The leader of the Greens has said a deadly storm that left at least 28 people dead should have been called "Hurricane Labour".

Zack Polanski is now asked about whether he is hopeful about change happening at COP30 in Brazil this week.

He responds that he doesn't "have any high hopes at all".

He says there have been a growing number of warnings about climate change in recent weeks, but that these have "barely made a headline" as "we've all been paralysed into this kind of fearmongering [that] there's nothing we can do about it".

Polanski continues: "We hold agency and power. And when I say we, I'm talking about the country and the government. 

"If we make sure that the polluter pays, we need to hold fossil fuel companies accountable. 

"It is outrageous that we've just had a hurricane in Jamaica that has killed people and caused mass devastation. 

"Why are we calling it Hurricane Melissa? It should be called Hurricane Shell or at this point it should be called Hurricane Labour, because, actually, we still have a Labour government who are giving fossil fuel subsidies to oil and gas rather than subsidising things like they should be, like train travel."

Challenged that politicising a deadly natural event is "incendiary", he responds by pointing out that Labour is considering giving permission for the Rosebank oil field, which is the UK's largest undeveloped oil field.

He continues: "This is a new oil field where the cumulative carbon emission impact will be the same as 28 of the poorest low income countries in the world. 

"This is sociopathic behaviour if they don't rule it out. 

"So I accept that what I'm saying is strong language, but we need to have stronger language about the climate crisis that is killing people."

But he admits that Labour are not "fully responsible" and points the finger at fossil fuel companies. 

Zack Polanski has said his previous target of scaling up the Greens to 30–40 MPs is "starting to look unambitious".

The Green Party leader says attempting to be prime minister at the next general election is "not for me right now".

But Polanski says that given the party's soaring membership - they now have more members than the Lib Dems and the Conservatives - "things are changing rapidly for me and the Green Party".

He tells Paste BN: "Now, 30 to 40 MPs is starting to look unambitious. 

"I can't give you an exact number yet because we've got to go away, work the numbers and go, 'actually, if we keep growing at this pretty much exponential rate, what are our ambitions at the next general election?' 

"But right now, that isn't being prime minister. It's just making sure we get as big a block of green MPs as possible."

Greens won't work with Starmer or Farage

Pushed on what the Green Party might look like following the next general election, he adds that "we definitely want to hold the balance of power".

He says: "What I want for this country is to make sure that we are taxing wealth more than we're taxing work. 

"I want to make sure we have action on the climate crisis, and I want to bring in proportional representation."

But he rules out going into a coalition with Sir Keir Starmer.

Polanski says: "This is a man who has perpetrated an ongoing genocide in Gaza. He ran on the coattails of Jeremy Corbyn, and I would say he ditched every single pledge he could. So I think the man's proven to be untrustworthy."

He also adds there's "no way I'd do a deal with Nigel Farage".

He's then challenged on who would have to lead the Labour Party for him to work with them.

Polanski responds: "I think Labour membership and people who are thinking about voting Labour in the past are increasingly voting with their feet and moving over to the Green Party anyway."

Sir Sadiq Khan has said people in New York City have chosen "hope" over "fear" in electing Democrat politician Zohran Mamdani. 

The Mayor of London has compared the vote to his own election in London.

Mamdani, 34, defeated former governor Andrew Cuomo and Republican Curtis Sliwa to become the city's first Muslim mayor, the first of South Asian heritage, and also the youngest in more than a century.

Calling it a "historic campaign", Khan said: "New Yorkers faced a clear choice - between hope and fear - and just like we've seen in London - hope won."

Asked for her reaction to the victory a little earlier, Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson congratulated Mamdani on his win.

"It's obviously up to people in New York to decide who they want to represent them," she told Paste BN. "But, I wish him well. 

"It's a wonderful job to have secured."

She added that she doesn't "follow American politics especially closely", but said Mamdani must have clearly fought "a good campaign".

Other UK politicians have also reacted to the win, including Zack Polanski, the Green Party leader, who we'll hear from on Paste BN very shortly.

He said: "Zohran's campaign was his determination to make New York a city everyone can afford to live in. Huge congratulations! 

"His success will resonate throughout the world. A story where no one is left behind. It's time to write that story across England & Wales too."

Today's episode of Politics at Sam and Anne's has just dropped and is available to be streamed now.

PM Keir Starmer flies to the Brazilian rainforest for the COP30 climate conference - a trip he almost biffed - but is it the surge in polling support for the Green Party that may have changed his mind?

He'll join Prince William and the King out in the Amazon – at the same time as considering rolling back on some of the government's climate commitments. 

Back home, Chancellor Rachel Reeves faces criticism over her warnings for the next budget, while she brings in experts to school Labour MPs on how budgets, debts, and deficits actually work.  

And there's a mini recess for Westminster, so Sam and Anne have an extra few days off. They return on Monday. 

You can listen to the episode below or wherever you get your podcasts.

Bridget Phillipson says she has not "caught up" with Lucy Powell since she lost the Labour deputy leadership race to her. 

Powell was elected to the role, replacing Angela Rayner, last month - and was widely seen as the 'anti-Starmer' candidate. 

Speaking about her defeat and the race, the education secretary tells Paste BN: "I really enjoyed it. I enjoyed every minute."

But she adds that she was "disappointed not to win". 

"You don't stand in the contest unless you want to win it. But I do want to congratulate Lucy. I know she'll do a great job," she says.

Asked if she has met Powell for a glass of wine since the defeat, Phillipson responds: "I haven't, no.

"I've seen her at a Parliamentary Labour Party meeting, but I haven't caught up with her. 

"But the thing I took away from it, from all of that contest and the conversations I had, was that we do have a chance as a government to really tell a good story about what we're delivering."

The education secretary says the government is overhauling the national curriculum to "prepare our young people for the future".

Bridget Phillipson has unveiled the Curriculum and Assessment review this morning. 

She tells Paste BN: "It's been more than ten years since the national curriculum was updated. In that time, an awful lot has changed. 

"You mentioned the way that technology is changing the world, shaping lives. And it's essential that we prepare our young people for that future, a future that I want them to shape. 

"I think for me, that's about a really strong academic foundation. So reading, writing, and also a push on science.

"But alongside that, I think what parents want is that children have a breadth and richness in terms of what they can study. 

"So the importance of creative and vocational subjects alongside that, and also our young people being really discerning citizens, people who can question and challenge what's in front of them and be well prepared for what comes next."

She also says that she wants more young people to take all three sciences at GCSE and for more young people from disadvantaged backgrounds to be able to have the opportunity to d so as well.

But she adds that the government doesn't want to "rush" the implementation of the new curriculum.

She explains: "We want to get it right. So the programs of study will be out for consultation by 2027. And the national curriculum will be taught by 2030."

Bridget Phillipson has said the Greens are "the first to oppose" renewable energy schemes in practice.

The education secretary has hit out at the party for it's record on a local level.

She tells Paste BN this "is kind of talking green, but actually, when it comes to comes down to it, not actually being prepared to do what's necessary".

Asked if Labour should take the threat of the Greens more seriously, she warned that populist parties on both the left and the right offer "easy answers that sound quite appealing but are ultimately not especially compelling".

She adds: "The Greens will always say how important it is that we tackle climate change and invest in the future. But actually, when it comes to decisions here at home, they'll be the first to oppose solar power, nuclear, wind farms, and building a train line. 

"It's one thing to kind of have a big argument. It's another thing to actually make the decisions, and put in place the policies that will actually deliver what it is you claim to want to do."

The UK is "sliding into an avoidable crisis", with hundreds of thousands off work due to ill-health, a landmark new report has found.

Today, Sir Charlie Mayfield has published his Keep Britain Working Review

In it, the businessman found: 

• One in five working-age adults are now not working – 800,000 more than in 2019 - due to health reasons

• The cost of ill-health keeping people out of work is equivalent to about 7% of GDP 

• A little over half - 53% - of disabled people are employed

• Businesses lose around £85 billion a year from sickness, turnover and lost productivity

Announcing his findings, Mayfield warned that ill-health has become "one of the biggest brakes on growth and opportunity".

"Britain is sliding into an avoidable crisis," he warned. "But it is not inevitable."

He added: "Employers are uniquely placed to make a difference, preventing health issues where possible, supporting people when they arise, and helping them return to work. 

"If we keep Britain working, everyone wins – people, employers, and the state."

He added that he's working with the government and employers "to keep people in work, unlock potential and build a healthier, more prosperous Britain".

'People could remain in work if they receive the right support'

The government has announced that it will now work with more than 60 employers to break down barriers into work for those with disabilities and make it easier for people to return to employment.

It has announced it is launching employer-led 'vanguards', which will be companies who develop and refine approaches over the next three years to better understand what works.

These companies include Google, British Airways and Sainsbury's.

The business and trade secretary said: "Many more people could remain in work if they receive the right support—and that's exactly what today’s action is about.

"That's why 'Keep Britain Working' is bringing together the expertise of leading UK businesses to help prevent ill health at work wherever possible, and to support those affected stay in work."

He added that the government believes that when people "are treated with dignity and care, businesses flourish".

We'll hear more from Kyle a little later this morning.

Good morning and welcome back to the Politics Hub this Wednesday, 5 November.

Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy will be taking on his first session of (deputy) PMQs this lunchtime. 

The former foreign secretary turned justice secretary will be facing off against the Conservatives in the Chamber, a day after the chancellor refused to say if she will break Labour's manifesto commitments not to raise tax on working people. 

Instead, Rachel Reeves used a speech yesterday to leave the door open for further tax rises in her autumn budget on 26 November.

Now, it may be Bonfire Night, but ministers will be hoping deputy PMQs does not see too many fireworks flying, as they seek to tamp down on further budget speculation (and criticism) until later this month.

The reason for Lammy stepping up to the plate? Sir Keir Starmer is jetting off to the opening of the COP30 climate summit in Belem, Brazil. 

The PM will be attending a number of events at the annual climate conference later today. 

Elsewhere, a landmark review into employment and barriers preventing people from working has been published.

Sir Charlie Mayfield's Keep Britain Working Review has found that:

• One in five working-age adults is now not working – 800,000 more than in 2019 - due to health reasons

• The cost of ill-health keeping people out of work is equivalent to about 7% of GDP 

• A little over half - 53% - of disabled people are employed

• Businesses lose around £85bn a year from sickness, turnover and lost productivity

In response to those findings, the government has corralled more than 60 employers into working with them to tackle the rising number of people out of work due to ill-health.

Under the plans, businesses will develop new 'vanguards', which will be trialled over the next three years to improve return to work rates and increase the number of disabled people who are employed.

We will be hearing more about the plans from Business and Trade Secretary Peter Kyle a little later in the morning. 

Today, the independent Curriculum and Assessment review has been published, while the government is announcing new legislation to create Great British Railways, a new body that will oversee both train services and track infrastructure.

Finally, MPs and Lords will leave Westminster this evening, as both houses enter the autumn recess.

But before all that, coming up on Paste BN shortly:

• Bridget Phillipson, the education secretary
• Zack Polanski, the leader of the Green Party
• Andrew Griffiths, the shadow business and trade secretary

Of course, we will bring you all the latest news and analysis throughout the day, right here on the Politics Hub.

We're pausing our live coverage for the night.

Join us again in the morning.