— swinney.emely important that we hear— think it is extremely important that we hear one another.— we hear one another. presiding officer, we hear one another. presiding officer. let _ we hear one another. presiding officer, let me _ we hear one another. presiding officer, let me reiterate - we hear one another. presiding officer, let me reiterate what l we hear one another. presiding officer, let me reiterate what i | officer, let me reiterate what i have said to you privately, that at no stage has anybody been authorised to disclose any information that is contained within the budget statement, on my behalf at any time. there is inevitably... there is inevitably a large number of people that have to be involved in the preparation of a government statement, from the many officials that are involved, but across a whole range of different organisations, but i give you my categorical assurance as a member of this parliament, since its foundation, in 1999, that no individual was authorised on my be

mr swinney. within the powers available to us, we will choose a different path. kingdom government. we choose the path where people are asked to pay their fair share in the knowledge that in so doing, they help create the fairer society in which we all want to live. in the interests, thank you. the budget had begun badly, delayed by a row about a leak to the bbc. excuse me! 0pposition parties were furious about that and they didn�*t seem to love the budget either. labour said voters would not accept tax rises if public services declined. the conservatives made the same point. if you widen the tax gap for middle and higher earners in scotland, in comparison with their uk counterparts, you risk undermining the potential for economic growth that this country so desperately needs. so, scotland is moving further away from the rest of the uk, setting its own tax rates, striking its own pay deals. this is devolution in action, but a string of recent polls suggest the majority of voters here want to go even further and become fully independent. already this statement is

scotland's deputy first minister, john swinney, has been unveiling scotland's budget, although therege has anybody been authorised on my behalf to brief information.— information. members, it is extremely _ information. members, it is extremely important - information. members, it is extremely important that i information. members, it is | extremely important that we information. members, it is- extremely important that we hear information. members, it is _ extremely important that we hear one another9 _ extremely important that we hear one another. let— extremely important that we hear one another. 9, extremely important that we hear one another. . . another. let me reiterate what i have said to _ another. let me reiterate what i have said to you _ another. let me reiterate what i have said to you privately, i another. let me reiterate what i have said to you privately, that l another. let me reiterate what i l have said to you privately, that at no stage has anybody been authorised to disclose any information that is contained within the budget statement on my behalf at any time. t

as was announced by the chancellor in his autumn statement and the bbc also understands thatjohn swinney3,000 41p to 42p in the pound, for everyone who earns over £43,000 here in scotland. i think these changes will be welcomed by unions and antipoverty campaigners, some business groups and the scottish conservatives may have concerns it will hamper economic recovery. lama will hamper economic recovery. lorna gordon, will hamper economic recovery. lorna gordon. thank— will hamper economic recovery. lorna gordon, thank you. _ boris becker has been freed from prison after serving just eight months of his sentence, and now faces deportation from the uk as he does not have british citizenship. the three—times wimbledon champion, who is german, was jailed in april for two—and—a—half years for hiding assets and loans in order to avoid paying debts. the former world number one and bbc commentator was declared bankrupt in 2017, owing nearly £50 million. the death toll following an explosion at a block of flats in jersey on saturday has risen to nine. the police chief says there is not now anyone

amanda swinney title that -- senator warnock voted to let that happen. >> afraid to stand out for hurts like that on anti-trans legislation across this country that inspired a record number of trans candidates to run and win in 2022 among them 34-year-old zoe zephyr. the first openly trans women elected to the montana state legislature and zoe is joining me now. congratulations, zoe, how incredible is that? what a win to pull through especially in a state like montana. i know you have a lot of work ahead, girl. let's talk through some of it, right? montana, one of the many states of course that has a handful of anti-trans bills in the last year, including a ban on trans women. i want to make sure i get this right. participating in women sports and the banning trans people from a bay neighbor certificates. you wants testified against these very bills and now you will have the power and the opportunity to change them. what work do you think you realistically can get done? >> so, there is a lot to be done about the anti-lgbtq bills that passed. thankfully, the birth certificate bill has a

i guess the question is, how bad will that squeeze be and what canjohn swinney do about it? the higher rate of tax, 41% in scotland and kicks in atjust under £44,000. with a look at changing upfor under £44,000. with a look at changing up for the next financial year to raise more money as well? the ftc has said it would like to see increases in tax rates while the conservatives are amongst those warning against further tax divergence from the rest of the uk. thank you. it's 7:27am. we are going to speak to the health minister in a few moments. time now to get the news, travel and weather where you are. hello, good morning. this is bbc london. i'm frankie mccamley. nurses in london will go on strike today — alongside colleagues from across england, wales and northern ireland in the royal college of nursing's biggest walkout in its 106 year history. nurses from four of the capital's health trusts are striking. the dispute is over pay. emergency care will still be provided, but general patients could be affected. health care professionals during times of emergency will prioriti

i'm joined now by scotland's deputy first minister, john swinney.und right to you? yes. salary elsewhere in the uk, does that sound right to you? yes, that is the right — that sound right to you? yes, that is the right order. _ that sound right to you? yes, that is the right order. the _ that sound right to you? yes, that is the right order. the reason - that sound right to you? yes, that is the right order. the reason we i is the right order. the reason we have taken this decision is to make sure we are able to raise the funds necessary to invest in public services at such a critical time, given the turbulence we face, the levels of inflation we are wrestling with and the huge damage that has been done to public finances by the kwasi kwarteng budget in september and all the implications that has. we have asked people on higher incomes to pay slightly more in taxation as part of proposals for next year. also to invest in the national health service.- national health service. your manifesto — national health service. your manifesto pledge _ national