Some people look to be even pre spinning, a member of the conservative campaign immediately behind me and some of the shadow cabinet are here. Weve already seen some prominent conservatives although not cabinet ministers but the main event will be the First Time Ever that the leader of the opposition and the Prime Minister are taking each other on in a head to head debate. Are taking each other on in a headtohead debate. What kind of format can we expect this evening . I fear that that one is not going to be and sit in the next few minutes but we will try to get our communication sorted in time for the sort of that debate on itv at eight oclock. Stay with us throughout the evening including of course for the paper reviews later this evening and joining meat will be lord digby jones who is the former trade minister and always opinionated and don foster of the guardian. Before that time for sportsday. Hello, im olly foster, heres whats coming up on sportsday. Its a big night for bale and
Eve ryo ne brought up. But i think individually everyone wanted to play for england and the fact that we had that would good group of lads, on the Academy Choice we had sam and ollie purpose well. So some talented boys around. Ollie well. So some talented boys around. Ollie pope. Football agent Scott Mcgarvey has been speaking to the bbc about the Daily Telegraph sting operation that saw his client Sam Allardyce sacked as england manager in 2016 afterjust 67 days in charge. He was secretly filmed offering ways of bypassing fa transfer rules. Garvey has been speaking to Richard Askam about the impact the incident had on his life and his relationship with allardyce the friendship you had was severely tarnished. It was for sure tarnished. It was for sure tarnished. Sam was in a bad way after that. I tried to speak to him after that. I tried to speak to him a few times 434 months. Then ijust had to accept that maybe he did not wa nt had to accept that maybe he did not want to speak to me a
Before all of that, lets get the news with Polly Middlehurst i nigel, thank you. Good nigel, thank you. Good evening. Well, the bank of england has left its Interest Rate unchanged at 5. 25. Our economics and Business Editor Liam Halligan has more. After 14 successive rate rises from 0. 1 at the end of 2001, all the way up to 5. 25, the bank of england has finally decided enough is enough and inflation is now coming down and theres no need for now, at least to raise rates any more. This will be a huge relief to young families with variable rate mortgages. It will be a huge relief to companies with variable rate loans. It will be a huge relief to many consumers. Savers across the country who Liam Halligan there . Well, the shadow chancellor, rachel reeves, said despite the banks decision , britain is banks decision, britain is worse off under the conservatives. Conservatives. I think there will be a sense of relief, particularly for those who are coming up to the end of their mortgage d
The eu. What do you make to that . And from attitudes to gay sex and single parent thing to views on abortion and the role of women in the home . Britain is now more liberal than ever. Yes, thatis now more liberal than ever. Yes, that is good news. But is it always a good thing . Is Society Better for you . Tell me. Well have it to all come and more. But before we get into it, lets grab tonights latest headlines. Michelle thank you. Good evening. Well, as youve been hearing, the bank of england has left its Interest Rate unchanged at 5. 25. Our economics and Business Editor Liam Halligan has more. Were a couple of hours on now, but at 12 noon today, the bank of england behind me, their Monetary Policy committee, did make the really important decision Interest Rates decision to hold Interest Rates at 5. 25. Finally, finally , at 5. 25. Finally, finally, finally, after 14 successive rate rises from 0. 1 at the end of 2001, all the way up to 5. 25, the bank of england has finally decided
Conservatives. Conservatives. I think there will be a sense of relief, particularly for those who are coming up to the end of their mortgage deals. But lets look at where we are in the Bigger Picture because somebody coming up to remove mortgage their house today is looking at paying £220 more a month than they would have done if they had a remortgaged a year ago. So this is still a very challenging time for families and businesses with the cost of living crisis, which continues to bite. Well borrowers may start to feel the benefits of the bank of englands announcement shortly after it was made nationwide said it will be cutting the majority of its fixed rate mortgages. Fixed rate mortgages. The countrys biggest Building Society , saying theyll Building Society, saying theyll now offer five and ten year fixed rate mortgages of below 5 for First Time Buyers and home movers is away from the economy , the Prime Minister says hard pressed families shouldnt have to pay an unaffordable pric