saint peter's balcony in from saint peter's balcony in the vatican, he described the attack on israel by hamas terrorists in october as abominable. but he also said ongoing strikes on gaza by israel were reaping an appalling harvest of innocent people , and harvest of innocent people, and that the world's weapons trade must be investigated. the 87 year old pontiff called for an end to all conflicts and defended the rights of refugees around the world. the pope's message comes after one of the deadliest nights of violence in gaza, with at least 100 people killed by airstrikes . israel's killed by airstrikes. israel's army says it's investigating one of the attacks after it appeared to target innocent civilians. the palestinian red crescent says bombings of major roads is complicating any efforts to help critically wounded people. you crane is celebrating christmas on the 25th of december for the first time. it's a landmark change to the country's traditions . the russian orthodox traditions. the russian orthodox church observes christmas on the 7th of january, but this is the first time ukraine has moved

away from that tradition. it comes as russia's invasion of ukraine continues . kyivs air ukraine continues. kyivs air defences blocked 28 drone attacks and two missiles overnight . five civilians were overnight. five civilians were killed here in the uk, christian leaders are using their christmas addresses to highlight what's happening in the middle east. the archbishop of canterbury is expected to use his christmas day sermon to highlight the suffering of children caught up in the israel—hamas war , referring to israel—hamas war, referring to the birthplace of jesus , he will the birthplace of jesus, he will tell his congregation that the skies of bethlehem are full of fear rather than angels and glory . the fear rather than angels and glory. the king and queen have marked the start of their christmas day celebrations with a traditional festive church service on their sandringham estate in norfolk. royal fans have gathered as the royal couple were joined by the prince and princess of wales and their children. the king's christmas message will be broadcast at 3:00 this afternoon and we will of course, bring that to you live here on gb news. well today

is set to be the warmest christmas day in more than a century , with the met office century, with the met office expecting temperatures will reach 14 or maybe even 15 degrees. that's after 15.3 degrees. that's after 15.3 degrees was recorded at heathrow and in chippenham yesterday, making it the warmest christmas eve in over 20 years. it does though , mean that a white though, mean that a white christmas has been ruled out for most of us across the country. apart from northern scotland , apart from northern scotland, thousands of people across the country have been making the most of that milder weather by taking a festive dip to kick off their christmas day celebrations . it's . swimmers there in . it's. swimmers there in birmingham have braved the waters in festive hats and costumes at sutton park's blackroot pool, and members at the serpentine swimming club have taken part in the annual peter pan cup in hyde park . that peter pan cup in hyde park. that race has been held every year since 1864. well shoppers have

been slamming supermarkets after unwrapping their rotten turkeys just hours before christmas dinner . just hours before christmas dinner. families who ordered their festive centrepieces weeks ago have been sharing these pictures on social media of rotten and mouldy meat, claiming it's not safe to eat food safety experts say it's best to thaw your turkey in the fridge to avoid any spoiling. and for bigger birds , make sure you bigger birds, make sure you allow plenty of time for it to defrost . families are being defrost. families are being warned not to pour any cooking fats down the sink this christmas. amid a rise in block drains. they say tipping fat from a festive turkey , gravy or from a festive turkey, gravy or even coffee grounds down the sink can block sewer pipes leading to flooding homes and streets . it comes as research streets. it comes as research shows that more than a quarter of us dispose of fats down the sink at christmas. thames water and south water are among and south west water are among those who telling people not those who are telling people not to of their festive to dispose of their festive fats. and if you do , do it fats. and if you do, do it carefully, they say , and father carefully, they say, and father christmas has completed his

delivery of presents to children all across the world. overnight, he arrived here in the uk just after midnight. that's according to norad's official santa tracker and he dropped off nearly 8 billion gifts to boys and girls across the world. gb news understands he's now commenced his journey back to the north pole to start preparing for next christmas . preparing for next christmas. this is gb news on tv, online on dab+ radio and of course on our website gbnews.com i'll be back with more news at the top of the hour now though, a look at the eventful year in british politics with the gb news special. >> welcome to a year in politics with me, christopher hope, political editor at gb news. >> well, last few months of this year have been bumpy, but the

whole year has been a heck of a ride. i'm here to remind you what happened by going through the front pages and just looking at the drama that we played out for you at gb news, but it's pretty cold in downing pretty cold here in downing street. should we go to the pub.7 welcome street. should we go to the pub? welcome pub in welcome to the red lion pub in the of westminster, where the heart of westminster, where people shelter the people come to shelter from the weather of political weather and a bit of political plotting? i'm joined two of plotting? i'm joined by two of the finest political the uk's finest political journalists help dissect journalists to help dissect everything about the past year in westminster. over a pint of beerin in westminster. over a pint of beer in the red lion pub and pleased to be joined by daily mirror associate editor kevin maguire. cheers and maguire. kevin cheers and political sketch writer of the daily , quentin letts daily mail, quentin letts welcome both to the red lion pub . happy christmas cheers both bottoms up . we'll have a look at bottoms up. we'll have a look at what first what happened in the first three months year. the year months of this year. the year started with new year's resolutions from 10 downing street as the prime minister, rishi sunak , announces five rishi sunak, announces five pledges provide focus for his pledges to provide focus for his premiership in 2023. we will halve inflation, grow the economy, reduce debt , cut

economy, reduce debt, cut waiting lists and stop the boats. sir keir starmer, his opposite number, decided some weeks later to propose five missions himself. mission driven government is about what we do beyond that, how we restore our ambition, raise our sights above the quick fixes , the pandering the quick fixes, the pandering to the noisy crowd , the short to the noisy crowd, the short termism that will only ever provide the sticking plaster . it provide the sticking plaster. it was during the first month of the year that a battle with the devolved government of scotland started over the gender recognition . it led to the recognition act. it led to the government vetoing the legislation first time legislation for the first time in history and it is our assessment that the bill would have a serious adverse impact , have a serious adverse impact, among things, on the among other things, on the operation of equality act operation of the equality act 2010. was the beginning of 2010. that was the beginning of the end for nicola sturgeon, who a month later announced her resignation as first minister. >> and so today i am announcing my intention to step down as first minister and leader of my party, and it fired the starting gun on a brutal and factional

leadership race for who will succeed eventually . succeed eventually. >> me. humza yousaf was crowned the new scottish first minister at the end of march. but let's not get ahead of ourselves . the not get ahead of ourselves. the tories have problems of their own as chairman nadhim own as tory chairman nadhim zahawi was sacked after being found to have breached the ministerial over failing to ministerial code over failing to declare a tax investigation , and declare a tax investigation, and rishi sunak received a fixed penalty notice for posting an onune penalty notice for posting an online video of himself in a moving car without wearing a seatbelt , making him the first seatbelt, making him the first prime minister in history to have received two penalty notices. while in office. february started better as ukraine's president zelenskyy visited the uk and addressed parliament. we know freedom will win . rishi sunak signed the win. rishi sunak signed the windsor framework with the leader of the european commission ursula von der leyen, to sort out brexit once and for all. some were happy about it, but others were not. >> i really didn't think he'd succeed and i was wrong. thank goodness they have used the king

in this way, which i think is wrong. >> the king should be above politics. >> the month finished with a lockdown of lockdown files a series of articles telegraph which articles by the telegraph which reveal the contents of matt hancock's whatsapp messages reveal the contents of matt hancochiswhatsapp messages reveal the contents of matt hancoc his time sapp messages reveal the contents of matt hancochis time asip messages reveal the contents of matt hancochis time as health;ages during his time as health secretary. it was in march when it emerged that a public official who caused her difficulties for boris johnson over partygate was going to come back to haunt the tories . sue back to haunt the tories. sue gray unveiled as labour's gray was unveiled as labour's new chief of staff and later that month chancellor jeremy hunt delivered his first spring budget . there was little news on budget. there was little news on tax cuts , but at least it didn't tax cuts, but at least it didn't send the economy into meltdown. and former prime minister boris johnson was back in the news when he gave evidence to two mps investigating whether misled investigating whether he misled parliament partygate . but i parliament over partygate. but i did wittingly or recklessly did not wittingly or recklessly mislead parliament. >> there's not shred of >> there's not a shred of evidence to suggest that i did by the end of the month, another former leader was in the former party leader was in the limelight with jeremy corbyn banned as a labour banned from standing as a labour mp next general election . mp at the next general election. >> under watch , kevin

>> under your watch, kevin quentin, let's start with those five points, those ideas, the targets for the year . targets for the year. >> what do you make of them, quentin? well, i thought it was quite a brave effort to bring clarity what was to clarity to what he was going to be doing. >> the trouble if set >> the trouble is, if you set yourself targets, a good yourself targets, it's a good idea them . yes. and he idea to meet them. yes. and he probably thought going to probably thought he was going to insert . not at probably thought he was going to insert. not at this probably thought he was going to insert . not at this point, insert. not at this point, because he hasn't . and therefore because he hasn't. and therefore from inflation that creates a problem. however, it was a worthy attempt . i thought to worthy attempt. i thought to bnng worthy attempt. i thought to bring a certain sort of focus onto his premiership . onto his premiership. >> do you think it was a bad idea to be so negative though, kevin, because all the targets, apart from growing the economy , apart from growing the economy, cutting nhs waiting lists , cutting nhs waiting lists, deaung cutting nhs waiting lists, dealing with the small boats , dealing with the small boats, cutting debt, these are negatives. i mean, borisjohnson negatives. i mean, boris johnson would have ignored the negatives, wouldn't he? and reached for the stars and gone for positive 80 about for some some positive 80 about maybe officers or hospitals. >> yeah. >> yeah. >> even you know for growth >> even you know go for growth and put it that sort of it's sunak though isn't he. i mean he's like an accountant and he's

a city whiz. back in the day , a city whiz. back in the day, but he looks at numbers and but he just looks at numbers and he doesn't connect he doesn't he doesn't connect does just see the does he. you could just see the lack politics in him and he lack of politics in him and he and he can't emotionally take the country. he's a technocrat, isn't is. and it's he isn't he? he is. and it's he gave fortune. gave five hostages to fortune. yet he got inflation. but he didn't stop the boats . we know didn't stop the boats. we know he stop the so why he didn't stop the boats. so why say will stop the boats? say you will stop the boats? it's he was a hole. it's because he was in a hole. he thought could somehow he thought he could somehow climb out and he didn't. that hole just got deeper and deeper. and he's always reminding viewers and listeners, voters of failure . failure. >> quentin, every time he mentions targets, everyone mentions those targets, everyone thinks, what thinks, well, yeah, that's what you're getting wrong. >> think being a bit >> i think you're being a bit too on that. i think the too clever on that. i think the idea of having set aims was was a perfectly decent one. but the trouble achieved a perfectly decent one. but the troubland achieved a perfectly decent one. but the troubland that's, achieved a perfectly decent one. but the troubland that's, achithat's them and that's, that's, that's i then i mean, if he'd done it then he'd have been a good he'd have been in a good position. but, uh, you know, he and his problem that he's and his, his problem that he's not says, not political, as kevin says, the with him he's the problem with him is he's not. he the not. he doesn't. he lacks the demotic by mean, he demotic. by which i mean, he doesn't speak as normal folk do . doesn't speak as normal folk do. um, he's not normal, though, is

he? no, he's not normal, but but very few politicians are either. perfectly bloke. yeah less perfectly nice bloke. yeah less nice he was, because nice now than he was, because the pressures got got the pressures got to. he got very tetchy later the year he very tetchy later in the year he loses marbles , sculptures. i loses his marbles, sculptures. i think that's, that's unfair. but no, i think his problem is that he is. he's too much a rules quy- he is. he's too much a rules guy. whereas politics is about reaching into people's innards , reaching into people's innards, into their souls, making them laugh as well . very important. laugh as well. very important. there's no not much sense of humour from either or sir humour from either him or sir keir starmer and the brits love humour in a political leader and you know he's resilient, though he's resilient in a way that theresa may was. if we mention the ghost of may, that's not a great, great well stamina is very important . and you know, very important. and you know, the one thing that strikes me about him, i do think he actually is he's not been too tetchy, but he has he has remained physically in good shape. uh which starmer hasn't done quite as much as that. starmer has put on quite a lot of weight , isn't he, to put it of weight, isn't he, to put it in a way, to one side you look very on the on the issue very serious on the on the issue

of there. well, i don't of weight there. well, i don't know serious very know why it's so serious very keenly. is it is keenly. yeah it is it is christmas day. keenly. yeah it is it is christrcourse,. keenly. yeah it is it is christrcourse, a whippet like me >> of course, a whippet like me doesn't really like to comment about worried about his >> are you worried about his stamina? >> does matter. okay. yes. >> does matter. okay, okay. yes. in and william hague, in politics and william hague, i remember when hague became tory leader then and leader in 97. he then went and started and it started doing judo. yes. and it was actually quite a shrewd, uh, watch you do . it is watch because you do. it is punishing . really punishing? punishing. really punishing? yes. top, top flight politics. and you've got to be you've got to be a fit as a butcher's dog. as boris once said, point of sunak is, he is different to bofis sunak is, he is different to boris and that's why he got the job. >> and so for all of his being criticised for not being political enough and not being funny not being funny enough, not being making jokes probably jokes, and in fact probably having straightforward having rather straightforward targets unattainable targets rather than unattainable ones you can never get anywhere nean ones you can never get anywhere near. is that not what the tories think voters want? kevin key, where he key, the key area where he promise that he'd be different to boris johnson than liz truss as well, was he would be competent and there wouldn't be any chaos. >> as delivered no chaos, >> and as he delivered no chaos, of course he hasn't. the chaos is still there through and just

90, is still there through and just go, just go back to those five pledges that promise what pledges that obe promise what you deliver . and pledges that obe promise what you deliver. and he's he's you can deliver. and he's he's promised what he hasn't delivered. so people are going to mark him on his own exam paper when he fails. >> yeah. other leaders have their own problems this year. uh, you saw the issues uh, quentin, you saw the issues there with nicola sturgeon . she there with nicola sturgeon. she resigned. were you surprised that that half time that was. that was a half time announcement most announcement when most journalists aren't around. were you around? you covering it? >> don't ask such personal questions daily questions in the daily mail. >> from the beach? >>i beach? >> i think i was on the times at that point, but, uh, the times it is amazing, isn't it? when you back at months, you look back at the months, here uh, december . here we are. uh, late december. here it feels years ago here we are. uh, late december. here nicolas years ago here we are. uh, late december. here nicola sturgeon rs ago here we are. uh, late december. here nicola sturgeon wasjo here we are. uh, late december. here nicola sturgeon was there . that nicola sturgeon was there. my that nicola sturgeon was there. my the river of my goodness, the river of politics has been flowing fast. this year. however, sturgeon, you , she she got through. you know, she she got through. she had a bit of bite uh, she she had a bit of bite uh, with, with the public imagination in a way that neither starmer nor sunak does . neither starmer nor sunak does. and she did that by creating a caricature for herself of being the little annoying head wobbler

. and, um, as in politics, you have to create this sort of exagerar . yes, caricature for exagerar. yes, caricature for yourself in order in order to get through to people's minds. >> also integrity. i think, and preaching values as kevin would you agree she had all that , you agree she had all that, didn't she? she she was forever contrasting herself to boris johnson. >> he's dodgy. he doesn't tell the truth . i'm as straight as the truth. i'm as straight as a die and you can rely on me. it doesn't . was a spectacular doesn't. was a spectacular downfall . and i remember the. downfall. and i remember the. were you surprised ? were you surprised? >> were you both surprised when she , when she said, oh, i'm off. she, when she said, oh, i'm off. >> well, of course she'd been getting a kicking over the trans issue in, in scotland. she'd been getting a big kicking over that. she's off and you that. she says she's off and you think doesn't. think this just doesn't. well she a jacinda she mentioned up a jacinda ardern new zealand down. >> yeah. you know a lot of work for her. >> and then the next thing is the are a house. yeah. the police are in a house. yeah. and then we know the wheels have really you find really come off when you find the on a, you know, the campervan on a, you know, a husband's, uh , mum's driveway .

husband's, uh, mum's driveway. yes. uh, yeah. where did that come from? who spent on it? we still don't know that. >> we do know where that came from. who paid for the campaign? i entirely surprised, i wasn't entirely surprised, christopher, because there had i wasn't entirely surprised, christsome, because there had i wasn't entirely surprised, christsome select|se there had i wasn't entirely surprised, christ some select committee|d i wasn't entirely surprised, christ sonin select committee|d i wasn't entirely surprised, christsonin edinburghimitteeld i wasn't entirely surprised, christsonin edinburgh ,1ittee|d i wasn't entirely surprised, christsonin edinburgh , which, um hearings in edinburgh, which, um , uh, sturgeon's husband , uh, , uh, sturgeon's husband, uh, peter murrell. >> peter murrell , had his >> peter murrell, had his activities had been put under the microscope and, uh, it was not entirely didn't, didn't convince me as being altogether hygienic. no. >> and she had been going on and therefore it was not entirely a surprise, although the campervan is a real peach . is a real peach. >> well, there was there had also been all that, uh, talk around what she knew. what she didn't know about the allegations against alex salmond, her mentor and predecessor as first minister. but it is the most spectacular downfalls . and the snp is no downfalls. and the snp is no longer dominant in the way it had been for so long in scotland. don't go anywhere after the break. >> we'll carry on dissecting the first three months of this year. the windsor framework did it

finally get brexit done and a new job for civil servant called sue gray back .

people's channel. >> merry christmas . >> merry christmas. >> merry christmas. >> who is it? we're here for the show . show. >> welcome to the dinosaur hour with me john cleese .

with me john cleese. >> haha i was married to a therapist. >> and you survived. >> and you survived. >> i thought we were getting hugh laurie second best. my other list you interviewed saddam hussein. what's that like? i was terrified i'm playing strip poker with these three. >> are . oh, no, thank you . >> are. oh, no, thank you. >> are. oh, no, thank you. >> my cds need to be put in alphabetical order. >> are you going to be problematic again? are the dinosaur hour sundays on . dinosaur hour sundays on. gb news. >> welcome back to the red lion pub. i'm here with quentin letts and kevin maguire reviewing the year for gb news viewers. now we before the break we did saw a little there about the little film there about the first three months in. there was sue being being appointed sue gray being being appointed by was by keir starmer. that was announced in the first the first few months of the year, and it happened a few months later after being investigated. could you anything more you believe anything more deliciously difficult for the tory the person who

tory party than the person who pursued over pursued boris johnson over partygate? advising the partygate? now advising the leader of the opposition agent, deep throat, as we call her in labour circles ? labour circles? >> um, i mean, holding terribly smelly. uh, not only for, um, for sue gray, but for the, for the top of the civil service as well. and this just confirmed a lot of suspicions that the mandarinate, uh, is , is as, as mandarinate, uh, is, is as, as labour as it comes and it drove tory mps nuts , understandably, i tory mps nuts, understandably, i think, but, uh, quite agreeably , think, but, uh, quite agreeably, quite agreeable to watch. um and then she had to serve . was it then she had to serve. was it three months or so? it was a very light, maybe six months light. uh um, bit of gardening. leave and, you know, the rule bending here or not? not the rule bending, the convention bending spectacular from a former head of ethics of whitehall . i mean, just, you whitehall. i mean, just, you know, it's real. revolving doors. >> but kevin maguire, isn't it a great move? i mean, the fact that quentin barely get the words out and the fury of the story about the conservatives

completely . completely. >> i mean, of course, there was a parliamentary a there was a parliamentary inquiry that johnson inquiry which found that johnson had of the had broken the rules of the parties lied and leading to parties and lied and leading to his quit his suspension, why he quit parliament. way, her parliament. so in a way, her investigation was validated rather than conspiracy theorists can oh , it was a put up job can say, oh, it was a put up job by her, but she's worked wonders on the starmer team. people speak awe of how she brings speak in awe of how she brings order to meetings. >> three in, you can see >> three months in, you can see it . yeah, she how it. yeah, she knows how government yeah, government works. and yeah, because been out of because the labour's been out of power long, they need power for so long, they need someone like that. >> thought good >> yeah i thought there's a good bit because bit of political theatre because you but is it you annoy the tories. but is it worth other hits. you worth the other hits. you get reputation hits. think now reputation hits. and i think now i he's made a master i think he's made a master master stroke signing that up to a danger for sir a point. the only danger for sir keir this that he himself keir on this is that he himself will become a prisoner of the senior civil service and the senior civil service and the senior civil service is law unto itself. it doesn't have any. it has has very little time for elected members of parliament. uh, regards them as an inconvenience to be blown aside and there is a danger, i think, that he could be outmanoeuvred .

that he could be outmanoeuvred. by that he could be outmanoeuvred. by sue gray. but, you know, it's the fact that it annoyed the tories, uh, made it very pleasing. but and that's, that's a big part of politics is, is ticking off your opponent . yeah. ticking off your opponent. yeah. we might be discussing this next time next year. but if you're going to take on the civil service, who better to have? >> i will say in her defence, i have talked to people who have been the wrong side of the of been on the wrong side of the of the the executive like the of the executive like whistleblowers whitehall and whistleblowers in whitehall and when sue gray is on your side, it's a good thing she does look after these young people when they're facing down. >> christopher, >> yes, but christopher, a labour government, if it comes in, going to cut in, is going to have to cut costs. if it's going to costs. uh, if it's going to fulfil sort um, give any fulfil any sort of, um, give any sort gravy to its, to its sort of gravy to its, to its core supporters and sue gray has been the mistress of inertia and, and the, the real problem for a government, if it's coming in, it's going to try and affect change. well, the civil service hates change. >> she a barrier to the

>> so is she a barrier to the change that keir starmer wants to bring in? >> oh no. no. look if you're gonna have to take on xl bullies, bully of bullies, you want an xl bully of your i mean, really your own. i mean, he's really he's he's got somebody who will fight strongly. okay. he's he's got somebody who will fight not strongly. okay. he's he's got somebody who will fight not going strongly. okay. he's he's got somebody who will fight not going to ongly. okay. he's he's got somebody who will fight not going to become, ay. he's he's got somebody who will fight not going to become, you she's not going to become, you know, humphrey, to know, sir humphrey, just to defend her. >> humphreys finally >> so humphreys and just finally on few months, these on these first few months, these first few months, brexit got done. that the deal was done. remember that the deal was signed on the windsor framework we had, um, president von der lion, ursula von der leyen over here. >> um, yes. sunak use that as an early boost to his ability to get things done. um, it may just have parked things for a bit, but the annoyance is still there for the unionists in northern ireland. they feel that they are not fully part of the uk. and i think they've got a few grounds for that. but however it did, it did imply that the brussels people were prepared to do business with mr sunak. i'm forgetting some of their, their , forgetting some of their, their, their irritation with the johnson regime. >> well, i do have thoughts on

that. and i think it was very crass by the government to do that. crass by the government to do that . they obviously know how that. they obviously know how much, uh, we who are monarchists here in northern ireland love the king and really look up to the king and really look up to the king. and they want they have used the king in this way, which i think is wrong. the king should be above politics. they've made the point, of course, that he meets heads of state, of time . this state, um, all of the time. this lady a head of state. uh, lady is not a head of state. uh, this lady is from the european union. and i think it was a deliberate attempt to try and say, well, if the king is content with this deal, and in some way connected with it , then some way connected with it, then unionists shouldn't have a problem with it. look, if the dealis problem with it. look, if the deal is okay and if the text is okay, then unionists will look at it. there was no need to involve his majesty the king. i think the government made a mistake in relation to that and i think they should reflect on that deeply. that very deeply. >> it was the highlight >> i think it was the highlight of year. think it was his of his year. i think it was his one big achievement. >> does say it's of his >> he does say it's one of his achievements, he achievements, by the way. he sees

achievements, by the way. he seei see why arlene foster >> i can see why arlene foster is upset and i've got a lot of time her. but i think time for her. but i think involving calling it involving the king calling it the windsor framework terms the windsor framework in terms of think that of the unionists, i think that was . was very clever. >> and wound them up, >> but and he wound them up, though northern ireland, >> but and he wound them up, thou�*it? northern ireland, isn't it? >> maybe down the line >> and maybe down the line you'll pay a price for that. but at uh, i think he did at the time, uh, i think he did it very smartly . at the time, uh, i think he did it very smartly. but of at the time, uh, i think he did it very smartly . but of course, it very smartly. but of course, what he, what really what he, what he was really saying is northern ireland, those ireland, saying is northern ireland, those better ireland, saying is northern ireland, those better off ireland, saying is northern ireland, those better off beingeland, saying is northern ireland, those better off being really they're better off being really in the single market and the customs union. doesn't customs union. well, doesn't that great that undermine brexit for great britain , england, scotland britain, for england, scotland and good, good and wales? if it's good, good enough for northern enough that for northern ireland, he go for ireland, why doesn't he go for the same single market customs union for england, wales the same single market customs unioscotlandr england, wales the same single market customs unioscotland iongland, wales the same single market customs unioscotland if itjland, wales the same single market customs unioscotland if it is nd, wales the same single market customs unioscotland if it is as wales the same single market customs unioscotland if it is as goodes the same single market customs unioscotland if it is as good as and scotland if it is as good as he says? one of the interesting subplots on all that, sort of subplots on all that, or sort of post uh, footnotes, is post notes, uh, footnotes, is that hotel, well, the hotel that the hotel, well, the hotel where thing was being where this great thing was being prepared, has since some of prepared, um, has since some of it's going to have to be knocked down because they have had a planning problem and it turns out was built illegally . out that it was built illegally. there sorts of there are all sorts of metaphors. is this, uh, metaphors. there is this, uh, sunak reverse midas touch again. is touches is it everything he touches turns than gold ?

turns to dust rather than gold? >> there's still more to catch up what happened to dominic up on. what happened to dominic raab and nicola raab this year, and also nicola sturgeon husband peter sturgeon and her husband peter murrell. don't go anywhere .

>> merry christmas . >> merry christmas. welcome back to the year in

politics with me christopher hope. >> now, if you thought the first three months were difficult and dramatic for our political leaders, wait till you saw the second months. let's have second three months. let's have a look at the month of april. didn't start well for former first minister nicola sturgeon as her husband was arrested over the finance probe and later the snp finance probe and later released. president joe biden decided to go back to his roots with a trip to ireland with a stop via belfast deputy prime minister dominic raab had to resign after a bullying inquiry into his behaviour. >> did you throw tomato? >> did you throw the tomato? >> did you throw the tomato? >> only i not throw any >> not only did i not throw any tomatoes, allegation was tomatoes, that allegation was regarded as so specious. >> even put to me by >> it wasn't even put to me by may started with the local elections which saw labour and the liberal democrats making gains at the expense of the conservative party. >> we've just taken medway for the first time since 1998. that is a very, very good night for the labour party. >> prime minister rishi sunak strutted other strutted his stuff with other world leaders g7 summit, world leaders at the g7 summit, then , as temperatures rose in then, as temperatures rose in june, so did the political

drama. the government went to court to fight a request by the covid 19 inquiry to disclose whatsapp messages sent by former pm boris johnson. a week later , pm boris johnson. a week later, johnson's resignation honours list dropped , but the names of list dropped, but the names of johnson loyalists nadine dorries and nigel adams were nowhere to be seen and both quit as tory mps soon after boris johnson announced he himself was stepping down, triggering three new by elections and for rishi sunak, three more headaches . the sunak, three more headaches. the political drama kept coming . political drama kept coming. that same weekend, nicola sturgeon was arrested and then released , and later in the week released, and later in the week bofis released, and later in the week boris johnson was found guilty of misleading parliament over parties during lockdown. at 10 downing street. >> boris johnson lied . >> boris johnson lied. >> boris johnson lied. >> he lied to mps, he lied to the people of this country, he lied to nurses, doctors , voters, lied to nurses, doctors, voters, care workers , bus drivers, care workers, bus drivers, everyone who was putting their own lives at risk during the

pandemic. >> but there was still time for more revelations about lockdown busting parties, a jingle and mingle at tory central office. the month ended with an attempted russian coup, as the whole world held its breath for 24 hours when the wagner mercenaries sent armed convoys towards moscow. we heard about dominic raab there, didn't we? quentin and kevin? he denied the bullying allegations, but he said he found guilty he would resign before going into that, we did speak to dave penman from the first division association , the first division association, the first division association, the mandarins union, as you might them . quentin, here's might call them. quentin, here's a way out we're talking a way out to say we're talking about in time, we about at this point in time, we think more than two dozen civil servants have come forward. think more than two dozen civil seneighthave come forward. think more than two dozen civil sen eight separate e forward. think more than two dozen civil sen eight separate complaints think more than two dozen civil seneight separate complaints , >> eight separate complaints, three different government departments over a period of four years. so all of that has to be investigated. that doesn't mean he's guilty, but it suggests there's something quite substantial here around his conduct that so civil conduct that so many civil servants. and it's not easy to complain about government complain about a government minister, many civil servants

minister, so many civil servants have come forward over such a long period of time with complaints . yes. complaints. yes. >> so what's going on here, rob denied it to us when he spoke to my in his my colleague olivia utley in his constituency. shortly after he resigned . resigned. >> look, i'm very confident that i didn't behave in a bullying way . most of these allegations way. most of these allegations were out of and were dismissed out of hand. and i think people are watching this . would be surprised that in scrutinising civil servants , in scrutinising civil servants, in making sure that millions of pounds of taxpayers money is not squandered , uh, being able to squandered, uh, being able to pull very senior civil servants, not junior members of staff, up and say, look, i don't have the bafic and say, look, i don't have the basic information to decide this. that was one of the things on which i was found to have been bullying , uh, because they been bullying, uh, because they defended someone or because i said in relation to human rights reform, to get more foreign national offenders removed from this country, to strengthen free speech.ii this country, to strengthen free speech. i i said i thought the department were being obstructive. if these kind of things amount to bullying, then i think it puts a handbrake, a

paralysing effect on ministers delivering for the british people. and that can't be right . people. and that can't be right. the bar been so lowered now , the bar has been so lowered now, now that the government, we've got and i, a fan and got and i, a huge fan and supporter of the prime minister, is going to struggle to drive forward the changes we need, there'll be a chilling effect , a there'll be a chilling effect, a paralysing effect ministers. paralysing effect on ministers. i'm my phone is lit up i'm already my phone is lit up by ministers now very concerned that they could be accused of these things for behaviour that in most walks life would be in most walks of life would be regarded important managerial regarded as important managerial scrutiny and, and i think that must be wrong. >> kevin maguire, dominic raab, is he a bully? >> he's found to be a bully. uh, and he was stupid to say he would go if he found out he'd been bullying because it would depend really on the degree of bullying. made a rod from bullying. so he made a rod from to be beaten , beaten with. but to be beaten, beaten with. but that's how he'll be remembered now. should have now. i thought he should have been of, years been got rid of, uh, years earlier over afghanistan when he stayed on holiday in greece and kabups stayed on holiday in greece and kabul's fall into the taliban instead of coming immediately

back. but he was he was a poor politician. but what a blow for a prime minister. lose your deputy. i mean, i don't think he was a great politician, rob. you can't say he'd be a star in any team. he wasn't messi or team. he wasn't the messi or ronaldo of, uh, the uk . ronaldo of, uh, the uk. >> very bright guy. he's a black belt or he he belt in judo or karate. he he prosecuted war criminals in in, in the hague. i mean, he's, he's an impressive individual, isn't he. was he let down by woke, woke civil servants? quentin. >> i thought this was pathetic judgement. i thought rob was an important figure for the government . but i also think he government. but i also think he was quite an important parliamentary figure. he was very good in the house. uh, a lot more impressive as a as a, uh, with his political persona than his successor. and he is he i think the stuff that he was accused of was pretty minor fair to me. i mean, it was an accusation that he threw a tomato out of his sandwich bag that was denied to olivia utley the issue of the salad, the salad violence , really? he salad violence, really? he

denied throwing a bit of a tomato. if you're talking about international and this is international, politically important stuff, because the stability of our government is important and if you're considering about whether or not someone threw a tomato, when you've got a time, no, hang on, christopher time of christopher at a time of international is this is international crises is this is pathetic . and it really is pathetic. and it really is a sign of how petty our civil service is. >> no more pathetic than being fired over ordering ginger crinkles on your expenses and the expenses scandal. some of those expenses scandals issues was very, very minor. and i thought the fact there was so in such i dog food this such minutiae, i dog food this kind of thing and that was causing embarrassment for mp's almost important we almost showed how important we those . those are to do. >> to do with very >> these are to do with very arguable, uh expressions . uh, of arguable, uh expressions. uh, of an eyebrow being raised or else of, of someone staring . i mean, of, of someone staring. i mean, it was really there were other there was highly it was highly subjective. look, there were other which it almost always is in bullying cases. but are in bullying cases. but there are other allegations about and being aggressive being very, very aggressive and treating contempt

treating people with contempt and lack respect, which you and lack of respect, which you shouldn't now in politics, shouldn't do now in politics, you've got to have a hard, you know, tough, a tough skin or in this a tough crust. this case, a tough crust. >> i suppose if he's and now he's he's well he's leaving politics, he's well he's he's off. >> probably going to lose >> he's probably going to lose his the his seat if he stands again. the lib very likely take lib dems would very likely take that at the election. that's why he's are is he's these things are is he a loss he's not a loss. come on loss? he's not a loss. come on |, loss? he's not a loss. come on i, i think i think i think he was a loss actually politically i think he quite a stable. i think he was quite a stable. and um , reasonable figure. and and um, a reasonable figure. and i thought that he was also on the balance of the party where the balance of the party where the party was left and right. he's succeeded by oliver he's been succeeded by oliver dowden, who is a very wet sponge. oliver dowdy, uh, a very wet sponge indeed. and does does sunak no favours because there were some elections local elections, when labour did well , elections, when labour did well, it kind of cemented where we were in the polls. did you see sir keir starmer's black shirt? yeah, the black shirt. he loves this. is of his this. this is one of his signature, uh, looks quite slimming. >> you know, this is why they

try them. >> well, i know you're you're worried about weight and it is christmas day. they don't make them quentin, them in your size, quentin, but they. them in your size, quentin, but they . david cameron always wore they. david cameron always wore those dark polo shirts because they're slimming. >> because he was quite a porky. >> because he was quite a porky. >> but of course, the black shirt slightly awkward shirt has slightly awkward history, but history, but very awkward. but of course it doesn't show the sweat when you're out on the campaign trail. yes i remember there's yes, a very, very big there's a yes, a very, very big speech conference. but speech labour conference. but tony with a light tony blair started with a light blue like mine and ended blue shirt like mine and ended with a completely dark blue. but i don't see what you're trying to do with when you're a political, political image maker. you try to appeal to a certain part of the electorate with your with your fashion choices. are going choices. and so are you going for county? look, are you for the county? look, are you going more going for something more laid back, youthful don't back, more youthful? i don't know what don't what know what i don't know what i really know what the black really don't know what the black shirt for in terms of image shirt does for in terms of image reach metropolitan? reach out. is it metropolitan? >> really. >> you know, not really. >> you know, not really. >> it's london elite >> no. it's north london elite thing. nothing it's thing. it's nothing really. it's very because they are very peculiar because they are they are given uniform. >> look at sunak always wears a white shirt. doesn't he, with a

dark tie. >> e wears these >> well, sunak wears these terrible trousers. terrible short trousers. well, yes. these suits yes. and they has these suits that look like they've been vacuum shrunk on him. yeah, they look like they've been bought in the children's department. >> all for a reason. >> but that's all for a reason. and all. hancock used to wear a pale blue with a tie, and pale blue shirt with a tie, and that given. these that was all they given. these they afraid to say, they are, i'm afraid to say, modern politics. not that we modern day politics. not that we apart of this conversation, but they are giving a uniform to where they are. >> very important part of >> it's a very important part of it. people, viewers might it. and people, viewers might think, why going on think, oh, why are they going on about because as the about this? because as the politicians consider it important, they pulled politicians consider it impshirt, , they pulled politicians consider it impshirt, the they pulled politicians consider it impshirt, the black they pulled politicians consider it impshirt, the black shirt? pulled politicians consider it impshirt, the black shirt? they d the shirt, the black shirt? they probably have, i suspect they will have done. there have been a group, an extensive earlier. >> just for earlier. >>just >> just time for a short break. we'll with when we'll come back with when boris johnson resigned from frontline politic . what year it's been . politic. what a year it's been. >> hello . thank you for being >> 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 here on gb news the people's channel. >> merry christmas . >> merry christmas. welcome back . welcome back. >> well almost at the end of the first half of the year. what a month june was. and boris johnson, remember him? he quit as an mp days before the vote of the committee in the house of commons. privileges commons. the privileges committee ruled had committee ruled that he had misled partygate i >> -- >> this is a prime minister dunng >> this is a prime minister during a health crisis that has never been seen before. >> who has been found guilty of wilfully lying to parliament and essentially sticking two fingers up to the public in terms of what they were sacrificing dunng what they were sacrificing during that covid crisis ?

during that covid crisis? >> and i think the sanction benefits the crime. what boris johnson has done, it's what he's always done. he's ran away instead of facing the music and taking any sort of responsibility or accountability for his actions. >> but did he jump before he was pushed? kevin. yes because the suspension would have been long enough to trigger a recall ballot. >> although could he have held the seat? uxbridge because we know what happened and i'm sure we'll discuss it. >> had he held that seat >> and had he held that seat right now, he'd be a real problem rishi the problem for rishi sunak at the end of the year. >> yeah. if you're rishi sunak, you're he's out of you're glad he's out of parliament he can't a parliament because he can't be a bigger than is. and bigger threat than he is. and he's mps now he's there. some tory mps now get all moist eyed about him. i suspect if he if he had stood, then the opposition parties would have made way for one candidate only. so it would have been , uh, um, much harder for him. >> and a circus, a complete circus . circus. >> there would have been a complete circus. uh, i was uncomfortable. i mean, i, i, i completely agree that no prime minister lie to minister should lie to parliament. i was parliament. however i was uncomfortable harriet

uncomfortable with harriet harman's that harman's conduct of that committee . i thought the way committee. i thought the way that some of the rules were rewritten, um, sort of posthumously or post—dated bit where it was a bit whiffy and also . um, the, uh , the whole hue also. um, the, uh, the whole hue and cry struck me as out of proportion to the actual, uh, alleged , uh , mischief. initially alleged, uh, mischief. initially about about the about the birthday party and of course, the cake was never out of its box. >> apparently, you know, hang on the committee, the harman, the committee harriet harman, labour chaired, had a conservative majority. >> correct. and they found him guilty of lying and was appointed unopposed by a tory majority parliament because i when i was not before gb news the telegraph, i was the first to reveal how the whips just sat by while harman, who was going to make sure this is her last thing she did before she quit politics, was appointed on the nod with no vote, no no division. >> called a kangaroo >> it was called a kangaroo court, the whips half court, but the whips were half asleep.

>> way that harman >> but the way that harman chaired it just it felt to chaired that, it just it felt to me i in the room at the time me i was in the room at the time and felt entirely political and it felt entirely political in a way that that sort of committee shouldn't be. well, she had tweeted, hadn't she, about johnson, which was that a problem for you in terms of . problem for you in terms of. well, didn't help well, i suppose that didn't help . if one was going to . i mean, if one was going to approach this as matter of approach this as a matter of jurisprudence all that, jurisprudence and, and all that, but it just was, was, but i mean, it just was, was, was stingingly political . but was stingingly political. but that, afraid, is the world that, i'm afraid, is the world we in. it had again , a we live in. and it had again, a conservative majority . so it was conservative majority. so it was conservative majority. so it was conservative mps who ultimately found him guilty of lying. but, kevin, we all know that there are no hatreds so vicious within your own parties. no no no no. um, so that's that's what really gets me going. i mean, look, if you if you're looking for, you know, sort of virgin or people who've never sinned to , uh, sit who've never sinned to, uh, sit in judgement, uh, well, you're who've never sinned to, uh, sit in jigoing ent, uh, well, you're who've never sinned to, uh, sit in jigoing en'find , well, you're who've never sinned to, uh, sit in jigoing en'find itvell, you're who've never sinned to, uh, sit in jigoing en'find it in l, you're not going to find it in westminster, you? not going to find it in we:well,;ter, you? not going to find it in we:well,;ter, obviously delighted >> well, i'm obviously delighted and very honoured. and flattered that boris johnson put me on his list. >> and why do you think you did

make that cut, so to speak ? make that cut, so to speak? >> well, resignation honours are political honours given to people who have supported an outgoing prime minister >> it's in a way, a normal circumstances. the last opportunity for a politician who has reached the top of the pile to thank those people who've helped him along the way, and bofis helped him along the way, and boris johnson has been very generous in including me on that list. >> and what would you say to the critics? because obviously jacob, there's been lots of conversation about whether or not list should even have not this list should even have been in the first been honoured in the first place. what would to place. what would you say to those critics ? those critics? >> well, i think they misunderstand what the honours system is for that. it is there to reward people who have been involved in political and public life . there are many honours life. there are many honours that are still given out automatically to people like judges to recognise that they are involved in the nation, and an outgoing prime minister has

done a great service to the country. whether you agree with his politics or not, being prime minister is a very important role. it's very hard working role. it's a very hard working role. it's a very hard working role and for a prime role and that for a prime minister to be able to say thank you to those who have you to those people who have helped his job little bit helped make his job a little bit easier is, i think, perfectly reasonable . reasonable. >> so then nadine dorries , nigel >> so then nadine dorries, nigel adams quit. do you remember that 7 adams quit. do you remember that ? yeah. uh, obviously the honours list came out from boris johnson. remember that? johnson. you remember that? >> yes. hideous bad behaviour i think by he always is though. >> when is it, when is it ever a good list, isn't doesn't stink to high heaven i mean dave cameron was appalling. >> gordon brown did he didn't do one, didn't do one, nor did blair, nor did blair. >> i think resignation honours list should be didn't do them. >> they should be abolished. i don't know why they just the whole of corruption don't know why they just the who also of corruption don't know why they just the who also leadsf corruption don't know why they just the who also leads to orruption don't know why they just the who also leads to furthern problems. >> it damages those do get >> it damages those who do get honours actual work honours for actual good work because leader in because the scout leader in a community, get mbes, community, they get their mbes, whatever when whatever they might get. when you and it's now a you give cbes and it's now a cbe, if you've been a press

spokesman for the prime minister. well, had minister. yeah well, you had peers 30 and 31. peers aged 30 and 31. >> wrong with age, >> uh, nothing wrong with age, though, kevin. >> no, they are younger >> well, no, they are younger than are annoyed about? >> what have you done in life to deserve it? what have you done? don't showing promise. deserve it? what have you done? don't could/ing promise. deserve it? what have you done? don't could/ingthis.nise. deserve it? what have you done? don't could/ingthis. that >> you could be this. that place is fuddy duddies. you is full of fuddy duddies. you want to have young people in, but know house of but you will know the house of cronies work that way. cronies doesn't work that way. are about the age, are you unhappy about the age, quentin some the quentin of some of the candidates? well, candidates? well well, as someone who that someone who thinks that the whole lords is whole house of lords is ridiculous, it doesn't really distress it's made to look distress me if it's made to look more ridiculous. >> would happily put, >> yes, and i would happily put, uh, you know, put it out to uh, put, you know, put it out to grass . but i uh, put, you know, put it out to grass. but i do think uh, put, you know, put it out to grass . but i do think that the, grass. but i do think that the, the, um, the johnsonites did themselves terrible damage with their behaviour around that. bofis their behaviour around that. boris made himself look just sort of credulous and also i thought nadine dorries spoilt her whole cachet. her whole cachet was to be a voice of , of cachet was to be a voice of, of the, you know, of the real electorate and the real electorate and the real electorate looked at this and thought it was disgraceful. well, she felt she was owed it, you know.

>> well you a woman from, from liverpool . no, but i did to the liverpool. no, but i did to the lords all that. >> the woman from liverpool, the girl from liverpool or whatever would thought just would have thought that was just the badly. and i'm the posh behaving badly. and i'm afraid was , was afraid that nadine was, was caught uh with, with that sort of attitude. same true of nigel adams in selby. the to the two of them resigned in a huff, causing by elections and problems for sunak which labour went on to take and the result seats and the results in those in those two seats showed exactly what the public thought of nadine dorries and, well, they hate being made to vote again. >> they like voting at the best of times, no, but also they were disgusted. >> i think they really disgusted by behaviour . by that venal behaviour. >> so was it was it so for you both? was it good riddance to bofis both? was it good riddance to boris our politics boris johnson from our politics as now leaving stage? as he's now leaving the stage? >> i thought he >> it wasn't, but i thought he was very prime minister. was a very bad prime minister. but attitude and but i liked his attitude and i liked what a lot of what he stood for. liked his policies, stood for. i liked his policies, i but i'm afraid i liked brexit, but i'm afraid that conduct

that boris did not conduct himself as prime minister. himself well as prime minister. >> a character flaw? >> was that a character flaw? so was michael heseltine all was michael heseltine right all along ? that was. he didn't have along? that was. he didn't have an email. michael these an email. michael gove these guys an guys have always said as an administrative flaw, i know i do look, can campaign and he look, you can campaign and he can poetry . can campaign in poetry. >> but he couldn't, he couldn't govern even in prose. i think i do think you have to i disagree with him on it was a very it was an unusual bad time. yeah. i disagree with him on and the one on brexit, i think never on brexit, i think he never really believed levelling up. he lied building new lied about building new hospitals he just hospitals and he he just couldn't tell the truth. you need somebody has have need somebody who has to have a little grasp, at least in number 10. he's not a bad man though, don't you think? >> in any way . don't you think? >> in any way. no, i think he's quite a bit . >> in any way. no, i think he's quite a bit. he's quite known him a bit. he's a bit of a quite kind. >> and actually do believe >> and i actually do believe i do believe cynical and calculating . now i just i'm not calculating. now i just i'm not buying the act and that he's marmite, isn't he? >> he's almost like the, the embodiment of you either embodiment of brexit. you either love you hate him. love them or you hate him. >> no i don't think he >> there's no i don't think he is actually christopher. i don't think he is. and i don't think i think he is. and i don't think i

think he's difficult person to think he's a difficult person to hate. there's only a hate. i think there's only a narrow section of sort of middle class that really, really class left that really, really hates i think the rest class left that really, really hathe i think the rest class left that really, really hathe country i think the rest class left that really, really hathe country was1ink the rest class left that really, really hathe country was was the rest class left that really, really hathe country was was able est class left that really, really hathe country was was able to of the country was was able to see actually did. see that. actually he did. he did it. he went with did mean it. he went with incredibly low poll ratings because people a lot of people felt let those of us just felt let down those of us just felt, you know , who thought he felt, you know, who thought he was a burden along, noting was a burden all along, noting the tories were about five points behind labour, i think, and they haven't really they're still they're still 23 points behind. a very behind. it was a very bad mistake to get rid him, and mistake to get rid of him, and he have had better he should have had a better apparatus to , but he apparatus around him to, but he got to come back to the no. you've got to come back to the fact the wrong kevin. you've got to come the fact that to come back to the fact that the pandemic was an amazing disaster was not disaster for which he was not responsible . responsible. >> well, that's end of the >> well, that's the end of the first of our year in first part of our year in politics. and what a year it was with those stories plastered across the front pages of our newspaper. we're back tomorrow at 11 am. for the second part in our year in politics. do tune in our year in politics. do tune in happy christmas.

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january. full terms and privacy notice at gbnews.com. forward slash win. good luck . slash win. good luck. >> a brighter outlook with box solar, sponsors of whether on . solar, sponsors of whether on. gb news. >> hello there and greg dewhurst and welcome to your latest update . well the rain finally update. well the rain finally moves away for most of us as we go into boxing day. plenty of dry weather, sunny spells , and dry weather, sunny spells, and feeling a little bit more festive. that's because this area of low pressure moves out the way, and we get a brief ridge of high pressure, though. nofice ridge of high pressure, though. notice rain moves notice how rain quickly moves back the southwest. by the back into the southwest. by the afternoon . this evening time, afternoon. this evening time, plenty rain still across plenty of rain still across england and wales, but this does move away as head into the move away as we head into the early hours showers across northern northern northern ireland. northern england and scotland. but even these start to fade away. plenty of to come and that of clear spells to come and that will temperatures to dip will allow temperatures to dip lower than have done of lower than they have done of late, so little chillier to late, so a little chillier to start morning. some

start boxing day morning. some icy possible, icy stretches possible, particularly across northern scotland, where we'll continue to some wintry showers feed to see some wintry showers feed in through the north. but for most boxing plenty most boxing day, plenty of sunshine, a great day to be outside , though the cloud outside, though the cloud thickening from the southwest , thickening from the southwest, and this will bring rain into parts of devon cornwall parts of devon and cornwall as we afternoon , we move through the afternoon, slowly spreading way north slowly spreading its way north eastwards as move through eastwards. as we move through into time , into the evening time, temperature wise, a little bit more festive generally 2 to 5 celsius across the north the celsius across the north of the uk, 7 11 in the south. so uk, 7 to 11 in the south. so still a little above average in the south. a look at the south. and a quick look at wednesday we're to wednesday where we're back to the windy weather the wet and windy weather sweeping across the uk. strong winds and outbreaks snow winds and outbreaks of snow across higher ground of across the higher ground of scotland so do take care if scotland too. so do take care if you're travelling wednesday you're travelling on wednesday and it unsettled through and it stays unsettled through thursday and friday as well. and temperatures mild side, temperatures on the mild side, a brighter outlook with boxt solar sponsors of weather on . gb news. sponsors of weather on. gb news. >> as communities across britain

gather together for a period of faith and festivities . i want to faith and festivities. i want to wish you all a very merry christmas . throughout the christmas. throughout the christmas. throughout the christmas period, we see the bonds of kinship rekindled as families and friends. bonds of kinship rekindled as families and friends . share in families and friends. share in the joy the hope and the optimism that christmas provides for christians the world over. this is a time to rejoice in the birth of jesus christ, god's son . the birth of jesus christ bnngs . the birth of jesus christ brings light into our world and reminds us that in times of darkness and despair, hope, love, and peace are always worth advocating for. charity humility and selflessness takes centre stage in the christmas story, and this season serves as a reminder that these qualities should be a guiding light for all of us. during the holidays, many of you will be serving your community and our country , and i community and our country, and i want to thank our ever dedicated

nhs staff working around the clock to keep us healthy . royal clock to keep us healthy. royal mail workers for ensuring gifts, cards and special messages are received on time. military personnel for their steadfast commitment to our national security, which often means being away from loved ones. retail and hospitality workers for keeping us all well stocked. with christmas treats and the generosity of churches and charities providing a safe haven and support for those less fortunate , and for those for fortunate, and for those for whom christmas is a difficult time . on behalf of the labour time. on behalf of the labour party , i send my heartfelt party, i send my heartfelt thanks and gratitude to all of you for what you do. happy christmas from my family to yours

i >> -- >> good afternoon and a very merry christmas from the gb newsroom. i'm sam francis. the headunes newsroom. i'm sam francis. the headlines at one pope francis has described the children that are caught in conflicts across the globe as the little jesuses of today, as he condemned the ongoing war in gaza . delivering ongoing war in gaza. delivering his annual christmas day address

from saint peter's balcony in the vatican, he described the attack on by hamas attack on israel by hamas terrorists in october as abominable . terrorists in october as abominable. but he terrorists in october as abominable . but he also said the abominable. but he also said the ongoing strikes on gaza by israel were reaping an appalling harvest of innocent people, and that the world's weapons trade must be investigated . and the 87 must be investigated. and the 87 year old pontiff called for an end to all conflicts and defended the rights of refugees around the world. the pope's message comes after one of the deadliest nights of violence in gaza, with at least 100 people killed by airstrikes. israel's army says that its investigating one of the attacks after it appeared to target innocent civilians. the palestinian red crescent bombings of major crescent says bombings of major roads is complicating its effort to help critically wounded people . fire crews were called people. fire crews were called to a fire in an office of a conservative mp last night. that's after a suspected arson attack. police are investigating after mike fryer's office in north london was partially damaged by the blaze. mr fryer

told gb