" by the atrocity. in a statement released through the metropolitan police, rohey hydara said she totally condemns his actions. masood killed four people in an 82—second rampage last wednesday. meanwhile, the mp who tried to save the life of pc keith palmer outside parliament has been speaking about what happened. i would make it clear that i was one of many that stepped forward on that dark day and our thoughts and prayers remain with those families and friends of the victims, including our own pc keith palmer. a rape victim whose case led a judge to warn that women are more likely to be targeted when drunk has defended the comments, saying the judge was right. megan clark was raped by a man during a night out in manchester. the trial sparked controversy after the judge said the drunken behaviour of some women was putting them at risk. in an exclusive interview, miss clark, who's waived her right to anonymity, told the vict

the move will form part of a major strategy announcement by the head of nhs england, simon stephens,o you think? is it a good idea? it is a good idea. asagpi it a good idea? it is a good idea. as a gp i have been saying this for a number of years. the cost of some of these medicines are significantly cheaper when you buy them over the counter, than they cost the state to dispense them. so, for example, a packet of pain killers might be 69p, a bottle of simple remedy for coughs and colds might be £1.20, yet to the state you may have to be paying continue times that amount once you factor in all the costs. and, to be honest, i think we are all in this together around saving money for the nhs and to me, as long as we discuss some fted issues around the edging, this is a very sensible way forward. people might be surprised to hear that sun scream, paracetamol, vase lynne, strepsils are amongst the sort of things prescribed.|j lynne, strepsils are amongst the sort of things prescribed. i was surprised. i went into my pharmacist on the way here. i had no idea that strepsils could be availa

what is your reaction to what simon stephens has said?oes tackle theissues interesting plan and it does tackle the issues that the public have raised with us. one of the major things and the public continually tell health throughout the country asa tell health throughout the country as a mental health needs attention and we need to have a greater responsive service for people with mental health problems and that is covered in the plan. people also talk a lot about the access to gps, timely appointments and that is also covered in the plan. social care has actually become a higher concern for the public in recent years and there is some attention to that as well. so it's a balance of different solutions. if people see the significant concerns being addressed, do you think they will then be able to tolerate, if you like, the concept of having to wait a little longer for the routine operations being talked about? nobody wants to have to wait, especially if you're in pain. and i'm sure on a case—by—case basis, people will have different react

that being said, i wonder with you feel in fact that simon stephens is being as outspoken as he can bes now reached a point where he says, i might not be happy with this, but this is the amount of money i have to work with and i have to make the nhs operates as best i can with what i have got and i have got to make choices, just as a few days ago we were all talking about not prescribing paracetamol and cold remedies as a prescription any more. he has to make decisions. what is the decision that was made to him openly claiming that there is no funding for the nhs and he changes his tune. why is that discussion not being hand? why are we not chasing the government to put the amount of money in that has been promised. we have a great rush to trigger article 50, but we have no rush to find the nhs. i would say it is a political decision and it is a poor choice. a trade off will not save the nhs. thank you for your time. google says it paid £361; million in corporation tax for the year from june 2016, on a turnover ofjust over £1 billion. that compares with £46 million is paid for the 18 m

the move will form part of a major strategy announcement by the head of nhs england, simon stephens, wife of the westminster attacker khalid masood has said she is saddened and shocked by the atrocity. in a statement released through the metropolitan police, rohey hydara said she totally condemns his actions. masood killed four people in an 82—second rampage last wednesday. meanwhile, the mp who tried to save the life of pc keith palmer outside parliament, foregin minister tobias ellwood, has been speaking about what happened. he called it a dark day. i would make it clear that i was one of many that stepped forward on that dark day and our thoughts and prayers remain with those families and friends of the victims, including our own pc keith palmer. let's get more on our top story this afternoon — the news that a royal marine jailed for killing an injured taliban fighter in afghanistan will be released within two weeks. alexander blackman‘s murder sentence was reduced to seven years for manslaughter. he's already served three and a half years. let's talk to the former army captain an

the move will form part of a major strategy announcement by the head of nhs england, simon stephens,bc news. the scottish parliament is expected to back nicola sturgeon‘s call for a second independence referendum, in a vote this afternoon. the vote had been due to take place at holyrood last wednesday, but was postponed because of the attack at westminster. the snp leader wants a referendum by the spring of 2019, but theresa may has rejected that timetable. tesco will pay a £129 million fine from the serious fraud office over false accounting. it stems from a statement by the supermarket in september 2014, that its profits had been overstated by £263 million. auditors found that the inflated figure was the result of including payments from suppliers, before the money was due. more must be done to address a sharp rise in the number of suicides among women prisoners in england, according to the prisons watchdog. self—inflicted deaths among female inmates almost doubled in the last year. the prisons and probation 0mbudsman says that reforms recommended a decade ago haven't materialised,

stephen bannon go by. we saw reince priebus enter the room as well, so you have to think we are good believe my getting close now. simon, let me ask about this relationship with russia, that's a big one. angela merkel is known for her long, long history with vladimir putin. she has had a relationship with him over years. they've gotten together, they speak the same language literally, she has sat there and really understands him here she does not trust them, but she understands him. you have to think that has to be one of the main topics today. >> there is huge concern, as i said earlier, in europe about america changing its position on russia. there is a perception that we are appeasing russia, that the president has not condemned the ukrainian escalation that has taken place. he has not condemned russia now violating a very important nuclear treaty that is critical to the security of europe. there are many things he has not stepped up on that a traditional american president would have. he too believe i clearly has a different relation with russia than previous american presidents. europeans are very worried about th