awkward christmas gifts. >> i mean, what do you do, folks? >> i mean, what do you do, folks.7 when you get a pair of socks or a lynx? africa folks? when you get a pair of socks or a lynx? africa box set from third twice from your third cousin twice removed? we'll have the answers shortly. a new research has suggested brits could be opting for cups of tea over fizz and beer this christmas. we'll be heanng beer this christmas. we'll be hearing from the head of the uk tea infusions association . tea and infusions association. will you be saying cheers with a clink of your china this year ? clink of your china this year? let me know by getting in touch. send we're at send us your thoughts. we're at gbviews@gbnews.com or message us where on socials at gb news. first of all though we're going to get you news with the fabulously festive polly middlehurst . at. middlehurst. at. >> darren thank you. good afternoon to you. well our top story from the gb newsroom is that travellers are being warned of delays. unfortunately of long delays. unfortunately today as congestion starts to mar the festive seasons, transport problems the aa is predicting it will be the

busiest day of the pre christmas period, with an expected 16.5 million extra cars on the road. drivers queuing at the port of dover this morning for ferries currently waiting about 90 minutes. we understand at border control checks , but eurostar is control checks, but eurostar is operating two extra services per day between london and paris . day between london and paris. that's up to and including christmas eve, with london paddington, though closed for four days from tomorrow . travel four days from tomorrow. travel expert simon calder says rail passengers must plan carefully, so let's start at london paddington because we know that all the trains are going to stop as from late tonight. >> there won't be any until the 28th of december. we are seeing train cancellations to bristol, to cardiff and coming back in the opposite direction due to shortage of train crew. the nonh shortage of train crew. the north of england is going to be even worse. no northern trains has said do not travel on some of our key routes. we won't have any trains. we can't get the

staff to run them . staff to run them. >> simon calder, meanwhile , the >> simon calder, meanwhile, the aa has issued an amber traffic warning for today 23% of drivers saying they'll be using their cars to do that last minute christmas shopping. and today's being dubbed super saturday, tipped to be the busiest in—store shopping day of the yeah in—store shopping day of the year. last year, shoppers . were year. last year, shoppers. were said to have spent over £15 million buying last minute christmas gifts. this now, in other news today, the london mayor is calling on the government to help provide aid to ukraine by sending vehicles that would ordinarily be scrapped under the ulez scheme, said khan has asked the transport secretary to enable those living in the capital to donate their vehicles under the scrappage scheme. londoners with cars that fall foul of emission standards can claim up to £2,000 when they're non compliant. vehicle is scrapped and ukraine will be celebrating christmas on december the 25th. this year.

that's the first time since nine 1970 been the holiday is usually held in ukraine on the 7th of january, in accordance with the traditional julian calendar , traditional julian calendar, which is used in russia . the which is used in russia. the move marks a step forward in erasing all traces of russian influence in kyiv . moscow's influence in kyiv. moscow's attack last year has seen many ukrainians reject the language and culture, and those traditional customs . now a traditional customs. now a moment of silence has been observed in the czech republic today, as the nation has held a day of mourning for the victims of a mass shooting. there 14 people were shot dead at the charles university in prague on thursday by a student , who then thursday by a student, who then killed himself . the country's killed himself. the country's president, peter pavel, along with members of the public, have been lighting candles and paying their respects at a memorial. police are still trying to establish a motive for the attack . here junior doctors have attack. here junior doctors have returned to work after a 72 hour

strike over pay . nhs managers strike over pay. nhs managers have said that action has put patient safety at risk. senior doctors were drafted in to cover appointments, and the prime minister said the action was disappointing, urging junior doctors to call off further strikes . the british medical strikes. the british medical association has urged the government, though, to get back round the table and make what they're calling a credible offer . the talks broke down after they declined add a 3% rise on top of the average 8.8% increase. they were given in the summer. the next round of junior doctor strikes will take place in the new year. and lastly, rebecca welch will make history today as the first woman to ever referee a premier league football match. the 40 year old's taking charge of the fulham burnley game this afternoon. she began refereeing in 2010 and in january became the first female to officiate at a men's championship game . the a men's championship game. the burnley manager has welcomed the milestone match, saying his

players won't be changing their behaviour when she takes charge of game . you're with gb news of the game. you're with gb news across the uk on tv , in your across the uk on tv, in your car, on digital radio and on your smart speaker. this is britain's news channel . thanks britain's news channel. thanks very much, polly. >> let's get stuck into today's topic, shall we? now folks, i want to talk to you about last night , because last want to talk to you about last night, because last night i enjoyed an early christmas right before heading down here to the studio. now there i was, in the heart of my own home, surrounded by the faces that mean the absolute world to me now. the air was thick with love, laughter, and the greatest sound in the world. the popping of bottles of english fizz . now bottles of english fizz. now folks, that got me thinking, especially about that word that we should remember at this time of year that word gratitude in our self—obsessed me , me, me era our self—obsessed me, me, me era christmas really jolts you back to reality , doesn't it? it

to reality, doesn't it? it reminds you. or at least it ought to, to look beyond the selfie. the ability to gather around a christmas turkey in your own home. well, that's turning into a luxury. something even father christmas can't guarantee anymore. so why is that? well, it's not rocket science, is it? we're not building enough homes. but here's what's really grinding my gears . our political and here's what's really grinding my gears. our political and media elites seem absolutely hellbent on paving over britain. if it means that they keep their addiction to mass migration. now, this hit me like a ton of bncks now, this hit me like a ton of bricks last night as i was scrolling through my twitter feed on the train on the way down here, there was this thread about a development in camden . about a development in camden. it's prime london real estate . it's prime london real estate. pretty central. originally set for the open market, but then in a classic bait and switch , they a classic bait and switch, they pull these homes off the market. now why is that you might ask. social housing to hand them oven social housing to hand them over. folks to the ever so generous home office . now what

generous home office. now what do the home office do with it ? do the home office do with it? well, the home office, in my view, are acting more as a foreign office central government dished out a whopping £650 million of your to money local authorities. and that's not for building affordable homes for brits . it's to hand homes for brits. it's to hand over prime properties to those who've never paid a penny in the system. while our very own are languishing on waiting lists as long as the river tyne i've just seen in our email inbox there someone writing in asking if we could give a shout out to citizens advice because they've been helping them this festive penod been helping them this festive period to access housing. so this christmas , my heart truly this christmas, my heart truly goes out to those who are left out in the cold, right? the single mum who can't give her kids their own home, the elderly couple struggling to downsize the students in cramped digs, and the young people drowning in rent with no hope of ever owning a key to their own front door . a key to their own front door. and then there's rishi sunak in

the background of all of this back pedalling faster than a cyclist in the tour de france. his pledge to raise the earnings threshold for family members coming to the uk, a glimmer of hope for those of us who respected the brexit mandate , is respected the brexit mandate, is now being phased in over two years, phased in, more like phased out , years, phased in, more like phased out, out if you ask me. i mask in this simple question. this christmas. does sunak think that we were born yesterday ? that we were born yesterday? does he reckon that we reckon he'll be along at the long enough to actually see through something happening in two years? is he going to be around then? i'm very doubtful . i don't then? i'm very doubtful. i don't think he should bet the house on it, put it that way. it's high time our leaders grew a spine and stood up for what they continuously promise. so this christmas and in the years to come , we don't need empty come, we don't need empty promises . we need a government promises. we need a government that puts its own people first. that respects its own promises

to its own voters, is that really too much to ask for? well, joining me to discuss this is my panel. we've got charlie lambden, housing market specialist. he'll have a thing or two to say about this. simon danczuk, labour mp , as danczuk, former labour mp, as well as a man who saw walk. it's a wonder he sleeps. a wonder he ever sleeps. political commentator benjamin butterworth . now simon, and i'll butterworth. now simon, and i'll start with you because you're nearest to us. okay. what did you make of that? are you worried about this situation in britain? i mean, you're a former mp . you would have seen in your mp. you would have seen in your time . lots of these issues. crop time. lots of these issues. crop up. i time. lots of these issues. crop up.i bet time. lots of these issues. crop up. i bet there were people writing in to you about advice and all that. >> and whilst i'm a former labour mp, i'm traditional laboun >>i laboun >> i was always traditional laboun >> so tough on illegal immigration, tough on benefits , immigration, tough on benefits, cheats, tough, tough law and order policy support. the royal family . family. >> so traditional labour, not the sort of labour that we have under keir starmer, which i would describe as and i don't know if it's your labour, but

sort of it is very much. >> yeah. north labour. so >> yeah. north london labour. so that's at i agree that's not me at all. i agree with practically everything you've said there. >> i was the mp for rochdale. lots of people . uh, we, we took lots of people. uh, we, we took the second highest of the second highest number of illegal immigrants in any town or in the uk when i was the or city in the uk when i was the mp , and they've an illegal mp, and they've an illegal migration. immigration has really turned that town around. >> and has that got worse since you left office? well, i don't know the answer to that, but but i'm it looks i'm there regularly and it looks to be still really terrible situation. >> you have lots of homeless people, british people who are homeless , and yet we're taking homeless, and yet we're taking a disproportionate number of illegal immigrants into rochdale, and it's changed the face . it was a proud face of the town. it was a proud lancashire town, but that's been changed by illegal immigration. no it. no doubt about it. >> assuming benjamin, >> i'm assuming benjamin, that you're going well, you're just going to say, well, the rochdale, the people of rochdale, you know, buttercup . know, tough luck, buttercup. >> immigration is >> well, illegal immigration is rather different to illegal immigration. someone that's come here without the right to do so is obviously not welcome. and that's why defined that's why it's defined very much legal.

>> much legal. » lm much legal. >> bed board and benefits. >> me benefits. >> wrong, benefits. >> correct me if i'm wrong, but you've gordon called >> after gordon brown called a voter woman. voter a bigoted woman. >> absolutely. voter a bigoted woman. >> so absolutely. voter a bigoted woman. >> so in|bsolutely. voter a bigoted woman. >> so in 2010,tely. voter a bigoted woman. >> so in 2010, i ly. voter a bigoted woman. >> so in 2010, i was the labour candidate just to explain it. and gordon brown was challenged by gillian duffy, uh, asking where all these immigrants coming from because people were fed up of it . and i got on very fed up of it. and i got on very well with gillian , actually, and well with gillian, actually, and i recruited her into the labour party incident . but party after that incident. but we were on the same page in this issue, and labour needs to be tougher mark words, tougher on that. mark my words, if labour come to power, if anybody's thinking if labour come to power, if anybody'sthinking voting anybody's thinking of voting labour election labour at the general election and immigration is an issue for them, situation to them, the situation is going to get under labour. there'll get worse under labour. there'll be more people coming into the country and that's big country and that's a big mistake. your anger on mistake. i think your anger on this development camden is this development in camden is totally misplaced because , well, totally misplaced because, well, yes, a very built up yes, camden is a very built up area london and it's area of london and it's a relatively expensive part of central london. >> the fund put this >> the fund that put this property for afghanistan refugees is they're not illegal immigrants , and they're not just immigrants, and they're not just legal immigrants , but this money legal immigrants, but this money is for people that fought in the

british armed forces, these people that are getting these homes were translators, doctors , homes were translators, doctors, mayors, journalists, civil servants on behalf of the british government who helped our soldiers and put their lives at risk. and i don't know about you, but i think those people that put their lives on the line in afghanistan are owed the right to be in this country and to be able to have a home here went to start a new life in which hopefully pay for which they can hopefully pay for themselves line. themselves down the line. so, charlie, what i would say to that why it have that is, look, why does it have to be camden, right? why does it have be some the most have to be some of the most expensive that expensive real estate that the country probably possibly knows ? country probably possibly knows? right. you look at house prices there and as you well know, they're going through the roof . they're going through the roof. >> um, it's a very good question. >> and i don't know the answer to places are chosen to why some places are chosen over other places. it could be to do with the developers. >> be to do well. they >> it could be to do well. they say got the community. >> i mean, if you're coming from afghanistan, i'm wondering how deep your links to camden are. >> the our economy , immigration

>> the our economy, immigration and housing policy are in explicably linked to each other. >> and the problem we find ourselves in with a flat lining at best economy um, uncontrolled numbers of legal migration as well as illegal immigration and chronic housing shortages. >> it's a it's a it's a doom loop because because we aren't having enough children as a nation. right. our birth rate is not enough to sustain it. so if you don't sustain your population in a capitalist economy, the economy tanks. now . economy, the economy tanks. now. this this is why i'm campaigning in housing. it's why i have i have a mantra . my mission and my have a mantra. my mission and my career is dedicated to a home for so for everyone. okay um, and so i study this, and you can't get to the bottom of this without understanding the politics and the now, the the economics of it. now, at the moment, without doubt, the legal migration, students, migration, especially students, uh, the gdp will be over 1% lower than it is now. we would

be in steep recession. and i don't buy that. it's fact. sorry, 41 billion is what foreign students bring in each yeah foreign students bring in each year. and those are the legal ones. right. those are most of the legal migration is foreign students . um, without the legal students. um, without the legal migration, we don't have enough people to fill the jobs . that's people to fill the jobs. that's just a fact. >> that is not a fact. no no, sorry genuinely is because the british don't want this sorry genuinely is because the britispickers. don't want this fruit pickers. >> well, british don't >> well, british people don't want >> well, british people don't warwe'll get into work. >> we'll get them into work. that's can't that's the issue. you can't force ? well, force them. oh yeah? well, reduce the benefits. i mean, you have get the economically have to get the economically inactive of number as increased of working age dramatically increase since the pandemic. get the economic inactive back into work. i agree with that. that's but can i just point out that there are already enough people here the work, get them here to do the work, get them back the phrase >> you use the phrase economically is economically inactive, which is right rather unemployed. right rather than unemployed. and that's right and the reason that's the right figure description figure for the right description for increase because for the increase is because a significant those significant proportion of those people are not 18 or whatever and don't want off their backside. >> they're in their 50s. >> they're in their 50s.

>> seen a massive >> we have seen a massive increase in people retiring early getting their quarter early and getting their quarter of a million tax free pension pot, and not going into the workforce and that's been a massive mistake. so if you're saying we need to our own saying we need to get our own back then lots of back into work, then lots of people be nodding along people will be nodding along watching is watching this. but the truth is that their that those people are in their 50s who've economic 50s who've made an economic decision to cash out of the economy very briefly. >> going on. but >> we're going to move on. but very, very important. >> the reason tories have >> the reason the tories have been unable to reduce legal migration, which was what they were manifesto. were elected on the manifesto. indeed it would were elected on the manifesto. indethe it would were elected on the manifesto. indethe economy. it would were elected on the manifesto. ind well, conomy. it would were elected on the manifesto. ind well, look, ny. it would were elected on the manifesto. ind well, look, ny. sorry, would were elected on the manifesto. ind well, look, ny. sorry, butjld were elected on the manifesto. ind well, look, ny. sorry, but id >> well, look, i'm sorry, but i just personally buy that just i don't personally buy that because i actually think for far too long we have given businesses a lunch of cheap businesses a free lunch of cheap migrant labour and said, to hell with the people this country. with the people of this country. and find that and personally, i find that morally reprehensible. >> you there. but >> i agree with you there. but the is, they have no the point is, they have no choice the one thing the choice because the one thing the government bring government can bring the relatives one thing the relatives in, the one thing the government punished for government will be punished for more recession. >> we'll that. we'll >> we'll move on that. we'll come back to you though. so come back to you all though. so thank very much for what come back to you all though. so thanithoughtsy much for what come back to you all though. so thanithoughtsy muour or what come back to you all though. so thanithoughtsy muouror wh for your thoughts and our folks for all analysis all the best analysis and opinion story and many

opinion on that story and many more. to our website, more. you can go to our website, gbnews.com. now folks, christmas is upon us of course, and there's nothing quite as bad as those awkward moments when you received strange presents from distant relatives who perhaps aren't quite as clued up on what to get you. we've all been there, and when the wrapping paper falls away to reveal a pair novelty socks or that pair of novelty socks or that cliche links africa boxset , no cliche links africa boxset, no offence wearing it offence to those wearing it right you have to force right now, and you have to force a face of enthused chasm. well, right now, and you have to force a fa(do»f enthused chasm. well, right now, and you have to force a fa(do you thused chasm. well, right now, and you have to force a fa(do you dealed chasm. well, right now, and you have to force a fa(do you deal with asm. well, right now, and you have to force a fa(do you deal with such well, how do you deal with such awkward since barrios? well, i'm delighted to be joined now by an expert on the matter , the expert on the matter, the neuropsychologist doctor rachel taylor. now doctor rachel, thank you very much for your time . um, you very much for your time. um, what would your advice be to those this christmas who unwrap their gifts, their face falls and they think, goodness, how do i bluff this? i've got to play. you know, my poker face to the extreme. >> well, it depends how much they want to, um, convey what they're feeling to who's giving them the gift. how much that person means to them. and this

is a thing we shouldn't be afraid of saying. um, i don't think this is really for me. thank you for buying it. you know, for me. but honestly, i'm not going to appreciate this. and the one thing that i'm finding more and more in the research doing and the research that i'm doing and the work i'm doing, is that work that i'm doing, is that human are forgetting that human beings are forgetting that they're human beings and that actually to have actually we need to have a reciprocal, um , gifting and reciprocal, um, gifting and receiving arrangements because we are social beings , because we we are social beings, because we are the most social of all the animals on, on the earth . and animals on, on the earth. and the interesting thing is, when we receive a gift and we feel that it disrespects us, we get a stress response that happens right here in this part of the brain. wow and that actually that actually alerts us to the fact that somebody is not appreciating who we are. and basically we our brain takes us a life and death , um, situation a life and death, um, situation that actually we're not part of this group. and we could be ousted. so it's not as simple as that. oh, that's just not i

don't like those novelty socks . don't like those novelty socks. it's like literally a life and death death response. >> gosh, i mean, but rachel, is there an element of ingratitude ? there an element of ingratitude? like, do you think actually there's an element here where, you know, people need to remember be more thankful or remember to be more thankful or do think need to be do you just think we need to be blunt honest and open? blunt and honest and open? >> well , i blunt and honest and open? >> well, i think, you know, gratitude is a really interesting concept in itself , interesting concept in itself, because are going to be because why are you going to be thankful for fact that thankful for the fact that somebody has not even taken the time or the effort to really think about what you might like to receive ? i mean, are we going to receive? i mean, are we going to receive? i mean, are we going to be grateful for somebody being completely disrespectful or no or not? we're going to be grateful when somebody appreciated are and what appreciated who we are and what we think about and what we value. and that's where gratitude comes in, you know? and it's not about just the giving of something. why panic, buy and spend money on something that somebody is not going to actually appreciate? would it not be better to think about who you are giving to and really who

they are and what they would appreciate to stop all of this? i think you know this and again, this comes back to the humanness of it that we've gone so of it in that if we've gone so far in not caring about other human beings , what's the point human beings, what's the point in even doing it at all? okay okay. >> right. we'll leave it there. that's food for thought. neuropsychologist doctor rachel taylor, thank you very much for your time there. folks, your time there. now, folks, lots of you have sending in lots of you have been sending in your emails on the topic of migration. angela's written in and she's got some words for benjamin butterworth, angela says, hayworth says the says, but hayworth says the afghan has housed , fought, afghan has been housed, fought, and this country and deserve and for this country and deserve housing. what about the british born veterans? don't they deserve housing? well, of course they do. also, david says, hi darren, i cannot believe i'm agreeing with benjamin butterworth while there's a first, i wonder. it doesn't elaborate there, but keep your views coming in. there's one. at least there's one. at least i could only write that one sentence. i bet. yeah, you would just quickly email it in there.

i saw now for many, christmas is the time for indulging not just in large festive feasts, but something bubbly to wash it all down with. and obviously i'm no exception. it's one of the few days of the year it's acceptable, isn't it, to crack open the face first thing in the morning? english in my house mind. however new research has suggested that the favourite british drink is in fact tea rather than beer or bubbly. the uk tea and infusions association found 98% of brits drink . at found 98% of brits drink. at least one cup of tea a day, with many citing that the warmth and the comfort our national beverage brings us is important to them. so could it be a wiser move for those with the proclivity for hangovers to opt for a brew over the bubbly this christmas ? well, joining me to christmas? well, joining me to discuss this is doctor sharon hall, the chief executive of the uk tea and infusions association. sharon, thank you very much for your time . i'm very much for your time. i'm wondering then, are you personally i mean, i know you

work for the uk teen infusions association, but will you be shunning the alcohol? >> well, i think everything in moderation . i certainly will be moderation. i certainly will be starting my day with a cup of black tea, which i do every day . black tea, which i do every day. um, but i'll be having a nice balance. i'm sure i'll have a cup of a glass of fizz as well. at some point during the day. and actually, if you really want to they make a to stay teetotal, they make a sparkling wine from tea these days. so there's another choice. >> that's true. i didn't know that. so what? it's caffeine. how do they put the caffeine element into it? >> well, you don't put caffeine into any any tea. naturally growing. okay. naturally occurring in the plant. um, and actually caffeine and tea is really, really moderate . so really, really moderate. so there's about 40 migs, which is less than half than you find in your cup of coffee. and the brilliant thing about tea is it has some other natural compounds . so something called gaba, which has a mild sedative effect , and also a unique amino acid

called l—theanine, which smooths out the effects of the caffeine . out the effects of the caffeine. so actually what you get is this lovely alert. but calm effect when you drink a cup of tea . when you drink a cup of tea. >> and sharon, do you think actually we're turning into a nafion actually we're turning into a nation of puritans ? are we going nation of puritans? are we going back the of oliver back to the sort of oliver cromwell are we saying? cromwell era? are we saying? actually, no. you know, let's get rid of these trinkets of excess and gorge and instead , excess and gorge and instead, you know, we'll have a humble cuppa instead ? cuppa instead? >> well, i hope people do have a humble cuppa, but as i say, i think it's everything in moderation. i think what's really, really interesting is when we surveyed this group of people, which include 18 to 24 year olds, they 54% of those that age group told us that they would prefer to have a cup of tea instead of an alcoholic beverage. and i think there's increasingly a sober, curious generation coming up that perhaps don't drink as young, starting as young as we did when we were that age . um, and i we were that age. um, and i think that's for a lot of

reasons . i think they drink tea reasons. i think they drink tea for its warming effect, for its calming effect , for its warming effect, for its calming effect, probably because it's more cost effective than an alcoholic well, that's alcoholic beverage. well, that's mostly i think they're mostly i just think they're a health conscious generation and they're fully aware the they're fully aware of all the great benefits you can get from a cup of tea. >> yeah , well that's true. i >> yeah, well that's true. i agree of but agree with all of that. but look, i we need to be look, i think we need to be supporting pubs. that's supporting our pubs. that's my concern . but doctor sharon concern. but doctor sharon hall, we'll there. chief we'll leave it there. chief executive uk tea and executive of the uk tea and infusions association. she's off to have a lovely cuppa. well still with me is my panel. we've got charlie lambden, the housing market specialist. simon danczuk, former labour mp and benjamin butterworth here in the studio. benjamin, will you be turning a tea over a glass of fizz? >> do you know, i was actually thinking how much i agree with you i'm prefer you because i'm much prefer engush you because i'm much prefer english sparkling wine to champagne , i really can't champagne, i really do. i can't stand prosecco . it's far too stand prosecco. it's far too sweet, so i actually this morning i was in, um, fort mason, if i can say. of course you were. and buying a you were. and i was buying a couple bottles english couple of bottles of english sparkling do sparkling wine because they do great my

great stuff. so that's my christmas day tipple. >> simon. >> simon. >> start christmas day >> yes, i'll start christmas day with for breakfast. with champagne for breakfast. but fortnum but you're right. i'm a fortnum and they do an and mason's fan. they do an excellent tea. excellent sparkling tea. sparkling. so the sparkling tea she referred to, you can get it. and it's alcohol. i mean, and it's zero alcohol. i mean, my drinks. my wife drinks. >> have champagne >> i have champagne for breakfast. days. breakfast. most days. >> i've got nothing >> obviously, i've got nothing too champagne. too good for the champagne. socially. socialist. socially. champagne socialist. what you? i mean , do you what about you? i mean, do you actually that there's a. actually think that there's a. is there a movement here to shun alcohol? do you think actually we're moving that direction we're moving in that direction where is bad we're moving in that direction wh> there's definitely a movement against it, i'm resisting against it, but i'm resisting that against it, but i'm resisting tha oh, me too. >> oh, me too. >>— >> oh, me too. >> english as i can, >> it's much english as i can, followed a cup of tea the followed by a cup of tea in the morning to the hangover. morning to help the hangover. >> simon, do you worry >> i mean, simon, do you worry about pubs with people about our pubs or with people moving direction? about our pubs or with people moabsolutely. direction? about our pubs or with people moabsolutely. d think n? about our pubs or with people moabsolutely. dthink people >> absolutely. i think people should support should make an effort to support their to the their pool. but i go to the grosvenor pimlico. not not grosvenor in pimlico. not not every probably too every day, but probably too much. but you've got to support them them. i them whilst you lose them. so i think should make a point think people should make a point of this christmas. of going there this christmas. the from rochdale, that the long way from rochdale, that is. well, indeed. >> well, it is indeed. >> well, it is indeed. >> indeed. now, folks, >> it is indeed. now, folks, you're watching and listening to gb saturday with me, darren

gb news saturday with me, darren grimes. we've got more grimes. we've got loads more coming up on today's show. today's set to be busiest today's set to be the busiest shopping of the year. gb shopping day of the year. gb news very own patrick christys took oxford street. god bless took to oxford street. god bless him to talk to last minute shoppers. plus santas come into town. but first let's take a little look at the weather. good afternoon. >> welcome to your latest gb news weather. i'm ellie glazier. it's remaining unsettled as we go through the rest of the weekend in towards christmas weekend and in towards christmas day, temperatures generally day, but temperatures generally remaining average for the remaining above average for the time is due to time of year. this is due to high bringing warm air high pressure bringing warm air up but low up from the south, but low pressure sits up towards the northwest, bringing frontal systems bringing systems across the uk, bringing plenty of wet and windy weather, particularly to western parts of scotland through the rest of saturday and later into saturday and then later into christmas eve on for western parts of wales, could see up parts of wales, we could see up to 80mm of rain here, generally remaining very cloudy elsewhere, although perhaps some clearer spells scotland. spells across parts of scotland. but pushing in but blustery showers pushing in and generally remaining mild across the board into the start of christmas eve, perhaps even

around or degrees across around 11 or 12 degrees across the south. so a cloudy, damp and mild start to christmas eve across much of england and wales, rain pushing its way wales, with rain pushing its way eastwards as go through the eastwards as we go through the day, continue day, blustery showers continue across parts of scotland, these perhaps turning over any perhaps turning wintry over any high remaining very high ground and remaining very windy too scotland and windy too for scotland and northern england. we could see gusts up to 70 miles an hour, perhaps bringing some tricky driving another mild driving conditions. another mild day around or degrees. but day around 12 or 13 degrees. but those winds taking the those strong winds taking the notch temperatures notch off those temperatures christmas day looks much of the same for the southern half of the rain pushes in the uk. heavy rain pushes in from west as we go through from the west as we go through into afternoon into christmas day. afternoon there might some brighter there might be some brighter spells scotland and spells though, for scotland and northern england, but perhaps some here too. some wintry showers here too. boxing day looks a bit drier and brighter, but further wet and windy weather is on the way. later in the week

news the people's channel, britain's news channel . are you britain's news channel. are you with gb news the headlines this hour? >> travellers are being warned of long delays and congestion , of long delays and congestion, even as the festive seasons transport problems ramp up. today the aa is predicting it will be the busiest day of pre—christmas traffic, with an expected 16.5 million extra cars on the road and if you're watching on television, drivers queuing at the port of dover for ferries currently waiting around 90 minutes at border control checks. 90 minutes at border control checks . eurostar operating two checks. eurostar operating two extra services to make up for french industrial action earlier

on in the week. every day, those two extra services between london and paris, and that's up to and including christmas eve, which , if you can believe it, is which, if you can believe it, is already tomorrow. meanwhile, the aa has issued an amber traffic warning for today with 23% of drivers saying they'll be using their cars to do their christmas shopping. today's being dubbed super saturday, tipped to be the busiest in—store shopping day of the year . busiest in—store shopping day of the year. last year, shoppers were said to have spent over £1.5 million buying last minute gifts on the saturday before christmas . gifts on the saturday before christmas. now in other gifts on the saturday before christmas . now in other news christmas. now in other news today bells have been ringing across the czech republic today and flags flying at half mast as the nation has held a day of mourning for the victims of a mass shooting . world mass shooting. world >> musa qala . martin well, a >> musa qala. martin well, a mass was being held at the cathedral in prague after the country observed that minute

silence. >> 14 people lost their lives at charles university when a student set fire. sorry took aim at them and then killed himself. the country's president, along with members of the public, have been lighting candles and paying their respects and laying flowers at local memorials. police though, are still trying to establish a motive for the attack . rebecca welch will make attack. rebecca welch will make history today as the first ever woman referee to premier league to referee a premier league match. the 40 year old is taking charge of the fulham burnley game this afternoon , the burnley game this afternoon, the burnley manager welcoming what he's calling the milestone match, saying players will not change their behaviour when she takes charge of the game. those are the headlines you can get more detail on all those stories by heading to our website gbnews.com . thank you polly. gbnews.com. thank you polly. >> welcome back to gb news

saturday with me, darren grimes on your tv online and on digital radio. now there are only two more sleeps to go till the big day. now many people will have the presents wrapped and ready to be given . but for some the to be given. but for some the thrill of the last minute panic buying has almost become a tradition of its own. so today is actually known as super saturday. the last saturday before christmas. and it's marked to be the busiest in store shopping day of the entire 2023 peak trading season . go to 2023 peak trading season. go to your local high street this weekend, and you'll see a group of men looking more stressed than a footie fan whose club is down year , uk down three nil last year, uk shoppers spent almost £1.6 million on super saturday as they bought last minute gifts . they bought last minute gifts. patrick christys headed to oxford street to speak to some of those last minute shoppers now on oxford street in london. >> two days before christmas .

>> two days before christmas. welcome to hell on earth . it's welcome to hell on earth. it's just horrendous . have you just just horrendous. have you just been doing a bit of panic buying for christmas? >> uh, no. i was on successful. why um, i was looking for vegan chocolate and a candle and seemingly john lewis had neither i >> -- >> okay, -_ >> okay, so what's the plan ? >> okay, so what's the plan? >> okay, so what's the plan? >> the plan is to, uh, go back home, recoup, go again tomorrow . home, recoup, go again tomorrow. >> every year, it's the same thing that happens . like you thing that happens. like you forget, life gets busy and you're like, i got a family. i've go it. i've got i've got to go for it. i've got to stuff for them. to get stuff for them. >> panic buying before christmas? >> no, ijust in christmas? >> no, i just in to >> no, i just came in to look for it is a for something, but it is a bit mad there. mad in there. >> why did you leave it late? >> why did you leave it so late? >> why did you leave it so late?

>> late. >> it's not late. >> it's not late. >> it's not late. >> that's bold. >> it's not late. >> yeah.; bold. >> it's not late. >> yeah.; bolc25th. i've done >> yeah. isn't 25th. i've done it. it's done. >> it's a shared panic. no no no no no no. 110 110 110. >> no no no. >> the panic is not over. >> the panic is not over. >> it'sjust >> the panic is not over. >> it's just begun. >> it's just begun. >> starting . i have not bought >> starting. i have not bought any people who we need to buy things for. i have nothing yet. >> you've just bought each other presents, right ? presents, right? >> you've bought. >> and you've not bought. >> and you've not bought. >> got niece something. >> i've got my niece something. so i'm a step there. >> right off the list of people you still need to for. buy >> um. >> um. >> dad's my brother, my other >> my dad's my brother, my other two brothers, my sister . two brothers, my sister. >> that's it. so . far, so far. >> that's it. so. far, so far. okay >> how many have you got? >> how many have you got? >> my niece. my other niece. my nephew, my mum, my dad , my nephew, my mum, my dad, my brother . brother. >> i only have to buy for my wife because she does everything else, so. wife because she does everything els> she talks everyone >> as long as she talks everyone else out. >> all is she here? >> i'm all right. is she here? >> i'm all right. is she here? >> her way round the >> she's on her way round the corner how. >> corner now. >> can't tell her that >> but you can't tell her that i haven't her yet, haven't bought for her yet,

because what's because she'll go mental. what's your for everyone your message for everyone who's. who's in a rush today? >> merry >> good luck and merry christmas. you seem very relaxed. yeah, i'm just hanging out. yeah, about to go >> yeah? yeah, we're about to go in. you're about go in. oh, you're about to go in. i'm to in. we just got i'm about to go in. we just got here. not all here. so you've not done all your christmas yet? here. so you've not done all you uh, ristmas yet? here. so you've not done all you uh, just1as yet? here. so you've not done all you uh, just this yet? here. so you've not done all you uh, just this just yet? >> uh, just this just some gymshark stuff. >> right . what's in >> okay. all right. what's in the bag? >> sweatpants t shirt is >> uh, sweatpants and t shirt is that for you? >> yeah. you've bought for >> yeah. so you've bought for yourself? are you yourself? yeah. how are you getting on living hell? >> . i need a glass of champagne. >> okay. all right. >> okay. all right. >> look, talk me through what's happened so far? >> i've just. >> i've just. >> i've just. >> i've come out shopping. i ended buying myself some ended up just buying myself some stuff. i've had no presents yet, so it. stuff. i've had no presents yet, so don't it. stuff. i've had no presents yet, so don't leave your shopping too >> don't leave your shopping too late. yeah well, hey, i don't know about that vegan chocolate. >> now, do hope that bloke's >> now, i do hope that bloke's wife watching today . we're wife isn't watching today. we're going live now to oxford street, where our london reporter , lisa where our london reporter, lisa hartle currently in the hartle is currently in the crowds. lisa, is it totally mental out there ? hello? mental out there? hello? >> no, it isn't . um, i was >> no, it isn't. um, i was dreading coming down here today because who likes being in all

the crowds of shoppers? especially when it's especially busy? but it's. i asked a lady, actually who works in a shop just near where we're filming. just how she would rate the busyness. so far today. and she said, medium for a saturday. but maybe i don't want to jinx it. maybe it's going to get busier as we go on because some of the shops until 10 pm. shops are open until 10 pm. tonight and the 23rd of december is always known as being the busiest over the shopping busiest day over the shopping penod. busiest day over the shopping period . plus, on that, it period. plus, on top of that, it is today and they call is saturday. today and they call the saturday. it's referred to first saturday. nearest to christmas. to christmas. they referred to it as so double as super saturday. so double whammy with both being on the same day, but but at the moment it's pretty relaxed. but um, i've a people . i've spoken to a few people. they're actually enjoying themselves today, having a getting a few last little minute bits pieces having bits and pieces and having a nice christmassy day . others nice christmassy day. others i've spoken have been a bit i've spoken to have been a bit stressed that young guy stressed like that young guy that in the in the voxes that was in the in the voxes that was in the in the voxes that we spoke to there , the one that we spoke to there, the one who was buying vegan chocolate and a candle . he seemed pretty and a candle. he seemed pretty stressed to

stressed and the guy i spoke to earlier seemed very earlier this morning seemed very stressed because he's left everything until today. so you've got that pressure of making find making sure you can find everything you're after everything that you're after on the shelves because haven't the shelves because you haven't got time now. and just got much time left now. and just another bit word of warning another bit of word of warning for who might be driving for people who might be driving into shopping into car parks to go shopping today. insurance company , today. the insurance company, admiral, research admiral, did some research looking at ten years of data and they found that, um, people are more likely. so 46% more likely to have an accident in a car park. if you're shopping today , park. if you're shopping today, because everyone is fighting for those and, uh, on top of those spaces and, uh, on top of that, you've got the christmas stress pressure of stress and all the pressure of trying done. trying to get everything done. with not time left until christmas. >> indeed. i lisa rather >> indeed. i mean, lisa rather shops saying, we've been shops saying, look, we've been massively a of massively hit by a cost of living crisis. we're struggling. it's the this it's not been the same. this yeah it's not been the same. this year. or are they saying perhaps we've just got so many last minute larrys that, you know , minute larrys that, you know, this afternoon's going to be chaos. >> well, i'll let you know later. we'll find out. i mean , later. we'll find out. i mean, lots of people do shopping onune lots of people do shopping online now. i remember coming to london when i was, uh , i know

london when i was, uh, i know i was about seven years old or something, and was busy something, and it was so busy the police would put barriers up to try and control the crowds, whereas now so people shop whereas now so many people shop online. never going to online. so it's never going to be as busy that . but you're be as busy as that. but you're right. who knows, maybe there are maybe more are fewer, maybe there are more organised year organised people about this year organised people about this year or because are or maybe it's because people are just having to cut back and not not many gifts as usual just having to cut back and not not year. many gifts as usual just having to cut back and not not year. yeah1y gifts as usual just having to cut back and not not year. yeah andfts as usual just having to cut back and not not year. yeah and is as usual just having to cut back and not not year. yeah and i noticed al this year. yeah and i noticed a few of the retailers have actually started their sales earlier. >> right. it used to be boxing day would out, day where people would rush out, but now it seems expectation but now it seems the expectation it's getting earlier and earlier each year. is it. not? >> yeah. and we seem to be having more of these, these specially named days as well. you know we've got black friday but that's not just the friday. now kind spreads now that kind of spreads out over the week. and we've got super saturday. was the super saturday. uh, what was the other read? there was other one i read? there was another panic friday another one. is it panic friday or something? yeah , there's or something? so yeah, there's all that spring all these days that spring up with retailers are with i guess, retailers are finding feeling the pinch finding the feeling the pinch as well, aren't they, with their consumers step away consumers having to step away from as much the from spending as much with the cost of living and the high

inflation everything. inflation and everything. so, yeah. perhaps, although yeah. um, so perhaps, although i did hear something, yeah. um, so perhaps, although i did hear something , actually, yeah. um, so perhaps, although i did hear something, actually, i did hear something, actually, i did hear something, actually, i did hear that actually all the black aren't always black friday sales aren't always when you the deals. so when you get the best deals. so maybe after christmas is when people looking . people should be looking. >> i mean, lisa, >> yeah. and i mean, lisa, what's the situation with people actually getting london? is actually getting into london? is it to be a disaster it going to be a disaster in that respect ? will people that respect? will people actually be able to get into central london? i notice your the lord of selfridges bags there. will it very easy to there. will it be very easy to actually it today ? actually access it today? >> well, when i came in it was very early so the tubes were empty and i came by tube. so no, um, they're well they're saying across the uk today is a busy travel day aren't they. so i guess um, we'll, we'll have to see what it's like across the country. but here all i can say is on oxford street, it's pretty calm . um, compared to what calm. um, compared to what i thought it would be today. so if this is reflected outside of london on the roads, then people shouldn't have too much a shouldn't have too much of a problem. yeah i mean, that's depressing. >> that's a little bit

depressing. to depressing. i'm not going to lie to lisa, because i was to you, lisa, because i was expecting sort expecting to see you being sort of around like a sort of of pushed around like a sort of pass the parcel . of pushed around like a sort of pass the parcel. um, it was going so busy , you know, pass the parcel. um, it was goin was so busy , you know, pass the parcel. um, it was goin was myso busy , you know, pass the parcel. um, it was goin was my expectationj know, pass the parcel. um, it was goin was my expectation . know, pass the parcel. um, it was goin was my expectation . maybe that was my expectation. maybe i've been a little bit i've just been a little bit naive as to how minute we naive as to how last minute we all are. but i guess you're absolutely right in saying look onune absolutely right in saying look online in the online marketplace has actually changed beyond measure. and people just say , measure. and people just say, i've got no reason to go into central london because i can just do it all on the internet. but then that has knock on effects for things like pubs and all these other hospitality venues. all these other hospitality venues . does it all these other hospitality venues. does it. all these other hospitality venues . does it . not? venues. does it. not? >> yeah. i mean maybe, maybe we'll see more people coming out later. maybe people weren't out celebrating for christmas last night and then, you know, they're not wanting to get they're just not wanting to get up to come in, hung over, up early to come in, hung over, see crowds later. see the crowds build up later. but um, yeah, maybe , um, but um, maybe yeah, maybe, um, or i don't know , perhaps this or i don't know, perhaps this yearis or i don't know, perhaps this year is just a reflection on how people are just having to cut back over christmas. i was i

also thought i would be in crowds of people right now, but it's, um , yeah, it's calm it's, um, yeah, it's pretty calm at moment . at the moment. >> all right, lisa, we'll check in you later and if in on you later on and see if you've been about then you've been passed about then like parcel. but we'll we'll like a parcel. but we'll we'll check in. that was lisa hartle. gb news is a london reporter on oxford street now, folks, lots of you have been sending in your emails. i'm reading them right here, right now. you very here, right now. thank you very much so. on topic much for doing so. on the topic of christmas gifts , viv of awkward christmas gifts, viv has viv says , um, has written in and viv says, um, my husband got me a ukulele one yeah my husband got me a ukulele one year. needless to say, it was a life and death response. it's now in bits in our loft . i now in bits in our loft. i wonder, viv, you're going to have to write back in and let us know if you actually learned to how before you how play the ukulele before you destroyed and christmas destroyed it. and on christmas shopping, says, i always shopping, jeff says, i always leave shopping to christmas leave my shopping to christmas eve. god, that's cutting it fine. sometimes even boxing day when things are cheaper. well, that's not a bad idea, philip says london is overcrowded , says london is overcrowded, which is why we need a lower mass migration. well, that's a

good point, philip, because you know , certainly as far as know, certainly as far as housing is concerned, it's getting much harder for people who are starting out graduates and all the rest to actually get and all the rest to actually get a foot on the ladder. keep your views coming in, please. i love to hear them. you're watching and listening to gb news saturday me , darren grimes. saturday with me, darren grimes. we've loads coming up we've got loads more coming up on including on today's show, including santa's coming to town , and santa's coming to town, and we'll be getting you all the updated on the latest traffic news with our national reporter , news with our national reporter, theo chikomba. all of that and more to come. you're watching and listening to gb news, britain's news

sunday mornings from 930 on gb news who's . news who's. >> welcome back to gb news saturday with me, darren grimes on your tv , online and on on your tv, online and on digital radio. well folks, we've got quite the treat for you right now. father christmas has made a quick stop over in the gb news newsroom before he actually gears up for his big christmas deliveries. he's jolly, he's round and he's wearing red . and round and he's wearing red. and joining me now is saint nick himself. father christmas , thank himself. father christmas, thank you very much for your time today. >> that's quite all right. >> that's quite all right. >> how was the flight? over >> how was the flight? over >> it was interesting. it's, uh, i was looking down because i heard it's, uh, super heard that it's, uh, super saturday today, so , uh, it was. saturday today, so, uh, it was. it good. i didn't have to it was good. i didn't have to get on a train or in a car or something. it much better. something. it was much better. >> pretty bad for >> and it must be pretty bad for you right? >> and it must be pretty bad for youoh, right? >> and it must be pretty bad for youoh, it's right? >> and it must be pretty bad for youoh, it's been'ight? >> and it must be pretty bad for youoh, it's been very’ >> and it must be pretty bad for youoh, it's been very busy . yes. >> oh, it's been very busy. yes.

very but it's okay, very busy. uh but it's okay, because i love to do it . and because i love to do it. and because i love to do it. and because i'm father christmas and father christmas loves christmas i >> -- >> and do you find actually on that point, i read a there was a poll by yougov and it found that actually a lot more people now now are saying santa or father christmas. yeah now where are you at on that debate? would you rather be referred to as father christmas or santa? >> i like father christmas . it >> i like father christmas. it sounds it sounds much kinder. i agree it's, but people do say santa claus. i suppose it comes from the saint nicholas. and i don't know . but it's nice to be don't know. but it's nice to be far . father christmas. i do like far. father christmas. i do like to be father christmas, but if people want to call me santa, that's up to them. >> now. of course, the most important people in this at this time of year are the children. right especially where you're concerned for christmas . now i'm concerned for christmas. now i'm wondering how do you think actually, that's evolving the relationship that father christmas has with it? because of course, the, the, the

religious aspect of christmas is, is one that we're becoming a more secular country. do you find that actually are people falling out of love with you, father christmas? well, i think that father christmas is away from religion now. >> yeah. um, it could be, you know, from saint nicholas. when i was doing lots of things. but that was a long time ago. so if people want to have that, that's fine . you still do that? if they fine. you still do that? if they just christmas just want father christmas to be there make them feel there and to make them feel happy, i'm happy with there and to make them feel happy, |'m happy with that there and to make them feel happy, i'm happy with that as well. >> and what is it that you love the most then, about this time of year? it that idea of we of year? is it that idea of we become a less selfish people? we become a less selfish people? we become a less selfish people? we become a lot more selfless people ? i think. people? i think. >> i think that is a thing with most people. they do seem to me to be much more about what can we do for each other . to be much more about what can we do for each other. um, and it's to make the children smile. thatis it's to make the children smile. that is the most thing. and if you make the children smile, you make the parents smile. and then if smiling and if everyone's smiling and everyone's happy . everyone's happy. >> yeah, that's what we want.

yes now, of course, father christmas , a really important christmas, a really important aspect of your job is to decide. and actually, who's been naughty and who's been nice. now i see you've got something for me. there this a checklist? do i there is this a checklist? do i find out if i've been naughty or nice? >> this is m.- >> this is where you find out. ah. want to find would. ah. do you want to find would. >> would . >> yes, i would. >> yes, i would. >> what do you have to do? you have hold right. have to have to hold it right. i have to hold it will, will go hold it and it will, it will go through database. through to the special database. >> i see. >>- >> i see. >> and then it tell >> i see. >> and then it will tell you if you're or nice list. >> right. i saw if we can just show camera there. that's show on camera there. that's father there with. and father christmas there with. and that's missus claus . that's that's missus claus. that's missus that's the boss. missus claus, that's the boss. we find actually by order of we find out actually by order of santa and mrs. claus. this certifies that you are on the nice list . certifies that you are on the nice list. i'm on the nice list. well, there'll be a lot of remainers writing in who disagree with that. oh, yes. yes but actually look. thank you but actually you look. thank you very much for coming in. okay. we appreciate it enormously. you're a wonderful job. you're doing a wonderful job. >> please note there are terms and conditions. >> there are terms and conditions. remain conditions. yes. i must remain to listen to what conditions. yes. i must remain to being listen to what conditions. yes. i must remain to being told. listen to what conditions. yes. i must remain to being told. yes. sten to what conditions. yes. i must remain to being told. yes. wellto what conditions. yes. i must remain to being told. yes. well that'st

i'm being told. yes. well that's true. the producers are saying yes, absolute. darren, you absolutely but father absolutely must. but father christmas, much christmas, thank you very much for in. okay. all the for coming in. okay. all the pleasure to you good for coming in. okay. all the pleasbecause you good for coming in. okay. all the pleasbecause it's>u good for coming in. okay. all the pleasbecause it's a good for coming in. okay. all the pleasbecause it's a very good luck, because it's a very stressful time of year. it is. >> yes. thank you. >> yes. thank you. >> now, that was saint nick himself there all the way from the pole. course. thank himself there all the way from the very pole. course. thank himself there all the way from the very much course. thank himself there all the way from the very much to course. thank himself there all the way from the very much to him.'se. thank himself there all the way from the very much to him. nowhank himself there all the way from the very much to him. now folks, you very much to him. now folks, it's not only the busiest day of the year for shopping, but the aye have said that they aye aye have said that they expect at least 16.4 million people to make journeys across the uk to get home for christmas. the aa has also issued an amber traffic alert for today, with the rac expecting the busiest period of travel between the hours of 12 and 2 pm. this afternoon . well, and 2 pm. this afternoon. well, joining me is our national reporter, the brilliant theo shikomba, who is live from dartford crossing to give us the latest on travel. what i can see it's looking busy behind you theo, but appearances can be deceptive. is it busier than you expected ? i'd

expected? i'd >> aaron. well, good afternoon to you. so in terms of busyness, this is sort of what you would see. maybe on a weekday around 6 am, when most people are heading to work. but on a saturday afternoon , it's not saturday afternoon, it's not usually the scene . many of those usually the scene. many of those people, as you've just mentioned, over 16 million people, are expected to be on the roads today getting away for christmas. many people have finished work now. schools are oveh finished work now. schools are over, so they'll be making those journeys. as you can probably see, just over my left shoulder in terms of traffic, traffic wise in other parts of the country on the m1, as in as heading from the south from luton. and that's also quite busy there. and at the port of dover , they've now said about an dover, they've now said about an hour waiting time. so yes , it's hour waiting time. so yes, it's busy on the roads. so people are being told to just prepare before they head out. >> all right, theo , we'll check >> all right, theo, we'll check in on because i'm sure in later on because i'm sure it's going to get busier, bufieh it's going to get busier, busier, we've got loads busier, busier. we've got loads of to off of producers heading to off

enjoy their christmases at home and kings cross looking quite and kings cross is looking quite busy now. foxes are watching and listening to gb news saturday with me, grimes. we've with me, darren grimes. we've got up, but first got lords coming up, but first here's the weather, we're late. get up this christmas eve and christmas day. >> wake up with gb news for the finest festive start to your christmas for you and the whole family christmas breakfast on gb news christmas eve and christmas day from 6 am. i got you this. >> oh, good. >> oh, good. >> okay . um, i got you >> oh, good. >> okay. um, i got you a >> oh, good. >> okay . um, i got you a little >> okay. um, i got you a little something . ah something. ah >> ah, sure. it's nice . >> ah, sure. it's nice. >>— >> ah, sure. it's nice. >> hello. thank you for being a big part of gb news. >> we'd like to wish you and your loved ones a christmas season full of comfort and joy, as well as a peaceful and prosperous new year. >> from our family to yours , we >> from our family to yours, we are proud to be your channel. >> merry christmas, happy christmas , merry christmas, christmas, merry christmas, happy christmas , merry

happy christmas, merry christmas, merry christmas , christmas, merry christmas, merry christmas here on gb news the people's channel. >> merry christmas . >> merry christmas. >> merry christmas. >> a brighter outlook with box sponsors of weather on . gb news. sponsors of weather on. gb news. >> good afternoon. welcome to your latest gb news weather. i'm ellie glaisyer. it's remaining unsettled as we go through the rest of the weekend, and in towards christmas day, but temperatures generally remaining above average for of above average for the time of year. is above average for the time of year . is to high year. this is due to high pressure warm air up pressure bringing warm air up from but low pressure from the south, but low pressure sits up towards the northwest, bringing systems across bringing frontal systems across the uk bringing plenty of wet and weather, particularly and windy weather, particularly to parts scotland to western parts of scotland through the rest of saturday and then christmas eve then later into christmas eve for on western parts of wales. we could see up to 80mm of rain here, generally remaining very cloudy elsewhere, although perhaps some clearer spells across but across parts of scotland. but blustery showers pushing in and generally remaining mild across

the board into the start of christmas even christmas eve, perhaps even around 11 or 12 degrees across the south. so a cloudy, damp and mild start to christmas eve across much of england wales across much of england and wales , with rain pushing its way eastwards through the eastwards as we go through the day, blustery showers continue across scotland , these across parts of scotland, these perhaps wintry over any perhaps turning wintry over any high and remaining very high ground and remaining very windy too scotland and windy too for scotland and northern england. we could see gusts 70 an hour, gusts up to 70 miles an hour, perhaps bringing tricky perhaps bringing some tricky driving mild driving conditions. another mild day around 12 or 13 degrees. but those strong winds taking the notch off those temperatures as christmas day looks much of the same southern half of same for the southern half of the uk. heavy rain pushes in from west as we go through from the west as we go through into christmas day afternoon. there might be some brighter spells scotland and spells though, for scotland and northern england, but perhaps some here too. some wintry showers here too. boxing day looks a bit drier and brighter, but further wet and windy weather is on way. windy weather is on the way. later week . later in the week. >> looks like things are heating up boxt boilers sponsors of weather on .

gb news. >> hello and welcome to gb news saturday i'm darren grimes and for the next two hours i'll be keeping you company on tv, onune keeping you company on tv, online and on digital radio. we'll keep you up to date on the stories that really matter to you coming up. this hour. more on unwanted christmas presents.

but we'll be reading you your rights. what are the rules on return policies? late deliveries and broken presents? we'll be heanng and broken presents? we'll be hearing from a consumer rights expert . and for those of you expert. and for those of you dreaming of a white christmas , dreaming of a white christmas, we'll be exploring the possibility of just that with former bbc weatherman john kettley. and plus . gb news very kettley. and plus. gb news very own northern ireland correspondent, dougie beattie. he's in lapland after a chartered flight took children with terminal illnesses to go and visit father christmas. touching stuff . and please do touching stuff. and please do get in touch. send us your thoughts on gbv news at gb news. com we've got your emails open right here or message me on our socials we're at at gb news. first up though, it's the news with polly middlehurst . with polly middlehurst. >> darragh, thanks very much indeed. well let's bring you up to date with the latest news

from the gp newsroom and our top stories travellers stories that travellers are being delays being warned of long delays today and of course, congestion as festive seasons transport as the festive seasons transport problems up . the aa problems ramp up. the aa expecting it to be the busiest day of the pre—christmas period , day of the pre—christmas period, with an expected 16.5 million extra cars almost on the road . extra cars almost on the road. drivers at the port of dover are are currently experiencing waiting times of around 90 minutes. those are at border control checks, euros star has been operating two extra services a day between london and paris. that's up to and including christmas eve, which is tomorrow now london paddington is closed for four days from tomorrow , christmas days from tomorrow, christmas eve as well. travel expert simon calder told us earlier. rail passengers must to plan carefully , so let's start at carefully, so let's start at london paddington because we know that all the trains are going to stop as from late tonight , going to stop as from late tonight, right? >> there won't be any until the 28th of december. we are seeing train cancellations to bristol,

to cardiff and coming back in the opposite direction due to shortage of train crew. the north of england is going to be even worse for northern trains. has said do not travel on some of our key routes. we won't have any trains, we can't get the staff to run them . staff to run them. >> simon calder meanwhile, the aa has issued an amber traffic warning , with 23% of drivers warning, with 23% of drivers saying they'll be using their cars to do their christmas shopping today. it's been dubbed super saturday. it's tipped to be the busiest in store shopping day of the year , and we know day of the year, and we know last year shoppers are said to have spent over £1.5 million buying those last minute gifts . buying those last minute gifts. now, in other news today, the london mayor is calling on the government to help provide aid to ukraine by sending vehicles that would ordinarily be scrapped under the ulez scheme. sadiq khan has asked the transport secretary to enable those living in the capital to donate out their vehicles under the scrappage scheme, londoners

with cars that fall foul of emission standards can claim up to £2,000 when they're non—compliant . vehicles are non—compliant. vehicles are scrapped . and ukraine will be scrapped. and ukraine will be celebrating christmas on christmas day this year. that's the first time since 1917 christmas day for them. on december the 25th, instead of the 7th of january, in accordance with the traditional juuan accordance with the traditional julian calendar used in russia. the move marks a step forward in erasing traces of russian influence in the country . influence in the country. moscow's attack is seen by many ukrainians as a cue to reject the language, culture and customs . meanwhile bells have customs. meanwhile bells have been ringing out across the czech republic today, and flags have been flying at half mast as the nation held a day of mourning for the victims of the mass shooting . there were loads mass shooting. there were loads of other a mass was held at

saint vitus cathedral at prague castle. the head of the minute's silence at charles university, where a gunman killed 14 people, all the country's president, along with members of the public, have been lighting candles and paying their respects at a memorial . police respects at a memorial. police are still working to establish a motive for attack here in motive for the attack here in the uk. doctors have returned to work. junior doctors, that is, after a 72 hour strike over pay . after a 72 hour strike over pay. nhs managers have said the action put patient safety at risk. senior doctors were drafted in to cover appointments, but the prime minister said the action was still disappointing and he urged junior doctors to call off further strikes. the british medical association is urging the government to get back round the government to get back round the table and make what they're calling a credible offer. talks broke down after they declined a 3% rise, on top of the average 8.8% that they were offered in the summer . 8.8% that they were offered in the summer. the 8.8% that they were offered in the summer . the next 8.8% that they were offered in the summer. the next round of junior doctor walkouts will take

place in the new year , and place in the new year, and rebecca welch will make history today as the first woman to ever referee a premier league football match. the 40 year old is taking charge of the fulham burnley game this afternoon , burnley game this afternoon, when she began refereeing in 2010 and in january became the first female to officiate at a men's championship game . the men's championship game. the burnley manager has welcomed the milestone match as he's calling it, saying his players will not be changing their behaviour when she takes charge of the game . she takes charge of the game. perhaps they should . this is gb perhaps they should. this is gb news across the uk on tv, in your car, on digital radio and on your smart speaker by saying play on your smart speaker by saying play gb news this is britain's news channel . thank you very much. >> poly rao . first of all, we're >> poly rao. first of all, we're going to go to our guest now at the complaining cow , i believe the complaining cow, i believe is what it's called now . you

is what it's called now. you never want to seem ungrateful when receiving christmas presents because then some people might call you a complain and cow. i imagine as people have put the effort into finding an ideal gift for you, but sometimes you can't help but hate the gift that you've been given. well, here to give us some to do in some tips about what to do in that situation is helen dewdney at the complaining cow. helen i mean, you're not calling yourself a complaining cow, i assume, are you ? assume, are you? >> i am, that is my brand, the complaining cow. >> it is? yeah i love it. >>— >> it is? yeah i love it. >> it's a really, really powerful blog name, isn't it ? powerful blog name, isn't it? but what advice would you have for those of us who receive something and feel because i would personally feel incredibly guilty about one, explaining the fact that i don't like what i've been given, but to then returning it and having to hide the fact that you no longer have what it is that you've been given . given. >> yeah, it depends what it is, doesn't it? um, if you want to return the item, you've just got

to hope that you've been given a gift you've been gift receipt. you've been given a gift receipt. that's the ideal thing. then you know thing. because then you know that going to take that the store is going to take it back. and you either get it back. and you can either get the money or exchange it. but the money or or exchange it. but a store doesn't have to take anything back. if there's nothing it. store nothing wrong with it. a store doesn't it back and doesn't have to take it back and you will need of you will need the proof of purchase, receipt purchase, which a gift receipt will be. yeah >> and are so what are the >> and what are so what are the rights say , you rights then of people say, you know what, you've been given something and lo and behold, you find in january perhaps that it's longer working. and all it's no longer working. and all the rest of it, what are consumer rights for gifts that you've received ? you've received? >> right. well, that that's when it becomes different, because under the consumer rights act 2015, an item has to last a reasonable length of time , match reasonable length of time, match the description and be of satisfactory quality, and be free from defects. so if something happen or it something does happen or it breaks you know, short breaks within, you know, a short penod breaks within, you know, a short period then you're period of time, then you're entitled go and get a full entitled to go and get a full refund 30 days from refund up to 30 days from purchase. after that, purchase. and after that, a repair replacement . but you repair or replacement. but you are going to have to have that proof of purchase. you are proof of purchase. so you are going say to the going to have to say to the

person given you, person who's given it to you, please, proof of please, can i have your proof of purchase, have purchase, which doesn't have to necessarily receipt. necessarily be a receipt. it could bank statement. could be their bank statement. but it might they but and it might be that they take you, but you take it back for you, but you are a refund in are entitled to a refund in those in those circumstances. and helen, do you think actually enough of us are clued up on all of these facts that you've just given us? >> w- given us? >> they've specific given us? >> and they've specific given us? >> and all they've specific given us? >> and all threste specific given us? >> and all threst ofpecific given us? >> and all th rest of itcific given us? >> and all th rest of it that acts and all the rest of it that you there. so you're you mentioned there. so you're shaking clearly shaking your head so clearly we're right , shaking your head so clearly we're right, are we? are we we're not right, are we? are we just not i mean, i say just not i mean, dare i say we're not complaining cows in such a sufficient fashion to actually get what we deserve? perhaps >> yeah, we do find that a lot that people don't know their rights or they easily get fobbed off. there are certainly stores that say, i'm not that will just say, i'm not going refund, going to give you a refund, or i'm give you i'm going to give you a replacement when it's less than 30 days. yeah , people do need 30 days. so yeah, people do need to get clued on their rights 30 days. so yeah, people do need to gassert�*d on their rights 30 days. so yeah, people do need to gassert them. n their rights 30 days. so yeah, people do need to gassert them. that's rights 30 days. so yeah, people do need to gassert them. that's yomts and assert them. that's you know, people feel like, oh, i can't really complain or it's such it takes such a small amount or it takes so time, but actually it's so much time, but actually it's the the thing. and the principle of the thing. and if people more, then if people complained more, then perhaps and businesses perhaps stores and businesses would act together.

would get their act together. helen you're going to have to tell us now. >> our viewers will be desperate to know what's the worst gift that you've ever received? and to know what's the worst gift thatyom've ever received? and to know what's the worst gift thatyou returner received? and to know what's the worst gift thatyou return it received? and to know what's the worst gift thatyou return it ?ceived? and did you return it? >> i don't know, i don't know. we did have, um, a family friend who used to buy sort of broken items and actually wrap them up broken oh, and. yeah, and broken. oh, wow. and. yeah, and out of out of date food and teabags. my god that every year out of out of date teabags. um, and returning um, my mother gave her a book to my friend wrote in it, and she ripped out the front page and gave it back to my mum the following christmas. so those are the kinds of presents i remember, think, for all the i remember, i think, for all the wrong as well. wrong reasons as well. >> we do get them. we do get them, helen. we'll leave it there. thank you very much for your advice there. that's helen dewdney, at the dewdney, consumer expert at the complaining . now me complaining cow. now joining me to this panel of to discuss this are my panel of wise men , charlie lamb and wise men, charlie lamb and housing market specialist simon danczuk, former labour mp and the walkers man in britain, benjamin butterworth. benjamin i

can imagine that you're pretty forthright if someone gives you something you don't like, you just do you just tell them straight. do you know i mean? know what i mean? >> am usually quite >> i am usually quite forthright, christmas forthright, but christmas is that just feels that time where it just feels incredibly to reject it. incredibly rude to reject it. which is odd because actually most gifts there's such an expectation of gifts that they haven't put much thought into it at all. it's just fulfilling the obligation. i remember as a kid i was given an s club seven calendar instead of a westlife one, and i cried and cried. that was probably worst reaction was probably the worst reaction i i always said i ever had. but i always said when , when, when my grandparents when, when, when my grandparents were buying me a present, i always said actually always said that actually i would rather not have anything on it on christmas day. and when it comes to needing something on christmas day. and when it comesao needing something on christmas day. and when it comesa bitaeding something on christmas day. and when it comesa bit expensive1ething on christmas day. and when it comesa bit expensive ,ething on christmas day. and when it comesa bit expensive , that] that's a bit expensive, that would be really useful. something for the house, you know, something for a holiday, something that. i would something like that. i would rather till a point the rather wait till a point in the year where cropped and year where that cropped up and take just for the take it then, than just for the sake because sake of christmas, because i think of people spend think a lot of people spend a lot of money when they don't actually need the thing actually need or want the thing that they're buying. actually need or want the thing tha ithey're buying. actually need or want the thing thai mean, buying. actually need or want the thing thai mean, charlie, you think >> i mean, charlie, do you think actually, when we're discussing

capitalism of capitalism there at the top of the hour, you think the other hour, do you think actually it's become too much of the other hour, do you think a> yeah. charlie >> yeah. i mean, charlie mentions there if you just receive kids receive one gift. i mean, kids these those video

these days, right? those video games expensive, so games are so expensive, so i mean, will be able and mean, many will be able and won't to actually , you won't be able to actually, you know, get them anything other than the console or one of these games. yeah. it's ridiculous how expensive games. yeah. it's ridiculous how expchristmas is expensive. it >> christmas is expensive. it is. i'm impressed by benjamin. he's such a practical child. you know, i, i don't buy me anything. not many kids would say me anything say that. don't buy me anything until he's a savage socialist. >> that's what it is. yeah, that's is. >> that's what it is. yeah, tha as is. >> that's what it is. yeah, tha as long is. >> that's what it is. yeah, tha as long as s. >> that's what it is. yeah, tha as long as i'm spending other >> as long as i'm spending other people's money, that's all you want out eventually. >> you do know this, benjamin, but don't i've ever told but i don't think i've ever told someone like. someone i didn't like. >> got me? >> what you got me? >> what you got me? >> no. and i'd be and >> no. and i'd be polite, and i'd it regifting i'd put it in the regifting drawer, and pass it on. drawer, i think. and pass it on. or give to charity or give it to a charity shop. i have, but i i have very have, but i keep i have very limited i keep limited storage, so i keep things moving. move things on things moving. i move things on all the time. >> do you know, i often keep the bags, bags that they come in bags, the bags that they come in and the sticker off bags, the bags that they come in and reuse the sticker off bags, the bags that they come in and reuse that the sticker off bags, the bags that they come in and reuse that because ;er off bags, the bags that they come in and reuse that because theyf bags, the bags that they come in and reuse that because they cost 4 or £5 each. so that saves a small fortune. >> £5 for bag where you're >> £5 for a bag where you're buying need buying these bags from, you need to fortnum and to get out of fortnum and mason's. not not to plug them again. there are other shops

available, promise. but do you available, i promise. but do you think, actually, simon, that we're forgetting the very message of christmas? that's that seems to be what a lot of people are saying , especially in people are saying, especially in our a lot people our emails. a lot of people saying, know, this is just saying, you know, this is just becoming commercialised . yeah. >> i think that you might see a shift back because people have got limited amounts of money. i think you might see a shift back to remembering what christmas is all about and what the key message is. and think that message is. and i think that would be good thing, actually. would be a good thing, actually. >> mean, you know, i was >> yeah. i mean, you know, i was raised who raised by my grandparents who have and so have both passed now. and so although i'm relatively young, i'm the where i reflect i'm at the age where i reflect on those things as a bygone on on those things as a bygone era. when i think about the era. and when i think about the christmases, it's not the big present that i remember. i can't think of a single big present off of my head. off the top of my head. i remember what was in the stocking. remember that i'd stocking. i remember that i'd always have a terry's chocolate orange, was just orange, and that was just a tradition. i think, you tradition. and i think, you know, any us lost the know, any of us who've lost the people us, it's those people who raised us, it's those sentimental it's the sentimental gifts. it's the preciousness of being together that you recall. and i think, you know , anyone that's worried

you know, anyone that's worried about covering costs of about covering the costs of them, say that, you them, i would say that, you know, probably won't know, they probably won't remember the gift get remember the £100 gift you get them. little things can them. but the little things can really with for long time. >> very true and very well said indeed. that's my wonderful panel indeed. that's my wonderful panel. there folks. for all of the best analysis and opinion on all of the stories we're discussing today, can go to discussing today, you can go to our where gbnews.com our website where at gbnews.com now we're fast approaching christmas day, of course, and the question on everyone's mind isn't age old. one ever since 1954, when being crosby sang the words to the famous song white christmas has the question of a snowy christmas been on our minds as whilst many parts of the south of the uk don't see much in the way of snow over the festive period, it's important to remember that year to remember that last year roughly 9% of the uk actually had a snowy christmas and the this year the met office are actually predicting more in scotland . well, joining me to scotland. well, joining me to discuss this is john kettley, weatherman and meteorologist wokeist john, thank you very much for your time. so england

can't expect much, but is scotland , are they in with scotland, are they in with a chance here? >> well you know darren there's been snow this morning in scotland. >> it's been snowing quite heavily up in the far north—east. so there we are, aberdeenshire from aberdeenshire northwards from aberdeenshire. we've got some snow lying but is getting snow lying but it is getting milder through the west during the afternoon so that snow is going melt away. i'm afraid going to melt away. i'm afraid now what's going to happen as we go christmas in go through christmas eve in particular into christmas day morning? going to see morning? we are going to see very windy weather. i think that's the problems that's one of the problems at the moment. the wind is very strong. cause more strong. it's going to cause more travel it'll bring travel disruption. it'll bring down trees and that down more trees and all that kind thing, is kind of thing, but it is actually some high actually bringing some very high temperatures, 12 to 14 degrees across many for christmas across many places for christmas eve. know, you wouldn't eve. so, you know, you wouldn't think of think there was any chance of any all. but there is a any snow at all. but there is a change on during christmas change going on during christmas day itself . so many places will day itself. so many places will have rain. it'll be a green christmas. there's no question about but the north of about that. but the north of scotland will certainly turn colder by the evening. on christmas day , so there's every christmas day, so there's every chance, think . and we're

chance, i think. and we're looking at places, say, north of, i don't know, drumnadrochit some where like that way up in the north—west of scotland and that area northwards that sort of area northwards and particularly up into the highlands, will be some highlands, there will be some wintry sleet or snow wintry showers, sleet or snow showers and that's all it needs really, that really, for technically that to be a white christmas in that part of the world. if you get some sleet or slushy snow or something that, something like that, that is technically white christmas. something like that, that is techforally white christmas. something like that, that is techfor most white christmas. something like that, that is techfor most of1ite christmas. something like that, that is techfor most of1ite no �*istmas. something like that, that is techfor most of1ite no chance really. >> and john, i'm wondering, i was to say that you've was about to say that you've been doing for some been doing this for quite some time, sounds rather time, but that sounds rather impertinent, and don't wish to impertinent, and i don't wish to sound but i, i wonder how sound so, but i, i wonder how many white christmases do we actually end up having, right? how often is this phenomenon actually evident ? actually evident? >> uh, well, as you say, last yeahi >> uh, well, as you say, last year, i think you said 9% of the country actually witnessed some sleet or snow coming down. so thatis sleet or snow coming down. so that is a white christmas. but, you think of a white you know, we think of a white christmas as a dickensian postcard, don't we look at postcard, don't we? we look at deep and crisp and as far deep and crisp and even as far as concerned , that's what it deep and crisp and even as far as to concerned , that's what it deep and crisp and even as far as to be.cerned , that's what it deep and crisp and even as far as to be. andzd , that's what it deep and crisp and even as far as to be. and we that's what it deep and crisp and even as far as to be. and we don't. what it deep and crisp and even as far

as to be. and we don't getat it deep and crisp and even as far as to be. and we don't get many has to be. and we don't get many of those. you'd have to say we do have snow december, of do have snow in december, of course, this course, and we've had snow this month . uh, but since then it's month. uh, but since then it's turned much milder you go turned much milder if you go back my childhood. well, back to my childhood. well, obviously winter was very obviously 62 winter was very harsh although places harsh, although most places didn't become very didn't actually become very snowy the night of snowy until the night of christmas day into boxing day . christmas day into boxing day. and that's when the heavy snowfalls southwards snowfalls swept southwards across country. so 62 across the whole country. so 62 was first one. i remember , was the first one. i remember, but we had quite a nice snowfall everywhere on most places, at least in 1970. so that's still some time ago. admittedly, you wouldn't know about that. darren, i appreciate that . uh, darren, i appreciate that. uh, but 1970 was quite a snowy one. and then since then, we've had 1981, i think in 1995. so 95 was quite a good one. that'll uh, get a few people remembering what happened that year. uh, but 2010 was a very, very severe december, and there was still snow around on christmas day. but the heaviest of the snowfall had passed by that time. so yeah, you can count them on one hand. well, let's say two hands, you can count the number of

proper white christmases on two hands the last 70 hands in, say, the last 70 years. now john, i've got to ask you right when we're talking there at the introduction, when in 1954, being crosby released a white christmas and of course, that had phenomenal success. >> but is it your favourite christmas song . christmas song. >> uh, greg lake, i would say the one that greg lake did is my favourite christmas song of all. um, and i forgot the title . um, and i forgot the title. you'll probably know the title for that. does simon know the title song greg title of that song that greg lake did? simon. you're lake did? simon. um, you're being no, no , no, simon's let >> yeah. no, no, no, simon's let down of it. no. my god . well, down of it. no. my god. well, john, thank you very much for your time there, song. yeah well, we'll we'll have to actually check in and get some shots of, uh, of scotland under the snow, because i can imagine you will aberdeenshire and all those other parts of scotland covered under that white blanket. it's going to look pretty damn spectacular indeed. john kettley there. weatherman and meteorologist, thank you

very much and have a marvellous christmas. john. joining me now is my panel again. christmas. john. joining me now is my panel again . we're back. is my panel again. we're back. my is my panel again. we're back. my three wise men now , do you my three wise men now, do you actually think this the whole narrative has become one of saying, well , well we're not saying, well, well we're not going to have a white christmas again, are we, because of climate change and all these other topics, i mean, do you do you long for one? simon? >> yes. not least >> i do indeed, yes. not least because wife rwandan and because my wife is rwandan and she's never experienced snow . so she's never experienced snow. so she's never experienced snow. so she came to the uk a few months ago and we just waiting for some snow. she'd love that. do you know, um, i worked in a supermarket. >> i won't name them because i'll probably get, you know, not a cease and desist, not fortnum and mason. so wasn't, uh, and and mason. so it wasn't, uh, and iused and mason. so it wasn't, uh, and i used to have to travel from a place called consett , which is, place called consett, which is, you know, pretty high up at former steel town . and by the former steel town. and by the time i'd got to work, it's going. you're going quite far down and it used to snow really heavily at home, but then at work it would be completely clear. and they would never

believe that i was snowed in at home compared to, and that wasn't very far away. so so there are different there are parts of the country that are so much more used to this than perhaps the media narrative, because much of the media is based in and around london and the south east. so you people, benjamin, you don't get much in the way of snow. well, i mean, i grew cheshire. grew up in cheshire. >> in in a place >> yeah. uh, in a in a place called edge. and i grew called alderley edge. and i grew up the bottom of a woods. so, up at the bottom of a woods. so, you it would be absolutely you know, it would be absolutely beautiful in beautiful when it was covered in snow, it would look literally. it switzerland. it would look like switzerland. >> but >> picturesque. yeah, but i mean, a nightmare. >> you to get somewhere. >> if you have to get somewhere. and was thinking, i'm doing and i was thinking, i'm doing breakfast on gb news on christmas , and then i've got christmas day, and then i've got a two drive to get to a two hour drive to get to christmas lunch. so actually, i really don't want to white christmas snow really don't want to white chri�*sleet snow really don't want to white chri�*sleet is snow really don't want to white chri�*sleet is going snow really don't want to white chri�*sleet is going to snow really don't want to white chri�*sleet is going to between and sleet is going to be between me so i think me and my lunch. so i think a lot people that have got lot of people that have got practical decisions would rather it christmas. it was a dry christmas. >> london own >> but london has its own microclimate, doesn't microclimate, though it doesn't get it? get much snow, does it? >> true . i don't know >> that's true. i don't know about but when left about you, but when i left manchester quite closely. yeah, when manchester for when i left manchester for london as a teenager, i couldn't

believe how little it rains in london. rains here. london. it never rains here. >> mean , i don't know london. it never rains here. >> a mean , i don't know london. it never rains here. >> a white an , i don't know london. it never rains here. >> a white christmas, know london. it never rains here. >> a white christmas, but)w london. it never rains here. >> a white christmas, but i'd about a white christmas, but i'd certainly like wet christmas certainly like a wet christmas as alcohol is concerned . as far as alcohol is concerned. >> i can remember the 1981. i was nine years old and it was just the best as a nine year old kid, to see a white christmas. >> where were you? where was i? sussex. bet that was beautiful. >> actually, i'll just never forget as a kid that feeling of the when i was, oh my the moment when i was, oh my god, it's snowing. it was actually and, know, god, it's snowing. it was actuaif( and, know, god, it's snowing. it was actuaif( would and, know, god, it's snowing. it was actuaif( would render know, god, it's snowing. it was actuaif( would render those iow, god, it's snowing. it was actuaif( would render those off, even if it would render those of us who need to travel on christmas day, you know, being snowed in is a lovely thing, actually, you're the right actually, if you're in the right place, of course. depends where you end place, of course. depends where yotprobably end place, of course. depends where yotprobably getting end place, of course. depends where yotprobably getting have end up probably getting have to settle people got settle in sometimes. people got snowed the moor, didn't they? snowed on the moor, didn't they? yorkshire in a pub, snowed over a days. a couple of days. >> well hey, snowed into >> well hey, being snowed into a pub ideal pub that's an ideal way. >> though, bearing >> lancashire though, bearing in mind not yorkshire. yeah, yeah. absolutely many >> yeah, i've had many christmases at the cat and fiddle in buxton go fiddle in buxton as you go through the hills, which the through the hills, which is the highest country, through the hills, which is the hthink: country, through the hills, which is the hthink that's country, through the hills, which is the hthink that's a country, through the hills, which is the hthink that's a place untry, through the hills, which is the hthink that's a place where you i think that's a place where you don't snowed in don't want to get snowed in because roads. >> right. thank @ right. thank roads. >> panel. thank very @ panel. we'll roads. >> panel. we'll come'ery

roads. >> panel. we'll come back much, panel. we'll come back to you shortly. earlier this week, a special lapland took a special trip to lapland took place ireland place for northern ireland children. place for northern ireland childr> was there much sleep last night? absolutely none. >> for the parents anyway. >> none for the parents anyway. i'm afraid to. sleeping in. >> this is your first time going to see santa. it is? >> yes. we were supposed to go last year, but the family

last year, but the whole family took covid a couple of days before we were due to go. so unfortunately we didn't get to go and we're extremely lucky that been asked go that we've been asked to go this year we a sick girl year as well. we had a sick girl on sunday, so we weren't sure where were going it where we were going to make it at uh, yeah, at all actually. so uh, yeah, very night . very excited last night. >> you looking forward to >> are you looking forward to going see santa today? yes. going to see santa today? yes. where are you going? north pole , where are you going? north pole, the whole trip has to be completed in one day. >> and the plane has medical professionals on board, but also some skilled pilots that can land in subzero conditions. ryan's high heart is that the flying plane in those conditions and landed there. >> it has its challenges, but we're well planned for it. it's a real privilege to be here and take the children up to lapland , take the children up to lapland, and i hope they have a fantastic time . time. >> after spending time in the snow , the children catch up with snow, the children catch up with santa and the big man hopes that those in the uk are safely tucked up and asleep on

christmas eve. oh i hope that they are sleeping , but most many they are sleeping, but most many of them are. >> they have told me that they will not go and sleep on the christmas eve because they try to figure out how i come through the chimney . yes, but normally the chimney. yes, but normally they are sleeping . and then of they are sleeping. and then of course they are living a nice cookies for me. me and spice. and then carrot for my rudolph. yes this trip is about memories and giving parents a well—earned rest . rest. >> it is difficult. um but he's such a trooper . any time >> it is difficult. um but he's such a trooper. any time he's >> it is difficult. um but he's such a trooper. anytime he's in such a trooper. any time he's in hospital. uh it doesn't bother him at all. and he just gets on with everything. so so, um, he makes it easier on us as a family. >> it's. it's very difficult every day. and, you know, even looking around us today, i'm sure, you know, there's a lot of people in similar positions. and, makes days and, um, that's what makes days like bit special like this that extra bit special . um, because making memories is

the, the one of the most important things in our lives. um, and we're hoping that today will be one of the best memories that we'll ever make with i dougie beattie lap band . dougie beattie gb news lap band. >> dougie beattie there with that touching , uh, display of that touching, uh, display of kind and generosity and god bless those kids, folks , you're bless those kids, folks, you're watching and listening to gb news today with me, darren grimes. we've got lots more coming up on today's show. first of all, though, we're going to take the weather. take a look at the weather. >> good afternoon. welcome to your latest gb news weather. i'm ellie glaisyer . it's your latest gb news weather. i'm ellie glaisyer. it's remaining unsettled as we go through the rest the weekend and in rest of the weekend and in towards but towards christmas day, but temperatures remaining temperatures generally remaining above average time of above average for the time of year. above average for the time of year . this is due high year. this is due to high pressure bringing warm up pressure bringing warm air up from the south, but low pressure sits up towards the northwest, bringing across bringing frontal systems across the bringing plenty of wet the uk bringing plenty of wet and windy weather, particularly to parts scotland to western parts of scotland through the rest of saturday and then later into christmas eve on for western parts wales

for western parts of wales we could to rain could see up to 80mm of rain here, generally remaining very cloudy elsewhere, although perhaps some clearer spells across parts scotland. but across parts of scotland. but blustery in and blustery showers pushing in and generally remaining mild across the board into the start of christmas eve, perhaps even around 11 or degrees across around 11 or 12 degrees across the south. so a cloudy, damp and mild start to christmas eve across much of england and wales, with rain pushing its way eastwards as we go through the day, continue eastwards as we go through the day, parts continue eastwards as we go through the day, parts of continue eastwards as we go through the day, parts of scotland, 1tinue eastwards as we go through the day, parts of scotland, these across parts of scotland, these perhaps turning wintry over any high remaining very high ground and remaining very windy too for scotland and northern england. we could see gusts up to 70 miles an hour, perhaps bringing some tricky driving conditions. another mild day 12 or 13 degrees. but day around 12 or 13 degrees. but those strong winds taking the notch temperatures . notch off those temperatures. christmas of the christmas day looks much of the same for the southern half of the uk. heavy rain pushes in from we through from the west as we go through into afternoon into christmas day. afternoon there might be some brighter spells though, scotland spells though, for scotland and northern perhaps northern england, but perhaps some here some wintry showers here too. boxing day looks a bit drier and brighter, but further wet and windy weather is on the way.

later week

isabel monday to thursdays from. six till 930. >> you with gb news the headunes >> you with gb news the headlines this hour, travellers are being warned of long delays and congestion as the festive season's transport problems begin today. the aa is predicting the busiest day of the pre—christmas period and expect six and a half, 16.5 million extra cars on the road . million extra cars on the road. we've been getting information

from the port of dover drivers queuing there for ferries currently waiting about an hour and a half at border control checks. eurostar is operating two extra services per day between london and paris, up to and including christmas eve , to and including christmas eve, to make up for that french industrial action. london paddington, though, closed for four days from tomorrow. and that, of course , does mean that, of course, does mean problems. if you want to get out of london. meanwhile, the aa has issued an amber traffic warning for today 23% of drivers saying they will be using their cars to do their last minute christmas shopping. today is, of course, super saturday, the biggest shopping day before christmas. tipped to be the busiest in—store shopping day of the year last year. in—store shopping day of the year last year . those last year last year. those last minute gifts being snapped up meant that 1.5 million extra pounds were spent in a day . and pounds were spent in a day. and in other news today, bells have been ringing out across the czech republic and flags have been flying at half mast as the

nafion been flying at half mast as the nation holds a day of mourning for victims of a mass for the victims of a mass shooting. were loads of shooting. there were loads of parties . if shooting. there were loads of parties. if you're listening on radio, that is the sound of a mass being held at saint vitus cathedral at prague castle, ahead of a minute's silence at charles university, where a gunman killed 14 people, then turned the gun on himself. the country's president, along with members of the public, have been lighting candles and paying their respects at memorials across the country. police, though still trying to work out what the motive was for the attack and also in the news today, rebecca welch making history as the first woman to ever referee a premier league match. the 40 year old is taking charge of the fulham burnley game this afternoon , the burnley game this afternoon, the burnley manager welcoming the milestone match, saying players won't be changing their behaviour when she takes charge of the game. those are the headlines background on all those stories by heading to our website at gb

news. . news. com. >> thank you polly. welcome back to gb news saturday with me, darren grimes on your tv online and on digital radio now. mayor sadiq khan's. and on digital radio now. mayor sadiq khan's . london of 2023, sadiq khan's. london of 2023, one of a number of divisive decisions that have reverberated across the cityscape was the expansion of the reviled ultra low emission zone. now it's been met with widespread disapproval and, frankly, discontent. now the move earned the ire of residents and businesses alike, sparking vehement opposition and catalysing a fervent debate about the city's environmental policies. as the ulez controversy brewed, the anticipation for the forthcoming 2024 mayoral election has intensified , offering maybe intensified, offering maybe a glimmer of hope for a potential shift in london's urban strategy

and indeed, leadership. well joining me now is howard cox , joining me now is howard cox, reform uk mayoral candidate and the founder of fair fuel uk . the founder of fair fuel uk. howard, thank you very much for your company. now. fair fuel uk of course has been a phenomenally successful campaign that's been running. when did you it up? it was was it you set it up? it was was it after was it even after 2010 or was it even earlier that? howard earlier than that? howard >> no, it was 2010. the end of 2010, we got we got our first fuel duty cut in march 2011. but george osborne gave us a penny cut. >> how would you say actually, drivers are faring now compared to then in 2010? well to back then in 2010? well i suppose if you extrapolate what it could have been because there was a fuel price escalator planned by gordon brown, uh, before the, uh, david cameron got elected. >> um, and there was no plans by the tories to actually get rid of that fuel price escalator . we of that fuel price escalator. we would be sitting on prices now . would be sitting on prices now. petrol diesel, 50 to maybe petrol and diesel, 50 to maybe even up to 70 £0.80 more per even up to 70 or £0.80 more per litre . um, and we'd be up to litre. um, and we'd be up to sort of kong of sort of hong kong levels of pricing pumps. so so they pricing at the pumps. so so they are faring pretty well. we

haven't fuel duty for haven't had a fuel duty rise for 14 uh even we even had 14 years. uh even we even had six in that time. and to cut six cut in that time. and to cut a long story short , but we are a long story short, but we are still unfortunately , one of the still unfortunately, one of the highest tax drivers in the world. >> yeah, i mean, howard, i was just reading there today in the, uh, daily telegraph sir james uh, daily telegraph sirjames dyson of course, the founder of, of dyson has said that actually we need to go for growth and stop focusing on things like inflation. now there might be many of your, uh , supporters, many of your, uh, supporters, not just of reform uk, but of fuel uk who are saying, well, actually it's inflation that's hitting me at the pump . hitting me at the pump. >> absolutely right . i mean, as >> absolutely right. i mean, as you know, every time we hear the inflation, the rpi figures announced in the next sentence, we always hear because pump pnces we always hear because pump prices went up or went down, depending happened depending on what happened to inflation. be inflation. we should be concentrating growth and we should putting money should be putting more money into pockets . and into people's pockets. and there's of doing that. there's two ways of doing that. one to cut fuel duty. uh one is to cut fuel duty. uh because as i said, we're still the tax or one the the highest tax or one of the highest drivers the

highest taxed drivers in the world. if we cut it by £0.20, inflation will come by inflation will come down by something like to 1.5. and the something like 1 to 1.5. and the other thing, of course, is stop the opportunistic profiteering in supply chain. that's in the fuel supply chain. that's one of the bad things, darren, we're seeing because you well one of the bad things, darren, we're you 1g because you well one of the bad things, darren, we're you canecause you well one of the bad things, darren, we're you can go use you well one of the bad things, darren, we're you can go you you well one of the bad things, darren, we're you can go you canou well one of the bad things, darren, we're you can go you can just ell know, you can go you can just drive 3 or 4 miles and see the same branded fuel, uh, you know, texaco's or whatever. uh, texaco's or s or whatever. uh, sainsbury's or morrisons and you'll see there could be £0.05 difference. we have no idea how pump prices arrived at. pump prices are arrived at. >> yeah. i mean, howard just finally then i'm assuming that all want for christmas is a all you want for christmas is a few for reform uk. yeah absolutely. >> right. we are moving in the right direction. it's a it's a big uphill battle to fight. but the more and more i talk and present i always say to people, forget about the colour of the policies of red, green or blue. just the issues we're just look at the issues we're fighting for. and talk fighting for. and when we talk about issues, uk are about the issues, reform uk are talking and what i'm talking about and what i'm standing election, standing for a mayoral election, you'll that a people you'll find that a lot of people think, didn't realise think, oh, i didn't realise that. we're coming across watch this space, darren.

>> and we shall see. we shall see. howard cox always a pleasure. thank you very much. reform uk's mayoral candidate. and , the founder of the and as i say, the founder of the fair fuel campaign . now, folks, fair fuel campaign. now, folks, my three wise men are still in the studio. of course, got charlie lambton, housing market specialist. simon dunkirk , specialist. simon dunkirk, former labour mp, and benjamin butterworth . uh, on that point, butterworth. uh, on that point, you know , actually labour have you know, actually labour have got a real problem here, haven't they, with the fact that people are finding this ulez thing to be deeply distasteful and unpopular . be deeply distasteful and unpopular. mhm. >> yeah. and that's why they struggled in the uxbridge by—election isn't it. the people of uxbridge, which of course was bofis of uxbridge, which of course was boris johnson's former seat . boris johnson's former seat. exactly. and they came out in the by—election and voted uh to remain conservative. and that was a vote against ulez in many respects . yeah. respects. yeah. >> which is book and benjamin, a trend at the minute. right. because the conservatives are i mean, andy burnham, mayor mean, andy burnham, the mayor of greater manchester, has just dropped intention to have dropped any intention to have a similar dropped any intention to have a simthere . so clearly there's

>> there. so clearly there's a concern about the electoral effects of it. and the labour party centrally has said that, you they have no intention you know, they have no intention to this upon to try and, uh, thrust this upon labour run councils. but what i would say is that, you know, you talk about the cost to drivers rising as the cost of everything has risen dramatically under sort of a tragic 13 years of tory government. but . actually, tory government. but. actually, if you look at the cost to people who get public transport in the form of trains, well, it's point 9, which it's going up for point 9, which is inflation. and is higher than inflation. and over last decade it's risen over the last decade it's risen twice as inflation has. twice as fast as inflation has. the cost of getting a train ticket. you know, if i go back to manchester, it's what, like £90, you know, easily for a standard ticket. i mean these are extortionate prices . and are extortionate prices. and while you know, i'm not saying that drivers should have to, to pay that drivers should have to, to pay enormous amounts to go about their get to their daily lives and get to work, often we forget work, i think often we forget that public that the cost of public transport gone the transport has gone through the roof , you know, transport has gone through the roof, you know, again in greater manchester you manchester until recently, you had different bus had to get several different bus tickets that tickets to get around that city. as of the country you do, as much of the country you do, which means you can be paying a

tenner just to get to work. and i sometimes i think sometimes we forget that, would rather that, you know, i would rather people their cars people weren't using their cars at as much. the at all or not as much. but the way to that to help make way to do that is to help make pubuc way to do that is to help make public affordable. public transport affordable. >> the northeast, we >> i mean, in the northeast, we didn't have a bus didn't really have a bus service. all went on strike service. they all went on strike for a good long while , and the for a good long while, and the snp in scotland, a third of all bus have been axed since bus routes, have been axed since they to power. they came to power. >> and obviously scotland is more many parts more rural than than many parts of the coming sussex of the uk coming from sussex though, that's though, you know, that's a pretty train ticket as pretty expensive train ticket as well, isn't it? >> lot w- well, isn't it? >> lot of people >> there are a lot of people complain that particular complain about that particular route. trains very expensive. >> i think the buses are running pretty good, but where sadiq khan has really got it wrong. i mean, i the ulez was mean, i think the ulez was a terrible he's terrible idea. um, he's complete. the complete. he failed on on the housing promises he made. yeah. and impacted every body and that's impacted every body and made worse. and it's really made it worse. so . i hope to see a new mayor of so. i hope to see a new mayor of london next. next. yeah. >> and the running of tfl is appalling. i mean, it's hard to use underground network. use the underground network. there's something wrong with it. every i mean, i it every day. i mean, i use it every day and there's something wrong negative experience. >> yeah. so it's not fair. and

experience. >> yiah. so it's not fair. and experience. >> yiah. so gladlyt fair. and experience. >> yiah. so gladlyt fethelnd well i mean gladly in the interests balance , i think, interests of balance, i think, i think khan reasonably think sadiq khan is a reasonably effective mayor. >> course, when boris >> and of course, when boris johnson being mayor, johnson stopped being mayor, they took away the subsidy for transport london that the transport for london that the london underground had had. and so people say, oh, the so when people say, oh, the london underground system is losing money, which it wasn't under johnson , the tories under boris johnson, the tories took central government took away the central government subsidy when boris subsidy that it had when boris johnson was mayor of london. johnson was was mayor of london. so the maths are very different thing. >> no, i've got to say, you know , calling sadiq khan effective mayor is the best way to bring out my inner grinch. >> i'll tell you, i watched a video his promises he video of his promises and he hasn't them. hasn't met one of them. >> well, well, nothing. >> well, well, well, nothing. >> well, well, well, nothing. >> well, well, well, nothing. >> well, course, let >> well, of course, let the pubuc >> well, of course, let the public benjamin public decide. and as benjamin says of says in the interests of balance, many balance, there are many other candidates standing candidates that are standing in that particular election. now, loads of you have been getting in touch. i thank you much in touch. i thank you very much for doing on the topics for doing so. on all the topics that we've discussing that we've been discussing today, kindly today, sheila has very kindly written in and sheila says, hi, darren, this is my kitchen window in caithness right now. a geordie in the far north. happy

christmas i oh, i'm always christmas! oh, i'm always delighted to hear from a fellow geordie, sheila, that looks beautiful . that window there, beautiful. that window there, thatis beautiful. that window there, that is indeed white. uh, christmas indeed. let's hope it sticks around for christmas . sticks around for christmas. maureen has written in as well, and maureen says, i hope this is what you're looking for. very cold here. that's beautiful . now cold here. that's beautiful. now thatis cold here. that's beautiful. now that is what you think that is what you picture when you think of christmas, is it not? and jeremy has written in and jeremy says , i thought global warming says, i thought global warming had turned into global boiling. how come we still have snowy christmas in scotland? well poses a question there now , now poses a question there now, now keep your views coming in. as evehi keep your views coming in. as ever, i love to hear from you . ever, i love to hear from you. much more important than my mouth folks. use a watching and listening to gb news saturday with me, darren grimes. we've got loads more coming up on today's show . we're going to be today's show. we're going to be finding out why you shouldn't give pet as a present. now, it give a pet as a present. now, it might sound obvious, but it escapes a lot of people and we'll also have the latest

travel news with theo. we're going to go back to him and all of that and more to come. you're watching and listening to gb news britain's news channel .

7:00 this evening. gb news the people's . channel. welcome back people's. channel. welcome back to gb news saturday with me , to gb news saturday with me, darren grimes on your tv on line and on digital radio. >> now, we've all heard the

saying, have we not? dogs are for life, not just for christmas. pets are certainly not just seasonal accessories . not just seasonal accessories. despite the allure of gifting fluffy companions, the message remains steadfast. adopting or purchasing a pet is a lifelong commitment that extends far beyond the christmas season. well joining me now is vet nurse for the pdsa, nina downing . for the pdsa, nina downing. nina, thank you very much for your time. nina, how long have your time. nina, how long have you been doing what you do ? you been doing what you do? >> i've been a nurse for 25 years now, so i'm an old hand, i'm afraid. >> nina, do you think this trend has got worse then or better? do you think people buying pets for christmas and then very sadly saying , you know, this saying, you know, this commitment ain't for me ? is that commitment ain't for me? is that getting worse or what not? >> i think there's a constant trend. >> i think there is a real campaign a few years ago with the pets for life, not for christmas , and everybody jumped christmas, and everybody jumped on board, but i think unfortunately it's starting to slip again in and people aren't

quite as aware of that campaign anymore. it's because it's not being talked about quite as much . but the is still very, . but the point is still very, very relevant. and we still recommend that it's just not a goodidea recommend that it's just not a good idea around christmas . yes. good idea around christmas. yes. >> yeah. i mean, nina, i guess the, the, the point would be that a lot of people may be of the view. well, look, i would to love have a little dog or indeed a in my life, but i'm a i'm a cat in my life, but i'm a i'm worried about what the commitment entails. i'm worried about the longevity of the commitment itself . what advice commitment itself. what advice would you have for those who who may well be thinking of getting a furry friend? because i do read that we are seeing more dogs being given up right now than perhaps we have for a long time because of the sheer cost of living crisis. so we do need people to be adopting some furry friends, don't we? >> adoption is fantastic and getting a pet we all love animals. i mean, they are adorable. we love them to bits .

adorable. we love them to bits. we can't resist them and they're going to be a part of people's families lives forever. but it's responsible pet ownership. it's taking them on when you know 100% that your that you can commit to them because that's what they need . they're an what they need. they're an animal that's coming into your family. part family. they're going to be part of and they are going of your life. and they are going to with you. to hopefully be with you. they're life . so they're their entire life. so you have to be prepared to make sure that you are fully set up for taking them on. it's not just a case of saving up some money and getting a puppy or a kitten, or whatever. you're going to be getting that . it is going to be getting that. it is a tiny proportion of the financial responsibility that you're taking on you're going to be taking on when taking on a pet. so when you're taking on a pet. so of wonderful if you of course, it's wonderful if you can adopt fantastic if it's right for you and mainly for the animal, really , you've got to be animal, really, you've got to be able it's not just a financial commitment. it's a time commitment. it's a time commitment. it's a time commitment. it's being prepared to put a part of your life into this animal and sort of

sacrificing an awful lot, actually , because, you know, if actually, because, you know, if you go out in an evening, they can't meet dogs, for example, can't meet dogs, for example, can't left for hours. you've can't be left for hours. you've got to make come back got to make sure you come back on want to go on time if you want to go on holiday, can't on holiday, you can't go on a houday holiday, you can't go on a holiday at the drop of a hat. you've to make sure that you you've got to make sure that you have got it. um, suitable care arranged for while you're away. you you're thinking going you you're thinking about going back know, and back to work. you know, and a lot of people, if they think lot of people, if they do think that get an that they're going to get an animal they animal over christmas, they think, great, we've two animal over christmas, they think, off great, we've two animal over christmas, they think, off thist, we've two animal over christmas, they think, off this iswe've two animal over christmas, they think, off this is going two animal over christmas, they think, off this is going to two animal over christmas, they think, off this is going to work weeks off this is going to work really, really well really, really well. well actually, weeks actually, the two weeks that you're christmas, for you're off over christmas, for example, we're talking example, as we're talking about it today , usually it today, is usually manic around christmas, you have loads of visitors . you're going off of visitors. you're going off visiting other people . well, visiting other people. well, it's not the right time because you can't completely dedicate your time to, um , to the animal your time to, um, to the animal so that it can get a climate used to living in your home and getting to know you. you're a stranger to them when they first come. course, after come. and then of course, after the weeks holiday, for the two weeks holiday, for example, to go back example, you're going to go back to you're hours go to work. you're hours go backward. are working seven backward. are you working seven and hours a day? and a half, eight hours a day? if lucky, you know you've

if you're lucky, you know you've got to think that those animals need companionship throughout the not fair to expect the day. it's not fair to expect them just to come into a home and be abandoned. when you and then be abandoned. when you go back to work. so it's a massive commitment . they're massive commitment. they're wonderful, i am for all wonderful, and i am for all giving a pet a home. but as long as you're completely and utterly aware of all the commitments that come with them, nina sage advice from a vet of veterinary nursing , if i advice from a vet of veterinary nursing, if i can put it like that at the pdsa . that at the pdsa. >> thank you very much, nina dowding . they're now back with dowding. they're now back with me again. of course , is my me again. of course, is my wonderful panel. charlie lambden, who's market specialist, danczuk, specialist, simon danczuk, former and gb news fan former labour mp and gb news fan favourite benjamin butterworth . favourite benjamin butterworth. he paid me to say that , uh, i he paid me to say that, uh, i mean, it is a real problem. i've considered actually getting a dog myself if i'm, if i'm, uh, truthful with you, but the commitment is massive, right? it's like having a child. >> the it's a big commitment. and who on the panel does have a dog, by the way . dog, by the way. >> so i it was it was at the

time it was the best decision i've made in my life to get a dog. it got me out. it got me more exercise. it was amazing company. it was a difficult time more exercise. it was amazing conme. y. it was a difficult time more exercise. it was amazing con me. y. it wtwonderful. t time more exercise. it was amazing conme. y. it wtwonderful. but1e for me. it was wonderful. but what was a great what i did have was a great support network of people who were happy to look after him. if i to travel, that kind of i had to travel, that kind of stuff want to stuff because you don't want to put if you can put them in kennels if you can avoid it when you away. avoid it when you go away. so they like left alone they don't like being left alone when become own, when they've become your own, your huge, your own pet. so it is a huge, huge commitment. and it's one huge commitment. and if it's one you're to take, you're in a position to take, it's of the most rewarding it's one of the most rewarding commitments you can make. but but know, just yesterday i but you know, just yesterday i remember my family saying, i've got get rid of got one dog i can't get rid of and going a week, and we're going away for a week, and we're going away for a week, and take my mother's and who can take my mother's taking for a but, taking this dog for a week, but, um, yeah, it's, you know, i can't having give can't imagine having to give a dog away. yeah. if you're gifting a pet, do you have to wrap it up or how do you keep it? >> well, i hope not until christmas. i know benjamin well. >> you can put it in a big box with some holes in. and then, i mean, i love watching on on on tiktok and stuff. you tiktok and stuff. yeah. you know, give puppies tiktok and stuff. yeah. you know, and give puppies tiktok and stuff. yeah. you know, and thingsgive puppies tiktok and stuff. yeah. you know, and thingsgive plbutzs and cats and things and i. but i fear that those things go viral. and is that causing a trend of

people to them they people to gift them because they could such beautiful could make such beautiful videos, such emotional videos ? videos, such emotional videos? um, look, i would absolutely have dog if i could , but i have a dog if i could, but i just fear that i don't have the time at home that i would time to be at home that i would my career would change and i wouldn't able after wouldn't be able to look after it. and if you can't be it. and i think if you can't be certain that you can that, it. and i think if you can't be cert know, it you can that, it. and i think if you can't be cert know, people an that, it. and i think if you can't be cert know, people an have, it. and i think if you can't be cert know, people an have kids, you know, people that have kids, they be certain they can probably be certain of it they're way it because they're tied to a way of having the kid. but of life from having the kid. but but lots aren't. and of but lots of us aren't. and of course, you're in the rental course, if you're in the rental sector, then landlords sector, then most landlords won't have of a pet like won't let you have of a pet like a cat or a dog. and so you could live somewhere that allows it. but then, you know, you have to you move lose you have to move and you lose your choice. you have to move and you lose youyou oice. you have to move and you lose youyou have to consider it. >> you have to consider it. >> you have to consider it. >> now. yeah. >> now. yeah. >> mean, simon's just very >> i mean, simon's just very briefly real briefly that there is a real problem people giving problem here with people giving up their because the problem here with people giving up tthat because the problem here with people giving up tthat ijustuse the problem here with people giving up tthat ijust can't the problem here with people giving up tthat ijust can't afford fact that they just can't afford them yeah, absolutely. fact that they just can't afford the and yeah, absolutely. fact that they just can't afford the and yea do absolutely. fact that they just can't afford the and yea do absy excellent fact that they just can't afford the in d yea do absyexcellent fact that they just can't afford the in terms yea do absyexcellent fact that they just can't afford the in terms of yea do absyexcellent fact that they just can't afford the in terms of dealinngiexcellent fact that they just can't afford the in terms of dealing)syex> yeah, you must have seen some of when were an mp. oh yeah. >> absolutely. e absolutely. >> no, absolutely. yeah. that's right. should right. yeah. so people should really big really consider it's really big big consideration. but a big consideration. yeah. but a great as were saying. >> indeed all panel we're

>> indeed all right panel we're going travel news. going to get some travel news. now aa has said that it now the aa has said that it expects at least 16.4 million people to make their journeys across the uk in time for christmas. joining me now is the our national reporter for theo chikomba, who is live from dartford crossing, to give us the latest news on travel. and theo, i can see i can see what i couldn't see earlier , which was couldn't see earlier, which was it looks a bit like a traffic jam now . jam now. >> yeah, it's a bit, just a little bit of a traffic jam . so little bit of a traffic jam. so those 16.5 million people that have been estimated to be on the roads today, i guess these are some of them. the traffic is moving slowly here as you go towards the toll for the dartford crossing and what tends to happen as you go further along. there's four lanes here and then they split into two and sometimes they put the traffic lights on so less people can go in at one time. um, so people will have to be waiting here for

some time and just one other one overin some time and just one other one over in dover. it's about 60 minutes to wait to go through french border control . so, um, french border control. so, um, that's been updated throughout the morning between an hour and a half and an hour. so if you are heading that direction, are heading in that direction, do that. and of do watch out for that. and of course, if are the roads course, if you are on the roads as just do check your as well, just do check your journey before you travel. >> okey theo sage advice >> okey doke. theo sage advice as ever, it is starting look as ever, it is starting to look as ever, it is starting to look a it was an hour a lot busier than it was an hour ago what it's like ago, so we'll see what it's like later on this afternoon. it's going to be an interesting one because a lot of people are, of course a bit skint at the minute to say the least. but folks are watching and listening to gb news saturday with me. darren grimes i thank you very much for doing loads more doing so. we've got loads more coming the next hour, coming up on the next hour, plenty of chat about christmas, including strange including some strange festive traditions . find out what that traditions. find out what that is. first of all though, we're going to find out what the weather to . we're late. weather is up to. we're late. get up this christmas eve and christmas day. >> wake up with gb news for the finest festive start to your

christmas for you and the whole family . christmas breakfast on family. christmas breakfast on gb news christmas eve and christmas day from 6 am. i got you this . oh good. okay. um you this. oh good. okay. um i got you a little something . ah got you a little something. ah >> ah, sure. it's nice . >> ah, sure. it's nice. >>— >> ah, sure. it's nice. >> hello. thank you for being a big part of gb news. >> we'd like to wish you and your loved ones a christmas season full of comfort and joy, as well as a peaceful and prosperous new year. >> from our family to yours, we are proud to be your channel. >> merry christmas, happy christmas, merry christmas , christmas, merry christmas, happy christmas, merry christmas , merry christmas, merry christmas . christmas. >> here on gb news the people's channel. >> merry christmas .

>> hello and welcome to gb news saturday i'm darren grimes for and the next hour i'll be keeping you company on tv, onune keeping you company on tv, online and on digital radio. we'll keep you up to date on the stories that really matter to you. coming up this hour. do you ever think christmas can just be a little bit too much? you stood there, you're peeling your potatoes, you're roasting your turkey, dropping kids off at the

nativity play. the list seems endless. we'll be sparing a thought for those who go the extra mile to make christmas work for us all. now well, we've heard a lot about rwanda over the past few weeks and months, but one of our panellists, simon danczuk , has his home there. danczuk, has his own home there. we'll be speaking to him about a rwandan christmas . now, for rwandan christmas. now, for those of you who missed it earlier, we'll also be showing you a little glimpse of life in lapland after a group of terminally ill british children got the chance to meet father christmas last christmas i gave you my heart . you my heart. >> but the very next day you gave it away . this year, wham's gave it away. this year, wham's last christmas , well, it's made last christmas, well, it's made its way to number one for the first time in its 37 year history . history. >> we'll be speaking to our panellists about their favourite christmas hits. get in touch folks.i christmas hits. get in touch folks. i want to know what your favourite christmas hit is . send favourite christmas hit is. send me your thoughts on

gbviews@gbnews.com or message us on our socials. we're at at gb news. first of all though, we're going to get the news with polly middlehurst . middlehurst. >> darren. thank you. and the top story this hour. the great christmas getaway is well underway today. travellers facing long delays on rail and by road. the aa saying it's the busiest day of the pre—christmas period. an expected £16.5 million cars, i should say extra cars on the road this year. well, there were 90 minute delays at the port of dover earlier on today, but the authorities there now saying no wait time ahead of the french border controls. eurostar is operating two extra services per day. that is between london and paris, up to and including christmas eve , which, believe it christmas eve, which, believe it or not, is tomorrow . so london

or not, is tomorrow. so london paddington closed for four days as well from christmas eve tomorrow. travel expert simon calder saying rail passengers in particular must plan carefully . particular must plan carefully. >> so let's start at london paddington because we know that all the trains are going to stop as from late tonight. there won't be any until the 28th of december. we are seeing train cancellations to bristol , to cancellations to bristol, to cardiff and coming back in the opposite direction due to shortage of train crew. the nonh shortage of train crew. the north of england is going to be even worse. no northern trains has said do not travel on some of our key routes. we won't have any trains, we can't get the staff to run them . staff to run them. >> meanwhile, the aa has issued an amber traffic warning with 23% of drivers saying they're going to be using their cars to do their last minute christmas shopping today. do their last minute christmas shopping today . of course, super shopping today. of course, super saturday tipped to be the busiest in store shopping day of the year last year, shoppers spent an extra £1.5 million

buying those extra last minute gifts . now, also in the news gifts. now, also in the news today, the father of kobe macaraya dooley has paid tribute to his son, saying the joy and laughter he brought to the world has been taken too soon. kobe was found with knife injuries at home in hackney on wednesday. he was taken to hospital but died there . his mother, keziah there. his mother, keziah macari, has been charged with murder. a postmortem murder. a post mortem examination is due to take place on thursday, the same day his mother will appear before the old bailey . the london mayor mother will appear before the old bailey. the london mayor is calling on the government to help provide aid to ukraine by sending vehicles that would ordinarily be scrapped under the ulez scheme. sadiq khan has asked the transport secretary to enable those living in the capital to donate their vehicles . under the scrappage scheme. londoners with cars that fall foul of emission standards can claim up to £2,000 when they're

non—compliant. vehicles are scrapped . ukraine will celebrate scrapped. ukraine will celebrate christmas day on december the 25th this year. that's the first time since 1917 the holidays usually held on the 7th of january, in accordance with the traditional julian calendar used in russia. the move marks a step forward, erasing all traces of russian influence in kyiv. moscow's attack on ukraine was seen by many ukrainians as an opportunity to reject language, culture and customs , and bells culture and customs, and bells rang out across the czech repubuc rang out across the czech republic today , as well as flags republic today, as well as flags flying at half mast as the nafion flying at half mast as the nation held a day of mourning for the victims of a mass shooting . carlos they are a day , shooting. carlos they are a day, if you're listening on radio, thatis if you're listening on radio, that is the sound of a mass being held at saint vitus cathedral at prague castle, ahead of a minute of silence at charles university, where a

gunman opened fire on 14 people before turning the gun on himself. the country's president, along with members of the public, have been laying flowers and lighting candles and paying flowers and lighting candles and paying their respects at were memorials across the country . memorials across the country. police, though, are still trying to establish a motive for the attack . junior doctors have attack. junior doctors have returned to work today after a 72 hour strike over pay, but nhs managers have said the action put patient safety at risk . put patient safety at risk. senior doctors were drafted in to cover appointments, but the prime minister said the action was disappointing , urging junior was disappointing, urging junior doctors to call off their strikes in the new year. the british medical association is urging the government to get back round the negotiating table and call what they're saying a credible offer . talks broke down credible offer. talks broke down after the doctors declined a 3% rise, on top of the average 8.8% increase they were given in the summer. the next round of junior doctor strikes will be in the new year , and rebecca welch will

new year, and rebecca welch will make history as the first woman to ever referee a premier league match this afternoon . the 40 match this afternoon. the 40 year old is taking charge of the fulham burnley game in about an houhs fulham burnley game in about an hour's time. she began refereeing in 2010 and in january she became the first female to officiate a men's championship game. the burnley manager has welcomed the milestone match, saying his players will not change their behaviour when she takes charge of the game. that's the news on gb news across the uk, on tv, in your car , on digital radio and your car, on digital radio and on your smart speaker. this is britain's news channel . thank britain's news channel. thank you as ever, polly, we're going to get stuck into today's topics now presents to wrap, cards to write, decorations to be dusted off and hung out. >> there are nativity plays. there are carol concerts. there's the christmas fair, the festive period is one of the busiest of the year. but are we

putting a little bit too much pressure on ourselves and perhaps overstretching somewhat? well, joining me to discuss this isjuue well, joining me to discuss this is julie cook, journalist for the national press, including daily mail, sun and telegraph, as well as a broadcaster and common tater. well, julie, from that list , it sounds like you're that list, it sounds like you're overstretched , but i wonder how overstretched, but i wonder how as it got worse, have we actually started doing more and more and we're trying to cram in too much . too much. >> i think it's got a lot worse. i certainly don't remember it being like this when i was a child. i think i remember my nativity and that was it. and then christmas then nativity and that was it. and thwas christmas then nativity and that was it. and thwas and.tmas then nativity and that was it. and thwas and.tmas the then nativity and that was it. and thwas and.tmas the new it was done and it was the new yeah it was done and it was the new year. think now we've got so year. i think now we've got so much more. as you rightly said, there's a nativity play, christmas jumper christmas fair, christmas jumper day, uh, up day , carol day, uh, dress up day, carol concerts. it goes on and on and on. but i do think if we're looking at who gets the most stress, let's be honest, it's women. women and mums. women. it's women and mums. we're ones who bear the we're the ones who bear the brunt. the ones who do all brunt. we're the ones who do all the admin . i'd brunt. we're the ones who do all the admin. i'd say 90%

the christmas admin. i'd say 90% of christmas of the time. the christmas wrapping , the christmas wrapping, the christmas shopping. all down to us. shopping. it's all down to us. so i think if anybody is stressed, it's women. >> well, hey i was asked >> well, hey julie, i was asked to something. i wouldn't >> well, hey julie, i was asked to where ething. i wouldn't >> well, hey julie, i was asked to where t0|ing. i wouldn't >> well, hey julie, i was asked to where to begin wouldn't >> well, hey julie, i was asked to where to begin to uldn't >> well, hey julie, i was asked to where to begin to be n't >> well, hey julie, i was asked to where to begin to be quite know where to begin to be quite honest with you. but i'm wondering , actually the wondering, i actually on the streets today, we've had some shots of oxford street and you can see a lot of concerned looking men mind running up and down thinking, i haven't got anything yet. panic stations . anything yet. panic stations. yeah i think today is the day of the man . the man. >> as you rightly said. i think a lot of men today will be thinking, i've got nothing. i've got to go and get the wife something know, to something and, you know, and to be that's all they've be honest, that's all they've got to think about, isn't it? the already done the mums have already done everything. being everything. everything's being wrapped today by the mums or already wrapped, and the men have to think about one have just got to think about one present you present today. um, but but, you know, joking aside, is know, joking aside, it is a stressful become much stressful time. it's become much more stressful simply because i think commercialisation of think the commercialisation of it has also had a knock on effect on all the things we expect ourselves do. expect ourselves to do. for example, going to fairs and christmas jumper days and all these extras. they didn't really happen so 20, 30 years

happen as much. so 20, 30 years ago, even, um , and so i think if ago, even, um, and so i think if there stress, it's just there is more stress, it's just because on because we're putting it on ourselves. be ourselves. it doesn't need to be like what would you like that. so what would you say? >> actually, we need to remember, back to remember, do we go back to basics? remember what basics? do we remember what christmas about? know, christmas is about? you know, the the story. the nature of the story. obviously in a really reductive sense . the story of christ, you sense. the story of christ, you know, the christ child, the message of light, hope. uh, and a future essentially . now, have a future essentially. now, have we actually forgotten those themes ? we've just abandoned themes? we've just abandoned themes? we've just abandoned them all. do you reckon ? yeah, them all. do you reckon? yeah, obviously that is what it's all about. >> and i think we do forget that, don't we? um, certainly. you know, as i say, with the commercial commercialisation of everything, about everything, but it's also about family, isn't it? it's about seeing family. it's about seeing your family. it's about turning off. turning your phone off. it's about stop comparing about, you know, stop comparing yourself and yourself to everybody else and not about commercial not worry about the commercial ization so much and just see, you your nearest and you know, your nearest and dearest and the stress of the build up to it can make the actual day itself. when you do finally see those people like ,

finally see those people like, oh, a big sigh of relief, because sort of got because you've sort of got through stress, which through all the stress, which again to be there. again, doesn't need to be there. really. yeah. really. yeah yeah. >> i mean, julie, don't know >> i mean, julie, i don't know about but, i, about anyone else, but, uh, i, i had an early christmas yesterday and cooked all, uh , so, you and i cooked it all, uh, so, you know, i'm going to give a little shout out pat on the back to myself and say, look, there's a man doing man that's actually doing something at christmas because i imagine few were imagine there's a few of were out there, but , imagine there's a few of were out there, but, uh, julie, thank you much for your time. you very much for your time. that's journalist and that's the journalist and broadcaster julie cook there. now, for all the latest analysis and on stories and and opinion on these stories and more, go to our website . more, you can go to our website. we're gb dot com now . we're at gb news dot com now. one country that's remained at the centre of british news is actually the east african nation of rwanda. now no doubt you will have heard about rwanda recently and in light of british government plans, of course, to send illegal migrants , although send illegal migrants, although it's not much in the way of that, is there as a means of deterring channel crossings,

several weeks ago, the supreme court ruled the plan illegal owing to its supposed lack of safety, but the government, of course, responded with a new treaty and emergency legislation. so it remains to be seen what comes of that particular plan. but i tell you what, don't hold your breath. a key point that critics have made of the plan is that rwanda isn't a pleasant country. but is this true ? well, back with me. i'm true? well, back with me. i'm joined now by simon danczuk , the joined now by simon danczuk, the former labour party mp , and former labour party mp, and simon. well simon's got a home in rwanda if i, you know, if i judge the narrative by much of the media, it must be a bullet proof whole home, isn't it? >> it's a beautiful country , in >> it's a beautiful country, in actual fact. >> and why does get such a >> and why does it get such a bad rap then? >> much from people on the >> very much from people on the left, have and it's left, i have to say. and it's some their views and comments some of their views and comments are verging on racist. actually they assume rwanda is like they assume that rwanda is like some other african states and it clearly isn't. it's very progressive. it's known as the switzerland africa for its switzerland of africa for its really progressive country . uh,

really progressive country. uh, they'll be enjoying christmas just like we do. i was there last year. i'm back at back out there on the 2nd of january, so i'll be back to my home out in kigali. uh, it's got a great nightlife . it's exceptionally nightlife. it's exceptionally safe. it's very well policed. uh, so you don't have any any problems there ? uh, and it's problems there? uh, and it's a very clean country . it's very clean country. it's immaculately clean. in actual fact , they banned plastic bags fact, they banned plastic bags about 15 years ago. so you don't see any rubbish. the streets are being cleaned on a regular basis. it's a great country, actually. >> now some have said, look, that's all well and good, simon. right. i'm glad you've got your lovely home. and of course, your beautiful but beautiful wife. yeah, but they're look, they're saying, look, the elections fair and elections aren't fair and democratic. they're corrupt. it's a corrupt country . and that it's a corrupt country. and that these migrants are going to end up suffering and have worse lives than they would in this country . country. >> you know, it's just not true. i mean, the they have an election, uh, next year, 2024, i think it is, uh, july, uh, the president's exceptionally popular paul kagame is very popular paul kagame is very

popular amongst the electorate . popular amongst the electorate. i've seen him at events where the public are in attendance. they all naturally cheer him and speak very well of him. he's always out and around and about and the way that they govern their is up to their country really is up to them. they have a very them. but they have a very popular president, but they have a majority of women in parliament. so they're very progressive in that respect, the far more progressive than we are in actual fact. and in britain, in actual fact. and uh, you know, in terms of children , i've taken my children children, i've taken my children there , uh, they've been very there, uh, they've been very safe. you wouldn't take your children to a place wasn't children to a place that wasn't safe. uh, so idea that these safe. uh, so the idea that these illegal immigrants can't be sent there is an absolute nonsense. and supreme court are just and the supreme court are just have got wrong . they've been have got it wrong. they've been listening united nations . listening to the united nations. the irony is united nations the irony is the united nations actually sends some migrants to rwanda . so if it's good enough rwanda. so if it's good enough for the united nations , then it for the united nations, then it should be good enough for britain. >> yeah, well, the united nations, don't get me started on that nations, don't get me started on tha it's not time of year for >> it's not the time of year for that sort of thing. season of

goodwill all that. but you goodwill and all that. but you know, does know, i wonder then, what does a christmas in rwanda? christmas look like in rwanda? >> yeah, that's question. >> yeah, that's a good question. it's different. it's it's slightly different. it's more down it would be more toned down than it would be in as in britain. not quite as commercial, as presents commercial, not as many presents being given . uh, but it a being given. uh, but it is a time of relaxation . people will time of relaxation. people will say quite religious . say they're quite religious. it's so it's a christian country, so it's got a very small muslim population . so they will population. so they will celebrate christmas , they'll go celebrate christmas, they'll go to church, they will relax with family and friends , us and the family and friends, us and the elite british. so beef cattle is very big in rwanda . uh, so beef very big in rwanda. uh, so beef and goats will be eaten barbecued , uh, perhaps in the barbecued, uh, perhaps in the garden. the weather will be much better than it is. uh here. so it'll be a nice time. they'll enjoy it. >> well, that's a controversial, uh, question there in and of itself, because a lot of people are you know, only are saying you know, we only have once a year, and have turkey once a year, and guess it's because it's dry guess why? it's because it's dry as a bone, right? no one actually rest actually wants it for the rest of year. so would you prefer of the year. so would you prefer simon that we did copy simon that actually, we did copy rwanda sat rwanda and that we were sat around the table having around the dinner table having beef the rest of it ?

beef and all the rest of it? >> no, i think i'd stick with it. >> you're a traditional man. >> you're a traditional man. >> yeah, absolutely. yeah. >> yeah, absolutely. yeah. >> well, i think with >> well, i think i agree with that. explains then that. but what explains then that. but what explains then that the lack of turkey in rwanda, it's just it's. >> yeah, i don't know. there's lots of chicken, but i haven't noficed lots of chicken, but i haven't noticed all. goat noticed any turkey at all. goat is quite , uh, common. and is quite, uh, common. uh, and people , they don't eat lots of people, they don't eat lots of meat during the year, you know, uh, but they'll make a point uh, but but they'll make a point of eating it over christmas and barbecuing it and putting it on, uh, on sticks. on skewers. yeah so that'll be the tone of it. rice cassava leaf is quite common. so it's a more basic , common. so it's a more basic, uh, food. uh, but not as not as processed . so much healthier as processed. so much healthier as well. >> i mean, have you got much in the way of goodwill for some of your former colleagues? then when comes to this issue of, when it comes to this issue of, uh, sending migrants to rwanda and all the rest of it, i'm really in favour of the policy. >> i think it could work really well. a deterrent break up the people business plan. well. a deterrent break up the peoplethe business plan. well. a deterrent break up the peoplethe of business plan. well. a deterrent break up the peoplethe of the iness plan. well. a deterrent break up the peoplethe of the rwandaan. that's the idea of the rwanda policy . so if people are paying

policy. so if people are paying £10,000, they can't to come to britain, which they are, they can't they can't be guaranteed that they will here. they could well will stay here. they could well be rwanda and that will be sent to rwanda and that will discourage paying discourage people from paying that £10,000. the second point is throwing away their is people throwing away their passports. if you don't, passports. well, if you don't, if you throw away your passport, then you go to because then you go to rwanda because you go the place that you can't go to the place that you've come from. >> because i mean, >> because i yeah, i mean, yesterday, were yesterday, simon, there were reports actually reports saying that actually border force officials are being told people go home told that people want to go home for christmas well, for christmas. i said, well, well, home be that well, you at home can't be that bad if you to go home for bad if you want to go home for christmas. i as an come christmas. i as an mp, i've come across people sought across people who've sought asylum country and then asylum in this country and then wanted to be able to travel back to country they were to the country that they were allegedly trying get allegedly trying to get away from. allegedly trying to get away frorabsolutely . >> absolutely. >> absolutely. >> this is they're >> come on. this is they're paying >> come on. this is they're paying playing us a fiddle, paying playing us like a fiddle, aren't paying playing us like a fiddle, areiabsolutely. yeah. >> absolutely. yeah. no, absolutely. very strongly absolutely. i feel very strongly about immigration and the need to get it right. >> thank you very >> well, simon, thank you very much for your insight. there education rwanda sounds like education on rwanda sounds like a lovely place. i might go there myself. i'll come over, stay with it. >> i must. >> i we must. >>— >> i we must. >> folks ? lords of you >> right, folks? lords of you have getting touch.

have been getting in touch. thank for doing thank you very much for doing so. jenny's emailed in and jenny says, i've always wanted to visit rwanda . well, we've got visit rwanda. well, we've got simon as your tour guide here. i heard it's like the african singapore. if it's so singapore. well, but if it's so nice there, how does it work as an effective deterrent? hmm philip says, darren, if you love rwanda so much, why don't you do a documentary there to show us what it's really like? simon, let's we'll go over. keep let's do it. we'll go over. keep your views coming in, please. as eveh your views coming in, please. as ever, much more important than mine, right? the holiday season, of course, where the world spins a bit differently over here. christmas wouldn't be the same without a turkey. we've been speaking that , watching speaking about that, watching the speech and cheesy the king's speech and cheesy christmas songs on repeat. i think why? i must be my favourite. so i'm quite pleased it's got a number one, but across world traditions across the world traditions differ . japan having a kfc feast differ. japan having a kfc feast , venezuela's roller skating to church. there's a merry medley of customs and all the rest of it . but of customs and all the rest of it. but joining me now of customs and all the rest of it . but joining me now is of customs and all the rest of it. but joining me now is the tv personality and norway native

ingnd personality and norway native ingrid tarrant , and we'll be ingrid tarrant, and we'll be discussing one very norwegian christmas tradition that you've probably never heard of. ingrid thank you very much for your time. tell us more . time. tell us more. >> i know what you're referring to . to. >> there's several traditions, but this one particularly is a little bit , um, peculiar. little bit, um, peculiar. >> you have to hide your broomstick on the eve of christmas eve. so we celebrate christmas eve. so we celebrate christmas eve. so we celebrate christmas eve , and instead of christmas eve, and instead of christmas eve, and instead of christmas day . christmas day. >> so that's when we open all our presents. so it's the eve of christmas eve. you have to hide your broomstick because that's the night that the evil witches and spirits. >> i don't call them evil. really >> i they're just >> i think they're just mischievous . they come and they mischievous. they come and they wreak havoc. they destroy your tree and they nick all the presents and open them up and all the rest of it. but to stop them, to hinder them getting anywhere. hide your anywhere. you hide your broomstick, otherwise they'll go whizzing off on their broomstick to next to wreak havoc to the next place to wreak havoc and the presents and and open all the presents and the thing that you do

the worst thing that you can do for any child to the for any child is to see in the morning is a broomstick under the tree with all the decorations gone and the broken broomstick . broomstick. >> oh wow. and what? and that actually deterrent >> oh wow. and what? and that ac' stop 1 deterrent >> oh wow. and what? and that ac' stop kids deterrent >> oh wow. and what? and that ac'stop kids ending deterrent >> oh wow. and what? and that ac' stop kids ending up deterrent >> oh wow. and what? and that ac'stop kids ending up on errent >> oh wow. and what? and that ac'stop kids ending up on the 1t to stop kids ending up on the naughty is that a no no, really. >> it's just the scandinavia is full of trolls and elves and things like this. so it's not really used in that way. it's just kind of an image of this naughty witch coming across on her broomstick. i nearly made one. um, and it's very easy to make you just get, like, a stocking and you stuff it and then you kind of, like, do the little nose, then you put little nose, and then you put cotton or cotton around the cotton wool or cotton around the little thing, and you make this, like, really juicy wart on her face. and it's really lovely. no cat on the back, right? >> yeah. >> yeah. >> it's just a >> yeah. >> it'sjust a bruise. >> yeah. >> it's just a bruise. and then ihave >> it's just a bruise. and then i have brought this bit, i have brought this is a bit, um, this is from my childhood, so it's really, really old. so we even have father we don't even have father christmas does come to our house every year . christmas does come to our house every year. and, um, but but he also has his little helpers.

they called nissa ulez nissa . they called nissa ulez nissa. and they're the little elves. and they're the little elves. and they're the little elves. and they they help and they come and they they drop things off a bit like the elf on the shelf. >> know one? yes >> you know that one? yes >> you know that one? yes >> it is. really? yes. they kind of little helpers. and you of his little helpers. and you leave night leave porridge out the night before for them and. before as well for them and. right. so there's lovely dishes and we you meant to and then we, we you meant to dance we did dance around the tree. we did this children. my mother this as children. my mother loved. well, loved christmas. loved. well, i loved christmas. i bonkers . i go completely bonkers. >> do still do the >> do you still do the broomstick? no no, no, i haven't done. >> but we did do it for a long time. and actually made me time. and actually it made me think i ought to it. time. and actually it made me think so ought to it. time. and actually it made me think so i'm ought to it. time. and actually it made me think so i'm going to it. time. and actually it made me think so i'm going to do it. yeah. so i'm going to do it tomorrow. i'm going to go into the garden i'm going get the garden and i'm going to get the, the and the, you know, the twigs and make going make the thing, and i'm going to make the thing, and i'm going to make witch and, you make my ugly witch and, you know, little on. know, and get her little hat on. it's they the little it's so do they the little helpers they fend helpers here, do they fend off the well? they the witches as well? no, they don't they. there isn't really a cross . i, don't they. there isn't really a cross. i, i don't mind at all. if you touch my elf. >> well, ingrid, i mean , so how >> well, ingrid, i mean, so how far back does this tradition go? >> oh, for ever and a day.

forever. and a day. this particular elf goes back to my. when i was a little girl. oh wow. so it's ancient. really ancient. >> did you make this one? no, i didn't make that one. >> no, but people do , like, um, >> no, but people do, like, um, pipe >> no, but people do, like, um, pipe cleaners. yeah. so i don't know if you get pipe cleaners anymore. do >> no. i've probably >> no. well, i've probably because these environmental because of these environmental things, days. but things, these days. ingrid. but one our emails has come in one of our emails has come in and said, look, i find that it's the ingratitude of the next generation. yeah. so i'm wondering, ingrid, maybe we need some of that witch. uh, and naughty. you're very right to actually have people recognise that. actually have people recognise that . that to be grateful for that. that to be grateful for what you have in life is a really important thing. >> it is . and, you know, whoever >> it is. and, you know, whoever said that is absolutely right and i it just i've got four children and i've got grandchildren. i've never spoilt my children and they've always been very grateful for absolutely everything, thank goodness. they haven't been goodness. but they haven't been spoilt. awful thing is spoilt. but the awful thing is it seems to be a competition between parents. and it's not

just at christmas time , but just at christmas time, but that's when it's most evident and it's, um, i got this, i got that, you know, brag much and it's almost you show it is like there's a price as you put a price on how much you love that person. it doesn't work like that. you can't buy love you. so if you've got the smallest little thing and it's given with love, that's got to be the most wonderful thing on earth . wonderful thing on earth. >> so did you agree with julie earlier then that we're actually packing too much into christmas, and that it's changed beyond . and that it's changed beyond. recognition when it comes to the presents? >> absolutely i do, i think it's a complete nonsense. i mean, gone are the when the gone are the days when the stocking orange and stocking was an orange and a chocolate . now it just gets more chocolate. now it just gets more and more lavish . cole. and more lavish. cole. >> and we've been bad . cole. oh, cole. >> oh, no . is that true? >> oh, no. is that true? >> oh, no. is that true? >> well, my mother used to say that. yeah. i mean, my mother wasn't especially naughty, so don't, get that wrong. don't, uh, don't get that wrong. well, was , but. well, she probably was, but. >> so i thought the cole was

always . especially new always. and especially on new year's yeah. year's year's eve. uh yeah. new year's eve to you warm. yes, yes, year's eve. uh yeah. new year's eygood you warm. yes, yes, year's eve. uh yeah. new year's eygood luck. you warm. yes, yes, year's eve. uh yeah. new year's eygood luck. well/arm. yes, yes, year's eve. uh yeah. new year's eygood luck. well because , yes, year's eve. uh yeah. new year's eygood luck. well because they a good luck. well because they actually did have a coal fire when, you know, when i was even when, you know, when i was even when i was a kid, actually, uh, and, uh, yeah, that all always formed of christmas formed part of the christmas celebration . celebration. >> and coal acted as a deterrent. if you're naughty, you'll get coal for christmas. oh i see, yes, but these days, you know, i think we'd all be quite grateful for coal, given the price of our energy bill. >> oh, yeah. that's true. having a little stockpile . but i think a little stockpile. but i think the preparation ones that go into christmas , um, as julie was into christmas, um, as julie was saying, it's too much. it's too much. i don't think you can ever do too much. i just love all the decorations , the preparation. decorations, the preparation. i'm a terrible cook , but it's i'm a terrible cook, but it's a one time of year that my children go, gosh, you know, this is amazing. it's edible. yeah because i put my heart and soul into it, and it actually does come out all right. >> yeah, i was the same yesterday . yesterday. >> i had early christmas do it early . early. >> oh, because i'm on i'm here.

oh i see which of course i'm grateful to be with our viewers. >> i am actually in the evening. >> ah yeah. i'll see you then. yeah. know, the, the yeah. but you know, the, the idea you pull it out of the idea of you pull it out of the bag for this one, this one day andifs bag for this one, this one day and it's so incredibly special. oh i agree, i just hope we never lose that. >> ingrid. i really hope not. oh, the other thing that that worries me a little bit is that when you're saying we're losing sight of it really is, and sight of what it really is, and there's emphasis is in the there's the emphasis is in the wrong place. we're sight, wrong place. we're losing sight, actually , of our religion actually, of our religion as well. and so whatever , if well. yeah. and so whatever, if you're not christian, you will still celebrate christmas, not under standing the, the what it symbolises and the significance of it. and it's an it becomes almost an excuse to give presents . yes, yes. and i think presents. yes, yes. and i think we've just got to get back to bafics we've just got to get back to basics. back to the traditions, to understanding what it really does mean . and it's giving does mean. and it's giving without expecting to receive as well. >> i agree, ingrid tarrant there. thank you as ever. lovely

to see you. thank you. now uh, that was of course, the broadcast and tv personality ingnd broadcast and tv personality ingrid tarrant. and folks, you are watching and listening to gb news saturday with me, darren grimes, i thank you very much for doing so. we've got loads more coming today's show. more coming up on today's show. we're going to be speaking to one of the fundraisers of a charity in charity truck run in northumberland, which has raised more than £10,000. first up, though , we're going to get though, we're going to get a look at what the weather is up to. >> good afternoon. welcome to your latest gb news weather. i'm ellie glaisyer it's remaining unsettled as we go through the rest of the weekend, and in towards christmas day, but temperatures generally remaining above average for the time of yeah above average for the time of year. high year. this is due to high pressure bringing warm air up from but low pressure from the south, but low pressure sits up towards the northwest, bringing across sits up towards the northwest, brinukg across sits up towards the northwest, brinuk bringing across sits up towards the northwest, brinuk bringing plenty across sits up towards the northwest, brinuk bringing plenty oficross sits up towards the northwest, brinuk bringing plenty of wets the uk bringing plenty of wet and windy weather, particularly to western parts of scotland through the rest of saturday and then later christmas eve on then later into christmas eve on for western parts of wales. we could see up to 80mm of rain

here, generally remaining very cloudy elsewhere, although perhaps clearer spells perhaps some clearer spells across parts scotland. but across parts of scotland. but blustery showers pushing in and generally remaining mild across the board into the start of christmas perhaps even christmas eve, perhaps even around 11 or 12 degrees across the south. so a cloudy, damp and mild start christmas eve mild start to christmas eve across of england and wales across much of england and wales with rain pushing its way eastwards go through eastwards as we go through the day, continue day, blustery showers continue across parts of scotland. these perhaps turning over perhaps turning wintry over any high ground and remaining very windy. two for scotland and northern england . we could see northern england. we could see gusts 70 miles an hour, gusts up to 70 miles an hour, perhaps tricky perhaps bringing some tricky driving conditions . another mild driving conditions. another mild day around 12 or 13 degrees. but those winds taking the those strong winds taking the notch off those temperatures christmas looks of the christmas day looks much of the same southern half of same for the southern half of the heavy rain pushes in the uk. heavy rain pushes in from the west as go through from the west as we go through into christmas day. afternoon there might brighter there might be some brighter spells scotland spells though, for scotland and northern england, but perhaps some here too. some wintry showers here too. boxing looks a bit drier and boxing day looks a bit drier and brighter, but further wet and windy weather is on the way. later in the

sunday mornings from 930 on gb news . you with news. you with gb news as the headunes news. you with gb news as the headlines this hour. >> hundreds of pro—palestinian protesters are rallying in central london urging christmas shoppers to boycott what they say are pro—israel rail brands. traffic on oxford street was brought to a standstill , with brought to a standstill, with crowds chanting don't and genocide security guards blocked the entrance to the fashion shop

zara, while dozens of officers followed the march and today is super saturday tipped to be the biggest in store shopping day of the year. last year, shoppers were said to have spent over £1.5 million buying last minute christmas presents. meanwhile the great christmas getaway is well underway , with travellers well underway, with travellers facing long delays on rail and by road and expected 16.5 million extra cars on the road, according to the aa. on the busiest day of the pre—christmas penod. busiest day of the pre—christmas period . and there's good news, period. and there's good news, though, for motorists heading to the port of dover. earlier there was a 90 minute delay, but the authorities are now saying that's cleared. there's no wait time ahead of french border controls . and the father of kobe controls. and the father of kobe mackerel , dooley has controls. and the father of kobe mackerel, dooley has paid tribute to his son, saying the joy tribute to his son, saying the joy and laughter he brought to the world was been taken too soon. kobe was found with multiple knife injuries at home in hackney on wednesday. he was taken to hospital but died of his injuries. his mother, keziah

macharia , has been charged with macharia, has been charged with his a post—mortem will his murder. a post—mortem will take thursday , the same take place on thursday, the same day mother will appear day his mother will appear before the old bailey . those are before the old bailey. those are the latest news headlines. more background on all those stories by heading our website gb by heading to our website gb news.com . news.com. >> thank you pauli. welcome back to gb news saturday with me, darren grimes on your tv online and on digital radio. now in the heart of northumberland , a heart of northumberland, a festive tradition has grown to spectacular proportions . it's spectacular proportions. it's been lighten up the region and of course it's a region that i know pretty well and love. it's beautiful, especially at christmas time with goodwill and generosity. now there's something called the christmas truck run. now this is in its third year and it's seen a convoy of 138 dazzle decorate trucks winding through the north

tyne valley, raising over £10,000 for charity while honounng £10,000 for charity while honouring the memory of a beloved community member , david beloved community member, david lamb. i'm delighted now to be joined by fiona paterson , the joined by fiona paterson, the organiser of the christmas truck run . fiona, thank you very much run. fiona, thank you very much for your time . can you tell us for your time. can you tell us about david lamb ? about david lamb? >> um, he is a or was a mechanic , um, had a mechanical business in acomb . in acomb. >> um, he was a massive supporter of the truck run and he sadly passed away last year. this year , um, and he fixed a this year, um, and he fixed a lot of the wagons that came on the truck run. so so we decided that it'd be quite nice to do the truck run in memory of him. >> very nice . and what is it >> very nice. and what is it that what is the charity that you raise the for? money >> so we raise it and split it between the great north air ambulance and santa's little helpers, which is a charitable organisation that helps families

in need at christmas time. so i work alongside the social workers, the health visitors , workers, the health visitors, and they send christmas lists from the families and buy the gifts off that list and the christmas dinners for the family. a little hamper with turkeys and pigs in blankets , turkeys and pigs in blankets, everything you need to make your christmas dinner. >> lovely stuff. and how much? how people actually come how many people actually come out to watch ? because i out then to watch? because i imagine this is it quite a large stretch that you're covering ? stretch that you're covering? >> yeah, we go from kielder down to hexham . to hexham. >> yeah. so you could run 20 plus miles . wow. um, and every plus miles. wow. um, and every village is packed of people, which is really, really lovely . which is really, really lovely. this year was the biggest amount , even in laybys. we had cars parked, people stood watching people, um, which was fantastic . people, um, which was fantastic. so not just the villages, the laybys. >> well, it is, and it's really nice to hear about that level of community spirit as well, because i think far too often now we hear about a breakdown of

community and the values of, you know, people not knowing their next door neighbour and all the rest of it. well, actually, the christmas truck run sort puts christmas truck run sort of puts that to bed. it's certainly that myth to bed. it's certainly in that part world in that your part of the world anyway, not? anyway, does it not? >> it does. yeah because we've tried to encourage some of the villagers to do things on the night as well. um, so like bellingham had, we had the steel panthers playing, um, they stayed and played um acum. they ianed stayed and played um acum. they invited people up to the village hall for mulled wine and mince pies , and then the mart was open pies, and then the mart was open afterwards at hexham so that people could go in and get teas , people could go in and get teas, coffees, something to eat. so it was encouraging everybody to socialise as well . socialise as well. >> and is it quite a sort of diverse mix of trucks ? what do diverse mix of trucks? what do these trucks tend to look like ? these trucks tend to look like? >> so we've got everything from the timber wagons , which it the timber wagons, which it started out just as a run based for the timber wagons to thank you kind of thing for supporting them over covid and everything .

them over covid and everything. uh, then it's got bigger as time has gone on. this is the third year now we've got tippers, we've got old vintage wagons . we've got old vintage wagons. um, we had the big air ambulance fridge wagon there as well. so there's a huge range of different ones joining, which is really nice to see. >> yeah. no i mean it's fantastic stuff. and you know, i just wish that because i think what hits home with me is that actually this is what christmas is all about, right? it's getting communities out and about. it's introducing people to each other. it's raising money for charitable causes , and money for charitable causes, and it's about looking to in the well outside of yourself , isn't well outside of yourself, isn't it? in an age where we're probably talking about me, me, me a little bit too much on social media and all the rest of it. but this , it's really worthy it. but this, it's really worthy , laudable stuff. and i mean , , laudable stuff. and i mean, hopefully it's going to go on for for, quite some time. but do you worry that we're forgetting what christmas is about?

>> i think so i think that people will forget that there are other families out there that are in need , and that the that are in need, and that the it's christmas is big fancy thing now and throw loads of money at it, whereas i think it just needs to be toned down a little bit and think about other people that aren't lucky enough to have a christmas together that can't afford it. um so it's just thinking, oh, can we just do something to help that family? >> yeah, we've got some shots up there now. fiona and it looks it looks incredible, actually . be looks incredible, actually. be lit up more than my christmas up at kielder. >> ah , ah. >> ah, ah. >> ah, ah. >> okay. yeah. so for radio listeners here, we've got shots where all the lights . and of where all the lights. and of these trucks, there's convoys. very beautiful to see. and actually the sheer scale of it is brought in into view by going back way back and going down the, the, the mile there, the line there. uh, that's a very

narrow path. mine. fiona. i wouldn't like to be driving a truck on that path. >> yeah, there's some quite tight, uh, bits we went through. leaplish added leaplish this year as a new one. um, and that's tight in there. and there was some wagons going , ooh, was some wagons going, ooh, a bit scary. a point . yes, a bit bit scary. a point. yes, a bit of fun to it. >> there's some real talent going on there. then if they can drive down that road. but fiona, we're going have to leave it we're going to have to leave it there unfortunately. well there unfortunately. but well done all very best done. and, uh, all the very best continue in that tradition there if you want to. pattinson or organiser the christmas organiser there of the christmas truck run reason . brilliant truck run reason. brilliant money for charity and building and boosting community. lovely to see now loads of you have been getting in on been getting in touch on the topics we've discussing topics we've been discussing today. thank again for doing today. thank you again for doing so jamie says darren, do you still live up in newcastle still love live up in newcastle or have you moved down to south the bubble? do the london bubble? no, i do actually live in the north actually still live in the north east. actually still live in the north eastchristmas in the north east had christmas in the north east yesterday have to yesterday because i'd have to work here in in london, and i'm always itching to get back . and

always itching to get back. and he says such a lovely story . he says such a lovely story. this is the true christmas spirit of community and generosity . and i couldn't agree generosity. and i couldn't agree more. and it warms my heart because i think a lot of the theme of this show has very much been about and going back to basics , remembering what basics, remembering what christmas is all about. right? and i think , well, you can't put and i think, well, you can't put it any more simpler than that. and she thanks , gb news. thank and she thanks, gb news. thank you very much for being part of what doing , alice says. what we're doing, alice says. darren, what's your favourite christmas tradition? well do you know what i actually so i had to force my family to get the turkey because , uh, a lot of turkey because, uh, a lot of them were twisting their faces at the prospect of a christmas turkey, but i don't think . i'm turkey, but i don't think. i'm sorry. it has to be a turkey . i sorry. it has to be a turkey. i don't care about other meats . don't care about other meats. fancy and nice as they may be. it has to be the turkey. i don't know about you. alastair has written in and i also like going. and by the way, to midnight mass. i think that's that's really beautiful . that's really quite beautiful. alistair says. what are alistair says. darren, what are your on palestine

your thoughts on the palestine protests ? well, alistair, i've protests? well, alistair, i've got i have to be totally honest with you. it actually really makes me quite angry that even over christmas we can't even have christmas without our capital city, the oxford street, apparently being closed off parts of it you're not able to get in as you might be buying a few clothes for people over christmas. you're not able to get into a shop like that because palestinian protesters who are saying that some, um, advert or billboard was a bit too close to the bone for them and a bit too similar to palestinian. it'sjust and a bit too similar to palestinian. it's just complete nonsense. people are protest and they don't know what they're talking about. zara wasn't trying make a political trying to make a political statement as far as i can see, andifs statement as far as i can see, and it's just an excuse to get out on streets and cause out on the streets and cause mayhem and make people's lives miserable at this of year. miserable at this time of year. and i just worry for what our capital city is turning into. i really, really do, roger says. merry christmas and happy new year to all. working at gb news, i was excited in 2020 when you

start—up was announced. finally, a channel that's willing to debate things the british public are thinking. i think that's right. i really, really do . right. i really, really do. rogeh right. i really, really do. roger, and i thank you for being such a staunch supporter because we're very much needed. there's a, as you'll no doubt be aware , a, as you'll no doubt be aware, an establishment media that doesn't like gb news very much . doesn't like gb news very much. and it's because gb news is doing pretty darn well and will continue to do so with the support and love of people like yourself. so merry christmas to yourself. so merry christmas to you on rwanda , katie says you too. on rwanda, katie says hi darren, i absolutely love watching your show like a previous viewer, i would love to watch a documentary on rwanda. it might incentivise young british people to migrate there for new exciting opportunities. well, there is an idea, but we do need the next generation here. of course , to get involved here. of course, to get involved , get stuck in here at home. but i would love to go to rwanda and see what all the fuss is about, because i suspect actually the

reality is quite different from the pretty bleak picture. that's been painted by much of the established press . but keep your established press. but keep your views coming in because i'd love to read them. you're watching and listening, folks, to gb news saturday and sunday. there with me, darren grimes. loads more coming up. we'll be speaking to former met police detective peter bleksley about staying safe from crime during the festive season . first of all festive season. first of all though, we're going to get a look

monday to thursdays from six till 930.

>> welcome back to gb news saturday with me, darren grimes on your tv, online and on digital radio. now as christmas cheer fills the air. so does the need for vigilance in staying safe. christmas a time of joy and celebration , can also see an and celebration, can also see an upfickin and celebration, can also see an uptick in certain crimes. people are assuming, you know, there's quite a lot to nick. unfortunately, now from secure in your home during travels to being cautious whilst out shopping , here's a guide on shopping, here's a guide on navigating the season's festivities. while ensuring your safety remains a priority. i'm delighted to say i'm joined and i could think of no one better to be joined by right now. the former met police detective peter bleksley peter, as ever , peter bleksley peter, as ever, thank you very much for your time. now i saw a video actually by james cleverly, the home. he's not the home secretary anymore. oh, no, he is the home

secretary. he was the foreign secretary. he started with the home and he was home secretary, and he was saying he was thanking counter—terrorism and he counter—terrorism police and he was talking about christmas markets and and saying if markets and all and saying if you see anything suspicious, be vigilant. how vigilant vigilant. be aware how vigilant and aware do we need to be? >> well, speaking as a former detective, obviously i would say we always need to be vigilant. in fact , i get a bit in fact, i get a bit disheartened and i know i'm now trying to push water uphill. but when i see people on public . when i see people on public. transport coming out of a tube station, getting off a train or a bus, they've got their eyes focussed phone on, focussed on their phone on, they've got headphones in and i look at these people and i think to myself, you are making yourself more likely to be a victim of crime because you've cut off two of your most important senses from everything that's going on around you. and of course, i was a child in the 70s, so i grew up with that awareness . use of bombs awareness. use of bombs unattended luggage and all that

kind of information that we had really drummed into us. and then , of course, i went into law enforcement . so it's my natural enforcement. so it's my natural default position to be vigilant. and i would urge people, please just ditch those headphones , just ditch those headphones, don't look at the phones. somebody might want to snatch it from you anyway. so just be as vigilant as you can when you're out of your home and in side. >> and what's your advice then on christmas? and you know , on christmas? and you know, having presents lying around, you things in the you might have things in the car, obviously do that i car, obviously don't do that i assume advice. but how assume is the advice. but how how much should we actually be aware burglary itself? aware of burglary itself? >> unfortunately , long winter >> unfortunately, long winter nights create greater opportunities for burglars because there's more hours of dark for them to operate in. so that beautiful christmas tree with those gifts that we've worked so hard to be able to afford, and then lovingly wrapped and put under the trees for our loved ones to some people are an invitation to burgle your home. so keep the

curtains drawn. have a light on, and essentially don't put the gifts under the christmas tree where they could be visible from outside until perhaps christmas eve. be like santa kind of thing and only put them out as late as you possibly can. there already have been examples posted on social media of burglars walking with carrier bags full of gifts, i bet. >> yeah, that's terrible what's happening in this country today, peter. but we've got shots peter. but we've got some shots here. play some here. we're going to play some shots of what's going on in london this is london right now. so this is oxford say oxford street and peter you say they started off in soho square, which those that don't know which for those that don't know or aren't familiar with london is very big green is a it's not a very big green square , is it. but it's grown square, is it. but it's grown now. it's swelling. you think now. it's swelling. do you think actually that this one is a protest that were knew about in advance? >> well, i'm not sure because the gathering started about a couple of hours ago and my sources tell me it was only 2 to 300 people at that time . but of 300 people at that time. but of course, it's grown as we're seeing from the shots now. and

when there was that initial gathering from the images that i've seen, i didn't notice a police presence . so the big police presence. so the big question for me is , is this question for me is, is this gathering and this ensuing march done with the sanction , done done with the sanction, done with the authority, with the knowledge of the metropolitan police? we don't know at the moment if it was well, quite frankly, it's ludicrous to allow them to march down oxford street on the saturday before christmas. and now shops are having to lock their doors because protesters are screaming and ranting at certain shots on the most important, and ranting at certain shots on the most important , potentially the most important, potentially piece of real estate in the country at christmas, right, where people are flooding to the shops on oxford street. >> they cannot open for because of these people on our streets. >> that's right. they've been forced to close their doors and lock their doors. so because of some people don't mind this demonstration, my viewers will be asking, pulling their hair out, where's law and out, saying, where's law and order exactly the order then? exactly so did the police if they know, it's

police know if they know, it's utter lunacy that they've allowed this to happen. if the police did not know in advance of this gathering and this march, then where is the rapid deployment? the rapid response to this demonstration so that people can go about their business as can lawfully buy their gifts for their loved ones for christmas and that retailers who we know are struggling in a lagging economy can actually take some money in the tills. this is, quite frankly , this is, quite frankly, ludicrous. and one way or another, i think law enforcement has come up very, very short. >> and have we got to get used to this every weekend? where can it rid of it at it even get rid of it at christmas? you know, our capital city siege these city being under siege by these protests week in, out, no , protests week in, week out, no, we definitely should. we most definitely should. >> the protests have gone on >> not the protests have gone on almost from the first weekend after the 7th of october, and quite frankly, they should have gatherings far away from shopping centres where people have gone there today to try and buy those gifts, to get a bit of christmas cheer and buy what is

important for their loved ones, and to have it basically interrupted. and retailers expected by a rabble like this is utterly unlikely . is utterly unlikely. >> well, peter bleksley, thank you very much for your time and insight. as ever. peter the former met police detective there . of course. now it there. of course. now that's it for me today, but stay tuned . for me today, but stay tuned. because actually, as i say everyone, i always say this nana everyone, i always say this nana everyone needs their nana, especially at christmas. what have you got coming up for us? >> well, we're going to go around the country and have a look going on in the look at what's going on in the shopping because shopping centres, because it's always it? always mayhem, isn't it? the last though last few days, even though the shops for, what, shops are only shut for, what, 24 if that is hilarious. shops are only shut for, what, 24 we'ref that is hilarious. shops are only shut for, what, 24 we're alsot is hilarious. shops are only shut for, what, 24 we're also going.arious. shops are only shut for, what, 24 we're also going to ous. shops are only shut for, what, 24 we're also going to be ., um, we're also going to be asking whether you feel conned paying asking whether you feel conned paying national insurance. i mean, we've had the doctors, junior doctors . now they're junior doctors. now they're saying, don't go to your gp point. so do you feel conned? how much are we paying for this? are you better off putting that money private pot instead money in a private pot instead of there? we're of it going there? so we're going be about that, going to be talking about that, plus more brilliant nana. plus loads more brilliant nana. >> wait . stay tuned >> we can't wait. stay tuned there nana is coming

there because nana is coming up. you've watching and you've been watching and listening gb saturday listening to gb news saturday with grimes , and as with me, darren grimes, and as i say, nana next let's look at the weather brighter outlook with weather a brighter outlook with boxt solar sponsors of weather on . gb news. on. gb news. >> good afternoon. welcome to your latest gb news weather. i'm ellie glaisyer . it's your latest gb news weather. i'm ellie glaisyer. it's remaining unsettled as we go through the rest of the weekend and in towards christmas day, but temperatures generally remaining above average time of above average for the time of yeah above average for the time of year. is to year. this is due to high pressure warm air up pressure bringing warm air up from south, but low pressure from the south, but low pressure sits up towards the northwest, bringing systems across bringing frontal systems across the bringing plenty of wet the uk bringing plenty of wet and windy weather, particularly to scotland to western parts of scotland through the rest of saturday and then into christmas eve on then later into christmas eve on for western parts of wales we could see up to 80mm of rain here, generally remaining very cloudy elsewhere, although perhaps some clearer spells across but across parts of scotland. but blustery showers pushing in and generally remaining mild across the board into the start of christmas perhaps even christmas eve, perhaps even around 11 or 12 degrees across

the south. so a cloudy, damp and mild start to christmas eve across much of england and wales , pushing way , with rain pushing its way eastwards through the eastwards as we go through the day, blustery showers continue across scotland , these across parts of scotland, these perhaps over any perhaps turning wintry over any high remaining very high ground and remaining very windy too for scotland and northern england. we could see gusts to 70 miles an hour, gusts up to 70 miles an hour, perhaps bringing some tricky driving conditions. another mild day or 13 degrees. but day around 12 or 13 degrees. but those strong taking those strong winds taking the notch temperatures as notch off those temperatures as christmas looks much of the christmas day looks much of the same for the southern half of the pushes in the uk. heavy rain pushes in from west as we go through from the west as we go through into christmas day afternoon. there brighter there might be some brighter spells, though, scotland and spells, though, for scotland and northern perhaps northern england, but perhaps some showers too. here some wintry showers too. here boxing looks a bit drier and boxing day looks a bit drier and brighter, but further wet and windy weather on way. windy weather is on the way. later week . later in the week. >> that warm feeling inside from boxt boilers , sponsors of boxt boilers, sponsors of weather on . gb news. late . get

weather on. gb news. late. get up weather on. gb news. late. get up this christmas eve and christmas day. >> wake up with gb news for the finest festive start to your christmas for you and the whole family christmas breakfast on gb news, christmas eve and christmas day from 6 am. >> i got you this. >> i got you this. >> oh, good. okay um, i got you a little something . ah a little something. ah >> ah, sure. it's nice . >> ah, sure. it's nice. >>— >> ah, sure. it's nice. >> hello. thank you for being a big part of gb news. >> we'd like to wish you and your loved ones a christmas season full of comfort and joy, as well as a peaceful and prosperous new year from our family to yours, we are proud to be your channel. merry christmas , happy be your channel. merry christmas , happy christmas, merry christmas , happy christmas, christmas, happy christmas, merry christmas, merry christmas, merry christmas here on gb news the people's channel. >> merry christmas

i >> -- >> hello. good afternoon and welcome to gb news on tv , online welcome to gb news on tv, online and on digital radio. i'm nana akua. and for the next few hours , me and my panel will be taking on some of the big topics hitting headlines now . hitting the headlines right now. this all about opinion . this show is all about opinion. it's mine, it's theirs. and of course it's yours. we'll be debating and at times debating discussing and at times we will disagree. but no one will be cancelled. so joining me

today is broadcast from columnist lizzie cundy. also broadcaster and author danny kelly. but before we get started, let's get your latest news with polly . news with polly. >> nana. thank you. and good afternoon to you. hundreds of pro—palestinian protesters are rallying in central london today . now fire now ceasefire now! >> cease fire now! they're urging christmas shoppers to boycott what they say are pro—israel brands on oxford street. >> trash pick there was brought to a standstill as crowds chanted don't fund genocide. security . guards blocked the security. guards blocked the entrance to the fashion shop zara, while dozens of police officers followed the march. and today has been dubbed super saturday. tipped to be the busiest in—store shopping day of the year last year, shoppers

were said to have spent