0:00:06 > 0:00:11In a little over two weeks, voters go to the polls
0:00:11 > 0:00:13in the general election to choose who will represent them
0:00:13 > 0:00:15in Parliament, and who will lead the country.
0:00:15 > 0:00:18So which of the party leaders has the best plan for the future
0:00:18 > 0:00:20of the United Kingdom?
0:00:20 > 0:00:23Tonight I'm talking to the leader of the Conservative Party
0:00:23 > 0:00:26and the woman hoping to remain prime minister, Theresa May.
0:00:59 > 0:01:01Prime Minister, you started this campaign with a huge,
0:01:01 > 0:01:04double-digit lead in the polls.
0:01:04 > 0:01:06It's now down to single digits in some polls.
0:01:06 > 0:01:09What's gone wrong?
0:01:09 > 0:01:12Well, Andrew, there's only one poll that counts
0:01:12 > 0:01:15in any election campaign, as I'm sure you know
0:01:15 > 0:01:18from your long experience, and that's the one that takes place
0:01:18 > 0:01:20on the 8th of June when people have actually cast their votes.
0:01:20 > 0:01:23When they have made that choice, which is a crucial choice -
0:01:23 > 0:01:26I think this genuinely is the most crucial election I have seen
0:01:26 > 0:01:28in my lifetime because it's about getting Brexit negotiations
0:01:28 > 0:01:31right, getting the right deal for Britain from Europe,
0:01:31 > 0:01:33and, going beyond that, a plan for a stronger
0:01:33 > 0:01:36Britain for the future.
0:01:36 > 0:01:39And I believe that I've set out my vision for that strength
0:01:39 > 0:01:41in negotiations and that stronger plan and the choice is,
0:01:41 > 0:01:44who's going to be doing those negotiations, me or Jeremy Corbyn?
0:01:44 > 0:01:47So why do you think your lead is narrowing?
0:01:47 > 0:01:50As I say, the only poll that counts is the one that takes
0:01:50 > 0:01:51place on the 8th of June.
0:01:51 > 0:01:55What I'm doing, what I and my team are doing, is going out around
0:01:55 > 0:01:59the country talking to people, hearing from them, and talking
0:01:59 > 0:02:02to them about this crucial choice that the country will face
0:02:02 > 0:02:04on the 8th of June.
0:02:04 > 0:02:06Because, you know, so much depends on us getting those
0:02:06 > 0:02:10Brexit negotiations right.
0:02:10 > 0:02:13It's not just the next five years but it's beyond the next five years.
0:02:13 > 0:02:15Our standard of living, our place in the world.
0:02:15 > 0:02:18And you need a strong hand in those negotiations and you need strength
0:02:18 > 0:02:22in those negotiations, and, as I say, there's only
0:02:22 > 0:02:25going to be a choice between two people as to who is sitting opposite
0:02:25 > 0:02:27those 27 European countries, me or Jeremy Corbyn.
0:02:27 > 0:02:30But could you be in a little bit of trouble now?
0:02:30 > 0:02:33You were so sure of winning that you thought you could get away
0:02:33 > 0:02:36with a load of uncosted and half-baked policies.
0:02:36 > 0:02:41No, I've never taken anything for granted about this election.
0:02:41 > 0:02:43I called this election because I think it is important
0:02:43 > 0:02:46that the country has certainty over the next five years,
0:02:46 > 0:02:49has the strong and stable leadership that I think it needs,
0:02:49 > 0:02:50as I've just explained, particularly for those
0:02:50 > 0:02:53Brexit negotiations.
0:02:53 > 0:02:57And what I saw was that other parties were trying to frustrate,
0:02:57 > 0:03:02promising to try to frustrate those Brexit negotiations,
0:03:02 > 0:03:05so I thought it was right to call an election and ask people
0:03:05 > 0:03:06to make that choice.
0:03:06 > 0:03:08But your policies are uncosted and half-baked, aren't they?
0:03:08 > 0:03:11No.
0:03:11 > 0:03:17What we have set out in the manifesto is a series
0:03:17 > 0:03:20of policies which address what I see and what I think are
0:03:20 > 0:03:22the five great challenges that we face as a country.
0:03:22 > 0:03:25What I have tried to be is to show people that actually
0:03:25 > 0:03:29if we are going to build that stronger Britain, we have got to be
0:03:29 > 0:03:31willing to face up to these challenges and fix them.
0:03:31 > 0:03:35Well, let's look at social care for the elderly.
0:03:35 > 0:03:38Four days ago, your manifesto rejected a cap on social care costs.
0:03:38 > 0:03:39Today you announced a cap.
0:03:39 > 0:03:44That sounds pretty half-baked.
0:03:44 > 0:03:46Nothing has changed from the principles on social care
0:03:46 > 0:03:48policy that we set out in our manifesto.
0:03:48 > 0:03:51Let me just explain, if I may, why I think it's important,
0:03:51 > 0:03:54why this is one of the great challenges we face,
0:03:54 > 0:03:55our ageing society.
0:03:55 > 0:03:56Just one figure.
0:03:56 > 0:03:59In ten years' time there will be 2 million more
0:03:59 > 0:04:02people over the age of 75.
0:04:02 > 0:04:05Our social care system will collapse unless we do something about it.
0:04:05 > 0:04:08We could try and pretend the problem isn't there and hope
0:04:08 > 0:04:10that it will go away, but it won't.
0:04:10 > 0:04:12It will grow each year.
0:04:12 > 0:04:16We could play politics with it as the Labour Party is doing.
0:04:16 > 0:04:19Or we could show how we can fix it and that's what I've done.
0:04:19 > 0:04:20But you say nothing has changed.
0:04:20 > 0:04:23Jeremy Hunt, on the day you launched your manifesto,
0:04:23 > 0:04:27last Thursday, the Health Secretary, he said, yes, we are dropping
0:04:27 > 0:04:29the cap and we are being completely explicit in our manifesto,
0:04:29 > 0:04:31we're dropping it.
0:04:31 > 0:04:32We don't think it's fair.
0:04:32 > 0:04:35Today you announced a cap.
0:04:35 > 0:04:39And Jeremy was talking about the...
0:04:39 > 0:04:42Of course Andrew Dilnot had brought forward previous
0:04:42 > 0:04:45proposals for a cap, but Jeremy also went on to say
0:04:45 > 0:04:48that we wanted to have was a system that was fair to taxpayers,
0:04:48 > 0:04:51that was fair to all generations, and that's what we're doing.
0:04:51 > 0:04:54But it is a cap, Prime Minister.
0:04:54 > 0:04:57Your manifesto rejects a cap, it gives a reason why
0:04:57 > 0:05:00you don't want a cap, now you're going to have a cap.
0:05:00 > 0:05:02You need to be honest, I would suggest, and tell
0:05:02 > 0:05:04the British people you've changed your mind.
0:05:04 > 0:05:05What I'm doing...
0:05:05 > 0:05:09First of all, Andrew, I'm being absolutely honest
0:05:09 > 0:05:11with the British people about the big challenge that we face
0:05:11 > 0:05:14and absolutely honest with them about the need for us to deal
0:05:14 > 0:05:17with this now, to start fixing it now.
0:05:17 > 0:05:22Now what I've put forward is a social care policy which means
0:05:22 > 0:05:25that people won't have to worry if they are sitting there month
0:05:25 > 0:05:28after month worrying about money coming out of their bank account
0:05:28 > 0:05:31to pay for their care, worrying about how long that will last.
0:05:31 > 0:05:34They won't have to worry because they won't have to be paying
0:05:34 > 0:05:35during their lifetime.
0:05:35 > 0:05:37They won't have to worry that they're going to have to sell
0:05:37 > 0:05:39their house during their lifetime.
0:05:39 > 0:05:42And they'll be able to pass ?100,000 onto their families when they die,
0:05:42 > 0:05:46that's a protected ?100,000.
0:05:46 > 0:05:50What I've done today is I've seen the scaremongering, frankly,
0:05:50 > 0:05:53that we've seen over the weekend, I've seen the way that Jeremy Corbyn
0:05:53 > 0:05:57wants to sneak into Number Ten by playing on the fears
0:05:57 > 0:06:02of old and vulnerable people and I've clarified what we will be
0:06:02 > 0:06:05putting in the green paper which I set out in the manifesto.
0:06:05 > 0:06:07So Jeremy Corbyn is now rewriting your manifesto?
0:06:07 > 0:06:09No, not at all!
0:06:09 > 0:06:12That's what it sounds like, you've reacted to him.
0:06:12 > 0:06:12No, we haven't.
0:06:12 > 0:06:18Andrew, we have not rewritten the manifesto.
0:06:18 > 0:06:21The principles on which we have based our social care policy remain
0:06:21 > 0:06:23absolutely the same.
0:06:23 > 0:06:25We need to ensure that we have long-term
0:06:25 > 0:06:28sustainability in social care.
0:06:28 > 0:06:31We need to be able to ensure we can fund social care for the future.
0:06:31 > 0:06:33We're doing the honest thing about putting a proposal
0:06:33 > 0:06:35to the British people and they will make
0:06:35 > 0:06:36their choice on that.
0:06:36 > 0:06:39How can it be honest, Prime Minister, to reject a cap
0:06:39 > 0:06:41in your manifesto and four days later say, we're
0:06:41 > 0:06:42going to have a cap?
0:06:42 > 0:06:46What's honest about that?
0:06:46 > 0:06:50What we set out in our manifesto was a series of principles.
0:06:50 > 0:06:53It was to say to people, first of all, this is a big issue,
0:06:53 > 0:06:56we need to address it, and we are being honest that we must
0:06:56 > 0:06:59fix it and that's what I want to do.
0:06:59 > 0:07:02I'm not going to bury my head in the sand, I'm not
0:07:02 > 0:07:04going to play politics with it, which is what Jeremy
0:07:04 > 0:07:05Corbyn is doing.
0:07:05 > 0:07:07You're just going to change your mind.
0:07:07 > 0:07:08I'm going to fix it.
0:07:08 > 0:07:11What I've seen is that people have been worried by some of the things
0:07:11 > 0:07:14that the Labour Party has been claiming, and others indeed,
0:07:14 > 0:07:16the Liberal Democrats too, about what our policy means.
0:07:16 > 0:07:18In some cases the complete opposite of what our policy is.
0:07:18 > 0:07:21But when Labour said you were against a cap,
0:07:21 > 0:07:23they were right until today, you were against the cap.
0:07:23 > 0:07:26What we have done is clarified what will be in this green paper.
0:07:26 > 0:07:27We were very clear.
0:07:27 > 0:07:30Here is our social care policy, here is what we're doing.
0:07:30 > 0:07:33We want to protect people, we want people not to have the worry,
0:07:33 > 0:07:36day to day, about being able to pay for their social care.
0:07:36 > 0:07:38That's why we are fixing this problem, that's why we're
0:07:38 > 0:07:41putting this into place.
0:07:41 > 0:07:44What I have said today is I've heard the scaremongering,
0:07:44 > 0:07:47I've seen how Labour want to try to sneak
0:07:47 > 0:07:52into Number Ten, Jeremy Corbyn wants to try to get into Number Ten
0:07:52 > 0:07:55by playing on fears, by misrepresenting our policy.
0:07:55 > 0:07:59What we're doing is ensuring people will not have to sell their house
0:07:59 > 0:08:02during their lifetime.
0:08:02 > 0:08:05They won't have to worry about those monthly bills for their care,
0:08:05 > 0:08:08and they'll be able to protect more money than they have been
0:08:08 > 0:08:09before for their families.
0:08:09 > 0:08:12But it's a cap on lifetime social costs which worry people as well.
0:08:12 > 0:08:16I mean, this must be the first time in modern history that a party has
0:08:16 > 0:08:18actually broken a manifesto policy before the election!
0:08:18 > 0:08:20No.
0:08:20 > 0:08:25What we have done, Andrew, I set out in my manifesto
0:08:25 > 0:08:27the challenges that we need to address as a government.
0:08:27 > 0:08:30And I've been very clear with people.
0:08:30 > 0:08:33There are two ways you can approach this issue.
0:08:33 > 0:08:36You can say to people, we have an ageing society,
0:08:36 > 0:08:39our system will collapse unless we do something about it,
0:08:39 > 0:08:40that's what I'm saying.
0:08:40 > 0:08:44You can ignore it, put your head in the sand, or you can try
0:08:44 > 0:08:46and play politics with it.
0:08:46 > 0:08:49I think it's only fair to people to say, this is a problem
0:08:49 > 0:08:52and we need to fix it now, that's what I want to do.
0:08:52 > 0:08:55I want to fix it so people don't have the worry
0:08:55 > 0:08:56about their social care costs.
0:08:56 > 0:08:59Now that you're in favour of a cap, can you give us an idea
0:08:59 > 0:09:01of what the cap might be, the amount we'll have
0:09:01 > 0:09:03to pay for social care?
0:09:03 > 0:09:07What we're going to do, as we said in our manifesto,
0:09:07 > 0:09:10is publish, we referred to the green paper, of course a green paper,
0:09:10 > 0:09:13many people may not realise a green paper is a consultation.
0:09:13 > 0:09:16So we want to take people's views, the views of charities,
0:09:16 > 0:09:18the views of others, on how the system
0:09:18 > 0:09:19should be operating.
0:09:19 > 0:09:22What I've said today is that we will have in that
0:09:22 > 0:09:25consultation that concept of an absolute limit on the costs
0:09:25 > 0:09:28that people have to pay.
0:09:28 > 0:09:32So we're protecting people for the future, we're providing
0:09:32 > 0:09:35a system that provides sustainability in our social
0:09:35 > 0:09:37care for the future, and we got an ageing population
0:09:37 > 0:09:41and we need to do this otherwise our system will collapse.
0:09:41 > 0:09:44Why did you not put the consultation on a cap in your manifesto?
0:09:44 > 0:09:47Instead, your manifesto rejects a cap.
0:09:47 > 0:09:51No, what we've put in the manifesto is that we will have a consultation
0:09:51 > 0:09:54and the principles on which our social care policy will be based.
0:09:54 > 0:09:57That I think was the right thing to do.
0:09:57 > 0:10:00Now, if we are re-elected, we will have that consultation.
0:10:00 > 0:10:04But I think the key issue is that there's a choice
0:10:04 > 0:10:07here between parties, a choice between Jeremy Corbyn,
0:10:07 > 0:10:10who is playing politics with this, doesn't want to address this issue
0:10:10 > 0:10:11of an ageing society.
0:10:11 > 0:10:13You're not playing politics with this, Prime Minister?
0:10:13 > 0:10:14No, I'm not, Andrew.
0:10:14 > 0:10:16You came out against a cap.
0:10:16 > 0:10:18You're now in favour of a cap because of a backlash,
0:10:18 > 0:10:20that's not playing politics?
0:10:20 > 0:10:23No, Andrew, what I'm worried about is the way in which there have
0:10:23 > 0:10:25been fake claims about our policy which are deliberately trying
0:10:25 > 0:10:31to scare old and vulnerable people.
0:10:31 > 0:10:35What I've done is addressed that issue today and I'm very clear that
0:10:35 > 0:10:39whoever is in government, whoever is Prime Minister,
0:10:39 > 0:10:42whether it is me or Jeremy Corbyn, we need to address this issue,
0:10:42 > 0:10:45we need to fix it and that's what I'm going to do.
0:10:45 > 0:10:46All right, let me move on now.
0:10:46 > 0:10:49Because many people have said your manifesto is quite vague
0:10:49 > 0:10:52when it comes to how you're going to pay for your spending
0:10:52 > 0:10:54pledges so let's see if we can get some clarity tonight.
0:10:54 > 0:10:59How are you going to pay for the extra ?8 billion for the NHS?
0:10:59 > 0:11:02Andrew, when I go around the country and talk to people about what we're
0:11:02 > 0:11:05going to do in government, what people want to know is,
0:11:05 > 0:11:08are we actually going to have the strong economy that
0:11:08 > 0:11:10enables us to pay for the NHS and pay for the public
0:11:10 > 0:11:12services that people want.
0:11:12 > 0:11:15In our manifesto we have put some examples of how we're
0:11:15 > 0:11:18going to change the way money is used, on winter fuel
0:11:18 > 0:11:21payments, for example, we will means test that.
0:11:21 > 0:11:25I asked about the extra money for the NHS, where will the extra
0:11:25 > 0:11:288 billion come from?
0:11:28 > 0:11:32Andrew, what we have done, if you look at our record,
0:11:32 > 0:11:35is shown that we can put record sums of money into the National
0:11:35 > 0:11:38Health Service at the same time as we are ensuring
0:11:38 > 0:11:39that we are building that strong economy.
0:11:39 > 0:11:41And that's what we'll do for the future.
0:11:41 > 0:11:43Our economic credibility is not in doubt.
0:11:43 > 0:11:47It is the Labour Party who is in the dock when it comes
0:11:47 > 0:11:47to economic credibility.
0:11:47 > 0:11:50No, but the ability to answer this question may be
0:11:50 > 0:11:51in doubt, Prime Minister.
0:11:51 > 0:11:52Let me try one more time.
0:11:52 > 0:11:55Where will the extra 8 billion for the NHS come from?
0:11:55 > 0:11:58What we have done over the last six years, six, seven years,
0:11:58 > 0:12:02and what we will do in the future is ensure that we have the strong
0:12:02 > 0:12:04economy, the growing economy that enables us to generate the funds
0:12:04 > 0:12:06to put into our public services.
0:12:06 > 0:12:08I've identified in the manifesto some specific areas where we will
0:12:08 > 0:12:11change the way in which money is being used and I've just
0:12:11 > 0:12:14referenced winter fuel...
0:12:14 > 0:12:17But that's not extra money, that's moving money around.
0:12:17 > 0:12:18That's what I'm saying, I've identified...
0:12:18 > 0:12:20So it's not an extra 8 billion?
0:12:20 > 0:12:22It is an extra 8 billion that is going to go
0:12:22 > 0:12:25into the National Health Service but I've identified some areas
0:12:25 > 0:12:29where we will be changing the way money is used.
0:12:29 > 0:12:33But crucially, what you need to be able to ensure that you can fund
0:12:33 > 0:12:35the NHS is the strong and growing economy.
0:12:35 > 0:12:38As I say, our economic credibility is not on the line,
0:12:38 > 0:12:41it is the Labour Party that is in the dock on that.
0:12:41 > 0:12:44Well, the Labour Party have given us costings and given us revenues.
0:12:44 > 0:12:45You can't give me...
0:12:45 > 0:12:47Let me ask another way, is it all new money?
0:12:47 > 0:12:49The Labour Party have given you costings which
0:12:49 > 0:12:53actually don't add up.
0:12:53 > 0:12:57There's a ?58 billion black hole in the Labour Party manifesto.
0:12:57 > 0:12:59That's the equivalent of half the sum we spend
0:12:59 > 0:13:01on the NHS in a year.
0:13:01 > 0:13:05What we will do is ensure that we generate, by ensuring
0:13:05 > 0:13:08we have a strong economy and growth in the economy, we generate
0:13:08 > 0:13:10the funds and just look at our track record.
0:13:10 > 0:13:12It's what we've done over the last few years.
0:13:12 > 0:13:14Is the 8 billion all new money?
0:13:14 > 0:13:17There will be 8 billion more money going into
0:13:17 > 0:13:20the National Health Service at the end of the parliament.
0:13:20 > 0:13:26That's a real terms increase per head every year.
0:13:26 > 0:13:29The manifesto pledges "the most ambitious programme of investment
0:13:29 > 0:13:31and buildings and technology the NHS has ever seen."
0:13:31 > 0:13:35Is that part of the 8 billion?
0:13:35 > 0:13:38No, that's separate, because it's the money you spend,
0:13:38 > 0:13:41as I'm sure you know, Andrew, but the money you spend
0:13:41 > 0:13:44on buildings and capital is separate from the money you spend
0:13:44 > 0:13:45on a day to day.
0:13:45 > 0:13:47So where will that money come from?
0:13:47 > 0:13:49That money will be following, there's a report that was done
0:13:49 > 0:13:52on the NHS, the Naylor Report, which set out what was needed
0:13:52 > 0:13:55and we are backing the proposals in the Naylor Report.
0:13:55 > 0:13:55So how much?
0:13:55 > 0:13:57It's ?10 billion.
0:13:57 > 0:13:59And where will that come from?
0:13:59 > 0:14:02That will come from a variety of sources.
0:14:02 > 0:14:04It's capital money, it's separate from the 8 billion that's
0:14:04 > 0:14:05going into the National Health Service.
0:14:05 > 0:14:09But any of this money can only be provided if we've got the strong
0:14:09 > 0:14:12economy to fund it and that's where one of the crucial differences
0:14:12 > 0:14:14between what I'm proposing and what the Labour Party
0:14:14 > 0:14:17is proposing comes, because what I'm setting out in my manifesto
0:14:17 > 0:14:21is the ways in which we can deal with the economy in the future
0:14:21 > 0:14:24and crucial to that, crucial to that is getting
0:14:24 > 0:14:26the Brexit negotiations right.
0:14:26 > 0:14:28And that's why this is so important.
0:14:28 > 0:14:30That's why who is sitting around that negotiating table 11 days
0:14:30 > 0:14:31after the election...
0:14:31 > 0:14:35That's a point you've made, Prime Minister.
0:14:35 > 0:14:37I make it again because it's important and crucial
0:14:37 > 0:14:40to this election.
0:14:40 > 0:14:42But let me come back to the NHS.
0:14:42 > 0:14:44Our hospitals have just endured their worst 12
0:14:44 > 0:14:45months in ten years.
0:14:45 > 0:14:48A record number of urgent operations were cancelled.
0:14:48 > 0:14:50A string of targets, from emergency care to routine
0:14:50 > 0:14:52care to cancer care, have been missed.
0:14:52 > 0:14:57What you're promising is too little, too late.
0:14:57 > 0:15:00I accept that the NHS has missed some of its targets,
0:15:00 > 0:15:03but targets aren't the be all and end all.
0:15:03 > 0:15:07What matters, actually, is the quality of patient care.
0:15:07 > 0:15:08Let me give you an example.
0:15:08 > 0:15:10You mentioned accident and emergency targets.
0:15:10 > 0:15:13Yes, we did see pressure on A over the winter.
0:15:13 > 0:15:17What matters is not that you tick a box on a target.
0:15:17 > 0:15:20What matters is that you say, what does that tell us
0:15:20 > 0:15:22that we need to do?
0:15:22 > 0:15:24That is why we've already announced that we're
0:15:24 > 0:15:25going to make some changes.
0:15:25 > 0:15:28We're putting some extra money already into accident and emergency
0:15:28 > 0:15:31and hospitals around the country, because sometimes people turn up
0:15:31 > 0:15:34at A who don't need to go into hospital.
0:15:34 > 0:15:35They need to see a GP.
0:15:35 > 0:15:38By changing the way A operates,
0:15:38 > 0:15:40we can ensure that the patient gets the care that they need
0:15:40 > 0:15:46and we see hospitals relieved from some of that pressure.
0:15:46 > 0:15:49That's about ensuring that patient care is what comes first.
0:15:49 > 0:15:53That's what we're about.
0:15:53 > 0:15:55You've ruled out a rise in VAT,
0:15:55 > 0:15:57but not national insurance or income tax.
0:15:57 > 0:15:58Why?
0:15:58 > 0:16:01Because I want to be clear that as a Conservative Party
0:16:01 > 0:16:04in government, as we always have been, we're a party
0:16:04 > 0:16:06that believes in lower taxes.
0:16:06 > 0:16:08I have every intention of reducing taxes on businesses
0:16:08 > 0:16:10and working families.
0:16:10 > 0:16:12But I want to ensure that when we do that,
0:16:12 > 0:16:15we can do that in a sustainable way.
0:16:15 > 0:16:19So national insurance and income tax could go up?
0:16:19 > 0:16:21I'm very clear that it's our intention to reduce taxes.
0:16:21 > 0:16:24But you haven't ruled out rises in these two taxes.
0:16:24 > 0:16:26When people come to make their choice on June 8th,
0:16:26 > 0:16:29they will see a choice between a Conservative Party that's
0:16:29 > 0:16:32always been a party of lower tax, that's believed in lower tax...
0:16:32 > 0:16:35Except that the tax burden is now the highest for 30 years
0:16:35 > 0:16:37under your government.
0:16:37 > 0:16:41And under the Conservative government since 2010,
0:16:41 > 0:16:44we've seen 4 million people taken out of paying income tax
0:16:44 > 0:16:48altogether and a tax cut for 31 million taxpayers.
0:16:48 > 0:16:51We believe in lower taxes.
0:16:51 > 0:16:53But we also believe in ensuring that we're developing
0:16:53 > 0:16:58the strong economy that enables us to fund our public services.
0:16:58 > 0:17:00But you tried to raise national insurance for the self-employed
0:17:00 > 0:17:02in the Budget a couple of months ago.
0:17:02 > 0:17:03You were forced to retreat.
0:17:03 > 0:17:06Can you rule out that you would try that again?
0:17:06 > 0:17:09We said we were taking those plans off the table.
0:17:09 > 0:17:12We have asked Matthew Taylor to do a report on the new forms
0:17:12 > 0:17:16of employment, and we will look at the results of that
0:17:16 > 0:17:18report when it comes in.
0:17:18 > 0:17:23But we've removed the proposals we put in the Budget.
0:17:23 > 0:17:25But you could bring them back.
0:17:25 > 0:17:28We need to look at how the employment market
0:17:28 > 0:17:31is working at the moment.
0:17:31 > 0:17:34That's why I'm clear that I want to put in extra
0:17:34 > 0:17:35protections for workers.
0:17:35 > 0:17:38Things are changing in the way people are being employed,
0:17:38 > 0:17:40and we need to ensure that we recognise that
0:17:40 > 0:17:41and protect workers.
0:17:41 > 0:17:44But in all of these issues, we can only do these things,
0:17:44 > 0:17:47we can only make sure we're able to lower taxes
0:17:47 > 0:17:48if we have the strong economy.
0:17:48 > 0:17:51Fundamental to that, of course, is getting the Brexit deal right
0:17:51 > 0:17:54and getting those negotiations right and having both a strong hand
0:17:54 > 0:17:59in those negotiations, but also the strength of leadership.
0:17:59 > 0:18:01That's a point you've made several times.
0:18:01 > 0:18:04I want to come to the people who are just about managing.
0:18:04 > 0:18:06They're not the poorest of the poor,
0:18:06 > 0:18:08but they are not affluent either.
0:18:08 > 0:18:09Life can be a struggle.
0:18:09 > 0:18:12You say you're on their side, but inflation is now rising
0:18:12 > 0:18:16faster than average pay, so living standards are being squeezed
0:18:16 > 0:18:17and you've frozen the in work benefits
0:18:17 > 0:18:23for almost 7 million people. In what way are you on their side?
0:18:23 > 0:18:27If you look at the issues around people who are...
0:18:27 > 0:18:30As you say, I talked about people who were just about managing
0:18:30 > 0:18:32and sometimes find life a struggle
0:18:32 > 0:18:35when I came into Downing Street last year.
0:18:35 > 0:18:38There are a number of ways in which I want to support those people.
0:18:38 > 0:18:42On the cost of living, I want to build a strong economy
0:18:42 > 0:18:44with higher paid jobs.
0:18:44 > 0:18:46I also want to help with things like energy bills.
0:18:46 > 0:18:51That's why we're going to cap rip-off energy price rises.
0:18:51 > 0:18:54But in what way are you on their side?
0:18:54 > 0:18:58You've taken away ?280 a year from their in work benefits
0:18:58 > 0:18:59because of the freeze.
0:18:59 > 0:19:02How is that being on their side?
0:19:02 > 0:19:04Being on their side is about a variety of actions.
0:19:04 > 0:19:07Not taking money away.
0:19:07 > 0:19:10These are people who want to ensure that their children
0:19:10 > 0:19:11have a good school place.
0:19:11 > 0:19:15That's why we have plans to increase the number of good school places.
0:19:15 > 0:19:18They do want to ensure that their NHS is being funded.
0:19:18 > 0:19:21That's why we have plans to ensure that we're putting those
0:19:21 > 0:19:25record amounts of money into the National Health Service.
0:19:25 > 0:19:27They want more secure jobs.
0:19:27 > 0:19:28They'd like better pay.
0:19:28 > 0:19:31They'd like their living standards to be rising.
0:19:31 > 0:19:34I want to see higher paid jobs in this country.
0:19:34 > 0:19:37Doing that is about building a stronger economy.
0:19:37 > 0:19:39It's about having a vision for the future.
0:19:39 > 0:19:40That's what we've got.
0:19:40 > 0:19:42We've set out a draft industrial strategy,
0:19:42 > 0:19:45a modern industrial strategy to really develop the economy
0:19:45 > 0:19:49across all parts of the country so that we don't see prosperity
0:19:49 > 0:19:51concentrated in certain areas, but prosperity across
0:19:51 > 0:19:53the whole country.
0:19:53 > 0:19:57How many pensioners will lose their winter fuel allowance?
0:19:57 > 0:19:58We will means-test the winter fuel allowance,
0:19:58 > 0:20:01but once again, we will consult.
0:20:01 > 0:20:03We will ask charities and organisations
0:20:03 > 0:20:05at what level that should be set.
0:20:05 > 0:20:08So you don't know.
0:20:08 > 0:20:11Pensioners watching tonight won't know.
0:20:11 > 0:20:13The very rich will lose, that's clear.
0:20:13 > 0:20:15The very poor will probably keep it.
0:20:15 > 0:20:19But the vast in between, you cannot tell them tonight
0:20:19 > 0:20:23whether they will get up to ?300 or not this coming winter?
0:20:23 > 0:20:26What we're doing will ensure that the least well-off pensioners
0:20:26 > 0:20:29will have their winter fuel payments protected.
0:20:29 > 0:20:30But we will consult.
0:20:30 > 0:20:35I think it's right that we take those views of charities
0:20:35 > 0:20:38and organisations working with older people and others to look
0:20:38 > 0:20:41at where that level should be set.
0:20:41 > 0:20:43But overall in the changes we're making and the policies
0:20:43 > 0:20:48we're adopting, I am going to be protecting pensioners
0:20:48 > 0:20:49for the future.
0:20:49 > 0:20:52But you can't tell them whether they would get their winter
0:20:52 > 0:20:53fuel allowance or not.
0:20:53 > 0:20:54It's a vague promise, uncosted.
0:20:54 > 0:20:57You don't know.
0:20:57 > 0:20:59We will means-test winter fuel payments.
0:20:59 > 0:21:06I have also added that we will be talking to people about this,
0:21:06 > 0:21:09asking their views on where this should be set, not just setting it
0:21:09 > 0:21:13here in the Andrew Neil interview, but talking to charities
0:21:13 > 0:21:17and organisations and consulting on it.
0:21:17 > 0:21:20Wouldn't you have done that before you came up with the policy?
0:21:20 > 0:21:23We will be protecting pensioners.
0:21:23 > 0:21:25You have promised twice to reduce immigration
0:21:25 > 0:21:27to the tens of thousands, and twice you've failed.
0:21:27 > 0:21:31Why should we believe you a third time?
0:21:31 > 0:21:35We have ensured that we are working to reduce immigration.
0:21:35 > 0:21:39Crucially, of course, we will, when we leave the European Union,
0:21:39 > 0:21:45have the opportunity and the ability to deal with the figures to bring
0:21:45 > 0:21:54in rules who are coming from the European Union countries
0:21:55 > 0:21:58in rules for those who are coming from the European Union countries
0:21:58 > 0:21:59into the UK.
0:21:59 > 0:22:00You've always had that power with non-EU migration,
0:22:00 > 0:22:04and you've never managed to get that down to the tens of thousands,
0:22:04 > 0:22:05even the bit you controlled.
0:22:05 > 0:22:06We have seen it come down.
0:22:06 > 0:22:08It is way above tens of thousands.
0:22:08 > 0:22:10There's a real choice here on 8th June.
0:22:10 > 0:22:13It's between me and my party, who believe that we should work
0:22:13 > 0:22:14to control immigration,
0:22:14 > 0:22:16and Jeremy Corbyn and the Labour Party,
0:22:16 > 0:22:18who believe you should have uncontrolled immigration.
0:22:18 > 0:22:20That's the choice that will be there before people.
0:22:20 > 0:22:22We will continue to work to bring net migration down
0:22:22 > 0:22:25because we believe it does have an impact on people.
0:22:25 > 0:22:26But you're not bringing it down.
0:22:26 > 0:22:36Net migration is higher now than it was when he came to power in 2010.
0:22:37 > 0:22:41Net migration is higher now than it was when you came to power in 2010.
0:22:41 > 0:22:42The latest figures did see a fall.
0:22:42 > 0:22:45You're right, we haven't got down to the tens of thousands.
0:22:45 > 0:22:48We will be able to introduce rules for people coming
0:22:48 > 0:22:50from inside the European Union when we leave the European Union.
0:22:50 > 0:22:53But this is an area of immigration, as I've said many times before,
0:22:53 > 0:22:56where you have to be consistently working at it.
0:22:56 > 0:22:58That includes looking at non-EU migration as well as EU
0:22:58 > 0:22:59migration in the future.
0:22:59 > 0:23:02Doesn't this go to the heart of why people have lost
0:23:02 > 0:23:03trust in politicians?
0:23:03 > 0:23:05You make promises, you fail to keep them,
0:23:05 > 0:23:07but you make the same promise again.
0:23:07 > 0:23:09Andrew, I called an election several weeks ago.
0:23:09 > 0:23:11I called an election on this whole issue of trust,
0:23:11 > 0:23:14because the question that people face is, who do they trust
0:23:14 > 0:23:16to take this country through the Brexit negotiations?
0:23:16 > 0:23:18Who do they trust to face up to the presidents,
0:23:18 > 0:23:20the prime ministers, the chancellors of Europe
0:23:20 > 0:23:22and the European Commission?
0:23:22 > 0:23:25Who do they trust to get the best deal for the UK?
0:23:25 > 0:23:26They have to decide.
0:23:26 > 0:23:29It's either me or Jeremy Corbyn.
0:23:29 > 0:23:32The question for everybody on 8th June is,
0:23:32 > 0:23:35who do they trust to get the deal for the UK?
0:23:35 > 0:23:40The Conservatives promised to end the budget deficit by 2015.
0:23:40 > 0:23:44It's now going to be 2025 at the earliest.
0:23:44 > 0:23:46You promised to reduce migration to the tens of thousands.
0:23:46 > 0:23:52It's still 273,000.
0:23:52 > 0:23:55On these two big issues, you failed to meet your promises.
0:23:55 > 0:23:59Why would we trust the Tories on anything else?
0:23:59 > 0:24:03As I say, the election will be about trust.
0:24:03 > 0:24:06Yes, we are still the party that wants to ensure
0:24:06 > 0:24:07that we bring that deficit down.
0:24:07 > 0:24:11We've brought it down by three quarters, so we have been doing that
0:24:11 > 0:24:14work and we will continue to work on that in sharp contrast
0:24:14 > 0:24:16to the Labour Party, that wants to increase borrowing
0:24:16 > 0:24:20and with a leader who says he doesn't mind about debt and deficit.
0:24:20 > 0:24:24These are big issues.
0:24:24 > 0:24:29The Budget deficit, how we spend and borrow and tax, immigration,
0:24:29 > 0:24:34which was a huge issue with the Brexit campaign and so on,
0:24:34 > 0:24:37on these two major issues, you have failed to keep your promises.
0:24:37 > 0:24:40And on these two major issues, we are in sharp contrast
0:24:40 > 0:24:42with the Labour Party.
0:24:42 > 0:24:46We are continuing to work to deliver what I believe ordinary people want.
0:24:46 > 0:24:50Immigration was one of the issues that underpinned that Brexit vote.
0:24:50 > 0:24:53That is why I come back to the point I made earlier about the election
0:24:53 > 0:24:57being a matter of trust.
0:24:57 > 0:25:01Who do people trust to sit around a table in those Brexit negotiations
0:25:01 > 0:25:04and bring home the best deal for the UK?
0:25:04 > 0:25:07George Osborne says not a single senior member of your Cabinet
0:25:07 > 0:25:08supports the immigration target.
0:25:08 > 0:25:13Is that true?
0:25:13 > 0:25:15No!
0:25:15 > 0:25:17Look, this immigration target is one that we've had
0:25:17 > 0:25:20over the years since 2010.
0:25:20 > 0:25:22It was developed under David Cameron's leadership in opposition.
0:25:22 > 0:25:23We've brought it through.
0:25:23 > 0:25:30People do support the immigration target.
0:25:30 > 0:25:32They support the view of the British people.
0:25:32 > 0:25:35That's what we're supporting, because the British people want
0:25:35 > 0:25:38to see us controlling migration.
0:25:38 > 0:25:40We have brought in new rules.
0:25:40 > 0:25:44We have ruled out a lot of abuse that was taking place in the system.
0:25:44 > 0:25:46But you have consistently to work at that.
0:25:46 > 0:25:49We will get the ability to work at it in relation to the numbers
0:25:49 > 0:25:51of people coming from the EU.
0:25:51 > 0:25:55But it is me and my party, me and my team, that are committed
0:25:55 > 0:25:57to saying we want to control migration, whereas Labour want
0:25:57 > 0:26:01uncontrolled migration.
0:26:01 > 0:26:04You said last week that Britain faces "dire consequences" if we fail
0:26:04 > 0:26:06to get a good deal in the Brexit talks
0:26:06 > 0:26:08over leaving the EU.
0:26:08 > 0:26:10What sort of dire consequences?
0:26:10 > 0:26:13If you look at what is being said around the whole question
0:26:13 > 0:26:15of Brexit negotiations, you've got people in
0:26:15 > 0:26:23the European Union talking about punishing the United Kingdom.
0:26:23 > 0:26:26You've got some people here in the UK who are saying it
0:26:26 > 0:26:29doesn't really matter what we do, we're just going to get any deal,
0:26:29 > 0:26:35and that's all we need to do.
0:26:35 > 0:26:37What are the dire consequences?
0:26:37 > 0:26:40If we don't get a deal, what will the dire consequences be?
0:26:40 > 0:26:47I've said that no deal is better than a bad deal,
0:26:47 > 0:26:49because as I've just said, there are some people
0:26:49 > 0:26:52here who are willing to sign up to any deal.
0:26:52 > 0:26:55The reason I said what you've quoted and the reason I think this is such
0:26:55 > 0:27:00a crucial part of the question that underpins this election
0:27:00 > 0:27:04is that we need to get Brexit right in setting the tone for the next,
0:27:04 > 0:27:09not five years, but for the future.
0:27:09 > 0:27:10It's about our economy.
0:27:10 > 0:27:13It's about all the things that we want to do in terms
0:27:13 > 0:27:17of ensuring that we work with our European partners.
0:27:17 > 0:27:22I don't understand why no deal can be better than a bad deal
0:27:22 > 0:27:24but no deal would also mean dire consequences.
0:27:24 > 0:27:27You haven't told us what the consequences would be.
0:27:27 > 0:27:30We want to make sure that we get a good deal which ensures
0:27:30 > 0:27:33that we can build our economy.
0:27:33 > 0:27:35I've explained why no deal is better than a bad deal,
0:27:35 > 0:27:38because a bad deal is because there are those in Europe
0:27:38 > 0:27:39who want to punish us.
0:27:39 > 0:27:41And there are politicians in the United Kingdom
0:27:41 > 0:27:45who are willing to sign up to anything.
0:27:45 > 0:27:47I understand that, but you're now saying no deal
0:27:47 > 0:27:50means dire consequences.
0:27:50 > 0:27:55I'm trying to find out how dire the consequences will be.
0:27:55 > 0:28:00I have every confidence that we will be able to negotiate
0:28:00 > 0:28:02a good deal with the right negotiating hand, with the strength
0:28:02 > 0:28:06of mandate behind us to take into those negotiations.
0:28:06 > 0:28:07And that's what I want to do.
0:28:07 > 0:28:11That's why the choice on 8th June is so important for people.
0:28:11 > 0:28:14If you win on June 8th, Prime Minister, if you win,
0:28:14 > 0:28:17how long will you stay Prime Minister?
0:28:17 > 0:28:20Well, I'm Prime Minister until 8th June.
0:28:20 > 0:28:23I hope people will feel that they can support me to be
0:28:23 > 0:28:25Prime Minister for the next term.
0:28:25 > 0:28:27You'll stay for the next Parliament?
0:28:27 > 0:28:29I will definitely stay for the next Parliament.
0:28:29 > 0:28:33Beyond that, Andrew, I haven't got through this election yet.
0:28:33 > 0:28:35I'm focusing on this election.
0:28:35 > 0:28:36It's really important.
0:28:36 > 0:28:38It's the most crucial in my lifetime.
0:28:38 > 0:28:42It's about the future of our country and who people trust to take us
0:28:42 > 0:28:43forward in the future.
0:28:43 > 0:28:52Prime Minister, thank you.
0:29:16 > 0:29:17As voters prepare to go to the polls
0:29:17 > 0:29:21to choose who represents them and who will run the country,
0:29:21 > 0:29:23the Ukip leader Paul Nuttall joins me
0:29:23 > 0:29:25for The Andrew Neil Interviews.
0:29:31 > 0:29:32We've made great strides tackling HIV.
0:29:32 > 0:29:34Imagine if we could create a movement
0:29:34 > 0:29:36where everyone goes and gets tested.
0:29:36 > 0:29:37But what's next?