18/05/2017 Victoria Derbyshire

Winter fuel payments will be stopped for wealthier pensioners

and changes will be made to the way people are assessed for social care.

Two of the headline policies in the Conservative manifesto to be

Everyone will have the security of knowing they can pass on one

hundred thousand pounds to their children and grandchildren.

At the moment you can be cleaned out to as little as ?23,000,

Other promises include a renewed pledge to cut immigration

to the tens of thousands and plans to end free school meals for

Also in the programme, Lauren Sandell was 18 when she died

of meningitis W in her first term at university.

Her mother will tell us why it's vital that sixth-formers get

And the double Olympic champion Nicola Adams

is with us this morning to talk about about

turning professional, getting engaged to fellow top boxer

Marlen Esparza and about her life growing up in Leeds.

I was just thinking I want to win a gold medal. The whole being a role

model came with it. Politicians like it out in front of

sceptical voters. You left a note telling the country you spent all

the money. You are punching harder. Nicola Adams will be with us

after ten, so if you have any questions for her then do

get in touch. We'd also love your comments on the

Conservative Party manifesto - especially if you or your parents

are likely to be affected by new Do get in touch on all the stories

we're talking about this morning. Use the hashtag Victoria LIVE

and If you text, you will be charged An end to winter fuel payments

for wealthier pensioners, new measures to curb immigration

and cuts to free school meals, are some of the policies

in the Conservative Party's manifesto being

published this morning. Let's get more from our political

Guru, Norman Smith. Finally we get to hear what is in

it. Welcome from the Tory manifesto launch was not what I am expecting

is a pretty bold package. Not quite a run at five bar gate but it is

ambitious. There will be some pain for pensioners, some painful

business. Old Cameron policies will be junked as Therese me tries to set

out own very distinctive agenda pitched predominantly at lower

income voters are not the middle classes, as my colleague reports.

When her manifesto is unveiled, Theresa May promises to create

greater fairness between the generations and to offer help

Previous Conservative commitments to protect pensioner incomes

If re-elected, the pensions triple lock would become a double

The state pension would rise in line with earnings,

or prices, but a minimum 2.5% annual increase would not be guaranteed.

Winter fuel payments would be means tested to help meet the costs

For the first time, many elderly people receiving

care in their own home would have to make

The full cost would only be applied to people

Payment could be deferred until after death.

At the other end, schools in England would be protected from any losses

Free school meals for infants would be canned.

Schools would have to provide breakfasts and children from poor

backgrounds would be provided free meals.

Theresa May hopes this will demonstrate that she is willing

to take big, difficult decisions and provide proof

that her premiership would not be defined by the phrase,

Martin, what we learned from this are two things. To recent me is

determined to set out an ambitious, non-Brexit agenda. She does not just

want to be defined by Brexit. She wants other landmark policies that

she now feels she is at the peak of her powers, maximum Me. If she's

going to push through these changes, now is the time to do it, not in a

few years' time if she wins the election and she is in the rough and

tumble of government and her authority eroded away. She does not

have political capital to push through these changes. The mood

music we are getting from her is now is the time to try to do some of

these big changes. We will talk more about peak Theresa May later. Thank

you very much. Annita is in the BBC

Newsroom with a summary A former head of the FBI,

Robert Mueller, has been appointed to investigate allegations

that Russia interfered Calls for an independent

investigation have been growing since President Trump fired the FBI

director James Comey. As part of the inquiry Congress

and the FBI will look into potential links between Mr Trump's campaign

team and the Russian regime. Many GP surgeries across the UK

are on the "brink of collapse" because of underfunding

and staff shortages, The Conservatives say there are more

doctors and they have increased funding to the NHS,

but the head of the British Medical Association's GP committee warns

a record number of practices The GP service is a very precious,

overstretched service. It needs to be used responsibly. More than

anything else you need resources to be able to provide a proper health

service if you are too tried to deliver aims of any civilised

nation. The former First Minister of Wales

and Labour MP, Rhodri Morgan, Welsh Labour and Plaid Cymru have

suspended election campaigning today Colleagues have described him

as Welsh through and through. James Williams reports

from Cardiff. Charismatic, intelligent,

controversial. In an era of political soundbites,

Rhodri Morgan spoke Does a one-legged duck

swim in a circle? And yet he was a political animal

to the core, first elected in 1987. But after the creation

of the Welsh Assembly he had his heart set

on taking the helm in Cardiff. After two failures to do so,

it would be the third time lucky. I think most of all,

his great achievement was in bringing devolution

into practical effect and helping it to grow and become popular at a time

when it was on very shaky ground During his time as First Minister

he would lead a Labour administration and

entered two coalitions. One with the Liberal Democrats,

the other with Plaid Cymru. In office he pursued a strategy

of putting clear water between his ministers in Cardiff

and Tony Blair's New Labour. Paying tribute, the former

Prime Minister said that Mr Morgan was an outstanding servant

of Wales, the United Kingdom His successor says that Wales has

not just lost a great politician The former First Minister of Wales

and Labour MP, Rhodri Morgan, Theresa May and Jeremy Corbyn

will be absent as Britain's political leaders take part

in a prime time TV debate. The ITV event will see

Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron, Ukip's Paul Nuttall and the SNP's

Nicola Sturgeon lock horns. Plaid Cymru's Leanne Wood and Green

co-leader Caroline Lucas will also take part in the two-hour show

being broadcast from Salford. The Prime Minister has refused

to take part in TV debates and the Labour leader said

he would not participate The broadcaster has said

the invitation to take part remains open until the programme

starts at 8pm. A group representing dozens

of recycling organisations has named and shamed the six products

in your shopping trolley that Pringles and Lucozade topped

the list, while black plastic meat trays were also highlighted

as a problem by the Our environment analyst

Roger Harrabin reports. We are running short

of holes in the ground Yet landfill sites are peppered

with product that are supposed The trouble is that so many products

nowadays have several different types of materials

in their packaging. That can make them almost

impossible to recycle. The foil interior, the cardboard

sleeve, the metal bottom. There are different plastics

in the base of the bottle Black plastic is virtually

useless for recycling. So what will stop us dumping complex

packages straight into the bin? Well, Prince Charles is launching

a $2 million prize to stimulate new and more environmentally

friendly designs and packaging. If the competition works,

it will be easier in the future to shop for items that

do not fill a landfill. Pringles says the packaging protects

the crisps and saves waste while Lucozade insists the firm does

care for the environment. Almost 2,000 species of plants have

been discovered in the past year but many are already at risk

of extinction. The Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew has

released its annual assessment of the state of the world's plants

and is calling for more to be They include species used for food,

medicine and timber. A member of Japan's Royal

family, Princess Mako, is to surrender her royal status

by marrying a former Princess Mako, who is the eldest

granddaughter of Emperor Akihito, is getting engaged to 25-year-old

law firm worker, Kei Komuro. Japan's imperial law requires

a princess to leave the royal family The move is expected to re-ignite

debate on royal succession, as the 83-year-old emperor

is expected to abdicate soon. That's a summary of the latest BBC

News - more at 9.30am. Do get in touch with us

throughout the morning - use the hashtag Victoria LIVE

and if you text, you will be charged I understand what is being called as

the most lucrative game in the world, Huddersfield beating

Sheffield Wednesday on penalties. We would here it is the most expensive

game. It was a dramatic night last night. That show you some of these

pictures. This is Danny Ward, the Huddersfield goalkeeper saving in a

penalty shoot out. The figure, ?200 million is through team that

finishes bottom of the Premier League next season. The team that is

relegated within a year will make upwards of ?80 million in parachute

payments was then you have kicked and shirt branding details. That is

the Huddersfield owner in the crowd for that he'll be counting the coins

ahead of a Premier League season. David Wagoner ahead of a premiership

play-off final. Match day earnings of at least ?1 million increased

from the championship. That adds up to nearly ?200 million. Huddersfield

already will earn at least ?290 million if they avoid relegation

next season. Huge amounts of money. Plenty of places to spend it.

They'll be needing some new players ahead of the premiere season --

Premier League season. Another record held by Cristiano Ronaldo. He

is only 31 years old he has broken the 46 year European scoring record

held by Jimmy Greaves. He did it last night when rearm adrift the

Celta Vigo. This was his 367th goal. -- real Madrid. He then got a

second. 4-1 it finished. They will clinch the La Liga title with a draw

at Malaga on Sunday. Barcelona, the nearest rivals, need to beat Eibar.

The headlines in half an hour. We'll also be speaking to best treble ten

o'clock. Thank you. Policies designed to

"confront the challenges of our time" - that's how

the Conservatives are selling their manifesto,

which sets out what they will do Theresa May says she will take "big

and difficult" decisions, So, let's have a look

at some of them. Up to ?300 in winter fuel payments

will be lost by wealthy pensioners. More elderly people will have

to pay for their care. But they won't have to sell

their homes before they die, and can pass on at least ?100,000

to their relatives. A new pledge to curb immigration,

including a re-statement of the commitment to cut net

migration to under 100,000 per year. And increasing school

funding by ?4 billion, including a promise to scrap free

school lunches for infants to pay for free breakfasts

for all primary pupils. Norman Smith is waiting with more

details. Here we are, blast off day for Theresa May's manifesto. This

manifested junks key bits of the camera in years and takes on many of

those groups and interests shielded in the Cameron years from the full

force of posterity. Top of the pile, pensioners, who will use their

winter fuel allowance. Better off pensioners will lose it. They will

lose the triple lock on pensions and there will be no guarantee the state

pension will increase by at least 2.5%. That is similarly with

business. They will face more regulation, more bills, more red

tape to enhance employee rights. Today they are getting another bill.

If they want to take in migrant labour from outside the EU. The cost

of that will double. The most contentious area centres on the huge

issue of social care. For years politicians have been dodging it.

Today, Theresa May tries to grapple with it. One almighty Barney has

blown up over the Tory plans. What are they? Theresa May has junked

David Cameron's pledge of a cap on the amount you would have debate

before the state stepped in to paper your care costs. That was set at

around ?72,000. She is suggesting a floor of ?100,000. What does that

mean question that means you would have to pay everything until your

assets came down to ?100,000. She says that is generous and you can

pass on ?100,000 of your wealth to your children. Critics say, in the

real world, it means most families who own a home will have to pay for

all their care costs. An average house costs ?250,000. You would have

to fund ten, 20, 30, 40, 50, right down to ?100,000 of that careful

that many ordinary families would a bigger the drab. This morning Health

Secretary Jeremy Hunt defended the plans on the grounds of

intergenerational fairness. Why should younger taxpayers have to

pick up the tab for older people in need of care? Have a listen. What we

are saying is if you want everyone to have the security to pass on,

that will cost around ?2 billion a year, so it is a significant amount.

We are saying the fairway to pay for that is not through taxes that have

to be paid by younger people often struggling to make ends meet, but by

removing some of the entitlements for older people, better off

pensioners who currently get the winter fuel allowance, who won't now

get it under these proposals. But those same pensioners will have the

security of knowing that whatever happens to them and their care

costs, they will be able to pass a significant sum of money onto

children and grandchildren. Massive pressure on the health service, what

are you going to do about it and what will this manifesto offer? The

NHS has done magnificently well in incredibly challenging

circumstances. We recognise we need more doctors, more nursing and more

funding. We will be increasing funding to the NHS beyond what we've

currently committed to do. But other parties are promising to do that as

well, and the choice is which party is most likely to be able to deliver

on that promise to increase funding to the NHS. So more cash for the

NHS. We know Labour are promising ?7 billion for the health service, the

Liberal Democrats a similar sum. Puel wait see what the Tories are

promising. Stepping into the ring is the man charged by the government

for coming up with a strategy for solving social care and he

originally said we need a cap, we need to cap people's costs so they

don't face unlimited care charges. This morning he said he was

disappointed by the Tory package. If you are somebody who at the moment

is in a residential care home, so you have moved out of your own home

and are being looked after in a residential facility, you will be

able to keep more of your money than used to be the case. That was a

crucial part of the recommendations that are commission made. They

proposed increasing the threshold actually to ?125,000. But there is

another group who will be made worse off, and those people are getting

care in their own homes, because for the first time the value of their

house is now going to be taken into account, so they would have to start

paying in a way they haven't done so far. At the big problem is that

although the government is saying what it would do is that everybody

would be able to get support once they were down to their last

?100,000, many people have much more than that, and face no way of

controlling their care costs, which can run into many many hundreds of

thousands of pounds each, so the lack of any form of pooling of risk

of social insurance is a huge problem. It means still people will

not be able to take control of this vital area of their lives. The

winter fuel allowance at the moment costs about ?2.1 billion a year, so

some fraction of that could be saved if it was to be taken away for

better off pensioners was that my own sense is that pensioners are not

opposed to some actions in the value of that, if what they were being

offered in return was a deal that meant they could take control of

their own lives. I don't think pensioners wanted more money, they

wanted this terrible market failure solved. That has not been solved and

I think some pensioners will be pretty cross that they are losing

something without feeling they are getting much in return. So what we

see this morning? We see the Theresa May basically going for it, this is

Max made. And we are seeing a tilt the lower income groups and away

from the, they lose winter fuel allowance, free school meals for

that Hull their children, a move away from Middle England the

ordinary working families. Thank you very much.

With us now to discuss that, and more, is Ryan Gray,

who works for a charity, previously voted Conservative,

but may not this time around; Daniel Rushton,

a former Labour and Ukip voter, who's going to vote Conservative;

and Sean Worth, a former adviser to ex-Prime Minister, David Cameron,

and the current Director of the Westminster Policy Institute.

Good morning, welcome to all of you, thank you for joining us. First of

all, Sean, a lot of focus on social capital stock who will Theresa May

and the Conservative Party, it is not just about her, who will they be

trying to appeal to? That particular policy I think will appeal to

people's sense that the system is kind of being made fairer,

generally. I don't think it will be terribly popular because it is quite

a tough measure. Social care is incomplete crisis, has been for a

long time, no politician has gripped it. This is an attempt to save his

not fair for working age people to continue to pay more and more and

more for the social care costs of a group of people who have become

richer at least an assets terms progressively since the 1960s. So it

is a technical policy. I think it is very fair and the right thing to do.

I don't think it will be massively popular. But then remember that most

pensioners tend to vote Conservative, so you are not taking

a huge political risk in doing something like this. Daniel, you

have moved from Labour to Ukip to the Conservatives. What about what

you have heard so far in this manifesto would keep you voting

Conservative this time? I don't think it is so much about what is

just in the manifesto, I think it is the whole leadership issue for me as

well. And I don't mean to steal the Theresa May's tag line but she seems

to be the stronger and more stable of the choices at the moment. So

what she has in the manifesto is issues to all of us, but I just

believe Labour can deliver on anything they are promising, and I

certainly wouldn't go down the Liberal Democrat route either. We

have had a text message, saying regarding the social care social,

those who have saved a small month old age get hit again. -- social

care measures. Don't save, spend it instead, is that the message you

would take away from it? I don't think the youth of today understand

about saving anyway so that would fall on deaf ears. But I do think

that is the case at all. Yes, you do still need to save and plan for your

future and I think the idea that we can see until our retirement and

hoped there would be something there would be naive anyway to not put

away a nest egg for yourself and your family. So I think it is the

right thing to do. Ryan, and you have been wavering about whether to

vote Conservative this time, which way are you wearing the moment? For

me, it is more a question of whether I vote Conservative or whether I

spoil my ballot. I don't think Labour are in a credible position, I

don't think the Lib Dems are, and Ukip and greens, I don't consider

them a possibility of being in government so I feel it would be a

first -- a waste of a vote for myself. So far what has come out the

manifesto of what will come out, sorry, sounds quite promising.

Intergenerational inequality is quite big on my agenda and I think

it is something that successive governments have failed to tackle. I

voted Conservative in 2015 and I was quite disappointed, that Osborne and

Cameron, it was not on their agenda, it is something that has been in

crisis for a long time and needs to be addressed. An e-mail from Daphne

saying Sir Alan Sugar didn't need his winter fuel allowance and

founder was no way to return May has made a brave decision, absolutely

right. -- he found there was no way to return it. Mrs May has made a

brave decision. You may have elderly relatives affected by this? In all

honesty, I do know if my relatives will be affected. I can imagine it

will be quite unpopular with some people, taking money away tends to

be unpopular but what we have to acknowledge is that the gap between

quite a lot of people now who are in work, who are in poverty. We have an

issue with the triple lock on which I know the manifesto talks about

making a double lock. And we need to address that in work and pensioners,

how much each other getting. Because I remember reading about it that

pensioners are doing better than people in work and I think that has

to be addressed. How can I or another taxpayer be paying into a

system where someone who is doing better than I am who is working and

paying those taxes for that pension system to exist at the moment. Sean,

in the past, the real fault line for the Conservatives has been Europe.

We now know we have voted for Brexit and we are going to leave, whatever

form that is in, so where are the new four lines? Might it be this

sense of interventionism Theresa May is hinting at? I think the real

issue for the Conservative Party, you are right, Europe has been a

fault line for a long time and David Cameron brought it to a head with

the referendum and that decision has been made to the public and they

made a decision. Both your voters there are looking at this election,

it reflects more broadly in the electorate as well, not necessarily

about the technicalities of bits of policies and whether four lines are

but leadership. The big fault line Theresa May has to cross, the big

threshold is broadening the Conservative Party's appeal beyond,

and this is a big player she is making today, beyond the core voters

it has enjoyed for a long time. In areas in the north of England, among

poorer income groups, the kinds of people who vote Conservative but not

enough in those areas to return a government traditionally, return MPs

in those areas traditionally, sorry. And the big test for her is can

cheapish the Conservative Party appeal much more broadly than it has

been so far? Because she has been accused of being rather presidential

about it and it all coming from her. How much involvement will the wider

Conservative Party have had in putting together this manifesto,

given that she seems to play her cards quite close to her chest? I

have been involved in manifestos in the past and I gather the process

was similar in this one. There is input from others, from the Cabinet,

from policy teams that are made up of MPs and then the party more

broadly. So there is, but you are right that she takes what some

people would call the presidential style, but the big player in this

election is about her versus Jeremy Corbyn. You have seen this say by

herself. Why not have a campaign run on that basis? But some of the

policies that she seems to be likely to hear about could easily have come

from labour, and Labour seem in some people's minds to have been more

generous with what they are promising. The energy cap, that is

exactly what Ed Miliband promise not so long ago. Has she no shame?

LAUGHTER It is a good policy. Her fundamental

position on questions like that is not that she is retreating from a

belief in markets and competition and all of that that conservatives

have offended over the years, but it is the proposal that does produce a

good economy and choice of consumers, but if you have some

companies getting too big that they can treat customers unfairly or

whatever, that market is not working and that belief in markets, in

competition and business effectively, will leach away and

that is something you have got to protect by policing it a bit tougher

in certain areas the stop you don't see her actually taking on a great

deal of what Jeremy Corbyn is saying. Jeremy Corbyn's manifesto is

genuinely massively radical compared to what we will probably see from

the Conservatives today. I think her plans are pretty bold and they will

have to be, to broaden her appeal, but they are not so radical that she

is departing from core conservative values. Thank you all very much. We

will of course find out much more about the manifesto at 11 o'clock.

Just a reminder, we're going to be in Dunstable in Bedfordshire

on Monday 29th May for a big election audience debate.

If you've made up your mind already who you're going to vote for,

still deciding or don't think you'll bother - and would like the chance

to share your views and grill senior politicians on their policies -

More details on our facebook and twitter pages.

Still to come. A mother tells us her teenage daughter might still be

alive if she had been vaccinated against meningitis W. Politicians

fight it out in the ring, trying to score points from sceptical voters.

Tuition fees are 9000 and rising, the health service is on its knees

and the emergency services, ambulance, police and fire brigade

have been cut to ribbons. Here's Anita in the BBC Newsroom

with a summary of todays news. The Conservatives have an veiled

plans that would see many more people in England pay the care in

their own home. For the first time the value of a person's property

over ?100,000 would be taken into account as to whether they would be

eligible for free care if they continue living there. The Tory

manifesto also includes to end a guarantee that the state pension

will rise by at least 2.5% a year. A former head of the FBI,

Robert Mueller, has been appointed to investigate allegations

that Russia interfered Calls for an independent

investigation have been growing since President Trump fired the FBI

director James Comey. As part of the inquiry,

Congress and the FBI links between Mr Trump's campaign

team and the Russian regime. Many GP surgeries across the UK

are on the "brink of collapse" because of underfunding

and staff shortages, The Conservatives say there are more

doctors, and they have increased funding to the NHS,

but the head of the British Medical Association's GP committee warns

a record number of practices Two of the UK's most popular snacks,

Pringles and Lucozade, have been criticised by the industry as being

almost impossible to recycle. Pringle said protect the crisps and

saves waste while Lucozade save the company does care for the

environment. The Commons were made as Prince Charles is about to launch

a ?1.5 million prize for designs that are both effective and

recyclable. A member of Japan's Royal

family, Princess Mako, is to surrender her royal status

by marrying a former Princess Mako, who is the eldest

granddaughter of Emperor Akihito, is getting engaged to 25-year-old

law firm worker, Kei Komuro. Japan's imperial law requires

a princess to leave the royal family The move is expected to re-ignite

debate on royal succession, as the 83-year-old emperor

is expected to abdicate soon. That's a summary of

the latest BBC News. Huddersfield Town are one game away

from promotion to the Premier League after a 1-1 draw with Sheffield

Wednesday. They won on penalties last night to book a showdown with

Reading. It is being labelled the ?200 million match. In the Premier

League last night Southampton were left to rue missed chances. There

was a dull goalless jaw with Manchester United. If United win

their remaining games it would be their lowest tally of wins in a

single season. The Chelsea winning run came to an end last night.

Arsenal and a 2-2 draw. They are second, six of leaders Liverpool

with a couple of games in hand. Kyle Edmond has followed Andy Marion

making an early exit from the Rome Masters. -- Andy Murray. I will be

back at ten o'clock when Beth treble joins us live.

Lauren Sandell was just 18 years old when she died of Meningitis W

She had just gone off to university and had no idea how ill she was -

initially putting her symptoms down to stress or food poisoning.

Lauren could have been saved by a simple vaccine,

but although teenagers are untitled to get it, take up is very low

In some areas, take-up is as low as ten percent.

Let's speak now to Lauren's mother, Sharon Sandell.

Also joining us is Claire Wright, who works in prevention at

Good morning to both of you. I know it is very war for you is still so

we are especially grateful that you have come to talk to us about it.

Lauren just went off to university. When did you get an idea she was

really poorly? On Thursday afternoon she said she had got stressed at

university and given herself a really bad headache. She was on the

phone to me and was quite stressed about university and whether she

wanted to stay. I tried to calm her down and she said she felt sick.

Afterwards, she said she thought she had given herself food poisoning. I

text is heard to say, if you need anything, give me a call. She woke

up saying she had a headache, a bit then a cake and backache. She had

had a net cake twice in the summer, so I was not that concerned. -- neck

ache. Her boyfriend was going to stay with her at uni that evening

and she was cooking a meal. She did go to a pharmacy to try to get

something stronger. She was with her boyfriend and I did not speak to her

again until he phoned at four o'clock the next morning saying she

was shaking. I thought her blood sugar levels might be low and the

shaking said it could be -- and I researched shaking and it said it

could be a side-effect of food poisoning. He said she was hot all

over but nothing bad. About ten minutes later I called him again and

he said, it she is OK, she stopped shaking. I never spoke to her again

until one o'clock the next day. She said, we got up late, so we missed

the train back home. The only thing she said on the Saturday was that

her legs hurt. They travelled home and then when she got to Waterloo

she said they were hungry and she was going to get something to eat

and they would be home later. They were stuck on the tube. She was

frustrated on the cheap. I ended up having to drive to get them. When I

saw her, she just looked pale and tired and I knew she was really

stressed about whether she wanted to stay at university. She came home,

she went to the shop with my husband. She at half the dinner. All

she said was about her legs. I ran her a bath. She was shaking again in

the bathroom. I felt her leg and her head and it was cool. It was not

hot, so I did not think she had a temperature. We spoke about

university and it was going to be the first anniversary with her

boyfriend in a couple of weeks' time she came down, watched the film and

was ill. My husband told her to come up to get into bed with me. She was

restless, went to the toilet, and said her eyes were a bit blurry.

When I picked her up, I noticed that her hands and feet were really cold

she had bad circulation so I was not massively alerted to that. She got

back into bed and we were talking about moving to a London University.

I was looking them up. Some of these symptoms you could pass off as

belonging to a range of other diseases. What happened right in the

end? I thought she was having a panic attack because her breathing

got bad. I totally assumed she was so stressed about university that

she was having a panic attack. My husband and my son left half an hour

before she actually collapsed. That is what I thought I was dealing

with. Her breathing got worse. You could be tribute these symptoms to a

variety of different things, couldn't you? Stress in particular.

Why is it that this group is so susceptible to Meningitis W and we

do not know much about in the community? This particular strain of

meningitis is particularly virulent. The symptoms are more subtle than

other types of meningitis. That is why it is important for teenagers to

be aware. That is why the meningitis foundation has put an eligibility

check up online 90 people can go online and see if they are eligible

for the vaccine could if they are, it tells them where to get it from.

There has been a poor take-up in 17 to 20-year-olds from the GP. If any

parents are out there with a 17 to 20-year-old they can go online, on

the website, and see if that child is eligible for the vaccine. To make

it more of a tragic story view, you had arranged for a vaccine for

Lauren, haven't you? I went to the doctor myself on the Tuesday of the

week Lauren went to university. I mentioned that my daughter was going

to university on the Sunday that she had meningitis. She said they were

snogging each other and they are calling it the kissing flu. I said,

Lauren has a boyfriend that she won't be doing. She is in now. She

said, I only have five and they were allocated. They did not have a jab

for her. We have had a statement from the Royal College of GPs. They

say it is quite confusing picture about who is eligible. Different

rules and different sponsor Bluetooth applied for vaccinating

different age groups. They do recognise there is a need for a long

running, high profile campaign, so we all know what to look for to

increase awareness. When will that happen? It is happening now. We have

our eligibility check up online. This is a programme that has been

ongoing over time. Just to emphasise, you have a 14 to

20-year-old. Some younger age groups are being immunised at school. The

17 to 20-year-olds will be immunised to reduce peak of that there has

been a lower uptake. One third of those eligible have taken up. If you

are a parent please go online and check eligibility. How available

will the vaccine be at your GP surgery? Sharon tried to get it for

Lauren and I only had five. Vaccine should be available. If your GP says

there is a problem, do not take that for an answer. Just persist. You can

come to the website or call the helpline for assistance if you're

having trouble. Parents in your position want to do something

useful, don't they question right you being here today is all about

you wanting to raise awareness. How else are you trying to do that to

get the message out? I did a video, a presentation in sixth form

assembly at Lauren's school. They made a video and went out to all the

schools. I just feel it is imperative we let parents know and

give them the chance to get their child in collated. I think it has

just been so shocking there were so many of us who did nothing about it

and there was not a danger to the children. Your organisation will

have lots of information. How can people get more details about the

disease and how to prevent it? Just go online to the website. Just

quickly tell us what Lauren was like. An amazing girl. She had a

real spirit full really hard-working. She loved football and

running. Running was her passion. She was a really wonderful girl.

Thank you very much for coming in and talking to us today.

The double Olympic champion Nicola Adams is with us this morning -

to talk about about turning professional - getting engaged

to fellow top boxer Marlen Esparza and about her life growing

Do get in touch if there's a question you'd like answered.

Use the hashtag Victoria LIVE and If you text,

you text, you will be charged at the standard network rate.

Next, the controversy over the Russia connection. Now a former FBI

boss has been brought in to oversee the inquiry into alleged Russian

meddling in the US presidential election. A top lawyer has a long

history with investigations and prosecutions for that he had just

taken over charge of the FBI when hijacked planes were blown into New

York and Washington. He was also James Comey's predecessor. He is

widely seen as a safe, independent pair of and respected by Democrats

and Republicans. Let's get some reaction

a Republican journalist and broadcaster.

thank you for joining us. How much of a surprise or shop is this going

to have been to the White House? I think probably the White House was

caught a bit unawares. Actually, I have to think they had been

expecting it. They have been the target pretty hard. The president

has been facing a number of forces. He has had the media that has been

against him, excepting a lot of leaks from deep state, where these

are unelected bureaucrats, that our intelligence that have been

presented to them these anonymous sourced pieces of information. I

think he has been expecting it was you talked about the former director

of the FBI, mother, he is a decent guy. The military Marine. He served

a couple of presidents on both the Democrats and Republicans side. I do

not think he is worried. There are no charges are. What is so

interesting about this is it is an open investigation. Some people

would say, oh, my gosh! They will be on a fishing expedition. You never

know what they will come up with. What a lot of people are concerned

about on the Democratic side of the aisle is, who might be affected?

Will it be Hillary Clinton, the former Attorney General, Loretta

Lynch? Will you see the issue of the 30,000 e-mails of the classified

documents? Will they be brought up? They have nothing right now to

really conflict. In our country you are innocent until proven guilty.

How it works with an impeachment has to go through the house and then be

House has to represented to the Senate. The house is controlled by

the Republican Party and so is the Senate. I do not think it will go

anywhere. I think it will be good to clear it up. Either good guy.

Indeed, it is a very high bar to cross, but from the reports we get

this now morning in Britain, I disagree, and suggest that if the

Trump campaign was in contact with Moscow in anyway, if President Trump

said he wanted this investigation to stop, that will raise eyebrows

certainly. Eyebrows are one thing you are going to raise eyebrows in

Washington the matter what you do. No matter the old line, about a

friend in Washington is one that stabs you in the heart are not the

back. It is a tough town. So eyebrows are raised over time. He

has not at this point, and both sides will agree to it. I think the

most amazing statement I heard yesterday was from a friend of mine,

a former Democratic member of Congress by the name of Dennis

Kucinich, who is extremely worried that he believes that the deep state

right now, meaning the intelligence community, is posing a clear and

present danger to the Republic of the United States, because basically

they are manipulating the scene and providing information to the fourth

estate, meaning the press, and trying to influence the public. Now

here's the thing that Dennis Kucinich said and also several

republic -- several Republicans, it will backfire, even if you like or

dislike come, it will create a martyr. The fact of the matter is

yesterday I was with a lot of activists, talking about grassroot

Republicans, and they are very unhappy, very mistrustful of the

media, and they are just shutting off the mainstream press. So I think

it is a bigger problem than just trying to get rid of Trump. Who gets

hurt in this? Does the public get hurt, do we have another arm of the

government trying to control the American people, meaning the

intelligence community, that think if you don't do it our way, you are

out, we will fix it so you are gone? And what happens to the media? We

need to have a free press in our country, I know you do in the UK,

and the fact of the matter is when that is compromised it really

affects our free society. And I think many people are worried about

that. Another way of looking at it might be that the security services

are trying to uphold the rule of law. Blanquita, just one final quick

question to you if you were just very briefly. How much unease and

impatience is there with President Trump within the Republican party?

It depends, remember it is not just one linear thought. Within the

establishment, the ones that like things nice and safe, there is a bit

of concern about it, but those who understand the American people

elected him because they really did want to change the way Washington

does business, because a lot of people believe that people get

elected and they forget who hired them. They talk about the forgotten

man, the forgotten woman, who is out there struggling right now, trying

to get jobs and work and worried about their security, those

Republican elected officials are very much behind President Trump.

Blanquita with thank you very much. Republican broadcaster and

journalist, Blanquita Kalam. Keep the questions coming in the Nicola

Adams, we are talking to her after ten.

But not content with leaving the boxing to Nicola,

we thought we'd get the politicians involved, as where better to let

them fight it out in front of voters than in a ring?

Watch how four of the parties landed their punches,

The countdown to election day is underway.

With just weeks to go, parliamentary candidates

are fighting to convince undecided voters their party has what it takes

I'm fighting for the Labour Party to persuade people to vote Labour.

Because it would be, in my view, better for the country than letting

the Conservatives carry on with the policies they've been

Economic stability, no matter what any of the other parties

tell you, is all fantasy, because they have no idea

You can say you will spend money in the NHS and education.

If you crush the economy, it simply won't happen.

That referendum was built on lies and deceit, and although some people

knew what they were voting for, some didn't.

I'm fighting to try and get a different voice into the houses

of parliament, to hold the current government to account on Brexit,

and to get some different thinking and not just have the main three

parties dominating politics on every single issue.

Since being crowned heavyweight champion of the world,

Anthony Joshua has become the global face of boxing, and the popularity

So we brought together four parliamentary candidates to throw

Watching them is an expert, and two undecided voters,

Ishmael and Natalie, who say they still don't know

If they want my vote, they need to get in the ring,

talk the talk and let me see, OK, I'm going to vote for you.

We're used to politicians running round in circles and telling lies,

so we want to actually see politicians stand for something

today and say what they want to say in order to win our votes.

The majority of the candidates have no experience inside a ring,

but the opportunity to show that politicians can pack a punch was one

In the red corner, hoping to land a punch for his party, is the former

Labour MP and government minister, Jim Fitzpatrick.

For Ukip, it's Daniel Woolf, who is on a mission

to prove his party is still an electoral real force.

In the blue corner is Shaun Bailey, former Downing Street

And on a campaign to overturn the status quo

for the Liberal Democrats, it's Keith Angus.

With the big majority Theresa May has got in Parliament,

and the big majority for triggering Article 50, why did

Because the British people want a chance to express their views

Now they've got another chance now, shall get a big majority to get

Now they've got another chance now, she'll get a big majority to get

through what she needs to get done...

We'll have another election next year.

With the state of the economy, and Corbyn having absolutely no

plans how to run our finances, how do you expect to support

Theresa May, you know she's calling this election to try and gain more

power and to try and bring Brexit through, but she's a Remain MP.

She said she was and you can't just change your spots

If she wants to give people a say, why isn't

she going to give them a say

Because she gave them a say in the referendum and they know

So they're going to vote for a hard divisive Brexit?

Let's remind everyone how we got to the referendum.

It was our party who pushed for the referendum and we wouldn't

be in this situation at all if it wasn't for the courage of our party

Most people say the referendum was last year, they want to know why

?3 billion has been wiped off the education budget,

why has the health service on its knees, why have we lost

What are you offering the British people domestically?

Forget Brexit, that's done and dusted.

All of Labour's plans for the public services are a fantasy.

How are you supporting young people by increasing tuition fees?

1.8 million children go to a better school than under

It was the Labour government who introduced tuition fees.

?3 billion have been wiped off the education budget,

schools across the country are losing money.

Why are you destroying young people's future by pulling us out

With the hardest most divisive form of Brexit?

There is no such thing as a hard Brexit.

There is no such thing as a hard Brexit?

So why was it bandied around by the Prime Minister herself?

It was never bandied around by the Prime Minister.

And for Ukip, the most irrelevant political party

in the history of everything, to say that is incredible.

If we didn't exist, we would not be having that referendum.

You might turn around and say Ukip doesn't have a mandate any more

but I'll turn around and say this, until the ink is dry on the paper,

until we are actually out of the European Union,

we need to have people holding the government to account.

People want to know what is going to happen to their public services.

Ukip voters have a choice of supporting more cuts to public

services or supporting the protection of public services.

What about Corbyn and the droves of Labour supporters

who are on the fence and sayin to know what, I might vote Ukip

because it is a party for working people who can't vote Conservative.

Do you think young kids care about this stuff?

Yes, they do because it's the services that young

people will be working for and that serve them.

Do you think they care about their future or a home

Both you guys in this room now, you made a massive U-turn.

You said you weren't going to raise tuition fees and you did.

I had to pay ?9,000, right, to go to university.

The students that I educated have to pay ?30,000.

They don't have to pay a penny until they earn 21K.

If you want to get doctors and nurses into the NHS,

if you want to train home grown talent...

Maybe welcome them from the European Union instead of telling

Recruitment is in a crisis in the NHS because EU workers

We should not be poaching talent from other countries.

We should be growing our own before taking it from other

Seven years you've been in power, seven years, and the health service

is in crisis every single year since you'd been in power.

The last Labour government left power, you left a note telling

the country that you had spent all the money and

You're punching harder, you're punching harder, pack it in,

Do you realise you're punching harder?

Because of your industrial policy, your economic policies fantasy

figures that will drive us into the ground and it doesn't

matter what you want, you cannot pay for it if you don't

So you can't answer the question, Sean, after seven years in power,

there are ?3 billion, ?3 billion coming out

of education, tuition fees are at 9000 and rising...

The health services on its knees and the emergency services,

ambulance , police and fire brigade have been cut to ribbons.

The candidates have had their say, but it's not about them.

It's about voters like Natalie and Ishmael who have yet

I do feel like politicians are perceived to be quite rigid

and quite formal but I feel this discussion was really open and it

did have a lot of opinions there so that was interesting to see

them going head-to-head and fighting for our vote.

Seeing them in the ring individually, literally fighting it

out for the own policies and what they believe

in and what they think they can bring to the party,

and why I should vote for them, I think it made it more accessible.

So why do so many people across the country feel

Rachel Farrington runs a website encouraging young people to vote.

Even if you don't agree with any of the parties,

you should still go out and spoil your ballot blank vote

and it shows you are engaged and you're there for your vote to be

won but politicians just have to change a little to win it.

If you stay at home, you just become another figure.

If these four can agree on anything, it's this, it is your choice

But just remember, if you're not registered by May

timid, some of those punches, but it is hard to talk and Fox, I suppose.

Noel Phillips reporting and you can share that film

from our programme page - bbc.co.uk/victoria

Coming up, Nicola Adams will be with us just after ten. She will be

taking your questions and talking about turning pro, and life outside

boxing. See you in a minute. Now the latest weather update with Simon

King. I know many of us needed the rain

but yesterday was a wash-out for most of us, a really miserable day.

Today, thankfully, much improved. This is the recent satellite

picture, lots of sunshine through this morning and we will continue to

see that most of us into the afternoon. There will just be a

fuchsia was starting to develop. They will be heaviest across

Scotland and west in Northern Ireland, there could be the odd

rumble of thunder here later this afternoon. For most, really, a dry

day. Sunshine continuing, temperatures 15 to 20 Celsius,

feeling fresher than it has done compare the recent days in the

south-east. Overnight tonight, more rain coming in across the south-east

of England, East Anglia, some really intense rainfall for a time

overnight tonight. Some of that extending its way a bit further

westwards. There could be a touch of frost westward. During Friday, the

rain will continue to move its way northward, eventually coming out

into the East of Scotland. Elsewhere, some sunnier spells and

showers. Top temptress tomorrow about 11 to 15.

The Conservatives are launching their general election manifesto

with a pledge that nobody will have to sell their property

in their lifetime to fund their care but the cost will be recouped

when they die the party insist the policy is not a death tax.

Everyone will have the security of knowing they can pass on ?100,000 to

Another group will be made worse off than they are people getting care in

the own homes. The first time the value of their house will be taken

account. We'll be talking to a health think

tank to see what the proposals Double Olympic champion Nicola Adams

has turned professional and wants She wants to make women's Inc as big

as men's will also be talking about her plans to get married and life in

Leeds. It's estimated the Syria war has

claimed 450,000 lives. Tomorrow, the world's biggest centre

for children who have lost their parents in the conflict

will be opening in Turkey. We'll be speaking to

the people who set it up. Here's Annita in the BBC Newsroom

with a summary of today's news. The Conservatives have unveiled

plans that would see many more people in England pay for care in

their own home. They are promising though one would be forced to sell

their home in order to meet the cost of care. For the first time, the

value of a person's property, more than ?100,000, would be taken into

account in assessing whether they are eligible for free care if they

remain living there. The Tory manifesto also proposes to introduce

means testing for winter fuel pavements and end a guarantee that

the pension will rise by 2.5% every year. Robert Miller has been

Former head of the FBI, Robert Mueller, has been appointed

to investigate allegations that Russia interfered

Calls for an independent investigation have been growing

since President Trump fired the FBI director James Comey.

As part of the inquiry Congress and the FBI will look into potential

links between Mr Trump's campaign team and the Russian regime

Many GP surgeries across the UK are on the "brink of collapse"

because of underfunding and staff shortages, according

doctors and they have increased funding to the NHS,

but the head of the British Medical Association's GP committee warns

a record number of practices are being forced to close.

US musician Chris Cornell has died aged 52.

The singer who gained fame as the lead singer of Soundgarden

and later Audioslave died on yesterday in Detroit.

he had been touring with Soundgarden when he died suddenly yesterday.

Two of the UK's most popular products, Pringles and Lucozade,

have been named and shamed by the Recycling Association

It says the packaging for the products contains too many

Pringles says it protects the crisps and saves waste.

While Lucozade says the firm does care for the environment.

The comments were made as Prince Charles is about to launch

a ?1.5 million prize for designs that are both effective

That is a summary of the latest BBC News.

Dig into touch about anything we have been discussing this morning.

-- do get in touch. LIVE and If you text,

you will be charged Here's some sport

now with Will Perry. The triple world champion Beth

twiddle has become the newest member on the board of switch the

enterprise. It focuses on athlete transition. It works with Premier

League football clubs and rugby clubs. Tell us specifically what

switch the play does? We are trying to help athletes have a smooth

transition. It can be quite daunting when you come to the end of your

career. Sometimes it is planned and sometimes not. You'd think, what

will I do with my life question I want to be able to give that person,

I have been through it and know how you are feeling, give that personal

touch. I am joining a former England international rugby player who has

been through it as well. Hopefully we can help athletes who have been

through it. After watching you win the medals, it seems you have been

through so much. How hard was the transition? I did find it hard. Now

I think I found it harder than I realised. There are things going on

in the background put up my parents were keen on me keeping my education

up. When I finished my final bar routine in London 2012, everyone

knew around me, they knew it was my last competition. For me, I was back

in the gym training for another year. I did not know what to do. To

take that away from me was quite daunting, quite an anxious time.

Even though I had other things that up. Also, given how much athlete

welfare, mental health issues, duty of care is an issue right now,

topically, this is crucial. It is. It is helping athletes think,

actually you can start thinking about it while you're still playing

and competing for the 10% of your downtime but it could be thinking

about what courses you could do. I did a course in sports massage and

thought it could be something I could go into. And I did it I

realised I did not want to do that every day that at getting work

experience and volunteering in different companies thinking, is

something I would like to go into once I retire? Looking at an Olympic

medal or Premier League medal or premiership rugby medal, that is

currency in terms of building peoples brands and lives posed

sport. It is. Gymnastics taught me more than winning medals. It taught

me a whole range of life skills. I thought I had nothing to put on my

CV. My dad told me I had so much to put on my CV for things like the

zillions, perseverance, determination. All of that is what

an employer would look at. When you look at some athletes now, you have

the Aaron Lennon story with mental health issues. You look at the likes

of Paul Gascoigne and Ricky Hatton. High-profile athletes struggling

with issues. Had they had something like this in place, do you think

this would not have happened? For me, there was that support around in

British gymnastics. There is support that and it is raising awareness to

athletes that support network is there. Find out about it and start

talking about it. It is not something you need to think, I

cannot think about this until I retire. Some athletes worry if they

think about it they will lose focus with what they are doing at that

current moment in their sport. It is saying to them, it is never too

early to think about it, temp ascent of your downtime, and have a go at

it. Martine, and Olympic medallist but the newest member on the board

of switch the play. In just over an hour's time

the Conservatives will pledge to "confront the challenges

of our time" with a manifesto of what they'll do

if they re-elected in June. Theresa May says she will take "big

and difficult" decisions So let's have a look

at some of them. Up to ?300 in winter fuel payments

will be lost by wealthy pensioners. More elderly people will have to pay

for their care. They will not have to sell their homes before they die

and they can pass on at least ?100,000 to their relatives. A new

pledge to curb immigration, including a restatement of the

commitment to cut net immigration to under 100,000 a year. And increasing

school funding by ?4 billion, including a promise to scrap free

school lunches for infants to pay for free breakfasts for all primary

pupils. Let's get more from Norman Smith. Not long to wait. Almost

there. We have an insight into the nuts and bolts of this manifesto. It

represents a clear break with the camera in years with Mrs May taking

on some of the issues, some of the sections of society who are shielded

by Mr Cameron from the full blast of posterity. Pensioners lose. The

winter -- austerity. Business takes another hit. They will have to pay

more if they want to bring in migrants from outside of the EU.

Social care is where the real argy-bargy is this morning that Mrs

May's unit tried to personas of their big idea. They have scrapped

Mr Cameron's pledge to scrap the cap on the maximum amount of care you

have to pay. They have put in a floor, below which you will get some

state support for that if you spend all your assets down to ?100,000,

you will get state support. Critics are saying, good for lower income

families and no help for many middle-class families who have a

house. The Health Secretary, Jeremy Hunt, said it was all about

intergenerational fairness. Why should younger taxpayers have to

bail out old people to pay for their care costs?

If we want everyone to have security --

What we are saying is if we want everyone to have the security

of knowing that they can pass on whatever their care costs are,

?100 those to their children and grandchildren, that will cost

around ?2 billion a year so it's a significant amount.

But we are saying that the fair way to pay for that is not through taxes

that have to be paid by younger people, often struggling to make

ends meet, but by removing some entitlements for older people,

better off pensioners who currently get the winter fuel allowance

who won't now get it under these proposals but those same pensioners

will have that security of knowing that whatever happens to them

and their care costs, they'll be able to pass

a significant amount of money on to their children

Massive pressure on the Health Service A departments,

what are you going to do about it and what is this

Well, the NHS has done magnificently well in incredibly challenging

We recognise that we need more doctors, nurses and funding.

We will be increasing funding to the NHS beyond what we've

But other parties are promising to do that as well.

The choice is, which party is most likely to be able to deliver on that

promise to increase funding to the NHS.

we will find out surely whether the Tories will match the commitments

made by Labour and the NHS to plough an extra 7 billion into the health

service. The main rumpus this morning is over social care. Into

the phrase steps Andrew Dill Mott. He was charged by the Government to

come up with a master plan for social care. He suggested we needed

a cap. David Cameron picked up his idea which has been chucked away by

Theresa May. This morning he was not impressed by her plans for social

care. If you're somebody at the moment

who is in a residential care home, so have moved out of the your own

home and have been moved to a residential facility,

you'll be able to keep more That was a crucial part

of the recommendations Actually it proposed increasing

the threshold to ?125,000. There's another group

who'll be made worse off, those are people who at the moment

are getting care in their own homes because for the first time the value

of their own house will be taken into account so they'll have

to start paying in a way The big problem is that

although what the Government is saying it would do is to say

everybody would be able to get support once they were down

to their lost ?100,000, many people have much more

than that and face no way of controlling their care costs

which could run into So the lack of any form

of pooling of risk of social It means still people will not be

able to take control of this vital The winter fuel allowance at

the moment costs about ?1.2 billion. So some fraction of that could be

saved if it was to taken away My sense of this is that pensioners

are not opposed to some reductions in the value of something like that,

not opposed to the idea of paying more for some forms of social care

if what they were being offered in return was a deal that meant

that they could take I don't think pensioners wanted more

money, they wanted this terrible That's not being solved and I think

some pensioners will be pretty cross that they're losing losing something

without feeling they're We have about another hour to go

before the blast off of the manifest. I have the Labour version

of the Tory manifesto. One manifesto, two years of failure and

50 broken promises. That is the way it works nowadays. They are quick

off the block. Thank you. At 10.30, pensioners and charities

give us their reaction to the Conservative Party's plans

for social care. Double Olympic champion, world

champion, Commonwealth Champion, European champion,

Nicola Adams has already But not content with that,

she turned professional and is focused on winning

a world title next. Nicola Adams has written a book

about the story of her life so far and she's here to talk

about it today. Good morning, Nicola, see you in a

second. If you've got a question

for Nicola, get in touch now. Lets have a look at some

of her greatest moments # 'Cause I am a champion and you're

gonna hear me roar... and to think that I've finally done

it and I'm finally here with all this support,

you know, it's really, And the incredibly tight gold

medal bout, Nicola Adams, the first woman to win two Olympic

titles in the boxing ring. When I first went in

to win a gold in 2012, I was just thinking,

yeah, I just want to win a gold medal and then the whole

being a role model came with it. If you win a gold medal

in the boxing, are you guaranteed I guess it just depends

whether you want to stay amateur There's a lot of goals

in the professional ranks to achieve, becoming a world

champion and European champion, raising the game again and just

making or hopefully trying to make women's boxing on a par

with the men's. Nicola Adams is here. While we watch

and that you said oh, I have done quite a lot, does it surprise you

when you look back on it? Yes, a big surprise to revisit, I have been

busy. Your book is called Believe, and it is launched today. It must at

some point refer hard you got into boxing and that all-important trip

to the leisure centre when you're mum went to the class and you got

attracted by something else that was going on. Yes, it does, and I hope

it will inspire the next generation to show that, with hard work and

perseverance and dedication, you really can achieve anything. You

were only about 13, I think it was, and you realised this was what you

really wanted to devote yourself to. Was that some kind of daydream? What

kind of plan did you have? I just wanted to win an Olympic title.

Foremost, that would have seemed rarely strange, especially because

women's boxing was not even an Olympic sport, so I had a lot to

contest but I was determined. I was like no, this is going to happen,

this is my dream commute just watch full stop you were born at the right

time then, won't you? Because in previous generations as you say,

women could not have taken part. I was reading that women's boxing was

banned because premenstrual tension made is unstable. I know, and that

was only in 1996, not that long ago. You also managed to win round Frank

Warren, your promoter, because he was a bit iffy about women's boxing.

What didn't he like it, and what changed? He didn't think the levels

were good enough, that it was popular enough, and he said whenever

he got into a taxi after 2012 and 2016, he said I was the first boxer

that they spoke to him about. He was looking at my fights and he was

really impressed with my technical level of boxing. We had a meeting

and he said he would love to sign me. And here we are. The unlikely

pair. CHUCKLING How difficult was it, though, for

you as a girl in your teens to find people to fight? Because you were

probably, I would imagine, in a great minority in most of the boxing

clubs in this country at that stage. I was, I had one, Tish and when I

was 13, and then I didn't get another one until I was 17, when I

was 17. When I was senior. It was years of being patient, waiting to

compete. There is a lot of patients linked to being a boxer. Now you are

professional, how easy will it be to find an opponent worth fighting,

that will actually come and the kind of person you would be prepared to

fight for? It is a lot easier now. I am really enjoying the professional

ranks. We do three minute rounds. We do ten rounds as welcome which is

different from the amateurs who only do a maximum of four. And you have

to pick your own team as well. On Team GB, you have a team

straightaway, coaches, nutritionist, strength and condition coaches. Now

I have picked my own team, which I have quite enjoyed. I have found a

team of people that work well together. I am really enjoying

things, onward and upward, and get that world title. It is probably the

title rather than money want to do it for. But with that said tennis,

for a long time of the women did not the same as the men. So what kind of

money will be invested in women's boxing? Will you be fighting for the

same kind of prize money? Yes, I hope so, in the future, when I'm

headlining shows, and hopefully get my shot in Vegas. Who knows, the

sky's the limit. Of course, and based on your track record you will

absolutely get there. But how different is it, going into the ring

as a professional, compared with being an amateur? Because of course

you do not have the head guard on and you are fighting for money and a

professional title, so it must change the way people approach it?

Yes, it is very different but I like the fact that every time I step out

into the crowd, it is a big crowd, a big arena, and I also liked the fact

that I am not just fighting for me, I am fighting to change as well, I

am fighting to lift the sport, the professional side of the women's

boxing, so that when the next generation go to think about turning

pro or turn pro, they know that the path is already laid out for them,

and they don't have to think about the pressures of making sure that

they literally good when they are performing. Because if I don't do

good now, there will be no women's professional boxing in Britain. How

great are those barriers? This idea that boxing is not very ladylike,

not what we should be doing? It is not as bad as it was before but

there is still a way to go. I want to help to improve that in the

professional side. Inevitably come you have had to be a trailblazer but

also because you have always been honest and open about your

sexuality, and you have got engaged to your partner, congratulations.

Thank you. You inevitably, I suppose, have had to be a

trailblazer for that, that openness about sexuality in sport, which the

lot of men and women have probably found quite difficult in the past.

Yes, it is quite difficult for some people. It is not something I say

everybody should come out, but I do say that people should find a way to

try and be themselves and I'm hoping I'm inspiring them to be. I am so

sorry, I lent into the shot, and spoiled everything, Barry, it is my

first morning, as if you didn't know! You have probably just found

that out, sorry to unnerve you. Taylor says please ask Nicola watch

things of LGBT rights in the UK at the moment, not just in sport, but

more widely I guess. How well do you think we are doing this country? I

think we are doing really well. In sport as well, I think it is better

and getting better all the time. I have to ask you about your fiance,

she is a boxer as well, how competitive are you with each other?

We don't fight each other or anything but we are quite

competitive. We have a rivalry on, to see who will have the first world

title on the mantelpiece. Would it ever come to you having to fight

each other for it? No, we are in different weight divisions. How

helpful is it having a fiance in the same business as you? Really

helpful. We know the pressures, when we are dieting, we don't rarely want

to talk. We have that understanding. We know what the other person is

going through, so it is nice. Vincent asks if you and your partner

have had your first row yet? Yes, we have had a few of them. All settled

and -- all settled amicably with no fights. Yes. You were diagnosed with

ADHD when you were in your teens, and you will always have to take

medication for it. How do you manage it and how do you advise other

people the same condition who find it get in the way of what they want

to do? Yes, forgetfulness, lack of attention, focus, it is really tough

to deal with. But with the tablets, it is a lot easier, and I can find

that I can focus, and read come and get a lot of things done. Another

couple of tweets, Ollie says congratulations on your engagement.

Thanks. Do you ever get anxious or panicky before a fight, what helps

to settle you? I get nervous before a fight. I think I would be more

worried if I was not nervous before a fight because I would feel like I

was not taking my opponent that seriously. I normally listen to

music and have a laugh and a joke with the coaches before I go into

the ring. Important that the right people around you. Definitely.

Angela says we love Nicola, your smile melts our hearts, carry on,

you are a hero. It must hear that all the time. Thank you. How do you

keep yourself motivated then, the training is extraordinary and have

to keep your weight under control up to the fight. Yeah, I keep my vote

-- my motivation going by having goals to achieve. Pretty much every

time I step into the ring I am creating some kind of history so it

is nice to have that kind of goal. It helps me keep me very motivated.

It is a lot easier to train when you know you are creating history and

long after you have gone that history will still be there. So many

people know who you are because you have been the first. How do you

inspire young before them, it may not be boxing, it may be other

things. Everyone comes across obstacles along the way, what advice

do give them? I tell them to persevere, to stay dedicated and you

have to believe in yourself. That is why I did the book, I wanted them to

see that it doesn't matter where you come from, as long as you work hard,

you can find something that you are really interested in and passionate

about, you really can achieve anything. What do you do when you

are not boxing? It is so all-consuming. Yeah. You can't just

sit back, eat chocolate and drink the wine. I watch TV box sets, go to

the movies. Normal stuff. Yes, normal stuff. Go-karting. What will

come after boxing? I am not suggesting you will retire any time

soon, what you see fit yourself beyond the ring? I know you have

done some acting. I would love to do some more acting, and some

commentating, as well. Where does this self belief, and you have

called the book Believed, it is clearly an important thing. Where

did it come from, a lot of people particularly in our teams, we are

riddled with self doubt a lot of the time, you don't seem to have

struggled with that. It is all about believing in yourself, being

confident in yourself. When you can finally do that, the confidence will

stay with you and you will be able to be confident around other people

as well. You spend your time between here and the United States, because

Marlon is based in San Francisco. And I coaches are there as well. Are

they? How do different is it there, the boxing scene, compared to over

here? Not that much different. The training I do over there is

different to my amateur training I used to do before. But, yeah, I'm

enjoying it, I'm loving the weather as well for stock I bet you are too.

The book is launched today. Is it available on Kindle as well, nobody

just buys books these days. Yes, Amazon, Waterstones, Audible, the

audio book as well for stock you were going to be busy, great to meet

you, the best of luck not just with the book but with your next fight.

Nicola Adams, thank you. Still to come: we will speak to a

health think tank to find out what the Tory pledges on social health

care thinks. And we'll be talking to the person

who has set up the world's largest centre for children

who have lost their parents With the news, here's Anita

in the BBC Newsroom. Senior politicians have arrived in

West Yorkshire ahead of the manifesto launch due to take place

in the next hour. The parties promising no one will be full is to

sell their home in order to meet the cost of care. For the first time,

the value of a person's to, over ?100,000, will be taken into account

in assessing whether they will be eligible for free care if they

remain living there. The Tory manifesto proposes introducing means

testing for winter fuel payments and to end a guarantee that the pension

will rise by 2.5% a year. Rolf Harris is to be released

from Stafford Prison. The judge has told his

indecent assault trial at Southwark Crown Court

that the veteran entertainer He is standing trial accused of

assaulting three teenage girls in the 70s and 80s.

A former head of the FBI, Robert Mueller, has been appointed

to investigate allegations that Russia interfered

Calls for an independent investigation have been growing

since President Trump fired the FBI director James Comey.

As part of the inquiry, Congress and the FBI will look

into potential links between Mr Trump's campaign team

Theresa May and Jeremy Corbyn will be absent as Britain's

political leaders take part in a prime time TV debate.

The ITV event will see Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron,

Ukip's Paul Nuttall and the SNP's Nicola Sturgeon lock horns.

Plaid Cymru's Leanne Wood and Green co-leader Caroline Lucas will also

take part in the two-hour show being broadcast from Salford at 8pm.

The Prime Minister has refused to take part in TV debates

and the Labour leader said he would not participate

US musician Chris Cornell has died aged 52.

The singer, who gained fame with Soundgarden

He also performed the theme to the James Bond movie,

Cornell had been touring with Soundgarden in Detroit

That is a summary of the latest news.

Here's some sport now with Will Perry,

Huddersfield Town are one game away from promotion

to the Premier League for the first time.

After a 1-1 draw in their Championship playoff

with Sheffield Wednesday, Huddersfield won on penalties last

night to book a Wembley showdown with Reading a week on Monday,

a game that's being labelled the 200 million pound match

In the Premier League last night, Southampton were left

to rue a missed chance - as they had a penalty saved

in what was a dull goalless draw with Manchester United.

Even if United win their remaining game, this will be their lowest

tally of wins in a single Premier League season

Chelsea's 100 percent record in the Women's Super League Spring

England midfielder Jordan Nobbs scored in stoppage time

The point still lifts Chelsea to second -

6 off leaders Liverpool with a couple of games in hand

And Britain's Kyle Edmund has followed Andy Murray in making

He was knocked out at the second round stage

by Juan Martin Del Potro in straight sets.

Johanna Konta is the only Britain left in either draw,

More sport on the BBC News Channel later this afternoon.

Even before the Conservatives' manifesto is published

in the next hour, they've been forced to deny that

plans to reform social care amount to a "death tax".

They're promising that no-one would be forced to sell their home

But for the first time the value of a person's property,

over ?100,000, would be taken into account

in assessing whether they're eligible for free care

There's also a pledge to means-test winter fuel payments,

meaning more wealthy pensioners will lose up to ?300 per year.

Iain Duncan Smith is at Westminster. He joins us now. Thank you for

joining us. Why is your party not being more radical and suggesting a

cap on the cost of social care? That has been suggested and has had quite

widespread support. I do not know what will be in the manifesto

because we only have elements of it so far. We have seen the Government

attempting to grapple with the big issue which goes on in every single

community, the cost of social care and how you afford it. What they

have actually looked at across a wide perspective is to say, look,

for those on higher incomes, winter fuel for example, there is no reason

why they should be receiving a universal benefit like this. That

money can be used to help to fund social care. We have changed the

nature of the link on pensions which, over the years, was the right

thing to do. It lifted the pensioners up and has improved their

annual income by over ?1000. Now it is right to have it linked to

earnings or inflation, so it always stays at the right level but does

not increased at a clear head of those. Those areas will allow the

Government the flexibility to be able to say we can spend more and

focus on target more money on social care, ensuring people who need that

care, particularly those in low income brackets will be able to get

the social care they need when they need it. That is the big challenge

facing all of us. Eight UK says means testing could be quite

disastrous in terms of the number of people who die as a result of the

cold weather we have in the winter. Those most vulnerable and in need of

the payment are least likely to actually collect it. How do you

avoid that? You ensure what you do is you target better. When I was

sitting at the Department it was a constant area of frustration for us

that we shovelled out the door a lot of money, a huge amount of it, to

people who used to complain they did not need it. Most of that money was

not spent on an increase in terms of their fuel. For many of those people

who had sufficient monies, used to spend it on other things. They

admitted as much. There was no mechanism to hand it back. It was

impossible for that to happen. Many papers argued that it was time to

actually target the money better. The whole point about means testing

is you make sure that those who need it, those who are eligible for it,

actually receive it. There is plenty of ability for us to be able to

target that group properly. We looked at that when I was there. It

was quite clear it was feasible to do this properly. The problem you

have, in the past, the ability to do that was not so great. Universal

payments, whatever they are, cost you a lot of money because you spend

a lot of money giving to people who do not need the money. Those who do

need it could get more money. That is the key elements as you get more

support to those who live on marginal incomes and those who do

not need that money, therefore, do not need to receive it. Some would

argue that means testing is an expensive way of doing it as well.

The Conservatives have been very keen to criticise Labour in saying

the sums do not add up. Can you give us some idea of who exactly will

lose and what the savings will be? Of course I can't. I am not in the

Government. I am not therefore privileged to the manifesto and all

the details. This process we are engaged in today, announcements have

been made, they will be seen in a wider balance of what is available

in the overall manifesto and taxation. Then we will be able to

say where we are. My general sense about all of this is that the

Government is looking to reallocate the money. At the moment it could be

with winter fuel which is spent on people who do not need it.

Reallocate in that kind of spending to those who do, hence the issues

around capping the level on ?100,000 and ownership of a house. About

those who need the care getting that money. Cannot give you the exact

figures. I am not privileged to the details. Your party is saying there

is going to be a generous increase in how much money people will be

able to retain and receive social care. This idea that people will be

left with ?100,000 to pass onto their families, how is that an

incentive for anybody save, to recruit wealth, if it will all be

soaked up by social care, which could've been avoided if you put a

cap on the costs? The whole idea is the vast majority do not and will

not need that level of social care. The reality is, for those that do,

one of the great warriors they always had is, first of all, they

will have to divest themselves of all of this money while they are

alive which makes it complicated and difficult for them. The second area

is they have no way of protecting the amount of money they might wish

to pass on legitimate to their families, or at least have available

to their families, after they die. That is the area that the Government

is looking at protecting and giving them that assurance. By extending

this whole policy to care at home, which is all part of that, you want

to keep people at home as much as you possibly can, that enables the

market to look at a wider range of products to help people invest over

the years toward supporting their own care in later life so they would

not have to fall back on the cost of their housing. That is the key area

we needed to do, getting people are more flexible savings regime and

allowing for care in a home and care in the community. The idea of

staying in your home to be cared for my appeal to a lot of people. How do

we make sure there are enough carers with the right quality and paid

enough to go around? This is where the minimum wage rise to the living

wage comes into effect. We heard the present government wants to take it

even higher. The minimum wage will help enormously with people at the

bottom end of the pay scale and that is very much the case for people who

do caring responsibilities. This will make companies think very

carefully about how they use staff. That would be the greatest

protection. That commitment, it was a Conservative government that is

committed to that and has seen through with the rise, that will

mean more for people on low pay than anything else. The other area is,

the Government has already taken millions out of taxation by raising

the threshold where you start to pay tax and eventually it will arrive at

?12,500. That is a halving of the numbers. That means a doubling of

the amount you can earn before you will actually have to pay tax. That

takes a lot of people in the low pay area out of tags in the early part

of their income. Thank you very much for joining us.

So, is this good news or bad news for families with elderly relatives?

We are joined by Hugh Alderwick, who is a senior policy adviser

for the health think tank, the Kings Fund.

Jane Vass is head of policy and research for Age UK -

Alison Holt is our social affairs correspondent.

She is trying to work out what it means for her. Alison, a lot of

reaction at first seemed to suggest it could have been a lot more

radical and they have missed a trick. That is the feedback I have

been getting. I think people are ready for a complete overhaul of the

system. It is a general feeling it is badly broken and has been under

serious pressure, under huge demand and overstretched. In time. I think

there was an appetite for something fairly radical but also something

happening fairly quickly. Their care cap idea introduced by the do not

commission some years ago was already in there just are aged --

legislation. The cap limiting the highest care costs and a raising of