Summary

  • Cabinet minister Oliver Dowden said the 5% pay deal offered to NHS staff was "fair to nurses" and "fair to public finances"

  • He also discussed the new UK emergency alert scheme, saying it was a "sound that can save your life"

  • Georgia Harrison told Kuenssberg revenge porn was a very common problem - she gets messages from victims and their families every day

  • She said pursuing the case through the courts was her "only option" and that she was left "living in fear" her ex-boyfriend would sell more footage

  • Shadow Levelling Up Secretary Lisa Nandy described the government's pension reforms as a "sticking plaster response"

  • And SNP leadership hopeful Kate Forbes said there needed to be a conversation about how to lead the party into the next decade

  1. Going to court over porn revenge experience was empowering - Harrisonpublished at 09:31 Greenwich Mean Time 19 March 2023

    Georgia Harrison

    Harrison says even though the British public is shocked by her case, it is actually very common, and many women have reached out to her.

    You wouldn't believe how many people are affected by it, she tells Kuenssberg.

    She says going to court was her only option and she was driven by instinct.

    She describes her experience as "empowering" and she was able to validate the truth in a public forum.

    Before court action, she says she was living in fear that her ex-boyfriend, Stephen Bear, was going to sell more of the video, which was actually 20 minutes long.

    What happened to me was very shameful on his part, she says.

    It took away my innocence and lowered my self worth, she adds - and she will continue to campaign to change the law.

  2. Who is Georgia Harrison?published at 09:27 Greenwich Mean Time 19 March 2023

    Georgia HarrisonImage source, PA Media

    The Love Island star has been in the news the past few weeks after her ex-boyfriend, fellow reality TV contestant Stephen Bear, was jailed for 21 months for sharing a private video of the couple having sex.

    Harrison, who’s also appeared in The Only Way Is Essex and Olivia Meets Her Match, said she had been going through “absolute hell” since Bear uploaded the footage to subscription site OnlyFans in 2020.

    She had the right to remain anonymous during the trial, but said she decided to speak out in the hopes it might encourage other victims of so-called revenge porn - non-consensual pornography or image-based sexual abuse - to come forward.

    She’s now pressing for a change to the law to make it easier to prosecute offenders.

    Currently, it has to be proven in court that the perpetrator intended to cause distress or embarrassment when sharing the explicit images - something that is difficult to do.

    As part of the government’s Online Safety Bill, it was suggested to remove this stipulation from the law.

  3. Up next: Georgia Harrisonpublished at 09:26 Greenwich Mean Time 19 March 2023

    Kuenssberg is now talking to Georgia Harrison about how a few weeks ago, the Love Island star won a court case against her ex for sharing an explicit video of her. She wants a change in the law to make it easier to prosecute people who do this.

  4. People need to be cautious with TikTok - Dowdenpublished at 09:25 Greenwich Mean Time 19 March 2023

    Kuenssberg now moves the conversation with Dowden on to TikTok, the video-sharing app which was banned from government phones this week. She points out Energy Security Secretary Grant Shapps was not impressed and asks if the government has any evidence that TikTok really is a security risk.

    “Two things,” Dowden answers. “First of all, one is that a lot of these apps hoover up a vast amount of data. Geolocation, contacts, all these things. In addition, there is sensitive information on government phones."

    With respect to Tiktok, there is a further risk, he adds, as the ultimate ownership of it is in China. And all Chinese companies are subject to Chinese national security laws, which means that information can be made available to their government.

    But he adds the government wasn't moving in the direction of an outright ban.

  5. Pensions measures in Budget solve 'specific problem'published at 09:20 Greenwich Mean Time 19 March 2023

    On the questions of pensions, Dowden says if people work hard, they should be able to save money and invest in their future - that is a basic, decent principle.

    But the pension changes announced in this week's Budget address a specific pressure, aimed at keeping senior consultants in the NHS, as well as senior police, in their roles for longer - as the government battles issues such as long waiting lists and cutting crime.

    Kuenssberg argues the reform only impacts the richest - suggesting there are around one million people with pension pots over £1m.

    It looks to solve a "specific problem" and has been welcomed by the British Medical Association, argues Dowden.

  6. We’ve got a reasonable NHS deal - Dowdenpublished at 09:12 Greenwich Mean Time 19 March 2023

    Oliver Dowden

    Kuenssberg asks Dowden about the 5% pay deal offered to NHS staff, and where a solution to strikes suddenly came from.

    “We’ve got a reasonable deal,” he says, “one that’s fair to nurses, fair to public finances and fair to our goal of halving inflation. The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) wanted 19%, that would have been still be chasing inflation."

    "Why did what you say was impossible suddenly become possible?" asks Kuenssberg.

    “I very much welcome the RCN moved its position and the government was willing to move its position as well. We need to reward nurses properly. But we need to do in a way that sustainable for public finances."

  7. Who is Oliver Dowden?published at 09:08 Greenwich Mean Time 19 March 2023

    Oliver DowdenImage source, EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock

    Oliver Dowden is the cabinet minister leading the government response to the current wave of strike action.

    Dowden, whose official title is Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, has worked closely with four prime ministers: David Cameron, Theresa May, Boris Johnson and now Rishi Sunak, one of his best friends in Parliament.

    As culture secretary during the pandemic, he managed to secure extra funding to support the arts.Dowden is likely to be asked about a breakthrough in talks between the government and unions representing striking NHS staff, with the prospect of a 5% pay rise from April - and what this means for strikers in other sectors, including teachers.

    The big reveal of last week’s budget will be hard to ignore - with questions over who benefits most after the government decided to scrap the overall £1m lifetime limit on tax-free pensions.

    Finally, a ban on government ministers using TikTok - which Dowden introduced as a “precautionary” move - is also likely to come up.

  8. First up: Oliver Dowdenpublished at 09:07 Greenwich Mean Time 19 March 2023

    On the show first is the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, Oliver Dowden. He’s been leading the government’s response to strike action around the country. Let’s hear what he has to say about that and the government’s 5% pay rise offer to NHS staff.

  9. On the airpublished at 09:00 Greenwich Mean Time 19 March 2023

    Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg is live now on BBC One, the BBC News Channel, BBC iPlayer and here on this page. Expect questions to the politicians on this week’s Budget and after a week of strikes, the 5% pay offer to NHS staff.

    Kate Forbes will be taking questions on her bid to be the new leader of the SNP and Georgia Harrison will be talking to Laura about her recent court case, which saw her ex-partner Steven Bear jailed for 21 months for sharing a private video of her.

    There could also be a lookahead to this week, when former Prime Minister Boris Johnson will be taking questions as part of the Commons' privileges committee on whether or not he misled Parliament over Partygate.

    All this and more to come in the next hour.

  10. Childcare and pensions: Hunt’s first Budgetpublished at 08:56 Greenwich Mean Time 19 March 2023

    Jeremy HuntImage source, Reuters

    Wednesday was, of course, Budget day, and this year’s had a focus on getting those who had left their jobs back into the workforce.

    Chancellor Jeremy Hunt announced he would scrap the cap on tax free pension savings - which is the amount people can save before paying more tax - next year. There were changes to childcare prices announced, with the 30 hours free three year olds get being extended to children aged one and two.

    And corporation tax is being raised from 19% to 25%. This is paid by businesses who have taxable profits over £250,000.

    Hunt insists the Budget will get people back to work, but Labour has called the tax cut on pensions for all wrong.

    Read more here.

  11. Watch live from 09:00published at 08:45 Greenwich Mean Time 19 March 2023

    Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg is due up at the top of the hour, and you can watch the programme without leaving this page by clicking on the play button in the picture above.

    Stay with us for the latest news lines, quotes, and video clips as we follow the show, which this week features Oliver Dowden, Lisa Nandy and Kate Forbes.

    We’ll also hear from Georgia Harrison, the reality TV star who is campaigning for a change in the law to make it easier to prosecute people who share explicit videos online.

  12. NHS staff offered 5% pay increasepublished at 08:37 Greenwich Mean Time 19 March 2023

    NHS staff picket lineImage source, PA Media

    Earlier this week, NHS staff in England, including nurses and ambulance workers, were offered a 5% pay rise, and agreed to suspend further industrial action.

    Staff have also been offered a one-off payment of at least £1,655 to top up the past year’s pay award.

    Unions are recommending members back the deal, after nearly two weeks of talks with ministers, raising hopes the bitter dispute may be coming to an end.

    The offer covers all NHS staff except doctors, who are on a different contract.

    Health Secretary Steve Barclay said it was a "fair pay rise" that would also protect the government's commitment to halve inflation.

    Read more here.

  13. Who’s on today’s panel?published at 08:13 Greenwich Mean Time 19 March 2023

    Joining Laura to discuss the week’s political developments and the key interviews in the show are:

    Oli Dugmore, the head of news at Joe Media. He’s been the face of the media company’s very popular news videos under the banner of the PoliticsJoe YouTube channel.

    Justine Roberts, who founded the popular online discussion forum for parents, Mumsnet, more than two decades ago. Ten years later, she founded the sister site - Gransnet - for the over-50s. She’s been awarded a CBE and has been named on BBC Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour list of the most powerful women in the UK.

    Brent Hoberman is a British entrepreneur and businessman. He was the co-founder of lastminute.com.

  14. Sunak is now hostage to his promises on childcare and small boatspublished at 08:07 Greenwich Mean Time 19 March 2023

    Laura Kuenssberg
    Presenter, Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg

    "You can get a lot done in a week" - a snap from Rishi Sunak's oh-so-casually put-together social media feed shows him sitting on a bench, reading through his notes on the tarmac near a couple of parked-up fighter jets.

    The stream of images is designed to show the world a few days of frenetic activity. Here I am with Joe Biden! Here I am at the Budget! Here I am working as hard as I can on your behalf!

    During his first couple of months in charge, Rishi Sunak's workaholic tendencies were applied to a set of acute and immediate problems - could he stop the turmoil in the Tory Party and the financial markets? Then, did he have a clear idea of what he wanted to get done?

    He tried to answer that with his five pledges at the turn of the year. Allies say there's a "chipper mood" and a sense now he can start to focus on priorities he chooses, rather than mop up the mess of what happened before

    Read Laura's full post ahead of this week's programme here.

  15. What the papers saypublished at 07:54 Greenwich Mean Time 19 March 2023

    Sunday Telegraph and Mail on Sunday front pages

    Former PM Boris Johnson leads the Observer's Sunday coverage.

    Johnson will publish written evidence, including witness statements, which would support the former PM's claim that he did not knowingly mislead MPs over lockdown parties, the paper reports.

    The paper calls Johnson "defiant" and says the document will be published ahead of a "potentially explosive" appearance by the Tory MP at the Commons privileges committee on Wednesday.

    The Sunday Times, Observer and Sunday Telegraph report Johnson's "dossier" will include advice he claims he was given at the time by No 10 aides, advising him that Covid rules were not broken.

    Meanwhile, the Scottish Mail on Sunday, unsurprisingly, leads on Peter Murrell's resignation as chief executive of the Scottish National Party.

    The paper calls it a "new humiliation for nationalism's first couple", noting the departure comes weeks after the decision by his wife, Nicola Sturgeon, to step down as First Minister.

    Murrell resigned after taking responsibility for misleading the media about party membership numbers. He had been set to face a vote of no confidence had he not stepped down, the BBC has been told.

    The Mail on Sunday - and other papers - focus on Home Secretary Suella Braverman's visit to Rwanda, as part of efforts to deport migrants to the African state.

    It says Braverman has pledged to act quickly , externalif the Court of Appeal upholds the programme's legality.

    The first flights may take place this summer, external, says the Sunday Express, with the Telegraph reporting Braverman has closed loopholes in the deal, external that could have prevented removals.

    Read all about it - and what else is making Sunday's news here.

  16. Postpublished at 07:47 Greenwich Mean Time 19 March 2023

    Laura Kuenssberg guestsImage source, .
  17. Good morningpublished at 07:38 Greenwich Mean Time 19 March 2023

    Laura Kuenssberg

    Welcome to our live coverage of today’s big political interviews as we bring you text coverage, reaction and analysis from Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg.

    On today’s programme, we’ll be hearing from Cabinet Minister Oliver Dowden, SNP leadership hopeful Kate Forbes and Shadow Levelling Up Secretary Lisa Nandy. Laura will also be talking to Georgia Harrison, the reality TV star whose ex-boyfriend has been jailed for sharing explicit images of her.

    On today’s panel are PoliticsJoe's Oli Dugmore, Mumsnet founder Justine Roberts and entrepreneur Brent Hoberman.

    Stay with us as we bring you more from today’s guests, as well as analysis and reaction from the panel.