i >> -- >> it's 930 on friday. the 22nd of december. this is britain's newsroom with me tom harwood and dawn neesom. >> yes, actually . and the >> yes, actually. and the nightmare before christmas. today is set to be the busiest ever day of the festive season at major uk airports and on the roads. our west midlands reporter jack carson is at new reporterjack carson is at new street station for us. >> yeah, of course the storm pier continues to batter parts of the uk. millions are travelling on the railways and 13.5 million people are expected

to travel on the roads. i'll have the latest on the christmas travel chaos . travel chaos. >> well, not many days left now until christmas. uh, we'll have the latest from saint pancras, where there have been delays since this morning following the strike action yesterday and terror in prague. >> 15 people are dead after a mass shooting at a prague university yesterday , our university yesterday, our reporter, charlie peters has more government's visa u—turn at the home office. >> rose back on their legal migration plan and reduces the threshold to bring foreign family members to the uk. let's know all your thoughts on all our talking points today. email us at gbviews@gbnews.com. but first, here's the news with the lovely polly middlehurst .

the lovely polly middlehurst. how kind. >> dawn, thank you very much indeed and good morning to you. well, as people start that great christmas getaway, those travel problems persist with busy roads and cancelled trains compounded by action and high winds by strike action and high winds caused by storm pier. the rac has estimated 13.5 million car journeys will take place over the festive weekend , and there the festive weekend, and there are delays at the port of dover, where there's been industrial action with queues of over a mile long for drivers trying to cross the border for christmas. meanwhile, at london's main railway terminus, terminuses and trains are running, but services are disrupted. best to check before you travel and there are delays as well at heathrow, where more than a quarter of a million people are expected to thread through those terminals . thread through those terminals. eurostar services have resumed this morning. we can tell you, after thousands were stranded in london last night after an unexpected strike by site workers that led to widespread

disruption on eurostar services , disruption on eurostar services, particularly from london saint pancras and eurotunnel, which runs vehicle carrying trains from folkestone. trade union representatives reached an agreement last night after they initially rejected an end of year bonus , well away from news year bonus, well away from news about the travel. a woman has been charged with murdering her four year old son in east london. 41 year old keziah macharia will appear in court later over the death of her son, koby dooley. macharia the four year old, who suffered knife injuries, is in hackney. yesterday was taken to hospital but died there . a post—mortem but died there. a post—mortem examination will take place next week and the czech republic is to hold a day of mourning after 14 were killed and 25 more injured in a mass shooting in prague yesterday . police are prague yesterday. police are saying. a 24 year old czech student opened fire at the charles university. the government also reportedly shot

dead his father and, it's thought, took his own life. police who are still trying to establish a motive , say they're establish a motive, say they're working on the theory that he was also responsible for the deaths of two people in a nearby forest . students have been forest. students have been paying forest. students have been paying tribute to the victims at the university as well. today and here at home, the uk economy has taken its first step towards recession after performing much worse than was expected, figures from the office for national statistics found there had been a downturn in gdp rather than flat out flatlining. the economy contracted very slightly by 0.1% in the three months from july to september. economists had been expecting growth of 0.2. those are your latest news headlines. more on all those stories by heading to our website, gb news.com . news.com. >> the home office has u—turn on plans to increase the salary

threshold for britons wishing to bnng threshold for britons wishing to bring a family member to the uk. this following a backlash earlier this month. >> the home secretary, james cleverly, announced the threshold for a family visa would raise to 38,700. but now it will increase to 29,000 in the spring. instead said well, the spring. instead said well, the former conservative member of parliament, neil parish , of parliament, neil parish, joins us in the studio to discuss this. >> and neil, this is a bit sneaky from the government, isn't it.7 sneaking out this big policy change just a couple of days before christmas? >> well, i think they got cold feet, didn't they? because while you want to limit migration, you also want to keep the health service topped up with staff. and so therefore, i think they saw that this would have such a huge impact on people wanting to come and take up jobs in this country. it was 2012, the last time it was put up from in to 18,600. so i actually think taking it up to 29,000 is

probably fair until we actually train in enough of our own mps fees to be able to do the work that we are bringing people in to do, for then we will not solve the migrant problem. and i think, you know, you've got to be careful too, with people like the armed forces and others who meet and fall in love, and then they can't bring their their girlfriends and wives or husbands back with them . i think husbands back with them. i think this is a real problem. so it's one of these things that gets a great headline. let's stop the migration. but right from the days of david cameron, when we were going to reduce it to tens of thousands, and then boris is now writing that it should be put up to 40,000. well, boris actually reduced the rules and allow in. and so allow more people in. and so when they come out of office, they suddenly very wise what to do. and i think we've got to be realistic train up our own people to do the jobs in migration drop . but unless migration will drop. but unless we need growth in the economy. and so therefore, you know,

we're seeing interest rates probably be able to come down now . i think probably be able to come down now. i think we will see probably be able to come down now . i think we will see growth. now. i think we will see growth. we will actually need workers. so and haven't got enough of so and we haven't got enough of our workers whether we like our own workers whether we like it or not. >> but neil, only increase >> but neil, they only increase this at the beginning of the month, from month, didn't they. up from 18,000, the level, you 18,000, which was the level, you know, with the net migration figures of 745,000, which are frankly, you know, calls that knee amongst knee jerk panic amongst everyone. so did they not think this they just sort this through? did they just sort of it without i of like announce it without i mean, is yvette mean, this is what yvette coopen mean, this is what yvette cooper, a labour a complaining about. didn't think this about. you didn't think this through. there's no planning involved through. there's no planning inv

up to 38. then reduce it back to 29. but i think where we are now is a more realistic place is a much more realistic place than we were before. because, you the one thing that you know, we the one thing that people are worried about this winter health service. winter is the health service. and let's be blunt, we will not run the health service efficiently without labour coming into this country. >> and i suppose one of the big issues around this was there were people left in a state of limbo after this announcement. there were people who were perhaps halfway through the process of bringing over a potential spouse or whatever , potential spouse or whatever, who didn't know if they could bnng who didn't know if they could bring over the person that they had recently married or were to marry. now, those those in process . will be treated under process. will be treated under the old system, and only new applications will be treated under this new system. i suppose that's welcome. but it comes back to this original idea. it's fairly cack handed to announce this. what month ago, then this. what a month ago, and then leave this state of leave people in this state of chaos this state of limbo, chaos in this state of limbo, for upon, upon week. for week upon, week upon week. only just before christmas,

only now, just before christmas, to announce a, i to finally announce a, i suppose, a stable system. >> yeah. i mean, i had a number of people contact me about it, even though i'm no longer an mp because they were very worried about so like i said, i about it. and so like i said, i actually welcome what they've done now. i think the trouble is that the tory party, you know, let's is lurching from let's be blunt, is lurching from crisis crisis. and when there crisis to crisis. and when there is a problem with net migration , is a problem with net migration, you know, of 800,000, then something needs to be done. they come with a 38,000, then it's looked at. then, of course, people realise the effect it has on on people's lives as well . on on people's lives as well. thenit on on people's lives as well. then it becomes that they need to do something about it. i think they should look. i think they should look at these things before they do them, not afterwards. exactly >> as a voter, all i'm getting from this is chaos. another u—turn, another snap decision that they announced gives you good headlines and then they go back on it a few weeks later. yeah. >> i mean, i'm, you know, i'm not in parliament anymore. i don't take the whip. >> take it personally.

>> don't take it personally. >> don't take it personally. >> therefore i tell >> but so therefore i can tell you what i believe. but no, you're right. you know, there is chaos and i think trouble chaos and i think the trouble putting the tory putting it bluntly, the tory party and the prime minister can't shift the position in the opinion polls. can't shift the position in the opinion polls . and so therefore, opinion polls. and so therefore, let's have policy whack it up, let's have a policy whack it up, the 38,000 that will go down well with the electorate until you you got enough well with the electorate until you in you got enough well with the electorate until you in thej got enough well with the electorate until you in the nhs got enough well with the electorate until you in the nhs and got enough well with the electorate until you in the nhs and you're ough staff in the nhs and you're upsetting everybody who you know, has a spouse or a wife or a husband. they can't get in and they've fallen in love, you know, becomes a real issue . know, then becomes a real issue. i mean, all these policies cannot be taken in isolation, but that's what they're doing. so i don't justify it for one moment. just saying to moment. but i'm just saying to you, that's how it came about. and that's why had to and that's why there's had to been look. and i think been another look. and i think actually where they now is a actually where they are now is a more sensible place where more sensible place than where they but i could they started. but i could understand feeling as understand your feeling as a voter that you are totally upset with it, as am i, and as my wife who gives me earache every morning. what are the tories doing now? i said, well, i'm not there now. i'm not. i'm not

guilty of every sin, but nothing to do with me, guv. >> exactly. >> exactly. >> but, but but know, it is >> but, but but you know, it is more simple when you're not in parliament. course, in, in in more simple when you're not in patheat nt. course, in, in in more simple when you're not in patheat and course, in, in in more simple when you're not in patheat and the)urse, in, in in more simple when you're not in patheat and the fire. , in, in in more simple when you're not in patheat and the fire. but in in the heat and the fire. but i think you know, every government, every political party you'll find will get themselves hook over themselves on a hook over migration and they'll never deliver because while the economy needs labour, it will suckit economy needs labour, it will suck it in. and it's probably right that it does. but we've got to be humane with those that we invite in to work for us to be able to have their their families with them. but we can't allow as much migration as we've got. so let's train up our own people. then you'll find that you won't need as many, and not as many people will come in. and that's the solution. not not just arbitrary targets . because just arbitrary targets. because targets don't mean anything. i mean , i could say to you, well, mean, i could say to you, well, we'll bring it down to the 50,000. well we won't, um, and labour will come in and say, you know, we will control it. no

they won't, it'll get worse. and then, of course, everybody will vote reform in the end because they'll decide that none of the major can do anything major parties can do anything about you that's about it. you know, that's that's the is . and that's where the world is. and can you you know, i can understand where, where people are. is that are. but the problem is that when you're in government or when you're in government or when in opposition, when you're in opposition, you've always smart you've always got that smart figure, you? it doesn't figure, haven't you? it doesn't mean doesn't mean mean anything, doesn't mean anything. anything anything. hasn't meant anything for years. and it's it's not for years. and it's not it's not just tories that are guilty just the tories that are guilty of all major parties of this. all the major parties are of it. are guilty of it. >> and now they can't blame the european it. now they european union for it. now they have the levers front have all of the levers in front of that's the point. of them. so that's the point. >> i used to make to ministers, because of course, i was one of those people who, you know, in my madness for remain, my madness campaign for remain, i brexit. and i actually accept brexit. and i think brexit is going okay, and i we can make a real go of i think we can make a real go of it. you know, it it was it. but you know, it was it was always blame the eu. i mean i did i dealt with farming and agriculture and of course all of that was the common agricultural policy. of course, when it disappeared, used to disappeared, i used to say to ministers, you ministers, well, what are you going to do now? you haven't got

the old people to blame. and of course, have sort of course, they have been sort of floundering around even with agricultural policies because they've got to they've got to write now, whereas write their own now, whereas they just just complain they could just just complain about reform about the eu's reform much eafien >> neil parish, t neil parish, >> well, neil parish, thank you so for bringing this bout so much for bringing this bout of cheer to this of christmas cheer to this program. rosy on program. what a rosy outlook on the state the country. um, program. what a rosy outlook on the sttchristmas, ountry. um, program. what a rosy outlook on the sttchristmas, love y. um, program. what a rosy outlook on the sttchristmas, love to um, program. what a rosy outlook on the sttchristmas, love to your merry christmas, love to your wife. >> your e— e your wife on this. >> i'm with your wife on this. more when you go more ear bashing when you go home as well. >> she'll don't worry. she'll agree with you. oh, she'll agree with i yes, but we're into. >> right? okay. uh, now we move on. powerful winds are causing chaos starting chaos for millions starting their christmas travel. as if their christmas travel. as if the annual getaway wasn't bad enough already joining us now is the independent's travel correspondent, brilliant correspondent, the brilliant simon thank simon calder. simon, thank you very much for joining simon calder. simon, thank you very much forjoining us. um, simon, what's going on? it's not like christmas isn't expected . like christmas isn't expected. you know, it happens. it does rather take the travel industry and indeed, dare i say , the and indeed, dare i say, the media, a little by surprise. >> each december when it turns up but actually know what's

happening is. well, we heard about the political chaos and we've now got travel chaos. now some of it you kind of you can plan for. so yesterday when storm pier was around, we knew that there were going to be very high winds. they actually peaked at 110 miles an hour. i think in scotland. and therefore they closed a number of lines and indeed the far north line from inverness still inverness up to wick is still closed scotland . but then we closed in scotland. but then we saw massive disruption in, uh , saw massive disruption in, uh, england due to problems associated with the storm overhead wires, broken down trains and so on. um, on the east coast and the west coast main line. so basically , if main line. so basically, if you're trying to get between scotland and london by train, well, that wasn't going to work particularly well. and then on them french in the euro strike, did they . they went on strike did they. they went on strike like them. >> oh gosh. >> oh gosh. >> they went well. normally of course we're used to talking about strikes here. but you about rail strikes here. but you get weeks warning so get two weeks warning so everybody in. not everybody can put plans in. not the french , not eurotunnel, the french, not at eurotunnel, of course . french company, they of course. french company, they control it all from coquille.

just outside calais. and they decided we want a bonus . and the decided we want a bonus. and the company said all right, you can have ,1,000. and they said, well , £900. that's not enough . and , £900. that's not enough. and they just walked out and the whole tunnel shut down. no shuttle . um, uh, car carrying shuttle. um, uh, car carrying trains between folkestone and calais. and they're much more substantially no eurostar trains could run . and i've been could run. and i've been speaking to people who went from london, saint pancras international. they were going to paris or amsterdam or brussels. ended up to brussels. they ended up going to the the tunnel, then the mouth of the tunnel, then coming back. >> they were actually coming back. >> yeah. and god, so many people in great distress because they >> yeah. and god, so many people in gnot distress because they >> yeah. and god, so many people in gno idea ress because they >> yeah. and god, so many people in gno idea how because they >> yeah. and god, so many people in gno idea how theste they >> yeah. and god, so many people in gno idea how they were iey >> yeah. and god, so many people in gno idea how they were going had no idea how they were going to where they needed to be. to get where they needed to be. 30 trains cancelled. that represents 25,000 people waking up this morning where they didn't to be. didn't want to be. >> and simon, this also affects freight. this also affects potentially christmas presents . potentially christmas presents. lots of people will be ordering things in potentially a little bit last minute. so i'm guilty

of it as you say. >> tom. yeah this is not personal at all. no, no shopping at all. >> no shopping. will this mean that people might not get their christmas deliveries in time? that people might not get their chr i tmas deliveries in time? that people might not get their chri thinkdeliveries in time? that people might not get their chri think the leries in time? that people might not get their chri think the christmas�*ne? >> i think the christmas deliveries will be okay. it's interesting because of interesting to see because of course, lots of gets course, lots of freight gets moved channel moved through the channel tunnel and trucks get and also lots of trucks get moved through the channel. the trucks mostly diverted to, um, the which are still the ferries, which are still running, um, but running, thank goodness. um, but uh, we'll see if there are any shortages. but but things gradually getting back on track for passengers. they've put on extra services to try to get everybody. and look, i've been covering christmas travel chaos since just about after the nativity . and compared with some nativity. and compared with some of the problems that i've seen, you might remember five years ago, the drone at gatwick. >> yes, of course. >> so that wiped out 1000 flights, 150,000 travel plans torn up, and then you're too young. but heathrow 2010. um it snowed and everything just snarled up for days. >> anyway , so people have got

>> anyway, so people have got three days to get to where they need to be. >> two days. if you're planning to use a uk train from london paddington or from london king's cross, because both of those really important intercity stations are to be closed stations are going to be closed on so, simon, if people >> so, simon, if people have been delayed, um, by either the strike and eurostar or the train chaos because of the weather problems, how do they get compensation or are they entitled to compensation? >> it's unlike the airlines. that's a really good question . that's a really good question. but no, with the airlines, if you if it's your airline that messes up, then you get cash compensation on the railways. the most you're going to get is your it may be that your fare back. it may be that eurostar because it was such a miserable day. say you can have your fare back and you can have a voucher for a future trip, but no . and people have lots of no. and people have lots of bookings and so on. you might be able to claim if you've got a hotel booked and you couldn't get there from your travel insurance, but it's all pretty grim and such emotional investment journeys. people investment in journeys. people will desperately want to be with

their loved ones and well, they were having to call them in were just having to call them in tears from the station and just say, i have no idea where i'm going. >> as you say, it's so emotional. i heard an awful story this morning about a lady with a disabled daughter, and it's the christmas plans it's just the christmas plans are now and are completely cancelled now and it's just heartbreaking for people . people. >> simon, that was >> but but, simon, that was yesterday. look yesterday. yeah. let's look forward actually perhaps forward to actually perhaps christmas eve, christmas day boxing day. what's travel looking like . should we just not bother. >> no no no. it's all good to get where you need to be. it's going to be incredibly busy on the roads from basically about now till tonight. then it's now till 6:00 tonight. then it's going to be busy middle of the day on sunday. day tomorrow. and on sunday. usual suspects the m25, west of london, the m1 going north through buckinghamshire and northamptonshire, coming northamptonshire, m6 coming south through the north midlands, staffordshire. they're going to be particularly busy. and of course, as you know, traffic jams will pop up anywhere on the trains. things getting back to normal. we've got a few problems out there . got a few problems out there. uh, edinburgh to inverness .

uh, edinburgh to inverness. services still disrupted . um, services still disrupted. um, some problems at portsmouth and southsea would you believe with a points failure. but that's kind of just disruption as usual. and most people will get around i've out at around that. i've been out at heathrow this morning where actually busiest actually it's the busiest winter's since the covid winter's day since the covid pandemic . there seems to be pandemic. there seems to be going fairly smoothly , slightly going fairly smoothly, slightly helped by the fact that british airways have cancelled 20 short haul flights . it's, only to haul flights. it's, um, only to places near europe and people will be rebooked , um, some will be rebooked, um, some domestic flights. manchester newcastle, glasgow . um, but they newcastle, glasgow. um, but they cancelled a few of those and then they just. >> why did they cancel them? simon >> well, i'm being asking them and i imagine pertinent question. well i imagine because of course it has an impact on whether you'll get compensation or not. they will say it's the after effects of storm pier, and we can all decide whether or not that sounds a legitimate excuse, but, um, airports, i mean, but, um, other airports, i mean, manchester was pretty horrible yesterday evening. loads and loads because of bad

loads of delays because of bad weather and people probably watching got in in the watching now. got in in the early this morning early hours of this morning rather last night. um apart rather than last night. um apart from the skies look good from that, the skies look good and were looking ahead to and you were looking ahead to christmas on christmas more flights on christmas more flights on christmas than ever before christmas day than ever before from airports, that is. from uk airports, that is. >> that is good news. and i also heard this morning that they'd cleared all the roadworks off the motorways as well. >> oh, i think 99% of them have been cleared off. but of course the engineering works the rail engineering works actually start. presumably actually start. so presumably all men and women all the excellent men and women who working the roads who were working on the roads now and work on the railways now go and work on the railways over christmas. >> and the estimated 13.5 >> and the rac of estimated 13.5 million the roads between now million on the roads between now and a lot of and sunday day, that's a lot of people. so what are your plans? are you going anywhere, simon? >> sadly, i've just >> oh, very sadly, i've just learnt over the years um, learnt over the years that, um, you know, i just need to be around and and help people around and try and help people with inevitable travel disruption. >> so i find early january, >> so i find that early january, just when everybody else is coming back, it's a time coming back, it's a great time to get away. >> disruption to get away. >> amazing. well, disruption is a to use rather than a good word to use rather than chaos, but i suppose it it does come around every thank come around every year. thank you very much. simon. simon.

calder thanks, simon. now >> right. thanks, simon. now we're two of our we're joined by two of our reporters. carson, we're joined by two of our report at. carson, we're joined by two of our reportiat birminghamarson, we're joined by two of our reportiat birmingham new street who's at birmingham new street station theo chikomba, station, and theo chikomba, who's a saint pancras international. welcome to you first, theo. what's it like there today? yes >> well good morning to you. the queues are still here at saint pancras. uh, to train station, but that's mainly because people have decided to come slightly earlier than they would have normally had to, because of what they saw yesterday. and lots of those people are attempting to get onto the eurostar. but we have been told by a member of staff who works for eurostar that they're put on two extra trains today to try and help people who are trying to get into mainland europe. but in terms their services, all of terms of their services, all of them are running as normal . so, them are running as normal. so, so so good and they'll be so far, so good and they'll be hoping that stays the same. but for those who have children, parents who have young children having wait for this long, having to wait for this long, um, although it's not unusual to see this many people, it is unusual to see the length of

queue we have seen this queue that we have seen this morning result of what morning as a result of what happened yesterday. but away from some pancras euston we saw the disruption and cancelled trains yesterday. today they are running as they should with just some minor delays of just a few minutes depending where you're going. somewhere further up north within the uk and at the port of dover, there's queues of around 90 minutes. if you're going through through the french border control. so people are being advised not to come too early, but to come around an hour or so before they are due to depart. so many people will be hoping to get away today. it's not ideal having to wait around, but that is how it looks at the moment as well. >> thank you very much for that, theo. let's cross now to birmingham street where jack birmingham new street where jack carson is, and what's the carson is, and jack, what's the picture there . picture there. >> yeah. so things running moderately smoothly as theo was mentioning down in, uh, down in london, there are some delays of a of a few minutes here on the

trains, but nothing causing some serious disruption. of course, as we get into the day and later on whether london euston is able to run smoothly throughout the day , it does will, of course, day, it does will, of course, have impact . on. have an impact. on. >> oh, it's not just travel chaos. it's also internet chaos. by chaos. it's also internet chaos. by the looks of it. >> the festive elf on the shelf is getting to us again , so go is getting to us again, so go on. i should say it's like if you are travelling anywhere today, this lunchtime, it's called the lunch crunch. this is where most people are going to be setting off. so good luck. if you're getting there. and i think you just need patience and yeah, make sure you've got lots of stuff in the carjust in case of stuff in the car just in case you get stuck. >> no better luck today. i got stuck on a train yesterday trying to get here, but, um, i'm glad you made it. i did make it. >> and your mum's just messaged your present. okay. on your present. is okay. it's on its way. >> well, still to come, baby, if you've got to go away. don't think the pain. think i could take the pain. won't stay another hour on won't you stay another hour on britain's newsroom

>> we do not write this. okay by the way, just be grateful he didn't sing. gone. we'll be joined by a legendary band, 17, to discuss their new christmas single. this is britain's newsroom on gb news. the people's channel. >> a brighter outlook with boxt solar sponsors of weather on . gb news. >> good morning . welcome to your >> good morning. welcome to your latest gb news. weather update i'm annie shuttleworth from the met office today is going to be another windy day. not quite as windy as yesterday, but there'll be some quite persistent rain and showers across more northern and showers across more northern and areas the south and eastern areas in the south and eastern areas in the south and though it should a and west, though it should be a much drier brighter day and much drier and brighter day and there is chance seeing some there is a chance of seeing some sunshine the afternoon sunshine through the afternoon here. this band of here. however this band of rain will continue stream to will continue to stream in to more areas. parts more northwestern areas. parts of scotland, of southwestern scotland, northwestern england, northern ireland as well, and the far north—east of scotland will see some snow showers through the afternoon, as well as shetland seeing snow to levels, so seeing snow to lower levels, so

there a snow and ice warning there is a snow and ice warning in here. it be a cold in force here. it will be a cold breeze across north easterly areas. by contrast, staying mild in far south—west that band in the far south—west that band of rain then pushes further east throughout the course of the night and as it pushes into the cold air, it brings a risk of some snow to lower levels for north eastern scotland, parts of caithness, example. and north eastern scotland, parts of caith|see, example. and north eastern scotland, parts of caith|see somexample. and north eastern scotland, parts of caith|see some quite e. and north eastern scotland, parts of caith|see some quite persistent we'll see some quite persistent rain across many central and northwestern scotland. northwestern areas of scotland. staying though further staying dry, though further south, fairly mild south, and another fairly mild night with a brief, the breeze still continuing to weaken. a further risk of snow continuing on saturday morning for far on saturday morning for the far north—east scotland . further north—east of scotland. further south, though, it should stay dry once again. perhaps some early sunshine the south and early sunshine in the south and east. but by afternoon that east. but by the afternoon that rain does slowly start to sink southwards more northern southwards into more northern areas of england, wales, areas of england, north wales, as as a risk of some as well as a risk of some showers to parts of the southwest. but it should stay mild for the bulk of the country, but the far north, staying the colder air that staying in the colder air that warm feeling inside from boxt boiler as sponsors of weather on

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>> good morning . it's 10 >> good morning. it's 10 am. on friday. the 22nd of december. this is britain's newsroom here on gb news with me, tom harwood and dawn neesom . and dawn neesom. >> yes. and it's the nightmare before christmas. i said i don't know scary boy today is said to

be the busiest ever day in the festive season at major uk airport trains and on the road. so if you're heading home for christmas, make sure you get there early. terror in prague 15 people are dead after a mass shooting at prague university. >> the czech republic have declared tomorrow as a national day of mourning. >> awful, awful, awful. ready and waiting. sir keir starmer says labour ready for says labour is ready for a general election, but is the country ready for a labour government of course, we'll government? and of course, we'll chat to east 17 about their new christmas single. >> can they get another christmas? number one later, baby. and we've got to go away . baby. and we've got to go away. >> they don't think i could take the pain . the pain. >> and of course, let us know your thoughts and opinions about all the stories we're covering. we'll get to some of those very

shortly. you know the address to email gbviews@gbnews.com. so we'll get to all of that after your news with polly middlehurst . good morning to you. >> well, the top stories from the gb news room today. long delays are expected for travellers trying to get away for christmas. the rac estimating 13.5 million car journeys will take place over the festive weekend. motorway closures and train cancellations adding to that disruption , and adding to that disruption, and there are delays at the port of dover after industrial action, with queues of over a mile long for drivers trying to cross the border. train trains are running out of london, but services at paddington will be disrupted over the weekend . there are also over the weekend. there are also delays at heathrow , where more delays at heathrow, where more than a quarter of a million people are expected to thread through the terminals. there meanwhile, eurostar services have resumed this morning after thousands were stranded last night following an unexpected strike by site workers that led

to widespread disruption on services from london saint pancras and the eurotunnel from folkestone trade union, representing lives, have, though finally reached an agreement after they initially rejected an end of year bonus deal. in other news today, a woman has been charged with murdering her four year old son in east london. 41 year old son in east london. 41 year old son in east london. 41 year old keziah mccoy will appearin year old keziah mccoy will appear in court later over the death of her son, kobe dooley makaria. the four year old, who suffered knife injuries in hackney on wednesday, was taken to hospital but died there of his injuries. a postmortem his injuries. a post mortem examination is due to take place next week . the czech republic is next week. the czech republic is to hold a day of mourning after 14 people were killed and 25 more injured in a mass shooting in prague yesterday. police say a 24 year old czech student opened fire at the charles university. the gunman also reportedly shot dead his father and is believed to have taken

his own life. police, who are still trying to establish a motive, say they're working on a theory that he was also responsible for the deaths of two people in a nearby forest . two people in a nearby forest. the uk economy has taken its first steps towards recession after performing much worse than it was expected. figures from the office for national statistics found there'd been a downturn in gdp . rather than downturn in gdp. rather than flatlining the economy contracted very slightly by 0.1% in the three months from july to september . economists had been september. economists had been expecting a slight growth of 0.2, but black friday deals were driving force behind an unprecedented rise in retail sales in the uk , ons figures sales in the uk, ons figures reveal. sales increased by 1.3% last month, despite forecasts of 0.4% growth from economist rates. but it said overall sales are still below pre pandemic levels, presenting challenges for retailers now . ministers

for retailers now. ministers have reversed plans to increase the minimum wage needed for a family to live in the uk. the minimum wage needed for a family to live in the uk . the family to live in the uk. the home office had previously hiked the salary threshold to £38,700 from the spring, but that figure has been amended now and stands at £29,000. it's all part of ongoing government plans to tackle the number of people coming into the uk, but has drawn criticism from some who say it'll break up families. the home secretary says the plans will bring the total net migration figure down by £300,000 every year . patients £300,000 every year. patients are being warned of potential disruption to health services as junior doctors continue walk outs in england in an ongoing dispute over pay. it's after talks broke down between the government and the british medical association earlier this month. the strike action is continuing until tomorrow morning. this walkout will be followed by a six day strike at

the start of january, the longest in nhs history. the start of january, the longest in nhs history . and longest in nhs history. and finally, west midlands police officers use of force in the course of their work has been under—reported. thousands of times. police inspectors have estimated 46,000 incidents were under recorded for the year ending march 22nd. there were serious concerns about how the force investigates . crime force investigates. crime protected, vulnerable people and managed offenders, and suspects the force was previously placed under special measures after they'd been ruled inadequate in three out of eight policing areas. that's the news from gb news across the uk on tv, in your car on digital radio and on your car on digital radio and on your smart speaker. this is britain's news channel . britain's news channel. >> thank you very much, paul . >> thank you very much, paul. okay, we've got some emails in haven't we? do. >> we said we'd get to the

emails and we've got them printed out, which is very i know plush, but, uh, andy has written in say the government written in to say the government says it's migration. we says it's tough on migration. we were neil parish, were talking with neil parish, the former tory mp, a little bit earlier. uh, and he the earlier. uh, and he says the government says it's tough, then lowers the threshold on finances. it's easier to finances. so it's easier to bnng finances. so it's easier to bring your family here. i call that being soft on immigration, although it must be said, they're not actually lowering they're not actually lowering the threshold . they're just the threshold. they're just raising it by less than they said they would. >> and it's incremental and they will to that original will get to that original threshold, haven't threshold, although they haven't said to that. said when they'll get to that. >> no, no no no devil's in the details. >> they don't really do details. my >> they don't really do details. my email this one my favourite email this one though. bit though. sorry, it's a bit personal. this is from pete. good morning. morning. is good morning. good morning. is it still morning. it morning? it's still morning. good pete i've got no good morning pete i've got no idea day is. good idea what day it is. good morning that of morning pete. it's that time of yeanisnt morning pete. it's that time of year, isn't it? uh, now my wife and i love gb news. and all the presenters include your input on all the subjects discussed. very nice, but nice, but. okay, pete. but my wife i can't thinking wife and i can't help thinking how remind us. and look how much you remind us. and look like spitting of like the spitting image of a

scottish singer. annie lennox. i'm assuming they're talking to me because he me rather than you. because he does. thank very i does. thank you very much. i will take i think she's will take that. i think she's gorgeous and she's talented gorgeous and she's very talented and she can sing. no, absolutely. >> can you sing ? can you sing? >> can you sing? can you sing? >> can you sing? can you sing? >> no no no no no no no no no no >> no 110 110 110 110 110 110 110 110 110 i >> no no no no no no no no no no i don't hate anyone enough to ever try singing in public. let's written the let's see what's written on the autocue later. autocue a bit later. >> maybe they'll make you do some seventys. >> maybe they'll make you do son no ;eventys. >> maybe they'll make you do son no ;eve no 's. >> maybe they'll make you do son no ;eve no no >> maybe they'll make you do son no;eveno no no no no. >> no 110 110 110 110 110 ho. >> no no no no no no no. >> it's, um. but no good compliment. uh, john has compliment. and, uh, john has written to i'm 78 years written in to say i'm 78 years of on a state pension, which of age on a state pension, which ihave of age on a state pension, which i have to pay tax on. why should legal immigrants coming into this allowed the same this country be allowed the same personal this personal tax allowance? is this fair ? fair? >> no . hmm. probably not. well >> no. hmm. probably not. well yeah, i would have thought that the whole point of a migration system is you want people to be contributing rather than. >> yeah, absolutely. which is part of this whole threshold issue, which is what we're going to to to be getting to next. >> reversed plans >> ministers have reversed plans to increase the minimum wage for a to live in the uk. the a family to live in the uk. the home office had previously hiked the threshold . to £38,700

the salary threshold. to £38,700 from the spring, but the figure now stands at 29,000 and well , now stands at 29,000 and well, here to explain it all is our political correspondent, katherine forster, and catherine. >> it sounds very complicated. we've got lots of numbers being bandied around one way or the other , but cutting through the, other, but cutting through the, the, the chaff here, what is actually changing? >> okay, so this is one of the big package of measures that the government unveiled at the beginning of december to cut net migration from the three quarters of a million that it was in the last year by by 300,000. so one of those measures was that the minimum you had to earn as a household , you had to earn as a household, if you're living in britain and you wanted to bring in a partner or another family member was going to be raised from . 18,600 going to be raised from. 18,600 to 38,700 from the spring. so more than double. so a massive, massive increase. now there was a big backlash to that. a lot of

criticism. people saying i'm not going to be able to bring my partner. this is cruel. this is you know, that would potentially have been illegal challenge. so the government seemed to have had a bit of a rethink and it was rather chaotic. how it emerged basically emerged yesterday. but basically they've now sort of split the difference between those two numbers. and they've said that from the spring it will be a minimum of 29,000 and it will go up incrementally. now so they've managed to basically they upset a lot of people when they announced it in the first place, who saying this is very harsh. this is very unfair. they are now upset. quite a few people by rowing . labour are saying rowing back. labour are saying that it's chaos within the conservative party. you've got people like damian, damian green from the one nation group saying this seems very sensible. the this seems very sensible. on the other you've right other hand, you've got right wingers like jonathan gullace saying he's deeply disappointing and undermines efforts , i and undermines our efforts, i think, it is still going up. think, but it is still going up. >> so it's going from 18,002 to

2029. >> so that's a very substantial increase. and i think worth noting as well, amongst all the sound and fury that the government forecasts that the original change, up to 38,000, was only actually going to bring net migration down by £10,000. so there's a lot of hoo ha about this. but . so there's a lot of hoo ha about this. but. the numbers so there's a lot of hoo ha about this. but . the numbers affected this. but. the numbers affected potential . be not that this. but. the numbers affected potential. be not that high. so a very small bit in the government's grand plan to get those numbers. >> so it's of course a lot of heartache just before christmas for a lot of families hasn't it? and a lot of anger as well. and the fact that it's another u—turn and i understand that if you already family visa you already have a family visa or this threshold or apply before this threshold changes, the old rules changes, you, the old rules still apply. you need still apply. so you don't need to worry. that's right. to worry. yes, that's right. >> i think there was a lot >> and i think there was a lot of and understandably of confusion and understandably a amount of concern. if you a huge amount of concern. if you already were and you already were here and you weren't to meet that weren't going to meet that threshold came renew threshold when you came to renew the have clarified it the government have clarified it won't rise for renewal. if won't rise for renewal. so if you're you are you're already here, you are okay. but for people coming in,

yes, your household is going to have to know that they've got a minimum of 29,000, which which is up a lot. but then other people will say, well, look for a family . that's fair enough a family. that's fair enough because we want people coming in to be contributing to the economy. we don't want people coming in and then having to give them lots lots of give them lots of lots of benefits. that's the thinking behind isn't it? behind it, isn't it? >> a bit sneaky that the >> is it a bit sneaky that the government waited until just a couple of days before the christmas this out? >> e- out? >> they hoping out? >> they hoping that it >> were they hoping that it wouldn't get as coverage wouldn't get as much coverage as, as we're it? well, wouldn't get as much coverage as, a we're it? well, wouldn't get as much coverage as, a cynic it? well, wouldn't get as much coverage as, a cynic might it? well, wouldn't get as much coverage as, a cynic might say well, wouldn't get as much coverage as, a cynic might say that, you a cynic might say that thomas cynic , a cynic might say that. >> and i mean, obviously on on tuesday, the last day before parliament went into recess, there . was a lot of there. was a lot of announcements rushed out, sort of take out the trash day. but, you know, all these measures were given lots of fanfare, weren't they, in early december. and then they've had a bit of a rethink, and i think they were probably hoping this would probably hoping that this would sort a little under sort of pass a little bit under the radar. but but it hasn't.

and how is it going to play with voters, catherine? and how is it going to play with voti i �*s, catherine? and how is it going to play with votii mean, catherine? and how is it going to play with votii mean, thiszatherine? and how is it going to play with votii mean, this is herine? and how is it going to play with votii mean, this is whate? and how is it going to play with votii mean, this is what i’ and how is it going to play with votii mean, this is what i keep >> i mean, this is what i keep coming back to now. i am confused.com about the confused.com about what the hell's going mean, every hell's going on. i mean, every time they announce anything, either not even either party, it's not even political . and they u—turn on political. and they u—turn on it. yeah yeah. >> i mean, they'd love to call sir keir starmer mr flip flop. and know, they've got and you know, they've got reasons why do that. reasons why they do that. but this is a u—turn. this this certainly is a u—turn. they'll frame it differently. but but it huge numbers of but but it is huge numbers of people are very concerned about the levels of net migration. and let's not forget the conservatives spent 13 years saying they'd down the saying they'd get it down to the tens thousands. tens of thousands. boris johnson, we'd it johnson, 2019, said we'd get it down to below what it was when they won that 80 seat majority, which about 230,000, and now which was about 230,000, and now it's of it's at three quarters of a million. but but at the same time, we clearly do need workers . now. there's millions of people sitting on out of work benefits , you know, 20% of the benefits, you know, 20% of the population of cities like birmingham, like liverpool, you'd think you'd want to get our own people back to work. but there's massive shortages in the

care sector. for example, that's another row that's brewing because a story out today that these health care visas, there's going to be a ban on overseas care home people coming to work in the care sector, bring growing dependence and the care sector saying, look, we are all ready on our knees. we know that you can earn more in a local supermarket than you can as a carer. it's a very tough and a very gruelling job. if people coming in from overseas can't bnng coming in from overseas can't bring family with them , there's bring family with them, there's warnings that the whole system will collapse, so it's very, very difficult. >> bit of a devil's bargain either the amount we pay for social goes up and up and social care goes up and up and up even more, or we have higher levels of migration than have been historically case. what been historically the case. what >> one my best friends works >> one of my best friends works in as a carer. she in a care home as a carer. she works incredibly hard, very dedicated. it's a really, really tough um and we just need tough job. um and we just need tough job. um and we just need to pay these people more. it's such an unwelcome about the tax burden being the highest it's ever been. >> do we want it to go even

higher? >> we could always pay some groups of people slightly less, couldn't a controversial >> that's a controversial proposal, us. proposal, but not us. >> obviously. katherine forster, thank very much, catherine. >> us catherine. >> that now. >> bringing us all that now. >> bringing us all that now. >> go on. every december we >> now go on. every december we get out the festive tunes, singing and dancing to the old favourites. 17, stay favourites. um east 17, stay another day is still a christmas classic after nearly three decades. admit it, you've either hummed along or witnessed a tipsy karaoke performance of this iconic tune. later baby, i've got to go away . i've got to go away. >> don't think i could take the blame. won't you stay another day ? day? >> uh, it sounds like christmas , >> uh, it sounds like christmas, doesn't it? >> i love that that was from 1994, tom, you were born in 1996. >> lovely. >> lovely. >> thank you. uh, right. okay. i'm not talking to for the rest of the show. we're delighted to be joined by e 17. now, terri caldwell, john livermore and robbie craig. gentlemen, thank you so much forjoining us

today. now you have a new christmas single tell us christmas single out. tell us about that . about that. >> yes, we have collaborated with a company called riot labs, and we brought out a charity single where 100% of the proceeds go to uk cancer charities. so it's called merry christmas. and uh, we're also so it's a campaign to try and get people to kind of give up smoking as well. and we're also doing an advert this year with a campaign with ring doorbells. so we've been knocking on people's doors in various places around the country, including london, manchester fun. manchester and it's been fun. we've a ball, haven't we? we've had a ball, haven't we? yeah. keeping e17 spirit yeah. keeping the e17 spirit alive. so. >> what's the inspiration >> so what's the inspiration behind this single? i mean, why quitting smoking in particular? >> that was it was brought to us. really. yeah. it was, it was , it was brought to us by brite labs and they said would we like to, uh, partner with them on the single? um, and yeah, i'm kind of going on that journey as well. i've been smoking for many years myself, and, um, since i was 40, which was ten years ago.

every year that's been my new year's resolution to give up smoking. and it hasn't quite worked. so this year, with the help of wright labs as well, um, i'm going to be quitting smoking , so it's not good for you . and , so it's not good for you. and the price of cigarettes nowadays

everyone wants every single year . um, it's played on a radio and

on tv. the videos played all over the internet. so that's kind of the legacy that gets left behind in years to come. you know, hopefully my great grandkids will go that used to be my great granddad. you know? so, uh, yeah, it's amazing . plus so, uh, yeah, it's amazing. plus we got the white coats on every night. we're doing over 40 shows in the last seven weeks and, uh, yeah , they need washing up those yeah, they need washing up those big, those big famous fur white coats from the video. >> i have to ask you, um, did you see the parody video that went viral on the internet that, uh, just a couple of weeks ago where the original band members of east 17 faces were replaced with rishi sunak and david cameron , and jeremy hunt was cameron, and jeremy hunt was sending me that. >> yeah. all my mates are sending me it. yeah, it was funny that i did an all right job at it. that happens every yeah job at it. that happens every year. somebody's doing that every year. >> yeah. >> 5 you replaced em— >> who are you replaced by in that video? haven't seen that that video? i haven't seen that one, i must admit. which

politician get ? politician did you get? >> i think i might have been david unfortunately, >> i think i might have been dav sorry unfortunately, >> i think i might have been dav sorry . unfortunately, but sorry. >> uh, what an accolade . >> uh, what an accolade. >> uh, what an accolade. >> i mean, were you. i mean , you >> i mean, were you. i mean, you know, were you daunted about putting another christmas single out there because, you know, stay another day? it's so iconic. so was it daunting bringing out another christmas single? >> uh, no. not really. uh what? yeah. what? yeah. what kind of got us interested was the cancer charity raising money for uk cancer charities . that was the cancer charities. that was the main thing, really. um, obviously trying to get people to quit smoking is another good thing because, um, you know , i thing because, um, you know, i go and have a sit when i'm at home. i have a cigarette out in the garden and, you know, my kids are always moaning at me. so i'm definitely giving up. this is it this year. uh, i'm coming up to 50, and so it's important, you know, it's important, you know, it's important um, important for health. um, there's 76,000 people a year just in the uk are dying from , just in the uk are dying from, uh, smoking related illnesses . uh, smoking related illnesses. >> so it's a proper good cause.

>> so it's a proper good cause. >> yeah. you know, it's going to help. help people get healthier. it's going to help families stay together. so, yeah, the main thing is it's just good in general to do that and raise money and awareness, you know, for cancer charities, i'm going to have to ask you this, gentlemen, um, this is obviously a song about addiction. >> and you know, smoking is a huge killer in this country. now, your former brian brian harvey did cast shadow over harvey did cast a shadow over the original e—17 with the drug issues that were going on at the time. um, how do you feel about that now, looking back at those days? >> um, days? >>um,| days? >> um , i think he's got you've >> um, i think he's got you've got good memories of your past. >> yeah , yeah. you know, mate, >> yeah, yeah. you know, mate, we share some great memories together. obviously we was working seven days a week as a band and, you know, when you're when you're when you're when you're in that close proximity together for that, for that amount of time, you know, you have your little and have your little arguments and stuff . but, you know, i'm having stuff. but, you know, i'm having a great time now um, yeah , a great time now and, um, yeah, yeah, i think for you guys,

they're all young. young boys make mistakes . so i think brian make mistakes. so i think brian was a good frontman. i at the end of the day. yeah everyone makes yeah, it's right. everyone does make mistakes. and hopefully he's learned from that. that's it. >> brilliant. thank you terry caldwell john joe mortimer and robbie thank you so much robbie craig. thank you so much for this afternoon. for joining us this afternoon. really liverpool . really liverpool joe liverpool. good luck the single. good luck with the single. >> yeah very good cause and happy christmas. >> well still to come. is this the nightmare before christmas. are you caught in the traffic. well the sun's travel editor lisa minot will bring us the very latest this is

>> the camilla tominey show sunday mornings from 930 on gb news who's . news who's. >> good morning. it's 1025. >> good morning. it's1025. you're with britain's newsroom on gb news with tom harwood. that's him and me. dawn neesom and long delays are . expected and long delays are. expected for travellers trying to get away for christmas. >> the rac estimates that 13.5 million carjourneys >> the rac estimates that 13.5 million car journeys will take place over this festive weekend. >> wow, that's pretty much nearly everybody, isn't it? uh, motorway and train motorway closures and train cancellations are adding to the congestion. >> and there delays >> and there are delays at the port dover as well. this port of dover as well. this after industrial action with queues . a mile long for queues over. a mile long for drivers trying to cross the border. oh gosh. >> it's not good is it? planes, trains, automobiles. could always try a reindeer. works for santa. >> that's very true. >> that's very true. >> uh, joining us now is travel

editor at the sun, lisa minnow. lisa, thank you very much for joining us. um, how's your reindeer? are you travelling by reindeer? are you travelling by reindeer? this christmas? >> i'm. i'm going to stay very much right here in my own home and not try to travel anywhere . and not try to travel anywhere. >> is that the advice? perhaps for everyone? because it does seem that whichever way you look at it, on the roads, on the rail, even across the channel, there's just chaos over the there's just been chaos over the last few days . last few days. >> yeah. i mean, again, we had a bit of a perfect storm yesterday, didn't we? we had the storm here, which created chaos with high winds bringing down overhead train lines. um, and then of course, you had the strike action. wildcat strike action in france that to , led action in france that to, led you know, 30 eurostar services being cancelled and all of the eurotunnel services being cancelled. put on more cancelled. they have put on more trains today. people are going to see things get to start to see things get better. but as you the port better. but as you say, the port of dover also struggling because she of people who would she a number of people who would have to to find another have had to try to find another way to get across the channel because people still want to go home christmas.

home for christmas. >> and is this chaos expected to last . what, sunday? last up until. what, sunday? >> i think some of the last trains are going pretty much sunday lunchtime, aren't they? that's right. >> yes. i mean, you've got engineering work starting on the railways on, um, christmas eve. that's that always that's standard that always happens at this time of year. it allows network rail time to allows the network rail time to actually these major projects actually do these major projects that clear the that they need to clear the railways so the likes railways for. so the likes of paddington to be, um, paddington is going to be, um, completely closed. there's going to be you know, some really quite big engineering works from king's and from victoria. king's cross and from victoria. so it's going be worth so it's always going to be worth checking thinking checking if you're thinking about sunday. about travelling on sunday. um, but obviously are but obviously the roads are going where we're going to going to be where we're going to see the biggest, um, sort of crisis. think if we're talking crisis. i think if we're talking about anything and lots of people travelling is people travelling today is predicted the day . predicted to be the busiest day. and that's because you've got normal truck normal commuters, normal truck drivers roads . at the drivers on the roads. at the same time, you've got all of those people that are starting to head away for christmas. so today is going to be the big point. there also, talking about a lunch crunch. it's going to be

the actually the point where actually lunchtime the lunchtime is going to be the busiest all of the next busiest day on all of the next three days. so between 12 and 2, that's really don't want to find yourself of the roads in yourself on any of the roads in the uk network. so potentially people of going to see people thinking of going to see family leaving work a family today, leaving work a little bit early to skip the traffic. >> maybe, maybe they're better off bit later off waiting until a bit later this evening . this evening. >> that's right. so you know , >> that's right. so you know, the motorway are saying the motorway experts are saying likes of the rac are saying if you want to travel today after 6:00 going to be the best 6:00 is going to be the best time but there are always time to go, but there are always going to be issues in london. it's going to be the m20, c5, particularly, of particularly, um, sort of anti—clockwise going west and clockwise east. and then clockwise going east. and then you've got the likes of the m1, uh, between woburn and daventry and also m6 . all of those and also the m6. all of those roads are going to be extremely busy today, so it's worth checking before you make a journey. and also making sure that everything in your car is okay. the rsa recommending that people over their car, people check over their car, make they've got everything make sure they've got everything they to take a trip in they need to take a trip in winter, make sure you've got

some extra snacks, you've a some extra snacks, you've got a coat, you've got something there to warm. the to keep you warm. should the worst happen. it's about worst happen. um, it's about preparing yourself before you head, setting off. >> lisa, you just >> and, lisa, can you just confirm that the eurostar is indeed operating near—normal indeed operating a near—normal service today? chaos service today? after the chaos of yesterday ? of yesterday? >> yes they are. they're actually putting on an extra six trains just to try to process some of the many people that were up in the nightmare were caught up in the nightmare yesterday. sleeping at yesterday. people sleeping at saint station . um, so saint pancras station. um, so there's trains there's an extra six trains today things are today and hopefully things are actually moving and back to actually now moving and back to normal, but there's always going to a little bit of an issue to be a little bit of an issue when you've had , um, such a sort when you've had, um, such a sort of un, um, precedented rare event like yesterday when you had that wildcat strike. but at the things are running the moment things are running pretty . there's, pretty smoothly. there's, there's lot of people saint there's a lot of people at saint pancras things there's a lot of people at saint pan running things there's a lot of people at saint panrunning pretty things there's a lot of people at saint pan running pretty smoothly.1gs are running pretty smoothly. >> and, lisa, i've the plot >> and, lisa, i've lost the plot with with with what's happening with strike in this country, strike dates in this country, let the french going on let alone the french going on strike. any strike strike. um, are there any strike plans the festive period plans over the festive period going new the railways? >> no. there aren't. and that was what was so unusual about

yesterday. um, you indians in the uk and actually in france, as well, have to give two weeks nofice as well, have to give two weeks notice of any kind of strike action. so what we saw yesterday was unprecedented. at the moment. plans for moment. there are no plans for any strikes, but that could change we go into the new yeah >> and i suppose for those of us lucky enough to be jetting off to climes, uh, over this to warmer climes, uh, over this period, how are the airports looking? is everything running normally ? normally? >> i mean, there were obviously quite a lot of delays yesterday because of those really high winds. that was impacting, um, flights yesterday . manchester flights yesterday. manchester and heathrow both saw cancellations . heathrow this cancellations. heathrow this morning still cancellations. about 20 ba flights were cancelled this morning. a lot of those on those short haul routes where there'll be another flight today of today that can sort of hopefully, mop up those hopefully, um, mop up those passengers . but heathrow is passengers. but heathrow is expecting busiest winter day expecting its busiest winter day since covid this today. so obviously lots of us wanting to get away. um, favourite destinations at the moment seem to be the likes of dubai and the canary islands. for people

trying to head off a bit of winter sun or geneva. for those of us heading to the slopes. >> wow. >> wow. >> or you could just stay here on the settee and watch us on gb news. yeah. lisa minnow. thank you for and merry you very much for us and merry christmas you and all your christmas to you and all your family. thank forjoining family. thank you for joining us. come . us. still to come. >> yes. coming up on the show, the irish government is to begin a legal challenge against the uk government over its decision to offer immunity for troubles era crimes that and much, much more. >> after your morning news with polly middlehurst . polly middlehurst. >> dawn. thank you and good morning to you. the headlines this hour long delays are expected for travellers trying to get away for christmas today , to get away for christmas today, with motorway closures and train cancellations adding to the congestion. often queues are more than a mile long for drivers at the port of dover after industrial action there and trains are running out of london, but services will be

disrupted over the weekend. there are also delays at heathrow, where more than a quarter of a million people are expected to make a journey . expected to make a journey. meanwhile, eurostar services have resumed after thousands of people were stranded last night following an unexpected bird strike by site workers that led to widespread disruption on services from london saint pancras and from the eurotunnel from folkestone. the union , from folkestone. the union, though, has now agreed a deal after initially rejecting an end of year bonus. in other news today, a woman has been charged with murdering her four year old son in east london, 41 year old keziah macharia will appear in court later over the death of her son, koby dooley mccray . the her son, koby dooley mccray. the four year old, who suffered knife injuries in hackney on wednesday, was taken to hospital but died of his injuries and the czech republic will hold a day of mourning today after a 14 people were killed in 25 more injured in a mass shooting in prague yesterday . police say. a prague yesterday. police say. a 24 year old czech student opened

fire at the charles university. the gunman also reportedly shot his father dead and is believed to have taken his own life. police are still trying to establish a motive, but they're working on the theory that he was also responding label for the deaths of two people in a nearby forest that the uk economy has taken its first step towards recession after performing much worse than expected figures from the office for national statistics found there had been a downturn in gdp rather than flatlining, the economy has contracted very slightly by 0.1% in the three months from july to september, economists had been expecting growth of 0.2. those . are the growth of 0.2. those. are the headlines. more on all those stories by heading to our website, gbnews.com . website, gbnews.com. >> for stunning gold and silver coins, you'll always value rosalind gold proudly sponsors

the gb news financial report , the gb news financial report, quick snapshot of today's markets for you and the pound . markets for you and the pound. >> buying you $1.2705 and ,1.1539. the price of gold is £1,617.66 an ounce, and the ftse 100, currently standing at 7699. >> rosalind gold proudly sponsors the gb news financial report . report. >> well still to come. broadcaster clare muldoon and former labour adviser scarlett maguire will go head to head on the stories of the day this is britain's newsroom on gb

perspectives that i, and people that i knew had dewbs& co weeknights from six. >> morning . it's 1038. weeknights from six. >> morning . it's1038. uh you're >> morning. it's1038. uh you're with britain's newsroom on gb news with tom harwood and me. dawn neesom. >> now the irish government is set to begin a legal challenge against the uk. government over its decision to offer immunity for troubles era crimes. >> as a consequence of the troubles echoes on it's important to reflect on the human cost of the 30 year conflict . conflict. >> well, in that vein, the author doctor susan phoenix, has released a new audio book voiced by her son, detailing the incredible story of her late husband, ian phoenix , who was husband, ian phoenix, who was a paratrooper then a police officer during the troubles and doctor phoenix joins us now.

>> um, there you are. lovely. thank you so much for joining. it's okay to call you susan . um, it's okay to call you susan. um, thank you so much for joining us.thank thank you so much for joining us. thank you. um, really appreciate your time. can you tell us a little bit about the audiobook that you've written about your your , your husband's about your your, your husband's experiences . experiences. >> yeah, it's actually the audio version of a book that was written almost 30 years ago now because it is the anniversary of the crash of the chinook that killed 29 people, counter—terrorist officers in northern ireland, uh, next year. so we've timed it by sheer accident to come out just as the anniversary. it it's a book that has continued to intrigue people because it was a when i look back an incredible life and a very different way to live 25 years of the northern ireland troubles. and it was quite an abnormal way that we it wasn't until my husband died that we realised just, just what it was

and how it was. it was dangerous. it was exciting. it was frustrating . and so many was frustrating. and so many people lost their lives in that, uh, 25 year period over 3500 people and it gets to this, this point of the of the prosecutions of the proposal's about about not going after individuals on both sides any more . both sides any more. >> that cuts deep to both communities in northern ireland. there are those who , um, fought there are those who, um, fought against terrorists, and there are those who who felt that there were others on the other side, uh, committing awful crimes , too. what's your view of crimes, too. what's your view of how the government has chosen to try and sort of put a stop to, to these prosecutions ? to these prosecutions? >> it's interesting because i hadnt >> it's interesting because i hadn't heard about this until just recently. i've been away. uh, so i'm a bit on the on the spot here, but but, um, the fact that they want to draw a line

under it , i'm not sure it under it, i'm not sure it depends on which line and why. because since i wrote this book, ihave because since i wrote this book, i have had a lot of harassment from government agencies, security people and families of, uh, hurt people to find out if i have more information , because have more information, because of course, 30 years is nothing in the life of people who are suffering, have suffered and exactly what did happen. so so, um, i'm not really i think my husband would have agreed with the irish government. uh, these things should be properly organise , and the british organise, and the british government can't just stop doing what they've been doing . what they've been doing. >> susan. i mean , the book does >> susan. i mean, the book does sound incredibly emotive , and sound incredibly emotive, and i'm sure it must have been very emotional for your son. the rating it as well . can you paint rating it as well. can you paint us a little pen portrait of what it was like for your husband dunng it was like for your husband during the troubles? i mean, he must have faced some incredibly dangerous situations . dangerous situations. >> absolutely . he he and his >> absolutely. he he and his colleagues, i mean, the book tells the story of him joining the ruc , uh, his life, boyhood,

the ruc, uh, his life, boyhood, ambition after he left the parachute regiment and we moved to northern ireland. and i thought i was just going to be a policeman's wife. but that isn't the way it was. our whole life became involved in security, so we had to, uh, think about our own security, our family security . we, um, you couldn't security. we, um, you couldn't do the washing. you couldn't hang uniforms out. um, we had to look under our car for booby trap bombs . we had to make sure trap bombs. we had to make sure we were not followed home. we became very counter—terrorist . became very counter—terrorist. uh, agents in her own right. even the teenagers, when the children became teenagers, they had to be taught to look under the car . it had to be taught to look under the car. it was a very the car. it was just a very different life. it different way of life. and it wasn't until we stepped out of that. wasn't until ian was that. it wasn't until ian was killed in the chinook accident, and whole came see and the whole world came to see what happened to those what had happened to those men who we realised what who died, that we realised what an abnormal life we lived. we had a gun under our pillow when we bed. all of those we were in bed. all of those things, but it became the things, um, but it became the norm because you learn to adapt. i'm much, um , in favour of

i'm very much, um, in favour of the fact we adapt to whatever comes into our lives. if we allow our own inner strength. he was a good man. he loved his country. he loved people of all sides of the religious divide. he just wanted peace. and he was working for peace . he ended up, working for peace. he ended up, of course, in charge of a terrorism unit, which was totally kettle of totally different. kettle of fish and saw some of the most awful were happening awful things that were happening undercover . that no awful things that were happening undercover. that no one awful things that were happening undercover . that no one actually undercover. that no one actually got to hear about until much later. >> that sounds an incredible lifestyle. you must have learned what lasting effect has it had on you and indeed your son. obviously >> well, my son and my daughter have been fantastic adults . um, have been fantastic adults. um, they're now both middle aged as i'm elderly and the resist the resist science that we learned about there and how to cope with daily life. not to run away crying and everything and to stop. take time and think about what you can do to deal with anything that comes your way, and also to help. i think when

you're giving out to other people, which we did a lot, i worked cross—culturally with the deaf there , deaf community when i was there, so the border . so i was crossing the border. uh, much to people's surprise , uh, much to people's surprise, as my husband came with me sometimes he wasn't allowed to cross the border because he wasn't allowed to take his weapon with him. and we had many friends from all corners of the community. and after he died, we had saying, had letters from people saying, gosh, think we'd know gosh, we didn't think we'd know a policeman. so that was good. human people are human. people and deal. but we need and we can deal. but we need communication. and that's what we learned . communication is we learned. communication is very, important . very, very important. >> susan, thank you so much for that , for talking to us today. that, for talking to us today. and, um, good luck with the audio version. it's called phoenix policing shadow . phoenix policing the shadow. that's susan phoenix. may that's doctor susan phoenix. may we wish you a very merry christmas to you. and your family. thank very much. family. thank you very much. >> we want to hear from you >> now we want to hear from you about tales of traffic about your tales of traffic chaos. you stuck on a chaos. are you stuck on a motorway a railway station or motorway in a railway station or at an airport ? do you get at an airport? do you get involved? get in touch gb views

news at gb news dot com and we'll be getting to some of those stories a bit later in the program. >> yeah. now now change your pace. >> i'm pleased to be joined by former labour adviser scarlett mccgwire and broadcaster and journalist muldoon journalist clare muldoon to discuss some of the biggest stories of the day. okay but first, this will get you in the festive spirit. a certain christmas classic proved a big hit nigel farage jj's show hit on nigel farage jj's show last night. let's have a look, shall . we? on the show . shall. we? on the show. that bnngs shall. we? on the show. that brings the song whitechurch by by no 45, it's found unsurvivable by any belonging to a band with mcgovern on your head. >> but you liked it. does it on the cheeks. i love the way the where are wish it could be

christmas us every day . christmas us every day. >> oh magical oh oh dawn and i were dancing throughout that clip. >> i can see why this has apparently gone viral online. what a magical performance . what a magical performance. >> we were sitting dancing in our chairs, obviously. and the gallery, people would talk gallery, the people would talk to us in our ears, going, don't sing! no just don't sing though. >> just don't sing. >> just don't sing. >> promise you won't sing because we can't basically. oh, i song as well. i love that song as well. >> no. >> no. >> come on, what's not to like? it's christmas, i have a boogie. wears sparkles. it's christmas, i have a boogie. we.well,arkles. it's christmas, i have a boogie. we.well, shally. it's christmas, i have a boogie. we.well, shall we turn this to >> well, shall we turn this to the uh, the panel? um, scarlett, uh, just reaction. i mean, i'm just your reaction. i mean, i'm struggling to find words. i suppose everyone getting into the no. so it's a wonderful song. >> no. so it's a wonderful song. i was a little shocked at i just was a little shocked at the of the group . the ageing of the group. >> um, it's not the. it's not the way i remember them. >> i mean, which is a shame, actually. i mean, there are a few extra stone put on, but but they can still sing. that's what they can still sing. that's what they sing. it's a great song.

>> they were brilliant and clare, i suppose it's interesting there are all of these. >> we've been talking a lot about, about these classic christmas songs today, this morning, um, they seem to all be from the 90s. >> well, notwithstanding the fact though. >> but why can't we have new christmas songs? why do we have to to the historic ones? to go back to the historic ones? you there's been you know, there's not been a decent christmas new nor decent christmas new movie, nor has decent new has there been decent new christmas songs that . is true actually. >> what's your favourite? your favourite christmas song? your favourite? christmas doesn't have to be a number one because a of the christmas hits we a lot of the christmas hits we think of didn't actually get to number one. >> yeah. i mean, um, there >> uh, yeah. i mean, um, there are i mean, my, my are so many. i mean, my, my daughter christmas tape daughter has a christmas tape that to when we're in that we have to when we're in the car over christmas, we have to listen to. so my, my, my trip down to dorset on new year's, on christmas eve is going to be full of christmas. but actually, you're right, i mean, thinking about it , there are no songs and about it, there are no songs and the movies is worse. i mean much, much. >> it's a bit like the uk's foray into the eurovision. we've

got this massive talent for writing, producing , being writing, producing, being artists in this country, and yet we can't win. >> although with sam ryder we almost won . i wonder if we came almost won. i wonder if we came in second. >> smith this year? >> smith this year? >> oh, i didn't even know who he was. >> i'm sorry. oh you didn't watch years and years? no, i didn't even know who he was. and obviously there's a fury over the letter sent about our, um. >> moving on, moving on, moving on, shall we? well scarlett, in a completely different change of direction, you've brought us back down to reality with a choice of story that the office for national statistics released this morning at 7 am. >> i know , i know, i woke up to >> i know, i know, i woke up to it this this is, um. i mean, i'm not sure how or how much this is serious bad news because because it basically we've gone from 0.2, uh, we've gone from zero down saying that , that, uh, the down saying that, that, uh, the revised figures is another thing

i do not understand why we keep on putting different figures and then we keep on changing them. i mean, i mean, for those of us who are not economists , uh, it who are not economists, uh, it gets worry. but anyway , what's gets worry. but anyway, what's happenedis gets worry. but anyway, what's happened is that the economy shrank between july and september. if this happens again, then we are technically in a recession . now, obviously, in a recession. now, obviously, this is not good news. very bad news for rishi sunak because he's promised that we're going to grow , whereas we're doing the to grow, whereas we're doing the opposite. what it means to ordinary people who, you know, recession or no recession, are having real problems. i mean, i know inflation has gone down, but that just means prices are going up more slowly. they're not coming down. i mean, presumably, but what it means is, is and then jeremy hunt goes, we're about to turn the corner. i think i've heard this one before. >> which particular corner are we up to now? >> where do we attach too much importance to, you know, nought point 1% above or nought point 1% basically flat .

1% below? it's basically flat. >> yes, yes, yes yes yes yes. >> i_ >> yes, yes, yes yes yes yes. >> i mean, this is just i mean, the onus i mean they get things they statistics can be manipulated. they can be moved, they can be shifted, they can be used to show whatever the message is that you want to portray or convey . and to be portray or convey. and to be honest with you, don't think honest with you, i don't think this helpful. it's this is helpful. it's not helpful terms managing the helpful in terms of managing the economy. terms , and economy. it's not terms, and it's for me. it's not helpful for me. a normal person wanting to go about my daily life. i don't know what that means specifically. um i don't want to know. i don't want the politicians to worry about this. we've got christmas coming up. let's just forget about this, will we, please? and there's a big whole world out there as well. how is the how is the finances of the global world? >> of course, germany's >> well, of course, germany's been recession been in a technical recession for but america for the last year, but america has experienced 5% growth. well, they've got a big they've they've got a big election next year. >> got lots of things >> so they've got lots of things that change that. that can change that. >> um, i don't know about you, but the conversation in my house this morning went along the

lines where's the bleep lines of where's the bleep sellotape? was about that sellotape? that was about that was as deep and political was about as deep and political as this morning. as it got this morning. >> bought the presents >> families bought the presents then mean. then that's mean. >> haven't shopped yet. this >> you haven't shopped yet. this ihave >> you haven't shopped yet. this i have to admit. >> that's this afternoon's job. >> that's this afternoon's job. >> actually, this was a time for one more story. i think , um, i one more story. i think, um, i beats human at game of physical skill for the first time. so the link there is, maybe you get link there is, maybe you can get ai link there is, maybe you can get al to link there is, maybe you can get a! to your christmas al to come to your christmas shopping for you. who selected this one? >> think it'd be wonderful if >> i think it'd be wonderful if i what presents to buy. i told me what presents to buy. it's not. buying them is not a problem. both my kids. problem. so both my kids. i still stockings to, which still give stockings to, which is very nice. they get their knickers, they get their socks , knickers, they get their socks, they get a book, they get chocolate and orange. you've just told them what they get. they every year. they get they get it every year. they get it every year. they get it every year. they get it emyy year. they get it every year. they get it emy daughter buys arrived, yet >> my daughter buys arrived, yet hasn't arrived yet. >> santa hasn't arrived yet, but marks and spencers did have to give me what i needed. but presents. can you imagine? i saying, oh, but this would be a great present because this is the sort of person she is. >> it would quite

>> it would also be quite worrying, it's worrying, considering if it's gone internet searches . i've gone for internet searches. i've got 19 year old lad i'd hate got a 19 year old lad i'd hate to think what that came up with. >> of what he would >> oh, god, of what he would want. oh yeah. don't investigate. >> don't investigate that one. investigate. >> no, 't investigate that one. investigate. >> no, no, ivestigate that one. investigate. >> no, no, absolutely.|at one. investigate. >> no, no, absolutely. i've ne. investigate. >> no, no, absolutely. i've been using ai all week, though. >> it's been very fun. do your shopping. >> oh, no. »- >> oh, no. >> we i was seeing my family the last couple of days. and, you know, some people send these round robin letters. yeah, well, i in i in just a few i put in i put in just a few facts about my family and said, write a cringeworthy round robin letter family. there letter for my family. and there we had a long two page and we had a long two page list, and we had a long two page list, and we lot of fun going we had a lot of fun going through it. so thanks chatgpt. >> the gallery have just >> she the gallery have just said they've used it as well. >> maybe it's maybe it's just me that's just i think don r gen z—ers. yeah, i'm just i'm writing an old school letter to santa. >> i'm sorry. i'm not. >> not quite a gen z er. >> i'm not quite a gen z er. i'm. what's known as a millennial. oh, sure. >> it's off. stop showing off. and all about, you know. well claire. claire, leave the room. you've brought the room. >> shall we move on to another

story? because, um. because keir starmer has waded into a big debate, a big moral debate. >> this. right. okay >> this. right. okay >> now i am for not assisted death, assisted dying at all in any way, shape or form because my first principle starts from a very pro—life point of view. we only need to look at the mess that canada is in. there are reports that when the dutch first were the ones to introduce any form of euthanasia at all, it just what it does . it does it just what it does. it does not protect the infirm , the not protect the infirm, the those that really need the help, those that really need the help, those that really need the help, those that might be mentally ill, those that are elderly and infirm, those that are dying . my infirm, those that are dying. my dad passed away with dementia, but it was the cancer that actually killed him. >> but i'm really sorry. >> but i'm really sorry. >> we've run to the end of the houh >> we've run to the end of the hour. we'll get back to this in the next hour because you will be back with us. >> but we'll give it the time it deserves. >> this is britain's newsroom a

brighter outlook with box dollar sponsors of whether on . gb news. sponsors of whether on. gb news. >> hello, i'm alex deakin and this is your latest weather update from the met office for gb news still windy out there today. not as windy as yesterday. most places are pretty drab with some places staying fairly soggy, particularly if you're stuck under this weather front's been bringing rain to north—west england, south west scotland through the night and much of the morning. the rain leaves a little bit here but it stays pretty damp. some rain at times. getting into the midlands and much scotland, north much of western scotland, north east some wintry much of western scotland, north east more some wintry much of western scotland, north east more snow some wintry much of western scotland, north east more snow toyme wintry much of western scotland, north east more snow to comeintry showers, more show to come across showers, more snow to come across shetland where there is a met office warning in place. much of southern england. wales a of ireland a good chunk of northern ireland just but fairly cloudy. not just dry, but fairly cloudy. not too in way of sunshine. too much in the way of sunshine. pretty though for the time pretty mild though for the time of year. 12 degrees colder of year. 10 to 12 degrees colder though in the far north—east, where the weather remains pretty wintry chance wintry and increasing chance tonight of seeing some rain turning to snow that could be

quite heavy. and we have a met office yellow warning in place across parts of the northeast mainland and the northern isles for that snow ice risk for that snow and ice risk overnight and into saturday morning many england morning. for many across england and will be a dry and wales, there will be a dry night to fairly cloudy and a very mild night. the rain really sets in across western scotland through lasts through the night and lasts for most saturday. that could most of saturday. that could also cause disruption along also cause some disruption along with the further north and with the snow. further north and east. patchy rain over southern scotland, northern ireland, maybe parts of northern england too, but much of the south again , just looking dry and cloudy. quite windy times for and quite windy at times for and most of us, staying very mild . most of us, staying very mild. bye for now that warm feeling inside from boxt boilers sponsors of weather on gb news . sponsors of weather on gb news. >> well still to come. there's travel chaos as brits battle a massive queues at train stations and a mad dash to get home before christmas. >> you're with gb news on britain's newsroom and the

people's

>> it's 11 am. on friday, the 22nd of december. this is britain's newsroom on gb news now tara in prague , 15 people now tara in prague, 15 people are dead after a mass shooting at a prague university. >> the czech republic have declared tomorrow as a national day of mourning, ready and

waiting . sir keir starmer says waiting. sir keir starmer says labouris waiting. sir keir starmer says labour is ready for a general election . but is the country election. but is the country ready for a labour government and christmas travel chaos winds up more than 80 miles an hour, battered the northern half of parts of the uk as storm peer threatened to bring chaos to pre—christmas travel plans . pre—christmas travel plans. >> what to watch will be debating the greatest christmas movie of all time . movie of all time. >> ooh, that sounds interesting. or they could just watch us, of course, which is even better. uh let -- let us know all your thoughts on our talking points today. email us at gbviews@gbnews.com and here is the news with polly middlehurst . good morning. middlehurst. good morning. >> the top stories from the gb newsroom. long delays are expected for travellers trying

to get away this christmas , as to get away this christmas, as motorway closures and train cancellations are adding to congestion. queues are more than a mile long for drivers at the port of dover, and trains are running out of london, but we're told services will be disrupted over this weekend. there are also delays at heathrow airport, where more than a quarter of a million people are planning to get away. meanwhile, eurostar services have resumed after thousands of people were stranded last night following an unexpected strike by site workers there that led to widespread disruption on services from london saint pancras and the eurotunnel from folkestone. trade union representatives, though, have now reached an agreement after they initially rejected an end of year bonus. in other news today, a woman has been charged with murdering her four year old boy in east london, 41 year old keziah macari will appear in court later over the death of her son, kobe dooley makaria. the four year old suffered knife injuries in hackney on wednesday

and was taken to hospital, but died of his injuries. a post mortem examination will take place next week. now the czech authorities, the police specifically have confirmed 13 people lost their lives when a gunman went on the rampage in prague. no foreigners , though prague. no foreigners, though they say, were among the victims . they've released body cam footage showing officers arriving at charles university as they searched for the attacker. the 24 year old, who they've asked not to be named, killed his father before opening fire, targeting students. he then took his own life . police, then took his own life. police, who are still trying to establish a motive, say they're working on the theory . he establish a motive, say they're working on the theory. he was also responsible for the deaths of two people in a nearby forest right here at home. the uk economy has taken its first step towards recession after performing much worse than expected figures from the office for national statistics found there had been a downturn in gdp . p and rather than flatlining ,

. p and rather than flatlining, the economy contracted very slightly by 0.1% in the three months from july to september. economists had been expect growth of 0.2. meanwhile black friday deals were a driving force behind an unprecedented rise in retail sales in the uk. ons figures, revealing that sales increased by 1.3% last month despite forecasts of 0.4% growth from economists . but it growth from economists. but it said overall sales are still below pre pandemic levels, presenting challenges for retailers . now. ministers have retailers. now. ministers have reversed plans to increase the minimum wage needed for a family to live in the uk. the home office had previously hiked the threshold . to £38,700, but now threshold. to £38,700, but now the figure stands at £29,000. it's part of a government plan to tackle the number of people coming into the uk, but has drawn criticism from some who

say it will break up families . say it will break up families. the home secretary says though the plans will bring the total net migration figure down by 300,000 people a year , patients 300,000 people a year, patients are being warned of potential disruption to health services. this christmas, as junior doctors confirm anew with their walkouts in england in an ongoing dispute over pay . it's ongoing dispute over pay. it's after talks broke down between the government and the british medical association earlier this month. strike action will continue until tomorrow morning. this walkout will then be followed by a six day strike at the start of january. that'll be the start of january. that'll be the longest in nhs history. the start of january. that'll be the longest in nhs history . we the longest in nhs history. we and west midlands police officers use of force in the course of their work has been underreported. thousands of times, police inspectors have estimated 46,000 incidents were unreported for the year ending march 2022. there were serious concerns as well about how the force investigates crime , force investigates crime, protects vulnerable people and

manages offenders and suspects . manages offenders and suspects. it's the force was previously placed under special measures after they'd been ruled inadequate in three out of eight policing areas . that's the news policing areas. that's the news on gb news across the uk on tv, in your car, on digital radio and on your smart speaker. this is britain's news channel . thank is britain's news channel. thank you polly. >> now we want to hear about everyone watching and what your stories of traffic chaos are . stories of traffic chaos are. are you on a motorway or stuck at an airport, or were you stuck on a train late last night? get in touch gb views at gb news.com. we want to hear your stories. absolutely. >> it's the busiest travel day of the year and it's going to go on until sunday lunchtime, when hopefully we're all where we need to be safe and sound. >> well, i'm andy, looks like he's already where he needs to be. >> that sounds good to me and

sound. >> he wrote in to say i'm avoiding the travel chaos as i'm only travelling from the living room to the fridge to get a beeh >> i'm with you, andy. >> i'm with you, andy. >> i'm with you. be around >> i'm with you. i'll be around straight meanwhile, straight away. um, meanwhile, talking roy wood clip, talking about the roy wood clip, we saw a farage little we saw a nigel farage little party night. this from party last night. this from elizabeth. morning. elizabeth. good morning. elizabeth. good morning. elizabeth. says elizabeth. um, she says i thought roy would look great. and about 20 years younger. all that matters is how they make you and i wish it could be you feel. and i wish it could be christmas everyday. always makes me joyful. and me feel joyful. dancing and singing me feel joyful. dancing and singand david agrees. he said >> and david agrees. he said i couldn't believe how good is couldn't believe how good roy is looking for age . when i was looking for his age. when i was watching farage last watching him on farage last night. and then david shares a story was around story about when he was around 15 old and slipped out of 15 years old and slipped out of school to go to see wizard with his school buddies at manchester's free trade hall, waited for ages, got an autograph but was in big trouble getting home so late on a school day. >> and if you missed it, you can just see those those pictures again. he doesn't look too bad, you know? >> i mean, i think scarlet mcguire might have been a bit too mean then.

>> yeah. >> yeah. >> i mean, you know, we out >> yeah. >.bit mean, you know, we out >> yeah. >.bit asean, you know, we out >> yeah. >.bit as we you know, we out >> yeah. >.bit as we get know, we out >> yeah. >.bit as we get older. we out >> yeah. >.bit as we get older. obviously|t a bit as we get older. obviously now, um, we move on. um, at least 15 people are dead after a horrifying mass shooting at a prague university yesterday. the police say the gunman was a student and was found dead at the scene . and they're giving the scene. and they're giving a press conference literally as we speak. joining us now in the speak. um, joining us now in the studio reporter, charlie studio is our reporter, charlie peters , to bring us up to speed peters, to bring us up to speed on what has been said at the press conference indeed, press conference and indeed, what prague what is happening in prague today. good morning. charlie. what what's happening ? what what's happening? >> so the police this morning have released dramatic body have released some dramatic body cam they cam footage of the moment they responded this incident responded to this incident yesterday in the centre of the old town. shows the officers old town. it shows the officers arriving within four minutes of the call. the first the first call. the first reports of this shooting taking place, arriving at charles university in one of the main departments there where the shooting took place, the footage shows them, as they say, acting correctly. according to the skills and drills required to respond to this sort of

situation. it shows them advancing up the stairs of the department after originally being briefed that the shooter was in the upper floors the was in the upper floors of the philosophy department, but as they upwards they were they travelled upwards they were informs the press conference said that the shooter was actually on the roof, taking fire from a balcony where he injured and killed some of his victims. the police actually took fire from outside and coordinated with those inside to send them further. the police did say that they had some confusion getting to the roof. it wasn't signposted easily for them to access that area, but once they did start to travel that way and the shooter was aware that the police were approaching thing, they confirmed this morning in the press conference that the shooter killed himself with a shotgun. he was equipped with. they also said that they could not believe the amount of ammunition in ammunition they found, both in the and around the corridors and indeed around the corridors and indeed around the final firing position from that balcony. some seriously dramatic footage released yesterday of a long barrelled rifle with a tripod and a long

lens with the fire taking aim from that balcony onto those beneath. in the square, people fleeing across the bridge there, the police also confirmed this morning some of the victims names will be released today. 1418 victims in total, 25 injured. we understand that two saudi citizens and one dutch citizen are among those injured. the police also showed us some footage , again captured on body footage, again captured on body cam of the evacuation process, taking place. the application of first aid within a so—called hot zone. it was an active shooter area, so they hadn't yet detained or neutralised that threat. and so the application of aid was extremely difficult. in some of the footage, we see a police officer begging for a stretcher, shouting out to his colleagues for a medical stretcher as they prevent a catastroph bleed, and then take the victim away from the location. they also showed further footage, which we saw originally yesterday. of course , originally yesterday. of course, of students exiting the building with their hands up and they

responded quite directly to some of the criticism they'd receive. they didn't react quickly, they didn't get to the roof fast enough, and many people were confused why students confused as to why students were leaving with their leaving the building with their hands and the police hands up. and the police gave a very answer. this very clear answer. today this was drill. this is was a standard drill. this is the standard operating procedure for dealing a shooting for dealing with a mass shooting event. don't have event. when you don't have a full the full understanding of the threat, because could have threat, because they could have known those students known that any of those students could been an accomplice could have been an accomplice of the shooter, have been the shooter, might not have been operating so people had operating alone. so people had to the building that to leave the building in that way prevent any further way to prevent any further firing . hundreds of police firing. hundreds of police officers responded to the scene. the police chief, speaking at the conference today, said it was worst event he'd seen in was the worst event he'd seen in 40 years. it left a serious mark on him and he was there when the firing was taking place. >> now, initially, charlie, we understand that the police ordered the evacuation of a different building. they understood that the shooter was going to a different part of the university . was there any university. was there any criticism of that response ? at

criticism of that response? at the press conference? >> they were going through a timeline even earlier today on that process. they said they they received a tip that he they received a tip off that he was moving in from the west of the city because earlier in that day, it's understood that the killer shot his father in houston, which is a small area west of prague. and when they arrived at that scene, they also found evidence of explosive sieves and other devices present there, leading to further concerns . of a more complex there, leading to further concerns. of a more complex and coordinated attack in the city centre. but that is the main criticism of the police that the evacuation was insufficient. they only originally evacuated evacuated hall and the evacuated a lecture hall and the department where was expected department where he was expected to attend. at 2 he was, to attend. at 2 pm. he was, they said , a star student. he'd they said, a star student. he'd won prize for his polish won a prize for his polish history , research and essay history, research and essay writing. previously and he was expected to attend university . expected to attend university. and so they evacuated that lecture hall. but he went to a separate department and possibly caught the police off guard, especially with the amount of ammunition that they discovered. >> do know do we know any

>> do we know do we know any more about him? >> you said he was a star student. david kozak is the name, isn't it? the shooter? four year old, 24. so do we know anything what made anything about him? what made a may him in this way? >> so yesterday evening, very quickly, the police ruled out any extremist or links to any extremist motive or links to international terrorism. however, been however, a motive has been developed overnight of a fascination with killing . he fascination with killing. he posted on his telegram channel that he saw a teenage mass shooter in russia earlier this month as an angel who guided him. he said that he had waited and he had dreamed of an opportunity to carry out something like this , and she something like this, and she guided him into this moment. he said that he realised after her mass shooting on the 7th of december in the west of russia, at a school. a 14 year old schoolgirl there who also took her life after the attack, he saw her as a sign that actually mass shootings were, quote, more profitable than serial killings. and the reason why that language is so significant is because this shooter, 24 year old david

kozak, is also being linked to a shooting in a forest east of prague on friday, where a father and his two month old infant daughter in a stroller was shot and killed. there, the head of the murder team in the prague police was at this press conference this morning saying that they haven't guaranteed a 100% link between those two incidents, but it's almost certainly that there is one. they're carrying out further forensic and ballistic analysis linking some of the weapons found both in his father's home. from that original murder and yesterday's mass shooting and mass killings, to develop that connection further. but he is the prime suspect at that time. so very swiftly from so very swiftly moving from serial killer to mass murderer in just a matter of days and the glue linking those events, the thread that draws them all together, is that telegram channel that he ran where he posted in praise of this mass killer in russia and also posted a warning in russian. he's a russian speaker. david post thing, a warning that he was

intending to go to the capital to carry out either a mass shooting or a suicide. he hadn't decided , but we know the decided, but we know the decision he took yesterday. >> just just very quickly, one last question. >> i'm going. crime is relatively rare in the czech republic. is it legal to own guns out there, though ? guns out there, though? >> gun ownership is possible. and he did have permits. did have permits. but the question being asked isn't really have permits. but the question being thezd isn't really have permits. but the question being the gun isn't really have permits. but the question being the gun ownership,ally have permits. but the question being the gun ownership, ally the about the gun ownership, but the amount ammunition that amount of ammunition that he had, was a military had, which was of a military standard, he did just have so many opportunities to fire, and he engaged very tense he engaged in a very tense firefight with police officers who firing from the outside who were firing from the outside up that balcony. up when he was on that balcony. >> well, charlie, thank you so much for bringing us that. that extra press conference. extra ordinary press conference. really, harrowing really, really, uh, harrowing news there. >> yeah. >> yeah. >> and obviously thoughts with everybody in prague, which is a beautiful beautiful, beautiful city, beautiful, beautiful city, beautiful, beautiful . uh, a beautiful people. uh, a wonderful to go . so wonderful place to go. um, so thoughts everybody thoughts with everybody there today. thoughts with everybody there today . uh, now, labour, we move today. uh, now, labour, we move on. don't we talk about labour? do we have to talk about labour? yes we do. uh, labour is ready

for a general election according to sir keir starmer. >> yes. so much so that the confident labour said the confident labour leader said the sooner it's called, the better . sooner it's called, the better. and he's claimed his, uh, manifesto has been locked away for over a year in exclusive interview with gb news now, polls suggest that sir keir will gain a majority at the next general election, which is expected to be in either the spnng expected to be in either the spring or the autumn. probably the autumn though, uh, joining us to discuss this is the political commentator john oxley. and john, i suppose twas ever thus opposition leader calls for general election. yes yes, definitely. >> but we're entering that penod >> but we're entering that period where we know an election is coming very soon. the last possible date it can be is sort of january , the year after next. of january, the year after next. that's bad, i think, for the government for a number of reasons. so chances are they're going to go a bit earlier. and so it's kind of the end game. you know the run into the election is starting. and if you're keir starmer of course you're keir starmer of course

you seem ready for it, you want to seem ready for it, ready to fight and ready to govern. >> it's interesting. of course, he was uh, this week on a visit to the russian border at a nato outpost. there was a certain amount of criticism for the clothes that sir keir starmer chose to wear wearing military uniform . having not been a uniform. having not been a member of the armed forces himself. but i suppose this is a more common theme of politicians cosplaying . cosplaying. >> absolutely. um, you know, we see a few months ago, rishi sunak went training with some soldiers. he dressed up. boris was a huge fan of dressing up in military fatigues or dressing up as policemen. on another occasion . and liz truss tried to occasion. and liz truss tried to sort of channel thatcher at one point with her bullet—proof vest on top of a tank. um and it's starting to become part of part and parcel of looking like a prime minister. and i think that's part of what it's quite a good look for. >> this looks like a sort of new, hard hitting drama that you might see, uh, on netflix. >> it looks like the new sas who dares wins doesn't it? i mean,

it's ridiculous. he's in estonia . don't need to wear fatigues. there's going on. there's nothing going on. there's nothing going on. there's war going yet. there's no war going on yet. >> yet? >> yet? >> well, 5 well, yeah, i don't >> okay, well, yeah, i don't know. >> okay, well, yeah, i don't knoone the reasons there's >> one of the reasons there's a nato base is that the nato base there is that the estonians are pretty worried about russia. >> they are. >> i know they are. >> i know they are. >> at the moment he could >> but at the moment he could have just worn just ordinary civilian gear. >> this change? >> john, when did this change? because sure david because i'm fairly sure david cameron in cameron didn't dress up in military clothes. >> seems to be a sort >> yeah, it seems to be a sort of boris johnson innovation. you look of the photos, you look at some of the photos, you know, david cameron kind of did his dad thing. he his cotswold dad thing. he turned much like his cotswold dad thing. he turn dressed much like his cotswold dad thing. he turndressed today much like his cotswold dad thing. he turn dressed today with :h like i'm dressed today with a collared shirt and a jumper and some chinos. and then you look back, you know, gordon brown back, um, you know, gordon brown , they visited , tony blair, when they visited the , they'd often wear the troops, they'd often wear they, their jacket they, they take their jacket off, but they'd be wearing a suit. although that was slightly different. they were visiting , different. they were visiting, you in war you know, troops in active war zones kind of looks zones and it it kind of looks a bit sillier. i think if you're wearing a uniform alongside people actually fighting wearing a uniform alongside peofthis actually fighting wearing a uniform alongside peofthis is actually fighting wearing a uniform alongside peofthis is going:tually fighting wearing a uniform alongside peofthis is going outlly fighting wearing a uniform alongside peofthis is going out and ghting . so this is going out and training . but, you know, i think training. but, you know, i think maybe thatcher did it maybe margaret thatcher did it once but was quite

once or twice, but it was quite rare for prime ministers to sort of put on the gear. but it's becoming more of that thing of looking authoritative, looking a bit more as though you're you're mucking with troops mucking along with the troops rather going out there as rather than going out there as the them into war. >> when, when sir does come >> when, when sir keir does come back back into his back and get back into his civvies, um, he has admitted that he's worried about the effect will have on his effect being pm will have on his family those fairly family and we saw those fairly horrible scenes where rishi sunaks home was invaded by the eco protesters that climbed all over and it's right to be over it, and it's right to be concerned , isn't it? because, concerned, isn't it? because, i mean, the contempt that , you mean, the contempt that, you know, politicians are held in these days is quite frightening. >> i think that's that's very true. you know, not true. and it's, you know, not for senior government for just senior government ministers. a lot from ministers. you see it a lot from mps talking about the impact on their family, particularly those who young school who have young children, school aged children . there's much more aged children. there's much more of getting , you know, of people getting, you know, getting aggressive, whether it's on often in real on social media or often in real life as well. but i think the other thing, particularly when you're minister you're going in a prime minister level , um, you're going in a prime minister level, um, it's a you're going in a prime minister level , um, it's a whole change level, um, it's a whole change to your world. there's a massive

security threat. you cease to be a normal person. you're living in 10 downing street. and i think that's something that all of the recent politicians, prime ministers have really had to deal with and is quite a tough aspect of the job because ultimately, you know, you're getting the kudos of being prime minister. it's your name in the history books. you're partner, your children . they get a lot of your children. they get a lot of the downside and really not much of the upside. so i think it is a natural thing to be worried about. >> now, if we're to believe the polls, the labour party is going to win a tony blair style landslide, perhaps even larger . landslide, perhaps even larger. is there anything the tories can do the next 12 months to turn do in the next 12 months to turn that around? >> a very difficult >> it's a very difficult question . i mean, you look at question. i mean, you look at some of the headwinds today, the ons saying might be slipping ons saying we might be slipping into a recession . into into a recession. traditionally, polls narrow traditionally, the polls narrow when an election comes around, you get your messages about what you get your messages about what you might do for a next time, but it's hard for the conservatives. annoyed conservatives. they've annoyed a lot their voters, both on the lot of their voters, both on the

left and on the right side. it's hard to pull those back in together at same time, together at the same time, they're in a different in they're losing in a different in different geographies, in different geographies, in different demographic groups. there's things you there's lots of things you potentially can do, but it's hard to do all of them, and it's hard to do all of them, and it's hard to do all of them, and it's hard to know which is the one that's going to deliver the best. >> it seems like the government's almost oscillating on of the week. it will on one day of the week. it will sound they're going for sound like they're going for a red strategy. hard on red wall strategy. going hard on migration, the next day migration, and on the next day they bring david cameron back into government and look like they're going for a southern blue strategy. there's no blue wall strategy. there's no clear it's clear sense of direction. it's almost people are pulling almost like people are pulling from angles within almost like people are pulling from 10. angles within almost like people are pulling from 10. yeah, les within almost like people are pulling from 10. yeah, izs within almost like people are pulling from 10. yeah, i think1in almost like people are pulling from 10. yeah, i think that's number 10. yeah, i think that's very true. >> that's the problem for >> and that's the problem for the conservatives because the voters are doing the same. they have problem with their have the same problem with their mps. different factors going in, um, different directions and obviously politics, everyone um, different directions and obvioutheir politics, everyone um, different directions and obvioutheir policies. everyone thinks their policies are the popular says, popular ones. no one ever says, oh, personally, i think we should be a bit more left wing. but actually the voters are more right. so everyone always says my they are the ones that my ideas. they are the ones that are going to win. so it's hard to navigate between those. and

particularly in particularly you've been in power for 14, 15 years. you've got of built up got a lot of built up unpopularity with all sorts of people. and the economy's not going particularly well. other things particularly things aren't going particularly well. , hard battle well. it's a hard, hard battle to fight. think the next yeah >> it's all very confusing. isn't it? there's much isn't it? there's so much division both main parties. division in both main parties. you how much parties you do wonder how much parties like reform are going to take away, also incumbents all away, but also incumbents all around saw the new zealand >> we saw the new zealand government lose. we're going to see trouble in france. we see real trouble in france. we saw happened the saw what happened in the netherlands. this netherlands. i think at this time canada as well. the time in canada as well. the opposition party ahead opposition party miles ahead in the time when the the polls at this time when the globe is experiencing these financial opposition globe is experiencing these financitdo opposition globe is experiencing these financitdo well opposition globe is experiencing these financitdo well . opposition globe is experiencing these financitdo well . yeah,)osition absolutely. >> but there was a shock before john major wasn't there. so anything's possible. >> yes. >> yes. >> anything's possible . right. >> anything's possible. right. still to come. we actually could do festive fun. now we'll do some festive fun. now we'll be our favourite be ranking our favourite christmas movies and songs with entertainment reporter hayley palmer . palmer. >> with britain's >> you're with britain's newsroom on .

isabel monday to thursdays from 6:00 till 930. >> um, it's . what time is it, tom? >> it's 1125. tom? >> it's1125. good morning . >> it's1125. good morning. >> it's1125. good morning. >> it's1125. good morning. >> it doesn't matter. it's only christmas time. doesn't actually matter, does it? unless you have heading off to see family and friends . friends. >> 5:00 somewhere. >> it's 5:00 somewhere. >> it's 5:00 somewhere. >> yeah. >> it's. yeah. >> it's. yeah. >> now you're with britain's newsroom gb news. with me? newsroom on gb news. with me? tom harwood and neesom. uh tom harwood and dawn neesom. uh now, with christmas just around the corner, everyone will be glued favourite movies glued to their favourite movies

and . and soaps. >> obviously, in between watching us, tom. >> naturally. yes. okay. >> naturally. yes. okay. >> because we're. are we not? >> because we're. are we not? >> sorry. i well, it could be. >> sorry. i well, it could be. >> i guess i would rather be some sort of movie . okay. not some sort of movie. okay. not quite sure what movie would be classy movie a clock. yeah, right. >> classy . sophisticated muppets >> classy. sophisticated muppets christmas carol. that's probably right, because we're delighted to be joined in the studio with entertainment reporter hayley palmer through the palmer to guide us through the festive schedule and highlight what to watch out for. >> hello gorgeous. hayley. hello looking as always. looking very festive as always. nice you together. nice to see you together. >> yes , this our first time >> yes, this is our first time presenting together actually. oh yeah. >> identifying as his mad >> i'm identifying as his mad aunfie >> i'm identifying as his mad auntie here for it. we're here >> we're here for it. we're here for it. yeah, well, i want to talk about sam ryder because i had the pleasure of interviewing him this week. >> he is just awesome. exactly how you think he's going to be. and he is competing for christmas number one. now, the results are going to be. look, there you look, there we there you are. look, there we are. got great hair, both are. we've got great hair, both of blimey um, but yes, he is of us. blimey um, but yes, he is hopefully going to be number one

today because the results are going to be at 4:00. and he has worked so hard. i just love his graft. he's just literally not sitting back. he's been busking. he's been all over the country trying to get this one spot. >> and he's competing with wham! >> and he's competing with wham! >> wham. mean, yeah , >> wham. i mean, again, yeah, but i just think it's time for some new material. but i just think it's time for some new material . and i think some new material. and i think sam ryder is that person to do it, i really do. i hate to ask and sound completely ignorant, but i am. >> what's this song called? his songis >> what's this song called? his song is called christmas to me. >> dawn , and i'm going to buy it >> dawn, and i'm going to buy it for for christmas. for you for christmas. >> lovely. thank very much. yeah >> look, there we go. >> look, there we go. >> is it catchy? is it? >> is it catchy? is it? >> it is really catchy. you're going to sing along, tom. you're going to sing along, tom. you're going to sing along, tom. you're going to have some dance moves. >> complaining, >> we were just complaining, saying that there haven't been any christmas songs. any good new christmas songs. all the christmas songs that all of the christmas songs that we from the 1990s. we refer to are from the 1990s. uh could this be the one to break mould? break the mould? >> it really is. and that's exactly what i think. think, exactly what i think. i think, yes, you've got those classic songs. around songs. you're walking around tesco's you're like, yeah, tesco's and you're like, yeah, brilliant. one,

brilliant. but this one, honestly, is one honestly, trust me, is the one to break through. and sam ryder, what about cher's and cher? >> got a new christmas one? i like one as well. like that one as well. >> do like that one? perform >> do you like that one? perform that one strictly? >> that's right, i was >> yes, that's right, i was actually out other night and >> yes, that's right, i was aheardy out other night and >> yes, that's right, i was aheard ityut other night and >> yes, that's right, i was aheard it and other night and >> yes, that's right, i was aheard it and i other night and >> yes, that's right, i was aheard it and i waser night and >> yes, that's right, i was aheard it and i was like,]ht and i heard it and i was like, actually, it's quite catchy, but it's going to be number one. it's not going to be number one. all right. okay >> but love cher. >> but we love cher. >> but we love cher. >> we we do. magical. >> but we love cher. >> well, we do. magical. >> but we love cher. >> well, ifwe do. magical. >> but we love cher. >> well, if you're magical. >> but we love cher. >> well, if you're notgical. >> well, if you're not listening, what are you watching? films. watching? christmas films. everyone movie. >> okay, we're to have a >> okay, we're going to have a little debate here because i've had this outside in the green room. sorry for me, the number one have to watch one film that you have to watch is the holiday. >> huh? >> huh? >> the holiday is a good. >> the holiday is a good. >> a good film. >> it's a good film. >> it's a good film. >> kate winslet. >> kate winslet. >> we love the transatlantic relationship. >> we love the transatlantic relatlarge, p. >> we love the transatlantic relatlarge, but does always writ large, but it does always compete with another one that has themes, which is has similar themes, which is love actually. has similar themes, which is love actuallyno, i'm you on >> oh, god. no, i'm with you on that. that's real good feel that. that's a real good feel good film, isn't it? that good factor film, isn't it? that will be coming out for me as well. >> i have to say, i was at downing street a christmas downing street for a christmas party week, do party last week, and i did do a little bit of a dance on the on the, uh, staircase up with all

the, uh, staircase up with all the video footage up there. there none. unfortunately there is none. unfortunately they phone from you they take your phone from you when you go in for national security reasons or something like that. outrageous. >> used to romantic, >> i'm sorry. used to romantic, loved sort of like know, loved up. sort of like you know, rom to rom com things. i'm going to give shout gremlins. give a shout out to gremlins. >> gremlins? >> gremlins? >> there's nothing like liquid izing small on christmas izing a small alien on christmas day. >> come on. »- >> come on. >> love you for this. but >> i love you for this. but we can't on can't watch gremlins on christmas day. >> christmas film. >> it's a christmas film. >> it's a christmas film. >> a christmas film. >> it is a christmas film. >> it is a christmas film. >> can i just throw. can i just throw a live wire here? die throw a live wire into here? die hard, die hard a classic christmas christmas film. hard, die hard a classic chr it mas christmas film. hard, die hard a classic chr it isas christmas film. hard, die hard a classic chrit is a christmas film. >> it is a christmas film. >> it is a christmas film. >> there's christmas music. it's set at christmas. it's very christmassy you could watch elf. >> elf? oh, she went there. good job. >> she. right. >> she. right. >> the sort of arguments we'd have similar to the have are probably similar to the arguments that people will be having soap, having over the best soap, because another battle because that's another battle that's going this christmas. that's going on this christmas. >> everybody's >> eastenders. everybody's talking this because it's talking about this because it's kind who it kind kind of like a who did it kind of plot that was actually of murder plot that was actually plotted at the beginning of the yeah plotted at the beginning of the year. so it's been working up. so i can't wait for christmas. hold on. >> they're talking about death

and destruction on eastenders. i mean, who would have thought that happens. that never happens. >> exactly. but i love watching that never happens. >> ezchristmas i love watching that never happens. >> ezchristmas i loybecause ng that never happens. >> ezchristmas i loybecause it| it on christmas day because it makes better about your makes you feel better about your own life, doesn't it? because you're chaos, but you're like it's chaos, but eastenders competing with eastenders is competing with corrie. now corrie. it is, it is. and now corrie. it is, it is. and now corrie. this year is only half an it's usually an hour. an hour. it's usually an hour. special uh, i don't know why it's minutes, uh, this year, it's 30 minutes, uh, this year, but i don't know. i don't feel like got the same like corrie's got the same hitting storyline. like corrie's got the same hittsort;toryline. like corrie's got the same hittsort of yline. like corrie's got the same hittsort of crescendo, >> sort of crescendo, feeling like someone's apparently leaving after the leaving after being in the soap for 20 years. >> eastenders, they >> but with eastenders, they have up. they've have built this up. they've worked hard to everyone's worked hard to get everyone's attention are attention and all my friends are talking it. talking about it. >> interesting. it's always the mystery, whodunit, the mystery, the whodunit, the agatha christie. >> gremlins. no. romcom. >> gremlins. hello? no. romcom. um mean, the king's speech um so i mean, the king's speech >> will be watching >> yes. we will be watching that. of us. that. all of us. >> yes , of course we agree on >> yes, of course we agree on that. >> we'll be broadcasting it here on gb news. >> you can watch it here. >> you can watch it here. >> what time is that >> absolutely. what time is that actually that's 3:00, isn't >> i think that's 3:00, isn't it? it's usually 3:00 i think so, yeah . yeah. so, yeah. yeah. >> so that's very good. of coui'se. >> course. >> well hey, thank you so much for bringing us all of the

mandatory christmas viewing because my goodness, there's a lot it. yeah lot of it. yeah >> and we're not obviously spending christmas together because rather and because we'd rather like cat and dog, another great dog, which is another great christmas tradition, isn't it. yes. but, mm- mm.- >> but, uh, still to come, the great the boy alex great escape, the boy alex batty, disappeared for six batty, who disappeared for six years, reveals extraordinary years, reveals his extraordinary escape commune . escape from a hippie commune. >> that is a very strange story. uh, we'll be discussing that and much after your morning much more after your morning news with polly middlehurst . news with polly middlehurst. thank you. >> the headlines this hour long delays expected for travellers trying to get away for christmas this year. motorway closures , this year. motorway closures, train cancellations, all adding to the congestion queues more than a mile long, we hear for drivers at the port of dover, there was industrial action there was industrial action there and trains we understand, are now running out of london, but services will be disrupted over this weekend. don't forget paddington station closed on christmas eve. there are also delays at heathrow, where more than a quarter of a million people are expected to travel

away. meanwhile, eurostar services have resumed too, after thousands of people were stranded last night following an unexpected strike by site workers that led to widespread disruption on services from london saint pancras and from eurotunnel in folkestone . the eurotunnel in folkestone. the union has now agreed to a deal after initially rejecting an end of year bonus. in other after initially rejecting an end of year bonus . in other news, of year bonus. in other news, today , a woman charged with today, a woman charged with murdering her four year old child in east london has appeared in court. kasia macaraya is accused of stabbing her son kobe in hackney. he was taken to hospital on wednesday but died of his injuries. his mother is due to appear at the old bailey next thursday. and czech police have released body cam footage of the search for the gunman, who killed 13 people in prague yesterday . they say in prague yesterday. they say the 24 year old suspect killed his own father before opening fire at the charles university, then took his own life. police, who are still trying to establish a motive for the murders, say they're working on the theory. he was also

responsible for the deaths of two people in a nearby forest. and in news here at home, the uk economy has taken its first step towards recession after performing much worse than was expected. figures from the office for national statistics found there'd been a downturn in gdp rather than flatline . the gdp rather than flatline. the economy contracted very slightly by 0.1 of a percent in the three months from july to september. economists had been expecting slight growth of 0.2. those are the latest news headlines more on our website. go to gb news. com for more . com for more. >> for exclusive, limited edition and rare gold coins that are always newsworthy, rosalind gold proudly sponsors the gb news financial report . news financial report. >> a quick snapshot of today's markets for you and the pound will buy you $1.2740 and ,1.1554. the price of gold. is

£1,618.96 an ounce, and the ftse 100 is currently standing . at 100 is currently standing. at 7704 points. >> rosalind gold proudly sponsors the gb news financial report . report. >> thanks polly . now still to >> thanks polly. now still to come, should we change the law on assisted dying? the labour leader, sir keir starmer, seems to think so. after day, mr ransom has highlighted the issue dunng ransom has highlighted the issue during her battle with lung cancer. >> canceh >> it's incredibly moving her interview, isn't it? this is britain's newsroom on gb news. don't go too far

perspectives that i and people that i knew had dewbs& co weeknights from six. >> good morning . welcome back. >> good morning. welcome back. it's 1138. you're with britain's newsroom on gb news with tom harwood. him and dawn neesom me now . how. >> now. >> christmas getaway disruption is continuing with long queues across the channel with motorway , uh, troubles and indeed those train stations clogged up as well. >> yeah, the port of dover in kent said it is taking about 90 minutes to process cars with pre—booked tickets or. >> ouch. >> ouch. >> but we want to hear from you throughout the day here on gb news about your tales of traffic chaos. are you stuck on a motorway or waiting in an airport? if so, get in touch gb views at gb news. com now moving on at christmas time in the uk

as much as 114,000 tonnes of plastic packaging goes to landfill to cut down on waste in nonh landfill to cut down on waste in north yorkshire, residents are being urged to help spread some christmas cheer to youngsters across the country by donating unwanted or unused toys and games . games. >> anna riley has the full story for us. >> thousands of tonnes of waste are generated in britain over the festive period, with a typical household producing over three bin bags of packaging . three bin bags of packaging. >> every christmas we get an awful lot of additional waste at christmas time, both in the lead up to and after christmas. obviously, people will get loads of new stuff and throw all the old stuff away, which is, i guess, what people do, but is frustrating sometimes, especially if stuff comes in that looks like it's got that looks like it's still got quite life left in it, quite a bit of life left in it, and if we can get people to, um, reduce the amount of waste they produce, reuse stuff , and then produce, reuse stuff, and then when they have get of when they have to get rid of stuff, actually stuff, recycle it, that actually reduces the impact that we make on the planet. reduces the impact that we make on here lanet. reduces the impact that we make on here lar north yorkshire, the

>> here in north yorkshire, the councils reuse santa appeal aims to reduce waste and provide presents to hundreds of children who otherwise might not receive a gift. this christmas, we ask residents of north yorkshire to bnngin residents of north yorkshire to bring in new or used toys, gifts to give to children , and we to give to children, and we bnng to give to children, and we bring them in. >> we grade them, we clean them and we partner with several charities throughout the region to make sure that they go to children who ordinarily wouldn't get a christmas present. >> residents like jen are supporting the appeal to help families with the families struggling with the cost of living. it just breaks my heart, really, that children don't get toys at christmas. >> and i think it's a really >> um, and i think it's a really goodidea >> um, and i think it's a really good idea to instead of, um, like giving your toys or throwing them away or selling them to donate them to children who need them, it's it feels like a good thing to do. >> the donate toys are cleaned and tested by volunteers, and your waste staff sorting and preparing them for charities to

distribute the toys range massively , from cuddly toys to massively, from cuddly toys to board games to trains and cars . board games to trains and cars. and you name it. >> we've had it donated, which is absolutely fantastic. the children that will benefit range right from birth up to 1718. it must be quite worrying for some families how they're going to give their children , um, a good give their children, um, a good christmas . so we expect that christmas. so we expect that it'll be a relief to know that there's another source to help fill santa's stocking this christmas. >> 3000 items were donated through the scheme last year, andifs through the scheme last year, and it's hoped that even more children can be helped this christmas . anna riley gb news, christmas. anna riley gb news, northallerton . northallerton. >> thank you very much, anna, for that report. so important as well to remember others rather than sort of like, you know, just thinking about yourself because you've done your christmas shopping yet, like tom and named, right? christmas shopping yet, like tom anc no. named, right? christmas shopping yet, like tom anc no. okay.�*|amed, right? >> no. okay. >> no. okay. >> now we are joined by former

labour adviser scarlett maguire and broadcasterjournalist claire talk about claire amy dowden to talk about what's the newspapers. we what's in the newspapers. and we are going to come to you first. claire, we touched on this subject, we run out of time subject, but we run out of time in first part. unfortunately in the first part. unfortunately keir backs the keir starmer backs calls for the change in law on assisted dying right. >> so not i don't normally, um, agree with keir starmer in any way, shape or form. however i do think need to have think we need to have a legitimate, robust discussion over assisted dying in this country. now i'll be up front. my position is very pro—life on across the board on everything from conception through to death. i think all life is very, very important and all life should be protected as much as we possibly can now in this country , we have got terrible country, we have got terrible issues with our nhs. everyone is aware of that. however i don't think many of our viewers or listeners would actually know that palliative care is actually a medical branch of medicine. you can study to be an oncologist, a paediatrician, a gynaecology artist. you can also

study palliative care. and if we were to underpin palliative care in this country, which takes care of the mental, the mental health of the patient , the health of the patient, the support, the actual physical support, the actual physical support to the patient and their families, not unlike hospices , families, not unlike hospices, deliver and also the material aspects of life . they can aspects of life. they can actually have a very good end of life process . now for me, life process. now for me, sending someone away to dignitas is actually horrific and horrendous . not because they horrendous. not because they can't do it in this country, but because you see able bodied people often mentally with mental capacity, make the horrible, horrible decision that must be heart wrenching not only for them, but for their family and friends . you see them going and friends. you see them going off in an aircraft and come back in a box. something isn't quite right there. and then to have this discussion free from whip, which i think is absolutely

tantamount to this being a cross party vote regardless of which you know which party you're on. i think the removal of the whip, it has to be removed. but also i would go one step further and when we're discussing very emotive issues like this, we need to look at the evidence that we have the evidence that would support, i would say , my would support, i would say, my view more than anyone else's, because we look at canada , we because we look at canada, we look at what trudeau has done overin look at what trudeau has done over in canada with the inception of the euthanasia bill that they've passed, you only need to look at holland to see what's actually happened there by i don't care what anyone says by i don't care what anyone says by by actually making this law now you legitimate death, you legitimise death and you are not protecting the most vulnerable in society. and that's the issue . tom. >> claire, i suppose what some people would say is that it really depends on the safeguards, the multiple doctors that you might have to go through. and scarlet, wonder through. and scarlet, i wonder there are examples of people in

through. and scarlet, i wonder thercountryamples of people in through. and scarlet, i wonder thercountry awfullyof people in through. and scarlet, i wonder thercountry awfully takingyle in this country awfully taking their or, or putting their own lives or, or putting their own lives or, or putting their in difficult their family in difficult positions because of their position. what's your view on that? >> no, i mean, it's absolutely terrible. i mean, i do agree that we should have good palliative care. there's absolutely no question about that. and i do absolutely agree that. and i do absolutely agree that that we should not there should be no pressure, particularly on people with disabilities, that that somehow now they're second class citizens and they don't deserve to live. but, you know, i mean, l, to live. but, you know, i mean, i, i've always believed , lived i, i've always believed, lived in in the right to die and the right to die your own way, partly because both my parents talked about it from a very, you know, from, you know , when i was know, from, you know, when i was a teenager and then when, you know, when my father got very, very ill the last ten days, he was saying , can't somebody give was saying, can't somebody give me a pill ? i was saying, can't somebody give me a pill? i mean, frankly , if me a pill? i mean, frankly, if he had been an animal, if he had been a dog, you would have put

him down and um, and final plea, i mean, the . gp said, well, you i mean, the. gp said, well, you know, it might go on for another two months. i mean, he was in pain. he uh, it was just awful. and finally some doctor walked in and gave him an overdose of morphine and that it. in and gave him an overdose of morphine and that it . and morphine and that was it. and what was interesting that what was interesting was that his dying with his funeral we had dying with dignity charity, and it dignity as the charity, and it raised a thousand pounds and over and over again people came up to me in my siblings and said, this happened to our parents. so so actually there is a real problem with with the way people are allowed to die in this country. and i just think, i think that you have a right. i mean, you know, there was no question that not only was he incredible pain, he wasn't going to get, he wasn't just not going to get, he wasn't just not going to get, he wasn't just not going to get better. he wasn't going to get better. he wasn't going to improve at all. and i and i think i mean, it's interesting that claire talks about canada because i went to a meeting in canada of old people who canada full of old people who were of having strokes were terrified of having strokes and not being allowed to go. and

so the terror is on both ways, and i think that we should have and i think that we should have and i think that we should have and i absolutely agree that we should have a proper conversation . there should not conversation. there should not be it should not be party political . um, be it should not be party political. um, keir be it should not be party political . um, keir starmer be it should not be party political. um, keir starmer be. no, it absolutely can't be. and actually it's split. i mean, there's no question that there are people there are people in the labour party who are completely against there completely against it. and there are people in the conservative party are completely party who are completely for it. it's not party it's absolutely not party political. but but actually what i mean, in a way, we want a debate like the referendum , um, debate like the referendum, um, in ireland about abortion . that in ireland about abortion. that is a sensible debate that actually looks at things that where we where we do talk about proper palliative care because that's part of the problem, is , that's part of the problem, is, is, well, that's the solution in my view, better palliative care is, you know, it's awful that we do not have it. it really isn't. i mean, so a friend of mine who died of motor neurone disease, i mean, his wife told me he went

to a hospital and the hospice came out and said to her, um , he came out and said to her, um, he wants to die. what do you think? and she said , if that's what he and she said, if that's what he wants , he'd gone past the point wants, he'd gone past the point where of i mean, there's a whole he'd obviously gone past the point as well of getting on a flight to go to dignitas. >> oh, yeah. yeah. >> oh, yeah. yeah. >> no, i'm not talking about dignity, but what we have, they'll always be anecdotal evidence to support both sides. >> however, this is such a robust and a legitimate cause that teased out in that it has to be teased out in parliament everyone parliament and everyone has to let mps how they let their mps know how they feel. and i don't think the comparison between if someone was a dog would have put them down is helpful because we're deaung down is helpful because we're dealing with human beings. >> well, claire and scarlet, let's leave that there because we've now i >> -- >> the department for transport has announced that rail fares in england will rise by nearly 5% in march. the transport secretary mark harper, said that having met our target of halving

inflation across the economy, this is a significant intervention by the government to cap the increase in rail fares below last year's rise changed working patterns after the pandemic mean that our railways are still losing money and require significant subsidies, so this rise strikes a balance between, uh, keeping our railways running. while not overburdening passengers . overburdening passengers. >> i'm sorry, and good luck with that. if you're listening to us whilst waiting for a train , whilst waiting for a train, getting on an overcrowded train . getting on an overcrowded train. um, that's the last news you want, isn't it? that not only is it not comfortable travel by rail, you're going to have to pay rail, you're going to have to pay for it. what do you pay more for it. what do you make this announcement? yeah. make of this announcement? yeah. >> really believe >> scarlet, i, i really believe in rail travel. >> i think rail travel is fantastic. i think that we should be encouraging more people railways . and the people on the railways. and the railways are so expensive . oh, i railways are so expensive. oh, i mean, of course you're right that that they're often not very good. and we should be doing something about how dreadful

something about how dreadful some of the railways. but they are expensive and they keep people away. and so , i mean, you people away. and so, i mean, you know, they keep people in their cars. and what we want is more and more people on the railways and more people on the railways and better railways. >> and yet they're expensive to run and they need investment and they need engineering work. so we don't want them to break down when it's windy. >> tom, why is it when we go to, um, italy, the trains run to the minute they run to the second. right. this country, you have a bad bite of rain. oh no fleet leaves on the tracks . too much rain. >> not enough rain, not enough rain. wrong type of snow, wrong type of snow. >> it's just. type of snow. >> it'sjust. it'sjust britain. i think. adding in the strikes as well. absolutely ridiculous. you know, we need to get to places as scarlett. quite rightly, i love a train journey as well . i love going up to as well. i love going up to glasgow in the train, either west coast or east coast. it's beautiful, you know, but then it is so expensive. sometimes it's actually cheaper to believe actually cheaper to fly. believe it or often, often it's it or not, often, often it's cheaper fly particularly. cheaper to fly particularly. >> crazy .

>> it's crazy. >> it's crazy. >> but. but doesn't that make sense? i mean, if you're flying, you don't to maintain rails you don't need to maintain rails across the length of the country, it sort of make country, doesn't it sort of make economic sense? >> footprint. >> carbon footprint. >> carbon footprint. >> live in a small >> but we live in a small country. we need to have proper railways . we should not be railways. we should not be flying . flying. >> but then the question is, how do you fund that infrastructure? and harper was saying, and as mark harper was saying, you know, you the upgrades , you know, you need the upgrades, the electrification, the rail needs electrification, it maintenance. it needs maintenance. so it needs money, needs to take needs more money, needs to take back its tracks, i think, and get on track . get on track. >> get on. i love that i'm going to move on. we all like a mystery at christmas and this story is developing into more of a mystery, i think, than any of us expected. this story of us expected. this is a story of alex batty the british teenager who was taken by his mum and has suddenly re—emerged . what's suddenly re—emerged. what's going on here? >> so, so he's he was taken by his mum when he was 11. uh, and, and it is thought he was taken to morocco and then he sort of lived all over europe in, in

hippie communes with his mother and, and grandfather either. um, and, and grandfather either. um, and finally he said, enough is enough and walked out of a commune. now he's , he's, i think commune. now he's, he's, i think very clever . we only ever saw very clever. we only ever saw a picture of him at 11. he's now given an interview to the sun and we see a picture of him now, which which i think actually completely destroys it because it means he's going to have people looking people looking for him all the time. but it's an incredible story of how he , an incredible story of how he, he, he just realised there was no future. i mean, that's what he said is he, he said she was a really good woman but not a good mother. um, she wasn't warm , she mother. um, she wasn't warm, she wasn't cuddly. and then she'd go off and just leave him and claire. >> claire, this is child abuse. really >> well, it's an absolute dereliction of your parental responsibility. i'd say to be able to take a child away with absolutely no regard for anyone left here, like his grandmother, his maternal grandmother.

left here, like his grandmother, his maternal grandmother . where his maternal grandmother. where is his father in all of this as well? you know, it's just it's a very it's a very, very strange story . very. however, i'm glad story. very. however, i'm glad the lad is fit and healthy and well, he's been able to do this exclusive interview with the sun. he's made the front pages . sun. he's made the front pages. you know, we've got an awful lot of and at the moment. of doom and gloom at the moment. at his home is christmas. at least his home is christmas. let's hope it's a happy christmas story. >> although i must admit, a lovely way, i think there is more this story than meets more to this story than meets the eye. well on the note of having a happy christmas , having having a happy christmas, having a merry christmas. >> thank you very much. scarlett mccgwire muldoon mccgwire and claire muldoon for talking those stories. >> uh, up next, good afternoon, britain with ben and emily. >> it is indeed coming up. we're feeling a bit festive today. it is the friday before christmas, after all. what's coming up? >> well, lots of travel chaos. >> well, lots of travel chaos. >> planes, trains, ferries, all grounded by storm pier. how are you getting on? are you going to make it home for christmas? let us know gb views at gb news. >> com.

>> com. >> yes, we want to know if you are a traffic jam are stuck in a traffic jam yesterday or are you travelling today? train or ferry and also have government already have the government already u—turned their toughest u—turned on their toughest package immigration package of immigration measures yet? we'll speak yet? we'll find out. we'll speak to furious mp about to a rather furious mp about that one. >> looks like things are heating up. boxed boilers. sponsors of weather on gb news . hello up. boxed boilers. sponsors of weather on gb news. hello . i'm weather on gb news. hello. i'm alex deakin and this is your latest weather update from the met office for gb news who's still windy out there today . still windy out there today. >> windy as yesterday. >> not as windy as yesterday. most are pretty drab, most places are pretty drab, with some places staying fairly soggy ' with some places staying fairly soggy , particularly if you're soggy, particularly if you're stuck under this weather front's been bringing rain to northwest england, southwest scotland through much of through the night and much of the morning. the rain will ease a little bit here, but it stays pretty damp. rain times. pretty damp. some rain at times. getting the midlands and getting into the midlands and much western scotland. much of western scotland. northeast seeing some northeast scotland seeing some wintry snow to wintry showers, more snow to come where there come across shetland where there is a met warning in is a met office warning in place. of southern england. place. much of southern england. wales, a chunk northern wales, a good chunk of northern ireland but fairly

ireland just dry, but fairly cloudy. not too much in the way of sunshine. pretty mild though for the time of year. 10 to 12 degrees colder though in the far northeast where the weather remains pretty wintry and increasing chance tonight of seeing some rain turning to snow that could be quite heavy . and that could be quite heavy. and we have a met office yellow warning across parts warning in place across parts of the and the the northeast mainland and the northern for that northern isles. for that snow andice northern isles. for that snow and ice overnight and into and ice risk overnight and into saturday morning for many across england and wales, there'll be a dry night to fairly cloudy and a very rain really very mild night. the rain really sets in across western scotland through the and lasts for through the night and lasts for most of saturday. that could also cause disruption along also cause some disruption along with further north and with the snow. further north and east. patchy rain over southern scotland, northern ireland, maybe parts of northern england too, but much of the south again , just looking dry and cloudy. quite windy at times and for most of us staying very mild. bye for now . bye for now. >> that warm feeling inside from boxt boilers sponsors of weather on gb news .

>> good afternoon britain. it is 12:00 on friday. the 22nd of december, driving home for christmas storm. >> pia unleashes widespread disruption on trains , planes, disruption on trains, planes, ferries and roads as millions of us head home for the festive season. so how are you coping?

let us know by sending your pictures, videos and travel tales to gb views at gb news.com. >> yes , now the migrant visa. >> yes, now the migrant visa. >> yes, now the migrant visa. >> backtrack the home office u—turns on a decision to hike the earnings thresholds for migrants to bring their families to the uk . it sparked criticism to the uk. it sparked criticism from the tory right. we'll speak to one mp for their blistering reaction very shortly, and the world mourns for prague 14 dead and dozens injured as police release dramatic body . cam release dramatic body. cam footage of an atrocity that stunned the nation will cross live to the czech republic for the latest on the country's worst ever mass shooting . worst ever mass shooting. and speaking of travel chaos, we've just learned that, uh, rail fares are going to be hiked by 4.9. so there you go . happy christmas! >> would you know how much i paid? so normally i'm on the prime time shows on this channel. so it's off peak. if i

get a train from plug.