only way to save next hour. the only way to save britain. the words of reform party leader richard tice. they announced candidate , ben announced their candidate, ben habib, stand in the wellingborough by—election, as well as a raft of policies saying the tories are completely failed and betrayed. britain also steaming into the labour party, saying the country under starmer will be starmageddon on. >> the big question is can the small party make a big breakthrough next story my great shock leaked border force data shows that top brasses at our border controls expect illegal arrivals by dinghies to increase next year, proving that rishi cannot stop the boats and in fact, rwanda could be the only way to save his bacon. >> next, this story is so good it got onto the screen before us, ready the right to strike today, of course, marks the biggest ever walkouts by junior doctors. six days, adding woe for 130,000 missed procedures

and operations, adding to 7 million on the waiting list. i'll be asking is this a strike too far.7 and get ready to introduce potentially a pint size? >> well, not his size, his age. >> well, not his size, his age. >> 16 year old luke the nuke littler almost said it facing cool hand luke humphries tonight and the world darts champion . and the world darts champion. the winner, the luke will win half £1 million. can the teens sensation beat the world number one who shed four stone and treats it like an athlete? that's one to watch, all coming up in the next hour. >> so reform party today talking tough, laying into the tories, laying into the labour party, saying only they can save britain. >> yesterday lee anderson on the show caused a bit of a ferrari when he said nobody knows who

they are, but it's the electorate who will decide what do you think can reform make breakthrough? >> let me know all the usual ways . ways. >> gb views at gb news. com all of that coming up in your next houn of that coming up in your next hour, right after your latest news headlines with tatiana sanchez. >> martin. thank you. your top stories from the gb newsroom, a 15 year old boy has been arrested on suspicion of murder over the death of a 16 year old in north london on new year's eve. harry pitman died after what police described as an altercation as crowds gathered in london's primrose hill. his sister taylor has hit back at false rumours that he was in a gang.she false rumours that he was in a gang. she posted a message on social media saying her brother was a good boy with a heart of gold and wouldn't have been involved in violence . doctors involved in violence. doctors have warned that medical professional may vanish from the

nhs unless pay is dramatically improved . six days of industrial improved. six days of industrial action has begun this morning after talks between the government and the bma union broke down. some of those striking have warned that countries, including australia , countries, including australia, are targeting them with advertising in an attempt to attract disgruntled british doctors to jobs overseas . junior doctors to jobs overseas. junior doctors to jobs overseas. junior doctors want a 35% pay rise, which would restore their real earnings to levels seen in 2008, the government says that's unaffordable, but insists the door remains open for further negotiations . iron doctor robert negotiations. iron doctor robert lawrenson is the bma's junior doctors committee co—chair. he says the strikes will continue until pay is improved. >> we're very happy to talk about restoring our pay over a matter of years. we're very happy to do that over a period of a time frame, and we don't necessarily need it all in one go. we're happy to sit down and have a collaborate conversation with the government, but they've pushed us out of the negotiation room. they don't want to talk with us. and the fact of the

matter is, the nurses rejected their pay deal. nurses are their pay deal. the nurses are still in dispute with the government government . government and the government. and to honest, the whole and to be honest, the whole country have abandoned our nursing colleagues as well . nursing colleagues as well. >> meanwhile, commuters are being warned of severe travel disruption next week due to strike action on the london underground. members of the rmt union are staging another walkout over pay, with no services expected on the whole network from sunday until friday. talks between the union and transport for london are continuing . two explosions have continuing. two explosions have pred continuing. two explosions have ripped through a memorial ceremony in iran, killing more than 100 people. state tv showed footage of crowds running as ambulances rushed to the scene . ambulances rushed to the scene. officials described it as a terrorist attack as people gathered to commemorate the death of a top commander. it comes as fears grow that the war in gaza could spread into a broader conflict . hundreds of broader conflict. hundreds of flood warnings remain in place

after storm henk battered parts of the uk last night. after storm henk battered parts of the uk last night . the west of the uk last night. the west midlands ambulance service is warning people to take extra care after several people had to be rescued from cars caught in flood waters as parts of birmingham, leicester and northampton are particularly at risk of floods, while transport delays are expected as the clean up continues. delays are expected as the clean up continues . as a family was up continues. as a family was left terrified . more than 400ft left terrified. more than 400ft in the air while riding the london eye when strong winds pred london eye when strong winds ripped the hatch off of their pod . meanwhile, a 50 old pod. meanwhile, a 50 year old man was killed a tree fell man was killed when a tree fell on car while he was driving on his car while he was driving in . eurostar has in gloucestershire. eurostar has been given a slap on the wrist by the advertising watchdog after promoting special fares that were available to very few people , the train company people, the train company ianed people, the train company invited customers to soak up every second of summer with a european getaway for just every second of summer with a european getaway forjust £39. european getaway for just £39. but the advertising standards authority found only a very small portion of seats available at that price. describing the promotion as misleading. euro star says it takes complaints

very seriously and will ensure the scenario doesn't happen again . and luke littler will again. and luke littler will make history tonight when he becomes the youngest player to compete in the final of the world darts championship at just 16, he beat rob cross six two, in the semi—finals. last night, he showed nerves of steel as he closed out the match in style , closed out the match in style, continuing his dream run into tonight's big game when he takes on the new world number one, luke humphries and the history making finalist had some words of wisdom for anyone who dreams of wisdom for anyone who dreams of following him . of following him. >> the unbelievable like i've only i only set my goals to win one game and come back after christmas and i'm still here. well, i don't any gcses. well, i don't have any gcses. everyone's probably got more than fact, i did pass me than me. in fact, i did pass me sport, yeah, um, look, young sport, but yeah, um, look, young , young dart players, hopefully they do look up to me. and if you, if you do practice, then you, if you do practice, then you could be where i am. this is gb news across the uk on tv , in 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. >> now back to . martin >> now back to. martin >> now back to. martin >> thank you tatiana. and alice gets stuck in to today's show and we start with some very strong words from reform uk leader richard he's fired leader richard tice. he's fired the starting gun on the general election campaign by claiming voting for his party is, quote, the only way to save britain. tice says the conservatives and labour are two forms of socialism . um and tice was socialism. um and tice was speaking to our political edhon speaking to our political editor, christopher hope, and he joins me now. chopper thanks for joining us. so strong on fighting talk. richard tice . um, fighting talk. richard tice. um, laying into the tories , um, laying into the tories, um, saying that they've completely failed britain and not sparing the rhetoric towards labour ehhen the rhetoric towards labour either, saying starmer ageddon a cocktail of incompetence that will bankrupt britain . the big will bankrupt britain. the big question is richard , can the

question is richard, can the small party make a big breakthrough ? breakthrough? >> well , that's the question >> well, that's the question i've got now. there are ten points in the polls. the same as the liberal democrats. the lib dems, of course, have 13 or so. uh mps. there's zero mps for reform . and how do they try and reform. and how do they try and transfer transport, transform that number, that 10% into actual a sitting in parliament now the line now from mr tice at the press conference today was that reform is a party of the working class. and what we saw with this attempt at taking on starmer is recognising their their big lead in the polls and saying you vote for labour, saying if you vote for labour, then you'll get all these other areas they call it high tax areas they they call it high tax nanny state, uncontrolled inflation, immigration. that's what they think is coming their way. and that's why the idea of starmageddon came up from from richard tice after press richard tice after that press conference, i spoke to him alongside ben habib , who is the alongside ben habib, who is the party's candidate in the forthcoming wellingborough by—election. had forthcoming wellingborough by sayection. had forthcoming wellingborough by say .:tion. had to say. >> it's the only way actually to

save britain. that the truth. save britain. that is the truth. the crisis facing the country is so serious. the main two parties are two forms of socialism high taxes, wasteful government spending, daft eu regulations . spending, daft eu regulations. the government has betrayed people, massive migration, a huge betrayal by the tories that labour want more of. and we are now the only party of the working class of tens of millions of people who feel compelled , abandoned and let compelled, abandoned and let down. and we're the only party that will get rid of the job destroying, deeply damaging, net zero policies. people talk about nigel and reform uk , the better. nigel and reform uk, the better. it does our for job nigel and reform uk, the better. it does our forjob us of it does our for job us of raising brand awareness because we're a relatively new brand . we're a relatively new brand. but as more people hear about us, they say, who's this lot? and they like what they hear. they look at our policies and say, oh, thank god, someone's talking common sense. i'll vote for that's great. for those guys. so that's great. and i'm very clear. the more help nigel give, better. help nigel can give, the better. but some important but he's got some important decisions to make and a good

poker player always keeps their cards close to the chest until the perfect moment. >> you're the party's deputy leader. standing the leader. you're standing for the party in the in the in the likely shortly to be announced wellingborough by—election you were ukip the comparable election of 2015 was second. can you win it? >> well, i think there's every chance of winning it. very different environment to 2015. i think there was some hope think there was still some hope that the governing class of this country would deliver the country would deliver the country prosperity we've country to prosperity. but we've seen, know, richard's seen, you know, richard's described starmageddon, we've actually sunak ageddon, actually had sunak ageddon, haven't taken the haven't we. he's taken the country. we've already experienced it. he's taken the country to the economic brink. he's taken it to the cultural brink. he's taking it to the political constitutional political and constitutional brink. northern brink. he's floated off northern ireland without so much as a, you you go with our you know, off you go with our blessing. no, this man is awful . blessing. no, this man is awful. starmer is equally bad. if you want to change the way this country is governed, you have to vote for it. but how? and we will we will get the. so to answer your question, what we

need to do, what i need to do is to is to get the tory voters out. there are 32,000 tory voters voted for peter bone in the last election, 13,000 for laboun the last election, 13,000 for labour. i suspect labour will get slightly less . all i need to get slightly less. all i need to do my single challenge is to convince those tories and those labour voters who are a small c conservative, of which there are many to come out, engage with us, recognise what our policies are and if they're sick of these two, which they should be, and i'm sure they are, vote for . two, which they should be, and i'm sure they are, vote for. us. >> that's ben habib, then he's the reform candidate in the wellingborough by—election. he says there he wants to form a tory voters to come out for reform uk, the policy platform is one of one in, one out on immigration. um and try and take on net zero. say save £5 in every £100 spent by whitehall . every £100 spent by whitehall. the problem the party has got as an as ukip had before that, and the brexit party is it doesn't know where voters live. the legacy parties have records

knowing where exactly its supporters live, and that's why it can. so often these big parties get the votes out and it's very hard for reform. they're hoping that noise on channels like gb news and others , and also on social media, can be enough to get over the line. the party was second in 20 2015 general election in wellingborough. that's the last comparable election . and they're comparable election. and they're hoping to do better than at this time. all the questions, though, martin, were about nigel farage time. all the questions, though, martitherere about nigel farage time. all the questions, though, martithe journalist. nigel farage time. all the questions, though, martithe journalist. nigel weree time. all the questions, though, maiintentionslalist.nigel weree time. all the questions, though, maiintentions ?list.nigel weree time. all the questions, though, maiintentions ? richardel weree time. all the questions, though, maiintentions ? richard ticeeree his intentions? richard tice said. he's a poker player. he'll declare his hand when he's ready . well, i've been told by insiders at reform uk is likely that won't happen until two months out from a general election , so be a lot election, so it might be a lot of this year, will he, of chat this year, will he, won't about nigel farage won't he, about nigel farage okay chris okay. >> thank you for update. >> thank you for that update. >> thank you for that update. >> certainly a huge to >> certainly a huge story to watch. of course the watch. and of course the elephant in the room will nigel all return to frontline politics? um, hugely successful of course. in the european parliament. but the first past the post system massive

the post system is a massive barrier any insurgent party barrier to any insurgent party can reform, break through that. of course. reform uk aren't the only party who have kicked off their 2024 campaign. today the liberal democrats have also been out and about. sir ed davey was in guildford in surrey this morning and as you'd expect from the lib dem leader, he turned up with a prop. he a with with a prop. he drove a van with the slogan tory removals looking a little bit like, um, only fools and horses and a bit of a plonker. some might say. but our political correspondent olivia utley has spent the day with the lib , and joins me now. lib dems, and she joins me now. good afternoon olivia always a pleasure. of course, people are poking fun at the gimmick of the van. but here's something i know from bitter experience. the liberal democrats are incredibly effective they fight by effective when they fight by elections and olivia, there is rumour they could be fighting on a narrower front of 20 seats across the home counties. and i say, if they get targeted and they get mobilised and they flood those seats, they could cause a huge headache for the

tories in the so—called blue wall . well absolutely. wall. well absolutely. >> ed davey is certainly thinking exactly the same thing. the lib dems are feeling very buoyed up off the back of four. pretty magnificent by—election victories in the last couple of years, and it sounds as though they will be treating the general election like, as you say, essentially a series of by elections. they are targeting a handful seats in here in handful of seats in here in surrey, in guildford and across the south east and the south—west. they're looking at guildford itself, the tories here have a majority of just over 3000 ed davey sounds pretty quietly confident that the lib dems should be able to overturn that. they're also looking at jeremy hunts constituency down the road, with a majority of just over 8000, and michael gove's constituency with a majority sort of 18,500. and majority of sort of 18,500. and this is a big problem for the conservative, as they've known for a long time now, the tories that fighting those red wall seats, those seats in the north where lifelong labour voters

lent their lent their votes to the conservatives at the last election in to order try and get bofis election in to order try and get boris johnson to secure the brexit. the tories have known for a long time quite a lot for a long time that quite a lot of those seats will probably go at election. now at the next election. now though, as though though, it seems as though they're have fight they're going to have to fight quite heartlands . quite hard for their heartlands. if the lib dems put their resources into a number of targeted seats if focus targeted seats, if they focus their minds and it sounds like they're going to do exactly that , a chance of , then they do stand a chance of overturning some pretty impressive conservative majorities in those sort of commuter belt seats around london and further to the west, as well. this is very bad news for the conservatives but the lib dems were looking more cheerful than i've seen them in quite a long time. this morning they focussed on a general election. >> i announced today that we think the general election should be on may the second, and it couldn't come soon enough. we'll be tabling a bill in parliament next week, which would give mps the chance to call the general election rather than rishi sunak running away and away . let's have that

and hiding away. let's have that general election now, people need are fed need that change. people are fed up waiting and i'm really , up of waiting and i'm really, really pleased and proud that the liberal democrats are ready for that election whenever it comes. >> so yes , to a coalition with >> so yes, to a coalition with labour now i'm focussed on the general election. >> there are many, many conservative mps that liberal democrats can defeat across the whole of the south of england, parts of london, parts of manchester, parts yorkshire, manchester, parts of yorkshire, in , in wales, liberal in scotland, in wales, liberal democrats really on the democrats are really on the march. we've shown with our historic by—election victories and local election and our amazing local election results across the country, that we are now a amazing campaign force in british politics . and force in british politics. and i think when the election comes, we will be the surprise of the election. >> so that's another interesting facet of the next election. >> the lib dems are very deliberately not ruling out a coalition with labour in the event of a hung parliament. it could be that come election time, there's some sort of agreement, whether an informal agreement, whether an informal agreement or perhaps even a

formal agreement between labour and the lib dems, whereby in areas guildford in surrey, areas like guildford in surrey, where the lib dems doing where the lib dems are doing very the labour is very well and the labour is trailing behind in polls, trailing behind in the polls, labour put up too much labour might not put up too much of a fight vice versa in of a fight and vice versa in seats where labour are doing very dems are very well and the lib dems are trailing lib dems might not trailing the lib dems might not put up a fight in local put up much of a fight in local elections. in by elections, that tactic has been very bad indeed for conservatives might we for the conservatives might we see something on a national level come the next election? >> olivia utley fascinating stuff and i think actually canny politics. i've been on the receiving end of liberal democrat by elections. they swamp the area. you cannot move for seeing their yellow diamonds in fields, in hedgerows, in gardens and activists piling in, and they really know how to win on a small battlefront. olivia if they're replicating that over a fewer seats and piling all their resources in, i think that's a great political move. and i think it's going to spell a big headache for the conservatives in the blue wall.

and then if you put the red wall trouble , they've got come in trouble, they've got come in with reform. i think the tory party could be caught in something of a pincer movement of doom. anyway we'll have lots more. thank you very much for that, olivia. superb stuff. we'll have lots more on that story the show. story throughout the show. fascinating stuff. i just can't wait this general wait for this next general election. what about you? i'm just excited it's just so excited about. it's going a fantastic year for going to be a fantastic year for now. a few minutes i'll speak going to be a fantastic year for noa a few minutes i'll speak going to be a fantastic year for noa tory few minutes i'll speak going to be a fantastic year for noa tory mp! minutes i'll speak going to be a fantastic year for noa tory mp torinutes i'll speak going to be a fantastic year for noa tory mp to get es i'll speak going to be a fantastic year for noa tory mp to get his 'll speak going to be a fantastic year for noa tory mp to get his takeieak going to be a fantastic year for noa tory mp to get his take on( to a tory mp to get his take on whether reform and the dems whether reform and the lib dems could torpedo their hopes of winning the next general election . and there's of election. and there's plenty of coverage website , coverage on our website, gbnews.com, and you've helped to make the fastest growing make it the fastest growing national news website in the country. so thank you very much. now now you could start your new year with £10,000 in cash, a £500 shopping spree and a brand new iphone. sounds sweet , new iphone. sounds sweet, doesn't it? well, here's how you could make all of those prizes yours. >> make sure you don't miss your chance to win three brilliant pnzes chance to win three brilliant prizes in our great british giveaway prize , which could make

giveaway prize, which could make your new year start with a bang. there's a totally tax free £10,000 cash to be won cash to spend however you like. what would you do with it? we'll also send you on a new year shopping spree with £500 of vouchers to spendin spree with £500 of vouchers to spend in the store of your choice, and if all of that wasn't enough, you'll also get a brand new iphone 15 pro max. but hurry as lines close at 5 pm. on friday for another chance to win the iphone. the vouchers and £10,000 cash text gb win to 84 902. text cost £2 plus one standard network rate message , standard network rate message, or post your name and to number zero one, p.o. or post your name and to number zero one, po. box 8690, derby de192, uk only entrants must be 18 or over. lines close at 5 pm. this friday. full terms and privacy notice at gb news. com forward slash win good luck . forward slash win good luck. coming up nigel farage just

slammed the tories on immigration once again and now border force officials are expecting an increase in small boats crossings this year. >> looks like rishi can't stop the boats after all. i'm martin daubney on gb news, britain's news channel .

sunday mornings from 930 on gb news earlier with eamonn and isabel, a junior doctors across england have begun the longest ever nhs strike, which is going to last six days and the

government have this on their side where they talk about budgets talk about budgets and they talk about figures and they look at you and they say greedy, greedy, greedy, we're going to keep striking until we get a credible offer that we're to put to our that we're able to put to our members. >> members accept this members. >> story, members accept this members. >> story, isn't mbers accept this members. >> story, isn't it? ers accept this one story, isn't it? >> littler , 16 year old >> luke littler, 16 year old darts prodigy i've never seen so much interest darts world much interest in a darts world final tonight. he plays luke humphries. >> i've also introduced , uh, his >> i've also introduced, uh, his own kebab. he's called a luke luke special wrap. i think it is. >> imagine if we had storm cooper today . storm shepherd , cooper today. storm shepherd, we've got storm eamonn instead. >> storm tom storm a lot of rubbish . breakfast with eamonn rubbish. breakfast with eamonn and isabel . and isabel. >> welcome back. it's 325. you're watching or listening to martin daubney on gb news now, later this hour i'll have the latest on the flooding caused by storm hank. and you don't want to miss this. a 16 year old luke

littler gets ready for tonight's world darts championship final. i'm going to speak to the man who will referee the match. it's self. of course you will know his splendid dulcet tones . he's his splendid dulcet tones. he's known as the voice of darts and you'll find out why. at around a 3:45. now let's get the latest on the migrant crisis and just a day after james cleverly said he wanted to reduce the number of small boat arrivals to zero by the end of 2024, it's emerged that channel migrant crossings are likely to increase next yeah are likely to increase next year. this year, the number of arrivals last year fell to below 30,000, but border force officials have told the government that they expect around 35,000 migrants to cross the channel in 2024. it could be as high as 50,000. in fact . and as high as 50,000. in fact. and the warning comes as nigel farage hit out at the government for granting asylum to so many people last year. >> i wonder, is rishi solution for pretty much everyone to stay? is that how we clear the

backlog ? backlog? >> is that how we deal with the problem ? i would welcome your problem? i would welcome your thoughts on that rather sarcastic question. >> although i don't think i'm wrong. so the whole thing is driving bonkers. would driving me bonkers. it would also that 17,000 people also appear that 17,000 people have disappeared. just have simply disappeared. just disappeared . i can only guess disappeared. i can only guess they've joined criminal gangs or whatever else it may be. but whatever else it may be. but what is for certain is that this whole issue of illegal immigration and legal immigration and legal immigration is rapidly climbing up towards the top of the list of political priorities in this country. as i always thought it would . okay well, let's get the would. okay well, let's get the tory reaction to those comments . tory reaction to those comments. >> so i'm joined now by david jones , who's the conservative jones, who's the conservative party mp. good afternoon . thank party mp. good afternoon. thank you for joining party mp. good afternoon. thank you forjoining us on the show. you for joining us on the show. so we just heard there from nigel farage in typical flamboyant form. but of course james cleverly this week has committed to that target of zero arrivals. and yet border force now saying numbers likely to go

up to 35,000 or even as high as 50,000, spells disaster for that pledge, doesn't it ? pledge, doesn't it? >> well, you're quite right. this is probably the most important issue that i get raised with me in my constituency. postbag at least the most important national issue , and it's got to be issue, and it's got to be addressed . and the best means of addressed. and the best means of addressing it, i believe, is the rwanda bill, which was introduced just before christmas . coming back to the commons for its committee stage later on this month. and we and by we, i mean i and colleagues are working with the government to try to improve that bill, to make it even tighter, to provide a real disincentive to people from coming into this country. me, because nigel is absolutely right. this is probably the top political issue that people are talking about at the moment. and david, um, rwanda or bust, it would seem. >> we found out yesterday that there won't be a vote on that

this week. now already that's being stymied . do you think being stymied. do you think that's your only way out of this mess? if we can't stop the boats, then we need to get the people out to rwanda . and if people out to rwanda. and if that doesn't really is that doesn't work, it really is going to disastrous start going to be a disastrous start to . to the year. >> well, martin, it's being stymied. >> don't know whether you >> i don't know whether you watched the second reading debate, in fact, the debate, but in fact, the government to work government undertook to work with conservative colleagues to try to improve the bill. there are 1 or 2 issues that need to be tightened but i do be tightened up, but i do actually believe that rwanda actually believe that the rwanda bill will be a massive disincentive to people who want to come to this country illegally , if want come illegally, if they want to come to country without good to this country without good reason, they're not proper reason, if they're not proper asylum seekers , then they must asylum seekers, then they must expect to not stay in this country. and the threat of actually having to be taken to rwanda, i think, will be pretty powerful to stop them from coming . coming. >> okay, david, heard what >> okay, david, you heard what nigel had to say earlier. richard tice he was that richard tice he was saying that only the reform party can save britain. yesterday i was joined

in the studio by your party deputy chairman lee anderson. he said this. >> yes, i can understand why some of our voters are a little bit frustrated and angry, especially with the migration, the illegal and the illegal migration. but reform is not the answer. it leaves door open answer. it leaves the door open for sir keir starmer to get in number 10 and undo all the hard work we've tried to do so far. >> so what do you say to that, david? reform is not the answer . david? reform is not the answer. >> look, i've worked very closely with both nigel farage and richard tice during the leave means leave campaign . i leave means leave campaign. i know them well. i respect them both. they're both important people in the politics of this country , and they both have the country, and they both have the well—being of this country at heart. the fact is, however, that what lee said yesterday is absolutely right . if we want to absolutely right. if we want to fragment the right wing vote, if we want to fragment out the pro—brexit vote , we will pro—brexit vote, we will certainly end up with a labour government. it's as simple as that. government. it's as simple as that . and i actually believe that. and i actually believe that. and i actually believe that the right is stronger when it's working together . and i

it's working together. and i would invite nigel and richard to think very carefully about the future and whether or not they wouldn't be better off with a good, strong conservative majority at the next general election. but david, i'm richard tice has ruled out, though we no deals this time . deals this time. >> nigel also saying that they standing down of brexit party candidates last year handed you an 80 seat majority today they said brexit has been squandered , said brexit has been squandered, immigration has been betrayed . immigration has been betrayed. no deal is on the table this time . a lot of people saying time. a lot of people saying that you guys have had your chance to cut down on immigration, you've had your chance things around and chance to turn things around and it hasn't worked. so why should people aside time? people stand aside this time? why should people give the conservatives chance? conservatives another chance? well look, i've been around in politics a long time , and i've politics a long time, and i've seen insurgent parties come and go over the years. >> the fact is , there are two >> the fact is, there are two parties of power in this country, and that's the conservative party and the labour party and all the other

parties do is to nibble away at the edges of the votes of both of those parties . you had an of those parties. you had an item on the lib dems a few moments ago, and they will do pretty much the same . but the pretty much the same. but the fact is that when we approach a general election, people will be thinking very carefully about what's best for them and their families for and the country as a whole . i actually think a whole. and i actually think that people consider that people will consider whether or not reform have a chance of winning . i think that chance of winning. i think that they will conclude that despite their good intentions, they won't , that will look won't, and that they will look very carefully at what the conservative party has to offer. the of the general the issue of the general election date is important too. of course, there are suggestions that it might be in may. i don't believe that's the case. uh the conservatives at the moment are polling some 20 points behind the labour party . we've got a the labour party. we've got a lot happening in the next, uh, 8 or 9 months. that might well change that arithmetic considerably. not least the budget on the 6th of march, but also so if in fact, the election is to be in the autumn and isaac

levido. so the party's campaign manager has said it's going to be the 14th. there be on november the 14th. there is potential for second is the potential for a second budget this year, and these can change things considerably. okay >> thank you very much. i'm afraid we have to leave it there. david jones , the there. david jones, the conservative mp for clwyd west , conservative mp for clwyd west, thanks for joining us. conservative mp for clwyd west, thanks forjoining us. we'll have loads more on that throughout the rest the show. throughout the rest of the show. but first, here's your latest news headlines with tatiana sanchez. >> martin, thank you very much. your top stories from the gb news newsroom. some breaking news to begin with. scotland yard has launched a murder investigation after a woman was fatally stabbed in london overnight. a 38 year old man has been arrested on suspicion of murder . been arrested on suspicion of murder. we'll bring been arrested on suspicion of murder . we'll bring you more murder. we'll bring you more updates on that story as we get it to other news, a 15 year old boy has been arrested on suspicion of murder over the death of a 16 year old in north

london new eve. harry london on new year's eve. harry pitman died after what police described as an altercation as crowds gathered in london's primrose hill. his sister crowds gathered in london's primrose hill . his sister taylor primrose hill. his sister taylor has hit back at false rumours that he was in a gang. she posted on social media saying her brother was a good boy with a heart of gold and wouldn't have been involved in violence . have been involved in violence. doctors have warned that medical professionals may vanish from the nhs unless pay is dramatically improved. six days of industrial action begun this morning after talks between the government and the bma union broke down. some of those striking have warned that countries , including australia, countries, including australia, are them with are targeting them with advertising in an attempt to attract disgruntled british doctors to jobs overseas. junior doctors to jobs overseas. junior doctors want a 35% pay rise, which would restore their real earnings to levels seen in 2008. the government says that's unaffordable but insists the door remains open for further negotiation . and hundreds of

negotiation. and hundreds of flood warnings remain in place after storm hank battered parts of the uk last night. the west midlands ambulance service warning people to take extra care after several people had to be rescued from cars caught in flood waters. parts of birmingham , leicester and birmingham, leicester and northampton, particularly at risk, while transport delays are expected as the clean up continues . a family was left continues. a family was left terrified more than 400ft in the air while riding the london eye when strong winds ripped the hatch off their pod . meanwhile, hatch off their pod. meanwhile, a 50 year old man was killed when a tree fell on his car while he was driving in gloucestershire . you can get gloucestershire. you can get more on all of those stories by visiting our website gb news.com i >> -- >> thank 5mm >> thank you tatiana. now the longest strike in nhs history began today, with health chiefs

warning that the service is on skating on thin ice. junior doctors started a six day walkout at 7:00 this morning and this week of course, is traditionally one of the busiest times of the year for the nhs. the british medical association union wants junior doctors to get an eye—watering 35% pay rise . rob lawrenson, who's the co—chair of the bma and is also a junior doctor, defended their decision to go on strike live on gb news earlier this morning. we're very happy to talk about restoring our pay over a matter of years . of years. >> we're very happy to do that over a period of a time frame and we don't necessarily need it all in one go. we're happy to sit down and have a collaborate conversation with the government , but they've pushed us out of the negotiation room. they don't want to talk with us. and the fact of matter is , the fact of the matter is, the nurses their pay deal. nurses rejected their pay deal. the nurses still in dispute the nurses are still in dispute with the government and the government and to be honest, the whole country have abandoned our

nursing colleagues as well . nursing colleagues as well. >> well, i'm joined now by health writer and commentator and former nhs trust chairman roy lily royce, always a pleasure to have you on the show, sir. linked analysis is your forte . i put it to you. your forte. i put it to you. 170,000 appointments and operations will be postponed due to this. adding to 7 million already on the waiting list. 30% of people. this week we found out of completely given up on even getting an appointment. face to face with a gp. people already feel like the nhs is broken . roy, is this simply broken. roy, is this simply a too strike far ? too strike far? >> well, it's a good question, martin. >> i mean, who knows what's going to happen over the next six days? >> you know, the nhs is quite good now at managing strikes, which a dreadful say which is a dreadful thing to say . they've done so many of . but they've done so many of them, so they'll push all the, uh, consultants into the uh, the consultants into the blue light front door and a&e they'll make sure it was covered. >> they'll have coverage on the wards. they will have cleared

out as many people from hospital as before the strike. as they can before the strike. they cancelled as many they will have cancelled as many operations that operations as they can that can't carried out during the can't be carried out during the strike. and the post—operative bowel wave will just continue to grow and as a million people, i think now gone back on on to the waiting list. look, i mean, this is this has got a lot of history. this story. i mean, it goes back to the time after the world banking crisis . the nhs world banking crisis. the nhs had ten years of flatline funding. it needs about 4% per annum. it got under 2% for ten years. >> and that meant we didn't we didn't recruit enough nurses , didn't recruit enough nurses, build enough hospitals, innovate, invest , build enough hospitals, innovate, invest, didn't do anything. >> and we've now got the fewest beds per population ahead of population in across europe and the oecd. >> fewest doctors, fewest nurses and we went into covid with waiting lists at 4.5 million. we had 40,000 nurses short. >> we somehow or other come out the other end of covid and now we've got huge vacancies . we've got huge vacancies. >> still, even though there are more staff being recruited. >> and course, the waiting >> and of course, the waiting

list are piled up. list now are really piled up. the salvation thing, i think, is that if you look at the period just after last christmas to be where before the strike started, the nhs rolled up its sleeve and it was able to get the two year waiting list down to almost nothing . it's quite well. nothing. it's done quite well. um you know, if you can get a clear run at things and it's properly funded, the waiting list will come down quite quickly and i'll tell you why there are not 7.5 million people waiting there are about 6 million waiting. >> but a lot of them are waiting for more than one thing. so that's worth thinking about. also 60% of people on waiting lists are waiting for a diagnostic , which can be done diagnostic, which can be done quite quickly , and only about quite quickly, and only about 20% of people who have a diagnostic need a period of inpatient care. so actually the numbers can come down quite quickly, which is why i suspect rishi sunak made it one of his five promises because he knew he could fulfil that. and given a clear run, it will. but the strikes are so disruptive. i

mean, it's not just putting people back on the waiting list. it's it. it reverberates around the system for weeks. martin. so, you know , it's a real pain. so, you know, it's a real pain. and roy, a lot of people are kind of raising their eyebrows, justifiably so at this 35% demand. >> now it's okay to say this is an historical demand , but why an historical demand, but why weren't the unions in that case negotiating on a year by year basis? and why is it fair to try and whack the entire lot through now? 35? that's the stuff of pipe now? 35? that's the stuff of pipe dreams. inflation is less than 4. >> well , you than 4. >> well, you could have than 4. >> well , you could have written >> well, you could have written my column. >> i did last week. i said exactly the same thing. i said, i think the bma have been asleep at the wheel and suddenly they've woken up and they've got a whole load of young doctors. now they there an now they there was an organisation called doctors votes to the bma votes and they did to the bma pretty much what momentum did to the labour party . they they've the labour party. they they've taken over most of the regional committees. they've they've got a majority the, on the a majority now on the, on the bma council and they, they are very militant and they will not

back down. i predict that they won't back down. they've said, look, the bma has done us no favours. we've lost, uh , payment favours. we've lost, uh, payment value, traction in our in our wages. we want it back. but i tell you what interested me. i thought the interview that you just put on with lawrenson, he said something that i haven't actually heard before. he says we don't want the 35% in one go. now. i've been saying for a long time i thought the solution to this was a three year deal. you could have this as the foundation year next year. well, it's an election year. you know, and the third year it could be the party having the the labour party having the problem with finding the problem with with finding the money. mean think the money. so, i mean, i think the solution in a three solution to this is in a three year the stumbling block year deal, the stumbling block is the dh won't negotiate with a unions that are on strike. now here's the important thing. the junior doctor's mandate for this, uh, six months of striking comes to an end in at the end of this month . so they have to this month. so they have to reballot their members. the

question is , will the junior question is, will the junior doctors ballot for more strikes, because a lot of them have lost their shedload of money by going on strike, because the bma don't pay on strike, because the bma don't pay strike pay, they may well say we'll settle for the 12% and then we'll take our chances with uh, labour coming in. okay >> roy. lily, um, as i said, superb analysis. always your forte. thank you so much for coming on. former nhs trust chairman roy lily , an excellent chairman roy lily, an excellent analysis . okay. i've been analysis. okay. i've been looking forward to this all day because i'm about to speak to the man who is known as the voice of darts , who's the voice of darts, who's the referee for tonight's world championship final, featuring 16 year old luke the nuke. littler this is going to be sensational. i'm martin daubney on gb news. britain's news channel

michael portillo, gb news britain's news channel . britain's news channel. >> welcome back. it's 345. you're watching or listening to martin daubney on gb news now. in a couple of minutes i'll speak to the voice of darts ahead of tonight's mega darts final. but before that , a final. but before that, a motorist has been killed by a falling tree after storm hank brought flooding and disruption across southern england and wales. gloucestershire constabulary said a man in his 50s died while driving there. campbell hundreds of flood warnings are still in place and let's speak now to gb news east midlands reporter will hollis , midlands reporter will hollis, who's at billing aquadrome in

northampton. good afternoon will, what's the latest with storm hank ? storm hank? >> yes, well, the good news is that a lot of those flood warnings, a lot of those flood alerts have started to be removed by the environment agency. there's still around 50 or so across the uk here in northampton at billing aquadrome around a thousand homes were evacuated yesterday and the local resilience forum , which is local resilience forum, which is made up of the northampton police and the fire service as well as local councils. they've been conducting the remainder of evacuate nations . evacuate nations. >> around 130 people or so. >> around 130 people or so. >> that mainly live in caravans here on the holiday park. they are urging the last people who are urging the last people who are still here to leave today, while it is still light. of course we're losing the light right now because they want to get people off while it is safely, but they say that they cannot force people to leave their homes. this is one part of

their homes. this is one part of the country that has been heavily affected by the flooding here in the midlands. but of course there is a lot of flooding in the south as well, and that is what is going to happen now. the clear up of the remainder of the effects of storm hank long after those clouds and the rain have passed on. >> martin ipso , thank you for >> martin ipso, thank you for that update. will hollis . now that update. will hollis. now the countdown is on because in just a few hours time, 16 year old luke littler will try to complete one of the greatest fairy tales in sporting history. little will take on luke humphries in the final of the pdc world darts champs. ukip. it's a huge night for the two players, but it's also going to be a massive night for the man. i'm going to speak to now because russ bray will be the referee . it's his final match referee. it's his final match before he retires. i'm delighted to say that the voice of darts joins me now . absolute delight. joins me now. absolute delight. russ to have you on the show.

thank you so much for coming on. my thank you so much for coming on. my kids love your voice. they just find it so entertaining, so wonderful . look what a wonderful. look what a mouthwatering prospect we've got tonight. two luke's head to head. not the first time they played each other, but the 16 year old sensation is coming from nowhere to play the world number one. what a night we have ahead of us. >> you're no kidding. absolute belter. it's uh. um for the punters. it's the dream final , punters. it's the dream final, isn't it? you know, you've got the young pretender at 16 against the world number one. um, yeah . it conjures up every , um, yeah. it conjures up every, every aspect of joy within, within the sport, you know? and as i say, young luke littler, he's, uh, he's been a sensation. he's been a sensation a little bit before that, to be fair. and, uh , so what he's done when and, uh, so what he's done when he, you know, to the general crowd, it's, uh, uh , you know, crowd, it's, uh, uh, you know, quite amazing. and unexpected. but, uh , from us guys in there,

but, uh, from us guys in there, we know that he's more than capable of doing a lot of damage. >> i wanted to ask you about that, russ, because you're, like, one of the closest people up there. right by the up there. um, right by the board, looking at looking at luke the nuke when he's playing , luke the nuke when he's playing, he's blowing people away with how cool and calm he's been. i mean, he's playing against some of his idols. legend of the game, getting messages from , um, game, getting messages from, um, gary neville. he's sporting icons at manu. yet this kid is just taking it all completely in his stride. russ yes, yes . his stride. russ yes, yes. >> his maturity is fantastic. and i mean, he's uh , the way he and i mean, he's uh, the way he plays the game, his mindset, um, it's fantastic. it's so lovely to watch the breath of fresh air and, uh, you know, he's he's the future of darts. obviously you know, you had marco van gogh in at 17, in nine darts and things like that. you know, this kid is a year younger , um, doing every a year younger, um, doing every bit the same. it's fantastic for the sport. >> and you know what, russ ?

>> and you know what, russ? people have been taking the mickey a bit because he's been called the tiger woods darts. called the tiger woods of darts. but i reckon there's fair but i reckon there's a fair comparison there. like he started and started when he was five. and he's endlessly practice he's just endlessly practice repetition, repetition , repetition, repetition, repetition, repetition, repetition, chasing excellence. and it takes thousands and thousands and thousands of man hours to get to this standard of darts . darts. >> exactly that. martin, you've hit the nail on the head. you know, i said in the previous, um, interview that i've done, you know, you get freaks within the sport and i mean freaks in the sport and i mean freaks in the loveliest way and the nicest possible way. guys that totally excel , you know? um, possible way. guys that totally excel, you know? um, yeah. tiger woods is the obvious example . my woods is the obvious example. my mike tyson in his day when he was just a young kid, you know, taking everybody out and now you've got luke littler, you know, he's taking on the world and, uh, he's now in the world final take on the world final to take on the world number know, you can't number one. you know, you can't dismiss because, dismiss luke humphries because, uh look at luke uh, believe you me, look at luke humphries is going to more humphries is going to be more than luke littler. than up for luke littler. >> that's and russ, the two >> that's it. and russ, the two of them played in 2019. a really

sweet photograph has emerged on social media of luke littler when he was just 12. although to be fair , when he was 12, he be fair, when he was 12, he looked he looked 16. but, um , he looked he looked 16. but, um, he lost and, um, luke humphries said that he was scarily good. now since then, luke humphries has lost four stone. he treats this like an athletic pursuit. a lot of people, of course , take lot of people, of course, take the mickey out of darts players for their physiques. but we have two very different styles tonight , two very different styles tonight, don't we? we have, um, luke littler, who likes kebabs, omelettes and pizzas, and we have luke humphries, the mean lean machine who lost £4 a week getting toned down. how do you think it's going to go, russ ? think it's going to go, russ? >> um, i, i don't know what way it will go. um, i certainly hope it's going to be a fantastic final. i mean, me personally, i don't mind who ends. it really doesn't matter to me in that respect. yeah um, you know, it's when you look at the two guys there, when you're on about physiques and that, you know, that in longer

that can tell in the longer format , um, that can tell in the longer format, um, you that can tell in the longer format , um, you know, if you're format, um, you know, if you're a bigger you know, you a bigger lad, you know, you might hire a little bit quicker. um, luke humphries has already been there. he was a big lad, like you say. he's streamed down four stone. you know, he can go the distance, but to be fair, with young, littler as he is, um, a 16 year old lad, i thought he may have trouble going the distance. he proved last night he's got no trouble with that. so at the end of the day, he's 16, you know. let him be 16, let him have his kebabs and all the rest i'm sure he'll sort rest of it. i'm sure he'll sort that out later on if that's what he wants to do. but, um, as i say, you know, at the end of the day, lads are going day, the both the lads are going to up you know, to be up there, you know, hammering other hammering tongs at each other and sorts of things. so uh, and all sorts of things. so uh, it's going to be absolute it's going to be an absolute magnet, decent spectacle. >> just talking >> and we're just talking of which, it's the final swansong for emotional night, for you two. an emotional night, your an your final game in an illustrious career. how does that make you feel ? that make you feel? >> well, yeah, it's the final one in the majors. i'm still. i'll still be working behind the scenes next few years, scenes for the next few years, but, uh, first one, last one for

the majors. so, uh, yeah , it's the majors. so, uh, yeah, it's going to be emotional. very emotional that sense. um, emotional in that sense. um, i've of family i've got some of my family coming down, my kids to come coming down, so my kids to come down and and that, um. down and my wife and that, um. yeah, it will be, but i've yeah, it will be, but but i've got a lot of things to look forward to as an ambassador with the pdc on asian tour and the pdc on the asian tour and things like that. >> so i can't let you go without giving us a quick 180 and maybe a 40 to go on. >> um, well, you might need to turn the mics down because that's what generally happens when i rmt . there are 40, mate. when i rmt. there are 40, mate. 40. so that's the one i like. >> 40. >> 40. >> and what about what about when somebody when somebody hits a double and they get out, go game. >> yes. game shop and match. yeah uh , russ bray, you've been yeah uh, russ bray, you've been an absolute pleasure, mate. >> have a great match tonight. an emotional night for you.

thank you so much fans tastic stuff i'm so i'm looking forward to that. right. we've got loads coming up including reform uk leader course firing the leader of course firing the starting gun on the next general election. all of that coming up i'm martin daubney on gb news, britain's channel . britain's news channel. >> a brighter outlook with boxt solar sponsors of weather on . gb news. >> hello again. it's aidan mcgivern here from the met office with the gb news forecast. blustery showers will continue for most of us during the rest of the day. some brighter spells and it will turn dner brighter spells and it will turn drier in the south towards the end the day. for the time end of the day. but for the time being, we've got low pressure in charge, storm, charge, even if the main storm, henk, has moved off the scene around this low, we've got various occluded fronts bringing some longer spells of rain, but in general blustery showers in general it's blustery showers as we head into the evening, some spells emerging some clear spells emerging particularly towards the southwest, midnight , southwest, and by midnight, certainly some drier weather

pushing into southern parts , pushing into southern parts, more persistent rain lingering across the northeast of scotland, shetland staying cold with some snow and frost here a little bit . touch of frost little bit. touch of frost further south under those clear skies. so a chilly start here, but that's where the brightest weather thing weather will be. first thing thursday . now that doesn't last thursday. now that doesn't last long because it will turn cloudier mid—morning and cloudier from mid—morning and outbreaks of increasingly heavy and persistent rain will spread into southern coastal counties through the day. that could cause some issues given the saturated ground at the moment . saturated ground at the moment. but further north, we've got the sunshine remaining across north wales, north midlands, east anglia , showers for scotland and anglia, showers for scotland and northern ireland, northern england and as well . and friday england and as well. and friday again a showery day. the again is a showery day. the worst of the showers will be across and western across eastern and western coasts. in between some sunny spells and as we go into the weekend, high pressure builds. that means drier, but it also means colder with temperatures falling away. looks like things are heating up, but boxt boilers

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>> good afternoon . it's 4 pm. >> good afternoon. it's 4 pm. welcome to the show . i'm >> good afternoon. it's 4 pm. welcome to the show. i'm martin daubney. this is gb news. i'm keeping you company for the next two hours. we've got a belter of a show coming up. top story. the

only way to save britain saves richard tice, the leader of reform uk. they announced that their candidate, ben habib for their candidate, ben habib for the wellingborough by—election today and also a range of policies taking aim at the tories, saying they've completely failed and betrayed britain and also turning their guns on the labour party , saying guns on the labour party, saying a britain under labour would be starmer . a britain under labour would be starmer. gordon. tough talk . but starmer. gordon. tough talk. but the big question is can the small party make that big breakthrough next story migrant shock. breakthrough next story migrant shock . yesterday, home secretary shock. yesterday, home secretary james cleverly doggedly maintaining he can stop the boats. but leaked data from border force today says that the number of illegals arriving by dinghies next year is actually set to increase could be 35,000 or worst case scenario, 50,000. that would be an all time record . has this government completely lost control ? can rwanda save lost control? can rwanda save their bacon or will this issue sink the government? next story

as england sorry as britain wades into the red sea crisis by taking on the houthi rebels, that's causing a shipping crisis , could that mean inflation soars in britain as goods rocket in price? there's also the danger of petrol and oil shortages . here we go danger of petrol and oil shortages. here we go again. could that economic upturn suddenly fall flat thanks to trouble in the middle east and finally , only hours away now, finally, only hours away now, i spoke moments ago to russ bray, the referee at tonight's mega world darts championship showdown . this fella luke the showdown. this fella luke the nuke littler, the 16 year old sensation taking on luke humphries coolhand humphries just 28 himself, the world number one. it's going to be an epic title clash. whoever wins, they're going to be called luke and they're going to be english. we'll all action the we'll have all the action in the next hour . so

we'll have all the action in the next hour. so is it time for reform? yesterday on this very show , lee anderson said reform show, lee anderson said reform aren't the answer. it set off a bit of a ding dong today. richard tice came back and said, we are the answer. only reform can save britain. after 13 years of broken promises from the conservatives. what do you think 7 conservatives. what do you think ? how are you going to vote? are you wooed by reform or will you stick with the tories? because let's face it, first past the post is a huge barrier. let me know. the usual ways. vaiews@gbnews.com. that's all come up in your next hour straight after your news headunes straight after your news headlines with polly middlehurst i >> -- >> martin, thank you and good evening to you. >> let's bring you some more detail on that breaking news. we brought you about half an hour ago. now that ago. we can tell you now that scotland has launched scotland yard has launched a murder investigation after a woman fatally in woman was fatally stabbed in london overnight. >> it comes after a man went into a police station earlier on

today, claiming to have harmed a woman at a residential address where police found the body of a 32 year old woman, a 38 year old man has been arrested on suspicion of murder. it is a developing story, more as we get it now. a 15 year old boy has been arrested on suspicion of murder over the death of a 16 year old boy in north london on new year's eve. harry pitman died after what police described as an altercation as crowds gathered on london's primrose hill to view fireworks. his sister taylor has hit back at false rumours on social media, indicating he might have been in a gang . she posted a message a gang. she posted a message saying her brother was a good boy with a heart of gold and would not have been involved in violence . now doctors have violence. now doctors have warned today that medical professionals may vanish altogether from the nhs unless pay altogether from the nhs unless pay is dramatically improved . pay is dramatically improved. six days of industrial action began this morning after talks between the government and the

bma union broke down. some of those striking have warned that countries, including australia, are targeting them with adverse ice in an attempt to attract british doctors to do overseas jobs , as junior doctors want jobs, as junior doctors want a 35% pay rise, which they say would restore their real earnings to levels seen in 2008. the government says that's unaffordable, but insists the dooris unaffordable, but insists the door is open for further negotiations . fans meanwhile, negotiations. fans meanwhile, commuters in london are being warned of severe travel disruption next week due to strike action on the london under ground. members of the rmt union are staging another walkout over pay, with no services expected at all from sunday right through to friday, talks between the union and transport for london are continuing now. a convicted killer who refused to reveal where he'd hidden a body of his victim has died in jail while serving a life sentence . scott serving a life sentence. scott walker was jailed in 2021 for the murder of 17 year old

bernadette walker. it's understood she referred to him as her father, although they weren't related . she was weren't related. she was murdered in 2020 after accusing the 53 year old of sexually abusing her over a number of years. walker died in prison in december without ever revealing the location of bernadette's body. the location of bernadette's body . a spokesperson for the body. a spokesperson for the prison service said their thoughts were with the victim's family . let's bring you some family. let's bring you some international news now. and two explosions have ripped through a memorial ceremony in iran , memorial ceremony in iran, killing more than 100 people. iranian state television showed footage of crowds running as ambulances rushed to the scene, officials describing it as a terrorist attack. people were gathering to commemorate the death of a senior commander four years ago, so far, no one has claimed responsibility for the attack . here. you're a star, has attack. here. you're a star, has been given a warning by the advertising watchdog after promoting special fares that were available to very few people, the train company ianed

people, the train company invited customers to soak up every second of summer with a european getaway for just every second of summer with a european getaway forjust £39. european getaway for just £39. but the advertising standards authority found only a very small portion of seats available at that price were on offer. describing the promotion therefore, as misleading, eurostar says it takes complaints seriously and will ensure it doesn't happen again . ensure it doesn't happen again. more young people are making the switch to non—alcoholic drinking a study carried out by yougov found 44% of those aged 18 to 24 consider themselves to be either occasional or regular drinkers of alcohol. alternatives that's up from 31% in 2022. it also found younger generations are now the most sober age group overall, with 39% preferring not to drink at all. that's after a survey in november found 1 in 10 british drinkers do feel they have an unhealthy relationship with alcohol , have an unhealthy relationship

with alcohol, and the have an unhealthy relationship with alcohol , and the princess with alcohol, and the princess royalis with alcohol, and the princess royal is to make an official visit to sri lanka next week, marking 75 years of british diplomacy . princess anne will be diplomacy. princess anne will be joined by her husband, vice admiral sir timothy laurence, on the three day visit and that comes as the king and queen are also expected to journey to canada in may, followed by australia , new zealand and samoa australia, new zealand and samoa later on in the year. that's the news on gb news across the uk on tv , in your car and on your tv, in your car and on your smart speaker. this is britain's news channel . news channel. >> thank you polly. superb. now we start with some very strong words from reform uk leader richard tice. he's fired the starting gun on the election campaign by claiming his party is the only way to save britain. tice says the conservatives and labour are two forms of socialist m tice was speaking to our political editor, christopher hope, earlier on

this morning, and he joins me now . chris, always a pleasure now. chris, always a pleasure fighting talk indeed from mr tice saying the tories have completely failed and betrayed britain. he accused rishi of bottling it on eu laws, cosying up to ursula von der elianne and also blazing his guns on the labour party , saying the country labour party, saying the country under labour will be starmageddon the big question, of course, richard, is can a small party make a big breakthrough against first past the . post? the. post? >> well that's right. can it? because it's not sure where voters live. and that's always been a problem with i've been following ukip and the brexit party. um, going back over a decade now. and the problem they've got is that the main legacy parties know where their supporters are, and can just get the vote out every election . and the vote out every election. and often very hard for often it's very hard for challenger parties to do so. um, that's why the party's got ten points in the polls. the same as the liberal democrats. the lib dems or mps .

dems have a dozen or so mps. reform has zero. so the challenge now is to find out where they are and get the vote out. now mr tice, there he may he they're turning their fire on the labour party saying there that reform um is a party of the working class building that round on a tax cutting, uh , round on a tax cutting, uh, offer to the to the people of britain , lifting the basic rate britain, lifting the basic rate of income tax to £20,000 from around £12,000, one in, one out on immigration saving £5 for every £100 spent in whitehall by civil servants. that's the idea. whether it works , we'll find out whether it works, we'll find out the first test of that. martin will be the wellingborough by—election. that's expected later next month or early march. their candidate , uh, revealed their candidate, uh, revealed today is ben habib , known to today is ben habib, known to viewers as a commentator on gb news but also as the deputy leader of the reform party . and leader of the reform party. and he's very intent on winning. he thinks he can win. he told me earlier how desperate he is and i think he can get the vote out. the problem is social media may not enough to but

not be enough to win, but i think for many and i was told this by key people in reform uk earlier , it's the canary in the earlier, it's the canary in the mine , in the coal mine for this mine, in the coal mine for this party. they do well in wellingborough. they did well in 2015. last planned general 2015. the last planned general election for if they do election for ukip. if they do well in wellingborough, that might mean big for both might mean a big worry for both the labour and the tory parties at the general election. in >> okay. and, and you spoke to both tice and habib earlier. how buoyant did they seem about their chances . yeah that's right. >> they were obviously it's they got a big turnout from the press corps for their their statement and their announcements today in parliament, in near parliament i should say. but there's no sign of nigel farage. um, but earlier after the, after the press conference, i did speak to ben habib and richard tice and this is what they had to say to me. it's the only way actually to save britain. >> that is the truth. the crisis facing country so serious

facing the country is so serious . the main two parties are to forms of socialism , high taxes, forms of socialism, high taxes, wasteful government spending, dafta eu regulations . the dafta eu regulations. the government has betrayed people, mass immigration, a huge betrayal by the tories that labour want more of. and we are now the only party of the working class of tens of millions of people who feel compelled , abandoned and let compelled, abandoned and let down. and we're the only party that will get rid of the job destroying, deeply damaging, net zero policies. people talk about nigel and reform uk, the better it does our job for us of raising brand awareness because we're a relatively new brand . we're a relatively new brand. but as more people hear about us, they say, who's this lot? and they like what they hear. they look at our policies and say, oh, thank god, someone's talking common sense. i'll vote for great. for those guys. so that's great. and very clear. the more and i'm very clear. the more help can give, the better. help nigel can give, the better. but he's got some important decisions make and a good decisions to make and a good poker player always keeps their cards close to the chest until the perfect moment. >> you're party's deputy

>> you're the party's deputy leader. for the leader. you're standing for the party in the in the in the lightly shortly to be announced lightly. shortly to be announced wellingborough by—election. you were ukip the comparable were you ukip the comparable election of 2015 was second. can you win it? >> well, i think there's every chance of winning it. we're very different environment 2015. different environment to 2015. i think still some hope think there was still some hope that the governing class of this country deliver the country would deliver the country would deliver the country prosperity . but we've country to prosperity. but we've seen, know, richard's seen, you know, richard's described starmageddon, we've actually ageddon, actually had sunak ageddon, haven't we. he's taken the country. we've already experienced it. he's taken the country to the economic brink. he's taken it to the cultural brink. to the brink. he's taking it to the political constitutional political and constitutional brink. he's floated off northern ireland without so much as a, you know, off you go with our blessing. no, this man is awful . blessing. no, this man is awful. starmer equally bad . if you starmer is equally bad. if you want to change the way this country is governed, you have to vote for it. but how? and we will we will get the. so to answer your question , what we answer your question, what we need to do, what i need to do is to is to get the tory voters out. there are 32,000 tory

voters voted for peter bone in the last election, 13,000 for laboun the last election, 13,000 for labour. i suspect labour will get slightly less. all i need to do my single challenge is to convince those tories and those labour voters who are small c conservative, of which there are many to come out in, engage with us, recognise what our policies are and if they're sick of these two, which they should be, and i'm sure they are, vote for . two, which they should be, and i'm sure they are, vote for. us. >> there you have an enthusiastic ben habib, the deputy leader of the reform party. now the party's candidate in the wellingborough by—election . well, wait and see. by—election. well, wait and see. ihave by—election. well, wait and see. i have it on good authority that nigel farage will keep his powder dry as a poker player, as mr tice said, there will learn from intentions, from him about his intentions, about to stand for about whether to stand for parliament. i doubt that will happen. more likely to be a campaign coordinator nearer campaign coordinator for nearer to say , to the election, just to say, martin, before you go, we have revealed on this channel today how has been less how the tory party has been less than to take on henry than keen to take on henry bolton , the former ukip leader

bolton, the former ukip leader who was anointed . into that job who was anointed. into that job by nigel farage back in 2017. we're told by the pm that the tory party is a broad church, except , uh, people from the except, uh, people from the right of politics to rejoin the tory while not in case tory party while not in the case of bolton. that's of henry bolton. and that's caused a bit of a kerfuffle when we broke earlier gb news we broke up earlier for gb news back to you. >> okay, hope. superb >> okay, chris hope. superb stuff. one thing's for sure, stuff. and one thing's for sure, the the the gloves are off for the general election. and of course, reform uk aren't the only party who have kicked off their 2024 campaign. the liberal campaign. today the liberal democrats have also been out and about. sir ed davey was in surrey this morning and as you'd expect from the lib dem leader, he turned up with prop. he turned up with a prop. he drove van the slogan tory drove a van with the slogan tory removal and olivia utley has been with davey today. olivia >> hello. yes, i'm here in guildford, where ed davey and the liberal democrats are looking very cheerful indeed. and it's not surprising they've got target seats all over surrey. guildford here has a conservative mp who won in the 2019 election with a majority of

just over 3000, and ed davey is pretty convinced that the lib dems can get their hands on this seat come the next election. but the dems also looking at the lib dems are also looking at jeremy hunt's constituency down the road and michael gove's constituency too. he has a majority there of over 18,000, but these are extraordinary times and even a majority of that size can't really be considered a safe seat for the tories anymore . now ed davey was tories anymore. now ed davey was very careful earlier not to rule out the possibility of a coalition with labour in the event of a hung parliament. here's what he said when we spoke to him. i'm focussed on a general election. >> i announced today that we general election. >> i ithe)unced today that we general election. >> i the generaloday that we general election. >> i the general electiont we think the general election should be on may 2nd, and it should be on may the 2nd, and it couldn't come soon enough. >> tabling a bill in >> we'll be tabling a bill in parliament next week , which parliament next week, which would give mps the chance to call general election rather call the general election rather than sunak running away call the general election rather tharhidingsunak running away call the general election rather tharhiding away running away call the general election rather tharhiding away .'unning away call the general election rather tharhiding away . let's|g away call the general election rather tharhiding away . let's haveay call the general election rather tharhiding away . let's have that and hiding away. let's have that general election now . people general election now. people need that change. people are fed up and i'm really , up of waiting and i'm really, really pleased and proud that

the liberal democrats are ready for that election whenever it comes. >> so yes, to a coalition with laboun >> i'm focussed on the general election. >> there are many, many conservative mps that liberal democrats can defeat out across the whole of the south of england, parts of london, parts of manchester, parts of yorkshire, scotland , in yorkshire, in scotland, in wales, liberal democrats are really on the march. >> we've shown with our historic by—election victories our by—election victories and our amazing local election results across country , that we are across the country, that we are now a amazing campaigning force in politics. in british politics. >> and i think when the election comes, we will be the surprise of election. of the election. >> you go. >> so there you go. >> so there you go. >> not. ruling out >> absolutely not. ruling out a coalition with keir starmer. but either whatever happens either way, whatever happens come the next election , it's come the next election, it's going to be tough for the concert . lives in the north in concert. lives in the north in those red wall seats and those seats where, uh, uh, lifelong labour voters lent their votes to boris johnson to get brexit done. it's expected . and the done. it's expected. and the polling shows that the conservatives are probably going to indeed . but to do very badly indeed. but from lib dems attitude today from the lib dems attitude today and from polling down here in

guildford and in the rest of surrey, it looks like the conservatives are really going to have fight to on to to have to fight to hold on to their own heartland . with the their own heartland. with the lib coming hot on their lib dems coming hot on their heels. great stuff. >> thank you olivia. so with the lib dems targeting the tories in places like surrey and reform uk aiming to make big inroads in the red wall, are the conservatives worried they're going to be squeezed from either side? well, now joined by tory mp sir bill cash, thanks for joining us, sir. bill always a pleasure. so we're hearing there richard tyson fighting talk today saying he's gunning for the conservatives and the red wall. he said they've completely failed and betrayed britain . and failed and betrayed britain. and then on the other hand we have ed davey looking to form a series of localised joined up by elections in places where the blue wall could be susceptible to that yellow vote . and of to that yellow vote. and of course, we saw in north shropshire just right near you, um, how effective of the lib dems are when they target and

they flood seats with activists in a campaign that's very, very targeted with all that in mind, sir bill, do you think the tories are going to be squeezed from both sides ? from both sides? >> well, i think the short answer is whenever you look at by elections, you have to also look at the turnout and it's normally around about 30, 35. >> so you can't put very much on it. >> and all the evidence is that every time there is a by—election i can hardly think of an occasion when it's actually gone. the other way. when into the general when you get into the general election itself, you actually end up with going back to the people who they originally voted for in the general election. >> on the whole. >> on the whole. >> do you think, though, sir bill had a point bill richard tice had a point today. bill richard tice had a point today . uh, he was talking about today. uh, he was talking about how tories completely how the tories have completely failed and betrayed britain. he accused sunak of bottling accused rishi sunak of bottling it over brexit it, and even cosying up to ursula von der euanne cosying up to ursula von der elianne and yet yesterday we had um, lee anderson saying reform aren't the answer, but reform , aren't the answer, but reform, certainly infighting talk. do

you think they'll be making an impact in conservative seats in the red wall? well they're talking about saving britain. >> i just mentioned the fact it's pretty obvious who delivered brexit. >> it was actually legislation in the house of commons. >> and you cannot make any changes in legislation . changes in legislation. >> you can't even have a referendum without an act of parliament. >> the bottom line is that in order to get the legislation through, you have to have a majority of all mps in the majority of all the mps in the house of commons. >> if you've got even perhaps 1 or it makes no difference at or 2, it makes no difference at all to the actual outcome. >> that's reality . we got >> so that's the reality. we got to face up to that and as for saving britain and punishing the tories, i think the worst punishment they can impose on the on the united kingdom is the idea of having a labour party, uh, under starmer, who are a bunch of complete euro fanatics and who will do almost anything they can to be able to unwind and reverse decisions that have been taken by the british people. and it's the referendum

which we got. we got it through the house of commons, and then we held it and we managed to get the right result , we held it and we managed to get the right result, and then we followed it with the legislation . with a massive general election endorsed in 2019. >> yeah. so bill, i mean, you would no doubt agree with richard tice when he says labour would be a starmageddon . would be a starmageddon. however, the fact remains an 80 seat majority in 2019 has now been frittered away and you guys have been in power for 13 years. >> it hasn't quite been frittered away. i mean, it's still quite a very large majority. >> and we see that vote after vote in the house of commons. but the reality is that there are issues that we have got to improve, no doubt about that . improve, no doubt about that. uh, there are things that are going on at the moment. we're having these negotiations on the, uh, rwanda bill. uh, but on the, uh, rwanda bill. uh, but on the boats itself. yes. we have brought down the number of people who come over recently, but there's got to be a lot of very much more determined effort that this bill can do if we make it work and we can make it work.

and we're in discussions at the moment, as you know, uh, with the government over the question of what amendments they will be prepared to consider. but on top of that, of course, the issue is one of numbers. and the more people see parties like reform putting pressure on them, then the more likely they are to convene around a policy which is actually going to make the rwanda bill really work and work effectively . effectively. >> okay, sir. bill cash, thank you very much for joining us >> okay, sir. bill cash, thank you very much forjoining us on you very much for joining us on gb news. always a pleasure. thank you, mate. now moving on. it's time for the great british giveaway and your chance to win treats tech and £10,000 in cool hard cash . and here's how you hard cash. and here's how you could start your new year with all of those prizes . all of those prizes. >> it's the final week to see how you could be the winner of the great british giveaway . your the great british giveaway. your chance to grab three amazing pnzes. chance to grab three amazing prizes . his chance to grab three amazing prizes. his first, there's £10,000 in tax free cash to spend however you like. what

would you spend that on next? you'll receive a brand new iphone 15 pro max and finally, we'll send you on a shopping spree with £500 worth of vouchers to spend in your favourite store. but hurry as lines close at 5 pm. on friday for another chance to win the iphone.the for another chance to win the iphone. the vouchers and £10,000 cash text gb win to 84 9002. text cost £2 plus one standard network rate message or post your name and number to gb zero one, po box 8690. derby de192, uk only entrants must be 18 or oven uk only entrants must be 18 or over. lines close at 5 pm. this friday. full terms and privacy nofice friday. full terms and privacy notice at gbnews.com. forward slash win. good luck . coming notice at gbnews.com. forward slash win. good luck. coming up. >> nigel farage has once again blast did the tories on immigration and now border force officials are expecting an increase in small boats crossings this year. i'm martin daubney on gb news. britain's

news channel .

sunday mornings from 930 on gb news earlier with eamonn and isabel. >> a junior doctors across england have begun the longest ever nhs strike, which is going to last six days, and the government have this on their side where they talk about budgets and they talk about figures and they look at you and they greedy , greedy, greedy. they say greedy, greedy, greedy. >> going keep striking >> we're going to keep striking until get a credible offer until we get a credible offer that we're able to put to our members . and our members accept

members. and our members accept it's story, it? it's one story, isn't it? >> luke 16 year old >> luke littler, 16 year old dutch i've never dutch prodigy. i've never seen so interest in a darts so much interest in a darts world final as tonight. he plays luke humphries. >> i've also introduced own >> i've also introduced his own kebab. he's called luke luke's special wrap. i think it is. >> imagine if we had storm cooper today . storm shepherd , cooper today. storm shepherd, we've got storm eamonn instead. >> storm storm. >> storm storm. >> a lot of rubbish . >> a lot of rubbish. >> a lot of rubbish. >> breakfast with eamonn and isabel. >> welcome back. it's almost 428. you're watching or listening to martin daubney on gb news. now, later this hour i'll bring you an absolutely superb interview with legendary darts referee russ bray . believe darts referee russ bray. believe me, you will not want to miss it. it was absolutely corking. but first, let's get to the latest on the migrant crisis . latest on the migrant crisis. and a day afterjames cleverly said he wanted to reduce the number of small boat arrivals to zero by the end of 2024, it's

emerged that channel migrant crossings are likely to once again increase this year. the number of arrivals last year fell to below 30,000, but border force officials have told the government they expect around 35,000 migrants to cross the channelin 35,000 migrants to cross the channel in 2024. in fact, it could be as high as 50,000 now. joining us now is former chief immigration officer kevin saunders. kevin always a pleasure to have you on the show and happy new year to you. so here we go again in the government are promising to stop the boats. it's going to be zero. say james cleverly, zero. they say james cleverly, doggedly sticking to his guns like king canute , determined to like king canute, determined to stop this tide . yet the actual stop this tide. yet the actual reality far different. they can't stop the boats, can they, kev? good afternoon. >> martin. um we will eventually stop the boats. um, i have no idea who in border force has been silly enough to say that there is expecting . between 35

there is expecting. between 35 and 50,000 people to come across , uh, this year, i mean, we've seen these silly numbers before. >> i mean, at one stage, i think a couple of years ago, um, faced as people were saying it was going to be 85,000. >> so you can't you can't base anything on these estimates. they're, they're just out. there's just no no substance to them . we saw the numbers go down them. we saw the numbers go down this year significantly , uh, this year significantly, uh, because the french are doing more and because the good old british weather was awful and, um, because the weather was so bad, people couldn't come across the channel. >> so . >> so. >> so. >> so, um, we've just got to wait and see what happens . it wait and see what happens. it a lot depends on on how effective the french are. and again, as i say, the weather. >> yeah. kev, um, although i thought it wasn't the weather, i

thought it wasn't the weather, i thought it was james cleverly. i digress. border force are basing these estimates , kevin, on the these estimates, kevin, on the fact that the number of migrants entering europe rose . 80% last entering europe rose. 80% last yean entering europe rose. 80% last year, and in italy alone, it jumped from 105,000 to 155,000. so they're basing their estimates on the fact that if we've seen a huge in surge into the european union countries, then it stands to reason that ultimately, throughout the course of this year, they will make their way to calais and then on to britain. seems reasonable. >> some some will try and come, come to calais. but we have now we have, uh , a much more we have, uh, a much more effective deterrent on the beachesin effective deterrent on the beaches in calais. and i know we like to knock the french a bit and, um, i, i'm one of the people that does , but they are people that does, but they are doing a much , much betterjob. doing a much, much betterjob. they are stopping a lot more boats coming , uh, leaving french boats coming, uh, leaving french waters . and what they're doing waters. and what they're doing is they're destroying the

vessels on the beach. so there isn't an endless supply of, um, rubber dinghies. we've already seen that the standard of the dinghies is getting really, really poor . so, dinghies is getting really, really poor. so, um, whereas a couple of years ago, they were a lot more, a lot more rigid. so so, um, there is that. but you can't border force can't say that there's going to be more people coming across just because there are more people in europe. um when i was working, we were we were we were being told that it was going to be 100,000 and it never was . so 100,000 and it never was. so i would take these figures with a bit of a pinch of salt. >> okay. thank you very much. we'll have to leave it there. kevin saunders, former chief immigration officer i admire your optimism. there's immigration officer i admire yourlotsmism. there's immigration officer i admire yourlots more. there's immigration officer i admire yourlots more to there's immigration officer i admire yourlots more to comehere's immigration officer i admire yourlots more to come on. 's immigration officer i admire yourlots more to come on. now, still lots more to come on. now, on between now and 5:00 on the show. but let's have your show. but first, let's have your latest headlines with polly latest news headlines with polly

middlehurst . martin >> thank you. the headlines this houn >> thank you. the headlines this hour, doctors have warned that medical professionals may vanish from the nhs unless pay is dramatically improved. six days of industrial action began this morning after talks between the government and the bma union broke down. some of those striking have warned that countries, including australia , countries, including australia, are targeting them with advertising in an attempt to attract disgruntled british doctors to jobs overseas as 300 flood warnings remain in place across england and thousands of homes remain without power after storm henk battered parts of the uk last night, the west midlands ambulance service has warned people to take extra care after people to take extra care after people had to be rescued from cars caught up in flood waters as parts of birmingham, leicester and northampton have been badly affected by flooding. travel plans have also been disrupted, with trains cancelled and roads closed because of

fallen trees , and a 15 year old fallen trees, and a 15 year old boy has been arrested on suspicion of murder following a stabbing in north london on new year's eve . a 16 year old harry year's eve. a 16 year old harry pitman died following what police say was an altercation as crowds gathered on primrose hill to watch new year's eve fireworks. posting on social media, his sister described him as a good boy and more young people are making the switch to non—alcoholic drinks. a study carried out by yougov found 44% of those aged between 18 and 24 consider themselves to be either occasional or regular drinkers of alcohol alternatives. that's up from 31% in 2022. it also found younger generations are now the most sober age group, with overall 39% preferring not to drink at all. those the latest news headlines. more on all those stories by heading to our website, gbnews.com .

our website, gbnews.com. thank you polly. >> now this time last year, rishi sunak unveiled, of course, his five pledges. the only one he's managed to achieve is to cut inflation in half . but there cut inflation in half. but there are now concerns that inflation could again due to could rise again due to conflicts in the middle east and israeli assassination of hamas leaders in beirut has led to fears that commercial shipping in the red sea will come under even heavier attacks from houthi rebels, and the key maritime route has been severely restricted since the iran backed militia started attacking ships in october. we'll here now to explain the situation to us. as gb news reporter charlie peters, who joins me in the studio . so, who joins me in the studio. so, charlie, before we get to what this could mean for british consumers, talk us consumers, can you talk us through flashpoints through the main flashpoints recently ? recently? >> well, spoke to >> well, when i spoke to economists morning for our economists this morning for our report inflationary report on these inflationary pressures for our website , the pressures for our website, the number of concerns in the middle

east has risen in the last east has only risen in the last 4 or 5 hours. right now, hezbollah leader hassan nasrallah is giving a speech televised live in beirut, and that comes after those israeli surgical drone strikes on salah al—arouri, the hamas deputy and head of its military wing in the west bank. uh, ismail haniyeh, the hamas leader in gaza, has vowed revenge . it's been vowed revenge. it's been condemned widely in the arab region, and the idf has yet to take responsibility for that. we've also seen a flare up in violence on the lebanese, israeli border. and just in the last 4 or 5 hours, a significant explosion in a city 820km south—east of tehran in the iranian capital, where well over 100 people have been killed, local governors there, describing it as a terrorist attack. no attributions have been made and then in response also to that surgical drone strike last night, the houthi rebels that militia in yemen have vowed revenge also , they

have vowed revenge also, they are part of the so—called axis of resistance as they describe themselves and their main effort in this war so far, particularly since the end of october, has been to launch and drone been to launch missile and drone attacks on commercial shipping in the red sea. and this is the real concern. iran, for many western powers . but of course, western powers. but of course, for us, britain in particular, because this has been one of rishi sunak key pledges, the only one that number 10 has really championed since he made them last january. is this halving inflation. this halving of inflation. this morning , the british retail morning, the british retail consortium said that prices were likely rise by the end of likely to rise by the end of this month as a consequence of the delay to shipping. and that's mostly happening at the barrel mandeb strait. a 30 kilometre wide strait between djibouti and yemen, where several attacks have occurred last night after that assassination of the hamas leader in beirut, assassination of the hamas leader in beirut , the houthi leader in beirut, the houthi rebels did fire two more rockets towards a malta flagged vessel in the strait. 1 in 5 vessels are avoiding that red sea

passage entirely at the moment, adding 5000 miles up to two weeks onto those journeys . this weeks onto those journeys. this is going to hit consumers by the end of the month, and there are also fears about the oil price that this is not also rising in line with the effect on supply. so serious concerns for consumers in the west and britain in particular at the moment, stands to reason 20% less supply means an increase in price, basic supply and demand. >> and we've seen historically the cessation of shipping of oil , the choking off of oil from countries like iran that always has a knock on effect. we've just got over the last lot with ukraine. we could be seeing increases in oil, gas and all of those costs for british motorists and consumers. this is what economists are warning this morning, in morning, particularly in conversations had, that the conversations i've had, that the current price does not accurately reflect the ongoing situation . situation. >> by the end of this month, we are anticipating rises. the international chamber on shipping has also issued concern and statements. this morning . a and statements. this morning. a lot of focus on that devastating

situation in the red sea. and fundamentally it's over two weeks now since the un, the us launched its operation prosperity guardian, that maritime operation to defend commercial shipping against these rebels. there are no ragtag militia there. iran backed these houthis. they are able to launch significant effects onto commercial and military shipping. they're taking on some of the most powerful navies in the world, and they're not even at their fully fledged potential. they could launch drone swarm attacks onto shipping and overwhelm those defences . let's not those defences. let's not forget, also, they're launching $20,000 drones, which are being shot down by $2 million missiles. if they send many more eventually those defences could be breached . be breached. >> charlie peter is an excellent summary as we'd expect from you. thank you very much for joining us the studio. now what would us in the studio. now what would you have done with half £1 million when you were 16? well, that's something that dance sensation luke little have that's something that dance se decide luke little have that's something that dance se decide ikae little have that's something that dance se decide if he little have that's something that dance se decide if he wins�* have that's something that dance se decide if he wins tonight'se to decide if he wins tonight's world darts championship final.

i'm martin daubney on gb news, britain's news channel obe

monday to thursdays from six till 930 2020. >> for a battleground year. >> for a battleground year. >> the year the nation decides as the parties gear up their campaigns for the next general election, who will be left standing when the british people make one of the biggest decisions of their lives? >> who will rise and who will fall? >> let's find out together. >> let's find out together. >> for every moment, the highs , >> for every moment, the highs, the lows, the twists and turns , the lows, the twists and turns, we'll be with you for every step

of this journey. >> in 2024. >> in 2024. >> gb news is britain's election . channel. >> welcome back. it's 443. you're watching or listening to martin daubney on gb news. now 5:00 as ed davey pledges to remove the tories from power , remove the tories from power, i'll ask if the lib dems and reform uk will torpedo the conservatives chances of winning the election by getting them in a pincer movement. but counting down the minutes now, because in just a few hours time, six year old luke littler will try to complete one of the greatest fairy tales in sporting history. young little will take on luke coolhand humphries and the final of the pdc world darts championship. so what do we know about luke littler ? well, he about luke littler? well, he started playing darts when he was just 18 months old and

that's what maturity is, is fantastic. >> and i mean he's he's trying to get in early. >> we'll come to him in a minute. russ bray but before we get to that, luke littler's parents first took him to pubs to play darts when he was an eight year old who said, you can't start too soon and littler is going to be a very rich 16 year old lad. he's already guaranteed to win 200 grand by getting to the final, and he'll pick up a cool half a million spondulicks if he wins tonight . spondulicks if he wins tonight. but what's the secret to his success? well, it turns out ham and cheese omelettes and kebabs. apparently and he's had a kebab named after him. locally, it's called the luke the nuke special. and here we go. russ bray is known as the voice of darts. we're going to speak to him shortly , but we also spoke him shortly, but we also spoke to russ bray earlier. the voice of darts, a man many of you will just associate with darts for

more than one reason. as you find out when you hear him speak, he'll be the referee tonight. it's his last match before he retires . before he retires. >> maturity is fantastic, you know. i mean, he's , uh, the way know. i mean, he's, uh, the way he plays the game, his mindset . he plays the game, his mindset. um, it's fantastic. it's so lovely to watch the breath of fresh air and, uh, you know, he's he's the future of darts. obviously. you know, you had michael van gogh in the 17 in 9 darts and things like that. you know, this kid's a year younger , know, this kid's a year younger, um, doing every bit the same. it's fantastic for the sport. >> and you know what, russ? people have been taking the mickey a bit because he's been called the tiger woods of darts. but i reckon there's a fair comparison there. like he started five. and started when he was five. and he's endlessly practised he's just endlessly practised repetition, and repetition, repetition and repetition, repetition and repetition, chasing excellence. and it takes thousands and thousands and thousands of man hours to get to this standard of darts is exactly that. >> martin, you've hit the nail

on the head. you know i'm in the previous, um, interview that i've done. you know, you get freaks within the sport and i mean freaks in the loveliest way and the nicest possible way. guys that totally excel , you guys that totally excel, you know? um, yeah . tiger woods is know? um, yeah. tiger woods is the obvious example . my mike the obvious example. my mike tyson in his day when he was just a young kid, you know , just a young kid, you know, taking everybody out and now you've got luke littler, you know, he's taking on the world and now in the world final and he's now in the world final to take the world one. to take on the world number one. you you dismiss luke you know, you can't dismiss luke humphries because, uh, believe you luke. luke humphries is you me, luke. luke humphries is going to be more than up for luke littler. >> let you go without >> i can't let you go without giving 180 and maybe giving us a quick 180 and maybe a go on. a 40 to go on. >> um, well, you might need to turn the mic down because that's what generally happens when nana are an 80. >> there a 40, mate. >> brilliant . >> brilliant. >> brilliant. >> 40. >> 40. >> so that's the one i like 40. and what about what about when somebody when somebody hits a

double and they get out? >> go game. >> go game. >> yes. game show and match. uh . >> yes. game show and match. uh. now i got to say, i've interviewed world leaders, i've interviewed world leaders, i've interviewed world leaders, i've interviewed world champions, i've interviewed rock and roll stars . stars. >> russ bray highlighted my career . >> russ bray highlighted my career. certainly the best day of my life this year. i know it's only the 3rd of january, but what an absolute legend. that voice. it's pure treacle. it's that 20 day cockney sort of barrier tone. absolutely brilliant. the voice of darts, his last major match at tournament level tonight. and what a final. what an out throw russ bray is going to have . russ bray is going to have. whoever wins tonight. they're going to be called luke and they're going to be english and they're going to be english and they're be let's they're going to be mega. let's cross reporter ray cross now to our reporter ray addison who's at the scene of it all. alley paddy ray darts fans licking their lips at the prospect of this epic challenge on paper, it's got everything a 16 year old kid versus as the

world number one, they're both english. what a night of darts we have coming ahead. ray addison . yeah, we're just hours addison. yeah, we're just hours away from the start of this epic clash. a really surprising moment in sporting history as well. 61 year old into the final for the very first time here at ali harbi ali in north london. and there's 10,000 people that will be filling this arena later on tonight in just a matter of hours. >> however , i've caught up with >> however, i've caught up with two very keen darts fans . two very keen darts fans. they're actually right at the front of the queue. >> michael here from dorset and yalta from germany. thanks for joining me, guys who are you supporting tonight? well, it's going to be very tight if , uh, going to be very tight if, uh, littler can hold his nerve, he could do it . littler can hold his nerve, he could do it. but littler can hold his nerve, he could do it . but the other guy, could do it. but the other guy, luke , is unbelievable. luke, is unbelievable. >> so humphries for you? >> so humphries for you? >> yeah. he's number one in the world now. he is. he's a nice man . and what about you, yalta? man. and what about you, yalta? you're after a littler.

>> yes. i support luke littler because i think just the story is amazing. i mean, 16 years of age, you said it. um, he is so cool. >> just when he looks at the at the stands and just throws the darts into the board and is just like, he's never done anything else but be on the biggest stage and just win, win, win. >> it's amazing. >> it's amazing. >> so many people attracted to darts for the very first time because of this young man . uh, because of this young man. uh, what yourselves? are you what about yourselves? are you long darts fans? long time darts fans? >> i'm useless at darts. >> no. i'm useless at darts. i can't. no, no , i just like can't. no, no, i just like watching it, though. it's very good. but first here at good. but first time here at ally pally or second time i came last year watch it, and it last year to watch it, and it was, nice an was, um, nice to see an englishman win it last year. and what about you, yalta? have you travelled from germany for this, or based in the uk? or are you based in the uk? >> we travel from germany >> yes, we travel from germany and stayed in pool with my and we stayed in pool with my friend mike for a few days and, um, i was here last year as well. >> so michael smith win the whole thing. it was great. um, best leg in darts history. of

course. that was an amazing evening event. um yeah. and, um , evening event. um yeah. and, um, actually, i'm a darts fan for the last three years, and watched the world cup all the time. and personally, my favourite player is , uh, michael favourite player is, uh, michael smith . smith. >> so would you ever have seen or predicted the littler could have made it this far? >> no, because i never heard of him before. >> but he's been amazing. he's really been incredible. so cool and so calm. >> um , never fazed. >> um, never fazed. >> um, never fazed. >> and again , he's playing >> and again, he's playing against pros who've been in the game for 30, 40 years. and he's wiped them all out. but i think it's going to be a tougher game tonight . but it's going to be a tougher game tonight. but we'll see. you can't predict. well, as you say there's banners for all the famous players here. >> all the way down this avenue here as fans come in, none of them, uh, show the face of luke littler because he was just an outside chance. >> nobody ever expected him to be this far. >> yeah , um, but i think in a >> yeah, um, but i think in a few years we will see a banner

with his face on it. um, i think he has a great way in front of him. and i think he will be there for the next maybe 50 years. even for him to come. um, if he has the nerve to just stay cool, stay on ground , and then cool, stay on ground, and then he'll do it. >> now i have to say, you get top marks for being first in the queue, but darts fans are known for their outfits, and you guys may be letting the side down a little bit. >> no bananas, no christmas presents. >> what's going on? >> what's going on? >> well, we're just simple laid back guys . we don't want to back guys. we don't want to dress up and be fancy now. we're just normal guys. what about yourself? actually uh, there will be a big, uh, colourful hat and. >> and i hope it's going to be seen on stage. >> okay, well, that's something to look forward to. uh, michael yalta, thanks so much for joining us. >> now, of course. no problem. now, of course, uh, the founder of the, um, saint helens darts academy, is a member of,

academy, which is a member of, has been speaking out and he's saying that this is no overnight success story. he joined when he was nine. at that point, he was already so good that he had to play already so good that he had to play with the under 14. >> within three months, he was playing for elite team. playing for the elite team. >> uh, that's the level >> um, and uh, that's the level of quality we're hoping to of quality that we're hoping to see tonight. >> ray allison well , set up and >> ray allison well, set up and look, isn't it great to see a fella coming all the way from germany supporting a lad from warrington said sports can't warrington who said sports can't bnng warrington who said sports can't bring people together ? ray bring people together? ray allison, magnificent stuff. although i think i'd love to get a quick glimpse of that german fella's hat. i'm suspecting it might be germanic with horns on ray. i'm getting away ray. i'm getting carried away now. what clash we have. now. what an epic clash we have. ray allison, thank you for joining us from adi pally. do you know what it feels to me like? like like a world cup final football ? like? like like a world cup final football? i'm like? like like a world cup final football ? i'm really, final of football? i'm really, genuinely . this kid's genuinely excited. this kid's come nowhere. 16 year old. come from nowhere. 16 year old. apparently, he endlessly practised during lockdown . practised during lockdown. dufing practised during lockdown. during all of those empty hours, he filled it with endlessly practising up and down, wearing

a hole in the carpet up to the rac . and there's a lot of talk rac. and there's a lot of talk about their various fitness regimes because luke littler magic bit of the abracadabra though he likes a takeaway , he's though he likes a takeaway, he's a big lad. luke coolhand humphreys, his opponent, famously lost four stones. he treats darts like an athlete, he says. treats darts like an athlete, he says . losing weight, increasing says. losing weight, increasing his fitness on an exercise bike, lifting weights . it's a lot of lifting weights. it's a lot of people having a laugh about that, you know? darts isn't even a sport. this fella treats it like an absolute sport. it's going to be clash of two going to be a clash of two styles, of a world styles, a clash of a world number one against an insurgent newcomer who's him on newcomer who's taken him on before . i cannot wait, as you before. i cannot wait, as you can probably tell, i'm massively, massively overexcited by this . but up for up for by this. but up for up for grabs. can you imagine getting half £1 million when you're 16? half £1 million when you're16? that's a lot of kebabs . that's that's a lot of kebabs. that's a lot of pizza. and this kid will just go into the sporting annals of all time. people laugh about the fact he's been he's being called the tiger woods of darts .

called the tiger woods of darts. it's not a laughing matter. he has practised so much. he i think, deserves this. what a story it will be now. reform uk leader richard tice has fired the starting gun to the next general election. we'll have the full update on that after this. i'm martin daubney on gb news, britain's news channel >> a brighter outlook with boxt solar sponsors of weather on gb news is . news is. >> hello again . it's aidan >> hello again. it's aidan mcgivern here from the met office, with the gb news forecast blustery showers will continue for most of us during the rest of the day. some brighter spells and it will turn dner brighter spells and it will turn drier in the south towards the end of the day. but for the time being, we've got low pressure in charge, if the main storm, charge, even if the main storm, henk, moved off the scene henk, has moved off the scene around this low, got around this low, we've got various fronts bringing various occluded fronts bringing some spells of rain , but some longer spells of rain, but in general it's blustery showers as into the evening. as we head into the evening. some clear spells emerging, particularly towards the

southwest and by midnight, certainly some drier weather pushing into southern parts of more persistent rain lingering across the northeast of scotland. shetland staying cold with some snow and frost here a little bit. touch of frost further south under those clear skies. so a chilly start here, but that's where the brightest weather will be first thing thursday . now that doesn't last thursday. now that doesn't last long because it will turn cloudier mid—morning and cloudier from mid—morning and outbreaks increasingly heavy outbreaks of increasingly heavy and persistent rain will spread into southern coastal counties through the day. that could cause some issues, given the saturated ground at the moment . saturated ground at the moment. but further we've got the but further north, we've got the sunshine remaining across north wales north midlands, east wales, north midlands, east anglia , showers for scotland and anglia, showers for scotland and northern ireland, northern england as well and friday again is a showery day. the worst of the showers will be across eastern and western coasts. in between some sunny spells and as we go into the weekend, high pressure builds. that means dnen pressure builds. that means drier, but it also means colder, with temperatures falling away that warm feeling inside from

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gb news. >> i'm over here. i'm martin daubney. welcome to the show. it's 5:00. we had a bit of a camera issue there. i'm keeping you company for the next hour.

this is the martin daubney show. we got a cracking hour up we got a cracking hour coming up top only we can save top story only we can save britain. that's the words of richard tice reform uk richard tice as reform uk launched their general election campaign today, saying the conservatives have completely and utterly failed and betrayed britain . the labour party will britain. the labour party will be worse, he says. it would be starmageddon . the big question starmageddon. the big question is can the small party make a big breakthrough? next story there's another trans round , there's another trans round, more trans madness, this time the un women's network has made a biological man their uk women's champion. it beggars belief . and as you'd imagine, belief. and as you'd imagine, women's charities and organisations are not happy about it. we'll speak to the leader of one of them next story, electric shock. today is the date when a compulsory zero emission vehicles mandate kicks in. in britain , meaning in. in britain, meaning manufacturers will have to make 22% of their vehicles electric

vehicles. but with a 17% slump in demand for electric vehicles and punters still favouring petrol and diesel, has this been a nudge too far? we'll speak to the president of the aa for his take on this and we're just hours away now from luke littler's big night. the 16 year old kid loving dance sensation taking on the world number one, luke , take on the world number luke, take on the world number one. who's going to win? what we do know is that the champion will be called luke , and the will be called luke, and the champion will be english. and we've got a fantastic interview with russ bray , the voice of with russ bray, the voice of darts , the gravelly cockney darts, the gravelly cockney legend. tonight's also his final swansong. you will not want to miss that. that's all coming up in the next hour . so let us know in the next hour. so let us know if you think that you're going

to vote for reform. it was fighting talk today from richard tice saying the tories have betrayed britain , even cosying betrayed britain, even cosying up to a sort of von der leyen in brussels. what richard tice accused rishi sunak of starmageddon is the alternative. but can they make a breakthrough ? or, as lee anderson said yesterday, in this very studio are reform not the answer? you let me know what you think about that. vaiews@gbnews.com. tons coming up in this final hour. first, here's your latest news headunes first, here's your latest news headlines with polly middlehurst i >> -- >> martin thank you. in the top story this hour, another yellow weather warning for heavy rain is on its way for tomorrow after storm henke battled parts of the uk last night, the west midlands ambulance service warned people today to take extra care after several people had to be rescued from cars caught in flood waters as parts of birmingham, leicester and northampton are already flooded . a family was

already flooded. a family was left terrified more than 400ft in the air while riding the london eye when strong winds pred london eye when strong winds ripped the hatch off their pod. meanwhile a 50 year old man was killed when a tree fell on his car while driving in gloucestershire. and now there's more rain on the way, with people warned to expect more travel disruption tomorrow . travel disruption tomorrow. doctors have warned that medical professionals may vanish from the nhs unless pay is dramatically improved . six days dramatically improved. six days of industrial action began this morning after talks between the government and the bma union broke down. some of those striking have warned that countries, including australia, are targeting them with advertising in an attempt to attract british doctors to do jobs overseas. junior doctors want a 35% pay rise, which they say would restore their real earnings to levels seen in 2008. the government says that's unaffordable, but insists the door does remain open for further negotiations . a murder further negotiations. a murder investigation has been launched after the body of a 32 year old

woman was found at a home in london overnight. a man has been arrested after handing himself into police, claiming he'd harmed a woman in lewisham . and harmed a woman in lewisham. and a 15 year old boy has been arrested on suspicion of murder following a stabbing in north london on new year's eve. six year old harry pitman died following what police say was an altercation in as crowds gathered to watch new year's eve fireworks, posting on social media today, his sister described him as a good boy with a heart of gold , a convicted a heart of gold, a convicted killer who refused to reveal where he'd hidden the body of his victim, has died in jail while serving a life sentence . while serving a life sentence. scott walker was jailed for 20 in for 2021 the murder of 17 year old bernadette walker. it's understood she referred to him as her father, although they weren't related, she was murdered in 2020 after accusing the 53 year old of sexually abusing her over a number of years. walker died in prison in december without ever revealing the location of bernadette's body. a spokesperson for the

prison service said their thoughts are with the families of the victim . two explosions of the victim. two explosions have ripped through a memorial ceremony in iran , killing more ceremony in iran, killing more than 100, iranian state television showed footage of crowds running as ambulances rushed to the scene and officials described it as a terrorist attack. people had gathered to commemorate the death of a senior commander four years ago. so far , no one has years ago. so far, no one has claimed responsibility . here claimed responsibility. here more young people are making the switch to non—alcoholic drinks. a study carried out by yougov found 44% of those aged . 18 to found 44% of those aged. 18 to 24 consider themselves to be either occasional or regular drinkers of alcohol alternatives. that's up from 31% in 2022. it also found younger generations are now the most sober age group overall, with 39% preferring not to drink at all. it's after a survey in november found 1 in 10 british drinkers feel they have an unhealthy relationship with

alcohol , and the princess royal alcohol, and the princess royal is to make an official visit to sri lanka next week, marking 75 years of british diplomacy . years of british diplomacy. princess anne will be joined by her husband, vice—admiral sir timothy laurence, on a three day visit that comes as the king and queen are expected to journey to canada may, followed by canada in may, followed by australia, new zealand and samoa later on in the year. eurostar has been given a warning by the advertising watchdog after promoting special fares that were only available to a few people. the train company ianed people. the train company invited customers to soak up every second of summer with the european getaway for £39, but the advertising standards authority found only a very small portion of seats available at that price, described the promotion therefore as misleading . eurostar says it misleading. eurostar says it takes complaints seriously and it won't happen again . that's it won't happen again. that's the news on gb news across the uk on tv, in your car and on your smart speaker. this is britain's news channel .

britain's news channel. >> thank you polly. now we start with some very strong words from reform uk leader richard tice. he's fired the starting gun on the election campaign by claiming his party is the only way to save britain . tice says way to save britain. tice says the conservatives and labour are two forms of social ism. well, tice, earlier on today was speaking to our political editor , christopher hope. and christopher joins me now. chris, christopherjoins me now. chris, good afternoon once again, tice was surely coming out guns blazing , accusing the tories of blazing, accusing the tories of completely failing and betraying britain. but under labour, he claims it'd be worse. starmageddon he says, will be a cocktail of incompetence that will bankrupt britain . but the will bankrupt britain. but the big question, chris, is can a small party make that big breakthrough in our first past the post system . the post system. >> the answer to that is normally and historically, no , normally and historically, no, they can't make the breakthrough. the parties at ten

points in the polls, the same level as liberal democrats, lib dems have a baker's dozen of mps representing their party across the country. um the reform has zero mps and that's the problem they've got is how do they break out from being doing well in the polls but not doing well in parliament? it was a frustration felt by ukip back in 2015 when they when nigel farage's party won millions of votes and was left with a single mp. now now richard tice is saying that the party there is the party of the working class and is making very clear who is going after. earlier, i spoke to him and to ben habib , who is a party deputy ben habib, who is a party deputy leader and also the candidate in the forthcoming wellingborough by—election. it's the only way actually to save britain . actually to save britain. >> that is the truth. the crisis facing the country is so serious . the main two parties are to forms of socialism , high taxes, forms of socialism, high taxes, wasteful government spending, dafta, irregular means the government has betrayed people , government has betrayed people, mass immigration, a huge

betrayal by the tories and labour want more of and we are now the only party on of the working class of tens of millions of people who feel complete , abandoned and let complete, abandoned and let down. and we're the only party that will get rid of the job destroying deal damaging, net zero policies. people talk about nigel and reform uk , the better. nigel and reform uk, the better. it does our for job nigel and reform uk, the better. it does our forjob us of it does our for job us of raising brand awareness because we're a relatively new brand . we're a relatively new brand. but as more people hear about us, they say, who's this slot? and they like what they hear. they look at our policies and say, oh, thank god, someone's talking sense. vote talking common sense. i'll vote for guys . so that's great. for those guys. so that's great. and clear . the more and i'm very clear. the more help nigel can give , the better. help nigel can give, the better. but some important but he's got some important decisions make and a good decisions to make and a good poker player always keeps their cards close to the chest until the perfect moment. >> you're party's deputy >> you're the party's deputy leader. standing the leader. you're standing for the party in the in the in the likely shortly to be announced wellingborough by—election. you were ukip the comparable were you ukip the comparable election of 2015 was second. can

you win it ? you win it? >> well, i think there's every chance winning very chance of winning it. very different environment to 2015. i think still hope think there was still some hope that governing class this that the governing class of this country the country would deliver the country would deliver the country to prosperity. we've country to prosperity. but we've seen , you know, richard's seen, you know, richard's described starmageddon, we've actually sunak ageddon actually had sunak ageddon haven't we? he's taken the country . we've already country. we've already experienced it. he's taken the country to the economic brink. he's to cultural he's taken it to the cultural brink. taking it to the brink. he's taking it to the political constitutional political and constitutional brink. floated off northern brink. he's floated off northern ireland without so much as a, you know, off you go with our blessing. no, this man is awful. starmer is equally bad . if you starmer is equally bad. if you want to change the way this country is governed , you have to country is governed, you have to vote for it . how? and we will. vote for it. how? and we will. we will get the. so to answer your question, what we need to do, what i need to do is to is to get the tory voters out there are 32,000 tory voters voted for peter bone in the last election, 13,000 for labour. i suspect labour will get slightly less . labour will get slightly less. all i need to do my single challenge is to convince those

tories and those labour voters who are small c conservative, of which there are many to come out, engage with us, recognise what our policies are and if they're sick of these two, which they're sick of these two, which they should be. and i'm sure they should be. and i'm sure they are, vote for us. >> a very energised there. ben habib, the deputy leader of the reform party. lots of questions at the press conference, martin, about nigel farage. of course, our colleague from gb news and also the honorary president of reform, he has got a big following now, particularly post the jungle i'm a celebrity get me out of here. i have it on good authority from sources in in reform uk that he's unlikely to declare his hand on his plans until much nearer to the election. maybe as little as two months out from polling day. more likely standing for an more likely than standing for an mp at this stage is for him to have a role in in running the campaign, using his expertise over previous elections try over previous elections to try and those elusive mps for and find those elusive mps for the party and get their the reform party and get their foot on our democratic ladder.

okay chris. >> okay. thank you. excellent analysis and one thing's for sure, the gloves are off. we are away . the general election has away. the general election has now began in earnest. and of course, if nigel farage declares, then surely reform will see their popularity. zoom. but of course, reform uk aren't the only party who have kicked off their 2024 campaign today because the liberal democrats have also been out and about. sir ed davey was in guildford in surrey this morning and as you'd expect from the lib dem leader, he turned up with a prop. this time he was driving a van with the slogan tory removal . and the slogan tory removal. and interestingly, david davey hasn't ruled out forming a coalition with labour focussed on general election . on general election. >> i announced today that we think the general election should be on may the 2nd, and it couldn't come soon enough. we'll be tabling a bill in parliament next week , which would give mps next week, which would give mps the chance to call the general election rather than rishi sunak running away and hiding away . running away and hiding away. let's have that general election now, people need that change.

people are fed up of waiting and i'm really, really pleased and proud that the liberal democrats are ready for that election whenever it comes. >> yes, coalition with laboun >> i'm focussed on the general election . there are many, many election. there are many, many conservative mps that liberal democrats can defeat across the whole of the south of england, parts of london, parts of manchester, parts yorkshire, manchester, parts of yorkshire, in scotland, in wales, liberal democrats are really on the march. we've shown our march. we've shown with our historic by—election victories and amazing local election and our amazing local election results the country, that results across the country, that we now a mazing campaigning we are now a mazing campaigning force in british politics. and i think when the election comes, we will be the surprise of the election as well. >> ed davey thinks it's time for rishi sunak and i'm joined now by the former leader of the liberal democrats, sir vince cable. always pleasure to see cable. always a pleasure to see you, some thing you, sir. vince. some thing really interesting seems to be happening here. so, vince, we know the liberal democrats fight formidable by elections. they swamp seats with activists with literature, with their energy ,

literature, with their energy, with their money. and it seems to be something similar might be emerging here on a more joined up scale. the liberal democrats targeting specifically some tory big guns. jeremy hunt, michael gove. is that what we're looking like now? do you think a more focussed, a more laser targeted campaign to try and knock some big beasts out of power and make big beasts out of power and make big lib dems? well big gains for the lib dems? well i don't think it's targeted specifically at individuals, but we are concentrating our resources and we have to, as chris hope explained, the system works very badly against small insurgent parties. >> the problem the reform party are going to have to . so we're are going to have to. so we're deaung are going to have to. so we're dealing with the situation by concentrating on manpower and our funding on seats where we think we're most likely to win . think we're most likely to win. and those are almost all conservative, facing quite a few of them in three. um, it just happens to be an area where, um, jeremy hunt is a member of parliament, but also michael

gove. parliament, but also michael gove . uh, and it certainly would gove. uh, and it certainly would be symbolically important if we defeated them. but the emphasis is on targeting, concentrating our resources is make sure that we get a very substantial body of mps in the next parliament. hopefully we'll be able to change the voting system, which would benefit not just ourselves, but the reform party and other smaller parties . um, and other smaller parties. um, and other smaller parties. um, andindeed and other smaller parties. um, and indeed , um, contribute and indeed, um, contribute towards changing the government because that's another area where we have common ground . where we have common ground. >> and sir vince, a lot of people would think that that's canny politics. now that is strategic, targeted , resourced strategic, targeted, resourced and rather than spreading the margarine fine everywhere, too thin as it were , dedicating thin as it were, dedicating serious oomph into seats where you can actually win rather than getting watered down by coalition with the labour party . coalition with the labour party. this is going to be a nightmare for the conservative in those shire seats. alongside a more targeted approach , perhaps from targeted approach, perhaps from the reform party in the red wall, this pincer movement could

be terrible for rishi sunak. >> well , we be terrible for rishi sunak. >> well, we can't speak for the reform party . we don't have a reform party. we don't have a great deal in common with them other than we want rid of the government. we want changing the voting system. but yes, indeed, there a effectively a pincer there is a effectively a pincer movement. and i think it will certainly aggravate the problems the conservatives are going to have in the next election that if they lose 10 to 20% of their vote in in key marginals across the country , um, it will the country, um, it will exacerbate it. the big switch thatis exacerbate it. the big switch that is almost certainly going to occur in the next general election. >> and vince, we know, of course, that the conservatives are vulnerable on topics such as immigration often, such as net zero, the cost of living in red wall seats, what specific issues are you going to be targeting the kind of blue wall conservatives on? >> well, we've highlighted the cost of living crisis, which of course affects everybody. um, and the nhs is a massive issue waiting lists, but also

something we've specifically campaigned on, which is the way the water companies have been allowed to get away with substantial sewage discharges into rivers and the appalling environmental disaster and lax regulation of big monopoly utilities. so those are the three themes that we've highlighted . highlighted. >> and how effective do you think this will be? i mean, i mean, you're you say you're not going for specific seats, but come on, you must admit, you know, it's quite mouth watering. the prospect of defeating jeremy hunt , the prospect of defeating jeremy hunt, defeating michael gove. what we might call a portillo moment. and you have the target of resource when you fight by elections. we know you can be impactful. so come on, you are going for some of those big beasts, aren't you ? beasts, aren't you? >> well, if they were defeated that would be a bonus. but the focus in that particular part of, um, the south west suburbs of, um, the south west suburbs of london, effectively places like esher and guildford, don't necessarily have high profile mps at the moment.

necessarily have high profile mps at the moment . and dominic mps at the moment. and dominic raab, i know, is standing down in evesham and those are our top target. but if we can make serious south—west serious inroads into south—west surrey, which is jeremy hunt's seat and even more into surrey heath, which is michael gove's, well, that would be great, but well, that would be great, but we will do well all over the country. and as ed davey pointed out, i mean, this isn't just in, uh, the, you know, bits of south—west london and the further suburbs, but also in manchester, yorkshire , where we manchester, yorkshire, where we have target seats there too. >> and we've seen in by elections, um, very effective in chesham and amersham , in chesham and amersham, in tiverton, of course, in somerton and in north shropshire as a seati and in north shropshire as a seat i stood in the lib dems were extremely focussed. when you pile in and get suckered , you pile in and get suckered, you pile in and get suckered, you think there's any such thing now , sir vince, as a safe seat now, sir vince, as a safe seat for the conservatives >> uh, no. i think the era safe seats has gone. i mean, in a way i demonstrated that myself in 2015, where i lost a safe seat

but then won it back again. uh, there there have been enormous swings and i think when you get a mood in the country that we need to have a change of government, i is government, which i think is very much the at the very much the mood at the moment. 1997 was the same . you moment. 1997 was the same. you get these very big swings. um, you know, michael portillo was a high profile casualty . they will high profile casualty. they will be others next time . but that's be others next time. but that's the nature. i think that's the mood in the country at the moment that they do want to change. they are fed up with the government and there are lot government and there are a lot of are just of issues which are just not being tackled. notably the nhs and the cost living crisis. and the cost of living crisis. superb >> sir vince cable, former leader of the lib dems and still an active participant. i know in that party. thank you so much for us. excellent stuff. forjoining us. excellent stuff. and think this this and i actually think this this is trouble for the is a big trouble for the conservatives if those shire seats are going to be targeted by going for net zero, by lib dems going for net zero, they don't care about immigration those seats more immigration and those seats more affluent, liberal, more affluent, more liberal, more metropolitan. need to metropolitan. they won't need to worry the issues of the worry about the issues of the red meanwhile tice and co

red wall. meanwhile tice and co are hard on immigration. are going hard on immigration. on net zero, you have two fangs coming into the tories. i think it's going to be a fascinating pincer movement, great pincer movement, a great election for it to election. can't wait for it to get going . now you can start get going. now you can start your year with £10,000 in your new year with £10,000 in cash, a £500 shopping spree and a brand new iphone. sounds pucker, doesn't it? well, here's how you could make all of those pnzes how you could make all of those prizes yours while there's still time to become the winner of our great british giveaway and take home nearly £12,000 of top prizes, there's cash to be won, £10,000 in tax free cash that you could use to make 2024 the best year yet. >> what would you do with it? there's also a shopping spree on us with £500 in vouchers to spend at the store of your choice. what's on your shopping list? if it's a new phone, we've got that covered too, with a brand new iphone 15 pro max. but hurry as lines close at 5 pm. on friday for another chance to win the iphone, the vouchers and £10,000 cash text gb win to 84

9002. text cost £2 plus one standard network rate message or post your name and number to gb zero one, po box 8000 690. derby d e192, uk only entrants must be 18 or over. line close at 5 pm. this friday. full terms and privacy notice at gb news.com . privacy notice at gb news.com. forward slash win good luck . forward slash win good luck. >> now the united nations uk champion for women has been chosen and guess what? she is a biological male. she is a he. and as you'd expect, women's rights group are not remotely happy about this. i'm martin this news

that i knew had dewbs& co week nights from six. >> welcome back. it's 525. i'm martin daubney on gb news now. the united nations has been criticised after it named a transgender woman as its uk champion for women . model and champion for women. model and broadcaster munro bergdorf has got the job and women's rights groups have written to the un to say they are dismayed and disappointed with the decision . disappointed with the decision. and who can blame them? and join me now is fiona mackinnon. she's the sports lead at fair play for women. thanks for joining the sports lead at fair play for women. thanks forjoining us, fiona. quite simply, what planet are the un on? >> well, that is the question. and we should bear in mind this

is un women uk who have said that their mission is to ensure safe choice and a voice for all women. >> now, what kind of message is it to say that the best voice to speak for women is actually man? >> i think that's a terrible message to give to women and girls in the uk. >> and not only a man, but one with a very controversial past who's kicked off about white supremacy . he was kicked of supremacy. he was kicked out of jobs as a consequence of it. so all things considered, not not a woman, a biological male , and woman, a biological male, and also not particularly pleasant. one by the sounds of it. what about getting an actual real woman into this job who actually sticks up for real women's rights? >> well, and it's worse than that because bergdorf has told women not to talk about female things. you know, he specifically said, i don't want to hear about female bodies. well, the basis of the need to have a champion of women is that we all know who's male and female, and we suffer the consequences. it's a really consequences. so it's a really bizarre choice , i should say, as

bizarre choice, i should say, as well. it's not just well. martin, it's not just women's who are concerned women's groups who are concerned about know, lgb about this. you know, lgb alliance are concerned, um, alliance are also concerned, um, people who represent gay rights and also children and child safeguarding. remember that um, bergdorf was let go or made to resign from being an ambassador for childline because of safeguarding failures . so there safeguarding failures. so there isn't a single man, i think, who would be a good a good choice to represent women. but this particular one is particularly unsuitable . unsuitable. >> okay, superb. >> okay, superb. >> fiona mckenna , um, the sports >> fiona mckenna, um, the sports lead at fair play for when we're going to have to leave it there purely because of time speaking common should common sense. i mean, it should not form of man who not be any form of man who represents women . let women do represents women. let women do it. they fought for decades for those rights. let women have a voice and men get out of it. moving the longest strike in moving on. the longest strike in nhs history began today. moving on. the longest strike in nhs history began today . junior nhs history began today. junior doctors started a six day walkout at 7 am. this morning, and joining me now is nhs, gp, gp david lloyd. thank you for joining us, david. um, quite

simply, 35% is the pay demand . simply, 35% is the pay demand. 7 million on the nhs waiting list, a further 170,000 operations have to be cancelled because of these strikes . how can that these strikes. how can that possibly be justified ? possibly be justified? >> well , it's possibly be justified? >> well, it's a complicated equafion >> well, it's a complicated equation and i think everybody in the entire country are facing these problems. >> i think from your point of view and your channel, you might be interested in, you know, gb plc, which is how competitive this country should be in the world. and i think one of the big advantages we have in this country is that we have a, a free health service and that health service is under threat because we're not paying the doctors what they should be paid. so they will leave this country and go to another one. we will have a decimated health service, which will then be privatised by this government , privatised by this government, and we'll end up like the usa, where they're the largest cause of bankruptcy are health care costs. so we need to pay doctors what they what they need and

what they what they need and what they what they need and what they deserve . after all what they deserve. after all that training they've done and all those a—levels they've accumulated we want them accumulated, we don't want them to private sector to go into the private sector and bankers and hedge and become bankers and hedge fund managers. they to fund managers. they need to be staying on what they do, staying on doing what they do, which do the that which is to do the things that patients need to save their lives. >> but david, um, many nhs patients are being forced into the private sector. we saw a tragic story this week of a man who couldn't even afford a £65 cancer biopsy, and he died of skin cancer because he couldn't get an nhs appointment. and isn't the point? we an isn't that the point? we have an nhs which isn't fit for practice . it's broken lists . and . it's broken record lists. and surely you must concur that strikes don't do anything to alleviate patient misery . alleviate patient misery. >> well, absolutely . so why >> well, absolutely. so why doesn't why doesn't the health secretary offer to meet the junior doctors and talk through their needs and demands ? their needs and demands? >> do you think 35% is a reasonable amount when inflation is running at 3.9? do you think £15 an hour is a good wage for doctor? >> that's trained, that's got five stars at a levels and has

worked hard to get to university ? >> well, well, they have many, many years ahead of them. a fantastic career opportunities of course, and they end up on very, very good pay great very, very good pay with great pensions, great holidays. i mean, all i'm saying is most people can only dream of a 35% pay people can only dream of a 35% pay rise. why should junior doctors get one? so all we're asking , i doctors get one? so all we're asking, i think, is if you translate, that is to pay somebody when they start being a doctor rather than paying them 14 or £15 an hour, pay them £20 an hour. >> do you think that's reasonable? yes well then why don't they do it? >> because you multiply that by many, many, many people and you have a huge bill. we already put £180 billion per year into the nhs . what i'm saying is, is the nhs. what i'm saying is, is the answer. yet more money. we throw more money at the nhs doesn't seem to fix it. every year we're in a crisis. year it seems in a crisis. every year it seems to worse. to get worse. >> is that because the >> and is that because the health service is not adequately funded? is that because the people in this country are getting older, we've more getting older, we've got more co—morbidities. getting older, we've got more co—morbidities . we know how to

co—morbidities. we know how to treat patients better . we spend treat patients better. we spend a and larger percentage a larger and larger percentage of the nhs budget on expensive treatments . um, and so we have treatments. um, and so we have less and less money to pay the doctors and the nurses who are actually doing the job. it's a very difficult equation to get right , but i very difficult equation to get right, but i will maintain that the answer is not to go down the us route and to look at other countries which are doing it, and we mustn't steal doctors from the third world and pay them less either, because those third world countries need doctors nurses just as much doctors and nurses just as much as do. it is a worldwide as we do. it is a worldwide problem. uh, back in 2002, i'm sure you remember when the nhs plan came into being . we did plan came into being. we did actually pay . they put more actually pay. they put more money into the health service and brought it up to the european standards . and for a european standards. and for a brief moment between 2002 and 2012, the health service was was a place to be envied. but ever since then, the relative spend on the nhs has gone down a lot and doctors pay has suffered, suffered hugely . suffered hugely.

>> okay, sir bob, thanks for joining us and giving a passionate viewpoint there. nhs gp david lloyd thanks for joining us on the show. loads more to come between now and 6:00 and i'll tell you why. today's a big day in the government's mission to get us to drive electric to try and drive electric vehicles but first, your latest vehicles. but first, your latest news polly news headlines with polly middlehurst . middlehurst. >> the headlines this hour. another yellow weather warning for heavy rain has been issued by the met office after storm henk battered parts of the uk last night. the west midlands ambulance service today urged people to take extra care after several motorists had to be rescued from their cars caught in flood waters and with more rain on the way , people are rain on the way, people are being warned to expect more travel disruption tomorrow . as travel disruption tomorrow. as you've been hearing, doctors have warned that medical professionals may vanish from the nhs unless pay is dramatically improved . served dramatically improved. served six days of industrial action began this morning after talks

between the government and the bma union broke down. some of those striking have warned that countries, including australia, are targeting them with advertising in an attempt to attract british doctors to overseas jobs . a 15 year old boy overseas jobs. a 15 year old boy has been arrested on suspicion of murder following a stabbing in north london on new year's eve. a 16 year old harry pitman died following what police say was an altercation as crowds gathered on primrose hill to watch fireworks. posting on social media, his sister described him as a good boy with a heart of gold and more young people are making the switch to non alcoholic drinks. a study carried out by yougov found 44% of those aged 18 to 24 consider themselves to be either occasional or regular drinkers of alcohol. alternatives that's up from 31% in 2022. the those are your latest news headlines . are your latest news headlines. more on our website gbnews.com .

more on our website gbnews.com. >> for a valuable legacy your family can own , gold coins will family can own, gold coins will always shine bright. rosalind gold proudly sponsors the gb news financial report , a news financial report, a snapshot of today's markets and the pound buying a $1.2642 and ,1.1593. l ,1.1593. »- ,1.1593. >> the price of gold is £1,608.28 an ounce, and the ftse 100 has closed . at 7682 points. 100 has closed. at 7682 points. >> rosalind gold proudly sponsors the gb news financial report . thank sponsors the gb news financial report. thank you sponsors the gb news financial report . thank you polly. report. thank you polly. >> now joining me in the studio slightly earlier than usual. what a treat that is. is michelle dewberry michelle excited see you i was excited to see you i was itching, i stood the door itching, i stood at the door thinking, sneak in? thinking, when can i sneak in? >> should i wait all the way >> why should i wait all the way till ten i couldn't, till ten to i couldn't, i couldn't longer. couldn't wait any longer.

>> the right things. >> you say all the right things. >> you say all the right things. >> yeah. on my show tonight, uh, aaron peter hitchens aaron bastani and peter hitchens . i'm very looking forward . i'm very much looking forward to yeah. to that. that'll kick off. yeah. the middle the situation in the middle east, that is east, i'll tell you that is kicking as you've just kicking off as well. you've just had the leader of hezbollah. he's just been a speech. he's just been giving a speech. it's good it's really not a good situation. tony blair, situation. there tony blair, meanwhile, has denied that he's got in the israel—gaza got a role in the israel—gaza conflict. asking , should conflict. i'm asking, should tony blair have any role in tony blair ever have any role in any capacity, in any foreign war? i think my viewers will have strong opinions on that one. i also want to talk as well. this drama that's captivating so many people right now post office now about the post office scandal absolutely horrendous. we're familiar with the story by now, but has anyone actually properly been held account? well, again, a strong opinions on that one. and of course i want to talk about what you would expect labour, what they're up to. are they the party of aspiration. >> well, they're promising to cut taxes. well they're flying the kite on the idea. but do we trust them. they've been. trust them. they've always been. >> anyone? trust them. they've always been. >> quite anyone? trust them. they've always been. >> quite frankly, yone? martin. quite frankly, which politician? which politician? you tell me which political party in this country

they get elected on the back of these this. these manifestos will do this. we'll that. do this. we'll do that. we'll do this. we'll do that. we'll do this. we'll do that. no they don't. and they come oh, and then they come up with, oh, well, do that. but well, we wanted to do that. but circumstances altered and therefore to therefore we weren't able to deliver. there's an argument some , for making some people say, for making manifesto promises be legally binding that the future or is binding is that the future or is that just a recipe for disaster? >> if they did that, then >> well, if they did that, then they'd all be of or they'd all be out of a job or banged up. >> this very true >> true, this is very true because they promised so much. >> don't deliver do you >> but don't deliver what do you make like reform and make today of like reform and tice coming out or out guns tice coming out or come out guns blazing saying the tories are completely failed. the country, even that is even saying that sunak is cosying up to von der leyen on brexit. is it enough to be negative or do we want something more positive? the brexit party, you remember those days? it was all it was all about positivity, aspiration , motivating people. aspiration, motivating people. you think politics has got a bit negative? >> well, i think politics has always been a dirty game, hasn't it? to say, didn't always been a dirty game, hasn't it? either:o say, didn't always been a dirty game, hasn't it? either of;ay, didn't always been a dirty game, hasn't it? either of my didn't always been a dirty game, hasn't it? either of my election enjoy either of my election battles 2017 or i didn't battles 2017 or 2019. i didn't enjoy any of them. and when i came i thought, ooh, came away i thought, ooh, politics is quite a grubby

business, frankly. it's business, quite frankly. so it's never pleasant. and never really been pleasant. and actually now we're actually, we know now we're heading toward a general election, so people are just going desperately going to be desperately trying to where's the weak spots to find where's the weak spots in opponent as perhaps like in our opponent as perhaps like your point , where is the your point, where is the opportunity? can we be opportunity? how can we be different? and more importantly, what i think is how you what i think is how do you actually people into actually get more people into politics that don't currently vote? because yeah, it's all well and good. splitting hairs and fighting over the people that are politically engaged for me, more interested that are politically engaged for me, do more interested that are politically engaged for me, do mobiliseerestedpeople how do we mobilise those people and are millions and of which there are millions and of which there are millions and people that are and millions of people that are not engaged . not politically engaged. >> yeah, lots and lots of apathy, certainly on apathy, but certainly not on your co till seven. >> robust debate, that is for sure. magnificent >> thank you very much. always a pleasure. now in just a few hours course, 16 hours time, of course, 16 year old luke littler will try to complete one greatest complete one of the greatest fairy sporting history. fairy tales in sporting history. little will take on luke humphries in the final of the pdc world darts championships. so what do we know about luke littler? well, he started playing darts when he was just

18 months old. can you believe that? his parents first took him to pubs to play when he was an eight year old, proving it's never too old to go to the boozer and littler is going to be rich 16 year old. be a very rich 16 year old. whatever happens , because he's whatever happens, because he's already guaranteed to win 200 grand simply by getting to the final. but he'll pick up a cool half a million subs if he wins that crown tonight. but what's the secret to his success? well, good old fashioned ham and cheese omelettes and kebabs. apparently with a side order of pizza . now, russ bray is known pizza. now, russ bray is known as the voice of darts for more than one reason. as you find out when you hear him speak. here we are the referee there tonight, andifs are the referee there tonight, and it's his last match before he retires. check this out. >> maturity is fantastic and i mean, he's, uh, the way he plays the game, his mindset. um it's fantastic . it's so lovely to fantastic. it's so lovely to watch the breath of fresh air

and, uh , you know, he's he's the and, uh, you know, he's he's the future of darts. obviously. you know, you had marco van go in at 17, in nine darts and things like that. you know, this kid's a year younger , um, doing every a year younger, um, doing every bit the same. it's fantastic for the sport. >> and you know what, russ? people have been taking the mickey a bit because he's been called the tiger woods of darts. but i reckon there's a fair comparison there. like he started when he was five. and he's just endlessly practised repetition, repetition and repetition, repetition and repetition, chasing excellence. and it takes thousands and thousands and thousands of man hours to get to this standard of darts is exactly that. >> martin, you've hit the nail on the head. you know, i in the previous, um, interview that i've done, you know, you get freaks within the sport and i mean freaks in the loveliest way and the nicest possible way. guys that totally excel , you guys that totally excel, you know? um, yeah . tiger woods is know? um, yeah. tiger woods is the obvious example . mike. uh, the obvious example. mike. uh, mike tyson, in his day when he was just a young kid, you know, taking everybody out and now

you've got luke littler, you know, he's taking on the world and now in the final and he's now in the world final to take the world number one. to take on the world number one. you know, you can't dismiss luke humphries because, uh, believe you me, luke. luke humphries is going be than up for going to be more than up for luke . luke littler. >> i can't you go without >> i can't let you go without giving quick 180 and maybe giving us a quick 180 and maybe a go on. a 40 to go on. >> um, well, you might need to turn the mic down, because that's what generally happens when i are an 80. >> through a 40, mate 40. >> through a 40, mate 40. >> so that's the one i like 40. oh, and what about what about when somebody when somebody hits a double and they get out ? go a double and they get out? go game. yeah game shop and match. yeah. uh . not only one of the yeah. uh. not only one of the highlights of my year so far, but the highlight of my career. >> and let's cross now to our darts correspondent, ray addison, live at ally addison, who's live at ally pally. i believe , ray, you pally. and i believe, ray, you got a special guest with you.

with you there, mate. >> yeah, absolutely. well, uh , >> yeah, absolutely. well, uh, lit lefevre has definitely gnpped lit lefevre has definitely gripped ali harbi ali this evening . we've got the ticket. evening. we've got the ticket. touts are out. there's a bloke selling scarves . these selling these scarves. these humphreys littler scarves which i've got around my neck. >> in fact, i nicked it off him a little earlier. a little bit earlier. >> course, the usual >> and of course, the usual mayhem, uh, of the world championship as we championship final as well. we got dozen blokes dressed got about a dozen blokes dressed as , uh, what they call those as, uh, what do they call those cones ? traffic cones. jumping cones? traffic cones. jumping out earlier as well. out of a taxi earlier as well. but joining me now is , uh, but joining me now is, uh, former professional darts player chris mason. the, uh, the chris mason. he's the, uh, the irish masters winner, the scottish open , the english open, scottish open, the english open, and course, the two times and of course, the two times world championship semi—finalist as chris thanks for as well. chris thanks for joining uh, what a joining us. uh, what a remarkable story. >> yeah , it's been incredible. >> yeah, it's been incredible. >> yeah, it's been incredible. >> not not as unexpected. >> not, not not as unexpected. >> not, not not as unexpected. >> if you were a serious fan. >> if you were a serious fan. >> he's someone that we've been keeping an eye on for the last 3 or 4 years. i suppose. i've or 4 years. i suppose. and i've seen him do some incredible things down at the super series last uh, i picked him to last year. uh, i picked him to at least make the quarter

finals, but the way handled finals, but the way he's handled things has been incredible. >> seems so calm beyond >> well, he seems so calm beyond his years . how much >> well, he seems so calm beyond his years. how much is that making an impact on his ability and how far he's gone in this tournament? >> yeah, i think when we were all 15, 16, 17 years of age, you're all pretty fearless, aren't you? because you've got. you're all pretty fearless, areryou've�* because you've got. you're all pretty fearless, areryou've got:ause you've got. you're all pretty fearless, areryou've got nose you've got. you're all pretty fearless, areryou've got no luggage�* got. no, you've got no luggage to carry around . there's no damage. carry around. there's no damage. there's defeats . there's there's no big defeats. there's no no heartbreak on the no there's no heartbreak on the obe for him. so yeah, it's allowing him to play with freedom and the pressure is almost opponent, almost on the opponent, as we saw with rob cross and saw with with rob cross and raymond barneveld. but yet raymond van barneveld. but yet this is the biggest platform in the world. >> the biggest stage in the world. and those darts might start feeling quite heavy for him tonight. >> think so. i mean and >> i don't think so. i mean and you're right, i mean tonight's matches were a £300,000 and although is life although half £1 million is life changing, change changing, money, it will change your forever. this your life forever. you win this once. a living for once. you'll make a living for the rest of your life out of it. >> especially if you're a 16 year old lad. but yeah, he's fearless. it won't, it won't, it won't faze him one bit. if he fearless. it won't, it won't, it won going him one bit. if he fearless. it won't, it won't, it won going ton one bit. if he fearless. it won't, it won't, it won going to get1e bit. if he fearless. it won't, it won't, it won going to get fazed, if he fearless. it won't, it won't, it won going to get fazed, it he fearless. it won't, it won't, it won going to get fazed, it would was going to get fazed, it would happen against barneveld.

was going to get fazed, it would hapbarneveld,t barneveld. was going to get fazed, it would hapbarneveld,t baherozld. was going to get fazed, it would hapbarneveld,t bahero in. was going to get fazed, it would hapbarneveld,t bahero in darts, >> barneveld, his hero in darts, he one that inspired him he was the one that inspired him to know, what do to play and you know, what do they don't meet your they say about don't meet your heroes? never mind playing them and brushing them aside. >> he's ticked every box >> he's he's ticked every box and he's done it with flying colours. well he's opposite against really tough opposition in luke humphries as well. >> become world number >> he's become the world number one playing one while he's been playing here. uh, kind of here. uh, what kind of a tournament a game we see tournament a game might we see tonight? a very close one, think. >> when i look at all their stats. um humphries has a slightly lower tournament average. >> they both had 5180 apiece in the tournament . the tournament. >> the finishing percentages is in favour of luke littler, but every metric you look at it suggests it's going to be a tight final. and i think it'll probably go 12 sets. i think the winner will be some something like seven five. >> crowd can make a >> often the crowd can make a difference we that difference and we know that there's a few, uh, well, more than a few littler fans here. conversions this conversions during this tournament. could that tournament. how much could that sway result? tournament. how much could that sweyeah. result? tournament. how much could that sweyeah. on result? tournament. how much could that sweyeah. on finalst? tournament. how much could that sweyeah. on finals night, we >> yeah. on finals night, we usually get a really good crowd in. it's so hard get tickets in. it's so hard to get tickets for night, so they're for finals night, so they're usually, rather than being your

casual year fan , uh, the casual once a year fan, uh, the fans on on final night are usually the guys that will go to premier leagues, go to the world matchplay . so i think they'll be matchplay. so i think they'll be pretty good. and in the in pretty good. and i was in the in the audience last night and it was almost deathly quiet where they were all transfixed on the board and just enjoying the darts. it was it was a great crowd. >> humphries is only 28 himself and, uh, it shows a positive sides for the for the game. young people coming forward. and i understand that there's been quite a lot of development for youth players. >> yeah there has he's part of that system. luke's came through the tour, the dev tour the challenge tour, the dev tour um won the got a pro tour card, won the world youth. >> so along the way he's he's just again ticked every box and doneit just again ticked every box and done it at a nice steady level. luke littler is not he's just coming crash bang wallop. and uh yeah. could take the spoils . yeah. could take the spoils. >> well obviously it's captured the public's imagination. it's been absolutely great for the game, but we need to get a prediction before we let you go.

who's going to win tonight? >> think humphries seven >> uh, i think humphries seven five. but do not be shocked if littler pulls it off. i just think the fact that littler has won three of the last four big tournaments, the consequences of that went world number, that is he went world number, world number one yesterday with that think just might have >> i think he just might have the uh in the couple the edge. uh in the last couple of sets in the match. but either way it's, uh, darts is a winner. >> chris mason, thanks very much for really do forjoining us. really do appreciate well, uh, littler appreciate it. well, uh, littler has since was has been playing since he was nine that stage, nine years old at that stage, they against the they put him up against the under seconds and then into under 14 seconds and then into the elite, uh, squad his the elite, uh, squad for his local club as well. now he's on the biggest stage in the world. let's see what happens. superb. >> ray addison at ally pally. and chris may and mace the ace as he was. fantastic night of darts ahead . now, from today, darts ahead. now, from today, the government requires 22% of all new car sales to be zero emission vehicles. but is that a good or a bad thing ? i'm martin good or a bad thing? i'm martin daubney on gb news britain's news channel

only on gb news, the people's channel only on gb news, the people's channel, britain's news channel . channel, britain's news channel. >> welcome back. it's 10 to 6 now. the zero emission vehicle mandate has come into force today. and the government requires 22% of all new car sales to be zero emission vehicles. and if you think that sounds tough, the threshold will rise annually with a target of all new car sales to be electric

only by 2035, and failure to abide by the rules will result in a requirement to pay the government £15,000 for every polluting car sold above the limits. now i'm joined by edmund king, who's a president of the aa. thank you so much for joining us. edmund. can we start with the impact this will have on the motoring industry? punitive fines of 15 grand per vehicle that could equate to an eye—watering £2.4 billion. this feels cruel and punitive . feels cruel and punitive. >> well, it's really interested , >> well, it's really interested, martin, because we know last year the date for phasing out petrol and vehicle cars was . petrol and vehicle cars was. changed from 2030 to 2035. >> but the zero emission mandate has remained the same and this is what you're talking about, that this year, 22% of new cars and 10% of new vans should be

zero emission, which basically means the electric vehicles. otherwise as the manufacturer, as you say, has to pay £15,000 for each car. and i think for a van it's about 10,000. so it is concentrating the minds, but it's interest because the industry's seems to be divided on this . some within the motor on this. some within the motor industry are welcoming it, whereas others say it is incredibly challenging. the irony is, though, for drivers generally, that if there is this fine for not producing it or not selling enough evs , then maybe selling enough evs, then maybe the price of evs will be cut by manufacturers and they'll increase the price of petrol and diesel cars in order to get people to switch quicker so that they don't have to pay the fines. so, ironically , there fines. so, ironically, there could be some benefit for drivers. >> but the proof of the pudding,

though edmund is that we've seen a 70% slump in demand for electric vehicles in november alone, and that is because with with fairness, people often say they have a poor range. there expensive. they take too to long charge. is this starting to feel like all stick and no carrot ? like all stick and no carrot? >> yeah. i mean, it's interesting. we do surveys of drivers , owners and you know, drivers, owners and you know, you're right. the things that are stopping the uptake are the initial cost. that's number one. and generally the cost of an ev has been about £10,000 more than it's regular petrol or diesel equivalent . having said that, equivalent. having said that, that's coming down. the second thing is the charging infrastructure . and the third infrastructure. and the third thing is problems with home charging. you know, people who live in terraced houses or indeedin live in terraced houses or indeed in flats. so obviously more needs to be done to make charging more accessible , um, to charging more accessible, um, to all people, particularly people

who struggle with home charging because they haven't got off street parking. but once people get an ev, the benefit comes with the running costs, because the running costs are considerably cheaper, particularly if you can charge charge at home a lot cheaper than petrol or diesel. we know that vehicle excise duty will come in in 2025 for evs, so that will increase the cost. a bit. but there's still a long way to go and there's a lot of improvement that are needed. okay >> superb. thank you forjoining >> superb. thank you for joining us edmund king who's the president of the aa motoring royalty . what you think about royalty. what you think about that it just feels to me that we're being nudged increasingly closer to getting vehicles. we simply don't seem to want. and by jacking up the prices, by finding the manufacturers, is that the right way of going about it? surely if electric vehicles did the job that it says on the tin, people would simply buy them anyway? they wouldn't have to be cajoled ,

wouldn't have to be cajoled, they wouldn't have to be forced into now the darts is coming into it. now the darts is coming up but right up later on tonight, but right after we've got michelle after me we've got michelle dewberry co co six till dewberry dewbs& co co six till seven. that's going to be a fantastic, feisty show. i'm back same time tomorrow. martin daubney three till 6 pm. have a fantastic evening . a brighter fantastic evening. a brighter outlook with boxt solar sponsors of weather on . gb news. of weather on. gb news. >> hello again. it's aidan mcgivern here from the met office with the gb news forecast that blustery showers will continue of us during that blustery showers will con'reste of us during that blustery showers will con'rest of of us during that blustery showers will con'rest of the of us during that blustery showers will con'rest of the day.f us during that blustery showers will con'rest of the day. somejring the rest of the day. some brighter spells and it will turn dner brighter spells and it will turn drier in the south towards the end of the but for the time end of the day. but for the time being, got pressure in being, we've got low pressure in charge even if the main storm henk has moved off the scene around this low, we've got various occluded fronts bringing some spells rain, but some longer spells of rain, but in general it's blustery showers as head the evening. as we head into the evening. some clear emerging, some clear spells emerging, particularly towards the southwest, by midnight, southwest, and by midnight, certainly some drier weather

pushing into southern parts. more persistent rain lingering across the northeast of scotland , shetland staying cold with some snow and frost here. a little bit of touch of frost further south under those clear skies. so a chilly start here, but that's where the brightest weather will be first thing thursday now doesn't last thursday. now that doesn't last long it will turn long because it will turn cloudier from mid—morning and outbreaks of increasingly heavy and persistent rain will spread into southern coastal counties through the day. that could cause some issues, given the saturated ground at the moment. but further north we've got the sunshine remaining across north wales, midlands and east wales, north midlands and east anglia. showers for scotland and northern ireland, northern england as well, and friday again is a showery day. the worst of the showers will be across eastern and western coasts. in between some sunny spells and as we go into the weekend, high pressure builds. that means drier , but it also that means drier, but it also means colder with temperatures falling away . falling away. >> that warm feeling inside from

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and tensions in the middle east really, really are rising. meanwhile, tony blair has denied suggestions that he is taking on a role in the israel—gaza conflict. i'm asking a simple question should tony blair ever be involved in any capacity in any foreign conflicts? you tell me. and labour apparently considering plans to offer tax cuts if they win the next election in order to show that they are the party of aspiration. yes. they are the party of aspiration. yes . are there? you aspiration. yes. are there? you tell me. and a tv drama about the post office horizon scandal has gripped many of us. but of course, the saddest thing is the story is true. so postmasters had their lives, their reputation , their finances, reputation, their finances, their mental health absolutely ruined . but their mental health absolutely ruined. but do their mental health absolutely ruined . but do you their mental health absolutely ruined. but do you think their mental health absolutely ruined . but do you think anyone ruined. but do you think anyone truly has been held accountable . truly has been held accountable. yeah. are we going to have some pretty robust debate across all of that with aaron bastani and