The World at One
BBC Radio 4

On Donald Trump's victory in the US presidential election - BBC Radio 4's World at One has been speaking to former MI6 chief Sir John Sawers, who says he is concerned.

He told the programme: "I think the biggest threat is a military clash between the great powers. That could have widespread devastation."

Asked whether he felt that was a genuine risk, he told the programme: "It's been a risk ever since nuclear weapons were invented. We are getting back into a world which is quite dangerous."

The World at One
BBC Radio 4

Zanny Minton Beddoes, the editor in chief of The Economist, has told BBC Radio 4's World at One we don't yet know what sort of president Mr Trump will be.

"A phrase that I've been reading which I think sums it up is: is he going to be Dark Donald or Trump-light? 

"And Dark Donald, which is the man of the campaign trail, the xenophobe, the man who wants to build walls and kick out illegal immigrants and rip up alliances is rather dangerous. 

"Trump-light, I think, could be a bit of a latter day Reagan, whose focus is in on building infrastructure and cutting taxes."

Former CIA director James Woolsey, who will be advising the new US president on national security matters, told the BBC he believed Donald Trump would be a different man in the Oval Office than he was on the campaign trail.

He told BBC Radio 4' s World at One: "He seems to favour Theodore Roosevelt's dictum of speak softly and carry a big stick. I know he doesn't speak softly from the podium but I think that is part of...his shtick."

He said Mr Trump's previous experience as a businessman meant he did have a track record of negotiation - which was important - and said he did not believe Mr Trump had made any "concrete pledge" not to come to Nato allies' aid, should Russia invade.

"I think that effort by the US to get its allies to pay up a fairer share of Nato costs goes back to about 1949," Mr Woolsey said.

He continued: "From my experience, brief though it is, he doesn't sound in the conference room nearly as exciting as he does from the podium."

Lucy Boardman closes the debate on public transport. She asks: "Are these young people getting a service of a high standard at an affordable price?" and if not, what can the Youth Parliament do about it.

She asks whether young people can make a difference, in 12 months and in the current economic climate.

And she finishes by asking whether MYPs want to stay on the train, or get off.

And that concludes the morning's business - the sitting will resume at 1.40pm.

MYPs come from all over the UK.

• 52% are female 
• 33% identify as Black, Asian or a Minority Ethnic group 
• 12% tell us they have a disability 
• 9% are entitled to Free School Meals

The Commons has been taken over by Members of the Youth Parliament today. They are currently taking part in a debate on public transport. The motion states: "We need to improve the cost, cleanliness reliability and accessibility of public transport."

Liam Cartwright tells the House that it is unfair that his constituents, travelling to compulsory education, should pay the same fares as adults.

He says the issue has come to the Chamber again and again; and calls for a campaign so that the transport system reflects young people, and has frequent bus services.

Opposing the motion Caitlin Cavanagh tells the House about the scheme in her home city of Liverpool, which enables young people in the city to travel across six local authority areas for £2 a day.

But, she asks, how can the government do this in times of austerity and that a 12 month campaign would not achieve what the Youth Parliament wants to see.

She points to the Liverpool campaign as an example of what local campaigns can achieve; and says that in Cornwall and London there will be different priorities.

Hull Daily Mail

According to the Hull Daily Mail, all three Hull MPs have confirmed they will vote for Brexit if Parliament's approval is needed.

High Court judges ruled last week that Brexit could not go ahead, external without MPs and peers giving their backing. The government is appealing the judgement at the Supreme Court, the highest legal adjudicator in the country.

Hull's Labour MPs, external have confirmed to the Mail that they will not attempt to block the invoking of Article 50, the clause in the Lisbon Treaty that will effectively kick-start the two-year divorce proceedings between the UK and the European Union.

Karl Turner, MP for Hull East, has written an open letter to his constituents to explain his stance, saying he will give his "full backing to the government in their endeavours to leave the EU".

North Hull MP Diana Johnson used less forthcoming language – calling the result of the referendum "narrow" and "advisory" – but she echoed Mr Turner's commitment to ensuring Article 50 goes unopposed if does come to a Commons vote.

Labour grandee Alan Johnson, who led the party's remain campaign, external, said there had "never been any question" of not honouring the referendum result.

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Image source, PA

Conservative Leave campaigner Michael Gove says "it is extraordinary" that Tim Farron - leader of a democratic party - should want to "frustrate the will of the people" over Brexit.

Lib Dem leader Mr Farron has said his party is prepared to vote against the triggering of Article 50.

But Change Britain founding supporter Mr Gove said the outcome of the 23 June referendum, which saw more than 17 million people vote to leave the EU, "was the biggest electoral mandate in British history".

Government funding totalling £18m is being offered to councils in England to speed up building of up to 800,000 new homes on large developments.

Authorities can bid for a share of the "capacity fund" to tackle planning issues that can hold up projects.

The creation of six new housing zones to support developing 10,000 new homes on brownfield sites was also announced.

Government support for the new Otterpool Park garden town in Shepway, Kent, was also revealed.

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The first speaker Ashley Gregory is moving the motion on the NHS.

He calls for a stop to further cuts to the NHS, and calls for MYPs to lobby MPs and local authorities to halt further closures to services, particularly for young people.

"Do you have the faith to fight for your NHS?" he asks.

Opposing the motion, Nicholas Gardner stands at the dispatch box.

"The NHS is one of the UK's great institutions," he says.

But he says that it is a huge and complex institution, saying that a year spent in campaigning for the motion would pull MYPs away from other issues.

He says that not every situation comes down to more money; and that organisation is also important. He calls for an efficient, safe NHS, which benefits every young person in the UK.

James Landale
Diplomatic correspondent

More on the phone call between Donald Trump's vice-president-elect, Mike Pence, and UK Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson.

It seems Mr Pence has chosen not to use the phrase "special relationship" to describe Britain's relations with the United States. 

Mr Pence exchanged tweets with Mr Johnson late last night after the two men spoke on the telephone. 

While the foreign secretary spoke of the importance of the special relationship, Mr Pence declined to echo his words and spoke only of America's "close relationship" with the UK. 

Mr Johnson said: 

Mr Pence replied:

The UK Youth Parliament is kicking off today's series of debates, with a discussion on the NHS.

The motion states: We believe the NHS cannot be sustained while funding cuts are made."

David Lidington - the Leader of the House - begins by welcoming the MYPs to the chamber, and says that welcoming them on Armistice Day is appropriate, pointing out the names of those who died in wars defending the principles of democracy, debate and tolerance.

He explains to the assembled throng about his job, how he is in charge of the government's annual legislative programme; and representing Parliament in government as a whole.

"The scrutiny..the work of inquiry of select committees results in better and more accountable government and better legislation," he says.

He explains how ministers have to come to the dispatch box, and account for themselves; and he points out that the Speaker's prediliction for granting urgent questions also holds the government to account.

James Landale
Diplomatic correspondent

Image source, AP

Donald Trump's Vice-President-elect, Mike Pence, has chosen not to use the phrase "special relationship" to describe Britain's relations with the United States.

The former governor of Indiana exchanged tweets with Boris Johnson late last night after the two men spoke on the telephone.

While the foreign secretary spoke of the importance of the special relationship, Mr Pence declined to echo his words and spoke only of America's "close relationship" with the UK.

Mr Johnson said: "Just spoken to US VP-elect @mike_pence. We agreed on importance of the special relationship & need to tackle global challenges together."

Mr Pence replied: "Just spoke to @BorisJohnson. Discussed America's longstanding and close relationship with the UK."

Former chancellor George Osborne has been made a member of the Order of the Companions of Honour by the Duke of Cambridge. 

Mr Osborne - who was recognised in David Cameron’s resignation honours list - received the award, for political and public service, at an investiture ceremony in Buckingham Palace. He shared a few words with Prince William and a handshake.

Image source, AFP

The UK's construction sector recorded its weakest performance in four years in the July-to-September quarter, official figures have shown.

Construction volumes fell by 1.1%, external in the quarter, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said.

There were large falls in repair work, and these were only partly offset by small rises in infrastructure and public building.

The figures measure the first three months following the Brexit vote.

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