is in isina is in a state of iceland is in a state of emergency right now as an intense volcanic eruption continues to spew lava and smoke into the sky. could it bring travel misery? this christmas? we'll have the latest and putting parents first in the last hour, teachers have been told that a child cannot change gender at school without parental consent, but some staff are threatening to ignore the new rules. bumper pay rise despite the cost of living crisis , mps are to receive crisis, mps are to receive a £6,000 pay boost. but do they deserve it? and of course, we have ben leo with us today on good afternoon britain in for tom harwood as he takes a much needed rest. what's he up to do? >> you know, i don't know, actually. >> you know, hobnobbing about having few parties , who knows, having a few parties, who knows, perhaps going away for a little bit. we'll find out when he gets

back, but thank you. no problem. pleasure to be stepping his pleasure to be stepping into his shoes shoes to fill. but shoes. big shoes to fill. but i'm talking of holidays. >> i'm to be going to >> i'm due to be going to iceland in a couple weeks. iceland in a couple of weeks. what's on with this volcano? >> well, it's absolutely enormous. the looks it. enormous. by the looks of it. and earthquake and there's been this earthquake activity weeks. if not activity me for weeks. if not months. so they thought it was coming . then it didn't and coming. then it didn't come and then it erupted overnight and they were taken. taken by surprise . i think i was just surprise. i think i was just speaking to a friend who i have who is icelandic, and lives who is icelandic, and she lives in reykjavik, and she was telling me that is, you telling me that this is, you know, the fourth eruption in only years. and only three years. and essentially that peninsula that reykjanes peninsula, if i pronounce that right, is in quotes, waking up , pronounce that right, is in quotes, waking up, up. so it's something that's been expected for years . but the sight of for years. but the sight of this, the extra ordinary footage we're seeing right there of the lava, incredible . and lava, is quite incredible. and i've seen that there are some thrill seekers going and ignonng thrill seekers going and ignoring the guidance. well, going to have a little look. >> there's an amazing picture this morning on the mail online. thousands cars . instead of

thousands of cars. instead of driving from the volcano, driving away from the volcano, they're driving to the volcano. disaster an disaster tourism and actually an admission apologies. admission to make apologies. i booked holiday to iceland over booked a holiday to iceland over the weekend. so have i jinxed it? >> you might well have done. i mean, remember this is mean, remember 2010? this is quite different. apparently but remember that ash cloud that essentially stopped travel? hundreds of thousands of flights cancelled , millions of cancelled, millions of passengers disrupted . it. it's passengers disrupted. it. it's quite something when mother nature takes hold in this way in iceland. really, really extraordinary. but this was an area where people could could hike and tourists certainly not too far from the blue lagoon . too far from the blue lagoon. >> that famous instagram worthy natural spa, which is heated , natural spa, which is heated, um, a massive, a massive holiday hotspot for tourists. but that was that's been closed for the past 5 or 6 weeks. and they reopened three days ago because they thought volcano they thought that the volcano threat alas , threat had passed. but alas, here we go. a couple of days later, unfortunately for them, always the way you close it for months, then suddenly months, reopen and then suddenly this happens. >> let us know what you

>> but let us know what you think about that and all our other today. other stories today. vaiews@gbnews.com. but let's get your headlines with tatiana . get your headlines with tatiana. >> emily. thank you very much. this is the latest from the gb newsroom. dramatic scenes continue in iceland after an eruption that caused lava and ash to spew into the sky. the eruption started north of grindavik just after 10:00 last night. the nearby international airport is still open, but there are delays to both arrivals and departures as ash clouds that . departures as ash clouds that. sky these are pictures coming to us live. those watching on television will be able to see lava continuing to bubble. out of two and a half long of that two and a half mile long crack earth, iceland's crack in the earth, iceland's government says it doesn't pose a threat to life . but curious a threat to life. but curious sightseers are being warned to keep away schools are being advised to inform parents if their children say they'd like to change their gender identity

under new guidance , says no under new guidance, says no obugafion under new guidance, says no obligation to allow students to socially transition or to provide gender neutral facilities . teachers are also facilities. teachers are also given the choice to opt out of using a student's chosen pronoun if they have a reasonable objection. the stonewall charity says it doesn't consider the needs of trans and gender diverse youth, but equalities minister kemi badenoch says that's not the case. >> fundamentally disagree with stonewall's analysis. we fundamentally disagree with their facts. the cass review has shown that social transitioning is not a neutral act. it puts children on a medical pathway that can lead to irreversible medical decisions. the use of puberty blockers, and so on, but also something that's really important to emphasise is that just because a child doesn't conform to gender stereotypes , conform to gender stereotypes, this doesn't mean that they are the opposite sex. we shouldn't assume that because a boy likes pink or a girl likes football , pink or a girl likes football, that they the opposite sex. >> sex. >> council planning departments are expected to be put on notice

today, as the housing secretary cracks down on those accused of dragging their feet on new application plans, michael gove is calling out local authorities with a history of poor performance building new performance on building new homes , as some councils will be homes, as some councils will be given three months to improve or risk having their powers stripped and developments forced upon them . labour described mr upon them. labour described mr gove's as truly through the gove's plan as truly through the looking glass, but housing minister lee rowley says houses are built. are being built. >> go back to the early >> we go back to the early 20105. it >> we go back to the early 2010s. it was about 100 to 150,000 a year. we're now into the 240,000 a year, but most amount of house building in the past 30 years has been in recent years. we've got more to do. there's no doubt about that. but we're going to hit the 1 million houses, this parliament, and we are increasing building even dunng are increasing building even during times of economic challenge. and there's going to be challenge in the coming months. but progress is months. but the progress is still being made. >> rantzen says >> dame esther rantzen says she'll consider using assisted dying as she battles lung cancer . the broadcaster told the bbc she's joined the swiss

organisation dignitas , which organisation dignitas, which provides doctor supervised assisted dying. she's calling for a free vote in parliament to make it legal here in the uk. the old model of accessing dental care in england is gone for good. that's the warning from a leading think tank. most enters are no longer taking on new patients with warnings new nhs patients with warnings the service is in decay and at its worst point in 75 years, according to the nuffield trust, spending on dental services has dropped by more than half £1 billion since 2015, it says the universe service is no longer offered by the nhs and recommends the government take some difficult decisions to ensure those most in need continue to receive basic care . continue to receive basic care. there's been a rise in violence against shop workers at asda supermarkets, amid claims that financial pressure is leading to staff cuts. jean horton , from staff cuts. jean horton, from the gmb union, says staff are coping with unrealistic products measures. she says the supermarket , its

measures. she says the supermarket, its high debt level, is leading to hours being cut for cleaning staff and floor workers. asdas co—owner mohsin issa told a select committee this morning. the company is debtis this morning. the company is debt is coming down and there continue thing to invest in staff pay britons joining an international coalition to protect ships as they sail through the red sea after a recent series of attacks. houthi militants in yemen are stepping up assaults on vessels as they pass through one of the world's most important shipping routes. they're backed by iran and allied with the hamas terror group, the royal navy's hms diamond shot down a suspected attack drone at the weekend. it's understood the destroyer will be part of the new patrols and mining workers who went on strike in the 1980s could have their convictions overturned as part of a bill to be presented in parliament today. part of a bill to be presented in parliament today . thousands in parliament today. thousands of miners were arrested in 1984 and 1985 after they walked out in a dispute with margaret thatcher's government . scotland

thatcher's government. scotland has already pardoned all those who took part in the strike. owen thompson, who's an mp for the snp, wants the law changed in england and wales to this is 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 now back to ben and . emily. >> right as we were just talking about, this volcano continues to spew lava and smoke into the sky. this is in iceland, of course, if we're looking at some pictures, hopefully will come in a in a little moment because it is extremely , extremely well, is extremely, extremely well, incredible. yes incredible. so there you can see the lava spewing out smoke as well. spewing out and smoke as well. and this is in iceland, 4000 people i think were evacuated from a nearby town. and it continues to be a state of emergency . we do. emergency. we do. >> you know what, it couldn't have come at a worse possible

time. isn't this the best time of the year for the northern lights? well, yes. lots of lights? well, yes. also lots of houday holiday makers. i think december to is to january, particularly is amazing northern lights. amazing for the northern lights. have to iceland? have you been to iceland? >> i have been iceland. >> i have been to iceland. i have a friend who out have a good friend who lives out there. icelandic herself there. she is icelandic herself and telling me all about and she was telling me all about what's what's going on, how uh, this peninsula is, is waking up is what she said in in her words. it's waking up. they've been having earthquake activity for quite a long time now. they weren't sure when it was going to erupt. and here we go late last night. it decides to erupt. and mother nature and that's how mother nature works, it? really? works, doesn't it? really? you never works, doesn't it? really? you nevthe big fear now is travel. >> the big fear now is travel. i'm as i said, a very i'm as i said, from a very selfish perspective, i've. i'm meant to going on holiday in meant to be going on holiday in two we to two weeks. so are we going to get a similar situation in to 2010, flights were 2010, when those flights were down it, 4 or down for, what was it, 4 or 5 weeks? it caused chaos weeks? it caused travel chaos across europe? >> well, we're put that >> well, we're going to put that point travel expert very point to a travel expert very soon, very shortly on the show. i want to ask him, is there going to be disruption to ben leo's honeymoon? so there you 90, leo's honeymoon? so there you go, the travel gods. we'll bring

you the very latest, of course, and speak to travel and we'll speak to that travel expert soon. moving on. expert very soon. but moving on. schools england have been schools in england have been told there is no general duty to allow children to change their gender identity. >> yeah, and it's part of a long awaited guidance for schools and colleges for pupils who question their gender. >> so the minister for women and equalities, badenoch, was equalities, kemi badenoch, was asked act if children in single sex schools would have to change school if they change school if they wanted to change their here's what she had their sex. here's what she had to say. >> transitioning does not and cannot change sex, so cannot change your sex, so irrespective social irrespective of social transitioning, which we have said is not a neutral act and should only be happening in the rarest circumstances , you rarest of circumstances, you should be in a single sex school going to the school that applies to biological sex. to your biological sex. >> well, there you go. that's kemi badenoch . well, saying it kemi badenoch. well, saying it as it is really, you can't change your sex, so you will have to go to a single sex school , even if you are gender dysphoric. >> um, so yeah, maths teacher bobby seagull now joins us to discuss this . bobby, lovely to

discuss this. bobby, lovely to see you . thank you forjoining see you. thank you for joining us. uh prime minister, former prime minister liz truss said earlier today that the guidance doesn't go far enough. and because it is exactly that guidance, do we need a change in the law as some quarters are calling for? >> um, and again, i'll say my perspective as a teacher. >> so i've been in a classroom now in secondary schools for ten years. >> when first started as a >> when i first started as a teacher. this wasn't an teacher. um, this wasn't an issue, you know. teacher had issue, you know. no teacher had heard wasn't in heard about it wasn't in training. last few training. so in the last few years we've seen issue years that we've seen the issue of, transgender in schools of, um, transgender in schools becoming so becoming more prevalent. so obviously it's something we obviously it's something that we need of as teachers need to be aware of as teachers and in wider society. and people in wider society. >> so understand is that >> so what i understand is that there haven't to there haven't gone to the blanket ban and saying no social transitioning . um, but they have transitioning. um, but they have said that schools are allowed to use their discretion certain cgses. >> cases. >> and again, i think it's, uh , >> and again, i think it's, uh, my understanding if, um , a my understanding is if, um, a child, discloses to their child, uh, discloses to their school they want to transition genden >>i genden >> i think now under guidance , >> i think now under guidance, they should be telling parents. but again, the exception is from

a school's perspective , we just a school's perspective, we just think about safeguarding . so as think about safeguarding. so as a teacher, we are in loco parentis. >> so we sort of take on the role of the parent and school. so as a duty of that generally you should be telling parents if there are issues with the child, there are issues with the child, the academic work, their mental health, to change health, wanting to change genden health, wanting to change gender. but we can make exceptions. currently under the guidance we think there's guidance if we think there's a safeguarding issue, if we think that mum or dad might harm the child, we reveal that the child, if we reveal that the child, if we reveal that the child has thinking about changing gender. so i think in that sense it at least gives schools some leeway rather than being blanket. you must do being a blanket. you must do this policy. yeah >> bobby, i want to get into the particulars of this guidance a little with you, but just you mentioned that this wasn't an issue. a few years ago or when you came into the profession. why do you think , uh, you know, why do you think, uh, you know, speaking to children every day? why do you think it's become , why do you think it's become, um, uh, so prevalent or at least increased in prevalence? quite rapidly? would you say there's

an element of social contagion going on? >> so it's a really challenging question. anneliese i would say, is that times do change. and again, even ten years ago, even five years ago, would never five years ago, i would never talk about my mental health. i'd be ah, i'm always bouncy, be like, ah, i'm always bouncy, always but over lockdown, always happy. but over lockdown, things talked things change. people talked about wellbeing and how about their wellbeing and how they feel. and you find they feel. and again, you find workplaces, different environments . people are more environments. people are more used to talking about how they feel, think. you know, feel, how they think. you know, again, we've britain again, we've got in britain the stiff lip. just sort of stiff upper lip. we just sort of take things on the chin. so as society we become more society changes, we become more open. this is again an issue. maybe i don't know the maybe again, i don't know the research, people have research, but maybe people have had of gender dysphoric research, but maybe people have had before, nder dysphoric research, but maybe people have had before, but' dysphoric research, but maybe people have had before, but' dysph(they issues before, but maybe they never felt comfortable discussing it. so i think society people are society in general, people are more discussing more open about discussing things. guess maybe things. so i guess maybe that just reflects that trend. >> have you had >> bobby, have you had any children or school children in your class or school who has come you or your who has come to you or your colleagues or fellow teachers? um, saying that they want to change gender or they want to identify as something else ? and identify as something else? and how have you dealt with how how have you dealt with that? so, yeah. that? if so, yeah. >> have had a couple of

>> so we have had a couple of students our school, um, want students in our school, um, want to be identified as non—binary. and it's of and i think it's a case of trying to make sure that you and i think it's a case of tryingconversationse that you and i think it's a case of tryingconversations with you and i think it's a case of tryingconversations with the] have conversations with the child, try to inform the parents if you think it's reasonable and also to make sure that the rest of the school community, because, again, it's not just the child that's being impacted, it's their peers. certain it's their peers. maybe certain teachers may have different perspectives. the wider sort of community in the school. so there's one thing where it's a lot of people that you've got to really consider. and i always say from my perspective as a teacher though it's teacher is even though it's challenging, even though it's a moral making moral minefield, it's making sure you approach sure that you approach things from of compassion, from a place of compassion, because adolescence is a troubling period as it is. and again, with social media, there's influencers . it's there's influencers. it's a really tough period. so as a teacher , we shouldn't just go, teacher, we shouldn't just go, no, the argument down, have teacher, we shouldn't just go, n

guidance on board, because there has been a head teacher in liverpool who's come out and said it's taken so long for this guidance to be published. >> there's been lots of politics going on behind the scenes. i've had my own guidance for the last, you know, decade or so. why should i change it? we're fine as we are . fine as we are. >> yeah. and again, that's the problem with guidance. i know in the last few years, i think the association of school council leaders, out with leaders, they came out with their guidance. their own guidance. and many schools that as a schools have adopted that as a sort of de facto policy. so until a government decides we're going to set this as a, as in law statute, schools are law and statute, schools are free to do what they want. and again, governor of again, if you're a governor of a school, will generally defer school, you will generally defer to guidance . and to government guidance. and again, i think most schools will probably policy. probably follow this policy. but because guidance , it still because it's guidance, it still leaves some would say the leaves maybe some would say the burden on schools to decide . and burden on schools to decide. and again, where some schools again, that's where some schools find problematic, because if find it problematic, because if the is the school the burden is on the school community decide exactly what the burden is on the school co do,unity decide exactly what the burden is on the school co do, then decide exactly what the burden is on the school co do, then it decide exactly what the burden is on the school co do, then it puts de exactly what the burden is on the school co do, then it puts undue :tly what to do, then it puts undue pressure on them can pressure on them and they can face pressure external

face pressure from external bodies, the bodies, social media. so the government it's again, it's a really that's a bit difficult though, for parents, though, isn't it, for parents, though, isn't it, for parents, though , bobby, because this though, bobby, because this guidance is supposed to put parents first, i.e. they're supposed to be told if their child wants to socially transition in school. >> if you then had a school completely disregarding that and treating a biological girl as if they were a boy in school and not telling the parents, you get into a quite difficult water, tncky into a quite difficult water, tricky water. don't you? there, it's really challenging because i would say the safe guarding issues where it needs to come down to because when ofsted come in, they obviously look for academic and the sort of social environment of the school, but they on safe they can fail schools on safe guarding if you fail in that regard. >> so and in this particular case, schools need to decide again, they're the best assessor of their safeguarding and their community. if they think on balance, should be balance, they probably should be discussing telling parents discussing and telling parents because we would tell parents about you . know, if my about child's. you. know, if my student is failing in maths, i

would tell the parents or they're getting bullied. the same thing. so the same thing if someone's change someone's looking to change genden someone's looking to change gender, should be the parents gender, it should be the parents being involved. but schools have that overarching responsibility. they think it will be a safeguarding issue, and that's where comes in, where the discretion comes in, which is why the which is why i think the government to not government has decided to not have blanket, policy have a blanket, um, policy saying parent saying you must tell the parent because you know, because there'll be, you know, certain out there certain households out there that if a child reveals that they're considering changing their face their gender, they would face harm at home. >> bobby, there is concern and an argument about exactly how many of these children who are identifying as trans or non—binary, how many of them actually have genuine , um, cases actually have genuine, um, cases of body dysmorphia ? i mean, for of body dysmorphia? i mean, for example, the telegraph, a couple of months ago ran a story about how there was a massive increase quite laughably, to be honest, in children identifying as cats, i mean, have you that or i mean, have you seen that or heard that? and what percent heard of that? and what percent of, of these trans and binary cases are just kids having a bit of fun because know they cases are just kids having a bit of f|takeecause know they cases are just kids having a bit of f|take the se know they cases are just kids having a bit of f|take the mick. know they cases are just kids having a bit of f|take the mick. s01ow they cases are just kids having a bit of f|take the mick. so again,3y cases are just kids having a bit of f|take the mick. so again, i can take the mick. so again, i think with any system , there'll think with any system, there'll always be a small minority that

are looking to, uh , abuse it or are looking to, uh, abuse it or take it for a ride . take it for a ride. >> and that's always going to be the case. and whether you're looking sport, media, looking at sport, media, business, think looking at sport, media, busmy;s, think looking at sport, media, busmy experience think looking at sport, media, busmy experience , think looking at sport, media, busmy experience , um,think looking at sport, media, busmy experience , um, um,: looking at sport, media, busmy experience , um, um, my for my experience, um, um, my lived experience as a teacher, for that do come out for the ones that do come out and say they are , you know, they and say they are, you know, they think they might be trans, they might change gender. you might want to change gender. you do have treat them with do have to treat them with respect. obviously the ones respect. and obviously the ones that joking around, have that are joking around, you have to, have words to, you know, have stern words because difficulty for because it causes difficulty for everyone again, as everyone else. so again, as a teacher, i say listen to teacher, i always say listen to the child first. understand i know again, as a teacher , know again, as a teacher, sometimes a child hasn't done their homework and i know which students are ones that are students are the ones that are genuinely making things up or students are the ones that are genones/ making things up or students are the ones that are genones/ maiare things up or students are the ones that are genones/ maiare like,gs up or students are the ones that are genones/ maiare like, this) or the ones that are like, this child does work again. child never does work again. >> bobby, your >> but bobby, bobby, i take your point. but it's so point. but because it's so controversial become so controversial and it's become so political, i do worry that teachers feel under a huge teachers will feel under a huge amount of pressure to take anything the child says with regards gender, totally , regards to gender, totally, seriously. and as gospel, gospel because they could, you know, face repercussions because of it . but thank you very much indeed

for your time. bobby seagull, maths you very maths teacher. thank you very much. nice to always nice much. always nice to always nice to speak to you. difficult one for teachers. >> tough. like said, if >> it's tough. like you said, if kids they're untouchable kids know they're untouchable and teachers confront them and teachers can't confront them about their their silly antics, if they are identifying as cats or whatever else, i mean , you or whatever else, i mean, you know, where does it end? but i mean, there is there is going to be a genuine, think, that be a genuine, i think, that power between the pupil power dynamic between the pupil and teacher might have and the teacher might have shifted in, shifted a little too much in, in, in, in the, in the direction of the, the pupil. of the, of the pupil. >> but let know you >> but let us know what you think. gb at news.com. think. gb views at gb news.com. great think. gb views at gb news.com. gre right. uh, coming next, >> right. uh, coming up next, secretary of state for levelling up, michael is giving up, michael gove is giving a major speech in central major housing speech in central london today. he said the government on the side of government is on the side of builders blockers builders and not nimby blockers like me. more that after the like me. more on that after the break. don't

monday to thursdays from six till 930. >> welcome back. >> welcome back. >> thanks for joining >> welcome back. >> thanks forjoining us on. >> thanks for joining us on. good afternoon britain. this volcano is causing havoc, isn't it? lots of emails from you guys back home. peter says this kind of puts ulez in perspective, doesn't it? it's pumping out cubic miles of toxic gases every houn cubic miles of toxic gases every hour. sadiq khan would have have a field day in iceland. i have seen a few, a few on that line of thought. >> very good, very good. yes, lots of carbon emissions there. but yes, this volcano has erupted on the reykjanes peninsula of the southwest of iceland. and there were weeks of intense earthquake activity, but they sure exactly when

they weren't sure exactly when it was going to erupt because these things often quite these things are often quite random . 4000 people evacuated random. 4000 people evacuated a 3.5km crack in the volcano . 3.5km crack in the volcano. >> so, um, yeah, many fear that the eruption could lead to mass travel disruption, not least me. i'm going there in two weeks. i'm going there in two weeks. i'm praying to the travel gods to sort it out. um, in the week before christmas and similar to the cloud disruption the ash cloud disruption of 2010, . 2010, pictures. >> oh my goodness, it really puts into perspective the power of mother nature, doesn't it? >> it's, you know, look at the raw power and the smoke and the flames. 4000 people, as you said, evacuated lots of holidaymakers from the blue lagoon , a massive popular lagoon, a massive popular hotspot for tourists. funnily enough , as we mentioned a few enough, as we mentioned a few minutes ago that was closed for the past six weeks because they thought the volcano would erupt, they then over the weekend thought, oh, the coast is clear, we're going to open the doors. everyone can come back. and what happens later? yeah, happens 24 hours later? yeah, the erupted in iceland. the volcano erupted in iceland. >> she me >> in reykjavik, she told me that issue the safety that the issue is not the safety of everyone's

of people because everyone's been but more been evacuated, but more the infrastructure. the blue infrastructure. so the blue lagoon, of course, also energy . lagoon, of course, also energy. could be blackouts and so could there be blackouts and so on. shall we speak to simon on. but shall we speak to simon calder? because knows calder? because he knows all about travel. he is an expert. simon calder , thank you very simon calder, thank you very much for joining simon calder, thank you very much forjoining us. so simon, so you're not in reykjavik , so you're not in reykjavik, unfortunately, or in iceland, but you can tell us a little bit about perhaps compared to the ash cloud we saw in 2010, which disrupted millions of passengers , could this do the same ? , could this do the same? >> no it couldn't. >> no it couldn't. >> i'm very, very glad to say let me just put this into perspective. >> and people will be perhaps looking and thinking, hang on, this volcano is ten miles from a major. your north atlantic aviation hub, keflavik international airport and they're still flights going in and out . and out. >> i mean, there was a pause last night. um easyjet delayed a flight by over five hours. coming back into, um, uh, manchester. and because they just wanted to make sure that things were going to be safe.

but flights are going in and out perfectly normally . um, it's perfectly normally. um, it's actually a little bit confused because there's an air traffic control strike that's been going on for weeks, but planes getting there, getting out . if you're there, getting out. if you're going two weeks, that's going in two weeks, that's actually good timing actually really good timing because as you can see from these images , the earth very , these images, the earth is very, very restless in iceland . it's very restless in iceland. it's been bubbling away for six weeks. we've now got the eruption. it seems to be contained. and what they've got is a whole load of trucks on standby with loads of very big rocks . rocks. >> so as he, john simon seems to have gone, he was in actually krakow in poland . he gets krakow in poland. he gets around, doesn't he? >> he was, he was indeed. so there you go. simon calder does get around. he is a travel expert of course. you always find him at the airport in trouble country where trouble or the country where there's . there's. >> or the yachts. we had on >> or the yachts. we had him on a yacht time patrick a yacht one time on patrick show. dialled in a yacht one time on patrick showoff dialled in a yacht one time on patrick showoff the dialled in a yacht one time on patrick showoff the beateniialled in a yacht one time on patrick showoff the beaten coast in from off the beaten coast somewhere. but i mean, what he

was that this was saying there was that this is normal in iceland. is sort of normal in iceland. >> of course, there's huge amounts of volcanic activity and you tend to have earthquakes, but they've been monitoring . ah, but they've been monitoring. ah, simon's back with us. excellent simon, what were you saying ? simon, what were you saying? please do carry on. i >> yeah. okay. so, um, they've got truckloads of rocks , um, got truckloads of rocks, um, ready to go to build , um, safe. ready to go to build, um, safe. safe zones around, um, villages and towns. already the blue lagoons got rocks around it so that if lava starts flowing, it's not going to harm people. and we're not yet at the stage where this is a tourist attraction. but in general they are. and probably in a couple of weeks you'll find that they're organising tours to go and have a look at this amazing natural phenomenon. simon, what would phenomenon. um simon, what would what would tourists find? >> would it be the sort of solidified lava and that kind of thing? >> yes . and this is going to >> yes. and this is going to create a new bit of landscape for iceland. it's a very, very modern country anyway. it just sort of emerged from the atlantic. it's on the north, uh,

atlantic. it's on the north, uh, atlantic fault line between the eurasian plate and the north american plate. and they converge in great, great style. um, flights going in, as i say, perfectly normal . everything is perfectly normal. everything is going okay except if you want to going okay except if you want to go to the blue lagoon. and as you say, that did open at last, and then it closed fairly promptly as well. um, i would imagine that, of course . there's imagine that, of course. there's a lot of people watching who are thinking , a lot of people watching who are thinking, hang on, i don't want to go, but look, if it is safe to go, but look, if it is safe to you will be able to go. to go, you will be able to go. if it isn't safe, then your trip will be cancelled and you'll get a personally, i a full refund. personally, i would there. imagine would love to go there. imagine flying in or out of keflavik international airport, especially after i'll send a especially after i'll send you a postcard . postcard. >> simon. >> simon. >> and seeing yeah, it >> and seeing that, yeah, it will be fantastic. >> and seeing that, yeah, it wiliwell,1ntastic. >> and seeing that, yeah, it wiliwell, apparently you can see >> well, apparently you can see you can see this from reykjavik, which where of the which is where most of the population and it's the population lives. and it's the most amazing sight, obviously a little bit scary for residents, of course, because you never know what way mother nature is going to and the lava is

going to go. and the lava is moving away that town. but moving away from that town. but at the moment. but, you know, you essentially. but you never know, essentially. but apparently views are apparently the views are extraordinary . extraordinary. >> can just explain why >> and if i can just explain why it's not going to be like a geological, the volcano which closed down aviation in the whole of northern europe for a week in 2010, not like that. >> oh, has he gone again for that ? that? >> no i haven't no no no i'm all back here. um, for echr. yoko you had to have, um, a lot of water on top of the eruption. if you've got water on top of a volcanic eruption , then you volcanic eruption, then you could well get an ash cloud with this, though, the conditions are not in that position . it's just not in that position. it's just absolutely straightforward . absolutely straightforward. there isn't going to be a volcanic ash cloud. we very much hope. and so it's more of a kind of interesting tourist attraction. although of course our hearts go out to the people in the nearby town of grindavik, which has been evacuated because they are very worried about what

they'll find when they're finally let back. >> simon, why has iceland become such a booming place for tourists in recent years ? i tourists in recent years? i mean, 15 years ago i had hardly heard of anyone who was going to iceland for a trip. what's changed? >> okay, well, it's a great destination if you want to for be example, breaking your journey on the way to the us. lots of airlines , iceland air lots of airlines, iceland air and play airlines will take you . and play airlines will take you. to reykjavik, give you a city break, and then you carry on from there north america. but from there to north america. but it's absolutely it's also absolutely fascinating. what, three fascinating. it's what, three hours flying time from southern britain ? only two hours from britain? only two hours from scotland. you get there. it's a whole new world. really friendly , really welcoming. a little bit on pricey side. two words on the pricey side. two words for you. duty free. um, if you're good, beer out here as well. good beer. uh uh, but but it's just absolutely terrific. and so, uh. yeah the other great thing that you are going to find, um, is that you're going to be there at the best possible

time in the entire cycle of northern lights. the aurora borealis . borealis. >> that's what we like to hear a spectacular show for you. >> so, um. yeah your your timing is perfect. that's fantastic. >> well, thank you very much for your time. simon calder there, travel bringing us travel expert bringing us the very what's very latest from what's happening iceland. been happening in iceland. i've been there . beautiful country. so there. beautiful country. so much do . couple friendly, there. beautiful country. so much friendlyouple friendly, there. beautiful country. so much friendly .jple friendly, there. beautiful country. so much friendly. um,friendly, there. beautiful country. so much friendly . um, whatever family friendly. um, whatever else friendly. it's just a great place. >> i'm so glad we got simon on. i came into this thinking that my holiday was doomed, and now he's that there's he's saying that there's going to than to be bigger and better than ever before. >> it is quite expensive, >> so it is quite expensive, though, because obviously lots of you're not of lots of goods. uh, you're not not population. so not a very large population. so i it's quite expensive to i think it's quite expensive to get things over there. maybe it's coming up it's taxes too, but coming up rishi is to face rishi sunak is to face parliament's liaison committee today , mps are essentially today, mps are essentially marking the prime minister's homework. will he be getting straight a's or not? more on straight a's or or not? more on that. after your headlines with tatiana .

tatiana. >> emily, thank you very much 1231 this is the latest from the gb newsroom . dramatic scenes are gb newsroom. dramatic scenes are continuing in iceland as a volcano spews lava and ash into the sky. these pictures are coming to us live. for those watching on tv, you'll be able to see lava continuing to bubble out of that two and a half mile long crack in the earth, iceland's government says it doesn't pose a threat to life. but curious sightseers are being warned to keep away . schools are warned to keep away. schools are being advised to inform parents if their children say they'd like to change their gender identity under new guidance . identity under new guidance. there's no obligation to allow students to socially transition or to provide gender neutral facilities. teachers are also given the choice to opt out of using a student's chosen pronoun if they have a reasonable objection , the stonewall charity objection, the stonewall charity says it doesn't consider the need of trans and gender diverse youth, but the equalities minister, kemi badenoch, says that's not the case. >> fundamentally , we disagree

>> fundamentally, we disagree with stonewall's analysis as we fundamentally disagree with their facts. the cass review has shown that social transitioning is not a neutral act. it puts children on a medical pathway that can lead to irreversible medical decisions. the use of puberty blockers, and so on, but also something that's really important to emphasise is that just because a child doesn't conform to gender stereotypes doesn't mean that they are the opposite sex. we shouldn't assume that because a boy likes pink or a girl likes football, that they are of the opposite sex. >> sex. >> michael gove has put council planning departments on notice, saying slow approvals won't be tolerated , and in a speech on tolerated, and in a speech on planning reform , the housing planning reform, the housing secretary said there's resistance to new development in many parts of the country. he's cracking down on lengthy applications with some councils to be given three months to improve or risk having their powers stripped where there is and has been consistent under performance. >> i will act . >> i will act. >> i will act. >> so today i'm taking steps to

deal with underperformers in the planning system and there is no greater failure than the failure to actually have a plan in place. >> i am to prepared act wherever there is failure. >> expect all other >> i expect all other authorities make sure that authorities to make sure that they timetable for an up they have a timetable for an up to date plan in place within the same frame, with a copy same time frame, with a copy provided to my department. >> for more on all of those stories, you can visit our website at gbillionews.com. >> good afternoon britain. it is 1234 in the afternoon and michael gove, as we were just hearing, the secretary of for state levelling up, has been giving a speech in the royal institute of royal architects that's in central london, and he's been talking about planning reform, how to get the country building more homes. he says the government will name and shame local councils by publishing robust league tables on their planning system . he's saying planning system. he's saying that essentially some councils

are holding up the planning process and not allowing enough homes to be built . however, he's homes to be built. however, he's been quite cautious over the green belt does so councils . green belt does so councils. there's not going to be a review into that. he wants to protect the countryside . of course, the countryside. of course, there's a lot of pressure on the government from tory backbenchers who are in some of the countryside areas, let's say, where they don't look to too well on the green belt being built on. of course, we've also heard we've also heard that there are big plans for cambridge up to 150,000 new homes . arms. if you're in homes. arms. if you're in cambridge, how might that affect you? because it's fantastic to hear of new homes, isn't it, ben? but but there's not always the infrastructure to match. that's the issue, isn't it? >> the local opposition, as well. i mean, if you're from outside cambridge, i'll sit here and fantastic. well and say, fantastic. well done gove, cambridge is gove, well done. cambridge is going be great, but if it's going to be great, but if it's in my backyard west sussex in my backyard in west sussex near i'll probably be near brighton, i'll probably be more a the more inclined. as a the self—confessed nimby. yeah, yes more inclined. as a the s am-confessed nimby. yeah, yes more inclined. as a the s am to nfessed nimby. yeah, yes more inclined. as a the sam to ,fessed nimby. yeah, yes more inclined. as a the sam to , uh,ad nimby. yeah, yes more inclined. as a the s am to , uh, to nimby. yeah, yes more inclined. as a the

sam to , uh, to object yeah, yes more inclined. as a the s am to , uh, to object toeah, yes more inclined. as a the sam to , uh, to object to it., yes i am to, uh, to object to it. >> so this is interesting. michael gove wants to name and shame councils are holding shame councils who are holding up but will up the planning system. but will there be sanctions? we'll there be any sanctions? we'll let know . the very latest as let you know. the very latest as we get it right elsewhere in the world of politics today, it marks the closing of a recall petition in the constituency of wellingborough after sitting tory mp peter bone was suspended from the commons. yes, he stands accused of several counts of bullying and one act of sexual misconduct , bullying and one act of sexual misconduct, allegations that he strongly denies . but if at least strongly denies. but if at least 10% of eligible voters sign the petition, a by—election will be triggered, possibly causing yet more headaches for the prime minister >> rishi sunak joining us now is gb news east midlands reporter will hollis, who's on the ground in wellingborough. well, nice to see you. uh, first of all, what are the chances that this petition is a success and what time will we know the result ? time will we know the result? >> yes . well, we're here in >> yes. well, we're here in northamptonshire , a shoemaker's

northamptonshire, a shoemaker's county in wellingborough, one of the bigger towns where peter bone has been the mp since 2005. he seemed to be an mp that was quite well liked, quite well loved a man that was described to me earlier as a guy that could get things done . could get things done. >> but things have turned a little bit sour sour for him quite recently. >> the independent expert panel from the parliament said that they have concluded that peter bone committed many varied acts of bullying and one act of sexual misconduct ten years ago. that's the accusation , which is that's the accusation, which is an accusation that mr bone denies . but an accusation that mr bone denies. but it is now in the motions of the final few hours of a recall petition, which is essentially an opportunity for local people . peter bone's local people. peter bone's constituents , to have the constituents, to have the opportunity to say , we want an opportunity to say, we want an opportunity to say, we want an opportunity now to have somebody else as our mp outside of a general election , what we call general election, what we call in the business a by—election. so they only need 10% of local voters to vote in favour of that

by—election, 10% is essentially 7904. hello there my friend from welling . welling. >> lots of people in wellingborough really excited to talk about peter bone and the by—election. >> my friend there. he's been he's been doing his christmas shopping and so he's probably had a, uh, it's just been catching up on his last few presents off. it's presents as he scoots off. it's only 7904 votes to be 10% of the seven, uh, 70,000 or so. uh votes that are available here. so how likely is it? is what you said at the start, ben? well 10, 7000. that could quite reasonable be a good chunk of the local labour voters, a good chunk of the lib dems that might be vying for the seats. or it could be people that are actually quite sick of having , actually quite sick of having, uh, an mp that's been in a position for nearly 20 years, sometimes they say that a change is as good as a rest. conservative have a very big majority here. 81,000. but if you can get the local supporters

of different political parties that aren't the conservative party, if you can get people that have had enough, really, then it might be something that they can over the but they can get over the line. but we won't that 5 pm. we won't know that until 5 pm. so that's the last opportunity for in wellingborough to for people in wellingborough to get vote in. what's that ? four get a vote in. what's that? four hours so now it's christmas. hours or so now it's christmas. people are doing their last bits of shopping. raining, of shopping. it's also raining, as you can see, if you're watching on tv. so will people be voting in the last selection of the afternoon? it's hard to say , but it's quite likely say, but it's quite likely because these recall petitions at this point in the political calendar when we're a year away from the general election, they tend to do quite well . we saw tend to do quite well. we saw what in scotland, uh, margaret ferrier, we remember the story of the mp that travelled to parliament when she had covid. there was that recent by—election because of the recall petition. so they can be successful. >> well, there we go. we'll find out his fate later this afternoon . we'll bring you that, afternoon. we'll bring you that, of course, on gb news. will there be yet another by—election

in for rishi sunak? it looks perhaps it's coming down the line , but, uh, next we're going line, but, uh, next we're going to be talking about rishi sunak. he's before the parliamentary liaison committee what what could we mark him out of ten? that will be the answer. he'll be quizzed on various topics. so we'll bring you the very latest.

want to keep you entertained. the camilla tominey show sunday mornings from 930 on gb news. >> welcome back to good

afternoon britain. it's 12:43 pm. now. rishi sunak is set to p.m. now. rishi sunak is set to face parliament's liaison committee today as mps have a chance to question the pm about his tenure. >> yes , the prime minister >> yes, the prime minister usually appears before the committee 2 or 3 times a year. chaired by sir bernard jenkin, the committee is comprised of all the chairs of the house of commons select committee, so it could be asked anything. >> joining us now for the >> so joining us now for the latest political analysis is political commentator peter spencer . sir peter, political commentator peter spencer. sir peter, thank you for being with us. um, i guess this is kind of an end of year report card for rishi sunak, is it? and also his five pledges at the start of this year, some he's achieved, some he hasn't . he's achieved, some he hasn't. other mps going to be grilling him and judging on that. him and judging him on that. >> they most certainly will and i suspect they'll all be looking out for signs of tetchiness , of out for signs of tetchiness, of which he's been accused rather a lot lately and indeed , he was lot lately and indeed, he was asked by one of our colleagues a couple of days ago if it's true. he is tetchy. and he said , no,

he is tetchy. and he said, no, i'm not tetchy, i'm just passionate, which sounded distinctly tetchy me . but distinctly tetchy to me. but then you can understand why, for heaven's sake. i mean, there he is , trying to lead this is, trying to lead this recalcitrant rabble laughingly known as the conservative party everything he comes up with, there's going to be one faction or another. not liking it. i mean, today's things. for example, uh, speeding up the planning process. okay queue masses of nimby protests right across the blue wall on that. and then the other thing, trans guidance in schools and already we've had liz truss, um , we've had liz truss, um, sticking her head over the parapet. gobbing on about how they're far too woke . and of they're far too woke. and of course, behind all that there is rwanda. not so much the elephant in the room, more a whole herd of elephant s. so he is having he has had and is having a jolly hard time. and i have to say that i'm reminded when i look at the world from through his eyes

of that fabulous line from alan bennett's play the history boys, in which teacher says , listen, in which teacher says, listen, lads, what, um, who can define history and one boy stuck his head, stuck his hand up and said, please, sir, it's one naughty word thing after another. that's just i must look him , peter. him, peter. >> well, i believe it kicks off in just 15 minutes, so we'll be getting the. we'll be seeing what he is asked, hearing what he is asked. but i'm sure it will be a grilling and no prime minister really likes being grilled by their peers and colleagues . do they really? it's colleagues. do they really? it's a little, little beneath them, probably from an ego perspective. rishi sunak this is very serious business. but you did make me giggle with your impression of rishi sunak. yes. i don't i don't think he does appreciate being grilled, but apparently he's also going to be grilled cop 28 energy grilled on cop 28 energy concerns. of course , the concerns. of course, the economy, global affairs to israel, gaza , of course, because israel, gaza, of course, because there's been a bit of a change

in some of the rhetoric around that and moving more towards calling for a ceasefire, a potential change in tactics from israel. there's a lot to go at, oh, most certainly. >> and in fact, you mentioned the israel situation that there's just a couple of weeks ago, whenever it was when , uh, ago, whenever it was when, uh, starmer was in real difficulty because a lot of his mps were demanding an immediate ceasefire. well, the dallas has withdrawn pretty quickly there because we've had a i think it's i think it's ten senior tory mps have already said, look, you've got to you've got to toughen up on this thing. you've got to demand an immediate ceasefire and you can see why. but then again, it's symptomatic of the broader problem that faces rishi sunak, which is that the conservative party has lost , conservative party has lost, lost, lost the knack of actually behaving itself. and so whatever is said, whatever is done,

there's going to be someone who's shouting at him from one side or the other. and i have to say that i'm sure that he is thoroughly looking forward to longing for, in fact, something that he said to a bunch of kids at a school. school um, visit the other day when they said, said a prime minister what would you like for christmas? he said, i'd just like a day off. >> yes, i'm sure. and it wasn't too long that he was before too long ago that he was before the covid inquiry well. or the covid inquiry as well. or that was rather a longer that that was rather a longer grilling . thank you very much grilling. thank you very much indeed for your time, peter spencen indeed for your time, peter spencer, political analysis . spencer, political analysis. thank very much indeed . uh, thank you very much indeed. uh, now, i believe we are going to be talking to a junior, a junior doctor, because in the coming next three busy weeks , nhs next three busy weeks, nhs hospitals will only be operating at full staff capacity for four days. that's because junior doctors are staging a mass strike over the festive period. >> make sure you don't need a doctor in the next coming weeks. so we're joined now by bashar mukherjee , junior doctor and mukherjee, junior doctor and

former former rather miss england winner for um. junior doctors voted to stage the strikes in december and in the new year after talks between the government and the bma broke down. some would say that this is the worst possible time for this to happen and actually , this to happen and actually, what happened to the age old phrase of do no harm ? isn't this phrase of do no harm? isn't this a selfish move ? as some are a selfish move? as some are arguing ? um, sorry. arguing? um, sorry. >> um , yeah, i think it's really >> um, yeah, i think it's really sad that this is happening at this festive period. >> i really do hope that patients, um , you know, don't go patients, um, you know, don't go into the emergency service unless they absolutely need to . unless they absolutely need to. >> however, this is something that we have been fighting for over a year now, and the government are not doing anything to try to resolve the problem . and they're trying to problem. and they're trying to aggravate us more by trying to threaten anti—strike threaten us of anti—strike motions. um, i really think motions. so um, i really think that the arrowhead should be pointed towards the government at this point. >> but basho , with the timing of

>> but basho, with the timing of these strikes. yes there'll be some anger towards the government. lots of people would agree that perhaps nhs staff should be paid more for their time, and for their expertise, but when it comes to christmas penods but when it comes to christmas periods and hearing that only four days over the next three weeks, and this isn't coming from me, this is coming from health chiefs, people who know only the nhs will be only four days the nhs will be working at full capacity over a penod working at full capacity over a period of three weeks during the winter months, which is when we know is used . or at know the nhs is most used. or at least you get, you get overuse use of the nhs almost. it really is under peak pressure during that time. it does make me think that time. it does make me think that actually the doctors are the ones who have got this wrong i >> -- >> you have to understand that yes, it is over the christmas period, but that's part of the christmas holidays itself is taken into account . taken into account. >> the strikes are just happening between , well, happening between, well, tomorrow and friday. and then one week after the new year, new

year holidays . so, you know, year holidays. so, you know, when you put it into context like that, it sounds really bad that it's four days of maximum capacity, but emergency services at any time, emergency, uh, needs of patients are still being met. so it's only the, the elective procedures and elective , uh, clinics that would probably be affected by this whole thing , but we've already whole thing, but we've already got, uh , record nhs waiting got, uh, record nhs waiting lists , which have admittedly lists, which have admittedly come down in recent months, but they're still absolutely staggering. >> and we've also been dealing with chronic excess deaths since covid. people weren't going to hospitals or gp's to get appointment. i think at one point this year, excess deaths were higher than during at some points during the pandemic. this is only exacerbating that. and i think the general feeling amongst i mean, bashar, what are you going to do if, uh, if your mother or your, your father this christmas trips and falls and breaks hip, i breaks their hip, are you i mean, who's going to who's going to them you going

to help them out? are you going to help them out? are you going to feel guilty if that happens? well absolutely . well if i mean absolutely. >> uh, see your point because >> uh, i see your point because i am somebody who dreads going to hospital, i know to the hospital, and i know exactly how dire situation exactly how dire the situation can be. we've seen waiting patients in corridors in a&e. i've personally worked in a&e myself and it really isn't what the nhs used to be. it's really sad that that's the direction the nhs is now moving in, and i feel for the taxpayers who are paying feel for the taxpayers who are paying towards the nhs, but their funds are not being utilised for the right things and the government, who is essentially in charge of where these funds are being spent, they're not taking the right decisions in taking this conversation forward in the right direction . and ultimately right direction. and ultimately we're seeing the whole nhs being affected. and if we what's the alternative? we say , no, you alternative? we say, no, you can't strike and we just have to settle for this. >> can't you just strike it a different time, doctor? >> and that's not going to be great either. we're going to end up with leftover doctors

essentially , and the nhs is now essentially, and the nhs is now relying more and more on, um, foreign doctors, which there are having to pay less for essentially . but would you be essentially. but would you be happy with essentially a lowered quality of care in the nhs ? it's quality of care in the nhs? it's just that you don't pay as much . just that you don't pay as much. >> it's interesting. you point to, you know, general failures within the nhs and of course the government does the nhs and government does fund the nhs and it oversees lot of what the it oversees a lot of what the nhs and it functions. nhs does and how it functions. but course, a lot of that but of course, a lot of that comes down management comes down to management decisions on the decisions as well. on the ground, things are ground, how things are allocated, are allocated, how resources are allocated. but just on the question of reform , what do you question of reform, what do you make streeting? he says make to wes streeting? he says that moving towards a 24 that you're moving towards a 24 over nhs. do you think over seven nhs. do you think that's pie in the sky thinking , that's pie in the sky thinking, um, i don't understand exactly what he would mean by that, but the nhs already is a 24 over seven service service and as i mentioned, the emergency services are still going to be functioning during the strike period. well, yes, i think he's thinking of hospitals, routine treatment and the like that

often go undone at the weekend. but thank you very much indeed for your time. bashar mukherjee, junior former miss junior doctor and former miss england winner too. >> coming up in the next >> right. coming up in the next houn >> right. coming up in the next hour, mps pay is set to rise above inflation as taxpayers struggle with the cost of living a six grand pay rise is that acceptable? sounds quite a lot, but are they worth it? >> do they deserve more? stay with us. >> let us know what you think looks like things are heating up, boxed boilers. >> sponsors of weather on gb news . news. >> hello , welcome to your latest >> hello, welcome to your latest gb news weather update from the met office. >> after a rather damp start to the day, for many of us it will turn bright through the afternoon, but it will turn afternoon, but it will also turn colder windier with some colder and windier with some showers following behind . the showers following behind. the rain through this morning has been brought weather been brought by this weather front sink to the front that will sink to the south—east this south—east through this afternoon evening , afternoon and into the evening, and behind it will see much colder air being introduced, so it colder night

it will be a colder night tonight. but for the afternoon that allow more sunshine to that will allow more sunshine to develop especially across develop, especially across parts of wales and the midlands, as well northeastern areas of well as northeastern areas of england. however, to the north and west we will see quite blustery showers falling as snow over the high ground and it should stay quite murky still across the southeast but milder here for much of the day. that clearer weather then becomes more widespread through tonight. it should dry through much it should stay dry through much of for many central of the night. for many central and southeast eastern areas, however, continue to see however, we'll continue to see those showers pushing in on that brisk northwesterly breeze , brisk northwesterly breeze, especially along areas especially along coastal areas and the high ground. it and over the high ground. it will be quite windy night. as will be quite a windy night. as a result, temperatures will be held more northern held up across more northern and western the south western areas, but in the south and east tomorrow we could see a touch grass frost, in the touch of grass frost, and in the south east it should stay south and east it should stay dry much of the dry again. through much of the day tomorrow and through northern areas start. but the northern areas to start. but the cloud will thicken as the afternoon progresses and we'll see drizzly rain arrive see some drizzly rain arrive from the north and west. that should persist thursday as

should persist into thursday as well. it's got milder air, though , so temperatures will be though, so temperatures will be a little higher, it will a little higher, but it will turn very windy by that warm feeling inside. >> from boxt boilers , sponsors >> from boxt boilers, sponsors of weather on gb news .

>> good afternoon britain. >> good afternoon britain. >> it is 1:00 on tuesday the

19th of december. >> fears for holiday flights iceland is in a state of emergency right now as an intense volcanic eruption continues to spew lava and smoke into the sky. could it bring travel misery? this christmas? we'll have all the latest putting parents first in the last hour. >> teachers have been told that a child cannot change gender at school without parental consent, but some staff are threatening to ignore the new rules and a bumper pay rise for mps. >> despite the cost of living crisis . they're about to receive crisis. they're about to receive a £6,000 pay boost, but do they deserve it? good afternoon. thank you for joining us. it's1:00, emily. mps do they deserve it? six grand. >> do they deserve this pay rise? well, it's £6,000 and it is not decided by the mps themselves. but i guess the question is , what kind of people

question is, what kind of people do we want to be? mps? >> well, that's what sajid javid said actually, he said there's been such an exodus from westminster that there just not getting enough. it is going up to what, 92 grand a year? >> because the thing is, yes, thatis >> because the thing is, yes, that is a huge salary compared to the median. the average salary, particularly cost of living, is biting a lot of people. i can see why people would be like, for goodness people. i can see why people would be |are for goodness people. i can see why people would be |are the goodness people. i can see why people would be |are the lastiness people. i can see why people would be |are the last people sake, mps are the last people who should be getting an inflation busting pay rise. but i do think looking at both sides of the house sometime , perhaps of the house sometime, perhaps if we paid them a little bit more, might have a higher calibre of politician. but then do you want people to be going into for politics the money, or do you want them to be going in for service? do you want them to be going in for well, service? do you want them to be going in for well, iservice? do you want them to be going in for well, i thinke? do you want them to be going in for well, i think that hand >> well, i think that comes hand in hand. if you've got a decent paying in hand. if you've got a decent paying you're going to get paying job, you're going to get the best quality person. the best quality of person. but i've, have looked i've, i admittedly have looked at of this year and at a lot of mps this year and thought, you know, a bit low grade, bar. i'm grade, a bit below the bar. i'm not to name names, not going to name any names, but, you know, harwood, but, you know, tom harwood, who's normally sitting in your but, you know, tom harwood, who'swhatfally sitting in your but, you know, tom harwood, who'swhat1alhe?tting in your seat, what is he? >> done the maths on this

>> he's done the maths on this and saying that and he's tweeted saying that it's pay it's actually a real terms pay cut since 2010. so there you go. it hasn't kept up with inflation since 2010, but it's still a huge pay rise. £6,000 next year at least it's set to be right for some not fully decided. what do you think? let us know at home. vaiews@gbnews.uk com do you think our mps deserve a pay rise , or do you think it's a bit rise, or do you think it's a bit of a liberty? let us know. but before that, let's get the headunes before that, let's get the headlines with tatiana . headlines with tatiana. >> emily, thank you very much. 1:02. this is the latest from the gb newsroom. dramatic scenes are continuing in iceland as a volcano spews lava and ash into the sky. these pictures are coming to us live for those watching us on television, they'll be able to see the lava continuing to bubble out of that two and a half mile long crack in the earth, iceland's government says it doesn't pose a threat life . but there are

a threat to life. but there are some flight and curious some flight delays and curious sightseers are warned to sightseers are being warned to keep away . schools are being keep away. schools are being advised to inform parents if their children say they'd like to change their gender identity under new guidance . there's no under new guidance. there's no obugafion under new guidance. there's no obligation to allow students to socially transition or to provide gender neutral facilities . teachers are also facilities. teachers are also given the choice to opt out of using a student's chosen pronoun if they have a reasonable objection. the mermaids transgender charity says the guidance is unworkable out of touch and absurd. but equality minister kemi badenoch says that's not the case. >> fundamentally disagree with stonewall's analysis . we stonewall's analysis. we fundamentally disagree with their facts. the cass review has shown that social transitioning is not a neutral act. it puts children on a medical pathway that can lead to irreversible medical decisions. the use of puberty blockers , and so on. but puberty blockers, and so on. but also something that's really important to emphasise is that just because a child doesn't conform to gender stereotypes ,

conform to gender stereotypes, oops, doesn't mean that they are the opposite sex. we shouldn't assume that because a boy likes pink or a girl likes football, that they are of the opposite sex. >> sex. >> friends, family and colleagues have gathered to remember the former chancellor, alistair darling , at a memorial alistair darling, at a memorial service . former prime minister service. former prime minister tony blair is among those who've paid tribute to the former labour leader, who died after a short spell in hospital at the age of 70. shadow chancellor rachel reeves remembered him as a man of decency . a man of decency. >> alastair. it was about deeds, not words , and deeds not words not words, and deeds not words would be our best tribute to him and to fight for a politics that rewards decency, good judgement and strength of character . and strength of character. >> a politics that puts the interests of working people first. these were the values that alistair lived . that alistair lived. >> michael gove has backed

council planning departments on notice, saying slow approvals won't be tolerated . in a speech won't be tolerated. in a speech on planning reform, the levelling up secretary said there's resistance to new development in many parts of the country. he's cracking down on lengthy applications , with some lengthy applications, with some councils to be given three months to improve or risk having their powers stripped out. >> where there is and has been consistent underperformance. i will act. so today i'm taking steps to deal with underperformers in the planning system, and there is no greater failure than the failure to actually have a plan in place. i am prepared to act wherever there is failure. i expect all other authorities to make sure that timetable for that they have a timetable for an up to date plan in place within the same time frame, with a provided to my department. >> the prime minister says malign actors are seeking to exploit the situation in the middle east as the uk joins a coalition to protect merchant shipping in the red sea. houthi militants in yemen are stepping up assaults on vessels as they

pass through one of the world's most important shipping routes. they're backed by iran and allied with the hamas terror group, a spokesperson for rishi sunak says it's within everyone's interest to protect commercial shipping . dame esther commercial shipping. dame esther rantzen says she'll consider using assisted dying as she battles lung cancer. using assisted dying as she battles lung cancer . the battles lung cancer. the broadcaster told the bbc she's joined the swiss organisation dignitas, which provides doctor supervised assisted dying . she's supervised assisted dying. she's calling for a free vote in parliament to make it legal here in the uk . the old model in the uk. the old model accessing dental care in england is gone for good. that's the warning from a leading think tank. most dentists are no longer taking on new nhs patients, with warnings the service is in decay and at its worst point in 75 years, the nuffield trust says the universal service is no longer offered by the nhs and recommends the government take some difficult decisions to ensure those most in need continue to receive basic care .

continue to receive basic care. and there's been a rise in violence against shop workers in asda supermarkets, amid claims that financial pressure is leading to staff cuts. nadine horton, from the gmb union, says staff are coping with unrealistic productivity measures. she says the supermarkets high debt level is leading to hours being cut for cleaning staff and floor workers , as does co—owner motion issa told a select committee this morning that the company's debt is coming down and they're continuing to invest in staff pay - continuing to invest in staff pay . this is gb news continuing to invest in staff pay. this is gb news across the uk on tv , in your car, on uk on tv, in your car, on digital radio and on your smart speaker by saying play gb news. now back to ben and . now back to ben and. emily. >> now the vast, vast, vast majority of you, it seems, think that mps should not be getting their inflation busting pay rise. but there's been some interesting comments actually,

about how it should be linked to productivity or performance or both . so, for example, if they both. so, for example, if they were actually able to grow the economy, maybe they'd deserve a pay economy, maybe they'd deserve a pay rise. why not? or if they were able to stop the migrant crisis, perhaps they'd get a pay rise. i think they call them. >> was kpis corporate >> was it kpis in the corporate world? performance world? key performance indicators. really great email from sue here, she says. so how much expenses go much are the expenses that go with the pay rise? rent free accommodation and travel and even free pritt stick glue? i think she's referring to all the small items that expense . i small items that expense. i think there is a slight bump in expenses allowances and there are a couple hundred are a couple of hundred quid perhaps. >> yeah, helen she >> yeah, and helen says she thinks liberty. thinks it's a bit of a liberty. she wants know if mps ever she wants to know if mps ever personally have to about personally have to worry about the living. nope only us the cost of living. nope only us lowly folks have to try make lowly folks have to try and make ends meet. they've never had to worry about whether they have to pay a worry about whether they have to pay a heating bill or pay the rent or mortgage, and also something else that's come through is some through the emails is would some of mps be able to command of our mps be able to command that weren't that salary if they weren't politicians the house of

politicians in the house of commons? because this is the issue , isn't it? a lot of our issue, isn't it? a lot of our mps, issue, isn't it? a lot of our mp5, i issue, isn't it? a lot of our mps, i reckon, probably wouldn't be able to a salary of over be able to get a salary of over £90,000 elsewhere. >> and i went on twitter rant >> and i went on a twitter rant about four months ago. i said half these mps wouldn't get a job anywhere in corporate job anywhere in the corporate world. interns at best. >> so, but then perhaps we have to pay them more to get those types of people keep the emails coming love coming through. we'd to love meet them. we'd meet them. we'll read them. we'd love we love to love to meet them. we love to read them. but at currently elsewhere, rishi sunak, the prime now appearing prime minister is now appearing in mps. he's in front of mps. he's essentially having his homework marked out. this is he's basically having a drill, a grilling by mps from rwanda to the economy. cop 28 energy infrastructure to the situation infrastructure to the situation in israel and gaza. these are the live shots we're looking at now. rishi sunak 90 minutes of a grilling from all of these chairs of select committees from across the different policy areas. so he could be asked he could be asked really anything . could be asked really anything. and i guess he'll be judged on

his five pledges from earlier this year, which was halving inflation, slashing nhs waiting times . times. >> um, the economy as well. some he's hit stopping the boats of course i have to say i think rishi i hope he does get a bit of a christmas new year break because he, he's he's looking slightly tired. if i say slightly tired. if i can say so. respectfully. slightly tired. if i can say so. reswell,|lly. heart, slightly tired. if i can say so. reswell,|lly. heart , ben, this >> well, your heart, ben, this afternoon, you're all heart. yes. fair to rishi sunak, yes. to be fair to rishi sunak, he has had a very busy year, and it wasn't too long ago that he was covid inquiry. was before the covid inquiry. for and hours of grilling. for hours and hours of grilling. but of course, this is how we hold accountable. will but of course, this is how we hold markiccountable. will but of course, this is how we hold mark his untable. will but of course, this is how we hold mark his homework will but of course, this is how we hold mark his homework ? will but of course, this is how we hold mark his homework ? we'll they mark his homework? we'll let you know. we'll be speaking to political editor just a to our political editor just a little later to the very little bit later to get the very latest. the key highlights that you to know from you need to know right from one explosive grilling to another, a volcano has erupted on the rikki neave peninsula of southwest iceland following weeks of intense quake activity . intense quake activity. >> about 4000 people so far have been evacuated after lava burst through a massive and this is big, a 3.5km crack in the volcano . volcano. >> yes, many fear the eruption

could lead to mass travel disruption just in the week before christmas. similar to the ash cloud of 2010. so far, it's not thought the explosion will cause the same level of travel chaos, but the area is on high alert for more seismic activity. >> joining us now is the best man for the job. senior meteorologist jim dale . jim, meteorologist jim dale. jim, thank you for joining meteorologist jim dale. jim, thank you forjoining us. we thank you for joining us. we spoke to simon calder a bit earlier and he said that in terms of travel, i'm going there in a couple of weeks. i should be okay. but from your perspective, what happens if there's follow up quakes or more eruptions from this volcano? could things potentially get worse ? worse? >> yeah they could. i listen to simon calder as well? actually, i think he did a good job. the old volcanologist, because it's not obviously his field. and i should point out actually , um, should point out actually, um, i'm a meteorologist by trade and this is a geological event rather than a meteorological event. rather than a meteorological event . it becomes event. it becomes a meteorological event when in the atmosphere becomes involved. in

other words, the pollution as we saw in 2010, uh, with the dome, uh, the dome , uh, i want to not uh, the dome, uh, i want to not even going to pronounce the name of the volcano at the time, because i can't do it. but the dome one at the time, 2010, that shot a lot of, um, ash and dust into the atmosphere. that's what caused problem. this one is caused the problem. this one is more of a fissure. it's more of a sort of crack in the earth's core or the earth's surface, if you like. and, um, it's kind of low , and i that is low profile, and i think that is serving the travelling community quite well. we'll have to watch it . what i would say is that if it. what i would say is that if it. what i would say is that if it goes on and on, some of the some of the smoke that you're seeing on screen at the moment, some of that, that, that dust and what have you may get and what have you may well get into and cause into the atmosphere and cause some, nice, um, some, some really nice, um, skies at night, if you like the old red, red sky at night, even in the we'll see that that's in the uk, we'll see that that's the air flow from iceland for the air flow from iceland for the next few particularly the next few days, particularly towards that's towards scotland. so that's going interesting. going to be interesting. um whether it actually expands further here, uh, in terms of

you know, more activity and then and then obviously affecting the travel, that's something that obviously volcanologists and geologists are watching are there there in iceland at the moment ? moment? >> jim. uh, mike, from manchester has, uh, written in and perhaps this is tongue in cheek, but he's asking , uh, cheek, but he's asking, uh, what's the carbon footprint of this volcano eruption ? this volcano eruption? >> yeah, that's a good question. >> yeah, that's a good question. >> actually. there's bound to be some there, isn't there? because look, you have mother nature does, events like does, uh, throw up events like this from time to time that do throw up carbon. um, so there's obviously some involved. it's not biggest ever. um, it on not the biggest ever. um, it on on iceland, the biggest volcano is katla, which is a super volcano . um, that hasn't gone up volcano. um, that hasn't gone up in the way that we hope it won't go in the way that we hope it won't 9° up in the way that we hope it won't go up yet . um, but sure, these go up yet. um, but sure, these kind of events, not just here, but around the world, do count in terms of the, uh, the carbon footprint. uh, there's 130 volcanoes, apparently on on iceland and one in every four years you do get something of

this nature, uh, occurring because iceland is essentially a volcanic island. it's created from volcanic activity . yeah. from volcanic activity. yeah. and that's where it came from . and that's where it came from. so it continues to do what it's doing. >> and we're just looking at these live pictures now. it's fascinating how i never knew this. the lava is still pulsating and spewing out. i thought that if there's a volcanic eruption, it's just one single burst and the lava flows out. but even now, with these live pictures we're seeing , um, live pictures we're seeing, um, for our radio listeners, it's pretty much lava just spewing out non—stop from the earth . out non—stop from the earth. >> that's the subterrain. >> that's the subterrain. >> yeah , that's a subterrain >> yeah, that's a subterrain coming to the surface . and it's coming to the surface. and it's as if, you know, you a kilometre down, two kilometres down. that will be happening. also and it's just basically broken the surface , the fissures opened up surface, the fissures opened up and you're seeing what normally happens earth, if you happens underneath earth, if you like. and that's that's essentially what's happened. it's the surface and it's reached the surface and it's going to be a hard and hard task to say when this will actually end. could continue actually end. it could continue on so it's on for a few weeks yet. so it's quite an interesting watch to on for a few weeks yet. so it's quitthel interesting watch to on for a few weeks yet. so it's quitthe least. esting watch to on for a few weeks yet. so it's

quitthe least. estingglad ch to on for a few weeks yet. so it's quitthe least.estin1glad of to on for a few weeks yet. so it's quitthe least.estin1glad of one say the least. just glad of one thing not actually thing that it's not actually caused any deaths or any injuries . as i'm aware . injuries. as far as i'm aware. so, you know, at least it's a it's a, it's a, it's a how can i put this. it's like, it's like a, an event to be watched and, and mother nature doing its stuff. really revel in stuff. and i really revel in stuff. and i really revel in stuff. i've never been to iceland. i think you're going, ben, aren't you? yeah >> first time. mean, should >> first time. i mean, should i still or should make still go gym or should i make alternative plans ? alternative plans? >> no, i think you should continue. just the continue. and just take the advice. just take the advice. as in when you're about to go, they'll pull you if there's a dangen they'll pull you if there's a danger, they'll pull you. you won't going anywhere. won't be going anywhere. skegness. instead. skegness. perhaps instead. so sorry. skegness skegness. but you what iceland is you know what i mean. iceland is a place, even though a fantastic place, even though i've geographically, i've never been geographically, topography massively , uh, topography massively, uh, challenging. uh, yeah. a great experience, i'm sure you will have. but safe. have. but stay safe. >> don't have a hero. >> you don't have to be a hero. you don't have to be a daredevil like some people like some people. some people have ignoring the guidance have been ignoring the guidance and going there having and going up there and having having a with their own having a look with their own eyes. you can see a lot of eyes. but you can see a lot of it from reykjavik itself , it from reykjavik itself, apparently. amazing views,

amazing but not amazing views. but it's not people who at risk, people who are at risk, apparently, because everyone's people who are at risk, apparevacuatediuse everyone's people who are at risk, apparevacuated .|se everyone's people who are at risk, apparevacuated . it'szveryone's people who are at risk, apparevacuated . it's the (one's been evacuated. it's the infrastructure potential blackouts or or the blue lagoon , blackouts or or the blue lagoon, of course, closed. but thank you very much indeed for your time. senior meteorologist jim dale, lovely to to you. senior meteorologist jim dale, lokaay. to you. senior meteorologist jim dale, lokaay. tc on. u. senior meteorologist jim dale, lokaay. tcon. uh in >> okay. moving on. uh in scotland, deputy first minister and finance secretary shona robinson will deliver her first scottish budget at 2 pm. today. and with the prospect of further income tax rise, announcement underway, prime minister rishi sunak has called this quote very disappointing. >> but shona robison has hit back at the remarks, saying sunak has a bit of a cheek , sunak has a bit of a cheek, accusing westminster of putting electioneering ahead of public services in the autumn statement i >> -- >> but joining us now from holyrood is gb news scotland reporter tony maguire . reporter tony maguire. afternoon, tony, from north of the border . who's right here the border. who's right here then is rishi, is rishi right or is the finance minister talking sense ? sense? >> well, if history has taught

us anything, it's for tat and round and round we go. certainly today's budget, um , shona today's budget, um, shona robison has been laying the groundwork for quite some time now that this is going to be an extremely tough budget, she said. it's going to be likely to be the hardest budget in a 25 years, really, since devolution, and all because scotland has a £15 billion gap in its budget, £1.5 billion gap in its budget, funding and it she in her first budget this afternoon , will try budget this afternoon, will try to find ways to begin to plug that now way back in november when we heard the autumn statement, £545 million came north of the border by way of the barnett consequentials . and the barnett consequentials. and shona robison will need to try and work that. she is the option of whether to follow suit. >> for some of the budget decisions made by jeremy hunt for the rest of the uk, or to try something completely

different. >> but one thing you did touch on there was income tax. rishi sunak, of course, said that he was very disappointed he would be disappointed if the scottish government was to go that route. this new tax would be around 45% for earners, making . between for earners, making. between 70,000 and £125,000, so some of the top earners, but not helping the top earners, but not helping the situation for the deputy first minister, is some of the pledges that humza yousaf has made at the snp conference earlier this year. he pledged to aim for council tax and nationwide council tax. um freeze for the next year as 32 authorities. >> i think that covers and various yes that's correct. >> the basically the entire country will will go for a freeze. now that is obviously one huge resource for the scottish government to go with,

but unfortunately this year that is not going to be an option for the deputy first minister. so what we do know is that we are going to expect to see some changes in terms of the finance , changes in terms of the finance, but of course, there are also going to be public services hit. we reported in the last week that the scottish fire and rescue service and police scotland are all facing cuts continuously over the last ten years. um, so we will need to wait and see this afternoon where that axe will fall. yes it looks like scottish people may be facing that twin burden of, uh, less public spending and of course, increased taxes too. >> thank you very much indeed for your time, tony maguire, our scotland reporter. there outside holyrood . holyrood. >> okay. moving on, michael gove says he'll take action against councils that, quote, drag their feet over housebuilding. >> yes, in his keynote housing speech, the secretary of state for up and housing and for levelling up and housing and communities announced a series of says government of measures, says the government is on the side builders, not

is on the side of builders, not blockers, he outlines a blockers, as he outlines a commitment homes commitment to build new homes across commitment to build new homes acr> our political editor, christopher hope, was there . uh, christopher hope, was there. uh, christopher, good afternoon . christopher, good afternoon. what tell us about what can you tell us about gove's announcement today? >> well, we're going to be talking to christopher hope, our political ah, he political editor. ah, here he is. excellent. thank you very much us, much for joining us, christopher. hi did have christopher. hi what did he have to the room? hi emily. to say in the room? hi emily. >> hi, ben. hi emily. >> hi, ben. hi emily. >> ben. >> hi, ben. >> hi, ben. >> that's right. gove , >> that's right. michael gove, who's the housing secretary? >> that's right. michael gove, wh(just1e housing secretary? >> that's right. michael gove, wh(just finished 1g secretary? >> that's right. michael gove, wh(just finished his'>ecretary? >> that's right. michael gove, wh(just finished his speech(? >> that's right. michael gove, wh(just finished his speech here >> that's right. michael gove, withe.t finished his speech here >> that's right. michael gove, withe royalhed his speech here >> that's right. michael gove, withe royal institute peech here >> that's right. michael gove, withe royal institute of, ch here >> that's right. michael gove, withe royal institute of, um,ere at the royal institute of, um, of architects here in central london. and a few moments ago he said he's laid out plans today, he says will mean that 70,000 more homes will built each more homes will be built each yean more homes will be built each year, lifting the figure from 230,000 to 300,000 a year. he won't. i asked him directly for gb news. when will that happen ? gb news. when will that happen? he said won't happen until he said it won't happen until mortgage rates interest mortgage rates and interest rates to normal levels, rates are back to normal levels, which we are expecting hopefully towards end of next year. he towards the end of next year. he did make an interesting link. i asked him directly whether record net migration has led to the current housing crisis. many young can't afford to buy

young people can't afford to buy a house. we do see soaring. uh rental rents in london and elsewhere, as well as housing costs. and he said that quite interestingly , he made that interestingly, he made that link. he said that high levels of migration do put pressure on housing. now. it's very rare you get that being emitted by ministers, but they are now linking correctly. i think soaring net migration with with a shortage housing and meaning many young people just can't get on the ladder. i think that's quite important for quite an important moment for the always find it >> yeah, i always find it ironic, christopher, when you get particularly the younger generation who are pro, um, unlimited immigration and pretty much open borders , yet on the much open borders, yet on the other side of the coin, they then complain that they can't get housing. um, what's labour said about this? they've apparently had a go at gove for watering down their the tories original 300,000 target. well the idea is to get back there according to mr gove. >> yet labour's point is that this is they're folding in the face of nimbys as they see it now. gobi doesn't want to have a

fight his own backbenchers. fight with his own backbenchers. he's ledge he's walking a narrow ledge here, between annoying here, ben, between not annoying tory with with seats mainly tory mps with with seats mainly in south of england who in the south of england who don't want inappropriate building, says quite building, he says quite interestingly, understands interestingly, he understands why in my backyard. why nimbys not in my backyard. people don't want to build inappropriate housing in their areas. but equally, he says, we have to do it. you know, he's a yimby. he says, yes, in my back yard. more in yard. he wants more building in the . and councils the right places. and councils will be able to build on greenfield spaces , but they must greenfield spaces, but they must then release other areas for , then release other areas for, for nature, nature and, and beautifying those areas. so he's quite keen, very keen on building more but in the right places. emily and christopher, i heard earlier that apparently plans for 150,000 homes in cambridge are now outside. >> any word on infrastructure to enable those homes to be built? school places, nhs, etc. etc. >> emily, you're totally right. the big issue is infrastructure and that could often get in the way of building putting sewerage

and building the right numbers of public services required. no word yet, but the idea is, is to try and put push more homes onto cambridge and make use of that of that city's world class relationship academia . and relationship with academia. and hopefully might work. but relationship with academia. and hop government1ight work. but relationship with academia. and hop government is ht work. but relationship with academia. and hop government is laterally but the government is laterally trying to get on with more building . don't of building. i don't think any of this has before the this has happened before the next any benefit this has happened before the next be any benefit this has happened before the next be felt any benefit this has happened before the next be felt by any benefit this has happened before the next be felt by the benefit this has happened before the next be felt by the nextefit might be felt by the next government. if that's tory or laboun >> well, thank you very much for your time, christopher. hope there. who your time, christopher. hope therlistening who your time, christopher. hope therlistening the who your time, christopher. hope therlistening the housingo was listening to the housing secretary, michael gove, deliver his speech, uh, in infrastructure, as well. infrastructure, roads as well. it's all well and good having tens of thousands of houses tens of thousands of new houses in certain area. but if the in a certain area. but if the roads aren't there, gridlock , roads aren't there, gridlock, then you would have thought. >> surely they would have thought things thought of these things before committing targets and committing to targets and pledging build homes. surely >> en- surely >> really differs >> i think it really differs depending on you are, right? >> well, mps in for >> well, mps are in line for a bumper £6,000 pay rise, right? for some, we've been finding out whether you think they deserve it. those emails coming in. it. keep those emails coming in. that's all to come after this short break. don't

sunday mornings from 930 on gb news is . news is. >> well , come news is. >> well, come back. >> well, come back. >> good. uh. good afternoon. britain as we've been talking about, mps potentially bagging a bumper six grand pay rise . lots bumper six grand pay rise. lots of you have been emailing in. i think i'll have to say that there's definitely a majority of opinions on that. >> well, interestingly, all saying that perhaps it should be unked saying that perhaps it should be linked to perform science first

and foremost. but let's what and foremost. but let's see what the british make of the the british public make of the boost . boost. >> i think they get more than enough already for doing a lousy job. >> i don't think they should get anything really any more, but because they claim everything on expenses anyway , so that's expenses anyway, so that's counteracts any pay rise . counteracts any pay rise. >> that's in my opinion. i think it's bit too much. you have to it's a bit too much. you have to put politely , know. put it politely, you know. i know they lot for us. don't know they do a lot for us. don't get me wrong. >> but as i say, there's a lot more they can do to earn the money. >> no, they they've i've told everybody that need everybody that we need pay restraint and they can't afford to pay mps. >> uh, the doctors , the nurses >> uh, the doctors, the nurses that work very hard . and if it's that work very hard. and if it's a reasonable centage, i don't know what the mps total salary is, but if 6% is in line with inflation, why not? we need good mps . we need to pay them mps. we need to pay them properly. yeah it's absolutely ridiculous that people who can't even afford to eat heat their house or feed their children , house or feed their children, they have to go to food banks. >> £6,000 a year is a ridiculous

amount of money. >> some of those guys not holding back their, uh, the former editor of labourlist, peter edwards, joins us now in the studio to thrash this one out. peter good afternoon. six grand more than teachers. doctors is that justified? well, let's look at the starting point. >> um, 86,500 pounds is a basic mp salary . and bear in mind that mp salary. and bear in mind that they get quite generous pensions . and for anyone who's been a minister, you get a higher salary. most of the cabinet gets six and if you're an >> and then if you're an ex—minister, you get an even more generous pension as well. >> we should talk >> so i think we should talk about percentages, think about percentages, but i think the, point is very the, the starting point is very high and i don't think mps should grand pay rise should have a six grand pay rise on top for exactly the reasons that your viewers laid out on the street there um, it's the street there that, um, it's a time that we're all a bit poorer and our political masters use words like pay restraint, but we just have less money as a nafion but we just have less money as a nation than we used to after covid. but apparently taken into account they've account inflation, they've actually a pay cut real

actually had a pay cut real terms since 2010. >> and think that's why the >> and i think that's why the starting is so important, starting point is so important, because is, um, public because one is, um, public sector workers. >> we often talk about teachers , >> we often talk about teachers, nurses, doctors to give a few examples. point examples. their starting point is much, much, much lower. you know, nurses don't get 86 grand. >> another point is about prospects, because if you're a nurse , you're generally stay medicine. >> you're a teacher, you're >> if you're a teacher, you're more likely to stay in teaching. but mps, especially but we've seen mps, especially ex—ministers, and in ex—ministers, go and work in banking paid 6 or 7 banking and get paid 6 or 7 figures and work in private figures go and work in private equity, or they have second jobs on and work very on the side and mps work very hard they're parliament. on the side and mps work very harcwhen they're parliament. on the side and mps work very harcwhen theyr're parliament. on the side and mps work very harcwhen they leave parliament. on the side and mps work very harcwhen they leave parliament but when they leave parliament they sometimes earn millions . they sometimes earn millions. >> um, but the reality what do you say to the argument, which is quite a lot that actually is put quite a lot that actually if you want to attract the best minds, who could have big minds, those who could have big careers in the city, for example, or in industry or, uh, being absolute ftse one, absolute codswallop , you need absolute codswallop, you need to, uh, absolutely . to, uh, absolutely. >> codswallop. >> codswallop. >> and i know that's not your view necessarily. you're just pushing forward, that

pushing that forward, but that example used about example is often used about banking. you remember the banking. but do you remember the name goodwin ? and i don't name fred goodwin? and i don't mean to personalise but that mean to personalise it, but that was that if you just was a theory that if you just pay was a theory that if you just pay and amounts of pay larger and larger amounts of money, and money, you'll get better and better things will better people and things will never the never go wrong. that's the excuse people excuse for paying people six figures, seven figures, sometimes eight figures in banking . banking. >> and that failed. >> and that failed. >> look , being an mp is a public >> look, being an mp is a public service job and i have lots of intelligent friends who work in teaching or education who are far, far lower salaries and as just as motivated by the public good. >> peter, isn't it just the opfics >> peter, isn't it just the optics of it though? we've had so many emails this afternoon from our viewers calling it disgusting , undeserved. if tom disgusting, undeserved. if tom harwood is right and they are essentially giving a pay cut, fine. but just the optics of it at a time when people are struggling, is there any way they could have not done this? you , i mean, expenses are you know, i mean, expenses are even going up as well. >> expense budgets, i wouldn't call it disgusting because i depher i think of depher i think mps of all stripes work hard. i think stripes work very hard. i think they're on them. they're immense burdens on them. and it meant scrutiny and we

have to accept that some of the times that tips over into very unpleasant behaviour from minority of the public. so the pressure on them is enormous. but the starting salary is already very high, and the comparison with, with the rest of society, i mean, it's just jaw dropping. >> but hang on, you have civil servants who are paid in excess of in some of that far more in some circumstances . you have managers circumstances. you have managers within the nhs and also many publicly funded organisations , publicly funded organisations, councils as well, who are sometimes earning more than the prime minister surely if we want the calibre of our mps to be top notch, then we need to pay them a little more, because international comparisons show that ours aren't that well paid . that ours aren't that well paid. >> and yeah, but i mean, can you imagine having this debate with churchill or mrs. thatcher or clement attlee . clement attlee. >> what would they have said? oh yeah, we're all for here the money because we're super people. yeah. no i don't agree with all those people. uh, certainly not mrs. thatcher, but they were people motivated by pubuc

they were people motivated by publicto do their best for trying to do their best for other coping other people, often coping with terribly like terribly difficult times like poverty, sickness and war. they wanted to do something. there are lots of ways to earn a lot of money. banking um, law and working for a ftse 100 company, for example. there's nothing wrong with that. as long you wrong with that. as long as you pay wrong with that. as long as you pay your taxes. but um, our we can get paid 100 grand, 200 grand. you know, that shouldn't be the motivation for going into politics. >> well, there you go. public service. need pay service. you don't need a pay rise. so let us know what you think. views gb news. com. think. gb views gb news. com. thank much, peter thank you very much, peter edwards former editor edwards, former editor of labourlist up labourlist of course, coming up from donald trump's potential return to the white house to civil servant payouts, we'll be joined by our expert panel. >> that's your news >> that's after your news headunes >> that's after your news headlines with tatiana . headlines with tatiana. >> and thank you. 133 this is the latest from the gb newsroom . the latest from the gb newsroom. the prime minister says malign actors are seeking exploit actors are seeking to exploit the situation in the middle east. britain's joining an

international coalition to protect ships in the red sea after a recent series of attacks . houthi militants in yemen are stepping up assaults on vessels as pass through one of the as they pass through one of the world's most important shipping routes. they're backed iran routes. they're backed by iran and with the hamas terror and allied with the hamas terror group, rishi sunak says the royal navy's presence in the region will be deterrent. region will be a deterrent. >> what we are doing, you're not answering my point. >> i am, because i think you're giving me a policy answer to something giving me a policy answer to soncould; turn? >> could i turn? >> could i turn? >> i think important >> i think it is important because it's not just aid that will situation. it's will help the situation. it's also deterrence and also military deterrence and leadership. again, we were leadership. and again, we were the country after us the first country after the us to assets into the region. to send assets into the region. >> so hms lancaster, hms diamond, those, those they are in the region ahead of any other countries. that is leadership and that's because we are providing deterrence for commercial shipping and also making sure that humanitarian maritime corridors remain open . maritime corridors remain open. >> schools are being advised to inform parents if their children say they'd like to change their

gender identity under new guidance. there's no obligation to allow students to socially transition or to provide gender neutral facilities, both . the neutral facilities, both. the stonewall and mermaids charities say the advice doesn't consider the needs of gender diverse youth . michael gove has put youth. michael gove has put council planning departments on notice, saying slow approvals won't be tolerated . in a speech won't be tolerated. in a speech on planning reform, the housing secretary said there's resistance to new development in many parts of the country. he's cracking down on lengthy applications , with some councils applications, with some councils to be given three months to improve or risk having their to be given three months to improvstripped having their to be given three months to improvstripped anding their to be given three months to improvstripped and police ir to be given three months to improvstripped and police are power stripped and police are appealing for help after thieves tried to get away with a hoard of christmas presents. they were responding to reports of a stolen car in bristol when they discovered the haul of gifts, some of which were tagged from debbie and lee or from sarah rich, max and joe. anyone with information is encouraged to dial 101. you can get more on all of those stories by visiting

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eamonn and isabel monday to thursdays from 6:00 till 930. >> well good afternoon britain. >> well good afternoon britain. >> it is 140 in the afternoon and i've got a question. how would you mark rishi sunak performance out of ten? because he is, of course, currently getting a grilling from the chairs of the various select committees on his performance essentially. so joining now essentially. so joining us now to this and other top to discuss this and other top stories is the director of government relations at the adam smith institute, james price, and the journalist and broadcaster nina michkov. >> , let's kick off with >> nina, let's kick off with you. he's getting a grilling on his five pledges. rwanda the economy. he has succeeded on the boats . for example, he said

economy. he has succeeded on the boats. for example, he said he'd reduced the boat numbers . um, ho. 110. >> no. >> he said, stop the boats. correct. >> stop the boats! he's on. >> stop the boats! he's on. >> he's on the path, though, is he not on the path? can we give him that? >> not on the path at all. >> he's not on the path at all. he's. he's actually trying to flimflam us with this ridiculous rwanda scheme, never rwanda scheme, which is never going off rwanda scheme, which is never goirground off rwanda scheme, which is never goirground in off rwanda scheme, which is never goirground in any off rwanda scheme, which is never goirground in any way. off rwanda scheme, which is never goirground in any way. andf rwanda scheme, which is never goirground in any way. and even the ground in any way. and even if it did, even if the plane load of refugees went to rwanda, that's it . they're full. then that's it. they're full. then we've we've got room for about 200. that's the end of it. so then what? >> well, they do say there's no cut off, so there could be more spaces, i take your point spaces, but i take your point that is not off the that it is not got off the ground such. but out ten ground as such. but out of ten what mark rishi sunak what would you mark rishi sunak for his record so far? >> nothing three. >> nothing above three. i wouldn't and at wouldn't think. and usually at school to you know, school we used to get, you know, three i never thank god i never got three. me got three. but see me just ignore that red pen. i ignore that in the red pen. i don't want him to see him. i don't want him to see him. i don't want him to see at don't want him to see me at all. i want to see him. no, i don't want to see him. no, he's thumbs. you say he's he's the thumbs. you say he's not a leader. and the thing is, he's not politician. he's not a politician. >> nina phillips , he's

>> oh, nina phillips, he's a festive cheer for our prime minister. >> he's geeky guy , you >> he's a geeky techie guy, you know, a. know, he's a. >> well, is true fan. >> well, that is true fan. >> well, that is true fan. >> well, that is true fan. >> we can't argue that. he >> we can't argue with that. he is a techie guy. he does is a he is a techie guy. he does like to sit down with, you know, james price, you're freedom james price, you're a freedom lover the smith lover at the adam smith institute does rishi institute. so how does rishi sunak when it comes to sunak mark when it comes to that? i think it's the lack of freedom that rishi has inherited i >> -- >> that's 5mm >> that's big problem for him. >> that's a big problem for him. right? way through his his >> all the way through his his fancy university, >> all the way through his his fan�*master's university, >> all the way through his his fan�*master's in university, >> all the way through his his fan�*master's in business ity, >> all the way through his his fan�*master's in business in, his master's in business in america, all these fancy things by working really, really, really hard studying hard really hard and studying hard and everything is and reading everything there is to really well. to read, he did really well. >> problem is now there's >> the problem is now there's too much able to read, too much to be able to read, there's too much to be able to do. >> and he's trying his hardest and he wakes up before rest and he wakes up before the rest of to bed after the of us and goes to bed after the rest us. rest of us. >> what time does wake up? >> what time does he wake up? >> what time does he wake up? >> i think it's extraordinarily early. doesn't drink early. the fact he doesn't drink probably helps, right? he's going in the going to feel all day in the morning, he he is finding morning, but he he is finding himself this structure himself inside this structure here now where no matter how hard are so many hard he works, there are so many forces him. forces arranged against him. you've levers you've got you pull these levers inside number and inside number 10 and the departments actually, you departments to actually, you can't do that because the

european convention on human rights rights act rights or the human rights act or equality act and all or the equality act and all these because he's these things, because he's trying work within system trying to work within the system he's why he's inherited. that's why everything wrong, he's inherited. that's why everythirhe's wrong, he's inherited. that's why everythirhe's not wrong, he's inherited. that's why everythirhe's not yet wrong, he's inherited. that's why everythirhe's not yet wro to because he's not yet trying to fight outside that and fight outside that system. and i think where going wrong. >> isn't a thankless task? >> isn't it a thankless task? why this job? why does he want this job? i mean, reports to be mean, if reports are to be believed, he's at least got tens of in his net worth, of millions in his net worth, potentially when potentially billions. when combined with his wife. >> king charles, combined with his wife. >> he? king charles, isn't he? >> why does want this and >> why does he want this job and all thankless criticism all the thankless criticism that goes with it from people like all the thankless criticism that goes vit's it from people like all the thankless criticism that goes vit's tough, people like all the thankless criticism that goes vit's tough, isn't)le like all the thankless criticism that goes vit's tough, isn't it? like nina? it's tough, isn't it? >> i mean, it's been said. it's been political been said that all political careers right? been said that all political care i 's right? been said that all political care�*i think right? been said that all political care�*i think that's right? been said that all political care�*i think that's beentight? been said that all political care�*i think that's been largely and i think that's been largely borne out. maybe david cameron, with his return, with his his surprise return, will some extent. will undo that to some extent. but is a question. why but it is a big question. why does he want to do does he why does he want to do these maybe just these things? maybe he just thinks he's doing the right thing. talking thing. and you were talking earlier about mps salaries. it's not something he has worry not something he has to worry about. got about. maybe he feels he's got more freedom to be able to manoeuvre that manoeuvre because he's got that money in the bank. >> it's more basic than >> i think it's more basic than that. think fact is that that. i think the fact is that he's made of he's married. he's made a lot of money himself, he's made a money himself, but he's made a woman whose family is woman who's whose family is stupendously woman who's whose family is stupin dously woman who's whose family is stupin law;ly woman who's whose family is stupin law has to, you know, the

son in law has to, you know, the son in law has to, you know, the son in law cannot make as much money as father in law. son in law cannot make as much mothe as father in law. son in law cannot make as much mothe only father in law. son in law cannot make as much mothe only way father in law. son in law cannot make as much mothe only way he ther in law. son in law cannot make as much mothe only way he can in law. son in law cannot make as much mothe only way he can do .aw. son in law cannot make as much mothe only way he can do itv. son in law cannot make as much mothe only way he can do it is so the only way he can do it is to retain , is to have a status, to retain, is to have a status, to retain, is to have a status, to have power. i mean, that's that's nonsense to me. >> so it's all about status and proving himself . yes, proving himself. yes, absolutely. maybe it is, but in terms of his record , nina, to be terms of his record, nina, to be fair to rishi sunak, he has had a difficult time at it. some of the things that james mentioned, but also because the party is all over the place , so much all over the place, so much infighting, people with differences of opinion on absolutely everything. >> but isn't that partly his fault ousting boris? >> but isn't that partly his fau well,)usting boris? >> but isn't that partly his fau well, we :ing boris? >> but isn't that partly his fau well, we could>ris? >> but isn't that partly his fau well, we could go? >> but isn't that partly his fau well, we could go back to >> well, we could go back to then, at just the then, but looking at just the past is very difficult past year is very difficult to rally the troops, isn't it? >> well, the troops are rats fighting in a sack. i mean, it's like different, know, bits like different, you know, bits of the mafia all trying to come together actually together without actually shooting the shooting each other in the lavatories mean, and this may lavatories. i mean, and this may happen. we don't know. um, but the thing is that he's a member of a party. um, and he has to he's chosen his bedfellows, and

he's chosen his bedfellows, and he can bloody well lie with them. i mean, who actually would want to be a member of a party like that ? seriously? like that? seriously? >> well, can he turn it around ? >> well, can he turn it around? james, what do think? james, what do you think? >> uh , it ain't over till it's >> uh, it ain't over till it's oven >> uh, it ain't over till it's over. think the thing that he over. i think the thing that he could do, having having a christmas break come back out in january, read some, january, maybe having read some, you conservative you know, conservative philosophy and like philosophy books and things like that exactly where he that and seeing exactly where he thinks personally, he stands the problem, had. problem, the tories have had. right. we've gone right. as you say, we've gone through five leaders so far. all the rest of it. they came into government 13 years government 13 odd years ago, having shackled the having to be shackled with the lib dems. was sort of lib dems. so that was sort of already bad start in lib already a bad start in the lib dems to keep them dems are trying to keep them honest decent honest and straight and decent and within. few and human within. within a few weeks, lib dem weeks, one of the lib dem ministers to stand down for ministers had to stand down for lying his own personal lying about his own personal affairs. but, you know, so they're as each they're all as bad as each other. true. other. this is true. >> politicians. >> that's their politicians. let's all had you let's remember that all had you know, are lying. know, politicians are lying. >> lips are moving. >> their lips are moving. well, i'm but if he comes i'm with you. but if he comes out says, right, okay, out and he says, right, okay, this is actually what i really believe, be believe, and you're going to be with you're not. and he with me or you're not. and he has some kind of ideological closed because, you know, closed up because, you know, when the chance, he comes when he has the chance, he comes

out and out as quite conservative and lots and the public lots of things. and the public seem that when that seem to like that when that happens. >> like that >> well, i don't like that particularly. >> well, i don't like that particulikes it, half public public likes it, half the public doesn't. >> p- doesn't. >> is the problem in doesn't. >> party. is the problem in doesn't. >> party. thisthe problem in doesn't. >> party. this is; problem in doesn't. >> party. this is the)blem in doesn't. >> party. this is the fiven in the party. this is the five families that last week, again sounding exactly it's that sounding exactly like it's that of godfather something sounding exactly like it's that of saying,ather something sounding exactly like it's that of saying, right, something sounding exactly like it's that of saying, right, this mething sounding exactly like it's that of saying, right, this mewhat and saying, right, this is what we're do me, or we're going to do with me, or you're against me, and let's roll i think people roll and i think people would like a very like that clarity. that's a very good like that clarity. that's a very goovery difficult rishi >> very difficult for rishi sunak to try and hold together that coalition of voters that voted for boris johnson in a very jeremy very different context. jeremy corbyn, starmer appears corbyn, keir starmer appears more competent far less more competent and far less divisive and controversial, of course. divisive and controversial, of co rally around. very, very difficult. >> i think the concern, the trouble is, you know, his ideas of say, education, make kids of on, say, education, make kids take maths until they're 18, completely ignore the fact that that that, you know , a great that that, you know, a great majority of people have absolutely no aptitude of maths and forcing them to take maths lessons is not going to turn them geeks like him , them into geeks like him, because are. because they are. >> they are artists or they are plumbers or they are all sorts of other countries. >> do it though, to be fair to

rishi and it may include rishi sunak and it may include things like learning how interest rates or how to interest rates work or how to fill in your tax return, which arguably is quite a constructive thing to do. >> but i think if you take maths to the age of 80 and you're being told how to fill in your tax form when you're 18, i think that's we're at. that's not quite what we're at. you did touch on it. >> isn't the concern from tory voters and members in particular, like particular, who feel like they've in recent they've been betrayed in recent years? i mean, what are spectacular capitulation from 2019, know, massive 2019, you know, a massive majority and they've fluffed it up the wall in such a way. they have isn't the real problem. and this concern many tory this is a concern for many tory voters. speak to that. they voters. i speak to that. they just feel like there's not many true conservatives left in the conservative party hooray! >> i think i think that's i think that's a really good concern. i don't think it's anything to about because concern. i don't think it's any ledg to about because concern. i don't think it's any ledg tthis about because concern. i don't think it's any ledg tthis kind bout because concern. i don't think it's anyledg tthis kind 0th because concern. i don't think it's anyledg tthis kind of drift:ause it's led to this kind of drift that got and party that we've got and the party fraying different fraying itself in different ways. partly ways. and i think it's partly the been too the fact that we've been too scared forthrightly say scared to forthrightly say things. really believe in, things. we really believe in, right? to tell truth on right? to tell the truth on issues. national issues. right. the national debt. massive. it was debt. absolutely massive. it was a really big in that first

a really big issue in that first government. it was cameron government. and it was cameron and all their other and osborne, for all their other faults, who would come out and say economic plan, we say long tum economic plan, we have to do this for future have to do this for the future of country, for your of the country, for your children grandchildren . children and your grandchildren. it's to be easy. don't it's not going to be easy. don't listen miliband. lying it's not going to be easy. don't lisyou. miliband. lying it's not going to be easy. don't lisyou. andliband. lying it's not going to be easy. don't lisyou. and the 1d. lying it's not going to be easy. don't lisyou. and the public lying at to you. and the public looked at that and they went, you know what? i like that they're telling and was telling the truth. and that was right. they told right. and they also told the hard that's more the hard truths. now that's more the austerity those two, austerity that that those two, uh, enforced upon the country austerity that that those two, uh, (has'ced upon the country austerity that that those two, uh, (has unbelievable country austerity that that those two, uh, (has unbelievable still|try has, has unbelievable still affects people nowadays. >> well , let's let's affects people nowadays. >> well, let's let's remember this is obviously a debate from years back now, this years back now, but this austerity slowing down in austerity was a slowing down in the increase public spending the increase of public spending on . on things. >> and keep throwing money at >> and we keep throwing money at the that the the problem in the way that the new threw at new labour threw money at problems it's not problems as well. and it's not made better. made anything any better. i think more fundamental reform is needed, to the needed, which goes back to the point need to start point that we need to start thinking outside the box, whether that's the nhs, whether that's welfare whether that's welfare reform, whether that's welfare reform, whether that's in that's our standing in place in the i don't vote labour. but >> and i don't vote labour. but that's exactly what he's awake at worrying the at night worrying about the level move on? >> because one nurse story caught your didn't it, ben? caught your eye, didn't it, ben? >> so yesterday had >> yeah. so yesterday we had that joe biden

that story about joe biden hinting wouldn't be hinting that britain wouldn't be getting trade deal with, getting a free trade deal with, uh, the uk. um i made the point that some people had argued in recent joe biden recent years that joe biden wasn't a particular fan of the uk of his uk, based on some of his previous comments. he's, of course, heritage today course, got irish heritage today , a story in the telegraph, uh, saying that whitehall sources , saying that whitehall sources, um, have told the paper that ministers hope a post—brexit free trade agreement could be revived donald trump wins the revived if donald trump wins the next election . so next us election. so essentially, our ministers want trump dreadful aim to actually endanger the entire western world. >> just so we can get a trade deal with america . well, that's deal with america. well, that's a positive thing . a positive thing. >> that's a bit unfair on trump. i mean, he was he was the first man to meet. i i think not i mean, look , the thought of trump mean, look, the thought of trump coming back is just a nightmare because the damage that that man has done, the divisive nature of his politics, what he has done to the american people to set one on one kind against another, has been absolutely scandalous.

>> james price, you looked a little quizzical, uh, when nina said that, uh, it might put the western world at risk. >> well, sadly, the our cousins across the atlantic made very clear they didn't want brits meddling in their politics. 250 odd ago so far. be it from odd years ago so far. be it from us to say these things. but that kind division was place kind of division was in place well nasty orange man well before the nasty orange man came along. this way. came along. not in this way. a nasty orange who did the nasty orange man who did the nasty orange man who did the nasty admittedly, nasty tweets. and admittedly, the january 6th thing was terrible. was that terrible. and that was that really him. the really shamed him. but the world has dangerous has become a more dangerous place with biden in office. do we putin would we really think that putin would have ukraine? have invaded ukraine? do we really that would really think that this would have israel with have happened in israel with hamas do we really hamas doing it? do we really think iranians would think that the iranians would either catastrophes, either of those catastrophes, there were major wars when either of those catastrophes, there things major wars when either of those catastrophes, there things happened|rs when either of those catastrophes, there things happened and hen either of those catastrophes, there things happened and the these things happened and the sanctions example, on sanctions on, for example, on iran were really hurting that regime, and it was really choking couple of years of choking a couple of years of biden to normalise biden trying to normalise relations. houthi relations. well, the houthi rebels iran. rebels are being funded by iran. hamas funded iran . hamas are being funded by iran. two and some two tiny examples there and some of the other. the social problems, i think coming from these places. so biden, who also claims, the this irish claims, by the way, this irish ancestry, i think people have

done actually done the work. he's actually more than irish. more english than he is irish. well, another bird of his confused just quickly, just quickly some of the points quickly on on some of the points you raised because going back to the uh, the free trade agreement, uh, donald much donald trump is very much america first, is he not? >> he's not necessarily going america first, is he not? >>give1e's not necessarily going america first, is he not? >>give us; not necessarily going america first, is he not? >>give us aiot necessarily going america first, is he not? >>give us a good cessarily going america first, is he not? >>give us a good trade �*ily going america first, is he not? >>give us a good trade deal,»ing to give us a good trade deal, even if he does become the massive fan of britain though. >> yes, it's the it's >> well, yes, it's the it's the conflict what you say conflict there. what do you say to boris. >> that's that's what it was a big fan of the queen. his mother was was big fan, sadly. was uh, was a big fan, sadly. >> unfortunately no longer with us. “an mm— i“33111—- mm question, we more >> but my question, are we more likely free trade likely to have a free trade agreement with president trump at the helm? >> right. uh, trump, >> absolutely right. uh, trump, as protectionist biden >> absolutely right. uh, trump, as his protectionist biden >> absolutely right. uh, trump, as his administrationst biden >> absolutely right. uh, trump, as his administration have en and his administration have taken protectionist taken those protectionist policies and absolutely juiced them so—called them up. this so—called inflation act is inflation reduction act is massive protectionism . they're massive protectionism. they're not interested. and by the way, viewers at home shouldn't take this personally. nobody is getting deal getting a good free trade deal with america. with biden in office if office in this time round, if it's other kind of it's some other kind of republican even it's republican or even if it's trump, have a better chance trump, we have a better chance than anybody else. because exactly some of exactly as you say, some of these benefits britain gets these benefits that britain gets from trump liking us. one example, thing. example, but a terrible thing. trump up to the

trump did to suck up to the playground bully just so we can get. >> is it better not to be in bed with someone who has, you know, has our interests at heart and is a fan of the country as opposed to, say, biden, who some argue opposed to, say, biden, who some arg biden has, has, has, the >> biden has, has, has, has the interests of our country and europe whole, bloc. interests of our country and eurcouldn't whole, bloc. interests of our country and eurcouldn't disagree bloc. interests of our country and eurcouldn't disagree with.oc. interests of our country and eurcouldn't disagree with that >> couldn't disagree with that more. does have he does. >> well, he does have he does. he that that he needs he knows that that that he needs us. otherwise we need them us. otherwise and we need them otherwise. do we follow otherwise. why do we follow everything know, we everything they do? you know, we are are the lapdogs. are we are the lapdogs. >> if look across at >> i think if we look across at europe we look kind europe and we look at the kind of strategic autonomy as people like macron want to talk about this, own this, that europe can go its own way to get sucked way and not have to get sucked into, choosing the side into, uh, choosing the side of the chinese. the americans or the chinese. it's very dangerous. that it's very, very dangerous. that works for the works really well for the chinese. need chinese. and i think we need to look whether bad look beyond whether it's bad orange man or confused old man orange man or confused old man or it is in the white or whoever it is in the white house or hopefully better house or hopefully the better crop coming and crop of people coming and realise americans are realise that the americans are our special our best friends and the special relationship our best friends and the special relatior be p our best friends and the special relatiorbe investing in much should be investing in much deeper just between deeper down, not just between white house number 10, but white house and number 10, but across in general. across the atlantic in general. >> trouble trump taints >> the trouble is, trump taints everything, he taints

everything, and he and he is completely uncontrollable. he is, is his reckless. is, he is, he is his reckless. he's and do we need that? he's random and do we need that? that kind man with his hand that kind of man with his hand on the button? >> well, we've just about >> well, we've got just about enough our enough time to squeeze in our final story. uh, before the. but we'll be seeing you in hour we'll be seeing you in an hour anyway. paid anyway. civil servants were paid £150 million in gold and goodbyes last year. quick word from you on this, james. >> it's enough to make a cat laugh, i think these things laugh, i think on these things this will have been this scheme will have been brought by civil brought up with by civil servants. with an eye on of servants. with an eye on one of these, would been these, it would have been approved with approved by civil servants with an of and if an eye on one of these. and if it been a special adviser it had been a special adviser like me or a minister daring to quibble they would quibble with it, they would have found areas work found other areas of their work in department stymied as in that department stymied as well. so i think it's disgraceful happening. disgraceful that it's happening. >> outrageous. it really >> it's outrageous. it really is. in the face is. it it's laughs in the face of people who've struggling of people who've been struggling now who now for, for some time, who really having everybody's really are having everybody's having apart having a difficult time apart from having a difficult time apart frori guess kind of falls into >> i guess it kind of falls into the same sphere the optics as the same sphere in the optics as the same sphere in the optics as the mps pay rise. you know, when everyone and everyone else is struggling and i think problem is you've i think the problem is you've got many civil servants. got so many civil servants. >> right. and the department for

education the education alone, 8500 from the home right. well, and home office. right. well, and this misallocation this is a misallocation that's going ministers going wrong. and the ministers at kind of at the top have got this kind of learned helplessness where they again, feel can't again, they feel they can't actually they to actually act when they need to be you should be be able to do. you should be able hire fire a able to hire and fire people a lot more than we have. lot more easily than we have. and golden goodbyes and these golden goodbyes make that difficult. that really difficult. >> well, thank very much that really difficult. >> welforhank very much that really difficult. >> welforhank time.ery much that really difficult. >> welforhank time. fantastic indeed for your time. fantastic panel and the panel today, james price and the journalist and broadcaster nina myskow. more to myskow. we've got much more to come. we're myskow. we've got much more to come.to we're myskow. we've got much more to come.to be we're myskow. we've got much more to come.to be talking we're myskow. we've got much more to come.to be talking about we're myskow. we've got much more to come.to be talking about rishiz going to be talking about rishi sunak the chairs of the sunak. what of the chairs of the select committees? grilling sunak. what of the chairs of the sele and�*mmittees? grilling sunak. what of the chairs of the sele and we'lltees? grilling sunak. what of the chairs of the sele and we'll find’ grilling sunak. what of the chairs of the sele and we'll find out grilling sunak. what of the chairs of the sele and we'll find out . grilling sunak. what of the chairs of the sele and we'll find out . and.ling sunak. what of the chairs of the sele and we'll find out . and ofg him and we'll find out. and of course, latest on the course, the very latest on the icelandic volcano will you make it on your honeymoon? that is the question . on. the question. on. >> looks like things are heating up. boxt boilers sponsors of weather on gb news . weather on gb news. >> hello. welcome to your latest gb news weather update from the met office. after a rather damp start to the day, for many of us it will turn brighter through the afternoon, but it also turn

colder and windier, with some showers following behind. the rain through this morning has been brought by this weather front that to the front that will sink to the southeast through afternoon southeast through this afternoon and into evening, and behind and into the evening, and behind it colder it will see much colder air being introduced . so it will be being introduced. so it will be a colder night tonight, but for the afternoon that will allow more develop, more sunshine to develop, especially across parts of wales and midlands , as well and the midlands, as well as northeastern of england. northeastern areas of england. however, to the north and west we will see blustery we will see quite blustery showers falling as snow over the high ground and it should stay quite murky still across the southeast , but quite murky still across the southeast, but milder here for much of the day. that clearer weather then becomes more widespread tonight . it widespread through tonight. it should stay dry through much of the and the night. for many central and southeastern areas. however, we'll continue to see those showers pushing in on that brisk northwesterly breeze, especially . along coastal areas and over the high ground. it will be quite a windy night. as a result, temperatures will be held up more northern and held up across more northern and western areas, but in the south held up across more northern and westeastareas, but in the south held up across more northern and westeast tomorrow in the south held up across more northern and westeast tomorrow in the s0l see a and east tomorrow we could see a touch frost , and in

touch of grass, frost, and in the and east it should the south and east it should stay dry again through much of the through the day tomorrow and through northern the northern areas to start. but the cloud thicken as the cloud will thicken as the afternoon progresses and we'll see drizzly arriving see some drizzly rain arriving from the north and west. that should persist into thursday as well . it's got milder should persist into thursday as well. it's got milder air though, so temperatures will be a little higher, but it will turn windy that warm turn very windy by that warm feeling inside . feeling inside. >> boxt boilers >> and from boxt boilers sponsors of weather

gb news. >> good afternoon britain. it's 2:00 on tuesday 19th of december. >> fears for holiday flights iceland is in a state of emergency right now as an intense volcanic eruption continues to spew lava and smoke into the sky. could it bring travel misery this christmas? we'll have the latest with a professor of volcanology citing putting parents first elsewhere, former prime minister liz truss says the government's trans gender guidance for schools, quote , does not go far enough. quote, does not go far enough. >> it comes as the department for education publishes rules for education publishes rules for to pupils for support to pupils questioning their gender. >> yes, and bumper pay rise, despite the cost of living crisis, mps are to receive a £6,000 pay boost, but do they deserve it? now, ben, there's been a lot of talk about house building today

because michael gove, the housing secretary, was giving a speech about how he's going to get tough with local councils, try to make them speed up planning process, planning approvals to get homes built . approvals to get homes built. one idea is for 150,000 homes to be built in cambridge and the vicinity of cambridge, but one question for you at home and to you, ben, is do you trust the government and local councils and all the people in charge of these things to provide the matching infrastructure ? so matching infrastructure? so roads, if you've got tens of thousands of people, schools, nhs places , dentists, we hear nhs places, dentists, we hear that's in crisis non—stop. where's all the infrastructure coming from? >> um, i don't trust them to do it. and you would have thought that they would have sorted all this pledging to this out before pledging to build 150,000 homes. i support . build 150,000 homes. i support. obviously, like probably most people, the building of thousands and thousands of new homes. chronic homes. we've got a chronic housing shortage, but if you're not to provide the not going to provide the appropriate places,

appropriate school places, i mean, already a school mean, there's already a school crisis moment. i'm crisis at the moment. i'm looking schools for four looking at schools for my four year boy. most schools year old boy. um, most schools around my area are jam packed. >> that's very interesting. apparently in london, actually, schools closing , believe it schools are closing, believe it or not, because there aren't enough little kids. you enough little kids. would you believe? you believe these believe? would you believe these have more babies? it's interesting uh, interesting that, uh, christopher hope, our political edhon christopher hope, our political editor, did say that michael gove admitted that, uh, high levels of migration might have an impact on the housing crisis. so there you go. the penny has dropped. well, let us know what you gb views gb com you think. gb views gb news. com how housebuilding how is housebuilding affecting your ? but first, the your area? but first, the headunes your area? but first, the headlines tatiana . headlines for tatiana. >> emily, thank you very much. 2:02. this is the latest from the gb newsroom. the prime minister says the situation in the red sea is deeply concerning as iran backed groups seek to exploit instability in the region. britain's joining an international coalition to protect ships in the red sea after a recent series of attacks

by houthi militants in yemen, are stepping up assaults on vessels as they pass through one of the world's most important shipping routes. they're backed by iran allied with the by iran and allied with the hamas terror group, rishi sunak says royal navy's presence says the royal navy's presence will deterrent . will be a deterrent. >> but it's not just aid that will help the situation. it's also military deterrence and leadership . and again, we were leadership. and again, we were the first country after the us to send assets into the region. so hms lancaster, hms diamond, those, those they are in the region ahead of any other countries. that is leadership and that's because we are providing deterrence for commercial shipping and also making sure that humanitarian maritime corridors remain open . maritime corridors remain open. >> schools are being advised to inform parents if their children say they'd like to change their gender identity under new guidance. there is no obligation to allow students to socially transition or to provide gender neutral facilities. both the stonewall and mermaids charities say the advice doesn't consider the needs of gender diverse

youth, but equalities minister kemi badenoch says that's not the case. fundamentally we disagree with stonewall's analysis. >> we fundamentally disagree with their facts. the cass review has shown that social transitioning is not a neutral act. it puts children on a medical pathway that can lead to irreversible medical decisions. the use of puberty blockers, and so on. but also something that's really important to emphasise is that just because a child doesn't conform to gender stereotypes doesn't mean that they are the opposite sex. we shouldn't assume that because a boy likes pink or a girl likes football, that they are of the opposite sex. >> friends and family and colleagues have gathered to remember the former chancellor, alistair darling, at his memorial service for prime minister tony blair is among those who've paid tribute to the former labour mp, who died after a short spell in hospital at the age of 70. shadow chancellor rachel reeves remembered him as a man of decency .

a man of decency. >> alastair. it was about deeds, not words and deeds , not words not words and deeds, not words would be our best tribute to him to fight for a politics that rewards decency, good judgement and strength of character . and strength of character. a politics that puts the interests of working people first. these were the values that alistair lived . lived. >> michael gove has put council planning departments on notice, saying slow approvals won't be tolerated . in a speech on tolerated. in a speech on planning reform , the housing planning reform, the housing secretary said there's resistance to new developments in many parts of the country. he's cracking down on lengthy applications with some councils to be given three months to improve or risk having their power stripped . power stripped. >> weather is and has been consistent underperformance. i will act . will act. >> so today i'm taking steps to deal with underperformers in the planning system , and there is no

planning system, and there is no greater failure than the failure to actually have a plan in place. i am prepared to act wherever there is failure. >> i expect all other authorities make sure that authorities to make sure that they timetable for up they have a timetable for an up to date in place within the to date plan in place within the same time frame, with a copy provided to my department. >> but shadow housing and planning minister matthew pennycook says the new measures will actually mean fewer homes are the truth is that the changes >> the truth is that the changes that confirmed today that are being confirmed today made as a concession to tory backbenchers late last year, will give those councils who wish to take advantage of it the freedom to plan for fewer homes than their nominal targets imply. >> and that means less homes for people to rent and to buy across the country. >> for labour, that is a clear divide line. we want to have a housing and planning system that that meets need in full, and we won't allow councils to come below their mandatory housing targets, which we will reintroduce . reintroduce. >> dramatic scenes are continuing in iceland as a volcano spews lava and ash into the sky. these pictures are

coming to us live. those watching on television will be able to see lava continuing to bubble out of that two, and a half mile long crack in the earth . iceland's government says earth. iceland's government says it doesn't pose a threat to life, but there are some flight delays and curious sightseers are being warned keep away . are being warned to keep away. and police are appealing for help after thieves tried to get away with a hoard of christmas presents. they were responding to reports of a stolen car in bristol when they discovered the haul of gifts , some of which haul of gifts, some of which were debbie and lee were tagged from debbie and lee or sarah, rich, max and or from sarah, rich, max and joe. anyone with information is encouraged to dial 101. this is gb news across the uk on tv, in your car, on digital radio and on your smart speaker by saying play gb news. now back to ben and . emily. and. emily. >> right. well, rishi sunak is facing parliament's liaison

committee as mps question the prime minister about his tenure. >> yes, the pm usually appears before the committee. 2 or 3 times a year. chaired by sir bernard jenkin, the committee's comprised of all the chairs of the house of commons select committees. >> yes. so let's go live to our political editor, christopher hope for the latest . hope for the latest. christopher, i understand he's been asked quite a few questions so far and is starting to get a bit of a grilling on his stop the boats pledge. >> yeah, that's right, the boats pledge. >> yeah, that's right , the one >> yeah, that's right, the one of the key five targets that he set himself this year, didn't he? emily and ben was to stop the boats. that means stop the small boats crossings across the southern border in the uk. he's failed. so far, 23,000 crossings as people arrived here by illegal craft. the idea now is to pass a rwanda bill to get them out of the uk or as many as they can, and processed and deported rwanda break the deported to rwanda to break the model. the business model that's being people being used by these people smugglers deter

smugglers and really deter them from but of course, from coming. but of course, number 10 said that wasn't necessarily for this year. and in fact, the pm has now said it won't be any date. he says to the mps just now there's not a firm date on this. as i've always been clear from the beginning. well we may have said that in a speech, but stopped. the boats became a very clear commitment from his government. but say it's but they won't say when it's going happen. um, you also going to happen. um, you also talked in same talked about in the same meeting, meeting with the liaison committee and it's ongoing. wants food bank use ongoing. he wants food bank use to fall, and he's working day and to secure the safe and night to secure the safe release of uk hostages . the release of uk hostages. the first part of this evidence session is about global issues , session is about global issues, and we'll come on to more areas of government policy later. now, earlier today , michael gove's earlier today, michael gove's been doing a speech on housing. he's laid out plans to try and get more homes built in the uk. his plans overall will release will result, he thinks , in will result, he thinks, in 70,000 more homes being built every year to around 300,000. and he i asked him for gb news

viewers when that might happen. he wouldn't say. he said simply that it's when we have normal levels of interest rates and mortgage he's confident mortgage rates. he's confident that it can happen. of course, that it can happen. of course, that happen any time soon. that won't happen any time soon. maybe not as late next maybe not as late as late next yeah maybe not as late as late next year. on forecasting, which means can happen on means that nothing can happen on housebuilding unveils day housebuilding and unveils a day before general before the next general election. also asked him for election. i also asked him for our viewers whether he felt that this net migration, record migration , an 1.2 million people migration, an 1.2 million people more arriving here in the 24 months to june this year, compared to the previous two years. and he said that he recognises that, um, might nafion recognises that, um, might nation can put pressure on housing. and that, to me is one of the first times we've had a clear link between housing shortages and net migration. many people in the will many people in the uk will wonder allow this legal wonder why we allow this legal migration to be so high. when homes are so expensive. for many young people , and i think he's young people, and i think he's going to at least, at least acknowledging that connection, which a ben and emily.

which is a start. ben and emily. >> yeah, that's always been my point . obviously the small boats point. obviously the small boats is the legal is a problem, but the legal migration, which the tories do have is , some would have control over is, some would say, wildly out of control . just say, wildly out of control. just going back to the small boats, though, chris, um, let's can we be a bit generous at christmas time to rishi sunak? i know he's not stopped the boats, but numbers are down on last year at least . can we not give numbers are down on last year at least. can we not give him that numbers are down on last year at least . can we not give him that? least. can we not give him that? yeah >> ben. why not? you know it is christmas. yeah. they're down by a third. okay, so. and that was a third. okay, so. and that was a deal he did with albania. um, that's mean that a lot of people are now not not coming from albania. sent back albania. they're being sent back there bad weather there. and also bad weather helped had a grim a grim helped him. we had a grim a grim summer. many of us remember, which meant the which mainly meant that the crossings numbers are crossings were hard. numbers are about they were in about the same as they were in 2021, but they're nowhere near. they're a third off the they're about a third off the record set last 2022. so record set last year, 2022. so yeah, okay. five out of ten, mr sunak quite interestingly , um, sunak quite interestingly, um, angus, brendan macneil mp, who is the chair of the energy

security and net zero committee, he asked the prime minister whether he's serious when it comes to global warming or whether he's using it as a bit of a political football. >> i guess rishi sunak has been giving quite mixed messages when it comes to his commitment to climate change. >> yeah . i mean, he climate change. >> yeah. i mean, he i think climate change. >> yeah . i mean, he i think the >> yeah. i mean, he i think the uk is now no longer an outlier. now, before he reversed some of those pledges to get rid of new petrol cars and diesel cars in 2030, pushing it back to 2035. and the uk has now in the same ballpark as other comparable economies . before that, we were economies. before that, we were much ahead of that and the pm, i think maybe correctly for some people thought, why are we going to enforce these rules, these targets on people, when cash is so tight, when there's no need to? he thinks we're still on course to hit our 2050 target of net zero. uh emissions. that's his target. he thinks we're still on the way. he was. he made this point to gb news viewers in the at the cop 28

summit earlier this month in dubai . the uk is on course to dubai. the uk is on course to hit net zero and just just changing , pushing to the right changing, pushing to the right some of those targets won't m atter. >> so matter. >> so christopher , just lastly, >> so christopher, just lastly, sorry to put you on the spot, but we've been putting this question to our panel today. if we treat this, hearing as we treat this, uh, hearing as a report card for rishi sunak, what would you mark? rishi sunak out of ten in his performance this . well i think he would give this. well i think he would give himself eight out of ten now. >> i've seen quite a lot of him in privileged position as gb in my privileged position as gb news political editor, he's news is political editor, he's very about his , uh, his, very bullish about his, uh, his, uh, this year, the uh, achievements this year, the aukus deal. that's a defence deal aukus deal. that's a defence deal. he's done , uh, all other deal. he's done, uh, all other bilateral deals, some with us states . he's got the windsor states. he's got the windsor framework agreed back in april. um, he's done he thinks he's done all he to can deal with the cost of living crisis. in fact, many people told me the autumn statement given by, jeremy statement given by, um, jeremy hunt, back in hunt, the chancellor back in last month, was the one that kwasi kwarteng should have given

a ago to try and calm the a year ago to try and calm the markets work our way through it. what people want to see, though, is action from mr sunak and he fails on action on. he hasn't stopped the boats. they're down by a third but he hasn't by his own measure done that. um there's problems there's still problems with waiting times. economy is waiting times. the economy is growing anaemic , barely at all. growing anaemic, barely at all. inflation is halving big tick for that. so i think he's done okay. uh, within the grounds. if i was giving advice to him and he won't listen to me, i'm sure. why should he? it's find a better way sell your story, better way to sell your story, not just read out facts . and i not just read out facts. and i get it. why can't you get it ? to get it. why can't you get it? to try and make it a story. make it a narrative. and that's what, of course, boris johnson was good at. a journalist at. maybe as a journalist training, he was able to use what knew and turn it into a what he knew and turn it into a narrative and connect with an audience. don't see a lot audience. and i don't see a lot of that's why of connection. and that's why for try and for all this effort to try and restore government's restore the government's finances truss , post finances post liz truss, post pandemic, ukraine war, it's pandemic, post ukraine war, it's not really cutting through emily and ben and that's his problem .

and ben and that's his problem. and that's why he still is far behind the polls as he when he started. he's very upbeat. started. but he's very upbeat. i saw last night drinks saw him last night at drinks party he's upbeat, party at number 10. he's upbeat, he's talking about his he's jolly, talking about his favourite films. he's favourite christmas films. he's not who looks like he's not someone who looks like he's beanng not someone who looks like he's bearing load of that, that, bearing the load of that, that, um, deficit in the polls that maybe he might be. and he. i think he thinks next year is his yeah think he thinks next year is his year. what they want is finally ben and emily is to get these 25% of they see they see them as tory voters who are not declaring the party to come back. and if he can get them back. and if he can get them back by the end of next year at the tory party, we are in hung parliament territory. >> very interesting answer , >> very interesting answer, christopher hope. i'm not sure. i heard a number out of ten, but we'll let you off. you, of we'll let you off. as you, of course, political editor course, are our political editor andifs course, are our political editor and it's not your place to, uh, mark the prime minister's scorecard . scorecard. >> you go, chris, >> just before you go, chris, briefly, can you remember what the said? favourite the pm said? his favourite christmas film was ? yes christmas film was? yes >> yeah, he told me it was the houday. holiday. >> uh, of course it was.

>>— >> uh, of course it was. >> it was not. >> it was not. >> of course it . >> of course it. >>— >> of course it. >> yeah, it was that one about kate winslet and a telegraph journalist. so i quite like. i'm performing the telegraph. i quite like that. >> i can't imagine rishi sunak sitting down with his, uh, his two daughters, isn't it? and his wife watching a bit of bit of the holiday . when he does the holiday. when he does eventually get some downtime. thank you very indeed, thank you very much indeed, christopher. thank you very much indeed, christcthere from the editor there from the westminster studio. yes. he westminster star studio. yes. he didn't answer. didn't didn't give an answer. he didn't give did he? give a number, did he? >> remaining diplomatic >> but he's remaining diplomatic pr perhaps it is about pr advice, perhaps it is about creating a narrative, it ? creating a narrative, isn't it? >> as it is about >> as much as it is about results have been lacking, results which have been lacking, one say. but we're just one might say. but we're just going to pass over to iceland now , is it still? look at some now, is it still? look at some still roaring away. >> look at that. that's fantastic . fantastic. >> yeah, very much is still roaring away. you're roaring away. if you're listening seeing roaring away. if you're li lot|ing seeing roaring away. if you're li lot to; seeing roaring away. if you're li lot to spew seeing roaring away. if you're li lot to spew out seeing roaring away. if you're li lot to spew out of seeing roaring away. if you're li lot to spew out of the seeing roaring away. if you're li lot to spew out of the ground a lot to spew out of the ground there at the reykjanes peninsula in iceland . in iceland. >> it's, uh, it's kind of like a burst pipe, isn't it? it's just non—stop spewing out. and actually, i think i read it. correct me if i'm wrong, viewers, but i read that iceland

is one of the only places in the world you go where you can world you can go where you can actually tectonic plates world you can go where you can act uh,y tectonic plates world you can go where you can act uh, uh, tectonic plates world you can go where you can act uh, uh, eurasiaectonic plates world you can go where you can act uh, uh, eurasia and ic plates world you can go where you can act uh, uh, eurasia and north es of, uh, uh, eurasia and north america which over america, to which come over ground . um, as i said, correct ground. um, as i said, correct me if i'm wrong. i'm not. uh, yeah. >> it's extremely dramatic . and >> it's extremely dramatic. and this an area that, you know, this is an area that, you know, tourists . it's people who tourists. it's go to people who want to and see the amazing want to hike and see the amazing landscape that iceland has to offer . but of course, the area offer. but of course, the area close to it, the town closest to it, has been evacuated and thousands of people moved of thousands of people moved out of the to protect the area in order to protect their of course, the blue their safety of course, the blue lagoon, the famous site, lagoon, the famous tourist site, has been closed again due to this, of course. >> did you know they only just reopened? they've been closed for 5 or 6 weeks. yeah, out of absolute fear that the volcano might erupt , they opened over absolute fear that the volcano migweekend they opened over absolute fear that the volcano migweekend saying pened over absolute fear that the volcano migweekend saying coasti over absolute fear that the volcano migweekend saying coast isver the weekend saying coast is clear. all good. we're open 24 hours later. boom right. >> well, we're going to be speaking a professor of speaking to a professor of volcanology who will tell us exactly in the exactly what is happening in the pictures you're looking at right now. but before that, we're going to move on because schools in england, been told in england, they've been told

there general duty to there is no general duty to allow children to change their gender identity. >> . it's part of long >> yeah. it's part of long awaited guidance schools and awaited guidance for schools and colleges who question colleges for pupils who question their gender. but governments transgender guidance doesn't completely block social transition . transition. >> transition minister for women and equalities kemi badenoch argues a blanket ban is simply unworkable . unworkable. >> you can't outright ban social transition because it has many elements in it which are perfectly fine. for instance , perfectly fine. for instance, changing anyone can changing a name anyone can change their name if they if they want to . parents can change they want to. parents can change a child's name by deed poll. the government shouldn't be getting involved lives in involved in people's lives in that way. however there are many things that are important, like single—sex spaces, for instance, like making sure the sport is fair and that boys aren't playing in girls sports, for example, and hurting them where they have totally different physical characteristics that remove all sorts of fairness that you would expect to take place in sport . that's what the place in sport. that's what the guidance is there for. it is practical advice to ensure schools know how to deal with this situation .

this very difficult situation. well we know this has been a bit of a headache for the government. >> it's taken a while for this guidance to finally be published. so let's speak to religious education teacher and transgender man george white, who joins us now. thank you very much for your time. um, george, so do you welcome this guidance being published? do you think this will helpful to schools? this will be helpful to schools? what you what you make of what do you what do you make of it? i think that the delay hasn't been helpful and certainly releasing it perhaps at time is also at this time is also not particularly , bearing in particularly helpful, bearing in mind most schools are tying up for christmas. >> how ever the guidance has some reasonable suggestions in um, in the clip you've just shown of kemi badenoch, you know, actually the guidance legally has been that single—sex spaces are protected in schools and that you are quite, quite able to , by law, remove somebody able to, by law, remove somebody from those spaces if they are not of that biological sex. >> do you think if a child comes to school and they tell a

teacher, um, if they're a girl, they tell a teacher, you know, i think i think i'm a boy and i want to transition at school. please don't tell my parents. do you think teachers should have to tell the child's parents? >> i think this is where some of the educators probably looking at this issue in a little bit more detail, the guidance that's been released is not statutory. the guidance that we have that's statutory in schools, keeping children safe in education often does highlight that lgbt pupils might be at harm. if you are immediately to go and tell a parent, of course, in an ideal scenario, most of us as educators would want parents to be informed of what's going on. >> but there are some cases where this can cause serious harm, in which case the statutory guidance would say that we don't have to inform parents. >> george, can i ask you , 10 or >> george, can i ask you, 10 or 15 years ago, it was very rare. i mean, i personally had never heard of a school child who was coming out as trans or non—binary. what's behind this

massive increase ? this, uh, in massive increase? this, uh, in just that. i mean, is it as some people have suggested, what they call social contagion? >> i mean, it could be. >> i mean, it could be. >> it might not be. >> it might not be. >> i've spoken before on this. >> i've spoken before on this. >> and, you know, i never had any trans representation when i grew yet i here i am as a grew up. yet i here i am as a trans individual, living and thriving. so i think people get more comfortable. there's the statistics that are often kind of at side of this, uh, of put at the side of this, uh, when we started to accept that people handed rather people were left handed rather than right handed , than making them right handed, and left handers and the number of left handers exponentially grew . exponentially grew. >> um, for some people it may be a phase. >> and that's why, you know, ruling out social transition would be which they would be silly, which they haven't. um, and for some people, it may not be a phase like myself. >> so if, if and when you have a pupil coming you saying that, pupil coming to you saying that, you i think i might be you know, i think i might be trans, help or trans, i'd like some help or advice uh at what advice coming out. uh at what point you, um, stretch that point do you, um, stretch that advice to, i mean, the ultimate, the extreme end of the spectrum is that when they become an

adult, they will go down what they call gender affirming surgery or care. i mean, do you discuss of options discuss those kind of options with come you? uh with kids who come to you? uh no, it's not really necessary. >> it's not really my place to, you know, i'm not someone who's going to be prescribing hormones. i'm not someone that's going to be prescribing hormcto s. i'm not someone that's going to be prescribing hormcto be'm not someone that's going to be prescribing hormcto be performingeone that's going to be prescribing hormcto be performing surgery. t's going to be performing surgery. i'm someone that's to i'm not someone that's going to give official diagnosis give them official diagnosis of gender dysphoria. but if i can do something allows to do something that allows them to feel in the feel more comfortable in the immediate, which might be changing and people changing the name, and people can do that. you know, i've taught kids not taught other kids that are not trans to change their trans that want to change their name. if there's something in that that we can do to that in that sense, we can do to make more make someone feel more comfortable, yes, we it. comfortable, then yes, we do it. but we recommend, you know, going appropriate going to the appropriate channels right channels to get the right support would need. support that someone would need. yeah, because under yeah, just lastly, because under this issued by the this guidance issued by the government don't government teachers don't actually have to use self identified pronouns. >> so they could simply refuse to call a boy by his preferred female pronoun towns. um, in practice , yes. do you think it practice, yes. do you think it would be easy for teachers to refuse to do that? or is there a

lot of pressure on the teachers? if you can, if you can speak to this to go along with the child's wishes? well according to uk law and as far as i can tell, i'm not a lawyer. >> but according to uk law and some of the things that i've seen already, we are supposed to be respectful of those pronouns and we are supposed to use. the misgendering as misgendering could be seen as causing harm somebody's. causing harm to somebody's. however, the document has released it. um, a little bit of support in that scenario that if you don't want to use the pronouns, you can use the child's preferred name to refer to instead. so maybe that's to them instead. so maybe that's a middle ground for the time being. >> yeah, because i think there's a conflict there the law a conflict there in the law because gender critical ideas are protected under are also, uh, protected under those equality laws. but thank you really appreciate you very much. really appreciate your there, your time. george white there, who teacher and also a who is a teacher and also a transgender man himself. >> great stuff coming up. we're live the constituency of live in the constituency of peter bowen where the suspended mp faces . well, rishi sunak mp faces. well, rishi sunak rather faces another by—election. uh, more on that

shortly. come back after the

isabel monday to thursdays from. six till 930. >> welcome back . it's 227 now. >> welcome back. it's 227 now. today marks the closing of a recall petition in the constituency of wellingborough after sitting mp peter bone was suspended from the commons. >> yes. so bone stands accused of several accounts of bullying and one act of sexual misconduct . these are allegations that he

strongly denies . but if at least strongly denies. but if at least 10% of eligible voters sign the petition, a by—election will be triggered, possibly causing yet more headaches for prime minister rishi sunak. joining us now is gb news east midlands reporter will hollis, who's on the ground in wellingborough. >> good afternoon will. come on then. what's the chances of another by—election headache for rishi? is this petition getting close to the line. do you think ? close to the line. do you think? >> well peter bone here in northamptonshire in wellingborough. >> shoemaker country was a bit of a local mp success story. >> somebody earlier said to me that he was the kind of guy that could get things done. he'd been in this position since 2005 as a conservative mp, but that really has all soured in the last couple of months. and independent investigation from the parliament's independent expert panel found that he had been a committed, he had committed many varied acts of

bullying and at least one act of sexual misconduct. now those are accusations that were made , uh, accusations that were made, uh, dating back to ten years ago. there's are accusations that peter bone denies. he says that there are things that he is not been, uh, not done. they are things that he has not committed. the acts of peter bone has a very strong majority here, 19,000. but what he doesn't have any more is that opportunity to stand as a conservative mp. he's lost the whip. and right now in the house of commons, he sits as an independent. so what's been happening here over the last six weeks is local people have had an opportunity to put their name to a petition that that decides whether peter bone, whether there will be a local by—election so if there is going to be a by—election we will hear from that tonight at 5 pm. and local people have been telling me what they would vote for in that instance .

that instance. >> yeah, but of course, a better than labour. a better than laboun >> it'd be labour because they're on a, they're more they're on a, they're more they're trying for the working class where conservative like when i was younger i didn't know a lot about it. >> but as i've got older older it's easier to see the conservatives aren't for the working class. therefore the people have a bit of people who already have a bit of money that they can a bit of money that they can a bit of money in their pocket. >> because i think peter >> labour, because i think peter bone hasn't really served this constituency very well, and i don't like . what he's done with don't like. what he's done with basically supporting boris every step of the way. boris is a crook and so is peter bone. i think every conservative, um, i think every conservative, um, i think they're doing more for wellingborough and what labour ever did . ever did. >> so that'd be my vote . >> so that'd be my vote. >> so that'd be my vote. >> if there is a by—election in january, i would probably stand for myself. >> i feel that there's been not enough done.

>> you know, for the people within this , uh, basically constituency. >> um, i have things that i would have wanted to have dealt or have had dealt with by peter bone myself . bone myself. >> um, but i didn't have the faith or confidence in the tory machine . machine. >> so therefore something needs to be done . there needs to be change. >> um , there is just a two party >> um, there is just a two party system at the moment . system at the moment. >> well, by elections haven't served tory mps very well . served tory mps very well. >> or the areas where there have been tory mps strongholds. >> but what tends to happen with these recall petitions is that they do tend to go in favour of a by—election. it's only 10% of signatures from local voters here in the constituency of wellingborough that need to have taken the time over the last six weeks to go down to their local polling station and put that signature against that petition.

10% of the 70,000 people that vote in wellingborough's constituency see, is only 7000 thousand or so. i think 7004. so that only needs to be a chunk of local voters for other political parties like labour or lib dem or people that have really gone quite grown quite tired of peter bone. >> well, thank you very much indeed. will hollis, there up in wellingborough, where peter bone's seat is, i want to hear more from that man in the red coat. >> he's got courage in his convictions, wasn't it? >> isn't he breaking news? he wants to stand whatever his name is. we'll to that out. is. we'll have to find that out. i want to see more if does i want to see more if she does it. if there is a by—election right. >> coming up from assisted dying to little britain, >> coming up from assisted dying to a little britain, >> coming up from assisted dying to a bit little britain, >> coming up from assisted dying to a bit of little britain, >> coming up from assisted dying to a bit of a little britain, >> coming up from assisted dying to a bit of a stretch,iritain, >> coming up from assisted dying to a bit of a stretch, we'll, in a bit of a stretch, we'll return for detailed return to our panel for detailed discussion your latest discussion after your latest news headlines tatiana . news headlines with tatiana. >> ben, thank you very much. 232 this is the latest from the gb

newsroom . the prime minister newsroom. the prime minister says the situation in the red sea is deeply concerning, as iran backed groups seek to exploit instability in the region . britain's joining exploit instability in the region. britain's joining an international coalition to protect ships in the red sea after a recent series of attacks, houthi militants in yemen are stepping up assaults on vessels as they pass through one of the world's most important shipping routes. they're allied with the hamas terror group , rishi sunak says terror group, rishi sunak says the royal navy's presence will be a deterrent . be a deterrent. >> it's not just aid that will help the situation. it's also military deterrence and leadership . and again, we were leadership. and again, we were the first country after the us to send assets into the region. so hms lancaster , hms diamond , so hms lancaster, hms diamond, those, those they are in the region ahead of any other countries. that is leadership and that's because we are providing deterrence for commercial shipping and also making sure that humanitarian maritime corridors remain open . maritime corridors remain open. >> schools are being advised to

inform parents if their children say they'd like to change their gender identity . we under new gender identity. we under new guidance, there's no obligation to allow students to socially transition or to provide gender neutral facilities . but both the neutral facilities. but both the stonewall and mermaids charities say the advice doesn't consider the needs of gender diverse youth . michael gove has put youth. michael gove has put council planning departments on notice, saying slow approvals won't be tolerated. in a speech on planning reform, the housing secretary said there's resistance to new developments in many parts of the country. he's cracking down on lengthy applications , with some councils applications, with some councils to be given three months to improve or risk having their powers stripped . and dramatic powers stripped. and dramatic scenes continue to in iceland as a volcano spews lava and ash into the sky. these pictures are coming to us live. for those watching on television , you'll watching on television, you'll be able to see the lava continuing to bubble out of that two and a half mile long crack in the earth, iceland's government doesn't pose

government says it doesn't pose a life. but there a threat to life. but there are some flight and curious some flight delays and curious sightseers warned keep sightseers are warned to keep away . you can get more on all of away. you can get more on all of those stories by visiting our website, gbnews.com . website, gbnews.com. >> well, this morning a very special plane has flown terminal ill and life limited children from belfast to lapland to meet santa himself. >> the northern ireland children's, her lapland charity , children's, her lapland charity, helps those children and their loved ones make lifelong festive memories . memories. >> oh, our reporter dougie beattie has gone along for the ride. tell us more dougie . ride. tell us more dougie. >> well , well. good. good >> well, well. good. good afternoon and welcome to the most northern inhabit town in the arctic circle. and i can tell you it is subzero . uh, the tell you it is subzero. uh, the children have arrived here. we were delayed by about an hour . were delayed by about an hour. and if i ever hear a an airport in the uk ever telling me again

that they're snowed in or can't land, i will not believe them. very skilled pilots of tui set down this plane. beautiful on snow here. and you can see it now. i mean, this is subzero stuff. the children are here behind me. there's just some huskies just have arrived here. those children will get on these sleds behind the huskies and take circuits around the place. they've been on skidoos. they've been on reindeers. and then they will go to in meet santa. and santa is some boy. i'm telling you, if you've ever seen this. yeah, even the huskies are agreeing with that . uh, he is agreeing with that. uh, he is everything you would expect from santa . i'm looking forward to santa. i'm looking forward to doing the interview with him myself, which i shall do very, very shortly after we get out of this, uh, particular weather. but it is about making memories for these children. it is about families having a memory that they can cherish together . one they can cherish together. one of the most worthwhile charities i've ever, uh, went along with. and to be fair, it's a day that

they will never, ever forget . they will never, ever forget. >> you've met the real santa dougie beattie. what's he like ? dougie beattie. what's he like? >> well, i met him last year and asked him about patrick, and he said he was on the very, very good list and i doubted him at that stage. but there you go. uh, , uh, yeah, today i'm uh, so, uh, yeah, today i'm going back down to ask him, uh, this probably a similar question. does he still think he's on the very, very good list or not? but yeah, he's he's, uh, he's everything. everything that you to be. you would expect santa to be. i mean, i mean, he is santa. he is the real man himself. it's no wonder he lives up here. it's no wonder he lives up here. it's no wonder nobody can find him. or very little visitors . and of very little visitors. and of course, the elves are in there too. it's in the side of a mountain. you go right down into the side mountain and the side of the mountain and there's workshop . and there's the elves workshop. and there, if i'm lucky . if there's the elves workshop. and there, if i'm lucky. if i'm lucky, i will get an interview with lucky, i will get an interview witiwhat an amazing experience >> what an amazing experience for those special young kids. have you had a chance to speak to any of them or the families much? how long are they there for meeting santa and enjoying

their the their sleigh rides with the huskies ? huskies? >> yeah, well, you can imagine that a lot of these children have some very large physical problems and it is hard for them to stay here anymore. more than one day. so, i mean, they're only here for a matter of hours. there's a serious amount of doctors and nurses on that flight on standby in case anything goes wrong. and that's why it is a very, very hard flight to put together. those doctors give their time on those nurses free of charge, and come along and actually the hospitals actually suggest to the patients that will come on this particular trip. so as they can control if anything does go wrong or any, uh, small problems that are had by those children. but but, uh, the families themselves . i but but, uh, the families themselves. i mean, but but, uh, the families themselves . i mean, even the themselves. i mean, even the photographs with santa afterwards, i've done this for many years and so many times i've had families that have lost their children , uh, many months their children, uh, many months on coming back and asking me for the footage of it. and i gladly give it to them for that very

reason. and it is a memory that they cherish forever. what they will cherish forever. what a do a lovely thing to do for a charity to do, and for you to report on it. >> just just remind how many >> just just remind us how many children are this trip. how children are on this trip. how many children will get this experience many children will get this expthere's just over 200 >> there's just over 200 children, 200 passengers on that flight. >> big trip. >> big trip. >> uh, so you can imagine there's a parent with each. yeah, yeah, it is a big trip. it's a private charter flight. and it comes it comes from belfast in the morning straight into revit. and there are the families gather. they're taking there's four coaches. bring them from the airport straight to here where they're met by this. behind us huskies skidoos reindeers. it is it is just amazing. it is it is a place to go. even i come out of this thinking, wow, i missed out when i was a child that i, that i didn't see this. it is it is some trip. there's no doubt about it . but some trip. there's no doubt about it. but it is some trip. there's no doubt about it . but it is a some trip. there's no doubt about it. but it is a very sombre trip on the way home. yeah >> yes, indeed. thank you so much time. keep much for your time. and keep warm, beattie. warm warm, dougie beattie. keep warm in let us know what in lapland and let us know what it's like to meet the real santa

i >> -- >> how is he keeping warm? a baileys, a nice, nice whisky. just lots of coats. >> yeah, and warmer, you know, thermals, undergarments . thermals, undergarments. >> fantastic trip. i need to get to lapland. actually i've been meaning to go for years. i'd love to take the kids. >> think you do. after >> i think you do. after the break, we're have our break, we're going to have our panel back with us. our fantastic panel. we're to panel back with us. our fangoing panel. we're to panel back with us. our fangoing to nel. we're to be going to be

sunday mornings from 930 on gb news. who's .

news. who's. good afternoon britain. >> welcome back. uh we are back. trust me. now we've been discussing mps pay rises. a lot of you , uh, been banging the of you, uh, been banging the emails. actually, this is a really hotly contested topic . really hotly contested topic. and we're going to decide now once and for all in the third houn once and for all in the third hour, whether they deserve this mooted 7% pay rise, six grand. >> yes. do they deserve it? or perhaps it should be linked to performance? that's some suggestions that we've received anyway. joining us is the director of government relations at the adam smith institute, james price , and journalist james price, and the journalist and nina michkov. and broadcaster nina michkov. thank you very much indeed for joining us. so let's get straight to the point pay rise. yay nay? yay or nay? >> short answer. yay! i'm >> uh, short answer. yay! i'm going of going to upset a lot of your viewers this. don't think viewers on this. i don't think we about for this we should think about for this current crop. i think there's been a slide the quality been a slide in the quality of mps, ones are mps, not only the ones who are watching. i don't mean you guys, but general. and i think but just in general. and i think that we about future that if we think about future mps and talent, it used that if we think about future mibeand talent, it used that if we think about future mibe the talent, it used that if we think about future mibe the case. talent, it used that if we think about future mibe the case. i alent, it used that if we think about future mibe the case. i used, it used that if we think about future mibe the case. i used to used

that if we think about future mibe the case. i used to think to be the case. i used to think that don't want talented that we don't want talented people politics. them people in politics. we want them in or charities is in business or in charities is actually real actually making a real difference. think things have difference. i think things have slid we need some slid so far. now we need some quality i think we quality in there, but i think we should be spending should really be spending lots of money getting of money is in getting more ministers at higher the ministers at higher pay. the prime minister singapore prime minister of singapore earns lee prime minister of singapore earns yew, lee prime minister of singapore earns yew, who lee prime minister of singapore earns yew, who was lee prime minister of singapore earnsyew, who was prime lee prime minister of singapore earnsyew, who was prime minister kuan yew, who was prime minister there years, said, there for what, 30 years, said, yeah, it's true. we've got the best paid politicians in the world, can guarantee world, but i can guarantee they're meaning they're not the richest, meaning they're not the richest, meaning they're corrupt and they are they're not the richest, meaning th nina, the trouble is, no, they're well, inflation has has has, wreaked with has, has, has wreaked havoc with with like for all of with their pay like for all of us. it sticks in the craw to us. and it sticks in the craw to think they'd more than think that they'd get more than nurses. that's that's where that's where, you say the that's where, as you say the current crop, they're very unready bunch. i mean boris johnson was pretty radical when he rooted out all the wise old heads and just really had men around him or women around him who were just, yes, people who weren't actually there for their talent or their ability or their brains anything other than brains or anything other than their ability to say yes. and,

um, i, i find it really hard to think that that nurses would get less in terms of the rate of the increase because they , they increase because they, they don't they don't deserve it . don't they don't deserve it. having said that, we do need people who govern, people who make decisions about our lives to be intelligent people, to have wisdom, to have experience of the world. i mean , there are of the world. i mean, there are some career politicians, theresa may for instance, was was basically a career politician, but we need people who've been in business. and but we also need who are maybe have need people who are maybe have been teachers is um, that , you been teachers is um, that, you know, we need to kind of broaden it out isn't one of the things, james, that there will be mps in the house of commons who couldn't come and that type of salary in the private sector, but there will be some who are potentially considered becoming an are on far more than that. >> but they can't quite, uh, give up their salary in the private sector. >> i'll put myself on safer ground by talking about the next parliament, where i suspect

there'll be a labour majority, and i suspect the quality, their shaky ground moment shaky ground for this moment will terribly talented will not be a terribly talented bunch if we're not careful. and i think this is a big problem. i think comes to think the real problem comes to the if we've got the fact that if we've got people for whom this is the best job going to have, job they're ever going to have, the highest profile the most the highest profile or the most exciting, whatever else, then they'll whatever they they'll do and say whatever they need it, and need to cling on to it, and which mean against which might mean voting against their government their own government because they make them they think that will make them more popular with their own constituents desperately more popular with their own constituecling desperately more popular with their own constitue cling d if perately more popular with their own constitue cling d if youtely more popular with their own constitue cling d if you had trying to cling on. if you had a group super talented group of people super talented who 1 or 2 terms, who came in for 1 or 2 terms, only and said, then i'm done, they making they wouldn't mind making all they wouldn't mind making all the not the tough decisions, not worrying in future, and re—elected in the future, and actually, that's you actually, that's where you i mentioned earlier. >> does rishi sunak want the >> why does rishi sunak want the job got so much money? job when he's got so much money? but fact, similar but in actual fact, and similar to argument would be, to trump, the argument would be, well, you can you can tell well, look, you can you can tell they're it for the for the they're in it for the for the good of country because they good of the country because they don't to do don't need to do it. >> power. he's not it for the >> power. he's not in it for the good of the power, the and good of the power, the power and the to impress >> and to impress his wife apparently, and to well, you know, wife's know, to impress his wife's parents, his wife's parents, to impress his wife's parents, to impress his wife's parents impressed his wife.

>> so that's that. but the thing is, you know, you want people is, you know, you do want people who, who do care about you who, who, who do care about you want you know , it used want it to be, you know, it used to be an almost in a way , a to be an almost in a way, a vocation, the people vocation, because the people who came were people came into parliament were people who chose to in because who chose to come in because they the way they wanted to change the way people's lives were, were dealt with. it doesn't seem to be with. and it doesn't seem to be that at all. and then, of course, you get people like, is it jeff cox who, you know, you say, well, we should pay them more because otherwise people say, well, we should pay them morigeoffreya otherwise people say, well, we should pay them morigeoffrey coxierwise people say, well, we should pay them morigeoffrey cox are 'ise people say, well, we should pay them morigeoffrey cox are 'ise peito.e like geoffrey cox are going to get from elsewhere. get money from elsewhere. they're going to take a second job. the an mp having a job. the idea of an mp having a second job is anathema me. second job is anathema to me. well, these well, they've got all these constituents. they should be looking them . constituents. they should be loo rishi them . constituents. they should be loo rishi th has the second >> rishi sunak has the second job. minister. jeremy job. he's prime minister. jeremy hunt a second job, 100 hunt has a second job, 100 ministers ministers and their ministers or ministers and their mps as well. but they are, i think, i think every mp should have at least a second job. >> no no no no no no no no no no >> n0 [10 [10 [10 [10 [10 [10 [10 [10 [10 [10 [10. >> no no. >> that's how they go out and they get more experience in the world the properly. >> have time. >> you don't have time. >> you don't have time. >> rishi not doing the job >> it's rishi not doing the job properly. starmer doing

properly. keir starmer not doing as people. as many people. >> doing the >> and rishi has not doing the job he has many people job properly. he has many people around will, will, around him that will, that will, you delegate, you know, he can delegate, delegate, you delegate, delegate. whereas you know have staff but know an mp may have staff but they them. they can't delegate to them. >> is argument about >> now this is an argument about the jobs that i know will the second jobs that i know will divide our just as much as divide our inbox just as much as the because have the mps pay, because people have such it. such different views on it. i think it should be allowed think that it should be allowed as as it's not lobbying or as long as it's not lobbying or something. you know that could lead but but lead to corruption. but but james, point you raised james, the point you raised earlier, into earlier, i want to dig into this. they serve the idea this. they only serve the idea that only that mps perhaps could only serve terms serve 1 or 2 terms. terms i mean, maybe that is a good idea . mean, maybe that is a good idea. >> you know, it would it would certainly keep things a bit fresher, wouldn't it? i think the problem is that you get some people who are incredibly talented, and you might want people have their time and people who have their time and learn how the system works and all of someone like all the rest of it. someone like tony blair, good points to tony blair, some good points to him, to him, some very bad points to him. back him. he was a backbencher back in he wasn't prime in 1983, and he wasn't prime minister rishi only minister until 1997. rishi only became mp in what, 2015? so became an mp in what, 2015? so these careers get much more truncated now. so if we want experience, you do have know experience, you do have to know what order to what you're doing in order to run department or, you know,

run a department or, you know, navigate how whitehall works for the best of your constituents. but we go back to but i do think if we go back to someone like burke, someone like edmund burke, father conservatism, father of modern conservatism, or who his address or that who said in his address to electors of bristol that to the electors of bristol that as representative, as your representative, i owe you what i think is the best thing and not just to thing to do, and not just to chase whatever that the chase whatever it is that the constituents say in the here constituents may say in the here and sometimes and now. and i think sometimes we balance wrong, and we get that balance wrong, and mps just like, no, i know mps are just like, no, i know better yeah. better than you basically. yeah. well, people well, that's that's why people put themselves the put themselves forward and the voters i to voters go, actually, i want to get important get on with more important things family things like raising my family and business. and i'm and running my business. and i'm going it you to do. going to leave it to you to do. >> the thing is, if you keep there's a great big turnover, you know, 1 or 2 terms, you know, constituents have know, the constituents have the right they right to have people that they know trust. i mean, god know and trust. i mean, god that's window that's gone out the window hasn't recently. they hasn't it, recently. but they you whole you know, this is the whole point. i think we've point. i i think we've completely sight of the completely lost sight of the fact what an mp should fact of what, what an mp should do. just to toe the do. and it's not just to toe the party line and one thing i wanted emily, is i'm not wanted to say, emily, is i'm not so exercised about the mps salary the house lords is salary as the house of lords is because it is an overblown , because it is an overblown, ridiculous institution . an over

ridiculous institution. an over 800 members is nonsense. i mean, i think boris johnson appointed 10% of them over 80. cameron was another one 100. >> and i'm less concerned about the idea of it. the problem is, in actuality, some of these guys who've been there again for a very long time, they used to be the most eminent people in their fields. now over time fields. and now that over time there's been a kind of decreasing in the relevance of what understand, is what they understand, which is why second jobs, but why if they had second jobs, but they back out, would top they go back out, they would top that knowledge up. >> to need the money >> i tend not to need the money at stage of the game, do they? >> we could debate this all day. i genuinely we could. but i genuinely think we could. but a of gear because a bit of a gear change because little britain back. james, little britain is back. james, you must be a fan of the show. thesoi you must be a fan of the show. theso i think i were to do >> so i think if i were to do any impression from that show on the i would the show now that i would get myself you guys cancelled, myself and you guys cancelled, so, well, a point. so, well, that's a good point. very different time. that's a good point. >> have changed beyond >> well, it have changed beyond recognition, do you reckon? >> well, it have changed beyond reciljnition, do you reckon? >> well, it have changed beyond reciljnition matt you reckon? >> well, it have changed beyond reci i jnition matt lucas:kon? >> well, it have changed beyond reciljnition matt lucas has? >> well, it have changed beyond reciljnition matt lucas has come >> well, it have changed beyond recilsaid,in matt lucas has come >> well, it have changed beyond recilsaid, i matt lucas has come >> well, it have changed beyond recilsaid, i wouldn'tis has come >> well, it have changed beyond recilsaid, i wouldn't have. come and said, i wouldn't have done this character and wouldn't this character and i wouldn't have character, and have done that character, and maybe that's, that's right. but if comics are

if you've got comics now who are starting self—censor, starting to self—censor, then i think to go think that's going to go down a very dangerous route for freedom of just pointless, of speech. it's just pointless, isn't really unfunny? isn't it? really unfunny? >> what's the point? what's the point? there's scene point? there's a great scene in south don't south park. you probably don't watch about the future watch it, but about the future in years time, in 40, 50 years time, where comedians can't joke comedians just can't joke anymore they make most anymore and they make the most pathetic jokes. but everyone has to laugh in sort of north korea style one doesn't style is the one that doesn't seem to pulling its punches, seem to be pulling its punches, even there most >> right? there was the most recent one where the main character had a dream that he and all his friends had been replaced powerful replaced by strong, powerful black yeah, and, you black women. yeah, and, you know, anything know, just having anything of that and they don't mind, you know, going to offend. >> but the thing nina, with little then, little britain back then, they took mickey of everyone. little britain back then, they tookwhites,ckey of everyone. little britain back then, they tookwhites, ckey disabled, eryone. little britain back then, they tookwhites,ckeydisabled, blacke. the whites, the disabled, black people, was people, everybody. everyone was fair game. everybody >> the edge. >> and it was close to the edge. then not like everybody sat then it's not like everybody sat around and said, well, is around and said, well, this is all you know, 20 ago all fine. you know, 20 years ago people that people didn't think that actually, whole people didn't think that acringed. whole i cringed. >> must admit, i think all >> i must admit, i think we all cringed. >> i must admit, i think we all criri ed. that's, that was it >> i mean, that's, that was it was the cringe factor that made it such powerful comedy because you has to have you know, comedy has to have shock value when comes to shock value when it comes to down it. and they took that to the degree and, and in a

the nth degree and, and in a very, um, very intelligent way. but i think, you know, times do change and i, i feel uncomfortable looking at that these days. yeah. >> so it's set to return this christmas . of course. and >> so it's set to return this christmas. of course. and this is 20 years since it first aired. it's unlikely to be recognisable, really. i mean, you look back at it, there was reruns, there was there reruns of the old episodes are censored. >> no, no, just as it is there, you've got vicky pollard, the everything as far as i know, there are three series they just rerunning it. >> ah, it's hard to, as you say. it's hard to imagine some of this stuff now. and the one saving grace i think of little britain is that it punched down. it punched up, it punched after. it punched up, it punched after. it kind of haymaker. right. it was kind of haymaker. right. so the old lady who i so it was the old lady who i think would throw up if food was eaten by someone an ethnic eaten by someone from an ethnic minority. eaten by someone from an ethnic minoritytaste, but the is terrible taste, but the joke is on nasty lady. there on the nasty old lady. there right? and so at least there was some there hitting some element there of hitting every that they could every target that they could think very think of. oh, so just very

briefly, matt briefly, quite ironically, matt lucas complaining earlier lucas was complaining earlier this people taking this year about people taking the of him for being the mick out of him for being bald. was just thinking how >> and i was just thinking how in hang a minute, in a minute, hang on a minute, you've this, this you've just made this, this series, everyone is series, you know, everyone is perpetually series, you know, everyone is perpetuaithat's we've got. >> well, that's all we've got. time thank you very time for. but thank you very much, james price and nina meshkov. fantastic meshkov. you've been a fantastic panel meshkov. you've been a fantastic panel. much panel. thank you very much indeed your and that's panel. thank you very much indwe've your and that's panel. thank you very much indwe've got. r and that's panel. thank you very much indwe've got. time and that's panel. thank you very much indwe've got. time a greatit's all we've got. time for great fun ben and me, emily fun from us, ben and me, emily carville, and good afternoon, britain back tomorrow britain will be back tomorrow at 12:00. tomorrow . 12:00. see you tomorrow. >> brighter outlook with boxt solar sponsors of weather on . gb news. >> good afternoon. welcome to your latest gb news weather update from the met office. we'll see. clear skies for many of us through tonight. so it will be a colder night, but it will be a colder night, but it will turn quite windy from the northwest. the rain from today has been brought this weather has been brought by this weather front that's clearing slowly to the through rest the southeast through the rest of behind it of the afternoon, and behind it we've tightening isobars. so

we've got tightening isobars. so there will be a strengthening northwesterly , and that northwesterly breeze, and that will bring in a flurry of showers , mainly parts of showers, mainly to parts of scotland through first part scotland through the first part of then into of the night. but then into parts northern england, parts of northern england, north wales northern wales as well as northern ireland latter part ireland through the latter part of the night. further south, though it should stay though, and east it should stay dry through much of the night and plenty clear and we'll see plenty of clear spells. so a result, across spells. so as a result, across eastern it's likely to be eastern areas it's likely to be a tomorrow. a colder start tomorrow. we could grass, could have a touch of grass, frost by wednesday morning and across eastern areas through the first the day. it should first part of the day. it should stay clear, albeit stay dry and clear, albeit a little bit chilly. however, cloud will thicken from the north and west through the day as warm front approaches . as this warm front approaches. that will bring quite a lot of low particularly to low cloud, particularly to western areas the western areas and the high ground well some ground, as well as some persistent drizzly rain. but temperatures rise as temperatures will rise as however, it does turn quite windy as well. it will be a windier day tomorrow than today, but thursday it will be even windier when we have a wind warning in force for a large swathe of country , we could swathe of the country, we could see gusts in excess of 70mph. for some exposed coasts and

hills . it's likely to stay windy hills. it's likely to stay windy into friday, with further showery rain and a generally an unsettled picture for many of us in the run up to christmas . in the run up to christmas. >> looks like things are heating up boxt boilers as sponsors of weather on gb news .

>> good afternoon. it's 3:00. >> good afternoon. it's 3:00. >> i'm martin daubney this is gb news. thanks for joining >> i'm martin daubney this is gb news. thanks forjoining me. i'll be keeping you company for the next three hours. loads to talk about in today's show. top of the story. rishi has faced the liaison committee today for his traditional prime ministerial end of year grilling . he was probed on net zero rwanda immigration and israel. but was he trussed up like a turkey or did he get only a slight basting? and how did he do in 2023? terrible year or a cracker? we'll have the full analysis. next up , you may have analysis. next up, you may have noficedifs analysis. next up, you may have noticed it's been a spectacular volcanic eruption in iceland. it's still going on. we've got all the very latest pictures and information on this wonderful spectacle. next up , trans spectacle. next up, trans guidance for schools. a rare outbreak of common sense finally prevails in british schools as schools are given the power to override pushy parents who want

to transition their children