Flooded britain: a new normal? - podcast

Thousands of homes and businesses across Britain have been hit by flooding after a series of major storms hit the country in the past two weeks. Six people are thought to have died in the

flooding and evacuations from residential areas have continued all week. Despite the destruction and loss of life, Boris Johnson has refused to convene a Cobra emergency response meeting or

travel to any of the affected areas. Anger has been growing in some areas over a lack of warning or sufficient protective measures. George Eustice, the new environment secretary, said:

"We'll never be able to protect every single household just because of the nature of climate change and the fact that these weather events are becoming more extreme." The

Guardian's north of England correspondent, JOSH HALLIDAY, has been following the story all week and tells RACHEL HUMPHREYS that for many communities this will have long-reaching

material and psychological effects. We hear from Carolyn, whose home in south Wales flooded and who had to be rescued with her 96-year-old father by emergency services. Also today: as the

government announces plans for a new points-based immigration system, Richard Partington looks at what it will mean for jobs, wages and the sectors that rely on unskilled labour.