is live in shropshire . carson is live in shropshire. >> yeah, flooding continues to wreak havoc across the midlands , wreak havoc across the midlands, particularly as well as here in shropshire , where i am in shropshire, where i am in ironbridge, and i'll have the latest for you . latest for you. >> autumn election rishi sunak is out and about in the north—west of england today after hinting there will be an election in the second half of this year as no more tax cuts. >> labour leader sir keir starmer has suggested a labour government would not make any tax cuts to income tax until the economy is growing. we'll have all the latest . that oscar all the latest. that oscar pistorius is free. >> the paralympian killer has been released from prison on parole. our reporter charlie peters has more freed after almost a decade in prison under severe restrictions until 2029. >> but his victims family say that they are still living with a life sentence. i'll have all the latest as it comes from

pretoria . pretoria. and another story that's caught my eye this morning. >> pip. apparently men, not me, only washed their towels twice a year. only washed their towels twice a year . bed sheets, of course , hit year. bed sheets, of course, hit the headlines. that is disgusting . only twice a year is disgusting. only twice a year is that you .7 let me know. is there that you.7 let me know. is there anyone you that you? let me know. is there anyone you know? your brother, your partner? gb views at gb news. com. let us know. we'll have all that and more after the . news >> good morning. 931. this is the latest from the gb newsroom. two teenage boys have been arrested on suspicion of murder over the death of harry pitman in north london. the 16 year old died following what police say was an altercation as crowds gathered on primrose hill to watch the fireworks on new year's eve . the met police say

year's eve. the met police say a 16 year old and a 17 year old remain in custody. pitman's family described him as a good boy with a heart of gold . oscar boy with a heart of gold. oscar pistorius has been freed on parole from a south african prison, nearly 11 years after murdering his girlfriend , and murdering his girlfriend, and the former paralympian shot reeva steenkamp multiple times through a door on valentine's day in 2013. he claimed he mistook her for an intruder , but mistook her for an intruder, but prosecutors argued the murder was premeditated. following a row , the parole will last until row, the parole will last until december 2029 and the 37 year old will be required to obey strict conditions, including therapy and anger management. the health secretary says the nhs belongs to us all and can't simply be switched on and off again as a record breaking walkout by medics continues. junior doctors in england are striking for six days over pay and conditions. the longest industrial action in nhs history. many hospitals have

pleaded for medics to leave picket lines and return to work amid rising concerns for patient safety . the bma suggested the safety. the bma suggested the request may be politically motivated , while health motivated, while health secretary victoria atkins promised to restart talks within 20 minutes if the strike is called off and hundreds of flood warnings remain in place across the uk as commuters face more delays following heavy rain. great western railway warns that several lines will remain closed following flooding. the environment agency says ongoing impacts are likely across much of england over the next five days.in of england over the next five days. in the wake of storm henk, nottinghamshire county council also declared a major incident yesterday , with more than 100 yesterday, with more than 100 homes flooded, and they're advising people to stay cautious as the danger of flooding is expected to continue throughout the day . you can get more on all the day. you can get more on all of those stories by visiting our website, gbnews.com .

website, gbnews.com. >> thanks, tatiana. let's bring you the latest on this flooding , you the latest on this flooding, because there's more than 300 flood warnings in place after heavy rain and wild weather battered britain overnight, with the flooding causing havoc for people, businesses and motorists , the met office is warning of possible power cuts and train operators are warning services may be cancelled . may be cancelled. >> joining us now from shropshire is our west midlands reporter jack carson. jack, good morning to you. what's the latest on the weather chaos . latest on the weather chaos. >> yeah . well it's continued to >> yeah. well it's continued to wreak havoc isn't it . across wreak havoc isn't it. across particularly parts of the midlands here in shropshire and where i am in ironbridge, it's broken its banks, part of the severn on the opposite side of the river to where i am. and it's reaching it reached its peak levels yesterday evening at around 6.33m metres high. my cards are really describe how fast the current of the river severn is behind me. it's moving around 450 tons of water every

second as it heads further down downstream. now, of course, there's not been heavy rainfall, particularly here in this part of shropshire. but of course, it's the legacy of storm henk. over the past few days, it's meant that people are really feeling the effects of it. now. the river severn in shrewsbury peaked yesterday as well in bridgnorth it's expected to peak today , today and what's today, today and what's happening over the next few days. if we do get more rain in parts of wales, that water is once going to come down once again going to come down the and keep these river the severn and keep these river levels which meaning that levels high, which meaning that people that have been flooded aren't able to, you know, either come back to their homes if they've been evacuated or of course, start rebuild as course, start to rebuild now as that along , of that current brings along, of course, all that water. it's also bringing the debris, which leaves much of the devastation afterwards . now, of course, it's afterwards. now, of course, it's across the midlands that we're seeing big problems, particularly, course, in particularly, of course, in nottinghamshire , where they've nottinghamshire, where they've declared major incident declared that major incident over the rising levels and concerns around the levels of

the river trent as they think it could reach its highest level since the year 2000. and what thatis since the year 2000. and what that is coming from nottinghamshire council is saying is basically because of the tributary rivers that go into the trent, like the river derwent, because they've reached their peak levels , that water their peak levels, that water pushes through and then rises the level, the levels of the of the level, the levels of the of the trent come up. and that means that is meaning that people, of course, are being urged to if they are in one of those red flood alerts to be on watch, on standby to evacuate if needed. of course, turn off things like electricity and gas in their homes and of course there are also, we think, around 100 people yesterday that were evacuated from parts of nottingham that number could well increase as the river trent. still, they don't think has actually reached its peak yet. and it is that devastation that's really being felt not only for people but for businesses as well. here, here in ironbridge , just up the just in ironbridge, just up the just up the river here. um, one of the pubs called the boat inn has

flooded for the third time in a month . and so that, you know, month. and so that, you know, just as they think they're getting around to being able to clear that water and open once again do the repairs that they need they're feeling the need to do, they're feeling the effects it . once again. effects of it. um, once again. so that's a little bit so that's just a little bit of a snapshot of the impact. but of course, bring you the course, we'll bring you the latest on the impact that flooding is having across the country day. country throughout the day. >> think the >> jack, i think it's the landlord pub you're landlord of that very pub you're talking uh, the pub in talking about, uh, the pub in jackfield who's described the flood an evil one. and that's flood as an evil one. and that's been underlined by, i think, in nottinghamshire , um, there have nottinghamshire, um, there have been cows that have drowned in the there's concern the flooding. there's concern that there could be vegetable shortages due to this flooding . shortages due to this flooding. yes certainly. >> of course, across and the likes of gloucestershire as well, a lot of animals have been pictured from, from drone footage completely surrounded by water stranded almost on a water and stranded almost on a on a makeshift island . of on a makeshift island. of course, as that the water has burst its banks and as you say gone all over those those

farmers fields. it is it is the crops within those fields that are that are being completely destroyed and washed out and washed away. you're right, washed away. so you're right, certainly produce , certainly for domestic produce, um, for those farmers particularly that grow things, and even as i was saying, because of the stranded livestock that we're seeing as well parts of the country, well in parts of the country, um, it's that knock on um, again, it's that knock on effect. legacy of the effect. it's the legacy of the storm even though the storm storm that even though the storm is now past, it's that legacy. it's any rainfall falling on that ground that is that saturated ground that is still causing the problems that we're there is we're seeing today. there is room for a little bit of optimism. >> jack, because the weather is going to settle. it's going to get colder . it's going to feel get colder. it's going to feel more wintry . that get colder. it's going to feel more wintry. that is going to provide some respite to thousands of people . yes thousands of people. yes >> so we do think this weekend there's going to be a band of high pressure coming in now over the next kind of day or so. there still rainfall there still is rainfall expected, particularly in the south—east, could cause south—east, that could cause disruption on those disruption once again on those transport networks. but yes, dner transport networks. but yes, drier weather hopefully on the

way as that band of high pressure comes in across saturday and sunday, meaning that maybe, hopefully within time the environmental environment agency say those river levels will take time to come down. but with a period of dry weather, they will be able to come down in that ground. of course, can recover the course, can recover from the saturated that had at the saturated that it's had at the moment. >> jack carson thank you so much. and you could see behind jack there just how high those river levels are. my family live in bewdley, which is a bit further along the river severn . further along the river severn. from where? from where jack is. and i was there this week and they've got the flood defences up. you cannot go in and out of the town over the main bridge. >> the flooding so bad is it, is it exceptionally high rainfall or is something with or is it something to do with the agency being the environment agency being reluctant do reluctant to dredge rivers? do you know the answer to that? >> don't, maybe somebody >> i don't, but maybe somebody can tell us. it's something we can tell us. it's something we can jack. can ask jack. >> the roads live down >> even the roads i live down south. even roads. you south. even the roads. when you drive the are drive all the drains are flooded. everything's flooded. >> is what you >> and this is this is what you need to be careful of.

especially when it's dark without sounding like i'm teaching you to suck eggs. be careful driving into what careful about driving into what you puddle, which you think is a puddle, which could to be a full on could turn out to be a full on flood, happened to flood, which has happened to people or likewise people including my or likewise driving on the motorway where there you can aquaplane. >> yeah, just pretty dangerous. >> yeah, just pretty dangerous. >> really, really >> yeah. just be really, really careful today, won't you? >> rishi sunak he's on >> okay. rishi sunak he's out on about north—west of about today in the north—west of england, and we're expecting to hear this morning hear from him later this morning at press conference. at a press conference. >> well, in his first outing of the yesterday day, the the new year yesterday day, the prime was asked about prime minister was asked about when general when he thinks a general election happen. election will happen. >> working assumption is >> my working assumption is we'll general election in we'll have a general election in the second half year. the second half of this year. and i've got and in the meantime, i've got lots want to get on with lots that i want to get on with this saturday will be introducing significant tax introducing a significant tax cut millions of people in cut for millions of people in work worth, on average, £450 for an because an average worker. because we've halved want to halved inflation, we want to keep managing the economy well and and and cutting people's taxes. and i to keep tackling illegal i want to keep tackling illegal migration. and cut the number migration. and we cut the number of last by of arrivals last year by over a third. got to do . third. but we've got more to do. and we want to get the rwanda scheme through parliament up scheme through parliament and up and i've got

and running. so look, i've got plenty get with and that's plenty to get on with and that's what focussed doing, what i'm focussed on doing, delivering british people. >> in response, labour >> in response, the labour leader sir keir starmer, accused rishi of being a squatter rishi sunak of being a squatter in number 10. joining us now, conservative mp philip davies is with us. >> good morning philip. thanks for joining us. so is the forjoining us. so is the thinking that an election in the latter part of the year is because sunak wants brits to feel the economic effects of his policies, inflation, falling interest rates , falling interest rates, falling mortgages coming down. is that the of thinking behind it? the kind of thinking behind it? >> yeah , i think so. i mean, >> yeah, i think so. i mean, i think it was always pretty fanciful. i think there was going to be an election in may. um, because, well, i mean, there's two parts to it, ben. let's be honest about it. one is that. yes the government needs to out rwanda scheme. that. yes the government needs to needs ut rwanda scheme. that. yes the government needs to needsut dealwanda scheme. that. yes the government needs to needsut deal withia scheme. that. yes the government needs to needsut deal with illegalne. it needs to deal with illegal immigration and legal immigration and legal immigration for that matter. there's route victory there's no route to a victory for the conservatives at the election tackling election without tackling immigration. uh, we want to keep cutting taxes and we want the effects of to be felt by effects of that to be felt by people before there's an

election. but, you know, frankly, all look at the frankly, we can all look at the opinion polls. i think you opinion polls. i don't think you need professor john need to be professorjohn curtice that we are in curtice to see that we are in a difficult position in the opinion polls, and i think it was always pretty to was always pretty fanciful to think prime minister think that the prime minister would election when would call an election when we're far behind the polls. >> you say fanciful, philip, but what he said yesterday, it seemed very carefully worded. he said the working assumption is that there'll be a general election in the second half of the year that could still be an election come may. it's only his working assumption . yeah. i mean working assumption. yeah. i mean , working assumption. yeah. i mean i , working assumption. yeah. i mean , i don't think any any prime minister is ever going to box themselves in and say it's going to be on a particular date when they don't need to do that. >> um, but i think, you know, i mean, if you were a betting person, uh, pip, i don't know if you are or not. i think, uh, you would have always wagered that it more likely to be later it was more likely to be later in the rather earlier in the year rather than earlier in the year rather than earlier in don't i don't in the year. i don't i don't actually think he's told us anything that we didn't really

think ourselves anyway, philip, can about a column can i ask you about a column from richard in the from richard littlejohn in the mail today? >> he said, that why is it >> he said, um, that why is it the tories a divine right the tories have a divine right to rule, and maybe that the tories stand for the tories should stand down for the surging reform uk ? what do you surging reform uk? what do you think about that? >> well, well , i don't think about that? >> well, well, i don't think any of us think we've got a divine right to rule. we've, we've, we've all been there through the bad times , uh, as as the bad times, uh, as well as the good politically . i bad times, uh, as well as the good politically. i mean, good times politically. i mean, when i got elected to parliament, we were in opposition. ben . so i can opposition. uh, ben. so i can assure you that people like me know we don't have a divine know that we don't have a divine right we've been there right to rule. we've been there when been in office, when we haven't been in office, but reason why we but that's the reason why we think it's so important that we do in office, because do remain in office, because we've the damage we've seen that the damage that's by a labour that's done by a labour government ultimately it's government and ultimately it's down of down to the voters. but of course, the first past the course, under the first past the post system, we know there's post system, we all know there's either going to a either going to be a conservative government or a labour . mean, labour government. i mean, that's the the that's just the fact of the matter. everybody that. matter. everybody knows that. and , um, the question is for and so, um, the question is for people at the election is which would which those two would which of those two alternatives they prefer ?

alternatives do they prefer? there's going to be one or the other. >> sorry, phil, the tories are scared reform , aren't they? scared of reform, aren't they? lee anderson the other night said that richard tice was a pound shop. um, that pound shop. farage um, and that he was reform's version of diane abbott. isn't that the language of a party that's fearful of, uh, a rival ? uh, a rival? >> no. and we're not reformer any relevance in this? to a certain extent. i i like richard tice i'm a i consider myself a friend of richard tice. i'm certainly not going to, uh, criticise his richard tice. he's a good guy. and i probably agree with him on more things than i disagree with him. but the fact of the matter is, if reform are an irrelevance here, because at the end it's the voters who might think about voting reform that are issue, that are the that are the issue, not the reform in not reform the reform party in itself. we've got to itself. ultimately we've got to persuade they are persuade people that they are much better off having a conservative government than a labour government. and if they feel that they'll vote conservative election, conservative at the election, that's is our task. the that's our that is our task. the only reason people will vote

reform used vote reform who used to vote conservative at the election is if feel it doesn't matter if they feel it doesn't matter whether a labour whether there's a labour government or a conservative government um, in which government um, and in which point , uh, government um, and in which point, uh, that's is all point, uh, that's this is all down us, this is this is down to us, this is this is nothing to with reform. nothing to do with reform. reform not make any impact reform will not make any impact on the election at all. it's us that will make an impact on the election. and we've got to do what can to win back those what we can to win back those voters who we have lost to reform irrelevance to this. reform an irrelevance to this. this is all down to us. we need to win these back through to win these voters back through what we do, and it won't make any difference what reforms say. and any difference and it won't make any difference if criticise reform or not. if we criticise reform or not. we've got to win voters we've got to win these voters back concentrating on what we do. >> philip, i am quite surprised that you say a so confidently that you say a so confidently that reform are an irrelevance because they could take voters votes away from the tory party they could take votes away from laboun they could take votes away from labour. we might end up with no overall majority here, no , of overall majority here, no, of course, the you know, reform are going to get people who vote for

them. >> of course they are. that's that's. yes. but but they're not they're not they're only voting. it's a protest vote. in effect they would be voting reform because they were unhappy with what we were doing as the as the government. that's why they want to reform. my point to vote for reform. so my point is, that the our future is in is, is that the our future is in our own hands here. we've got to win those voters back . if reform win those voters back. if reform don't stand at the election or whether they stand at the election, then is neither here nor there . because if people nor there. because if people don't feel that there's any, they're better off having a conservative government than a labour government. they won't vote conservative anyway. whether there's reform whether there's a reform candidate or not. so candidate standing or not. so reform in that regard are an irrelevance. it's what we do that counts. we've got to persuade people between now and the general election that they are much better off with a conservative government, rather than government, even than a labour government, even if not entirely happy if they're not entirely happy with conservative government with the conservative government we've persuade them that we've got to persuade them that we much better labour. we are much better than labour. and if we do that, they'll and if we can do that, they'll vote conservative. if we can't

do that, they'll either vote reform they vote at reform or they won't vote at all, they'll vote for another all, or they'll vote for another party. doesn't really party. so it doesn't really matter the other parties. matter about the other parties. our future is in our own hands. we've got to win these people back by our own actions. >> well, the argument, phil, is that the tories that that's where the tories will cropper, because will come a cropper, because nigel week that nigel farage said this week that this traditional this trust among traditional tory has reached a level tory voters has reached a level not seen in modern times. farage, of course , is the farage, of course, is the honorary president of reform , honorary president of reform, the of which is pretty the party of which is pretty much the brexit party. a lot of the same faces a lot of behind the same faces a lot of behind the scenes workers are still the same and let's not forget boris johnson the tories asked the johnson and the tories asked the brexit to stand aside in brexit party to stand aside in 2019. it's been argued that the brexit party allowed boris to surge to that victory, so , um, i surge to that victory, so, um, i think they would contest your claim that they are irrelevant this time round. >> well, there irrelevant in the sense that it it's there are there are symptom. they're not there are symptom. they're not the cause. the reform party's position in the polls is not a

is a symptom of our problems. it's a symptom of the fact that we've lost the confidence of so many people . our job is not to many people. ourjob is not to attack the reform party or to worry about what they're doing. we just need to focus on what we're doing. that's my whole that's point. we've got to that's my point. we've got to focus what doing. it's focus on what we're doing. it's the voters who think are thinking about voting reform that the issue , not the that are the issue, not the reform party itself . and we've reform party itself. and we've got to try and appeal to each and every one of them. and persuade them that a conservative government is in their interests more than a labour government, because it's going be or the other. going to be one or the other. that's that's my point. i'm that's my that's my point. i'm saying that what reform say and do is relevance in that sense. it's what we say and do that actually matters and will determine those people determine whether those people vote for reform or not. it won't be. it won't be the reform party that persuades those people to vote the reform. it will be. vote for the reform. it will be. it will be their verdict on us that will determine how they vote. and that's why got vote. and that's why we've got to them well you've to win them back. well you've had a good go at it in the last

five minutes. >> thank you ever so much. conservative for shipley >> thank you ever so much. consendavis. forshipley >> thank you ever so much. consendavis. thank shipley >> thank you ever so much. consen davis. thank you. .ey phillip davis. thank you. >> i know people think that the election's on labour, but election's nailed on labour, but anything mean, in anything can happen. i mean, in 2016, infamous new york 2016, the infamous new york times front page of clinton, 99% nailed on to win against trump. and of course, donald trump went and won that election. so anything can happen. phillips quite right. >> and what be interesting quite right. >> and is1at be interesting quite right. >> and is how be interesting quite right. >> and is how dirtye interesting quite right. >> and is how dirty thiszresting as well is how dirty this campaign is going get as campaign is going to get as well. yeah, exactly. uh, okay. let's talk about the former paralympian, let's talk about the former para|beenan, let's talk about the former para|been released on parole he's been released on parole almost 11 years after murdering his girlfriend, reeva steenkamp. >> pistorius shot miss >> yes. pistorius shot miss steenkamp multiple times through a bathroom door in 2013 at their home. he later claimed he mistook her for a burglar. >> our reporter charlie peters has all the details . has all the details. >> the killing stunned the country . the 27 year old country. the 27 year old olympian was an inspirational figure in south africa, regularly dubbed the greatest national hero since nelson

mandela . but on valentine's day mandela. but on valentine's day 2013, oscar pistorius became a murder suspect . pistorius argued murder suspect. pistorius argued that he believed a dangerous intruder hid behind the door. the prosecution contended that steenkamp , a 29 year old model, steenkamp, a 29 year old model, had fled there after a row erupted in the night. the televised trial split global opinion . some saw the poster boy opinion. some saw the poster boy as a cold blooded killer. others sympathised with the raw emotion he displayed in the court. sympathised with the raw emotion he displayed in the court . the he displayed in the court. the so—called blade runner regularly cried in court, with the prosecutor accusing him of deploying crocodile tears to distract from questioning . distract from questioning. pistorius was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter , but an involuntary manslaughter, but an appeal ruled him to be a murderer. the court agreed that

pistorius shot with the intent to kill , but whether he knew the to kill, but whether he knew the victim was his girlfriend, they couldn't say. last year, he was granted parole after serving half of his sentence. but steenkamp's mother warned that he was not remorseful or rehabilitated. her family wanted him to stay in jail. >> for you as a family, believe that you have not been . that you have not been. >> believe his story. >> believe his story. >> the pistorius was released on parole today is expected to be unrecognisable to the athlete who entered prison in 2013. he will now trade a jail cell for a garden cottage in a guarded compound at his wealthy uncle's estate. and as pistorius starts his new life, reeve steenkamp's mother will continue to grieve for the memory of her daughter , for the memory of her daughter, who had her life and her dreams brutally taken from her. charlie

peters . gb news. peters. gb news. >> that was an extraordinary trial. joining us in the studio is our reporter, charlie peters . is our reporter, charlie peters. 11 years on then, charlie, we know oscar pistorius is out . he know oscar pistorius is out. he hasn't been photographed . we hasn't been photographed. we haven't seen him. where is he believed to be now he's going to believed to be now he's going to be staying in his uncle's home in pretoria, the administrative capital of south africa. >> it's a guarded compound and he's reportedly going to be staying at a garden cottage there, where he will be under strict restrictions until 2029. he can't drink if he wants to move around, travel or work. i'll have to ask for special permission. he's expected to receive unannounced visits from the parole board and also, interestingly , he's not allowed interestingly, he's not allowed to give any interviews to the media until 2029. now the correctional facilities and the team there say they're going to be treating him like any other inmate. but of course, with such global attention and him being at the centre of the national consciousness , that's unlikely consciousness, that's unlikely to be the case. the reaction to

his release has been quite varied, somewhat more muted than the trial , which the original trial, which of course world's course captured the world's attention. groups attention. but women's groups and groups have said that and rights groups have said that his release this parole release sends the wrong message at a time when south africa is battling a gender and sexual violence pandemic, over 43,000 cases of sexual assault reported to police in the last calendar year that was reported . many year that was reported. many more obviously, don't go reported. this is a country very much struggling with that crisis and for pistorius, his release is extremely controversial. >> okay, there's more to talk to you about on this. hopefully we will restart this shortly, but we do need to bring you what is a very important weather forecast today. it is settling down, but there are still lots of problems. just take a listen . of problems. just take a listen. >> a brighter outlook with boxt solar , the sponsors of weather solar, the sponsors of weather on . gb news. on. gb news. >> this morning, welcome to your

latest weather update from the met office for gb news. i'm alex deakin and the weather patterns are shifting after a wet, windy, wild start to the year. things are calming down. apart from completely dry out there today. however, yesterday's heavy rain in the south still providing some showers. of course the eastern england shower rain across northern scotland as well, but snow on the hills here. a few showers drifting into north and west wales. here. a few showers drifting into north and west wales . the into north and west wales. the odd one for devon and cornwall, but for slice of the but for a good slice of the country, particularly in central areas and course and areas and of course central and southern scotland. dry and southern scotland. it's dry and it's fine. temperatures generally close to average for the time of year, probably feeling quite chilly compared to recent , and it's going to recent days, and it's going to get as we go through the get colder as we go through the weekend we'll to weekend, and we'll continue to see showers drifting in see a few showers drifting in through the evening and overnight northern overnight across northern and eastern some are eastern scotland. some are moving across the midlands moving down across the midlands and eastern parts of england to the odd shower, just still affecting west wales and northern ireland. many northern ireland. but many places dry and clear again and that will allow to turn cold that will allow it to turn cold as winds ease off and as the winds ease off and a touch of frost, likely from

northern england northwards. even further south, it's likely to close to freezing in some to get close to freezing in some spots, so a chilly start to the weekend so we'll keep a lot of cloud. i suspect, weekend so we'll keep a lot of cloud. i suspect , over weekend so we'll keep a lot of cloud. i suspect, over parts of eastern england. again, most eastern england. but again, most places dry. a few places will be dry. a few showers continuing affect places will be dry. a few showeandontinuing affect places will be dry. a few showeand westjing affect places will be dry. a few showeand west wales, affect places will be dry. a few showeand west wales, and:t north and west wales, and showers continue in showers will continue in northern scotland. but for many, i and i suspect it'll be dry and bright. some stubborn fog patches, but many places seeing some sunshine but quite some wintry sunshine but quite a bit colder than it has been . bit colder than it has been. >> that warm feeling inside and from boxt boilers sponsors of weather on . gb news. thanks alex. >> still to come on the theme of the weather. weather. rather, we'll be discussing all the havoc that storm henk caused havoc that storm henk has caused . to jack . we're going live to jack carson shropshire as well . carson in shropshire as well. send us your pictures as well. are you inconvenienced? have you been troubled by the been troubled by all the terrible storms? is terrible storms? this is britain's newsroom on gb news,

channel. channel good channel. good morning. it's 10 am. on friday, 5th of january. you're with ben, leo and pip tomson on britain's newsroom >> storm henk havoc, heavy rain and wild weather has battered britain overnight . our reporter britain overnight. our reporter jack carson is in one of the affected areas. that's shropshire . shropshire. >> yeah. of course, as flooding

continues to wreak havoc across parts of the midlands, particularly here in ironbridge , particularly here in ironbridge, the flood defences have managed to hold so far. but i'll have more on the latest across the country . country. >> awesome election rishi sunak is out and about in the north—west of england today after hinting there will be an election in the second half of the year. our political correspondent katherine forster has more . has more. >> yes , it's only the 5th of >> yes, it's only the 5th of january. mps are not even back in parliament, but it feels like the general election campaign has, in a sense, already got going. and my goodness , we're in going. and my goodness, we're in for a long ride through to the second half of this year, potentially mid to late november i >> -- >> oscar pistorius is free. the paralympian killer has been released from prison on parole a little earlier today, 11 years after killing reeva steenkamp and prices down at the pump. >> good news for drivers petrol

pnces >> good news for drivers petrol prices have fallen for the second month in a row. in december, one litre of fuel dropped by a whopping £0.06. >> let us know your thoughts, as always on what we're talking about. conservative mp philip davies calling reform an irrelevance . well, that's got irrelevance. well, that's got quite a lot of you going this morning. we're also on a on a much, much lighter note talking about towels. how often do you wash yours. because apparently , wash yours. because apparently, fellas, some of you only do it once a year, which is rank. what's wrong with you? let's get your headlines. here's tatiana . your headlines. here's tatiana. >> pep, thank you very much. and good morning. 10:02. this is the latest from the gb newsroom. oscar pistorius has been freed on parole from a south african prison. nearly 11 years after murdering his girlfriend, the former paralympic shot his

girlfriend, reeva steenkamp , girlfriend, reeva steenkamp, multiple times through a door on valentine's day in 2013. he claimed he mistook her for an intruder, but prosecutors argued the murder was premeditated following a row, the parole will last until december 2029 and the 37 year old will be required to obey strict conditions, including therapy and anger management . two teenage boys management. two teenage boys have been arrested on suspicion of murder over the death of harry pitman in north london. the 16 year old died following what police say was an altercation as crowds gathered on primrose hill to watch the fireworks on new year's eve . fireworks on new year's eve. metropolitan police say a 16 year old and a 17 year old remain in custody . pitman's remain in custody. pitman's sister described him as a good boy with a heart of gold . the boy with a heart of gold. the health secretary says the nhs belongs to us all and can't simply be switched on and off as a record breaking walkout by medics continues. junior doctors in england are striking for six days over pay and conditions.

the longest industrial action in nhs history. many hospitals have pleaded for medics to leave the picket lines and return to work amid rising concerns for patient safety . the british medical safety. the british medical association suggested the request may be politically motivated, while victoria atkins promised to restart pay talks within 20 minutes if the strikes are called off. hundreds of flood warnings remain in place across the uk as commuters face more delays following heavy rain. great western railway warns that several lines will remain closed due to flooding. the environment agency says ongoing impacts are likely across much of england over the next five days, following storm. henk nottinghamshire county council declared a major incident yesterday with more than 100 homes flooded . they're than 100 homes flooded. they're advising people to stay cautious as the danger of flooding is expected to continue throughout the day . but senior the day. but senior meteorologist jim dale told us earlier today that the worst is

over now into a colder face. >> a colder, drier air, ice and frost become the next problem. not that ice and frost will be a problem to these people with the with the floods. yet uh, but i think it'll be a welcome change, a respite. and those areas mainly affected midlands and southwards , uh, up to i think southwards, uh, up to i think sheffield away to uh, i think they'll, they'll breathe a little bit of a sigh of relief that it isn't going to get any worse. woi'se. >> worse. >> more than 300 further legal papers relating to paedophile jeffrey epstein have been released in them, the attorney working for an associate of epstein, ghislaine maxwell, references buckingham palace's defence of prince andrew in a bid to get a defamation complaint against him, dismissed. they add to documents already unsealed this week, which shed more light on the convicted sex offenders dealings with powerful politicians and business people . in other news, business people. in other news, those hoping to own their own home are in for a fresh battle

as house prices rise by nearly £5,000 within a year. figures from halifax found property values increased by 1.7% on average across 2023, and house pnces average across 2023, and house prices rose month on month to december. the third consecutive hike in a row. it comes as the chairman of natwest said today that it's not that difficult to get on the property ladder. sir howard davies told the bbc that those wishing to own a home need to save and that's the way it will always be. meanwhile, petrol prices have fallen for the second month in a row . rac the second month in a row. rac figures found that the price of fuel fell from 146.7 pence on december. the first to 140.6 pence. this has brought petrol pnces pence. this has brought petrol prices down to a level last seen in early february 2022, before russias invasion of ukraine sparked a surge in cost of oil pnces. sparked a surge in cost of oil prices. london underground workers are launching a series of strikes in a dispute over pay

engineers will walk out from today, but the biggest disruption to services will be from sunday until next friday. rmt members are taking action in protest at a 5% pay offer, calling it disappointing . the calling it disappointing. the talks have been held this week to try to resolve the dispute . to try to resolve the dispute. and actress glynis johns, best known for her role as mrs. banks in the classic disney movie mary poppins, has died at the age of 100. she sung sister suffragette, a call for women to have the vote in the film. mary poppins won five oscars from 13 nominations and remains one of the most popular movies made by walt disney. her final acting role was in the 1999 film superstar, starring molly shannon and will ferrell . superstar, starring molly shannon and will ferrell. her manager said she powered her way through life with intelligence , through life with intelligence, wit and a love for performing . wit and a love for performing. this is gb news across the uk on tv in your car, on digital radio

and on your smart speaker by saying play gb news. now back to ben and . pip. ben and. pip. >> thank you. welcome to britain's newsroom. lots of you getting in touch about our interview with conservative mp philip davies . what seems to philip davies. what seems to have got you going is him calling reform an irrelevance? let's hear what some of you have had to say about that. >> yeah, one here from peter in cambridge. good morning to you, peter. he says i'm gobsmacked that philip davies refers to the reform party as irrelevant. that's as hillary clinton that's as bad as hillary clinton referring to trump supporters as deplorables. >> john. good morning. you say whilst reform will not win sufficient seats to form a government, they will have enough seats to make a big difference and will be a response. opposition party, particularly on immigration, which is very important . which is very important. >> and stephen says i'm a disillusioned tory party member who will not vote for rishi

sunak and certainly not for starmer. reform is what this country needs save. its country needs to save. its identity. interesting, identity. and it's interesting, isn't it? after the comments from lee anderson, a couple of nights calling richard tice nights ago, calling richard tice a pound shop nigel farage and similarly saying that reform were irrelevant. i've heard that the tories are counting on two scenarios reform without nigel farage and reform with nigel farage. apparently they've totted up the number of seats they're likely to lose with nigel and without nigel standing at the election. so i'd argue if they are irrelevant , why are they are irrelevant, why are they are irrelevant, why are they plotting and planning so much contribution much about reforms, contribution to the election? yeah, absolutely. >> i just found philip davis , >> i just found philip davis, dare i say it, ridiculously overconfident during that interview . interview. >> that's what a lot of our viewers are saying this morning. the arrogance. they say, um, the disillusionment, as you mentioned, is that indicative of the conservative party as a whole? let us know. keep those emails coming in. >> let's talk about this awful weather. many parts of the

country, well, england , the country, well, england, the south of england, london, nottinghamshire, shropshire , nottinghamshire, shropshire, this heavy rain, wild weather which has battered places overnight , flooding causing overnight, flooding causing havoc for thousands of residents, businesses and motorists . motorists. >> the met office is warning of possible power cuts and train operators are warning services may be cancelled . may be cancelled. >> there are more than 300 weather warnings in place . we weather warnings in place. we want to hear from you if you've been impacted gb views at gb news. >> com joining us now from shropshire is our west midlands reporter jack carson . good reporter jack carson. good morning jack. what's the latest that. >> yeah. good morning to you both. certainly high levels here on the river severn. now overnight when it reached its peak of around 6.33m high here at ironbridge , it was not able at ironbridge, it was not able to break those flood barriers that have been in place here since the 27th of december, such as the frequency of this part , as the frequency of this part, this part of the river severn rising and bursting parts of its

banks so often now, you can probably see behind me just how quickly the river severn is moving downstream here. times yesterday was recorded at moving around 450 tonnes of water per second. moving across this river. that, of course, is in the parts where it has burst its banksis the parts where it has burst its banks is meaning that those water levels are staying consistent and not currently coming down. now it is down a little bit from its peak so far today, but certainly not anywhere near the levels that it usually is now . parts of the usually is now. parts of the ironbridge here and the iron railings, you can probably see over my shoulder . you should be over my shoulder. you should be able to walk under those at the moment, but of course it's many, many feet high, flooded with water. and there are homes across the severn here that are flooded and also further up the severn, particularly the boat in the has been flooded three the pub has been flooded three times in the last month, so there really feeling the effects. they called this latest latest bursting of the severn and their latest flood the worst one. they called it evil, but of

course it's not just here in shropshire that people are having problems. it's across the midlands as nottingham midlands as well. nottingham council, declared council, of course, declared that major incident, they that major incident, didn't they yesterday over the rising levels and the concerns of the rising levels the river trent. they levels in the river trent. they are attributing that because of course, the peaks that the other tributary rivers going into the trent, the levels that we've seen, and particularly from the likes of the river derwent going into the trent, meaning that that the overall level is rising. we know that around 100 people yesterday were, um, evacuated from , from from evacuated from, from from nottingham because of the, the concerns. and of course , the concerns. and of course, the flooding that's already taking place in parts of nottinghamshire. that number is probably continue probably still going to continue to rise as well as as transport networks across the country have been severely impacted. there's been severely impacted. there's been landslides on certain parts of the railway and of course, network rail urging people to check before you travel because particularly down in the south with, with, uh, you know, southeastern rail, with some

thameslink services as well. um, but there are lots of, of cancellations down there. and it's not just the transport networks, it's people. it's business. and of course, it's those areas which are now completely kind of locked by, uh, by water and looking over the next few days while the rain has started to come down a little bit here over the course of the weekend, um, a band of high pressure coming in is meant to mean that we do get some dry weather the few days, weather over the next few days, which will be better news, of course, because at the minute, because rain that we've because of the rain that we've had the few days around had in the last few days around storm though storm hank, even though it's been few days since we been quite a few days since we had worst of the rain had the worst of the rain because of rain falling because of the rain falling after already on that saturated ground. that's why we've ended up flooding up with so much flooding that we've well here we've seen, um, as well here today. so um, yeah, certainly better news that there will be dry weather on the way, but because of how the river because of how high the river levels not just here levels are, not just here in shropshire, the shropshire, but around the country it's going to country as well, it's going to take time for those to take some time for those to decrease and people to be able to start making those repairs if

they been flooded. they have been flooded. >> it's the >> jack, i think it's the environment that has said >> jack, i think it's the env riverent that has said >> jack, i think it's the env river trent that has said >> jack, i think it's the env river trent is that has said >> jack, i think it's the env river trent is at that has said >> jack, i think it's the env river trent is at some1as said >> jack, i think it's the env river trent is at some of said the river trent is at some of the river trent is at some of the highest levels that have been seen 24 now, we been seen in 24 years. now, we know due to this intense know this is due to this intense rainfall, paul, but has there been any answers as to why home homes, businesses haven't been able to be better protected? is there a lack of infrastructure? future >> well, certainly flood defences. you know, there'll be lots of people, particularly in those local areas that know their areas best, that will make they will try and be making, you know, claims to the to their local councils of what they feel they need, whether it is more storm drains in order to be able to divert the water away , to divert the water away, whether it is things like dredging rivers now that doesn't have the effect on such have the hugest effect on such large rivers, particularly where we are with the river severn, dredging wouldn't too much dredging wouldn't have too much of but certainly with of a problem, but certainly with smaller areas for smaller localised more localised flooding, more dredging rivers may well be dredging of rivers may well be one of those options that council and groups in local

communities can look to, to try and of course, improve that. and lower the risk of, of flooding . lower the risk of, of flooding. but of course with the heavy rainfall that we've had, a lot of it is, is due to the amount of it is, is due to the amount of rainfall that we've had because of storm henk and then the consistent rainfall afterwards on saturated afterwards on that saturated ground that, know, the ground that, you know, the coincidence how that's coincidence of, of how that's formed how the has formed and how the weather has formed and how the weather has formed parts of the formed over the parts of the past week and month means of course, that risk for flooding was always going to be higher. >> jack carson in shropshire , >> jack carson in shropshire, shropshire, thanks very much for that update. um, shall we have some good news? should we move on to something a bit more positive? most tourists, positive? uh, most tourists, they've benefited from a £0.06 per fall petrol prices per litre fall in petrol prices last brought prices last month. that brought prices down level last seen in down to a level last seen in early february before early february 2022. before russia invaded ukraine. joining us now is the founder of fair fuel uk campaign, howard cox . fuel uk campaign, howard cox. good morning howard. lovely to hear such good news. but apparently the rac say that um petrol stations, supermarkets it's the prices are still too

high, still about 12 or 13% margin on wholesale prices. is that right? >> absolutely right. and good morning to you both. um, fundamentally what we're seeing is actually the profiteering continues to run rife. yes we're delighted that pump price is coming down. but let me tell you, a figure, uh, you know, since september of last year, uh, pump prices have come down by about 6% petrol. but by about 6% in petrol. but wholesale prices have come down 13, which means profit per litre has gone up nearly 90. nearly double. the same is for diesel . double. the same is for diesel. the same picture across the country . uh, we're seeing a, uh country. uh, we're seeing a, uh is this variation of prices, for example , a bp garage in example, a bp garage in birmingham is selling, uh, petrol cheaper than it is in the south—east and that's why, you know, at fairfield, uk, we're calling on, uh, with uh, a body called pump watch, an independent consumer price regulatory body, which i've been calling for 5 or 6 years, uh, backed by the competition and market authority to be in place. so we can get honest, fair and

transparent pump pricing because we're saying it's good news, which it is to a point. >> but then you look at, say, northern ireland, where the pump pnces northern ireland, where the pump prices are on average , what, at prices are on average, what, at least 5pa litre cheaper . least 5pa litre cheaper. >> well, that's the point. that's what i'm saying to you. the wholesale price itself, you know. and let's go back to 2019 before covid, uh, you're seeing petrol profits have gone up 50% since then. and diesel profits have gone up 83% since then. it's absolutely. and as you know , when you announce the inflation figures , the next line inflation figures, the next line usually after announcing those is what's the impact on inflation has been either up or down. it's petrol and diesel prices. that's what we see at the moment in time. you know, and unfortunately, you know what we're what we're seeing is a government frightened to actually implement actually really implement pubwatch. i'm meeting claire coutinho next tuesday. the minister for energy and the person behind me, in fact , person behind me, in fact, they've meet with they've requested to meet with me about duty. me to talk about fuel duty. we've budget in three

we've got a budget in three months on march the 2nd. and there's still rumours that fuel duty could go up, would be duty could go up, which would be political suicide. >> howard, what >> mm. howard, what's what effect will this situation in the red sea, these attacks from the red sea, these attacks from the houthi rebels on shipping containers. what effects will that petrol prices? that have on petrol prices? because a barrel of brent crude rose i think, 2 to 3% rose by, i think, 2 to 3% yesterday. are we going to feel the after effects of all this drama? >> well, always geopolitik uh, events and particularly those sorts of events, uh, surrounding economic wars and all all those sorts of things do give an excuse to wholesalers and the big branded oil companies to actually put that prices willy nilly. and that's my point. if we had pump watch , we'd have a we had pump watch, we'd have a daily, uh, a measure of actually what's happening at pumps, what's happening at the pumps, what's happening at the pumps, what's happening at the pumps, what's happening with wholesale pnces what's happening with wholesale prices happening with prices and what's happening with oil , terms global oil over, uh, in terms of global effect on oil prices since september , oil has fallen 22. september, oil has fallen 22. and yet petrol has only come down 6. go figure . down 6. go figure. >> um, what would your advice to motorists be then? is it still

to shop around to find those independent retailers that might be charging quite a few pence less? >> well, i would honestly download the app from petrolprices.com because that would tell you where the price is near to you. you can actually put within five miles radius of where you're sitting in your car or from your home, etc. that will tell you the cheapest pnces will tell you the cheapest prices at and there's. if you do shop around, you can be in a situation where you drive around to find the cheapest and you've used up the fuel looking for it. it's even more to find it's cost you even more to find that cheaper my advice, that cheaper fuel. so my advice, yes, is to shop around, but do it with with a bit of it with a with a bit of intelligence. >> yeah. howard we see the same thing with energy prices. wholesale collapsed wholesale prices have collapsed uh, not seen uh, to, um, figures not seen before invasion of before russias invasion of ukraine the price per ukraine yet. um, the price per unit. they're charging domestic and commercial customers is still far higher was still far higher than it was from that period. what can the government do and the cma do? were literally just whip were they literally just whip these supermarket into line and other other stations? how other other petrol stations? how would it work? um, practically.

>> there's two things they >> well, there's two things they can do . and, and the most can do. and, and the most important thing and bear in mind, i'm standing for london mayoral position for reform uk party. so interesting party. so it's interesting you're about davis who's you're talking about davis who's a supporter. a big supporter. >> howard, >> you're irrelevant howard, i exactly, but he's a big supporter of fairfield, uk. >> give him his credit. he's always been backing me for about 1415 years and he's quite a close friend . but he's an idiot close friend. but he's an idiot saying those stupid comments because you're allowed to say that because you're his mate . that because you're his mate. >> yeah, well, well, it's sad because he's showing just how scared the tory party are of reform. >> but going back to how your question, the two things they can do, the is cut can do, the budget is to cut fuel duty time because we're fuel duty big time because we're still of the highest tax still one of the highest tax drivers in world. uh, and drivers in the world. uh, and that will put more money into people's encourage people's pocket, encourage investment, reduce inflation almost . don't almost immediately. i don't mean just penny. i'm talking about just a penny. i'm talking about £0.20 fuel duty. let's be £0.20 cut in fuel duty. let's be real and put more money into consumer and other consumer spending. and the other thing talking thing is, i've been talking aboutis thing is, i've been talking about is introduce this. there's about is introduce this. there's a consumer price or pump price regulatory body, which we've got

for water, got for for water, we've got for electricity , we've got for electricity, we've got for telecoms, haven't got it telecoms, but we haven't got it for 37 million drivers. so introduce pump it work. and introduce pump make it work. and that actually put absolute that would actually put absolute massive uh , motivation and massive uh, motivation and impetus into the economy . impetus into the economy. >> me yeah. it seems like >> me yeah, yeah. it seems like there's a growing war the there's a growing war on the motorists, just petrol motorists, not just on petrol prices, but i paid £20 an hour to park in brighton the other day. was there three day. i was there for three hours. me £60. seems hours. it cost me £60. seems like just don't want us to like they just don't want us to drive. but howard cox, founder of fair fuel uk campaign, of the fair fuel uk campaign, thank you so much for joining us. >> us. >> you're with britain's newsroom on gb news. still to come, the shadow chancellor rachel been speaking rachel reeves, has been speaking in guildford about labour's plans tax. we'll bring you plans on tax. we'll bring you that in just a few minutes. this is britain's newsroom on gb news. >> thank galway

>> the camilla tominey show sunday mornings from 930 on gb news . news. >> good morning. it's 1024. >> good morning. it's1024. you're with britain's newsroom on gb news with ben elliott and pip tomson. >> the shadow chancellor. rachel reevesis >> the shadow chancellor. rachel reeves is in wellingborough to unveil labour's poster campaign on the tories tax cuts. >> just a few minutes ago, she began speaking to party activists. let's take a listen to what she said . to what she said. >> well, thank you very much, jonathan, and it's wonderful to be here with all of you in wellingborough today to expose rishi sunak raw deal after 25 tory tax rises . and despite the

tory tax rises. and despite the changes in the autumn statement . changes in the autumn statement. for every £0.10 that they have increased taxes on working people, they are only giving £0.02 back. it is a drop in the ocean. working people are worse off under the tories £1,200 for an average family extra tax this year because of choices by rishi sunak and this conservative government never have people paid so much in tax and got so little in return in the form of pubuc little in return in the form of public services. it is time for change.in public services. it is time for change. in britain, time for a fresh start . and there is an fresh start. and there is an alternative . a changed labour alternative. a changed labour party under keir starmer's leadership , a party that is once leadership, a party that is once again in the service of working people. a comprehensive plan to grow our economy so we can improve living standards . a plan improve living standards. a plan to invest in our public services, our schools and our hospitals to ensure that they

work properly again after 14 years of conservative neglect and a plan to end the cronyism , and a plan to end the cronyism, the dodgy contracts, the chaos and the waste that rishi sunak and the waste that rishi sunak and these concerns have presided over for too long and never again will we have a situation like we did under liz truss and the conservatives, with unfunded tax cuts that brought our economy to its knees and for which working people are paying the price again, i will never play the price again, i will never play fast and loose with the pubuc play fast and loose with the public finances because when you do, you play fast and loose with the family finances of british people . labour will never do people. labour will never do that. people. labour will never do that . i will never do that . people. labour will never do that. i will never do that . this that. i will never do that. this is the year of choice , the year is the year of choice, the year that the british people will give their verdict on. rishi sunak and 14 years of conservative government and rishi sunak can bottle it as much as he wants. but we say

bnng much as he wants. but we say bring it on, it is time for a general election. it is time for the british people to decide and as people make that choice , they as people make that choice, they will ask themselves these questions and me and my family better off after 14 years of conservative government, are our schools , our hospitals, our schools, our hospitals, our transport, our police ? are they transport, our police? are they working better than when the conservatives came to office? 14 years ago ? i mean, frankly, is years ago? i mean, frankly, is anything in britain working better today? when the conservatives came to office 14 years ago, the answers to those questions is no . and imagine questions is no. and imagine what britain would look like if they were given another five years, another five years of instability and chaos, another five years of deteriorating living standards, another five years of our schools and our hospitals dragged down and down because of these conservative government choices . so it is government choices. so it is time for change. it's a time for a fresh start in wellingborough, andifs a fresh start in wellingborough, and it's a time for a fresh

start right across the uk with a labour government in the service of working people. thank you very much . very much. >> joining us now from westminster is our political correspondent katherine forster, who can react to what the shadow chancellor, rachel reeves, had to say. i was i was listening to a catherine, but i was also drawn to the poster behind rachel reeves talking about rishi's roar deal and saying that families will be £1,200 worse off. they claim yes, the general election might be not coming till the second half of the year, potentially november. >> it's a very long way away, but it does feel like the campaigns have already launched. mps are not even back in westminster yet , but we've heard westminster yet, but we've heard from sir keir starmer , we've from sir keir starmer, we've heard from rishi sunak, we've heard from rishi sunak, we've heard from rishi sunak, we've heard from reform, we've heard from the lib dems . and today

from the lib dems. and today labour hitting the tories with this poster campaign they've unveiled in wellingborough . this unveiled in wellingborough. this poster on the side of a bus rishi sunak and basically saying that every household is £1,200 worse off under this government. and for every . worse off under this government. and for every. 10 pm. that they've taken in taxes, they're only giving £0.02 back. so the gloves are already coming off. rachel reeves saying, bring it on, stressing, um , the on, stressing, um, the conservatives record , she's conservatives record, she's saying and i think this will be the labour's central message fundamentally, does your family feel better off than they did? 13, 14 years ago when the conservatives came to power? do you think that britain is working better at the moment? the labour party is pretty sure that most people will say that the answer is no. now rishi sunak are very keen to trumpet

this tax cut in national insurance coming in tomorrow. that was heralded in the autumn statement . hints of tax cuts statement. hints of tax cuts coming in the spring budget . statement. hints of tax cuts coming in the spring budget. but laboun coming in the spring budget. but labour, pointing out that despite this £0.02 cut in national insurance , in fact national insurance, in fact taxes have still gone up. they say, 25 times and the institute for fiscal studies saying that the autumn statement was that the autumn statement was that the biggest tax rise in parliament in modern times, that we're currently in, despite this £0.02 cut that's coming . so lots £0.02 cut that's coming. so lots of people worried about what labour might do with tax and spend. but at the moment labour feel that the conservatives record on this is not too good ehhen record on this is not too good either. yeah catherine, the tories would of course say that people feel worse off financially because we've had crippling inflation from covid and wars and whatever else. >> keir starmer >> but actually keir starmer yesterday hinted that he wouldn't . uh, proceed any, uh,

wouldn't. uh, proceed any, uh, sorry that economic growth would proceed. any tax cuts from labour's point of view. so if labour's point of view. so if labour aren't committing to tax cuts and they're just going to carry on the same, uh, in the same fashion as the tories, what's the dividing line there? what have they got to serve up ? what have they got to serve up? >> well, there very, very worried about being seen as being reckless. i think somebody shouted something about more debt. more debt. shortly after that poster in wellingborough was unveiled, because labour traditionally have been quite big spenders. we've already got a huge national debt of £2.6 trillion, so labour want to be seen as going to be super, super careful. and yeah, they're saying we're not going to promise tax cuts because we have to get the growth first and the growth they think is going to come from green investment. but this 28 billion that they had originally pledged, they're rowing back on when that might happen. or you know that's subject to all sorts of fiscal rules. so it's difficult to be

honest. whoever is in charge of to the next election, there's not a lot of money around. there's going to be very difficult choices being made. and there are of people, and there are plenty of people, people going towards reform, for example , who really feel that example, who really feel that there's not much to pick between there's not much to pick between the conservatives and the labour party and plenty of people feeling fairly disillusioned with the lot of them . with the lot of them. >> great stuff. katherine forster in westminster , thank forster in westminster, thank you very much. still, to come, we've got a treat for you. nigel farage is going to be with us very shortly to talk about philip davies comments about reform uk. he said they're irrelevant. elsewhere the irrelevant. um, elsewhere the navy says there's a shortage of sailors, which means that sailors, um, which means that the ships are going to be made redundant. two ships being decommissioned . all that and decommissioned. all that and more after your news with tatiana. ben. thank your top stories from the gb newsroom . stories from the gb newsroom. >> hundreds of flood warnings remain in place across the uk as

commuters face more delays following heavy rain . great following heavy rain. great western railway warns that several lines will remain closed following flooding. the environment agency says ongoing impacts are likely across much of england over the next five days, following storm. henk nottinghamshire county council declared a major incident yesterday with more than 100 homes flooded. they're advising people to stay cautious as the danger of flooding is expected to continue to throughout today . to continue to throughout today. two teenage boys have been arrested on suspicion of murder over the death of harry pitman in north london. the 16 year old died following what police describe as an altercation in as crowds gathered to watch the fireworks new year's eve on fireworks on new year's eve on primrose hill. the met police say a 16 year old and a 17 year old remain in custody. we the health secretary, says the nhs belongs to us all and can't be simply switched on and off as a record breaking walkout by medics continues. junior doctors in england are striking for six

days over pay and conditions , as days over pay and conditions, as the longest industrial action in the longest industrial action in the history of the nhs, many hospitals have pleaded for medics to leave picket lines and return to work amid rising concerns for patient safety . the concerns for patient safety. the british medical association suggests that the request may be politically motivated , while politically motivated, while victoria atkins has this morning promised to restart pay talks within 20 minutes if the strike is called off. and those hoping to own their own home are in for a fresh battle as house prices rise by nearly £5,000 within a year , figures from halifax found year, figures from halifax found property values increased by 1.7% on average across 2023. average house prices rose month on month to december for the third consecutive hike in a row. it comes as the chairman of natwest said today that it's not that difficult to get on the property ladder. sir howard davies told the bbc that those wishing to own a home need to save their money. you can get more on all of those stories by

visiting our website gbnews.com . visiting our website gbnews.com. >> for stunning gold and silver coins, you'll always value rosalind gold proudly sponsors the gb news financial report that. >> here's a quick snapshot of today's markets . the pound will today's markets. the pound will buy you $1.2659 and ,1.1604. the price of gold, £1,610.38 per ounce, and the ftse 100 is at 7661 points. rosalind gold proudly sponsors the gb news financial report . financial report. >> it . is 1035 financial report. >> it. i51035 eur, financial report. >> it . is 1035 eur, with >> it. is 1035 eur, with britain's newsroom on gb news, with ben liu and pip tomson. up next, nigel farage joins us to discuss a little interview that the natwest chairman did a bit earlier , saying it's not that earlier, saying it's not that difficult to get on the property ladder. difficult to get on the property ladder . what planet is he

and people that i knew had dewbs & co .weeknights from six. >> welcome back . it's 1040. >> welcome back. it's 1040. you're with britain's newsroom on gb news with ben leo and pip tomson now the chairman of natwest , has claimed it's not natwest, has claimed it's not that difficult to get on the property ladder in the uk . property ladder in the uk. >> sir howard davies said that people will have to more , people will have to save more, but i don't think it's that difficult moment. difficult at the moment. >> he also spoke of dame alison

rose in an interview with radio four radio four today programme this morning. take a look as chair of natwest about the departure of dame alison rose, your chief executive, after she leaked some private information about farage. about nigel farage. >> um, you said, um , on tuesday >> um, you said, um, on tuesday the 25th of july, about 5:42 pm, you and the board issued your backing for miss rose. and this was after she had made clear that she had leaked private information, not just about customer , but about about any customer, but about nigel farage. uh, someone who's got quite a profile. do you now accept that you and the board got particular call on the got that particular call on the 25th of wrong 25th of july? wrong >> what we was that we >> what we said was that we backed her and that we ordered an review into the an independent review into the circumstances , because it was circumstances, because it was not at all clear what the circumstances had actually been. just to give you the exact quote you said after after careful reflection , determine what was reflection, determine what was appropriate in our response . appropriate in our response. >> what you said was, after careful reflection, the board has concluded that it retains full confidence in miss rose not

allowing me to answer the question that asked me. question that you asked me. >> think that the judgement >> i think that the judgement that we made the time was that we made at the time was entirely reasonable to support her. whilst we had an independent investigation of the circumstances . circumstances. >> dame alison rose, of course, was the natwest ceo who fell on her sword in the wake of nigel farage's banking scandal. well, who better to hear from than the man himself? nigel farage joins us now . good morning nigel. man himself? nigel farage joins us now. good morning nigel. um, despite all the resignations , despite all the resignations, the apologies, the fallout, the outrage , um, sir howard davies outrage, um, sir howard davies still suggests that they behaved reasonably at the time when it came to your de—banking for wrongthink. what's your reaction to that ? to that? >> well, it's very rare on gb news that we praise the bbc. >> well done, anil rajan for asking. absolutely. the right question. it was extraordinary. everyone knew that it was alison rose that had broken all the bafic rose that had broken all the basic rules of banking. in

revealing details about my account to simon jacques, the business editor of the bbc, everyone knew that she'd admitted it had you been a teller working in a natwest branch and you disclosed any information about any customer you would have been out of the doon you would have been out of the door. you would have been very lucky to get your month's money. and yet, sir howard , one of the and yet, sir howard, one of the great establish failure figures of our time , decides not only of our time, decides not only should she not be sacked, but she should be able to keep her huge remunerative package and it was because the government then intervened. and later on that evening , the government. and evening, the government. and don't forget, we gb news viewers around the country . we own 38% around the country. we own 38% of this bank. the share price is on the floor and we've lost tens of billions. as a country backing alison rose backing that bank backing sir howard. and she

only resigned later that evening under government pressure . and under government pressure. and sir howard should have gone in at that moment in time to . and at that moment in time to. and his pathetic attempt to then coverit his pathetic attempt to then cover it all up by finding some remainer establishment mates with a law firm . a law firm with a law firm. a law firm whose boss, by the way , had whose boss, by the way, had described brexit peers as racists and xenophobe mobs to conduct an inquiry. racists and xenophobe mobs to conduct an inquiry . and the conduct an inquiry. and the inquiry finds that no one's done anything wrong . everything's anything wrong. everything's tickety boo. i mean, this is a disgrace . disgrace. >> every level and this is, um, well, they call it an independent legal review, nigel, don't they? but didn't didn't actually interview you . actually interview you. >> yeah. i'm the last that question. >> how can you how can you do an interview with everybody involved in the affair , but not involved in the affair, but not the person that was affected ? the person that was affected? and look, all you have to do is to look at the subject access

request that i got that 40 page document that i got back from coutts on three separate occasions . it says nigel farage occasions. it says nigel farage is a viable commercial, financial customer, and it makes it clear the reason for exiting me, the reason for de—banking me , which, by the way, is now in the oxford english dictionary and i'm rather proud of that. the reason is the reason is i did not align with the bank's values . it could not be clearer. values. it could not be clearer. and so you've had an attempted cover up at every level. in the end , because of government end, because of government pressure, she's going to walk away with about 3 million rather than 11 million. and sir howard, unbelievably , is still the unbelievably, is still the chairman. now he's going on the 1st of march, but he has not been made to carry any responsibility whatsoever . this responsibility whatsoever. this is not just a normal company ,

is not just a normal company, normal bank. this is something that we own. 38% of. and i, you know, in many ways the government have been good through this de—banking crisis. they promised new legislation. they promised new legislation. they promised new legislation. they promised much. but to allow this man to go out gracefully after his terrible behaviour . this man to go out gracefully after his terrible behaviour. i just think it's wrong and actually, you would have thought with natwest share price , uh, with natwest share price, uh, completely in completely capitulating in recent years under his watch, that he would have gone off his own back some years ago. >> just proving how out of >> but just proving how out of touch arguably this man is. this is his, uh, reaction to, um, well, his comments rather that quote, it's not easy. sorry. it's is easy for young people to buy houses these days. take a listen to this to get on the property ladder in this country. >> well, i don't think it's that difficult at the moment, but to buy a house in this country, well, are we living in the same country, are reporting from overseas ? you have to save b and overseas? you have to save b and that's the way it always used to

be. is he off his rocker? >> nigel i mean, talk to anybody under the age of 40 living in london or anywhere near london or actually manchester or any of our big cities , and they are our big cities, and they are generation rent. >> the only way they can get onto the property ladder is if their parents give them , if their parents give them, if they're fortunate enough, their inherited . it's early. it is all inherited. it's early. it is all but impossible for young people to get on the property ladder. and what that's done, it's destroyed the culture of thrift , destroyed the culture of thrift, howard says save, but i've spoken to young people who say, look, there's no point saving because we're never going to save enough to even get the deposit that is required. deposit that is now required. and this is head a bank and this man is head of a bank with 19 million customers, 19 million he couldn't million customers. he couldn't be further away from a centre of gravity of public opinion. he couldn't be further away from his own customers. if he tried. and i repeat, he still there as

chairman . it is incredible. chairman. it is incredible. >> nigel, need to get your view on a guest. we had on earlier somebody that, you know, conservative mp philip davies and myself and ben uh, pushed him on, on reform and he claimed reform at the election is and will be an irrelevance . what's will be an irrelevance. what's your reaction to those comments ? your reaction to those comments? >> well, i've heard that before, you know, i mean, i remember ukip when i was leading it in the early days, being described by david cameron as swivel eyed loonies of fruitcakes and mostly closet racists. well, um, that did come back to rather bite mr cameron, because in the end, um, i managed to get him out as prime minister. so be very careful, mr davis. what you say. and i like philip. but be careful , because if you go and careful, because if you go and talk to your constituents and you ask them about reforms, policies of, of, you know, five back the woke agenda and back against the woke agenda and helping small businesses , helping small businesses, fulfilling the promises on immigration that were made in

the brexit campaign , you might the brexit campaign, you might find, mr davies that actually a lot of your voters prefer reform's policies to yours . so reform's policies to yours. so this is, uh , somehow this is, uh, somehow conservative members of parliament think they have a god given entire right to their jobs , and that nobody else should ever stand for election against them. apart from the labour party. and again , uh, not quite party. and again, uh, not quite on the level of mr mr mr howard davies, but philip is out of touch. >> yeah. richard littlejohn made a good point in his daily mail column today saying why is it the tories have a god given divine right to think that they should stand? why isn't it them standing down for reform ? standing down for reform? likewise, when the brexit party stood aside for boris in 2019 and you, you know, arguably handed him the election. so to, you with reform built in you know, with reform built in the spirit of the brexit party , the spirit of the brexit party, a lot of similar faces, both front of centre and, you know, behind the scenes it's a bit some would say, um, silly of philip to suggest that this time

round they're going to be irrelevant. but nigel farage, thank you so much. >> oh my god, i just wanted to nigel was going say nigel was going to say then because face was i mean, because your face was i mean, i mean, look, you know, it isn't just philip davies. >> the editorials of >> you've got the editorials of the mail, the the the mail, the sun, the telegraph, they're saying telegraph, they're all saying reform exist . we need reform shouldn't exist. we need to keep the tories in power. the tories really awful. they're tories are really awful. they're terrible. labour would be terrible. but labour would be worse . don't deserve worse. don't we deserve something than this ? something better than this? don't deserve to have an don't we deserve to have an actual , proper debate where actual open, proper debate where parties put what they parties put out what they believe in and let the electorate decide? and tell electorate decide? and i'll tell you nothing. there is electorate decide? and i'll tell yotway nothing. there is electorate decide? and i'll tell yotway that nothing. there is electorate decide? and i'll tell yotway that richard there is electorate decide? and i'll tell yotway that richard theiisis no way that richard tice is backing down. there is no way he's going to do sweetheart deals with any tory members of parliament. what so ever. and reform isn't here for one election. it's here for the long terme to try and replace the existing establishment parties. at that point , existing establishment parties. at that point, he's existing establishment parties. at that point , he's making existing establishment parties. at that point, he's making very strongly great stuff. >> nigel farage thank you for joining us this morning. very much appreciated. uh, pleased to be joined now by political

commentators matthew stadlen and russell quirk to discuss this. matthew let's go to you first. i'm sure a massive reform fan of big, big supporter of their policies. are they irrelevant? as philip davies says, i don't think are irrelevant. as philip davies says, i don't thirquite are irrelevant. as philip davies says, i don't thirquite thee irrelevant. as philip davies says, i don't thirquite the contrary. it. >> quite the contrary. i interviewed richard tice for my 20 questions podcast just before christmas. had a robust and christmas. she had a robust and polite views. polite exchange of views. i think fascinating hear think what's fascinating to hear from there is him saying from nigel there is him saying absolutely clearly and presumably we can hold him to this . there will be no this. there will be no sweetheart deal, such as the one that was in the last that was done in the last election that, as you've said, may have helped boris johnson to his majority . his 80 seat majority. interestingly, writing in the guardian, john mcconnell, john mcconnell , who was the shadow mcconnell, who was the shadow chancellor, labour's shadow chancellor, labour's shadow chancellor under corbyn, warned labour not to be complacent about reform, not to trust that they they won't do such a deal moving forward. but i think nigel has just firmly kiboshed that and i've spoken to richard as i've said, and he is very, very clear there that although

by putting candidates up across the board it may lead to a sizeable labour majority or a labour majority of some sort anyway , that's okay with him anyway, that's okay with him because he sees labour and the tories as very similar and he wants his words to punish the tories . tories. >> yeah, russell, i suspect , and >> yeah, russell, i suspect, and i've heard this from arron banks. he said it on twitter that actually reform don't care if it gives the keys to starmer for number 10. they just want to annihilate the tories so they can rebuild themselves and find some conservative values. do you think reform actually mind that they win that they probably won't win that many seats? they're out many seats? they're just out there destroy the tories, really. >> i think if ever there was a time that a proper centre right party would seats, it's now, party would win seats, it's now, you ukip in the past have you know, ukip in the past have got pretty close in terms of their share of the vote. >> and look, let's be very, very clear, you know, reform are not this of extreme oddity in this kind of extreme oddity in the political spectrum. they in effect, replaced the effect, have replaced the conservative what conservative booths because what we is a we actually now have is a conservative government, a conservative government, a conservative are not conservative party that are not in way conservative. so if

in any way conservative. so if you to the of you hark back to the days of thatcher, for instance, which, you can obviously extol you know, we can obviously extol the thatcher's the virtues of thatcher's multiple election victories and so on, and most of the electorate, in opinion, has electorate, in my opinion, has not they still electorate, in my opinion, has not for they still electorate, in my opinion, has not for dyedzy still electorate, in my opinion, has not for dyed in still electorate, in my opinion, has not for dyed in the still electorate, in my opinion, has not for dyed in the wool looking for dyed in the wool traditional conservative values on like business, on things like business, taxation, immigration, crime and so on. and so actually what reform to me represent is conservatism and the fact that keir starmer and rishi sunak over the last 48 hours have both seen fit to reference or without much of a veil, frankly, um, the, the fact that, you know, reform are even standing means that keir starmer rishi sunak clearly see them as a threat . clearly see them as a threat. the conservatives would say, of course , well, what's the point course, well, what's the point in standing? you're just going to the vote, will to split the vote, i think will be very, surprised indeed be very, very surprised indeed at success of reform in the at the success of reform in the general election. yeah, i think they're totally underestimated. >> matthew , um, nigel made >> and matthew, um, nigel made it very clear that reform >> and matthew, um, nigel made it veryitlear that reform >> and matthew, um, nigel made it veryit forr that reform >> and matthew, um, nigel made it veryit for the that reform >> and matthew, um, nigel made it veryit for the long at reform >> and matthew, um, nigel made it veryit for the long haul. yrm are in it for the long haul. this traditional sort of two party politics is two horse race that davies seemed to that philip davies seemed to suggest happening .

suggest was still happening. it's gone, isn't it? yeah >> i don't think they will win many seats. it's perfectly possible that they won't win any, could hold the any, but they could hold the balance of power in terms of delivering that victory for laboun delivering that victory for labour. and then you ask yourself, so what's really in it for nigel farage? what's really in it for richard tice? they might tell you that after the election reform can develop into a alternative to two a serious alternative to the two big beasts. think that's big beasts. i think that's unlikely, but more likely unlikely, but much more likely is they're already doing. is what they're already doing. they dragged the they have dragged the conservative party to the right. i think without reform , his i think without reform, his presence in the last couple of years, rishi sunak would have been much, much less tough in his talking, at least on immigration, and hold that thought. >> we are going to be continuing this and much more very shortly . this and much more very shortly. labour's released a new poster . labour's released a new poster. we'll be looking at that a brighter outlook with boxt solar sponsors of whether on . gb news.

sponsors of whether on. gb news. >> morning. welcome to your latest weather update from the met office for gb news. i'm alex deakin and the weather patterns are after wet , windy, are shifting after a wet, windy, wild start to the year , things wild start to the year, things are calming down far from completely dry there today. completely dry out there today. however yesterday's heavy rain in the south still providing some of course eastern some showers. of course eastern england showery rain across northern scotland as well, but snow on the hills here a few showers drifting into north and west wales. the odd one for devon cornwall but for devon and cornwall but for a good slice of the country, particularly central areas particularly in central areas and of course central and southern dry southern scotland. it's dry and it's fine . temperatures it's fine. temperatures generally close average for generally close to average for the of year, probably the time of year, probably feeling chilly compared feeling quite chilly compared to recent , and it's going to recent days, and it's going to get colder as we through the get colder as we go through the weekend, continue to weekend, and we'll continue to see drifting in see a few showers drifting in through evening and through the evening and overnight across northern and eastern some are eastern scotland. some are moving down across midlands moving down across the midlands and parts of england to and eastern parts of england to the odd shower, just still affecting and affecting west wales and northern ireland, but many places dry and clear again and that will allow it to turn cold as the winds ease off and a

touch of frost, likely from northern england northwards even further it's likely to further south, it's likely to get freezing in some get close to freezing in some spots, a chilly start to the spots, so a chilly start to the weekend, we'll keep a lot of weekend, so we'll keep a lot of cloud over parts of cloud ai suspect over parts of eastern england. but again, most places be dry. a few places will be dry. a few showers continuing to affect nonh showers continuing to affect north west and north and west wales, and showers continue showers will continue in northern scotland. many , northern scotland. but for many, i it'll be dry and i suspect it'll be dry and bright . some stubborn fog bright. some stubborn fog patches, places seeing patches, but many places seeing some wintry sunshine but quite a bit colder than it has been . bit colder than it has been. >> that warm feeling inside from boxt boiler as sponsors of weather on . gb news. weather on. gb news. >> thanks for that, alex. we're going to get stuck into labour's new election poster. can we take a quick look at it? uh, rishi sunak, the great tory tax con. >> you know, it looks like in the 60s. not that i was around then, but looks like what then, but it looks like what you'd on the on a box of you'd see on the on a box of washing powder. >> yeah, yeah, yeah % or >> yeah, yeah, yeah% or something that.

us. >> a very good morning. it is 11 am. on friday, january the 5th. this is britain's newsroom with ben leo and pip tomson >> labour's new poster. rishi's raw deal is the headline we'd to love hear your thoughts on this 1960s inspired election campaign poster . poster. >> autumn election rishi sunak

is out and about in the north west of england after hinting there will be an election in the second half of this year and our reform uk relevant conservative mp philip davies said this morning that a vote for reform is a waste of time. >> does reform really have a chance of winning a seat at the next general election? >> oscar pistorius is free, the paralympian killer has been released from prison on parole this morning. 11 years after killing reeva steenkamp. >> thanks for joining killing reeva steenkamp. >> thanks forjoining us. now all the talk, of course, is philip davies. his comments about reform uk, are they irrelevant? fresh off the back, of course, of lee anderson's comments, calling richard tice a pound shop, farage and pip this new poster from labour. >> this new poster from labour. if you haven't seen it, we will

be showing it you very shortly. it is certainly eye catching . it it is certainly eye catching. it looks like the sort of branding you would have seen on a box of washing powder. >> yeah, 1960s us style 1970s. >> yeah, 1960s us style 1970s. >> let us know your thoughts. gb views at gb news. com but first the news with tatiana . the news with tatiana. >> ben, thank you very much. your top stories from the gb newsroom. hundreds of flood warnings remain in place across the uk as commuters face more delays following heavy rain. great western railway warns that several lines will remain closed following flooding. the environment agency says ongoing impacts are likely across much of england over the next five days following storm. henk nottinghamshire county council declared a major incident yesterday with more than 100 homes being flooded. there advising people to stay cautious as the danger of flooding is expected to continue throughout the day. today but senior meteorologist jim dale told us

the worst is over into a colder face, a colder , drier. face, a colder, drier. >> uh , ice and frost become the >> uh, ice and frost become the next problem. uh, not that ice and frost will be a problem to these people with the with the floods. yet uh, but i think it'll be a welcome change. a respite. and those areas mainly affected midlands and southwards , uh, up to, i think sheffield away. uh, i think they'll, they'll breathe a little bit of a sigh of relief that it isn't going to get any worse. >> the health secretary says the nhs belongs to us all and can't simply be switched on and off as a record breaking walkout by medics continues, junior doctors in england are striking for six days over pay and conditions. the longest industrial action in nhs history. many hospitals have pleaded for medics to leave picket lines and return to work amid rising concerns for patient safety . the british medical safety. the british medical association suggested the request may be politically motivated, while victoria atkins promised to restart pay talks within 20 minutes if the strike is called . off. two teenage boys

is called. off. two teenage boys have been charged , have been have been charged, have been arrested on suspicion of murder over the death of harry pitman in north london. the 16 year old died following what police describe as an altercation in as crowds gathered on primrose hill to watch the fireworks on new year's eve. the met police say a 16 year old and a 17 year old remain in custody . pitman sister remain in custody. pitman sister described him as a good boy with a heart of gold . oscar pistorius a heart of gold. oscar pistorius has been freed on parole from a south african prison, almost 11 years after murdering his girlfriend . the former girlfriend. the former paralympian shot reeva steenkamp multiple times through a door on valentine's day in 2013. he claimed he mistook her for an intruder, but prosecutors argued the murder was premeditated and following a row between the two, the parole will last until december 2029 and the 37 year old will be required to obey strict conditions, including therapy and anger management.

more than 300 further legal papers relating to paedophile jeffrey epstein have been released. among the revelations is an email exchange involving one of epstein's victims, virginia giuffre , who says she virginia giuffre, who says she was sex trafficked to the duke of york and two of the world's most powerful politicians. they add to documents already unsealed this week, which shed more light the convicted sex more light on the convicted sex offenders dealings with several powerful . the met police powerful people. the met police says it has not launched any new investigations related to information in the documents . in information in the documents. in other news, those hoping to own their own home are in for a fresh battle as house prices rise by nearly £5,000 within a year. figures from rise by nearly £5,000 within a year . figures from halifax rise by nearly £5,000 within a year. figures from halifax found property values increased by 1.7% on average across 2023. average house prices rose month on month to december , the third on month to december, the third consecutive hike in a row . it consecutive hike in a row. it comes as the chairman of natwest said today that it's not that difficult to get on the property ladden difficult to get on the property ladder. sir howard davies told

the bbc that those wishing to own a home need to save . own a home need to save. meanwhile there's some relief for drivers as petrol prices fall for the second month in a row. rac figures found that the price of fuel fell from 146.7 pence in december to 140.6. it bnngs pence in december to 140.6. it brings petrol prices down to a level last seen in early 2022, before russias invasion of ukraine sparked a surge in the cost of oil . commuters in london cost of oil. commuters in london may struggle next week as planned strike action brings the tube to a standstill . london tube to a standstill. london underground workers are launching a series of strikes in their dispute over pay. engineers will walk out from today, but the biggest disruption to services starts on sunday, with no services expected on the whole network until friday. rmt members are protesting at a 5% pay offer, calling it disappointing. talks have been held this week to try to resolve the dispute, and

actress . glynis johns, best actress. glynis johns, best known for her role as mrs. banks in the classic disney film mary poppins, has died at the age of 100. she sung sister suffragette, a call for women to have the vote in the film my three poppins won five oscars from 13 nominations and remains one of the most popular movies made by walt disney. her final acting role was in the 1999 film superstar , starring molly superstar, starring molly shannon and will ferrell . superstar, starring molly shannon and will ferrell. her manager said she powered her way through life with intelligence, wit and a love for performance . wit and a love for performance. you're with gb news across the uk on tv in your car, on digital radio and on your smart speaker by saying play gb news. now back to ben and . pip to ben and. pip >> tatiana. thank you . we are >> tatiana. thank you. we are this morning, amongst many things, talking about labour's latest poster. take a look at

this . latest poster. take a look at this. rishi's roar deal. this has been released this morning. it's all over their website. it's all over their website. it's even all over the conservative home website as well. >> yeah, it seems like our colleague tom harwood has just tweeted that the labour party have taken out adverts on the con home website, which is a very popular website for tory members and politicians. so parking their tanks on the tories lawns. >> no doubt we've had some comments from you about this. john. good morning. you say for me the picture reminds me of an advertisement for the carry on movies and then paul. good morning. you say good old laboun morning. you say good old labour. they can't even get rishi sunak face right. it's a mirror image , is it? mirror image, is it? >> can we see that again? >> can we see that again? >> yeah. let's have another look . oh, here we go . . oh, here we go. >> it's coming. there is rishi. >> it's coming. there is rishi. >> oh yeah. cos what side is his quiff. god i think you've got to be quite attentive to know the answer to that . what we're also answer to that. what we're also talking about is conservative mp

philip davis. we talked to him earlier and he was talking about reform as he sees it being irrelevant come the next general election . there's plenty of you election. there's plenty of you who do disagree with that. yeah, some really furious emails actually. >> and of course, nigel farage was just on the show , um, a was just on the show, um, a short while ago lambasting philip davies for that. but in his defence, if i can play devil's advocate, ukip in 2015 got 4 million votes, which was a great achievement at the time, but they got one seat and nigel himself says that he is still bitter about that. so in philip's defence, what's going to be different this time round under the first past the post electoral system? um, is he right that reform are just going to hand the keys to starmer for number 10? craig >> he says he agrees as well with philip davies, reformer a waste of time. there stated aim is just to keep out the conservatives at the next election . i thought political election. i thought political parties were supposed to try and

get into power, not just to keep others out . others out. >> yeah, there is that growing theme or theory that reform just wants to destroy the tories. they know labour will get in, but destroy the but if they can destroy the tories, in the aftermath tories, maybe in the aftermath they'll rediscover some conservative values . um, right. conservative values. um, right. shall we stick with politics now? prime says he now? the prime minister says he expects general election expects a general election in the half year, and the second half of the year, and he'll meeting members of the he'll be meeting members of the pubuc he'll be meeting members of the public west today. public in the north west today. >> so this comes as labour released that poster a little earlier, tories. earlier, attacking the tories. let's to our political let's go live to our political correspondent, katherine forster. >> catherine, what's the reaction on the ground there to that labour poster ? that labour poster? >> well, yes, it feels , doesn't >> well, yes, it feels, doesn't it, like the election campaign has already kicked off. really? we're only five days into january. mps are not even back here in westminster till next monday. but already we've heard from sir keir starmer yesterday. we've heard from rishi sunak. we'll hear more from him today , we'll hear more from him today, heanng we'll hear more from him today, hearing from rachel reeves. we've heard from reform. we've heard from lib dems . but lo

heard from the lib dems. but lo and behold , the big news is that and behold, the big news is that the election, the general election is likely to be in the second half of the year, more probably than not, i would suggest in the second or third week of november, potential , the week of november, potential, the american election being on the 5th of november. that's many , 5th of november. that's many, many, many months away . so many, many months away. so voters gb news viewers are going to have a lot of electioneering to have a lot of electioneering to listen to. and i'm not quite sure how impressed many of them will be with that huge dissatisfaction with the current government. not not a lot of love for labour. despite the polls and of course, plenty of people about 9% at the moment, planning to vote for the reform party and the lib dems down in the south, thinking that they can get several dozen seats. so disaffection all around and interesting what philip davies was saying about reform . i think

was saying about reform. i think in terms of him saying they were irrelevant in terms of the seats that they might win under the first past the post system . that first past the post system. that is correct, because the chances are that they're not going to win. many if any seats and they're going to stand all over they're going to stand all over the country. but i think that the country. but i think that the effect that they can have is really very big indeed , because really very big indeed, because they're likely to peel off, um, disaffected conservative voters who voted for the conservatives in 2019, who perhaps aren't happy with brexit as they see it as it's been delivered or not being delivered , and aren't being delivered, and aren't happy with the direction of the conservative party, feel that it's not right wing enough. um, who might otherwise have potentially sat on their hands, who might for the reform who might vote for the reform party? um, but as lee anderson, the deputy conservative chairman, said, what that's likely to do is ultimately give the labour party more seats. so

so, yes, conservatives are worried about them. yes they would like them not to be standing everywhere. yes if nigel farage decide to be actively involved and it looks like he might not make that decision until really quite close to the election, that could send reforms, poll ratings up could send reforms, poll ratings ”p by could send reforms, poll ratings up by another few percent. but the conservatives argument is going to be all that's going to do is help put sir keir starmer in downing street. meanwhile rachel reeves, the shadow chancellor, out today and basically saying don't believe these conservatives for false promises as they see them . the promises as they see them. the national insurance cut that the government is going to be heralding over the weekend, and the government has still been massively tax raising in this parliament and the tax burden still rising to its highest really, since the second world war. okay, katherine forster, great stuff. >> thank you very much. our political correspondent in westminster. we're going to hop

live now to political editor christopher hope, has been christopher hope, who has been on ground in wellingborough on the ground in wellingborough with rachel reeves and her big speech each, and poster, of course, announcing just a few minutes ago , christopher, excuse minutes ago, christopher, excuse me for being mean, but it seemed a bit low energy. that speech . a bit low energy. that speech. did it seem different in the ground, in person ? ground, in person? >> well, i think rachel reeves got her point across. >> labour's position is that the tories have put up taxes and it's not fair to pay them, or at least not fair on those who can't afford to pay them. so they'll take measures they can to and bring down to try and bring them down dunng to try and bring them down during that speech, there was a single heckler who shouted more debt , more single heckler who shouted more debt, more debt at single heckler who shouted more debt , more debt at rachel debt, more debt at rachel reeves. then walked off and he wouldn't want to speak to gb news afterwards. um, that's almost that, i think, almost indicating that, i think, ben, the of tension ben, of the kind of tension we'll have going into the election campaign on, um, about what if they win what will labour do if they win power over my shoulder? you might be able see a shop it's might be able to see a shop it's been decorated with, um, rishi's roar . now, that's because

roar deals. now, that's because there's going to be a by—election here in wellingborough shortly . wellingborough probably shortly. um, labour are very keen and um, and labour are very keen and hopeful winning it. now hopeful of winning it. now they're clearly using they're using clearly using rishi to weaponize , um, rishi sunak to weaponize, um, the vote against the tory party in favour of the labour party . i in favour of the labour party. i think that's going to be a part of the kind of story this first big test of this 19,000 majority here in wellingborough. will mr sunak on to that when the sunak hang on to that when the by—election probably called, by—election is probably called, probably next or probably for late next month or early march ? early march? >> and christopher , we're >> and christopher, we're talking about this, this latest poster. it just makes me wonder how dirty is this campaign going to get , because both labour and to get, because both labour and the tories have form when it comes to these posters and the sort of, well, quite frankly, misinformation often and outright lies they put on them . outright lies they put on them. >> i don't think it relies on them. i mean, certainly that they both sides do this and both sides are increasingly playing the man at the top of the party. in this case, they're playing,

uh, with i think it's uh, mr sunak with i think it's a sort a glint in a like sort of a glint in a like a salesman type image of him. um, and i think that that's where we're going to be. this is a 21st century politics. now, pip. that's what happens. um, i did sit down with rachel reeves, the shadow chancellor for gb news, and interviewed her and asked her, you'll see that played out on probably after on the channel, probably after midday. um, are you a tax cutter? she made very clear she wants to fall on working wants taxes to fall on working people. she wouldn't say whether the burden the overall tax burden on everyone fall . by the end everyone should fall. by the end of the first turn of a of a labour government. um, she spoke about the £28 billion spending on net zero. she said that government spending is 10 billion the moment on net billion at the moment on net zero measures. they a turbo zero measures. they want a turbo turbocharge that . um, but she turbocharge that. um, but she said hitting the £28 billion, which some worry might increase borrowing or could become from taxation , they'll only do that taxation, they'll only do that subject to their fiscal rules. and that's the new kind of brake on labour spending . um, she was on labour spending. um, she was not very impressed by the

comments by howard davies, the chairman of natwest. she who said that, who said on the radio this morning that people can afford to get on the housing ladden afford to get on the housing ladder. she felt those comments were not in tune with the reality of the people. um, whether she should apologise, she made very clear she wouldn't make those remarks on luke littler. who's this teenage darts champion ? um, she said darts champion? um, she said that sadly , everyone must pay that sadly, everyone must pay their tax. even luke littler on his darts winnings. but really interesting interview with rachel reeves playing out on the channel after midday. >> okay, we'll be watching and listening. thank you very much. christopher hope, our political edhon christopher hope, our political editor, talking to us from wellingborough, joining us in the studio is political commentatorjohn the studio is political commentator john oxley. good, good morning, good morning. good afternoon. i'm getting ahead of myself there. what do you think of poster then. i mean of labour's poster then. i mean it's eye catching isn't it's quite eye catching isn't it. is. it's quite eye catching isn't it. it's. it's quite eye catching isn't it. it's quite punchy and it's >> it's quite punchy and it's kind of i think more we're going to see more of the same throughout this year. you know, to see more of the same throparties this year. you know, to see more of the same throparties arey year. you know, to see more of the same throparties are really you know, to see more of the same throparties are really goingiow, to see more of the same throparties are really going to /, the parties are really going to

gun other. you know, gun for each other. you know, the starting hot the election is starting to hot up it starts here. and up and it starts here. and i think both parties, both major parties intend to fight it as strongly as they can. >> i think it's a, um, a lot better than ed davey the lib better than ed davey and the lib dems van, wasn't it, in dems removal van, wasn't it, in terms creativity? terms of creativity? yeah >> dems have seemed >> so the lib dems have seemed to in for these sort of quite to go in for these sort of quite naff stunts. they do them around the by elections. they're kind of it in, but of carrying it in, but after a while those start to seem a bit old hat. if you have and old hat. but if you have and you've seen this in elections before, if you get the right, you arresting image you know, really arresting image that really sinks you know, that really sinks in, you know, the the, the labour the classic is the, the labour isn't working from 1979, which talked or talked about unemployment or some of the, you know, some of the posters that, um, new labour ran in 1997 that just captured the public imagination and defined the election, and it becomes something that's quite hard to shrug off if you're you're the victim of them. >> so can we picture the image now in cchq conservative party headquarters? just seen headquarters? they've just seen this poster. they've heard rachel is rachel reeves speech. what is their what they their response? what are they plotting? i mean, that's an

interesting thing. >> i think one of the things that they're probably going to go after is the uncertainty around starmer is going around what starmer is going to do he get into power. if do if he does get into power. if i were them, i'd be looking, you know, they've gone into this, you know, flip of starmer you know, flip flop of starmer before greg hands a of before greg hands had a pair of flip he used to wear flip flops that he used to wear around. think they'll be around. i think what they'll be looking is that sort thing looking at is that sort of thing with starmer you know, with starmer of, you know, particularly labour particularly in the labour leadership promised leadership election, he promised many things. he's kind of done the been the opposite now. he's been labour think they'll the opposite now. he's been lalthinking think they'll the opposite now. he's been lalthinking something:hey'll the opposite now. he's been lalthinking something around be thinking something around that. know, that. and really, you know, trying go this idea trying to go after this idea that not certain what you that you're not certain what you get you're getting, you're get if you're getting, if you're going with labour and trying to attack on that. attack starmer on that. but yeah, want to kick back yeah, they'll want to kick back and back and they'll want to kick back fairly swiftly. >> about and we've been >> what about and we've been talking about this morning talking about this all morning and talking to nigel and we were talking to nigel farage earlier about as well. farage earlier about it as well. the by conservative the allegation by conservative mp reform uk mp philip davies that reform uk is irrelevant when actually they could surely be causing problems for labour and the tories at the next election . next election. >> they could, i mean, on the

overall assessment, are they likely to win any seats? no because their vote is spread out and particularly we've seen and particularly what we've seen in is it's been hard in byelections is it's been hard for reform to pull those voters into the station. you into the polling station. you know, they've been polling at sort eight, 9, but they can sort of eight, 9, but they can take a of votes away from take a lot of votes away from both and particularly both parties and particularly for the tories who are in trouble . it kind of trouble. it means kind of fighting two fronts because fighting on two fronts because they've lib in they've got the lib dems in a lot of seats challenging them, pulling the more , um, pulling a lot of the more, um, sort centrist , maybe sort of centrist, maybe pro—remain people who are still voting tory, but at the same time, they've got to be going out in seats in essex, say somewhere like thurrock, and really presenting the sort of hardline, um, immigration and brexit line that those people make. so, you know, having a party on your right, even if they're not doing hugely well in terms of seats, really changes how you fight an election and does create a lot of problems, particularly tories. does create a lot of problems, par reform' tories. does create a lot of problems, parreform leader tories. does create a lot of problems, parreform leader richard tice, >> reform leader richard tice, of course, out and said of course, has come out and said no sweetheart deals the no sweetheart deals with the tories. doing what we tories. we're not doing what we did the brexit party in

did with the brexit party in 2019 and stepping aside so you can meaning while davey can win, meaning while ed davey the lib dem leader, he refused to he would team up to deny that he would team up with labour at the election in an pact. and i'm also an electoral pact. and i'm also heanng an electoral pact. and i'm also hearing morning, hearing separately this morning, this that labour, um, this morning that labour, um, are in talks with lib dems in uh seats such as surrey down south in the south east to step aside. is that going to prove pivotal for what people are calling a coalition of chaos between the lib dems and labour? >> it could do. i mean, i think, you know, you saw this, though, in the run up to 1997 and in the end, labour realised they didn't need a deal with anyone. need to do a deal with anyone. and there's kind of two different at play. different things at play. there's have a formal there's do you have a formal pact or you just sensible pact or are you just sensible about where you target your resources? because if your labour remember labour getting i can't remember what totals in those what their totals are in those surrey getting 7000 surrey seats, but getting 7000 instead of doesn't really instead of 5000 doesn't really change the game much. when they're you be they're seats. you could be winning that of margin. winning by that sort of margin. um, so do you. >> can you foresee a situation in that we could be without a

majority ? majority? >> it's in the realms of possibility . i >> it's in the realms of possibility. i think it's unlikely. maybe a ten, 20. and i think on that most parties, particularly labour party, would rather see what the land is going to look like after an election and do a deal. then rather than doing one, to try and stitch up the seats ahead of time, because ultimately , until time, because ultimately, until those results are in in the early hours of election morning, we saw this in 2010. you don't know what it looks like and you don't know, you know, if you're even a hung parliament, even in a hung parliament, there's huge difference. if, there's a huge difference. if, say, labour are three seats short majority than if short of a majority than if they're seats short, they're 25 or 30 seats short, and changes the and that really changes the balance power. and think balance of power. and i think they'd rather hold fire and see what the results look like before doing a deal. >> and do you think we are heading towards a november general election? the front runner at the moment is november the 14th. i'm hearing i think that's most likely because what that's most likely because what that really means is, um, the conservatives are leaving it as late as they realistically can. >> in theory, you could have an

election in december or in the new year, but that's difficult. no campaigning over no one likes campaigning over christmas . no one likes campaigning over christmas. um, it would be chaos and the tories would probably be punished . so that's about as punished. so that's about as late you can go. which late as you can go. which sort of says tories aren't that of says the tories aren't that confident. what want to confident. but what they want to do is they want to say, now we're going to do it in november , what don't want , because what they don't want is months of speculation . is 6 or 7 months of speculation. if starmer was saying the other day, know, um, rishi sunak day, you know, um, rishi sunak is squatting downing street, day, you know, um, rishi sunak is sqtrying] downing street, day, you know, um, rishi sunak is sqtrying to downing street, day, you know, um, rishi sunak is sqtrying to putwning street, day, you know, um, rishi sunak is sqtrying to put it|ing street, day, you know, um, rishi sunak is sqtrying to put it off street, day, you know, um, rishi sunak is sqtrying to put it off as reet, he's trying to put it off as late as possible. that's kind of he's trying to put it off as late ibutossible. that's kind of he's trying to put it off as late but ifsible. that's kind of he's trying to put it off as late but if you�*. that's kind of he's trying to put it off as late but if you say at's kind of he's trying to put it off as late but if you say that> and that phrase >> and also that phrase squatting downing street squatting in downing street that's original i that's not original or new. i think thornberry think emily thornberry was throwing 2017 about throwing it around in 2017 about theresa there's not much theresa may so there's not much originality there. but can i just ask about so rishi can technically until of technically go until the end of january to call an election? but as you said, they'd be campaigning christmas campaigning over christmas when people are eating their turkey dinners, something they wouldn't want to do. november looks want to do. so november looks likely is, of course, at likely that is, of course, at the as the us

the same time as the us presidential election. how will that, how will that, if anything, how will that affect the activities this side of pond ? of the pond? >> it's an interesting question. i of the things it i think one of the things it will do is it will affect the news coverage. you know, sadly, um, even american um, even here, american elections are big news, particularly if we get into a situation in like years ago situation in like four years ago where result is contested, where the result is contested, where the result is contested, where there's not immediate where there's not an immediate outcome could kind outcome. um, so that could kind of take the energy out of the last bit of the campaign. >> you know , you know, rishi >> you know, you know, rishi sunak said working assumption is the second half of year. so the second half of the year. so technically that could mean july i >> -- >> it could not great for elections. everyone wants to be on holiday. what you might see though , is a window from, say, though, is a window from, say, september to october in the past. um when we've had elections in the autumn, they tended be in that window. tended to be in that window. it's, you know, it's kind of the equivalent to having them in may. you've still got, you know, it's people it's light outside. people like campaigning, it's not at the campaigning, but it's not at the height people aren't height of summer. people aren't away. so i think looking in that window partly it depends on how some the polling goes.

some of the polling goes. i think, for example , one of the think, for example, one of the things that might play into it is, is, um, you know what the weather's doing in terms of the channel and small boats crossing, crossing. if we get to the end of july crossings the end of july and crossings have low . so like they were have been low. so like they were this year, you know, sunak might think, well, this has worked in my i'll for that. my favour, i'll go for that. >> bottom line we don't >> but bottom line is we don't know. it's one man's decision. >> and, um , i'm not sure he >> and, um, i'm not sure he knows either at this at this point in time. >> thank you ever so much for coming in. john oxley, political commentator, slog of a year, electoral wise, isn't it >> 4040 worldwide. and by the way, with gb for this way, stick with gb news for this yeah way, stick with gb news for this year. britain's election channel. we'll be covering every cough the uk , cough and spit in the uk, america, india, everywhere where they're going to the polls . they're going to the polls. >> still to come here on britain's newsroom i'm britney spears, she is claiming that she will never return to the music industry , has the princess of industry, has the princess of p0p industry, has the princess of pop really hung up her tiara ? pop really hung up her tiara? we'll be talking about that. something completely different very shortly. you're with

britain's newsroom on .

isabel monday to thursdays from. six till 930. welcome back. >> we're heading towards half past 11. you're with britain's newsroom on gb news with ben elliott and pip tomson. >> yeah, and we want to talk about britney spears because she has dismissed rumours that have

long been circulating that she's working on a new album and has said that she will never return to the music industry . sorry. to the music industry. sorry. >> yeah. she took to instagram to say the claims that she's working on a new album are, quote, trash and her instagram profile now appears to be no longer online. so let's speak to entertainment reporter hayley palmer, who joins us live in the studio. hayley, what's going on here? no new album and has she taken herself off instagram ? taken herself off instagram? what's happening? >> well, i'm upset because i'm a big britney fan and i just thought after everything she'd been through, i thought this was her time to kind of make that comeback with her music and have her own creativity be, uh, and put it out there. but no, she insists , there was a statement insists, there was a statement that you say that was put out that you say that was put out that just no, no , that just said, no, no, apparently she's writing for other people, which is great, but we want britney. i mean, the only thing i would say is that sometimes people do say things like like , oh, it's my like cher's like, oh, it's my farewell tour, but then it's

not, is so maybe she's she not, is it? so maybe she's she could oh, well, you could do it like, oh, well, you know, more. but then know, no more. but then surprises us like a year later. >> yeah, i mean she does seem >> so yeah, i mean she does seem to be oscillating a little bit, you know, it's going on instagram coming off instagram saying she's not doing this new album. i do wonder how actually very well she is. and there's always constant speculation. but i just wonder . yeah. is she in i just wonder. yeah. is she in a good place now? >> she's for me when i watch her instagram. i'm tiktok's no . i instagram. i'm tiktok's no. i think there's a lot going on. i do think she needs to help personally because i find it very uncomfortable to watch sometimes . very uncomfortable to watch sometimes. um, and i just feel sometimes. um, and ijust feel like it's just such a shame because she's got so many people behind her. she's so well loved, and we want britney back. >> so she's arguably been taken advantage of a lot in her lifetime, hasn't she? >> do we know? is has she been diagnosed with with any condition as you've been public about that? >> she hasn't it hasn't been

much that side of it. much about that side of it. i just think it is a bit of a cause for concern. and i think you tell by her instagram, you can tell by her instagram, like said, just tried to like you said, we just tried to look at her and she's off look at her then and she's off instagram. yesterday she was instagram. but yesterday she was on instagram. >> mentioned >> so you mentioned that she might be writing other might be writing for other artists. she write artists. did she did she write a lot of her own stuff back in the day? >>i day? >> i think she did, yeah. i mean, i do know that she was meant to be, um, getting together with charli xcx and juua together with charli xcx and julia michaels on a new album that's the last i so that's the last i heard. so i was like, that's going to was like, wow, that's going to be absolutely incredible. but since then, she's no, since then, she's on. no, absolutely know absolutely not. but you know what? people want to what? sometimes people want to come and come out of the limelight and some want to just write some people want to just write behind so yeah, behind the scenes. so yeah, i mean, she is a huge, huge talent. >> and i mean, we heard from her didn't we? was it summer 2022 when the duets with, um, when she did the duets with, um, elton john? yes, yes. and everybody was like, brilliant, britney, britney is back . she's back. >> yeah. and also did a duet with will.i.am as well. so she's had like insane . success and, had like insane. success and, you know, her sister in the

jungle said that her. i remember her saying that the mum really pushed them. really believed in them from age. you them from a young age. and you know, i guess it's hard. you them from a young age. and you know,really ss it's hard. you them from a young age. and you know, really know hard. you them from a young age. and you know, really know what you them from a young age. and you know, really know what it's] them from a young age. and you know, really know what it's like can't really know what it's like until you had that so much fame, so yes. uh, and so much success. yes. uh, and then maybe she's dealing with it in own way. now i get it. in her own way. now i get it. >> it'sjust in her own way. now i get it. >> it's just as a as a talent, as— >> it's just as a as a talent, as a singer, as a performer. she's still got so much to offer. >> yeah, yeah, i know that's what makes so sad. what makes it so sad. >> was watching last night >> and i was watching last night on tiktok her fans are on tiktok and all her fans are so upset. they're no, it so upset. they're like, no, it can't be right. so fingers crossed we've got this wrong. and well and she will be back. well i remember back in the day i remember back in the day when i was a young sprog, when britney was a young sprog, when britney was timberlake. was a young sprog, when britney wasthey timberlake. was a young sprog, when britney wasthey were timberlake. was a young sprog, when britney wasthey were my nberlake. was a young sprog, when britney wasthey were my favourite pop >> they were my favourite pop power couple. yeah. what's justin doing these days terms justin doing these days in terms of relationship with of his relationship with britney? do they speak at all? do friends? do you know? >> i mean, i haven't seen anything that would be anything but that would be amazing if we could have another duo with britney, duo because with britney, i asked that because just seems asked that because it just seems like the people like as well as the people around her have know, around her who have you know, maybe advantage. maybe taken advantage. >> i'd love her to find a solid man, to look after

man, you know, to look after her. and yes, that's what she needs. give her a bit of tlc. >> totally, totally. i mean, you know what she has? i'm sure got some people some supportive people around her. she needs her. but you're right. she needs a there we go. we a good man. there we go. we sorted it. >> she wrote in her. um. uh, is it her memoir last year titled the woman in me? yeah, she said, pushing forward music pushing forward in my music career my focus at the career is not my focus at the moment. it's time me not to moment. it's time for me not to be who other people be someone who other people want. time to actually find want. it's time to actually find myself well , yeah, on that myself so well, yeah, on that basis. >> maybe @-- basis. >> maybe should just >> then maybe we should just kind of, know, well, kind of, you know, go well, okay, thing. because okay, do your thing. because sometimes need a bit sometimes people do need a bit of out. and maybe for her of time out. and maybe for her writing other writing music for other people is very therapeutic. >> and terms her legacy, >> and in terms of her legacy, how she stack up terms how does she stack up in terms of stars? is she up there of pop stars? is she up there with, say, michael jackson and people that? is she going people like that? is she going to be remembered when she's long gone me? gone and we're me? >> should >> absolutely. they should definitely britney musical. definitely do a britney musical. >> i mean, it reminds me, you know, that britney says know, hearing that britney says she won't perform again. it also makes celine dion makes me think of celine dion and everything that she's going through at the moment with her

health. had to postpone health. and she had to postpone her tour . and she's got this, her tour. and she's got this, um, this muscle disease, hasn't she? yeah which means she cannot. she cannot sing. yeah. and again, the thought of not seeing celine dion perform live again is. >> yeah , i've seen celine dion >> yeah, i've seen celine dion perform live , and she is just, perform live, and she is just, you know, she gives you goosebumps. it'sjust you know, she gives you goosebumps. it's just insane. but you're right. these singers, they've been given a gift, i think. and i can't sing at all. so i'm very jealous. and i just think, you know, when they have that gift and makes so many that gift and it makes so many people it's such a shame. people happy, it's such a shame. uh, things uh, when things happen. >> yeah. >> yeah. >> palmer , e palmer , stay >> hayley palmer, stay with us. thank much . stay with thank you very much. stay with us. we want to talk to you again after the latest news headlines with tatiana . pep. with tatiana. pep. >> thank you very much . 1135 >> thank you very much. 1135 this is the latest from the gb news room. labour says the government is asleep at the wheel over its handling of flooding. there's hundreds of warnings in place across warnings remain in place across the , the parties

the country, the parties promising create a task force promising to create a task force similar emergency cobra similar to the emergency cobra committee to coordinate flood preparations and protect homes. it comes as the liberal democrats call for rishi sunak to visit areas affected by flooding , all coming to visit areas affected by flooding, all coming in to visit areas affected by flooding , all coming in the wake flooding, all coming in the wake of storm hank. nottinghamshire county council declared a major incident yesterday with more than 100 homes flooded. they're advising people to stay cautious as the danger of flooding is expected to continue throughout today. expected to continue throughout today . two teenage boys have today. two teenage boys have been arrested on suspicion of murder over the death of harry pitman in north london. the 16 year old died following what police say was an altercation as crowds gathered on primrose hill to watch the fireworks on new year's eve . the met police says year's eve. the met police says a 16 year old and a 17 year old remain in custody. we the health secretary says the nhs belongs to us all and can't simply be switched on and off as a record breaking walkout by medics continues. junior doctors in england are striking for six

days over pay and conditions , days over pay and conditions, runs the longest industrial action in nhs history. many hospitals have pleaded for medics to leave picket lines and return to work amid rising concerns for patient safety . the concerns for patient safety. the british medical association suggested the requests may be politically motivated , while politically motivated, while victoria atkins has promised to restart pay talks within 20 minutes if the strike is called off. those hoping to own their own home are in for a fresh battle as house prices rise by nearly £5,000 within a year . nearly £5,000 within a year. figures from halifax found property values increased by 1.7% on average across 2023. average house prices rose month on month to december, the third consecutive hike in a row . it consecutive hike in a row. it comes as the chairman of natwest said today it's not that difficult to get on the property ladden difficult to get on the property ladder. zahawi davies told the bbc that those wishing to own a home need to save their money. you can get more on all of those stories by visiting our website

gb news. com . gb news. com. >> for exclusive, limited edition and rare gold coins that are always newsworthy , rosalind are always newsworthy, rosalind gold proudly sponsors the gb news financial report . here's news financial report. here's a quick snapshot of today's markets . markets. >> the pound will buy you $12655 >> the pound will buy you $1.2655 and ,1.1596. the price of gold is £1,612.26 per ounce, and the ftse 100 is at 7645 points. rosalind gold proudly sponsors the gb news financial report . report. >> i just want to bring you some incredibly sad, breaking news that we've heard in the last few minutes. the husband of itv presenter kate garraway. i'm sorry i worked with kate for a long time so this is really difficult . um, such a strong difficult. um, such a strong woman. her husband, derek draper, who has been in a very

serious condition after suffering covid. he has passed away. derek draper, the husband of kate garraway , has died. a of kate garraway, has died. a former political adviser, derek draper, 56 years old. kate has posted an announcement on her instagram page in which she says um, rest gently and peacefully now derek, my love, i was so lucky to have you in my life . lucky to have you in my life. yeah, and all our thoughts are with kate at this incredibly difficult time. i cannot tell you as those who have worked with kate, how strong, how strong this lady has been over the last four years, since derek, uh, was taken ill with covid. hailey palmer is still with us. hailey just awful, awful news. kate had such a huge amount of support from all over the country because derek, like so many others, suffered from long covid, but he had it so badly . badly. >> yeah, he really did. and like you say, you just hope that he

was going to pull through. but i'm just shock like you guys i'm just in shock like you guys are. i'm sure everyone is at home to hear this news. i'm just looking at her instagram page here she said derek was here where she said derek was surrounded family his surrounded by his family in his final i was by his final days, and i was by his side, holding hand side, holding his hand throughout last long hours. throughout the last long hours. and he passed, i have so and when he passed, i have so much more to say and of course i will so in due course. but will do so in due course. but now i would love thank the now i would love to thank the medical fought medical teams who fought so hard. and because he'd been hard. um, and because he'd been back in hospital since just before christmas , she was at his before christmas, she was at his bedside all over christmas . bedside all over christmas. >> her beautiful two >> kate and her beautiful two kids, they they were they were with him, i think, at his bedside when he passed. but he's had these extreme complications for nearly four years now. long lasting damage to his organs. and then he was back in hospital just before christmas after another setback. >> i mean, you must really >> yeah. i mean, you must really feel for kate because obviously everything been through feel for kate because obviously everlikeig been through feel for kate because obviously everlike you been through feel for kate because obviously everlike you say, 3een through feel for kate because obviously everlike you say, there hrough feel for kate because obviously everlike you say, there was gh and like you say, there was glimmers of hope. everyone glimmers of hope. and everyone was oh, you he's was like, oh, you know, he's getting then getting better. but then obviously i didn't realise how

serious was at last serious it was at the last minute. so i'm so sorry to hear that. >> and so what a testament to kate, by the way. she's rallied round her husband for years now. she's um, she's decreased her work commitments to be by her husband's side, um, which, you know, is , is completely know, is, is completely admirable and. yeah. >> and derek needed round the clock care, but he was able to go on on some outings with her. he was with her when she collected her her honour last year she was made a member of the order of the british empire. she got her obe and derek was with her along with her parents, which is just a wonderful thing because you never thought that was going to happen . was going to happen. >> no, absolutely. so um. yeah, i'm just, uh, just really feel for kate right now. it must just be a hard time for kate and her family. um, you know, especially her children as well. i'm sure they've all been through it. so >> thinking of >> absolutely. we're thinking of kate. thinking of her. her kate. we're thinking of her. her two darcey and billy.

two children, darcey and billy. and actually, they have given throughout these last 3 or 4 years so much comfort to other people in the same situation. she's done the award documentaries, award winning documentaries, award winning documentaries, talking about the new life that they were adjusting to due to derek's rare condition. yeah, that's right, that's right. >> they've had so much support. uh, and i think kate's been, you know, trying to keep busy working, hasn't she, to, you know, she's been trying to do everything. so it must have been so hard for her. uh, so, so, um, he was he was in hospital. >> he more than a year in >> he spent more than a year in hospital. he was only released from hospital in april 2021. um, and she said at the time, she said he can't really move. we need a lot of help. and it's not just help looking after him. it's 24 hour care. and obviously , you know, kate, kate didn't get a lot of sleep, but she was still turning up at 3:00 in the morning. >> i don't know how to present

good morning britain. >> she was an absolute trooper. she then go off and do her radio show. >> yeah, yeah. >> yeah, yeah. >> i mean, it was probably good for her to keep busy under the circumstances. say, circumstances. but like i say, mentally, it must have taken her toll and for nearly for nearly four think i'm reading. >> derek first contracted covid 19 in march 2020, so for nearly four years, kate has been by his side, working tirelessly to make sure he's comfortable to try and get him back to health. >> um, and she was so good at talking about because it was such a struggle to get derek all the all the help that he needed. and she was always very, very vocal about that. and she also went to south america with derek to try and find out new treatments that might in some way help him. >> yeah, yeah, that's absolutely fantastic. and um, you know, she did everything she could . and did everything she could. and like you say, she had so much support. um, it's just such a shock when it happens, isn't it? so you you were, you know , um,

so you you were, you know, um, the family quite well. >> do you think. do you think kate will return to work as she has done previously? obviously, after period grieving and after a period of grieving and whatnot? what do you think? >> early? >> is it too early? >> is it too early? >> is it too early? >> i mean, it's too early to say. she's off screen for say. she's been off screen for the last few weeks after derek was taken ill again before christmas was admitted to christmas and was admitted to hospital . well, you know, hospital. well, um, you know, but she is one of the strongest women . i cannot tell you how women. i cannot tell you how strong she was and how she was still able to, to keep doing her job, to keep being a mother to darcey and billy and to be there for derek, you know, incredible, incredible woman. yeah. and it is such sad news today that derek draper, former political adviser and kate garraway's husband, he has passed away after several years of serious health complications due to coronavirus. our thoughts are with kate, darcey , billy and the with kate, darcey, billy and the rest of her family. with kate, darcey, billy and the rest of her family . you're with rest of her family. you're with britain's newsroom on gb news. stay with

and people that i knew had dewbs & co weeknights from six. >> welcome back to britain's newsroom, and we're going to continue to talk about this sad, tragic news that's broken in the last few minutes that derek draper, the former political adviser and husband of tv presenter kate garraway , has presenter kate garraway, has died at the age of 56. he had been suffering from covid for nearly four years. he spent a yearin nearly four years. he spent a year in hospital and was taken

ill again or suffered further complications just before christmas . well, we're joined by christmas. well, we're joined by political commentators matthew stadlen and russell quirk. good morning to you both . matthew, morning to you both. matthew, let's just start with you, because we have kept referring to derek draper as kate garraway's husband, but he was a successful man in his own right. >> he was a really important part of the new labour project . part of the new labour project. it's interesting because i started my career as a producer and as a tv producer. you come across so many people in your daily and sometimes nightly work, and in both derek's case and kate's case, i just remember how lovely they both were in person . he was. he came across person. he was. he came across to me when i was producing the old bbc one show this week as a really nice man, and he was an important plank in that hugely successful period for the labour party. kate as you say, he's become known as kate garraway's husband. he was so much more

than that in his own right. but kate herself has, i think, been an inspiration not just to people like us within the industry, but wider than industry, but far wider than that. she's been incredibly brave. been incredibly brave. she's been incredibly strong, and she just stands out as a real inspiration and a really good human being. i cared for my father for 2 or 3 months last year before he died, and it is a difficult experience to go through for anyone, and she has been there, it seems, by his side through thick and thin, holding down a high profile job, being a mother. and there will being a mother. and there will be people who have cared for their families up and down britain, many of them watching today , who will be knowing today, who will be knowing exactly what she's going through. >> yeah, i've got a quick email here about derek and kate. margaret says , i've cried with margaret says, i've cried with you this morning when i heard the news about derek. kate has been a tower of strength all through his illness, and my heart for the only heart aches for her. the only comfort take from this comfort she can take from this is that he's not suffering is that. that he's not suffering any bless you derek. any more. bless you derek. >> mean, i remember when >> i mean, i remember when russell kate did i'm a celebrity

back at the end of, of 2019 and derek was so proud of her and he flew out to australia with the children darcey and billy to, to welcome her. when she came out they were on top of the world. and then barely three months later , this happened to him. later, this happened to him. >> yeah, the family. >> yeah, the family. >> what a young age to die at 56, i say that and look as as a man of the same age, very, very young. and yes, the burden, the juggbng young. and yes, the burden, the juggling that she's had to do over the last four years, career, family, caring for him , career, family, caring for him, obviously very, very passionately enthusiast . passionately enthusiast. >> and she would turn up, she would turn up to work because myself and several of my colleagues here worked with kate. she would turn up to work at morning britain at at good morning britain at 3:00 in morning, having had no in the morning, having had no sleep, because she had been looking after derek round the clock, and she'd still do this with a smile on her face, and she turn she would she would turn up and she would still the job brilliantly . still do the job brilliantly. >> yeah, it's very, very tragic indeed. very sad.

>> matthew, you mentioned you looked your did looked after your father. did you yeah kind of toll you say. yeah what kind of toll does take someone when does that take on someone when you're, you're you're seeing through the last days of someone you so dearly , such as your you love so dearly, such as your dad. what kind of effect does that have on you? >> i was i was really lucky to be able to do that because i'm self—employed . it meant had self—employed. it meant i had a degree flexibility so i could degree of flexibility so i could come, come and do my journalism and presenting and my and my presenting and my interviewing. so forth. at interviewing. and so forth. at the same time being with dad the same time as being with dad five a day. but for my five times a day. but for my mum, she lived with him . i mean, mum, she lived with him. i mean, they started going out when they were 17 and so she was were 16 and 17 and so she was there the clock. i mean, there round the clock. i mean, she, i would be able to take overin she, i would be able to take over in the evening. so she could some rest. but having could get some rest. but having carers in your kitchen, that being the absolute focus of the household, of course it takes its toll for me emotionally watching someone die when you love them as much as i love my dad, he was a sort of central figure in my life, in my adulthood, as well as my childhood is enormously difficult. but if you are able

to give what we were lucky enough to give it definitely helps them and it helps you through process. but through that process. but nothing prepares you for the moment of watching your father die, as i did watching someone take their last breath. and i think kate said in her instagram message that she was in in message that she was there in in derek's final hours holding his hand. >> she's been so much to those of us are lucky enough to be there. >> the other thing we should remember, of course, is that kate and her family have had to live through this through the lens public eye, you lens of the public eye, you know, the know, because they're in the media. might say at media. so that some might say at some that intrusion in some points that intrusion in terms press, you know, terms of the press, you know, wanting updates and obviously seeing it as a newsworthy thing is something that obviously is also something that obviously kate's children kate's had to and her children have juggle with at the have had to juggle with at the same time, at the same time, same time, but at the same time, her being so incredibly open about condition . about his condition. >> i because there was >> i mean, because there was reports he was the nation's reports that he was the nation's longest suffering covid patient because months in because he spent 13 months in hospital. by being so open, hospital. but by being so open, she helped so many others whose whose loved ones are suffering

with long covid support . with long covid support. >> hasn't she from, you know, from in the media? >> it's a reminder of how dangerous was . i mean, dangerous covid was. i mean, it's still not a disease for some people to muck around with, but a great toll. and he but it took a great toll. and he is most high profile is perhaps the most high profile example of that. just to say something else when, when and i don't know you would something else when, when and i don't described you would something else when, when and i don't described him you would something else when, when and i don't described him asu would something else when, when and i don't described him as terminally something else when, when and i dorbutzscribed him as terminally something else when, when and i dorbut in ribed him as terminally something else when, when and i dor but in thed him as terminally something else when, when and i dorbut in the case| as terminally something else when, when and i dor but in the case of; terminally ill, but in the case of my father many people in the father and many people in the country right now going through this, was terminally ill. and this, he was terminally ill. and this, he was terminally ill. and this was this very strange experience of trying to keep someone alive but knowing someone alive of but knowing that die . yeah. that they're going to die. yeah. >> matthew. thank you. our thoughts are with kate garraway and her family today. derek draper, her husband, has passed away of 56. i start away at the age of 56. i start for britain's newsroom. >> tom and emily next on good afternoon britain. bye bye. >> terribly sad news coming up on good afternoon britain. >> we're going to be speaking exclusively to the shadow chancellor, rachel reeves. the labour party are very much parking their tank on the tax cutting lawn of the conservatives, but do their sums

add up? >> absolutely. that and some weather around the country, some terrible aftershock from that big storm. we'll have all of the information all over the country i >> -- >> looks like things are heating up. boxt boiler as sponsors of weather on gb news . welcome to weather on gb news. welcome to your latest weather update from the met office for gb news i'm alex deakin, sunny spells and showers broadly through the day today but much better news across the south where of course we have seen extensive heavy rain and flooding. >> it does look a lot drier here. the wet weather from yesterday caused by this area of low pressure that is moving away. pressure to the away. still low pressure to the north, weather north, this weather front bringing outbreaks rain bringing some outbreaks of rain to scotland and across to eastern scotland and across the isles. also to eastern scotland and across the windy. isles. also to eastern scotland and across the windy. a;les. also to eastern scotland and across the windy. a few also to eastern scotland and across the windy. a few scattered quite windy. a few scattered showers elsewhere, but crucially, say drier in crucially, i say a lot drier in those really badly affected areas. from the floods through yesterday . generally staying yesterday. generally staying fairly cloudy here, some sunshine for southern and central scotland and parts of northern ireland chilly northern ireland on the chilly

side, close side, though, temperatures close to the time of year to average for the time of year but colder than it has been as we go through this evening, we will few showers will see a few more showers drifting down over northern england the midlands. any england into the midlands. any rain where it's been rain falling where it's been flooded, of course, is . not flooded, of course, is. not welcome, but this rain shouldn't really amount to very much and we'll keep some showers going over northern scotland where it will stay. fairly breezy, few will stay. fairly breezy, a few showers continuing feed into showers continuing to feed into western with western parts of wales, with the clearer across north clearer skies across the north it turn cold, frosty it will turn cold, frosty temperatures. most towns and cities just about staying above freezing, it will freezing, but for some it will be to the be a frosty start to the weekend. but generally it's going much this going to be much drier this weekend. completely dry. weekend. not completely dry. still showers and still a few showers and quite a lot of cloud eastern lot of cloud across eastern england. a few showers at times in west wales and again across northern many northern scotland, but many places quite a few places will be dry quite a few in the west will see sunny spells just turning a spells as well, just turning a bit colder than of late. that warm feeling inside from boxt boilers sponsors of weather on gb news .

>> good afternoon britain. it's 12:00 on friday the 5th of january. derek draper dies. >> kate garraway's husband and former political adviser derek draper has died at the age of 56 following several years of health issues after contracting coronavirus in 2020. tributes

pourin coronavirus in 2020. tributes pour in tanks on the lawn . pour in tanks on the lawn. >> labour are going after the tories on tax, saying that the burden on working people should be lower than it is now. but while they say taxes should be lower, the party is yet to commit to any tax cuts in particular, we'll sit down exclusively with the shadow chancellor, steve. >> armageddon flood chaos continues to spread across the uk. hundreds of people have been evacuated from their homes as rail lines blocked roads turned into rivers and even cows have drowned in flood fields. is it time for a cobra style task force? that's west? >> stick their foot in it . force? that's west? >> stick their foot in it. nigel farage has called for the sacking of natwest chairman sir howard davies after he defended his own conduct and support for the disgraced dame alison rose. at the time of the de—banking scandal