forecasts that as few as _ official whitehall forecasts that as few as six — official whitehall forecasts that as few as six in ten will be seen in the timeframe. and buried on the front— the timeframe. and buried on the front page, the royal college of emergency medicine calls that figure optimistic _ emergency medicine calls that figure optimistic. could even lower? we had a record _ optimistic. could even lower? we had a record low— optimistic. could even lower? we had a record low number for hitting that target _ a record low number for hitting that target earlier this year, in march, i think. _ target earlier this year, in march, i think. it — target earlier this year, in march, i think, it dipped back down to that level in— i think, it dipped back down to that level injune, the latest month we have _ level injune, the latest month we have the _ level injune, the latest month we have the figures for. it looks like we are _ have the figures for. it looks like we are in— have the figures for. it looks like we are in for quite a long winter. anna, _ we are in for quite a long

. , , , , expensive whitehall offices if they can. , , , can. depends on if this is a temporary _ can. depends on if this is a temporary or— can. depends on if this is a temporary or permanent i can. depends on if this is a - temporary or permanent change in work habits. but we will see. for those who are working, potential wave of strikes over the cost of living according to the observer. there's been a lot of talk of strike action already. be interesting to see what liz truss does to have that off in terms of economic moves. yes. this is a precursor — off in terms of economic moves. yes. this is a precursor to _ off in terms of economic moves. yes. this is a precursor to the _ off in terms of economic moves. yes. this is a precursor to the trade union — this is a precursor to the trade union congress annual meeting which is happening next month. it's a motion — is happening next month. it's a motion from two of the biggest unions — motion from two of the biggest unions but the idea is it's not to call for— unions but the idea is it

official saying, first of — from a whitehall official saying, first of all, none of this effectively will be addressed and solicit _ effectively will be addressed and solicit with of september when is a new prime minister. so we've got a month— new prime minister. so we've got a month essentially lost until band. in month essentially lost until band. in which— month essentially lost until band. in which case we got this caretaker government and ministers aren't gripping — government and ministers aren't gripping the issues as they should be. gripping the issues as they should be then — gripping the issues as they should be. then there is also this idea what _ be. then there is also this idea what really needs to be done is to link up social care in the nhs is if it's a _ link up social care in the nhs is if it's a new— link up social care in the nhs is if it's a new idea. so many times again and again— it's a new idea. so many times again and again and again. of course boris johnson _ and again and again. of course boris johnson when he became prime minister— johnson wh

plans going on but the plans— in whitehall, plans going on but the plans that _ in whitehall, plans going on but the plans that can be offered are pretty makeshift. nobody actually has an answer— makeshift. nobody actually has an answer to— makeshift. nobody actually has an answer to this problem in the short and medium—term. as you say, it's bringing _ and medium—term. as you say, it's bringing into— and medium—term. as you say, it's bringing into light all the political problems that have been nascent _ political problems that have been nascent in all these european countries _ nascent in all these european countries. italy doesn't have a government at all, for all intents and purposes was up emmanuel macron is paralysed between the far right and left — is paralysed between the far right and left. the german is in a sticky coalition— and left. the german is in a sticky coalition and all these problems have _ coalition and all these problems have suddenly come into sharp focus when _ have suddenly come into sharp focus when there _ have suddenly come into sharp focus when

with me are sebastian payne, who's the whitehall editor for the financial times, and the journalist and author, claire cohen. lets start again you look at the front pages tomorrow. —— taking a look. the i newspaper has that all—important headline on energy bills, as millions prepare for a huge rise in october prices expected to be announced tomorrow at 7.00. as the nation awaits the next prime minister, the daily telegraph says the new pm will "hit the ground running" and offer urgent help bills within days of stepping into number ten. meanwhile, the ft follows the frontrunner of the conservative leadership contest liz truss, who it says is eyeing up plans to trigger article 16 against the eu to buy more time dealing with the northern ireland protocol. the guardian says headteachers in england are calling on ministers to delay the return of pre—covid exam conditions, after this years gcse results highlighted the attainment gap between north and south pupils. and the metro pictures the health secretary being heckled by a woman who quizzed him about ongoing ambulance waiting times

ministers are planning to slash redundancy pay for civil servants — while cutting tens of thousands of whitehall jobs. the daily mirror leads of the story of a dying mum who say crippling energy bills are making her last days a misery. the start of footballer benjamin mendy�*s trial is the lead for the metro. a year since the taliban returned to power in afghanistan — the ft pictures soldiers supporting the group celebrating in kabul today. and finally, the daily express says liz truss is vowing to reject a second scottish independence referendum if she becomes prime minister next month. and we will know soon enough the papers say. as many as three quarters of tory members have voted. penny, do you want to kick us off, please, with some good news on covid on the front of the i? it is. please, with some good news on covid on the front of the i?— on the front of the i? it is, and we have been hearing _ on the front of the i? it is, and we have been hearing it _ on the front of the i? it is, and we have been hearing it on _ on the front of the i? it is, and we have been hearing it on your - h

civilservants, people civil servants and when you say civil servants, people often think people sit at desks in whitehall and create policy but actually those that are looking to strike are the people that process benefits and due taxes at hmrc or run the borders and things like that. it is things that are really important to our society and economy and how to keep running. i think it shows the kind of level of unhappiness across a large range of unhappiness across a large range of sectors that we are seeing such widespread discontent and i actually think what is really interesting is the public sympathy with the strikes. if you listen to any radio call in at the moment, it is much more supportive of strikes then you would have thought about and it is because people are all feeling the pinch and are thinking, if i was in their position, if i could strike, i would too. we their position, ifi could strike, i would toe-— their position, ifi could strike, i would too-— their position, ifi could strike, i would too. ~ ., ., , would too. we moved to the daily tele . ra - h would too. we moved to the daily

she's play much of europe's current energy problem. stems from whitehall strategies on suggest that similar repercussions could be in the cards for americans themselves. we discussed miss gilbert stumps with our rasmussen of the racist center thing. she was exactly right. she, her statement as far as that, this is not about ukraine. it's not about european values. it's not about democracy. it's about regime change. it's about containment of russia and ultimately regime change. and ultimately, i would say dismantling of russia as well. i think similar is happening. we've got another play going on with taiwan and china, also filthy gabbert, carl mcgregor grand greenwald, the whole list of homes. unfortunately, the not widely heard and most of the media is completely controlled. it's projecting whatever the policy of the government is. i mean if you listen to m s nbc, or c, and then it's like somebody wrote a script from them and they're leaving, you don't even have basically the saying the same thing over and over again. it's healthy gabbert right on the money and has hit completely correct i

the council, but the city's finances are still in such trouble, now they will also be supervised by whitehall. the city's mayor says that's not the right decision. i'm not denying that we have problems, we do, and we're uncovering problems, more problems than we anticipated in the beginning, but i do question whether an intervention that is costing us so much is the solution. there have been a series of expensive mistakes, including a mess over the city's energy contract which could cost an extra £10 million. today, the government wrote to the council saying the scale of the challenges in liverpool had been laid bare. but there had been a lack of urgency and prioritisation to bring about change and the authority is still failing in its duty to provide the best value for the people of the city. merseyside�*s metro mayor, steve rotherham, will also chair a new panel which will include experts from other cities to help rescue liverpool and advise on its renewal. the fact remains, we wouldn't be here, would we, if the city wasn't in such a mess? isn't it all part of the same point that liverpo

i mean, one hopes that in the back channels, you know, there are plans in whitehall, there are plans going on. but the plans that can be offered are pretty makeshift. i mean, nobody actually has an answer to this problem in the short and medium term. and, as you say, it is bringing into light all the political problems that have been nascent in all these european countries. italy doesn't have a government at all for all intents and purposes. macron is absolutely paralysed between the far—right and far—left. yes. the german government is in a rather sticky coalition and all of these problems have suddenly come into sharp focus when there is a crisis. and it is an odd sort of crisis because governments themselves can be blamed for not making the preparation that was necessary, for not seeing this possibility coming. unlike a war, for which your own government can't be blamed. sure. so they are going to carry the can and the risk is that populist parties will benefit from this. it is easy in a sense to create a kind of rhetorical blame for the present government, insinuation that th

there is a lot of work going on, whitehall is working hard, the treasury is brainstorming ideas, as nadhim zahawi said, and the idea is that as soon as a new prime minister walks into number 10, there will be a menu of options presented to them. the candidates have sketched out their thinking. rishi sunak said he would cut vat on energy bills. that wouldn't shvae much off, maybe £150, £200 off an average bill. he has also promised more support to the poorest households and pensioners. liz truss, the current frontrunner, the foreign secretary she said she would cut the so—called green levies from energy bills, saving about £150. she would also want to bring in some tax cuts, including reversing the national insurance rise and she said today that she would also offer immediate help if she wins this contest, but there is no clarity at all on what that means. frankly, i don't think between now and the new prime minister walking into number 10, we will get any more, despite pressure from think tanks and voters for some clarity and assurances about what might happen. but this is a really co

the council, but the city's finances are still in such trouble, now they will also be supervised by whitehall. the city's mayor says that's not the right decision. i'm not denying that we have problems, we do, and we're uncovering problems, more problems than we anticipated in the beginning, but i do question whether an intervention that's costing us so much is the solution. there have been a series of expensive mistakes, including a mess over the city's energy contract, which could cost an extra £10 million. today, the government wrote to the council, saying the scale of challenges in liverpool had been laid bare, that there had been a lack of urgency and prioritisation to bring about change, and the authority is still failing in its duty to provide the best value for the people of the city. merseyside's metro mayor, steve rotherham, will also chair a new panel, which will include experts from other cities — there to help rescue liverpool and advise on its renewal. the fact remains, we wouldn't be here, would be, if the city wasn't in such a mess? is it all part of the same point that liv

the council, but the city's finances are still in such trouble, now they will also be supervised by whitehall. the city's mayor says that's not the right decision. i'm not denying that we have problems, we do, and we're uncovering problems, more problems than we anticipated in the beginning, but i do question whether an intervention that is costing us so much is the solution. there have been a series of expensive mistakes, including a mess over the city's energy contract which could cost an extra £10 million. today, the government wrote to the council saying the scale of the challenges in liverpool had been laid bare. but there had been a lack of urgency and prioritisation to bring about change and the authority is still failing in its duty to provide the best value for the people of the city. merseyside's metro mayor, steve rotherham, will also chair a new panel which will include experts from other cities to help rescue liverpool and advise on its renewal. the fact remains, we wouldn't be here, would we, if the city wasn't in such a mess? isn't it all part of the same point that liverpool

but behind headlines like slashing whitehall waste, designed to appeal to tory members, this u—turn reveals how big questions remain about how some of these ideas would work in practice. the time is 1:18. our top story this lunchtime: the energy giant bp records its second highest quarterly profit in its history as domestic energy bills soar. and as domestic energy bills soar. i'm here at the alex stadium and i'm here at the alexander stadium with the latest from the commonwealth games, as the track and field events get under way. coming up on the bbc news channel: on day one of the athletics, england's katarina johnson—thompson has begun the defence of her commonwealth games gold. but the first event has not gone to plan. non—surgical cosmetic procedures like botox and fillers should be better regulated to prevent people who are struggling with their appearance from being exploited. that's one of the recommendations from a health committee report into body image which has looked into the link between how people feel about the way they look and their mental health. as zoe conway reports

she had promised a war on whitehall waste, a plan to pay new civil servants in line with local living costs that could eventually be rolled out to all public sector workers. but while out glad handing tory activists in dorset, it was her own policy liz truss was throwing in the bin. my policy on this has been misrepresented. i never had any intention of changing the terms and conditions of teachers and nurses. but what i want to be clear about is i will not be going ahead with the regional pay boards. that is no longer my policy. contrast that with this — last night her campaign said... the campaign said almost £9 billion a year could be saved if the system was adopted for all public sector workers in the long term. and this morning, truss supporters fanned out to trumpet the idea. anyone who currently works for civil service will remain on their current terms, but new people will be paid the market rate in the area in which they live, and that's quite rightly taking care of taxpayers' money because civil servants aren't paid out of thin air, they are paid on the earnings of the pr

ministers are planning to slash redundancy pay for civil servants while cutting tens of thousands of whitehall jobs. the daily mirror leads of the story of a dying mum who say crippling energy bills are making her last days a misery. the start of footballer benjamin mendy�*s trial is the lead for the metro. a year since the taliban returned to power in afghanistan, the ft pictures soldiers supporting the group celebrating in kabul today. the daily express says liz truss is vowing to reject a second scottish independence referendum if she becomes prime minister next month. and the telegraph has a picture of removal vans outside number 10, with the headline "johnson checks out...and into chequers". penny and digby, digby, do you want to kick us off this time with the front of the times? we are mixing up the stories, we have got almost completely a different set of stories, and also i have to put the stick about, so we need to get more stories this time. laughter i was being too liberal as a presenter! we cannot have that sort of thing. imilli! presenter! we cannot have that sort of thin. ~ , .

there is an awful lot of paralysis across whitehall just moment? there is an awful lot of paralysis across whitehalljust now, given that we know there is going to be a new prime minister in a couple of weeks, and big issues like this are not being tackled in the meantime. d0 are not being tackled in the meantime-— are not being tackled in the meantime. , ., ,, are not being tackled in the meantime. , ., ~' , are not being tackled in the meantime. ,, , ., meantime. do you think there is a decree of meantime. do you think there is a degree of sympathy _ meantime. do you think there is a degree of sympathy for _ meantime. do you think there is a degree of sympathy for barristers| degree of sympathy for barristers going on strike, that perhaps we might not have expected in the distant past? has this made people re—evaluate their experience of the cost of living crisis as well? i think so, i think we are all having our eyes — think so, i think we are all having our eyes opened in many ways at the nronrent _ our eyes opened in many ways at the nron

but behind headlines like slashing whitehall waste, designed to appeal to tory members — this u—turn reveals how big questions remain about how some of these ideas would work in practice. ione wells, bbc news. let's try to work out what is going on there. we can cross live to westminster and our political correspondent david cornock. this was a policy that did not last very long. this was a policy that did not last ve loni. �* ' ., , ., very long. about 12 hours in our calculations. _ very long. about 12 hours in our calculations. the _ very long. about 12 hours in our calculations. the idea _ very long. about 12 hours in our calculations. the idea behind i very long. about 12 hours in our calculations. the idea behind it| very long. about 12 hours in our- calculations. the idea behind it was that regional pay rates should more accurately reflect the cost of living in different regions in the uk. liz truss stressed that the time that it would only apply to new recruits, but when you look at the small print behind the announcement, the only weight could save something like £9 billi

franklin is called the cockpit in whitehall, and there, he is upbraided for over an hour because of the colonists had attitudes towards the stamp act and governments. and they are clamoring for and penance. the crown feels like franklin is not a loyal agent in is not acting in the interest of the pennsylvania and massachusetts, but franklin is a turncoat because it is franklin that is leaking letters from the massachusetts colonial governor, thomas hutchinson, telling the crown and colonial ministers that may be more control is needed in massachusetts. he is essentially called to the carpet and stripped of his -- a post he held so dear, deputy postmaster of the colonies. it had a privileges, including free mail services, but also the right to freely circulate his newspaper. he walked out of that meeting, a meeting in which he says nothing stands stock still before the catcalls and the accusations he is getting and he walks out a rebel. then of the intolerable acts are passed, and that cements his conversion to american patriotism. he tells william i think you should resign your post as

in terms of switching individual votes, whitehall. in terms of switching individualvotes, i whitehall. in terms of switching individual votes, i think influence there perhaps is a bit more negligible. the other interesting thing from this is i think to say that while he has gone hard on liz truss's policies, using the language of holiday from reality, he's being nice about her personally, talking about quality is like being tenacious and brave. that is recognition that in a couple of weeks the party will have to come together again behind whoever is chosen. . ~ together again behind whoever is chosen. ., ,, , ., vladimir putin has said un officials will be allowed to visit and inspect the russian—held zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in ukraine. the announcement comes amid growing concern over the safety of europe's largest nuclear plant. our correspondent hugo bachega is in odesa. hugo, so they are allowed to carry out these inspections, the question now is when. out these inspections, the question now is when-— out these inspect

she had promised a war on whitehall waste, a plan to pay new civil servants in line with local living costs that could eventually be rolled out to all public sector workers. but while out glad handing tory activists in dorset, it was her own policy liz truss was throwing in the bin. my policy on this has been misrepresented. i never had any intention of changing the terms and conditions of teachers and nurses. but what i want to be clear about is i will not be going ahead with the regional pay boards. that is no longer my policy. contrast that with this — last night her campaign said... the campaign said almost £9 billion a year could be saved if the system was adopted for all public sector workers in the long term. and this morning, truss supporters fanned out to trumpet the idea. anyone who currently works for civil service will remain on their current terms, but new people will be paid the market rate in the area in which they live, and that's quite rightly taking care of taxpayers' money because civil servants aren't paid out of thin air, they are paid on the earnings of the pr

the council, but the city's finances are still in such trouble, now they will also be supervised by whitehall. the city's mayor says that's not the right decision. i'm not denying that we have problems, we do, and we're uncovering problems, more problems than we anticipated in the beginning, but i do question whether an intervention that's costing us so much is the solution. there have been a series of expensive mistakes, including a mess over the city's energy contract, which could cost an extra £10 million. today, the government wrote to the council, saying the scale of challenges in liverpool had been laid bare, that there had been a lack of urgency and prioritisation to bring about change, and the authority is still failing in its duty to provide the best value for the people of the city. merseyside's metro mayor, steve rotherham, will also chair a new panel, which will include experts from other cities — there to help rescue liverpool and advise on its renewal. the fact remains, we wouldn't be here, would be, if the city wasn't in such a mess? is it all part of the same point that liv

a man keen on the idea of shaking up how whitehall works and are supported liz truss is jacob rees—mogg, here's what he told the bbc this morning about the idea. it is what he told the bbc this morning about the idea.— about the idea. it is saying we will t this about the idea. it is saying we will try this with _ about the idea. it is saying we will try this with civil _ about the idea. it is saying we will try this with civil servants - about the idea. it is saying we will try this with civil servants and i about the idea. it is saying we will try this with civil servants and see | try this with civil servants and see if it is— try this with civil servants and see if it is possible to do and if it works— if it is possible to do and if it works to _ if it is possible to do and if it works to have regional pay boards. i think— works to have regional pay boards. i think that _ works to have regional pay boards. i think that is — works to have regional pay boards. i think that is perfectly reasonable as your— think that is perfectly reasonable as your moving jobs out of london

campaign, we'rejoined from north london by new stateman columnist martha gill and the financial times' whitehall editor seb payne, who's in devon. can you talk to us through it whether you think economics remains at the centre of this debate? very much it does and i think it'll be at the centre of that debate for the next month until we get the next prime minister and we've seen some interventions today that liz truss has announced national insurance cut, but has been a big part of her campaign, or come within weeks and not the next financial year in april which normally when you would make changes, it takes quite some time to work through the system but the papers today saying she found a way of doing it straightaway. find papers today saying she found a way of doing it straightaway.— of doing it straightaway. and that rishi sunak _ of doing it straightaway. and that rishi sunak has _ of doing it straightaway. and that rishi sunak has done _ of doing it straightaway. and that rishi sunak has done an - of doing it straightaway. and that| rishi sunak has done an interview any sunday times wher

but as he made his way down whitehall, it soon became clear tony is not your average tourist. this manjumped off his bike so he could get a selfie. you are a legend, is that all right to take a picture with you? a few steps on, it happened again. every time we see him, our hearts. you're so absolutely brave. this family also wanted a picture. up downing street tony went with all the confidence of a cabinet minister. as he walked through what's probably the most famous front door in the world, he said, "that's magical". in the garden of number ten the prime minister met all the winners of the points of light award, which is given to inspiring people who are making a change in their community. i'm careering towards the climax of my, this time in number ten, you do wonderful, wonderful things. and every time i sign those letters and i read the things that you have done, i have a lump in my throat because i think you embody the spirit of service to other people, the spirit of community, and i think the spirit that will get our country through the tough times. the prime minister br