Eaters should be feeling guilty. And in sport this morning im going to keep it simple. Out of respect for mr holmes. City beat united. There we are. Well leave it there. The trouble at red. Meat eaters. They red. They were meat eaters. They were , werent they . I know were, werent they . Yes, i know they us. It was just a they had us. It was just a carcase of united left there on the pitch. But ill. I dont want it. Want it. Its pretty stupid. That flower right under chin its pretty stupid. That flowthat. Ht under chin its pretty stupid. That flowthat. Butnder chin its pretty stupid. That flowthat. But doer chin its pretty stupid. That flowthat. But do you chin its pretty stupid. That flowthat. But do you see 1in its pretty stupid. That flowthat. But do you see what i like that. But do you see what i mean on the. You think so . Yeah, i do. Is it this one . Is it this one . Id move it away. Id move it away. If you like butter. Lets move that away. Okay. And ill have the instead. Anyway, have the coffee instead. Anyway, the bull the trouble at red bull continues despite bahrain continues despite the bahrain grand and the world grand prix win and the world indoor championships indoor athletics championships comes with comes to an end with some british medals, as thats a cold, foggy start in cold, frosty, foggy start in places this morning. But do have further wet but we do have further wet and windy weather moving in from the west. Find all the west. Find out all the details coming up. Details coming up. Soon budget , details coming up. Soon budget, budget, budget. Thats all youre going to hear this week through the Spring Budget countdown has begun. Going to happen on its going to happen on wednesday. Chancellor wednesday. Then the chancellor will outline the governments economic. Economic agenda. Yes. While speaking with Camilla Tominey yesterday on gb news, made it clear that news, mr hunt made it clear that this is an election budget likely to be the last budget before the general election. Before the general election. Um, but british people are very smart. They recognise very smart. They recognise gimmicks. Um, they dont want any tricks. What they will get on wednesday is a prudent and responsible plan. And despite remaining coy about whats set to be announced, hes hinted at tax cuts. Well, joining us now is the diary editor of the spectator. James good morning to you james heale. Good morning to you. This isnt the budget. This isnt really the budget that he or Prime Minister that he or the Prime Minister wanted to deliver, is it . Because isnt much because there isnt as much money to with if they do money to play with if they do make these long longed for tax cuts, then theyre going to have to make savings elsewhere. Where are either of those things going to to what they to be enough to do what they want polls and win the want in the polls and win the election . Well, you say, this election . Well, as you say, this is last big gamble for the is the last big gamble for the chancellor ahead the chancellor ahead of the election, big lever he election, the last big lever he can pull. Its being coined in some and its being coined in some circles, tesco circles, the sort of tesco budget. Every helps, budget. Every little helps, which is sort of lots of smaller tax pay for one big tax tax rises to pay for one big tax cut. Thats going cut. And we think thats going to on National Insurance. We to be on National Insurance. We previously believe previously were led to believe that it could be an income tax cut of about £0. 02, but because there as much fiscal there isnt as much fiscal headroom, money headroom, much money to play with chancellor, it with for the chancellor, it therefore likely be therefore is more likely to be national this time therefore is more likely to be nationa of this time therefore is more likely to be nationa of about this time therefore is more likely to be nationa of about £0. 02, ime therefore is more likely to be nationa of about £0. 02, james around. Of about £0. 02, james piers pottinger beth mead. We all talk about what he hasnt to play in hasnt got to play with in a responsible budget and all that sort thing. Does he even sort of thing. Why does he even care . Likelihood theyll care . The likelihood is theyll not election. Why not win the election. Why doesnt a vote doesnt he give himself a vote winning well this is winning budget . Well this is where he do it, where he thinks he can do it, because of course, we all remember 18 months ago, the liz truss mini budget. Then, governments since then, the governments put on trying to put a real emphasis on trying to take watchdogs very take these watchdogs very seriously. Trying seriously. So its about trying to cuts, but also to get some tax cuts, but also ensure that the markets go ensure that the markets dont go haywire and the problem the haywire and the problem is the way sounding way he was sounding yesterday was talking about was very cautious, talking about being prudent and all of these things, the kind of language he used just after he went into office and to Steady Office and tried to steady everything truss everything after liz truss had created quite a few problems. Doesnt sound like a it doesnt sound like a chancellor who feels particularly surefooted and as you say , they cut £0. 02 off you say, they cut £0. 02 off National Insurance in the autumn statement. That hasnt moved the dial. They really think that dial. Do they really think that this is going to change things for them . We quite right. Yeah. In we were quite right. Yeah. In the there was £30 billion the autumn there was £30 billion worth of cuts. And yet we worth of tax cuts. And yet we saw one points in the polls saw one two points in the polls move. That. So i think there move. If that. So i think there is a sense perhaps that also number talking number 10 has been talking up the of tax cuts. And the possibility of tax cuts. And as soon as had autumn as soon as we had that autumn statement, to statement, they then moved on to that conversation around big tax cuts. But the treasury are saying, got saying, hang on, we havent got as much money. Fiscal headroom as much money. Fiscal headroom as we thought we might have. So i think perhaps not i think perhaps it is not necessarily by necessarily assured that just by cutting lots of taxes, youre going to see that, not least because want because a lot of people want pubuc because a lot of people want public spending cant see public spending and cant see the terms of nhs, the returns in terms of the nhs, etc. In head of this year etc. In the head of this year ahead, nothing is going to do ahead, nothing he is going to do absolutely is going absolutely nothing is going to make bit of difference. Make a darn bit of difference. Will go through wednesday, we will go through wednesday, he will announce hes going he will announce what hes going to and it wont to announce and it wont affect any our lives. What you might any of our lives. What you might get, get £15 back here and get, you get £15 back here and theyll £7 off you there. Theyll take £7 off you there. Whatever it be completely whatever it will be completely ineffective. Why bother . Well, i think one reason is about politics of all about the politics of all of this, which that if the this, which is that if the chancellor able to shoot chancellor is able to shoot labours on things like labours fox on things like non doms, for instance, the windfall then make windfall tax, you can then make the Spending Plans the opposition Spending Plans be thrown a result of thrown into chaos as a result of that. So thats one that would be do you think that be a i mean, do you think that would be something theyd be pleased doing the pleased to be doing to steal the flag policy labour at flag ship policy of labour at this late date . Would it not suggest that theyre of ideas . Mean, theyre out of ideas . I mean, labour quite thrilled labour seemed quite thrilled that stealing this that they might be stealing this because know, how because it shows, you know, how desperate become. Desperate things have become. And just explain to and also so just explain to everybody at home why suddenly theres money play with. Theres less money to play with. And lot this and we talk a lot about this fiscal concept. And fiscal headroom concept. And this is the office for budget responsibility. Theyre this is the office for budget respowrong. Y. Theyre this is the office for budget respowrong. You theyre this is the office for budget respowrong. You know. re this is the office for budget respowrong. You know. re why is often wrong. You know. So why is it being based on what it all being based on what theyve and how they theyve said and how come they got wildly wrong in got it . So wildly wrong in the first place . Well, this is the danger of economic predictions. Unfortunately and they have to do it in line with economic data. What they get in terms of inflationary data and what how the going the economy is going in different and different forecasts. And i think unfortunately, as weve seen, the has a pretty the obr has had a pretty lamentable record over the lamentable track record over the past ten, 14 years or so since it was set up by the it was set up in 2010 by the conservatives the reality is, is that it comes down to what that often it comes down to what the think and because the obr think and because the government much government have put so much emphasis the obr think, emphasis on what the obr think, they have, frankly, the they dont have, frankly, the political able to Political Capital to be able to challenge and take on challenge them and take them on in estimates terms of in their estimates in terms of what are doing, of what labour are doing, of course, going talk up course, theyre going to talk up the possibility of people leading of ideas leading on the battle of ideas of phillipson did of Bridget Phillipson did yesterday on this very station, but think from but actually, i think from talking people, talking to labour people, theyre hang sec. Theyre saying, hang on a sec. If dont have non doms, we if we dont have non doms, we dont tax or dont have the windfall tax or weve left, is rate on weve got left, is vat rate on private schools. Thats the only real economic difference between the parties. They could the two parties. But they could do tourist do things like this tourist tax. Hear not going to do we hear hes not going to do anything against this. And this is despite in increasing voices within the business community. Say break. Give us a say give us a break. Give us a bit of momentum here, give us a feel good factor with this. This is what that tourist is explain what that tourist tax is. This about the amount of this is about the amount of taxation thats applied on goods by people dont live in the by people who dont live in the uk, here to buy goods uk, who come here to buy goods in , etc. And people like in shops, etc. And people like sir who was on tv sir rocco forte, who was on tv yesterday leading the on yesterday leading the charge on this campaign, saying hang yesterday leading the charge on thi a ampaign, saying hang yesterday leading the charge on thi a sec, aign, saying hang yesterday leading the charge on thi a sec, its], saying hang yesterday leading the charge on thi a sec, its dissuadingig hang yesterday leading the charge on thi a sec, its dissuading people on a sec, its dissuading people from spending in from coming here and spending in our our shops and goods and our on our shops and goods and preventing British Goods from being luxury retailers. Being sold in luxury retailers. Now, argument now, i think the argument against would on a against that would be hang on a sec, this going to be sec, this is going to be something that benefits people, foreign nationals coming at foreign nationals coming here at a year. A time of an election year. Surely the chancellor wants to put people first in britain. And thats is thats what his main emphasis is going not about going to be. Its not about necessarily five, ten years down the this is about the next the line. This is about the next 12 months how the 12 months and how the conservatives try and hold conservatives can try and hold on seats jeremy hunts. And what about defence . Weve got distinct impression got the distinct impression yesterday that he wont be spending defence, spending any more on defence, despite weve been despite all that weve been heanng despite all that weve been hearing senior generals in hearing from senior generals in recent just recent weeks, and indeed just looking ourselves at global looking ourselves at the global pressures moment, is that pressures at the moment, is that the right decision, the right call the right decision, the right caliwell, i think i think well, i think i think conservatives would certainly like more in like to have a bit more in defence. I mean, always defence. I mean, theres always a sort of premium a bit of a sort of premium budget ritual to kind of budget ritual to these kind of things, which is. Things, which there is. But youve got to admit, this is exceptionally turbulent international couise. Course. Yeah. But i mean, you know, we unfortunately for the past 35 years cold war ended, years since the cold war ended, have enough have not spent enough on defence. Had cold war defence. Weve had the cold war dividend as a result of dividend and as a result of that, we then left to pick that, we then are left to pick up the pieces with often an overreliance on america. So ideally be something ideally there would be something in spending. Suspect ideally there would be something in see spending. Suspect ideally there would be something in see aspending. Suspect ideally there would be something in see a bitnding. Suspect ideally there would be something in see a bit of ng. Suspect ideally there would be something in see a bit of that, suspect ideally there would be something in see a bit of that, butiect ideally there would be something in see a bit of that, but not well see a bit of that, but not enough to go to assuage the concerns shapps, the concerns of grant shapps, the defence james, defence secretary, sir james, looking crystal looking into your crystal ball, when gets on his feet in when hunt gets on his feet in wednesday makes his his wednesday and makes his his budgetary do budgetary statement, what do you think commentators are going to say afterwards . Say about it afterwards . I mean, will he cover himself in glory or will people say, well, is that it . Well, is that it . I think we are perfectly assured budget. I think therell be 1 or 2 white rabbits out of hats, etc. But i dont think this is going to be the big vote winner. Election turner that winner. The election turner that a lot of conservatives would want at this stage of want it to be at this stage of the polls. I dont even know if therell be a rabbit out of hat be a rabbit out of the hat seeing the chancellor previewing it often. It on a sunday doesnt often. He cant give well, he cant give away much, unfortunately. I much, unfortunately. Yeah, i thought something thought therell be something has something. Its has got to be something. Its got to be something. James heale. Thank you very much you soon. Much indeed. See you soon. Goodbye, much indeed. See you soon. Goconly, and israel, only now. And in israel, gaza, the ceasefire is in jeopardy. Today after weekend of talks qatar. Talks in egypt and qatar. Well, despite israel provisionally agreeing six provisionally agreeing to a six week hamas are yet to week pause, hamas are yet to agree their terms, has agree to their terms, which has led boycotting led to israel boycotting sundays talks in cairo. Her most forceful and in her most forceful comments yet, the Vice President of america , kamala has of america, Kamala Harris, has issued her own plea for a ceasefire to even the immense scale of suffering in gaza. There must be an immediate ceasefire. For at least the next ceasefire. For at least the next six weeks, which is what is currently on the table , this currently on the table, this will get the hostages out and get a significant amount of aid in this would allow us to build something more enduring to ensure israel is secure and to respect the right of the Palestinian People to dignity, freedom and self determination. Freedom and self determination. Thats Kamala Harris , thats Kamala Harris, charleton confino israeli commentator on this one. J tum how did you how did you feel listening to what she had to say . Well, first of all, its the harshest comments weve heard so far from a very senior us official on israels handling of the war. Uh, but i think she is right. I dont think that shes saying anything that isnt true. Its quite interesting the timing, though. Shes saying this is, uh, just as an israeli minister, benny gantz is supposed to meet with her in washington. And, of course, washington. And, of course, shes also saying this, uh, as the Biden Administration is getting more and more criticism for not, um, doing more to stop the war, for continuing to support israel. So im sure theres there has some domestic politics has to do with her comments, but nevertheless , her comments, but nevertheless, her comments, but nevertheless, her comments are very harsh. And israel is feeling the pressure , israel is feeling the pressure, uh, both from the United States, but certainly from the international system. Yeah and look, many people not least those who are living through all of this, hugely disappointed, not to see the progress made over the weekend. What are the sticking points . What are the sticking points . Its a list, isnt it, its all about a list, isnt it, of and hamas absolutely of hostages and hamas absolutely insistent that they cant provide that whilst theyre still being bombarded. Still being bombarded. And thats one thing, but its apparently, according its also apparently, according to , um, they spoke to one of to cnn, um, they spoke to one of the hamas officials in charge of this, and he said that hamas is sticking with its demands for a ceasefire. Long time ceasefire. Israeli withdrawal from gaza. Now thats delusional. Israeli withdrawal from gaza. Now thats delusional. No country in the world would allow a terrorist organisation like hamas to continue ruling a territory after committing the worst massacre in modern history. So hamas is dragging this out, and you can ask yourself why . Why when the gazans really, really need this ceasefire, why are they dragging this out . Theyre doing it because thats their best card. As they have the as long as they have the hostages tunnels , they have hostages in tunnels, th