them to downing street. at an event in greater manchester, sir keir starmer will say "wealth creation" would be at at the heart of his government leading to a "decade of national renewal". plaid cymru also launches its manifesto this morning, calling for a new funding dealfor wales. the prime minister is in italy, for the g7 summit of world leaders, where he will push a plan to seize russian assets to fund aid for ukraine. back home, one of his senior aides, the tory candidate craig williams, has admitted he's facing a gambling commission inquiry over a £100 bet he placed on a july election, just three days before rishi sunak�*s surprise announcement. you mustjust see quite a few of these. there are exactly three weeks to polling day, and in the manifesto he's unveiling today, sir keir starmer says there wil be no surprises. the labour leader is well aware every opinion poll continues to indicate a healthy lead for his party, so his manifesto will tread carefully, while promising change. it will be a positive case in detail about the future of the country, how we renew and how we build. i am not complacent about this, i know that every single vote has to be earned. nobody has cast a vote in this election yet but it is important, i think, for the country that we have change. labour says its number one priority will be wealth creation in order to improve living standards for all. it claims it has a plan to kick—start growth, won't increase income tax, vat or national insurance, but will invest in the industries of the future, saying that will create 650,000 jobs. the party is making some promises, such as two million more nhs appointments a year to bring down waiting lists, and vat on private school fees to pay for 6,500 teachers for state schools. rishi sunak and sir keir starmer both took part in interviews in front of a live audience on sky news last night. the labour leader faced sustained questioning about his past support forjeremy corbyn... you said, "i do thinkjeremy corbyn would make a great prime minister." did you mean that? i was certain we would lose the 2019 election, we were not ready... that was not my question. i was certain, i was certain we would lose it. ..about his tax plans, and whether he's a bit robotic. you seem more like a political robot. how are you — how you going to convince others like me to vote for your? well... ..the most... laughter. look... we've heard from the labour leader. now it's the prime minister's turn. prime minister, thank you so much forjoining us tonight in grimsby. rishi sunak was jeered when he blamed doctors�* strikes for nhs waiting lists, and a lifelong tory voter said her trust was broken when he was fined for attending a downing street party during the pandemic. in this election i find myself an undecided voter. actions taken by this government actually make me feel ashamed. more generally, at this election as you said, you are undecided. this election is about the future and the future you want for our country. you polling is now worse than in the dying days of the liz truss government. what is going so wrong? well, i have to say it hasn't been an easy 18 months in general, so what i've done though, isjust keep going, to try and do my best for people. how do we know if you won the general election you would still be prime minister in a year's time? laughter. applause. i can appreciate people's frustration, of course we haven't got everything right. but this will be labour's day to set out its vision, and with the days to polling day counting down, the opportunities for the conservatives to change the apparent arc of this election are slipping by. damian grammaticas, bbc news, westminster. speaking to bbc breakfast, the foreign secretary, lord cameron, insisted that the conservatives could pull off a victory onjuly the 4th, and that voters faced a simple choice. the more people that vote conservative, the more conservative members of parliament we'll have, the more effective we will be able to be in parliament. more effective in opposition. if we have more than 325 conservative members of parliament, we will form a government. that is what i am saying, that is what he is saying and it's a truism. when people have read into that that you are already thinking you are'll be defeated, what would you say to them? i would say, look, it is a cliche to say there is only one poll that counts and that is the one on election day, but nevertheless it is true. the public have this huge opportunity to make a decision — do you want to carry on with rishi sunak, who in the last two years has got inflation down from 11% to 2%, he's got the economy growing again, he's announced in this election a whole series of exciting plans, on everything from national service for young people, to tax free basic state pension for pensioners? i think it has been a very energetic campaign, full of content, very agenda setting. do you want that or do you want to take a risk with keir starmer, who doesn't have a plan for the future of the country, and who the last election was telling us thatjeremy corbyn was the greatest thing since sliced bread? let's speak to our political correspondent alicia mccarthy, who's at westminster. i won't ask you about hovis or warburton, lord cameron saying we could win? . , �* , could win? that is right. a very bullish response _ could win? that is right. a very bullish response from - could win? that is right. a very bullish response from lord - could win? that is right. a very - bullish response from lord cameron, david cameron to that question. now obviously it comes after the comments that we had yesterday from a couple of conservative members, saying you know, let's try to stop sir keir starmer getting a supermajority, so obviously the question then to david cameron is why are you saying that? isn't that just admitting defeat. he was bullish saying anything can happen, people said to me in 2015 that i couldn't win, and look what happened then, so, there are still three weeks to go and this famous line, the only poll that counts isjuly 4th, so very much batting that back and of course the appeal that has been made in the last few days and we here it from rishi sunak in that sky debate. if you vote for anybody else apart from the conservatives, you risk putting sir keir starmer into number ten as he sees it. very much saying to people if you vote for reform or if you vote for any of the other smaller parties they won't be prime minister, it is either me or keir starmer. let us talk about craig williams, an embarrassment for the prime minister. if anything comes of it, he is being investigated. what is being accused of having done? yeah. being accused of having done? yeah, this is a story — being accused of having done? yeah, this is a story in _ being accused of having done? yeah, this is a story in one _ being accused of having done? yeah, this is a story in one of— being accused of having done? yeah, this is a story in one of the _ being accused of having done? yeah, this is a story in one of the paper - this is a story in one of the paper last night and what they were saying is that couple of days before the election was called, this man craig william who was a parliamentary aide to rishi sunak went along and put a bet on the fact that the election was going to be called injuly. now, the gambling commission is investigating this, craig williams has said he likes to have a flutter and he is co—operating with that investigation, interestingly, david cameron was asked about it in that interview that we just heard a clip from earlier, and he said that because this investigation is going on he didn't want to comment too much on that, he said that craig williams would have to deal with whatever consequences they were but he did call it a clearly very foolish decision. yes, and let us talk about labour, because of course it is a huge day for the labour party and the manifesto is due to be launched, no surprises, we pretty much know more or less what labour are about don't we. . , ~ or less what labour are about don't we, ., , ~ ., or less what labour are about don't we. . , ~ ., , . we. that is right. we are very much bein: told we. that is right. we are very much being told to _ we. that is right. we are very much being told to expect _ we. that is right. we are very much being told to expect reassurance i being told to expect reassurance rather than revelation was the phrase i liked this morning about it and that is part of labour's plan, it set out its six steps of 18 or so months ago was the sort of the big ideas, we has refined to six steps and this is the continuation of that, so expect to hear a lot in this manifesto not about tax and spend but about things like planning and the modern industrial strategy, because what labour's focussing on is growth, how to get the economy growing and moving, because it says if you do that then you generate the money that allows it to do the things it wants to do. and finally, plaid cymru, they also have a manifesto launch very shortly. have a manifesto launch very shortl . . , ., , shortly. that is right. plaid cymru ease manifesto _ shortly. that is right. plaid cymru ease manifesto out _ shortly. that is right. plaid cymru ease manifesto out today. - shortly. that is right. plaid cymru ease manifesto out today. this i shortly. that is right. plaid cymru ease manifesto out today. this is| ease manifesto out today. this is all about they say this election is about the economy, that is the thing thatis about the economy, that is the thing that is going to dominate, and they are talking all about how to get a fairerfunding dealfor wales. they fairer funding deal for wales. they also fairerfunding dealfor wales. they also say that because of the way that hsz, also say that because of the way that hs2, this high speed rail line was being billed as a england and wales project they are missing out on fund, they are saying they are fighting to get a better economic dealfor wales if you like. good fighting to get a better economic deal for wales if you like. good to talk to you. _ deal for wales if you like. good to talk to you, thank _ deal for wales if you like. good to talk to you, thank you _ deal for wales if you like. good to talk to you, thank you very - deal for wales if you like. good to talk to you, thank you very much. | talk to you, thank you very much. sniesmt let us get more on labour's manifesto launch. sniesmt let us get more on labour's manifesto launch. with me is patrick diamond, former head of policy planning in number 10 downing street under former labour prime minister's tony blair and gordon brown. you co—wrote manifestos for labour. i have seen both sides. which side tastes better i have seen both sides. which side tastes bette— tastes better victory. writing manifestos — tastes better victory. writing manifestos is _ tastes better victory. writing manifestos is difficult - tastes better victory. writing manifestos is difficult and - tastes better victory. writing manifestos is difficult and i i tastes better victory. writing - manifestos is difficult and i don't envy any of them.— manifestos is difficult and i don't envy any of them.- it's - manifestos is difficult and i don't envy any of them.- it's a i envy any of them. why? it's a difficult balancing _ envy any of them. why? it's a difficult balancing act - envy any of them. why? it's a difficult balancing act because you is to have a message for the country that energises voters and connects with the ones you need to win support from, you have to unite the party because you need to make sure activist also go out and really set the message of the manifesto. so they have to get it, they have to understand what you are talk about because they have to pass that message on because they have to pass that message 0— because they have to pass that messae 0 , ., ., , ., , ., ., message on yes a manifesto is not a comlex message on yes a manifesto is not a complex message — message on yes a manifesto is not a complex message it's _ message on yes a manifesto is not a complex message it's a _ message on yes a manifesto is not a complex message it's a set - message on yes a manifesto is not a complex message it's a set of- complex message it's a set of commitments that have to connect with voters and make sense of their every day lives so the trick is to have sellable policy commitment that voters understand but to tell a broader story about where you see the country going in the future. in the country going in the future. in the past you would be tied to your manifesto, you are going back, u—turning how much is true now a day, once you get nit there, is that like written in blood so to speak or can you deviate moving forward? there is something about manifestos which means once a commitment is in there, party has to stick by it. parties will suffer if they are seen not to deliver on their commitment, however in recent years as we have seen with all of the shocks from the energy price shock coming out of war in ukraine, the long—term effects of covid it is harderfor parties in ukraine, the long—term effects of covid it is harder for parties to stick to their commitment, there is no question about that, but voters will watch carefully to see what has been delivered.— been delivered. labour saying they want to bring _ been delivered. labour saying they want to bring about _ been delivered. labour saying they want to bring about west _ been delivered. labour saying they want to bring about west through l want to bring about west through growing the economy, a lot of economists are worried about that because if the economy doesn't grow will they have to raise personal taxes? do you think things like that should be in the manifesto, you know, look if our plan doesn't go to plan we will do plan b, or do you think it is right for parties to say this is the road we are taking and we are not going to deviate? for labour we are not going to deviate? er?" labour they have to go on a message about creating well. we know labour has been seen as the party more likely to raise taxes and increase public spending and in the current financial economic environment labour cannot afford to be seen as that type of party u so the strong message about growth is completely understandable, i think there are limits to how much we can expect parties to spell out their detailed spending commitments, so far ahead but there is frustration round this election campaign, we have seen the institute for fiscal studies saying there is a lack of condid conversation, making choicings about public spending. who conversation, making choicings about public spending-— public spending. who writes it with ou, in public spending. who writes it with you. in 2005. _ public spending. who writes it with you, in 2005, 2010, _ public spending. who writes it with you, in 2005, 2010, who _ public spending. who writes it with you, in 2005, 2010, who had - public spending. who writes it with you, in 2005, 2010, who had the | public spending. who writes it with - you, in 2005, 2010, who had the main control over it, was it's the prime minister? it control over it, was it's the prime minister? , ., ., minister? it is the leader of the .a l minister? it is the leader of the party. whether— minister? it is the leader of the party, whether it's _ minister? it is the leader of the party, whether it's the - minister? it is the leader of the party, whether it's the prime i party, whether it's the prime minister or the leader of the opposition who has to own it. as one 0pposition who has to own it. as one of your correspondents said there are 311 pictures of storm in the labour manifesto. he are 34 pictures of storm in the labour manifesto.— are 311 pictures of storm in the labour manifesto. . , , , labour manifesto. he has his sleeved rolled u- i labour manifesto. he has his sleeved rolled up i have _ labour manifesto. he has his sleeved rolled up i have heard, _ labour manifesto. he has his sleeved rolled up i have heard, is— labour manifesto. he has his sleeved rolled up i have heard, is that - labour manifesto. he has his sleeved rolled up i have heard, is that a - rolled up i have heard, is that a good idea, is that telling us i'm ready? he good idea, is that telling us i'm read ? ., , good idea, is that telling us i'm read ? . , ., ., ., “ ready? he wants to get to work, start changing — ready? he wants to get to work, start changing the _ ready? he wants to get to work, start changing the country, - ready? he wants to get to work, start changing the country, it. ready? he wants to get to work, start changing the country, it is| start changing the country, it is understandable he would want to project that kind of image today i5 project that kind of image today is it about image, how much is about style, how much is about substance it is about substance, setting out asian is v i can'tjust be a story, it to be underpinned by commitment when you were in office. if it to be underpinned by commitment when you were in office.— when you were in office. if you were still there advising _ when you were in office. if you were still there advising the _ when you were in office. if you were still there advising the labour - still there advising the labour party, what would you be saying to them, what do you think is where they are falling short and where do you think they are doing well. the core message _ you think they are doing well. tue: core message is you think they are doing well. tte: core message is being you think they are doing well. t'te: core message is being clearly delivered, wealth creation not tax and spend, they have to remember they have to energise voter, this is an election where as some of your reporter has shown there are concerns that voters are disengageded so the labour manifesto has to show people that voting will make a difference, whether it is on clean energy, whether it is on improvements in social care, whether on improving public services, that if you vote you can make a difference, improve the quality of your life and the life of your community. the— your life and the life of your community. the your life and the life of your communi . the . a ., , community. the 0k. patrick it has been interesting _ community. the 0k. patrick it has been interesting to _ community. the 0k. patrick it has been interesting to talk _ community. the 0k. patrick it has been interesting to talk to - community. the 0k. patrick it has been interesting to talk to you, i been interesting to talk to you, thank you for coming on the the show and talking to us. the plaid cymru also launches its election manifesto today, saying it will demand a new funding dealfor wales. speaking to the bbc�*s nick robinson, the party's leader said he wanted people to "recognise that tax is a good thing" and called for an "honest debate" on the issue. we have a number of proposals for bringing in more of a tax. for example, making sure that those oil and gas companies pay more of a windfall tax, that the corporates pay more, that those who have the huge amounts of wealth are targeted through a wealth tax. so, through a fair taxation system. the prime minister is taking a brief pause from election campaigning tojoin other world leaders have arrived in southern italy for the 50th g7 leaders' summit. the event brings together leaders of the world's seven largest advanced economies to tackle some of the biggest issues, including the wars in gaza and ukraine. they're expected to approve a plan to use interest from frozen russian assets to raise $50 billion dollars a year for kyiv. rishi sunak will also announce a new £242 million aid package for ukraine. 0n the sidelinesjoe biden and president zelensky are expected to sign a new security agreement. let's speak to mark lowen who is in bari, leaders hoping summit can cement their long term support of ukraine. yes, indeed. ukraine very much at the top of the agenda of this summit, and this plan which has been in the works for some time, to try to get some money from russian frozen assets, the original idea was that russia's assets in the west which amount to about $300 billion could be seized and liquidated all together and that money given to ukraine, there were concerns raised about that plan that it could set a dangerous precedent in international financial law, and so it has been changed now, so that the interest on those assets which amounts to potentially about $50 billion could be used as a loan for cash starved war weary ukraine. now this is going to be probably green light and signed off at this summit. it might need to go to a broader approval at eu level for example but basically the russian assets would be used as collateral for this loan to ukraine, 0 that is one concrete deliverable we expect from this g7 summit. beyond that there be much talk on climate change with gemini and italy under pressure to move further and faster to transition away from gas, japan under pressure to move further and faster, transition away from coal, there will be a session on the middle east, after that un security council vote supporting thejoe council vote supporting the joe biden council vote supporting thejoe biden plan for a ceasefire between hamas and israel, will israel, will hamas and israel, will israel, will hamas listen to that, we don't know, and also there will be a session on artificial intelligence, attended by none other than pope francis, the first time a pope has attend add g7. the 87—year—old pontiff got his finger on the button when it comes to ai. he has often talked about global regular eight lacing for it, sand so that will be an important session in the second day a lot of talking, a packed agenda, the big question beyond the handshakes and bilaterals and the warm words what concrete can be delivered. rishi sunak taking — concrete can be delivered. rishi sunak taking a _ concrete can be delivered. rishi sunak taking a break _ concrete can be delivered. rishi sunak taking a break from i concrete can be delivered. rishi sunak taking a break from the election campaign in the uk, to attend the g7, he will be talks about commitment to ukraine. he ii about commitment to ukraine. he l and he will — about commitment to ukraine. he l and he will be _ about commitment to ukraine. he: i. and he will be promising, an extra £2112 and he will be promising, an extra £242 million in funding, that is about $320 million, in funding to ukraine, and additionalfunding to ukraine, and additionalfunding to ukraine, that is top of the uk agenda, —— agenda, this could be rishi sunak�*s last international hurrah, he is languishing in the opinion poll, he knows he is under pressure and so potentially this could be the last time he runs shoulders with the international great and good, before the 11thjuly. and look at the conditions of the other leader as well. you have macron, who has faced a drubbing in the european elections in france, being beaten by the far right and prompting parliamentary elections in three weeks' time. the german chancellor who gave his party the worst election results beaten into third place by the far right. joe biden is on the ropes and looking like he could be booted out of the white house by donald trump. justin trudeau behind in the polls and surprisingly the country that is the pillar of stability is the one you sometimes wouldn't expect it to be, the country that has seen more than 70 governments since the second world war, known for its political volatility. the only western leader strengthened by the european parliament lexions on sunday, she says she is leading the strongest g7 government at all. basking in the beautiful italian sun but in that resounding victory of the eu elections on sunday, so interesting domestic political situation, at home for these leaders which will play into this g7 summit too. that beautiful italian _ play into this g7 summit too. that beautiful italian sun _ play into this g7 summit too. that beautiful italian sun down in puglia. thank you very much for a raft of economic reforms proposed by argentina's libertarian president has been narrowly passed by the senate. during the debate, there were violent protests outside by those who say the measures will expose people to poverty and unemployment. riot police used shields and motorcycles to force crowds away from the congress building. there's been running battles, with protesters setting cars alight and hurling stones and petrol bombs at police, who responded with water cannon and rubber bullets. let's turn to the middle east, where hamas has issued a statement stressing what it called its positivity in negotiations on a new ceasefire and hostage release deal in gaza. hamas also rejected a claim by the us secretary of state that they presented unworkable changes to the deal. antony blinken said that american and other mediators will work over the coming days to see if they can reach an agreement for a ceasefire in gaza. let's speak to our middle east correspondent yolande knell, who is in jerusalem. where do all the sides stand today? i mean still the israelis and hamas seem very far apart, although mediators, all say they are working to try to bridge the gaps, but we had this statement from hamas, after there was criticism levelled at it by the us secretary of state antony blinken, because of its response to this latest deal that is on the table, this three phase plan outlined by president biden, back on the 31st may, and hamas really saying that since it accepted a similar plan, at the start of may, things had changed on the ground, pointing out thaw after accepted that plan there was this israeli military offensive that began in earnest in rafah in the very south of the gaza strip, and also saying that while mr blinken himself speaks of israeli acceptance of the plan thatis of israeli acceptance of the plan that is out there, they are not hearing the same noises about acceptance from israeli officials and calling on the us to apply more pressure to israel. there are some different kind of leaks i suppose that are in the israeli media about what amendments hamas is requesting of course the us said some of them were anticipated, they are relatively minor but others are unworkable to quote mr blinken, and these demands seem to revolve round having a complete say on the palestinian prisonerses that would be released from israeli jails, in exchange for remaining israeli hostages being released from gaza, as well as that a demand there be a much faster, much more complete israeli withdrawal of troops from gaza, which is supposed to happen, that israeli forced would move out of main population centres during the first phase but only during the second phase would there be this complete withdrawal, and we are hearing too, that really in general, hamas is looking for international guarantees that there will be a move from the first phase of this plan, which is supposed to be for a six week truce, that would see many israeli hostages coming home, and that there will be a move to the second phase, which is supposed to work towards a permanent end to the fighting, of course we have had many israeli officials coming out insisting in recent days that israel will continue its war in gaza, until hamas is defeated there. thank you very much indeed. we will be covering what is happening with that deal throughout the day here on bbc news. the royal college of radiologists has warned that long waiting times for cancer care have become routine across the uk. specialist cancer centres say they are experiencing delays most weeks for chemotherapy and radiotherapy. 0ur health reporter jim reed has more. for some years now, all four nations of the uk have missed their targets for cancer treatment. this report from the royal college of radiologists warns long waits are putting lives at risk. in a survey of all 60 specialist cancer centres across the uk, it said 117% of sites were reporting delays for chemotherapy most weeks or every week, up from 28% in the previous year. and there were similar waits for radiotherapy, which uses radiation to kill cancer cells. any delay in waiting for scan results or for your treatment is worrying for patients. there's a level of anxiety with cancer almost more than any other illness. but also, we know that, actually, delays affect cure rates. we know that for every extra month people wait for many cancer types, there's a 10% reduction the chance of them being cured. the college says workforce shortages are one key factor behind the delays, with the number of unfilled vacancies for cancer doctors expected to climb further. in this election, the conservatives have promised to recruit more staff and hit cancer targets in england within five years. labour has said it will double the number of the latest scanners, and the liberal democrats want to introduce a legal guarantee for all cancer treatment to start within two months. health is a devolved power with separate policy set by the welsh and scottish governments and the northern ireland executive. jim reed, bbc news. it's been one year since students barnaby webber and grace 0'malley kumar, and caretaker ian coates, were killed in an attack in nottingham. today, the university of nottingham will be holding commemorations for the three victims on campus. tim muffett reports. barnaby webber and grace 0'malley—kumar on their way home after a night out lastjune. but they would never make it back to their university accommodation. they were fatally stabbed by paranoid schizophrenic, valdo calocane. shortly afterwards, school caretaker ian coates became his third victim. vigils were held in the city to remember the victims as the community shared its grief. look after each other. that's the big thing — is that look after your friends and look after people around you. calocane was initially charged with three counts of murder, but, injanuary, he was ordered to be detained indefinitely at a secure hospital, having admitted to manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility. the families of his three victims said justice had not been served. the attorney general agreed that the sentence was unduly lenient and referred the case to the court of appeal. but, in may, judges there refused to change calocane's sentence. barnaby�*s mum, emma, said the three families now face their own life sentence in ensuring valdo calocane is never released. labour will unveil their manifesto. manifesto. keir starmer has said wealth creation will be his number one priority. what else can we expect. we look at some of the pledges it is expected to contain and how they may be paid for. good morning. yes, we are getting temperatures thick and fast, today is labour's, keir starmer�*s chance to pitch the voters with three weeks to pitch the voters with three weeks to go until polling day and he is offering what he is calling a plan for growth. expect a lot of focus on things like reform of planning rules to try and achieve economic growth, something that's proved quite tricky over the past few years. but labour are trying to avoid spooking the horses. so, today it looks like being a safety—first manifesto with as few big surprises as possible. in fact, we already know a fair amount of what is going to be in the manifesto. you can see a list here. more nhs appointments, more teachers, school breakfast clubs, a beefed up border security command. you can see the full list here. i think today will be a focus on the big picture. expect a lot of focus on things like reform of planning rules to try labour want to avoid what one person described as a sugar rush of policies. that's what they're accusing the conservatives of with their manifesto. but all of this costs money. so the next question is, where is the cash to fund that coming from? well, here are a few of the things labour are pledging to do. they say they will introduce vat on private schools. they will expand the windfall tax on oil and gas company profits. they will close the tax gap, collecting more of the taxes oeople already owe. people already owe. and they are promising stricter rules on non doms — that's people whose permanent home for tax purposes is outside the uk. labour say when you look at the pledges and you look at the money—raising policies, that will all add up, by the end of the day, and we'll be able to scrutinise that. but one thing that i think is also really significant is that the manifesto is going to explicitly rule out raising some of the big taxes. so, labour are saying no to increasing income tax rates, no to increasing national insurance, no to increasing vat, no to increasing corporation tax. these are all policies that both labour and the conservatives have embraced, but they limit labour's way of making extra money. one area labour has been asked about a lot and hasn't ruled out is this one — raising capital gains tax. they say they have no plans, they haven't explicitly ruled it out. but they are saying they will reduce debt by the end of the next parliament. and when you put all of that together, it's led to a warning about this — a potential spending squeeze. you might have heard me talk about this before, but the warning from some economists is that there's going to be a squeeze in some government departments. it's a warning, by the way, about both the conservatives and labour that because they're saying we're not going to raise the main taxes and we'll reduce borrowing, there just won't be much money to spend in the next parliament. so this is something to bear in mind today. this morning, at that manifesto launch, we'll get a lot more detail from labour. we'll get their sums, how they think that all of this adds up. we'll have people going through the numbers all day and we'll have full details across the bbc. 0ur political correspondent ione wells is following the labour election campaign. shejoins us now. big day for labour. but a lot of the things we are going to be hearing about, we know about already and we have had a chance to think about them already?— have had a chance to think about them already? that's right, labour have been pretty — them already? that's right, labour have been pretty clear— them already? that's right, labour have been pretty clear that - them already? that's right, labour have been pretty clear that there l have been pretty clear that there aren't going to be any big surprises in this manifesto. a lot of what we have heard from them already has already been announced. that's partly because they want to give the impression that they are going to be very disciplined when it comes to the economy. we are told the manifesto itself will contain a costing document, trying to set out how every policy they have announced has been costed. about a third of it is expected to be about the economy alone. we have heard sir keir starmer saying it will be a manifesto dedicated to wealth creation. if that sounds not really like something you normally hear from a labour leader, that is deliberate, he wants to show not just that he is offering change from a conservative government, but also change from the former labour leader as well. last night at a debate, he was pushed quite heavily on why he previously backed jeremy corbyn to be prime minister in the last election. that is an attack that the conservatives have used multiple times against him. the 2019 labour manifesto contained lots of big spending promises. that is not something that this labour teen really want to do. instead, they want to show that they are pushing a plan for growth. i think we will hear a lot of that today. one of the challenges for them is going to be while they have ruled out tax increases to national insurance, income tax and vat, they haven't exquisitely ruled out possible other risers. that will be something to watch out for today. there is also pressure mounting on them, as well as the conservatives, about how, if they aren't planning to raise taxes, they aren't planning to raise taxes, they will fund some of their plans, without cutting public spending. i think that is a big elephant in the room that both parties are facing at the moment when it comes to spending pledges. t the moment when it comes to spending ledres. ., , the moment when it comes to spending ..ledes, .,, ., ., “ the moment when it comes to spending ledres. .,, ., ., ~' ., the moment when it comes to spending ledres. .,, ., ., ~' . ., pledges. i was looking earlier at details of the _ pledges. i was looking earlier at details of the manifesto, - details of the manifesto, physically, it is a5 size, 135 pages, lots of pictures of keir starmer with his sleeves rolled up, ione, as if he is ready to go? irate lone, as if he is ready to go? we are told he _ lone, as if he is ready to go? - are told he will feature heavily in the manifesto document itself. he is wanted to put himself front and centre. he did face some questions last night about him as a leader, him as a person. 0ne audience question accused him of being quite robotic. i think he is under pressure personally as well to show why people should like him as a leader, he is going to set up that stall. we are expecting more of that for him today. we are expecting his speech to the 20 minutes long, quite a chunky speech. i think that will be one of his key challenges, how does he personally win over voters who may not be that happy with the conservatives, may certainly not be happy with rishi sunak, but may be aren't that convinced by him just yet. aren't that convinced by him 'ust et. ., ., ., ., ., yet. you have gone into a tunnel so ou have yet. you have gone into a tunnel so you have gone _ yet. you have gone into a tunnel so you have gone completely - yet. you have gone into a tunnel so you have gone completely dark. i yet. you have gone into a tunnel soj you have gone completely dark. let me keep talking to you. it's fine, it's fine. you are now probably sat in that tunnel for the next ten minutes, knowing our labour. what if you labour need to do with this manifesto? how difficult is it, when you are so ahead in the polls, to get the tone right in a manifesto? t get the tone right in a manifesto? i think one of the challenges they are facing at the moment is, on the one hand, this is a manifesto meant to try to reassure, particularly those voters who may be considering voting labour for the first time, or maybe even returning to labour, having given up on them in the past. so there is going to be atonal reassurance. but, in doing that, there is a challenge for labour that they isolate some of the core votes. some more on the left of the party want them to be bolder on spending pledges, want them to be bolder on raising taxes, for example. we saw yesterday from the green party, pledges to raise taxes on some of the wealthy hugely. and i think there is some pressure from the core vote in an attempt to woo some of the maybes, some of the uncertain voters, and that balance is tricky for parties when they are in this position where they have not been in power for a position where they have not been in powerfor a long position where they have not been in power for a long time, position where they have not been in powerfor a long time, they position where they have not been in power for a long time, they know that they need to try to appeal to a broad range of people. i think that balance, striking a balance, it's going to be one of the challenges labour face today.— going to be one of the challenges labour face today. lone, thank you very much- — labour face today. lone, thank you very much. lone, _ labour face today. ione, thank you very much. lone, back— labour face today. lone, thank you very much. lone, back into - labour face today. lone, thank you very much. lone, back into the i labour face today. lone, thank you | very much. lone, back into the light very much. ione, back into the light after a short trip in a tunnel. 0ur correspondence really do give it their all, travelling on the campaign buses and trains. throughout the election, we're keeping a close eye on key constituencies. it's really important to get out and about in the country. today, we can take you live to two battleground seats. first to newton aycliffe and spennymoor. the seat will include the bulk of the soon to be abolished constituency of sedgefield, where tony blair first got elected in 1983. in 2019 paul howell gained the seat for the conservatives, although the boundary changes do slightly reduce the conservative majority. we can also go to blyth and ashington. traditionally a labour seat, in the 2019 election blyth valley was the third seat to be declared, ian levy gained the seat for the tories on a 10.11% swing. it was the first indication that the red wall was going to fall in line with the exit polls. let's speak to david macmillan, bbc tees political reporter who is in sedgfield. and richard moss, political editor, north east 81 cumbria who's in ashington. thank you forjoining me. david, just want to ask you a little bit about what we are expecting from the constituency. things have changed since the boundaries changed. 0ur people's worries and fears any different to what they were in 2019? well, i think a lot of the same problems that we had in this part of the world are similar to what it was in 2019. we are in sedgefield this morning, the newton aycliffe and spennymoor constituency. there are a lot of parts of this constituency that are ex mining communities. there are a lot of issues there with long—term ill health, a lot of problems with deprivation and a lot of problems with isolation as well. a lot of the communities are quite remote. that can make it quite hard to do things most of us can do quite easily, going to the supermarket to buy cheap and affordable thing is, it's not easy if the public transport is not good enough to go there, your local convenience store might cost more. there are mental health issues with isolation as well. that makes it quite a big test for the conservatives. you talked about how they won in 2019, that was about how they won in 2019, that was a big embarrassment for labour because this was the home of tony blair, the labour prime minister who led them to victory in 1997. it's a big test for levelling up, exactly the kind of area where the conservatives came to power promising they would improve it, promising they would improve it, promising they would ease the gap between the wealth of the south and the more deprived areas of the north. they would argue they have put millions of pounds into some of the town centre is here and they have tried to make a difference. labour would argue people are not seeing that in their daily lives, and not much has changed. richard, let me bring — and not much has changed. richard, let me bring you _ and not much has changed. richard, let me bring you in. _ and not much has changed. richard, let me bring you in. ashington i and not much has changed. richard, let me bring you in. ashington is i let me bring you in. ashington is very much in focus for labour under the tories. what are the key issues where you are? hot the tories. what are the key issues where you are?— where you are? not dissimilar to what they were _ where you are? not dissimilar to what they were talked _ where you are? not dissimilar to what they were talked about. i where you are? not dissimilar to | what they were talked about. the conservatives made huge progress in this region _ conservatives made huge progress in this region in 2019 by promising levelling — this region in 2019 by promising levelling up. they came within a whisker— levelling up. they came within a whisker of— levelling up. they came within a whisker of winning even here in ashington, a former mining community which _ ashington, a former mining community which had _ ashington, a former mining community which had not been represented by the conservatives since the 1930s. labour— the conservatives since the 1930s. labour did — the conservatives since the 1930s. labour did hold on. but you look at this and _ labour did hold on. but you look at this and think may be levelling up is not _ this and think may be levelling up is not been delivered, you can see the closed — is not been delivered, you can see the closed shopping centre there. but there — the closed shopping centre there. but there are plans to redevelop it with money from the government levelling — with money from the government levelling up funds, and i am stood on a railway— levelling up funds, and i am stood on a railway bridge, on top of a railway— on a railway bridge, on top of a railway line _ on a railway bridge, on top of a railway line that will have passenger services in ashington for the first— passenger services in ashington for the first time since the 1960s later this summer. the problem for the conservatives is that neither of those — conservatives is that neither of those have actually been fully delivered as we hold this election. voters _ delivered as we hold this election. voters have not really felt the benefit — voters have not really felt the benefit of it. as david mentioned, what _ benefit of it. as david mentioned, what they— benefit of it. as david mentioned, what they have felt as a cost of living _ what they have felt as a cost of living crisis. we have also seen in this constituency a big plan to have a giga _ this constituency a big plan to have a giga factory for electric car batteries, it would have created thousands ofjobs, potentially thousands of jobs, potentially transformative thousands ofjobs, potentially transformative for a time like this. the plan _ transformative for a time like this. the plan collapsed because the government decided it could not support— government decided it could not support what it considered a start up support what it considered a start up and _ support what it considered a start up and it— support what it considered a start up and it didn't trusted to deliver that _ up and it didn't trusted to deliver that there — up and it didn't trusted to deliver that. there is no plan to put a data centre _ that. there is no plan to put a data centre there — that. there is no plan to put a data centre there that will create some jobs, _ centre there that will create some jobs. but — centre there that will create some jobs, but not anywhere near as many. those _ jobs, but not anywhere near as many. those kinds _ jobs, but not anywhere near as many. those kinds of issues about poverty have not— those kinds of issues about poverty have not perhaps been alleviated enough. — have not perhaps been alleviated enough, the plans they have, true of a of places— enough, the plans they have, true of a of places around the country, for levelling _ a of places around the country, for levelling up, have not quite been delivered~ — levelling up, have not quite been delivered. that is the challenge. the other— delivered. that is the challenge. the other problem the conservatives have is, _ the other problem the conservatives have is, you — the other problem the conservatives have is, you alluded to the fact this is— have is, you alluded to the fact this is a — have is, you alluded to the fact this is a newly redrawn seat, that has brought in blyth which the conservatives won in 2019, but the boundary _ conservatives won in 2019, but the boundary changes have not been kind to them _ boundary changes have not been kind to them and it makes it a safer seat for labour— to them and it makes it a safer seat for labour than it was five years ago _ for labour than it was five years ao, ., , , for labour than it was five years auo. ., y , ago. really interesting. david, let's bring _ ago. really interesting. david, let's bring you _ ago. really interesting. david, let's bring you back— ago. really interesting. david, let's bring you back very i ago. really interesting. david, | let's bring you back very briefly and talk to me about what difference the boundary changes have made where you are. the boundary changes have made where ou are. ~ ., , the boundary changes have made where ou are. ~ .,, . ., the boundary changes have made where ou are. ~ ., . ., ., you are. well, as richard alluded to, the boundary _ you are. well, as richard alluded to, the boundary changes - you are. well, as richard alluded to, the boundary changes you i to, the boundary changes you probably do favour labour a little bit more. it has included the town of spennymoor, which is probably more slightly favouring the labour party. there has not been drastic changes there were cross newton aycliffe and spennymoor, other than the change from the historic name of sedgefield. there is an issue for labour as well. it was a big embarrassment to do sedgefield, the seat of tony blair, to the conservatives on 2019, and lots of seats around here like hartlepool, where peter mandelson was the mp, redcar, where mo mowlam was the mp, they have to find ways to reconnect with voters. perhaps people felt the labour government, they would argue there was a change for the better in places like this, a lot of people thought there would be a return to the manufacturing jobs that people are really proud of in this part of the world, and that didn't happen. the austerity years, although there were cuts in public services that followed, a lot of people blame that on the local labour councils, even though they would argue that actually those were cuts that came as a result of the conservative government. those are a couple of the hurdles that labour have to get over if they want to claim the seat back, as they desperately do, the conservatives have to convince people that levelling up is work that they can be trusted to change standards of living and deal with things like the cost of living crisis. the other parties will be trying to make an impact here as well. ~. ~ ., trying to make an impact here as well. a ~ ., ., . ., well. david mcmillan and richard moss, so well. david mcmillan and richard moss. so good — well. david mcmillan and richard moss, so good to _ well. david mcmillan and richard moss, so good to get _ well. david mcmillan and richard moss, so good to get both i well. david mcmillan and richard moss, so good to get both of i well. david mcmillan and richard| moss, so good to get both of you well. david mcmillan and richard i moss, so good to get both of you on the programme. thanks again or joining us and giving us an insight into what is happening to you both are. here are the candidates who will be standing in that constituency in sedgfield. and here are the candidates who will be standing in that constituency in ashington. the candidate lists are readily available on the bbc website. breaking news in the last few moments, the waiting list stats which were expected from the nhs have come out in the last second or so. nhs england, that is. the waiting lists for routine hospital treatment in england has risen for the first time in seven months. an estimated 7.5 million treatments were waiting to be carried out at the end of april, related to 6.3 million patients, up ever so slightly from the 7.5 million treatments and 6.92 in march. it fell very slightly from the record in september 2023. the trajectory now is more upwards, it's not going to be very happy reading for the conservative party today, i imagine, the latest figures. we will have more on those later. lets drop into the g7 meeting in bari. this is george maloney. 0h, we have missed her. not to worry. let me talk you through why we have gone there, todayis through why we have gone there, today is a hugely important day for the seven biggest world economies. they are currently meeting in bari, in the south of italy. it's always important in these events to have that camera moment, the optics are always often more important than the substance. i do promise you that georgia maloney, the italian prime minister, was there. rishi sunak is also there, taking a break from campaigning for the general election to attend the meeting. ukraine is very much on the agenda at the g7 and we are going to be covering the events there throughout the day on bbc news. bbc radio 0ne's newsbeat has set its reporters the challenge of getting a mic from one end of the country to the other in time for the general election, giving young voters across the country the chance to share their voices on the issues they care most about. let's speak to newsbeat reporter jordan kenny who is in newquay. iam i am loving that umbrella. tell me more. is that your own or where you handed that by somebody? i more. is that your own or where you handed that by somebody?- more. is that your own or where you handed that by somebody? i have to tell ou, handed that by somebody? i have to tell you. we — handed that by somebody? i have to tell you. we are _ handed that by somebody? i have to tell you, we are in _ handed that by somebody? i have to tell you, we are in the _ handed that by somebody? i have to tell you, we are in the wind - handed that by somebody? i have to tell you, we are in the wind and i tell you, we are in the wind and rain this morning, and some of the lovely locals here in newquay took pity on us and have gifted me this lovely polka—dot umbrella, which is a perfect addition to day one of the newsbeat election race across the uk. as i say, we are here in newquay, cornwall, on the beach. 0ver newquay, cornwall, on the beach. over the next three weeks, right until the 11th ofjuly, polling day for the general election, we will be racing for the top of the country. write to the top of scotland, bringing this new speed microphone along the way, speaking to as many newsweek listeners as we can. we want to speak to young people, 16 to 25—year—olds, about the issues most important to them ahead of polling day. it would not be a race across the uk if we didn't go to all four nations, we will be teetering through wales and northern ireland, speaking to as many people as possible. i speaking to as many people as ossible. ., , ., possible. i feel bad for you, when ou not possible. i feel bad for you, when you got this _ possible. i feel bad for you, when you got this gig — possible. i feel bad for you, when you got this gig you _ possible. i feel bad for you, when you got this gig you will _ possible. i feel bad for you, when you got this gig you will have i you got this gig you will have thought, it'sjune, it's going to be nice, the weather will be great, road trip! it doesn't seem like it has started well. you haven't started yet, but what do you think young people want to see answered in this election campaign? brute young people want to see answered in this election campaign?— this election campaign? we arrived in newquay — this election campaign? we arrived in newquay and — this election campaign? we arrived in newquay and it _ this election campaign? we arrived in newquay and it was _ this election campaign? we arrived in newquay and it was a _ this election campaign? we arrived in newquay and it was a lot - this election campaign? we arrived l in newquay and it was a lot sunnier, the sea is behind me, and one of the guys we were speaking to was a young surfing instructor. he was talking to is about one of the issues he says a lot of young people here in newquay are concerned about, and thatis newquay are concerned about, and that is sewage being pumped into the sea. he is a surfing instructor, and he runs a business in a coastal town. he says young people are concerned about the water clarity and levels of pollution in the water. he says he wants politicians to address that, but is one thing he will be looking for. we have been hearing from different young people and one of the other things as the cost of living crisis, we've been hearing from a lot of different people, notjust in cornwall that are right across the uk. that is one of the big things they want to see politicians addressing. another is nhs waiting lists. we heard from some young people in cornwall yesterday that they don't think there is enough hospitals year in there is enough hospitals year in the six constituencies and they want politicians to address that as well. these are the issues for young people in cornwall. as we journey across the uk, we are going to be hearing from young people in different parts of the country who maybe have different concerns and different issues that they want politicians to address. really excited to get on the road and get chatting to a —— everybody. goad chatting to a -- everybody. good luck with the _ chatting to a -- everybody. good luck with the weather _ chatting to a -- everybody. good luck with the weather in - chatting to a —— everybody. good luck with the weather in newquay. 0ur newsbeat reporter. turning now to a constitency a little bit further away — 0rkney and shetland was held by the lib dems and the liberal since 1950. it is on the snp target list. they will need a swing ofjust under 5.5% to take it. what issues are likely to take it. what issues are likely to sway the 311,000 voters spread across hundreds of islands? let's speak to hansj marter, managing editor, shetland news 0nline it's really interesting to look at the history of what has happened in the history of what has happened in the area and where people have voted. do you think there is going to be any change this time in the way people vote?— to be any change this time in the way people vote? to be any change this time in the wa --eole vote? ., , way people vote? good morning. first of all, way people vote? good morning. first of all. good — way people vote? good morning. first of all, good morning _ way people vote? good morning. first of all, good morning from _ way people vote? good morning. first of all, good morning from a _ way people vote? good morning. first of all, good morning from a sunny i of all, good morning from a sunny shetland, quite the opposite to the opposite of the country. that shetland, quite the opposite to the opposite of the country.— opposite of the country. that is often the way. _ opposite of the country. that is often the way, when _ opposite of the country. that is often the way, when it - opposite of the country. that is often the way, when it is i opposite of the country. that is often the way, when it is nice l opposite of the country. that is| often the way, when it is nice in the south, it is not nice in the north. , . ,., the south, it is not nice in the north. , . . ., _ north. very much so. we obviously en'o the north. very much so. we obviously enjoy the sun _ north. very much so. we obviously enjoy the sun when _ north. very much so. we obviously enjoy the sun when it _ north. very much so. we obviously enjoy the sun when it is _ north. very much so. we obviously enjoy the sun when it is out. i north. very much so. we obviously enjoy the sun when it is out. the . enjoy the sun when it is out. the issues appear are probably not that different to those in other parts of the country. 0bviously different to those in other parts of the country. obviously the cost of living is very high, high energy prices, the lack of affordable housing. and, in general, what can be described as connectivity. that involves mobile signal, it involves broadband provision. but also transport connectivity. talk broadband provision. but also transport connectivity. talk to me a little bit more _ transport connectivity. talk to me a little bit more about _ transport connectivity. talk to me a little bit more about what _ transport connectivity. talk to me a little bit more about what it - transport connectivity. talk to me a little bit more about what it is i little bit more about what it is that the lib dems have given to the islands that has meant they have basically been voted in every time since 1950, more or less. i basically been voted in every time since 1950, more or less.- basically been voted in every time since 1950, more or less. i think we need to go — since 1950, more or less. i think we need to go back _ since 1950, more or less. i think we need to go back into _ since 1950, more or less. i think we need to go back into history - since 1950, more or less. i think we need to go back into history here i since 1950, more or less. i think we need to go back into history here a| need to go back into history here a bit. the liberal party has always been, back to the 19th century, always been very vocal in favour of local farmers and crofters, always been very vocal in favour of localfarmers and crofters, and fishermen. that has continued throughout the centuries. as you said in your introduction, the liberal party and liberal democrats these days have held this seat since these days have held this seat since the 1950s. they have always been very strong mps in parliament, for a very strong mps in parliament, for a very long time. i mean, the current mp, the candidate now, alexander michael, he has been at ahead of this constituency for the 20 years. before that, jim wallace has been in that post for exactly the same time. so, they have given a strong voice in parliament. but of course they have always been part of a party that very rarely actually sees or sits around the cabinet table. m1; sits around the cabinet table. my husband and i, and my family, go holiday in scotland every year, but we go to the isle of cul. i've always wanted to go to the shetland islands, what would entice a traveller like myself? it is a beautiful part of the world. aha, traveller like myself? it is a beautiful part of the world. a very beautiful part of the world. a very beautiful part. _ beautiful part of the world. a very beautiful part. but _ beautiful part of the world. a very beautiful part. but it's _ beautiful part of the world. a very beautiful part. but it's not - beautiful part of the world. a very beautiful part. but it's not easy i beautiful part of the world. a very beautiful part. but it's not easy to .et beautiful part. but it's not easy to get here _ beautiful part. but it's not easy to get here and it is quite expensive to come — get here and it is quite expensive to come to — get here and it is quite expensive to come to shetland and to stay in shetland — to come to shetland and to stay in shetland. hence this is also one of the big _ shetland. hence this is also one of the big issues in the election campaign. the cost of living, the price _ campaign. the cost of living, the price of— campaign. the cost of living, the price of people living in the islands— price of people living in the islands to connect with the rest of the country, because we all live in the country, because we all live in the 21st _ the country, because we all live in the 21st century, even islanders want _ the 21st century, even islanders want to— the 21st century, even islanders want to participate in life in the zist want to participate in life in the 21st century, and enhance connectivity, and that is one of the bil connectivity, and that is one of the big issues — connectivity, and that is one of the big issues. most of the parliamentarians, most of the candidates have something to say on that. candidates have something to say on that but _ candidates have something to say on that. but we are sort of not really seeing _ that. but we are sort of not really seeing any— that. but we are sort of not really seeing any changes here.- that. but we are sort of not really seeing any changes here. thank you ve much seeing any changes here. thank you very much indeed _ seeing any changes here. thank you very much indeed for— seeing any changes here. thank you very much indeed for that. - seeing any changes here. thank you very much indeed for that. lovely i seeing any changes here. thank you very much indeed for that. lovely to talk to you in shetland. i am sure we will speak to you again before this election is over. and here are the candidates who will be standing in that constituency in 0rkney and shetland. you can always go online on the bbc website and have a look if you want to get more information. in the last few minutes we have the latest nhs waiting time figures for england. it's the first time in seven months that hospital waiting lists have risen. i am joined that hospital waiting lists have risen. iam joined now that hospital waiting lists have risen. i am joined now by our health reporterjim reed, in the studio with me. talk me through these figures. with me. talk me through these fi . ures. , ., , with me. talk me through these fiaures. , ., , .., figures. the figures have 'ust come out of 25 minutes i figures. the figures have 'ust come out of 25 minutes ago, i figures. the figures have just come out of 25 minutes ago, something l out of 25 minutes ago, something like that, we are just going through them now. these arejust like that, we are just going through them now. these are just for england, not the rest of the uk. waiting lists have been a big issue already in the election campaign. as you just heard, we havejust already in the election campaign. as you just heard, we have just had the data for the end of april and it is showing that there are 7.57 million treatments on the waiting list. that is not the number of people, is the number of treatments. it's about 6.3 million people. the interesting thing is that it has gone up, as you say, for the first time in about seven months. the prime minister, rishi sunak, has spent a long time in interviews over the last couple of weeks or so talking about how waiting lists have been dropping. now we have started to be up this month. this isjust one month's data, ijust spoke month. this isjust one month's data, i just spoke to the month. this isjust one month's data, ijust spoke to the nhs and they said you can expect some seasonal variations, you can expect some small fluctuations. nevertheless, i'm pretty sure this is the number that his political opponents will be looking at today and mentioning, waiting lists for the nhs in england going back up for elective treatments. this the nhs in england going back up for elective treatments.— elective treatments. this will not make happy _ elective treatments. this will not make happy reading _ elective treatments. this will not make happy reading for - elective treatments. this will not make happy reading for the i make happy reading for the conservative party. you also had cancer treatments stats out in the last day or so?— cancer treatments stats out in the last day or so? every month the nhs in encland last day or so? every month the nhs in england publishes— last day or so? every month the nhs in england publishes a _ last day or so? every month the nhs in england publishes a whole - last day or so? every month the nhs in england publishes a whole load i last day or so? every month the nhs in england publishes a whole load of| in england publishes a whole load of data up 9.30 in the morning. we have also had data on cancer. slightly worse than the previous month. the big target for cancer is if you go to your gp and they say you need an urgent referral to see a consultant, to see if it is cancer or not. if thatis to see if it is cancer or not. if that is the case, you should start treatment, if it is cancer, within 62 days or two measurements. the target for the nhs is 85%. in april it was 66%. that is actually down slightly on the previous month. as a separate target, being diagnosed or being given an all clear, the government is missing the target again for april on that one. thank ou for again for april on that one. thank you for bringing _ again for april on that one. thank you for bringing us _ again for april on that one. thank you for bringing us up _ again for april on that one. thank you for bringing us up to - again for april on that one. thank you for bringing us up to date i again for april on that one. thank you for bringing us up to date on| you for bringing us up to date on that. meanwhile, the nhs is encouraging people to become blood donors as the number of people in england registering to donate has nearly halved over the last four years. to mark national blood week, which runs until sunday, our reporter zoie 0'brien has been to meet one man who knows just how life—changing receiving a blood donation can be. this is life—saving in action. you don't have to wear a cape and you often get a biscuit afterwards. giving blood might not look glamorous, but it does prevent deaths every single day. david rose, who lives in suffolk, lost his leg in an accident almost 45 years ago. he was on his motorbike when he was hit by a car on the wrong side of the road. a quick—thinking policeman and, later, donated blood saved his life. we met, unfortunately, on a very sharp bend and i had a split second to avoid a head—on collision. and in doing so, expose the right side of my body and my right leg was destroyed by the impact. i was lying in the road, effectively dying through blood loss. david's given more than 100 units of blood since 1976 — three years before his life was saved. he's now a chair of the limbless association and knows how important giving is. in essence, it's the gift of life. there are few things that we can do in this world as volunteers that can truly save lives. the gift of life stems from blood. we all have that in us and we need it to survive. three units of donated blood are needed every minute across the national health service. this week is national blood week and donors are being urged to come forward. one unit of blood that's donated can save up to three people with a blood transfusion. we never know when we might need one. and when you do donate, you get to hear where your blood has gone in terms of which hospital it went to, that it was used, etc. so it's a really rewarding experience. lets ta ke lets take you live to the g7 summit, rishi sunak, who has taken a break from campaigning to attend the summit of world leaders, having a laugh and a warm handshake with giorgia meloni, the italian prime minister. there they are. the traditional photo, two of them now, later it will be the group one, which is always an exercise in diplomacy. he is pushing the agenda top of the agenda, ukraine. they are gathering to discuss the wars in ukraine and gaza. they are going to try to cement their support for ukrainians. has the picture is he taking a long time to sign? 0h, he is doing a photo—op. walking off, and all of the world leaders are here in bari. we have representatives from france, italy, the uk and the us. they are here to make a commitment to ukraine. they want to achieve this before the election in the us and in france. there's a lot of domestic turmoil, there is a snap election called in france, the uk election happening on 21 days, the us election later on this year. the european elections happens just a couple of days ago. it has cast a bit of a shadow, so to speak, overthe it has cast a bit of a shadow, so to speak, over the g7 and what these world leaders can achieve. and the speed at which they need to achieve it. just to give you a few stats, the g7, seven member countries, of course, hence the name. 30% of global gdp between all seven of them. one tenth of the will�*s population is represented here. remember, before 2014, russia was also part of the g8 and it was suspended after its annexation of crimea. it's a beautiful day in bari, the sun is shining as you would expect from southern italy. it's a gorgeous part of the world. because this is being held in italy, we are hearing that the pope, pope francis, is going to be attending the summit as well. he will become the summit as well. he will become the first pontiff in history to attend a g7. he is also going to be the first to address the issue of artificial intelligence. it will be interesting to hear what he has to say. the 87—year—old house in the past called for the global regulation of ai. he has warned of its danger as well. there is the japanese prime minister, walking up to giorgia meloni. there they are gritting each other. two hands for rishi, read what you will in that. probably nothing to read at all. maybe i should just stop speaking. as i said earlier a lot of the leaders this year do face a few challenges back home, it is a very different feel to the g7 this year. the canadian prime ministerjustin trudeau owe, the us president, they both have a tough battle actually, ahead of them, the next time their respective voters take to the polls and the shaky political situation in those countries, in france, in the uk, and canada, in the us, it really has caused some observers to have pretty low expectations it has to be said about what can be achieved. 0ften said about what can be achieved. often at the end of the g7 meetings, there is a communique, the communique has batted between different countries, and then finally communique is signed, but often we don't see a lot of substance in those, it is difficult of course, to please everyone all the time, especially in diplomacy. so as we await the next world leader it is like world leader bingo, who will be next? there we go. justin trudeau. he is wearing a blue suit and he walks steadily towards giorgia meloni, so let us talk you through a bit about how the g7 meeting works, the g7 is the group of seven of the world's largest or so—called advanced economies, we have canada as you can see, france, germany, italy, japan, the us and the us, and they normally meet throughout the year, to discuss global events with then one set piece summit every year. in 1998, if you want a bit of history, i love a bit of history, russia joined, creating the g8 burr as i mentioned earlier it was kicked out or excluded for want of a better taerm, in 2014 after its take over of crimea. so giorgia meloni and justin having a few warm words. beforejustin trudeau the canadian prime minister will head over and sign his name in that big book. so what are we going to be hearing about? well, top of the agenda as i mentioned earlier is a plan by the g7 to approve the use of frozen russian assets to raise billions of dollars for ukraine. the proposal is being put forward by the united states, it is expected actually to be approved but the detail is it could potentially raise $50 billion, that is £39 billion, to you and i, a yearfor ukraine, as well as applying fresh economic pressure on russia, because of course, it will then no longer be able to get its hand on those frozen assets. we have a lot of movement here. and there is president macron of france, makes his way towards giorgia meloni, the french president of course earlier in the week making that shock snap election decision, there will be a parliamentary election between the 30thjune and 7th july. election between the 30thjune and 7thjuly. it is not a presidential election, he will still be president until the end of his term which i believe is 2027. but the far right were victorious over his centrist party in the european parliamentary election, and that is one of the reasons why he called an election, and as i said the sur my honourable friend in his country and in other countries, in the g7, mean this could make for a bit of a different type of meeting. going back to ukraine, the money that is being earmarked for ukraine from those frozen russian assets is set to be provided in the form of a loan, secured against the interest of those asset, it is hoped that if this plan is passed, it would give the very cash starved and it has to be said war weary ukraine another vital lifeline. so the italian prime minister is now welcoming g7 leaders. in a moment we are going to be seeing the family photo of the g7. it is always really interesting to see the family photos, it is when all the g7 leaders get together and they take a snap and what is interesting is not the photo itself but how everyone mills around and jockeys for position in these photos. it is all a kind of gentle diplomatic dance, so to speak. we have had a few interesting ones in the past, in germany a few years ago we had that photo of borisjohnson with his arms round the shoulders of mr trudeau and 0laf scholz, all wearing open shirt, we have had interesting ones involving the former president trump as well in days gone by. that will be happening imminently. we are going to wait for president biden to make his way to giorgia meloni, and then we are going to leave the g7 and take you a bit more election news. and we are waiting for biden? no, i am being told we are not going to wait for president biden, we will allow president biden, we will allow president biden, we will allow president biden to make his way off the bbc cameras at least, to introduce himself properly to giorgia meloni again, and we will bing you more on the g7 here on bbc news but let us bring you the latest news on the uk election. labour are preparing to launch the manifesto they hope will take them to downing street. an an event in manchester in arne hour's timeroom storm will say a plan for growth will be the plan for his government. plaid cymru also launches its manifesto in just half an plaid cymru also launches its manifesto injust half an hour, calling for a new funding deal for wales, the prime minister rishi sunak as we saw there is in italy, he there for the g7 summit of world leaders and back at home, one of his senior aides, the tory candidate craig williams admitted he is facing a gambling commission inquiry, over a gambling commission inquiry, over a £100 bet he place on ajuly election, he placed it three day before rishi sunak�*s surprise announcement. just an hour to go until labour launches that manifesto. the party's national campaign co—ordinator has told the bbc it will emphasise change with a strong focus on the economy. have a listen. , ., , , ., ., strong focus on the economy. have a listen. , , ., ., , ., listen. the emphasis on a stronger economy and _ listen. the emphasis on a stronger economy and economic _ listen. the emphasis on a stronger economy and economic growth i listen. the emphasis on a stronger economy and economic growth is l listen. the emphasis on a stronger l economy and economic growth is the thing that has been missing from this election, so far. we don't have to be innocent bystanders and accept the low levels of growth we have had in recent years and if we can get the economy moving, through investment and infrastructure, through building more homes, through labour market reforms there, a proper industrial strategy to take advantage of ai and the new technologies that we are on the threshold of then this country can achieve great things and we have real ambition in the manifesto, that we are publishing today, we start with six first steps, a stable economy, cutting information waiting list, setting up a secure border command, establishing a new publicly owned energy company, cracking down on anti—social behaviour, hire more teacher in schools this is change that will make a real difference to people's lives. let us go live to our political correspondent who is following the labour election campaign. you are off the bus now and out in the beautiful fresh air of greater manchester, talk me through what we expect from this manifesto, because a lot of the themes that are in it we know about already. that a lot of the themes that are in it we know about already.- we know about already. that is ri . ht. we know about already. that is right- one _ we know about already. that is right. one thing _ we know about already. that is right. one thing that _ we know about already. that is right. one thing that the i we know about already. that is| right. one thing that the labour party have been clear about is we shouldn't expect any big surprises in this manifesto. it is mainly about setting out a lot of things they have already said they would do and also trying to reassure people, particularly some voters who may have not voted labour in the past or may still be a bit unsure about voting labour they have economic credibility. we have told about a third of the manifesto will be focussing on the economy, it will include a spending document, a costing document, sorry, to explain how they plan to fund everything, and this is partly to try to stave off attacks from the conservatives that they are going to raise taxes, labour have already ruled out raising national insurance, income tax and vat, although when the labour leader was pushed on this last night and pushed on whether he might consider raising any other taxes he didn't fully rule that out, so i think what they are trying to do today is sort of set out their stall, but also set out they are going to be careful when it comes to managing the economy. i think one of the challenges that keir starmer will face, and this is the challenge that the conservatives are facing too, is if they are planning to —— aren't plannings to raise taxes and want to improve public service there are questions about how they will fund some of those and whether it does nene that certain cuts to public spending might be baked in in the years to come. i think we can expect questions on that to the labour leader, to the labour party later today. i labour leader, to the labour party later today-— later today. i think the thing some economists _ later today. i think the thing some economists are _ later today. i think the thing some economists are worrying _ later today. i think the thing some economists are worrying about i later today. i think the thing some economists are worrying about is i economists are worrying about is that intransigent message that there will be no rising, raising of taxes, personal taxes, you know, come what matter but some are saying if the the growth doesn't happen where will we get the public spending from? —— come what may. we get the public spending from? -- come what may-— we get the public spending from? -- come what may. independent analysts have warned — come what may. independent analysts have warned that _ come what may. independent analysts have warned that whoever _ come what may. independent analysts have warned that whoever gets - come what may. independent analysts have warned that whoever gets into i have warned that whoever gets into power, forms the next government will need to make difficult economic choices because of the levels of debt, the state of the economy at the moment and they have outlined that would really involve three choices, raising taxes, cutting public spend organise borrowing more, both parties have said they don't want to be borrowing more, they don't want to increase government debt at moment so that leaves these 0 two options and at the moment both are shying away from engaging on any questions to do with cutting public spending both saying they don't really want to raise taxes so there is this looming question mark facing labour and the conservatives about how they plan to raise the money they say will fund some of their pledges. labour have said their plan also be fully costed, they have said they are raising some tax, for example removing that vat exemption on private school fees, increasing taxes on big oil and gas giants to try and fund certain new energy projects but as you say they are banking a lot on this idea of growth. we will hear more from the labour leader later, some things like changing planning rules to bill more infrastructure, houses, certain policies labour think will lead to growth but there is a lot being gambled on that particular point and if it doesn't happen either party are potentially in a position where they will need to make some difficult economic decisions. good to talk to you. _ difficult economic decisions. good to talk to you, thank _ difficult economic decisions. good to talk to you, thank you. - to talk to you, thank you. the tory party of course are continuing their campaigning, the prime minister rishi sunak is in italy today so he is not on the campaign trail, but, lord cameron the foreign secretary has been doing the foreign secretary has been doing the broadcast rounds and he spoke to bbc breakfast earlier and he insisted the conservatives could win on july 4th, insisted the conservatives could win onjuly 4th, and that insisted the conservatives could win on july 4th, and that voters faced a onjuly 4th, and that voters faced a simple choice. the more people that vote conservative, the more conservative members of parliament we will have, the more effective we will be able to be in parliament the more effective we will be able to be in parliamen— the more effective we will be able to be in parliament more effective in opposition- _ to be in parliament more effective in opposition. if— to be in parliament more effective in opposition. if we _ to be in parliament more effective in opposition. if we have - to be in parliament more effective in opposition. if we have more i to be in parliament more effective. in opposition. if we have more than 325 conservative _ in opposition. if we have more than 325 conservative members - in opposition. if we have more than 325 conservative members of i 325 conservative members of parliament we will form the government. that is what i am saying, he is saying is and it's a truism. ~ , ., , ., ., ., truism. when people have read into that ou truism. when people have read into that you are — truism. when people have read into that you are already _ truism. when people have read into that you are already thinking - truism. when people have read into that you are already thinking you i that you are already thinking you are going to be defeated what you would wow say to them? i are going to be defeated what you would wow say to them?— are going to be defeated what you would wow say to them? i would say it's a cliche — would wow say to them? i would say it's a cliche to _ would wow say to them? i would say it's a cliche to say _ would wow say to them? i would say it's a cliche to say there _ would wow say to them? i would say it's a cliche to say there is _ would wow say to them? i would say it's a cliche to say there is only i it's a cliche to say there is only one poll that counts and that is the one poll that counts and that is the one on election day but it is true. the public have got this, you know, huge opportunity to make a decision, do you want to carry on with rishi sunak, who in the last two years has got inflation down from 11% to 2%, he has got the economy growing again, he has announced a series of exciting plans on everything from national service for young people to tax free basic state pension for pensioner, it has been full of content, agenda settling, do you want that or do you want to take a risk with keir starmer, who doesn't have a plan for the future of the country and who the last election was telling us thatjeremy corbyn was telling us thatjeremy corbyn was the greatest thing since sliced bread. the foreign secretary also talked about craig williams, he said it was about craig williams, he said it was a foolish decision for one of rishi sunak�*s a foolish decision for one of rishi suna k�*s closest a foolish decision for one of rishi sunak�*s closest aides to place a bet on the general election. he admitted he is being investigated by the gambling authorities, he says he will co—operate fully, he served as rishi sunak�*s parliamentary private secretary. let us speak to our political correspondent at westminster. this is not a particularly good story for the prime minister, or the conservative party to have to handle at this stage n the election campaign, what do we know so far? 50 stage n the election campaign, what do we know so far?— do we know so far? so this is a story that _ do we know so far? so this is a story that broke _ do we know so far? so this is a story that broke in _ do we know so far? so this is a story that broke in the - do we know so far? so this is a | story that broke in the guardian newspaper and they say that craig williams who as wow pointed out was the parliamentary private secretary is in the last administration for rishi sunak, had placed a bet on when the general election was going to be called a couple of days before it was actually called. so the gambling authorities are now looking into this and in a statement he said i have been contacted by a journalist about the gambling commission inquiries, i put a flutter on the general election, was how he put it some weeks ago, this has resulted in routine inquiry r and i confirm i will co—operate fully with these, that was his statement. david cameron was asked about this as you heard a bit earlier and he described it as a very foolish decision, interestingly he was then asked are you happy for craig williams to continue as a conservative candidate and he said, yes, he was. thank you very much indeed for that. we will have more on that story and on what the conservative party have been saying later in the programme. let us bring you some news from plaid cymru, because it will launch its election manifesto in the next 20 minutes or so, its election manifesto in the next 20 minutes orso, it its election manifesto in the next 20 minutes or so, it will demand a new funding dealfor wales 20 minutes or so, it will demand a new funding deal for wales among other things, speaking to the bbc�*s nick robinson the party leader said he wanted people to recognise that tax is is a good thing, and called for an honest debate on the issue. we have a number of proposals for bringing in more, making sure that the oil and gas companies pay more of a windfall tax, that the corporates pay moren, that those who are the huge amounts of wealth are a targeted through a wealth tax, so through a fair taxation system. the royal college of radiologists has warned that long waiting times for cancer care have become routine across the uk. specialist cancer centres say they are experiencing delays most weeks for chemotherapy and radiotherapy. 0ur health reporter jim reed has more. for some years now, all four nations of the uk have missed their targets for cancer treatment. this report from the royal college of radiologists warns long waits are putting lives at risk. in a survey of all 60 specialist cancer centres across the uk, it said 47% of sites were reporting delays for chemotherapy most weeks or every week, up from 28% in the previous year. and there were similar waits for radiotherapy, which uses radiation to kill cancer cells. any delay in waiting for scan results or for your treatment is worrying for patients. there's a level of anxiety with cancer almost more than any other illness. but also, we know that, actually, delays affect cure rates. we know that for every extra month people wait for many cancer types, there's a 10% reduction the chance of them being cured. the college says workforce shortages are one key factor behind the delays, with the number of unfilled vacancies for cancer doctors expected to climb further. in this election, the conservatives have promised to recruit more staff and hit cancer targets in england within five years. labour has said it will double the number of the latest scanners, and the liberal democrats want to introduce a legal guarantee for all cancer treatment to start within two months. health is a devolved power with separate policy set by the welsh and scottish governments and the northern ireland executive. jim reed, bbc news. now we are just a day away, from the start of the euros, and tomorrow night scotland, take on the hosts, germany, in munich in the inauguralfixture of the tournament. 0ur correspondentjohn watson is in munich for us and he has been mixing with the fans this morning. i love a clean camera! what is the atmosphere like in munichjohn. sign atmosphere like in munich john. sign of a little rain — atmosphere like in munichjohn. 5 g of a little rain here, as you can probably tell a bit of rain falling here as we prepare for the big game tomorrow but nothing of course is going to dampen the spirits not only of the host germany but the scotland fans who are arriving here en masse today ahead of kick off tomorrow and it is noticeable we arrived here, how many scotland fans have arrived in the 24 hours since we arrived hee yesterday. you can probably see the scotland flag on the side of the town hall in one of the central squares which is where many of the fans are gathering ahead of that match, that tough task for scotland against the hosts germany in the opening match of the european championship. you can see probably some of them having a drink. how are you feeling ahead of the big game tomorrow night? nervous. confident. think we will— tomorrow night? nervous. confident. think we will take _ tomorrow night? nervous. confident. think we will take a _ tomorrow night? nervous. confident. think we will take a draw. _ tomorrow night? nervous. confident. think we will take a draw. was i tomorrow night? nervous. confident. think we will take a draw. was it i tomorrow night? nervous. confident. think we will take a draw. was it a i think we will take a draw. was it a case as soon _ think we will take a draw. was it a case as soon as _ think we will take a draw. was it a case as soon as sexual— think we will take a draw. was it a case as soon as sexual assault i case as soon as sexual assault qualified you had to be here, were you always going to come out i had to take my — you always going to come out i had to take my son _ you always going to come out i had to take my son with _ you always going to come out i had to take my son with me, _ you always going to come out i t—f. to take my son with me, looking forward to the game tomorrow, and hopefully we can get a result tomorrow night, that would be great. how special to be playing in the opening match as well, obviously taking on the hosts germany to kick off the tournament, that is special. it is fantastic, it is an occasion we couldn't miss, we had to come for the occasion, so, yeah, we will see how tomorrow night goes. this the occasion, so, yeah, we will see how tomorrow night goes.- the occasion, so, yeah, we will see how tomorrow night goes. as we know one thing scotland _ how tomorrow night goes. as we know one thing scotland have _ how tomorrow night goes. as we know one thing scotland have never - one thing scotland have never managed to do is make it out of the group phase at a major tournament so is this going to be the year? i group phase at a major tournament so is this going to be the year?— is this going to be the year? i hope so. we is this going to be the year? i hope so- we have _ is this going to be the year? i hope so- we have got — is this going to be the year? i hope so. we have got a _ is this going to be the year? i hope so. we have got a good _ is this going to be the year? i hope so. we have got a good group, i is this going to be the year? i hope so. we have got a good group, we | so. we have got a good group, we have a good team and superjohn mcginn. and steve clarke of course. ., , and steve clarke of course. he has done a fantastic _ and steve clarke of course. he has done a fantastic job, _ and steve clarke of course. he has done a fantastic job, he _ and steve clarke of course. he has done a fantastic job, he has. i and steve clarke of course. he has done a fantastic job, he has. yes. | and steve clarke of course. he has done a fantasticjob, he has. yes. i will leave you do your drink, enjoy as you can probably tell, the beers are flowing here already this morning, plenty more scotland fans here, they are giving us a wave this morning ahead of kick off tomorrow night and the estimation being between 150—200,000 scotland fans between 150—200 , 000 scotland fans will between 150—200,000 scotland fans will be arriving here ahead of kick off tomorrow night. you think about that as being a big number but let us not forget munich is no stranger to hosting big effect, when you any about oktoberfest, the beer festival, they have round seven million visitors so i think we can say that munich is quite capable of handling the 150 or 200,000 scotland fans who will arrive here before kick off at the allianz arena which is six miles from the centre of munich when they meet tomorrow night. have you managed to get a beer yourself and a bratwurst? i have you managed to get a beer yourself and a bratwurst?- have you managed to get a beer yourself and a bratwurst? i have had run with of the _ yourself and a bratwurst? i have had run with of the two _ yourself and a bratwurst? i have had run with of the two and _ yourself and a bratwurst? i have had run with of the two and i _ yourself and a bratwurst? i have had run with of the two and i will- yourself and a bratwurst? i have had run with of the two and i will leave i run with of the two and i will leave you the guess which one of those two. i you the guess which one of those two. ., ., . ., ., you the guess which one of those two. ., ., .., ., ., two. i dare not comment, i dare not comment- — two. i dare not comment, i dare not comment. john. _ two. i dare not comment, i dare not comment. john, thank— two. i dare not comment, i dare not comment. john, thank you - two. i dare not comment, i dare not comment. john, thank you very i two. i dare not comment, i dare not. comment. john, thank you very much indeed. john watson in the gorgeous central square in munich and much excite for scotland fans for tomorrow the test has taken more that two years to develop after being trialled in five nhs area, it is now due to be rolled out across england. our health correspondent nicky fox reports. jason wilson is a receptionist, he wanted to check how healthy he was, so he got involved in the trial. since he took the test, he has lost two stone, and is feeling good about the changes he has made. the two stone, and is feeling good about the changes he has made. the shape i was categorised _ the changes he has made. the shape i was categorised as _ the changes he has made. the shape i was categorised as o _ the changes he has made. the shape i was categorised as o bees _ the changes he has made. the shape i was categorised as o bees which i the changes he has made. the shape i was categorised as o bees which a - was categorised as o bees which a bit of o a shock and it made me realised i need to make long—term changes to my health to improve, so now i run 30, a0 minutes either on the treadmill or round the park here, i have started drinking a lot more water, and i try not to eat anything after 8.00 and ijust tried to be a bit healthier, yes it has made a big impact. so to be a bit healthier, yes it has made a big impact.— to be a bit healthier, yes it has made a big impact. so who could be civen one made a big impact. so who could be given one of — made a big impact. so who could be given one of these _ made a big impact. so who could be given one of these tests? _ made a big impact. so who could be given one of these tests? the - made a big impact. so who could be given one of these tests? the first | given one of these tests? the first are the ao-70-year-old _ given one of these tests? the first are the ao-70-year-old which - given one of these tests? the first are the ao-70-year-old which is l given one of these tests? the first l are the ao-70-year-old which is the are the a0—70—year—old which is the age group that traditionally qualifies for the health check, there is a wider group of individuals, starting even as young as 18 who are at higher risk of cardiovascular disease and we are targeting that group as well. how does the test _ targeting that group as well. how does the test work? so _ targeting that group as well. how does the test work? so i - targeting that group as well. how does the test work? so i prick - targeting that group as well. how does the test work? so i prick my fin . er and does the test work? so i prick my finger and then _ does the test work? so i prick my finger and then put _ does the test work? so i prick my finger and then put a _ does the test work? so i prick my finger and then put a droplet - does the test work? so i prick my finger and then put a droplet of i finger and then put a droplet of blood on there. it is about 100 types less blood than is required if you go to the gp. what we will do is start the timer. he you go to the gp. what we will do is start the timer.— start the timer. he waits seven minutes- _ minutes. as you can hear that is the aalarm. then use the cam on your phone to take a picture. it analyses the colours on the test, after a few more seconds the results are through. if more seconds the results are throu~h. . , ., , ., , through. if any of my values were unhealthy we _ through. if any of my values were unhealthy we would _ through. if any of my values were unhealthy we would flag - through. if any of my values were unhealthy we would flag that - through. if any of my values were unhealthy we would flag that as l through. if any of my values were i unhealthy we would flag that as red, now my official nhs harte age is actually the age i am, which is good, and my blood festivals are all in the healthy range. the good, and my blood festivals are all in the healthy range.— in the healthy range. the results will no in the healthy range. the results will go straight _ in the healthy range. the results will go straight to _ in the healthy range. the results will go straight to your _ in the healthy range. the results will go straight to your gp, - in the healthy range. the results will go straight to your gp, via i in the healthy range. the results. will go straight to your gp, via the nhs app. it took more than two years to develop talking to doctors and patients, most of the test is even produced here we patients, most of the test is even produced her— patients, most of the test is even roduced her ~ ~ ., ., , . produced here we know how stretched the nhs is, and _ produced here we know how stretched the nhs is, and the _ produced here we know how stretched the nhs is, and the post— produced here we know how stretched the nhs is, and the post covid - the nhs is, and the post covid backlog, the technology, like this, is a way of preventing long term conditions. if we know about those early we can intervene and we can identify those at risk people in our population. the identify those at risk people in our --oulation. , ., identify those at risk people in our population-— population. the test and app is bein: population. the test and app is being trialled _ population. the test and app is being trialled in _ population. the test and app is being trialled in five _ population. the test and app is being trialled in five nhs - population. the test and app is being trialled in five nhs areas l being trialled in five nhs areas across england and will now be rolled out across the country. for jasonit rolled out across the country. for jason it has helped him take control of his own health. nicky fox, let us take you bar to bari in italy this is the location of the g7 meeting of world leaders, and, a second or so ago we thought maybe we would be seeing president biden arriving, he the last of the leaders to arrive, there is a nice shot of giorgia meloni's shoes. prada or gucci? i don't know, i go to the high street for my clothing. that is fine, we will get, there we go. no, there we don't go. we are back to one shot, and it is the shot we are waiting for, we are waiting for president biden to exit a vehicle, and to go and greet giorgia meloni, i don't know if you have been watching but it was a good 20 minutes or so the last world leader arrived and we are still waiting now for president biden to be the last one to be greeted by giorgia meloni. she has already had her shots with mr macron from france, mrtrudeau her shots with mr macron from france, mr trudeau from canada, 0laf scholz from germany, our own and there he is, there is president biden r there is president biden walking towards giorgia meloni. the last of the world leaders to arrive. and as i mentioned before the summit which involves the world's seven biggest so—called most advanced economies will be focussing very much this year on the wars in gaza and in ukraine. specifically with a plan potentially to use frozen russian assets to raise billions of dollars for ukraine's war efforts against russia. there is president biden, the last of the leaders to meet with giorgia meloni. this g7 summit will involve some leaders from africa and from the indo—pacific region, they be discussing economic cooperation with developing country so it is notjust the seven most advanced countries talking about ukraine and gaza, there will be other subjects on the agenda as well. so as i mentioned there, it's a difficult time for the g7 this year because there are a number of destabilising, if you like, events taking place later, of course in the uk we have our election coming up, so there will be a different g7 leader potentially if france. in france there are parliamentary elections for president macron's party, not for him but for the party. later 0 none the year president biden will of course face a difficult election, as willjustin trudeau in canada. and so, many watcher, those who have watched the g7 for many years are saying what can we hope to achieve in a moment like this when there is so much instability across the world? we are staying with this because we are wondering whether potentially there might be and and in fact there is going to be a family photo isn't there. so all of the leaders are going to be standing on that large podium, and they are going to be doing a family photo. now what is a family photo? obviously these guys are not family. the family photo is the family of the g7. it is all the world leaders together. it is an important moment for diplomacy, for optics and a lot of the time these events are all about the optics aren't they, who is shaking whose hand, who is standing next to whom? are they smiling, waving? do you remember when the g7 arrived in the uk in falmouth and the queen was sat on that chair in among all of the world leaders and she quipped are you supposed to be looking as if you are enjoy yourself at the other leaders? she had a great sense of humour, trying to put them at ease. i wonder who will be putting these people at ease. so from left to right there is charles michelle. shovel shovel, the chancellor of germany. justin trudeau, i feel like chancellor of germany. justin trudeau, ifeel like it's a line up. the canadian prime minister. giorgia meloni, president biden of the us. the japanese prime minister. rishi sunak. the photo, i think has been done. that seemed very relaxed, didn't it and all the world leaders make their way into the conference area where the g7 summit will start. international diplomacy at its best there. let us take you from the g7 in italy and bring you all the way back here to our very own general election, because in wales plaid cymru is launching its manifesto at the temple of peace in cardiff. with a pledge for more funding to wales at the heart of their election bid. let's speak to our correspondent tomos morgan in cardiff. what does plaid cymru want to tell people with this manifesto, what are they promising?— they promising? yes, the leader of plaid cymru _ they promising? yes, the leader of plaid cymru that _ they promising? yes, the leader of plaid cymru that came _ they promising? yes, the leader of plaid cymru that came into - they promising? yes, the leader of plaid cymru that came into the - they promising? yes, the leader of plaid cymru that came into the job | plaid cymru that came into the job just, well almost exactly a year ago now, he is focussing this election for plaid cymru and this manifesto launch almost entirely on the economy, and really saying that plaid are the only party that will be able to secure fair funding for wales, they have gone on again in their manifesto launch about how wale has lost out in the cancellation of the launch of hs2. they think they should have billions more financially from the cancellation of the h52 and the fact it is only running up to birmingham now, so that is a key part, they also have saying thatly want the welsh government to handle the profits that come from that within wales rather than it going into the uk treasury so it is about the economy, what is interesting, i have covered a number of these elections in the past, well, 2017, 2018 and a number of the autumn and springs statement, what is interesting is how low down the priority list independence is becoming, in the mainstream for plaid cymru. i think there is a number of reasons for that, i think that have mentioned in the interview yesterday, that it was far lower down the agenda when it come to the public domain, i think they realised on the whole there isn't the same appetite here in wales as there has been in scotland, in recent times, so it will be interesting to see how much that is mentioned if it all in a speech by plaid cymru's leader later this morning but as i say, really, it is almost entirely focussed on the economy. they say they would, they want wales to rejoin the single market, so that will be an interest thing, i wonder how they will be able to do that, with so few seats they are projected to win in the uk election, what influence can they have on that, they won four seats in 2019, there has been boundary changes which means they are defending two seats, so at best, if they were able to get four seats again, because a0 seats have gone down to 32, in wales this year, they will have done a very well, really so i think i put the question a couple of weeks ago, what influence do you expect to have if you only have two, three, four seats? his response was we have always punched above our weight and that is what we will do this year. they will be pushing that his party and his mps will be the only ones to secure a fair dealfor and his mps will be the only ones to secure a fair deal for wales. find secure a fair deal for wales. and what kind of— secure a fair deal for wales. and what kind of a _ secure a fair deal for wales. and what kind of a man _ secure a fair deal for wales. and what kind of a man is he, what does he stand for? for what kind of a man is he, what does he stand for?— he stand for? for a number of years he stand for? for a number of years he was a bbc _ he stand for? for a number of years he was a bbc presenter _ he stand for? for a number of years he was a bbc presenter for - he stand for? for a number of years he was a bbc presenter for the - he stand for? for a number of years i he was a bbc presenter for the welsh language news programme, until he moved into politics, the tail end of the last decade. on the whole, lots of political pundits have accepted he has done quite a good job so in the leader debate and interview with nick robinson, standing his ground. i think he has been more realistic, it is fair to say, on that main party pledge, the pro—independence party, but being realistic about the fact that it is not going to be happening anytime soon. it was put to him sooner that you have said you wanted a vote by 2026, he said, well, we are going to scrap that, it's not the time to do it and we need to be focusing on the wider economy, and pushing in wales. he has really made it a key part of his pledge. up until recently, plaid cymru were in a cooperation agreement with labour in the senedd, and that means they agreed on a number of policy areas so it could get voted through. they have pulled out of that now. i think they knew a general election is coming up, so they wanted to make that separation. on a number of policy areas, they are quite similarto on a number of policy areas, they are quite similar to labour. i think thatis are quite similar to labour. i think that is fair to say. but they are putting out a store here today and making it, as they have to be, putting out a store here today and making it, as they have to he, being the party that represents wales, clearlyjust the party that represents wales, clearly just trying to the party that represents wales, clearlyjust trying to make that difference in trying to tell the public that we are the only ones that can push to get a secure funding for wales. he has even admitted in the press release, looking ahead to the manifesto launch today, that another party is conceding that keir starmer looks very likely to become the next prime minister, with labour coming to power, saying we have held labour to account in the senedd, in cardiff bay, and even though we might only have a view mps in westminster come july, we will do the same there, really. he can be quite a competitive figure. he does debate very well. it will be interesting to see what new ideas he has in this speech that will be coming up in the next quarter of an hour.— next quarter of an hour. thomas, thank you — next quarter of an hour. thomas, thank you very — next quarter of an hour. thomas, thank you very much _ next quarter of an hour. thomas, thank you very much indeed. - next quarter of an hour. thomas, thank you very much indeed. as i next quarter of an hour. thomas, i thank you very much indeed. as you can see on the screen, we are following what is happening on the podium in cardiff, and as soon as we see the leader of plaid cymru standing up to talk, we will go live there and cover that extensively and thoroughly for you. we are just waiting for that to happen in the next five minutes. let's take you somewhere else a bit warmer. italy, the g7. the prime minister has taken a brief pause from election campaigning tojoin a brief pause from election campaigning to join other world leaders who have arrived in southern italy for the 50th g7 leaders summit. the gathering of world leaders is going to focus very much on gaza and ukraine. they are expected to approve a plan to use frozen russian assets to raise $50 billion per yearfor frozen russian assets to raise $50 billion per year for kyiv. frozen russian assets to raise $50 billion per yearfor kyiv. there is rishi sunak, meeting the italian prime minister, giorgia meloni. on the sidelines, joe biden and president zelensky are also expected to sign a new security agreement. let's speak to mark lohan in bari. we were watching a few minutes ago the family photo of all of the leaders. i don't know what i could make of it. it didn't seem very uncomfortable, like some of them have been in the past, but it wasn't particularly warm either. surprisingly so, they are in a beautiful place, of course they would be happy. they are in southern italy. and yet so many of them are facing massive political woes back home. when i was looking at them lining up together beneath the olive trees of southern italy, you can count them. joe biden, who has not least the problem with his sons of having been convicted on drugs and firearms charges back in the us, and then the other slight issue of an election campaign in november in which he could lose the white house again to donald trump. we have got rishi sunak on the edge of the family photo, you saw a warm embrace with giorgia meloni, they formed a strong partnership in the last couple of years. rishi sunak, languishing in the opinion polls, and possibly this could be his last international summit. the last time international summit. the last time in which he rubs shoulders with the international great and good before the ath ofjuly. we have a president of france, emmanuel macron, facing a drubbing by the far right national rally, prompted him to call a shock national election, which looks like it will be won by the far right. olaf scholz, the chancellor of germany, visiting his party's worst ever result in a european election, beaten into third place by the far right, justin trudeau, behind in the opinion polls. the surprise guest, giorgia meloni, a country not known for political stability, gone through almost 70 government since the second world war, and yet she is emerging as a pillar of stability. she says she is going to this government as the strongest, going into this g7, as the strongest government of all. there are those that will disagree with her views, she leads a far—right party, she has softened in office, but she has brought a measure of political stability to the country. she is basking not only in the gorgeous sunshine in southern italy, but in the result of the eu election victory. she was probably the happiest person on the podium. stopped rubbing it in, gorgeous sunshine in italy. ion stopped rubbing it in, gorgeous sunshine in italy.— stopped rubbing it in, gorgeous sunshine in italy._ i. stopped rubbing it in, gorgeous i sunshine in italy._ i am sunshine in italy. ion inside. i am inside as well, _ sunshine in italy. ion inside. i am inside as well, but _ sunshine in italy. ion inside. i am inside as well, but i _ sunshine in italy. ion inside. i am inside as well, but i am _ sunshine in italy. ion inside. i am inside as well, but i am in - sunshine in italy. ion inside. i am inside as well, but i am in central london. on a serious note, ukraine is very much in focus? absolutely, it is a session this afternoon for leaders devoted to ukraine. the first session is about africa and climate change. that is important in itself. giorgia meloni has put outreach to africa at the heart of her presidency of the g7. she invited a host of african leaders, discussing a big plan that italy has 5.5 billion euros of investment in energy and infrastructure, to try to encourage young africans to stay on the continent does not migrate, many of them illegally, to europe. ukraine is usually important. the big plan is usually important. the big plan is likely to be to take the interest from frozen russian assets in the west, 300 billion euros of russian assets, and to use the interest to give ukraine a loan of $50 billion, likely to be signed off at the g7. thank you. let's go alive to the plaid cymru manifesto launch. let's stay with that, awaiting the leader in a moment of two. sits like this one, across wales, let's show him once and for all that there is no such thing as a safe seat. applause let's stop him, of course, from taking them for granted. she speaks welsh they say it is manifesto week, and the tories kicked things off on tuesday, and they offered a mix of recycled attacks on welsh democracy and threats, once again, of a disastrous mini budget sequel. but many people have just stopped listening, and the rest of us are aghast at what they think. coincidentally, and i am sure it is just a coincidence, labour are also announcing the manifesto today. you might hope for a radical manifesto for change. but no, they are sticking to tory fiscal rules which means that £18 billion will yet have to be cut. more austerity, but with a red face this time. but surely you think they are at least following through with the demands of wales's labour government? the one that they are so proud to use as a blueprint? no. we already know there will not be a mention of the devolution of justice, and not a whisper of the ea billion ode to wales in transport funds. welsh labour has been in power year for 25 years, a funds. welsh labour has been in power yearfor 25 years, a quarter of the century, keeping the labour machine well oiled while their westminster colleagues were in opposition. and this is the thanks they get. today, i am proud that we will be publishing a manifesto which stands in brilliant contrast to labour's bland offer and they like it or lump it attitude towards wales. a manifesto based on values, ambition, equality, hope and an honest recognition that we must find money to fund public services. not by making workers pay more taxes, but by making sure that those with a broader shoulders pay theirfair share. our manifesto is grounded in the fundamental belief that wales, is supposedly an equal partner, deserves ourfair share is supposedly an equal partner, deserves our fair share of funding and ambition to invest in our communities, using the natural wealth that is currently siphoned off to london. our sovereign wealth fund would be transformational for poor communities that have to long scene that natural wealth obstructed. i introduced the crown estate devolution bill in the last parliament. labour refused to support it. we need to elect more plaid cymru mps to force labour to take notice of our demands. and on policing and justice, only plaid cymru has an evidence—based policy to create safer communities through well resourced services, with police forces that truly understand those communities. yesterday, yvette cooper threw cold water on her own party's cooper threw cold water on her own pa rty�*s welsh cooper threw cold water on her own party's welsh government work on the devolution of policing. a hard no to evidence that has been built for years by experts. plaid cymru's manifesto is a manifesto for real change. she repeats in welsh applause good morning, friends. it's wonderful to see so many of you here today, a day to spell out our vision, a key to any election, why we are here, having spent every day since rishi sunak�*s rain—soaked announcements outside downing street three weeks ago, speaking to people in all parts of wales, i have a genuine sense that this election for all the different. it feels as if more people than ever are left utterly uninspired by what either labour or the conservatives have to offer. yes, there is a longing for change, absolutely, but it feels as if more people than ever are longing for a more hopeful, more ambitious vision to. in that spirit, i'm excited to be unveiling plaid cymru's vision through our manifesto today. a common thread which runs through this manifesto is fairness. firstly, fairfunding through this manifesto is fairness. firstly, fair funding for wales. plaid cymru is the only party advocating for the abolition of the barnett formula, which has seen wales lose out to the tune of billions of pounds now. it's not a begging bowl, it isjust doing billions of pounds now. it's not a begging bowl, it is just doing what is right, enabling investment in public services and in the economy. even lord barran himself, the architect of the formula back in 1978, said it had passed its sell by date many years ago. scrapping it in favour of a needs —based model is essential if we are to be able to adequately fund our public services, and it should be the bare minimum of what the next government offers wales. likewise, on hs2, the troubled high—speed rail project. because it is classed as an england and wales project, scotland and northern ireland are compensated. but, of course, there is not a single inch of hs2 track in wales, and we get nothing. worse than that, we actually get less rail investment as a result. in line with usual compensation rules, wales is owed £a billion, just imagine what that could do in terms of transforming our public transport network nationwide. buses, roads, railways, connecting our communities physically, digitally, and giving our economy desperately needed boost. and let me be clear, this appeal for boost. and let me be clear, this appealforfairfunding is not appeal for fair funding is not driven appealforfairfunding is not driven by ideology, it's driven by principle, it's driven by what is right. remember, there is nothing whatsoever that is inevitable about our poverty as a nation, nothing intrinsic to our people, which means we cannot create a thriving economy and world—class public services, given the tools that we need. to the next uk government we say this, show you are serious about wales and resolve the long—standing fair funding issues. applause and show that you are serious about bucking our economy. as an internationalist party. unlike labour and the conservatives, weigh in plaid cymru are not afraid to call out the disastrous consequences of severing ties with the world's largest trading bloc. we have been clear, consistent and unequivocal in recent years that rejoining the single market and customs union are vital in order to mitigate the impact of brexit on welsh business and reduce overheads and administrative costs. it's just common sense! he repeats in welsh the statistics are really sobering, aren't they? the need to in resources and workforce is greater than ever. the link between poverty and poor housing, and ill health, is crippling, and arguably felt more acutely in wales because of our ageing population and post industrial legacy. it was gordon brown, wasn't it, who said that child poverty is a scar on the soul of britain. labour's gordon brown. if only keir starmer was making that a priority today. applause and it must be a priority. not only is plaid cymru committed to scrapping the cruel and unfair two child benefit capital which labour and the tories are shamefully wedded, we would also increase child benefit by £20 per week. this would help through than 30,000 welsh families to deal with the cost of living crisis, taking 60,000 children out of poverty. plaid cymru, on the side of a fairer future for all, especially our children. these are the foundations of our vision for wales. fairness and ambition. and there is so much more that we need to do. a fairer tax system, including use of windfall taxes, devolving the crown estates to create green jobs and build prosperity. ajust transition commission, to give the future of welsh steal a fighting chance, as we strive for a net zero world. reversing labour's cuts to business rate support here in wales. a wales specific covid inquiry to give victims and loved ones the answers they deserve. building on our work to deliver a national care service for wales. to deliver a national care service forwales. fairfunding to deliver a national care service for wales. fairfunding for to deliver a national care service forwales. fairfunding for our for wales. fair funding for our police forwales. fairfunding for our police forces and the devolution of justice, rejected again by labour. keeping the pension triple lock. a veto on future trade deals that undermine welsh agricultural communities, and a cast—iron commitment to the pursuits of global peace from ukraine to gaza. i am proud of our offer, but, more importantly, i know our offer is in wales's interests. in three weeks' time, we can almost be certain that sir keir starmer will be moving into number 10 downing street. the tories are finished, thank goodness! but we can influence the change ahead of us, keeping the incoming labour government in check. not giving them a free pass to take welsh roads, but then cast wales' interests aside. i am proud to stand on a platform that offers a positive vision for our country, a genuinely positive vision for our country, which offers a real alternative to the increasingly joined up thinking of the two main uk parties, and a platform which gives people the opportunity to grow for fairness, gives people the opportunity to grow forfairness, for ambition, and for wales. applause that is rhun ap iorwerth, from plaid cymru, addressing the media and the representatives from the party with the manifesto which he is holding aloft. he talked in detail about various elements of the manifesto. we heard quite a bit about the future, about what plaid cymru want to move towards, the move towards potential independence, the consultation on what the path towards that might look like, he also highlighted the hs2 railway line, which we have been talking about on bbc news. let's cross live to tomos morgan, who can bring more analysis. this to tomos morgan, who can bring more anal sis. �* , ., to tomos morgan, who can bring more anal sis. r . , �*, analysis. as he said, plaid cymru's manifesto tag _ analysis. as he said, plaid cymru's manifesto tag line _ analysis. as he said, plaid cymru's manifesto tag line was _ analysis. as he said, plaid cymru's manifesto tag line was ambition i analysis. as he said, plaid cymru's| manifesto tag line was ambition for wales, and outlining that his party would be the only one that would be able to keep a labour government in check. another opposition party conceding it look very likely, as it looks like in the polls, that keir starmer will become possibly the next prime minister. i think what was interesting was that there was nothing in his speech about independence, he didn't mention at once. when you scan through the manifesto document, it does not come up manifesto document, it does not come up until after page a0 for the first time, and they mention it in the context of it is only if we became independent we would be able to get a fairfunding. all of independent we would be able to get a fair funding. all of this speech, the majority of the manifesto does talk about funding. it talks about scrapping the barnett formula, the formula which comes from the uk government, how the money is divided to the devolved governments as well. it also talks about renewing the relationship of europe. he says they need to rejoin europe, but there is no real detail on how a party that is projected to win between two and four seats would be able to influence such a huge thing like that. and also talks about peace in the middle east, when it comes to gaza. so he is pushing to be, although many policy areas are similar to labour, they are going more left—leaning, to try to win votes in wales, with some of those key areas, again, pushing for more powers, more funding for wales. that is the message that rhun ap iorwerth is the message that rhun ap iorwerth is trying to get across to voters in wales, that they are more left—leaning than labour it will be able to push for more funding, and to do so, he thinks it is pushing whatever government that comes in that wales should be getting more money from things like the scrapping of hs2, for example. we money from things like the scrapping of h52, for example.— money from things like the scrapping of h52, for example. we saw rhun ap iorwerth taking _ of h52, for example. we saw rhun ap iorwerth taking aim _ of h52, for example. we saw rhun ap iorwerth taking aim at _ of h52, for example. we saw rhun ap iorwerth taking aim at both _ of h52, for example. we saw rhun ap iorwerth taking aim at both labour- iorwerth taking aim at both labour and the tories during that speech. he did. you know, up until very recently, plaid were in a co—operation agreement with labour in cardiff bay, it does not mean that they were completely joined at the hip, but in many policy areas they came to an agreement so that things could get passed through. they pulled out of that not long ago. i think they were for seeing that an election would come up. ever since then, they have started taking aim at the labour party. you know, the main message, it has been for quite awhile from rhun ap iorwerth and plaid is, as i mentioned, they have been in opposition in wales for a number of years, they have, in his words, they have been able to keep labour check to a degree and that would be their role in westminster. at the key question is, what is happening to the message of independence? it seems as though there is going to be... they are not pushing for a vote, there was a timetable to have an independence vote in wales by 2026, that has gone out of the window, he seems to be suggesting they will be pushing for getting people more interested in the idea, rather than pushing for a vote on the subject. and also it will be how they can influence, with so few seats, anything to do with bringing more money into wales, and the big one of rejoining europe. it the big one of rejoining europe. it is about money for all of the parties, it is so economy focus? me parties, it is so economy focus? we have parties, it is so economy focus? - have heard it so many times, it is a cost of living election. and rhun ap iorwerth is another leader that is basically saying that we are the only party that can secure fair funding, there is so much poverty here, we need more money, i will be able to fight for this, my mps will be able to do that. but i keep coming back to this, i asked him again recently, if you have so few mps, projected to win between two and four seats, how can you realistically influence that from the government? his response was that our mps have always punched above their weight in the past, and i would expect and believe them to do so this time around. but it is a difficult one. the concept of scrapping the barnett formula is something we have been mentioning for quite some time. that would be a huge step in terms of getting a different type of funding. it might not necessarily mean they get more, but that would be to hope. but that would be a big one if they were able in any way to that is an interesting one. as i mentioned, really playing one. as i mentioned, really playing on hs2, the big one, so many people would be able to understand it more so than may be the barnett formula, that wales is owed more because it does not, in plaid cymru's words, it doesn't really affect wales at all, so we should be getting some money from that. those are the main points from that. those are the main points from rhun ap iorwerth in the manifesto launch. i am sure we will hear more from him today in his interviews later.— hear more from him today in his interviews later. he was appointed leader after— interviews later. he was appointed leader after his _ interviews later. he was appointed leader after his predecessor - interviews later. he was appointed leader after his predecessor had i interviews later. he was appointed j leader after his predecessor had to leave or step down over those damning allegations of misogyny within the party. are those clouds do you think still hanging of the party right now? i do you think still hanging of the party right now?— do you think still hanging of the party right now? i think they have been able to _ party right now? i think they have been able to quell _ party right now? i think they have been able to quell and _ party right now? i think they have been able to quell and pretty - been able to quell and pretty much by now really. i think enough time has possibly passed. i think they have moved on. it doesn't seem to be coming up as much as it was a year ago in conversation is a new story is now so they have been able to move on from that and i think the change of leader was able to draw a line over as well. he has done very well so far. i think many political experts would say in the debates and interviews he has done with the uk media i think the question now for two now is if he can turn that into more votes and seats.— two now is if he can turn that into more votes and seats. thank you very much for your— more votes and seats. thank you very much for your analysis _ more votes and seats. thank you very much for your analysis of _ more votes and seats. thank you very much for your analysis of the - more votes and seats. thank you very much for your analysis of the two - much for your analysis of the two manifesto launch. —— plaid cymru manifesto launch. —— plaid cymru manifesto launch. —— plaid cymru manifesto launch. we are now waiting for labour to launch their manifesto because keir starmer and his team are about to launch their manifesto for the opposition. his expected to promise there will be no surprise tax policies. labour has already ruled out increased races on vat, income tax and national insurance. keir starmer has said his party is focused on the economy and wealth creation. the conservatives say labour has no plan for the future. this is a live shot of the event in greater manchester. we are still waiting for the shadow cabinet and the leader of the labour party to arrive. it is a pretty full event, as can be expected. the manifesto will of course be provided to all the journalists and media who are waiting there ahead of the speech. and as always our correspondence and editors from culture, health, across—the—board will be analysing and crunching the figures, the claims on the promises in the labour manifesto. let's now cross live and speak to our political correspondent who is at westminster for us. this year, the themes in this manifesto we are already pretty much across, aren't we? no surprises expected here. ., �* , , aren't we? no surprises expected here. . �* , , , . here. that's right. it is very much been touted _ here. that's right. it is very much been touted as _ here. that's right. it is very much been touted as reassurance - here. that's right. it is very much | been touted as reassurance rather than revelation. no drama stammer. if you have been vaguely keeping across what the labour party have been saying for the last 18 months orso been saying for the last 18 months or so you will have an idea of what is coming, particularly reinforcing the six steps that you might remember that keir starmer launched a few weeks ago. so talking about sticking to the spending rules, setting up this company great british energy to invest in green power. cutting nhs waiting list, border security, power. cutting nhs waiting list, bordersecurity, nhs power. cutting nhs waiting list, border security, nhs waiting list, more teachers. what we are going to haveis more teachers. what we are going to have is more stuff about what you might not expect to get in a manifesto about planning for example. about setting up a modern industrial strategy. all of those kind of things. because the central point here, what labour is really trying to get at is growth. that is the way they think they're going to make a difference. because if you can grow the economy you can generate money. and if you can generate money. and if you can generate money. and if you can generate money you can spend it on the things you want to spend on rather than tax and spend, which might be the way they've been additionally seen in the past. and of course all _ additionally seen in the past. and of course all the _ additionally seen in the past. and of course all the projections point towards a labour victory and quite a decisive one. how difficult you think that makes it for a party in that position to put forward its messages in a way that will then, you know, feed through to those voters who are as yet undecided? it is an underthem voters who are as yet undecided? it is an under them an interesting on that. the labour approach throughout this campaign and i suspect the next three weeks or so has been absolutely safety first. let's not frighten the horses. all of these things have been set out in a very certain way. everything they have said they have been very keen to stress it is all about policies being costed. there is not going to being costed. there is not going to be any tax rises, they have been stressing that again and again and again. now, the conservative could do to deliver criticism of this is that labour has nothing. rishi sunak has been running around the place setting out policies that he wants to set out left, right and centre. everything from national service to changes to taxes so that the point at which you lose your child benefit becomes less, to this thing about cutting a couple of pence of national insurance again. so he has been going around the place putting out policies all over the place. labour are much more different approach. now obviously there are couple of problems potentially with that. one is that people don't really pay attention to what you are doing because they don't think that there is anything to see because there is anything to see because there is anything to see because there is nothing new being announced are nothing new being rolled out. and there is also this kind of slight problem of people thinking, well, you all the same. if you are going to stick to the same spending limits, if you also saying you are not going to raise any of these taxes, what actually is they're coming down the pipe that is different for me? so you can completely understand why labour has adopted this safety first approach but that is not to say that there aren't some problems that. we're 'ust aren't some problems that. we're just seeing _ aren't some problems that. we're just seeing now — aren't some problems that. we're just seeing now the _ aren't some problems that. we're just seeing now the labour - aren't some problems that. we'rel just seeing now the labour cabinet arriving ahead of sir keir starmer. there is wes streeting sitting down as well. the shadow cabinet have been out and about over the last couple of weeks, really putting forward labour's plan, sir keir starmer�*s plan. but i hear that the manifesto is very much focused on him, the front cover apparently has a picture of him with his sleeves rolled up. the message very much, alessia, that he is ready for action. ., alessia, that he is ready for action. . ., �* , , action. yeah, that's right. it is . uite action. yeah, that's right. it is quite interesting _ action. yeah, that's right. it is quite interesting this, - action. yeah, that's right. it is quite interesting this, there i action. yeah, that's right. it is. quite interesting this, there are something like 3a, 35 pictures of keir starmer in the manifesto, so busy putting himself very much front and centre and trying to project this image of competent and stable and that is really where labour is going with this idea. look at his sleeves, his sleeves are rolled up. angela rayner is about to take to the stage. let's have a listen. thank you. hello and welcome to manchester and to the whole of the co—operative movement. applause i'm so proud... over the last few weeks... inaudible we just cannot afford, high tax, low growth in broken tory promises. crime going unpunished, soaring nhs waiting lists and people saving every penny for a home that is now out of reach. every day of this campaign i have met people with hope for our future. campaign i have met people with hope for ourfuture. hope that campaign i have met people with hope for our future. hope that things can get betterfor for our future. hope that things can get better for the next generation. despite the years of tory failure. we know that a labour government would inherit a high tax, low growth economy and the only way to change thatis economy and the only way to change that is through the foundation of economic stability upon which everything else will be built. the tories have shown you can't tax our way to growth. our plan for growth means investment and reform. we will get britain building by reintroducing housing targets and reforming the planning system. and we will finally make work pay with a new deal for working people, boosting wages and security at work. we will switch on great british energy to provide clean, secure energy, cutting bills and creating good jobs. and we will launch a new border security command to smash the smuggling gangs. and we will crack down on anti—social behaviour with more neighbourhood police. and we will get our nhs back on its feet by cutting the backlog, by clamping down on tax loopholes. and we will recruit 6500 extra qualified teachers and provide free school breakfasts by ending tax breaks for private schools. and when we deliver growth it will be in every corner of the country. keir and i know the power of labour government. it gave us the opportunity to succeed. and if you place your trust in us, we are committed to never taking up power for granted. are committed to never taking up powerfor granted. we are committed to never taking up power for granted. we have are committed to never taking up powerfor granted. we have changed the labour party. and with this manifesto, we can change britain. change worth having and change it worth voting for. we know the task ahead is daunting. just three times in our party's history have we won power from in our party's history have we won powerfrom opposition. the manifestos in 19a5, 196a and 1997 answered the questions. what future do you want to see? and what country do you want to see? and what country do you want to see? and what country do you want to build? today, we publish our plan for the change we need to meet the challenges ahead. our chance to end the chaos, to turn the page and to start a new chapter. what we now ask is the chance to make that change reality. for the opportunity to serve you. so now i would like to hand over iceland ceo, who shares my passion to change britain, richard walker. good morning. i'm richard walker, executive chairman of iceland supermarkets. and as someone whose family business started its growth here in the north west it is a pleasure to be in manchester to welcome the launch of labour's manifesto. now, icome welcome the launch of labour's manifesto. now, i come from a pretty speaking family. my dad's reaction when i set off this morning was tell them it had better be a good one! well, it certainly needs to he, doesn't it? and i'm happy to say that it really is. we have all lived through 1a years of tory chaos and underachievement. years of endless infighting and broken promises, lacking the ability or even the ambition to turn things around. the tories are out of ideas. only labour can change this country's trajectory of dismal economic performance. in business, i like to see a plan. the country needs a clear and credible plan, too. and i really like what i see in labour's plan to ensure that we invest in the people and the infrastructure that we need to put our country on the road to recovery. to run what rachel reeves has called the most progrowth, pro—business treasury our country has ever seen. prioritising economic growth, which has to be the driver of everything we all want to achieve while maintaining sound finances. pursuing a clear industrial strategy and reforming the planning system, which has been the biggest drag on this country's performance for years. a change that has the potential to genuinely turbo—charge our prospects. now, ispent genuinely turbo—charge our prospects. now, i spent seven days a week listening to customers and colleagues on the front line in towns and cities across britain. and i can tell you they have been hurting. they ache for change. if it is lucky enough to win the trust of the british people, labour will repay that trust. by turning our economy to growth. by repairing our damaged environment. by investing in green energy and the infrastructure for our future. green energy and the infrastructure for ourfuture. by green energy and the infrastructure for our future. by ripping green energy and the infrastructure for ourfuture. by ripping out crime at its roots and creating streets that are safe for our communities. by that are safe for our communities. by making education and skills of the motor of change. by ensuring our health and social care services help everyone live life to the full, whatever it throws at them. while ensuring that people can get to work and get our economic growth that we all need to see. as we turn our backs on the grim years of conservative mismanagement, it gives me real hope that this can be the start of the better future for all of us. thank you and now i would like to hand over to daniel, who is going to tell us his story about why we need a labour government. applause hi, everyone. my name is daniel and i live in east london. i'm here today to give you an insight of what it is like living in my current living situation. together with my parent we have two children, a boy who is 13, going on 30! and a beautiful seven—year—old girl. we live together in a one bed flat, which is pretty much a bedsit. to say we find it difficult is an understatement. without discussing the multiple health conditions that we all suffer, just the relationships as parents, husband and wife, brother and sister, all severely strained because we are all pretty much living on top of each other. we have most for ourselves, most based to think, critically for my children it is a really big struggle. at school my kids try to concentrate but how can they? they haven't even got their own space, they can't get a good night's sleep. having their own rooms is pretty much a pipe dream for us at the moment and they don't even get to have their own beds. to add to those difficulties, the cost of living crisis is making everything worse. all the bills going up, ourfood bill has doubled, the rent increase is ridiculous and overwhelming. i am someone who i feel i've done all the right things, i have graduated from university, i have a good job, i try to be a good example for my children and hopefully build a future for them. right now, the idea of buying our own home isjust nowhere on our own home is just nowhere on the horizon. rise billy my rent has risen, private renting is pretty much the same as trying to get a mortgage. we try to save but the cost of a mortgage these days is just out of reach. i'm supporting labour firstly because keir 's plans to build more homes is really needed throughout the country, notjust to build more homes is really needed throughout the country, not just for us in london. and secondly because of the help that is going to be offered for first—time buyers it actually gives us hope that something can change. i strongly believe that if you can build a good home environment, you build better people, you build better citizens. they go outside, talk with each other and build a better community and in turn that leads to better society. forthe and in turn that leads to better society. for the past 1a years we have struggled with turmoil and uncertainty. labour is the only party offering something different. they are actually giving us, the people, a voice and they are listening. we want change. we need change. and the only way to do that is to vote labour. so thank you for listening to my story today and now i would like to introduce you to nathaniel, who will give you his story about why you should vote for labour. applause my my name is nathanial and i am a 38—year—old music teacher. i love my job and should be looking forward to inspiring tomorrow's rock stars for decades to come. but no. cancer will kill me first and i will do well to live another three years, let alone 30. when i was first diagnosed in october 2022 it looked like i might be able to survive the bowel cancer that had only spread to my liver and be cancer free after surgery. but when further spread was discovered in my lungs and lymph nodes in my neck, my prognosis worsened. and no matter how much gruelling treatment i volunteered to put myself through, one thing is certain, this cancer will kill me. and it will grow back. and one day too soon and my life. —— might end my life. there is nothing i can do about it now but i can't stop wondering what might have been. because i spent over 100 days waiting for cancer treatment when the government's target was 62 and there's a chance that if chemotherapy had come sooner my cancer might not have spread. it is no one person's fault that appointments took so long to come through and i have to say so many wonderful people in the nhs have worked tirelessly, tirelessly to care for me, as they do for everyone at their time of greatest need. but it is clear that the system has badly let me down. i represent the human cost of an nhs neglected over the past 1a years and i invite anyone who stands by that dismal record in government to look me in the eye and say that it was good enough. we all deserve so much more. and i see labour's policy to deliver a0,000 more appointments a week to clear the nhs backlog and cut waiting times as a real tangible plan to give people the treatment they need before it is too late. why should i bother to speak up now? after all, should i bother to speak up now? afterall, it should i bother to speak up now? after all, it is too late for me. but it is not too late to call for change. to support those who would in improve the nhs are the others in my unfortunate position might live to grow old, even though i won't, because i won't. if i have learned everything there anything from or experience, it is that time is the essence. and i know that wes streeting, a cancer survivor himself, will give everything to get our nhs back up to speed. because a system better set up to work more quickly can mean the difference between life and death. this looks like being my last general election and i am desperate to make it count. i'm proud to say that a labour government is what i hope for, now that my own hope is gone. because with keir starmer�*s leadership, labour is a party that will govern for all of us because labour will always act with the kindness and compassion that i look for so strongly in myself. because labour is the party of hope for a brighter future. i won't live to see but you really could. i live in hope. now... applause now i would like to introduce holly, who will tell us her story about being a first—time voter. applause hi, i'm holly, an a—level student in the middle of my exams and a new member of the labour party. applause i recently turned 18, so this election will be the first time i get to have my vote in the election and i'm excited to vote for labour onjuly and i'm excited to vote for labour on july the ath. politics and i'm excited to vote for labour onjuly the ath. politics is something i think affects every aspect of our lives and this election will determine our lives more than ever before. with the covid pandemic it feels like young people are often forgotten and left behind, especially when we lost school years of schooling and social interaction, which arguably caused a effects such as affecting which universities we could attend. at the same time, they had downing street parties, something that was many deem it hard for many to learn, especially for a generation that sacrificed so much of our youth. for me and many young people, keir starmer�*s labour party symbolises a better future and greater equality and prosperity for all of us. for me particularly labour symbolises gender equality, something i firmly believe in and the women at the heart of the labour party give me and the next generation something to look towards and represent the progress society is making. wouldn't it be great to see rachel reeves as the first female chancellor? applause the environmental pledges of labour are also incredibly attractive to someone who will be living with the consequences of the government now in years to come. labour is the party for young people, giving us more expert teachers so we are prepared for life, work and the future and giving us the potential to buy our own homes when we are older. for me, laboursymbolises to buy our own homes when we are older. for me, labour symbolises a chance to finally have our say on our own futures and this is why i am excited about casting my vote for labour in the upcoming general election. before we hearfrom labour in the upcoming general election. before we hear from the leader of the labour party keir starmer, i'm going to hand over to a video showing what he has been up to the last few weeks. so as we await the arrival of sir keir starmer we just digest what we have heard. we started off hearing obviously from angela rayner and then the boss of iceland supermarkets richard walker came onto the podium to talk about the fact that he believes that the tories are out of ideas after 1a years in power. and then we had three real stories and they were, you know, quite intense, quite moving stories. the first one from a gentleman who was living in a one—bedroom flat in east london with his two children and wife, talking about the struggles of his life. and the second one about a man with cancer and the third won a young voter. well, now let's listen to the leader of the labour party keir starmer. thank you. thank you very much. thank you. thank you very much. thank you. thank you very much. thank you, ange, for your introduction, for everything you are doing. i think i am taking your boss this afternoon! thank you, richard, for your words. thank you, richard, for your words. thank you, richard, for your words. thank you, daniel, for reminding us why we are doing what we are doing. nathanial, i have heard your story before but every single time it gets to me and i'm sure it gets to every single person that listens to what you say. and i am humbled by your determination to make sure that things are better for those determination to make sure that things are betterfor those in determination to make sure that things are better for those in the next generation. and, holly, that was fantastic. holly is 18 years old. anybody who has stood on a stage like this knows how hard it is for all of us to stand up here. that is the first time holly has done anything like this in her life. fantastic, holly! applause and taken together, isn't this clear evidence of a changed labour party. and clear evidence of the change we need for our country. a change... thank you very much. we gave up on being a party of protest five years ago. we want to be a party of power. and that's not in the script but thatis and that's not in the script but that is part of the change. and, holly, can i also say at the start of this that this party respects and will never forget the contribution that your generation made during the pandemic. thank you so much. and thank you all for coming to manchester. thank you all for the hard work that has gone into this campaign so far. into this project. four and a half years of work, changing our party to put it back in the service of working people. and now the next step, the most important step, changing britain, rebuilding our country, so that it too serves the interests of working people. and what a place to launch our plan to do so. the home of the co—operative group, an organisation... applause an organisation that has long believed, as we do, that the pursuit of social justice and believed, as we do, that the pursuit of socialjustice and economic growth must go hand in hand. a day where i am proud in this place, in this city, to launch labour's general election manifesto, a plan to change britain. applause because today we can turn the page. today we can lay a new foundation of stability. and on that foundation we can start to rebuild britain. that we serve working people as their ambition drives our country forward. applause because there is so much potential in this country, so much possibility if we stand together as a four nations and back the ambition people have for theirfamily and nations and back the ambition people have for their family and their community. i see it everywhere i go. potential health back. i spoke too well, he is a fireman in milton keynes. he works really hard. his dream is to own his own home, a roof over his head that he can call his own. as well as a firefighter, will has two otherjobs. it is the price he is paying. i want to alder hey hospital not farfrom he is paying. i want to alder hey hospital not far from here. he is paying. i want to alder hey hospital not farfrom here. it he is paying. i want to alder hey hospital not far from here. it is a brilliant children's hospital. absolutely brilliant. the day i went in, i went to the ward where they were doing operations on 0—2 year old children. it was incredible to just see what they do. heart surgery. the brilliance of the nhs staff. ifound that surgery. the brilliance of the nhs staff. i found that totally humbling, until i found out that it all in a hospital, going there to have their teeth taken out because they are decaying. that is the price that they are paying. so just imagine if, instead, a labour government gives will and daniel the affordable homes they need, if a labour government tackles the rotten tooth, imagine what those nurses and doctors could do with a labour government on their side. don't get me wrong, these challenges do not disappear overnight if labour wins. we don't have a magic one. but what we do have, what this manifesto represents, is a credible long—term plan, a plant built on stable foundations with clear first steps. tough spending rules that will keep taxes low, nhs waiting times cut with a0,000 extra appointments every week, a border security command to smash the criminal smuggling gangs, great british energy to cut bills in your home for good, more police in your home for good, more police in your town, cracking down on anti—social behaviour. add 6500 new teachers in your school, giving your children a start in life that they deserve. applause but also, a plan that is much more than a list of policies. a plan for change, for growth, for giving our children theirfuture change, for growth, for giving our children their future back. change, for growth, for giving our children theirfuture back. a change, for growth, for giving our children their future back. a chance to refocus politics on the things that matter to your family. the era of sticking plaster politics with chaos and division replaced by a government back in the service of you and yourfamily. you and your family. applause and make no mistake, that is the cause of this changed labour party. we have written that argument through every word of this manifesto. britain has lost its balance. it is too hard for working people to get on. opportunity is not spread evenly enough. and too many communities are notjust locked out of the wealth we create, they are disregarded as sources of dynamism in the first place. ignored by the toxic idea that economic growth is something that the few hands down to the many. today we turn the page on that forever. applause because that idea is part of the story of the past 1a years. but if everything when they trashed the pound to give tax cuts to the richest 1%, when they decimated your public services because of a mess made by banks, when they failed to invest in clean british energy and we were exposed when putin invaded ukraine, that idea was there. a tory inability to embrace the future rather than strengthen government so that it can intervene in partnership with business to give you and your family stability in this insecure world. it doesn't matter how many new policies need tories throughout the wall. none of them face up to the wall. none of them face up to the reality. mark my words, this changed labour party well. we have a plan in this manifesto. a total change of direction. labour focus on our goals, stability, growth, investment and reform, a government backin investment and reform, a government back in the service of your family, ready to change britain. applause we will restore the foundations of good government. national security, border security, economic security. we will make new choices to reform our economy and public services. our choices. choices are duct for years. these choices will be fully costed. that is non—negotiable. we cannot play fast and loose with the public finances. we have lived through the damage that this does. the government we have now played fast and loose with finances and working people paid the price. just after liz truss's mini budget, i went to wolverhampton. i met there a couple that had a three—year—old child they decided they wanted a second child. they had chosen a new home that was big enough to accommodate their new family. they got a mortgage. liz truss crashed the economy, their mortgage went through the roof, they could not afford it, they pulled out, they could not move to their new home, they felt they were held back. but they also took the decision that they could no longer afford to have a second child. and they will live without for the of their lives. that is the price that they are paying. so i make no apologies for being careful with working people's money and no apologies for rolling out tax rises on working people. this is notjust the election. don't think it is just politics. this is an issue of conviction. i don't believe it is fair to raise taxes on working people when they are already paying this much, particularly in the cost of living crisis. so let me spell it out. we will not raise income tax. we will not raise national insurance. we will not raise vat. that is a manifesto commitment. applause and another thing. because there maybe some here today who say there is the surprise? where is the rabbit out of the hat? to which i say, if you want politics as pantomime, i hear clacton is nice at this time of year. but seriously, we have to come to terms with this. britain needs stability. no more chaos. i set out our long—term plan in this rim 18 months ago, and that plant stands because it is the right plan. we did the work properly. our responsibility to give a clear direction to businesses, communities, everyone invested in britain's future. we took that seriously. so, yes, there is a five national emissions, higher growth, safer streets, clearer energy, more opportunity, the nhs back on its feet, they remain at the core of this manifesto. —— cleaner energy. but if they are to offer hope and clarity through these times, if they are to show despite the hard road the light at the certain destination, we must keep to that road no matter the short—term ebbs and flows of politics. even in a campaign. that is what mission driven government means. a chance to stop us bobbing along until the next crisis blows is of course. and instead make sure we can keep going through the storm. stability of chaos, long—term over short—term, an end to the desperate era of gestures and gimmicks and a return to the serious business of rebuilding our country. applause and on that foundation of stability, we start to rebuild. eight rebuilding that must begin first and foremost with new choices on economic growth. that is the mandate we seek from britain at this election, a mandate for economic growth. because the way we create wealth in this country is broken. it leaves far too many people feeling insecure. people who are working hard and doing the right thing. so we will reform it. and we will keep on reforming it until it delivers for them. wealth creation is r number one priority. growth is our core business. the only route to improving the prosperity of our country and the living standards of working people. and that is why we made it our first national mission in government. but we must change our approach so that it comes from every community, notjust shared with every community. redistribution cannot be a one—word plan for our tourist towns and regions. no, we need to give them the tools they need, back their pride and potential, growth for every community, growth from every community, growth from every community stop that is the path to national renewal. and now some people say that how you grow the economy is not a central question. that it is not about how you create wealth but how you tax it, how you spend it, how you slice the cake. that is all that matters. so let me be crystal clear. this manifesto is a total rejection of that argument. because if you transform the nation nature of the jobs market, the infrastructure that supports investment in our economy, if you reform the planning regime, start to unlock the potential of billions upon elaine's pounds of projects that are ready to go, held up by the blockers of aspiration, then clearly that does so much more for our long—term growth prospects. and he same is true of public services. if we grow the economy, and anything like the rate of the last labour government, we would have tens of billions of pounds worth of investment for our public services every year. so if you take nothing else away let it be this. this changed labour party has a plan for growth. we are pro—business and pro—worker. the party of wealth creation. applause we will reform the planning rules, a choice ignored for 1a years, and built the homes and infrastructure. we will level up your rights at work, a choice ignored for 1a years. and raise your wages in your security. we will create a new industrial strategy, a choice ignored for 1a years. and we will back it with a national wealth fund, invest in clean steel, new ports, gigafactories, and we will create 650,000 newjobs for communities 650,000 new jobs for communities like 650,000 newjobs for communities like yours, we like the fires of renewal across all four of our great nations. applause you can choose a different path. you have the power. you can choose to take back control from westminster, for democracy for your community. new powers over transport, skills, employment. unlike the pride and potential in every community. that is a different choice you can make. applause you can cut your bills for good with a new energy company funded by a tax on the oil and gas giants, owned by the taxpayer, making money for the taxpayer, powering your love with clean british energy. that is a different choice you can make. applause and you can choose to get our nhs back on its feet, and the akm scramble, backed our nhs staff, get the best technology in their hands, slash waiting lists in your hospital, funded by taking on the non—dom is. that is a different choice that you can make. and in the 8am scramble. and i tell you another choice you can make. you can choose to live in a country that believes in and backs its young people, the future of our camp d country. iam fed i am fed up of politicians lecturing young people about their responsibility to our nation when those politicians fail in their responsibility to the future. applause and after what young people did during the pandemic, what they gave up during the pandemic, what they gave up for people, let's be blunt, more at risk than them. that adds insult to injury. more than that, it tears up to injury. more than that, it tears up the unwritten contract, the bonds of respect that hold these four great nations together, the values that make us who we are, the responsibilities that we owe to each other, past, presentand responsibilities that we owe to each other, past, present and future. responsibilities that we owe to each other, past, presentand future. my dad was a toolmaker who worked in a factory, my mum was a nurse, we did not have a lot when we were growing up. and like many other working—class children now, i grew up working—class children now, i grew up in a cost of living crisis. i know what it feels like to be embarrassed to bring your mates home because the carpet is a threadbare and the window was cracked. i was actually responsible for that because i did put the football through it. but we did not have the money to fix it. or, to be honest, the time in the energy. economic insecurity drains you of that as well. but look, but always comforted my parents was the idea that in the end britain would give their children a fair chance. the old saying, the story we still tell our children, work hard and you can achieve anything. that meant something. my parents believed in that. but the question now, after 1a years, is do we? do kids like those in summer style, years, is do we? do kids like those in summerstyle, a years, is do we? do kids like those in summer style, a very poor part of my constituency, one of the poorest parts of europe, do they look out of their window at the glittering success of london 300 yards and another world away? and believe that success could belong to them? do parents in manchester, glasgow, cardiff, suffolk, stoke—on—trent, do they believe with the certainty that they believe with the certainty that they deserve that the future will be better for their children? they deserve that the future will be betterfor their children? —— better for their children? —— summerstown. because betterfor their children? —— summerstown. because in the britain i want to leave to my children, they do. and we can build it. we can restore the dream of home ownership to 1.5 million families. we can create 3000 new nurseries to give them the best start in life. we can roll out a new generation of technical excellence colleges, world class vocational education are respected by all, grounding young aspiration in their community. we can guarantee for every young person a job placement, apprenticeship. we can invest in their mental health, their physical health, their dental health. we can reform the curriculum to prepare them for their world. we can create new youth hubs to give them something to do in their community. raise their wages if they are at work. give them the power of the vote. tackle injustice with the new race equality act. and with our mission on clean power, we can lead the way on climate, finally show our responsibility to their future, a fairer, healthierand more responsibility to their future, a fairer, healthier and more secure britain at the service of working people with growth from every community, a britain ready to restore that promise, the bond that reaches through the generations and says, this country will be better for your children. that is the change on offer onjuly the ath. applause that is our plan. and i invite you all tojoin our mission that is our plan. and i invite you all to join our mission to stop the chaos, turn the page and start to rebuild our country. thank you so much. thank you. applause thank you. thank you very much. applause thank you. thank you all very much. thank you. i'm now going to take a number of questions from the media. and i'm starting with chris from the bbc. there you are. starting with chris from the bbc. there you are-— there you are. chris mason, bbc news. there you are. chris mason, bbc news- keir— there you are. chris mason, bbc news. keir starmer, _ there you are. chris mason, bbc news. keir starmer, talk - there you are. chris mason, bbc news. keir starmer, talk to - there you are. chris mason, bbc news. keir starmer, talk to the l news. keir starmer, talk to the voter right now who fear is that you might only really say what you are going to do after any victory rather than before. we live in an era, don't we, of scepticism and cynicism about politics. address those voters, and you know that there are those, you will feel that? let voters, and you know that there are those, you will feel that?— those, you will feel that? let me address them _ those, you will feel that? let me address them directly, _ those, you will feel that? let me address them directly, because i those, you will feel that? let me i address them directly, because this manifesto is a manifesto for change. a total rejection, chris, of the cynicism, of the idea that we cannot do any better, that we can only hope to flatline and that we cannot rebuild our country. it is a total rejection of that idea, based on four years of hard work, hundreds of engagements. so that we can build a future which genuinely will be better for our children. i understand the cynicism, i understand the cynicism, i understand that after 1a years of this for many people in the hope has been beaten out of them, but this is a manifesto for hope, a plan for growth, for change, for wealth creation. i will never accept the defeat is that says we cannot do better than this. you can come up we will, and with a labour government we will get the opportunity to rebuild our country. —— defeatism. thank you, chris. rebuild our country. -- defeatism. thank you, chris.— rebuild our country. -- defeatism. thank you, chris. betty rigby, sky news. thank you, chris. betty rigby, sky news- this — thank you, chris. betty rigby, sky news- this is _ thank you, chris. betty rigby, sky news. this is a _ thank you, chris. betty rigby, sky news. this is a 132 _ thank you, chris. betty rigby, sky news. this is a 132 page _ thank you, chris. betty rigby, sky| news. this is a 132 page document. on the _ news. this is a132 page document. on the cover— news. this is a 132 page document. on the cover it says a change. but there _ on the cover it says a change. but there is— on the cover it says a change. but there is not— on the cover it says a change. but there is not a single new policy in it you _ there is not a single new policy in it you haven't already announced, there _ it you haven't already announced, there is— it you haven't already announced, there is no— it you haven't already announced, there is no new offer for voters. rishi _ there is no new offer for voters. rishi sunak— there is no new offer for voters. rishi sunak threw the kitchen sink at his— rishi sunak threw the kitchen sink at his manifesto. you will not even take the _ at his manifesto. you will not even take the safety catch of yours. is this a _ take the safety catch of yours. is this a captain caution manifesto designed — this a captain caution manifesto designed to protect your poll lead? no, it— designed to protect your poll lead? no, it is— designed to protect your poll lead? no, it is a — designed to protect your poll lead? no, it is a serious plan for the future of our country. and every single policy in this document, policy after policy after policy, has been carefully thought through and tested to ensure that we can deliver it. i am not going to do what rishi sunak did, which is to offer things that he cannot deliver because they are unfunded. people are fed too much of that. they are fed up with that. this is a serious plan, carefully thought through. it is not about pantomime. we have had that. i am is not about pantomime. we have had that. iam running is not about pantomime. we have had that. i am running to be a candidate to be prime minister, not to run the circus. thank you very much, beth. applause robert. itv. . applause robert. itv. ,, ,, ., robert. itv. sir keir starmer, you sa ou robert. itv. sir keir starmer, you say you want _ robert. itv. sir keir starmer, you say you want people _ robert. itv. sir keir starmer, you say you want people to _ robert. itv. sir keir starmer, you say you want people to trust - robert. itv. sir keir starmer, you say you want people to trust you, | say you want people to trust you, you want to restore stability to the uk, but it is surely the opposite of that to make the bogus claim that you can get growth up sufficiently by next year to prevent significant cuts to public services. how are you going to avoid a return to austerity?— going to avoid a return to austeri ? ~ ., ., ., ., austerity? we are not going to return to austerity. _ austerity? we are not going to return to austerity. i _ austerity? we are not going to return to austerity. i ran - austerity? we are not going to return to austerity. i ran a - austerity? we are not going to i return to austerity. i ran a public service for five years, the crown prosecution service, i lived through austerity, i am prosecution service, i lived through austerity, iam never going prosecution service, i lived through austerity, i am never going to allow austerity, i am never going to allow a labour government to do that to our public services, never. applause we have an immediate injection into our public services, the a0,000 appointments each and every week in our nhs to get our waiting lists down. the teachers that we will put into our secondary schools, 6500. but, robert, we have here a plan for growth, a plan for wealth creation and steps we can take, a plan to deal with the planning regulation. it can be done at speed. we have got a national wealth fund to invest in the future of our country. gb energy, an energy company to keep our bills down. an industrial strategy, a training programme for the skills we need for the future, all of these things haven't been donein all of these things haven't been done in the last 1a years. i understand why people think they cannot be done because of the damage that has been done over the last 1a years. they can and they will. we will turn around growth in this country and create the wealth we need for our country and our services. thank you, robert, thank you very much. chris at gb news. chris hope, gb news. chris at gb news. chris hope, gb news- you _ chris at gb news. chris hope, gb news. you are _ chris at gb news. chris hope, gb news. you are so _ chris at gb news. chris hope, gb news. you are so far— chris at gb news. chris hope, gb news. you are so far ahead - chris at gb news. chris hope, gb news. you are so far ahead in - chris at gb news. chris hope, gb| news. you are so far ahead in the polls. _ news. you are so far ahead in the polls, should we prepare for a polls, should we prepare fora one-party— polls, should we prepare for a one—party socialist state, as the tories _ one—party socialist state, as the tories say? _ one—party socialist state, as the tories say? and is that a good thing? — tories say? and is that a good thing? and you want to reduce net migration — thing? and you want to reduce net migration. what on earth does that mean? _ migration. what on earth does that mean? is— migration. what on earth does that mean? is that below 100,000 a year? let's mean? is that below 100,000 a year? let's reject— mean? is that below 100,000 a year? let's reject the cynicism of the tory campaign. all they want to do in the general election is to suppress the vote. i know that not a single vote has been cast in this election. polls do not predict the future. every single vote has to be future. every single vote has to he earned. and we will earn it with our plan for growth, our plan for creation of wealth in the future. so thatis creation of wealth in the future. so that is our plan. yes, i do want a mandate to be able to put this plan into action. i do want people to vote labour to give us the mandate that we need. i want people to vote for a labour candidate in their constituency so that labour mp can sit on the government benches delivering this manifesto for then and their constituents. yes, i want that mandate. applause change is what we need. but if you want to change, you will have to vote for change, and that means voting for labour. thank you very much, chris. applause natasha, lbc. chris, i didn't do your second part of the question. i will come back to it.— will come back to it. three weeks today until _ will come back to it. three weeks today until polling _ will come back to it. three weeks today until polling day. _ will come back to it. three weeks today until polling day. the - will come back to it. three weeks| today until polling day. the tories are warning of a labour supermajority. how confident are you feeling right now? and are you worried that maybe a labour win for you mightjust be off the back of people hating the tories so much? no, we have plenty of examples of people did not liking the tories. that is why we changed the labour party, precisely because we know that the tories will mess it up and we have to be in a position to win. we only win if we change the labour party. when people look at the alternative, they have to see a positive alternative, and that is what they see in the labour party. i don't take anything for granted as we go into the final three weeks of this campaign. yes, we are enjoying the campaign, i will not deny that. we have waited for a half years and we have worked for a four and a half years to get to this point, election year, the chance to do what we came into politics to do, which is change the lives of millions of people for the lives of millions of people for the better with a labour government. we will do that with our sleeves rolled up, a serious plan and take our argument to every single doorstep across the country and ask people to back the case for change, to give us a mandate to change this country for them, their community and our country. chris, you did do a double question. nonetheless, on immigration we do need to have lower immigration. as you know, immigration. as you know, immigration is that pretty much the highest on record, bar the number just a few months ago. this government has lost control of immigration. it is important to look at the reasons for that, and the main driving reason is they have not got a skills strategy. that is why it not only is our plan here a plan for growth, it will also deal with immigration because this government has gone to immigration further growth lever. i want to go to skills, growth creation, investing in companies in this country. that is not an invitation for two questions. is not an invitation for two questions-— is not an invitation for two questions. is not an invitation for two ruestions. ., ., , ., questions. your manifesto says he will develop _ questions. your manifesto says he will develop a _ questions. your manifesto says he will develop a ambitious _ questions. your manifesto says he will develop a ambitious strategy i questions. your manifesto says he l will develop a ambitious strategy to reduce _ will develop a ambitious strategy to reduce child poverty. do you have a target _ reduce child poverty. do you have a target for— reduce child poverty. do you have a target for how many children you want _ target for how many children you want to— target for how many children you want to lift out of poverty? we will have a strategy _ want to lift out of poverty? we will have a strategy for _ want to lift out of poverty? we will have a strategy for dealing - want to lift out of poverty? we will have a strategy for dealing with - have a strategy for dealing with poverty, just as the last labour government did. we took millions of children out of poverty and we will do so again. that does require a strong plan to deal with those issues that bear down on poverty, on children, that is housing, education, health, jobs and wealth creation, because without the wealth creation, because without the wealth creation that we need for our country it is very difficult. that is why i say we are the party of wealth creation. this is a plan for wealth creation. this is a plan for wealth creation. this is a plan for wealth creation. it is a plan for growth. that is the single driving mission of what i hope will be an incoming labour government. in order to clear the asylum backlog you said that you would let small boat migrants currently hear enter the asylum system. but boat migrants currently hear enter the asylum system.— boat migrants currently hear enter the asylum system. but what is the lan for the asylum system. but what is the plan for new _ the asylum system. but what is the plan for new people _ the asylum system. but what is the plan for new people who _ the asylum system. but what is the plan for new people who arrive - the asylum system. but what is the | plan for new people who arrive here illegally? because there is nothing about time the manifesto. will they be able to apply for a claim? if so, is notjust an incentive for more people to come?— is notjust an incentive for more people to come? those that are already here _ people to come? those that are already here already _ people to come? those that are already here already in - people to come? those that are already here already in the - people to come? those that are . already here already in the system, they're just not been processed. and that means the government has a hopeless situation where tens of thousands of people are not being processed, so the one thing that can't happen is there removed to the country they came from, even if they have no right to be here. that is the chaotic state of this government. they are not processing the claim, even clear cases where people should be here they can't be removed. we have got to fix that, we have to fix the loss of control of our borders under this government. nobody but nobody should be making that trip across the channel in small boats. the way that we will do thatis small boats. the way that we will do that is with our border security command, which is set up specifically with new powers, new command, new resources to smash the gangs that are running the vile trade of putting vulnerable people in boats to go across the channel. before i was in thisjob i was in boats to go across the channel. before i was in this job i was the chief prosecutor for five years. i have worked with law enforcement across countries to smash terrorist gangs, sophisticated terrorist gangs, sophisticated terrorist gangs, and i will never accept that the only gang that apparently we can't smash is the vile smuggling gangs that are running this trade. i will never accept that. thank you very much. applause chris from the times. ., ., chris from the times. you made it very clear — chris from the times. you made it very clear that _ chris from the times. you made it very clear that you _ chris from the times. you made it very clear that you are _ chris from the times. you made it very clear that you are not putting | very clear that you are not putting up very clear that you are not putting up taxes on working people, you have left other taxes on the table and you also said that there will be no return to austerity. you're putting a lot of emphasis on growth but you know as you said there is no magic one, there is a chance that your growth plans don't happen as quickly as you want. people want to know what is your instinct in that situation, if the sums don't add up? is it to borrow more, is it to cut spending or put up taxes? chris, this manifesto _ spending or put up taxes? chris, this manifesto is _ spending or put up taxes? chris, this manifesto is a _ spending or put up taxes? chris, this manifesto is a total - spending or put up taxes? chris, | this manifesto is a total rejection of that defeatist approach, that the only levers are tax and spend. it is a total rejection of that. it is a plan for growth. i accept there is no magic wand, i accept that you don't get growth without a plan. that is what all the forecasts are based on that things won't change, can't change, will flatline. it is why we have in this discussion about tax and spend and i reject that. this is why this is a plan for growth, carefully thought through plan for growth, hundreds and hundreds of conversations and engagement with business, communities, local leaders about the change we can bring about and some of it is obvious common sense stuff. planning holds up infrastructure all of the time, years and years are lost in pretty well every infrastructure project. we can't get things done, we can get things moving, we can't build things. whether that is big projects of the housing that we need. we don't have an industrial strategy that actually make sure we have the skills and initiatives in the places that we need them. we don't have a national wealth fund at the moment, which invests in the future of our country and gets the private sector to invest with it. all of these things will make a material difference and i have absolute confidence in the plan for growth that we are putting before the country. i will not accept the defeat is is that says all we can hope for in this country is the flatline. that is the app is the absolute opposite of the hope that we inject through this manifesto. thank you, chris, very much. then, the telegraph. keir starmer, much. then, the telegraph. keir starmer. your— much. then, the telegraph. lie: " starmer, your rhetoric suggests you want taxes coming down but this manifesto is explicitly has taxes going up. the costing pages by about 7 billion to 8 billion. can you be crystal clear you're going into the election with a platform of tax rises. ., , , , , �* rises. there were no surprises, ben, this morning- _ rises. there were no surprises, ben, this morning- you — rises. there were no surprises, ben, this morning. you will— rises. there were no surprises, ben, this morning. you will have - rises. there were no surprises, ben, this morning. you will have gone - this morning. you will have gone through the document quickly, you will go through it no doubt at length later on. there are no tax rises that we haven't already announced. yes, we want to bear down properly on the non—dom tax statement and make sure the super rich pay theirfair share in rich pay their fair share in this country. yes, we want the oil and gas companies to pay the tax on their massive profits they make it. yes, we want to make sure that private equity leupolz aren't there, again for wealth. and we have taken again for wealth. and we have taken a tough decision in relation to vat. so we will take all of those measures but what you won't see in this manifesto is any plan that requires tax rises over and above those that we have already set out. because we have been very, very clear, particularly in relation to working people, no increase in working people, no increase in working dilemma income tax, national insurance and vat. clearly set out in this manifesto. you insurance and vat. clearly set out in this manifesto.— in this manifesto. you have said that taxes _ in this manifesto. you have said that taxes are _ in this manifesto. you have said that taxes are too _ in this manifesto. you have said that taxes are too high, - in this manifesto. you have said that taxes are too high, just - in this manifesto. you have said that taxes are too high, just a i that taxes are too high, just a follow—on ben's question. your manifesto i think is going to put up by £8 billion. the tories say they're going to cut them by 17 billion. i'm happy fighting the election on that tax divide? and can i pick up one from beth's interview last night, but i don't think you ever got round to answering. you are among friends here, did you really thinkjeremy corbyn was going to be a great pm? {lin thinkjeremy corbyn was going to be a treat pm? ., thinkjeremy corbyn was going to be a great pm?— thinkjeremy corbyn was going to be a treat pm? . , ., i. a great pm? on the tax question, you can see what — a great pm? on the tax question, you can see what the _ a great pm? on the tax question, you can see what the conservatives are i can see what the conservatives are doing. every day that is fully putting a new policy, new gimmick on the table, which is unfunded. if there is one lesson from liz truss and what happened to the economy, it is if you make unfunded tax cuts thenit is if you make unfunded tax cuts then it damages the economy and working people pay the price. and i was in stafford just a few weeks ago during this campaign, in the kitchen of a woman who was a paramedic and her wife works in a jewellery shop. they bought the house five years ago, they were on a fixed rate mortgage, they have got two kids. that has come to an end after five years. they have hunted around but the best mortgage they can get is one that is hundreds of pounds more and i can't afford it and they are going to have to move. that is the price you pay for unfunded tax cuts. rishi sunak, if there's one thing he was supposed to do it was the stability of the liz truss and heery is repeating it and it will be working people who pay the price for that. —— and here he is repeating it. and in relation tojeremy corbyn in the last election, i didn't think we would win the last election, i didn't think we were in a state to win it. that is reinforced by the work that we have now done. we were rejected by the country in the first decision i took is if you get rejected that badly by the country you don't look at the voter and say what on earth were you doing? you look at your party and you change it. and i have lead this party through that change and jeremy corbyn is notjust not a labour candidate, he is expelled from this party. that is how much change we have brought around. you are giving the impression of a man in a hurry. tony blair made the bank of england independent in the first week of his landslide. what would prime minister keir starmer doing the first day, first week of a labour government? and how long will you give voters before theyjudge you give voters before theyjudge you on your ability to make changes? the first thing i would do is return politics to service. to service to service country. i came into politics to serve. i had a career in law before this, my wife rather thinks i should have stayed with it. but i changed because i wanted to serve my country and i think politics in the last ten to 1a years has been about too much about self entitlement are not a knot about service. the mindset change, if we are able to come into government, on day one the most important thing will be service, country first, party second. every decision will be dictated by that. is it country first? service of the country. and i will be judged first? service of the country. and i will bejudged on first? service of the country. and i will be judged on that service, first? service of the country. and i will bejudged on that service, as i have been in the past. i worked with the police service of northern ireland, changing that so that it had the confidence of both communities, with others. i worked at the crown prosecution service, service prosecuting every criminal case in england and wales to protect the public. and i have changed the labour party into a party that again is once again in the service of working people. what we are now seeking is the opportunity to change our country, to put it back in the service of working people. that will be the big change from day one and everything else hangs off that. country first, party second. thank you, kitty, very much applause we all know that voters trust and confidence in british politics has never been lower.— confidence in british politics has never been lower. there has been numerous — never been lower. there has been numerous political _ never been lower. there has been numerous political scandals - never been lower. there has been numerous political scandals overi never been lower. there has been i numerous political scandals over the years that have played a big role in that. if you win the election, will you set up your new ethics and integrity commission within the first 100 days? and are you watering down your ban on x ministers are lobbying the government from five years? rishi sunak has struggled to leave the government of integrity, professionalism and accountability at every level but can you do any better? , ., at every level but can you do any better? , . ., ., better? yes and i am determined that we would be — better? yes and i am determined that we would be better— better? yes and i am determined that we would be better because _ better? yes and i am determined that we would be better because i - better? yes and i am determined that we would be better because i have - we would be better because i have beenin we would be better because i have been in public service or my life. i have been held to high standards all my life. i have led from the front of my life. and yes we will get on with changing the codes and the ethics codes and the guidance that is in place straightaway in government. but i know that nobody will believe it is change until they see the action has followed. we do need strong codes, good commissioners but you need to take action and take action when people breach those codes and that's what we'll do. just as i knew when we were changing the labour party, i said on day one we would repel anti—semitism by the roots. i knew i would bejudged not by anti—semitism by the roots. i knew i would be judged not by what i said on day one but what i did on day two, three, four, five and six and on and on and so it will be in government. we are going to turn this around and put politics back in the service of working people. we will be judged the service of working people. we will bejudged by the service of working people. we will be judged by the actions that we take as well as the promises that we take as well as the promises that we make. thank you, pippa, very, very much. we make. thank you, pippa, very, very much-— very much. the private equity industry has _ very much. the private equity industry has been _ very much. the private equity industry has been lobbying i very much. the private equity l industry has been lobbying very very much. the private equity - industry has been lobbying very hard for you to die loot the removal of the... ~ , for you to die loot the removal of the... . .y for you to die loot the removal of the... ~ _ ., ., , the... we say goodbye now to viewers on bbc two- — the. .. we say goodbye now to viewers on bbc two- bbc— the... we say goodbye now to viewers on bbc two. bbc news _ the... we say goodbye now to viewers on bbc two. bbc news continue - on bbc two. bbc news continue coverage. is on bbc two. bbc news continue coverare. , ,, on bbc two. bbc news continue coverare. , i. ., ., on bbc two. bbc news continue coverare. , y ., . . ., coverage. is it your guarantee that the amount _ coverage. is it your guarantee that the amount we _ coverage. is it your guarantee that the amount we pay _ coverage. is it your guarantee that the amount we pay in _ coverage. is it your guarantee that the amount we pay in tax - coverage. is it your guarantee that the amount we pay in tax will- coverage. is it your guarantee that the amount we pay in tax will go i the amount we pay in tax will go up from 28p in the pound to a5% or is still some wriggle room and that policy? still some wriggle room and that oli ? , , ., still some wriggle room and that oli ? .y ., , policy? gym, we are absolutely determined _ policy? gym, we are absolutely determined to _ policy? gym, we are absolutely determined to change - policy? gym, we are absolutely determined to change the - policy? gym, we are absolutely determined to change the rules policy? gym, we are absolutely i determined to change the rules to close this loophole and the money thatis close this loophole and the money that is set out in the schedule at he also talked about labour, a total change of direction, a government backin change of direction, a government back in the service of "you and your family". he also