I think you saw the Nicholas Sturgeon interview, but she had a very direct challenge, the conservatives either.

Except that the SNP won handsomely the election in Scotland and start to deal with her or face acid steady process which will inevitably lead to the break up of the union.

What is the conservatives plan?

The Scotland?

Well, we've been crystal clear that we believe very strongly in our union is the most enduring and successful union the world.

It's seating, thinks dropping Scotland is stronger for being in it and the union is stronger for having that Scotland part of it.

And we did have a referendum on this question in 2014 on.

At the time, people were told that was a once in a generation referendum.

They voted very clearly to remain part of the U.

K.

And I think people can tell that way.

Take respecting the results of referendums very seriously in this government and we believe that that result should be respected.

Nevertheless, I think 1.2 million people voted for the SNP in this general election.

45% of the total very, very high number do not have a Scotland problem.

And how do you deal with it?

You know what I think?

Nicholas Sturgeon has self has acknowledged that no everyone who voted for the SNP necessarily supports independence.

And she said that herself.

And you just acknowledged as well.

The majority of people casting their votes in Scotland in this election did so for parties that support the union and not separatist parties.

So I don't accept that there is necessarily that Monday.

Will you rule out now therefore ever allowing Scotland under this government have a second independence referendum?

The prime minister's been very clear hears unequivocally committed to the union.

He passionately believes in it.

And I think as you see this new government get to work, strengthening our union and leveling up serving our country will be at the heart of our agenda.

So no referendum under any circumstances that is absolutely not our entire.

Let's turn to the other really big issue, Of course, of the election campaign, which is Brexit, can you explain to us what's gonna happen with the legislation on the program for the next few weeks?

At least I can't what one overriding mandate that we have from this election is to get Brexit done and the British people spoke decisively about that.

That was the heart of our campaign to end the gridlock that we've found ourselves in for the past three years.

We're delighted that we now with the majority we have can to make progress on that on.

We will leave the European Union in a matter of weeks by the end of January.

Our intention is to bring that withdrawal bill.

The legislation back to Parliament before Christmas this week, ideally before Christmas as soon as possible, would be perfect.

But will's.

Those conversations are happening between the relevant parties on the House authorities as we speak, but very clearly we want to bring the legislation back as soon as possible and ensure that we do leave the European Union, as we said we would do by the end of January.

Now you're in the treasury.

The other big thing that's gonna happen before too long, inevitably is our budget.

What's the timing for that?

Well, what we said is that our focus immediately is getting Brexit delivered, and that will be our primary focus over the next few weeks.

I think reasonably soon after we leave the European Union and end of general, you could expect us to bring for reasonably soon on the chance that will make the announcement, as is custom made.

But I think this is the thing.

We want to get Brexit done so we can then focus on everything else.

We'll have a Queen speech this week.

At the heart of that will be underlying our commitment to the N hs.

£34 billion more nurses, more GP appointments, better hospitals And then, as I said, leveling up across the United Kingdom, making sure the opportunity has spread throughout.

Those are all the things that we want to get cracking on.

It's a very strange suggestion, and several of the papers clearly briefed out that you're actually going to put a law into practice which says that you are committed.

Find yourself to that £34 billion.

What is the point off a government recently reelected passing a law to commit itself to doing what it's probably to do in the first place?

Well, I think the N hs was clearly a key part of the narrative during this election campaign.

We spoke about it many people have been speaking about it on.

We just want, oh, absolutely underscore Our commitment to that funding settlement is a historic funding settling, really saying you really, really, really mean it This time we're not just this time we've already been increasing and HS funding a record level, but this means that £34 billion extra will go into the chest.

But I would say this is not just about the money, and that's what you'll see is we develop these plans.

It's about making sure it reaches the front line and makes a difference to people's day to day experience.

That's why we want more nurses.

More GP appointments knew better hospitals, more diagnostic equipment.

So the weekend detect cancer earlier.

Both of the practical things that people want to see on the front line.

So it's how we use that money to deliver those changes that will be vital and in terms of your other promises.

If you don't put legislation, are we not supposed to trust them?

No.

I think the N hs, everyone agrees, is the number one priority off the British people.

It's our number one domestic priority, and I think this piece of legislation would just underscore that commitment.

Perhaps the biggest, most obvious gap in your election manifesto was on social care.

Boris Johnson had said there was a planet didn't appear.

When are we going to see the social care plan?

We have the three point plan that we did outline of the manifesto.

You talk to all the experts and they say the money that you're putting in that kind of plan for a consensus and debate sometimes isn't really a plan and the money is sticking plasters big sticking plaster.

But it's sticking plaster.

It is not really what a new national plan for social care.

I think this'd is a long term and complex challenge.

I think we all accept that and it's right that therefore we put some proper energy into solving it.

So what we said is in the in the short term, we will commit an extra £1,000,000,000 a year to make sure that we can stabilize the immediate pressure on the system.

I used to be the local government minister with responsibility for councils who were dealing with that, so I think that will help enormously.

The second thing is we want to find.

And we will work urgently to do this across party consensus on social care because it is a long term challenge and we'd like to build a consensus around it like we have with the N hs that is lasting on.

Thirdly, a fundamental principle of those reforms and eventual settlement will be that no one needs to sell their home to pay for their care.

And that's something that we believe very firmly and doesn't sound like you got a big visionary plan coming anytime soon.

The work has already been in train, but it's important because this is such a long term challenge and it has eluded government of all shades to solve it in the past.

Whatever solution we come up with needs to be last day and therefore it does require a cross party consensus in order that people know that this is a sustainable solution.

So I think it's right that we work together and we and we have been committing to doing just that.

Let me ask you about another big part of the government's program clearly going forward, which is big changes to the institutions of Britain.

There's been suggestions in the papers that you're going to look again at the way quite well is run on dhe, permanent secretaries being there and lifelong civil servants, the feeling that isn't working for more than Britain.

Are you going to reassess that?

Is that true?

Well, I think I think what people watching will not be interested in the process of government.

What they want to know is that government is that I think that what they want to know is that government's gonna deliver for them.

Our school is improving.

Are we investing in transport infrastructure?

Is the n a chess match of the civil service of some interest yet?

No.

But I think I think what we were keen about is making sure we deliver on the priority that can we can we now implement a new immigration system and Australian appoint style system?

Can we make sure our streets safe over your criminal police officers?

How we do that?

How the prime minister organizes government to deliver those things or something?

Of course he's thinking about.

But ultimately what matters?

Are we going to deliver the results that improve people's lives?

Do you want to reform the permanent civil service of this country.

I think we want to make sure that government works effectively to deliver for the British people.

Have you yes or no?

Well, I constantly, whether it's business or come from business background, whether it's government, we want to be making sure that we innovate to make sure that we deliver properly.

And that's that.

We now have a mandate to govern, and we want to make sure that that results in improvements, people's lives.

What about the Supreme Court?

Are you happy as a government, the way the Supreme Court operates?

And his chosen?

Yeah, I think that Manifest has said we will look at the relationship between example.

Yes.

And I think I think the security minister was on your show and you want some same question and I reiterate what what he said is that we believe fully in the independence off the courts.

But of course we should look at all our institutions on a regular basis to make sure they're functioning effectively.

Well, let's come to an institution slightly closer to home.

Do you think that the non payment of the BBC licence fee shouldn't I be decriminalized?

Well, that is something that the prime minister said we will look at and it's instructive people to look at that.

I think people it's your own of you people do for I would be wrong for me to comment but in advance of a review that's about you think.

I think it's fair to say that people find the criminalization of nonpayment of license fee to be slightly something that has provoked questions in the past.

We will look at that again.

More broadly, funding for the BBC is set out now for I think I told 2027 but we do live in.

You had someone on from the media industry as well.

The meat industry is changing.

How people consume media is changing and it's cause right that we continue to look at those things over time so it could well change by 20% de criminalize the license fee because that costs about £200 million a year.

And that means closing channel's getting rid of drama series and so full.

It's something that people would notice is that something the government feels strong enough to do?

I think that the government feels strongly as do I that the BBC is an incredibly important national institution.

It it plays a very valuable role in our country and our life.

And it will always do that.

I think things like criminalization of the fear, something discreet and specific that we can and should.

We can.

And we will do that in the first instance.

Okay, you said in 2027 there's gonna be a much bigger look at the BBC.

Do you think at that point the license fee itself, which have been heavily criticized by many people in your party, should go?

No, I wasn't saying that what I was saying is that the BBC funding settlement as it relates today, it's already set out and secure through to 2027.

I'm going to sit here and speculate about things that you know this boy eight years down down the track.