at gb news. in touch. gb views at gb news. com on everything we're going to be discussing today. but i believe we are going to liam halligan in just one moment because the bank england because the bank of england is about announce its latest about to announce its latest interest decision . interest rate decision. >> yes, currently it's a 15 year high of 5.25. the bank of england has kept the rate the same for the past. england has kept the rate the same for the past . three decisions. >> well, they do the same again. joining us now is liam halligan gb news, economics and business editor money . editor with on the money. >> liam i'm glued to my screen guys i'm on twitter or. x or whatever it's called these days waiting for the news to drop. almost certainly i'll have egg on my face if the interest rate isn't held at 5.25. but what will be crucial is what the monetary policy committee actually says in its statement, giving clues to when interest rates might actually start to fall from 5.25% already, mortgage rates in many cases are

below 5.25% because, of course, mortgage rates reflect where interest rates are expected to go . and i've just heard news go. and i've just heard news that indeed we were right . they that indeed we were right. they have held interest rates . this, have held interest rates. this, um, i'll be interested to see the breakdown of the voting last month. uh, nine of the monetary policy committee economists. there are nine of them, three of them actually voted for a rate increase . this incredibly. yeah increase. this incredibly. yeah for, uh, overcompensating for their previous mistakes. i think because the bank of england was very slow to get its head around the fact that inflation was . the fact that inflation was. coming. but a lot of people want interest rate cuts. of course, hard pressed families with mortgages on the other. hand, some gb news viewers and listeners will have a stash of savings. they don't like lower interest rates, so a hold interest rates, so a rate hold is for them , a bit of is for them, a bit of a reprieve, a return on their savings. i'm going to look in the next few minutes at what the monetary policy committee has actually said. i do think interest rates are to interest rates are going to start down with the bank

start coming down with the bank of england quite soon. maybe in april or may. i do think all other things being equal, we'd like to get likely to get a number of interest rate cuts over this year. that's certainly what downing street are hoping. so an economic feel so they can get an economic feel good going before the good factor going before the next election, probably next general election, probably in october or november. so the tories can at least make a fist of contesting the labour party when we go to the polls . when we go to the polls. >> well, there you go. there's the news. the interest rate has been held at 5.25. still the highest for many, many years . highest for many, many years. thank you very much, liam. that's liam halligan , our that's liam halligan, our business and economics editor. he'll bring any latest, he'll bring us any latest, particularly on what the committee has said and who voted in way. in which way. >> crucially, anyone's voted in which way. >>cuthially, anyone's voted in which way. >>cuthially, that)ne's voted in which way. >>cuthially, that ise's voted in which way. >>cuthially, that is what:ed in which way. >>cuthially, that is what the to cut because that is what the shadow monetary policy committee from the institute of economic affairs was recommending. but clearly . bank of england are clearly the. bank of england are not thinking it's the time to cut them yet. >> yes, perhaps it will be a warmer weather when those interest rates do finally start

to tumble. >> other news, manhunt >> in other news, a manhunt is underway following in underway following an attack in south london. the met police say the suspect is a dangerous man who urgently needs to be found. >> yes, a 31 year old woman and a year old girl have a three year old girl have potentially changing potentially life changing injuries the targeted injuries after the targeted alkaline attack . well, let's alkaline attack. well, let's cross live to gb news reporter ray addison, who is in south london for us. ray, tell us, what do we know about this attack and what are the police asking now .7 asking now.7 >> well, asking now? >> well, local residents are telling me that this incident has absolutely terrified them. they are used to a number of incidents happening on the nearby clapham common, but to have this happened so close to their doors is very worrying. met police commissioner sir mark rowley has described last night's corrosive substance attack as frightening, but he did say it's an incident where two people are known to each other and he's since stressed. it's not terror related. now we know that this mother and her two young daughters are among 12

people who were injured in that attack here in south london. the mother, 31, her daughters, eight and three, all remaining in hospital today and while none of their conditions are said to be life threatening, we do understand that the injuries to the to the mum and the youngest child could be life changing took place here on lesser avenue in lambeth. it's quite residential street. just before 7:30 pm. last night, eyewitnesses saying that the mother and her children and a man had been arguing in the street and they got out of a vehicle and began to fight the suspect. the male suspect took the youngest child from the car and slammed her into the ground at twice. he then threw a substance, which the police have later identified as alkaline , later identified as alkaline, some kind of alkaline substance over the woman and her two daughters. the mother then crying out that she couldn't see, prompting eyewitnesses to come to her aid. they sprayed

water into the woman's face and eyes to try to help her. as the man attempted to make off in a car, crashed the car and then made off on foot again in the direction of clapham common. now the met police says that three women, two in their 30s and one in her 50s, were injured when they came to the aid of the family . however, they have been family. however, they have been since discharged with minor burns. another man , who is in burns. another man, who is in his 50s, who tried to help, declined hospital treatment for the minor injuries. but five officers also received minor injuries when they responded to this incident. bell ribeiro—addy is the labour mp for streatham and she says police are actively hunting for this suspect that people right across the community are shocked and deeply saddened to hear what's happened. >> obviously our thoughts, prayers and concern are with all of them very pleased to know that those that came to their aid and the police , who also aid and the police, who also were first to the scene that

came into contact with the substance, have all been cleared so that they are they are all fine and as you can see behind me, the emergency services have gone to great lengths to make sure that they've washed any substance that may be left on on the no one is at harm. the road. so no one is at harm. we want assure people in the we want to assure people in the local area that they are. they are there are are perfectly safe. there are additional around to additional patrols around to help make sure that people feel safe , but this is a horrible and safe, but this is a horrible and quite specific attack, and we hope with all of the hope that with all of the information police now information that the police now know about this individual, information that the police now know about this individual , that know about this individual, that they will catch him soon. >> well, we're told to feel reassured that this was a specific attack, ray, but with extra patrols on the streets and with a man on the loose with the police on a manhunt, should we feel safe ? well yes. feel safe? well yes. >> the police are stressing that this was a targeted attack . this was a targeted attack. however, they are being very clear. this is an extremely dangerous individual and the

police are stressing that they urgently need to find him. they're asking members of the pubuc they're asking members of the public to keep an eye out for him, but to not approach him. of course, to call the met police if anyone suspects that they have seen him . but yes, a very, have seen him. but yes, a very, very dangerous individual who , very dangerous individual who, according to these reports, has thrown an alkaline substance substance over a woman and her two children, an eight and three years old, causing potentially life changing injuries. to at least two of them. and of course , those injuries to other members of the public as well. police are urgently appealing for help from the public, saying if you've got dash cam footage, if you've got dash cam footage, if you've got any footage on your mobile phone, your your mobile phone, on your security camera and they're not your mobile phone, on your securi'of:amera and they're not your mobile phone, on your securi'of it,1era and they're not your mobile phone, on your securi'of it, get and they're not your mobile phone, on your securi'of it, get in|d they're not your mobile phone, on your securi'of it, get in touchi're not aware of it, get in touch urgently because there is a manhunt. was manhunt. in fact, there was a police helicopter hovering above us a little bit earlier as well. so hunt is certainly so that hunt is certainly underway . underway. >> well, thank you very much indeed. >> well, thank you very much indeed . ray addison, gb news

indeed. ray addison, gb news reporter who is there in south london at the scene of the crime 7 london at the scene of the crime ? um, uh, terrifying stuff . ? um, uh, terrifying stuff. really, uh, targeted attack . uh, really, uh, targeted attack. uh, the police think, but still very worrying nonetheless. and there are so many questions to ask here. >> what was the motivation ? why >> what was the motivation? why did this man have some sort of corrosive alkali nine substance? is this in the vein of some of these acid attacks that we have seen on the streets of the capital in recent years? and frankly , if that did happen, and frankly, if that did happen, and if he does have more alkaline substance on him , are we really substance on him, are we really as safe as the police are saying that we are very worrying indeed. >> i remember there was a swathe of acid attacks, weren't they? people on bikes and things throwing acid at people . throwing acid at people. terrible, terrible, terrible do not want to see a return of that i >> -- >> and particularly concerning that these individuals that this mother and her children have life changing injuries, awful , life changing injuries, awful, absolutely awful .

absolutely awful. >> and it does call into question whether we in this country feel safe on the streets. are we safe on the streets? >> well , the home secretary, >> well, the home secretary, james cleverly, says that he wants to see the police in action. he's demanded police chiefs present him with hard evidence that they're treating neighbourhood policing as a priority, saying he wants people to look him in the eyes and say they feel safe. well joining us now is retired police sergeant graham wetton. >> thank you very much indeed, graham. it does feel as though the streets of london and other cities aren't as safe as they may have been in the past. do you think that is down from a lack of police presence on the streets? what's going wrong ? streets? what's going wrong? >> well, i think it's clearly down to a lack of police presence on the streets. >> think, uh, demand on >> i think, uh, demand on policing has increased, numbers decrease the last 12 to decrease over the last 12 to 15 years. >> e- e the austerity cuts, >> and with the austerity cuts, budget etc, police budget cuts, etc, police stations have been closed across london and across the country. >> so in swathes across the

country to have police country to have local police stations have all been closed because budget that because of the budget cuts that were imposed policing a were imposed on on policing as a whole. you if you whole. so clearly, if you if you remove and reduce the numbers of police you're not police officers, then you're not as safe . as safe. >> f- f— >> there's not as many police officers respond officers to respond and proactively the streets proactively police the streets and prevent crime. there has been this debate within policing , within policy for some time about , uh, , within policy for some time about, uh, community policing , about, uh, community policing, the utility of police simply being present and visible and patrolling the streets versus intelligence led policing . intelligence led policing. >> whether it's better to try and target criminals, go after criminals and this has been a perennial debate where people have not been able to set one clear course of action. graham, what do you think is the best way to go about this ? way to go about this? >> it's a balance of both . >> it's a balance of both. >> it's a balance of both. >> you need both you need you need police officers within the communities, neighbourhood policing, knowing their community, who's community, knowing who's committing most committing crimes. most, most proactive police officers know their crime. hotspots may even know the people that are committing the crimes and when

they're place. so it's they're taking place. so it's a balance knowing, knowing your balance of knowing, knowing your area, your area area, but being in your area enough to know the area. enough to get to know the area. so locally based so having local, locally based police , police hubs, police stations, police hubs, patrol bases that you can work from officers dedicated and committed to working within the community, but then having sufficient officers responding to crime when they take place and proactively patrolling to stop them. in the first place. um, you know , your presence on um, you know, your presence on the street is a huge deterrent . the street is a huge deterrent. >> graham. about >> graham. you talk about resources , and it is true that resources, and it is true that numbers hours were cut, but is there also an issue with priority , uh, senior police priority, uh, senior police officers not managing necessarily the police officer's time as it should? i mean, we've seen a case of a granted a volunteer police officer getting involved in someone's singing. christian songs in public and that sort of thing. and we also see, you know, police getting involved in sort of the festivities around protest movements and policing speech online. do they sometimes get

the priorities wrong to , to be the priorities wrong to, to be fair , i think it's difficult fair, i think it's difficult sometimes for police chiefs and police leaders to actually know what the priorities are from week to week, day to day. >> you know, the priority seems to change. government to change. a government minister, a police and crime commissioner, the priorities seem changing and seem to keep on changing and the day basis , you can't day to day basis, you can't have everything priority because everything as a priority because then so then you start losing stuff. so you , saw incident in you know, saw the incident in the end that's been dealt the west end that's been dealt with and i with rightly by the met. and i think know, it think it should, you know, it should there. and they should be left there. and they need to they need manage need to they need to manage and supervise that. but again, it comes are your key comes to down what are your key priorities. out. the priorities. watch out. the pubuc priorities. watch out. the public to public want police actually to do police officers just do most police officers just want crime and then want to prevent crime and then arrest if they around arrest people. if they go around committing their committing crime, that's their priority. protecting the priority. and protecting the public. when you start public. so when you start putting everything else as a priority on policing, becomes priority on policing, it becomes difficult to manage what is actually week's key priority. >> the police hasn't had the best few years of pr shall we say. the police has obviously had some very high profile members within it. come under charges of being in appropriate

indeed being illegal, some very high profile names being sent to prison. two how does this damage the way in which the police can police within the community can do their jobs ? do their jobs? >> yeah, clearly it has an impact on trust and confidence, and so. you've got and rightly so. when you've got people committing such serious and awful offences who are wearing the same uniform that i wore over 30 years, it has a clear impact on trust and confidence with some members of the community. the vast majority of police officers join, join the job, join policing to go out and prevent crime and help the public. the majority public. that's what the majority of the fact of them are doing. the fact they've got some some individuals who join police individuals who then join police and the opposite , and do completely the opposite, that, know, police officers that, you know, police officers want people out the want those people out of the job. police officers that job. it's police officers that investigated and arrested those individuals and have given them such substantial, um , sentences such substantial, um, sentences and for doing so and were commended for doing so by the judges at the court. so policing needs to have a good look at itself inside. get rid of the that shouldn't be

of the people that shouldn't be in and in policing, but focus and emphasise and promote those officers that are doing a great job. well thank you very much indeed. >> really appreciate your time. graham whetstone, retired police sergeant, speak you . sergeant, great to speak to you. it's difficulty, isn't it, because the number of unsolved crimes , the numbers of cases crimes, the numbers of cases that police give up on or don't follow leads on, we hear it with, uh, burglaries. robberies is, um, sometimes even violence. yes. violent crimes . yes. it yes. violent crimes. yes. it does seem the police always . does seem the police always. >> so many people have started using the phrase this crime is legal. if someone's phone gets stolen, if someone's laptop gets stolen, if someone's laptop gets stolen someone's bicycle stolen, if someone's laptop gets stolestolen,»meone's bicycle stolen, if someone's laptop gets stole stolen, you»ne's bicycle stolen, if someone's laptop gets stole stolen, you get; bicycle stolen, if someone's laptop gets stole stolen, you get aiicycle stolen, if someone's laptop gets stole stolen, you get a crime gets stolen, you get a crime reference number and then nothing after it. it nothing chasing after it. it does seem that there is a clear lack of trust and confidence . lack of trust and confidence. >> yeah. and you can forget trying to deal with anti—social behaviour. you go. behaviour. so there you go. >> beyond anti—social >> but beyond anti—social behaviour is our very democracy under threat from extremist groups? yes. >> this is our question of the day really. government minister mike freer will step down at the next election . that's after

next election. that's after a series of death threats, including and threats including attacks and threats from group muslims from the extremist group muslims against crusades and ali harbi ali. he was the man who murdered sir david amess >> well, last december, mike fryer's constituency office in finchley and golders green was set ablaze in an arson attack . set ablaze in an arson attack. the conservative mp now says he had enough and no longer wants his family to have to worry about his own safety . about his own safety. >> understandable. let's cross to westminster to speak to katherine forster. cathy green this isn't new for mike. freer is it? for this mp? it's been since 2010. i believe that he's been getting threats , been getting threats, particularly from this group. muslims against crusades. then also the man who murdered , uh, also the man who murdered, uh, sir david amess and arson attacks, constant death threats. it's hardly surprising this is taking its toll . taking its toll. >> no, not surprising at all. this is a man who was a local councillor from 1990, served his community as mp for finchley and

golders green . since 2010, has golders green. since 2010, has been very firmly pro—israel. and, you know, it's a very heavily jewish community. we've seen a huge rise in anti—semitic attacks. but no, this is nothing new to him because back in 2010, the labour mp stephen timms was stabbed. now he survived, but subsequent to that, a warning was sent to mike freer , um, was sent to mike freer, um, saying let stephen timms be a warning to you that was back in 2011. and then just a couple of years ago, he frankly says he is lucky to be alive because the man who went on to murder sir david amess turned up at his constituency office and it was only for the fact that a reshuffle had just taken place that he wasn't there. he ordinarily would have been there . almost certainly the man would have attacked him as he went on

to murder. tragically sir david amess, only a few weeks later, and then of course, this horrific arson attack on his office in december. subsequent to that, he was sent an email saying that he was the kind of person who deserves to be set alight . and this really was the alight. and this really was the last for his husband has been very jittery. he says, um , very jittery. he says, um, surprisingly, since the near miss with the man who went on to murder sir david amess he's had to wear a stab vest for constituency meetings. his husband feels he has to collect him from the tube. scared of walking home. he's been told to be wary about where he parks his car . and i think just a measure car. and i think just a measure really , of mps come in for a lot really, of mps come in for a lot of criticism, but they are first and foremost human beings , just and foremost human beings, just like the rest of us. and we've seen the murder of jo cox , the seen the murder of jo cox, the murder of sir david amess, the stabbing of stephen timms.

murder of sir david amess, the stabbing of stephen timms . lots stabbing of stephen timms. lots of mps have panic buttons in their houses. michael of mps have panic buttons in their houses . michael gove, the their houses. michael gove, the levelling up secretary recently stopped doing constituency surgeries because of safety fears. it really is a terrible state of affairs that this is the sort of threat that mps feel just trying to represent their constituents, catherine, there are those who say this conservative mp has a majority of 6000. >> is he just standing down because he thinks he'll lose his seat? in fact, that was the implication on that one. labour assembly member, london assembly member and councillor made on twitter last night. she's since retracted that accusation and apologised . but there are people apologised. but there are people saying , is this just someone who saying, is this just someone who doesn't want to stand at the next election ? well certainly next election? well certainly there are several dozen conservative mps not standing at the next election. >> i think that's frankly a little bit harsh when you hear the details of what this mp has

put up with over a period of some 13 years. so sure, you're talking about councillor anne clark, a labour councillor, tweeted last night basically seemed to be celebrating that he was standing down when she did retract that because of course, as i've said , this is a human as i've said, this is a human being facing a very, very real threats . we've seen the pictures threats. we've seen the pictures of his constituent kc office literally burnt out this is a man that's had fake petrol bombs placed on the on the step of his constituency office. notes, stuck on his car, repeated death threats. i think if you're saying that he's just standing down because he's going to lose your seat , lose down because he's going to lose your seat, lose his seat, perhaps you've missed the point. >> now, later, we are going, i should say later. we're going to be hearing from mike freer himself. christopher hope, our political done a sit

political editor, has done a sit down with him. so down interview with him. so it'll interesting indeed it'll be very interesting indeed to exactly the reasoning to hear exactly the reasoning behind his decision from his own mouth. but i do wonder if things have got worse for our mps in general. so we had angela rayner being heckled very aggressively by palestinian activists at an event she must fear for her safety. i presume she must. obviously i don't know . but then obviously i don't know. but then you have the likes of jess phillips . you also have diane phillips. you also have diane abbott , who constantly seems to abbott, who constantly seems to get death threats , mainly get death threats, mainly online, i believe. but still very scary indeed . there is very scary indeed. there is a question about what this means for our democracy. if people are fearful of standing for office because they become targets from extremists , from extremists , extremists, from extremists, yes, there really is. >> and somebody like alicia kearns, who's chair of the defence select committee, says that she feels less safe on her own streets than she does going abroad . it's really quite abroad. it's really quite astonishing, isn't it? now, mike

freer puts a lot of blame at the door of social media because , of door of social media because, of course, it's 24 over seven. he hasn't been on twitter for a long time , but as many people in long time, but as many people in the public eye know, if you are on twitter or social media, you may well be subject to absolutely horrific abuse by people who don't know you. make judgements about you and of course, social media feeds you more and more of the same sort of content. you can very easily go down some sort of nasty rabbit hole with these algorithms and it is a real concern, isn't it, because if mps have to put up with this level of threat , it just to do level of threat, it just to do their job, level of threat, it just to do theirjob, it level of threat, it just to do their job, it certainly is level of threat, it just to do theirjob, it certainly is going to put a lot of people off who might have thought that they would like to enter into public service in this way , but simply service in this way, but simply they don't feel they can take they don't feel they can take the chance with their and their families safety . so a really, families safety. so a really, really serious issue, serious enough for mike freer to say

he's had enough, but also for the many good people who might have come into politics, who will be put off and won't do so as a result. >> well , thank you very much >> well, thank you very much indeed for your time, katherine forster, our political correspondent there, bringing us the latest on mike freer, mps decision down at the decision to stand down at the next election due to death threats. lots of you have been getting very getting in touch on this very concerned about mps and concerned about mps safety and from rise extremism and from the rise of extremism and what that could do to our democracy , we. democracy, we. >> absolutely. sandra says. when is this country going to realise that it's the religion of so—called peace? that's the problem. although that is her view . uh, problem. although that is her view. uh, lisa problem. although that is her view . uh, lisa says this problem. although that is her view. uh, lisa says this is horrendous. why won't this government do anything ? although government do anything? although geoff says mps have only got themselves to blame . um, open themselves to blame. um, open door unlimited immigration coming in from different beliefs, cultures is now ruling the roost. those are some, uh, some views from the inbox and someone's asked, why don't we put mps offices in police

stations opens? >> that would be quite drastic action. also, i'm not sure if we have enough police stations . uh, have enough police stations. uh, for all our mps constituencies. we know many of them have been, uh closed unfortunate uh, closed down. unfortunate >> ali clive asks , are these >> ali clive asks, are these threats and intimidations , threats and intimidations, including the fire attack on mps office? not terrorist activity. where are the police? totally unacceptable. although i do think the police are investigating . investigating. >> right. well, i believe we are going to hear now from mike >> right. well, i believe we are goinghimself. now from mike >> right. well, i believe we are goinghimself. he'sfrom mike >> right. well, i believe we are goinghimself. he's spoken ke >> right. well, i believe we are goinghimself. he's spoken to freer himself. he's spoken to our political editor, christopher have listen. >> government minister mike freer, the tory mp for finchley and golders green, has announced overnight he's resigning as an mp because he fears for his own safety. mike freer, you're with me now at the gb news westminster studio. why are you quitting as an mp? >> there comes a point when the level of threat becomes games, you know, like beyond the pale. um, most mps , in fact, i think um, most mps, in fact, i think all mps have to cope with a level of routine abuse, routine

graffiti that the kind of low level stuff maybe we shouldn't have to deal with it, but it is kind of bread and butter now, the handle our jobs as the way we handle our jobs as mps. but when you've you mps. but when you've had, you know , 2 or 3 serious incidents know, 2 or 3 serious incidents where your life has been threatened , one was a very threatened, one was a very narrow miss purely by, you know, fluke. i wasn't in the office. the man that went to on kill david amess had come to finchley . the police he'd come . he told the police he'd come armed intention harm armed with the intention to harm me . luckily, i wasn't in me. luckily, i wasn't in finchley that day. and then, you know , the arson attack was know, the arson attack was simply the last straw. and in december, that was on christmas eve . yeah. and so, you know, eve. yeah. and so, you know, we're not sure yet entirely what the motive was . the motive was. >> do you know who who firebombed your office? >> basically, the police >> so basically, the police found people could found two people could we had good cctv because after the david killer , you know, david amess killer, you know, ali ali was arrested. um, ali habib ali was arrested. um, and they'd known his surveillance on finchley. my office had been basically turned into a fortress, as was my house. um, since that, we've had very strong csv. so the police were able to use facial

recognition technology and identify them quite quickly. um, arrested them, and they're in prison awaiting trial . um, but prison awaiting trial. um, but they're saying anything . um, they're not saying anything. um, one of them, um , is a known one of them, um, is a known burglar. but beyond that, i he's not said what the motivation was. >> and it goes back ten years. you've been saying is it different people ? well, the same different people? well, the same people, the same small group of people. >> so certainly there seems to be a common theme, particularly on the most attacks . you on the most serious attacks. you know, had two run ins with know, i've had two run ins with muslims crusades, muslims against crusades, one quite where they burst quite serious, where they burst into a surgery was having in a mosque and threatened me . um, mosque and threatened me. um, luckily that's an organisation that was run by anne diamond chowdhury and crew. they've chowdhury and his crew. they've beenin chowdhury and his crew. they've been in and out of prison. um they put on their website , you they put on their website, you know, you're not welcome in our mosque. let stephen timms be appointed. that you're appointed. reminder that you're not welcome. >> that's very subtle. was >> that's very subtle. he was stabbed, labour mp stabbed. stabbed, labour mp was stabbed. >> of course, you >> um, and then, of course, you know, the david amess killer. so those are the most serious ones. and the common theme there seems to my support for ,

to me is, um, my support for, for israel. in fact, muslim crusades, when they burst in, said, you're a jewish homosexual pig said, you're a jewish homosexual pig because quite a lot of people do think i'm jewish. so it's this clearly. and you're not jewish. i'm not jewish. and that's worse. that's got worse. >> the attacks in october. >> since the attacks in october. on, on on israel, by by hamas. >> clearly a link on, on on israel, by by hamas. >> to clearly a link on, on on israel, by by hamas. >> to my clearly a link on, on on israel, by by hamas. >> to my cleaon a link or there to my views on israel or what people perceive to be my religion. so you know, i can't deny i, i, i do believe that there is a linkage to anti—semitism and to my views on you said before you were you've been wearing a stab vest. >> yeah. >> yeah. >> so after the ali harbi ali incident, um , the police said incident, um, the police said it's entirely up to me, but i certainly i do think that mps do supermarkets, you know, we stand by the door, come by the door, people come and talk i have a 30 year old talk to us. i have a 30 year old mobile home and i park it on the street talk street corner and talk to residents, now we're in, residents, but now we're in, like in public, standing on the pavement where i do an advice fair where 2 or 300 residents come door, now come through the door, i now wear stab also my staff wear a stab vest. also my staff also them available if they also have them available if they want to wear them, your

want to wear them, and your partner stress. partner to the stress. >> your spouse. >> and angelo, your your spouse. yeah. >> um, yeah . i yeah. >> um, yeah. i mean, you yeah. >> um, yeah . i mean, you can't >> um, yeah. i mean, you can't do this job unless you've got, um, a spouse partner, family who are supportive . and i think he are supportive. and i think he just enough wondering, am just had enough of wondering, am i home at night? i going to come home at night? >> you worry if you were >> did you worry if you were re—elected as an mp in the election, you wouldn't survive the parliament? >> um, i don't mean to be that dramatic but clearly dramatic. um, but clearly it's always . at the back of your always. at the back of your mind. it's getting worse. the level of abuse in the inbox is getting worse . the level of getting worse. the level of threats now on the street are getting so it's always at getting worse. so it's always at the back of your and given the back of your mind. and given that probably more that i've had probably more incidents than most. yeah. incidents than most. um, yeah. it's always a worry. >> it was , was it verbal? >> so it was, was it verbal? verbal attacks in the old days. and it's got more physical recently. is that a trend ? recently. is that a trend? >> i mean, the inbox i think email and social media have a lot to answer for because it can be kind anonymous . it's be kind of anonymous. it's certainly social media is. and social media companies do very little , to stop it. but you little to, to stop it. but you know, i was followed around brent centre , brent cross shopping centre,

literally walking behind literally a man walking behind me saying you're useless, you're useless , you're useless. useless, you're useless. and it's and so tempted it's like, and you're so tempted to and punch them, to turn around and punch them, but i'd be in trouble . no. but then i'd be in trouble. no. um, so it's always been kind um, and so it's always been kind of more, more verbal, but the threats to life are what's become more , um, if like, more become more, um, if like, more frequent and, uh, the inbox someone after the fire said you're clearly the kind of person that deserves to be set alight . it's like, who sends person that deserves to be set alight. it's like, who sends an email like that? >> can't really. you try >> and you can't really. you try and people might say, well, sticks stones will break my sticks and stones will break my bones, but words never hurt me. you try and block it but you try and block it out, but you that that's you try and block it out, but y(shocking that that's you try and block it out, but y(shocking thing that that's you try and block it out, but y(shocking thing to hat that's you try and block it out, but y(shocking thing to say. that's a shocking thing to say. >> it was just sticks and >> if it was just sticks and stones. sorry. apologies if it was you just was just words, but you just don't whether will don't know whether someone will be corner with a be on the street corner with a knife or, you know, we've had a mock molotov cocktail left on the front, the front doorstep the front, on the front doorstep . so petrol bomb you just . so a petrol bomb you just simply do not know whether that person is just angry with you is going to turn out to be violent. >> that's the risk you look back . you were an mp back in 2010

and do you regret being an mp ? and do you regret being an mp? >> um , depends on the day of the >> um, depends on the day of the week, you ask? it's like every it's like every day you have bad days. an amazing days. um, no. it's an amazing job. clearly, i've job. i mean, clearly, i've decided that i have to put my family and security family first. and security situation you situation has got worse. but you do think , i look do look back and think, i look back. you've had been involved in things, whether it's changing legislation marriage in things, whether it's changing legwhether marriage in things, whether it's changing legwhether it's marriage in things, whether it's changing legwhether it's deliveringrriage or whether it's delivering things locally. it can be local projects like, you know , henlys projects like, you know, henlys corner, rebuild , that that level corner, rebuild, that that level of local good works outweigh the well, you get a nice letter back from a constituent where you've just out a problem for just sorted out a problem for them, and that's outweighs the bad. you know, when you're bad. but you know, when you're worried or your family is worried, are you going to survive are you going worried, are you going to su come are you going worried, are you going to su come home? are you going worried, are you going to su come home? um, you going worried, are you going to su come home? um, if)u going worried, are you going to su come home? um, if you oing worried, are you going to su come home? um, if you walk to come home? um, if you walk the streets, then then i think there's time to say that's enough. >> and you've mentioned this to rishi sunak. knows you. and rishi sunak. he knows you. and what when you said to what did he say when you said to him sad. him he was very sad. >> i've always got >> i mean, i've always got on very well with him. know, very well with him. you know, i think genuinely nice think he's a genuinely a nice man. cares ? um, and he's man. who cares? um, and he's very sad that we should to very sad that we should have to

put up with this. and he entirely understands the decision and also is entirely he understands angelo's position . understands angelo's position. >> did you get the support from the police scotland yard? you told them what was happening. what do say when an what do they say when an incident happens? >> clearly get a lot of >> you clearly get a lot of support. and have to say, support. and i have to say, after the, uh, ali habib, ali david amess murderer , i can't david amess murderer, i can't fault the support i got, particularly from the home office , and my was office, and my house was basically reinforced. my office was . but, um, but at was reinforced. but, um, but at the time , it's not the house. the time, it's not the house. it's not the office. >> it's doing a job. >> it's doing a job. >> it's doing your job. it's >> it's doing yourjob. it's when you're out and about in, in, in supermarket surgeries, when you're walking home from the tube, that's where you're most vulnerable. and unless you're going to give close protection offices to every mp, which i think is, you know, it's not practical , let alone. not practical, let alone. >> and you're a justice minister. >> yeah. >> yeah. >> so you're in charge of the prison system. you lock up the bad guys and you've been chased out of office. >> enough. i've been chased out of office by the bad guys. mike

free. that's free. well, you know, that's unfortunate part of territory. and that's a question that we unfortunate part of territory. an(have 's a question that we unfortunate part of territory. an(have 's ranswer.)n that we unfortunate part of territory. an(have 's ranswer.)n it at we all have to answer. is it something we should continue to tolerate? we need to do tolerate? what do we need to do differently? and know, what tolerate? what do we need to do differe you? and know, what tolerate? what do we need to do differe you do?j know, what tolerate? what do we need to do diffwhatu do?j know, what tolerate? what do we need to do diffwhatu do?j you now, what tolerate? what do we need to do diffwhatu do?j you protectiat tolerate? what do we need to do diffwhatu do?j you protect your >> what how can you protect your colleagues, other mps? well, i think things. think there's two things. >> i mean, one, social media, we've a grip on we've got to get a grip on deaung we've got to get a grip on dealing with social media and they've responses . they've got to take responses. ability. um, know, it ability. um, you know, it reminds me a little bit of that whole debate in america. you know, guns don't kill people. people do. you know, social media radicalise people. media doesn't radicalise people. well, i think that's a lazy argument from the social media people. but on top of that, i think in the house of commons, you know what we see is when something goes off, we all stand up and say nice warm words up and say the nice warm words about we've to be nicer to about we've got to be nicer to each then two minutes each other. and then two minutes later, you know , someone's out later, you know, someone's out there, know, telling us there, you know, telling us we're all the same . we're all the same. >> and you're not alone. there are mps like you facing are other mps like you facing similar threats. one talks are other mps like you facing similait.1reats. one talks are other mps like you facing simila it. yeah. one talks are other mps like you facing simila it. yeah of one talks are other mps like you facing simila it. yeah of the |e talks are other mps like you facing simila it. yeah of the of:alks are other mps like you facing simila it. yeah of the of alls are other mps like you facing simila it. yeah of the of all the about it. yeah of the of all the mps in parliament, how many are facing similar issues that you're facing? >> i'm not sure because

obviously necessarily >> i'm not sure because obvi0|who's necessarily >> i'm not sure because obvi0|who's aiecessarily >> i'm not sure because obvi0|who's a particular know who's having a particular security threat of the same level every mp and women level. but every mp and women mps get it worse. um you know, other colleagues wear stab vests as well , but other colleagues wear stab vests as well, but it's other colleagues wear stab vests as well , but it's whether as well, but it's whether i mean, i came out morning and mean, i came out one morning and there a note on car. the there was a note on the car. the note wasn't particularly note itself wasn't particularly bad. um, but people know where i live, but they don't necessarily know what car i drive. and that wasn't long afterjohn mann remember mann had someone rememberjohn mann had someone tampered the wheel nuts his tampered the wheel nuts on his car, he just never know car, and he just never know what's next. so i think everybody is coping this everybody is coping with this abuse. some greater than abuse. um, some greater than others, but not aware of others, but i'm not aware of specifics from colleagues . specifics from colleagues. >> it's got to stop. >> it's got to stop. >> got to stop. otherwise >> it has got to stop. otherwise why would you go to do this job? >> well, mike freer, tory mp for finchley, golders green and a justice minister quitting parliament because you for parliament because you fear for your thank you for your safety. thank you for joining us today at news. joining us today at gb news. thank . thank you. >> well, there we go. christopher hope with mike freer mp there. asked whether he regrets being an mp and he said depends on the day you ask just an extraordinary interview.

>> also just hearing there the lists of other mps who had been attacked, stephen timms, who was attacked, stephen timms, who was attacked by an islamist with a knife, john mann, who had his car tampered with, john mann, of course, is now the adviser on anti—semitism. there does seem to be a here on some of to be a theme here on some of these mps. >> in my mind, i think >> yeah, and in my mind, i think this is a moment for rishi sunak. minister, to sunak. the prime minister, to stand up and say we will not tolerate this type of intimidation of our elected politicians or anyone else for that matter. well, coming up, we'll be speaking to another mp , we'll be speaking to another mp, tobias ellwood, a man who famously intervened after the westminster bridge attacks tried to save the life of pc keith palmer . palmer. >> we'll be getting his perspective on how safe mps are and, frankly, how safe our democracy is. but that's . democracy is. but that's. >> tom, emily, thanks very much. it's just gone half past 12. our top story this afternoon is that

inflation is expected to temporarily return to the bank of england's target of 2% by this summer . of england's target of 2% by this summer. that's a year and a half earlier than previously expected. well, the news comes as today, the bank of england has held its interest rate . at has held its interest rate. at 5.25% for the fourth time in a row , the bank of england row, the bank of england governor, andrew bailey , says, governor, andrew bailey, says, though, that he needs to see more that inflation is more evidence that inflation is going stay at 2% before going to stay at 2% before starting cut interest rates. starting to cut interest rates. but labour says households are paying but labour says households are paying the price for 14 years of economic failure under the conservatives in other news, a toddler and mother have been left with potentially life changing injuries after a targeted attack in south london, which saw 11 people taken to hospital . the metropolitan hospital. the metropolitan police say a man threw a corrosive substance at the mother and her two children, injuring them along with five police officers and three other women who were injured. after coming to help the family. we understand no arrests have so far been made, but a large

manhunt is underway for the suspect, who is believed to be known to the mother . the number known to the mother. the number of migrants crossing the channel is up 13% compared with this time last year. more than 1300 people have so far arrived in small boats this month, the highest total for the january sea since records began in 2018. this is compared with the 1100 recorded in january of last year . downing street says that hatred justice minister mike freer has faced is an attack on british democracy. it follows the mps announcement that he will leave parliament after receiving a series of death threats and a recent arson attack on his constituency office. speaking to gb news, the mp says he's worried about making it home safely each day. >> but now where if, like in pubuc >> but now where if, like in public standing on the pavement where i do an advice fair, where 2 or 300 residents come through the door, i now wear a stab

vest. also also have vest. also my staff also have them available want them available if they want to wear and partner to wear them, and your partner to the stress. >> and angelo, your your spouse. yeah. yeah . i mean, you can't >> um, yeah. i mean, you can't do this job unless you've got, um, a spouse partner, family who are supportive . and i think he are supportive. and i think he just enough wandering . am just had enough of wandering. am i come home at night? i going to come home at night? >> and finally, live pictures here for those watching on tv of riot police lining the streets outside the eu parliament buildings . where our leaders are buildings. where our leaders are meeting in brussels , that's as meeting in brussels, that's as hundreds of farmers have been protesting in recent days, as tensions continue to rise over better working conditions, france is just one of the countries at the centre of this growing dispute. across europe, with tens of thousands of farmers staging their demonstrations in countries including germany, poland , including germany, poland, belgium and in italy. there asking for environmental rules to be relaxed. and they're also calling on their own governments to deal with rising cost s and for the latest stories, you can sign up to gb news alerts by

scanning the qr code on your screen right now or by going to gbnews.com forward slash alerts. >> more now on the safety of our very democracy , we're joined very democracy, we're joined with the conservative mp tobias ellwood. tobias it is extraordinary to hear the accounts from your colleague from mike freer about the ordeal. frankly that he's been through ever since he was elected to parliament. just how prevalent is that sort of feeling amongst your colleagues ? feeling amongst your colleagues? >> yeah, it's , uh, very much there. >> everybody's conscious of it. let me just begin by just saying , you know, i understand why mike has stepped back. >> it's a tough decision to make. >> but when you're subject to death threats, when you've had your office set on fire, and as your office set on fire, and as you saw in that interview, mike is one of the most mild mannered mps. he's so friendly and

engaging, diligent and committed . current justice minister , and . current justice minister, and we all now know that he narrowly avoided confronting ian with harbour alley, the british national who went on to murder sir david amess in october 2021. it's just shines a light on mps security and not just the mp, but the families as well. and we do need to get a grip of the daily, uh, diet of hate that is via social media. that is thrown at, uh, at mps and parliamentarians and those in pubuc parliamentarians and those in public life, as well as those very real threats that occasionally are then followed through. there's no doubt the rising tensions in the middle east has woken up dormant extremist networks across across the region, but also here in the u.k, and i'm aware that intelligence agencies here in the u.k. are very concerned about reinvigorated, home grown extremism here in in britain.

>> tobias, do you ever feel, uh, fear for your for your safety, for your family's safety ? for your family's safety? >> all the time. it's now i mean, partly because of my military background and so on. you are trained to sort of look at the wider situation, take become aware of where the exits are, where the pinch points might be, the vulnerabilities. and so forth. what you might do, uh , sadly, because of various uh, sadly, because of various events that have happened in my life, my brother was killed. he was just a teacher. he was in the wrong place, uh, murdered in bali. uh, and, uh, it i'm afraid it's. i now live and breathe it all the time. very conscious that this is a horrible world that this is a horrible world that we're in. but as you're heanng that we're in. but as you're hearing from from mike there as well, um, there needs to be a wider debate because otherwise fewer people will step forward to consider a role in public life. and that's a detriment to our country. we want good people to stay forward, to stay, to step up. >> em- em— e it time , um, that >> tobias, is it time, um, that the prime minister stood up and

delivered a speech to the nation about this? because seeing our elected politicians intimidate in this way out of public office is shocking and it shows a sign of a democracy potentially at threat from extremists . threat from extremists. >> well, it isn't just the prime minister. i think it's all leaders , but it's also what do leaders, but it's also what do we do? what are the practical measures that we take? because as mike was alluding to as well, every time in the public every time this is in the public domain, such as we're discussing now, um, there's a lot of condemnation, but not enough happens. you know, we need to be far swifter in being able to report and deal with social media and email abuse to make any individual think twice about sending such hate. you know , we sending such hate. you know, we saw improvements made to mp security after jo cox was sadly killed, but they still don't go far enough. and it's also worth pointing out, i would say that the internet has taken over indeed overshadows the pulpit in the mosque. there will always be

a steady flow of misguided people who , with scant knowledge people who, with scant knowledge of the quran will be persuaded to leave a trail of destruction in this life, expected to be rewarded in the next, or indeed want to cause harm in some way. the internet is that double edged sword, and i'm afraid we failed to blunt one side of it. it is fascinating to hear you talk about whenever this pops up into the public conversation, it reminds us of the awful murder of sir david amis, of jo cox, but also of stephen timms, who was stabbed by an islamic extremist and, uh , of john mann, extremist and, uh, of john mann, who saw his car tampered with. >> two it seems that this keeps happening, and perhaps to readily this slips from our minds and exits the general conversation . conversation. >> it does indeed. and as i say, if we want britain to be that open, tolerant place , it has to open, tolerant place, it has to absolutely include those who

step forward in public life . i step forward in public life. i want to see the best of britain's wanting to participate and play a role in our parliamentary democracy . we will parliamentary democracy. we will not see that if we don't look after those who are in public life, and when we see somebody is as wonderful as mike making the decision to say, my family understandably comes first, we clearly need to do more. these are dangerous times, there's no doubt about it. and britain does need to then craft the atmosphere and the environment that makes sure that we are safe and we stamp out this sort of behaviour as i say, a lot of this and mike touched on it is related to the internet. the responsibility and utility of the digital domain, which we still are far from , um, uh, still are far from, um, uh, understanding and appreciating. >> yes, i just worry that we, uh, we all want a tolerant to live in a tolerant society, but perhaps we're too tolerant of extremes . perhaps we're too tolerant of extremes. um, perhaps we're too tolerant of extremes . um, two, thank you extremes. um, two, thank you very much. really appreciate your time. tobias ellwood, conservative mp. of course. yeah >> really, really profound there to think not just of all those

mps that been attacked, but mps that have been attacked, but those attacks that have been prevented that haven't happened . prevented that haven't happened. and of course, that that could have gone far, far. i'm not going let this one go. going to let this one go. >> i do think that it's important for rishi sunak the prime stand up and prime minister, to stand up and actually say something the actually say something to the country this sort of country about this sort of thing. maybe it wouldn't change anything, but means anything, but it means something. do not? do you something. do you not? do you agree it's one of those moments. >> it's the leadership, >> i think it's the leadership, perhaps. is in perhaps. rishi sunak is in a unique place whereby he could be saying something particularly about community cohesion in this country , particularly as the as country, particularly as the as the second ethnic minority prime minister of the united kingdom has ever had . but the first, has ever had. but the first, perhaps most visual ethnic minority prime minister, he could make something of a statement about bringing the country together , about stopping country together, about stopping various divisions , about a more various divisions, about a more unhed various divisions, about a more united sense of purpose. >> he needs to do it. he needs to do it anyway. coming up, should social media bosses take personal responsibility for the

safety of children on that platform ? yes, sir. zuckerberg, platform? yes, sir. zuckerberg, mark zuckerberg was before the us senate yesterday . we'll be us senate yesterday. we'll be discussing that and more after this short

sunday mornings from 930 on gb news . news. >> good afternoon britain. it's 13 minutes to one and the police are preparing to update us on their manhunt for a dangerous criminal in south london who

attacked multiple people with a corrosive substance in a residential area. we'll bring you that as soon as it happens. >> yes, we'll bring you that very soon. now, at 12:00, the bank of england held the base rate of interest at 5.25. still a 15 year high. the bank has kept the rate the same for the past three decisions. but i think liam halligan gb news, economics business editor , economics and business editor, has an update for us. >> i do indeed, emily and tom. so it turns out if you look at the minutes of the monetary policy committee meeting that made decision, there are made this decision, there are nine economists. they voted 6 to 3 to keep interest rates on hold at 5.25. astonishingly key in my view. two of the economists on the mpc actually voted to increase rates even more, even though inflation is on a very strongly downward trajectory, it's fallen all the way from 11% back in the end of 2022 to 4% now. and one member of the mpc voted to cut rates. so there's now what we call a three way

split on the mpc. let's have a look at some of the wording in the minutes. the committee's voted to maintain the bank rate at 5.25, said the minutes headune at 5.25, said the minutes headline cpi. that's the consumer price inflation has fallen back relatively sharply as i just said, the restrictive stance of monetary policy. that means high interest rates is weighing on activity in the real economy and is leading to a looser labour market. that means the growth of wages is easing . the growth of wages is easing. the committee went on to say all those service price inflation and wage growth have fallen by somewhat more than expected . and somewhat more than expected. and as mentioned , and here's as i just mentioned, and here's the key phrase key indicator of inflation, persistence remains elevated. that's the headline . elevated. that's the headline. as a result, monetary policy will need to remain restrictive, i.e. high interest rates for sufficiently to long return inflation to the 2% target sustainably in the medium terme. now, inflation as i said, is 4% double the bank of england's target. that's why didn't target. that's why i didn't expect to expect the bank of england to cut rates. but what i think cut rates. but what i do think will is that in april or

will happen is that in april or may, you will get the first interest from the bank interest rate cut from the bank of england. you'll get of england. i think you'll get 2 or 3 by the time of the autumn. and what will on the bank and what will weigh on the bank of england isn't just growth of wages and patterns of price inflation. here in the uk , but inflation. here in the uk, but the mighty federal reserve of the mighty federal reserve of the bank of the central bank of america , the us equivalent of america, the us equivalent of the bank of england , the federal the bank of england, the federal reserve, i think, will start cutting rates soon. and once the federal reserve signals that the global interest rate cycle has turned, except the expect the bank of england , the european bank of england, the european central bank in the eurozone and other big central banks to fall into line. this is how monetary policy works. but this is a rate hold today. that's not a surprise , is good news. if surprise, is good news. if you've got a mortgage because mortgage rates are going to come down more in anticipation of a rate cut by the bank of england soon, i expect saying it here and now. the first rate cuts to be april or may. well, there you

go. >> first rate cut april or may. that would be a nice spring. surprise >> well, we'll test you on that when it happens here in harlingen. but thank you for joining meta ceo mark joining us. now. meta ceo mark zuckerberg, that's the company that owns facebook has apologised for families of children harmed online. >> yes. us senator lindsey graham accused mr zuckerberg of having blood on his hands. it was quite extraordinary actually i >> -- >> see, the ceos of tiktok, snapchat, discord and x, formerly twitter, were also questioned about how they protect minors on their online platforms. >> i mean, look at all that press. there huge amounts of press. there huge amounts of press. this was a very big hearing. while the silicon valley heavyweights insisted that they do the utmost to shield children, senator ted cruz claimed that every parent is terrified the garbage is terrified about the garbage thatis is terrified about the garbage that is directed at our children i >> -- >> well, joining us now to discuss this further is social media expert alan stephens . and media expert alan stephens. and alan, this was an emotive heanng alan, this was an emotive hearing . there has been some

hearing. there has been some criticism, however , here that criticism, however, here that there are a bunch of senators here in an election year simply trying to get some good clips of them shouting at billionaires . them shouting at billionaires. >> yeah, well, absolutely. >> yeah, well, absolutely. >> and that certainly happened. >> and that certainly happened. >> i shouted at billionaires quite a lot. >> and it's rare for me to find myself in agreement with ted cruz. >> i cruz. »| cruz. >> i without making cruz. >. political to without making a political point. >> this case, i think he >> but in this case, i think he does have a point because frankly, the social media companies have little companies have done very little in terms of preventing harm coming to young people and others. >> and there's a huge amount more they could do if they had the do it . the will to do it. >> well, alan, there's clearly a lot of pressure these social lot of pressure on these social media companies to do something. is it fair, though, to level the blame for teenage suicide, for eating disorders, for child protection issues, for what else? bullying on the bosses of these companies ? rs well, these companies? rs well, i think it's unfair to place the total blame on them, but certainly they have a role to play certainly they have a role to play in terms of encouraging

certain types of behaviour. >> um , particularly some some >> um, particularly some some very nasty, you know, self—harm and those sorts of things can be encouraged. and even eating disorders . so encouraged. and even eating disorders. so i think encouraged. and even eating disorders . so i think they have disorders. so i think they have a play and they not a role to play and they are not playing role. they're not playing their role. they're not doing much as they could, and doing as much as they could, and they a whole lot they need to do a whole lot more, just in america but more, not just in america but globally. but these are centred in america, obviously, and it's the responsibility of them. it's all very well good. all very well and good. >> standing up and >> zuckerberg standing up and apologising, but he needs to do something it . apologising, but he needs to do something it. mhm. something about it. mhm. >> we're watching just >> alan we're watching just there on our screens. the extraordinary moment when mark zuckerberg, the head of what is now trillion was now $1 trillion company, was asked to stand up to turn around, to look at families in the room and apologise to them , the room and apologise to them, um, uh, for these are families of children who had lost their lives, uh, some by suicide after exposure to certain content on social media. mark zuckerberg was saying, though , was that his was saying, though, was that his company has invested millions upon millions upon millions of dollars in systems to try and

stamp out this content. and to some extent, is it not a fair argument that they're never going to be able to stop everything on what is, after all, a user content generated platform ? platform? >> but i think, tom, that's a fair point. they can't stop everything, but they can stop a lot more than they're stopping right now . they have the right now. they do have the technology it. they can technology to do it. they can stop certain things, certain sorts unreasonable , sorts of, uh, unreasonable, unfair content are already blocked. immediate they could do it all sorts of content, but it for all sorts of content, but they choose not to. so it's all well and good. zuckerberg standing he's very standing up and saying he's very sorry. sure he is. but sorry. and i'm sure he is. but he could do a lot more. instagram, for example, allows people access certain things instagram, for example, allows pethey access certain things instagram, for example, allows pethey acceclick certain things instagram, for example, allows pethey acceclick aertain things instagram, for example, allows pethey acceclick a button,iings instagram, for example, allows pethey acceclick a button, itgs if they just click a button, it says you're about to see some unpleasant click here. unpleasant content. click here. well, really well, that's not really a protection, is it? that's that's thank you. >> alan, sorry to interrupt you there, but we're coming to the end our time. thank you very end of our time. thank you very much, alan stephens there. social up. much, alan stephens there. soital up. much, alan stephens there. soit ever up. much, alan stephens there. soit ever justified up. much, alan stephens there. soit ever justified to up. much, alan stephens there. soit ever justified to break up. is it ever justified to break the for planet ? the law for the planet? >> it like things are >> it looks like things are heating up. boxt boilers

sponsors of whether on gb news . sponsors of whether on gb news. >> hello, alex burchill here again with your latest gb news weather forecast. whilst it is going to turn increasingly mild as we go through the end of the week, also windy week, it will also be windy at times will be some rain. >> most of that will be pushing in from the west because we have high to the south high pressure to the south of the and this that's the uk and it's this that's leading westerly flow leading to a westerly flow across as well as across the country as well as this, do have a spell of more this, we do have a spell of more persistent parts of persistent rain across parts of scotland as we go through the rest and the start of rest of today and the start of the night, but that rain does clear the east as the night, but that rain does cle go the east as the night, but that rain does cle go through the east as the night, but that rain does cle go through the the east as the night, but that rain does cle go through the earlyeast asof we go through the early hours of friday . elsewhere, it is friday morning. elsewhere, it is going increasingly going to turn increasingly cloudy as we go through the night, there will be some night, and there will be some outbreaks of drizzly rain, mainly after mainly towards the west. after a bit some bit of a chilly start for some of temperatures are of us tonight, temperatures are actually to lift. so by actually going to lift. so by the up the time many of us wake up tomorrow morning, actually tomorrow morning, it's actually going mild going to be relatively mild through the day itself. rather through the day itself. a rather cloudy picture , cloudier than cloudy picture, cloudier than today for most of us, and that cloud thick enough for today for most of us, and that cloud further thick enough for today for most of us, and that cloud further outbreakngh for today for most of us, and that

cloud further outbreaks oh for today for most of us, and that cloud further outbreaks of rain some further outbreaks of rain across parts in across western parts in particular, something a particular, perhaps something a bit persistent pushing bit more persistent pushing in across scotland and across parts of scotland and into northern ireland. two the best of any sunshine best chance of any sunshine tomorrow be east, tomorrow will be in the east, and that's temperatures and that's where temperatures are to highest. could are likely to be highest. could get 15 celsius, get to highs around 15 celsius, but for most it is going to be a mild albeit a windy mild day, albeit a windy one. two rain pushes its two the rain pushes its way southward , so on saturday we're southward, so on saturday we're likely to see a bit of a wet picture across southern counties as of seeing as a greater chance of seeing some further north, but some sunshine further north, but there will showers towards there will be showers towards there will be showers towards the little bit the northwest and a little bit chillier as we go chillier to elsewhere as we go through the weekend. a rather cloudy picture and temperatures lifting again above average lifting again to above average for of year . for the time of year. >> that warm feeling inside and from boxt boilers sponsors of weather on .

gb news. >> good afternoon britain . it's >> good afternoon britain. it's coming up to 1:00 on thursday, the 1st of february. >> manhunt is underway. police are scouring the capital in search of a man. they describe as a dangerous individual . after as a dangerous individual. after as a dangerous individual. after a horrific attack in south london, a mother was left screaming. my eyes after a corrosive substance was thrown into her face and at her two children. we have an exclusive interview with the man who chased the alleged attacker and hounded from office, conservative mp mike freer

reveals that attacks by muslims against crusades ali harbi ali and a recent arson attack on his office have weighed so heavily on his family that he is choosing to stand down at the next election. blood's on your hands. that's the charge levelled at tech bosses yesterday during an extraordinary senate hearing in the united states . senators the united states. senators accused social media companies of being culpable for the deaths of being culpable for the deaths of users of their platforms . but of users of their platforms. but should social media bosses take personal responsibility for the safety of children on their platforms? well, we are getting live , live well, we are getting live, live pictures in from brussels , where pictures in from brussels, where farmers are praying , testing and farmers are praying, testing and have set parts of the city ablaze. we can see a pyre has been constructed in the bottom left hand corner of the screen thatis

left hand corner of the screen that is on fire in central brussels . brussels. >> yes, this is very dramatic. if you've ever been to the city of brussels , it does feel quite of brussels, it does feel quite small , quite of brussels, it does feel quite small, quite contained in the centre there, and huge numbers of protests . i think those are of protests. i think those are tires as well that are alight in the left hand corner of your screen. this is quite something as we've french protesters as we've seen french protesters too have been out blockading roads into the capital in paris , roads into the capital in paris, now in belgium, two in brussels, the heart of the european union. let's remember the heart of the european union. these farmers are not happy with the levels of bureaucracy and regulation they're having to deal with. >> this follows farming protests in germany . two. it does seem in germany. two. it does seem that this has sprung as a sort of domino effect. perhaps the first bout of farming protests we saw as well was in the neighbouring netherlands. this is country after country, after country, where farmers are fed up. it's an extraordinary scene to see here at the heart of the

european project at brussels itself. earlier we were looking at policemen lined up in riot police gear, ready for some sort of confrontation. we're keeping a keen eye on what is going on in brussels. yes, huge numbers of people just milling around it seems next to the protests in and amongst it, you can see a few police officers there, but yes, as tom said, there were lots of armed police, quite frightening scenes really. >> um, but will this remain on the continent or could it come to our shores? who knows ? but to our shores? who knows? but first, let's bring our headlines with sam . with sam. >> tom. emily thank you very much. and good afternoon. from the gb news room. the headlines just after 1:00. well, our top story this afternoon is that it has now been confirmed that the guest of a london hotel were among those who were in involved in the targeted corrosive liquid attack in the capital. a 31 year

old woman and a three year old girl have been left with potentially life changing injuries following the attack. five police officers and three other women have also been injured after coming to help that family. we understand no arrests have so far been made, but a large manhunt is underway for the suspect of that attack , for the suspect of that attack, who is believed to have been known to the mother. >> attacks like this horrific one that we've seen show exactly why important. crime why this is so important. crime has been an absolute has always been an absolute priority for the conservatives andifs priority for the conservatives and it's one, you know, you've just today. the home just seen today. the home secretary, is secretary, james cleverly, is really the really emphasising the importance police importance of having police officers the beat. we're officers on the beat. we're increasing police numbers. we want to make sure out want to make sure they're out there and making difference to there and making a difference to people's trott there, speaking >> laura trott there, speaking to gb news earlier this morning. well, in other news, inflation is expected to temporarily return to the bank of england's target of 2% by this summer. that's a year and a half earlier than was previously expected . than was previously expected. the news comes as today the bank has held its interest rate at

5.25% for the fourth time in a row . the bank of england row. the bank of england governor, andrew bailey , says, governor, andrew bailey, says, though, that he needs to see more evidence that inflation is going stay at 2% before going to stay at 2% before starting to cut interest rates. labour says that households are paying labour says that households are paying the price for 14 years of economic failure under the conservatives the number of migrants crossing the english channelis migrants crossing the english channel is up 13% compared with this time last year. more than 1300 people have so far arrived in small boats last month, january, that is, that was the highest january total since records began in 2018. that compares with the 1100 recorded in january of last year, and just yesterday, 278 people made the journey in six different boats . a couple are expected to boats. a couple are expected to stand trial over the alleged arson attack on justice minister mike freers constituency office. the pair denies setting blaze to the building. the mp, though, described the incident as the

final straw after receiving a series of death threats. he has now made the decision to step down at the next general election. well speaking earlier to gb news the mp says he's worried about making it home safely each day . safely each day. >> but now we're in. if, like in public, standing on the pavement. so i do an advice fair where 2 or 300 residents come through the door , i now wear through the door, i now wear a stab vest. my also stab vest. also my staff also have available if they want have them available if they want to wear them, and your partner to wear them, and your partner to stress. to wear them, and your partner to andtress. to wear them, and your partner to and angelo, your your >> and angelo, your your spouse. yeah >> um, yeah. i mean, you can't yeah >>this, yeah. i mean, you can't yeah >>this jobah. i mean, you can't yeah >>this job unlessean, you can't yeah >>this job unless you'veu can't yeah >>this job unless you've got n't yeah >>this job unless you've got ,'t do this job unless you've got, um, a spouse, partner, family who are supportive. and i think he just had enough wandering . he just had enough of wandering. am i going to come home at night ? >> 7- >> the 7 >> the shadow ? >> the shadow chancellor says she will not commit to ending what she's called fiscal drag. that's pulling more people into paying that's pulling more people into paying income tax at higher rates . in her speech to london's rates. in her speech to london's business conference earlier, rachel reeves pledged she won't make any commitments that are not fully costed or fully funded . sir keir starmer is also

expected to speak in around an hours expected to speak in around an hour's time. we will, of course, bnng hour's time. we will, of course, bring you that live here on gb news when the labour leader does speak at that conference, he's expected to promise a battle against stagnation in british productivity and growth . productivity and growth. however, critics are accusing labour of economic flip flopping and they're questioning if the party can really provide the stability that businesses need. well earlier, rachel reeves vowed to maintain other favourable terms for businesses . favourable terms for businesses. >> as we hear about another business choosing not to locate or list in the uk. business choosing not to locate or list in the uk . investment or list in the uk. investment that we have missed out on to the benefit of a competitor. britain need change, not just a change in government, but a new kind of leadership in place of instability and uncertainty . a instability and uncertainty. a government guided by clear purpose working with business, universities and our public services to achieve ambitious goals for britain in the eu, has

some questions about the uk government deal to restore power sharing in northern ireland. >> that comes as the commons are currently listening to two pieces of key legislation in that deal. they highlight routine checks on goods and northern ireland's position within the uk. ireland premier leo varadkar says that while the european commission would have quenes european commission would have queries about the what's called command paper, there were no suggestions on an initial assessment that it contained any red flags. he called them leader of the dup sir jeffrey donaldson says the new laws will now mean his party can end their boycott of power sharing . and as we've of power sharing. and as we've been hearing, hundreds of farmers are still continuing to protest outside the eu headquarters as tensions continue to rise over better working conditions. live pictures here showing the scenes in brussels, the centre of a plaza there with multiple fires breaking out, tractors parked up against buildings barricading the entrance to the building

where eu officials are meeting today. where eu officials are meeting today . it comes as france has today. it comes as france has been at the centre of the growing dispute across europe, with tens of thousands of workers staging demonstrations in countries including germany , in countries including germany, in countries including germany, in poland, belgium and in italy. they are calling for environmental rules to be relaxed , and they're also asking relaxed, and they're also asking their respective governments to help deal with the rising costs that they're facing . and that they're facing. and finally, the escaped japanese macaque from highlands wildlife park in scotland has, you'll be pleased to know, been safely captured. the elusive monkey named honshu was discovered in a local garden earlier this morning, eating from a bird feeder. park officials responded to a call deploying keepers and a specialist drone team to fire a specialist drone team to fire a tranquillising dart to the animal. honshu is now back at the park, undergoing a health check by keepers . and for the check by keepers. and for the latest stories, sign up to gb news alerts by scanning the qr

code on your screen or by going to gb news. com forward slash alerts . alerts. >> is our democracy under threat from extremist groups ? from extremist groups? government minister mike freer will step down at the next election after a series of death threats , including attacks and threats, including attacks and threats, including attacks and threats from extremist group muslims against crusades and ali harbi ali, the man who murdered sir david amess us last december i >> -- >> his constituency office in finchley and golders green was set ablaze in an arson attack. the conservative mp, now says he's had enough and no longer wants his family to have to worry about his safety, his some of what he had to say to our political editor, christopher hope earlier today comes a point when , on the level of threat when, on the level of threat becomes you know, like beyond the pale . the pale. >> um, most mps, in fact, i think all mps have to cope with a level of routine abuse,

routine graffiti that the kind of low level stuff maybe we shouldn't have to deal with it, but it is kind of bread and butter now, the way we handle ourjobs butter now, the way we handle our jobs mps. but butter now, the way we handle ourjobs mps. but when you've our jobs as mps. but when you've had, you know , 2 or 3 serious had, you know, 2 or 3 serious incidents where your life has been threatened , one was a very been threatened, one was a very narrow miss, purely by, you know, fluke. i wasn't in the office. the man that went on to kill david amess had come to finchley. he told the police he'd armed with the he'd come armed with the intention luckily intention to harm me. luckily i wasn't in finchley that day and then, you know, the arson attack was simply the last straw . was simply the last straw. >> an extraordinary concerning story . but let's get some more story. but let's get some more now with the executive director of the henry jackson society, doctor alan mendoza . sir alan, doctor alan mendoza. sir alan, this is perhaps not a surprise for people who know mike freer. well people who have heard some of these stories over the last years. but for many people , this years. but for many people, this will be the first time they hear what an ordeal. uh mike freer

has been through, particularly in his constituency . in his constituency. >> yes. i mean, i think this is not just one event as as mike has detailed now in several places, this has been a decade long campaign of intimidation, of threats of, you know, narrow escapes , as he puts it, win at escapes, as he puts it, win at any given moment. >> i think that, you know, he feared for his life and quite rightly so. i think the most disturbing moment of course, of all, was to know that the, uh, ali harbi ali the murderer of sir had first tried sir david amess, had first tried to attend his surgery. mike freer surgery to kill him. um, and clearly , what's happened and clearly, what's happened here man with very here is that a man with very strong principled views, strong and principled views, particularly on, um, his pro—israel sort of stance, has been targeted repeatedly by radical muslim extremists . and radical muslim extremists. and quite rightly, i think he's just had enough. but what are we doing as a country protect doing as a country to protect our legislator ? surely our our legislator? surely our democracy itself, as started democracy itself, as you started this segment, is in danger of being now. being silenced now. >> i mean, this makes most of us absolutely . i would like absolutely despair. i would like to see rishi sunak, the prime minister strongly on

minister come out strongly on this the and this and speak to the nation and say will not tolerate this say we will not tolerate this type intimidation . but, alan, type of intimidation. but, alan, how much does this have to do with his pro—israel stance ? with his pro—israel stance? because there has been intimidation of this mp for years . years. >> yes. i mean, in his case, it's very much been linked to that. i think the fact that he represents a constituency with a large population , large jewish population, therefore, is quite prominent on jewish community. um interests is also a targeting mechanism. but yes, his israel stance has been part and parcel of the threats and abuse he's received . threats and abuse he's received. what it tells you is that there are certain views in this country which are , you know, country which are, you know, found abhorrent by extremists . found abhorrent by extremists. and rather than debate and discuss them or go to the ballot box fight them out, we box and fight them out, as we normally with reason, with normally do with reason, with intellect, discussion . ian, intellect, with discussion. ian, there are people who would much rather try intimidate or at rather try to intimidate or at the moment, at the very extreme , the moment, at the very extreme, you actually cause you know, actually cause violence or even kill somebody whose views on those subjects they don't agree with. this they don't agree with. and this is dangerous for is a very dangerous path for britain you're

britain to be treading. you're right prime minister right that the prime minister should be coming but should be coming up, but not just minister. i would should be coming up, but not just the minister. i would should be coming up, but not just the party nister. i would should be coming up, but not just the party leaders would should be coming up, but not just the party leaders are jld say all the party leaders are all by if you all affected by this. if you look all look around, mps from all parties targeted at parties have been targeted at various doing various times for just doing their but it is true that their jobs. but it is true that their jobs. but it is true that the israel case is particularly egregious and by the way, labour mps had a similar problem back in november when the ceasefire vote happened in gaza. there were mps whose were certain labour mps whose homes were targeted by protesters , i think, protesters and that, i think, alarmed lot of senior labour alarmed a lot of senior labour figures are figures as well, saying what are we doing with this level of extremism? >> alan just finally does this decision by mike freer today mean that the extremists are winning that groups like muslims against crusades have successfully got their man out of public life , that the next mp of public life, that the next mp for finchley and golders green will perhaps be a little less vocal on israel , will perhaps be a little less vocal on israel, on speaking up for their jewish constituents as well. >> in one sense, i fear you may be right there, tom, because, you know, you can take the lesson from this after , you lesson from this that after, you know, ten, 12 years use, mike know, ten, 12 years of use, mike freer decided that he it to

freer decided that he owed it to himself family, not to freer decided that he owed it to him himself family, not to freer decided that he owed it to him himself in family, not to freer decided that he owed it to him himself in the �*nily, not to freer decided that he owed it to him himself in the firingiot to freer decided that he owed it to him himself in the firing line. put himself in the firing line. however i am sure that there are numerous other people out there who will, you know, are who will, you know, who are ready step to that seat, ready to step in to that seat, but also more generally brave but be also more generally brave people parliament make people in parliament who make the and principled the right and principled arguments not arguments and are not intimidated by this, but they do need support. it's time to need more support. it's time to get legislators make these get legislators who make these difficult decisions. they need to proper support from to have proper support from police, from other activities to make they're attacked make sure they're not attacked in this way. >> yes, otherwise, this will have a chilling effect. thank you mendoza , you so much, alan mendoza, executive director of the henry jackson society. always good to speak . speak to you. >> a manhunt is underway >> now, a manhunt is underway following an alkaline attack in south london. the met police say the suspect is a dangerous man who urgently needs to be found. >> yes. a 31 year old woman and a three year old girl have potentially life changing injuries after the targeted alkaline attack. let's cross live to gb news reporter ray addison, is in south london. addison, who is in south london. ray >> ray . >> hop|ng .

>> hoping. >> hoping. >> yes. hello. both of you. well met police commissioner, sir mark rowley has paid tribute today to the bravery of those members of the public and the police as well, who responded to that horrific attack last night. now he they intervened after a woman and her two children were injured in that corrosive alkaline attack . the mother, 31, alkaline attack. the mother, 31, and the youngest child just three years old. her daughter receiving potentially life changing injuries. sir mark confirming that they they remain in hospital and some of the burns he says, are potentially quite substantial. we know that in total, four members of the pubuc in total, four members of the public got involved three women and a man . three of them had and a man. three of them had hospital treatment and have since been discharged. i managed to speak to the man who was involved after that horrific attack inside , and i heard some attack inside, and i heard some sort of commotion going on outside. >> it's not unusual because

sometimes we do hear things going on outside. um the odd argument or something. so at first i didn't think much of it. it's only until i heard, like, a bang , which it's only until i heard, like, a bang, which sounded car bang, which sounded like a car crash , um, where i thought, let crash, um, where i thought, let me look out the window me sort of look out the window and see what's going so and see what's going on. so i couldn't had and see what's going on. so i couldn'tinto had and see what's going on. so i couldn'tinto because had and see what's going on. so i couldn'tinto because my1ad and see what's going on. so i couldn'tinto because my car was crashed into because my car was parked i was quite parked out there. so i was quite concerned. then i heard concerned. and then i heard someone so me and someone scream, help! so me and my ran outside my partner sort of ran outside and, as got out and, um, as soon as we got out there, saw this guy, um, pull there, we saw this guy, um, pull this very young girl, probably about out of the back of about 2 or 3 out of the back of the , and he lifted her up as the car, and he lifted her up as high as he could, and he just slammed her to the ground. um, he'd that twice. and it was he'd done that twice. and it was after the second time where we sort just ran in and just. sort of just ran in and just. yeah, just tried to stop what was ended up sort yeah, just tried to stop what wachasing ended up sort yeah, just tried to stop what wachasing him ended up sort yeah, just tried to stop what wachasing him like ended up sort yeah, just tried to stop what wachasing him like halfway» sort yeah, just tried to stop what wachasing him like halfway down of chasing him like halfway down the i on slippers. the road. um, i had on slippers. so was quite hard continue so it was quite hard to continue running. i ended stopping. running. so i ended up stopping. um, i had got back up to the top of the road, closer to where it happened, and my partnerjust said to me, just go and some said to me, just go and get some water, still water, get some water. i still wasn't happened, wasn't aware of what happened, so i just ran inside and just

grabbed water. grabbed the water. and then i saw, it was mother saw, i believe it was the mother of she was just of the child and she was just screaming like i can't see. her eyes weren't open. and um, so i just opened the bottle of water and just sort of just sprayed her down with the water, basically. and then a few more bystanders water and bystanders had some water and just same. just done the same. >> sort of effect did >> what sort of effect did the water and what what was the water have and what what was the extent injuries far as extent of her injuries as far as you could see? extent of her injuries as far as youum,.d see? extent of her injuries as far as youum,.d seewas it was quite >> um, so it was it was quite clear was, um, whatever clear that it was, um, whatever substance it was, was burning her quite badly. so throwing her quite badly. um, so throwing the water on her was, i guess , the water on her was, i guess, probably soothing it a little bit, but it wasn't really doing much , i guess, because she was much, i guess, because she was still. you know, sort of screaming like, i can't sort screaming like, i can't see sort of thing. yeah . of thing. um, yeah. >> what about the children? the police report states that the children had been , um, impacted children had been, um, impacted by this corrosive substance as well. could you tell how much they'd been affected ? they'd been affected? >> um, so the thing is, i didn't actually um, substance actually see any, um, substance being thrown. the only thing i did see was, was the guy again slamming the child to the ground. um so i'm not sure how

much of it got on to them , or, much of it got on to them, or, you know what? um, what i do know is my partner did get a bit on her. um, i guess from picking up the little girl to try and comfort her. so she got a little bit on, like, the mouth area , a bit on, like, the mouth area, a bit on, like, the mouth area, a bit on, like, the mouth area, a bit on arms as well. so at bit on her arms as well. so at one point she came inside to sort wash off as well. um sort of wash off as well. um i think feeling a bit think she's still feeling a bit of sensation, but, um, of burning sensation, but, um, but she's all right. >> your partner had >> i understand your partner had to hospital receive to go to hospital to receive some too . yeah. that's some treatment too. yeah. that's correct. terms of the correct. yeah. in terms of the children and their condition, they must have been extremely upset. >> yeah. um so i believe my partner also spoke to the older daughter and she mentioned that she said that they didn't like the guy. so that obviously indicates something a bit deeper . um, as to what it is exactly. only god knows what. um, but yeah , they're obviously really yeah, they're obviously really shaken up. do you know whether they'd all been the vehicle they'd all been in the vehicle together heard that together before you heard that loud bang, or was this somebody that had been on the street? >> yeah , too sure, but by

>> yeah, not too sure, but by the got outside, i know the time i'd got outside, i know that the mum wasn't the that the mum wasn't in the vehicle, but know , i vehicle, but i know, i definitely sure that definitely know for sure that the was the vehicle. >> f- e about the older >> i'm not sure about the older one, , the youngest girl one, but yeah, the youngest girl had been slammed into the ground twice . twice. >> could you explain what sort of injuries she might have received? >> um, well, from from something like that, i'm guessing maybe a fracture or broken bones. i mean , the best way i can describe it is like , you know, just someone is like, you know, just someone just picking up a pillow, like is like, you know, just someone just guying up a pillow, like is like, you know, just someone just guying ujall pillow, like is like, you know, just someone just guying ujall of low, like is like, you know, just someone just guying ujall of his, like this guy used all of his strength and just slammed her to the and. and done it the ground and. and what done it for was the sound of , the ground and. and what done it for was the sound of, you for me was the sound of, you know, the girl hitting the ground. it was just. yeah, it was, it was, it was quite horrific. yeah. can you describe the man ? um, so he was in. from the man? um, so he was in. from what i can remember, he was like an asian guy, so. not like indian. asian. more like chinese asian. um he was, i don't know, maybe around maybe five, six, five, seven. um for the life of me, i can't remember what he was wearing. i just remember a black jacket that was about it. the

police have praised the bravery of the members of the public, such as yourselves, who rushed in to help. >> and you chased after the man for a period as well. what made you want to do that? >> um, for me , it was more of >> um, for me, it was more of the thought of him getting away with what he's done, and i just didn't want that again. you know, you obviously already thrown on on mother thrown acid on on the mother and then do that to the then seeing him do that to the little girl, i mean, got little girl, i mean, i've got a son. he's years i mean, son. he's two years old. i mean, that easily have been him. son. he's two years old. i mean, that for easily have been him. son. he's two years old. i mean, that for ethat have been him. son. he's two years old. i mean, that for ethat have lwasn't�*n. and for me, that just it wasn't right and again, the right at all. and again, the thought of him just getting away with triggered me with that is what triggered me to of just chase him in the to sort of just chase him in the first place. didn't sort of first place. i didn't sort of think, he could turn think, you know, he could turn around it on me. i around and throw it on me. i just thought, you know, we've got basically. got to get him basically. >> your partner >> why did you and your partner stay the mother and her stay with the mother and her children arrived? >> people took them >> so a few people took them around to the hotel around the front? um, i guess to try and aid them a bit. um, and then. yeah police turned maybe yeah police turned up for maybe about later so, yeah police turned up for maybe aborthen. later so, yeah police turned up for maybe aborthen. yeah later so, and then. yeah >> is there information the >> is there any information the police you about what police have given you about what

happened last night? >> no, they haven't given us any additional information terms additional information in terms of happened . no. of what happened. no. >> it make you feel >> how does it make you feel about area? about the safety of this area? it's quite a leafy green . seems it's quite a leafy green. seems like quite a nice, quiet street. and yet this tragic event has taken place. >> um, it is kind of mixed, really, because, i mean, on a normal day, it's usually pretty okay around here. as i said, um, you do hear odd argument you do hear the odd argument sometimes at night, never sometimes at night, but never sort of on that scale. it's just, you know, i just shouting here and there, it might last maybe few minutes then maybe a few minutes and then it stops. than stops. um, i mean, other than that, mean, the area seems stops. um, i mean, other than that, enough the area seems stops. um, i mean, other than that, enough ,the area seems stops. um, i mean, other than that, enough , butarea seems stops. um, i mean, other than that, enough , but iea seems stops. um, i mean, other than that, enough , but i mean,ns stops. um, i mean, other than that, enough , but i mean, yeah, okay enough, but i mean, yeah, after something like that, it's after something like that, it's a bit, you know, hard to say . a bit, you know, hard to say. >> police say that it was an isolated incident in the sense that this gentleman was known to the victims . does that reassure the victims. does that reassure you at all? >> um, in terms of in terms of knowing that it wasn't a random attack ? um . knowing that it wasn't a random attack ? um. i'm not knowing that it wasn't a random attack ? um . i'm not too sure. attack? um. i'm not too sure. really. i mean, um , again, with

really. i mean, um, again, with the little girl saying that , you the little girl saying that, you know, she obviously didn't like him. obviously again, obviously that indicates that. yeah, they did know him, but it's just what is it? >> they didn't like about him? >> they didn't like about him? >> you know, was was quite >> you know, he was it was quite obvious was guy obvious that he was a bad guy in, in some, in some form. in, in in some, in some form. >> did you hear him shout anything or say anything. what about as you were chasing him? >> i didn't hear a word from him. of i remember him. i sort of i remember shouting of telling him. i sort of i remember shou�*like of telling him. i sort of i remember shou�*like to of telling him. i sort of i remember shou�*like to stop. of telling him. i sort of i remember shou�*like to stop. basically ling him, like to stop. basically that yeah that's about that was. yeah that's about it. i don't remember coming i don't remember anything coming from all. from his mouth at all. >> headed towards, >> he headed towards, uh, clapham see clapham common. did you see which direction went? clapham common. did you see whii1 direction went? clapham common. did you see whii didn'ttion went? clapham common. did you see whii didn't know went? clapham common. did you see whii didn't know because again , >> i didn't know because again, because i had stopped at, um, i had stopped at one point. um, yeah. you know, yeah. i didn't see you know, obviously, i know he ran towards the road. i don't the end of the road. i don't know or know whether he went left or right . right. >> well, local residents tell me that this incident last night has been terrifying and has been deeply worrying for them as a community. however, met police, stressing that last night's attack was frightening but they do say that it was an incident between two people who were

known to each other and it was not terror related . not terror related. >> well, thank you very much indeed , ray addison, and for indeed, ray addison, and for bringing that interview with that eyewitness there who were chased to the alleged attack for, um, next up . for, um, next up. >> yes, we'll speak to a just stop oil spokesperson and ask , stop oil spokesperson and ask, is it ever acceptable to break the law for

sunday mornings from 930 on gb news .

news. >> good afternoon britain. it's 1:27 and greta thunberg is being tried for a public order offence after protesting in london last yeah >> yes, the 21 year old climate campaigner was arrested during a demonstration as oil executives met for the energy intelligence forum last october. >> greta and four other activists pleaded not guilty in november to blocking the entrance to the meeting, but in light of all this , is it ever light of all this, is it ever okay to break the law for the sake of the planet? >> joining us now is just stop oils . francis davies, frances , oils. francis davies, frances, just stop oil have in the past broken the law. i remember distinctly the dartford crossing that ended up with two jailed. i believe if i remember correctly. is it ever justified believe if i remember correctly. is it everjustified in believe if i remember correctly. is it ever justified in your view ? view? >> hi. yeah, thanks so much for having me on. >> i mean , i'd have to say yes. >> i mean, i'd have to say yes. i mean, we're trying to preserve my life. your lives, the lives

of your family. my life. your lives, the lives of your family . and it's not of your family. and it's not just the planet that we're trying to protect. it's the lives of millions people . lives of millions of people. and, you know, we know from history that we have to break the law in to order put pressure on the government be on the government and to be listened , your listened to, no doubt, your sincerity in your views. >> you genuinely believe in what you fight for. but there are others who think differently. for example , there are islamist for example, there are islamist extremists who believe that people will go to hell unless they convert to islam. they will sincerely, perhaps break the law in order to force people to convert. in their view, they might be saving people's lives for eternity . there might be for eternity. there might be abortion activists who say that babies are being murdered and to save their lives. we need to break the law to stop people having . do get having abortions. why do you get to say that? your moral conviction is the one? that's right. and other people individual moral conviction , are individual moral conviction, are those that are wrong . those that are wrong. >> so what's really integral to the just stop oil campaign is the just stop oil campaign is the fact that it is a non—violent campaign. that's

what us from the what separates us from the examples just given . examples that you've just given. we're absolutely dedicated non—violence, as a tactic non—violence, both as a tactic and as a principle. so though we might be breaking the law, it will an act of violence i >> -- >> so -_ >> so you'd, for example , so you >> so you'd, for example, so you wouldn't oppose, for example , wouldn't oppose, for example, all anti—abortion activists all anti —abortion activists throwing all anti—abortion activists throwing paint at buildings , throwing paint at buildings, perhaps blocking people from going into abortion clinics. in your view that would be non—violent protest and therefore completely fine . therefore completely fine. >> well, i mean, you've had me on here to speak about the just stop oil campaign, about greta thunberg appearing in court. so i'd keep it to i'd just like to keep it to that, that's possible. that, if that's possible. i'm not that. that not an expert on that. on that field, , | field, you or the analogy, i understand the comparison you're trying make , but i'm not. trying to make, but i'm not. i don't think the problem think don't think the problem i think the is in a, in the problem is, is that in a, in a democracy and in a society , we a democracy and in a society, we people have a multiple of different views and a multiple of different priorities. >> went around >> if everyone went around throwing paint at you know, the mona lisa graffiti on buildings, blockading roads, climbing up, uh, bridge arches for the sake

of their big priority, their policy agenda, we'd live in a well in anarchy. wouldn't we really ? really? >> yeah, possibly . or perhaps, >> yeah, possibly. or perhaps, you know, if the government just did their bare minimum duty to protect people in this protect the people in this country, then we wouldn't country, then then we wouldn't have to have to go and have a reason to have to go and climb and do all of climb up bridges and do all of these these things, you know, but the the point but isn't the isn't the point here that we have a democratic society ? society? >> we decide what the things that we want to do or indeed what we want the government to do democratically. and there's a risk disorder , order of risk of disorder, order of chaos. individuals take it chaos. if individuals take it upon themselves to break the law for whatever their courses, surely the way that we decide what society wants in general is democratic and within the law ? democratic and within the law? >> well, of course we know also that protest is absolutely integral to maintaining and upholding a democracy. and in particular, non—violent protest. i mean , i really can't express i mean, i really can't express to you how severe this situation is, i'm sure you know this,

is, and i'm sure you know this, um , the science, the ipcc um, the science, the ipcc report, i mean, i won't name off all these institutions, but this is really hard science and we know that we are heading towards societal collapse. that will be disorder when there's no food on the shelves, when people are dying flooding and from dying from flooding and from heat strokes in the summer, when our hospitals can't stop oil , our hospitals can't stop oil, just stop oil has become a bit of a joke even among young people they so people because they are so disruptive. >> i'm really sorry. we're going to it there. thank to have to leave it there. thank you for your time. let's cross live to sound london, south london, where superintendent gabriel reading gabriel cameron is reading a statement through a horrific incident occurred last incident that occurred last night, which results in a 31 year old female and two children, aged three and eight, being attacked with a corrosive substance, which we now confirm to be an alkaline , uh, a male to be an alkaline, uh, a male was it was with them in the vicinity, a 35 year old male called abdul azizi. >> um, and he left the scene .

>> um, and he left the scene. >> um, and he left the scene. >> um, and he left the scene. >> um, but the injuries to the female and children, they're in a stable condition, but we are just monitoring them. >> but they don't seem to be, uh, life threatening. but at this could be life this time, they could be life changing. the male was last seen in the north london area. caledonian road. um. and if you see him, there'll be some images circulated later today. if you see him, i plead to not approach him. >> he's a 90. >>— >> he's a 90. >> call 999. um he'll have he has significant injuries to the right side of his face. i have a special number. if you do have any information, any dash cam footage, ring doorbell footage. i've got a number which i'll plea for you to call. it will go direct to my specialist officers i >> -- >> and that . number is >> and that. number is 020 7175 2784. failing that, you can always call crime stoppers . can always call crime stoppers. on 101. >> um, i really want to give thanks to the local community. i

had three members of our community, three women and one male who attempted to stop the perpetrator . um, they were perpetrator. um, they were injured in the process. they sustained injuries, but thankfully , they're not too, um, thankfully, they're not too, um, harmful . um, also, i want to harmful. um, also, i want to thank lfb london fire brigade , thank lfb london fire brigade, uh, local ambulance service, five of my local officers were also injured. thankfully, no one has got any life threatening , has got any life threatening, life changing. uh injuries. but that's it. any questions for me? what's the scale of the manhunt at the moment for this? um, so we're with our local we're liaising with our local other partners agencies. so we're working alongside northumbria. we believe the male is from the newcastle area. um and he could be going back there . he may not be, but he could be. um, btp british transport police are also working alongside us as well. so we are working in collaboration with other agencies to try and locate

this man . this man. >> could you tell us what the condition of the mother and the two children? >> what's the relation to the su spect? suspect? >> we don't know the actual relationship at this stage . um, relationship at this stage. um, i basically told you everything we know. we thankfully know who the subject is , is. and there the subject is, is. and there are enquiries to locate him. so that's a real plus. but again, i really want to thank our community. can you spell out for us, can you give us a spelling of the name a, b, d u l? he's got a middle name and that's um, shakur s h o k 0 got a middle name and that's um, shakurshokor got a middle name and that's um, shakur s h o k 0 r surname is z e z e d shakurshokorsurnameisz ezedium shakur s h o k 0 r surname is z e z e d i um his image and this transcript will be circulated post this conference was the suspect living around here and were the victims living around, uh, as far as i'm aware, the suspect has travelled down from newcastle. i at this stage, i do not know where the victims reside. superintend was he a

british national? um, there's still some ongoing inquiry in that field. i'm not sure . and that field. i'm not sure. and what was his age? >> sorry, sir. approximately 35. >> sorry, sir. approximately 35. >> and how many officers are trying to search for him? >> um, well, as you know , we >> um, well, as you know, we take violence against women and girls very seriously in the met police. um, i've liaised with specialist colleagues. i'm working with my local officers and we have got a significant asset looking for this male. >> so this is a dangerous man on the run out there at the moment. >> um, it's my plea is don't approach him. >> and if you him, call 999 >> and if you see him, call 999 in respect of the car, can you tell us if that's the victims or the you're looking the person you're looking for? i believe it is the subject's car. it's a hyundai, but that's all know. >> have you got any closer to what the substance was or whether it's available? it's high street. >> i know it's corrosive >> no, i know it's a corrosive alkaline substance. and as we all know, can buy all sorts all know, we can buy all sorts in the high street. >> so did you say the victim lived around here? >> and do you have. don't know where victim lives?

>> and do you have. don't know wh> and do you have. don't know wh> wholeheartedly confident? >> was known to police previously? >> um, at this stage , i believe >> um, at this stage, i believe he have been known to he may have been known to police, a local police, but he's not a local resident from london. as far as i'm aware , he's come down from i'm aware, he's come down from newcastle. >> idea what the >> have any idea what the motivation behind? no, motivation might be behind? no, i across the country. i depher across the country. >> no, i did confirm. no, i storm babet already. i do not know of detail , but know that level of detail, but what assure you, going what i can assure you, going back your question is it's back to your question is it's a horrific crime against a vulnerable female. um, and we take that very seriously and we say vulnerable female. >> are you able to expand on whether the victim um, when i say vulnerable, what take say vulnerable, what we take violence against women girls violence against women and girls very seriously. >> was someone who . >> and this was someone who. it's a vulnerable position. she was in and it would have been horrific frightening . so we horrific and frightening. so we will our utmost and we will. will do our utmost and we will. i'm totally confident. capture the male . the male. >> were there any injuries that weren't from acid, from the alkaline substance? >> i as far as i'm aware, i don't know, but thank you for your time.

>> you . on caledonian road. >> yeah, that's all north london. >> well there we have it. that was superintendent gabriel cameron. uh, answering questions from the press after this substance attack last, last night in south london. >> we have a name. uh, the suspect is an abdul shakoor azadi, and he is approximately 35 years old. that's what the superintendent said there. he travelled down from newcastle . travelled down from newcastle. so he's not a local resident to london? >> no. it did seem that they have gathered quite a bit of information from those who he attacked . now, uh, the attacked. now, uh, the superintendent said that those who received the attack will live, but may have life changing injuries . that is yet to be injuries. that is yet to be determined. they are currently in hospital . in hospital. >> well, he did say he may have been known by the police but gave no more detail on that. shall we cross live to gb news reporter ray addison, has reporter ray addison, who has

been ray were been on the scene. ray you were listening in to what the superintendent to say. there superintendent had to say. there what do we need to know then ? what do we need to know then? >> well, superintendent cameron , >> well, superintendent cameron, they're confirming that the suspect is 35 year old abdul shakur zaidi. he was last seen in caledonian road in north london. a very clear plea to the public. if you do come across him, do not approach him . he's him, do not approach him. he's considered to be extremely dangerous . they are considered to be extremely dangerous. they are going to be issuing an image of zaidi after this press conference now, and we will be publishing that here on gb news as soon as we get it. they're saying he has received significant injuries to the right side of his face, so it's possible that you may viewers, listeners may have already seen him seen a man in the north london area with those types of injuries. and of course, the police would be keen for you to get in touch report that to get in touch and report that to him. they praised those members of the community who got

involved in that attempt to stop the suspect. four members of this local community in total, of course, three were women. one was a man, and three of those women did receive slight injuries. had to go for hospital treatment and all have since been discharged . now, they do been discharged. now, they do believe that azt is from the newcastle area, and they warned that he may be on his way back there or attempting to make his way back there and saying that part of the police operation now very much involving british transport police, and they are part of this manhunt, and we'll be looking across the trans sport network to see if they can track him down. um now they do not know at this stage what his relationship is to the mother. the 31 year old mother of those two young girls, eight and three, who were injured in that attack, of course , the mother attack, of course, the mother and the youngest daughter receiving potentially life changing injuries.

receiving potentially life changing injuries . we have been changing injuries. we have been told we do know that azt had travelled from newcastle. we're not sure on what date that had happened, but he travelled from from newcastle to here before this attack took place at around 725 last night, just down the road from clapham common. um ongoing enquiries taking place to find out whether he is or is not a british national. all a significant police operation now underway and also stressing that they do believe that he was the owner of the vehicle where this attack seems to have centred around on this road here, directly behind where i'm standing . and that, of course, standing. and that, of course, would mean that he would be presumably without a vehicle if he is trying to make his way down back to newcastle and perhaps would be trying to use the rail network. um, they don't know at this stage yet where the victim and her daughters live. um and they do not know whether

he was known to police already . he was known to police already. previous alleged offences . and previous alleged offences. and at this stage as well, police say they have no idea of the motive behind it. however, that image of azt being released sooner we will put it up here on gb news >> it is a terrifying prospect to think of this image. a man , to think of this image. a man, uh, a man who is clearly very dangerous with, uh, significant damage, presumed only, uh, obtained in the attack to the right side of his face. but ray, as you say, this man could now be travelling the length of the country. this search area is far wider than london. um >> yes , absolutely. this is a by >> yes, absolutely. this is a by the sounds of it now could potentially become a nationwide manhunt with significant giant police resources being used. we know that police helicopters have been involved in this search. we know a number of

nearby neighbouring forces as well have been involved across london. and of course, now british transport police as well, joining in this hunt, those four members of the public who came to the aid of the mother and her two daughters being praised by police. we spoke to the man that came to chased after as he chased him down the street. we spoke to him on gb news uh, just about half an hour ago, and him describing that loud bang, which sounded like a car crash. the screams for help and how he ran out with his partner. his partner, of course, received an injury herself from that corrosive alkaline subject substance rather, and has thankfully been released from, uh, hospital relatively unharmed. that i witnessed. telling gb news how he saw him pull the girl out of the car as he allegedly lifting up the youngest daughter, that three year old girl then slamming her to the ground,

describing that as being like picking up a pillow and that describing the horrific sound of her hitting the ground . uh, her hitting the ground. uh, despite that, he gave chase , uh, despite that, he gave chase, uh, chased azt down the street. however, he was wearing, uh, supped however, he was wearing, uh, slipped and couldn't give full chase. slipped and couldn't give full chase . called after him, told chase. called after him, told him to stop , told him to come him to stop, told him to come back, and explaining that he had that motivation because he has his own children and just didn't want to see this man getting away with it. then of course, they told us how they gave first aid emergency sort of first aid to the mother and her daughters , to the mother and her daughters, getting water, pouring it over the eyes and face of the mother there as she screamed that she couldn't see. >> thank you very much, ray . and >> thank you very much, ray. and you'll bring us that image of the suspect when you have it. gb news reporter ray addison there in south london. >> well, we'll discuss this latest news and much more with our panel after this short

tonight, gb news. the people's channel tonight, gb news. the people's channel, britain's news channel . channel, britain's news channel. >> well before the break we were heanng >> well before the break we were hearing from superintendent in south london telling us more about suspect who's on the about this suspect who's on the loose, this manhunt that's going on could be going on around across entirety across the entirety of the country . and then, of course, country. and then, of course, we've got mp safety at risk. mike freer mp stepping down because of fears to his safety from extremists. so where do we

stand in this country in terms of public safety with us to discuss this is the author and broadcaster mike parry and the former labour minister ivor capun former labour minister ivor caplin . thank you very much caplin. thank you very much indeed for joining caplin. thank you very much indeed forjoining us, ivor. we'll start with you . um, are we we'll start with you. um, are we safe in this country? >> i think in general terms we are. >> but what we're seeing is , um, >> but what we're seeing is, um, how how people are using aggressive behaviour , which is aggressive behaviour, which is not really required . i don't not really required. i don't think, you know, even that alkaline, uh, event last night in clapham seems to be totally inappropriate of a way to even deal with the matter. i'm sure the police will get that. that uh, gentleman soon, but i can't understand sometimes . and i said understand sometimes. and i said this. we said this earlier. i can't understand how people behave today compared to 25 years ago. it's not acceptable . years ago. it's not acceptable. >> many times mike perry has there been a shift in attitude, a lack of respect, a breakdown of , well, crime a lack of respect, a breakdown of, well, crime is out of control in this country in my

view, where you used to feel safe, longer safe. safe, you no longer feel safe. >> live on the border of >> now i live on the border of greater london and surrey, and i couldn't get work three weeks couldn't get to work three weeks ago a young boy got ago because a young boy got stabbed station in stabbed outside the station in sutton, which is a very safe borough . lots of people from borough. lots of people from hong kong have come there because it's safe and very low crime yet that's crime figures. and yet that's what's happening in a lot of boroughs in this country. >> there's a retired detective boroughs in this country. >> tstarss a retired detective boroughs in this country. >> tstars on retired detective boroughs in this country. >> tstars on some! detective boroughs in this country. >> tstars on some of etective boroughs in this country. >> tstars on some of yourive boroughs in this country. >> tstars on some of your shows here. >> peter bleksley something like that. he said exactly the same thing. he said he lives in a leafy london borough, and they've stabbings where they've had stabbings where he is the shoplifting epidemic is out of control. >> if people stop the traffic on roads, that's a crime and that's out of control. >> it's lawlessness in this country. and as for mr freer, now who's decided to step down? i'm not quite as sympathetic as a lot of people are to him. politicians put themselves up there because they want to represent the people. if there's a crime wave in this country , a crime wave in this country, i'd say backing down on it is not the way show leadership.

not the way to show leadership. i know, said. i'm not going not the way to show leadership. i kstand said. i'm not going not the way to show leadership. i kstand said next not going not the way to show leadership. i kstand said next election.) to stand at the next election. but , if you were but frankly, if you were running, , you know, a mayoral running, um, you know, a mayoral office in colombia or sardinia and the mafia are after you, i can understand the problem, but you should stand up to the fact that crime is increasing in this country and try and do something a bit more solid to repel it. >> that's easier said than done, though, you're though, isn't it? when you're receiving death threats for years years and years? yes. years and years and years? yes. from them. yes is extremists. from them. yes it is extremists. it is, of course, it's easier said than done . said than done. >> but you're supposed to have fibre and character and the will to overcome criminals in this country. and i think he's not. >> but people example people, people have been doing this for years , especially to mps. years, especially to mps. >> you know, this is not new that mps are being attacked. >> and so they should know it's going to happen them if they going to happen to them if they take office. exactly >> you know, we you >> i mean, you know, we you know, in my time, know, unfortunately in my time, you know, we people you know, we had people demonstrating all demonstrating about iraq and all that these are that sort of thing. so these are not new but it does seem not new things, but it does seem that public feel more that the public feel more engaged. part of that,

engaged. and part of that, i would say, is probably social media as well, which ups this to some, some other. i think that level , it may well be the level, it may well be the biggest problem you've got in level, it may well be the biggcountryylem you've got in level, it may well be the biggcountryyle we ou've got in level, it may well be the biggcountryyle we don't got in level, it may well be the biggcountryyle we don't see in this country is we don't see policemen anymore i >> -- >> and when you don't see policemen the streets, it's a policemen on the streets, it's a shopkeepeh policemen on the streets, it's a shopkeeper, a shoplifter can run out shop know he's out of a shop and know that he's not going to run into a policeman. can commit not going to run into a policerand can commit not going to run into a policerand no, can commit not going to run into a policerand no, there's! commit not going to run into a policerand no, there's! corgoing not going to run into a po beerand no, there's! corgoing not going to run into a po be anybody there's! corgoing not going to run into a po be anybody around. corgoing not going to run into a po be anybody around. sometimes to be anybody around. sometimes when in london, i go past when i'm in london, i go past the indian embassy at the aldwych and there are two armed policemen standing outside at 24 hours a day. now i'm not saying they shouldn't do that. the diplomat service, we can diplomat service, but if we can provide that sort of cover for the indian embassy , why can't we the indian embassy, why can't we provide for our provide more cover for our mps? by provide more cover for our mps? by re—exam using the resources we've got to help the people who are elected to run the country, to run it without fear or favour i >>i >> i mean, there is an interest here. sorry, tom. just briefly on, you know , could we find on, you know, could we find proper security for 650 mps? that's a hell of a question when we've not been doing it. but for those in government over many,

many years, and it's not the same as , for instance, in the same as, for instance, in the us, where they do have that kind of security level . so there are of security level. so there are some real issues there. >> i mean, people will say , oh, >> i mean, people will say, oh, why should mps get you know, extra security? i don't feel safe in my neighbourhood. and to an , that's right. but an extent, that's right. but actually, , if, if our mps are actually, if, if, if our mps are politicians , feel under threat, politicians, feel under threat, feel unsafe, that has a very chilling impact on our democracy , not either? , does it not either? >> absolutely. 100. >> absolutely. 100. >> you're spot on there. >> you're spot on there. >> you know, i think >> yeah. and you know, i think that what we've seen with with mike freer is, is something that i think he would have thought long about , to be long and hard about, to be honest. at the same time, honest. but at the same time, i'm who would have liked i'm someone who would have liked to see him stay. yeah. >> because he's been a very good member of parliament. um, but, you know, if you've had your time, you've had your time . you time, you've had your time. you know, i had my time. >> very happy it. know, i had my time. >> and very happy it. know, i had my time. >> and i very happy it. know, i had my time. >> and i threatened it. know, i had my time. >> and i threatened whent. know, i had my time. >> and i threatened when you were sitting on those green benches, um, not so much on the green benches, tom, as when you were out and about. >> was always the thing.

>> that was always the thing. >> that was always the thing. >> and of course, in my last two and a years in the ministry and a half years in the ministry of wasn't own of defence, i wasn't on my own when was and about. when i was out and about. >> know, having a proper >> so, you know, having a proper security with detail with security deal with detail with you use a parliament when fathers for justice through the yellow , the purple smoke yellow smoke, the purple smoke at tony blair. >> yeah. >> yeah. >> if can own up to this >> if i can own up to this point, i was on duty as the government whip at that point , government whip at that point, and i dragged blair out of, um , and i dragged blair out of, um, of the chamber. only . to be told of the chamber. only. to be told off by all the security people going, if that had been a bomb, you'd have blown him up. and well, have meant to do? you'd have blown him up. and welgoodness ve meant to do? you'd have blown him up. and welgoodness me, meant to do? you'd have blown him up. and welgoodness me, there'sto do? >> goodness me, there's decision. thick decision. decision in the thick of the decision decision. decision in the thick of this the decision decision. decision in the thick of this sort the decision decision. decision in the thick of this sort of the decision decision. decision in the thick of this sort of sense cision decision. decision in the thick of this sort of sense ofion that this sort of sense of anxiety has existed for some time, it's getting worse all time, but it's getting worse all the time. time, but it's getting worse all the 25 ne. ago, time, but it's getting worse all the 25ne. ago, i think we were >> 25 years ago, i think we were a fairly civilised country, but society has changed enormously. we now all accept greater levels of criminality in our everyday lives. >> it is. but coming up. thank you very much. police name suspect who a woman suspect who attacked a woman with substance in with a corrosive substance in clapham. on the clapham. we'll be back on the scene. >> $- @ things are heating

>> looks like things are heating up. boxt boiler as sponsors of whether on . gb news. hello alex whether on. gb news. hello alex burkill here again with your latest gb news weather forecast. >> whilst it is going to turn increasingly as we go increasingly mild as we go through end of week, through the end of the week, it will windy at times and will also be windy at times and there will be some rain. most of that will pushing from the that will be pushing in from the west have high west because we have high pressure uk , pressure to the south of the uk, andifs pressure to the south of the uk, and it's this that's leading to and it's this that's leading to a flow across the a westerly flow across the country well as this , we do country as well as this, we do have spell more persistent have a spell of more persistent rain across parts of scotland as we rest of today, we go through the rest of today, and the start the night, but and the start of the night, but that does away that rain does clear away towards we go towards the east as we go through the early hours of friday elsewhere, is friday morning. elsewhere, it is going increasingly going to turn increasingly cloudy as we go through the night, there some night, and there will be some outbreaks of drizzly rain, mainly the west. after mainly towards the west. after a bit a chilly start some bit of a chilly start for some of tonight, temperatures are of us tonight, temperatures are actually by actually going to lift. so by the many of us wake up the time many of us wake up tomorrow morning, actually tomorrow morning, it's actually going to relatively going to be relatively mild through day itself. a rather through the day itself. a rather cloudy picture cloudier cloudy picture, cloudier than today of us, and that

today for most of us, and that cloud be enough for cloud will be thick enough for some rain some further outbreaks of rain across western parts in particular, perhaps something a bit more persistent, pushing in across of scotland across parts of scotland and into northern ireland to the best chance of any sunshine. tomorrow will be in the east, and that's where temperatures are highest. could are likely to be highest. could get celsius, get to highs around 15 celsius, but it is going to be but for most it is going to be a mild albeit one. mild day, albeit a windy one. two the rain pushes its way southwards , so saturday we're southwards, so on saturday we're likely see a bit of a wet likely to see a bit of a wet picture across southern counties . seeing . a greater chance of seeing some sunshine north, some sunshine further north, but there showers towards there will be showers towards there will be showers towards the northwest and a bit the northwest and a little bit chillier to elsewhere as we go through a rather through the weekend. a rather cloudy picture and temperatures lifting to above average lifting again to above average for the time of year. >> feeling inside from >> that warm feeling inside from boxt boilers sponsors of weather on gb news

>> good afternoon britain. it's coming up to 2:00 on thursday. the 1st of february. >> manhunt underway. police name suspect who attacked a woman with a corrosive substance in clapham last night as abdul azadi. they say he is around 35 years old and may have been known to the police. we're back on the scene with all the latest for you. >> hounded from office, tory mp mike freer reveals attacks by muslims against crusades. ali harbi ali and a recent arson attack on his office have weighed so heavily on his family

that he's choosing to stand down at the next election and blood on your hands. >> that's the charge levelled at tech bosses yesterday during an extraordinary senate hearing in the us. senators accused social media companies of being culpable for the deaths of users of their platforms . but should of their platforms. but should social media bosses take personal responsibility for the safety of children ? >> 7- >> good ? >> good afternoon from 7 >> good afternoon from the gb newsroom . it's just >> good afternoon from the gb newsroom . it'sjust gone. >> good afternoon from the gb newsroom . it's just gone. 2:00 newsroom. it's just gone. 2:00 the headlines this afternoon . the headlines this afternoon. the top story of the hour . the the top story of the hour. the suspect of the chemical attack in london is at large and has been named as 35 year old abdul azadi from the newcastle area . azadi from the newcastle area. metropolitan police say that the suspect has significant injuries to the right side of his face in

the attack. he's allegedly threw a corrosive substance over three victims that included two children near clapham common, a 31 year old woman and a three year old girl have been left with potentially life changing injuries following that attack. five police officers and three women have also been injured after coming to help the family, superintendent gabriel cameron from the metropolitan police, has been giving a statement when he left the scene , but the he left the scene, but the injuries to the female and children they're in a stable condition but we are just monitoring, but they don't seem to be life threatening , but at to be life threatening, but at this time they could be life changing. >> the male was last seen in the north london area. caledonian road, and if you see him, there'll be some images circling later today. if you see him, i plea to not approach him . plea to not approach him. >> well, in other news, inflation is expected to temporarily return to the bank of england's target of 2% by

this summer . of england's target of 2% by this summer. that's a year and a half earlier than previously expected. the news comes as today the bank has held its interest rate at 5.25% for the fourth time in a row. labour says households are paying the price, though for 14 years of economic failure under the conservatives. but the chancellor says the government's plan is working and people feeling their living standards going up and that is what we want to do. >> that's why we took some very difficult decisions. but if we compromise that, if we go on a spending spree, if we start borrowing £28 billion, as other parties are advocating , then we parties are advocating, then we will risk that progress . we will will risk that progress. we will go back to square one. and that's why this is a time to stick to a plan, which today's figures show clearly working . figures show is clearly working. >> a couple are expected to stand trial over the alleged arson attack on justice minister mike freers constituency office. the pair denies setting fire to that building. the mp , though, that building. the mp, though, described the incident as the final straw. after receiving a

series of death threats, he has now made the decision to step down at the next general election. speaking to gb news, the mp said that he was worried about making it home safely each day . well, we're now going to day. well, we're now going to cross live to hear from keir . cross live to hear from keir. sir keir starmer at labour's business conference in central london. all for coming, for being in this hall with us and what an impressive room this is a testament, i think , to the a testament, i think, to the changes we've made over the last four years. >> i mean, just for a moment, if you'll indulge me, i'd like you all to cast your mind back to 2019. let's imagine that you were invited to an event like this. a labour business conference. before any of the changes to our party had taken place. the question is , would place. the question is, would you go ? would you, as a wealth

you go? would you, as a wealth creator, feel that your ambition, the vital role you piay ambition, the vital role you play in our economy, commanded the respect it deserves ? now the respect it deserves? now don't worry, they're called rhetorical questions for a reason and this isn't an audience participation event. so i'm looking around the room . put i'm looking around the room. put your glitter away . but but your glitter away. but but doesn't that thought just show the scale of the journey that we've been on? the depth of the changes we've made to transform the labour party's relationship with business? it's something that i take immense pride in. this has always been one of the key tasks in my project to return labour to the service of working people. because we know that in the real world, working people want success as well as support , and they want a support, and they want a government capable of matching their aspirations. i government capable of matching their aspirations . i understand their aspirations. i understand completely that private

enterprise is how we pay our way in the world. so all the hard work that's taken us to this point, it's vindication . point, it's vindication. a recognition of that guiding belief, not just that labour could be the party of business that labour should be the party of business, that now also, four years on, labour is the party of business. but this project has to be more ambitious than changing the culture of my party. you've heard me say many, many times over the last four years, i want a partnership with business, but that word partnership has to express more than just a good relationship . than just a good relationship. frankly that should be par for the course . so look , everything the course. so look, everything we do is driven by a determination to provide the

businesses, communities and people of this nation with the conditions to succeed and to set a direction . five national a direction. five national missions . a direction. five national missions. the a direction. five national missions . the whole country can missions. the whole country can get behind. >> and then bring people together to achieve them. >> that's the job of government , >> that's the job of government, as i see it. and under standing that we serve the country while you drive it forward. that is what national renewal means. you drive it forward. that is what national renewal means . and what national renewal means. and i know you stand ready to join us. i also know that the caricature that british business only serves the shareholder interest is lazy and out of date . in fact, one of the things i draw great hope from is the determination that i see from the countless business leaders i've met to serve the national interest . a pride not just in interest. a pride not just in the contribution you already make, but what else you could

achieve if you had a government that matched your ambition ? well that matched your ambition? well there we have it, sir keir starmer making his pitch to business leaders. >> of course, the shadow chancellor, rachel reeves , chancellor, rachel reeves, announced earlier today that the labour party would freeze the rate of corporation tax, not raising it if they were to win power . freezing corporation tax power. freezing corporation tax at 25. >> and that's interesting, isn't it, with her also announcing the bankers bonus cap, which will not be put back in place if labour get into power. so very much trying to get business on board, but will it upset the left of the party, perhaps keeping corporation tax at that level anyway? let's go back to the manhunt, which is underway following an alkaline attack in south london, the metropolitan police are searching for 35 year old abdul azadi. >> he was last seen in caledonian road and superinten gabriel cameron urged members of the public to not approach this

suspect. >> so there you go. there's the image of the suspect. so let's cross live to gb news reporter ray addison , who is in south ray addison, who is in south london for us. ray, we now have that image that we just put up on the screen of the suspect . on the screen of the suspect. >> absolutely. that image now out there, and it will be shown across media far and wide , all across media far and wide, all across media far and wide, all across the united kingdom, of course, as eddie very much uh, at large and presumed to possibly be heading back towards newcastle, british transport police getting involved in that. and so this turns very much from a localised london based manhunt to potentially something which is more of a nationwide scale. what we know so far is that abdul shakoor azadi is 35 years old. he was last seen in north london in khalid ionian road and he has got significant injuries to the right hand side of his face. now, police not able to say or clarify whether that is

from the alkaline substance that was thrown onto the mother and those two young girls, always from some other cause. however he does have those significant injuries to the right hand side of his face and therefore will be fairly recognisable, especially now that that image has been released. um they do believe that he is from the newcastle area. they say he travelled down that same day, so travelled down that same day, so travelled down that same day, so travelled down yesterday. uh with presumably with the mother and those two children and he could be on his way back there . could be on his way back there. um, now there's ongoing enquiries to find out if he is or is not a british national, but there is now a significant number of officers across the country hunting for him . uh, we country hunting for him. uh, we know that four members of the community did try to step in when they heard that horrific attack underway . initially, the attack underway. initially, the sound of a big bang like a car crash, and they looked out of the window , saw it as going on

the window, saw it as going on and got involved , and we managed and got involved, and we managed to speak to the man who chased azadi down the street . he said azadi down the street. he said he didn't want to be identified , he didn't want to be identified, but he did tell us what happened i >>i -- >> i was inside and i heard, um, some sort of commotion going on outside. um, it's not unusual because sometimes we do hear things going on outside . um, the things going on outside. um, the odd argument or something. so at first i didn't think much of it. it's like it's only until i heard like a bang, sounded like a car bang, which sounded like a car crash, um, where i thought, let me sort of look the window me sort of look out the window and on. i and see what's going on. so i couldn't what car it had couldn't see what car it had crashed into because my car was parked out there. so i was quite concerned. heard concerned. and then i heard someone so and someone scream, help! so me and my partner sort of ran outside, um, as soon as we got there, um, as soon as we got out there, we pull this we saw this guy, um, pull this very young girl, probably about 2 or 3 out of the back of the car , and he lifted her up as car, and he lifted her up as high as he could, and he just slammed her ground. um, slammed her to the ground. um, he'd twice . and it was he'd done that twice. and it was after the second time where we sort ran and just. sort of just ran in and just. yeah, just tried to stop what was going on. so i ended up sort

of him like down of chasing him like halfway down the i had on slippers, the road. um, i had on slippers, so was hard to continue so it was quite hard to continue running. stopping . running. so i ended up stopping. um, back up to the top um, i had got back up to the top of the road, closer to where it happened, my partnerjust happened, and my partnerjust said to me, just go and get some water, water. still water, get some water. i still wasn't what happened , wasn't aware of what happened, so ran inside and just so i just ran inside and just grabbed the water. and then i saw, i believe was the mother saw, i believe it was the mother of the child and she was just screaming i can't her screaming like i can't see her eyes weren't open. um, so i just screaming like i can't see her eyes wethet open. um, so i just screaming like i can't see her eyes wethe bottle. um, so i just screaming like i can't see her eyes wethe bottle ofm, so i just screaming like i can't see her eyes wethe bottle of water! just screaming like i can't see her eyes wethe bottle of water andt opened the bottle of water and just of, just sprayed her just sort of, just sprayed her down with water, basically. down with the water, basically. and more bystanders and then a few more bystanders had water and just done the had some water and just done the same . same. >> well, dramatic testimony there from the man who gave chase to the azadi down the street , describing how he heard street, describing how he heard those screams from inside his apartment, running out with his partner, who also ultimately ended up with a burns injury as she tried to give assistance . she tried to give assistance. although she is now discharged from hospital, saying how he saw the suspect , believed to be the suspect, believed to be azadi, pulled the girl out of

the car lift her up and slam her to the ground like picking up a pillow in the horrific sound that it made when she hit the ground, he did that twice. we're told he chased after her, but ultimately came back and provided first aid, pouring water over the face of the 31 year old mother who police tell us now may have life changing injuries. just like her youngest daughter, three year old girl, um, and also telling gb news that the older daughter, while she was receiving treatment and assistance from his partner. this little eight year old girl saying how they didn't like the man , um, they didn't like the man, um, they didn't like the man, um, they didn't like the man . he, uh, the little girl man. he, uh, the little girl said to the partner and uh, um , said to the partner and uh, um, local residents, of course, telling me , telling gb news that telling me, telling gb news that this incident has absolutely terrified them. although met police stressing they do believe this was an isolated incident. this is not terror related. and so in terms of members of the

pubuc so in terms of members of the public being concerned, they certainly should not approach this suspect. however they should not be at further fear of attack. yes ray, it does seem that this was someone who was known to the individuals he attacked . attacked. >> and it does seem that this particular type of attack is most common in southeast asia. acid or alkaline attacks are often used in honour attacks about with, with issues to do with marriage proposals , with marriage proposals, arranged marriages, people turning others down. and this is one common way in which people may lash out if they do respond violently in that part of the . world >> well, what police were not able to confirm was the reason behind this incident, why it's happened. um, but also , i mean, happened. um, but also, i mean, although they've confirmed that it was an alkaline, uh ,

it was an alkaline, uh, substance, they weren't able to say, you know, why he had this substance with him ? uh, one substance with him? uh, one would presume that he had it at hand, but we can only speculate. um how he would have had that material at hand in order to then use that in this attack, or certainly what prompted it. but what we do know, it was a truly horrific thing. people here, eyewitnesses, neighbours telling me that it was a truly horrific thing for them to witness , not thing for them to witness, not only because it was three vulnerable people to a woman and two very young girls , but the two very young girls, but the horrific nature of that attack was very disturbing and will stay with them for a long time . stay with them for a long time. >> well, thank you very much indeed. ray addison there gb news live at the scene news reporter live at the scene in london this in south london of this corrosive substance attack. now speaking of crime and hopefully punishment point, the home secretary, james cleverly , says secretary, james cleverly, says that he wants to see the police in action. he's demanded police chiefs present him hard chiefs present him with hard evidence are treating evidence that they are treating neighbourhood policing as a

priority . he says he wants priority. he says he wants people to look him in the eye and feel safe . and say they feel safe. >> well, joining us now is the retired metropolitan police officer , chris hobbs. chris what officer, chris hobbs. chris what is the preferred way in which the police go about their business? at the moment? there's these two strands of thinking , these two strands of thinking, evidence based policing, very ipsis bobbies on the beat. >> it's very, very difficult . >> it's very, very difficult. and the problem that police have got basically, is that they're too thinly spread and it's too much is expected of them . much is expected of them. >> and there's a long list, isn't it? every month we hear police need to do more about this. police to do more this. police need to do more about that. and police do their best. they're overwhelmed with bureaucracy. i mean, when i was a young pc, if i took a shoplifter in, then i'd be in and out within an hour. you take and out within an hour. you take a shoplifter in now and you're doomed for the rest of your shift for 6 or 7 hours. dealing with the bureaucrat. kc police want to get back in those

communities because community policing is really the core of policing. but such are the demands on their time at the moment and the bureaucracy and the fact that they are struggling now to retain experienced officers as people are haemorrhaging out of the police and new recruits coming in, haven't got that experience and there's a good chance they may not stay anyway. so there's all sorts of problems. and for the home secretary to glibly say he wants more done, frankly , he he wants more done, frankly, he clearly shows he's got no understanding of the pressure police are under and of course, the constant criticism that they face across the board very rarely do you actually hear of police officers getting praised for acts of bravery or acts of compassion. so there's a problem with morale in the police force , with morale in the police force, and clearly a problem with the home secretary who needs to get out there and talk to officers on the front line who frankly ,

on the front line who frankly, are struggling. and last night, of course, was a graphic example of course, was a graphic example of the violence that grips london violence , much of which london violence, much of which never comes to the ears of police. or is never reported to police. or is never reported to police. gang related violence is one example. there are stabbings that go on that are never reported to the police. you see them on gang social media. mhm so there's a far bigger problem in fact than the figures state. and then we have ridiculous assertions don't we. this government has reduced crime by 50. oh come on. >> well chris, that's exactly the point i want to raise. we hear from the government, we hear from the government, we hear from the government, we hear from ministers. hear from the government, we hear from ministers . we hear hear from ministers. we hear from mps telling us that crime is on the way down, that crime has decreased in recent years. it's always going down. but people anecdotally are know that it doesn't seem to be. are you saying that there are lots there's quite a lot of violent crime going on that we just

don't get reported? >> yeah , absolutely. i mean, >> yeah, absolutely. i mean, when you think about it, everyone, every drug deal is a crime. everyone who possesses drugs is committing a crime . the drugs is committing a crime. the other night, someone came into my local pub selling meat and he was asked, where do you get that from? oh, i stole it from the co—op. now i basically told him to go away . i didn't quite use to go away. i didn't quite use those words , but this is a those words, but this is a problem that we have now . that problem that we have now. that crime probably won't appear in any crime statistics. if i'd have detained him, i doubt very much whether on and much whether police on blues and twos would have come to my come to my assistance . yes, but it to my assistance. yes, but it shows the sort of endemic problem is with unreported problem there is with unreported crime. there is an epidemic. police are stretched and as i say , we're struggling to retain say, we're struggling to retain experienced good police officers .even experienced good police officers . even that incident we saw yesterday that terrible incident, the number of officers now, quite rightly, who are being taken away from other dufies being taken away from other duties to chase down this

violent, vile individual who did what he did. but those officers will be taken from doing other things , as mr cleverly, i think things, as mr cleverly, i think as i said, needs to get out and needs to talk to officers on the front line and not make ridiculous statements . ridiculous statements. >> chris, you speak about the problems about police form filling rather than getting back on the beat and i wonder how much of that actually could be solved frankly , there being solved by frankly, there being more back room people doing those forms. so police officers can get on the streets. it seems like it's very popular for politicians to say, you know what? we're going to cut the back room. we're only going to invest in front room people. but invest in front room people. but in that in the end, that means that sometimes room people sometimes front room people end up room work. up doing back room work. >> that's an excellent >> mm. that's an excellent point. it really is an excellent point. it really is an excellent point obviously in the point because obviously in the cuts introduced by this government police staff were got cuts introduced by this govof1ment police staff were got cuts introduced by this govof hand police staff were got cuts introduced by this govof hand overce staff were got cuts introduced by this govof hand over fisttaff were got cuts introduced by this govof hand over fist and nere got cuts introduced by this govof hand over fist and they got rid of hand over fist and they were and i can remember when i was a pc and a detective sergeant, they were invaluable. absolutely invaluable in taking a lot of the workload away from

police officers on the front line. at one stage i could hand over case papers that were a bit of a shambles, and they'd put them straight for me and they'd submit them and send them up the line. that's gone now. those line. um, that's gone now. those police staff have disappeared . police staff have disappeared. and you're quite right. police officers now are having to take on a lot of bureaucracy and bureaucracy that wasn't there when i was a pc, but is keeping them. basically, it's keeping them. basically, it's keeping them off the streets. and to be quite honest , most police quite honest, most police officers join the police despite what people may think , to help what people may think, to help people and to take bad people off the streets and make society safer . and we've also got safer. and we've also got a problem, haven't we? i'm sure you know, the criminal justice system, the courts are up to their necks. judges are being leant on not to send people to prison on, um, all sorts of issues there in terms of, um, yeah, problems and this government needs to get a grip and stop making ridiculous statements . and as i said, i'm statements. and as i said, i'm obviously losing faith in mr

cleverly . and he's only been in cleverly. and he's only been in post two minutes. >> oh dear. well that's not a good sign. thank you very much for your time though. really for your time though. we really appreciate it. retired metropolitan officer metropolitan police officer chris giving his chris hobbs there giving his take uh, lawless britain. take on, uh, lawless britain. also, it sometimes appears . also, it sometimes appears. >> well, let's head back to brussels now where farmers are protesting outside the european parliament and things have got a little hairy smoke billowing up from a fire, a pyre of what looked like tires. there in the square there are some police officers present , but lots square there are some police officers present, but lots and lots of protesters in pretty dramatic scenes. >> and what do these farmers want? they want a stop to rising taxes. they want , uh, help with taxes. they want, uh, help with rising costs, energy costs, costs of doing business. they are absolutely fuming. >> and indeed, we've seen not just in brussels, not just in belgium, but in paris , two in belgium, but in paris, two in berlin, in in amsterdam, we have seen protests like this. in a

similar vein, pop up across europe in many, many different countries. the question might be asked, where's

p.m. only on gb news, the people's channel, britain's news channel. >> it's 12. channel. >> it's12. it's time. beg your pardon? it's 226. and these are live pictures from brussels, where farmers have been

protesting their conditions, their conditions of work, the regulations that are placed upon them, the levels of tax they pay, them, the levels of tax they pay, environmental regulations and foreign trade. we've seen protests like this spring up, not just in brussels. these are the very latest protests, but they are following protests in paris , in germany and in the paris, in germany and in the netherlands. >> two very prominent placard there saying say no to despotism. we know that these farmers are absolutely furious . farmers are absolutely furious. we've seen this elsewhere on the continent, not least in france, where tractors farmers descended on the capital blockading routes into paris. what the reaction is from the europeans , from the eu from the europeans, from the eu parliament, from the many bureaucrats, commissioners , meps bureaucrats, commissioners, meps there we will bring you. but it does look like there are many, many people on the scene there. huge billowing of smoke, fire coming those tires, it coming from those tires, it looks like. >> and already in response to looks like. >> arprotests,y in response to looks like. >> arprotests, we've;ponse to looks like. >> arprotests, we've seena to looks like. >> arprotests, we've seen some these protests, we've seen some governmental shifts in germany, in the netherlands and in paris,

where emmanuel macron has promised to lobby the eu against free trade deals with south american countries. >> it's very interesting, a farmer representing the spanish farmers union has said. we want to stop these crazy that to stop these crazy laws that come every single day from the european commission so quite a lot of euroscepticism coming from the farming industry across europe , it seems now , now back europe, it seems now, now back in blighty, earlier we heard keir starmer speaking at the labour party's annual business conference. yes, rachel reeves also spoke at the conference, outlining that the labour party will be the pro—business party in its decisions. >> these are challenging economic times . i know that economic times. i know that british business have felt that more than a decade of stagnant growth and anaemic investment, the next labour government will maintain full expensing and the annual investment allowance , and annual investment allowance, and within its first six months, a labour government will publish a roadmap for business taxation .

roadmap for business taxation. the next labour government will make the pro—business choice and the pro growth choice . we will the pro growth choice. we will cap the headline rate of corporation tax at its current rate of 25. we an interesting coming from a labour shadow chancellor, isn't it? >> although it's worth remembering that the 25% rate of corporation tax is significantly higher. that's very true than the rate of corporation the previous rate of corporation tax. sunak who tax. it was rishi sunak who raised say raised it. but labour say they'll raise any further. >> was it jeremy hunt, our current who that >> was it jeremy hunt, our curwanted who that >> was it jeremy hunt, our curwanted it who that >> was it jeremy hunt, our curwanted it to who that >> was it jeremy hunt, our curwanted it to be who that >> was it jeremy hunt, our curwanted it to be reduced that >> was it jeremy hunt, our curwanted it to be reduced t0|at he wanted it to be reduced to were something he said? were something like he said? >> he said initially he wanted to match ireland with 12.5. that's their corporation tax. but at midday the bank of england held the base rate of interest for the fourth time, keeping it at a 15 year high of 5.25. >> yes, liam halligan gb news economics and business editor, is with us now with on the money i >> -- >> two big stories in business

today liam take it away. cope is labour the party of business? >> liam. yeah let's come on to the, uh, interest rate decision in a moment. >> let's just stick with corporation tax for now. you're right, tom. jeremy hunt at one stage did want the rate of corporation tax to match the irish 12.5% and more recently , irish 12.5% and more recently, when he stood as tory leader, coming fifth, of course, when liz truss beat him, he went for a 15% rate of corporation tax . a 15% rate of corporation tax. and then on his watch it was promptly raised. from 19% to 25. where it is now. now rachel reeves has told a meeting of 400 business leaders that she's not going to raise corporation tax any more for the lifetime of the next parliament. if labour wins power, this is , to my reckoning, power, this is, to my reckoning, the first really significant announcement on labour's tax plans. interesting that it concerns the business community, i actually think, and here's a

little scoop of analysis for you . i actually think this provides a big opportunity for the conservatives why do i say that? because between now and an election, which we expect in october or november , if the october or november, if the tories lower corporation tax even by 1 or 2 percentage points, say, to 23, they then they can put what we call clear blue water between themselves and labour, because labour are now on the hook, they can't follow the tories down because of what's reeves has said today. so if i was a tory strategist, i would be really heavily in the chancellor and the prime minister's ear now saying you've done a personal tax cut in january we saw the national insurance rate, the main rate fall from 12 to ten. i would in the budget do a corporation tax cut. and i would stress that corporation tax is often paid even by small and medium sized companies. it's not really about

the corporate fat cats. the big bulge bracket city firms. they dodge a load of corporation tax anyway. they use offsets and they've got money to finance investment , which they've got money to finance investment, which means they've got money to finance investment , which means they can investment, which means they can use what we call full expensing to offset that investment against their tax bill. it's the small and medium firms paying corporation tax. the mom and pop businesses of middle england, if you that, that tax you like, that, need that tax break because they pay themselves out of dividends from their firms. so that's my take on corporation tax . now when it on corporation tax. now when it comes to the bank of england, no surprise really. we saw the monetary policy committee , the monetary policy committee, the nine economists on the bank of england's policymaking panel hold interest rates at 5.25. uh, that's a 15 year high. i do think interest rates will start to fall quite soon, possibly in april or may. i think i said, uh, a couple of hours ago to both of you . interestingly, both of you. interestingly, mortgage rates are starting to come down below 5.25% because they're set on where the lenders

think interest rates will be going . so i think the big going. so i think the big surprise from the bank of england today is that they talked about persistent inflationary evidence, which means that they're going to try and hold out for a long time before they lower interest rates. but i think the mighty federal reserve, the us central bank, will soon start cutting , bank, will soon start cutting, possibly even as soon as march or april at the latest . and then or april at the latest. and then a lot of the bank of england's analysis will go out the window and they'll do as we so often do in monetary policy, as they say, and we'll follow the yanks. >> well , you much. >> well, thank you very much. >> well, thank you very much. >> doesn't it ? they >> do that, doesn't it? they raised faster and raised their rates faster and sooner than ours. and then we do it later. we our rates and it later. we raise our rates and liz blamed. uh, liz truss gets blamed. uh, anyway, liz truss gets blamed. uh, any liam liz truss gets blamed. uh, anyliam . uh, great to hear from >> liam. uh, great to hear from you. but uh, coming facebook you. but uh, coming up, facebook founder mark zuckerberg forced to to families of kids to apologise to families of kids harmed by social media but should social media bosses take personal responsibility for the

safety of children on their platforms? that's after your headunes platforms? that's after your headlines with sam . headlines with sam. >> tom. emily, thank you very much. good afternoon. from the gb news room. it'sjust much. good afternoon. from the gb news room. it's just gone 2:30. our top story this afternoon is of course, police investigating that chemical attack, which left a toddler and her mother with potentially life changing injuries. the suspect has been named by police as abdul azizi, the 35 year old alleged attacker is, we understand, from the newcastle area metropolitan police saying earlier that the suspect has significant injuries to the right side of his face. following that attack, he allegedly threw a corrosive substance over three victims, including two children, near clapham . common, five police clapham. common, five police officers and three women have also been injured in the attack . also been injured in the attack. after coming to the aid of the family, superintendent gabriel cameron from the metropolitan police gave a statement earlier he left the scene but the

injuries to the female and children there in a stable condition, but we are just monitoring, but they don't seem to be life threatening . to be life threatening. >> but at this time they could be life changing. the male was last seen in the north london area, caledonian road . um, and area, caledonian road. um, and if you see him , there'll be some if you see him, there'll be some images circulated later today. if you see him , i plea to not if you see him, i plea to not approach him . in approach him. in >> the labour leader says that he has a plan for business that will bring growth and prosperity to every corner of britain. in a speech to labour's business conference this afternoon , sir conference this afternoon, sir keir starmer promised to battle against stagnation in british productivity and growth. critics, though , accused labour critics, though, accused labour of economic flip flopping and they're questioning if the party can truly provide the stability businesses need. but sir keir has assured the conference earlier that labour is the party for business. britain where every worker enjoys dignity at work.

>> if we want a country that invests in its infrastructure and its people , if we want and its people, if we want a britain where wealth creation comes from every community, then that can't come from a change of government alone . we all have to government alone. we all have to change business included . change business included. >> and we've also heard today that inflation is expected to temper early return to the bank of england's target of 2% by this summer . of england's target of 2% by this summer. that's a year and a half earlier than was previously expected. the news comes as the banks announced it's held its interest rate at 5.25% for the fourth time in a row, labour says households are paying the price for 14 years of economic failure under the conservative government and for the latest stories , you can sign up to gb stories, you can sign up to gb news alerts by scanning the qr code on your screen or by going to gb news. com forward slash alerts . for a

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sunday mornings from 930 on gb news who's . news who's. >> good afternoon britain. it's 20 to 3 and blood on your hands. that's the charge levelled at tech bosses yesterday during an extraordinary senate hearing in the united states . senators the united states. senators accused social media companies of being culpable for the deaths of being culpable for the deaths of users of their platforms as well. let's discuss this now. we're delighted to be joined by ivor caplan, the former labour minister, and by mike perry, the commentator and broadcaster . uh, commentator and broadcaster. uh, mike, this was a pretty testy hearing. yeah, we saw a lot of senators lined up there , perhaps senators lined up there, perhaps because it's election year shouting at the billionaires. >> yeah , i'm not quite sure what

>> yeah, i'm not quite sure what these billionaires are accused of. i'm not sure what mr zuckerman is accused of. >> mike, i'm going to interrupt you because we have a clip, right, show you . because i right, to show you. because i want to react off back. okay? >> zuckerberg , why should >> mr zuckerberg, why should your company not be sued for this? >> why is it that you can claim you hide behind a liability shield? you can't be held accountable. shouldn't you be held accountable personally? will you take personal responsibility, senator , i think responsibility, senator, i think i've already answered this . i've already answered this. >> i mean, this is these. >> i mean, this is these. >> we'll this again. will >> we'll try this again. will you personal responsibility you take personal responsibility , view my job, and , senator? i view my job, and the job of our company is building the tools we building the best tools that we can to keep our community safe. well, you're failing at that, too. >> senator, we're >> well, senator, we're doing an industry leading effort. we build tools your product build ai tools that your product is people. is killing people. >> will you personally commit to compensating the victims? >> a billionaire. will >> you're a billionaire. will you the you commit to compensating the victims ? you commit to compensating the victwell, republican senator um, >> well, republican senator um, scott hawley there, and it is interesting that , um, suddenly, interesting that, um, suddenly, scott hawley , ted cruz, a lot of

scott hawley, ted cruz, a lot of these, uh , uh, perhaps big names these, uh, uh, perhaps big names in us republican politics really going after these social media companies. yeah >> but again, you see, i'm not quite sure what they've been accused of. now, we can't live without the internet because that's the way we communicate in this can't live this world. we can't live without like facebook without things like facebook because that's people because that's how people communicate with each other. because that's how people comm are :ate with each other. because that's how people comm are bound:h each other. because that's how people comm are bound tozach other. because that's how people comm are bound to be1 other. because that's how people comm are bound to be partsih because that's how people comm are bound to be parts of there are bound to be parts of the new systems that we use, which are susceptible to being misused , used. but for instance, misused, used. but for instance, supposing i said to you, um , supposing i said to you, um, d.h. lawrence should have been charged for writing lady chatterley's lover because lady chatterley's lover because lady chatterley's lover because lady chatterley's lover might have made people behave badly towards other people. you'd have said yes , that's true. we've got yes, that's true. we've got a band, lady chatterley's lover. do you see what i mean? >> i thought , do you see what i mean? >> i thought, it's do you see what i mean? >> i thought , it's not the same >> i thought, it's not the same argument as violent video games. means that everyone's going to go and be violent to one another. i think that was sort of discredited after it of roundly discredited after it became a big sort of social panic in the 1990s. i did a

similar social panic. >> i just think what we've just seen, the clip, we've just seen, i think just shows to everyone how really difficult these these issues are. >> and you've got very experienced business people. they're being torn apart, predominant. let's be serious about politics in the usa, which we all know is a different beast to the one that we have. >> and that's one of the reasons that we saw what was going on. >> i'm not sure that you can blame, you know , people who own blame, you know, people who own facebook or whatever it is. >> and say you're responsible for something that has happened. >> well , why do they feel so >> well, why do they feel so emboldened to level that accusation at these bosses? >> is it just because they know it's going to play well with. no, because large parts of america people are going no, because large parts of ansay,a people are going no, because large parts of ansay, you people are going no, because large parts of ansay, you know,iple are going no, because large parts of an say, you know, you are going no, because large parts of ansay, you know, you blame ng to say, you know, you blame everything is everything on wokeism, but it is about wokeism . about wokeism. >> about people not taking >> it is about people not taking personal responsibility for their and politicians their lives and politicians knowing better, telling people how to run their lives now behind mr zuckerberg and all those people yesterday

those other people yesterday were allowed families holding were allowed to families holding a pictures say these are a load of pictures say these are the victims. i would like to see some those come onto some of those parents come onto the would like the committee and i would like them cross—examined them to have been cross—examined . children get . how did your children get harmed tell us. and harmed by facebook? tell us. and if they said, well, at the age of seven, my and you say, well, that's bad parenting, is that's bad parenting, that is bad , that that's not bad parenting, that that's not mr zuckerberg who's giving a scapegoat. exactly that's not mr zuckerberg giving your children access to facebook. if you buy your children a laptop and let them watch at 5:00 in the morning to balance this, though a little bit, because there's a lot of parents are , well, lot of parents are, well, extremely , extremely worried extremely, extremely worried about their children as only so much parents can do to stop their children from viewing this type of content can type of online content that can lead harassment. type of online content that can lea can harassment. type of online content that can lea can lead;sment. type of online content that can lea can lead totent. type of online content that can lea can lead to bullying, can >> can lead to bullying, can lead, but they can try harder. can eating disorder content. all of does cause mental of this stuff does cause mental harm to children . mhm. harm to children. mhm. >> absolutely, absolutely . but i >> absolutely, absolutely. but i think it's very different in the us from the uk and that's one thing i would say. i think over here we have got over the period

of time of the last ten, 15 years, we've been able to manage , you know, the social media and actually try and press people like zuckerberg to do certain things. >> and those have actually happened. >> yeah. in and around the uk. >> yeah. in and around the uk. >> i found something really, really interesting because i didn't know this until yesterday in us there has been a spike in the us there has been a spike in the us there has been a spike in in suicides. in the uk, there have been some high profile cases. the kc case of molly russell, for example . yeah, russell, for example. yeah, yeah. but in terms of the data , yeah. but in terms of the data, the it doesn't match. there hasn't been a spike in young suicides in the uk. there have been some prevalent examples, but there hasn't been a spike in the data in the same way as the us. yes. and mike, i, i suppose that there are going to be some very, cases, but these very, very sad cases, but these cases aren't cases perhaps aren't representative . representative. >> well, also everything's being attached to social media. it's not. children have problems from all sorts of areas. children might have a problem with bullying in the playground . and bullying in the playground. and before look at before they ever look at anything on social media for.

but when they do, it exacerbates that problem. children might have problems at home with their parents, and that might give them suicidal thoughts. but then they facebook. they see something on facebook. what i'm saying is that it's what i'm saying is, is that it's far too bland to say that it's all down to the fault of these, you know, media giants who have these businesses which circulate these businesses which circulate the world. >> i grew up with facebook as a teenager. >> i grew up with facebook as a teenager . yeah. and had i had teenager. yeah. and had i had mental health difficulties , as mental health difficulties, as i can see how it could push teenagers into a quite a dark place. but you also have parents because it is it is damaging even just seeing unrealistic images of other girls of your age or seeing that you weren't ianed age or seeing that you weren't invited to this party. it sounds trivial. i mean, tom moore prepubescent and teenage girls and also boys can feel like the world is upon you, right? because it's everywhere. and the bullying is very extreme. >> i mean, tom just mentioned the molly russell now the molly russell case. now that's kind of something that we all and it's been, all know about. and it's been, well documented over the period

of time. and i think when you look at it again, that case, you start to see all of those issues coming out. and i think that's one of the areas where i would say that in the uk, we've probably got the balances about right. i'm never sure i can also say that about the us . say that about the us. >> i want to know where the parental guidance is, okay, because before we had the internet, we had the facebook . a internet, we had the facebook. a parent might get involved in its children's homework , right? it children's homework, right? it might say , i'll help you with might say, i'll help you with that. i'll help you with this. now days, it's far too easy for parents to say, just look at your that will solve all your screen that will solve all your screen that will solve all your problems with life. your problems with your life. and to exercise any and i don't have to exercise any parental control at all, nor do ihave parental control at all, nor do i have to the time, or i have to find the time, or the energy brain power energy or the brain power to help this help my child. because this machine helps my child. i think it's bad parenting. it's a really difficult balance, isn't it? >> because for some extent, for children to be included in class, maybe they get home, maybe all of their friends are on instagram. why won't my parents let me be on instagram,

etc. you get these very difficult. but that's that again is good parenting. >> that's years ago. that was when the came home and when the child came home and said, got a new of said, johnny's got a new pair of adidas trainers. i want a pair and you say we can't afford them. can't them, them. so you can't have them, then exclusion then do you get social exclusion in everyone's in in school, everyone's laughing something they laughing about something they were chatting on on the internet. >> oh, tom. and then you just get calling no i >> sometimes parents about saying to no. then if you >> sometimes parents about sayirit to no. then if you >> sometimes parents about sayirit back. then if you >> sometimes parents about sayirit back into then if you >> sometimes parents about sayirit back into the an if you >> sometimes parents about sayirit back into the school u take it back into the school room, it's the teacher's responsibility. teachers responsibility. because teachers have responsibility to have a care responsibility to all the children, not just to teach them, but to make sure they're being socially they're not being socially bullied classmates. and bullied by their classmates. and to throw it all against, um , to throw it all against, um, zuckerman and facebook. it's just a convenient way out of saying the world's problems are building at a massive rate. let's blame facebook . it's let's blame facebook. it's ridiculous. in my view . ridiculous. in my view. >> i suppose there's an analogy , >> i suppose there's an analogy, i suppose, which is if henry ford had been invited to a us senate hearing and some senators sat there in an election year saying, mr ford, your cars are

killing people , will you killing people, will you apologise to the people you sold your cars to and who have been in horrendous accidents? indeed will you compensate them? indeed will you compensate them? indeed will you compensate them? indeed will you stop your cars going more than ten miles an hour? yeah.i more than ten miles an hour? yeah. i mean, it's ridiculous to think of it like that, but i suppose analogous evil. suppose it's analogous evil. >> , absolutely, absolutely. >> yeah, absolutely, absolutely. my was ford, and i'm my first car was a ford, and i'm probably not alone in that . probably not alone in that. around around the world. hang on. it's the equivalent. >> not that , uh, henry ford >> not that, uh, henry ford decided to introduce seatbelts. >> he didn't . decided to introduce seatbelts. >> he didn't. he did enough >> no, he didn't. he did enough seatbelts in his cars that was one of the big problems. >> eventually he did. >> eventually he did. >> is a regulatory >> and that is a regulatory requirement. so there there requirement. so there are there are regulations placed on cars, but suppose it's a question but i suppose it's a question of degree. it is, but i mean, degree. well, it is, but i mean, what about the 20 mile an hour speed in london? speed limit in london? >> give you another >> just to give you another analogy, going analogy, you're never going to stop people being knocked down by cars unless make cars go by cars unless you make cars go at an hour. do you at zero miles an hour. do you see there's see what i mean? so there's always going victims. always going to be victims. i mean, for instance, supposing somebody who some mental somebody who had some mental health problems account health problems read an account of holocaust in a

of the holocaust in a publication and then couldn't live with it and committed suicide, and it has happened. people have have endured terrible horrors in life which had nothing to do with facebook and nothing to do with social networking , but couldn't live networking, but couldn't live with themselves and took their lives. >> but again, ivor, is this a question of degree ? question of degree? >> yes, i think that's probably right. i mean, where where are the lines? do we do we really know? is there ever a discussion about that? has the house of commons ever had a proper discussion on some of these issues? i mean, i you know, you can recall , issues? i mean, i you know, you can recall, um, you issues? i mean, i you know, you can recall , um, you know, can recall, um, you know, sometimes where there have been changes in the law and changes in therefore, social media, but that doesn't always play out as to how, um , people actually want to how, um, people actually want it to be. and that's when you get into all these other areas. >> it's interesting because, um, onune >> it's interesting because, um, online safety, uh, there seems to be, um, the left and the right are very concerned about this , um, left wing politicians

this, um, left wing politicians often calling for more regulation on online platforms, but also from the right as well. you've got the likes of miriam cates saying that mobile phones should be banned for under 16 seconds. you can see the logic of that. >> you can definitely see the logic of that. and at the same time, you can say that all of those kind of things are probably and the fact probably right. and the fact that everyone thinks there are times that need to be changed and probably means that whoever wins the general election will have this on their on their on their agenda, on their agenda. >> definitely. can i point out one other thing as well, please? so one case pointed out to , so one case was pointed out to, uh, mr zuckerberg, lindsey graham, another republican uh, mr zuckerberg, lindsey graham, recounted epublican uh, mr zuckerberg, lindsey graham, recounted the jlican uh, mr zuckerberg, lindsey graham, recounted the story of senator, recounted the story of a teenager who took his own life in 2022 after sending a naked picture of himself to what he thought was a woman , but was in thought was a woman, but was in fact a criminal gang, which then blackmailed now the people blackmailed him. now the people to after there the to go after there are the criminals . yeah. aren't they? criminals. yeah. aren't they? yeah, absolutely. doing the blackmail the fact yeah, absolutely. doing the blac the il the fact yeah, absolutely. doing the blac the platform the fact yeah, absolutely. doing the blac the platform on the fact yeah, absolutely. doing the blac the platform on which :t that the platform on which the blackmailing happened, that's exactly saying. what

exactly what i'm saying. what i'm platform . um, i'm saying is the platform. um, they platform. they abused that platform. the platform is there mostly for good and mostly facilitates people to get on with their lives better. if gang of lives better. if a gang of blackmailers get on there , then blackmailers get on there, then that's not in my view. that's not facebook fault. >> go after the >> you wouldn't go after the post sent post office if someone said sent someone rude letter. someone a rude letter. >> no you should. you you seek out gang who's out the criminal gang who's doing you? but this is doing it, don't you? but this is a convenient of saying, a very convenient way of saying, oh, that's too hard. oh, well, that's too hard. really? yeah. you know, they had a identity and that. a false identity and all that. well provisions stop well make provisions to stop this happening. >> you've to go and get the >> you've got to go and get the right people. when you're trying to anything in, in, in to change anything in, in, in whether it's in the us or here. yeah. and that doesn't sound right. yes. because the people who need to be arrested and sought after are the criminal gangs. well mike, thank you so much for talking us through that. >> very, that very thorny topic and worry about the power these tech bosses have, though. well tall poppy syndrome, isn't it? >> they are very tall poppies. >> they are very tall poppies. >> let's get to what's coming up on martin daubney program.

martin, up on your show ? martin, what's up on your show? >> well, has mike perry finished yet or on the show? the continued manhunt for abdul azadi. what drives man to use chemicals as a method of revenge and scoring a tremendously bad crime also has britain got an islamist problem? i think we have ian aitchison from the counter terrorism project certainly does. we'll be speaking to him. he's a global expert on this. after what's happened mike freer, an happened to mike freer, an exclusive talk with him and other mps and schools, the michaela foundation , the school michaela foundation, the school in leighton, of course, both closed because of bomb and death threats. have we got a terror problem ? also the latest from problem? also the latest from brussels. brussels burning our man on the ground will have all the latest images. the dramatic scenes in brussels, all that on my show. but first, here is your latest weather forecast. >> a brighter outlook with boxt solar sponsors of weather on . gb

news. >> hello alex burkill here again with your latest gb news weather forecast. whilst it is going to turn increasingly mild as we go through the end of the week, it will also be windy at times and there will be some rain most of that pushing in from the that will be pushing in from the west have high west because we have high pressure to the south of the uk, and that's leading pressure to the south of the uk, a|westerly that's leading pressure to the south of the uk, a|westerly flow il's leading pressure to the south of the uk, a|westerly flow acrossding pressure to the south of the uk, a|westerly flow across the a westerly flow across the country. as well as this, we do have a spell more persistent have a spell of more persistent rain across parts of scotland. have a spell of more persistent rai|we:ross parts of scotland. have a spell of more persistent rai|we go s parts of scotland. have a spell of more persistent rai|we go throughyf scotland. have a spell of more persistent rai|we go throughyf screst1d. have a spell of more persistent rai|we go throughyf screst of as we go through the rest of today and the start of the night , rain does clear away , but that rain does clear away towards as we go towards the east as we go through of through the early hours of friday it is friday morning. elsewhere, it is going increasingly going to turn increasingly cloudy as we go through the night, there will be some night, and there will be some outbreaks night, and there will be some outbreatowards the west . after a mainly towards the west. after a bit a chilly start some bit of a chilly start for some of temperatures of us tonight, temperatures are actually . so by actually going to lift. so by the many of wake the time many of us wake up tomorrow actually tomorrow morning, it's actually going relatively mild going to be relatively mild through day itself . a rather through the day itself. a rather cloudy picture, cloudier than today for most of us. that today for most of us. and that cloud be enough for cloud will be thick enough for some outbreaks of rain some further outbreaks of rain across parts. in

across western parts. in particular, perhaps something a bit persistent, pushing bit more persistent, pushing in across and across parts of scotland and into northern ireland. two the best chance of sunshine best chance of any sunshine tomorrow the east, tomorrow will be in the east, and where temperatures and that's where temperatures are could are likely to be highest. could get to highs around 15 celsius, but it going to be a but for most it is going to be a mild albeit one. mild day, albeit a windy one. two the rain pushes its way southward , so saturday we're southward, so on saturday we're likely to see a bit of a wet picture across southern counties. a greater chance of seeing some sunshine further north, will showers north, but there will be showers towards and towards the northwest and a little bit chillier too. elsewhere as we go through the weekend, rather picture weekend, a rather cloudy picture and temperatures lifting again to average for time of yeah >> looks like things are heating up. box spoilers, sponsors of weather on gb news .

>> good afternoon. it's 3 pm. welcome to the martin daubney show on gb news broadcasting live from the heart of westminster and all across the uk, we've got a corking , action uk, we've got a corking, action packed show including an packed show ahead, including an interview with mike freer, the tory mp who's going to quit after receiving terrible death threats from a banned islamist group, also , police have named a group, also, police have named a suspect and the hunt for a man who has left the mother and her children with potentially life changing injuries in london last night. abdul azadi is said to have been left with significant injuries to the right side of his face after a corrosive of

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