at 5.25. today at 5.25. >> but what does that mean for you? >> but what does that mean for you.7 for >> but what does that mean for you? for homeowners , what's the you? for homeowners, what's the best thing to do? >> we'll have liam halligan, our economics expert in the studio, to give full insights . to give you the full insights. guiny next story. what . do you guiny next story. what. do you see here? >> well, rachel mclean, who's a tory mp and the deputy chair for women's rights, said this is a man a wig . it's a green party man in a wig. it's a green party candidate for in the in the midlands . and she got into a lot midlands. and she got into a lot of hot water about that. but we will have an interview with her. she made the front page of the daily today and she says i daily mail today and she says i will be silenced by the will not be silenced by the trans bullies. and next up, a scottish mp has put the cat amongst the pigeons by saying tony blair should be stripped of his night hood. >> that's our big debate today. >> that's our big debate today. >> there's a twitter poll running right now on the gb news account. have your vote, have your say. i'll read the read out the best comments later on in the best comments later on in the show. that's coming in the show. that's all coming in this next action packed hour .

this next action packed hour. loads of great talking points today. >> can sunak do anything to save his reputation ? his reputation? >> we'll speak to a polling guru shortly , and the trans debate . shortly, and the trans debate. >> you know it is a man in a wig, right? >> but if you say that apparently now it gets reported to the police. >> and don't to have your >> and don't forget to have your vote. blair vote. should tony blair be stripped his knighthood. stripped of his knighthood. that's all coming up after your latest headlines latest news headlines with sophia . sophia wenzler. >> thank you martin. good afternoon . it's 3:02. i'm sophia afternoon. it's 3:02. i'm sophia wenzler in the gb newsroom . it's wenzler in the gb newsroom. it's the sixth day in the search for a missing woman who was last seen in norwich city centre . seen in norwich city centre. gaynor lord was last spotted on cctv cameras on friday afternoon. norfolk constabulary say it is likely the 55 year old may have entered the water and underwater . search teams have underwater. search teams have scoured the river, the force says. specialist divers are

working in an extraordinarily challenging environment and it will take a couple of days or longer to complete the search of the stretch of the river. miss lord's belongings, including clothing and a mobile phone, were found in a park near her workplace . chief superintendent workplace. chief superintendent dave buckley , from norfolk dave buckley, from norfolk constabulary, gave this update earlier, so there's a number of lines of inquiry that we are pursuing, but everything that we know is pointing to a high probability that gaynor went into the water, and that that would be from the cctv, from the very witnesses that very limited witnesses that we've got available to us at the moment. >> and other lines require that we're pursuing about gaynor's behaviour in the lead up to her disappearance. so at the moment, the river is a really key factor disappearance. so at the moment, the user is a really key factor disappearance. so at the moment, the user is it's�*ally key factor disappearance. so at the moment, the user is it's�*ally to y factor disappearance. so at the moment, the user is it's�*allyto sayctor disappearance. so at the moment, the user is it's�*allyto say that for us now. it's not to say that other specialist police teams aren't working on lines aren't working on other lines of inquiry, but inquiry, because they are, but at seeing at the moment you're seeing that intensive effort around the searching water and the searching of the water and the parks around of the parks around and some of the other around area. the other land around this area. the bank of england has held the interest rate at 5.25. >> for the third time in a row, amid signs of potential economic

challenges . it comes amid signs of potential economic challenges. it comes as the monetary policy committee had previously raised the interest rate for 14 consecutive meetings until it reached a 15 year high of 5.25% at parliament's treasury committee last month, the bank's governor said the threat of uk inflation is being underestimate dated, but the prime minister says progress has been . been made. >> i've made a bunch of decisions making sure that we don't borrow too much money, making sure that we're responsible public responsible with the public finances can get finances so that we can get inflation down. it doesn't happen accident. you happen by accident. and, you know, contrast is quite know, the contrast is quite clear. got the labour clear. you've got the labour party they to borrow party saying they want to borrow £28 billion year on this green £28 billion a year on this green spending spree. all that's going to push up people's taxes, to do is push up people's taxes, push up mortgage rates. to do is push up people's taxes, push up mortgage rates . want push up mortgage rates. we want to them that's why to get them down. and that's why in starting to cut in january we're starting to cut people's well. that people's taxes as well. that will help put money in will help put more money in people's pockets. starting at the i the beginning of january. i think making progress. think we are making progress. there's do, but there's more to do, but the economy a economy has certainly turned a corner . corner. >> but shadow business and trade secretary jonathan reynolds says

the government should not take credit for halving inflation. inflation target for the united kingdom is 2. >> inflation coming down is really to do with some of those global pressures changing supply chains, adjusting to what we've seen. i think people will look at and say, well, when at it and say, well, when inflation rose so significantly, the nothing to the government said nothing to do us. it's the in ukraine. >> it's these global pressures. >> it's these global pressures. >> those recede, they >> and when those recede, they want the for coming want the credit for it coming down. i don't think british down. i don't think the british people convinced that case. >> two nurses case. >> two nurses from case. >> two nurses from blackpool are facing prison sentences after they were found guilty of sedating patients . this 55 year sedating patients. this 55 year old catherine hudson, has been given seven years and two months for drugging patients during work at blackpool work shifts at blackpool victoria . all the victoria hospital. all the incidents . between 2017 incidents occurred. between 2017 and 2018. her 48 year old colleague charlotte willmott, was found guilty of encouraging hudson to drug a patient and sentenced to three years. a second probe into south wales police has been launched by a watchdog following a crash in cardiff. 618 year old kyrees

sullivan and 15 year old harvey evans died after the bike they were riding crashed in ely in may. the new investigation is focussed on complaints made by the boy's families. it's separate from another investigation into the interaction between officers and the teenagers before their deaths . the father, stepmother deaths. the father, stepmother and uncle of a ten year old, sara sharif, have pleaded not guilty to her murder. the ten year old's body was discovered at her home in surrey in august. the day before sara was discovered. the three defendants left the uk for pakistan with five children before returning a month later. the trial of all three will be in september next year. three will be in september next year . the three will be in september next year. the head of a lobbying trade association says the findings against scott benton show the need for reform of the lobbying system . it comes as the lobbying system. it comes as the committee on standards recommended scott benton be suspended for 35 days from the commons following a lobbying scandal. the blackpool south mp was filmed offering to leak

confidential information to gambling industry chiefs. mr benton was secretly being filmed by reporters for the times, who offered him between 2000 and £4000 for two days of work . the £4000 for two days of work. the mp says he didn't breach any rules . the funeral for the rules. the funeral for the former minister, baroness kinnock, is taking place as the family of the mep and wife of ex—labour leader lord kinnock, says she was a proud democratic socialist who campaigned for justice against poverty. she was diagnosed with alzheimer's in 2017. sir keir starmer described her as a true fighter for the labour party. he was seen arriving at the funeral earlier, followed by gordon brown, tony blair and sadiq khan. followed by gordon brown, tony blair and sadiq khan . this is blair and sadiq khan. this is gbillionews across the uk on tv , gbillionews across the uk on tv, in your car, on your digital radio and on your smart speaker by saying play gb news now it's back to . martin. back to. martin. >> thank you sophie. okay now we

start with the latest on the migrant crisis and rishi sunak will meet italian prime minister giorgia meloni this weekend for talks on immigration. sunak and meloni met in october to discuss efforts to coordinate an international response to migration . and i'm joined now by migration. and i'm joined now by our political editor , our political editor, christopher hope. chris good afternoon. >> so sunak popularity is about as high as the grinch as we approach christmas. he's going to italy , hopefully to get some to italy, hopefully to get some tips because as well as meeting meloni, the albanian premier will be there. >> and of course, meloni has just done a deal for offshore containment in albania to tackle the boats. >> do you think some of those ideas might rub off when rishi's in rome ? in rome? >> well, they could do . it's >> well, they could do. it's a it's a group called the brothers of italy . it's a gathering of of italy. it's a gathering of right of centre political leaders. mr sunak and ms meloni are quite good friends. they've got quite close relationship. they they met at the g20 in in

delhi when we were out there with the prime minister. they have this you see now on images. now as i'm speaking they do get on pretty well. and i think you know, we need our allies now in the european union the italy the european union and the italy and the uk do share this concern about migration. now, had about migration. now, italy had developed the idea with with albania to process applications opensin albania to process applications opens in albania . the difference opens in albania. the difference is though of course, that the uk approach is one of deportation rather than a processing centre . rather than a processing centre. but germany, looking at something similar and this is a point which labour make to us quite frequently. they are against this idea because it's a deportation scheme , not one to deportation scheme, not one to process somewhere else outside of a, of a of the country . and of a, of a of the country. and that's why they're concerned. but certainly he does fly to italy, leaving behind some dreadful poll ratings. the poll just dropped this lunchtime. martin from savanta the tories are down two points. reform are up two points. reform of course, led by richard tice , the gb news led by richard tice, the gb news

presenter and, uh, their lifetime president is nigel farage. straight out the jungle to labour on 43 unchanged. the tories on 26. the reform now up to nine points a point a single point behind the liberal democrats. the reform is now capturing a third of the votes of the tory party. if you could take those those nine points and add them to the tory party, labour would be panicking. they've got to look at themselves, the tory party, and wonder so far wonder why they're so far behind, nothing working behind, why nothing is working in maybe look to in the polls. and maybe look to themselves if they're wrong about immigration. nothing is cutting do something about immigration. nothing is cuttingit do something about immigration. nothing is cuttingit and do something about immigration. nothing is cuttingit and of do something about immigration. nothing is cuttingit and of course,nething about immigration. nothing is cuttingit and of course, back1g about it and of course, back home, the never rains, but it pours. >> possability of a scott benton by—election up in the blackpool area added to the peter bowen could be a tough spring ahead for rishi at the by—election. polling >> booths . >> booths. >> booths. >> that's right, >> booths. >> that's right , there are >> that's right, there are different seats. scott benton, 36, mp elected in south blackpool in 2019, majority of

just 3690, a seat he might have been expecting to lose in the next general election because anything below 10,000 is at risk with the current poll ratings. that doesn't excuse us or even allow for his behaviour. he's been found guilty of it looks like a lobbying, um, to journalists of a fake gambling company . um, the committee is company. um, the committee is really damning in its report saying there was an incomplete and incorrect picture of what happened. and incorrect picture of what happened . um, all sorts of happened. um, all sorts of labour mps are on twitter today. this afternoon saying this is not how the how parliament should be run. they see the committee it's a very committee said it's a very serious breach. he's been banned for, um, 35 days from the for, for um, 35 days from the house of commons is a really serious sanction on um, 30 days at least , that's ten times more at least, that's ten times more than the threshold required for a referendum . um, on whether a referendum. um, on whether there should be a recall by—election. so it looks like if more than 10% of people in blackpool south want a by—election on replacing scott benton within a six week period,

then we are facing a red wall by—election, probably around march. april time in the run up. in the long run up, i would say to the next general election, which i'm expecting to be next autumn, that will probably come after, in after, uh, by—election in wellingborough, where peter bowen is a recall bowen is, is facing a recall by—election, not yet declared. but if more than 10% of people want there because of his want one there because of his behaviour, separate to this, um, then could a then there could be a by—election a safe tory by—election in in a safe tory seat, 19,000 and red wall seat seat, 19,000 and a red wall seat . a stark reminder. think of the tories challenges face tories and challenges they face after difficult 2023, after a very difficult 2023, with repeatedly with by elections repeatedly losing them, winning just one. ralph's ruislip and south ruislip and uxbridge for boris johnson's seat . and that was one johnson's seat. and that was one really on the back of the ulez concern. >> okay, chris anna's brenda from bristol might say about those by elections, not another one. >> thanks for joining one. >> thanks forjoining us on the >> thanks for joining us on the show . show. >> and i'm joined now by polling expert and conservative life peer lord robert hayward. thank you for joining peer lord robert hayward. thank you forjoining us on the show. you for joining us on the show. >> lord hayward.

>> lord hayward. >> let's start with those >> so let's start with those polls, shall we? >> um, a personal approval poll of sunak puts him on —49 points, his lowest ever polling on a par with boris johnson in his final days. with boris johnson in his final days . and at the moment, as we days. and at the moment, as we approach christmas , let's face approach christmas, let's face it, the only person that's less popular is the grinch . popular is the grinch. >> there's no question that he's facing dire poll ratings. >> they they measure points are a real problem for him and for the tory party at large. >> um, they they don't seem to be moving at the moment. >> and the labour party have a notional large lead and lord hayward , one thing that stubborn hayward, one thing that stubborn about this, it doesn't seem that sunak can get a bounce. >> there's a brief respite when he when he kind of went back on the petrol car ban, a bit, rowing back on net zero, but other than that it's been a downward trajectory and we've just heard a poll come out

putting the tories down two putting the tories down on two points reform , um, nibbling points and reform, um, nibbling at the tory vote with a plus two swing. >> i guess my question to you is, can this be turned around or with an eye on history, do you think we're looking at a kind of 1997 style wipe—out . 1997 style wipe—out. >> no, i think it looks difficult. >> there's no question about that. >> and all governments that have beenin >> and all governments that have been in power for roughly a decade and a half, and you just look at this government. but the blair brown government and then the thatcher major governments, they hit difficulties somewhere around what, 15 years either side of 15 years, because people begin to think that they want to change. but there is one marked difference . um, two difference. um, two observations. one is actually , observations. one is actually, if you look at the trend lines on the polls, the tories have marginally , and i emphasise only marginally, and i emphasise only marginally, and i emphasise only marginally tipped up. despite that one poll you're citing, there . but what is also striking there. but what is also striking is that the labour position is

lower now than it has been since august last year, 2022, at what people are showing is not just a disaffection with the conservative party, but appear to be showing a disaffection with all politicians and the by elections recently , very low elections recently, very low turnouts. i fear that when it comes to the general election, and i agree with chris, hope it'll probably be in october, november next year. i fear that the turnout on a national basis will be low because because of this level of disaffection of the general public with all politicians , not just with rishi politicians, not just with rishi sunak , i certainly agree. sunak, i certainly agree. >> lord hayward . a lot of people >> lord hayward. a lot of people are saying the none of the above party will be very popular , but party will be very popular, but a low turnout doesn't help anybody. >> i guess the question is, can that, um, disenfranchisement with the conservatives be tipped into a movement for the reform party ? can they gain seats, or party? can they gain seats, or do you think historically with first past the post, that's just too big a question to ask ?

too big a question to ask? >> it's a very big challenge for the minor parties. >> the liberal democrats always complain on the same basis . >> the liberal democrats always complain on the same basis. in general . um, the first past the general. um, the first past the post system does favour the two biggest parties . what we have biggest parties. what we have seen in other occasions is a marked shift in the last few months. last year, uh, running up to an election and it may be given that people have the attitude they do to politicians in general, it might change. one has to remember that the biggest single issue, and it came from the clinton era, although it wasn't clinton's expression is the economy stupid? the top issue in all opinion polls that have been taken in this country over the last few years has been the economy, stroke, inflation, and therefore ultimate ali, although there are other issues, the nhs, immigration and climate change are the three that follow

on. they follow on a long way behind people's assessment of the economy and the handling of the economy and the handling of the economy and the handling of the economy . so rishi really has the economy. so rishi really has to, first of all, prove his competence on the economy , and competence on the economy, and then people will start looking at some of the other issues. >> and lord hayward, with your experience, i cast over this. >> then would you say that's looking like we're going to be going to a later poll? >> because presumably rishi sunak like economy to sunak would like the economy to settle down? interest rates we saw holding firm. saw today are holding firm. inflation trajectory. >> so the best hope the conservatives have , as well as conservatives have, as well as trying to get rwanda sorted out, is the economy to stabilise and to say to the electorate, you can trust us on the economy , oh, can trust us on the economy, oh, there's no question that i've been convinced since february this year that the election would be in october, november next year, because inflation has been sticky. >> it's come down a long way, but it's the general message will have to be that we are

handung will have to be that we are handling the economy. and if you can't solve that, there is a very large proportion of the electorate who will decide they'll go elsewhere. this it is a real problem that has to be tackled. the other issue that comes up on the doorstep persistently is the chaos of 2020 to 2022, and there's rishi will want to put that as far behind him as possible , which is behind him as possible, which is the other very strong argument for an election in october. november when there is the possibility that interest rates will have started to fall . will have started to fall. >> okay. lord roberts, hayward , >> okay. lord roberts, hayward, thank you for that expert analysis. >> thanks for joining analysis. >> thanks forjoining us on the >> thanks for joining us on the show. superb. now, as i mentioned at the top of the show, we're running a poll today on whether sir tony blair should be stripped of knighthood be stripped of that knighthood because hanvey be stripped of that knighthood becaus

say yes sir. tony blair should be plain old tony blair being stripped of that knighthood. >> now the poll will close at a 4:45. >> at 445, and we'll bring you the results just after 5 pm. when we have that debate, and we'll be speaking to neale hanvey himself at around the same time. so get clicking, get involved . involved. >> now you could start your new year with £10,000 in cash, a £500 shopping spree and a brand new iphone to boot. >> sounds amazing right? >> sounds amazing right? >> well, here's how you could make all of those prizes yours . make all of those prizes yours. >> this is your chance to win cash, treats and tech in our very first great british giveaway. there's a totally tax free £10,000 cash up for grabs. cash which would help make 2024 a whole lot better . we're also a whole lot better. we're also going to send you shopping with £500 worth of vouchers to spend in the store of your choice . in the store of your choice. what would be on your shopping list if it's a new iphone? we've also got that covered too, with the latest iphone 15 pro max, which you'll also receive for

your chance to win the iphone. the vouchers and £10,000 cash text gb win to 84,902. text cost £2 plus one standard network rate message , or post your name rate message, or post your name and to number gb zero one, po box 8690. derby dh1 nine uk only entrance must be 18 or over. lines close at 5 pm. on friday. the 5th of january. full terms and privacy notice at gbnews.com. forward slash win good luck . good luck. >> now police in norwich are still searching for mother of three gaynor bahl, who first went missing last friday. i'm martin daubney on gb news, britain's news channel

sunday mornings from 930 on gbillionews . gbillionews. >> welcome back. 324 you're watching or listening to martin daubney on gbillionews now in a moment i'll talk about today's big interest rate decision and what that means for you . what that means for you. >> before that, the police >> but before that, the police say their working hypothesis remains . say their working hypothesis remains. that say their working hypothesis remains . that missing say their working hypothesis remains. that missing mother of three gaynor lord is in the river wensum. but they're still working on other lines of inquiry. norfolk constabulary continue their intensive effort to search the water, linking in with the detectives that worked on nicola bully case to on the nicola bully case to learn from that learn lessons from that investigation . investigation. >> and i'm joined now by a national reporter, theo chikomba, who is live on the scene norwich. um, theo,

scene in norwich. um, theo, what's latest ? what's the latest? >> yes . well, a very good >> yes. well, a very good afternoon to you as you say, investigations are continuing here in norwich as they continue to look to see if they can find any further evidence following the disappearance of mother of three gaynor lord, who was last seen on friday last week. now, today, this afternoon , they have today, this afternoon, they have released a further cctv footage on saint augustine's street, where she was last seen just after 4 pm. last week. and today they they also confirmed , today they they also confirmed, as a norfolk police confirmed, that 60 officers are working all around the clock on this case, including specialists , which you including specialists, which you may be able to see just over my left shoulder. one of those in the specialist diving teams is here and we heard from supreme chief superintendent dave buckley in the last hour. this is what he had to say. >> it's very, very challenging . >> it's very, very challenging. the is very, very full of the river is very, very full of water at the rain full of water at all. the rain full of lots debris . the divers can lots of debris. the divers can see about one foot front of see about one foot in front of them. it's an extraordinary,

them. so it's an extraordinary, challenging environment for them to in. it's slow, to work in. so it's slow, methodical the moment, methodical at the moment, working equipment . and working with the equipment. and it probably a couple it will take probably a couple of to get a position of days to get to a position where we're kind of where where we're kind of content with what we've done. it may longer . may even be longer. >> he also went to on say that they remain open, that she is alive, that there's no third party involvement , and that the party involvement, and that the search has indeed widened . we've search has indeed widened. we've seen some of those in the boats go towards the stream in that direction, and that the investigation is open, and it's likely that they'll be here for the next few days as they continue to search for vital evidence , which could help them evidence, which could help them in this case. >> okay. theo chikomba , thank >> okay. theo chikomba, thank you for that update on that case. and a reminder , we're case. and a reminder, we're still running that poll. the tony blair poll, should he be stripped of his knighthood. and it's moving very, very quickly . it's moving very, very quickly. it now an astonishing 88% of it is now an astonishing 88% of you, 88% of you think back that blair should be stripped of his knighthood. now, moving on. >> the bank of england has held

the base rate of interest for a third consecutive time, remain at a steady 5.25. >> but andrew bailey, the bank's governor, has indicated that cuts are still unlikely in coming months as there's still a way to go to get down inflation down. well, joining us now in the studio is liam halligan our economics and business editor, of course, with on the money . of course, with on the money. liam always a pleasure. >> so some good news for homeowners . homeowners. >> um, holding firm is this signs of the grass roots of recovery that we're all desperate for. well yeah, a lot of people. >> well, some people thought the interest rates may actually go down today, given had down today, given that we had gdp economy gdp numbers, the economy contracting yesterday. but it turns out that the nine economists at the monetary policy committee in the bank of england, six of them, voted to keep rates on hold at 5.25% where they've been since august. but three actually voted to put rates up even more to 5.5.

inflation is still pretty high. it's still 4.6, though. it's down hugely from last autumn . down hugely from last autumn. but the bank of england is trying to signal, look, we're still worried about inflation. don't think that interest rates are going to come down any time soon. there's still lots of price the system price pressures in the system that squeeze out. and that we want to squeeze out. and what would mean for what would it mean for mortgages? because the big the big homeowners know big homeowners want to know or those to those that are about to buy, should i wait? >> what's the trajectory because they're but a they're linked. but in a way, a lot understand, lot of people don't understand, right? to us the connection. >> that's so, um , broadly >> that's right. so, um, broadly as interest rates set by the bank of england come down, mortgage rates come down as well. but for now the bank of england is holding interest well. but for now the bank of engla|but; holding interest well. but for now the bank of engla|but mortgage nterest well. but for now the bank of engla|but mortgage nteresare rates. but mortgage rates are still down quite a lot. still coming down quite a lot. why that ? because financial why is that? because financial markets, the money markets, they think that interest rates set by the bank of england will come down then they can down soon. so then they can borrow at lower rates and they can money to us at can pass on the money to us at lower rates. and the bank of england is saying we're not going to raise we're not going

to rates for to lower interest rates for a long but financial markets long time. but financial markets think actually we think think actually we do think interest down interest rates will come down at the quite soon, the bank of england quite soon, maybe the spring or the maybe in the spring or the summer if you at where the summer if you look at where the money is in the markets, where the being placed , uh, the bets are being placed, uh, the bets are being placed, uh, the consensus view is that by the consensus view is that by the of next year , interest the end of next year, interest rates set by the bank of england will that's down from will be 4.25. that's down from 5.25. that's a big reduction. my general view would be if you are coming off a fixed rate deal and you want to fix again, wait as long as you can. yeah. wait as long as you can. yeah. wait as long as you can, because the overall trajectory is down in money. money lenders, mortgage mortgage companies, building societies and so on. they are competing now , offering lower competing now, offering lower and lower rates against each other. so if you can wait as long as you can before fixing , long as you can before fixing, you're going to get a better 2 or 5 year fix and the same appues or 5 year fix and the same applies to first time buyers. >> what ? just hold and hold. but >> what? just hold and hold. but that would mean that the property market is going to stagnate. >> well, look, as interest rates

come prices are come down, house prices are likely to go up more because people can afford to bid higher pnces people can afford to bid higher prices the limited number of prices on the limited number of very short of supply of very short, short of supply of housing as we've often discussed. martin. so look, the bank of england , uh, is trying bank of england, uh, is trying to say we are going to keep interest rates where they are. we are going to be tough on inflation. but financial markets are saying , no, we inflation. but financial markets are saying, no, we think interest rates are going to come down i agree the down soon. and i agree with the financial markets. i do think that see the first that we'll see the first interest rate cut all other things being equal, by march or april next year. there could be a few kind of whizz bangs on the honzon a few kind of whizz bangs on the horizon if geopolitical flare ups happen, russia, ukraine, uh, israel. hamas leads to spikes in oil prices, gas prices is then inflation could shoot back up and then interest rates wouldn't be wouldn't come down. but i think my base case scenario is interest rates will start coming down in march or april, and then they're going to carry on going down. so wait as long you can down. so wait as long as you can before fix your mortgage. um before you fix your mortgage. um sterling in in response sterling rallied in in response to this. so is the mood out

there that the waters are getting calmer and confidence will grow? or are we still some way to go, like in america ? are way to go, like in america? are there much more positive about cutting rates even in the short tum? yeah, the american economy's really very economy's been really very resilient. america's resilient. but america's benefiting lots and benefiting martin from lots and lots of cheap energy because they've been fracking. that really is the bedrock of their economic recovery . the federal economic recovery. the federal reserve the us central reserve yesterday the us central bank didn't cut interest rates, but it signalled that it will be cutting rates soon. and cutting interest rates soon. and that's of put rocket that's kind of put rocket boosters under the economic sentiment us , companies sentiment in the us, companies saying consumers saying , oh, saying consumers saying, oh, look, things are getting better. maybe can spend a bit more maybe we can spend a bit more money, we can grow the money, maybe we can grow the economy. but inflation is economy. but us inflation is much than here. it's much lower than it is here. it's just 3.1% the uk. it's 4.6% just 3.1% in the uk. it's 4.6% sharply down. as i said , from sharply down. as i said, from over 11% last autumn . uh, but over 11% last autumn. uh, but still uh, higher than the us. so the bank of england is being a lot more cautious about lowering interest rates , the us a lot interest rates, the us a lot more gung ho for now.

>> superb liam halligan always a pleasure. >> okay . there's lots more still >> okay. there's lots more still to come between now and 4:00, and i'll speak to the mp who was accused of transfer phobia by green party candidates who want her to a branded a bloke in her to use a branded a bloke in a wig who caused myself, a proud lesbian . lesbian. >> but first, your latest news headunes >> but first, your latest news headlines with sophia wenzler. thank you. >> martin, it's 332. i'm sophia wenzler in the gb newsroom . wenzler in the gb newsroom. police say there are some indications of why a woman in norwich left her work earlier on the day she went missing. gaynor lord was last spotted on cctv cameras on friday afternoon . cameras on friday afternoon. norfolk constabulary say it is likely the 55 year old may have entered the water and underwater search teams have scoured the river, the force says. specialist divers are working in an extraordinarily challenging environment and it will take a couple of days or longer to complete the search of the

stretch of the river. miss lord's belongings, including clothing and a mobile phone, were found in a park near her workplace . the bank of england workplace. the bank of england has held the interest rate at 5.25% for the third time in a row, amid signs of potential economic challenges . it comes as economic challenges. it comes as the monetary policy committee have previously raised the interest rate for 14 consecutive meetings until it reached a 15 year high of 5.25% at parliament's treasury committee last month, the bank's governor said the threat of uk inflation is being under estimated . two is being under estimated. two nurses from blackpool are facing prison sentences after they were found guilty of sedating patients . s 54 year found guilty of sedating patients. s 54 year old catherine hudson has been given seven years and two months for drugging patients during work shifts at blackpool, victoria hosphal shifts at blackpool, victoria hospital. the incidents occurred . between 2017 and 2018. her 48 year old colleague charlotte wilmot , was found guilty of wilmot, was found guilty of encouraging hudson to drug a

patient and is sentenced to three years. a second probe into south wales police has been launched by a watchdog following a crash in cardiff . 16 year old a crash in cardiff. 16 year old kyrees sullivan and 15 year old harvey evans died after their bikes they were riding crashed in ely in may. the new investigation . is focussed on investigation. is focussed on complaints made by the boy's families. it's separate from another investigation into the interactions of officers with the teenagers before their deaths , and you can get more on deaths, and you can get more on all those stories by visiting our website at gbnews.com . our website at gbnews.com. >> for stunning gold and silver coins, you'll always value rosalind gold. proud sponsors the gb news financial report , the gb news financial report, and here's a quick snapshot of today's markets. >> the pound will buy you $1.2746 and ,1.1594. the price

of gold is £1,604.26 per ounce, and the ftse 100 . at 7639 points. >> rosalind gold proudly sponsors the gbillionews financial report. >> thank you sophia . now today >> thank you sophia. now today is the seventh day of hanukkah and in communities across the uk, people have been coming together for the celebration. but the israel—hamas war ongoing, an increase anti—semitism report in the uk. >> how those communities are feeling. >> our westminster reporter jack carson gone to find out more carson has gone to find out more across the uk and around the world, jewish communities are celebrating hanukkah, whether it's the nightly lighting of the menorah or special prayers and fried foods , the festival of fried foods, the festival of lights is a chance for people to come together here in the west midlands, members of the chabad. >> solihull and solihull shul gathered on the first night of the , watching on and

the celebration, watching on and protecting the event where members the police , a members of the police, a reminder of the increased hostility towards jews in the uk in the 60 days after the hamas terror attack on israel, the communities security trust recorded at least 1890 anti—semitic incidents across the uk. >> that's the highest ever total reported across a period of that length since the start of records in 1984. organiser of this event, rabbi pink, says it's heartening to see a community proud identify with their heritage at a time when so many people are terrified due to the ramp anti—semitism that's going on around the world. >> it's extremely heartening to see so many people come out, stand proud to identify as jews and be proud of their heritage. >> when people come to you with irrational hatred, hiding your identity isn't the answer because they're not going to hate you any less. let's be proud of our identity. let's demonstrate that we're not going to be cowed by intolerance.

we're going to stand proud and share our message of love and kindness with the entire world. >> the story of hanukkah is that after the jews defeated the syrian greeks , persecuting them syrian greeks, persecuting them in the second century bce and reclaimed the holy temple in jerusalem , they lit the temple's jerusalem, they lit the temple's menorah and a one day supply of oil lasted eight days. >> but as people gather here to watch the ritual, the situation in israel today brings a different meaning to hanukkah. >> this year , i've got lot of >> this year, i've got a lot of friends and family in israel, and one of my friends posted today in her they are lighting. >> they have two menorahs. >> they have two menorahs. >> they have one that they're lighting and one that they're not. >> all the hostages. and >> for all the hostages. and it's time to remember , you it's a time to remember, you know, are people that know, that there are people that can't this can't light their menorahs this yean can't light their menorahs this year, their year, can't be with their families. it's very important. >> people who >> so it's bringing people who are religious, not religious, whatever this , this whatever this, this, this symbolism level of symbolism of survival level of giving light to everybody and receiving light is a feel good factor. >> and it brings everybody

together, strangers in the street, not just family. it's not like a sit down christmas lunch. not like a sit down christmas lunch . it's eight days, not even lunch. it's eight days, not even the week, which is seven days. it's one extra day to go that extra mile for many jewish families across the world. >> and this hanukkah will be one for remembrance, with the hope that the candles on their menorah can bring light into their . jack carson gb their darkness. jack carson gb news, solihull . news, solihull. >> great report there, and it's so important that we remember the increasing anti—semitism that's been experienced by jewish people in the uk. in fact, there's a survey out today, 80% of jews feel less safe in britain than they did before hamas's attack on israel on october the 7th, 25% of experienced anti—semites abuse since then and 50% have less faith in the police . and listen faith in the police. and listen to this, 64% have less faith in the bbc because of their position on this conflict. since october the 7th, an astonishing 90% said anti—semitism is a significant problem in the uk

and 70% say it's got worse over the past five years. later on in the past five years. later on in the show, we'll have an astonishing story about some literature that's been used in british classrooms, which is , i british classrooms, which is, i believe, blatantly anti—semitic. and it's asking questions in one of the reports given to children on october the 7th, hamas fighters launched an attack. hamas fighters launched an attack on israel. they killed some and took hostages . and the some and took hostages. and the question that they asked british schoolchildren was this what's your reaction to this? and one of the answers was it was fair for hamas to attack. that's being taught to british schoolchildren right now. later on, we'll have a parent who discovered this and they will go through this. i find it astonishing that these kind of mindsets exist in britain. full stop. but the very fact they're being taught in british classrooms to minors at this

time , when we're seeing time, when we're seeing rocketing amounts of anti—semitism , i find absolutely anti—semitism, i find absolutely astonishing and unforgivable. we'll have that full debate later on in the show. now there's a warning for parents everywhere today has a controversial decision by facebook's owners to put children at greater risk of being abused by paedophiles on martin daubney. on gb news, britain's news channel . britain's news channel.

portillo, gbillionews. britain's news channel

>> big news, big debates, big opinion patrick christys . opinion patrick christys. tonight is the week's biggest show . every weekday, 9 to 11 show. every weekday, 9 to 11 pm. we've got the inside track p.m. we've got the inside track on the day's top stories. they'll be sharp takes you won't get anywhere else. we will set the news agenda , not just follow the news agenda, not just follow it. and want to bring you along >> and i want to bring you along for the ride. >> whatever it is, we'll have our the pulse. our finger on the pulse. >> it's news, but it's this close to entertainment. >> christys. tonight >> patrick christys. tonight 9 to 11 pm. only on gbh news. the people's channel, britain's news channel. >> welcome back . 344. you're >> welcome back. 344. you're watching or listening to me? martin daubney on gbillionews is now 4:00. we'll have the latest on the migrant crisis as rishi sunak prepares to hold talks with italian prime minister giorgia meloni. and if you remember, meloni , she has a remember, meloni, she has a pretty good plan. >> i think she's done a deal with albania , which allows the with albania, which allows the boats coming into italy to be taken straight to albania and

the illegals to be put in containers , centres. containers, centres. >> sounds like a great idea, doesn't it? maybe rishi might have some of that common sense rub off on him when he's over there. we can only live in hope and a reminder that we're running a poll today on whether sir tony blair should be stripped of his knighthood. alba mp neale hanvey said in the house of commons yesterday that sir tony should be just plain old tony because of his decision to take the uk, of course, into war with iraq. and the poll is up and running on our twitter page. and so far an incredible 87.9% of you say yes , tony blair 87.9% of you say yes, tony blair should be stripped of that knighthood and that's had getting on for 6000 votes. the poll will close at a 4:45, and we'll bring you the results just after 5:00. and we'll also be speaking to neale hanvey himself at around the same time . i've at around the same time. i've been going through some of the comments on this and what's

what. you can't believe is that is that blair was knighted in the first place. people are saying, what he actually do saying, what did he actually do to it? of course, blair to deserve it? of course, blair denies any wrongdoing in that war. he says the facts that were in front of him at the time were the ones available, and he made a decision based on that. there was in that was nothing dodgy in that so—called dossier. of so—called red dossier. and of course, chilcot report came course, the chilcot report came out. nevertheless it's left a lot of a sour tastes in mouths around, and certainly amongst you guys, you really, really think he does not deserve that knighthood. and we're going to have a full debate on that later in the show. now let's return now to one of our top stories. and the bank of england has announced it is holding interest rates at 5.25, which of course is still a 15 year high. the bank has kept the rate the same for the past three decisions. now as a governor of the bank, andrew bailey stressed that there is still some way to go in policymakers efforts to drag inflation down and that policy is likely to remain restrictive

for an extended period of time. well rishi sunak says there's more to do , but the economy has more to do, but the economy has certainly turned a corner. and our political correspondent olivia utley joins us now from westminster. olivia, thanks for joining us on the show. so they've held firm. good news of sorts, i guess , andrew bailey, sorts, i guess, andrew bailey, however, you can always rely on him to pour scorn, saying there's still plenty of work to be done . but i spoke to be done. but i spoke to a pollster earlier on the show who thinks that the economy being stable is rishi sunak's best hope of an election victory, and it's likely pointing to a much later election. they'll be hoping the economy stabilises and the tories can say you can trust us. >> well, the economy is vaguely going in the right direction for rishi sunak and jeremy hunt, the issue is that it probably isn't going in that direction quite fast enough. interest rates have

stopped, have paused at 5.25, but we're not expecting them to go down for quite a long time. probably the middle of next yeah probably the middle of next year. now, why is that? it's because inflation is still stubbornly high. yes the prime minister promised to halve it in 2023, and he has done exactly that. it's gone down from 10.7% in october last year to just over 4% now. but the bank of england's target is only 2. so there's still a lot further to go and that means that interest rates can't yet come down. now the problem for the conservatives and for mortgage holders is that while interest rates remain at that 5.25, mortgages are going to stay very , very high. and over the next couple of years, especially over the next 12 months or so, in the lead up to the election, lots and lots more people are going to come off their fixed terms mortgages and find to their horror that they're suddenly paying horror that they're suddenly paying 400, 500, £600 more per month than they were paying

previously . so the conservatives previously. so the conservatives can say this is good news. and in a way, it is. things are moving slowly in the right direction, but it's probably just too slow for rishi sunak and jeremy hunt. the latest they can possibly hold that election is january 2025, and by then interest rates might have dipped very slightly , but lots and lots very slightly, but lots and lots of people will still be feeling the pain in their mortgage repayments. so i think your your pollster talking about a potential victory for the conservatives if the economy continues to move in the right direction , is being a little direction, is being a little over optimistic on rishi sunaks behalf ? behalf? >> yeah, but the economy, of course , will be central to the course, will be central to the concept . so they'll be pinning concept. so they'll be pinning all their hopes on it because they can't seem to make any headway on rwanda and they can't seem to make any headway on legal migration. so will be legal migration. so they will be really, hoping that really, really hoping that things corner and the things turn a corner and the electorate stick with them. but you have to wonder , central to you have to wonder, central to

this is the fact we are still living under the highest taxation policy since world war two, and many people out there, olivia will be thinking, hang on a minute. in 2019, we voted for the conservatives. it feels like we jeremy corbyn. well absolutely. >> and as we saw from yesterday's growth figures, that doesn't seem to be doing very much for growth at all. we've been teetering right on the edge of a recession pretty much all yean of a recession pretty much all year, and yesterday it looked as though we were in one, albeit a very, very mild one. the economy tracked, contracted by 0.3. now jeremy hunt tried to put a very positive spin on those figures and said that now the economy is in a good place to start growing again. that is because he has finally agreed to cut taxes as those on the right of his party have been calling for a long time now . in january, we'll see time now. in january, we'll see a big cut to a certain type of business tax , and we'll see a 2% business tax, and we'll see a 2% £0.02 cut to national insurance.

now the hope is that that will allow the economy to start growing again. and it will slightly lessen the tax burden for ordinary people. but it will still be the biggest tax burden for 70 years. and i think the question for the conservatives now , now is it enough for voters now, now is it enough for voters that their taxes will have dipped very slightly from an all time high if their taxes are still much higher than they were when they first voted for the conservatives 13 years ago , and conservatives 13 years ago, and i wonder if any of this will make any difference to the tories polling we've seen today that sunaks% opinion polling is at —49 points. >> the only person polling worse at the moment as we approach christmas, is the grinch. i wonder if anything is going to make . any difference. these make. any difference. these economic tweaks ? or do you economic tweaks? or do you think, actually, after 13 years, olivia, people just want change. they've had enough. >> well, i think the problem for rishi sunak is that when he became prime minister at the end of year , he said that he

of last year, he said that he was going to be the, the, the safe of hands, and he safe pair of hands, and he promised he was going to promised that he was going to steady the and over the steady the ship and over the past he managed past year, he has managed to steady ship. problem is steady the ship. the problem is that is basically on that the ship is basically on the sea floor. the economy is remaining pretty much where it's been all year. but as i say, that's at around 0. just on the on the precipice of a recession , on the precipice of a recession, on the precipice of a recession, on the precipice of a recession, on the numbers of people coming overin on the numbers of people coming over in small boats is a little bit down, actually, on last year . but obviously he's made rwanda the central tenet of his immigration policy. and that isn't going anywhere any time . isn't going anywhere any time. soon so for me, i think it's quite likely that over the next yean quite likely that over the next year, rishi sunak's poll ratings remain pretty much as they are now . i remain pretty much as they are now. i don't think remain pretty much as they are now . i don't think these little now. i don't think these little tweaks to the economy, though they might be good in the long terme be enough to secure terme, will be enough to secure the conservatives a win in the next general election . next general election. >> okay, olivia, thank you for joining now joining us from westminster. now there's a warning today that a controversial decision by facebook's owners could stop

thousands paedophiles thousands of paedophiles being arrested . last week, meta arrested. last week, meta decided to encrypt its messenger service, which means they can't see what people are sharing. but the national crime agency says it mean police alerted it will mean police are alerted to fewer cases of child to far fewer cases of child abuse. to far fewer cases of child abuse . schools minister damian abuse. schools minister damian hinds has criticised that decision. >> don't you think that's the right? >> it's the right course of action for meta and i've you know, i've said that in the past actually when i was doing a previous job as, as security minister and these subjects, uh, these the these subjects came up the ability to, to, to to, find, to intercept paedophiles , uh, intercept paedophiles, uh, operating on the internet is, is a really important part of law enforcement activity. >> it's not a question about it's not a question about privacy. it's not about people's emails or messages read. emails or messages being read. that's not the that's that's not what the technology does at all. it's about to detect when about being able to detect when there's , uh, when child there's, uh, when there's child abuse imagery effectively being being shared around the terrible word shared , being propagated, word shared, being propagated, moved around the, the internet. and when you have this type of

encryption , you know, if it encryption, you know, if it stops that, that's a problem historically. meta, by the way, have been actually really, really helpful , uh, in this really helpful, uh, in, in this regard. i do i do hope they regard. and i do i do hope they will think extremely carefully about reconsider and about this and reconsider and make sure that the national crime agency , the nca, the crime agency, the nca, have the tools need to be able to tools they need to be able to protect children . protect children. >> it just makes you wonder whose side facebook is on. if you can believe that 92% of referrals from facebook won't get through, who's side are these people on? where is the accountable party? i think it just beggars belief. i think they need to be much more accountable, especially to parents. to me feels parents. this to me feels like a paedophiles now. paedophiles charter now. rishi sunak italian prime sunak will meet italian prime minister giorgia meloni this weekend for talks on immigration. let's hope some of her rub off. she seems her ideas rub off. she seems determined to stop the boats and rishi can't do that. it seems for hide nor hair. i'm martin daubney on gb news. this is britain's news channel >> a brighter outlook with boxt solar sponsors of weather on . gb

news. >> hello again. it's aidan mcgivern here from the met office with the gb news forecast bright and breezy for many of us dunng bright and breezy for many of us during the rest of the day. some showers around, but it fine for many and with high pressure building in we're going to see a lot dry weather in the south lot of dry weather in the south over the next few days, but further north we'll see increasingly windy and in places wet conditions for the time being though, for much of the uk it's clear spells heading into thursday . for the thursday evening dry. for the vast majority, the odd shower here there, particularly for here and there, particularly for northern scotland. northern and western scotland. nonh northern and western scotland. north parts of northern ireland as well, and areas of cloud increasing overnight with an increased breeze as well. so that will keep things generally frost free in the north, although with lighter winds and some spells in the south, some clear spells in the south, it will be frosty in places. here. a few fog patches as well. first thing friday, but that's where the of bright where the best of the bright weather be. some decent weather will be. some decent spells sunshine for the spells of sunshine for the midlands, , southern midlands, east wales, southern and england. there will

and eastern england. there will be some high level cloud drifting in to turn the sunshine hazy by the afternoon , but the hazy by the afternoon, but the cloud will be thickest across parts northern parts of west wales, northern england and much scotland and england and much of scotland and northern ireland, there northern ireland, where there will outbreaks rain . will be some outbreaks of rain. that across the that rain persistent across the higher part of northern and western scotland, and that rain will continue into saturday for northwest scotland. again. a lot of cloud across the uk, an increased breeze as well. that's going to bring some warm air with it, but it's not going to feel particularly warm even if temperatures are above average because increased wind because of the increased wind looks like things are heating up i >> -- >> boxt boilers spot hours of weather on gb news as

i >> -- >> good afternoon. it's 4:00. i'm martin daubney welcome to the show. this, of course, is gb news. i'm keeping you company for the next two hours. we've got loads red meat got loads and loads of red meat on today's menu. top story rishi sunak swans off to italy to meet italian premier giorgia meloni. she's got some pretty good ideas about stopping the boats . she about stopping the boats. she did a containment deal off shore with albania. hopefully sunak might get some good ideas when in rome because he needs it. his popularity is at an all time low, minus 49. as we approach christmas , the only person less christmas, the only person less popular is the grinch. next

story . what next for mortgages? story. what next for mortgages? the bank of england held firm this afternoon 5.25% is the interest rate, and that could translate into some great deals for you. liam halligan . now for you. liam halligan. now economics and business editor will have all of the advice for you in on the money and next, as a new report out today , claims a new report out today, claims 80% of jewish people feel less safe in britain since october the 7th, when of course , hamas the 7th, when of course, hamas terrorists invaded israel and murdered and tortured and kidnapped people . we've got one kidnapped people. we've got one jewish parent who has decided offered absolutely shocking literature being put to british children in our schools where they actually say it was fair for hamas to attack israel. you would not believe what's going on in our schools. we'll have that full story later in this houn that full story later in this hour. and the big debate today, we've been running a twitter

poll on this. should tony blair be stripped of his knighthood? that's after a scottish mp raised this at a debate, and so far a whopping 87.9% of you think, yes , that's a great idea, think, yes, that's a great idea, sir. tony should just be playing an old tony. that's all. coming up in the next hour. an old tony. that's all. coming up in the next hour . yeah. i up in the next hour. yeah. i mean, you honestly would not believe when we show you this, this, this actual piece of literature that's been taught to british schoolchildren about the hamas terrorists basically saying they weren't the bad guys. it's astonishing. the parent will share all and also don't forget to get involved in that debate on tony blair. we've had over 70,000 votes. we're going to close it just before five, and we're going speak five, and we're going to speak to scottish in question to the scottish mp in question to the scottish mp in question to to tell us why he to get him to tell us why he thinks sir tony blair should lose knighthood. all. lose his knighthood. that's all. coming latest news coming after your latest news headunes coming after your latest news headlines polly middlehurst

headlines with polly middlehurst . martin >> thank you. good afternoon to you. well it's the sixth day of the search for the missing woman who was last seen in norwich city centre on friday. >> gaynor lord was last spotted on cctv cameras . i apologise, my on cctv cameras. i apologise, my microphone is . microphone is. >> so there's a number of lines of inquiry that we are pursuing at the moment. everything that we know is pointing to a high probability went probability that gaynor went into the water, and that that would from the cctv, from the would be from the cctv, from the very limited witnesses that we've got available to us at the moment and other lines of inquiry pursuing inquiry that we're pursuing about gaynor's behaviour in the lead to her disappearance. so lead up to her disappearance. so at the river is at the moment, the river is a really factor us now. really key factor for us now. it's to say that other it's not to say that other specialist police teams aren't working lines of working on other lines of inquiry because they are, but at the seeing that the moment you're seeing that intensive effort around the searching the searching of the water and the parks around of the searching of the water and the parks land 1d of the searching of the water and the parks land around of the searching of the water and the parks land around this of the searching of the water and the parks land around this area.1e other land around this area. >> my apologies were sound there. the microphone had

momentary fallen off, but as i was gaynor, lord was was saying, gaynor, lord was last cctv cameras on last spotted on cctv cameras on friday afternoon. heard friday afternoon. you heard there from norfolk police, who say likely the year old say it's likely the 55 year old may entered the water. may have entered the water. although underwater search teams have scoured the river. have scoured much of the river. we understand specialist divers are continuing to work in what police are describing as an extraordinarily challenging environment and they say it'll take a couple of days or longer to complete a full search of the water. miss lord's belongings, including clothing and a mobile , including clothing and a mobile, were found in a park near to her workplace . now the bank of workplace. now the bank of england has held the interest rate at 5.25% for the third time in a row, amid signs of potential economic challenges . potential economic challenges. it comes as the monetary policy committee have previously raised the interest rate for 14 consecutive meetings until it reached a 15 year high of 5.25% at parliament's treasury committee meeting last month, the bank's governor said the

threat of uk inflation is being underestimated, but the prime minister says progress has been made. >> i've made a bunch of decisions making sure that we don't borrow too much money, making sure that we're responsible with the public finances get finances so that we can get inflation down. it doesn't happen by accident. and, you know, contrast quite know, they contrast is quite clear. got the labor clear. you've got the labor party saying they want borrow party saying they want to borrow £28 billion year on this green £28 billion a year on this green spending spree. all that's going to up people's taxes, to do is push up people's taxes, push rates . we want push up mortgage rates. we want to get them down. and that's why in january starting cut in january we're starting to cut people's well that people's taxes as well. that will help put more money in people's at people's pockets. starting at the so the beginning of january. so look, are making look, i think we are making progress. there's more to do. but has certainly but the economy has certainly turned corner. turned a corner. >> but the shadow >> rishi sunak but the shadow business and trade secretary, jonathan reynolds, says the government shouldn't take credit for inflation, an for halving inflation, an inflation target for the united kingdom is 2. >> inflation is coming down is really to do with some of those global pressures changing supply chains , adjusting to what we've chains, adjusting to what we've seen. i think people will look

at it and say, well, when inflation rose so significantly, the nothing to the government said nothing to do us. it's the war in do with us. it's the war in ukraine. it's these global pressures and those recede, pressures and when those recede, they credit for it they want the credit for it coming i don't think coming down. i don't think the british will convinced british people will be convinced of well, in other of that case. well, in other news nurses from news today, two nurses from blackpool prison blackpool are facing prison sentences after they were found guilty of illegally sedating patients. >> 54 year old catherine hudson has been given seven years and two months for drugging patients dunng two months for drugging patients during her work shifts at blackpool victoria hospital in lancashire. the incidents happened between 2017 and 2018. her colleague , 48 year old her colleague, 48 year old charlotte wilmot , has been found charlotte wilmot, has been found guilty of encouraging hudson to drug a patient and sentenced to three years behind bars. drug a patient and sentenced to three years behind bars . a three years behind bars. a second probe into south wales police has been launched by a watchdog following a road collision in cardiff in wales. 16 year old kyrees sullivan and 15 year old harvey evans died after the bike they were riding crashed in ely in may. a new

investigation is focussed on complaints made by the boy's families . complaints made by the boy's families. it's separate complaints made by the boy's families . it's separate from families. it's separate from another investigation into the interactions of police officers with the teenagers before their untimely deaths . the father, untimely deaths. the father, stepmother and uncle of ten year old sarah sherriff have pleaded not guilty to her murder. the ten year old's body was discovered at her home in august in surrey. the day before sarah was discovered. the three defendants left the uk for pakistan . khan, with five pakistan. khan, with five children before returning a month later. the trial of all three men will be held in september next year. three men will be held in september next year . the funeral september next year. the funeral for the former minister, baroness kinnock, has taken place. the family of the mep and wife of the ex—labour leader, lord kinnock, says she was a proud democratic socialist who campaigned for justice against poverty. all her life. she was diagnosed with alzheimer's disease in 2017. sir keir starmer described her as a true

fighter for the labour party. he was seen arriving at his wife's funeral earlier, followed by gordon brown , tony blair and gordon brown, tony blair and sadiq khan . that's the news on sadiq khan. that's the news on gb news across the uk on tv, in your car, on digital radio and on your smart speaker by saying play on your smart speaker by saying play gbillionews. this is britain's news channel . and britain's news channel. and thank you polly. >> now we start with the latest on the migrant crisis and rishi sunak will meet italian prime minister george meloni this weekend on weekend for talks on immigration. sunak and meloni met in october to discuss efforts to coordinate an international response to migration . well, i'm joined now migration. well, i'm joined now by our political editor, christopher hope . chris. so with christopher hope. chris. so with things looking pretty bleak for rishi at home, popularity is plummeting . just about limped plummeting. just about limped through a vote this week on rwanda . he'll no doubt be rwanda. he'll no doubt be looking forward to a foreign

trip to italy. but what do you think will come of it? >> well, it's more about building relationships, isn't it ? with the italian premier, meloni , they have formed quite meloni, they have formed quite a close relationship . uh, mr sunak close relationship. uh, mr sunak and meloni back at the g20 in delhi, they had a brush by meeting that's been the means. they met in a corridor, essentially. but they got on pretty well . it looks to me like pretty well. it looks to me like the uk is trying to chum up to italy to try and find some new ways back into the, uh, in good odour with the european union. we do share with italy issues with the migrant crisis on our south coast and of course, on the coast of italy. there are all sorts of challenges there. so they are looking at doing so and they are looking at doing more processing more offshore processing in albania that's albania and italy. that's different to in the uk. different to our plan in the uk. that's to that's a deportation plan to rwanda rather than offshore processing. but the idea , the processing. but the idea, the thinking is the same. try and processing people elsewhere outside of the country that they're trying to get to. and there's lots of common cause. they're together. sunak's they're off together. mr sunak's flying to something flying today to something called the italy um,

the brothers of italy um, wmmw the brothers of italy um, summit. it's where a right of centre leaders meet for a chat, andifs centre leaders meet for a chat, and it's trying to find some common cause with italy. it's an unusual, uh, not an obvious ally. i think in the past, uk and italy. but why not? i think given the same challenges, it comes amid a dreadful series of polls went out today from savanta says says that the reformed the party run by richard tice the gb news presenter and life president, is nigel farage. they're up to nine points in the poll, one point behind the lib dems, up two. the tories are down to perhaps no surprise, given the mess over migration. labour's unchanged at 43 tours on 26, so reform is now a third. i've got a third of the of the support amongst the electorate. according to this poll by savanta. um, as of the tory party that is damaging. and if those 9% of votes were added to the tory votes, the party would feel in much better shape. um but it's a challenge. no, no question . there is some question. there is some interesting research out or some admission out from the home office from the permanent

office today from the permanent secretary, matthew rycroft. he reveals that just 1% of small boats arrivals, people arriving illegally by small boat, have been sent removed from the uk. that's 101 182 out of 111,000 arrivals. um far less than we had thought. but we have been told the figure was around 5000. but that included asylum seekers who have failed asylum seekers who have failed asylum seekers who are in prison. so it is not going very well. there's failure across board on immigration. across the board on immigration. um, big challenges with this vote coming up next month. >> and chris, of course, rishi, we'll be looking forward to his christmas break, having got that vote away. and this jaunt to rome. but of course , back home rome. but of course, back home in britain in the new year, we're looking some more we're looking at some more by—election potential misery. scott benton, blackpool south um, he's been a naughty boy by the looks of it. and these are by elections, christopher, which is looking very, very likely. the conservatives are going to

lose . lose. >> well, the polls suggest they're going to lose. certainly martin scott benton, aged 39, elected as an mp in 2019, majority . of 3690, in blackpool majority. of 3690, in blackpool south. that majority will be definitely under threat where election to be held now late next year. the polls could look better , but certainly better, but certainly a challenge now. mr benton has been given a ban from the house of commons, suspended from the house of commons for 30 days or so, ten times. so three times more than the ten day suspend limit, which normally would trigger a possible referendum on a recall by—election so, uh, people living in blackpool south will have a chance now to say whether they want a by—election in in in mr benton and whether to remove him as an mp . and if to remove him as an mp. and if more than 10% say they want one, they'll get one. we're already facing by—election facing a by—election wellingborough peter bone, a veteran tory mp. huge, huge. uh um, um, majority of 19,000. he's facing probably about uh, losing of losing the he's fighting i

think i understood to be not wanting i should say um, a referendum on his time as a as an mp. he should face a by—election in, in the new year. and should. mr benton, you've got these two twin by—election tests, one in the red wall, one in, in a in a safe tory seat and not for easy mr sunak as he's facing a very, very difficult yeah facing a very, very difficult year. by the time they're year. and by the time they're held, late held, i expect in the late spring, um, there will be we'll be what be the be fully into what will be the long general election campaign and challenges for sunak and huge challenges for mr sunak as back as he tries to claw back labour's lead, which gone, labour's lead, which is gone, which frankly has is the same which is frankly has is the same as it when he took over. as it was when he took over. >> chris, thank you for >> okay, chris, thank you for that hope rishi enjoys his that and i hope rishi enjoys his christmas . it looks it's christmas. it looks like it's going of tears in the going to be lots of tears in the new year now. moving on. international security and border henry border control expert henry bolton me now. henry, bolton obe joins me now. henry, always a pleasure to speak to you. i want to pick up on this on astonishing figure out on this astonishing figure out today of small boat today that only 1% of small boat illegals have been deported . illegals have been deported. since 2020. a frankly pathetic

182 people have actually been returned. this just goes to show that we've singularly and utterly failed to take back control of our borders . control of our borders. >> yeah, and indeed, martin, that's a very good summary of it i >> -- >> um, -_ >> um, look what we've seen from this government. uh, over and over and over again when it comes to border management and managing immigration and the asylum process has been a whole lot of headline headlines of, we're going to do this, we're going to do that. we promise x, y, going to do that. we promise x, y, or z. um, and indeed, maybe they, they make some mediocre moves towards achieving that, but they do not put in place the operation resources to make these things actually happen . so these things actually happen. so in the asylum system, you've got to have people doing the processing . you've got to have processing. you've got to have people to move these these individuals to actually move them to an airport or whatever. you've got have aircraft you've got to have the aircraft chartered. you've got to have all place, and you've

all of this in place, and you've got to have the legal framework. all of this in place, and you've got to thisa the legal framework. all of this in place, and you've got to thisa thebeenil framework. all of this in place, and you've got to thisa thebeen done1ework. all of this in place, and you've got to thisa thebeen done on'ork. all of this in place, and you've got to thisa thebeen done on an. all of this has been done on an ad hoc knee jerk basis, and rather responding to political and media sort of pressures of the day, almost literally. there has been no coherent plan put together . there has been no together. there has been no integrated effort across the various agencies concerned . and various agencies concerned. and so it takes time to get anything actually done . um, now, why is actually done. um, now, why is that the case? it's the case because our government and frankly, our civil service as well, seem incapable of doing strategy or any sort of decent planning . strategy or any sort of decent planning. um, and strategy or any sort of decent planning . um, and there strategy or any sort of decent planning. um, and there is a lack of sort of joined up thinking across the board. so that's the sort of strategic thing . ultimately, at the end of thing. ultimately, at the end of the day, if you don't say , the day, if you don't say, right, we need to identify right now the resources that are going to move these people, both physical resources like aircraft. and so on, and the personnel who are going to be responsible for making that work if you don't identify those right now. but you you promise right now. but you you promise right that you're going to right now that you're going to

do it, then there's obviously going a pause between going to be a pause between saying, going to do it saying, you're going to do it and being to if that makes and being able to if that makes sense. that's we are. sense. and that's where we are. it's basic. okay henry, at it's that basic. okay henry, at the moment, rishi is in italy meeting with italian premier giorgia meloni and the albanian premier is also there. >> and of course, george meloni has a deal with albania . we have has a deal with albania. we have a deal with albania. giorgia meloni has has agreed an offshore containment process centre in albania . why on earth centre in albania. why on earth can't we do the same and stop wasting time with rwanda ? wasting time with rwanda? >> i think there are two reasons really. martin one is that the approach of the prime minister seems to be to talk to everybody else, find out what they're doing, and then and sort of doing, and then try and sort of join on rather than take join in on it rather than take any lead it , rather join in on it rather than take any lead it, rather than take any lead on it, rather than take any lead on it, rather than take any initiative on it . now, with any initiative on it. now, with albania, the uh, approach has been one that's been driven by a historic sort of system that we've got, which is immigration liaison officers are liaison officers who are individuals who embedded in individuals who are embedded in embassies around the world,

including in albania, who exchange information . but they exchange information. but they are relatively junior officials. they are not in a position to negotiate agreements. they don't really exchange intelligence , really exchange intelligence, and they don't make any sort of practical arrangements . so practical arrangements. so that's not what they're there for. not knowledgeable for. they're not knowledgeable and experienced trained and experienced and trained to do wrong do that. so we've got the wrong people ground . there was people on the ground. there was a time martin, when we in certain countries, we embedded people at a high level within the cabinets of ministers of interior affairs abroad , who interior affairs abroad, who were actually able to go in and speak to the minister and say, we need this. can we talk about that? x, y, and z put those arrangements in place. we don't have that facility any longer. so rishi sunak , as i'm reading so rishi sunak, as i'm reading it, is really taking a very rather sort of let's have a look, see what's happening approach rather than take the lead and use initiative. the other thing is that the albanian, sorry, the italians are exploiting historic relationships that they've had with albania and indeed to an indeed to an extent that they've got with with albania and indeed to an extent that they've got with

libya to make these things libya to make these things happen.the libya to make these things happen. the british have been happen.the libya to make these things happen. the british have been very reticent to exploit any relationships that we have with very your'fr—i —————————f ,,,, www? —— anybody, particularly on the african continent. i think that's because the pressure from the left and concern about wanting not wanting to be seen as colonial , wanting not wanting to be seen as colonial, but actually we can be a very good friend to these nafions be a very good friend to these nations by helping them. there is none of that work taking place. and finally, martin, i have long argued, long argued, way before for these sort of recent crises with immigration came up that we should be engaging on upstream issues. came up that we should be engaging on upstream issues . we engaging on upstream issues. we should be taking the lead. and i think the uk outside the european union is incredibly well placed. diplomatic and in from an international law enforcement and security perspective to take the lead to build a coalition of the hauans build a coalition of the italians the french of the italians of the french of the spanish, of the eastern european countries put together countries to put together a whole international coalition to combat the flow of migration towards the european union. >> okay , henry, i'm afraid. i'm

>> okay, henry, i'm afraid. i'm afraid. i have to interject there. my son, i have to interject. i can tell you that you'll be talking until christmas. we have to call it a day there. thanks, mate. now it's day there. thanks, mate. now wsfime day there. thanks, mate. now it's time the great british it's time for the great british giveaway and your chance win giveaway and your chance to win treats and £10,000 in treats, tech and £10,000 in cash. and here's how you can start your new year with all of those prizes. >> really could be the winner of the first great british the very first great british giveaway and receive nearly £12,000 worth of prizes from us. first, we've got a simply stunning £10,000 in tax free cash to give you cash that you can spend on anything you like. next, how about a new phone? you'll also get a brand new iphone 15 pro max, and if all of that wasn't enough, how about a further £500 in shopping vouchers to spend at the store of your choice for your chance to win the iphone ? the vouchers to win the iphone? the vouchers and £10,000 cash text gb win to 84 902. text cost £2 plus one standard network rate message or

happen. the british have been very your namewv—w ww ww;; ,, happen. the british have been very your name and; ww w; ,, happen. the british have been very your name and to w w; ,, happen. the british have been very your name and to numberw;; —— happen. the british have been very your name and to number gb ; —— post your name and to number gb zero one, po box 8690. derby de19, double t, uk. only entrants must be 18 or over. lines close at 5 pm. on friday the 5th of january. full terms and privacy notice at gbnews.com. forward slash win . gbnews.com. forward slash win. good luck . good luck. >> now the bank of england has kept the interest rate at 5.25. but what does that mean for your mortgage? we'll find out after this. i'm martin daubney on gbillionews. britain's news

monday to thursday from 6:00 till 930. >> welcome back . it's 423. >> welcome back. it's 423. watching or listening to me. martin daubney on gbillionews . martin daubney on gbillionews. now the last ever episodes of the crown have been released today and they include the moment that kate strutted her stuff on a catwalk and took prince william's breath away. now noon today, the bank of england held the base rate of interest for the third consecutive time, staying at 5.25. the prime minister says the economy has turned a corner , the economy has turned a corner, but admits there is much more to do. well, joining us now in the studio is liam halligan economics and business editor with on the money reporter . liam with on the money reporter. liam so the bank of england held firm. some people would like to have seen a cut. >> they would have liked to have seen a cut. but believe it or not, the of the nine members of

the policy committee, not, the of the nine members of the economists olicy committee, not, the of the nine members of the economists oli

the spring. the money markets agree with me that if you look at where the money is invested in money markets, in capital markets , we're looking at markets, we're looking at interest rates of 4.25, down at five from 5.25% by the end of this year. so i think there'll be relief for mortgage holders in the spring. and people with personal loans, businesses that are indebted. so if you have got are indebted. so if you have got a fixed rate deal that's coming to an end, wait for as long as you can before you fix it again, because in my the because in my view, the trajectory and it's just my opinion, the trajectory of interest rates is now down. >> sterling rose in reaction to this. so are we seeing gradually now the green shoots finally coming back. have we turned the corner. the spectre of recession fades away i think we are really at a kind of inflection point. >> it could go either way. it's like, you know, sailors will know this when the tide's turning . that's where the phrase turning. that's where the phrase comes from. you know, the tide's going out and the tide's going in, get this sort of in, but you get this sort of weird you've lots weird period. you've got lots of swirling eddies. can't swirling eddies. you can't quite tell that's where are. the

tell. that's where we are. the economy really could going. economy really could get going. well quite soon, and the tories hopeit well quite soon, and the tories hope it will. that will mean that they'll want to hang around before they have a general election to get the feel good factor going. or it could be that these interest rate rises that these interest rate rises that have that we've seen, they have a lagged effect. they really start squeezing markets and squeezing credit markets and cause of a downturn. no one cause more of a downturn. no one really knows. and that's why it was probably right decision was probably the right decision for bank of england to hold for the bank of england to hold rates. rates have been at 5.25% for the bank of england to hold rates. august.ave been at 5.25% for the bank of england to hold rates. august. i/e been at 5.25% for the bank of england to hold rates. august. i think�*n at 5.25% for the bank of england to hold rates. august. i think they're!5% since august. i think they're going stay into january going to stay there into january , february, march. but by april, possibly may. i do think we'll see interest rate cuts. martin >> and politically, all of this points doesn't it? liam. to a delay until the next general election because the tories will hope that the economy turns around and that will play into their that's right. their favour. that's right. >> i think they'll play the long game unless, you know, everyone has the has a what's the old saying, the sort and i grew sort of bars that you and i grew up everyone's got a plan up in, everyone's got a plan until smack in the until you get a smack in the mouth right. and it may be it may be that rishi sunak is forced the country

forced to go to the country because there's kind of no because there's some kind of no confidence or own party confidence vote or his own party blows because they want blows him up because they want to rid of but i think to get rid of him. but i think if can survive, if he can get if he can survive, if he can get through this immigration crisis, if can, you know, stay in the if he can, you know, stay in the saddle, as it were, i do think with the economy hopefully improving , the tories will play improving, the tories will play a long game. so we're having an election. know, you election. you know, maybe you know, as late as november or december next year when we normally right. normally get it right. >> mr liam, thanks for joining us in the studio. well, although rates around 1.6 rates are falling around 1.6 million mortgage borrowers are expected to off fixed deals expected to come off fixed deals next , many which next year, many of which will have revelling in rates of have been revelling in rates of around 2. well, i'm joined now by sally mitchell, mortgage advisor and broker and otherwise . known as the mortgage murmrr will a fantastic name. sally, thanks for joining us. will a fantastic name. sally, thanks forjoining us. so we'd thanks for joining us. so we'd like to seen a cut today but they held firm at 5.25. what's your advice to those who are renewing or those looking to buy for the first time? so i think it's a great time. >> i mean , to have this >> i mean, to have this stability. there's three rate

rises or no rate rises in a row just shows that there's a slight calmness in the market and if you've been holding off, if you've been holding off, if you've been holding off, if you've been waiting and thinking, you know, praying that things are going to change, things are going to change, things going to come down things are going to come down now as good a time as any to now is as good a time as any to strike. if you've been thinking about that purchase, start looking now because we're looking at it now because we're not going to see a huge change in the next year or so . not going to see a huge change in the next year or so. um, we've already seen rates come down quite a lot. >> i mean, this morning there was another big lender who took 0.3% their product rates at 0.3% off their product rates at the moment. >> so it's strike while the iron's hot. >> it's a good time. >> it's a good time. >> time to have a look. >> time to have a look. >> see sally, a lot of people are thinking that in the medium to longer terms, rates are inevitably to start inevitably going to start sliding downwards. hope sliding downwards. we hope with a salt everything a pinch of salt and everything crossed. with in mind , crossed. but with that in mind, um, is it better to sort of sit things out for long as things out for as long as possible, or you thinking possible, or are you thinking strike while the iron's hot? yeah

>>i yeah >> i mean, you never know, really. >> what what is going to happen? that's what we've been shown over the last couple of years. we didn't foresee, um, the crisis that we're we're riding now. >> um, there are so many factors when it comes to purchasing a property that you can't always pick the best moment when with the best rates. so my advice is, if it's right for you and your family and your circumstances , family and your circumstances, then go for it. >> obviously , if you're >> obviously, if you're remortgaging, then you are slightly tied to when you're existing rate finishes . if existing rate finishes. if you're on a tracker rate or a standard variable rate, then this news from today's announcement will be brilliant . announcement will be brilliant. um, because it means that you will not be paying any more than you are at the moment. some customers have found that every six weeks earlier this year , six weeks earlier this year, their rates were increasing. >> when it comes to remortgaging, you really need to get your ducks in a row quite early. >> so we talk to people six months before their rate expires , and then you can actually pick

a rate. have it in your back pocket. and if things change, if they get worse , then you're very they get worse, then you're very lucky. you've got the best rate you could possibly have had. and if they better, then we if they get better, then we renegotiate. we go for that , renegotiate. we go for that, that better rate. >> so i think my, my advice would be don't be afraid. >> get yourself a good broker , >> get yourself a good broker, talk to people you know, really have a look at all your options and just pick the best path for you. >> but things are improving. they definitely are great positive advice and calmly delivered. >> sally mitchell otherwise known as the mortgage mum. thanks for joining known as the mortgage mum. thanks forjoining us on the thanks for joining us on the show. great stuff. now lots more still to come between now and 5:00. in a few minutes i'll discuss the appalling story of the british school, which reportedly asked kids if it was fair for hamas to attack israel . fair for hamas to attack israel. an astonishing story. you won't want to miss that . but first, want to miss that. but first, here's your latest news headunes here's your latest news headlines polly middlehurst

headlines with polly middlehurst . the headlines this hour. >> police are saying there are some indications of why a woman in norwich left her work earlier than usual on the day she went missing. gaynor, lord was last spotted on cctv cameras on friday afternoon . june norfolk friday afternoon. june norfolk constabulary say it's likely the 55 year old may have entered a nearby body of water underwater search teams continue to scour the nearby river. the force is saying specialist divers are working in an extraordinarily challenging environment and it will take a couple of days or longer to complete the search of the stretch of river concerned her belongings , including her belongings, including clothing, her coat and a mobile phone, were found in the park near her workplace. chief superintendent dave buckley confirmed that his team has consulted with officers from lancashire police, who worked on the nicolette bully inquiry. lancashire police, who worked on the nicolette bully inquiry . and the nicolette bully inquiry. and as you've been hearing, the bank of england has held the interest rate of 5.25% for the third time

in a row amid signs of potential economic challenges. it comes as the monetary policy committee, previously raised the interest rate on 14 consecutive occasions until it reached this 15 year high parliament's treasury committee meeting last month. the bank governor said the threat of uk inflation is being underestimated, but the prime minister said progress had been made . police have confirmed the made. police have confirmed the possible sighting of a missing british boy, who is believed to have disappeared six years ago in france . greater manchester in france. greater manchester police say there has been a sighting of alex bhatti near toulouse yesterday. alex bhatti , toulouse yesterday. alex bhatti, who was 11 when he went missing in 2017, had left the uk for a houdayin in 2017, had left the uk for a holiday in spain . the force is holiday in spain. the force is saying it is in touch with the french authorities to put safeguarding measures in place. we'll keep you up to date on that one. and in another headune that one. and in another headline , two nurses from headline, two nurses from blackpool in lancashire are

facing prison sentences after they were found guilty of illegally sedating patients . 54 illegally sedating patients. 54 year old catherine hudson has been given seven years and two months for drugging patients dunng months for drugging patients during work shifts at blackpool's victoria hospital . blackpool's victoria hospital. the incidents happened between 2017 and 2018. her 48 year old colleague charlotte wilmot, was found guilty of encouraging hudson to drug a patient and herself sentenced to three years. those . are the latest years. those. are the latest news headlines. more on all of those on our website, gbnews.com i >> -- >> now lam >> now we're going to bring you a story that, quite frankly, sickened me. it's absolutely appalling. it's been claimed that a british second degree school held lessons where kids were asked if it was fair for hamas to attack israel, an attack that to led around 1200 people being killed and of

course, hundreds being kidnapped. a post on mumsnet showed a slide which said on october the 7th, 2023, hamas fighters launched an attack on israel . they killed some and israel. they killed some and took hostages. it then asked children what's your reaction to this? is it fair for hamas to attack? i find it utterly astonishing that anything like this is anywhere near a british school, and i'm joined now by comedian and gb news presenter joe josh howie. josh um, sad times again . joe josh howie. josh um, sad times again. um, we speak on the same topic. the continuing creeping cancer of anti—semitism , but now it's crossed the rubicon and appears to be in british classrooms. you tweeted your repulsion to this, and it's had thousands and thousands and thousands of people agreeing with you . how sickening is this ? with you. how sickening is this? >> it's. yeah it's sickening. >> it's. yeah it's sickening. >> but it's also, to be honest, it's scary because this is the

next generation of hatred. if they're being taught this stuff and i'm not saying teach the other side of the story, i'm just saying just teach the facts and the fact that what they did and the fact that what they did andifs and the fact that what they did and it's not just that one slide that was one of 11 slides that were part of this lesson. this was put up by a mum on mumsnet. she's since deleted it because of all the attention that it's got. but being taught to secondary school students, it's so one sided it denies these other sides, they deny , uh, the other sides, they deny, uh, the jewish connection to the land that continued jewish presence . that continued jewish presence. uh, for 3000 years, that jews indigenous to that area . it has indigenous to that area. it has these false maps of the area of a country called palestine, which i'm just hasn't existed. that's ahistorical. it was it was a region that was controlled by turkey. so the way the entire lesson was framed is , um, is one lesson was framed is, um, is one that leads to and also it also sort of casts doubt on whether, uh, hamas or terrorist

organisation, it kind of says, well, they were voted in by, by, uh, the palestinian population , uh, the palestinian population, but britain calls them a terrorist organisation. but then britain is a great ally of israel, and it sort of seems to sort of cast that they're sort of cast out that they're really terrorists. who's really terrorists. anybody who's seen videos that seen any of these videos that came out on october the 7th of, um , of evil of a kind of evil um, of evil of a kind of evil that i've never would have thought possible in, in modern times, and certainly to see it with your own eyes. uh and the fact that that is not being reflected in any way with what the, uh, they're, they're teaching are our, our students from 13 to 18 and, and 11 to 18. and the other thing is that what you said, the slide that you did show where it says they killed some, that is the most insane , some, that is the most insane, an understatement of the century i >> -- >> yeah. and of course , there >> yeah. and of course, there was a march against anti semitism recently. yet we've seen two tier police and we saw a man at trafalgar square who

was asked to take down a israeli flag, despite the fact that at the same locations for many, many saturdays since october the 7th, they didn't say the same thing to palestinian protests . thing to palestinian protests. even when they clambered across war memorials. josh, there's a poll out today as well, um, saying this is from the jewish leadership council saying 80% of jews now feel less safe in britain than they did before the hamas terrorist attacks on israel on october the 7th. and an astonishing figure, 50% have less faith in the police , 64% less faith in the police, 64% have less faith in the bbc. and josh , i wonder now, has this josh, i wonder now, has this mindset, this poison not only infiltrated the police and the bbc, but now in our schools. and how concerned is that that children are being taught such, such pervasive and evil ideas ? such pervasive and evil ideas? >> well , first, the 80% who feel

>> well, first, the 80% who feel more scared since october 7th. i just want to know where the other 20% live. so i can move their , uh, every jewish you their, uh, every jewish you know, my kids go to jewish schools. uh, a lot of my friends are jewish. i'm part of the community, my synagogue. that's all we about. and everybody all we talk about. and everybody has different story of events has a different story of events that have happened to them. i, you know, i had a man shouting me on the tube to free palestine. are people palestine. there are people i know who've been attacked in america . to a man was killed , america. to a man was killed, uh, who's jewish, and paris or someone killed. so everybody is scared and, um , and to see, as scared and, um, and to see, as you say, the institutions and it's not like this poison is , it's not like this poison is, is, uh, is suddenly entering the institution. this has been going on for, for arguably decades now. uh, certainly within our universities. and now , as universities. and now, as evidenced through the school. and when you have someone like , and when you have someone like, uh, now, daniel covid, he is the general secretary of the new.

there's footage of him calling for a global intifada. now the last intifada in israel resulted in hundreds of deaths, people blown up at bus stops and in cafes and this is what this guy, he's running the union for. our teachers , and he's shouting in teachers, and he's shouting in our streets in the uk to globalise the intifada, to globalise the intifada, to globalise the intifada, to globalise the murder of jewish people all. and how is that not going to permeate through the rest of the institutions ? rest of the institutions? >> and josh, do you think this is the case of these terrible ideas flowing downhill? we've seen in some of the most esteemed learning seats on the planet, both in america and britain. this kind of anti—semitic notion . the tropes anti—semitic notion. the tropes seem to run deep . and now we're seem to run deep. and now we're seeing this in schools . is seem to run deep. and now we're seeing this in schools. is this a case of people being taught badideas a case of people being taught bad ideas and the passing them on down through the generations ? on down through the generations? >> absolutely. but it's not necessarily just tropes. i mean, if you can't even have the head of harvard university be the

president, saying that calling for the genocide of jews is wrong , then that's not a trope. wrong, then that's not a trope. that's just like out and out anti—semitism . um, so, um , as anti—semitism. um, so, um, as i said, this has been a long time project. these it's been an infiltration through the far left into these institutions . left into these institutions. and now we're seeing , um, the and now we're seeing, um, the results of that, hundreds of thousands of people on the street, so many of them utterly, utterly ill informed, using words like genocide , words like genocide, colonialisation, you can't colonise the where you come from. that area is indigenous to jewish people. so the miseducation is , is terrifying. miseducation is, is terrifying. but to see it that being permeated continuously now to the to next generation see marches on the streets, to see children being taken out of schools , 13 year olds, ten year schools, 13 year olds, ten year olds, seven year olds out

chanting in the streets. that's scary because how can you reason with them when, when, when they get, they're sort of caught. so young within this cycle of hatred . hatred. >> um, okay. josh howie , thank >> um, okay. josh howie, thank you very much for joining us. >> um, okay. josh howie, thank you very much forjoining us. an you very much for joining us. an astonishing story, but thanks for speaking out . thank you very for speaking out. thank you very much. i just can't get my head around stories. i just cannot believe what children are being taught. it's completely and utterly now's a big day utterly wrong. now's a big day for royal fans because the last ever episodes of the crown have been released . i'm martin been released. i'm martin daubney on gb news, britain's news channel

>> the camilla tominey show sunday mornings from 930 on gbillionews . who's . welcome gbillionews. who's. welcome back. >> 446 you're watching or listening to martin daubney on gb news now at 5:00 i'll speak to the mp who says tony blair should be stripped of his knighthood, that certainly knighthood, and that certainly got you going. but before that, the popular netflix series the crown comes to an end today. the final episodes look at the penod final episodes look at the period following princess diana's death, looking ahead to the next generation of royals, including prince william, meeting princess catherine. let's a glimpse at the let's take a glimpse at the trailer . trailer. >> thank you . >> thank you. >> thank you. >> three, two. >> three, two. >> one, sir. thank you. three. two one. >> william. keep smiling darling. three. two. one.

>> having reviewed the data, the pollsters have now presented their findings. >> asked if the royal family were out of touch with ordinary people, 53% said yes . people, 53% said yes. >> mm. more cheese than fortnum and mason's. anyway, join us now to tell us more. is our royal correspondent, cameron walker. cameron i've seen a few reviews of this . it's getting a bit of kicking. >> yeah, it's certainly not doing as well as the first couple seasons did. it had couple of seasons did. it had huge raving reviews for seasons one and two. claire foy portrayed a young queen elizabeth ii in the early days of her reign. from 1950s to the 1960s, with all the dresses and the period drama and that the period drama and all of that , bit of a kicking , it's had a bit of a kicking season six in particular. the first part, of course, which you've seen portrayed you've already seen in portrayed the death of diana, princess of wales. this series looks ahead to the prince william meeting. princess catherine, when, of course, she was kate middleton

at saint andrew's university. um, a bit more controversially , um, a bit more controversially, the queen has a dream. spoiler alert if you haven't seen it yet, but she dreams that tony blair becomes king blair became becomes king because the polling at the time was so good for blair, but so bad for the monarchy. so there's lots of controversy points like that. and i mean , one one that. and i mean, one one reviewer describes as i think it was the telegraph saying it was a bit of a rom com when it comes to william and catherine's early romance. so yeah, not great, but still very entertaining drama interest in blair as king. >> um, i wouldn't call that a dream. many people call that a nightmare. is part of the problem with being so close to the present day. they're having to sort of make things up, shade in the blanks. um romanticised fantasies , and therefore it's fantasies, and therefore it's less historic . it's more a less historic. it's more a historic and frankly , it gets a historic and frankly, it gets a bit cheesy. >> yeah, i think that perhaps is a fair point . i think it's very a fair point. i think it's very much in living memory this season. i mean, i remember the queen's jubilee in 2002, me getting a spoon at school that

was delivered to all primary school children and the problem is don't was said is we don't know what was said behind closed doors . and there's behind closed doors. and there's a danger particularly with the international audience, that they'll watch what's on the crown and take as fact. uh, crown and take it as fact. uh, and then base their opinions on real life members the royal real life members of the royal family are still living family who are still living like, um, william catherine, the king, um based their king, camilla. um based their opinions off of what they've seen isn't seen in the crown, which isn't always accurate , but always necessarily accurate, but it's on historical events. it's based on historical events. but a but it's certainly not a documentary. do you think, like many franchises, they just run out of steam in the end? >> you know, we see that across all of movie franchises. all sorts of movie franchises. and this is just the season too far. >> i think that is certainly been of the reviewers been what some of the reviewers are , particularly because are saying, particularly because it so close and they it is so close to home and they really having to tackle really are having to tackle issues are very much in issues which are very much in people's minds and is still being discussed in a news sense today. so it goes into prince harry, for example, complaining about his brother william always being in shadow. the drugs being in his shadow. the drugs or alleged drug use of prince harry and arguing with the then

prince charles about that. him wearing the nazi uniform at the at at the party as well. so at the at the party as well. so all of this is being dragged up again. so think perhaps it's again. so i think perhaps it's becoming uncomfortable for becoming more uncomfortable for the family as well as the the royal family as well as the general public, who are obviously this as well. obviously watching this as well. >> yeah, and lots of things there family have there that the royal family have done try us done a lot to try and help us forget, particularly that that nazi , um, i mean, now nazi uniform, um, i mean, now it's, it's amazing to think that that harry is the king of woke. yet very recently he was a bad boy. >> yeah . he was. and boy. >> yeah. he was. and in his memoirs bear, he actually alleges that it was the prince. it prince william and it was prince william and catherine it encouraged him catherine who it encouraged him to wear that uniform . to wear that nazi uniform. buckingham palace, kensington palace even have not commented on that one. but i think it ends on that one. but i think it ends on a lighter note, because the final episode portrays the future king and queen charles and camilla's wedding in 2005, so shows the progression of so it shows the progression of the monarchy . yes, the tough the monarchy. yes, the tough years in the early 2000, but looks future and the looks to the future and the positive outcome for the royal family moving forward. superb >> cameron walker as ever,

excellent . okay, moving on. the excellent. okay, moving on. the to race win next year's us presidential election has taken another twist. the another dramatic twist. the house of representatives has voted to authorise its ongoing impeachment inquiry into joe biden, this time , it's looking biden, this time, it's looking at whether biden improperly benefited from his son hunter's foreign business dealings . foreign business dealings. hunter had earlier refused to testify behind closed doors. the biggest show on earth has taken yet another dramatic twist . and yet another dramatic twist. and join me now to discuss this is us political analyst eric ham, a superb analyst and a great friend of joe eric. here we go again . impeachments coming out again. impeachments coming out of our ears stateside this time. most people might be quite surprised to learn it's not donald trump facing the music. yeah that's right. >> in fact, what we saw yesterday was a unanimous vote by all republicans supporting this motion to actually go forward with this inquiry. now we have to be clear, this is not actual impeachment. this is

actually just an inquiry. so to begin an investigation and the reason the house did this is because now by actually formalising this impeachment inquiry, it allows them the opportunity to actually now begin to provide subpoenas , to begin to provide subpoenas, to actually compel witnesses to come in and provide testimony to various committees and we know that there are at least three congressional committees that are actually overseeing this inquiry . inquiry. >> and, eric, there's no chance of an actual impeachment happening as with the trump, um, cases , this is more design, is cases, this is more design, is it not to cause political damage , to cause collateral damage to the biden camp? as we approach the biden camp? as we approach the presidential election, which of course, is next november, do you think it will damage joe biden ? biden? >> it's unclear here at this time if this is actually going to cause any blowback or any problems for joe biden to cause any blowback or any problems forjoe biden as he attempts to seek re—election . attempts to seek re—election. one of the reasons for that is

because , at least right now, because, at least right now, there is no sign of an actual crime having been committed . and crime having been committed. and so we know when donald trump was impeached twice , there were two impeached twice, there were two real issues that were at stake . real issues that were at stake. one was the attempt to blackmail the president of ukraine, president zelenskyy and the second, of course, was his involvement in the january sixth insurrection. we don't have that here. in fact, there are a number of republicans themselves who have said they see no evidence and there is no evidence and there is no evidence of an actual high crime or misdemeanour that actually is involved in this ongoing inquiry. and another point to focus on is we know that there are at least 18 republicans and biden led districts that , in biden led districts that, in fact, if they do vote for impeachment, fact, if they do vote for impeachment , that could be the impeachment, that could be the death knell for their potential re—election next fall . re—election next fall. >> eric, very briefly, if we could, um, it's unlikely to stick, but the biden camp are furious because they're saying they're being attacked with lies, but it's about time they

got a taste of their own medicine. isn't it? >> oh, i don't know about the taste of their own medicine or where that comes from. but what we do know is that this is an administration that many see. joe biden , the electorate, as joe biden, the electorate, as a very honest individual. and of course, it's unclear how this is going to move forward . going to move forward. >> okay. we have to leave it there. eric ham, thank you very much for that superb analysis as even much for that superb analysis as ever. certainly going to be one to watch. it's going to be the greatest show on earth. it's going to be an absolute circus. november the fifth and the polling the moment has donald polling at the moment has donald trump ahead in the polling. both in terms of personality and the ability to win the next presidential race. now, an mp has called for sir tony blair to have his knighthood taken away because of the war in iraq. we'll have him next. i'm martin daubney on gb news, britain's news channel >> a brighter outlook with boxt solar , the sponsors of weather

solar, the sponsors of weather on . gb news. on. gb news. >> hello again. it's aidan mcgivern here from the met office with the gb news forecast bright and breezy for many of us dunng bright and breezy for many of us during the rest of the day, some showers around, but fine for many and with high pressure building in, we're going to see a lot of dry weather in the south over the next few days, but north we'll but further north we'll see increasingly windy and places increasingly windy and in places , wet conditions. for the time being, though , for much of the being, though, for much of the uk it's clear spells heading into evening dry. for into thursday evening dry. for the vast majority, the odd shower here and there, particularly for and particularly for northern and western and parts western scotland and north parts of northern ireland as well, and areas of cloud increasing overnight increased overnight with an increased breeze as well, so that will keep things generally frost free in the north, although with lighter winds and some clear spells in the south. it will be frosty in places here. a few fog patches as well. first thing friday, but that's where the best of the bright weather will be. some decent spells of sunshine for the midlands, east

wales, southern and eastern england some high england. there will be some high level drifting in to turn level cloud drifting in to turn the sunshine hazy the the sunshine hazy by the afternoon but cloud will be afternoon, but the cloud will be thickest of west thickest across parts of west wales, northern england, much of scotland northern ireland, scotland and northern ireland, where there will be some outbreaks rain outbreaks of rain. that rain persistent across the higher part of northern and western scotland, and that rain will continue into saturday for northwest scotland again. a lot of cloud across the uk and increased breeze as well. that's going to bring some warm air with it, but it's not going to feel particularly warm even if temperatures are above average because of increased wind . because of the increased wind. >> that warm feeling inside from boxt boilers sponsors of weather on .

gb news. >> good afternoon. it's 5:00. i'm martin daubney. welcome to gb news. we've got a cracking hour coming our top debate hour coming up. our top debate of the day . a scottish labour mp of the day. a scottish labour mp , neil alvey, has put the cat among the pigeons. neil by saying tony blair should be stripped of his knighthood . he stripped of his knighthood. he made this statement during a live debate and we've been running a twitter poll all afternoon. we've got neil hanvey on after to talk this through, get involved. we're going to read out the answer to our poll. should blair be stripped of his knighthood. that's the top story

this hour . knighthood. that's the top story this hour. next up, after a disastrous week, he scraped through his rwanda bill rishi sunak has gone to italy to talk to italian premier giorgia meloni , who set up a great deal meloni, who set up a great deal with albania for offshore containment to stop the boats over there. will rishi, when in rome , come back with some good rome, come back with some good ideas? he certainly needs it. his poll ratings before christmas are worse than the gnnch. christmas are worse than the grinch . moving on. today, the grinch. moving on. today, the bank of england held firm on its interest rate of 5.25. but what does that mean for you and for your mortgage? we'll have liam halligan with on the money to give you all the expert advice you will need and finally, the boss of an insurance company, aviva , has said no white men can aviva, has said no white men can be signed up or recruited for the company unless she approves it. i'll be saying is racism against white men the last form of discrimination? that's

acceptable in britain? get in touch on all of those events usual way gbviews@gbnews.com. got all that come in in the next hour. got all that come in in the next hour . so got all that come in in the next hour. so neale hanvey is waiting to come on the show. he's going to come on the show. he's going to tell us why he thinks tony blair should be stripped of his knighthood. get involved in that twitter poll. we're going to read the results. that's read out the results. that's going to really kick off. but first, here's your latest news headunes first, here's your latest news headlines with polly middlehurst i >> -- >> martin, thank you and good afternoon to you. well, the top story from the gb newsroom is that police say there are now some indications of why a woman in norwich may have left her work earlier than usual on the day she went missing. gaynor lord was last spotted on cctv cameras on friday afternoon in norfolk constabulary. are saying it is likely the 55 year old may have entered the water in a

nearby park , and they say nearby park, and they say underwater search teams continue to scour that river. the force is also saying that specialist divers are working in an extraordinarily challenging environment, and it will take a couple of days or longer to complete that search. >> so there's a number of lines of inquiry that we are pursuing , of inquiry that we are pursuing, but everything that we know is pointing to a high probability that gaynor went into the water and that that would be from the cctv, from the very limited witnesses we've got witnesses that we've got available to us at the moment. and other lines of inquiry that we're pursuing about gaynor's behaviour up to her behaviour in the lead up to her disappearance. at the moment, disappearance. so at the moment, the is a really key factor the river is a really key factor for us now. it's not to say that other specialist teams other specialist police teams aren't lines of aren't working on other lines of inquiry, are, but inquiry, because they are, but at seeing at the moment you're seeing that intensive around the intensive effort around the searching the water and the searching of the water and the parks around and some of the other area and parks around and some of the otiother area and parks around and some of the otiother news area and parks around and some of the otiother news today, area and parks around and some of the otiother news today, police and parks around and some of the otiother news today, police have in other news today, police have confirmed a possible sighting of a missing british boy is a missing british boy who is believed to have disappeared six years ago in france .

years ago in france. >> greater manchester police said there had been a sighting of alex batty near toulouse yesterday . now a teenager, the yesterday. now a teenager, the boy was just 11 years old when he went missing in 2017 as he left for a planned holiday in spain, the force said . it is now spain, the force said. it is now in touch with the french authorities to put in place what they are calling safeguarding measures . the they are calling safeguarding measures. the bank of england held the interest rate at 5.25% for a third time in a row today, amid signs of a potential economic challenge ahead. it comes as the monetary policy committee previously raised the interest rate for 14 consecutive meetings at parliament's treasury committee meeting last month, the bank's governor said the threat of the uk having greater inflation is being underestimated. the prime minister said progress has been made. >> i've made a bunch of decisions making sure that we don't borrow too much money, making sure that we're responsible with the public finances so that we can get

inflation down. it doesn't happen by accident. and you know , quite clear. , the contrast is quite clear. you've labor party you've got the labor party saying want borrow £28 saying they want to borrow £28 billion a year green billion a year on this green spending spree. all that's going to push up people's taxes, to do is push up people's taxes, push rates . we want push up mortgage rates. we want to them down. and that's why to get them down. and that's why in january we're starting cut in january we're starting to cut people's that people's taxes as well. that will put more money in will help put more money in people's starting at people's pockets. starting at the january . so the beginning of january. so look, think we are making look, i think we are making progress. to progress. there's more to do. but economy certainly but the economy has certainly turned corner . turned a corner. >> but the shadow business and trade secretary, jonathan reynolds, the government reynolds, says the government shouldn't take credit for halving inflation. >> inflation target for the united kingdom is 2% inflation coming down is really to do with some of those global pressures changing supply chains, adjusting to what we've seen. >> i think people will look at it say, well, when inflation it and say, well, when inflation rose so significantly, the government nothing to government said nothing to do with us. >> the m... with us. >> the in ukraine. it's >> it's the war in ukraine. it's these global pressures. and when those recede, they want the credit down. credit for it coming down. i don't british people don't think the british people will be convinced of that case. >> from blackpool in

>> two nurses from blackpool in lancashire facing prison lancashire are facing prison sentences hours after they were found guilty of illegally sedating their patients. 54 year old catherine hudson has been given seven years and two months for drugging patients during shifts at blackpool's victoria hosphal shifts at blackpool's victoria hospital. the incidents happened between 2017 and 2018. her 48 year old colleague charlotte wilmot, was found guilty of encouraging hudson to drug a patient, and she was sentenced to three years behind bars. patient, and she was sentenced to three years behind bars . a to three years behind bars. a second probe into south wales police have been launched by the watchdog following a road collision in cardiff. 16 year old kyrees sullivan and 15 year old kyrees sullivan and 15 year old harvey evans died after the bike they were on crashed in ely in may. a new investigation is focussed on complaints made by the boy's families , and it's the boy's families, and it's separate from another investigation into the interactions with police officers. before the boys deaths , the father, stepmother . and

, the father, stepmother. and uncle of ten year old sara sharif have pleaded not guilty to her murder. the ten year old's body was discovered at her home in surrey in august, old's body was discovered at her home in surrey in august , the home in surrey in august, the day before sara was discovered . day before sara was discovered. the three defendants left the uk for pakistan . khan with five for pakistan. khan with five other children before returning a month later. the trial of all three will be held in september next year . and the funeral for next year. and the funeral for the former minister, baroness kinnock, has taken place today . kinnock, has taken place today. the family of the mep and the wife of ex—labour leader , lord wife of ex—labour leader, lord kinnock say she was a proud democratic socialist who campaigned for justice and democratic socialist who campaigned forjustice and she fought against poverty all her life. she had been diagnosed with alzheimer's in 2017. sir keir starmer described her as a true fighter for the labour party and was seen arriving at the funeral earlier, followed by gordon brown , tony blair and gordon brown, tony blair and sadiq khan . that's the news on sadiq khan. that's the news on gb news across the uk on tv , in

gb news across the uk on tv, in your car, on digital radio and on your smart speaker by saying play on your smart speaker by saying play gb news this is britain's news channel . news channel. >> thank you polly. now we'll start this hour with a simple question that's got you all going this afternoon. it's this should tony blair be stripped of his knighthood? tony became sir tony in the new year's honours list just under two years ago. labour's longest serving prime minister was made a knight companion of the most noble order of the garter , which is order of the garter, which is the oldest and most senior british order of chivalry. don't you know? but yesterday alba party mp neale hanvey called for sir tony to have his knighthood taken away because he took this country to war in iraq. can be said the honour was an insult to every single life lost during the war. and i'm delighted now to say i'm being joined by neil hanvey, who's coming on to gb news to tell us thank you for

joining us. neil so i think your situation, your position is quite clear, but can you spell out please, in black and white terms, why you think sir tony should just be plain old tony blair? >> well , first of all, before >> well, first of all, before before i say anything further, i want to pay tribute to mark curtis and declassified uk, who who, um, researched the 900 pages of documents that were the bedrock of my contribution in westminster hall yesterday evening . evening. >> and really what they do is they paint a picture of a prime minister who was repeatedly warned that the prospectus that he was pursuing to enter conflict in 1998. and as we know from chilcot in 2003, was against the advice of almost every law officer , uh, available every law officer, uh, available to him , uh, and that he didn't to him, uh, and that he didn't have the authority of the united nafions

have the authority of the united nations security council resolution to go forward into conflict. but he went ahead anyway . and we know the anyway. and we know the catastrophic loss of life, uh, that has been the result of that first campaign. >> and the consequences there, there , uh, forward, uh, since 1998. >> and they have run into hundreds of thousands of lives lost, um, and there have been, you know, a significant number of british forces who died in the theatre of war, but also many others . many others. >> as i mentioned yesterday in my speech, whose lives were shattered after those conflicts and are attributable entirely to the conflicts that were engaged in again , legal advice and in again, legal advice and without international legal, uh, authority. >> and so it seems utterly absurd that a prime minister who took the uk into conflict , uh,

took the uk into conflict, uh, on two occasions, uh, with such disastrous consequence as not just then, but also the repercussions that echo down through the decades since , uh, through the decades since, uh, should be recognised and rewarded with a knighthood . rewarded with a knighthood. >> and, you know, as i said, this is this rests on the work of declassified uk. >> but i am just, you know, i am the privileged individual out of so many others up and down the, the countries of the united kingdom who had the opportunity to take that into parliament and to take that into parliament and to make that case. >> and i've had a whole host of, uh, messages in my inbox today thanking me for giving voice to concerns that people have shared with me from the days when we marched against the war, uh, before it started . and i still before it started. and i still do not feel that justice has been served on the perpetrator of what many consider to be war crimes. >> okay, neil, of course, after the chilcot inquiry, tony blair

said, i did not mislead the country. i made the decision in good faith and i believe it is better. we took that decision right. knowledge. the mistakes and accept responsibility for them. what i cannot and will not do is say we took the wrong decision and this report report makes it clear there were no lies. there was no deceit. obviously people contest that and you being one of them, despite all of that body of evidence , then why do you think evidence, then why do you think blair was knighted? a lot of people in our poll today, neil, are saying, why did he even get are saying, why did he even get a knighthood in the first place? >> well, i think that, you know, i share that , uh, that confusion i share that, uh, that confusion with many people from every political persuasion, i have to say , um, that that this just say, um, that that this just seems anathema to , um, seems anathema to, um, recognising a contribution to the efforts of the country when, um , as i said, he prosecuted two um, as i said, he prosecuted two illegal wars. now, whether he

feels it's right or wrong or whether he felt that he made the right judgement call or not, is quite, as far as i'm concerned, a moot point. it's about legality . it's about did he put legality. it's about did he put service personnel in harm's way? and one of the points that i advanced last night was that he put them in a position where they could be open to criminal prosecution , uh, because they prosecution, uh, because they were acting in an, uh , an were acting in an, uh, an unlawful war. so, you know, whether he feels that he can assuage any sense of guilt with being convinced that the decision he made was the right one or not, that is not really the point here. it's a point of law. it's a point of whether he put service personnel in harm's way. and it's about the consequences of those conflicts. you know anyone no one can make a convincing argument that iraq is a more safe place today. and no one can make the argument that the region is a safer place

today. those conflicts have brought disaster to the region and have made the world a less safe place. and i can't fathom how anyone one can, can conceive a reason why that is deserving of a knighthood . of a knighthood. >> okay. neale hanvey , our party >> okay. neale hanvey, our party mp, you've made your position very clear. thank you for joining us on gb news this afternoon . now, all afternoon, afternoon. now, all afternoon, as i say , we've been running as i say, we've been running a poll today on whether sir tony blair should be stripped of his knighthood and the result is now in and i can reveal that a whopping 87.6% of you agree with neil. and they say, yes , sir. neil. and they say, yes, sir. tony blair should be stripped of his knighthood . thanks to all of his knighthood. thanks to all of you who voted. and thanks for all of your comments. there were thousands and thousands of comments. thank you for participating. now to the latest on the migrant crisis . and rishi on the migrant crisis. and rishi sunak will meet italian prime minister giorgia meloni this week for talks on immigration.

sunak and meloni met in october to discuss efforts to coordinate an international response to migration . and i'm joined now by migration. and i'm joined now by our political editor, christopher hope. chris and with things looking so dodgy domestically, the threats of byelections record low . polls byelections record low. polls for rishi sunak no doubt he'll welcome a sojourn to rome. but what's he hoping to achieve out there ? there? >> well, there's lots of common cause with italy, not least over the migrant crisis. it's been confirmed by downing street today that mr sunak will discuss the issue of migration , illegal the issue of migration, illegal migration with georgina meloni, who's the italian premier that there was there a same issue there was there a same issue there on the italian coast as we do on our southern border here in in the uk, it is seen to be an area where they got together to discuss further at the g20 in delhi . when i was out there for delhi. when i was out there for gb news. it's not not a usual connection with eu allies, but i think the uk is slowly

rebuilding support amongst eu member states post—brexit and this is a personal relationship that's gone down very well between mr sunak and ms meloni . between mr sunak and ms meloni. he's leaving the uk with some dreadful polling yet again after a difficult week in with the issue of illegal migration. once more in the headlines in the uk, polls have shown that labour still had on 43 points. the tories on 26, down two, and guess who's gained support? reform to the right of the uk. the right of the tory party, up two points to nine points. just one point behind the lib dems . one point behind the lib dems. the reform support now is a third of what the tories are in the polls. if only you can add those that support from reform to tories, the party will be to the tories, the party will be nudging labour. finally, after two a half being two year and a half of being so far and there's a real far behind, and there's a real worry about what can the party do, he challenged. he's got to do. sunak , to a way do. mr sunak, is to find a way to out from their their to punch out from their their dire poll ratings and try and take on labour. the party is hanging on to the idea that

around 20% of undecideds who will, who will vote in the next election and they want to bring them tory party. but them back to the tory party. but so no sign of that. so far, there's no sign of that. and that's big worry. and that's a big worry. >> and i've seen >> martin and chris, i've seen a real difference in 2019 before the election get the general election on get brexit party, brexit done, the brexit party, as was then, everyone was as it was then, everyone was saying, going split saying, you're going to split the you'll let labour in. the vote, you'll let labour in. but now , chris, are but now, chris, people are saying, so what if we saying, well, so what if we split the tory vote? there's a real feeling amongst conservative voters that they actually the conservatives actually want the conservatives to lose. and why they're to lose. and that's why they're switching what's your switching to reform. what's your take yeah well i think take on that? yeah well i think they should be careful what they wish for. >> the problem is the reform party, as we saw earlier this year with those two by elections, had those votes elections, they had those votes not reform, but had gone not gone to reform, but had gone to party. tories to the tory party. the tories would on to at least would have clung on to at least a those elections a couple of those by elections earlier this year. tories earlier this year. the tories should wary what should be should be wary what they wish for. old enough to they wish for. i'm old enough to remember tory party in remember the tory party in opposition in the 2000. they were completely miserable . i've were completely miserable. i've always party were completely miserable. i've al'aiys party were completely miserable. i've al'a party party were completely miserable. i've al'a party which party were completely miserable. i've al'a party which also party were completely miserable. i've al'a party which also hatesparty were completely miserable. i've al'a party which also hates to ty is a party which also hates to be in opposition , but somehow be in opposition, but somehow finds way just to kind of get

finds a way just to kind of get by and can campaign on, although not in government . and what if not in government. and what if tony blair did? one of his great things to recognise you things was to recognise if you want to help people, you need to things was to recognise if you wa into help people, you need to things was to recognise if you wa in government..e, you need to things was to recognise if you wa in government. theou need to things was to recognise if you wa in government. the tories d to be in government. the tories exist in government. exist to be in government. without government power, exist to be in government. withou�* nothing. nent power, exist to be in government. withou�*nothing. they're power, they're nothing. they're miserable william hague miserable and as william hague warned this week, um , on times warned this week, um, on times radio, , of course, is the radio, he's, of course, is the guru to rishi sunak. he was the previous mp for richmond in yorkshire before bequeathing the seat to sunak. he made very clear there's no guarantee the tories will ever get back into power. look what the liberal party in the early part of the 20th century, they suddenly were not then that not in government and then that was back was it. they haven't been back since, period since, apart from a brief period of the early the early 2010s, of the early in the early 2010s, when were in coalition with when they were in coalition with the tory party. that's the risk when they were in coalition with the tories.arty. that's the risk when they were in coalition with the tories. theythat's the risk when they were in coalition with the tories. they could.:he risk for tories. they could. there's no of going back in no guarantee of going back in again. and that's the concern you've got to fight for the right to this right to to be, run this country. and tories country. and the tories shouldn't think. shouldn't ever think. i think that being opposition is any that being in opposition is any good at all. isn't . good for them at all. it isn't. >> okay, chris hope, thanks for that . you know, that update. you know, the tories could always try being

conservative. an idea conservative. that's an idea isn't it? if they did that, then maybe they wouldn't be in this pickle. there's still time. but of the clock ticking of course the clock is ticking now. your now. you could start your new year with £10,000 in cash, a £500 shopping spree and a brand new iphone. sounds sweet right ? new iphone. sounds sweet right? well, here's how you could make all of those prizes. yours is your chance to win cash treats and tech in our very first great british giveaway . british giveaway. >> these are totally tax free £10,000 cash up for grabs. cash which would help make 2024 a whole lot better . we're also whole lot better. we're also going to send you shopping with £500 worth of vouchers to spend in the store of your choice. what would be on your shopping list? if it's a new iphone? we've also got that covered too, with the latest iphone 15 pro max, which you'll also receive for your chance to win the iphone.the for your chance to win the iphone. the vouchers and £10,000 cash text gb win to 84 902. text cost £2 plus one standard network rate message all post

your name and number two gb zero one, po box 8690. derby de19, double t, uk. only entrants must be 18 or over. lines close at 5 pm. on friday the 5th of january. full terms and privacy nofice january. full terms and privacy notice at gbnews.com. forward slash win . good luck . slash win. good luck. >> now the bank of england has kept the interest rate at 5.25% today. but what does that mean for your mortgage? i'm martin daubney on gb news, britain's news channel .

that i knew had dup zinko weeknights from six. >> welcome back. >> welcome back. >> it's approaching 524. you're watching and listening to me. martin daubney on gb news now, later this hour, as the female boss of aviva say she has to approve all senior male recruits, all to the name of diversity. i'll look at whether white people are facing racism. clue. yes now the bank of england held the base rate of interest for the third consecutive time at 5.25. but the bank of england governor, andrew bailey, says it's too early to speculate about cuts. ever the optimist as well. joining us now in the studio is liam halligan, our economics and business editor with on the money reporter . so liam rates money reporter. so liam rates hold steady but quite a few

people out there would have liked to have seen them nibble downwards. how come we're not facing better news as we approach christmas? facing better news as we app it ach christmas? facing better news as we applt ach ch|have1s? facing better news as we applt ach ch|have been nice to >> it would have been nice to have a interest rate in time have a interest rate cut in time for wouldn't it? we for christmas, wouldn't it? we know families know there's lots of families out with mortgages out there with mortgages who've seen they've other personal rise. they've got other personal debts linked to rates debts linked to interest rates and payments on have risen and payments on those have risen . and yet, far from cutting rates, the bank of england held rates. there are economists rates. there are nine economists on policy on the monetary policy committee, six of them voted to hold rates today at the bank of england . three of them actually england. three of them actually voted put rates up from five voted to put rates up from five and a quarter where they've been since , all the way up to since august, all the way up to five and half. let's have a five and a half. let's have a look interest look at the path of interest rates since before the pandemic . rates since before the pandemic. if we can bring up the graphic, there so bank of there it is. so the bank of england's interest rate as i said, is set by the monetary policy committee. 2017, policy committee. back in 2017, it was low. it went up a it was ultra low. it went up a bit record lows bit and then really record lows 0.1. emergency during covid lockdown. and then lots of interest rate rises 14 in total up until august , where interest

up until august, where interest rates at 5.25. and that's where they've been ever since. the reason the bank of england didn't cut interest rates, martin, is because inflation is still quite high in the uk. it's come down a lot , but it's 4.6% come down a lot, but it's 4.6% the cost of living going up by 4.6% during the year to october. the november number comes out on the 20th of december. the inflation in the us is 3.1. so much lower. but as inflation comes down and i think it will, then interest rates should fall. >> and when do you anticipate that's going to happen . fresh that's going to happen. fresh green shoots in the spring perhaps. >> i the bank of england was at adamant today saying that interest rates won't come down for some time. that's what the bank of england governor said. i actually think they will come down in the spring and money markets agree with me . you can markets agree with me. you can see people betting on interest rates coming down in the spring. if you look at the weight of money in financial markets, it's predicting that interest rates

will be 4.25 4.25% this time next year , down from 5.25. so next year, down from 5.25. so that's quite a lot. but because the markets expect interest rates to come down sooner than the bank of england does, you are seeing mortgage rates coming down. firms are competing to lend us money by giving us more competitive interest rates . if competitive interest rates. if we want to buy homes, if we're lucky enough to be in that position if we want to get position or if we want to get personal loans. so if you if you've got a fixed rate mortgage, should you mortgage, martin, you should you should for as long as should hold out for as long as possible before you refix it because you as the months go by, the fixes i think will get lower . and if you can lock yourself into a lower fix years into a lower fix for two years or five years, you're going to save yourself and your family a lot of money. >> the market's bounce . so i'm >> the market's bounce. so i'm sterling leapt after the announcement. so does this mean that are seeing a steady as that we are seeing a steady as she goes? is it too early to be that optimistic or is there still for bit still time for a bit of turbulence into the turbulence thrown into the mix? >> we're really at a >> i think we're really at a kind inflection point . what kind of inflection point. what does mean? it means does that mean? it means it could either um, the uk

could go either way. um, the uk economy pretty economy has been pretty resilient . we haven't gone into resilient. we haven't gone into recession, but some numbers recession, but some gdp numbers yesterday, some growth numbers . yesterday, some growth numbers. the contracted the economy actually contracted over the last month. that figures are available for four. and it is quite a slow christmas . a consumers are . it's a lot of consumers are very very nervous. a lot of firms are very , very nervous. firms are very, very nervous. doing best try and doing their very best to try and save money. um a lot of firms are worried about their debts, even though interest rates are coming down. a lot of firms are worried taxes going so worried about taxes going up. so i think economy isn't i do think the economy isn't going to be booming for some time. but i do think there'll be steady improvement because as interest come down and as steady improvement because as irsayzst come down and as steady improvement because as irsay ,t come down and as steady improvement because as irsay , i come down and as steady improvement because as irsay , i thinkcome down and as steady improvement because as irsay , i think thee down and as steady improvement because as irsay , i think the firsth and as steady improvement because as irsay , i think the first cutind as steady improvement because as irsay , i think the first cut ini as i say, i think the first cut in rates will in the spring as rates will be in the spring as interest rates come down. that should give consumer more confidence, more confidence, businesses more confidence, businesses more confidence . but all depends confidence. but that all depends on inflation coming down or the cost of living coming down. the headune cost of living coming down. the headline inflation number and the headline inflation the next headline inflation number for november will come out on december the 20th. >> but even jeremy hunt said yesterday unsurprised yesterday he was unsurprised that growth was so stagnant

because of interest rates, because of interest rates, because guess what? we're spending so much money on servicing our loans, we're afraid money on afraid to spend money on consumable, durable stuff. and so surely the key to unlocking everything is to start slashing those interest rates. >> well, it is , but if you slash >> well, it is, but if you slash interest rates, then the economy may, you know, so surge forward and you'll get more inflation. uh, and how do you bring down inflation? well, you have to cut interest you have to interest rates. you have to raise rates you can raise interest rates so you can get of doom loop. and get in a kind of doom loop. and i'm saying easy for the i'm not saying it's easy for the bank england. i am surprised bank of england. i am surprised that them to that three of them voted to raise rates . why did do raise rates. why did they do that, do think? because that, do you think? because they're trying to show how tough they're trying to show how tough they inflation, they are against inflation, they're trying to convince people trying to get people who are trying to get wage increases, they're wage increases, as they're trying unions trying to convince trade unions who involved wage who are involved in wage bargaining that inflation is going to come down. because if people think inflation is going to becomes to go up, it becomes a self—fulfilling prophecy , self—fulfilling prophecy, doesn't it? because people demand as firms put demand more wages as firms put pnces demand more wages as firms put prices up to pay those wages and then up and then then prices go up and then people demand more wages. so

this you do get into this wage price spiral. that's what history shows. and that's why the bank of england is saying cut rates. you must be joking. we about christmas. we don't care about christmas. some actually want some of us actually still want to interest up to put interest rates up completely different attitude at the reserve in the federal reserve in the united states. they hold united states. they did hold rates but they've got rates yesterday, but they've got much lower inflation. they've got 3.1% compared to our 4.6. and the jerome powell, who's the governor of the federal reserve in the united states, he actually says we're not cutting rates now, but we are going to be cutting rates soon. very, very different tone. it's just you know, different cultures about how you run economies. the bank of england is very, very cautious, understandably so, because our inflation has been particularly high. and as jeremy hunt says, the chancellor, he's right. when inflation is high, firms don't want to invest . when firms don't want to invest. when inflation is high, you know, the cost of living is tough. people don't spend . you do get into don't spend. you do get into a kind of economic funk , if you kind of economic funk, if you like. we may come out of it quite soon. i certainly hope so,

because the uk economy has been quite resilient. and so on balance, if i'd been on the mpc, i think probably have i think i probably would have voted. would have voted voted. no way would i have voted to rates, but i think to raise rates, but i think i probably also would have voted to . to hold. >> gum- 3 call things right >> we normally call things right liam mystic liam, thank liam halligan mystic liam, thank you very much. as always. superb with now there's with on the money now there's lots to between lots more still to come between now and and i'll discuss now and 6:00, and i'll discuss the news that a quarter the shocking news that a quarter of indian and bangladeshi students are dropping out of university , or they're just university, or they're just taking the mickey out of our visa system . but first, here's visa system. but first, here's your latest news headlines with polly middlehurst . polly middlehurst. >> martin, thank you . the top >> martin, thank you. the top stories this hour. police are saying there are some indications why a woman in norwich may have left her work earlier than usual. on the day she went missing, gaynor lord was last spotted on cci tv cameras on friday afternoon. norfolk, constab , is saying it norfolk, constab, is saying it is likely the 55 year old may

have entered a body of water nearby. we understand underwater search teams are continuing to scour that river, the force says. specialist divers are in fact working in extra , fact working in extra, ordinarily challenging environments , and it will take environments, and it will take a couple of days to complete their search. and police have confirmed a possible sighting of a missing british boy, who is believed to have disappeared six years ago in france , greater years ago in france, greater manchester police said there'd been a sighting of alex batty near toulouse yesterday . alex near toulouse yesterday. alex batty, who was 11 when he went missing in 2017, had left the uk for a holiday in spain . the for a holiday in spain. the force said it is in touch with the french authorities. it's trying to put safeguarding measures in place and two nurses from blackpool in lancashire are facing prison sentences after they were found guilty of illegally sedating patients. 54 year old catherine hudson has been given seven years and two

months for drugging patients at blackpool's victoria hospital . blackpool's victoria hospital. between 2017 and 2018. in her 48 year old colleague charlotte wilmot was found guilty of encouraging hudson to drug a patient and she was sentenced to three years. finally, the bank of england has held the interest rate at 5.25% for the third time in a row , amid signs of in a row, amid signs of potential economic challenges ahead. potential economic challenges ahead . it comes as the monetary ahead. it comes as the monetary policy committee has previously raised the interest rate 14 consecutive times , until it consecutive times, until it reached its 15 year high of 5.25 at parliament's treasury committee meeting last month, the bank's governor said the threat of uk inflation is being underestimated . those are the underestimated. those are the headlines. more on all those stories by heading to our website, gb news.com . for website, gb news.com. for a valuable legacy your family can own .

own. >> gold coins will always shine bright rosalind gold proudly sponsors the gb news financial report , a snapshot for you of report, a snapshot for you of today's markets and the pound buying you $1.2766 . and ,1.1607. buying you $1.2766. and ,1.1607. >> the price of gold is £1,597, and £0.69 an ounce. the ftse 100 has closed for the day today , has closed for the day today, and it stood when it closed at 7648 points this rosalind gold proudly sponsors the gb news financial report . financial report. >> maggie polly now just three weeks ago, the show brought you the news that net migration to the news that net migration to the uk last year was a staggering 745,000. a huge proportion of those are foreign students, and they're depending , students, and they're depending, of course. but now it's turned out that a quarter of indian and

bangladeshi students drop out of university before finishing their degrees. and it's prompted claims that there simply gaming our visa system . well, i'm our visa system. well, i'm joined now by the social policy analyst, doctor rakib ehsan. thanks for joining analyst, doctor rakib ehsan. thanks forjoining us on the thanks for joining us on the show. raqib always a pleasure. the numbers are eye—watering. 378,000 student visas issued last year, 58,000 increase 96,000 dependents are now. people have been saying all along that this is the cheap and easy way of getting access into the uk 65% of students now remain in the uk after completing their studies and raqib. the fact that 25% of bangladeshis and indians are dropping out early will simply make people believe that this is taking the mickey and our student visa system is being gamed well more, and i've often made the point that our immigration system post—brexit is simply not fit for purpose . is simply not fit for purpose. >> i've called it post brexit

johnsonian internationalist on steroids. it's a hyper liberal immigration system, and i think we can certainly see that when we can certainly see that when we look at the numbers involving foreign students and dependents from this particular story is referring to student visas and how there's a possibility that some students may be gaming the system by obtaining student visas . visas. >> but having that intention to actually quit their studies early and move into work. actually quit their studies early and move into work . now, early and move into work. now, you mentioned the figures there for indian and bangladeshi students , it's as high as 25% students, it's as high as 25% for international students that come from china and singapore , come from china and singapore, it drops down to 2 to 3. so what we need to do, we need to look at our immigration system, how it works in terms of foreign students entering the uk and identifying the areas with the highest risk and the highest possibility that the system may well being because a great well be being because a great many people are looking at these figures and saying it just

simply doesn't add up . simply doesn't add up. >> the typical drop out rate for british students, and indeed all foreign students is 8. and you mentioned typically low figures for chinese and singapore . ian. for chinese and singapore. ian. yeah, we seem to have this anomaly and a lot of people raqib are saying that they're talking about mickey mouse degrees. this is taking the mickey degrees. a lot of people saying it's an easy way to get in. you pay £9,000 a year. and i guess you're in the country and we're sort today, only 1% of people are getting deported is practically impossible to get rid people who abuse the rid of. people who abuse the system. is just a come and system. this is just a come and get me, please, isn't it? it's a clear and easy way of getting your feet into britain . your feet into britain. >> well, i think also , though, >> well, i think also, though, that people often make the argument that the uk should be attracting the brightest, brightest and the best. currently, i don't think our immigration system, especially in relation to foreign students, is doing that. in relation to foreign students, is doing that . that's my is doing that. that's my personal view . and we also have personal view. and we also have to look at, uh, foreign students

who do complete their courses. what kind of jobs are they entering? what is the quality of employment. so we have to look at the quality of international students that we're attracting. and the quality of jobs that some of these international students are doing. once they've finished their course. but in terms of addressing this potential gaming of student visas , there's a various visas, there's a various proposals. uh, lord johnson of marylebone has suggested that international students should pay a international students should pay a significant portion of their tuition fees up front or when it comes to their required, um, student maintenance, that it should be put into an escrow account, which they can draw down from similar to a system in canada . so there's various ways canada. so there's various ways we can, uh, go about tightening the system to ensure that it's not being potentially gamed and raqib you and i speak often about the demographic least likely to attend university in the uk now are the white working classes, and we must be honest, for every person from overseas

who already pays more , um, to who already pays more, um, to get their tuition fees going . get their tuition fees going. >> and that forces the poorer british students out. and now if the system is being gamed, the net losers in all of this debacle where universities have become cash businesses, the net losers are the british white working classes . working classes. >> well, i've made the point that that white working class lads, arguably the most marginalised group when it comes to our, uh , overall education to our, uh, overall education system and i think that what we have to really look at more broadly in this context is championing vocational skills . i championing vocational skills. i think that in every provincial town or post—industrial district , we should have german style vocational centres of excellence, and they should be well joined up with our university system. quite frankly , i have to question how productive those courses are from an economic perspective . from an economic perspective. lviv. mhm. >> and do you think it's just time for a huge inquiry into all of this rakhi? because we've

heard so many reports of , of, of heard so many reports of, of, of universities that don't even have attendance records , have attendance records, measurements, online courses only being attended by nigeria . only being attended by nigeria. and now we're hearing about this possible abuse of bangladesh's and india's. do you think the entire university system just needs a free and open and full inquiry to try and find out if the whole thing is being racketeer ed and gained by foreign students ? foreign students? >> martin, we need a radical overhaul when it when it comes to the university system, these should be academic centres of excellence and i've seen the peddung excellence and i've seen the peddling of pseudo intellectual theories becoming prevailing orthodoxy on university campuses. but what really worries me is the hyper commercialised version of the university system. and i think that's a very serious problem. and i think it's something that needs to be addressed because this current model of using international students essentially as a cash cow really

. obe, um, i don't think that's a sustainable model for the british university system at all. >> superb as ever speaking, huge amounts of common sense . doctor amounts of common sense. doctor raqeeb ahsan, thank you for joining us on gb news. it's always a pleasure to have you on here. and on a similar theme, really. now one of the boss of one of country's biggest one of the country's biggest companies that all companies has said that all senior white male appointments must be approved by her. is that right or very, very wrong or simply racist and sexist ? we'll simply racist and sexist? we'll have that next. i'm martin daubney on gb news, britain's news channel .

tonight, 9 to 11 pm. only on gb news. the people's channel, britain's news channel >> i'm michelle dewberry and i'm not here to tell you what to think. i'd much rather hear what you have to say . so send think. i'd much rather hear what you have to say. so send in your opinions to gbviews@gbnews.uk . opinions to gbviews@gbnews.uk. com keep them clean and you never know. i might read them out with my panel here on dewbs& co we debate, we get stuck into the issues of the day on a show where all views are welcome , where all views are welcome, especially yours gb news the people's channel, britain's news . channel >> welcome back . it's 545. >> welcome back. it's 545. you're watching or listening to martin daubney on gb news. now let's get more on the story we covered at the top of the hour. alba party mp neale hanvey has called for sir tony blair to be stripped of his knighthood

because the iraq now we because of the iraq war. now we asked you if you agree, then a whopping 87.6% of you said yes , whopping 87.6% of you said yes, sir. tony blair should be plain old tony blair and he should be stripped of his knighthood . now, stripped of his knighthood. now, we've, we've we're often told how important we've got a few comments for you actually here. we've got a few comments . um, we've got a few comments. um, you've been getting in touch in your charlie says your thousands. charlie says this . the your thousands. charlie says this. the bigger why this. the bigger question is why was blair even knighted in the first place? callum goes a touch further . first place? callum goes a touch further. blair should be stripped of everything and marched through the streets . marched through the streets. it's a bit fruity. um blanc says this. he should be in prison for crimes against humanity. um, and but this is interesting from huckleberry, who ? who says this? huckleberry, who? who says this? i'm no fan of tony blair, but he was elected three times the prime minister of the uk. if we take down blair, surely we have to take down the entire honours system itself. john goes further

, though. i'd like to see blair stripped of his knighthood and his citizenship. jason says i'd like to see him in jail. his citizenship. jason says i'd like to see him in jail . you can like to see him in jail. you can probably get a flavour of what's going on here. we haven't found too many fans of tony blair in gb news land, but nevertheless, we did find a couple of positive comments. but as i said, a whopping 87% of people out there don't think blair deserves that knighthood. and we had a great debate about that. okay moving on now, we're often told how important diversity is , but in important diversity is, but in some cases, is it leading to white people being the victims of racism? i was thinking this after it's reported today that the boss of aviva, amanda blank blank, has said all senior white male appointments must be approved by her and this isn't an isolated case. back in 2021, the bbc, of course, advertised a trainee job that was, quote ,

trainee job that was, quote, only open to black asian and ethnically diverse candidates . ethnically diverse candidates. and just two years earlier, it emerged that white men who wanted to become firefighters in the west midlands had to get a higher pass mark than women and people from ethnic minorities. it was actually a full 10% higher. they had to achieve 70% in the test, as opposed to 60. you couldn't make it up. well, i'm joined now by gb news presenter albie amankona in the studio. albie, we hear all the time about the importance of diversity. we hear all the time about the cardinals sin of racism. and yet it seems that even top brass, since were the biggest companies in britain , biggest companies in britain, are openly cavorting with the idea that we should have less white men. is this racism ? white men. is this racism? >> well, it is certainly stupid , martin. >> i mean, the last example that you gave about the fire service in the west midlands, i think it was that why white men had to get 70? that's right. in this

test, and women ethnic test, and women and ethnic minorities to get 60. minorities had to get 60. >> patronising , saying how >> how patronising, saying how discriminatory, how racist. i could get 70% in a test, just like you could get 70% in a test. >> what we should be judging our firemen and women on is how good they are at saving people from fires, not whether or not they are black or whether or not they are black or whether or not they are women. >> and what we should be doing are best people for are finding the best people for the job. >> mm. >> mm. >> but is it racism? let's let's, be blunt. if let's, let's just be blunt. if we changed even 1 or 2 we if you changed even 1 or 2 details in the statement , all details in the statement, all black must be approved by black people must be approved by me. women must be approved me. all women must be approved by me . it would be an absolute by me. it would be an absolute ferrari. they'd be hysteria. they'd be calls for the resignation of this manager. and yet the point is , the comments yet the point is, the comments by miss blank were made in to mps in a treasury select committee , so not even committee, so not even attempting to hide it in fact, almost harassing, you know, chirping about it in parliament.

therefore, i put it to you that this kind of attitude is not just prevalent . it's something just prevalent. it's something that they think it's something to be proud of. >> yes, i think it is racist. i think positive discrimination often ultimately is still discrimination at the end the discrimination at the end of the day. and positive discrimination in country meant to be in this country is meant to be illegal. bit of illegal. but there is a bit of grey area with the law because positive discrimination is illegal, positive action is illegal, but positive action is legal. i think a lot of people will be thinking, well, well, what's the difference between positive discrimination and positive discrimination and positive for all positive action? i'm for all your schemes help people from your schemes to help people from underrepresented get underrepresented backgrounds get into the jobs that they want to be in. if they if they need extra help. but i stopped short at quotas . i think quotas are at quotas. i think quotas are wrong. if you're going wrong. i think if you're going to people, give the to help people, give them the skills but skills, fine. fair enough. but if saying you can apply if you're saying you can apply but you can't you're a but you can't because you're a woman, or because you're black or white, that's or because you're white, that's discriminatory, that's sexist, that's discriminatory, that's sexist, tha and yet do see an awful >> and yet we do see an awful lot of bursaries of special initiatives to help people of colour, to help women in, into education, into jobs. it's

actively courted by most of the major institutions . now, we had major institutions. now, we had a previous segment a minute ago about white working class boys in particular, the least likely to attend university of all demographics in the uk has simply been forgotten politically . and yet, albie, politically. and yet, albie, there's not a single initiative out there to help them because it would be racist to help white people . are we just completely people. are we just completely stuck in this quandary of its simply safe and acceptable now to hate white people? >> no , i don't think it is safe >> no, i don't think it is safe and acceptable to hate white people. i think that's quite , people. i think that's quite, quite strong language. >> but what i will say is that there is not enough focus on what you might call left behind. >> communities in the united kingdom, our coastal communities, our rural communities, our rural communities, our rural communities, our places in the north of the country. i think i feel that feel very ignored feel that they feel very ignored by the establishment and very ignored by the government . and a ignored by the government. and a lot of those people, they are white people. but actually, i do

just to pick you up on just want to pick you up on something because often people say working boys say white working class boys are the in the most underprivileged boys in the most underprivileged boys in the actually, the country. yeah, actually, travellers black travellers and also black canbbeans travellers and also black caribbeans are a similar picture. whereas black africans, asians , it's very different. asians, it's very different. i think it's quite important that we talk about those groups of people as well. >> in actual fact, if you >> well, in actual fact, if you look attendance , look at university attendance, you in any like for like you know, in any like for like demographic that the data is abundantly clear. if look abundantly clear. if you look at the figures for the ucas acceptance figures for 20 plus years , the fact 20 straight plus years, the fact of the matter is, you know, white working class boys, the way of measuring that, of course, is free school meals is a crude measurement. nevertheless, it's one that works. are the works. provably, they are the lowest attendees of lowest likely attendees of university. the people , the university. the people, the people that have the worst outcomes in the country are pretty almost equally black. >> caribbean children, roma traveller children. it's not true. and white. >> and that's not true. >> and that's not true. >> working class children it is. i mean, look, maybe been i mean, look, maybe we've been looking figures, looking at different figures, martin, is martin, but all i'm saying is it's important that we don't just it's only working just say it's only white working class children who are suffering. >> would i would put it

>> and so i would i would put it onto then, is true. onto you then, which is true. certainly. know this for a certainly. i know this for a fact. aren't the fact. there aren't the initiatives out there help initiatives out there to help the university. the white kids into university. and that there are the and the way that there are the initiatives to help those other demographics that initiatives to help those other denpoint?1ics that initiatives to help those other denpoint? it's that initiatives to help those other denpoint? it's a that initiatives to help those other denpoint? it's a forgotten that the point? it's a forgotten demographic . it's a demographic demographic. it's a demographic that's acceptable to kick when they're down. and now we're at a point and i hear it a great many times from people i know you get to a certain age. you're a white middle aged male, stale, pale, there's route forward. and there's no route forward. and this this kind of talk by miss blanca that blanca of eva proves that effectively , these this effectively, these this demographic, they're outmoded , demographic, they're outmoded, they're out. they're out of fashion. they're unwanted. >> what i think is more important than focusing on racial cohorts is actually focusing like whether focusing on things like whether or not people come from single parent for example, parent backgrounds, for example, what grow up what postcodes people grow up in. these are actually much more important markers outcomes in important markers of outcomes in life than someone's skin colour . life than someone's skin colour. so then we don't get into these petty arguments. she's not saying i approve or saying i must approve you or your your postcode. >> she's saying, i approve >> she's saying, i must approve the you're man and

the fact you're a white man and i is wrong. i think that is wrong. >> me be very clear about that. >> but what i'm saying is, what we should focusing on rather we should be focusing on rather than of people's than the colour of people's skin, or people skin, is whether or not people have a single parent have grown up in a single parent household and the postcodes that they up because they have grown up in, because that those are bigger determinants outcomes that those are bigger deteralmosts outcomes that those are bigger deteralmosts otherrtcomes that those are bigger deteralmosts other factor. ; than almost any other factor. >> don't talk about them >> and we don't talk about them enough. >> and we don't talk about them eno okay, >> and we don't talk about them enookay, albie we'll have to >> okay, albie, we'll have to leave there. thanks for leave it there. thanks for joining spirited debate joining us. spirited debate albie amankona always a pleasure. aviva pleasure. now, an aviva spokesperson told us this. we will always hire best person will always hire the best person for the job ensure that for the job and ensure that aviva has a diverse workforce that reflects the customers we serve . last year, 57% of our serve. last year, 57% of our senior appointments were male. well there we have it. 57% were were male, but of course they need to be signed off by the gaffer, don't they? and i think that's this debate. it just seems to me, is acceptable to kick downwards upon these people . no, that's tonight show over. i've been martin daubney next, of course is dewbs& co. i'll be back the same time tomorrow. thank you .

thank you. >> a brighter outlook with boxt solar, the sponsors of weather on . gb news. on. gb news. >> hello again. it's aidan mcgivern here from the met office with the gb news forecast bright and breezy for many of us dunng bright and breezy for many of us during the rest of the day, some showers around, but fine . for showers around, but fine. for many and with high pressure building in, we're going to see a lot of dry weather in the south over the next few days, but further north see but further north we'll see increasingly and places increasingly windy and in places , conditions. the time , wet conditions. for the time being, though , for much the being, though, for much of the uk clear heading uk it's clear spells heading into thursday dry for into thursday evening dry for the vast majority. the odd shower here and there, particularly for northern and western parts western scotland and north parts of northern ireland as well, and areas of cloud increasing overnight with an increased breeze as well. so that will keep things generally frost free in the north, although with lighter winds and some clear spells south. it will be spells in the south. it will be frosty places here. a few fog frosty in places here. a few fog patches as well. first thing friday, but that's where the best of the bright weather will

be. some decent spells of sunshine for the midlands, east wales , southern and eastern wales, southern and eastern england. will be some high england. there will be some high level cloud drifting in to turn the sunshine hazy by the afternoon, the cloud will afternoon, but the cloud will be thickest west thickest across parts of west wales, england, of wales, northern england, much of scotland and northern ireland, where there will some where there will be some outbreaks that rain outbreaks of rain. that rain persistent across the higher outbreaks of rain. that rain pers ofznt across the higher outbreaks of rain. that rain pers of northern; the higher outbreaks of rain. that rain pers of northern and higher outbreaks of rain. that rain pers of northern and western part of northern and western scotland, and that rain will continue into saturday for northwest scotland again. a lot of cloud across the uk and increased breeze as well. that's going to bring some warm air with it, but it's not going to feel particularly warm even if temperatures are above average because the increased wind because of the increased wind that warm feeling inside from boxt boilers sponsors of weather on .

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