r , britain. it's good afternoon, britain. it's 12:00 on monday the 5th of february on the run as the search for the chemical attacker abdul ezedi enters its fifth day. >> gb news security sources suggest the £20,000 reward offered by the police indicates zaidi may be being harboured by criminals, but with half his face missing, can the search really be that hard .7 really be that hard? >> mass conversions. the scandal around phoney asylum seekers claiming to be christian just to cheat the system swells as it's revealed that 40 asylum seekers on board the bibby stockholm barge have suddenly decided to convert. what are the odds and labour's equality crusade ? labour's equality crusade? >> as the labour party pledges to bring more protected characteristics, including race under equal pay regulations, we ask is equal pay legislation or that it seems? and how would this actually work in practice?

and we're also going to be talking about sorry, tom. not at all. i jumped in there. we're also going to be talking about the number of armed police officers leaving the metropolitan practically metropolitan police practically en masse. 1 in 10 left in the year 2022 2023, which is a dramatic departure. and what does this mean for our safety? it's an extraordinary statistic. >> 1 in 10, having left the streets, does this make us less safe and frankly, do we need to have a police system that backs officers more delicate balance is in all of this, but it seems like perhaps with the numbers abandon thing, the armed police units in the metropolitan police, perhaps that balance has been struck wrong . yes. been struck wrong. yes. >> do they feel like they have enough support that we're going to be speaking to one former armed police officer who believes sometimes the believes that sometimes the police treated police themselves are treated like they police themselves are treated like feel they police themselves are treated like feel like they're they police themselves are treated like feel like they're backed don't feel like they're backed

up when unfortunate. do up when unfortunate. they do have their arms. and of have to use their arms. and of course, also there's questions about whether there's enough funding . is there much funding. is there too much bureaucracy? is there enough bureaucracy? is there not enough accountability be accountability as well? we'll be discussing because discussing all of that because on face of it, this seems on the face of it, this seems very, concerned ing. very, very concerned ing. >> well, we'll be getting to all of that more after your of that and more after your headunes of that and more after your headlines with sam . headlines with sam. >> tom, emily, thank you very much. and good afternoon from the gb news room. it's just gone 12:00. our top story today has, of course, been that the prime minister is in northern ireland, where he has said the new £3.3 billion funding deal is significant and generous. after holding talks in belfast, where power sharing has now returned. that's after the newly formed executive called for urgent discussions on longer terms funding to deliver public services. earlier, rishi sunak met with ministers including sinn fein's michelle o'neill, who made history by becoming the country's first republican first

minister of northern ireland. secretary chris heaton—harris has praised the leaders of the new power sharing government . new power sharing government. >> i think they demonstrated on saturday that they are willing and able to work together in a very way, to do all the very positive way, to do all the things that northern ireland needs. northern ireland needs. i mean, northern ireland hasn't government needs. i mean, northern ireland hastwo government needs. i mean, northern ireland hastwo years. government needs. i mean, northern ireland hastwo years. there government needs. i mean, northern ireland hastwo years. there was arnment for two years. there was a really big list of things that need to be done. public services need to be done. public services need reform and transformation and part of the package we put in is over £3 billion to help that happen . that happen. >> police are intensifying their efforts to capture the chemical attack. suspect abdul ezedi . attack. suspect abdul ezedi. with the manhunt now into its fifth day, a £20,000 reward is being offered by police for information that could lead to his arrest. he's wanted in connection with an attack in south london that left a woman critically injured and her two daughters, aged three and eight, both hurt . detectives say his both hurt. detectives say his last known movements show azadi left tower hill tube station in east london just after 9:30 on wednesday evening last week. police have warned that those helping him will face arrest,

and they're calling for the public's help to find him. our reporter, ray addison, has more on who could be protecting azadi from police . from police. >> it's possible that he's being looked after by people who don't watch mainstream british news, an indication of that being the appeal that was put out in farsl appeal that was put out in farsi, which, of course, is the language widely spoken by afghans. however, the message has got out to the afghan community. he certainly in some capacity he the afghanistan and central asian association, which is a charity that helps afghan nationals in the uk , has nationals in the uk, has appealed for azadi to turn himself in. they've told him to go to the police station immediately . they're saying he immediately. they're saying he must do the right thing . and must do the right thing. and this, simply has gone on this, this simply has gone on long enough . long enough. >> meanwhile, 40 asylum seekers on the bbc stockholm barge in dorset have reportedly converted to christian city, raising concerns that migrants are claiming to change their religion in order to stay in the uk . the telegraph newspaper uk. the telegraph newspaper today has suggested that 1 in 7

of the 300 migrants on that barge are also attending local churches , which is fuelling churches, which is fuelling concerns about the role that churches may have in asylum claims. the home secretary is said to be considering whether any legal changes need to be made to make sure that claims of so—called conversion made by asylum are properly asylum seekers are properly scrutinised . a 39 year old scrutinised. a 39 year old suspect arrested for dangerous dog offences has today been released on conditional bail until the 5th of march. it follows the death of 68 year old grandmother esther martin, who was mauled to death in essex at the weekend. it's understood she'd been visiting her 11 year old grandson when that tragedy occurred, with neighbours describing horrific screaming they heard . the victim's they heard. the victim's daughter says the dogs were xl bullies, which are banned from the start of this month. however, detectives from essex police say that investigators are still working confirm the are still working to confirm the exact breed of those dogs. well earlier, dog trainer john ellison told gb news that the dangerous dogs act is not going

far enough. >> the dangerous dogs act does not impact this sort of situation that takes place within the home. it it's designed , um, to protect the designed, um, to protect the pubucin designed, um, to protect the public in public spaces. therefore this backs up the evidence . that the dangerous evidence. that the dangerous dogs act is not fit for purpose and are actually we need to look further, deeper into the education, the licensing and also enforcement of the also the enforcement of the consequence. should you be in charge of a dangerous or out of control dog? >> and finally, wrap up warm because a whole day of snow could be on the way with a yellow warning issued for large parts of england wales later parts of england and wales later this met office says this week, the met office says the winter weather could lead to disruption and power and disruption and power cuts and possible travel delays , with the possible travel delays, with the warnings running from 3 am. on thursday of week through to thursday of this week through to the time on friday morning. the same time on friday morning. it stretches from cumbria and the scottish border down to cambridgeshire and the midlands in england and all of northern and central wales are also included in that. yellow weather

warning. for the latest warning. and for the latest stories, you can sign up to gb news alerts by scanning the qr code on your screen or go to gbnews.com forward slash alerts. >> now this should be good. next monday, february the 12th at 8:00 gb news will be hosting a people's forum with the prime minister. >> yes, this will be a live one hour question and answer. where you can put your questions directly to him. yes, it's going to be a little bit different, isn't it? >> so why don't we hear from the prime minister about how you can get involved . high rishi sunak get involved. high rishi sunak here. >> join me for a special gb news people's forum live on monday the 12th of february. i want to hear about the issues that matter to you for your chance to be part of the audience and to put your questions to me. scan the qr code on screen or go to

gbnews.com see you there . gbnews.com see you there. >> well, that's what the prime minister had to say. shall we speak to the man who's hosting the gb news people's forum next monday at 8:00? it is gb news presenter stephen dixon. stephen, is very exciting. stephen, this is very exciting. so how is it going to work? >> well , look, so how is it going to work? >> well, look, this is so how is it going to work? >> well , look, this is exactly >> well, look, this is exactly what we were invented for, isn't it? >> it's all about the people in power, facing the people who put them there. or in this case, may not put in there. we'll have to wait and see, won't we? and so this is going to be a case of if you want to get involved go to gbnews.com slash pm and fill in the form there. we're handling this through survation which is a company that means it will be a company that means it will be a representative audience , which a representative audience, which is really important for this sort of thing , so that all views sort of thing, so that all views will be represented in the audience . we'll hear from the audience. we'll hear from the prime minister. he'll make an opening statement , prime minister. he'll make an opening statement, and then prime minister. he'll make an opening statement , and then the opening statement, and then the panelis opening statement, and then the panel is , uh, is open. if you

panel is, uh, is open. if you like people will be able to ask their questions. i'll be there just to guide the pm through it. but it's not about me quizzing the prime minister it's about you quizzing the prime minister. and that's what matters. and that's what you don't get anywhere else. stephen i suppose that's really, really important. >> your role specifically, not as a questioner, but more as a compere of this whole situation . compere of this whole situation. ian, what will you be doing to enable those sort of to facilitate those conversations between real voters and the prime minister >> well, look, will people who want to ask a question, i'm, i imagine i don't actually know . imagine i don't actually know. so, uh, but i imagine people will have been sort of selected already. so that people can prepare themselves for asking their question. um, but then, i mean, i'll be able to throw in some follow up questions. i'll be able to clarify 1 or 2 things. if the prime minister is, you know, sort of wondering exactly what the question meant. and but it is just a case of i'm just there to make it run smoothly. i'm the oil in the

machine, if you like, but i'm the least important person involved in all of this. it's about the people of great britain who are going to be watching and listening, and it's about the prime minister of the united kingdom answering their questions . and let's be clear questions. and let's be clear about all of this . what about all of this. what politicians lack . i think right politicians lack. i think right across the board , add a real across the board, add a real sense of priorities. you know, they have their advisors , they they have their advisors, they talk to some people, but do they really know what the people of this country want? do they really know what the people of this country are expecting from them ? well, this is where we them? well, this is where we find out. this is where rishi sunak cannot shy away from any of this. he's going to have to deal with real people, the ones he wants to vote for him saying this, i want you to do. and why aren't you doing it? >> there's going to be very interesting indeed, but it's true , isn't it, stephen, that true, isn't it, stephen, that sometimes when news channels get the prime minister on or someone

of that status, it's all about them. it's all about those gotcha moments. it's all about putting the questions that matter the most to them as an individual, to the prime minister, this is rather different . different. >> well, and that's the whole point , isn't >> well, and that's the whole point, isn't it? you >> well, and that's the whole point , isn't it? you know, >> well, and that's the whole point, isn't it? you know, this is an election year. we're going to lots interviews with to see lots of interviews with the minister. tell the prime minister. let me tell you, most of them will be pre—recorded. uh, most them pre—recorded. uh, most of them will about about a presenter will be about about a presenter and look, we love to interview the prime minister of course we do. it's a it's a little bit of a status symbol for it. and you know, those gotcha moments. well, i've, i've tripped the prime or i've prime minister up or i've tripped starmer up. what tripped keir starmer up. what does achieve ? actually, for does that achieve? actually, for the people of this country ? see, the people of this country? see, i don't need my ego boosting by doing that . what we want to do doing that. what we want to do is be able to say to people, you know, have a conversation with the prime minister basically ask him a question, listen to an answer and see if you agree with him. it's not about gotcha moments. it doesn't achieve

anything . so let's sit down as anything. so let's sit down as a nafion anything. so let's sit down as a nation and whether you're involved in the audience or you're watching and listening at home and you will be involved in a proper conversation with the prime minister, and that's totally different. but also bear in mind this is live. there's no squirming, there's no editing. he's got to answer the questions people will expect an answer he will have to answer, and that, i think, is really important . no think, is really important. no one else is doing this. but as i said at the beginning, that's why gb news is here. well live direct and unrwa filtered next monday at 8 pm. >> we look forward to seeing it all. very exciting. stephen dixon , thank you so much for dixon, thank you so much for joining us. and we should say, of course, we have reached out to keir starmer's team as well. hopefully we'll be getting a people's with the leader people's forum with the leader of opposition as well in the of the opposition as well in the coming weeks. excellent looking forward to it. >> yes. monday 8:00. but in other news, yes, the search for

the suspect in the clapham chemical attack has entered its fifth day with police offering or police offering £20,000 of reward money for anyone with information leading to his arrest . yes, the 35 year old arrest. yes, the 35 year old since abdul azadi has been on the run since wednesday, when he allegedly threw an alkaline substance over a woman and her two daughters. now the woman suffered potentially life changing injuries , but she does changing injuries, but she does remain in a stable condition in hospital, according to the latest. >> well, let's get the very latest now with gb news reporter ray addison. and ray , five long ray addison. and ray, five long days after public appeals and now an offer of reward money to the police are clutching at straws . here straws. here >> well, our sources are telling us that the fact that this money is being offered, this reward money of up to £20,000 for information leading to his arrest, is an indication that those running the investigation believe that he could be being harboured by friends, acquaintances or possibly a

network of people. and of course, that could be in london. it could be in his adopted hometown of newcastle or he could have been picked up in a vehicle and moved to a third location. by this time . so it's location. by this time. so it's possible he could be any where in the uk at this stage. now the met, of course, is warning very strenuously that anyone who assists him in hiding from that police search will face arrest themselves and of course, possible prosecution. now of course, the other option is that he's being helped potentially by somebody who doesn't even know that he is part of this manhunt. it could be a community. we're told, that doesn't necessarily watch english language mainstream news. and we saw saw an indication of that when the met police put out this appeal in farsi, met police put out this appeal in farsi , which of course is in farsi, which of course is a language spoken by many people in afghanistan . now, the in afghanistan. now, the

message, though, is certainly getting through to some people in the afghan community. we've seen that the afghanistan and central association central asian association putting out their own appeal, saying that you must do the right thing and hand yourself into police, into police. this has gone for on long enough. we heard from acquaintances of his in newcastle that he's certainly a man that is very persistent, a man that doesn't let things go easily. and although he's got those significant injuries to the right hand side of his face, there is a possibility that he could be attempting to treat himself. he's hunkered down somewhere and he's just trying to treat himself and wait. this thing out. to what end? i don't know. another theory, though, we have heard from from some former police officers that there is a potential that he may have actually taken his own life in which case the police will be hoping that somebody comes across a body sooner rather than later. >> yes. and ray , questions will >> yes. and ray, questions will be asked about why the police

waited to release the image of abdul ezedi and questions to the british transport police as well, because we know he was seen in a number of locations on cctv tv with a big gash injury on the side of his face. he would have been quite easily spotted . spotted. >> yeah, i mean it's certainly quite easy, quite recognisable, based upon that image, the first point that you make , the delay point that you make, the delay in the release of the image, we obviously we got one initial image , um, by the mid afternoon image, um, by the mid afternoon following that initial incident on the wednesday . however, it on the wednesday. however, it was surprising to some that it took so for long the cctv footage from that tesco express to be released that obviously came out yesterday , and perhaps came out yesterday, and perhaps this is an indication that the police are sort of drip feeding some of the material that they've got, they've obviously got that tesco express image , got that tesco express image, then the then they had the footage from the from

footage from the image from king's cross and now they're releasing cctv footage from releasing the cctv footage from the tesco express . maybe there's the tesco express. maybe there's legitimate reasons there's legitimate reasons there's legitimate delays in actually accessing those footage might not just be as easy as going to the manager's office and getting it, perhaps they are trying it, or perhaps they are trying to information to to drip feed this information to keep hunt the interest alive keep the hunt the interest alive in the minds of the press, but also in the minds of the public. well ray allison, thank you so much for bringing us the very latest there. >> of course, the manhunt goes on.the >> of course, the manhunt goes on. the search continues. but for now, ray anderson, they're coming scotland yard. coming from new scotland yard. >> . lots and lots of >> yes. lots and lots of questions. hopefully the police will him sooner will track him down sooner rather than later. but coming up, we're going to be discussing national sickie day. are you one of the estimated 375,000 people still off work today, and is the reason you're avoiding it? fake or fiction ? good afternoon or fiction? good afternoon britain on gb news, britain's

>> you're listening to gb news radio .

radio. >> well, it's 1220 and this radio. >> well, it's1220 and this is good afternoon, britain. now in what has been dubbed the greatest ruse, the church of england has been accused of aiding bogus asylum claims by offering conversions to christianity. that's after it emerged that 40 asylum seekers on board the bibby stockholm barge are converting. perhaps to increase their chances of staying in the uk. >> what a coincidence. magically converting. well, let's get the thoughts of associate editor of the catholic herald and former anglican gavin ashenden. anglican bishop gavin ashenden. gavin, thank you so much for joining us here on good afternoon britain . i suppose on afternoon britain. i suppose on the one hand, there will be lots of churches in the united kingdom with dwindling congregation options, who would be delighted at the prospect of more people joining their flock . more people joining their flock. but perhaps, should they be a bit more critical with who or cast a more critical eye over those who suddenly turn up at

their churches? well everybody should be a bit more critical, starting with the home office. >> what would they do in granting man who'd granting asylum to a man who'd been sexual been convicted twice of sexual offences ? um, so everyone has to offences? um, so everyone has to put their house in order? yes, of course , there's a whole of course, there's a whole industry effect. conversions i was a bbc presenter once , about was a bbc presenter once, about 20 years ago, and i remember arguing on the case of an iraqi woman who had become a christian, and it was precisely the language she used about her relationship with jesus , which relationship with jesus, which had liberated her and changed had so liberated her and changed her overnight that found so her overnight that i found so convincing. the question is , convincing. the question is, would she continue as would she continue to live as a christian? one of the failures in churches at moment, in the churches at the moment, particularly is particularly in anglicanism, is there's no there's no continued oversight . least a oversight. at least as a catholic, required to go catholic, you're required to go to every or else to mass every week, or else you've broken the whole the whole contract , if you like. but whole contract, if you like. but you're absolutely right. there whole contract, if you like. but yoa re absolutely right. there whole contract, if you like. but yoa re abzofutely right. there whole contract, if you like. but yoa re abzof progressive there is a form of progressive christianity country . i christianity in this country. i don't think it's about supporting dwindling congregations, or they would be in touch with the in constant touch with the converts. i think it's more about degree about exercising a degree of shallow and indeed fake compassion who for

compassion to people who for whom, for whom the act is a political one, not a sincere one. well, that's interesting that idea of fake compassion , that idea of fake compassion, because of course, we often see the archbishop of canterbury stand up in the house of lords, and particularly on the issue of immigration and asylum . immigration and asylum. >> his position is, for example , >> his position is, for example, that the rwanda bill is immoral, immoral , that the rwanda bill is immoral, immoral, ungodly, even . would immoral, ungodly, even. would you say that sometimes the church of england has this false sense of compassion, and that it perhaps is working in a negative way when it comes to our public safety? perhaps >> as far as i'm concerned, it's all about the attempt to be an authentic christian, and being an authentic christian isn't an exercise in niceness, but one of the ways in which our society has undermined christianity is to it as a religion of to recast it as a religion of being nice . so i'm afraid i being nice. so i'm afraid i think what the archbishop of canterbury doing is simply being politically and cosmetically nice, because one of the things the government is trying do the government is trying to do is grip of people

is to end the grip of people smugglers who cause much smugglers who cause so much misery, both to the people they transport out and also wreck the system. here if immigration continues at the present levels of over half a million a year, in next years, we'll have of over half a million a year, in rebuildt years, we'll have of over half a million a year, in rebuild , years, we'll have of over half a million a year, in rebuild , build ars, we'll have of over half a million a year, in rebuild , build eight e'll have of over half a million a year, in rebuild , build eight citiesave of over half a million a year, in rsized , build eight citiesave of over half a million a year, in rsize of build eight citiesave of over half a million a year, in rsize of build eight cthat'se the size of birmingham. that's not kind nice. don't . it not kind or nice. we don't. it breaks the social contract over the state, which is the welfare state, which is already breaking . how we already breaking. how are we going housing, going to provide housing, education and health services for an increasing population like that? that's not nice. so ethics is really quite a complicated business. and finding the right ethical action in all circumstances is difficult. what i find really problematic about the church of england's position at the moment is that it appears to have a sort of almost a fundamentalist view kind to people view of being kind to people without any evaluation of what the consequences are. that's not clever. it's not nice. clever. and it's not nice. >> certainly, think >> it's certainly, i think you're looking at it in a multi—stage process and perhaps looking in looking at the issue in the round . there might in round. there might be those in the england who the church of england who perhaps only look at the immediate particulars of a situation , see some, um, poor

situation, see some, um, poor individual on a barge, unable to get out of this situation of being a claimed asylum seeker, perhaps going through rounds and rounds and rounds of assessment and think perhaps to the parable of i don't know, whatever whatever might have been spoken aboutin whatever might have been spoken about in the new testament of a good samaritan , perhaps saying good samaritan, perhaps saying that this is how we should help an individual in need immediately. now and perhaps think less to the longer time consequences of any of those decisions . decisions. >> well, you remember from the new testament that a good the good samaritan takes the person into their own . home and pays into their own. home and pays for their care, doesn't ask the state or anybody else to do it. mrs. into trouble state or anybody else to do it. mrs. she into trouble state or anybody else to do it. mrs. she pointed into trouble state or anybody else to do it. mrs. she pointed into out ble state or anybody else to do it. mrs. she pointed into out .le state or anybody else to do it. mrs. she pointed into out . but when she pointed that out. but the is, christianity is the thing is, christianity is about . it's the thing is, christianity is abo about . it's the thing is, christianity is abo about pretending . it's the thing is, christianity is abo about pretending of it's the thing is, christianity is abo about pretending of course. not about pretending of course. it's enormously important that we take care of people who are vulnerable wounded in a vulnerable and wounded in a difficult state. the problem is that we can't mend a system that that we can't mend a system at this stage of its brokenness . at this stage of its brokenness. we should be reconsidering the

whole notion of asylum . and who whole notion of asylum. and who is going to give asylum to the battle gone into battle teacher who's gone into hiding ? because the islamic hiding? because the islamic threat, to give threat, who's going to give asylum freer, the mp , asylum to mike freer, the mp, the for finchley ? the the jewish mp for finchley? the whole notion of the way in which the jewish mp for finchley? the wh

number of asylum seekers who are converting . converting. >> well, yes. but i think to treat this as a religious problem is to is to mistake the case. um, we're surrounded by by lawyers who make it their business, um, to fabricate cases for people to stay. it doesn't matter whether the fabrication is economic, political , is economic, political, religious or sociological . the religious or sociological. the point is, the cases are being fabricated just by closing, by by asking the christian community to be a bit more careful about the way it treats people, which i agree should be done , is not going to do any done, is not going to do any more than scratching at the surface. the fact the surface. the fact is that the whole system whole asylum system is an exercise deceit, exercise in political deceit, and it needs to be undone and rebuilt. if that were politically possible. well gavin ashenden, it's been fascinating to talk to you. >> of course. uh, thank you so much for bringing us your perspective associate perspective as the associate editor perspective as the associate editiformer anglican bishop, and former anglican bishop, i really appreciate your time . really appreciate your time. >> all right, well, have you gone to work today or have you called illness ? today called in with an illness? today is first in february, is the first monday in february, and makes it

and that apparently makes it national day , meaning national sickie day, meaning it's statistically the day most likely for employees to call in sick. >> well, over the years it's been estimated that over 375,000 british workers call in sick on this day . whether that be down this day. whether that be down to real sickness or perhaps something a little more fictional. >> mm gb news yorkshire and humber reporter anna riley has the story. it's getting pretty tough coming up with new illnesses . illnesses. >> it's a little childish, but then so is high school. >> anna, you're not going to school like this. >> call if you need us. oh. oh god. >> skiving off was a concept rooted in the film. >> ferris bueller's day off, but since 2011, the first monday in february known as national sick day, has infected become part of british culture. >> i think the reasons behind it are possibly because it's the first pay day after christmas , first pay day after christmas, so people maybe have a hangover.

having gone out and had that night out that they haven't had since christmas. the weather's rubbish, everyone's a bit fed up and down, so they're going to be more susceptible to depression, anxiety, stress , those sorts of anxiety, stress, those sorts of things . um, anxiety, stress, those sorts of things. um, feels like summers are mile hundreds of miles off. um, i think it's just post—christmas blues probably make , um, all ailments seem make, um, all ailments seem perhaps worse with more than 350,000 potential absences today, it could cost the uk economy up to £45 million in wages lost hours and overtime as the cost to the business from the cost to the business from the bottom line. but there's also the effect on the company's reputation , potentially because reputation, potentially because if you've got to cancel meetings or deadlines and missed or , um, or deadlines and missed or, um, the services it provided that you've committed to providing , you've committed to providing, then you're going to have dissatisfied customers . dissatisfied customers. >> as in britain, there's no

legal limit on the amount of sick days we can take. but here's what people in hull think to the concept of throwing a sickie. if you pull a sick, if being hungover, it's your fault. >> um, and you shouldn't really do it. but people are going to do it. but people are going to do work a lot do it because you work a lot of hours so think do it because you work a lot of houfair so think do it because you work a lot of houfair enough so think do it because you work a lot of houfair enough sometimes|k do it because you work a lot of houfair enough sometimes if it's fair enough sometimes if you're actually sick, then fair enough. >> i mean, we've all done it >> but i mean, we've all done it when really when we haven't really been sick, discussed sick, haven't we discussed in real ? real life? >> you know, they shouldn't be doing absolutely fine. >> e done e" en- en— >> i've done it. so many times. and people just need and i think if people just need that have it. well that day, they can have it. well i don't agree with it, really. >> i think that you go to work to the pennies and not to earn the pennies and not i mean, i've never done but mean, i've never done it, but i'm now. i'm planning on now. >> not. know about >> definitely not. i know about it. surveys suggest top >> so surveys suggest top reasons for calling in sick include flu back pain and stomach bugs . or perhaps the dog stomach bugs. or perhaps the dog just ate your work shoes and a riley gb news. >> um, well, would you ever pull a sickie in order to avoid a day of work? will be debating that

in later in the show. a fascinating well, indeed. and are we a nation of slackers ? are we a nation of slackers? >> i've never ever taken a sick day, tom. >> i genuinely have my nose. oh, really ? really. you heard it really? really. you heard it here first, ladies and gents. not a gb news. >> not a gb news. of course not. but maybe i'll be in tomorrow . but maybe i'll be in tomorrow. >> will you? will you will we debating this later in the show ? debating this later in the show? but also we'll be asking why over 200 armed officers have left the met police. all of that to come after your headlines with sam . with sam. >> tom, emily, thank you very much. good afternoon. from the gb newsroom. the headlines this houn gb newsroom. the headlines this hour, the prime minister has said that the new £3.3 billion funding deal for northern ireland is significant. and he says, generous. after holding talks in belfast, where power sharing has now returned. that's after the newly formed executive called for urgent discussions on longer terms funding to deliver pubuc longer terms funding to deliver public services. earlier, rishi

sunak met with ministers including sinn fein's michelle o'neill, who made history by becoming the country's first republican first minister. the northern ireland secretary, chris heaton—harris, has also praised the leaders of the new power sharing government . police power sharing government. police are intensifying their efforts to capture the chemical attack. suspect abdul ezedi . with the suspect abdul ezedi. with the manhunt now into its fifth day, a £20,000 reward is being offered for information that could lead to his arrest. he's wanted in connection with an attack in south london left attack in south london that left attack in south london that left a woman critically injured and hurt her daughters as well. detectives say his last known movements show azadi left tower hill tube station in east london just after half past nine on wednesday evening. police have warned those helping him will face arrest and have called for the public's help . meanwhile, 40 the public's help. meanwhile, 40 asylum seekers on the bibby stockholm barge in dorset have reportedly converted to christianity , raising concerns christianity, raising concerns that migrants are claiming to

change their religion in order to stay in the uk. change their religion in order to stay in the uk . the telegraph to stay in the uk. the telegraph newspaper today has suggested 1 in 7 of those 300 on the barge are attending local churches in the area, fuelling concerns about the role that churches could have in asylum claims. the home secretary is said to be considering whether any legal changes need to be made to ensure that claims of so—called conversion , often made by asylum conversion, often made by asylum seekers , are properly seekers, are properly scrutinised . and a 39 year old scrutinised. and a 39 year old suspect arrested for dangerous dog offences has been released on conditional bail until the 5th of march. it follows the death of 68 year old grandmother esther martin, who was mauled to death in essex on saturday. it's understood that she'd been visiting her 11 year old grandson when that tragedy occurred, with neighbours describing horrific screaming. the victim's daughter says the dogs were xl bullies , which were dogs were xl bullies, which were banned at the start of this month. however, detectives from essex police say that investigators still working investigators are still working to confirm the breed of those

dogs. to confirm the breed of those dogs . and for the latest stories dogs. and for the latest stories , you can sign up to gb news alerts by scanning the qr code on the screen or go to gb news. com forward slash alerts .

>> you're listening to gb news radio . radio. >> good afternoon britain. it's 12:37, and we've had a lot of emails, a lot of you getting in touch about whether or not you've pulled a sickie to get off work . in fact, uh, pete has off work. in fact, uh, pete has written in to say the only sickies i've taken are forjob sickies i've taken are for job interviews. well um, i suppose that's more justifiable. >> it happens. paul says. i pulled a sickie last week . i pulled a sickie last week. i told my boss i was going to my grandmother's funeral. she actually died ten years ago. pauli actually died ten years ago. paul i think that's a bit dark. you could come a you could have come up with a more . couldn't

more pleasant excuse. couldn't you have said, you know, you have just said, you know, you have just said, you know, you had bad tummy ? you you had a bad tummy? >> no. i'll just use one of the huge number of holiday that huge number of holiday days that anyone. huge number of holiday days that anyone . living in any european anyone. living in any european country gets. bask in your number days compared number of holiday days compared to of america . to the united states of america. >> i hope you're though, >> i hope you're joking though, paul >> i hope you're joking though, paul. joking . paul. maybe you're joking. >> to say >> david has written in to say the only sickness i took was the only sickness i took off was the only sickness i took off was the elvis died. wow i didn't the day elvis died. wow i didn't realise that could so heartily affect you, david. but my goodness. >> well, let us know what's your worst excuse ever pulling worst excuse ever for pulling a sickie or perhaps you're the type who's never taken sick type who's never taken a sick day . those of you day in your life. those of you who are out there as well and, um, i will say that i have not taken many sick days. i have not pulled day many a time . pulled a sick day many a time. but anyway, interesting stuff . but anyway, interesting stuff. >> well, we'll be discussing that later in that more a little bit later in the also lots more the show, but also lots more coming up in just a few minutes. we'll be joined by a former armed response officer to discuss of officers discuss hundreds of officers stepping down in the last year, and why they've done so . and why they've done so. >> yes, but first in a new gb news series , innovation britain.

news series, innovation britain. we're looking at the success of british man fracturing around the country . the country. one of the biggest issues we're facing today in the manufacturing and engineering sectors is the fact that there's a skills shortage and a skills gap, but there's companies out there like this one that are doing something about it. >> so, paul, what's happening here? well, income training >> so, paul, what's happening herdeliver, income training >> so, paul, what's happening herdeliver engineering e training >> so, paul, what's happening herdeliver engineering and ining we deliver engineering and manufacturing apprenticeships. >> we start people their >> so we start people in their engineering career like the people we see behind us today. and had our and this year we've had our biggest intake ever of people going into engineering, manufacturing on an apprenticeship to shape their future. >> so how did we get into this situation in the first place? it's a result of generations of people not coming into the sector . sector. >> um, we're trying to do something about that. we're trying to show everyone that engineer manufacturing is a great career , and the

great career, and the apprenticeship is a great route into that career. >> and how are you doing this? what we're doing at inc.com is inspire young people to come into the sector . into the sector. >> there's loads of companies, big and small within the uk and these people are where they want to use their brain or use their hands. they're going into careers that will last them a lifetime, and it's not just apprenticeships, it ? it's apprenticeships, is it? it's not. so we are bridging not. no. so we are bridging skills gaps through a variety of programmes . last year we programmes. last year we launched the first ever uk tool academy in partnership with with brand our, a birmingham based company . and that's for bringing company. and that's for bringing in people who are already engineers to go from here to here through our full time programme . programme. >> but you're also upskilling too, aren't you? >> we are. we are. we launch the uk's first ever tooling academy at our other site that is about upskilling existing engineers in the tooling sector to go from here to here through a 20 week full time programme .

full time programme. >> good to see. good news about british manufacturing, but now the number of armed met police officers has drastically fallen since charges were brought against an officer for the murder of chris kaba shaw. >> now, between april and december 2023, 250 officers in the armed response unit have left the force due to increased scrutiny over budget cuts and disciplinary procedures, though this may be two of the factors to play here. >> well, joining us now is the former armed response officer, harry tanguy, and harry. it is fairly shocking to read that 1 in 10 armed response officers in the metropolitan police have left their roles . last year. left their roles. last year. this is a pretty serious crisis . this is a pretty serious crisis. >> yeah it is, it's just not worth it anymore. um, i mean, these are incredibly experienced and trained and firearms officers. i mean, literally every six weeks it's four days intensive training for the standard armed response

officers, 14 weeks training. and then they have to be the right person to be assessed to do that. so when lose it's that. so when you lose one, it's catastrophic . and some those, catastrophic. and some of those, like , was an operational like myself, was an operational firearms commander. it's like a team leader. and some of those are firearms tactics advisor. so you wouldn't be one of those unless you were five years, eight years into so we can't eight years into it. so we can't underestimate the huge amount underestimate the a huge amount of wasted , uh, resources here. of wasted, uh, resources here. and you can see why. because i don't want to turn up for work and suddenly have the risk sukh even though it's nought point nought five of police firearms incidences end in a trigger being pulled. so they're not trigger trigger happy in the slightest. but there's a there's a much bigger chance than you or me being charged with murder. and when you think about it, police officer in prison, when you've been dealing with extremely violent and, um, gang gangs and terrorists, you don't want to be in prison as a police officer. it's going to be ten times as worse. um, so, yeah, they've enough's enough. they've decided enough's enough. it's not worth it. they'll carry

on police officer. on as a police officer. as we know, retention and policing. is failing fast . failing fast. >> that's very true. it's not just the armed police officers that are leaving the met. so do you do think that this has may have quite a lot to do with the case of chris kaba, who was shot by police officer? by an armed police officer? well, i've got social media account, uh, on twitter. >> and so i'm fortunate i have lots of contacts all over the country and the information is coming thick and fast . it's not coming thick and fast. it's not worth it anymore. um, their families are saying, get out, don't do it. we don't want to risk losing dad. you know, the kids are. they're going to they're going to be bullied in school, especially if their names are going to be given. i think the concern is and i'm not sure about this, but the suspicion is, is that in this time of social media and communication, um, officers think . the decisions communication, um, officers think. the decisions being pushed up under the pretence of

it's in the public interest, whereas cps would have decided no further action. they prefer it be pushed up be it maybe be pushed up to be decided ultimately jury decided and ultimately to a jury . but the hell that the officer goes through in order to get to that process, it's not worth it. it's not worth it. and they're being compared to some guy with a gun going down and shooting someone dead. um, when these are professional officers, they're not trigger happy. they're highly trained , and they're highly trained, and they're deaung highly trained, and they're dealing with some of the most violent people in society. violent people in our society. and if they don't do it, we're all in trouble . all in trouble. >> it is fairly galling how in so many of these cases, someone who member of a violent who is a member of a violent gang had associations gang or who had associations with crime, perhaps with violent crime, perhaps people who'd been imprisoned before, are somehow up to before, are somehow held up to be, uh, the darling of society. when in one of the very, very few cases where is fired, few cases where a gun is fired, if that person fired upon , it if that person is fired upon, it seems that the priorities are completely back to front. but harry, while we have you here, i do have to ask you about the, uh, my manhunt. really? for uh,

in the wake of that awful , in the wake of that awful, corrosive substance attack we saw five days ago. now uh, in your experience , what will the your experience, what will the police be doing now to find abdul ezedi ? abdul ezedi? >> well, the net is spread further and wider now to all forces is, um, all the specialists within there. they'll all be looking for the intelligence systems coming to intelligence systems coming to in find out who who the associates are would be done very early, but who the associates of the associates are . they'll be digging for informants. uh, any community areas to find out information. because i bet that , um, there's because i bet that, um, there's other people who are are, um, uh, uh, illegal immigrants even, that are not happy with what's going on, and they will want this person found. so the time of a quick arrest has, has gone at this point , they've obviously at this point, they've obviously gone to ground as far as they are. not he's not in the public because he would have been seen. he's the most identifiable person with a facial injury . um, person with a facial injury. um, he's not in private. where

there's good well meaning members of the public to report it. so he's obviously gone to ground . he could be dead. of ground. he could be dead. of course . um, the £20,000, uh , course. um, the £20,000, uh, award for information. i think might rattle a few cages and get something coming forward . um, something coming forward. um, but, uh , don't don't get this but, uh, don't don't get this wrong. they are. there's a lot of work with many hundreds if not thousands of people involved. if they need him off the street. >> harry, can i just ask you a question that i'm often thinking >> harry, can i just ask you a questi actually'm often thinking >> harry, can i just ask you a questi actually ,n often thinking >> harry, can i just ask you a questi actually , the ten thinking >> harry, can i just ask you a questi actually , the usethinking >> harry, can i just ask you a questi actually , the use of1king about actually, the use of social by police forces social media by police forces because it seems to have accelerated massively. and there explained their policing decisions online, where everyone in the world can have an opinion and comment and share . um, when and comment and share. um, when it comes to things like policing, protest , when it comes to things like policing, protest, when comes it comes to things like pothe|g, protest, when comes it comes to things like pothe search est , when comes it comes to things like pothe search for, when comes it comes to things like pothe search for abdul comes it comes to things like pothe search for abdul ezedines it comes to things like pothe search for abdul ezedi ,as to the search for abdul ezedi, why do you think the police are using media in wise using a social media in a wise way ? way these days? >> there's a subject >> well, there's a subject i was, uh, fortunate to win the best police social media account in 2016 when i was serving, and i think i was only there. and i

used to say to my chief constable, the only i'm constable, the only reason i'm still you still here is because you support because if support it. um, because if you're a police officer supporting policing, you'll get being because you're being accused of because you're often talking about stop, search and police shootings if you're active and you obviously you often accused of being often get accused of being racist those sorts things racist and those sorts of things . there's people there . there's also people out there who police who are targeting police officers who , um, even though officers who, um, even though they're anonymous and respectable , um, to find out who respectable, um, to find out who they are. and be professionally offended by them. but if i should answer your question, really, um, it's a very difficult path. and um, it can be too softly tough to corporate or that has to be relatively corporate . you can't be too corporate. you can't be too friendly in there . every friendly in there. every decision will have been carefully decided as to what does go on to social media. it's not just there to inform, it's to get information back . but to get information back. but yeah, i've seen some terrible stuff going out there, but it's inevitable if you're going to be doing hundreds these social doing hundreds of these social media it is necessary. my media feeds, it is necessary. my personal opinion now, sad to say it, if you're a police officer,

get off twitter especially, um, it's not worth it. it will get you, uh, investigated and it's a horrible place to be. whether you've done something wrong or not. harry tangi, thank you not. well harry tangi, thank you so much for bringing your perspective all those stories there. >> really appreciate your time. former armed response officer harry there. harry tangi there. >> yes, but when we come back, we'll looking into labour's we'll be looking into labour's push for equal pay in in jobs. according to your race as well. equal race pay regardless of your race. i should say. but are there flaws in their plans? we'll get to the

>> you're listening to jamie news . news. radio. >> well a labour government would introduce new regulations around pay for black, asian and minority ethnic workers. that's according to draft plans for a new race equality act. >> well, let's get to the detail now with the social policy analyst, doctor rakib ehsan . uh,

analyst, doctor rakib ehsan. uh, doctor raqib, thank you so much for joining us here on good forjoining us here on good afternoon britain . on on the afternoon britain. on on the face this sounds like face of it, this sounds like a good plan. shouldn't people of different be treated the different races be treated the same the same job? same for the same job? >> absolutely . i couldn't >> well, absolutely. i couldn't agree with you more, tom, but the point i'd make is that i think that when it comes to equality of opportunity, we have existing legislation which promotes that and crucially , promotes that and crucially, when you look at the equality act , which was passed when you look at the equality act, which was passed in when you look at the equality act , which was passed in 2010, act, which was passed in 2010, uh, race and religious belief, both clearly stated as protected characteristics. and on top of that , under characteristics. and on top of that, under the public sector equality duty, local councils , equality duty, local councils, schools, nhs trusts and local police forces , they are required police forces, they are required when carrying out their functions to eliminate discrimination, victimisation and harassment to advance equality of opportunity and to foster good relations between people. so my main issue here is i'm not sure what labour is actually looking to achieve with this race equality act, when the

uk is already one of the leading democracies in the industrialised world when it comes to providing rights, protections and freedoms for its racial, ethnic and religious minorities. so essentially , minorities. so essentially, raqib you're saying it's unnecessary , but can you foresee unnecessary, but can you foresee any unintended consequences that might come about from this legislation ? well, i think the legislation? well, i think the one thing that i'd be concerned aboutisif one thing that i'd be concerned about is if this proposed legislation was then instrumentalized by radical progressive activists, whether it's , um, how to design , uh, it's, um, how to design, uh, what's taught in schools , uh, what's taught in schools, uh, police training . and i think police training. and i think that the my main worry is , is that the my main worry is, is that the my main worry is, is that this might actually undermine equality of opportunity. already seen opportunity. we've already seen a from more left wing a push from more left wing radical activists , which in my radical activists, which in my view, is not so much promoting equality of opportunity, but rather pushing for preferential treatment through the prism of racial victimhood. and i think another problem is when you look, when you look at pay gaps, there's variety at there's a variety of factors at play there's a variety of factors at play . it could come down to play. it could come down to skills , uh, educational

skills, uh, educational qualifications , the number of qualifications, the number of hours worked . so i think that hours worked. so i think that purely looking at this through the ethnic identity the prism of ethnic identity could be hugely problematic. further down the line. >> yeah, we've seen cases with regard to equal pay that have seen on the surface of them, particularly peculiar recent particularly peculiar in recent years . for example, particularly peculiar in recent years. for example, in particularly peculiar in recent years . for example, in asda, years. for example, in asda, they there was a, there was a case where mainly people in the back room were men, mainly people checkouts were people on the checkouts were women . these are different jobs, people on the checkouts were wonthey these are different jobs, people on the checkouts were wonthey faced are different jobs, people on the checkouts were wonthey faced an; different jobs, people on the checkouts were wonthey faced an equal'ent jobs, people on the checkouts were wonthey faced an equal payjobs, but they faced an equal pay dispute . yes, absolutely . dispute. yes, absolutely. >> and i think what's really interesting say if you have, uh, a british owned business a white british owned business and then the senior members of that particular business are white british, but they actually looked to diversify their organisation action by providing training and introducing junior staff with an ethnic minority background . then would you background. then would you penalise that organisation because they may be pay differentials based on ethnicity? well, actually it's looking to racially looking to be a more racially inclusive organisation . inclusive organisation. >> that's a very good question. thank you very for your

thank you very much for your time. it time. sorry we have to end it there. sands there. doctor rakouba sands social so social policy analyst so much more come next hour. more to come in the next hour. >> joined by tory stay >> joined by a tory mp. stay with . us with. us >> a brighter outlook with boxt solar sponsors of weather on . gb news. >> alex burkill here with your latest gb news weather forecast. many of us will see a bit of rain at times through the next few days , as see few days, but as we see something later on in the something colder later on in the week, there's also the risk of some for the time being. some snow for the time being. we have system still have a frontal system still lingering parts of lingering across parts of scotland. this has already brought fair amount of rain so brought a fair amount of rain so far today and continue to far today and will continue to do head into this do so as we head into this evening , but rain pushes evening, but the rain pushes its way overnight into way southwards overnight into southern scotland, southern parts of scotland, northern ireland and later northern . to the north northern england. to the north of we will see some clear of this we will see some clear skies scattering skies, but also a scattering of showers colder air, so showers and some colder air, so watch the risk of some watch out for the risk of some sleet, some snow and also some icy . tomorrow icy patches. tomorrow morning a milder though further milder start though further south, many places staying in double figures overnight, though

it is going be rather cloudy it is going to be rather cloudy with spots rain with a few spots of rain as we go through tomorrow. that rain band will continue to edge band then will continue to edge a bit southwards, a bit further southwards, pushing into more parts pushing into more central parts of england and also wales, staying drier towards the south, though a largely cloudy day here, any sunshine will be pretty limited. a greater chance of seeing some sunny skies further north scotland and further north as scotland and northern ireland, but a scattering wintry showers northern ireland, but a scatterinwe wintry showers northern ireland, but a scatterinwe have:ry showers northern ireland, but a scatterinwe have coldervers northern ireland, but a scatterinwe have colder air; northern ireland, but a scatterinwe have colder air here, because we have colder air here, temperatures getting into mid single figures at best. further south though, highs of around 14 celsius we go later in the celsius as we go later in the week, we're likely to see a weather system pushing its way up the south, hitting up from the south, hitting colder and so that could colder air and so that could bnng colder air and so that could bring snow , bring some significant snow, particularly to central parts. as through thursday. bit as we go through thursday. bit of uncertainty as to the detail as when and where we as to exactly when and where we will snow, but it does as to exactly when and where we will like snow, but it does as to exactly when and where we will like things w, but it does as to exactly when and where we will like things w, but icolder look like things will be colder for but milder in for many of us. but milder in the by by that warm the south. by by that warm feeling inside from boxt boilers sponsor of weather on gb news .

>> well . >> well. >> well. >> good afternoon britain. it is 1:00 on monday the 5th of february on the run as the search for chemical attacker abdul ezedi enters its fifth day. >> gb news security sources suggest that the £20,000 reward offered by police indicates azadi may be being harboured by criminal cells. but with his face half missing , can the face half missing, can the search really be that hard ? search really be that hard? >> mass conversions . as the >> mass conversions. as the scandal around phoney asylum seekers claiming to be christian to just cheat the system swells as it's revealed that 40 asylum seekers on board the bibby stockholm barge have suddenly decided to convert it. what are the odds ? the odds? >> national sickie day are you one of the 375,000 people not at work today? and are you really ill? or did you just fancy going

in? not going in? will we debating whether you should have to prove that you're sick to take a day off work? >> yes. well the manhunt continues for abdul ezedi . it's continues for abdul ezedi. it's very interesting. what security sources are saying that this £20,000 reward, that is a big reward, this £20,000 reward might be there in order to lure whoever is harbouring him. if someone is harbouring if a group of people are harbouring perhaps a criminal gang is harbouring him, they've police have put out a farsi which a statement in farsi which indicates that perhaps there may be barrier to whoever be a language barrier to whoever is after him . is looking after him. >> yes, this certainly suggests at least this is what our sources are telling us. it suggests the police is suggests that the police is working assumption working. assumption is that azadi being harboured by azadi is being harboured by someone . or indeed by a group . someone. or indeed by a group. and that's why this reward has been offered. but yes, more than

that as well. it seems that whoever may be harbouring him, this is the police's working theory, we understand might well not be an integrated community, might not be watching mainstream engush might not be watching mainstream english language news and therefore all of this communication in foreign languages needs to be put out. and that makes the search that bit harder. >> of course, others have said there could be a possibility that well still that he may well not still be alive . he may have been so badly alive. he may have been so badly injured that he may in a in a injured that he may be in a in a particularly who particularly bad state. who knows . knows. >> looking at that cctv, he did seem to swaggering around seem to be swaggering around without looking like he was to sort of close to death in that cctv in the tesco express. but of course, many, many questions still remain. do you have any working theories as gbviews@gbnews.com is the address to get in touch. we want to hear from you . what do you to hear from you. what do you think might have happened to his whereabouts? but we'll get to all of that after your headlines with sam .

with sam. >> tom. emily, thank you very much. and good afternoon from the gb newsroom . it's just gone. the gb newsroom. it's just gone. 1:00. the headlines this hour. the prime minister has said that the £3.3 the prime minister has said that the £33 billion fund for northern ireland is significant. and he says generous. after holding talks in belfast, where power sharing has now returned. that's after the newly formed executive called for urgent discussions on longer time funding to deliver public services . his funding to deliver public services. his earlier rishi sunak met with ministers including sinn fein's michelle o'neill, who made history by becoming the country's first republican, first minister. the prime minister has been discussing how the funding package will benefit northern ireland, and i had very constructive meetings today with all political leaders in stormont and the new executive and the funding package that we put on the table before christmas, i think has been widely recognised being widely recognised as being significant and generous. >> £3.3 billion a focus on long time sustainability, ensuring

that northern ireland has the funding it needs, not just for today to deal with the immediate challenges, a path challenges, but is on a path towards being able provide towards being able to provide high public services towards being able to provide highthe public services towards being able to provide highthe futurerblic services towards being able to provide highthe future because 'ices towards being able to provide highthe future because that's into the future because that's what we want a brighter future for the children that i've been spending time at this spending time with at this school morning . school here this morning. >> and you can see that interview with the prime minister in full later this hour with tom and emily. well, speaking at a press conference in stormont, the irish premier , in stormont, the irish premier, leo varadkar, pledged to do everything he can to help the northern executive to be successful. >> a lot of everyday issues that need attention here in northern ireland and i know they're going need attention here in northern irework and i know they're going need attention here in northern irework and ihardn they're going need attention here in northern irework and ihardn tithatz going to work very hard on that and we're get north—south we're keen to get north—south cooperation again . have cooperation going again. have a meeting of the nsmc in the next couple weeks and focus on couple of weeks and focus on some of that practical cooperation that works well for everyone on the island. so i'm very keen to work with the new executive and looking forward to doing that . doing that. >> well, as we've been hearing, police are intensifying their efforts to capture the chemical attack. suspect abdul ezedi . attack. suspect abdul ezedi. with the manhunt now into its

fifth day, a £20,000 reward is being offered for information that could help lead to his arrest . he's wanted arrest. he's wanted in connection attack in connection with an attack in south london that left a woman critically injured and her daughters both hurt as well. detectives say his last known movements show azadi left tower hill station in east london hill tube station in east london just after . hill tube station in east london just after. 9:30 on wednesday evening of last week . police evening of last week. police have since warned that those helping him will face arrest and they're calling for the public's help to find him. our reporter, ray addison, has more on who could be protecting azadi from police. >> it's possible that he's being looked after by people who don't watch mainstream british news. an indication of that being the appeal that was put out in farsi , which, of course, is the language spoken by language widely spoken by afghans. however the message has gone out to the afghan community. certainly in some capacity. the afghanistan and central asian association , which central asian association, which is a charity that helps afghan nationals in the uk, has appealed for azadi to turn

himself in. they've told him to go to the police station immediately . they're saying he immediately. they're saying he must do the right thing . and must do the right thing. and this, has gone on this, this simply has gone on long enough . long enough. >> well, we've learned today that an asylum seeker has been sentenced to 18 months in jail after a woman fell overboard and drowned while he was piloting a boat. drowned while he was piloting a boat . with over 70 migrants on boat. with over 70 migrants on board. the 22 year old continued the journey across the channel until the boat was intercepted by border force vessels near kent. he told officers that he'd left sudan in 2021, and that he'd passed through chad, libya, tunisia and italy on his way to france . despite initially france. despite initially denying any charges, he later pleaded guilty to facilitating illegal immigration. the national crime agency says today's sentencing shows their commitment is holding people to account . a 39 year old suspect account. a 39 year old suspect arrested for dangerous dog offences has been released on conditional bail until the 5th of march. it follows the death of march. it follows the death of 68 year old grandmother esther martin, who was mauled to death in essex at the weekend ,

death in essex at the weekend, andifs death in essex at the weekend, and it's understood she'd been visiting her 11 year old grandson when that tragedy occurred with neighbours describing horrific screaming , describing horrific screaming, the victim's daughter says the dogs were xl bullies, which were banned at the start of this month. but detectives from essex police say they're still investigating the breed of those dogs. investigating the breed of those dogs . dog trainer john ellison dogs. dog trainerjohn ellison told gb news earlier the dangerous dogs act is not going far enough. the dangerous dogs act does not impact the sort of situation that takes place within the home. >> it's designed, um , to protect >> it's designed, um, to protect the public, in public spaces. therefore, this backs up the evidence that the dangerous dogs act is not fit for purpose. and actually, we need to look further, deeper into the education, the licensing and also the enforcement of the consequence should you be in charge of a dangerous or out—of—control dog? >> and finally , british actor >> and finally, british actor ian lavender , famous for his ian lavender, famous for his

role as private pike in dad's army, has died today at the age of 77. lavender, who joined the show at the age of 22, held that role for a whole decade. he was the last surviving star of dad's army. lavender is also being remembered for his role as derek harkinson in the bbc soap eastenders . and for the latest eastenders. and for the latest stories, you can sign up to gb news alerts by scanning the qr code on your screen or go to gbnews.com. forward slash alerts i >> -- >> well, some news for you next monday, february the 12th at 8:00 in the evening. gb news will be hosting a people's forum with the prime minister. >> yes, this will be a live one hour question and answer session where you can put your questions directly to him. >> yes . good stuff . ah we don't. >> yes. good stuff. ah we don't. ah, there we go. we have christopher hope here to speak to us. yes. we were just saying

how we're going a big how we're going to have a big q&a for the prime minister with stephen dixon, gb news presenter, hosting . so that will presenter, hosting. so that will be a good one. but shall we speak because up speak to you? because you're up in aren't you? what's in stormont, aren't you? what's happening ? happening? >> that's right. emily. hi, tom. yeah, i'm here in stormont. it's a big historic day here for the stormont assembly. it starts work tomorrow. uh, the stormont executive is back to work today with michelle o'neill as a sinn fein first minister. um, there's been all sorts of questions today about what this means for maybe a united ireland of ireland. the pm rishi sunak was asked that by reporters earlier, he said made clear that the focus now is on getting , um, focus now is on getting, um, stormont and that's a work for the people here in northern ireland. they're committing 5.3. £2 billion over five years to northern ireland. and i also asked leo varadkar, the irish taoiseach at the same question. do you think there might be a poll on the united and uniting

the island of ireland in the next ten years? he said now is not the time. so on that at least mr sunak and mr varadkar are as one, but also , as you're are as one, but also, as you're saying there earlier, um, we are looking ahead now to a people's panel with the prime minister on monday, 8 pm. live on gb news next week. that's the start , as next week. that's the start, as we see it, of the long general election campaign. it's the moment when we as journalists move aside and let the pm face questions from our viewers and listeners and often , as you both listeners and often, as you both well know, they're better than well know, they're better than we can here's the pm we can do. here's what the pm had to earlier. had to say earlier. >> sunak here. join me >> hi rishi sunak here. join me for a special gb news people's forum live on monday the 12th of february. i want to hear about the issues that matter to you for your chance to be part of the audience and to your the audience and to put your questions me . scan the qr questions to me. scan the qr code screen or go to gb news. code on screen or go to gb news. com see you there . com see you there. >> that's right. see you there. says the prime minister. the exact website address is gb

news. com forward slash pm. sign up there if you want to come and ask your question of the prime minister. we've got an independent polling company called ensuring called survation is ensuring that the people who do attend this exclusive people's forum with the pm will be selected . with the pm will be selected. and so they are balanced and reflect the entire united kingdom . so that's for next kingdom. so that's for next week. but right now here in stormont, it's all about getting work back to work, getting, getting people, getting better, pubuc getting people, getting better, public service delivered. there's been problems here with with the nhs 30 million already going that straight away . going into that straight away. it's a ten year wait for a hip operation northern ireland. operation in northern ireland. currently a five year wait. five years just to see a consult . so years just to see a consult. so it's about time the politicians starting earning their wages. >> but interesting, they're getting the politicians back to work in stormont, but also putting the politicians under the microscope . uh, a bit closer the microscope. uh, a bit closer . um, chris, just how important is it that these will be, uh, people from up and down the

country? representative of the entire country, firing questions at the prime minister live on television next monday at 8 pm. thatis television next monday at 8 pm. that is a pretty unusual thing that we're going to . see that we're going to. see >> that's right. normally you have , you know, journalists who have, you know, journalists who chin stroking and asking very important and clever questions going on for ages. but i think what we're doing is moving out of way and just letting of the way and just letting our viewers listeners ask viewers and listeners ask questions directly the prime questions directly to the prime minister anything could happen. literally could happen. literally anything could happen. it any response could it could be any response could happen. i think number 10, happen. i think for number 10, they'll that that will they'll be hoping that that will our viewers listeners will our viewers and listeners will see the real prime see and hear the real prime minister, the one who is quite privately passionate about stopping the boats, passionate about cutting taxes when can about cutting taxes when you can afford be. often you don't afford to be. often you don't see in rather see that in these. rather stilted interviews he can stilted interviews that he can give, understandably, because of course, know, it's quite course, you know, it's quite an adversarial . i think adversarial situation. i think when you put the pm amongst other people, he can relax . other people, he can relax. we've seen that with these pm connect that he's connect events that he's holding. i went to one in

holding. i went to one up in accrington stanley . it's going accrington stanley. it's going to like that, but much bigger to be like that, but much bigger , more exciting . it , more rowdy, more exciting. it will be unmissable. tv when the pm faces gb news viewers and listeners for the first time. well, chris, we look forward to it and we should say , of course, it and we should say, of course, the invitation stands for mr starmer in in the coming starmer to join in in the coming weeks or months with a people's forum of his own. >> absolutely it does. now, in what been dubbed the prey to what has been dubbed the prey to stay , the church of england stay ruse, the church of england has been accused of aiding bogus asylum by offering asylum claims by offering conversions to christianity . conversions to christianity. that's after it emerged that 40 asylum seekers on the bibby stockholm barge are converting to increase their chances of staying in the uk. >> well, let's get to the thoughts now concerned thoughts now of the concerned member parliament bury member of parliament for bury nonh member of parliament for bury north james daly james, uh, thank you for joining north james daly james, uh, thank you forjoining us. just thank you for joining us. just one simple question here. how is this happening? your party has beenin this happening? your party has been in power. for 14 years. >> well, i think in terms of how the church of england are approaching immigration issues, it's very interesting when you

consider the archbishop consider that the archbishop of canterbury declared that the rwanda was morally rwanda bill was morally unacceptable, tom moore unacceptable, which tom moore and i think the starting point for millions for that, that the millions of people who people around the country who believe that we take believe that we must take the strongest measures to strongest possible measures to secure that the secure our borders, that the church them church of england views them to be unacceptable . be morally unacceptable. >> and woe betide you if you're actually of church actually a member of the church of strong views actually a member of the church of immigration, strong views actually a member of the church of immigration, because ng views actually a member of the church of immigration, because clearly's actually a member of the church of irmoralsion, because clearly's actually a member of the church of irmorals don'tecause clearly's actually a member of the church of irmorals don't seem; clearly's actually a member of the church of irmorals don't seem to .early's actually a member of the church of irmorals don't seem to match your morals don't seem to match up to what justin welby wants. i think you're quite right in terms of stories we've seen over the few especially in the last few days, especially in respect stockholm . um, respect to bibby stockholm. um, the have got the church of england have got some questions some very serious questions to answer. i believe it was reported in the daily express that official document has that an official document has made reference to church of made reference to how church of england vicars can approach asylum cases where somebody has been refused asylum, and that is not acceptable . there are big not acceptable. there are big questions to ask and you know, justin welby simply talking to high falutin terms about morality doesn't answer any pubuc morality doesn't answer any public policy concerns . public policy concerns. >> but james, doesn't this go far beyond the church of england

. and these conversions, even because if the law as it is , because if the law as it is, allows lawyers to claim that there that an asylum seeker has converted to christianity and therefore has to stay in the uk, surely that's an issue with the law or the legal profession ? law or the legal profession? >> well, the question is, do we want to have an asylum system where people, for various reasons , are able to be granted reasons, are able to be granted asylum in their country and he's certainly that you certainly the case that if you are christian being persecuted certainly the case that if you arecertainstian being persecuted certainly the case that if you arecertain countriesg persecuted certainly the case that if you arecertain countries around :uted certainly the case that if you arecertain countries around thed in certain countries around the world, there is a good case world, then there is a good case for that to remain as a reason why granted why people should be granted asylum country . asylum in this country. >> what clearly seeing is >> what we are clearly seeing is people taking advantage of that. it is. it is simply beyond i think, you know, anybody to accept that 40 people on the bibby stockholm are seeking to convert to christianity in the position that they're in. so i think that we have to have a more realistic view to approaching asylum cases. we have have strong have to have very strong evidence these alleged evidence regarding these alleged conversions. we saw with the clapham what happen clapham attacker what can happen when we get these things wrong. and to me, tom and

and it seems to me, tom and emily, that it's the church of england that are enabling this. some having some of the evidence is having to asylum . to be put before asylum. tribunals to say that there is real evidence that x is converting, and i think that's where the problem comes. justin welby at welby should be looking at himself a position himself. he come from a position thatis himself. he come from a position that is morally acceptable do that is morally acceptable to do everything possible to support, uh, immigration. ian. um uh, cases. and i think there are some real questions to be asked in the steps that the church of england are taking to persuade tribunals that black is white in some cases . some cgses. >> some cases. >> but, james, the role of the church of england here and you quite rightly point out, it's very , very clearly abetted very, very clearly abetted individual converting perhaps in many cases converting insincerely . but ultimately the insincerely. but ultimately the decision does not rest with the church of england. the decision rests with employees of the home office , and surely it could be office, and surely it could be very, very simple to pass a law to say if you change your excuse for seeking asylum in the united kingdom after you've made your

first, uh, clay claim of asylum in the united kingdom , perhaps in the united kingdom, perhaps you're telling porkies perhaps if you arrive in the uk saying one reason why you should be granted asylum and switch magically to claiming that you're a christian the next week, perhaps that shouldn't be taken so seriously . taken so seriously. >> well, i mean, my god, i mean surely to god that tribunals are looking at that. >> was criminal >> you know, i was a criminal lawyer years before i lawyer for 17 years before i came into parliament. if people changed their defence, you know, twice in the same case, their chances of success were somewhere between and somewhere between zero and non—existent . so i think in non—existent. so i think in terms of the mindset of home office officials are looking terms of the mindset of home of these ficials are looking terms of the mindset of home of these issues are looking terms of the mindset of home ofthese issues , are looking terms of the mindset of home ofthese issues , i are looking terms of the mindset of home ofthese issues , i thinklooking terms of the mindset of home of these issues , i think thereg at these issues, i think there is a real you know, there is an ongoing which ongoing discussion which i'm sure and the new sure the government and the new home are as to home secretary are having as to how and how home office officials and tribunals approach these, but i just not accept. and, tom, just do not accept. and, tom, are you able to provide evidence just do not accept. and, tom, are y0|contrary provide evidence just do not accept. and, tom, are y0|contrary that'ide evidence just do not accept. and, tom, are y0|contrary that somebody ce to the contrary that somebody who is converting to christianity is being granted asylum? just because he or she says it is because there is says it, it is because there is some supporting evidence some form of supporting evidence from who is giving them from somebody who is giving them that the cover to be able to

make application. make that application. and i think we can't just run away from yes, we all know that from this. yes, we all know that there are problems within the from this. yes, we all know that there ioffice. )lems within the from this. yes, we all know that there ioffice. there within the from this. yes, we all know that there ioffice. there witrproblems home office. there are problems withinwelby goes around calling justin welby goes around calling people immoral whilst people like me immoral whilst enabung people like me immoral whilst enabling these happen . enabling these things to happen. and there should be answers from him his organisation. him and from his organisation. yeah, james, some of your colleagues tighten up colleagues wanted to tighten up or toughen the rwanda bill. or toughen up the rwanda bill. >> the right to appeal >> so that the right to appeal would reduced would be massively reduced or removed . where do you removed altogether. where do you not support that? then >> i, i didn't support the amendments. >> i think they it's the strongest piece of legislation that we've had in terms of tackling the small boats crisis. we've prime minister who we've got a prime minister who was first minister to was the first prime minister to put this type of legislation on the statute book. i think his determination, political determination, political determination and the legal avenues for people to, um, to behave in the way that we've been we've been talking about are limited to such an extent that this legislation that i think this legislation will think see will work. i think we'll see flights think the flights in the air. i think the prime minister deliver prime minister will will deliver on what he said. he's the on what he said. and he's the first minister done

first prime minister who's done that. remember , the other that. just remember, the other opfion that. just remember, the other option immigration option is open door immigration with keir starmer open door immigration. that's it. no plan, no nothing, anything . so no nothing, no anything. so before know, before anybody starts, you know, having prime having a go at this prime minister has done what is minister who has done what is necessary protect necessary to protect this country's borders, in my opinion. starmer. opinion. look at keir starmer. he has zero to say on this issue. >> well , of course it still issue. >> weto, of course it still issue. >> weto passourse it still issue. >> weto pass through still lords needs to pass through the lords where of course the his bishops do still sit. but perhaps that's a conversation for another time. james of parliament james daly member of parliament for really for barrie north, really appreciate here on appreciate your time here on good appreciate your time here on gooyes , very interesting indeed. >> yes, very interesting indeed. i don't know what of i don't know what you make of that but are i don't know what you make of that laws but are i don't know what you make of that laws not but are i don't know what you make of that laws not strict but are i don't know what you make of that laws not strict enough?re sick laws not strict enough? we'll be asking we're letting we'll be asking if we're letting workers too workers take sickies rather too easily in just a few

>> you're listening to gb news radio . radio. >> well, did you know that it's national sickie day today ? national sickie day today? >> i the only reason i knew this is we've been teasing this all program. but according to

research , it's the first monday research, it's the first monday in february. is the worst day of the year for absenteeism with post—christmas blues, poor weather and a long wait for the summer holiday season . just summer holiday season. just a few of the factors involved, although i read that more people than normal going away, went than normal are going away, went away january . away in january. >> mhm. there you go. >> mhm. there you go. >> asking >> but should we be asking should you to that should you have to prove that you're off today work . you're off sick today off work. well let's join now with the political commentator russell quirk for a bit of a ding dong on this issue. russell are we a nafion on this issue. russell are we a nation of slackers . nation of slackers. >> yes. in short tom, we are. and the data, the numbers actually demonstrate such. and actually demonstrate such. and actually i think the big issue is not just the fact that overall we're taking more sick days , despite the fact, of days, despite the fact, of course, that we're working from home more than we ever, ever have. when you would think that people quite happy with people would be quite happy with the getting up the fact that they're getting up late to commute late and not having to commute and are working from home, most, if of time and if not all of the time now, and therefore quite need to therefore wouldn't quite need to ring with a fake sickie.

ring in with a fake sickie. a sickie, and the reality is, though, of course, with the pubuc though, of course, with the public sector in particular, so the daily express today, a reporting that the amount of days that are lost to the civil service workers now is up from 1.4 million to 1.8 million days lost in the civil service and 50 odd percent of those sick days , odd percent of those sick days, apparently, are attributed to so—called stress. now sorry, cry me a river, guys . but, um, me a river, guys. but, um, i mean, show me a genuinely stressed civil servant . i don't stressed civil servant. i don't think so. >> so, russell, do you think the solution is to make all employees, all workers , hand in employees, all workers, hand in some kind of letter from their doctor explaining why they're sick in order to take a day off? >> well, the problem is, you won't get to see your doctor, will you? because obviously it's part britain. it'll part of broken britain. it'll take see take you a month to get to see a doctor, i'd doctor, so unfortunately, i'd love solution love that to be the solution whereby prove that whereby you have to prove that you ill. don't think you are ill. um, i don't think actually that legislation is the way forward. i'm rather a small state person rather than a big

state person rather than a big state person rather than a big state person , but i do think the state person, but i do think the employers should be able to say, look, if the average amount of days sick that britain takes per person is five five, guess what? unless you do have some special reason, particularly in medical certificate, we as an employer, whether it be private or public sector, simply will not pay you from day six onwards. during that 12 months. so i think , you that 12 months. so i think, you know, i hate to use stick rather than carrot, and i don't think legislation is the answer, as i say, but i think we have to get britain back to work again. but i go back to my point. the pubuc i go back to my point. the public sector is in a dire place in terms of the public sector now being 59% more likely to take time off than the private sector. >> these a problem? perhaps not with law, but with society . with law, but with society. surely if we as brits just played by the rules and had used the system as it was intended, this wouldn't be a problem ? this wouldn't be a problem? >> well, absolutely. but i'd like to see that echoed through

most of society, really, whether it were crime or, uh , it were crime or, uh, immigration or, you know, doing the right thing as a society generally . but we seem to have a generally. but we seem to have a rather devil may care attitude to the rules. now don't we? um, and perhaps part of that in the wider sense , in terms of crime wider sense, in terms of crime and so on, is because we never see police our streets see the police on our streets anymore, despite us anymore, despite them costing us more so yes, i would more than ever. so yes, i would love to be not just love society to be not just people that play by the rules. i'd like society to play by the rules, but actually, perhaps to be selfish be a little less selfish and more selfless in everything that it . it does. >> so, russell, i'm just going to bring in the author and writer, who writer, rebecca reid, who i believe slightly different believe has a slightly different view on this, view to this, to you on this, uh, rebecca, do you think you should that you're should have to prove that you're unwell before you take off unwell before you take a day off work ? work? >> no, of course not. and sometimes you just need day sometimes you just need a day off. um, if you're off. um, i think if you're generally speaking, a good employee who relied and employee who is relied upon and does quality of work very does good quality of work very occasionally you are hungover or sad or you've had a break up or you just really don't feel like it. and if it is occasional and

you are a really good employee elsewhere, i think that employers some employers should have some flexibility some flexibility for that and some understanding. rebecca why do you to lie your employer you have to lie to your employer if you're good employee, why if you're a good employee, why don't you use one of copious don't you use one of the copious number of holiday days that we're guaranteed by statute in this country? >> because , generally speaking, >> because, generally speaking, and i have tried it, if woke and i have tried it, if you woke up tuesday and you up on tuesday morning and you have break or a have had a heart break or a really and really bad hangover, and you message and say, is message and say, today is not going work for me, can i take going to work for me, can i take the day off? >> they you have >> they say, no, you have to book ahead time . book holiday ahead of time. that's how this works. that's not how this works. um, so a little bit so i think there's a little bit of that very of an expectation that very occasionally, blue occasionally, once in a blue moon , you something moon, you do do something a little naughty. again, moon, you do do something a lityou're naughty. again, moon, you do do something a lityou're goodhty. again, moon, you do do something a lityou're good and again, moon, you do do something a lityou're good and reliable n, if you're good and reliable elsewhere, use a bit of understanding coming from sides. >> russell is rebecca the problem ? problem? >> uh, unfortunately, rebecca is very, very much the problem. i mean, question to rebecca is mean, my question to rebecca is what's the limit? i mean, how many am many hangovers a year am i allowed have um, allowed to have 20, 30? um, how many days of anxiety? because my pet il, uh, might i be able to take advantage of on the basis that my employer then has to

suffer and so do my fellow employees as a consequence of me deciding to shirk my job responsibilities time and time again . it's funny, though, isn't again. it's funny, though, isn't it, that those the left , like it, that those on the left, like rebecca, presume that, say rebecca, i presume that, say that we should just be able to have whenever want, that we should just be able to havialso whenever want, that we should just be able to havialso the whenever want, that we should just be able to havialso the same 1ever want, that we should just be able to havialso the same people want, that we should just be able to havialso the same people that1t, but also the same people that lament the fact that under the current government, we're not very economy very productive and our economy isn't rebecca, isn't very strong. rebecca, you can't can can't have it both ways, can you?i can't have it both ways, can you? i mean, i don't tend to lament that, and don't think lament that, and i don't think it's this i >> -- >> um,i emma >> um, i would say that a good example is that in companies particularly the sort of more, um, palo alto tech companies where they've implemented policies, where there's unlimited holiday. so employees are self—regulated by how much time take off. people tend time they take off. people tend to take slightly less holiday pay to take slightly less holiday pay than entitled to pay than they are entitled to under where you get 28 under a system where you get 28 set days, generally speaking , a set days, generally speaking, a lot of consultancy companies have reports that say have provided reports that say that you treat like that if you treat people like grown ups and you give people a lot autonomy over their lot more autonomy over their work, likely to do work, they are more likely to do a job for you. your a better job for you. your retention levels are generally higher tend to report higher and people tend to report

better satisfaction . so sort of better satisfaction. so sort of this the stick method doesn't tend to create good retention or good employee productivity through employee happiness. so it might sound all very fluffy, but it actually is a good it's a very good way of saving money. russell you're russell, you're stuck , things have stuck in the past, things have moved stuck in the past, things have mo people regulate themselves. >> rebekka's convinced me. i think we should all be lobbying for the one day week that that will of will cure it by the sounds of it, i mean , that's about i it, i mean, that's about what i try any week . try and work in any given week. >> my life >> and, uh, i'm enjoying my life and you do fabulous job. and you do a fabulous job. >> i must say . >> i must say. >> i must say. >> well, i'm delighted that we've reached some sort of, um , we've reached some sort of, um, i guess, consensus. perhaps not. rebecca. just finally that system that you're speaking about, these californian tech companies, that sort of self regulate and tell people to do whatever they want. surely you don't any stat free limits. don't need any stat free limits. then you can let companies set their own rules , and you don't their own rules, and you don't need any statutory holiday , any need any statutory holiday, any statutory sick days . statutory sick days. >> so that's an unlimited the policy there is that there is an

unlimited amount that you can take and you are obliged to take a certain amount. obviously, the american system is very different have much american system is very diffe holiday have much american system is very diffe holiday statutorily have much american system is very diffe holiday statutorily ,ave much american system is very diffe holiday statutorily , and nuch american system is very diffe holiday statutorily , and itrch less holiday statutorily, and it is done by state. but in is done state by state. but in those companies you are expected to of those companies you are expected to days of those companies you are expected to days a of those companies you are expected to days a year of those companies you are expected to days a year prevent of 12 days a year to prevent burnout so sort burnout out. so they sort of protect you but encourage you to take more . um, but again, these take more. um, but again, these are soft benefits. that's better. than better. that's cheaper than paying better. that's cheaper than paying people more or giving people pensions. people people better pensions. so reality of it so sometimes the reality of it is not quite as good as it sounds . um, is not quite as good as it sounds. um, but no, we do still need statutory protections, particularly like particularly for things like maternity yes. and maternity sickness. yes. um, and general working patterns. the only with the system is it only flaw with the system is it doesn't really work for people on zero contracts, and on zero hours contracts, and people jobs like , for people working in jobs like, for instance, in a shop where you don't have that same level of protections and really protections and it's really important. think important. we don't just think about white workers when important. we don't just think abctalk'hite workers when important. we don't just think abctalk about workers when important. we don't just think abctalk about to rkers when important. we don't just think abctalk about to rkers iwoi’k we talk about how to make work better and fairer. yeah. >> wonder if some of the >> i also wonder if some of the people big tech people working in these big tech companies the most companies are some of the most motivated workers out there anyway. you very much. anyway. but thank you very much. russell rebecca reid. russell quirk and rebecca reid. great debate there. very different views . excellent different views. excellent

stuff. that taking stuff. i think that taking a sick day once in a blue moon, pulling a sickie, probably isn't the worst thing in the world. but becomes a pattern, but when it becomes a pattern, when a pattern , tell when it becomes a pattern, tell the you're going to the truth. oh, you're going to phone say you've got a phone up and say you've got a bit obviously bit of a hangover. obviously you're not. well, that would be absolutely atrocious . absolutely atrocious. >> don't drink heavily the >> don't drink too heavily the night work. night before work. >> well, obviously, but but >> well, yes, obviously, but but if if can't come into if you if you can't come into work , tell your boss truth work, tell your boss the truth and respect you more and they will respect you more for slackers out for it. too many slackers out there. let us know what you think. vaiews@gbnews.uk um, up next wonderful panel. but next is our wonderful panel. but first, afternoon first, it's your afternoon update sam . update with sam. >> tom. emily. thank you very much. it's 131 exactly the top stories this hour. prime minister rishi sunak has said that it minister rishi sunak has said thatitis minister rishi sunak has said that it is a historic day for northern ireland, as devolved government returns. he says the new £3.3 billion funding deal for northern ireland is significant and generous . that's significant and generous. that's after holding talks in belfast, where power sharing has returned

. that's after the newly formed executive earlier called for urgent discussions on longer terms, funding to deliver public services . earlier, rishi sunak services. earlier, rishi sunak met with ministers including sinn fein's michelle o'neill , sinn fein's michelle o'neill, who made history by becoming the country's first republican first minister for. country's first republican first minister for . as we've been minister for. as we've been heanng minister for. as we've been hearing the manhunt for suspected chemical attacker , suspected chemical attacker, abdul ezedi is now into its fifth day. police are offering a £20,000 reward for information that could help lead to his arrest . he's wanted in arrest. he's wanted in connection with an attack in south london that left a woman critically injured, and her two daughters also hurt. critically injured, and her two daughters also hurt . police have daughters also hurt. police have warned that those helping him will face arrest and they're calling for the public's help to find him. it comes as concerns grow how he was allowed to grow about how he was allowed to stay in the uk after claiming to convert to christianity . downing convert to christianity. downing street has said that the government has already taken to action stop people gaming the system . elsewhere, an asylum system. elsewhere, an asylum seeker has been sentenced to 18 months in jail after a woman

fell overboard and drowned while he piloted a boat with over 70 migrants on board the 22 year old continued the journey across the channel until he was intercepted by border force . he intercepted by border force. he told officers that he'd left sudanin told officers that he'd left sudan in 2021 and passed through various countries on his way to the french coast. despite initially denying any charges, he later pleaded guilty to facilitating illegal immigration, and this afternoon, we've learned that british actor ian lavender, famous for his role as private pike in dad's army , has died at the age of 77. army, has died at the age of 77. lavender who joined the show at the age of 22, held that role for a decade. in the 1970s, dad's army regularly had more than 18 million viewers. it became one of the most watched television programmes of its time . lavender was the last time. lavender was the last surviving star of the show, and he's also being remembered for his role as derek harkinson in the bbc soap eastenders. his role as derek harkinson in

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listening to gbh news radio . listening to gbh news radio. >> good afternoon, britain. >> good afternoon, britain. >> good afternoon, britain. >> good afternoon. i'm just

waking up seven and you and we've been looking at a lot of your emails coming in about the debate that we've had on debate that we've just had on pulling a sick day. >> i was reading this. >> i was reading this. >> i was reading this. >> i was reading them. then you caught me. yeah >> been a lot of passionate >> it's been a lot of passionate emails. what have people been saying? >> well, graham says this is a bit of a generational thing. he says, noticed young says, i've noticed the young people okay to pull people think it's okay to pull sickies, the older sickies, but the older generation do not. could there be to that? be some truth to that? >> know what? um >> oh, do you know what? um perhaps perhaps there perhaps perhaps perhaps there is perhaps people are more flexible. what with all sorts of of with all sorts of types of flexible working. >> it's all about work life balance for the youth. >> also, there >> but also, is there a difference between taking sick difference between taking a sick day , today i'm day or just declaring, today i'm going from home? perhaps going to work from home? perhaps that's a bigger excuse , or maybe that's a bigger excuse, or maybe a excuse on your productivity. >> i guess . productivity. >> i guess. but productivity. >> i guess . but paul says people >> i guess. but paul says people do need the odd day off telling the truth to one's own detriment. tell a fib for your own peace of mind. so there you go. a very different, go. paul has a very different, uh , view things. go. paul has a very different, uh goodnessthings. go. paul has a very different, uh goodness megs. go. paul has a very different, uh goodness me .;. go. paul has a very different, uh goodness me . well, there's >> goodness me. well, there's lots more to discuss . of course, lots more to discuss. of course, there's also significant

there's also this significant story about another dog death from a suspected bully xl attack . let's discuss this in more depth now with the political editor of huffpost uk , kevin editor of huffpost uk, kevin schofield, and the editor of capex , alice denby . so let's capex, alice denby. so let's start with these bully dogs , start with these bully dogs, kevin, i thought they'd been banned. >> well, yeah. so there are exemptions. >> you know , you can if you've >> you know, you can if you've already got a dog, you can keep one, but you have to pay. >> you have have neutered. >> you have to have it neutered. you insured . um, you have to be insured. um, which i guess is fair enough, you know, then it puts the responsibility the owner. but responsibility on the owner. but again, the again, this is all about the owner's , isn't owner's responsibility, isn't it? you know, if you are choosing to have one of these dogs saying earlier, dogs we were saying earlier, not entirely would want entirely sure why you would want to really to have one of these really dangerous but anyway, dangerous dogs. but anyway, if you , then it's your you do, then it's your responsibility keep it under responsibility to keep it under control and make sure that you , control and make sure that you, um, abide all the rules that um, abide by all the rules that have place to have now been put in place to try and, uh, prevent these attacks. clearly , you know, attacks. but clearly, you know, it prevent them all. it can't prevent them all. unfortunately, this is a truly horrific case. >> found out a details >> we found out a few details about um, owner, the

about the, um, the owner, the suspect here, and an amateur rapper who seemed to have quite an aggressive view on whether the government should have any say he has dogs or not. >> yes, i think he said something like , nobody effing something like, nobody effing tells to what do with my tells me to what do with my dogs. he sounds like a charming character, that character, but i do think that sort does slightly play sort of that does slightly play into that it's the into the idea that it's the owners are responsible for owners who are responsible for the and not dogs the dogs and not the dogs themselves, think themselves, whereas i think that this this attack exactly themselves, whereas i think that this itis attack exactly themselves, whereas i think that this it wastack exactly themselves, whereas i think that this it was right exactly themselves, whereas i think that this it was right to exactly themselves, whereas i think that this it was right to ban xactly themselves, whereas i think that this it was right to ban this.y why it was right to ban this breed. a violent and breed. it's a violent and dangerous i think dangerous breed, and i think nobody should be able own nobody should be able to own one. think it wasn't just one. and i think it wasn't just one. and i think it wasn't just one had . he had nine one dog. he had. he had nine puppies house as well . puppies in his house as well. so, know, think so, you know, i really think that shows why these dogs that this shows why these dogs had be banned. had to be banned. >> think it shows, kevin >> do you think it shows, kevin that, are quite few that, uh, there are quite a few people country who who people in this country who who have absolutely no respect for authority? >> well, i mean, i guess you're always going to have people who just don't like told what just don't like to be told what to government. but to do by the government. um, but but, you know, if you take that attitude , then you have to be attitude, then you have to be ready to accept the consequence as well. would imagine once as well. so i would imagine once this gets to court, gets

this gets to court, if it gets to then will to court, then that will be taken into consideration. you know have been know that these rules have been brought in. um, he wasn't being to told get his dog put down. uh, he could have taken steps to keep dog and also, as i say, keep the dog and also, as i say, stick rules . but he's stick to the rules. but he's obviously chosen to do that . obviously chosen not to do that. um, for own particular um, for his own particular reasons. um, and as i say, i think he may well end up paying the paying the price for that. >> do need toughen >> alice, do we need to toughen up clearly, up these rules? because clearly, having to muzzle a dog in public, well, this was an attack inside a home. does does the law need to go further ? should all need to go further? should all of these dogs, frankly, be put down? >> yeah. i mean, frankly, a very little sympathy for these dogs and for their owners. i don't see why we shouldn't have a cull of them, frankly. um but i mean, yeah, as you say, the current law was not enough to protect this woman in her own home. so i think perhaps we do need look again. >> you will enrage a lot of bully owners with that. no, bully dog owners with that. no, but it's a it's a widely held view. course it is. people view. of course it is. people think animals think that these these animals are particularly dangerous. and

so they shouldn't be so therefore they shouldn't be out our streets. out and about on our streets. but others and we've spoken to owners show previously owners on this show previously who are that is not who are adamant that this is not an issue about the breed itself . an issue about the breed itself. it is an issue about the owners and the should down and the law should come down hard irresponsible owners. hard on irresponsible owners. but mean that but that should not mean that these dogs well culled. these dogs are well culled. >> well , if it's the owner, not >> well, if it's the owner, not the dog, surely we can charge the dog, surely we can charge the owners with with manslaughter charges for any attack that these dogs have. have i, i would i would stress that perhaps owners don't want that perhaps owners don't want that to be the case, which perhaps indicates that it is. really. there are some dogs that are naturally more aggressive, more fighting than other dogs. >> well, they've been to >> yeah, well, they've been to be aggressive. i be aggressive. exactly what i was right. i was going to say. yeah, right. i mean, not the mean, these dogs, it's not the dogs fault that dog bred dogs fault that the dog was bred in way be aggressive in such a way to be aggressive and, you know, it's not just about these these dogs being old dogs are potentially can be, um , dogs are potentially can be, um, a bit bitey, shall we say . you a bit bitey, shall we say. you know, you've got to be careful around old dogs. really. um, but again, it's the responsibility

of owner to look after the of the owner to look after the dog responsibility for dog and take responsibility for that dog. >> attacks. you ? >> pug attacks. do you? >> pug attacks. do you? >> well, this true. this is. >> well, this is true. this is. this >> well, this is true. this is. thi�*there are some are more >> there are some are more liable than >> there are some are more liablyothers than >> there are some are more liablyothers . than >> there are some are more liablyothers . that than >> there are some are more liablyothers . that is than >> there are some are more liablyothers . that is obvious. than others. that is obvious. but um. but yeah, i think the owners, if it's your pet, then you are responsible for what strikes me about this is that all dog owners, all dog lovers , all dog owners, all dog lovers, know that different breeds have different . different traits. >> you look before you purchase a dog, you look on the kennel a dog, you look up on the kennel club, breed club, you oh, see, this breed is more to fetch more likely to be able to fetch a thing. breed is much is a thing. this breed is much is much better with children. this breed all have breed is whatever they all have individual traits . some need individual traits. some need more exercise, some need less exercise . bully dogs kill. exercise. bully dogs kill. >> hmm . i think if there is a >> hmm. i think if there is a broader here, it's that broader theme here, it's that britain kind britain does have this very kind of attitude towards of sentimental attitude towards dogs. i think quite often promoting the needs and the rights of dogs above those of humans. we saw that with the evacuation from afghanistan and here with this xl bully here again with this xl bully breed, you see people sort breed, and you see people sort of around streets of walking around the streets with their dogs in little buggies. think britain buggies. i just think britain needs that's true,

actually. >> yeah. i mean, honestly, you see the dog everywhere . see the dog everywhere. >> not a vassal, not a bully. excel over go to klaper buggy dogs and buggies all over. >> only hollywood that put little dogs in handbags. >> my >> oh my, my dog. well, my parents dog actually, he sometimes does . go on, sit down sometimes does. go on, sit down strike. which refuses to walk, but, that thought. but, um, hold that thought. we'll be coming back to you very shortly after a very quick break. we'll be right back, because we're to because we're going to be discussing the 40 seekers discussing the 40 asylum seekers on stockholm on board the bibby stockholm barge, have suddenly barge, who have suddenly converted to christianity. what are ? what are the odds

radio. >> good afternoon britain. welcome back. it's 147 >> good afternoon britain. welcome back. it's147 and we're still with the political editor for huffpost uk, kevin schofield , and the editor of capex, alice denbigh. and we want to talk about asylum seekers and frankly, uh, honesty , because, frankly, uh, honesty, because, alice, we learn now that 40

asylum seekers aboard the bibby stockholm have suddenly decided to convert to christianity . we to convert to christianity. we understand that's not what their religion was when they arrived in the uk , and now they're in the uk, and now they're converting a remarkable fact. yeah and i don't really understand why this is taken into account. >> why converting to christianity should count towards your asylum application. we've seen in the case of this clapham didn't clapham attacker that it didn't stop , um, being violent. clapham attacker that it didn't stop , um, being violent . um, stop him, um, being violent. um, so i do think that this is just a sign of how broken our asylum system is, that people can find many different ways to it, many different ways to game it, and we frankly, you know, are not good enough at processing claims, deporting people who have no right to be here and having a system that works for people who are people who should, who are legitimate people who should, who are leg kevin, what's your view if >> kevin, what's your view if you convert in this country? it's a very different thing from being christian a country being a christian in a country like afghanistan then like afghanistan and then seeking you're seeking asylum. but if you're already in the uk and then you choose to convert often after your first post, um , claim has your first post, um, claim has been rejected , then it is a bit been rejected, then it is a bit

suspect, isn't it? i think if that's not why initial your that's not why your initial your initially asylum, then initially claimed asylum, then on uh, i suppose that has to be taken into consideration when their subsequent applications is assessed. >> i think it's up to the home office officials. actually, i've just come straight from downing street. was a, uh, prime street. it was a, uh, prime minister's spokesman has morning lobby with them, and he was asked that question as to what does government do about does the government do about this? well , this? and he said, well, ultimately it's up to home office officials. they're the ones who investigate these claims. if it looks claims. and if it looks suspicious, someone suddenly converting, then obviously that's taken into consideration. and their application may well be rejected as a result. now i know that the church of england has been getting criticism. uh, vicars , archbishop of vicars, archbishop of canterbury, you know, being maybe a little bit naive, it's been said , um, it is kind of been said, um, it is kind of theirjob, been said, um, it is kind of their job, though, to convert people to christianity so you can it their can understand it from their point someone point of view. someone comes along says, to along and says, i'd like to convert and you're a archbishop or vicar . you're going to say, or a vicar. you're going to say, great, fantastic, welcome to the flock. >> naive though, isn't it? >> naive though, isn't it?

>> not all like >> i'm sure they're not all like that. maybe, maybe then the that. but maybe, maybe then the question should be asked, could they may fascinating? they may be really fascinating? >> you saying what the prime minister's official spokesman was uh in this morning's was saying? uh in this morning's lobby briefing, because that's basically the government saying not me, not our problem. this is home office officials , but home home office officials, but home office officials are the government. they should be taking directions from the government. well, he's out there. >> i mean, i think the >> i mean, i think that was the point is it's point he was making is that it's not to not for the prime minister to declare are declare whether these people are genuinely convert or declare whether these people are genl it ely convert or declare whether these people are genlit isy convert or declare whether these people are genlit is up convert or declare whether these people are genlit is up to convert or declare whether these people are genlit is up to those convert or declare whether these people are genlit is up to those experts or not. it is up to those experts on who are assessing on the ground who are assessing this, uh, these backlog effectively of claims , and they effectively of claims, and they will have to treat each case on its merits. now, james cleverly, the home secretary, has ordered an investigation into this case of the of the clapham attacker of the of the clapham attacker of asylum of his particular asylum application . um, but ultimately , application. um, but ultimately, you know, it does put a lot of pressure on the home office officials, doubt officials, there's no doubt about not just about it, because it's not just the to sign off. about it, because it's not just the yeah, to sign off. about it, because it's not just the yeah, course, to sign off. about it, because it's not just the yeah, course, but sign off. about it, because it's not just the yeah, course, but it's off. about it, because it's not just the yeah, course, but it's not >> yeah, of course, but it's not just officials, just home office officials, is it? have it? because asylum seekers have legal help ? uh, legal activists, legal help? uh, legal activists, some would say activist lawyers,

but also just the legal profession. they're going to use the law, how they can to represent client . and if represent their client. and if the law says, well, christiana can be used as an appeal, then it's the office it's not just the home office officials are perhaps being officials who are perhaps being a bit, uh, relaxed about this, but the law , surely? yeah. >> and i think probably ultimately this comes down to a question of , of, of ultimately this comes down to a question of, of, of our immigration system as it stands, is vulnerable to is too vulnerable to exploitation. it's too full of loopholes. and i think ultimately, if we want to get around that, it might be a question of leaving the european court of rights. can't court of human rights. i can't see another way of down see another way of closing down many of these loopholes, but i do think that actually it's really scraping the barrel of the government try and blame really scraping the barrel of the church ment try and blame really scraping the barrel of the church merthe try and blame really scraping the barrel of the church merthe failures blame really scraping the barrel of the church merthe failures of ame the church for the failures of its system when this its own asylum system when this is a problem that they fail to get there's huge get a grip on. there's this huge backlog that they've get a grip on. there's this huge backlunable that they've get a grip on. there's this huge backlunable to that they've get a grip on. there's this huge backlunable to decide :hey've get a grip on. there's this huge backlunable to decide .ey've get a grip on. there's this huge backlunable to decide . and, um, been unable to decide. and, um, that's church's fault . that's not the church's fault. >> but frankly, in the case of abdul ezedi, right, he tried abdul ezedi, right, he he tried to claim asylum once he was rejected, he tried to claim asylum a second time. he was rejected. claim rejected. he tried to claim asylum he was asylum a third time. he was finally all that time,

finally accepted. all that time, he was in the united kingdom. all that time , he could have all that time, he could have carried out the attack that he did, whether he had been granted asylum or not. are to some asylum or not. are we to some extent splitting hairs here, kevin? because ultimately, whether or not this person is granted refugee status or otherwise, they're still in the country. well that's said. >> and again, you know, it comes down to, i think this investigation, as i say, that james has, has ordered james cleverly has, has ordered because a horrific case. because this is a horrific case. obviously, your heart goes out to the mother and the children who were attacked. and it's thrown up this fresh debate basically as to why in this particular case was he granted asylum . now the question then asylum. now the question then becomes if he had been rejected again, where would he have been sent to? because, as i understand it, he couldn't be sent back to afghanistan. varne then would he go now? i then where would he go now? i saw gillian keegan on a tv this morning talking about the rwanda plan. that's why this is so important . as i understand i important. as i understand it, i think convicted of think someone who's convicted of a rwanda a crime, i don't think rwanda would this person would want to take this person

ehhen would want to take this person either. question either. so then the question comes person go? >> that's a very good point, isn't it? but gillian keegan was also on, on, um, another broadcaster saying saying that this case has nothing to do with asylum . this is just violence asylum. this is just violence against women. yeah. >> i think that's a bizarre thing for her to have said. it's clearly a factor that that this man an asylum seeker. um, man was an asylum seeker. um, you think people will you know, i think people will have very legitimate questions about what he was doing in this country, only having done country, not only having done this also this horrific attack, but also having committed offences in this horrific attack, but also hav pastommitted offences in this horrific attack, but also hav past .�*nmitted offences in this horrific attack, but also hav past . um,ted offences in this horrific attack, but also hav past . um, ifd offences in this horrific attack, but also hav past . um, if we offences in this horrific attack, but also hav past . um, if we can'tznces in this horrific attack, but also hav past . um, if we can't deport] the past. um, if we can't deport foreign criminals from this country, why do we have borders at all? >> e“- @ does seem that at all? >> does seem that acid >> and it does seem that acid attacks, specifically acid attacks, specifically acid attacks , are something that has attacks, are something that has been are a type of attack that has been imported. weren't has been imported. they weren't it a common form of it wasn't a common form of attack. lots attack. there were lots of common against common forms of attack against women the uk, women and girls in the uk, but acid specifically to acid specifically seems to become come comes become something that come comes from region as well. from a specific region as well. >> i mean, what i would say is, you know, he you know, you know, he doesn't you know, he didn't this he's he didn't do this because he's an he did this an asylum seeker. he did this allegedly he's not allegedly because he's not a very nice person. clearly um, so

in that sense, i can understand what gillian keegan was getting out there. this is not an asylum issue. wider debate issue. however, the wider debate clearly leads you to have . clearly leads you to have. absolutely no asylum seeker. >> no, but what i'm saying is, in this country. >> well, but the way the >> well, yeah, but the way the debate ask debate then leads you to ask why? what were his individual circumstances? was he in why? what were his individual circhountry?s? was he in why? what were his individual circhountry? but was he in why? what were his individual circhountry? but what|s he in why? what were his individual circhountry? but what i'm; in this country? but what i'm saying because an saying is, just because he's an asylum he asylum seeker, that's not why he did what allegedly yeah. did what he allegedly did. yeah. >> fair >> look, i think it's a fair point attack point that anybody can attack women and it's you women and girls. it's a, you know , it's a huge problem in know, it's a huge problem in society. clearly in this society. but clearly in this specific there many , specific case, there are many, many questions to be asked about why was doing here. >> and red flags that were popped up >> and red flags that were popped up again. fact popped up and up again. the fact that of that he had been convicted of sex crimes and was granted sex crimes and then was granted asylum. well, alice, kevin, thank so much for talking thank you so much for talking through those we'll be through those issues. we'll be back with you later in the program, . but coming up, the program, too. but coming up, the prime returns to gb prime minister returns to gb news for the brand news. brand new pupils forum. >> yes, we're going to have much more on that. so much more next. stay with . us.

stay with. us. >> a brighter outlook with boxt solar sponsor of weather on . gb news. >> alex burkill here with your latest gb news, weather forecast . many of us will see a bit of rain at times through the next few days, but as we see something colder later on in the week, of week, there's also the risk of some for the time being. we some snow for the time being. we have system still have a frontal system still lingering parts lingering across parts of scotland . this has already scotland. this has already brought amount of rain so brought a fair amount of rain so far and will continue to far today and will continue to do head into this do so as we head into this evening , but the rain pushes its evening, but the rain pushes its way overnight into way southwards overnight into southern parts of scotland, northern ireland and later northern england . to the north northern england. to the north of we will see some of this we will see some clear skies a scattering skies, but also a scattering of showers colder air, so showers and some colder air, so watch out the risk of some watch out for the risk of some sleet, some snow and also some icy . tomorrow morning icy patches. tomorrow morning a milder though further milder start though further south, many places staying in double figures overnight, though it rather cloudy it is going to be rather cloudy with spots of rain as we with a few spots of rain as we go through tomorrow . that go through tomorrow. that rain band to edge

band then will continue to edge a bit further southwards, pushing more central parts pushing into more central parts of and also wales, of england and also wales, staying drier towards the south. so a largely cloudy day here. any sunshine will be pretty limited. a greater chance of seeing some sunny skies further north as scotland and northern ireland, of ireland, but a scattering of wintry because we have wintry showers because we have colder air here. temperatures getting mid single figures getting into mid single figures at further south though, at best. further south though, highs around 14 celsius as we go later in the week, we're likely to see a weather system pushing its the south, its way up from the south, hitting colder air, and that hitting colder air, and so that could some significant could bring some significant snow, to central snow, particularly to central parts. as go through thursday parts. as we go through thursday . bit of uncertainty as the . bit of uncertainty as to the detail to exactly when detail as to exactly when and where snow , but where we will see the snow, but it does look like things will be colder of us, but colder for many of us, but milder south that milder in the south by by that warm feeling inside from boxed boilers. >> sponsors of weather on .

gb news. >> good afternoon britain. it's 2:00 on monday the 5th of february on the run as the search for chemical attacker abdul ezedi enters its fifth day. >> gb news security sources suggest the £20,000 reward offered by police indicates azadi may be being harboured by criminals, but with his half his face missing , can the search face missing, can the search really be quite that hard ? really be quite that hard? >> mass conversions . the scandal >> mass conversions. the scandal around phoney asylum seekers claiming to be christian just to cheat the system swells as it's revealed that 40 asylum seekers on board the bibby stockholm barge have suddenly decided to convert. what are the odds ? convert. what are the odds? >> and labour's equality crusade? as the labour party pledges to bring more protected characteristics, including race, under equal pay regulations? we ask , is equal pay legislation ask, is equal pay legislation all that it seems? and how would this actually work in practice?

this manhunt is getting more arduous by the day. >> five days now, since a man with half his face missing has eluded authorities despite being spotted on public transport in a supermarket and then seemingly disappearing. yes, because sometimes in cases like this, there is an arrest is made pretty immediately after the incident. >> but five days later does mean that where he could be, well, he could be anywhere. >> he could be. there's been suggestions. he's up in newcastle where he travelled down from there. suggestions that he's still in south london in north london, he's been spotted in all of these places, obviously, preceding and just after the attack. but the question is, where he now ? question is, where is he now? and frankly, becoming less and frankly, it's becoming less and less likely that he's acting alone. gb news security sources suggest that for him to be harboured up for this long means

that someone is hiding him. yes. >> is someone out there hiding him? are some people out there hiding him ? we know the police hiding him? we know the police have put out a statement also in farsl have put out a statement also in farsi, language farsi or farsi, in the language farsi or so. perhaps there's someone who doesn't speak english. harbour him, or he perhaps doesn't . um. him, or he perhaps doesn't. um. let us know your thoughts on all of the we're covering of the stories we're covering today. vaiews@gbnews.uk com but first, your headlines with first, it's your headlines with sam . sam. >> tom, emily, thank you very much and good afternoon from the gb newsroom. the headlines just after 2:00 rishi sunak says today is a historic day for northern ireland as devolved government returns . as earlier, government returns. as earlier, the prime minister met with leaders including sinn fein's michelle o'neill , who made michelle o'neill, who made history by becoming the country's first republican first minister. speaking earlier at a visit to a primary school in northern ireland, rishi sunak shared how the £33 billion funding package will benefit the country. >> i have very constructive meetings today with all

political leaders in stormont and the new executive and the funding package that we put on the table before christmas, i think has been widely recognised as being significant and generous. £3.3 billion a focus on long terms sustainability, ensuring that northern ireland has the funding it needs , not has the funding it needs, not just for today to deal with the immediate challenges, but is on a towards being able to a path towards being able to provide public provide high quality public services future. services into the future. because that's what we want a brighter future for the children that spending time that i've been spending time with this here this with at this school here this morning . morning. >> well, speaking at a press conference in stormont earlier , conference in stormont earlier, irish premier leo varadkar pledged that he would do everything he can to help northern ireland executive to be successful. >> a lot of everyday issues that need attention here in northern ireland, and i know they're going to work very hard on that and get and we're keen to get north—south cooperation going again . have meeting again. have a meeting of the nsmc couple weeks nsmc in the next couple of weeks and focus on some of that practical that works practical cooperation that works well for everyone on the island. so i'm very keen to work with

the new executive and looking forward to doing that . forward to doing that. >> as we've been hearing, police are continuing their efforts to try to capture chemical attack, suspect abdul ezedi. with the manhunt into its fifth day, manhunt now into its fifth day, a £20,000 reward is being offered for information that could help to lead to his arrest . he's wanted in connection with an attack in south london that left a mother critically injured, and her three year old and eight year old daughters, both hurt. detectives say his last movements his last known movements show his aide tower tube aide left tower hill tube station in east london just after past nine on after half past nine on wednesday evening . police have wednesday evening. police have warned that those helping him will face arrest and they're calling for the public's help to find . earlier, our reporter find him. earlier, our reporter ray addison gave us more information could be information on who could be protecting his aide police . protecting his aide from police. >> it's possible he's being >> it's possible that he's being looked after by people who don't watch mainstream british news, an indication of that being the appeal that was put out in farsl appeal that was put out in farsi, which, of course, is the language by language widely spoken by afghans. however the message has

gone out to the afghan community. certainly in some capacity. the afghan varne and central asian association, which is a charity that helps afghan nationals in the uk, has appealed for azadi to turn himself in. they've told him to go to the police station immediately. they're saying he must do the right thing and this , this simply has gone on long enough as an asylum seeker has been sentenced to 18 months in jail after a woman fell overboard and drowned when he was piloting a boat with over 70 migrants on board. >> the 22 year old continued the journey across the english channel until the boat was intercepted by border force. he told officers that he'd left sudanin told officers that he'd left sudan in 2021 and passed through multiple other countries on his way to the french coast . despite way to the french coast. despite initially denying any charges . initially denying any charges. he later pleaded guilty to facilitate illegal immigration. the national crime agency says that today's sentencing shows they are committed to holding people accountable for putting lives at risk . a 39 year old

lives at risk. a 39 year old suspect who was arrested for dangerous dog offences has today been released on conditional bail until the 5th of march. it follows the death of 68 year old grandmother esther martin, who was mauled to death in essex at the weekend. it's understood she had been visiting her 11 year old grandson when that tragedy occurred with neighbours describing horrific sounds. they heard the victim's daughter says the dogs were xl bullies, which have been banned at the start of this month. however detectives from essex police say they are still working with experts to confirm the breed of those dogs. dog trainer john ellison told gb news earlier the dangerous dogs act is not doing enough. >> the dangerous dogs act does not impact this sort of situation that takes place within the home. it it's designed, um, to protect the pubucin designed, um, to protect the public in public spaces . public in public spaces. therefore, this backs up the evidence that the dangerous dogs act is not fit for purpose . and

act is not fit for purpose. and actually, we need to look further , deeper into the further, deeper into the education, the licensing and also the enforcement of the consequence . should you be in consequence. should you be in charge of a dangerous or out of control . dog control. dog >> and finally, british actor ian lavender, who was famous for his role as private pike in dad's army, has died at the age of 77. lavender who joined the show at the age of 22, held his role for a decade . in the 1970s, role for a decade. in the 1970s, dad's army regularly had more than 18 million viewers, becoming one of the most watched television programmes of its time. lavender was the last surviving star of the show, and he's also remembered for his role as derek harkinson in the bbc soap eastenders. role as derek harkinson in the bbc soap eastenders . for the bbc soap eastenders. for the latest stories, you can sign up to gb news alerts by scanning the qr code on your screen. or you can go to gbnews.com forward slash alerts .

slash alerts. >> all right, well, in a rather exciting turn of events, next monday, february the 12th at 8:00 in the evening, gb news will be hosting a people's forum with the prime minister. >> yes, this will be a live one hour question and answer session where you can put your questions directly to him, unfiltered and frankly there live to. let's speak with our political editor christopher hope, who is, uh, looking forward to the event. but he's currently in stormont. we'll get to that later. chris uh, firstly, this is a pretty unique opportunity. real voters, real time , um, no fuss, no spin, real time, um, no fuss, no spin, no filtering . yeah. and even no filtering. yeah. and even even better, even better than real voters . real voters. >> tom and ellie gb news vote of viewers and listeners . they are viewers and listeners. they are the best people with the best questions . but we're moving to questions. but we're moving to one side. we're saying right over to you people of britain, people who watch listen to

people who watch and listen to gb news you ask your best question of the prime minister literally anything can happen. i mean, number 10 might try and say, what will they ask ? we say, what will they ask? we don't that's part of don't know. and that's part of the danger what pm is the danger of what the pm is putting him up for next week. and also the excitement. it's going be compelling viewing , going to be compelling viewing, as emily. 8 pm. as you say there, emily. 8 pm. um, monday night next week, the 12th of february, if you want to apply 12th of february, if you want to apply for a ticket to go , please apply for a ticket to go, please do. but there do. they are limited, but there are lots them. gbnews.com are lots of them. gbnews.com forward slash pm. we're using a polling company, survation, who will help ensure that we get an audience which is balanced for the whole uk. it's the first major event of the 2024 general election. we're hoping to bring other party leaders to do it with us. of course. sir keir starmer ed davey and the rest. the one, though perhaps the first one, though perhaps rightly, is with the prime minister. the tory party leader and earlier he had this to say hi, rishi sunak here, join me for a special gb news people's forum live on monday the 12th of

february. >> i want to hear about the issues that matter to you for your chance to be part of the audience and to put your questions to me. scan qr questions to me. scan the qr code on screen or to gb news. code on screen or go to gb news. com see you there . com see you there. >> now christopher , you've been >> now christopher, you've been a political journalist for a number of years . um, how number of years. um, how important are these types of events, these question and answers this quite a unique event, actually, for gb news. but how important are these for the politicians themselves? the prime minister will be quite nervous for this one. i imagine . nervous for this one. i imagine. i think he'll be nervous, but he'll be up for it. >> i think there's can sense >> i think there's i can sense a kind of frustration that we don't really real rishi don't really see the real rishi sunakin don't really see the real rishi sunak in those kind of tense one on one interviews, when both interviewer and the prime minister are trying to battle out and find a hole in the other one's i this is a one's armoury. i think this is a moment for him to show almost the real rishi sunak. i've been with him a lot in this job for gb news see him privately. he's

certainly more energetic certainly a bit more energetic and a bit more engaged and almost pugnacious when he's behind scenes . we saw it a behind the scenes. we saw it a bit when he does his pmqs at events, recently in events, most recently in accrington stanley football club . i think the hope for number 10 is that we'll see more of that kind of sunak the one who can say, look, i get small boats, i get the need cut taxes, get get the need to cut taxes, i get frustrated with the nhs and pubuc . frustrated with the nhs and public . don't risk it public services. don't risk it with labour will be the election message. i think it's a it's a goodidea. message. i think it's a it's a good idea . they are a long way good idea. they are a long way behind the polls , 20 points behind the polls, 20 points behind the polls, 20 points behind in the polls. reform of course, is eating away at that support the party. support also for the tory party. so they're going for and so they're going for it. and what's and exciting what's interesting and exciting for is literally for gb news is literally anything can be said that will have those um votes. listeners viewers lining up, stephen dixon , our colleague who presents weekend breakfast, he'll be in charge of the event insomuch as he can be, because really, the questions aren't aren't his . and questions aren't aren't his. and the questions are the viewers and the listeners. and that's why anything can happen. i

advise everyone to tune in. >> well, chopper , i can't help >> well, chopper, i can't help noticing you're standing in what i think personally is the most attractive of all of the devolved, uh, administered buildings. stormont a beautiful, beautiful part of northern ireland. why are you there ? ireland. why are you there? >> that's right. so this is the stormont parliament building finished in 1932. it was a very grand affair. hasn't been used much. so lots of the original 19305 much. so lots of the original 1930s fittings are still in place, but i'm here because tomorrow this building will be busy. demolish kc returns to northern ireland tomorrow with the stormont parliament up and running today. the stormont executive is up and running and michelle o'neill , the first sinn michelle o'neill, the first sinn fein nationalist first minister, met with rishi sunak on the steps of stormont castle just a few hundred yards away from i am here and the government, the uk government is tipping £3.3 million billion, £3.2 billion of taxpayers money into this region. there has been a problem

with all sorts of things. the health service isn't working properly . ten years to get hip properly. ten years to get hip operation, five years to see consultant . lots of problems. consultant. lots of problems. it's been run by officials , it's been run by officials, civil servants for the past two years of politicians rightly are taking over . years of politicians rightly are taking over. and years of politicians rightly are taking over . and hopefully that taking over. and hopefully that might mean it's better and easier for people in northern ireland. i've interviewed chris heaton—harris last night. there's concern about whether this deal will have to there's concern about whether thisand|l will have to there's concern about whether thisand get ll have to there's concern about whether thisand get theses to there's concern about whether thisand get these power to there's concern about whether thisand get these power sharing try and get these power sharing agreement back to back in agreement back to back, back in play agreement back to back, back in play . what will mean play. what will that mean for the he thinks it the union? will, he thinks it will make it stronger. we'll wait see. wait and see. >> from what is certainly the most attractive devolved administration, parliament across the united kingdom. thank you very much for your time. i better look in the hollywood made this point twice just because, yeah, you look at the scottish parliament, you look at the welsh as the welsh welsh parliament as well, the zenith, these buildings. i mean, they should look so much grander. there should be pillars and columns and it should have the sense of grandeur that the northern irish assembly really does here, here. >> i like traditional

architecture. anyway >> anyway, into more substantive matters . now the search for the matters. now the search for the suspect in the clapham chemical attack is now in its fifth day, with police offering a £20,000 reward for anyone with any information leading to his arrest . arrest. >> yes, the 35 year old abdul ezedi has been on the run since wednesday. now when he allegedly threw an alkaline substance over a woman and her two daughters as the woman suffered potentially life changing injuries but remains in a stable condition in hospital. right should we get the latest now with gb news? reporter ray addison, who is outside scotland yard? ray outside new scotland yard? ray are we aware of any fresh leads that the police are investigating ? investigating? >> well, the latest that we've heard is this £20,000 reward that's being offered to anyone who can come forward with information about azad's whereabouts . so i think it's whereabouts. so i think it's important to reflect on what we know about azad at this point. we know that he's an extremely

resourceful and determined individual . we know that he made individual. we know that he made his way from afghanistan, presumably through several countries , and then into the countries, and then into the back of a lorry, into to the uk in 2016. and people who know him from newcastle associates of him described him as extremely determined and persuasive as a character and it's possible, therefore, that police will be concerned and certainly are concerned and certainly are concerned that he will have persuaded somebody to protect him, to shelter him, either here in london, perhaps back in his adopted hometown of newcastle or somewhere else in the united kingdom. we saw those cctv footage of him in the tesco express and then the stills from king's cross train station . we king's cross train station. we heard his route following that inside . agent in um clapham . inside. agent in um clapham. where he and he doesn't appear .

where he and he doesn't appear. to look overly , um, stressed in to look overly, um, stressed in those images. in that to look overly, um, stressed in those images . in that footage he those images. in that footage he appears to be quite calm despite that significant injury to the right hand side of his face. and it's therefore potentially a person who can move about, use his connections , and find some his connections, and find some kind of shelter there. through his persuasive personality . and his persuasive personality. and police will be concerned that he is . he has police will be concerned that he is. he has gone to ground and will be hoping that that money, that £20,000, will help to lose some lips . some lips. >> well, thank you very much for bringing us that very latest, ray addison, gb news reporter who outside new scotland who is outside new scotland yard. and i heard another theory , perhaps, he hired , perhaps, that he was a hired hit or hired henchmen. hit man or hired henchmen. >> although that was >> although given that he was known to the victim, or at least that's what was suggested at the time , i doubt that, but maybe time, i doubt that, but maybe we're given the wrong information on the day these things do update. these things do change. >> , there you >> well, there you go. but as we've discussing throughout we've been discussing throughout the pray to the show, this so—called pray to stay ruse being used by some stay ruse is being used by some asylum seekers the uk and the asylum seekers in the uk and the

church of has been church of england has been accused aiding bogus asylum accused of aiding bogus asylum claims offering conversions claims by offering conversions to christianity . that's after it to christianity. that's after it emerged 40 asylum seekers on the bibby barge are bibby stockholm barge are converting to increase their chances of staying in this country . country. >> well, let's dig into the details we're joined by details of this. we're joined by the uk immigration lawyer hardeep and hajar hardeep singh bangal, and hajar this to most people just boggles our minds. how on earth are these, uh, home office officials? so credulous to just accept people who perhaps apply for one reason, then apply for another , and then magically another, and then magically converts to christianity and are accepted. >> well, it's not a new thing. um, so loopholes have existed since there's been legislation. it is the job of the home office to close these loopholes down. so in the year 2000, say, one and two, there was a big investigation which led to, uh, unveil that kenyans were pretending to be rwandans in order to get asylum in the uk . order to get asylum in the uk. then there's also, uh, the homosexual charity, uh, sort of

claims, which are exploited and conversion, converting religion is another one. so these are old. however, they are usually few and far between and not in great numbers . it's not in the great numbers. it's not in the thousands or anything. it's usually very small and in the usually very small and in in the hundreds, it's the job of usually very small and in in the hun home it's the job of usually very small and in in the hun home offices the job of usually very small and in in the hun home office to 1e job of usually very small and in in the hun home office to close of usually very small and in in the hun home office to close down the home office to close down the home office to close down the loopholes. and you'd think a government that's used to loopholes , um, whether on a good loopholes, um, whether on a good end end of it, would loopholes, um, whether on a good end some end of it, would loopholes, um, whether on a good end some sort|d of it, would loopholes, um, whether on a good end some sort ofof it, would loopholes, um, whether on a good end some sort of ideasrvould loopholes, um, whether on a good end some sort of ideasrvotclose have some sort of ideas to close it down. it's seems it down. but it's always seems the home office is sort of late on sort of thing that's on any sort of thing that's going on, whether points going on, whether it's a points based , whether it's based system scam, whether it's a sham marriage scam , the home a sham marriage scam, the home office colleges , you office only fake colleges, you know, people coming here to study . if remember 2010 study. if you remember the 2010 fake college scandal where so many colleges closed down, many colleges were closed down, where they were to be just where they were found to be just above sweatshops, or at the back end a warehouse nothing end of a warehouse where nothing was , no student was going was there, no student was going there. then the home office was there, no student was going th always then the home office was there, no student was going th always late n the home office was there, no student was going th always late to :he home office was there, no student was going th always late to the -iome office was there, no student was going th always late to the party office was there, no student was going th always late to the party infice is always late to the party in the sort of cases like this. and it's no surprise once again that the office, uh, allowing the home office, uh, allowing this to happen. >> well, we should also have

strong who strong words for those who are abusing these loopholes in the legislation. very clear legislation. it's very clear that does not that the government does not want to happen. but want this to happen. but haljarp, immigration haljarp, you're an immigration lawyer, have you ever given legal to an asylum seeker legal advice to an asylum seeker who wanted to stay in this country, seek refuge in this country? you ever country? and did you ever suggest that perhaps the conversion to christianity might be a way to get around that? >> no, because that's not appropriate and that's not stuff that we do . um, what what that we do. um, what what what does happen is a lot of people, they don't want to convert religion. they're usually persecuted for their religion back , back home. and they're back, back home. and they're usually persecuted because of their caste , their creed, their their caste, their creed, their colour , their ethnic origin , colour, their ethnic origin, even their gender. so they don't really need to convert to make a case if they're coming from a war torn country where it's hard to be returned. they don't really have to make up stories. they just the truth they can just speak the truth and asylum here. and they'll get asylum here. >> just just finally , >> and we see just just finally, professional opinion. anyway just in your professional opinion , if someone comes to

opinion, if someone comes to this country claims asylum for one reason and then convert this as a sort of additional reason to claim asylum, or as a second reason in most cases, in your view, that would be someone probably telling porkies it's down to the home office to judge. >> but i'll tell you how this situation has arisen, and this is where we need to be focusing on. the conversion only on. so the conversion only happened after the first removal, right ? our first removal, right? our first refusal. so then what happened was he was allowed to try again and apply again. and the third time converted . now, if he'd time he converted. now, if he'd been removed after the first time, there wouldn't be this conversation. right? so what's actually happened is the home office have failed to remove him. not once , but twice, and him. not once, but twice, and allowed him to change his circumstances and submit a fresh claim and say, here you go, i've got new circumstances. apply for asylum when really under a fast track system like we used to have, they used to get decided in 15 days and get sent back on a 20th day, and that was happening under a labour

government. so everyone government. so who everyone says, oh, labour is weak on um , says, oh, labour is weak on um, immigration. wasn't then it immigration. it wasn't then it definitely wasn't then. and according the figures and according to the figures and let's a look at figures let's have a look at the figures again, the problem is in the removals in 2011, you have over 10,000 enforced removals of failed asylum seekers that made up 23% of all removals from the uk, that in 2021 went down to 8% to less than 1000 people, being removed, failed asylum seekers being removed . that's a slow being removed. that's a slow decline . well, it's been a decline. well, it's been a decline. well, it's been a decline. it's never gone up in them years. um, from 21 to 11. and that's under this government's watch. and you have to wonder for a government that came in saying that we are tough on immigration. labour is tough . on immigration. labour is tough. we're going to tighten things up. why has everything gone horribly in relation to horribly wrong in relation to immigration? well, it's a very good go up. good migration go up. >> good question. >> it's a very good question. sorry we're have to sorry we're going to have to leave but you leave it there. but thank you for your time. harjeet singh bhangal for your time. harjeet singh bhangal, immigration bhangal, who is a uk immigration lawyer. , of course, lawyer. but there is, of course, the appeal . so there the right to appeal. so there you go. >> yeah. and big questions for

everyone but coming everyone really. but coming up we're by we're going to be joined by the minister for state transport, minister of for state transport, hugh much to ask him. hugh merriman. much to ask him. don't anywhere

>> you listening to gb news radio . radio. >> good afternoon , britain. it's >> good afternoon, britain. it's 2:25, and we're joined now by the minister of state for transport and hs2 , huw merriman. transport and hs2, huw merriman. now hugh, thank you so much for joining us here. let's just start with one story that does significantly affect transport and transport issues , and transport issues, particularly british transport police. abdul ezedi has managed to avoid capture for five days now. we understand he travelled all the way from newcastle down to london, got on the tube and has been, uh, evading the police, evading the british transport police and the police more widely for five days. what's gone wrong ? well the what's gone wrong? well the police yesterday announced that they were adding a reward to

those that can provide information. >> it's very important that we catch this perpetrator here. there is a huge amount of resource going in across the police forces to make sure that we do just that . and my heart we do just that. and my heart goes to the victims of the goes out to the victims of the incident in clapham, and it's vitally important that anybody with any information provides it to the police so that we can track this perpetrator down here. >> what does it say about our asylum system, though, that a convicted sex offender was granted sanctuary in this country . country. >> well, so we're quite clear. and the new illegal migration act, which has been passed , will act, which has been passed, will actually make it an offence for anybody to come over to this country illegally. be country illegally. they will be detained . and we are also detained. and we are also pursuing our rwanda policy to ensure that people will be deported as well. so there's is action that's on the new laws that we need . and there's also that we need. and there's also action on reducing the amount of cases that are outstanding . and cases that are outstanding. and we've had a huge number that

have been reduced in the last year. have been reduced in the last year . we've also reduced the year. we've also reduced the number of illegal migrants crossing by 36% in a year as well. so there's progress , but well. so there's progress, but it actually tells us that we need continue to clamp down need to continue to clamp down both using powers from parliament and also using the resources we have to get those numbers reduced. what of your ministerial colleagues on the television yesterday suggested that the problem we saw with this acid attack, or i should say alkaline attack, chemical attack was nothing to do with the asylum system and was everything to do with misogyny. >> is that the government's official position . official position. >> well, as a government, we are absolutely focussed on reducing the numbers who are coming here illegally and also dealing . illegally and also dealing. years and actually in the last year , that backlog has reduced year, that backlog has reduced probably the greatest number in over 20 years. so we are absolutely focussed on delivering to this. we understand the concern . it's

understand the concern. it's a key priority for us and that's why that legislation has passed that will make it illegal for anybody to come over using a small boat , anybody to come over using a small boat, and if they do, they'll be detained. and we need those deterrent in place those deterrent effects in place so that people don't those so that people don't make those crossings. that is our crossings. so that is our focus as . a. as. a. >> now, hugh, you are in liverpool. tell us a bit about why you're there . why you're there. >> so i'm here at the transport for the north conference to talk about transport and to talk about transport and to talk about the prime minister's network. north announcement from october and what we're doing to ensure that transport across the nonh ensure that transport across the north benefits from the investment and infrastructure that it needs . and this that it needs. and this government is committed to delivering . and the key part to delivering. and the key part to this is it's not just question this is it's not just a question of government listing projects that happen, but that are going to happen, but the pounds worth that are going to happen, but the are pounds worth that are going to happen, but the are being pounds worth that are going to happen, but the are being devolved'orth that are going to happen, but the are being devolved to h that are going to happen, but the are being devolved to areas that are being devolved to areas like merseyside, where we are right now to ensure that the local people can decide how their money is spent. so i'm here to partner up with the community ensure that

community here to ensure that there transport links there are better transport links and better investment, and there's investment going there's record investment going into across the north. >> hugh, this money for network nonh >> hugh, this money for network north was diverted from the second phase of hs2 , connecting second phase of hs2, connecting birmingham and manchester. there's been quite a lot of criticism and let's face it, some ridicule that some of this money that was going be spent money that was going to be spent connecting and connecting birmingham and manchester is now being spent in devon, is now being spent in london, all part of a project called network north. is it really credible to call projects in the southwest or in london? network . north network. north >> well, as good as so it's perhaps better if i just explain how the breakdown works. >> so £36 billion, that is being reinvested. that would have been spent on hs2 and just short of 20 billion of that is for the north, just short of 10 billion is for the midlands. north, just short of 10 billion is for the midlands . and £6.5 is for the midlands. and £6.5 billion from the money that's billion is from the money that's been the euston been saved from the euston change. so euston, now being delivered by the private sector change. so euston, now being delive thany the private sector change. so euston, now being delive than government. sector change. so euston, now being

delive than government. so tor rather than government. so that's how that 6.5 billion is being spent. it's in parts being spent. it's in other parts that aren't north and the that aren't the north and the midlands, 30 billion of the midlands, but 30 billion of the 36.5 billion is being spent in the north and the midlands. 36.5 billion is being spent in the north and the midlands . and the north and the midlands. and indeed billion is indeed an extra 12 billion is being spent on new upgrade between liverpool and manchester. so the vast proportion is being reinvested in areas in the north and in the areas in the north and the midlands. and indeed in areas such the north east or areas such as the north east or in bradford , not have seen that in bradford, not have seen that investment had hs2 continued. >> now , hugh, last week we were >> now, hugh, last week we were reporting , >> now, hugh, last week we were reporting, um, about staffordshire . staffordshire. >> lots and lots of empty homes that were bought by the taxpayer to make way for this second leg of hs2 , now standing empty. of hs2, now standing empty. where are we with that? because presumably a lot millions was spent on acquiring these properties and now they stand empty . empty. >> well, look, we're our property has been acquired. it tends to be let out so that it can be used for those that are empty because they were about to be demolished. then we will have a programme put in place to

ensure that we sell property. we sell land so it can be put back to the market. we have do it to the market. we have to do it carefully. thinking about the carefully. so thinking about the best uk taxpayer, best value for the uk taxpayer, we also have to think about it for the community. if for the local community. so if we property in one we sell all the property in one 90, we sell all the property in one go, those that are go, then those that are genuinely selling property genuinely selling their property privately see privately will see a depreciation in the price for them . so we have to come up with them. so we have to come up with a balance and ultimately a careful balance and ultimately we will look to put it back to the person or business that sold that land to us in the first place. they will get first rights on that provided a number of so we of tests have been made. so we are looking delivering that are looking at delivering that programme so that we can sell the land and the property back to the community. >> that's very important >> that's a very important clarification. hugh clarification. well hugh merriman, much clarification. well hugh mejoining much clarification. well hugh mejoining us much clarification. well hugh mejoining us here much clarification. well hugh mejoining us here good1uch forjoining us here on good afternoon britain live from liverpool network north liverpool at the network north conference. very, very important stuff there. >> hs2 so depressing isn't it? the amount of money that was shovelled into this project for it then to only be slashed in half . half. >> yeah. and it is remarkable to look at how of it is going

look at how much of it is going to tunnel cover to be tunnel and cover in cuttings for no apparent reason. i love a railway going through beautiful countryside . i love beautiful countryside. i love being able to look out of the window see the rolling hills window and see the rolling hills of . yet this hs2, of england. and yet in this hs2, now from london to birmingham , a now from london to birmingham, a huge proportion of ridiculous proportion will be underground or below ground level, meaning looking out of the window you won't see anything at all. >> so people turfed out of their properties for it. then not to even be used as a road , that even be used as a road, that those offered even be used as a road, that thosydibs offered even be used as a road, that thosydibs their offered even be used as a road, that thosydibs their propertiesed first dibs on their properties back because would back, because that would be a scandal couldn't get scandal if they couldn't get their original well, yes, their original house. well, yes, good clarification , good for that clarification, ian. well, hugh ian. well, that was hugh merriman course, moving merriman of course, but moving on after the break coming up, we'll be talking about labour's pay we'll be talking about labour's pay plans . it we'll be talking about labour's pay plans. it seems pay equality plans. it seems a little bit more to this than first meets the eyes and war memorials. should you go jail memorials. should you go to jail if you protest on one more of that after headlines . that after your headlines. >> 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 2:30. newsroom. it's just gone 2:30. the top stories this hour. prime minister rishi sunak has said it's a historic day for northern ireland as devolved government returns. he says the new £3.3 billion funding deal for northern ireland is significant and generous. after holding talks in belfast, where power sharing has returned . that's sharing has returned. that's after the newly formed executive called for urgent discussions on longer terms funding to deliver pubuc longer terms funding to deliver public services. earlier, rishi sunak met with ministers including sinn fein's michelle o'neill, who made history by becoming the country's first republican first minister. police say chemical attack suspect abdullah zaidi may have taken his own life or be using an ally to stay hidden. the manhunt is now into its fifth day and police are offering a £20,000 reward for information that could help lead to his arrest . he's wanted in arrest. he's wanted in connection with an attack in south london that left a mother critically injured and her two daughters, aged three and eight, both hurt. police have warned that those helping him will face

arrest , and they've called for arrest, and they've called for the public's help to find him. it comes concerns continue to it comes as concerns continue to grow about how he was allowed to stay in the uk after claiming to convert christianity convert to christianity elsewhere in asylum , seeker has elsewhere in asylum, seeker has been sentenced to 18 months in jail after a woman fell overboard and drowned while he piloted a boat. overboard and drowned while he piloted a boat . with over 70 piloted a boat. with over 70 migrants on board. the 22 year old continued the journey across the english channel until his boat was intercepted by border force. he told officers that he'd left sudan in 2021 and passed through various other countries on his way to the french coast. despite denying any charges, he did later plead guilty . a whole day of snow guilty. a whole day of snow could be on the way with a yellow warning issued for large parts of england and wales later this the met office says this week, the met office says the weather lead to the winter weather could lead to disruption in power cuts and possible travel delays. the warnings run from 3 am. on thursday through to the same time on friday morning, and stretches right from cumbria all

the way down to cambridgeshire and the midlands. in england , and the midlands. in england, all of northern and central wales is also included in that warning . and for the latest warning. and for the latest stories, you can sign up to gb news alerts by scanning the qr code on your screen or go to gb news. com forward slash alerts .

radio. >> good afternoon britain . it's >> good afternoon britain. it's 2:38 and we're delighted to be joined by our panel. the political editor of huffpost uk, kevin schofield , and the editor kevin schofield, and the editor of capex, alice denby . and we're of capex, alice denby. and we're going to start with some news that protesters climbing on wall memorials could face up to three months in prison under plans being proposed by the home secretary , james cleverly, now , secretary, james cleverly, now, alice, is this the right sort of

thing for the home office to be doing , or is thing for the home office to be doing, or is this an agreed affront to our liberties? >> i don't think it's either. i thought people could already get pretty harsh sentences for climbing on wall memorials. remember charlie gilmour remember we saw charlie gilmour swung the cenotaph. he went swung on the cenotaph. he went to i feel to prison for that. so i feel like have like the police already have powers . um, i like the police already have powers. um, i do think that defacing war memorials in this way is very offensive to people. i why the i think that's precisely why the protesters and protesters target them. um, and i can't really see any objection to this, i'm also not quite to this, but i'm also not quite sure here, sure what the changes here, since, as i say, i think police already had pretty strong powers to crack down this kind of behaviour. >> is there is there a worry here getting here that perhaps we're getting all for all of this extra law for specific ? i mean, my specific offences? i mean, my mind to pet theft , which mind goes to pet theft, which it's already illegal to steal something, but then mps sort of think, oh, we're going to make an crime make an extra crime here to make it extra steal a pet. extra illegal to steal a pet. it's sort of like we're doubling up. is this because my mps and ministers want headlines , or is ministers want headlines, or is this because, frankly, the police and the courts aren't doing their jobs in prosecuting laws that currently exist?

>> i think it's more of the former than latter. i mean, former than the latter. i mean, you've remember , we're in you've got to remember, we're in a yeah you've got to remember, we're in a year. the a general election year. the election is not far away. the conservatives behind conservatives are miles behind in this is type in the polls this is the type of thing, would thing, really, that you would expect the home to be expect the home office to be doing. know , garner some expect the home office to be doing. headlines, garner some expect the home office to be doing. headlines. garner some expect the home office to be doing. headlines. it'sarner some expect the home office to be doing. headlines. it's notr some expect the home office to be doing. headlines. it's not been,a decent headlines. it's not been, uh, as i understand , it's not uh, as i understand, it's not been formally announced until thursday . it's obviously been thursday. it's obviously been briefed heavily into the briefed quite heavily into the papers over the weekend. so the government get government are trying to get a double this. and, double hit out of this. um, and, you , as you say, you would you know, as you say, you would have thought that that would already be aggravating factor already be an aggravating factor when being considered when people are being considered for of the peace, for breach of the peace, for instance. but that, that instance. um, but that, that type thing, i i'm type of thing, i mean, i'm absolutely favour absolutely in favour of, uh, freedom of expression, freedom of , but i think most of protest, but i think most people would find it hard to argue climbing on war argue that climbing on war memorials, defacing war memorials, defacing war memorials , you know, that that memorials, you know, that that remains for those who laid down their lives for this country. i think people say that think most people would say that that's thing that's probably the right thing to yeah, guess alice, what >> yeah, i guess alice, what james cleverly trying to do, james cleverly is trying to do, yes, he may be trying to create headunes yes, he may be trying to create headlines are positive for headlines that are positive for himself , but

headlines that are positive for himself, but i think to himself, but i think also to trying a default trying to make it a default that, yes , this does come with that, yes, this does come with a custodial sentence . if you if custodial sentence. if you if you do this, whereas previously i imagine people got away with, uh, you know, a slap on the wrist. >> yeah, perhaps. mean , maybe >> yeah, perhaps. i mean, maybe if he thinks that's a useful thing do thing to do. i mean, i do remember were remember that the police were saying didn't have the saying that they didn't have the powers to stop these pro—palestine marches on armistice , which i did think armistice day, which i did think was offensive . and it did was very offensive. and it did seem like there seem to me like that there should you know, if should be a way of you know, if something is going to be so emotionally, you know, um , uh, emotionally, you know, um, uh, what's the word charged ? what's the word charged? >> well, he calls it an insult. >> well, he calls it an insult. >> yeah . i mean, >> well, he calls it an insult. >> yeah. i mean, i think i need to more details on this to see more details on this because i'm really because as i say, i'm not really sure change the law sure what the change in the law is be beyond just is going to be beyond just saying mean saying you're going to be mean to people climb war memorials. >> well, expecting those >> well, we are expecting those details in details to come out in the coming suppose coming days, but i suppose it is an point that there an interesting point that there is a set of law that the government has sort of laid down, and it's almost like we're over complicating law. >> we're getting so much more law that's almost doubling up on what has been going before. i

wonder if there is a legitimate criticism of how the police or the courts have been dealing with this stuff the past, as with this stuff in the past, as you were saying, charlie gilmore, uh, arrest for climbing, for swinging on a flag and climbing on a memorial. and climbing on a war memorial. the then, if i remember the charge then, if i remember rightly, the propensity for rightly, was the propensity for criminal damage rather than specifically something do specifically something to do with memorial but with the war memorial. but again, of in our again, that's sort of in our system. you'd expect courts to interpret that, and perhaps courts been doing their courts haven't been doing their job eyes of job in the eyes of the government yeah, perhaps. job in the eyes of the govbutnent yeah, perhaps. job in the eyes of the govbut yeah, yeah, perhaps. job in the eyes of the gov but yeah, you're perhaps. job in the eyes of the gov but yeah, you're right.ys. >> but yeah, you're right. i mean, you would you would imagine being a lawyer, imagine not being a lawyer, not being certainly not being a judge these aggravate judge. um, that these aggravate factors would be taken into consideration when the judge is deciding whether they pass sentence , whether this is sentence, whether this is necessary. i'm not entirely sure. as i said earlier, i think it's more to do with getting some decent headlines forjames some decent headlines for james cleverly and the government has taken quite lot stick on taken quite a lot of stick on its on how deals with its on how it deals with protests . protests. >> controversial protest >> its controversial protest laws clamping down on protests as a result of, uh, as a result of mostly eco activist protests

that sort of took on a life of their own. they clearly want to be seen as getting tough on this issue . but there is always that issue. but there is always that there strong argument there is strong argument coming from and from the libertarians and liberals among us to say , liberals among us to say, actually, you're clamping down on freedoms a little bit too much . much. >> i think it's always a question of a balance, isn't it? i clearly i think there's clearly a difference right difference between the right to freedom of expression and causing a public disturbance, blocking or whatever it blocking a road or whatever it might be. and i and i think that, clearly , um, defacing that, uh, clearly, um, defacing war memorials as an aggravating factor, but i think agree with factor, but i think i agree with you, well, that this you, tom, as well, that this tendency carve out tendency to constantly carve out specific to, to respond specific offences to, to respond to, to extreme examples of things by making a whole new law when something is already illegal, i think is a bad tendency. i think the statute book should simple and book should be as simple and easy possible, easy to understand as possible, and up the and it should be up to the courts these things. i completely >> i completely agree, but also on side, can see the on the other side, i can see the argument from government when they the they see, for example, the colston for vandals colston for those for vandals who tore down a statue and threw it into bristol harbour, they were let off by a judge. now

that that was very clearly not their property, they tore something. no, we can we can debate the rights and wrongs of that statue. but the act of tearing it down was somehow let off. is there a problem with the judiciary? >> do you know what i would like to see? just on on to see? just sorry on just on that point, we're that point, because we're running to running out of time. i'd like to see actively see the police just actively drag statue, choose see the police just actively drag them statue, choose see the police just actively drag them away. statue, choose see the police just actively drag them away. they ue, choose see the police just actively drag them away. they tend hoose see the police just actively drag them away. they tend toyse drag them away. they tend to just their just leave them to do their thing charge them after. >> the police also sometimes think create think that will this create a bigger fight ? will this drag bigger fight? will this drag more people into and make a mass disturbance with with something they could prosecute later? perhaps >> yeah, think have to >> yeah, i think you have to give the police their head as well. know , the police well. you know, the police need to know what is reasonable for them do . um, so i think maybe them to do. um, so i think maybe a better guidance for the police, for instance, when it comes incidents that, comes to incidents like that, as opposed to continually come up with new laws to pass on to judges to thorny issue. >> you can see that i've >> and you can see that i've seen up , seen protesters clambering up, um, traffic lights, clambering up statues in parliament square , up statues in parliament square, and nothing seems to be done .

and nothing seems to be done. well, we look forward to the details of this particular piece of coming later in of legislation coming later in the week. after the break, the week. but after the break, we'll be back looking at labour's push for a new equality law to do with race and pay for all the details. after this

>> you're listening to gb news radio. >> good afternoon britain. it's 248 and we're back with our panel 248 and we're back with our panel. the political editor of huffpost uk, kevin schofield , huffpost uk, kevin schofield, and the editor of capex, alex denby, joins us. uh and we're discussing something that the labour party is proposing. >> yeah , they're going to >> yeah, they're going to introduce a new race equality act. now, they've been talking about but about this for a while, but they're starting to gather a proper proposal. and this proper draft proposal. and this is win the election. is if they win the election. what could this actually mean? a new race equality act, equal pay- new race equality act, equal pay. do we not already have equal pay ? regardless of your equal pay? regardless of your race in this country ? yeah, absolutely. >> it's already illegal to discriminate on people, to

discriminate on people, to discriminate against people based on their race. i'm in two minds this because as we minds about this because as we know, companies at the moment have gap have to do gender pay gap reporting and the trouble with it is, is that the figures kind of obscure the bigger picture, because actually it's not the case women are paid case really that women are paid less the same it's less for the same work. it's that tend to do different that women tend to do different kinds um so the figures can hours. um so the figures can give you distorted picture. give you a distorted picture. but i think it has led to but i do think it has led to some policy developments . some useful policy developments. there are much better rules around maternity paternity around maternity and paternity leave moment . we've got leave at the moment. we've got the big focus on childcare . the a big focus on childcare. that going that government's going to disagree with the way they're doing i do think these doing it. so i do think these things useful things can have, uh, some useful outcomes. i think having the information about where there are race disparities in society is useful to have. i think it depends what you do with that information matters. information that matters. >> one of the problems >> kevin, is one of the problems here dragging more here of dragging more characteristics into this, um, gender pay legislation, the equal pay legislation , that it's equal pay legislation, that it's not really equal pay for the same jobs . the phrasing is equal same jobs. the phrasing is equal pay same jobs. the phrasing is equal pay for equal value, which is a

highly interpretable thing , as highly interpretable thing, as we saw in a very famous case with asda, where the people working in the back room lifting things moving things things and moving things generally women work generally men, some women work there , but were more there, but they were paid more than working on than the people working on the checkouts. generally women, some men there. for me, that's men work there. for me, that's not a gender thing, but it was a massive gender pay case and i worry if this is not about exactly the same job. this is this nebulous concept of equal value. we're going to have a lot of very difficult legal cases . of very difficult legal cases. yes, absolutely. >> and, you know, we've seen councils , um, being, you know, councils, um, being, you know, being dragged through the courts over went bankrupt . absolutely. over went bankrupt. absolutely. so, you know, it can open a pandora's box. now, on the face of it, i think it's a very good thing. clearly, if any employers are discriminate on the basis of race, then they should be getting hammered for it. there's no question that no question about that whatsoever. no question about that whétiming'. this announcement, no question about that whétimi because s announcement, no question about that whétimi because labour|ncement, no question about that whétimi because labour haveient, no question about that whétimi because labour have been though, because labour have been getting a bit of a kicking over the or so, people the last week or so, people asking they asking what is it they stand for? the £28 billion in green investment been ditched,

investment that's been ditched, basically, although not basically, although they've not officially it yet. uh officially confirmed it yet. uh rachel saying rachel reeves. last week, saying that wouldn't bring back that they wouldn't bring back our , um, the on bankers our, um, the cap on bankers bonuses. our, um, the cap on bankers bonuses . they've been getting bonuses. they've been getting a kicking that, saying, kicking for that, saying, well, what point of labour what is the point of the labour party? be, party? they're just going to be, you conservatives you know, the conservatives with a rosette. and a different colour rosette. and i wonder this has i just wonder whether this has been announced sort of nod been announced as a sort of nod to , we're still labour to look, we're still the labour party is to look, we're still the labour parthis is is to look, we're still the labour parthis is a is to look, we're still the labour parthis is a social is to look, we're still the labour parthis is a social justice. is for this is a social justice. this is our agenda. you know, so we're if we get in, we're you know, if we get in, we'll be all the good we'll be doing all the good stuff well less i stuff as well as less good, i think it's so complex. think because it's so complex. >> a long, long >> it's taken them a long, long time to this legislation. time to draft this legislation. but kemi badenoch come out quite strongly on this , alice, she strongly on this, alice, she says labour's proposed new race law will set people against each other millions wasted on other and see millions wasted on pointless tape. pointless red tape. it is obviously illegal to pay obviously already illegal to pay someone less because of their race. law would be a race. the new law would be a bonanza dodgy activist bonanza for dodgy activist lawyers . that's what she says. lawyers. that's what she says. kemi badenoch yeah , i think kemi badenoch yeah, i think that's there is a risk . that's i think there is a risk. >> mean, seen with the >> i mean, we have seen with the existing act that existing equality act that it has birth to a whole has given birth to a whole industry diversity and industry of diversity and inclusion , uh, things, you know,

inclusion, uh, things, you know, businesses have to spend endless time thinking about this and training people to do this. but i don't think that we can just say racism this country i don't think that we can just sacured. racism this country i don't think that we can just sacured. andm this country i don't think that we can just sacured. and there'sis country i don't think that we can just sacured. and there's nothingy is cured. and there's nothing more about it. i think is cured. and there's nothing more are about it. i think is cured. and there's nothing more are some about it. i think is cured. and there's nothing more are some deeply it. i think is cured. and there's nothing more are some deeply worrying< there are some deeply worrying inequalities in society. if you look the fact, example, inequalities in society. if you look blacke fact, example, inequalities in society. if you look blacke fact, are (ample, inequalities in society. if you look blacke fact, are lamptimes that black women are four times more in more likely to die in childbirth, that's not something that can just be explained away by something they're going to look this. that to look at in this. that seems to me an issue where me like that is an issue where race clearly factor in race is clearly a factor in people's life outcomes. and i think to know that, think it's useful to know that, to know what's to know the information. and as i say, it depends on what you it. depends on what you do with it. i wonder, there a reason why i wonder, is there a reason why the labour party, kevin waited until after their big business event where they said, we're the party of business, to announce what will be new, onerous reporting on businesses. >> well, yeah , i mean, it never >> well, yeah, i mean, it never pays to too be cynical when it comes to politics this comes to politics in this country find. country, i find. >> yeah, it could well be >> um, so yeah, it could well be indeed got that out indeed that they've got that out of first, and then of the way first, and then they're announcing this means there good stuff there are other good stuff in it. they're going to

it. you know, they're going to appoint a windrush commissioner, uh, rollout appoint a windrush commissioner, uh, compensation rollout appoint a windrush commissioner, uh, compensation scheme, the compensation scheme, which many been many people say has been dragging long, many people say has been draggi ig long, many people say has been draggii think long, many people say has been draggii think has. long, many people say has been draggii think has. so long, many people say has been draggii think has. so that's which i think it has. so that's that's a good thing as well. it's that that's a good thing as well. it's may, that that's a good thing as well. it's may, she that that's a good thing as well. it's may, she was that theresa may, when she was prime minister, in 2016. so minister, she back in 2016. so she's only just become prime minister, announced that she would carry a race disparity would carry out a race disparity audit. so this is something that has been kicking around for quite time . obviously she quite some time. obviously she got rather distracted by brexit, so it didn't really go anywhere . so it didn't really go anywhere. but you know an issue. but you know this is an issue. certainly been around but you know this is an issue. c

>> really, really good to get in—depth that. but in—depth analysis over that. but let's get what's coming up next on gb news. it's martin daubney. martin, what's up your martin, what's coming up on your show ? show? >> cracking feathers, cracking show. so what we've got here today, asylum incorporated, we take a look under the bonnet of the multi—million pound industry designed to get asylum seekers to britain and make sure they stay in britain. the church, the home office, charities, ngos , home office, charities, ngos, those supported by the bbc. lee anderson is coming in for that. anderson is coming in for that. and you'd imagine that will get spicy. ahead to the spicy. looking ahead to the prime people's forum . prime minister's people's forum. magnificent gb news people power holding minister to holding the prime minister to account. that's why this channel was started. also, tributes to ian lavender as private pike from dad's army. and we'll be just analysing this whole system where is abdul ezedi? why is he after a 20 grand reward? why can't the police do their job? plus, who would be who would be a copper ? these days when you a copper? these days when you can't even exercise your power?

but that's coming up in my show. but that's coming up in my show. but first, here's your latest weather update . weather update. >> a brighter outlook with boxt solar for sponsors of weather on . gb news alex burkill here with your latest gb news, weather forecast, many of us will see a bit of rain at times through the next as see next few days, but as we see something . colder later on in something. colder later on in the week, there's also the risk of some snow for the being. of some snow for the time being. >> frontal system of some snow for the time being. >> lingering frontal system of some snow for the time being. >> lingering acrossl system of some snow for the time being. >> lingering acrossl systeof still lingering across parts of scotland . this already scotland. this has already brought of rain so brought a fair amount of rain so far and will continue to far today, and will continue to do into this do so as we head into this evening , but the rain pushes evening, but the rain pushes its way overnight into way southwards overnight into southern scotland, southern parts of scotland, northern ireland and later northern england . to the north northern england. to the north of we will see some of this we will see some clear skies scattering of skies, but also a scattering of showers some colder so showers and some colder air. so watch for the risk of some watch out for the risk of some sleet, also some sleet, some snow and also some icy morning icy patches. tomorrow morning a milder start though further south, many places staying in double figures overnight, though it to be rather cloudy it is going to be rather cloudy with a few spots of rain as we

go tomorrow. that rain go through tomorrow. that rain band then will to edge band then will continue to edge a further southwards, band then will continue to edge a furinto southwards, band then will continue to edge a furinto morewards, band then will continue to edge a furinto more central parts pushing into more central parts of england and also wales , of england and also wales, staying drier towards the south. so a largely cloudy day here. any sunshine will be pretty limited . a greater chance of limited. a greater chance of seeing some sunny skies further north as scotland northern north as scotland and northern ireland, a scattering ireland, but a scattering of wintry because we have wintry showers because we have colder here. temperatures colder air here. temperatures getting single figures getting into mid single figures at best. further though, at best. further south though, highs around 14 celsius as we highs of around 14 celsius as we go later in the week, we're likely to see a weather system pushing way up from the pushing its way up from the south, hitting air, and south, hitting colder air, and south, hitting colder air, and so some so that could bring some significant snow, particularly to central parts. go to central parts. as we go through thursday . bit of through thursday. bit of uncertainty the detail uncertainty as to the detail as to exactly when and where we will see the snow, does will see the snow, but it does look things colder look like things will be colder for many but milder in for many of us, but milder in the south. >> w- the south. >> like things are >> by by looks like things are heating up. boxt boilers, sponsors of weather on .

gb news. >> good afternoon and happy monday! it's 3 pm. welcome to the martin daubney show on gb news, broadcasting live from the heart westminster across heart of westminster all across the uk. on today's show, we'll cover the gross abuse of our asylum system as 40 migrants on the bibby stockholm barge are converting to christianity in a bid to be given asylum . um, bid to be given asylum. um, we'll also have the latest on the manhunt for abdul ezedi as police offer a £20,000 reward. and we'll get reaction to the sad news that the dad's army actor, the legendary ian lavender, has died and rishi sunak been in northern ireland today. but next monday he'll be live on gb news >> hi, rishi. here as prime minister, i'm focussed on delivering on your priorities . delivering on your priorities. so i'll be on the road to join gb news for a special people's forum on monday the 12th of