is >> starmer tells all gb news is with sir keir starmer in an exclusive live sit down interview with the labour leader . he's visiting and thanking british troops near the russian border and starmer says that today the defence of the uk starts in ukraine in diplomatic row . row. >> the irish government is set to challenge the uk government through the european convention on human rights that's over its decision to offer immunity for crimes during troubles and crimes during the troubles and strike nation junior doctors are on day two of planned industrial action over pay, but the health secretary says she would head to the negotiations at the drop of a hat if it meant the end of strikes. >> we'll be hearing directly from a bma chair. >> this could be a very bitter diplomatic row over this northern ireland troubles bill, essentially granting limited

amnesty to british soldiers. >> and it's the collusion with with joe biden. he gave the green light for this. and it kind of plays into theories of recent years that biden, um, dislikes the uk. recent years that biden, um, dislikes the uk . arlene foster dislikes the uk. arlene foster said as much this year, she said that has a deep hatred for that biden has a deep hatred for the united kingdom. well, it certainly sounds as though he's given leo varadkar in ireland his personal blessing, vowing to take the uk government to court through european court of through the european court of human rights. >> know someone isn't >> i know someone who isn't happy >> i know someone who isn't hapmarc francois, marc , >> marc francois, marc, francois, it is him. >> we'll be speaking to him very shortly to get his view on what going first let's get going on. but first let's get the . the headlines. >> emily. thank you very much. this is the latest from the gb news room, a former british army soldier accused of spying for iran will stand trial in october next year . 22 year old daniel next year. 22 year old daniel khalife november trial was put off after he allegedly escaped

wandsworth prison by strapping himself to a food delivery van. khalife is charged under the official secrets act of gathering information that might be useful to an enemy of the uk between may 1st, 2019 and january 6th last year. he's accused of passing sensitive material to iranian intelligence, which he denies . a intelligence, which he denies. a memorial service marking 35 years since the lockerbie bombing has paid tribute to the 270 people who died . the local 270 people who died. the local clergyman, who led the service called it a senseless act of violence. when the boeing . 747 violence. when the boeing. 747 exploded over the scottish town of lockerbie, it killed all 259 passengers and crew on board and 11 people on the ground. the bombing, which happened as the plane made its way from london to new york, remains the uk's worst terrorist attack. worst ever terrorist attack. former of counter terrorism former head of counter terrorism at the ministry of defence, major chip chapman, told gb news accountability is extremely important and it is mass

criminal murder and mass criminal murder and mass criminal murder and mass criminal murder means that, uh, you know, people still need to be held to account if they think there are people out there who still things. still did these things. >> evidence to >> but you need evidence to prosecute. was was prosecute. now, megrahi was was prosecuted. the key question if you're in the counter—terrorist field is could this happen again? because most of the mass criminal murder through aviation incidents occurred in the 70s and 80s, and now it is very difficult to do that because of airport security being better . airport security being better. >> the labour leader says there's a real and constant threat to europe from russia as he visits british troops in estonia. sir keir starmer has been watching training sessions on a nato base bordering with russia. he's there to show his commitment to nato and has thanked servicemen and women for their courage, integrity, loyalty and professionalism. sir keir warns that the west mustn't lose sight of moscow's threat to europe. >> i'm here to say thank you to our troops here in estonia who are based on the border pretty much with russia for the work

they're doing keeping us safe, they're doing keeping us safe, the work they're doing for nato, but also also to reaffirm our unshakeable commitment for nato and our unshakeable commitment to ukraine, and to remind everybody that russia is a constant threat , not just now, constant threat, not just now, but into the future . but into the future. >> pro—palestine demonstrators and nhs health workers blockaded the us tech giant palantir's office in london, accusing it of being complicit with war crimes. the nhs data platform was awarded a contract worth £330 million earlier this year to provide the new shared software system. it aims to make it easier for health and care organisations to work together and provide better services to patients. but there are concerns about how patient data will be used and questions over parlantes involvement with the israeli government . rail israeli government. rail passengers in scotland are being strongly urged not to travel to and from edinburgh today, as

storm pier is set to cause major disruption. the service has asked customers to delay their journeys in and out of the scottish capital until after 3:00 this afternoon, as parts of the uk brace for high winds . a the uk brace for high winds. a yellow weather warning for wind came into effect at midnight and will last until 9:00 this evening, with forecasted gusts of wind up to 70 and 80mph in northern scotland . the warning northern scotland. the warning also covers belfast , newcastle also covers belfast, newcastle and . manchester the eu's top and. manchester the eu's top court has ruled fifa and uefa acted illegally in blocking the creation of the european super league. the proposed league involving 12 of europe's biggest clubs, including six english teams, was announced in april 2021 but collapsed shortly after. now a judge has ruled uefa blocking the formation of such a competition is contrary to eu law. the court said. both fifa and uefa are abusing their dominant position in the sport. it also said the ruling does not mean that a competition such as the super league must

necessarily be approved . and necessarily be approved. and british sign language will be taught as a gcse in england from september 2025. the department of education says it will give students an understanding of the history of sign language in the uk. education secretary gillian keegan says it can open the door for so many young people. it's understood the development of the gcse was delayed due to the covid pandemic. this the gcse was delayed due to the covid pandemic . this is gb news covid pandemic. this is gb news 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 ben and . emily. >> well, the uk government will defend veterans against ireland's attempt to reverse the troubles legacy bill. >> irish premier leo varadkar says his government was given no opfion says his government was given no option but to take the legacy act to the european convention on human rights, the echr. the act received royal assent in

september and means soldiers serving in northern ireland would receive limited immunity from potential prosecution , but from potential prosecution, but opponents of the bill claim it, quote, brushes aside the victims and their families. >> so joining us now is conservative mp and former armed forces minister mark francois. mark, thank you very much for your time. i've seen your comments in the telegraph this morning. you sound very , very morning. you sound very, very frustrated. was this unexpected that leo varadkar would make this legal challenge ? this legal challenge? >> yes . i feel this legal challenge? >> yes. i feel very this legal challenge? >> yes . i feel very strongly >> yes. i feel very strongly about this. >> can i explain ? i am one of a >> can i explain? i am one of a small band of conservative backbenchers, people like ids and johnny mercer , when he was a and johnny mercer, when he was a backbencher , campaigned for backbencher, campaigned for several years even to get this legislation brought in in the end, we managed to persuade bofis end, we managed to persuade boris johnson when he was prime minister, to do it. >> that led to what became the northern ireland legacy bill that was debated extensively in

parliament. it took nearly a year to actually get through both the commons and the lords , both the commons and the lords, and now it seems that the irish government that perhaps aided and abetted by the president of the us, we're not quite sure wants to go to the strasbourg court to overturn a law which has already been passed by our elected parliament. how can that be right , elected parliament. how can that be right, mark? >> is this further proof that we need to leave the echr? >> well, look, let me put it like this. >> there is a fundamental question here who ultimately runs this country ? is it a the runs this country? is it a the government and mps democratically elected by the people at the ballot box in a general election or is it b an unelected, unaccountable and

unrepresentative , highly unrepresentative, highly political foreign court which where does power lie? i'm with i'm with parliament on this . i i'm with parliament on this. i think most of the people are with parliament on this . we had with parliament on this. we had this over the last couple of weeks with the rwanda bill. there'll be more of that in the new year. now we've got it on northern ireland veterans in a couple of months. it'll probably be something else. we cannot allow a situation to pertain. hang on. where the will of parliament can be overruled again and again by a foreign court. we should do on this what what david cameron did to his credit on prisoner voting and simply say to the strasbourg court, this is none of your business. we have passed a law thatis business. we have passed a law that is the law of the land , and that is the law of the land, and that's the end of it. >> this isn't the only legal challenge, though , is it? to challenge, though, is it? to this, uh, to this legislation you've got bereaved families going to court in belfast.

>> well, this . was a it is >> well, this. was a it is a complex piece of legislation thatis complex piece of legislation that is why it was debated between both houses for nearly a yeah between both houses for nearly a year. i mean, this was not something done overnight or in a hurry . there were lots of hurry. there were lots of amendments that were tabled. the bill was was altered here and there. uh in some ways. so this was not, you know, a rush job. it took years of campaigning even to get the bill in, in the first place. but parliament has spoken. first place. but parliament has spoken . it has, after exhaustive spoken. it has, after exhaustive debate, made an act of parliament that is the law. now i come back to my fundamental point . where does power lie ? why point. where does power lie? why doesit point. where does power lie? why does it lie with the democratically elected parliament and government of the united kingdom , or does it lie united kingdom, or does it lie with a foreign court? we are going to have to resolve this because otherwise it will happen again and again. because otherwise it will happen again and again . an and again

again and again. an and again mark, you touched on, uh, us president joe biden. >> um, he apparently met uh, varadkar in new york in september and gave him the green light to do this is arlene foster right. was she right earlier this year when said earlier this year when she said that biden has a deep hatred for the uk? only last week the uk? it was only last week that biden said that we wouldn't be fta, there be getting an fta, and there were whitehall were sources from whitehall saying actually ministers saying that actually ministers would a trump would prefer a trump administration next year because he a little bit he might treat us a little bit better biden does . better than biden does. >> i'm not sure if biden hates the uk. people forget that in 1982, when he was a young senator on the foreign relations committee , he stuck up for committee, he stuck up for britain during the falklands campaign. you know, many people forget that. but it is true. but on this, um, if he is attempting to interfere in this very important matter in northern ireland, then maybe we need a love actually moment. and we need to tell the president of the united states , though we the united states, though we love him dearly, this is not his business. >> um, and how much time is

this? how much government time is this going to take? there's so much going on for the government not government to deal with, not least the ongoing strikes. could this be could this be months and months and months of legal challenge? >> well , well, if what the >> well, well, if what the government should do in order to cut through all of that is simply to say, as we did on prisoner voting, there's a very clear precedent here. we don't get involved in endless , complex get involved in endless, complex legal arguments with the court in strasbourg. we just say we've passed a law this is none of your business. that's the simplest way to deal with this, because we cannot allow for many of these northern ireland veterans, many of whom have died, others of whom are in their 70s and 80s, to be endlessly hounded at the behest of the strasbourg court. >> yeah, i think you're quite right, mark. a lot of our viewers already emailing in saying that they you know, it's

a gross betrayal of those veterans the fact that it's veterans and the fact that it's coming off the back of a reported collusion between biden's administration and varadkar is a tough pill to swallow. isn't this just gross hypocrisy, though, from ireland? because as far as i understand , because as far as i understand, they haven't prosecuted one person for serious crimes committed during the troubles since the good friday agreement. is this is this hypocrisy from varadkar ? varadkar? >> well, the government of the repubuc >> well, the government of the republic of ireland , as you say , republic of ireland, as you say, have not prosecuted anyone even for terrorist offences since the good friday agreement in 1998. but on the other side of the coin, as it were, we have continued to investigate and reinvestigate british soldiers at length , sometimes many times at length, sometimes many times over. at length, sometimes many times over . even when they had already over. even when they had already been cleared multiple times . been cleared multiple times. thatis been cleared multiple times. that is what the bill was created to avoid. it's a complex piece of legislation, but in

layman's english it aims to try and draw a line under this whole process. now, the irish government are challenging that and they're going to strasbourg. but but at the risk of hammering the nail to split the plank of wood, what this is ultimately aboutis wood, what this is ultimately about is it's not just about the irish government. it's not ultimately about the president of the united states. it's about who runs our country. is it our democratically elected government and our parliament, or is it a foreign court and a time is coming where we, as a nafion time is coming where we, as a nation are going to have to decide ? decide? >> yeah, another another grave example of, for us to leave the echr, our viewers would say conservative mp, former armed forces minister mark francois, thank you so much for joining us. appreciate it. yeah well there you go. >> of course, it is a very divisive piece of legislation and party northern ireland and no party in northern ireland supports we'll be speaking supports it. we'll be speaking to with a with to someone with a with a different later in the different view later on in the show. let us know what you show. but let us know what you think. news. think. gb views at gb news.

chess.com. now labour chess.com. now the labour leader has warned russia is a real and constant threat to europe. that's as he visited british troops stationed in estonia near the russian border. yes, sir keir starmer, who's accompanied by defence secretary john by shadow defence secretary john healey, and its healey, says the uk and its allies need to, quote, be prepared in response to moscow's actions. shall we speak to gb news political correspondent katherine forster she's with us to tell us a little bit more about this trip. so what's keir starmer been doing and what's he been saying? >> yes. so labour leader keir starmer arrived last night in estonia at this nato military base just a few miles from the border with russia, estonia shares 180 miles of border with russia. he last went in march 2022, and shortly after russia invaded ukraine. and he's there to thank the soldiers coming up to thank the soldiers coming up to christmas for all that they do. and also really, it's about sending a message, isn't it?

sending a message to the soldiers, but sending a message to us back at home and to the world that labour is going to be a strong supporter of ukraine if it gets into government, warns about the threat from russia . it about the threat from russia. it says russia is a constant threat, saying that it is important that britain continues supporting ukraine so very much taking the same line as rishi sunak and boris johnson before him did, saying it's essential to help to protect uk grain because it matters to all of us. also concerned about potentially more , uh, russian interference more, uh, russian interference on british soil, like the salisbury poisoning has been speaking about, you know, dirty russian money, etc. and really putting russia back in the spotlight and ukraine because, of course, fallen down a bit down the agenda , hasn't it, with down the agenda, hasn't it, with the israel gaza conflict , not

the israel gaza conflict, not much in the way of specifics, but he's basically signalling he's hoping there's an election next year. of course . and he next year. of course. and he wants to look and sound like a prime minister in waiting, because, of course, going to see the troops, rallying the troops is the sort of thing that you might expect a prime minister or a president to do about this time of year. >> yes, indeed . and, catherine, >> yes, indeed. and, catherine, we're going to be hearing exclusively , aren't we, from exclusively, aren't we, from keir starmer, christopher faux pas , political editor, out pas, political editor, is out there to him. i wonder there to speak to him. i wonder what questions he's going to put to him. i think there might be a few exclusive for us, so we're going be hearing at about going to be hearing at about 1:00. i think it is abu qatada, anyone? >> starmer, starmer helped, of course, stop abu qatada's deportation. the hate preacher . deportation. the hate preacher. um, so hopefully we get some more that from chopper. have um, so hopefully we get some morheard|at from chopper. have um, so hopefully we get some morheard anything hopper. have um, so hopefully we get some morheard anything on)per. have um, so hopefully we get some morheard anything on starmer's you heard anything on starmer's response on that front? >> have to wait to see >> you'll have to wait to see the interview. he was talking more generally to broadcasters, and he wasn't asked about that specifically. he was asked about the fact that, of course, he did

serve under former labour leader jeremy corbyn. he has got to the position he's in because he served under jeremy corbyn, served underjeremy corbyn, a man who wanted nato to be disbanded . and now , of course, disbanded. and now, of course, labour has done a very abrupt about turn . sir keir starmer, about turn. sir keir starmer, very keen to signal that he's different, that labour has changed. but i think lots of people will say, well, why did you serve under jeremy corbyn you serve underjeremy corbyn with many, many people at the last election were concerned that if corbyn had become . um, that if corbyn had become. um, prime minister, that would have been a real national security concern. but that's something i think that you'll find that sir keir starmer doesn't want to talk about these days . talk about these days. >> well, thank you very much indeed, katherine forster, our political correspondent on keir starmers to estonia. starmers trip to estonia. >> i can't wait for that. for that chopper. sorry to interrupt. just saying. i can't wait that chopper interview. wait for that chopper interview. >> looking forward wait for that chopper interview. >>it, looking forward wait for that chopper interview. >>it, too. looking forward wait for that chopper interview. >>it, too. i looking forward wait for that chopper interview. >>it, too. i think looking forward wait for that chopper interview.

>>it, too. i think he'sing forward wait for that chopper interview. >>it, too. i think he's going ward to it, too. i think he's going to it, too. i think he's going to put some, uh, tricky questions. i think he asked about >> i think he asked about whether would a nuke whether he would send a nuke putin's whether he would send a nuke putyeah, did ask that. lots >> yeah, he did ask that. lots and lots more. we'll bring it to you exclusively channel you exclusively on this channel after christopher hope after 1:00. christopher hope won't any punches. he'll won't pull any punches. he'll ask want ask the questions. you want to know answers to. and of know the answers to. and of course, tony blair as well, holding with benjamin holding talks with benjamin netanyahu . what do you make to netanyahu. what do you make to that? let us know you're watching and listening to good afternoon . afternoon britain. >> come. of >> plenty more to come. of course, doctors course, as junior doctors enter day industrial action, day two of industrial action, we'll be joined by a chair from the bma very shortly. don't

eamonn and isabel monday to thursdays from six till 930. >> welcome back here with ben and emily on good afternoon britain. it's 1223 now as the latest round of junior doctor strikes enters its second day. analysis by the nhs has warned that over 300,000 appointments could be cancelled as a result of the walkout . of the walkout. >> yes, the 25 days of industrial action taken by junior doctors just this year have already led to around 875,000 appointments being postponed, although nhs bosses warn this figure is only the tip of the iceberg. that's because hospitals stop scheduling care for strike days when they're announced , which isn't reflected announced, which isn't reflected in the figures . in the figures. >> to discuss this further, we're joined now by the chair of bma's north thames committee, doctor arjan singh. doctor singh , the health secretary, today said that she was up for going back to the negotiating table.

what time are you meeting her? >> all the health secretary has to do is give us a credible offer, and we will call off the strikes. our pay has fallen precipitously over the last 15 years, to an amount that is roughly a 30% pay cut. the amount that the health secretary has offered us would see a doctor in their first year getting paid £618 an hour, which is not acceptable. >> our demand is for that doctor to get paid £21 an hour, and we're not actually saying it has to be done this year. it can be done over several years. we will be perfectly happy with that. and with the offer that we've got at the moment. the £16 an hour means we're still getting paid. the 30% less than our assistants, who are physician associates , who have not gone to associates, who have not gone to medical school, who don't have a medical school, who don't have a medical degree, who can't practice independently, who aren't regulated. the government is planning on tripling the number of our assistants to get

paid 30% more than us. that costs hundreds of millions of pounds. that should be coming to our offer, which would give us a credible offer that we can take to members we can call off to members so we can call off these strikes. to members so we can call off the arjun kes. to members so we can call off the arjun basically , you're >> arjun basically, you're holding to ransom . i'm holding the nhs to ransom. i'm risking patients lives over this crucial winter period for pay . crucial winter period for pay. so hypothetically, we could call off the strikes right now. >> we could go to our members and we could say , this is a and we could say, this is a great deal. we're going to accept it. that's it. but time does not stop them. there are consequences to those actions. 40% of doctors right now want to leave the nhs as soon as possible . 70% are researching possible. 70% are researching alternative careers , and we've alternative careers, and we've got a shortage of about 10,000. >> arjun , do you think it's >> arjun, do you think it's sorry to interrupt you, but do you think it's by making nhs waiting lists so much longer, causing mass cancellations to important surgeries and appointments and the like, is

really going to make the experience of junior doctors in the nhs better . the n hs better. >> the nhs better. >> the experience that we have right now is horrific. that's why so many are leaving . they're why so many are leaving. they're leaving because of pay . they leaving because of pay. they don't feel valued. pay is a metric of value. as a doctor, you can work in australia . and you can work in australia. and new zealand, america as a consultant and get paid 100 to 500% more than you can in this country. yet we're not asking for those wages, we're simply asking to restore our pay. and because we don't have enough doctors, 500 british people are dying needlessly every single week. and if we don't get a credible offer or we impose an offer on our members, that figure is only going to get worse. those are the consequences of this offer . consequences of this offer. >> arjun, with respect, you're talking about your concern for people dying. i mean, tens of thousands of people now are because of your cynically timed strikes are going be missing strikes are going to be missing appointments and operations. people arguably die as a people will arguably die as a direct result of your action. you could do this at a less

inconvenient time when the nhs isn't stressed, not just by your strike action, but flu and strike action, but by flu and staff off off sick. so are you really concerned about people dying ? dying? >> so firstly, doctors are patients. our family members are patients. our family members are patients. we've had appointments and procedures cancelled during these strikes , as well as these strikes, as well as a large set of strikes. there is no right time to strike. there never will be. it is a deeply inconvenient thing for anyone , inconvenient thing for anyone, but the fact of the matter is that our strikes that we've had, we've had eight now, there has been impact on patient been no impact on patient mortality morbidity . that's mortality or morbidity. that's an undisputed there is no an undisputed fact. there is no evidence to suggest there has been because we have consultants, and sas doctors consultants, gps and sas doctors that cover our margin . that cover our margin. >> if there's no impact of a strike of junior doctors on patient safety, then you're essentially arguing that your job doesn't save lives. of course, there's an impact. we've seen charities like age uk, we've seen the patients association, we've seen health chiefs all warning that elderly patients in . particular are

patients in. particular are going to have their lives at risk because of this strike action. you can't argue that away. that just fact. so away. that is just fact. so again, there is obvious disruption with our strikes. >> no one's disputing that . what >> no one's disputing that. what i've said, which is a fact , is i've said, which is a fact, is that there has been no impact on patient mortality or morbidity. you are very free to give me evidence that there has been , evidence that there has been, but there any. how can but there isn't any. how can you prove that it . well, i can prove that when it. well, i can tell you if you'd let me finish is that we are seeing 500 people die on a normal week in the nhs due a lack doctors , due to due to a lack of doctors, due to a shortage of doctors . this a shortage of doctors. this offer. if we were to accept it, is not going to see the haemorrhaging of doctors. stop. if me a solution to if you can give me a solution to the crisis that will the retention crisis that will result tens of thousands of result in tens of thousands of people dying, please do. people dying, then please do. but only ones that we've but the only ones that we've come to at the moment is pay restoration. and doesn't have restoration. and it doesn't have to away. can to be done straight away. it can be number of years, be done over a number of years, but that is the only way you can retain because right retain doctors, because right now the government now the only way the government is planning fulfilling the

is planning on fulfilling the shortage is to shortage of doctors is to plunder like plunder from countries like ghana and nigeria that are on the health organisation the world health organisation red it is deemed red list, where it is deemed ethically reprehensible to take red list, where it is deemed ethic doctors'ehensible to take red list, where it is deemed ethic doctors . hensible to take their doctors. >> because the fragility, i think, i think arjun, i think, i think, i think arjun, i think, i think we have enough, i think the issue is a lot of people are supportive of the idea of paying doctors money, and they doctors more money, and they want obviously want to obviously see the nhs retain expert staff. retain its highly expert staff. >> but the timing of these strikes just seems quite callous. but thank you very much, doctor arjun singh, the chair of bma's north thames chair of the bma's north thames committee, thank you very much for appreciate it. for your time. appreciate it. >> okay. today a judge has decided the killers of decided to name the killers of briana joy , the 16 year old who briana joy, the 16 year old who was lured by the two murderers who then launched a preplanned attack stabbing . her 28 times. attack stabbing. her 28 times. >> yes, the defendant's currently known as girl x and boy x, are both 15 years old, meaning they were automatically given lifelong anonymity . but given lifelong anonymity. but their identities will soon be revealed. joining us now from manchester crown court is gb news north northwest reporter

sophie reaper. >> so fee, what was the reasoning behind the judge's lifting of this anonymity order? well this morning in the last hour or so, we heard applications made here at manchester crown court to lift those restrictions around girl x and boy y boy. >> we now know they will be lifted, but not until their sentence sing, which is now scheduled for february second. so in just over five weeks time we will be able to name the two teenagers. now justice yip, the judge who's been presiding over this court case, heard applications from members of the press regarding public interest, but also the fact that in just over just under two years time, when they turn 18, we would be able to report on their identities anyway . now, in terms identities anyway. now, in terms of not reporting them until the time of the sentencing, justice yip said that was in order to give girl x and boy y, as well

as their families, the opportunity to prepare for their identities being made public. she said she'd taken into consideration several different vulnerabilities. for example , vulnerabilities. for example, all professionals have expressed concerns around how this could impact girl x's rehabilitation , impact girl x's rehabilitation, as well as the impact on her family, whom justice yip announced to the court have already been receiving death threats . she also referred to threats. she also referred to concerns around boy y, whom has autism, and how revealing his identity could impact him. however, she ultimately decided that public interest weighed more heavily than protecting x and y's identity , saying that and y's identity, saying that the public will want to know their identities in order to understand better how two children could have carried out this attack so that ruling has now been made that come february 2nd, we will be able to bring you the identities of girl x and boy y, the murderers of

transgender teenager brianna gee. well thank you very much indeed for bringing us that news. >> sophie reaper gb news, northwest reporter from outside manchester crown court . the most manchester crown court. the most hideous, hideous crime i was all for having them names, but actually some people have made some good arguments that at least one of those killers is, uh, fantasised and was obsessed with serial killers. >> and by naming them, actually, it them the, the infamy it gives them the, the infamy that they they crave. so it's an interesting, uh, discussion. >> interesting discussion. >> very interesting discussion. yeah. different yeah. there'll be different views, that, views, views on that, considering their age. but it's been it's been 35 years since the tragic lockerbie bombing. we'll be joined by our home affairs and security editor, who reported on the disaster in the 80s. stay with . us. 80s. stay with. us. >> emily, thank you very much. your top stories from the gb newsroom, some breaking news. first, the teen murderers of 16 year old brianna joy will be

named by the media when they're sentenced . but that's according sentenced. but that's according to judge. they stabbed her 28 to a judge. they stabbed her 28 times after luring her to a park in cheshire on the 11th of february. during the trial, media hadn't been allowed to name the defendants, identified only as girl x and boy y, both both now aged 16 but 15 years old at the time , her killers old at the time, her killers tried to blame each other for the stabbing, but yesterday both were found guilty of murder at manchester crown court . a former manchester crown court. a former british army soldier accused of spying for iran will stand trial in october next year. 22 year old daniel khalife november trial was put off after he allegedly escaped wandsworth prison by strapping himself to a food delivery lorry . khalife is food delivery lorry. khalife is charged under the official secrets act of gathering information that might be useful to enemy of uk . between to an enemy of the uk. between may 2019 and january 6th, last yeah may 2019 and january 6th, last year. he's accused of passing sensitive material to iranian intelligence , which he denies . a

intelligence, which he denies. a memorial service marking 35 years since the lockerbie bombing has paid tribute to the 270 people who died. the local clergyman who led the service called it a senseless act of violence . when the boeing 747 violence. when the boeing 747 exploded over the scottish town of lockerbie, it killed all 259 passengers and crew on board and 11 people on the ground . the 11 people on the ground. the bombing, which happened as the plane made its way from london to new york, remains the uk's worst ever terrorist attack , and worst ever terrorist attack, and the labour leader says there's a real and constant threat to europe from russia, as he visits british troops in estonia . sir british troops in estonia. sir keir starmer has been watching training sessions on a nato base bordering with russia . he's bordering with russia. he's there to show his commitment to nato has thanked servicemen nato and has thanked servicemen and courage, and women for their courage, integrity , loyalty and integrity, loyalty and professionalism . sir keir warns professionalism. sir keir warns that the west mustn't lose sight of moscow's threat to europe. you can get more on all of those stories by visiting our website, gb news.com

sunday mornings from 930 on gb news . news news. news. >> welcome back. it's 1238 with ben and emily on. good afternoon britain. now the truth of who was behind the lockerbie bombing which happened 35 years ago today, will likely never be revealed. that's according to the father of one of the victims.

>> yes, on the 35th anniversary of the disaster , reverend john of the disaster, reverend john mersey moses said the evidence surrounding the destruction of the jumbo jet was too well hidden. our homeland security editor returned to editor has returned to the scottish he scottish town, where he spent his radio his first year as a radio reporter , covering the aftermath reporter, covering the aftermath of the disaster. >> it's many years since i last set foot in lockerbie , a town set foot in lockerbie, a town only 25 miles as the crow flies from my own hometown and the place i was sent to in december 1988 on my first major assignment as a reporter, i spent most of the next year in and around lockerbie reporting

on the fallout from the terrible disaster. here. it would be easy now to just concentrate on the enormity of that event of sherwood crescent, where the jet's fuel laden wings crashed to the ground , leaving a massive to the ground, leaving a massive crater , or rosebank, where part crater, or rosebank, where part of the main passenger cabin landed among the terraces . many landed among the terraces. many passengers still strapped to their seats in stead, i want to tell you about two young people, two victims, but two incredible individuals whose stories touched me back then and still live with me today . nick live with me today. nick varenius was just 20 back in 1988, a young man full of energy and charisma who lit up any room his mother still bursts with pride as she remembers those qualities . qualities. >> he was shorter than anyone but mighty , and so everybody but mighty, and so everybody enjoyed enjoyed being around him. he took chances. he was the

first one off to dive off the cliff . he was first one off to dive off the cliff. he was an first one off to dive off the cliff . he was an adventurer , a cliff. he was an adventurer, a photography student at new york's syracuse university, nick travelled regularly, capturing beautiful images. >> this this one photograph in particular, a self—portrait on the summit of a mountain above the summit of a mountain above the cloud base, taken just days before his death, is so incredibly powerful , and the incredibly powerful, and the story of how it came back into the possession of his family is spine tingling . spine tingling. >> they gathered all of the clothes and objects. everything was black. everything was grey, uh, filled with smoke or burnt or everything. >> the power of the explosion blew. passenger belongings, including nick's photograph . out including nick's photograph. out into the night sky, fluttering on the breeze until coming to rest in a farmer's field in northumbria , on the opposite northumbria, on the opposite side of the country . later, as side of the country. later, as

elizabeth sifted through victims belongings , suddenly she caught belongings, suddenly she caught sight of nick's photo that picture being perfect was, to me, the miracle and the fact that it was found that far away , that it was found that far away, um, it made all of us go gasped when we saw that and we started to cry because even . to cry because even. >> see, even now, 35 years later , it was as if nick was saying, i'm all right. i'm supposed to be . here. be. here. >> at just 19, helga mosey was already a regular violinist for the birmingham youth orchestra and a highly talented professional singer. >> she played the violin and the piano, but she's singing was her great love. and she sang with the birmingham bach choir. she wanted a career in singing serious music. the professor, who had interviewed her in lancaster said that he had

little doubt that she would have made her mark the music world. >> a libyan miner's about to stand trial, accused of constructing the lockerbie bomb, but john mosey and many others already questioned the guilt of the only other person convicted of the bombing, the only other person convicted of the bombing , abdelbaset of the bombing, abdelbaset al—megrahi always protested his innocence . john is doubtful. the innocence. john is doubtful. the families will ever see justice. >> there's obviously something somewhere very dark and dirty that the american government is terrified of their people finding out about. we've never wanted revenge, but . we do want wanted revenge, but. we do want the law to take its course . the law to take its course. >> it's incredibly emotional to see the names of nick and helga etched on this memorial stone. after all these years , 35 years, after all these years, 35 years, which for the rest of us have been packed with life experiences , who knows what they experiences, who knows what they could have achieved . but from could have achieved. but from everything i'm told they would have lived. amazing lives.

>> incredibly moving report from mark white. >> mark joins us now in the studio . mark good afternoon . studio. mark good afternoon. that was your first job as a young bbc journalist, a radio journalist. what was it like at the time reporting on that? and also today, going back and filming that package you did for us there ? what sort of emotions us there? what sort of emotions are going through you when you return to lockerbie ? return to lockerbie? >> yeah, i mean, well, immense sadness. uh and still returning to that town and just, you know, all of those stories being dredged up again and remembering back to how i felt as a young reporter. and really, i was overwhelmed and, um, because, you know, i didn't have any experience in covering any stories, really. this was my

first assignment as a staff reporter. and right into the midst of this massive disaster , midst of this massive disaster, which really took up all of my, uh, year that i was based in dumfries , a neighbouring town dumfries, a neighbouring town there just in and out of lockerbie all of the time, doing lockerbie. related stories i mean, you grow up quick when you're doing a story like that , you're doing a story like that, but it is completely over whelming. the horrific nature of the event and the stories that we learned about over the course of that year. >> absolutely . now i understand >> absolutely. now i understand there are lots of unanswered questions . i understand there questions. i understand there may be a trial upcoming. is this a suspect who may have who may have made the bomb ? um, yeah. have made the bomb? um, yeah. >> this is a man called abu aghil . um, mohammed mehsud , aghil. um, mohammed mehsud, who's 71 years old. he was in his mid to late 30s at the time of the bombing, uh, a former libyan intelligence agent who

apparently in 2012, uh, confessed to law enforcers law enforcers officials in libya that. enforcers officials in libya that . he was enforcers officials in libya that. he was one of enforcers officials in libya that . he was one of those that. he was one of those behind, joined the bombing. of course, since then, libya disintegrated. uh very significantly. and it's quite a lawless place. but the americans, through the assistance of some of the militia groups in libya , militia groups in libya, snatched this individual, uh, a couple of years back. he is now in custody in the states awaiting a trial that we expect will begin in, in the new year. and he's accused of helping construct that device. you heard in the report there, john mosey , in the report there, john mosey, the father of helga mosey , is the father of helga mosey, is one of the family members . uh, one of the family members. uh, that's very suspicious , that's very suspicious, actually, of the american . actually, of the american. opens. he doesn't believe that that the whole truth behind the bombing has been properly explored . he's one of those who explored. he's one of those who actually believes that the only

person who was ever convicted of the lockerbie bombing , abdel the lockerbie bombing, abdel basset ali mohammed al—megrahi , basset ali mohammed al—megrahi, who later died of prostate cancer and who always protested his innocence. john mosi believes that he actually was innocent and that he was fitted up for this. the truth of it may be somewhere in the middle. uh, it's a murky old situation and it's a murky old situation and it's probably true , uh, that it it's probably true, uh, that it wasn't just, uh, colonel muammar gaddafi , the former libyan gaddafi, the former libyan dictator , uh, but a number of dictator, uh, but a number of dictators and terrorist groups that had their grubby little hands metaphor speaking over this bomb that exploded over lockerbie, back in 1988. >> yeah. so many theories. i remember reading once that, uh, gaddafi's finance . minister had gaddafi's finance. minister had revealed to the times that, um, that gaddafi had personally ordered the attack. but mark, can i just ask you about the residential streets in lockerbie

, where parts of the jet's wings crashed down to earth? i think it was sherwood crescent, and it killed 11 people, people on the ground . did you go back to that ground. did you go back to that street during your your trip to lockerbie recently ? and if so, lockerbie recently? and if so, what residents know about what do the residents know about the history of where they live? >> yeah, we were there just earlier this week filming that. that's an iconic street, as you rightly mentioned there, because it was where those fuel laden wings crashed at, uh, right down into sherwood crescent, creating this , this, uh, huge crater. and this, this, uh, huge crater. and a fireball that engulfed , uh, a fireball that engulfed, uh, quite a number of the houses in this crescent . and that's where this crescent. and that's where the deaths that occurred in lockerbie happened. 11 people in a number of houses that were killed in the subsequent explosion and fire. and, yes, everyone in sherwood crescent is more than aware of the history. there is a memorial garden in sheffield, uh, in, in sherwood

crescent in the at the spot where those wings impacted. but it was really all over the town. it's actually you know, even though 11 people died and that was horrific enough. it is incredible that , uh, this jumbo incredible that, uh, this jumbo jet crashing onto a town didn't cause many more casualties because really, parts of this jet, uh, impacted lots of areas, not just sherwood crescent, but up in rosebank crescent and surrounding streets where the carbon , uh, the main sort of carbon, uh, the main sort of passenger carbon, where dozens of people were still strapped to their seats , where their their seats, where their impacted landing on rooftops and demolishing houses. there uh, there were engines that fell in there were engines that fell in the streets as well. the north corn, of course, landed in a field at tundergarth on the outskirts of lockerbie . outskirts of lockerbie. incredible. as i say that only 11 people died on the ground that night. >> well, thank you very much

indeed for your time, mark white, our homeland security editor for right. >> travelling home for christmas is going to be made a lot harder as storm peer cause as chaos across the uk. yes the met office is releasing yellow weather warnings across large parts of the country , with parts of the country, with travellers being warned to plan ahead. >> 80 mile per hour winds are causing cancellations across the network. many rail operators are having to comply with speed restrictions . restrictions. >> joining us now is travel expert simon calder . afternoon, expert simon calder. afternoon, simon. uh, looks like you had a good afternoon . looks like good afternoon. looks like you're at a train station. what's uh, which station are you at? and any news on cancellations? i understand edinburgh in particular has been suffering this morning . suffering this morning. >> yes. um. >>- >> yes. um. >> good afternoon to you. i am in london. waterloo. really busy commuter station. and i'm glad to say that things here appear to say that things here appear to be working pretty well. um, no significant cancellations

here, but in the midlands and in particular the north of england and into scotland , it's a very, and into scotland, it's a very, very different story. um, basically scotrail, which runs trains throughout that country, has said we're going to cut, uh, actually services on a number of highland routes. so there's entire lines which are out of service, um, early morning travellers, for instance, from inverness , needing to get to the inverness, needing to get to the caphal inverness, needing to get to the capital, edinburgh, were put on a number of buses instead because the railways are the main problem with high winds and railways is that stuff gets blown onto the tracks up to might be trees. sometimes it's trampolines that causes a hazard. we've even had between crewe and stoke on trent. um, see, uh, all services had to stop because some kind of bag had been blown into the overhead wires . as a result of that, wires. as a result of that, things are messed up. if you are in the north of england or scotland. well, um, i hope that

you are getting where you need to be, but it's not going to be until later on. this afternoon, possibly to this evening, possibly to this evening, possibly tomorrow, that things start getting back on track. and of course, that then gets us into friday and saturday, which are going to absolutely the are going to be absolutely the peak for pre—christmas travel. >> and simon, speaking of, uh, flying objects, what about, uh, airline lines? what about our airports ? how are flights still airports? how are flights still taking off? >> yes, things aren't actually looking too bad in the southern half of britain . um, two main half of britain. um, two main airports there , um, gatwick and airports there, um, gatwick and heathrow , are running normally, heathrow, are running normally, except that british airways has actually cancelled two dozen short haul flights in and out of london heathrow to a range of european and domestic destinations. they're saying it's because of storm pier . it's because of storm pier. there's a little bit of a question mark, i think over that because many of them like cancelled missions to, um, various parts of germany don't seem to be storm related, but

we'll leave that for a moment. um, elsewhere in glasgow, lots of cancellations . and delays, of cancellations. and delays, particularly on the loganair flights , which connect flights, which connect scotland's islands . so, um, scotland's islands. so, um, yeah, it's a mess. people are being offered some flexibility. um but ultimately people are desperate to get where they need to be for christmas. and of course, it's all very well me telling you you're right is to get on another flight as soon as possible. if there aren't any seats, then people are going to be in a bit of a pickle. >> great stuff simon calder in waterloo thank you so much. >> i'm just looking at a picture here massive that's here of a massive tree that's been blown over onto a petrol station. we'll bring you a picture of that. it's quite extraordinary. and a lorry overturned on the m60 in greater manchester. these are strong winds . but you're watching and winds. but you're watching and listening afternoon listening to. good afternoon britain. we will britain. coming up next we will bnng britain. coming up next we will bring full exclusive bring you that full exclusive interview with the labour leader, sir keir starmer. interview with the labour leader, sir keir starmer . lots leader, sir keir starmer. lots for christopher. hope to get stuck into. we'll bring you that

in. just a few moments. i believe there's quite a lot on the agenda. >> new king putin, if it came to it, assisted dying, how he would solve the illegal migration crisis . crisis. >> will we get an answer on that? we'll let you know in just a few moments. that will be christopher. political christopher. hope our political edhon christopher. hope our political editor, exclusively with keir starmer in estonia coming up, looks things are heating looks like things are heating up. boxt boiler oilers, sponsors of whether on . gb news. of whether on. gb news. >> hello again alex burkill here with your latest gb news weather forecast as we go through the run up to christmas, there will be some rain around for most of us and also a bit of snow over the higher ground of scotland. >> looking >> it's also looking windy, although winds although the strongest winds we've far today are we've seen so far today are starting to ease with the low pressure system clearing away towards east. it is still towards the east. it is still going to be blustery though, as we go through the rest of today. some showers to watch out for. could see some could be heavy, could see some hail, thunder also some hail, some thunder and also some sleet or snow some ice sleet or snow bringing some ice risks parts of scotland,

risks across parts of scotland, particularly shetland. risks across parts of scotland, particularas shetland. risks across parts of scotland, particularas go shetland. risks across parts of scotland, particularas go throughi. risks across parts of scotland, particularas go through the however, as we go through the night, towards night, some clear skies towards the subsiding as we the east subsiding as we see increasing amounts cloud and increasing amounts of cloud and some pushing in. and with some rain pushing in. and with those winds cloud those strong winds and the cloud temperatures dropping much temperatures not dropping much for places in for most of us, some places in the holding double the south holding up in double figures further figures but chillier further north parts of scotland, north across parts of scotland, a frost we go a touch of frost here as we go through friday morning, and also some further or snow some further sleet or snow possible over modest higher ground. outbreaks of rain for many of us through friday itself. looking like itself. and it is looking like a generally cloudy day, but some bright skies, perhaps even a bit of sunshine developing in parts of sunshine developing in parts of southwest in the of the southwest in the afternoon. temperatures for many will a nudge compared to will be a nudge down compared to today, still relatively mild today, but still relatively mild for the time year in the for the time of year in the south. feeling in south. but feeling colder in those winds. saturday those strong winds. saturday then off to a wet start then gets off to a wet start across northern parts. some heavy building across heavy rain building up across western of scotland in western parts of scotland in particular drier further south. there few spots of rain there are a few spots of rain and pretty cloudy with and staying pretty cloudy with further rain to come. then as we go through eve and go through christmas eve and christmas itself and it is christmas day itself and it is going be windy at times. two going to be windy at times. two byethat warm feeling inside from

>> that warm feeling inside from boxt boilers sponsors of weather on .

gb news. good afternoon britain. >> it is 1:00 on thursday the 21st of december. >> starmer tells all gb news is with sir keir in an exclusive

sit down interview with the labour leader visiting and thanking british troops near the russian border . starmer says russian border. starmer says today that the defence of the uk starts in ukraine. >> what else will he have to say ? and diplomatic row the irish government is set to challenge the uk government through the european convention on human rights. that's over its decision to offer immunity for crimes dunng to offer immunity for crimes during the troubles and tony blair in israel. >> the former prime minister meets with israeli pm benjamin netanyahu to discuss a potential ceasefire in war torn gaza. now this is a controversial one, tony blair meeting the israeli prime minister benjamin netanyahu. >> yeah , i mean, some people >> yeah, i mean, some people think , uh, some people, not me, think, uh, some people, not me, think, uh, some people, not me, think blair's much like a bad smell that doesn't go away. uh, i've heard the phrase, uh unflushable used by another

presenter on the channel at one point or two, but i guess it's the question of whether someone who is no longer the prime minister he's not a minister. he's not accountable to the electorate in any way . should he electorate in any way. should he be essential representing the country on the international stage over what is such a such a thorny subject? >> he's gone with the approval of the uk government, and i understand he was of course, the middle east envoy some years ago. but with his track record in the iraq war, which , you in the iraq war, which, you know, many deem illegal up to a million people died in that war. is he the right person for the job? are the optics um, good enough for blair? yeah. >> others say he's the man to do the job. let us know what you think. vaiews@gbnews.com. but first, . news. first, it's your. news. >> good afternoon. 1:02. i'm

tatiana sanchez in the gb newsroom . the teen murder of the newsroom. the teen murder of the 16 year old briana joy will be named by the media when their sentence. that's according to a judge . stabbed briana, 28 judge. they stabbed briana, 28 times after luring to her a park in cheshire on the 11th of february. during the trial , february. during the trial, media hadn't been allowed to name the defendants , identified name the defendants, identified only x and boy y, both only as girl x and boy y, both aged 16 but 15 at the time. her killers tried to blame each other for the stabbing, but yesterday were both found guilty of murder at manchester crown court . a former british army court. a former british army soldier accused of spying for iran will stand trial in october next year, 22 year old daniel khalife november trial was put off after he allegedly escaped wandsworth prison by strapping himself to a food delivery lorry. khalife is charged under the official secrets act of gathering information that might be useful to an enemy of the uk between may the 1st 2019 and january the 6th. last year he's accused of passing sensitive material to iranian intelligence

, which he denies . a memorial , which he denies. a memorial service marking 35 years since the lockerbie bombing has paid tribute to the 270 people who died . the local clergyman, who died. the local clergyman, who led the service called it a senseless act of violence . when senseless act of violence. when the boeing 747 exploded over the scottish town of lockerbie, it killed all 259 passengers and crew on board and 11 people on the ground . the bombing, which the ground. the bombing, which happened as the plane made its way from london to new york, remains the uk's worst ever terrorist attack . the labour terrorist attack. the labour leader says there's a real and constant threat to europe from russia as he visits british troops in estonia . sir keir troops in estonia. sir keir starmer has been watching a training sessions on a nato base bordering with russia. he's there his commitment to there to show his commitment to nato and has thanked servicemen and for their courage , and women for their courage, integrity, loyalty and professionalism . rail passengers professionalism. rail passengers in scotland are being strongly urged not to travel to and from

edinburgh today, as storm piers set to cause major disruption. the service has asked customers to delay their journeys in and to delay theirjourneys in and out of the scottish capital until after 3:00 today, as part of the uk braces for high winds, a yellow weather warning for wind came into effect at midnight and will last until 9:00. this evening, with forecasted gusts of wind up to 70 and 80mph in northern scotland . the warning also scotland. the warning also covers belfast , newcastle and scotland. the warning also covers belfast, newcastle and . covers belfast, newcastle and. manchester and british sign language will be taught as a gcse in england from september 2025. the department of education says it'll give students an understanding of the history of sign language in the uk. education secretary gillian keegan says it can open the door for so many young people . it's for so many young people. it's understood development of understood the development of the gcse was delayed due to the covid pandemic. this the gcse was delayed due to the covid pandemic . this is gb news covid pandemic. this is gb news across the uk on tv in your car, on digital radio and on your smart speaker by saying play gb

news. now back to ben and . emily news. now back to ben and. emily >> welcome back . now, the labour >> welcome back. now, the labour leader has said the security of our nation is paramount as he stressed his commitment to nuclear defence and partnership with nato . with nato. >> sir keir starmer has visited british troops stationed in estonia, near the russian border , to thank forces for their services , and he spoken services, and he spoken exclusively to gb news political editor chris hope . editor chris hope. >> sir keir starmer , we're here >> sir keir starmer, we're here in estonia on the russian border. >> it's a short drive away . how >> it's a short drive away. how safe is the uk under a labour government? >> absolutely. there's been an unshakeable commitment to nato now ever since nato was first created, which of course was under a labour government . this under a labour government. this is my second time here to this space. i'm here today to say thank you to the troops, to reinforce labour's unwavering commitment to nato. but also, of

course, our unwavering commitment to ukraine. and i've observed i was here 18 months ago here today . there's a real ago here today. there's a real driving sense of purpose here with the troops that are here on the front line . since that the front line. since that breach of the border into ukraine just 18 months or so ago, if you were in power, will you increase defence spending beyond 2.12% of gdp? well, we will always keep to our nato commitments. i think what you saw at the end of the last labour government was 2.5. so we're clear that the first duty of government is the protection of government is the protection of the country. and so we're very, very clear about that in terms of the resource that must go with that commitment. and the ambition is for it to increase. well when the last labour government was in power, it was 2.5. but you know, there is a nato commitment here, which we will always make sure that we maintain. >> how far would you be willing

to go personally to protect the uk? would you launch nuclear weapons at britain's enemies? >> i, i that the nuclear >> i, i think that the nuclear deterrent very important to deterrent is very important to us. obviously, i'm not going to discuss with you the circumstances in which they may or may be but , circumstances in which they may or may be but, um, it or may not be used, but, um, it is a very important part of the defence of our country . we that defence of our country. we that we are strongly committed to, along with our commitment to, to nato and to the security of our nation, which is paramount . nation, which is paramount. >> but personally, are you willing to launch nuclear we apons? weapons? >> well, i believe in the deterrent. but as i say , nobody deterrent. but as i say, nobody who aspires to be prime minister would discuss the circumstances in which that deterrent might come to be used . come to be used. >> are you ready for a general election in as little as 19 weeks away? we are ready for a general election. >> i've had my whole team on a general election footing for some time now . general election footing for some time now. um, i think that given the complete state of failure now in the country , failure now in the country, there's a real sense that everything is broken . nothing is everything is broken. nothing is

working that the sooner that election comes, the better . election comes, the better. because for millions of people, they can't afford to wait any longer for that general election. >> sunak scared to go >> is rishi sunak scared to go to the country? >> well , i to the country? >> well, i think that you know, for millions of people , they're for millions of people, they're living in a cost of living crisis. >> their energy bills have gone through the roof almost every bill has gone up bill they're paying has gone up their has not gone up. their income has not gone up. they health service which they see a health service which is broken public services on their they need a general their knees. they need a general election . and that's why i think election. and that's why i think the sooner that is called, the better. we're ready for it. >> how complete is your election manifesto? >> the manifesto i have had, in a way, i've had a mechanism in place for over a year to make sure we have a manifesto when we need it. i'm not going to reveal it you right now, but why it to you right now, but why not? uh, but we will. we will be absolutely not . not absolutely ready. but not. not for the labour party, but for the millions of people who need the millions of people who need the change that is desperately needed. the character needed. have you, the character to be prime minister? >> say you flip flop. >> look, i have experience as a

lawyer. i've worked in northern ireland for five years on the good agreement, or good friday agreement, or implementing it with implementing parts of it with the out there. i the police service out there. i led public service for five led a public service for five years. the crown prosecution service, and i've, um, now led my party for the best part of four years. so clearly , when it four years. so clearly, when it comes to tough decisions, um, and strategic thinking and a sense of where we need to go as the country, then then i'm ready for that general election just as soon as the prime minister actually wants to call it. >> is your family and wife victoria, ready for the scrutiny that come you become that will come if you become prime minister? >> we you know, i'm not complain isn't i know there's a lot of work still to do. >> we've got to earn every vote. um, and i'm not daunted by the decisions that we would have to make privileged enough make if we are privileged enough to to in serve. i do worry to come to in serve. i do worry about my family. if i'm honest, i'm protective of my wife i'm very protective of my wife and children . we don't name and our children. we don't name our children publicly. we don't have photoshoots with them. um,

and so i am very mindful of the impact it could have on them. um, our boy is 15, our girl is 13. these are, you know, ages where they're going through huge change. but my aim is to keep protecting them in every way that i can. >> will labour back tory amendments to weaken the rwanda bill next month? >> well, i haven't seen any amendments yet to the rwanda scheme. we do have to stop the boats coming across. we can't. the government has lost control of our borders . of our borders. >> will you say now i will stop the boats? >> well, look, the government's lost control of our borders. i think the way to stop the boats is smash the criminal gangs is to smash the criminal gangs that running trade that are running the vile trade of people in the boats of putting people in the boats in first place. we know in the first place. now we know that operation is. the that what the operation is. the boats made much boats are made pretty much to order. in order. now. they're kept in warehouses across europe, brought northern coast of brought to the northern coast of france. when i was director of pubuc france. when i was director of public prosecutions, we took out terrorist gangs. we took out people smuggling gangs. i believe that we can take out these gangs if we put the political capital to it. make the alliances across

the necessary alliances across europe and do work with europol and others to take these gangs out. i want to stop the boats, and i think that the only way to do that is to smash the gangs that are running the vile scheme. in the first place. that's where i'd put my energy. >> why won't labour look at offshore migrants? >> think there's >> well, i think there's a difference offshore difference between offshore processing and essentially deporting people, which is the rwanda rwanda scheme rwanda scheme. the rwanda scheme is a very, very is a gimmick, a very, very expensive gimmick . we've paid expensive gimmick. we've paid hundreds of millions of pounds and nobody has gone to rwanda. other countries do offshore processing , and that is processing, and that is something , you know, i'll look something, you know, i'll look at any credible option . but i at any credible option. but i think that at the moment, at any credible option. but i think that at the moment , the think that at the moment, the single most important thing is to take out the gangs that are taking money to put people in those boats . those boats. >> what do you think of the new £0.45 £0.48 income tax bands in scotland, and will tax fall as a percentage of gdp at the end of a labour government? >> well, in scotland under the snp government, are now snp government, people are now paying snp government, people are now paying more for less and

therefore their tax has gone up. but if you look at the record of the snp and government, it's appalling . and so you've got appalling. and so you've got a version in scotland of what you've got in westminster, which is people paying more than they've ever paid before for less than they've ever got in return for it . that is not the return for it. that is not the way that we intend to run the economy. if we're privileged enough to be elected into government, how will you fund spending £28 billion on renewables by the middle of this government? well, the most important thing and the number one mission or purpose of an incoming labour government would be to get economic growth. it's been stagnant for the best part of 13, 14 years. if we'd had economic growth equivalent to the last labour government, we'd have a tens of billions of pounds to spend on our public services without raising taxation. so i would go for growth . growth rather than growth. growth rather than pulling . the tax lever and pulling. the tax lever and i believe in lower taxes for

working people. >> so will it come down over the five years for working people? >> we want to reduce the tax burden, but the key to this is , burden, but the key to this is, is, is economic growth . is, is economic growth. >> michael gove set out his plans this week to build 75,000 more taking the more homes, taking the government's target of 300,000 a yeah government's target of 300,000 a year. many more would labour build? >> we've got a plan to deliver 1.5 million homes, a year. that's a plan which will be effective because because we will take the tough decisions and put the targets back up that are much needed and you won't get any of this building done without the targets to knock out the planning restrictions that stand in the way of many of these projects and to form the partnership, the industrial strategy that's needed with the builders to deliver on this. so we've for 1.5 we've got a plan for 1.5 million, which is deliverable over years. what over over the five years. what over the five years, what you've got from the government is a government timidly government that has timidly taken they taken down the targets that they did have. that was the prime minister just about a year ago under pressure from his backbenchers, as a result of

that, housebuilding under this government will now taper off and fall off a cliff, making it even harder for first time buyers. and that dream of home ownership is just getting more and more distant. is that a year or over five years? well, the number they put out there is very different to the number actually built. and what they've doneis actually built. and what they've done is take the target down. so what we're going to now see is home building falling off a cliff. far the government cliff. as far as the government is concerned, got is concerned, um, we've got a plan to actually deliver on the promise that we made. >> are you concerned that a company uae is company controlled by the uae is trying to buy the daily telegraph? >> should the government block it? >> well, look, i think the government this government is looking into this at the moment, and i think they're right do and they're right to do that. and we'll wait to see what the outcome of that process is. >> challenge in the uk >> islanders challenge in the uk over to try and over its decision to try and give immunity to uk soldiers dunng give immunity to uk soldiers during the troubles. is dublin right? >> i think the government's got this one wrong. i don't shy away from the problem , the challenge,

from the problem, the challenge, having worked in northern ireland for five years, i well understand how difficult this issue is . but to press on with issue is. but to press on with this, um proposal when there's no political support in northern ireland from any political party and most importantly , when the and most importantly, when the victims and their families in northern ireland are not supportive of is in principle wrong for me . so that is why we wrong for me. so that is why we don't support, um, this proposal , this legislation coming from the government . but i don't deny the government. but i don't deny there's an issue that needs to be addressed. this is not the right way to do it. >> pursuing veterans of the courts. is that what labour wants? well no, of course not. >> no vexatious cases should ever be brought. there are checks and balances in the process, but i think many would say within, um, the military , say within, um, the military, within the army, that they don't want a special law that applies to them . um, but to, to press

to them. um, but to, to press forward with legislation in the teeth of opposition from every single political party in northern ireland. um, is really not the right approach in my view. >> should junior doctors accept the government's pay offer? what's your message to families, patients stuck not being operated on this christmas because of the strike? >> nobody wants these strikes and i don't want these strikes. there's one way to resolve them thatis there's one way to resolve them that is for the government to get around negotiating table get around the negotiating table and outcome here. and negotiate an outcome here. they fail to do that for months and months and months on end , and months and months on end, and months and months on end, and patients are paying the price for this. so i say to the government, get on, do that negotiation . and i'm very, you negotiation. and i'm very, you know, shocked and concerned that we're still in this position from the government . from the government. >> just finally, do you know what riz is ? what riz is? >> i do, but i can't remember. but it's charisma. >> have you got it? >> charisma. have you got it? >> charisma. have you got it? >> you know, i have >> well, look, you know, i have led organisations from the front . i led the crown prosecution service through some difficult years , and we came out much years, and we came out much better than when i started. and

i've worked in northern ireland, made some real progress with the police there. so in terms of inheriting, uh , a challenge and inheriting, uh, a challenge and uh, improving, then i've got a track record of that. and i just think at the moment when you've had 13, 14 years decline to had 13, 14 years of decline to have a labour party led by me offering, um, a decade of national renewal will be music to the ears of all the people that are suffering under this government. and finally , one government. and finally, one wish for 2024. >> arsenal to win the league or to labour win the general election. >> i've got to go for, i want to say, both the double, of course, uh, i've got to go for the election victory and hope that arteta does the other bit me i >> -- >> and just finally, a message from for gb news viewers from you for gb news viewers this christmas. from you for gb news viewers thishappymas. from you for gb news viewers thishappy christmas everybody . >> happy christmas to everybody. um, a peaceful new year. and i hope everybody watching this just has a little bit of downtime. um in whatever they, they to enjoy. but i'd say they want to enjoy. but i'd say to each and every person watching from my family to your family, happy christmas , sir

family, happy christmas, sir keir starmer. >> thank you. thank you. well well there you go. >> sir keir starmer being grilled by our political editor christopher hope. i think he blushed a little bit. keir starmer, when he was asked whether he had any charisma. >> said have you got >> well, he said have you got rizz, have you got charisma? and then he said well i've worked at then he said well i've worked at the the charisma the cps, sorry, the charisma working . i don't working at the cps. i don't think what chopper think that's what chopper meant. >> lots different >> yes, but lots of different areas to discuss there. let's dig into it, get the dig down into it, get the reaction political reaction from our political correspondent katherine forster, who's studio with who's here in the studio with us. catherine, which bits have you picked out from that exchange range? you picked out from that exchangi range? you picked out from that exchangi really? you picked out from that exchangi really wide ranging >> yes, i really wide ranging interview was , isn't it. and as interview was, isn't it. and as you say, the bit about charisma, did he have it. he's been criticised for so long for being basically a bit boring . but i basically a bit boring. but i think labour's argument would be bofis think labour's argument would be boris johnson had charisma in absolute spades, didn't he? he was a rock star to many people . was a rock star to many people. and look how that ended. i think labour think that sort of calm competence will be what lots of

people are hoping for. things that struck me. it says labour's ready for an election, says they want to go for growth . words want to go for growth. words that perhaps we heard liz truss talk a lot about in her brief seven weeks as prime minister focusing on growth, saying that basically , um, productivity has basically, um, productivity has flatlined and for about 15 years, which is true, and this is a primary reason why we are not all better off. so labour really want to focus on that and invest in in that. that's part of their green plan if you like. obviously being very strong, taking the same government line on ukraine, on russia really makes himself out to be a lined with the current prime minister with the current prime minister with the current prime minister with the previous prime minister bofis with the previous prime minister boris johnson. um with america saying that they are with ukraine for as long as it takes. of course, ukraine a america have seen to be a little bit wobbly on support for ukraine recently , haven't they? and recently, haven't they? and clearly making a break with his

predecessor , jeremy corbyn, who predecessor, jeremy corbyn, who was not support of nato at all, basically wanting to get the message you can trust us with your security. of course, the first duty of government is to protect its citizens. and also, i think , interesting on the i think, interesting on the northern ireland troubles bill saying that he thinks that the government has got it wrong. of course, lots of people are absolutely outraged at the decision by the government in ireland to take britain to the european court of human rights over this. but he stressing that not a single political party in northern ireland is in fact in favour of this. it's clearly a very, very , very contentious very, very, very contentious issue and when he was asked if he thought it was okay that, um, you know, x so soldiers should be continued to be tried, he said, no, of course not. but, you know, that's what the troubles bill is trying to prevent . and if you don't have prevent. and if you don't have it, where does this end? >> so yeah, starmer seemingly

aligning himself with ireland and of course, uh, apparently joe biden, who gave ireland the green light leo varadkar to pursue this new legal pathway . pursue this new legal pathway. interestingly, starmer talked about his concerns and worry for his family, his two teenage children, if and when he gets into power. of course, just stop oil. was it last week or the week before? um terrorised his home in in north london? a massive protest outside there is that the only glimmer or the first kind of glimmer we've seen of actual sort of character in the real starmer ? the real starmer? >> well, he is very protective of his family and of course he's got, as he said, a teenage children, a boy and a girl aged 15 and 13. he goes out of his way to sort of keep them out of the spotlight. but if you are prime minister, if you go and live in number 10 downing street, there is getting street, there is no getting away from the photos of your family on front door. will be on the front door. there will be an interest. there is a level of scrutiny which will be unlike anything he has possibly

experienced now. so that's clearly difficult. although experienced now. so that's clearly been ult. although experienced now. so that's clearly been plentyhough experienced now. so that's clearly been plenty ofjgh experienced now. so that's clearly been plenty of prime there's been plenty of prime ministers recently in downing street with children . liz truss, street with children. liz truss, bofis street with children. liz truss, boris johnson , david cameron you boris johnson, david cameron you know, it's not nothing new by any means. but yeah, he's he's concerned about that. and i think next year they'll want to show sort of the more human side of him. he's got a lot of criticism hasn't he, that he's he's robotic . criticism hasn't he, that he's he's robotic. he's a bit sort of cardboard cut out prime minister in waiting . and can he really in waiting. and can he really convince the british public to vote for him and not just because they're really, really cross with the conservative because they're 20% poorly, that they've had consistently for about a year now ? a lot of that about a year now? a lot of that really is based on the fact that a lot of people are very, very cross with the current conservative government and fed up with them than that. up with them rather than that. there's an active enthusiasm for sir keir starmer , such as there sir keir starmer, such as there was under tony blair. that was a different feel . so yeah, let's different feel. so yeah, let's see if we see the more human

side of sir keir starmer in 2024. >> yes, i think a lot of people will will respect his decision to keep his children out of the limelight. no photo shoots, he said were being done. but thank you very much. katherine forster. our political correspondent, also when he said 1.5 million homes per year, the labour the labour government will deliver, he actually went uh, five years over the time i was about to say 1.5 million a yeah was about to say 1.5 million a year. that would be impossible. >> also, he says ready >> and also, he says he's ready to tough decisions, but to make the tough decisions, but then to sending then wouldn't commit to sending a putin's way. a nuke putin's way. >> well, coming up, tony >> um, well, coming up, tony blair in israel. your emails blair is in israel. your emails are through thick and are coming through thick and fast one. the former are coming through thick and fast primene. the former are coming through thick and fast prime ministerormer are coming through thick and fast prime minister meets labour prime minister meets netanyahu for peace talks .

mornings from 930 on gb news news . news. >> welcome back. it's 127. this is good afternoon britain with me emily carver and ben leo. now tony blair is expected to meet israeli prime minister benjamin netanyahu to discuss a potential ceasefire in gaza, where the death toll continues to mount. the former prime minister has reportedly received the blessing of government to hold the of the uk government to hold the talks, as he is known. >> benjamin netanyahu over >> benjamin netanyahu for over 25 israeli media has 25 years and israeli media has previously touted blair as a potential intermediary in negotiating to bring the conflict to an end . conflict to an end. >> so let's get the thoughts now of former labour special adviser paul richards as paul, thank you very much for your time. do you know tony blair? well, just to

start , well, i served in start, well, i served in a government as an adviser under tony blair and i, and i knew him since the 90s from before when he was prime minister >> even then, he is the ideally placed this. mean, he's 70 placed for this. i mean, he's 70 now, so he's been around the block and he knows the middle now, so he's been around the blociinside1e knows the middle now, so he's been around the blociinside out. mm the middle now, so he's been around the blociinside out. he; the middle now, so he's been around the blociinside out. he knowinddle east inside out. he knows the key figures, the big players , key figures, the big players, the in that region . the big hitters in that region. he maintains an office there and for many, many years since not being prime minister, he's been engagedin being prime minister, he's been engaged in the politics of the region. so, you know, he's he's a great asset to this country. and i'm sure these talks will be fruitful . fruitful. >> paul, can i just be frank with you? lots of our viewers and i suspect a lot of the nafion and i suspect a lot of the nation as well, think that tony blair is the last person who should be wading into the middle east, bearing mind what some east, bearing in mind what some would illegal invasion would call his illegal invasion of with america . um, the of iraq with america. um, the opfics of iraq with america. um, the optics aren't great on this, are they ? they? >> well, i know that there are two words in the english language that send some people off into orbit . off into orbit. >> and once tony and the other

one's blair, i mean, he does have that strong reaction from some , uh, people some people, uh, people particularly on the far left and the hard left . um, but in sort the hard left. um, but in sort of diplomatic circles and international circles , he is international circles, he is respected. he is listened to, and he has an enormous amount of experience. uh, not only as our own prime minister but also then the work he's done with the tony blair institute internationally , blair institute internationally, uh, ever since, um, and like i say, he's he's maintained an office in israel all these years, you know, really in depth knowledge . of all the different knowledge. of all the different political strands and let's face it, the middle east is not a black and white issue. there are lots of nuances, um, and lots of different and knows different players. and he knows them the uk them all. so why wouldn't the uk want to tap into that experience? you know, just because might because a few people might have been a ten ago, so been on a demo ten years ago, so what? know, somebody what? you know, he is somebody of and of enormous strength and usefulness of enormous strength and useijlness of enormous strength and usei think some people's concern >> i think some people's concern is he's no longer is that he's no longer accountable to the british electorate. he essentially electorate. he is essentially represent us on the international stage. and some people wonder whether that is,

uh, democratic . why do you think uh, democratic. why do you think the uk government has signed this off? well they've signed it off, but an informal way , off, but an informal way, haven't they? >> so he's not officially an emissary from the uk government? i think it's yet another emissary from the uk government? i thirthats yet another emissary from the uk government? i thirthat we're yet another emissary from the uk government? i thirthat we're pushing 1er emissary from the uk government? i thirthat we're pushing out, uh, door that we're pushing out, uh, to and get some sort of to try and get some sort of peace process in place out of this. and the two state solution, which is what pretty much everybody wants , um, that much everybody wants, um, that comes out of the conflict . um, comes out of the conflict. um, and so, you know, he's not there officially representing the british people or even the government, but just government, but it's just another area of dialogue, another area of dialogue, another channel of communication. um, and in the midst of a terrible war, that's what you need. you need to push it the doors that are it all the doors that are available. why we not available. so why would we not allow him to go forward and talk to ? somebody he's known allow him to go forward and talk to 25 ? somebody he's known allow him to go forward and talk to 25 years,»mebody he's known allow him to go forward and talk to 25 years, emily, iy he's known allow him to go forward and talk to 25 years, emily, surely known for 25 years, emily, surely there a unity of message. >> uh, would from your experience, expect experience, would you expect that that, uh, rishi sunak. experience, would you expect that that, uh, rishi sunak . or that that, uh, rishi sunak. or the foreign secretary would have talked to him? about what? that message exactly would be? because we have to be because presumably we have to be speaking the hymn speaking from the same hymn

sheet of tony blair's going to speaking from the same hymn sheoff of tony blair's going to speaking from the same hymn sheoff and�*ny blair's going to speaking from the same hymn sheoff and�*ny blthese oing to speaking from the same hymn sheoff and�*ny blthese talks.) speaking from the same hymn sheoff and�*ny blthese talks. yes go off and have these talks. yes >> i mean, he will have spoken. >> i mean, he will have spoken. >> i'm sure, uh, to the foreign office in the uk. and, you know, i'm only guessing and so are you. but i'm pretty sure he would also have spoken to david cameron. uh, before going out, the men would each the two men would know each other course. other very well. of course. um, in of prime in that sort of ex prime minister . um, and yes, minister club. um, and so yes, there the briefing he will there the briefing and he will then download or give there the briefing and he will then > okay. paul richards, former labour special adviser thanks for time . appreciate it. for your time. appreciate it. paul said that you know, the opposition to blair was a couple of demonstrators ten years ago. but influx of

but judging by the influx of emails inbox right now, i emails in the inbox right now, i beg to differ. not the beg to differ. is it not the biggest ever ? biggest protest ever? >> yes, the iraq war and my argument is that sense of, uh , argument is that sense of, uh, that sense of anger and even betrayal exists today. betrayal still exists today. >> , blair, just on in >> i mean, blair, not just on in the middle east, but he's forever, , barging himself forever, um, barging himself into current affairs, into ids . into current affairs, into ids. >> well, i mean, suzanne has written in she says, good afternoon, blair, a middle east envoy. he caused all the trouble we have now . envoy. he caused all the trouble we have now. i'm a lost envoy. he caused all the trouble we have now . i'm a lost voter. we have now. i'm a lost voter. she doesn't know who to vote for. >> uh, john from birstall says with tony blair getting involved, discussing a ceasefire between israel and hamas and david cameron coming back as the foreign minister shows that rishi sunak has no credibility in foreign affairs, and the two time pm that you would never want because one want back in office because one caused war and one caused the iraq war and one caused the iraq war and one caused what's going on in libya. and are caused the and both of them are caused the tidal of half the middle tidal wave of half of the middle east africa wanting to come east and africa wanting to come here on small boats. east and africa wanting to come her�*well,imall boats. east and africa wanting to come herwell, this. boats. east and africa wanting to come herwell, this is oats. east and africa wanting to come herwell, this is the. east and africa wanting to come herwell, this is the thing. does >> well, this is the thing. does it actually make rishi sunak look a little bit weak, or is this a good thing we have

this a good thing that we have more in the middle east more voices in the middle east on issue? know what on this issue? let us know what you gb views at gb you think. gb views at gb news.com. it seems to be a resounding no to blair the resounding no to blair from the inbox, coming inbox, i must say, but coming up we'll our expert we'll be joined by our expert panel we'll be joined by our expert panel. we'll ask them this question going question too. we're going to be deep diving of today's deep diving into some of today's biggest don't biggest headlines. you don't want it. but first, your want to miss it. but first, your headlines. >> good afternoon. it's 133. headlines. >> good afternoon. it's133. i'm >> good afternoon. it's 133. i'm tatiana sanchez in the gb newsroom. the teen murderers of 16 year old brianna gye will be named by the media when they're sentenced in february next year. they stabbed brianna 28 times after luring her to a park in cheshire on the 11th of february. during the trial, media hadn't been allowed to name the defendant's identity, named only as gul x and boy y, both now aged 16 but 15 at the time , her killers tried to blame time, her killers tried to blame each other for the stabbing, but yesterday were both found guilty each other for the stabbing, but ye murderwere both found guilty each other for the stabbing, but ye murder .ere both found guilty each other for the stabbing, but ye murder . ae both found guilty each other for the stabbing, but ye murder . a formerfound guilty each other for the stabbing, but ye murder . a former british uilty each other for the stabbing, but ye murder . a former british army of murder. a former british army soldier accused of spying for iran will stand trial in october next year, 22 year old daniel

khalife november trial was put off after he allegedly escaped wandsworth prison by strapping himself to a food delivery lorry . khalife is charged under the official secrets act of gathering information that might be useful to an enemy of the uk between may 2019 and january, the sixth. last year. he's accused of passing sensitive material to iranian intelligence, which he denies . a intelligence, which he denies. a memorial service marking 35 years since the lockerbie bombing has paid tribute to the 270 people who died . the local 270 people who died. the local clergyman, who led the service called it a senseless act of violence. when the boeing 747 exploded over the scottish town of lockerbie, it killed all 259 passengers and crew on board and 11 people on the ground. the bombing, which happened as the plane made its way from london to new york, remains as the uk's worst ever terrorist attack , and worst ever terrorist attack, and the labour leader says there's a real and constant threat to europe from russia as he visits british troops in estonia. sir

keir starmer has been watching training sessions on a nato base bordering with russia. he's there show his commitment to there to show his commitment to nato has thanked servicemen nato and has thanked servicemen and for courage , and women for their courage, integrity, loyalty and professionalism. sir keir warns that the west mustn't lose sight of moscow's threat to europe . of moscow's threat to europe. you can get more on all of those stories by visiting our website , stories by visiting our website, gb news.com . gb news.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 . news financial report. >> here's a quick snapshot of today's markets. the pound will buy you $1.2654 and ,1.1522. the price of gold is £1,609.68 per ounce, and the ftse 100 is at 7687 points. >> rosalind gold proudly sponsors the gb news financial

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isabel monday to thursdays from. six till 930. >> well, lots of you getting in touch about sir tony blair's trip to israel to speak to benjamin netanyahu over there. lots of strong opinions coming in, but let's get the views of our panel. former editor of the sunday express, martin townsend, and the former labour adviser matthew lazor . who better to matthew lazor. who better to talk to martin? what's your view

on sir tony blair going off to israel to talk to benjamin netanyahu about a potential ceasefire? >> well, i mean, these are very delicate negotiations , james. delicate negotiations, james. >> um, and, you know, i think they they require careful handung they they require careful handling and all of that. >> i think blair has a long relationship with netanyahu . i relationship with netanyahu. i personally don't see any downside to him being involved in the negotiations . um, he in the negotiations. um, he knows the language of diplomacy . knows the language of diplomacy. he knows what seems to know what he's doing in these areas. i know he's not my favourite person in the world. you know, i'm not a blair supporter in that sense, so i don't have much truck with some of the things he's done in the past. but i think where we are, where we are with and he will, you with this and if he will, you know, he brings about know, if he brings about a situation in which, you know, and the you know, it is and by the way, you know, it is tncky and by the way, you know, it is tricky sides the tricky because both sides at the moment moving, you moment are kind of moving, you know, each other. so know, away from each other. so i think if he can sort of in somehow bring people together, then think makes the somehow bring people together, the|team, think makes the somehow bring people together, the|team, tiuk makes the somehow bring people together, the|team, tiuk government, top

top team, our uk government, top team, look perhaps a little weak? at all. because i weak? no, not at all. because i think everybody, everybody sort of working towards the same end here and i think i don't think it makes them look weak at all. no. matthew you blair quite no. matthew you know blair quite well the day as a well from back in the day as a labour adviser. >> this just stink of >> it doesn't this just stink of beanng >> it doesn't this just stink of bearing in mind, i'd say the majority the nation dislikes majority of the nation dislikes blair to put it mildly, they have difficulties. doesn't this just of arrogance on his just stink of arrogance on his part he's still willing to part that he's still willing to wade into international politics on behalf of a country that he's not even elected? yeah, well, i mean, remember home mean, remember the home secretary either. mean, remember the home sec i etary either. mean, remember the home seci mean, either. mean, remember the home seci mean, i either. mean, remember the home seci mean, i think either. mean, remember the home seci mean, i think that ither. mean, remember the home seci mean, i think that what the >> i mean, i think that what the role he's taking is, is one that the americans often the people. >> they have special envoys that the use. tony blair the americans use. tony blair was envoy both was the special envoy for both the and the us to the middle the eu and the us to the middle east, um, for several years after he left office. so he's got really strong contacts in the region. he wouldn't be doing this if the government hadn't asked do it. asked him to do it. >> isn't about british politics. >> this isn't him trying to curry in british curry favour in british politics. about him politics. this is about him trying in trying to be useful in a

situation often that matters, that where finding a solution matters to but matters to us all. but obviously, particularly for matters to us all. but obviorpeople particularlyfor matters to us all. but obviorpeople whoarticularly for matters to us all. but obviorpeople who are ularly for matters to us all. but obviorpeople who are currently those people who are currently wrapped this wrapped up in the isn't this a kick the face, though? kick in the face, though? >> to all those families who lost soldiers and our armed forces up to a forces in iraq, and also up to a million civilians as sorry, a million civilians as sorry, a million died in that million people who died in that war, many think illegal. >> yeah, not not at all. mean, >> yeah, not not at all. i mean, look, the origins the iraq look, the origins of the iraq war still remain controversial and they will remain controversial. >> i mean, blair would say in his that, that iraq his defence that, um, that iraq is country today, which is a free country today, which it wasn't before , and that the it wasn't before, and that the enormous sacrifice of british houday enormous sacrifice of british holiday to baghdad , uh, it's not holiday to baghdad, uh, it's not my particular cup of tea for christmas, but i think if i, if i was an iraqi, i'd rather be living under the current circumstances than would under saddam circumstances than would under sac now, at of the hour, >> now, at the top of the hour, we heard from keir starmer in an exclusive with exclusive interview with christopher hope. he is, of course , in estonia meeting course, in estonia meeting british troops out there . um, british troops out there. um, and he had quite a lot to say on all sorts of different topics very much. martin talking about his commitment to nato after, of

course, jeremy corbyn made it quite clear that he wanted it to ultimately disband. yeah well, he'll say anything, won't he? >> at the moment, let's be honest, he will say absolutely anything to kind of brush up this that he's a no not this idea that he's a no no, not at this patriot, at all. that he's this patriot, that this, that he's that. that he's this, that he's that. i'm buying it. i don't i'm not buying it. i don't buy it with starmer. i think it at all with starmer. i think i don't think, i think key i don't think, i think the key thing was when he was thing with me was when he was asked the manifesto he asked about the manifesto and he said, yeah, we've got said, oh yeah, we've got a mechanism well, that's mechanism in place. well, that's really for all of us, really comforting for all of us, isn't it? i mean, i think with starmer there wasn't any i didn't any didn't particularly see any strong commitments to anything didn't particularly see any strong he �*nmitments to anything didn't particularly see any strong he didn'tients to anything didn't particularly see any strong he didn't commitanything didn't particularly see any strong he didn't commit to (thing there. he didn't commit to increasing 2.5. he completely avoided that question and completely avoided any questions about pushing the nuclear button, as you'd probably expect him completely button, as you'd probably expect him that completely button, as you'd probably expect him that (well. etely button, as you'd probably expect him that (well. he.y button, as you'd probably expect him that (well. he didn't avoided that as well. he didn't answer of the answer really any of the questions, particularly , and i questions, particularly, and i thought, i mean, it was great to get the interview and well done for christopher for gb news. and to christopher for gb news. and to christopher for but all for getting it frankly. but all it proves me is that we're it proves to me is that we're we're heading into the next election with someone who has not a clue. absolutely clue. >> also, this relating to

>> also, this bill relating to the troubles we spoke to mark francois at the top of the show, who was extremely frustrated that leo varadkar is going to challenge this at the european court of human rights. it's he presumably it sounded like keir starmer would just do away with the legislation altogether . the legislation altogether. >> yeah, well do away with the troubles bill. >> the amnesty bill. yeah. >> the amnesty bill. yeah. >> of course he would. because the thing is it's linked to, i think what is a really brilliant idea. get people together, get them to share information , have them to share information, have this resolution, draw a line under what's gone on in the past . all all, all that's going to happen. otherwise is it's going to be a field day for lawyers. it's going to go on for years and years years. many of the and years and years. many of the soldiers that are accused are going end dying. the going to end up dying. when the case on. all it case is still going on. all it is, you know, hip is, is, you know, hip, hip hooray for lawyers otherwise. so i think let's this a way i think let's this is a good way to bring whole thing to an to bring the whole thing to an end. think in line with end. i think it's in line with the the northern the spirit of the northern ireland well, ireland agreement as well, which was um, and was tony blair's thing. um, and i reason why the

i don't see any reason why the irish would would, would object irish would, would, would object to it, frankly. so he to it, frankly. so matthew, he starmer much away starmer didn't give much away did but isn't actually playing >> but isn't actually playing devil's advocate a shrewd thing to do, like, uh, trump in to do, much like, uh, trump in america, he doesn't need to get involved and commit to things. i think essentially he's an think essentially he's got an open goal there. >> yeah. well, i think very, very, the fact that he very, very much the fact that he was our troops in was with our with our troops in estonia was at the estonia and estonia was at the front of the ukraine front line of the ukraine conflict. know, conflict. and, you know, has come under, uh, a, a cyber attack so far, but is attack mostly. so far, but is obviously very worried about the possibility of physical attack in the so the in the future. so look, the contrast , uh, corbyn and contrast between, uh, corbyn and starmer couldn't be clearer. uh, i mean, nato is actually an achievement of the post—war labour government . it was ernie labour government. it was ernie bevin, the labour foreign secretary, one its key secretary, was one of its key founders. it's hardwired founders. and it's hardwired into the dna of the labour party. was ready put party. he was ready to put jeremy though. jeremy corbyn in office, though. >> uh, and that is >> wasn't he? uh, and that is something people something that some people he's, he remained loyal the party, he remained loyal to the party, but knew that wasn't. but he knew that jeremy wasn't. >> hair, he combs >> he combs his hair, he combs his hair. that's the difference between and corbyn. got between him and corbyn. he's got nicer hair and probably

nicer hair and he probably doesn't. >> i, i mean, there are some people would like that, but people who would like that, but i mean, huge i mean, there a huge differences. number one which differences. number one of which is, britain's defence is, is that britain's defence and the heart of and security is the heart of, of what as prime minister. what he'll be as prime minister. so commitment the so his, his commitment and the labour party's commitment to nato wholehearted. nato will be wholehearted. >> i mean, we could we could list many the labour list out many of the labour commitments that changed commitments that have changed very quickly in the run up to this election . well, there are this election. well, there are many there are many, many. >> they've changed. they've changed the corbyn changed since the corbyn leadership because it is a change party. change and renewed labour party. that's what keir starmer's leadership about leadership is about. it's about changing the labour. >> seeing any great >> we are not seeing any great evidence though, in >> we are not seeing any great eviderof, though, in >> we are not seeing any great eviderof, you though, in >> we are not seeing any great eviderof, you know,ough, in >> we are not seeing any great eviderof, you know, manifest terms of, you know, manifest pledges promises or anything pledges or promises or anything like seeing like that. what we're seeing is somebody who is ducking and diving every question, who's not giving away any of the substance of what labour are going to do. what voting here? what are we voting for here? >> well, why are we voting for unclear. >> he was about rwanda, >> he was asked about rwanda, asked offshore processing. asked about offshore processing. will criminal gangs. will smash the criminal gangs. well, trying to smash well, everyone's trying to smash them. >> well they're not, they're not because 13 because the tories have had 13 years haven't the years and they haven't used the terror legislation keir terror legislation that keir starmer has use the starmer has to use against the

against gangs. against the criminal gangs. that's the one. >> that's the area where >> that's the one area where i do have some sympathy with starmer's do starmer's view on that. i do have some sympathy with him on that i personally don't that because i personally don't like rwanda plan, like the rwanda plan, because for think for the same reason, i think it's a lawyer's field day. so it will on, on for will rumble on, rumble on for years. and so. i think years. and so and so. i think there be different there needs to be a different and obvious alternative to that is smash the criminal gangs. is to smash the criminal gangs. i've before on this i've said it before on this programme. it the programme. i think it is the right to go. if we can smash right way to go. if we can smash these big gangs in europe, these big drug gangs in europe, we certainly smash these we can certainly smash these trafficking we can certainly smash these trafsozing remind us how starmer >> so just remind us how starmer would do that. didn't say would do that. didn't he say that internationally that he'd work internationally with he'd leaked the ncaa to. yes. >> so the two key things are using legislation against using terror legislation against the which gives gives using terror legislation against the police which gives gives using terror legislation against the police more1 gives gives using terror legislation against the police more powers gives using terror legislation against the police more powers . gives using terror legislation against the police more powers . and les the police more powers. and secondly, by, by working using the national crime agency here, as you say, and linking that to with the cross—border unit of the similar agencies in other countries directly target the gangs. >> what do you make of martin? the press are running quite a few stories about keir starmer's time as a criminal barrister. yes, the latest is abu qatada.

yes. do you think this do you think people are listening to those kind of stories? do you think it will act against him? do people care? yeah. it's do people care? yeah. um, it's a good question. >> there's awful lot of other >> there's an awful lot of other news going on at the moment. then.then news going on at the moment. then. then that particular story. there might be looking story. so there might be looking elsewhere. had elsewhere. i mean, we've had a obviously a big murder trial come week. so the come to an end this week. so the timing it, um, i think these timing of it, um, i think these are care about. are things we should care about. yeah, i think sort of yeah, i think i think sort of going against that deportation of qatada. you know, as a of abu qatada. you know, as a lawyer is not a great position for him to have. frankly, it doesn't send out a good message to people that who are that i mean, both parties are mean, that both parties are after kind of bit in the after the big kind of bit in the middle the kind of venn middle of the kind of venn diagram the undecideds diagram which are the undecideds and those kind of stories are not help keir starmer. not going to help keir starmer. >> they're being tough on crime and defending the worst. >> you know, the, the, the, the cab for cab rank principle for barristers, you barristers, which is that you take whatever job is coming along. the nature of being along. the very nature of being along. the very nature of being a um, is that a barrister, um, is that you defend pretty unsavoury defend people, pretty unsavoury people. the heart of our people. that's the heart of our freedoms. he spent, you know,

years as the chief prosecutor for england and wales, prosecuting terrorism, prosecuting terrorism, prosecuting the, the, the airline bombing plot with liquid airline bombing plot with liquid airline bombing plot with liquid airline bombing plot, for example , is one that he was very example, is one that he was very heavily in the heavily involved in the prosecution um, and taking prosecution of. um, and taking terrorism the terrorism very seriously. the fact represented some fact that he represented some unsavoury , every unsavoury people, every barrister in that line of work will do. and that's and that's one of the british freedoms. does that mean he believes the person? >> but the public perception of that would not be great, right. >> he's also also explaining he's letters he's also signed letters to prevent deportation criminals. >> and that probably is >> and i think that probably is more yeah. of that may be more difficult for them to consider. um, on because um, but let's move on because you murder trial and you did mention murder trial and brianna j j it is, isn't it? brianna jj it is, isn't it? yes, of course. jai. jai. sorry. apologies um, the question of anonymity . me? anonymity. me? >> yes. well i think in this particular case, i mean, there is there is a huge public interest in, in this is a really , really awful case. i mean, peculiarly awful . we get one of peculiarly awful. we get one of these come along, you know,

every, i don't know, ten, 15 years or something. it's really appalling. and i think that i go along with some of the things ed vaizey said this, this morning about this to help you help people understand all of that . people understand all of that. but i think that what i but i just think that what i always feel about these cases is that there's a lot of talk of like the anonymity of the of the killers, the anonymity of the killers, the anonymity of the killers family . and it's the killers family. and it's the victim's family that gets somehow the killers somehow shunted away the killers family still have their children. they still have their youngsters, right? they might put them away for a long time. but we do how this thing but we do know how this thing pans and i and i will be pans out. and i and i will be cynical about because i'll cynical about this, because i'll tell how it will tell you exactly how it will pan out. given life out. they'll be given life sentences five sentences after about five years, queue of years, and the great queue of psychiatrists, someone will decide that they're to be decide that they're okay to be sort slowly brought back sort of slowly brought back into, know, and do you into, you know, and do you think? yeah. new ids , etc, etc. think? yeah. new ids, etc, etc. it's how it plays out. it's what the public actually are sick and tired of. they're sick and tired of life, meaning life. when of life, not meaning life. when crimes appalling. and crimes are this appalling. and i know they're really young and everything these

everything else, but these are kids. boy did all of kids. one of the boy did all of his exams. he was taking physics exams and everything else. dufing exams and everything else. during trial . there is during the trial. there is something wrong here, matthew. >> the argument is , which i >> the argument is, which i really sort of took to heart this morning, is that one of these killers at least had an obsession and a fantasy about, uh, serial killing. they love the idea of murder and the infamy that would come from being a killer. so by naming them and that individual in particular, who fantasises about serial killers, you're actually giving them what they want. notoriety or fame for being. >> yeah , it's i think it's a >> yeah, it's i think it's a very, very fine balance. and i think as you say, martin, it's like the bulger case, which frankly still rumbles on because, you know , the issue because, you know, the issue about a parole for one of the bulger killers has been with us just in the last couple of weeks. think think it's weeks. and i think i think it's a fine balance about a very fine balance about making people, kind of, people, uh, you know, kind of, uh, giving, as you say, what they want, making quote they want, making them quote unquote, in unquote, you know, heroes in their own, rather own their own, rather in their own totally on totally warped imaginations. on the i think, you

the other hand, i think, you know, there is the right there the other hand, i think, you know, right is the right there the other hand, i think, you know, right to the right there the other hand, i think, you know, right to know. jht there the other hand, i think, you know, right to know. and 1ere is the right to know. and i think the judge probably think the judge has probably made the right the right decision. but, i mean, i think there's lessons for to there's huge lessons for us to learn this learn as a society from this case. tell you what, the case. and i tell you what, the dignity of, uh, of brianna's parents, her mum you parents, her mum calling, you know. know, know. yes today, you know, emphasising the emphasising empathy with the killer's absolutely amazing. >> well, this brings us on very quickly to, um, sentencing. you mentioned sentencing. you think sometimes it's far too lax a lot of people would agree. you see, people convicted of rape, sexual assault, given only a few years , assault, given only a few years, and then that's probably means half of that year they'll be out for good behaviour or whatever it is, or because there's simply not enough space in our jails not enough space in ourjails seems be a conflict between seems to be a conflict between suella braverman men and the prime minister on sentencing, rishi sunak seems to think community sentences. um for crimes with only a 12 month or lower sentence is fine. suella braverman thinks. no, lower sentence is fine. suella braverman thinks . no, lock them braverman thinks. no, lock them up. yeah well, i have some sympathy with both sides of this argument. >> if i'm honest, i think prisoner prison is definitely a

deterrent. i don't care what anyone says about it not being a deterrent. it is a deterrent. if you talk to anyone who's ever been to prison, they will tell you they don't really want to go back however, what back in right? however, what suella braverman is talking about that about is these people that offend and again 45 offend over and over again 45 offences. and she's saying . at offences. and she's saying. at that point you should have an automatic, you should go to jail. that's and i think jail. that's it. and i think that, know, people out, out that, you know, people out, out in the big old world, seeing that the kind of pattern of offending areas offending in their local areas will full well you will know full well that if you get of shoplifting, if get a spate of shoplifting, if you get a spate cars being you get a spate of cars being broken house breaks, broken into house breaks, sometimes same 2 or 3 sometimes it's the same 2 or 3 people and the local people and often the local community they are. the community know who they are. the police are, and police know who they are, and these carry on. it these people will carry on. it doesn't matter if you put them in doesn't in prison, really, it doesn't matter what you do. but community sense over and community sense things over and over certainly doesn't over again. certainly doesn't work. make prison work. so you make the prison sentence longer and you make it really stick make it really stick and you make it quite tough. i mean, i'm all for toughening up prisons for people. >> prison is a deterrent, but as long a decent long as you get a decent sentence, if you're there sentence, if you're in there for

a it's entirely. >> and also, if all the evidence is you're in for a couple of is in, you're in for a couple of weeks. pointless. those weeks. it's pointless. and those people, people who just go on the go round of in the on the merry go round of in and but obviously for very and out, but obviously for very serious need to have serious crimes, we need to have good long okay good long sentences. okay >> uh, former labour adviser matthew laza and also former daily editor daily sunday express editor martin townsend. there we go. lots the next hour, lots to come in the next hour, including more the northern including more on the northern ireland collusion with america. >> heating ireland collusion with america. >> boxt heating ireland collusion with america. >> boxt boilers heating ireland collusion with america. >> boxt boilers sponsorseating ireland collusion with america. >> boxt boilers sponsors of ing up. boxt boilers sponsors of whether on . gb news. whether on. gb news. >> hello again . alex burkill >> hello again. alex burkill here with your latest gb news weather forecast. as we go through the run up to christmas, there be some rain around there will be some rain around for of and also bit of for most of us and also a bit of snow over higher ground of snow over the higher ground of scotland. looking scotland. it's also looking windy, although the strongest winds we've seen so today winds we've seen so far today are starting ease with the are starting to ease with the low system clearing low pressure system clearing away it is away towards the east, it is still be blustery still going to be blustery though, as we go through the rest of today. some showers to watch out for could be heavy, could see some hail, some thunder also some sleet thunder and also some sleet or snow. some risks

snow. bringing some ice risks across parts of scotland, particularly shetland. particularly across shetland. however, through however, as we go through the night, skies towards night, some clear skies towards the east subsiding as we see increasing and increasing amounts of cloud and some in and with some rain pushing in and with those winds and the those strong winds and the cloud temperatures much temperatures not dropping much for some places in for most of us, some places in the south holding up in double figures, a chillier further figures, a bit chillier further north scotland. north across parts of scotland. a frost here as go a touch of frost here as we go through morning, also through friday morning, and also some further sleet or snow possible modest higher possible over modest higher ground. rain for ground. outbreaks of rain for many of us through friday itself . it is looking like . and it is looking like a generally cloudy day, but some bright perhaps even a bit bright skies perhaps even a bit of sunshine developing in parts of sunshine developing in parts of in the of the southwest in the afternoon. temperatures for many will nudge down compared to will be a nudge down compared to today, still relatively mild today, but still relatively mild for the time of year in the south. in south. but feeling colder in those winds. saturday those strong winds. saturday then gets off to a wet start across northern parts. some heavy building up across heavy rain building up across western of scotland in western parts of scotland in particular. drier further south, there are a few spots of rain and staying pretty cloudy. further rain to come. then as we go through christmas and go through christmas eve and christmas itself and it is christmas day itself and it is going at times. two going to be windy at times. two by by that warm inside

by by that warm feeling inside from boxt boilers sponsors of weather on gb news .

>> good afternoon britain. it's 2:00 on thursday 21st of december. >> starmer tells all gb news joins keir starmer in an exclusive interview with the

labour leader. from urging the conservatives to negotiate with doctors over ongoing strike to saying rwanda is just a gimmick. we'll bring you analysis with our political correspondent and a diplomatic row. >> the irish government is set to challenge the uk government through the european convention on human rights over its decision to offer immunity for crimes during the troubles, whether talk , it's britain's whether talk, it's britain's favourite subject, expect lots to talk about weather—wise in the run up to christmas. >> if you can get home, that is, as storm peer causes chaos across the uk . across the uk. it's quite extraordinary . the it's quite extraordinary. the pictures of the destruction that this storm is causing. that's true . true. >> you saw was it was it on the actual the petrol station? >> so a big tree looked like a fir tree, but perhaps not. not great on my trees have been blown by wind onto blown over by the wind onto a petrol station. then there's a lorry which hopefully no one was

hurt, but a lorry overturned on a motorway in greater. manchester really does wreak havoc. >> it'd be great if we can get those those pictures a bit later on. but also, as simon calder said, trampolines taking flight from people's back gardens and landing on the railway lines. lots train chaos up north. lots of train chaos up north. but he said flights were okay. did he? >> p- f— e seemed to be not >> yeah, he seemed to be not too bothered the of bothered about the state of travel chaos. trains were going off, but there has been some difficulties. also. there has been also. difficulties. also. there has beesorry). interrupt rumours of >> sorry to interrupt rumours of snow in some snow this christmas in some parts the. parts of the. >> yeah, always rumours . >> yeah, it's always rumours. and then down here, at least in >> yeah, it's always rumours. andsouth,iown here, at least in >> yeah, it's always rumours. andsouth, it'sl here, at least in >> yeah, it's always rumours. andsouth, it's always at least in >> yeah, it's always rumours. andsouth, it's always 11 least in the south, it's always 11 degrees with a bit a drizzle. degrees with a bit of a drizzle. but there you go. let know if but there you go. let us know if you've caught up in the but there you go. let us know if you'veor caught up in the but there you go. let us know if you'veor if caught up in the but there you go. let us know if you'veor if your ght up in the but there you go. let us know if you'veor if your travel in the but there you go. let us know if you'veor if your travel plans; storm or if your travel plans are looking a bit sketchy, let us vaiews@gbnews.com. us know. vaiews@gbnews.com. but let's headlines . let's get the news headlines. >> good afternoon. 2:02 i'm tatiana sanchez in the gb newsroom . the teen murderers of

newsroom. the teen murderers of 16 year old briana joy will be named by the media when their sentenced next year . they sentenced next year. they stabbed briana, 28 times after luring . her to a park in luring. her to a park in cheshire on the 11th of february. during the trial, media hadn't been allowed to name the defendants, identified only as girl x and boy y, both aged 16. but 15 at the time. her killers tried to blame each other for the stabbing, but yesterday were both found guilty of murder . a former british army of murder. a former british army soldier accused of spying for iran will stand trial in october next year. 22 year old daniel khalife november trial was put off after he allegedly escaped wandsworth prison by strapping himself to a food delivery lorry. khalife is under is charged under the official secrets act of gathering information that might be useful to an enemy of the uk. he's accused of passing sensitive material to iranian intelligence, which he denies . intelligence, which he denies. a memorial service , marking 35 memorial service, marking 35 years since the lockerbie

bombing , has years since the lockerbie bombing, has paid tribute to years since the lockerbie bombing , has paid tribute to the bombing, has paid tribute to the 270 people who died . the local 270 people who died. the local clergyman, who led the service called it a senseless act of violence. when the boeing 747 exploded over the scottish town of lockerbie, it killed . all 259 of lockerbie, it killed. all 259 passengers and crew on board and 11 people on the ground. the bombing, which happened as the plane made its way from london to new york, remains the uk's plane made its way from london to neyever'k, remains the uk's plane made its way from london to neyever terroristns the uk's plane made its way from london to neyever terrorist attack uk's plane made its way from london to neyever terrorist attack . k's worst ever terrorist attack. former head of counter—terrorism at the ministry of defence, major chip chapman, told gb news accountability is extremely important and it is mass criminal murder and mass criminal murder and mass criminal murder and mass criminal murder means that , uh, criminal murder means that, uh, you know, people still need to be held to account if they think there are people out there who still did these things . still did these things. >> evidence to >> but you need evidence to prosecute. megrahi was prosecute. now, megrahi was prosecuted . the key question if prosecuted. the key question if you're in the counter—terrorist field is could this happen again? because most of the mass criminal murder through aviation incidents occurred in the 70s and 80s, and now it is very difficult to do that because of

airport security being better now, the labour leader says there's a real and constant threat to europe from russia as he visits british troops in estonia. >> sir keir starmer has been watching training sessions on a nato base bordering with russia. he's there to show his commitment to nato and has thanked servicemen and women for their integrity , their courage, integrity, loyalty and professionalism. sir keir warns that the west mustn't lose sight of moscow's threat to europe . europe. >> i'm here to say thank you to our troops here in estonia who are based on the border pretty much with russia for all the work they're doing, keeping us safe, the work they're doing for nato, but also to reaffirm our unshakeable commitment for nato and our unshakeable commitment to ukraine and to remind everybody that russia is a constant threat, not just now, but into the future. >> rail passengers in scotland are being strongly urged not to

travel to and from edinburgh . travel to and from edinburgh. today, a storm pier is set to cause major disruption. the service has asked customers to delay their journeys in and out of the scottish capital until after 3:00 this afternoon , as after 3:00 this afternoon, as parts of the uk brace for high winds. a yellow weather warning for wind came into effect at midnight last night and will last until 9:00 this evening, with forecasted gusts of wind up to 70 and 80mph in northern scotland . the warning also scotland. the warning also covers belfast, newcastle and manchester. the eu's top court has ruled fifa and uefa acted illegally in blocking the creation of the european super league, the proposed league involving 12 of europe's biggest clubs , including six english clubs, including six english teams, was announced in april 2021 but collapsed shortly after . now a judge has ruled uefa blocking the formation of such a competition is contrary to eu law, the court said . both fifa law, the court said. both fifa and uefa are abusing their dominant position in the sport. it also said the ruling doesn't mean that a competition such as

the super league must necessarily be approved . by sign necessarily be approved. by sign language will be taught as the gcse in england from september 2025. the department of education says it will give students an understanding of the history of sign language in the uk. education secretary gillian keegan says it can open the door for so many young people . it's for so many young people. it's understood the development of the gcse was delayed due to the covid pandemic. this the gcse was delayed due to the covid pandemic . this is gb news covid pandemic. 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 ben and . emily. and. emily. >> right. well, in a gb news exclusive, the labour leader has said he is strongly committed to nuclear defence as well as nato. he stressed the security of our nafion he stressed the security of our nation being paramount . nation being paramount. >> mount us on a visit to the

british troops in estonia, sir keir starmer has spoken exclusively to gb news political editor chris hope, about offshore processing , his family offshore processing, his family and his views on the upcoming general election . general election. >> are you ready for general election in as little as 19 weeks away, we are ready for a general election. >> i've had my whole team on a general election footing for some time now. um, i think that given the complete state of failure now in the country, there's a real sense that everything is broken. nothing is working, that the sooner that election comes, the better. because for millions of people, they can't afford to wait any longer for that general election i >> -- >> well, emma >> well, let's speak to gb news political correspondent, katherine forster. catherine key takeaways from that interview for you. >> yes. he's looking forward to the general election . and, well, the general election. and, well, he might, because at the moment % he might, because at the moment% labour are 20% ahead and they have been for a year. so keir starmer thinks hopes that fast

forward a year, he's going to be sitting in number 10 downing street. but of course we've seen before politics can change very quickly. so key takeaways. first of all very much sort of setting out his stall saying you're going to be safe under a labour government . i'm going to government. i'm going to continue in the same vein as rishi sunak as boris johnson. i'm not jeremy corbyn, of course. he served under jeremy course. he served underjeremy corbyn, who was would have liked to disband nato and many people saw as a real threat to our security. keir starmer saying labour has changed you can trust us. and with that, another one i thought very interesting on rwanda because of course , if the rwanda because of course, if the government ever gets any flights off to rwanda , labour has off to rwanda, labour has already said that even if that scheme is up and running, if and when they come into power, they will cut it now. keir starmer was saying that yes, the boats need to stop, but that labour has a different plan, which

basically involves dealing with the criminal people, smuggling gangs. he said his experience as director of public prosecutions had helped him at deal with people smuggling gangs. previous and he did say that they would consider offshore shore processing as many other countries are considering doing with rwanda specifically, the whole point was if you went to rwanda, you were on a one way ticket. you weren't coming back under any circumstances. supposedly whereas with offshore processing , they go to some processing, they go to some other country to be processed east, leaving the way open for some of them potentially to come back. so i thought interesting that he did leave that option open. that he did leave that option open . and talking about economic open. and talking about economic growth, sounding a little bit like liz truss saying the economy had basically flatlined for 13 years. of course, he's pinning that to the conservatives, really, since the financial crisis of 2008 and our productivity has pretty much stagnated, saying going for growth and seeing investment and

specifically investment in green technology as the way to galvanise that growth and concerns for his family. admitting he's got two teenage children admitting that he is worried about protecting them. of course there'll be massive, massive scrutiny of him and everybody around him if he does end up being a prime minister. but and also , i thought being but and also, i thought being asked by chris hope at the end about charisma , did he have it? about charisma, did he have it? he's had so much criticism for being a little bit boring, a little bit wooden in, um, but i think labour's view is that being sort of competent will be enough for voters at the moment. but i think a lot of people, they fallen out of love with the conservatives, but that does not mean that they fallen in love with the labour party or keir starmer . starmer. >> great stuff. gb news political correspondent katherine forster, thank you so much. um, she mentioned charisma there and what chopper called rise. um starmer. what what the

kids call it. i'm not thirsty. i'm too old now. 30 plus. i'm i'm too old now. 30 plus. i'm i'm disqualify myself from that. but can you believe it? >> i think people probably think you're a little younger than that. on the botox. that. i'm 17 to be on the botox. >> 17 next week. um, we talked about charisma, but starmer went to that he'd worked at to on say that he'd worked at the and that. the cps and done this and that. but doesn't involve but that doesn't involve charisma. and i know sounds charisma. and i know it sounds trivial, know, he talks trivial, but, you know, he talks about the policies and what he's got store, and he's ready to got in store, and he's ready to take big decisions. but take the big decisions. but actually, when you compare him to, johnson, to, say, boris johnson, who arguably , pretty light arguably was, um, pretty light on but big on charisma, on policy, but big on charisma, has starmer got the character to lead britain on the global stage? well, that's what he's trying to prove by going to places like estonia, visiting the british troops . the british troops. >> um, and of course, we've got tony also meeting with tony blair also meeting with benjamin lots of talk benjamin netanyahu. lots of talk about tony blair behind the about how tony blair behind the scenes him a lot of scenes is giving him a lot of advice, giving keir starmer a lot of a lot of advice. but of course, that commitment to nato , course, that commitment to nato, very different from his very different tune from his predecessor , jeremy corbyn, who

predecessor, jeremy corbyn, who wanted it to be ultimately disbanded . we should do away disbanded. we should do away with it. thought it was a force not for good, but for bad. >> okay . travelling home for >> okay. travelling home for christmas? um, just a few days away now, it's going to be made away now, it's going to be made a harder as storm pierre a lot harder as storm pierre causes chaos across the uk. >> yes, the met office is releasing yellow weather warnings across large parts of the travellers the country, with travellers being warned to plan ahead. >> 80 mile, 80 mile per hour winds are causing cancellations across with many across the network, with many rail having to comply rail operators having to comply with speed restrictions. but just how bad could the weather get? so joining us now is weather forecaster joe john kettley john. i know there's been considerable disruption in scotland today with the trains . scotland today with the trains. what about for the rest of the country? are things going to get a lot worse as this comes down south? uh, no, it won't be coming any further south now. >> it looks like it's been peaking during the early part of the we are going peaking during the early part of th

windy the way through. windy right the way through. >> up >> this coming weekend and up towards christmas day. >> is, at the moment >> the problem is, at the moment we've got storm, as you we've got this storm, as you say, over the south of say, it's over the south of norway just now. it's heading off probably off towards, uh, probably denmark hours denmark in the next few hours and is bringing plenty of and it is bringing plenty of showers, clusters of showers along it, gusts up to 80 along with it, gusts up to 80 miles an hour at emley moor. that's huddersfield. that's near huddersfield. this morning, and about to 80 morning, and about 75 to 80 miles hour in north miles an hour up in the north and northwest scotland as and northwest of scotland as well. it's pretty fierce. well. so it's pretty fierce. it's obviously causing a lot of disruption travellers disruption for travellers and not rails . not least the rails. >> you can't travel very well further north than newcastle and lots of ferries are abandoned. >> also we've got problems >> and also we've got problems with aircraft actually trying to land. know nigel calder was on land. i know nigel calder was on saying it isn't a big deal at the the the moment, but some of the aircraft being from aircraft are being diverted from the they thought they the airport they thought they were at and it's were going to land at and it's pretty tricky. >> w- pretty tricky. >> are north of, >> wherever you are north of, say, birmingham, that's where the winds are. say, birmingham, that's where the so winds are. say, birmingham, that's where the so it's winds are. say, birmingham, that's where the so it's a winds are. say, birmingham, that's where the so it's a it'snds are. say, birmingham, that's where the so it's a it's ais are. say, birmingham, that's where the so it's a it's a pretty >> so it's a it's a pretty lively have say. lively old day, i have to say. it's a british winter storm, i suppose call that suppose you call it that a classic, brittany, there isn't any snow to talk but any snow to talk about, but there eventually

there will be eventually. >> so is huddersfield the >> yeah. so is huddersfield the worst well worst affected then? well huddersfield and emley moor, which is about 8 or 900ft above sea level. >> but that's where you've got the highest gust moment. the highest gust at the moment. >> causing huge issues of >> it is causing huge issues of course airport, leeds course at leeds airport, leeds bradford that's the bradford airport, that's the highest in the country. so uh, very land very difficult trying to land aircraft part of the world. >> we've en“ f we've got some snow >> but we've also got some snow to i will just point to come. so i will just point this out. >> i'll pre—empt your next question. emily, uh, there is some likely. some snow likely. uh, now there's a band of rain which is going to intensify across scotland during friday, and that band of rain will readily turn to snow up on the higher ground. >> say , well, not even high >> say, well, not even high ground above about 200m. we'll start snow settling start to see the snow settling dunng start to see the snow settling during friday and into saturday, and will cause lots of and it will cause lots of problems the far problems up in the far north—east scotland. so north—east of scotland. so you're towards , uh, you're going up towards, uh, well, certainly grampians up towards inverness thurso and towards inverness and thurso and all these sort of places which these of areas could well these sort of areas could well see some pretty heavy snowfall in the next 24, 36 hours. >> although the winds are >> so although the winds are abating somewhat , uh, it's, it's abating somewhat, uh, it's, it's abating somewhat, uh, it's, it's a case of looking out for some

more heavy rain possible flooding up in the north there. and also some which will and also some snow which will settle no in aberdeenshire, settle no snow in aberdeenshire, where my, uh, where my family there any snow there? >> think there will be some >> i think there will be some snow in aberdeenshire as well . snow in aberdeenshire as well. >> emily. yes, yes. any more counties you'd like to mention? >> emily. yes, yes. any more couwest you'd like to mention? >> emily. yes, yes. any more couwest west like to mention? >> emily. yes, yes. any more couwest west sussex, mention? >> emily. yes, yes. any more couwest west sussex, john. on? >> west west sussex, john. >> west west sussex, john. >> sussex absolutely not. >> west sussex absolutely not. >> west sussex absolutely not. >> are you gonna be a boring one for me? >> it'll be a balmy , balmy >> it'll be a balmy, balmy christmas for you in sussex. >> yeah, right. uh, john are pretty high. >> you know, we're going to have.i >> you know, we're going to have. i think, christmas eve, sunday will the mild will be the mildest of these days, about 12 to 15 degrees. isn't that ridiculous for end of ridiculous? yeah. for the end of december , balmy does start to december, balmy does start to turn colder during christmas day december, balmy does start to turn the er during christmas day december, balmy does start to turn the north. ng christmas day december, balmy does start to turn the north. so christmas day december, balmy does start to turn the north. so we'llmas day december, balmy does start to turn the north. so we'll see day december, balmy does start to turn the north. so we'll see the' from the north. so we'll see the northerly winds start to move further south christmas further south during christmas day. will green for day. but it will be green for most us, i'm afraid. great most of us, i'm afraid. great stuff . stuff. >> john kettley, weather forecaster thank >> john kettley, weather foreyso ter thank >> john kettley, weather foreyso much. thank >> john kettley, weather foreyso much. now thank >> john kettley, weather foreyso much. now turning< >> john kettley, weather foreyso much. now turning to you so much. and now turning to more the travel disruption , more of the travel disruption, we go live to gb news. reporter jack who's in a jack carson, who's in a cancellation ridden nottingham

train station. jack, any trains on the go there ? well i'll on the go there? well i'll particularly if you're trying to travel on the east midlands railway very much . railway very much. >> you're going to be severely delayed even cancelled as delayed or even cancelled as well, because particularly services intercity , services within the intercity, within the regions are because of in some cases because of how strong the winds are on the network, but in other cases because of disruptions, um, across the network there are there have been some lots of cancellations and lots of delays here. some trains getting here, possibly half an hour up to over an hour past their scheduled arrival time here into the city. and for a lot of people that have come into nottingham today, what they're finding is, is they go they're coming back to the station try and their station to try and get their train home, they're having train home, and they're having to far out to to be diverted quite far out to almost back in on almost come back in on themselves try and get around themselves to try and get around and around the and be diverted around the disruption , particularly, um, disruption, particularly, um, between nottingham and hucknall. that's where a lot of the disruption around here, nottinghamshire and derbyshire

is. that's because there's damage the net. tram overhead damage on the net. tram overhead wires, has also caused wires, which has also caused problems at the level crossing. um there at bulwell. so and the barriers there. so that's one of the, that's one of the problems there. but i spoke to uh, susan and just tried got and kevin who had just tried got to the nottingham station to try and spoke to me and get home. they spoke to me outside station bit outside the station a little bit earlier on. >> well, we came from newark and we no problems at all. we get with no problems at all. >> a late train that >> we've got a late train that was delayed, so we got here fine. >> and then we've just been told now trying to get >> and then we've just been told now to trying to get >> and then we've just been told now to newarktrying to get >> and then we've just been told now to newark from to get >> and then we've just been told now to newark from nottingham back to newark from nottingham and to via sheffield, and we have to go via sheffield, which a bit a trek. which is a bit of a trek. >> we're looking for a taxi how. >> now. >> yeah, it's like going up north coming back down north and coming back down again. >> f- f“ >> so we're looking for a taxi. >> so we're looking for a taxi. >> it'll us however much >> it'll cost us however much for home. for a taxi home. >> but it is what is. >> so. but it is what it is. >> so. but it is what it is. >> is it? i mean, how do you feel? because it's quite close to christmas you know, feel? because it's quite close to chrisdoing you know, feel? because it's quite close to chrisdoing last know, feel? because it's quite close to chrisdoing last bits w, feel? because it's quite close to chrisdoing last bits of people doing the last bits of shopping and, you know, it's going busy anyway. what going to be busy anyway. what can you do? >> it's their a tree >> it's not their fault a tree has fallen on the line. i mean, this is weather. it's just what it nothing we can do. it is. nothing we can do. >> well, bit of

>> yeah, well, a little bit of great british spirit there. just getting well, getting on with the job. well, it's fault got it's not their fault they've got a hopefully they'll be a taxi and hopefully they'll be heading back to back newark heading back to back to newark now. obviously the train now. but obviously the train services got together and services have got together and they're if you are they're saying that if you are on one of the disrupted networks that other on that you can travel on other on other extra other railways at no extra charge to try and get round, but elsewhere across the country as well. transpennine express are asking travellers just not to travel on their services anywhere from edinburgh. of course it's scotland, particularly those winds particularly with those winds and lake district as and around the lake district as well, where lot of well, which is where a lot of the disruption is coming and as the disruption is coming and as the weather of course spreads out here at nottinghamshire, in derbyshire, there, though, the disruption line disruption of trees on the line and wires going down and overhead wires going down is what's most the what's causing most of the disruption . disruption. >> stuff . jack carson >> ian great stuff. jack carson in nottingham . thanks very much. in nottingham. thanks very much. stay warm my friend . um, it's stay warm my friend. um, it's unbelievably as well. paddington station, the uk's second busiest station, the uk's second busiest station as far as i understand . station as far as i understand. network rail closing it on christmas eve when everyone's going to be travelling to and fro in and out of the capital, closing repair works. i

closing it for repair works. i think eve , peak, think christmas eve, the peak, the of travel and i'm sorry the peak of travel and i'm sorry we didn't ask the weather expert about every single county in the country. >> we did use our position, use our privilege on that one. but coming up, we'll be discussing the future for uk veterans as an attempt is underway to reverse the troubles bill, stay the troubles legacy. bill, stay with

monday to thursdays from six till 930. >> well, the uk government will

defend veterans against ireland's attempt to reverse the troubles legacy bill irish premier leo varadkar says his government was given no option but to take the legacy act to the european convention on human rights the echr. >> the act received royal assent in september and it means soldiers serving in northern ireland would receive limited immunity from potential prosecution . in response to the prosecution. in response to the action taken, northern ireland minister lord caine hinted it could impact uk irish relations so joining us now is kenny donaldson from the southeast fermanagh foundation . fermanagh foundation. >> kenny, thank you very much. were you expecting this , uh, were you expecting this, uh, legal challenge going through the european court of human rights? were you expecting leo varadkar to make this ? varadkar to make this? >> well, i suppose we had got some indication . about ten days some indication. about ten days ago that this was possible . ago that this was possible. >> um, on the mouth of christmas i >> -- >> um, from 5mm >> um, from a source. >>— >> um, from a source. >> but it wasn't confirmed. >> but it wasn't confirmed. >> and of course, many have spoken of the timing of all of

this. >> and what that maybe signifies. >> but i think from our perspective as a group , which is perspective as a group, which is based mainly in the borderlands, in terms of our roots , and we in terms of our roots, and we feel that this step by the irish government should now mean that the lands and the flash lamp comes on them. >> and because the irish government have a history for 25 plus years of not engaging on these issues of essentially acting as a, as a proof of what the brits do and don't do. um, and now it's the spotlight is very much going to come on that state. and what they failed to do thus far. >> kenny, how many people have the irish government prosecutes for crimes committed for serious crimes committed since agreement . since the good friday agreement. at one case, and that trial actually collapsed and that was the case concerning a don tidy , the case concerning a don tidy, um, who was a businessman kidnapped . kidnapped. >> and the ira were seeking 5 million compensation on the 40th anniversary has just passed in recent days. so, um, but that

has been the sole case. is i mean, playing devil's advocate. >> isn't this hypocrisy from from ireland? you know . when you from ireland? you know. when you when ireland hasn't prosecuted one soldier for any serious crime yet. varadkar's happy to pretty much some would say collude with joe getting collude with joe biden getting the green to go ahead with the green light to go ahead with this, uk this, to overrule, uh, uk government sovereignty and go to the echr . for the echr. for >> well, i suppose look, i want to make it very clear that we have never backed the troubles reconciliation, legacy and reconciliation, legacy and reconciliation bill. and the reason we don't back it is because it's the final murdering of justice. but that murder of justice has started in 1998. and for 25 years has brought us to this point . however, it is the this point. however, it is the rank hypocrisy of the republic of ireland state who, as you quite rightly say, have effectively been operating a policy of not investigating or pursuing pre 1998 crimes for them to take this moral high ground and to call out the uk

state. as much as i feel it is wrong that legacy and reconciliation bill, it's there. it's up front. it's obviously been legislated for and it's in law . um, so, been legislated for and it's in law. um, so, you been legislated for and it's in law . um, so, you know, there is law. um, so, you know, there is an absolute hypocrisy of position there. and that must be called out now , this isn't the called out now, this isn't the only legal challenge is it? >> there are families who've gone to the court in, uh, in belfast . belfast. >> absolutely. and um, i suppose look what we would really warn against is that what could happen at the in the aftermath of this is that if the case is hard, successful, the legal challenge and then what it could mean is that we would have coronial inquest s and the civil litigation process kept on the table. and other, um, other redress taken off the table. and for the largest constituency of victims and survivors who we support , victims of terrorism, support, victims of terrorism, whereas their outcomes in terms of justice, truth and accountability. but i do think

it's very important to educate your listeners as well, right across the united kingdom, that there is not satisfaction from our constituency around that legacy and reconciliation bill that was on the table . it was that was on the table. it was not something that was going to offer protection for members of the security forces who behaved honourably and with great courage, conviction and restraint over the course of the troubles. yeah >> kenny donaldson from the southeast, fermanagh foundation, thanks very much. i think the concern there comes not just the upset about, um, prosecutions of veterans, but of course, that the echr again, is, uh, seemingly being sought to trump our own british sovereignty . um, our own british sovereignty. um, moving on. >> absolutely. yeah >> absolutely. yeah >> moving on now. suella braverman you remember her, um, making her presence felt again? no doubt she's launched another attack on rishi sunaks government, warning that the prime minister's plans to let offenders facing jail terms of less than 12 months serve their punishment in the community will put public safety at risk. yes

>> also describing the plans as misguided , added the former home misguided, added the former home secretary has tabled two amendments the bill. she amendments to the bill. she wants to toughen up penalties for prolific offenders, argues the bill in its current form, does not tackle the issue of re—offending right. shall we discuss this further with former met detective dave peter bleksley ? peter, what do you bleksley? peter, what do you make of suella braverman's intervention here? is she is she right ? right? >> in many regards? i applaud her for intervening and i agree with what she says , although not with what she says, although not entirely this , this, this entirely this, this, this legislation is an utter nonsense. >> what it means is that yet more criminals will commit crime with abandon and not go to prison. >> and with the levels of crime as they are at the moment. for example, an epidemic of shoplifting and over 800 retail staff being assaulted every day

of the week. what we need is more people going to prison, not less . less. >> peter. um, isn't it the case that we need what rudy giuliani, the former mayor of new york, implemented in that once crime ndden implemented in that once crime ridden city, which was the broken window theory, where any crime , no matter how big or crime, no matter how big or small, even if it's as little as, um, a stone through a window that smashes it needs to be deau that smashes it needs to be dealt with thoroughly and with zero tolerance. >> absolutely . but of course, >> absolutely. but of course, we've got certain senior police officers who in recent weeks and months have said, yes, we'll attend shoplifting. yes, we're going to help crack down on all of this crime. >> but of course, they knew as they said those words that they just weren't going to be able to actually back that up. >> and so the rampant shoplifting goes on. >> and shall we talk about the burglary and the motor vehicle crime and the violence, the rampant violence , not only rampant violence, not only against women and girls , but against women and girls, but that takes place on our high

streets and beyond every , every streets and beyond every, every night of the week. don't listen, please, to the lies that stem from skewed surveys, untruthful data, and establishment figures like senior police officers and politicians who will lie through their back teeth and tell us that britain's never been safer. it's an utter nonsense. >> yeah, people have their own experiences. >> they can see with their own eyes where the crime has got better or worse. and in a lot of places around the country, it has demonstrably got worse and people feel less safe on a daily basis. but what's your view just generally sentencing in this generally on sentencing in this country? because i am often gobsmacked with how short some sentences are for very serious crimes , including sexual assault i >> -- >> oh, and particularly as has been highlighted in recent days and weeks, the amount of people that are caught with indecent images of children , they're images of children, they're paedophiles and a tiny proportion of those are going to prison. we need deterrence,

deterrence , work. that's why deterrence, work. that's why prison is often a good deterrent . and without deterrence, people will see it. simply carry on committing crime because there's no sorry to interrupt. >> you just because i just want to squeeze in one more question. do you think that it's ideological that sentencing is shorter, is it because we shorter, or is it because we don't resources lock don't have the resources to lock people don't have the resources to lock peoit's because this government >> it's because this government has to build has repeatedly failed to build enough prison spaces , and i enough prison spaces, and i suspect any other government will probably do the same. will probably do just the same. politicians are all for locking bad people up until it comes to building a prison in their constituency, and then they act like nimbys . like nimbys. >> mhm. yeah, that's there's a lot of truth to that. thank you very much . former met detective very much. former met detective peter bleksley . thank you for peter bleksley. thank you for your always appreciate your time. always appreciate it. >> coming up cheese board is a >> coming up a cheese board is a british change of tone a british change of tone for is a british change of tone for is a british at christmas british staple at christmas time. i'm sure you'll be getting through many of them. but what's the nation's favourite cheese? we'll all things we'll be talking all things

stilton. . soon stilton. very. soon good afternoon. >> your top stories from the gb news room? we start with some breaking news. a murder investigation has been launched after a four year old boy died following a knife attack in east london. the met police said they received a call around 1050 last night, raising concerns for the welfare of a child at a property in montague road in hackney. the boy was found with knife injuries and was taken to hospital , where he injuries and was taken to hospital, where he died. a 41 year old woman has been arrested on suspicion of murder. in more breaking news this hour, an inquest into the death of the asylum seeker aboard the bibby stockholm barge has found he died from compression of the neck caused by hanging. the albanian asylum seeker leonardo ferucci was found unresponsive aboard the barge in dorset on the 12th of december. the coroner said there weren't thought to be any suspicious circumstances surrounding the death year old.

death of the 27 year old. a pre—inquest review is to be held on the 9th of july. the teen murderers of 16 year old briana joy murderers of 16 year old briana joy will be named by the media when they're sentenced in february next year. they stabbed briana 28 times after luring her to a park in cheshire on the 11th of february. during the trial , media 11th of february. during the trial, media hadn't been allowed to name the defendants , to name the defendants, identified only as girl x and boy y, both aged 16 but 15 at the time. her killers tried to blame each other for the stabbing, but yesterday were both found guilty of murder. stabbing, but yesterday were both found guilty of murder . and both found guilty of murder. and a memorial service marking 35 years since the lockerbie bombing has paid tribute to the 270 people who died. the local clergyman who led the service called it a senseless act of violence . when the boeing 747 violence. when the boeing 747 exploded over the scottish town of lockerbie, it killed all 259 passengers and crew on board and 11 people on the ground . the 11 people on the ground. the bombing, which happened as the plane made its way from london

to new york, remains the uk's worst ever terrorist attack . you worst ever terrorist attack. you can get more on all of those stories by visiting our website gb news. com .

sunday mornings from 930 on gb news . news. >> welcome back. it's 2.38. you're with ben and emily on

good afternoon britain. now no christmas cheeseboard is complete without a wedge of stilton, the so—called king of engush stilton, the so—called king of english cheese , famed around the english cheese, famed around the world for its distinctive blue moulding and salty flavour. the protected cheese take centre stage during the festive season. >> sounds like we've turned into a cooking show, doesn't it? our east midlands reporter, will hollis, has this report for you . hollis, has this report for you. >> the start of the stilton story. hey girl, how's it going? >> amy? is a fifth generation dairy farmer . dairy farmer. >> these cows will normally spend ten months of the year grazing grass outside. they'll make around 6000l of milk each per year. and that all goes to be made into stilton cheese . be made into stilton cheese. >> every single drop goes to the cheesemakers. >> at long clawson, only a mile away here in leicestershire . away here in leicestershire. once it's salted and settled, the cheese is pierced , letting the cheese is pierced, letting oxygen react with the increase , oxygen react with the increase, it's spreading. the iconic blue mould. >> steve is the dairy's

production manager. >> we'll put the grading iron into the cheese here. we'll turn that around. we'll take a core sample . we're having a look on sample. we're having a look on the iron for the blue veining from the centre all the way out to the we're looking for to the crust. we're looking for the texture and also any aromas . the texture and also any aromas. what you see here, this cheese has cut in half. there's a has been cut in half. there's a lovely blue marble effect from the way out the centre, all the way out to the centre, all the way out to the product. the edge of the product. >> their busiest time of >> it's their busiest time of yeah >> it's their busiest time of year, 60% of sales during the festive season . festive season. >> here at long clawson, they make 3000 cheese every single day, and that's just to keep up with the festive demand. stilton is special, just like champagne in the protected designation of origin, trademark means it can only be made in leicestershire , only be made in leicestershire, derbyshire or nottinghamshire , derbyshire or nottinghamshire, but it's famed around the world even amongst britain's cheese loving neighbours . loving neighbours. >> in france, where anne—claire is from. >> we are very proud to say that we are exporting 20% of our cheese, which is fantastic , and

cheese, which is fantastic, and in france we love stilton, so this is great. >> pactum prepared for supermarkets across the country, but stilton sales are being sliced by 9% across the industry inflation is just one reason why some brits aren't buying lovely tanginess. coming through bill is managing director at long clawson . he's encouraging brits clawson. he's encouraging brits to think outside of the traditional cheese board to guarantee stilton's future in his support . his support. >> because we've got this fantastic product which should be iconic and we should be celebrating in the uk by driving usage. we believe that what we can do is probably grow the market. if you can get people buying it just one more time yeah >> the king of english cheese looking to wear the crown all year round will hollis gb news in long clawson . in long clawson. >> tis the season to eat stilton hmm'hmm i think i prefer some

cheddah hmm'hmm i think i prefer some cheddar. really? yeah, well , cheddar. really? yeah, well, joining us now is the director of long clawson dairy, bill matheson , who's brought us some matheson, who's brought us some cheese actually, which we may sample with you. bill, thank you for joining us. so what are forjoining us. so what are brits favourite type of cheese? is it the stilton or is it the humble cheddar? >> well, cheddar. cheddar would be the mainstay mainstay staple that people buy in the uk . but that people buy in the uk. but when they're going and they're buying their speciality cheese, and particularly at christmas on and particularly at christmas on a cheese board, and i've got my cheese board here as well, just excellent . and you can see it excellent. and you can see it here. that's a stilton. >> stilton . >> stilton. >> stilton. >> yeah . >> yeah. >> yeah. >> well you should have some as well. please enjoy. >> uh, stilton is generally front and centre of the cheese board, and rightly so. >> uh, i think it's, it's got protected designation of origin, like champagne and parma ham and i think it's right that we brits are proud of it, and we celebrate it as a national treasure. ben have you got the

champagne? >> um, i've got plenty back home. nothing on me . some port home. nothing on me. some port would be nice. bill, did you organise any port? >> do next time. >> i'll do that next time. >> i'll do that next time. >> we'll you some next >> we'll send you some down next time. at least time. but hopefully at least enjoying afternoon. >> so i think you've got some. on >> so i think you've got some. oh sorry. >> tell us. this dairy. it's, uh , responsible for 60% of the of the market for stilton. >> yeah. we. yeah we probably responsible for about 65% of all stilton sales globally . and we stilton sales globally. and we feel very proud that we are the custodians, along with the other fantastic stilton producers up here in leicestershire, nottinghamshire and derbyshire. and it's great that we are exporting about 20% of our sales elsewhere around the world, and we see that there's absolute opportunity for us to really expand our business in the years to come , and particularly in the to come, and particularly in the export market, because when we take cheese out our cheese out there, people love it. so stilton is a fantastic cheese. and we also have alongside that we have a fantastic shropshire

blue , which for us two years ago blue, which for us two years ago at the international cheese award, it was voted the best cheese in the world. so it's a little bit like for us winning an oscar in the cheese industry is a little bit what it was like for us. so best of 4500 cheeses from around the world that were entered. and it came out as supreme champion and with shropshire blue it tends to be a little bit milder as a cheese. yeah. quite creamy and a little bit tangy in texture . bit tangy in texture. >> now are we selling. are we selling. just lastly are we selling. just lastly are we selling the blue cheeses to the likes of france ? because of likes of france? because of course they've got their, uh roquefort, roquefort, french isn't it. and um, the other one is. yeah >> roquefort from france. you've got dolcelatte from dolcetto from uh, from italy and uh, yeah , we're selling it out there. we're selling it actively exporting into those markets , exporting into those markets, uh, our biggest export market being the us for us, but also in europe, the europeans are loving our stilton. so we see a rule that they don't do cheese in america, do they?

>> the, uh, the yanks just have noidea >> the, uh, the yanks just have no idea when it comes to cheese. do they? >> it's very it's a very >> well, it's very it's a very different cheese they make out there , i think, uh, roll around there, i think, uh, roll around wisconsin is a massive cheese makers , massive cheese makers. makers, massive cheese makers. but i don't think they make it as the speciality cheese that we make here in the same quality. and that's why i think we're so successful we sell into the successful when we sell into the us market. that's that's pretty good. >> and we're selling to the europeans too, which is always good news. thank you very much for your time and thank you for the cheese. it's very tasty. really definitely really tasty. i definitely recommend bill matheson, director dairy . director of long clawson dairy. >> you didn't want to tell bill your admission then before we went is your went on air, which is your secret that do like french secret that i do like french stinky yes i yes, stinky cheese, yes i do, yes, you be, it meant to you meant to be, uh, it meant to be a gb news patriot. i know, i'm shocked. >> panel it. i'll >> oh, well, i'll panel it. i'll panel if you can hear panel it here if you can hear them. of course. tipping them. of course. we're tipping off the former them. of course. we're tipping off of the former them. of course. we're tipping off of the the former them. of course. we're tipping off of the sunday the former them. of course. we're tipping off of the sunday express,ner editor of the sunday express, martin and former martin townsend, and the former labour advisor, matthew laza , labour advisor, matthew laza, who? i've also got some cheese. please tuck it tell us please do tuck it in. tell us what you've gone for

what you like. you've gone for a red leicester, by the looks of things, was it the shropshire? red leicester, by the looks of thirthewas it the shropshire? red leicester, by the looks of thirthe yellow he shropshire? red leicester, by the looks of thirthe yellow he si he shire? red leicester, by the looks of thirthe yellow he si he wase? >> the yellow one? he was talking i think that's talking about? i think that's the best. think that's the best. i think that's better than the. the best. i think that's better tha yeah, the. the best. i think that's better tha yeah, the marbled, the >> yeah, the marbled, the marbled good marbled orange one. very good cheese actually. >> a very good red >> that's a very good red leicester. not overwhelming leicester. not an overwhelming flavour not overwhelming. >> choose cheese over >> i would choose cheese over a pudding. >> that's interesting. yeah >> that's interesting. yeah >> my son. yeah i >> so would my son. yeah i wouldn't that road. wouldn't go down that road. >> straight the >> you go straight for the sticky toffee. >> whenever you're talking about cheese charles gaulle remember charles de gaulle said, how france? how could anybody run france? how govern how can you run a govern a country which has got 4000 types of cheese? so >> so we could become ungovernable ? absolutely. if we ungovernable? absolutely. if we make too much, we don't just have cheddar . we don't have too. have cheddar. we don't have too. right. shall we go back to some serious news? not cheese serious news? not that cheese isn't it's good to isn't serious. and it's good to see this particular dairy see that this particular dairy is doing very well. >> it's a good uk success story. yeah hear about yeah it's good to hear about exports united states. exports to the united states. i'd say it is true. >> the states those squeezy >> the states has those squeezy cheeses, >> the states has those squeezy cheoh,;, >> the states has those squeezy cheoh, the cheese whiz, fake >> oh, the cheese whiz, the fake burger cheese. >> actually not just cheese. >> and actually not just cheese. we're seemingly on we're seemingly catching up on france lot of sectors, france over a lot of sectors, especially wine where

especially sparkling wine where sussex, where i live, nyetimber absolutely storming up the ranks. pricey though. absolutely storming up the ranks. englishiough. absolutely storming up the ranks. english sparkling wine, >> an english sparkling wine, pricier champagne. yeah, >> an english sparkling wine, pricyou champagne. yeah, >> an english sparkling wine, pricyou know. champagne. yeah, >> an english sparkling wine, pricyou know. butnpagne. yeah, >> an english sparkling wine, pricyou know. but very,|e. yeah, >> an english sparkling wine, pric you know. but very, veryeah, >> an english sparkling wine, pric you know. but very, very , h, but you know. but very, very, very france. very top end france. >> out . here come the brits. >> i think their prices are becoming more competitive, though, because, uh, it's demanding . yeah, because the demanding. yeah, because the demanding. yeah, because the demand is increasing. they're making more of it. so the price is down. so that's your is coming down. so that's your can we do that as the next tasting. >> maybe, maybe at 9:00 maybe, you the you know throughout the christmas might a christmas period we might have a bit tasting. bit of christmas tasting. >> you've to keep >> who knows. you've got to keep keep watching and keep turning up. little bit up. shall we talk a little bit about starmer . and about uh, uh keir starmer. and whether you're convinced, martin, he's he's martin, that, uh, he's the he's the to take on the job of the man to take on the job of prime minister. do you believe what he's saying? no not word what he's saying? no not a word inever what he's saying? no not a word i never have. >> i like keir starmer >> i, i don't like keir starmer as leader. actually as a leader. i don't actually think leader very think he'll be leader for very long, i think he's got long, because i think he's got much much and much better, much bigger and better that party. better talents in that party. anyway you prefer in anyway so who do you prefer in the. i think rachel reeves is more capable than keir starmer personally . um, more capable than keir starmer personally. um, i just think keir starmer as an mp, she plagiarised her book, though,

didn't i think she's didn't she? so i think she's i just think she's more capable and i just see keir starmer as being very empty and i just don't him as being as don't see him as being as particularly inspirational . particularly inspirational. matthew that's matthew i think that's, that's that's reflected that's kind of reflected in his popularity ratings in the country because people just don't they don't warm to him. >> he's dull as dishwater, isn't he? >> dishwater? i mean, look, he's not you know, his friends wouldn't say, what's the word of the year, riz? uh uh, he's not got riz. >> has he? come on. >>— >> has he? come on. >> he's only only in >> well, he's only only in moniker , only in moderation. but moniker, only in moderation. but i country doesn't i think what the country doesn't want after the, uh, the last, uh, five prime ministers in 13 years is riz it wants is years is riz what it wants is quiet, determined quiet, strong, determined leadership . and that's what keir leadership. and that's what keir starmer offers. and yeah. i starmer offers. and yeah. and i think team because think it's a great team because i three i think i think the top three i think the top three. keir. uh, rachel and who all are and angela rayner who all are very i've very different background i've known were , uh, known rachel since we were, uh, quietly competent . quietly competent. >> is she. no, no. >>— >> is she. no, no. >> look, angela rayner stands very firm. say, for example, angela rayner took on the corbynistas when they wanted to spend money on spend all the money on subsidising students. subsidising university students. she on early

she wanted to spend it on early years education because she knows difference that can knows what a difference that can make to working families. so she's got she's got steel and they don't want of they they don't want three of they they don't want three of the three very the same. you've got three very different what we different people. what have we got? got the at the of got? we've got the at the top of the we've got the tory party. we've got a prime minister and deputy prime minister. to minister. um who both went to pubuc minister. um who both went to public go to public school. did they go to pubuc i public school. did they go to public i get public school together? i get confused, think they might have. >> we've had some good economic news for country this >> we've had some good economic news so for country this >> we've had some good economic news so you country this >> we've had some good economic news so you know,)untry this >> we've had some good economic news so you know, the ry this >> we've had some good economic news so you know, the inflation week. so you know, the inflation wasbut the inflation was fantastic. >> let's be honest. the inflation was fantastic. and you know energy prices due know we've got energy prices due to come down. we've got we've got cut on the got an interest rate cut on the way know quietly getting on way you know quietly getting on with is what rishi sunak has with it is what rishi sunak has been i been very been doing. i i've been very critical of the past. but critical of him in the past. but you we've we've you know we've got we've got a conservative government that's quietly with doing quietly getting on with doing the things that they, that quietly getting on with doing the thirwant|at they, that quietly getting on with doing the thirwant themey, that quietly getting on with doing the thirwant them to that quietly getting on with doing the thirwant them to do. meantime people want them to do. meantime um, you've got keir starmer who goes to off ukraine and, you know, he says everything that you'd to say, but you'd expect him to say, but not with great conviction. with any great conviction. if i'm honest . and no i'm honest. and he has no policies. there's nothing there. >> stance on the >> what about his stance on the doctors well i don't doctors strikes? well i don't strike a stance on that is.

>> but i assume that he's in favour. is he? >> no, no. so no i mean and wes streeting this week who's another great talent. who's the health who's health spokesperson, who's a coming been coming talent has been absolutely doctors absolutely clear. the doctors are going to get 35% because are not going to get 35% because yeah, say that this are not going to get 35% because yethis say that this are not going to get 35% because yethis is say that this are not going to get 35% because yethis is the say that this are not going to get 35% because yethis is the point.that this is this is the point. >> they're saying that now. but that not be the case that that will not be the case when they get in. they're going to to them. when they get in. they're going to union to them. when they get in. they're going to union is to them. when they get in. they're going to union is going to them. when they get in. they're going to union is going to to them. when they get in. they're going to union is going to come1em. when they get in. they're going to union is going to come ton. every union is going to come to them. they're more them. they're saying for more money say no, no money they won't say no, no under the line. won't say under the line. they won't say no. they they no. matthew they won't. they just they. no. matthew they won't. they justwell, they. no. matthew they won't. they justwell, we ey. no. matthew they won't. they justwell, we ask because it's >> well, we ask you because it's the second day of this biggest nhs history, it nhs strike in history, and it really is junior doctors really is the junior doctors who are the most are proving the most intransigent to intransigent when it comes to agreeing pay pay agreeing to a pay rise or pay offer from the government . offer from the government. labour sort of being quite labour are sort of being quite vague which course, you vague, which of course, you know, their privileged know, that is their privileged position. can be bit position. they can be a bit vague position, but they are saying, you know, if we were in government, we'd be able to hash out deal far better than the out a deal far better than the conservatives can. so obviously they're not going to put a number on i think there has number on it. i think there has been a breakdown of been is a huge breakdown of trust between the junior doctors and think there is

>> and so i think there is actually that it's not just baloney labour baloney to say that that labour would to negotiate would be able to negotiate a better but it would have better deal, but it would have to a deal. and wes to be a hard deal. and wes streeting been absolutely to be a hard deal. and wes stree'this been absolutely to be a hard deal. and wes stree'this week. en absolutely to be a hard deal. and wes stree'this week. uh absolutely to be a hard deal. and wes stree'this week. uh absolhe's, clear this week. uh that he's, um, which what the um, that 35, which is what the junior want , um, that 35, which is what the junior want, ain't gonna happen. >> that would change if and when they power. they get into power. >> well, won't because >> well, it won't be because partly won't partly because the money won't be there to do it. i mean, i think i think, you i think think i think, you know, i think the be there, but the money won't be there, but people are still going queue up. >> people are still going to threaten of these. of threaten all of these. all of this mean, the fact is this action. i mean, the fact is that nhs quietly are getting that the nhs quietly are getting on really amazing on with some really amazing things. whole things. we've got that whole things. we've got that whole thing on at saint thing that's going on at saint thomas's at the moment with this thing that's going on at saint thom operationz moment with this thing that's going on at saint thom operation atroment with this thing that's going on at saint thom operation at weekends,�*| this rapid operation at weekends, where cutting where they're cutting down the waiting this, waiting list by doing this, this, think called this, i think it's called his high theatre, high impact theatre, which is which reading the which i was reading about the other one of the other week. i mean, one of the things the nhs, i think things about the nhs, i think there royal there should be a royal commission on the nhs and i and there should be a royal calso ission on the nhs and i and there should be a royal calso think on the nhs and i and there should be a royal calso think that he nhs and i and there should be a royal calso think that that,is and i and there should be a royal calso think that that, you 1d i and i also think that that, you know, whatever keir starmer says about, about nhs, not about, about the nhs, he's not he's to he's not going to be true to that because ultimately his, his, his loyalty is to the unions. and he'll listen his, his loyalty is to the unthe. and he'll listen his, his loyalty is to the unthe union.1e'll listen his, his loyalty is to the unthe union. no, listen his, his loyalty is to the unthe union. no, will,.isten his, his loyalty is to the unthe union. no, will, he'll to the union. no, he will, he'll always the unions. but

always listen to the unions. but what i do think the what i do think is that the royal commission, the royal commission, should at the commission, should look at the nhs and the of nhs. commission, should look at the nhsone the of nhs. commission, should look at the nhsone ththe of nhs. commission, should look at the nhsone ththe things nhs. commission, should look at the nhsone ththe things should commission, should look at the nhsone doctors1ings should commission, should look at the nhsone doctors and. should commission, should look at the nhsone doctors and nursesrld commission, should look at the nhsone doctors and nurses and do is put doctors and nurses and how they want the nhs to be right of. right at the centre of. >> we might, we might agree on whether are going whether the unions are going to disagree who's run a disagree on who's going to run a labour government, we labour government, but we certainly and certainly need new thinking and that's streeting has that's why wes streeting has been out in australia, not, sadly, up the rays, sadly, soaking up the rays, but looking integrate, looking at how they integrate, um, levels of care um, uh, different levels of care there learning lessons there and learning lessons both from singapore. >> that the >> isn't that part of the problem? so many doctors and nurses going australia. problem? so many doctors and nursyeah, going australia. problem? so many doctors and nursyeah, goi|that's\ustralia. problem? so many doctors and nursyeah, goi|that's\ustrwe. problem? so many doctors and nursyeah, goi|that's\ustrwe need but yeah, and that's why we need to a decent pay to have a proper a decent pay settlement and a government that values settlement and a government that val|but know what annoys me >> but you know what annoys me though? >> not government. it's >> it's not a government. it's not pay the answer to not just about pay the answer to the is just about the nhs is not just about pay. >> give is to >> the answer is to give is to give doctors and nurses a bit more, say about how things are run they work, and that run and how they work, and that thomas's really thomas's example is a really good example. thomas's example is a really goobutlample. thomas's example is a really goo but youyle. thomas's example is a really goo but you know what annoys >> but you know what annoys me is streeting has been is that wes streeting has been going countries to going to different countries to see international comparisons see if international comparisons so he's been to singapore, he's been elsewhere looking at how health could work better. >> right. but it seems to me that the left have always acted

as obstacle talk about as an obstacle to any talk about nhs reform . it's always been no. nhs reform. it's always been no. the remain exactly how the nhs must remain exactly how it we've never funded in it is. we've never funded in exactly we were in exactly the same way we were in government . government. >> sometimes negativity government. >> left sometimes negativity government. >> left mayometimes negativity government. >> left may saytimes negativity government. >> left may say that, negativity far left may say that, and sometimes the people in sometimes some of the people in the union say that. but in terms of government of what a labour government does, about does, it will be about delivering the delivering real change in the nhs. it's so refreshing. that wears has been around wears has been going around the world best practice wears has been going around the worlsaying best practice wears has been going around the worlsaying nhs;t practice wears has been going around the worlsaying nhs;t practto and saying the nhs needs to change. it's not a religion. >> saying, though, that >> are you saying, though, that the government be >> are you saying, though, that the to government be >> are you saying, though, that the to ignore 'ernment be >> are you saying, though, that the to ignore 'ernrvoice be >> are you saying, though, that the to ignore'ernrvoice of be >> are you saying, though, that the to ignore 'ernrvoice of the able to ignore the voice of the far because i don't think far left? because i don't think that treated like a cult, that it's treated like a cult, like a religion? >> mention about >> you mention anything about tiered or, you know, tiered access or, you know, privatisation or insurance, which, arguably which, you know, arguably i don't we can move to don't think we can move to insurance, got insurance, but i think we've got to flames. to look down in flames. >> well, that's why a royal commission important commission is so important because middle because it sits in the middle and it these decisions. and it makes these decisions. and not party and then it's not party political. i've got to learn from and learn from from best example and learn from best as best examples, but also as i say, from the people say, learn from what the people in hospitals are telling in the hospitals are telling you. the people that are you. they're the people that are in these in there trying to run these places day out. they know places day in day out. they know where are. you where the problems are. you know, that's know, there's too much that's being imposed.

>> reality >> well, the reality is, matthew, talk matthew, as much as we talk about a service free of charge, free of use , more and more free of use, more and more people insurance people are going on insurance and private health care and getting private health care because of these waiting. yeah, because of these waiting. yeah, because got we already because we've got we already have health have tiered health in this country. have tiered health in this couand we've got uh, >> and you know we've got uh, what is it now? 7.5 million people are nhs waiting list, people are on nhs waiting list, the ever been. the highest they've ever been. they're small dip the they're very small dip for the first time few years this first time in a few years this week. people are being week. but people are being forced not forget the >> let's not forget the immigration also plays a big part. got rapidly part. you've got a rapidly rising you but rising population. you have. but it nhs with it also provides the nhs with the it needs now, that the staff it needs now, that doesn't that don't need doesn't mean that we don't need to more british staff to to retrain more british staff to fill those jobs. >> keep nicking doctors >> we can't keep nicking doctors and around the world and nurses from around the world from countries that need them. >> you go, guys. >> thank you much for your >> thank you so much for your time it's been time today. it's been a pleasure. it's my last few pleasure. and it's my last few seconds you, emily, this week. >> it's an absolute >> it's been an absolute pleasure, be to >> it's been an absolute pleasyou be to >> it's been an absolute pleasyou by be to >> it's been an absolute pleasyou by my be to >> it's been an absolute pleasyou by my side be to >> it's been an absolute pleasyou by my side on)e to >> it's been an absolute pleasyou by my side on good have you by my side on good afternoon britain. tom harwood will tomorrow. so. will be back tomorrow. so. friday? tomorrow. but friday? uh, tomorrow. but thank you martin townsend you very much to martin townsend and have been you very much to martin townsend a|fantastic have been you very much to martin townsend a|fantastic panel. have been you very much to martin townsend a|fantastic panel. i'm have been you very much to martin townsend a|fantastic panel. i'm sure ve been a fantastic panel. i'm sure you'll i'm going tuck a fantastic panel. i'm sure yo tol i'm going tuck a fantastic panel. i'm sure yo to some i'm going tuck a fantastic panel. i'm sure yo to some of'm going tuck a fantastic panel. i'm sure yo to some of this oing tuck a fantastic panel. i'm sure yo to some of this cheese tuck a fantastic panel. i'm sure yo to some of this cheese in ck a fantastic panel. i'm sure yo to some of this cheese in the in to some of this cheese in the break, because it's martin

daubney next? uh, i've daubney who's up next? uh, i've been emily carver. you've been ben leo. this is good afternoon, britain. i'll see you tomorrow . britain. i'll see you tomorrow. brighter outlook with boxt solar , sponsors of weather on . gb news. >> hello again. alex burkill here with your latest gb news weather forecast as we go through the run up to christmas, there will some rain around there will be some rain around for of us and also a bit of for most of us and also a bit of snow over the higher ground of scotland. also looking scotland. it's also looking windy, although strongest windy, although the strongest winds so far today winds we've seen so far today are starting to ease with the low pressure system clearing away the east. it is away towards the east. it is still going to be blustery though, as we go through the rest some to rest of today. some showers to watch be heavy, watch out for. could be heavy, could see some hail, some thunder some sleet thunder and also some sleet or snow ice risks snow bringing some ice risks across scotland, across parts of scotland, particularly shetland . particularly across shetland. however, go through however, as we go through the night, towards night, some clear skies towards the as we see the east subsiding as we see increasing amounts of cloud and some pushing with some rain pushing in. and with those winds and the cloud

those strong winds and the cloud temperatures much temperatures not dropping much for some places in for most of us, some places in the holding up in double the south holding up in double figures further the south holding up in double figure across further the south holding up in double figureacross parts further the south holding up in double figure across parts of|rther the south holding up in double figure across parts of scotland, north across parts of scotland, a frost we go a touch of frost here as we go through friday morning, and also some further or snow some further sleet or snow possible higher possible over modest higher ground outbreaks for ground. outbreaks of rain for many through friday many of us through friday itself. looking like itself. and it is looking like a generally cloudy day, but some bright skies, perhaps even a bit of sunshine developing in parts of sunshine developing in parts of southwest in the of the southwest in the afternoon. temperatures for many will be nudge down compared to will be a nudge down compared to today, but still relatively mild for the time year in the for the time of year in the south. feeling colder in south. but feeling colder in those strong winds. saturday then off to a start then gets off to a wet start across northern parts. some heavy across heavy rain building up across western parts of scotland in particular drier further south. there are a few spots of rain and staying cloudy with and staying pretty cloudy with further to come. then as we further rain to come. then as we go through christmas eve and christmas itself and it is christmas day itself and it is going at times. going to be windy at times. two by looks like things are by by looks like things are heating up . heating up. >> boxt boilers sponsor shares of weather on gb news as

i >> -- >> well . good afternoon. >> well. good afternoon. >> well. good afternoon. >> it's 3:00. i'm martin daubney . this of course is gb news. welcome to the show. we're keeping you company for the next three hours. we've got a cracking action packed show coming up. story hour coming up. top story this hour as we speak, protest is taking as we speak, a protest is taking part outside a school in east london with chilling echoes of the batley grammar school incident, a pro—palestine mob is

demanding the headteacher resigns because he sent home a child at a primary school. remember who was displaying a palestinian flag . the mob are palestinian flag. the mob are calling him an islamophobe . calling him an islamophobe. they're demanding he is sacked. we've got a reporter on the way as we speak. we'll have all of that story throughout the whole show. also, sir keir starmer, the labour leader, sat down with our political editor, chris hope , for a gb news exclusive where sir keir talks about using the nuclear option. unlike cnd, corbyn also talking about an interesting prospect of using offshore containment facilities to process asylum seekers . to process asylum seekers. sounds like a good idea, but would you vote for the guy that's the big question. next story . another tory rebellion is story. another tory rebellion is looming in the new year. this time over a preposterous net zero tax on boilers forcing customers to get expensive heat pumps. and some of the tories

don't like it. we'll be speaking