i'm martin daubney this is gb >> 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 . to transition their children. but the big question is do the rules go far enough ? they're rules go far enough? they're keeping biological boys out of girls contact sports. they're keeping biological boys out of girls toilets. but do you think they go far enough? should we kick trans ideology out of schools all together? next story . dentistry in britain is at breaking point. 80. a staggering 80% of nhs dentists are now turning away any new patients and that includes 71% of children across the uk are being turned away. it's even worse in areas like the west country, where it's as high as 90, unless the question is this being dnven the question is this being driven by uncontrolled immigration, that's all coming up in the next hour. immigration, that's all coming up in the next hour . so how do up in the next hour. so how do you think rishi has done in 2023? is that a tricky year? but

did he pull through? well, what about trans guidance? is this something that really bothers you particularly if you are the parent of a young girl? are you concerned about all of that? and what about dentists appointments? can you get one? i've up, even to be i've given up, even trying to be honest. now go private. i honest. i now go private. if i want to fill in, it can take me three weeks to get a filling. i can't that let me can't wait that long. let me know what it's like for you. vaiews@gbnews.com. all of that in next hour after your news in the next hour after your news headunes in the next hour after your news headlines tatiana sanchez . headlines with tatiana sanchez. >> martin. thank you. 3:02. this is the latest breaking news. in the last half an hour, the scottish government has announced a new tax bracket for higher earners. it's among a package of measures set out by deputy first minister shona robison in her first scottish budget . the new 45% band will budget. the new 45% band will affect those earning between £75,000 and £125,000 a year.

meanwhile, those earning more than that will pay 48. the changes are set to bring around £15 changes are set to bring around £1.5 billion to scotland's finances next year. £1.5 billion to scotland's finances next year . the prime finances next year. 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, 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 with the hamas they're allied with the hamas terror group , rishi sunak says terror group, rishi sunak says the royal navy's presence will be 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 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's no obligation to allow students to socially transition in or to provide gender neutral facilities. the stonewall charity says it's legally unworkable and not in the best interests of children . the best interests of children. but equalities minister kemi badenoch says that's not the case for totally disagree with stonewall's analysis. >> we fundamentally disagree with their facts . the cass with their facts. the cass review has shown that social transition is not a neutral act . transition 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. >> 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 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 . powers stripped. >> but where there is and has been consistent underperformer , been consistent underperformer, 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 prepared to act wherever there is failure. expect all there is failure. i expect all other authorities to make sure that have a timetable that they have a timetable for an up plan in place an up to date plan in place within same time frame, with 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 built . are built. >> the truth is that the changes 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 rent and to buy across people to rent and to buy across the for labour, that people to rent and to buy across ticlear for labour, that people to rent and to buy across ticlear divide)r labour, that people to rent and to buy across ticlear divide line. our, that people to rent and to buy across ticlear divide line. we that people to rent and to buy across ticlear divide line. we want to 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 . we will reintroduce. >> dramatic scenes . continue in >> dramatic scenes. continue in iceland as a volcano spews lava and ash into the sky. these pictures are coming to us live . pictures are coming to us live. if you're watching on television, you'll see lava continue to bubble out of that two and a half mile long crack in the earth. iceland's government says doesn't pose government says it doesn't pose a l government says it doesn't pose a , but there are a threat to life, but there are some flight and curious some flight delays and curious sightseers warned to sightseers are being warned to keep away . and finally, police keep away. and finally, police are appealing for help after thieves tried to get away with a hoard of christmas presents . 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 gifts, some of which were tagged from debbie and lee or from sarah rich, max and joe. anyone with information . is encouraged with information. is encouraged to dial 101. this is gb news across the uk on tv , in your across the uk on tv, in your car, on digital radio and on your smart speaker by saying play your smart speaker by saying play gb news. now back to . martin >> thank you tatiana. right, let's get cracking into today's show. and today, rishi sunak faced the liaison committee of senior mps for a prime minister's traditional end of year grilling to gauge his annual performance . the pm was annual performance. the pm was probed on rwanda net zero immigration and the state of dentistry in the nhs . but as we dentistry in the nhs. but as we approach christmas, how did he fare? was rishi trussed up like a turkey, or did he get away with a mere light basting? well, let's go live now to our political editor, chris hope. chris, welcome to the show .

chris, welcome to the show. always a pleasure. so a traditional end of year spectacle for a prime minister to fire. they queue up to have a p0p to fire. they queue up to have a pop for their gotcha moments. i thought rishi actually did rather well today. i think he did rather well under pressure. what was your take? >> that's right, he does. i mean, he's a pm who learns detail very well. he kind of gets his head round the volumes of files. he's got to read , and of files. he's got to read, and he learns them. he knows his detail , he knows what he can say detail, he knows what he can say and what he can't say. and he has problem. in has a problem. i think in explaining it in layman's terms to with an audience . to connecting with an audience. and that's he's a competent and that's why he's a competent prime minister. i think . but prime minister. i think. but he's not cutting through. he's still 23 points behind, 20 points behind in the polls, as the government to make the government wants to make sure can try and sure martin they can try and force or persuade those force those or persuade those voters who are sitting on their hands. voters vote tory. hands. tory voters to vote tory. there's 23, 25% of those at the moment. those are the ones he's after. he's jolly . moment. those are the ones he's after. he's jolly. i saw him after. he'sjolly. i saw him last night in a reception for lobby journalists. he's very

jolly about his achievements this year , things he's done he's this year, things he's done he's grilled about report in grilled about his report card in this session with the liaison committee in the house of commons. said there was no commons. he said there was no firm for stopping the firm date for stopping the boats. he talked about how the government progress government has made progress with by with cutting numbers down by a third. go. so small third. more to go. so small boats are crossing so far the same as they were in 2021. around 23,000 or so. there's no firm date, he said. and he's always been cleared by that from the beginning. so stop the boats always been cleared by that from th an eginning. so stop the boats always been cleared by that from than ambition so stop the boats always been cleared by that from th an ambition withtop the boats always been cleared by that from than ambition with no the boats always been cleared by that from than ambition with no actualats is an ambition with no actual end and that might be end point, and that might be frustrating news viewers, frustrating for gb news viewers, who he was who felt that he was establishing targets this establishing targets for this yeah establishing targets for this year. when set himself those year. when he set himself those targets january . he wants targets in january. he wants food bank use to fall , and he's food bank use to fall, and he's working day and night to secure the uk hostages held the release of uk hostages held by um um , hamas in gaza, he by um um, hamas in gaza, he talked about the rail strikes they're damaging, the sustainability of the rail network. and he said that farm farm produce should fall. it was one of those across the whole waterfront, as they say in whitehall , looking at all the whitehall, looking at all the different areas, the pm must be

concerned about. but it's not like in the old days when you had boris johnson ruffling his hair looking panicked. hair and looking panicked. he was pretty clear he knew hair and looking panicked. he wasbriefty clear he knew hair and looking panicked. he wasbrief today.’ he knew hair and looking panicked. he wasand: today.’ he knew hair and looking panicked. he wasand there's' he knew hair and looking panicked. he wasand there's an he knew hair and looking panicked. he wasand there's an interesting >> and there's an interesting piece of detail. when he was grilled on the rwanda . grilled on the cost of rwanda. and what's the secrecy? they kept saying about the numbers . kept saying about the numbers. and then he intimated there might be other countries that we're involved in negotiating with in terms of a similar deal. and that is why there could be some secrecy that may excite gb news viewers as we approach christmas . chris, because that's christmas. chris, because that's the kind of common sense approach i think we'd all like to see. well that's right. >> the difference is between deporting, deporting and offshore processing. now, deporting is the idea that we've got with the rwanda we send a freshly arrived migrants here by small boats to rwanda for process . seeing other countries process. seeing other countries like germany are looking at offshore processing idea. we saw a deal announced overnight between italy, italy and albania, for example, where these these, these migrants are processed away from the

territory they want to go to , territory they want to go to, but they are allowed to return there. so that could be an opfion there. so that could be an option for the prime minister. certainly minister, certainly. i believe see labour going believe i can see labour going towards something that in towards something like that in the earlier today, i the new year. earlier today, i should say martin himars at a speech given by michael gove, the secretary, he laid the housing secretary, he laid out laid plans for the out, laid out plans for the government build 70,000 more government to build 70,000 more homes with changes to the planning rulebook and that would lift the numbers to 300,000 a yeah lift the numbers to 300,000 a year. but that's not going to happen until after the election. he i asked him for gb news years when happen, when it might happen, and he said, inflation down said, when we get inflation down and mortgage rates down, so that won't happen until later next yean won't happen until later next year, one would imagine. so the some way away of that, he did link though interestingly soaring net migration with the housing shortage and said it is putting pressure on housing. and that's one of the first times i've heard a minister link the two together. it shows that they are aware the effects are aware of the effects of allowing migration allowing record migration to this country. martin. >> okay, thank you. excellent as even >> okay, thank you. excellent as ever, hope for joining >> okay, thank you. excellent as

ever, hope forjoining us ever, chris. hope forjoining us live westminster . and live from westminster. and joining me now is sir robert goodwill , conservative member of goodwill, conservative member of parliament for scarborough and whitby and the chair of the environment, food and rural affairs committee. thank affairs select committee. thank you for joining affairs select committee. thank you forjoining us on you so much forjoining us on the show . sir robert, how do you the show. sir robert, how do you think rishi got on today? i thought he was rather good under fire. he's good with his detail. he flustered, but one he wasn't flustered, but one thing that really caught my eye, particularly on the particularly on on the deportation and rwanda situation, a, a kind of link situation, was a, a kind of link to potential other countries that might get involved. aside from rwanda . that's a very from rwanda. that's a very exciting prospect . you know exciting prospect. you know anything about this? you can make us feel cheerful at christmas ? christmas? >> well, it certainly wasn't assured performance in marked contrast. by the way, the last time i asked a prime minister a question at the liaison committee and mrjohnson was gonein committee and mrjohnson was gone in 24 hours. but yeah, i mean, rishi is across the detail , you know, he understands what's going on in government. i think reassuring to think that is reassuring to people and i think

people watching it. and i think particularly on the rwanda deal, he clear that some particularly on the rwanda deal, hethose clear that some particularly on the rwanda deal, hethose questioningt some particularly on the rwanda deal, hethose questioning him some particularly on the rwanda deal, hethose questioning him were e of those questioning him were making the point . well, how much making the point. well, how much per person going to rwanda will it actually, it's about it cost? actually, it's about the disincentive for others. the disincentive for the others. so in the same way that we've seen with the albanian scheme that people albania that returning people to albania has numbers coming has reduced, the numbers coming from , if we can the from albania, if we can get the rwanda scheme running, i think many will think twice many people will think twice before taking that dangerous journey across the channel, escaping from what is a safe country, france. so so i think that was and he sort of teased us about other countries might be negotiations, he he be in negotiations, but he he sort back on that sort of rowed back on that because i he either because i think he was either keeping his cards close to his chest flying kite. one chest or he's flying a kite. one of the two. >> well, um, there'll a lot >> well, um, there'll be a lot of sir robert, um, of people, sir robert, um, hopeful a hopeful that there might be a bit detail that. perhaps bit more detail on that. perhaps in year. we can wait for in the new year. we can wait for that. one big news today, of course, perilous of course, is the perilous state of the crumbling dentistry the crumbling nhs dentistry situation an of patients situation. an 80% of patients turning , um, 80% of practice. turning, um, 80% of practice. beg your pardon? turning patients rishi was patients away. rishi sunak was probed on that today and he said the has a new plan

the government has a new plan for in that'll come for this in 2024. that'll come as well come news to many people struggling appointments. struggling to get appointments. of due to soaring . immigration >> yeah, he did say actually that there had been a 20% increase in the amount of dental activity taking place on the nhs , but certainly in my constituency it's pretty much impossible to get access to an nhs dentist if you're not already signed up. of course, a lot of people are signed up and have with the same dentists have been with the same dentists getting treatment. yeah, getting nhs treatment. but yeah, we do need a new contract. dentists me that doesn't we do need a new contract. dentisincentivisethat doesn't we do need a new contract. dentisincentivise them oesn't we do need a new contract. dentisincentivise them to ;n't really incentivise them to do nhs particularly when they nhs work, particularly when they get patients who maybe get new patients who maybe haven't dentist for haven't been to the dentist for 20 they've got 20 years and they've got a mouthful trouble. way mouthful of trouble. and the way that reimbursed doesn't that they're reimbursed doesn't really them for that sort really pay them for that sort of treatment . so think we do need treatment. so i think we do need a contract and need to be a new contract and we need to be able that people who able to ensure that people who can't able to ensure that people who cant or able to ensure that people who can't or afford can't afford nhs or afford private dentistry get access private dentistry can get access to dentist because it's to an nhs dentist because it's important for a lot of other health issues as well, that you've got healthy mouth. you've got a healthy mouth. >> and robert is fair to you've got a healthy mouth. >> lit's robert is fair to you've got a healthy mouth. >> lit's been>bert is fair to you've got a healthy mouth. >> lit's been aart is fair to you've got a healthy mouth. >> lit's been a testingir to you've got a healthy mouth. >> lit's been a testing year say, it's been a testing year

for the prime minister. um, when isn't a testing year for a prime minister? at moment? minister? at the moment? over the cross—examined the years, you've cross—examined a lot of them. how do you think rishi has done this year? um, well if had to give him a well, if you had to give him a kind end of year report, what kind of end of year report, what would give him? would you give him? >> uh, i would give him nine out of ten, but then i'm a conservative, so i'm little conservative, so i'm a little bit biased. but, you know, it's up to the people, i think at the election to give their election next year to give their verdict. honest, you verdict. and to be honest, you know, than of know, there's more than 20% of people undecided. and people still undecided. and keir starmer excite people. people still undecided. and keir starknow, excite people. people still undecided. and keir starknow, he's excite people. people still undecided. and keir starknow, he's no {cite people. people still undecided. and keir starknow, he's no tony)eople. people still undecided. and keir starknow, he's no tony blair,. you know, he's no tony blair, but of course he's no jeremy corbyn either. so we do have our work cut out to persuade people actually, that we competent actually, that we are competent and to take it forward. and able to take it forward. and, and message would be to and able to take it forward. an(my1d message would be to and able to take it forward. an(my colleagues.age would be to and able to take it forward. an(my colleagues ine would be to and able to take it forward. an(my colleagues in the)uld be to and able to take it forward. an(my colleagues in the houses to all my colleagues in the house of commons is, you know, just let's together, guys. let's let's pull together, guys. let's stop arguing amongst ourselves because us because people want to see us unified actually, we're unified and actually, if we're going behind somebody. going to get behind somebody. rishi is a very good to rishi is a very good person to get he's competent, he's get behind. he's competent, he's assured. know , assured. i'm proud to, you know, serve under as prime serve under rishi as our prime minister of my minister as i know many of my colleagues are and let's see what year brings. but

what the new year brings. but certainly still to certainly it's still all to play for. remember in the 92 for. i can remember in the 92 election, i was election, when i was a candidate, the old assume that, you a you know, neil kinnock was a shoo that didn't you know, neil kinnock was a shoo because that didn't you know, neil kinnock was a shoo because thibritisht happen because the british people very carefully at people looked very carefully at the choice and then at the moment when asked what moment when people asked what what to do in what they're going to do in polls there polls said, they say if there was tomorrow, how was an election tomorrow, how would vote? well, they know would you vote? well, they know there going be an there isn't going to be an election think when election tomorrow. i think when we get into the we do actually get into the election, concentrate election, that will concentrate people's minds then people's minds and we can then look the look at the achievements, the way know, took us way that we, you know, took us through pandemic and the way through the pandemic and the way that people with their that we help people with their fuel and the way we're now fuel bills and the way we're now moving enabling moving forward, enabling us to try and get try and stop the boats and get a handle on illegal migration, because, have because, you know, labour have voted against every single measure we brought measure that we brought forward to sort out this to try and sort out this immigration problem. well there's today, sir there's a poll out today, sir robert doesn't make the best of reading . reading. >> um, 56% believe >> um, 56% of people believe that labour most likely that labour are the most likely choice of a government. if there was next six was an election in the next six months versus only 25, think that your mob would win. and that's a low point. since the days , the final days of liz days, the final days of liz truss. all eyes, of course, will be on rwanda in the year.

be on rwanda in the new year. rishi got that vote through finally, now it faces finally, but now it faces another challenge. it faces more votes. it tinkering in the votes. it faces tinkering in the lords . are we likely to see lords. are we likely to see groundhog day, the brexit days revisited? would you say where rwanda is tinkered with by the house of remainers otherwise known as the house of lords ? known as the house of lords? >> well, i've got my own views on the house of lords and the need for reform there, but ultimately the commons is the chamber that has elected members there. and i think the lord should understand that, that we do represent the people we do have a mandate actually , you have a mandate and actually, you know, colleagues saying, know, we have colleagues saying, well, we should toughen it up. some we're going too far. some saying we're going too far. i indicate i think that would indicate we've got it right we've pretty much got it right in of the way that we're in terms of the way that we're bringing and of bringing this forward. and of course, need to course, you know, we do need to respect international law otherwise, were otherwise, the rwandans who were very this wouldn't very touchy about this wouldn't continue to go along with it. so i think government's got it i think the government's got it right, i think should right, and i think we should support should support the bill. we should resist amendments that seek to change it fundamentally . and i'd

change it fundamentally. and i'd like to get it on the statute book and then actually start returning removing people to returning or removing people to rwanda for processing. and i think that will be a real disincentive to people to spend, you serious money from you know, serious money from their view. 5 or £6000 their point of view. 5 or £6000 to the people smugglers to get across the channel that will break their business model. and i ensure that we in the i think ensure that we in the same way we've been same way that we've been successful rwanda, successful with rwanda, with albania , in the same way that we albania, in the same way that we reduced the numbers about 30% reduced the numbers by about 30% this think that this year already. i think that will real game changer for will be a real game changer for us get that to happen. us if we can get that to happen. >> so robert goodwill, >> okay, so robert goodwill, conservative member of parliament for scarborough and whitby, joining whitby, thanks for joining us. i admire optimism. rishi will admire your optimism. rishi will be hoping for happier year admire your optimism. rishi will be imaybe or happier year admire your optimism. rishi will be imaybe or tearsier year admire your optimism. rishi will be imaybe or tears in year admire your optimism. rishi will be imaybe or tears in the year admire your optimism. rishi will be imaybe or tears in the newr and maybe not tears in the new year got to get year to come. we've got to get that vote through the that rwanda vote through the house lords. it's going be house of lords. it's going to be a challenge now. volcano a huge challenge now. volcano has erupted the peninsula of has erupted in the peninsula of southwest iceland. of course, following weeks of intense quake activity . about 4000 people so activity. about 4000 people so far have been evacuated after lava burst through a 3.5km crack in the volcano . so many fear the

in the volcano. so many fear the eruption could lead to mass travel disruption in the week before christmas. similar to the ash cloud disruption. if you recall in 2010. but so far it is not thought this explosion will cause the same level of travel chaos. but the area is on high alert for more seismic activity. spectacular stuff . now you can spectacular stuff. now you can start your new year with £10,000 in cash, a £500 shopping spree and a brand new iphone. sounds amazing, right? well, here's how you could make all of those pnzes you could make all of those prizes yours. >> this is your chance to win cash treats and tech in our very first great british giveaway . first great british giveaway. these are totally tax free, £10,000 cash up for grabs cash, which would help make 2024 a whole lot better. we're also going to send you shopping with £500 worth of vouchers to spend in the store of your choice. what would be on your shopping list if it's a new iphone? we've also got that covered too, with the latest iphone 15 pro max, which you'll also receive for

your chance to win the iphone. the vouchers and £10,000 cash text gb win to 84 902. text cost £2 plus one standard network rate message or post your name and number to gb zero one, po box 8690 derby rd one nine, double tee , uk. only entrants double tee, uk. only entrants must be 18 or over. lines close at 5 pm. on friday the 5th of january. full terms and privacy nofice january. full terms and privacy notice at gbnews.com. forward slash win. good luck . slash win. good luck. >> you're watching and listening to gb news coming up. >> you're watching and listening to gb news coming up . schools in to gb news coming up. schools in england have been told there is no general duty to allow children to change their gender identity. it's part of long awaited guidance for schools for pupils who question their genden pupils who question their gender. a rare break of common sense would be discussing this and much more. next i'm martin daubney on gb news britain's news channel . late get off this

news channel. late get off this christmas eve and christmas day. >> wake up with gb news for the finest festive start to your christmas for you and the whole family . christmas breakfast on family. christmas breakfast on gb news christmas eve and christmas day from 6 am. >> i got you this. >> i got you this. >> oh, good. >> oh, good. >> okay . um, i got you >> oh, good. >> okay. um, i got you a >> oh, good. >> okay . um, i got you a little >> okay. um, i got you a little something . oh something. oh >> ah, sure. it's nice

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news is . news is. >> welcome back. it's bang on 3:25. you're watching and listening to martin daubney on gb news bringing you all the latest until 6 pm. now. schools in england have been told there is no general duty to allow children to change their gender identity as part of long awaited guidance for schools and colleges for pupils who question their gender. but governments transgender guidance doesn't completely block social transitioning . minister for transitioning. minister for women and equalities, kemi badenoch argues a blanket ban is simply unworkable. you can't outright ban social transitioning because it has many elements in it which are perfectly fine. >> for instance , changing >> for instance, changing a name. anyone can change their name. anyone can change their name if they if they want to. parents can change a child's name by deed poll. the government shouldn't be getting involved in people's lives in that there are many that way. however there are many things like things that are important, like single—sex spaces, for instance,

like sure the sport is 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 guidance is there for. it is practical advice to ensure schools know deal with schools know how to deal with this difficult situation. this very difficult situation. well . a rare outbreak of common well. a rare outbreak of common sense there from kemi badenoch and now i'm joined in the studio by gb news political correspondent katherine forster catherine um, talked about forever. >> finally , we get some detail. >> finally, we get some detail. a lot of really common sense stuff in there, particularly parent will be happy to hear many parents, most parents. i would imagine that for example, um, single sex toilets for girls or being protected and no biological boys in girls contact sports . what's not to like about sports. what's not to like about that? yes this guidance has been a very, very long time coming. >> we've been hearing about it for ages and schools certainly

are are struggling because the numbers of children deciding that they think they are the wrong gender and they want to change their gender identity , change their gender identity, have absolutely rocketed in recent years. it used to be really very, very rare. you could pretty much go into any sixth form now and find some children who have decided that they were born female, but they feel they're male or vice versa . feel they're male or vice versa. it has become commonplace , so it has become commonplace, so it's a minefield for schools and teachers . and so the government teachers. and so the government have put out this guidance today, trying, i think, to tread a fine line . they are obviously a fine line. they are obviously not going to please everybody , not going to please everybody, but i think a lot of people will think that what gillian keegan, the education secretary, has announced and backed up by kemi badenoch, the equalities minister, is sensible. protecting single—sex spaces saying teachers don't have to use particular pronouns if they've got a good reason not to, and critically, that parents

will be told if their child wants to change their gender identity at school, that parents will be told. and i think a lot of people will find it astonishing that that was not already happening, because until your child is an adult, parents are responsible for them. and when they are at school, the schools are responsible in loco parentis . so the notion that parentis. so the notion that children could be doing one thing at school and with the schools full knowledge and the parents at home completely in the dark, um, so i think most parents would be very happy with this guidance. but of course, stonewall are up in arms and that's the point. >> it's guidance . it's not >> it's guidance. it's not legislation, it's not compulsory . renee. so people can still pick and choose. teachers can pick and choose. teachers can pick and choose. and you mentioned sixth formers. it goes much younger than that. now, like my, my lad when he was 13, there were four kids in his peer group transitioning by the way. they've all changed their mind. they've all changed their mind. they were all on the autistic

spectrum. digress, does this spectrum. i digress, does this go far enough? this legislation, if it's if it's optional, if activists can get in schools and say, actually, no, don't do that , then does it actually have any real teeth? >> well, certainly there's quite a lot criticism that it a lot of criticism that it doesn't go far enough because there's plenty people would there's plenty of people would have liked to ban on changing your gender identity. and but but the government, i think thinks that they cannot go any further already. stonewall are coming out and saying, you know, this could have a significant impact on the mental health of trans students. and kemi badenoch has been really quite hardcore about this. and she's saying, look, she said social transitioning . it's not transitioning. it's not a neutral act . it puts kids on neutral act. it puts kids on a pathway, which then may go to puberty blockers and potentially then life altering treatment. and as you've mentioned, a lot of these children begin on these pathways as often they have

mental health issues. there may be other issues, and they're not closely examined. and people like keira bell, who go through some or all of the transition and then in their 20s or later realise actually that this was not the issue, but it's gone too far. so yeah, i mean, you cannot please everybody . liz truss has please everybody. liz truss has already been saying it doesn't go anywhere near far enough, but certainly i think a lot of people will think it is an improvement and it will give schools more confidence. though of course, parents, it's saying yes, parents should be told. but there are some exceptions to that. so parents can't feel absolutely safe in the knowledge. even with this guidance , that schools will keep guidance, that schools will keep them in the loop. >> and i guess the bigger question is, though, moving forward will this even be around after the next general election? we have a labour leader who can't tell us what a woman can't even tell us what a woman is, and says that some women can have a penis .

is, and says that some women can have a penis. this might not even last more than five minutes anyway. thank you katherine forster, for bringing us fully up speed. now you're watching up to speed. now you're watching and listening to gb news coming up, we'll discussing the up, we'll be discussing the stark warning about national health service dentistry, apparently its most apparently reaching its most perilous point in its 75 year history. 80% of practices are now turning away. first time patients absolute disgrace. but first, there's your latest news headunes first, there's your latest news headlines with tatiana sanchez . headlines with tatiana sanchez. >> martin, thank you very much. and good afternoon. this is the latest from the gp newsroom . the latest from the gp newsroom. the prime minister says the situation in the red sea is deeply concerning , as situation in the red sea is deeply concerning, as iran backed groups seek to exploit instability in the region . 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 allied with the hamas terror group, are stepping up assaults on vessels as they pass through one of the world's most important shipping routes. rishi

sunak says the royal navy's presence will be a deterrent . presence will be a deterrent. the scottish government has announced a new tax bracket for higher earners. it's among a package of measures set out by deputy first minister shona robison in her first scottish budget . the new 45% band will budget. the new 45% band will affect those earning between £75,000 and £125,000 a year. meanwhile, those earning more than that will pay 48. the changes are set to bring around £1.5 billion to scotland's finances next year. £1.5 billion to scotland's finances next year . schools are finances next year. 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 , but both the facilities, but both the stonewall and mermaids charities say the advice doesn't consider the needs of gender diverse youth and dramatic scenes continue in iceland as the

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 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 are some flights life. but there are some flights , delays curious sightseers , delays and curious sightseers are being warned to keep away . are being warned to keep away. for more on all of those stories, you can visit our website gbnews.com . website gbnews.com. >> for stunning gold and silver coins, you'll always value rosalind gold proudly sponsors the gb news financial report . the gb news financial report. >> here's a quick snapshot of today's markets . the pound will today's markets. the pound will buy you $1.2739 and ,1.1608. the price of gold is £1,603.25 per ounce, and the ftse 100 is . at

ounce, and the ftse 100 is. at 7625 points. rosalind gold proudly sponsors the gb news financial report . financial report. >> thank you tatiano. >> thank you tatiano. >> now welcome back. you're watching listening to martin daubney on gb news, bringing you all the latest until 6 pm. now the nhs dentists is at the most perilous point in its 75 year history , and that's according to history, and that's according to a leading health think tank, the nuffield trust has warned that urgent reforms are needed to slow the decay of services. but the restoring them would probably require an unreal amount of money. well, i'm joined now by mark jones, who's the founder of toothless in england, which calls for an nhs dentist for everyone, something i think we can all agree on. mark, thank you so much for joining us on the show. astonishing figures out today. absolutely mind blowing figures. 82% of nhs dentists , over 5000

82% of nhs dentists, over 5000 polled on accept ing new adults on their lists 71% aren't even accept ing children rises to 99% of practices in the south west of practices in the south west of england, rejecting requests from all adults . this sounds from all adults. this sounds like a third world country. this doesn't sound like an nhs dentistry service that's fit for practice . practice. >> you're absolutely right. good afternoon martin. thanks for having us on. uh, it's , uh, having us on. uh, it's, uh, almost seems every announcement made about dentistry or , uh, any made about dentistry or, uh, any research that goes into it, uh, the outlook looks worse and worse for everyone. and let's remind ourselves that people there are people paying science behind these figures and numbers announced today that are in acute pain . uh, they are acute pain. uh, they are suffering in awful circumstances

, is pulling their teeth out literally in frustration at not being able to access a dentist. and we heard just last week, uh, martin in, uh, cambridge county council, um , one of the council, um, one of the councillors there , um, talking councillors there, um, talking to the debate, said 18% of under fives , under five year olds in fives, under five year olds in cambridge shire have visible signs of decay . now, what sort signs of decay. now, what sort of start in life is that? that we're giving our children ? and we're giving our children? and of course, it's not just children , it's adults as well. children, it's adults as well. people miss work because they're in so much pain being admitted to a&e because they overdosed on painkillers , people dying painkillers, people dying because oral cancer wasn't picked up soon enough . it's an picked up soon enough. it's an awful situation to be in.

>> so, mark, you talked there about people reverting to diy dentistry. we started to hear about this, of course, during lockdowns, and people were dnven lockdowns, and people were driven to that through sheer desperation. but when you talk about fives are having about under fives who are having visible signs of decay, that strikes me as something quite different. is that about an access, a lack of access to dental history on the nhs, or is it about something else? is it about poor dental hygiene filtering down through poor parenting ? parenting? >> well, i think there's a couple of things to point out here, martin. and yes , uh, here, martin. and yes, uh, access is an issue . uh, we get access is an issue. uh, we get inundated with messages on our post boards , on our various post boards, on our various facebook groups across the country, campaign groups that, uh , with parents saying, i can't uh, with parents saying, i can't find a dentist who's going to accept my children and there are there are children almost coming out of, uh, into or sorry, going

into high school now who have never seen a dentist now , that's never seen a dentist now, that's not about parents not doing the right thing. that's about a lack of interest, a lack of access . of interest, a lack of access. but the point about, um, you mentioned in inverted commas , mentioned in inverted commas, bad parenting. there's a lot to be said about education, oral health, education and unless there are prevention strategies in place that and they have been, uh, whether it's in this country or across the world, prevent strategies. do offer and they are a proven effective tool andifs they are a proven effective tool and it's education that we do need that does play a part. but also access as well. but i would like to, if i may, martin, just point out that we met with andrea leadsom last week, who's the latest, um, minister to have responsibility for nhs dentistry . and dentistry is one of her

top three priorities. uh, she gave the impression, and we can only take her at face value, but she's determined to resolve the issue . uh, which she's determined to resolve the issue. uh, which is she's determined to resolve the issue . uh, which is great. it's issue. uh, which is great. it's good to hear, um , what we have good to hear, um, what we have said is , is, uh, on the back of said is, is, uh, on the back of what she said about announcing a recovery plan in january for nhs dentistry. what we've said is, look, it's absolutely essential that you provide emergency access to those patients who are suffering in pain right now. that really is a top, top priority . and to do that, we've priority. and to do that, we've asked for the mothballed , uh, asked for the mothballed, uh, dental facilities. they were mothballed some years ago in, um , uh, minor injuries units and community hospitals . they were community hospitals. they were mothballed. we've asked them to urgently reopen those as emergency treatment centres so that we can get that, uh, throughput of patients , uh, throughput of patients, uh, getting treatment and also,

martin, lastly , to bring about martin, lastly, to bring about more mobile dental clinics , uh, more mobile dental clinics, uh, those, uh, are able to get into communities , especially in communities, especially in particular rural communities that are just completely obe. uh, there's no access, no hope for them at all when it comes to access. for them at all when it comes to access . so we're pushing and access. so we're pushing and pushing and pushing, and thankfully, we are, uh, going to be part of this conversation, ongoing conversation . and that's ongoing conversation. and that's a commitment by the minister to have us sit at these round table, give us a seat at these dentistry round tables . dentistry round tables. >> well, it's great to hear mark and, um, there's a black hole of about half £1 billion in dentistry. says here in this, in this report, since 2014, 2015, we spent £3.1 billion a year on this. but of course we have huge problems with immigration as well. 745,000 extras means there's a lot more strain on the service. mark jones, founder of

toothless in england, certainly not toothless by nature . thanks not toothless by nature. thanks for all the work you do and please keep it up in the new yeah please keep it up in the new year. great stuff . now you're year. great stuff. now you're watching and listening to gb news and coming up. we'll be getting the latest on snp's getting the latest on the snp's budget for and budget plans for scotland and will be crossing to will even be crossing to lapland. i'm martin daubney on gb news, britain's news channel

me, michael portillo, gb news. >> britain's new . channel. >> britain's new. channel. >> britain's new. channel. >> welcome back. it's 345.

you're watching and listening to martin daubney on gb news bringing you all the latest until 6 pm. now deputy first minister and finance secretary shona robinson delivers her first scottish budget , first scottish budget, announcing a whopping new tax bracket of £0.45 in the pound. that's right, £0.45 in the pound . rishi sunak called tax rises very disappointing. earlier on, but shona robinson has hit back at the remarks, saying sunak has at the remarks, saying sunak has a bit of a cheek, accusing westminster of putting electioneering ahead of public services in the autumn statement andifs services in the autumn statement and it's worth picking up on what those numbers mean. so at present in the united kingdom as a whole, the 45, £0.45 in the pound tax bracket doesn't kick in until you earn £125,000. that's the top bracket below 40% below 125,000. it's 40. but holyrood and its wisdom has now

brought that top rate down from 125,000 to 75,000, meaning scotland is now the highest tax regime in all of the united kingdom. now we know that the snp likes to squeeze the pips out of the rich . it says that out of the rich. it says that it's said that consistently all along, but the big question will be what will happen to people who are suddenly finding themselves under that new tax regime? will they sit tight or will they clear off, perhaps to england? we'll find out now because we're joined from holyrood gb news scotland holyrood by gb news scotland reporter maguire . tony, reporter tony maguire. tony, thanks us. just thanks for joining us. just outlining the detail there. scotland now suddenly is the highest tax regime in all of the uk . yes that's correct. uk. yes that's correct. >> and certainly rishi sunak earlier this week on his visit to raf lossiemouth in moray, said that he would be disappointed had this news come today and indeed it did. shona robison outlined the new

advanced tax bracket . for £0.45 advanced tax bracket. for £0.45 on earners between 70,000 and £125,000, as you see now , £125,000, as you see now, widening that gap of income tax to making scots scotland's high earners some of the most heavily taxed people across the united kingdom . meanwhile, shona kingdom. meanwhile, shona robison of course, the big question of today was how on earth will she plug that £1.5 billion black hole in scotland's finances? and indeed, she is very much hoping that . by 2425 very much hoping that. by 2425 that the income tax will increase, as well as the extra penny on the absolute highest tax bracket, will also aim come together for 1.5 billion and a couple of years time . now, she couple of years time. now, she says that that's a progressive approach. but i think as we can establish that that perhaps isn't quite the case. but of course, income tax was just one

thing that shona robison brought up today. the other big thing was for council tax. now earlier in the year at the snp conference, humza yousaf, he pledged that council tax freeze um across the scotland this year for next year and that would amount to about a 5% council tax freeze, meaning shona robison is wanting to increase local government funding by 6. but. to maybe coin a new phrase, it very much is coming across on social media as robbing peter to pay peter because was it very much looks like, um, well , the looks like, um, well, the scottish councils are going to lose out on that council tax freeze. they are kind of getting other money to keep them on the level in terms of benefits. well there was a lot of disappointment that the scottish child payment didn't go up from 25 to £30. it went up to £26,

70. meanwhile, other scottish benefits saw a 6.7% increase and arts was another one that a lot of people felt disappointed again. humza yousaf early in the year pledged that he would more than double funding towards arts um up to 100 million more. however this year we're only maybe going to see an extra 15.8 million. i know a lot of former colleagues of mine who cover arts and culture here in scotland. they were highly disappointed and, um, very much looking forward to that announcement today . and of announcement today. and of course, the nhs , um, here in course, the nhs, um, here in scotland is going to get an extra . £550 million from shona extra. £550 million from shona robison in the next financial year , bringing the total year, bringing the total investment up up to more than 13.2 billion in the deputy first minister had said health consequence from the autumn statement that uk government for scotland um amount to 10.8

million, but that actually only accounts for five hours of nhs scotland activity. so all in a little bit of, um , confusion and little bit of, um, confusion and many more questions due to be asked here. >> okay. tony mcguire , thank you >> okay. tony mcguire, thank you for that latest update. and another thing that humza yousaf was actually considering is a tax on taylor swift tickets. you can't make it up. he wants to put a £1 levy on all tickets to scotland and, um, to raise £1 million a yearjust seems to me that here is a party addicted to tax. and do you think rich people just stick around and mop it up? or will they clear off to england ? well, let's see now. england? well, let's see now. moving on. an snp mp has set in motion a legal bid to pardon coal miners convicted of offences during industrial strikes in the 1980s. miners arrested in scotland during the mass disputes have already been pardoned after after members of scottish parliament passed legislation last year and this

bill is set to extend the pardon to england and wales. now. sir keir starmer has called to overturn the convictions in his electoral manifesto, but a push by labour in scotland to secure financial compensation failed this year. now i've got a thing or two to say about this. my dad was a coal miner for 47 years, and the coal miners strike tore apart the communities in nottinghamshire. my dad went on strike for a couple of months , strike for a couple of months, and then he decided to go back to work. and was because to work. and that was because arthur and his flying arthur scargill and his flying pickets swept into the county and nottinghamshire and didn't give nottinghamshire and didn't give nottinghamshire a ballot. if they'd had given them they might have them a ballot, they might have joined them. but they didn't do that. so joined them. but they didn't do that . so saw one of the that. and so we saw one of the most divisive strikes in british history, i think the notion of pardoning coal treating pardoning coal miners, treating them is simplistic them all as heroes is simplistic . it's a historic and it will rake up divisions from the past divisions until very , very divisions until very, very recently have been very, very prevalent. i think it's a wrong headedidea prevalent. i think it's a wrong headed idea wrapped in goodwill .

headed idea wrapped in goodwill. just my thoughts now this morning a very special plane has flown termly aired on life limited children from belfast to lapland to meet santa claus himself , the northern ireland himself, the northern ireland children to lapland charity helps those children and their loved ones make lifelong festive memories. our lapland reporter dougie beattie has gone along for the ride . dougie, tell us for the ride. dougie, tell us more . well martin, it's called more. well martin, it's called a lapland reporter and i, as well as the northern ireland reporter i >> -- >> but yes, we left belfast this morning bright and early. our flight was somewhat delayed, though round about bannau zahawi landed in, uh, finland at the most and went into the most northern part of the arctic circle, the most northern, uh, lived in part of the arctic circle. and i can tell you it is subzero, but an absolutely beautiful place . and the beautiful place. and the children here as you said, are, uh , some are terminally ill, uh, some are terminally ill, some are life changing, some are life threatening illnesses, and they're here to make memories .

they're here to make memories. they're here with their parents on this flight is a full charity . it's a chartered flight. it comes out once a year. i've travelled with him for many years now, and it really is one of these things in the round britain goes unnoticed britain that that goes unnoticed . people don't notice it. the the news don't really seem to cover it. and it's important that we do because this is a big part of our community and a big part of our community and a big part of our lives, and these children making memories children are making memories that some that was here that some of them that was here last year with are no longer last year with me are no longer here. and that's the sad part about this. and they come here to find their wishes and to find santa. and we've been on skidoos , we've been on huskies, we've been on reindeer. and i can tell you it's cold out there. and, uh, these children are enjoying themselves no end when they come in. and just in front of me is the side of a mountain that was hollowed the second hollowed out during the second world by the germans. world war by the germans. to give idea how big it give you an idea of how big it is, can actually get two is, you can actually get two articulated 40 foot lorries side by down tunnel turn by side down the tunnel and turn in bottom , that is where

in the bottom, and that is where santa has decided to live and base base. his operation . and base base. his operation. and just a few moments ago, i got an interview with him and i'll play it later on to you. >> superb stuff. dougie beattie lapland correspondent . great, so lapland correspondent. great, so we'll have more of that throughout you watch throughout the show. you watch and to gb um, and listen to gb news. um, coming sunak how did coming up, did sunak how did sunak fare in front of the liaison committee today? we'll hear independent mp hear from an independent mp who's a lot to say on it. who's got a lot to say on it. i'm martin daubney on gb news and this is britain's news channel a brighter outlook with boxt solar , sponsors of weather boxt solar, sponsors of weather on gb news . 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 north—west. the rain from today has been brought by this weather front that's clearing slowly to the south—east through the rest of afternoon, behind of the afternoon, and behind it we've tightening isobars. so

we've got tightening isobars. so there a strengthening there will be a strengthening northwesterly breeze that northwesterly breeze and that will in a flurry of will bring in a flurry of showers, mainly to parts of scotland through the first part of night. into of the night. but then into parts england , north parts of northern england, north wales well as northern wales as well as northern ireland the latter part ireland through the latter part of further of the night. further south, though, it should stay though, and east it should stay dry through much of the night and we'll see plenty of clear spells, as a result, across spells, so as a result, across eastern it's likely be eastern areas it's likely to be a tomorrow. we a colder start tomorrow. we could of grass could have a touch of grass frost wednesday morning frost by wednesday morning and across areas through the across eastern areas through the first of day. should first part of the day. it should stay dry and clear, albeit a little bit chilly. however cloud will thicken from the north and west through the day as this warm front approaches. that will bnng warm front approaches. that will bring quite low cloud, bring quite a lot of low cloud, particularly western areas particularly to western areas and the high ground , as as and the high ground, as well as some persistent drizzly rain. but will rise. but temperatures will rise. 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 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, looks like things are heating up boxt boilers as sponsors of weather on gb news .

>> good afternoon. >> good afternoon. >> it's 4:00. welcome to the show . i'm >> it's 4:00. welcome to the show. i'm martin >> it's 4:00. welcome to the show . i'm martin daubney. this show. i'm martin daubney. this is gb news keeping you company for the next two hours. got a cracking hour ahead. top story rishi family liaison rishi sunak family liaison committee today where he was grilled by a bunch of top mps. they probed him on net zero on rwanda, on stopping the boats, on immigration, even on dentistry and israel. but how did rishi fare in his end of year grilling? did they trust him up like a turkey? was it more of a light basting? next story . there's been a huge story. there's been a huge volcanic eruption , of course, in volcanic eruption, of course, in iceland at rikki neave , and that iceland at rikki neave, and that 3.5km long fault line is producing spectacular images . producing spectacular images. luckily, nobody has been hurt . luckily, nobody has been hurt. we'll have all of the latest fantastic images live from iceland. next story mps are set for an inflation busting pay rise of 7.1. hike.

for an inflation busting pay rise of 7.1. hike . to £92,731. rise of 7.1. hike. to £92,731. don't forget nurses and ambulance drivers had to settle for far less. but here's my point do they deserve even more ? point do they deserve even more? surely if we're paying council leaders more than mps , we're not leaders more than mps, we're not getting the best people to run the country. we'll have a cracking debate about that and here's another one. jacob rees—mogg last night said the only way esther mcvey, the new minister for common sense, could to hope succeed in her new brief is if we scrap the equality act. he calls it the legislate version of wokery. it's taken over the public service, the civil service. jacob rees—mogg says the act must go. jacob joins me on this show in about 20 minutes. time to tell me exactly why the equality act needs to go in the bin. exactly why the equality act needs to go in the bin . all of needs to go in the bin. all of that in the next hour . look the that in the next hour. look the thick end of 93 grand is a lot of wonga. of course it is. mps

get a lot of money, but my point is this. do they deserve it ? if is this. do they deserve it? if they're in charge of the nhs , if they're in charge of the nhs, if they're in charge of the nhs, if they're in charge of immigration, if they're in charge of all of the biggest briefs in the land, surely we should be paying top wedge to get the top talent or do you think they're overpaid? pompadours let me know your thoughts. vaiews@gbnews.com. all of that in the next hour. but first, your latest news headunes but first, your latest news headlines with polly middlehurst i >> -- >> martin, thank you and good afternoon to you. >> our top story today, the foreign secretary says the uk will not tolerate attacks on commercial shipping in the red sea. britain is joining an international coalition to protect ships in the area after a recent spate of attacks by houthi militants in yemen , houthi militants in yemen, allied with the hamas terror group, are believed to be stepping up their assaults on vessels as they pass through one of the world's most important

shipping lanes. lord cameron says the royal navy's presence there will send a message to those who've been targeting commercial shipping . commercial shipping. >> this maritime task force that is being set up is looking for partners to help to allow that to happen , and britain is going to happen, and britain is going to happen, and britain is going to be one of those partners and i think italy is going to be one of those partners, too, for our selves. we'll be lending some of our ships to that , um, to that our ships to that, um, to that task. our ships to that, um, to that task . and i think it's very task. and i think it's very important that there's a very clear message to the houthis in yemen who've been launching all these attacks that, you know, these attacks that, you know, these attacks that, you know, these attacks will not be tolerated, and we will defend ourselves against them. and it's very important that shipping keeps moving . the scottish keeps moving. the scottish government has announced a new tax bracket for higher earners. >> it's among a package of measures set out by the deputy first minister, shona robison , first minister, shona robison, in her first scottish budget. the new 45% tax band will affect those earning between £75,000

and £125,000 annually. meanwhile, those earning more than that will pay 48. the changes are set to raise around £1.5 billion for scotland's finances next year. £1.5 billion for scotland's finances next year . schools have finances next year. schools have been advised to inform parents if they if their children say they'd like to change their identity. they don't have to act under new guidance. there's no obugafion under new guidance. there's no obligation for parents or teachers to allow students to transition or to provide gender neutral facilities. well, the stonewall charity has objected , stonewall charity has objected, saying it's legally unworkable and not in the best interests of children . but the equalities children. but the equalities minister, kemi badenoch, says it is fundamentally disagree with stonewall's analysis. >> we fundamentally disagree with their facts . the cass with their facts. the cass review has shown that social transition is not a neutral act . transition 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 , shapps doesn't mean stereotypes, shapps 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. cammy badenoch. >> now michael gove has put council planning departments on notice, saying slow approvals will not be tolerated . will not be tolerated. >> in a speech on planning reform , the housing secretary reform, the housing secretary said there's resistance to new developments in many parts of the country, so he's cracking down on lengthy applications , down on lengthy applications, with some councils to be given three months to approve or risk having their powers stripped away , say, where there is and away, say, where there is and has been consistent underperformance. >> i will act. so today i'm taking steps to deal with underperform 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 sure other authorities to make sure that have a timetable for that they have a timetable for an date plan in place an up to date plan in place within the same time frame, with a copy provided to my department. >> michael gove but the shadow housing and planning minister, matthew pennycook, says the new measures will actually mean fewer homes are built . fewer homes are built. >> the truth is that the changes 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 buy for people to rent and to buy across the country . for labour, across the country. for labour, that a clear dividing line. that is a clear dividing line. we want to have a housing and planning system that meets need in full, and we won't allow councils to come below their mandatory housing targets, which we will reintroduce . we will reintroduce. >> let's keep you in touch with what's happening in iclr and dramatic geological scenes continue to come to us live from that country where the large

volcano there in reykjanes is still spewing lava and ash high into the sky. you can see where light challenged as far as those pictures are concerned on television at the moment . but, television at the moment. but, uh, that volcano erupted on the reykjanes peninsula in southwest iceland after weeks of intense earthquake activity and the lava is continuing to bubble out of that, two and a half mile long fissure in the earth's surface , fissure in the earth's surface, iceland's government says it doesn't pose a threat to life. but there have been, of course, some flight delays and curious sightseers are being warned to keep well away . police are keep well away. police are appealing for help after thieves tried to get away with a hoard of christmas presents . they were of christmas presents. they were responding to reports of a stolen car in bristol when they discovered the haul of gifts, some of which some of which were tagged from debbie and lee, or from sarah rich, max and joe. anyone with information the police say who, uh, they might know who those presents belong

to is encouraged to dial 101. let's hope those presents can get back to the intended recipients that is the news on gb news across the uk on tv, in your car, on digital radio and on your smart speaker by saying play on your smart speaker by saying play gb news this is britain's news channel . news channel. >> thank you polly . great stuff. >> thank you polly. great stuff. now today rishi sunak face the liaison committee of senior mps for a prime minister's traditional end of year grilling to gauge his annual performance. the pm was probed on rwanda net zero immigration and even nhs dentistry. but as we approach christmas , how did he fare? was christmas, how did he fare? was rishi trussed up like a turkey, or did he get away with a mere lite by sting? well, i'm joined now by independent scottish mp angus macneil, who represents a part of the western isles, and he is the chair of the energy security and net zero select

committee, who joins me from westminster. thank you so much for joining us on the show, angus. so so why don't we start with net zero? he was probed on that, um, in particular, was it, um , political political um, political political positioning that he decided to repeal the ban on boilers. but he was very adamant in his reproach in his response . beg reproach in his response. beg your pardon? saying my approach is pragmatic. if i'm saving families between 5 to £15,000 a yeahi families between 5 to £15,000 a year, i think the impact on household finances is a good thing to highlight what's your take on how he performed today ? take on how he performed today? >> well, firstly , rishi is >> well, firstly, rishi is probably quite a boring prime minister in comparison to some of his predecessors , most of his predecessors, most notably boris johnson , of coui'se. >> course. >> but even old david cameron had a bit of more spark about him than than rishi sunak. you've kind of got to give rishi a of a prod with a stick, a bit of a prod with a stick, really, get some sort of life really, to get some sort of life and he will and reaction out of him. he will he and make culture he will try and make a culture war out anything, and he will war out of anything, and he will try you death in the

try and bore you to death in the same as well. so he is same breath as well. so he is quite a he's quite interesting. prime a few prime minister i've seen a few of few of of them come. i've seen a few of them go. he's probably one of of them come. i've seen a few of the|more he's probably one of of them come. i've seen a few of the|more interestingbly one of of them come. i've seen a few of the|more interesting ones. e of the more interesting ones. >> interesting. angus, he >> it's interesting. angus, he was pressed a lot the secrecy was pressed a lot on the secrecy as it called around the as it was called around the finances. costings of the finances. the costings of the rwanda plan, of course , reports rwanda plan, of course, reports ruling it could be as high as £290 million. so far shovelled into this not a single person sent to rwanda, but he wasn't very forthcoming about any detail. do you think that's the right thing to do ? right thing to do? >> well, i think he's he's reticent on rwanda for a very good reasons . reticent on rwanda for a very good reasons. i mean, it's universally seen as a pretty daft policy, a pretty daft hill to die on for any prime minister he's got himself into an awful pickle about that. he wouldn't even say if he had an airline willing to take people to rwanda. certain . so sketchy. rwanda. uh, certain. so sketchy. the details . and you're right, the details. and you're right, it's cost a lot of tens of millions. in fact, hundreds of millions. in fact, hundreds of millions the millions of pounds. i'm sure the rwanda if you like, rwanda government, if you like, is laughing all the way to the

leeds society the leeds building society with the money they've seen the money because they've seen the uk they uk government coming. they know it's totem within it's a political totem within the uk. it's one of those culture wars he likes and culture wars that he likes and he's got his culture war, but he's got his culture war, but he's on wrong end of a very he's on the wrong end of a very daft war with one. daft culture war with this one. >> do think it's culture >> do you think it's a culture war a bit war issue that's a bit dismissive call culture dismissive to call it a culture war issue? mean, let's face war issue? i mean, let's face it, an actual fact in every election since 2010, people have voted to control our borders. you not like the idea, but you might not like the idea, but at attempting to do at least it's attempting to do what the voters said. well i mean, i think if he's attempting to do anything about it, he's going very much the wrong way about because the numbers going very much the wrong way about forecause the numbers going very much the wrong way about for themselves,|umbers going very much the wrong way about for themselves, the jers speak for themselves, the numbers projecting to put numbers he's projecting to put rwanda this policy very few. >> and indeed, rwanda could send some really, some back. so, um, it's really, you it's very , very thin you know, it's a very, very thin icing the top of a, maybe icing on the top of a, maybe a more substantial cake . but, you more substantial cake. but, you know, it's become his policy. it's culture know, it's become his policy. it's again culture know, it's become his policy. it's again , culture know, it's become his policy. it's again , i culture know, it's become his policy. it's again , i repeat culture know, it's become his policy. it's again , i repeat that. ulture know, it's become his policy. it's again , i repeat that. it's re war again, i repeat that. it's become his sort of a way to cause a fissure or a division of some sort. and he'll stick to it. but when you actually a bit like in a way, when you like brexit, in a way, when you drill numbers, it's

drill down to the numbers, it's not very impressive. >> i want to pick you up on that point again, angus. i just think it's not particularly constructive if you dismiss things you don't particularly agree with as a culture war issue. what does that even mean ? issue. what does that even mean? if are voting to control if people are voting to control our borders, which they have done, voted for done, if people voted for brexit, not a cultural brexit, that's not a cultural issue. it's a democratic mandate i >> -- >> well, i mean , if you want to >> well, i mean, if you want to do some of the democratic mandate and you want to respect that, that vote you perceive is out there, then you do something substantial. well, isn't substantial. well, this isn't a substantial. well, this isn't a substantial as regards substantial policy as regards numbers of people. it's a substantial perhaps as substantial policy, perhaps as regards tens of millions of pounds. a result, that's pounds. and as a result, that's why culture war, why i call it a culture war, because, know, if you want because, you know, if you want to do something serious, you do something serious. if you want to that to have something trite that catches the headlines, it gets you political corner. as you to a political corner. as he's you do he's gotten himself into you do this. silly. this. his policy is silly. i think knows it. but once he's think he knows it. but once he's aborted it, he's got to try and look strong as the prime ministers he's ministers like to. but he's actually looking because ministers like to. but he's acisally looking because ministers like to. but he's acis ally lca

again, it's more a culture war than anything substantial. it is not going to substantially alter the fact and the issue that you've just raised there. and i think know that when they think people know that when they drill down into numbers, drill down into the numbers, okay, into some okay, let's drill down into some other for your for your particular point. argument. other for your for your parwell,�* point. argument. other for your for your parwell, let's|t. argument. other for your for your parwell, let's drill argument. other for your for your parwell, let's drill down|ment. >> well, let's drill down into some today we some other numbers today if we could. is um, scott could. and that is um, scott island announced a tax island has announced a new tax regime today. the highest tax regime today. the highest tax regime in all of the united kingdom . the 45% tax rate will kingdom. the 45% tax rate will get anybody over £75,000. the current threshold is £125,000. what does that say about the economic landscape within scotland and your attitude in particular towards welcoming people who succeed and do well in life ? in life? >> well, i think i raised this with the prime minister. i mean, scotland's got a 1.5 billion deficit. uh, the scottish government , deficit. uh, the scottish government, i'm deficit. uh, the scottish government , i'm critical of them government, i'm critical of them for doing this at passing on a lot of westminster cuts. and meanwhile, of course, the repubuc meanwhile, of course, the republic ireland republic of ireland has got about surplus. so about a ,10 billion surplus. so we see one country that's left

the united kingdom in a surplus and doing very well, thank you. doing the united doing much better in the united kingdom, incidentally. but you see, remained in see, scotland that's remained in the told see, scotland that's remained in the the told see, scotland that's remained in the the broad told see, scotland that's remained in the the broad shoulders told see, scotland that's remained in the the broad shoulders of.d see, scotland that's remained in the the broad shoulders of the about the broad shoulders of the united kingdom not seeing any help with this 1.5 billion. and do remember , every time the uk do remember, every time the uk government into any sort of government goes into any sort of deficit, it just borrows it. it just way out of it. just borrows its way out of it. in the uk has borrowed its in fact, the uk has borrowed its way out trouble for 67 of the way out of trouble for 67 of the last 78 years and only ever paid back about 1.7% of what it's borrowed. so so it's always a bit rich when i hear a uk commentators on about commentators going on about scotland, they're not scotland, when they're not comparing apples with apples. uh, uk , the uk uh, as regards the uk, the uk government is constantly borrowing borrowing sums borrowing and is borrowing sums far of anything far in excess of anything scotland this year, scotland needs this year, however , the issue is, is that however, the issue is, is that if scotland needs scotland however, the issue is, is that if s

i1think that's why the union and not what northern ireland needs. i1think that's why the union isrnd i think that's why the union is failing that's why we see failing and that's why we see the of ireland incident the republic of ireland incident be successful, an be far more successful, be an independent clear of independent and clear of westminster. think that's westminster. and i think that's an scotland to an example for scotland to follow. hope follow. and i certainly hope it will. wish the will. but i just wish the scottish would move scottish government would move to rather than carrying on to that rather than carrying on implementing westminster cuts. that's with that's my disappointment with the government at holyrood. >> how do westminster cuts tally with the fact that the barnett formula more money per formula gives more money per capha formula gives more money per capita scotland anywhere capita to scotland than anywhere else that's money else in the uk? and that's money you westminster? you get from westminster? how can say scotland can go can you say scotland can go whistle when you absolutely provably, on paper, get more money than anywhere else in the uk ? uk? >> uh, no. you see, you talk about the barnett formula. you're talking about identifiable spending. uh, it's the non—identifiable spending is a very large part. in fact, let's give you one example. mps accommodation , not an accommodation, not an insubstantial figure , is spent insubstantial figure, is spent insubstantial figure, is spent in london. that is non—identity viable spending. so that isn't barnett that money that's spent in london. the reality is we've got to move away from this. what scotland spends , what what scotland spends, what what england wales england spends, what wales spends. look maturity

spends. look at the maturity with ireland ireland doesn't with ireland. ireland doesn't have else giving it have anybody else giving it a formula. depending on who it's on what it's going spend . on what it's going to spend. ireland own money as ireland spends its own money as ireland spends its own money as ireland sees fit. there's not a formula from brussels paris ireland sees fit. there's not a foranywherefbrussels paris ireland sees fit. there's not a foranywhere else. ;sels paris ireland sees fit. there's not a foranywhere else. ireland paris or anywhere else. ireland decides for ireland and it's time scotland decided for scotland then a formula scotland and then get a formula handed from london. those handed to it from london. those days should be past. the empire is think the time of is over and i think the time of change is probably a lot closer than many of us imagined, including those in the scottish government. okay angus macneil, we'll have to leave it there. >> when i was an >> but, you know, when i was an mep the snp mep in brussels, i asked the snp meps all the time, could your country fund itself and on country fund itself and stand on its own two feet? they would never question because never take my question because i think all know answer. think we all know the answer. thanks on the thanks for joining us on the show to leave it show today. have to leave it there mps are set to there now. mps are set to receive a 7.1% pay rise, taking the basic common salary to over £90,000. critics, of course , £90,000. critics, of course, have argued that the elected officials lining their pockets won't go down well with struggling taxpayers and other pubuc struggling taxpayers and other public sector workers. so we've

been out and about asking what the great british public make of this pay 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. >> that's in my opinion. i think it's a bit too much. >> you have to put it politely, you do a lot you know, i 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 told everybody that we pay 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. >> if it's a reasonable percentage. >> i don't know what the mps total salary is, but if 6% is in line with inflation, then why not? we need good mps . we need not? we need good mps. we need to pay them properly . to pay them properly. >> yeah, it's absolutely ridiculous. there's people who can't even afford to eat, heat their house or feed their children. >> they have to go to food banks, £6,000 a year is a

ridiculous amount of money. >> there you go. the british pubuc >> there you go. the british public aren't wearing it. well, former labour special adviser and columnist paul richards joins me now. always a pleasure to have the paul . to have you on the show, paul. so on the face of it, £92,731, of course, it's a lot of dosh at 7.1. certainly inflation busting, particularly when we look from the fact this will be from april, not now. it's far higher than the 5% front line health care workers. the big question is, do they deserve this amount of money? >> well, i know it sticks in the craw of a lot of people who are suffering this christmas with the cost of living crisis, but i think we underpay our mps, i think we underpay our mps, and i know that's to sound know that's going to sound terribly controversial, if terribly controversial, but if you them other you compare them to other workers, in the public workers, even in the public sector, you know, senior figures in the nhs and education and so on, they're it's comparable to that. and if you compare it to , that. and if you compare it to, uh, senior jobs within industry , uh, seniorjobs within industry, it's a third, maybe a quarter of those jobs. um, i think if you

want the best possible people to stand office and put up with stand for office and put up with all the grief that comes with all of the grief that comes with being not just online being an mp, not just online grief , but in life grief, but also in real life grief, but also in real life grief to , um, plus the intrusion grief to, um, plus the intrusion of the press and everything else. think you need to pay else. i think you need to pay them decent i know them a decent whack. i i know it's hard. i know it's unpopular. you're going it's hard. i know it's unpush.ah you're going it's hard. i know it's unpush back you're going it's hard. i know it's unpush back y(straightng to push back on me straight away, that is the truth. >> you might be surprised, paul. i'm to push back on i'm not going to push back on you away, because i've you straight away, because i've been saying for some time been saying for quite some time that i if you want to that i think if you want to attract best people, the that i think if you want to attra brainsbest people, the that i think if you want to attra brains acrosseople, the that i think if you want to attra brains across the 3, the that i think if you want to attra brains across the private best brains across the private sector, alone the public sector, let alone the public sector, let alone the public sector run the country, then sector to run the country, then then we perhaps need to think differently about this. and i agree with you. there are fat cats on councils. councils by the way, which are going bust at the way, which are going bust at the moment, who are paid more than mps. and isn't it funny how the same people who think it's okay to pay gary lineker £1.3 million year from the from million a year from the from licence payers money, seem to think that mps are mere parasites . but if we want the parasites. but if we want the best brains , we have to pay the best brains, we have to pay the best brains, we have to pay the

best salaries . best salaries. >> well, also, i think mps do evade bad job of explaining what they do because i think a lot of people think they have, you know, weeks off in know, weeks and weeks off in holidays the house isn't holidays when the house isn't sitting they're not on sitting and when they're not on the sort put the telly, they just sort of put their up. their feet up. >> mean, mps have a terribly >> i mean, mps have a terribly hard time. they are always on duty worked many, duty and i've worked with many, you 20 different mps you know, 20 or 30 different mps all years as, um, their all over the years as, um, their kids suffer . they have to live kids suffeh they have to live in two places, which is never much fun. >> um, you know, and there are people bother in the people bother them in the supermarkets people shout at them. >> f- f last public them. >> last public job, >> it's the last public job, i think, people feel that think, where people feel that they can just go up to their mp and the street they can just go up to their mp and impunity the street they can just go up to their mp and impunity . the street they can just go up to their mp and impunity . i the street they can just go up to their mp and impunity . i mean, ;treet they can just go up to their mp and impunity. i mean, yout with impunity. i mean, you wouldn't with anyone wouldn't do that with anyone else know, you know, else. um, and i know, you know, nobody a gun to the head and nobody put a gun to the head and said, you have to become an mp. but them are actually but many of them are actually driven. them, say driven. most of them, i'd say dnven driven. most of them, i'd say driven sense public driven by a sense of public service desire do good. service and desire to do good. and i mean that across all the political parties. way, political parties. by the way, i'm party political i'm not making a party political point. want point. i think most mps do want to serve communities in to serve their communities in the see fit, and for the way they see fit, and for that get the same as that they get the same as a headteacher. i mean, it really

isn't comparable isn't a comparable thing. so yeah , you know, it's tough, but yeah, you know, it's tough, but i they the pay yeah, you know, it's tough, but i and 1ey the pay yeah, you know, it's tough, but i and lay the pay yeah, you know, it's tough, but i and i think the pay yeah, you know, it's tough, but i and i think theythe pay yeah, you know, it's tough, but i and i think they needay yeah, you know, it's tough, but i and i think they need to rise and i think they need to explain better what the explain much better what the role of an actually is. role of an mp actually is. >> yeah, maybe if they took less second jobs might go down second jobs that might go down well public too. look, well with the public too. look, paul um, have paul richards, um, we have common ground on that. you know, this might stick the of this might stick in the craw of the there. the viewers out there. vaiews@gbnews.com. let us know what a lot of what you think. it's a lot of cash to get to 93 grand plus expenses and a couple of homes. of course, there are lots of perks, i put it to you. i perks, but i put it to you. i used to earn more as magazine used to earn more as a magazine editor in my day years ago editor back in my day years ago than mps earn now. and if you want the best boozer in the country, don't we just to country, don't we just have to dig deeper? think dig a bit deeper? think differently. let's know what you think you might completely and utterly and that's utterly disagree, and that's fine. and fine. now you're watching and listening coming up. listening to gb news coming up. could face another could rishi sunak face another by—election nightmare ? the by—election nightmare? the disgraced mp peter bone finds out his fate later on this afternoon, and we'll head to his constituency to find out their thoughts in just a moment. on martin daubney on gb news,

britain's news channel . britain's news channel. >> hello. thank you for being a big part of gb news. >> we'd like to wish you and your loved ones a christmas season full of comfort and joy, as well as a peaceful and prosperous new year. >> from our family to yours, we are proud to be your channel. >> merry christmas, happy christmas, merry christmas, happy christmas , merry happy christmas, merry christmas, merry christmas , christmas, merry christmas, merry christmas here on gb news the people's channel. >> merry christmas

monday to thursdays from six till 930. >> welcome back. it's 426 now. today marks the closing of a recall petition in the constituency of wellingborough after sitting mp peter bone was suspended from the commons. bone stands accused of several counts of bullying and one of sexual misconduct allegations that he strongly denies . but if at least strongly denies. but if at least 10% of eligible voters sign signed the petition, a by—line election will be triggered, possibly causing yet more headaches for prime minister rishi sunak . well, joining me rishi sunak. well, joining me now is our east midlands reporter, will hollis, who's on the ground in wellingborough . we the ground in wellingborough. we could be heading for another by—election. will and as brenda from bristol might say, not another one. yes it's been a year of by elections that we've

seen here in britain, and they don't tend to go quite favourably of the local, uh, served mp and the local constituent party in power. >> and that's what might be happening here in wellingborough, wellingborough, northamptonshire shoemakers country . and in about an hour country. and in about an hour we're going to find out if the local mp has been given the boot , because peter bone has been accused of bullying and sexual misconduct, things that he has denied. but the people of wellingborough, his constituents, have had the chance to say whether they want that by—election. it is only 10% of local voters that need to sign that recall petition , which sign that recall petition, which ends at 5:00 today. that's only 7000 local voters that need to say we want a by—election and if thatis say we want a by—election and if that is to happen, i've been speaking here in wellingborough about how they might vote when the conservatives do have a 19,000 vote majority . we of

19,000 vote majority. we of course, i better than . labour course, i better than. labour better than labour. >> it would 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 their pocket. money in their pocket. >> labour because 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 basically supporting boris every step of the way. boris is a crook and so is peter bone. >> i think it be conservative. um, i think they do more for wellingborough than what labour ever did. so that'd be my vote . ever did. 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 enough done, you know, for the people within this, uh, uh, basically constituent . basically constituent. >> see, um, i have things that i would have wanted to have dealt or have had dealt with by peterborough and myself . peterborough and myself. >> um, but i didn't have the faith or confidence in the tory machine . machine. >> therefore, something needs to be done . be done. >> there needs to be change. >> there needs to be change. >> um, there is just a two party system at the moment . system at the moment. >> well, it's . only 7000 local >> well, it's. only 7000 local people that will have had to have come out in the cold, in the wet over the last six weeks to sign that petition. but if it has passed that 10% threshold, then there would be a by—election in january or february . and that would mean february. and that would mean that peter bone would not be able to stand. so there could, quite rightly, be a new mp in here that's not a conservative coming off the back of that 19,000 vote majority , but these

19,000 vote majority, but these are by elections. they can go anywhere. they especially a year before a general election. okay >> will hollis, thanks for that update from wellingborough . and update from wellingborough. and when you look at the metrics of this seat, as you say , the this seat, as you say, the margin of safety, the majority, 18,540, we've seen much bigger margins on that overturned in by elections recently. and when you look at how they vote splits, if the labour party, even at the last election, were only to mobilise half of their vote, then that 7000 threshold will be passed . it's looking most likely passed. it's looking most likely there'll be another by—election coming up. also coming up, jacob rees—mogg says the equality act should be scrapped to tackle wokery and we'll hear from the man himself very soon and we'll get all of his reaction to russia's end of year reports. but first, here's your latest news headlines with polly middlehurst . martin.

middlehurst. martin. >> thank you. the headlines this houh >> thank you. the headlines this hour, the foreign secretary has said the uk will not tolerate attacks on ships in the red sea. britain is joining an international match wartime coalition to protect commercial shipping in the area, after a recent spate of attacks. huti militants in yemen, believed to be allied with the hamas terror group, are said to be responsible and they're stepping up their assaults on vessels as they pass through one of the world's busiest shipping lanes. lord cameron has said the royal navy's presence there will send a message to those who've a strong message to those who've been commercial been targeting commercial shipping . also in the news shipping. also in the news today, the scottish government has announced new tax bracket has announced a new tax bracket for highest earners . it for the highest earners. it means those getting more than £100,000 will pay £3,000 more than those in the rest of the uk a year. it's among a package of measures set out by the deputy first minister, shona robison , first minister, shona robison, in her first scottish budget . in her first scottish budget. the new 45% tax band will affect

those earning between 75,000 and £125,000 a year. the change is set to raise around £1.5 billion for scotland's finance , as for scotland's finance, as schools are being advised to inform parents if their children say at school that they would like to change their gender. idenfit like to change their gender. identit under new government guidance , there's no obligation guidance, there's no obligation for parents or teachers to allow students to transition or to provide gender neutral facilities. teachers are also given the choice to opt out of choosing a student's chosen pronouns if they have a reasonable objection . both the reasonable objection. both the stonewall and mermaids charities say the advice doesn't consider the needs of gender diverse youth and victims who've been tncked youth and victims who've been tricked into transferring money to fraudsters will be able to claim back up to £415,000 under new regulations to be introduced. the payment systems regulator says the current likelihood of getting a refund

depends on who somebody banks with, but it says the new measures are set to come into force in october next year and will prompt firms to do more to detect and prevent fraud from happening in the first place. the cost of reimbursing victims will be split 5050 between the sending and receiving payment firms. those are the latest news headlines. more on all those stories by heading to our website, gb news. com . website, gb news. com. thank you polly . thank you polly. >> welcome back. you're watching and listening to martin daubney on gb news, bringing you all the latest until 6 pm. today. rishi sunak faced the liaison committee of senior mps for a prime minister's traditional end of year grilling to gauge his annual performance . the pm was annual performance. the pm was probed on rwanda and net zero immigration. israel and even the

perilous state of nhs dentistry. but as we approach christmas, how well is the prime minister performing ? well, let's go live performing? well, let's go live now to our political editor, christopher hope . chris, hello christopher hope. chris, hello to you again. always a pleasure. in many ways, a year to forget for rishi sunak , particularly for rishi sunak, particularly the end game , the rwanda vote, the end game, the rwanda vote, which they kind of limped through. but i thought today under some serious cross—examination, rishi performed well on a what i would say he seems to have a good eye for detail and like his predecessor . predecessor. >> well , that's right, the pm >> well, that's right, the pm left early from a drinks party last night with journalists. he told us he had to go off and prepare for this every six months. grilled on his months. he's grilled on his record in government by select committee chair, chair, people , committee chair, chair, people, all um senior mps from left and right in parliament on how he's doing. and he came through it quite well. he's a man of detail. you see him there on the screen answering questions from the mps on the privileges

committee. he answered well committee. um, he answered well on he gave on all areas, including you know, global threats to the uk . he talked threats to the uk. he talked about there's no firm date for stopping the boats or we know that. stopping the boats or we know that . but that's yet further that. but that's yet further reminder that he has failed to do this year, despite do so far this year, despite unveiling target , unveiling that as a key target, a key ambition for 2023. the government has made progress, he said, by cutting numbers down by a he also said that he a third. he also said that he wants food bank use to wants to use food bank use to fall. he's working day and night to the release of uk to secure the release of uk hostages gaza by hamas. hostages held in gaza by hamas. he's worried about train strikes damaging the sustainability of the rail network. um, but he's very much he's someone who is on top of his game, martin. he's been impressive, i think. but what he does lack is an ability, i think, to connect with the ordinary voter. and that's where he falls down, i think. and that's what maybe number 10 needs to work on in the new yeah needs to work on in the new year. if i can be so bold as offer advice to them. chris one detail that leapt out, listen to it because i'm sad that it all because i'm sad like that was pumped on rwanda

was when he was pumped on rwanda and the costings the and the costings and the transport agency of the money. >> he he said the secrecy around the money, apart from the fact it could be as much as £290 million, that could be million, is that there could be other involved , which other countries involved, which got me rather excited . he's just got me rather excited. he's just come back from italy of course you have a returns agreement, an offshore containment agreement with albania. do you think this could be a flash of the garter for something more exciting to come in 2024? i'm not sure if that's the flash of the garter is what they need on rwanda right now. >> need to get this bill >> they need to get this bill through there are through parliament. there are votes next month on floor of votes next month on the floor of the house commons. the house of commons. a committee whole committee of the whole house will various amendments committee of the whole house wi the various amendments committee of the whole house wi the rwanda rious amendments committee of the whole house wi the rwanda bill; amendments committee of the whole house wi the rwanda bill to nendments committee of the whole house wi the rwanda bill to make 1ents committee of the whole house wi the rwanda bill to make torts to the rwanda bill to make to make it easier, more guaranteed, that can fly arriving that you can fly people arriving here legally by small boats back to back to rwanda, 6000 miles away, them. and away, and deport them. and that's the party that's what the labour party so much countries are much against other countries are looking at offshore processing departments operation. i should

say. i do think that's what labour might go towards. if they get worried about the rwanda being success next year. they being a success next year. they have said they would repeal the amanda we see other amanda program. we see other countries, italy doing it. it deals with albania, germany deals with with albania, germany looking at but these are all looking at it. but these are all process going. so you can bring back migrants from those countries the country they're countries to the country they're trying to get to. if they if they pass, the various they pass, pass the various tests. issue of migration tests. the issue of migration came with speech by came up earlier with a speech by michael say, on michael gove, i should say, on housing government housing today. the government has build as has unveiled plans to build as many as 70,000 more homes by reforming the planning system. and asked him for gb news and i asked him for gb news whether he that whether he felt that uncontrolled net migration at record levels is stressing the housing um system , and he said housing um system, and he said it is putting pressure on housing, and often the government won't make that connection. certainly in number 10 just now, we've asked the pm's he felt that pm's spokesman if he felt that net migration was making the housing crisis crisis worse. he talked about putting pressure on communities , but not on housing communities, but not on housing per se, because quite, per se, because that's quite, i think, inflammatory . i think think, um, inflammatory. i think for the government to blamed

for the government to be blamed for the government to be blamed for not controlling migration and having a reaction on on housing. >> okay , chris, thanks for that >> okay, chris, thanks for that update. he's going to need something in his pencil in the new year. a poll out today said 56% of people believe if an election happened in the next six months, labour would win versus only 25% at the tories. so they are less than half of the vote at present. now you're watching and listening to gb news coming up. should we scrap the equality act? we'll discuss this next with jacob rees—mogg. i'm martin daubney on gb news, britain's news channel .

sunday mornings from 930 on . gb sunday mornings from 930 on. gb news. we're late . news. we're late. >> get off this christmas eve and christmas day. wake up with gb news for the finest festive start to your christmas for you and the whole family christmas breakfast on gb news christmas eve and christmas day from 6 am. i got you this. >> oh, good. >> oh, good. >> okay. um i got you a little something . ah something. ah >> ah, sure. it's nice . >> ah, sure. it's nice. >> welcome back. 442. you're watching or listening to me? martin daubney on gb news bring you all the latest until 6 pm. now. volcano has erupted on the wreck. james peninsula of southwest islip and following

weeks of intense quake activity, about 4000 people. so far have been evacuated after lava burst through a 3.5km crack in the volcano . many feel fear the volcano. many feel fear the eruption could lead to mass travel disruption in the week before christmas. similar to the ash cloud destroyed , of course, ash cloud destroyed, of course, which hit in 2010. but so far it is not thought this explosion will cause the same level of travel chaos . but the area is on travel chaos. but the area is on high alert for more seismic activity and the shots you can see there were live from the peninsula of southwest iceland, where, as we've just mentioned , where, as we've just mentioned, after weeks of intense earthquake activity , a volcano earthquake activity, a volcano has erupted . look at that has erupted. look at that spectacular stuff. around 4000 people evacuate in the surrounding area. we'll keep you right up to date throughout out the show . now it's time for the the show. now it's time for the great british giveaway and your chance to win treats, tech and £10,000 in cash. and here's how you could start your new year

with all of those fabulous pnzes. prizes. >> you really could be the winner of the very first great british giveaway and receive nearly £12,000 worth of prizes from us. first, we've got a simply stunning £10,000 in tax free cash to give you cash that you can spend on anything you like. next, how about a new phone? you'll also get a brand new iphone 15 pro max, and if all of that wasn't enough, how about a further £500 in shopping vouchers to spend at the store of your choice for your chance to win the iphone ? the vouchers to win the iphone? the vouchers and £10,000 cash text gb win to 84 902. text cost £2 plus one standard network rate message or post your name and to number gb zero one. po box 8690. derby de19, double t, uk. only entrants must be 18 or over. lines closed at 5 pm. on friday the 5th of january. full terms

and privacy notice at gbnews.com. forward slash win good luck . good luck. >> now an snp mp has set in motion a legal bid to pardon coal miners convicted of offences during the industrial strikes in the 1980s. now this is already law in scotland and this fellow would like it to apply this fellow would like it to apply to all of the rest of the uk. my dad was a coal miner for 47 years. i'd like to explain why i think this isn't a good idea and it's this. it was a complicated time. it was a very complicated time. it was a very complicated time. it was a very complicated time where communities were ravaged and split apart by the strike action of 84 and 85. in nottinghamshire, where my dad was down the pit. um scargill and his flying pickets moved in, didn't give the lads in nottinghamshire a ballot. some went on strike. my dad did for a couple of months and then went back to work, and at that point things got tricky. people did break the law, people made bad decisions on both sides of the debate . undoubtedly, some miners

debate. undoubtedly, some miners were were cajoled and forced into action by coppers . into action by coppers. undoubtedly. um, there were some injustices, but to pardon all of them, many years later , to me, them, many years later, to me, sounds tokenistic. um it won't get through legislation. it won't give any meaningful compensation . it won't remove compensation. it won't remove the original judgement . and to the original judgement. and to me, it feels like an snp mp trying to make political hay out of a situation down here in britain in england. and i think perhaps it's time to let sleeping dogs lie on the coal miners strike. after all, those political divisions were still absolutely abundant and just a scratch beneath the surface in the general election in 2019. now moving on, conservative mp jacob rees—mogg has called for the equality act of 2010 to be scrapped to restore common sense in the workplace . speaking in the workplace. speaking yesterday, sir jacob in the workplace. speaking yesterday, sirjacob said yesterday, sir jacob said workers needed to be allowed to get on with their jobs, not

spend all their time and energy in morally progressivism, stating that scrapping the act would tackle wokery well . i'm would tackle wokery well. i'm joined now by conservative mp the very man himself, jacob rees—mogg . jacob, always a rees—mogg. jacob, always a pleasure to speak to you. the equality act of 2010 was brought in with laudable aims to legally protect people from discrimination in the workplace and wider society, who could disagree with that? but something went wrong, didn't it ? something went wrong, didn't it? you >> you're absolutely right. >> you're absolutely right. >> it's laudable , but there's >> it's laudable, but there's always been a basic principle in british law, in the common law of equality before the law. >> and that's a fine principle which should always remain and be applied. unfortunately the equalities act led to the public sector equality duty me, and it's that duty that leads to diversity and inclusion. officer in every policy, every thought of a government department or taxpayer funded operation having to go through these equalities hoops , which don't necessarily

hoops, which don't necessarily lead to better outcomes and what happened didn't it, is that we created a hierarchy , a new created a hierarchy, a new hierarchy, a grievance based hierarchy, a grievance based hierarchy of minority interests, which became weaponised and unfortunately , we saw people unfortunately, we saw people losing out as well, particularly, um, white working class people. >> for example , the bottom of >> for example, the bottom of the stack in for education many, many years. yet the equality act has never once stepped in to protect them. why because they are deemed under the same act to be privileged and therefore i would, i would say , um, people would, i would say, um, people would, i would say, um, people would agree with you. this should be scrapped . should be scrapped. >> well, i obviously agree with you. >> and though this isn't the pubuc >> and though this isn't the public sector, there was the terrible story last week about aviva, miss blank, the chief executive of aviva, saying that if you weren't diverse, if a senior non—diverse appointment was made, it had to come to her and one other person so that if you are a white man, aviva doesn't want to employ you . and doesn't want to employ you. and that's just such a disgraceful

thing to say. it's discriminatory, but it's actually almost encouraged by the equalities act, which is bizarre . bizarre. >> and in terms of the public sector and specifically within government, within the nhs , government, within the nhs, within police forces, we saw in the west midlands fire service, heterosexual white men had to score ten points more in the testing and the equality act said nothing about that . so said nothing about that. so i put it to you again, jacob. the equality act has actually been weaponised to give special dispensation and special foots up to certain minority groups . up to certain minority groups. >> that's absolutely right. and once you have the public sector equality duty and you make the appointment of diversity and inclusion officers, what are they going to they've now they going to do? they've now got a job. they're well paid, sometimes better paid than people on the front line. so in the well be better the nhs they may well be better paid than nurses. of course , paid than nurses. of course, they're then going to show that they're then going to show that they're something useful they're doing something useful and successful not appointing and successful by not appointing white men. so this is in built

discrimination paid for by the taxpayer after the act has gone wrong. it doesn't work. what we want that basic common law want is that basic common law principle of equality for all of us in front of the law . us in front of the law. >> and you especially >> and jacob, you especially mentioned this because of course, mcvey has been course, esther mcvey has been appointed. what it's been termed the minister for common sense. and you specifically make the point that the equality act will prevent her from doing much of the work she needs to be done in what ways ? what ways? >> well, the problem is that with this public sector equality duty, you have to go through the hoops before doing things . and hoops before doing things. and if you've got to go through the hoops, you've got to have somebody who tells you what those are. and the people those hoops are. and the people who are who tell you that are the diversity and inclusion staff . diversity and inclusion staff. and so until you get rid of the hoops, you're going to end up needing staff the needing the staff and the money being you're being spent on it, and you're going up with quite a lot going to end up with quite a lot of the because you're of the courses because you're going to told that not to going to be told that not to have the training is failing in your public equalities your public sector. equalities duty. and bear in mind the

appointment um, uh , dido appointment of, um, uh, dido harding, baroness harding, to be in charge of the test and trace task force, was deemed to be against the equalities act because they hadn't considered ordered properly, not that it was discrimination in any way, but they hadn't considered it. so i'm afraid if you've got to consider it by law, you need the people who are telling you what you've got to consider and therefore to get rid of it is very difficult. >> if you're going >> so, jacob, if you're going to scrap act, you scrap up the act, would you replace it with something new? and if so, what that look and if so, what would that look like ? like? >> well, i think it is important to maintain anti—discrimination in the base of our law. as i say, there is the fundamental principle of equality before the law. but you certainly don't want to go back to a period when discrimination was was lawful. but discrimination shouldn't be against anybody of any kind. we should all be treated as individuals rather than the equalities act that has protected characteristics, which if you don't have one of those

protected, can meristics you're fair game. and that, i think is wrong . wrong. >> okay, so jacob rees—mogg, thank you very much for joining us on the show this afternoon. of course. is show later of course. is your show later this evening, i think 8:00 pm now this morning a very special plane has flown terminally ill and life limited. children from belfast to lapland to experience the magic of lapland, the northern ireland children to lapland. charity helps those children and their loved ones make lifelong festive memories , make lifelong festive memories, and they might even get to meet santa claus himself . our santa claus himself. our reporter dougie beattie is in lapland for us. dougie, tell us more about this magnificent venture . venture. >> well, indeed. welcome to lapland. it is the northern most part of the arctic circle that has any sort of population in it. it's temperature, i can tell you, is very low. but it is a beautiful place. absolutely stunning. snow is just stunning. uh, the snow is just hanging on the trees beautifully. this morning. now hanging on the trees bewasfully. this morning. now hanging on the trees bewas snowings morning. now hanging on the trees bewas snowing very rning. now hanging on the trees bewas snowing very heavily. )w it was snowing very heavily. it's not so much now , but these

it's not so much now, but these children have came here to make lifelong memories. they have came to here see santa. so is there brothers and sisters, mothers and fathers can share that memory for the rest of their lives in case something does go wrong. and quite often it has done in the past. but that the children of lapland trust has been about for many , trust has been about for many, many years. and it's one thing that they do that's not done very much in around the uk , and very much in around the uk, and it is their big day of the year is it costs quite a lot of money to the charity to run it and this morning they left with a chartered flight belfast . chartered flight from belfast. it was delayed about an hour and we arrived in rovaniemi in finland. now the delay seemed to be on the runway in finland and uh , well, it's held us back in uh, well, it's held us back in santa park here. and of course the magic of santa park is unbelievable . they've been in unbelievable. they've been in huskies, they've been on, uh, reindeers. ski—doos then they've gone into the side of this mountain and they have met santa . i can tell you now, every

single one of them that has come on trip has now met matt, on this trip has now met matt, santa , including myself . and it santa, including myself. and it has been an experience and i hope it's one that i will keep and continue doing for many years with them. >> superb. and santa's got dougie beattie in his christmas stocking. excellent now stocking. excellent stuff. now coming up as the department of education publishes new education publishes their new gender questioning draft guidance, hear from guidance, we'll hear from a discrimination barrister to see what they think about that . does what they think about that. does it what they think about that. does h enough what they think about that. does it enough ? i'm martin it go far enough? i'm martin daubney on gb news. this is britain's news channel >> a brighter outlook with boxt solar sponsors of weather on . gb news. >> 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 a colder night, but it will be a colder night, but it will be a colder night, but it will turn quite windy from the north—west. the from today north—west. the rain from today has brought this weather has been brought by this weather front clearing slowly to has been brought by this weather fronsouth—eastiring slowly to has been brought by this weather

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

country, we could see gusts in excess of 70mph. for some exposed coasts and hills . it's exposed coasts and 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, as that warm feeling inside from boxt boilers sponsors of weather on .

gb news. >> good afternoon. it's 5:00. i'm martin daubney welcome to the show. this is, of course, gb news. i'm here to keep you company for the next hour until 6 pm. got a cracker coming up for you, including our top story today rishi was grilled today. rishi sunak was grilled in his end of year performance at the liaison committee. they probed him on net zero on rwanda, on immigration and even the perilous state of nhs dentistry. but how did he get on? was he trussed up like a turkey, or was it only a light based thing? and more to the point, 2023, was it a shocker or a cracker for the prime minister? next story. there is, of course, been a huge spectacle volcanic eruption in rachel ayers in the southern peninsula of iceland. we've got live shots from there, three and a half km of fault line giving a spectacular display . mercifully, spectacular display. mercifully, nobody has been hurt or injured so far, despite the fact people are flocking to go and see it

all. the latest live pictures from this great natural display. next story . a rare outbreak of next story. a rare outbreak of common sense today as trans guidance for schools is published. giving parents the power back to say enough is enough and schools to say hardline parents can be ignored with sensible policies on things like protecting safe spaces for young girls in sports and in toilets, but does this legislation go far enough? is it time to kick trans ideology out of schools altogether here? and finally , it was only five finally, it was only five minutes ago. little britain was called racist, sexist and ableist. but the comedy show is due to make a surprise return to our christmas tv screens . so do our christmas tv screens. so do we still want that one, or is this show past its sell by date? all of that coming in the next hour? trans guidance in schools.

a lot of parents will be breathing a sigh of relief. they think the whole situation has gone a bit mad. but does this new legislation go far enough? we'll have all the details. and what little britain? what about little britain? i thought was very back thought it was very funny back in the day. it was politically incorrect. shouldn't we want a bit than the bit more of that rather than the bonng bit more of that rather than the boring we these days? boring stuff we get these days? well, back at christmas. well, it's back at christmas. let us know what you think. vaiews@gbnews.com. that's all coming up. but your coming up. but first, your latest news headlines polly latest news headlines with polly middlehurst . middlehurst. >> martin, thank you and good evening to you. will the top story from the newsroom tonight is that the foreign secretary is saying uk will not tolerate saying the uk will not tolerate attacks on shipping in the red sea. britain is joining an international maritime coalition to protect ships in the area after a recent spate of attacks. houthi militants in yemen, allied with the hamas terror group, are stepping up their assaults on vessels, believing the ships are resupplying israel. the mod said. the royal

navy destroyer hms diamond will be joining the new task force, with lord cameron adding that the royal navy's presence will send a strong message to those who've targeting commercial shipping. >> this maritime task force that is being set up is looking for partners to help to allow that to happen and britain is going to happen and britain is going to be one of those partners and i think italy is going to be one of those partners, too, for our ourselves. we'll be lending some of our ships to that. um to that task. and i think it's very important that there's a very clear message to the houthis in yemen who've been launching all these attacks that, you know, these attacks that, you know, these attacks that, you know, these attacks will not be tolerated, and we will defend ourselves against them. and it's very important that shipping keeps moving. >> david cameron , now, the >> david cameron, now, the scottish government has announced tax bracket for announced a new tax bracket for higher earners. it's among a package of measures set out by the deputy first minister, shane robertson , in her first scottish robertson, in her first scottish budget . the new 45% band will

budget. the new 45% band will affect those earning between £75,000 . and £125,000 a year. £75,000. and £125,000 a year. meanwhile, those earning more than that will pay 48. the changes are set to raise around £1.5 billion for scotland's finances next year. now, as you've been hearing, schools are being advised to inform parents if their children say they'd like to change their gender identity under new government guidance. there's no obligation for parents or teachers to allow students to transition or provide gender neutral facilities , says the stonewall facilities, says the stonewall charity has objected, calling it legally unworthy , able and not legally unworthy, able and not in the best interests of children, but the equality minister, kemi badenoch, says that it minister, kemi badenoch, says thatitis minister, kemi badenoch, says that it is 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 , 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 are the opposite sex. >> sex. >> kemi badenoch now ukraine's president has taken to the stage at his end of year news conference as his country's war with russia nears the two year mark. volodymyr zelenskyy has expressed gratitude to ukraine's allies for providing financial backup, and he thanked his soldiers for continuing to fight to get ukrainian territory back. it comes after a top ukrainian general warned military operations were being scaled back due to a drop off in foreign aid. sir lensky said russia has failed to secure victory and welcomed the decision to open eu membership talks with ukraine. this is the

great bath. >> for some, it may take decades for us. well, time is nothing . for us. well, time is nothing. we are sacrificing a lot. >> we are fighting for our independence . we are fighting independence. we are fighting for our country, for our future. the future that we choose by ourselves and not the future thatis ourselves and not the future that is chosen by the russian federation . federation. >> president zelenskyy, there of ukraine. now here at home, michael gove has put council planning departments on notice, saying that slow approvals will not be tolerated in a speech on planning reform , the housing planning reform, the housing secretary said there is resistance to new developments in many parts of the country and he wants to crack down on lengthy planning applications, with some councils to be given three months to improve or risk having their powers stripped away from them. >> where there is and has been

consistent underperformance. i will act. so today i'm taking steps to deal with underperforming 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 make sure other authorities to make sure that they have a timetable for an up to date place an up to date plan in place within the same frame, with within the same time frame, with a copy to my department. >> michael gove now, if you're watching on television, take a look at these dramatic geological scenes continuing to come to us live from iceland. a huge volcano in the south—west of the country erupted last night and is still spewing lava and ash high into the sky. nightfall in iceland right now coming to us from the region is peninsula. uh you'll have to see if you can on television. these pictures, they really are incredible . um, we can see the incredible. um, we can see the lava bubbling up and spewing out of that two and a half mile long fissure in the earth's surface.

iceland government's saying it doesn't pose a threat to life, but there are, of course, flight delays and curious sightseers are being warned to keep well away . that's the news on gb news away. that's the news on gb news across the uk on tv , in your across the uk on tv, in your car, on digital radio and on your smart speaker by saying play your smart speaker by saying play gb news this is britain's news channel . news channel. >> and thank you polly. now today rishi sunak face the liaison committee of senior mps for a prime minister's traditional end of year grilling to gauge his annual performance, a sort of end of year report with added questioning . the with added questioning. the prime minister was probed on rwanda net zero immigration, israel and even the perilous state of nhs dentistry. but as we approach christmas, how did he fare ? here? was rishi trussed he fare? here? was rishi trussed up like a turkey, or did he get away with merely a light blue

basting? well the thing about this for me is i think he's had a bad year and it needs to get better. he limped through the rwanda debate, didn't he? today he was asked about rwanda , he was asked about rwanda, specifically about the costings . specifically about the costings. £290 million as the rumoured figure to date. of course, with not a single person to leave the uk for rwanda as opposed to three home secretaries who have been there. priti patel, suella braverman and of course, james cleverly. not a single person has flown out yet and he had a very, very interesting detail in there, which i'd like to talk about now with our political edhoh about now with our political editor, christopher hope , who editor, christopher hope, who joins live from our joins us live from our westminster studio . chris, just westminster studio. chris, just saying to viewers, rishi was probed heavily on rwanda and he did drop in a tantalising detail about potential doing deals with other countries, which sounds very exciting. i think a lot of people would . be hoping that's

people would. be hoping that's the case. do we think there might be some dramatic breakthrough after his weekend with george maloney italy ? with george maloney in italy? >> well, the government does point towards the fact that other countries are doing these third country processing centres. we're seeing a deal, aren't we, with italy and albania . germany is looking at, albania. germany is looking at, for one, these are offshore processing centres, not deportation plans, which is what the government's plan is with rwanda. and that's why labour is so much against it. the idea, the uk has got is to break the model of these people traffickers by saying to, to make it clear to them, forgive me that if you arrive here illegally by boat, me that if you arrive here illegally by boat , jump the illegally by boat, jump the queue, go past others waiting to be seen by the home office and you will taken to rwanda , you will be taken to rwanda, processed and left there . that processed and left there. that is the point. that's the policy . is the point. that's the policy. it's controversial. it's controversial in his own party, let alone in parliament, as we'll see next month when it's debated in the commons before going lords. going to the house of lords. that's offshore

that's different to an offshore processing centre, which is what other countries are looking at. and i'm guessing and i reckon, i'm guessing this, but think that maybe that's but i do think that maybe that's what labour go towards. if what labour might go towards. if rwanda starts to if it rwanda starts to work, if it starts deter the people's starts to deter the people's traffickers, they might look at doing a similar deal to what of the are the european countries are doing, a way doing doing, and find a way of doing offshore because offshore processing, because having hotels and having them in hotels and community houses is not what is a good look for so many people, many of our viewers complain about it. they don't want to have this. people are, um, migrants in taking up their migrants in pope taking up their hotel when want hotel space when they want to have there have the right to stay there themselves . themselves. >> yeah, there could be smart deals done. a deals to be done. i spoke to a labour mp week who labour mp last week who mentioned mentioned mentioned turkey, mentioned greece . sensible ideas. let's greece. sensible ideas. let's see if we get some meat on the bone and chris, as a concerning poll out that today from redfield and wilton strategies, looking at if we ask voters who they think the most likely governments will be in six months time, 50, 56, beg your pardon? believe labour would form a government as opposed to

only 25% believe that the conservatives might. so rishi needs to put some lead in his pencil in the new year to try and turn that around. >> yeah, he's got to find a better narrative. he's got to start, in my view. uh, discuss communicating what his government is doing better. he's a really good guy at learning detail, learning facts, regurgitating . them to you, regurgitating. them to you, saying, i know this. why can't you know this kind of thing? but he lacks a storytelling side to him. we saw that didn't we? of course, with boris johnson, to a degree, think tony blair degree, i think with tony blair that david cameron, these that maybe david cameron, these media performers and media performers can try and connect with the person they're talking to it from their talking to and see it from their point of view. i think he lacks that confidence this . um, that confidence about this. um, his others to see his inability for others to see what he's seeing. he's very upbeat. i was lucky enough to see night for drinks see him last night for drinks and in downing street , you know, and in downing street, you know, he upbeat privately about he is upbeat privately about this record. he this government's record. um, he is still miles behind the polls. the polls haven't budged at all. and that's the challenge. he's

got make, try got to try and make, make, try and convert many as 25% of and convert as many as 25% of tory voters. so far undecided. it's worth giving a chance back to the tory party what they think is that as we get near to an election date which will now be next year, he confirmed to journalists last night will journalists last night it will be in this election . he's be in 2024. this election. he's thinking as you get near to thinking that as you get near to election then people are election day, then people are going to focussed on, going to be more focussed on, well, the choice in front well, what's the choice in front of me? is it you know, of me? is it one, you know, sunak has turned it around? is it risking that with it worth risking all that with starmer? that's the starmer? that's the that's the choice to us. choice they're going to give us. i as voters year. and i think as voters next year. and they see the numbers they want to see the numbers come towards where come back towards where the party be, is party should be, which is certainly they're at certainly where they're not at the moment . the moment. >> as you shared a >> and chris, as you shared a christmas with the prime christmas drink with the prime minister, you mention that minister, did you mention that other table ? that other drink on the table? that is pint of beer that you bet is the pint of beer that you bet with the prime minister that a single won't leave leave single flight won't leave leave for rwanda? was that brought up ? for rwanda? was that brought up? >> martin shamefacedly it wasn't brought up, and it should have

been brought up. and that's a that's a bet i've made for gb news viewers, isn't it? going back until goodness me , i think, back until goodness me, i think, uh, october september time is a very stale pint by now. but we were going to bet, weren't we, him, that not a single migrant will off before year's will take off before next year's election. i think if we're election. now, i think if we're looking at may, our pint might be safe later. next year. it's looking less safe. there might be a few flights taking off, of course, whether they're commercial flights or mad flights. but the flights. not clear, but the issue of migration came up again with gove. the with michael gove. he's the housing the big housing secretary. the big government today is housing secretary. the big go reform nt today is housing secretary. the big go reform planning today is housing secretary. the big go reform planning rules, today is housing secretary. the big go reform planning rules, getyday is to reform planning rules, get more new homes built. martin the plans they put out should mean as many as 70,000 more homes will be built. um, as many as 70,000 more homes will be built . um, gove as many as 70,000 more homes will be built. um, gove said he can't say when it'll be when inflation falls and interest rates fall, and that could be, well, probably towards the end of not time for of next year, not in time for the election, two and the election, but two and 300,000 new homes a year is barely half the net migration figure . the legally arrived net figure. the legally arrived net migration figure. so where they're all going live isn't they're all going to live isn't clear. point is, said

cleah and the point is, i said to will now admit that to him, will you now admit that net migration puts pressure on housing? and he did admit that. so government is now so the government is now recognising is there's recognising there is a there's a what they're the people coming through the front door. does have a bearing on communities. martin. >> well seem your christmas dnnk >> well seem your christmas drink at least worked on michael gove. whatever it that you gove. whatever it was that you gave give pint of to gave him, give a pint of it to the prime minister. you. the prime minister. thank you. chris. hope always a pleasure. now a volcano has now of course, a volcano has erupted reykjanes erupted on the reykjanes peninsula southwest iceland peninsula of southwest iceland following of intense quake following weeks of intense quake activity . about 4000 people so activity. about 4000 people so far have been evacuated from the area after lava burst through a 3.5km crack in the volcano . 3.5km crack in the volcano. though many fear the eruption could lead to mass travel disruption in the week before christmas, similar to the ash cloud disruption. if you recall from 2010. but so far it is not thought this explosion will cause the same level of travel chaos. but the area is on high alert for more seismic activity .

alert for more seismic activity. well, joining me now is sir stephen sparks cbe, professor of geology . to thomas, thanks for geology. to thomas, thanks for joining us. sir stephen. now i did a bit of geology way back in the mists of time. and one thing i do know about iceland, the fantastic visited fantastic country i have visited , is it's blessed or cursed. however you look at it, at being on the interface of tectonic on the interface of two tectonic plates , am i right? or is my plates, am i right? or is my distant memory failing me ? distant memory failing me? >> no. you're correct, quite correct. it's on the boundary between the north america plate and the european plate. and slowly it's the two continents either side of this, these boundary are moving away from each other at about two centimetres per year. and it's that process of the plates moving apart which causes the volcanoes in iceland . volcanoes in iceland. >> and we can see spectacular live images on our screen . now live images on our screen. now the lava is pluming into the sky, as is the ash. and of course, sir steven. it's blessed

the country many ways with geothermal energy and a lot of energy independence . so it's not energy independence. so it's not always a bad thing. if you live in an area of tectonic activity like this . like this. >> not at all. they generate a lot of geothermal energy in iceland. they can do things like smelt milium, which is very, very expensive to process using geothermal energy. they heat their houses, they grow bananas in hot houses. uh, they their houses, they grow bananas in hot houses . uh, they have hot in hot houses. uh, they have hot pools which the tourists enjoy. so it's, uh, in many ways it's a great thing for them. of course . great thing for them. of course. uh, the downside is that you have every now and then, you have every now and then, you have a volcanic eruption , as in have a volcanic eruption, as in this case, it's quite near a, uh, one of the big towns in iceland. and so that's something they have to live with. >> but a very organised and active society and their obviously their early warning systems are very, very highly tuned because miraculously, nobody's been hurt. they simply

evacuated the area. and now we're enjoying this amazing spectacle on television. it just seems incredulous that nobody's actually been hurt at all. >> no, not at all. >> no, not at all. >> um , in fact, the activity >> um, in fact, the activity that forewarned of the eruption started in november, so it's been going on for quite a while with lots of earthquakes and the ground's been moving around. >> and as i think people may have seen cracks opening up in the ground. and so a precursor to the eruption which started at, uh , early in the early hours at, uh, early in the early hours , uh, yesterday, last night . um, , uh, yesterday, last night. um, so , uh, they've been able to, so, uh, they've been able to, uh, have several weeks of warning and the icelanders being very , uh, in, uh, uh , if you very, uh, in, uh, uh, if you like, in, in genius. they've been building barriers around the town and infrastructure like the town and infrastructure like the power station. um, and, and, uh, they've built a whole series of barriers in the last few weeks, and they're i think there's they've got a good

chance of , uh, there's they've got a good chance of, uh, stopping there's they've got a good chance of , uh, stopping the lava chance of, uh, stopping the lava going into the, uh, and destroying much of the town and also , uh, harming any of the also, uh, harming any of the infrastructure around there. >> and so, stephen, could i ask you briefly about the atmospheric impact of an eruption like this? a lot of people are saying, wow, this puts into this pales into insignificance . me turning off insignificance. me turning off my burner . it's insignificance. me turning off my burner. it's going to be my log burner. it's going to be a lot of pollution chucked into the atmosphere from an eruption like this. and maybe the world is a greater force is just a greater natural force than humans are now. piffling little burners. little log burners. >> well , it is really one >> yeah, well, it is really one of the most spectacular examples of the most spectacular examples of live on a dynamic planet. >> but of course, the upside of thatis >> but of course, the upside of that is if we didn't have volcanoes which fed the ocean and the atmosphere over millions and the atmosphere over millions and millions of years, we wouldn't have life on earth. so it's part and parcel of living on a dramatic , dynamic planet. on a dramatic, dynamic planet. uh, as far as the pollution goes , um, there will be local pollution on, um, a little bit of ash, but, um, gases like

sulphur dioxide, which will turn ultimately into sulphuric acid are , uh, largely a nuisance, are, uh, largely a nuisance, but, uh, quite an annoying nuisance. they can damage, uh, wind meadows. they can cause problems of, uh, people with, um, uh, difficulties like asthma, for example . um, so the asthma, for example. um, so the pollution locally is going to be something they'll need to watch out for. but this kind of eruption that's just happened isn't like the one that happened in 2010. uh, where we had a huge amount of very fine ash and a much more powerful eruption, which got , uh, ash right much more powerful eruption, which got, uh, ash right up into the stratosphere and blew it back over europe. and of course, all the planes had to, uh, stop. but this is very unlikely to happenin but this is very unlikely to happen in this case, it will be a spectacle of nature , and with a spectacle of nature, and with a spectacle of nature, and with a bit of luck, they'll the barriers they've they've built , barriers they've they've built, um, will keep, uh , uh, the

um, will keep, uh, uh, the destruction to a minimum. >> superb . so stephen sparks >> superb. so stephen sparks cbe, professor of geology. i feel like i'm back at school in a good way. thank you very much indeed for joining a good way. thank you very much indeed forjoining us on the indeed for joining us on the show. now you can start your new year with £10,000 in cash, a £500 shopping spree and a brand new iphone. sounds amazing right 7 new iphone. sounds amazing right ? well, here's how you could make all of those prizes yours . make all of those prizes yours. >> this is your chance to win cash, treats and tech in our very first great british giveaway . these are totally tax giveaway. these are totally tax free, £10,000 cash up for grabs. cash which would help make 2024 a whole lot better . we're also a whole lot better. we're also going to send you shopping with £500 worth of vouchers to spend in the store of your choice. what would be on your shopping list? if it's a new iphone? we've also got that covered too, with latest iphone 15 pro with the latest iphone 15 pro max, which you'll also receive for your chance to win the iphone.the for your chance to win the iphone. the vouchers and £10,000 cash text gb win to 84 902. text

cost £2 plus one standard network rate message all post your name and number two gb zero one, po box 8690. derby de19, double t, uk. only entrants must be 18 or over. lines close at 5 pm. on friday the 5th of january. full terms and privacy nofice january. full terms and privacy notice at gbnews.com. forward slash win . good luck . slash win. good luck. >> and now you're watching and listening to gb news coming up schools in england have been told there is no general duty to allow children to change their gender identity as part of long awaited guidance for schools, for pupils who question their gendeh for pupils who question their gender, and a rare outbreak of common sense. we're discussing that and much more. next, i'm martin daubney on gb news, britain's news channel . late. britain's news channel. late. get up this christmas eve and christmas day. >> wake up with gb news for the finest festive start to your

christmas for you and the whole family . christmas breakfast on family. christmas breakfast on gb news christmas eve and christmas day from 6 am. >> i got you this. >> i got you this. >> oh, good. >> oh, good. >> okay . um, i got you >> oh, good. >> okay. um, i got you a >> oh, good. >> okay . um, i got you a little >> okay. um, i got you a little something . ah something. ah >> ah, sure. it's nice

that i knew had dewbs& co weeknights from six.

>> welcome back 527. you're watching and listening to martin daubney on gb news, bringing you all the latest until 6 pm. now schools in england have been told there is no general duty to allow children to change their gender identity. it's part of long awaited guidance for schools and colleges for pupils who question their gender. but governments transgender guidance does not completely block social transition , and minister for transition, and minister for women and equalities kemi badenoch argues a blanket ban is unworkable . well, joining me now unworkable. well, joining me now is discrimination. barrister robin moira white. thank you so much for joining robin moira white. thank you so much forjoining us on the show. much for joining us on the show. robin so the new guidance, which doesn't compel teachers any longer to use pronouns of choice for the child , it protects for the child, it protects single space toilets for girls and it keeps biological men boys out of contact . sports for girls out of contact. sports for girls seems lots of common sense among out there. what's your take on the new legislation?

>> well, i'm sorry to say. i mean, firstly, it's not legislation, then it's guidance. >> and it's only guidance put out for consultation. >> draft guidance put out for consultation over 12 weeks. so it has as no effect at the moment. and it even if enacted in its present form, it's non—statutory guidance . so it is non—statutory guidance. so it is only guidance. schools can happily ignore it. only guidance. schools can happily ignore it . and happily ignore it. and unfortunately it gets the law wrong in a number of respects. s and is therefore likely to be challenged by the um parents and trans children . uh, it isolates trans children. uh, it isolates and humiliates rather than includes and supports . and includes and supports. and frankly, because it gets the law wrong, it won't be of any use to educationalists who have difficult task to perform and really needed some helpful guidance to work out how to include trans people, not how to exclude them. >> but the guidance s as as it

is , um, looks at the majority is, um, looks at the majority position. i mean, lest we forget , 50, 51% actually of the population are born female . and population are born female. and 0.4% are, um, at a maximum are trans . and therefore it would trans. and therefore it would seem fair , it would seem seem fair, it would seem equitable, would it not, to bnngin equitable, would it not, to bring in guidance to project the majority view . so you talk about majority view. so you talk about this guidance as if it's something that's a bad thing, that something should be there to be challenged? >> well, if we're dealing with the rights and accommodation of a minority , which is what this a minority, which is what this guidance specifically deals with, then it needs to work out how to include and properly support the minority . how to include and properly support the minority. um, and this guidance plainly doesn't do that. >> so do you think we should set up our, our society , our laws, up our, our society, our laws, our rules to protect a tiny minority of people and rather than to protect a great majority of very concerned parents? i

mean, there are legitimate concerns, particularly around protecting girls toilets, single sex toilets. there are legitimate concerns around protecting girls from biological males in sport. you must concede these are valid concerns for a great many parents. >> they are concerns that are expressed by a number of people . expressed by a number of people. frankly, what they've been used as is a, um, a wedge to run a culture war by a government who finds it appropriate to stamp on minorities if we're going to look after any minority, then we focus on how we include that minority, not how we exclude them . them. >> but we should also protect the vulnerable . and young girls the vulnerable. and young girls are vulnerable. and if young girls are saying they don't feel safe in toilets or in contact sports where they're getting biologically superior , bulkier biologically superior, bulkier biologically superior, bulkier biological males clattering into them and causing them damage, as we have seen , they also deserve

we have seen, they also deserve protecting, too. surely >> well, the thing to do then is to talk to educationalists , talk to talk to educationalists, talk to talk to educationalists, talk to school leaders, talk to head teachers associations who are from the messages i've had today, horrified by this guidance because it attempts to exclude if i spent this interview calling you christine , interview calling you christine, then, um, you would be no doubt a bit annoyed by that . a bit annoyed by that. >> i wouldn't care less. >> i wouldn't care less. >> this guidance suggests that someone can, um, choose to call someone can, um, choose to call someone by a name they've rejected . and how would most rejected. and how would most people feel about being called by a name that they rejected, and that being thought to be okay, it's not okay. >> so, yeah, i don't mind being called christine. i've been called christine. i've been called far worse, but i am serious about about the notion , serious about about the notion, um, that i think that vulnerable young girls deserve protecting too. and if guidance is brought out, which is which is which is which gives clarity and guidance and helpful information on that, then it shouldn't be. it

shouldn't because it shouldn't be rejected because it doesn't a tiny minority doesn't favour a tiny minority of people. to this it has credence, is what i'm trying to say . say. >> sorry doesn't have >> i'm sorry it doesn't have credence. that's the credence. and that's the problem. it's guidance problem. firstly, it's guidance and confidently predict that and i confidently predict that virtually all schools are going to reject it because it doesn't work. therefore, it's no use to anyone. it's guidance and guidance has to work by the majority accepting it. schools are very used to, for example , are very used to, for example, managing contact sports school, rugby, um schools are very used to making sure that pupils have appropriate sizes bump into each other of whatever sex they are playing rugby schools manage those issues already and schools should be trusted to manage issues like this with the helpful, useful guidance . not um helpful, useful guidance. not um uh, not unlawful oil and exclusionary guidance. being dropped from a great height . dropped from a great height. >> okay. thank you very much. discrimination barrister robin moira white, thanks for joining us show. always good to

us on the show. always good to have opinions and have a range of opinions and i don't mind being called christine, so there's lots more still between now and still to come between now and 6:00, including return of 6:00, including the return of little it's set to little britain. yes, it's set to return the christmas period return over the christmas period , but censored will it be? , but how censored will it be? we will discuss this next, but first, your latest news headunes first, your latest news headlines with polly middlehurst i >> -- >> martin. thank you. the headunes >> martin. thank you. the headlines this hour. the foreign secretary says the uk will not tolerate attacks on shipping in the red sea. britain is joining an international maritime coalition to protect ships in the area after a recent spate of attacks. houthi militants in yemen allied with hamas terror groups, are stepping up their assaults on vessels, believing ships are resupplying israel, the mod said. the royal navy destroyer hms diamond will be joining the new task force, with lord cameron adding that the royal navy's presence will send a strong message to those who've been targeting commercial ships. the scottish government has

announced a new tax bracket for higher earners. it's among a package of measures set out by the deputy first minister, shona robison , in her first scottish robison, in her first scottish budget . the new 45% band will budget. the new 45% band will affect those earning between £75,000 and £125,000 a year. meanwhile, those earning more than that will pay 48. the changes are set to raise around £1.5 billion for scotland's finances next year. £1.5 billion for scotland's finances next year . and as finances next year. and as you've been hearing, schools are being advised to inform parents if their children say they'd like to try to change gender under new guidance, there's no obugafion under new guidance, there's no obligation for parents or teachers to allow students to transition or to provide gender neutral facilities. the stonewall charity has objected , stonewall charity has objected, saying it's legally unworkable and not in the best interests of children. the government disagrees as. meanwhile, ukraine's president has taken to the stage at his end of year news conference as his country's war with russia nears the two

year mark. volodymyr zelenskyy has expressed gratitude to ukraine's allies for providing financial backing and thanked his soldiers for continuing to fight to get territory back. it comes after a top ukrainian general warned military operations were being scaled back due to a drop off in foreign aid . those are the foreign aid. those are the headlines. more on all those stories by heading to our website at gbnews.com . website at gb news.com. >> website at gbnews.com. >> for a valuable legacy your family can own . gold coins will family can own. gold coins will always shine bright. >> rosalind. gold proudly sponsors the gb news financial report and a quick snapshot of today's markets. >> the pound buying a $1.274 and ,1.1610. the price of gold is £1,602 and £0.96 an ounce on the ftse 100, closed today at 7638

points. rosalind gold proudly sponsors the gb news financial report . report. >> thank you polly. >> thank you polly. >> now the bbc comedy series little britain has returned to tv screens over the christmas penod tv screens over the christmas period after nearly 20 years off air. an ofcom study in october this year found a sketch from the show to be offensive, explicitly racist and outdated . explicitly racist and outdated. and while some viewers were surprised the series is still available to watch, and this comes after the show was pulled from the bbc iplayer and netflix in 2020, but was later re—added to the iplayer in 2022. now critics are questioning why the divisive sitcom is returning to our screens this season, and joining me now is journeys presenter and comedian gopalam mean leo leo. it's hard to keep up. there's only five minutes ago. this has been slammed for its use of blackface, slammed

for its sexism, slur for its homophobia, slammed for its outright racism against asian people. and now it makes a surprise return. it's hard to keep up. >> yeah, absolutely. although show is returning in an edited form, apparently they've sat down. it's coming back on, um, it's called, uh, what's the what's the name of the channel? >> it's coming back on. >> it's coming back on. >> that's tv. >> that's tv. >> i think it's called so it sounds, you know, a bit like that's life. >> it's one of these tv channels. >> w- channels. >> i've got anything >> not that i've got anything against tv channels starting against new tv channels starting up, of course, uh. against new tv channels starting up, but:ourse, uh. against new tv channels starting up, but yeah. uh. against new tv channels starting up, but yeah. it's h. against new tv channels starting up, but yeah. it's going to >> but yeah. so it's going to be, it's going to be edited. they're to it's they're going to make sure it's ofcom but had ofcom compliant. but yeah had lots of uh, it was called racist and things. but and all these things. um, but then pretty everything has then pretty much everything has been called racist over the last five years. so yeah, maybe now people are like, well, you know , people are like, well, you know, so what? and from my point of view, i think, you know, yeah, it had, uh, portrayed it had, uh, it portrayed stereotypes. it's a comedy show, a lot of a of comedy comes a lot of a lot of comedy comes from stereotypes. >> simpsons . >> look at the simpsons. >> look at the simpsons. >> pretty much all >> look at pretty much all comedy . and wasn't, know,

comedy. and it wasn't, you know, at it was equal at least it was equal opportunities in its , uh, in its opportunities in its, uh, in its racism. it also had classes , um, racism. it also had classes, um, homophobia, transphobia , uh, you homophobia, transphobia, uh, you know, it had everything in there. and i think it would actually be more racist to exclude , uh, certain demographic exclude, uh, certain demographic groups from comedy and say, oh, no, we you're no different. we can't make fun of you because, you know, that would be punching down and you're beneath us, which woke left seem which is what the woke left seem to seem to say. >> guess the big question is, >> i guess the big question is, if all of the offensive if you take all of the offensive bits out, which actually were the bits of the show, then the best bits of the show, then what's left ? is it just an what's left? is it just an exercise , an abject futility? exercise, an abject futility? leo, to try and pump life into this corpse, stripped of all of its major organs? the racism , its major organs? the racism, the sexism was the best bit, the best stuff. what's going to be left? >> i know i mean, i mean, some of the stuff that was in it was, uh, you know, it does seem ridiculous, like vicky pollard smoking a cigarette while in a swimming pool. >> you know, it's so, so funny.

>> and also, we've got to remember, this was 20 years ago. >> this tv show came out. >> this tv show came out. >> i mean, that's that's a long time. >> so. so take arts and cultural attitudes change. uh, you know, people are much more sensitive. i'd say too sensitive. now so they're, you know, they're not going to they're not going to like having, uh, you know, different , different different, different stereotypes. and whatever portrayed, portrayed on screen. but when was the last decent tv comedy show like since since little britain, since the office, since these these absolute classics of, you know, 20, 25 years ago? i think it just shows that if you if you stifle , you know, any, any stifle, you know, any, any expression or stifle any, you know, uh, hyperbole or exaggeration of traits, then you're are absolutely stymieing comedy. >> yeah. and of course, if you still want some politically incorrect humour, you can catch leo kearse on headliners which of course takes the pc out of politics every single night . politics every single night. leo, always a pleasure. you take care my friend. for today care my friend. thanks for today marks the closing of a recall

petition in the constituency of wellingborough after sitting mp peter bone was suspended from the commons . peter bone was suspended from the commons. of peter bone was suspended from the commons . of course, now bone the commons. of course, now bone stands accused of several counts of bullying and one act of sexual misconduct allegations that he strongly and abjectly denies . but that he strongly and abjectly denies. but if at least 10% of eligible voters sign this petition, a by—election by—election will be triggered, possibly causing more than a headache for prime minister rishi sunak. while the recall petition has now closed, it closed at 5 pm. and gb news is east midlands. reporter will hollis reports from wellingborough . wellingborough. >> the recall petition to decide if wellingborough is going to get the opportunity to vote in a by—election has just closed . by—election has just closed. that means that now , now we will that means that now, now we will have to wait to see if the 10% threshold has been met. this petition has been put in place because because of allegations that were made about the local mp here in wellingborough , peter

mp here in wellingborough, peter bone. peter bone has been the mp since 2005, sitting as a conservative, but recently he lost the whip when there were accusations made about bullying and sexual misconduct. there was and sexual misconduct. there was an investigation by the parliamentary independent expert panel that said that there was evidence that mr bone had committed varying acts of bullying and at least one act of sexual misconduct . but mr bone sexual misconduct. but mr bone has denied all of these accusations , as people have had accusations, as people have had that opportunity to sign the petition . it was only 10% of petition. it was only 10% of local voters that would have needed to have signed it. and now we can wait to see what will happen over the next few hours. we have been hearing from local people in the northamptonshire town of, uh, of wellingborough , town of, uh, of wellingborough, and they've been saying who they might vote for if they do get by—election >> conservative suburban , >> conservative suburban, liberal. a better than . labour

liberal. a better than. labour >> it would 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 concern 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 who already have a bit of money that they a of money in their pocket. >> labour because i think peter bone hasn't really served this constituency very well and i 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 it be conservative. >> um, i think they do more for wellingborough and what labour ever did. so that'd be my vote . ever did. so that'd be my vote. >> if there is a by—election in january , i would probably stand january, i would probably stand for myself . for myself. >> i feel that there's been not enough done. >> you know, for the people within this, uh , uh, basically within this, uh, uh, basically constituency . um, i have things constituency. um, i have things

that i would have wanted to have deau that i would have wanted to have dealt or have had dealt with by peter bone myself. um, but i didn't have the faith or confidence in, in the tory machine . elianne. therefore, machine. elianne. therefore, something needs to be done. there needs to be change. >> um, there is just a two party system at the moment. >> over the next couple of hours , we will hear whether wellingborough gets that by—election and if there is going to be one in this local northamptonshire town . it was northamptonshire town. it was expected to take place in january or february . january or february. >> thank you. will hollis and with a majority of 18,540 and only 7000 needed to trigger that petition , um, you'd expect this petition, um, you'd expect this is going to happen if you even take a third of the opposition votes at the last election. that threshold will be reached. now, the by—election headache coming up for rishi sunak in the new yeah up for rishi sunak in the new year. by the looks of it. well, you're watching and listening to gb up. mps are set gb news coming up. mps are set to receive a 7.1% pay rise, taking the basic common salary to over a whopping 90 grand.

we'll discuss whether this is the right or the wrong call . the right or the wrong call. next, i'm martin daubney on gb news, britain's news channel

only on gb news, the people's channel only on gb news, the people's channel, britain's news channel . channel, britain's news channel. >> welcome back . it's 548. >> welcome back. it's 548. you're watching and listening to martin daubney on gb news. now mps are set to receive a 7.1% pay rise, taking the basic

common salary to over 90 grand and critics have argued that elected officials lining their pockets won't go down well with struggling taxpayers and other pubuc struggling taxpayers and other public sector workers. so we've been out and about asking what the great public make of this, but now let's get the thoughts of labour commentator james mathewson. james, thanks for joining us on the show. so 92 grand, £731 will be their salary , 7.1% inflation busting hike higher than the 5% given to frontline healthcare workers. the question i put to you, james, is quite simple do they deserve it ? no no, no, i don't deserve it? no no, no, i don't think anybody would argue that they do at the moment. >> to be honest. the amount that we're seeing of this increase in comparison to the rest of the country and where everybody else is moment, it's in bad is at at the moment, it's in bad taste . taste. >> obviously, we've got to we've got it is got to note the fact that it is ipso commend this. and they are in dependent, um, i mean, anybody who's worked in

parliament or been around parliament, i think has their own issues ipso a of own issues with ipso a lot of the but, know, when it the time. but, you know, when it comes the mood in the country comes to the mood in the country at the moment everything, at the moment and everything, i think mps haven't at the moment and everything, i think distanced haven't at the moment and everything, i think distanced themselves already distanced themselves from this, as many have, you know already, um, will be cringing at the thought of trying to explain it. well, why? why they're going to take it and why they're going to elect to take this extra pay out when everyone else is facing the situation we're facing in the country. >> but james, the counter argument is quite simple, that if you want best brains, if you want the best brains, you've to get the wedge you've got to get the best wedge out to out of your pay packet to attempt them , to get them in attempt them, to get them in through the door. for example , through the door. for example, look the councils in britain . look at the councils in britain. um, there are thousands of town hall than 100 hall staff on more than 100 grand. the managing director of guildford council is on over £600,000 pounds. so i'll put it simply to you, if you want the best people to run the country, you've got to dig deeper . you've got to dig deeper. >> yeah. do we think councils are great examples of how that's working at the moment? because

i'm are . um, i i'm not sure they are. um, i mean, people currently at mean, i know people currently at councils and doing communications similar to communications roles similar to what worked in previously. what i've worked in previously. you kind of communication you know, kind of communication side work . you know, kind of communication side work. um, and local side of work. um, and local authorities sometimes paying comms directors, 110, 150 grand a year . and i comms directors, 110, 150 grand a year. and i hear from these people directly that they think it's bizarre that they're paid that much. they don't think it's worth that. so there is a limit. there's an upper limit, but you're absolutely right that you do need to pay people properly and well the and pay them well to get the best of people. i want best quality of people. i want working working class working people and working class people all the backgrounds people from all the backgrounds in able to go into in the uk to be able to go into parliament from day one and be able to afford , you know, to able to afford, you know, to work there and to be able to have a living and make living have a living and make a living from you know, and not just from it, you know, and not just have rely on the expensive have to rely on the expensive system, which at the moment is quite, quite a dubious quite, you know, quite a dubious system we've ipso system because we've got ipso monitoring but got, monitoring that. but we've got, you time that you know, every time that expenses for mps go up, we criticise it in the media and the press. what those expenses normally reflect are individuals. they're actually

staffers who some of them . on staffers who some of them. on 18.5 grand a year trying to eke out a living in central london because that's where they've got to work. and i believe that you end up with people who are who are privileged and from positions privilege positions of privilege already taking positions if we taking up these positions if we don't properly. but don't pay them properly. but the levels that we're pay go levels that we're seeing pay go to reflected of rest to now, as reflected of the rest of the it's not of the country, it's not appropriate the moment. appropriate at the moment. >> about if you >> but what about if you compare, for example, the salaries the bbc? people salaries and the bbc? people don't a say that. in don't have a say in that. in fact, if they don't pay those salaries, might in salaries, they might end up in clink. lot those people clink. a lot of those people earn than the prime earn more than the prime minister a certainly minister and a lot, certainly more the average mp. i'm more than the average mp. i'm simply the for if simply making the case for if you want people in all you want the best people in all of the world to be applying to run huge departments, it might take extra quid . take a few extra quid. >> it does. you're absolutely right . but >> it does. you're absolutely right. but like >> it does. you're absolutely right . but like i say, there's right. but like i say, there's no limit to this stuff. you know, we reached a point where we say, okay, we understand that, know, rises in that, you know, pay rises in line inflation, but other line with inflation, but other people getting rises people aren't getting pay rises in inflation. in line with inflation. the whole of crisis in whole cost of living crisis in this country is based on the

fact people making . fact that people are not making. the money they need to be able to pay for things that they need. you know, i mean, the cost of everything now has sky rocketed it. speak rocketed it. you speak to anybody, anywhere in the country. is feeling country. everybody is feeling it. at the time for that, it. and at the time for that, for our lawmakers and policymakers able say, policymakers to be able to say, well, exempt that , well, we're exempt from that, actually, to still actually, we're going to still take extra pay it's take that extra pay rise. it's just not a good look optics wise. okay okay. >> james matheson, we're going to have to leave it there. thanks for joining to have to leave it there. thanks forjoining us on the thanks for joining us on the show. somebody has just show. somebody else has just joined the studio. joined me in the studio. michelle favourite joined me in the studio. miciof.e favourite joined me in the studio. miciof the favourite joined me in the studio. miciof the show. favourite joined me in the studio. miciof the show. jubes:avourite joined me in the studio. miciof the show. jubes ivourite joined me in the studio. miciof the show. jubes i know; part of the show. jubes i know you covered this yesterday you covered this topic yesterday evening. bit feisty. what evening. got a bit feisty. what do tell you now, right? um >> i can tell you now, right? um out the topics that out of all the topics that i covered night on covered last night on my programme, one hot programme, this one was the hot topic. this one that really kind of the engagement with of sparked the engagement with the viewers the most. a lot of my viewers were saying key my viewers were saying two key messages. first of all, uh, increase the salary, which surprised me, but it was caveated. but, uh, reduce the number of mps. that was a massive thread that was coming number of mps. that was a massiuh, hread that was coming number of mps. that was a massiuh, from that was coming number of mps. that was a massiuh, from the t was coming number of mps. that was a massiuh, from the viewersyming number of mps. that was a massiuh, from the viewers at ng from, uh, from the viewers at home. and the other side was put

people performance related people on performance related pay ' people on performance related pay , which a whole pay, um, which sparked a whole interesting question about who decides , uh, what. essentially decides, uh, what. essentially those kpis would be, what those measures would be, who would be measured against what? what is the definition of success? would that be, uh, something that would it came to our mps? >> superb. well, that was last night's show. got a quick minute. what's on tonight's menu though? >> is it 90 odd grand? what, almost bad at all. almost 93 grand. not bad at all. anyway course i want to anyway yes, of course i want to look rishi sunak. over look back on rishi sunak. over the he's been at the the last year, he's been at the liaison committee what the last year, he's been at the lia we| committee what the last year, he's been at the lia we reckon?ttee what the last year, he's been at the liawe reckon?ttee he what the last year, he's been at the liawe reckon?ttee he done what the last year, he's been at the lia we reckon?ttee he done avhat the last year, he's been at the lia we reckon?ttee he done a good do we reckon? has he done a good job? is he going to be relaxing over high fiving over christmas, high fiving himself, smashed over christmas, high fiving himself, not? smashed over christmas, high fiving himself, not? well smashed over christmas, high fiving himself, not? well you nashed over christmas, high fiving himself, not? well you neverd 2023 or not? i well you never know. stranger things have happened also, course, happened. uh, i also, of course, want at this, uh, want to look at this, uh, guidance of the so—called trans kids in schools. also want to kids in schools. i also want to talk and goodbye severance talk gold and goodbye severance pay- talk gold and goodbye severance pay. of that pay. the amount of money that people public sector get people in the public sector get given they leave their given when they leave their jobs. astronomical. jobs. sometimes is astronomical. and way , lots of and by the way, lots of ministers, when they leave their role, they get massive pay cheques well . is it time to cheques as well. is it time to look at all of this? should we

put caps on of course, put caps on it? and of course, last but not least, a story that i covering as i know you've been covering as well. is it well. assisted dying, uh, is it finally those finally time now to give those people that the choice people that want to the choice in this country so beautiful. >> a juicy menu as ever on dewbs & co that's of course, is straight after show . six straight after the show. six till i'll be back the till seven. i'll be back the same tomorrow. it's been same time tomorrow. it's been a fighter debate. for all fighter debate. thanks for all of opinions ever. um, of your opinions as ever. um, and for what it's worth, i think mps should get paid more. i think if they're going to complain about lineker's salary, don't complain that . don't complain about that. that's same time that's just me. same time tomorrow, co for the tomorrow, dewbs& co for the break. a brighter outlook with boxt solar , sponsors of weather boxt solar, sponsors of weather on . gb news. on. gb news. >> good afternoon. welcome to your latest gb news weather update from the met office . 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 quite windy from the will turn quite windy from the northwest. from today northwest. the rain from today has by this weather has been brought by this weather front clearing to front that's clearing slowly to the southeast through the rest

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

country, we could see gusts in excess of 70mph. for some exposed coasts and hills . it's exposed coasts and 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 . that in the run up to christmas. that warm feeling inside from boxt boilers sponsors of weather on .

do you think you'll be going into christmas high fiving himself, thinking he's done a great job or not? and today sees the release finally . i mean, the release finally. i mean, we've only been waiting since 2018, but anyway , release for 2018, but anyway, release for schools now who have so—called gender questioning children. i can tell you now, opinion is divided on much of it, not least as to who has the final say on some of this stuff. should it be the kid, the schools or the parents and get this right? everybody civil servants were paid about £150 million in so—called golden goodbyes last yeah so—called golden goodbyes last year. do you reckon? now there should be a cap on how much people can receive in severance pall-7 people can receive in severance pay?if people can receive in severance pay? if so, what would that cap

be? and esther rantzen has said